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Full text of "Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches of ... citizens ... also ... a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time"

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I  JJECOSTi^  COUNTY,  JJICi^. 


CONTAINING 


gOr^TI^AITS   AND   BlOGI^APHIGAL   Sl^EiFGHES 
ppoginent  and  I^epre^eiifiatiVB  ditizeq^  of  tlje  Countij, 

TOGETHER  WITH  PORTRAITS  AND  BIOGRAPHIES  OF  ALL  THE  GOVER.VORS  OF  MICHIGAN 
AND  OF  THE  PRESIDENTS  OF   THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ALSO    CONTAINING    A    COMPLETE    HISTOKY   OF    THE    COUNTY,    FKOM    ITS    EAKLIEST    SETTLEMENT 

TO    THE    I'RESUNT    TIME. 


CHICAGO: 

-/(^•iiAi'M-W  i;k()  riii:us. 
1883. 


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\j    ISHING  to  adhere  to  the  time-honored  but  often  unnecessary  custom  of  introdiic- 
4     ing  books  with  a  preface,  we  now  proceed  to  thus  formally  present  the  Portrait 


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",;§  AN'D  Biographical  Album  of  Mecosta  County,  Michigan.     We  promise,  how- 
ever, that  the  introduction  shall  be  brief.      In  reference  to  the  vahie  and  import- 
ance of  biography,  of  which  this  work  is  largely  composed,  we  wish  to  say  a  word. 
it®      It    is   conceded,  not    only    by  the    best    philosophical    writers,    but    by    intelligent 
■  O   practical  men  the  world  over,  that    there    is    nothing  which  creates  an    aspiration  so 
noble  and  laudable  within  the  heart  and  mind  of   the  young  man  who  is  struggling 
against    adversity,  poverty,  and  an  humble  position   in  society,  as  to  read  how  other 
men  have  risen  to  eminent  and  honored  jiositions  from  the  self-same  lowly  walks  of 
life  he  now  occupies.     It  is  a  source  of  great  encouragement  to  them.       It  is  also  a 
'^    duty  that  each  generation  owes    to  the  succeeding  ones,  to  record  and    preserve  the 
personal  history  of  its  leading  and    active  men.      There   is  no    better  way  to    preserve 
the  history  of  a  nation  than    in  the    lives  of   the    men  who    make  such    history.     Our 
forefathers  were  very  largely  negligent    of  this  duty  to   posterity.      We    now  only  know 
the  names   of   our   ancestors,  and    often    not    even  so  much  has  been    preserved.     We 
know  nothing  of  their  lives,  long  and  useful  though  they  were. 
ism  In  the    preparation  of   the    jjersonal    sketches    contained  in    this  volume,    unusual 

care  and  pains  were  taken  to  have  them  accurate,  even  in  the  smallest  detail.  Indeed, 
nothing  was  passed  lightly  over  or  treated  indifferently  in  the  entire  book,  and  we 
flatter  ourselves  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  works  of  its  nature  ever  published. 
In  reference  to  the  history  of  the  county,  which  is  very  fully  treated,  we  wish  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  the  extraordinarily  rapid  growth  and  development 
of  the  county  since  its  first  settlement.  But  a  few  years  ago  the  primeval  forest  was 
'  occupied  only  by  the  wild  beasts  and  the  Red  Man.  To-day  prosperous  cities,  busy 
factories  and  mills,  fine  farms,  school-houses  and  churches  are  to  be  seen  everywhere  throughout  its 
borders.  Nowhere  has  the  busy  activities  of  our  days,  the  march  of  progress,  the  wonderful  advance  of 
science  and  art,  contributed  more  to  the  rapid  and  remarkable  development  of  any  portion  of  the 
Northwest  than  in  the  County  of  Mecosta. 

As  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  work,  we  present  the  portraits  of  numerous  repre- 
sentative citizens.  It  has  been  our  aim  to  have  the  prominent  men  of  to-day,  as  well  as  the  pioneers, 
represented  in  this  department;  and  we  congratulate  ourselves  on  the  uniformly  high  character  of  the  ^ 
gentlemen  whose  portraits  we  present.  They  are  in  the  strictest  sense  representative  men,  and  are 
selected  from  all  the  callings  and  professions  worthy  to  be  represented.  There  are  others,  it  is  true, 
who  claim  equal  prominence  with  those  presented,  but  of  course  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  give  iwr- 
traits  of  all  the  leading  men  and  pioneers  of  the  county. 

CHAPMAN  BROTHERS. 


(Chicago,  Deccmlxi,  1.SS3, 


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Ackerman,  David 4=: 

Adair,  James  M ...  .421 

Adair,  Nelson  V 241 

Ad.ims,  John 23 

Adams,  John  Qiiincy 39 

Adams,  Norman  W 261 

Aitken,   James 555 

Albro,  Henry  T 329 

A  Id  rich.  Forest  W 4Q0 

Andrews,   Wm.  H 422 

.Ariss,  Thomas 504 

Armstrong,  John  V 443 

Armstrong,  Joseph  A 284 

Arthur,  Chester  .\ 99 

Austin,  Robert 455 

B 

Bacon,  Barnabas 201 

Baglcy,  John  J 157 

Baker,  L.  S 449 

Baldwin,   Henry   P 153 

Bane.   Alexander 436 

Barnard,    Charles   F 450 

Barnhart,  Noah 210 

Barnhart,  Wm 260 

Barry,  John  S 113 

Barstow,  Sumner 508 

Barto,  David  W 303 

Barto,  Joseph  B 242 

Beebc,  Nelson  H 303 

Bcgole.  Josiah  W 169 

Bell,  John  A 250 

Bell,  Wm.  A 269 

Bellamy.  John 346 

Hctnis,  l.iithcr 341 

Benjamin,  David  M    538 

Bennett.  A.  W 388 

Bennett,  Hasard 380 

Bcnscoter,  John  W 416 

Bcntley,  Ora  F 380 

Benthien,  Carl 381 

liiiiKham,  Kinsley  S 137 

Bisbcc,  Jasper  E 539 

Btackmar.  P 259 

Blair.  Au-;tin 145 

Blanchard,  Herbert  P ..990 

Blossom,  John 43S 


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Borst,  Julius  R 319 

Koyd,  Myron  H 182 

Uovay ,  Robert  H 467 

Brackett,  George     -363 

Brady,  George 433 

Brander,  Wni 374 

.  Brcakcy,  Andrew 503 

Briggs,  Martin  L 331 

Brigham,   Elisha  A 5C2 

Bright,  John  H 422 

Brock  way,  Ass 227 

Brockway,  Wm 208 

Bronson,  Gen.  Stephen 187 

Broonifield,  Wm 444 

Brown,  Dr.    Benj.  F.    >.5'6 

Brown,  Benson  E. 526 

Brown,   Harrison  J 314 

Brown,  Henry  D 272 

Brown,  Henry   R 264    1 

Brown,  John  F 556 

Brown,  Maria  E   52^ 

Brown,  Hon.  Michael 197 

Brown,  Silas 318 

Brown,  Stephen  W 485 

Brown,  Wm.  H 553 

Bruce,  Valorus  W 480 

Buchanan,  James. . .   75 

Buck.  James  H 555 

Buck,   Samuel... 219 

Buck,  Wilbcr  H 213 

Bullcck,   Danifl  C 334 

Bump,  Wm.  H 299 

Burdick,  Eugene  F 474 

Burkart,  Dr.  John  L     386 

Burrison,  Jamss 552 

c 

Cahill,  Joseph 223 

Cahill,  Peter..     350 

Cahill,  Thorr as 283 

Calkins.  Charles  W 282 

Campbell.  John  R 228 

Campbell,  John  S, 214 

Canaan,  Asher  L 33*> 

Canaan,  James  S 339 

Cannon,  Edwin *7' 

Capcn.  Randall  T 43'* 

Carman,  Mahlon 3Q* 

Carpenter,  Charles  D 203 


Carpenter,  Persons  T 363 

Carr,  Elijah. 351 

Carr,  John 450 

Cartwright.  Lcroy 455 

Caudle,  James 459 

Cawthorne,  James  P 430 

Chapin.  Allen 479 

Chipman,  Lemuel  F 208 

Chipman,  L.  F .224 

Chipman.  S.  S    191 

Clark,  Henry  M 188 

Clark,  John  Q.  A  ...  .^ .190 

Clement,  Aaron  S   278 

Clifton,  Chas.  W.. 290 

Clink,  John 356 

Coatcs,  Nathan  M 554 

Colby,  James  M 509 

Cole,  Elijah 193 

Cole,  M  yjron  M ,261 

Collins,  Michael  S 260 

Collins,  Richard 334 

Compton^  Bion  H 330 

Comstock,  Chester  W    540 

Conner,  John  M 454 

Corbctt,  Elizabeth 387 

Corbet t,  William 308 

Corey,  Benjamin  F 332 

Corey,  Lanson  F 320 

Corncil,  George  P 515 

Cornell,  George  W   550 

Cota,  Henry  S  - 209 

Crandell,  Charles  D   498 

Crandcll, Stephen  R 491 

Crane,  Charles  H 496 

Crapo,  Henry  H 149 

Creevey,  William 453 

Crocker,  John  M 248 

Crocker,  'Ihomas  R.. 312 

Croswell.  Charles  M i6r 

Cunninsham,  Charles  W 516 

D 

Dal/icI,  Benjamin    379 

Dab  id,  James 980 

Darrah ,  Charles  M 337 

Darrah,  James  M 425 

Darrah,  Wilson  E 440 

Davenport,  Byron  S 351 

Davidson,  A    37*» 


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Davidson,  William   391 

Davis,  Bartley 344 

Davis,  Ellis 204 

Davis,  James 334 

Davis.  John 243 

Decker,  Gilbert  A 406 

l^ecker,  James  N 317 

Decker,  John  D 344 

Decker,  Peter  S 537 

Decker,  Richard  S 419 

Degear,  Michael 310 

De  Long,  Joseph  A 394 

Denney,  James  M 486 

Dcnncy,  Nathan 383 

Denney,  William  F 538 

Dewey.  Elijah   F 199 

Dixon.  James 334 

Dopp.   Matthew   399 

Doyle,    Michael         ...\    9io 

Dubois,  J.-»cob  M    466 

Dumon,  Frank    407 

Dutcher,   Mrs.  Mary   A 356 

Dye,  James  R 4'» 

Dye.  Morris  G    408 

E 

Eaton,  John 407 

Eaton,  Noah 461 

Edmonds,  'i'imothy 314 

KUlrcdge.  A.  W 420 

Ely.  Arnold 443 

Erikson,  Patrick 377 

Escott,  Joseph  T 519 

Evans,  John  S .277 

Evans,  Henry  C 389 

Everharl.  Joseph  J  . .    4^ 

F 

Falardo,  Joseph 45^ 

Kairman,  Ferdinand   247 

Felch.  Alphcus 117 

Ferguson,  Wm.  M 4" 

Ferris,  Isaac  W sSl 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Fitzgerald,  Edward 34*> 

Flake,  John 406 

FoKlesang.  Eli  W 969 

Ford     Ira  A 3«8 


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Foster,  John  H 302 

Frederick,  Eli 483 

Fredrickson,  John,  Jr 498 

Freiberg,  John 323 

Fribley,  John  B 534 

Friedel,  Adam 239 

Frye,  Solomon  F 202 

Fuller.  David  C 40* 

Fuller,   Hon.   C.  C 177 

Fuller,  James  W 503 

G 

Gale  &  Hood 244 

Ganong,  Albert  H 415 

Gardner,  Theodore  C 349 

(Jarfield,  Jamas  A 05 

Garling,  David  L 338 

Gates,  Dr.  S.  A 293 

Gaunt,  Joseph 545 

Gay,  Charlie 405 

Gensman,  Edward 222 

Gilchrist,  Edward 304 

Gill,  John  G 229 

Gilmore,  Henry  R 238 

Gingrich,  John   B 351 

Gingrich ,  Peter  B 352 

Glidden,  Durelle  F 472 

Glidden,  Oliver  D 553 

Gottshall,  George  M 268 

Grant,  Ulysses  S     87 

Gray,  Silvester  H 231 

Gray,  Wm.  S 234 

Green,  George  W 270 

Greenly,  William  L 121 

Grimme,  Father  Henry  W 486 

Grimes,  George 466 

Griswold,  L.  S 200 

Groner,   Dr.  F.  J 376 

Groomt  James  H 408 

Gross,  Orsemus 232 

Gruber,  J.  E 191 

H 


A 


Haggit,  George  A 340 

Haist,  George  F 203 

Hale,  George  1 324 

Hall,  Reuben  N 249 

Hane,  Caleb  V 294 

Haney,  Edward  G 380 

Hanifan,    Thomas 254 

Hanson,  Andrew 333 

Hanson,  Henry  D 219 

Harmon,  Edward 309 

Harrington,  Harvey 346 

Harrington,  John 239 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 51 

Haskill,  Sidney 345 

Haslcm,  Edward 362 

Hatfield,  George  E 322 

Hathaway,  Eli 491 

Hayes,  Eli 461 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B gi 

HeaUl,  CIcorge  W 323 

Hearn,  Henry 240 

■'' S      Helms,  George 302 

:^       Hendryx,  Wilbur  A 465 

Henry*  Charles  H 546 

Hickcy,  John 556 

Hicks.  Wm.  H 508 


■& 


Higbee,  Nelson 267 

Hill,  Eli 262 

Hinman,  Charles 230 

Hinton,  John 554 

Hobart,  Mart  E 501 

Hodskey,  Leister  C 394 

Hood  &  Gale 244 

Hooker.  A.  S -537 

Hopkinson,  Wm.  D 4»S 

Horton,  Daniel 293 

Horton,  Edward  T 3^3 

Horton,  Seneca 279 

Horton,  Thomas  G 522 

Howd,  Waller  S 387 

Hoynes,  Stephen 555 

Hudnuit,  Edward  W 262 

Hugh,  William 453 

Hughes,    Rassel  B    545 

Huling,  Jared  P 373 

Hullinger,  James 298 

Hummer,  J-  B 198 

Hunt,  TheophJtus  C 379 

Hunter.  James  T 304 

Hunter,  John 231 

Hurley,  Thomas  K 533 

Hutchinson,  L-  N 212 

Hyatt,  Leonard  .....      274 

Hyatt,  Wm.    J 509 

Hyde.    Hannibal 253 

J 

Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jacques,  Wm.  M.  Jr  , 485 

Jamieson.    Robert 460 

Jefferson,  Thomas 27 

Jerome,    David  H 165 

Johnson,  Amos 258 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,   Charles  O 323 

Johnson,    Christian 274 

Johnson,    Hugh 426 

Johnson,  James 474 

Jones,  Wm-   T 297 

Joslin,  Frederick  W 273 

Judkins,  Capt-   James 4^7 

K 

Kassner,  Matthias 199 

Keegan,  Michael 233 

Kelley,    Barnabas 430 

Kelley,  Charles  W 3c8 

Kelley,  Darwin  B 503 

Kelley,  Peter 532 

Kenrick,   Edwin  H 495 

Kent,  Monroe  R 416 

Kent,  Rufus 381 

King,  Darwin  C 460 

Kinnee,  Jesse 212 

Kirvan,  John  E 183 

Knapp,  Abel  B 513 

Knettles,  G.  M.  D 456 


Ladner,  Herbert 515 

Ladncr,  Hon.  Wm 489 

La  Douceur,  Charles  H 214 

Ladouccur,   Napoleon 394 

La  Grange,  Ephraim 289 

Lake,  William  O 244 


Lamb,  Munson 434 

Langworthy,  Edward 284 

Lazell,  Thomas i8g 

Le  Duke,  John 328 

Leggett,  Dr.  I.  J 398 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Lincoln,  L.  C 253 

Lockman,  .^bram 498 

Lonsdale,  John 397 

Loop,  Philer 219 

Losie,  Leo 271 

Loucks,  Jacob  H 338 

Lovejoy,    Benjamin    T 426 

Lovejoy,  Charles  B 426 

Loveless,   Loren  T 521 

Lowe,  William 313 

Ludington,  Charles  H ig8 

Luther,  Fredeiick  R 311 

M 

Madison,  James 3* 

Maguire.  John 314 

Main,  Charles 310 

Main,  Henry 338 

Main,  John   M 340 

Malone,  George  R 343 

Mann,  James  W 454 

Mann.  John  F 528 

Manning,   Rev.  Wm.  H 528 

Mansfield  ,  Henry -308 

Marsh,  Edwin  J 328 

Martiny,  John 39^ 

Martz,   John  G 184 

Mason,  Alfred  S 540 

Mason,  Stevens  T 105 

Maxon,  Frank  S 540 

McArthur,  Charles 208 

McCamley,  Wm.  M 264 

McClelland,  Robert 129 

McCombs,  Wm.  A 420 

McConnelt.  Asa 218 

McCormIck,  James 504 

McCormick.Malcom 484 

McDuffie,  Henson 480 

McElroy,  J.  F 502 

McFarlan,  Walter 546 

McFarlane,  Andrew 433 

McGill,  Joseph 220 

Mcintosh.  Ira 210 

McKeon,  Patrick 202 

McKewen,   John 357 

McLellan,   Duncan 507 

McMullen,  Dr.    B.  H 364 

McPherson,Wm    H 304 

Menere.  Levi  S 264 

Mero,  Gilbert ai2 

Merrill,  John  B 224 

Miller,  George 339 

Miller,  William 49° 

Mills.  Henry 218 

Mills,  James  A 345 

Milner,  Jonathan 439 

Mitchell,  James 357 

Mitchell,  Nathaniel 299 

Mitchell,  Samuel  S 237 

Mitchell,  Wm.  G 549 

Monroe,  James   35 

Montague,  Charles  H 319 

Montonye,  Wm.  P 486 

^foody,  W.  D 273 


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Moore,  Chas.  S 220 

Moore,  Henry  H 352 

Moore,  Robert 402 

Morse,  Willis 422 

Mortensen,  Thomas  P 264 

Morton,  John  E 194 

Mosher,   Dewitt  C 220 

Munn.  Park 274 

Mynning.  Christian  F 301 

N 

Nethaway,   Lyman 320 

Newton,  Samuel  L 307 

Nickens,  Spencer 364 

Nisbett, Wm.  P 552 

Northrup,  Clarence  L 361 

o 

O'Brien,   Dominick 283 

Olin,  Giles 251 

O'Neil,  James 201 

O'NeiU  John 183 

Orwig,  Harry  1 412 

Osborn ,  Nathan igg 

Osborne,  Abel  C 269 

Osgood,  Lucius  L 230 

Ostrander,  Chas 201 

Overton,  Wm.  E 331 

p 

Palmer,  Floyd 314 

Palmer.  Gilbert  S 291 

ParkiU,   James  M 462 

Parks ,   Clarence 233 

Parks,  Robert  D 311 

Parrott,  Jacob 440 

Parsons,  Andrew 133 

Pattison.Dr.  lacobW 332 

Pearson ,  Silas 444 

Pease,  Dr.  Jerome  F 447 

Pease,  ZibaW 382 

Peck.   Whitfield   H 222 

Peirce,  Hon.  Edgar 522 

Pelton,  Lon.  A 473 

Pemberton.C.  O 221 

Pfistner.  Frederick 367 

Phelps.  Edgar  O 300 

Phelps, Hon.  Fitch 327 

Philleo,  Wm.  C 454 

Phillcy,  James  E 331 

Pierce,  Alfred 204 

Pierce ,  Franklin 71 

Pierce,  Isaac  W 248 

Pike,  JamesH 260 

Pike,  Lendall  I rgo 

Pitman,  Thomas  B 540 

Poling,  Richard  W 450 

Polk,  James  K 59 

Pordon,   John 392 

Porter,  Frank  J 223 

Potter,  John  G 33a 

Powers,  Benj.  F 278 

Precious  Geo.  W 289 

Preston,   Alonzo  C Mt 

Pullman,    Chas.  W 467 

Q 

Quiglcy,  David 183 

Quigley,   Edward  R 200 


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INDEX. 


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Quiglcy,  Lysantlcr  218 

R 

Ransom.  Epaphrolitus 153 

Rapcr,  JohnM 388 

Rathvon,    Benj.  F 233 

Rath%-oii,  Chas 33<* 

Rnw<;on,  Myron 38a 

Rccd,EliasS 193 

Reed,  G.  W 525 

Reed.  Roland  D 355 

Reed,  Thomas  S 527 

Reiier    John  E 250 

Remus.  William 401 

Rcynicr,  Julius : 370 

Reynolds,   Hiram  R 5+4 

Rice,  Frank  G 322 

Richards,  Clifton  D 392 

Richardson     Cyrus  F 544 

Richardson,  Horace  F 321 

Rierdon,  John 368 

Risbridger,  George 181 

Roach,  Horace 301 

Roben ,  Douglas 287 

Roben.  Matthew 357 

Robinson,  Jay  D 539 

Roe,  Edwin  R 35> 

Rogers,  Edward  C 369 

Rogers,  James  H 252 

Romig    Dr.  E.  A 259 

Roof,  Geo.  A 268 

Roosevelt,  Sidney  H 526 

Rose,  Frederick 263 

Rose,  James  E 411 

Rose,  John  A   250 

Rose.  Samuel  \V 313 

Rowley,   Ansel 497 

Royce,  Calvin 240 

Ruger,  Daniel  H 311 

Runyan,  John  P 292 

Russ,  Dr.  Otto  C 402 

Russell,  Ltiwis 329 


Salest  Thomas 468 

Sanford,  David  H 321 

Schofield,  Alanson  R 472 

Scott,  Nicholas 402 

Seaton,    Henry 201 


Seaton,  Wm.  N 207 

Sears,  Andrew  J 484 

Sebastian,  Chas.  W S3» 

Sedore,  Isaac 223 

Shankwilcr,  Edward  F 510 

Sharpe,  Thomas  J 398 

Shaw,  Thomas,  Sr 462 

Shantz,  Owen 382 

Shields,  James 334 

Showers,  Sidney .386 

Shrouds,  Bcnj .  J 544 

Shust,  Georiic 4ir 

Simmons,  James 213 

Sims,  John  M 346 

Skelton,  Thomas 223 

Slawson,   Hiram  H 332 

Slawson.   Wm.  F 551 

Smith,  Francis 333 

Smith,  Frank  P 214 

Smith,  Joseph 323 

Smith,  Joseph 440 

Smith.   Wilhcrt  W 514 

Smith,  Wm.  W 492 

Snider,  Jacob 292 

Snider,  Stias 534 

Snyder,  John  R 292 

Sours,  Lawrence 312 

Sparks,  George  E 510 

Sparks.  John  W 551 

Sqiiicr,  Wm.  H 224 

Staab,  Gotlleib .,. 358 

Stearns,  Daniel 510 

Stearns,  Geo .  F 393 

Stephens,  James 310 

Sterling,  M  urdoch 455 

Stewart,  D.  W 385 

Stewart,  Selkirk  A 288 

Stickney,  Edmund  M 397 

Stiffen,  Ulrich 207 

Strecter,  Amos  R 436 

Strccter,  Michael 221 

Strong,  Edward  P 415 

Swager.N.J 408 

Swarthout,  Lewis 300 

Sweet,  John 318 

Swisher,  Nathan .294 

T 

Tagg,  Ilcnj.  tl 368 


Tallman,  Jacob  J 473 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Tcachout.CC 484 

Telfer,  Robert 204 

Tenney,  Justice  W 293 

Tcrrill.Dr.   F.  C 272 

Thomas,  John  W 243 

Thompson,   Alexander 298 

Throp,  S.  J 345 

Thurkow,  John  E 217 

Toan,  Lewis 257 

I'ompkins,  Alexander  N 300 

Tousey,  G.  C 209 

TrujsclKH.  M   242 

Tuckcr.W.  S 492 

Tutlle,  Chas.  L 429 

Tyler.  John 55 

V 

Van  Alstine.  Abraham 533 

Van  Alstine,  Nelson 321 

VanBurcn,  Mjrtin 47 

Vangilder,  Alonzo 472 

Vandcwatcr,  Richard   291 

Van  Loo,  Wm 531 

Verity,  C  A 496 

Vincent,  Col.  Nathan  H 477 

Vogg,  Gottlob 234 

Vollmer,  A.  A 333 

Vorce,  Geo.  P 211 

w 

Wadsworth,  Wm.  J 227 

Wagencr,   Chas.  H 213 

Walch ,  Frederick ....  302 

Waldo.  George 238 

Wnlker.  Wm.  H 2:1 

WamboKI.   Isaac 329 

Waid,  Luther  O.  R 263 

Waring,  Geo.  F 435 

Warner,  Chas   E 356 

Warren,  Chauncey 538 

Warren,  Geo.  W 375 

Warren,  Wm 283 

Washington,  George 19 

Waterman,   A.  H 350 

Watson.   Rev.  R.H 370 

Weaver,  James  P 549 


Weber.  Reuben  J 436 

Welwter,  Simon  G 241 

Welwtcr,  Wm.  H 554 

Wcidman,  John  S 471 

Welch,  D.  1 364 

Wells,M.  A 954 

Wcndling,  Joseph 532 

Wernettc,   C.  W 355 

West,  Joseph 543 

Whitheck,   Nelson 309 

White.  Jchr 440 

White.  Oscar  T 368 

Whitney.  Dr.  W.  A 413 

Whitney,  W.  S, 374 

Wilcox,  L.  A 462 

Wilcox,  Stephen  S 459 

Wilder.  Harry  M 434 

Wilkinson.  Chas 31a 

Willett,  Richard  L 376 

Willctt,  Wm 344 

Williams,  k.  E ^26 

Williams,  Franklin  M 290 

Williams,  Harvey  O 381 

Williams.  Jesse 278 

Williamson,  Byron  B 104 

Wilson,  D.ivid 261 

Wilson,  G.  F.  C 192 

Wilson,  Martin  E 328 

Wifcman,  John 358 

Wisner,  Moses 141 

Witbcck,   Lucas  I .521 

Wolcott,  Benj.  L 435 

Wolcotl,  Henry  B 304 

Wolcott ,  S .  K 309 

Wood,  Fred.  B 468 

Wood,  Sanford  B 193 

Woodbridge,  Wm 109 

Woodw-ird,  .Asa  G 374 

Wool  Icy,  Dr.  Daniel  F 550 

Woolworth.  Bcnj.  F 491 

Wright,  John  H 369 

W'right,  Silas 228 

Wylic,  Thomas 4 '6 


Zetterstedt,  Gust 


A 


( 


^ 


(g)«4''W 


c 


% 


Adams.  John 23 

Adams,  John  Quincy 38 

Arthur,  Chester  A..- 98 

Baglcy,  John  J 156 

Baldwin,  Henry  P 152 

Barry,  John  S  113 

Begole,  Josiah  W... 168 


§|^VS^«^^ 


Binghum,  Kinsley  S 136 

Blair,  Austin 144 

Brockway,  Asa 226 

Bronson,  Stephen 186 

Bro\vn .  M 196 

Buchanan.  James  74 

Carman.  M     390 


Corey,  L.  F 320 

Crapo,  Henry  H 148 

Croswell,  Charles  M i(3o 

Darrah,  C.  M 336 

Dnrrah.  James  M 494 

Decker.  James  N 316 

Decker.  R.  S 418 


E!y,  Arnold 442 

Erikson,  P.  A..    376 

Escolt,  J.  T 518 

Fairman.  F 346 

Felch,  .'\lpheus «i6 

FVcderick,  Eli 489 

Frederick.   Mrs.  Eli 481 


-^'^^^^ 


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INDEX. 


'?^ 


i^ 


iO, 


u 


{■() 

A 


^ 

0 


i 


Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Fuller,    C.  C 176 

Gardner,  T    C 348 

Garfield,  James  A   94 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 86 

Gay,  Charlie 404 

Greenly,  William  L 120 

Harrison,  William  H 50 

Hayes,  Rutherford   B 90 

Hendryx,  W.  A 464 

Higbee,  Mrs.  C.  A 266 

Higbee,  Nelson 265 

Hobart,  M.  E 500 

Hooker,  A.  S 536 

Hopkinson,  W.  I> 414 

Hugh,  William 452 

Hilling,  J.  P   372 

Hunt,  T.  C 378 


Hutchinson,  L.  N 212 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 26 

Jerome,  David  H 164 

Johnson,    Andrew 82 

Jones,  W.  T 296 

Kenrick,  E.  H 494 

Knapp,  A  B .512 

Knapp,  Mrs.  A.  B 511 

Ladner,  William 488 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James 30 

Malone,  G.   R 342 

Mason,  Stevens  T 104 

McClelland,  Robert. 128 

Mct^arlane,  Andrew 432 

McLellan,  U 506 

Milner,  J 438 


Mitchell,  Samnel  S 236 

Mitchell,  Wm.  G    548 

Monroe,  James 34 

Newton,  Samuel  L 306 

Northrup,   C.  L 360 

Parsons,  Andrew 132 

Pease,  Jerome  F 445 

Pease,  Mrs.  Jerome  F 446 

Pfistner,   F 366 

Phelps.  Fitch 326 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  James  K 58 

Ranson,  Epaphrodltus 124 

Reed.  G.  W 524 

Remus,  William 400 

Roben,  Douglas 286 

Rogers,  J.  H   252 

Rose,  Freeman 409 


Rose,  Mrs.  Sally  M 410 

Seaton,  Wm.  N ao6 

Stewart,  Daniel  W 384 

Stickney,   E.  M 396 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Thurkow,  John  E 216 

Toan,  Lewis 256 

Tuttle,  Chailes  L 428 

Tyler,  John   54 

VanBuren,  Martin 46 

Van  Loo,  William 530 

Vincent,  Nathan   H 476 

Washington,  Cieorge 18 

Weidman,  John  S 470 

Wernette,  C.  W 354 

West,  Joseph ^42 

Wilcox,  S.   S ^. ^58 

Wisner,  Moses 140 

Woodbridge,  William 108 


INTRODUCTORY  nr,!! 

VAI>rE  OF    HISTORY  .WI 

PHYSICAL  FEATX'RES  5G2 
Geographical    and    To|mi- 

gi'aiihii-al  •")ij"2 

Geology  r)63 

Botanical  i')G4 

IXDIANS  565 

liulian  I/ifo  506 

'I'he  Indian  Dead  567 

The  Indians"  Futnro  5G8 

EAKKY  SETTLKMKNT  568 

lliiu  Onr  Father-^  Lived  560 

Weddings  570 

Sliakes  570 

First  Things  571 

ORGAN' IZATIOX  575 

OLD  SETTLERS  577 
Old  Settlers  ofl  hi'  Mii-kegon 

Valley  577 

Second  Old  Settlers"  Tarty  578 

LEGAL  679 

POLITICAL  580 

Klei'tion  lietnrns  5.S0 

MKCOSTA  FOR  THE  INION'  5,s9 

First  Enlistments  5tl0 

Connty  Aid  590 

Draft  590 

Snpplenientary  Draft  591 

More  Recruits  591 

The  Enil  5!!! 


The  Survivors  591 

Soldiers'  Reunions  592 

ACiRICl'LTIRAL  598 

The  Fairs  599 

Farmers"  Institute  600 

RAILROADS  liOl 

<;.  R.  i<:  I.  R.  R.  604 

Siiiash-ii|i  604 

C.   &  W.  >I.  R.  R.  605 

I).,  L.  &  N.  R.  R.  606 

EDVCATIOXAL  607 

THE  PRESS  cos 
Rig  Rapids   Pioneer    (Jlag- 

net  ami  Independent.)  60S 

Rig  Rapids  Regidator  611 

Big  Rapids  fMirrent  611 

Big  RajiidsIIerald  611 

Daily  Morning  EiitiM-jirise  612 

Mecosta  Advance  612 

LUMBERING   INTEREST  612 

Life  in  a  Lumber  <  am])  613 

MISCELLANEOUS  615 
Forest  Fires  616 
Starvation  617 
"Hereof  Fail  Not""  617 
Iron-Clad  ^larriage  Cere- 
mony 617 
Model  Marriage  Ceremony  IMS 
Population  of  Mecosta  (,'o.  618 
Taxation  619 
A'alnation  619 


TOWNSHIPS 

.Etna 
Austin 
Big  Rapiils 
Chii)pe\va 
<  'olfax 
Deeitield 
Fork 
Grant 
Green 
Hinton 
Martiiiv 
Mecosta 
Millhrook 
Morton 
Sheridan 
Wheatland 
CITY  OF  BIG  RAPIDS 
Schools 
Business 

Tioga  Manufactviring  Co. 
Business  Men's  Association 
Teleiihone 
Northern  Hotel 
Mercy  Hiis]iital 
Bank  Robbery 
Press  ( 'onveiition 
Orgaiuzations 
Churches 
Population 


620 
C20 
622 
622 
6-28 
624 
624 
625 
025 
020 
028 
C2S 
029 
629 
f,30 
C:!2 
033 
034 
i;46 
647 
fl48 
(!48 
648 
648 
649 
659 
650 
651 
054 
054 


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FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


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HE  Fatlier  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  V'a., 
Feb.  22,  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  Ceorge,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  Oeorge  was  tiie 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  Cleprge,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  i)roperty.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighlxDrliood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  lie  left 
school,   when    he    received    private     instruction    in 


mathematics. 


^^^^' 


His    spelling   was   rather   defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
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. 

When  George  was  14  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  througli  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  apjwinted 
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  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  apjiointed  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.  Tiiey 
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  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

UiX)n  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle,  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  lo  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  [wst  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  goo  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


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GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


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trip  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  imixsrtant  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says  :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  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  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  conmiission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  look  an 
active  and  imiwrtant  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  I'arke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  jwrt 
of  Boston,  the  cry  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- 
delphia.SejJt.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  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 
res|X)nsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  memberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  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  ever)'  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.  1 

In  February,  1 7 89,  Washington  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  part 
of  other  governments ;  trials  from  want  of  hannony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  counlr)% 
owmgto  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 
while  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  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
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  sub- 
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  tiiese  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  i  2,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  liis  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  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  princijiles,  and  na-  (^ 
lions,  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  tall,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry'. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


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SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


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JDUM  AIDAMS, 


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OHM  ADAMS,  the  second 
'resident  and  the  first  Vice- 
'  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  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 
'''J,  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  purjjose  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- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  n.-itive  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive jwwers.  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,  (t765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  ix)litics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  rcsolu- 


tions  he  offered  on  the  sul)jet  t  became  very  jiopular 
throughout  the  Provmce,  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  [wpular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  (ieneral  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.     Here  he  distinguished   himself   /s 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad-    ^ 
vocated  the  movement  for  independence  against  the    \-: 
majority  of  the  members.     In  May,  1776,    he  moved    r^ 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonics 
should   assume   the  duties  of  self-government.     He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  five 
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  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  the 
glow  of  e.xcited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says, "the 
greatest  cpiestion  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  .America;  and  greater,  ])erhaps,  never  was  or  will 
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  epoch  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  .Mmighty 
Cod.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  wiili  jwmp,  showS) 


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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  transix)rted 
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  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  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  the  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  the  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  pioiX)sels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  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  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  ^Vhile  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
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,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  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.  .-Xdams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
.\dams,  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.  Tn  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
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  sympathy  with  the  French  peoiile 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
jx)wer  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  peo[)le.  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  begun  to  receive  that  just 
a])preciation  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  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
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  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  lieen  rapidly  failiiig,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  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."  When  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 — Crod  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  particulady  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  iiortrait  manifests,was  intellectual  ard  ex])res- 
sive,  but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  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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HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
botn  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
'«  ell,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  fomier  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  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  lie 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  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 
hours  a  day  to  hard  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 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  hails;  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 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  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  accomiilislied  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  (or  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  177s  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  ujxjn  a  number  of  imixjrtant  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  a|)pointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  /\dams, 
Henjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  .\dains  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 


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THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


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■»? 

I 


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, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  i.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  ofticer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elafjsed  after  the  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  this  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.  I,  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  the 
tramiuilily  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 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  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 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

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  Monticello,  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  the 
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  him  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  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  ne.xt 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  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 spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stopd  forth,  the  champions  of 
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  together  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  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage  ;  and  his  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  enthusiastic  ;  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  antiijuity. 


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AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
■f  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
"^  June  28,   1S36.     The  name  of 
[anies  Madison  is  inseparaljly  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  inii)ortant 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  tlie  founda-- 
tions  of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called    to   his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake l)ut  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Mont|)elier,"  ( )rangeCo., 
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 
It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  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- 


HUie  Ridge- 


prudent  zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  lie  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  witli  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  subse- 
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  insiiire  him  with  a  strong 
,  love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
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  diiected  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  une<iual!ed  iwwers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  estaWished  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)1  lie  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  remained 
member  of  the  Council  :    and  their  apjjreciation  of  his 


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intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  JMr.  Madison  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  ap|ioint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  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  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  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  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  (wwer  at  home  and  little  respect 
aliroad.  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- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  becaiiie  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  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  jx^sition  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
whicii  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,  retiring 
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  approx  d;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4tli 
of  March,  igij,  ''as  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  uj'on  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
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  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  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  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  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  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  tlie  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  uj)  at  the  door  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  wei^  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  atGhent. 

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  passed  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,  1849. 


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AMES  MdXROE,  the  fifth 
I'residcntof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
,5  many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
b  of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
(Jreat  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
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  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prosi)ect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  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  es|X)used  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


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for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
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  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  i)ro- 
moted  a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  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.  l'i)on 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  [jeriod  Covernor,  and  jjursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  iiowever, 
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  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  Ceorge  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to   a   seat   in    the    E.xecutive      ^ 
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    0^ 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,   which   were  afterwards      • 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good,    «^ 


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he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a   member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

DeeplyasMr.  Monroefelt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  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  i)arties  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  sympathized  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  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
^Vashington  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  combined  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.sliould  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  France  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  years.  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  L'nited  States. 
This  was  probably  the  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  agaui  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  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Lfpon  the  return  of 
peace  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,  18 17,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the    "  Monroe  doctrine.'' 

Tliis  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  wish 
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  Eurojjean 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  LTnited 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  Uiuted  States. 

At  the  end  of  Iiis  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. 


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OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the   United 
'States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his    honored    father, 
John  Adams,  in  Qaincy,  Mass., 
on  the  1 1  th  cf  July,  1767.   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant    ab- 
sence of  his  father.      W'lien    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker  s  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
uix)n  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the    conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but   eleven  years  old    he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  iiis  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father    for    Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.    The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with   Franklin  and  I.ee   as 
minister  pieniix)tentiary.     His  intelligence   attracted 
i   the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
!^   from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  liad  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  ()uincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  liimself  with  great  diligence,  for  si.\  months, 
to  study;  then  accompained  his  fatlier  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .\msterdam,  then 
the  I'niversity  at  I.eyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  liy  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enoiiling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
'V  to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
^  Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
(  •)  winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resinned 
>^   his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence, 


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in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  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  temi)oral 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  17S5, 
when  he  returned  to  .Vnierica.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  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; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  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  bvi.t  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed iiy  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netiierlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  Jidy,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Creat  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  tlie  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  pteniix)tentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions,  \\hile  waiting  he  was  mairied  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  ])rcviously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  .^meri(■an  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


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JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  havingful- 
.  filled  all  the  puriwses  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4tii  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  i8og,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  Q)llege,  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,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
iSth  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  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  otifice,  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 
(juestion  went  to  the  House  of  Re|iresentatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
the  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  library 
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  place  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  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  tlie  House,  with  assassination; 
but  no  tlireats  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  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  pra)er  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  pajier  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  Jiim. 
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  f/ic  end  of  earth  .-"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "I  am  eon/en/."  These  were  the 
last   words  of    the    grand    "  Old    Man    Eloquent." 


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;^J  NDREW     JACKSOX,     the 
vi)  seventh    President    of     the 
United   States,  was  born   in 
Waxhaw  settlement,   N.    (J., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  deatli.    His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from    Ireland,  and  took   up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.      His 
features  were  coarse,  liis  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 
17X1,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-sfjattered  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 
blow  at  the  head   of  the   helpless  young    prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  tlie  hand  and  tlie  other  uixjn  the 
'?^  head.     The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
1     with  the  same  demand.     He  also   refused,    and    re- 
►■'«  ceived  a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  ipiite 

t  disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
I  •'  were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-ix)x.  Their 
^  mother  was  successful  in   obtaining   their  exchange. 


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and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

.\ndrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  17S4,  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  17S8,  lie  was  a|)i)oinle(l 
solicitcr  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  i)art.  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 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  Ijoth  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  tlie  conditionsof  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  Tiie  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  whicji,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  179(3,  tlie  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  neady  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 

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sessions, — ^a  disiauce  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  ofhce  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  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1S12  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 upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  (ien.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troo|)s 
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  ^\'ilkinson,  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  afteradelay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  hail  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  tlie  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  lirother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  iipon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  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  FayettesviUc,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the'i'allapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  .Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  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  Marcli.  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  itsterriffic  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  (Ien.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  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.  .-Xt  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  (len.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  t824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  .'\dams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  ternr  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 
])erhaps  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  Jtme  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's  life  were   that   of  a   devoted  Christian    man. 


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EIGHTH  rRESIDENT. 


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1 


ARTIN  VAN  liUREN,  the 
eighth     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 
a  plain  granite    shaft  llfteea  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  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  tliose 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  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  Dutcli  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  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  retiuired  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  si.x  years  in  an  office  in  his   native  village. 


he  went  to  the  city  of  \ew  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  lieight.  Mr.  Van 
Huren  was  from  the  beginning  a  [jolitician.  He  had, 
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  eloipiently  espoused  the 
cause  of  St-ate  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,  the 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consumi)- 
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  I  Si  2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was.  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  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. 

^Vilile  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic   party,  he  had 


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MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


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 
the  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  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
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 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  iwwers  it  is  said  that  he  outv.'itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
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 
frowns  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,  whicli  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  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  e.xception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  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 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  jxisitions  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,  184 1,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  uix)n  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  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  before 
.  experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


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NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


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ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  nintli   President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin    Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  o[)- 
iilcnt  circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  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. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
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 
witli  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Uiwn  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


I 


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  ai)- 
pointed  Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
IKDsition. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  '•  Tlie  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  jwriion,  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- 
ix)inted  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  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  tliese  resjwnsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  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, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opiwsite  Ix)uisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


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WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


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the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  niei!,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  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  might 
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,  the  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  an  orator:  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 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approacliing  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  posted  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  by  his  side, and  his  bajonet  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 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  l)een  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- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  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  tlieCan- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  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  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
Cjeneral  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 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  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  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  rejiresent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloiiuence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1 819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  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  (ien.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
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  forthe  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  wliich  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  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, 


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TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


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J  Dim  ^TXEIR 


;(  OHN  TYLER,  the  tenth 
■'jij  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  \Villiam 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
^/  &i?k\     ^^'^  ^'''^    great    assiduity  to   the 

,  ^  ^^^      study    of    law,    partly   with    his 

father  and  partly  with  Edmund 
Randoli)h,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen    years  of  age,   ne 
commenced  tlie  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  tlie  court  in  which   he  was 
not  retained.     When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.       He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the    measures   of 
(p\  Jefferson  and  Madison.     For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly   tlie 
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  party,  opjxising  a  national 

bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


i 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  tlie  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  popularity  secured  liis  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  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 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opixjsi- 
tion.  He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  uiKin  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  imiirovements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  symiiathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  0|)position  to  the  nuilifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  ptinci])ies  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,  lie  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     There  was  a  split  in  the   Democratic 


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party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
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 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disapjxjintmentof 
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  North :  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  1 84 1,  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  found  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  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opi)osed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  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   suggested,   however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  ujxjn  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  tlie  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  bitterly.  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  witli  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  sui)port  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  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  telief.  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  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charies-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  niformation  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
moans  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  wliich  his  own  principles  and 
policy  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,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
otice  presided,   he   was  taken   sick   and  soon  died. 


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ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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i 


I  AMES  K.POLK,  the  eleventh 
^ii,  President  of  the  United  States, 
Mecklenburg  Co., 
2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and    Jane 
(Kno.x)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Tiiomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1S06,  with  his  wife, 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  memliers  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  tlie 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  luils, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  tlie 
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  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  thatof  a  farmer, 
'  gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 

he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
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  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;   and  his 


•<^  I 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disapiwintnient.  fie 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  tliis 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  bis 
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  1S15,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  l)oth  in 
mathematics  and  the  classii's.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  wiiii  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  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  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  JefTersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  jKjpular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  uix)n  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  jxjpularly  called  the  Naixjleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,   genial  and 


father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


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« 


60 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


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courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo)s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
^  him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
I  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- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House      Strong  passions  were  roused, 

ca   and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
^  formed  his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general    satisfac- 

S   tion,  and  a  unanimous  vote  of   thanks   to   him    was 
pass'ed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th    of 
S   March,  1839. 

^  In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  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,  iS45,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  tlie  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3(1  of  March,  apjiroving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  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  tlie  Union  on  the  same   footing  with    the 

^    Other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


A 


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with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundaiy  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  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
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  upon  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.  This 
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  i)rosecution 
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  Mr_^.  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  tranquility  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  fifty-fourth 
I  year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen, 


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TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


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•\CHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
resident  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.     His 
father.   Colonel    Taylor,    was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished 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,   young  Zachary 
could  enjoy   but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages.   When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
)    school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter     He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reliant,   and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  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  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in    the   United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  whicii  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  tlie  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
^    led  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering    fifty  men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Earl)  in  tlie  autumn  of  i8ij,  tiie  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Tiieir 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  ixjssible  preparation  to  meet  the  antii  i- 
pated  assault.  On  the  4th  of  .September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fori, 
waving  a  white  (lag,  and  infomied  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  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  \\\k>x\.  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  jiost.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  whicii  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  lire  to  one  of  llie  liiock-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  tiieii,  baffled  at  every  jKjint, 
and  gnashing  their  teelli  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  |)romoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  MajorTaylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  tlie  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  l'"o.\  Kiver,  whit  h 
empties  into  Green  I?ay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  asone 
best  could.    There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


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ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


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tellectiuil  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  (iradually  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  in 
emi)loynients  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  actpiaintance. 
In  the  year  1S36,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
had  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  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.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississijipi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headcpiarters 
at  F"ort  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,  the  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  lirevet 
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, 
the  .w/'/vV/ /(■('/  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthuslj'sm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  (ien.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lii)s.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
noimcement,  and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  ipialified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
their  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. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  jMsition, 
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  be  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: — "  With  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 pocket, — 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.' 

".\ny  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-l)ook,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving   contempt   for  learning  of  eveiy  kind." 


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MILLflRn  FILLMnRE.' 


iS:&<«^:s4»s:s«*^;s*^:sH^T;:;c'*^:s<*^:s-*^;S'»^;s^^;:j*S;S^«^:&"S^ig*^:s*^:s 


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ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth I'residentof  the  United 
ij  States,  was  born  at  Suninicr 
}/  Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  X.  Y  .,  on 
tlie  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 


ing  to  misfortune,  n^  humble  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,   tlie 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  ISiillard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,   it    has   been 
said  tliat  she  [jossessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
l)ersonal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
lX)sition,  graceful  manners  and   ex- 
quisite sensibilities.      She   died    in 
183 1  ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  conse<|uence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
anil  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  uiwn  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
1^  influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
•i-  and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
-^  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  iiiin 
*P»  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 


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enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  ot  a 
village  library.  This  i)roved  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. 

Tile  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood,— who  was  struck  with  the  ])repossessing  a|)- 
pearance  of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  hisaccpiaint- 
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  im])erfect.  Hut  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    about 
a  collegiate  education.     A  young  man  is  supix)sed  to 
be  liber.ally  cducateil  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege.    But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls     '\J 
and  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as     >  .^ 


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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  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  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  in  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  industrj', 
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  parlies, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degrt  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  him  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  u[X)n  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  tlie  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  tiumpet-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,  the 
namesofZachary  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. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
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, 
lie  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supjxised  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  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874. 


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FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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RANKLIN  PIERCE,  the 
fourteenth  President  of  the 
Jf*  United  States,  was  bom  m 
Hillsborough,  N.  H.,  Nov. 
23,  1804.  His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  who, 
with  his  own  strong  ami, 
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- 
Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 
Franklin  was  a  very  l)right  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.  Witliout  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
'S  devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
I      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  jwpular  young  men    in  the  college. 

The    ))urity   of  his   moral  character,  the    vinvarying 


^    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. 

Upon  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 
the  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 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  ixjlitical  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  duly, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  wliom 
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  1S34.  lie  maaied  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 


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three  sons  who  were  bom  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  consei]uence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  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  imfwrtant  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  1 2th  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 
otlicr  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  home  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. 


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I'IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 
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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridue  of  tlie  AUegha- 
V(5f .:;.:  J^'./  nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  I'enn., on 
■^     "  the  23d  of  April,  1791.    Tlie  place 

(,        ■    i     where   the  humble   cabin   of  his 
~^  is' .'^1     lather   stood    was    called     Stony 


Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic si)ot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  iX)or  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,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  tliere  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  tlie  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
fur  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  yearsof  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 
I  •,)  the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
^  to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  j)owers    en- 


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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  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  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.  .\t  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  imix)rtant  case.  In  1831,  he  r(?lired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  ])rofession,  having  .ac- 
•  [uired  an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  ui)on  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.  Ujwn  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  AVright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures projwsedby  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


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sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wliolesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  liis  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brouglit  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  e.\[)unging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  tlie  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  al)olition  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  jwwer  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  nowe.xists." 

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  pi^rpetuation  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  comin'omise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law,  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  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- 
ceived 1 14  electoral  votes.      Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,   and    was   elected.      The    popular   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 
>      years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  liis  threescore  years  and 
\      ten.     His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
"•    allied  in  [wlitical  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  u[)on  the  ruins  of  our   free   institutions    a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
\^    In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
^    >yildered.     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


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ciples,  consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  i)erjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
imite  witli  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lmcoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slaverv 
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  [)ro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
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,  tlie  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  Sampler 
was  besieged;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
ai)propriated  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, 
aitd  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 
])leasure.  .'\nd  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  rebellion. 
He  died  at  his   Wheatland    retreat,    June    i,    1868. 


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BRAHAM    LINCOLN, 

„,  sixteentli    President     of 
i-#Uiiited   States,   was   born 
•%]   Hardin    Co.,   Ky.,    Feb. 
\h     1809.     About  tlie  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Liiicohi  left  Virginia  with   his 
family  and  moved  into   the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  tliis  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.   His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  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  .Vbrahain  Lincoln,  the 
'         President    of    the    United    States 
whose  name  must   henceforth    forever   be    enrolled 
with  tiie  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  wodc^. 
Of  course    no  record  has  been    kept   of  the    life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.     He  was  among 
the  ix)orest  of  the  jwor.     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- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.      He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  s|)ent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  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. 
".Ml  ihat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  e.xclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother.  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  Airm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  iiini.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  tcacii  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  tlie  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  I'hi're  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  squatter'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.  .Abraham  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  for- 
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  jjower.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liipior  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
Cod's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  Cod  in  vain;"  and  a  ])rofaiie  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laliorer 
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  ihem  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mi.s 
sissippi  to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham 
coin  undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.      In  this  adven 


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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 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointmentof  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-otfice  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  liis  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  to  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  (luestion,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
the  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  i6lh  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  tliousand.  .\n  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. Tliere  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  tlie  land,  was  the  most 
prominent.  It  was  generally  su|)posed  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  wliich  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  lie  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  tlie  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
ai)lacein  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  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  [wured  \i[)oi\  this    good' 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
higli  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping'in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  wliole  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,  upon  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  tlie  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  anxiety  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 
important  jxjsitions. 

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  Lincohi.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  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  S[)ringfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  liis  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  liis  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  l)e  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  tlie  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  tlie 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  dee|)  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  tlie  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  hiscountr)-- 
men  being  unable  to  decide   which  is   the  greater. 


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HJ  NDRP:W  J(^HNS()N,  sevcn- 
®  teenth  President  of  the  United 
If  States.  The  early  life  of 
j.  jj  Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
1^,-  •  -w^  --^^jT  ''^"^  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
^-^>^:  S-t/  tion  and  friendlessness.  He 
!^  /  was  born  December  29,  180S, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  uixjn 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supixDrted  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  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  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  re.ad. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  ui)on  the  gentle- 
roan  to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.     The  owner. 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  hcwk, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on- 
ward laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  sho]),  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  sucli  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  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  jxilitical 
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 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  ojjjwsition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  si)eaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  [841,  he  was  elected  Stale  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  imiwrtant  iwst  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resj^nsible  ix)si- 
tions,  he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abil- 

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^  ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
V:-    ing  classes.      In    1857,    Mr.    Johnson    was    elected 
',  United  States  Senator. 

f  Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
f).  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,  that  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  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slaver)'. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  neverashamedof  his  lowly  origin: 
on  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  i860,  he 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
em  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,  1862,  ap- 
^  pointed  him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
•1  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 
they  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,  bat  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  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


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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  beginnirig  of  1868,  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  impotently, 
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,  1875,  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  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


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LYSSES     S.    GRANT,    the 
eighteenth    President   of  the 
5 United  States,  was    born   on 
the  29th   of  April,    1822,   of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
'  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  tiie  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  jwsts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.     Two  years  he  i)ast   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 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  K\  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  exjxssed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  \\\io\\  one 
v^     side  of  the  animal,  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  appointed  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 
discover)'  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  protection  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  uiwn  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  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  anny;  though 
1  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  tliis  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  Stale,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
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 


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June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  comraissioii  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  jilaced  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  stars  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  tlie 
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  tactical  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, 1S64,  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   the   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  with  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  temi 
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.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  modest,  courteous,  and 
dignified  demeanor  in  the  presence  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  in  the  different  nations  in  the  world, 
reflected  honor  upon  the  Republic  which  he  so  long 
and  so  faithfully  served.  Tlie  country  felt  a  great 
jnide  in  his  reception.  Upon  his  arrival  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Sept.  20,  1879,  the  city  authorities  gave  him  a 
fine  reception.  After  lingering  in  the  Golden  State 
for  a  while,  he  began  his  tour  tlirough  the  States, 
which  extended  North  and  .'^oulh,  evcr)-where  mark- 
ed  by   great    acclamation    and    splendid    ovations. 


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M  RUTHKRi:ORD  B.  HAYES,   u. 

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UTHERFORD  H.  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  1280,  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- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  Cieorge  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
Cieorge  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezckiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turerof  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes,   the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  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.  Both  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  slock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  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.  \  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  support  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 


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RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


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subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  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 
familial-  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  1  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  but  I  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  possible,  stilly  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
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  proposed  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  Tliomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
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  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1S49  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  jiowerful  influence  iqwn  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Wel>b,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  l)ody  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F. 
others   hardly  less  distinguished 
marriage  was  a   fortunate  one  in 
everybody  knows.     Not  one  of  all 


many 
The 


Noyes,  and 

in   after  life. 

every   respect,   as 

the  wives  of  our 


Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  toreflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  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  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  186 1,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1 86 2,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
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-General.  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  1864,  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  1  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  (Governor of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  jwpular  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  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  witli  satisfaction  to  his  party 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  one. 


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TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


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AMES  A.  (;ARFIELD,  iwun- 
tieth  President  of  tlie  United 
States,  was  born  Nov.  19, 
1 83 1,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O  His  par- 
,  eats  were  Abram  and    EHza 

J^               p  V  -''' V :  4  (Ballon)   Garfield,   both   of   New 
'^ ■'"      England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
'\  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.  ft 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
J  hard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
^  cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
,^}  The  household  comprised  tlic  father  and  mother  and 
their  four  children — Mehetal)el,  Tiiomas,  Mary  and 
James.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
tracted in  helping  to  i)ut  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
tills  time  James  was  about  eighteen  montlis  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
tell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

Tlie  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  lo  ai<l  his  widowed 
^    mother  in  her  struggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


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gether.  Nor  was  Gen.  (larfield  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  tlie  highest  seals  of  honor, 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  ])oorest  laborer  was  sure  of  tlie 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  kni;wn  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  he 
was  about  si.vteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  wliich  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  C^leveland,  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. 
.\fier  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  iV  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  lie  went 
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 
tlie  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  i<S5o,  of 
whicli  churcli  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  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  returned  lo  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  slated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  C"hurch  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  iiappened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Vale  College,  says  of  liim  in  reference  to  his  religion ; 


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JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


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"  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  his  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  upward  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- 
larian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolpli,  Nov.  1 1,  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  tlie  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  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  acHon, 
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  M^.rsliall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Reliellioii.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  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  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  marcli  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  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  witliout  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  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  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." 

Ui»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,  r88i,  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  peojjle,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  lie  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  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  ISlaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
liim,  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  liad  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  tlie  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  briglitest,  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  tlie  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — liow  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  u]ion  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


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TWENTY.FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


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.^^T^^Wk  HESTER 
twentv-first 


A.      ARTHUR, 

President   of  the 

United    States,   was    born    in 

Franklin  County,  Vermont,  on 

"^    the  fifthof  October,  1830,  and  is 

%.r:;C;,nJ^  the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 


'-'    sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who 

emigrated  to  this  countrj'  from 

the  county  Antrim,  Ireland,   in 

liis  1 8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 

Newtonville,   near  Albany,   after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur   was  educated  at 

Union  College,  Schenectady,  where 

he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.     Af- 

%    ter  his  graduation  he  taught  school 

&in  Vermont  for  two  years,   and   at 
-     the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.    D.    Culver   as    student.     After 
1       being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  I).  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, 

tbut  in  the  end  returned  to   New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon   a  success- 
,     ful  career  almost  from    the    start,     (leneral    Arthur 
V«   soon  afterward  married  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 
nommation  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  possession  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  csjwused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  l;e  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  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  ipiickly 


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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. 
f  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  huii  Enginecr- 
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 Tliomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merrill. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  18S0.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  asseml)led  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  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 
was  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- 

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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  ]X)sition  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  assume  the  resix)nsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  jwsition  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  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  has  happily  surprised  the  Nation,  acting  so 
justly,  so  wisely,  so  well,  that  but  few  have  criticised 
his  administration.  Should  he  continue  during  the 
remainder  of  his  term  to  pursue  the  wise  policy  he 
has  followed  thus  far,  we  believe  President  Arthur's 
administration  will  go  down  in  history  as  one  of  the 
wisest  and  most  satisfactory  our  country  has  ever 
enjoyed.  His  highest  ambition  seems  to  be  to  do  his  (q^ 
duty  to  the  whole  Nation,  even  to  tlie  sacrifice  of  his  f 
warmest  personal  friends.  AVith  the  good  of  the  ^|g 
people  at  heart,  and  guided  by  the  wisdom  already  m 
displayed,  he  will  surprise  his  opponents,  gratify  his  >jf 
friends,  and  bless  the  .Xmerican  Republic,  during  ^', 
the    years  he  occupies  the  Presidential  chair,  ^ 


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TEPHEN  T.    MASON,    the 

'■*'  first  Oovcrnorof  Michigan,  was 
a  son  of  Gen.  John  T.  Mason, 
of  Kentucky,  but  was  born  in 
Virginia,  in  i8 1 2.  At  the  age 
*=^  of  19  he  was  apiwinted  Secre- 
tary of  Michigan  Territory,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  during  the 
administration  of  Gov.  George  li. 
Porter.  Upon  the  death  of  Gov. 
Porter,  which  occurred  on  the  6tii  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[X)n  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  position,  and  served  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  Stale. 
He  died  Jan.  4,  1843.  The  principal  event  during 
Governor  Mason's  official  career,  was  that  arising  from 
the  disputed  southern  boundary  of  the  State. 

Michigan  claimed  for  her  southern  boundary  a  line 
running  east  across  the  peninsula  from  the  extreme 
southern  [xiint  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, 
the  parties  to  which  were  the  original  13  States,  and 
the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio;  and,  by  the  suc- 
cession of  i)arties  under  statutory  amendments  to  the 
ordinance  and  laws  of  Congress — the  United  States  on 
the  one  part,  and  each  Territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio,  as  far  as  affected  by  their   provisions,   on    the 


other.  Michigan,  therefore,  claimed  it  under  the  jirior 
grant,  or  assignation  of  boundary, 

Ohio,  on  the  other  liand,  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  aiw 
peared  to  regard  the  (piestion  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  1818.  In  1820,  the  question  in  disj)ute 
underwent  a  rigid  examination  by  the  Committee  on 
Public  Lands.  The  claim  of  Ohio  was  strenuously 
urged  by  her  delegation,  and  as  ably  opjxjsed  liy  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  (piestion 
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  whole  north- 
ern line  of  Ohio,  west  of  Lake  Erie.  The  line  claimed 
liy  Michigan  was  known  as  the  "  Fulton  line,"  and 
that  claimed  by  Ohio  was  known  as  the"  Harris  line," 


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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  passed 
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  Legislature,  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  carrj'  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 
the  Harris  line.  He  was  accompanied  by  General 
Bell  and  staff,  of  the  Ohio  Militia,  who  proceeded  to 
muster  a  volunteer  force  of  aliout  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  jiossession  of  Toledo.  General 
Brown's  Staff  consisted  of  Captain  Henry  Smith,  of 
Monroe,  Inspector;  Major  J.  J.  UUman,  of  Con- 
stantine,  Quartermaster;  William  E.  Broadman,  of 
Detroit,  and  Alpheus  Felch,  of  Monroe,  Aids-de- 
camp. When  Governor  Lucas  observed  tlie  deter- 
mined bearing  of  the  Michigan  braves,  and  took  note 


>o 


of  their  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  possessionof  the  disputed 
territory  by  force.  After  several  conferences  with 
both  governors,  the  connnissioners  submitted  proposi- 
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  kept  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 
the  surveying  party  got  within  the  county  of  Lena- 
wee, the  under-sheriff  of  that  county,  armed  with  a 
warrant,  and  accompanied  by  a  posse,  suddenly  made 
his  appearance,  and  succeeded  in  arresting  a  jiortion 
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 
reported  they  had  been  attacked  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing force  of  Michigan  malitia,  under  command  of 
General  Brown. 

Tliis  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  sometime 
to  agitate  the  minds  of  the  opposing  parties;    and  the    ■"■..■ 
action  of  Concress  was  impatiently  awaited.  Michigan    '  y 
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.    .^^ 


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SECOND  GO  VERNOR  OF  MICHIGAN. 


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109    -s^ 


ILLIA.M       WOODBRlIKiE, 
second  (Governor  of  Michigan, 
was  born    at  Norwich,  Conn., 
Aug.   20,   1780,    and  died  at 
'    Detroit    Oct.    20,    i86i.     He 
A  was  of  a  family  of  three  brothers 
and    two     sisters.      His    father, 
I  )udley  Woodbridge,  removed  to 
Marietta,  Ohio,  al)Out  1790.    The 
life  of  Wni.  Woodbridge,  by  Chas. 
Lauman,  from  which  this  sketch 
is  largely  com  piled,  mentions  noth- 
ing concerning  his  early  education 
beyond  the  fact  that  it  was  such  as 
was  afforded  by  the  average  school 
of  the  lime,  e.xcept  a  year  with  the 
French     colonists     at     GalliixDlis, 
where  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
the    French  language.     It    should 
be  borne  in   mind,  however,  that 
home  education  at  that  time  was 
an    indispensable    feature    in    the 
training  of  the  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 
adorned  and  helped  to  make  our  National    history. 
Mr.  Woodbridge  studied  law  at   Marietta,  having 
as   a    fellow  student  an  intimate   personal   friend,  a 
young  man  subsequently  distinguished,  but  known 
at  that  time  simply  as  Lewis  Cass.     He  graduated  at 
the  law  school  in  Connecticut,  after  a  course  there  of 
nearly  three  years,  and  began  to  practice  at   Marietta 
in  1806.    In  June,  1806,  he  married,  at  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut,   Juleanna,   daughter  of    John  Trunibell,  a 
distinguished  author   and  judge ;  and  author  of  the 


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peom  McFingal,  which,  during  a  dark  period  of  tlic 
Revolution,  wrought  such  a  magic  change  uiwn  the 
spirits  of  the  colonists.  He  was  happy  in  his  domes- 
tic relations  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  W.,  Feb.  2, 19,  1S60. 
Our  written  biographies  necessarily  speak  more 
fully  of  men,  because  of  their  active  participation  in 
public  affairs,  but  human  actions  are  stamped  upon 
the  page  of  time  and  when  the  scroll  shall  be  unrolled 
the  influence  of  good  women  upon  the  history  of  the 
world  will  be  read  side  by  side  with  the  deeds  of  men. 
How  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  that  the 
country  afforded,  and  her  intellectual  genius  enabled 
her  to  improve  her  advantages.  During  her  life,  side 
by  side  with  the  highest  tyi)e  of  domestic  and  social 
graces,  she  manifested  a  keen  intellectuality  that 
formed  the  crown  of  a  faultless  character.  She  was 
a  natural  poet,  and  wrote  quite  a  large  number  of  fme 
verses,  some  of  which  are  preserved  in  a  i)rinted 
memorial  essay  written  upon  the  occasion  of  her 
death.  In  this  essay,  it  is  said  of  her  "to  contribute 
even  in  matters  of  minor  imiwrtance,  to  elevate  the 
reputation  and  add  to  the  well  being  of  her  husband 
in  the  various  stations  he  was  called  ujwn  to  fill,  gave 
her  the  highest  satisfaction."  She  was  an  invalid 
during  the  latter  [wrtion  of  her  life,  but  was  patient 
and  cheerful  to  the  end. 

In  1807,  Mr.  W.  was  chosen  a  representative  to  the 

(ieneral  Assembly  of  ( )hio,  and  in  (809  was  elected  to  (*~ 

the  .Senate,  continuing  a  member  by  re-election  until  I 

his  removal  from   the  State.     He  also  held,   by  ap-  «l» 

pointment,  during  the  time  the  office  of  Prosecuting  m 

Attorney  for  his  county.     He  took  a  leading  part  in  "«/ 

the  Legislature,  and  in  i  Si  2  drew  up  a  declaration  and  (.i, 

resolutions,  which  passed  the  two  houses  unaminously  *^ 


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and  attracted  great  attention,  endorsing,  in  strongest 
and  most  empiiatic  terms,  the  war  measures  of  Presi- 
dent Madison.  Dining  the  period  from  1804  to  1814 
the  two  law  students,  Woodbridge  and  Cass,  had  be- 
come widely  separated.  Tlie  latter  was  Governor  of 
the  Territory  of  Michigan  under  the  historic  "Governor 
and  Judges"  plan,  with  the  indispensable  requisite  of  a 
Secretary  of  the  Territorry.  This  latter  position  was, 
in  1814,  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 
coUectorof  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  their  numbers  entitled  them  to  a  more  popular 
representative  system,  they  were  allowed  no  delegate 
in  Congress.  Mr.  W.,  as  a  sort  of  informal  agent  of 
the  people,  by  correspondence  and  also  by  a  visit  to 
the  National  capital,  so  clearly  set  forth  the  demand 
for  representation  by  a  delegate,  that  an  act  was 
passedin  Congress  in  iSigauthorizingone  tobechosen. 
Under  this  act  Mr.  W.  was  elected  by  the  concurrence 
of  all  parties.  His  first  action  in  Congress  was  to  secure 
the  passage  of  a  bill  recognizing  and  confirming  the 
old  French  land  titles  in  the  Territory  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  treaty,  of  peace  with  (ireat  Britain 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolution ;  and  another  for  the 
construction  of  a  Government  road  through  the  "black 
swamps"  from  the  ^\Iiami  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.  The  ex- 
pedition for  the  exploration  of  the  country  around 
Lake  Superior  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissi[)pi,  projected  l>y  Governor  Cass,  was  set  on  foot 
by  means  of  representations  made  to  the  head  of  tlie 
department  by  Mr.  W.  While  in  Congress  he  stren- 
uously maintained  the  right  of  Michigan  to  the  strip 
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 further  service  on  account  of  personal  and 
family  considerations.  Mr.  \V.  continued  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  Secretary  of  the  Territoiy  up  to  the  time 
its  Government  passed  into  the  "second  grade." 

\\\    1824,  he    was   appointed   one  of  a  I)oard     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.  (^.  Adams,  to  succeed  Hon.  James  VVith- 
erell,  who  had  resigned  as  a  Judge  of  what  is  conven- 
tionally called  thg  "Supreme  Court"  of  the  Territory. 
This  court  was  apparently  a  continuation  of  the  Terri- 
torial Court,  under  the  "first  grade"  or  "Governor  and 
Judges"  system.  .Mthough  it  was  supreme  in  its  ju- 
dicial functions  within  the  Territory,  its  powers  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  Whigs  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Conven- 
tion of  1835,  which  formed  the  first  State  Constitution. 
In  1837  he  was  elected  amember  of  tie  Slate  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  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  State,  and  the  develo]>ment  of  its  (joliti- 
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  (jovernor 
and  Senator  will  be  attempted.  He  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor in  1839,  under  a  popular  ini|)ression  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  1828,  Gov- 
ernor W.  took  up  his  residence  on  a  tract  of  land 
which  he  owned  in  the  township  of  Spring  Wells,  a 
sho^t  distance  below  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  \\'.  sliows  himself  a  mas- 
ter of  language;  he  is  fruitful  in  simile  and  illustra- 
tion, logical  in  arrangement,  happy  in  the  choice  and 
treatment  of  topics,  and  terse  and  vigorous  in  expres- 
sion. Judge  W.  was  a  ('ongregalionalist.  I  lis  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  tlie  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. 


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OHN    STEWARD    HARRY, 
Governor    of    Michigan    from 
^Jan.  3,  1842,  to  Jan.   5,    1846, 
/J    and  from  Jan.  7,  1850,  to  Jan. 
'~^^,    I,  1852,  was  lx)rn  at  Amherst, 
/  N.  H.,  Jan.  29,  1S02.  His  juir- 

^5  ents,  John  and  Ellen  (Steward) 
Harr)',  early  removed  to  Rocking- 
,  ham,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  until 
^i»  he  became  of  age,  working  on  his 
t  ither's  farm,  and  pursuing  his 
-Indies  at  the  same  time.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Kidder,  of  Grafton,  Vt., 
and  in  1824  went  to  Georgia,  Vt., 
where  he  had  charge  of  an  academy 
for  two  years,  meanwhile  studying 
law.  He  afterward  practiced  law  in 
that  State.  While  he  was  in  Georgia  he  was  for  some 
time  a  member  of  the  Governor's  staff,  with  the  title 
of  Governors  Aid,  and  at  a  somewhat  earlier  period 
was  Captain  of  a  company  of  Slate  militia.  In  1831 
he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  settled  at  White  Pigeon, 
where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  with  I  W 
Willard. 

Four  years  after,  1834,  Mr.  Barry  removed  to  Con- 


stantine  and  continued  his  mercantile  pursuits.  He 
became  Justice  of  the  I'eace  at  White  Pigeon,  Mich., 
in  1831,  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  ujwn  which  Michigan 
was  admitted  into  the  Union.  He  took  an  imjwrtant 
and  prominent  part  in  the  jjroceedings  of  that  body, 
and  showed  himself  to  be  a  man  of  far  more  than 
ordinary  ability. 

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  tliey  looked  to  him 
as  a  party  leader,  and  that  he  should  head  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  jKipuIar  was  his  administration  that,  in 
1842,  he  was  again  elected.  During  these  years 
Michigan  was  embarrassed  by  great  financial  diffi- 
culties, and  it  was  through  his  wisdom  and  sound  judg- 
ment that  the  State  was  finally  placed  ujxjn  a  solid 
financial  basis. 

During  the  first  year  of  Gov.  Barry's  first  term,  the 
University  at  Ann  Arbor  was  opened  for  the  reception 


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John  STEWARD  barry. 


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of  students.  The  Michigan  Central  and  Michigan 
Southern  railroads  were  being  rapidly  constructed,  and 
general  progress  was  everj'where  noticeable.  In  1842, 
j  the  number  of  pupils  reported  as  attending  the  public 
I  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  State.  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  tliis  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  r845,  when  Gov.  Barry's  sec- 
ond term  expired,  the  population  of  the  State  was 
more  than  three  hundred  thousand. 

The  constitution  of  the  State  forbade  more  than  two 
consecutive  terms,  but  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  the 
position  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  the  Nor- 
mal School  was  established  at  Ypsilanti,  which  was 
endowed  with  lands  and  placed  in  charge  of  a  board 
of  education  consisting  of  six  persons.  A  new  con- 
stitution for  the  government  of  the  State  was  also 
adopted  and  the  "  Great  Railway  Conspiracy  Case  " 
was  tried.  This  grew  out  of  a  series  of  lawless  acts 
which  had  been  committed  upon  the  [iroperty  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Raihoad  Company,  along  the  line 
of  their  road,  and  finally  the  burning  of  the  de]X3t 
at  Detroit,  in  1850. 
;^  At  a  setting  of  the  grand  jury  of  Wayne  County, 
^  April  24,  1851,  37  men  of  the  50  under  arrest  for  this 
crime  were  indicted.  May  20,  following,  the  accused 
})arties  appeared  at  the  Circuit  Court  of  Wayne,  of 
wliicii  Warner  AVing  was  resident  judge.  The  Rail- 
road Company  employed  ten  eminent  lawyers,  in- 
cluding David  Stuart,  John  Van  Arman,  James  A. 
Van  Dyke,  Jacob  M.  Howard,  .Mex.  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 

tfour  months,  during  which  time  the  plaintiffs  exam- 
ined 246  witnesses  in  27  days,  and  the  defendants 
\[t  249  in  40  days.  Mr.  Van  Dyke  addressed  the  jury 
■^  for  the  prosecution ;  William  H.  Seward  for  the 
1?)  defense. 
^        The  great  lawyer  was  convinced  of  tlie  innocence 

Sl^\^>>«^#^ ^^"^^ — ^-^•-■iD  n 


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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 
I'.  -M.,  Sept.  25,  1851.  (_)n  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  the  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; 
Aaron  Mount,  eight  years;  Andrew  J.  Freeland,  eight 
years;  Eben  Farnham,  eight  years;  William  Corvin, 
eight  years;  Richard  Price,  eight  years;  Evan  Price, 
eight  years;  Lyman  Chamiilin,  five  years;  Willard 
W.  Champlin,  five  years;  F-rastus  Champlin,  five 
years;  Erastus  Smith,  five  years. 

In  1840,  Gov.  Barry  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  sugar  beet,  and  visited  Eurojie 
to  obtain  information  in  reference  to  its  culture. 

He  was  twice  Presidential  Elector,  and  his  last 
public  service  was  that  of  a  delegate  to  the  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,  wliether  of  a  public  or  a  private 
nature,  and  he  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  have  been 
one  of  the  most  efficient  and  popular  (lovernors  the 
Slate  has  ever  had. 

Gov.  Barry  was  a  man  of  incorruptible  integrity. 
His  opinions,  which  he  reached  I)y  the  most  thorough 
investigation,  he  held  tenaciously.  His  strong  con- 
victions and  outspoken  lionesty  made  it  impossible  for 
him  to  take  an  undefined  position  when  a  principle 
was  involved.  His  attachments  and  prejudices  were 
strong,  yet  he  was  never  accused  of  favoritism  in  his 
administration  of  public  affairs.  .\s  a  speaker  he  was 
not  remarkable.  Solidity,  ratlier  than  brilliancy,  char- 
acterized his  oratory,  which  is  described  as  argument- 
ative and  instructive,  but  cold,  hard,  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  wUh  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,  1R70,  his  wife's  death  having  occurred  a 
year  previous,  March  30,  1869.  They  left  no  children. 


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,PHEUS  FELCH,  the  third 
rnor  of  Michigan,  was 
)orn  in  Limerick,  Maine,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1806.  His  grand- 
father, Ahijah  Felch,  was  a  sol- 
^■^  dier  in  tlie  Revolution ;  and 
when  a  young  man,  having  with 
others  ol)tained  a  grant  of  land  be- 
tween the  Great  and  Little  Ossipee 
V,  Rivers,  in  Maine,  moved  to  that  re- 
gion when  it  was  yet  a  wilderness. 
The  father  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.  The  death  of  the  father, 
followed  within  a  year  by  the  death  of 
the  mother,  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  school  and  a  neighboring 
academy.  In  1821  he  became  a  student  at  l'hillii)s 
Exter  Academy,  and,  subsequently,  entered  IJowdoin 
College,  graduated  with  the  class  of  1827.  He  at 
once  began  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  Bangor,  Me.,  in  1830. 

He  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  disix)sed  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  when  he  had  recovered  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. He  first  began  to  practice  in  this  State  at  Mon- 
roe, where  he  continued  until  1S43,  when  lie  removed 
to  Ann  .\rbor.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture in  1835,  and  continued  a  member  of  that  Iwdy 
during  the  years  1836  and  1837.  Wliile  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  prove  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,  opiX)sed  the  bill,  and  ix)inted 
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  Legisl.i- 
ture,  raised  a  dissenting  voice,  and  but  two  voted  with 
him  in  opix)sition  to  the  bill.  Early  in  1838,  he  was 
appxDinted  one  of  the  Bank  Commissioners  of  the 
State,  and  held  that  office  for  more  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 
fiooded  with  depressed  "wild-cat"  money.  The  ex- 
aminations of  the  Bank  Commissioners  brought  to 
light  frauds  at  every  point,  which  were  fearlessly  re- 


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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  re- 
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  (if  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  upon  his  duties  at  the  commencement  of 
the  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 
the  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  |j(!5 00,000.  The  exports  of  the  State 
amounted  in  1846  to  l|t;4,647,6oS.  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  Connnissioners  to  adjust  and   settle  tlie  Spanish 


and  Mexican  land  claims  in   California,   under  the 

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  population  and  the  recent 
American  immigration  ;  the  right  of  the  Pueblos  to 
their  common  lands,  and  of  tlie  Catholic  Cliurch  to 
the  lands  of  the  Missions, — the  most  valuable  of  the 
State, — wereinvolved  in  the  adjudications  of  this  Com- 
mission. In  March,  1856,  their  labors  were  brought 
to  a  close  by  the  final  disposition  of  all  the  claims 
which  were  presented.  Tlie  record  of  their  proceed- 
ings,— the  testimony  whicli  was  given  in  each  case, 
and  the  decision  of  the  Commissioners  tliereon,— 
consisting  of  some  forty  large  volumes,  was  deposited 
in  the  Department  of  the  Interior  at  Washington. 

In  June  of  that  year,  (lOvernor  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,  Hut 
the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  has  always  been 
attached,  being  in  the  minority,  he  failed  of  an  elec- 
tion. In  1873  he  witlidrew  from  the  active  practice 
of  law,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  tour  in  Euroi^e, 
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  sjjring  of  1879  was  appointed 
Tappan  Professor  of  Law  in  the  same.  Mr.  Felch  is 
the  oldest  surviving  member  of  the  Legislature  from 
Monroe  Co.,  the  oldest  and  only  surviving  Hank  Com- 
missioner of  the  State,  the  oldest  surviving  Auditor 
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   Michigan. 


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V.  **>->.    ti I *"-  iti  ""^  j:, ■^'■'■^  j,--'"^  j,*-^"^  A'>'"^^h-^^"^^--"'-jjh'-"''"' A^'""  A"'""' A*"'"""  ifc'^"'"' A^"'"  A  'jI  1 


I.LIAM      L.      GREENLY 
^.;gv"ioveruor  of  Michigan  for  the 
year  1847,  was  born  at  Hamil- 
•ton.  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
S;=f]r     18,1813.   He  graduated  at  Un- 
^s^'/  ion     College,     Schenectady,    in 
|t|^5«sn  I      1831,  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in    1834.     In 
1836,  having  removed  to  Michi- 
gan, he  settled  in  Adrian,  where 
he  has    since    resided.     The   year 
following   his  arrival  in    Michigan 
he  was  elected  State  Senator  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until   1839. 
In  1845  he  was  elected  Lieut.  Gov- 
'ij'l)   emor  and  became  acting  Governor 
'  ■'-      by  the  resignation  of  Gov.   Feli  h, 
who   was   elected    to   the   United 
States  Senate. 
!  The  war  with  Mexico  was  brougin 

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.  Tliat  many  went  there  and 
fought  well  are  points  conceded ;  but  their  names  and 
nativity   are   hidden  away  in  United  States  archives 


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and   where  it  is  almost    impossible  to  find  ihcni. 

The  soldiers  of  this  State  deserve  much  of  the 
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-third  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,  11  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,  Berrien  and  Hillsdale  each  one,  and  Wayne 
County  an  additional  company.  Of  these  alone  tlie 
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  regiment  was  soon  in  readiness  and  pro- 
ceeded by  orders  from  Government  to  the  seat  of  war, 


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HE    HON.     EPAPHRODI- 
TUS  RANSOM,  the  Seventh 
Governor  of  Michigan,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts.     In 
that  State  he  received  a  col- 
legiate education,  studied   law, 
and  was  admitted   to   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 
State  Legislature,  and  in  1837  he  was  apix)inted  As- 
sociate Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  In  1843  he 
was  promoted  to  Chief  Justice,  which  office  he  re- 
tained until  1845,  when  he  resigned. 

Shortly  afterwards  he  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  building  of  plank  roads  in  the  western  portion  of 
the  State,  and  in  this  business  lost  the  greater  portion 
of  the  property  which  he  had  accumulated  by  years 
'^  of  toil  and  industry. 

I  Mr.  Ransom  became  Governor  of  the  State  of 
'^  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  1847,  and  served  during  one 
f '  term,  jierforming  the  duties  of  the  office  in  a  truly 
^  statesmanlike  manner.  He  subsequently  became 
i'^  President  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  Society,  in 
^  which  position  he  displayed  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. 

Subsetjuently  he  was  apix)inted  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  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office. 

We  sum  up  the  events  and  affairs  of  the  State  un- 
der Gov.  Ransom's  administration  as  follows:  The 
.\sylum  for  the  Insane  was  establised,  as  also  the 
Asylum  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  tiie  first 
of  March,  1848,  the  first  telegraph  line  was  com- 
pleted from  New  York  to  Detroit,  and  the  first  dis- 
patch transmitted  on  that  day.  The  foUowmg  figures 
show  the  progress  in  agriculture :  The  land  refwrted 
as  under  cultivation  in  1848  was  1,437,460  acres;  of 
wheat  there  were  produced  4,749,300  bushels;  other 
grains,  8,197,767  bushels;  wool,  1,645,756  jxiunds; 
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  temixj- 
rary  buildings  for  the  use  of  the  Legislature  were  im- 
mediately erected,  at  a  cost  of  S' 2,450- 


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OBERT      McClelland, 

rnor    of    Michigan    from 
Jan.  I,  1852,  to  March  8, 1853, 
was  born  at  Grcencastle,  Frank- 
■^^  lin  Co.,   Penn.,  Aug.  i,    1807. 
Among  his  ancestors  were  several 
officers  of  rank  in  tl\e  Revohition- 
ary  war,  and  some  of  his  family  con- 
nections were  distinguished  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  that  witli   ^[exico. 
His  father  was  an  eminent  physician 
and  surgeon  who  studied  under  Dr. 
Henj.     Rush,     of    Philadelphia,   and 
practiced  his  profession  successfully 
until  six  months  before   his  death,  at 
the  age  of    84  years.     .Mthough  Mr. 
McClelland's    family   had      been    in    good    circum- 
stances, when  he  was   17  years  old  he  was   thrown 
uiwn  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 
his  class,  in  1829.     He  then  resinned  teaching,  and 
having  completed   the  course  of  study  for  the  legal 
profession,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Chambersburg, 
Penn.,  in  1831.     Soon  afterward  he  removed  to  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh,  where  he  practiced  for  almost  a 
year. 


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In  1833,  Mr.  McClelland  removed  to  Monrfjc,    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  proposed  State  of  Michigan,  of 
which  Mr.  McClelland  was  elected  a  member.  He 
took  a  prominent  part  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  imiKjrtant  conmiittees.  Speaker 
//■f  leinpore,  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  ixjpular  cry 
of  "  VVoodbridge  and  reform  "  against  the  Democratic 
l)arty.  At  this  time  Mr.  McClelland  stood  among  the 
.acknowledged  lenders  of  the  latter  organization ;  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  House  of  Representa- 
tives, and  with  others  adopted  a  plan  to  regain  a  lost 
authority  and  [jrestige. 

This  party  soon  came  again  into  jxDwer  in  tlie  State, 
and  having  been  returned  to  the  State  Legislature  Mr. 
McClelland's  leadership  was  acknowledged  by  his 
election  as  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives 


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ROBERT  McClelland. 


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in  1843.  Down  to  this  time  Michigan  had  consti- 
tuted one  congressional  district.  The  hue  Hon.  Jacob 
M.  Howard  had  been  elected  against  Hon.  7\lpheus 
Felch  by  a  strong  majority  ;  but,  in  1S43,  so  thoroughly 
had  the  Democratic  party  recovered  from  its  defeat 
of  1840  that  Mr.  McClelland,  as  a  candidate  for  Con- 
gress, carried  Detroit  district  by  a  majority  of  about 
2,500.  Mr.  McClelland  soon  took  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  Congress  among  the  veterans  of  that  body. 
During  his  first  term  he  was  placed  on  Committee  on 
Commerce,  and  org;mi/.ed  and  carried  through  what 
were  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 
favorably  was  he  known  as  a  parlimentarian  that  his 
name  was  mentioned  for  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. 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  reports  and  advocacy  of  important 
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 
which  he  retains  as  a  souvenir  of  the  donors,  and  of 
his  labors  in  Congress. 

In  1847,  Mr.  McClelland  was  re-elected  to  Con- 
gress, and  at  the  opening  of  the  3olh  Congress  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Rela- 
tions. 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  command  universal  approbation.  While  in 
Congress,  Mr.  McClelland  was  an  advocate  of  the 
right  of  petition  as  maintained  by  John  Q.  Adams, 
when  the  petition,  was  clothed  in  decorous  language 
and  presented  in  the  ])roper  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  Columbia.  Mr.  McClelland  was  one  of  the  few 
Democrats  associated  with  David  Wilmot,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  bringing  forward  the  celebrated  "Wilmot 
Proviso,  ■  with  a  view  to  prevent  further  extension  of 
slavery  in  new  territory  which  might  be  acquired  by 
the  United  States.  He  and  Mr.  Wilmot  were  to- 
gether at  the  time  in  Washington,  and  on  intimate 
and  confidential  terms.  Mr  McClelland  was  in  sev- 
eral National  conventions  and  in  the  Baltimore  con- 
vention, which  nominated  Gen.  Cass  for  President, 
in  1848,  doing  valiant  service  that  year  for  the  elec- 
tion of  that  distinguished  statesman.  On  leaving 
■y  Congress,  in  1848,  Mr.  McClelland  returned  to  the 
^  practice  of  his  profession  at  Monroe.  In  1850  a 
I  *  convention  of  the  State  of  Michigan  was  called  to 
^    revise   the  State   constitution.     He   was   elected    a 


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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  State  convention 
which  adopted  resolutions  in  sup(X)rt  of  Henry  Clay's 
famous  compromise  measures,  of  which  Mr,  ^IcClel- 
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 
Felch,  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  185  r,  the  new  Stats  constitution  took  effect  and 
it  was  necessary  that  a  Governor  should  be  elected 
for  one  year  in  order  to  prevent  an  interregnum,  and 
to  bring  the  State  Government  into  operation  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  opposition,  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  the  cabinet  by  President  Pierce,  in 
March,  1853,  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  the  expend- 
itures. 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  tlie  tribes  nor  corruption  among 
agents,  and  he  left  the  department  in  perfect  order 
and  system.  In  r867,  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  prudent  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  forcil)le  and  happy.  In 
1870  he  made  the  tour  of  Europe,  which,  through  his 
extensive  person.al  acquaintance  with  European  dip- 
lomates,  he  was  enabled  to  enjoy  much  more  than 
most  travelers 

Mr.    McClelland   married,   in    1837,   Miss   Sarah 
'E.  Sabin,  of  Williamstown,   Mass.     They   have  had 
six  children,  two  of  whom  now  survive. 


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I  ANDREW    PARSlON^. 


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Wi  nor  of  M 


PARSONS,  Govcr- 
Michigan  from  March 
8,  1853  to  Jan.  3,  tSss,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Hoosick, 
County  of  Rensselaer,  and 
State  of  New  York,  on  the  2 2d 
Tj^g  day  of  July,  1817,  and  died  June 
6,  1855,  at  the  early  age  of  38" 
years.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Parsons,  born  at  Newbury  port, 
Mass.,  Oct.  2,  1782,  and  who  was  the 
sonof  Andrew  Parsons,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  who  was  the  ,  i  of  Phineas 
Parsons,  the  son  of  Samuel  Parsons, 
a  descendant  of  \Valter  Parsons,  born 
in  Ireland  in  1290. 
Of  this  name  and  family,  some  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  ago,  Bishop  Oilson  remarked  in  his  edi- 
tion of  Camden's  Britannia:  "Tlie  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  liridgewater, 
England.  He  was  educated  at  Ballial  College,  Ox- 
ford, and  w.is  a  noted  writer  and  defender  of  the 
Romish  faith.  He  establisiied  an  English  College  at 
Rome  and  another  at  Valladolia.  Frances  Parsons, 
lx)rn  in  1556,  was  Vicar  of  Rothwell,  in  Notingliam; 
Bartholomew  Parsons,  born  in  161 8,  was  another 
noted  member  of  the  family.  In  1 634, Thomas  Parsons 
was  knighted  by  Charles  I.  Joseph  and  Benjamin, 
bntthers,   were  l)f)rn    in    Oreal    I'orringlon,    Ivigland, 


and  accompanied  their  fatiier  and  others  to  New 
England  about  1630.  Samuel  Parsons,  born  at  Salis- 
bury, Mass., in  1707,  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1730,  ordained  at  Rye,  N.  H.,  Nov.  3,  1736,  married 
Mary  Jones,  daughter  of  Samuel  Jones,  of  Uostor, 
Oct.  9,  1739,  died  Jan.  4,  1789,  at  the  age  of  82,  in 
the  53rd  year  of  his  ministry.  The  grandfatherof  Maiy 
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,  including  two  Presi- 
dents of  the  United  States.  The  Parsons  have  be- 
come very  numerous  and  are  found  throughout  New 
England,  and  many  of  the  descedants  are  scattered 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  especially  in 
the  Middle  and  Western  States.  Governor  Andrew 
Parsons  came  to  Michigan  in  1835,  at  tlie  age  of  17 
years,  and  spent  the  first  summer  at  Lower  Ann 
Arbor,  where  for  a  few  months  he  taught  school  which 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  from  ill  health 

He  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  itraiYks  with  the  proud- 
est States  of  the  Union.  These  brave  men  came  to 
Michigan  with  nothing  to  aid  them  in  the  conciuest 
of  the  wilderness  save  courageous  hearts  and  strong 
and  willing  hands.  They  gloriously  con<|uered,  how- 
ever, and  to  them  is  due  all  honor  for  the  labors 
so  nobly  performed,  for  the  solid  and  sure  foundation 
which    they    laid    of   a    great    Commonwealth. 


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ANDREW  PARSONS 


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In  the  fall  of  1835,  he  explored  the  Grand  River 
Valley  in  a  frail  canoe,  the  whole  lengtli  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  with  his  brother,  the  Hon.  Luke  H.  Parsons, 
also  now  deceased,  until  fall,  when  he  went  to  Shia- 
w'asseCount3-,then  with  Clinton  County,  andan  almost 
unbroken  wilderness  and  constituting  one  organized 
township.  In  1837  tliis  territory  was  organized  into 
a  county  and,  at  the  age  of  only  19  years,  he  (An- 
drew) was  elected  County  Clerk.  In  1840,  he  was 
elected  Register  of  Deeds,  re-elected  in  1842,  and 
also  in  1844.  In  r846,  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney  in  1848, 
and  elected  Regent  of  the  University  in  185  i,  and 
Lieutenant  Governor,  and  became  acting  Governor, 
in  T853,  elected  again  to  the  Legislature  in  1854,  and, 
overcome  by  debilitated  health,  hard  labor  and  the 
responsibilities  of  his  office  and  cares  of  his  business, 
retired  to  his  farm,  where  he  died  soon  after. 

He  was  a  fluent  and  persuasive  speaker  and  well 
calculated  to  make  friends  of  his  ac(iuautances.  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  lo  bear  upon  him, 
to  induce  him  to  call  an  e.xtra  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  jjlaces  the  resolutions  were  of  a  demanding 
nature,  wliile  in  others  they  were  threatening  beyond 
measure.  Fearing  that  all  tiiese  influences  might 
fail  to  induce  jiim  to  call  the  e.\tra  session,  a  large 
simr  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  corrupt  him  l)y  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  ])arties  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 : 
"tliough  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  beliests 
of  his  oath."  The  following  eulogium  from  a  iwlitcaloj)- 
ponent  is  just  in  its  conception  and  creditable  to  its 
author:  "Gov.  Parsons  was  a  politician  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  politician  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  1S54,  during  the  administration  of 
Governor  Parsons,  the  Republican  party,  at  least 
as  a  State  organization,  was  first  formed  in  the  United 
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  tliereby  brought  up,  whether 
slavery  should  exist  there.  For  the  jjurposeof  permit- 
ting slavery  there,  the  "  Missouri  compromise  "  (which 
limited  slavery  to  the  south  of  36^'  30)  was  re- 
repealed,  under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  ,\,  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-Nebraska"  men.  'i"he  epithets,  "Ne- 
braska" and  "anti-Nebraska,"  were  temporally  em- 
ployed to  designate  the  slavery  and  anti-slavery 
parties,  pending  the  desoliition  of  the  old  Democratic 
-  and  Whig  parties  and  the  organization  of  the  new 
Democratic  and    Republican  ])arties  of  the  present. 


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"J  ll  •  ■>  •  I'.'l'  ;l'  ••■'  •  .1.  ••.' 


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SLEY       S.       BINGHAM, 
overnor    of    Michigan    from 

;fy  '^55  ''^  '^59'  ''"d  United 
^aj  States  Senator,  was  born  in 
Camillus,  Onondaga  County, 
N.  v.,  Dec.  1 6,  i8o8.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  his  own 
early  life  was  consequently  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits,  hut 
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  estimable  lady 
]  who  had  recently  arrived  from  Scot- 
land, and  obeying  the  impulse  of  a 
naturally  enterprising  disirasiiion, 
he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and 
purchased  a  new  farm  in  company 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Robert 
Worden,  in  Green  Oak,  Livingston  County.  Here,  on 
the  border  of  civilization,  buried  in  the  i)rimeval  for- 
est, our  late  student  commenced  the  arduous  task  of 
preparing  a  future  home,  clearing  and  fencing,  put- 
ting up  buildings,  etc.,  at  such   a   rale  that  the  land 


chosen  was  soon  reduced  to  a  high  stale  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  Pro'iate  Judge  in  the  county.  In  the  year  1836, 
when  Michigan  i-ecame  a  State,  he  was  elected  to  the 
first  Legislature.  He  was  four  times  re-elected,  and 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Re])resentatives  three  years. 
In  1846  lie  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  Rei)- 
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  oijjiosed 
to  tlie  introduction  of  "  Wood's  Patent  Cast  Iron 
Plow  "  which  he  completely  prevented.  He  was  re- 
elected to  Congress  in  1848,  during  which  time  he 
strongly  opposed  the  extension  of  slavery  in  the 
territory  of  the  United  States  and  was  committed  to 
and  voted  for  tiie  Wilmot  Proviso. 

In  1854,  at  the  first  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  in  consequence  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  former 
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- 
paign in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln.     He  wit- 


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KINSLEY  S.   BINGHAM. 


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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  appoplexy  and  died 
suddenly  at  his  residence,  in  Oreen  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  1852,  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  1 85 3,  the  Legislature 
accepted  the  grant,  and  provided  tor  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  ^3f 
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  State  Constitution  of  1850.  Article  13  says, 
"  The  Legislature  shall,  as  soon  as  practicable,  pro- 
vide for  the  establishment  of  an  agricultural  school." 
For  the  purpose  of  carying  into  practice  this  provision, 
legislation  was  commenced  in  1855,  and  the  act  re- 
(juircd  that  the  school  should  be  within  ten  miles  of 
Lansing,  and  that  not  more  than  ijlrj  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  1861,  it  was  >mder  the  control 
of  the  State  i^oard  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-house,  a  very  large  and  well-equipped  chemical 
laboratory,  one  of  the  most  scientific  apiaries  in  the 
United  States,  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  1875 
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  1S55  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  tlie  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  quadrangle.  The  size  is,  respectively,  80  by  80, 
48  by  7  2,  48  by  7  2,  80  by  60,  5  2  by  7  2,  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  ix)rtion  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  exce|)t  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  emi)loyed.  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. 


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J  OSES  VVISNER.  Governor  of 
H^Micliigan  from  185910  1861, 
was  born  in  Springport,  Cayu- 
ga Co.,  N  Y.,  June  3,  181 5. 
His  early  education  was  only 
what  could  be  obtained  at  a 
common  school.  Agricultural  labor 
and  frugality  of  his  parents  gave 
him  a  jjhysical  constitution  of  unus- 
ual strength  and  endurance,  which 
was  ever  preserved  by  temperate  hab- 
its. In  1837  he  emigrated  to  Michi- 
^{^  gan  and  ])urchased  a  farm  in  Lapeer 
W  County  It  was  new  land  and  he  at 
once  set  to  work  to  clear  it  and  plant 
crops.  He  labored  diligently  at  his 
task  for  two  years,  when  he  gave  up 
the  idea  of  bemg  a  farmer,  and  removed  to  I'ontiac, 
Oakland  Co.  Here  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  his  brother,  George  W.  Wisner,  and 
Rufus  Hosmer.  In  1841  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  established  himself  in  his  new  vocation  at  the 
village  of  Lapeer.  While  there  he  was  ajjppointed 
by  Gov.  Woodbridge  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  that 
county,  in  which  capacity  he  acquitted  himself  well 
and  gave  promise  of  thai  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  \\[x>n  the 
l)ractice. 

In  iwlitics  he  was  like  his  talented  brother,  a  Whig 
of  the  Henry  Clay  stamp,  but  with  a  decided  anti- 
slavery  bias.     His   practice  becoming  extensive,   he 


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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  uiion  mere  book 
learning  than  upon  his  native  good  sense.  Liberal 
and  courteous,  was  he  yet  devoted  to  the  interest  of 
his  client,  and  no  facts  escaped  his  attention  or  his 
memory  which  bore  uiwn  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  the 
merits  of  his  subject  his  elocpience  was  at  once  grace- 
ful and  powerful.  His  fancies  supplied  the  most 
original,  tlie  most  jxjinted  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 
ix)pular  orator  were  of  a  high  order. 

On  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act  of 
1854,  repealing  the  Missouri  compromise  and  opening 
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  op|)Osed  to  it  in  that  State,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  popular  gathering  at  Jackson,  in  July, 
1854,  which  was  the  first  formal  Republican  Conven- 
tion held  in  the  United  States.  At  this  meeting  the 
name  "  Republican  "  was  adopted  as  a  designation  of 
the  new  party  consisting  of  .Anti-slavery,  Whigs, 
Liberty  men,  Free  Soil  Democrats  and  all  others  op- 
posed Id  the  extension  of  slavery  and  favorable  to  its 
expulsion  from  the  Territories  and  the  District  of 
Columbia.  At  this  convention  Mr.  W.  was  urged  to 
accept  the  nomination  for  Attorney  General  of  the 


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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 
Iiis  views  he  was  bold  and  radical.  He  believed  from 
the  beginning  that  tlie  ix)litical  power  of  the  slave- 
holders would  have  to  be  overthrown  before  ipiiet 
could  be  secured  to  the  country.  In  the  Presidential 
canvass  of  1856  lie  supiwrted  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  subsecpient  November  election  was 
chosen  by  a  very  large  majority.  Before  the  day  of 
the  election  he  had  addressed  the  people  of  almost 
every  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, 
to  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  dociunent  that  reflected  the  highest 
credit  upon  the  author. 

His  term  having  expired  Jan.  i,  1861,  lie  returned 
to  his  home  in  Pontiac,  and  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  There  were  those  in  the  State  who 
counselled  the  sending  of  delegates  to  the  peace  con- 
ference at  Washington,  but  Mr.  VV.  was  opposed  to  all 
such  temjxirizing  expedients.  His  counsel  was  to 
send  no  delegate,  but  to  prepare  to  fight. 

After  Congress  had  met  and  passed  the  necessary 
legislation  he  resolved  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  22d 
Michigan,  was  armed  and  equipped  and  ready  to 
march  in  September,  a  regiment  whose  solid  iiuali- 
ties  were  afterwards  proven  on  many  a  bloody  field. 
Col.  Ws.  commission  bore  the  date  of  Sept.  8,  1862. 
Before  parting  with  his  family  he  made  his  will.  His 
regiment  was  sent  to    Kentucky    and    (piartered    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  liis  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 
his  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 
hand  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 grief  was  the  prospect  of  not  being  able  to  come 
to  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  with  the  "cliivalry." 
He  was  proud  of  his  regimer.t,  and  felt  that  if  it  could 
find  the  enemy  it  would  cover  itself  with  glory, — a 
distinclioii  it  afterward  obtained,  but  not  until  C"ol.  W. 
was  no  more.  The  malady  baflled  all  medical  treat- 
ment, and  on  the  5th  day  of  Jan.,  1S63,  he  breathed 
his  last.  His  remains  were  removed  to  Michigan  and 
interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Pontiac,  where  they  rest 
l)y  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  uphold  the  principles  he  had  so  much 
at  heart.  Few  men  were  more  familiar  than  he  with 
the  causes  and  the  underlying  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  sliowed  the 
tenderest  regard.  Next  to  his  duty  tHeir  love  and 
welfare  engrossed  his  thoughts.  He  was  kind,  gen- 
erous and  l)rave,  and  like  thousands  of  others  he 
sleeps  the  sleep  of  the  martyr  for  his  country. 


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USTIN  liLAIR,  C.overnoi- 
of  Michigan  from  Jan.  2, 
1861,    to   Jan,  4,   1865,    and 

kown  as  the  War  Governor,  is 

^"'^  "-J- ,1?  and  illustration  of  the  henifi- 
cent  influence  of  republican  in- 
^^  stitutions,  having  inherited  neith- 
er fortune  nor  fame.  He  was  born 
in  a  log  cabin  at  Caroline,  Tomp- 
kins Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  8,  181 8. 
His  ancestors  came  from  .Scot- 
land in  the  time  of  (ieorge  I,  and 
for  many  generations  followed  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture.  His  father, 
George  Blair,  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 years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  that  sjwt.  He 
married  Rhoda  Beackman,  who  now  sleeps  with  him 
in  the  soil  of  the  old  homestead.  The  first  17  years 
of  Mr.  Blair's  life  were  spent  tiiere,  rendering  his 
father  what  aid  he  could  upon  the  farm.  He  then 
spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Cazcnovia  Seminary  ])re- 
paring  for  college;  entered  Hamilton  College,  in 
A>.  Clinton,  prosecuted  his  studies  until  tiie  mldille  of 
■^  the  junior  year,  when,  attracted  i)y  the  fame  of  Dr. 
A  Nott,  he  changed  to  Union  College,  from  which  lie 
"%  graduated  in  the  class  of  1839.  Upon  leaving  col- 
3&  lege  Mr.  Blair  read  law  two  years  in  the  office  of  Sweet 
j  ,  &  Davis,  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
>v»    in  1841,  and  the  same  year  moved  toMichigan,  locat- 


ing in  Jackson.  During  a  temporary  residence  in 
Eaton  Rapids,  in  1842,  he  was  elected  Clerkof  Eaton 
County.  At  the  close  of  the  official  term  he  returned  to 
Jackson,  and  as  a  Whig,  zealously  esjxjused  the  cause 
of  Henry  Clay  in  the  campaign  of  1844.  He  was  chosen 
Representative  to  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  supix)rt  in  favor  of 
abolishing  the  color  distinction  in  relation  to  the  elec- 
tive franchise,  and  at  the  same  session  was  active  in 
securing  the  alwlition  of  capital  punishment.  In  1848 
Mr.  Blair  refused  longer  to  affiliate  with  the  \\'hig 
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  Wliig  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  tlie  incoming  Re- 
publican administration  of  1855,  and  holding  the 
position  of  parliamentary  leader  in  the  Senate.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Mational  Convention  which 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  Mr.  Blair 
was  elected  Governor  of  Michigan  in  i860,  and  re- 
elected in  1862,  faithfully  and  honorably  discharging 
the  arduous  duties  of  the  office  during  that  most  mo- 


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^  mentous  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 
brighter  example  been  laid  down,  or  a  greater  sacri- 
fice been  made,  than  that  which  distinguished  Mich- 
igan during  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  raagnificiently 
sublime  and  wisely  directed. 

Very  early  in  1861  the  coming  struggle  cast  its 
shadow  over  the  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 
a.  of  the  Republic.  After  a  review  of  the  conditions 
'■^  of  the  State,  he  passed  on  to  a  consideration  of  the 
S  relations  between  the  free  and  slave  States  of  the 
Republic,  saying:  "  While  we  are  citizens  of  the  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  jmde  in  the  glorious  history 
of  the  past,  they  will  not  renounce  the  equally  glo- 
rious hopes  of  the  future.  But  they  will  rally  around 
the  standards  of  tlie  Nation  and  defend  its  integrity 
and  its  constitution,  with  fidelity."  The  final  para- 
graph being : 
"  I  recommend  you  at  an  early  day  to  malce  mani- 


• 

V 


v^; 


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  purjxDse. 
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  88,111  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 
Forrieth  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  lie 
was  a  strong  supporter  of  reconstrucuon  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  liis  retirement  from  Con- 
gress, Mr.  Blair  has  been  busily  occupied  witli  his  e.\- 
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  law  (HS 
partner  of  A.  J.  Gould  ;  Charles  A.,  a  law  jjartner  with 
hir  father,  and  Fred.  J.  and  Austin  T.  Blair,  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  party,  but  was  defeated 


A 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  MICHIGAN. 


3 


RXRY  HOWLANDCRAPO, 

Ciovenior  of  Michigan  from 
'^  1865  to  1869,  was  1)0111  May 
24,  1804,  at  Dartmoutli,  Bris- 
tol Co.,  Mass.,  and  died  at 
Flint,  Mich.,  July  22,  1869. 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Jesse 
and  Plia-he  (Howlaiul)  Crapo. 
His  fatiier  was  of  French  descent 
and  was  very  poor,  sustaining  liis 
^family  by  the  cultivation  of  a  farni  in 
Dartmouth  township,  which  yielded 
I  nothing  beyond  a  mere  livelihood. 
His  early  life  was  consecjuently  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  mion  a  compara- 
tively sterile  farm,  had  no  charm  for  him  ;  and,  longing 
for  greater  usefulness  and  better  things,  he  looked  for 
ihem  in  an  education.  His  struggles  to  secure  this 
end  necessitated  sacrifices  and  hardships  that  would 
have  discouraged  any  but  the  most  courageous  and 
[KTsevering.  He  became  an  ardent  student  and 
worker  from  his  boyhood,  though  the  means  of  cany- 
ing  on  his  studies  were  exceedingly  limited.  He 
sorely  felt  the  need  of  a  dictionary,  and,  neither  having 
money  wherewith  to  purchase  it,  nor  being  able  to 
procure  one  in  his  neighborhood,  he  set  out  to  cominle 
one  for  himself.  In  order  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
the  English  language,  he  copied  into  a  book  every 
word  whose  meaning  he  did  not  comprehend,  and 
u|X)P  meeting  the  same  word  again  in  the  newspapers 


m 


and  books,  which    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  had  become  interested  he  would  walk 
from  Dartmouth  to  New  Bedford  for  that  [lurpose 
alone,  and  after  referring  to  the  books  at  the  library 
and  satisfying  himself  thoroughly  as  to  itsdeunition, 
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 quite  an  extensive  dictionary  in  manuscript 
which  is  believed  to  be  still  in  existence. 

Ever  in  pursuit  of  knowledge,  he  obtained  ]X)Sses- 
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  upon,  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  shoi) 
near  at  hand,  \\\)oy\  the  forge,  with  such  tools  as  he 
could  find  in  the  shop,  while  tiie  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  tlie  village  school 
at  Dartmouth.  When,  in  the  course  of  time  and  un- 
der the  pressure  of  law,  a  high  s(  hool  was  to  be 
opened,  he  passed  a  successful  examination  for  its 
principalship  and  received  the  apixjintment.  To  do 
this  was  no  small  task.  The  law  reipiired  a  rigid 
examination  in  various  subjects,  which  necessitated 
days  and  nights  of  study,  (^ne  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  Academy  and  passed 


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HENRY  HOWLAND  CRAFO. 


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a  severe  examination.  Receiving  a  certificate  that 
lie  was  qualified,  he  walked  back  to  his  home  the 
same  night,  highly  elated  in  being  possessed  of  the 
acciuirements  and  requirements  of  a  master  of  the 
high  school. 

In  1832,  at  the  age  of  28  years,  he  left  his  native 
town  and  went  to  reside  at  New  Bedford,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  land  surveyor,  and  oc- 
casionally acted  as  an  auctioneer.  Soon  after  becom- 
ing a  citizen  of  this  place,  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk, 
Treasurer,  and  Collector  of  taxes,  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  he  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  Eclucation,  and 
as  such  prepared  a  rejiort  upon  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  Librarj'  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  carr)'ing  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.  In  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  lived  in  Massachusetts.  As  an  indica- 
tion of  the  wide  reputation  he  acquired  in  that  field 
of  labor,  it  may  Ije  mentioned  that  after  his  death  an 
affecting  eulogy  to  his  memory  was  pronounced  by  the 
President  of  the  National  Horticultural  Society  at  its 
meeting  in  Pliiladeliihia,  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 
('ounty  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  and  Secretary  of 
the  Bedford  (xjmmercial  Insurance  Company  in  New 
Bedford;  and  while  an  officer  of  the  municipal  gov- 
ernmcnthecompiled  and  published,  between  the  years 
1836  and  1845,  five  numbers  of  the  New  Bedford 
Directory,  the  firs':  work  of  the  kind  ever  i)ul)lished 
there. 

Mr.  C.  removed  to  Michigan  in  1856,  having  been 
induced  to  do  so  by  investments  made  principally  in 
pine  lands,  first  in  tS37  and  subseciuently  in  1856. 
He  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Flint,  and  en- 


-^^11  a 


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  until  its  consolidation 
with  the  Flint  &  Pere  Marquette  R.  R.  Company. 
He  was  elected  Mayor  of  that  city  after  he  had  been 
a  resident  of  the  place  only  five  cr  six  years.  In 
1862  he  was  elected  State  Senator.  In  the  fall  of 
1864  he  received  the  nominati(Jn  on  the  Republican 
ticket  for  Governor  of  the  State,  and  was  elected  liy  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. 

^\'hile  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  per- 
formed which  seemed  rapidly  to  restore  him,  but  he 
overestimated  his  strength,  and  by  too  much  exertion 
in  business  matters  and  State  affairs  suffered  a  relapse 
from  which  there  was  no  rebound,  and  he  died  July 
n-,  1869- 

In  the  early  part  of  his  life,  Gov.  Crapo  affiliated 
with  the  Whig  party  in  politics,  but  became  an  active 
member  of  the  Rei)ublican  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  \.  .'^locum, 
of  Dartmouth.  His  marriage  took  ])lace  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,  (jualities  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  jiarents  at  the  time,  at  whose  home  his  two 
older  children  were  born.  Wliilc  thus  situated  he 
was  accustomed  to  walk  home  on  Saturday  to  see 
his  family,  returning  on  Sundav  in  order  to  be  ready 
for  school  Mon(Lay  morning.  .Vs  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  performance  of  all  her  duties.  They  liad 
ten  children,  one  son  and  nine  daughters.  His  son, 
Hon.  Wm.  W.  Crapo,  of  New  Bedford,  is  now  an 
honored  Representative  to  Congress  from  the  First 
Congressional    District    of  Massachusetts. 

9.  DQsy-? ^^^?^ — — 


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4 


GO  VKRNORS  OF  MICHIGAN. 


~>tflafl;fS*&'«o-.^»«»i 


ajtifcSw^SfSWJ?^ 


mEI^HT  F.   BALDWIN. 


■  ■*«,  4,«>  vN«fi£i2;S-i3-^~^«''»  ^  ^i^^^'^Y' 


'=iW*'*T)>«®^SWT2fjr>v-i 


ENRY  P.  BALDWIN,  Gov- 
ernor of  Michigan  from  Jan. 
4,  1869,  to  Jan.  I,  1873,  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Nathan- 
iel Baldwin,  a  Puritan,  of  Buck- 
nghanishire,  England,  who  set- 
tled at  Milford,  Conn.,  in  1639. 
His  father  was  John  Baldwin, 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  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  181 3,  where  for  more  than  50 
years  he  had  been  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
On  his  mother's  side  tlovernor  B.  is  descended  from 
Robert  Williams,  also  a  Puritan,  who  settled  in  Rox- 
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 
lor  2 1  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 
12  years,  when,  both  his  parents  having  died,  he  be- 
came a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  estal)lishment.  He  re- 
mained there,  cm])loying  his  leisure  hours  in  study, 
until  20  years  of  age. 

At  this  early  period  Mr.  B.  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account.  He  made  a  visit  to  the  West,  in 
1S37,  which  resulted  in  his  removal  to  Detroit  in  tlie 
spring  of  1838.  Here  he  established  a  mercantile 
house  which  has  been  successfully  conducte4  until 
the  present  time.    Although  he  successfully  conducted 


a  large  business,  he  has  ever  taken  a  dcci)  interest  in 
all  things  affecting  the  prosperity  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. 
.\n  Episcopalian  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  Covernor  Baldwin,  who 
gave  the  lot  on  which  the  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 
[jublic  and  social  improvements  of  Detroit  during  the 
past  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  i860,  Mr.  Baklwin  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  of  Michigan  ;  during  the  years  of  1861 -'2  he 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  a 
member  of  Committee  on  Banks  and  Incorporations, 
Chairman  of  the  Select  Joint  t'ommittee  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  iS69to  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  knowing 
of  how  much  effort  or  attention  to  bestow  u|X)n  the 
thing  in   hand,  has  been  the  secret    of  liie    uniform 


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HENR  V  P.  BALD  WIN. 


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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 
with  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  children  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  jser- 
mit  a  more  eiiuitable  compensation  to  State  officers 
and  judges.  The  law  of  1869,  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  failli.  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  tlie  hands  of  hnm- 
fide  holders.  In  his  special  message  he  says  :  "The 
credit  of  no  State  stands  iiigher  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,  principally  for 
the  division  of  the  State  into  congressional  districts. 
A  number  of  other  important  suggestions  were  made, 
however,  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  (Governor's  la- 
borious and  thoughtful  care  for  the  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  i. 
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. 
.\  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  about 
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  ]jas- 
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  retiring  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.  Baldwin  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.  Tiie  retiring  Governor  has  fully  earned 
the  public  gratihide  and  confidence  which  he  to-day 
ixjssesses  to  such  remarkable  degree." 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  MICHIGAN. 


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OHN  JUDSON  BAdLEY, 
Governor  of  Micliigan  from 
icS73  to  1877,  was  born  in 
Medina,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 
^^vr^k  July  24, 1832.  His  father,  John 
Bagley,  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  his  mother,  Mary  M. 
Bagley,  of  Connecticut.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  of  Lock- 
«  port,  N.  Y.,  until  he  was  eight  years 
old,  at  which  time  his  father  moved 
to  Constantine,  Mich.,  and  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  that 
village.  His  early  experience  was 
like  that  of  many  country  boys  whose 
parents  removed  from  Eastern  States 
to  the  newer  portion  of  the  AVest. 
His  father  being  in  very  poor  circiim- 
Ili^fl  stances,  Mr.  B.  was  obliged  to  work 
as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  so. 
Leaving  school  when  13  years  of  age 
he  entered  a  country  store  in  Constan- 
tine as  clerk.  His  father  then  re- 
moved toOwosso,  Mich.,and  he  again 
engaged  as  clerk  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  employment  in  a  tobacco  manufactorj'  and 
remained  in  this  position  for  alwut  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 corjxjrations.  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  tlie  Detroit  Common  Council  the  same 
length  of  time.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor Crapo  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of  the 
Metropolitian  ix)lice  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  office,  retiring  in  January,  1877. 
He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Republican  party,  and 
for  many  years  was  Chairman  of  tlie  Republican 
State  Central  committee. 

(iovernor  Bagley  was  quite  liberal  in  his  religious 
views  and  was  an  attendant  of  the  Unitarian  Church. 
He  aimed  to  be  able  to  hear  and  consider  any  new 
thouuhl.from  whatever  source  itmay  come, but  was  not 
bound  by  any  religious  creed  or  formula.  He  held 
in  respect  all  religious  opinions,  believing  that  no  one 
can  be  injured  l)y  a  firm  adherence  to  a  faith  or  de- 
nomination. He  was  married  at  Dubu(iue,  Iowa,  Jan. 
16,  1855,  to  Frances  E.  Newberry,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Newborr)',  a  pioneer  missionary  of  Michigan, 
who  took  an  active  part  in  the  early  educational  mat- 
ters of  the  State  and  in  the  establishment  i.^{  its  ex- 
cellent   system   of    education.     It    was    |)rincipally 


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f  through  his  exertions  that   the  State  University  was 
founded.     Mr.  B.'s  family  consists  of  seven  children. 
^      As     Governor   his     administration     was    charac- 
f    terized  by  several  imix)rtant    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  studieSjby  strengthening  the  hold 
of  the  Agricultural  College  upon  the  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- 
y^  able  footing.     It  was  upon  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  B. 
, — r  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  administration  that  the  law 
,<^J  creating  the  State  Board  of  Health,  and  also  the  law 
^   creating  a  fish  commission  in  the  inland  waters  of  the 
S^  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  tlie  will,  if  there 
be  no  ambition,  life  is  a  failure.  He  was  not  blind  to 
the  fact  tliat  the  more  we  have  the  more  is  required 
of  us.  He  accepted  it  in  its  fullest  meaning.  He 
j  had  great  hopes  for  his  State  and  his  country.  He  had 
'*.'  his  ideas  of  what  they  should  be.  \\'ith  a  heart  as 
•y  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. 

^:^-i  ^,^e^^... ^^^^ — -^<^m 


JOHN  J.  BAGLEY. 


-^4^^f^V( 


^ 


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  the  recipi- 
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  more 
next  year  than  I  have  this."  This  exjiresscd  liis  idea 
of  charity,  that  the  giving  should  at  all  times  be  free 
and  spontaneous. 

During  his  leasure  hours  from  early  life,  and  espe- 
cially during  the  last  few  years,  he  devoted  itiuch  time 
to  becoming  acquainted  with  the  best  authors.  Biog- 
raphy was  his  delight;  the  last  he  read  was  the  "Life 
and  Woik  of  John  Adams,"  in  ten  volumes. 

In  all  questions  of  business  or  public  affairs  he 
seemed  to  have  the  power  of  getting  at  the  kernel  of 
the  nut  in  the  least  possible  time.  In  reading  he 
would  spend  scarcely  more  time  witii  a  volume  than 
most  persons  would  devote  to  a  cliapter.  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 
his  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  Christmas  story, 
closing  the  entertaiiTnient  with  "The  Night  Before 
Christmas,"  or  Dickens's  "Christmas  Carol." 


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Clilfi/O  %t.   [A/tMAveii^. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  MICHIGAN. 


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©H-AKLES    M.     CKOSWELL,  P% 


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2)  •;.",  ^^<W*'» '''***  »'c>,*®fa<J73TO>»^i4j» 


"J^S?^ 


HARLES  M.  CROSWELL, 
Governor  of  Michigan  from 
Jan.  3,  1877  to  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 
father,  who  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction,  was  a  jiaper-maker, 
and  carried  on  business  in  New 
York  Chy.  His  ancestors  on 
his  mothers  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 
P]  President  Jefferson,  published  a  pa- 
'*  per  called  the  Balance,  and  was 
V^J'jW  prosecuted  for  libeling  the  President 
V^W?  under  the  obnoxious  Sedition  Law. 
^W  He  was  defended  by  the  celebrated 
'  Alexander  Hamilton,  and  the  decis- 
ion of  the  case  establised  the  important  ruling  that 
the  truth  might  be  shown  in  cases  of  libel,  .\nother 
member  of  the  family  was  lidwin  Croswell,  the  fam- 
ous editor  of  the  Albany  Argus ;  also.  Rev.  William 
'^  Croswell,  noted  as  a  divine  and  poet. 
I  When  Charles  M.  Croswell  was  seven  years  of  age, 
..•%  his  father  was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  Hudson 
}p  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 
T"  family,  without  fortune  or  means.     Ujxjn   the  death 


^Vi^^- 


-=^^^^ 


of  his  father  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  who,  in 
1837,  emigrated  with  him  to  Adrain,  Michigan.  .\t 
si.xtcen  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  acciuiremenl  of  knowledge. 
In  1S46,  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Deput)  Clerk  of  Lenawee  County.  The  du- 
ties of  tliis  office  he  performed  four  years,  when  he 
was  elected  Register  of  Deeds,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1852.  In  1854,  he  took  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  put  in  the  field  the  first  Re- 
publican State  ticket  in  Michigan.  In  1855,  he 
fomied  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  was  appointed  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  rei>resent  Lenawee  County  in  tlie  State 
Senate.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate  in  1864, 
and  again  in  1866,  during  each  term  filling  the  ix)si- 
tions  above  mentioned.  Among  various  reiXDrts  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, 
whicli  then  commanded  a  very  large  ])remiinn,  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  elalx)rate  speech  in  favor  of  the  Proclama- 


A 


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CHARLES  M.  CRO SWELL. 


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A 


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- 

I   ates,  was  afterwards    published.     In    1S67,    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 
ij'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  forni- 
=aally  acknowledged  by  his  associates  ;  and  he  was  pre- 
.'^sented  with    a   superb    collection   of  their   jwrtraits 
shandsomely  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  clioice  for 

Governor;  and,  at  the  State  Convention  of  the  i)arty 

in  August  of  the  same  year,  he  was  put  in  nomination 

by  acclamation,  without  the  formality  of  a  ballot.     At 

X^  the  election  in  November  following,  he  was  chosen  to 

t    the  high  position  for  which  he  had  been   nominated, 

..*,,  by  a  very  large  majority  over  all  opposing  candidates. 

■y  His  inaugural  message   was   received    with   general 

^  favor;  and  his  career  as  Governor  was  marked   with 

*'  the  same  i|nalities  of  head  and  heart  that  have  ever 

7"  distinguished  him,  both  as  a  citizen  and  statesman. 


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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- 
liver)- 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  foryears  a  member  and  Secretary  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  Sketch  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  ([ualities.  She 
suddenly  died,  March  19,  186S,  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  [irofession  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  whicli  jiis  unfailing  pru- 
dence and  sound  judgment  eminently  fit  liim.  Gov- 
ernor Croswell  is  truly  i)0[)ular,  not  only  with  those  of 
like  political  faith  with  himself,  but  witli  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  the  limit  of  ap- 
propriations; laws  enacted  to  provide  more  effectually 
for  the  punishment  of  c  orruption  and  bribrery  in  elec- 
tions; the  State  House  of  Correction  at  Ionia  and  the 
Eastern  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Pontiac  wereoi)ened, 
and  the  new  capital  at  Lansing  was  completed  and 
occupied.  'Die  first  act  of  his  second  term  was  to  jire- 
side  al  the  dedication  of  this  building  Tlie  great  riot 
at  Jackson  occured  during  his  administration,  and  it 
was  only  bv  his  jiromptiiess  that  great  distruction  of 
both  life  and  property  was    prevented    at    that  time. 


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\|  D A  V I D  H .  J  E  ROM  E,  Gover- 

'..,     ir  of  from  Jan.   i,    1881,   to 
>ll     l^Mrry'il  J^'"-  ''  1883,  was  born  at  De- 

ife^Mr  t'^"'  ^''^1^-  ^°^-.'7,  1829. 

His     parents     emigrated     to 
Michigan     from     Trumansburg, 
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    lime  of  his 
death  were  grown  up  sons,  the  off- 
spring of  his    first  union.     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 
\oi  1834,  Mrs.  Jerome  came  once  more  to  Michigan, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  St.  Clair  County.     Here   the 
Covernor  formed  those  habits  of  industry  and  ster- 
ling integrity  that  have  been  so  characteristic  of  tlie 
man  in  the  active  duties  of  life.     He  was  sent  to  the 
district  school,  and  in  the  ac(iuisition  of  the  funda- 
>mental  branches  of  learning  he  displayed  a  precocity 
and  an  application  which  won  for  him  tlie  admiration 
•  jof  his  teachers,  and  always  placed  him  at  the  head 

*  of  his  classes.     In  the  meantime  lie  did  chores  on 
^•Mhe  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  Ogden, 
also  deceased.  The  next  summer  Mrs.  Jerome 
moved  into  the  village  of  St.  Clair,  for  the  piirixjseof 
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  1847, M.  H.  Miles  being  Clerk  in  St.  ClairCoun- 
ty,  and  Volney  A.  Ripley  Register  of  Deeds.  David 
H.  Jerome  was  appointed  Deputy  to  each,  remaining 
as  such  during  1848-49,  and  receiving  much  jiraise 
from  his  cmi)loyers  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  1849-50,  he  abandoned  olTice  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  ste.amer 
"Chautauqua,"  and  "Young  Dave"  i)ecame  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  latter  part  was 
used  as  a  tow  boat.  At  that  time  there  was  a  serious 
obstruction  to  navigation,  known  as  the  "St.  Clair 
Flats,"  between  Lakes  Huron  and  Erie,  over  which 


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BA  VI£>  H.  JEROME. 


^  vessels  could  carry  only  about  10,000  bushels  of  grain. 

'h   Mr.    Jerome   conceived    the  idea   of  towing   vessels 

.-%  from  one  lake  to  the  other,  and  put  his  plan    into 

f    operation.    Through  the  influence  of  practical  men, — 

■'y    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  <So,ooo 

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  ves-iel  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  i,  he  was  clerk  and  acting  master  of  the 
steamers  "Franklin  Moore"  and  "Ruby,"  plying  be- 
tween Detroit  and  Port  Huron  and  (ioderich.  The 
following  year  he  was  clerk  of  the  propeller  "Prince- 
-N  ton,"  running  between  Detroit  and  Buffalo. 

In  January,  1853,  Mr.  Jerome  went  to  California, 
A^  by  way  of  the  Isthmus,  and  enjoyed  extraordinary 
=i  success  in  selling  goods  in  a  new  place  of  his  selec- 
.M  tion,  among  the  mountains  near  Marysville  He  re- 
3  mained  there  during  the  summer,  and  located  the 
^  Live  Yankee  Tunnel  Mine,  which  has  since  yielded 


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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,  and  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 

1    young  man,  of  strong  Democratic    principles.     Tlic 
ward  was  largely  Democratic,  but  Mr.  Jerome    was 
■;»*  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.     When  the  Kepub- 
.p.  iican  party  was  born  at    Jackson,  Mich.,  David  H. 
J^  Jerome  was,  though  not  a  delegate  to  the  convention, 
s)  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  ])atriotic  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  Iiril- 
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  (iratiot  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  terms  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  ajipoinced  by 
Gov.  Bagley  a  member  of  the  convention  to  prepare 
a  new  State  Constitution,  and  was  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Jerome  was  apix)inted  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners.  In  IS76  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  State  Convention,  convened  at 
Jackson  in  August,  1880,  Mr.  Jerome  was  placed  in 
the  field  for  nomination,  and  on  the  5  th  day  of  the 
month  received  the  highest  honor  the  convention 
could  confer  on  any  one.  His  opponent  was  Freder- 
ick M.  HoUoway,  of  Hillsdale  County,  who  was  sup- 
jwrted  by  the  Democratic  and  Greenback  parties. 
The  State  was  thoroughly  canvassed  by  both  parties, 
and  when  the  polls  were  closed  on  the  evening  of 
election  day,  it  was  found  that  David  H.  Jerome  liatl 
been  selected  by  the  voters  of  tlie  Wolverine  State  to 
occujjy    the    highest    jiosition    within    their    gift. 


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GOVERNORS  OF  MICHIGAN 


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JOSIAH    W.    HEG 


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.1 

I 


OSIAH    W.    BEGOLE,    the 
present   (1883),   (iovernor    of 
^^Michigan  was  born  in  Living- 
ston, County,  N.  Y.,  Jan.    20, 
1815.     His  ancestors  were  of 
French  descent,  and  settled  at 
an   earl)'   period  in  the  State  of 
Maiyland.  Hisgrandfather,Capt. 

I  Bolles,  of  that  State,  was  an  offi- 
cer in  the  American  army  during 

II  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  About 
the  beginning  of  the  present  cent- 
ury both  his  grandparents,  having 
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 
number  of  their  former  slaves,  who 
volunteered  to  accompany  them. 
His  father  was  an  officer  in  the 
.\merican  army,  and  served  during 
the  war  of  1S12. 

Mr.  V>.  received  his  early  education  in  a  log  school- 
house,  and  subsequently  attended  the  Temple  Hill 
Academy,  at  Geneseo,  N.  Y.  Being  tlie  eldest  of  a 
family  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  aniijitious  to  bettor  his  condition  in  life,  he  re- 
solved to  seek  his  fortune  in  tiie  far  West,  as   it  was 


then  called.  \\\  August,  1836,  he  left  the  parental 
roof  to  seek  a  home  in  tlie  Territor)  of  Michigan 
then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Ho  settled  in 
(lonesee  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  flourishing  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  farm  of  five  hundred  acres. 

Mr.  P.egole  being  an  anti-slavery  man,  became  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party  at  its  organization. 
He  served  his  townsmen  in  various  offices,  and  was_ 
in  1S56,  elected  County  Treasurer,  which  office  he 
held  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  .\tlanta,  (ia.,  by  .1  Confed- 
rate  bullet,  in  1864,  was  the  greatest  sorrow  of  his  life. 
When  a  few  years  later  he  was  a  member  in  Congress 


(5 
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<^iia>:niir:>r 


JOSIAH  W.  BEGOLE. 


■^a^^^^ 


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:) 


Gov.  Begole  voted  and  worked  for  the  soldiers' 
bounty  equalization  bill,  an  act  doing  justice  to  the 
soldier  who  bore  the  burden  and  heat  of  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  be 
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  the  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  Si.\th  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  coinmittee  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  ;  he  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 
IxDlicy  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, 


t 


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  for 
sincerity  of  his  beliefs  and  the  earnestness  of  his  pur- 
pose nobody  who  knows  him  entertains  a  doubt.  He 
is  incapable  of  bearing  malice,  even  against  his  bit- 
terest political  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  desolating  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 
quarrelmg  over  the  distribution  of  funds,  Mr.  Begole 
wrote  to  an  agent  in  the  "jburnt  district "  a  letter,  from 
which  we  make  an  extract  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. 


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^~  '^  ON.  CEYLON  C.  FULLER, 

ludgc  of  the  27lh  Judicial 
fe  Circuit  of  Micliigan,  was 
'v  born  at  Chardon,  Geauga 
Co.,  O.,  June  25,  1832. 
■S'  Aside  from  his  official  eni- 
"' p  inence,  his  connection  with 
Cv/oegO;,o  the  history  of  Big  Rapids  and  Mecos- 
^^i^  ta  County  places  him  pre-eminent 
(  .-^^^'^  among  the  citizens  of  both.  More- 
i^7jo^  over,  his  stainless  record,  botiiin  pub- 
(D(SlQ  ''*^  ^^^  '"  P''V'it"^  ''fe,  his  allegiance 
ci^^ffo  to  the  t)bligations  of  his  manhood,  his 
solicitous  interests  in  whatever  could 
permanently  affect  the  section  where 
he  has  established  his  home  and 
founded  all  that  must  be  dearest  to  him  in  life,  justly 
entitle  him  to  a  respect  commensurate  with  the  jxisi- 
tion  he  occupies. 

It  is  a  striking  feature  of  our  American  institutions 
that  what  one  man  accomplishes  reflects  a  luster  on 
the  career  of  others  who  serve  their  generation  in  other 
capacities.  So  it  chances  that  a  man  may  be  reviewed 
in  all  his  relations  without  detracting  from  the  worth 
of  other  men,  or  reflecting  uiK)n  their  achievements, 
no  less  meritorious  because  less  prominent  in  the  same 
avenue.     Representative  men  arc  tlie  bulwarks  of  our 


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local  as  well  as  national  structure,  and  in  according  f^ 
to  Judge  Fuller  the  first  place  in  the  present  work,  ^ 
its  publishers  but  harmonize  with  the  sentiment  of  the  />[ 
community  which  he  so  honors  and  which  so  hon-  ^ 
ors  him. 

He  comes  of  sturdy  yeoman  ancestry  in  both  hues 
of  descent.  He  is  the  type  of  the  element  which 
underlies  the  true  greatness  of  the  British  people  ;  no 
atrophy  of  aristocracy  enfeebles,  no  taint  of  sujiersti- 
tion  or  ignorance  i)oisons  the  stock  of  his  origin,  and 
in  him  are  combined  the  best  traits  of  his  jirogenitors, 
fostered  under  our  institutions  and  developed  under 
the  privileges  of  our  country's  dower  to  the  humblest 
of  her  sons — American  citizenship. 

Judge  I'uller  is  the  second  son  of  Edson  and  Ce- 
lira  (Canfield)  Fuller.  The  father  was  born  at  Caze- 
novia,  N.  Y.,  in  1809,  and  died  at  Des  Moines,  la., 
April  4,  1879.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  early 
English  emigrants  to  this  country,  bringing  here  a 
name  illustrious  because  unblemished,  and  which  has 
been  handed  down  to  successive  generations  untarn- 
ished. The  record  of  Edson  Fuller  is  inseparable 
from  that  of  Big  Rapids  and  Mecosta  County,  whither 
he  brought  his  f;imily  in  1859,  when  the  now  thriving 
and  beautiful  I'Virest  City  showed  only  a  nucleus  of 
three  houses  and  one  small  saw-mill.  1  le  grew  to 
youth  in  his  native  Slate,  and   in   the    dawn    of   his     J 


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earliest  manhood  went  to  Ohio.  He  was  married 
there  and  remained  until  1845.  In  that  year  he  came 
to  Grand  Kapids,  Mich.,  then  but  the  hope  and 
promise  of  its  present  splendid  estate.  The  journey 
was  accomplished  in  the  manner  common  to  that 
period,  in  a  prairie  schooner,  drawn  by  an  ox  team, 
the  days  passing  in  slow  but  sure  progress  toward  the 
point  of  destination,  the  nights  in  the  restful  solitude 
of  the  camp.  Ten  years  of  untiring  energy  and 
activity  at  Grand  Rapids  brought  substantial  reward, 
and  in  1855  Mr.  Fuller  transferred  his  interests  to 
Mishawaka,  Ind.,  where,  in  1857,  the  accumulations 
of  years  were  swept  away  in  the  financial  convulsion 
which  wrecked  the  hopes  and  the  resources  of  the 
business  element  of  this  land.  From  its  foundations 
was  the  structure  of  fortune  once  more  to  be  reared, 
and  Mr.  Fuller  came  to  Big  Rapids  to  begin  again  in 
a  field  that  seemed  to  promise  a  reasonable  degree 
of  success.  He  opened  the  first  store  in  the  county. 
A  description  of  the  miscellaneous  character  of 
the  merchandise  he  offered  for  sale  would  be  as 
interesting  as  any  otlier  possible  detail  of  the  pio- 
neer history  of  Big  Rapids.  The  stock  was  drawn  from 
Grand  Rapids  over  roads  which  the  record  declares 
"  neither  tongue  nor  pen  can  describe."  The  store 
was  located  at  the  corner  of  Elm  .'Street  and  Michigan 
Avenue. 

At  the  close  of  his  commercial  affairs,  Mr.  Fuller 
moved  to  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Green,  where  his 
family  resided  until  1877.  In  that  year  they  returned 
to  Big  Rapids.  In  April,  1879,  while  visiting  his  eld- 
est son  at  Des  Moins,  Mr.  Fuller  died,  ripe  in  years, 
leaving  a  wife  and  five  children,  who,  individually, 
without  exception,  have  sustained  his  name  among 
men  and  glorified  his  memor)'  in  tlieir  lives  of  honor 
and  usefulness. 

The  record  of  Celira  (Canfield)  Fuller  is  one  that 
verifies  the  law  of  natural  heritage  and  in  the  careers 
of  her  four  sons  and  surviving  daughter,  her  womanly 
worth  and  super-eminent  intellectual  qualities  are 
perpetuated.  Her  earliest  recorded  ancestors  were 
Huguenots,  a  fact  which  largely  accounts  for  much 
of  her  jjersonal  annals.  Her  family  name  had  its 
origin  in  the  events  which  characterized  the  com- 
mingled liistoiy  of  JMigland  and  I'rance  in  the  14th 
century.  A  Huguenot  family  of  Normandy,  named 
Dephilo,  received  from  the  British  crown  a  grant  of 
land  lyin^  contiguous  to  tlie  river  Cam  in  England. 
The  bestowal  was  for  meri'orious  services,  and  such 


was  the  appreciation  of  the  honor  bestowed  with  it 
that  the  event  was  made  memorable  by  abnegation  of 
the  old  family  cognomen,  and  the  compounding  of  a 
new  one  which  should  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the 
act  of  the  English  Government  to  the  remotest  gen- 
eration. Cam  and  Dephilo  became  Camphield,  and 
the  orthography  remained  unchanged  until  the  death 
of  Thomas  Camphield,  in  the  i6th  century,  when 
the  name  was  spelled  Camfield,  remaining  thus  until 
1720,  when  it  became  Canfield.  Matthew  Camfield 
came  from  England  to  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1639. 
When  that  province  made  haste  to  secure  the  favor 
of  the  British  Government  in  the  early  days  of  the 
restored  monarchy,  the  charter  which  the  "scholarly 
young  Winslow.  the  best  and  truest  man"  in  all  her 
borders,  carried  to  King  Charles,  bore  the  name  ot 
"Matthew  Camfield"  as  one  of  the  petitioners  for  a 
royal  patent.  Winthrop's  tact  and  sagacity  secured 
for  the  colony  "the  most  liberal  and  ample"  charter 
ever  granted  by  an  English  monarch,  and  upon  the 
people  of  Connecticut  was  conferred  power  to  govern 
themselves  and  this  without  qualification  or  restric- 
tion. Under  the  provisions  of  this  charter  "Gold,  Sher- 
man and  C'amfield"  were  appointed  judges  and  vested 
with  power  to  hold  court  at  Fairfield,  opening  April 
r,  1669.  Mr.  Camfield  afterward  went  with  part  of 
his  family  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  died  and  where 
bis  name  is  perpetuated  by  numerous  descendants. 
The  distinction  of  his  name  and  jxjsition  is  also 
marked  by  the  fact  that  his  son  Samuel  (ist)  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  in 
1669.  Samuel  Camfield  (2d)  was  born  at  Norwalk, 
Ct.,  in  1672,  and  ma.ried  Abigail  Austin,  of  Stamford, 
Ct.,  Aug.  I,  1709.  Samuel  Camfield  (3d)  was  born 
June  4,  17 10,  at  New  Marlborough,  Mass.  His  estate 
is  yet  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  Thomas 
Canfield,  son  of  tlie  last  named,  was  born  at  New 
Marlborough,  and  married  a  lady  named  Burr.  Oliver 
Canfield,  son  of  'I'homas,  married  Sally  Sherman  in 
1782,  and  of  this  marriage  was  born  at  Tyringham' 
Mass.,  July  7,  1810,  Celira,  the  luother  of  Judge 
Fuller. 

Her  father  died  when  she  was  in  infancy,  and  her 
mother  remarried  and  went  to  Chardon,  Geauga  Co., 
O.,  where  she  grew  to  wonuuiliood.  She  married 
Edson  Fuller,  Feb.  4,  1830.  Her  home  in  Oliio  was 
with  that  of  the  pioneer  element,  and  she  had  but  little 
technical  education,- as  she  had  the  advantage  of  but 
ten  weeks  of  si  liool  in  her  life.     But   she  was  ever  a 


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sUident  The  profession  of  medicine  afforded  deei) 
interest  to  her  alert  mental  organization  and  within 
her  scope  she  ijursued  its  practice  both  in  Indiana 
and  at  Big  Rapids,  being  signally  successful  in  her 
efforts  to  alleviate  suffering  and  baffle  disease.  She 
was  ever  prominent  in  educational,  moral  and  relii;ious 
movements.  In  1850,  '51  and  '52  she  was  in  charge 
of  the  primary  department  of  the  union  school 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  She  organized  the  first 
Sunday-school  at  Big  Rapids,  whose  sessions  were 
held  in  the  old  red  school-house.  In  moral  avenues 
her  influence  was  sensibly  felt  among  the  pioneers 
of  the  village  and  vicinity  and  e.xlended  through  the 
later  years  of  her  life,  when  Big  Rapids  had  become 
a  city  incorjKirate,  and  her  iX)pulalion  had  increased 
to  thousands. 

In  1 87  3-4  she  experienced  a  severe  attack  of  ery- 
sipelas and  vacillated  for  weeks  between  life  antl 
death.  On  her  recovery  she  reviewed  her  situation 
while  suffering  under  her  terrible  affliction,  express 
ing  her  views  in  metrical  language  with  vivid  power 
and  beauty.     It  is  as  follows  : 

■■  Heavy,  and  licavii'i-  <\\U  ]\ff'<  liMidcn  ;;ii'\\. 
I'litil  al  la>l  my  weary  t'lit  n't'ii^eil 
To  Ix'ar  iiic,  aiiil  I  laiil  iiii'  down  in  pain. 
So  near  tlic  biiiik  of  the  dark  mysrlc  tide 
That,  as  the  surgiiii;;  waves  ruslied  madly  by, 
Tlii'y  dashed  their  iev  spray  full  in  my  taee; 
-Vnd  my  swollen  lealiues,  soon  so  loathsome  jjicw 
Thai  e\cn  the  eye  of  hivo  nin^t  turn  away. 
Karth"-  liyhl  wcnl  ont.and  niidniuhl  darkness  rei-fiied 
While  lii|iMd  lire  seemed  eonr>ini;-  IliidUiihiny  vein>. 
A  dealh-like  ehillneo  loi'lnred  all  my  hones." 
Kile  and  ice.  contending  t'oitlie  victory, 
Filled  in\  whole  IVanie  w  ith  mortal  ajjoiiy. 
I  prayed  tor  patience  to  einhire,  and  soon 
1  thought  1  heard  hi-yond  the  roaiing  thxid 
A  voice  say.  "■<  'oiiie  and  enter  into  rest." 
A  momentary  fear  eanie  over  me. 
And  liiinhlinicly  I  askid,  Is  this  the  way? 
This  awl'nl  door  of  tort  me  must  1  ])ass," 
To  reacli  my  home  upon  the  other  sliore? 
I  had  for  years  felt  snre  that  I  conid  meet 
The  last  jcreat  Knemy,  with  trustinj;  faitli 

In  Iliin,  wh t  the  tyrant  of  the  race. 

And  all  his  hosts,  in  his  own  dark  domain. 
He  seemed  a  oaptivi". 

All  the  i)o\veis  of  IIill 

Reveled  in mad  carnival,  nnlil  the  hour 

Aiipointed  for  the  vict'ry.     TImmi  hehohl ! 
The  ;;ales  of  adamant,  the  bolted  iloors 
Of  J  )eath"s  dread  |)|-isoii  opr'ii,  and  a  kini;  ! 
.\  con(|ncMor!  (Jloi-iously  iiiinn|ihanl 
0"ei"Tln>  vaminishi'd  hosis  of  death  and  hell, 
The  <  hrisliairs  I.oid.  the  chosen  Son  of  (io<l, 
Tomes  forth  in  maji-sly  from  IIk'  claik  tomb, 
Welcomi'd  by  all  the  retinue  of  Heaven. 
With  livin;;  lailh  in  his  victorious  power, 
I  wonld  serenely  hid  my  friends  adieu, 
.\iid  h'ave  my  pr<'cious  children  in  liiscare: 


And  while  I  clasped  their  loviiij;  hands  In  mini' 

I'd  bid  them  meet  me  in  my  father"*  hoii-e: 

Hut  to  jro  out  in  such  sharp  aj;ony. 

That  all  my  words  were  hrokeii  into  groans 

<  'ausi'd  heart  and  llesh  for  one-  brief  hour  lo  fail. 

TIk'II  I    reineinbered  how  tliis  niijihty  piinci', 

Thon;;h  now  by  an^ids  crow  lied,  once  piayi-d  alone. 

In  such  deep  sorrow  that  >;reat  I'limson  drops 

I'i'll  on  the  iiarden  sod.     His  t'rieiids  aslei'p! 

Three  tiiiK's  that  pleadini;-  V(dce  went  up  lo  heaven 

"Ifil  he  |)ossible,  let  1  his  cup  pass," 

Then  meekly  said,  "Thy  w  ill.  not  mine,  be  iloiie." 

All  fear  w  as  i;oni>,  ami  my  y:lad  heart  set  np 

The  full  res|ioiise.  "Thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done." 

I'ailh  trium|)hed,  .iiid  my  soni  was  tilled  w  ilh  peace. 

The  deep,  dark  Hood  that  tilliMl  me  withsmli  ilreail 

\\a-  i|niel  now.  and  -eemecl  -o  narrow,  too, 

'I'hat  I  ( Id  .-ilniosi  reach  the  hands  of  those 

Who  beckoned  to  nii'  from  the  other  shore. 

While  w  ail  in;^.  Ihu-  w  illiiij;  to  cross  the  >irc-am. 

A  r.iy  of  earthly  llj;ht  came  to  my  eyes 

Faint  as  the  stailiuht  at  the  moniiii'j  dawn. 

Hilt  still  enonuli  to  -how  what  seemecl  to  inc- 

In  the  nncerlain  liu;lit.  a  i>-uar(l  of  men 

Standing-  beside  my  bed.      I  heard  the  names 

Of  baby  lioys.  who  lonj;'.  lon^'  years  a,ud 

Had  lain  iijion  my  breast,  and  heard  these  men 

(live  answer  to  these  names  :  anil  ihen  I  knew 

They  were  my  hoys,  now  weariiij;-  manhooirs  crow  n. 

A  whispei-  breathed  on  the  electric  cord 

Keached  the  far  west  where  dwelt  my  eldest  son. 

And  he.  loo.  stood  be~iile  his  In'olhers  here. 

All  hand  in  hand,  ^iianliiii;-  their  mother"s  life; 

.Villi  y;irls. — well,  call  them  women  if  yon  w  ill. 

Who  w  alk  life's  toil-ome  journey  w  lib  mv  bii\  -. 

Were  Ihere  with  loviii;;-  hearts.  Vailhfiil  and  true. 

When  the  tierce  fever  linriied.  soil  hands  were  laid 

rpon  my  forehead:  tinijers.  soft  and  cool 

.\s  rose  leaves  spriiikleil  with  the  dew  of  .(ime. 

Were  on  my  throbbing-  temples  e;ently  pressed, 

.\nd  lo  my  weary  senses  broiii;hl    relief: 

-\nd  one  whose  earliest  life   was  dniwii   frum  mine. 

Who-e  veins  were  tilled  with  the  same  purple  tide 

That  w  amis  my  own.  stayed  by  nu!  during  days 

Of  lint^eriiii;,  painful,  convalescence. 

And  by  her  walc'hfiil  care,  cheered  the  dark  way 

Thioii'ih  which  my  feeble  and  iinrestfnl  feet 

Mii-I  walk  a  little  while. — Cod  knows  how  loni;. 

He  al-ii  knows  that  with  a  jrratefnl  heart 

I  bless  His  holy  name  for  the  lich  gilt. 

The  priceless  treasure  of  my  chililren's  love. 

And  so  I  lake  .inaiii  the  burden  of  my  lile. 
With  sironyer  fa  ilh  in  Him  who  knows  n'ly  heai-| 
Faith  thai  can  Iriisl,  in  darkness  as  in  light, 
Failh  that  can  claim  the  ])roniises  He  made 
To  hi-  disciples. 

.\nd   w  hen  ihe  thick  darkness 

(lalliei-  roimd  my  way,  I  will  re inber 

Thai   He  said  to  all  Ihi'  liea\y  laden. 

"<  onie  imto   me  and  1  will  give  yon  rest." 

Her  religious  ideas  were  in  keeping  with  the  situ" 
plicity  and  majesty  of  the  Center  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  she  fashioned  them  into  articles  for  the 
press,  which  were  fraught  with  her  own  ardor  and 
strength.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  re- 
sided with  her  children.  In  November,  i88j,  she 
went    to    Des  Moines  to   pass  the  lemainder  of  her 


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life,  and  during  its  closing  months  her  intellectual  ac- 
tivity seemed  to  culminate.  She  commenced  the 
preparation  of  a  series  of  lay  sermons  for  the  Newaygo 
TrihuiK,  the  first  of  which  reached  its  publishers 
July  9,  1883,  and  appeared  July  25,  in  the  same 
issue  which  contained  the  notice  of  her  death.  That 
event  occurred  July  1 2,  three  days  after  her  communi- 
cation reached  its  destination.  Her  five  surviving 
children  watched  the  closing  hours  of  her  life  and 
placed  her  in  her  pale  sleep  by  the  husband  at  whose 
side  she  walked  in  wifely  dignity,  in  maternal  beauty, 
in  Christian  consistency,  for  nearly  half  a  century. 
In  her  children  her  earthly  record  yet  lives;  her  sons 
are  all  in  honorable  walks  of  life,  and  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Elma  L.  Hutchinson,  of  Des  Moines,  is  a  physi- 
cian in  regular  practice  and  standing,  representing  the 
one  idiosyncrasy  of  the  mother,  as  the  sons  typify  the 
race  from  which  she  sprung  in  sterling  merit,  honor- 
able record  and  inflexible  courage.  Corydon  E. 
Fuller,  eldest  son,  resides  at  Des  Moines,  la.,  and  has 
held  his  present  responsible  incumbency  of  Treas- 
urer of  the  Iowa  Loan  &  Trust  Company  12  years. 
a  William  D.  Fuller,  resident  at  Newaygo,  editor  and 
f^^  proprietor  of  the  Newaygo  Tribune,  is  State  Swamp 
t^  Land  Commissioner  and  Chairman  of  the  Greenback 
State  Committee.  Orrin  T.  Fuller,  resident  at 
Des  Moines,  la.,  is  the  Interest  Clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  Iowa  Loan  is:  Trust  Company.  Ellen  J.  M. 
Fuller  died  at  Grand  Rapids  in  1850,  aged  sixteen. 
In  her  memory,  parents,  brothers  and  sister  kept 
youth  alive,  and  the  oldest  and  youngest  await  the 
restoration  of  the  household  band  in  its  entirety  in 
the  realms  of  perpetual  morning. 

Judge  Fuller  was  in  his  thirteenth  year  when  his 
parents  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  he  attended  the 
union  school  there  until  he  was  18  years  old,  when 
he  was  sent  to  Hiram  College,  where  James  A.  Gar- 
field was  then  a  student.  Between  the  two  boys  of 
18  and  r9  years,  a  warm  regard  ensued  which  never 
abated.  They  were  room-mates  at  Hiram,  and  when 
the  chief  honor  in  the  Nation's  gift  was  laid  at  the  feet 
of  him  whose  tragic  fate  and  heroic  endurance  chal- 
lenged the  awe  and  admiration  of  the  world,  Judge 
Fuller  hastened  to  offer  his  congratulations,  and,  true 
to  the  instincts  which  molded  his  matchless  man- 
»i?  hood,  General  Garfield  found  time,  in  the  midst  of 
('(»)  the  haste  and  clamor  of  the  opening  campaign,  to 
^    write  a  letter  to  his  boyhood's  friend,  characteristic 


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in   its   kindly   and    grateful    remembrance    of   him. 

Judge  Fuller  left  Hiram  and  returned  to  Grand 
Rapids.  He  established  himself  in  mercantile  inter- 
ests with  Daniel  McConnell,  A.  G.  Smith  and  Wm. 
H.  McConnell,  under  the  firm  style  of  C.  C.  Fuller 
&  Co.  This  connection  was  of  brief  duration.  Judge 
Fuller  selling  out  his  claim.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he 
went  to  McGregor,  la.,  organized  a  company  and  em- 
barked in  the  business  of  tanning  leather,  operating 
with  the  Daniels  patent  process.  Of  this  concern 
Judge  Fuller  was  treasurer  and  manager,  but  he 
closed  his  relations  with  it  not  long  after  its  establish- 
ment and  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  North 
Iowa  Times,  a  sheet  of  rank  Democratic  tendencies ; 
but,  notwithstanding  the  variance  between  the  prin- 
ciples of  its  proprietors,  the  journal  was  conducted 
with  marked  harmony  and  success.  In  1858  he  re- 
turned to  Grand  Rapids  and  in  the  winter  of  1858-9 
once  more  cast  his  hopes  upon  the  tide  of  com- 
mercial life,  forming  a  partnership  with  O.  R. 
Wilmarth.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  decided  in 
a  change  in  his  purposes,  and  sold  his  busi- 
ness interests  to  enter  upon  his  preparation  fur  the 
profession  of  law.  He  read  under  the  supervision  of 
Messrs.  Ashley  &  Miller,  of  Grand  Rapids,  and  in 
June,  i860,  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  May,  i860,  he  established  his  home  at  Big 
Rapids,  where  his  personal  experience  forms  a  link 
in  the  pioneer  history  of  the  place,  which  contained 
then  five  houses,  scattered  among  the  trees  of  the 
forest.  Judge  Fuller  bought  a  tract  of  land  contain- 
ing four  lots  lying  (now)  on  the  corner  of  Linden 
Street  and  Michigan  Avenue,  and  covered  with  tim- 
ber. With  his  own  hands  he  cleared  the  land  and 
laid  the  foundation  walls  of  his  residence,  the  first 
stone  work  laid  in  mortar  in  the  village,  said  mortar 
being  made  from  the  first  lime  burned  in  the  county, 
and  which  was  bought  from  the  producer,  John 
Snyder,  of  Green  Tp.  He  assisted  personally  in  the 
erection  of  the  building  until  its  completion. 

Judge  Fuller's  i)ublic  life  commenced  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year.  He  was  elected  Court  Commissioner 
and  held  the  office  until  1868.  He  was  also  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  in  which  capacity  he  acted  un- 
til his  removal  in  1866,  which  was  effected  by  Andrew 
Johnson  for  political  pur|KDses.  In  the  fall  of  1862, 
he  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Mecosta 
County  and  officiated  two  years.  He  was  elected 
Judge  of  Probate  in  1864  and  acted  in  that  capacity 


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four  years.  In  1868  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committees  on 
Railroads  and  Engrossing  and  Enrolling.  He  intro- 
duced several  impoitant  local  bills,  also  a  bill  to  pro- 
vide for  registration  of  electors  in  new  townships. 

While  the  county  was  yet  new,  Judge  Fuller 
bought  240  acres  of  land  in  the  south  [)art  of  the 
Fourth  Ward  of  the  city  of  Big  Rapids,  40  acres  of 
which  was  platted  as  Fuller's  Addition.  He  is  still 
the  owner  of  three  acres,  l)esides  a  number  of  city  lots 
and  a  splendid  residence.  In  1873,  associated  with 
L.  H.  Green,  he  built  the  Opera  block.  The  mone- 
tary crisis  and  shrinkage  of  values  of  that  year  over- 
whelmed the  business  interests  of  Big  Rapids,  tlie 
individual  loss  of  Judge  Fuller  being  about  $40,000. 
Judge  Fuller  is  a  Republican  of  no  uncertain  ten- 
dency, but  his  character  and  record  have  preserved 
his  ix)pularity  with  all  classes  regardless  of  party  is- 
sues. His  [wsition  before  the  people  is  evinced  by 
the  fact  of  his  being  successively  elected  to  the  best 
official  positions.  He  was  elected  to  his  present  po- 
sition as  Judge  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Judicial  Circuit 
^  in  1882,  running  against  (ieorge  Luton,  of  Newaygo, 
^  and  receiving  a  majority  of  65 1  votes.  He  is  the  first 
=  incumbent  of  the  position  after  the  formation  of  the 
\J    Circuit  by  the  Legislature  of  Michigan. 

Judge  Fuller  was  married  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
J  Nov.  9,  1858,  to  Frank  A.,  daughter  of  John  Mor- 
rison, an  early  settler  of  that  city.  Slie  was  born 
Aug.  31,  1838,  at  Galliix)lis,  Ohio.  Of  this  marriage 
were  born,  at  Big  Rapids,  seven  children,  six  sons  and 
a  daughter.  Louis  M.  was  born  April  24,  1S61,  and 
is  telegraph  operator  and  ticket  agent  in  the  Big 
Rapids  office  of  the  G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.  Herbeit  C 
is  a  telegraph  operator,  and  was  born  Jan.  24,  1S63. 
Percy  H.  was  born  Feb.  17,  1866,  and  died  Aug.  12 
1868;  John  E.  was  born  Jan.  2,  1868;  Ben  H.,  Feb! 
27,  1870;  Frank  M.,  Jan.  3,  1872;  Daisy  A.,  born 
Nov.  12,  1872.  For  the  life  given  a  life  was  taken, 
the  mother  passing  to  the  spirit  world  Nov.  i  2,  1872. 
The  lonely  little  one  soon  sought  tlie  maternal  pres- 
'^  ence,  winging  her  flight  to  heaven  Aug.  4,  1873. 
1  Judge  Fuller  was  a  second  time  married,  at  Yi)si- 
'Ij;  lanti,  Mich.,  Jan.  5,  1876,  to  .Sarah  E.,  daughter  of 
y  Isaac  H.  and  Eliza  E.  Voorhies.  She  was  born  at 
^  Trumansburg,  'romi)kins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  2,  1849. 
^i)  Two  sons,  Charles  E.,  born  .April  26,  1877,  and  Leslie 
V.  L.,  .\prii  14,  1879,  have  been  born  of  this  marriage. 


eorge  Risbridger,  farmer,  sec  1,  Deerfield 
Tp.,  P.  O.  .Altona,  was  born  in  England 
May    19,    1823.     His   parents,   Isaac   and 

■^).\nn  (Ridley)  Risbridger,  were  natives  of  Eng- 

'''  land  and  lived  and  died  in  their  native  country. 
Mr.  Risbridger  had  his  contest  to  make  in 
the  world  single-handed  and  alone,  and  his  early  life 
in  his  native  land  was  passed  as  a  farmer.  He  came 
to  America  in  1850  when  27  years  of  age,  reaching 
New  York  in  the  montli  of  May.  He  went  thence 
to  Portage  Co  ,  Ohio,  and  was  there  engaged  durirg 
three  years  in  the  manufacture  of  potash  and  peail- 
ash.  He  ne.xt  came  to  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  re- 
moving a  year  later  to  Barry  County.  There  he 
bought  80  acres  of  unimproved  land,  built  a  house 
and  cleared  70  acres,  setting  out  an  orchard  of  150 
trees.  .After  a  residence  of  15  years  he  sold  his  j)lace 
and  bouglit  200  acres  of  well  improved  land  in  Bed- 
ford, Calhoun  County,  where  he  resided  13  years. 
Again  disposing  of  his  place,  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County  and  liought  40  acres  of  partially  improved 
land,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Risbridger  was  married  March  2,  iS5o,in  Ei-.g- 
land,  to  Sabina,  daughter  of  George  and  Hannah. 
Eager,  also  natives  of  England.  She  was  born  Dec 
30,  1832,  and  died  in  Deerfield,  July  12,  1883,  leav- 
ing seven  of  ten  children  born  of  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Risbridger.  Following  is  a  record  of  their  births: 
(reorge  I  ,  Dec.  30,  1854;  Hannah  M.,Oct.  24, 1857; 
Byron  P.,  Aug.  29,  1859;  Ida  O.,  Dec.  4,  1863; 
Francis  H.,  Oct.  23,  1865;  Charles  J.,  Dec.  2,  1867  ; 
Mary  S.,  Feb.  2,  1869.  Fanny,  born  March  19,  1851, 
died  Sept.  4,  1853;  Henry,  born  Nov.  23,  1852,  died 
Sept.  10,  1853;  Wm.  W.,  born  .Aug.  i,  1861,  died 
Oct.  27,  1863. 

Mr.  Risbridger  has  been  actively  interested  in  edu- 
cational matters  for  many  years.  He  is  a  voracious 
reader;  conversant  with  the  affairs  of  the  day  and, 
mindful  of  all  the  circumstances  which  surrounded 
and  baffled  his  ambitions  in  his  native  land,  has  ever 
been  ready  to  lend  his  aitl  and  inlluence  to  all  re- 
formatory measures  which  promised  to  correct  poi)u- 
lar  evils  and  improve  social  grades.  In  politics  he 
acts  independently  ;  is  a  prohibitionist  in  principle 
and  believes  in  the  education  of  the  masses  as.a  safe- 


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guard  of  the  best  interests  of  tlie  future.  He  early 
identified  himself  with  the  Grange  movement,  and 
himself  and  wife,  who  co-operated  with  him  in  his 
views  and  efforts,  were  charter  members  of  Bedford 
Grange,  No.  65,  P  of  H.,  located  in  Calhoun  County. 
They  were  also  charter  members  of  Pomona  Grange, 
P.  of  H.,  in  Calhoun  County,  and  Mr.  R.  is  still  active 
in  its  interests.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  a  co- 
operative store  at  Battle  Creek  and  is  one  of  its  stock- 
holders. Both  himself  and  wife  were  zealous  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a 
Class-leader  eight  years. 


yron    H.  Boyd,  farmer,    sec. 


JO' 


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^  field  'Pp.,  was  born  in  .\llegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
'/fv  April  28,   1835.     He  is    a  third   child  of 

s'i^ViK'  Jo'i'''  ''"''d  Caroline  (Bathah)  Boyd,  both  na- 
tives of  New  York.  His  father  was  a  lumber- 
i"^  man  and  farmer,  and  ir,  1849  went  to  Tioga  Co., 
Penn.,  where  he  followed  the  same  pursuits.  He 
died  in  .\ndover,  .\llegheny  Co.;  the  mother  died 
July  13,  1855,  in  Pennsylvania. 

Mr  Boyd  was  14  years  of  age  when  he  went  to  the 
Keystone  State  with  his  parents,  and  with  whom  he 
remained  until  he  was  22  years  old.  His  first  labor 
on  his  own  account  was  as  a  day  hand  in  a  saw-mill, 
and  again  at  Williamsport  in  the  same  capacity.  In 
1865  he  was  engaged  in  reconstructing  bridges  in  the 
town  which  were  washed  out  by  the  flood  of  that  year. 
•In  1866  became  to  Deerfield  and  bought  80  acres  of 
land  on  sec.  33,  where  he  proceeded  to  clear  the  forest 
preparatory  to  establishing  a  home.  He  obtained  the 
land  for  S3. 00  per  acre,  the  best  timber  being  re- 
served. Mr.  Boyd  has  added  to  his  original  tract  by 
purchase  until  he  now  ow'ns  160  acres  on  tlie  same 
section,  80  acres  (about  37  of  whi<  h  is  swam])  land) 
on  sec.  29  and  240  on  sec.  22.  Tlie  swami)  land  is 
well  stocked  with  hemlock,  cedar  and  black  ash 
timber. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  married  July  13,  1855,  to  Hannah 
A.  Dickens,  daughter  of  Alva  and  Lucy  Minerva 
(Campbell)  Dickens,  born  Dec.  29,  1836,  inTioga  Co., 
Penn.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Boyd  was  born  in  Rhode 
Island,   the    mother   in    Pennsylvania.     The  former 


died  in  April,  1863  ;  the  latter  May  18, 1883.  Seven 
of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyd  are  living: 
James  C,  Robert  P.,  .^ddie  V.,  Fred  C,  Alma.  M., 
Emma  J.  and  Francis  H.  Anna  Belle  is  deceased. 
Mr.  Boyd  is  active  in  the  interests  of  the  Republi- 
can party  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Repulilican 
Convention  in  i88r.  He  has  held  all  the  important 
township  offices.     In  religion  he  is  a  liberalise 


P Andrew  Breakley,  farmer,  on  sec.  11,  Hin- 
\,  ton  Tp.,  P.  O.,  Altona,  was  torn  at  Roches- 
^  ^  ^  ter,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  23,  1S44.  His  parents, 
%W  Andrew  and  Catharine  (C'rass)  Breakley,  were 
1|?^  natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  Canada 
j  and  removed  to  New  York  prior  to  their  mar- 
riage, which  look  place  in  that  ciiy.  Three  years 
after,  Andrew  Breakley,  Sr.,  moved  wilji  his  family  to 
the  city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed 
by  the  contractors  of  the  Erie  Canal  as  a  stone 
mason.  Mr.  Breakley, Sr.,  was  employed  in  his  native 
country  in  peddling  dry  goods  and  linens  and  early 
in  his  life  was  a  companion  of  A.  T.  Stewart.  Him- 
self and  wife  died  at  Rochester. 

Until  he  was  16  years  of  age,  the  suliject  of  this 
sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  Rochester. 
He  began  to  prepare  for  the  business  of  aboat-calker 
and  was  so  employed  three  years.  The  work  was  so 
severe  and  the  manager  so  e-\acting  that  the  proprie- 
tor himself  remarked  that  'that  fellow  would  not  stay 
a  week; '  but  he  persisted  and  managed  to  accomplish 
his  business  to  ihe  entire  satisfaction  of  the  parties 
interested.  In  1861  he  went  to  Canada  on  a  visit* 
but  concluded  to  remain  there  and  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  his  brother-in-law  for  nearly  four  years.  He 
visited  the  city  of  New  York  and  his  old  home  at 
Rochester,  and  in  the  summer  of  1866  came  to  Me- 
costa,Midi.,  and  bought  40  acres  of  unimproved  land 
in  Hinton  Tp)  where  he  built  a  log  house  and  began 
his  career  as  a  pioneer.  Later  on  he  added  40  acres 
to  his  original  purchase  and  now  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  80  acres,  with  50  acres  under  first-class  improve- 
ments. He  also  owns  40  acres  in  Millbrook  Tp. 
Mr,  Breakley   has  been  Constable  of  Hinton  Tp. 


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for  nine  years,  School  Inspector  two  years,  Highway 
Commissioner  two  years,  Town  Treasurer  two  years, 
and  in  the  spring  of  18S0  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  Supervisor  in  the  siningof  1S.S5,  of  whic  h 
iwsitions  he  is  the  present  incumbent.  He  has  lieen 
School  Director  six  years,  and  is  identified  with  tlic 
issues  and  interests  of  the  Democratic  party;  him- 
self and  wife  were  formerly  communicants  of  the 
English  Church. 

Mr.  IJreakley  was  married  in  Canada,  July  19, 
1864,  to  Matilda,  fourth  daughter  of  James  N.  and 
Catherine  (Flannagan)  Decker.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  mother  of 
Canada,  antl  are  now  residents  of  Hinton  'I'p.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Breakley  liave  hiid  six  ciiikhen — James  (i,  born 
Nov.  28,  1867  ;  Andrew  N  ,  July  15,  1872  ;  Edward 
and  Edwin  (twins),  July  15,  1874;  Nellie,  Jan.  5. 
1880.  Ella  was  born  Aug.  9,  1869,  and  itiedOrt.  1  i, 
1870. 


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John  E.  Kirvan,  farmer,  sec.  34,  Morton  T] 


^^^i'-  ''•  *^'  ^y'vester,  was  born  in  Gray  Co., 
fiSVi^^  Province  of  ()ntario.  Can.,  Aug.  3,  1862. 
He  is  a  son  of  Elias  and  Jane  .\nn  (IJrcakcy) 
Kirvan.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a  [)ioneer 
of  the  Dominion,  and  settled  80  miles  from  the 
nearest  point  of  sup|ilies,  having  to  travel  that 
distance  in  an  Indian  canoe  for  necessaries  for  the 
family  use.  The  father  of  Mr.  Kirvan  was  one  of 
II  children,  five  hoys  and  si.\  girls.  He  came  to 
Michigan  in  1870,  bought  160  acres  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  the  duties  of  farming.  He  sold  80  acres 
and  cleared  60  acres  of  the  remainder.  He  died 
Feb.  18,  1879,  all  his  res[)onsibilities  devolving  on  the 
son.  Since  the  father's  death  the  latter  has  built  a 
new  house  and  put  all  the  buildings  on  the  place  in 
thorough  repair.  The  farm  lies  three  miles  from 
Sylvester,  ^vhich,  when  the  family  came  here,  was  the 
nearest  [xjint  of  neighbors  and  civilization.  The 
mother  is  still  living  in  firm  healtii  and  with  unim- 
paired intellectual  powers. 

Mr.  Kirvan  is  still  a  young  man,  but  the  energy  and 
good  judgment  he  displays  in  the  management  of  his 


affairs  promises  extended  success   in  the  avenues  he 
has  alreaily  made  |)rosperous. 

He  was  married  IKc.  24,  1882,  to  Minnie  Adams, 
of  Hinton  Tp.  Her  father  is  a  man  of  good  stand- 
ing, and  has  served  his  people  in  several  official  ca- 
pacities. 


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Jll^^lpohn    O'Ncil,    fanner  on    seciion  35,  Deer- 
■^|(^^[|.  field  Tp.,  was  born   in    Ireland,  June   10, 
^'S?'        1828.       His    parents,     Patrick    and    Jane 
'ii?    (Cjanier)  O'Ncil,  were  natives  of  WicklowCo., 
'h^     Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  Canada,  where  they 
i      are  still  living,  in  advanced  age. 
Mr.  O'Neil  was    18  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Canada.     He  was  a  resident 
of  ilie  Dominion  about  15  years  and    came  to  Shia- 
wassee Co.,  Mich.,  buying  40  acres  of  land,  which  he 
afterwards  sold,  and  after  a  year's  labor  as  a  farm 
hand  he  again  Ijought  another  (arm,  of  which  he  dis- 
ixjsed  and  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  and  bought  So  acres 
of  unimproved  land  in  Deerfield  Tp.,  wherehe  now  re- 
sides ;  he  has  50  acres  under  the  [ilow.     Mr.  O'Neil 
is  independent  in  political  action  and,  with  his  family 
belongs  to  the  I'atholic  Church. 

He  was  married  in  1851  to  Mary,  daugh'er  of 
James  and  Mary  Martin.  They  have  had  nine  chil- 
ren,  five  of  whom  are  now  living:  Patriik,  James, 
Jolm,  Michael  and  Jane;  those  ileceaseil  were  Mary, 
William,  Margaret  and  .Vnibrose. 


— BR- avid  Quigley  is  a  farmer  in  sec.  4,   Deer- 
^  field     Tp;    P.    O.    Morley.       His   parents, 
,^^^4"   Ceorge  and  Jane  ()uigley,  were  natives  le- 
pectively  of  New    York  and  Wales.     They 
j^    Were  married  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada  and  re- 
moved thence  to  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  in   1854. 
After  a  brief  residence  there  they  came  to  Mecosta 
Co.,  and  located  on  sec.  4  of  Deerfield  Tp.     They 
were  the  first  white  settlers  of  town  13  north,  of  range 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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^  9  west,  now  Deerfield,  and  there  took  up  their  resi- 

tdence  in  1859.  James  Quigley,  brother  of  David, 
was  born  in  1859,  and  was  tlie  first  wliite 
f  child  wliose  birth  occurred  in  Deerfield.  George 
Quigley  was  acting  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  and 
performed  the  first  marriage  ceremony  in  the  town- 
shi[)  in  December,  1862  The  contracting  parties 
were  Isaac  Sedore  and  Elizabeth  Smith.  Mr.  Quigley 
afterwards  ivent  to  Montcalm  County,  where  he  now 
lives. 

David  Quigley  was  born  in  Canada,  Feb.  22,  1850, 
and  came  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  when  four 
years  of  age.  His  early  life  was  passed  amid  the 
pioneer  scenes  of  this  section  of  the  Peninsular  State. 
He  has  spent  all  his  life  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  23 
he  bought,  in  Deerfield  I'p.,  58  acres  of  land,  with 
some  improvements,  but  took  possession  in  1876  and 
was  there  resident  until  1S83,  when  he  rented  a  farm 
containing  60  acres. 

He  was  married  in  Montcalm  Co.,  in  the  winter  of 
1875,  to  Laviiia,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Jane  Pi.xley. 
They  have  two  cliildren:     Bertie,  born  July  31,1877, 

S   and  Karl   R.,  Seiit.    18,   1882.     The  imrentsof  Mrs. 

«>v'    Quigley  were  both  born  in  New  York.     Mr.  Quigley 

1=    is  a  Republican;    himself  and  wife  are  members  of 

O    the  Methodist  Church. 


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pohn  G.  Martz,  Jr.,  president  of  the  Big 
Rapids  Manufacturing  Comiiany,  was  born 
at  Newville,  Adams  Co.,  Ind.,  June  26, 
1848.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many, and  his  mother,  Mary  (Sauer)  Mart/., 
was  born  in  Switzerland.  They  accompanied 
their  parents  from  the  "fatherland"  to  .\merica 
and  settled  with  a  German  colony  in  Adams  County, 
at  a  date  so  early  that  the  primeval  forests,  with  their 
concomitants  of  wild  game,  were  in  their  original 
state. 

Mr.  Martz  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
ten  of  whom  yet  survive;  the  l)rothers  and  sisters 
are  Annie,  Benjamin,  David,  Christian,  Mary,  Daniel, 
Katie  E.,  Susan  and  Sarah.     Edward  G  is  deceased. 


John  G  is  second  child  and  eldest  son.  When  about 
three  years  of  age  his  father  removed  with  his  family 
to  Fairfield  Center,  DeKalb  Co.,  Ind.,  and  purchased 
a  farm  containing  about  600  acres  of  land,  in  an  un- 
cultivated state,  and  in  heavy  timber.  It  has  been 
converted  into  one  of  the  finest  ])laces  in  tliat  section 
of  country. 

Mr.  Martz  obtained  his  elementary  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  DeKalb  County,  and  at  tlie 
age  of  14  was  sent  for  a  year  of  study  to  the  graded 
school  of  Fort  \Vayne.  .\fter  a  year  at  home  he 
went  back  to  Fort  Wayne  and  became  a  clerk  in  a 
grocery  and  provision  store,  where  he  remained  a 
twelve-month  and  returned  to  the  farm.  In  1870  he 
came  to  Big  Rapids  and  entered  the  establisliment  of 
Thos.  D.  Stimson  as  clerk,  and  the  following  summer 
assisted  his  brother-in-law,  F.  E.  .Mirens,  (since  de- 
teased)  in  erecting  th»  Big  kai)ids  Furniture  build- 
ing. In  1872  a  y.tock  com[)any  was  organized,  under 
the  title  and  style  of  the  Big  Rapids  Furniture 
Manufacturing  Company,  which  purchased  the  fac- 
tory. The  'Mme  year  Mr.  Martz  bought  a  lot  on 
Micliigan  Avenue  and  aided  in  putting  up  a  building, 
which  was  rented  to  A.  Levi.  The  latter  opened  a 
gentleman's  furnishing  store,  and  three  days  later  the 
structure  was  blown  down  by  tlie  wind,  entailing  a 
loss  of  $1,000.  It  was  immediately  reconstructed 
and  has  since  been  occupied  by  its  primal  lessee,  Mr. 
Levi. 

In  1873  Mr.  Martz  commenced  business  as  a  retail 
furniture  dealer  on  Michigan  Avenue,  where  he  oper- 
ated until  the  fall  of  1874,  when  he  bouglit  his  pres- 
ent place  of  business.  At  the  same  time  he  formed 
a  co-partnership  with  H  M.  .'\verill  and  added  up- 
holstering. Soon  after  he  became  sole  owner  by  pur- 
chase and  later  sold  his  entire  stock.  He  made  a 
considerable  investment  in  the  stock  of  the  Big  Rap- 
ids Furniture  Manufacturing  Company,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1876  oiiened  a  liakery,  which  is  the  leading 
institution  of  the  kind  in  tlie  cily.  In  1880,  Mr. 
Martz  became  a  Director  of  the  Furniture  C'ompany, 
was  elected  N'ice  President  in  1882,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1882  was  cliosen  to  his  present  position  as  tliiel 
official.  He  is  also  a  Director  of  the  Big  Rapids 
National  Bank.  Prosperity  has  attended  every  busi- 
ness venture  of  Mr.  Mnrtz.  The  various  periods  of 
stringency  in  general  financial  affairs  have  aflfected 
him  to  some  degree,  but  by  shrewd  tact  and  careful 


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management    tlirougli    times  of  peril,    lie    has   been 
enabled  to  conduct  his  affairs  safely. 

He  was  married  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.,  May  lo, 
1S76,  to  Mary  Faling;  she  died  in  October,  187.S. 
Mr.  -Martz  was  again  married,  at  .Vubiirn,  Ind.,  Sept. 
I,  1 880,  to  Elizabeth  Mader.  Their  two  sons  are 
named  J.  ^V.,  Theodore,  and  John  .\ithiir. 


eneral   Stephen  Bronson,  Mayor  of  Big 

Rapids,  (1883)  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and 

>JiJImj^"'k    Polly  (I'age)   Bronson,   and    was  born    in 

?M9^  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  3,   1817.     He  was  an 

ambitious,    active  boy,    eager   to    join    in    the 

I  world's  pursuits,  and  seek  advancement  througl-. 
his  own  efforts.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  son 
and  gave  some  attention  to  carpentry.  At  the  age 
of  si.xteen  he  was  sent  to  the  Oxford  Academy,  near 
his  home,  and  after  two  years  study  went  to  Mon- 
trose, Susipiehannah  Co.,  I'enn.,  and  taught  a  term  of 
school,  and  the  following  winter  was  similarly  engaged 
at  home.  In  1840  the  family  removed  to  Du  Page 
Co.,  111.,  (Naperville),  where  both  father  and  son 
bought  farms,  that  of  the  latter  including  150 
acres  of  land.  The  next  ten  years  he  passed  in  the 
varied  pursuits  of  farming,  teaching  and  working  as 
a  builder.  He  sold  his  farm  and  went  to  Chicago, 
engaging  in  mercantile  affairs,  banking  and  real  es- 
tate for  a  period  of  twelve  years  and  was  rewarded 
for  his  efforts  by  a  satisfactory  degree  of  profit. 

He  next  went  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  where  he  was  in- 
terested in  the  lumber  trade.  At  the  end  of  a  year 
he  sold  his  mill  there  and  in  1859,  in  company  witii 
several  others,  he  crossed  the  i)lains  of  Colorado  and 
took  up  a  mining  claim  at  (now)  Central  City;  he  also 
staked  a  claim  in  the  "Ciregory"  and  sold  two  weeks 
later  for  $10,000.  He  then  went  to  Oolden  City, 
where  he  engaged  one  summer  in  lumbering  He 
returned  to  Illinois  for  the  winter  and  went  back  to 
Denver  in  the  spring  with  Jose[)h  Cliadwick.  They 
erected  a  large  store  building  during  the  summer,  and 
returned  to  Illinois  in  the  fall.  The  following  s|)ring 
they  sold  their  store  located  at  Denver  and  also  some 


mining    claims,    when    the)     took     a     Hnalleave     of 
Colorado. 

In  the  fall  of  i8()i,\vlien  llie  tide  of  war  and  dis- 
union swept  the  country,  Mr.  Hrorson  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  C,  12th  Illinois  Cavalry,  serving 
in  that  capacity  until  Feb.  28,  1862,  when  he  was 
commissioned  Captain  and  went  into  active  service 
at  the  front.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Major,  holding  his  post  vuitil  the  rnusteringout  of  the 
regiment  in  the  winter  of  1863.  He  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  raise  another  company  and  was  elected 
Captain  of  Company  F,  141st  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Elgin,  111.,  and 
Captain  Bronson  wasapi)ointed  Colonel  by  Cov.  Yates. 
-Vfter  a  service  of  100  days  he  returned  to  Chicago 
and  was  nuirtered  out.  He  proceeded  to  organize  the 
153rd  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  soon  after  apjiointed  Bre- 
vet Brigadier  General  by  President  Lincoln.  His  ap- 
jjoinlment  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  and  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  First  Brigade  of 
the  Division  of  Western  Tennessee,  with  head-quar- 
ters at  Mem[)his,  and  was  in  active  service  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  Oct.  i,  1S65, 
at  Springfield,  111.,  after  about  four  and  a  half  years 
of  service.  He  was  in  action  at  Harper's  Ferrv, 
Antietam,  Gettysburg,  Chancelloisville,  Dumfries 
and  a  large  number  of  other  engagements.  During 
tliis  period  of  service  he  received  five  commissions. 

On  leaving  the  United  States  service  he  was  the  re 
cii)ient  of  many  flattering  proofs  of  appreciation  from 
the  Department  and  his  fellow  officers.  General 
C)glesby,  of  Illinois,  made  a  personal  appeal  to  the 
President  for  a  lucrative  and  resiwnsible  [losition  for 
meritorious  service,  but  General  Bronson  made  no 
personal  exertion  to  secure  any  place  at  the  hands  of 
the  already  overburdened  and  struggling  Government. 

.'\fter  the  war  closed  he  went  to  'i'exas  and  bought 
a  large  herd  of  beef  cattle,  which  were  driven  to  the 
Chicago  market  and  it  proved  a  profitable  venture.  In 
the  spring  of  1867  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  and,  in 
partnership  with  Sumner  Stickney,  established  exten- 
sive business  interests,  including  trade  in  lumber  and 
real  estate  and  banking  operations.  'I'heir  invest- 
ments were  profitable  and  their  affairs  in  promising 
condition  when  the  financial  disturbance  of  1873 
overwhelmed  them  and  their  prujierty  sunk  lo  a 
mininiinn    value.     About    the  same  time  their  saw- 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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^    10  begin  at  the  foundation  once  more.     His  early  ex- 
A)    perience    as  a  carpenter   became    his    best   working 

3»  capital,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  boy  lie  rebuilt 
T  the  mill  of  Bronson  &  Stickney,  and  they  proceeded 
with  their  lumber  business.  About  one  and  a  half 
years  after  they  lost  their  dam  by  a  "wash  out,"  sold 
their  site  and  built  where  they  are  now  operating, 
putting  in  steam  power. 

(len,  lironson,  in  addition  to  his  other  public  rela- 
tions, has  been  active  in  political  life.  In  Colorado, 
in  1859,  he  was  elected  Representative  from  Golden 
City  District,  and  officiated  as  Speaker  of  tlie  House 
during  a  part  of  the  session.  In  1868  he  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  Mecosta  County,  and  held  the  post  two 
years  He  has  been  .Supervisor  several  years  and 
Chairman  of  the  Board  ;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
.School  Board  1 2  years,  member  of  the  Common 
Council  four  years,  and,  at  the  municipal  election  of 

,  -\     Big  Rapids  in  the  spring  of  1882,  failed  as  candidate 
for  its  cliief  office  by  only  three    votes.      In    tlie  fall 

yC    of  that  year  his  name  was  usedby  the  Fusion  element 

^  as  candidate  for  Congress.  The  District  was  Repub- 
lican by  5,000  votes,  and  Gen.  Bronson  was  defeated 
by  only  about  2,600  in  the  general  count ;  lie  car- 
ried the  ciiy  by  a  majority  of  46  votes.  In  the 
s;)ring  of  1883,  lie  was  elected  Mayor  of  Big  Rapids 
on  the  Union  ticket  by  a  majority  of  45  votes,  run- 
ning against  M.  P.  Gale,  e.x-Representative. 

Gen.  Bronson  was  married  at  Napcrville,  DuPage 
Co.,  Ill  ,  Nov.  7,  1 84 1,  to  Amelia  Barker.  Of  their 
eight  children  but  four  survive,  following  are  their 
names:  Amasa  (dec);  Charles  1).,  of  Big  Rapids, 
(deik  for  A.  S.  Hobart);  Sarah  (dec);  Lucy(Mrs.  H.  M. 
Hobart,  of  Big  Rapids);  Stephen  (dec);  Allie  (wife 
of  A.  A.  S.  Hobart) ;  Carrie  (wife  of  Frank  Beard, 
merchant  at  Morley) ;  Jessie  (dec)  During  the  ab- 
sence of  General  Bronson  in  Colorado  his  family  re- 
sided in  Wheaton,  III.,  with  tlie  exception  of  his  son 
Charles,  who  spent  two  and  a  half  years  wilii  his 
father  at  Denver.  Mrs.  Bronson  died  Sej)!.  5,  1S64, 
while  her  husband  was  in  llie  Union  army.  He  con- 
tracted marriage  a  second  time  at  Wheaton,  111.,  Feb. 
14,  1867,  with  I\.ate  M.  Brown,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  Nov.  23,  1830.  Their  children  are  Mollie,  Kate 
and  Harry.     The  last  died  March  25,  1878. 

It  is  but  just  to  General  P>ronson  to  add  that  in  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a  member  his  cliaracter  is 
thoroughly   api)reciated.     He    is  conscientious    and 


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discerning  in  his  opinions,  trusted  by  all  parties  and 
believes  with  all  his  might  in  the  strengtli  and 
supremacy  of  the  Government  he  so  zealously  de- 
fended in  the  time  of  her  peril.  Big  Rapids  is  hon- 
ored by  iiis  splendid  military  career,  and  his  connec- 
tion with  the  politics  of  the  city  has  been  of  the 
same  type.  His  first  candidacy  for  Mayor,  notwith- 
standing his  defeat,  was  one  of  the  most  marked 
triumphs  on  the  records  of  local  elections,  his  nom- 
ination taking  place  in  special  caucus  Saturday  night 
preceding  Monday's  election. 

The  testimonials  above  referred  to  comprise  a  let- 
ter, signed  by  several  individuals  of  acknowledged 
position,  addressed  to  Governor  Yates,  and  the  letter 
of  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  the  War  Governor  of  Illinois, 
and  now  on  file  in  the  Department  at  Washington, 
D.  C;  also  a  private  letter  from  Governor  Oglesby 
accompanying  his  Commission  as  Brigadier  General, 
United  States  Volunteers  by  Brevet.  The  latter  in 
closing  says:  "It  is  a  suitable  recognition  of  your 
valuable  services  in  the  late  war  against  Treason  and 
Rebellion  and  in  favor  of  Liberty  and  Union.  "  The 
recommendations  in  the  letters  referred  to  were  based 
on  the  desire  of  General  Bronson  to  remain  connected 
with  the  military  service  of  the  United  States  and 
urged  his  claims  on  the  grounds  of  his  meritorious 
conduct  in  Ijehalf  of  the  integrity  of  the  Union. 


Vr.Va..:,tf 


£enry  M.   Clark,  farmer,  sec.  26,   Deerfield 

p.,    P.    O.   Morley,    was   born    in    "York" 

gjl^r-'''*  State,  June   13,   1843.     His  parents,  Henry 

^  M.  and  Susan  A.  (Wilcox)  Clark,  were  liorn  in 

the  Empire  State  .ind  removed  thence  to  Mont- 

I     calm  Co.,  Mich.,  in  185. (.     The  father  died  June 

13,   1861;  the    mother    is    living   in   Greenville, 

Mich. 

Mr.  Claik  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm 
and  at  18  went  to  work  for  his  uncle,  where  he  spent 
one  year.  iVt  19  years  of  age,  inspired  liy  the  enthu- 
siasm to  which  the  entire  North  was  aroused  by  the 
outbreak  of  the  .Southern  Rebellion,  he  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  Thirty-sixth  Reg.  N  .Y.  Vol.  Inf,  for 
three  years,  receiving  honorable  discharge  June  13, 
i86'5,  at  Washington,  D.  C.     His  war  record  exhibits 


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the  deathless  names  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysl)iiri^.  His  regiment  was  transferred 
to  the  Army  of  the  C'lnuberland  where  Mr.  Clark  was 
under  fire  at  Ixwkout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Kidge,  and  was  in  the  historic  "  Marcli  to  the  Sea  " 
witii  Sherman.  Throughout  tlie  e.xtent  of  his  service 
Mr.  Clark  was  constantly  on  duty,  excejiting  lo  days, 
when  he  was  on  "sick  leave  "  with  ague. 

On  being  mustered  out  lie  came  to  Montcalm 
C'ounty,  and,  in  company  with  his  brother,  bought  the 
old  family  homestead,  containing  120  acres  of  land. 
About  the  year  1 868  he  sold  out  to  his  brother  and 
bought  another  farm  in  the  same  county,  where  he 
stayed  three  years.  On  selling  the  last  named  prop- 
erty he  went  to  Greenville  and  until  1879  was  inter- 
ested in  the  lumber  trade.  In  that  year  he  came  to 
Mecosta  County  and  bought  40  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  and  now  has  16  acres  under  the  |)low.  Mr. 
Clark  is  a  Democrat. 

He  was  married  in  Greenville,  Mich.,  May  i,  1868, 
to  Letitia,  daughter  of  James  and  Rhoda  (Reynolds) 
Swarihout.  Mrs  Clark  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York  Aug.  27,  1843.  Mr.  Clark's  family  includes 
three  ciiildren,  born  as  follows  :  H.  M.,  July  6,  1 875  ; 
George,  June  11,  1878,  and  Maud,  May  27,  1880. 
Two  children  have  gone  to  the  land  of  the  unknown: 
Frank  was  born  March  23,  1S70,  and  died  Aug.  27, 
1870;   Lewis,  born  March  9,  1872,  died  Aug.  25, 1872. 


phomas  Jjazell,  Police  Magistrate  of  Hig 
Rapitls,  anil  resident  of  that  city  since  i860, 
was  born  Dec  30,  1821,  in  the  village  of 
Cliff,  Kent  Co,  Englanil.  His  [tarents  were 
Thomas  and  l.ydia  (Drake)  F.a/ell,  the  latter  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Sir  I'Vancis  Drake,  .\d. 
miral  of  the  British  Navy  in  the  reign  of  (^ueen 
Elizabeth.  The  family  history  on  the  mother's 
side  is  peculiarly  significant  and  valuable,  from  the 
connec'ion  of  Admiral  Drake  with  the  earliest  his- 
tory of  this  continent.  He  was  the  first  Hiilish  ex- 
plorer of  the  Eastern  Pacific,  and  beitowed  the  first 
English  nanie.  New  Albion,  on  the  western  coasts  of 
North  and  -Siuth  .America.  This  was  about  the  year 
1578;  and  the  ambitious  and  successful  navigation  of 


V^ 


■^^C^^ 


<^n!i 


the  high  seas  a  few  years  later  touching  the  Atlantic 
seaboard,  while  returning  from  his  career  in  the  West, 
ruined  the  initiatory  colonization  scheme  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  by  'carrying  the  disheartened  and  desjxjnding 
colonists  back  to  England.  This  act  retarded  the 
settlement  of  this  continent  for  more  than  a  (piarter 
of  a  century,  and  it  is  imixjssible  to  estimate  the  ex- 
tent of  the  changes  made  thereby  on  the  Colonial 
period  of  the  history  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Lazell's  father  was  a  mason  and  builder  by 
profession,  and  supervised  the  training  of  his  son  in 
the  details  of  the  craft,  until  the  latter  was  sixteen 
years  old,  when  he  was  sent  to  Gravesend  to  acquire 
the  ipialificalions  of  an  architect.  After  two  years 
he  became  assistant  architect  of  the  House  of 
Lords  (Parliament  buildings)  and  served  in  that 
capacity  about  one  year,  when  he  connected  himself 
witli  the  English  navy.  During  the  contest  waged 
by  the  British  Government  with  China,  Mr.  Lazell 
went  out  with  the  Nankin  expedition  in  1842  and  ^' 
tarried  in  the  Celestial  kingdom  until  1844,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  the  scpiadron  of  the  Mediterranean, 
where  he  was  on  duty  nearly  four  years,  first  being 
engaged  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  in  I'ortu- 
gal,  at  Lisbon,  in  the  year  of  1847,  afterwards  being 
detailed  for  coast  service  on  the  west  of  Africa ;  and 
here  Mr.  Lazell  underwent  the  unicjue  experience  of  a 
genuine  shipwreck.  At  the  expiratio'i  of  ten  months  /  , 
he  proceeded  to  the  C'ape  of  tJood  Hoi)e,  where  the 
flotilla  was  stationed  about  five  years,  and  on  the  out- 
break of  the  C'affre  war  he  went  to  the  coast  of  South- 
eastern .'\frica. 

In  1853  Mr.  Lazell  retraced  his  way  to  England, 
left  the  naval  service  and  at  once  set  out  for  .America. 
In  June  of  the  same  year  he  found  himself  in  Grand 
Rapids,  where  he  remained  until  fall,  going  thence  to 
Chicago,  where  he  made  but  a  brief  stay  and  came  to 
Grand  Haven.  Here  he  fomid  ample  scope  for  the 
pursuit  of  his  vocation,  and  he  operated  as  a  builder 
until  i860.  In  that  year  he  decided  upon  Big  Rap- 
ids as  his  final  tlestination,  and  he  proceeded  hither,  7'ni 
Ionia,  walking  from  that  point  to  Big  Rapids.  He  f^ 
was  among  the  pioneer  mechanics  of  this  city,  and 
on  his  arrival  built  the  house  he  still  occupies  on 
Michigan  .Avenue.  In  thesjiringof  1S65  he  erected 
a  steam  saw-mill  north  of  State  Street,  the  first 
steam  power  in  tiie  county,  and  impiuted  a  planing 
machine  from  Massachusetts.      He  sold  this  property    ^/ 


A 


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T<^DO^tlO^>r 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


^   and  built  a  store  on  Michigan  Avenue,  and  embarked 

'^    in  the  grocery  and  [)iovision  trade. 

^        Mr.  Lazell,  in  addition  to    his  other  business  ven- 
T     tures,  lias  operated  in  real  estate  to  some  extent,  and 

(•j.  is  now  in  possession  of  30  acres  of  land  in  tlie  third 
ward  of  Ilig  Rapids,  and  several  small  tracts  of  land 
in  various  parts  of  tlie  county.  He  was  apixiinted 
Postmaster  during  the  administration  of  President 
(Irant,  for  a  period  of  si.x  years,  and  in  April,  1882, 
was  elected  Police  Magistrate,  a  f>ost  to  which  he 
was  re-elected  in  1883.  He  is  deservedly  popular 
for  the  able  and  impartial  method  in  which  he  dis- 
charges the  duties  of  his  incumbency. 

Mr.  Lazell  was  married  in  London,  England, 
Marcli  19,  1853,  to  Mary  Ann  Styles,  a  native  of 
Chatham,  Kent  Co.  Site  joined  her  husband  in 
this  county  in  1862.  Their  son  and  only  child, 
Harvey  G.  Lazell,  mail  agent  on  the  G.  R.  iV.  I.  R.  R., 
was  born  at  Grand  Haven,  and  was  tlie  first  male 
child  baptized  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that 
city;  lie  married  Emma  McNutt,  and  they  have  one 
child,  George. 


A 


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fohn  Q.  A.  Clark,  farmer,  resident  on  sec.  25, 
Morton  'Pp.,  was  born  March  5,  1829,  in 
Allegany  Co  ,  N.  V.  He  is  the  son  of  Elijah 
and  Sabra  (Philips)  Clark.  At  the  age  of  13 
he  left  the  paternal  roof  to  enter  upon  his  work 
in  life.  He  found  employment  on  farms,  which 
he  pursued  in  the  laboring  seasons  and  "worked  for 
his  board"  while  securing  the  benefits  of  several 
terms  of  winter  school.  On  reaching  manhood  he 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  worked 
diligently  i  2  years. 

Mr.  Clark  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in 'Pus- 
cola  County,  where  lie  entered  a  claim  of  160  acres 
of  Government  land,  and  there  he  lived  and  pros- 
pered fairly  until  the  memorable  fall  of  1  87  i,  when 
that  section  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  of  .Michigan  was 
devastated  by  fire,  following  so  closely  upon  that  of 
Chicago,  that  both  are  inseparably  connected  in  the 
memories  of  men.  'I'he  devouring  llames  swept 
away  everything  in  and  about  the  place,  and  as  soon 


as  practicable  Mr.  Clark  removed  himself  from  all 
associations  with  that  period  of  horror  and  loss.  He 
came  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  80  acres  of  tim- 
bered land.  The  situation  of  his  farm  is*  fine ;  it  is 
level  and  lies  somewhat  higher  than  the  adjacent 
country,  and  is  proportionately  dry  and  tillable.  He 
has  15  acres  cleared  and  under  cultivation. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  .Sept.  4,  1862,  to  Betsy 
Moore.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  two  children,  the 
elder  a  daughter,  Florella  M.,  now  wife  of  John  E. 
Bristol,  and  living  at  Lake  View.  The  younger, 
Homer,  a  boy  of  13,  resides  vvith  his  parents. 


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.. ,  .^i_  ^  endall  I.  Pike,  retired  farmer,  residing 
>j[(r^|:j  at  Morley,  was  born  in  Concord,  N.  Y., 
,ri  ^^^^'5  -^pri'  3t  1817.  His  parents,  James  and 
fiV^  Sarah  (Hay)  Pike,  were  natives  of  New  Hamp- 
jN  sliire  and  settled  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  The 
I  father  left  his  wife  and  children  in  Concord  and 
^  pushed  forward  to  Michigan,  then  known  as 
'  way  out  ^Vest."  He  located  in  Fcntonville,  Oak- 
land Co.,  built  a  grist-mill  and  was  influential  in  or- 
ganizing and  building  u[)  the  town.  He  contracted 
yellow  fev'jr,  from  which  he  died.  His  wife  was  an 
invalid  from  lameness  15  years.  The  family  remained 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  the  niotherdied. 

Mr.  Pike,  of  this  sketch,  was  apiirenticed  at  the 
age  of  12  years  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  mi- 
nority in  learning  the  trade  of  cloth  manufacturer, 
which  he  pursued  as  a  journeyman  three  years  after 
he  became  of  age,  and  then  went  to  Canada,  follow- 
ing his  business  about  20  years  at  Pickering,  Ontario 
Co.,  where  he  built  a  woolen  mill  and  had  a  prosper- 
ous trade.  He  was  also  engaged  some  years  in  the 
manufacture  of  bells  at  London,  Can.,  in  which  he 
also  met  with  success.  Finally  he  encountered  dis- 
aster in  his  transactions  and  his  fine  estate  was  swept 
away. 

In  the  fall    of    1855    he  came    to    Michigan  and 

rented  a  farm  in   Ionia   County,  which  he   managed 

,  five  years,  and  tlien  bought  80  acres  of  unimproved 

land  in  sec.  28  of  the  Townshi[)  of  Deerfield,  Me- 


1 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


191 


costa  Co.  He  cleared  it  and  erected  buildings,  put- 
ting the  i)lace  in  first-class  rank  among  the  farms  of  the 
county.  He  lost  his  barn  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1880. 
He  has  now  placed  ihe  farm  in  charge  of  a  tenant 
and  is  passing  the  sunset  time  of  life  in  retirement. 

Mr.  Pike  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Asher 
and  Susan  (Stotts)  Wilson,  a  native  of  Pickering, 
Ontario  Co.,  Can.  They  have  had  seven  children, — 
James  H.,  Sophia,  Sarah  S.,  Charles  H.,  Lina  and 
.\nna  E.;  Margaret  is  deceased.  The  children  are 
all  married  with  one  exception.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Pike  is  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 


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p^amuel  S.  Chipman,  farmer  on  sec.  25,  Deer- 
W  field   Tp.,  was  born  in   denesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
iM.S'^    July    21,   1814.     His    [larents,    Fitch^  and 
^  /jifC    Sarah   (Spafibid)    Chi[nnan,     were  natives   of 
'^—    '*^      Vermont.     His    father  was  a   farmer  and   re- 
sided in  Cenesee  Co.  until  1836,  when  he  came 
y  to  Michigan   and   rem.Tiiied  in   I,i\ingston  Co.  until 
1844.     He  tlu-n  went  back  to  the  State  of  New  York 
and  in  1S54  again  located  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich., 
where  he  resided  mitilhis  death,  Jan.  15,  1864.     'l"he 
mother  died  in    Unadilln,    Livingston   Co.,  Dec.  26 

'S59 

Mr.  Chipman  obtained  a  good  education  at  the 
public  school  and  at  Wyoming  Academy,  remaining 
with  his  father  until  his  twenty-second  year,  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  in  Livingston  Co. 
He  operated  there  about  20  years  and  in  1853  went 
to  California,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  he 
returned  to  his  farm.  In  1S54  he  located  in  Everett, 
Newaygo  Co.;  March  14,  1S60,  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  settled  on  the  river  near  where  Mor- 
ky  now  stands,  removing  a  year  and  a  half  later  to 

$     the    farm  where   he  now  resides,  consisting  of   240 
,|     acres,    125    of   which  is    finely  improved.     He    was 

"Y*  elected  Supervisor  of  Deerfield  Tp.  in    i86r,  serving 

fnine  successive  years;  later  he  was  again  elected  and 
held  the  position  three  years;  has  also  officiated  as 
'I'reasurer  two  years.  Politically  he  adheres  to  the 
principles   promulgated   by  the   Republican   party. 

— -^^ — -^<-^nti 


^ 


Mr.  Chipman  was  married  Feb.   28,  1836,  to  Aha 

H.  Sutherland.  Slie  was  born  in  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  5,  1816,  and  died  July  15,  1856,  leaving 
four  children, — Henry  C,  Lemuel  F.,  .\nn  Eliza  and 
Francis  J.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Chipman 
occurred  May  28,  1864,  to  Mary  Eckert,  a  native  of 
Cermany,  and  born  April  2,  1844.  Three  children  of 
this  union  are  living  and  three  are  deceased ;  the  lat- 
ter were  named  Maud,  May  and  Eddie.  'I'he  former 
are  Frank  L.,  Samuel  S.  and  Oscar  M. 


PE.  Gruber,  M.  D.,  [jhysician  and  surgeon 
at  Altona,  was  born  in  Clarion  Co., 
Penn.,  Jan.  25,  1844.     He  is  a  son  of  Peter 


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and  Lydia  (Mohney)  Cruber,  both  natives  of 
^IP"  Pennsylvania,  where  the  niotlier  died  March  7, 
"'^  1853.  The  fallier  came  to  Miciiigan  in  the  fall 
of  1866  and  located  in  Isabella  County,  engaging  in  ^ 
mercantile  business  and  farming,  and  where  he  is  yet  y!"; 
resident.  ^ 

Dr.  Cruber  was  a  pufjil  at  tiie  common  schools 
until  lie  was  15  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  Rim- 
ersburg  .Academy,  Clarion  Co.,  Penn.  He  was  there 
one  year  and  then  entered  (Made  Run  .'\cadeniy, 
Armstrong  Co.,  Penn.,  and  studied  two  and  one-half 
years. 

When  he  was  between  the  ages  of  iS  and  19  the 
war  broke  out,  and,  yielding  to  the  patriotic  influences 
which  swayed  the  entire  North,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  4th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  remained  in 
the  service  one  year.  After  his  enrollment  he  was 
detailed  from  the  regiment  and  sent  West  under 
General  Custer  as  a  scout.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
period  of  enlistment  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  went  home,  where  he  remained  two  years  and 
then  set  out  on  a  somewhat  extended  tour  of  travel 
going  through  Michigan,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Tennessee 
and  .\rkansas.  At  Little  Rock  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Government  as  a  scout,  and  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Arbuckle,  Indian  Territory.  He  had  head- 
([uarters  there  for  about  one  year,  when  he  left  the 
emi)loy  of  the  United  States,  and  came  North 
through  Kansas,  Missouri  and  Iowa  to  Michigan,  j 
where  he  was  a  i)artner  with   his  fither  in  meicaniile      >,  ., 

>KtlDv>-2— ^C-::^ Kr->5f  •>^ 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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business,  located  at  Salt  River,  Isabella  Co.     This  re- 
lation existed  about  three  years  and  closed  by  sale. 

Dr.  Gruber  then  went  to  Clare,  Clare  Co.,  Mich., 
and  continued  to  prosecute  his  medical  studies, 
which  he  had  done  as  opportunity  offered  for  a  long 
period.  On  the  ist  of  July,  1874,  he  went  to  Es- 
tella,  Gratiot  Co ,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  with  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  F.  S.  Marvin. 
He  operated  there  until  the  following  April.  At  that 
date  he  carried  out  a  long  settled  plan  to  make  a  per- 
manent location,  which  he  did  by  fixing  upon  .\ltona 
as  a  field  for  future  operations,  and  there  began 
his  career  as  a  local  practitioner,  June  i,  1875.  In 
1880  he  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Rush 
Medical  College  and  attended  lectures  with  the 
class  of  '80  and  '81.  In  October  of  that  year  he 
went  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  there  attended  the 
Medical  College,  receiving  his  diploma,  March  2, 
1882.  Dr.  Gruber  has  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
practitioner,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  a  large  cir- 
cle of  patrons  and  friends.  His  skill  and  attention  to 
business  has  secured  for  him  a  satisfactory  and  in- 
creasing practice,  and  his  devotion  to  his  duties  is 
such  that  he  is  sure  to  rise  in  his  profession. 

Dr.  Gruber  was  married  at  Salt  River,  Isabella  Co., 
Mich.,  June  2,  1870,  to  Sarah  M.,  only  daughter  of 
David  K.  and  Elizabeth  (Fordyce)  Frey.  Their  four 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Edgar  E.,  Jan.  26, 
1872;  Lillian  M.,  June  24,  1875;  Gertrude,  March 
22,  1878,  and  John  F.,  Dec.  25,  1880.  Dr.  Gruber 
has  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  two  years.  He 
was  Postmaster  under  (Srant,  Hayi's  and  Garfield, 
and  resigned  the  post  in  the  fall  of  18S2.  He  was 
Democratic  candidate  for  the  office  of  Probate  Judge 
in  1875,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small    majority. 

In  connection  with  his  practice,  Dr.  Gruber  owns 
and  manages  a  drug  store. 


F.  C.   Wilson,  of  the    firm   of   Ratson    I't 

Wilson,  marble  dealers,  Big    Rapids,    was 

^lMp«^  l)orn  in  Sullivan  Co.,  Mo.,  Aug.   27,   1855. 

^W^  He  is  thes  on  of  ftenjamin  and  Mary  (Manley) 

Wilson.     His  parents  came  to  Michigan  in  the 

year  1861  and  settled  at  Grand  Rapids,  where 

they  remained  till  1S66,  when  they  went  to  Ionia.    At 


this  place  his  father  engaged  in  the  marble  business. 

At  15  he  went  into  the  shop  and  there  continued 
under  his  father's  instructions  until  18  years  of  age. 
The  senior  Wilson  then  disposed  of  his  business  in- 
terests and  the  son  went  to  work  for  N.  H.  Batson  in 
Ionia,  Mich.,  where  he  operated  as  a  journeyman 
until  the  spring  of  1879.  At  that  date  he  came  to 
Big  Rapids  and  opened  marble  works  in  company 
with  Wm.  Batson.  They  fixed  their  business  at  -its 
present  stand  Jan.  i,  1883,  and  their  stock  includes 
all  varieties  of  foreign  and  American  marble  and  gran- 
ite. One  of  the  special  lines  of  the  firm  is  the  gran- 
ite from  South  Ryegate,  Vt.  They  have  the  monop- 
oly of  their  business  in  this  city  and  compete  with 
dealers  at  Grand  Rapids,  Adrian,  Muskegon,  Reed 
City  and  other  places.  Their  stock  is  usually  worth 
about  $4,000,  and  they  sell  about  $8,000  value  of 
marble  and  granite  yearly.  The  finest  monuments 
in  the  city  cemetery  make  a  fair  exhibit  of  the  style 
and  character  of  their  work.  Mr.  Wilson  is  the  local 
manager  of  the  business  interests  of  the  house,  Mr. 
Batson  representing  the  firm  on  the  road. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Nov.  3, 
1881,  to  Alice  M.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Nancy 
Bate.     She  was  born  at  Hudson,  Mich.,  July  30,  T855. 


-W^^^ 


5«o,4t  ;?vrv 


■  •  fTFT)-  lias   S.  Heed,  farmer  on   sec.  7,  ^^ina  Tp., 

i  Gt' '    ^'^^  horn   in    Oxford   Co.,  Ban.,  Nov.  24, 

;V  rr  ■■«     1828.     His  father,    Israel  Reed,  was  born 

'^^   in  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother,  Fanny  (Lane) 

^     Reed,    was   a   native    of    New    Jersey.     The 

[      parents    both   died    within  the   same    week   at 

their  home  in  Canada,  aged  68  and  54  years, 

respectively.     They  had    13  children,  five  of  whom 

yet  live. 

Mr.  Reed  remained  with  his  parents  until  their 
death,  and  spent  another  year  on  the  old  homestead 
going  to  school  a  year,  after  whicli  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  a  Mr.  Smith,  a  harness-maker,  at  St.  Cath- 
erines, where  he  ac<iuired  tlie  details  of  his  business. 
He  went  to  Grand  Ra|)ids  in  1845,  and  there  worked 
six  months,  going  thence  to  Cjiicago,  and  three 
months  later  enlisted  in  the  Second  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf., 
and,  in  1846,  went  to  Mexico,  where  he  remained  un- 


V 


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'V^'')^^^* 


-^!/^s: — 6^iiiii>:nn>->r 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


I 


.) 

A 


Yi 


V 


til  July  4,  1849,  returning  at  the  close  of  tlie  war  to 
Ciiicago.  After  a  l)ricf  stay  lie  proceeded  to  Elk 
Horn,  and  Nov.  3,  1849,  he  enlisted  in  tlie  regular 
army  of  the  United  States,  going  to  Newport  (Ken- 
tucky) Barracks,  and  there  stayed  until  April  5,  1850, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Jefferson  Barracks  and 
thence  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  setting  out  four  weeks 
later  across  the  plains  to  Sante  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
His  next  removal  was  to  Adonana,  a  post  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  where  he  joined  the  Third  Reg.,  United 
States  Army.  He  served  in  this  five  years,  and 
then  ran  a  Government  train  six  months,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Canada  and  took  possession  of  the 
farm  left  him  by  his  father's  will. 

After  farming  two  years  he  let  the  place  and  went 
to  Stratford,  where  he  entered  u|)on  the  management 
of  the  Northwestern  Hotel,  and  embarked  in  the 
livery  business,  keeping  22  horses.  He  had  also  a 
carriage  shop,  employing  eight  wagon-makers  and  a 
blacksmith.  His  business  flourished  about  three 
years,  when  he  found  his  misplaced  confidence  had 
destroyed  his  resources,  and  in  r85g  he  sold  out 
his  interests  and  came  to  Michigan,  and  was  em- 
ployed several  years  in  tlie  lumber  woods.  In  rSyg 
he  purchased  83  acres  of  land,  where  he  now  resides. 
The  family  attend  the  M.  K.  Church.  Mr.  Reed  is 
independent  in  jx)litical  views. 

He  was  married  .\pril  ri,  1856,  to  Elizabeth  M., 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catharine  Gaffney,  natives 
of  West  Main,  Ireland.  The  parents  came  to  New 
York  and  thence  to  Canada,  where  the  daughter  was 
Ijorn,  May  7,  r837,  and  was  married  when  she  was 
19  years  old.  .\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  had  eight 
children — Mary  J.,  born  K\W\\  rr,  1857;  Kitty  C, 
Aug.  rr,  t859;Geo.  W.,  May  7,  1861  ;  Johnny,  Feb. 
29,  r863;  Addie,  June  30,  r86s  ;  Elizabeth,  Oct.  i, 
r867;  Wm.  J.,  Nov.  rr,  1869.  .\  son  was  born  and 
died  in  r872. 


% 

m 


anford  B.  Wood,  liveryman  at  Big  R.ipids, 
''  was  born  in    Greenfield,  Saratoga   Co.,   N. 
^"•*''*  Y.,  Feb.   12,   t822,  two  and  one-half  miles 
5  r  from  Saratoga  Springs.     His  parents,   Benj.   K. 
'^    and  Phoebe  (Hanford)  \\'ood,  removed  to  Hills- 
dale Co.,  Mich.,  when  the  son  was   r4  years  of 
age.     He  spent  his  early  youth  on  the  farm  of  his 


father,  and  at  18  bought  a  team  and  set  out  in  life  to 
make  his  way  alone.  He  engaged  in  breaking  land 
and  was  thus  occupied  two  years. 

He  then  purchased  60  acres  of  land  in  l,it<:hfield 
Tp.,  Hillsdale  Co.,  and  proceeded  to  establish  a 
home.  In  t862  he  moved  into  Litchfield  to  take 
charge  of  the  business  of  a  deceased  brother,  and  in  '63 
opened  a  livery  stable,  which  he  transferred  in  1870 
to  Big  Rapids,  and  soon  after  exchanged  his  property 
for  a  sash,  door  and  shingle  mill,  and  associated  with 
Simeon  Pomeroy  in  business.  The  latter  took  charge 
of  the  mill  which  went  into  operation  in  April,  187  i, 
and  blew  up  in  October  following.  It  was  put  in  full 
repair  and  Mr.  Wood  gave  the  business  his  personal 
attention  until  the  total  destruction  of  tiie  property 
by  fire,  which  occurred  in  June,  1877  :  loss,  $t3,ooo, 
and  no  insurance. 

In  rS78  Mr.  Wood  again  embarked  in  the  livery 
business,  starting  with  four  horses  and  no  carriages. 
His  trade  has  been  successful  and  is  now  established 
on  a  permanent  basis,  with  22  hoi'ses,  carriages  and 
all  the  eiiuii)nients  of  a  fii'st-class  establishment. 
.Mr.  Wood  owns  his  stables  and  two  lots. 

He  was  married  at  Mayville,  Chautau(iua  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Feb  4,  r844,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  Elijah  Moore. 
She  was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  .\pril  29,  r82r. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  have  had  three  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living.  Phebe,  eldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of 
Harvey  B.  Eggleston,  a  farmer  in  Litchfield,  Hillsdale 
Co.,  Mich.;  Lucy,  youngest  child,  married  Charles  B. 
Ix)vejoy,  a  book-keeper  at  Big  Rapids.  Marcellus, 
second  child  and  only  son,  was  killed  by  the  kick  of 
a  horse  when  in  his  sixteenth  year. 


-~vvS^S? 


K^ 


lijah  Cole,  farmer  on  sec.  23,  Hinton  Ti>., 

was  born  in  New  York,  Feb.  t8,  r832.    He 

is  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Westbrook) 

Cole.     The  parents  were  both  natives  of  New 

York,  where  the  mother  died.    The  father  came 

to  Morley,  Mich.,  in   r877. 

Mr.  Cole  passed  his  early  life  under  the  pater- 
nal roof,  and  until  r  6  was  sent  to  school.  He  entered 
the  employ  of  his  uncle  and  was  engaged  two  years 
in  lumbering;   going  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  he  was 


A 


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V 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


there  engaged  in  the  same  occupation  ten  years.  Two 
years  thereafter  he  was  variously  occu])ied,  and  in 
July,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  107th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf., 
serving  three  years  lacking  16  days.  .\t  the  battle  of 
Antietam  he  was  shot  through  the  ankle.  Eleven 
months  after  he  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Corps, 
there  remaining  until  he  received  honorable  discharge. 
In  August,  1865,  he  came  to  Michigan  and  joined  his 
family  in  Hinton  Tp.  .Shortly  after  he  went  to  Isa- 
bella County,  and  bought  249  acres  of  land  and 
honiesteaded  80  acres,  making  a  farm  of  329  acres. 
He  built  a  log  house,  and  cleared  20  acres  of  land 
and  resided  there  until  1875,  when  he  exchanged  his 
property  for  a  farm  in  Mecosta  County,  containing  80 
acres  of  partly  improved  land,  the  place  being  known 
as  the  David  Moulton  Farm.  This  he  sold  in  1880 
and  purchased  40  acres  of  land  styled  the  George 
Campbell  Farm,  now  in  his  possession  and  to  which 
he  has  added  80  acres. 

Our  suiiject  is  a  Republican  in  political  belief  and 
action,  and  is  a  niemljer  of  tjie  Prohiljition  element. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town- 
ship Treasurer.  Highway  Commissioner  and  was 
Constable  while  resident  in  Isabella  County. 

He  was  married  in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  2, 
1857,  to  Betsey,  daughter  of  David  and  Sally  (Ben- 
nett) Moulton.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Cole  died  in 
Mecosta  County,  and  the  mother  lives  with  her  chil- 
dren. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  have  nine  children,  born  as 
follows  :  Laura  J.,  July  24,  1858;  Alvina  C,  Jan.  18, 
1861  ;  Elijah  B.,  Oct  30,  1862;  James  H.  T.,  Feb. 
16,  1867;  George  E.  E.,  June  12,  1869;  Annie  M., 
Feb.  13,  1S71  ;  Hattie  B.,  Dec.  9,  1875  ;  Mabel  M., 
Aug.  14,  1877;  Ernest  F,  April  27,  1879.  The 
family  circle  is  intact,  and  long  may  it  be  before  a 
single  earthly  tie  is  sundered. 


-iri^l 


^t^^i^-j^ 


i!&yron    B.    Williamson,    farmer    on     sec. 

§28,  Deerfield  Tp.,  P.  O.  MorL-y,  was  born 
in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.   15,   1874. 
5f&f^   Britton  Williamston,  his  father,   was  a  native 
'^       of    Massachusetts   and   died   in    St.     Joseph 
Coiuity;  Mary  (Smith)  \\'illiamson,  his  mother, 
was  born  in  Michigan,  where   she  died.     They  were 
pioneers  of  St.  Josei)h  C^ounty. 


Mr.  Williamson  lived  in  the  county  where  he  was 
born  28  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1875  became 
the  possessor  by  i)urchase  of  80  acres  of  wild  land 
in  Deerfield  Tp.  He  has  made  fair  progress  in  the 
process  of  reclamation,  and  has  a  good  farm  house 
and  55  acres  of  land  in  tillage.  Responsive  to  his 
country's  call  for  aid,  he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  enrolling  in  the  Eleventh  Mich.  Inf ,  and 
served  about  two  years,  receiving  honorable  discharge 
at  the  end  of  the  war  He  is  a  zealous  Republican. 
The  family  are  attendants  at  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  married  at  Coldwater,  Mich., 
March  9,  1870,  to  Amanda,  daughter  of  David  and 
Huldah  (Wells)  Hazzard,  born  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
June  18,  185  I.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  Estella 
was  born  Jan.  24,  187  i. 


«\aii£fl;®|S-' 


«^~swrozrjv 


•  -5^1 '{' °hn  E.  Morton,  farmer  on  sec.  36,  Morton 
^i^,L  Tp.,  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  Nov.  5,  1S20. 

rf^  He  is  son  of  Holmes  and  Christian  (Web- 
ster) Morton. 
¥  Mr.  Morton  is,/(V  .?<■,  the  leading  citizen  of  the 
,"'  township  of  Morton.  His  interest  in  and  unflag- 
ging efforts  for  its  founding,  growth  and  progress,  are 
recognized  and  perpetuated  by  the  fact  of  its  bearing 
his  name.  He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1869,  and 
in  1 87 1  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Mor- 
ton Tp.,  then  attached  to  Wheatland  for  judical  pur- 
poses and  local  management  Observing  the  rapid 
strides  of  civilization  in  adjoining  townships  and  m 
the  County,  and  the  benefits  accruing  to  the  com- 
munities therein,  he  felt  impelled  to  put  forth  all 
possible  effort  to  secure  for  his  own  township  the  ad- 
vantages of  organization  and  local  government.  He 
framed  and  circulated  a  petition,  securing  the  re- 
quired number  of  names  thereunto,  and  sent  the 
same  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
suggesting  that  the  township  be  named  Hayes,  in 
honor  of  the  Presidential  candidate  then  before  the 
people.  The  Democratic  voice  in  the  lioard  defeated 
the  proposition,  but,  in  recognition  of  the  services  of 
Mr.  Morton,  the  township  received  his  name,  wliich 
certainly  was  very  appro|iriate  and  just. 


1 

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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


-^^«®V*i 


'I'he  first  township  meeting  was  held  in  the   River 
School-lioiise,  district  Xo.  3,  and  the  following  officers 
■'-^   were   elected:     J.    K.    Morton,    Supervisor,    Enoch 
I      Hartlett,  Clerk,  and   Isaac  Welister,  Commissioner  of 
(^  Highways. 

Mr.  Morton  was  Supervisor  of  Wheatland  one 
year  previous  to  this.  He  is,  and  has  been  for  eight 
years,  Justice  of  the  I'eace.  He  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Masonry. 

Mr.  Morton  was  reared  to  tlie  calling  whicli  ho  lias 
made  the  pursuit  of  his  life.  He  was  an  inmate  of 
the  paternal  home  until  August,  1843,  when  he  went 
to  St.  Francis,  N.  S.,  to  engage  in  lumbering  and 
agriculture.  Five  years  later  he  moved  to  Aroostook 
Co.,  Me.,  and  rented  a  farm,  and  also  mill  property, 
and  operated  in  lumber,  chiefly  manufacturing  short 
siding,  shingles,  etc.  The  mill  was  of  double  utility, 
and  tlie  business  in  milting  products — flo\ir  feed,  etc., 
'  )    — was  considerable. 


A 


f, 


After  a  period  of  19  years  he  came,  in  October, 
1867,  to  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  settling  in  Mecosta 
a  County  in  1.S69,  and  commenced  operating  extenr 
^  sively  in  lumbering,  buying  pine  and  putting  logs 
a  into  the  East  Branch  of  the  Muskegon  River,  making 
SV  his  sales  there.  He  was  thus  engaged  four  years, 
'>  and  in  187  i  bought  his  farm  of  160  acres  on  sec.  36. 
^  )  He  has  35  acres  cleared,  with  good  house,  barn  and 
orchard,  besides  numerous  minor  improvements.  The 
premises  include  1 20  acres,  he  having  disposed  of 
40  acres. 

He  was  married  in  Aroostook  Co.,  Maine,  to  Eli/.a- 
beth,  daughter  of  John  and  Sopliia  Uaker,  born  at 
Bakerbrook,  N.  B.  Her  I'ather  was  an  old  settl<*r  in 
the  province  and  the  stream  was  named  for  him.  Of 
eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  six  are 
living:  Amanda,  wife  of  Charles  I'laid,  farmer  in  Mor- 
ton Tp.;  Holmes  (deceased);  Christina  (wife  of 
Enoch  Hrumley,  a  farmer  near  Areola,  Mo.);  Alice 
•(Mrs.  Charles  Heald,  of  Hinton  Tp.,  and  died  in 
March,  1883);  John  E.;  Clara  (wife  of  Alfred  Young, 
hardware  merchant  at  .Salt  River,  Is.ibetla  Co.); 
Adaline  and  Susannah. 

The  l)est  jwssible  tribute  to  offer  to  a  man's  cliar- 
-y  acter  is  to  name  his  services  to  the  age  and  generation 
'N  to  which  he  belongs.  In  the  lapse  of  years  Mr. 
^  Morton's  influence  will  never  diminish;  the  good  he 
^-    has    acconii)iished    is   stable,  and   his   efforts    have 


^ 


], 


-f, 


been  exerted  for  the  benefit  of  the   future  of  Morton 
Tp.,  of  which  lie  will  ever  be  a  part. 


v,«jeae/©^-^— ^J^^^^^g§l— -^.swrajrav 


^,^on.  Michael  Brown,   of  Big    Rapids,   has 

been  connected  with  the  judiciary   of   Me- 

^^    costa  County  since  the  year  1S6S,  and   has 


V^ 


a  long  and  honorable  record  in  the  munici- 
pal history  of  Big  Rapids,  and  as  attorney  for 
the  business  concerns  of  whose  legal  intersts  he 
is  guardian  and  manager. 
His  parents,  Ira  and  .Sophia  (I'.low)  Brown,  were  of 
Dutch  e.xtraclion.  He  was  born  in  Indian  deck 
Tp.,  Pulaski  Co.,  Ind.,  April  20,  1841.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  attended  winter  terms  of 
school  until  16  years  of  age,  when  he  was  sent  to  the 
college  at  Franklin,  Ind  ,  and  subsequently  to  that  at 
Crawfordsville,  Ind.  (The  latter  institution,  in  1876, 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.) 

One  month  after  he  attained  his  majority  he  en- 
listed at  Indianaix)lis  in  Co.  B,  2d  Ind.  Cav.,  Capt., 
John  B.  Edwards.  He  was  in  the  Union  service 
three  years,  and  was  under  fire  at  Stone  River,  Chick- 
amauga.  Mission  Ridge,  Siege  of  Knoxville,  Mossy 
C'reek,  Dandridge,  and  May  9,  1864,  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  confined  at  Andersonville  in 
the  stockade  prison,  whose  unmitigated  atrocities  he 
suffered  five  months.  He  weighed  90  pounds  when 
transferred  to  the  prison-pens  of  l''loience,  where 
(and  at  Charleston)  he  spent  four  more  dreary  months 
under  rebel  surveillance.  He  was  mustered  out 
at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  at  Nash- 
ville, Tcnn. 

In  1866  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  in  October 
entered  the  Law  Deiiartment  of  the  L'niversity  at 
Ann  .Vrbor,  where  he  was  graduated  in  .March,  1868. 
He  settled  at  Big  Raiiids  in  September  of  the  same 
year  and  commenced  practice  as  an  attorney,  estab- 
lishing his  desk  in  the  office  of  John  F.  Brown  iV  Co., 
lumber  dealers.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  was  elected 
C'ounty  Sui>erintendent  of  Schools,  serving  one  term. 
In  1873  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Big 
Rapids,  holding  iiis  incumbency  one  year.  'I"he  Com- 
mon Council  of  the  city  apjiointed  him  to  revise  the 
municii>al  charter,  which  he  did  in  1S75,  and  on  the^ 

:o:ili|v:>v^^ — ^"^^^ 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


-^^^C(®vS. 


submission  of  the  instrument  to  the  State  Legislature 
it  was  passed  without  change. 

The  Hon.  A.  H.  Giddings,  Judge  of  the  Fourteenth 
Judicial  Circuit,  died  Dec.  10,  i<S76,  and  ten  days 
later,  Gov.  Bagley  appointed  Mr.  Brown  to  fill  the 
remainder  of  the  term.  At  the  regular  fall  election 
of  1878  Judge  Brown  was  elected  to  the  same  office 
without  dissent.  He  resigned  the  post  Jan.  3,  1881, 
and  is  now  attorney  for  the  B.  R.  lioom  Company, 
and  has  been  the  local  legal  adviser  of  the  G.  R.  & 
I.  Railroad  Company  since  the  completion  of   their 

road. 

Judge  Brown  was  married  Aug.  3,  1870, to  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Levi  J.  and  Mary  (Lyman)  Osbourn. 
She  was  born  in  Speedsville,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y. 
in  1852.  Of  five  children  born  to  them,  Maud  S.  and 
Herbert  L  are  deceased ;  the  remainder  are  Carrie, 
Lillian  H.  and  an  unnamed  infant. 

Judge  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Masonry 
and  Knights  Templar.  He  owns  his  residence  and 
four  city  lots  therewith,  besides  several  lots  in  other 
((uarters  of  the  city.  We  give  his  portrait  in  this  Album. 


=E>- 


Jf^gi^has.  H.  Ludington,  farmer,  sec.  3-1,  Deer- 
^fficld  Tp.,  I'.  ( ).,  Morley,  w;is  born  in  Dryden, 


^ 


1 


^^    Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  31,  1845      His 


father,  Stephen  Ludington,  died  in  his  native 
*ll?  State  in  186 1.  Emily  (Stalhoon)  Ludington, 
his  mother,  died  in  1849,  when  her  son  was 
placed  in  charge  of  his  grandparents,  remaining  in 
their  care  for  si,\  months,  after  which  he  was  "bound 
out  "  to  serve  his  minority.  At  the  age  of  17  he 
came  to  Allegan,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  and  engaged 
four  years  as  a  lumberman. 

At  the  age  of  2 1  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and 
bought  40  acres  of  land,  built  a  log  house,  cut 
down  the  forest  and  im[)roved  his  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  tillage.  Five  years  later  he  added  as  much 
more  to  his  estate,  and  now  has  70  acres  in  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Ludington  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  lias  been  .Assessor  of  his  scliool  dis- 
trict eight  years. 

Our  subject  was  married  Nov.   20,    1866,   lo   Chiva 


E.,  eldest  daughter  of  Horace  and  Clarissa  Hill,  nee 
Smith,  natives  of  New  York  and  Rhode  Island,  re- 
spectively, who  went  at  an  early  date  to  'Jioga  Co , 
Penn.,  where  they  were  farmers  and  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  tlieir  lives;  the  father  died  June  14,  1848, 
the  mother,  May  17, '80.  Mrs.  Ludington  was  born 
Oct.  27,  1843,  and  taught  school  four  years  previous 
to  her  marriage  in  her  native  county.  The  only 
child,  Sarah  E.,  was  born  Dec.  22,  '67.  The  [jarents 
belong  to  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Ludington  is 
Siewavd  of  tlie  society  at  Morley. 


;B.  Hummer,  farmer,  sec.  25, Morton  Tp.  (P. 
ir.'"  O.,  Mecosta),  was  born  in  New  York,  July    ^. 

[O,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  (leorge  and  Eliz-  '^  JJ 
abeth  (Swezey)  Hummer,  then  resident  m  Che-  "^ 
nning  Co.,  N.  Y.,  near  Elmira.  The  family  ^ 
circumstances  were  such  that  Mr.  Hummer  re-  r= 
ceived  but  a  limited  education.  When  he  "^ 
was  but  17  years  of  age  he  enlisted  at  Elmira  in  Co.  ^a 
B,  F"irst  Reg.  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  which  was  atttached  to  y^ 
the  connnand  of  Gen.  Phil  Slieridan.  Mr.  Hummer  •<  ^ 
was  in  action  in  26  engagements,  the  last  being  at  (^ ) 
Cedar  Creek.  The  father  was  also  a  soldier  for  the 
Union  and  was  in  the  service  one  year,  belonging  to 
Co.  D,  107th  Reg.  N.  Y.  Vol.  inf  He  was  in  two 
battles,  South  Mountain  and  Antielam  ;  lie  now  re- 
sides on  a  farm  adjoining  his  sou's  and  is  c  rectinga 
new  frame  house. 

In  1874  Mr  Hummer  left  the  state  of  his  nativity, 
came  to  Michigan  and  purchased  80  acres  of  un- 
broken forest,  made  a  small  clearing  and  establislied 
his  home.  He  now  has  20  acres  under  the  plow. 
Mr.  Hummer  recently  sold  a  part  of  his  place  with 
the  intention  of  buying  to  belter  advantage.  He  is 
at  present  sexton  of  Greenwood  cemetery,  which  lies 
adjoining  his  farm  on  the  northwest;  has  been 
School  Director  four  years,  but  recently  resigned. 

He  was  married  Dec.  2,  187  i,  to  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Mary  Wood,  of  Bradford  Co.,  Penn. 
They  have  had  but  one  child — Owen,  who  died 
with  diphtheria  when  eight  years  old.  The  pangs  of 
their  loss  are  still  as  keen  as  in  its  first  freshness,  and 
the  memory  of  their  only  son  will  ever  be  cherished 


)S^(|» 


■^<^D!l^!]tli>^ 


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Wk^^ 


in  the  home  made  bright  by  his  short  life,  and  which 
is  rendered  more  dear  because  he  was  for  a  brief 
period  its  light  and  joy. 


^rs-- 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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jg  athan  Osborn,  farmer,  sec.36,  1  )eerfield  Ti)., 
P.  ().  Rustford,  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and 
Rachel  (Ramsey)  Osborn,  natives  and  resi- 
dents of  New  York. 
Mr.  Osborn  was  born  Pec.  19,  1844,  in  the 
State  of  his  ancestors,  and  remained  iip.der  tiic  guid- 
ance of  his  father  until  about  17  years  old,  when  hu 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Co.  15,  35th  N.  V.  Vol. 
Infantry.  After  serving  a  period  of  18  montlis  he 
received  his  discharge  for  disability.  During  this 
time  he  was  in  action  at  the  battle  of  Rappahannock 
Station,  Va.  On  his  recovery  he  re-enlisted  in  tlie 
179th  N.  Y.  Reg.  Vol.  Inf ,  Co.  H,  and  served  until 
the  end  of  the  contest.  He  was  under  fire  at  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  where  he  was  captured  by  the  rebels  and 
for  three  months  endured  the  oft  recited  horrors  of 
the  prison  pens  of  the  South.  He  was  confined  at 
Libby  and  at  Danville,  Va.  On  being  taken  ill  he 
was  sent  to  .Vnnapolis  under  parole  and  one  montli 
later  was  exchanged  and  rejoined  his  regiment,  then 
stationed  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Previous  to  the 
surrender  of  Lee's  army  he  was  in  action  in  several 
important  battles,  .\fler  the  "Grand  Review"  at 
Washington  he  returned  to  Ivlmira,  .N.  Y.,  wiih  his 
regiment  and  was  mustered  out  June  21,  1865. 

He  came  to  Miciiigan  in  tiie  fall  of  that  year  and 
Iwught  80  acres  of  land  in  Montcalm  County,  which 
he  sold,  and  in  1869  [)urchased  80  a<;res  in  Mecosta 
County,  under  partial  improveuieiUs.  In  1874  he 
sold  40  acres,  went  to  Texas  and  "took  uii"  160 
acres  of  land,  and  remained  thereon  three  years,  when 
he  made  sale  of  ii,  and  was  occupied  in  lumijering 
two  years.  He  returned  to  Mecosta  County  in  the 
fall  of  1879  and  settled  wliere  he  now  resides. 

He  was  married  in  this  county  to  Nancy  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Alanson  and  ICsther  A.  (Hedges)  Rickar.  Her 
parents  came  to  Mecosta  County  from  the  I"-mpire 
State  in  the  winter  of  1865,  and  in  the  sjjringof  h88i 
moved  to  llieir  [)rescnt  location  in  Missaukee  County- 


Mrs.  Osborn  was  born  in  New  York,  Sept.  10,  1846. 
The  five  children  born  of  this  marriage  are  Ethelyn 
born  Oct.  13,  1866;  Floyd,  .Aug.  10,  1870;  Laura, 
Feb.  2,  1874;  Jessie  M.,  .April  17,  1878;  Kal|)h,  Sept. 
26,  1882. 

Mr.  Osborn  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  three 
years,  and  in  iK)litics  is  independent  in  thought  and 
action. 


►  V  -.<^^^S34.>.._J. 


I 


athias  Kassner,  deceased,  was  a  native 
of  (iermaiiy,  born  .Aug.  22,  1822.  Ilis 
J  !-  [jarents  were  also  natives  of  (iermany  and 
fe'*^"\  there  passed  their  lives. 
'1*  Mr.  Kassner  came  to  America  in  1S47  and 
located  in  Canada,  where  he  resided  15  years. 
In  1862  he  came  hither  with  his  family  and,  under 
the  Homestead  Act,  made  a  claim  of  160  acres  of 
land,  of  which  he  cleared  30  acres.  He  died  May  10, 
1878. 

Mrs.  Magdalene  (Neuswangei)  Kassner,  the  wife 
of  tlie  subject  of  this  sketcli,  was  born  in  (ier- 
many, Dec.  I,  1817.  Three  of  the  six  children 
of  this  marriage  yet  survive :  Veronica,  born  F'eb.  25, 
1850;  Amanda,  Feb.  25,  1852,  and  John  E.,  June  20, 
i860.  The  deceysetl  are  Christian,  David  and 
Benjamin.     The  family  still  reside  on  tlie  farm. 


.-gfa^OTOT*"- 


\WMM^  lijah  F.  Dewey,  attorney  al  law  and  Justice 

r?'fe^^L'  "^  ''^"^  Peace,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at 
r3'-'i^^  Ovid,   .Seneca   Co.,    N.    Y.,  May    1,1837. 

^^    His  father   was   a    millwright     and  cari)enler. 

X  Mr.  Dewey  wasbvoughi  upon  a  farm  anil  at- 
I  tended  the  common  schools  until  he  was  19 
years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  student  at  Miami 
University,  Oxford,  Ohio,  his  un<  le  being  a  Professor 
at  that  institution.  Here  he  pursued  a  full  literary 
and  classical  course  of  study,  graihiating  in  June,  1 860. 
His  first    engagement  was  as  Assistant  Principal 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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of  the  High  School  at  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich. 
Uixjn  the  expiration  of  this  engagement  he  went  to 
Chicago  as  reporter  on  the  Times.  A  year  after,  in 
company  with  A.  C.  Wheeler,  he  started  a  literary 
paper  in  Chicago, — -The  Spirit  of  the  West, — which  he 
ran  a  few  months,  and  subsequently  accepted  an  en- 
gagement in  the  office  of  the  Provost  Marshal  at 
Pontiac,  Mich.,  meanwhile  studying  law  with  his 
brother.  Judge  J.  S.  Dewey.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1866  and  engaged  in  practice. 

He  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  the  winter  of  1868  and 
at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  served  as  Circuit  Court  Commissioner  in  1870- 
'71.  During  the  year  1870  he  was  Recorder  at  Big 
Rapids.  He  was  first  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1869,  and  has  occupied  the  position  most  of  the 
time  since.  His  business  as  attorney  and  magistrate 
is  successful  and  steady.  He  also  operates  to  some 
extent  in  real  estate. 

Mr.  Dewey  was  married  at  Pontiac  in  December, 
1867,  to  .Sarah  L  ,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Rufus 
and  Sarah  (Chamberlain)  Hosmer.  Her  father  was 
a  prominent  politician,  and  was  for  some  years  the 
editor  of  the  old  Detroit  Advertiser,  and  was  afier- 
ward  editor  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Lan- 
sing/i?t////V/Vrt//.  In  186 1  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  Consul  General  to  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  (lermany,  and  died  while  making  preparations 
to  assume  the  duties  of  the  api)ointment.  Mrs. 
Dewey  was  born  in  Pontiac,  Mich.  The  family  in- 
cludes four  children — Harry  S.,  Josejihitje  H.,  Mary 
L.  and  Ruius  H. 


-«= 


I  dward  R.  Quigley,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Deer- 
field  Tp.,  P.  O.,  .-Vltona,  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Jane  Quigley,  the  former  a  native  of 
the  latter  of  Wales.  They  were 
married  in  Canada,  where  their  son  was  born 
^  Dec.  19,  1845.  When  he  was  seven  years  of 
age  his  parents  came  to  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  after- 
ward settling  in  Mecosta  County,  where  they  were 
the  first  white  settlers  of  the  township  of  Dccrfield. 
(See  sketch  of  David  Quigley.) 


Mr.  Quigley  passed  the  years  of  his  early  life  in 
acquiring  an  education,  and  as  assistant  on  his 
father's  farm.  At  17  he  engaged  in  lumbering,  and 
pursued  that  branch  of  business  until  1881,  when  he 
began  to  devote  his  attention  exclusively  to  farming. 
In  1876  he  bought  56  acres  of  forest  land,  built  a 
house,  and  now  has  25  acres  under  cultivation.  Mr. 
Quigley  is  an  adherent  to  the  Democratic  political 
tenets,  and  is  zealous  in  the  interests  of  the  party. 

He  was  married  in  Muskegon  County,  Sept.  3, 
1863,  to  Fannie  Barnliart.  Her  parents  settled  in 
Mecosta  County  in  the  ye;^r  1862.  She  died,  leav- 
ing one  child.  Waller,  lorn  July  4,  1864.  Har- 
riet, daugliter  of  Benjamin  and  Betsey  (Monroe)  Whit- 
man, became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Quigley  Nov.  22,  i868. 
One  child  was  born  of  this  marriage,  Oriel,  whose 
birth  occurred  Oct.  15,  1869,  and  death  Jan.  22,  1S82. 
The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Quigley  were  natives 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 


B'eavitt  S.  Griswold,  M.  D.,  pliysician  and 
surgeon  at  Big  Rai)ids  (office  in  Roof  block 
Michigan  avenue),  was  born  Jan.  3,  1853 
111  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents  were 
Jesse  and  Helen  (McWilliams)  (Jriswold,  the 
father  following  the  double  occupation  of  farmer 
and  stone  mason. 
Dr.  Griswold  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  he  was 
17  years  old,  meanwhile  obtaining  his  elementary 
education.  He  attended  the  union  school  at  Green- 
ville five  years,  and  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Mulhern,  of  Greenville,  going  thence  to  the 
Detroit  Medical  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1879.  He  had  the  benefit  of  several 
months'  practice  as  an  assistant  in  Harper's  and  St. 
Mary's  Hospitals  in  Detroit,  and  first  established  his 
business  at  Sand  Lake,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  but  decided 
to  make  a  transfer  to  Hig  Rapids,  which  he  did  in 
October,  1 88 1 .  He  has  a  good  practice  in  the  city 
and  adjacent  country,  both  in  medicine  and  surgery, 
and  is  steadily  rising  in  his  profession. 

Dr.  Griswold  was  married  at  Vassar,  Tuscola  Co., 
Mich.,  June  r2,  1879,  to  Matlie  A.,  daughter  of  John 
Liston.     She  was  born  at  Bowling  Green,  Wood  Co  , 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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Ohio.     Their  two  children,  Carl  A.  and  Roe  Oscar' 
infant,  were  born  in  Big  Rapids. 

Dr.  Griswold  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Medical 
Society  of  Northern  Michigan,  of  which,  in  1882,  he 
was  Secretary,  also  belongs  to  the  State  Medical 
Society.  He  owns  his  residence  at  223  West  Pine 
Street. 


^ 


^^^l^arnabas  Bacon,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Deerfield 
(£  Tp.,  P.  O.,  Rustford,  is  a  son  of  lienjamin 
and  Polly  (Hone)  Bacon,  the  father  a 
native  of  New  England  and  the  mother  born 
in  the  State  of  New  Vork :  both  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Bacon  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
Feb.  14,  1S17.  He  spent  the  first  30  years  of  his  life 
in  the  Empire  State,  in  Canada  and  Michigan.  His 
residence  was  fixed  in  Canada  until  the  spring  of 
iSyi.when  he  came  to  Deerfield  and  bought  40 
acres  of  forest  land.  He  has  improved  20  acres  and 
has  added  70  acres  since  by  purchase. 

He  was  married  in  1848  to  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
and  Jane  (Moul)  Leach,  natives  of  Canada.  The 
names  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B's  12  children,  all  living,  are 
as  follows:  Mary  J.,  Cad,  Reuben,  Annie,  Margaret, 
Timothy,  David  M.,  Eleanor,  Barney,  Henry,  William 
and  Emerald. 

Mr.  Bacon  is  independent  in  politics. 


^ames  O'Neil,  farmer  on   sec.    35,  Deerfield 
C  Tp.,  P.  O.  Morley,  is  the   son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Martin)  O'Neil,  natives  of   Ireland, 
and  now  resident  in  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich. 

Mr.  O'Neil  was  born  in  Camden  Tp.,  Canada, 
July  30,  1855.  When  he  was  15  he  came  to 
Shiawassee  Co.  with  his  parents  and  lived  until  the 
fall  of  1873,  which  time  they  removed  to  Mecosta  Co. 
Mr.  O'Neil  bought  40  acres  of  wild  land  and  began 
the  life  of  a  pioneer,  building  a  primitive  log  house 
and  proceeding  to  clear  up  the  forest.  In  1877  he 
bought   another  "40"  and  in   1882   added  40  acres 

— -^^'-:f^ — — K^nti 


more  to  his  possessions.  He  has  one  of  these  tracts 
under  cultivation  and  is  erecting  a  fine   frame  house. 

He  was  married  Oct  12,  1873,  at  Owosso,  Shia- 
wassee Co.,  to  Marietta,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Julia 
(Leveck)  McKeen.  They  have  had  five  children,  l>orn 
as  follows:  James  B.,Sept.  14,  1879;  Mary  E.,  .\pril 
31,  1S81  ;  John  S.,  Oct.  5,  1882;  Julia,  born  Nov.  29, 
1875,  died  May  7,  1881;  Ambrose,  born  June  5,  1877, 
died  May  8,  1881.  These  children  died  of  diph- 
theria, after  eight  days'  illness. 

Mr.  O'Neil  acts  with  the  Democratic  party  and  is 
an  adherent  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


•  v^^%  ■ 


.vr3Ti ;  harles    Ostrander,     miller,     resident    a- 

f'   Rusiford,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born  in  the 

county    of    Elgin,    Province  of   Ontario, 

Sl^   Oct.  15,  1838.     He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and 

pj^    Sarah  (Buchner)  Ostrander,  who  removed  to 

j  Bayham,  Ont.,  in  1822.  The  ancestral  descent 
of  Mr.  Ostrander  is  German,  his  progenitors  having 
come  to  America  at  the  close  of  the  last  century. 

He  received  a  common-school  education  and  was 
under  his  father's  supervision  until  he  was  21  years 
of  age,  when  lie  spent  a  year  in  the  employ  of  John 
McDonald,  his  first  effort  for  himself,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived eleven  dollars  a  month.  He  next  worked  a 
farm  on  shares  for  I'^benezer  Buchner,  remaining  one 
year,  when  he  and  his  brother  Simeon  took  their 
father's  farm  to  work  on  shares  and  carried  it  on  two 
years.  .\t  the  end  of  that  time  his  Either  gave  each 
a  deed  of  one-half  (75  acres)  of  the  place.  Mr.  Os- 
trander bought  50  acres  adjoining.  In  1874  he  dis- 
posed of  his  farm  and  located  at  Rustford,  where  he 
now  resides. 

He  bought  and  \>\\\.  in  operation  the  grist-mill  at  that 
place  and  entered  into  i)artnership  with  Ebenezer 
Buchner,  whose  interest  he  purchased  in  1880.  He 
now  carries  on  the  grist  and  saw  mill  and  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  shingles.  In  politics,  Mr.  Os- 
trander is  a  Republican,  and  is  now  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  as  Townshii)  Treasurer.  His  home  was 
burned  on  the  2 2d  of  October,  1880,  and  he  at  once 
erected   his   present   substantial    residence. 


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He  was  married  Jan.  13,  i86i,to  Margaret  A.  Mil- 
ler, born  in  Canada,  June  13,  1843.  Their  children 
were  born  in  the  following  order :  Alvonetta,  Dec.  2, 
1861;  Carrie,  Dec.  7,  1863;  Sarah  M.,  Aug.  i,  187  i. 
Mrs.  Ostrander  died  March  29,  1874.  Mr.  Ostrander 
was  a  second  time  married,  Aug.  8,  1877,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  David  and  Martlia  (Glass)  Dalzell.  She 
was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  4,  1841. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  re- 
moved to  Lake  Co ,  Mich  ,  where  they  now  reside. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ostrander  iiave  two  children:  Henry 
D.,  born  Jan.  3,  1879,  and  Lewis  R.,  May  6,  1883. 


ft%^^ 


■"^fc  atrick  McKeon,  farmer,  sec.  27,  Deerfield 

fc   Ti).,  was  born    in    Canada,   April    22,    iS6r. 

Iiqy.i^  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Julia  (Leveck) 


■)k 


I) 


McKeon,    the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and 


the  latter  born  in  Canada.     The  father  died  in 
Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  in  February,  1882  ;  the 
mother  resides  with  her  son. 

The  parents  located  in  Shiawassee  County,  in  187  i. 
Our  subject  accompanied  them  and  continued  to  re- 
side there  twelve  years.  In  '73  lie  bought  40  acres  of 
land  in  this  county  in  a  partly  improved  state.  He  is 
a  believer  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  in 
iwlitics  endorses  the  principles  of  the  National  party. 


•%»•'*?< -1 " c  ii* «; 0  i  ;.o I  - >iT.i^ 


'olomon  r.  Frye,  Postmaster  at  Altona, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1844. 
IK'^  His  i)arents,  David  K.  and  Elizabetli  (For- 
dyce)  Frye,  were  born  in  the  Keystone  State 
and  died  in  West  Virginia  when  the  son  was 
1 4  years  of  age. 
F'rom  that  time  he  had  his  own  way  to  make  in  the 
world.  He  found  a  home  with  his  uncle,  Archibald 
Fordyce,  the  two  years  succeeding  his  parents'  death. 
He  was  then  16  years  old,  and  enlisted  at  Phila- 
delphia, enrolling  in  the  regiment  under  Col.  Haker. 
He  was  finally  assigned  to   the  71st  Pennsylvania 


A 


^: 


Volunteers,  and  remained  in  the  service  14  months, 
receiving  honorable  discharge  for  physical  disability, 
the  result  of  excessive  exposure.  He  saw  active 
service  at  Little  Bethel,  Munson  Hill,  Ball's  Bluff 
and  Malvern  Hill.  He  was  captured  at  Ball's  Bluff, 
and  the  severe  marching  and  hardships  following  his 
capture  were  the  cause  of  his  imi)aired  health.  He 
was  without  food  for  four  days  and  three  nights,  and 
then  only  received  the  small  quantity  of  four  ounces 
of  bread.  The  expeiiences  of  Mr.  Frye  at  Libby  prison 
are  those  whose  liorrors  are  renewed  every  time  they 
are  repeated,  and  never  lose  their  dread  character. 
The  strong  man  who  weighed  176  jwunds  on  being 
incarcerated,  on  his  e.xchange  four  months  later 
weighed  but  60  ix)unds.  Uix)n  his  being  sent  to  Wash- 
ington he  received  a  furlough  and  returned  to  Harris- 
burg,  where,  by  special  order  of  Gov.  Curtin,  he 
acted  as  recruiting  officer.  In  March,  1862,  he  re- 
turned to  his  regiment,  but  soon  after  was  seized  with 
the  small-iiox,  and  sent  to  the  small-pox  hospital, 
near  F'ortress  Monroe;  but  not  long  after  he  was  or- 
dered to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  for  treatment.  Two  months 
later  he  rejoined  his  regiment  in  time  to  partici- 
pate in  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill.  In  a  month  he 
was  discharged  at  Harrisori's  Landing  and  returned 
to  his  native  State.  He  was  so  enfeebled  that  he 
could  not  labor  for  two  years. 

On  regaining  his  health  in  a  measure  he  was  em- 
ployed as  watchman  on  the  Ohio  River  for  a  year,  and 
was  afterward  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Co.,  where  he  worked  for  two  years.  He 
came  to  St.  Louis,  Mich.,  and  was  first  engaged  in 
rafting  to  Bay  City,  and  then  was  in  the  employ  of 
different  parties,  locating  lands  in  Northern  Michigan. 

In  1S77  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  taught 
primary  schools  two  years.  He  came  back  to  the 
Peninsular  State  and  located  in  Clare  County.  There 
he  was  occupied  four  years  as  superintendent  of  a 
shingle-mill.  He  formed  a  partnershiii  with  K.  M. 
Shunnvay,  in  mercantile  business  at  F'arwell,  Clare 
Co.,  selling  out  two  years  later,  soon  after  coming 
to  Hinton  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  engaging  in  the  (^ 
drug  business  with  Dr.  J.  E.  Gruber,  of  Altona. 
This  relation  was  dissolved  in  May,  1882.  He  re- 
ceived his  appointment  as  Postmaster  Oct.  31,  1882, 
under  President  Arthur. 

Mr.  Frye  was  married  in  Isabella  Co..  Mich., 
March   3,    1867,   to   Lucy,  daughter  of  David,  and 


( 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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203 


2^  Sarah  Leonard.     Her  parents  were  natives  of  Penn- 

'Iv  sylvania  and  spent  their  entire   lives  there.     Of  this 

■'^^*  marriage  four  children  have  been   horn — Edward  I!. 

T    and  Edwin  (twins),  l)orn  June    5,    187S;  Arcliibald 

(^  F.,  July  3,  1877,  and  Edith  .M.,  .\iig.  13,  1882. 

Mr.  P'rye  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  Town- 
ship Clerk  three  terms,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican County  Committee.  He  and  iiis  family  at- 
tend the  United  Hrethren  Cliurcli,  of  wliich  Mr.  Frye 
is  a  member. 


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eorge  F.  Haist,  farmer,  sec.  8,  Deerfield 
Tp.,  was  born  Jur.e  I  2,  \^^.\,  in  Canada. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Christine  (Sten- 
gel) Haist,  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
Canada  in  '31.  Mr.  Haist,  senior,  came  witii 
his  family  to  Newaygo  County,  Mich.,  in  '53, 
and  after  a  residence  there  of  seven  years  removed 
to  this  county  and  pre-empted  80  acres  of  land. 
This  i)roperty  he  deeded  in  '73  to  his  son,  retaining 
a  life  leasi  for  himself  and  wife. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  his  life  llius 
far  with  his  parents,  making  the  paternal  interests  liis 
own  and  has  proved  himself  a  faithful  and  devoted 
son.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  elected 
several  times  as  Constable ;  he  is  at  present  Scliool 
.Vssessor.  He  was  married  in  Morlcy,  July  4,  '78,  to 
Kate,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  ('atherine  (Cole)  Os- 
born.  Tliey  have  one  child — Nelson  I'lederick,  born 
Jan.  31,  "Si. 


■^■^-  harles  D.  Carpenter,  merchant,  Hig  Rap- 
f  ids,  was  born  in  Lawrenceville,  St.  Law- 
iar'^  rence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  7,  1856.  He  is  the 
1^  son  of  John  T.  and  Emily  (lilish)  Carpenter. 
h  His  father  was  a  physician  of  prominence  and 
gave  his  son  a  good  education,  sending  him  to 
Ihe  common  school  until  12  years  of  age  and  to  the 
Academy  at  Lawrenceville  until  he  was  18  years  old. 
;\t  that  age  Mr.  Carpenter  came  to  Big  Rapids  and 


engaged  with  the  mercantile  firm  of  Phelps  i.*v:  Parker 
as  clerk.  He  acted  in  tiiis  capacity  18  mor.ths,  when 
he  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Phelps  and  the  house 
became  Parker  it  Carpenter.  Mr.  Parker  died  May 
7,  1882,  ai.d  his  widow  soon  after  sold  her  husband's 
share  of  the  business  to  the  remaining  partner  and 
his  brother,  Frank  B.  Caipenter,  M.  1).  They  oper- 
ated together  one  year  and  May  26,  1883,  Mr.  Car- 
penter of  this  sketch,  became  sole  proprietor  of  the 
establishment  by  purchase.  He  carries  an  average 
stock  of  about  $20,000  value  in  dry  goods,  carpets, 
sewing-machines,  etc.,  and  transacts  annually  an 
amount  of  business  aggregating  $70,000. 

-Mr.  Carpenter  was  married  at  Evart,  Newaygo  Co., 
Oct.  19,  18S1,  to  Nettie  E.,  daughter  of  Howard  and 
Jeannette  \Viltse.  She  was  born  at  Evart,  .May  14, 
1857,  and  her  parents  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  Newaygo  County.  Her  father  came  to  Me- 
costa County  in  :86o  and  died  at  Hig  Rapids  in  1S65. 
Her  mother  (lied  in  1857.  The  father  of  Mr.  Car- 
penter died  ;\pril  30,  1869;  his  mother  is  yet  living, 
at  Lawrenceville.  Mrs.  Carpenter  was  a  teacher  at 
Big  Rapids  si.\  years. 


gjl'^^enry    Seaton,    farmer  on  sec.    17,  Hinton 

"  Tp.,  P.   O.,    .Mtona,   was    born    in  Guelph, 

i-ix-'"*   Canada,  April  7,  1S43.     His  parents,  John 

Av    and  l^ii/.abeth  (Smith)  Seaton,  were  natives  of 

iMigland,  who  came  to  .\merica  in  1838.     The 


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mother  died  in  November,  1877,  and  the  father      i'( 

is  still  living,  in  Canada. 
Mr.  Seaton  remained  an  inmate  of  iiis  lather's 
house  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  when  he 
rented  tlie  paternal  farm  for  a  period  of  two  years. 
Li  the  summer  of  1866  he  came  to  Mecosta  County 
and  bought  a  half  mterest  in  the  saw-mill  owned  by  ^ 
his  brother,  W.  N.  Seaton  and  Hartley  Davis,  succeed-  f 
ing  to  the  claim  of  the  latter.  The  Seaton  brothers  j. 
managed  the  mill  together  six  years,  and  sold  out  to 
\Vm.  Egbert.  Mr.  Seaton  and  his  brother  were  jf 
again  associated  in  farm  interests,  whicii  they  carried  ''^ 
on  nearly  four  years,  when  ihey  dissolved,  and  Mr.  ~J 
Seaton  established  himself  on  the  80  acres  which  has      >. 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


since  been  his  homestead.  He  is  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Sjalon  was  married  in  Canada,  June  6,  1867, 
to  Agnes,  daughter  of  Richard  Kenning.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  she  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Canada,  Nov.  12,  1846.  .She  died  Dec. 
26,  1879,  leaving  four  of  six  children  of  whom  she 
was  the  mother.  They  were  born  as  follows :  Ida 
M.  E,,  June  6,  1869;  Hervey  J.,  April  16,  1872; 
Albert  N.,  Oct.  23,  1875  ;  Gracic  A  ,  Jan.  11.  1S77. 
.Vsa  and  Lillian  died  in  infancv. 


—wv^^-i^g-vw.- 


h|pri^^|^llis  Davis,  farmer,  sec.  6  of  Deerfield  Tp., 
^^^g  was  born  in  Ireland,  Aug.  27,  '27.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Laverty)  Davis, 
also  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  came  to 
America  in  '51.  They  located  in  this  county 
and  continued  to  reside  there  until  their  death. 
Our  subject  was  an  inhaldtant  of  his  native  land 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Mecosta  Tj).,  this 
county,  continuing  to  reside  here  nearly  ten  years, 
when  he  took  up  240  acres  of  uncleared  forest  under 
the  State  law.  He  commenced  oiieralions  after  the 
most  approved  pioneer  plan,  built  a  log  house  and 
went  vigorously  to  work  clearing  away  the  timber  to 
make  room  for  the  plow  and  other  appurtenances  of 
civilization.  The  140  acres  of  cultivated  land  which 
his  labors  have  laid  bare  to  the  sun  and  other  influ- 
ences that  cpiicken  them  to  a  marvelous  life  show  the 
character  of  their  owner.  The  log  house  disappeared 
in  the  summer  of  1882  and  a  neat  frame  structure 
succeeded  it  at  an  expenditure  of  $1,000.  Mr.  Davis 
is  a  Democrat  in  political  views.  He  resides  with 
his  two  sisters  and  with  them  belongs  to  the  I'resby- 
terian  Church. 


« ^'^^jj'- obort  Telfer,  engineer  of  the  City   Water 
>Vorks,  I'lig  Rapids,  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
^.  I-anarkshire,  Scotland,  Feb.  21,  1844.     He 
is    the  son  of    Cavin  and  Janet  Telfer,  and 
J)*^   learned  the  trade  of  tanner  and  cmrier  in  his 
^      native  town.     At  the  age  of  18  he  left  home 
and  went  to  Glasgow  and  worked  there  at  his 
trade  until  July  26,   18O5,  or  until  after  twenty-one. 


On  that  day  he  started  for  the  United  States  and 
17  days  later  was  in  the  city  of  Detroit  at  work. 
Wiien  he  reached  Detroit  he  had  one  English  shill- 
ing in  his  possession,  but  he  had  pluck  and  energy, 
and  the  day  following  his  arrival  there  had  secured 
a  paying  situation.  After  four  years  of  self-denying, 
frugal  labor  in  Detroit,  he  united  his  savings  with  the 
small  capital  of  his  brother  Gavin,  and  established  a 
tannery  at  Chesaning,  .Saginaw  Co.,  Mich.,  and  after 
operating  it  with  gratifying  success  two  years,  their 
building,  fixtures,  etc.,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  involv- 
ing a  loss  of  $6,000,  with  no  insurance.  He  still  held 
a  considerable  amount  of  stock,  which  he  brought  to 
I5ig  Rapids  to  avail  himself  of  the  facilities  at  the 
tannery  of  Duncan  McClellan. 

In  1875  he  entered  into  an  engagement  as  assistant 
engineer  of  the  City  Water  Works,  taking  full  charge 
two  years  later,  and  holding  the  position  continuously 
ever  since. 

In  the  sunnner  of  1881  he  built  the  block  now 
owned  by  L.  S,  I'resburg,  on  Michigan  ave.,  a  brick 
building  erected  at  a  cost  of  upwards  of  |;6, 000.  He 
built  the  Telfer  Hlock,  on  the  corner  of  Michigan 
ave.  and  Pine  st.,  in  the  summer  of  1883.  It  is  a 
two-story  structure  of  brick,  40  x  60  feet, one  store  of 
which  he  stocked  with  boots  and  shoes,  and  con- 
fided to  the  management  of  his  brotlier,  John  Telfer. 
He  also  owns  a  residence  and  lot  on  Pine  street  and 
Warren  ave.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

He  was  niarrii.d  Dec.  30,  1869,  to  Mary  C, 
daughter  of  W'illiaui  and  Kliza  Burleigh.  She  was 
born  in  Macomb  Co.,  Micii.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Telfer 
have  had  two  children,  one  of  whom,  Gavin,  is  now 
living;   Eliza,  only  daughter,  died  July  22,  1872. 


3SS 


H'lfred  Pierce,  farmer,  sec.  i,  llinton  Tp  , 
jj(  was  born  Dec.  31,  1841,  in  St.  Lawrence 
^="'0  Co.,  N.  V.  His  parents,  David  and  Polly 
Wsf  (l^ay)  Pierce,  were  also  natives  of  St.  Law- 
rence County.  He  started  out  alone  in  the 
warfare  of  life  at  the  age  of  15  years.  His 
parents  liad  previously  removed  to  Walworth  Co., 
Wis.,  and  in  the  springof  1856  he  came  to  Michigan 
with   the  family  of  Win.  Egbert   (now  deceased)  and 


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M^.^C&s-4^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


ri^-^-i-^ 


207 


^  located  in  Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  remaining  with  them 
t§)  until  21  years  of  age,  engaged  in  fanning  and  specu- 
^S*  lating.  In  the  si)ring  of  1S63,  he  went  to  Minnesota 
I  and  bought  a  farm,  which  he  managed  for  five  years, 
(hj  and  meanwhile  was  one  year  engaged  in  conducting 
a  hotel  at  Rochester,  Minn.  He  sold  the  farm  and 
came  to  Mecosta  County,  where  he  bought  80  acres 
of  wild  land,  in  Morton  Tp.,  which  he  sold  in  the 
fall  of  1 88 1.  In  the  spring  of  1880  he  bought  80 
acres  of  forest  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, with  20  acres  under  cultivation.  In  politics 
Mr.  Pierce  is  a  Republican  ;  has  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  and  was  Highway 
Commissioner  three  years  in  Morton  Tp. 

.Mr.  Pierce  was  married  in  Berrien  Co.,  Midi.,  Nov. 
26,  1863,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Israel  B.  and  Han- 
nah Sackett,  natives  of  Michigan.  Mrs.  Pierce  was 
born  in  Berrien  Co.,  Dec.  25,  1840.  Her  fatlier  died 
_  \  when  she  was  ten  years  old,  'and  she  was  thrown 
upon  her  own  resources  for  support.  Of  ten  children 
born  to  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Pierce,  eight  survive,  four  of 
them  being  twins;  Charles  A.  was  born  Nov.  to, 
1864;  Fred  L.,  Aug.  16,  1866;  Walter,  Dec.  i6j 
1868;  Frank,  Oct.  14,  1869;  Etta,  July  18,  1872; 
Harry,  May  14,  1877  ;  Nathan,  Aug.  13,  1879,  and 
Alfred,  Nov.  15,  1882;  Annie,  born  July  18,  1872, 
died  Dec.  26,  1880;  Gertrude, horn  July  17,  1874,  and 
died  Dec.  30,  1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce  are  both 
members  of  the  order  of  Good  Templars,  and  are  ac- 
tive and  prominent  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
with  which  they  united  at  an  early  day.  Mr.  Pierce 
is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause,  and 
is  prominent  in  all  the  reforms  of  the  day. 


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f  Irich  Stiffen,  farmer,  sec.  35,  Deerfield  Tp., 

is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (I'isclilcr) 

Stiffen.     They  were  natives  of  .Switzerland 

^      and   came   to   America  in    1853,  locating  in 

,:^    Wayne  Co.,    Ohio,  where  they  passed  the  er- 

■^     mainder  of  their  lives. 

Mr.  Stiffen  was  born  Dec.  25,  1843,  in  Switz- 
erland. He  was  10  years  old  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  he  worked  as  a  farm 
assistant  nearly  20  years.  He  came  to  Michigan  in 
1867  and  has  been  the  ownerof  various  tracts  of  land 
at  various  times,  and  now  owns  80  in   Deerfield  Tp., 


which  is  his  homestead,  with  20  acres  in  cultivation. 
Mr.  Stiffen  is  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment  and 
belomrs  to  the  Mennonite  Church. 


-«^!||j|i^»*- 


m.  N.  Seaton,  merchant.  .Mtona,  was  lx)rn 
in  Canada,  Sept.  28,  1S39.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joiin  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Seaton,  na- 
\\  lives  of  England,  who  came  to  America  in 
1838  and  located  in  ('anada,  where  the  father 
is  still  resident.  The  mother  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1877. 

Mr.  Seaton  remained  in  the  liome  of  his  parents 
until  the  age  of  25,  and  in  the  winter  of  1864  came 
to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  120  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  on  which  a  part  of  the 
village  of  Altona  is  located.  U'ithin  three  years 
(64-'65-'66)  he  cleared  40  acres  of  his  farm.  In 
1S68,  associated  with  liently  Davis  and  Harrison  J. 
Brown,  he  built  the  Altona  dam,  and  in  tlie  same 
year  he  and  Mr.  Davis  erected  the  first  saw-mill. 
Fifteen  months  after,  William  and  Henry  Seaton  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Davis,  and  continued  to 
operate  the  mill  four  years,  selling  out  to  Wm.  Eg- 
bert, who,  some  time  after,  disix)sed  of  the  property 
to  H.  J.  Brown. 

Mr.  Seaton,  after  closing  his  mill  interests,  turned 
his  attention  to  farming  and  rearing  stock.  He  owns 
180  acres  of  land,  100  of  which  is  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation  and  improved  by  a  fine  set  of 
buildings.  He  rented  his  place  in  March,  1S83,  and 
purcliased  a  residence  in  .Mtona.  In  December, 
1882,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  L.  Willett  for 
the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  sale  of  general  mer- 
chandise, which  was  edected  Jan.  r,  1883,  and  is 
now  being  carried  on  with  satisfactory  results. 

Mr.  Seaton  was  married  in  Canada,  to  Char- 
lotte, daughter  of  Benj.  Budjen.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  England,  and  about  1848  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  in  Canada.  One  child,  Charlotte 
L.  E.,  was  born  of  mis  marriage,  Feb.  27,  1869. 
The  mother  died  March  28,  1869.  Mr.  Seaton  was 
again  married  Dec.  4,  1879,  to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of 
George  and  Jane  Quigley,  born  Jan.  4,  1855.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Seaton  reside  in  Montcalm  County; 
the  father  is  a  native  of  New  York,   and   the  mother 


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208 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


was  born  in  Wales  ;  the  only  child  of  Mr.   and  Mrs. 
Sealon,  George   R  ,  was  lx)rn  Oct  7,  18S1. 

Mr.  Seaton  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  Justice 
of  the  Peace  one  year,  and  School  Director  si.x 
years.  He  has  been  actively  zealous  for  the  best  in- 
terests and  advancement  of  his  township,  and  has 
done  all  in  his  power  to  enhance  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  Altona,  which  is,  so  to  speak,  his  foster- 
child,  he  having,  in  connection  with  H.  J.  Brown, 
jilatted  the  village,  which  was  accomplished  May  21, 
1870.  Mr.  Seaton 's  family  attend  the  M.  E.  Church. 
He  has  been  for  a  long  time  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School,  and  has  been  Class-leader  about  15 
years.  He  is  also  radical  in  liis  views  of  temper- 
ance.    Mr.    Seaton 's  portrait  is  given  in  this  work. 


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SPm.  Brockway,  farmer,  sec.  20,  Hinton 
(iS)§^  Tp.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March  27, 
,.(^^^^  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza- 
^J^^O  beth  (Rossman)  IJrockway,  both  of  whom 
|*f^  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  He  went  to 
New  York  with  his  parents,  and  at  the  age  of  21 
came  to  Livingston  County,  and  after  a  residence 
of  six  years  came  to  Mecosta  County  (before  its  organi- 
zation) and  settled  in  what  is  now  /Etna  Tp.,  buying 
a  farm  of  200  acres.  He  resided  on  this  place  until 
the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  purchased  160  acres  of 
forest  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  removed  there,  built  a 
log  house  and  barn,  and  commenced  clearing  his 
land.  These  primitive  buildings  have  yielded  to 
modernized  structures ;  and  the  fine  farm  with  100 
acres  of  cleared  territory,  with  creditable  and  valuable 
buildings,  makes  a  fine  exhibit  of  what  energy  com- 
bined with  perseverance  and  good  judgment  can  ac- 
complish. He  belongs  to  the  pioneer  element  of  the 
county  and  township,  and  was  the  first  Postmaster 
under  Lincoln,  serving  about  three  years.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  ixjlitical  faith  and  action. 

He  was  married  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  6, 
1848,  to  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Z.  P.  and  Anna 
(Saxton)  Mitchell.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the 
Empire  State,  and  Mrs.  Brockway  was  born  in 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  24,  182S.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brockway  have  had  eight  children,  six  surviving, 
I  Emmet    L.,  born  Nov.  5,   1848;  Alice  V.,  Feb.    12, 

— ^^^^Dfl 


1853;  Caroline,  Aug.  27,1857;  James  H.,  Oct.  15, 
i860;  Charlotte,  Feb.  23,  1865;  Byron  A,  April  9, 
1870;  Elizabeth  A.,  born  Oct.  31,  1850,  died  Nov. 
12,  1882;  Mary  E.,  born  Aug.  18,  1867,  died  Jan. 
22,  1882. 


gfj^^H'einuel  F.  Chipman,  farmer,  sec.  36,  Deer- 
^iiOit  field  T|).,  was  born  in  Livingston  County, 
^;  ^f^^\)  Mich.,  Jan.  i,  1S47.  He  is  son  of  S.  S.  and 
yrW  Aha  (Sutherland)  Chipman,  who  are  both  natives 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 


I 


-  ^^lij  harles  Me  Arthur,  farmer,  sec.   19,  Deer- 
Y  field  T}).,  was  born    in    Canada,   Jan.    16, 


1S39.     His  i)arents,  Colin   and  Jeannette 

IjS"    (McDonald)  McArthur,  were  of  Scotch  origin 

J^     and  came  to  Canada  early  in  their  lives  and 

I       there  both  died  in  the  winter  of  '82. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  Canada 

and  grew  up  under  the  personal   care  of  his  father. 


v^ 


In  the  fall  of  '64  Mr.  Chipman,  though  but  17 
years  of  age,  became  a  soldier  for  the  Union 
army,  enlisting  in  the  Third  Mich.  Inf.  He  was  in 
the  service  until  May  18,  '65,  when  he  received  hon- 
orable discharge.  After  returning  home  he  engaged 
in  the  duties  of  a  lumberman  until  the  age  of  22, 
when  lie  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of 
Deerfield.  It  was  then  in  a  perfectly  wild  state,  and 
he  at  once  turned  all  his  energies  to  bear  ujxjn  its  rec- 
lamation, a.nd  now  has  20  acres  under  cultivation. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

'i'he  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  27, 
i860,  in  Cato,  Montcalm  Co.,  to  Catherine  C,  daugh- 
ter of  .\ustin  and  Harriet  Butler,  luc  .Malolt,  both  na- 
tives of  New  York. 

The  deadly  scourge  diphthL'ria  removed  three  of 
the  children  of  this  household  within  12  days.  Their 
record  is  as  follows  :  .Mta  H.,  born  March  27,  1870, 
died  Sept.  18,  '81;  Daisy  M.,  born  May  7,  18 — ,  died 
Sept.  14,  '81 ;  Walter,  born  Feb.  22,  '80,  died  Sept.  6, 
'81.  Two  children  remain,  Levi  D.,  born  Sept.  27, 
'72,  and  Zilpha  E.,  born  June  20,  '74. 

At  the  organization  of  the  township  of  Deerfield 
in  '61,  S.  S.  Chipman  was  elected  Sui)ervisor. 


I 


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remaining  at  home  several  years  after  attaining  his 
majority.  In  the  winter  of  '52,  at  26  years  of  age, 
he  came  to  Detroit  and  there  w  as  connected  with  a 
railroad  constniciion  corps  about  three  years.  In  tlie 
summer  of  '79  he  can.e  to  the  village  of  Morlcy  and 
was  engaged  some  months  in  the  saloon  and  restaur- 
ant business,  after  wliich  he  '.)ought  his  present  proi>- 
erty,  40  acres  of  land,  then  in  an  entirely  unculti- 
vated state,  but  now  ivith  30  acres  in  an  advanced 
slate  of  iuiprovement.  He  has  held  the  post  of  Con- 
stable two  terms  and  Police  Magistrate  six  months, 
resigning  his  office  before  the  expiration  of  his  term. 

He  was  married  Aug.  7,  1866,  at  Charlotte,  Mich., 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Fcehan,  ih\- 
Cokeiy.  The  [larents  of  his  wife  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  Canada;  the  father  is  de- 
ceased, the  mother  resides  in  this  County.  Their 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Annie  |.,  June  6, 
1869;  Catherine  M.,  Dec.  10,  '72;  Edith  1'.,  Jan.  29, 
'75;  Charles  J.,  July  17,  '77;  Myrtle,  Jan.  21,  '81. 
I'wo  children  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  a  member  of  the  Township  School 
Uoard  during  the  year  of  1882.  In  religion, although 
brought  u))  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  he  is  liberal, 
He  is  also  a  liberal  Democrat  in  [wlitics. 


■-uucc?©^--'— l><|l^^^^4-->^2fa'ZiOT»v 


^l^randison  C.  Tousey,  farmer,  sec.  34,  Hin- 
®<  ton  Tp.,is  a  son  of  I^auzonand  Lucy  (Ly- 
man) Tousey,  who  were  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  came  to  Michigan  as  pioneers  of 
Wayne  County.  G.  C.  Tousey  was  l)orn  Nov. 
19,  1832  He  came  with  liis  parents,  wlien  a 
lad,  to  Kalamazoo  County,  and  there  he  was 
occui)ied  with  farming  until  the  spring  of  1872. 
He  then  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  located  in 
Hinton  Tp.,  where  he  had  entered  160  acres  of  Cov- 
ernment  land  in  1858.  On  this  tract  he  has  since 
resided,  and  now  has  70  acres  under  a  good  degree 
of  improvement. 

Mr.  Tousey  is  a  Democrat  in  [xditical  faith,  and 
has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  year.  He  en- 
listed in  October,  i86r,  in  the  13111  Michigan  Vol. 
Inf..  and  after  an  arduous  service  of  three  years  was 
honorably  discharged    Jan.    16,   1865,  at  Savannah, 


Ga.  He  was  never  off  duty  a  single  day  and  did 
not  once  answer  the  surgeon's  call.  He  was  in  ac- 
tion at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Stone  River,  Perryville, 
Ky.,  Chickamauga,  Siege  of  Corinth,  Missionary 
Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  marched  to  the  sea 
with  Sherman.  He  luul  a  narrow  escape  from  cap- 
ture at  Stone  River.  A  retreat  was  ordered  and  by 
some  mischance  he  found  himself  wedged  between 
boulders,  the  rebel  forces  being  soon  within  alarm- 
ing distance  of  his  singular  prison  house.  Extricat- 
ing himself  with  a  great  efTorl,  he  crawled  Itack  and 
joined  his  regiment,  making  the  transit  between  two 
fires,  but  coming  out  unharmed.  He  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
M.  E.  Church. 

Mr.  Tousey  was  married  in  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich. 
June  28,  1867,  to  Elvira,  daughter  of  Jared  and  Eliza- 
beth (Holcomb)  Goodrich,  who  was  born  March  19, 
1S28,  in  New  York.  The  parents  were  born  in  New 
York,  also.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tousey  have  one  child, 
born  June  28,  1868. 


•>«aec^©i@«— i? 


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? 


~i^^^  enry  S.  Cota,  farmer  on  section  16,  .I'.tna 
^f  (S3r  '1^'  ^^'^*  ^""^^  '"  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1837. 
5'fS?***  His  parents  were  born  in  France,  emigrated 
■^1'^  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  the  Buckeye 
State,  where  his  father  was  drowned  while  la- 
boring in  the  river  service. 

Mr.  Cota  was  in  his  infancy  and  his  mother  bound 
him  to  a  man  named  Adam  Hardesty.  He  was  so 
very  young  that  he  lost  all  trace  of  her  and  does  not 
know  that  he  has  a  relative  by  blood  on  the  earth. 
He  remained  with  Mr.  Hardesty  until  he  was  18  ye.ars 
of  age,  when  he  was  released  from  his  bonds  and 
found  employment  in  Paulding  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was 
there  occupied  for  five  years. 

In  tlie  fall  of  '61  he  enlisted  in  the  68th  Ohio  Inf., 
serving  three  yean;,  and  receiving  honorable  discharge. 
Leaving  the  army  he  spent  a  few  months  in  Paulding 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1S66  he  came  to 
.Etna  Tp.  and  bought  40  ai  res  of  land,  which  he  has 
increased  to  80  acres,  with  30  under  the  plow. 

Mr.  Cota  was  married  July  4,  1S67,  to  Isabel, 
daughter  of  William  and  I'^lizabeth  (Woodcock) 
Shoeck,  natives  of  New  York.     Mrs.  Cota  was  born 


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Feb.  I,  1843.  Of  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cota  four  are  living,  born  as  follows:  Rousseau  was 
born  June  10,  1868;  (ieorge  W.,  Dec.  i,  1875  ;  Mil- 
ton E.,  May  12,  187-;  Retta  E.,  June  30,  1881. 
John,  born  March  13,  1870,  died  Nov.  4,  1882;  (niy 
E.,  born  Jan.  21,  1878,  died  Oct.  10,  1879. 

The  character  and  conduct  of  tlie  life  of  Mr.  Cota 
have  been  such  as  to  secure  for  liini  the  advantages 
always  accruing  to  a  man  of  upright  and  honorable 
dealing. 


'irs^ls***;^* 


^t^fue^ 


Q"irh^ 


:oah  Barnhart,  farmer,  sec.  11,  Deerfield 
t  Tp.,  was  born  in  Canada.  May  3,  1844. 
tirvsj'  ^  His  father,  Jacol)  Harnhart,  was  a  native  of 
•"  ^  Vermont  and  died  in  Canada  in  the  spring  of 
,IG  '^53-  H'^  mother,  now  Mrs.  Phebe  McGill, 
came  to  Deerfield  with  her  children  in  the  spring  of 
'60.     See  sketch  of  Wm.  Barnhart. 

Mr.  Barnhart  came  to  Detroit  at  the  age  of  13  and 
soon  after  the  removal  of  his  family  to  this  county  in 
i860  he  joined  them  here.  He  "took  up  "  80  acres  of 
land  under  the  Homestead  Act,  and  about  the 
same  date  bought  40  acres  more.  He  sold  his  estate 
of  1 20  acres  in  '67  and  bought  80  acres  where  he  now 
lives. 

He  was  married  Dec.  17, 1866,  to  Eliza  Hornby,  who 
is  of  English  and  Irish  parentage.  To  them  have  been 
born  six  cliildren,  as  follows:  Ellen, born  Jan.  1,  1867 
Caroline,  Feb.  28,  '70;  Edward,  March  28,  '73  ;  Albert- 
April  4,  '79,  and  Ada,  July  4,  '82.  Alice  was  bom 
June  10,  '76,  and  died  in  February,  '82. 


-5— -w/v/V,? 


SlffSlT'"*  Mcintosh,  farmer,  sec.  3,   Deerfield  Tp. 

was  born  in  Canada,  July    10,    1834.     His 

parents,    Louis   and   Elizabeth    (Boxstead) 

Mcintosh,    were    natives    of    Canada,    of 

Scotch  and  German   lineage,  and  passed  their 

entire  lives  in  their  native  land. 

Mr.  Mcintosh  attended  school  and  served  as 
his  father's  assistant  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was 
I  8  years  of  age,  when  he  resixsnded  to  the  long  cher- 
ished desire  to  begin  his  life's  work  in  independence. 


He  spent  eleven  years  as  a  lumberman  and  farm 
laborer,  coming  to  Mecosta  County  in  the  fall  of  1863 
Ten  months  later  he  went  to  Kent  County  and  bought 
40  acres  of  partly  improved  land,  on  which  he  worked 
two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Mecosta  County. 
Not  long  after  he  purchased  105  acres  of  railroad 
land  and  began  life  as  a  pioneer.  At  this  writing  he  has 
73  acres  under  tillage.  He  has  built  a  good  barn  on 
the  farm  and  is  on  the  eve  of  a  final  leave  of  the  log 
house  where  he  found  shelter  and  home  rest  from  his 
cares  and  labors,  and  where  his  three  promising  sons 
were  born. 

Mr.  Mcintosh  was  married   in  Canada,  Oct.    31, 

1863,  to  Emma,  daughter  of  J.  P.  and  Drusilla  (Aus- 
tin) Weaver.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Mcintosh  were 
of  Canadian    nativity,   came  to   Mecosta  County   in 

1864,  and  now  reside  in  .•\ustin  Tp.  The  sons  were 
born  as  follows :  James  E.,  born  Dec  8,  1865;  John 
W.,  Sept.  15,  1867  ;  Charlie,  Nov.  12,  1877. 

Mr.  Mcintosh  is  a  Republican  in  jwlitics  and  has 
served  his  township  as  Treasurer  two  years.  Himself 
and  wife  beloncr  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 


..«. 


M — H 


G 


"  ichael  Doyle,  farmer,  sec.  i8,  ^-litna  Tp., 
was  born  in  December,  18 15,  and  is  son  of 
■'(N  Michael  and  Jane  (Dorsey)  Doyle,  natives 
/^W^  of  Ireland,  where  the  son  was  also  born. 
.  .  Tiie  latter  was  five  years  old  when  his  parents 
i^  came  to  America  and  settled  at  Quebec,  Prov- 
ince of  Quebec,  where  they  lived  until  1843. 
On  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  left  to  make  his 
way  alone  in  the  world  and  remained  in  Canada  un- 
til 1868.  He  spent  three  years  prospecting  in  the 
Dominion,  and  in  the  fall  of  187  i  came  to  yEtnaTp., 
Mecosta  Co.,  and  purchased  80  acres  of  land,  and, 
like  earlier  settlers,  commenced  to  make  improve- 
ments for  the  purjwse  of  securing  a  livelihood.  The 
result  of  their  labors  are  shown  by  the  condition  of 
the  farm  and  its  fixtures. 

Mr.  Doyle  was  married  in  Canada,  in  April,  1839, 
to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Dunn) 
Carroll,  who  were  of  Irish  nativity,  and  went  to  Can- 
ada, where  they  died,  at  the  ages  of  41  and  60  years 
respectively.  Mrs.  Doyle  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  June  i,  1S16      She  is  at  this  writing  66  years 


V) 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


-^^^^ 


old,  but  retains  her  health  and  vigor,  and  her  memory 
is  perfect  concerning  all  events  that  have  passed  un- 
der her  observation.  Following  is  a  record  of  their 
ten  children:  Peter,  born  March  3,  1840;  Michael, 
Dec.  25,  1845;  Jane,  Aug.  12,  1850;  Sarah,  Aug.  17. 
1854;  John,  Feb.  i,  1847;  Rose,  Sept.  8,  1855' 
Ella,  June  10,  1858.  Those  named  are  living;  the  de- 
ceased were  :  iMary,  born  Feb.  6,  1 842,  died  in  1867  ; 
Emilia,  born  July  25,  1854,  died  .'Vug.  23,  1867  ;  Cath- 
erine, born  Jan.  6,  185 1,  died  ."^ci.t.  23,  1867.  The 
amily  are  zealous  members  of  the  Catholic  Cluirch. 


illiam  H.  Walker,  undertaker  and  funer- 
il  director.  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  Com- 
uerce  Tp.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and  is  the 
son  of  Justin  and  Lucinda  (Wilkius)  Walker. 
He  passed  the  years  prior  to  attaining  his 
majority  on    his    father's    farm    and  attending 
school.     On  reaching  the  age  of  21  years  he  entered 
the  college  at  Kalamazoo,  and    took   a  preparatory 
course  of  study,  and  after  two  years  went  to  Normal, 
111.,  and  there  attended  the  State   Normal  School    18 
months.     Having  fitted  for  the  position  of  an  instruc- 
tor, he  entered  uix)n  the  duties  of  that  calling,  which 
he  discharged  four  years  and  then  became  a  music 
teacher,  of  which  he  had   made  a  special  study   at 
Normal,  under  the  instructions  of  Prof.  C.  M.  Cady. 
lie  has  spent  20  years  of  his  life  as  a  teacher  of  vo- 
cal music,  operating  at  many  places  in  Michigan  and 
in  several  of  the  Western  States. 

.\fter  leaving  school  at  Kalamazoo,  Mr.  Walker 
m;ide  a  prospecting  journey  through  the  West  and 
Southwest  which  occupied  about  eight  months.  In 
1878,  he  located  at  Berlin,  Ottawa  Co.,  bought  five 
acres  of  land,  and  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop, 
which  he  still  owns  and  manages,  employing  three 
men.  He  has  a  fine  residence  on  his  miniature  farm 
of  five  acres,  where  his  family  live.  He  has  made  a 
s])ecialty  of  bee  culture,  his  location  being  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  puriwse.  At  times  he  has  had  up- 
wards of  200  colonies  in  stock,  and  his  apiary  now  in- 
cludes about  75. 
_,  Mr.  Walker  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  May,  18S3,  and 
^  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  Siillwell  &:   Son,  in   the 

^kV5>)€^«I- ^^^- — ^^Dtl 


V 


) 


furniture  business.  The  relation  terminated  July  g, 
following,  by  his  sale  of  cl  lim  to  Charles  Stillwcll, 
when  he  established  his  present  business  enterprise 
in  the  basement  of  the  Furniture  Block.  He  holds 
a  stock  of  $1,000  in  burial  cases  and  caskets  and  has 
a  very  fine  hearse. 

.Mr.  Walker  was  married  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich., 
March  25,  1865,  to  Marion,  daughter  of  I.orcn  and 
Mary  Oviatt,  born  in 'I'rumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  11, 
1842.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  are 
Allen  J.,  Mary  and  I.ula.  The  musical  abilities  of 
the  father  have  every  promise  of  reproduction  in  the 
children,  as  each  gives  evidence  of  more  than  ordi- 
ary  capacity  in  that  respect. 


t 


K 


eorge  P.  Vorce,  farmer,  sec.  35,  .Ivtna 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
29,  1S24.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
T'^N  Lovina  (Cook)  Vorce,  of  German  nativity  ;  tlie 
fat lier  died  in  1833.  Mr.  Vorce  came  to  this 
State  when  he  was  nine  years  old,  with  his 
step-father,  Jonathan  Jackson,  and  remained  1 1  years. 
He  spent  the  ne.\t  year  in  New  York,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1844  came  to  Wayne  County,  this  State,  and 
a  year  later  to  Ingham  County.  During  this  period 
he  was  engaged  in  agriculture.  Leaving  Ingham 
County,  Mr.  Vorce  went  to  Kalamazoo  County,  and 
thence  to  Iosco  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
fanning  and  lumbering  until  187  i,  the  date  of  his 
settlement  in  this  County.  He  purchased  40  acres 
of  timbered  land  and  entered  upon  the  usual  duties 
of  a  pioneer. — built  a  small  log  house  and  proceeded 
to  ]ilace  his  farm  in  a  suitable  state  for  supiwrt  and 
profit.  He  is  an  earnest  Republican;  has  always 
been  prominent  in  promoting  educational  jjiojecls 
and  at  present  holds  a  school  office.  lie  and  his 
w  ife  are  active  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

He  was  marned  in  1846,  to  .Amelia,  daughter  of 
Zenas  and  Anna  Walling  Hor,  of  New  iMigl.uid 
l)irth,  and  she  was  born  in  Lyons,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
May  15,  1829.  Of  their  six  children  two  are  dead, — 
Henty,  born  Aug.  31,  1847,  died  Oct.  3,  1879,  and 
Charles  L.,  born  Sept.  19,  1855,  died  in  1874.  Those 
who  survive  were  born  in  the  following  order:  Jen- 
nie, Jan.  20,  1849;  Frank  A.,  Oct.   28,    1853;  Anna 


( 

A 


V 


r 


^^wa 


^?§**   ■ 


r<>nil^PD^>r 


MECOSTA 


COUNTY. 


^^  A.,  Nov.  II,  1850;  EllaG.,  Sept.  27,  1859.     These 
JD  children  have  received  a  good  education.     Jennie  is 
-^  a  teacher  of  good  standing  and  has  a  tine  reputation 
T     for  scholarship,  and  ([ualities   peculiarly   adapted   to 
'^  her  calling.     She  was  a  student  for  a  long  time    at 
Albion  College,  and  taught  in  one  ix)sition  seven  con- 
secutive terms. 


ilbert  Mero,  farmer,  sec.  28,  Deerfield  Tp., 
i.s  a  native  of  Lower  Canada.and  was  born 
^  in  1 838.  His  parents  still  reside  in  Canada. 
Mr.  Mero  went  to  Upper  Canada  at  19  years 
of  age,  where  he  was  married  in  the  f;xll  of  1857 
to  Huldah,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mima 
(Kyle)  Newkirk.  They  went  to  Ohio  and  remained 
four  years,  returned  to  Canada  for  a  short  time  and 
moved  to  Deerfield.  Mr.  Mero  bought  40  acres  of 
uncultivated  land  and  proceeded  to  do  poneer  duty 
— build  a  log  house  and  clear  the  forest.  He  has  32 
acres  under  fair  cultivation.  The  family  religion  is 
Catholic. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mero  now  living 
were  L-orn  as  follows:  Josephine,  March  12,1866; 
Richard,  Oct.  28,  1870:  Louisa,  July  8,  1873;  Anna, 
July,  4,  18  ;  Gertrude,  July  8,  1877;  Henrietta, 
^Lay  24,   1S81.     Jennie  and  Margaret  died  in  infancy. 


rs 


>5 


V 


) 


'^ 


% 


tesse  Kinnee,  .Mtona,  Hintop.  Tp.,  was  liorn 
^  in  Canada,  May  27,  1857.     He  is  a  son  of 

_ Jesse  and  Harriet  E.   (Gent)  Kinnee,  na- 

mf  tives  and  residents  of  Canada.     Wm.   Kinnee 
^p"    passed  his  youth  and  boyhood  on   his  father's 
ip    farm,  and  at  1 8  was  apprenticed  for  three  years 
to  the  firm  of  Mitchell   &  Urood,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  blacksmithing.     He  left   his   native  country 
and  went  to   .Moskako,  Canada,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  in  the  lumber  camps  in  the  woods  six  months. 
He    returned    to    the    township    of    I'ecl    and    en- 
tered into  partnership  with  James   .Mitchell,  and  in 
company   with    him    carried    on    blacksmithing   six 
months.     In  July,    1878,  he  came  to   Coral,  Mont- 
_calm  Co.,    removing  soon  to  Hinlon  Tp.,  and  was 


employed  by  W.  W.  Streator,  at  his  trade,  two  and  a 
half  years,  when  he  bought  the  interest  of  his  em- 
ployer, and  is  still  managing  the  same  branch  of 
business,  with  the  most  satisfactory  results. 

Mr.  Kinnee  was  married  at  Altona,  Hinton  Tp., 
April  16,  1881,  to  Ida  M.,  eldest  daughter  of  John 
W.  and  Catharine  (Austen)  Thomas.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Canada,  and  came  to  Mecosta  County 
about  1864.  They  are  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kinnee  have  had  one  child,  Jesse  H.,  born  March 
14,  1883.  They  are  both  active  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren.  Mr.  Kinnee  is  a 
Republican  in  jwlitical  sentiment  and  action. 


- 1 


Vto, 


-^ 


A     h 


T~r 


_i_A. 


"Y~^ 


£k- 


j||  uther 
Bis. 


N.  Hutchinson,  dental   surgeon   at 
Rapids  (office  on  the  N.  W.  corner  of 


-i^^^^ 


§Jl^£f^  North  Michigan  avenue  and  Maple  street), 
MiY  *^^  \^w\\  in  Westmoreland,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  V., 
X  April  8,  1823.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
I  Connecticut,  and  were  married  at  Hartford, 
June6,  i8oi.  Warren  Hutchinson,  his  father, 
was  born,  Nov.  17,  1780;  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
bv  trade,  and  during  a  considerable  i)eriod  of  his  life 
kept  a  hotel;  he  died  Sept.  5,  1847.  The  mother 
Mary  (Goddard)  Hutchinson,  was  born  Feb.  19,  1781, 
and  died  in  March,  1855.  The  family  included  four 
children  —  \Varren  S.  (deceased),  l^i>hraim  F.  (dec.) 
and  Fannie  J.,  widow  of  Israel  L.  .Adams,  resid- 
ing at  Winona,  Iowa.  Dr.  Hutchinson  is  the  young- 
est child.  He  accompanied  the  family  to  AVashtenaw 
County,  this  State,  when  1 1  years  old,  and  settled  in 
Scio,  where  his  father  built  a  hotel.  Both  parents 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here,  and  their 
children  reached  adult  age.  Early  in  life.  Dr.  Hutch- 
inson developed  a  taste  and  genius  for  the  career 
of  an  artist,  and  he  devoted  the  first  years  of  his 
manhood  to  iwrtrait-painting;  but  was  com|)olled  to 
abandon  this  profession  because  of  failing  eyesight. 
In  1S45  he  went  to  Ypsilanti,  where  he  worked  at 
photography  about  two  years.  In  1S47  he  went  to 
Dexter,  and  si)ent  about  two  and  a  half  years  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Hollywood,  reading  for  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  went  thence  to  .Ann  .Arbor,  and  ap- 
plied himself  to  tiie  study  uf  dentistry,  and  was  under 


<-^ll!l>:DDvy- 


A 


^ 


4)' 


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■i 


f 


-3«€^!Kr 


Mecosta  county. 


^^t^ 


Slj 


the  instructions  of  Prof.  Bennett  one  year.  After  two 
years  of  practice  at  Ann  Arbor,  he  went  to  Howell, 
this  State,  and  pursued  his  profession  two  years, 
going  thence  to  Sturgis,  where  he  opened  dental 
'j.  rooms,  and  operated  until    1S70,  the  date  of  his  re- 


^ 


moval  to  IJig  Rai)ids. 

Dr.  Hutchinson  was  married  at  Scio,  Jan.  2,  1843, 
to  Ruth  L  Richmoiui.  Their  son,  Ernest  iM.,  is  now 
living,  and  is  a  dentist  at  Cadillac,  this  State.  .\vcr 
M.  died  Feb.  22,  1865.  The  mother  died,  and  tlie 
Doctor  contracted  a  second  marriage,  July  27,  1S70, 
to  Adda  C.  Foote,  daughter  of  Jacob  J.  and  Sarah  H. 
(Secord)  F'oote,  a  native  of  Scio.  Glen  L.,  their  only 
child,  died  Jan.  11,  1879.  Daisy,  an  adopted 
daughter,  was  taken  to  their  hearts  and  home  when 
five  weeks  old.     She  was  born  May  9,  1881. 


iS-ames  Simmons,  farmer,  sec.    36,  Dcerileld 
C.  Tp.,  was  born  July  11,  1830,  in   Middletuii, 

jl^pP"*^  Norfolk  Co.,  Canada.     His  parents,  David 

^iv,     and  Sicily  (Ronson)  Simmons,  were  natives  of 

England  and  came   to  Canada  about  the  year 

1820.     The  mother  still  resides  in  Canada;  the 

fatlier  died  Aug.  20,  i86i. 

At  the  age  of  21  years  Mr.  Simmons  commenced 
his  contest  with  the  world,  finding  employment  as  a 
farm  l.dijrer  until  i860,  wlien  he  came  to  Mecosta 
county  and  pre-empted  80  acres  of  the  unbroken  ai.d 
uncleared  forest  land.  He  built  a  log  house,  and 
with  his  own  hands  cut  the  trees  and  prepared  the 
soil  for  tillage.  He  has  now  40  acres  under  the 
plow  and  in  good  cultivation. 

He  was  married  at  Charlotte ville  Center,  Canada, 
Sept.  20,  185  I,  to  Catherine,  daugliler  of  James  ana 
.\my  (Ostrander)  Huchner.  Eiglit  of  liie  eleven 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simmons  are  living:  Wil. 
liam  H.,  Nancy  S.,  .Viny  M.,Ebenezer,  .Sarah  J.,  Dan- 
iel A.,  John  and  Chris.  The  family  includes  an 
adopted  son,  W'm.  H.  Ciriflln.  The  names  of  the 
deceased  children  were  James  ('.,  Ceorge  and  .\da- 
line. 

Mr.  S.  is  a  Democrat  in  ]K)litics,  and  himself 
and  family  belong  to  tlie    United   lirelhren  Church. 


(Si) 

I 


ilber  li.  Buck,  fanner,  sec.  7,  .Fltna  Tp., 

was   born   .\pril    16,    1S49,  in   Orange    Co., 

N.  Y.,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and 

J^P  Hanict    (Walters)    Buck.     He    remained    at 

home  lalioring  on   his  fatlier's  farm    until  the 

fall  of  1868 

His  father,  Samuel  Buck,  came  to  Michigan  in  56, 
and  settled  in  Hillsdale  County,  where  the  family  re- 
mained until  1865,  and  about  that  year  came  to  Me- 
costa County,  where  they  are  residents  of  /Etna  Tp., 
and  Mr.  Buck,  of  this  sketch,  is  with  his  family  living 
on  the  homestead  and  managing  the  farm. 

He  was  married  Jan.  3,  1883,  to  .Sarah,  daughter 
of  William  R.  and  Chloe  .V.  (Vredenburg)  Rockwell, 
who  was  born  in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  7,  1856. 
She  went  to  Iowa  when  seven  years  old,  and  in  1868 
came  to  the  State  of  Michigan.  By  an  earlier  mar- 
riage Mr.  Buck  has  two  children — Hattie,  born  July 
26,  1S69,  and  Harry,  June  6,  187  1.  Tiiey  are  nearly 
grown  and  well  educated,  and  the  light  and  blessing 
of  the  household.  In  religious  views,  Mr.  Buck  is  a 
liberalist;  in  politics,  a  Prt)hibitionist. 


<&ifjM,Lharles  H.  Wagoner,  druggist.  Big  Rapids 
ei|"^3la    ^^'**  ^°'^"  ■''  l''-''^"   **  an,  N.    Y.,    Jan.    23, 

and  died    when  he   was  but    two   years   old 


t 


""'^>  "*"      1835;  a  son  of  David  and  Maria  (West) 
Wagencr.       His    father  was  a     hotel-keeper. 


v^^*' 


^^'^^ 


He  attended  school  until  the  age  of  14,  when 
he  procured  a  situation  as  clerk  in  a  drug  store,  and 
after  two  years  returned  to  school  He  completed 
his  education  in  three  years,  and  again  became  a 
clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Penn  Yan,  where  he  remained 
seven  years.  In  February,  1864,  he  went  to  Austin, 
Nevada,  and  bought  a  drug  store  of  his  brother, 
where  he  transacted  business  four  years,  and  then 
retinned  to  Penn  Yan.  In  February,  1868,  he  settled 
in  Big  Rapids  and  foundetl  his  present  business. 
He  handles  a  full  line  of  drugs  and  all  articles  com- 
mon to  similar  establishments,  patent  medicines,  etc. 
In  April,  1S69,  his  store  was  burned,  with  a  total  loss 
of  $3,500.       He    had    secured  no    insurance.      Mr. 


vb 


C^: 


r 


K^y^ 


^fT^i^m^ 


214 


Mecosta  county. 


Wagener  is  a  Freemason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  is  Vice-President  and  Direc- 
tor of  the  Northern  National  liank.  He  was  married 
May  7,  i<S5i,  in  Penn  Yan,  to  Patience  M.  Hunt, 
horn  in  Milo,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  25,  1838. 
Josepliine  M.,  their,  eldest  child,  was  Ijorn  in  Penn 
Yan,  May  15,  1862,  and  Charles  S.  was  liorii  in  Pig 
Rapids,  March  18,  1879. 


^■'rank    P.  Smith,  farmer,  sec.  5,    Deerfield 

'Pp.,  was  born  Dec.  9,  1S53,  in  the  State  of 

^*^  New  York.     His  parents,  Hosea  and  Mary 


A 


V 

s 

■) 


^j^  (Fenton)  Smith,  were  both  born  in  the  Empire 
^15^  State.  .Vt  the  age  of  two  years  Mr.  Smith  was 
placed  in  the  care  of  his  maternal  grand-par- 
ents, and  continued  to  reside  with  them  until  the  age 
of  19  years. 

He  came  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1882  and 
piircliased  40  acres  of  land  under  cultivation  in  Deer- 
field  Tp.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married  in 
New  York,  June  19,  1878,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Cornelia  (Munson)  Smith.  Of  two 
children  born  to  them,  but  one  survives:  Albert, 
born  May  28,  188^ 
Sept.  9,  1 880. 


Lewis,  first-born  child,   died 


ohn  S.  Campbell,  farmer,  sec.  25,  yl^tna 
i^l^JJIt  Tp  ,  was  born  in  Ireland,  Jan.  10,  1842. 
IJuk-^^  His  parents  Archibald  and  Elizabeth  (Sin- 
clair) Campbell,  were  born  in  the  North  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1847,  settling  at  Siorniont,  Can.;  Mr.  Campbell 
remained  a  resident  of  the  Dominion  until  he  reached 
man's  estate.  At  the  age  of  21  he  went  to  California 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  tlie  mining  districts  of  the 
Ciolden  State,  where  he  remained  until  the  winter  of 
1865.  At  that  time  he  came  back  to  I'aulding  Co., 
Ohio,  and  engaged  one  year  in  farming.  In  the  fall 
of  1 866  he  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Mecosta 
County,  baying  160  acres  of  land  in  .I'^tna  'r|).,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Motley.  He  went  again  to  California 
in  187  I,  once  more  seeking  material  results  in  mining 

^=^4^ — %^=^n!i 


operations  with  moderate  realization  of  his  hopes. 
He  came  hack  in  1877  and  remained  two  years,  when 
he  made  an  expedition  to  Colorado,  returning  in  1882, 
reaching  his  home  Dec.  22  ;  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  improvement  of  his  fine  farm. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  married  Aug.  9,  1866,  to  Sybil 
R.,  daughter  of  Pernard  B.  and  Hannah  J.  (Davis) 
Woodcock.  The  parents  were  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  daughter  was  horn  March  2,  1836,  in 
Rno.x  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  politics  Mr.  Campbell  is  an  earnest  Republican. 
Mrs.  Campbell  has  been  a  member  of  the  U.  B. 
Church  since  she  was  14  years  of  age. 


^^f^fk' 


-< 


.^FifeS;b_harIes  H.  La  Douceur,  dealer  ui  clotli- 
1^3^  ing  and  men's  furnishing  goods  at  Big 
1^'^      Rapids,  was  born    Sept.   27,   1857,  at    St. 

Mi^     P'ugene,  East  ().\bury  Co.,  Pr.  of  Ontario,  Can. 

yl^*  Until  he  was  ten  years  old,  his  parents  resided 
{  on  a  farm,  and  then  removed  to  Van  Kleek 
Hill,  in  the  same  county,  where  he  was  a  student  ;!t 
school  two  years;  becoming  an  assistant  in  a  stoie  in 
1869.  In  1873  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  and  went  to 
work  in  the  hiuiber  region,  and  in  1877  obtained  a 
position  in  the  store  of  F.  \\'.  Joslin,  where  he  was 
a  clerk  three  years.  In  June,  1880,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  A.  Aylesworth,  and  opened  his 
present  line  of  business.  The  stock  of  Messrs.  I. a 
Douceur  tv:  .Vylesworth  is  estimated  at  $8,oco,  and 
includes  full  and  complete  lines  of  ready-made 
clothing,  furnishing  goods,  hats,  caps,  trunks,  valises, 
etc.     Tlieir  yearly  business  aggregates  about  $30,000. 


^.rwy^l^^to;^;  ?t^r-  >i*^^^ 


imothy  Edmondp,  de:iler  in   boots,  shoes, 
rulibers  and  hosiery,  at  Pig  Rapids,  was  horn 
in  J.ackson  Co.,  Mich.,  May  23,  1849.     His 
[larents  were  Washington  and  Damarias  (Buck- 
stou)  Edmonds,  and  he  was  trained  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.     At  the  age  of  15   he  became  a 
soldier  in  the   Union   Army,  enlisting  at  D.iwagia.:, 


1 

0} 


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T2J€^ 


-=rv<-^llll>:Dll>>^ 

MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


■^fi^^'CiT 


ill 


k^i 


C.iMT,  lo.,    iliis  State,  in   March,   1863,  in  Company 
L,  9th  Michigan    Cavalry,  under  Capt.   W.   Miller, 

■^  and  was  in  the  service   until  July   4,   1865.     Among 
I     other  arduous  engagements  in  which  he  was  in  action 

(^  was  that  of  the  pursuit  of  Morgan  on  his  retrograde 
movement  before  his  capture  by  the  brigade  of  Gen. 
Shackelsford,  near  New  Lisbon,  Ohio.  He  was  also 
with  the  command  of  Gen.  Burnside  while  attempt- 
ing to  hold  East  Tennessee,  and  was  on  the  force 
that  held  the  foot  of  C'umberland  Mountain  until 
./  Gen.  Frazier's  surrender.  He  was  among  the  vet- 
eran troo[)s  which  under  Sherman  made  their  tri- 
umiiliant  marcli  to  tlie  sea.  He  was  wounded  Dec 
4,  1.S64,  at  Waynesboro,  Ga.,  by  an  ounce  minie 
ball,  in  the  left  thigli,  which  he  still  carries.  He  was 
sent  to  the  hos|>ital,  and,  on  the  e.\piration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment,  was  discharged  at  Jackson,  Mich. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Edmonds  died  in  September, 
1863,  during  his  army  life,  and,  on  being  mustered 
out  of  the  United  States  service,  he  went  to  work  on 

/N  the  homestead  on  shares,  and  was  thus  occupied 
three  years.  He  spent  the  next  two  years  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  variously  engaged,  when  he  went  to 
South  Haven,  Van  liuren  Co.  There  he  bought  40 
acres  of  land,  wliich  lie  sold  three  years  later  and 
purchased  80  acres  in  another  location.  Meanwhile 
he  was  operating  as  a  lumberman.  He  sold  his  land 
again  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  engaged  in  selling 
stump  machines,  afterward  embarking  again  inlumber- 
ing  until  the  fall  of  1876.  Helhen  came  to  Big  Rajnds, 
and  two  years  later  bought  a  farm  of  45  acres  in  the 
townshi|)  of  Hig  Rapids,  devoting  a  year  to  garden- 
ing, and  in  1881  again  sold  out.  In  the  winter  of 
that  year  he  commenced  his  present  business  enter- 
prise. His  stock  is  worth  about  $5,000,  and  he 
transacts  an  annual  business  in  merchandise  of 
$10,000. 

Mr.  Edmonds  was  married  near  Lawton,  Van 
Huren  Co.,  to  Clara  Edwards.  Of  this  marriage  two 
children  were  born,  Grace,  in  March,  1868,  and  Dora, 
in    June,   1870.     The  second  marriage  of   Mr.    Ed- 

?      monds  took  place  at   Big   Rapids,  Oct.    i.   1876,  to 

I       Laura  Sinkler,  who  died  at  this  place,  Jan    26,  1.S80, 

f    leaving  two  children,  Eugene  E.,  born  Jan.  23,  1880, 
and  Clarence  II.,  born  June  18,  1878,  and  died  Aug. 
12,1882.     Mr.   Edmonds  was  married  a  third  time  in 
^     (Xt.awa.Waukesha  Co.,  Wis.,  Dec.  3,  1882,  to  Mrs.  h'.va 
C^   J-  Haone,  daughter  of  Thomas  H.  and  Elvira  T.Ham- 


V 


V 

^3 


\ 


mend,  born  in  Delafield,  Wis.,  .April   21,  1858.     Mr. 
Edmonds  is  a  member  of  the  G.  .'\.  k. 


"oaeae'®^-*— ^$|^^^4i< — gja^OTzrav 


ohn  E.  Thurkow,  merchant  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  grain  warehouse  at  Morley,  was 
born  at  New  Baltimore,  Mich.,  Oct.  7,  1849. 

(3*  He  is  a  son  of  Fred  and  Maggie  (Kiess)  Thur- 
kow, who  were  natives  of  Germany. 

^  Mr.  Thurkow  left  home  at  the  age  of  15, 
and  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  I-"air 
Haven,  Mich.,  and  there  remained  15  years.  He  re- 
linquished the  (losition  on  account  of  ill  health,  and 
took  a  trip  to  ("olorado,  where  he  remained  neaily 
five  months.  On  his  return  he  remained  a  few 
months  at  home ;  coming  to  Morley  in  the  spring 
of  1881,  he  purchased  the  store  of  D.  W.  Stewart 
&  Co.,  where  he  continues  to  do  business.  He  car- 
ries a  full  stock  of  goods  in  lines  adapted  to  the 
demands  of  the  community  where  he  o|)erates.  Mr. 
Thurkow  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes. 
He  is  a  keen  business  man,  has  managed  his  affairs 
with  honest  sagacity,  and  by  close  attention  to  busi- 
nees  and  well-directed  effort  has  obtained  a  compe- 
tence. In  politics  he  is  a  Rei)ublican,  has  been  twice 
elected  Treasurer  of  the  village,  and  still  lioUls  the 
posuion.  He  is  a  Master  Mason,  a  Knight  Temi)lar 
and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  I'ythias.  He  is  in 
sympathy  with  the  tenets  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

In  September,  1881,  Mr.  Thurkow  bought  a  shingle 
mill  in  /Etna  Tp-.  of  Messrs.  King  &  Luke,  whii:h  he 
operated  until  June  9,  1882.  .\t  that  date  it  was 
burned  to  the  ground,  entailing  a  loss  of  nearly 
$3,000.  He  also  owns  the  timber  on  240  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  /I-^tna,  and  a  house  antl  lot 
in  Morley.  He  has  recently  erected  a  neat  warehouse 
for  the  storage  of  grain,  potatoes,  etc.,  of  which  he 
handles  a  large  ciuaiitity.  He  is  also  an  extensive 
dealer  in  wood,  bark,  shingles,  etc.,  making  him  one 
of  the  largest  shippers  in  this  section. 

As  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Mecosta 
C'ounty  we  give  n  portrait  of  Mr.  T.  in  this  volume. 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


I^enry  Mills,  farmer,  sec.   25,   Deerfield  Tp., 

4fii^flf'  was  born  in  Canada,  March  7,  1837.     He  is 

'Id^S***  a  son  of  Wm.  and  Rebecca  Ann  ^[ills,  and 

.jY"  his  father  died  July  5,  1881  ;  his  mother  lives  in 

'^    Canada. 

Mr.  Mills  was  a  resident  of  the  Dominion  until 
the  age  of  24,  growing  up  in  the  routine  common 
to  fanners' sons.  In  1S61  he  "took  up"  40  acres  of  land 
in  Deerfield  Tp.,  MecostaCounty,  and  underwent  the 
experiences  of  the  pioneer  element,  building  a  log 
house  in  the  forest  which  he  then  made  haste  to  clear 
and  improve  for  farming  purposes.  He  now  has  25 
acres  under  tillage  and  as  good  a  frame  house  as  ex- 
ists 111  the  township. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  Dec.  5, 186 1,  to  Loamy, 
daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  (Uoszell)  Burss.  She 
was  born  in  Canada,  Feb.  1 1,  1838.  Of  seven  chil- 
dren born  of  this  marriage  four  survive, — Sarah  A., 
born  Oct.  6,  1862;  Etta  M.,  Nov.  12,  1864;  Frank 
P.,  Dec.  15,  1873;  Henry  O.,  Sept.  8,  1S.S2;  William 
H.,  Nov.  28,  1866,  died  March  29,  1881 ;  Albert  H., 
Oct.  23,  1868,  died  Aiiril  9,  1881  ;  Charles  E.,  Nov 
13,  1879,  died  April  7,  1881.  These  deaths  all 
occurred  within  1 1  days. 

Mr.  Mills  is  a  zealous  Republican.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Mills  died  in  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.  The  mother 
is  living  with,  her  daughter.  (See  sketches  of  D.  C. 
Bullock  and  Ccorge  Losie.) 


ysander  Quigley,  farmer,  sec.  4,  Deerfield 
Tp.,  is  the  oldest  living  inhabitant  of  the 

n    township  in  which  he  resides,  and  was  one 
f  its  earliest  settlers.     In  1859  he  erected  the 
first  frame  dwelling  and  has  since  been  earn- 
estly interested  in  the  affairs  of  the  township. 
He  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  Feb.  16, 
i8io,  and  there  lived  until  21  years  of  age.     His  pa- 
rents, Mary  and  Martin  Quigley,  were  natives  of  the 
Empire  State,  and  there  passsed  their  lives.     ( )n  at- 
taining his  majority  Mr.  Quigley  went  to  (Canada  and 
engaged    in    agriculture    until    1K53,    then    removed 


to  Michigan  with  his  family,  locating  in  Newaygo 
Co.  He  resided  there  six  years  and  in  Dec,  1859, 
came  to  Deerfield  Tp.  He  "took  up"  40  acres  of 
State  land  and  bought  80  acres,  all  timber  land.  He 
has  placed  70  acres  of  his  farm  in  a  good  slate 
of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Quigley  was  married  in  Canada,  in  1833,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  Codlove  Most.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Quigley  have  had  si.K  children,  all  of  whom  have 
reached  adult  age.  Their  names  are  Robert,  Rosan- 
na,  Mary,  John,  Autheses  and  Margaret. 


Sj^^wsa  C.  McConnell,  farmer,  resident  on  sec. 
gBBBp  35,  /Etna  Tp.,  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N. 

KiSirsE  Y.,  Feb.  26,  1832  ;  son  of  Lewis  and  Emma 

s^  (Goff)  McConnell,  natives  of  the  Empire  State, 
ik^  The  subject  of  this  sketch  left  home  at  ten 
years  of  age,  and  until  12  years  old  found  such 
emi)loyment  as  he  could  among  the  people  to  whom 
he  was  known.  At  the  age  named,  he  went  to  the 
Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  and  engaged  with  a  man 
named  Robert  Munay  to  herd  cattle.  Two  years 
later  he  went  as  cabin  boy  on  the  lake  steamers  in 
the  summer  seasons,  spending  the  winters  in  the 
woods.  He  lived  thus  five  years,  then  came  to  Hills- 
dale County,  and  thence  to  Ionia,  Montcalm  and 
Kent  Counties,  settling  in  the  last  named  in  the 
sjjring  of  1855,  and  engaged  in  farming.  Previous 
to  this  he  was  engaged  in  lumbering.  He  remained 
in  Kent  County  five  years,  and  during  the  two  follow- 
ing years  he  was  variously  employed. 

In  November,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Mich.  Cav., 
and  was  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  under  (ien 
Pleasanton,  until  .Vug.  19,  1S65,  when  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  He  passed  through  his  period 
of  enlistment  unharmed  except  by  a  gunshot  wound 
in  the  wrist,  inflicted  by  a  guerrilla  scout.  On 
leaving  the  army  he  went  back  to  Kent  County  and 
worked  in  the  woods  until  the  fall  of  187  i.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  spent  in  Indiana,  came  thence  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  i)urchased  So  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  is  now  resident. 

Mr.  McConnell  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith, 
and  has  held  the  jwst  of  .Assessor  in  his  school  dis- 
trict for  some  time.     He  was  married  Oct.  12,    1872, 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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to  Jennie,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Waters) 
Upson,  born  Aug.  7,  1843.  Of  this  marriage  one 
child — Wilhe  F.,  was  born  April  jy,  1S76. 


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hiler  Loop,    hirmer   anil  Uiinliernian,   sec. 

]  9,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania 

ii«)CJ-^    Dec.  16,  I.S28.     His    [)arcnts,  K.  and  Mary 

i-.\  A.    (nikenian)  Loop,  were  also  natives  of  the 

y\.      Keystone  State,  where  they  passed   their  entire 

T       lives. 

At  the  age  of  36  Mr.  Ix)op  came  to  Newaygo 
County  and  was  engaged  there  two  yeais  in  linn- 
bcring,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  Nelson  iligbcc  as 
a  farm  manager  1 1  years.  On  the  termination  of  his 
service  in  that  capacity  he  bought  160  acres 
of  land,  with  100  under  tillage.  The  additional 
l)urchase  of  So  acres  adjoining  has  given  him 
a  farm  of  240  acres, — a  fine  pla(  e  and  under  skilled 
management. 

Mr.  Loop  was  married  in  the  .State  of  New  York, 
July  23,  1853,  to  Emmeline  M.,  daughter  of  James 
and  ISetsey  (Loop)  Drake.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Loo|)  were  natives  of  New  \'ork,  who  removed  to 
I'ennsylvania  in  1857,  where  they  have  since  con- 
tinued to  reside.  Mrs.  Looi)  was  born  in  New  York 
July  12,  1837,  and  lived  with  her  i)arents  until  she  was 
married.  Only  one  of  three  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Loop  survive, — Enoch  A  ,  born  March  8,  1875; 
Guy  A.,  was  born  Feb.  27,  1S78,  and  died  July  28, 
1880.     .\nother  child  tlied  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Loop  is  an  adherent   of  the  Democratic  party. 


'i^'V*    1.. 


'.-tsi;^,^  enry  D.  Hanson,  blacksmith  and  farmer. 
Jr  sec.  27,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born  in  Saratoga 
'$^  C-'l^^'**  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1849.  He  was  educated 
C  in  his  native  place  and  passed  the  years  of  his 
>  minority  in  the  home  of  his  parents.  He  is  a  son 
^  I  of  Jacob  and  Khnira  (Oilman)  Hanson,  both  na- 
jf  tives  of  the  State  of  New  York.     The   mother 

-^    died  in  New  York  .\|)nl  iS,  1866.     The  father  came 
to  Michigan  wi'li  his  son  and  still  resides  with  him. 
Mr.  Hanson  settled  in  Ionia  C'ounty  in  the  fall  of 


V 


1869  and  remained  there  until  the  fall  of  187 1.     He 

bought  a  farm  of  40  acres,  built  a  log  house  and 
proceeded  to  improve  the  place,  which  was  in  a  stale 
of  nature.  Being  a  blacksmith  \t^  trade  he  added  a 
shop  for  the  convenience  of  the  local  custom,  and  al- 
ternates his  farm  labors  with  work  in  the  shoi). 

Mr.  Hanson  was  married  April  16,  1870,  to  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Lendoll  and  Polly  (Wilson)  Pike 
She  died  Oct.  26,  1875.  Two  children  were  born  to 
them, — Osman  C.  was  born  Jan.  26,  187  i,  and  Carrie 
B.,  born  Sept.  9,  1875.  Mr.  Hanson  was  again  mar- 
ried .\iiril  28,  1878,  to  Susan  E.,  third  daughter  of  C. 
O.  and  Eliza  J.  Pemberton.  She  was  born  iji  Penn- 
sylvania June  8,  1857,  and  came  to  Michigan  with  her 
parents  in  tlie  spring  of  1863.  Tiieir  tw(j  children, 
( )rville  R.  and  Henry,  were  born  respectively  Oct.  7, 
1879,  and  July  7,  1882. 

Mr.  Hanson  has  l)een  Drain  Commissior.er  two 
years.  'I'he  family  are  all  members  of  the  Mellxulisl 
Church  and  Mr.  Hanson  has  lieen  a  Class-leader 
eight  years.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Re])ubli- 
can. 


'   l/cixj;'   amuel  Buck,  farmer,   sec.  7,  /Etna  Tp.  (P. 


().,  Modey),  wasMiorn  in  Washington  Co.,  N. 


Y.,  Nov.  4,  1813.     He  is  son  of  .\aron  and 

K  Julia  (Brown)  Buck 

3  Mr.  Buck  spent  the  llrsl  2^  years  of  his  life 
in  the  pursuits  common  to  farmer's  sons  and 
then  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  lived  22  years,  man- 
aging his  farm  and  practicing  medicine,  of  which  he 
had  acipiired  considerable  knowledge.  On  leaving 
New  York  he  came  to  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the 
fall  of  1856,  where  he  remained  a  resident  nine  years. 
His  next  removal  was  to  .Ivtna  Tp.,  where  he  founded 
and  built  up  his  present  home.  The  familv  belong 
to  the  M.  K.  Church.  Mr.  Buck  holds  to  no  particu- 
lar political  views,  but  is  a  radical   Prohibitionist. 

In  1836  he  was  married  to  Harriet,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Walters,  natives  of  New  \ork,  where 
the  daughter  was  born  in  1821.  Five  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  as  follows:  Wilber,  April  7, 
1S49;  Wesley,  .Vpril  6,  i  85  i  ;  Mary,  Aug.  11,  1847; 
Estella,  March  4,  1854.  Josephine  is  deceased,  but 
dates  of  birth  and  death  are  not  known.     Mr.  Buck's 


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MKCOSTA  COUNTY. 


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wife  died,  and  he  was  married  in  Hillsdale  County,  to 
Jane,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Anna  Selsby,  who  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  born  Nov.  4,  181 1  ;  she  died  in 
/Etna  Tp.,  and  a  few  years  after  Mr.  Buck  married 
Mrs.  Emma  E.  Bigelow,  daughter  of  Harry  and 
Nancy  (Crofut)  Monroe.  One  child,  Jessie,  was  born 
Dec.  II,  1872.     The  wife  died  Oct.  11,  1877. 


^^M' 


oseph  McGill,    farmer,    sec.    12,   Deerfield 

\'[)     {V.  O.  .\ltona),  was  bora   in    Ireland, 

.  \'ov.   17,  1812.     His  parents,  John  and  Jane 

61(5"  (McGinnis)  McGill,  were  natives  of  the  Emer- 

^'^  aldjsle,  who  emigrated  to  Canada  about  the 

iz   year   1838  and  there  died  something   like    ten 

years  afterwards. 
"  Uncle  Jo"  belonged  to  the  class  which  has  strug- 
gled so  long  in  the  iron  grip  of  the  British  aristocrats 
and  monoi)olizers,  and  during  the  first  26  years  of  his 
life  passed  most  of  his  time  as  a  weaver,  which  trade 
he  learned  as  early  as  his  size  and  strength  [lermitted. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Canada  and  for 
20  years  was  a  laborer. 

He  came  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1858,  where 
he  remained  one  year,  removing  thence  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Deerfield  Tp. 
He  built  a  good  frame  house  and  barn  and  i)ut  his 
farm  in  good  condition,  clearing  39  acres,  but  he  has 
always  been  a  member  of  the  family  of  his  brother's 
widow,  Mrs,  I'hebe  McGill,  whose  farm  is  adjoining. 
In  the  spring  of  'S3  he  sold  his  farm  to  John  Perry. 
Mr.  McGill  is  a  Methodist  in  religious  views  and  a 
Republican  in  political  faith  and  action.  Ho  has 
held  the  post  of  School  'I'reasurer  ten  years.  .'\1- 
though  7  2  years  of  age,  he  is  a  general  favorite  from 
his  genial  and  i)leasant  companionship. 


-5 ^/V^^|^3•V^ H 


^^^f  evritt  C.  Mosher,    attorney  at  law,  Morley, 
P  was 


)orn    in    Moshervilie,    Hillsdale   Co., 
'^^   Mich.,  Sei)i.   5,   1857.     His   parents   were 
T   Ephraim     E.     and      Henrietta     (Raymond) 
Mosher,    natives  of  N.  Y.,  who  came  as  pio- 
neers to  Michigan,  settling  in  Hillsdale  County, 
there  residing    until  the   death  of  tlie  fatlier  in 
May,  1869:  the   mother  died  in  Montcalm   County, 

^^^ >si^^ — ^^^;ni);^:i]ii.,>v^ 


Oct.  24,  1882.  When  12  years  old  Mr.  Mosher  went 
to  Kalamazoo  and  attended  the  union  school  at  that 
place  three  years.  At  15  he  entered  the  employ  of 
a  farmer,  where  he  was  engaged  nearly  two  years, 
and  then  went  to  Montcalm  County,  engaging  in 
lumbering  until  the  fall  of  1878.  At  that  date  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  .S.  1).  Clay  at  (irand  Rapids, 
and  began  the  study  of  his  profession.  In  May,  i  879, 
he  was  appointed  assignee  of  T.  M.  Stryker,  and 
closed  out  a  stock  of  drugs  for  the  benefit  of  that 
gentleman's  creditors.  That  duly  ended,  he  went  to 
Osceola  County  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. After  a  stay  of  four  months  he  returned 
home  to  Montcalm  County,  and  remained  there  until 
December,  i88i,and  then  removed  to  IsabellaCounty, 
remaining  until  September,  1882.  He  was  attacked 
with  tyi)hoid  fever,  in  consequence  of  which  he  dis- 
continued his  practice  until  January,  and,  on  recov- 
ery, settled  in  Morley,  where  he  is  earnestly  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  joined  the  Odd 
Fellows  in  1879. 


hai'les  S.  Moore,  farmer,  sec.  9, /Etna  Tp. 
lorn  July     21,    1836,    in    New  York. 
g,„         His  parents,  Hiram  and  Mary  A.  (Torrey) 
'^j^   -Moore,  were  of  genuine  English  extraction  and 
?5^    natives  of  New  York,  where  they  lived  to  ad- 
vanced age. 
Mr.  Moore  was  born  in  Allegany  County,  and  re- 
mained under  the  paternal  roof  until  24  years  of  age. 
In  the  spring  of  1867  he  went  to  Kenosha  Co.,  Wis., 
and  three  years  later  the  family  came  to  .^■'.tna  Tp. 
and  pitched  their  tent  on  sec.  9  with  the  determina- 
tion to  fix  a  permanent  abode.     Mr.  Moore  purchased 
So  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land,  which  13  years  of 
toil  has  i)laceu  in  fair  rank  with  the  best  farms  in  the 
township,  having  50  acres  tillable  and  in  a  high  slate 
of  cullivalion.     Politically,  Mr.   Moore  is  a  decided 
Reiiubhcan.     The  parents  have  been  connected  with 
the  M.  E.  Church  several  years,  and  are  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  cause  of  education  and  moral  eleva- 
tion of  the  young. 

.Mr.  Moore  was  married  in  i860  to  Alida  M., 
daughter  of  Asahel  and  Calheiine  (Vrooman)  Moors. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  her  mother 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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of  New  Viirk.  I'.lroy  1?.,  oldest  child,  born  June  19, 
1862,  is  devoted  to  the  study  of  mechanics,  and  is 
the  object  of  the  proud  hopes  ot  his  parents.  Carl- 
ton H.  was  born  June  6,  1864;  Morrell  E.  was  born 
Dec.  10,  1S65.  Bradley  T.,  born  March  22,  1870, 
died  Nov.  17,  1882. 


■ntasism^^ 


.^^fStm^f 


ichael  Streeter,  farmer,  on  sec.  14,  Hin- 
ton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Geo.  and  Susan  (Isen- 
■ ..--  'fN  hour)  Streeter.  The  father  was  born  in 
J^|L"?,V\  England,  and  the  mother  in  ilie  State  of  New 
■^  York.  After  their  marriage  they  settled  in 
ir  Canada,  where  Mi';hael  was  born,  June  5,  1843. 
At  the  age  of  24,  Mr.  Streeter  commenced  to 
carve  out  his  own  fortune.  He  followed  different 
callings  until  August,  1875,  at  which  date  he  came 
to  this  county  and  bought  40  acres  of  forest  land, 
built  thereon  a  log  house,  and  now  has  20  acres 
cleared  and  under  the  plow.  Mr.  Streeter  is  inde- 
pendent in  politics.  He  was  married  in  Canada, 
March  4,  1868,  to  Harriet,  eldest  daughter  of  Ale.x- 
ander  and  Emily  (Knox)  Watson.  The  latter  were 
natives  of  Canada,  and  the  daughter  was  born  there, 
Oct.  II,  1845.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Streeter  have  had  six 
children  :  John  W.  and  Ceorge  A.  (twins),  born  Dec. 
24,  1869;  Mary  A,  born  Jan.  r,  1872;  Ella  B., 
April  7,  1874;  Alexander  (i.,  June  15,  1879;  Velma, 
Oct.  9,  1882. 


Ilheney   O.   Pemberton,   farmer,    sec.    34, 

|F  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa., 

,,,g.„  "^     .Nov.  10,  1831.     }{e  is  the  first  son  of  ( >rson 

fc  and  Harriet  (Scott)  Teniberton,  the  former  a  na- 

^    live  of  Ontario  Co.,   N.  Y.,  the  latter  born   in 

I      Massachusetts.     The  father  was  a  farmer  and 

himself  ;.nd  wife  spent  their  lives  in  Tioga  County. 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  educated  at  the  common  schools 

^    of  his  native  county  and  attended  the    Union  .\cad- 

['*)  emy  at  Kno.xville.      He  lived  with  his  parents  until 

June  I,  1850,  when  he  was  married  and  immediately 


after  secured  120  acres  of  land  in  that  county,  which 
he  owned  until  the  s[)nng  of  1863.  He  then  sold  it 
and  in  the  fall  of  tlic  same  year  located  in  Mecosta 
Co.,  Mich.  He  entered  80  acres  of  land  under  the 
State  law,  erected  a  log  house  and  made  haste  to  clear 
and  improve  his  farm.  He  added  to  his  acreage  by 
purchase  until  he  now  owns  a  tract  of  160  acres,  a 
large  proiwrtion  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Southern  Rebellion  Mr. 
Pemberton  enlisted  (in  the  fall  of  1861)  in  the  Forty- 
fifth  Pa.  \'ol.  Inf,  and  was  in  the  service  thirteen  and 
a  half  months,  receiving  honorable  discharge  on  ac- 
count of  disability,  caused  by  severe  service  at  the 
siege  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  under  Gen.  13enham. 

On  returning  home  he  sold  his  place  and  settled 
in  Michigan,  as  stated.  He  married  Eliza  J.  Hoyd, 
who  was  born  in  .\llegany  Co.,  N.  ^'.  Mr.  and  .Mrs. 
Pemberton  have  12  children.  Two  of  these,  Cyrus 
and  Joseph,  are  deceased.  Those  living  are:  Com- 
modore C;  Hattie  15.,  wife  of  E.  J.  Royce  ;  Nellie 
Ji.;  Orson  C;  Susan,  Mrs.  Henry  1),  Hanson  ;  Addie ; 
Charles;  U.  S.  Grant  ;  William  and   Frank. 

The  family  are  active  members  of  the  M.  E.  Cliurch, 
and  Mr.  Pemberton  lias  always  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  element. 


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C.  Preston,  farmer,  on  sec.  28,  Hin- 
S%®lf  ton  Ti).,  is  a  son  of  Ciiester  .\.  Preston,  a 
^  ""^  native  of  New  Vork,  and  was  born  March 
7,  1834.  His  parents  came  to  Livingston 
Co.,  Mich.,  when  he  was  about  ten  years  old. 
When  he  reached  the  age  of  22  years  he 
settled  in  Ingham  Co.,  going  eigiit  years  later  to  Shia- 
wassee Co.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1S66  he  located  in 
this  township.  He  owns  41  acres  of  land,  with  30 
acres  under  the  plow. 

He  was  married  Nov.  12,  1854,  in  Plymouth, 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Amanda  .\.,  youngest  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Hannah  (Eyon)  Newman,  born  June  3, 
1834,  in  Plymouth.  Her  parents  were  born  in  New 
York,  and  were  pioneers  of  I'lymouth.  Of  nine 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Preston,  five  are  liv- 
ing: Hannah  A.,  born  Sept.  3,  1855  ;  Mary  J.,  March 
18,  1857  ;  Mina  .\.,  June  20,  1861  ;  Sarah  E.,  Jan.  4, 
1866;  Orson  B.,  Match  2,  1874.      The  records  of  the 


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/^  222 

^deceased  are  as  follows:  Ida  J.,  born  Dec.  23,  1858, 
^  died  June  21,  1867;  Cora  A., 'born  Feb.  3,  1864, 
^/^  and  died  June  25,  '67  ;  Lizzie  M.,  born  Jane  2,  1868, 
I  died  June  27,  1869;  Herberf  C,  born  Feb.  6,  1870, 
(cji  died  June  24,  1870.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren.  Mr  Preston  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  been  School  Director  several 
years. 


f  hitfield  H.  Peek,  farmer,  sec.   28,  Deerfiel 

,  was  born  Sept.  n,    1848,  at    Newark, 

^  N.  J.,  and,  in  1852,  when    four   years  old, 

.  auie    with    his  parents,  Enos    and     Harriet 

(Hurd)  Peck,    to   Greenville,    Montcalm    Co.^ 

Mich.,  where  they  died.      The  father   was  a 

native  of  Connecticut,  and  the  mother  was  born  in 

New  Jersey. 

When  Mr.  Peck  was  ten  years  old  he  was  sent  back 
a  to  the  State  of  New  York  and  remained  with  his 
'i^  uncle,  F.  B.  Peck,  ten  years.  He  was  then  20  years 
"  of  age,  and  resolved  upon  prospecting  to  some  extent 
V>  before  making  a  final  location,  and  passed  the  next 
^  seven  years  at  various  points  in  Missouri,  Iowa,  Kan- 
'  )  sas  and  Illinois.  He  then  came  to  Greenville  and 
lived  with  his  brother-in-law  about  six  years.  He 
came  to  Mecosta  County  Feb.  25,  1881.  , 

Mr.  Peck  was  married  Jan.  28,  1880,  to  Alice  J.- 
daughter  of  George  and  Angeline  (White)  Stewart 
Her  father  was  born  in  New  York  and  died  June  17 
1882;  her  mother  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  and  is 
now  living  with  her  daughter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck 
have  one  child,  Enos  G.,  born  Nov.  2,  1881.  Mr. 
Peck  is  independent  in  politics. 


MECOSTA   CO  UNT Y. 


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homas   Skelton,  of  the  firm  of  Skelton  & 
Collins,  proprietors  of  the  Central  Hotel  at 
Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Guelph,  Pr.  of  On- 
tario, Can.,  June  6,  1850.     His  parents  became 
residents  of   P>ig  Rapids  March  7,   1868,    and 
Thomas,  then  17  years  of  age,  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  G.   F".   Stearns,  as  store  and  farm  assistant. 


and  continued  in  this  capacity  about  7  years;  Jan.  i, 
1875,  he  became  proi)rietor  of  the  National  Hotel  at 
Big  Rapids,  and  in  comiutny  with  James  McCormick, 
opened  the  house  for  public  accommodation.  The 
association  continued  until  May,  1878.  In  November 
of  that  year  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
Richard  Collins,  and  opened  the  Central  Hotel, 
where  they  are  still  doing  business.  The  house  is 
conveniently  situated ;  has  30  rooms,  and  secures  a 
good  transient  patronage,  besides  accommodating  a 
number  of  boarders,  and  keeps  a  sample  room  with 
liquors  and  cigars.  He  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the 
Second  \Vard  in  the  spring  of  1883.  He  was  married 
Aug.  12,  1874,  to  Winnifred,  daughter  of  Patrick 
and  Mary  Kelley,  born  at  Hartland  Center,  this  State, 
July  2,  1849.  They  have  had  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  Sarah  L.;  John  A.  (dec);  Mary 
W.  and  Arthur  E. 


— ^^sp-i^s-^/^-- 


dward  Gensman,  farmer,  sec.  33,  Deer- 
field  Tp.,  P.  O.,  Morley,  was  born  in  Erie 
r'^'tV*'"""  tJo.,  N.  Y.,  April  23,  1842.  Adam  Gens- 
*^^  man,  his  father,  was  a  German  by  birth  and 
came  to  America  when  he  was  14  years  of  age; 
married  Abigail  Churchill  in  New  York,  where, 
she  was  born.  They  settled  in  Iowa  in  1S70,  where 
they  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Gensman  re:r.ained  under  the  care  and  guid- 
ance of  his  parents  until  the  age  of  18,  when  he  went 
to  Vermillion  Co.,  Ill ,  and  engaged  as  assistant  in  a 
cheese  factory  one  year.  His  next  remove  was  to 
Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  till  1870 
then  going  to  Hamilton  Co.,  Iowa.  He  was  there 
engaged  in  agriculture  seven  and  one-half  years,  re- 
turning to  Michigan  in  October,  1877,  when  he  lo- 
cated in  Deerfield  Township  and  bought  40  acres  of 
partly  improved  land,  where  he  now  resides.  In  ix)l- 
itics  Mr.  Gensman  is  independent. 

He  was  married  in  May,  1865,  to  .\nn  Grady,  of 
English  descent.  She  died,  leaving  one  child, — Ed- 
mund, l)orn  Dec.  13,1866.  He  was  again  married 
April  30,  1867,  to  Harriet,  daughter  of  George  and 
Sophia  (Gage)  Grady,  the    former  a   native  of   Eng- 


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land,  the  latter  of  New  York.  There  are  two  children 
— Martha  E.,  Iiorn  May  5,  186S,  and  C.eorge  M., 
Sept.  2,  1870. 


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*oseph  Cahill,  farmer,  sec.  3,  /Ktna  Tp., 
was  born  in  Canada,  Dec.  25,  1843.  He  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Catherine  (Lebo)  Cahill, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland,  the  latter  of 
Canada,  where  they  spent  their  lives.  Mr.  Ca- 
ir  hill  was  reared  to  the  purstiit  of  agriculture, 
and  in  1863  came  to  Michigan  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  laborer  in  Oakland  County.  .\ 
year  later  he  went  to  Saginaw  and  was  there  on  the 
river  service,  engaged  in  boating.  He  passed  a  year 
there,  went  back  to  Canada  for  a  brief  stay,  and  came 
to  Mecosta  County.  He  found  enii)loyment  in 
.-Ivtna  Tp.,  and  until  1S72  worked  as  a  farm  assistant 
and  in  the  lumber  woods.  He  bought  160  acres  of 
unimproved  land,  paying  therefor  $5.75  per  acre. 
His  first  step  toward  im[)rovement  was  the  building 
of  a  frame  house,  and  he  now  has  35  acres  under  a 
good  degree  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Cahill  has  held  the 
office  of  Constable  one  term,  and  is  amemberofthe 
Cireenback  party.  He  was  married  in  Grand  Rapids, 
May  12,  187  I,  to  Emma  M.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  A.  (Plimpton)  Mitchell.  Her  parents  are  na- 
tives of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  reside  in  Michigan. 
Of  this  marriage  four  children  have  been  born,  viz: 
Mary  A.,  June  27,  1873;  Joseph  W.,  July  13,  1877; 
Thomas  0.,  May  18,  1882  :  Rosetta,  April  t,  t879. 
Mr.  C.  and  family  are  jiromineiit  in  the  Catholic 
Church. 


=aiSQii«i4HEat.^ 


'saac  Sedore,  farmer,  on   sec.  4,    Deerfield 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Canada,  April  21,  1832. 
At   23  years  of  age  he  left  his  home  and 
made   his   way    westward,    hoping    to    find 
an  oi)portunity  to  build  up  his  fortune  with  sub. 
stantial  profit.     He  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  and 
pre-empted  40  acres  of  Ciovernment  land  and 
40   acres    of    swamp    land,  later  buying    an    addi- 
tional "40,"  of  which  he  still  retains  possession,  mak- 
ing a  good  farm  of  120  acres  with  60  improved. 


Mr.  Sedore  is  a  pioneer  of  Deerfield  'I'p-,  :ind  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  1857.  He  is  a 
n)arked  individual  in  the  records  of  "first  things"  in 
his  townshii),  as  his  marriage  was  the  initial  event  of 
that  character  to  transpire  after  its  settlement  and 
organization.  He  was  married  in  1862,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Franklin  H.  Smith,  George  Quigley,  first 
white  settler  of  Deerfield,  i)erforming  the  ceremony 
of  marriage  under  his  authorily  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sedore  have  six  children  :  Su- 
san, Wm.  H.,  Phelie,  David,  Melvin  and  Evaline. 

Mr.  Sedote  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
Religiously  he  is  a  liberalist. 

He  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  r864,  in  Co.  A, 
Third  Volunteer  Michigan  Infantry,  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged. 


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rank  J.  Porter,  proprietor  of  the  shingle 

mill  on  sec.  27,  Hinton  Tp.,  is  the  son  of 

Thomas    and    Sarah    (\Vilkin>on)    Porter. 

^(fe   They  were  natives  of  New  York  and  Vermont, 

fterward  coming  to 
riiey 
now  reside  at  Grand  Rapids. 

Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  Medina  Co.,  Oliio,  I'"eb.  27, 
1S49.  He  was  five  years  old  ivhen  his  [larenls  came 
to  Michigan,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
16  years  of  age,  attending  the  common  schools. 
After  that,  until  1876,  he  was  chiefly  employed  in 
different  shingle  mills  in  tiiis  section  of  country. 
From  1876  to  1879  he  operated  the  lalh  mill  of  Ber- 
nard iS:  Stewart,  at  Caldwell,  Montcalm  Co.,  em- 
[iloying  the  helj),  etc.  In  1S79  he  bought  a  shingle 
mill  at  Lakeview,  which  he  managed  one  year,  and 
in  1880  moved  it  to  Ilinion  Tp  ,  where  he  now  re- 
sides and  manages  his  mill,  which  has  a  caixicily  of 
40,000  shingles  daily.  He  bought  the  timber  on  400 
acres  of  land,  which  he  is  converting  into  shingles. 

Mr.  Porter  was  married  Feb.  28,  1869,  in  Spencer, 
Kent  Co.,  to  Ella,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Eliza 
(Lillie)  Skinner,  who  died  Feb.  19.  1872.  Mr.  Porter 
was  again  married  in  November,  1874,  in  Greenville, 
Montcalm  Co.,  to  Minerva  lirown,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  ( )f  four  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Porter,  two  survive — Adda  V,,born  July  9,  1876, 


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and  Anna  A.,  born  June  22,  1878.  The  deceased 
were  Thomas  E.  and  Frank.  The  latter  died  Sept. 
23,  1882.  In  politics  Mr.  Porter  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 


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illiam  H.  Squier,  jeweler  at  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  in  \'ermontville,  Eaton  Co., 
Mich.,  July  9,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Geo. 
J^^p  \V.  and  Sophronia  (Dickenson)  Squier.  His 
father  has  been  a  farmer  most  of  his  life ;  was 
Treasurer  of  Eaton  County  six  years,  and  is 
dealer  in  agricultural  implements  at  Charlotte. 
Wm.  H.  was  reared  on  the  farm  of  his  father  until 
the  age  of  16,  when  the  latter  removed  with  his 
family  to  Charlotte,  where  the  son  took  a  course  of 
commercial  instruction.  He  then  obtained  a  situa- 
tion with  J.  N.  Thrift,  to  learn  the  business  which  he 
decided  to  make  his  calling  in  life,  and  remained 
three  years,  going  thence  to  the  employ  of  W.  W. 
Childs,  of  Jackson,  and  a  few  months  later  returned 
to  his  former  employer,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time.  His  next  transfer  was  to  Hastings,  where  he 
was  in  the  jewelry  establishment  of  Ike  Hendershott 
&  Co.  three  years.  In  June,  1880,  he  came  to  Big  Rap- 
ids and  founded  his  business,  which  he  has  since 
operated  successfully,  and  is  gradually  building  up  a 
permanent  and  substantial  trade.  His  stock  of 
watches,  clocks,  jewelry,  etc.,  is  valued  at  $8, 000;  an- 
nual transactions,  $20,000.  Mr.  S.  was  married  at 
Hastings,  Nov.  20,  1880,  to  Stella  Hendershott,  who 
was  born  in  Irving,  Barry  Co.,  this  State.  They  have 
one  child,  Certrude,  born  Dec.  24,  1S82. 


?.ohn  B.  Merrill,  Morley,  was  born  l-'eb.  15, 
1833,  in  the    State  of  New  Vork.     His  pa- 
rents, Waite  and  Minerva   (Whiting)  Mer- 
rill,  were    natives  of  New   York.     Mr.   Merrill 
remained  in  his  native  state  until  he  was  28 
years  old,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1863,  came  to 
Newaygo   County,  and  soon   after  to  Mecosta 
I'-/    County,   and  bought    80  acres  of  land  in    Deerfield. 
^    This  he  sold  in  a  short  time,  and    has  since  been   en- 

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gaged  in  real  estate  brokerage  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent. He  owns  about  50  acres  of  land,  with  some 
degree  of  improvments  thereon.  In  company  with  J. 
W.  Ariiett,  he  has  charge  of  the  feed  store,  lumber 
interests,  etc.,  of  J.  M.  Carr  of  Grand  Rapids.  He 
has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  ten  years.  County  Su- 
perintendent four  years,  and  been  the  incumbent  of 
nearly  all  the  local  offices  of  his  township.  He 
has  beeu  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  for  17  years, 
and  in  the  society  of  Odd  Fellows  has  held  all  the 
posts  of  the  lower  order,  and  passed  through  the 
Camp.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  married  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
April  18,  i860,  to  Eliza  Ann,  daughter  of  Amos  A. 
L.  and  Ann  Tuttle,  natives  of  Vermont,  where  she 
was  born  Nov.  17,  1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  have 
had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Mahala, 
born  C)ct.  29,  1866,  and  Alma,  July  31,  1869.  Ev- 
erett, was  born  Jan  9.  1863,  and  died  May  17,  1882. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  are  earnest  and  prominent 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  M.  has  been  a 
Class,  leader  for  some  time,  and  is  considered  a  con- 
sistent and   valuable  member  of  society. 


^11  f^Slf  emuel  F.  Chipman,  deceased,  was  the  son 
Ll'i  of  Fitch  and  Sarah  (SpalTord)  Chipman,  na- 
tives of  Vermont,  and  was  born  in  1811. 
He  came  to  Michigan  when  a  young  man,  and 
very  shortly  afterwards,  in  the  spring  of  i860, 
came  to  Mecosta  County.  He  had  no  assistance 
^  in  setting  out  in  life  and  fortune  had  not  been 
propitious.  He  secured  40  acres  of  land  under  the 
State  law  of  Michigan,  built  a  log  house  and,  assisted 
by  his  wife,  who  lent  every  aid  within  her  power, 
passed  the  career  of  a  pioneer  in  every  sense.  The 
county  was  scarcely  in  an  organized  state,  supplies 
were  remote  and  the  labor  of  clearing  the  land  bur- 
densome; but  it  was  all  borne  with  the  patient  heroism 
which  always  marks  the  sturdy  pioneer  element.  Mr. 
Chipman's  death  occurred  Jan.  24,  1863. 

He  was  married  in  the  State  of  New  \'ork  in  1S30, 
to  Eliza,  daughter  of  .Solomon  and  Anna  (Chapman) 
Sutherland.  She  lived  but  a  few  years,  and  he  was 
again  married,  at  Genoa,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich., 
May  I,  1849,  to  Cynthia  E.,  daughter  of  J.  M.   and 


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227 


Cynthia  (Fisher)  Abbey,  born  in  New  York,  Se|)t.  1 1 , 
1824.  Five  of  six  children  are  living.  They  were 
l>orn  as  follows  :  Aha,  April  16,  1852  ;  Alexander  M., 
May  5,  '54;  Lillian  E.,  June  31,  '56;  Bertha  L., 
f^j  March  31,  '58;  Lemuel  F.,  June  20,  '60.  Ida  Belle 
was  born  Aug.  24,  '63,  and  died  Sept.  3,  '64.  Mrs. 
Chipman  resides  on  the  place  upon  sec.  25  where  she 
came  with  her  husband  and  located  many  years  ago. 
She  received  a  good  etlucation  in  the  common  schools 
and  seminary  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  though  not  a  com- 
municant in  any  Church  is  a  consistent  Christian  lady. 


m.  J.  Wadsworth,  lumberman  and  farmer, 
sec.  32,  Mecosta  Tp.  (P.  O.,  Stanwood), 
was  born  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  May  i 
1838.  His  parents,  Josiaii  and  Anna  G 
(Parker)  Wadsworth,  were  of  English  and 
and  Irish  descent,  and  natives  of  New  York 
early  becoming  residents  of  Ohio.  His  father  aban- 
°  doned  the  family,  and  his  mother  married  again  be-. 
^C^)  fore  he  was  15  years  old.  At  that  age  he  went  out 
°  into  the  world  for  himself  His  first  employ  was  as 
^  a  driver  on  the  canal,  which  he  followed  until  the 
•>  fall  of  1S54,  then  engaging  as  hotel  clerk:  this  po- 
fi  ^  sition  affording  him  a  little  leisure,  he  attended  school 
and  secured  a  moderate  aniDUiit  of  education. 
Leaving  his  situation,  he  was  employed  as  a  farm 
laborer  in  Venango  Co.,  Penn.,  there  operating  until 
1S65.  In  the  winter  of  that  year  he  acted  as  a  team- 
ster, ne.\i  embarking  in  lumber  trade  and  farming. 

He  was  married  Oct.  16,  1859,10  Delia  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  I'ermelia  (Hancock)  Jay,  natives 
of  New  York,  and  lineal  descendants  of  the  Jays 
and  Hancocks,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Mrs.  Wads- 
worth was  born  in  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  6,  1843. 
Her  uncle  took  her  to  Pennsylvania  when  she  was  a 
mere  girl.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Wadsworth  was 
interested  in  oil  speculation  until  the  civil  war  broke 
out.  July  16,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Reg. 
U.  S.  C'av.,  under  Lieut.  Spaulding.  Soon  after 
enlistment  he  broke  his  arm  and  was  discharged 
from  the  service.  As  soon  as  he  was  sufficiently  re- 
covered to  warrant  the  step,  he  enlisted  again,  en- 
rolling Aug  II,  1862,  in  the  i42d  Pennsylvania  Reg. 
Vol.  Inf,  Co.  I,  Capt.  Hasson.  During  the  time 
of  his   service  he    was    under    fire   at   Fredericks- 


Lurg,  Chancellorsville  and  at  Fredericksburg  second, 
and  Gettysburg,  escaping  unliarmed.  He  received 
his  final  discharge,  Aug.  30,   1865. 

He  returned  to  Oil  City,  and  thence  to  Ohio,  where 
he  rejoined  his  wife  and  went  back  to  the  oil  regions, 
where  he  was  engaged  ni  shipping  oil  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1866.  He  returned  again  to  Ohio  and  was 
engaged  two  years  in  farming,  then  coming  to  Micii- 
igan  and  finding  a  home  in  Mecosta  Tp.,  in  the  fall 
of  1868.  He  at  once  entered  heartily  into  the  busi- 
ness of  lumbering,  and  the  next  year  homesteaded  a 
tract  of  90  acres  of  land,  where  he  has  since  oper- 
ated as  stated. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  is  a  zealous  and  active  Republi- 
can. He  has  held  various  township  and  school 
offices.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  in  full  stand- 
ing of  the  Free  Methodist  Church.  They  have  six 
children,  born  as  follows:  William,  June  8,  1862: 
Myrtle  G.,  July  14,  1864;  Edith  N.,  April  18,  1868; 
Percy  J.,  April  26,  1873;  Lester  V.,  Sept.  8,  1875, 
and  Harley  A.,  March  10,  1883. 

^^s3f  ®*  Broekway,  farmer,  resident  on  sec.  20, 

~1f   Hinlon    Tp.,   is  the    son    of    Andrew  and 

«^  Elizabeth  (Rossman)  Broekway,  natives  of 

Pennsylvania,  where  the  son   was  born,    June 

If       .6,  ,830. 

)  When   Mr.   Brorkway  was  ([uite   young  his 

parents  moved  to  the  State  of  New  \'ork,  and  there 
he  resided  until  he  was  19  years  okl.  In  the  summer 
of  1849  he  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Livings- 
ton County.  Six  years  later  he  sold  his  farm  and 
came  to  Mecosta  County,  where  he  bought  80  acres  of 
wild  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  on  which  he  now  lives. 
The  place  is  in  fine  condition,  having  75  acres  under 
cultivation.  In  politics  Mr.  B.  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
lield  offices  of  trust  in  township  and  school  afHtirs. 

He  is  a  pioneer  of  Mecosta  County,  having  come 
here  in  1855,  five  years  before  the  organization  of  the 
townshi[).  His  father,  Andrew  Biockway,  was  for 
some  years  the  oldest  resident  living  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Hrockway  was  married  in  Washtenaw  County, 
Oct.  9,  1855,  to  Lydia  S.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Rhoda  (Vanvelzer)  Eaton.  Mrs.  Broekway  was 
born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  \.,  Feb.  10,  1836.  Four 
children    were    born  of    this    marriage,   as  follows : 


»^ 


(c^ 


^«€^«c — ^VC^in  D  :^:  H  Ilv>r 


4^^Jf(®A^ 


) 

i 
1 


^. 


MECOSTA  COUNTY 


f 


Eva  M.,  Nov.  6,   1856;  Emma  E.,  April   16,   1857; 

Andrew  S.,  July  21,  1S61  ;  Ida  M.,  March    18,  1863. 

We  give  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Brockway  in  this  work. 


l^ilas  Wright,  farmer,  sec.  7,  Deertield  Tp., 
was  born  in  FV-nnsylvania  Dec.  29,  1843. 
His     parents,    John    and    Sarah    (Evers) 


Wright,  were  also  natives  of  tlie  Keystone 
State,  and  in  1863  came  to  Barry  Co.,  Mich., 
and  a  short  time  afterwards  to  Allegan  County, 
where  the  father  died  .soon  after,  and  the  mother  is 
yet  living. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school  education 
and  resided  with  his  parents  until  tlie  age  of  27 
years.  He  enlisted  Oct.  16,  1862,  in  the  169th  Penn- 
sylvania Vol.  Infantry,  and  received  his  discharge  in 
July,  '63,  leaving  the  army  with  health  much  im- 
paired by  sickness  and  exposure.  In  '70  he  left 
Allegan  County  and  came  to  Mecosta  County,  where 
he  bought  80  acres  of  timber  land  and  upon  it  built  a 
frame  house,  proceeding  to  clear  and  improve  his 
land,  of  which  lie  now  has  50  acres  under  tillage. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  March  29,  '7  i,  to  Sarah 
T.,  daughter  of  James  and  Amelia  B.  Bell,  >iee  A.\- 
ford,  the  former  a  native  of  England,  and  the  latter  of 
New  Jersey.  They  have  three  children — Frank  M., 
Harry  D.  and  Nora  E.,  born  respectively  Feb.  23,  '72^ 
Oct.,  10,  '75  and  July  4,  '78.  Mr.  Wriglu  is  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party. 


sas  City,  Mo.;  after  three  months  he  went  to  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  officiated  one  year  as  book- 
keeper for  the  Home  Valley  Preserving  Company. 
He  then  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business.  In  May,  1882,  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  formed  a  partnership  with  P.  Wait,  in  the 
sale  of  boots  and  shoes,  which  connection  was  dis- 
solved Aug.  I,  1883,  Mr.  Campbell  buying  his  part- 
ner's interest.  His  stock  is  valued  at  $4,500,  and  his 
business  transactions  amount  to  $1,200  monthly. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  married  at  South  New  Bruns- 
wick, N.  J.,  Oct.  24,  1882,  to  Julia  Van  Deventer, 
who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Oct.  23,  1862. 


— ^-•<-*-4^->^-^>- 


ohn  R.  Campbell,  boot  and  shoe  merchant 
at  l!ig  Rapids,  was  born  in  DeWitt  Co., 
111.,  May  I,  1856.  His  parents,  Barzillai 
and  Rosanna  (Sackett)  Campbell,  went  to  La 
Cygne,  Kan.,  in  1865,  where  tliey  engaged  in 
farming,  and  became  prominent  in  the  social 
and  jwlitical  circles  of  that  section,  Mr.  Cami)- 
bcU,  Sr.,  being  elected  in  1877  to  represent  liis  dis- 
trict in  the  State  Legislature. 

The  first  business  venture  of  Mr.   Campbell  was 
that  of  jobbing  in  canned  goods  at  wholesale  at  Kan- 


.3^ 


m 


i^ 


.  artin  E.  Wilson,  firmer,  5ec.  25,  Deer- 
,  field  I'p.,  was  l)orn  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
^  July  21,  1836.     His  parents,  Warren   and 


^*'V\^  Naomi  (Smead)  \Vilson,  were  natives  of  Ver- 

''•  mont,  but  located  in  (ienesee  County  in  1836. 
Four  years  later  they  settled  in  Ingham  Co., 
Mich.,  where  the  mother  still  resides  on  the  farm 
which  was  her  first  home  in  the  Peninsular  State. 
The  father  died  April  10,   1877. 

Mr.  Wilson  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  tlie 
farm  under  the  personal  care  of  his  parents,  and  at  iS 
went  to  Newaygo  County,  where  he  spent  the  winter 
months  in  lumbering  and  the  remainder  of  the  years 
was  engaged  in  "  breaking."  In  the  spiing  of  1861 
he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  80  acres  of 
land,  where  he  still  resides.  His  land  was  then  in  a 
state  of  nature  and  he  proceeded  to  put  it  in  prope: 
and  comfortable  condition  for  a  home  for  his  advanced 
years.     He  has  70  acres  cleared  and  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Deerfield,  and,  from  his  integrity  and  constant  zeal  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  iniblic,  has  become  a  valuable 
ar.d  trusted  citizen  of  the  township.  He  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  20  years.  In  '64  he  was  drafted 
into  the  Union  service  and  assigned  to  the  Fourteenth 
Mich.  \'ol.  Inf.,  and  was  discharged  at  Detroit,  July 
10,  '65,  after  ten  months'  active  duty  at  Savannah, 
Brier  Creek,  and  Bentonville,  N.  C,  under  Sherman. 
His  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

He  was  married  in    1859  to  Anna  Chipman,  who 


V) 


(^ 


<^Iin^DD^>r 


ri^^^^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


229 


y>  was  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  and  died  in  '73. 
fR  Two  of  the  three  children  born  to  them  are  living, — 

Naomi    A.    and   Adelbert   E.     (leorge  is   deceased. 

Mr.  Wilson  again  entered  into  the  bonds  of  matrimony 
'  in  '74.  He  married  Eunice  I,.  Royce,  a  native  of 
y   Tioga  Co.,  Pa.    They  have  five  children :  Vernon  R., 

.Martin  O.,  .VHce  M.  and  Helen.     An   infant  child   is 

unnamed.     Mr.  Wilson  is  a  Republican. 


^ohn  G.  Gill,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Rol.en,  Bennett  &  (iill,  insurance,  real- 
estate  and  loan  agents,  at  Big  Rapids,  was 
born  m  Cornwall,  Eng.,  Jan.  8,  1838.  His 
parents,  Riciiard  and  Mary  (Glanville)  Gill, 
were  natives  of  Cornwall,  born  respectively  in 
I,  iSoo  and  in  1802.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
/S  in  1842,  and  went  to  Hannibal,  Mo.,  and  two  years 
^  later  to  Illinois.  They  bought  a  small  farm  near 
%jA  Cialena,  where  the  father  also  became  interested  to  a 
=  considerable  e.xtent  in  lead  mines.  Mr.  Gill  there 
\f,\'  obtained  his  elementary  education,  and  at  14  years 
V,  of  age  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry -goods  store,  where  he 
was  enii)loyed  one  year.  At  15  he  went  to  Madison, 
Wis.,  and  commenced  a  course  of  study  in  the 
scientific  department  of  the  University,  remaining 
three  years.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  passed  four 
successive  winters  in  teaching.  He  acted  as  clerk 
on  the  Mississi[)pi  river  steamers  two  summers,  and 
finally  entered  a  claim  of  Government  land  in  Kansas 
which  he  improved  to  some  e.\tent. 

In  i860  he  went  to  Colorado  and  commenced 
staking  claims  near  the  "  Gregory  "  mines.  The 
spring  following  he  went  to  Delaware  Flats,  Brecken- 
ridge  C'o  ,  and  worked  out  a  placer  mine  in  the  sum- 
mer of  i86t.  He  was  in  company  with  James 
Mc.Vllister,  and  continued  his  operations  until  the 
summer  of  1862.  At  that  date  he  formed  a  partner- 
shii)  with  L.  W.  Woodruff,  and  went  to  Bannock 
City,  Montana,  where  they  were  among  the  earliest 
comers.  Here  they  took  up  a  bar  claim,  which 
proved  an  advantageous  [jroject.  They  went  thence 
to  the  site  of  Virginia  City,  and  assisted  in  platting 
^)  the  city,  of  which  they  owned  one  seventh.  They 
7*   then  went  to  Bevins'  Gulch,  where  they  again   en- 


) 


gaged  in  successful  claim  traffic,  and  in  addition 
established  a  freight  train  to  and  from  different 
points  across  the  plains,  consisting  of  24  teams  of  six 
yoke  of  o.xen  each.  They  managed  this  latter  enter- 
prise two  years.  Tlie  winters  of  1863-4-5  they 
spent  in  eastern  cities,  negotiating  mining  properly. 
Mr.  Gill  next  went  to  Des  Arc,  Prairie  Co.,  Ark.,  and 
in  company  with  his  brother,  R.  G.  Gill,  engaged  in 
the  cotton  trade.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
Kansas,  and  bought  another  farm  near  the  locality  of 
his  first  agricultural  investment,  which,  on  leaving 
Kansas  for  Colorado,  he  had  transferred  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Klwell,  his  sister.  He  remained  in  Kansas 
until  1875,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  and,  associated  with  C.  B.  Lovejoy,  founded 
a  grocery  firm  styled  Gill  &  Lovejoy.  In  1877  the 
latter  sold  his  interest  to  N.  H.  IJcebe,  and  the  new  firm 
continued  to  transact  the  most  extensive  business  of 
the  kind  in  the  city,  until  May  i,  1883,  doing  an  an- 
nual liusiness  of  $60,000.  In  June,  1883,  he  en- 
tered the  house  of  Roben  &  Bennett  as  partner. 

Mr.  Gill  was  married  in  Lynn  Co.,  Kan.,  Jan.  25, 
1 868,  to  Laura  E.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Barzillai  and 
Rosanna  Campbell,  who  was  born  in  C'linton,  111., 
March  19,  1850.  They  have  three  children — C"ora 
E.,  Lewis  C.  and  John  G. 


air^i  ~ewis  Russell,  pruprielor  of  the  shin'^le  mill 
giiOl  <in  ^ec.  4,  Hmton  Tp  ,  is  a  son  of  Morns 
gjjr^w^  and  Calista  Russell,  and  was  born  at  Glens 
ft*''^  Falls,  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1S49. 
"J^  His  parents  are  natives  of  Canada,  where  they 
1  now  reside.  At  the  at:e  of  \\  Mr.  Russell  went 
to  work  on  a  farm,  and  was  m  the  employ  of  one 
man  three  years.  His  next  employment  was  in  a 
cottt)n  mill  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained 
nearly  two  years,  and  a  part  of  the  time  officiated  as 
second  foreman  of  the  mill.  He  went  back  to  the 
Empire  State,  where  he  passed  a  year  working  on  a 
farm,  and  spent  the  year  following  on  a  farm  in  Ver- 
mont. In  1868  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  com- 
menced his  career  as  a  manufacturer  of  shingles, 
wiiich  has  since  been  his  vocation.  .A.fter  operating 
four  years  in  the  Badger  State,  in  the  summer  of  1872 


A 


(? 


"^^^^^ — ^^•-Dg:<Dn^:>^c)     >c^<^ 


^rf^ 


'rr- 


If) 


(O, 


O 


I 

•) 


%^ 


230 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


-#^C^VlP' 


he  came  to  Montcalm  County  and  there  remained 
nine  years.  In  the  summer  of  1881  he  came  to  this 
county  and  located  in  the  township  of  Martiny, 
where  he  bought  and  ran  a  shingle  mill  one  year. 
He  removed  his  works  to  Hinton  Tp.,  in  the  fall  of 
1882,  where  he  is  now  operating  and  employs  13  men. 
The  daily  product  of  the  mill  is  40,000  shingles. 

Mr.  Russell  was  married  May  28,  1872,  in  Green- 
ville, Montcalm  Co.,  to  Isabella,  third  daughter  of 
Colin  and  Elizabeth  (McCarthy)  Mclntyre.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Scotland  and  settled  in  Can- 
ada, wliere  the  daughter  was  born  Sept.  23,  1854. 
Thes  came  to  Michigan  about  1867,  and  have 
since  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have  had  four 
children:  Howard  H.,  born  March  3,  1873;  AMnnie 
L.,  born  Aug.  12,  1875  ;  Harry  H.,  March  20,  1879, 
and  Bessie  L,  Sept.  27,  1882.  Mr.  Russell  is  a 
member  of  the  order  of  Masonry  and  in  politics  is  a 
ReiKiblican. 


L.  Osgood,  general  merchant  at  Big 


I^S?  ucius 

fll;iOt  Rapids,  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
gj|g^.j»  Aug.  2  2,"  1834.  His  father,  Lebbeus  Os- 
tilu  good,  died  when  he  was  about  12  years  old, 
and  his  mother,  Philene  Osgood,  removed  to 
Penn  Yan,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  there  Mr.  Os- 
good learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He  enlist- 
ed in  the  service  of  the  United  States  to  quell  the 
Rebellion,  in  the  second  year  of  the  civil  war,  en- 
rolling Oct.  3,  1862,  in  Co.  C,  44th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf , 
as  a  private  soldier,  and  served  until  the  termination 
of  the  war.  He  was  in  action  at  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Mine  Run,  (Gettysburg,  all  the  battles 
of  the  Wilderness,  and  at  Cold  Harbor,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  severe  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  hip.  He 
was  sent  to  Little  York  Hospital,  I'a.,  wliere  he  was 
laid  up  1 1  months.  He  obtained  his  discharge  at 
Little  York,  May  15,  1865.  He  remained  there,  and 
commenced  as  a  dealer  in  groceries  and  oi>erated 
about  two  and  one  half  years. 

In  1867  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  and  soon  after- 
ward began  to  sell  groceries  in  the  ui)per  part  of  the 
city.  In  1873  he  relinquished  his  trade  and  bought 
a  farm  containing  60  acres  near  Paris,  Newaygo  Co. 
.\fter  carrying  on  agriculture  about  two  and  one-half 


years,  he  sold  his  place  and  came  back  to  Big  Rapids 
opened  a  grocery,  and  in  1880  located  on  liis  present' 
site,  where  he  is  doing  a  safe  and  substantial  busi- 
ness. His  stock  represents  a  value  of  $3,000,  and 
his  annual  sales  amount  appro.ximately  to  $18,000. 

He  was  married  at  Little  York,  Pa.,  Jan.  21,  1866, 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Ricca  Markley, 
born  at  Little  York,  Jan.  13,  1844.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Osgood  have  been  the  parents  of  four  children,  as 
follows:  Lucy  P.  (dec),  Edwin  L.,  Mary  J.  and 
pjssie  I.  Mr.  Osgood  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.     He  owns  his  residence  and  a  city  lot. 


harles  Hinman,  farmer,  on  sec.  14,  Hin- 
ton 'Pp.,  is  a  son  of  Curtis  and  .Mmira 
(De  Witt)  Hinman,  who  were  natives  of 
the  EmpireState,  and  went  thence  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, coming  afterward  to  Michigan;  they 
first  settled  in  Oakland  Co.,  but  soon  after 
moved  to  Clinton  Co.,  where  they  died.  Mr.  Hin- 
man was  born  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  23,  1838. 
He  attended  school  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
until  the  age  of  22  years,  then  leased  the  farm  of  his 
grandfather  for  two  years.  The  element  of  war  was 
tlien  abroad  in  the  land,  and  the  patriotic  blood  that 
courses  in  llie  veins  of  every  man  who  loves  his  coun- 
try beat  high  to  act  or  die  for  the  integrity  of  the 
Union.  Mr.  Hinman  enlisted  Aug.  it,  1862,  in  the 
23d  Michigan  Vol.  Inf,  and  was  in  the  service  till 
the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  lionorable  discharge 
June  27,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Among  the 
engagements  where  he  was  under  fire,  were  the 
battles  of  the  ^\'ilderness,  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  C'old 
Harbor,  and  at  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  He  was 
captured  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  but  was  at 
once  paroled.  In  that  engagement,  while  storming 
the  defenses  of  the  enemy,  he  met  with  an  accident 
that  disabled  him  for  several  weeks.  After  the  war 
he  went  to  his  home  in  Ionia  Co.  and  resumed  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture.  After  a  residence  of  12  years 
he  sold  his  farm  and  went  to  Clare  Co.  He  purchas- 
ed 160  acres  of  land,  which  he  sold  four  years  later, 
came  to  Millbrook,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  bought  the 
hotel  property  known  as  the  Rowland  House,  which 
he    soon    afterward   e.xclianged    for    another    hotel 


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located  at  Sylvester,  Mich.  He  managed  this  one 
year,  and  exchanged  it  for  40  acres  of  land  on  sec.  26, 
Hinton  Tp.  About  the  same  time  he  rented  a  farm 
near  Sylvester,  which  he  managed  two  years,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1880  purchased  40  acres  of  land,  where 
he  now  lives.  He  has  placed  it  under  good  cultiva- 
tion, and  erected  convenient  commodious  buildings. 
In  jwlitical  sentiment  Mr.  Hinnian  belongs  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Masonry.  He  has  been  Highway  Commissioner  two 
years,  and  School  Director  three  years.  He  was 
married  in  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  June  24,  r86o,  to 
Eliza,  eldest  daughter  of  AVm.  C.  and  Eliza  (Bullard) 
Ratcliffe,  who  were  of  English  nativity  and  came  to 
America  in  1841,  settling  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  the  mother  died;  the  father  came  to  Michigan 
to  live  with  his  children,  and  died  in  Ionia  Co.  Mrs. 
Hinman  was  bo.-n  in  England,  Nov. 5,  1836.  Mr.and 
Mrs.  Hinman  have  had  si.\  children,  three  survive: 
Stella  E.,  born  Oct.  7,  1866;  Guy  C,  July  2,  1872; 
Alma  A.,  Sept.  20,  1874.  In  this,  as  in  many  other 
families  in  Mecosta  Co.,  the  diphtlieria  made  cruel 


ravages.     Ella  G.,  born 


1 86 1,  died  Oct.  20, 


1 88 1.  She  was  married  and  left  a  son  four  years  old. 
Fred  I.,  born  March  18,  1863,  died  Oct.  19,  1881,  one 
day  preceding  the  demise  of  his  sister;  Kae  .\.,  born 
Jan  22,  1869,  died  Dec.  22,  1881. 


"Wjejae/tsi©"- 


i^<»— «.@fS/^OT>v 


^ohn  Hunter,  farmer,  sec  30,  Mecosta  Tp., 

was  born  in  Montreal,  Dec.  13,  1852.     His 

parents,  Robert  and  Sarah  (Curry)  Hunter, 

were  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch  parentage,  and 

were   there   married,  coming  shortly    after  tiie 

event  to  Canada. 

Mr.  Hunter  began  liis  battle  of  life  at  16 
years  of  age,  in  Esse.x  Co.,  N.  V.,  whither  his  jjarents 
removed.  His  first  employ  was  as  a  lumberman,  work- 
ing with  a  contractor  who  was  "putting  in"  timber  on 
the  Hudson  River,  and  remained  until  the  winter  of 
1873,  when  he  returned  to  Montreal  Meanwhile 
his  father  and  family  had  removed  to  Mecosta  County, 
and  he  came  hither  to  liig  Rapids,  and  found  speedy 
employ  as  a  lumberman  winters,  and  a  farm  hand 
summers,  alternating  these  occupations  three  yeais. 
His  fatlicrand  n.olj.er,  rc>idciu  on  hcc.  3c,  Meiosla 


Tp.,  died,  and  he  succeeded  to  his  share  of  the  es- 
tate. In  1879  he  bought  40  acies  of  wild  land  in 
Goodwin  Tp.,  Newaygo  Co. 

He  is  an  earnest  Republican,  is  tiie  present  School 
Moderator,  and  in  religious  faith  a  Presbyterian. 


V^ 


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ylvester  H.  Gray,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  S.  H.  Gray  &  Co,  manufacturers 
iH^''^  of  lumber,  lath  and  shingles,  at  Big  Rap- 
ids, was  born  at  Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming  Co., 
Pa.,  Feb.  3,  1846.  His  parents  were  Hiram 
T.  and  Susan  (.Minsker)  Gray.  .\t  the  age  of 
16  he  was  sent  to  Wyer's  .Military  Academy, 
Westchester,  Pa.  The  school  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Major  F-chendorf,  a  graduate  from  West 
Point,  whose  pupils  gained  unusual  proficiency,  and 
a  considerable  degree  of  public  notoriety  for  drill  ex- 
hiliitions  in  various  places.  Mr.  Gray  was  a  member 
of  Company  B,  with  the  rank  of  Orderly  Sergeant. 
On  completing  his  course  of  study  he  went  to  Wil- 
liamsport  in  the  employ  of  Slonaker,  Howard  &  Co. 
as  book-kee[)er  and  partner.  The  business  of  the 
house  was  heavy  and  prosperous,  and  the  relation 
existed  until  1873.  In  that  year  Mr.  tlray  came  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  the  partnership  of  Phippen,  Gray  ^: 
Howard  was  formed.  The  concern  operated  in  logs, 
lumber  and  pine  lands  until  Nov.,  iS78,doii>g  a  suc- 
cessful business. 

At  the  date  named  the  present  business  relation  oi 
S.  H.  Gray  &  Co.  was  established.  The  house  is 
engaged  in  extensive  and  pros[)erous  operations. 
They  own  a  saw-mill  on  the  lower  dam,  east  of  the 
river,  where  they  have  a  lumber  yard  and  employ  20 
hands;  they  also  own  a  shingle  mill  on  tiie  west  side 
of  the  river,  above  the  lower  bridge,  where  35  men 
constitute  the  laboring  force.  They  make  18-inch 
shingles  which  they  kiln  dry,  being  thereby  enabled 
to  facilitate  shi|)ping.  They  manufacture  al>out 
20,000,000  annually,  and  sell  chiefly  in  Eastern  mar- 
kets. The  shingles  of  their  make,  known  to  the 
trade  as  the  18-inch  XXX.X,  are  among  the  best 
products  in  that  line.  The  business  of  the  firm  also 
includes  logs,  lumber  and  ))ine  lands. 

Mr.  Gray  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  June  16, 
1875,  to  AiUha,  daughter  of  N\'m.  S.  and  Margaretta 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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(Hill)    Gray,   born  in   Freeport,  111.,  April  8,  1849. 

(gjy  They  have  one  son,  Vivian,  born  at  Big  Rapids,  Nov. 

^P   17,  1876. 
(         Mr.    Gray    is   a    stockholder   and  director  in    the 

(5;  Northern  National  Bank,  is  Secretary  and  Treasurer  in 
the  Big  Rapids  Boom  Co.,  and  Secretary  of  the  Big 
Rapids  Water-Power  Improvement  Company. 


i.::$ta,",iiii?S» 


P^ohn  G.  Potter,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Austin  Tp. 

'^<-  (P.  O.  Stanwood),  was  born  in  Niagara  Co., 

N.  Y.,  Nov.  9,  1849.     His  parents,  Russell 

and  Emmeline  C.  (Grover)  Potter,  were  natives 

of  New  York. 

Mr.  Potter  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  son,  sent 
to  the  common  schools  and  trained  as  farm  assistant 
until  he  was  22  years  old.  In  1872  he  came  to  Me- 
costa County  and  bought  the  homestead  property  of 
his  father-in-law,  William  H.  Olin,  about  1877,  com- 
prising 40  acres  of  improved  land. 

He  was  married  March  9,  1872,  to  Susan  }!., 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Lydia  (Corey)  Olin,  born 
in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.,  .\pril  9,  1854.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  New  England. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potter  have  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased:  Stella  E.,  born  Aug.  20,  1874, 
died  May  10,  1876;  and  .\lberta,  born  Ang.  3,  1879, 
died  Oct.  13,  1879.  The  living  children  were  born 
in  the  ordei  named:  Florence  E.,  March  28,  1873; 
Gracie  E.,  July  6.  1877;  Claude  E.,  July  13,  1880, 
and  Harry  J.,  July  28,  1882. 

Mr.  Potter  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith  and  ac- 
tion, and  is  the   present   Supervisor  of  tlie  townshi|i. 


'irw« 


^^-^rs-Ti- 


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^rsemus  Gross,  farmer,   sec.    28,   Deerfield 
I  Tp.,  P.  O.  Morley,  was  born  in  New  Lisbon, 
Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.      His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  same  Stale.      His  mother,   Nancy    (Pat. 
rick)  Gross,  died  in  the  fall  of  1S43  ;  his  father. 
Ellis  Gross,  resides  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 
At  the  age  of  15  Mr.  Gross  went  to    Pennsylvania, 


where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering  three 
years,  and  then  obtained  work  on  the  Erie  Canal. 
On  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  of  the  Southern 
States  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-fourth  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  two  years,  the  full  period  for  which  he  en- 
rolled, and  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  was 
in  the  engagement  at  Gaines'  Mills,  Antietam,  Fairfax 
Court-House  and  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  On 
his  discharge  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  and  bought  40  acres 
of  land  in  Deerfield  Tp.  It  was  then  in  a  wild  con- 
dition, but  he  has  nearly  his  entire  acreage  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  and  lately  improved  by  a  new 
frame  house.  Mr.  Gross  adheres  to  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Democratic  party. 

He  was  married  Oct.  22,  1869,  to  Jeannette,  daugh- 
ter of  Alanson  and  Esther  A.  (Hedges)  Rickar.  Her 
parents  are  natives  of  New  York  and  came  to  Me- 
costa County  in  the  winter  of  1865.  Mrs.  Gross  was 
born  May  22,  1849.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gross  three 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Alphonso  G.,  Aug. 
22,  1870;  Ella  A  ,  June  14,  1873;  Mabel  A.,  Dec. 
24,  1878. 


?  iram  H.  Slawson,  furniture  dealer   at    Big 
J    Rapids,   was   born    in    Orange   Co.,  N.  Y., 
^**   March  30,  18 10.     He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and   at  the  age  of  16  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
i     penter   and  joiner,  and  afterward  that  of  cabi- 
]      net-maker,  and  has  since  been   engaged  alter- 
nately in  their  prosecution. 
Mr.  Slawson  came  to  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  1848, 
and  worked  in  a  furniture  establishment  at  (Jrand 
Rapids  about  two  years,  going  at  the  end  of  that 
time  to  Greenville,  Montcalm  Co.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  furniture  business  about  20  years.      He 
next  transferred  his  interests  to  Cedar  Springs,  Kent 
Co,  and  in  April,  1882,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and 
purchased  the  stock  and  fixtures  of  E.  A.  Knight, 
and  is  now  operating  with  a.  fair  degree  of  succt  ss. 

Mr.   Slawson  was   married   in    Seneca  Co.,  N.  N' 
Jan.  1,  1835,  to  Eusebia,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Fleming,  born   in  Seneca  Co.,  Nov.  26,  181 1.      They 
have   had    the    following   named    children:     Henry, 
Charles    and    Morrison,    faruievs,    near  Greenville; 


1 

I 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


Ta^^fer- 


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2.« 


William,  who  is  deceased;  Newell  S.,  an  attorney 
at  Cedar  Springs  several  years,  and  who  died  iii 
Marshall,  Texas,  in  March,  1882;  Mary,  wife  of 
Joseph  B.  Hammond,  a  grocer,  in  Ionia  Co.;  Will  T., 
a  reixjrter  on  the  Pioneer  Magnet,  and  a  practical 
printer.  Mr.  Slawson  owns  a  residence  and  lot  on 
Henderson  Street,  two  houses  with  lots  at  Cedar 
Springs ;  also  five  vacant  lots  at  that  place.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


>J 


V 

s 


enjamin  F.  Rathvon,  senior  member  of 
S3i§  '''^  *''^'"  '^^  Rathvon  Bros.,  proprietors  of 
^%  the    Mecosta    I'laninu   Mill,   was  born   at 


Bertie,  W'elland  Co.,  Pr.  of  Ont.,  Can.,  Feb. 
S,  1 848.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
Rathvon.  The  father  was  a  carpenter,  and 
died  wlien  lienjamin  was  seven  years  of  age.  The 
mother  removed  to  Springfield,  Elgin  Co.,  Ont., 
where  she  was  again  married,  to  Reuben  Johnson, 
a  magistrate  of  that  place. 

Mr.  Rathvon  returned  to  Welland  County  when  he 
was  13  years  of  age,  and  was  a  member  of  the  house- 
I  )  hold  of  his  uncle,  a  farmer,  three  years.  He  ihen 
went  to  Ridgeway,  same  county,  and  engaged  with 
Eben  Cutler  to  learn  carpentering.  He  spent  five 
years  acquiring  his  trade,  then  went  back  to  Spring- 
field, where  he  operated  as  a  builder  three  years, 
going  thence  to  St.  Thomas,  and  there  followed  the 
same  occupation.  In  September,  1880,  became  to 
Ionia,  and  connected  his  fortunes  with  those  of  his 
brother  Charles,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  they  came 
to  Mecosta  village  and  built  their  planing  mill,  at  a 
cost  of  nearly  S4,ooo.  They  usually  employ  ten 
men,  and  are  doing  a  first-class  business,  with  gratify- 
ing success.  They  combine  building  with  lumbering 
interests.  They  expect  to  add  machinery  for  mak- 
(^  ing  sash,  doors,  and  also  furniture.  Mr.  Rathvon  is 
'      a  member  of  the  \.  O.  U.  W. 

He    was    mairied    May    29,    1871,    to    Emma   A., 

daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth   Ciilbert,  born  June 

^    15,  1850,  in   Soulhold  Tp.,  Elgin  Co.,  Can.      Their 

f?^    two  children  were  born  as  follows:   Lewis  E.  O.,  at 

\^    St. Thomas,  Can.,  April  16,  1874;  Ilau  M.,  in  Spring- 

^;^ield,  Eliiin  Co.,  Oct.  15,  1875. 

m^'^^ — 


•;* 


ichael  Keegan,  farmer,   sec.    12,    Hinton 
Tp.,  is  a  son  of  James  and  I.ucy  (Perent) 
_       Keegan,    and   was   born   in    Van    Buren, 
'^^^\  Aroostook  Co.,  Maine,   April  9,    1848.      His 
*■  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  his  mother 

of  Canada.  They  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  the  section  of  Maine,  where  they  located  and 
reared  their  family. 

At  the  age  of  15,  Mr.  Keegan  and  his  brother 
James  came  to  East  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and  there  found 
employment  on  the  river  and  in  the  pines  one  and  a 
half  years.  He  went  thence  to  Stillwater,  Minn., 
and  there  engaged  in  the  same  business  18  months. 
He  returned  to  Saginaw  for  a  brief  time,  and  soon 
after  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  bought  40  acres 
of  forest  land  exclusively  his  own  and,  associated 
with  another  peison,  purchased  an  additional  zoacres. 
He  operated  as  a  lumberman  until  1871,  when  he 
began  to  improve  his  land,  and  soon  after  added  40 
acres,  making  his  homestead  80  acres  in  all,  of  which 
60  acres  are  now  under  tillage  with  suitable  and  com- 
modious farm  buildings.  Mr.  Keegan  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  this  township,  Feb.  4,  1872,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Whitney)  Cioss  and 
widow  of  Joseph  Moulton.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  England  and  the  mother  of  Maine;  they  now  re- 
side with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keegan.  In  iwlitics  Mr. 
Keegan  is  a  Republican. 


^/ 


■^»€^^ 


^-D!l 


^)fFmklarence  W.  Parks,  senior  member  of  the 
""li 4kJi?^  hardware  firm  of  Parks  Bros.,  and  member 
|1©?^    of  the  Council  of  Mecosta,  Morion  Tp., 
e/fe     was  born  in   Lyons  Tp.,  Oakland  Co  ,  Mich., 
^i*      May  18,  1855.      He  is  a   son  of  William  R. 
and  Ann   E.   (Dunlap)   Parks.      His  parents 
removed    in    March,    1864,    to    Easton   Tp., 
Ionia  Co.,  and  there  bought  120  acres  of  land,  resid- 
ing thereon  two  years;  they  then  went  to  Keene  Tp  , 
Ionia  Co  ,  and  became  the  owners  of  80  acres  of  land. 
C.  W.  Parks  rented  this  property  in   1877,  and  man- 
aged it  three  years.      He  came  to  Mecosta  in    1880, 
in  companv  with  C.  H.  Tavlor,  to  engage  in  mercan- 


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tile  pursuits;  and  they  founded  a  hardware  trade. 
Their  relation  continued  one  year,  Mr.  C.  H.  Taylor 
selling  his  interest  to  M.  F.  Strong,  of  Saranac,  who, 
one  year  later  sold  in  turn  to  Robert  D.  Parks.  The 
building  which  they  occupy  was  bought  by  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm,  and  Mr.  Strong.  It  is  20  x  60 
feet  in  dimensions;  the  main  store  with  one  adjoining, 
24  X  36  feet,  is  utilized  for  a  tin-shop,  store-room,  etc. 
The  present  firm  was  established  Feb.  i,  1883,  and 
are  doing  a  prosperous  business,  carrying  a  stock  of 
about  $8,000,  including  hardware,  stoves,  tinware, 
sash,  doors,  crockery,  etc.,  with  annual  sales  of  about 
$25,000.  Mr.  Parks  was  elected  member  of  the  Vil- 
lage Council  in  the  spring  of  1883  ;  he  also  belongs  to 
the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

He  was  married  in  Vergennes,  Kent  Co.,  Mich., 
Sept.  28,  1 88 1,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father, 
to  Agnes  E.,  daughter  of  Sidney  E.  and  Almira  Hoag, 
who  was  born  May  7,  1852,  and  was  reared  on  a 
farm  until  her  marriage.  Sidney  Hoag's  father  was 
a  prosperous  farmer,  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Vergennes. 


A 


m 


^ames  Davis,  farmer,  on  sec.  29,  Austin  Tp., 
was  born  in  Wales,  July  9,  1816.  He  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  (Howell)  Davis, 
also  born  in  Wales,  where  they  lived  and  died. 
At  the  age  of  16  Mr.  Davis  went  to  work  as  a 
farm  laborer,  and  in  the  fall  of  1840  was 
married  to  Martha,  daughter  of  William  and  Maryett 
(Rogers)  Harries.  Mr.  Davis  and  his  wife  at  once 
settled  on  a  farm,  where  they  lived  and  labored  until 
their  removal  to  this  country,  in  the  fall  of  1857, 
when  they  went  to  (Quebec,  Canada,  thence  to  Ne- 
waygo Co.,  Mich.,  residing  there  two  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1859  they  settled  on  the  40  acres,  now  their 
homestead,  which  they  purchased  in  the  earliest 
days  of  the  township,  of  which  they  were  among  the 
l)ioneers. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  had  seven  children: 
Anna  E.,  born  Aug.  i,  1838;  Edward  K.,  July  7, 1842; 
William  H.,  Jan.  28,  1844;  David  I).,  bom  Oct.  28, 
1846,  died  in  February,  1851  ;  Thomas,  born  .Xpril 
11,  1S4S,  died  in  February,  T851;  (these  children 
died   of  scarlet   fever;)    Margaret,  born  March    12, 


1850,  died  in  March,    1854;    M.  EUir.or,  born  Aug. 
24,  1854,  died  June  30,  1882. 

The  family  attend  the  Congregational  Church. 
Mr.  Davis  is  liberal  in  his  political  views,  and  in  his 
actions  is  independent  of  party  issues. 


■'yt&asiM^r'-^i, 


"S—y-^mmny 


■Wis^  ottlob  Vogg,  farmer,  sec.  18,  DeerfieldTp., 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1834.  He  is  a  son 
"*^    of  Christian  Vogg   and  both    his    parents 
^!J^N   were  of  German  birth. 

He  left  the  "Faderland"  for  the  United 
States  in  '54  and  stopped  in  New  York  (where 
he  landed)  two  years.  In  '56  he  went  to  Massachu- 
setts and  there  remained  12  years,  removing  in  '68  to 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Midi.,  and  after  a  stay  of  two  and 
one-half  years  came  to  this  county.  He  soon  after 
purchased  80  acres  of  land,  in  an  uncultivated  con- 
dition. His  industry,  thrift  and  perseverance  have 
ever  been  manifested  and  his  present  circumstances 
are  a  significant  evidence  of  what  a  man  may  do  un- 
derthe  free  institutionsof  this  country.  Si.\ty-five  acres 
of  his  land  are  in  first-class  condition,  and  he  is  en- 
joying ail  the  rewards  he  has  so  justly  earned. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  '58,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  to  Friedeiika  Krieger,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  Thty  have  had  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living:  Friederika  C,  Geo.  \V.,  Henry 
C,  Otto,  Caroline  and  Flora.  I.onisa  and  Paulina 
died  in  infancy. 

■Mr.  ^'ogg  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  acts  with  the  Republican  party. 


S,^^ 


)$^|^ 


■^^nii 


illiam  S.  Gray,  of  the  firm  of  S.  H.  Gray 

iV  Co.,  manufacturers  of  lumber,  lath  and 

shingles,    at     l)ig     Rapids,    was     born     in 

;^9)         C^henango    Co.,    N.    Y.,   June    26,     1820. 

He    is    a    son   of    Hethuel    and   Cornelia 

(Carter)  Gray,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm, 

attending    school   winters.        He    left    home    at     18, 

and  attended  the  academies  at  Elmira  and  Corning 


1 


%\ 


T 


<^iiii<^iin>>v 


/^  MECOSTA   COUNTY. 

^         The  first  business  experience  of  Mr.  (Iray  was  as 
■y    clerk   in  a  general   store   in   Corning,   Steuben    Co., 


■>^^ 


clerk  in  a  general  store  in  Cornin 
'^'  X.  V.  He  went  two  years  later  to  Port  Deposit, 
I  Cecil  Co.,  Md.,  in  the  interests  of  a  lumber  firm, 
(\  having  charge  of  their  sales  and  shipping,  nine 
months.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  back  to 
Corning  and  opened  a  mercantile  house,  operating  as 
a  lumber  dealer  in  connection  therewith,  and  manag- 
ing a  saw-mill  near  that  place.  He  sold  out  at  the 
expiration  of  two  years  and  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  was  clerk  in  a  store  on  Grand  street, 
going  thence  to  Ithaca,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  attended  the  academy  one  year  and  taught  one 
term  of  school.  In  1845,  he  entered  the  office  of 
Charles  Coryell,  M.  D.,  and  read  medicine  six 
months ;  thence  he  removed  to  Somerset,  Lycoming 
C"o.,  Penn.,  where  he  taught  school  three  terms. 
He  then  went  to  Jersey  Shore,  in  the  same  county, 
and  studied  with  Dr.  Hepburn  two  years,  supple- 
menting his  office  reading  with  one  course  of  lectures 
at  Philadelphia. 

In  1S4S,  Mr.  Gray  went  to  Rock  Run,  Stephenson 
Co ,  III.,  and  was  a  medical  practitioner  there  seven 
years,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  wagon 
manufacturing  and  also  in  farming.  He  ne.xt  went 
to  Freeport,  in  the  same  county,  and  there  served 
three  terms  as  County  Treasurer,  and  managed  three 
stock  farms — one  of  640  acres,  in  Carroll  County, 
and  two  others  containing  respectively  282  and  180 
acres.  He  also  owned  a  small  farm  near  Freeix)rt, 
and  had  a  book  store  there  which  he  owned  about  a 
year;  he  had  also  a  store  for  the  sale  of  furniture. 
These  establishments  were  managed  personally  by 
parties  employed  for  the  purix)se. 

In  1865  he  built  a  woolen  mill,  in  company  with 
Messrs.  Rosenstiel  &  Sunderland,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  1874,  and  owned  a  general  store  and 
tailor  sho|)  at  the  same  time.  In  1876  he  came  to 
I'.ig  Rapids,  and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  with 
which  he  is  at  present  connected.  The  company 
own  a  saw-mill  on  the  east  side  of  the  Muskegon 
River,  and  a  shingle-mill  on  the  west  side.  Mr. 
Gray  owns  his  residence,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
National  Bank,  and  in  the  Big  Rapids  Boom  Com- 
pany, and  also  is  Director  and  President  of  the  Big 
Rapids  Water-Power  Company;  has  served  the 
municipality  si,\  years  past  as  .\lderman. 

Mr.  Gray  was  united  in  marriage,  at  ITniontown, 


) 


A 


V 


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^ 


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t 


Penn.,  Ai)ril  21,  1848,  with  Margaretia,  the  daughter    /v 
of  John  and  Margaretta  Hill,  born   in  Northumber-     ^, 
land   Co.,  Pa.,  Aug,  12,1827.       Their  four  children     *V 
are  all  deceased  save  one.     .Vntha,  eldest  daughter,       I 
born  .^pril  8,  1849,  in  Rock  Run,  111.,  is  the  wife  of    K^ 
Sylvester  H.  Gray,  senior  member  of  the  firm.     (See 
sketch.)     The  others  were  Ida  May,  William  B.  and 
an  infant  child. 


-^-■<-^4-f>^"^— 


IKTamuel  S.  Mitchell,  farmer  and  lumberman, 
resident  on  sec.  28,  Hinton  Tp.,  whose 
Ip.^''^'  portrait  we  give  in  this  Album,  was  born  in 
i\V  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  5,  1819  He  at- 
3  tended  school  winters  and  was  engaged  on  his 
father's  farm  summers  until  25  years  of  age. 
At  the  age  of  22  years  he  assumed  entire  charge  of 
the  family,  which  consisted  of  his  |)arents,  two  broth- 
ers and  a  sister.  His  father  and  mother  removed 
with  their  children  to  Allegany  Co,  N.  Y.,  in  1829, 
and  went  thence  to  Steuben  County.  In  the  fall  of 
1844,  Mr.  Mitchell  came  to  Livingston  County,  ac- 
companied by  his  parents,  and  the  family  remained 
there  together  seven  years,  going  thence  to  Newaygo 
County,  where  he  left  the  father  and  mother  in  the 
personal  care  of  his  brother  William  ;  after  this  they 
resided  together,  Mr.  Mitchell  providing  for  their 
needs,  until  the  last  few  years  of  their  lives,  when 
William  Mitchell  assumed  entire  care  of  them.  Sam- 
uel S,  remained  in  Newaygo  County  nearly  20  years, 
there  owning  a  farm,  which  he  managed  in  connec- 
tion with  lumbering  until  the  spring  of  1869.  He 
then  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  80  acres 
of  wild  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  with  but  few  imjirove- 
ments.  He  now  resides  thereon  and  has  about  25 
acres  under  good  improvement.  .Mr.  Mitchell  is  ir.- 
dei)endent  in  politics.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
Road  Commissioner  four  years,  and  repeatedly  lieen 
offered  other  jwsitions  of  trust  in  his  township,  but 
has  presistently  declined.  Himself  and  wife  belong 
to  the  First-Day  Adventists,  and  Mr.  Mitchell  belongs 
to  the  Order  of  Masons. 

He  was  married  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  31, 
1848,  to  .\j?nes,  daughter  of  .\ndrew  and  Elizabeth 
(Rossman)  Brockway.     Her  parents  were  natives  of  , 


( 

^ 

A 


c^: 


r 


'K-iin>:Dii->^-« — ^«8«^ 


^V<4lin:^:illls>v 


<b 


^ 


238 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


-^ 


Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  born  March  21,  1831. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Milchell  have  liad  ten  children,  Har- 
riet E.,  wife  of  Henry  Moiilter,  born  April  17,  1850; 
Helen  E.,  wife  of  Luther  Beniis,  born  .■Vug.  7,  1S52; 
Robert  P.,  born  May  3,  1854;  Charlotte  A.,  wife  of 
Alden  Bailey,  born  .Sept.  14,  1856;  Kate,  wife  of  John 
Right,  born  March  12,  1859;  Clara,  wife  of  Henry 
A.  Mann,  born  Sept.  2,  1861  ;  Annette,  wife  of  El- 
bert Trail,  born  Nov.  4,  j  863 ;  Jessie  1).,  born  Dec. 
25,  1865;  Arthur,  born  April  10,  1868,  and  died 
.April  17,  1868;  Edgar  D.,  born  .\ug.  17,  1869,  died 
Oct.  31,  iS7[. 

.-\s  a  proMiint-iit  and   representative  citizen  of  .Me- 
costa County  we  give  .Mi.  M '>  portrait  in  thi>  Album. 


-vr^i^m 


'^A 


Mary  A.  (Hartsell)  Ciilmore,  who  were    natives 
respectively  of  New  Jersey  and  Massachusetts, 


^Sj^^?  enry  E.  Gilmore,  resident  on  sec  34,  Aus- 
^i^yr  '"''  '"''■'  "''^*  \>orn  in  Niagara  Co.,  Ontario, 
'^il^T'*^  Oct.   I?,   i8-j2,  and    is  a  son  of   Henry  and 

I      and  were  of  German  and  Irish  extraction. 

Mr.  Gilmore  began  at  the  age  of  18  years  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade,  devoting  his  leisure  to  study  in 
(  )  the  district  school,  and  by  dint  of  much  exertion  he 
managed  to  secure  a  fair  education.  He  went  into 
the  country,  w'here  he  pursued  his  trade  some  years; 
and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  .\.,  daughter  of  Alfred 
and  Betsey  (Cleveland)  Butler.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Maine,  where  Mrs.  Gilmore  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Feb.  17,  1831,  going  thence  to  On- 
tario, Can.,  with  her  parents  and  there  resided  until 
her  marriage.  May  14,  1851. 

They  settled  in  the  town  of  Elgin,  where  Mr.  Gil- 
more was  busy  with  his  trade  till  the  spring  of  1853, 
when  they  came  to  Newaygo  County  and  settled  on 
the  Muskegon  River,  and  there  he  followed  his  trade 
seven  years.  In  i860  they  removed  to  Austin  Tp., 
and  Mr.  Gilmore  purchased  80  acres  of  land  and  de- 
voted his  attention  to  farming.  The  entire  place  is 
under  cultivation. 

.Mr.  Gihnore  belongs  to  the  National  party  and  cast 
the  first  Greenback  vote  in  the  county.  He  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  12  years.  Highway  Commis- 
sioner two  years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Sani- 
tary Board  some  years,  besides  having  held  other  ofti- 


ces.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilmore  have  been  the  parents  of  /^ 
12  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  Following  is  their 
record:  Franklin  P.  was  born  Nov.  i,  1852;  James 
H.,  June  15,  1856;  Angela  M.,  May  13,  1858;  Ulys- 
ses G.,  Oct.  17,  1864;  Rosa  L.,  Nov.  4,  1867;  Mar- 
shall N.,  May  11,  1S77;  Sarah  N.,  Dec.  i,  1862, 
died  March  14,  1879.     Five  children  died  in   early 


infancy. 
CInirch. 


Mrs.  Gilmore  is  a   member  of  the  M.    ¥.. 


gaged  in  lumbering  six  years,  going  in  1854  to  Kent 
Co.,  where  he  was  similarly  occupied  four  years.  His 
next  remove  was  to  Jackson,  Mich.,  to  work  on  a 
Government  contract,  and  there  operated  until  the 
wave  of  civil  warfare  swept  over  the  land  and  for  the 
time  being  obliterated  private  projects  and  aspira- 
tions. Mr.  Waldo  enlisted  Oct.  19,  1861,  in  the  First 
Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics.  His  terms  of 
enrollment  entitled  him  to  the  position  of  road  con- 
structor, but  lie  was  in  active  service  at  Perryvillei 
Ky.,  and  Stone  River,  Tenn.  and  Shiloh.  He  was 
made  Sergeant  in  1862  and  continued  his  services 
until  he  was  discharged  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  Oct.,  1864. 

He  returned  to  Mecosta  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  lumbering.  Soon  after  again 
settling  in  the  township  he  bought  40  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  built  the  first  house  erected  in  this  sec- 
tion. Mr.  Waldo  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served 
several  terms  as  Constable,  with   entire  satisfaction. 

He  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  April  29,  1846, 
to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Campbell) 
Smith.  She  died  July  6,  1865,  leaving  one  child, 
Charles  W.,  born  Jan.   10,    1861.     Mr.   Waldo   was  a 


eorge   Waldo,  farmer  on  sec.  8,  Mecosta 

P'^"^'^''    Tp.  (P.  O.  Big  Rapids),  was  born  in  Spring- 
f:    field,   Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.   15,   1830. 
^'li'S  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Sally  (Cowen)  Waldo, 
■J,"     were  born  in  New   York  and    Ireland   respect- 
}      ively. 

He  accompanied  his  family  to  Ohio  when  five  ^\^ 
years  old,  and  at  nine  years  of  age  left  home  to  en-  ^[ 
gage  as  a  stage  driver,  and  pursued  that  calling  seven  §§ 
years,  driving  continually  on  one  route.  In  the  fall  ^ 
of  1847  he  came   to  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and  there  en-    's^ 


':> 


<} 


^^^^ — %«<-iiiisiin->a- 


A. 


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■rfrv<>nD^:(in^>rT!r 
MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


second  time  married  Nov.  12,  1865,  at  Cedar  Springs, 
Kent  Co.,  to  Mrs.  Kate  Wilcox,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Ruth  (Acers)  Skilhnan.  Slie  was  born  June  30, 
1842,  and  was  first  married  in  1859.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
A^  Waldo  have  seven  children,  born  in  the  following 
^^  order:  (Jrpha  E.,  Feb.  6,  1867  ;  Samuel,  Aug.  26, 
1868;  Henry,  March  9,  1871;  George,  March  18, 
1873;  Bertha,  March  26,  1875;  Alma,  Aug.  13, 
1877;  Walter,  May  15,  1880. 


:<« 


V 

s 

) 


'dam  Friedel,  farmer,  sec.  1 2,  Morton  Tp. 
(P.  O.,  Mecosta),  was  born  at  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  March  27,  1S46.  His  parents 
left  the  "  Faderland  "  when  he  was  a  lad,  and 
located  in  Waterloo  Co.,  Can.,  where  they  re- 
mained about  seven  years,  and  then  came  to 
Mecosta  County  in  the  year  1862,  the  first  settlers  in 
Mecosta.  They  made  the  journey  hither  via  Ionia 
Mich.,  and  cut  their  way  through  the  woods  15  miles. 
The  father  (Justus)  entered  a  claim  of  80  acres  of 
land  under  the  Homestead  act.  The  selection  of 
locality  proved  judicious,  as  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  R.  R. 
traverses  the  entire  width  of  the  farm,  and  the  enter- 
prising village  of  Mecosta  has  been  located  one  mile 
west.  The  primeval  forest  was  in  its  original  condi- 
tion. The  nearest  inhabitants  were  two  miles  dis- 
tant, located  like  themselves  in  a  dense  forest;  their 
place  of  supply  was  Greenville,  Montcalm  Co.,  40 
miles  away — solid  woods  intervening — and  at  Big 
Rapids,  the  civilization  center  of  Mecosta  County,  the 
work  of  improvement  was  in  its  swaddling  clothes. 
To  the  original  80  acres  of  land  40  acres  have  been 
added  l)y  [)urchase,  and  80  acres  are  under  the 
plow. 

The  "  Vater  mid  Mutter  "  are  the  central  figures 
of  the  household.  They  have  reached  the  respective 
ages  of  73  and  72,  retain  their  old  country  habits  of 
early  rising,  and  the  wholesome  hilarity  that  char- 
acterizes their  race.  "Shermany"  is  warmly  re- 
membered; but  they  rejoice  in  their  prosperity  here 
and  the  rapid  strides  of  Mecosta  County  toward  a  fair 
rank  with  the  other  counties  of  the  I'cninsular 
State. 

Mr.  Friedel  is  now  the  proprietor  and  manager  of 
the  properly  described.      He  was  married  May  14, 


1872,  to  Catherhie,  daughter  of  Sebastian  and  Chris- 
tine Erich,  a  native  of  the  same  place  with  her  hus- 
band, and  was  born  June  20,  1852.  She  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1861.  Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Friedel  six  children  have  been  born:  Frederick 
W.,  George  Adam,  Louise  Catherine,  Maria,  Adam 
Jacob  and  Ernest. 

Mr.  Friedel  has  officiated  two  terms  as  Treasurer 
of  his  township,  has  been  Supervisor,  and  is  now 
Highway  Commissioner  .  He  owns  25  head  of  good 
cattle,  and  five  horses. 


ohn  E.  Harrington,  farmer,  sec.  12,  Mor- 
wMi:'.  ton  Tp.,  was  born  May  13,  1854,  in  Wood- 
W*^  biidge  Tp.,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  and  is  a 


■'-•i 


■^•c^ 


■A<^D!I 


son  of  John  D.  and  Ellen  S.  (Sickler)  Harring- 
ton. His  mother  died  when  he  was  seven 
years  of  age,  and  his  father  lived  on  the  place 
ill  Woodbridge  Tp.,  two  years,  tlien  removed  to 
Day  Tp.,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  bought  a 
farm,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  that  township.  J.  C. 
Harrington  found  [)ioneer  life  somewhat  distasteful, 
and  went  back  to  his  native  county,  where  he  readily 
found  eiiiployment,  and  was  engaged  until  fall  in 
farm  labor,  when  he  took  advantage  of  an  opi^rtunity 
to  work  nights  and  mornings  for  his  board,  and  go  to 
school  through  the  winter.  This  arrangement  pre- 
cluded the  necessity  of  using  his  hard-earned  wages, 
and  he  loaned  his  money  at  a  fair  percentage.  In 
the  spring  he  bought  a  cow,  took  her  to  Montcalm 
Co.,  and  gave  her  to  his  father.  In  the  spring  of 
1872  he  went  to  Grand  Traverse  Co,  .Mich.,  where 
he  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  a  primeval  condition, 
and  liegan  to  clear  a  farm,  working  in  true  pioneer 
method.  He  built  a  log  house  12  x  14  feet,  covered 
it  with  hemlock  bark,  and  secured  a  home  (though  it 
was  little  more  than  a  shelter),  of  which  he  took 
possession  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness  and  courage. 
He  was  married  March  7.  1875,  to  Emily  Stow- 
ell,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Stowell,  who  was 
born  in  Kent  Co.,  Oct.  16,  1855;  after  which  event 
he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co., 
:  where  he  resided  until  June,  1882.  .At  that  date  he 
-    purchased  his  present  farm  on  sec.  12,  in  the  village 

>:iltlr>A^ 


II 


(q' 


1 


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<:llll^nil>> 


-Tuf^P^ 


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240 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


svS» 


^ 


i 


^ 


of  Mecosta,  where  he  has  made  rapid  progress 
in  improvements,  clearing  away  timber,  cultivating 
the  land,  erecting  farm  buildings,  and  putting  the 
place  in  the  best  possible  state  for  farming. 
Although  he  has  been  resident  but  a  year,  the  work- 
accomplished  seems  incredible. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrington  are  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Cora  E.,  born  Feb.  14,  18-6;  Edith  I., 
born  Oct.  10,  1877;  Ethel  L.,  born  June  23,  1879; 
Leona  E.,  born  Feb.  14,  i88i  ;  Edwin  D.,  born  Feb. 
10,  1883. 


X  alvin  Boyce,  farmer  and  carpenter,  resid- 

W  ing  on    sec.  34  of   Deerfield  Tp.    (P.    O., 

Morley),  was  born  Aug.  28,  i8i7,inCharles- 

|j|l^    ton,  N.  H.     He  is  a  son  of  Lemuel  and  Eunice 

*il^     (Hoadley)  Royce,  natives  of  the  "Old  Granite 

I  State,"  where  they  lived  all  their  lives.  The 
father  died  at  the  age  of  98. 

.  Mr.  Royce  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  Hamp'ihire  and  attended  the  New- 
bury (Vt.)  Seminary.  He  taught  school  winters  and 
worked  as  a  carpenter  summers  until  of  age.  In  the 
fall  of  1845  he  went  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and 
labored  as  a  carpenter  and  farm  hand  a  number  of 
years.  He  came  to  Deerfield,  Mecosta  Co.,  in  the 
spring  of  1865  and  became  the  owner  of  1 20  acres  of 
land,  all  in  an  unimproved  stale.  He  erected  a  frame 
house,  since  his  home,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the 
task  of  reclaiming  his  land.  He  retains  but  40  acres 
of  his  original  purchase,  having  disposed  of  80  acres. 
His  farm  is  all  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Royce  was  married  to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of 
Warren  and  Ruth  (Hoag)  Jenkins,  natives  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  where  her  father  still  resides. 
Five  of  the  six  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Royce  are 
living — Eunice,  Gertrude,  Alice,  Osmon  C.  and  Elva. 
The  name  of  the  deceased  child  was  Ida  ;  she  died 
aged  one  year. 

Mr.  Royce  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  Republican 

Convention  held  in  Tioga  ("ounty  for  the  purpose  of 

organizing   that    (xjlitical    element   within  its  limits, 

ind    has  since  been  active  in  the   interests  of  the 


party.     He  has  held  several   important  positions  in 
the  affairs  of  his  township. 


gly'V.'v^-j- 


;^^f|^ 


gw^^lenry  Hearn,  farmer  on  sec.  20,  Austin  Tp. 
'  -^Ir/I^;'  ('^-  O'  Stanwood),  was  born  in  0.\fordshire^ 
X/1^  '^  Eng.,  Oct.  I,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Benja- 
^V  min  and  Sarah  (Hearn)  Hearn,  both  natives  of 
^  England,  where  they  lived  and  died. 
I  Mr.  Hearn  remained  at  home  only  till  he  was 
seven  years  of  age,  when  his  boyish  aspirations 
impelled  him  to  go  among  strangers  and  secure  what 
seemed  to  him  the  greatest  boon  on  earth — ])ersonal 
liberty.  He  was  variously  employed  until  he  was 
20  years  of  age;  the  last  year  of  this  period 
he  spent  in  the  stables  of  English  sjwrting  men. 
In  1854  he  came  to  the  United  States,  landing 
at  the  city  of  New  York  and  remaining  there  but 
a  sliort  time.  He  came  on  to  the  city  of  Detroit  and 
found  employ  in  the  immediate  vicinity  as  a  farm 
laborer  for  10  years.  He  then  went  to  Shiawassee 
County,  and  thgnce  to  Austin  Tp.,  in  the  spring  of 
1868,  where  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land,  and  has 
since  added  40  acres,  making  120  acres  of  wild  land, 
of  which  60  acres  are  now  under  first-class  improve- 
ments. 

Mr.  Hearn  was  married  in  England,  May  15,  1855 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Rolfe) 
Frost,  both  English  by  birth  and  inseparably  wedded 
to  their  native  country.  The  daughter  was  born 
Oct.  6,  1832.  She  accompanied  her  husband  to  the 
United  States  and  went  bravely  througli  all  the  trials 
and  privations  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the  township. 
She  died  .\pril  11,  1872,  leaving  a  large  family  and  a 
multitude  of  friends  to  mourn  her  irreparable  loss. 
Her  seven  sons  and  daughters  all  survive  her.  Their 
record  is  as  follows:  Florence  G.  was  born  July  18, 
1856;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  28,  1850;  Sarah  A.,  March  4, 
1862;  Alfred  W,  May  8,  1864;  Edward  H.,  June 
15,  1866;  Lucy  E..  Oct.  4,  !S68;  Martha  T.,  Nov. 
27,  1870. 

Mr.  Hearn  and  wife  were  members  from  youtli  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  Mr.  Hearn  is  still  an 
adherent  to  belief  in  its  tenets.  He  is  a  Democrat 
and  has  always  sustained  the  issues  of  his  parly. 


I 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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elson  V.  Adair,  farmer  and  carpenter,  sec. 

6,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  burn  in  the  Slate  of 

71 1-^  K  New  York,  Fel).   15,  '46.     He  is  a  son  of 

M'iM'   Henry   and   Maiy    (Vantyle)  Adair,  who  was 

l(,  lx)rn  in  the  Stale  of  New  York,  in  Seneca  Co., 
where  tlie  father  died,  Feb.  14, '81  ;  the  mollier  issiill 
living,  in  the  Enii)ire  State. 

Mr.  Adair  remained  an  inhabitant  of  his  native 
place  until  1869,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  he 
came  to  Siiiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  where  during  two 
years  he  followed  his  trade  ;  coming  thence  to  Mecosta 
Co.,  he  bought  80  acres  in  Ihe  town  of  Deerfield. 
It  was  partly  improved  and  has  since  been  his  home- 
stead. 

Mr.  .\ilair  was  married  in  Seneca  Fulls,  N.  V., 
Nov.  7,  1 866,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  .\lon/.o  and  Re- 
becca (VVoolsey)  Randolph.  Of  this  mariiage  one 
child  was  born — Heniy  R.,  Dec.  20,  '69.  The  mother 
died  in  Mecosta  Co  ,  Dec.  20,  '74,  and  Mr.  Adair  con- 
tracted a  second  mairiage  July  4,  77,  at  Kig  Rapids, 
to  Kniily  H.,  daughter  of  Magnus  and  (Christiana 
(.\shman)  Ulrich.  Tiie  parents  of  Mrs.  Adair  were 
natives  of  Cermany.  The  family  now  includes  two 
children, — Jennie  H.,  born  Dec.  9,  '79,  and  Lillian 
M.,  May  18,  '81.  .Mr.  Adair  is  a  Republican  in  jio- 
litical  sentiment  and  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
two  terms.  Himself  and  family  attend  the  Mclii- 
odist  Ki)iscopal  Church. 


^l; 


^, 


I  uther  Bemis,  farmer,    resident  on  sec.  29, 

Hinton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Aaron   and   Lovice 

(Holcomb)  Bemis,   the  father   a   native  of 

y-  Springfield,  Vt.,  and  the  mother,  of  the  State  of 

Mr.  Uemis  was  born  in  St.  Clair 


•^ 


New  York. 
y  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  9,  1843.  He  was  thrown  u|X)n 
his  own  resources  for  siipiwr!  at  13  years  of  age,  and 
was  first  employed  as  a  carpenter's  assistant;  then 
for  six  years  worked  by  the  month.  In  December, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  "Co.  I,  Herdan's  Sharp-shooters, 
and  after  about  eight  months'  service  was  discharged. 
On  his  return  to  private  life  he  went  to  Ionia  County, 


and  there  remained  aliout  iS  months  in  (piiet  en- 
deavor to  recruit  his  healtii.  He  was  then  engaged 
in  teaming  for  five  years,  then  purchased  40  acres  of 
land  in  Montcalm  Coimiy,  wl.erc  lie  lived  eight  years. 
The  financial  stress  of  1873  plunged  him  into  mis- 
fortune, and  in  the  winter  of  1874,  when  he  came  to 
Mecosta  County,  he  had  scarcely  a  dollar.  He  toiled 
and  persevered  and  in  the  fall  of  1875  bought  40  acres 
of  wild  land.  He  has  put  the  place  in  a  fine  slate 
of  cultivation,  with  good  buildings.  Besides  the 
rest  of  his  obligations,  that  he  discharged  in  a  becom- 
ing manner,  was  the  support  of  his  parents  and  sis- 
ters while  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  his  father  died. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  in  Montcalm  C"oiinly. 

Mr.  Bemis  was  married  in  this  county,  Oct.  16, 
1873,  to  Helen  E.,  daughter  of  S.  S.  and  Agnes 
(Brockway)  Mitchell,  of  Hinton  Tp.,  who  was  born 
in  Kent  County,  Aug.  7,  1852.  Mr.  Bemis  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


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^'imon  G.  Webster,  County    Treasuier,    les- 
ident  at  Big  Rapids,  was  iiorn  at  Coiuord, 
Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  .^ug.   24,  1843,  and  is 
im:^  son  of    Roswell    and   Harriet    (Townseiid) 

'i\  Weiister.  He  alternraed  f;irm  labor  summers 
'|<-  with  school  duties  winters  until  he  was  16 
'  years  of  age,  and  three  years  later  came  to 
Big  Rapids.  He  found  emi)loyment  as  a  clerk  and 
teamster,  and  at  that  [leriod  his  and  another  team 
drew  all  the  goods  that  were  sold  in  Big  Rapids, 
from  Grand  Rapids,  Ti'a  Newaygo,  each  trip  consum- 
ing from  a  week  to  ten  days.  Mr.  Webster  was  him- 
self a  driver  for  two  years. 

In  February,  1864,  he  enlisted  at  Big  Rapids,  en- 
rolling in  Company  M,  3d  Michigan  Cavalry,  under 
Capt.  Ives.  The  regiment  was  detailed  for  special 
service  among  the  bushwhackers  of  the  West,  and 
proceeded  thence  to  Texas,  wl-ere  he  was  mustered 
out  on  special  order  in  November,  1865,  at  San  .\n- 
tonio.  Mr.  Webster  came  back  to  Big  Rai)ids,  and 
was  employed  in  the  general  merchandise  establish- 
ment of  .Ci.  F.  Stearns,  who  discontinued  the  business 
in  the  s|)ring  of  1866.  He  then  went  to  Middleville, 
Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  and  again  engaged  as  clerk.  In 
1868  he   began    mercantile   business  for  himself,  in 


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Ma  COST  A   COUNTY. 


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partnership  with  F.  H.  Degolia,  continuing  until  187 1, 
operating  with  success.  In  the  year  named,  because 
:%,  of  the  impaired  heallii  of  Mr.  Degolia,  the  firm  dis- 
I  posed  of  the  stock  by  sale.  Mr.  Webster  returned 
to  Big  Rapids  and  opened  a  grocery  and  produce 
store,  managing  alone  one  year,  then  admitted  J.  F. 
Clark  to  an  equal  interest ;  they  closed  their  business 
in  1876.  In  1877  Mr.  Webster  received  an  appoint- 
ment as  Under-Sherirf  with  Col.  Vincent,  and  lield 
the  position  until  January,  iSSi  ;  was  elected  ."super- 
visor of  the  Fourth  Ward  in  1875,  and  remained  the 
incumbent  of  the  office  until  1882  ;  served  two  years 
as  ClKiirman  i)f  tlic  ISoard.  In  1882  he  was  Repiili- 
tican  nominee  for  Comity  Treasurer,  ninniiig  against 
C.  B.  Hannum,  candidate  of  the  Fusion  party.  The 
vote  stood  1705  to  950,  infavoiof  Mr.  Webster.  He 
is  a  niemlier  of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  and  is  at  this 
writing  (1883)  Commander  of  Pilgrim  Commandery, 
No.  23  ;  has  held  tlie  phice  of  Captain  (General  of  the 
same  division  thiee  years.  He  is  also  an  active  and 
prominent  member  of  the  Fire  Department ;  was 
Chief  Engineer,  and  organized  the  Alert  Hose  Co., 
which  took  the  second  national  prize  at  the  tourna- 
ment at  Chicago  in  1877.  The  prize  included  $300, 
and  the  cart  which  was  manufactured  for  the  Cen- 
tennial Exposition  by  the  Silsby  Manufacturing  Co. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Webster  to  Alice  McDowell 
took  place  Dec.  25,  1867.  She  is  a  daughter  of  .Ad- 
dison and  Lavina  McDowell,  of  Allegan  Co.,  Mich., 
and  was  born  at  Ann  .'\rbor,  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Webster  have  one  daughter,  Ethel  M.,  botn  May  10, 
1872,  at  Middleville,  Barry  (Jo.,  Midi. 


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M.    Trussell,    proprietor    of    the  Miros/a 
Coiiiilv  A(h'(iiicc,  and  also  of  the  Morley  A</- 
~^  ?■()■//(■(■,  was  born  in  Jackson,  ( )liio,  July   12, 
1857.     He  is  a  son  of  Jasper  .S.  and  Sarah  .-N. 
(Stout)  Frussell,  and  until  tlie  age  of    16  years 
j      was  a  student   at  school.     He    was   early   dis- 
posed to  his  present  calling,  and  at  the  age  named 
lie  went  into  a  printing-office  in  Clifton,  W.  Va.,  and 
remained  lliere  several  months,  afterward  becoming 
local  editor  (if  the   {ronton   (Ohio)   Commeicial.      He 
went  from  Ironton  to  l*ittsl)urg,  where  he  again  en- 
tered a  printiiig-offlce  to  complete  liis  kno  viedge  ol 

^«§^^« ^^^^ 


the  details  of  the  business.  His  next  advance  was 
to  the  position  of  proof-reader,  and  in  1881  he  became 
reporter  for  the  Daily  C/iroiiiclf,  published  at  Pitts- 
burg. In  August,  1882,  he  came  to  Mecosta  County, 
and  September  1,  following,  he  became  proprietor  by 
purchase  of  the  .Vft\-(>s/it  Comity  Ai/imiice.  He  is- 
sued the  first  number  of  the  Morley  A,/;;imr,  a 
popular  local  journal,  .'Xpril  13,  1883. 

The  Mi-i(>sf<7  County  Aihwicc  was  founded  liy  F. 
W.  Harrison,  the  lirst  numb.-r  l)eing  issued  April  7, 
1881.  It  was  an  eight-page  sheet,  but  was  afterwards 
enlarged  to  a  five-column  quarto.  Upon  tlie  failure 
of  the  jiropi-ietor's  health  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Trussell. 
The  paper  has  always  been  well  received  and  now 
has  a  circulation  of  600  copies. 


c- 


'':  [■''f/!'  oseph  B.  Barto,  farmer,  sec.  20,  .\ustin  Ti'. 
r- Ji  (''•  *  '•  Stanwood),  was  born  in  Lower  Can- 
"^^7'".'  ada,  Marcli,  1836.      He  is  son  of  John   and 

|if^  Beatrice  (Covena)  Barto,  who  were  natives  of    ^ 


* 


France,  and  emigrated  to  this  country,  settling 

in  Canada. 
Mr.  Barto  commenced  his  single-handed  contest 
with  the  world  at  the  age  of  15  years  and  worked  as 
farm  assistant  until  17,  when  his  father  died,  and  he 
left  the  Dominion,  joining  his  brother  in  New  York, 
and  there  engaged  winters  in  the  lumber  business, 
laboring  summers  on  farms.  He  was  married  in  1'jS- 
sexCo.,  N.  Y.,  .\ug.  9,  1856,  to  Matilda  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Mary  (Layno)  iiennett,  l)0lli  of  French 
descent.  Mrs.  Barto  was  l)orn  Ap  il  19,  1842,  in 
Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  After  their  marriage  they  remained 
in  the  State  of  New  \ork  until  1872;  Mr.  Barto 
meanwhile  engaged  in  lumbering.  They  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  Mr.  Mario  was  engaged  in  logging 
in  C)sceola  County  for  one  year,  coming  tlien  to  Big 
Rapids,  where  he  stayed  mitil  1874.  He  had 
purchased  a  Hirm  of  80  acres  in  Austin  Tp.,  of 
wliich  he  took  possession,  and  now  has  15  acres 
under  improvement.  Mr.  Barlo  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  He 
is  a  Repulilican  and  ardently  devoted  to  the  is- 
sues of  tlie  party.  'I'he  I'rench  language  is  com- 
monly spoken  in  the  family  and  taught  to  the  chil- 
dren,   ol     wliom    seven    survive,    born     as     lollows : 

%A<^ii!i>:niir:>=-^ 


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"Z^ii^ir'^ 


■T<:I^I1>:(1I1^:>V 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


243 


Lewis,  Sept.  7,  1857;  Mary  L.,  Nov.  25,  1862;  Ida 
R.,  .'Vpril  15,  1S64;  Flora  E.,  .\ug.  29,  1866;  Robert 
L.,  Oct.  5,  1868;  Frank  E.,  March  5,  1S74;  Caroline 
M.,  Nov.  6,  1876.  Five  children  are  deceased; 
James,  born  Feb.,  1859,  died  March  2,  1859;  Nelson, 
born  Dec.  30,  i860,  died  in  infancy;  Joseph,  born 
Dec.  iS,  187  I,  died  July  14,  1872  ;  Francis,  born  Jan. 
29,  1872,  died  Feb.  14,  1872;  Frank,  born  Jan.  29, 
1S72.  died  Feb.  24,  1872.     (The  two  last  were  twins.) 


& 


ohn  Davis,  farmer,  sec  27,  Mecosta  Tp., 
[^  was  born  May  8,  1826,  at  Belfast,  Ireland. 
His  parents,  William  and  Mary  (I.averty) 
Davis,  were  born  in  Ireland;  tl.e  father  died  in 
852,  the  mother  in  185  i.  \\'lien  he  was  ten 
years  old,  Mr.  Davis  ran  away  to  sea,  shipping 
asa  cabin  l>oy  on  a  sailing  vessel.  His  career 
^  as  a  sailor  continued  22  years,  and  during  the  lime  he 
^S  passed  several  iiromotions ;  and  at  last,  in  1S44,  be- 
^^  came  first  mate,  which  |)ost  he  held  until  1S48, 
^E  when  he  abandoned  a  seafaring  life.  The  recital  of 
^y  his  .idventuies  sounds  like  a  romance.  He  traversed 
V  the  Atlantic  Ocean  under  all  circumstances,  and  in 
' I  ~)  every  possible  direction,  and  visited  all  the  seaboard 
towns  of  Europe,  and  the  countries  lying  on  the 
Mediterranean,  as  well  as  the  jwrts  open  to  com- 
merce on  the  Asiatic  shores  and  Africa,  and  the 
islandsofthe  East  Indies,  He  was  at  Alexandria dur- 
the  Turkish  war,  at  Canton,  China,  while  the  Chinese 
war  with  England  was  in  progress,  and  at  Calcutta, 
India.  While  the  Kaffir  war  of  1842  was  going  on 
in  Southern  Africa,  his  vessel  was  at  Cajie  Town. 
One  of  his  reminiscences  is  a  visit  to  what  was  the 
home  of  Napoleon  while  an  exile  at  St.  Helena. 

In  1850  Mr.  Davis  came  to  .\merica,  and  passed  a 
season  on  the  lakes.  In  1851  he  came  to  Michigan 
and  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now 
Mecosta  Tp.,  locating  on  sec.  27,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  was  one  of  the  two  white  men 
who  first  came  to  this  county  and  settled  permanent- 
ly. He  built  the  first  barn — a  frame  building — in  the 
vy  county,  in  1856,  and  afterward  erected  a  residence,  at 
^  that  time  the  largest  in  the  county.  He  has  bought 
(■•'  considerable  land  since  he  made  his  original  purchase, 
^  his  estate  now  aggregating  385  acres.  225   of  which 


are  in  cultivation.  The  reminiscences  of  Mr.  Davis 
contain  a  com|ilete  history  of  the  growth  of  Mecosta 
Co.  About  the  time  of  his  settlement,  John  Parish 
located  a  mile  below  the  point  where  the  "  Lower 
Bridge  "  at  Big  Rapids  spans  the  river,  and  until  the 
following  year  they  had  no  other  "neighbors."  Mr. 
Parish  left  his  first  location,  and  to  Mr.  Davis  belongs 
the  credit  not  only  of  being  the  first  settler  in  this 
county,  but  also  of  still  holding  his  orisiinal  tenure  of 
land. 

He  was  married  at  Rockford,  Kent  Co.,  Mich., 
Nov.  8,  1867,  to  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rosanna  (Blancha)  Probasco,  born  April  2,  1842,  in 
Huron  Co.,  O.  The  parents  were  natives  of  New- 
Jersey,  and  are  both  deceased.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Davis 
have  three  children:  Ada  ,M.  J.,  born  Oct.  2,  1868; 
John  \\'illiam,  March  6,  1870;  and  Frank  E.  B., 
June  20,  1872.     In  politics  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Democrat. 

—^^■^^ 


ij^^  land,  Nov.  16,  1831.  His  parents,  John 
'^  and  Rebecca  (Webb)  Thomas,  were  natives  of 
England,  where  the  mother  died.  The  father 
came  to  Canada  and  |)assed  the  remainder  of 
his  life;  his  death  occurred  in  1879.  .Mr. 
'I'homas  came  to  America  with  his  father  when  he 
was  14  years  of  age.  The  circumstances  of  the  elder 
Thomas  were  such  that  he  was  enabled  to  give  his 
children  a  good  education,  and  he  sent  his  son  lohn 
to  the  common  schools, and  afterward  to  an  academy, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  16  years,  when  he  was 
ajjinenticed  for  five  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  wagon 
and  carriage  making.  After  fulfilling  his  indenture 
he  worked  as  a  journeyman  till  1850.  In  1855  he 
left  Canada  and  came  to  Michigan,  locating  at  Cro- 
ton,  Newaygo  Co.,  where  he  established  himself  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  trade,  and  continued  wagon 
and  carriage  making  for  15  years.  He  sold  his 
business,  and  went  to  work  for  his  brother-in-law, 
.\aron  .\ustin,  as  general  assistant,  keeping  books, 
lumbering,  etc.,  for  six  months.  After  a  brief  visit  to 
Canada,  he  resumed  his  labors  in  the  woods,  for  Mr. 
N.  Thurston,  for  a  short  time.  He  was  then  em- 
ployed by  the  Ci.  R.  \-    I.  Railroad  Co.,  and   while  in 


I 


^-ohn  W.  Thomas,  carriage  and  wagon  maker      (5i>' 
at  Altona,  Ilinton  Tp.,  was  born  in  Eng-      ?^ 


< 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


4^^^ 


their  service  received  an  injury.  On  recovery  he  was 
occupied  with  his  trade  for  a  tiuie,  and  then  houglit 
40  acres  in  Barr)'  Co.,  Midi.,  where  he  was  resident 
six  years.     He  bought  his  place  in  good  faith,  sup- 

(^1  posing  he  had  the  right  of  every  man  to  hold  what 
he  paid  for;  ijut  the  event  proved  his  title  poor,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  abandon  the  farm,  and  sustained  a 
loss  of  S300  He  lived  a  year  at  Stanw'ood,  Mecosta 
Tp.,  and  liought  32  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of 
Deerfield,  which  is  still  in  his  possession.  In  the 
^  spring  of  1S79,  lie  came  to  .\ltona  and  established 
f&    his  present  business. 

^  Mr.  Thor.ias  has  been  married  twice,  and  is  the 
father  of  seven  children.  Those  living  are  Ida, 
Adelaide  and  Drusilla.  Tlie  deceased  were  \\'il- 
liam  and  Jane,  and  twin  children  who  died  in  eady 
infancy.  Mr.  Thomas  is  a  Republican,  and  was 
Constable  three  years  while  a  resident  in  Newaygo 
t'ountv. 


A 


^ 


.* 


\ 


\  illiam  O.  Lake,  .\ssistanl    Postmaster   at 
ji    Morley,  was  born   at   Port   Rowan,  Can.. 


•|^V}-^  March  5,  1855.  His  parents,  Robert  O. 
"m^P  and  Margaret  (Redker)  Lake,  are  also 
4Sr*  natives  of  Canada,  where  they  at  present 
i  I  reside. 
When  Mr.  Lake  reached  the  age  of  1 1  years,  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store  by  Alexander  Fer- 
guson, and  there  worked  about  18  months.  After- 
wards  he  was  variously   employed   until   the   fall  of 

1872,  and  then  came  to  Bay  City.       In  the  spring  of 

1873,  he  came  to  Morley,  and  was  employed  by  Nel 
son  Pike  as  clerk.  .Six  years  later  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  D.  C.  King  in  a  mercantile  enterprise, 
whicli  relation  existed  until  the  summer  of  1881, 
wiien  the  l)usiness  was  closed.  In  the  spring  of  tiiat 
year  he  made  an  extended  trip  to  Colorado,  return- 
ing the  same  fall,  and  engaging  temporarily  at 
Morley  and  Muskegon,  in  miscellaneous  interests. 
While  his  affairs  were  connected  with  those  of  D.  C. 
King  in  1880,  they  built  a  shingle-mill  in  the  western 
part  of  /Ktna  Tp.  They  managed  it  about  18 
months  and  sold  to  1.  E.  Tliurkow.  Jan  i,  1883, 
Mr.  Lake  assumed  control  nf  tlie  postoffice  at  Mor- 
ley.    In   .\iiril  of  llie  current   year,  he   was  elected 


Township  Clerk,  and  in  the  same  month  succeeded 
to  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Morley  Advance.  In 
politics  he  is  independent,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  ( )dd  Fellows. 


^ood  &  Gale.       i'his  is  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  important  of  the  business  firms 
of  Big    Rapids,   and   its    components    are 
Thomas  Hood  and  Martin  P.  Gale.      They  are 


manuf;icturers  of  pine  lumber,  chiefly,  shingles, 
etc.,  and  ship  their  products  throughout  the 
Fast.  'Their  interests  are  widespread  and 
various,  comprising  saw-niills,  landed  property,  etc. 
Their  steam  saw-mill  at  Remus,  Mecosta  Co.,  i)ro- 
duces  50,000  feet  of  lumber  daily,  and  they  employ 
in  the  mill  and  woods  about  100  workmen.  In  187  i 
they  bought  the  mill  in  upper  Big  Rapids,  built  by  the 
Tioga  Manufacturing  Co.,  which  they  sold  in  May, 
1883.  \  mill  owned  by  them  in  Leroy,  Osceola 
Co.,  was  sold  in  May,  1882,  and  Messrs.  Baker  &' 
.'^tearns,  of  Big  Rapids,  are  under  contract  with  then, 
to  supply  20,000,000  feet  of  sawed  lumber. 

IMessrs.  Hood  &  Gale  own  15,000  acres  of  land  in 
Lewis  County,  N.  Y. ;  also  a  two-thirds  interest  in 
13,000  acres  of  farm  lands  in  Oregon  County,  Mo. 
besides  considerable  tracts  in  different  parts  of  this 
.'^tate.  'They  hold  a  two-fifths  interest  in  the  Big 
Rapids  Wagon  Works,  a  stock  company  which  ccm- 
pletes  half  a  dozen  wagons  a  day,  and  of  which 
Mr.  Gale  is  Treasurer.  'They  own  one-fifth  of  the 
water  power  of  the  lower  dam  at  Big  rapids,  and  are 
stockholders  in  the  Xovlhern  Nati(-n:il  l'.:ink,  of  which 
Mr.  (jale  is  a  Director. 

'The  office  of  the  concern  is  in  the  N<jrthern  Hotel 
Block.  'This  magnificent  structure,  wholly  the  prop- 
erly of  Messrs.  Hood  &  (lale,  is  one  of  the  most 
significant  exhibits  of  the  character  of  the  spirit 
which  has  endowed  Big  Rapids  with  its  marvelous 
prestige.  Its  architecture  is  unicpie,  and  tlie  toiil  rii- 
sewblr  challenges  the  admiration  of  every  beholder. 
It  is  situated  on  Maple  street,  with  a  south  frontage 
of  300  feet,  and  the  west  end  running  back  on  State 
street.  It  is  40  to  140  feet  deep,  built  of  white  brick, 
is  two-stories  high,  and  no  expense  was  spared  in 
rendering  it  beautiful  and  substantial  in  every  detail. 


^ 


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^^i^^\^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


247 


One  hundred  and  forly  feet  in  the  center  of  the  first 
floor  is  occupied  for  hotel  puriwses,  and  the  remain- 
der, lioth  east  and  west,  is  devoted  to  l)nsiness  offices. 
The  second  floor  is  divided  into  parlors  and  sleeping 
apartments.  It  is  Ughted  throughout  by  gas,  and 
heated  hy  steam,     'i'lie  ni^gregate  cost  was  $70,000, 


A 


;<5 


V 


erdinand  Fairman,  senior  member  of  the 
banking  house  ot  Fairman  iV   Newton,  Hig 
Rapids,  was  born  in  the  township  of  Lyme, 
P^  JelTersoM  Co.,  N.  V.,  July  15,  1833.     His  father, 
^j^  Geo.  W.  Fairman,  was  born  in   the  year  1S12, 
\_      near  Ottawa,  Canada;  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  resides  in  Jefferson   County.     His  mother, 

V  }  Mary  A.  (Fox)  I'airman,  was  iiorn  in  Lyme  Tp. ;  her 
parents  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Jefferson  Co.,  and 
were  originally  from  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
."^tate  of  New  York,  on  Lake  Cham|)laiii. 

Mr.  Fairman  was  brought  up  antl  educated  as  was 
the  custom  among  the  agricultural  communities  of 
that  locality  and  period.  He  was  a  boy  of  energy 
and  s|)irit,  and  early  in   lile  determined   to  make   the 

U  ")  most  of  such  advantages  as  presented  themselves. 
By  the  time  he  was  18  years  of  age  he  had  accpiired 
a  solid  and  available  education,  which  he  turned  to 
account  by  teaching  school  winters,  alternating  with 
farm  labors  summers,  until  he  reached  the  age  of  26 
years,  when,  in  company  with  Alpheus  Parker,  he 
commenced  a  general  mercantile  business  at  .\le\an- 
dria  in  his  native  county.  The  firm  title  and  style 
was  Parker  &  Fairman,  and  the  relation  existed  until 
the  winter  of  1865.  At  that  date  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  partner,  conducting  the  busine'is  alone 
until  187  I,  and  with  a  fair  degree  of  success.  Sell- 
ing his  stock,  he  removed  to  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  in 
order  to  secure  better  educational  advantages  for  his 
i-hililren,  and  because  of  his  own  impaired  health. 
He  spent  the  two  years  following  in  traveling  through 
the  South  and  Southwest,  prosi)ecting  for  a  business 
location. 

He  was  afterwards  impressed  with  the  feasibility 
of  Hig  Rapids  as  a  business  point,  and  in   the  suni- 

0*'     mer  of  1873  invested  in  real  estate  in  that  city.     He 

^_   removed  his   family  to  this  pla       pnrjiosing  to  enter 


largely  into  real  estate  brokerage.  The  financial 
demoralization  that  swept  the  country  about  that  time 
unsettled  his  plans,  and  he  accepted  a  proffered 
situation  as  cashier  of  the  F>.\cliange  Bank,  where 
he  officiated  one  year.  His  health  was  still  pre- 
carious, .and  in  the  winter  of  1874-5  he  went  to 
Texas  to  obtain  the  advantages  of  the  genial  cli- 
mate, and  interested  himself  in  the  purchase  of 
lands.  He  came  back  to  Big  Hapids  in  the  spring, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  1875,  in  partnership  with  Samuel 
T.  Potter,  of  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.',  opened  a  banking 
house  under  the  firm  name  of  Fairman  &  I'otler. 
The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  January,  1879,  and 
Mr.  Fairman  conducted  the  banking  business  alone 
until  Nov.-mber,  1881,  when  he  admitted  .Mrs.  .\l.  J. 
Newton,  of  Jefferson  Co.,  to  an  interest  with  himself. 
Mrs.  Newton  retired  .Aug.  10,  1S82,  her  son,  Samuel 
I/.  Newton  (the  ward  of  Mr.  h'airnian),  succeeding  to 
a  one-half  interest,  and  also  to  a  moiety  in  the  Fair- 
man  &  Newton  Block  The  business  of  the  house 
has  since  been  prosperous  and  its  relations  constantly 
increasing.  Its  advantages  are  based  upon  years  of 
experience  and  ample  ca[)ital,  together  with  the 
stability  afforded  by  the  character  and  record  of  the 
gentlemen  who  regulate  its  relations.  The  business 
ipialifications  of  Mr.  Fairman,  as  well  as  his  methods, 
well-known  and  tested  by  those  with  whom  he  is  con- 
nected in  his  financial  transactions,  are  such  as  tt) 
warrant  the  confidence  which  they  inspire. 

In  1876  Mr.  Fairman  loaned  a  considerable  sun) 
of  money  to  the  parties  controlling  the  Big  Rai)ids 
Iron  Works,  securing  himself  by  mortgage.  The  af- 
fairs of  the  concern  became  involved  and  Mr.  Fair- 
man  foreclosed  in  1878.  Heat  once  entered  upon 
the  duty  of  utilizing  the  power  and  fixtures  and  man- 
aged the  business  with  entire  success,  and  by  his 
systematic  methods  and  forethought  built  uji  a  cred- 
itable trade.  He  sold  the  est  iblishment  in  Octolier, 
1 88 1,  to  Messrs.  Cannon  &  Gottshall.  In  1879,  the 
disastrous  fire  of  October  19,  destroyed  the  new 
Mason  House  Block,  and  in  1880  Mr.  l-'airman  pur- 
chased its  site  and  erected  what  is  known  as  the 
Fairman  &  Newton  Block,  naming  it  in  honor  of  the 
young  man  who,  in  1882,  became  his  associate  in 
the  banking  house.  Mr.  Fairman  has  been  for  some 
ye.ars,  and  still,  is  operating  cpiite  extensively  in  real 
estate,  on  his  own  behalf  and  in  the  interest  of  other 
parties. 

He  was  married  July  3,  1855,10   Juli.i  M.  Waters, 


v|; 


0 

•; 
A 


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V 

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(^ 


^^WifM:y^, — ^^€y^ 


®)5$^t|« 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


daughter  of  Andrew  and  Catliaiine  Waters,  who  was 

born   at  Alexandria,    Jefferson   Co.,    N.   V.,  July    3^ 

,'^  1834.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fainnan  have  three  cliildren; 

I    Thyrza  J.   is  the  wife  of  E.  W.  Hudnutt,  of  the  Fal- 

^    con  Pl.Tning  Mills;  George  F.  is  acting  as  cashier  of 

1    in  the  bank  of  Fairman  &  Newton;  Jessie  M.   is  the 


youngest  child  and  lives  with  her  parents. 

We   place    the   portrait  of    Mr.    Fairman 
Album  in  connection  witli  this  sketch. 


in    this 


/ 


o 


^ohn  M.  Crocker,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Crocker  &  Hudnutt,  architects,  con- 
tractors and  builders,  and  proprietors  of  the 
sl^  Falcon  planing  mill,  has  been  a  resident  of  15ig 
Rapids  since  1875.  He  is  a  son  of  Wm.  H. 
and  Mary  A.  (HoUoway)  Crocker,  and  was 
born  in  the  city  of  London,  Kng.,  July  28, 
^  1848.  His  parents  came  to  the  United  States  when 
^  he  was  two  years  old,  and  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
=  where  his  father  operated  as  an  architect  and  builder 
t^  until  1858,  putting  up  some  of  the  principal  build- 
er ings  of  the  "(-ream  City."  In  the  year  named  the 
'•Ti  family  removed  to  a  faim  in  Manitowoc,  Wis.,  wheie 
\^  the  parents  yet  reside. 

Mr.  Crocker  naturally  inclined  to  mechanical  arts, 
and  at  12  years  of  age  commenced  10  [ireparefor  the 
vocation  of  his  father,  in  whose  shoji  he  was  trained 
seven  years,  meanwhile  obtaining  an  cdiicatior.  He 
first  went  to  the  union  school  at  Milwaukee,  and 
al'terwards  to  the  common  schools  at  Manitowoc,  and 
also  attended  the  union  school  at  Ypsilanti,  Mich. 

The  civil  war  broke  out  when  he  was  r3  years 
old;  and  the  consequent  discission  of  the  absorbing 
topic,  and  intense  feeling  which  pervaded  all  classes 
at  the  North,  aroused  the  boy's  spirit,  and  in  June, 
1864,  he  enrolled  at  Manitowoc  as  a  private  soldier 
in  Company  G,  39th  Wisconsin  Vol.  Inf.  under 
Capt.  Patchen.  He  was  in  the  service  si.\  months 
and  participated  in  several  engagements.  His  Teg- 
s' inient  was  detailed  to  guard  Memphis,  and  was  in- 
1  volved  in  some  severe  skirmishes  with  the  rebel  Gen. 
"^  Forrest.  He  was  discharged  at  Milwaukee.  When 
1^  19  years  old  he  went  to  Grand  Rapids  and  com- 
^C  menced  his  career  as  a  contractor;  remained  eight 
^  years  and  left  a  substantial  record  of  his  work  there 
^    in  the  form  of  a   number  of  fine    buildings.     During 


the  period  of  his  residence  at  Grand  Rapids,  he  ful- 
filled a  number  of  contracts  for  stair-building  in 
Chicago.  On  coming  to  P>ig  Rapids  in  1875  he  at 
once  entered  upon  the  prosecution  of  his  trade,  and 
erected  the  brick"  school-house,  and  the  magnificent 
dwelling  of  Thomas.  D.  Stimson,  corner  of  Elm 
Street  and  ^\'an•en  avenues,  now  owned  by  A\'iltre 
Stickney.  He  also  constructed  the  building  for  the 
Northern  National  Bank.  Not  long  after  locating 
here  he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  \\'.  Hudnutt, 
bought  the  planing  mill  of  C  S.  Hanks,  and  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors,  Ijlinds, 
mouldings  and  l)uil(ling  materials  generally.  Their 
rapidly  extending  business  has  necessitated  two  ad- 
ditions to  the  establishment.  .As  evidences  of  the 
enterprise  and  architectural  skill  of  the  firm,  Big 
Rapids  boasts  of  the  Smith  Block,  the  Northern 
Hotel,  Hood,  (iale  &  Cos  Block,  Telfer,  Morrissey  & 
Stickney's  Block,  and  Furniture  Block,  Fairman  & 
Newton's  Block,  the  Mercy  Hospital,  Moody  and 
Moore's  Livery  .Stables,  and  a  number  of  fine  res- 
idences. They  employ  at  this  writing  53  men,  and 
find  demand  wholly  for  their  products  within  the 
limits  of  the  State. 

Mr.  CiDcker  was  married  at  Coldwater,  Mich, 
Dec.  23,  1877,  to  Dora  A.  .Stout,  a  native  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  at  Big  Rapids  two  years,  and  belonged  to  the 
Common  Council  the  same  length  of  time. 


saac  W.  Pierce,  member  of  the  Council  of 


^    Mecosta  village,  was  l)orn  in  Naples,  Onta- 

rio  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.    2,  1S33,  and  is  a  son  of 

Jeris  and    Rachel  (Watkins)    Pierce.      His 

father  was  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  and  came  to 

Michigan  about  the  year   1835    and  settled  in 

Leonidas,  St.  Joseph  Co.   He  entered  a  claim  of 

160  acres  of  timbered  land,  and  was  a    [>ioneer  of 

that  community.     He  made  a  small  clearing,  built 

his  log  house  and  laboretl  until  he  cleared  about   120 

acres.     His  children  were  small,   and  at  first  could 

be  of  but  little  assistance;  but  as  time  passed  on, 

their  interest  in  the  improvement  of  the  homestead 

grew  with  their  years,  and  they  lent  no  inconsiderable 

aid  to  the  development  of  the  place. 

i<-llD:*:i!il->^«=^ 


9 


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Ta^^^^r — tTv<>lini^llD^>v^-^' 5<€^ 


4^^K^V|^ 


iUfi--^ 


MECOSTA  CCUNTY. 


-M9 


(S; 


) 

A 


When  19  years  old  Mr.  Pierce  turned  his  face 
westward  to  the  golden  promise  of  the  Pacific  coast. 
He  made  his  first  essay  in  placer  mininii  in  the  Ameri- 
can River,  and  operated  similarly  on  the  Middle  Fork 
of  Veather  River,  in  Butler  Co.,  Cal.  He  finally 
eni;aged  in  stock  business,  going  at  last  to  Long  Val- 
ley, Xev.,  where  he  was  associated  with  .Vhner 
Stimpson,  William  Prosser  and  John  Ferris,  and  en- 
gaged in  rearing  and  shipping  stock  two  and  one- 
half  years;  they  then  sold  out,  and  all  returned  to 
C"alifornia  excei)t  Mr.  Prosser.  Shortly  afterward 
Mr.  Pierce  went  to  Idaho  City  and  engaged  actively 
in  mining  for  nine  and  a  half  years,  with  fair  suc- 
cess. In  the  fall  of  1866  he  returned  to  Leonidas, 
resumed  his  trade,  and  there  has  operated  as  a 
huilder.  In  March,  1 881,  he  came  to  .Me<osia  \il- 
lage.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  was  elected  Treas- 
urer, and  member  of  the  Village  Council.  He 
owns  his  residence  and  three  lots  on  l*"ranklin  street, 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town;  also  40  acres  of 
farming  land  in  .Martiny  'Pp.,  located  one  mile  nortii 
of  the  village  of  Mecosta. 
S  Mr.  Pierce  was  married  in  Leonidas,  Jan.  3,  1867, 
505  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Louisa  Porter. 
°  born  at  Naples,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  V.,  Sept.  5,  1839. 
They  have  one  child — Frank  j  ,  i)orn  in  Leonidas, 
Oct.  30,  1867. 


jTj'^euben  N.  Hall,  farmer  on  sec.  i,  Hinioii 
L^-^i  'l'-'  '^  '*  ^O"  of  Gardner  and  Theory  (Nott) 
^  ni-  Hall,  and  was  born  March  ir,  1819,  in 
'i*S^  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  V.  His  father  was  a  native 
\X^  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the  mother  of  V'ermont: 
I'  they  were  married  in  the  .State  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Hall  passed  the  first  20  years  of  his  life 
at  school  and  on  the  farm.  At  21  lie  engaged  him- 
self to  learn  the  trade  of  tanner  ;uid  currier,  which 
occupation  he  followed  until  the  fall  of  1863,  when 
he  came  to  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.  He  has  njade  agricul- 
ture tile  pursuit  of  his  life,  and  followed  it  in  liie 
counties  of  Ionia  and  .Montcalm,  until  ihe  smnmer 
of  1881,  when  he  ])urchased  40  acres  of  improved 
land  on  sec.  1,  of  Hinton  Ti).  In  thespringof  18S2, 
he  moved  his  family  from  Montcalm  County.  In  ihe 
winter  of  1882  he  bought  120  acres  of  land,  chiefly 
iu  heavy  limber,  sec.    12.      Having  sold   40  acres  to 


% 


his  son,  his  landed  estate  in  Hinton  Tp.  includes  1 20 
acres. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  in  the  Slate  of  New  York, 
July  15,  1844,  to  Lydia.daughterof  James  and  Melin- 
da  (Kinney)  Heald,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  was  born 
in  F^ssex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  29,  1823.  Of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall,  only  three  survive: 
Ellis  W.,  born  March  7,  1849;  Genevra,  born  Feb. 
16,  1855,  and  Augusta  C,  Sept.  4,  1856. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hall  is  independent. 


'^• 


""ames  P.  Weaver,  farmer  and  carpenter, 
sec.  34,  .\u?.tin  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  William 
~^=^i^  and  Elizabeth  (Townsend)  Weaver,  natives 
i'||o'  of  New  Jersey  and  of  German  descent.  They 
v'C*"  became  residents  of  Canada  in  early  life,  and 
were  married  there.  Mr.  A\'eaver  was  born  in 
the  Province  of  Ontario,  Can.,  Maicii  18,  1818. 
He  was  a  pupil  at  school,  and  an  assistant  on  ihe 
farm  of  his  father  until  he  reached  the  age  of  19, 
when  he  came  to  Michigan  and  located  at  Kalama- 
zoo, where  he  began  to  learn  the  ait  of  carpentering, 
at  which  he  worked  until  1839.  He  then  went  back 
.to  Canada  for  a  brief  stay,  but  on  solicitation  deter- 
mined to  remain.  His  parents  lived  in  the  city  of 
London,  Ont.,  and  lie  stayed  with  them,  finding  plenty 
of  employment  at  his  trade.  His  father  died  March 
r  I,  1849,  and  he  succeeded  to  the  care  and  responsi- 
bilities of  managing  the  fum  and  family  affairs. 
This  he  did,  meanwhile  lollcwing  his  ccciipation, 
until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he  came  to  this 
county  and  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in  Austin  Tp., 
besides  entering  another  80  acres  under  the  home- 
stead law,  making  a  most  valuable  farm,  ranking 
fairly  with  the  best  locations  in  Austin  Township, 

Mr  Weaver  was  married  in  London.  Ont  ,  Marcli 
12,  1843,  to  Dnisilla,  ihuighter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Hurley)  .Austin.  The  i)arents  were  natives  of  New- 
Jersey,  and  of  Cieriiian  ancestry.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  they  went  to  C"anada  and  settled  in  To- 
ronto, Ont.,  where  Mrs.  Weaver  was  born,  Dec.  25, 
1825.  She  was  well  brought  up,  aiul  received  a  fair 
degree  of  education.  She  has  been  the  mother  of 
si\  <'hildren — two  boys  anti  four  girls.  One  son  and 
one  (laughler  are  deceased.     The  remaining  son  and 


Si/ 


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-H-^og>:D[l^:>^  ^     >€y^ 


.U/iCOSTA  COUNTY 


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three  daughters  are  settled  in  life,  with  promising 
families:  The  following  are  their  names  and  datesof 
birth.  Emmeline,  Jan.  12,  1842;  John,  Dec.  10, 
1S40;  Cynthia,  Feb.  25,  1838;  Josephine,  May  10, 
1858. 

In  his  native  city  Mr.  Weaver  was  a  member  of  the 
Common  Council,  incumbent  at  times  of  several 
offices,  and  was  a  Lieutenant  of  the  local  militia. 
He  has  no  political  tendency  whatever,  but  has  been 
Treasurer  for  several  years.  Justice  of  the  Peace 
three  years,  etc.,  and  is  now  District  .\ssessor. 

-At  its  organization,  the  township  was  named  for  the 
brother  of  Mrs.  Weaver — Aaron  .\ustin — now  a  resi- 
dent of  Mecosta  villaije. 


John  A.  Rose,  deceased,  was  a  son  of  An- 
drew W.  and  Ormilla  (Perry)  Rose.  His 
parents  were  iiioneers  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  where  they  passed  their  lives  engaged 
in  farming.  John  A.  was  born  in  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.,  March  13,  1821.  He  was  an  inmate  of 
the  paternal  home  until  24  years  of  age.  His 
circumstances  were  such  that  he  was  never  able  to 
attend  school  a  single  day  in  his  life ;  but  gathered 
together  such  education  as  he  could,  and  made  the 
most  of  hii  powers  of  observation,  quickened  into 
keenness  by  his  consciousness  of  his  lack  of  early 
opportunities.  He  came  to  Michigan  in  November, 
1866,  and  purchased  120  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  .Aug.  10,  1875. 
Since  that  event  Mrs.  Rose  has  sold  80  acres  and 
with  the  assistance  of  her  sons  carries  on  the  re- 
mainder. 

Mr.  Rose  was  married  Nov.  8,  1844,  in  Aurora, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Emily  E.,  daughterof  Amasa  and 
Polly  (Welch)  Freeman,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Connecticut.  She  was  born  in  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y,  June  16,  1817.  After  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rose  settled  in  Erie  Co.,  where  they  were  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  their  removal  to  Michigan. 
.'Ml  of  the  seven  children  born  of  tliis  marriage  yet 
survive.  Emily  E.  was  iiorn  .\ug.  19,  1845  ;  John  T., 
Julys,  '847;  Levi  A.,   March  16,    1849;  Theo.   L., 


June  27,  1851;  Polly,  Dec.   13,  1853;  Rosetta,  Auj. 
24,  1857  ;  and  .\ndrew  J..  Nov.  22,  1859. 


— ^^/^-f^^■|^S-^'^^  -.' 


ohn  E.  Heiter,  proprietor  of   steam    saw- 
'^l^^lC.  mill  at  Sylvester,  Hinton  Tj).,  was  born  in 

Illsr^r^  New  Jersey,  Aug.  18,   185  i.       His  parents 
were   Joim    P>.    and   jSLiry  A.  (Burns)   Reiter. 

^F  The  father  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  and 
^  the  mother  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  They 
were  married  in  New  Jersey,  whither  they  emigrated 
from  their  respective  countries,  and  later  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  the  fatlier  is  still  living,  and 
where  the  mother  died,  June  11,  1834.  Mr.  Reiter 
went  to  Pennsylvania,  with  his  parents,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  farming,  lumbering,  and  attending 
school,  until  18  years  of  age.  In  1876,  he  attended 
Eastman's  Commercial  College  three  months.  In 
1877,  he  came  to  this  county,  and  became  one-half 
owner  by  purchase  of  the  steam  saw-mill  located  at 
Sylvester,  and  owned  and  managed  by  Joseph  Misho 
and  Darum  B.  Kelley.  He  bought  the  interest  of 
the  latter.  Tliis  was  afterward  burned,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1882  he  erected  the  mill  which  he  now 
operates.  Its  capacity  is  10,000  feet  of  lumber 
daily..  Mr.  Reiter  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
has  been  Scliool  Director  two  years.  He  is  interest- 
ed in  the  [irogress  of  the  temperance  work,  and 
lends  his  influence  to  all  reformatory  measures. 

Mr.  Reiter  was  married  in  Reed  City.  Mich.,  Sept. 
20,  1878,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  James  and  Catherine 
(Flanagan)  Decker.      (See  sketcii  of  James  r)ecker.) 


'iS'iS^s^ 


>*«t>^i"i-J^ 


D)6§^^ 


ohn  A.  Boll,  farmci   .uid   lumbemian,  sec. 

^^t  6,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born   March  3,   )826> 

iK^ir^  in    Canada.     He  is    a  son   of  James    and 

■  V  j\meliaB.  Hell.     His  father  was  born  in    Kng- 

%r^   land  and  came  to  Canada  in  1814,    where   he 

\     married  and  passed  his  remaining  years.     Mr. 

Bell's  mother  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 

5>:illls>A-^^ ^^^^ 


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^  T  — 

^  Mr.  Hell  remained  imiler  the  [lalenial  roof  unlil  the 

'rj  age  of  23,  engaged  on  the  farm  and  fitting  for  fii- 
.r*;,  tiire  usefulness.  After  managing  his  father's  farm  for 
I  two  vears,  he  purchased  200  acres  of  land  with  lim- 
<  ited  improvements,  on  which  was  a  saw-mill.  He 
carried  on  the  farm  and  engaged  in  himlicring,  and 
oi)erated  in  this  two-fold  method  five  years,  when  he 
sold  out  and  bought  another  farm  of  too  acres,  which 
he  occupied  four  years,  and  again  sold  out.  In  the 
fall  of  1S61  he  came  to  Miihigan,  and  was  engaged 
in  lumliering  in  Mecosta  County  about  nine  years, 
when  he  bought  2S0  acres  of  land,  chiefly  unim- 
])roved,  with  the  most  primeval  type  of  buildings. 
They  have  jiassed  to  the  oblivion  of  destruction  and 
decay,  and  have  been  replaced  by  others  which  rank 
with  the  finest  in  the  country.  An  additional  pur- 
chase of  t6o  acres  adjoining  his  estate  has  increased 
his  landed  ix)ssessions  to  440  acres,  340  of  which  are 
)  tinder  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  l!ell  is  a  Re- 
publican of  no  tmcertain  type,  aini  though  often 
urged  to  permit  tlie  use  of  his  name  in  the  interests 
of  his  township,  has  always  declined. 

He  was  married  in  Canada.  Nov.  6  1.S50,  to  Mar- 
garet Johnson,  a  native  of  Canada.  Four  of  si.x 
children  from  this  iniion  are  living:  Wm.  .\  ,  born 
Jime  30,  1852;  lames  P.,  June  14,  1S55;  'I'heodore 
A.,  Dec.  14,  1S5S,  and  Emily  A.,  .\ug.  29,  i86t. 
Mary  T,.,  born  .\pril  24,  1857,  was  married  Jan.  23, 
1878,  to  .\rthur  .Mien,  of  Mecosta  County,  and  died 
Aug.  g,  1883.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  Mrs, 
Margaret  Bell,  tlie  mother,  died  Feb.  22,  1866,  at  lier 
home  in  Mecosta  Comity.  Mr.  Bell  again  contracted 
marriage  in  Canada,  Oct.  30,  1866,  with  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Angus  and  Sarah  (McDougall)  McColhnn. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Scotland  who  emigrated 
to  Canada  at  an  early  period  of  their  lives.  Her 
father  is  yet  living  in  Canada,  where  her  mother  died 
alxjut  1873.  Three  of  tiie  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Bell  are  living,— Sarah  A.,  born  Jan.  8,  1878;  Clinton 
R..  born  Jan.  23,  1S76,  and  Fdith  C:.,  born  Nov.  22, 
[879.  John  A.  was  born  Jan.  23,  1873,  and  died  May 
II,  1876. 

The    family  are   communicants  of  the    Episcopal 
Church,  and  are  esteemed  and  wortiiy  members  of 
\^   society,  and  lend  every  effort  to  elevate  its  standard. 


v<^^Dll^<iDI]r>r 


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M/iCOSTA    COUNTY. 


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-     OCV> 

iles  Olin,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Austin  Tp.,  was 
born  in  Chemung  C'o.,  N.  Y.,  .Vpril  13, 
1837.  His  parents,  William  H.  and 
^'W^  Lydia  (Corry)  Olin,  were  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land. Giles  grew  up  under  the  guidance  of 
his  parents,  and  remained  under  the  patetnal 
roof  until  his  marriage  to  Lydia,  daughter  of  David 
and  Sarah  (Bennett)  Moulter.  This  event  occurred 
Fel).  2,  1856.  Mr.  Moulter  was  born  of  Cierman 
|)arentage,  and  his  wife  was  of  nii.xed  Scotch  and 
Irish  ancestry.  Mrs.  Olin  was  born  in  Chemung  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Sept.  20,  1836.  .Vfter  marriage  Mr.  Olin 
passed  two  years  as  a  common  laborer.  He  then 
puvcliased  25  acres  of  forest  land,  and  resided  there- 
on until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  the  family  came  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  he  bought  i  20  acres  of  land  in 
Austin  Tp.;  to  this  he  has  added  40  acres,  and 
now  owns  iCo  acres  of  land,  in  one  of  the  best  locat- 
ed sections  of  th.e  township.  Fifty  acres  of  this  are 
under  cidtivation,  and  the  owner  has  erected  good 
and  suitable  buildings  thereon. 

In  this  family  are  four  ciiildren  living:  William 
H.,  Dec.  4,  1857;  .Mmeda  E.,  July  22,  i860;  Eliza 
J.,  Feb.  21,  1867;  Sivillian,  July  13,  1871  ;  Sarah  A., 
i)orn  Sei)t.  12,  1858,  died  March  8,  1S61.  Mr.  Olin 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  his  township  as 
Treasurer  six  terms.  Himself  and  wife  are  active 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


^rJF^^l  dwin  R.  Roe,   fanner,  residing  on  sec.  14, 
Ilinton  Tp>'^  -^  ^^   son  of  Ceoige  P.  and 
.\senath  (Hamilton)  Roe,  former  a  native  of 
5;^    England  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.    They  first  re- 
"&     moved  to  Indiana,  and  soon  after  came  to  Ber- 
I       rien  Co.,  Mich.,  wheie  the  father  died  in  1867  : 
the  mother  was   again    married    and    went    to 
Missouri,  and  there  died.     Mr.   Roe  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Ind.,  April  14,  1838,  and  in  eariy  youth  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  this  State,  where  he  resided 
until  he  was  28  years  old,  meanwhile  learning  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and    also  the   art  of    telegraphy, 
and  working  at  intervals  on  the   farm.     In  the  fall  of 
1867  he  came  to  this  county,  where  he  had  previously 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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bought  40  acres  of  wild  land,  in  Hinton  Tp.,on  which 
he  now  resides.  Mr.  Roe  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  .Vbraliani  Lin- 
coln. He  has  held  the  post  of  Highway  Commis- 
sioner six  years.  He  was  married  in  Berrien  Co., 
Mich.,  Aug.  7,  i86i,  to  Dininiis,  daughter  of  Nelson 
and  Almira  (Pierce)  Bromley.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  New  York,  and  removed  th'-Mice  to  Cook  Co.,  111., 
and  afterwards  to  Wisconsin,  thence  to  Micliigan,  where 
the  father  died,  in  1872.  The  mother  is  still  living,  in 
Missouri.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roe  have  had  four  children: 
Louie  .\.  was  born  July  24,  1862  ;  Orie  M.,  Dec.  26, 
1864;  Lizzie  V.,  March  30,  1S68,  and  Cora  U.,  Nov. 
10,  1870. 


S^^^ames  H.   Rogers,  lumberman  ana  farmer, 
"^ '  ~  resident  on  sec.  14,  Mecosta  'Pp.,  was  a  na- 

tive of  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father, 
Abraham  Rogers,  was  of  English-Dutch  descent 
and  was  born  in  Canada.  His  mother,  Han- 
nali  D.  (.Stickney)Rogers,  was  of  pure  English 
descent  and  born  in  New  Hampshire.  Mr.  Rogers 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  2 1  years  of  age  and 
received  as  good  an  education  as  possible  at  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  attended  a  term  at  the  Alfred 
Academy  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.  On  arriving  at  his 
majority  he  left  home  and  went  into  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, which  he  prosecuted  until  the  fall  of  1854.  .\t 
that  dale  he  came  to  Newaygo  County  and  i)ur- 
chased  a  tract  of  land,  including  500  acres  of  heavy 
timber,  lying  ou  the  Big  Muskegon.  .Soon  afterward 
he  engaged  in  the  business  of  locating  land,  which 
occupied  him  until  1856  and  was  a  lucrative  |)ursuit. 
He  abandoned  it  after  two  years,  and  came  to  Me- 
costa Township  to  locate  100  acres  of  land.  Here 
he  hired  men  and  their  families,  established  lumber 
camps  and  gave  a  large  amount  of  attention  to  the 
trade  in  lumber,  which  was  at  that  date  the  germ  of 
nearly  all  settlements  made  in  this  section  of  the 
Peninsular  State.  During  this  time  the  .State  road 
was  ill  process  of  building,  and  Mr.  Rogers  was 
ai)pointed  Commissioner  by  Gov.  Blair,  and  held 
the  |X)St  three  years.  He  has  been  appointed  special 
Commissioner  several  times  since.  From  1865  to 
i8;o  Mr.  Rogers  was  actively  engaged  in  the  joint 


pursuit  of  managing  a  country  store  and  hotel,  in 
which  was  also  established  the  local  postoffice,  and 
in  connection,  a  large  lumber  interest.  The  store  of 
Mr.  Rogers  was  opened  in  1865,  and  was  tire  first 
mercantile  establishment  in  tiie  township. 

On  the  completion  of  the  railroad  to  Big  Rapids 
in  1869  Mr.  Rogers  closed  his  mercantile  operations 
and  hotel  business,  and  as  the  lumber  trade  dimin- 
ished he  devoted  his  attention  almost  exclusively  to 
farming.  His  homestead  includes  350  acres  of  land, 
with  120  acres  in  fair  tillable  condition.  He  has  al- 
ways been  active  in  politics  and  is  a  zealous  Republi- 
can. .At  the  organization  of  the  township  he  was 
made  Clerk,  and  held  the  post  se\  eral  years.  He 
has  been  School  Superintendent  and  Inspector,  and 
has  held  various  other  otticial  positions. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  married  Feb.  14,  1867,  to  Sarali 
15.,  daughter  of  Willard  and  Lois  (Roberts)  Salisbury, 
natives  of  New  York  and  of  English  descent.  She 
was  i)orn  in  Broome  C'o.,  N.  Y.,  May  g,  1842.  She 
went  to  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  where  she  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1866,  at  which  time  siie  came  to  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  have  two  children: 
Carrie  E.,  born  May  8,  1869,  and  Edgar  R.,  born 
Sept.  25,  1873. 


— }- 


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JlE^^Eacob  Snider,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Austin  Tp. 
'^I^^r-  ^^'^s'^O"""  '"  f^'itaiio,  Can.,  Feb.  9,  1827,  son 
«bf -.v^  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (McReady)  Snider, 
felp*  natives  of  New  Brunswick,  and  of  German 
and  French  ancestry.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage they  went  to  Toronto,  Can.,  and  thence 
to  Ontario.  Mr.  Snider  spent  his  early  youth  in 
acquiring  his  edu-ation  at  a  select  school  in  the 
vicinity  where  he  lived,  and  assisting  on  iiis  father's 
farm.  At  the  age  of  27  years  he  was  married  to 
Teakles,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (McReady) 
Halliday,  natives  of  New  Brunswick  and  of  Irish  de- 
scent. Mrs.  Snider  was  born  in  the  same  province, 
June  6,  1829,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  her  native  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider 
established  a  home  on  100  acres  of  the  homestead, 
where  they  carried  on  farming  until  their  removal  to 
Michigan,  in  the  winter  of  1864.  They  lived  a  few  ^ 
months  at  Croton,  Newaygo  Co.,  coming  thence  to 
Austin    i'p.,    where    they    purchased    80    acres    of 


g^V^^i-t; ^^^ff^ T-^^^!l:^DIl^>^=-^ ^"^^ -m^^((^^j^^ 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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timbered  land,  and  entered  upon  the  lives  of  pio- 
neers, beginning  with  the  usual  log  cabin  and  small 
clearing,  wliich  gradually  assumed  larger  proiKjrtions 
until  broad,  fertile  fields  stretch  out  where  everjthing 
was  formerly  hidden  by  intricate  forests.  To  the 
oriji^inal  tract  of  land  Mr.  Snider  has  added  another 
80  acres,  and  now  owns  an  entire  ijuarter  section  of 
well  improved  land.  He  has  recently  finished  a 
beautiful  residence,  at  an  expenditure  of  $1,500.  All 
his  farm  fi.xtures  and  appurtenances  are  of  a  class  to 
increase  its  value  and  attractiveness. 

Of  seven  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider,  six 
are  living:  Rachel,  born  July  13,  1S63,  and  died 
May  28,  1864;  Wellesley  H.,  Ixarn  Sept.  9,  1857: 
Adaline  S..  Aug,  21,  1S58  ;  Lillie  A.,  Sept.  17,  i860; 
Jennie  R.,  Jan  11,  1861  ;  Herbert  A.,  Aug.  ig, 
1S65;  Gideon  C,  Aug   19,  1867. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider  have  been  members  in  full 
standing  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  25  years.  Mr. 
Snider  is  a  radical  Republican;  has  been  Supervisor 
of  his  township  two  terms.  Justice  of  the  Peace  four 
years,  Treasurer,  etc.  His  eldest  son,  W.  H.  Snider, 
was  married  Oct.  iS,  1877  ;  his  wife  died  Sept.  i, 
1 87  8. 


-S- 


#^ 


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C.  Lincoln,  wagon  and  carriage  builder,  at 
Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  Ticonderoga,  Es- 
se.K  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  27, 1844  ;  son  of  Rufus 
6[(5'"  and  Samantha  (Hissell)  Lincoln.  At  the  age  of 
17  he  went  to  learn  the  trade,  which  he  has  made 
the  business  of  his  life.  He  located  at  Kig 
^j  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  1867,  and  a  year  later  he 
'xS  opened  ashop;  formed  a  partnership  with  Peter  Corn- 
stock,  which  continued  18  months,  when  he  bought  out 
the  interest  of  his  partner.  ( )ne  and  a  half  years  af- 
terward he  sold  a  half  claim  to  Eli  Frederick,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  1879  they  came  to  the  stand  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Lincoln.  They  purchased  three  lots 
and  erected  their  shops,  four  in  nvmiber.  The  wood 
shop  is  22.\so  feet  in  dimensions,  and  the  blacksmith 
shop  24x50  feet.  There  are  besides,  the  paint  shop 
and  lumber  room.  A  force  of  five  blacksmiths  are 
usually  employed,  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  brother  doing 
the  w(x)il  work.  Jan.  i,  1883,  Mr.  I'rederick  with 
drew  from  the  concern,  selling  his  interest  in  the 
business  to  the  present  proprietor,  who  is  now  doing 


1 


^ 
f 

^^3 


a  very  prosperous  and  steadily  growing  business. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  married  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March 
24,  1867,  to  Sarah  J.  Hunter,  a  native  of  Montreal, 
Canada.  Mr.  ai.d  Mrs.  Lincoln  have  had  three  chil- 
dren:  Frederick,  born  March  20,  1869  and  died  Oct. 
6,  t88o;  Charles  H.,  born  Aug.  15,  1873,  and  died 
Oct.  6,  1880.  (Jeorge  L.,  sole  surviving  child,  was 
born  Feb.  11,  1883. 


9. 


vicaec;®^®- 


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^^^^ 


?  annibal  Hyde,  farmer,  resident  on  sec.  10, 
Mecosta  Ti).,  is  the  son  of  James  and 
'^  Eunice  (Puck)  Hyde,  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut; they  settled  in  Vermont  where  the  son  was 
born  in  Orange  County,  Nov.  5,  1810.  On 
reaching  his  21st  year  he  set  out  to  seek  his  for- 
tune. His  first  exploit  was  to  walk  to  Glens 
F.alls,  N.  Y.,  90  miles  distant,  and  thence  to  Albany, 
but  he  soon  retraced  his  steps  and  engaged  in  lum- 
bering for  a  few  months,  finally  finding  regular  em- 
ployment on  a  farm  at  $11  per  month.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  engagement  he  went  to  work  in  a 
saw-mill,  where  he  was  occupied  some  months.  In 
the  summer  of  1835  he  left  Glens  Falls  with  a  vague 
determination  to  make  his  way  westward.  He  set 
out  with  several  companions  but  became  dissatisfied 
with  appearances  and  took  his  own  route  back  to 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  returned  to  Detroit,  rw  Huffalo. 
In  company  with  seven  others  he  chartered  a  team  to 
take  him  to  White  Pigeon,  Mich.  Mr.  Hyde  with 
several  of  his  fellow  travelers  went  to  Indiana,  whence 
they  shortly  returned  to  Nilcs.  Not  yet  satisfied  with 
the  outlook  he  continued  his  prospecting  to  St.  Josejih 
County,  and  pushed  on  to  Chicago.  His  own  state- 
ment is  that  he  was  "disgusted  with  the  awful  windy 
little  village"  and  left  in  a  few  days  for  Sheboygan, 
Wis.  He  was  there  engaged  eleven  months  in  the 
man.agement  of  a  saw-mill.  His  next  remove  was  to 
Chicago,  making  the  journey  partly  on  foot  and  partly 
by  sail-l)oat.  He  worked  there  a  short  time  as  a  car- 
penter, then  came  to  Muskegon  Co.,  Mich.  He 
arrived  in  this  State  in  the  summer  of  1S37  and  wer.t 
to  work  on  the  river.  The  winter  following  he  came 
to  Newaygo  County,  and  managed  a  saw- mill  one 
year,  when  he  decided  on  a  visit  to  Vermont.,  where 
he  spent  some  months,  going  thence  to   New    \  oik, 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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and  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  Louisville,  Ky. 
This  rambling  existence  he  continued  until  1844, 
when  he  was  married  and  made  preparations  for  a 
permanent  setdement  in  life.  He  purchased  80 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Newaygo  County,  where  he 
lived  and  pursued  agricidture  until  1856.  In  that 
year  he  setded  in  Mecosta  Tp.  That  section  was 
then  in  its  infancy.  Tiie  township  was  unorganized 
and  settlers  were  few  especially  permanent  ones. 
Lumber  interests  invited  transient  comers,  but  for  a 
period  of  ten  years  there  were  few  who  consid- 
ered the  place  as  having  claims  upon  their  in- 
terest, and  no  steps  were  taken  toward  arrang- 
ing the  municipal  affairs  of  the  township  for  five 
years  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Hyde.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  active  in  the  movement  for  the 
organization  of  Mecosta,  as  he  had  been  in  that 
of  the  townships  of  Newaygo  County.  He  is  the 
oldest  living  inhabitant  of  his  township,  and  his 
youngest  son  was  the  first  white  cliild  born  within  its 
bo.ders. 

Mr.  Hyde  was  married  in  1844,  to  Sophia  Russell, 
who  was  born  in  April,  1S29,  and  reared  in  Newaygo 
County,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Big  Muskegon  River. 
Mrs.  Hyde  became  tlie  mother  of  seven  children. 
She  was  a  memi)er  of  tlie  Catholic  Church,  and  died 
Sept.  4,  1881.  Tlnee  cliildren  who  survive  her  were 
born  as  follows  :  Daniel,  ( )ct.  4,  1845;  Francis  K., 
Jan.  19,  1850;  Miranda  J.,  March  20,  1858.  Tlie 
deceased  children  were  I'Ainice,  .'\nianda  S.,  Amos 
H.  and  James.  Mr.  Hyde  is  an  adheretU  to  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

homas  Hauifan,  of  the  mercantile  lirm  of 
llanifan  &  Harmon,  at  Big  Rapids,  was 
born  at  I'ontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  March 
4,  1847.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Kate 
(Cane)  Hanifan,  and  was  reared  to  tlie  age  of 
5  years  on  his  father's  farm.  At  that  period 
he  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store,  and  has  been 
assistant  or  principal  in  the  same  line  of  business 
most  of  the  time  since.  During  the  first  three  years  he 
spent  a  i)art  of  the  time  in  school.  In  1870  he  went 
to  Vernon,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  W.  D  &.  A.  Garrison,  dry-goods  mer- 
chants, as  clerk,  and  remained  until    1S81,      In  IShiy, 


1882,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Willard  W.  Harmon,  and  commenced 
commercial  transactions  in  the  Faimian  &  Newton 
Block,  where  they  aie  carrying  a  fine  assortment  of 
dry  goods,  carpets,  etc.,  valued  at  $15,000;  annual 
sales  amount  to  $35,000. 

Mr.  Hanifan  was  married  in  Farmington,  Oakland 
Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  28,  1881,  to  Emma,  daughter  oi 
Daniel  and  Bridget  Lapham.  She  was  born  in 
Farmington  in  1854,  and  died  at  Big  Rapids  July  14, 
18S2. 


jfelvin  A.  Wells,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Deerfield, 
'  ^(tTf    Tl).,  is  a  son  of  Nelson  and  Jane  (Austin) 
?^'Vf;  Wells.     The  parents  were  natives  of  New 
^^  York  and  settled  in   ^Vashtenaw  Co.,   Mich- 
"~        aliout   the  year   1838,  afterward  going  to   St. 
i'"    Joseph  Co.,  Mich.     There  the  senior  Wells  died 
at  Centerville,  May  11,  1881.     The  mother  died 
May  7,  1863. 

Mr.  Wells  was  born  in  Freedom,  \Vashtenaw 
Co.,  Aug.  6,  1848.  He  remained  in  the  paternal 
home  until  22  years  of  age,  occupied  in  farming  and 
acquiring  his  education. 

He  was  married  in  EUenburgh,  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  5,  1863,  to  Mrs.  Ellen  Jerome  Wells,  widow  of 
Henry  Wells  and  eldest  child  of  Lewis  and  Lucy 
(Dragoon)  Jerome.  It  falls  to  the  duty  of  the  com- 
piler of  personal  records  to  transcribe  much  tb.at 
bears  the  impress  of  a  deathless  sorrow,  but  it  is 
rarely  incumbent  to  record  the  loss  of  nine  children 
in  one  household,  as  in  this  instance  devolves.  Mrs. 
W^ells  had  laid  away  from  her  motherly  arms,  one  after 
anotjier,  eight  infants,  a  mercifully  rare  event  Can 
one  believe  that  her  terrible  experience  lessened  the 
weight  of  sorrow  when  another  child,  the  joy  and 
ho[)e  of  the  household,  passed  away  at  the  dawn  of 
her  early  girliiood,  wlien  life  and  health  seemed  as- 
sured ?  Louise  B.  AV'ells,  born  June  14,  1868,  died, 
of  diphtheria,  -Vf.g.  16,  1881.  She  is  not  forgotten; 
the  anniversary  of  her  death  is  kejit  and  sacredly  ob- 
served by  the  parents  and  sisters  to  whom  her  mem- 
ory will  ever  be  a  living  presence.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
\Vells  have  three  children  living:  Lucy  J.,  born 
Aug.  5,'  1866;  ldella,Aug.  25,  1870;  and  Cora,  .April 
21,  1872. 

Mr.  Wells  is  an  earnest  Reimblican  and  was  a  sol- 


9 


■KS^m^^ 


-^^'^^^ — ^-^=^0  0  r^^  iiiii^^'-^?^^ — ^^^^^ 


T<^nn>:iii]v> 


T^^ 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


■^-m 


257 


\  f  dier  of  the  Union  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He 
'^  enlisted  in  the  Third  Mich.  Vol  Inf.,  Oct.  14,  1864, 
^  and  received  honorable  discharge  in  September  1865. 


i 


.»«aac;®j@«— K| 


-v^^^^ifOdSlrif 


PvHHiSL. 


t  ewis  Toan,  Clerk  of  Mecosta  County,  and 
('c')|'  one  of  its  representative  citizciiS,  resident 
y'  ;ii  I'iIl;  Rai)ids,  was  born  in  Lcdyard 'Pp., 
KS  «iG^  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  25,  1835.  His 
\  Jt)  parents  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  as 
\_  were  their  ancestors.  His  father,  I,cwis  Toan, 
was  born  Feb.  8,  17S8,  in  Ledyard,  on  the  same  farm 
where  his  children  were  born,  and  where  he  lived 
and  died.  He  married  Betsey  Welsh,  April  5,  iSio, 
and  by  this  union  became  the  father  of  four  sons  and 
si.\  daughters.  Of  these,  one  son,  Harrison  Toan,  and 
^  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Sally  J.  Si|uires,  survive  him,  the 
^  former  resident  at  EIniira,  N.  V.,  the  latter  living  in 
°  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.  Tlie  mother  died  Dec.  15, 
Jtf)  1833.  The  father  was  married  Feb.  26,  1835,10 
°  Mrs.  Olive  (St.  John)  .\iken.  Of  this  marriage  tlirj.'o 
^  children  were  born :  Lewis,  of  this  sketch,  Mrs.  Mary 
^  A.  Cliapin,  and  Mrs.  Frances  E.  Langan,  both  resid- 
L  \    ing  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.     Mrs.  Toan  was  born  Dec 


V 


r 


31,  1803,  and  was  married  at  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
Ebenezer  .Viken.     Her  children  by  this  marriage  arc 
yet  living — a  son  in   Dakota,  one  daughter  at   Des 
Moines,   Iowa,  and  one  dauglitc-r,   Mrs.  Lewis  Car- 
man, in   Millbrook,    Mich.       Lewis  Toan,  Sr.,  died 
March    29,    1842.       He   was   a   soldier   in    llie  war 
of  181 2,  with  tlie  rank  of  Ca[)tain;  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,    and    held    the    office    of   Justice  of  the 
Peace  14  years,  tlie  incumbency  ending  with  his  death. 
This  fact  is    mentioned    as  evidence   of  the  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow-townsmen.       His 
death  left   all  the  family  cares  and   responsibilities 
upon  the   mother  and   widow.      The  son,  who  feels 
that  all  he  is  or  may  be  he  owes  to  her  faithful,  wise 
■<      and  judicious  management,  places  ujwn  record  on  this 
page  his  sense  of  all  she  was  in  her  strong,  earnest 
life,  rearing  her  falhedess  children  in  all  wisdom  and 
,vy    gentleness  and    self-sacrifice,  and    how  precious  to 
^    him  is  her  memory,  crowned  with  what  she  achieved 
[^    on  earth,  and  glorified  by  her  entrance  into  the  land 
^    of  the   redeemed.     She  w.is   married   a  third  time  in 


^\jjm^^ 


■^^^»^ 


i860,  to  Zimri  Allen,  and  died  at  Des  Moines,  la., 

Jan.  24,  1882. 

Mr.  Toan  was  seven  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  His  mother  left  the  farm  and  he  was  sent  to 
school.  In  184S  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle — 
Tliomas  Toan — in  Wyoming  C"o.,  N.  Y.  A  year 
later  he  rejoined  his  mother,  and  the  family  went  to 
Olena,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where,  associated  with  her 
brother,  she  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  steam  saw- 
mill, where  the  son  was  engaged  chiefly  summers, 
and  went  to  school  winters.  In  the  summer  of  1855 
he  went  to  Milan,  Erie  Co.,  O.,  and  worked  in  a  shij)- 
yard  and  mill.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  went  with  a 
half-brother — E.  M.  Aiken — to  Kowen's  I'rairie,  la., 
to  assist  in  the  management  of  a  steam  saw  mill. 
Returning  in  the  fall  of  that  year  to  Ohio,  he  bought 
the  interest  in  tlie  null  held  by  his  mother,  retaining 
it  until  he  disposed  of  it  by  sale  in  1859.  In  the 
winter  of  i860  he  rented  a  farm  in  that  vicinity  and 
managed  it  during  the  year.  His  next  business  ven- 
ture was  in  the  winter  of  r86i,wlien  he  formed  a 
|)artnership  with  Otis  .'^iiiiili,  an  old  school-mate,  and 
went  to  Jackson  T[).,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  built  a  steam 
saw-mill,  and  while  engaged  in  its  construction  the 
intelligence  of  the  assault  upon  the  national  flag  at 
Fort  Sumter  electrified  the  world.  I'liysical  dis- 
ability precluded  Mr.  Toan  from  going  to  the  front  to 
aid  in  bearing  the  burden  of  defense,  and  to  take  the 
chances  of  war;  but  the  services  he  performed  are 
on  record,  and  his  efforts  in  raising  recruits  and  sup- 
lilies  for  soldiers  in  the  field,  and  e.\erlions  to  protect 
their  interests  at  home,  were  as  meritorious  and 
conducive  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  war 
as  those  of  others  who  brought  their  efforts  to  bear 
upon  the  issue  on  the  field  of  action. 

His  association  with  Mr.  Smith  terminated  at  the 
end  of  Iwj  years,  when  he  became  sole  [iroiirietor  by 
the  purchase  of  his  partr.er's  claim.  The  mill  was 
burned  a  year  later,  and  in  order  to  be  able  to  re- 
build, Mr.  Toan  formed  a  partnership  with  Daniel 
Co.\.  In  1866  he  sold  his  half  of  the  concern  to 
Robert  Adams.  During  his  residence  at  Jackson 
he  held  the  position  of  Postmaster  three  years,  anil 
was  Township  Clerk  one  year. 

Mr.  Toan  came  to  .Southern  Michigan,  in  the  fall 
of  1866,  and  settled  near  (Juincy,  liranch  Co.,  where 
he  had  purchased  80  acres  of  land.  Within  the 
year  following  he  sold  the  farm  and  purchased 
another  in   the  vicinity  of    Allen's    I'r.iirie,  Hillsdale 

^•^ilil>:i]ll>:y— ^ — ^^^"^ «.^4^;^>) 


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258 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


'^ 


V 


^ 


Co.,  Mich.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  exchanged  this 
property  for  a  farm  near  Jonesville,  of  which  he  was 
the  possessor  but  a  short  time,  as  he  made  another 
transfer,  and  secured  a  fatm  about  two  miles  from 
Allen's  Prairie,  of  which  he  was  owner  until  1872. 
In  that  year  he  came  with  his  brother-in-law,  Lewis 
Carman,  to  Millbrook,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  built  a  steam 
saw-mill,  selling  his  interest  therein  two  years  later 
to  Mr.  Carman.  He  there  engaged  in  mercantile  affairs 
with  Messrs.  Main  &  Decker.  The  dissolution  of 
the  firm  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1877,  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Toan  went  to  Arkansas  to  obtain 
a  practical  idea  of  the  South,  returning  the  following 
spring. 

Mr.  Toan  has  been  a  Republican  from  the  outset 
of  his  political  life,  and  considers  himself  honored 
in  the  record  that  his  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  the  illustrious  and  martyred  Lincoln.  In  the  fall 
of  1 87 8,  after  his  return  from  the  South,  his  pub- 
lic career  commenced,  his  party  nominating  him  for 
the  office  of  County  Clerk.  The  opposition  candi- 
dates were  W.  O.  Lake,  Democrat,  and  Ceorge  Got- 
shall.  Greenback.  Mr.  Toan  received  1,102  votes, 
Mr.  Lake  452  and  Mr.  Gotshall  681.  The  general 
opinion  of  Mr.  Toan's  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
iwsition  was  clearly  manifested  in  the  circumstances 
attending  his  second  nomination  in  the  fall  of  1880, 
when  his  name  was  put  on  the  ticket  by  acclamation. 
He  received  1,849  votes,  hisopiwnent,  (ireggB.  Dou- 
gall,  receiving  86 r  votes  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Mr.  Toan  was  again  elected  in  1882,  receiving  1,481 
votes,  in  opposition  to  C.  A.  Munn,  Independent 
Republican  nominee,  and  Richard  Ladner,  the  jiopu- 
lar  Democratic  candidate,  who  received  295  and  884 
votes  respectively.  Probaljly  the  best  index  of  a 
man's  status  among  his  fellows  is  the  record  of  his 
local  vote.  On  his  first  election  he  received  81  votes 
of  100  cast  in  the  T[).  of  Millbrook;  on  his  second 
nomination  he  received  102  of  124  votes  in  the  town- 
ship, and  the  lliird  time,  of  an  aggregate  of  164,  he 
received  125  votes, — facts  whicli  attest  that  political 
ojjixjnents  supported  him,  and  which  were  made 
more  significant  because  he  had  held  many  important 
town  offices.  He  was  Town  Clerk  in  1S73-4,  Super- 
visor in  '75-6,  was  Township  Superintendent  of 
Schools  two  years,  and  Village  School  Director  three 
years. 

Mr.  Toan  was  married   n  ( )lcna,   Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 


A^<^^^ 


July  5,  1858,  to  Melissa  M.,  eldest  daughterof  Nathan 
H.  and  Lousia  (Barhite)  Spencer,  Rev.  E.  Jones  of- 
ficiating. Mrs.  Toan's  father  is  a  resident  of  Oler.a. 
He  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  is  a  blacksmith  by 
vocation  He  is  an  honored  citizen  in  the  commu- 
nity to  which  he  belongs,  is  a  Presbyterian  in  religious 
faith,  and  has  occupied  a  number  of  prominent  po- 
sitions  in  religious  and  political  relations.  Her 
mother  died  in  1859,  after  a  useful  and  noble  life. 
Mrs.  Toan  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  V.,  Jan.  2, 
1840.  Of  the  children  born  of  her  marriage,  eight 
are  living  :  Ida  L.,  Grace  E.,  Frank  M.,  Clyde  L.,  Fred 
W.,  Ernest  B.,  Olive  F.  and  Bessie  M.  Grace  E.,  second 
daughter  of  Mr.  Toan,  was  married  Sept.  17,  1882,10 
John  A.  Melton,  and  resides  near  her  parents.  Mr.  T. 
is  peculiarly  fortunate  in  all  his  domestic  relations, 
the  character  and  influence  of  his  wife  rounding  and 
perfecting  the  fabric  of  his  life,  molded  and  directed 
by  the  clear  prevision  of  his  mother. 

In  Januar)',  1859,  Mr.  Toan  became  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  and  has  since  been  prominently 
and  actively  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  its  prog- 
ress and  interest.  He  has  always  been  connected 
with  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school,  and  been  several 
times  Superintendent.  He  is  also  a  zealous  advo- 
cate and  promoter  of  temperance,  and  is  the  present 
W.  C.  T.  of  tlie  Big  Rapids  Lodge  of  Good  Templars. 

We  place  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Toan  in  this  work,  as 
a  representative  citizen  of  Mecosta  County. 


"■''^Wmos   S.   Johnson,    President    of    Mecosta 
,^^Jt   village  and   general  merchant  (G.  Gilbert 
Hi®"      ^  ^o-)>  's  '1^<^  '^o"  of  Stanton  and    Eliza 
(Gilbert)    Johnson.      He    was    born    in  Wy- 
oming Co.,  ,N    Y.,  Nov.  24,   1S47.     When  he 
was  an  inf;int  his  father  died,  leaving  a  widow 
with  seven  children.     He  was  brought  ui)  on  a  farm, 
attending  schools  winters.  At  20  years  of  age  became 
to  JSIichigan  and  engaged  with  Messrs.  Wood  &  Gil- 
bert in  Stanton,  where  he  remained  two  years.     He 
tlicn  formed  apartnersiiip  with   his  employers  and 
established   a  branch   business    house    at    .Sliunnan 
City,  Isabella  Co.,  of  which   he  was  head  manager. 
At  the  end  of  two  years,   this    business   connection 
ceased,  and  Mr.  Johnson  became  sole  i)roprietor  of 
the    concern    by    pun  hasc,    londucting    its    affairs 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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singly.  He  owned  in  ailtlitii)n  a  farni  of  240  acres, 
with  uood  buildings,  fences  and  proniising  crops,  all 
of  wliich  were  ileslroyeil  by  the  cyclone  of  Sept.  19, 
1878.  Tlie  farm  fixtures,  and  the  store  with  its  con- 
tents, were  swept  away,  and  NJr.  Johnson  was  well- 
nigh  overwhelmetl  with  financial  ruin. 

In  May,  1878,  he  came  to  Mecosta  as  agent  for 
the  Village  Company,  real-estate  brokers,  etc.,  and 
is  still  rei>resenting  their  interests.  In  March,  i88o, 
in  partnership  with  K.  1,.  Wood,  he  established  a 
mercantile  house,  located  at  present  near  the  depot. 
A  year  later  Giles  C.ilbert  was  admitted  a  member 
of  the  firm.  Their  stock  is  valued  at  $10,000, 
and  includes  lumbermen's  sup\>lies,  shelf  and  heavy 
hardware,  etc.  They  also  handle  all  kinds  of  lum- 
ber, shingles  and  saw-mill  products,  and  have  a 
yearly  trade  amounting  to  $75,000. 

Mr.  lohnson  was  Supervisor  of  the  Township,  and 
held  the  post  since  he  came  here  until  1883;  is  also 
County  Drain  Commissioner;  and  when  the  village 
was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1883  he  was  elected 
President. 

He  was  married  at  KIkhart,  Ind.,  .March  10,  1871, 
to  Stella  Russell,  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  V., 
March  10,  1848.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


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dward  A.  Bomig,  M.  D.,  of  the  firm  of 
Woolley  iV  Romig,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in 
Bristol,  Elkhart  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  23,  1852. 
«^  His  father,  Adam  Romig,  was  a  merchant  and 
.^  died  in  i860.  His  mother,  Flavilla  L.  (Adams) 
Romig,  is  yet  living,  at  Moberly,  Mo.  Dr.  Romig 
was  a  student  at  school  until  he  was  14  years 
old,  after  which  he  spent  two  years  as  a  farm  assist- 
ant. He  passed  the  next  four  years  as  a  teacher,  and 
commenced  to  read  for  his  profession  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  C.  Earl,  of  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.  After  a 
year  of  study  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor  and  became  a 
private  student  under  Prof.  A.  B.  Palmer,  completing 
his  preparation  by  three  terms  in  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  University  of  Michigan,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  March,  1877.  He  entered  at  once 
u|)on  his  practice  at  ('larkston,  Oakland  Co.,  and  es- 
tablished a  hicrative  and  |X)pular  business.  He 
stayed  there  nearly  four  and  a  half  years,  and  in  the 


fall  of  1 88 1  came  to  this  city  and  opened  an  office  at 
upper  P>ig  Rapids.  Four  months  later  he  formed  his 
present  business  relation  with  Dr.  1).  V.  Woolley,  a 
fortunate  association,  the  firm  occupynig  first  rank  as 
medical  practitioners.  Dr.  Romig's  specialties  are  sur- 
gery and  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  Medical  Society  of  Northern  Mich- 
igan. 

Dr.  Romig  was  married  at  Pontiac,  Mich.,  October 
I,  1879,  to  Mary  W.,  daughter  of  John  P.  and  Mary 
A.  WyckofT.  They  have  had  two  children,  Maud 
and  Ethel.  The  former  is  deceased ;  the  latter  was 
born  Feb.  26,  1883. 


Blackmar,  of  the  firm  of    Paul    Hlackmar 
^Jl    &-  Co.,  dealers  and   manufacturers  of  lum- 

J  STTX-;^  lier.  shingles  and  lath,  and  pine-land  deal- 

•J.  I 


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y^  ers,  at  Big  Rai)ids,  was  born  at  Detroit,  Aug- 
27,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  S.  and  Mary 
E.  (Williams)  Blackmar.  His  father  was  a 
prominent  attorney  of  Detroit,  where  he  located 
about  1 8150  and  o[)ene<l  a  law  office  with  Wm.  A. 
Moore,  now  an  eniineiU  member  of  the  Michigan 
bar.  The  senior  Hlackmar  was  Circuit  Court  Com- 
missioner a  long  term  of  years,  and  died  at  Detroit 
in  the  fall  of  1869.  The  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Prof.  Geo.  P.  Williams,  of  Michigan  University, 
where  he  held  the  first  chair  of  .Mathematics  and 
Metaphysics,  which  he  retained  a  long  period,  and 
was  finally  letired  on  half-jiay.  Mrs.  Blackmar  died 
at  Detroit,  in  1864. 

Mr.  P.  Blackmar  obtained  his  elementary  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools,  chiefly  at  the  Cass  union 
school  under  Prof  Nich.ols.  After  the  demise  of  his 
father,  he  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  there 
studied  and  taught  school.  He  went  thence  to  Mount 
Lincoln,  Gray's  Peak,  anil  to  the  vicinity  of  Lead- 
ville,  and  was  there  engaged  as  a  miner  and  in 
other  occupations  four  years.  He  returned  to 
Detroit  and  entered  the  office  of  T.  W.  Palmer, 
and  about  the  year  1878  had  charge  of  the  entire 
business  of  that  gentleman,  representing  at  that  time 
one  and  a  half  million  dollars. 

The  manufacturing  firm  of  McGraft  iS:  Montgom- 
ery at  Muskegon  dissolved  July  r,  1882.  Mr.  Hlack- 
mar bought  an  interest  in   the  concern  Jan.    1,   i88i 


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260 


MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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and  on  the  dissolution  named,  in  connection  with  Mar- 
tin Kelly  of  Grand  Rapids,  be  commenced  the  pur- 
chase and  sale  of  timber  on  the  branches  of  the  Mus- 
kegon. T.  W.  Palmer,  of  Detroit,  became  interested 
in  the  enterprise  in  the  fall  of  18S2,  and  during  the 
ensuing  winter  the  firm  purchased  and  put  in  the  river 
about  twelve  million  feet  of  logs,  a  large  proportion 
of  which  is  being  sawed  at  the  old  Tioga  Mills,  bought 
by  Thomas  S.  Tew,  of  Hood,  Gale  &  Co.  In  tlie 
summer  of  r883  Mr.  Blackmar  purchased  the  claim 
of  Mr.  Kelly  and  is  now  managing  the  business  alone  ; 
is  also  operating  in  the  interest  of  Mr.  Pahiier.  The 
latter  ha?,  on  the  Muskegon  and  its  tributaries  near 
this  point,  sixty  million  feet  of  standing  timber  (pine). 
The  amount  handled  the  current  season  will  be  twen- 
ty million  feet  of  lumber,  from  ten  to  fifteen  million 
feet  of  shingles  and  a  large  amount  of  lath. 

Mr.  Blackmar  was  married  at  Detroit,  Sept.  9,  1879, 
to  Georgia  \.,  daughter  of  George  and  Ellen  Rice, 
born  Aug.  18,  T855.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackmar  have 
two  sons, — Thomas  P.,  born  at  Detroit,  July  8,  1880, 
and  William  E.,  born  at  Muskegon,  Jan.  12,   1882. 


^ 


•x'^-s^r  iehael  S.  Collins,  dealer  in  choice  wines, 
I  C(JJ/  li(|uors  and  cigars,  at  Big  Rapids,  was 
■'T^  born  in  Hastings  County,  Pr.  of  Ont., 
^^^  March  16,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of,  Richard 
-  •  and  Bridget  Collins,  and  at  the  age  of  14 
'I  began  life  for  himself  as  a  lumberman,  and 
spent  five  or  six  years  in  that  employment.  He  then 
came  to  Grand  Rai)ids,  Mich.,  and  was  engaged 
until  the  autumn  of  1865,  in  cutting  ries  for  the 
G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R-,  and  in  lumbering.  He  came  to 
Big  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  the  year  named,  where  he 
carried  on  the  lumbering  business  until  1876,  and  in 
that  year  rented  the  Montreal  House,  which  he  man- 
aged three  years.  He  then  purchased  the  building 
he  now  occupies,  and  the  lot  where  it  stands,  from  J. 
H.  Foster.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  and  the  third  of 
its  class  erected  in  tlie  town.  He  carries  a  stock 
valued  at  $3,000,  and  is  transacting  a  thriving  busi- 
ness. He  owns  a  vacant  lot  on  State  Street,  a  house 
and  two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Bridge  and  Grant 
Streets,  and  10  acres  of  land  in  the  Third  Ward. 
Mr.  Collins  is  a  member  of  the  Mutual  Benefit 
Association  (Catholic  order). 


He  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  July  8,  1S68,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  Rice,  a  native  of 
Canada. 


WSmX  illiam  Barnhart,  farmer,  sec.  1 1,  Deerfield 

w  I  A)  fir 

hl^Jlii'    Tp.,  is  son  of  la<ol)  and   Phebe   liariihart, 

jfeS^':^'     ■"'■''  I^edore.     The  father  was  born   in  Ver- 

•-mS^     mont,  and  died  m  Canada,  ni  the  spnng  of 

iiy^       '^S.S-     'I'll'-'  niother  was  a  native  of  the  Do- 

t      minion,  and  seven  years  after  the  death   of  her 

husband  came  with  her  children  to  this  county,  where 

she  still  resides.     She  married  Mr.  McGill  and  is  now 

his  widow,  residing  on  sec.  12  of  Deerfield  Tj).     She 

joined  the  pioneer  element  of  the  county  before  the 

organization  of  the  township,  where  she  has  lived  23 

years,  and,  although  advanced  in  years,  is  an  active, 

energetic  woman  and  wins  general  esteem. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Canada,  May   14,    1846. 

His  mother  came  to  this  county  when  he   was   15 

years  of  age.    In  '63  he  took  80  acres  of  Government 

land  under  the  homestead  act,  which  he   i)ut  under 

partial  improvement  and  sold  in  '68,  buying  80  acres 

where  he  is  now  located,  40  acres  of  which  are  under 

the  plow.     He  was  married  in  Mecosta  County  Jan. 

5  I,  '62,  to  Enmia  Smith.  To  them  have  been  born  nine 

children — John  E.,  Mary  E.,  deceased.  Amy,  Joseph, 

Louis,  Mertie,  deceased,  Clara   I,.,  .-^ddie,   deceased 

and  Georgia  A. 


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""  a^ames  K.  Pike,  farmer,  sec.  36,  Deerfield 
jE-  Tp.,  was  born  in  Pickering,  Can.,  July  4, 
&^'^  1843.  His  parents,  I.endoll  and  Mary  Pike, 
//r/' Wilson,  were  born  in  New  York  and  Canada 
ir  respectively,  and  came  to  Mecosta  County, 
where  they  are  now  resident. 
Mr.  Pike  spent  the  first  18  years  of  his  life  in  the 
Dominion  and  at  that  age  went  to  Fredonia,  Chautau- 
ijua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there  engaged  in  fruit  gar- 
dening. .\fter  four  years  he  came  to  Ionia  Co.,  Mich., 
and  there  lived  ten  years.  In  the  spring  of  '76  he 
came  to  Mecosta  Cotinty  and  bought  160  acres  of 
land,  with  some  improvements,  in  Deerfield  Tp., 
where  he    has    since    lived.     He   acts  and  affiliates 


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261 


with  the  Republican  party  and  has  held  the  jwst  of 
Highway  Commissioner  one  term. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  to 
Rachel  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  Patrick.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Pike  were  of  English  birth  and  came  to  America, 
and  soon  located  in  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  where  the  father 
died.  The  niotlier  is  still  living  on  the  liomestead  in 
Ionia  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pike  are  the  parents  of 
four  children — Ceo.  \\'.,  Orley  D.,  Inez  and  Robert  L- 


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I^avid  Wilson,  farmer  on  sec.  27,  Hinton 
Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Jeannetie 
(Steele)  Wilson.  They  were  both  natives 
Scotland,  and  came  to  Canada  in  its 
^C  earliest  period,  where  David  was  born,  Dec.  24, 
1848.  He  passed  his  time  on  the  farm  and  at 
school  until  he  was  22  years  of  age.  In  the  fall  of 
1876  he  came  to  Michigan  and  bought  80  acres  of 
land,  on  which  improvements  had  heen  begun  and 
which  is  now  his  residence.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
political  opinion;  holds  the  office  of  School  Assessor, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars.  He  was 
married  in  Canada,  Dec.  27,  1870,  to  Abigail, 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  Taylor,  natives  re- 
spectively of  England  and  New  York.  Mrs.  Wilson 
was  born  in  Canada,  July  26,  1843.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
\Vilson  have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  sur- 
vive: Sarah,  George,  Jeannette,  William  A.,  Mal- 
colm and  Margaret  S.  Thomas  died  in  (Canada, 
aged  14  months.  Mrs.  ^Vilson  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church. 


^fni 


orman  W.  Adams,  farmer  on  sec.  1 1,  Hin- 
ton T[).,  is  a  son  of  Wm.  and  Lucy  (Waite) 
Adams,  who  were  natives  of  Vermont  and 
came  to  New  York  before  the  war  of  18 12, 
l(i  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
The  father  was  a  soldier  of  that  war  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Niagara,  or  I.undy's  Lane,  wliereGen.  Scott 
was  wounded,  Mr.  Adams  being  one  of  the  bearers 
of  the  litter  in  which  he  was  carried  12  miles.     Nor- 
man W.  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,   Feb. 
21,  1831.     He  was  "bound  out"  at  an  early  age  to  an 


uncle  to  serve  until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  On  the 
expiration  of  his  indentures  he  started  overland  for 
California,  but  was  taken  ill  at  Council  Bluffs  and 
returned  to  New  York.  Three  years  later  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  engaged  in  butter  and  cheese 
making.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  came  to  this 
county  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Hinton  Tp., 
which  is  now  his  homestead.  He  has  cleared  40 
acres  of  land,  put  it  into  a  good  state  of  cultivation 
and  erected  suitable  buildings.  He  is  independent 
in  politics ;  has  held  the  office  of  Constable  five 
years,  and  in  1871  was  elected  Notary  Public,  a  jKist 
he  still  holds. 

He  was  married  in  Genesee  Co.,  New  York,  Sept. 
15,  1853,  to  Nancy  S.,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Dim- 
mis  (Rilc))  Bailey.  She  was  born  in  Wyoming  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  26,  1833,  and  her  parents  were  natives 
of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  have  three  chil- 
dren, Jason  K.,  born  March  4,  1858  ;  Minnie  D.,  born 
Sept.  26,  1864,  and  Harrison  P.,  born  Nov.   8,  1870. 


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'■     y.  Ss^,   "^  Cole  &  Judson,  Big  Rapids,  was  born 

■      '     "^  in   Lysander,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.    ( 
>'  I,  1857.       His    father,  Jonathan   Cole,  was 

;:>;.  born  in  1813,  and  was  engaged  during  his 

i^  later  years  in  the  combined  pursuits  of  farmer 
and  lumberman.  His  mother  was  born  in 
Bennington  Co.,  Vt.,  in  1815.  His  father  dying 
when  Myron  was  about  14  years  old,  Mr.  Cole  went 
to  live  with  his  half  brother,  N.  M.  White,  at  Bald- 
winsville,  N.  V  ,  and  he  remained  there  four  years, 
attending  school.  At  the  age  of  18  he  came  to 
Schoolcraft,  Mich.,  where  he  attended  school,  and 
afterward  entered  Parson's  Business  College  at  Kala- 
mazoo, completing  his  conunercial  studies  in  five 
months.  He  obtained  a  position  as  lumber  inspector 
for  the  firm  of  Putnam  iV  Barnhart,  at  Fife  Lake,  f^ 
Grand  Traverse  Co.,  where  he  operated  one  sum-  T 
mer,  returning  to  Schoolcraft  the  following  winter  to  I,, 
teach  school.  In  the  spring  lie  entered  into  partner-  ^i 
ship  with  Charles  Barnhart,  in  the  grocery  and  provis-  ^ 
ion  business.  His  partner  died  a  year  and  a  half  ^^ 
later,  and  Mr.  Cole  bought  his  share  of  the  stock  and  'J 
continued   the   Inisiness   successfully  about   a  year,     ^r^.^ 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


While  here  he  was  burned  out,  but  his  stock  was 
well  insured,  and  the  loss  slight.  He  closed  his 
business  affairs,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
banking  house  of  E.  V,.  Dyckman  &  Co.,  acting  in 
various  capacities,  and  at  the  expiration  of  1 1  months 
he  acquired  a  one-third  interest  in  the  bank  by  pur- 
chase. The  institution  continued  to  operate  nearly 
two  years  longer,  but  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Dyckman 
the  remaining  partners  sold  out.  In  February,  1882, 
Mr.  Cole  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  went  into  the 
hardware  house  known  as  Cox,  Overton  iV'  Cole. 
Mr.  Cole  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Cox,  in 
October,  1882,  and  transferred  the  stock  to  his  pres- 
ent stand.  In  December,  1 882,  he  admitted  C.  P.  Jud- 
son  as  partner.  The  firm  is  considered  one  of  the  lead- 
ing business  houses  of  Big  Rapids,  and  is  having  a 
successful  and  increasing  trade.  They  carry  a  full 
line  of  the  goods  common  to  the  hardware  business 
and  such  as  the  local  trade  demands.  They  are 
agents  for  the  Standard  Oil  Co.,  and  are  dealing  ex- 
tensively in  coal. 

Mr.  Cole  was  married  Oct.  9,  1879,  to  Libbie, 
daughter  of  Willis  and  Elizabeth  Judson,  and  was 
born  in  Schoolcraft,  Oct.  16,  i860.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cole  have  one  child — Clarence  M. — born  at  Big 
Rapids,  Sept.   i,  1882. 


'^'X n' ph  li  Hill,  farmer,  sec.    29   Deerfield  Tp.,  was 
iKI^Ia;-;''  born  in  Williams  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  14,  1856. 
atwcjI*    He  is  a  son  of  Calvin  C.  and   Louisa  M. 


^>    (Stanbrow)  Hill,  natives  of  New  York,  who  went 


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to  Ohio  and  located  in  Steuben  County,  where 
the  father  died.    The  mother,  on  the  occurrence 


of  tliat  event,  came  to  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
afterward  to  Van  Buren  County.  In  the  fall  of  1878 
she  took  up  her  residence  at  Morley. 

Our  subject  accpiired  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation in  the  educational  institutions  of  Ohio  and 
Michigan,  and  in  1879  came  to  Mecosta  County  and 
bought  80  acres  of  land  in  its  primeval  condition. 
For  four  years  he  rented  and  carried  on  a  farm,  but 
in  the  spring  of  '83  occupied  his  own  farm,  of  whicli 
he  had  cleared  20  acres. 

He  was  married  Aug.  12,  '76,  in  Van  lUiren  Co., 
Mich.,  to  Agnes,  daughter  of  Ceorge  and  Ann  (Lover- 
ington)  Grant.     Their  three  children  were  born  in  the 


following  order:  Geo.  C,  Aug.  g, '78;  Frederick  E., 
March  12,  '80;    Alonzo  L.,  Fel).  10,  '8r. 

Mr.  Hill  is  a  Republican  in  political  belief  and 
practice. 

I  dward  W.  Hudnutt,  of  the  firm  of  Crocker  & 
Hudnutt,  architects,  contractors  and  build- 
j|y5^  ers,  and  proprietors  of  the  Falcon  Planing 
Mill  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
Dec.  15,  1852;  is  a  son  of  Joseph  O.  and 
Marcia  (Webster)  Hudnutt.  His  father  was  a 
civil  engineer  and  was  many  years  chief  of  the  con- 
struction corps  of  various  canal  and  railroad  com- 
panies. In  1859  the  family  settled  near  Waverley, 
Bremer  Co.,  Iowa,  and  the  following  year  the  father 
represented  that  district  in  the  Legislature  of  the 
State,  resigning  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war 
and  returning  to  Waveriey,  where  he  enlisted  in  the 
3Sth  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  with  the  rank  of  Major.  He  was 
chiefly  on  detached  duty  and  assigned  to  the  staff  of 
Major  Gen.  Herron.  He  served  as  engineer  of  for- 
tifications, and  was  in  severe  engagements  with  his 
regiment.  It  was  badly  disrupted  and  finally  con- 
solidated with  the  34th  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  a  Colonelcy  and  afterward  to  the  rank 
of  Brigadier  General.  He  served  the  Union  cause 
three  years,  and  on  leaving  the  army  went  to  Chicago 
and  entered  the  L^niversity  as  Professor  of  Civil  En- 
gineering. Later  he  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  & 
Illinois  River  Canal  Co.,  and  afterward  by  the  Chi. 
cago  &  Northwestern  R.  R.  Co.;  was  on  the  Union 
Pacific  and  Nor' hern  Pacific  R.  R's. ;  surveyed  the 
route  of  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  R.  R.,  and 
went  to  .South  Carolina  and  surveyed  the  Richmond 
&  Atlanta  .Air  Line  R.  R.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids  in 
1869  and  bought  into  the  Tioga  Manufacturing  Co., 
afterward  selling  out  and  buying  the  'i'ioga  Flouring 
Mill,  where  he  operated  for  a  time  and  then  went  to 
Leadville,  Col.,  and  became  interested  in  mining  and 
in  mining  engineering.  He  went  thence  to  Montan.-v 
to  survey  under  a  Government  contract,  where  he  i^ 
occupied  at  present. 

Mr.  Hudnutt,  of  this  sketch,  was  at  the  age  of  14 
connected  with  the  engineering  corps  of  the  Union 
Pacific  R.  R.,  and  continued  three  years,  when  he 
became  connected  in  the  same  capacity  with   the 


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(i.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.,  serving  two  years.  He  passed  the 
winters  of  these  years  in  the  University  at  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  where  he  was  grailiialed  with  the  class  of 
1873.  He  was  employed  by  the  Rochester  Water 
Works  Co.  as  drauglitsniaii  two  years,  and  in  1875 
came  to  Big  Rapids  and  bought  the  Falcon  Planing 
Mill,  with  Caleb  S.  Hanks  and  Luther  D.  Hender- 
son, the  firm  name  being  Hudnutt,  Henderson, 
Hanks  &  Co  Mr.  Henderson  sold  to  his  partners 
the  next  year,  and  in  1877  John  M.  Crocker  suc- 
ceeded to  the  position  and  interest  of  Mr.  Hanks. 
Messrs.  Crocker  and  Hudnutt  have  built  the  prin- 
cipal business  blocks  of  Big  Rapids  and  many  of  its 
residences.  Their  works  are  turning  out  a  large 
amount  of  sash,  doors,  blinds  and  all  builders'  ma- 
terials. As  their  business  has  increased  they  have 
made  additions  to  their  mills  in  proportion.  They 
are  located  in  upper  Big  Rapids,  near  the  u|)per 
bridge. 

Mr.  Hudnutt  was  married^at  Big  Rapids,  to  'I'hyrza 
J.,  daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Julia  Fairman.  She 
is  a  native  of  Adams,  N.  Y.,and  is  the  motlier  of  one 
child,  Marian  Hudnutt.  Mr.  Hudnutt  is  a  member 
of  the  order  of  Masonry  and  Knights  of  Pytliias. 


-4— <-^G 


.-^'N, 


I  ;•  uther  O.  H.  Ward,  farmer,  sec.  34,  Austin 
Tp.,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Quig- 
V  ^3~-i-?  ley)  Ward,  natives  of  New  York  and  lioth 
%^  now  deceased.  They  wore  of  mixed  English, 
"iX  Irish  and  German  ancestry,  and  liefore  their 
marriage  liad  moved  to  Ontario,  Can.,  where 
Mr.  Ward  was  born,  in  the  county  of  Brant, 
April  3,  1 841.  He  jiassed  the  years  of  his  early  life 
on  his  father's  farm  and  at  school,  and  when  he  was 
20  years  old  he  went  to  an  adjoining  county  and 
worked  as  a  farm  and  mill  hand  until  the  spring  of 
1863,  when  he  settled  in  Austin  Tp.  and  bought  80 
acres  of  tmibered  land.  He  built  the  usual  pioneer's 
cabin,  with  punclieon  floor,  and  had  no  sawed  lum- 
ber in  the  house  except  in  the  door.  After  a  few 
months  Mr.  Ward  returned  to  Canada  and  mar- 
ried, at  St.  George,  Brant  Co.,  Dec.  9,  1863,  Clarissa 
A.,  daughter  of  David  and  Martha  (Cornell)  Davis, 
of  English  descent  and  natives  of  Canada.  .She 
was  born  Nov.  29,  1841,  and  died  Feb.  8, 1873,  at  her 
home  in  Austin  Tp.,   leaving  four  children :  Laura, 


born    Nov.    15,1864;    Rosa,    May   7,    1866;    John. 
April  6,  186S,  and  George,  May  31,  187  i. 

Mr.  Ward  has  been  actively  engaged  in  farming 
since  1863,  has  put  his  place  in  first-class  con- 
dition, and  owns  40  acres  of  land  in  an  adjoining 
township.  He  was  again  married  June  8,  1874,  to 
Mrs.  Sarah  McGill,  widow  of  Wm.  McGill,  who  was 
born  in  Ontario,  Can.,  Aug.  i,  1845,  and  died  Nov 
8,  1873,  at  Grand  Rapids,  leaving  his  wife  and 
one  child,  Mary,  born  Feb.  12,  1871.  Mrs.  Ward 
was  born  in  Ontario,  Can.,  May  25,  1845,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Bruley)  .Austin,  natives 
of  New  England  and  of  German  descent.  Of  the 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Ward  there  is  one  child, 
William,  born  May  12,  1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  Mr. 
Ward  is  Steward.  He  is  a  working  Republican,  and 
has  been  Supervisor  of  his  township  one  year.  Treas- 
urer one  term,  etc. 


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rederick    Rose,    harness  -  maker,   at    Big 
Rapids,   was   born    in    Germany,   June  3, 
1823.     At  the  age  of  14  he  entered  \\\)0\\ 
his  apprenticeship,  and  after  a  service  of  three 
^1^  years  enlisted  in  the  German  army,  enrolling  in 
843   and    remaining   four     years    and    three 
months. 

Mr.  Rose  came  to  America  in  1854,  and  settled  at 
ISuff.ilo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness, and  remained  about  iS  months.  He  next 
went  to  Waterloo  Co.,  Canaila,  and  there  carried  on 
his  business  15  years.  In  1S72  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  formed  a  business  connection  with 
Duncan  McClellan,  whi<h  existed  14  months.  Since 
that  date  he  has  managed  the  same  line  of  trade 
where  he  is  now  located  and  employs  several  men. 
His  annual  transactions  amount  to  $3,000,  anil  in- 
cludes harness-making  and  saddlery,  <  arriage  trim- 
ming, etc.  He  owns  his  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Sanford  avenue  and  Division  street,  and  66  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Big  Rapids,  southeast  of  the  ''i- 
city  and  located  on  the  river.  i 

Mr.  Rose  was  married  March  18,  1854,  in  Ger-  ^V 
many,  to  Wilhelmina  .Vugstell,  and  they  have  had  v;^ 
two  children:  Matilda,  wife  of  Cyrus  Brecker,  a  ^ 
Canadian  merchant;  and  Margaret,  wife  of  John  (i, 
Hoffman,  a  harness-maker  in  Canada.     Mrs.   Rose    ^ 


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died  in  Canada,  in  1859,  and  Mr.  Rose  was  a  second 
time  marrieil,  Aug.  16,  i860,  to  Rebecca  Mosier,  a 
Canadian  by  birth  and  of  Cernian  descent.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Rose  were  Christian  and  Kli/.abeth 
Rose. 

^>feS?  enry  R.  Brown,  fanner,  sec.  27,  Deerfield 
£  .,  {s/r  i'p-,  !*•  O..  Morley,  was  born  Oct.  16,  1855, 
'^^  '••  in  Pennsylvania.  His  parents,  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Moser)  Brown,  were  natives  of 
Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1850,  finding 
a  home  in  the  Keystone  State,  where  they  are 
spending  their  final  years. 
Mr.  Brown  passed  the  first  23  years  of  his  life  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  farm  labor  and  studying  at  the  com- 
mon school.  He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1 87  q  and 
bought  120  acres  of  timber  land,  and  still  holds  80 
acres  of  his  original  tract.  He  has  built  a  frame 
house  and  made  other  improvements  on  his  estate. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  at  Morley,  April  4,  1883, 
to  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Ann  M.  (Belles) 
Brink.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Dec.  31,  1861. 
They  are  attendants  at  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which 
Mr.  Brown  is  an  active  member.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  sentiment  and  aetion. 


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evi  S.  Menere,  farmer,  sec.  i,  Millbrook 
Tp.,  was  born  Sept  7,  1S26,  in  Canada, son 
of  James  and  Rachel  (Mayhew)  Menere, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  lat- 
^  ter  of  Canada.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
'  '  was  25  years  old,  when  he  started  in  life  for 
*-  himself.  His  father  deeded  him  100  acres  of 
land  upon  which  he  lived  six  years,  and  managed 
with  profit.  Later,  he  sold  the  place  and  bought 
another,  which  he  rented  to  a  tenant  for  two  years 
and  sold  at  the  end  of  that  time.  In  the  winter  of 
1865  he  bought  80  acres  of  unimproved  land  in  Mill- 
iirook  T]>.  To  this  he  has  added  40  acres  in  this  town- 
ship, and  also  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in  Isa- 
bella County.  He  has  yjlaced  80  acres  under  first- 
class  improvements,  and  has  a  finely  located  and 
valuable  farm. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  May  26,  185  i,  to  Mary 

^^^* ^:^^^^ — '^tK'  in  0 : 


E.,  daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Mary  (Stanley)  Decker, 
who  was  born  in  the  Dominion  April  26,  1834.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Menere  have  had  14  children,  12  of  whom 
are  living:  Mary  A., born  July  25,  1853  ;  Rachel,  April 
25,  1855  ;  Sarah  J.,  Feb.  20,  1857  ;  Dinah  A.,  Dec. 
'i  1858;  James  G.,  July  27,  i860;  Edward  S., 
April  26,  1862;  Ellen  E.,  June  13,  1866;  Josephine, 
April  2,  1868;  Wm.  S.,  Aug  i,  1870;  Caroline,  Oct. 
11,1872;  Ruth,  Sept  II,  1877;  Floyd  A.,  Feb.  29, 
1880;  Eliza,  born  March  11,  1852,  died  Sept.  9,  1855  ; 
Catharine,  born  Feb.  16,  1864,  died  May  20,  1865. 

Mr.  Menere  is  independent  in  politics  and  has 
held  several  official  positions.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  ancient  order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


'homas  P.  Mortensen,  senior  member  of 
the  grocery  firm  of  Mortensen  &  Mynning, 
^  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  Denmark,  Feb. 
26,  1846.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1873,  and  in  1874  established  a  laundry  on 
Canal  street.  Grand  Rajiids,  which  he  managed 
until  1879.  Mr.  M.  then  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  em- 
barked in  the  same  enterprise,  which  he  continued 
three  years.  This  was  the  first  establishment  in  that 
branch  in  the  city.  In  the  fall  of  1S82  he  formed  his 
present  lousiness  relation.  The  house  is  carrying  a 
stock  worth  $2,000,  and  is  transacting  a  profitable 
and  growing  business. 

Mr  Mortensen  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Nov.  25,  1S73,  to  Matilda  Anderson,  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, born  April  i,  1845.  The  five  cliildren  born  of 
this  marriage  are — Clara  H.,  Alfred  (dec).  Alma, 
Thora  and  Hannah.  The  family  attend  the  Luther- 
an Church.  Mr.  Mortensen  belongs  to  the  1.  O.  O.  F. 
Besides  his  residence  he  owns  a  house  and  lot  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Fifth  ward,  and  a  farm  of  40  acres  on 
sec.  12,  township  of  Big  Rapids. 


m.  M.  McCamley,  farmer,  sec.  6,  Austin 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
June  8,  182S.     His  parents,  Eleazer  and 
Ruth  (Wheeler)  McCamley,  were  natives 
of  Scotland,   and    emigrated  to    the    Lhiited 
States,  locating  in  the  county  where  the  son 
was  born.     They  came  with   their  family  in  1832  to 


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Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  where  Ihey  lived  uiiiil  Jaiuiaryi 
1847,  when  William  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  Me.\- 
ican  war.  He  enrolled  in  the  Michigan  Vol.,  Co.  G, 
under  Capt.  Hicks,  with  Col.  Stockson  in  command 
of  the  regiment,  which  was  attachetl  to  the  division 
of  Gen.  Taylor.  He  was  in  considerable  active 
service  but  escaped  without  injury,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  in  Novemlier,  1S48.  He  then  re- 
mained at  home  until  1850,  wlien  he  moved  upon  a 
farm  in  Calhoun  County,  and  lived  there  until  tlie 
S|iring  of  1852.  In  that  year  he  made  an  overland 
journey  to  California,  passing  through  the  Mormon 
"City  of  the  i)lains."  His  search  for  gold  continued 
two  years  and  he  then  returned  to  his  home.  In  the 
fall  of  1856  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Mecosta  Tp.) 
where  he  was  resident  until  November,  1S64,  then 
bought  80  acres  on  sec.  6,  Austin  Tp.,  to  which  he 
has  since  added,  by  purchase,  40  acres  more,  and  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  a  valuable  farm  of  120  acres 
of  finely  improved  land. 

Mr.  McCamley  was  married  Dec.  4,  1850,  to 
Martha  S.,  daughter  of  John  and  Emma  (Woodward) 
Fish,  respectively  of  Welsh  and  English  descent, 
who  was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  i,  1832, 
and  came  to  Michigan  wlien  but  five  years  old.  Of 
this  marriage  six  children  have  been  born,  Delisle, 
Jan.  18,  1856;  Alice  R.,  June  4,  1858;  Flora  M., 
May  31,  i860;  Mary  J.,  March  30,  1862  ;  Wm.  B., 
July  9,  1864;  Lou.  A.,  Sept.  12,  1873.  Mr.  McCam- 
ley is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  held  the  post  of 
Township  Treasurer  two  terms. 


elson  Higbee,  farmer  and  lumberman,  resi- 
dent on  section  9,  Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born 
^|*s^  ^  in  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  i,  1825.  He 
'^  ^^  is  a  son  of  Loring  and  Mary  (Roberts)  Higbee, 
jG  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  the  latter 
of  Connecticut.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Higl)ee  settled  in  Broome  County,  in  1796,  when  his 
son  Loring  wasonly  a  boy.  The  father  of  Mr.  Higbee 
died  in  1862;  the  mother  is  living  on  the  home- 
stead with  a  younger  son,  and  has  attained  the  vener- 
able age  of  91  years. 

Mr.  Higbee  received  a  fair  education  at  the  public 
schools  and  finished  study  with  a  partial  academic 
course.     He  passed  the  years  of  his  minority  in   the 


home  of  his  parents,  and  on  reaching  man's  estate 
he  went  to  Tioga  County,  where  he  was  occupied  with 
farming  and  lumbering  three  years.  In  [853  he 
came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Croton,  Newaygo 
Co.,  devoting  his  attention  to  tlie  same  pursuits.  He 
bought  there  300  acres  of  land  and  placed  200  acres 
of  the  tract  under  fine  improvements;  he  also  erected 
a  number  of  buildings  in  Croton  and  exerted  all  liis 
iiitluence  toward  tlie  substantial  progress  of  the  place. 
Meanwhile.in  the  year  1865,  he  purchased  of  John 
AV.  Forbes,  John  W.  P>rooks  and  Robert  S.  Watson, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  1,700  acres  of  i)ine  land  in  Deer- 
field  Tp.,  for  which  he  paid  ten  dollars  an  acre.  The 
advance  in  value  has  swelled  the  estate  (numerically) 
to  a  comparatively  enormous  amount.  Without  de- 
tails of  purchase  the  following  statement  exhibits  his 
estate  in  Deerfield,  aggregating  4,080  acres,  sectionally 
located  as  follows  : 


On  sci-linii 


1... 

.1-2(1 

7. . . 

.     10 

8.. 

.  .    S(  1 

9.. 

.  .040 

10. . 

-.440 

n. 

.  .  1  -JO 

i-> 

.    L'lO 

i;i. 

.  .200 

14. 

.  .:!20 

1)11    scrlinli  l."i.  .  .  .(iOO  luTCS. 

11; 40  •' 

17 12()  •' 

20 240  •• 

21 ICO  " 

2-2....:i20  •• 

•2(;....  40  " 

27....1G0  •• 

30.... 200  •' 


Aside  from  his  lands  in  the  township  of  Deerfield, 
Mr.  Higbee  owns,  in  company  with  others,  15,000 
acres  of  land.  He  also  owns  300  acres  of  valuable 
land  adjoining  the  city  of  tJrand  Rapids.  He  has 
owned  at  different  periods  5,000  acres  in  /Ktna  Tp. 
alone.  His  home  farm  (so  called),  on  which  he  lo- 
cated in  1878,  includes  720  acres,  with  500  under 
advanced  improvement.  He  keeps  15  horses,  10 
oxen  and  15  cows  to  supply  the  wants  of  his  estate 
and  employees,  and  even  these  are  inadequate  to  the 
necessities  of  the  case.  He  cures  five  tons  of  pork 
annually,  raises  1,500  bushels  of  onions,  2,000  of 
corn,  1,200  of  wheat,  2,000  of  oats,  2,000  of  [wtatoes 
cuts  150  tons  of  hay  and  has  a  flock  of  sheei). 

In  1873,  in  company  with  A.  B.  W'atson,  of  drand 
Rapids,  Mr.  Higbee  built  a  dam  on  his  property  in 
Deerfield.  He  bought  the  claim  of  Mr.  Watson  soon 
after  and  in  company  with  William  Hugh,  Sr.,  built 
the  mill  they  are  now  managing,  and  connnenceil  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  and  lath  and  added  pl.niing 
works  to  the  mill  facilities. 

Mr.  Higbee  was   married  in  1849  to  Catherine  A., 


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daughter  of  Joiiatlian  and  Phebe  (Hoagland) 
Truesdell.  The  latter  venerable  personages,  aged  re- 
spectively 86  and  85  years,  reside  with  and  are  the 
special  care  of  their  son-in-law.  The  daughter  and 
wife  died  July  7,  18S3.  Mr.  Higbee  is  a  Republican 
in  ])olitical  sentiment.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higbee's  por- 
traits are  given  in  this  work. 


a^  eo.  M.  Gottshall,  of  the  lirm  of  Cannon  & 

Gottshall,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Canton, 

^    Ohio,  June  i,  1845.     His   parents,   Daniel 


and  Rebecca  (Martin)  Gottshall,  were  of  Ger- 
man lineage;  the  father  was  born  in  West- 
moreland, Pa.,  June  12,  1803,  and  mother,  in 
i8i5,in  Lancaster,  Pa.  Mr.  Gottshall  learned  the 
printer's  trade  when  a  mere  boy,  but  abandoned  the 
craft  temporarily  to  contribute  his  part  toward  his 
country's  defense.  His  father  was  instrumental  in 
raising  a  cavalry  company  and  was  put  in  command 
of  Company  K,  3d  Ohio  Cavalry,  in  which  Mr.  Gott- 
shall enlisted,  though  but  16  years  of  age.  Capt. 
Gottshall  contracted  camp  diarrhea  and  was  sent 
home  to  recuperate,  but  died  June  18,  1862.  The 
mother  still  survives  and  resides  at  Canton.  Mr. 
Gottshall  was  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Stone  River, 
Kenesaw  Mountain  and  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta  un- 
der Sherman;  was  with  Kilpatrick  on  his  raid  in 
Georgia,  and  at  the  battles  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Frank- 
lin and  Nashville,  Tenn.  His  period  of  enlistment 
expired  in  Sept.,  1864,  but  his  command  was  net 
mustered  out  until  Dec.  30  of  that  year.  He  re- 
turned to  Canton  and  again  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
2d  Ohio  Cavalry,  Capt.  H.  C.  Pike.  This  regiment 
was  in  Custer's  Brigade  at  Five  Forks,  Va.,  which 
intercepted  Lee  and  compelled  him  to  place  himself 
beyond  the  Appomattox  previous  to  his  final  surren- 
der. At  the  close  of  the  war  the  regiment  was  sent 
into  Southwestern  Missouri  and  the  Indian  Territory, 
and  was  mustered  out  in  September,  1865,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  Previous  to  the  engagement  at  Stone 
River  Mr.  Gottshall  was  promoted  as  Corporal.  At 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga  and  also  at  the  crossing 
of  Elk  river  near  Deckert  Station,  he  received  slight 
gunshot  wounds,  but  throughout  the  entire  period  of 
his  army  life  he  was  not  seriously  injured  or  ill.  j 
Daniel  H.  Gottshall,  a  lirother,  enlisted  in  Company  | 
F,  4th  Ohio  Vol.   Inf.,  and  Martin  V.  B.   Gottshall,  i 


another  brother,  in  Company  B,  43d  Ohio  \o\.  Inf., 
both  of  whom  served  their  time  of  enlistment  safely. 

Mr.  Gottshall  returned  to  Canton  and  resumed  the 
printer's  business,  himself  and  brother,  M.  V.  B., 
starting  a  weekly  paper — '//le  National  Dciiwcral. 
After  two  year's  successful  prosecution  of  this  enters 
prise  he  sold  to  his  brother  and  engaged  with  E.  Ball 
&  Co.,  manufactures  of  agricultural  machinery,  op- 
erating alternately  in  the  office  and  shop  as  contrac- 
tor. He  continued  until  1869,  when  he  went  to  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  in  the  capacity  of  book-keeper  with  a 
furniture  house.  After  a  year  he  entered  the  employ 
of  a  lumber  company — Beaver,  Miller  &  Co., — where 
he  acted  as  accountant,  general  manager,  salesman, 
etc.,  remaining  five  years.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids 
in  1876  and  in  company  with  B.  A.  Webster  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  lumber  dealer,  the  firm  adopting 
the  name  of  Gottshall  &  Webster.  This  relation  was 
dissolved  at  the  end  of  three  years,  when  Mr.  Gottshall 
accepted  an  engagement  with  F.  Fairman  as  travel- 
ing salesman,  selling  lumber,  etc.  He  afterward 
went  into  the  office  of  Mr.  Fairman 's  manufacturing 
establishment  known  as  the  Big  Rapids  I:on  Works 
and  officiated  as  manager  and  book-keeper.  In  Oct., 
1882,  Mr.  Edwin  Cannon  and  himself  bought  the  Iron 
Works  which  they  have  since  continued  to  operate,  con- 
structing all  machinery  necessary  to  the  manufacture 
of  lumber  and  shingles.  They  own  the  building  and 
site  (315  X  195  feet)  and  have  all  the  best  facilities  for 
making  light  or  heavy  work,  from  simple  bolts  to  com- 
l)licated  engines.  Their  products  sell  in  the  lumber 
districts  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and 
even  Texas. 

Mr.Gottshall  was  married  at  Canton,  May  23, 
1868.,  to  Frances  A.,  daughter  of  John  E.  :,nd  Maria 
T.  (Rodgers)  Whitney,  who  was  born  Dec.  9,  T849, 
at  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.  Edith  A.,  their  only  child,  was 
born  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Dec.  7,  1870. 


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eo  A.  Boof,  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  at 
Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Plessis,  Jefferson 
"T^l^S^  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  19,  1852.  His  parents, 
^^W^  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Shaver)  Roof,  came  to 
Big  Rapids  in  August,  1871.  Mr.  Roof  re- 
ceived his  business  training  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  his  father,  who  was  a  boot  and  shoe 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


269 


dealer  and  manufacturer  in  Jefferson  County,  and 
founded  the  same  business  at  Big  Rai)ids.  He  built 
the  structure  on  Michigan  avenue,  row  occupied  by 
T.  D.  Mulbury.  In  July,  1S73,  Mr.  Roof  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  father,  an  association  which 
proved  successful,  as  their  business  included  a  con- 
siderable jobbing  trade.  Jan.  i,  1879,  he  Ijecanie  sole 
owner  by  purchasing  his  Cither's  interest.  The  lat- 
ter died  Feb.  13,  1880.  In  June,  1883,  Mr.  Roof 
r.ioved  the  building  he  occupied  to  Maple  street, 
and  then  proceeded  to  the  erection  of  the  "Roof 
Block,"  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city.  It  is  i)uilt  of 
brick,  50  .\  100  feet  in  size,  with  tliree  stories  above 
the  basement. 

Mr.  Roof  was  married  at  Ottawa,  Can.,  Jan.  12, 
1874,  to  Laura  McT-aughlin,  wlio  died  May  10,  1875, 
leaving  an  infant,  Charlie  1).,  born  at  15ig  Rapids, 
April  28,  1875.  Mr.  Roof  entered  into  a  second 
matrimonial  alliance  Nov.  20,  1876,  with  Mattie  \., 
daughter  of  Jonas  and  Mary  A.  Crouse,  who  was 
born  Nov.  20,  1857.  Tliey  have  two  sons,  J.  Fred, 
born  at  Big  Rapids,  Aug.  26,  188 1,  and  an  infant  not 
yet  named.  Mr.  Roof  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  Council,  No.  174.  He  owns  a  fine  residence, 
which  he  built  in  1882. 


li  W.  Foglesang,  farmer,  sec.  13,  Millbrouk 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Ohio,  March  19,  1842. 
His  parents,  Eli  and  Mary  (Shoup)  Fogle- 
sang, were  born  respectively  in  Ohio  and  Penn- 
sylvania. In  t86i  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  worked  one  year  on  a  farm. 
In  the  following  year  he  came  to  Clinton  County  and 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  enrolling  Aug. 
5,  1862,  in  the  23d  Regiment  Michigan  Vol.  Inf,and 
served  until  July,  1865,  when  he  received  honorable 
discharge.  Among  other  engagements  in  which  he 
took  part  were  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Duck  River, 
Columbia,  Franklin,  Nashville  and  siege  of  Atlanta. 
His  regiment  was  for  a  time  attached  to  Sher- 
man's command,  and  detached  to  join  the  corps  de- 
tailed to  follow  up  the  retreat  of  Hood's  army.  After 
being  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service  he 
came  to  Bay  City,  Mich.,  and  worked  for  a  short  time 
in  a  shingle  mill,  going  thence  to  Clinton  County, 
,where  he  was  resident  about  three  vears.     In   the 


spring  of  1869  he  bought  200  acres  of  unimproved 
land  in  Millbrook  Tp.  Of  this  tract  160  acres  have 
passed  from  his  proi)rietorship:  the  remaining  40  is 
now  his  homestead  and  is  practically  all  under  culti- 
vation. 

He  was  married  in  Hay  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  23,  1868, 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  A.  (Johnson) 
Hested,  who  was  born  in  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foglesang  have  had  two  children: 
Cora  15.,  born  May  10,  1870,  and  Lewis  W.,  May  14, 
1 87  2.  In  politics  Mr.  F'oglesang  is  a  Republican 
and  has  held  several  township  offices  at  various 
periods. 


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^y-^,jifl!  illiam  A.  Bell,  farmer  on  sec.  12,  JVXwx 
M»Mi"  '  ''■'  '^  ^  native  of  Canada,  and  is  a  son  of 
_  4?.  John  A.  and  Margaret  (Johnson)  Bell. 
*"G^P  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
•4'Cr.  ^^  years  of  age,  acquiring  his  education  and 
fitting  himself  for  the  vocation  of  farmer.  At 
that  age  he  bought  80  acres  of  land,  under  par- 
tial improvements,  where  he  now  resides  and  on 
which  he  has  recently  built  a  fine  barn  Sixty  acres 
of  his  land  are  cultivated.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
princi|)le  and  action,  and  himself  and  family  attend 
the  M.  E.  Church. 

He  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  July  6,  1S74,  to 
F.dna  J.,  daughter  of  Edmund  and  Mary  (House) 
Groom,  and  their  children  are  Alverla  M.,  born  Dec. 
^3)  '877.  and  Ray  I!.,  born  Sept.  8,  1879. 


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Ijp^^ijbel  C.  Osborne,  proi)rietor   of  the  Palace 
>jS^j|'(   Barber  Shop    at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at 
IIJS""''  (-"•'»''-'"ov':%  N.  Y.,  June  3,  1841.     He  is  a 
•ajk?^  son  of  Thomas   E.  and  Salome  (Hanks)  Os- 
borne, and   was  sent   to  school  in  his  native  (^ 
place   until  he  was    16   years  old.      His   first      f 
occupation  of  any  imixjrtance  was  in  the  capacity  of    ,?. 
page   to   the    Sergeant-at-.\rms  of    the    New   York    ;f 
.\ssembly,  at  the  State  Capitol  at  Albany,  N.  Y.     At    H/ 
the  age  of  18  he  began  to  prepare  for  his  vocation  by  ^^ 
obtaining  a  iwsition  in  a  barbershop  at  Oswego,  N.  Y.     \J 
In  the  fall  of  1863  he  went  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  J^,-,, 


(^)^r^i^^^ 


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270 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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established  himself  in  business,  remaining  about  two 
years.  He  then  went  to  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
again  embarked  in  business  and  operated  until  1867. 
In  this  year  he  made  his  first  essay  in  his  calling  at 
Big  Rapids,  associated  with  George  Jones.  In  iS6g 
he  went  back  to  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  and  remained 
two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Big  Rapids  again 
and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  business  owned 
by  B.  F.  Brazee.  They  sold  out  to  J.  E.  Lalone,  and 
Mr.  Osborne  entered  the  employ  of  L.  T.  Loveless, 
engaging  a  year  later  with  Langsworth  &  Van  Haun. 
After  six  months  he  purchased  the  claim  of  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm,  and  after  another  six  months  he 
became  sole  proprietor  by  buying  out  Mr.  Van  Haun. 

He  opened   the  Palace  shop  in  December,  1881, 

and   the   establishment   is  acknowledged  to  be  the 

finest   in    the    Peninsular   State.     He   employs    two 

assistants,  and   owns  another  shop    in    a   different 

locality  under  the  management  of  William  Disley  and 

one  assistant.       In  cohnection  with  his  shop  he  has 

a  fine   set  of  bath  rooms  which,  with  his  operating 

«,  are  fitted  with  the  best  of  modern  fixtures. 

-  assistants   are  skilled  in  their  business,  and  his 

'>lishment    is     deservedly    famous     throughout 

Michigan. 

Mr.  Osborne  was  married  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  June 
21,  1865,  to  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Mary  Hare,  born  April  7,  1850,  in  Pictou,  Canada, 
t'layton,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  in  Toledo,  Ohio, 
June  6,  1S66,  and  is  now  a  messenger  in  the  employ 
of  the  W.  U.  Telegraph  Co.  Minnie  was  born  Oct. 
II,  1869,  at  Big  Rapids. 

Mr.  Osborne  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has 
held  the  offices  of  Past  Grand,  and  of  P.  C.  P. 

eorge  W.  Green,  lumberman,  resident  at 
!ig  kiipids,  was  born  at  Amity,  Allegany 
"*  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  31,  1834,  son  of  William 
D.  and  Anna  (Belden)  (ireen.  His  father  was 
a  farmer  and  lumberman,  and  he  was  early  put 
in  training  for  the  same  occupation,  upon 
which  he  entered  at  17  years  of  age.  The  business 
career  of  Mr.  Green  represents  in  miniature  the  liis- 
tory  of  Mecosta  County,  whither  he  came  in  1855- 
Tlie  township  of  Green  permanently  and  fitly  com- 
memorates tiie  family   name,   Mr.    Green,  with  iiis 


father  and  brother  Andrew,  being  among  the  earliest 
settlers  within  its  limits,  and  the  founder  of  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  "  first  things  "  there,  as  they 
were  the  heaviest  land-holders  at  that  period.  They 
located  about  1,400  acres  of  land  and  entered  zeal- 
ously upon  the  work  of  clearing  and  prosecuting 
their  lumber  interests.  Mr.  Green  was  associated 
with  his  brother  Andrew  in  the  lumber  trade  and  in 
farming  about  12  years.  They  bought  large  tracts  of 
pine  land,  in  Clare  County,  principally;  emiiloyed 
many  men,  and  put  logs  in  the  river,  which  were 
sold  afterward,  as  is  the  custom  in  this  section.  Mr. 
Green,  of  this  sketch,  built  the  first  frame  house  and 
barn  in  the  township  of  Green.  The  former  was 
erected  on  sec.  9,  in.  1857,  the  latter  on  sec.  4,  in 
1859.  The  residence  was  the  first  frame  dwelling  in 
Mecosta  County.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival,  there 
was  but  one-half  of  an  acre  of  ground  cleared  where 
Big  Rapids  now  stands,  whereon  was  located  a  small 
hut  owned  and  occupied  by  Zerah  French,  the  only 
inhabitant  living  there  at  the  time  they  located  their 
lands.  Mr.  Green  and  his  brother  were  often 
obliged  to  carry  some  part  of  their  provisions  long 
distances  on  their  backs. 

In  1872,  associated  with  his  brother — Lewis  H. 
Green — he  bought  a  saw-mill  on  the  river  in  Big 
Rapids,  at  the  foot  of  Hemlock  street.  The  follow- 
ing year  they  sold  out,  and  each  proceeded  to  Iniild 
a  mill  on  his  own  responsibility.  Lewis  H.  erected  a 
lumber  mill  on  the  north  side  of  Mitchell  Creek,  and 
Mr.  Green  of  this  sketch  built  a  shingle  mill  on  the 
south  side  of  the  same  stream,  which  he  sold  in 
June,  1875,  to  S.  H.  Gray  iS;  Co.  He  continued  to 
put  in  logs  up  the  river,  and  in  1877  engaged  with 
Bailey  &  Hardy  in  the  meat  business  at  Big  Rapids. 
This  relation  closed  at  the  end  of  a  year,  and  Mr. 
Green  went  to  the  Black  Hills,  where  he  engaged  in 
lumbering  and  mining  until  1881,  meeting  with 
satisfactory  success. 

The  death  of  his  wife  recalled  him  to  l!ig  Rapids 
and  he  resumed  the  lumber  trade.  In  1882  he 
bought  a  saw-mill  in  the  village  of  Mecosta,  which 
he  sold  in  June  of  the  following  year.  He  still  owns 
and  manages  a  lumberyard  there  and,  in  company 
with  D.  F.  Glidden,  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. His  property  at  Big  Rapids  consists  of  a  fine 
residence,  and  two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and 
Ives  avenues;  a  residence  and  lot  adjoining  on  the 
north;  a  store  on  the  north  side  of  Michigan  avenue. 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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about  5,000  acres  of  stump  land  in  Clare,  Missaukee 
^K  and  Osceola  Counties;  and  160  acres  of  farming 
't-    land  in  Dakota. 

I  Mr.  Green  was  married  March  27,  1S62,  in  (Ireen 
A.  Tp.,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Tliomas  and  Nicholas 
(Stott)  Shaw,  and  a  native  of  Lx)ndon,  Eng.  Three  chil- 
dren were  l)orn  of  this  union:  Lola  M.  B.,  Grace  G., 
and  George  W.  The  mother  died  at  Big  Rapids, 
May  II,  1881.  Mr.  Green  was  again  married,  Oct. 
17,  1S82,  at  East  Dennis,  Mass.,  to  I'.llcn  M  , 
daughter  of  Stillman  Kelley.  He  is  a  mcnilicr  of 
the  City  Council  of  Big  Rapids,  of  which  position  lie 
was  the  incumbent  in  1877-78.  He  has  served  ten 
years  as  Dejiuty  County  Surveyor,  and  was  Deputy 
under  the  first  County  Clerk,  Ojrin  Stevens,  elected 
at  the  organization  of  Mecosta  County,  which  posi- 
tion he  filled  two  years.  While  a  resident  of  Green 
Tp.  he  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  was 
Deputy  Township  Clerk  a  number  of  years,  and  has 
served  at  Big  Rapids  as  Deputy  Sheriff  under  A.  S, 
Mason.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  I-odge,  Ma- 
sonic Order,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar. 


A 


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Sff^ffi^-v^—- 


jj.rSfi  eo  Losie,  farmer,  sec.    26,   Deerfield  Tp., 

I't     is  the  son  of  John    and    I'^leanor  (Waite) 

Losie.      The    father     was    a    native     of 

Canada,  and   the  mother  of  New   Brunswick. 

In    1861   the   family  removed  to  Port  Huron> 

Mich.,  where  the  mother  is  still  living.      ller 

husband  died  in  the  summer  of  1865. 

Mr.  Ix)sie  was  born  in  Canada,  June  18,  1828,  and 
was  resident  there  until  1863,  in  the  winter  of  which 
year  he  settled  in  Mecosta  County  and  "took  up" 
40  acres  of  land  in  Deerfield  Township.  His  log  house 
home  and  laborious  eflbrts  in  clearing  the  forest  to 
make  way  for  the  support  and  advancement  of  him- 
self and  family,  though  the  same  trite  experience  so 
often  recounted,  is  no  less  the  strong  central  (wint  in 
his  career  because  it  has  a  counterpart  in  so  many 
personal  histories. 

Mr.  Ix)sie  was  married  in  Canada,  Nov.  8,  1853,  to 
Esther,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  (Ros/ell) 
Burss,  natives  of  Canada.  They  afterward  settled  in 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  where  the  father  died.  Her 
mother  resides  with  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Henry  Mills, 
of  Deerfield  Tp.     Of   this  marriage   seven  ciiildren 


have  been  born,  recorded  as  follows :  Asenath  A., 
born  April  15,  58;  J5ertha  A  ,  July  17,  '60;  Lizanna 
A.,  Oct  29,  '62;  Elon  A.,  March  16,  '65;  Earl  J., 
May  7,  '67  ;  Sarah  E.,  Sept.  21,  '54  (died  Aug  15,  58); 
John  E.,  March  3,  '56  (died  Aug.  21,  58).  The 
deaths  occurred  but  si.x  days  apart. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Losie  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  politics   he  is  a  Rei)ublican. 


W  dwin  Cannon,  manufacturer  at  Big  Rap- 
ids, is  a  native  of  England,  and  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Nancy  (Matthews)  Cannon. 
He  was  born  in  Buckinghamshire,  Nov.  17,  1837. 
His  father  came  to  the  United  States  in  1847, 
accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  [George  and  Ed- 
win, the  latter  a  lad  of  ten  years.  They  went  to 
Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  where,  two  years  later,  Mr. 
Cannon  (Sr.)  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  a  wild  state. 
The  wife  and  mother  joined  her  family  in  Blissfield 
Tp.,  about  this  time,  bringing  with  her  the  remaining 
<  hildrcn,  Jane  and  James.  They  experienced  all  the 
inconvcniencies  of  first  settlers,  but,  api>reciative  of 
their  privileges  under  a  popular  government,  went 
heartily  to  work  to  secure  all  the  benefits  accruing  to 
them  from  independent  citizenship.  Their  log  cabin 
was  humble  and  deficient  in  modern  apjiliances,  but 
it  was  their  own,  and  the  ])rivations  of  that  ])eriotl 
are  less  in  their  memories  than  its  charms  and  free- 
dom. Mrs.  Nancy  Cannon  died  in  1S79.  At  19, 
Mr.  Cannon  went  to  Blissfield,  Lenawee  Co.,  to  learn 
wagon-making,  where  he  worked  two  years,  and  then 
engaged  in  agriculture  four  years.  In  1862,  in  com- 
pany with  Mark  Cannon,  a  cousin,  he  bought  a 
steam  saw-mill,  which  they  managed  together  about 
five  years.  The  enterprise  was  jirosperous  and  Mr. 
Cannon  sold  his  moiety  to  his  partner  and  pro- 
ceeded to  establish  a  new  mill  in  the  vicinity.  Six 
months  after  its  completion,  he  formed  a  jiartnership 
with  James  Tibbals  and  removed  the  mill  and  fix- 
tures to  Hastings,  Barry  Co.,  Mich.  This  was  about 
the  year  1869,  and  the  mill  was  utilized  in  sawing 
ties  for  the  Grand  River  Valley  R.  R.,  then  in  proc- 
ess of  construction.  Afterward  the  mill  did  cus- 
tom work  at  Hastings  until  1871,  when  a  second 
transfer  was  made  to  Byers,  of  this  county,  and  the 
power  devoted  to  the  same  line  of  business.     In  the 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


winter  of  1873  the  firm  took  a  contract  to  saw  lum- 
ber for  Charles  Barstow,  at  Hungerford,  and  the  mill 
was  again  removed.  Mr.  Cannon  bought  the  inter- 
ests of  Mr.  Tibbals  in  the  summer  of  i<S76,  and 
(^.  Aug.  I,  1881,  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire,  entail- 
ing a  loss  of  $6,000.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids  soon 
after,  and  in  partnership  with  Geo.  M.  Gotshall  be- 
came i>roprietor  by  purchase  of  the  manufacturing 
establishment  of  F.  Fairman,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  constructing  edgers,  tram-cars,  engines, 
and  mill  machinery  generally.  The  annual  transac- 
tions reach  an  aggregate  value  of  $90,000. 

Mr.  Cannon 'owns  a  half  interest  in  600  acres  of 
land  in  Hungerford  besides  his  residence,  and  eight 
city  lots  on  S.  State  street  at  the  west  end  of  Oak 
street.  •  He  was  married  at  Mattawan,  Van  Buren 
Co.,  Mich.,  April  20,  1872,  to  Leavana,  daughter  of 
Levi  Butler,  a  farmer  and  carpenter  of  Mattawan, 
who  was  born  Nov.  21,  1845.  Mr.  Cannon  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Masonry. 


;-^ 


'O 


1;^  ranklin  C.  Terrill,  M.  D.,   was    born    in 

Plymouth,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  3,  1849. 

/i\  He  is  the   youngest    son  of    Lyman    and 

t  Catherine   (Clark)   Terrill,  and  was  reared  on 
a  farm  to  the   age   of   18.     He   attended   the 
^     common  district   school  until  the    age   of    14, 
when  he  entered  the  high  school  at  Northville  and 
two  years  afterward  entered  the  union  school  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  where  he  pursued  the  English  course. 

In  the  fall  of  1869  he  was  chosen  Principal  of  the 
union  schools  at  Ovid,  Mich.,  which  position  he  held 
during  tlie  following  year,  when  he  went  to  Kansas 
and  was  elected  to  the  same  position  in  the  schools 
at  White  Church. 

Dr.  Terrill  followed  the  calling  of  teacher,  reading 
ad  interim  for  his  profession  until  1875,  when,  owing 
to  ill  health,  he  abandoned  it  and  returned  to  Ovid, 
Mich.,  where  he  embarked  in  the  drug  business  with 
Geo.  C.  Beebe;  this  relation  and  business  continued 
until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  he  entered  the  Depart- 
ment of  Medicine  and  Surgery  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
completed  the  course  of  study  prescribed,  and  was 
graduated  June  26,  1879.  He  formed  a  partnership 
for  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Pat- 
tison  at  Millbrook,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  there  practiced 
until  September,  1881.     In  that  month  he  came  to 


Big  Rapids  and  established  his  business,  which  is  now 

in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Dr.  Terrill  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Medical 
Society  of  Northern  Michigan,  and  was  elected  first 
Vice-President  on  its  organization.  He  belongs  to 
the  fraternity  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1872,  while  resi- 
dent at  White  Church,  Kan.,  he  connected  himself 
with  the  Order  of  Masonry,  joining  Delaware  Lodge, 
No.  96;  he  was  made  Senior  Warden  in  1872-3,  and 
was  elected  Master  of  his  Lodge  Dec.  29,  1874, 
serving  one  year. 

Lyman  Terrill  was  born  March  13,  1802,  in  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  v.,  and  came  to  Plymouth,  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  was  a  prominent  jjioneer.  He  set- 
tled on  a  farm,  which  he  put  under  first-class  im- 
provements and  continued  to  reside  there  until  his 
death,  April  13,  1877.  Mrs.  Terrill,  his  wife,  was 
born  in  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  13,  1810.  Her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Terrill  occurred  Dec  13,  1880,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Of  seven  children  born  to  them 
six  are  now  living,  viz:  Charles  C.  is  an  architect 
in  California ;  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  Golden  State  for  three  successive  terms ;  Nancy 
resides  at  Ovid;  Martha  C.  is  the  wife  of  Chas.  M. 
Morrison,  a  farmer  at  Ovid,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.; 
Jared  D.  is  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Indian  Bureau  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  which  position  he  has  occupied 
for  18  years.  Francis  G.  is  a  farmer  on  the  home- 
stead at  Plymouth;  Hobert  H.  is  deceased.  The 
mother  died  at  Plymouth,  Jan.  11,  1863. 


'.igH^9  enry  D.  Brown,  Postmaster  at  Millbrook, 

was  born  in  New  York,  Aug.  23,  1829.     He 

is    a    son  of  Elijah    and    Abigail    (Strong) 

yfv^    Brown,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 

4v     the  latter   of  New  York.     They  were  married 

I      in  the    State  of  New   York   and   there   passed 

their  entire  lives,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  82 

years;  the  mother  died    in    1832.     Mr.  Brown  was 

nearly  25  years  of  age  when  he  took  a  final  leave  of 

his  childhood's  home.     A  brief  visit  to  Wisconsin  in 

earlier  years  had  given  him  a  favorable  impression  of 

that  State,  and  on  leaving  home  he  made  his  way 

thither  and  remained  three  years,  being  a  i)art  of  the 

time  in  the  employ  of  his  brother  as  clerk.     In  1857 

he  returned  to  New  York,  and  during  the  ne.xt  two 

years  carried  on  the  grocery  trade  in  his  own  inter- 


1 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


■z^^^^ 


4^*^ 


* 


273 


ests.  He  disix>sed  of  his  business,  and  in  the  fall  of 
859  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Uranch 
County,  buying  a  farm  and  there  operating  two  years. 
He  again  sold  out  and  removed  to  St.  Joseph  County, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  and  worked  a  few  months. 
The  continuous  calls  for  men  to  aid  in  crushing  the 
Southern  rebellion  awakened  his  patriotism,  and  he 
enlisted  in  the  17  th  Michigan  Vol.  Inf,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Detroit.  Among  the  most  memorable  ac- 
tions in  which  he  participated  were  the  battles  at 
Jackson,  Miss.,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness and  Spotlsylvania  Court  House.  At  the  last 
named  his  regiment  was  nearly  cut  to  pieces,  the  sur- 
vivors being  few.  .After  tliis  he  was  on  detached  ser- 
vice until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  his  discharge 
in  1865  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  settled  in 
Wheatland  Tp.,  where  he  bought  a  farm  and  oper- 
ated until  1878.  He  sold  his  place  in  that  year  and 
came  to  the  village  of  Millbrook  to  live  In  the  fall 
of  1879  lie  received  his  appointment  as  Postmaster 
from  President  Hayes,  and  has  since  occupied  the 
position.  While  a  resident  of  Wiieatland  he  held 
the  office  of  Township  Clerk  several  times,  besides 
other  minor  offices.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  15rown  was  married  in  New  York,  to  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Chauncey  and  Lorenna  Hrown.  Their 
\  only  child  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died  Jan. 
3,  1853.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  1865  to  Cassie, 
only  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Margaret  (Hopkins) 
(."lemment,  and  they  have  two  children,  Charlie  D. 
and  Lottie  C. 


:■) 


5§ 


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s 


rederick  W.  Joslin,  merchant  tailor,  clotli- 

ier  and  hatter,  Hig  Rapids,  is  a  son  of  Will- 

■yj^&'^j--  iam  and  Cynthia  (Crecnwood)  Joslin,  and 

^'(fe  was  born  in  Hubbardston,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass., 

3i^^  May  25,  1845.     He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 

J      received  the  education  of  a  farmer's  son  until 


he  was  17  years  old,  when  he  entered  the  Military 
.Academy  at  Leicester,  Mass.,  and  remained  one  and 
a  half  years.  He  then  came  West  to  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Woodward, 
Young  &  Co.,  clothiers,  as  clerk.  In  1870  he  formed 
_  ^  a  jiartnership  with  N.  B.  Young.  This  relation  e.\- 
ni)  isted  nearly  two  years,  when  it  was  dissolved,  and 
>^   Mr.  Joslin  came  to  Hig  Rapids  in    1872.     Here  he 


associated  himself  wi>h  W.  C.  Peters  in  the  clothing 
trade,  and  the  firm  transacted  a  prosperous  bus- 
iness until  November,  1878,  when  he  became  sole 
proi>rietor  by  purchase,  and  has  since  conducted  his 
business  alone.  He  carries  a  stock  of  §25,000 
value,  consisting  of  a  full  line  of  cloaking,  gentle- 
men's furnishing  goods  and  lumbermen's  wear. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  he  added  merchant  tailoring, 
and  is  doing  a  good  business  in  that  de|)artment. 

Mr.  Joslin  was  married  at  Fort  Wayne,  Feb.  16, 
1 87  I,  to  Etta  K.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Kate  (Bow- 
man) Beckley,  who  was  born  Feb.  23,  1847,  near 
Harrisl)\irg,  Pa.  They  have  two  sons,  Frederick  W. 
and  Roy  G.,  the  former  i)orn  at  Fort  Wayne,  April 
3,  1873,  the  latter  at  Big  Rapids,  June  9,  1878. 

Mr.  Joslin's  place  of  business  is  situated  on  the 
cornerof  Michigan  avenue  and  Maple  street,  fronting 
on  lioth.  He  owns  his  residence  and  two  lots,  on 
the  c  urner  of  Stewart  avenue  and  Linden  street. 


D.  Moody,  liveryman  at  Big  Rapids,  was 
born  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  25,  1844, 
■?  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sophia  (Rogers) 
p  Moody.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  CJrand  Rapids  in 
1852.  In  1856  his  father  bought  320  acres  ol 
land  in  .\lpine  Tp.,  Kent  Co.  Mr.  Moody 
enlisted,  when  18  years  of  age,  in  the  army,  enrolling 
Aug.  12,  1862,  in  Co.  E,  Second  Mich.  Cav.,  under 
Capt.  Nicholson.  He  went  into  the  service  as  a  pri- 
vate, and  during  his  period  of  enlistment  passed  the 
various  promotions  to  that  of  Sergeant  He  was  in 
the  battles  of  Perryville,  Carter's  raid  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, Chickamauga,  through  the  Georgia  campaign 
under  Sherman,  at  Franklin,  Nashville,  Wilson's 
cavalry  raid,  siege  of  Tuscaloosa,  and  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  at  Taladego.  .\s  the  war  was  practi- 
cally at  an  end,  he  was  held  but  three  days,  and  was 
discharged  from  the  service  in  June,  1865.  His 
father  enlisted  in  the  same  regiment,  and  was  killed 
at  his  side  by  a  cannon  shot  in  a  skirmish  near  Ix)uis- 
ville,  Ky.,  Oct.  i,  1862.  Mr.  Moody  returned  to 
Kent  County  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1873  he  abandoned  agriculture  and  en- 
gaged as  traveling  salesman  for  W.  C.  Dennison, 
manufacturer  and  dealer  in  agricultural  implements. 
In  December  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Big  Rajv 


V 


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!|PS/®>)«^^ 


274 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


^^^5((®VS 


I 


1 


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ids  and  opened  a  livery  barn,  connecting  there  with 
an  omnibus  line.  He  moved  to  his  present  location 
in  July,  1882,  where  he  has  as  fine  an  establishment 
as  can  be  found  in  Northern  Michigan.  He  keeps 
about  40  horses,  and  connects  sales  and  board  with 
his  regular  livery  business.  In  June,  1883,  he  sold 
out  his  omnibus  line.  On  opening  his  l)usiness  at 
Big  Rapids  he  was  associated  first  with  L.  .S.  Scranton, 
of  Grand  Rapids,  this  relation  existing  until  March  26, 
1881,  when  John  Moore  was  admitted  to  a  partner- 
ship. Mr.  Moody  bought  his  interest  April  i,  1883, 
and  is  now  operating  alone.  He  sold  his  farm  in 
Kent  County,  in  Feb.,  1882.  The  building  he  occu- 
pies is  situated  on  a  lot  115  feet  face,  by  160  feet 
deep,  connected  with  a  lot  in  the  rear,  150  x  150 
feet,  whereon  is  located  a  barn.  The  building  has  a 
fine  brick  front  and  makes  a  creditable  apjiearance,  at 
the  foot  of  Maple  avenue.  Mr.  Moody  owns  his  res- 
idence and  several  vacant  lots  at  various  jioints  in 
the  city. 

He  was  married  Dec.  25,  1865,  to  Izora,  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  Coffee,  a  native  of  Alpine  Tp., 
Kent  Co.,  born  Nov.  27,  1847.  Two  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage — Daniel  B.  and  Geo.  F.,  de- 
ceased. The  mother  died  at  Big  Rapids,  Feb.  22, 
1876.  Mr.  Moody  was  again  married,  in  .Alpine, 
Sept.  20,  1878,  to  Viola  Coffee,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  Ijorn  in  Alpine  and  died  Jan.  10,  1881,  at  Big 
Rapids.  Feb.  25,  1883,  Mr.  Moody  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Currie. 


christian  Johnson,  farmer,  sec.  36,  Wheat- 
L|^g^'  land  Tp.,  was  born  in  Germany,  Dec.  30, 
^^    1835.     He  is  a  son  of  Josejjh  and  Rachel 


pfe    (Miller)  Johnson,  natives   ot   Germany,   who 
nlv?     came  to  the  United  States  in   1839,  and  set- 


tled in  Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  June  25,  186 1,  to  Rachel,  daughter  of  Fred 
and  Laura  (Boarland)  Miller,  natives  of  Germany, 
who  was  born  in  Wittenburg,  Germany,  March  15, 
1842.  She  came  to  Wisconsin  with  her  mother  when 
she  was  20  years  of  age,  and  there  lived  until  her 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  remained  in  Jeffer- 
son County  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  they  came 
to  Michigan.  Mr.  Johnson  bought  80  acres  of  land 
in   the  Township  of  Wheatland,  on   which  he   has 


made  many  improvements.  He  is  in  sympathy  with 
the  Republican  party  and  acts  in  accordance  with 
their  principles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  had 
nine  children,  viz :  Sophia,  born  March  15,  1864; 
Henry,  Aug.  17,  1867;  Christian,  born  in  1870,  died 
in  early  infancy;  Lewis,  March  14,  1872;  Ida,  born 
Dec.  26,  1873,  died  June  23,  1874;  Alice,  Aug.  28, 
1875;  Otto,  Jan.  30,  1876;  Irwin,  .Sept.  25,  1879; 
Frankie,  July  20,  1883.  The  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran Church. 


ji^ark  Munn,  farmer,  sec.  23,  Wheatland  Tp., 

(S    is    the   son   of   Henry   and  Jane  (Snyder) 

liiS'"'^   Munn,    natives   of    Pennsylvania   and    of 

-^  Scotch  and  German  descent. 


'iCf'd 


He  was  born  in 
.yi'V.  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  12,  1857  ;  received'his 
''  education  chiefly  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  resided  there  until  he  was  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  Michigan.  In  187S,  he  settled  in 
the  township  of  Mill  brook,  where  he  worked  on  dif- 
ferent farms  for  two  years.  In  1880  he  went  to 
Isabella  County,  and  was  employed  on  the  farm  of 
William  Broomfield.  (See  sketch.)  He  was  married 
Dec.  23,  1 88 1,  to  Ida  B.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Ellen  (McLin)  Broomfield.  Mrs  Munn  was  born  in 
Canada,  March  i,  1861.  Her  parents  came  to  Isa- 
bella County  when  she  was  an  infant. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Munn  located  on  a 
farm  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  containing  160  acres  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Broomfield,  which  they  arc  conducting 
with  prudence  and  profit.  They  have  one  child — 
William  H. — born  Nov.  26,  1882.  Mr.  Munn  is  a 
Democrat. 


I 


< 


•irv<    iv;  :;c;;;,;o<t?t:.;>t'»..f^. 

"eonard  Hyatt,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Green  Tp.,^ 
was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  28, 
1829.      His    parents,    James    and    Martha 
(Smalley)  Hyatt,  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
New    York,   and   located    in    1832,  near  Lodi 
Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich. 

Mr.  Hyatt  grew  to  manhood  in  the  manner 
conmion  to  the  sons  of  farmers,  being  trained  to 
lionest,  thrifty  habits,  and  acquiring  a  fair  elementary 
education  at  the  district  schools.     He  was  married  in 


m\\-^>^ 


'1^  I 


J^  a,  ^'^r^<^^'7Z. 


v<>nD^:nn>>r^^^ — ui^^ 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


1856  to  Catherine  Gallady,  born  May  23,  1839,111 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  In  1858  he  entered  a  claim  of  80 
acres  of  land,  and  proceeded  vigorously  with  the 
work  of  cultivation  and  iini>rovcinent. 
(%.  Children :  Marion  M.,  James  E.,  Walter  L.,  and 
Martha  B.     Ida  May  and  Alice  are  deceased. 


) 


1 

I 


iil^ 


'RBB(?atrick  Erikson,  of  the  firm  of  Erikson  & 
Iwd''*'  Hoehn,  proprietors  of  the  Big  Rapids  City 
\^^-%-  l^rewery,  was  horn  in  Sweden,  Feb.  14,  1848. 
'K-0<  He  is  a  son  of  Cliistopher  and  .\nna  (Peterson) 
^K  Erikson,  and  in  his  native  country  followed  the 
'r  calling  of  a  drover.  He  came  to  America  in 
1872,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  15ig  Rapids,  where 
lie  settled  and  commenced  to  work  on  the  railroad  ; 
he  afterward  contracted  to  build  grades.  In  1S73 
he  took  a  contract  to  lay  the  water  pipes  in  the  city, 
and  in  August  of  that  year  lie  opened  a  saloon  near 
his  present  location.  In  1S75  he  associated  himself 
with  Fred.  Hoehn  and  built  a  brewery,  where  from 
the  outset  they  have  done  a  prosperous  business,  and 
contemplate  an  extension  of  their  facilities.  Mr. 
Erikson  was  married  at  Big  Rai)ids,  June  20,  1875,(0 
.\nna  Shaw,  a  native  of  Sweden.  They  have  two 
children,  Nellie  E.  and  .Anna.  Mr.  Erikson  was 
elected  member  of  the  City  Council  in  1877,  and 
filled  the  position  four  years.  He  operates  to  some 
extent  in  real  estate.  We  give  Mr.  Erikson's  por- 
trait upon  the  opposite  i>age  in  this  volume. 

&ohn  S.  Evans, dealer  in  musical  merchandise 

T«Sfl  -  '^'  "^'^  Rapids,  was  born  at  Ale.xandria  Cen- 

wC:."4'  '<^fi  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  19,  1835.   His 

Jlp*  parents,  Columbus  and  Friendly  (Fisher)  Evans, 

«p  are  still  living  in  Jefferson  County,  aged  respect- 

(!^    ively  89  and    87    years.     Both  are  natives  of 

New   Hampshire  and  of   Welsh  ancestry.     .\t 

15,  Mr.  Evans    left  the  farm    to  learn   the  trade  of 

carpenter,   in    which    line   of  employment    he    was 

chiefly  occupied  for  five  years.     At  the  age  of  27  he 

enlisted  as  a  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  enrolling  at  his 

native  place,  .Vug.  6,  1862,  in  Co.  F,  Tenth  N.  Y. 


Artillery,  under  Capt.  J.  S.  Vanderberg.  He  entered 
the  service  as  a  private,  and  during  the  period  of  his 

enlistment  was  in  64  engagements;  among  them  were 
Winchester,  Petersburg,  Bermuda  Hundred  on  the 
James  River,  and  at  the  capture  of  Richmond.  In 
the  last  he  was,  throughout  the  action,  involved  in 
hand  to  hand  encounters  with  the  rebels.  His  regi- 
ment suffered  severely  in  all  the  battles  in  which  it 
participated,  necessitating  frequent  recruiting.  Mr. 
Evans  had  charge  of  one  of  these  expeditions.  His 
command  was  also  engageil  in  the  battles  of  the 
Shenandoah,  at  Newmarket  and  Cedar  Creek,  under 
Sherman,  and  was  mustered  out  June  25,  1865,  at 
Petersburg,  Va.,  after  three  years  of  almost  unremit- 
ted warfare.  After  the  engagement  at  Winchester, 
Mr.  Evans  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Second 
Lieutenant. 

He  returned  to  Jefferson  County  and  entereil  the 
employ  of  Butler  &  Co.,  hardware  merchants,  of 
Utica,  N.  Y,  as  traveling  salesman,  acting  in  that 
capacity  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  settled  at 
Big  Rapids  and  commenced  dealing  in  furniture. 
He  conducted  tne  business  about  four  years,  traffick- 
ing meanwhile  in  real  estate  to  some  extent.  The 
crash  of  1873  produced  considerable  stringency  in 
his  affairs,  and  shrinkage  of  values  involved  him  in  a 
loss  of  several  thousand  dollars.  He  sold  his  busi- 
ness in  1874  and  began  to  read  for  the  profession  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Frank  Dumon.  In  1877  he  was 
admitted  to  practice,  opened  an  office  at  Big  Rapids, 
and,  in  connection  with  his  legal  operations,  trans- 
acted the  branch  of  professional  business  styled 
"Soldiers'  Additional  Homesteads."  In  1881  he 
made  an  entire  transfer  of  his  projects  and  interests 
and  opened  trade  in  |>ianos,  organs  and  all  varieties 
of  musical  merchandise.  He  deals  ni  the  pianos  of 
Henry  F.  Miller,  Harper,  Chase,  McPhail,  Decker 
Bros.,  and  Mathushek,  and  is  agent  for  the  Ithaca, 
New  Era,  Wesiern  and  Chicago  Cottage  Organs,  etc. 
His  l)usiness  was  small  at  first,  averaging  two  musi- 
cal instruments  monthly,  and  at  jiresent  (1883) 
amounts  to  $30,000  annually.  He  has  established  a 
branch  store  at  Muskegon,  Reed  City,  Cadillac, 
Manistee  and  Chase,  and  employs  eight  traveling 
salesmen.  For  variety  he  sometimes  engages  in  a 
law  case,  but  in  no  sense  follows  the  profes  sion  as 
a  business. 


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Mr.  Evans  was  married  March  4,  185S,  to  I'liilinda 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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S.,  daughter  of  Parley  and  Submit  Brown,  of  Alex- 
andria, N.  v.,  a  native  of  Orleans,  Jefferson  Co., 
same  State.  Her  father  was  a  Baptist  clergyman 
and  an  old  resident  of  Jefferson  County.  George  B., 
oldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans,  is  married  and 
engaged  in  real-estate  brokerage,  and  is  a  resident  at 
St.  Paul ;  Corielle  P.,  also  married,  is  employed  in 
the  counting  room  of  J.  Cummer  &  Son,  of  Cadillac, 
Mich.;  Nora  S.,  only  daughter,  is  a  popular  teacher 
in  Mecosta  County. 


^^f  esse  Williams,  farmer,  sec.  23,  Green  Tp., 
v_  was  born  Sept.  9,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of 
%  Lyman  and  Lucinda  (Boyden)  Williams. 
\fy  His  father  died  when  he  was  but  12  years  of 
age,  and  when  he  was  16  his  mother  died. 
From  that  time  until  manhood,  his  fate  was 
that  of  those  who  are  left  to  tlie  cold  charities  of  the 
wodd.  He  did  the  best  he  could  for  himself  without 
guidance  or  care.  He  obtained  a  fair  educaton,  and 
was  compelled  to  work  most  of  the  time  to  secure 
himself  from  want.  He  was  usually  employed 
as  a  farm  assistant,  and  worked,  as  he  found  oppor- 
tunity, at  the  carpenter's  trade. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  in  1863  to  Ruth  E., 
daughter  of  Joseph  L.  and  Johanna  I.  Dickerson. 
In  1865  they  became  residents  of  Mecosta  County, 
Mr.  Williams  buying  a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land,  of 
which  65  are  in  tillage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  have  five  children:  Ida  I., 
L.  1).,  Capitola,  (ieorge  and  Clarence.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams is  a  Democrat. 


.s^^SFaron  S.  Clement,   farmer,  sec.   26,  Wheat- 
WAW   jan^  '^Yi  was  born   in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  V. 
His  parents,  John  D.  and 


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^  Dec.  6,  1817. 
"4}^  Betsey  E.  (Dilch)  Clement,  were  natives  re- 
|3^  spectively  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and 
j  died  when  Aaron  was  but  14  years  old. 
Tiirown  thus  early  upon  his  own  resources,  his  o])- 
portunities  for  education  were  limited,  his  energies 
being  directed  chiefly  to  the  labor  wiiich  earned  for 
him  the  necessaries  of  his  existence.  He  was  indus- 
trious and  of  good  habits,  and  readily  found  work  in 


the  section  where  he  was  born  until  he  had  entered 
inan's  estate.  In  the  autumn  of  1839  he  came  to  St 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  entered  upon  the  career 
of  a  farmer.  He  was  married  July  25,  1841,  to 
Sarah  C,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Persis  (Wayne)  Wat- 
kins,  natives  of  Massachusetts,  and  soon  after  their 
marriage  went  to  Naples,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  daughter  was  born  Dec.  3,  1820.  Mr.  Clement 
rented  a  farm  in  St.  Joseph  County  for  a  period  of  25 
years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866  removed  his  family  to 
Wheatland  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co.  They  located  on  160 
acres  of  land,  one-half  of  which  has  been  placed  un- 
der good  tillage. 

Mr.  Clement  is  a  Republican,  but  not  an  aspirant 
for  official  notoriety,  having  always  persistently  de- 
clined election  to  any  position.  He  is  a  membcv  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  Children:  Eliza  Jane,  born 
Nov.  2,  1842,  diedAjiril  11,  1843;  Mary  J.,  April  20, 
1844;  Amine  P.,  July  29,  1846;  Viralda  M.,  Dec. 
28,  184S;  Sarah  E.,  Jan.  5,  1852;  Lyda  R.,  July  8, 
1862. 


^3= 


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enjamin   F.   Powers,   farmer  on    sec.    28, 
j;   Austin  Tp  ,  was  born  near  Montreal,  May 


^^^f^ 


'%'^'i  7,  1817.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
§»  Elizabeth  (Cutter)  Powers,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont, who  were  pioneers  of  Canada,  remov- 
ing to  the  Dominion  soon  after  their  marriage. 
Mr.  Powers  received  a  fair  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  at  20  years  of  age  left  h's  native  county 
and  went  to  London,  Ont.,  where  he  was  a  farm 
laborer  until  1849.  In  that  year  he  came  to  wliat  is 
now  Newaygo  Co.,  then  unorganized.  When  its 
municipal  condition  was  made  self-sustaining  by  or- 
ganization according  to  law,  Mr.  Powers  was  one  of 
the  organizing  Board.  When  Mr.  Powers  first  be- 
came a  resident  of  Croton  Co.  (now  Newaygo)  there 
was  no  habitation  nearer  than  25  miles.  He  exerted 
all  his  energies  and  influence  for  the  advantage  and 
and  prosperity  of  tlie  people.  In  1869  he  removed 
to  Austin  Tp.,  this  county,  and  bought  80  acres  ot 
land,  to  which  he  has  since  added  40  acres,  making 
a  farm  of  i  20  acres,  with  60  under  good  good  culti- 
vation, which  places  it  among  the  foremost  in  the 
county  in  point  of  beauty  and  value.  Mr.  Powers 
was  married  Dec.  i,  1840,  to  Martha  D.,  daughter  of 

3S;Dllri>AS a>«?i«^ " 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


■^4>^5f®vS 


279 


A 


Garrett  and  Vesta  (Tousley)  S:evens,  born  near  Lon- 
don, Ont.,  Aug.  26,  1819.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  (".erniany,  and  mother,  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Powers  have  had  1  2  children,  six  boys  and  six  girls. 
Three  sons  and  four  daughters  yet  survive.  Their 
births  occurred  in  the  following  order:  Iran  C, 
March  22,  1845;  Elizabeth,  April  17,  1847;  Lucy 
A.,  Jan.  20,  1849;  Charlotte,  Feb.  i,  1851  ;  Benja- 
min F.,  July  19,  1853;  Mary  A.,  July  13,  1856; 
Charles  H.,  Oct.  14,  1862.  The  following  are  de- 
ceased: William,  born  .Vug.  28,  1841,  died  Oct.  29, 
1841  ;  an  infant  child  was  born  and  died  Sept.  17, 
1844;  Caroline  M.,  died  eight  days  after  birth; 
Martha,  born  May  25,  1859,  died  July  29,  i<S6o. 

The  family  attend  the  M.  F-.  Church,  and  though 
not  members  are  adherents  to  the  principles  of  the 
society,  ^fr.  Powers  is  a  Republican,  but  has  always 
declined  elective  positions  among  his  townsmen. 

^j'p^gwS'enjainin  Dalziel,  farmer,  on  sec.  34,  Creen 
5  I  %\~  Pp.,  was  born  in  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  28, 
^\s¥ifS^  1 84 1.  He  is  a  son  of  Ale.xander  and 
0)'='  Jane  (Marsh)  Dalziel,  the  former  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  the  latter  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Mr.  Dalziel  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
trained  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Ionia  County,  and 
there  resided  at  home  until  he  was  nine  years  old, 
at  which  time  he  moved  with  his  father  to  Newaygo 
County.  At  the  age  of  27  he  came  to  this  county, 
and  located  on  the  farm  he  has  since  owned,  now 
containing  200  acres. 

He  was  married  in  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1866, 
to  Harriet  Ellen,  daughter  of  John  and  Minerva 
(Parsons)  Miller,  a  native  of  Newaygo  County.  Her 
father  was  l)orn  in  Vermont,  and  her  mother  in  New 
York.  They  have  had  three  children:  Jane  Henri- 
etta and  Minerva  :  the  latter  is  deceased. 


(c^    '^^^Mo^''^^^^  Horton,  f; 
?K      /jlrC  Anna  (Kimball)  Ho 


eneca  Horton,  farmer,  sec.   25,  Wheatland 
Athens  Co.,  Ohio,  Sej)!. 
parents,    Daniel    M.    and 
lorlon,    were   born    in    New 
York,  of  ICnglish    and    Herman    descent,  and 
became   residents  of  Ohio  shortly   after  their 
Vj"         '       marriage.     Mr.    Horton    received    a   common 
ZL  school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  18  years  went  to 


I 


Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  lx)ught  100  acres  of  land 
and  entered  actively  \x\yo\\  the  career  of  an  agricul- 
turist. He  remained  five  years,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1845  went  to  Middlebury,  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  and 
managed  a  farm  in  that  vicinity.  In  April,  1848,  he 
sought  another  locality,  going  to  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  purchased  70  acres  of  land  and  lived  a 
year.  He  then  returned  to  Tioga  County,  sold  his 
original  farm  and  bought  another  in  the  same  county, 
where  he  lived  about  17  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1866  he  bought  120  acres  ol  land  in  native  timber  in 
the  township  of  Wheatland,  where  he  has  establi.shed 
a  permanent  home.  His  farm  now  contains  58  acres, 
with  50  acres  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Horton  was  married  in  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept. 
14,  1843,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Cath- 
erine (Wood)  Buckbee,  natives  of  New  XoA.  and  of 
English  extraction.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
May  I,  1828.  Mr.  antl  Mrs.  Horton  have  three 
children:  Mary,  born  No\-.  23,  1844;  Edward  T., 
Nov.  19,  1846,  and  Daniel  D.,  July  6,  1S51.  'Phe 
parents  gave  them  a  good  education,  and  have  the 
great  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  all  are  in  substan- 
tial circumstances  in  life.  Mr.  Horton  is  a  Republi- 
can and  has  held  resiwnsible  offices  in  his  district 
nine  years.  Himself  and  wife  are  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


H  yman  Nethway,  farmer  on  sec.  24,  /Etna 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
3,  18 10.  His  father,  James  Nethway,  was 
of  Engliih  parentage,  and  his  mother,  Eliza- 
Ji^  belh  (Neice)  Nethway,  was  a  native  of  Long 
[^  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  was  of  Welsh  extraction. 
Mr.  Nethway  received  a  good  education  in  early 
life  for  the  purix)se  of  becoming  a  teacher,  and  at  18 
years  of  age  taught  his  first  term  at  Perry,  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  came  thence  to  Michigan,  and  taught 
during  the  years  1833-4.  He  then  returned  to  his 
his  home,  and  having  married,  himself  and  wife 
turned  their  faces  westward  and  came  to  Hillsdale 
Co.,  Mich.,  where  Mr.  Nethway  purchased  a  farm 
under  the  original  land  [)alent  of  1835.  In  1850  he 
went  to  Sauk  Co.,  Wis.,  and  there  engaged  three 
years  in  farming.  Becoming  dissatisfied  he  came 
back  to  Lenawee  County,  and  settled  at  RoUin,  in 
1853.     In  1854  he  decided  to  try  the  Hawkeyc  State, 


v^ 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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and  bought  a  farm  in  Buchanan  County,  where  he 
remained  eight  years.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Mich- 
igan and  settled  in  Mecosta  County.  He  has  been 
engaged  during  eleven  years  in  mercantile  business 
in  Morley,  and  upon  closing  his  commercial  affairs 
bought  a  farm,  and  now  lives  in  retirement. 

Mr.  Nethway  was  married  Sept.  6,  1835,  to  Lu- 
cetta,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  (Wood)  Ralph, 
respectively  of  English  and  Welsh  origin,  and  resi- 
dents of  Woodstock,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  marriage,  as  follows : 
Marcellus  T.,  born  May  13,  1836:  Cassius  Marcus, 
born  Jan.  17,  1.848,  died  in  the  army  from  injuries 
received  at  tlie  battle  of  Bull's  Gap,  E.  Tenn.,  April 
22,  1865;  was  a  soldier  in  Co.  D,  Third  Michigan 
Vol.  Inf.;  Florence  A.,  born  in  1849,  and  died  March 
10,  1850. 

Mr.  Nethway  is  a  radical  Republican,  and  actively 
engaged  in  all  social  and  moral  reforms.  Himself 
and  wife  profess  no  particular  creed,  but  hold  to  their 
innate  belief  that  honesty  and  genuine  morality 
are  safe  guides  in  their  intercourse  with  the  world. 

Mr.  Nethway  has  held  offices  of  trust  in  his  town- 
ship for  15  years.  He  was  Postmaster  at  Big  Creek 
nearly  three  years,  under  Lincoln's  administration, 
and  was  Supervisor  of  Deerfield  Tp.  several  years, 
also  Treasurer  and  Assessor  several  years. 


I 


^^feames  Dalziel,  farmer,  on  sees.  33   and  34, 
[t   Creen  Tp.,  was   born  in  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  June    r8,    1835.     He  is   the  eldest 
son    of  Alexander  and    Jeannette  (Patterson) 
^P"    Dalziel,   both    of    Scotch    extraction.       They 
Y^    came  to  the  United  States  in    1830,  and  soon 
after  settled  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  where  the 
mother  died,  and   the  father   sold  his    property,  re- 
moving to  Detroit  with  his  family. 

Mr.  Dalziel  was  then  ver)'  young,  and  after  re- 
maining a  year  in  Detroit  went  to  Genesee  County 
with  a  man  named  Jonas  \'alentine.  He  remained 
with  him  one  year,  and  then  became  an  inmate  of 
tlie  family  of  Rol)ert  Staly,  a  pioneer  of  Flint.  He 
was  in  Mr.  Staly 's  charge  five  years,  when  he  return- 
ed to  the  protection  of  Mr.  Valentine.  Eighteen 
months  afterward  his  father  came  and  took  him  to 
Michigan.     He  went  to  Big  Prairie,  Newaygo  County, 


and  there  lived  12  years.     His  next  remove  was  to 
Green  Tp. 

Mr.  Dalziel  was  married  in  April,  1858,  to  Jane 
Currie,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Sterling)  Currie.  Two  of  their  four  chil- 
dren are  living;  \V.  H.  and  Catherine  Jane.  Mr. 
Dalziel  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith  ;  has  been 
Supervisor  three  terms,  and  served  three  years  as 
Town  Commissioner.  He  owns  195  acres  of  land  in 
Green  Tp. 

^5 #^ 5- 


T^S^^i^ asard  Bennett,  farmer,  sec.  20,  Austin  Tp., 

j|"  was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  22,  1837, 

'son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Bennett,  who  were 

natives  of  France,  and  came  early  in   their  lives 

Ito  the  United  States,  settling  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Bennett  commenced  life  as  a  common  la- 
borer, and  found  various  avenues  of  employ- 
ment for  several  years,  finally  becoming  a  trapper, 
which  pursuit  he  followed  for  some  time.  He  then 
engaged  in  lumbering,  at  wliich  he  worked  until  Oct. 
12,  1 86 1,  the  date  of  his  enlistment  in  the  Union 
army.  He  enrolled  in  Company  K,  First  Vermont 
Cavalry,  and  his  first  active  service  was  under  Gen. 
Kilpatrick,  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  He 
was  in  the  Sharpshooters"  brigade  until  1863,  when 
the  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  command  of 
Gen.  Custer,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his  dis- 
charge Oct.  19,  1864.  Mr.  Bennett  was  in  all  the 
principal  engagements  of  the  Rappahannock  and 
Shenandoah.  At  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run 
he  received  a  saber  wound  through  the  leg,  and  at 
the  time  of  I,ee's  attempted  retreat  across  the  Po- 
tomac at  Hagi  rstown,  was  sliot  through  the  shoulder. 
He  was  promoted  to  Corporal  for  bravery  in  action. 

He  came  to  Big  Rapids,  Mich.,  in  the  spring  of 
1865,  and  again  interested  himself  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, which  he  pursued  until  1869.  In  that  year  he 
purchased  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  and  took 
immediate  jKJssession,  proceeding  to  clear  away  the 
tinilier  and  otherwise  make  improvements;  has  now 
42  acres  under  the  plow  and  in  good  tillable  condi- 
tion. He  also  owns  a  half  interest  in  160  acres  in 
Mecosta  Tp.  He  was  married  Sept.  30,  1866,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Ireland,  April  10  18.19,  and  died  Feb. 
19,  1873,  leaving  three  children,  Charles   H.,  born 


1 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


281 


March  9,  1879;  Ernest  J.,  Feb.  22,  187  i  ;  Elizabeth 
M.,  Feb.  5,  1873.  Mr.  Bennett  contracted  a  second 
marriage  April  9,  1874,  with  Margaret,  daughter  of 
William  and  Lydia  (Wample)  Smith,  born  in  Michi- 
gan, July  2,  1855.  They  have  two  children:  Emma 
M.,  born  Nov  9,  1874,  and  Minard  I.,  May  7,  187-. 
Mr.  Bennett  is  a  radical  Republican  and  has 
held  all  the  important  township  and  school  offices 
until  he  declines  farther  duties. 


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?arvey  O.  Williams,  farmer,  si'C.  29,  Wheat- 
land Tp.,  was  born  inKnox  Co., Ohio,  Dec. 
17,   1842.     His  parents,   Louis  and  Olive 
(Owen)  Williams,  were  of  German  descent  and 
natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 
In    1844  they  settled   in  Kosciusko  Co.,   Ind. 
Mr.  Williams  attained  to  man's  estate  in   In- 
diana, and  was  just  past  his  majority  when  the  notes 
of  civil  war  in   the  United  States  startled  her  loyal 
sons  to  activity  in  behalf  of  herthrcatened  integrity. 
Mr.  Williams  enlisted  Oct.    19,   1861,  in  Co.  K,  12th 
Ind.  Inf.,  under  Capt.  T.  G.  Morrison,  and  was  dis- 
charged  May    19,   18C2.       Less    than    two  months 
subseijuently  he  re -enlisted,  enrolling  July  10,  1862, 
in  Co.  F,  in  the  same  regiment  to  which  he  had  pre- 
viously belonged.     Of  the  acknowledged  prowess  of 
the  "  1 2th  Indiana,"  Mr.  Williams  was   a   part.     His 
record  bears  the  undying  names  of  Richmond  (Ky.), 
Vicksburg,  Jackson  (Miss.),  Missionary  Ridge,  Rcs- 
aca,  Dallas,  New  Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Nickajack  Creek,  the  repulse  of  Hood  at  Atlanta,  on 
July    20,    22    and    28,    Jonesboro,   Savannah,  Gris- 
woldsville,   Columbia   (S.  C),   Bentonville   and  Ra- 
leigh.    In  these,  as  well  as  in  the  numberless  minor 
engagements  in  which  he  was  an  actor,  he  escaped 
without  injury,  although  his  uniform  frequently  suffer- 
ed from  flying  fragments  of  shell  and  spent  shot.  Mr. 
Williams  wasdischarged  from  the  service  at  Washing- 
O  ton,  D.  C,  June  8,  1865. 

Meanwhile  his  parents  had  settled  in  St.  Joseph 
^  *  Co.,  Mich.,  and  he  repaired  thither,  remaining  an  in- 
(^  mate  of  the  parental  home  until  the  f^vll  of  1S67, 
^^  when  he  came  to  Mecosta  county,  and  resided  about 
(^  one  year  with  his  father-in-law,  in  Wheatland 
>^  Tp.     In  1868  he  located  on  80  acres  of  wild  land, 


where  he  has  since  resided  and  improved  until  he  has 
63  acres  under  the  plow,  and  good  farm  buildings. 
His  residence,  which  was  in  every  way  suitable,  was 
destroyed  by  fire  .-Xug.  13,  1883,  and  at  this  writing 
is  in  the  process  of  rebuilding,  and  will  cost  about 
Sr.ooo..  Another  considerable  addition  to  the  value 
of  the  place  is  an  orchard,  containing  160  trees  in 
the  best  condition. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  Feb.  24,  1867,  to  Amine 
P.,  daughter  of  Aaron  S.  and  Sarah  C.  (Watkins) 
Clement  (see  sketch).  Four  children  have  been  born 
of  this  marriage;  Frank  A.,  born  Feb.  13,  1868,  died 
July  16,  1868;  Lettie  O.  Oct,  24,  1869;  Siddie  S., 
July  30,  1872;  Warren  T.,  June  15,  1879.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams is  a  Republican  and  is  a  School  Director  in  his 
district.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
holds  the  office  of  Financier. 


2;i;tt3,£  saac  W.  Ferris,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Township  Supervisor,  and  member  of  the 
Council  of  Mecosta  village,  was  born  in 
t'lT  Sherwood  Tp.,  Branch  Co.,  Michigan,  Jan. 
25,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of  John  C.  and  Mary 
A.  (Watkins)  Ferris. 
At  the  age  of  23  years  Mr.  Ferris  went  to  Placer 
Co.,  California,  and  was  engaged  one  year  in  farming; 
thence  he  moved  to  Omega,  Nevada  Co.,  and  be- 
came a  clerk  in  a  grocery  and  provision  store,  where 
he  was  engaged  about  eight  months,  and  then  re- 
turned to  St.  Joseph  County.  He  was  there  occu- 
pied with  agriculture  five  years,  when  he  went  to 
Branch  County  and  engaged  in  the  same  pursuit  two 
years.  He  went  to  Vergennes,  Kent  Co.,  and  in 
September,  1873,  opened  a  grocery,  which  he  kept 
until  1878.  He  sold  out,  went  back  to  St.  Joseph 
Co.,  and  took  an  interest  in  the  mercantile  establish- 
ment of  his  brother-in-law,  S.  J.  Schutt,  in  Leonidas. 
He  sold  out  in  the  fall  of  1878,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1S79  went  to  Butler  Co.,  Kansas,  and,  after  a  brief 
stay  at  Eldorado,  came,  in  August,  1S79,  to  Mecosta 
village,  then  comprising  three  houses,  two  saloons 
and  a  grocery.  He  erected  the  Iniilding  where  he 
operates,  and  owns  n  lots  on  Main  street,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river;  also  80  acres  of  land  on 
sec.  14  of  Morton  Tp.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  spring  of  1S80,  which  jwst  he  has  since 


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held,  and  was  elected  Member  of  the  Village  Coun- 
cil in  the  spring  of  1883.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he 
was  elected  Township  Treasurer.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Ferris  was  married  at  Union  City,  Branch  Co., 
Dec.  10,  1868,  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  Leonard  and 
Thankful  (Havens)  Wilson,  born  in  the  Tp.  of  Naples, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  20,  1842.  Of  this  marriage 
two  children  have  been  born,  as  follows  :  Eva,  in  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Nov.  17,  i86g,  and  Georgia,  in  the  same 
place,  Sept.  7,  1879. 


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-^— 


1?  athan  Denney,  Postmaster  and  jeweler, 
ii^S?  Remus,  was  born  in  Jay  Co.,Ind.,  Nov.  25, 
1849.  His  parents,  James  M.  and  Lois  E. 
(Scranton)  Denney,  were  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, the  father  of  German  and  Irish  lineage, 
the  mother  of  Welsh  and  Scotch.  They  settled 
soon  after  their  marriage,  in  the  State  of  Indiana, 
and  in  1864  removed  to  this  county.  On  reaching 
the  period  of  his  majority  Mr.  Denney  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  pursued  up  to  the  date  of 
his  appointment  to  the  office  of  Postmaster.  With 
his  official  duties  he  combines  the  business  of  a  sil- 
versmith, the  details  of  which  he  learned  when  16 
years  old. 

Mr.  Denney  was  married  in  Millbrook,  Jan.  16, 
1872,  to  Ella,  daughter  of  David  H.  and  Sarah  (Al- 
bert) Humphrey,  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct. 
26,1844.  Her  parents  were  natives  respectively  of 
Virginia  and  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denney  have  had 
three  children,  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Denney  is  a  member  of 
the  Order  of  Good  Templars,  and  himself  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  which  he 
occupies  the  position  of  Elder. 


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15 wen  Shantz,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Wheatland 
;  Tp.,  was  born  in  Ontario,  Can.,  near  the 
'  city  of  Guelph,  Jan.  27,  1S50.  His  parents, 
saac  Y.    and  Catherine    (Clemence)    Shantz, 

were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Shantz  received  a  fair  education  in  the 

common  schools  of  his  native    province,   and 


when  20  years  old,  Feb.  27,  1870,  was  married  to 
Sarah,  daughter  of  George  and  Nancy  Shoemaker, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent. 
The  year  following  his  marriage,  Mr.  Shantz  resided 
with  his  father,  moving  upon  a  farm  in  the  vicinity 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time.  Meanvhile  he  came 
to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  and  where  he  located  in  1880.  Nearly 
one  half  of  this  is  now  improved.  Mr.  Shantz  is  a 
progressive  farmer,  and  is  making  rapid  progress  in 
putting  his  place  into  the  best  possible  condition  for 
agricultural  purposes.  Although  his  residence  in  the 
county  has  been  brief,  his  persistent  efforts  to  advance 
its  place  and  position  have  made  known  his  value  to 
the  community  to  which  he  belongs,  and  he  is  secur- 
ing a  firm  hold  upon  the  respect  and  consideration  of 
all. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shantz  have  five  children,  born  as 
follows:  Addison  M.,  May  22,  1871;  Nancy,  Feb. 
22,  1873;  Ellen,  Jan.  11,  1877;  George,  Nov.  2, 
■  1879;  Lizzie,  Nov.  30,  1882.  The  parents  are  mem 
bers  of  the  old  Mennonite  Church.  Mr.  Shantz  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  is  present  Assessor,  an  of- 
fice he  has  held  for  several  terms. 


Mf  «E5]||.harles  W.  Calkins,  Clerk  of  Mecosta  vil- 

3l^Hk^  ^^S^'  ^"^  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  furniture, 

il'l^"        coffins,  caskets  and    undertakers'  goods. 

^fe)     was  born   in  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  May  15,  185 1. 

y^      His  parents,  Lorenzo  and     Lurena  (Payne) 

\       Calkins,  removed  to  Ann  Arbor  when  he  was 

1 1  years  old,  and  he  there  had  the  advantages 

of  the  schools  of  that  place.     Tliey  made  another 

transfer  of  their  interests  four  years  later,  going  to 

London,  Monroe  Co.     There  his  father  was  a  farmer, 

and  also  worked  at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner. 

When  Mr.  Calkins  was  20  years  old,  he  left  school 

and  learned  his  father's  trade,  under  his  instructions. 

He  followed  the  business  several  years,  coming  to 

Mecosta  in  tlie  fall  of  1879.     He  establislied  himself 

as  a  mechanic,  and  after  working  at  his  trade  two 

years,   founded  his  present  business.     He  keeps   a 

stock  that  includes  all  merchandise  common  to  his 

lines  of  trade,  and  is  prospering.     He  became  agent 

for  the  American  Express  Co.  Dec.    16,  1881.     On 

the  incorporation  of  Mecosta  village  he  was  elected 


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283 


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Clerk  of  the  Board.  He  served  as  Township  Clerk  a 
part  of  the  year  1881,  in  1882  and  1883.  Mr.  Calk- 
in.s  owns  his  store,  fixtures,  adjoining  building  and 
lots. 

He  was  married  in  London  Tp.,  Monroe  Co., 
April  8,  1875,  to  Lillie  E.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Harriet  Taft,  a  native  of  Adrian,  Mich.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Calkins  have  one  child — Mabel  E. — born  in 
Ix)ndon,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich. 

f'illiam  Warren,  farmer  on  sec.  22,  Hinton 

^(fJ!-  "^P-'  ^^^^  '^°'^"  J"^y  '^'  '^^5'  '"  Carroll 
■?  Co.,  Ohio.  His  father,  Peter  Warren,  was 
uf  English  descent  and  birth,  and  both  his 
parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  whence 
they  moved  to  Ohio  in  its  pioneer  days.  The 
father  was  a  carpenter  and  cabinet-maker,  and 
followed  both  callings  most  of  his  life.  The  mother's 
name  before  marriage  was  .\nn  Guthrie.  The  school 
IJrivileges  of  Mr.  Warren  were  limited,  and  at  17  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He 
worked  under  the  instructions  of  his  brother-in-law, 
and  continued  to  follow  that  vocation  until  i86i. 
He  opened  a  confectionery  establishment  in  Augusta, 
Ohio,  which  was  finally  extended  into  a  general  store. 
This  he  managed  nearly  si.\  years  and  accumulated 
$3,500,  which  he  lost  in  financial  disaster.  In  April, 
1867,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich., 
and  bought  80  acres  of  partly  improved  land  in 
Hinton  Tp.,  where  he  now  resides.  In  ix)litics  Mr. 
Warren  is  independent.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  of  Hinton  T[).  four  years,  Township 
Treasurer  three  terms,  and  School  Director  ten  suc- 
cessive years.  The  years  of  his  labor  have  their 
reward  in  the  fine  farm  and  convenient  buildings 
thereon. 

He  was  married  in  Augusta,  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  9,  1849,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Han- 
nah (Shaw)  Harrington.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  went  to  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
their  daughter  Jane  was  born  Nov.  14,  1827.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Warren  have  had  three  children:  John  J., 
born  in  Augusta,  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  May  8,  1853,  is 
the  only  one  surviving.  He  was  married  May  8, 
1S78,  in  this  county,  to  Delia  .\.  House,  daughter  of 
Elias  and  Mary  D.  (Walrath)  House,  and  they  have 


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'^Si— • — ^1 — »—C£*' 

homas  Cahill,  farmer,  sec.   15,  .-Etna   Tp., 
was  born  in  Canada,   July   8,    1834.     His 
parents,  James  and  Catherine  (Lebo)   Ca- 
hill, were  natives  respectively  of   Ireland  and 
Canada;   they  passed  the  greater  jmrt  of  their 
lives  in  Canada  and  there   died.     Mr.   Cahill 
spent  his  eaily  life  after  the  manner  of  fanners' sons, 
and  at  16  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  business  of  a 
butcher.     He  devoted  four  years  to  the  accomplish 


i 


two  children;  Ethel  M.  born  Nov.  20,  1880,  and  /» 
Alice  M.,  born  March  9,  1883.  Samantha  A.  was  d 
born  Nov.  22,  1850,  and  died  Aug.  26,  185  i  ;  Mary 
K.  was  bom  Jan.  10,  1863,  and  died  Nov.  25,  1876. 
Mrs.  Warren  belongs  to  the  Advent  Church. 


|l|^ominick  O'Brien,  member  of  the  Council 
U^   of  Mecosta  village,  and  proprietor  of  the 
sr(^y^    Mecosta  House,  was  born  Dec.  26,  1853, 
'''l'>\sr     ;^t  New  Castle,  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  and 
is  the  son  of  Dorr  and  Mary  (Coffin)  O'Brien. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  nine  years  old, 
and  he  was  reared  on  the  farm  by  his  mother 
until  he  was  17  years  old,  when  he  left  the  Emerald 
Isle  and  came  to  New  York,  making  the  passage  on 
the  British  steamer  "  Manhattan."     He  landed  June 
10,  1869,  and  was  a  resident  of  New  York  about  one 
year,  then   came   to   Saginaw,  where  he  engaged  in 
lumbering  for   a  period   of    four    years,    working    a 
portion  of  the  time  on  a  section  of  the  Chicago,  Sagi- 
naw &  Canada  Railroad,  and  was  also  engaged  firing 
on  a  locomotive  for  some  time. 

He  came  to  Mecosta  village,  July  12,  1879,  and 
built  a  saloon  on  Main  street.  May  i,  188 1,  he  pur- 
chased the  Mecosta  House,  which  he  still  owns  and 
manages.  The  building  is  40  x  80  feet  on  the  ground, 
three-stories  high,  and  with  accommodations  for  50 
guests.  The  saloon  conducted  in  connection  with 
the  hotel  is  well  fitted  up,  and  stocked  with  choice 
articles  common  to  similar  establishments.  Besides 
these  buildings,  Mr.  O'Brien  owns  three  lots  in  con- 
nection with  them,  and  two  lots  with  bams  on  James 
street.  He  transacts  an  annual  business  of  $12,000. 
Mr.  O'Brien  was  married  to  Maggie,  daughter  of 
Michael  Dittell.     They  have  one  child,  Johnny. 


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^  ment  of  his  purpose,  and  the  succeeding  four  years 
fM  was  occupied  in  buying  stock  and  speculating.  He 
:!^;  then  located  at  Ypsilanti,  ^Vashtenaw  Co.,  Mich., 
I  and  worked  at  his  trade  two  years,  resigning  his  bus- 
iness to  enroll  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  cause.  He 
enlisted  in  1861,  in  the  24th  Mich.  Vol.  Inf,  and 
after  six  months  service  received  honorable  discharge. 
He  went  at  once  to  Saginaw,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment as  a  lumberman  about  two  years,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1863,  came  to  this  county  and  passed  three 
years  in  the  pineries.  In  1866  he  purchased  80  acres 
of  timber  land  and  proceeded  to  jHit  it  in  a  habitable 
condition.  He  built  a  house  and  cleared  70  acres. 
A  later  purchase  of  200  acres  has  swelled  his  real 
estate  to  280,  acres  where  he  is  earnestly  engaged  in 
the  prosecution  of  agricultural  pursuits. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  Sept.  14,  i860,  to 
Eliza,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Wright) 
Houghton.  Of  this  marriage  one  child  was  born, 
— Katie,  March  14,  1861.  The  mother  died  at 
Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  in  September,  1861,  and  Mr. 
Cahill  was  again  married,  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  Oct.  9, 
=  1864,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
•^  (Mitchell)  Lovesy  and  widow  of  Ephraim  G.  Tucker, 
=  who  lost  his  life  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Her 
Y  father  is  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  is  yet  livmg  m 
■*  this  county;  her  mother  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  died  in  1870. 

Mr.  Cahill  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  four  years.  Town  Clerk  one  year,  and  has 
occupied  other  important  town  and  school  offices. 


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oseph    A.    Armstrong,  farmer,    sec.    20, 
Millbrook  Tp.,  is   a  son  of  Isaac  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Hiney)  Armstrong,  natives  respect- 
„,y    ively  of  New    Yink    and    Pennsylvania.     Mr. 
Armstrong  was    born   in   the    Keystone  State, 
July  28,  1847.      His  mother  died  when  he  was 
very  young,  and  for  two  years  subsequently  he  was 
cared  for  by  a  friend  of  his  parents.       In  the  fall  of 
186 1,  when  but   14  years  of  age,  he  resolved  to  be- 
come a  soldier,  and  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union 
in  the  51st  Pa.  Vol  Inf,  Co.  H.     He  served   three 
years,  and  was  in  action  at  the  siege  of  Richmond, 
f®    at  Fredericksburg,  and  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness.    He  received  a  wound  in   his  right  arm  in  the 


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fight  at  Fredericksburg,  and  was  incapacitated  for 
duty  three  months.  He  received  his  discharge  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the  fall  of  187 1, 
when  he  came  to  Millbrook,  and  bought  160  acres  of 
land.  He  now  owns  no  acres,  under  partial  im- 
provement. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  in  Millbrook,  Sept.  22, 
1872,  to  Johanna,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  A. 
(Johnson)  Histed,  who  was  born  in  Bay  Co.,  Mich., 
June  27,  1853. 

Children :  Myrtle  M  ,  Nora  A.,  Sarah  J.,  Joseph 
N.  and  Gertrude  B.  In  political  sentiment  and  ac- 
tion Mr.  Armstrong  is  a  Republican;  has  served  one 
year  as  Constable,  and  three  years  as  School 
Director. 


|f>  dward  Langworthy,  farmer,  sec.  25, 
Green  Tp.,  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  5,  1825.  His  parents,  Elisha 
^^  and  Elizabeth  (Guile)  Langworthy,  were  na- 
^^  tives  of  Columbia  Co  ,  N.  Y.  The  father  was 
a  mechanic  and  followed  his  occupation  until 
1843,  when  he  came  to  Michigan  and  located 
80  acres  of  land  in  l.apeer  County,  wjiere  he  farmed 
until  his  death,  which  occured  April  25,  1845.  The 
mother  died  March  4,  1874,  in  the  township  of  Grant, 
Mecosta  Co. 

Mr.  Langworthy  was  17  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Michigan,  and  until  he  reached 
man's  estate,  gave  his  father  all  the  assistance  in  his 
power,  during  the  "seed  time  and  harvest"  seasons, 
attending  school  winters.  Soon  after  attaining  his 
majority  be  became  a  farmer  on  his  own  account  ani.' 
owned  120  acres  of  land  in  Lapeer  County,  where  he 
was  a  resident  about  25  years.  He  sold  his  place 
and  went  to  (lenesee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  settled  near 
Flint.  Six  years  after,  in  the  spring  of  1875,  he  bought 
the  property  he  now  owns  in  Green  Tp.,  consisting 
of  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  put  under  good 
improvements.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republi- 
can party;  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1877, 
and  has  held  the  office  continuously  since.  His  posi- 
tion in  the  community  is  one  of  credit  to  himself  as  a 
man  and  citizen. 

Mr.  Langworthy  was  married  Dec.  25,  1865,  to 
Maria   Perkins,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  Jan.    31 


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ajf    1828.     They  have  six  children;  Willard  E.,  Albert 

(^    H.,  Harvey  J.,  Minerva,  Susan  and  Ophelia.    Aniiin- 

C!^  da  and  Charles  are  deceased.     The  parents  are  nieni- 

j      bers  of  theM.  E.  Church,  at  Big  Rapids. 


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,  oaglas  Roben,  of  the  firm  of  Roben,  Ben- 
jf'    nett  iV  Gill, insurance,  real-estate,  and  loan 
^   agents,  of  Big  Rapids,  was  born    May  4, 
1847,  near  Mount  Gilead,  Ohio;  he  is  a  son 
of  Matthew  and  Esther  (Albach)  Roben,  a  grand- 
son of  Walter  Roben,  Esii-,  of  Ryegate,  Vt.,  and 
a  great-grandson  of  Matthew   Roben,  of  Ren- 
frew, Scotland,  a  gentleman  of  means  and  influence, 
who  was  one  of  the  chief  founders  and  early  pioneers 
of  the  Scotch  colony  in  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.     On  his 
father's  side,  Mr.  Rol)en  is  descended  from  an  excel- 
lent   Scotch  stock,  whose  line   of  descent  is  traced 
back  several  hundred  years,  and  is  allied  to  various 
fy^   Lowland  families  of  distinction. 

S  His  maternal  grandfather  was  John  Albach  (or 
^  AUpaugh,  as  the  name  was  formerly  and  more  cor- 
°  rectly  spelled),  a  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen  -of 
^  Northumberland  Co.,  Penn.,  who  was  of  good  Hol- 
S  land  Dutch  ancestry.  His  father,  Matthew  Roben, 
' .  j  was  a  native  of  Ryegate,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  a  teacher, 
and  after-  ward  a  merchant  by  occupation.  (See 
sketch  of  Matthew  Roben.) 

Mr.  Douglas  Roben,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  ob- 
tained a  good  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Mount  Gilead,  and  at  15  received  an  ap- 
pointment to  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy,  then  located  at 
Newport,  R.  I.,  and  passing  the  initiatory  examina- 
tion, entered  u])on  his  academic  course  as  niidship- 
nTan  in  1862.  In  1863,  his  class  (126  in  number)  was 
dispatched  to  the  East  Atlantic  on  a  practice  cruise, 
stop|)ing  at  various  ports  of  England,  France,  Spain, 
Portugal,  and  the  Madeira  Islands,  sailing  from  the 
latter  place  to  New  York.  Several  other  practice 
cruises  were  made  on  the  coasts  of  the  United  States, 
during  the  course  of  studies  at  the  Academy.  Mr. 
Roben  was  distinguished  while  at  the  Naval 
Academy  for  proficiency  in  mathematical  studies, 
and  graduated  high  in  his  class,  in  1866,  at  Annapo- 
lis, Md. 

1-'         Soon  after  graduation  he  was  ordered  to  join  the 
^^  U.  S.  steamer  "  Ossipee,"  then  at   Philadelphia,  for 


duty  on  the  Pacific  station.  The  "  Ossipee  "  left  the 
United  States  in  November,  1866,  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Madeira  Isles,  and  after  a  brief  visit 
there  went  south  to  the  Cape  de  Verdes,  thence  to 
Rio  Janeiro,  and  finally  through  the  Straits  of  Magel- 
lan to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  After  a  visit  to  various 
lX)rts  in  Chili,  Peru,  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  Ihe 
"  Ossiiiee "  reported  at  San  Francisco,  in  August, 
1867.  Soon  after  arriving  on  the  station,  the  "  Ossi- 
pee "  was  ordered  to  convey  the  U.  S.  and  Russian 
Commissioners  to  Alaska,  that  territory  having  recent- 
ly been  purchased  by  our  Government. 

Mr.  Roben  was  a  participant  in  the  ceremonies  of 
transfer,  the  hauling  down  of  the  Russian  flag  from 
the  Governor's  palace,  the  hoisting  of  the  stars  and 
stripes,  and  the  firing  of  the  international  salutes. 
His  name  apiiears  as  a  witness  on  the  deed  of  trans- 
fer of  the  Territory,  executed  and  delivered  at  Sitka, 
whereby  Alaska  became  part  and  parcel  of  the 
United  States.  The  "Ossipee"  relumed  with  the 
State  papers  to  San  Francisco,  encountering  a  terrific 
storm  a  short  distance  out  from  Sitka.  She  was  then 
ordered  to  the  South,  to  visit  all  ports  on  the  Pacific 
coast  of  Mexico  and  Central  America.  This  she  pro- 
ceeded to  do,  calling  at  each  important  harbor  in 
succession,  till  she  reached  the  southernmost  ix)rt  of 
Costa  Rica. 

Returning  north  to  Nicaragua,  the  yellow  fever 
broke  out  on  board  the  "  Ossipee,"  and  a  number  of 
men  and  officers  died  of  the  disease,  Mr.  Roben 
fortunately  escaping  the  contagion.  The  ship  pro- 
ceeded to  Acapulco,  in  Mexico,  on  her  way  to  San 
Francisco.  At  Acapulco,  Mr.  Roben  received  the 
news  of  his  i)romotion  to  the  grade  of  Ensign,  together 
with  orders  to  proceed  south  by  mail  steamer  to 
Panama,  and  there  to  join  the  U.  S.  ship  "  Cyane  '» 
(originally  a  British  vessel,  and  captured  by  the 
"Constitution"  in  the  war  of  181 2).  During  Mr. 
Roben's  service  on  board  the  "  Cyane,"  she  was  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  stationed  at  Panama,  to  ob- 
serve the  progress  of  a  rebellion  then  existing  in  the 
United  Stales  of  Colombia,  and  to  guard  the  interests 
of  our  countr)'men  on  the  Isthmus. 

Returning  to  San  Francisco  in  the  "  Cyane  "  a  few 
months  later,  Mr.  Roben  received  his  second  commis- 
sion as  Master  in  the  Navy,  together  with  three 
months'  leave  of  absence. 

The  Union  and  Central   Pacific  Roads  having  just 
I   been  completed,  he  crossed  the  continent  by  rail. 


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At  the  expiration  of  his  leave  he  was  ordered  to 
join  the  U.  S.  ship  "Supply,"  at  Boston,  in  the 
capacity  of  Navigator.  The  "  Supply  "  went  to  Eu- 
rope for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  U.  S.  naval 
storehouse  and  depot  at  Spezzia,  Italy  ;  but  on  arrival 
there,  diplomatic  difficulties  were  found  to  be  in  the 
way,  and  the  depot  was  finally  placed  at  Nice,  France, 
where  it  still  remains.  The  expedition  occupied 
nearly  a  year,  including  time  spent  in  various  other 
Mediterranean  ports,  and  Mr.  Roben  received  his 
third  commission  as  Lieutenant  while  in  Europe, 
dating  March,  1870,  he  being  then  only  22  years  of 
age- 
After  arriving  at  home  he  was  ordered  to  join  the 
U.  S.  steamer  "  Severn,"  flag-ship  of  the  North 
Atlantic  Squadron;  but  a  serious  difficulty  having 
developed  itself  in  Mr.  Roben's  eyes,  during  the 
last  cruise,  arising  from  the  use  of  astronomical 
instruments  in  taking  solar  observations,  he  re- 
quested to  be  assigned  to  duty  on  shore,  and 
was  accordingly  ordered  to  the  naval  station  at 
Mound  City,  111.,  as  executive  officer,  where  he  re- 
mained four  months.  He  was  then  ordered  to  join 
the  (J.  S.  steamer  "  Shawmut,"  at  New  York,  for  a 
cruise  in  the  South  Atlantic.  When  the  vessel  reach- 
ed the  AVest  Indies,  the  trouble  in  Mr.  Roben's  eyes 
having  become  much  worse,  he  was  granted  "  sick- 
leave,"  and  brought  by  the  "Shawmut  "  to  Pensacola, 
Fla.,  where  he  landed  and  proceeded  home  to  Ohio. 
In  the  month  of  November,  1S72,  he  was  summoned 
before  the  Retiring  Board  at  Washington,  and  after  an 
examination  of  his  eyes  by  the  medical  officer's  of 
that  Board,  he  was  placed  upon  the  retired  list, 
with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant,  for  "  disability  received 
in  the  line  of  duty,"  which  position  upon  the  retired 
list  lie  holds  at  the  present  time. 

Krom  Wasliington  he  went  to  Cassopolis,  Cass  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  resided  until  May,  1873.  While  at 
Cassopolis  he  passed  a  successful  examination  for 
admission  to  the  bar,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  State  courts  of  Michigan.  In  May,  1873,  he 
came  to  liig  Rapids,  and  opened  his  office,  practicing 
as  an  attorney,  and  giving  his  attention  chiefly  to 
real-estate  cases.  In  1876  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  E.  J.  Marsh,  under  the  firm  name  of  Roben  & 
Marsh.  This  relation  continued  two  years,  and  in 
August,  1878,  he  associated  himself  with  A.  W.  Ben- 
nett, in    insurance,   real-estate,   ar.d   loan    business. 


(See  sketch  of  A.  W.  Bennett.)  In  June,  1883,  John 
G.  Gill  was  admitted  lo  the  concern,  which  since 
its  inception  has  been  transacting  a  successful  and 
extending  business. 

Dec.  26,  1876,  Mr.  Roben  was  married  to  Stella, 
daughter  of  Judge  William  P.  Bennett,  of  Cassopolis, 
and  a  grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Cephas  Bennett,  a 
pioneer  Baptist  missionary  at  Rangoon,  British  Bur- 
mah,  who  has  done  missionary  work  there  for  the 
past  55  years,  and  has  charge  of  the  Baptist  mission- 
ary press  of  Burmah ;  she  is  also  a  great-grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  Alfred  Bennett,  one  of  the  early  and 
leading  Baptist  ministers  of  New  York  State.  She 
was  born  in  Cass  Co.,  Mich.,  March  3T,  1859.  A 
son,  Donald  B.,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roben, 
July  iq,  1878;  a  daughter,  named  Pansie  —  an 
exceedingly  sweet  and  beautiful  child — was  born 
May  10,  1882,  and  died  March  26,  1883. 

Mr.  Roben  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. 


*'elkirk  A  Stewart,  farmer,  sec.   14,  Wheat- 
land  Tp.,  is    a  son  of  Neil  and  Angeline 
(iISS^^    (Baker)  Stewart,  natives  of  New  York,  and 
|\  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent.     He  was  born 

in  Genesee  County,  N  Y.,  Sept.  14, 1826.  He 
commenced  a  life  of  active  toil  at  the  age  of  1 1 
years,  leaving  the  homestead  of  his  parents 
and  engaging  in  the  capacity  of  a  farm  laborer.  He 
continued  to  work  in  various  localities,  until  the 
spring  of  1844,  when  he  went  to  Waukesha  Co.,  Wis., 
and  there  engaged  in  agriculture  in  a  similar  manner 
until  his  marriage,  Nov  5,  185  r,  in  Waukesha  County, 
to  Angeline  H.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Jerusha  (Estc-. 
brooks)  Wood,  who  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  5,  1832,  and  went  to  Wisconsin  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  eight  years  old.  The  latter  were 
natives  of  the  Empire  State.  Mr.  Stewart  took 
farms  on  shares,  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  re- 
moved with  iiis  family  to  Michigan,  and  purchased 
240  acres  of  land  on  sec.  26,  Wheatland  Tj).  He 
made  consideralile  progress  in  improving  his  land, 
but  sold  it  finally,  and  bought  the  homestead,  con- 
sisting of  160  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Seventy-five  acres  of  this  he  has  improved,  and  has 
one  of  the  best  of  farms  as  to  quality  of  the  land,  etc., 
in  Mecosta  County.  It  is  traversed  by  a  stream  of 
flowing  water,  fed  ijy  living  springs.     Mr.  Stewart  is 


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making  preparations  to  build  a  new  house,  and  ex- 
l>ects  to  invest  about  Si, ooo  therein.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  i)olitical  faith;  has  been  Township 
Treasurer  three  years,  Justice  of  the  Peace  three 
years,  and  held  other  minor  offices. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  have  been  the  parents  of 
(our  children — Clara  A.,  born  Feb.  2,  1853;  Cora  E., 
July  31,  1855  ;  Mary  F.,  iiorn  July  28,  i860,  died 
Feb.  31,  1874;  Ida  A.,  born  Oct.  31,  1S66,  died  Oct. 
7,  1879;  Edward  H.  (son  by  adoption)  was  born 
Aug.  2,  1869,  and  died  i^ept.  14,  1879. 


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"l^&li^  eorge  W.  Precious,  Millbrook  village, 
=||^M^i  ^^''**  born  in  Canada,  Aug.  27,  1850.  His 
■^Iv^        parents,    M'illiam    and    Eve    R.    (Jones) 


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''/;'*  Precious,  were  natives  respectively  of  Eng- 
j^  land  and  Germany,  and  are  both  deceased. 
\  .About  1863  Mr.  Precious  came  to  this  State 
and  located  in  Washtsnaw  County,  going  afterward  to 
Detioit.  He  came  to  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich., 
in  1872,  where  he  lived  until  1879.  In  the  suiTimer 
of  that  year  he  made  his  entry  into  the  village  of 
Millbrook,  and  embarked  in  the  livery  business, 
which  he  continued  to  operate  until  May,  1883,  when 
he  sold  out  and  established  himself  in  a  saloon. 

He  was  married  April  22,  1874,  to  Laura  A., 
daughter  of  Orrin  N.  and  A.  Jane  Hoisington.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Michigan,  and  she  was  born 
Oct.  7,  1859,  in  Montcalm  County.  Of  two  children 
born  of  this  marriage  but  one  survives,  Cora  A., 
born  Set t.  7,  1882.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Precious  is  a  Democrat. 

^f^^>  phraim  J^a  Grange,  liveryman  at  Me- 
costa, Morton  Tp.,  was  born  in  Albany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  1,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christopher  and  Jane  (Blessing)  I,a  (Grange. 
About  the  age  of  13  he  began  to  drive  stage  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  made  that  his 
business  for  .about  22  years.  In  .\pril,  1873,  he 
came  to  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co.,  and  there  engaged 
in  the  livery  business  one  year,  and  afterward  ran  an 
omnibus  line,  transporting  mail  and  express  matter, 
and  passengers.     This  he  continued  two  years,  and 


then  engaged  in  drawing  lumber.  In  1879  he  came 
to  Morton  Tp.,  and  cut  the  timber  on  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Mecosta,  and  i)ut  it  into  the  mill  of 
George  Webber.  He  built  the  Mecosta  House,  which 
he  managed  two  years,  and  finally  exchanged  with 
1).  O'Hricn  for  his  residence  and  the  adjoining  store 
building.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  here  he 
established  the  livery  business,  and  has  continued  it 
since.  He  added  the  drug  trade  to  his  store  for  six 
months,  but  sold  the  stock,  and  is  now  exclusively 
attending  to  his  affairs  as  liveryman.  He  has  usual- 
ly eight  horses  in  his  stables,  with  all  necessary  livery 
adjuncts.  He  is  Street  Commissioner,  and  belongs  to 
the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  La  Grange  was  married  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.Y., 
to  Mary  Townsend,  a  native  of  New  York.  Rufus, 
elder  child,  is  now  clerk  in  the  Mecosta  House. 
Mary  L.,  only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wal- 
ler, M.  D..  of  Mecosta. 

51?  gQry  c.  Evarts,  farmer  on  sec.  28,  Green 
"  Tp.,  was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
19,  1S33.  His  father  Shadrach  Evarts,  was 
,;jC  born  near  Sariitoga,  N.  Y. ;  was  a  farmer  by  vo- 
cation, and  in  1845  came  to  Grand  Rapids  and 
there  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  is  yet  living^ 
in  the  care  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Patten.  The 
mother,  Eunice  (Plumb)  Evarts,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  died  in  November,  1879.  Mr.  Evarts 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools 
of  Grand  Rapids,  residing  with  the  family  of  Porter 
Reed  uniil  lie  reached  man's  estate,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  summer  in  the  vocation  of  a  farm  laborer 
and  taught  school  two  winters.  He  came  to  Big 
Rapids  in  June,  1856,  and  entered  160  acres  of  land 
under  the  gradation  act,  and  in  M,irch,  1858,  began 
to  Ituild,  and  otherwise  improve  the  land  on  which  he 
has  since  made  his  home. 

He  enlisted  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union  soon  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion.  He  was  enrolled  in  the 
Third  Michig.an  Cavalry  Oct.  12,  1861,  remaining  in 
the  service  four  and  a  half  years.  He  was  in  action 
at  Corinth,  luka.  New  Madrid,  etc.  He  obtained 
the  commission  of  Second  Lieutenant,  for  meritorious 
services,  and  nine  months  later  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  First  Lieutenant,  serving  until  the  end  of  the 


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war,  in  the  Fourth  U.  S.  C.  C.  Cavalry,  stationed  at 
Port  Hudson,  and  was  mustered  out  at  New  Orleans. 
He  came  back  to  his  farm  and  has  since  personally 
supervised  the  same.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has 
held  the  posts  of  Town  Clerk  and  School  Inspector. 
Mr.  Evarts  was  married  Jan.  i,  1858,  to  Martha  J. 
Boynton,  a  native  of  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  born  March 
4,  1833,  and  died  June  26,  1867,  leaving  one  child, 
Mary  L.  Aug.  28,  1867,  Mr.  Evarts  was  married  to 
Hannah  A.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  Boyn- 
ton, natives  of  Vermont.  She  was  born  in  Grass 
Lake,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  June  8,  1843;  the  follow- 
ing are  their  children  :  Edgar  C,  Lizzie  B.,  George  C, 
and  Willie  H. 

Herbert  P.  Blanchard,  of  the  firm  of  P.  G. 
Blanchard  &  Son,  dealers  in  lumber  and 
^^  brick,  Blanchard,  Isabella  Co.,  Mich  ,  is  the 
son  of  Philip  G.  and  Caroline  M.  (Touns) 
Blanchard,  and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
April  30,  1856.  The  parents  are  natives  of 
Maine,  and  early  in  life  settled  in  Michigan. 
Mr.  Blanchard  came  to  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  1872, 
and'  located  at  Grand  Rapids,  remaining  there 
nearly  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1876  he  came 
to  Blanchard,  where  he  has  since  been  a  citizen.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  in  the 
capacity  of  Treasurer  of  the  village  three  years,  and 
Supervisor  one  year. 

He  was  married  in  Grand  Rapids,  May  13,  1880, 
to  Nora,  daughter  of  John  and  Johanna  Condon. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blanchard  have  two  children — Belle 
and  Edith. 

■g^I^Slr  ranklin  M.  Williams,  liotel  proprietor, 
'* 'p  ^\  Remus,  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov., 
J  rjc  27,  1843.  His  parents  removed  to  Kos- 
ciusko Co  ,  Ind.,  the  year  following  his  birth. 
4L,.  He  received  his  education  there  and  resided 
{  with  his  parents  until  he  v/as  18  years  old,  at 
which  time  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union  in 
the  I  2th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  enrolling  in  Co,  F.  His  com- 
mand was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
and  was  under  fire  in  28  engagements,  among  which 
were  the  battles  of  Richmond,  Ky.,  Missionary  Ridge, 
Jackson,  Miss.,  and  the  fight  at  Atlanta.  Through- 
out  his  entire    period  of    service    he    escaped    all 


wounds  and  casualties.  After  three  years  of  hard 
fighting  he  was  discharged  at  Indianapolis,  June  20, 
1865.  During  the  war  his  parents  had  removed  to 
St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  rejoined  them  and 
resided  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  went  to 
Missouri,  where  he  passed  a  summer,  returning  at  its 
close  to  his  parents'  home.  In  March,  t867,  he 
came  to  Wheatland  Tp.,  and  passed  two  years  in 
farming  in  the  vicinity  of  Bloomfield.  He  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  in  sec.  26,  preparatory  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  home.  March  4,  1869,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
(Smith)  Ruxton,  who  was  born  in  Waterloo,  Can., 
Feb.  17,  1847.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Scotland 
and  her  mother  of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent. 
Elizabeth  was  educated  in  the  Dominion,  and  was 
for  several  years  a  teacher  in  the  common  schools  of 
Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  have  two  chil- 
dren ;  Ralph,  born  Aug  4,  1876,  and  Maud  M.,  Aug. 
18,  1878.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  radical  Republican  and 
has  been  Supervisor  five  years,  Tp.  Clerk  several 
terms  and  held  other  minor  offices. 

The  hotel  kept  by  Mr.  Williams  at  Remus  is  one 
of  the  best  country  establishments  for  public  en- 
tertainment in  Northern  Michigan.  Its  cost  was 
about  $3,000.  The  house  is  well  furnished  and  has 
a  good  run  of  custom,  which  is  constantly  increasing. 
Mr.  Williams  took  [possession  of  the  hotel  in  Jan., 
1882. 


•*^ 


\\  harles  W.  Clifton,  farmer  on  sec.  3 1 ,  Green 

/  Tp.,  was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Feb.  10, 

Iij5?^    1838.     His  father,  William  Clifton,  WIS  an 

Sfe     Englishman  by    nativity,   and   came   to   this 

country  when  about   22  years  old;  located  at 


I  Cleveland  and  married  .\bigail  Locke ;  re- 
sided on  a  farm  near  the  city  during  eight  years,  and 
in  October  1845,  came  to  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm.  He  was  crushed  to  death  April  10, 
1848,  by  a  falling  building.  The  mother  died  at 
Clinton,  Lawrence  Co.,  Dec.  28,  1882. 

Mr.  Clifton  obtained  his  education  at  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  Grand  Rapids.  He  was  trained 
to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  but  in  1861,  when  the 
country  was  plunged  into  the  abyss  of  war  by  the  in- 
sane South,  he  became  a  soldier.  He  enlisted  in  the 
First  Michigan  Regiment  of  the   Engineers  and  Me- 


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chanics,  and  served  three  years.  He  participated  in 
several  engagements,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Nash- 
ville, 'I'enn.  On  his  return  North  he  came  to  Mecosta 
Co.  and  spent  10  months  in  the  employ  of  T.  Lazell, 
of  Big  Rapids.  He  then  became  a  resident  at 
Grand  Rapids,  where  he  was  married,  Oct.  2,  1866, 
to  Julia  E.  Sunderland,  daughter  of  Myron  and 
Louisa  (Searles)  Sunderland,  a  native  of  Kent  Co. 
Mr.  Clifton  was  a  farmer  near  Grand  Rapids  two 
years,  and  then  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Green 
Tp.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  The  family  in- 
cludes six  children  :  Frank  S.,  Effie  L.,  George  M., 
Grace,  Lois  and  Charles  E. 


ilbert  S.  Palmer,  farmer,  sec.  14,  Green 
_  Tp.,  was  born  Feb.  8,  182 1,  and  is  a  son  of 
J~^  Nile  and  Catherine  (Wing)  Palmer,  the 
^ 7^  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  the  latter  of 
^'  Elizabethtown,  Canada.  Mr.  Palmer  was 
\  reared  on  a  farm,  and,  when  16  years  of  age, 
went  to  Elizabethtown  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
which  was  his  business  in  life  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  resident  of  the  Dominion  until  the  spring  of 
1867,  when  he  became  a  citizen  of  Mecosta  County, 
buying  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  increased  to  1 20 
acres. 

He  was  married  in  1842  to  Maiy,  daughter  of 
William  and  Lydia  (Lee)  Robbins,  who  was  born  in 
Canada  and  died  in  July,  1847,  leaving  one  child, 
Anna  E.,  wife  of  Waller  Clow,  residing  in  Linn,  Can- 
ada. For  a  second  wife,  Mr.  Palmer  married  Me- 
lissa, daughter  of  Reuben  and  Hannah  (Graham) 
Moot.  Siie  and  her  parents  are  natives  of  the  Do- 
minion. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  six  children, 
Mary  A.,  Charlotte  O.,  Hannah  P.,  George  M.,  Wil- 
liam H.  and   Nile  E. 


>.^ 5- 


illiam    Davidson,    farmer     on    sec.      1 2, 
I'^tna  Tp.,  was  born  in  England,  July  16, 
**;,  I  "^lo-      His   parents,    Joshua  and    Sarah 

'^1^'     Davidson,  were  also  natives  of  England,  and 
"''^"       emigrated  to  Canada  about  the  year  1842, 


and    remained    there   until    their  death.       Mr- 
Davidson  resided   in   the  Dominion  until   he  was  23 


years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Newaygo  County,  and 
three  years  later  bought  135  acres  of  land  in  Mont- 
calm County,  on  which  he  lived  12  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1 87  I  he  came  to  ^iJtna  Tp.  and  bought  1 60 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  where  he  settled  and  be- 
gan to  make  improvements.  He  sold  40  acres,  and 
retains  120  acres  of  his  original  purchase,  with  70 
acres  under  advanced  culture,  having  in  late  years 
built  a  good  frame  house  in  which  he  now  lives. 
Mr.  Davidson  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  School 
Treasurer  1 2  years. 

He  was  married  in  Canada  in  the  fall  of  1851,10 
Mary,  daughter  of  Kmber  and  Valina  (Smith)  Smith, 
natives  of  Vermont:  the  father  is  deceased,  and  the 
mother  resides  with  a  daughter  in  Deerfield  Tp. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davidson  have  had  10  children: 
Abraham,  born  Aug.  18,  1852;  William,  Sept.  i, 
1854;  Joshua,  Aug.  18,  1853;  Chauncey,  Oct.  18, 
i860;  Henry,  Dec.  0,  1863;  Elmer,  June  18,  1866; 
Mary,  Sept.  8,  1868;  Jehu,  Aug.  8,  1S70;  Alonzo, 
born  Oct.  18,  1858,  died  July  i,  1880.  One  child 
died  ill  infancy.  It  was  supposed  that  Alonzo  died 
from  the  effects  of  poison. 


=£:s- 


"'"^^'■ichard  Vandewater,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Hin- 
ton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Catherine 
|]T^^"  (K^'t^")  Vandewater,  natives  of  New  Jer- 
fji^v^  sey  and  of  Holland  descent.  They  were  pio- 
\X^  neers  of  Washtenaw  County  and  afterward 
!•  removed  to  Barry  County,  where  the  mother 
died.  The  father  lives  in  Adrian,  with  a 
daughter.  Mr.  Vandewater  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
Dec.  19,  1821,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Michigan.  They  were  in  limited  circumstances  and 
the  son  felt  it  his  duty  to  contribute  to  the  relief 
of  the  household.  He  did  this  many  years,  even 
after  he  was  legally  released  from  obligation, 
was     married    in    Hillsdale    Co.,    Mich.,    Feb.    28, 

1847,  to   Nancy   Jane    Fuller,    who   died   in  June, 

1848,  leaving  one  child,  George  W.,  born  June 
28,  1848.  Mr.  Vandewater  was  again  married 
in  1850,  to  Elvira  J.  Heath,  a  native  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  Of  this  marriage  one  child  was 
born,  Catherine  E.,  who  died  when  about  two  years 
old.  The  mother  died,  and  Mr.  Vandewater  was 
again  married  May  28,  1864,  to  Esther  A.,  daughter 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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of  David  and  Sarah  Ann  (Bennett)  Moulter,  who  was 
born  March  31,  1844,  in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.  Of 
this  marriage  were  born  Peter  E.,  April  6,  1865; 
Sarah  E.,  Nov.  25,  1869;  Elvira  J.,  March  2,  1S77. 

In  August,  1863,  Mr.  Vandewater  was  drafted  to 
serve  during  the  war.  He  served  nineteen  ar.d  one- 
half  months,  was  honorably  discharged  Feb.  12, 
1866,  at  Newberry,  N.  C.  He  was  assigned  to  the 
23d  Mich.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  afterward  transferred 
to  the  28th  Mich.  Inf.  In  justice  to  Mr.  Vandewater 
it  should  be  said  that  he  was  prevented  from  enlist- 
ing by  the  smallness  of  the  number  of  settlers  in  the 
township  and  his  feeling  thai  he  was  needed  at  home. 
He  was  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  when 
Hood  was  captured  his  regiment  pursued  the  rebel 
general  until  his  surrender. 

Mr.  Vandewater  originally  purchased  40  acres  of 
wild  land,  and  later  on,  another  40.  He  has  now  33 
acres  cleared  and  under  tillage.  In  the  spring  of 
1883  he  sold  40  acres.  Both  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Second-Advent  Church.  Mr.  V. 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  circulated  the  peti- 
tion for  the  division  of  the  four  townships  :  Hinton, 
Deerfield,  Millbrook  and  ^tna.  On  the  organization 
of  Hinton  Tp.,  in  January,  i860,  he  was  elected  first 
Supervisor.  He  has  since  held  various  offices,  among 
them  that  of  School  Treasurer,  to  which  position  he 
has  been  three  times  elected  and  of  which  he  is  the 
present  incumbent,     In  politics  he  is  independent. 


&ohn  R.  Snyder,  farmer  on   sec.    32,   Green 

JC.  Tp.,  was  born  in  Barton  Tp.,  Canada,  July 

'^%  27,    1836.     His   father,    Abraham   Snyder, 


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was  born  in  Maryland,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. He  went  to  Canada  and  followed  agri- 
culture for  a  livelihood.  He  married  Mary 
Rammage  and  died  in  1876.  His  wife  died  in  1861. 
Mr.  J.  R.  Snyder  resided  in  Canada  until  he  was  19 
years  old,  then  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  located 
the  farm  which  he  now  owns — a  soldier's  claim  of 
the  war  of  181  2,  owned  by  his  father — to  which  he 
has  added  another  80  acres  by  purchase,  and  has  60 
acres  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Snyder  was  married  March  12,  i860,  to  Sarah 
A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Abigail  Clifton,  who  was 
born  in  1843,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,     'i'he  children  of 


this  marriage  are  ten  in  number:  William  C,  Sarah 
A.,  Grant,  Fred,  Nellie  M.,  Glenn  W.,  Mary  and 
Martha  (twins),  John  and  Dora  V.  Politically,  Mr. 
Snyder  is  a  member  of  the  National  party. 


\b 


^W^M- ohn  P.  Runyan,  fanner  on  sec.  19,  Deer- 
wM.  fi<^ld  Tp.,  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.^ 
■  IS?'*^  Aug.  18,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
^1^  and  Hannah  (Stein)  Runyan,  both  natives  oi 
New  Jersey,  where  they  were  married.  In  the 
year  1812  they  removed  to  Indiana  and  there 
resided  14  years,  going  thence  to  Ohio,  wliere 
they  remained  till  death.  Mr.  Runyan  was  born 
two  years  before  the  admission  of  Indiana  into  the 
Union,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio.  He 
was  at  home  until  the  age  of  19,  attending  school 
and  working  on  the  farm  with  his  father.  At  that 
age  he  was  employed  on  the  public  works,  building 
locks  three  years.  Afterward  he  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  carpenter  and  joiner  until  1878,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  period  spent  in  the  Union  army.  In 
May,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  14th  Reg.  Ohio  Vol. 
Inf.,  Co.  A,  and  was  in  the  service  four  years,  receiv- 
ing honorable  discharge  in  October,  1865.  Among 
other  engagements  he  was  on  duty  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  siege  of  Richmond  and  before  Peters- 
burg. He  received  a  slight  saber  wound  by  accident, 
which  was  his  sole  casualty. 

Mr.  Runyan  came  from  Ohio  to  Michigan  in  1878 
and  bought  40  acres  of  land,  which  had  been  partly 
improved,  on  sec.  30.  This  he  afterwards  sold  and 
bought  ])roperty  in  Morley,  of  which  he  retained  pos- 
session but  a  short  time.  In  politics  he  is  a  Rejiub- 
lican,  and  is  a  member  of  the  ( )rder  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  while  in  Ohio  and  tilled  sev- 
eral minor  offices.  He  was  married  in  Indiana,  Oct. 
5,  1S44,  to  Lizzie,  daugliter  of  Piatt  and  Orilla 
Squires.  She  died  Sept.  18,  1881.  Two  children 
born  of  this  marriage  are  both  deceased.  He  was 
again  married  June  29,  1882,  in  Big  Rapids,  to  Sarah 
J.,  daughter  of  Jolni  H.  and  Minerva  (Bullock)  Un- 
derwood, and  widow  of  Krastus  .\.  Watrous,  who 
died  Aug.  19,  1880.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Runyan 
were  natives  of  New  York,  where  the  mother  died, 
in  Chautauipia  County.   The  father  died  near  Peters- 


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burg,  Va.  Hale  S.  Watrous,  born  May  18,  1880,  was 
the  only  issue  of  the  first  marriage  of  Mrs.  Runyan. 
She  is  prominent  in  the  Baptist  Church. 


ustice  W.  Tenney,  deceased,  was  a  native 
&  of  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  Sept.  28, 
181 1.  His  father,  William  Tenney,  was  of 
English  e.\traction,  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. Mr.  Tenney  remained  at  home  until 
the  age  of  20,  when  he  came  to  Walled  Lake, 
Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  was  married,  in 
1839,  to  Marilla  Loomis,  a  native  of  Michigan.  Af- 
ter their  marriage  they  moved  to  Kent  Co.,  near  Grand 
Rapids,  and  lived  on  a  farm.  Mrs.  Tenney  died  in 
1853.  In  1856  Mr.  Tenney  came  to  Green  Tp.,  and 
settled  on  sec.  30,  where  he  purchased  300  acres  of 
land.  He  was  again  married  in  1857,  to  Mrs.  Maretta 
Willis,  widow  of  George  S.  Willi;,  of  Muskegon 
County,  who  died  in  1853.  Slie  was  born  in  Water- 
ville,  Lamoille  Co.,  Vt.,  June  4, 1833,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  (Lowater)  Millington,  the 
former  a  native  of  England  and  of  Scotch-Irish  an- 
cestry; both  parents  are  deceased.  Of  her  first 
marriage,  one  child  was  born,  Lyman  G.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tenney  are  Herberts.,  Minnie  M., 
Frank  J.  and  Charles  H.  ^\'illian1  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Tenney  died  March  8,  1859.  Mrs.  Tenney  is  living 
with  her  four  children  on  the  homestead,  consisting 
of  105  acres  of  land,  a  large  proportion  of  which  is 
under  tillage.  Mr.  Tenney's  children  by  his  first 
wife  are,  Orlando  L.,  Maynard  T.,  Harriet  M.  and 
P^lla  M. ;  Alonzo  and  Frederic  are  deceased. 


=«==i- 


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\  aniel  Horton,  book-keeper  and  clerk  in  the 
|[f  mercantile  house  of  T.  C.  Gardener  at 
Remus,  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  July 
1;,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Seneca  and  Catherine 
(Uuckbee)  Horton,  the  father  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  the  mother  of  New  York.  The  family  came 
to  Michigan  in  1864  and  settled  in  Wheatland  Tp. 
Mr.  I  lorlon  passed  the  first  20  years  of  his  life  after  tlie 
method  of  farmers'  sons  generally,  and  was  married 
Fel).  4,  1870,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Jane 
(lirown)  Mansfield,  who  was  born  Feb.    iS,    1S54,  in 


GeneseeCo.,  N.  Y.,  of  which  State  her  parents  were  na-    ^ 
tives.    She  accompanied  them  to  Michigan  when  (juitc     (4 
young.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton  settled  on   a  farm  of    *-:^' 
40  acres  on  sec.  25,  Wheatland  Tp.     On  this   Mr.      1 
Horton  labored  until  he  had  put  20  acres  in  a  fit  con-    \ffj 
dition  for  cultivation.     He  operated  as  an  agricultur- 
ist some  years,  eventually  leaving  his  farm  to  engage 
in  the    general    store  of  his    brother   at    Millbrook, 
where  he  remained  until  February,  1881,  the  date  of 
his  entering  upon  his  present  duties  in  the  establisli- 
ment  of  Mr.  Gardener.     He  has  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  the  business  at  Remus,  and  enjoys  the   un- 
restricted confidence  of  his  principal,  who  is  a  non- 
resident, he  having  during  the  current  year  {1883) 
fixed  his  dwelling  place  at  Big  Rapids.     Mr.  Hoiton 
is  a  Republican  in   politics,  and  has  been  for  some 
time  Township  Clerk. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton  have  had  four  childien,  viz.: 
Orville  E.,  born  June  15,  1871;  Fred  E.,  Sei)t.  21, 
1874;  Effie  J.,  Oct.  I,  1876  (died  Nov.  4,  1S.S7); 
Carrie  M.,  Oct.  15,  1882. 


-'^MsA: 


Ijfj^tephen  A.  Gates,  M.  D.,  practicing  phy- 
\gf-    sician,  Millbrook   village,  was  born  at   Al- 


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W*^  bany,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  7,  1855.  His  parents, 
A  A.  A.  and  Jane  (Averill)  tiates,  were  natives 
\  of  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y  ,  where  the  mother  died 
when  the  son  was  but  two  years  of  age.  The 
father  died  in  1872  Mr.  Gates  attended  the 
ward  schools  of  Albany  until  he  was  17  years  of 
age,  after  which  he  was  a  student  at  the  high  school 
of  Otsego,  and  was  engaged  in  the  jirofession  of 
teaching  nearly  three  years.  On  reaching  man's 
estate  he  began  the  study  of  his  profession  in  the 
office  and  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Still,  of 
Morris,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  read  medicine 
one  year,  going  thence  to  Buffalo,  to  attend  a  course 
of  medical  lectures.  He  ne.vt  went  to  Albany  for  the 
same  purix)se,  and  studied  in  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  S. 
Mosher  until  the  spring  of  1878,  when  he  comi)leted 
his  studies  and  received  his  diploma.  He  remained 
in  Morris  during  the  first  year  after  entering  ujwn  the 
career  of  a  medical  practitioner,  and  met  with  flatter- 
ing success;  but  owing  to  ill  health,  relinipiished  his 
business,  with  all  its  promise,  to  seek  another  field 
I   better   adapted    to   tlie  exigencies  of  the  case.     In 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


1879  he  came  to  Michigan  and  engaged  in  teaching 
in  Ionia  and  Montcahn  Counties,  where  he  was  occu- 
pied nearly  two  years,  when  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  Ionia  County,  coming  shortly  after  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  fixing  his  residence  at  Mill- 
brook  in  the  fall  of  188 1.  His  business  has  increas- 
ed satisfactorily  from  the  outset,  and  he  has  an 
extending  practice  and  a  permanent  place  i)i  the  con- 
fidence of  the  community  that  patronizes  him. 

Dr.  Gates  was  married  in  Ionia  County,  July  21, 
1882,  to  Arminda  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza 
Taft,  who  was  born  in  Ionia  County,  whither  her 
parents  removed  from  New  York,  their  native  State. 
One  child  was  born  of  the  marriage  of  the  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Gates:  Myrtie  M.,  born  July  8,  1S81,  and  died 
July  16,  1883. 

Dr.  Gates  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


♦•^=^4^1^^ 


? 
« 


r  fffUA',^  aleb  V.  Hane,  druggist,  Remus,  was  born 
t'  Lk-il)''^ '"  Williams  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  14,  1853.     He 
%^^^    is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Barron) 
|JlV|     Hane,  natives  of  Pennsylv,Tiiia.     In  1855   the 
W     parents  came  to  Lebanon,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 
where  the  son  attended   the  common  schools 
until  he  was   15  years  old.     He  finished  his  educa- 
tion at  the  graded  school  at  Maple  Rapids,  where  he 
was  a  pupil  three  years.     On   completing  his  course 
of  study  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Mr.  McDon- 
ald at  that  place,  where  he  was  a  clerk  three  years. 
In    1873  he  returned  to  Lebanon  and  worked    two 
years  on  a  farm.     He  was  married  in  Clinton  County, 
March  26,   1875,  to  Flora,   daughter  of  Albert  and 
Lydia  (Anersley)  Cross,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Ohio,  and  of  English  and  Welsh  descent. 
Mrs.  Hane  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ill,  April   18, 
1854.     Her  parents  removed  to  Maple  Rapids  when 
she  was  eleven  years  old,  where  she  was  educated. 

Mr.  Hane  passed  the  year  succeeding  his  marriage 
on  a  farm.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Maple  Rapids 
and  operated  a  few  months  in  the  grocery  business, 
going  thence  to  Pompei,  Gratiot  Co.,  and  there  em- 
barked in  the  drug  trade.  He  ct)ntinued  to  carry  on 
his  affairs  there  until  the  fall  of  iSSo,  when  he  went 
to  Fowler,  Clinton  Co.,  and  a  short  time  after  founded 
his  present  business  at  Remus.     His  stock  includes 


all  druggists'  goods  and  is  valued  at  $r,5oo,  with  an- 
nual sales  aggregating  $2,000,  and  business  interests 
constantly  increasing. 

Mr.  Hane  is  a  Republican  and  is  Clerk  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Remus.  One  child  is  included  in  the  family 
circle,  Jessie,  born  June  28,  1876.  The  property  of 
Mr.  Hane  embraces  120  acres  of  partly  improved 
land  in  Isabella  County,  80  acres  of  timber  land  on 
sec.  21,  40  acres  on  sec.  16,  of  Wheatland  Tp.,  Me- 
costa Co.,  and  120  acres  in  the  township  of  Sheridan. 


Vrl  oseph  A.  De  Long,  fanner,  sec.  22,  Wheat- 
^ffl,'_  land  Tj).,  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Mary 
?^/;Pn'  (Edmonds)  De  Long,  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  of  French  descent,  who  located  in 
the  State  of  New  York  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage. Mr.  De  Long  was  born  in  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July  31,  1826.  In  1830  his  parents  removed 
to  Victoria  Co.,  Can.,  where  he  was  married  May  20, 
1847,  to  Almira,  daugliter  of  David  and  Anna 
(McKague)  Brintnall,  who  was  born  Oct.  18,  1826, 
in  Northumberland  Co.,  Ont.  Her  parents  were 
natives  respectively  of  Vermont  and  Ireland.  Mr. 
De  Long  was  occupied  in  farming  in  various  locali- 
ties until  the  autumn  of  1864,  when  he  fi.xed  his  resi- 
dence in  Wheatland  Tp.,  on  80  acres  of  wild  land, 
where  he  has  since  lived  and  [irosecuted  his  farming 
and  other  interests. 

Mr.  De  Long  is  a  Republican,  and  himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Children  : 
Laura,  born  June  16,  1848;  Eliza  A.,  Nov.  i,  1850; 
Almeron,  May  18,  1852;  Clarissa,  March  13,  1854 
(died  Jan.  2,.  1858);  Harrison,  March  10,  1856; 
William,  April  20,  1858;  Melissa,  June  29,  i860; 
Benjamin,  Sept.  24,  1862;  John,  March  18,  1865, 
and  Martin,  Aug.  i,  1S67. 


— i- 


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athan  Swishei',  farmer,  sec.  21,  Wheatland 
Tp.,  resident  at  Remus,  was  born  in  Allen 
Y^  Co.,   Ohio,   Nov.    5,    1837.     His    parents, 
Michael  and    Salome  (Stukey)  Swisher,   were 
4  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent. 
'  Previous  to  their  marriage  they  were  residents   of 
Ohio  and  removed  tlience,  later  in  life,   to  Whitley 


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Co.,  Ind.  Mn  Swisher  enlisted  when  he  was  24 
years  old  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union.  He  enrolled 
in  the  17th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  Aug.  28,  1S62.  Hisioin- 
niand  was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  during  his  period  of  service  he  participated  in 
42  imiwrtant  actions,  besides  taking  part  in  numer- 
ous minor  affairs.  Among  the  [jrincipal  battles  were 
Hoover's  Gap,  Duck  River,  Columbia,  Tenn.,  and 
Nashville,  Farmington,  Lookout  Mountain,  etc.  He 
went  through  all  without  wound  or  capture,  though 
his  clothing  was  more  than  once  riddled  with  bullets, 
and  a  horse  was  shot  under  him  on-  one  occasion. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  in  August,  1865.  On 
his  return  from  the  war  he  was  married  in  Van  \\ert 
Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  29,  1865,  to  Esther,  daughter  of  Lot 
and  Margaret  (Arnold)  Meeker,  natives  of  New 
York.  After  farming  two  years  in  Ohio,  he  came  to 
Michigan  and  bouglit  a  farm  containing  80  acres  of 
forest  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  now  the  site  of  the  village 
of  Remus.  Later  he  bought  120  acres  additional, 
making  200  acres,  which  is  in  good  condition.  Mr. 
Swisher  is  erecting  a  substantial  residence,  at  an  ex- 
penditure of  $1,500. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  have  had  nine  children: 
Joseph  M.,  Roscoe  P.,  Enos,  I^.  G.,  William,  A.  O., 
Arnold,  Stukey,  Nathan  R.  and  Lou.  B.  Arietta  M. 
is  deceased.  Mr.  Swisher  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  been  Treasurer  of  Wheatland  nine  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Good  Templars, 
and  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 


!____,  illiam  T.  Jones,  manufacturer  of  lumber, 
>L|Uj|!  shingles,  etc.,  resident  at  Morley,  was 
born  at  Waterdown,  Wentworth  Co.,  LTp- 
P  per  Canada,  March  10,  1847.  His  father, 
Ezekiel  Jones,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  C'anada  when  he  was  1 1  years  of 
age.  He  readied  man's  estate,  and  married  in 
the  Dominion,  where  he  resided  until  185 1,  in  which 
year  he  came  to  Micliiganand  settled  in  Croton,  Ne- 
waygo County,  where  he  interested  himself  in  lum- 
bering, and  kept  a  hotel  until  his  death  in  1854. 
This  journey  to  Micliigan  was  made  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jones  and  family  in  a  wagon,  the  distance  from 


Waterdown  being  400  to  500  miles.  Jane  (Thomp- 
son) Jones,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketc  h,  re- 
turned to  her  native  i>rovince  after  t'r.e  death  of  her 
husband,  and  is  still  living  at  Waterdown. 

Mr.  Jones  obtained  a  fair  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  there  commenced  his  busi- 
ness life,  working  as  a  salesman  in  a  mercantile  house 
six  years,  after  which  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness with  a  ])artner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Jones, 
Burns  &  Co.,  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise. 
He  sold  out  at  the  end  of  three  years  and  came  to 
Michigan,  locating  at  Morley.  He  at  once  engaged 
in  the  lumber  trade,  and,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cook,  Pendleton  &  Jones,  began  the  manufacture  of 
shingles.  This  relation  lasted  one  year,  when  Mr. 
Pendleton  withdrew,  and  the  business  was  maintain- 
ed by  Messrs.  Cook  &  Jones  until  the  death  of  the 
former  in  18S2.  Since  that  event  Mr.  Jones  has  con- 
tinued to  conduct  tlie  liusiness  in  his  own  interest. 
He  is  also  associated  in  the  proprietorship  ar.d  man- 
agement of  a  grist-mill  at  Morley,  with  William 
Hugh. 

The  personal  history  of  Mr.  Jones  is  marked  by  the 
same  qualities  which  characterize  the  records  of  so 
many  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Mecosta  County. 
He  inherited  thrift  and  energy,  was  trained  to  indus- 
trious habits,  and  built  up  his  business  and  fortune 
by  economy  and  the  exercise  of  good  judgment  in  his 
operations.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  lives,  and  has  aljly  discharged  his 
obligations  as  the  incumbent  of  various  township 
offices.  He  has  belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity 
since  1868,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lodge  ''Strict 
Observance,"  No.  27,  and  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  2, 
at  Hamilton,  Ont. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.i 
.\ug.  24,  1881,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  late 
John  T.  and  Sarah  A.  J.  (Dow)  Cook,  the  former  a 
native  of  ('onnecticut,  the  latter  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.  Mrs.  Jones  was  boin  in  Earlville,  111.,  Sept. 
14,  ^'^Al- 

i'olitically  Mr.  Jones  has  always  been  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  labored  for  its  ad- 
vancement and  prosperity. 

As  a  prominent  and  representative  citizen  of  Me- 
costa ("ounly,  and  a  gentleman  worthy  the  position, 
we  i)lace  the  portrait  of  .Mr.   Jones   in   this  Album. 


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E-ames  HuUinger,  druggist,  Mecosta  village, 
£.  was  born  in  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  6, 

[sB^'t'  1842.  His  father,  Dr.  William  Hullinger, 
was  a  practicing  physician  for  40  years.  He 
was  a  pioneer  of  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  and  was 
connected  with  its  settlement  and  the  found- 
ing of  the  village  known  as  Basswood  Corners. 
He  cut  seven  linden  trees,  from  which  he  constructed 
a  house — the  nucleus,  as  it  proved,  of  a  village  of 
respectable  dimensions,  which  received  its  name 
from  the  variety  of  wood  which  entered  into  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  house  erected  on  its  site. 

Dr.  Hullinger  was  a  man  of  adventurous  character, 
and  spent  much  lime  in  travel.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1849,  setting  out  from  Reading,  with  four 
yoke  of  oxen,  traveling  with  them  on  foot  from  Port 
Sarnia,  at  which  place  he  left  his  company,  and 
reached  the  land  of  golden  promise  six  months  in  ad- 
vance of  the  cattle.  He  went  four  times  to  Califor- 
nia, once  to  Pike's  Peak,  and  once  to  the  Black 
Hills  He  is  now  living  in  retirement,  at  Munica, 
Ottawa  Co.,  Mich. 

At  the  age  of  17  Dr.  Hullinger  went  to  Hillsdale 
College,  and  after  two  years  of  study  there  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army,  enrolling  in  the  Fourth  Mich. 
Vol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  Dwight  A.  Woodbury.  He  was 
discharged  June  20,  1864.  During  its  period  of  ser- 
vice the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged  was  in  42 
engagements.  He  was  detailed  as  Hospital  Steward, 
and  passed  the  lime  of- his  enrollment  in  the  dis 
charge  of  the  duties  of  that  position. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  he  entered  upon  active 
preparations  for  the  calling  of  a  carpenter  and 
builder,  and  was  engaged  at  Stanton  two  years  in  the 
manufacture  of  shingles.  He  was  making  fair  prog- 
ress in  that  business,  when  a  disastrous  fire  destroy- 
ed his  mill,  and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  employment 
at  his  trade. 

He  came  to  Mecosta,  Mecosta  County,  reaching 
there  the  20th  day  of  October,  1879.  He  imme- 
diaiely  set  about  the  erection  of  the  building  in 
which  he  now  prosecutes  the  business  that  he 
established,  on  his  location  in  the  village  of  Mecosta, 
sheltering  his  stock  of  merchandise  in  a  small  shanty 
near  his  store,  until  the  latter  building  was  in  readi- 
ness for  use.      His  slock  was  valued  at  $600:  it  now 


represents  $2,000,  and  includes  all  goods  common  to 
a  first-class  drug  store,  and  suited  to  the  local  de- 
mand.    His  annual  sales  amount  to  $8,000. 

Mr.  Hullinger  was  married  to  Vanchie,  daughter  of 
Z.  B.  and  Jane  A.  Stillson,  born  in  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
Two  sons — Bailey,  born  June  6,  1866,  and  Otto  K., 
born  Sept.  16,  1870 — are  included  in  the  household. 
The  eldest  son  is  his  father's  assistant  in  the  drug 
store. 

Mr.  Hullinger  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W., 
and  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  three  years. 


'vt£a2/©^^*— ^3 


^^^i^.-^Amm^ 


■AAi4u 


|l^^^[lexander  Thompson,  farmer,' sec.  14, Green 
S%#lf'  Tp.,  was  born  in  Scotland,  July  28,  1814, 
?^ter^  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jeannette  (Twed- 
'aj|*,^  del)  Thompson,  natives  of  "  Auld  Scotia," 
;!?•*■  where  they  lived  and  died, — thefatherin  1816, 
)  when  the  son  was  but  two  years  old.  Mr. 
Thompson  remained  at  home  with  his  mother  until 
he  was  34  years  old,  occupied  with  the  business  of 
cloth-making.  He  came  to  the  American  continent  in 
1848,  landed  at  New  York,  then  went  to  dault,  Can. 
He  returned  to  the  "Stales"  at  the  end  of  the  year 
and  located  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment at  his  trade.  He  worked  there  18  months, 
then  went  to  the  factories  at  Indianapolis,  where  he 
remained  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1854  he  went 
back  to  Scotland  and  was  there  employed  as  a  wea- 
ver. In  1858  Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to  Agnes, 
daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  (Richmond)  Mor- 
ton, who  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  Nov.  21, 
1825.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  that  place,  and 
there  lie  buried.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  had 
four  children ;  John,  born  April  12,  1859;  James  M., 
March  21  1861  ;  Margaret  M.,  Jan.  18,  1863  (now 
Mrs.  John  Lord);  Jeannette,  June  21,1867,  died  May 
19,  1882. 

Early  in  the  fall  of  1861,  Mr.  Thompson,  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  sailed  for  the  United  States. 
They  landed  at  New  York  and  then  went  to  Trum- 
bull Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  occupation  un- 
til the  spring  of  1868,  when  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County.     He  located  at  once  upon  a  farm  containing 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


i6o  acres  of  land.  Forty  acres  of  his  orignal  tract 
are  now  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Re- 
publican of  the  most  faithful  type. 


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^fe^B^'atthew    Dopp,    farmer,   sec.   25.   Wheat- 
/liWHTlfi   ].||^^j    j-jj^    ^^^   \)ox\\   July    12,  1840,  in 

Ivorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
5'^^  and  Permelia  (Reynolds)  Dopp,  who  came 
/y!jS  to  ^[ichil;an  in  1S43.  He  was  cared  for  by 
h>  liis  parents  until  he  was  nine  years  old,  when 
he  went  to  live  with  a  neighbor.  When  11 
years  old  he  began  a  life  of  labor,  finding  employ- 
ment on  farms  as  best  he  could.  He  was  just 
entering  manhood  when  the  civil  war  broke  out,  and, 
not  long  after  he  had  passed  his  minority,  he  yielded 
to  the  influences  which  swayed  the  entire  nation,  and 
became  a  soldier,  enlisting  in  the  First  Michigan 
Cavalry,  Aug.  22,  1861,  under  Col.  Broadhead.  He 
saw  much  active  service,  being  in  action  at  \\in- 
chester  and  Cedar  Mountain,  as  well  as  in  numerous 
minor  engagements.  He  was  discharged  Dec.  18, 
1S63  and  re-enlisted  within  the  same  month  in  the 
same  regiment,  with  Col.  Tower  commanding.  He 
was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  in  much 
hard  service,  receiving  his  final  discharge  March  22, 
1866.  He  was  wounded  once,  and  once  taken  pris- 
oner, being  sent  to  the  famous  "  Libby  "  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  but  was  exchanged  after  three  montlis 
confniement. 

After  being  mustered  out  he  came  to  C'ass  Co., 
Mich.,  and  July  31,  1866,  was  mariied  to  Hattie, 
daughter  of  W'orden  and  Louisa  (Spicer)  Wells. 
After  that  event  he  located  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
and  a  year  later  came  to  Mecosta  County,  where  he 
has  since  been  a  resident.  He  is  a  farmer,  on  40 
acres  of  land  in  Wheatland  i'l).  Children  :  Laura 
J.,  born  Sept  24,  1872  ;  Mary  A.,  May  5,  1878  ;  John 
R.,  June  15,  1880;  Hattie  P.,  Aug  17,  1882. 

Jl^^^athaniel  Mitchell,  farmer  on  sec.  26,  .'Kina 
Tp.,  was  born  July  29,  1840,  in  Vates  Co., 
N    V.     He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Susan 
(Weston)  Mitchell,  and  until  he  was  21  years 
,1^  old  he  remained  at  home  occupied  with  agricul- 
tural matters  on  his  father's  farm.     In  1861   he  came 
to  Mecosta  County,  and,  becoming  interested  in  the 
fate  of  the  Union,  he  enlisted  Jan  4, 1865,  in  the  1  oth 


Michigan  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  in  action  only  twice  during  the  period 
of  enlistment.  Previous  to  entering  the  army  he  was 
actively  interested  in  farming  projects,  and  on  return- 
ing he  again  threw  all  his  energies  into  the  plans  and 
purposes  of  his  life.  He  owns  80  orres  of  land,  with 
20  acres  under  tillage.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  is  at 
present  serving  his  township  as  Overseer  of  High- 
ways. 

Mr.  Mitcliell  was  married  in  1861,  to  Emily  M., 
daughter  of  David  and  Electa  (Woodford)  Ackerman, 
of  Newaygo  County,  who  was  born  Feb.  24,  1839. 
Freddie  O.  Mitchell,  adopted  son,  was  born  Feb.  15, 
1876.     They  are  Universalists. 


^^a,;  illiam  H.  Bump,  farmer,  sec.  25,  Wheat- 
^^®J||^    land  Tp.,  was  born  in  Wyoming  Co.,  X.  Y. 


"^i^-"'"''^  Oct.  7,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
'*Q>  Anna  (Baker)  Bump,  natives  of  New  York. 
.'i\fs  All  the  education  he  obtained  was  acquired 
before  he  was  1 2  years  old.  At  that  age  he  be- 
gan life  for  himself  as  a  farm  assistant,  working 
for  the  common  compensation  of  the  kind  of  labor  he 
was  able  to  perform — $3  per  month.  Tiiis  career 
was  followed  until  the  fall  of  1849,  when,  in  company 
with  his  |)arents,  he  emigrated  to  Waukesha  Co., 
Wis.  On  reaching  there  he  readily  found  em])loy- 
nient,  and  was  in  various  positions  as  a  farm  laborer 
for  the  six  years  following.  He  was  married  Oct.  7, 
1855,  to  Marcia  J.,  daughter  of  James  and  Marcia 
(Bull)  Klock,  natives  of  New  York,  who  was  born  in 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  29,  1836,  and  in  her  child- 
hood accompanied  her  parents  to  the  Badger  State. 
.\fier  his  marriage  Mr.  Bump  was  engaged  in  the 
hnnber  trade,  together  with  other  [)ursuits,  until  the 
period  of  the  .Southern  rebellion.  Before  the  revolt 
of  the  slavery  element  had  attained  a  year's  growth 
he  became  a  soldier.  He  ei.listed  Jan.  18,  i86i,in 
the  three-months  service,  enrolling  in  the  Fifth  Wis. 
Reg.  Vol.  Inf.,  Co.  I'",  Captain  Bean.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  three  months  he  returned  to  his  former  em- 
ployment as  a  farmer  and  lumberman,  operating  until 
.•Vug.  I,  1862,  when  he  again  crlisted,  in  the  28ih 
Wis.,  Co.  F,  in  connnantl  of  Col.  Lewis.  Aftera  ser- 
vice of  13  months  he  was  discharged  fur  disability, 
and  on  rejoining  his  family  he  resolved  on  a  transfer 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


to  the  county  of  Mecosta.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Wheathind  Tp.,  containing  120 
acres  of  land,  and  moved  here  with  his  family.  He 
has  since  purchased  60  acres  additional,  making  a 
tract  of  180  acres,  85  of  which  are  under  the  plow. 
Mr.  Bump  is  a  progressive  farmer,  and  is  managing 
his  agricultural  interests  to  the  best  possible  advan- 
tage. He  is  a  liberal  Democrat  in  political  principle, 
and  is  present  Constable  of  his  township. 

Children:  Fannie  A.,  born  Aug.  i,  1857;  Anna  S., 
Dec.  24,  i860;  William  J.  G.,  May  18,  1861  ;  Mary 
E.,  Sept.   22,  1867;  Geo.   F.,  March   i,    1866,  died 


March  23,  1866. 


^(j'f^^ewis  Swarthout,  farmer,  sec.  36,  Deerfield 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June 
9,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Rhoda 
(Reynolds)  Swarthout,  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  went 
to  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
then  returned  to  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
died,  in  July,  1847.  Mr.  Swarthout  was  brought  up  in 
Seneca  County  in  the  manner  common  to  farmers'  sons 
of  that  day.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  in  1850 
moved  to  Erie,  Pa.,  and  in  1856  came  to  this  county 
and  took  up  a  homestead  under  the  State  law  of  Micli- 
igan.  This  was  several  years  previous  to  the  organi- 
zation of  the  township,  and  the  forest  was  in  its 
primeval  candition.  Mr.  Swarthout  has  cleared  and 
cultivated  80  acres  of  land. 

In  March,  1861,  a  meeting  was  held  for  organization 
purposes,  in  which  was  represented  the  present  towns 
of  Hinton,  ^■Etna,  Millbrook  and  Deerfield.  The 
delegates  were  George  Gilmore,  Samuel  Rose,  George 
Brady,  Lysander  Quigley,  George  Quigley,  Lewis 
Swarthout,  Elam  Sanborn,  Frederick  Luther,  Frank 
Hinton  and  George  Hinton, — ten  in  number.  The 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Luther 
(/Etna  Tp),  and  Mr.  Rose  was  ap^x)inted clerk,  and 
also  elected  Township  Clerk,  with  George  Gilmore, 
Supervisor.  Mr.  Swarthout  has  held  various  school 
and  township  offices. 

He  was  inarried  Sept.  16,  1854,  to  Charlotte  E. 
Trowbridge,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  their  childien  are  Ch.irles  E.,  Aliiha  T.,  Minnie, 
Frank  and  Bert;  James  M.  and  Jessie  N.  are  de- 


ceased. Mr.  Swarthout  has  acted  generally  with  the 
Democratic  element.  He  now  resides  at  Lake  View, 
Cato  Tp.,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich. 


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~i?  17?:  (\--  dgar  O.  Phelps,  farmer,  on  sec.   13, 

•  I  (^;j*pi^'"  ton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Louisa 
;  _  j^  %  (Hogle)  Phelps,  natives  of  Vemiont,  and 
pioneers  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Mr.  Phelps 
was  born  in  Vermont,  Jan.  13,  1830,  and  lived 
in  the  Empire  State  until  the  age  of  20  years, 
when  he  went  to  Canada  and  there  engaged  in  fann- 
ing about  20  years.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he  came  to 
Michigan  and  settled  at  Grand  Rapids,  working 
nearly  two  years  in  the  pineries.  He  came  to  Me- 
costa County  in  1872  and  purchased  80  acres  of 
forest  land  in  the  township  of  Hinton,  most  of  which 
is  now  under  tillage.  Mr.  Plielps  is  an  adherent  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  its  interests.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Canada,  May  10,  1852,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of 
John  and  Polly  (Johnson)  Burrison,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Vermont  and  Canada.  The  mother  died 
Ma)  27,  1879,  at  the  hospital  at  .\nn  Arbor,  whither 
she  went  for  treatment  for  a  tumor.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  are  all  living  and  were  born  as 
follows:  Charles  E.,  Oct.  12,  1853;  William  E., 
Jan.  13,  1855;  James  H.,  in  M.-irch,  1857;  Edgar 
O.,  Jr.,  in  1859;  Truman  N.,  May  21,  1863. 


ll^^a/lexander  N.  Tompkins,  lumberm2n,  resi- 
dent at  Allona,  Hinton  Tp.,  was  born  in 
'^  I'anada,  Aug.  12,  1848.  His  father,  Geo. 
!)fhs"  L.  Tompkins,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
||^  York,  and  the  mother  of  Canada;  in  1867  they 
j  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Ottawa 
County,  coming  thence  to  Big  Rapids,  where  the 
mother  died,  in  March,  1871;  the  father  is  living  in 
Wexford  County.  At  14  years  of  age  Mr.  Tompkins 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade,  but 
after  eight  months  was  compelled  to  abandon  the 
project  on  account  of  difficulty  with  his  eyes,  and  he 
remained  at  home  one  summer.  The  next  season  he 
worked  on  a  farm  and  after  that  was  engaged  in  lum- 
bering for  two  years.  When  he  was  19  years  old,  in 
the  fall  of  1867,  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  in  the  fall 


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of  1868,  to  Mecosta  County,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  engaging  in  milling  and  lumbering.  He  is  now 
operating  the  shingle  mill  owned  by  H.  J-  Brown  in 
Altona  and  employs  nine  men.  He  is  working  under 
a  four  years'  contract  and  the  mill  [iroduct  is  about 
35,000  shingles  daily.  Mr.  Tompkins  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  men^ber  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. 

Mr.  Tompkins  was  married  at  Cadillac,  Mich.,  in 
November,  1877,  to  Martha  E.,  second  daughter  of 
Levinas  and  Velinda  (Scouten)  Engle.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  the  .State  of  New  York,  who  came  to 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  in  its  pioneer  days  and  afterwards 
went  to  Wexford  Connty,  where  they  now  reside. 
Mrs.  Tompkins  was  born  in  Allegan  County,  July  24, 
1854,  and  after  she  was  14  years  old  supported  her- 
self until  her  marriage.  One  child  was  born  of  this 
marriage — Carrie,  July  23,  1879. 


orace  Eoach,  farmer   and    lumberman,  on 

r  sec.  19,  Deerfield  T\^.,  was  born  March  22, 

1820,  in    Argyle,    Washington   Co.,    N.   V. 

He  is  a  son  of  Edward  S.  and  Betsey  (Reed) 

Roach,    natives   of    Vermont,   who   settled    in 

New  York   in    pioneer  days.     They    afterward 

'came    to    Michigan    and    located    in    Monroe 

County,  and  later,  in  Calhoun  County,  going  thence 

to  Barry  County,  where  after  a  residence  of  12  years 

the  father  died.     His  death  occurred  in  the  springof 

1871  ;  the  mother  is  still  living,  with  a  son  in  Barry 

County. 

Mr.  Roach  remained  uniler  the  care  of  his  i)arents 
until  he  was  [6  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Mich- 
igan, and  resided  in  Wliiteford  five  years,  then  re- 
turned to  the  State  of  New  York,  coming  back  lo 
Michigan  five  years  later  when  lie  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  in  St.  Joseph  County,  for  which  he  paid 
§3  an  acre.  He  built  thereon  a  small  frame  house 
and  proceeded  to  improve  his  property.  He  was 
enabled  two  years  later  to  purchase  an  additional  So 
acres  adjoining,  which  he  increased  in  five  years  to 
240  acres  of  farming  land  of  a  high  grade.  This 
was  his  home  nearly  13  years.  In  1857  he  exchanged 
this  property  for  500  acres  of  limber  land  in  Cass 
^)  County,  on  which  there  was  a  steam  saw-mill,  having 
^    a  capacity  of  12,000  feet   per  diem.,    The  mill  was 

^^5^^ — ^^DB:^ 


destroyed  by  fire  a  year  later,  and  was  without  delay    Vf 
replaced  by  a  more  valuable  structure,  with  a  ca[)ac-      ■■ 


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I  he 


"christian    P.  Mynning,  Supervisor  u 

f  I'ifth   ward  at   Big  Rapids,  and  grocer  by 


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ity  of  15,000  feet  daily.  This  mill  Mr.  Roach  man- 
aged two  years,  employing  10  men.  He  made  a 
second  exchange  of  i)roperty  in  i860,  for  200  acres  of 
improved  land  with  good  buildings,  and  situated  ad- 
jacent to  his  old  farm  in  St.  Joseph  County.  'I'his  he 
0[ierated  si.x  years,  and  sold  for  $13,000.  He  then 
removed  to  Ionia  County,  and  passed  six  years  in 
lumbering.  He-  made  a  purchase  of  180  acres  ot 
land  in  Ionia  County,  under  partial  cultivation,  and 
also  640  acres  of  pine  land  in  Montcalm  County. 
He  combined  the  business  of  a  clothier  in  lotiia  wiih 
his  other  interests,  hiring  laborers  to  perform  the 
farm  duties. 

In  1872  he  disposed  of  his  entire  property  by  sale, 
and  bought  400  acres  of  pine  land  in  the  townshi[)  of 
-Ktna,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  also  a  shingle  mill  in 
Morley,  which  he  operated  until  1879.  He  again 
sold  out  all  his  interests  and  bought  200  acres  in 
Deerfield  Tp.,  with  limited  improven.ents.  Of  this 
latter  purchase  120  acres  are  under  a  good  state  ol 
cultivation.  = 

Mr.  Roach  was  married  in  Detroit,  Oct.  20,  1845,  '^' 
to  Caroline  E.,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Polly  (Burt)  =: 
Macomber,  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  who 
came  to  Michigan  in  1844,  locating  in  St.  Joseph 
County,  where  the  father  died  in  1S75.  Her  mother 
resides  at  Three  Rivers,  Mic  h. 

Mr.  Roach  saw  the  first  train  of  cars  tlia»  passed 
from  Albany  to  Schenectady,  and  was  also  an  observ- 
er of  the  first  train  which  ran  in  the  Peninsular  State, 
going  from  Toledo  to  Adrian.  The  latter  was  ren- 
dered a  conspicuous  event  by  the  f;ict  that  hundreds 
of  Indians  were  present  on  that  occasion.  Mr.  R. 
is  an  outs[X)ken,  zealous  Republican,  has  often  been 
proffered  offices  of  trust  in  the  various  localities 
where  he  has  resided,  but  always  declined.  The 
family  attend  the  M.  Iv  Church. 


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vocation,  is  a  native  of  Denmark,  and  was  ^'.' 

'ilXo     ''Of"  Jan.  21,  1850.      He  came  to -America  in  '.y 

m      the  fall  of  1 87  1,  and  located  at   Big  Rapids,  ^ 
where  he  was  variously  enniloyed  until  Octo-     *  J 

ber,  1 882,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Thomas  v 


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MB.COSTA  COUNTY. 


P.  Mortenson,  in  the  grocery  trade,  which  relation 
still  exists,  and  the  firm  is  transacting  a  lucrative  and 
increasing  business.  Their  store  is  owned  by  Mr. 
Mynning,  and  the  slock  comprises  full  lines  of  goods 
common  to  the  trade. 

Mr.  Mynning  was  married  in  Denmark,  Sept.  ig, 
187  I,  to  Johanna  Sorenson.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren— Charles,  Holker,  Soren  and  Mary. 

Mr.  Mynning  was  elected  to  his  present  position  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  and  re-elected  in  the  spring  of 
1883.     The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  Church. 


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7(^1    rederiek  Walch,   farmer,  sec.    13,   Wheat- 

■  RS^T  ''^""^  "^l'"'  '^  '■'^^  *°"  "^  Michael  and  Mar- 
\k^f^''^'<<  garet  (Wolf)  Walch,  both  of  whom  were 
-,  ^fe  natives  of  France,  and  of  German  descent. 
yjk  He  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Auvergne, 
J  ]'■  ranee  A\ig.  20,  1839.  He  received  a  fair 
education  in  German,  and  was  a  laborer  on  the  rail- 
road and  canal  which  were  then  in  process  of  l)uild- 
ing  through  the  section  where  he  was  born  and 
reared.  He  left  his  native  land  in  thespringof  1857, 
and  came  to  Ontario,  Can.,  where  he  was  a  farm 
laborer.  He  was  married  in  Waterloo  Co.,  (Jnt,,  in 
')  March,  1863,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jasper  and 
Margaret  (Horn)  ()tteri)eign,  natives  of  Germany, 
where  Mrs.  Walcli  was  born,  Aug.  15,  1844.  Her 
parents  came  to  ,\merica  and  located  in  Waterloo  Co. 
when  she  was  ten  years  old.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Walch  was  a  farmer  in  Waterloo  County  until  1865. 
In  that  year  he  removed  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich., 
and  settled  at  Greenville.  He  was  there  employed 
four  years  in  a  saw-mill.  In  1869  lie  came  to  Wiieat- 
land  T]).,  and  bought  40  acres  of  wild  land,  to  wliich 
he  has  since  added  80  acres.  Of  this  land  he  has 
l)y  his  own  exertions  placed  60  acres  under  the  best 
im|)rovements. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walcli  have  buiied  five  of  their  nine 
children.  Tiie  four  surviving  are  as  folio »'s:  I'hilip, 
born  Feb.  14,  1862;  Margaret,  Oct.  2,  1865;  Fred- 
eric, Nov.  15,  1872;  Dora,  Feb.  18,  1879.  John 
,  died  in  infancy;  Angeline,  born  July  5,  1868,  died  in 
^  August,  1880;  Michael,  liorii  Ocl.  2  I,  1870,  died  Oct. 
■',)  31,  1876;  I.aura,  liorn  Jan.  i,  1875,  died  July  25, 
^       1879;  Ivillie   M.,  iiorn   Nov.,  '76,  died  Aug.  1,  1879. 


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Mr.  Walch  has  not  yet  procured  his  papers  of  citizen- 

■ship;  himself  and  wife   are   members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church. 


eorge  Helms,  farmer  on  sec.  23,  Deerficld 
Tp.,  was  born  in  the  Keystone  State,  Jan. 
*  3,1810.  His  parents,  Conrad  and  Mary 
^  (Swaggart)  Helms,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  removed  to  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
they  were  among  tlie  first  settlers.  They  went 
thence  to  Whitley  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  round- 
ed the  period  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Helms  passed 
nearly  30  years  of  his  life  in  tlie  Huckeye  State. 
Removing  thence,  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and 
purchased  80  acres  of  land,  with  nine  acres  cleared, 
and  an  orchard  of  50  apple-trees.  He  has  been  a 
thrifty  and  judicious  farmer,  and  has  40  acres  under  . 
the  plow.  He  afterward  purchased  1 20  acres  more, 
which  he  has  since  sold  He  has  been  an  active 
and  zealous  Republican  since  the  organization  of 
the  party. 

Mr.  Helm  was  married  in  1834,  in  Muskingum 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  William  and  FJiza- 
beth  ((Jougar)  Linton,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Of 
I  I  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Helms,  three  died 
in  infancy — Henry  W.,  James  H.,  and  Wesley  C. 
'I'he  record  of  those  yet  surviving  is  as  follows : 
Geo.  W.,  born  Oct.  20,  1838;  Joshua  H.,  Dec.  11, 
1840;  Catherine  E.,  April  24,  1845;  Hibbard  C"., 
Sept.  6,  1846;  Cassius  M.  C.,  June  23,  1849;  Wil- 
liam H.,  June  16,  1851;  John  L.,  Jan.  30,  1854; 
Charles  C,  April  29,  1858. 


Aeafifi/tS^^ 


^^ — K^il^titWVtv. 


ohn    H.  Foster,  mason   and    builder,  and 

IW''   dealer   in    masons'   supplies.    Rig    Rapids, 

was  born  l<"el).  11,  1S42,  at  Franklin,  Me. 


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Jp"  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  W.  and  Harriet  (Scani- 
nions)  Foster,  and  after  he  had  attained  the 
age  of  17,  s[)ent  four  years  in  learning  his 
trade  under  the  sui)ervision  of  William  D.  Moore,  in 
Franklin.  October  15,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  M, 
First  Maine  Cavalry,  Capt.  P.  M.  Brown,  and  was  in 
the  service  nine  months,  during  which  time  he  was  in 


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one  of  the  heaviest  engagenienls  of  the  war — that  of 
tlie  Shenandoah  Valley — during  the  retreat  of  Gen. 
Banks  He  was  discharged  at  \Villianisi»rt,  Md., 
and  returned  to  his  engagement  with  Mr.  Moore. 
A  year  afterward  he  went  to  Calais,  Me.,  spent  a 
year  there  in  pursuit  of  his  trade,  and  worked  a  year 
successively  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Portland,  Me. 
He  went  from  the  latter  place  to  New  York  City  and 
vicinity,  and  there  and  at  Jersey  C'ity  he  constructed 
a  number  of  fine  residences. 

In  1870  he  settled  at  Big  Rapids,  wliere  he  lias 
since  carried  on  his  business,  and  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing on  tracts  of  pine  land  which  he  purchased,  and 
put  the  timber  on  the  market,  :uid  operated  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  as  a  contractor,  employing  50  men 
in  the  busy  seasons.  Among  the  buildings  of  his 
erection  at  Big  Rapids,  are  the  Baptist  Church,  the 
Water  ^^'orks,  Northern  Hotel  block,  two  Teifer 
blocks,  Collins  block,  tlie  L'nion  School  house,  Wil- 
co.x  hardware  store,  etc.,  etc.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  Order,  has  l)een  Alderman  five  successive 
years,  Superintendent  of  the  City  A\ater  Works,  and 
Street  Commissioner  two  years,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board. 

Mr.  Foster  was  married  at  Haverstraw,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  13,  1868,  to  Georgiana,  daughter  of  'I'homas 
ai:d  Mary  Dykins,  a  native  of  Haverstraw,  X.  Y. 
Four  ciiildren  have  been  born  to  them — i'ercv  I., 
Howard  \V.,  Charles  and  Bertie  (deceased). 

wmK  avid  W.  Barto,  fanner  on  sec.  29,  Decr- 
nJP  field  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Orrin  M.  and  Esther 
(.\verill)  P>arto,  wlio  came  from  their  native 
,  X'ermont,  to  Kalamazoo  Co..  Midi  , 
111  1S40,  and  there  jiassed  the  remaining 
years  of  their  lives.  David  W.  was  born  in 
Kalamazoo  County,  July  4,  1843.  He  liveil 
there  the  first  22  years  of  his  life,  and  spent  the  suc- 
ceeding r8  months  in  Kansas  and  Nel)raska.  He 
returned  home,  and  remained  two  and  one-half  years, 
when  he  again  rejiaired  to  Kansas  and  pre-empted 
i6o  acres  of  land.  He  sold  out  at  the  end  of  four 
and  one-half  years,  at  which  time  he  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  in  Mecosta  County,  now  his  homestead 
and  under  partial  improvement. 

Mr.   Barto  was  married   in   Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  N'ov. 

?»s<4- ^»«S« — =-^m: 


i 


Oct.  3, 

period  of  enlistment,  Aug.  10,  1865.  Among  the  en- 
gagements where  he  was  under  fire  were  those  of  the 
Valley  of  tlie  Shenandoah,  Culpepper,  Second  Hull 
Run,  .\ntietam,  ("hancellorsville.  Cold  Harbor,  Beth- 
esda  Church,  siege  of  Pelersbiirg,  and  a  large  num- 
l.'er  of  skirmishes. 

On  leaving  the  army  he  went  to  Omaha  and  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  in  Nebraska  and 
Iowa.  He  afterward  engaged  as  traveling  salesman 
for  the  crockery  house  of  Egner,  Foutts  &  Co.,  of 
Liverix)ol,  Ohio,  in  which  capacity  he  served  two 
years.  In  l''ebruary,  1872,  Mr.  Beebe  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  and  purchased  ;i  half  interest  in  the  grocery 
of  John  Wiseman,  and  six  months  later  purchased 
the  entire  stock.  In  November,  1875,  '''^  **o'<^  'o  C. 
A.  Stickney  &  Co.,  and  in  April,  1876,  bought  out  the 
business  of  J.  H.  Kilburn,  which  he  managed  until 
Jan.  9,  1S78,  when  he  formed  a  co  partnership  with 
J.  G.  Gill,  and  established  his  stand  where  he  has 
since  transacted  business.  May  i,  1883,  he  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  (lill.  He  carries  a  stock 
of  fancy  and  staple  groceries,  flour;  feed  and  grain, 
valued  at  $5,000,  and  transacts  an  annual  business  of 
§65,000. 

Mr.  Beebe  was  married   at   Lo<kport,   N.  \'.,  Jan. 


% 


14,  1872,  to  Fani.ic  A.,  daughter  of  J.  W.  and  Mary 
A.  Miles,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  emigrated  thence  to 
Barry  County,  and  later  to  Kansas,  whence  they  re- 
turned to  Michigan,  and  are  now  resident  at  Manistee. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barto  have  two  children — Ella  P., 
born  March  4,  1876,  and  Lina  B.,  Sept.  21,  1877. 
Mr.  Barto  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party. 


IpSl^:  elson  H.  Beebe,  grocer  at  Big  Ra[)ids,  was 
i-''l(il"  '""'"  '"  Newfane,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
-  ■<  2,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
A.  (Strickland)  Beebe.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  mill-owner.  Mr.  Beebe  was  a  stu- 
dent at  school  principally,  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  civil  war,  and  he  was  among  the  earliest  to 
enroll  as  a  defender  of  the  l'nion  flag.  He  enlisted 
at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  .April  29,  1861,  in  Co.  K,  28th 
N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
His  regiment  was  mustered  out  June  2,  1863, and  he 
re-enlisted  Sept.  3,  in  the  .Second  N.  Y.  Mounted 
Rifles,       He    received  his   Lieutenant's   commission 


Vb 


A 


1864,  and   was  released  by  the  close  of  his     JO; 


( 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


25,  1870,  to  Amy  L.  Pollard,  born  at  M^ilson,  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beebe  liave  three  children 
— Kern,  Elmer  and  Nellie. 


^*-^;ffe 


A 


'T^^*ames  T.  Huntei',  farmer,  sec.  30,  Mecosta 
"irrfi  ^  Tp.,  was  l.iorn  Dec.  21,  1S57,  in  Essex  Co., 
1(3???'^  N.  V.  His  parents,  Robert  and  Sarah 
(Curry)  Hunter,  were  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch 
ancestors,  and  soon  after  their  marriage  came 
to  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  When  Mr.  Hunter  was  15 
years  old  he  came  vvith  his  parents  to  Big  Ra|)ids, 
and  thence,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  to  the  township  of 
Mecosta.  His  father  located  a  tract  of  land,  where 
he  proceeded  to  found  a  home  for  his  family.  He 
died  in  the  winter  of  18S1,  and  Mr.  Hunter  of  this 
sketch  received  by  will  60  acres  of  this  farm,  50 
acres  of  which  is  in  fine  farming  condition.  Mrs. 
Mary  Hall,  his  sister,  acts  as  the  housekeeper  and 
manager  of  the  domestic  department. 

Mr.  Hunter  is  a  young  inan,  but  is  already  estab- 
lished as  a  citizen  and  farmer.  His  future  is  promis- 
ing and  he  seems  destined  to  a  fair  rank  in  the 
community  to  which  he  belongs.  He  holds  to  the 
Presbyterian  faith  in  religious  views. 


filliam  H.  McPherson,  farmer  on  sec.  1, 
Hinton  r|).,  is  a  son  of  Cyrus  and  Mar)' 
^i^^^^yryu:  L.  (Pamfrey)  McPherson  ;  the  father  a  na- 
'S^^Otive  of  Maine,  and  the  mother  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, where  they  were  married;  they  fixed 
their  place  of  residence  in  Maine  and  still 
live  there.  William  H.  was  born  June  2,  185  i,  in 
New  Brunswick,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  19  years 
of  age,  occupied  winters  in  the  lumber  woods  and 
spending  the  summer  seasons  in  the  slate  ipiarriesof 
the  section  where  he  was  reared.  For  about  six 
years,  until  he  was  25  years  of  age,  he  was  engaged 
i  solely  in  the  cpiarries.  In  the  spring  of  1875  he 
•,','.'  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  40  acres  of  land 
S'.  in  this  township,  which  is  now  his  homestead,  with 
^  32  acres  now  under  advanced  improvement.  Mr. 
*)  McPherson  is  a  third-degree  member  of  the  ()r(!er 
^     of  Masonry  and  in  [lolitics  is  a  Republican. 


He  was  married  in  Maine,  March  i,  1870,  to  Sarah 
E.,  eldest  daughter  of  Luke  L.  and  Hannah  H. 
(Daniels)  Perry.  They  were  natives  of  Maine,  where 
Mrs.  McPherson  was  born  Sept.  8,  185  i.  The  house- 
hold includes  four  children  :  Mabel  L.,  born  Feb. 
2,  187  I  ;  Melissa  E.,  Aug.  4,  1873  ;  Cyrus  F.,  Oct.  3, 
1879,  and  William  H.,  July  21,  1S82. 

^Egff^  dward  Gilchrist,  farmer  on  sec.  28,  Me- 
l^^^f  costa  Tp,,  was  born  in  Canada,  May  28, 
1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Paulina 
'^i{£  (Rake)  Gilchrist,  natives  of  the  Dominion. 
His  i)arents  came  to  Saint  Clair  Co.,  Mich., 
when  he  was  one  year  old.  After  a  few  years 
they  returned  to  Canada.  They  afterward  came 
back  to  Michigan  to  make  a  permanent  settlement, 
and  located  near  Port  Huron,  going  thence  three 
years  later  to  Sanilac  County,  remaining  about  six 
years.  Edward  Gilchrist  continued  to  reside  there, 
antl  in  the  summer  of  1871  began  to  interest  himself 
in  lumbering,  where  he  was  occupied  until  1876.  In 
that  year  Mr.  (Gilchrist  bought  40  acres  where  he  now 
resides  in  Mecosta  Tp.  It  was  then  a  dense  forest 
and  required  laborious  and  unremitting  exertion  to 
reduce  it  to  a  condition  suitable  to  comfortable  sup- 
port. The  place  has  15  acres  under  tillage.  Mr. 
(iilchrist  is  a  Democrat  of  but  moderate  pretensions. 
He  is  now  Director  of  School  District  No.  5;  has 
liberal   religious  views. 

He  was  married  in  February,  1878,  to  Emma, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Lydia  (Wadsworth)  Mong. 
Her  [larenls  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
German  descent.  The  daughter  was  born  in  Ve- 
nango Co.,  Pa.,  Aug  31,  1859,  and  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Michigan  in  1869.  The  tivo  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gilchrist  were  born  as  follows:  Jt)hn  J., 
Sept.  9,  1876,  and  Pearl,  Sept.  27,  1880. 

rfjU^^jr  enry  B.  Wolcott,    farmer   and    lumberman, 
*         T'   sec.  15,  Millbrook    Pp..  was   born   in    iSrad- 

vl'S^"*     '°'^*^  ^'"■'  '''^■'  •'■'"■   '^'  ''^--1'  '"^'^'^   '^  '^  ^°"  '^^ 
A     Benj.  and  Betsey  (Merrell)  Wolcott,  the  father 

"r     a  native  of  New  York,  the  mother  of  Pennsyl- 

I       vania.     The  family  went  to  the  State  of  New 

N'ork  when  Mr.  Wolcott  was  22  years  of  age,  and  he 


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remained  an   inmate  of    the    household  four  years 
longer.     He  was  married  at  the  age  of  26  and  con- 
V,  tinned   to  carry  on   the   business  of  farming   there 
y    until  he  was  31  years  old,  when  he  came  to  Michigan 
-<    and   settled   in   Shiawassee  County.      He  remained 
^^  there  18  months  and  went  to  De  Kalb  Co.,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  farming  three  years.     His  health  becom- 
ing impaired  he  went  back  to  his  native  Stale.    Dur- 
ing tne  six  years  of  his  residence  there  he  held  the 
]X)sitions  of  Constable  and  Collector,  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  the  time  in   farming.     He  came  again 
t  to  Michigan  in   1866,  and  settled   in  Millbrook  Tp., 
r  where  he  entered   160  acres  of  land  under  the  pro- 
^  visions  of   the  Homestead  Act.      f)n  this  land  he 
erected  the  second  frame  house  built  in  the  town- 
ship, and  set  about  clearing  the  land  for  agricultural 
purix)ses,  working  three  years  without  a  team.     The 
results  of  his  persevering  energy  are  manifest  in  the 
ap|)earance  of  his  farm,  no  acres  of  the  original  160 
acres  being  under  excellent  cultivation.     Although 
^  ^  lie  has   bought   and   sold  several   hundred   acres  of 
land   in   the   townshi)),  he   has  always  held  his  first 
claim  as  a  homestead. 

Mr.  Wolcott  was  married  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa., 
Nov.  8,  1849,10  Ruth,  second  daughter  of  WnLi.. 
and  Sally  (V'osbinder)  Taylor.  The  parents  were 
natives  of  New  York,  and  settled  in  Bradford  County, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mrs. 
Wolcott  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  22, 
1832.  Of  14  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolcott, 
eight  are  still  living,  born  as  follows :  Sarah  S.,  Oct. 
30,  1850;  Lewis  E.,  May  7,  1852;  Benjamin  L., 
Dec.  5,  1853;  Betsey  E.,  Feb.  29,  1856;  Ettie  L., 
Dec.  4,  1863;  Ruth  A.,  June  16,  1869;  Maurice  D., 
Feb.  26,  1872;  Alice  M.,  Nov.  8,  1876.  The  de 
ceased  are  as  follows:  Ceorge  J.,  born  Feb.  17, 
1858,  died  Sept.  19,  1863;  Laura  L.,  born  June  17, 
i860,  died  Sept.  17,  1863;  Emma  E.,  born  Dec.  30, 
1861,  died  Sei)t.  22,  1863;  Charles  A.,  boin  April  9, 
1868,  died  April  11,  1868;  Mary  E.,  born  July  8, 
1874,  died  Feb.  3,  1881;  William  H.,  born  Dec.  24, 
1865,  died  Nov.  7,  1881. 

iMr.  Wolcott  has   held   the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
.,,.    Peace  four  years.  Road  Commissioner  three  years. 
School   Director  nine  years  in   succession,  and  lias 
been   a  member  of  the  School  Board    nearly   every 
,      year.     Both  himself  and  wife  are  active  and  prom- 
^    ment  members  of  the   M.   E.  Church.     Mr.  Wolcott 


:0 


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was  four  years  a  circuit  preacher,  was  regularly  or- 
dained and  has  officiated  two  years  as  a  local 
jireacher.  His  impaired  health  compelled  him  to 
abandon  circuit  work,  but  he  is  still  engaged  in  his 
ministerial  labors  and  expects  to  be  so  occupied 
tlie  remainder  of  his  earthly  life,  believing  that  if  he  is 
faithful  to  the  end  a  crown  of  eternal  happiness  will 
be  his  reward. 


*'amuel  L.  Newton,  of  the  banking  house 

_         of   I'airuum   \-   Newton,  Big    Rapids,  and 

|;-S^^    whose  portrait  we  place  in  this  work,  was 

^    born  at  Hagersville,  Ont.,  Aug.  6,  1861,  and  is 

;Y^  a  son  of  Luther  G.  and  Mary  J.  (Waters) 
Newton.     In  1865  his  parents  went  to  Buffalo, 

'  N.  Y.,  where  his  father  associated  with  his 
uncle,  J.  S.  Newton,  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade 
and  carried  on  an  extensive  business  under  the  style 
of  J.  S.  &  L.  G.  Newton.  Mr.  Newton  was  a  pupil 
at  school  in  Buffalo  from  four  years  of  age  until  the 
second  removal  of  his  family  to  Adams,  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  again  placed  at  school,  and 
remained  a  student  there  until  he  was  17  yeais  old. 
In  1877  he  began  a  course  of  study  at  Hmigevford 
Collegiate  Institute,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  engaged  as  book-keeper  in  the  banking 
house  of  Ferdinand  Fairman,  his  guardian.  In  C)c- 
tober,  1881,  Mrs.  Newton  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  bank  with  Mr.  Fairman,  which  her  son  in  turn 
bought  from  her  on  reaciiing  his  majority  (.\ug.  6, 
1882),  becoming  owner  of  halfits  business  relations. 
In  every  respect  he  seems  fitted  for  the  honorable 
and  imiKjrtant  |)rofcssion  wliich  he  has  chosen,  [hjs- 
sessing  all  the  essential  characteristics  reipisite  to  the 
calling. 

The  house  ol  Fairman  &  Newton  ranks  among  the 
most  solid  and  reliable  of  the  banking  institutions  of 
Northern  Michigan.  Its  affairs  are  conducted  with 
a  sagacity  and  business  acumen  which  secures  the 
confidence  of  the  public  and  amplifies  its  financial 
relations.  The  Fairman  &  Newton  block,  ranking 
among  the  most  substantial  buililings  in  Big  Rapids, 
is  owned  by  the  firm  whose  rame  it  bears.  The 
building  on  Michigan  avenue,  occupied  by  the  Mich- 
igan Cigar  Co.,  is  the  private  properly  of  Mr.  Newlor. 


I. 


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M ECO  ST  A   COUNTY. 


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f  ffe^^h^?iUiaiii  Corbett,  fanner,  sec.  22,  Mecosta 
Tp.,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  wliere  he  was 
born  Dec.  7,  1849.  His  parents,  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Spears)  Corbett,  were  also 
atives  of  "Auld  Scotia,"  and  came  to  this 
ntr)'  with  their  family,  settling  in  Canada  in 
53.  Si.x  years  later  they  came  to  Michigan. 
Mr.  Corbett  was  but  a  lad  when  he  was  brought  to 
this  country,  and  was  still  in  early  youth  when  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  Peninsular  State.  Until  1873 
he  worked  at  various  places  as  a  farm  assistant,  and 
in  that  year  purchased  120  acres  of  land  ni  the  town- 
ship where  he  is  now  a  citizen,  which  acreage  he  has 
increased  by  purchase  until  he  now  owns  a  valuable 
farm  containing  160  acres,  with  140  acres  under  cul- 
tivation and  in  extraordinarily  good  condition  for  agri- 
cultural purposes.  He  has  made  rapid  strides  in 
the  improvement  of  his  place,  and  has  already  erected, 
in  modern  style,  all  buildings  necessary  to  first-class 
"^  farming,  except  a  suitable  residence,  vi'hich  will  soon 
^  be  added  to  the  substantial  attractions  of  the  place. 
^  Mr.  Corbett  was  married  at  Hastings,  Mich.,  May 
19,  1877,  to  Esther  J.,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Re- 
becca A.  (Stanley)  Hall.  She  was  born  Jan.  17, 
1856.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corbett  have  three  children, 
born  as  follows:  George,  Sept.  27,  1879;  May  E., 
May  12,  1881  ;  Maggie  M.,  Oct.  5,  1882. 

Politically  Mr.  Corbett  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held 
various  offices  in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen.  The 
family  altend  the  Presbyterian  church. 


) 


-5 <• 


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'jharlesW.  Kelley,  farmer,  sec.  3,  Millbrook 


Tp.,  was  born  in  Canada,  Jan.    16,  1845. 

H'ffr'"*"    ^^  '^^^  '"*  °^"  fortune  to  carve,  and  at 

^  ^    the  age   of   13    commenced  the   struggle    for 

o|^     home  and  the  future.      He  was  employed   as 

\    a  farm  laborer,  and  durnig  the  first  year  received 

fsix  dollars  a  month.     He  passed  some  years  in  this 
manner  in  Canada,  and  in   the  fall  of  1864  came  to 
Ionia,  Mich.,  returning  three  months  later  to  the  Do- 
minion.    After  spending  a  winter  at   home   he  re- 
^    turned   to   Ionia  County,  and   not  long  after,  in  the 
\~^    autumn    of    1865,   came    to    Mecosta  County    and 
r    bought  I  60  acres  of  timbered  land  in  Millbrook 'i'p. 


He  has  made  such  good  use  of  his  energy  and  labor 
that  he  has  put  65  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  married  in  Millbrook,  April  17, 
1870,  to  Mary  E.,  third  daughter  of  James  E.  and 
Rosanna  (Purceley)  Riley,  who  was  born  in  New 
York,  April  5,  1854.  Her  parents  came  from  Ireland 
and  settled  in  the  Empire  Slate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kelley  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Rosa  M.,  born  Feb.  20,  1872;  Myrtie  I., March 
10,1874;  Nora  B.  Sept.  24,  1876;  Ada,  March  19, 
1877;  Eva,  Jan.  9,  1879.  Rosanna  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Kelley  belongs  to  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  held  important  official  po.sitions  in  the  affairs  of 
his  township,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 

^^^^^*^ 

Henry  Mansfield,  farmer,  sec.  35,  Wheatland 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
II,  1818.  His  parents,  Josiah  and  Lucre- 
tia  (Byani)  Mansfield,  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  passed  the  years  preceding  his 
majority  under  the  care  and  supervision  of  his 
father,  attending  school  and  receiving  the  training 
and  instruction  necessary  to  fit  him  for  his  life's 
work.  On  leaving  home  he  spent  the  next  four  years 
as  a  farm  laborer.  At  25  years  of  age  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Abigail 
Brown,  that  event  taking  place  at  Byron,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
15,  1842.  Mrs.  Mansfield  was  a  widow,  and  survived 
her  second  marriage  until  Dec.  6,  1847,  when  she 
died,  in  Genesee  County.  Her  illness  was  long  and 
involved  her  husband  in  debt  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent. He  was  again  married  May  25,  1848,  in  Gen- 
esee County,  to  Caroline  M.,  daughter  of  Chauncey 
and  Lorena  (Wells)  Brown,  natives  of  New  England, 
and  respectively  of  Irish  and  English  extraction. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mansfield  lived  on  a  farm  in  the 
county  where  they  were  married  until  1867.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year  they  settled  on  the  farm  where 
they  are  still  resident,  containing  1 20  acres  of  land, 
with  70  acres  under  advanced  cultivation  and  sup- 
plied with  necessary  and  suitable  farm  buildings. 
The  family  includes  three  children,  as  follows: 
Chauncey  R.,  born  July  12,  1849;  Evert  J.,  Jan.  26, 
1852;  Mary  A.,  May  8,  1855. 
The  parents  are  in  advanced  life,  but  an 


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life  has  kept  them  young  in  piiriwse  and  stimulated 
their  ambition  to  keep  pace  with  the  progress  of  the 
age.  Mr.  Mansfield  has  always  acted  with  the  Re- 
publican party;  has  served  his  township  as  Treasurer 
seven  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  zealous  ineiiilicrs 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


-■!&■ 


-*—\'^- 


K.  Wolcott,  farmer,  sec.  2,  .MiUbiook  '['[>.. 
is  a  son  of  Benj.  and  Betsey  (Merrill)  Wol- 
cott, the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  In  early  life 
they  settled  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they 
lived  more  than  40  years.  In  the  spring  of 
of  1856  they  came  to  Shiawassee  Co.,  Micji., 
.uul  after  a  brief  stay  went  to  Illinois.  Five  years 
later  they  returned  to  the  same  i:ounty  in  Michigan 
and  remained  three  and  one-half  years,  going  then 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  residing  there  until  the  fall  of 
1868,  when  they  came  to  Millbrook,  and  lioth  died 
here  in  the  spring  of  1878. 

Mr.  Wolcott  was  born  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  I'tb. 
20,  1831,  and  was  the  support  of  his  parents  as  long 
as  they  lived.  On  coming  to  Milll)rook  he  entered  a 
claim  of  120  acres  of  land  under  the  homestead  a<  t, 
and  afterward,  in  1869,  l)ought  80  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining. In  1878  he  sold  40  acres  of  this  land  and 
in  April,  1883,  he  sold  80  acres;  he  still  holds  a  valu- 
able farm  containing  80  acres  under  good  improve- 
ments. He  was  married  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 
27,  1881,  to  Countess  1).,  daughter  of  .A.  P.  and  Es- 
ther Wolcott.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  Esther  was  born  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Wol- 
cott had  one  child,  Viola,  born  May  5,  1883,  and 
died  Sept.  10,  1883.  Mr.  Wolcott  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  lias  been  Scliool  Assessor 
ten  years. 


dward  Harmon,  landlord  of  the  Millluook 

hotel,     Millbrook     village,     was    born    in 

Maine,  Feb.  14,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  John 

and   .\nn    E.    (Martin)    Harmon,    natives    of 

Maine.     The  father  died  in  California  in  1867' 

and  the  mother  resides  at   Boston,  Mass.     At 

the  age  of  16  Mr.  Harmon  engaged  as  a  lumberman. 


and  also  in  the  river  service,  which  he  pursued  as  a 
vocation  25  years.  In  1859  he  left  Maine  and  came 
to  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing 14  years.  He  left  the  Keystone  Stale  in  the  fall 
of  1873  and  came  to  Mason  Co.,  Mich.,  pursuing  the 
same  business  at  which  he  had  spent  so  many  years 
of  his  life,  about  iS  months,  during  which  time  he 
also  kept  a  boarding  house.  At  the  termination  ol 
the  period  named,  in  1875,  he  came  to  Blanchard, 
Isabella  Co.,  Mich.,  and,  forming  a  jjartnership  with 
H.  P.  Blanchard,  continued  to  jirosecute  the  lumber 
trade.  At  the  end  of  one  year  this  connection  closed 
antl  Mr.  Harmon  .:ame  to  Mecosta  County,  and  in 
December,  1876,  located  at  .Millbrook  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  hotel  business,  which  still 
monopolizes  his  time  anil  energies.  His  house  is  the 
leading  one  in  tliat  section  antl  is  the  only  one  in 
town. 

Mr.  Harmon  was  married  in  Pennsylv.inia,  May 
24,  1861.  Mrs.  Harmon  was  born  in  Center  Co., 
Penn.  She  has  one  child  by  a  former  marriage,  Deb- 
orah. Mr.  Harmon  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  about  20 
years;  has  held  the  office  of  Dei)uty  Sheriff  two  and 
a  lialf  years,  and  been  Constable  one  year. 


Olson  Whitbeck,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Mecosta 
I'p.,  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  V.,  Jan.  26, 
1834.  His  parents,  Jasper  and  Mary 
"^^rrx'  {'^"I'P)  Whitbeck,  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
(,  New  York  His  mother  died  in  Michigan,  in  the 
'P  spring  of  1878,  aged  93  years.  His  father  died 
in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the  fall  of  1882.  He  was 
a  centenarian,  and  distinctly  remembered  the  first 
election  of  Washington  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States  by  ballot.  He  was  a  soldier  of  181  2, 
and  lived  to  see  the  fifth  generation  of  his  descend- 
ants grow  up  about  him.  The  family  removed  from 
Xew  York  to  Michigan,  leaving  the  Empire  State  Nov. 
4,  1838,  where  the  boyhood,  youth  and  early  man- 
hood of  .Mr.  Whitbeck  were  passed.  After  reaching 
his  majority  he  attended  to  the  conduct  of  his  father's 
farm,  and  fnially  the  old  homestead  (lassed  into  his 
[jossession.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  came  to  Mecosta 
Tp.  and  bought  160  acres  of  land,  with  120  acres  in 
good  condition   ^or  farming  i)urposes.     On  this  Mr. 


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VVhitbeck  is  at  present  engaged  in  progressive  farming. 
He  was  married  March  19,  1857,  to  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Horace  and  Annie  (House)  Atwood,  of  Rose, 
Oakland  Co.,  where  she  was  horn  June  16,  1838. 
Her  father  was  born  in  New  York  and  is  still  living. 
The  mother  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  Ada 
G.,  born  Apiil  27,  1859,  and  Howard  M.,  born  Feb. 
I,  1S52,  are  the  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
beck. 


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ames  Stephens,  tarmer,  resident  on  sec.  34, 
Hinton  Ti).  (P.  O.,  Lakeview),  is  a  son  of 
^^r?%  Ebenezer  and  Sarah  (Vincent)  Stephens. 
They  settled  in  Canada,  where  James  was 
born,  Jan.  25,  1836.  There  he  resided  until 
Y  December,  1865,  and  then  lived  in  Ottawa 
Co.,  -Mich.,  two  years.  In  the  summer  of  1867  he 
bought  80  acres  of  wild  land,  of  which  he  has  since 
sold  40  acres,  with  18  of  the  remaining  40  under  till- 
age and  on  which  he  lives.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
jjolitics. 

Mr.  Stephens  was  married  in  Canada,  Nov.  10, 
1864,  to  Annie,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Bar- 
ton. The  father  was  born  in  England,  and  the 
mother  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  Mrs.  Stejihcns 
was  born  in  Canada,  May  2r,  1844.  The  five  chil- 
dren of  whom  slie  is  the  mother  are  all  living,  born 
in  the  following  order:  Sarah,  April  7.  1867  ;  Jesse 
M.,  Nov.  30,  186S;  Abigail,  Dec.  21,  1870;  Ebene- 
zer J.,  Nov.  i6,  1873;  Allen  J.,  Dec.  21,  1881. 


^^Pjggj  0  harles  Main,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Millbrook  Tp., 
^^l^^^iF  is   a  son  of  George  and   Margaret    Ann 
pfi^"        (Chandler)  Main,  and  was  born  in  Canada, 
|A^     May    3,     1 84 1.     He    came    to    Michigan    in 
*!j<.'      the  spring  of  1865,  when   nearly   23  years  of 
J        age,  to  prospect  and  locate  land,  and  in  the 
s[)ring    of    the    following   year  came   to   Montcalm 
County,  and  was  there  engaged  two  years  in  farming. 
In  the  spring  of  1868  he  came  to  Mecosta  County 
and  bought  100  acres  of  land,   with  some  improve- 
ments, in  Millbrook  Tp.      He  conducted  affairs  on 
this  place  nearly  two  years,  sold  it  and  purchased 
another,  containing  100  acres,  which  he  likewise  sold, 


and  in  the  spring  of  1872  moved  into  the  village  of 
Millbrook  to  engage  in  a  general  mercantile  business, 
having  previously  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  S. 
Decker,  under  the  style  of  Main  &  Decker.  After 
conducting  their  business  a  year,  another  partner  was 
admitted  and  the  firm  style  became  Main,  Decker  & 
Co.  This  connection  existed  five  years;  during  a 
portion  of  this  period  Mr.  Main  was  also  interested 
in  the  lumber  trade.  Becoming  embarrassed  finan- 
cially, the  firm  closed  its  affairs,  and  Mr.  Main  again 
turned  his  attention  to  farming;  is  also  keeping  a 
hotel  at  West  Milbrook,  which  he  built  in  1882.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  served  three  years 
as  Supervisor  of  his  township. 

Mr.  Main  was  married  in  Canada,  Sept.  26,  1864, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rachel  (Hunter) 
Long,  all  natives  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Main  have 
had  three  children,  but  one  of  whom,  Irving  H.,  sur- 
vives.    Blanche  and  Richard  A.  died  in  infancy. 


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^^gj'  ichael  Degear,  farmer  on  sec.   28,  Deer- 
i;.&g4,"    'ntXd  Tp.,  was  born  in  the  Dominion  of 
i>  Canada  Feb.  6,  1822.    His  parents,  Mich- 
WW\"    ael  and  Charity  (Cupps)  Degear,  were  also 
born  in  Canada,  where  the  former  died,  in  April, 
1857,  and  the  latter  Aug.   15,   1847.     Mr.  De- 
gear  remained  at  the  home  place  until  the  age  of  20, 
and  was  variously  employed  about  nine  years.     He 
then  bought  a  farm  containing  47  acres,  which  he  sold 
ten  years  later  and  removed  to  the  township  of  Lan- 
caster, Canada,  there  renting  a  farm  wliich  he  car- 
ried  on   three  years.     At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
went  with  his  family  to  Kent  Co.,   Mich.,  and  soon 
afterward  selected  his  present  location  in  this  county. 
He  purchased  80  acres  of  uncultivated  land,  which 
he  has  increased  by  the  addition  of  120  acres;    he 
now  has  84  acres  under  tillage.     Mr.  Degear  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Republican  party  and  himself 
and  family  belong  to  the  Metliodist  Church. 

He  was  married  in  the  summer  of  1S52  to  Eliza- 
lieth,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Sarah  (Drake)  Kitchen, 
natives  of  New  Jersey  and  residents  of  Canada. 
She  was  torn  Jan.  10,  1822.  The  father  died  in 
1824,  the  mother  two  years  later.  Three  of  the  chil- 
dren  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Degear  are  living,  and  were 


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born  as  follows:  Berthelda,  Sept.  i,  1857;  Reuben 
J.,  Feb.  22,  i860;  Henry  K.,  Sept.  24,  1861.  Sarah 
died  aged  1 2 ;  two  children  died  in  infancy. 


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rederick  R.  Luther,  farmer  on  sec.  30 
.,-Ktna  Tp  ,  was  borii  in  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  18,  1808,  antl  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Eunice  (Allen)  Luther.  He  was  under 
the  paternal  roof  until  23  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  Detroit,  and  was  there  engaged  in  various  kinds 
of  farm  labor  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Wash- 
tenaw Co.,  Mich.,  but  reniainetl  only  a  short  time, 
and  settled  in  Lenawee  Co.,  where  he  pursued  farm- 
ing for  five  years.  In  1839  he  went  to  Ingham 
County,  where  he  was  the  first  settler  in  Delhi  'I'p. 
He  was  engaged  in  fanning  there  until  1869,  when 
he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  settled  in  ^Ktna  Tp. 
He  owns  160  acres  of  land,  with  60  acres  under  good 
improvement.  In  politics  Mr.  Luther  is  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religious  views  he  is  a  liberalist. 

He  was  married  in  September,  1835,  '"  Cornelia, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Clara  (Frisby)  Lamoreau.v, 
natives  of  New  York,  born  June  19,  1814,  and 
died  Aug.  24,  1856.  Mr.  Luther  was  married  again 
in  Lenawee  Co.,  April  10,  1858,  to  Mrs.  Margaret 
Priest,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Phebe  (Denney) 
Shultz.  By  this  marriage  one  child  was  born,  Aug  21, 
1859.  Mrs.  Luther,  by  a  former  marriage,  has  five 
children. 


jj'''obert  D.  Parks,  of  the  firm  of  Parks  Bros., 

Mecoslu  village,  Morton  Tp.,  was  born  at 

t^A   South  Lyon,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  .\pnl  2, 

1^^   1847,  and  is  a  son  of  William  R.  and  Ann  E. 

(Dunlap)     Parks.        He    remained     on    his 

father's   farm    until    jo   years   old,    when   he 

Iwas  occupied  about  two  years  as  a  farm  assist- 
ant, and  then  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  at  .South 
-•'-  Lyon,  which  he  pursued  about  four  years.  In 
company  with  Robert  Dunlap  he  built  a  saw,  grist 
and  cider  mill,  which  they  managed  together  imlil 
1%  1879,  when  Mr.  Parks  sold  his  interest  and  resumed 
^   farming,  buying  120  acres  of  land  in  Lyon,  on  which 


■^ 


he  resided  until  May  21,  1883.  He  then  sold  out 
his  agricultural  interests,  came  to  Mecosta  and 
[luri  based  the  interest  of  his  brother's  partner,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  managing  the  business 
devolving  upon  him  as  half  owner  of  an  e.xtensive 
trade. 

Mr.  Parks  owns,  besides  his  property  at  Mecosta, 
two  village  lots  in  South  Lyon. 

Mr.  Parks  was  married  at  South  Lyon  Dec.  9,  1879, 
to  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Henrietta  Bow- 
ers, born  in  New  Hudson,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.  They 
have  two  children — Floyd,  born  at  .South  Lyon,  Sept. 
21,  1880,  and  Stanley,  born  in  Mecosta,  June  3, 
■883.  ^ 

tn'r.  I,  aniel  H.  Ruger,  farmer  on  sec.  32,  .Ivtna 
Ij^^f*  Tp.,  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
^f^^r^  22,  1 814.  His  parents  were  David  and 
j^^  Elizabeth  (Hagaman)  Ruger,  and  were  na- 
X  tivesof  New  York.  When  Mr.  Ruger  was  two 
i  years  old  his  father  died,  and  his  mother  was  left 
with  the  care  and  responsibilities  of  maintaining  and 
educating  her  children,  which  she  did  in  the  most 
creditable  manner.  When  Daniel  H.  was  16  years 
old  he  was  apprenticed  to  Wm.  Phillips,  of  his  na- 
tive town,  and  remained  in  that  service  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Phillips,  which  occurred  in  the  winter 
of  183 1.  Soon  after  that  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  \'.,  where  he  stayed  but  a  few  months,  then  set 
out  to  pursue  his  trade  on  the  "trami)  journeyman" 
plan.  I-n  1848  he  came  to  Cass  Co.,  Mich.,  and  pur- 
chased property  in  Edwardsburg,  where  he  remained 
four  years  following  his  profession,  and  was  justly 
considered  the  leader  in  the  calling  which  he  pur- 
sued. He  next  went  to  Elkhart,  Ind.,  and  was  there 
settled  until  1863.  In  that  year  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army,  enrolling  in  the  First  Michigan  Sharp- 
shooters. He  reached  a  Sergeant's  rank  and  was  dis- 
charged July  23,  1865,  having  been  in  si.x  severe 
engagements,  each  time  escaping  unhurt.  Leaving 
the  army  he  went  to  CassoiX)lis,  this  State,  resumed 
his  trade  and  operated  there  seven  years.  In  1S72 
he  came  to  .Etna  Tp.  and  settled  on  160  acres  of 
land  on  sec.  32,  where  he  has  since  operated  in  farm- 
ing and  lumbering. 

Mr.  Ruger  was  married  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
March  13,  1.S36,  to   Mary    I,.,  daughter  of  Newbery 


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and  Mary  (Smith)  Lay.  The  parents  were  natives 
of  New  York,  where  Mrs.  Ruger  was  born,  July  6, 
1818.  Of  13  children  born  of  this  marriage,  seven 
are  living:  Catharine,  born  May  21,  1838;  Mary 
E.,  May  2,  1840;  Arabella,  Jan  7,  (842;  Alice  A., 
Jan.  5,  1844;  Edna,  Jan.  30,  1852;  Lillian  A.,  Jan. 
lo,  1854;  Clementina  A..  Oct.  10,  1856.  Silas  H., 
born  April  i,  1837,  died  in  infancy,  Anna,  born 
March  25,  1840,  died  in  July,  1872;  Daniel  Smith, 
born  Dec.  10,  1850,  died  in  1852  ;  Dan  S.,  born  July 
6,  1858,  died  May  i,  1859;  Louis,  born  March  15, 
i860,  and  Josepliine  A.,  born  Feb.  2,  1848,  are 
deceased. 


,'■  f  P-'|>)^harles  Wilkinson,  farmer,  sec.  25,  yfctna 
1  Lliyf^  I'P-)  ^V'ls  born  June  28,  1833,  in  Harrison 
ij|»#3^'*'     Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Philander  and 


^fe)  Thankful  R.  (Leach)  Wilkinson.  On  attain- 
p^  ing  his  majority,  Mr.  Wilkinson  took  his  final 
i  leave  of  the  paternal  home,  and  sought  his 
fortune  in  the  Peninsular  Slate,  and  made  his  first 
essay  in  business  for  himself  in  Hillsdale  <.'ounty, 
finding  employ  on  a  farm  for  some  months.  He  went 
thence  to  Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  made  another 
investment,  and  secured  a  wife — Harriet,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Susan  Mosier,  who  died  April  8,  1882.  Of 
this  marriage  three  children  were  born :  Francis  L., 
Sept.  19,  1857;  Emma  R.,  Oct.  31,  1S59,  and  Ella 
v.,  Aug  23,  i860. 

Mr.  Wilkinson  was  engaged  in  fanning  in  Barry 
County  until  the  fall  nf  i860,  when  he  went  to  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich.  On  tiie  first  call  for  troops  in 
1861,  when  the  cry  of  an  im]nigned  nation  rang  Hke 
a  trumpet  blast  over  a  startled  world,  Mr.  Wilkinson 
enlisted  in  defense  of  that  nation's  integrity, enrolling 
in  the  Sixth  Mich.  Vol.  Inf.,  for  three  months,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period  again  recorded  his  name 
on  the  list  of  defenders  of  the  Union.  He  enrolled 
Aug.  20,  1862,  and  was  in  the  service  eight  months. 
After  a  brief  stay  at  home  when  his  [leriod  of  enlist- 
ment had  expired,  he  re-entered  the  army  as  a  hired 
substitute,  and  served  until  the  close  ot  the  war. 

June  19,  1864,  he  was  again  married,  to  Mrs. 
Wealthy  Day,  and  immediately  came  to  -Etna  Tp., 
since  which  time  tliey  have  resided  on  a  farm  of  40 
acres  near    Morley.      Of  the  second    marriage  four 


children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Franklin  H., 
March  10,  1S65;  Elmer  E.,  Sept.  30,1867;  \Villie 
C,  born  Oct.  8,  1877,  and  died  Nov.  14,  187S;  Nora 
died  in  infancy      Mr.  Wilkinson  is  a  Republican. 


-l-~w^.^^f^^/^— 


■'^tssm/'S^^'-^^- 


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fff^?  awrenee  Sours  (derman,  Sauers),  larmer 
t  on  sec.  36,  A'Ana.  '!"p.,  was  born  at  Battle 
Creek,  Mich.,  April  24,  1850.  His  parents, 
Mungus  and  Teresa  (Boteshaim)  Sours, 
were  of  Cierman  nativity.  When  Mr.  Sours  was 
but  a  child,  his  parents  went  to  the  wilderness 
of  Wisconsin,  but  remained  only  a  few  months, 
going  thence  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  residing  there 
until  1867.  In  that  year  they  came  to  Kent  Co., 
Mich.,  where  they  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering 
three  years.  'I'hey  went  to  Montcalm  County,  where 
they  lived  one  year,  coming  thence  to  this  county, 
settling  in  the  township  of  .I'Una.  They  bought  200 
acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  on  the  bank  of  the 
Muskegon  River,  and  have  70  acres  improved. 

The  father  of  Mr.   Sours  was  born  Sept.  5,  1818, 
and    was    killed    near    Morley,    Sept.    5,    187 8,   by 


V^ 


^l^^lhomas  E.  Crocker,  overseer  for  Crocker, 
Hudnutt  &  Co.,  builders  at  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  March  18, 
1854.  He  is  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Mary 
»i"  (Holloway)  Crocker.  ^Vhen  he  was  four  years 
I  old  his  parents  removed  to  Manitowoc,  Wis., 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a 
builder,  and  constructed  several  fine  buildings  there 
and  at  Milwaukee,  being  also  engaged  in  building 
steamer  cabins  for  Goodrich,  Ward  &  Co.,  at 
Manitowoc. 

Mr.  Crocker  was  a  school-boy  until  14  years  of  age, 
when  he  commenced  learning  his  father's  trade, 
virhich  has  been  the  calling  of  his  life.  He  came  to 
Big  Rapids  in  1874,  and  was  for  a  time  connected 
with  his  brother  in  building.  When  the  firm  of 
Crocker  &  Hudnutt  was  formed  in  1877,  he  took 
charge  of  their  outside  business,  and  has  since  super- 
vised the  construction  of  a  number  of  the  principal 
buildings  of  the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  (See  sketch  of 
John  M.  Crocker.) 


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a  passenger  train  on  the  (1.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.  'l"he 
mother  was  born  April  25,  1820,  and  is  still  living 
witli  her  son.  The  latter  has  thus  far  devoted  his 
life  to  the  care  of  his  parents.  He  is  now  owner  and 
manager  of  the  homestead.  The  family  iielono;  to 
the  Catholic  Chunh. 


..^  amuel  W.Rose,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Hinton 
Tp.,  was  horn  in  New  York,  March  20, 
1829,  and   is  a  son  of  Williani   and   Sarah 

(Elmondorph)  Rose;  the  former  was  a  native 

of  the  Kmpire  State, and  died  in  March,  1876. 

The  latter  was  born  in  Holland,  and  died  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  Mr.  Rose  came  to  Mecosta 
Co.,  Mich.,  in  1853,  and  was  married  Oct.  23,  1856, 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jolin  and  Phebe  (Rihble) 
Hinton.  Her  father  was  horn  in  Wales,  and  her 
mother  in  Germany.  Mrs.  Rose  was  born  Feb.  i3, 
1835,  and  died  May  12,  1866,  leaving  five  children, 
born  as  follows:  James  E.,  Sept.  3,  1857  ;  Mary  E., 
Nov.  II,  1858:  John  E.,  Feb.  26,  i860;  William.  E., 
Se[)l.  21,  1862;  Absalom  E.,  Oct.  29,  1864.  Mr.  Rose 
contracted  a  second  marriage  in  Mecosta  Co.,  July  4, 
1867,  with  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ann 
(D.ay)  Thomas,  natives  of  England;  her  father  is 
still  living.  She  was  born  in  Canada,  Aug.  30,  1850. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rose  have  five  children :  Hubert  E., 
born  Aug.  29,  1868;  George  E.,  Jan.  4,  1870;  Addie 
E.,Jan.  5,  1872;  Alice  E.,  Feb.  3,  1874;  Lottie  E., 
May  18,  1877. 

In  1S77  Mr.  Rose  bought  80  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  resides.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Town- 
ship Clerk  and  Highway  Commissioner. 


1^  illiam  Lowe,  farmer  on  sees.  32  and  2,2,, 

Green  Tp.,  was  born  in  Oxford  Co.,  Eng- 

*?r«S>^  land,  June  3,  1828.      His  parents,  George 
X^>     ^"d  Elizabeth  (Athaway)   Lowe,  lived  and 
died    in    their    native   country,   the   father 
(lying  when  William  was  a  child  of  seven  years. 
He  remained  with   his  mother  until  the  age  of 
15,  when  he  went  to   London,  and   there   was  em- 
ployed as  gardener  by  a  Mr.  .\nderson,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years. 

Me  was  married  in  London,  June  3,  1851,  to  Sarah 


Beasant,  born  in  Wiltshire,  Eng.,  July  26,  1829.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Gay)  IJeasant, 
natives  of  the  same  county  of  England. 

In  1852,  William  Lowe  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  first  settled  in  Dunkirk,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  operated  as  a  gardener.  He  came  to  Mich- 
igan in  the  full  of  1853,  and  resided  in  Newaygo 
County  for  16  months,  and  in  1854  <  ame  to  Mecosta 
County,  where  he  located  land  in  Green  Tp.,  under 
the  Gradation  .\ct,  buying  80  acres,  for  which  he 
paid  75  cents  per  acre  Here  he  built  a  house  and 
began  to  improve  his  land.  He  now  owns  140  acres 
in  sections  32  and  33. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Lowe  are:  Eliza, 
now  -Mrs.  C>eorge  E.  Moore;  Louisa,  wife  of  Fred.  S. 
Dickerson  ;  Anna,  William  T.,  Alice  M.,  Oscar  L. 
and  Chancey  E.  Mary  A.  and  Emily  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Lowe  is  a  Republican. 


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T.  Horton,  merchant,  Millbrook 
\iilage,  is  a  son  of  Seneca  and  Catharine 
(iiuckbee)  Horton,  the  former  a  native  of 
^ii^  i)liio,  the  latler  of  New  York.  The  parents 
X  came  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and 
I  settled  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  where  they  still  re- 
side. Mr.  Horton  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
Nov.  19,  1847.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
State,  and  was  reared  under  their  supervision  to  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  The  year  preceding  his  ma- 
jority he  spent  in  various  occupations,  among  them, 
one  term  as  teacher  of  a  district  school.  The  next 
three  years  he  passed  in  the  employ  of  W.  S.  Howtl, 
general  merchant  at  Milbrook.  In  r87o  he  went  to 
Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  and  bought  a  third  interest  in  a 
planing  mill.  He  entered  vigorously  into  the  prose- 
cution of  his  business  venture,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
months  a  distressing  accident  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
his  right  hand,  and  he  sold  out  anil  returned  to  Mill- 
brook,  lie  then  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
former  emiiloyer,  W.  S.  Howtl,  which  existed  two  and 
one-half  years.  In  1873,  associated  with  A.  J. 
Howd,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  W'.S.  Ilowd,  and 
the  new  firm  transacted  business  one  year,  when  Mr. 
Horton  became  sole  owner,  his  partner  retiring,  and 
he  continued  the  prosecution  of  his  mercantile  inter- 
ests two  years;  at  the  end  of  that  period  of  time  he 
again  connected   himself  with  a   jiartner,  Mr.  T.   C. 

>•  nn;  .>^— ^^(^^ 


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314 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY 


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Gardner.  This  relation  was  of  brief  duration,  the 
latter  gentleman  selling  to  Mr.  Horton,  who  has  since 
managed  the  business  alone.  His  trade  is  in  a  thriv- 
ing condition,  necessitating  a  stock  worth  $15,000, 
comprising  aline  of  merchandise  adai^ted  to  the  local 
demand. 

Mr.  Horton  was  married  in  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich., 
Oct.,  17,  1875,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Electa  Tiney,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  whither  her 
parents  removed  from  New  York,  the  State  of  their 
nativity.  Of  this  marriage  one  child  has  been  born, 
Thad  S.,  Sept.  21,  1880. 

Mr.  Horton  is  widely  known  and  universally  es- 
teemed for  his  business  integrity,  as  well  as  for  his 
personal  traits,  which  render  him  a  popular  and  val- 
uable member  of  society.  His  industry  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests  have  brought  him  sub- 
stantial results,  and  though  he  is  yet  a  young  man 
he  has  attained  an  enviable  and  permanent  place 
among  his  fellow  men.  Himself  and  wife  are  ac- 
tively interested  in  religious  matters  and  belong  to 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Horton  is  a  Republican  and 
has  held  various  offices  in  the  township. 


■'•asjiSJ^^*—'^^ 


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tohn  Maguire,  farmer  on  sec.  24,  Green 
\,  T]).,  was  born  near  Prescott,  Can.,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1812.  His  father,  ISartholomew  Ma- 
guire, was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  was  in 
the  war  of  181 2.  His  grandfatlier  was  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  in  which  he  fought  five 
years;  he  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  mar- 
ried Eleanor  Bresee. 

Mr.  Maguire  was  married  in  the  Empire  State  in 
1855,  to  Mary  Miller,  removing  soon  after  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  bought  a  farm  and  resided  six 
years.  He  then  sold  liis  jjroperty  and  returned  to 
the  State  of  New  York.  Three  years  later  he  went 
to  ("anada  West  and  remained  12  years  near  Port 
Harwell,  Elgin  Co.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing. In  i860  lie  located  in  Greenville,  Montcalm 
Co.,  where  he  remained  a  year,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1862  came  to  this  C'ounty,  where  he  passed  a  year 
on  the  farm  of  A.  Clark.  Meanwhile  he  honiesteaded 
80  acres  of  land  and  now  has  45  acres  under  tillage. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maguire  are   these: 


Hugh,  Francis,  Emma  and  Amanda  E  ;  two  are  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Maguire  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
and  is  a  Democrat. 


Moyd  Palmer,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Green  Tp., 
was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan. 
24,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
,^te  Elizabeth  (Lowry)  Palmer,  natives  of  New 
u^^  York.  His  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
I  of  181 2,  and  was  stationed  at  Sackett's  Har- 
bor. His  maternal  great-grandfather  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  was  kidnaped  by  a  press- 
gang  in  1732,  when  about  the  age  of  18,  and  brought 
to  this  country.  He  was  compelled  to  labor  during 
his  passage,  and  on  landing  upon  the  American 
continent  was  sold  for  a  pretended  balance  due  for 
his  transportation.  He  died  at  100  years  of  age. 
The  Palmer  family  can  only  be  indefinitely  traced  to 
English  origin.  William  Palmer  came  to  Michigan  with 
his  family  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Washtenaw  County, 
going  afterwards  to  Ionia  County,  where  the  son  was 
reared  and  educated.  When  Floyd  was  13  years  old 
his  mother  died,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune.  In  1858  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Washtenaw  County,  to  Eliza  A.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Maria  (Masten)  North,  born  in  October, 
1830,  in  Ulster,  N.  Y.  Her  parents  were  born  in 
New  York,  and  settled  in  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.  Mr. 
Palmer  sold  his  interests  in  1881  and  bought  a  fine 
farm  of  95  acres  in  Green  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  five 
survive:  Alice  M.,  Arthur  E.,  Helen  O.,  Wilsey  C. 
and  Jennie  I.     Nettie  S.  is  deceased. 


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;  'y'f''^\,  arrison  J.  Brown,  miller  at  Altona,  Hinton 
Tp.,  was  liorn  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  11, 
1S35.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Mary  (Lib- 
m  by)  Brown,  were  natives  respectively  of  Con- 
j  necticut  and  New  York.  Tjie  father  died  in 
I  Pennsylvania,  in  1855  ;  the  mother  is  still  living, 
with  lier  son  at  Altona.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  lumber- 
man in  Warren  County  until  32  years  of  age;  two 
years  he  was  owner  and  operator  of  a  steam  saw-mill. 


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'^  When   18  years  old  he  commenced  to  labor  in  the 
'i"i    woods, 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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317 


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putting  in  timber  in  the  winter  and  rafting  it 
V,  down,  in  which  business  he  continued  for  three  years. 
^  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  was  drafted  for  the  Union 
service  and  procured  a  substitute,  to  whom  he  paid 
^1,000.  Nine  days  later  Lee  surrendered  at  Appo- 
n'.attox  Court-House.  Mr.  Hrown  came  to  Micliigan 
in  the  spring  of  1867,  and  spent  some  inonths  in 
prospecting  in  Flint,  Chesaning  and  Greenville;  ami 
then  came  to  Saginaw  Co.  and  bought  a  farm  of  100 
acres.  The  summer  following  he  built  a  house  and 
laliored  in  clearing  and  improving  his  land.  This 
l)lace  he  owned  two  years,  when  he  settled  in  Me- 
costa Co.,  in  1S6S.  In  the  summer  of  tliat  year  he 
built  a  flouring-mill  on  the  Little  Muskegon  river,  the 
first  in  the  township.  In  later  years  he  bought  a 
saw-mill  of  \\m.  Egbert,  and  is  now  operating  both 
and  employing  12  men.  He  has  recently  refitted  his 
shingle-mill,  its  capacity  being  now  35,000  per  diem. 
The  full  product  of  the  flour  mill  is  20  barrels  daily, 
besides  feed  grinding. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  New  York,  June  9,  1H65, 
^  to  Mar)'ette  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Susannah 
^\  (Stewart)  Thomas.  Mrs.  iSrown's  father  was  born  in 
t^  Pennsylvania,  and  her  mother  in  ("anada  Flie 
daughter  was  born  March  26,  1842,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Bro«  n  is  a  Reiniblican, 
and  comes  of  patriotic  ancestry,  his  grandfather 
Libby  having  been  a  soldier  of  1812. 


g 


^-ames  N.  Decker,  farmer,  sec.   10,  Hinton 

_         Tp.,  is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Me- 

f'fX'^^  costa  County,  and  was  born  in  Greene  Co., 

]^   N.  Y.,  Sept.  8,  1 8 19.       He  is  the  eldest  son  of 

Gilbert   D.  and  Mary  (Stanley)  Decker,  both 

natives  of  New  York,  who  moved  to  Canada  in 

the  fall  of  1833,  where  the  mother  died.     The 

father  came  to  Michigan  to  pass  the  closing  years  of 

his  life  with  his  children,  and  died  at  the  home  of  his 

son,  Edward  S.,  in  Millbrook,  Sept.  20,  1869. 

Mr.  Decker  passed   his  youth   in   the  care  of  his 
parents,  and  while  in  Canada  was  engaged  in   farm- 


ing.    In  the  summer  of  1865  he  came  to  Michigan,    Vf 
and  bought    160  acres  of  land,  principally  in  an   un-     ^' 
cultivated  state,  paying  therefor  S750.     Its  value  and    *■,."• 
appearance  have  been  so  enhanced   by  cultivation       , 
and  improvements,  that  it  is  held  now  to  be  worth    v^ 
$10,000.      The   convenient    and    suitable    buildings 
lately  erected    are  a  great  ornament    to   the  place. 
After  the  purchase  of  the  land  he  returned  to  Canada, 
and  passed  the  winter  of  1865-6;  and  in  the  following 
spring  he  came  back  with  his  son,  built  a  log  house, 
and    made    such    improvements   .as    were    possible, 
clearing  about  seven  acres  of  land,  which  was  sown 
witli  wheat.     He  brought  his  family  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  and  before  winter,  was  finally  settled  in 
the  Peninsular  State.       Mr.  Decker   relates  graphic- 
ally his  pioneer  experiences,  and  the  clearness  of  his 
reniemljrance,  with  the  interesting  character  of  the 
numberless  incidents,  entirely  divest   the  recital  of 
uniformity  and  tameness,  though  the  tale  is  one  olt 
repeated. 

Mr.  Decker  shipped  the  first  wheat  from  Mecosta 
County  over  the  G.  R.  &  I.  Railroad,  and  in  1873, 
harvested  the  heaviest  crop  ever  raised  in  the  county 


( 


soo  bushels  froni  10  acres.      He  has   been  Town- 


:^ 


( 


^r\l^^^^ ^^^^ 


ship  Clerk  two  years,  Highway  Commissioner  three 
years.  Justice  of  the  Peace  11  years,  Townshii) 
Treasurer  one  year,  and  was  elected  Drain  Commis- 
sioner in  the  spring  of  T883,  to  serve  two  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  the  township  of  Hope, 
Canada,  Nov.  4,  1S40,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Walker)  Flanagan,  born  July  20, 
I S I S,  in  Canada.  Her  parents  were  of  Irish  nativity, 
and  settled  in  Canada  in  its  pioneer  jjeriod,  and  died 
there  many  years  ago. 

Mr.  and    Mrs.    Decker  have   buried  three  of  eight 
children  :  Nelson,  born  Sept.  26,  1841,  died  Oct,  23, 
1870;  Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  2,    1843,  died  Nov.  20, 
1870;  Catherine, born  Nov.  23,  1851,  died  Nov.  12, 
1881.     The  loss  of  their  children   has    had    telling 
effect   upon  the   parents.      All   had  reached  mature 
years,  and  their  lives  were  full  of  promise.      The  liv-     'f 
ing  children  are:    Elir.a,  born  June  2,  1S45;  Hester     y 
A,  June  23,  1847  ;  Matilda,  .April    12,   1S49;    Mary    ,-' 
J.,   Jan.  25,  1854;    Amelia   R.,   July   9.    1858.      Mr.     i/ 
Decker's  father  has  about    112   living  descendants,    [i' 
priui  ipally  in  this  lounlry  "^ 

<'I1!]>^DD>>'-^ ^<>^ -^r-'^.U^S^ 


r 


■)(>^r|« 


^>I1I1^I1I1>>V- 

MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


As  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  this  County, 
and  a  gentleman   altogether  worthy  the  position,  we 
."vji*  present  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Decker  in  connection  with 
?    this  sketch. 


7ci3    il^s  Bi'own,  farmer,  sec.  15,  Green  Tp.,was 


I 


_ ) 


:^ 


:) 


"^^  !^  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  30,  1838,  and 
'-  .  was  the  fifth  child  of  his  parents.  His 
father,  'I'liomas  D.  Brown,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
His  mother,  Elizabeth  (Adams)  Brown,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  she  and  her 
husband  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  section 
where  they  resided.  She  died  when  her  son  was  but 
18  months  old.  Her  successor  reared  her  little 
children  with  care,  and  Mr.  Brown  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  16  years  old,  when  he  went  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  obtained  employment  in  a  dairy, 
remaining  there  two  years.  Coming  thence  to  Clin- 
ton Co.,  Mich.,  he  bought  80  acres  of  land,  and  after 
farming  thereon  two  years,  returned  to  Ohio. 

He  was  married  in  1859,  to  Emmeline, daughter  of 
Valentine  G.  and  Margaret  (Stanley)  Smith,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born  Jan.  19,  1837,  in 
Ohio.  Four  of  their  children  are  living  :  Emma  E., 
Annie  M.,  Maggie  and  Eugene.  Two  are  deceased, 
Martha  A.  and  Eddie. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Brown  returned  to  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 
residing  there  about  si.x  montlis  He  went  back  to 
Ohio,  and  after  a  residence  of  five  years  came  to  Me- 
costa County,  where  he  resided  a  year  at  Big  Rapids, 
moving  thence  to  Paris.  Six  months  later  he  settled 
on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  consisting  of  60  acres 
of  good  farming  land. 


i  ra  A.  Ford,    fanner,   sec.    26,   Green    T 


P-, 


son.  He  was  an  inmate  of  his  father's  house  until 
after  his  marriage,  which  took  place  Dec.  6,  1874,  to 
Carrie,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  A.  (Cronk) 
Reed,  born  in  Defiance  Co.,  Ohio,  June  18,  1858. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  removed  to 
Mecosta  County,  where  they  still  reside.  Soon  after 
marriage  Mr.  Ford  located  on  80  acres  of  land, 
which  he  has  since  improved  and  cultivated.  He 
has  placed  30  acres  under  fair  improvement. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford  have  one  child,  Bertie  J., 
born  Aug.  10,  1877.  Mr.  Ford  belongs  to  the  Re- 
publican party. 


(i**f 


I 


^^ohn  Sweet,  lumberman  and  farmer,  sees. 

14,  15,  22   and   23,  Colfax  Tp.,  was  born 

W^^W^  April  8,  1835,  in  New  Brunswick,  and  is  a 

son  of  John  and  Joanna  Sweet.      In   1849 


was  born  in  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  July  3,  1850^ 
and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Lucinda  (God- 
frey) Ford.     The  father  was  born  in  Ontario, 
Can.,  Jan.  18,  1825  ;  the  mother  was  a  native  of 
New  York.     Ira  A.  was  reared  to  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture,  and  received  the  education  of  a  farmer's 


^p-  Mr.  Sweet  came  to  the  "States"  with  his 
tb  father  and  eldest  sister,  his  mother  having  pre- 
viously died.  They  settled  in  Milwaukee, 
where  Mr.  Sweet  passed  the  remainder  of  liis  minor- 
ity. When  he  reached  the  period  of  his  legal  free- 
dom, he  came  to  Michigan  and  embarked  in  the 
lumber  business,  operating  alone  three  years.  He 
then  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  brother 
Benjamin,  and,  with  their  combined  facilities,  they 
proceeded  to  construct  one  of  the  largest  sawmills 
at  Manistee.  This  relation  existed  about  ten  years, 
when  it  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Sweet  remained  at 
Manistee,  operating  in  lumber,  until  November,  1881, 
when  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Grand  Rapids, 
where  he  now  lives,  still  retaining  his  lumber  inter- 
ests at  the  former  place. 

In  January,  1883,  Mr.  Sweet  bought  840  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Colfax,  of  which  600  acres 
are  under  the  best  type  of  cultivation.  He  has  a 
large  boarding  house,  with  accommodations  for  40 
workmen,  a  good,  frame  dwelling-house,  a  large 
store-house  and  two  barns,  ranking  as  the  best  in 
Mecosta  County,  capable  of  containing  300  tons  of 
hay,  with  stone  basements,  where  1 25  head  of  cattle 
can  be  stabled.  The  farm  is  at  present  stocked  with 
sheep  and  cattle,  and  among  the  latter  are  some  e.x- 
ceptionally  fine  thoroughbred  Short-Horns. 

Mr.  Sweet  has  also  extensive  lumber  relations  in 
Colfax,  and  is  now  engaged  on  a  contrai't  to  "  put  in  " 
the  Muskegon  River  150,000,000  feet  of  pine  lumber. 


I 


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MECOS  TA    CO  UNT  Y. 


— "*^f^@59v<5) 


To  facilitate  his  operations  he  has  built  a  nanow- 
gaiige  railroad,  1 1  miles  long,  with  steel  rails,  and 
employs  two  locomotives  in  running  the  logs  to  the 
river.  He  also  owns  a  half  interest  in  a  new  shingle 
mill  in  Rodney,  built  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  It  is  fitted 
with  a  fifty-horse-power  engine,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
130,000  shingles  daily.  Mr.  Sweet  owns,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  other  property,  a  store  of  general  mer- 
chandise, at  Rodney,  in  which  the  postofficc  is 
established  and  is  managed  by  Uenjamin  W.  Sweet, 
eldest  son  of  the  proprietor. 

Mr.  Sweet  was  married  in  1857,  to  Ahnina  Rogers, 
of  .Manistee,  who  died  in  1866,  leaving  four  children: 
B.  W.,  Emma,  William  J.  and  Edwin.  Mr.  Sweet 
was  married  again  in  1868,  to  Susan  E.  l\irr,  of  Wis- 
consin. Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  mar- 
riage :   Dora  and  Bertie. 

In  ixjlitical  connection,  Mr.  Sweet  is  a  Republican. 
He  held  the  office  of  City  Treasurer  of  Manistee, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Knights  of  Honor.  He 
is  a  communicant  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mrs. 
Sweet  is  a  Baptist.  Residence,  No.  41  Sheldon  St., 
Grand  Rapids. 


4 


>,  harles   H.    Montague,    farmer,   sec.    27, 
.^^  Green  Tp.,  was  born  in  Vergennes,  Kent 


^ 


^ 

m 


Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  13,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of 
|(fe  James  and  Laura  L.  (Hungerford)  Montague, 
y^  The  father  was  born  Dec.  12,  iSio,  in  Maine, 
I  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Anna  (Crawford) 
Montague,  natives  of  England.  William  Montague 
removed  with  his  family  to  New  York  and  left  them 
there  while  he  participated  in  the  war  of  1S12.  .After 
its  close  he  removed  to  C"anada,  where  he  passed  tjie 
remainder  of  his  life.  Jan.ies  Montague  went  to 
Lowell,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  and  iinjiroved  a  I'arni  of  160 
icres,  which  he  sold  in  the  spring  of  1856  and  came 
to  Mecosta  County,  where  lie  entered  1 60  acres  of  land 
under  the  homestead  act,  on  sec.  27,  his  i)resent  es- 
tate. He  has  at  various  times  handled  lands  to  con- 
siderable extent,  and  has  been  the  proprietor  of  1,000 
acres  ;  is  still  holding  500  acres.  His  wife  died  Dec. 
5,  1875.  She  was  the  mother  of  i  i  children:  Will- 
iam J.,  Abigail,  Laura  E.,  Chades  H.,  Mary,  Joseph 
K.,  Helen  M.,  John  T.,  Samuel  H.  and  George  W. 
Mr.   Montague   married   Mrs.  Sarah   Wheeler  for  a 


second  wife,  and,  after  her  death,  was  married  to  Mrs 
Polly  Tanner. 

The  suljject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
receiving  a  fair  education,  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Gill,  May  26,  1871.  She  was  born  in  Canada, 
March  28,  1849,  and  of  daughter  of  Malcolm  ami 
Mary  E.  (liurt)  McGill,  the  former  of  Scotch  lineage 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Montague  have  four  children,  viz  :  Minnie  L.,  Ixjrn 
June  17,  1872;  Nellie,  June  2,  1874;  James  H.,  Nov. 
2,  1876;  George  H.,  May  22,  1880.  Mr.  Montague 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  the  proiirietor  of 
140  acres  of  land,  now  his  homestead,  with  71  acres 
under  cultivation. 


-.5— ^^/w£ 


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[-ulius  R.  Borst,  proprietor  of  the  shingle 
mill  on  sec.  16,  Hinton  Tp.,  was  l>orn  June 
29,  1838,  in  New  York.  His  parents, 
Henry  J.  and  Anna  (Vandebogart)  Borst,  were 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  where  his 
y  father  owned  and  managed  a  saw-mill,  and 
brought  up  his  son  to  the  same  vocation.  Until  he 
attained  his  majority  Mr.  Borst  alternated  study  at 
the  common  schools  with  the  labors  of  the  mill,  and 
for  the  nine  years  that  followed  he  was  employed  in  a 
lumber  mill.  He  then  moved  to  Pennsylvania  where 
he  was  employed  at  Corydon's  Dane,  on  the  Alle- 
gheny River,  in  a  Imnbcr  and  shingle  mill.  Five 
years  later  he  went  to  Allegheny  City  and  passed  iS 
months  there  in  the  satne  business.  He  located  in 
Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the  spring  of  1875,  and  pursued 
his  occupation  about  two  years,  and  bought  out  the 
mill  owned  by  Peter  Benson,  located  on  Pine  Lake, 
five  miles  west  of  Cedar  Springs.  He  operated  this 
mill  five  years,  then  removed  it  to  Mecosta  Coimty, 
loi  ating  on  sec.  16  in  Hinton  Tf) ,  and  has  since  re- 
sided there,  still  running  the  mill,  which  has  a  capac- 
ity of  40,000  feet  daily.  He  has  20  men  in  his  em- 
|)loy  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business.  By  undeviat- 
ing  attention  to  business,  Mr.  B,  has  earned  the 
reputation  of  running  his  mill  more  continuously 
than  any  other  mill-owner  in  the  <  ounty.  He  owns 
200  acres  of  timber  lanil  in  Hinton  T[). 

Mr.  Borst   is  a   Democrat  in   [xHitical  faith.      His 
earnest   devotion    anil    loyalty    to    his    country   was 


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proven  Dec.  19,  1863,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
50th  N.  Y.  Engs'  Reg.,  which  consisted  entirely  of 
skilled  mechanics.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
W  war,  a  period  of  19  months,  and  received  honorable 
i  discharge  Jane  28,  1865,  at  Fort  Barney,  Va.  He 
^^  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order,  and  is  a  member  of 
Cedar  Springs  Lodge,  No.  213.  He  was  married  at 
Ceres,  Pa.,  Dec.  6,  1861,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Ann  (Marilla)  Knight,  born  in  Chemung  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Dec.  6,  1840.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the 
Slate  of  New  York,  wjiere  her  muther  died.  Her 
father  lives  with  her,  a  hale  old  gentleman,  aged  76 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borst  have  had  tliree  children  : 
Julius  T.,  born  April  29,  1864;  James  H.,  July  13, 
1866.     One  child  died  in  in.fancy. 


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anson  F.  Corey,  Supervisor  of  Grant  Tp., 
I  and  farmer  on  sec.  12,  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford Co.,  O.,  April  7,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of 
Enos  and  Eliza  Corey,  both  natives  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  His  father  died  July  17,  1S60, 
and  his  mother  still  resides  in  Ohio. 
Mr.  Corey  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
State,  and  was  a  citizen  of  the  same  until  his  removal 
to  Michigan  in  1S66.  In  that  year  he  entered  and 
proved  a  claim  under  the  homestead  law,  consisting 
of  80  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  has  since  resided, 
and  which  he  has  put  in  first-cla.ss  condition,  and  fur- 
nished with  good  and  suitable  farm  buildings.  He 
owns  an  additional  40  acres  on  sec.  10.  Mr.  Corey 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  en- 
listed in  Seiitember,  1861,  in  Company  K,  23d  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf,  under  Capt.  Sills.  His  first  engagement 
was  at  I'erryville,  and  afterward  he  ])ai-ticipated  in 
the  fights  at  Resaca,  I'cach-Tree  Creek,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Ixjokout  Mountain  and  many  minor 
skirmishes,  to  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  where  he  was 
wounded.  He  was  then  in  hospital  at  Jeffersonville, 
Ind.,  until  witliin  a  few  weeks  of  his  discharge,  which 
took  place  in  June,  ICS64,  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Corey  was  elected  Sui)ervisor  of  his  township 
in  1.S67,  and  re-elected  in  1883;  he  served  as  Town- 
ship 'I'reasurerin  i88i-2;as  Road  Commissioner  from 
1867  101874  inclusive,  and  as  Justice  of  tlie  Peace 
from  1S67  to  1S71.  He  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
He  was  married  Nov.  17,  1863,  to  Margaret,  daugh- 


ter of  Samuel  and  Sarah  English.  Her  parents  are 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  arc  both  living.  Of 
this  marriage  si.\  children  have  been  born,  namely: 
Naomi  A.,  William  Harvey,  John  Franklin,  Sarah 
Eliza,  Samuel  Wesley,  and  Zoe  Luella.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  are  members  of  the  United  Hretliren  Church. 


f^^"|  yman  Nethaway,  farmer  on  sec.  24,  /Etna 
^     ']"[).,  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3, 
1 8 10.      His  father,  James  Nethaway,  was  of 
English  parentage,  and  his  mother — Elizabeth 
J^   (Neice)  Nethaway,  was  a  native  of  Long  Island, 
[_    N.  Y.,  and  was  of  Welsh  extraction. 

Mr.  Nethaway  received  a  good  education  in  early 
life  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  a  teacher,  and  at  18 
years  of  age  taught  his  first  term  at  Perry,  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  came  thence  to  Michigan,  and  taught 
during  the  years  1833-4.  He  then  returned  to  his 
home,  and  having  married,  himself  and  wife  turned 
their  faces  westward  and  came  to  Hillsdale  ('o., 
Mich.,  where  Mr.  Nethaway  purciiased  a  farm  under 
the  original  land  patent  of  1835.  In  the  year  1850 
he  went  to  Sauk  Co.,  Wis.,  and  there  engaged  three 
years  in  farming.  Becoming  dissatisfied  he  came 
back  to  Lenawee  County,  and  settled  at  RoUin,  in 
1853.  In  1854  he  decided  to  try  the  Hawkeye State, 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Buchanan  County,  where  he 
remained  eight  years.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Mich- 
igan, and  settled  in  Mecosta  County.  He  has  been 
engaged  during  eleven  years  in  mercanlile  business 
in  Morley,  and  upon  closing  his  commercial  affairs 
bought  a  farm,  and  now  lives  in  retirement. 

Mr.  Netliaway  was  married  Sept.  6,  1835,  to  Lu- 
cetta,  daughter  of  Jonatlian  and  Mary  (Wood)  Ralph, 
resi)ectively  of  English  and  Welsli  origin,  and  resi- 
dents of  Woodstock,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  marriage,  as  follows  :  Mar- 
cellus  T.,  born  May  13,  1S36;  Cassius  Marcus,  born 
Ian.  I  7.  1848,  died  in  the  army  from  injuries  received 
at  the  battle  of  Bull's  Gap,  E.  Tenn.,  April  22,  1865: 
was  a  soldier  in  Co.  1  >,  Third  Miciiigan  Vol.  Inf.; 
Florence  A.,  born  in  1849,  and  died  March  10,  1850. 

Mr.  Nethaway  is  a  radical  Republican,  and  actirely 
engaged  in  all  social  and  moral  reforms.  Himself 
and  wife  profess  no  particular  creed,  but  hold  to  their 
innate  belief  that  honesty  and  genuine  morality  are 


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safe    girides  in   their    intercourse   with   the    world. 

Mr.  Nethaway  has  held  offices  of  trust  in  his  town- 
ship for  15  years.  He  was  Postmaster  at  Hig  Creek 
nearly  three  years,  under  Lincoln's  administration, 
and  was  Supervisor  of  Deerfield  Ti).  several  years, 
also  Treasurer  and  Assessor  several  years. 


'  Grace  F.  Richardson,  Township  Clerk  of 
JE'"  Colfax,  and    farmer  on  sec.   21,  was  horn 
f***  Oct.  21,  1S4S,  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1856  came  with  his  parents  to  Michigan  and 
i      settled  at  Benton,  Katon  Co. 
I  Mr.  Richardson  came  to  Colfa.\  'V\>.  in  1S71, 

and  is  chiefly  engaged  in  lumbering  interests  and 
managing  shingle  mills.  He  was  married  in  187  i  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Teachout,  of 
Grand  I.edge,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.  Of  this  marriage 
one  child — Clyde  E. — has  been  born. 

Politically,  Mr.  Richardson  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  elected  to  his  official  position  in  18S3.  P.O., 
Big  Rapids. 


avid  H.  Sanford,  dairjman  at  Big  l\.a[iids, 

was    born    at    Vermontville,    Eaton    Co., 

^F^   Mich.,  Sept.   26,  1836.       His  father,  Reu- 

f'f^    ben  Sanford,   came   to  the  township  of  Ver- 
montville, with  a  colony  from  Vermont,  in  June, 
;  1836 — at    so  early    a    period   that  they  were 

obliged  to  cut  roads  through  the  woods  for  their 
teams,  the  distance  of  17  miles.  The  mother, 
Susannah  Sanford,  was  the  first  white  woman  who 
went  to  Eaton  County,  and  she  had  to  do  the  house- 
keeping for  the  settlers. 

Mr.  Sanford,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  soon  after 
their  arrival,  and  was  the  pioneer  white  baby  of  the 
township.  On  reaching  their  destination,  a  log  cabin 
was  hastily  constructed,  the  weather  was  warm,  and 
the  "  chinking  "  altogether  deficient.  Ventilation 
was  perfect,  and  the  father  said  the  new  comer 
could  easily  be  thrown  through  the  cracks  in  the 
wails  of  the  cabin,  which  was  reared  in  the  woods 
remote  from  the  advantages  of  civilization;  and  David 
H.  had  few  privileges  until  25  years  of  age,  save 
the  rude  experiences  which  have  so  often  made  bet- 
ter men  than  have  the  comparative  ease  and  facilities 
of  older  communities. 


His  hard,  laborious  life  fostered  in  him  a  spirit  of 
independence  which  found  vent  in  a  promjit  re- 
sponse to  the  call  of  his  country  in  her  bitterest 
trial,  and  he  enlisted  in  Marshall,  Calhoun  Co., 
Mich.,  Oct  21,  i86i,in  Co.  C,  First  Mich.  Engs.  and 
Mechs,  and  was  discharged  April  13,  1862,  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  on  account  of  physical  disability.  The 
first  two  summers  thereafter  he  worked  as  a  farm 
assistant,  and  went  to  school  winters.  In  the  spring 
of  1864,  his  father  having  sold  out  in  Vermontville, 
settled  at  Lowell,  Kent  Co.,  and  bought  a  farm, 
whither  his  son  accompanied  him,  and  was  epiployed 
in  the  Grand  River  Valley  nursery  one  season.  In 
1865  he  went  to  Greenville,  Montcalm  Co.,  where  he 
spent  a  year  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  then  turned 
his  attention  to  carpentry,  which  occupied  his  time 
for  six  years  at  Greenville,  after  which  he  went  to 
Cedar  Springs  and  followed  the  same  calling  three 
years.  He  tlien  bought  40  acres  in  Algona  Tp., 
Kent  Co.,  and  there  resided  three  years.  At  that 
time  he  experiem  ed  a  severe  loss  by  fire,  which  con- 
sumed iiis  i)arn,  one  horse,  and  his  farming  imple- 
ments. He  then  gave  u[)  farming  and  went  to 
Greenville,  where  he  commenced  the  business  of  a 
draymaster,  and  continued  in  that  vocation  until 
September,  1877.  He  then  came  to  Big  Rapids  and 
established  himself  in  the  same  calling,  and  is  now 
running  three  drays  steadily,  and  increasing  his 
draught  facilities  on  occasion.  Mr.  Sanford  has 
served  four  terms  as  Deputy-Marshal  of  Big  Rapids, 
and  one  year  as  Constable.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Royal  Arcanum  Ins.  Co.,  and  also  be- 
longs to  the  Encampment. 


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^ 


Mr.  Sanford  was  married  at  Lowell,  lulv 


. 'S65,  V 

.0.1..       rii- 


to  .\rthalinda  Tanner,  born  in  Ontario,  .Ai)ril  3,  1848 
and  tliey  have  four  children:  Emerson,  Mar^',  Susie 
and  Mina.  'I"he  parents  and  eklest  daughter  are 
memliers  of  the  M.  E.  Cliurch. 


■»3)! 


-rse- 


olson  Van  Alstine,  farmer,  sec.  15,  Grant    'T 


Tp.,  was  born  June  14,    1843,  in  Wolcott, 


i 


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->s«?\jr:. 


^   \\'ayne  Co.,  N.   V.     About  the  year   1857 

his  parents  settled  in   Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich., 

jiKi   where  they  resided  14  years,  the  father  dying  in 

1861  ;  the  mother  resides  in  Grant  Tp. 

Mr.  Van  Alstine  began  his  career  as  an  agricul- 


■^ 


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322 


Affi COSTA  COUNTY. 


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fturist  in  Shiawassee  Co.,  in  1864,  where  he  lived  five 
years,  then  sold  his  farm  and  made  a  homestead 
.r^^  claim  of  80  acres  on  sec.  10  in  Grant  Tp.,  on  which 
f  he  resided  five  years.  In  1875  ''^  bought  40  acres 
of  choice  land  on  sec.  15,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming,  and  is  still  proprietor  of  his  original  tract  of 
land.     His  farm  is  well  improved  and  valuable. 

Mr.  Van  Alstine  was  married  Dec.  26,  1864,  to 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Blyth,  of  Wolcott,  N.  Y.,  and  of  their 
marriage  five  children  have  been  born :  James  E., 
William  H.,  Nettie  O.,  Robert  Emmet  and  Dora  Isa- 
bel. Mr.  Van  Alstine  is  a  Republican  in  political 
relations,  and  has  been  Constable  two  years.  His 
paternal  and  maternal  grandsires  were  both  soldiers 
of  the  Revolutionary  war. 


p.7j_'  rank  G.  Rice,  farmer,  sec.  5,  Green  Tp., 


/* 


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;  \L%\^    was  born  in    Burr  Oaks,  St.  Joseph  Co., 
|;iife?  "S"  Mich.,  Feb.   9,   1836,  and  is  the  son  of 
^^  Gershom    and    Sarah    (Boyden)    Rice.       His 
S^  father  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  was 
^      a  clothier  in  his  native  State.     He  came  to 
Michigan  in  1835  and  engaged  in  farming,  an  occu- 
pation he  followed  until  1883,  when,  having  reached 
the  age  of  78   years,  he  retired.     The   mother  was 
born  in  Vermont,  and  died  in  1872. 

Mr.  Rice  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  19th  Mich.  Inf., 
Co.  E,  and  was  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  receiving  his  discharge  June  25,  1S65,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  Following  are  the  principal  battles  in 
which  he  was  engaged:  Thompson's  Station,  Re- 
saca,  New  Hope  Church,  Peach-Tree  Creek,  siege  of 
Atlanta,  siege  of  Savannah,  etc.,  etc.  He  did  not 
receive  a  bodily  injury,  but  has  a  piece  of  a  rebel 
shell  that  startled  his  peace  of  mind  for  a  short  time 
and  concentrated  his  thoughts  upon  the  question  of 
his  personal  security.  He  was  taken  prisoner  March 
5,  1863,  and  confined  at  Libby  for  a  few  days,  being 
exchanged  May  30,  1863.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  member  of 
the  Union  Prisoners  of  War  Association  of  the  State 
of  Michigan,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention. 
After  his  return  he  remained  in  St.  Joseph  County 
until  the  spring  of  1867,  when  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  worked  for  some  time  at  the  masons' 
trade  at  Big  Rapids,  after  which  he  located  on  his 
l)resent  farm,  containing  160  acres  of  land,  with  70 


acres  under  improvement.  He  was  married  at  South 
Albion,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  April  19,  1866,  to  Al- 
meda,  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  afld  Sarah  (Parsons) 
Hamilton.  She  was  born  Jan.  13,  1836,  in  Bellevue, 
Mich.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Massachusetts, 
came  to  Michigan  in  1835  and  resided  in  Homer, 
Calhoun  County,  until  their  death, — that  of  the 
father  occurring  in  1851,  and  that  of  the  mother  in 
July,  1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  have  four  children  : 
Boyden  H.,  Jasper  F.,  Frederick  E.  and  Edward  H. 


.-|-~~^A*; 


"^ 


Siipr 


''^l.  pjfl-  eorge  E.  Hatfield,  farmer  and  miller,  sec.  i, 
:  H  (V?  Wheatland  Tp.,  was  born  in  Schenectady 
.:^  K  Co.,  N.  ¥.,  .Sept.  29,  1829.  He  is  the  son 
\  of  Stephen  and  Phebe  (Priest)  Hatfield, 
natives  of  New  York,  of  English  descent.  Mr. 
f  Hatfield  was  educated  in  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  fitted  for  the 
profession  of  teacher,  a  calling  upon  which  he 
entered  when  20  years  of  age,  and  pursued  until  he 
was  40  years  old.  He  was  married  Feb.  10,  1853,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Lois  J.,  daughter  of  Orrin  and 
Betsey  H.  (Reed)  Lapham,  of  New  York.  She  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Sept.  28,  1832,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  preparatory  to  becoming  a 
teacher,  which  calling  she  followed  but  a  brief  period 
before  marriage. 

Mr.  Hatfield  was  engaged  in  agriculture  summers 
and  in  teaching  winters,  in  his  native  State,  until  the 
spring  of  1858,  when  he  came  to  Allegan  Co.,  Mich,, 
there  resuming  the  same  alternation  of  employment. 
In  i860  he  made  another  transfer,  going  to  Kalama- 
zoo County,  where  he  remained  nine  years.  In  1869 
he  returned  to  Allegan  County  and  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Plainwell,  where  he  continued 
to  operate  until  the  spring  of  1S78,  the  date  of  his 
settlement  in  Mecosta  County.  He  located  on  160 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  where  he  set  himself  vig- 
orously at  work,  and  has  brought  the  place  to  a  com- 
paratively improved  condition ;  lias  45  acres  under 
the  plow,  and  other  evidences  of  successful  effort  are 
manifest  on  the  farm.  He  has  erected  a  saw  and 
shingle  mill,  the  former  having  a  capacity  of  10,000 
feet  per  diem,  the  latter  of  40,000  shingles  daily. 
Mr.  Hatfield  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  tenets  of 
the  Republican  party.  The  tendency  and  character- 
istics of  the  family  are  clearly  proven  by  the  stijtus 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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of  the  nine  children,  five  daughters  and  four  sons 
all  of  whom  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
parents.  Their  births  occurred  as  follows:  Mary 
E.,  Nov.  7,  1853;  Carrie  P.,  Feb.  25,  1856;  Win.  B., 
July  12,  1858;  Ellen  L.,  Apr.  2t,  1862;  Ira  L.,  Aug. 
16,1864;  Justin  K.,  Oct.  16,  1867;  Cora  A  ,  May 
23,  1870;  Julius  C,  May  11,  1873;  Charles  K.,  Dec. 
6,  1877.  The  oldest  child  is  a  graduate  of  i'lainutll 
Academy,  Mich. 


Pohn  Freiberg,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Green  Tp., 

^wJ|i  was  liorn   in  Crerni any,  .Sept.  21,  1823,  and 

■J'S'^      is    a    son    of  Gerhart    and   Dora  (Frenke) 

flg^  Freiberg.      He  was  taught   in  the  lower-grade 

'W     schools  of  his  native  country,  and  afterward 

Y     learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he  luirsued  36 

years   in    Germany.       In     1876    he    came   to 

America,  and  made  his  first  location  at  Big  Rapids, 

later  on  buying  his  farm  in  Green  Tp.,  where  he  has 

since  diligently  pursued  the  business  of  farming. 

Mr.  Freiberg  was  married  in  Germany,  in  1849, 
to  Johanna,  daughter  of  Johti  and  Christina  (Mann) 
Bowman,  born  Aug.  26,  1826.  Twelve  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage,  nine  of  whom  are  living : 
August  F.,  Albert  J.,  Henry  W.,  Hermann  F.,  Ciiar- 
lie  J.,  Bertie  C,  Ida  F.,  Emma  C.  and  Huldah  A. 
Those  deceased  are  Anna  J.,  Johanna  and  Frank. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Cliurcb. 
Mr.  Freiberg  is  a  Democrat.     * 


<^r^8kharles  O.  Johnson,  proprietor  of  the  bot- 
^liEi.:^    tl'ng  Works  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in 

He  is  a  son  of 


''i'l/'"''^      Norway,  April  27,  1852. 


* 


John  and  Annie  Johnson,  and  in  his  native 


^  country  was  engaged  in  farming  and  in  vari- 
<  ous  other  occupations.  In  the  spring  of  1873 
he  came  to  this  country  and  settled  at  Big  Rapids, 
where  he  had  friends  residing.  He  found  employ- 
ment as  a  farm  laborer,  and  soon  after  made  an  en- 
gagement with  O.  Seman  to  work  on  the  farm  and  in 
lumbering,  which  lasted  five  years.  He  opened  a 
bottling  establishment  on  Hutchinson  street,  in  Jan., 
1879,  and  on  the  16th  day  of  July  following  moved 
to  his  jiresent  location  opposite  the  Big  Rapids  Iron 


^ 

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<r[ia> 


Works.  He  manufactures  soda  water  and  ginger  ale,  ^ 
and  puts  up  an  average  of  10,000  bottles  monthly  'A' 
for  tlie  trade  in  this  and  adjoining  counties/  Mr.  i-;' 
Johnson  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Aug.  8,  1883,  to  T 
Mary  Stange,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  April  3,  1862.   ^ 


Joseph  Smith,  farmer,  sec.  31,  Green  T\>., 
|fe  was  born  near  Toronto,  Can.,  Aug.  1,  1847, 
■4"  and  is  tlie  tenth  child  of  William  and 
Esther  (Caller)  Smith,  natives  of  England,  who 
left  the  old  country  and  became  pioneers  of 
York  Co.,  Ont.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  died  July  13,  1881.  The  mother  is 
still  residing  on  the  homestead,  which  has  l)een  in 
the  possession  of  the  family  nearly  50  years. 

Mr.  Smith  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  to  the 
age  of  14  years,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
wagon-making  trade.  After  one  and  one-half  years' 
labor  lie  turned  his  attention  to  blacksmithing  for 
about  four  months,  when  he  resumed  farming.  In 
the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Michigan  and  located 
first  on  the  Big  Prairie,  in  Newaygo  County,  where  he 
passed  ten  years,  going  thence  to  Barton  Tp.,  where 
he  also  purchased  a  farm.  In  he  fall  of  1879  the 
bought  his  homestead,  consisting  of  65  acres  of  land, 
of  which  he  has  35  acres  improved. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  .\pril  13,  1866,  to  Nancy 
M.,  daughter  of  John  and  Minerva  Miller,  born  Jan. 
17,  1847,  in  Kent  Co.,  Mich.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Vermont.  The  family  includes  an 
adopted  daughter,  IMabel  M.  (Haight)  Smith.  Mr. 
Smith  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed  citizens  of  the 
township.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  views. 

eorge  W.  Heald,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Millbrook 
.  T[).,  was  born  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,   May 

-g)u^  27,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
*'3^>  Rosetta  (Fitzch)  Heald,  natives  of  New  York 
and  of  English  descent.  The  family  removetl 
to  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1858,  where 
Mr.  Heald  assisted  his  father  on  a  farm  until  the 
autumn  of  1S63,  when  another  remove  was  made  to 
Ionia  County,  the  father  and  son  operating  there  as 

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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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lumbermen  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1865  they  came 
to  Millbrook,  settled  on  sec.  2,  and  started  the  first 
grocery  in  the  township,  managing  farming  interests 
in  connection  therewith.  The  grocery  business  was 
finally  suspended. 

Mr.  Heald  was  married  May  27,  1880,  in  Wheat- 
land Tp.,  to  Maggie,  daughter  of  David  and  Agnes 
(Smith)  Ruxton,  who  was  born  in  Huron  Co.,  Can,, 


July 


1861 


her  parents   were   also    natives    of 


Canada.  When  she  was  12  years  old  she  came  to 
Michigan  with  an  elder  sister.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heald 
have  one  child,  Alfred  R.,  born  Jan.  27,  1882.  Mr. 
Heald  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  owns  a  farm 
containing  40  acres  of  land. 


"viojiam^^'-'Mi 


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^ 


;-ames  Dixon,  farmer,  sec.  3,  Green  Tp.,  was 
^  born  in  Susse.K  Co.,  N.  J.,  Dec.  23,  1810. 
His  father,  Isaac  Dixon,  was  born  in  New 
York,  and  died  in  1813,  when  the  son  was 
but  three  years  of  age.  His  mother,  Phebe 
(Clark)  Dixon,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
after  the  death  of  her  first  husband  became 
the  wife  of  James  Martin,  with  whom  Mr.  Dixon 
remained  until  22  years  of  age,  assisting  in  the  farm 
labors  and  obtaining  a  common-school  education 

He  was  married  Dec.  i,  1832,  to  Julia, daughter  of 
John  and  Phebe  (Mead)  Adams.  Mrs.  Dixon  was 
born  in  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  22,  iSii.  After 
their  marriage,  herself  and  husband  removed  to 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,and  were  occupied  with  the  duties 
of  farming  about  five  years.  Mr.  Dixon  then  "  took 
up"  50  acres  of  land,  where  he  was  occupied  with 
agricultural  pursuits  until  he  came  West  to  seek  a 
home.  In  May,  1S62,  he  came  to  Mecosta  Co., 
Mich.,  bought  a  farm  of  80  acres  and  proceeded  to 
establish  his  family  and  put  his  place  in  a  fair  condi- 
tion for  the  purposes  of  agriculture. 

Mrs.  Dixon  died  Sept.  14,  1873,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren,— Harrison,  born  Nov.  19,  1833,  and  William, 
born  June  16,  1846.  Four  children  preceded  her  in 
their  deaths:  Phebe,  born  March  13,  1836,  died 
Sept.  4,  1841;  May  E.,  born  Jan.  14,  1839,  died 
Sept.  7,  1841;  Milton,  born  Dec.  9,  1842,  died  Oct. 
9,  1870;  Sarah  A.,  born  Jan.  12,  184S,  died  Sept.  2, 
1867.  Mr.  Dixon  was  married  again  May  13,  1875. 
His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Maria  M.  (Adams)  Austin, 


sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J. 
Mr.  Dixon  is  a  Democrat  politically.  He  held  the 
office  of  Postmaster  of  Crapo  (Osceola  Co.)  from 
187 1  to  1882,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  solid 
citizens  of  Mecosta  County. 


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^Wflleorge  I-  Kale,  farmer,   sec.   2,  Grant  Tp., 
'ka^i     was  born  March   19,  1843,  in  Niagara  Co, 
'^r~   ^    ^-  ^'-i  '"^"d  '^  ^  ^""  "'^  Levi  and  Asenatji 
r^^   Hale,  both  i)a rents  being  natives  of  Vermont, 
where  the  father  was  born  in  1S13;  he  died  in 
Michigan  in   1883.     The   mother  was  l)orn  in 
1 81 3,  and  is  still  living  in  Eaton,  Mich. 

The  parents  came  to  this  State  when  the  son  was 
but  six  months  old,  and  he  was  under  their  supervis- 
ion until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  when  he  became  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  army.  He  enlisted  August  8, 
1862,  in  Co.  D,  7th  Mich.  Cavalry,  and  rendezvoused 
at  Grand  Rapids  until  February,  1863,  when  his  reg- 
iment was  sent  to  the  front.  Following  is  the  list  of 
engagements  in  which  he  took  part:  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  May  21,  '63;  Greenwich,  May  30;  Hanover, 
May  30;  Hunterstown,  Gettysburg,  Monterey,  June  4; 
Covertown,  Smithton,  Boonesboro,  Hagerstown,  Wil- 
liamsport,  Boonesboro  (2d),  Falling  \\'aters,  Sinker's 
Gap,  Kelly's  Ford,  Culpepper  C.  H.,  Raccoon  Ford, 
James'  City,  Brandy  Station,  Bucklin  Mills,  Stevens- 
burg,  Morton's  Ford,  l^ichmond.  Wilderness,  Beaver 
Dam  Station,  Yellow  Tavern,  Meadow  Bridge,  Cold 
Harbor,  Trevillian  Station,  Winchester,  I'ront  Royal, 
Leetown,  Shepardston,  Smithlield,  Betryville,  Sum- 
mit, Occoquan,  Port  Republic,  Woodstock,  Cedar 
Creek,  Madison  C.  H.,  Louisa  C.  H.,  Five  Forks, 
.A.piiomattox  C.  H.,  Little  Laramie,  Dakota.  He  was 
discharged  Dec.  15,  1865,31  Ft.   Leavenworth,   Kan. 

On  his  return  from  the  army  he  came  to  Grant  Tp. 
and  entered  a  homestead  claim  of  80  acres.  Here 
he  has  since  resided  and  put  his  place  under  good 
improvements.  He  was  married  July  4,  1866,  to 
Alice,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Mary  Bentley.  Mrs. 
Hale  was  born  in  Manchester,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  3,  1847,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children: 
Lawrence  M.,  born  Oct.  19,  1867,  and  Clarence 
G.,  Sept.  5,  1876. 

Mr.  Hale  is  a  Republican  in  political  priniiple, 
has  served  ten  years  as  Road  Commissioner,  and  is 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


32 


^  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  is  earnestly  interested 
';)  in  the  cause  of  education  and  in  the  schools  of  his 
township. 


A 


'on.  Fitch    Phelps    was   born   in    Guilford, 
Chenango  Co.,  X.  Y.,  June  30.  1831.     He 
^*^  traces  his  genealogy  to  the  Phelps  family 
of  Tewksbury,  Gloucestershire,  England.     Wil- 
liam I'lielps,  Major  or  Jiailiff  of  Tewksbury  in 
1607,  was  born   about   the  middle  of  the   i6th 
century.     The  following  entry  is  found  in  the  Regis- 
ter of  Tewksbury  Parish,  during  the  season  of  Lent, 
A.  D.  1599: 

"  I  granted  a  license  to  William  Phel)  s,  being  then 
e.xtromlye  sicke,  to  eate  fleshe,  which  license  to  en- 
dure no  longer  tyme  than  during  his  sickness. 
Rkv.  Curties, 

Curate  of  Tewksb\iry.'' 
t^  William  Phelps,  his  son,  was  born  at  or  near, 
/>;  Tewksbury,  about  the  year  1590.  He  emigrated 
°  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  and  his  two  unmar- 
Vx  ried  brothers,  George  and  Richurd,  sailing  from 
S  Plymouth,  where  the  "  Mayflower  "  with  the  loi  Pil- 
grim Fathers  of  1620  waved  her  last  farewell,  on  the 
ship  "Mary  and  John,"  March  20,  1630,  and  land- 
ed at  Hull,  Massachusetts,  May  30.  In  1635,  he 
went  to  Windsor,  Conn.,  where  he  won  a  prominent 
lX)sition  in  the  affairs  of  both  Church  and  State,  and 
where  he  died  in  1672.  The  family  continued  to  re- 
side in  Connecticut  for  six  generations.  Joel  Phelps, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
but  did  not  remain  long  in  his  native  State.  In  the 
earlier  years  of  his  manhood,  he  was  a  lumberman  on 
the  Hudson  River,  near  Glens  Falls,  New  York. 
Later  in  life  he  removed  to  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
engaged  in  farming. 

He  married   Hulda   Dean,  a  native  of  New  York. 

-S^    His   people   were    highly  respected  for  that  sort  of 

integrity,  strength  and  purity  of  character  that  con- 

;      slituted  marked  virtues  among  the  agricultural  classes 

•-     in  the  earlier  years  of  our  country.     They  had  a  fam- 

■^    ily  of  14  children,  the  youngest  son  and   13th  child 

^    being  the   subject   of  this  sketch.       He  was  raised 

I-      on  the  farm,  and  obtained  his  rudimentary  education 

/:     by  attending    the  district  si  hool   kept    .1    sliorl  dis- 


tance from  his  father's  house,  I'inishing  with  an  aca- 
demic course  at  Richburg,  Allegany  C'o.,  N.  Y.  Here, 
at  the  age  of  21,  he  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness for  two  years.  He  then  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  which  he  followed  four  years  at 
Friendship,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Brock- 
wayville,  Jefferson  Co.,  Penn.  In  the  summer  of 
1862  he  went  to  California,  where  he  spent  five  years 
in  tlie  valley  of  San  Mateo,  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  in  speculation.  In  1863,  he  was  apixjinted 
Provost  Marshal  for  the  county,  enrolling  it  for  army 
draft.  On  returning,  in  1868,  he  located  in  Colfax, 
Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.  Here  he  purchased  a  fine  tract 
of  pine  land,  built  a  mill  and  engaged  in  lumbering. 
As  an  adjunct  to  the  business  he  has  cleared  up  a 
large  farm,  making  his  home  on  the  shore  of  Clear 
Lake,  five  miles  from  Big  Rapids. 

Mr.  Phelps  has  always  been  an  ardent  Rei)ubli- 
can,  one  who  does  not  swerve  from  the  views  and 
piinciples  which  are  promulgated  and  advocated  by 
those  acting  with  him  in  that  [XDlitical  organization. 
He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  His  career  is 
that  of  a  practical  business  man,  intensely  devoted 
to  his  private  interests,  and  participating  in  i)ublic 
affairs  only  as  an  incident,  with  no  (.ffort  to  secure 
advancement.  In  1876  lie  was  tlie  regular  nominee 
of  the  Republican  Convention  for  Member  of  the 
Ix)wer  House  of  the  Legislature.  The  district  com- 
prised the  counties  of  Mecosta,  Osceola  and  Lake. 
Elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  he  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  matters  before  the  House,  and  did 
thorough  and  conscientious  work  for  his  constituents. 
Was  member  of  the  Committees  on  Railroads  and 
the  University.  In  1878  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
House  from  Mecosta  County,  the  Stale  having  in  the 
meantime  been  re-districted.  At  this  session  he 
was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  University 
and  member  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee  , 
His  second  term  in  the  House  was  marked  for  the 
active  interest  and  zeal  he  manifested  in  working 
for  the  cause  of  temperance.  His  sincerity,  added  to 
a  fearlessness  of  temper  which  never  shrank  from 
the  expression,  on  suitable  occasions,  of  his  real 
ojiinions  and  sentiments,  gave  weigh'  to  what  he 
uttered,  and  left  no  one  who  lieaid  without  strong 
convictions  of  his  earnestness. 

In  the  year  1882,  he  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  the  Senate  from  the  27th  District,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Mecosta, Osceola,  ^\'e.\fc)r<I  and  Manistee. 


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It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention  that  he  was  the  unani- 
•h  uious  choice  of  the  Convention,  there  being  not  a  dis- 
'%  senting  voice,  and  his  nomination  was  by  acclama- 
l*  tion.  He  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  more  than 
1,000  votes  over  the  opposing  candidate  of  the  com- 
bined Democratic  and  Greenback  parties. 

In  the  Senate,  Mr.  Phelps    was    prompt,  regular 
and  constant  in  his  attendance   upon   the  sessions 
of  that  body  and  the  meetings  of  his  committees.    He 
introduced  but  few  bills,  believing  that  there  are  too 
[if  many  matters  of  little  importance  brought  before  that 
y%^  body,  which  serve  only  to  pass  away  time  and  length- 
^  en  the  term  of  the  session.      He  proposed  an  amend- 
ment to  the  State  Constitution  by  a  joint  resolution 
giving  members  of  the  Legislature  a  salary  instead 
of  a  per-iiievi,  and  forbidding  the  use  or  acceptance 
of  free  railroad  passes.     It  was  adopted  by  the  Legis- 
lature, and  will  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people 
)    in  1884.      He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
>   the  State  House  of  Correction  at  Ionia,  meml)er  of  the 
^  Committees  on    Public  Health,   Library,  Geological 
—,    Survey,  A[)propriations  ;ind  Finance. 
<^       Mr.  Phelps  is  favored  with  a  superb  physical  con- 
=   stitution,  and  combines  strictness  of  moral  principles 
Y    with    energy  and    decision  of  character.       He    has 
made    profitable    investments,  become  interested  in 
remunerative  enterprises,  won  honorable  success  in 
business  and  secured  a  competence,  as  the  product 
of  personal  industry  and  good  judgment,  put  fortli  in 
a  field  wisely  selected.     He  was  mariied  Oct.    13, 
1857,  to  Miss  Harriet  Wellman,  a  woman  well  edu- 
cated   and    accomplished,   a   native  of  Friendship, 
Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  of  English  ancestry  on  the 
side  of  her  fatlier,  and  Scotch  on  that  of  her  mother. 
Her  father,  Arba  Wellman,  an  enterprising  and  pros- 
perous merchant  in  Friendship,  was  born  in  Vermont ; 
her  mother,  Esther    Burt,   was  born  in    New    York 
State. 

Mrs.  Phelps  is  well  educated  and  accomplislied, 
amial)le  and  kind,  and  accordingly  has  rendered  her 
home  one  of  contentment  and  happiness  for  her  hus- 
band and  inviting  to  friends. 

As  one  of  the  most  honored  representative  citizens 
i)     of   Northern  Michigan,   we  take  [)leasure   in   present- 
^    ing  the  i)ortrait  of  Mr.  I'helps  in  this   Album. 


^ 


Cx,50~ 


f^W,  dwin  J.  Marsh,  attorney  at  Big  Rapids,  of 
^W'     ''^^  '"'^^  '^'^  (jlidden  &  Marsh,  was  born  at 
Howell,  Livingston  Co.,    Mich.,   May   29, 
*>a.    ^^i'^-     His  father,  Z.  H.  Marsh,  by  profession 
a  physician,   was  born  in  Montague,  Franklin 
Co.,  Mass.,  and  his  mother,  Luthera  Marsh,  was 
born  in  Dana,  Mass. 

Edwin  attended  the  public  school  at  Howell  until 
19  years  old,  when  he  entered  Cornell  University,  at 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  he  left 
Cornell  for  Michigan  University,  entering  the  Soph- 
more  Class  of  the  Literary  Department.  His  health 
compelled  him  to  leave  the  University  at  the  end  of 
the  year,  and  in  hopes  of  recovering  the  same  he  join- 
ed an  engineer  corps  of  the  A.,  T.  &  S.  F.  R.  R.  Co., 
and  remained  west  until  1872.  Returning  in  the 
winter  of  1872  to  Howell,  he  entered  the  office  of 
H.  H.  Harmon  and  studied  law;  attended  law  lec- 
tures at  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  1874.  In  1875  he  removed  to 
Big  Rapids,  in  company  with  N.  W.  Carpenter,  with 
whom  he  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  law. 
At  the  end  of  a  year  he  entered  into  a  partnership 
with  D.  Roben,  which  existed  about  one  year.  Af- 
ter the  dissolution  of  this  partnership,  he  remained 
alone  in  the  practice  of  his  ])rofe5sion  until  1879, 
when  he  became  associated  with  D.  F.  Glidden,  his 
present  partner. 

In  1876  he  was  married  to  Alma,  daughter  of 
J.  W.  and  Alvira  Burr,  of  Ionia  Cc).,  Mich.  They 
have  one  child,  Frank  B.,  born  March  4,   1880. 


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^^^ohn  ]je  Duke,  boot  and  shoe  dealer  at  Big 
Rapids,  was  born  in  East  Hawkesbury,  Pr. 
T-y^^.'  of  Ontario,  Feb.  21,  1843.  He  was  reared 
a  farmer  until  the  age  of  20,  when  he  began 
to  acquire  the  details  of  the  shoemaker's  trade 
at  East  Hawkesbury.  In  October,  1867,  he 
came  to  this  city  and  commenced  the  prosecution  of 
his  trade,  and  in  1873  established  himself  at  his  pres- 
ent stand.  He  has  a  full  line  of  all  goods  common  to 
the  trade,  valued  at  $5,000,  with  an  annual  business 
amounting  to  $20,000.     Ilisreal   estate   in  llij;  Rap- 


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ids  is  considerable,  consisting  of  two  stores  on  Mich- 
igan avenue,  one  ot' which  is  his  stand  of  business; 
the  other  is  occupied  by  Aylsworth  &  Ladoucer, 
clothiers ;  four  stores  on  the  same  block  north  of 
his  own  location,  his  residence  on  Rust  avenue,  and 
^  two  vacant  lots  on  Michigan  avenue,  near  Iknilock 
street. 

Mr.  Le  Duke  was  married  at  Syracuse,  N.  V.,  Jan. 
2,  1867,  to  Julia,  daughter  of  .Martin  Harris. 

saac  Wambold,  farmer  and  cirpenter,  resi- 
dent on  sec.  28,  Wheatland  Tp.,  was  liorn 
in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  24,  iS2j. 
His  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Gangler)  Wam- 
bold, were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  ar.d  of 
("lerman  descent.  They  went  to  the  State  of 
New  York  when  the  son  was  18  months  old,  and  lie 
P  remained  under  their  personal  supervision  until  the 
p  age  of  14,  when  he  became  assistant  of  an  elder 
'S  brother,  who  had  assumed  control  of  the  homestead 
°  farm.  He  worked  four  years  as  a  farmer,  and  at  18 
*<*  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
=  only  served  a  part  of  his  time,  but  went  into  business 
for  himself  He  was  married  Nov.  19,  1844,  to  Har- 
riet J.,  daughter  of  Alonzo  and  Hannah  Mace,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Cornelia  A.,  born  April  30, 
1852.  He  went  to  Dodge  Co.,  Wis.,  in  the  spring  of 
1854,  where  he  followed  his  trade  ten  years.  In 
1864  he  came  to  Berrien  Co.,  Mich  ,  and  bougiit  a 
small  farm,  which  he  worked  in  connection  with  his 
profession,  and  afterward  went  to  Ionia,  thence  to 
Wheatland  Tp  ,  wliere  he  "took  \\\"  i6o  acres  of 
land  under  the  homestead  act,  which  iiad  then  just 
gone  into  effect.  He  has  since  resided  iiere,  and  dur- 
ing the  time  has  been  twice  married,  botii  wives  dy- 
ing shortly  after  marriage.  He  was  married  to  iiis 
present  wife,  Oct.  9,  1S75.  ^'"^  ^^''^  Mrs.  Sarah 
Schiedel,  daughter  of  Jair.es  C.  and  Klizabeth 
(Bear)  Smith,  and  was  born  June  29,  1S32,  in  Water- 
loo Co.,  Ontario,  Can.,  of  which  county  her  parents 
were  also  natives.  She  was  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
seven  years,  and  was  cared  for  by  an  aunt  until  her 
marriage. 

Mr.  Wambold  began  to  teach  school  in  the  winter 
x>  of  1869,  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  a  profession  he  has  since 
f®  pursued  to  some  e.xtent.  He  is  independent  in  i)oli- 
^     tics,   has   been    Justice  of  the   Peace    16  years,  and 


served  one  term  as  County  Superintendent  of  Schools. 
He  has  been  Township  Clerk,  and  held  nearly  all 
the  minor  local  offices.  He  is  now  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Sujjervisor  and  School  Inspector,  and  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  Ixsdge  at  Hig  Rainds. 


ust.  Zetterstedt,  dealer  in  foreign  and  dom- 
estic li(|uors,  cigars,  etc.,  at  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  in  Sweden,  .April  20,  1837,  a  son 
of  Emanuel  and  Mary  Zetterstedt.  In  1852, 
when  he  was  15  years  old,  he  was  placed  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  to  serve  a  regular 
term  of  years,  under  instructions  preparatory  to  a 
commercial  life,  and  at  21  he  was  at  the  head  of  an 
establishment  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise, 
licpiors,  and  the  variety  usually  found  in  th.at  class 
of  business  in  the  countries.  This  he  managed  until 
1864,  when  the  entire  town  (Ronneby),  built  wholly 
of  wood,  burned  down,  and  he  suffered  total  loss  of 
everything.  Mr.  Zetterstedt  came  to  the  United  States 
and  to  Big  Rapids  in  1871,  having  received  while  at 
home  reports  of  the  place  which  recommended  it  as 
having  for  him  a  future  of  promise.  He  was  em- 
ployed on  a  construction  corps  of  the  G.  R.  &  I. 
railroad,  and  was  connected  with  the  repair  force 
about  three  years ;  then  went  to  Grand  Rapids  and 
was  engaged  in  the  freight  department.  In  1878 
he  came  to  Big  Rajjids  and  was  employed  by  P. 
Erikson  about  two  years.  He  opened  his  present 
business  in  the  fall  of  1880. 

Mr.  Zetterstedt  was  married  at  l!ig  Rapids  June  4, 
1882,  to  Anna  Pcteison,  a  native  of  Sweden,  lorn 
Sept.  12,  1855.  They  have  one  child.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Zetterstedt  is  a 
member  of  Krunan's  Collding,  a  Swedish  society. 


^.enry  T.  Albro,  firmer,  sec.  36,  Big  Rapids 

Tp.,  was  born   in   Greenfield,  Wayne  Co., 

Mich.,  Jan.  5,  1841.     The  place  ofhis  birth 

is  now  within   the  limits  of  the  city  of  Detroit. 

He   is  a  son  of  Clark  and  Catherine  (O'Neil) 

I      .Mbro,  the  former  born  July  5,  1819,  at  Cortland, 

N.    Y.,   of   French    and     English   extraction.      The 

mother  was  a  native  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  born 

in  1821,  and   first   came  to  the  United   States 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


very  young.  Her  father  was  a  sea  captain,  and  she 
was  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  chiefly,  until  she  was  six 
years  old.     She  died  April  26,  1883,  at  Detroit. 

Mr.  Albro  was  married  May  9,  1867,  to  Cynthia 
R.,  daughter  of  William  and  Rosanna  Butler,  of  Eng- 
lish and  German  descent  on  the  paternal  side,  and 
on  the  mother's,  of  Scotch  and  French  origin.  Mrs. 
Albro  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  Jan.  15,  1852. 

Mr.  Albro  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  September, 
1867,  and  took  up  t^t,  acres  of  Government  land  on 
sec.  36,  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  has  a  good 
portion  under  fine  cultivation. 


^^^ 


harles  Rathvon,  of  the  firm   of  Rathvon 
g/  Bros.,  proprietors  of  the  Mecosta   Planing 


Mill,  was  born  in  W'elland,  Ont.,  March 
II,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Alward)  Rathvon.     The  father  was  a 

\  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  a  native  of  Canada  ; 
he  died  in  1855,  in  his  34th  year.  The  mother  was 
a  native  of  the  Dominion,  and  died  in  Elgin  Co., 
Can.,  July  20,  1883,  aged  54  years.  Until  he  was 
18  years  old  Mr.  Rathvon  was  engaged  as  a  farm  as- 
sistant, and  was  after  that  employed  with  his  brother 
in  working  as  a  builder,  in  which  occupation  his 
brother  had  extensive  interests.  Four  years  later  he 
went  to  New  York  and  found  employment  as  a 
builder  at  Tonawanda,  where  he  operated  four  years. 
One  summer  he  spent  in  the  employment  of  the 
Government,  building  lake  shore  survey  stations. 
His  ne.xt  remove  was  to  St.  Thomas,  Can.,  and  two 
years  later  he  went  to  St.  Johns,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 
and  was  employed  by  the  St.  Johns  Manufacturing 
Co.,  two  years.  In  August,  1881,  he  came  with  his 
brother,  Benjamin,  to  Mecosta  village,  and  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building.  They  built  a  planing 
mill  in  November,  1882,  and  are  now  turning  out  the 
customary  products,  planing,  matching,  siding,  ceil- 
ing, moldings,  etc.  They  generally  employ  about  ten 
men  and  operate  considerably  in  contracting  and 
l)uilding. 

Mr.  Rathvon  was  married  in  Welland  Co.,  Ont., 
June  26,  1872,  to  Ida  .\.  Hershey,  daughter  of 
George  and  Sarah  Hershey,  born  at  Ix)ville,  Can.,  in 
October,  1850.  Of  this  marriage  three  children  have 
been  born,  as  follows:     Cora  B.,  at  Welland,  April 


Both  parents 
jj^^      were  natives  of  Ohio;  the  mother  died   July 


18,  1872;  Ida  May,  at  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  6, 
1874,  and  Gracie,  at  St.  Johns,  Mich.,  Dec.  10,  1879. 
The  parents  attend  the  M.  E.  Church. 


'^'1^^ !  sher  L.  Canaan,  Treasurer  of  Grant  Tp., 
''}HBX'  and  farmer,  sec.  21,  was  born  March  25, 
lll^""^  1850,  in  Buck  Tp.,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio,  son 
'''^^  of  Jehu  and  Sarah  L.  Canaan. 

!  3,  1879,  in  Grant;  and  the  father  is  still  living, 
in  Michigan.  The  latter  was  a  soldier  in  the  civil 
war  and  served  two  years  and  ten  months  in  Co.  B, 
118th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf. 

Mr.  Canaan  began,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  13  years,  to  grapple  with  the  world  on  his  own 
account,  and  worked  nearly  three  years  as  black- 
smith. In  1874  he  bought  70  acres  of  timber  land, 
where  he  has  since  resided;  has  the  farm  partially 
cleared  and  in  tillage,  with  a  comfortable  home. 
The  place  is  increasing  in  value  from  the  fact  tliat 
it  is  situated  in  one  of  the  best  belts  of  country  in 
Mecosta  County,  and  the  land  is  of  the  best  quality. 

Mr.  Canaan  was  married  Aug.  10,  1873,  to  Mary 
E.,  daughter  of  Ira  and  Mary  A.  Hays.  Her  father 
died  Feb.  27,  1881.  He  was  a  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  four  years,  and  died  of  a[)o- 
plexy.  She  was  born  in  Canada  West  Dec.  28,  1858, 
and  is  the  mother  of  three  living  cliildren,  born  as 
follows:  Milton  A.,  Nov.  19,  1874;  Jessie  A.,  March 
I,  1879;  Ira  J.,  Oct.  24,  1882. 

Mr.  Canaan  is  a  Republican  in  [jolitical  senti- 
ment and  has  been  Constable  nine  successive  years; 
was  delegate  to  the  Republican  County  Convention 
and  District  Convention  in  1882.  His  maternal 
grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  He 
and  his  wife  are  Ijoth  members  of  the  Church  v{ 
United  Brethren,  tirant  Mission. 


CvFg^jion  H.  Compton,  farmer,  sec.  31,  Colfax 
sjr^^ji  was  born  in  Lapeer  Co.,  Mich.,  March  lo, 
'^^^^W      '^57'  *"*^  '^  ^  ^°"  of  L.  and  Mary  (Bur- 


''Sfe*'^  nett)  Compton.  The  father  was  born  in  Hun- 
4i  ter.  Green  t'o.,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1859,  and  is  of 
t        Gennan   descent.     'I'he  mother  was  born    in 


'Vj-'Xv^^"* 


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Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1839. 


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Mr.  Compton  was  married  Dec.  24,  1882,  to  Flora 
M.  McCamly,  l)orn  at  Big  Rapids,  May  31,  1S59. 
He  settled  in  Big  Raimls  Tp.,  April  i,  1871,  wliere 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  generally  and 
making  a  specialty  of  fruit  and  gardening.  lie  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment. 


'artin  Luther  Briggs,  farmer  and  iumbcr- 
man,  residing  on    sec.   33,    township   of 
^  Oeerfield,  is  the  tiiird  son  of  Samuel  and 
)/H^56'   Clarissa   (.Smilli)  Briggs.     His  father  was  a 
■}■.  native  of  New  York  and  went  to  I'ennsylva- 


syl\ 
11''  ma  about  the  year  1830.  He  settled  there 
and  improved  a  farm,  and  in  1832  married  his  first 
wife,  Mary  Dickens,  of  Tioga  Co.,  I'a.,  She  died  in 
1849,  and  two  years  later  he  married  Mrs.  Clarissa  1), 
Hill,  of  the  same  county,  and  who  was  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  'i'lie  elder  Briggs  died  Aug  9,  1S67. 
The  mother  survived  her  husband  nearly  13  years. 
She  died  May  17,  1880. 

Mr.  Briggs  was  born  May  17,  T853.  He  acquired 
a  common-school  education  in  his  native  State,  and 
at  17  set  out  to  begin  his  single-handed  struggle  with 
the  world.  He  spent  four  years  in  the  business  of  a 
lumberman  and  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  he  now  occupies,  consisting  of  80 
acres  of  wild  land,  which  is  fast  reaching  a  good  con- 
dition of  improvements.  Mr.  Briggs  passes  about 
three-fourths  of  his  time  in  the  woods  in  his  lumber- 
ing interests.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  an  adherent  to  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  Mr.  Briggs  was  married  Sept.  23, 
1883,  to  Miss  Ida  M.,  daughte;  of  James  and  Susan 
Harden,  of  Deerfiekl,  Mecosta  Co.  She  is  a  native 
of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  May  3,   1863. 


"^t.V-."^;.!"'''^   ferson   Co.,   N. 
;j\'->^.      parents,   I^lisha  a 


m.  E.  Overton,  dealer  in  general  hardware 
at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  Henderson,  Jef- 
Y.,    June    I,    1826.     His 
and  Ruth  ("arter,  were  na- 
IbT'*       tives  of  the  Emi)ire  State.     Mr.  (Jverton  was 
reared  on  a  farm   and   obtained   a  good  educa- 
.  tion  at  the  common    si  hools,  finishing  with   two 

^    years  study  at  Belleville  Union  .'\cademy,  in  his  na- 


tive  county.  In  1846,  when  he  was  20  years  old,  he 
went  to  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  took  charge  of  a 
sash  and  door  factory  owned  by  \Vm.  Wilcox  and 
David  R.  I'ierce.  He  remained  in  tiiis  position  12 
years,  returnmg  tu  Henderson,  where,  in  company 
with  his  brother  Joshua  Overton,  he  bought  700  acres 
of  land  and  for  a  period  of  eight  years  pursued  agri- 
culture. He  then  went  to  Adams  and  established 
iiimself  in  the  cabinet  and  undertaking  business, 
wiiich  he  continued  to  manage  until  September, 
1877.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids  soon  afterward  and 
opened  a  hardware  trade,  firm  of  Overton  iv  Crenell, 
in  the  building  now  styled  the  Canada  House.  In 
the  fall  of  1880  the  business  was  moved  to  the  stand 
it  has  since  occuined.  .\pril  17,  1S81,  Mr.  Crenell  sold 
his  part  of  the  stock  to  Messrs.  Cox  and  Cole,  who  re- 
moved their  share  in  about  six  months.  The  stock 
of  Mr.  Overton  r>;presents  about  $16,000,  and  his  an- 
nual business  amounts  to  $55,000.  He  also  owns  an 
interest  in  the  Big  Rapids  Waler-l'owcr  Improvement 
Co.,  besides  his  residence  and  two  city  lots. 

He  was  married  in  Henderson,  to  Frances  Salis- 
bury, born  in  Ohio.  Hattie,  the  elder  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Overton,  is  the  wife  of  C.  D.  .Slimson,  lum- 
ber merchant  of  Muskegon  ;  Eugene,  the  only  son,  is 
book-keeper  in  the  business  of  his  father. 

Mr.  Overton  was  elected  Mayor  of  Big  Rapid.>  in 
1882,  and  has  served  two  years  as  member  of  the 
School  Board. 


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4\tr^Aw  ames  E.  Philley,  liveryman,  Millbrook  \il- 
.   lage,  was  born  .\pril  27,  1852,  in  the  State 
"  of  New  York.     He  is  a  son  of  Silas  and 
.(iiO*  I'atty  (Thompson)  Philley,  who  were  natives  of  ^\^- 
■ilp"    Scotland  and    Ireland   respectively,  and   were 
P    married   in  the   Empire   State;   in    1S63   they 
came  to  Ohio,  when  Mr.  Piiilley  was  eleven  years  of 
age,  and  he  remained  with  them  six  years.     In  the 
fall  of  1868  he  came  to  Michigan  and  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  (i.  R.  &  I.  K.  R.  Co.  seven  years,  in 
different  capacities.     In   the   spring  of  1875  he  went 
to  I'etoskey,  Mich.,  and  there  opened  a  saloon,  sell- 
ing  out  soon   after  and    eng;iging  in   Imnbering,  in 
which    he   was   occupied    five  years.     He  came    to 
Millbrook  in  the  spring  of  18S1  and  commenced  the 
prosecution  of  his  present  business,  to  which  he  has     *; 
since  given  his  energetic  attention.  \ 

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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Philley  was  married  in  Hinton  Tp.,  Oct.  14, 
1882,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary  Meiiera, 
a  native  of  Canada.  She  came  from  the  Dominion 
to  Michigan  with  her  parents,  and  before  lier  marriage 
was  engaged  as  a  teacher.  In  poHtical  faith  Mr. 
Philley  is  a  Republican;  in  1882  he  was  elected 
Constable,  and  in  1883  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
office. 


[-^"t^jiiji-' 


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^llif-acob  W.  Pattison,  M.  D.,  practicing  phy- 
^^|[k  sician  at  Millbrook,  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and 
g^iif*^  Huldah  (York)  Pattison,  the  former  a  native 
y    of  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  the  Dominion  of 
Canada.     Tliey  were  married  m  Canada,  and 
resided'  there  some  years.     During  the  war  of 
i8i2,  the  father  was  taken  prisoner  and  con- 
veyed to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  claimed  American 
)     citizenship  and  was  released.     He  afterwards  became 
a  resident  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  \.,  where  himself  and  wife 
•^     completed  their  lives. 

Dr.  Pattison  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Oct.  8,  1821, 
At  the  age  of  i  r  years  he  began  life  as  a  laborer,  and 
was  occupied  in  various  ways  until  he  was  18  years 
old.  He  became  assistant  in  a  hardware  store,  and 
was  in  the  same  employ  nearly  two  years.  The 
deficiencies  of  his  education  pressed  upon  Jiis  under- 
standing, and  lie  accomplished  much  hard  study 
nights,  and  at  other  times  as  opportunity  presented. 
He  wishes  to  record  his  sense  of  obligation  to  an 
Irish  gentleman  named  W'lialen,  who  took  an  interest 
in  his  progress  and  assisted  him  with  private  lessons. 
At  the  age  of  23  years  he  began  teaching,  which 
occupation  he  followed  three  years. 

Early  in  life  he  had  decided  upon  his  present  call- 
ing, and  devoted  his  leisure  to  preparatory  reading. 
His  circumstances  prevented  his  attending  lectures, 
and  he  turned  his  attention  for  the  time  being  to  the 
hardware  business,  forming  a  partnership  with  his 
brother,  which  relation  existed  two  years.  On  its  dis- 
solution lie  conducted  affairs  alone  one  year,  when 
he  sold  out  and  resumed  the  study  of  medicine.  In 
the  winter  of  1856-7  he  attended  his  first  course  of 
lectures,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  going  afterward  to  the 
University  of  Victoria,  Ontario,  where  he  received 
his  dii)loma  and  (iovernment  right  to  practice  medi- 
<  ine  in  Canada. 

In  i860  he  went  to  .•\nn  Arbor,  where  he  entered 


the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan, and  in  1862-3  he  again  attended  lectures  at 
Buffalo.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  came  to  Bay  City 
and  practiced  one  year,  going  thence  to  Lapeer,  and 
operated  there  a  twelvemonth,  when  he  located  in 
Montcalm  County,  and  continued  to  prosecute  his 
profession  five  jears.  In  August,  1871,  he  came  to 
Millbrook,  where  he  has  established  an  extensive 
practice,  being  spoken  of  far  and  near  as  an  able  and 
experienced  physician.  In  addition  to  his  medical 
practice,  he  is  the  sole  representative  of  the  drug 
trade  at  Millbrook. 

Dr.  Pattison  has  served  several  appointments  as 
Health  (Officer,  and  held  the  position  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  one  term.  He  was  married  in  Canada, 
in  the  spring  of  1845,  ^o  Mary,  daughter  of  Ambrose 
Pattison.  She  died  in  the  winter  of  1857,  leaving 
four  children:  Melissa,  Ida,  Ambrose  and  Appleton 
J.  Dr.  Pattison  was  again  married  Feb.  22,  1861, 
to  Margaret  Carpenter,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  their 
four  children  are,  Ida  M.,  Jennie  E.,  Thomas  O.  and 
James  G. 


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■enjamin  F.  Corey,  Justice  of  the    Peace 
Pfi^||  and   faraier,sec,   11,  Grant  Tp.,  was  born 

^  'gOG>^  Dec.  4,  1842,  in  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio  :  at  the 
^(j%2.  jjag  of  ,0  hij  became  a  soldier  for  tlie   Union, 

i\  and  enlisted  May  19,  1861,  under  the  first  call 
for  troops.  He  served  three  months  and  on 
his  discharge  again  enrolled  for  three  years' 
service  or  during  llie  war.  After  two  years  of  severe 
service  and  hardship  he  contracted  camp  dianhea 
and  was  discharged  for  disability.  He  in  time  recov- 
ered his  health  to  some  degree,  and  as  soon  as  he 
could  pass  muster  he  again  enlisted,  Feb.  2,  1S64, 
and  was  in  the  army  to  the  close  of  the  war.  His 
final  discharge  bears  the  date  of  July  12,  1865.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  list  of  his  engagements:  Rich  Moun- 
tain, \Vinchester,  Port  Republic,  Wilderness  (seven 
days'  fight),  Chickamauga,  Resaca,  Chattahoochee 
River,  Atlanta,  Nashville  {ie|)ulse  of  Hood),  Savan- 
nah (with  Sherman),  Columbia,  Fayetteville,  Raleigh 
and  Bentonvtlle. 

Mr.  Corey  was  married  Feb.  4,  1864,  to  Eli/.a  E. 
Peoples,  of  Hardin  Co.,  Oliio.  She  was  born  May 
15,  1844,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
Peoples,  both  of  whom  are  still  living.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 


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^  Corey  have  bad  five  cliildren  :  Ida  Jane,  horn  \o\. 
/!^  18,  1867,  and  died  Feb.  1:,  1876;  Eliza  A.,  bom 
^  May  4,  1 866,  is  now  the  wife  of  W  in.  Downs;  Wil- 
'«  liam,  born  May  4,  1868;  James,  July  4,  1870,  and 
J  Otis  F.,  July  3,  1878.  Mr.  Corey  is  a  Repuijlican, 
-  -^  and  has  held  his  present  [wsition  six  years.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  80  acres,  which  he  has  i)laced  in 
fair  condition  for  farming  purposes.  Mrs.  Core) 
belongs  to  the  .\I.  E.  Cliurch. 


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(Nelson)  Christianson.  His  patronymic  arose 
from  the  Danish  custom  of  connx)unding  the 
1  first  and  last  names  of  the  father.  At  the  age 
of  15  he  shipped  for  service  on  a  merchantman  and 
followed  tiie  sea  three  years  and  four  months,  be- 
coming familiar  with  the  principal  [wrts  of  Europe. 
In  the  winter  of  1870  lie  studied  chemistry,  survey- 


^Kf|i'|S{  Ibert  A.  Vollmer,  grocer,  Big  Rapids,  is  a 
*rSM.%  native  nf  Milwaukee,  Wis.  His  father, 
-nii?^  Francis  Vollmer,  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
!j^!}jB  many,  Oct.  4,  1824.  His  mother,  Rasina 
'■j  (Grass)  VoUmer,  was  born  Oct.  4,  1827,  at 
!  Strasbourg,  then  belonging  to  France,  but  now 
a  city  of  Alsace,  ceded  to  Germany  May  10,  1S71. 
The  parents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1830,  and 
were  married  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  April  13,  1847,  ''■"'-^ 
still  reside  tliere.  Five  c;liildren  were  born  to  them: 
Joseph  E.,  Albert  A.,  Mary  E.,  Isadore  D.  and  Ivo 
V.  Albert  A.  was  born  May  28,  1852,  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  Cream  City  He  went  to  Evanston, 
111.,  in  1877,  and  established  himself  in  the  grocery 
business,  operating  with  satisfactory  results.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1882,  he  settled  at  Big  Rapids  and  founded 
his  present  business.  He  carries  a  stock  of  goods 
worth  $5,000,  and  his  transactions  annually  amount 

toS3S.o°°- 

He  was  married  at  Milwaukee,  April  13,  1875,10 
Rosa  M.,  daughter  of  Herbert  and  Margaret  Reck, 
of  West  Bend,  Wis.,  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 
dren:    Agnes  M.,  F'rancis  E.  and  Mary  J. 


-^k^Wndrew  Hanson,  attorney,  at  Big  Rai)ids, 
j^g^JSI(  was  born  in  Jutland,  Denmark,  Sept.  29, 
m'w'         '^S^i  and  is  a  son  of  Hans  and  Christina 


ing,  etc.,  ai   the    Tainpdrdp    High    .Si  hool,    Jutland. 

He  came  to  the  United  Stales  in  August,  1872, 
and  to  Morley,  Mecosta  Co.,  where  he  commenced  to 
study  under  L.  G.  Palmer,  and  at  the  same  time 
acted  as  night  watchman  for  the  [Jiotection  of  a  saw- 
mill. During  ,the  several  succeeding  years  he  was 
variously  engaged,  and  a.:ciiinulated  a  considerable 
amount  of  land;  was  in  the  meating  business,  and 
also  pursued  lumbering  energetically,  winters,  in  Col- 
fax Tp.,  where  he  owned  580  acres  of  land.  He 
was  overtaken  by  reverses,  and  in  the  spring  of  1881 
lost  several  thousands  of  dollars.  He  engaged  in 
teaching  near  Morley,  where  he  was  occupied  three 
years.  Commencing  in  June,  1882,  he  took  a  course 
of  study  in  Swensberg  Business  College  at  Grand 
Rai>ids.  On  leaving  there  he  came  to  Big  Rapids 
and  again  became  a  student  of  law  in  the  office  of 
P.ilmer  Bros.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  as  an  at- 
torney April  6,  1883.  In  June  he  entered  the  office 
of  Frank  Dumon,  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Mecosta 
County,  as  an  assistant. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  nominated  on  the  city  ticket  for 
Recorder,  in  the  spring  of  1883,'  but  was  unsuccess- 
ful in  his  candid.icy.  While  resident  in  Colfax  Tp. 
he  was  Treasurer,  in  i879-'8o,  and  in  the  latter  year 
was  Supervisor. 


,~fT,^    rancis  Smith,  farmer,  sec.  13,  .Morton  Tp  , 


I'gt   was  born  in  {Jermany,  Oct.  iS,   1832.     He 
"^  is  a  son  of  Phili|»  and  Elizabeth  (Borne) 


fl^  Smith,  with  whom  he  remained  in  his  native 
:|fe;.,  land  and  attended  school  until  1841.  In  that 
I  year  his  father  came  to  this  country  and  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  lying  near  the  Welland  Canal,  be- 
tween Lake  F'rie  anil  Ontario.  This  was  retained 
but  a  short  time,  his  father  selling  out  and  moving  to 
Bruce  Co.,  Ont.,  where  he  bought  100  acres  of  land 
and  is  still  resident  there.  The  motherof  Mr.  Smith 
died  in  Germany.  She  left  nine  children,  five  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Of  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
Mr.  Smith  knows  com[)aratively  nothing. 

In  1872  he  came  to  the  State  of  Michigan  and 
bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Morton  Tp.  Nearly  the 
entire  acreage  of  his  land  is  under  culture  and 
is  largely  devoted  to  stock-raising,  to  which  it  is  well 
adai)led.      It    is  located  one  and   a    half  miles  from 


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M/iCOSTA   COUNTY. 


Mecosta  village,  is  well  watered  and  generally  is  of  a 
grade  that  compares  favorably  with  other  farms  in 
the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  April  16,  1S60,  at  Formosa, 
X  Canada,  to  Marianna  Gatz.  After  his  marriage  he 
^  rented  a  farm  there,  and  in  five  years  he  came  to 
Michigan,  as  stated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith's  children 
are:  Mary  Ann,  born  Feb.  8,  1861  (died  in  infan- 
cy); Elizabeth,  April  7,  1863;  Joseph,  Oct.  6,  1864, 
Henry,  Dec.  3,  1866;  Michael,  Se[tt.  26,  1876;  John, 
March  28,  1870;  Mary,  April  28,  1872;  Caroline, 
Dec.  28,  1873;  Frederick  P.,  Oct.  18,  1875;  Frank, 
Aug.  2,  1878  (died  two  years  later);  Magdalena, 
June  17,  1S82. 


''*ichard  Collins,  of  the  firm  of  Skclton  & 
Collins,  proprietors  of  the  Central  Hotel, 
IJig  Rapids,  was  born  in  Hastings,  Can- 
ada, Oct.  24,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Julia  Collins.  The  father  died  in  Can- 
ada, in    1864,  the  mother  in   1849. 

Mr.  Collins  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
clearing  up  land  until  1 87  2,  when  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  passed  five  years,  driving  logs  on  the 
river  summers,  and  lumbering  winters.  In  1878  he 
formed  his  present  partnership  with  Thomas  Skelton, 
and  opened  the  Central  House,  where  they  are  keep- 
ing a  good  hotel,  and  doing  a  nourishing  business. 
The  bar  is  supplied  with  all  goods  ccMnmon  to  simi- 
lar establishments. 

Mr.   Collins  owns  a  lot  in  tiie  Second   ward,  and 
40  acres  of  land  in  the  Fiftli  ward  of  l!ig  Rapids. 


VaI;,  aniel  C.  Bullock,  farmer,  contractor  and 
Mjfll'  builder,  located  on  sec.  26,  Deerfield  Tp., 
Wy^   was  born  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  May 

tMiv      5'  '828.     I  lis  parents,   Ira  and  Betsey  Bul- 

^  ock,  ai 

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are  now     residents  of  Canada;  father  a  na- 
ve of  the  State  of  New  \'ork,  and  mother  of 
Canada. 

Mr.  Bullock  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
l)lace  until  1863,  the  year  in  whicli  he  located  in 
Deerfield  T|i-      He  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  an  en- 


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tirely  uncultivated  state,  built  a  log  house,  and  has 
so  persevered  in  his  labors  that  he  has  31  acres  under 
the  plow,  and  has  erected  a  good  frame  house,  in 
which  he  resides.  In  [lolitical  sentiment  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

Mr.  Bullock  was  married  Feb.  22,  1859,  in  Canada, 
to  -Sarah,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  .Sarah  (Roszell) 
Biirss,  natives  of  Canada,  who  finally  emigrated  to 
.\llegan  County,  and  there  resided  until  the  father's 
death.  The  mother  resides  with  her  son-in-law, 
Henry  Mills,  of  Deerfield.  Mrs.  Bullock  was  born  in 
Canada,  Oct.  28,  1833.  Of  seven  children  born  of 
this  marriage,  three  are  living,  born  as  follows  :  Ira 
E.,  Dec.  10,  1859;  Charlie  E.,  Aug.  19,  1867; 
Franklin  D.,  March  10,  1870;  Minnie  L.,  born  June 
21,  1862,  died  July  17,  1866;  Alma  M.,  Sept.  10, 
1S64,  died  July  25,  1866;  Eddie  G.,  Sept.  18,  1869, 
died  Nov.  23,  1869;  Johnnie  S.,  Sept.  8,  1872,  died 
March  28,  1881.  The  eldest  son  is  the  owner  of  40 
acres  of  land  adjoining  his  father's  farm;  was  mar- 
ried in  Deerfield  Tp,  Aug.  22,  1882,  to  Lena,  daughter 
of  William  H.  and  Martha  M.  (Wilson)  Kuhn,  born 
Feb.  18,  1862,  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.:  removed  to 
Mecosta  County  in  the  spring  of  1882.  P.  O.,  Rust- 
ford. 

^J ^^ >^ 

^^£  ames  Shields,  of  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in 
Oif;;,  Norfolk  Co.  Can.,  Nov.  27,  1845.  He  is  a 
^,:?^  son  of  Archibald  and  Frances  (Reed) 
p"  Shields,  and   his  father's  calling  was  that  of  a 


wagon  and  carriage  maker.     At  the  age  of  19 


Y  he  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  for  a  hard- 
ware firm,  where  he  continued  three  years.  In  1867 
he  opened  a  hotel  in  Norfolk  Co,  which  he  conducted 
18  months,  and  then,  in  company  with  .Vndrew  Lees, 
he  engaged  in  buying  lumber,  ties,  |)ail,  shingle,  cord 
wood,  etc.,  for  the  market,  and  was  thus  occupied 
three  years.  In  1874  he  came  to  Grand  Rapids,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  garden 
(iroducts.  Three  years  later  he  went  to  Morley  for 
the  purpose  of  buying  a  farm ;  was  there  taken  sick 
and  continued  ill  about  seven  months.  This  disas- 
ter put  an  end  to  his  finances  and  to  his  agricultural 
projects.  His  next  removal  was  to  Greenville,  where 
he  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer  one  season.  He 
opened  an  eating  house  at  Greenville,  which  he  man- 
aged  18   months,  going  thence   to   Lakeview,  in  the 


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same  county,  where  he  built  a  grocery ;  he  ran  it  a 
few  months,  and  exclianged  the  property  for  a  farm 
of  80  acres  in  the  township  of  Hinton.  He  there 
built  anotliei  store  and  conducted  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  a  satisfactory  degree  of  success,  selling 
chiefly  at  auction,  having  a  particular  talent  for  that 
nietiiod  of  disposing  of  goods. 

Mr.  Shields  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  18S0, 
purchased  a  store  on  Maple  street  and  put  in  a  stouk 
of  groceries.  He  continued  to  operate  there  ten 
months,  whep  he  exchanged  his  business  and  fixtures 
for  35  acres  of  land  in  the  Fifth  ward,  which  is  still 
in  his  ix)ssession.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he  embarked 
in  another  grocery  enter|)rise  on  the  east  side,  where 
he  did  business  nearly  a  year.  He  Iwught  the  site 
now  occu|)ied  by  his  store,  erected  the  building,  ]nit 
Ml  a  stock  of  groceries  and  operated  until  the  spring 
of  1883,  when  he  again  sold  and  began  to  deal  in 
liquor  and  all  the  articles  common  to  a  first-class 
saloon.  Mr.  Shields  was  elected  Alderman  of  liis 
ward  in  the  spring  of  1883.  He  was  married  in  Nor- 
folk C'o.,  Can.,  June  10,  1867,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter 
of  U'illiam  and  Eliza  Runnings,  born  at  IKiffalo,  N. 
v.,  Nov.  3,  1848.  Their  children  are  Minnie  E., 
Anna  M.,  John  A.,  J'klith  M.,  James  A.,  William  A. 
and  an  infant  not  named. 


^*-HJH3)f^ 


l^^harles  M.  Darrah,  of  the  llmi  of  Darrah 
^JjF  liros.  iv:  Co.,  i)roprietors  of  the  City  Flour- 
\^n^  ing  Mills,  upper  Big  Rapids,  and  whose 
^"'p  ixjrtrait  we  present  on  the  opposite  page,  was 
'•  .'  !)orn  in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  town  of  IJeaver 
{  ]5r()ok,  June  19,  1831.  His  parents,  Robert 
and  Sinah  (Mitchell)  Darrah,  moved  to  Jefferson  Co., 
I'a.,  when  he  was  six  years  old.  I  lis  father  was  a 
farmer  and  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in  lum- 
bering. Mr.  Darrah  was  brought  up  to  the  pursuits 
of  his  f.ither  and  si)ent  his  youth  iii  the  lumber 
woods,  early  taking  an  active  i)art  in  all  the  matters 
pertaining  to  the  business.  At  20  he  took  a  contract 
to  manufacture  lumber  by  the  thousand,  and  a  year 
later  he  bought  a  farm  of  60  acres.  In  May,  1S56, 
he  transferred  his  interests  to  Battle  Creek,  where  he 
spent  one  summer  in  farming,  coming  to  Big  Rapids 
in  the  following  fall.  The  intermctliate  country  was, 
in    1S56,  chiefly  in  its  primeval  condition,  and   Mr. 


Darrah  transported  hither  his  family  and  household 
effects  with  horses  and  wagon.  The  drive  to  CJrand 
Rapids  consumed  three  days.  The  route  thence  to 
Big  Rapids  was  through  a  literally  unsettled  country, 
and  though  the  horses  were  good  the  journey  re- 
quired seven  days.  Mr.  Darrah  located  on  what  is 
now  sec.  6  of  the  townshi})  of  Austin,  which  had  no 
organized  local  government  until  18(19,  nearlv  13 
years  later. 

The  first  winter  Mr.  Darrah  spent  in  Mecosta 
County  he  went  to  work  for  J.  H.  Rodgers  and  was  in 
his  employ  one  year.  In  1858  he  bought  40  acres  on 
sec.  3,  Mecosta  Tp.,  and  in  1859  purchased  So  acres 
adjoining.  On  this  he  made  a  clearing  and  built  his 
house,  into  which  he  moved  as  soon  as  it  was  habit- 
able. He  worked  several  ensuing  years  in  the  lum- 
i)er  woods,  taking  contracts  to  cut  timber  and  deliver 
it  at  the  river.  From  his  small  and  arduous  begin- 
ning, Mr.  Darrah  has  grown  to  be  a  landholder  of  no 
mean  rank.  His  homestead  includes  400  acres,  ol 
which  he  purchased  240  in  1865,  and  took  jxissession 
in  1866.  His  aggregate  landed  estate  includes  1,000 
acres,  situated  chiefly  in  Missaukee  and  Roscommon 
Counties.  The  home  farm  of  Mr.  Darrah  is  among 
the  finest  and  largest  in  Mecosta  County.  His  or- 
ch.uds  and  barns  are  a  just  matter  of  proud  satisfac- 
tion to  the  proprietor.  He  has  continued  to  pursue 
his  lumber  business  and  river  driving,  which  he  has 
engaged  in  extensively.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he 
eni[)loyed  150  men  in  his  driving  operations  on  Clam 
River. 

In  the  spring  of  1882  he  rented  his  farm  and 
moved  to  the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  Aug.  14  of  the 
same  year,  associated  with  his  brother,  James  M. 
Darrah,  and  son,  Wilson  E.  Darrah,  he  purchased 
the  City  Flouring  Mills,  where  the  firm  have  since 
been  engaged  in  manufacturing  mill  products.  They 
have  a  large  local  and  shipping  trade,  and  employ 
half  a  dozen  hands  in  their  business,  which  aggre- 
gates about  $60,000  annually.  They  have  now  in 
process  of  erection  a  new  iron-roller  mill,  adjoining 
the  old  one.  It  will  be  37  x  50  feet  on  the  ground, 
five-stories  high,  and  be  fitted  with  seven  sets  of 
double  rollers  and  two  run  of  stone.  The  new  struc- 
ture will  be  devoted  to  commercial  pioducts;  the  old 
mill  will  be  devoted  to  custom  work  and  storage. 

Mr.  Darrah  was  married  May  26,  1853,  in  Knox 
Tp.,    Jefferson    Co.,   I'a.,   to  Sarah   E.,  daughter  of 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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James  and  Susan  (Mason)  Hall,  born  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  29,  1836.  Of  four  children  born  of 
this  marriage  three  are  living:  Wilson  E.,  Melvin  E. 
and  Charles  J.     James  E.  is  deceased. 


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^aeob  H.  Loucks,  Postmaster  and  merchant 
at  Sylvester,  Hinton  Tp.,  was  born  in  Lewis 
?W^  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  6,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Cook)  Loucks,  natives  of 
'•jp"  New  York,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  the  spring 
'^  of  1867,  with  their  son.  The  mother  died 
March  r,  1871;  the  father,  July  23,  1878.  In  1867 
Mr.  Loucks  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  at  first  in 
Ionia  County,  where  he  lived  two  years  and  then 
bought  40  acres  of  land  in  a  primeval  condition  in 
Gratiot  County.  He  built  a  frame  house  and  went 
on  with  the  work  of  putting  the  land  under  cultiva- 
tion. He  lived  on  the  place  13  years,  then  rented  it 
and  moved  to  Hinton  Tp.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he 
bought  out  the  stock  of  general  merchandise  of  Geo. 
W.  Streeter,  and  has  since  carried  on  that  business. 
In  politics  Mr.  Loucks  is  independent.  While  a 
resident  in  (iratiot  County  he  held  the  office  of  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  three  years.  He  was  married  in 
Copenhagen,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  6,  1865,  to  Sarah 
A.,  daughter  of  Justus  and  Cynthia  C.  (Leonard) 
Belcher.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  York, 
where  her  father  died,  in  April,  1881.  The  mother  is 
still  living  there.  Mrs.  Loucks  was  born  Sejit  11, 
1844.  She  has  become  the  mother  of  three  children, 
born  as  follows :  Mary  C,  Nov.  21,  1866;  Martha 
A.,  Feb.  28,  1871  ;  (ieo.  J.,  Nov.  15,  1874. 

Mr.  Loucks  was  appointed    Postmaster  by  Presi- 
dent  Arthur,  in  July,  1882. 


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fcenry  Main,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Millbrook  Tp., 
Js    was  born  in  Michigan,  Oct.  14,  1838.     His 
fi/|S»"    father,  George  Main,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
[Jj    vauia,  and  his  mother,  Margaret  A.  (Chandler) 
Main,  was  a  native  of  New  York.     Mr.  Main 
I     lived  at  home  with  his  parents  and  assisted  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  22  years  of  age,  when  he  went 
from  home  and  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  four  years ; 
then  rented  a  farm,  wliich  he  conducted  three  years; 


came  to  Mecosta  County  in  the  spring  of  1869  and 
bought  TOO  acres  of  wild  land  in  the  township  of 
Millbrook;  built  a  board  house,  and  proceeded  to 
clear  his  land,  to  which  he  has  added  by  purchase, 
and  now  owns  220  acres,  with  120  acres  under 
advanced  improvements. 

:Mr.  Main  is  a  Republican  in  faith  and  act.  He 
has  been  Treasurer  of  his  township  nine  years,  Con- 
stable two  years,  Road  Commissioner  one  year,  and 
Supervisor  one  year.  Himself  and  family  are  attend- 
ants at  the  Church  of  United  Brethren. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  April  10,  1861,  to 
Roxey  L.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  A.  (Hart- 
well)  Smith,  natives  of  Canada.  Mrs.  Main  was 
born  in  Canada,  Dec.  22,  1840.  She  was  under  the 
paternal  care  until  she  was  fifteen,  after  which  she 
depended  upon  her  own  resources.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Main  have  had  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  yet 
survive:  Esther  C,  born  June  5,  1862  ;  Aramintha  J., 
Dec.  24,  1863;  Austin  C,  Aug.  3,  1865;  Celestia  A., 
Oct.  27,  1867:  Lorenzo  A.,  Aug.  14,  1869;  Edward 
H.,  July  17,  1871  ;  WaKer  H.,  May  18,1873;  I-^fay- 
ette  J.,  April  7,  1876;  Elsie  M.,  June  9,  1877;  .Sid- 
ney O.,  l)orn  .'\pril  21,  1879,  died  Sept.  6,  '879; 
Loren  T.,  born  Nov.  28,  1881. 


H^^Tavid  L.  Garling,  miller,  proprietor  of  the 
P&gjy  Mecosta  County  Mills,  Big  Rapids,  was 
i    -  Imrn  at  Seneca  Falls,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y., 

'-'At^  Jan.  17,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Hartranft)  Garling.  The  father  was 
born  iu  Pennsylvania,  in  1795,  of  Dutch 
parentage,  and  died  in  Cayuga.  N.  Y.,  Dec.  24,  1881. 
The  mother  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  1803,  and  died  June  21,  18S3,  in  Seneca  Falls, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Garling  was  married  Nov.  16,  1865,  to  Hen- 
rietta Burtnette,  born  in  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  June 
25,  1846,  of  English  and  French  extraction.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  Burtnette.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Garling  have  four  children,  born  as  fol- 
lows: Anna  R.  B.,  Sept.  13,  1869;  Johnny  E.,  July 
29,  1872  ;  Emma  J.,  Aug.  20,  1875;  Burtnette,  May 
9,  1878. 

Mr.  Garling  came  to  Michigan  in  June,  1878,  and 
made  his  first   location    at    Percy,  Osceola  Co.     In 


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1879  he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  on  the  first 
day  of  Ai)ril  in  that  year  i)urchased  the  mill  pro|)erty, 
to  the  management  of  which  he  has  since  given  his 
attention.    He  is  a  Repul>lican  in  political  sentiment. 


eorgc  Miller,  farmer,  sec.  18,  Colfax  Tp., 
was  born  in  Delaware,  Middlesex  Co.,  Ont., 
July  6,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Miller.  The  father  was  born  in 
Perthshire,  Scotland,  in  1824,  and  in  1S45,  on 
attaining  his  majority,  came  to  Canada.  In 
the  year  following  he  married  Elizabeth  Cludmers, 
born  in  1827,  in  .Mmond  i'.ank,  Perthshire,  .Scotland. 
She  came  to  Canada  with  her  ])arents  at  the  age  of 
iS  years,  and  in  1846  was  married,  at  Quebec.  They 
settled  in  Delaware,  where  they  remained  until  1868, 
in  which  year  they  moved  to  Michigan  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Colfax  T|).,  Mecosta  Co.,  locating  three 
miles  from  Big  Ra|)ids. 

Mr.  Miller  resided  with  his  parents  until  1880, 
when  he  married  Klida  Hallock,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  E.  and  Harriet  L.  (.Stevens)  Hallock, 
of  Newaygo  County.  Her  father  was  l)orn  Feb.  2, 
1825,  in  New  York,  and  settled  in  Barry  Co.,  Mich., 
when  18  years  of  age.  The  mother  was  born  Sept. 
9,  1835,  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  Their  marriage 
occurred  in  1850,  and  five  years  later  they  settled  in 
Montcalm  County,  where  they  resided  until  1862. 
They  removed  to  Newaygo  County,  where  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler was  born  July  29,  1862.  She  remained  in  her  na- 
tive county  until  she  was  nine  years  old  and  then 
went  to  Howard  City,  where  she  attended  school 
until  she  was  17.  The  following  year  she  came  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  taught  school,  and  was  married 
May  5,  1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  a  son,  born 
March  29,  1883,  named  George  ICrnest  Miller.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Miller  died  April  15,  1872,  leaving  the 
mother  with  five  children.  She  removed  to  Howard 
City,  where  she  died,  in  November,  1S72. 

On  his  marriage,  Mr.  Miller  settled  on  his  own 
farm,  lying  next  his  father's  place  on  the  same  sec- 
tion. They  together  had  cleared  20  acres  of  the  tract, 
entered  under  the  homestead  act  by  the  father;  and 
Mr.  Miller  has  cleared  a  like  (punlily  on  his  own 
property,  and  has  charge  of  l)oth  places,  containing 
1 60  acres. 

Mr.  Miller's  mother  died   June   9,    18S1,   aged    54 


years.  She  was  seized  with  sudden  and  violent  ill- 
ness, passing  within  three  hours  into  a  comatose  state, 
from  which  she  never  rallied,  and  about  ten  hours 
after  the  attack  she  ceased  to  exist.  She  was  dearly 
beloved,  not  only  in  her  own  family  circle  but  also 
by  a  large  nimiber  of  neighbors  and  friends  who  felt 
her  loss  almost  as  keenly  as  though  it  were  personal. 
"We  had  been  so  happy  in  believing  that  we  should 
kee))  her  a  long  time  with  us  that  we  were  stunned, 
by  the  sharpness  and  suddenness  of  the  blow,"  said 
one  to  whom  her  loss  is  irreparable.  She  has  a  better 
monument  than  even  cpieens  have  had.  in  the  last- 
ing memories  of  tiiosc  whose  ha|)piness  had  been  her 
chief  care  and  hearty  delight. 

•    —^>-i---i — ■>  -•:-««(j|»-^o — 4_;-<—  . 

amcs  S.  Canaan,  farmer,  se< .  21,  Cram 
Pp.,  was  born  July  12,  1844,  in  Hardin 
IjK'^*^  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Jehu  and  Sarah 
I  .1  L.  Canaan.  (See  sketch  of  .Vsher  L.Canaan.) 
■jjij  At  the  age  of  11    years   Mr.   Canaan  set  out 

I  to  care  for  himself  and  to  aid  in  the  main- 
tenance of  his  father's  family.  Just  after  he  was 
18  years  old  he  enlisted  (Aug.  8,  1862)  in  Co.  li, 
iiSth  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  the  termination  of  the  war.  He  was  discharged 
at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  and  paid  off  at  Cleveland  Ohio, 
June  24,  1865.  He  was  in  precarious  health  when 
his  regiment  went  to  the  front,  and  was  assigned 
to  guard  duty  until  the  date  of  the  battle  of 
Atlanta,  where  he  was  first  under  fire.  His  corps 
was  aftenvards  dispatched  to  intercept  the  march  of 
the  rebel  (Jen.  Hood,  and  he  was  in  the  battle  of 
Smithville,  on  the  Tennessee  river.  Hood's  forces 
and  the  Union  army  under  Thomas  kept  up  an  in- 
cessant skirmishing,  and  seven  days'  fighting  ttwk 
place  near  Columbia,  Tenn.  Mr.  Canaan  was  in  the 
terrible  fights  at  Franklin  and  at  Nashville,  and  was 
then  transferred  to  North  Carolina.  His  first  battle 
was  at  Fort  Anderson,  and  his  last  at  a  jxjint  10  miles 
below  Wilmington.  He  returned  to  Ohio  and  in 
()ctol)er,  1 866,  settled  in  Crant  Tp.  He  became  a 
landholder  in  1S73,  buying  40  acres  of  choice  land, 
which  he  has  improved  to  the  best  advantage,  and 
has  a  good  frame  house  with  all  necessary  farm 
buildings. 

Mr.  Canaan  was  married  Sept.  9,  1875,  to  Maria, 
daughter  of    James  and    lieulah  Stewart,  of  Lake- 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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view,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.  She  was  born  in  Clyde, 
Ohio,  Dec.  8,  1847.  Her  father  died  Jan.  19,  1878, 
and  her  mother  is  still  living,  in  Michigan.  The 
three  living  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canaan  were 
born  as  follows:  Stewart  E.,  June  25,  1876;  Her- 
bert L.,  Sept.  4,  1878;  Ernest  J.,  May  16,  1883; 
Claude  C,  born  Dec.  2,  1880,  died  July  6,  1881. 

Politically  Mr.  Canaan  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  actively  interested  in  local  affairs.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  Supervisor,  five  years.  Town- 
ship t:ierk,  six  years.  School  Director,  two  years,  As- 
sessor, three  years,  and  was  Deputy  Sheriff  under 
J.  T.  Escott,  four  years.  He  has  been  Delegate  vari- 
ous times  to  the  District  and  County  Conventions. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church. 


11  dward  Fitzgerald,  farmer,  resident  on  sec. 
I^gl  29,  Mecosta  Tp„  was  born  in  County  Kerry, 
fl?^^  Ireland,  Aug.  15,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of 
'^;    Edward  and   Bridget  (Rourke)  Fitzgerald,  na- 

X     tives  of  Ireland,  where    they  passed  their  lives. 

',  Mr.Fitzgeiakl  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 

15,  and  landed  at  Quebec,  Can.,  staying  there  a  brief 
time,  going  thence  to  Oswego,  N.  Y  ,  where  he  ob- 
tained enployment  in  an  elevator  for  a  short  time. 
His  next  remove  was  to  Defiance  Co.,  O.,  reaching 
there  in  November,  1853.  He  worked  on  the  railroad 
for  a  time  and  then  rented  a  farm,  where  he  worked  un- 
til the  spring  of  1861.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  late 
war  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  38th  ().  Vol.  Inf.,  and  his 
regiment  was  attached  to  the  command  of  Ctcu.  Sher- 
man in  East  Tennessee.  'I'liey  marched  through  Sa- 
vannali,  Cia.,  and  were  participants  in  the  severe  fight 
at  Ionesl)oro,  Sept.  i,'64,  where  the  regiment  suffered 
heavy  loss,  but  Mr.  Fit/.gerald  escaped  unhurt.  He 
was  in  tlie  service  four  years  and  saw  some  of  its 
severest  work,  but  was  never  injured.  He  was  dis- 
charged |uly  14,  1865,  and  received  from  his  office  a 
most  satisfactory  testimonial  as  a  brave  and  good 
soldier.  He  returned  to  his  rejoicing  family  and 
resumed  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  settled  in 
Mecosta  County  and  purchased  a  fine  farm  on  the 
bank  of  Big  Muskegon  River,  in  Mecosta  Tp. 

He  was  married  Jan.  1,  1854,  to  Marcella,  daughter 
of  Patrick  and  Marcella  (West)  Fox,  natives  of  Ire- 


land. Mrs.  Fitzgerald  was  born  after  her  parents 
emigrated  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Defiance 
Co.,  O.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fitzgerald,  as  follows:  Ella  M.,  May  13,  1859;  VVm. 
Nov.  13,  1861  ;  Francis  E.,  June  22,  1867  ;  Anna  E., 
Sept.  1,1869;  Mary,  born  June  4,  1857,  died  Febru- 
ary, 1874. 

Mrs.  Fitzuerald  is  a  member  of   llie  M.  Iv  Cluircii. 


^^^ohn  M.   Main,  farmer,   resident    on   sec.  2, 
■^1|1  Millbrook  Tp.,  was   born  in  ^\'alerloo  Co., 
_w?;^<4'  Can.,  Feb.  25,   1S43.       He  grew  to  man's 
sP"  estate  in  the  manner  common  to  the  sons  of 
•ijif-     farmers.     When    2 1    years  of  age  he  rented  a 
Y     farm  in   Canada,  which    he   conducted    tluee 
years,  and  resolved  to  become  a  citizen  of  the 
U.  S.     He   came   to  Michigan,  landing  at  Detroit, 
Jan.  10,  :866.       He  proceeded  to  Lakeview,  Mont- 
calm Co.,  and  was  occupied  in  lumbering  during  that 
winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867  came  to  Mecosta 
County,  locating  on   100  acres  of  land  in  Millbrook 
Tp.,  which  had  been    given    him   by  his   father,  to 
which  he  has  added  40  acres,  and  now  has  100  acres 
under  improvement. 

He  was  mariied  in  Canada,  Nov.  iS,  1863,10  Mary 
M.,  daughterof  Charles  and  Arabella  (Morrison)  Per-  ^  ^ 
son,  of  English  and  French  nativity.  She  was  born 
in  Canada,  July  5,  1S47.  Children:  Margaret  E., 
born  Feb.  28,  1865  ;  Melinda  J.,  Feb.  18,  1867  ; 
James  W.,  Feb.  8,  1869;  Ferdinand  O.,  Nov.  18, 
1870;  John  G.,  Dec.  20,  1872;  Otto  E.,  June  9, 
1874;  Nelson  A.,  Aug.  28, 1876;  Charlotte  B.,  March 
28,  1878;  George  W.,  Nov.  28,  1879;  Charles  H.. 
May  12,1881. 

Mr.  Main  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  the  favor- 
ed choice  of  his  townsmen  for  responsible  positions. 
He  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


/ 


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eorge  A.    Haggit,   blacksmith,    Millbrook 

village,  was  born  in  Huron  Co.,  Can.,  Dec. 

5,  1857.    He  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Eliz- 

^'^  abeth  (Cockedine)  Haggit,  natives  of  England. 

Mr.     Haggit   learned    his   trade    in    Canada^ 

!       where  he   remained   until   Feb.    i,    1883,  and 

worked  four  years.     At  the  date  named   he  came  to 

Mecosta  County  and  bought  out  ilie  blacksmith  shop 


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of  John  Mitchell  at  the  village  of  Millbrook,  where 
he  is  managin-;  a  thriving  business,  and  doing  the 
custom  work  of  a  large  section  of  country. 

He  was  married  in  Huron  Co.,  Can.,  Jan.  29,  18S0, 
to  Alice  M.,  daughter  of  John  and  Leah  (Tremlitt) 
Muss,  natives  of  Canada,  where  the  daughter  was 
lorn  June  6,  i860.  They  have  one  child,  Alonzo 
\V.,  born  Sept.  19,  1881.  Mr.  H.  belonged  in  Can- 
ada to  the  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters,  and  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Reform  parly. 


'^isjm/f^^^r'—^ 


t^Si^uinnv. 


eorge  R.  Malone,  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Northrup  &  Malone,  lawyers  and 
•%^^^  real-estate  brokers.  Big  Raiiids,  Midi.,  was 
^'■l?' i  born  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  July  27,  1851. 
He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Maria  (JilcCad- 
din)  Malone,  who  moved  from  Columbus  to 
Woosler,  Wayne  C'o.,  ( )hio,  when  he  was  two  years 
old.  His  father  died  at  that  place  in  1S54,  after 
which  his  mother  removed  to  Canal  Fulton,  Stark  Co., 
near  the  home  of  her  father,  John  J.  McCaddin,  wlio 
in  his  younger  days  was  a  pioneer,  and  afterwards  a 
prominent  farmer  and  business  man  in  that  locality. 

At  the  age  of  six  years  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  where  he  worked  on  the 
old  homestead  of  his  grandfather  summers  and  went 
to  school  winters  till  he  was  15  years  of  age.  After 
tliis  his  entire  time  for  several  years  was  devoted  to 
study  and  teaching.  He  commenced  teaching  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  receiving  $16  a  month  for  his 
first  term  in  Chippewa  Tp.,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  After 
this  he  removed,  with  his  mother  and  family,  an  older 
l)rother  and  sister,  to  near  Lansing,  Mich.,  where  he 
continued  alternately  to  teach  and  attend  school  till 
1871.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was  engaged  as 
Princi|)al  of  the  schools  at  Crand  Ledge,  Eaton  Co., 
Mich.,  whicli  position  he  also  held  during  the  years, 
1875-6,  having  spent  most  of  the  intervening  time 
attending  the  Lansing  High  School  and  the  State 
Agrii  ultural  College. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Malone  entertained  a  strong  de- 
sire to  study  and  practice  law,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen lie  visited  John  McSweeny,  a  leading  criminal 
lawyer  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  completed  arrangements 
to  study  with  him;  but  this  his  friends  dissuaded  him 


from  doing,  preferring  that  he  become  a  tef>cher  or 
enter  the  ministry;  however,  as  he  always  entertained  a 
love  for  the  study  of  law,  during  the  last  years  of  his 
teaching  he  found  time  to  read  the  works  of  a  num- 
ber of  leading  law  writers.  After  closing  his  second 
year's  work  in  the  schools  of  Crand  Ledge  he  de- 
voted a  year  almost  exclusively  to  the  study  and 
practice  of  law  at  liell  Oak,  Ingham  Co.  .\fler  this 
he  spent  two  years  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Bell 
Oak;  but  this  enterprise,  not  being  congenial  to  his 
taste,  did  nut  prove  successful. 

Li  the  spring  of  1881,  he  came  to  the  village  of 
Mecosta,  and  recommenced  the  practice  of  law.  He 
was  soon  after  admitted  Jp  the  Bar  of  Mecosta 
County,  and  in  January,  1883,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids, 
and  the  following  summer  went  into  partnership  with 
Mr.  C.  L.  Northrup,  an  attorney  of  several  years' 
successful  practice  in  Northern  Michigan.  Soon 
after  coming  to  the  county  Mr.  Malone  was  elected 
member  of  the  t'ounty  Board  of  School  Examiners 
and  Secretary  of  that  Board,  which  position  he  held 
for  two  years.  The  untiring  zeal  with  which  lie  de- 
voted himself  to  the  duties  of  this  office,  and  the 
consequent  advancement  in  educational  interests 
throughout  the  county,  so  identified  him  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  people  that  his  work  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten. 

Mr.  Malone,  though  still  a  young  man,  is  every- 
where known  as  a  man  of  the  people;  he  is  there- 
fore an  active  agent  in  all  matteis  tending  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  community  and  esjiecially  of  the 
young.  He  is  an  earnest  ami  ardent  s|)eaker,  and 
has  presented  his  views  u[ion  leading  subjects  of  pub- 
lic interest,  not  only  in  his  own  county  but  in  differ- 
ent [jarts  of  the  State.  He  is  an  active  worker  in 
the  cause  of  temperance  and  a  zealous  advocate  of 
both  moral  suasion  anil  prohibition.  He  is  also  a 
total  abstainer  himself,  having  never  partaken  of  in- 
toxicating licpiors  as  a  beverage  in  his  life;  neither 
has  he  ever  used  tobacco  in  any  form. 

Mr.  Malone  was  married  in  Locke  T|).,  Ingham 
Co.,  June  30,  1875,  to  Miss  Fanny  E.  Atkins,  eldest 
daughter  of  Harman  A.  and  Harriet  V.  .Atkins,  both 
of  whom  were  pioneers  of  that  county.  Mr.  Atkins 
is  a  physician,  having  practiced  in  Ingham  County 
for  more  than  thi.ty  years.  He  is  also  a  great  reader, 
and  a  profound  student  of  natural  sciences,  being 
the  author  of  a  work  on  ornithology,  embodying  his 
daily  observations  for  more  than  a  <piarler  uf  a  cen- 


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tury.  Mrs.  Malone  was  horn  in  Locke  Tp.,  Ingham 
Co.,  March  5,  1854.  She  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion and  taught  school  several  terms  in  Ingham  and 
Eaton  Counties  before  her  marriage;  she  still  enter- 
tains the  same  love  for  reading  and  study  as  that  of 
her  father,  and  so  far  as  possible  still  gives  her  time  to 
literary  pursuits.  Bertha  E.,  only  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Malone,  was  born  Dec.  29,  1S77. 

In  connection  with  this  sketchwe  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Malone. 


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m.  Willett,  farmer  on  sec.  5,  Hinton  Tp.^ 
was  born  in  England,  March  28,  1810. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  England  and 
came  to  Canada  in  the  early  days  of  its  set- 
tlement, and  there  the  mother,  Martha  (Skil- 
'  ton)  Willett,  finally  died.  The  father,  Richard 
Willett,  came  to  Michigan  with  his  children,  and  died 
at  the  home  of  his  son  George.  William  Willett 
spent  the  first  23  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land, 
and  until  14  years  of  age  was  sent  to  school.  He 
worked  four  years  with  his  father,  who  was  a  carpen- 
ter, and  then  set  out  for  his  single-handed  life  strug- 
gle. In  1833  he  came  to  Canada  and  entered  upon 
a  life  of  labor,  working  at  carpentry  and  milhvright- 
ing,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  33  years,  coming  to 
Michigan  in  1866.  ,  He  at  once  purchased  120  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  now  resides  and  has  40  acres 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Willet  was 
married  in  England,  Feb.  3,  1830,  to  Charlotte, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Charlotte  (Mann)  Rose. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  England,  where  Mrs. 
Willett  was  born  Sejit.  21,  1812,  and  tiiere  her  father 
and  motiier  died. 


ohn  D.  Decker,  farmer,  sec.  14,  Millbrook 
Tp.,  was  born  in   the  State  of  New  York, 
March  11,  1828.     He  is  a  son  of  Gilbert 
and   Mary  (Stanley)  Decker,  and  was  reared 
under  the  care  of  his  parents,  living  at  home 
until  he  was  22  years  old,  and  occupied  ciiiefiy 
with    farming.      His  father  removed    with    his 
f.i  nily  to  Canada  when    Mr.   Decker  was  about  six 


years  old,  who  remained  there  until  he  readied  Ijie 
age  of  24  years,  going  thence  to  Illinois.  After  resid- 
ing there  seven  years,  engaged  meanwhile  in  farm- 
ing, he  came  in  the  autumn  of  1866  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  bought  80  acres  of  wild  land  in  Mill 
brook  Tp.  He  has  since  bought  40  acres  more,  and 
of  the  aggregate  120  acres  has  40  acres  under  cul- 
tivation. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  Feb.  10,  185 1,  to 
Harriet  R,,  daughter  of  David  and  Lena  (Mirkley) 
Welch,  the  former  a  native  of  New  England,  the  lat- 
ter of  Canada.  She  was  born  in  Upj)er  Canada, 
Nov.  30,  1829.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Decker  have  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  eight  survive:  Louisa  H.,  born 
Jan.  25,  1852;  Eva  J.,  Oct.  25,  1856;  Howard  E., 
Feb.  25,  1859;  Adella  M.,  Jan.  21,  1862;  William 
A.,  April  16,  1864;  James  E.  C.  March  12,  1868; 
Mary  L.,  Dec  29,  187  i;  Allierta  E.,  Feb.  9,  1875; 
Edward  H.,  born  Feb.  7,  1S54,  died  Jan.  17,  1856. 


^&  artley  Davis,  deceased,  was  born  .\ug.  18, 
1832.  He  was  a  son  of  Francis  and  Mar- 
garet Davis,  natives  of  Belfast,  Ireland. 
At  the  age  of  six  years  he  came  to  Canada 
'^>  with  his  i)arents,  and  attended  school  at  To- 
1  ronto  until  he  was  13  years  old.  Two  years 
later  he  began  to  work  in  a  saw-mill  for  Jonah  Ugel, 
where  he  continued  until  he  was  21  years  old.  In 
company  with  a  son  of  his  employer,  he  bought  a 
saw-mill,  and  they  went  into  business  for  themselves, 
where  Mr.  Davis  thus  operated  five  years.  He  sold 
his  interest  in  the  mill  and  went  to  live  on  a  farm  he 
had  previously  purchased,  which  he  managed  until 
1 86 1.  He  then  came  to  Michigan,  and  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  70  acres  of  which 
were  under  the  plow  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Asso- 
ciated with  William  N.  Seaton,  Mr.  Davis  built  and 
operated  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township,  located  at 
.Altona.  He  was  connectcil  witli  Mr.  .Seaton  two 
years,  and  was  engaged  in  lumbeiing  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent  each  winter  after  coming  to  Hinton.  Dur- 
ing his  life  Mr.  Davis  was  Supervisor  several  years. 
He  tlied  Feb.  13,  1879,  after  an  illness  of  five  years, 
of  consumption.  He  was  confined  to  his  house  but 
two  weeks. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  April  10,  1858,  in  Canada, 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


to  Lydia  M.,  cklcst  daughter  of  William  and  (liar- 
lottc  (Rose)  Willctt.  born  Jan.  17,  1832.  Her  parents 
reside  in  Hinton  Tp.  Of  six  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Davis,  three  survive:  Newton  E.,  l)orn 
April  12,  1S59;  Ella  .M.,  Nov.  22,  1861;  Charlotte 
M.,  April  2,  1865.  Two  children  died  in  infancy; 
E/.ra  \V.,  horn  Oct.  7,  1S60,  died  Fel).  iS,  i.S.Si. 
Mrs.  Davis  resides  on  the  homestead. 


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Ejidney  Haskill,  painter,  resident  on  sec.  35, 
^Etna  I'l).,  was  horn  May29, '29,in  Yates 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  son  of  Josiah  and  Chloe 
(Gage)  Haskill.  .\t  the  age  of  15  he  was  ai)- 
prenticed  to  Nathan  Simson,  a  painter  of  tliat 
vicinity,  and  as  he  acquired  the  details  of  the 
trade  with  readiness  and  became  a  skilled  workman 
in  much  less  than  the  time  required  by  the  terms  of 
his  indenture,  he  was  released  and  managed  his 
own  business  engagements  for  three  years.  He 
then  spent  two  years  on  the  lakes;  since  i860  he 
has  been  busy  with  his  trade.  During  the  time  he 
was  in  the  Empire  State  he  worked  on  the  N.  Y.  C. 
R.  R. ;  going  thence  to  Kansas,  he  worked  on  the 
Union  Pacific  R.  R.,  as  a  bridge  builder.  He  re- 
turned to  Michigan,  stopped  at  Port  Huron,  and  a 
few  months  later  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  he 
arrived  in  the  spring  of  1863.  He  followed  his  trade 
14  years  in  that  city  and  then  settled  in  .-Etna  Tp., 
on  a  farm  near  Morley.  Since  his  location  in  the 
township  he  has  worked  with  Higbee  &  Co. 

He  was  married  in  1S50,  to  Catherine,  daui^liter  of 
Samuel  and  Anna  Duttou,  at  Port  Hope,  Pr.  of  On- 
tario. Children:  Albert,  born  Nov.  25,  1857;  Ro- 
sanna  W.,  August,  1859;  Frank,  Nov.  5,  1866.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Haskill  are  adherents  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mr.  11.  is  a  Reiiublican. 

-   oc^   - 


"<SCSo~ 


ames  A.  Mills,  farmer  on  sec.   20,  Mecosta 

P'>M-    '  I'-,  was  Ixjrn  Sept.   7,  1847.      He  is  a  son 

v,'"^^  of   Alexander    and    Sarah    (More)     Mills, 

Yi     natives  of  Scotland  and  early  emigrants  to  St. 

Johns,  N.    H.,   where  the  son  was  born.     Mr. 

Mills  took  his    fortunes  into  his  own  hands  at 

nine  years  of  age.     He  ran  away  to  sea  in  the  capacity 

of  cabin  Ixjy,  and  was  in  that  [wsition  two  years  when 


he  became  shipmate.  He  was  pronioled  \^  the  post  >& 
of  second  mate,  and  so  i)erforme(l  his  duties  that  he  /• 
was  offered  the  position  of  first  mate,  but  declined,  -?■ 
as  he  had  determined  to  withdraw  from  a  seafaring  X 
life.  He  hail  a  desire  to  engage  in  the  whale-fishing  j>. 
service  of  the  Northern  Ocean,  and  spent  some  months  ^  ' 
in  the  dangers  and  excitements  of  that  life.  He  then 
engaged  in  cod-fishing  service  and  followed  it  on  tVie 
coast  of  Gaspe,  Can.  After  four  months  he  connect- 
ed himself  with  a  company  of  seal  fishers  and  spent 
a  considerable  time  in  that  region  of  icebergs.  He 
then  quitted  ocean  life  and  went  to  Upper  Canada, 
where  he  remained  but  a  brief  time.  His  next  re- 
move was  to  Texas,  where  he  was  occupied  some 
months  in  herding  cattle.  Coming  North,  via  New 
York,  to  Canada,  in  1859,  he  visited  his  native  place. 
He  came  to  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and  there  operated  as  a 
lumberman  one  year,  and  was  also  engaged  some- 
what in  river  driving. 

Mr.  Mills  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  i860,  ( 
where  he  remained  until  his  marriage.  That  event  "\ 
occurred  July  8,  1861,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Jesse  R. 
and  Lydia  (Mash)  Green.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Canada,  where  she  was  born  Sept.  17,  1847.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mills  have  had  one  child,  Alice  May,  born 
May  31,  1875.     Mr.  Mills  is  a  Democrat. 


V 


A/x/v^-^ 


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"%W^^ '  f^n^ucl  J.  Throp,  of  the  firm  of  Fellows  & 
,  p  ~N  Throii,  druggists,  at  liig  Rapids,  was  born 
,it  Fort  Jefferson,  Darke  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  28, 
it"^  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  John  A.  Throp,  born 
J  Oct.  24,  1822,  in  Monmouth  Co.,  New  Jersey, 
and  Catharine  Throp,  born  Dec.  3,  1825,  in 
Warren  Co.,  Ohio.  His  motlier  never  changed  her 
maiden  name,  yet  there  was  no  relalionshij)  trace- 
able. His  father  was  a  wagon-maker,  but  on  his 
removal  to  Three  Rivers,  Mich.,  in  1857,  became  as- 
sociated with  a  partnership  manufacturing  company, 
in    building    the    celebrated     Invincible    Vibrating 


Thresher  and  general  agricultural  implements;  he  ^^ 

sold  his  interest  in  the  factory  March   15,  1881,  but  1 

retained   his  claims   in   the   jiatents.     In    1867    Mr.  f^ ' 
Throp  went  to  Troy,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  mer- 
chant flouring  mill  of  his   uncle,  Thomas  A.  Throp, 

as  accountant.     The  latter  died   in    1873,  and   Mr.  • 

Throp  was  ajipointed    administrator  of    the  esialc,  ^ 


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After  an  absence  of  seven  years,  and  the  affairs  per- 
taining to  the  settlement  were  adjusted,  he  returned 
to  Three  Rivers,  and  in  1875  became  secretary  of  a 
new  incorporated  company,  namely,  Roberts,  Throp 
&  Co.,  manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements,  in 
which  his  father  had  been  actively  and  steadily  con- 
nected for  the  past  25  years,  being  Director  and 
Vice-President  as  well  as  General  Manager  and 
Superintendent.  On  account  of  failing  health,  sim- 
ultaneously with  his  father's  active  withdrawal  from 
the  concern,  Mr.  Throp  and  his  father  sold  their  half 
interest  in  the  capital  stock,  divided  the  notes  and 
accounts  and  retained  their  share  of  the  same.  Their 
connection  therewith  had  been  veiy  laborious  and 
one  of  great  resi)onsibility,  yet  successful  and  merito- 
rious in  a  financial  sense.  They  together  engaged 
in  the  collection  of  their  outstanding  accounts,  until 
September,  1882. 

During  that  numth  Mr.  Throp  came  to  Big  Rapids 
and,  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  C.  A. 
Fellows,  purchased  a  stock  of  drugs  of  C.  P.  Bige- 
low,  M.  1).,  which  they  removed  to  their  present 
l)lace  of  business.  They  carry  the  largest  stock  of 
drugs  and  sundries  in  the  city,  and  have  the  most 
complete  and  tastefully  arranged  business  house,  in 
their  line,  in  Northern  Michigan.  Their  business 
comprises  wholesale  as  well  as  retail,  and  although 
already  extensive,  is  steadily  increasing. 

Mr.  Throp  was  married  at  Three  Rivers,  May  28, 
1870,  to  Clara  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
Hiles.  Mrs.  Throp  was  born  in  Montour  Co.,  Pa., 
Aug.  27,  1848.  Charles  Henry,  only  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Throp,  was  born  at  Troy,  111.,  Sept.  16,  '72. 


A 

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l-ohn  Bellamy,  tanner,   sec.    8,   \\heatland 

^I^^C,  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Cathcart) 

|W;,-F"^  Bellamy,  the  father  a  native  of   iMigland, 

f  y  of    mixed    British    and    Irish    blood,    and    tlie 

^^  mother  of  Ireland  ;  they  came  to  America  early 

Y   '"  life  and  located  in  Ontario,  Can.,  where  they 

were  married.     Mr.  Bellamy   was  born  in  Waterloo 

Co.,  Can.,  Sc])!.  5,  1855,  and  passed  the  first  23  years 

of  his  life  in   school  and  assisting  his  father  on  the 

farm.     In    the  fall    of    1878    he   came    to    Mecosta 

County  and  passed  one  year  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  witli 

John  Cringrich,  his    brollier-in-law.     Meanwhile    lie 

was  married,  June  14,  1879,  to  Leonora,  daughter  of 


Peter  and  Mary  (McDonald)  Gingrich,  who  was  born 
July  5,  1 86 1,  in  Waterloo  Co.,  Can.,  and  when  si.\ 
years  old  accompanied  her  parents  to  Michigan.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bellamy  liave  two  children :  John  H., 
born  Dec.  25,  1879,  and  William  A.,  Nov.  18,  1881. 
In  politics  Mr.  Bellamy  is  a  Democrat. 


,arvey  Harrington,  proprietor  of  the  hotel 
jjl'  at  Altona,  Hinton  Tp.,  was  born  in  Ionia 
■■^[\^° '"  County,  Mich.,  Aug.  2,  1848.  His  jiarents, 
A  William  and  Margaret  (Staley)  Harrington,  were 
r  natives  of  Ohio.  Their  first  removal  ihence  was 
I  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  and  successively  to 
Ionia,  Gratiot  and  Calhoun  Counties,  and  in  1869 
went  to  Kansas,  where  they  now  reside.  Mr.  Har- 
rington was  14  years  of  age  when  his  parents  went 
to  Gratiot  County.  Their  stay  there  lasted  one  year, 
and  they  then  went  to  Calhoun  County,  where  Mr. 
Harrington  lived  with  them  until  he  was  21  years  of 
age.  On  attaining  man's  estate  he  went  to  Mont- 
calm County,  and  there  worked  in  a  shingle-mill 
eight  years.  In  1873  he  l)ought  40  acres  of  i)artly 
improved  land  in  the  township  of  Fairplain,  in 
Montcalm  Co.  He  took  possession  of  this  place  as 
a  residence  in  1877,  and  in  1881  exchanged  tlie 
property  for  80  acres  in  Sheridan  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co., 
where  he  fixed  his  home  in  September,  1881.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1883,  he  exchanged  his  farm  for  tlie  hotel  at 
Altona,  which  he  is  now  managing. 

Mr.  Harrington  was  married  in  Montcalm  County, 
Oct.  24,  1869,  to  Lois  A.,  yoiingest  child  of  Nathan 
and  Mary  A.  (Rossmore)  Rose.  The  latter  were 
natives  of  New  York,  where  Mrs.  Harring'on  was 
born,  Oct.  24,  1852.  Her  father  died  Feb.  4,  1862, 
and  lier  mother  lives  with  her,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
rington luive  had  one  child,  George  N.,  born  .April  3. 
187  I,  and  died  Oct.  t  2,  187  1.  As  to  political  issues, 
Mr.  Harrington  is  a  Reiniblican. 

Ipohn  M.   Sims,   farmer,  sec.   2,    (ireen  Tp., 

%  was  born    Sept.    26,    1845,  in  Greene  Co., 

Kf^"^  Pa.,  and   is  the  son  of  Martin  and   Kliza 

Jane  (Mundy)   Sims.     Mr.  Sims  is  descended 

from  loyal  ancestry,  his  great-grandfather  hav- 

'^     ing  fought   in   the  war  of  the    Revolution,  and 

also   in   that  of  1812.      Mis   father  was   born   in  the 


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Keystone  State,  of  Enj;lish  ancestry ;  was  a  farmer 
'n  and  Miillwrij;lu,  and  enlisted  in  the  civil  war  as  a 
,■:%  soldier  for  the  Union,  finally  locating  in  Van  Huren 
I  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  died,  in  1876.  The  mother, 
y^  born  in  founty  Down,  Ireland,  died  Aug.  28,  187  i. 
True  to  the  patriotic  instincts  of  his  race,  Mr. 
Sims  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  to  defend 
the  tlag  his  ancestors  had  foiij^ht  to  establish, 
and  is  the  youngest  soldier  recorded  in  this  voUime. 
lie  enrolled  as  his  country's  servant  in  the  12th  W. 
Va.  Infantry,  Aug  9,  1869,  when  he  was  15  years,  1 1 
months  and  13  days  old.  He  was  discharged  June 
16,  1865,  having  seen  much  active  service  in  the 
memorable  engagements  of  the  war,  among  them  the 
fight  at  Winchester,  June  14,  1863,  Harper's  Ferry, 
in  July,  1864,  Battle  of  Winchester,  and  of  Cedar 
Creek,  Nov.  19,  1864,  at  Piedmont,  Stanton,  Lynch- 
burg; and  when  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac he  fought  at  Hatchers  Run,  near  Petersburg, 
March  29,  30,  31,  1865,  and  h.\m\  i,  folkjwing,  at 
I'ort  Grey,  near  Petersburg,  whence  his  command  fol- 
lowed Lee  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Army  Corps 
until  the  rebel  chief  surrendered  to  the  Federal 
authority  at  Appomatlox,  of  which  event  Mr.  Sims 
was  an  eye  witness.  After  Lee's  cai)itulation  the 
forces  went  from  Lynchburg  to  Richmond,  wlieve 
^  they  were  discharged,  and  were  mustered  out  at 
Wheeling.  Mr.  Sims  sustained  but  one  injury  during 
the  entire  time,  receiving  a  gunshot  wound  in  tlie 
left  leg  in  a  skirmish  near  Harper's  Ferry.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  Battle  of  Winchester,  June  14, 
1863,  and  was  held  in  captivity  three  months.  At 
tile  end  of  that  lime  he  made  his  escape  and  rejoined 
his  command,  after  passing  four  days  and  nights 
in  the  mountains  almost  wholly  without  supplies. 

March  25,  1866,  he  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich., 
and  in  1868  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Green  Tp., 
where  he  has  since  followed  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Kllen  E.  Robins  in  1867  ;  she  was  born  in 
Potter  Co.,  Pa  ,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  G.  and 
Olive  (Slade)  Robins.  Of  this  marriage  one  child 
was  born,  Otis  Odando.  The  motlier  died  June  28, 
1868.  Mr.  Sims  was  again  married  in  1869,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  John  and  .\my  (Clark)  Kitchen,  a 
native  of  Canada,  l)orn  Sept.  18,  1841.  Her  fatjier 
■^  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  is  now  living  near 
^  Whitehall,  Mich.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  New 
llrunswick  and  died  in  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sims' 
children  are,  l)eli)ert,  Anna  H.,  Elsie  M.  and   Viola. 


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heodore  C.  Gardner,  of  Big  Rapids,  a  jior- 
trait  of  whom  we  present  upon  the  o|)posite 
page,  was  born  Dec.  21,  1843,  in  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  under  his 
father's  care.  He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and 
Mary  (Branch)  Gardner,  natives  of  New  York, 
and  of  English  descent.  Mr.  Gardner  became  a  sol- 
dier when  he  was  18  years  old,  enlisting  April  23, 
i86r,  in  the  iMghth  Ojiio  Infantry,  Com|>any  K, 
Capt.  W.  F.  Pierce.  His  command  was  attached  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  during  the  period  of 
his  enlistment  he  was  in  17  actions;  among  the 
most  prominent  were  the  battles  of  Bull  Run,  An- 
tietam  and  South  Mountain.  From  all  the  casualties 
of  war  Mr.  Gardener  fortunately  escaped,  and  was 
neither  wounded  nor  taken  prisoner.  He  was  made 
Sergeant  soon  after  his  first  service  in  the  war,  and 
during  the  time  was  transferred  to  the  Sixth  U.  S. 
Cavalry,  in  which  he  remained  until  he  was  mus- 
tered out,  .May  26,  1864.  He  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
after  two  months  entered  the  servi(  e  of  the  Govern- 
ment, operating  chielly  as  a  harness  maker.  He  was 
thus  employed  about  si.x  months,  and  on  t,he  close  of 
the  war  returned  to  Ohio.  Soon  after  he  came  to 
Oceana  Co.,  Mich,,  and  entered  160  acres  of  land 
under  the  homestead  act. 

He  returned  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  married 
May  22,  1866,  to  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Alden  and 
Lois  (Morse)  Apthorp,  the  father  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  mother  of  New  York.  They 
moved  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1840,  where  Mrs. 
Ganlner  was  born.  May  16,  1844.  She  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
and  was  a  teacher  some  years  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage. .\fler  that  event  she  accompanied  her  hus- 
band to  Michigan,  and  they  resided  on  his  farm  in 
Oceana  County  until  the  fall  of  1870,  when  Mr. 
Gardner  removed  his  interests  to  Millbrook,  Mecosta 
County,  and  established  a  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness, with  a  stock  of  goods  worth  $600.  He  con- 
tinued to  operate  there  until  December,  iS8f,  and 
during  the  time  his  business  increased  until  it  rcai  h- 
ed  an  aggregate  of  $40,000  annually.  He  sold  out  at 
the  time  named  to  E.  F.  Horton,  and  moved  to  Re- 
mus, Wheatland  T[).,  where  he  established  a  mercan- 
tile business,  on  a  basis  of  $6,000.     His  annual  sales 


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reach  a  figure  of  $50,000,  and  he  maintains  one  of 
the  finest  stores  and  best  assorted  lines  of  goods  in 
Northern  Michigan.  He  moved  his  family  to  Big 
Rapids,  but  continues  to  own  and  manage  his  exten- 
sive business  interests  at  Renuis. 

In  jx)litics  Mr.  Gardner  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
held  |)osiuons  of  trust  and  prominence  where  he  has 
resided.  Cora  D.  Apthorp,  adopted  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gardner,  was  born  Dec.  30,  187  i. 


— ^'\A,^^S"|^S'V^^-f- 


t^tecst. 


[lanson   H.   Waterman,  farmer  on  sec.    19, 
f    Deerfield  Tp.,  was  born  in  Massaciuisetts, 


i)^        Sept.  23,  181 7.     He  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and 
3}&'    Miriam  (Jennings)    Waterman,  who   removed 

,''^       from  the  Bay  State  to  New  York  and  thence  to 

i         Pennsylvania,  where  the  mother  died  in   1863. 

The  father  returned  to  New  York  soon  after,  and 

in  1868  joined  his  wife  in  the  land  of  the  hereafter. 

Mr.  Waterman  was  under  the  tutelage  of  his  parents 
r.niil  he  reached  man's  estate.  He  went  with  them 
to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  a  year  later  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  pursued  agriculture  ten  years, 
meanwhile  arranging  and  preparing  to  enter  the  min- 
istry. In  1849  he  returned  to  New  York  and  was 
installed  jiastor  of  the  Southeast  Stockton  Baptist 
Churcb,  and  in  1850  received  ordination.  He  re- 
tained his  charge  three  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time 
accepting  a  call  from  the  Baptist  Church  and  society 
at  Sheridan,  N.  Y.,  where  he  officiated  two  years. 
He  resigned  his  iX)St  two  years  later  and  was  in- 
stalled pastor  over  the  First  Baptist  Church  at 
Aurora,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  After  a  successful  pas- 
torate of  two  years,  he  acccepted  tlie  charge  at  Auburn, 
O.,  where  he  remained  two  years  ;  then  went  to  Mec- 
ca, Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  there  engaged  in  ac- 
tive ministerial  work  ten  years.  His  health  becoming 
impaired  in  1S69,  he  relincpiished  his  connection  with 
the  ministry,  resigned  his  charge,  and  came  to  Mont- 
calm Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  bought  260  acres  of  unim- 
proved land,  built  a  log  house  and  underwent  all  the 
experiences  of  the  pioneer.  But  he  made  marked 
|)rogress  in  the  imiirovements  on  his  property,  and 
when  he  sold  it  in  1878,  120  acres  of  his  farm  was 
in  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

In    187S  he  came  to   Mecosta  ("ounty   and   |)ur- 
chased  40  acres  ol   [)artially  improved    land,   now  his 


home  and  the  place  wherein  he  designs  to  pass  his 
remaining  life.  He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania 
July  I,  1841,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Lysander  and 
Elizabeth  (Saltsman)  Mitchell,  natives  respectively 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  They  settled  in 
1878  in  Montcalm  Co.,  but  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  Mrs.  Mitchell  died  Oct.  8,  1882,  and  her  hus- 
band followed  July  19,  1883.  But  three  of  the  eight 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waterman  are  living: 
Frances  M.,  born  June  13,  1849;  Chas.  B.,  May  2, 
T857,  and  Elmer  B.,  June  9,  i86r.  The  parents 
gave  two  sons  to  the  Union  cause,  and  both  are  at 
rest  in  the  soil  which  the  lives  they  surrendered  to 
save  from  the  ruin  of  disunion  have  consecrated  for- 
ever. Their  honored  names  are  Sylvester  A.,  iiorn 
Feb.  19,  184-,  and  died  July  18,  1864;  and  George 
C,  born  Oct.  6,  1844,  and  died  Feb.  23,  1866.  The 
following  is  the  record  of  three  others  who  are  in  the 
home  of  everlasting  peace:  Mary  J.,  born  Feb.  13, 
1847,  died  Sept.  7,  1874;  Judson  V.,  born  Sept  9, 
1854,  died  Sept.  11,  1854;  Adaline  C,  born  June  5, 
1851,  and  died  Sept.  9,   1854. 

After  a  useful  and  and  active  life  of  nearly  70 
years,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waterman  are  passing  the  sun- 
set of  their  life  in  serenity  and  trust.  They  are 
devoted  to  Christian  work  and  are  zealous  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  Chinch  of  their  choice.  Mr.  Water- 
man is  a  Republican. 


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was  born  Ai)ril  8,  1S41,  in  Canada.  At 
liVI:i-!iC  the  age  of  15  he  entered  upon  his  single- 
•^J  handed  contest  with  the  wodd,  and  at  21  he 
•'/'yl  came  to  Michigan,  working  as  a  farmer  and 
lumberman  until  the  fall  of  1867.  In  1868 
he  liought  40  acres  of  wild  land,  to  which  he  added 
by  purchase  40  acres  of  railroad  land,  whereon  he 
built  a  log  house  and  proceeded  to  prepare  his  farm 
for  the  sustenance  of  his  family.  He  now  has  30  /K 
acres  under  cultivation.  In  political  sentiment  Mr.  T 
Cahill  is  a  Greenbacker,  and  the  family  are  all  ad-  S 
herents  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Cahill  has  ^ 
been  Highway  Commissioner  one  year  and  S(  Imol  r^ 
Director  two  years.  He  was  married  in  the  township  ^ 
of  .I'Una,  Aug.  5,  1867,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  William 
.md    Mary    A.    (I'limpton)   Mitchell,  natives  of  the 


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State  of  New  York,  and  tlicir  cliildren  are,'  Vesta, 
l)oni  M;iy  22,  i868;  Alice,  July  31,  1870;  Frances 
\V.,  Oct.  17,  1876;  James  E.,  July  8,  1880.  der- 
trude  is  ileceased. 


^'r^^P^lijah  Carr,  farmer  on  sec.  6,  Hmton    1 

was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Oct.  21,  1834. 
His  parents,  Samuel  and  Catlierine  (Wise) 
Carr,  were  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  were  pio- 
neers in  Oakland  County,  removing  later  to 
Greenville,  Mecosta  Co.,  where  they  died. 
Mr.  Carr  was  but  four  years  old  when  his  parents 
became  residents  of  Michigan.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  worked  on  the 
fiirm  until  he  was  22  years  old.  In  1856  he  bought 
80  acres  of  timber  land  in  Greenville,  Montcalm  Co., 
and  soon  after  purchased  a  similar  acreage.  He  was 
a  resident  of  the  place  for  22  years.  He  sold  it  in 
1878,  and  bought  160  acres  in  Hinton  Tp.,  now  his 
residence  and  under  his  management. 

Mr.  Carr  was  married  in  Oakland  County,  Dec.  13, 
1846,  to  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Stewart,  second  daughter  of 
John  and  Amanda  (Jordan)  Clark.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Vermont,  and  in  1834  came  to  Mich- 
igan, settling  in  Montcalm  County,  where  the  mother 
died,  June  5,  1849,  the  father  dying  several  years 
later.  Mrs.  Carr  was  born  in  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co., 
Aug.  2,  1835.  The  family  circle  includes  six  chil- 
dren :  Ellen  K.,  John  L.,  Alice  M.,  Josei)hine  H  , 
Frances  E.  and  Avery  G.  Mr.  Carr  is  an  adiierent 
to  the  principles  and  issues  of  the  Democratic  [jarty. 
Mrs.  Carr's  first  husband  was  Charles  Stewart,  and 
of  that  marriage  one  child  was  born — Sophia  A. 


^^ 


Jiii^rdii  ohn  B.  Gingrich,  farmer,  sec.  8,  Wheatland 

'^'li^aC'  '^'P''  '^  ^  **""  ^^  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Burk- 

|fe^^  hart)  (Mngrich,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 

Iv    *'y'^''*"'''»  •^"'1  '"  e-irly  youth  went  to  Canada, 

'|F    where  they  were  married  and  reared  tiieir  fam- 

\      ily.     Mr.  Gingrich  was  born  in  Waterloo  Co., 

Can.,  May  2,  1847.     Fie  was  married  Nov.  15,   1866, 

to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Cathcart) 

Bellamy  (see  sketch),  who  was  born  in   Wellington 

Co.,  Can.,  Aug.    17,   1846.     Mr.  Gingrich    took    his 


wife  to  the  iiome  of  his  parents  and  lived  with  them 
one  year,  coming  in  the  fall  of  1867  to  Michigan  and 
locating  on  sec.  8,  where  he  secured  120  acres  of 
wooded  lanil,  with  an  old  log  hut  thereon,  which  had 
been  previously  built  and  which  the  family  occui)ied 
five  years.  The  pioneer  dwelling  has  given  place  to 
one  more  pretentious  and  comfortable;  and  20  acres 
have  been  added  to  the  farm,  which  now  aggregates 
140  acres,  with  100  in  first-class  improvements  and 
furnished  with  ample  and  suitable  farm  buildings. 

The  childreii  of  Mr.  and  INlrs.  Gingrich  are  as  fol- 
lows: Barbara  J.,  born  June  17,  1867;  Rebecca, 
Feb.  28,  1869;  William  J.,  born  Aug.  27,  1870,  died 
Sept.  2,  1871;  Joseph,  born  July  17,  1872,  died  Se|)t. 
8,  1881;  Susan,  born  July  i,  1874,  died  Sept.  17, 
i88r.  The  two  last  named  died  of  diphtheria,  nine 
days  intervening  between  their  deaths.  Mr.  Ging- 
rich belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  held  the 
])ost  of  Constable  six  years.  The  parents  are  mem- 
l.ers  of  the  .M.  E.  Church. 


^"^iSyron  S.  Davenport,  Paris,  Green  Tp.,  was 
born  Jan    2,  1862,  in  Barton,  Newaygo  Co., 

y-^^^  Mich.,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of  William 
'/"[Wf"  and  Jemima  (Stanley)  Davenport.  The  father 
"C-       was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  24,    1824, 

I  and  is  a  son  of  Jesse  Daveni)ort,  a  native  of 
England  and  a  millwright  by  vocation.  William  Da- 
venport moved  to  Columl)ia,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  in 
I1S45,  where  he  engaged  three  years  successfully  in 
mercantile  business.  In  1856  he  went  to  Barton, 
aiKl  has  since  resided  there,  pursuing  his  trade  of 
millwright  and  mechanic.  He  purchased  a  half 
section  of  Government  land,  which  his  sons  cleared 
and  placed  in  good  farming  condition,  leaving  him  to 
pursue  his  trade.  Jemima  Stanley  was  born  Oct.  7, 
1S24,  in  Richmond,  Ind.,  of  English  descent,  and 
was  married  July  31,  1842,  to  William  Davenport. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter  and  five  sons. 

Mr.  Davenport,  of  this  sketch,  acipiired  his  ele- 
nientary  education  in  the  schools  of  Barton  and  in 
the  high  school  of  Big  Rapids,  finishing  his  studies 
at  the  Commercial  College  of  Grand  Rapids.  In 
1881,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he  established 
himself  in  business  in  Paris,  which  connection  con- 
tinued nearly  a  year,  and  was  brought  to  a  close  by 


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the  unfortunate  management  of  his  brother,  who  in- 
volved their  affairs  in  a  hopeless  intricacy  and  took 
his  departure.  Mr.  Davenport  adjusted  matters  as 
well  as  he  was  able,  sold  out  the  business  and  en- 
gaged, May  20,  1882,  as  salesman  with  D.  Levy,  of 
Big  Rapids.  A  few  months  later  he  entered  the  em- 
l)Ioy  of  B.  E.  Hutchinson  &  Co.,  of  Paris,  as  sales- 
man, and  remained  with  them  until  Feb.  22,  1883, 
when  the  concern  failed  and  he  was  appointed  by  the 
assignee  to  sell  out  the  stock.  After  this  he  engaged 
witli  \V.  D.  Hopkinson  as  book-keeper  and  salesman, 
in  which  capacity  he  is  still  acting. 


Je^j«^if 


r 'i^P?!''  enry  H.  Moore,  farmer,  sec.  20,  Hinton 
-  ^|^'/|^  Tp.,  was  horn  March  28,  1849,  in  the  State 
^ifii^i-'*  of  New  York,  and  is  the  youngest  of  a 
f\s  family  of  seven  children.  His  father,  Hiram 
Y'  Moore,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
I  went  to  New  York  when  a  boy,  where  his  father 
was  one  of  the  first  pioneers.  The  motlier,  Ann 
(Terrey)  Moore,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  she  was  married  in  1829.  Her  husband  was 
unable  to  labor  for  35  years  before  his  death,  having 
become  disabled  by  over-exertion.  He  was  cared 
for  by  his  children  during  the  later  years  of  his  life, 
and  was  the  especial  charge  of  his  son,  H.  H.  Moore, 
some  years  previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  13,  1873,  of  cancer  of  the  stomach.  He  was 
of  a  radical  character,  and  during  all  his  life  was  a 
consistent  Christian  man. 

Mr.  Moore  of  this  sketch  was  23  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  on  the  occurrence  of  that  event 
removed  to  Kenosha  Co.,  Wis.,  and  was  there  occu- 
pied as  a  carpenter  six  months,  moving  thence  to 
Janesville,  and  tiiree  montlis  later  to  this  county. 
Ill  tlie  spring  of  1874  he  bought  160  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  worth  at  that  time 
§1,000.  He  built  a  frame  house,  and  the  first  year 
cleared  20  acres ;  lie  now  has  60  acres  under 
improvement. 

He  was  married  in  the  State  of  New  York,  Nov. 
23,  1869,  to  Emma  L.,  third  daughter  of  Asa  and 
Louisa  (Dow)  Robbiiis,  born  in  the  Empire  State, 
Jan.  26,  184S.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  \'er- 
mont,  and    were    married    in  New  York,  where    her 


father  died  Dec.  8,  1S76.  Her  mother  is  yet  living, 
in  Hinton  Tp. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  are  both  persons  of  stable 
character.  Their  tastes  and  inclinations  lead  them 
into  the  best  avenues  of  thought  and  action,  and 
they  are  intimately  associated  with  all  popular  move- 
ments and  reformatory  issues,  whether  social, 
moral  or  religious.  Both  were  school-teachers,  fond 
of  books,  and  are  correspondents  of  several  local 
papers.  They  belong  to  two  distinct  temperance 
organizations,  and  are  actively  interested  in  the  M. 
E.  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Moore  has  been  a  Class- 
Leader  most  of  the  time  since  the  organization  of  the 
society  to  which  he  belongs. 

He  is  an  inflexible  Republican,  and  has  officiated 
in  several  township  offices,  and  failed  of  appointment 
to  others  only  because  of  his  radical  temperance 
views. 


^S^^f^ 


I'^^j:  eter  B.  Gingrich,  farmer  on  sec.  7,  \\  neat- 
land  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara 
,,  iV3-lS  (Burkhart)  C.ingrich,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
jjp.'^j  vania  and  of  Cerman  descent,  who  went  to 
■fl^  t)ntario.  Can.,  in  their  childhood,  where  lliey 
' '  were  afterwards  married.  Mr.  Gingrich  was 
born  in  \Vaterloo  Co.,  Can.,  .Aug.  25,  1839.  He  had 
fair  educational  advantages,  and  in  r858  he  appren- 
ticed himself  to  F.  O.  Locknar,  of  Hawksville,  to  learn 
the  art  of  blacksmithing.  After  serving  his  full  time, 
three  and  one-half  years,  he  became  manager  in  the 
same  shop  where  he  had  been  instructed,  and  con- 
ducted the  business  two  years.  He  was  married 
Oct.  4,  i860,  in  Waterloo  County,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  James  and  Leonora  (Newton)  McDonald,  natives 
respectively  of  Scotland  and  New  York,  who  went 
early  in  life  to  the  Dominion,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried and  where  the  daughter  was  born,  Sept.  3,  1841. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Cingrich  went  into  business  on 
his  own  behalf  in  the  town  of  Flora,  Ont.,  where  he 
pursued  his  trade  until  February,  1862,  when  he 
went  to  W'infield,  Wellington  Co.,  Ont.  After  oper- 
ating there  for  a  time  his  health  became  impaired 
and  he  sold  out,  starting  in  the  spring  of  1863,  on  a 
prospecting  tour  to  Michigan,  and  worked  to  some 
extent  at  his  trade.  Prospects  were  not  very  flatter- 
ing and  lie  relumed  liome  and  worked  on  a  farm  un- 
til tlie  fall  of  1867,  when  he  again  resolved  on  seek- 


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■'Tnr<^|]ll>:DIl>->r— 

MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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ing  a  home  in  the  Peninsular  State.  Himself  and 
brother  exchanged  loo  acres  of  land  in  Ontario  for 
240  acres  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  Mr.  Gingrich  becoming 
the  [xissessor  of  120  acres,  to  which  he  has  made  an 
addition  of  20  acres  more.  Of  this,  75  acres  are  now 
as  well  improved  as  any- in  the  county,  and  the  owner 
has  recently  erected  some  very  fine  farm  buildings 
thereon. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Gingrich  includes  six  cliildren, 
born  as  follows:  Leonora,  July  5,  1S61  ;  Samuel  A., 
Aug.  3,  1864;  William  A.,  Jan.  20,  1868;  Henry  W. 
B.Aug.  8,  1870;  Franklin  P.,  Jan.  31,  1S75;  Lillie 
G.,  May  25,  1878:  Lavinia  N.,  born  Aug.  3,  1873, 
died  Dec.  6,  i88i. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gingriih  is  a  staunch  Democrat, 
and  has  held  nearly  every  office  of  any  prominence 
in  the  local  government  of  his  township.  He  is  act- 
ively interested  in  the  work  of  the  society  of  Good 
Templars,  to  which  he  belongs,  and  in  which  he  oc- 
cui)ics  the  chair  of  P.  W.  C. 


— 5- 


S  Mi 


's)  hristian  W.  Wernette,  resident  al  Me- 
,/  costa  village,  Morton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of 
gjll/'''"^  John  and  Mary  (Veitheimer)  Wernette, 
ijk!  and  was  born  June  15,  185  i,  in  \Vaterloo  Co., 
^  Canada.  When  he  was  10  years  of  age  his 
{  parents  sent  him  to  Berlin,  in  his  native 
country,  to  college,  with  the  view  of  educating  him 
for  a  Romish  priest;  but  his  natural  lastes  were  so 
decidedly  averse  to  such  a  life  tliat  he  left  school  at 
the  end  of  the  first  year.  In  1863  he  came  to  Micli- 
igan  and  engaged  several  years  as  a  farm  laborer, 
and  in  1865  went  back  to  New  York  and  enlisted 
in  the  State  militia,  but  was  not  called  into  action. 
He  was  the  youngest  and  the  tallest  man  in  the 
company.  His  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  in  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he  returned  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  was  employed  about  six 
months  in  the  lumber  woods.  His  next  engagement 
was  with  the  Chicago  Lumber  Co.,  cutting  timber  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Manistee  River.  In  1875  he 
bought  a  farm  of  290  acres,  three  miles  southeast  of 
Mecosta  village,  where  he  lived  until  that  place 
was  platted.  Foreseeing  the  promising  future  of 
the  rapidly  growing  and  phuky  little  village,  he 
(^  bought  a  lot  on  Main  street,  and  built  a  saloon, 
^  which  he  still  carries  on,  holding  a  stock  of  about 

^^  ■ — ^^#%r^ — -Hm 


-^ 


$3,000,  embracing  all  articles  common  to  his  line  of 
business,  his  annual  sales  amounting  to  about 
$11,000.  He  acceded  to  the  possession  of  the 
Wilson  House,  Sept.  15,  1882,  which  he  afterward 
rented  to  R.  H.  Duly  for  three  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1883  he  bought  the  building  where  the 
Mecosta  Advaiue  is  published,  which  is  rented  to 
the  proprietor  of  that  journal.  July  i,  1883,  he 
ixiught  a  half  interest  in  a  meat  market  adjoining 
his  saloon,  wliich  is  well  patronized  under  the 
firm  name  of  Reed  &  Wernette.  His  residence 
on  North  Franklin  street  was  lately  erected, at  a  cost 
of  i|i,2oo;  is  handsomely  fitted  up  with  modern 
appurtenances,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the  place. 
On  his  farm  soutlieast  of  the  city,  he  has  built  a 
large  and  commodious  barn,  which  he  has  so  plan- 
ned as  to  have  one  of  tlic  finest  water  privileges  in 
Northern  Michigan.  His  place  is  stocked  with  a  fine 
lot  of  blootled  cattle  and  China  Jjigs.  He  owns,  be- 
sides, a  40-acre  farm  one  mile  north  of  Mecosta  vil- 
lage ;  has  also  40  acres  of  pine  land,  which  he  values 
very  highly.  He  also  owns  a  lilacksmith  shop  on 
Main  street,  occupying  two  lots  near  the  Town  Hall. 

Mr.  Wernette  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith.  He 
has  officiated  as  Supervisor  of  Morton  Tp.,  and  in 
1880  was  nominated  for  Representative  from  his 
district  on  the  ticket  of  his  ])arty,  but  declined  the 
position  on  account  of  ill  health.  Mr.  Wernette  has 
always  been  active  in  the  interests  of  his  township 
and  of  the  (onnnunity  of  wjiidi  he  is  a  member.  To 
him  belongs  the  ( rcdit  of  securing  the  establishment 
of  mail  privileges  at  Hingen  (now  Remus). 

He  was  married  July  3,  1875,  at  Grand  Rapids,  to 
Mary  Pickette,  daughter  of  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Kent  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\'ernette  have  three 
children :     Lillie  R.,  Joseph  W.  and  Jessy  J. 

Among  the  portraits  of  prominent  citizens  present- 
ed in  this  volume  may  be  fountl  that  of  Mr.  Wernette. 


A 


V 


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Gland  D.  Reed,  marketman  (firm  of  Reed 


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&   Wernette),   Mecosta,   Morion  Tp.,  was 

^-^rrte   born    in    Hainsville,    Medina    Co.,    Ohio, 

^  Sept.    23,    1849.      His    parents,   James    and 

p)^    Elizabeth  (Holcomb)  Reed,  are  both  deceased. 

His  fiither  was  a  notive  of  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 

was   a    miller   by  trade,   and    died  in  Ionia, 

Mich.,  Nov.   10,  i86r,  aged  p  years,  and  his  mother 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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died  in  Nilcs,  Mich.,  May  i,  1873,  at  the  age  of  41 
years. 

In  1877  Mr.  Reed  engaged  in  the  meat  trade  at 
Six  Lakes,  Montcahn  County,  and  operated  there  with 
success  three  years,  closing  his  business  in  March, 
1880.  In  May  following  he  opened  a  similar  busi- 
ness at  Mecosta  village.  July  i,  1S83,  he  admitted 
C.  W.  Wernette  as  partner,  and  their  business  now 
amounts  to  $r,ooo  per  month.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Maccabees'  society.  He  owns  his  shop 
and  slaughter-house  grounds,  comprising  18  acres 
and  situated  half  a  mile  from  town. 

He  was  married  March  24,  1876,  to  Millicent, 
daughter  of  Sydney  and  Elizabeth  Edie,  born  at 
Lowell,  Kent  Co.,  Mich. 


rs.  Mary  A.  Duteher,  residing  on  sec.  29, 
of  Green  Tp.,  was  born  in  Liverpool,  Eng., 
Aug.  16,  1820.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
f.^'Y\  Edward  and  Elizabeth  (Fowie)  Hudson,  na- 
tives of  England.  They  came  to  America  iu 
1823  and  landed  at  Si.  John,  New  Brunswick, 
on  the  ninth  of  May.  They  were  residents  there 
until  their  death.  Mrs.  Duteher  was  married  Dec. 
26,  1840,  to  Alexander  McPhee,  a  native  of  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia.  They  went  to  Canada  West  and  in 
1861  moved  to  Michigan,  locating  in  Mecosta  County, 
where  the  husband  followed  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  21,  1864.  The  widow  was  a 
second  time  married  in  1866,  to  Simeon  S.  Duteher, 
a  native  of  Cireenbush,  N.  Y.  He  died  June  30, 
1880.  Mrs.  Duteher  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  20  years. 


if  ohn  Clink,  farmer,  sec.  33,  Deerfield  Tp.,  is 

^Mj-   son  of  Jolin  and  Catherine  (Brown)  Clink. 

v-^-  'I'hey  were  natives  of  New  York,  and  after 


their  marriage  emigrated  to  Tuscola  Co.,  Mich., 
where  the  mother  is  yet  living;  the  fatlier  is 
deceased. 

Mr.  Clink  was  born  in  Canada,  Nov.  19,  1843,  and 
there  grew  to  man's  estate.  In  the  autumn  of  1862 
he  came  to  Deerfield  township  and  purchased  80 
acres  of  unl)roken  forest  land,  ik)w  tlie  homestead  of 


* 


George  Helms.  On  selling  his  first  landed  estate, 
Mr.  Clink  bought  80  acres,  where  he  now  resides  and 
has  20  acres  under  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Clink  with   Charlotte,  fourth 
daughter  of   John  and  Anna  (Nunn)   Sanger,  took 


place  Feb. 


1862.     I\Irs.  Clink's   parents  were  na- 


tives of  Canada,  and  there  remained  resident  until 
their  death.  The  seven  clrildren  born  of  this  mar- 
riage are  recorded  as  follows:  John  H.,  born  iSIay 
10,  1866;  Millie,  June  22,  1868;  Devilo,  May  24, 
1870;  Thomas,  April  21,  1872;  Clyde,  March  15, 
1875  ;  Annie  (dec),  June  21,  1864;  Wm.  (dec),  Nov. 
19,  1881. 

Mr.  Clink  has  been  Constable  in  Mecosta  County 
nearly  10  years;  was  re-elected,  and  also  chosen 
Drain  Commissioner  in  the  spring  of  1883,  but  de- 
clined the  positions.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
principle. 


jVilfSSfo.harles  E.  Warner,  farmer,  sec.    20,  .Mtna 

till^^Ml?'    Tp-i  was  born  in  Sunnnit  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept. 

S)j^»^    12,    1842.     He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and 

fjlfe     Laura  (Riley)  Warner,  who  were  born  in  New 

/,'      York  and  recently  died  in   Michigan.     When 

'.        four  years  old  Mr.   Warner  was  taken  to  the 

home  of  an  uncle,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 

19  years  of  age,  when  he   returned  to  his  childhood's 

home.     After  a  brief  sojourn  there,  he  set  forth  with 

strong  determination  to  make  his  way  in   tlie  world, 

and  was  variously  occu|jied  for  several  years,  when 

he  came  to  Michigan  and  found  employ  in  the  mills 

at  Grand  Rapids  for  some  time.     Meanwhile  he  took 

advantage  of  a  good  opportunity  to  purchase  a  farm 

near  that  city,  on  which  he  located  in  1S78.     After  a 

few   years   he  resolved    im  making  another  change, 

and  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  remained  some  years, 

operating  summers   as  an  engineer  and  spending  the 

alternate  winters  in  lumbering.     He  had,  during  this 

time,  invested  some  money  in  a  farm  in  ^^-^tna  Tp., 

where  he  took  up  his  residence  in  1878.     The    place 

contains  120  acres. 

Mr.  Warner  was  married  March  26,  1866,  to  Etta 
A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Susan  J.  (Reed)  Hill,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  April  26,  1859.  Their 
children  are  Frank  E.,  Dora  B.,  Wni.  E.,  Homer  R., 
Harris  L.,  Charles  C.  and  Bertha  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
^Varner   are  members  of    the  M.  E.  Church.     Mr. 


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Warner  luis  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  since  tlie  be^nnning  of  his  connection  nith 
lX)litics. 


"TT 


=£)i- 


ames  Mitchell,  farmer,  sec.  lo,  .^tna  Ti)., 
tvi  was  born  f'eb.  7,  1815,  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Zephaniah  P. 
and  Annie  (Sexton)  Mitchell,  natives  of  the 
Empire  State.  He  remained  in  his  native 
State  until  the  fall  of  1845,  when  he  came  to 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  and  spent  five  years  as  a  farm 
laborer,  coming  thence  to  Sparta,  Kent  Co.;  and  a 
year  later  he  went  to  Nottawa,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  and 
bought  80  acres  of  land,  which  was  in  his  possession 
ten  years.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  came  to  Me- 
costa County  and  settled  in  yKtna  Tp.,  where  he 
took  40  acres  of  wild  land  under  the  swamp  act. 
He  built  a  log  house  and  entered  upon  the  labor  of 
clearing  the  land.  In  1868  he  bought  40  acres  lying 
adjacent  to  his  original  purchase,  making  an  aggre- 
gate of  80  acres,  60  of  which  are  under  cultivation, 
and  on  which  he  fixed  his  residence.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Susan,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Western,  who 
died  in  1863,  and  four  of  their  seven  children  sur- 
vive: Nathaniel,  Oliver,  Asa  and  Adeline.  In  1865 
he  was  again  married,  to  Kate,  daughter  of  John  and 
Ellen  Ciilluly,  natives  and  life  residents  of  Ireland. 
The  family  belong  to  the  Catholic  Chunh,  and  .Mr. 
Mitchell  is  a  Democrat. 


"^eae/tB^"'—^^ 


K4— v/gJQ/OTB^v. 


ohn  McKewen,  farmer,  sec.    27,   Deerficld 

''-  Tp.,  was  born  in   Canada,  May    14,   1855. 

.Lv^i, ..   5"  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Julia  (Levick) 

^'Y    McKewen,  the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and 

the   latter  of  Canada.     In    1871    the    parents 

I       moved  to  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,   where    the 

father  died,  in  February,  1882,  when  the  son  was  r6 

years  of  age.     Six  years  later,  John  came  to  Deerfield 

Tp.,  and  bought  40  acres  of  land  on  sec.  28,  then  in 

a  wholly  unimproved  condition,  and  has  since  i)ur- 

chased  40  acres  on  sec.  27,  where  he  is  now  resident. 

He  was  married  Oct.  30,   1880,   to  Mary  Kli/abetli, 

daughter  of  John   and  Mary   (Martin)   O'Neil.     In 


the  following  year  Mr.  McKewen  took  a  journey 
West  on  account  of  the  health  of  his  wife,  but  all  ef- 
forts were  unavailing,  and  she  died  Aug.  20,  1881,  of 
liver  disease,  from  which  she  was  ill  eight  months. 

In  ix)lilics  Mr.  McKewen  is  independent;  in   re- 
ligion he  is  a  Roman  Catholic. 


<^ 


atthew  Eoben,  retired  merchant,  residing 
at  IJig  Rapids,  was  born  at  Ryegate,  Ca]e- 
T^  donia  Co.,  Vt.,  Sept.  i,  1814.  He  comes 
of  a  long  line  of  Scotch  ancestry,  originating 
in  Renfrewshire,  Scotland,  and  traceable  for 
many  generations — a  family  of  means  and  in- 
fluence in  their  native  country'.  His  great-grand- 
father, Walter  Roben,  was  born  in  17  19,  at  Renfrew, 
and  died  in  1784.  His  wife  was  Isabella  (Gardner) 
Roben.  His  son,  Matthew  Roben,  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  this  country  with 
his  family  in  1803.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
founders  of  the  Scotch  colony  in  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt., 
which  is  perhaps  the  most  extensive  Scotch  settlement 
in  the  United  States.  He  was  also  a  Mason  of  high 
degree,  and  a  prominent  organizer  of  Masonic  lodges 
in  Vermont  at  that  early  day.  His  wife  was  Jean 
(Harvey)  Roben,  born  near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and 
of  a  family  of  prominence  in  that  locality. 

Walter  Roben,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Renfrewshire,  Scotland,  near  Glasgow,  in 
1786,  and  died  at  Ryegate,  Vt.,  Aug.  13,  1867,  at  the 
age  of  81  years.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
His  wife,  Polly  (Thomas)  Roben,  mother  of  Matthew, 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  in  1788,  and  died  at 
Ryegate,  Vt.,  in  her  85th  year. 

Mr.  Rol)en  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
obtained  a  common-school  education,  which  was 
supplemented  by  attendance  for  a  considerable  time 
at  the  Vermont  Wesleyan  University  at  Newbury. 
He  came  to  Ohio  in  1835,  where  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  at  first  in  Tuscarawas  County,  and 
afterwards  in  Morrow  (then  a  part  of  Richland) 
County.  After  several  years  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Morrow  County,  near  the  village  of  West  Point,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Later,  he  added  another  farm 
to  this,  and  built  a  store  in  West  Point,  where  for 
some  time  he  sold-  a  general  stock  of  goods,  and  at 
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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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farms.     In   thest;   business  operations   he  was   (juite 
successful. 

Having  been  elected  County  Recorder  of  Morrow 
'€  County,  he  removed  to  Mount  Gilead,  the  county 
i  seat,  where  he  continued  to  reside  during  the  re- 
-  ^  mainder  of  the  time  he  lived  in  Ohio,  a  period  of  i8 
years.  Mr.  Roben  was  a  resident  of  what  is  now 
Morrow  County  about  35  years  in  all,  and  was 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  early  growth  and  inter- 
ests of  that  county. 

Having  contracted  the  asthma,  and  his  health 
being  poor,  he  removed  with  his  family  in  187210 
Cassopolis,  Mich.,  where  he  resided  one  year;  but 
not  finding  his  health  much  improved  by  the  climate 
of  that  place,  he  removed  to  Big  Rapids,  in. May,  1873. 
Soon  afterward  he  built  a  store  and  residence  on 
State  street,  and  in  1874  went  into  mercantile  busi- 
ness again,  carrying  on  a  general  store,  and  doing  a 
safe  but  limited  business,  such  as  his  health  would 
pern^it.     In  1881,  he  retired  from  business. 

Mr.  Roben  was  married  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1840,  to  Esther  Albach,  who  was  born  in  Nortlium- 
°  bedand  Co.,  Pa.,  in  181 9,  and  cnme  with  her  parents' 
;<^  family  to  Ohio  when  a  young  lady.  Her  father  was 
=  John  Albach,  a  wealthy  farmer,  a  leading  citizen,  and 
•^]i  an  early  pioneer  of  Northumberland  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roben  have  had  seven  children — two  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Their  eldest  son  and  daughter 
died  in  childhood.  Their  surviving  son,  Douglas 
(see  sketch),  and  four  daughters  reside  in  Big  Rajiids. 
Two  daughters  are  married,  and  of  the  two  remaining 
unmarried,  one  is  a  teacher,  and  the  other  an  artist. 
Mr.  Roben  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
(an  Encampment  member),  and  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason. 


ottleib  Staab,   farmer,  on  sec.    20,  Green 

Tp.,  was  born  Aug.  3,  i8i6,in  Wurtemburg, 

*  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 


) 


(^ 


■^4^  beth  (Wilder)  Staab.  He  was  educated  and 
lived  in  the  "Faderland"  vnitil  1847,  when  he 
sailed  for  the  New  Wodd,  and  landed  on  tlie 
shores  of  this  continent  April  20  of  that  year.  He 
remained  awhile  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  going  thence  to 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  from  there  to  Ohio,  where  he 
labored  as  a  farm  hand.  Later  on  he  bought  40 
acres  of   land   in   Wliealland,  Ind.     .'Vfter  pursuing 


agriculture  there  six  years,  he  sold  and  came  to  Bar- 
ton, Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  bought  160  acres 
of  land.  He  lives  there  three  years  and  cleared  20 
acres,  after  which  he  sold  out,  and  in  the  spring  of 
i860  settled  on  section  20  of  Green  Tp.,  where  he 
now  owns  82  acres  of  land,  with  about  50  under  till- 
age. 

Mr.  Staab  was  married  in  1848,  in  Wheeling,  Va.^ 
to  Sophia  Colder,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
died  June  10,  1874.  In  1878  Mr.  Staab  went  to 
Ciermany,  returning  in  the  fall  of  1879.  He  was 
married  in  1880  to  Christina  Guge,  who  died  June  2, 
1883.     Mr.  Staab  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


— .^e;— 9 — ^~ 


^Iteil 


ohn  Wiseman,  Big  Rapids,  dealer  in  pic- 
tures, picture  frames,  wall  paper,  brackets, 
■^'^•^-A?*^  etc.,  combines  a  news  depot  with  his  busi- 
ness, and  makes  a  specialty  of  undertaking, 
being  a  funeral  director.  He  was  l)orn  June  29, 
1830,  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  he  was  brought  up  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  aciiuired  a  common-school  education. 
In  1846  his  parents  removed  to  Marion  County  and 
bought  a  farm.  There  Mr.  Wiseman  was  married, 
April  25,  1852,  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Susan  Merrick.  Of  their  two  children,  one — Morris 
— grew  to  maturity,  and  is  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
and  boarding-house  business  at  Stanton. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Wiseman  moved  to  Ottawa  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres.  His 
wife  died  in  1857,  and  he  afterward  married  Jane 
McGinnis.  Charles,  Emily  and  John  are  the  names 
of  the  three  children  born  to  them.  The  daughter  is 
a  tailoress  and  dressmaker  in  Coldwater,  Mich.  The 
youngest  son  is  dead.  The  mother  died  Feb.  25, 
1864.  Mr.  Wiseman  was  married  a  third  time  in 
Ottawa  C'ounty,  lo  Eliza  Waters.  Emmet  and  Linda 
are  the  names  of-their  two  children. 

In  the  spring  of  1871  Mr.  Wiseman  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  and  opened  a  store  for  the  sale  of  general 
merchandise,  which  he  transferred  to  a  grocery  busi- 
ness. This  he  sold  in  1872,  and  established  himself 
as  an  undertaker  and  dealer  in  furniture.  He  closed 
the  latter  and  added  the  merchandise  mentioned. 
His   establishment   is  tastefully  arranged,  and  pre- 


sents all  the  features  of  a  first-class  art  and  news 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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361 


depot.  His  stock  comprises  a  collection  valued  at 
$7,000,  and  his  yearly  transactions  reach  a  figure  of 
$12,000.  Mr.  W'iseniait  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  at  Big  Rauids. 


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"i^Jarenee  L.  Northrup,  senior  memher  of 
iilSiJih  tlie  firm  of  Xorthriip  X:  Malone,  attorneys 
'^^  and  real-estate  dealers,  was  born  in  North 
^^  Adams,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  June  28,  ICS44, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jabez  S.  and  Mary  A.  (Mon- 
roe) Northrup. 
He  traces  his  paternal  lineage  to  the  C.'olonial 
period  of  this  nation's  history,  when  several  brothers 
of  his  patronymic  came  from  England  to  Connecti- 
cut. A  descendant  of  these,  Daniel  Northrup, 
moved  to  Saratoga  Co..  N.  Y.,  previous  to  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  Lewis  Northrup,  son  of  Daniel,  was 
born  there  Jan.  15,  1768,  was  married  September  15, 
1792,  to  Robah  Smith  (born  in  Milton,  Saratoga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  May  20,  1772,  and  died  Oct.  3,  1838),  and 
died  May  9,  1853,  leaving  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. Most  of  their  descendants  yet  reside  in  Sara- 
toga and  Fulton  Counties  in  tiie  Empire  State. 
Jabez  S.  Northrup,  third  son,  was  born  in  Calway, 
Saratoga  Co.,  April  20,  1803.  He  began  teaching  at 
the  age  of  rS,  and  continued  in  tliat  vocation  uKiny 
years.  From  1821  to  1S25  he  belonged  to  the  State 
militia,  and  was  assigned  to  tlie  Ciovernor's  staff, 
with  the  rank  of  f-ieutenant.  He  was  married  Nov. 
II,  1S29,  to  Huldah  Smith,  and  removed  with  his 
family  seven  years  later  to  the  (then)  Territory  of 
Michigan,  and  bought  a  considerable  tract  of  land  in 
Hillsdale  County,  most  of  which  is  the  present  site 
of  North  Adams.  His  wife  died  in  1842,  leaving 
four  daughters.  May  3,  1843,  he  married  Mary 
Celina,  eldest  daughter  of  Lester  and  Lorena  (Roife) 
.Monroe,  born  Dec.  28,  1821,  and  by  this  marriage 
he  became  the  father  of  seven  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. Lester  Monroe,  was  born  April  16,  1796,  at 
Coupcrstown,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  son  of 
David  and  Anna  (Andrus)  Monroe.  The  former 
was  born  Sept.  26,  1768,  and  was  cousin  to  James 
Monroe,  fifth  President  of  the  United  States.  The 
Monroe  stock  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and  its  represent- 
atives arc  diffused  through  both  sections  of  this 
country.     David    Monroe   and    Anna   Andrus    were 


married  Jan.  16,  1794.  The  latter  was  born  Oct. 
23,  177 1,  and  died  June  12,  1817.  The  former 
died  July  31,  1837,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children. 
Lester  Monroe  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  of 
181 2,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Lundy's  Lane, 
etc.,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  retired  to  private 
life.  He  was  married  Sept.  12,  1817,  to  Ix)rena 
Rolfe,  born  April  9,  1801,  of  parents  made  conspicu- 
ous by  the  fact  that  they  were  survivors  of  the 
Wyoming  massacre.  In  1836  Lester  Monroe  moved 
with  his  family  to  Pittsford,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich, 
and  is  now  living  in  that  county,  aged  87  years. 

Mr.  Northrup  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  son. 
His  father  removed  to  Jefferson,  Hillsdale  County, 
and  bought  a  valuable  farm  near  Osseo,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated  with  care,  his  father  and 
step-sisters  being  e.vpeiienced  teachers.  The  under- 
lying element  governing  his  father  in  the  rearing  of 
his  children  was  to  leave  them  as  a  heritage  "  liberal 
education,  good  business  habits  and  strict  religious 
princi|)les. "  Mr.  Northrup  was  but  17  years  old 
when  civil  war  in  all  its  blind  fury  and  with  all  its 
ineffaceable  disasters  shook  the  nation  throughout  its 
wide  extent.  The  studious,  reflective  boy,  whose 
every  impulse  had  been  disciplined  to  revere  his 
country,  and  to  regard  her  integrity  as  almost  of 
divine  origin,  was  inspired  with  the  same  ambition 
that  led  the  sons  of  the  North  to  rise  as  one  man  an<l 
rescue  the  nation  from  the  consequences  of  the  in- 
furiated folly  of  the  South.  In  March.  1862,  he  left 
school  and  hastened  home.  No  remonstrance  of 
parent  or  friend  availed  aught  to  change  his  deter- 
mination to  dare  the  fate  of  war  and  die,  if  need  be, 
in  the  cause  of  home  and  country.  He  enlisted  in 
Co.  E  (Hillsdale  Light  Guard),  Fourth  Michigan 
Vol.  Lif,  and  was  soon  in  front  of  Yorktown,  his 
regiment  having  been  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  saw  much  hard  service  in  that  se- 
verest, most  disastrous  campaign  of  the  war,  the 
Peninsular  struggle  under  McClellan  He  was  in 
action  through  the  Seven  Days'  Battles,  was  with 
Pope  in  his  short  career  with  the  Army  of  Virginia, 
and  fought  at  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  (Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness  and  S[X)ttsyl- 
vania  Court-House.  At  the  last,  the  Fifth  .Vrmy 
Corps,  to  which  his  regiment  was  attached,  led  the 
advance;  and  during  the  struggle  of  ^Lly  10,  1864, 
he  sustained  a  dangerous  gunshot  wound,  lying  six 
hours   on    the    field  befi>re   he  was  discovered  and 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


>f    taken   to    Emory   Hospital,  at   Washington.     Wh( 
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When 

..  Hospital.  His  period  of  enlistment  expired  before  he 
f  was  wholly  recovered,  and  he  received  his  discharge 
March  18,  1865,  after  more  than  three  years'arduous 
service.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service 
he  was  in  the  Government  employ  until  the  Rebel- 
lion was  crushed  and  peace  restored,  when  he  again 
traversed  the  fields  where  he  liad  before  met  only 
uncompromising  conflict. 

Mr.  Northrup  passed  the  next  two  years  in  farm- 
ing and  study  and  as  telegraph  operator.  He  was 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  April  6, 
1867,  to  Katie  Maud,  youngest  daughter  of  George 
and  Lanie  (Fox)  Wilson,  born  at  Kalamo,  Eaton 
Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  2,  1849.  Her  father  was  born  in 
England,  and  her  mother  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  were  pioneers  of  Eaton  County,  where  they 
)  located  in  1837.  Mrs.  Northrup  was  educated  at 
Marshall,  Mich.,  and  is  a  lady  of  earnest.  Christian 

/s^  character,  of  retiring  habits,  and  well  known  only  to 
those  who  see  her  in  her  private  walks  of  life.  She 
belongs  to  the  Congregational  Church,  and  is  a  quiet 
worker  in  the  Sunday-school. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Northrup  have  had  four  children,  viz. 
Vannie  P.,  born  Dec.  25,  186S;  Vernon  W.,  April 
3,  1870;  Vera  Maria,  born  May  16,  1875,  died  July 
30,  1876;  Veda  Maud,  March  24,  1S78. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Northrui)  went  to  Sherman, 
Wexford  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time,  and  returned  to  Eaton  County,  going  back  to 
Sherman  a  few  months  later,  and  there  employing 
his  time  a3  a  farmer,  speculator,  teacher,  and  sales- 
man in  a  store,  meanwhile  reading  for  the.  profession 
of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S74,  and 
soon  after  entered  into  partnership  with  the  Hon.  T. 
A.  Ferguson.  While  at  Sherman  he  served  as 
Deputy  Sheriff,  acted  several  years  as  a  member  of 
the  Hoard  of  Supervisors,  and  was  the  first  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools.  In  1875  he  went  to 
Traverse  County  and  taught  school  a  year,  going 
>.  thence  to  Benzie  County,  and  in  June,  1876,  he 
^      located  at  Benzonia,  the  county  seat.      He  was  ap- 

'^p  ixjinted  Deputy  County  Clerk,  and  the  same  year 
was  elected  Circuit  Court  Commissioner  of  Benzie 
County,  which  office  he  held  six  years.     He  was  also 

rs^     Village  Clerk  of  Benzonia  three  years.      In  1878  he 

^    was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  the  county,  and 


■<$ 


) 


^ 


I 


re-elected  in  1S80.  During  the  campaign  preceding 
his  second  election,  the  opposing  candidate  said  of 
him  :  "  I  consider  him  the  most  industrious,  care- 
ful and  painstaking  lawyer  in  Benzie  County.  His 
standing  as  a  citizen  in  the  community  is  well  evi- 
denced by  the  remarkable  number  of  offices  of  profit 
and  honor  he  has  been  chosen  to  fill  by  the  suffrages 
of  his  fellow-citizens." 

The  records  make  a  rare  exhibit  concerning  the 
private  character,  professional  ability,  manly  integrity 
and  stainless  reputation  of  Mr.  Northrup,  which  need 
no  stronger  testimony  than  the  names  of  Judge 
McAlvey  and  Hon.  A.  H.  Dunlap,  of  Manistee, 
Judge  Hatch,  of  Traverse  City,  Judge  Goodrich,  of 
South  Frankfort,  Hon.  D.  C.  Leach,  M.  C,  Colonel 
Fowler,  of  Gov.  Begole's  staff,  and  Gen.  Cutchen. 

In  the  fall  of  1882  Mr.  Northrup  sought  a  wider 
field  of  effort,  and  made  a  prospecting  tour  of  the 
Upper  Peninsula  and  Wisconsin,  and  a  few  months 
later  visited  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Nebraska; 
but  he  resolved  to  adhere  to  his  first  love,  and  in 
April,  1883,  removed  to  Big  Rapids  and  opened  a 
law  office  in  the  Opera  block.  Not  long  afterward 
he  formed  an  association  with  G.  R.  Malone,  a  young 
attorney  of  high  character  and  unmistakable  promise, 
under  the  style  of  Northrup  &  Malone,  Lawyers  and 
Real-Estate  Brokers.  The  business  of  the  concern 
is  in  a  thriving  condition,  and  the  established  probity 
and  worth  of  the  gentlemen  at  its  head  are  extending 
its  scope  and  giving  permanency  to  its  purposes. 

We  take  great  pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait 
of  Mr.   Northrup  in  this  work. 

'iV'QiW-,  dward  Haslem,  farmer,  sec.  16,  Green  Tp., 
"Nri-p'r  was  Imrn  in  (Queens  Co.,  Ireland,  Dec.  8, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ann  (O'Con- 
J§-  "'^'^  Haslem.     His  father  died  in  Ireland  when 
i     he  was  but  six  years  old,  and  his  mother  came 
]     to  America  in  1847,  and  located  in  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  going  thence  to  Noble  Co.,  Ind.,  where  she  re- 
sided until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  1870. 

Mr.  Haslem  attended  school  in  his  native  country, 
walking  five  miles  to  obtain  the  ])rivilege.  He  ac- 
companied his  mother  to  the  United  States  and  re- 
mained with  her  in  New  York  until   1852,  when   he 


/ 
A 


% 


MECOSTA   COUNTY 


■"3^^^^^S" 


363 


f 


A 


^ 


came  *o  Michigan  and  settled  for  a  time  in  Washte- 
naw County.  He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  the 
fall  of  1855  and  located  a  farm  in  the  township 
of  (Ireen,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  residents, 
and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  township  in 
1858.  He  bought  a  farm  of  80  acres  where  lie  now 
resides,  40  acres  of  which  are  well  improved. 

Mr.  Haslem  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  suppression 
of  the  Southern  Rebellion,  in  September,  186 1,  in 
the  Second  Mich.  Cav.,  and  was  in  the  service  three 
years  and  two  months.  Among  the  engagements 
where  he  was  in  action  were,  Island  No.  10,  Corinth, 
Murfreesboro,  Chattanooga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Look- 
out Mountain,  Dalton,  Resaca,  Big  Shanty,  Buzzard's 
Roost,  Marietta,  Atlanta  and  Cliickaniauga,  besides 
numerous  skirmishes.  He  was  wounded  at  Spring 
Hill,  Miss.,  and  also  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder  at  Frankfort.  He  was  discharged  in  1864, 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  on  his  return  home  resumed 
his  farming. 

Mr.  Haslem  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1864,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (McNally) 
Montague,  ln)rn  in  Coimty  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1S37. 
Her  parents  brought  her  to  the  United  States  when 
she  was  tliree  months  old.  After  a  stay  of  consider- 
able tinre  in  New  York  they  came  to  Washtenaw  Co., 
Mich.,  and  resided  there  until  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Haslem  belong  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Cluirch,  and 
have  seven  children  :  Mary,  James  H.,  Margaret, 
Frank  F>dward,  John  W.,  Catherine  Agnes  and 
Emma  Florence. 


M--^ 


eorge  Brackett,  proprietor  of  the  lirackeit 

,_^^gg    House,    Big    Kajjids,    was  born    in  Nortli 

"^^i^    Hermon,  Me.,  Jan.  7,  1844.       He  is  a  son 

r^s\  of  George  and  Eleanor  (Kelley)  Brackett,  and 

was  reared  a  farmer,  that  being  the  vocation  of 

his  father. 

At  the  age  of  17  he  i)ecame  a  soldier  for  the 
Union,  and  enlisted  in  Bangor,  Me.,  Nov.  23,  1861, 
in  Co.  A,  13th  Maine  Vol.  Inf ,  under  Capt.  Fred  .\. 
Stevens,  and  was  in  the  service  a  little  more  than 
three  years.  Among  his  war  experiences  were  the 
fights  under  den.  Phil.  Sheridan,  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  up  the  Red  River  with  Banks,  at  Pleasant 
Hill  and  Sabina  Cross  Roads,  at  the  taking  of  Fort 
Esperanza,  in  Te.xas,  and  in    1S63  was  in  Washing- 


ton during  tlie  attempted  raids.  He  was  in  13 
engagements  and  in  numerous  skirmishes,  receiving 
his  discharge  Jan.  7,  1864,  at  .\ugusta,  Me.  On 
his  return  to  his  home  he  engaged  as  a  drover  and 
butcher  un'il  November,  1867,  when  he  came  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  engaged  four  years  in  lumbering. 
He  was  then  employed  at  the  Big  Rapids  Furniture 
Factory,  and  at  the  end  of  one  year  was  made  fore- 
man, which  |)0sition  he  held  five  years. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Brackett  built  the  hotel  where  he  is 
now  operating,  and  rented  it  until  1879,  when  he 
opened  a  furniture  store  therein  and  managed  it 
until  the  fall  of  1880.  It  was  then  remodeled  into  a 
hotel,  to  which  purpose  it  has  since  been  devoted. 
The  house  has  30  rooms  for  guests,  also  a  saloon  with 
liquors  and  cigars.  He  also  erected  a  building 
adjoining,  where  he  keeps  a  res'aurant  and  bakery. 

Mr.  Brackett  was  married  in  Croton,  Newaygo  C'o., 
to  Ellen  Stengel,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Fallen 
Stengel.'  They  are  the  i)arents  of  five  children : 
Fred.  T.,  Lillie  B.,  Cora,  Edna  and  C"harles  P. 
George  Arthur  is  deceased.  Mr.  Brackett  is  a  •.".-.em- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


||W«!j;  ersons  T.  Carpenter,  larmer  on  sec.  21, 
|!r^|j  .'Etna  Tp.,  was  born  in  Clinton  Co.,  Sept.  21, 
|||S2RS    1838.     He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Euna 


1 

I 


ffhj   (Spicer)  Carpenter,  who  were  nai 
•j/l^.      York,  and  moved  to  this  State  so( 


latives  of  New 
soon  after  their 
marriage.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  under  the  pa- 
rental guidance  until  eleven  years  of  age,  when,  be- 
ing a  restless  boy  with  an  ambition  to  advance  in  the 
world,  he  was  allowed  to  take  his  fate  into  his  own 
hands,  and  labored  as  he  was  able  to  find  employ- 
ment until  the  fall  of  18^6;  then  he  returned  home 
and  spent  a  year,  attending  the  district  school  three 
months.  In  1857  he  became  a  sailor,  and  was  on  a 
"merchantman"  until  1859.  His  ne.xt  permanent 
occupation  was  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army. 
He  enlisted  in  the  Third  U.  S.  Artillery,  Co.  K,  and 
was  in  the  service  four  years,  his  regiment  being  at- 
tached three  years  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  under  fire  in  12  engagements, 
escaping  entirely  without  injury,  and  receiving  hon- 
orai)le  discharge  July  29,  1864.  Immediately  there- 
alter  he  went  inlt)  the  Navy  as  an  ordinary  seaman. 


S 

£ 

S 


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■^^€^^ 


'K^^DDXDDv^^ 


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i. 
I 


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I, 

I 


was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Red  Bluff,  Ga., 
whence  he  escaped  by  takint^  "  French  leave,"  mak- 
ing good  his  voluntary  flight  by  the  aid  of  his  trusty 
"  understandings." 

On  leaving  the  service  of  the  United  States  in 
1865  he  came  to  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  and  engaged  in 
agriculture,  which  he  followed  until  187  i,  then  Came 
to  Mecosta  County  and  settled  at  Morley,  residing 
there  eight  years.  Daring  this  time  he  was  in  ac- 
tive official  duty  as  Township  Clerk,  City  Marshal 
and  in  various  other  positions.  Meanwhile  he  had 
purchased  a  farm  on  sec.  21,  in  the  western  part  of 
the  township,  and  in  1880  he  settled  upon  it  to  pass 
the  reinainder  of  his  life.  He  was  married  Nov.  21, 
1 86-  to  Amelia,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Michel)  Lovesy,  who  was  born  in  Livingston  Co., 
Mich.,  June  4,  1843.  The  five  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carpenter  are  all  living  and  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  Henry  J.,  Oct.  3,  186-;  William 
F.,  Sept.  21,  1868;  Gracie,  Aug.  8,  1870;  Effie, 
April  21,  1873;  Frank,  Aug.  13,  1876. 


-t5-^^j- 


ir-^ 


"lartlett   H.    MeMuUen,  M.  D.,  practicing 


physician  at  Morley,  was  born  in  Stratford, 
")K5^'^  Can.,  Sept.  15,  1857,  son  of  John  S.  and 
jfltgc  Margaret  (Holland)  McMullen,  who  were 
^i>  born  in  Canada  and  came  to  Michigan  in 
i  i860,  settling  at  Saginaw  and  moving  after- 
ward to  Bay  City,  where  they  are  now  resident.  Dr. 
McMullen  has  been  a  resident  of  this  State  since  he 
was  three  years  old.  He  remained  under  his  father's 
care  until  he  was  17  years  of  age,  acijuiring  his 
primary  education.  He  entered  the  Medical  College 
at  Detroit,  and  studied  there  nearly  five  years.  He 
received  his  diploma  and  entered  upon  practice, 
which  he  prosecuted  six  months,  then  came  to  Me- 
costa County  and  settled  at  Morley,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  and  has  a  large  and  continually  grow- 
ing practice.  He  is  esteemed  in  his  profession  and 
is  rapidly  gaining  popular  confidence.  The  Doctor 
is  a  Republican  and  a  charter  member  of  Excelsior 
Ix)dge,  K.  of  H  ,  No  1830,  at  Howard  City,  Mich. 
He  was  married  at  Modey,  Mich.,  Sei)t.  7,  1882,  to 
.Mice  M.,  eldest  daughter  of  Geo.  W.  and  ICliza 
(.Vdams)  Sams.  Her  [larents  were  natives  of  Illinois, 
but  went  to  Ohio  in  its  pioneer  days,  coming  thence 


to  Michigan,  where  they  are  yet  living.  Mrs.  McMul- 
len was  born  Dec.  22,  1864.  Dr.  McMullen  has 
held  the  post  of  School  Suiierintendent,  and  is  now 
Health  Officer  of  .Etna  Tp. 


'irij<- :|t 


\£) 


\?l  pencer  Nickens,  barber,  at  Modey,  was 
'-  born  May  2,  1S40.  His  parents,  Nathaniel 
IP*  ■^ft  and  Sinnia  Nickens,  were  natives  of  the 
Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  in  that  State 
and  in  Virginia  Mr.  Nickens  passed  his  early 
hfe. 

In  the  summer  of  1864  he  came  to  Grand  Ra|)ids, 
and  the  first  year  was  employed  as  porter  in  a  hotel, 
and  was  next  engaged  in  learning  his  trade.  He 
founded  his  business  at  Cedar  Springs  in  the  sprino; 
of  1870,  and  has  since  followed  his  present  profes- 
sion. He  is  a  respected  citizen  of  Morley,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  and  belongs  to  the 
Knights  Templar. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican;  a  man  of  liberal 
views,  and  an  endorser  and  follower  of  tiie  princijiles 
of  the  Golden  Rule.  He  is  radical  in  his  views  of 
temperance  and  morality. 

The  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Nickens  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  181 2,  and  was  Color-bearer  cif  his  rej;i- 
ment.  When  the  civil  war  broke  out,  he,  having  no 
employment,  and  his  love  of  the  Union  very  strong, 
went  into  the  employ  of  Gen.  Birney,  and  during 
three  years  acted  as  liis  valet.  Mr.  Nickens  is  a  fine 
type  of  what  his  race  has  become  since  the  terrible 
conflict  that  placed  it  on  an  equality  with  other  men. 
He  proves  that,  notwithstanding  the  perplexities  of 
his  color  and  profession,  a  man  may,  through  moral 
qualities,  take  fair  rank  with  more  pretentious  indi- 
viduals. 


-^ 


^m 


ti^# 


fr^iVQ™!  aniel  L.  Welch,  farmer  on  sec.  27,  Deer- 
l!iji|]>i^f''  field  Tp.,  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
?:\^"^"  April  9,  1838.  His  parents,  Eyman  H. 
''-J\7f^  and  Juditli  (Stansell)  Welch,  were  natives  of 
A  the  Enqnre  State,  where  the  mother  still  lives; 
'i  the  lather  died  in  the   fall  of   iS-jn.      Daniel 

I,,  made  liis  initial  essay  in  life  at  the  age  of  17,  and 
was  variously  occupied  until  the  age  of  32,  when  he 
fixed   upon    agriiulture    as    a    vocation    in    life.     He 


t 


B^S 


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t 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


ip 


bought  50  acres  of  land  in  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich., 
which  he  sold  in  1879,  and  purchased  40  acres  in 
Deerfield,  where  he  now  lives.  His  farm  was  partly 
improved,  and  he  speedily  put  the  place  into  the  best 
condition. 

He  was  married  in  August,  1865,  to  Susannah  M., 
daughter  of  Howland  and  Harriet  (Conkliiig)  Soule, 
natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York. 
They  settled  in  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the  fall  of 
1845,  removing  thence  to  Montcalm  County,  wliere 
they  yet  live.  The  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Welch  are  deceased.  Otto  A.  was  born  March  i, 
1873,  and  died  Oct.  25,  1881.  An  infant  died  at 
birth. 

Mr.  \\'elcli  is  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party. 


*-.v<':.'"i.'V.': 


^ 


V 


■'  TWl    i"ederie  Pfistner,  farmer,  sec.  26,  Mecosta 
•  '  [1.]?  '  !'■'  'I'l'-l  whose  portrait  we  give  upon  the 

"j^.  iiposite  page,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jen- 

^j^  nic  (Rusler)  Pfistner,  natives  of  Germany, 
JRv^  where  they  were  married  and  reared  their 
I  children.  Mr.  Pfistner  was  born  in  Oermany, 
Feb.  7,  1S34,  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  19 
years  of  age.  He  studied  nine  years  in  the  excellent 
schools  and  colleges  of  Germany,  accjuiring  a  fine 
education,  particularly  in  languages.  On  completing 
his  studies  he  came  alone  to  the  United  Stales,  and 
landed  at  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1853,  going 
thence  to  Chicago.  After  paying  his  railroad  fare 
thither  he  had  but  tliree  cents  left,  and  he  borrowed 
$3  of  a  chance  acquaintance  with  which  to  pro- 
cure food  while  on  his  journey.  Uiion  his  arrival  at 
the  Garden  City  he  pawned  his  trunk  to  oiitain  the 
money  to  reimburse  the  confiding  stranger.  He  took 
passage  for  Muskegon,  and  the  gentleman  who  ad- 
vanced tlie  sum  he  needed,  on  learning  the  circum- 
stances released  his  claim,  and  the  captain  permitted 
him  to  work  out  his  fare  to  his  destination.  He 
arrived  there  friendless  and  penniless,  but  immediate- 
ly found  em[)loyment  in  getting  out  limber,  for  which 
he  received  a  dollar  a  day,  and  was  enabled  to  repay 
the  sum  of  his  indebtedness.  He  had  worked  two 
months,  when  he  contracted  the  fever  and  ague  and 
was  compelled  to  remain  idle  four  months.     After  he 


/■ 


had  paid  his  expenses  he  had  $3  left,  and  set  out     ^ 
for   Big   Rai)ids  on    foot.      He   found  lodging   in  a      ,'.;' 
lumber  shanty,  and  had   in  his  jjocket  one  dollar  to 
supply  his  needs  until  he  could  secure  work.     This 
he  soon  accomplished,  engaging  to  work  (or  the  Long     1 
Bros.,  in   the  lumber  camp  of  that  company  a  few 
miles  above  the  present  site  of  the  i  ity.     He  worked 
for  Shaw  iV    Ives   two   summers,  helping  to  clear  up 
the  land  where  the  city  of  Big  Rapids  now  stands. 
He  remained  in  the  employ  of  Long  Bros,  until  the 
following  spring,  then  returned  to  Muskegon  and  took     V 
a  job  of  lumber  driving,  which  occupied  him  some     g^' 
months.     On    its    termination    he    went   to  Osceola 
County  and  worked   with   a   mail   three  years. 

.\fter  the  completion  of  the  three  years'  service 
al)ove  mentioned,  Mr.  Pfistner  came  to  Mecosta 
County  and  purchased  160  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Mecosta  Township,  wliereon  he  settled,  and  has 
since  added  500  acres  to  his  landed  estate.  Two 
hundred  acres  of  this  has  been  put  into  a  good  con- 
dition of  cultivation,  and  the  entire  i)roperty  is  justly 
rated  the  finest  in  Austin  Tp.  The  farm  buildings 
are  of  the  best,  and  his  residence,  acknowledged  the 
most  valuable  in  the  township  at  the  time  of  its  con- 
struction, cost  $8,000.  The  farm  is  stocked  with  51 
head  of  cattle,  150  sheep  and  50  hogs.  Mr.  Pfistner 
was  married  Oct.  18,  i860,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Yager,  ( 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Lute)  Roosh,  and 
widow  of  IjOrence  Yager,  who  was  killed  Nov.  19, 
1859,  by  the  falling  of  a  limb.  He  left  one  child — 
Herman — bom  May  31, 1859,  and  died  Nov.  1,  iSSi, 
of  typhoid  fever.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pfistner  have  had 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Emma 
and  .Mice  (twins),  born  June  8,  1872,  died  Dec.  21, 
1881  ;  Fred.,  born  June  22,  1875,  died  Jan.  22,  1882. 
The  record  of  births  of  the  children  living  is  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  June  8,  1861;  Amelia,  July  31,  1863; 
leiiuie,  June  6,  1866;  Ida,  Fel).  8,  1869. 

Mr.  Pfistner  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  several 
school  and  township  offices.  He  built  the  first 
school-house  in  the  township,  and.  conjointly  with 
his  neighbors,  secured  a  school  two  years  before  the 
organization  of  school  districts  in  the  townshiii. 

In  religious  views  Mr.  Pfistner's  family  affiliate 
with  the  German    Lutheran    Church. 


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^.f-  was  born  in  Exeter,  England,  Sept.  24, 
^'^  1842,  and  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
parents,  Thomas  and  Betsey  (Osborne)  Rier- 
don, natives  of  England.  On  coming  to  this 
country  they  settled  in  Ontario  County,  Can., 
in  July,  1843,  where  they  resided  until  death.  Mr. 
Rierdon  was  but  ten  months  old  at  the  time  he  was 
brought  to  the  Dominion,  where  he  lived  until  25 
years  of  age.  In  £867  he  came  to  Grand  Rapids 
and  was  employed  as  a  teamster  two  years.  In  1870 
he  obtained  a  situation  as  inspector  of  lumber  at 
Pierson,  Montcalm  Co.  and  filled  the  position  two 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  he  was  engaged  by  Alex. 
Stewart  &  Co.,  to  keep  a  boarding-house  and  act  as 
general  overseer  of  their  mill,  in  the  township  of 
^-tna,  in  this  county,  a  duty  he  discharged  18 
months.  He  purchased  40  acres  of  unbroken  timber 
land  one  mile  west  of  Morley,  on  section  26,  in  1876, 
built  a  frame  house  and  began  to  improve  his  land. 
June  27, 1879,  his  house  and  nearly  all  its  contents 
were  destroyed  by  fire.  He  then  erected  a  house  in 
Morley,  which  he  aftenvard  bought. 

Mr.  Rierdon  was  educated  in  the  common  and 
grammar  schools  of  Canada;  has  held  several  town- 
ship and  other  offices,  and  been  active  in  advancing 
the  interests  of  Morley.  He  was  married  in  Toronto, 
Canada,  to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Cecelia 
(Hutton)  Smith,  born  in  Fond  du  Lac,  Canada.  Her 
father  died  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  her  mother 
removed  to  Port  Hope,  Canada,  and  still  resides 
there.  Mr.  Rierdon  is  a  Republican,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent Supervisor  of  Morley. 


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j'^'^'jienjamin  G.  Tagg,  farmer  ori  sec.  32,  Deer- 
^ilftjl^   field  Tp.,  was  born  in  Allegan  Co.,  Mich., 
(^S^^^  Sept.    16,    1859.     He  was    educated  and 
''4^'^    reared  to  the  age  of  18  years  in  his  native 
'^        county,  and  on  leaving  home  came  to  Deer- 
field,  Mecosta  County.     He  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Elizabeth  (Pickles)  Tagg,  natives  of  Eng- 
land, who  emigrated  to  America  about  the  year  £850, 
and  found  a  residence  near  Rochester,  N.  V.     They 


lived  there  five  years  and  removed   to  Allegan  ('o., 
Mich.,  where  they  are  yet  living. 

Mr.  Tagg  left  home  at  the  age  of  18  to  engage  in 
agriculture  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  bought  80 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Deerfield,  Mecosta  Co.,  built  a 
log  house,  and  proceeded  to  improve  his  land  after 
the  customarj'  methods,  and  now  has  a  well  located 
and  profitable  farm.  He  was  married  May  6,  1879, 
to  Annie  C,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Little. 
Mrs.  Tagg  was  born  May  6,  1857.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children — Florence  E.  and  George  R. 
The  latter  died  in  early  infancy,  and  the  mother 
passed  from  earth  March  17,  1883. 


scar  T.  White,  minister,  md  farmer  on  sec. 
16,  Mecosta  Tp.,  was  born  in  Crawford  Co., 
Pa.,  Sept. 6,  1848.    His  father,  Jerome  White, 


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was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  his  mother, 
Lovinda  (Lasner)  White,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  French  descent.  Attheageof  r6  Mr- 
White  found  himself  at  liberty  to  hew  out  his 
own  career  in  the  world,  and  went  to  Dodge  Co.,  Minn. 
His  first  employment  was  as  a  farm  laborer  eight 
months:  he  then  went  to  Wisconsin,  where  his  stay 
was  brief  Home  ties  and  influences  still  held  him, 
and  he  returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, May  10,  1867,  to  Caroline  E.,  daughter  of  Mir- 
anda and  Jesse(Armsbery)Main,  natives  of  New  York, 
who  was  born  in  Erie  Co.  Fa.,  Jan.  29,  1847.  The 
newly  married  pair  settled  in  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  on  a 
farm,  and  there  remained  until  the  winter  of  187 1, 
They  came  to  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  and  Mr.  White 
engaged  as  a  lumberman  two  years.  In  r873  they 
came  to  Mecosta  County,  fixed  their  residence  in  the 
then  township  of  Colfax,  where,  however,  they  made  a 
brief  stay;  returning  to  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  White  was 
occupied  a  short  time  as  a  fruit-tree  agent  there,  and 
came  back  to  Michigan,  following  that  line  of  business 
until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  settled  permanently  C^ 
where  he  now  resides,  having  previously  j)urchased  a  ] 
farm  of  48  acres,  which  he  has  increased  by  the  addi-  »& 
tion  of  40  acres  more,  and  has  20  acres  under  the  '*^ 
plow. 

Mr,  and  Mrs.  White  have  had  four  children:  Helen 
A.,  born   Nov.    14,    1S6S;  .Ma  M.,   Aug.    27,   1870; 


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Mabel,  Dec.  27,  1S77  ;  Gratie,  born  Oct.  2,  1880,  aiul 
died  Oct.  4,  1880. 

They  have  been  connected  with  the  Church  of 
Christ  three  years,  in  which  communion  Mr.  White 
officiates  every  two  weeks  in  the  neighborhood  where  lie 
resides.  In  ix)litical  views  he  is  independent,  Init 
on  temperance  issues  is  a  radical  prohibitionist.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Township  Clerk,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  in  1877  was  elected  delegate  to  the  State 
Gubernatorial  Convention. 

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|dward  C.  Rogers,  farmer,  sec.  11,  Grant 
\  Tp.,  was  born  Jan.  4,  1841.  in  Orwell, 
Addison  Co.,  Vt.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert 
J5.  H.  and  Abigail  Rogers,  both  of  whom  are  now 
A  living  at  Middlebury,  Vt.  The  father  is  a 
i.ative  of  New  York,  and  is  of  .Spanish  and 
German  extraction  ;  the  nioiher  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  is  English  in  both  lines  of  descent.  When 
he  was  nine  years  old,  .Mr.  Rogers  was  placed  in  a 
situation  as  assistant  in  a  furniture  store,  where  he 
operated  four  years.  He  then  engaged  as  a  farm 
hand,  and  was  thus  enii)loyed  until  he  was  20  years 
old.  He  was  a  few  months  i)ast  that  age  when  he 
enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union  (lag.  He  enrolled 
Aug.  4,  1861,  in  Co.  F,  Fifth  Vt  Inf,  under  Cai^t. 
Stowell,  of  Cornwell,  and  was  discharged  Dec.  15, 
1863,  to  enable  him  to  veteranize,  which  he  did  the 
same  day.  A  sufficient  number  of  Co.  F  were  re- 
maining to  preserve  the  name  and  organization,  and 
the  entire  force  veteranized.  Mr.  Rogers  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  discharge 
June  29,  1865.  He  was  engaged  in  nearly  100 
battles  and  skirmishes,  as  is  proven  by  the  record  of 
his  regiment.  Among  the  most  important  were 
Lee's  Mills,  Williamsburg,  Savage  Station,  White- 
Oak  Swamp,  Bull  Run  (2d),  South  Mountain,  Antie- 
tam,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  I'linkstown,  Rappa- 
hannock, Wilderness,  and  at  Spoltsylvania,  where  he 
was  the  only  man  of  his  company  uninjured,  all  save 
him  being  killed  or  wounded.  He  became  Color- 
bearer,  and  so  continued  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
His  next  recorded  fight  was  at  Cold  Harbor,  and 
after  that  at  Petersburg,  where  in  the  final  advance 
the  brigade  to  which  he  belonged  led  the  <  harge,  and 
he  was  the  first  man  to  plant  the  Union  colors  on  the 


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rebel  fortifications.  Throughout  his  entire  period  of 
service  he  was  wounded  but  once — a  saber  cut  from 
a  rebel  cavalryman  at  Bull  Rmi.  In  the  fall  of  1864, 
a  general  order  was  issued  granting  a  furlough  of 
35  days  to  one  man  in  every  1,000  who  coidd  fulfill 
the  s|)eciiications  on  which  the  permit  was  granted. 
He  must  bear  inspection  as  to  drill,  care  of  arms  and 
accoutrements,  and  in  the  matter  of  personal  cleanli- 
ness. On  examination,  the  furlough  and  money  for 
the  nciL-ssar\'  traveling  expenses  going  home  and  re- 
turning to  his  regiment,  were  awarded  to  Mr.  Rogers, 
and  when  he  once  more  rejoined  his  command  he  re- 
ceived a  certificate  of  honor,  running  as  follows: 

CERTIFIC.'VTE    OK    IIO.NOR, 

awarded  to  Corporal  Edward  C.  Rogers,  of  Co.  F, 
Fifth  Vt.  Vet.  Vols.,  for  bravery  and  good  conduct  as 
a  soldier  in   the  cause  of  his  country. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  married  .\pril  24,  1868,  to  Nellie 
B.,  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Mary  A.  Smith,  of 
Cliamplain,  N.  V.,  who  was  born  Oct.  21,  1850,31 
Mooers,  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  father  was  of 
Scotch,  and  her  mother  of  iMiglish  e.vtraction.  Mr. 
Smith  was  a  soldier  in  the  loth  N.  H.  Vol.  Reg.,  and 
died  of  fever  contracted  in  the  army. 

The  children  of  Mi-.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  were  born 
in  the  order  named:  Arthur  W.,  April  25,  1S71; 
Robert  W.,  Sept.  ro.  1872;  Willard  C,  Nov.  15, 
1874. 

Mr.  Rogers  came  to  Michigan  in  1877,  and  settled 
in  Grant  Tp.,  buying  40  acres  of  land,  his  homestead. 
He  is  a  Rei)ublican,  and  a  member  of  Post  French, 
No.  28,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  serving  his  second  term  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  his  third  term  as  School 
Inspector. 


ohn  H.  Wright,  Morley,  was  born  in  Ionia 
Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  10  1847.  He  is  a  son  of 
W^  Norman  .S.  and  Betsey  M.  (Hydorn) 
Wright;  both  were  natives  of  New  York  and  k/ 
are  deceased.  Mr.  Wright  remained  at  home 
nearly  18  years,  attending  the  common  schools, 
also  the  union  school  of  Greenville,  Mi<h.,  and 
afterwaiil  the  Commercial  College  at  Graiul  Rapids, 
where  he  was  graduated.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  a 
meicantile   house   at    Greenville    two   years.      I'rom 


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1870  to  1879,  was  in  connection  with  two  of  the  lead- 
ing business  houses  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  In  the 
winter  of  1879  lie  came  to  Morley  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health,  and  finally  entered  into  business  with  G. 
F.  Cutler, remaining  until  the  accidental  death  of  his 
employer.  Since  that  event  he  acts  as  manager  and 
represents  tlie  hardware  firm  of  G.  F.  Cutler  &  Co. 
Mr.  Wright  is  a  man  of  well-trained  and  e.\perienced 
business  qualities,  and  under  his  management  the 
firm  commands  a  large  trade. 


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IS64. 


ilfev.  Robert  H.  Watson,  a  retired  minister 
of  the    United    Brethren    Church,    and    a 
farmer  on  sec.  2,  Grant  Tp.,  was  born  in 
New  Baltimore,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June   4, 
1 841.     His   father,   John  Watson,   was  born 
in  New  York,   in   1801,  and  died  Nov.     15, 
His  mother,  Mahala  Watson,  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State  in  1802,  and  died  Aug  15,  1853. 

Mr.  Watson  was  but  12  years  old  when  he  lost  his 
mother,  and  from  that  period  practically  made  his 
way  in  the  world  unaided.  He  was  in  iiis  20th  year 
when  the  nation  was  called  to  arms  by  the  revolt  of 
the  South,  and  May  13,  1861,  Mr.  Watson  enrolled 
himself  as  a  defender  of  the  unity  of  the  United 
States.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  33d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf ,  at 
Nunda,  N.  Y,  His  regiment  was  attached  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  McClellan,  and  was  in 
Washington  at  the  date  of  the  Bull  Run  disaster  to 
the  Northern  forces.  Pressing  on  toward  the  front, 
the  disorganized  hosts  of  soldiers  and  citizens,  infan- 
try and  cavalry,  met  them  in  all  the  discomfiture  and 
confusion  of  that  defeat  and  panic.  Mr.  Watson's 
introduction  to  the  heat  and  fren/y  of  battle  and  to  the 
smell  of  rebel  powder,  was  on  May  5,  1862,  at  Wil- 
liamstown.  His  next  regular  battles  were  at  York- 
town,  Mechanics viUe, — seven  miles  from  Richmond, 
—  Peach  ( )rchard.  Savage  Station,  White-Oak  Swamp, 
Malvern  Hill,  Turkey  P.end,  Antietam,  Fredeiicks- 
Inirg  (ist  and  2d)  and  Mary's  Heights,  where  the  con- 
llict  raged  two  days.  Mr.  Watson  received  a  wound 
in  the  right  arm  from  a  minie  ball,  and  another  shot 
entered  the  right  breast,  passing  out  below  the  arm- 
pit. From  the  latter  he  has  never  recovered.  His 
term  of  enlistment  expired  while  he  was  in  the  hos- 
pital, and  he  received  his  discharge  June  2,  1S63. 

^^^^ — ^tK^d  n 


He  was  occupied  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  about  a  year, 
subseiiuent  to  his  return  from  the  army,  and  the  year 
following  rented  a  farm  and  gave  his  attention  to 
agriculture.  He  was  married  June  20,  1863,  to  Julia 
A.,  daughter  of  Tiiiiothy  W.  and  Jane  Buckland,  of 
Eagle,  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Watson  was  born 
Oct.  26,  1844.  Her  father  was  born  in  Wyoming 
Co..  N.  Y.,  Aug.  19,  1S21.  He  enlisted  in  March, 
1864,  in  the  Union  army,  was  taken  prisoner  and 
sent  to  Salisbury,  N.  C,  where  he  died  in  the  prison 
pen,  Nov.  19,  1864.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  May    14,  1824,  and  is  yet  living. 

'i  he  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  were  born  as 
follows;  F'ranklin  E.,  Oct.  14,  18G4;  Timothy  W., 
April  4,  1866;  Phebe  H.,  April  9,  1868;  Henrietta 
E.,  April  30,  1875;  John  J,  May  23,  1878  (died 
.\pril  6,  1879);   Minnie  M.,  March  28,  1880. 

In  1867  Mr.  Watson  came  to  Grant  Tp.,  and,  un- 
der the  provisions  of  the  homestead  law,  located  on 
the  farm  he  now  occupies,  which  contains  80  acres 
of  good  land,  and  is  well  fitted  with  a  comfortable 
house  and  good  farm  buildings.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  active  in  all  reformatory  measures,  especially 
in  temperance  work.  He  has  served  his  township 
one  year  as  Supervisor,  one  year  as  Township  Clerk, 
and  three  years  as  Road  Commissioner. 

In  1873  he  entered  the  ministry,  laboring  in  the 
interests  of  the  society  of  United  Brethren,  to  which 
himself  and  wife  belong.  He  was  a  traveling  minis- 
ter for  a  time  and  in  1879  was  ordained  Elder.  In 
1880  he  was  elected  Presiding  Elder,  re-elected  the 
next  year,  and  compelled  to  locate  in  1882,  on  ac- 
count of  a  difficulty  of  the  throat. 


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gsj^'ulius  Reynier,  iiroprietor  of  the  National 
""  Hotel  at  Morley,  was  born  at  Ingelheim,  on 

j?F^  the  Rhine,  April  8,  1853.  His  father, 
(uliu-.  II.  Rtynier,  was  a  native  of  Belgium, 
and  his  mother,  Catherine  (Weitzel)  Reynier, 
was  borr,  at  Hesse  Darmstadt,  on  the  Rhine, 
Germany;  both  are  deceased.  When  ten  years  of 
a"e  Julius  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  and  was  a 
stadent  four  years  at  the  I.atin  Gymnasium  at  May- 
ence,  on  the  Rhine.  I  le  had  a  penchant  for  the  sea; 
became  a  sailor  at  14,  and  followed  navigation  three 
and  a  lialf  years.     Meanwhile   his  uncle  had    died, 


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and  he  sailed  for  the  Western  Continent  April  9, 
1870.  On  arrival  in  this  country  lie  started  immedi- 
ately for  the  West.and  after  a  short  stay  in  Milwaukee, 
went  to  Plattsmouth,  Neb.,  where  he  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  He  was  engaged  in  mining  two  years. 
In  the  winter  of  1872  he  came  to  drand  Rapitls, 
Mich.,  and  was  emiiloyed  several  months  on  liie 
Bridge  .Street  House,  again  resuming  his  trade,  whic  h 
he  followed  until  1875.  He  then  established  himself 
in  the  liquor  trade,  which  he  continued  until  1882, 
then  built  the  hotel  of  which  he  is  tlie  [iroiirietor. 
His  house  is  well  managed,  and  the  domcsti'j  dei)art- 
ment  is  in  competent  hands.  In  politics  he  is  inde- 
pendent. He  is  a  niemljer  of  tlie  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

.Mr.  Reynier  was  married  at  Morley,  Nov.  25,  1877, 
to  .Martha,  second  daugliter  of  Alexander  and  Ko- 
sanna  (Redmond)  Putnam.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
at  De  I'ere,  Wis.,  where  they  now  reside.  Mrs.  Rev^, 
nier  was  born  in  Xova  Scotia,  Dec.  7,  1853.  Chil- 
dren: Julius  H.,  born  Sept.  26,  1879,  and  Karl,  born 
July  8,  1880. 


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^ared  P.  Euling.  Jr.,  dealer  in    new   and 
'^^^■k^  second-hand  furnishing  goods,  at  Hig  Rap- 


■S'''^*^  ids,  was  born  in  Lock  Haven,  Clinton  Co., 


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ly*  Pa.,  May  12,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Jared  P. 
%r     and  Eliza  Huling,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 

,  His  father's  business  was  that  of  hotel-keeper, 
and  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was  16  years  old. 
In  1856  he  was  page  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives at  Washington,  when  Franklin  Pierce  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  N.  P.  Banks,  Speaker 
of  the  House.  He  intended  at  one  time  to  follow 
the  calling  of  a  jeweler,  and  spent  two  years  learning 
the  details  of  that  business. 

Just  previous  to  reaching  the  age  of  his  legal  free- 
dom, the  country  was  thrown  into  commotion  by  the 
firing  on  the  Union  flag  at  Fort  Sumter.  He  en- 
listed under  the  first  call  for  troops  in  .\i)ril,  1861,  in 
Co.  B,  iith  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving  three  months. 
March  13,  1862,  he  again  enlisted,  as  a  veteran,  in 
the    17th    U.    S.    Infantry.     He  was  in  the  service 


*<^ 


three   years,   and    was  in   action  during  17    regular 
engagements,  besides  numberless  skirmishes.   He  re-     <A 
ceived    a  shell  wound  in  the  right  hip  at  S|)ottsyl-    «•.■■ 
vania,  May  12,  1864,  and  again,  Aug.  18,  1864,  while      | 
detailed  to  protect  the  men  engaged  in  tearing  up  the 
Wcldon  railroad,  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the 
right  hand,  resulting  in    iiis  losing  the  third  finger; 
was  also  wounded  in  the  left  shoulder.     March    13, 
1865,  he  was  discharged  at    Fort   Preble,   Me.      He 
had  been  assured  of  a  position  in  the  employ  of  the 
Ciovernmept,  and  arrived   at  Wasiiington,  April    14 
1865,  whither  he  proceeded  to  receive  his  apiwintment 
as  mail  agent.     He  spent  the  evening  of  that  4ay  at 
Fiord's  Theater,  and  witnessed  the  tragedy  that  shook 
the  world  to  its  center.      Mr.  Huling  left  Washington 
just  previous  to  the   departure  of  the   funeral  train 
that  bore  the  martyred  Lincoln  to  Springfield,  III. 

He  was  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment as  mail  agent  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Flrie  r  - 
railroad,  where  he  continued  four  and  one-half  years, 
engaging  tiien  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Lock  Haven, 
where  he  establisiied  himself  in  the  sale  of  gents' 
furnishing  goods.  In  1874,  five  years  later,  he  came 
to  Big  Rapids  and  oi)ened  a  cigar  and  tobacco  store, 
where  (July  i  2)  he  was  burned  out,  and  suffered  a 
loss  of  $800.  He  at  once  started  his  business  again, 
which  he  removed  to  another  stand  a  year  later.  In 
the  spring  of  1876  he  sold  out  and  was  variously  en- 
gageil  until  1878,  when  he  ojiened  an  upholstering 
estal)lishment,  in  com])any  with  Henry  Arens,  who 
died  soon  afterward,  and  .Mr.  Huling  conducted  the 
business  alone  until  finally  he  converted  it  into  its 
present  character  and  deals  in  all  kinds  of  new  and 
second-hand  house-furnishing  goods;  is  now  oper-  I 
ating  successfully. 

Mr.  Huling  was  married  Oct.  22,  1 868,  to  Lizzie 
H.,  daughter  of  John  and  Li/.zie  .Stewart,  of  Jersey 
Shore,  Pa. :  she  was  born  in  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  in  1842. 
They  had  three  children,  Wells,  John  S.  and  Rali)h 
K.  Wells  was  drowned  in  the  Muskegon  River 
when  he  was  si.\  years  old.  John  S.  died  in  October, 
1879,  of  diphtheria,  and  five  weeks  later  the  wife 
and  mother  died.  Ralph  Iv  tiled  in  .April,  1S80,  of 
dii)htheria. 

Mr.  Huling  is  a  charter  member  of  the  local  lodges 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  Post  French;  is  a  "past"  officer  of  the 
first  and  Past  Adjutant  of  the  last.  Mr.  Hiding's 
portrait  may  be  found  on  another  page. 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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if^'fltsa  G.  Woodward,  farmer  on  sec.  15,  Hin- 
^M  ton  Tp.  (P.  O.,  Sylvester),  was  born  in  Can- 
"  ada,  Oct.  20,  1853.  His  parents,  John  M. 
^^!j^  and  Roxy  L.  (Smith)  Woodward,  were  born  re- 
■|^  spectively  in  Vermont  and  Canada.  After  their 
I  marriage  they  settled  in  the  Dominion,  where 
the  father  died,  in  the  spring  of  1877:  the  mother  re- 
sides there  still.  Mr.  Woodward  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  alternately  un- 
til he  was  2 1  years  of  age.  After  a  year  of  labor  on 
his  own  responsibility  he  went  to  Louisiana  and  was 
there  employed  in  catting  ship  timber.  He  returned 
to  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1876  and  was  occupied 
there  three  years  as  a  builder.  He  came  to  Mecosta 
County  in  the  fall  of  1879,  and  settled  on  80  acres 
of  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased. This  is  now  his  homestead,  and  45  acres  is 
under  tillage.  In  politics  Mr.  Woodward  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  July  20,  1878,  to 
Miriam  A.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Martha  (Bro- 
derick)  Tribe.  Both  the  latter  were  natives  of  Eng- 
land and  came  to  Canada  with  their  parents  in  child- 
hood. The  father  died  there  and  the  mother  still 
resides  in  the  Province  of  Ontario.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Woodward  have  had  tliree  children.  One  died  while 
an  infant, 
riet  E.,  Aui 


Laura  K.  was  born  Oct.  13,  18-8;  Har- 


1882. 


illiam  Brander,  farmer,  on  sec.  8,  Hinton 
^JL  'l"p.,  was  born  in  Scotland,  Dec.  24,  1827. 
^"^■^  '  His  parents,  George  and  Jeannette  Bran- 
-M.j^'  der,  were  also  natives  of  Scotland,  and  came 
"'^  to  America  when  the  son  was  but  eight 
years  old,  locating  in  Canada.  At  twelve  years 
of  age  Mr.  Brander  went  to  live  with  his  grandfather, 
where  he  remained  until  he  reached  man's  estate,  at- 
tending school  and  assisting  on  the  farm.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  engaged  in  siioemaking,  and 
made  tliat  his  calling  until  he  was  forty  years  of  age. 
In  1868  he  purchased  80  acres  of  unimproved  land, 
on  which  he  has  since  resided  and  has  46  acres  un- 
der cultivation. 

Mr.  Brander  was  married  Nov.  30, 1852,  in  Canada, 


to  Mary  A.  Beaton.  Following  is  the  record  of  the 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brander:  Grace  A., 
July  16,  1855  ;  William  H.,  Aug.  24,  1857  ;  Mary  E., 
March  26,  1862;  Emily  M.,  Nov.  4,  1863.  In  June, 
1882,  Mr.  Brander  deeded  40  acres  of  partly  im-" 
proved  land  to  his  son,  William  H.  Mr.  Brander  has 
held  the  post  of  Assessor  1 1  years,  and  that  of  High- 
way Overseer  one  year.      He  is  a  Republican. 

— -Ky— »-^ijt— s— 'B!' — 

iVTWi^.  illard  S.  Whitney,  M.  D.,  medical  pra.c- 
l^iil^Jl;^  titioner  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  Sept.  27, 
jf^fo  "  '^-''  ^'    Hancock,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 

X'    and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Christiana  (Staf- 
'"^'^      ford)  Whitney.     His  father  was  a  farmer  and 

he  was  trained  to  that  occupation  until  he  was 
20  years  old.  In  1835  his  parents  removed  to  Elba, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1841  he  became  a  clerk 
in  a  general  store,  where  he  worked  several  years, 
meanwhile  reading  medicine  as  o[)iiortunity  presented. 
Afterwards  he  was  variously  occupied  until  1854, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  F.  Baker, 
M.  D.,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  went  to  Wells- 
ville,  Allegan)  Co.,  N.  Y., in  January,  1S56.  In  1858 
he  attended  a  medical  institute  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
He  practiced  his  profession  and  attended  lectures  al- 
ternately until  1 868,  when  he  was  graduated  at  the 
Homeopathic  Medical  College  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
He  was  in  practice  at  Lansing,  Mich.,  five  years,  and 
at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  three  years.  In  1872  he  returned 
to  Michigan  and  located  at  Big  Rapids,  where  he  es- 
tablished himself  permanently  in  business.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  physicians  of  Big  Rapids, 
and  is  doing  an  annual  business  of  $5,000. 

Dr.  Whitney  was  married  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
Mary  A.  Whiting,  born  in  1882.  One  son  was  born 
of  this  marriage,  Willard  .\.,  now  a  practicing  physi- 
cian at  Big  Rapids  (see  sketch).  The  mother  died 
in  1854,  and  Dr.  Whitney  was  again  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1855,  at  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  to  Mary  A.  Putnam. 
She  survived  until  i860.  The  present  wife  of  Dr. 
Whitney,  to  whom  he  was  married  June  i,  1861,  was 
Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Amanda  Ray- 
mond, born  in  Potter  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  11,  1838.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Clara  Amanda,  born  Feb.  8, 
1878,  at  Big  Rapids,  Mich. 
Dr.  Whitney  owns  his  residence  and  a  dwelling 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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^'  adjoining,  four  lots  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  and  a 
farm  of  loo  acres  on  sec.  13,  Big  Rapids  Tp.  He  is 
W  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order,  the  fraternity 
'*"  of  Masonry  and  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance, 
J      in  which  cause  he  is  earnestly  interested. 


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eorge  W.  Warren,  dealer   in    agricultural 

\i     implements  and  machinery,  wagons,  car- 

"^i^  riages,  cutters,  sleighs,  seeds  and  grain, 
';^  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  the  township  of  Shi- 
awassee, Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  9,  icS4r. 
He  is  a  son  of  Wm.  M.  and  Laura  (Sprague) 
Warren. 

The  grandfather  of  .Mr.  Warren,  Comstock  Warren, 
was  L>orn  in  Connecticut,  in  1790,  and  in  181 1  was 
married  to  Sarah  Scholield,  of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. 
In  1823  he  removed  his  family  to  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  returned  to  the 
"  land  of  wooden  nutmegs"  in  1829,  where  he  died, 
as  is  supposed,  of  cholera.  His  wife  remained  on 
the  farm  in  Wayne  County  until  her  death.  She 
lived  to  the  age  of  80  years.  Wm.  M.  Warren  was 
born  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  March  20,  1812. 
When  he  reached  the  age  of  14  he  bought  his  lime 
of  his  father,  paying $50  therefor,  and  went  to  Water- 
loo, N.  Y.,  and  worked  a  year  on  the  Seneca  Canal. 
Two  years  later  he  entered  the  employ  of  Nathaniel 
C.arrow,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  two 
and  a  half  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1832  worked 
with  the  contractors  putting  in  the  piers  at  Sodus 
Point,  on  Lake  Ontario.  Later  in  the  season  he 
started  for  Michigan,  but  was  compelled  to  abandon 
his  pur[X)se  by  thj  freezing  of  the  canal.  He  was 
married  in  March,  1833,10  Laura  Sprague,  and  spent 
the  following  three  years  teaming  and  jobbing  at 
Lyons,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  the  fall  of  1836  he 
moved  to  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  assisted  in  the 
construction  of  the  first  milldam  and  saw-mill  in  the 
county,  located  at  the  county  seat,  on  the  Shiawassee 
River.  Laura  (Sprague)  Warren  was  the  only  daugh- 
ter of  Reulien  and  Olive  (Burch)  Sprague,  and  was 
born  -^larch  30,  1815,  in  Oswego  Co.  N.  Y.  Her 
father  was  an  extensive  farmer  of  Oswego  County, 
and  died  in  1820,  aged  57  years.  Olive  (Burch) 
Sprague  was  the  daughter  of  David  and  .Vnna  Burcli, 
of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  latter  died  in  1825,  leav- 
ing a  large  family  of  children.     Mrs.  S|irague  mar- 


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ried  Calvin  Sweet  for  her  second  husband,  and  in 
1836  accompanied  her  daughter  to  Michigan,  where 
she  died  in  185  i,  aged  53  years.  David  Burch  fol- 
lowed his  daughter  and  grandchildren  to  Michigan 
and  lived  among  them  until  he  died.  He  spent  his 
last  days  with  Mrs.  Laura  Warren,  and  died  at  84 
years  of  age. 

George  W.  W'arien  entered  the  .Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  Lansing  at  the  age  of  18,  and  remained  there 
two  years,  after  which  he  spent  four  years  in  tacching 
in  his  native  county.  In  January,  1863,110  went  to  \ 
North  Newberg  and  estaldished  a  general  store,  in  V 
which  he  operated  until  the  fall  of  1865.  Disposing  l^* 
of  his  business  as  a  commercial  man,  he  again  be-  / 
came  a  teacher  antl  was  employed  as  Principal  of  the 
graded  school  at  liyron  for  some  time.  His  father, 
in  1856,  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  entered  720 
acres  of  land,  on  sees.  3,  10,  21  and  22,  of  the  town- 
shii)  of  Big  Rapids;  160  acres  of  this,  situated  on 
sees.  3  and  10,  fell  to  the  share  of  Mr.  Warren,  and 
March  i,  1867,  he  took  possession  and  commenced 
farming.  Of  this  property  he  sold  the  largest  portion 
and  has  purchased  real  estate  until  he  has  170  acres. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  residence  he  was  ap- 
pointed County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  to  fill  a 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Z.  W.  Shep- 
herd, and  held  the  post  18  months.  He  opened  his 
present  business  in  April,  1880.  His  stock  is  valued 
at  $6,000,  and  includes  agricultuial  implements  and 
machinery,  wagons,  carriages,  sleighs,  builders'  mate- 
rials, seeds  and  seed  grains.  His  yearly  transactions 
amount  to  about  §20,000. 

Mr.  Warren  was  married  Feb.  21,  1867,  in  Burns 
Tp.,  Shiawassee  County,  to  Elsie  F.  Warren,  born  in 
Royal  Oak,  Oakland  Co.,  Feb.  25.  183S.  They  have 
had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased : 
George  G.  and  Alice  G.  Raymond  P.  was  born  at 
Big  Rapids,  April  2,  1873.  Mr.  Warren  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  his  family  belong  to 
the  M.  I'".  Church.  He  has  been  Supervisor  of  his 
ward  seven  years  and  served  one  year  as  Township 
("lerk  of  Big  Rapids. 

The   mother   and    grandmother  of    Mrs.   Warren 
were  members  of  the  first  M.  K.  Church   established     i 
in  Michigan.     It  was  organized  in  Wayne  County,  'Si'' 
near   Detroit,  and   the   grandmother  was  one  of  20    (J 
charter  members.     The  mother  is  living  in  Shiawas-  ^ 
see  County,  and  is  probably  the  sole  survivor  of  the  (i)\ 
membershi|).     She  was  born  in  Detroit,  Oct.  29,  1807  ;  ^ 


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MECOSTA 


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COUNTY. 


the  father  was  bom  at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  Nov.  8,  1804. 
The  father  of  the  latter  was  born  in  Vermont,  April 
28,  1778;  the  mother  was  born  Oct.  31,  1777-  Mrs. 
Warren's  maternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Banner,  was 
born  in  London,  Eng.,  in  April,  1770;  her  maternal 
grandmother,  Mary  (McCarty)  Banner,  was  born 
July  4,  1785,  at  Detroit. 

Mr.  Warren,  associated  with  E.  O.  Rose  (now  of 
Grand  Rapids),  compiled  a  history  of  Mecosta 
County,  which  was  read  at  the  celebration  of  the  Cen- 
tennial birthday  of  the  Nation  at  Big  Rapids,  July  4, 
1876.  The  compilers  of  this  volume  take  pleasure 
in  hereby  expressing  their  sense  of  obligation  for  the 
reliable  data  therein  contained,  which  has  proved 
most  advantageous  to  the  successful  accomplishment 
of  their  work. 


Davidson,  farmer  and  lumberman  on  sec. 
7,  Deerfiekl  Tj).,  was  born  in  Canada,  Aiig. 
ir^^^"^   18,  1 85 3.    His  parents,  William  and  Mary 
(Smith)  Davidson,  are  now  residents   of  the 
township  of    yEtna.      The  father  is  a  native 
j         of  England,  and  came  to  Canada  when  aboy ; 
the  mother  is  a  native  of  the  Dominion. 

Mr.  Davidson  came  to  Michigan  when  he  was  a 
lad  of  four  years.  In  tlie  fall  of  1874  he  bought  40 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  wliich  he  afterwards  sold, 
and  in  1876  he  again  invested  in  40  acres  of  laud  on 
sec.  7,  which  is  yet  in  his  possession.  Mr.  Davidson 
is  a  Democrat  in  political  principle. 

He  was  married  at  Cellar  Springs,  Kent  Co.,  Mich., 
in  December,  1873,  to  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Davis,  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Ward)  House,  and  widow  of 
James  Davis.  From  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  David- 
son has  two  children:  Edna  J.,  born  Feb.  6,  1856, 
and  married  July  4,  1875,  to  Alfred  Bell.  George 
Davis  was  born  Jan.  28,  1863. 


ichard  L.  Willett,  Altona,  Hinton  Tp.,  was 


rch    30,    1853.     His 


;:;||^!  ichard  L.  Willett,  Altc 
,'|i^  born  in  Canada,  Ma 
'..1  •  Vi  r..''  father,  Cieorue  Willett,  is  a  native  of  Ene;- 
MiVV  land,  whence  he  came  ni  the  eighth  year  of 
&  his  age,  settling  in  Canada,  of  wliich  coun- 
try his  mother,  Nancy  (Smith)  Willett,  was  a 
native.     On  leaving  Canada  in  the  spring  of   1863, 


they  came  to  Mecosta  County,  where  they  are  still 
residents.  Mr.  Willett  was  ten  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  their  removal ;  was  under  the  personal  charge 
of  his  parents  until  he  was  20  years  old,  after  which 
he  spent  five  years  lumbering,  operating  a  proportion 
of  the  time  in  his  own  behalf  In  1873  he  bought 
40  acres  of  unimproved  land,  and  in  1876  another  40, 
and  yet  another  in  1878,  all  of  which  he  has  sold. 
He  has  35  acres  cleared  and  has  built  a  fine  large 
barn.  About  the  time  he  reached  the  age  of  25  years 
he  took  charge  of  the  saw-mill  of  Harrison  J.  Brown 
which  he  managed  until  the  fall  of  1882.  In  com- 
pany witli  W.  N.  Seaton,  he  purchased  the  slock  of 
general  merchandise  of  L.  W.  Declare,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  a  prosperous  business.  His  stock  is 
valued  at  |!6,ooo. 

Mr.  Willett  was  married  Dec.  21,  1878,  at  Altona, 
to  Grace  A.,  eldest  daughter  of  NVilliam  and  Mary  A. 
(Seaton)  Brander.  Mrs.  \Villett's  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Scotland  and  England  resjjectively,  who 
were  settlers  of  the  Dominion  at  an  early  period,  and 
came  thence  to  Mecosta  County,  where  they  still  re- 
side. Mrs.  Willett  was  born  in  Canada,  July  16, 
1855.  Before  her  marriage  she  was  a  teacher  for 
nearly  three  years.  The  parents  are  of  strong  tem- 
perance sentiments  and  attend  the  M.  E.  Church,  of 
which  Mrs.  AN'illett  is  an  active  member.  The  family 
includes  two  children  :  Leroy,  born  April  11,  1881; 
Mabel,  March  27,  18S3.  Elmer  R.,  born  Dec.  28, 
1S79,  died  Jan.  10,  1880.  Mr.  Willett  is  a  decided 
Republican.  He  has  been  School  Inspector  two  years, 
and  Su[)erintendent  of  Schools  one  year.  Has  bought 
\\\\\.  N.  Seaton's  interest  in  a  store. 


-«^IIiss^- 


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Josephus  Groner,  B.  S.,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon.  Big  Ra|ii(ls,  was  born  in  North- 
^^'i^'<  ampton    Co.,    Penn.,  Aug.  8,   1849.      His 


parents,  Jacob  and  So[)hia  (Mack)  Groner, 
:^^  came  to  Michigan  in  1854  and  settled  near 
\  Three  Rivers,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  where  the  father 
purchased  a  farm  containing  155  acres.  There  Dr. 
Groner  was  reared  to  manhood  and  received  his  ele- 
mentary education.  In  1870  he  entered  the  State 
Agricultural  College  at  Lansing,  where  he  graduated 
in  1874,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He 
was  afteiwaid  engaged  two  years  in  teaching. 


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In  1877  he  began  to  prepare  for  his  profession  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  W.  M.  Ikelcr,  at  Three  Rivers,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1S78  matriculated  in  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Ar- 
bor, and  was  graduated  July  i,  rSSo.  He  established 
himself  at  Big  Rapids,  and  Sept.  12,  1880,  was  ap- 
pointed physician  and  surgeon  of  Mercy  Hospital, 
and  is  still  connected  with  that  institution  as  senior 
Medical  Director.  The  local  jiractice  of  Dr.  Groner 
ranks  \yith  that  of  the  best  practitioners  of  the  city 
and  county. 

Dr.  Groner  is  progressive  in  his  views  and  practice, 
keeping  pace  with  the  advance  of  practical  mcdii  al 
science;  is  conversant  with  the  accredited  journals 
and  literature  of  the  day  belonging  specially  to  his 
calling.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  spent  several 
months  in  the  large  hospitals  of  New  Vork  city,  and 
pursued  ix)st-graduate  studies  under  some  of  the 
most  eminent  physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  coun- 
try. He  is  especially  fitting  himself  for  surgery,  and 
his  reputation  as  a  bold  and  skillful  surgeon  is  al- 
ready pretty  thoroughly  known  througliout  the  State. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Medical  Society  of 
Northern  Michigan.  He  is  also  Medical  E.xaminer 
for  a  number  of  leading  life-insurance  companies  of 
the  State  and  United  States.  Is  a  frequent  contriliu- 
tor  to  the  medical  journals,  and  the  value  of  his  pro- 
ductions is  attested  by  a  letter  from  the  editor  of  the 
"  Physician  and  Surgeon,"  who  says :  "  .Some  of  the 
best  medical  journals  have  noticed  (copied  or  ab- 
stracted) your  article." 

Dr.  Groner  was  married  Aug.  25,  1881,  in  Park, 
St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Ada  F.  Kellogg,  a  native  of 
Berrien  Co  ,  Mich.  Mrs.  Groner  is  the  daughter  of 
Ransom  and  Eliza  Kellogg.  Her  father  was  a  farmer 
and  is  now  deceased. 


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^=^^ 


j  heophilus  C.  Hunt,  an  early  settler  of  Big 
Rapids,  was  born  at  HoUiston,  Norfolk  Co., 
Mass.,  March  25,  1809.  His  father,  Will- 
iam Hunt,  was  a  descendent  of  English  ances- 
try, and  was  born  in  Windham  Co.,  Vt.  His 
mother  also  came  of  British  ancestry  and  was 
a  native  of  HoUiston.  The  parents  were  agricultur- 
ists and  reared  their  children  on  the  home  farm, 
where  Mr.  Hunt  lived  until  he  was  i8  years  old.  In 
1827  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law, 


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William  E.  Burr,  and  commenced  the  hardware  bus- 
iness, a  relation  which  existed  until  the  death  of  the 
latter  about  15  years  later.  During  the  last  few  years 
of  their  transactions,  they  were  established  at  Sim- 
coe,  Norfolk  Co.,  Canada.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Burr,  Mr.  Hunt  was  engaged  in  the  "Connecticut 
clock "  business,  managing  a  considerable  trade  by 
means  of  traveling  salesmen.  He  was  thus  engaged 
about  five  years,  when  he  changed  his  line  of  goods 
and  imported  teas  for  a  time.  Meanwhile  he  bought 
a  steam  saw-mill,  which  he  managed  until  1859. 

In  that  year  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  bought  40 
acres  of  land  on  sec.  22,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  also  managed  a  shoe  shop.  He  brought  his 
workman,  Robert  Palmer,  with  him  from  Canada, 
who  was  the  first  shoemaker  in  Mecosta  County. 
Mr.  Palmer  is  living  at  Hungerford,  Newaygo  Co. 
The  latter  business  was  in  existence  two  years,  with 
an  interval  of  a  year  between.  Alwut  the  year  1864 
he  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade,  buying  280  acres 
of  standing  pine,  which  was  cut  and  placed  in  La-  ^ 
zell's  mill  yard.  The  steam  saw-mill  of  that  gentle- 
man was  the  only  establishment  of  its  kind  at  Big 
Rapids,  then  Leonard.  Mr.  Hunt  carried  on  the 
lumber  traffic  four  years,  operating  ipiite  extensively 
most  of  that  time  and  employing  a  number  of  men. 

In  1870  Mr.  Hunt  bought  the  Waldon  Hotel,  known 
then  as  the  Rose  House.  He  j)ut  it  in  attractive 
order  and  after  managing  it  personally  a  year  he 
rented  it.  A  year  later  he  resumed  its  management. 
In  1879  his  affairs  became  embarrassed  and  he  sus- 
pended active  business.  About  the  same  time  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  opened  an  of- 
fice in  the  Northern  National  Bank  block  with  C.  W. 
Nottingham.  On  the  completion  of  the  Fairman  & 
Newton  block,  they  transferred  their  quarters  and  bus- 
iness there.  Mr.  Hunt  transacted  the  affairs  of  his 
official  position  and  dealt  in  real  estate  until  the 
spring  of  1882,  when  he  vacated  his  incumbency, 
but  is  still  operating  in  land.  He  was  Supervisor  of 
the  Fiftli  Ward  in  18S0  and  1882,  and  owns  a  house 
and  lot  on  Fourth  Avenue. 

He  was  married  in  Oxford  Co.,  Can.,  Oct.  6,  1S39, 
to  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Angeline  Har- 
ris, born  in  the  same  place  in  May,  1S20.  Following 
is  the  record  of  tiie  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hunt:  William  F.,  deceased  :  Charles  G.,  res- 
ident at  Minneapolis,  Minn;  Maria,  deceased;  War- 


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ren  A.,  lately  City  Marshal  of  Big  Rapids ;  Lucinda 
M.,  wife  of  John  London,  ticket  agent  of  the  D.,  L. 
&  N.  R.  R.  Co.;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  F.  N.  Lattimer, 
druggist  at  Liidington,  died  in  November,  1882. 

Warren  A  Hunt  was  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
efficient  officers  of  the  municipality  of  .Big  Rapids. 
Desiring  to  change  his  circumstances  he  resigned  his 
office  in  September,  1883.  On  the  acceptance  of  his 
resignation  by  the  Common  Council  he  was  made 
the  recipient  of  an  elegant  gold  watch  and  chain 
as  a  testimonial  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 
^  His  future  residence  will  be  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
^  Mr.  Hunt  is  enabled  by  reference  to  the  "  Genealogy 
of  the  Hunt  Family,"  published  in  1863  by  W.  L.  G. 
Hunt,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  to  trace  his  descent  through 
eight  generations.  We  (juote :  "I  am  the  son  of 
William  Hunt,  the  i6th,  of  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  who  was 
the  son  of  Richard,  of  Wardsboro,  Vt.,  who  was  the 
son  of  Ephraim  (6th),  second  son  of  William  (2d),  of 
Braintree,  Mass.,  who  was  the  son  of  Ephriam  (2d),  of 
Weymouth,  Mass.,  who  was  the  son  of  Ephraim  (ist), 
i?  of  Weymouth,  who  was  the  son  of  Enoch,  of  Wey- 
^  mouth,  my  English  ancestor.  Enoch  Hunt  came 
Pi  from  Tittenden,  Lee  Parish,  Buckinghamshire,  Eng., 
— r  with  two  sons,  Ejihraim  and  Peter,  in  1638."  Mr. 
Hunt's  portrait  is  inserted  on  tlie  preceding  page  of 
this  volume. 


m 


fra  F.  Bentley,  Clerk  of  Grant  Tp.,  and 
farmer,  sec.  12,  was  born  June  27,  185  i,  in 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  V.     His  father  and  mother 

were  natives  of  the  same  county,  the  former 

born  Jan.  28,  1824,  and  the  latter  in  July,  1826. 

The  mother  died  April  4,  1873.  They  came 
from  New  York  to  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1856,  and  in 
1873  moved  to  Grant  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co.  Mr. 
Bentley  went  to  Wisconsin  when  he  was  16  years  of 
age,  and  spent  a  year  there  with  his  uncle.  He 
came  back  for  a  year's  stay  at  home,  and  returned  to 
Wisconsin.  A  year  later  he  went  to  Cerro  Gordo  Co., 
Iowa,  where  he  remained  about  one  year,  thence 
going  to  Blue  Earth  Co.,  Minn.,  where  he  was  a 
farmer  for  a  period  of  two  and  a  half  years.  He  then 
came  to  Grant  Tp.  and  bought  40  acres  of  land,  his 
present  homestead. 

He    was    married    May   21,    187 1,    to    Rachel   L., 

^r^-  ^^^^^ '-^-K'^B!] 


daughter  of  Nathan  and  Delilah  Cook,  of  Cerro 
Gordo  Co.,  Iowa,  who  was  born  May  4,  1856,  in  Co- 
lumbia Co.,  Wis.  Her  father  was  born  in  New 
York,  in  1822,  and  died  in  1870;  her  mother  was 
born  in  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1S19,  and  is  still  living. 
The  records  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bentley 
are  as  follow:  Nora  R.  was  born  April  8,  1872; 
Carrie  L.,  Dec.  20,  1864,  and  died  March  4,  1875; 
Edith  G.,  Jan.  7,  1876;  Claude  O.,  March  26,  1878, 
and  died  March  19,  1879;  Katie  P.,  May  29,  1880, 
and  died  July  27,  1880.  Mr.  Bentley  is  a  Republi- 
can in  politics,  and  is  serving  his  third  term  as  Town- 
ship Clerk.  His  wife  is  a  memljer  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 


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igri'""^    machinery,   at  Big   Rajiids,  was    born   at 

^  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1832.  His  parents, 
John  and  Sarah  (Irwin)  Haney,  came  to  the 
Territory  of  Michigan  when  he  was  three  years 
of  age,  and  settled  in  Van  Buren  Tp.,  Wayne  Co., 
where  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers. 

Mr.  Haney  left  home  at  the  age  of  14,  and  went  to 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind  ,  to  learn  the  business  of  an  iron- 
molder,  which  he  pursued  a  number  of  years.  He 
came  to  Hig  Rapids  in  1870,  and  in  March  of  that 
year  purchased  an  interest  in  the  foundry  of  Calvin 
Price  and  James  J.  Osborn.  The  establishment  was 
built  about  a  year  previously,  and  was  devoted  to  the 
casting  of  cooking  stoves,  a  number  of  which  are  yet 
extant  in  this  vicinity.  In  May,  Mr.  Haney  bought 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Price,  and  in  December  became 
sole  proprietor  by  purchasing  the  claim  of  Mr.  Os- 
borne. He  changed  the  cliaracter  of  the  foundry 
products,  and  now  manufactures  all  kinds  of  mold- 
ings and  castings,  and  also  the  Haney  Plow,  acknowl- 
edged one  of  the  best  known  to  the  trade.  He 
employs  about  half  a  dozen  men. 

In  June,  1874,  Mr.  Haney  established  a  hardware 
store  at  Big  Rapids,  where  he  deals  in  all  kinds  of 
goods  belonging  to  that  branch  of  business.  Besides 
stoves,  tinware,  agricultural  implements,  paints  and 
oils,  he  sells  wagons  and  buggies,  and  a  host  of  mis- 
cellaneous articles. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order  of  Big 


dward  G.  Haney,  dealer  in  hardware  and 
manufacturer    of    farm    implements    and      (J 


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Rapids,  Lodge  No.  iii,  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Mecosta  Lodge  No.  26.  In  1871-2,  he  act- 
ed as  Alderman  of  l?ig  Rapids,  and  has  served 
several  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Hdii- 
cation. 

Mr.  Haney  was  married  in  Grattan  Tp.,  Kent  Co., 
Mich.,  Jan.  7,  1856,  to  Joanna,  daughter  of  George 
and  Honora  Tate,  born  at  Harlem,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  11, 
1836.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haney  have  buried  three  of 
their  lochildren.  Following  is  the  record:  Henry  H. 
(dec);  Henrietta  (dec.) ;  Ida  A.,  wife  of  Uuff  Jen- 
nings, grocer  at  Sheridan,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.; 
Geo.  E.  (dec.) ;  William  H.,  clerk  in  the  hardware 
store  of  his  father;  Frank  J.,  Cora  M.,  Jennie  S., 
Mary  W.  and  Edward  G. 


— =^^ 

I  ufus  Kent,  fanner  on  sec.  i,  Mecosta  Tp., 

was  born  in  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  March 
16,  1S20.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Lo- 
ll^ retta  (Borden)  Kent,  were  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, of  English  ancestry.  His  mother  died 
when  he  was  six  years  old,  and  he  remained 
under  the  care  of  his  father  until  he  was  of  age,  at- 
tending school  winters  and  working  on  the  farm 
summers. 

On  attaining  to  man's  estate  in  1.S41,  lie  went  to 
Pennsylvania  and  found  employ  with  his  uncle,  re- 
maining one  year,  and  was  aftenvard  in  the  service 
of  various  other  [lersons.  He  rented  the  farm  of  tlie 
McCoy  estate  in  18 — ,  and  there  remained  until  the 
winter  of  1S56,  when  he  settled  on  the  |)la<x'  where 
he  now  resides,  in  Mecosta  Tp.  The  family  first 
lived  in  a  rude  house  of  logs,  with  one  room  and  one 
window.  Ventilation  and  light  were  secured  by  the 
style  as  well  as  method  of  the  an  hitecturc.  Suc- 
ceeding seasons  have  gradually  improved  their  con- 
dition until  Mr.  Kent  now  owns  a  farm  considered 
second  to  none  in  the  county,  containing  310  acres, 
worth  $100  an  acre,  and  supplied  with  first-class 
buildings.  At  the  date  of  their  location  the  wilder- 
ness was  in  its  primal  condition,  bears  and  wolves 
disputing  the  right  of  possession  with  the  settlers. 
One  instance  is  related  of  a  bold  Bruin,  which  ap- 
proached near  enough  to  a  blackberrying  party  to  de- 
vour a  pail  of  the  fruit  which  had  been  gathered  and 
left  to  await  the  end  of  the  picking. 

Mr.   Kent  occupies  a  prominent  position    in    his 


township  as  a  pioneer  and  a  man  interested  in  all 
that  can  affect  the  substantial  and  material  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  community.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  sentiment,  and  although  he  has  held  the 
post  of  Suiiervisor  two  years,  he  has,  with  that  ex- 
ception, declined  all  elective  positions  save  that  of 
Township  Clerk,  which  he  held  two  years. 

He  was  married  June  3,  1847,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  David  Butler.  The  family  were  of  English  de- 
scent.   Mrs.  Kent  was  born  in   1826,  and  died  June 

27.  following  her  marriage,  a  period  of  a  little  more 
than  three  weeks.  Mr.  Kent  was  again  married 
Dec.  i8,  1848,  to  Mrs.  Mary  McCoy,  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Lock)  Greer,  of  Scotch  and 
Irish  descent.  Mrs.  Kent  was  born  May  14,  1825, 
in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.  She  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
age  of  13  years  and  secured  such  educational  and 
other  advantages  as  she  could  under  the  circumstan- 
ces. The  12  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kent  were 
born  as  follows :  Laura,  Oct.  9,  1849;  Sadie,  Sept. 
8,  1851;  Edward,  Sept.  17,  1854;  Mattie,  May  16, 
1858;  Thompson  v.,  Sept.  20,  1859;  Monroe,  Aug. 
3,  1862;  William  G.,  June  17,  1865.  The  above  are 
the  survivors,  seven  in  number.  Following  is  the 
record  of  the  deceased:  Franklin,  born  Feb.  t2, 
1853,  died  Oct.  19,1855;  James  L.,  born  Sept.  17, 
1856,  died  June  28,  i860;  Ernest,  born  Feb.  14, 
iS6i,died  Feb.  22,  1861.  John  G.  McCoy,  a  son 
by  the  first  marriage  of  Mrs.    Kent,  was  born  April 

28,  1847,  and  died  Feb.  14,  1S71. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  .M.  1^.  Church, 
and  take  a  great  interest  in  the  moral  and  intellectual 
development  of  their  children.  'I'he  daughter  Mat- 
tie  is  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Cadillac,  Mich. 


iWrl  Beuthien,  of  the   firm  of  Beiuhien  iV 
jia    Frederikson,   [)roprietors   of    the   German 


House,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  June  9,  1832,  in 
Germany.  His  parents  were  farmers,  and  he 
was  trained  on  a  farm  in  his  native  land. 
He  was  married  in  Germany,  Nov.  24,  1863, 

Id   .\nnie  Arechsen,  a  native   of  Denmark.     They 

have  seven  children,  namely:  Bine,  Dora,  Enwold, 

Martin,  Katie,  Li/./.ic  and  Carl. 

Mr,    Beuthien   came   to  the   United  States  and  to 

l!ig  Rapids,  in  1871.       He  has  been  variously  occu- 


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pied  since  tjiat  time  until  July  5,  1883,  when  he 
formed  his  present  business  relation,  and  opened  the 
German  House.  The  hotel  has  accommodations  for 
25  guests,  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business.-  The 
family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

!= 

i!*ii^^|j,.,.iba  W.  Pease,  farmer  and  blacksmith,  sec- 
I'^SI "  3^'  Hersey  Tp.,  Osceola  Co.,  Mich.,  was 
IliS't?^  born  Aug.  i,  1832.  His  father,  Samuel 
•7|VS^  Pease,  was  born  in  Conne:ticiit  in  1788,  and 
/|v   was  one   of  the  first  settlers  of  the   ^Vyoming 

I  Valley,  Pa.;  was  a  miller  by  occupation,  and 
passed  the  winters  in  trapping  and  hunting.  His 
grandfather,  Samuel  Pease,  was  born  in  Glastonbury, 
Ct.,  March  14,  1760,  and  enlisted  in  1777  to  serve  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution ;  he  took  out  a  deed  of 
land  in  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  Jan.  6,  1795  ;  was  with  the 
army  under  Washington  at  the  crossing  of  the  Dela- 
ware ;  fought  his  last  battle  at  Yorktown,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  A  sig- 
nificant fact  and  worthy  of  record  is  that  six  of  his 
descendants  fought  on  the  same  ground  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  to  defend  the  liberty  established  by 
their  ancestors. 

The  Pease  family  of  the  United  States  are  de- 
scended from  Robert  and  John  Pease,  two  brothers 
who  came  from  Ipswich,  Essex  Co.,  Eng.,  in  the  ship 
Francis,  Capt.  John  Cutting,  and  landed  at  Boston  in 
April,  1 63 1.  In  1634  they  settled  at  Salem,  Mass., 
and  not  long  after,  John  went  to  Martha's  Vineyard, 
and  is  claimed  as  the  founder  of  the  Pease  family 
there.  John  Pease,  Jr.,  of  Salem,  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Enfield  branch  of  the  family,  and  of  his  de- 
scendants, the  whereabouts  of  over  three  thousand 
living  male  members  are  known.  But  one  is  posi- 
tively recorded  as  in  any  way  connected  with  the 
Confederate  army — Capt.  Allen  S.  Pease,  whose 
"Tactics"  were  adopted  in  tlie  discipline  of  the 
army  of  the  Confederacy.  Dr.  John  C.  Pease,  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Hartford  Times  in  1816,  and 
Dr.  Calvin  Pease  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  who 
originated  and  published  the  present  school  laws  of 
that  State,  are  of  the  same  family. 

Mr.  Pease  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  war  of  Re- 
bellion Aug.  30,  1863,  in  Co.  K,  nth  Pa.  Vol.  Cav- 
alry, and  on  going  to  the  front  was  at  once  introduced 


to  the  fortunes  of  war  at  "Deserted  House, "Feb. 
12,  1863,  followed  by  an  engagement  at  ihe  siege  of 
Suffolk,  Va.,  from  April  11  to  May  4,  at  North  Anna 
Bridge,  July  4,  1863,  Bottom  Bridge  Feb.  6,  1864, 
Reams'  Station  June  29,  1864,  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads  Oct.  I,  1864,  and  skirmishes  without  number. 
He  was  at  Lee's  surrender  at  Ap|)omattox,  and  went 
thence  to  Lynchburg,  where  he  spent  eight  days  parol- 
ing rebel  prisoners,  and  on  his  return  to  Richmond, 
received  intelligence  of  the  assassination  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  After  a  tarry  of  two  weeks  at  Rich- 
mond he  went  to  Staunton,  W.  Va.,  where  he  spent 
three  weeks,  going  thence  to  Charlottesville,  Va. 
Three  months  later  he  went  to  Richmond  and  was 
mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  he  located  at  Big  Rapids  and 
worked  at  blacksmithing  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  located  a  homestead  claim  of  56  acres  on 
sec.  32  of  Hersey  Tp.,  of  which  he  has  made  a 
valuable  farm.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  township,  and  politically  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  actively  in- 
terested in  the  temperance  movement  of  the  day. 
He  was  married  Sept.  17,  1854,  to  Rhoda  M., 
daughter  of  David  and  Betsey  (Stanton)  Di.\,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  residents  of  that  State.  Mrs. 
Pease  was  born  June  30,  1839,  in  Preston,  Pa.  She 
became  the  mother  of  nine  children,  as  follows : 
Lucinda  J.,  Jan.  17,  r856  (Mrs.  T.  B.  Hardman)  ; 
Drusilla  J.,  Nov.  18,  1857  (died  Jan.  6,  1862); 
Francis  M.,  March  13,  i860  (died  April  14,  1862); 
Hattie  A.,  March  10,  1862  (Mrs.  J.  Vanatter);  Ber- 
tha, June  29,  1866;  Carrie  E.,  May  14,  1868;  Nel- 
lie W.,  Oct.  17,  1870  (died  Aug.  10,  1873);  Charlie 
W.,  June  9,  1873;  Eddie  J.,  Sept.  24,  1875. 


"5- 


'i^''"?^  dina  Co.,  Ohio. 


i^^''V\  G.  and  Frances  F.  (Isbell)  Rawson,  the  lat- 
'"u"  ter  a  native  of  New  York,  the  former  of  Con- 
necticut. Mr.  Rawson  is  the  second  son  of  his 
parents  and  one  of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are 
living,  and  all  in  adult  age.  /\t  an  early  date  the 
parents  went  to  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  moved  later  to  Ran- 
dolph Co.,  Ind.,  went  thence  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
then  returned  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Noble  County 


I 


S'ltJ'pBx^f  yron   Rawson,  farmer,  sec.   9,  Fork  Tp., 
■!'^,  ;aS(.    was  born  July   26,    1831,  in  Sharon,  Me- 

He   is   a   son  of  Anson 


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in  1843,  wliere  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  Rawson  grew  to  manhood  in  Noble 
County,  and  at  the  age  of  22  entered  u[)on  the 
career  of  a  farmer.  He  was  dependent  n\K>n  his 
own  resources,  and  for  the  first  seven  years  after  set- 
ting out  in  life  he  rented  farms.  He  was  married 
May  10,  1855,  to  Mary  S.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Susan  (W'yatt)  Scpiares,  of  Jackson,  DeKalh  Co., 
Ind.  Of  this  marriage  three  children  were  born. 
William  .\.,  born  July  17,  1S63,  is  yet  living.  Infant 
twins  died  unnamed.  Tlie  mother  died  Jan.  26, 
1866,  after  a  long  and  distressing  illness. 

Mr.  Rawson  was  married  again  at  Kendallville, 
Ind.,  Nov.  10,  1867,  to  Mrs.  Julia  '1'.,  widow  of  Dr. 
Jolinson  Curl,  and  daughter  of  Dr.  'I'lionias.  One 
child  resulted  from  tliis  marriage,  Edward  O.,  born 
Oct.  4,  1869. 

In  September,  1879,  Mr.  Rawson  went  to  Kansas 
and  spent  seven  months  prospecting  for  a  place  to 
settle:  returned  to  I'etoskey  and  thence  to  Sun- 
field,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  was  employed 
chiefly  in  farming.  He  was  there  married  to  Mrs. 
Martha,  widow  of  James  McElroy,  who  died,  leaving 
her  with  two  children,  James  and  Laura.  One  child 
has  been  born  of  tlie  last  marriage,  Mary  .'\grtes, 
Aug.  18,  1882. 

Mr.  Rawson  sold  his  farm  in  Sunfield  in  January, 
1883,  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Fork  Tp.,  on 
which  he  settled  April  15,  1883.  Five  acres  were 
improved  and  a  house  built  at  the  date  of  purchase, 
and  in  a  few  months  Mr.  Rawson  has  materially  im- 
proved and  increased  the  value  of  the  place.  In 
[jolitics  he  is  a  Republican.  His  father  was  a  sol- 
dier of  1812;  was  a  minute  man  and  responded  to 
the  call  for  aid  when  the  British  invaded  Wayne  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  burned  the  village  of  Sodus. 

l^aniel  W.    Stewart,  Register  of   Deeds  of 


^Jp'   Mecosta  County,  resident  at  Big  Rapids,[was 

f-^P^    born  at  Cent<?rville,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.i 

*^   Dec.  1 1,  1849,  iind  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Stewart, 


lx)rn  July  4,  181 1,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Mary 
(McFarland)  Stewart,  born  June  3,  181 3,  at 
Amsterdam,  N.  Y. ;  the  latter  still  resides  at  Center- 
ville.  The  father  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  in  his 
later  years    was  engaged   in  mercantile  operations, 


1 
38s  ^ 


coml)ined  with  traffic  in  lumber.  He  died  at  Cen- 
terville,  March  25,  1876.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Stew- 
art were  married  March  25,  1835,  and  located  at 
Centerville  Sept.  21,  1837.  Duncan  and  Jeannetle 
(Campbell)  Stewart,  his  paternal  grandparents  were 
born  on  Loch  Tay,  County  of  Perth,  Scotland  ;  Pur- 
lin McFarland,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Glasgow,  and  Isabella  (McXaughton)  McFarland, 
maternal  grandmother,  was  born  near  Perth,  Scotland. 

Mr.  Stewart  obtained  his  elementary  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  At  the  age  of 
16  he  was  sent  to  the  graded  school  at  Sturgis  and 
was  a  pupil  tiiere  18  nK)nths,  after  which  he  went  to 
a  school  of  the  same  character  at  Centerville  and 
pursued  a  course  of  study  there  two  years ;  he  then 
attended  the  Business  College  at  Sturgis  three  montlis. 
In  April,  1875,  he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  locating 
at  Morley,  where  he  operated  in  general  merchandise. 
He  sold  his  Inisiness  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  and 
interested  himself  in  trading  in  shingles  until  the 
fall  of  1877.  He  then,  in  partnership  with  J.  '[". 
Cook  and  W.  T.  Jones,  inaugurated  another  mercan- 
tile enterprise,  which  proved  signally  successful, 
reaching  an  annual  aggregate  of  $35,000.  In  the 
spring  of  1881,  Mr.  Stewart  sold  out,  and  during  the 
next  18  months  was  occupied  with  the  duties  per- 
taining to  the  office  of  Postmaster  of  Morley,  to 
which  he  was  apjxjinted  in  October,  1877,  and  wliich 
he  resigned  in  January,.  1883,  on  his  accession  to  his 
piesent  official  position.  Mr.  Stewart  was  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  running  against  Joseph  H. 
Kilbourne,  opposition  candidate.  While  a  resident 
at  Morley,  he  occupied  various  official  posts;  was 
elected  Township  Clerk  in  1875  and  re-elected  suc- 
cessively until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  was 
elected  Supervisor.  He  also  acted  as  Village  Clerk 
several  years.  He  resigned  his  sui)ervisorship  in 
December,  1882,  just  previous  to  his  removal  to  Big 
Rapids  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  Register  of  Deeds. 
He  was  married  at  Morley  April  14,  1880,  to  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  William  and  Ann  Hugh.  Her 
father  is  a  prominent  lumberman  of  Morley  and  jun- 
ior memiier  of  the  firm  of  Iligbee  &  Hugh.  Mrs. 
Stewart  was  born  Feb.  22,  i860,  in  Watertown,  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  child. 
Earl  H.  Stewart,  born  at  Morley,  July  26,  1881. 

Among  those  worthy  a  place  with  tlie  gentlemen 
whose  portraits  we  jnesent  in  this  volume,  is  Mr. 
Stewart,  whose  i)ortrail  we  give  on  the  preceding  page. 


f 

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386 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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tq3,:  idney  Showers,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Cirant  Tp., 
Iji^^r"    was  born  May  15,  1830,  in  Canada,  across 

~^ -VK    the  Niagara    River    from    Buffalo.       His 

^X  father  was  a  native  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his 
mother  of  New  Hampshire.  Thej-  became 
residents  of  New  York  when  he  was  six  weeks 
old.  He  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  nine 
years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  15  years  he  went  to 
work  on  a  farm  for  Jesse  and  Oliver  Field,  of  Erie 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  continued  in  their  employ  four  years, 
when  he  and  his  brother  Andrew  together  bought  50 
acres  of  land.  They  labored  on  it  two  years,  and 
then  sold  it.  Mr.  Showers  then  engaged  as  a  stage- 
driver,  which  occupation  he  followed  1 1  months. 

He  was  married  March  19,  1853,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Buffam,  who  was  born 
in  Colden,  Erie  Co  ,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1852,  and  at  the 
A^  time  of  her  marriage  resided  in  Aurora,  N.  Y.  The 
3  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Showers  are  as  follows  : 
James,  born  Aug.  26,  1854,  in  Aurora;  Stephen  B., 
Nov.  22,  1856,  in  Elma,  N.  Y. ;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  4, 
1858,  in  Hamburg,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah  E.,  Oct  23,  1862,  in 
Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Electa  M.,  June  24,  1866,  in 
Colden;  Calusha  P.,  Nov.  5,  1869,  also  in  Colden; 
^  Catherine  M.,  born  July  i,  1873,  in  Colden,  died  in 
infancy.  James  S.  married  Anna  Smith,  of  Catta- 
raugus Co.,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — 
Florence  E.,  born  March  17,  1877,  and  Adelbert, 
born  Sept.  15,  1881.  Stephen  B.  married  Minerva 
Davis,  of  Green  Tp.,  this  county,  and  they  have  one 
.^  child — Maud,  born  Sept.  5,  188 1,  Mary  E.  married 
':.^  John  BuitneLt,  and  died  Oct.  6,  1879,  leaving  one 
child,  Carrie  A.,  who  was  cared  for  by  her  grand- 
parents until  her  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  7,  1S72. 

Mr.  Showers  was  variously  employed  until  the  date 
of  his  enlistment,  March  17,  18O4,  in  Co.  L,  Heavy 
Artillery,  N.  Y.  Vols.  He  was  discharged  in  June, 
1865.  The  reguncnt  was  [jlaced  with  llieir  ordnance 
on  the  gunboats  of  the  James  River  and  on  the  coast 
of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  where  they  were  on 
duty.  The  severe  service  and  exposure  brought  on 
cami)  diarrhoea;  his  eye-sight  w^as  permanently  in- 
jured, and  he  suffered  much  from  rheumatism. 

After  his  discharge  he  was  em|)loyed  as  a  butcher 
>^    until  1876.       In   May  of  that  year  he  came  to  Big 


<? 


Rapids,  and  worked  as  a  gardener  and  in  grading 
city  lots  for  some  time,  when  he  engaged  in  farming 
a  year  in  Colfax  Tp.,  near  Clear  Lake.  He  passed 
the  year  following  in  Big  Rapids,  in  the  pursuit  of 
business  of  a  character  similar  to  that  of  his  former 
employment  in  that  city.  A  year  later  he  bought  the 
farm  he  now  occupies,  containing  40  acres  of  land, 
and  situated  in  the  center  of  the  township  of  Grant. 
He  has  put  the  place  in  a  condition  second  to  none 
in  the  township;  has  70  bearing  fruit-trees,  consist- 
ing of  apples,  plums,  pears,  cherries,  etc.,  also  a  span 
of  horses,  cow,  two  heifers  and  five  hogs,  all  of  a  good 
grade  and  first-class  in  ever}'  particular.  Politically 
Mr.  Showers  is  a  Democrat. 


■^'-'r^ 


Burkart,  M.    D.,    physician    and 


i'^^lL'  surgeon,  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Delhi, 


(^ 


y    son  of  Anselm  and  Beatrice  (Doyle)  Burkart. 
His  father  was  a  wholesale  liquor  dealer,  and 


1^ 


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-^n 


1'  removed  with  his  family  to  Ingersoll,  Oxford 
Co.,  Can.,  when  his  son  was  two  years  old.  The  lat- 
ter attended  the  common  school  until  the  age  of  1 6, 
when  he  was  placed  at  St.  Michael's  College  at  To- 
ronto (Basilian  order),  with  the  intent  of  preparing 
for  the  priesthood.  He  studied  in  the  scientific 
course  two  years,  and  then  entered  the  office  of  Drs. 
Scott  &  McCauseland  to  read  medicine.  In  the 
fall  of  1870  he  matriculated  at  Victoria  Medical 
College,  and  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1874. 
He  opened  his  business  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine 
at  Beechville,  Oxford  Co.,  and  remained  there  two 
years.  He  then  took  the  post-graduate  course  at 
Trinity  Medical  University,  where  he  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  B.,  and  became  M.  C.  P.  and  S.  in  the 
year    1877,  and  also  L.  C.   P.,  in    the  same  year. 

He  commenced  the  full  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Thamesford,  Oxford  Co.,  and  also  managed  a  drug 
store  there,  with  satisfactory  results.  In  August, 
188 1,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  to  visit  a  relative,  anil 
was  so  well  pleased  with  the  apparent  future  as  well 
as  present  of  Big  Rai)ids,  that  he  returned  to  Canada, 
sold  out  his  business,  and  in  November  following 
made  a  permanent  location  here,  entering  into  part- 
nership with  Dr.  W.  A.  Hendryx,  which  relation  ex- 
isted one  year.     Since  that   time  he  has  performed 


1 


Norfolk  Co.,  Can.,  Feb.  28,  1853.     He  is  a     ^  ^ 


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the  dmies  of  his  office  and  i)rofession  alone.  He  was 
appointed  attending  pliysician  at  Mercy  Hospital  as 
soon  as  he  was  settled,  and  has  since  remained  in 
charge.  During  his  residence  at  Thaniesford,  he 
was  Vice  President  of  the  (!).\ford  Medical  Society, 
and  is  now  Vice  President  of  the  N'orthern  Medical 
Society  for  this  place. 

.Vnselm  Burkart,  the  father  of  Dr.  Biirkart,  is  a 
German,  and  was  born  at  Alshofen,  Baden,  Germany, 
April  :8,  1826.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Big  Rapids, 
and  is  engaged  in  traveling  for  a  business  house  in 
Canada.  The  mother  of  Dr.  Burkart  was  born 
April  24,  1833,  in  County  Wexford,  Ireland.  The 
parents  were  married  Feb.  9,  1852,  in  Ingersoll 
Canada.  They  had  five  sons  and  a  daughter;  James 
.\.,  second  child,  is  deceased.  The  brothers  and  sister 
of  Dr.  Burkart  are  Adolph  O.,  Joseph  B.,  Mary  H. 
and  .\nselm  S.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Patrick 
Doyle,  was  a  wealthy  farmer  and  prominent  citizen 
in  Norfolk  County.  John  M.  Doyle,  his  son,  is  a 
resident  there  in  a  prominent  position.  The  family 
were  pioneers  of  Canada. 


lizabeth  Corbett,  resident  on  sec.  23,  Me- 
costa Tp.,  was  born  Dec.  12,  1824,  in  .\yr- 
shire,  Scotland.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
ji^  iam  and  Elisha  (Davison)  Spears,  also  natives 
*  of  Ayrshire.  She  became  the  wife  of  James 
j  Corbett  Dec.  6,  1S48,  and  was  a  resident  of  her 
native  country  until  1S56,  when  they  came  to  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.  In  the  spring  of  1863  they 
came  to  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  where  Mr.  Corbett  was  en- 
gaged in  lumbering  a  few  years.  Their  next  remove 
was  to  Mecosta  County,  where  he  was  interested  in 
the  same  pursuit  until  1866.  In  that  year  he  pur- 
chased, and  tlie  family  took  possession  of,  80  acres 
of  land,  all  of  it  in  a  wild  state,  from  which  ii  has 
been  reclaimed,  and  where  they  now  reside. 

Mr.  Corbett  was  born  in  Scotland,  Marcii  18,  1824, 
and  died  Dec.  11,  1880,  at  his  home  in  Mecosta  Tp., 
and  was  buried  in  Stanwood  Cemetery.  He  was  an 
industrious  man  and  a  good  citizen;  interested  in  tiie 
welfare  of  his  children  whom  he  lived  to  see  grow  to 
mature  life,  with  good  habits,  established  reputations, 
and  useful  members  of  society.  Following  is  their 
record:      William,    born  Dec.  7,   1849;  Mary,   0<  t. 


30,  185 1 ;  Margaret,  May  9,  1857;  John,  Aug.  5, 
i860;  James,  June  3,  1863;  Matthew,  Sept.  2,  1865; 
Jennie,  April  30,  1870;  Susan,  born  July  19,  1859, 
died  March  19,  i860. 

Mr.  Corbett  was  a  firm  Democrat  during  his  life; 
himself  and  wife  belonged  to  the  Established  Church 
of  Scotland  from  their  childhood.  Mrs.  Corbett  re- 
sides with  her  son,  James,  a  promising  young  man, 
with  good  business  ([ualifications  and  a  thoroughgoing 
farmer. 


Tf^PW*  "l'®*"  S-  Howd,  flour  and  feed  merchant  at 

'lil^:M^l!'    Millbrook   village,  was   born  in    Canada, 

%&'i^"    Dec.  16,    1829.     His   iiarents,   Samuel   B. 

JvS>     and  Lovinda  (Gould)  Howd,  natives  respect- 

14/"'       ively  of  New  York  and  Canada,  were  mar- 

t      ried  in   New    York,  settled  in   Canada,   finally 

returning  to  New  York,  where  the  mother  died  and 

the  father  married  again.     He   located  at   Syracuse, 

N.  Y.,  for  a  time  and  afterward  went  to  Kansas  and 

Missouri,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  74. 

When  14  years  old  Mr.  Howd  was  a|)prenticed  to 
learn  the  trade  of  molder,  at  which  he  served  two 
and  one-half  years.  He  was  afterward  occupied 
about  the  same  length  of  time  as  clerk  in  a  grocery, 
when  he  resumed  his  trade,  but  was  obliged  by  illness 
to  <|uit  it  and  seek  other  means  of  obtaining  a  liveli- 
hood. He  was  employed  for  some  time  in  a  grocery 
at  Cleveland,  and  in  the  summer  of  1855  came  to 
Gratiot  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  bought  200  acres  of 
land  under  the  "Gradation  Act."  After  clearing  30 
acres  of  this  land  he  sold  out  and  purchased  a  simi- 
lar farm  in  the  southern  part  of  the  same  county,  in 
order  to  secure  for  his  children  the  superior  educa- 
tional advantages  of  that  section.  Three  years  later 
he  sold  again  and  came  to  Mecosta  County,  where 
he  entered  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  land  in  the  town- 
ships of  Millbrook  and  Wheatland,  under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  Homestead  Act.  This  he  sold,  and 
invested  his  money  and  interest  in  the  mercantile 
business  and  located  at  Millbrook,  where  he  is  car- 
rying on  a  flourishing  trade. 

In  [xjlitics  Mr.  Howd  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
been  Probate  Judge  four  years  and  served  12  years 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Masonry,  and  is  a  member  of  the  fraternity  of 
( )dd  Fellows.     He  was  married  in  Cleveland,  C>.,  to 


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Louisa  M.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Pease,  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Howd  died  in  Gratiot 
County,  leaving  three  children:  Levant  P.,  Martha 
E.  and  Albert  J-  Mr.  Howd  was  married  in  Gratiot 
County,  to  Almira,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Hawkins, 
and  their  three  children  are,  Francis  A.,  Mary  and 
Sarah  R.     Mrs.  Howd  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

■  ^  '  ohn  M.  Raper,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  June 
-9>  ''^3Si  ^'^  Toronto,  Can.,  a  son  of  John 
)■  and  Abigail  W.  (Oliver)  Raper.  His  father 
|j^  was  born  at  Bradford,  Yorkshire,  Eng.,  and 
came  to  America  in  1830,  locating  at  Toronto, 
Ont.  He  was  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  Gov. 
Sir  Penguin  Maitland,  and  married  his  wife,  a  native 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  She  died 
at  Toronto,  aged  64  years.  The  father  died  at  Sea- 
forth,  Ont.,  at  the  age  of  77  years. 

Mr.  Raper  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  when  17  years  old  obtained  a  situation  as 
clerk  in  a  store.  His  next  situation  was  as  express 
messenger  from  CoUingwood  to  Toronto,  on  the  On- 
tario, Simcoe  &  Northern  Railroad,  Vickers'  express 
line,  and  he  afterward  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Holland  Landing,  Ont.  He  then  removed  to 
Toronto,  where  he  was  employed  a  year  as  chief  clerk 
in  the  office  of  C.  R.  Christie,  Division  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  received  an  ap|)ointnient  as  freight  agent 
at  St.  Mary's  Station,  and  after  some  time  was  trans- 
ferred to  New  Baltimore,  Macomb  Co.,  Mich.,  where 
he  acted  in  the  same  capacity  two  years.  He  after- 
ward obtained  a  position  as  messenger  for  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Co.,  between  Detroit  and  Cliicago,  on 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad.  Oct.  i,  1864,  he 
went  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  as  chief  clerk  of  the  United 
States  and  Adams  and  Howard  Express  Companies, 
remaining  there  until  September,  1866,  when  he  went 
to  Ann   Arbor,  Mich. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Merchants'  Union 
Express  Company,  Mr.  Raper  was  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  route  agent,  which  he  accepted,  and  was  in 
charge  of  all  the  offices  in  Michigan,  which  [wsition 
he  retained  until  the  company  was  consolidated  with 
tiie  American  Express.  While  in  the  employ  of  the 
Merchants'  Union  Express  Com|)any,  the  local 
agents  presented  him  with  a  silver  tea  service,  the 
presentation   taking   place  in    the  Mayor's  office  at 


Detroit.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Company,  and  was  also  mail  agent  on 
the  (now)  G.  R.  &  L  R.  R.,  between  Grand  Rapids 
and  Cedar  Springs,  the  latter  being  then  the  northern 
terminus  of  the  railroad.  In  August,  1869,  he  was 
sent  to  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  to  operate  as  special  agent, 
removing  thence  to  Detroit,  to  act  as  traveling 
solicitor  in  the  commercial  agency  of  Tappan,  McKil- 
lop  &  Co.  While  thus  eni[)Ioyed  he  was  tendered 
the  position  of  conductor  on  the  C.  &  M.  L.  S.  R.  R., 
which  he  accepted,  and  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  Mich., 
and  acted  in  that  capacity  about  three  years,  retiring 
April  I,  1873.  In  May  following,  he  went  back  to 
Detroit,  to  act  as  collector  for  the  Weber  Furniture 
Company.  Afterward  he  again  entered  the  service 
of  the  American  Express  Company,  and  was  stationed 
at  Big  Rapids,  opening  an  office  on  Maple  street. 
About  15  days  after  his  arrival  the  first  passenger 
train  from  Muskegon  to  Big  Rapids  passed  over  the 
C.  &  W.  M.  railroad.  He  remained  with  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Company  six  and  a  half  years,  and 
meanwhile  acted  as  Manager  of  the  W^estern  Union 
Telegraph  Company,  located  at  Big  Rapids.  On 
leaving  the  employ  of  the  express  company  he  oper- 
ated as  a  commercial  traveler  three  years,  when  he 
engaged  in  -his  present  occupation  as  salesman  for 
J.  S.  Evans  &  Co.,  music  dealers. 

Mr.  Raper  was  married  in  Ai)ril,  1861,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Thomas  Arksey,  of  Ann  Arbor. 
They  have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom,  a  son 
and  daughter,  are  deceased.  Charles  Edwin  Raper, 
born  at  Detroit,  Feb.  6,  1864,  is  now  in  the  employ  of 
John  Greenop  &  Co.,  at  Big  Rapids. 

Mr.  Raper  was  a  charter  member  of  Mecosta 
Lodge,  No.  26,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  belongs  to 
Big  Rapids  Lodge,  No.  171,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  was  elected  City  Recorder 
on  that  ticket  in  1877-8. 


"jJlr'SiflllUton  W.  Bennett,  member  of   the  Aim  of 
^'    Roben,   Bennett    &  Gill,   real-estate,  loan 
and   fire  insurance  agents  at  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  on  a  farm   in   Marcellus  Tp.,  Cass 
Co.,   Mich.,   May    31,    1855,  and  is   a  son  o 
William  P.  and  Louisa  (Brokaw)  Bennett. 
The  Bennett  family,  of  which  the   subject  of  this 
biography   is    a    descendant,  have   been    a    pioneer 


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people.  The  great-great-grandfather  of  A.  W.  Ben- 
nett cleared  a  farm  in  Western  Connecticut  before 
the  Revolutionary  war  had  ever  been  imagined. 
The  great-grandfather,  Alfred  Bennett,  emigrated  to 
Central  New  York  when  it  was  a  wilderness,  cleared 
a  farm  and  contested  titles  with  wolves,  etc.,  on  the 
tract  of  land  now  the  city  of  Cortland.  He  was  also 
a  Baptist  preacher  of  renown,  and  his  memory  is  still 
cherished  in  the  thoughts  of  every  theologian  of  that 
denomination.  He  was  for  years  a  circuit  rider, 
holding  services  at  every  clearing,  and  spreading  the 
gospel,  from  a  Baptist  standpoint,  through  the  wilds 
of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  His  son  Cephas  married 
Stella,  daughterof  Abner  Keeland,  the  first  apostle  of 
Universalism  in  New  England;  in  1829  he  took  her 
to  the  East  Indies,  whither  he  went  as  a  missionary. 
He  introduced  the  fust  iiriiuing-press,  and  afterwards 
the  first  sewing-machine,  into  Buraiah,  and  with  his 
wife  is  still  engaged  in  tlie  work  of  converting  the 
heathen  to  Christianity,  although  they  have  been  in 
active  service  54  years.  Cephas  Bennett  sent  his  son, 
W'illiam  P.,  to  America,  at  the  age  of  10  years.  At 
19  the  latter  became  involved  in  matrimonial  snares, 
and,  taking  his  wife  and  worldly  possessions,  made 
his  way  West  on  a  canal  boat,  and  plunged  into  the 
wilderness  of  Michigan.  He  entered  160  acres  of 
land  in  Marcellus  Tp.,  and  camped  out  until  he 
could  make  a  clearing  and  erect  the  pioneer's 
shelter.  The  tract  of  land  has  been  converted  into 
a  typical  Southern  Michigan  farm,  and  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  its  original  owner,  now  resident  at  Cass- 
opolis,  where  he  has  held  the  office  of  Proliate  Judge 
for  15  years. 

In  a  work  of  this  character  pioneer  reminiscences 
are  specially  valuable,  and  serve  to  render  the  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  its  patrons  decidedly  inter- 
esting. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  under  the  personal  care  of  his 
fatlier  until  he  was  12  years  old,  wiien  he  was  sent 
to  Groton,  New  York,  to  attend  the  academy.  He 
studied  there  two  years,  and  attended  the  high  scliool 
at  Cassopolis,  where  he  graduated.  He  afterward 
learned  the  printer's  trade,  at  whicli  he  worked  at 
Cassopolis,  Lawrence  and  Grand  Rapids.  In  1874 
he  commenced  a  course  of  studies  at  the  University 
of  Michigan,  which  he  pursued  three  years,  working 
at  the  case  during  vacations,  and  was  graduated  in 
the  Law  Department,  in  March,  1877.  He  at  once 
located  at  Big  Rapids. 

^^^^^ — — H^^tm 


In  August,  1878,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  D. 
Roben,  in  the  real-estate,  loan  and  insurance  busi- 
ness, which  relation  still  exists.  The  style  and  repute 
of  the  house  of  Roben  &  Bennett  is  widely  known 
throughout  Northern  Michigan. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  married  Sept.  3,  1878,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  Matthew  and  Esther  Roben,  of  Big 
Rapids.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  have  one  son,  nearly 
two  years  old. 


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S'  n  f\\ ;  ahlon  Carman,  of  Morton  Tp.,  whose 
'•Jl'^'.v''-^,  portrait  is  given  on  the  preceding  page 
"'ill'"''  "  "^""^  ^^'^'^  '*  °"^  '^^  Mecosta  County's  en- 
j\^'  \  terprising  business  men,  was  born  in  Huron 
T'  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  village  of  Olena.  He  is  a  son 
I  of  Lew-is  and  Laura  (Aiken)  Carman.  The 
father  was  a  merchant  and  proprietor  of  a  saw-mill 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Lockport,  Niag- 
ara Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
eight  years  old,  where  he  engaged  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing stock. 

When  Mr.  Carman  was  16  years  of  age  he  was 
employed  one  and  a  half  years  in  a  boot  and  shoe 
store  at  Lockport.  This  engagement  was  terminated 
by  the  removal  of  his  fatlier's  family  to  St.  Josepli  Co., 
Mich.  Here  lie  worked  at  home  on  tlie  farm  about 
two  and  one  half  years,  when  the  family  came  to 
.Millbrook  and  tlie  father  built  a  saw-mill,  where  the 
son  worked  until  of  age.  In  1877  the  latter  went  to 
Altona,  Hinton  Tj).,  and  was  employed  in  the  general 
store  of  T.  C.  Gardner.  After  a  year's  service  as  as- 
sistant, he  purchased  the  stock  and  continues  to  con- 
duct the  business.  The  value  of  the  stock  averages 
about  $1 2,000,  and  the  annual  transactions  aggregate 
about  $40,000.  Sept.  i,  1883,  he  established  a  store 
in  the  village  of  Mecosta,  with  a  stock  worth  about 
$1,500.  Mr.  Carman  is  operating  also  largely  in 
shingles,  and  employs  in  his  interest  a  shingle-mill 
in  Morton,  one  in  Wheatland  and  one  in  Hinton; 
he  manufa<tures  from  75,000  to  100,000  shingles 
daily,  and  ships  chiefly  to  Eastern  markets,  em- 
ploying about  65  men  commonly,  cutting  and  putting 
in  his  timber.  *  The  three  mills  designated  are  run 
to  their  full  capacity,  in  his  interest.  He  also  deals 
in  groceries  and  provisions  at  Mecosta,  and  has  a 
general  store  at  Altona. 

Mr.  Carman  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  March 


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I,  1877,  to  Isabella,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
J.  Pierce.  Of  this  marriage  one  child  has  been  born, 
Raymond  W.,  in  Millbrook. 


^ohn  Pordon,  farmer,  sec.  6,  present  Siiper- 
If  visor  of  Martiny  Tp.,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Ravensburg  (Danube),  Kingdom  of 
Wurtemburg,  Germany,  Oct.  29,  1837.  He  is 
a  son  of  Bertram  and  Cleopha  (Pfleghaar)  Par- 
don. His  father  was  a  farmer  and  died  when 
the  son  was  but  one  year  old.  He  was  fully  orphan- 
ed by  the  death  of  his  mother  when  he  was  nine 
years  of  age,  and  his  uncle,  Benedict  Pfleghaar,  as- 
sumed the  care  and  guardianship  of  the  bereaved 
child,  continuing  to  protect  him  until  he  was  14  years 
old,  when  he  was  placed  under  training  for  the  busi- 
ness of  carpenter  and  joiner.  After  working  at  that 
trade  two  years,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  located  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  He  worked  a  year  at 
his  vocation  and  then  engaged  in  a  nursery  for  a 
short  time.  In  1S55  he  went  to  Dundee,  Monroe 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  operated  as  a  farm  hand  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  civil  war  in  1861. 

He  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Mich.  Inf.  and  served 
four  years,  nine  and  a  half  months, — the  longest 
military  service  recorded  in  the  pages  of  this  work. 
His  experiences  include  all  the  hardships,  privations 
and  contingencies  incident  to  a  soldier's  life,  except 
capture  and  torture  at  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  The 
list  of  battles  in  which  he  took  part  are,  Bull  Run 
(Second),  Gettysburg,  Chancellorsville,  Marion  Hill, 
Newbridge,  Haines'  Landing,  Gaines'  Hill,  Mine 
Run,  Hatcher's  Run,  Gravel  Run,  Petersburg,  Wil- 
derness, and  last,  Appomattox  Court-House,  where 
he  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  virtual  collapse  of  the 
Rebellion.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent 
to  San  Antonio,  Texas,  and  was  there  stationed  nine 
and  a  half  months.  He  was  wounded  May  6,  1S64, 
and  lost  his  hearing  from  the  ex|ilosion  of  a  shell  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  discharged  with 
the  rank  of  Sergeant  and  returned  to  Michigan. 

He  resumed  his  former  employnient<it  home  for  a 
while,  and  after  some  time  went  to  Detroit,  where  he 
worked  as  a  carpenter  three  months.  He  spent  six 
months  in  the  employ  of  a  plumber,  and  was  then 
engaged   in  tlie   Water-Works  at   Detroit,  where  he 

"^^^^ ^'^C^        :   ^^^pq^: 


continued  five  years.  His  next  business  enterprise 
was  with  Gerhart  Gudnaw,  in  the  grocery  business, 
where  he  was  occupied  four  months.  After  that  he 
was  a  peddler  six  months,  and  after  spending  six 
months  more  in  Detroit  in  various  occu[>ations,  he 
sold  his  property  tlierc  and  came  to  Mecosta  Coiintyi 
and  was  engaged  by  March  & ,  heavy  land- 
holders in  Chippewa  Tp.,  and  resided  there  four 
years.  In  18 — ,  he  purchased  the  farm  he  now 
owns,  containing  80  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Pordon  was  married  in  1866,  in  Monroe, 
Mich.,  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Ignatz  and  Victoria 
(Gunthner)  Hilbert.  She  was  born  in  Germany, 
Jan.  22,  1845,  and  came  to  the  United  States  with 
her  parents  in  1853.  Four  children  are  comprised 
in  the  family,  Cleopha  J.,  Benjamin  M.,  Clara  J.  and 
Amelia  V. 

Mr.  Pordon  is  a  Democrat,  has  held  various  offices 
and  was  elected  to  his  present  position  in  1883. 


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^1  Sy^^^^lifton    D.    Eichards,  hardware  merchant, 
Ji^^i    Millbrook  village,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
^|cr  "^     Minerva  (Smalley)  Richards.     The  father 
W     was    a    native    of    Massachusetts,    and    the 
m    mother   of  Vermont.     They  were  pioneers  of 
'        Cleveland,  O.,  where  they  settled  in  early  mar- 
ried life;  they  now  reside  at  Detroit.  Mr.  Richards  was 
born  at  Cleveland,  Sept.  6,  1856.  He  obtained  a  good 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  justly  cele- 
brated for  their  excellent  character,  and  at   19  years 
of  age  came  to  Stanton,   Mich.,  where  he   was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  in  a  hardware  store  for  a  period  of 
three  years.     He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1877, 
and  Oct.  I,  opened  a  hardware  store  at  Millbrook, 
where  he  is  still  engaged  in  business  and  has  reason- 
able success.     He  carries  a  stock  worth  $7,000,  and 
leads  his  line  of  trade  in  that  section  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Richards  was  married  at   Auburn,   N.  Y.,  July 
6,  1880,  to  Ada  E.,  daughter  of  Lewis   and  Laura 
Cannon,  of  the  State  of  New  York,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio,  and  was  an  inmate  of  her  fatherls  home  until 
her   marriage.     Mr.    and  Mrs.    Richards   have   one 
child,  Irma  L.,  born  May  14,  1881. 

Mr.    Richards   is   a    Republican   in    politics ;  has 
been  Clerk  of  his   township  one  term,  and  is   now 


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acting  in  the  capacity  of  School  Assessor  of  the  dis- 
trict. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional  Church. 


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eorge  F.  Stearns,  President  of  the  North- 

[/    em  National  Bdnk,  Big  Rapids,  was  born 

^^   at  Ellisbiirg,  Jefferson   Co.,  N.  V'.,  Jan.  91 


1832.  The  banking  house  with  which  he  has 
been  connected  from  its  organization  was 
opened  for  the  transaction  of  business  June  5, 
The  institution  is  t!ie  result  of  a  project 
which  Was  carefully  considered  and  made  feasible  by 
the  combined  energy,  deliberation  and  capital  of  T. 
C.  Piatt,  John  F.  Brown  and  G.  F.  Stearns.  It  was 
organized  with  Mr.  Stearns  in  the  capacity  of  chief 
official,  J.  F.  Brown  as  Vice  President,  and  Chas.  P. 
Clifford  as  Cashier.  They  embarked  on  the  sea  of 
finance  with  a  capital  of  $75,000,  which  was  in- 
creased in  1874  to  $90,000,  and  in  1883  to  $150,000. 
On  the  death  of  Mr.  Brown,  C.  H.  Wagener  was 
elected  to  the  vacant  Vice  Presidency  and  in  1S75 
L.  S.  Baker  became  Cashier. 

The  "  Northern  National  '  is  one  of  the  most  solid 
institutions  in  the  country,  having  a  deserved  repute 
of  carrying  on  its  financial  transactions  on  a  system 
and  basis  of  impregnable  security,  and  lience  is 
justly  regarded  as  incomparably  stal;le  as  a  business 
house  and  a  model  in  its  methods  and  purposes.  It 
has  a  firm  grasp  u|ion  the  confidence  of  those  wiih 
whom  it  has  intimate  financial  relations,  and  the 
catalogue  of  its  patrons  and  correlations  include  a 
host  of  the  most  substantial  names  in  Northern 
Michigan. 

Mr.  Stearns  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  F^iizabeth 
(Martin)  Stearns,  whose  record  is  a  part  of  that  of 
Big  Rapids,  both  from  the  period  of  their  settlement 
here  and  their  relations  to  the  social  and  business 
growth  of  the  place.  Daniel  Stearns  settled  here  in 
1859,  having  previously  purchased  a  low,  two-story 
frame  building,  with  a  lean-to,  where  is  now  the 
southeast  corner  of  Maple  street  and  Micliigan 
avenue.  This  building,  styled  the  "Mecosta,"  was 
utilized  many  years  as  a  hotel,  to  which  purpose 
it  was  first  devoted  by  Capt.  Daniel  Stearns.  It 
has    been    raised  twelve  feet,  remodeleil,   and   still 


looms  up  a  tangible  reminder  of  the  day  of  "  first 
things  '   at  Big  Rapids. 

The  business  record  of  Mr.  Stearns  is  one  continu- 
ous course  of  energy,  sagacity,  shrewdness,  prudence, 
tact  and  ability.  He  has  all  the  restless  activity 
tenacity  of  purpose  and  intuitive  comprehension  of 
luiman  nature  which  constitute  a  born  financier. 
His  leading  traits  of  character  have  been  conspicuous 
from  his  outset  in  life,  and,  to  his  undying  credit  be 
it  put  on  record,  that,  with  all  his  keenness  and  pow- 
ers of  finesse  in  business,  not  one  imputation  of  im- 
probity or  dishonor  rests  against  him.  He  walks 
among  his  fellow  men  in  all  the  uprightness  of  moral 
rectitude,  and  wields  an  influence  in  his  sphere  second 
to  none.  He  is  always  acutely  alive  to  the  possibili- 
ties of  a  business  transaction,  but  he  never  swerves 
from  the  promptings  of  his  innate  manliness  and  his 
sense  of  obligation  to  society. 

His  entire  life  has  been  devoted  to  effort.  His 
first  speculative  enterprise  occurred  when  he  was 
about  twelve  years  old.  He  had  received  a  package 
of  fire-crackers  for  the  "  Fourth,"  but  instead  of  hav- 
ing a  grand  private  glorification,  he  found  a  swarm  of 
young  patriots  who  i)aid  liim  a  cent  each  for  his  stock 
of  small  e.xplosives.  No  em|)loyment,  so  it  afforded 
an  opportunity  to  be  doing  something,  was  beneath 
his  honest  endeavors.  He  did  whatever  the  contin- 
gency demanded  and  performed  every  duty  becom- 
ingly. At  the  ;ige  of  12  he  was  employed  in  a  gen- 
eral country  store,  remaining  about  a  year;  and  on 
his  parents'  removal  to  Mannsville  in  his  native 
county,  he  accompanied  them,  and  did  all  manner  of 
Olid  jobs  in  and  around  his  father's  hotel.  Two  years 
later  he  went  to  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  and  engaged 
as  a  clerk  in  a  store,  where  he  operated  two  years. 
He  went  thence  to  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  filled  a  position 
in  an  extensive  dry-goods  establishment.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1854,  he  came  to  Detroit  with  a  friend,  Wm. 
Chittenden,  then  holding  a  clerk's  position  in  a  diy- 
goods  establishment,  and  now  proprietor  of  the  Rus- 
sell House  in  that  cily.  He  borrowed  money  of  his 
friend  to  make  the  trip  to  Detroit,  and  made  all  his 
associations  in  first-class  places,  wisely  judging  that 
his  best  testimonial  was  the  appearance  and  habits 
of  a  gentleman. 

With  but  nominal  delay  he  obtained  a  clerkship 
in  the  commercial  house  of  Holmes  iV  Co.,  where  his 
friend  was  a  salesman,  lie  remained  there  two 
years.     Meanwhile  his  father  had  moved  to  Newaygo 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


and  built  the  Brooks  Hotel,  whither  Mr.  Stearns  pro- 
ceeded and  officiated  one  year  as  clerk.  His  next 
move  was  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  operated 
as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  house  two  months,  going 
^ .  thence  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  similarly  engaged  a 
short  time.  He  soon  left  the  Garden  City,  went  to 
Detroit  and  secured  a  situation  in  the  mercantile  es- 
tablishment of  Farrell  Brothers.  In  September, 
i860,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  with  a  stock  of  dry 
goods,  etc.,  suitable  for  the  demands  of  a  country 
trade,  and  opened  the  second  store  in  the  embryo 
city.  His  father  was  established  in  the  '"  Mecosta,  " 
and,  besides  his  duties  in  the  store,  he  assisted  in 
every  possible  way  at  home,  where  the  hotel  was  al- 
ways overflowing  with  custom.  By  degrees  he  man- 
aged to  convert  his  original  stock  of  goods,  valued  at 
$500,  into  a  general  stock  of  much  wider  scope, 
and  trafficked  in  furs  and  all  other  articles  that  came 
in  his  way  with  any  reasonable  outlook  for  specula- 
tion therein.  His  business  grew  onerous,  the  sales  of 
his  closing  year  aggregating  $100,000.  He  had  over- 
worked and  was  compelled  by  impaired  health  to  sell 
out.  He  devoted  his  attention  and  energies  to  specula- 
tion in  real  estate  and  furs  until  187 1,  when  the 
Northern  National  Bank  was  put  in  successful  opera- 
tion. 

Mr.  Stearns  has  dealt  extensively  in  real  estate^ 
and  now  owns  several  thousand  acres  of  pine  and 
farming  lands,  together  with  160  acres  within  the  city 
limits,  divided  into  small  tracts,  each  containing  a 
few  acres.  His  residence  at  No.  220  State  street  is 
one  of  the  most  substantial  and  best  arranged  dwell- 
ing-houses in  the  city.  The  grounds  are  100  feet 
front  by  700  feet  deep,  finely  graded  and  laid  out, 
and  sheltered  by  trees.  The  work  has  been  done 
chiefly  by  Mr.  Stearns'  own  hands,  and  in  its  unos- 
tentatious simplicity  is  revealed  the  character  of  its 
owner.  Mr.  Stearns  has  also  extensive  lumber  in- 
terests, being  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Baker  & 
Stearns,  who  handle  annually  a  large  amount  of  mill 
products.  He  is  also  manager  of  the  sales  of  the 
large  tracts  of  land  in  Mecosta  and  other  counties, 
belonging  to  the  Warren  estate. 

Mr.  Stearns  was  married  at  Detroit.  June  4,  1861, 

...     to    Harriet    S.,  daughter  of  John  Vernor;  she  was 

^     born  at  Albany,  N.  Y.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stearns  have 

\^      had  two  children:   Carrie  E.,  born  March  27,  1869, 

r     and  died  Dec.  6,  1881.     Charles  F.,  a  book-keeper  in 


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the  Northern  National  Bank,  was  born  June  3,  1865. 
Mr.  Stearns  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order 
and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  sentiment,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1869  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Big  Rapids,  and  re- 
elected in  187  I  and  )S8i,  running  largely  ahead  of 
his  ticket. 


\M^i 


■  apoleon    Ladouceur,    proprietor    of    the 
Montreal  House,  and  of  the  Montreal  Liv- 


T"^  ery  Stables,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  St. 

Eugene,   Out.,  and  is  a  son  of  John  B.  and 
Esther  (Lalond)  Ladouceur. 

He  came  from  the  Dominion  to  Big  Rapids 
when  17  years  of  age,  and  operated  about  seven 
years  in  the  lumber  woods.  Li  1875  he  bought  the 
hotel  of  which  he  is  now  owner  and  manager,  and 
conducted  its  affairs  personally  two  and  a  half  years. 
It  was  leased  to  a  tenant  for  a  similar  period  of  time, 
after  which  he  resumed  its  control,  and  has  since 
continued  to  occupy  and  run  the  business,  which  is 
prosperous,  and  gradually  increasing.  The  building 
is  well  adapted  to  hotel  purposes,  and  contains  34 
rooms  for  guests.  In  June,  1883,  Mr.  Ladouceur 
built  the  Montreal  Livery  Stable,  50  x  135  feet  in 
dimensions,  where  he  manages  a  first-class  establish- 
ment for  the  accommodation  of  the  public,  keeping 
about  20  horses  and  all  necessary  livery  fixtures. 

Mr.  Ladouceur  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  April 
14,  1879,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mar- 
garet Bailey,  born  Feb.  18,  1858,  a  native  of  Canada. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  have  buried  three  children:  Lilly 
M.,  only  surviving  child,  was  born  at  Big  Rapids, 
Oct.  14,  1882.  Maggie  is  an  adopted  daughter. 
Besides  his  hotel  and  livery  property,  Mr.  Ladouceur 
owns  two  city  lots  in  Rose's  Addition,  Third  Ward. 


y^ti:  eister  C.  Hodskey,  jeweler,  at  Big  Rapids, 
fclltl    ^^,^5  jjQf,.,  ^^  Parma,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  10,  1822, 


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and    is    a    son    of    Willard    and    Permelia    ^* 

(Rowe)  Hodskey.      His  parents  were  farmers, 

and  he  received  the   education    an<l    training 

common  to  farmers'  sons.     At  the  age  of  eight 

years  he  went  away  from  home  to  work  on  a  farm, 

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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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and  when  12  years  old  came  to  Michigan  and  located 
in  Highland  Tp.,  Oakland  Co. 

In  the  spring  of  184S,  he  bought  40  acres  of  land, 
which  he  owned  about  one  year.  When  he  sold  his 
farm  he  engaged  in  traveling  in  the  interests  of  a 
firm  selling  jewelry  and  Yankee  notions.  In  icS5r  he 
built  the  first  hotel  in  Holly,  Oakland  Co.,  now  the 
Anderson  House,  which  he  kept  three  years,  and 
then  exchanged  for  a  farm  of  40  acres,  on  which 
he  resided  until  1857,  when  he  moved  to  Bronson, 
Branch  Co.,  and  there  embarked  in  the  grocery  and 
licjuor  trade,  and  was  soon  after  elected  Constable. 
He  continued  to  manage  his  first  enterprise  about 
one  year,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business.  He  operated  in  Bronson  three 
years,  and  exchanged  his  property  there  for  a  farm  of 
80  acres  in  Matteson,  in  the  same  county.  Three 
years  later  he  again  sold  and  moved  into  Colon,  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  where  he  again  embarked  in  the  jewelry 
business,  and  there  continued  three  years,  going 
thence  to  Clarence,  Shelby  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  pur- 
sued the  same  calling,  returning  after  three  years  to 
Bronson.  His  stay  there  covered  a  period  of  a  few 
months  only,  and  he  went  thence  to  La  Grange,  Ind., 
and  was  similarly  occupied  there  eight  months,  when 
he  came  to  Big  Rapids  (May,  1873).  He  opened  a 
jewelry  and  grocery  store,  which  he  ran  eight  years, 
and  then  exchanged  his  store  for  a  residence  and 
three  lots  on  West  Hemlock  street.  He  transferred 
his  stock  to  the  store  occupied  by  Charles  Crandall 
as  a  grocery,  and  established  his  business  in  one  half 
of  the  premises.  Six  months  after,  he  moved  into  a 
building  next  the  present  establishment  of  Freyburg, 
clothier.  In  July,  1882,  he  removed  to  his  present 
location,  where  he  is  doing  a  prosperous  business. 
He  has  in  stock  a  full  line  of  all  articles  common  ta 
the  branch  of  trade  he  represents — watches,  clocks, 
jewelry,  musical  instruments,  etc.,  besides  keeping  a 
repair  department.  His  stock  is  worth  about  $1,800, 
and  his  annual  business  amounts  to  $3,000.  He 
also  owns  a  vacant  lot  in  Rose's  Addition. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order.  Mr. 
Hodskey  was  married  in  Highland,  Oakland  Co., 
Mich.,  Dec.  25,  1847,  to  Amanda,  daughter  of  Noble 
and  Annie  (Merchant)  Ruggles,  born  in  Colesville, 
Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  4,  1831.  Lydia  A.,  elder 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodskey,  was  born  in 
Highland,  Mich.,  May  26,  1852,  and  Jessie  M.  was 
born  in  Bronson,  Branch  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  i,  1862. 


_o<:5o_ 


New  Hampshire,  where  he  was  born  June  26, 
1809.      He  came  to  Chicago  June   20,    1835, 


<x5o~ 


dmund    M.    Stickney,    lumberman    and 

manufacturer,  residing  at   Paris,  was  born 

in  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  May  12,  1844.      His 

!o{^    father,  George  Stickney,  was  a  native  of  Jefferyi 

i: 

and  went  to  McHcnry  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  where  he  has  since  resided,  in  the  pursuit  of 
farming.  The  mother,  Sylvia  M.  (Beckly)  Stickney, 
was  born  Feb.  26,  1819,  at  Granby,  Conn.,  and  died 
in  October,  1879.  They  were  married  at  Nunda,  III., 
Oct.  27,  1839. 

Mr.  Stickney  acquired  a  fair  education  at  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  pursued  a  full  commercial  course  at 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  College  at  Chicago,  and  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1864.  He  remained 
under  the  charge  of  his  father  until  the  time  of  his 
majority.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  went  to  Chicago, 
and  was  employed  there  a  few  months  as  book- 
keeper. In  January,  1866,  he  came  to  Mecosta  Co., 
Mich.,  and  in  company  with  Charles  Shafer  and 
William  P.  Montonye,  started  the  first  mercantile 
venture  at  Paris,  Feb.  20,  1866,  continuing  the  enter- 
prize  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  M.  Stickney  &  Co. 
two  years,  and  alone  until  1877,  when  ho  purchased 
the  water-jjower  he  now  owns,  with  the  saw  and  grist 
mill  built  by  Shales  &  Fitting  in  1867,  on  Parish 
Creek.     He  built  the  present  saw-mill  in  1882-3. 

He  saws  about  15,000  feet  of  lumber  daily,  and 
owns  35  acres  of  timber  land,  whereon  is  the  site 
of  his  mills,  and  40  acres  of  land  in  Green  Tp. 

He  was  married  May  i8,  1870,  to  Mary  Todd,  a 
native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  born  May  18,  1854. 
Tlieir  three  children  are  Nettie  M.,  Carrie  A.  and 
George  E. 

Mr.  Stickney  has  been  prominent  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  village  and  township.  He  has  served  as 
Postmaster  and  Town  Clerk  10  years,  and  has  offici- 
ated as  Justice  of  the  Peace  1 1  years,  being  the 
present  incumbent  of  that  office,  and  is  also  Notary 
Public. 

Politically  he  was  formerly  a  Republican,  but 
since  1878  has  voted  the  Greenback  ticket. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Stickney  is  given  in  this  volume. 

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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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homas  J.  Sharpe,  Supervisor  of  the  Third 
\\'ard  of  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in  Lincohi- 
shire,   Eng.,  Aug.  iS,  1843.       He  is  a  son 

of  Joseph  N.  and  Elizabeth  Sharpe,  natives  of 

the  same  country. 

When  he  was  16  years  old  Mr.  Sharpe  went 
to  serve  an  apprenticeship  in  a  meat-market,  and 
served  his  time  in  fitting  for  the  calling  as  is  the 
custom  in  his  native  land.  He  started  for  the 
United  States  in  the  fall  of  1865,  embarking  on  a 
sailing  vessel,  and  making  an  extended  passage  of 
seven  weeks  and  three  dajs.  He  arrived  in  Big 
Rapids  in  January,  1866,  and  engaged  as  clerk  in  the 
shop  of  Harvey  Anderson.  In  the  autumn  of  1867 
he  commenced  business  himself  on  the  present  site  of 
Geo.  A.  Roof's  block,  and  soon  after  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Carlos  Teachout,  which  relation  existed 
several  months.  In  December,  1868,  he  established 
himself  in  a  meat-market  in  upper  Big  Rapids, 
where  he  has  since  operated. 

Mr.  Sharpe  was  elected  to  liis  present  position  in 
the  spring  of  1882,  and  re-elected  in  1883.  He 
owns  his  residence  and  three  lots  on  Marion  avenue, 
his  store  building  on  North  State  street,  and  a  house 
and  lot  above  the  Tioga  Mills,  besides  being  pro- 
prietor of  30  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Big 
Rapids. 

He  was  married  near  Kent  City,  Kent  Co.,  Mich., 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Alanson  Re.xford,  proprietor  of 
a  hotel  at  Cedar  Springs,  Kent  Co.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  May  19,  1876,  at  Big  Rapids, 
leaving  three  children :  Elizabeth,  Carrie  and 
Sarah  A.  Mr.  Sharpe  was  married  again  at  Big 
Rapids,  to  Jane  O'Neil,  who  was  born  in  Canada, 
Feb.  2,  1856.      Of  this  marriage  two  children  have 

jorn — Mary  and  Elsie  May. 


ohn  Martiny,  farmer,  sec.  4,  Martiny  Tp., 
'r  was  born  in  Cerniany,  March  25,  1820,  and 
'^'  is  a  so;i  of  John  and  Katrina  (Zegel)  Mar- 
tiny.    Like  the  other  youth  of  his  native  land, 
he  was  kept  in   school  in  his   early  life  and 
trained  to  the  calling  of  farmer.     At  16  years 
of  age  he  learned  the  cabinet-making  business,  which 


he  pursued  until  1841.  He  was  then  drafted  into 
the  army  and  served  two  years,  when  he  resumed  his 
trade  and  worked  until  1847,  and  during  that  year 
he  sailed  for  this  country.  He  landed  at  the  port  of 
New  York  and  proceeded  directly  to  Albany.  After  a 
brief  tarry  there  he  went  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and 
spent  eight  years  working  at  his  trade.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Michigan  and  pursued  his  calling  three  years 
in  Allegan  County,  and  then  interested  himself  in 
farming  in  the  same  county.  In  1867  he  entered  and 
proved  a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land  in  Mecosta 
County,  in  a  township  designated  only  by  the  terms  in 
which  it  was  recorded  in  the  Land  Office,  but  which 
will  perpetuate  tiiroughout  coming  years  the  name 
which  heads  this  sketch.  Mr.  Martiny  still  holds  his 
homestead,  and  has  added  to  his  possessions  until  he 
has  320  acres  of  land,  a  portion  of  v/hich  is  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Martiny  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Mena  Licher,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
Germany  in  1846.  Two  children  were  born  of  this 
marriage,  Peter  and  Minnie.  Mrs.  M.  died  in  1856, 
Mr.  Martiny  was  again  married  in  1858,  to  Mary 
Hilderbrand,  a  native  of  Gennany.  Of  this  mar- 
riage four  children  have  been  born,  Robert,  Daniel^ 
Edward  and  Paul. 

Mr.  Martiny  is  a  Democrat  in  political  matters, 
and  has  held  the  offices  of  Township  Treasurer  and 
School  Assessor. 


i  saae  J.  Leggett,  M.  D.,  i)hysician  and  sur- 
geon, resident  at  Paris,  Green  Tp.,  was 
born  in  Cohocton,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May 
19,  1854.  His  i)arents,  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Con- 
nor) Leggett,  were  natives  of  New  York,  where 
his  father  was  by  trade  a  millwright  and  also 
pursued  agriculture.  The  latter  died  in  February, 
1881;  the  mother  is  still  living,  at  Paris,  with  the 
family  of  her  son. 

Dr.  Leggett  obtained  his  elementar)-  education  at 
the  common  schools,  residing  at  home  until  1S66, 
when  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  comiilet- 
ing  his  course  in  1875-6,  at  the  Chicago  Medical 
College.  He  commenced  his  practice  with  Dr. 
Hamilton,  at  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  where  he  remained 
one  year.      In  the  fall  of  1878  he   settled  at  P.iris, 


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and  opened  business  as  a  practitioner.  In  1880  he 
added  the  drug  business,  and  still  combines  that 
trade  with  his  practice. 

He  was  married  Sept.  22,  1880,  to  Mary  Wood- 
ward, born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1854.  They 
have  one  daughter — Lola  Genevieve — born  .Aug.  7, 
1881. 

Dr.  Leggett  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment, 
and  has  held  all  the  school  offices  of  his  town  ;  was 
Superintendent  in  1879,  and  is  now  School  Inspector. 


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'rf^i'  i'li*"^  Remus,  of  the  firm  of  Stephens  & 
'  F:-^^vS      Kemus,  manufacturers,  at  Big  Rapids,  was 

f;;.   "   born  in  the   Province  of  Pomerania,  (icr- 
^     many,   Aug.    10,    1842.       He   is   a   son   of 
Charles  and  Caroline  (Horn)   Remus,  and 
>     learned    the  shoemaker's   trade   in    his   native 
.J 

country.  Accompanied  by  two  brothers  and  one 
sister,  he  came  to  this  country  in  June,  1865,  settling 
at  first  in  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Remus  worked  at  his 
trade.  In  1857,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  estab- 
lished a  boot  and  shoe  store,  where  he  did  a  thriving 
business,  and  employed  several  men  in  the  custom- 
work  department.  His  health  failing,  in  1872  he 
sold  out  and  worked  as  a  builder  about  three  years, 
and  also  acted  as  clerk  in  various  stores  in  this 
city. 

June  29,  1883,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  P.  M. 
Stephens,  and  bought  the  Stimson  Planing  Mills, 
situated  at  the  east  end  of  the  lower  bridge,  where 
they  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors, 
blinds,  etc.,  including  most  varieties  of  dressed  lum- 
ber. The  works  are  especially  fitted  for  the  produc- 
tion of  first-class  manufactures,  being  supplied  with 
the  best  modern  facilities  and  skilled  mechanics. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  estimated  at  about  $35,- 
000  annual  value,  and  20  men  are  at  present  employ- 
ed. Their  rapidly  increasing  business  will  doubt- 
less very  soon  require  a  large  additional  force  of 
assistants. 

The  real  estate  of  Mr.  Remus  includes  two  stores 
on  Michigan  avenue,  and  residence  and  four  lots  in 
the  Third  Ward,  on  Rose  avenue.  ■  He  is  the  Vice 
President  of  the  Big  Rapids  Furniture  Co.,  and  con- 
trols $9,000  of  its  stock.    He  was  one  of  the  organizers 


and  first  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church 
at  Big  Rapids;  was  one  of  its  first  Trustees,  and  has 
served  in  that  capacity  continuously  since  1869,  ex- 
cept one  year;  he  is  also  Secretary. 

Mr.  Remus  was  married  in  Chicago,  July  4,  1866, 
to  Julia  Trescotch,  who  was  born  in  Cicrmany,  June 
10,  1843.  They  have  one  son,  William,  Jr.,  born  at 
Big  Rapids,  .Vpril  2,  187  i.  The  brothers  and  sister 
of  Mr.  Remus,  who  accompanied  him  to  this  country 
in  1865,  are  all  living  in  Osceola  County. 

Among  the  prominent  and  representative  citizens 
of  this  county  whose  portraits  we  present  in  this  book, 
we  take  pleasure  in  giving  that  of  Mr,  Remus,  which 
we  place  upon  the  preceding  page. 


ffF^ ;.,avid  C.  Fuller,  attorney,  Millbrook  village, 
p:  ,'J/'  '  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28, 
3  ,^^  1S18.  His  father,  Reuben  Fuller,  was  a 
"j^fi  native  of  Connecticut,  and  his  mother,  Han- 
\  nah  (Scolt)  Fuller,  was  born  in  Dutchess 
\  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  first  settled  in  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  afterwards  removing  to  Onondaga  County  in 
that  State.  The  early  life  of  Mr.  Fuller  was  passed 
in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  the  fall  of  1836,  when  he 
was  iS  years  old,  he  came  to  .Adams,  Hillsdale  Co., 
Mich  ,  where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1881,  with 
the  exception  of  five  years,  which  period  he  lived  in 
Wisconsin  and  at  .Adrian,  Mich.  In  the  spring  of 
1 88 1  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  fixed  his  resi- 
dence in  the  township  of  Millbrook. 

Mr.  Fuller  obtained  his  elementary  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State  and 
attended  an  academy  in  Onondaga  County  two 
terms.  In  1854  he  began  to  pre[)are  for  his  profes- 
sion, and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Wisconsin,  Oct. 
8,  1858.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts 
of  Michigan  August  2,  1882,  and  is  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  duties  of  his  profession  at  Millbrook. 
He  was  married  in  Adams,  Hillsdale  County,  .Aug. 
22,  1843,  to  Abigail  T.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Tlieo- 
dicea  (Hart)  Jackson.  She  was  born  in  Victor,  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1823,  and  died  .April  1, 
1883,  in  Millbrook,  leaving  four  children,  Morris  R.^ 
Caroline  A.,  Lucetta  L.  and  Anson  D.  Mrs.  Fuller 
was  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  M.  Ya. 
Church  (as  is  Mr.  Fuller),  and  lived   for  her  family, 


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where  she  was  a  model  of  all  the  domestic  virtues  ; 
and  in  her  death  the  household  has  met  a  loss 
which  can  never  be  supplied. 

Mr.  Fuller  records  himself  a  Republican  "  dyed 
in  the  wool."  He  has  been  in  official  positions  in 
the  various  places  where  he  has  resided,  and  in  1854 
united  with  tlie  order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Hillsdale. 


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, V 1    icholas  Scott,    farmer,  sec.   12,    Millbrook 
@?  ^  l^''  ^"^^^  born  in  Canada,  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Clarissa  (Bovver)  Scott,  also  na- 
tives of  Canada.     Mr.  Scott  remained  a  resi- 


dent of  his  native  county  until  the  fall  of  i860, 
in  which  year  he  came  with  his  family  to  Me- 
costa County  and  settled  on  80  acres  of  land  in  its 
original  state  in  Millbrook  Tp.  He  buiU  a  shanty 
which  served  one  year  for  shelter,  and  was  replaced 
by  a  log  house  in  which  the  family  lived  for  20  years. 
The  primitive,  temporary  structures  of  the  pioneer 
days  are  now  all  replaced  by  tasteful,  convenient,  suit- 
able modern  buildings,  and  50  acres  of  the  farm  are 
under  good  tillage.  Mr.  Scott  was  married  Dec.  12, 
1850,  to  Betsey,  eldest  daughter  of  Lorenzo  and 
Fanny  (Fisher)  Aldrich,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire  and  the  mother  of  Massachusetts.  Three 
of  their  four  children  are  living:  Peter  L.,  born  Aug. 
6,  1855;  Ada  C,  Dec.  18,  1857,  and  George  W., 
Dec.  6,  1862.  Clarissa  E.  was  born  Nov.  3,  1851, 
and  died  June  i,  1857. 

Mr.  Scott  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  the  in- 
cumbent of  several  township  offices.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  denomination  known  as  the 
"Church  of  God." 


obert  Moore,  farmer,  sec.  23,  Millbrook 
'l'\h,  was  born  in  one  of  the  northern 
counties  of  Ireland,  Feb.  7,  1846,  and  is  a 
.-^  son  of  Joshua  and  Margaret  (Armstrong) 
Moore,  also  natives  of  the  same  section  of 
the  Emerald  Isle.  Mr.  Moore  came  from  his 
native  country  to  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1871,  and 
was  a  resident  of  the  Dominion  one  year.     He  came 


township  of  Millbrook,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
fann  laborer  until  1877.  In  that  year  he  bought  40 
acres  of  unimproved  land  on  sec.  23,  where  he  has 
built  a  house  and  placed  about  18  acres  of  land  in 
tillage.  He  was  married  in  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co., 
Oct.  12,  1874,  to  Estella,  daughter  of  H.  B.  and 
Ruth  Wolcott,  who  was  born  Feb.  29,  1856,  in  Shia- 
wassee Co.,' Mich.  They  have  had  four  children: 
Emma  E.,  born  July  17,  1875  ;  Margaret  L.,  Dec.  2, 
1878;  Lewis  S.,  May  22,  1880;  Wm.  H.,  Feb.  13, 
1883. 

Mr.  Moore  belongs  to  the  Republican  party.  In 
the  spring  of  1S83  he  was  elected  District  Overseer 
and  also  holds  the  office  of  School  Director.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church. 


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'  ""  tto  C.  Euss,  M.  D.,  practicing  physician  at 
Kemus,  was  born  at  Cleveland,  O.,  Jan.  4, 
1854.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Barbara 
Kuss,  were  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  for  a  few  years  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y..  removing  later  to  Cleveland. 
\Vhen  Dr.  Russ  was  16  years  old  his  mother  died, 
and  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  en- 
ergies. He  first  found  employment  in  a  foundry, 
where  he  labored  a  year  as  a  "  cold  nut  cutter." 
Receiving  a  wound  in  his  hand,  he  was  comi)elled  to 
abandon  his  occupation  and  entered  the  wholesale 
and  retail  furniture  house  of  Hart  &  Malone,  of  Cleve- 
land, as  a  salesman.  He  was  there  engaged  1 8  months. 
His  prospects  were  so  much  impaired  by  the  finan- 
cial stress  of  1873  ''^^'^  '^^  '^f'  Cleveland  and  went 
to  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  where  he  found  occupation 
of  varied  character  until  the  fall  of  1875.  He  came 
back  and  went  to  Baltimore,  Wood  Co.,  O.,  and  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Shcsler,  of  that  city,  to  read  medi- 
cine. He  prosecuted  his  studies  there  three  years, 
and  in  1878  attended  the  Eclectic  Medical  College 
at  Philadelphia,  and  was  there  graduated  Dec.  29, 
1879.  Armed  with  his  hardly  earned  and  well-mer- 
ited "  sheep-skin,  "  he  went  to  Antwerp,  Paulding, 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  entered  upon  the  career  of  a  medical 
practitioner.  In'the  spring  of  1881  he  went  to  Vin- 
cennes,  Ind.,  but  the  field  did  not  seem  one  of  prac- 
tical benefi  to  his  hopes,  and  he  came  to  Fowler, 


to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1872,  and  settled  in  the 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  prosecuting  his  profession  there 
15  months. 

During  that  time  he  was  married  (April   18,1882) 

to  Alnif  Ja,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Wheeler) 
Lance,  who  was  born  March  2,  i<S63,  in  Clinton 
County.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
After  marriage,  Dr.  Russ  came  to  Renuis  and  began 
his  practice,  where  his  success  has  been  almost  with- 
out precedent,  and  his  business  has  already  assumed 
surprising  proportions.  Dr.  Russ  is  a  Democrat,  and 
is  the  present  health  officer  of  Wheatland  Tp.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in  Ohio,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order  at  St.  Johns,  Clinton 
Co.,  Mich. 

L^harlie  Gay,   editor   and   i)ul>lislier   of  the 
^    Pioneer  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  Summit  Co.,   Ohio,  Nov.    12, 
1837.     His   father,  William  Gay,    was    i)orn 
Nov.  9,  1811,  in  Vermont,  and  during  the  act- 
ive years  of  his  life  was  occupied  as  an  en- 
gineer.    He   resides   with    his  son    at   Big   Rapids. 
The  mother,  Emily  (Wells)  Gay,  was  born  in  Chat- 
ham, Kent  Co.,  England,  Feb.  27,  1819,  and  died  at 
Warren,  Trumbull  Co.,  O.,  April  15,  1881. 

Mr.  Gay  secured  a  substantial  elementary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  and  graded  schools  previous  to 
his  fifteenth  year,  when  he  entered  a  printing-office  to 
acquire  the  details  of  the  profession  to  which  he 
purposed  devoting  his  life.  He  came  to  Newaygo, 
Mich.,  to  fill  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  Ripiihli- 
C(7//,  where  he  was  occupied  six  years.  In  1S62,  in 
view  of  the  budding  prospects  of  Big  Rapids,  he 
proceeded  thither  with  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
county  journal.  A  cursory  examination  of  the  field 
seemed  to  warrant  the  enterprise,  and  on  the  17th  of 
April,  1862,  the  initial  number  of  the  Mecosta  County 
Pioneer  was  issued.  The  enterprise  was  established 
at  a  momentous  period.  The  country  was  in  the 
^  throes  of  the  awful  internecine  conflict  that  threat- 
1  ened  the  dissolution  and  ruin  of  the  grandest  na- 
•V»-tional  structure  on  the  records  of  time,  and  Mr.  Gay 
fully  realized  the  responsiiiility  of  his  undertaking  at 
such  an  era.  He  established  his  paper  as  the  organ 
f5)  of  no  demagogism,  but  on  the  inflexible  and  uncom- 
promising fundamental  principle  incorporated  in  the 


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sentiment,  "The  Union,  the  Constitution  and  En- 
forcement of  the  Laws."  The  earnest  young  editor 
at  once  put  himself  en  rapport  with  the  community 
in  which  he  established  his  business,  aiid  entered 
heartily  into  the  work  which,  directlj'  and  indirectly, 
was  uijpermost  in  every  man's  purjMses, — the  re-es- 
tablishment of  the  national  unity,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  interests  of  Mecosta  County.  An 
e.xamination  of  the  early  files  of  the  Pioneer  makes  an 
impression  which  should  be  placed  on  record, — that 
absolute  moral  cleanliness  pervaded  the  entire  com- 
munity. The  fact  is  rendered  still  more  patent  by 
the  circumstances  under  which  the  Judiciary  of  the 
county  was  regulated. 

The  Pioneer  was  the  first  paper  published  in  the 
county,  and  until  Aug.  i,  1867,  was  issued  in  a  folio 
of  five  columns.  It  was  then  enlarged  by  two  ad- 
ditional columns ;  and  again,  in  1S70,  incre.  ied 
in  the  same  proportion,  becoming  a  pretentious  j  ur- 
nal  of  nine  columns.  In  July,  1874,  it  took  on  ad- 
ditional dignity  by  conversion  to  a  seven-column 
(juarto,  when  its  style  was  changed  to  the  Big  Rap- 
ids Pioneer.  Aug.  1,  1881,  the  paper  was  issued  as 
a  daily,  which  still  continues,  and,  conjointly  with 
the  weekly  edition,  is  steadily  increasing  in  influence 
and  popularity. 

In  the  spring  of  1869,  Mr.  Gay  was  elected  the 
first  Recorder  of  the  City  of  Big  Rapids,  and  in  1870 
was  the  successful  candidate  for  the  office  of  County 
Clerk,  a  post  he  held  eight  consecutive  years ;  he  also 
officiated  as  Town  Clerk  from  1864  to  1869,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year,  and  was  Justice  of  the  Peace 
from  the  organization  of  the  township  until  1869. 
He  is  a  radical  Republican  and  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i86o. 

Mr.  Gay  is  a  typical  American.  His  impulses  are 
those  of  honesty  and  earnestness,  and  he  guides  his 
operations  under  their  influence.  He  reaches  con- 
clusions with  directness,  acts  always  in  accordance 
with  his  convictions,  and  makes  no  compromise  with 
any  issue  that|he  believes  antagonistic  or  detrimental 
to  the  principles  which  he  inscribed  upon  his  b.m- 
ners  in  his  dawning  manhood.  He  is  trusted  from 
his  palpable,  innate  integrity  and  unselfishness  of 
purjwse.  If  his  judgments  conflict  with  those  of 
other  men,  he  is  intrenched  by  his  record  of  manly 
frankness  and  candor  which  have  characterized 
every  act  of  his  public  life.  His  journal  has  been  con- 
ducted in  accordance  with  the  principles  on  which 

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it  was  established,  and  has  won  a  position  second 
to  none  in  the  State,  of  commensurate  scope  and 
purposes.  It  commands,  as  it  has  done  from  the 
outset,  the  respect  of  its  contemporaries,  and  in  jx)- 
litical  emergencies  and  general  issues  holds  a  de- 
clared and  positive  position.  Its  metal  has  never  an 
uncertain  ring  and  its  tendencies  are  patent  and  un- 
mistakable. 

Mr.  Gay  is  zealously  interested  in  Masonic  mat- 
ters and  occupies  positions  of  trust  in  the  several 
bodies  of  the  order  with  which  he  is  connected. 
He  belongs  to  Big  Rapids  Lodge,  No.  171,  Pilgrim 
Commandery,  No.  23,  Big  Rapids  Chapter,  No.  52, 
and  to  King  Solomon  Council,  No.  25.  In  the  two 
last  named  he  holds  the  chief  position  at  present 
writing. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gay  to  Rosalie  Bailey  took 
place  at  Newaygo,  May  12,  1S60.  Mrs.  Gay  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Julie  (LeMay)  Bailey,  and  was 
born  at  Vergennes,  Vt.,  Nov.  18,  1843.  Her  father 
is  dead.  Her  mother  was  a  second  time  married,  to 
David  Jarse,  of  Newaygo,  whom  she  survives.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gay  have  two  children  :  Fred,  born  Feb.  21, 
1862,  and  Jessie,  born  Nov.  6,  1863. 

The  similitude  of  the  genial  face  of  Mr.  Gay  in 
connection  with  this  sketch. 

On  their  own  behalf  the  compilers  and  publishers 
of  this  volume  desire  to  subjoin  to  the  personal  rec- 
ord- of  Mr.  Gay  a  permanent  e.xpression  of  their 
grateful  sense  of  his  invaluable  aid  in  the  consumma- 
tion of  their  work.  His  own  emphatic  disclaimer 
deters  a  more  elaborate  specification  of  the  generous 
assistance  he  has  accorded. 


S";;  i: 


ilbert  A.  Decker,  saddler,  Millbrook  vil- 
iiii=7SSf  l^B^i  ^^'is  born  July  16,  1858,  fn  Kane 
aI^  Co.,  111.  His  parents,  Peter  S.  and  Caroline 
Decker,  reside  in  Millbrook  Tj).  At  the  age 
of  20  Gilnert  .\.  went  to  the  village  of  Mill- 
brook to  learn  the  trade  of  harness-maker, 
and  was  under  the  instructions  of  Charles  Clements 
five  months,  when  he  bought  the  slock  in  trade  of 
that  gentleman  and  embarked  in  business  independ- 
ently. In  the  summer  of  1879  he  disposed  of  his 
interests  and  went  to  Morley  to  work  at  his  trade  ; 


but  illness  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  employ- 
ment for  the  time  being,  and  after  his  recovery  he 
worked  in  different  places  until  the  spring  of  1883, 
when  he  again  became  the  proprietor  by  purchase  of 
the  stock  owned  by  J.  A.  Tory,  to  whom  he  made  his 
sale  in  1879.  He  is  now  doing  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness and  monopolizes  his  line  of  trade  in  the  village 
of  Millbrook.  His  stock  represents  a  value  of 
$i,ooo. 

Mr.  Decker  was  married  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich., 
June  27,  1883,  to  Henrietta,  daughter  of  V.  J.  Sey- 
mour, a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Decker  is  a  Republican. 


^4=1^^ 


!  ohn  Flake,  farmer,  sec.  25,  Fork  Tp.,  was 
if^'l:'-  Ijorn  near  London,  Ont.,  March  14,  1S29, 
^■'^^  and  is  the  only  son  of  James  and  Margaret 
Ann  (Davis)  Flake.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  which  calling  he  pursued  all  his  life. 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  is  still 
living,  in  the  village  of  London,  Can.  The  circum- 
stances of  his  father  precluded  Mr.  Flake  from  the 
privileges  of  education,  and  threw  upon  him  in  early 
life  the  responsibility  of  making  a  fair  start  in  the 
world.  He  obtained  a  situation  on  a  lake  boat  and 
followed  the  calling  of  sailor  on  the  "  unsalted 
seas"  three  years,  earning  $3  monthly  as  net  profit. 
He  continued  in  the  lake  service  until  1850,  when  he 
shipped  as  a  seaman  on  a  vessel  going  to  the  Isth- 
mus of  Darien  (Panama),  and  on  arrival  there  went 
to  work  on  the  Panama  Railroad.  After  three  months 
he  contracted  the  malarial  fever,  from  which  few  es- 
caped who  labored  in  that  enterprise  in  the  pestilen- 
tial climate  of  the  isthmus,  and  was  sent  to  New- 
York  for  treatment.  On  recovery  he  made  another 
ocean  trip,  and  on  his  return  came  to  London,  Mon- 
roe Co.,  Mich.,  and  entered  the  sailing  service  on 
Lake  Huron, Oct.  3,  1S64,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Un- 
ion army,  enrolling  in  the  29th  Mich.  Vol.  Inf ,  and 
remained  until  the  war  ended.  His  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  Middle 
Tenn.,  and  he  saw  considerable  active  service  in 
some  of  tjie  most  important  engagements  during  the 
closing  months  of  the  contest,  among  them  Stone 
River  and  Decatur.  He  finally  was  apiwinted  wagon 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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master  of  his  regiment,  and  continued  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  the  post  until  he  was  mustered  out. 

Mr.  F.  came  to  Saginaw  and  worked  in  the  lumber 
mills  about  two  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867  came 
to  the  township  of  Fork  and  began  lumbering  for  the 
firm  of  Camp  &  Whitney.  He  worked  in  tlie  woods 
during  that  winter  and  in  the  spring  was  employed 
on  the  drive.  In  the  spring  of  1S68  he  bought  his 
farm,  built  a  house,  and  is  now  living  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  with  60  acres  of  improved  land. 

^[r.  Flake  was  married  July  4,  1852,  to  Abigail, 
daughter  of  Silas  and  Mary  (Heron)  Richmond,  and 
they  becapie  the  parents  of  1 1  children,  five  only 
surviving:  Clara  A.,  Christie  Ann,  Katie,  John  and 
Morris.  Those  deceased  are  Peter  G.,  Thomas, 
Hugh,  Maggie,  James  and  an  unnamed  infant.  Mr. 
Flake  is  a  Republican,  and  belongs  to  the  (i.  A.  R., 
Post  No.  77,  at  Sherman  City,  Isabella  Co.,  Mich. 


> 

^r  rank  Dumon,  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Me- 

J^^'"^  costa  County,  residence  Big  Rapids,  was 

^j^  '^^  born  in  Nissouri,  t'anada,  Jan.   22,   1842. 


=  m 

f^   ?A^    His  father,  John  F.  Dumon,  is  a  native  of  the 
Sf    •^iV'^    Dominion,  born  Oct.  i,  1817,  and  is  a  farmer. 
{       His  mother  was  born  Feb.  23,  1823,  in  Cherry 
^    Valley,  N   Y.       In    1847  his  parents  came  to  Mich- 
igan,  and    settled   on   a  farm    in    the    township   of 
Otisco,  Ionia  Co.,  where  they  are  still  resident. 

Mr.  Dumon  was  his  father's  assistant  until  20 
years  old,  when  he  committed  himself  to  the  cause 
of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  Aug.  8,  1862,  at  Otisco, 
in  Co.  15,  25ih  Mich.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capl.  .'-lainuel  Demo- 
rest.  His  command  was  attached  to  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio,  under  Gen.  liurnside,  and  afterward  under 
Gen.  Schofield.  He  was  under  fire  at  Kingston, 
Kno.wille  and  Mossy  Creek,  in  the  Ivist  Tennessee 
campaign  ;  at  Tunnel  Hill  in  the  Altoona  Mountains; 
at  Resaca,  Dallas,  New  Hope  Church,  Lost  Moun- 
tain, Kenesaw  Mountain,  at  the  crossing  of  the 
(^  Decatur  and  Peach-Tree  Creek,  and  Chattanooga 
River.      At  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  he 

iwas  severely  wounded  by  a  shot  in  the  right  side, 
and  was  sent  to  a  field  hosintal  near  Marietta,  Ga., 
^e  and  thence  successively  to  the  hospitals  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  St.  Mary's  and 
Harper's  in  Detroit.     He   was  discharged  from  the 


last  June  7,  1865,  and  returned  home  to  the  farm  with 
health  so  impaired  that  active  life  seemed  forever 
relegated  to  the  past. 

In  September,  1865,  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor  and 
entered  the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  com|)leted  the  required  course  of  two 
terms,  and  was  graduated  March  27,  1867.  He 
s[  ent  the  year  following  in  the  law  office  of  Wells  & 
Morse,  at  Ionia,  and  in  April,  1868,  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  opened  an  office,  and  has  since  devoted 
himself  to  the  zealous  prosecution  of  his  calling. 

He  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Mecosta 
County  in  the  fall  of  1868,  and  re-elected  two  years 
later.  In  1878  he  was  the  candidate  on  the  Green- 
back ticket  for  Attorney-General  of  Michigan,  but 
the  party  being  in  a  hopeless  minority  he  was  of 
course  defeated.  In  1882  he  was  the  successful 
candidate,  on  the  Fusion  ticket,  for  the  office  of 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  ran  nlxiut  700  votes  ahead 
of  his  ticket.  The  popularity  of  Mr.  Dumon  is  man- 
ifested by  the'election  statistics.  He  is  successful  in 
his  career  as  a  lawyer,  and  secures  general  favor  iiy 
his  genial  manners  and  good  companionship. 

His  office  is  in  the  'i'elfer  block,  on  Michigan 
avenue;  he  owns  his  residence  and  two  lots  on 
Ives  avenue. 

He  was  married  Feb.  25, 1869,  to  Jennie,  daughter 
of  Wendell  and  Jane  Benster,  of  Sylvan,  Washtenaw 
Co.,  Mich.,  where  she  was  l)orn  May  24,  1849. 
Their  sons,  Franklin  G.  and  Fretlerick  B.,  are  both 
deceased. 


-ntiassi/^^^ 


^^^i—^>i&hSKWym>, 


;;;l|^iifohn  Eaton,  farmer,  sec.  24,  Chipjsewa  Tp., 

iiltei^iii'-  was   born   Oct.  28,  i8-?9,  in    Ingham  Co., 

v;-_  >rt^  Mich.     His  father,  F.dward  Eaton,  was  a 

C^  farmer,  and  in    1835    brought    his    family    to 

^    Eaton  Co.,  from  Pennsylvania,  of  which  State 

\      he  was   a  native.     The  mother,  Eliza  (Cole) 

Kalon,  was  also  born  in  the  Keystone  State,  and  died 

in  Mecosta  County. 

Mr.  Eaton  received  from  his  parents  a  common- 
school  education  and  the  necessary  training  for  the 
duties  of  farming.  He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in 
1 868  and  entered  a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land  under 
the  homestead  act,  in  the  township  of  Chippewa. 
He  now  owns  120  acres,  and  has  a  fair  proiiortion  of 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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it  under  improvements.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. 

Mr.  Eaton  was  married  May  24,  1866,  to  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Dryas  and  Sally  (Woodard)  Moore. 
She  was  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1845. 
They  have  had  six  children,  Dora  I.,  Emma  J.,  Nel- 
lie, Nettie,  Jasper  D.  and  Berthis. 


'  r'l'^'^il  orris  G.  Dye,  farmer,  sec.  30,  Sheridan 
•jit^sLki/  Tp.,  was  born  May  14,  1845,  in  Medina 
ifS^^  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Amos  J.  and 
j  ^'■'^  Deborah  (Scranton)  Dye,  natives  of  Saratoga 
'["^  Co.-,  N.  Y.  (See  sketch  of  James  R.  Dye.)  Mr. 
'  Dye  resided  in  Ohio  until  he  was  2 1  years  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  the 
townsliip  where  he  now  resides,  March  i,  1866.  He 
entered  and  proved  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  land, 
under  the  homestead  law.  It  was  in  an  entirely 
original  state,  and  he  has  placed  half  the  tract  under 
fine  cultivation. 

Mr.  Dye  was  married  Jan.  17,  1870,  to  Cynthia 
Ann  Burd.  She  was  born  in  Jay  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  25, 
1850.  Her  parents,  John  A.  and  Susanna  (Clyne) 
Burd,  were  originally  from  Virginia,  and  settled  later 
in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dye  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
namely :  Arthur,  Ralph,  William,  Jacob,  Amos, 
Mary,  Anna  Lee,  Deborah  S.  and  John. 

Mr.  Dye's  politics  are  not  of  the  rigid  type :  if  a 
candidate  is  honest  he  supports  him;  if  he  is  in  any 
way  uncertain,  he  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  In 
religious  belief  he  concurs  with  the  United  Brethren. 
He  has  been  Road  Commissioner  eight  years,  and 
held  the  office  of  Supervisor  during  the  year  1881. 


I^elson  J.  Swager,  blacksmith,  on  sec.  12, 
Green  Tp.,  was  born  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio, 
July  18,  1823.  His  father,  George  Swager, 
was  a  native  of  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  was  a 
[(,  farmer,  and  moved  to  Michigan  in  October, 
•/  i^STi  locating  in  Hillsdale  County,  where  he  en- 
<>  gaged  in  farming  until  his  death  in  1855.  The 
,  *  mother,  Esther  (Sharpe)  Swager,  was  born  in  Vir- 
^     ginia,  and  died  in  October,  1848,  in  Ohio. 


Mr.  Swager  remained  in  the  care  of  his  father  un- 
til he  was  20  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  learn  his 
trade  at  Jonesville,  Hillsdale  Co.,  where  he  spent  a 
year.  He  then  went  to  AVilliams  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
was  there  married  to  Caroline  C,  daughter  of  Jason 
and  Fannie  (Hulbert)  Welton.  He  spent  three 
years  there,  working  at  his  trade,  when  he  came  to 
Greenville,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  and  there  followed 
his  business  four  years.  His  next  remove  was  to 
Allamakee  Co.,  Iowa,  going  a  year  later  to  Dunn  Co., 
Wis.,  where  he  resided  three  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  returned  to  Williams  Co.,  Ohio.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  there  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke 
out  and,  Aug.  10,  1861,  he  enlisted  and  was  in  active 
service  until  Sept.  22,  1862.  He  was  wounded  May 
31,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  remained  there  until  May,  1865, 
when  he  settled  in  the  township  of  Green,  on  a  farm, 
and  carried  on  agriculture  eight  years.  Mr.  Swager 
is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

The  family  comprises  1 1  children :  .^rlina  L., 
Charles  C,  Liberous,  Fannie,  Philetus,  Zuleka,  Mina, 
George,  Allen,  Sarah  E.  and  Leonard. 

}-h4-##>^"^— 

ames  H.  Groom,  farmer,  sec.  12,  Fork  Tp., 
was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.   5, 
1839,  and  is  the  son  of  Milton  and  Cather- 
ine (Butler)  Groom.     His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  where   they  passsd 
,     their  entire  lives.     The  father  died  when   the 
son  was  two  years  of  age,  and  he  became  an  inmate 
of  the  family  of  Thomas  Wagner.     His  mother  re- 
mained two  years  later  and  resumed  the  care  and 
charge  of  her  child,  retaining  her  guardianship  until 
he  was  13  years  of  age,  when  he  was  bound  to  John 
Howes  and  was  under  his  supervision  six  years. 

At  the  age  of  19  Mr.  Groom  set  out  alone  in  life 
to  make  his  record  among  men  and  secure  the  re- 
ward of  patient,  persistent  effort  in  his  struggle  with 
circumstances.  He  worked  by  the  day  and  month 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  He  enlisted  in 
1861  in  the  77th  Reg.  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  dis- 
charged at  the  end  of  four  months  on  account  of  dis- 
ability. He  returned  to  the  home  of  his  birth,  and 
two  years  later  came  to   Michigan  ;  remained   for  a 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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411 


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time  in  Kalamazoo,  came  thence  to  Big  Rapids,  and 
after  a  short  residence  located  a  farm  of  80  acres  in 
Folk  Tp.,  under  the  regulations  of  the  homestead 
act.  In  political  faith  and  action  Mr.  Groom  is  a 
Republican. 

He  was  married  in  1869,  to  Nancy  M.,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Abigail  (Freeman)  Phenix.  They  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Mecosta 
County  in  1867,  where  they  still  reside.  Mrs.  droom 
was  born  in  Ohio,  May  29,  1842. 


ames  E.  Rose,  farmer,  sec.  17,  Big  Rapids 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Defiance  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec. 
IfJS^S^*^  16,  1854.  Freeman  Rose,  liis  father,  was 
bom  in  Pierrepont,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y., 
May  25,  1820,  and  died  Jan.  11,  1883.  He 
was  of  Irish  and  Englisli  lineage,  and  moved  to 
Defiance,  Ohio,  and  removed  thence  to  Michigan, 
settling  in  Big  Rapids  Tp.,  Dec.  20,  1856.  His  was 
the  fourth  family  in  the  township,  and  their  experi- 
ences exhibit  all  the  characteristics  of  pioneer  life. 
Freeman  Rose  married  Sally  M.  Lloyd,  Marclvg, 
1854.  She  was  bom  in  Russell,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  9,  1823, 
and  became  the  mother  of  four  children,  two  of 
whom  only  are  living — Mr.  Rose  of  this  sketch,  and 
Harriet  Lucy  (Rose)  Fifield,  born  Seiit.  15,  1857. 

Mr.  Rose  holds  the  homestead  on  which  his  fatlier 
located  in  the  earliest  days  of  tlie  history  of  Mecosta 
County.  His  mother  is  the  object  of  his  special 
charge,  and  relates  grapiiically  the  incidents  of  her 
pioneer  life  in  the  township.  Much  of  the  time  she 
lived  alone  with  only  her  baby  son  for  companion, 
her  husband  being  under  the  necessity  of  leaving 
home  to  find  work  to  sup|)ort  his  family.  A  call  at 
her  door  at  midnight  was  a  frequent  experience,  and 
many  times  she  left  her  bed  to  admit  strangers  for 
shelter  and  food.  Her  husband  would  have  aban- 
doned the  place  but  for  her  inflexible  determination 
to  establish  a  home  here,  and  when  jjcople  who  were 
amazed  at  her  resolution  and  i)ersistent  endurance 
remarked,  "  I  should  think  you  would  die  here!  "  she 
replied,  "  I  did  not  come  to  die — I  came  to  live !  "  and 
she  has  carried  out  her  determination  worthily.  Let 
us  hope  she  may  live  to  celebrate  her  centennial 
birthday  in  the  county  of  whose  wonderfully  rapid 
progress  she  has  been  an  eye-witness. 


Among  those  we  have  selected  to  rei)resent  tiie 
pioneers  of  Mecosta  County,  in  the  portrait  depart- 
Tiient  of  this  Album,  there  are  certainly  none  more 
worthy  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rose,  and  it  is  with  great 
pleasure  that  we  present  portraits  of  each  of  them  in 
connection  with  this  sketch. 


'v^ 


^•s^-41ilfr-i®>^ 


eorge  Shust,  farmer  on  sec.  21,  Green  Tp., 

was  born  in  Wurtemljerg,  Germany,  May  2, 

1839.      His    parents,    John    and   Barbara 

(Blake)    Shust,   were    bom    and    died    in    the 

"  Faderland."      Mr.   Shust   came  to   America 

1  when  14  years  of  age,  accompanied  by  his 
brother  John.  They  located  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  they  remained  three  years,  engaged  as  farm 
laborers,  and  occasionally  obtaining  employment  in 
the  city.  Mr.  Shust  went  thence  to  Hillsdale,  Mich., 
and  there  worked  on  a  farm  three  years.  At  the  e.x- 
piration  of  that  time,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  he  came  to 
Mecosta  County,  and  spent  four  years  as  a  lumber- 
man. He  then  went  to  Kent  County,  and  returned 
hither  at  the  end  of  two  years,  wliL-n  he  bought  the 
farm  whereon  he  now  resides,  then  in  a  perfectly  wild 
state,  and  at  once  entered  vigorously  on  the  work  of 
clearing  and  improving  it.  He  now  owns  i  60  acres, 
with  about  100  in  tillage. 

Mr.  Shust  was  married  in  1861,  to  Cynthia  Nijv 
press,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  Sept  i  r,  1844.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Christina  Nipjiress,  and 
died  June  28,  1883.  Tiie  family  comprise  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Charles  I.,  Nelson,  Cora  E.,  Chancey 
L.,  Delia  M.,  George  W.  and  Flora  A. 

Mr.  Shust  is  prominent  in  public-school  interests 
in  his  township,  .and  is  a  Republican  with  reference 
to  national  affairs. 

^5 ^^ J^ 


'{ illiam  M.  Ferguson,  dealer  in  fancy  ;.nd 
staple  groceries  and  gentlemen's  furnish- 
ing  goods,  at    Big    Rapids,  was    born  in 
Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  13,  1842.     He  is  a 
son  of  Ezra  S.  and   Hannah  (Batton)  Fer- 
guson, and  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  son. 
He  became  a  soklier  for  the    I'nion  during  the 
first   year   of  the    Southern    Rebellion,  enlisting  at 


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'  412 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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V 


Owego,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  3,  1861,  in  Co.  H,  Third  N.  Y. 
Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  J.  S.  Catlin,  and  served  as  a  private 
two  years.  He  was  in  a  number  of  engagements  and 
skirmishes,  and  was  discharged  Sept.  16,  1863,  at 
Folly  Island,  S.  C,  returning  to  Owego,  where  he 
stayed  about  six  months.  He  then  entered  the  con- 
struction corps  in  the  Government  service,  and  spent 
a  year  in  the  South.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  he  came  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  was  employed  by  the  lumber  firm 
of  F.  H.  Todd  &  Co.,  to  scale  logs,  etc.,  in  the  lum- 
ber woods.  He  was  thus  employed  about  18  months, 
and  has  served  several  lumber  houses  in  the  same 
and  similar  capacities. 

Nov.  17,  1882,  he  bought  the  general  stock  of 
goods  of  J.  W.  Fearns;  he  has  added  several  lines  of 
merchandise,  and  has  since  transacted  business  with 
sales  averaging  $50,000  yearly.  His  stock  is  worth 
about  $10,000. 

Mr.  Ferguson  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. He  was  married  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  28,  1868,  to  Hettie  A.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Betsey  Thorn.  She  was  born  in  Tioga,  Tioga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  18,  1841.  They  have  two  daughters 
— Lulie  M.,  born  Aug.  25,  187  i,  and  Maud  B.,  born 
March  9,  1867. 


z-,,'^^!'  tirry  I.  Orwig,  County  Surveyor,  residnig  at 
ri/A,^:,    Big  Rapids,  was  iiorn   at   Newport,  Portage 
f^P^     Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  2,  1857,  and   is  a  son  of 
^^    John  and  Hannah  M.  (Hoover)  Orwig. 
J  In  1866  his  father  bought   a  farm  containing 

I  40  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis, 
Ci\>iiot  Co.,  Mich.,  where  Mr.  Onvig  was  reared  un- 
til 1874,  when  he  went  to  Valparaiso,  Porter  Co, 
Ind.,  and  attended  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal 
.School  and  Business  Institute  two  years.  He  went 
to  the  high  school  at  St.  Louis,  and  also  studied 
under  private  tutors,  interspersing  his  educational 
i.  course  with  teaching,  which  profession  he  followed 
',,-'    ^'^  years. 

■  ''j  In  March,  1881,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  and  en- 
^  gaged  with  Wm.  M.  Tacipies,  City  Engineer  and 
i^  County  Surveyor.  A  year  later  he  was  appointed 
^    Deputy  to  the  latter  office,  and  in  the  fall  of  1882 


^ 


was  elected,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  to  the  official 
position  he  now  holds. 


^'^^H*'^ 


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'j^tfilUllard  A.  Whitney,  M.  D.,  Big   Rapids, 

Ij^Jl  was  born  at  Clifton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
J^^n  '  ^^^-  *-^'  'S44>  3.  son  of  Willard  S.  and 
Mary  A.  (Whiting)  Whitney.  He  was  kept 
in  steady  attendance  at  school  until  about 
the  time  of  the  Southern  Rebellion,  when,  his 
iiUerest  having  become  fully  aroused  by  the  element 
of  patriotism  which  pervaded  the  whole  land,  he  en- 
listed at  Buffalo,  enrolling  Nov.  22,  1861,  in  the  24th 
N.  Y.  Light  .A-rtillery,  Capt.  Lee,  and  was  in  the  ser- 
vice until  July  25,  1865.  During  his  long  period  of 
military  life  he  parricipated  in  numerous  encounters 
with  the  rebels,  of  greater  or  less  moment ;  among 
them  the  battles  of  Newbern,  Kingston,  Whitehall, 
Goldsboro,  etc.,  etc. 

In  the  fall  following  his  discharge  he  went  to  Lan- 
sing, Mich.,  and  was  in  a  private  academy  under  tiie 
instructions  of  Prof.  Olds,  where  lie  remained  18 
months.  His  father  being  a  physician,  the  studious 
boy  and  youth  had  gathered  a  considerable  fund  of 
medical  information  and  had,  whenever  opjiortunity 
offered,  read  medicine  systematically.  In  1868  he 
matriculated  at  Cleveland  Homeoiiathic  College,  and 
was  graduated  in  1870.  He  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Lansing,  and  went  thence  to  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  about  a  twelve- 
month, and  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  1873, 
where  his  father,  Dr.  W.  S.  Whitney,  was  already 
established.  Their  business  interests  were  con- 
ducted jointly  about  one  year,  when  Dr.  Whitney  of 
this  sketch  opened  an  office  alone.  He  has  a  satis- 
factory business  as  physician  and  surgeon,  and  is  now 
County  Physician,  a  jwst  he  has  held  since  1875, 
with  the  exception  of  tlie  year  1S82.  He  is  examin- 
ing physician  for  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  also  for  the 
Order  of  Chosen  Friends;  is  Surgeon  of  Post  French, 
G.  A.  R.;  Clerk  of  the  I'.oard  of  Education  of  Big 
Rapids;  and  President  of  the  Northern  Michigan 
Homeopathic  .\ssociation. 

Dr.  Whitney  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Nov.  i 
1874,  to  Lizzie  E.,  daughter  of  Alfred  L.  and  Fannie 
M.  Clark,  born  at  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  .May  16,  1854.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  A\'hitney  have  one  child — Fannie  M.,  bom 
at  Big  Rapids,  Mich.,  Sept.  25,  1875. 


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v^(?(»  W,  illiiini  D.  Hopkinson,  merchant,  at  Paris, 
Mif  and  whose  jiortrait  we  i)resent  upon  the 
'l^y^'^  preceding  page,  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co., 
kS^r  N.  Y.,  March  14,1848.  His  father,  WiHiam 
Hopkinson,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  by 
profession  a  surveyor  and  civil  engineer.  Pie 
came  West  about  1840,  in  the  pursuit  of  his  business, 
and  assisted  in  the  surveys  of  Lake  and  Osceola 
Counties,  and  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
contracted  disease,  of  which  he  dietl  in  i860.  His 
mother,  Phebe  (Scoutin)  Hopkinson,  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  She  settled  in  Mecosta  Co., 
Mich.,  in  June,  1862,  locating  with  a  family  of  five 
children,  on  a  farm  in  Green  Tp.,  on  which  she  still 
resides. 

Mr.  Hopkinson  had  such  advantages  for  education 
as  the  common  schools  afforded,  and  took  a  short 
course  of  study  in  Eastman's  Commercial  College,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  has  spent  20  years  of  his 
life  as  a  school-teacher,  continuing  that  calling  up  to 
the  spring  of  1883.  He  opened  his  mercantile 
establishment  at  Paris  in  May  of  this  year. 

He  was  married  in  1872,  to  Mary  A.  Dodge,  born 
in  .St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Luther  and  J'lne  (Norton)  Dodge.  She  is  a  lady  of 
superior  intellectual  attainments  and  has  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  the  last  15  years  to  teaching.  The 
graded  school  at  Paris  was  under  the  care  and  man- 
agement of  herself  and  husband  in  1882-3.  'I' wo 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopkin- 
son :  Cora  ^L,  in  1874,  and  Luther,  Aug.  29,  18S3. 

Mr.  Ho[)kinson  held  the  position  of  Supervisor  in 
1879-80.  The  year  1881  he  spent  in  Dakota  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health,  and  on  his  return  to  Michigan 
in  1882,  was  re-elected,  holding  the  [lOst  until  the 
following  spring.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  of  Mecosta  County. 


dward  P.  Strong,  farmer,  sec.  12,  Sheri- 
dan Tp.,  was  born  Sept.  24,  1836,  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  is  a  son  of  Abner 
^  .Strong,  born  in  1802,  in  New  York,  of  English 
descent,  and  Marietta  (Handy)  Strong,  born  in 
1802,  in  the  same  State,  and  of  the  same  line- 
age.    They    moved    to    Burlington,    Mich.,  in  1837. 


Mr.  Strong  became  "  his  own  man  "  at  the  age  of 
15,  and  after  working  some  time  as  a  farm  assistant 
he  learned  the  mason's  trade,  and  afterward  that  of 
cooi)er.  He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  January, 
1866,  and  bought  80  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  has 
since  added  77  acres,  all  of  which  at  date  of  pur- 
chase was  in  its  original  state.  The  owner  has 
placed  90  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Strong  enlisted  in  the  late  war,  in  Ionia  County, 
in  Co.  P.,  i6th  Mich.  Inf,  and  served  three  years, 
receiving  his  discharge  in  Virginia,  Aug.  12,  1864. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  loft  hand,  June  30,  1862,  at 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

He  was  married  Aug.  7,  1864,  in  Pennsylvania,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Eliza  (Thomas)  How- 
ard. Her  father  was  of  Holland  Dutch  descent,  and 
both  her  parents  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  about 
the  year  1800.  Mrs.  Strong  was  born  in  Schuylkill 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  4,  1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strong  now 
have  three  children  in  their  household,  namely: 
Nelson  A.,  born  Oct.  9,  1868,  and  Eugenie  B.,  May 
31,  1869;  M  rs.  Strong  had  one  child  by  a  former  mar- 
riage, Clara  L.,  born  Aug.  21,  1859. 

In  regard  to  political  issues,  Mr.  Strong  is  a  Re- 
[Hililican. 

>ipiM(lbert  H.  Ganong,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Grant  Tp., 
I^^^JiT  was  born  Jan.  22,  1841,  in  Hector,  Tom p- 
''^M  '''"s  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
^p|i  Margaret  Ganong.  The  father  was  a  farmer, 
';'  and  was  born  June  27,  1798,  in  Orange  Co., 
I  N.  v.,  and  died  Nov.  4,  1873.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Tompkins  County,  in  1810,  and  died  Feb.  17, 
1841. 

Mr.  Ganong  was  but  26  days  old  when  he  was  de- 
[)rived  of  maternal  care,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of 
relatives  until  he  was  10  years  old,  when  he  went 
to  live  with  a  man  named  J.  C.  C.  Smith,  residing  in 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  V.,  under  whose  supervision  he  re- 
mained for  nine  years.  He  was  engaged  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  farm  bibcrer  three  years. 

In  the  second  year  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he 
responded  10  the  sentiment  of  patriotism  that  ruled 
the  hour,  and  quickened  into  life  the  young  and  true 
impulses  of  the  best  blood  in  the  lind,  enlisting  Aug. 
14,  1862,  in  Co.  .A,  141st  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  Department  of  the  East,  until  after 


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the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  his  regiment  was 
transferred  to  the  Western  Department,  and  was 
ordered  to  Chattanooga  for  the  reUef  of  Gen.  Rosen- 
crans.  The  first  engagements  there  were  those  of 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge.  A  heavy 
battle  was  fought  at  Resaca,  where  the  regiment  suf- 
fered a  loss  of  loi  killed  and  wounded.  They 
pressed  on  amid  continued  skirmishing  to  Altoona 
Station,  where  more  heavy  fighting  took  place.  This 
was  the  last  active  service  of  Mr.  Ganong,  as  he  was 
attacked  with  illness  and  sent  to  the  rear.  He  did 
not  recover  sufficiently  to  rejoin  his  command,  and 
was  discharged  June  i,  1865. 

He  remained  in  his  native  State  about  six  months, 
going  thence  to  Fayette  Co.,  Iowa,  and  worked  as  a 
farm  laborer  two  years.  He  came  thence  to  Grant 
Tp.,  and  was  occupied  two  years  in  lumbering.  In 
1869  he  entered  and  proved  a  claim  of  80  acres,  un- 
der the  homestead  law,  which  is  one  of  the  best 
tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  *n  location  and  iiuality 
of  soil. 

Mr.  Ganong  was  married  in  Cortland,  Kent  Co., 
Mich.,  Dec.  23,  1876,  to  Catherine  Hayes.  She  was 
born  Nov.  23,  1843,  in  Spring  Harbor,  Jackson  Co, 
Mich.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  F.  and  Eliza- 
beth B.  Hayes,  who  are  still  living.  There  is  one 
child,  Nora  M.  Ganong,  born  April  26,  1S79.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  connection,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  of  tjie  Masonic 
fraternity. 


~ff'fo\va  W.  Benscoter,  farmer,  sec.   2,  Sheri- 
dan Tp.,  was  born  in    Luzerne  Co.,  Pa., 
' ,  '^'i'  Jan.  24,  1827.      He  is  the  eldest  of  three 
!■'-''  children  born  to  his   parents,  John  and  Sally 
^g     (Masters)   Benscoter,    who   were  born   in   the 
P    above  county  in  1801  and  1803  resjjectivcly,  of 
German  lineage. 

Mr.  Benscoter  was  married  to  Ada  B.  Roberts, 
July  13,  1846,  in  Pennsylvania.  She  was  born  in 
that  State,  in  Susquehanna  County,  July  9,  1829, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Oliver  C.  and  Betsey  (Harris) 
Roberts.  The  father  was  born  in  Peacham,  Vt., 
Dec.  6,  1797,  and  died  Aug.  15,  1882.  The  mother 
was  born  April  4,  1798,  in  Massachusetts,  and  resides 
with  her  daughter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benscoter  have  been  the  parents  of 


1 1  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Following  are 
their  record  :  Sally  A.,  born  Feb.  5,  1849;  Alexander 
W.,  Nov.  27,  1850;  Viola,  Nov.  10,  1852;  Prudence 
J  ,  April  29,  1855  ;  Francis  M.,  July  2,  1857  ;  Chas. 
E.,  Jan.  4,1860;  Finella  T.,  Nov.  3,1862-.  Hattie 
L.,  May  7,  1864  ;  Bessie  F.,  April  23,  1867  ;  Harris 
AV.,  March  27,  1870;  Erva,  March  27,  1872.  Bes- 
sie died  Aug.  20,  1876;  Erva  died  May  22,  1872. 

Mr.  Benscoter  came  to  Flint,  Mich,,  in  April,  1865. 
In  January,  1866,  he  went  to  Stanton,  and  March  i, 
1867,  settled  on  his  homestead  of  80  acres,  in  Sheri- 
dan Tp.  He  has  cleared  60  acres,  and  placed  30 
acres  imder  cultivation.  He  has  a  good  frame  house 
and    barn,  besides  other   necessary  farm  buildings. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  Township  Clerk  five  years,  and  in  1878-9  was 
Township  Treasurer. 


iSp^"-^^ 


Wjonroe  R.  Kent,  farmer,  sec.  i,  Mecosta 
sh^/  Tp.,  was  born  in  Mecosta  County,  Aug. 
'ji'^i^^ ''  3,  1862.  He  is  the  son  of  Rufus  and 
jWf^  Mary  D.  (Greer)  Kent  (see  sketch),  and  has 
T"  always  resided  with  his  parents.  In  the  spring 
'I  of  1880  he  assumed  charge  of  the  estate  of  his 
father,  which  he  is  still  managing.  Mr.  Kent  is  a 
young  man  of  more  than  ordinary  promise.  He  has 
secured  a  fair  education,  is  energetic,  is  possessed  of 
excellent  moral  qualities,  being  strictly  temperate,  and 
has  a  fine  physical  constitution  and  firm,  sound  health. 
He  is  a  voracious  reader  and  well  informed  on  all 
general  issues.  He  has  no  particular  religious  bent 
and  in  political  faith  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  engaged 
in  progressive  farming  and  raises  some  of  the  finest 
crops  in  the  county,  the  grade  of  his  products  having 
been  more  than  once  among  the  successful  competing 
articles  of  farm  culture  at  fairs. 


homas  Wylie,  farmer,  sec.  32,  Chippewa 

Tp.,  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in 

November,    1844,   and  is  the  son  of  Ben- 

■J&     jamin  and  Ann  (Mitchell)  Wylie.     They  were 

'■'"      both  natives  of  Scotland,  and  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Wylie  was  reared  in  his   native  county, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  farming  until   1861,  when 


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he  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  went  to 
Philadelphia,  and  after  residing  there  some  time 
went  to  Wellington  Co.,  ("an.,  and  there  found  em- 
ployment two  years,  as  a  farm  laborer.  He  went 
thence  to  Wisconsin  and  worked  for  a  railroad  com- 
pany, in  various  capacities.  Two  years  later  he  came 
to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  he  spent  four  months. 
In  the  f;ill  of  1867  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  passed 
the  winter;  next  spring  he  came  to  Chippewa  Tp.  and 
entered  a  homestead  of  So  acres  of  land,  the  enlire 
tract  being  dense  forest.  He  cleared  a  place  to  build 
a  house,  took  possession  of  his  property,  and  proceed- 
ed zealously  with  the  labors  and  struggles  of  the 
pioneer  farmer.  He  owns  120  acres  of  land,  and  Iins 
one  half  of  it  under  tlie  best  kind  of  ctdtivation, 
realizing  all  the  satisfaction  possible  to  a  successful 
agriculturist. 

He  is  neutral  in  politics,  and  has  discharged  the 
duties  of  a  man  and  citizen  in  the  various  local 
offices  to  which  he  has  been  chosen. 

Mr.  Wylie  was  married  Oct.  29,  1866,  to  Christina 
McMullen,  born  in  Wellington  Co.,  Can.,  May  31, 
1848.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Grace  (Blue) 
McMullen,  natives  of  Scotland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wylie  have  had  seven  children :  Annie,  John,  Ben- 
jamin, Grace,  Ellen,  James  and  Jennie.  The  two 
.  last  named  are  not  living. 


-}— 'A^wg 


1«%" 


''i  ichard  S.  Decker,  farmer  on  sec.  2,  Mill- 
brook  Tp.,  was  born  in  IJelaware  Co.,  N.  Y., 


■^"'  Sept.   10,   1825.     In   1833  his   parents   re- 
V(V|^  moved  to  Canada,  and  Mr.  Decker  remained 


J 


there  until  he  was  t,},  years  old,  when  the  fam- 
ily went  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Kane  County. 
In  the  fall  of  i860  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and 
entered  a  claim  of  40  acres  of  land  under  the  Sw.unp 
Land  act  in  MillbrookTp.,  then  attached  to  Hinton. 
Mr.  Decker  was  a  laborer  from  the  age  of  four  years 
until  he  became  a  farmer  in  Michigan.  Previous  to 
his  30th  year,  he  was  employed  at  intervals  in  a  ma- 
chine shop,  alternating  with  farm  work  and  as  a  car- 
penter. Two  years  before  going  to  Illinois  he  was 
variously  occupied,  and  in  that  State  he  was  employed 
nearly  three  years  as  a  carpenter.  Reverses  in  Can- 
ada swept  away  all  he  had  accumulated,  and  on 
coming  to  Mecosta  County  he  began  life  anew.     The 

;^kV5>)«^(I< ^^- — -^m 


township  had  no  independent  organization  until  1865,  5f 
and  at  the  date  of  Mr.  Decker's  settlement  this  sec-  f^ 
tion  was  mostly  in  a  state  of  nature,  the  first  per-  'v 
manent  inhabitants  of  the  township  having  been  res- 
ident but  a  year.  In  the  spring  of  1861  Mr.  Decker  V^ 
entered  upon  the  work  of  a  pioneer;  built  a  log  house 
for  his  family  and  set  about  clearing  his  land.  The 
year  following  he  bought  another  tract  of  40  acres  of 
land  and  has  since  added  40  acres  more,  aggregating 
I  20  acres  in  all  of  which  he  has  been  the  owner. 
His  home  farm  now  contains  76  acres  of  his  original 
estate,  and  nearly  all  of  this  is  well  improved.  In 
1870  the  pioneer  home  gave  place  to  its  moilern  rep- 
resentative— a  good  frame  house,  but  the  days  of 
struggle  and  privation  are  still  honored  in  the  mem- 
ory of  those  who  had  the  fortitude  voluntarily  to 
confront  them  and  the  forethought  to  look  beyond  to 
the  years  of  fruition  sure  to  follow  honest,  persistent 
endeavor. 

Mr.  Decker  was  married  Feb.  26,  185 1,  to  Ellen, 
second  daughter  of  Lorenzo  and  Fanny  (Fisher) 
Aldrich.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  Hami)- 
shire  and  ^Lissachusetts  respectively,  and  she  was 
born  in  Lower  Canada,  Dec.  26,  1832.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Decker  have  had  seven  children.  The  eldest,  Dan- 
forth  D.,  born  Jan.  1 1,  1853,  died  a  month  afterbirth. 
Those  surviving  were  born  in  the  order  named : 
Mary  C,  May  23,  1854  ;  Ida  M.,  March  11,  1856; 
Hiram  S.,  May  22,  1S58;  Leonard  H.,  May  3,  1863; 
Darwin  D.,  Aug.  6,  1867  ;  Addie  J.,  Oct.  19,  1869. 

In  politics  Mr.  Decker  is  a  Republican,  as  his  rec- 
ord shows.  He  has  served  his  township  two  terms 
as  Supervisor,  four  terms  as  Treasurer,  and  has  been 
Constable  one  year.  While  acting  as  custodian  of 
the  municipal  finances  he  became  involved  in  diffi- 
culties that  caused  serious  trouble  and  considerable 
litigation.  The  safe  where  the  moneys  belonging  to 
the  township  were  deposited  for  security,  was  broken 
open  and  $800  abstracted;  but  Mr.  Decker  claims  ex- 
oneration from  responsibility  in  the  affair. 

He  was  drafted  in  1864  and  served  in  the  l^nion 
army  until  tlu-  close  of  the  war.  His  regiment  was 
atlachcil  to  the  lomniand  of  General  Sherman,  and 
Mr  Decker  was  in  most  of  the  engagements  of  tha 
memorable  campaign.  Himself  and  wife  are  Advent- 
ists  in  religious  belief.  As  one  of  the  leading  agri-  ^ 
culturists  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county,  we  "/ 
present  Mr.  Decker's  portrait  in  this  Album.  r^--'^ 


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Sriil  W.  Eldredge,  dentist,  office  No.  115  Mich- 
1^  igan  avenue,  Big  Rapids,  was  born  in 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  12,  1843.  His 
father,  Erastus  Eldredge,  was  born  at  Salem, 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  28,  1789,  and 
died  Feb.  22,  1864.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  Dr.  Eldredge  enlisted  as  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  was  at 
one  time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Washington.  His 
father  was  a  soldier  of  18 12,  and  fought  at  Platts- 
burg.  The  Eldredge  family,  of  English  ancestry,  is 
one  of  long  standing  in  America.  The  mother  of 
Dr.  Eldredge  was  Anna,  eldest  daughter  of  Samuel 
Watson.  She  was  born  in  Maine,  Sept.  5,  1799,  and 
died  in  Penfield,  N.  Y.,  near  Rochester,  Aug.  28, 
1883.  Herfatherwas  born  in  Maine,  Jan.  3, 1777  ;  her 
mother  was  born  Dec.  12,  1877.  They  were  the 
parents  of  10  children,  born  in  the  following  order; 
Anna,  1799;  Rufus,  1802;  Daniel,  1804;  Marion, 
1805  ;  Merrill,  1807;  Samuel,  Jr.,  1809;  Susan,  1814; 
Maria,  1816;  Emily,  1819,  and  Frank  1822.  Seven 
of  these  children  are  now  living.  The  children  of 
Mr  and  Mrs.  Eldredge  numbered  ten:  AVilliam,  Ezra, 
Polly,  Charles,  Samuel,  James,  Daniel,  Lewis.  Irving, 
and  Dr.  A.  W.  Eldredge,  the  youngest. 

He  was  seized  with  scarlet  fever  when  two  years 
of  age,  and  partly  lost  the  use  of  his  right  leg,  which 
resulted  in  permanent  lameness.  He  was  a  pupil  at 
school  most  of  his  youthful  life,  and  at  the  age  of 
20  attended  the  Commercial  College  at  Poughkeep- 
sie  ,N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  nine  months.  In  1 864 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper in  the  establishment  of  E.  T.  Darby,  plumber 
and  gas-fitter.  He  remained  in  this  position  eleven 
months,  and  then  went  to  Angola,  Ind.,  and  pur- 
chased the  grocery  and  provision  business  of  his 
uncle.  Three  months  later  he  made  an  advantage- 
ous sale  of  the  concern  and  commenced  preparation 
for  his  professional  career  in  the  office  of  James  Raw- 
ley,  dentist.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  went  to  York, 
Ind.,  remaining  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1867  he  came 
to  Big  Rapids  and  opened  an  office.  Dr.  Eldredge 
lias  a  prosperous  practice,  and  employs  two  assist- 
ants. He  is  tlioroughly  read  and  adoi)ts  the  best 
improvements  in  dental  practice;  is  peculiady  popu- 
lar in  his  business  and  social  relations,  from  his  char- 


acter of  manly  dignity  and  integrity,  winning  and  re-    V^ 
taining  the  respect  and  j)atronage  of  the  public  by    'k. 


;pect  and  j)atronage  ol  the  pi 
his  merits  as  a  practitioner  and  gentleman. 

Dr.  Eldredge  was  married  at  Fairport,  N.  Y.,  Xov. 
16,  1870,  to  Alcesta,  daughter  of  Abner  and  Cornelia 
Brown.     She  was  born  at  Fairport,  Sept.    19,    1843. 


#^ 


^- 


illiam  A.  McCombs,  farmer,  sees,  i  and 
2,  Sheridan  Ti).,  was  born  May  16,  1825, 
in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  His  father, 
Archibald  McCombs,  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.,  in  1769 ;  was  of  Scotch  extrac- 
and  died  in  1875.  The  mother,  Catherine 
(Jeffries)  McCombs,  was  born  in  1803,  of  English 
and  Welsh  descent,  became  the  mother  of  1 1  chil- 
dren, and  is  still  living,  in  Wood  Co.,  Ohio. 

Mr.  McCombs  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents, 
and  was  married  Feb.  6,  1851,10  Catherine  Patter- 
son. She  died  Oct.  22,  i860,  leaving  six  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living :  Elizabeth  Ann,  John  Wil- 
liam, Nicholas  A.,  Caroline  A.,  David  M.  and  Archi- 
bald. Mr.  McCombs  was  married  March  17,  1861, 
at  Uhricksville,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Mrs. 
Susannah  (Jackson)  Parish,  widow  of  Abraham 
Parish,  to  whom  she  was  married  in  1852.  He  died 
in  1856,  leaving  two  children — Dorothy  and  James. 
Mrs.  McCombs  was  born  March  29,  1826,  in  Ponte- 
land,  Northumberlandshire,  Eng.,  a  few  miles  from 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Her  father,  James  Jackson, 
was  born  in  England,  about  1803,  and  died  in  Erie 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1855.  Her  mother,  Dorothy  (Familton) 
Jackson,  was  born  Feb.  22,  1805,  in  the  village  of 
Duns,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  field  of  Chevy 
Chase,  in  Northumberlandshire,  Eng.  She  died  in 
her  native  county  Dec.  2,  1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCombs  have  had  four  children — Robert  L.,  Sarah 
M.,  Etta  M.  and  Nora  B.  The  last  child  died  when 
six  months  old. 

Mr.  McCombs  became  a  soldier  in  the  late  war, 
enlisUng  at  Camp  Meigs,  Ohio,  in  Co.  G,  51st  Ohio 
Inf ,  for  three  years,  but  was  discharged  on  account 
of  disability  at  the  end  of  18  months.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  faith,  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Church. 

He  came  in  1865  to  Mecosta  County,  and  entered 
and  proved  a  claim  of  80  acres  under  the  homestead 
law,  and  purchased   120  acres  additional.     Of  this, 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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1 60  acres  are  under  first-class  cultivation,  and  ex- 
hibit a  degree  of  thrift  and  industry  eminently  credit- 
able to  the  proprietor.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  the 
township  of  Sheridan. 


'ames  M.  Adair,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Fork  Tp., 
'^  was  born  in  Niagara,  Canada,  Aug.  4,  1803, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and   Phebe  (Mills) 
Adair,  both  of  whom  were  born  on  the  borders 
of  the  Susquehanna  River.     The  fatlier  was  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  held  the  rank 
of  Quartermaster. 

Mr.  Adair  remained  with  his  i>arents  until  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1813.  His  mother  married 
Hartman  Freeland,  and  after  a  short  time  he  went  to 
learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  wliich  he  followed  five 
years,  and  afterwards  was  employed  on  a  farm  and  at 
the  carpenter  and  builder's  trade. 

Mr.  Adair  was  first  married  to  Magdalene  London, 
a  native  of  Niagara  Co.,  Canada,  and  became  the 
father  of  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  living: 
Daniel  L.  and  John  H.  The  deceased  were  Mary, 
Annie  and  Phebe  C.  In  1830  Mr.  .\dair  moved  to 
Lucas  Co ,  Ohio,  and  resided  there  until  1868,  when 
he  came  to  Michigan  and,  Feb.  5,  located  80  acres 
of  land  under  the  provisions  of  the  homestead  act, 
and  has  since  continued  a  resident.  He  was  married 
a  second  time  in  1861,  to  Mrs.  Caroline  (Dewese) 
Swilzer.  Mrs.  Adair  has  one  child,  Martin  A.,  by  her 
first  marriage. 

Politically  Mr.  Adair  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been 
School  Treasurer  a  number  of  years  and  served 
Fork  Tp.  15  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


'\^.w-  ^°^®^  ^-  ^y®>  farmer,  sec.  30,  Sheridan  Tp., 
J'l^ir^   "''^'5    '^Of"    ^ct.   5,    1829,  in    Medina    Co., 


Ohio.,  and    is  of  Irish  descent.     He  is  a 
ly  son  of  .\mos  J.  and  Deborah  (Scranton)  Dye, 
";        nativesof  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.     The  lather  was 
ly      born  Feb.  20,  1808, and  was  married  in  .March, 
1829.     The  mother  was  born  July  15,  iSio,  of  Welsh 
parentage,  and  is    residing  with   her  son  James   R. 
Amos  J.  Dye  died  in  September,  1864.  " 

Mr.  Dye  is  an  unmarried  man,  and  is  the  olde.t 


child  of  his  parents.  He  enlisted  in  the  Mexican 
war  in  1846,  and  was  in  the  service  four  months. 
He  also  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  Feb.  i,  1862,  for 
three  years,  veteranized,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  October,  1865.  He  enlisted  in  Mercer 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  Co.  K,  of  the  regiment  known  as  the 
"  Bloody  Fortieth,"  and  was  a  participant  in  some  of 
the  hardest-fought  battles  of  the  war. 

In  ])olitics  he  belongs  to  the  National  or  Green- 
back party.  He  has  figured  somewhat  conspicuously 
in  local  jwlitics,  and  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
10  years.  He  settled  in  Sheridan  Tp.,  March  i, 
1866  ;  owns  100  acres  of  land,  and  now  has  45  acres 
under  cultivation. 


ly^^avid  Ackerman,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Fork  T[), 


^P»l'i|.  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  V.,  July  i, 
*^iX'f^  1807,  and  is  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Ben- 
"'jmiv  nett)  Ackerman.  His  parents  were  born  in 
f-  New  York,  and  his  paternal  grandfather,  W'ill- 
',  iam  .Vckerman,  was  born  in  France,  came  to 
this  country  witli  tlie  French  troops  under  LaFayetle 
and  fought  in  the  American  Revolution. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Ackerman  died  when  he  was 
but  eight  years  of  age,  and  he  was  reared  by  his 
grandfather  to  the  age  of  14  years.  He  engaged  as 
a  farm  laljorer  until  1826,  when  he  went  to  Broome 
Co.,  N.  v.,  and  the  ne.xt  two  summers  worked  on  a 
farm  and  followed  the  oc<5\ipation  of  a  lumberman  in 
the  winter.  He  went  thence  to  Onondaga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  in  1828  was  marrieil  to  Electa,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Anna  (Norton)  Woodford.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Electa  M.,  Rhoda  A.  and  Emily  M.  The 
mother  died  in  1843  and  Mr.  Ackerman  was  again 
married  Jan.  26,  1846,  to  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of 
James  and  Ruth  (Gould)  Ford,  the  former  a  native 
of  New  York,  born  Feb.  28,  1776,  of  English  parent- 
age ;  the  latter  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
May  5,  1779.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ackerman  have  had 
five  children,  four  of  whom  now  survive — Alzina  I,., 
Charles  .\.,  Edward  E.  and  Imogene  N.  James  H. 
is  deceased.  Mrs.  Ackerman 's  grandfather,  Nathaniel 
Ford,  was  a  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Mr.  Ackerman  resided  in  New  York  until  1832, 
when  he  went  to  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  resided  there 


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six  years ;  he  moved  thence  to  La  Grange  Co.,  Ind., 
where  his  first  wife  died.  He  moved  next  to  Cal- 
houn Co.,  Mich.,  in  1857,  and  was  there  21  years; 
then  he  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1S78  and  lo- 
cated in  the  township  of  Fork.  Politically  Mr.  Ack- 
erman  is  a  Democrat. 


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>5 


If  ohn  H.  Bright,  farmer,  sec.   26,   Fork  Tp., 

'TF-'2],;  was  liorn  in  Darke  Co.,  Ohio,  April  21, 1853, 

■  '^  and  is  a  son  of  Jesse  Bright,  who  was  born 

\,'J'  in  Nortli  Carolina,  and  after  the  death   of  his 

if  wife  in  1859  married  again  and  moved  to  Ohio, 

V    goi'ig  thence  to  Indiana,  and  after  a  brief  stay 

moved  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.;  in  1870  he  came  to 

Mecosta  County,  and  settled  in  Fork  Tp.,  locating  a 

farm  containing  80  acres,  under  the   homestead  act, 

on  which  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Bright  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  was  bred  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
accompanied  his  father  to  Mecosta  County,  and  is 
now  resident  on-  a  farm  in  the  same  section.  He  was 
married  in  1876,  to  Rosa  M.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Jane  (Sidler)  Creevey,  born  Jan.  8,  i860,  in  Eaton 
Co.,  Mich.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bright 
are  Eva  Jane,  Jessie  Bell  and  John  William.  Mr. 
Bright  is  a  Republican  in  political  adherence,  and 
has  served  his  township  in  several  local  offices. 


illiam  H.  Audfews,  saw  repairer  at  Big 
Rapids,  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Eng.,  Sept. 
17,  1831.  Benjamin  Andrews,  his  f.ttlier, 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  in  May,  1792,  and  his 
mother,  Sarah  (Utley)  Andrews,  in  September 
of  the  same  year.  The  grandparents  of  Mr.  An- 
drews belonged  to  the  agricultural  class  of  England, 
but  the  sons  on  the  paternal  side  were  brought  up  as 
artificers  in  Sheffield,  celebrated  the  world  over  for 
its  cutlery  and  artisans'  tools  in  metals.  Mr.  An- 
A.  drews'  father  carried  on  a  general  hardware  business 
V  in  Ix)ndon  for  ten  years,  and  came  to  New  York  with 
^       his  family  in  1834,  where  he  carried  on  the  business 

fof  saw  repairing  until  his  death,  Dec.  3,  1841.  The 
mother  died  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1869.  Wm. 
>^  Andrews,  uncle  of  Mr.  Andrews,  of  this  sketch, 
(Is)  came  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  and  brought  witli 
V^     him  the  first  saw-makers'  anvil  ever  used  this  side  of 


the  Atlantic.  The  anvil  has  been  preserved  and 
was  exhibited  at  the  Centennial  ExposUion  at  Phila- 
delphia, by  Emanuel  Andrews,  brother  of  Mr.  An- 
drews, of  Big  Rapids,  himself  at  that  time  a  saw- 
maker  located  at  Williamsport,  and  the  first  founder 
of  saw-making  as  a  regular  calling  in  Chicago.  The 
uncle  went  to  Auburn,  N.  Y  ,  and  founded  an  estab- 
lishment for  the  repairing  of  saws,  where  he  died. 

Mr.  Andrews  spent  his  boyhood's  years  in  school. 
At  14  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  well-known  house  of 
R.  Hoe  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  to  learn  the  trade  of 
saw-making,  to  serve  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
He  remained  a  year  after  the  expiration  of  his  in- 
dentures, and  in  1853  went  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and 
worked  a  year  there  with  his  brother  Emanuel,  whom 
he  accompanied  to  Chicago  in  1854.  He  afterwards 
returned  to  Elmira  and  there  pursued  his  trade  until 
187  I,  when  he  went  to  Williamsport  and  was  again 
engaged  with  his  brother  Emanuel  for  the  space  of 
two  and  one-half  years.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids  in 
1874,  and,  associated  with  his  brother  Joseph,  opened 
a  shop  for  the  s.de  and  repair  of  saws.  His  business 
relations  with  liis  brotlier  ceased  at  the  end  of  ten 
months.  In  April,  1883,  he  bought  the  site  where 
he  is  now  located,  and  erected  his  shop,  a  structure 
20x36  feet.  His  business  includes  re-teething,  gum- 
ming and  straightening  saws,  and  his  trade  is  pros- 
perous and  profitable. 

Mr.  Andrews  wiis  married  at  Big  Rapids,  July  24, 
1880,  to  Anna,  widow  of  Peter  Klynsma.  Mrs.  An- 
drews was  born  June  22,  1848,  in  Holland, and  is  the 
mother  of  one  child  from  her  first  marriage.  Mr. 
Andrews  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order,  Union  Lodge, 
No.  95,  at  Elmira,  N-  V.;  also  to  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  No.  42,  of  Elmira,  and  is  a  member  of 
Southern  Tier  Council,  No.  16. 


illis  Morse,  farmer,  sec.    12,    Grant    Tj 


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lilJLl''-    w^s  1^0''"  ^"^-  -''  '^3°'  ^^  Concord, N.  H. 

),^ir'''^'    His    parents,    Jacob    and   Nancy    Morse, 

\3.'  were  both  natives  of  New  York.  Mr.  Morse 
"IvlT"'  was  reared  to  the  vocation  of  agricultiire, 
\  which  he  pursued  until  lie  was  31  years  old, 
wlien  the  Soutliern  Rebellion,  with  all  its  horrors 
and  attendant  calamities,  made  its  fierce  onset  to 
destroy  the  national  unity. 

He  enlisted  Sept.  15,  1861,  in  Co.  H,  44th   N.  Y. 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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^  — ^""= 

V^  Vol.  Inf.,  Cul.  Striker.  His  regiment  rendezvoused 
'Tij  at  Albany  about  five  weeks,  and  then  went  to  the 
,'^'^  front.  The  first  battle  in  which  Mr.  Morse  engaged 
was  at  Yorkiown,  followed  by  that  of  Hanover  Court- 
House,  May  27,  1S62,  where  he  received  a  bad  scalp 
wound  from  a  niinie  ball.  After  a  lengthened  stay 
in  the  hospital  he  was  furloughed  30  days.  When 
he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Harrison's  Landing,  the 
Union  fortes  were  falling  back,  and  his  command 
was  detailed  to  protect  the  Federal  Capital  when  Lee 
crossed  ^Llryland  with  the  e.\pectation  that  that 
State  would  rise  to  his  aid,  and  the  capture  of  Wash- 
ington be  a  comparative  tritle.  But  the  rebel  chief 
found  his  hopes  vain,  and,  instead  of  establishing  him- 
self in  the  seat  of  the  Union  Government,  he  found 
battle  precipitated  at  (Gettysburg.  'I'he  regiment  of 
Mr.  Morse  reached  that  most  memorable  field  of  the 
conflict  on  the  second  day  of  the  fight,  and  at  once 
went  into  action.  He  was  wounded  twice  in  the 
head  and  removed  to  the  hos[)itat,  whence  he  was 
sen',  to  Baltimore.  Four  months  later  he  joinetl  his 
regiment  at  Fredericksburg,  and  was  next  in  the 
fight  at  Chancellorsville,  under  Hooker;  and,  after 
that  most  disastrous  campaign,  retreated  to  the  north- 
ern bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  near  Manassas. 
After  the  second  Bull  Run  fight  he  went  to  Alexan- 
dria, and  thence  to  Washington  Hospital,  on  the  sick 
list.  He  was  transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Point 
Lookout,  and  after  four  months  again  rejoined  his 
regiment.  The  seven  days'  battles  of  the  Wilderness 
ensued  immediately,  when  Mr.  Morse  was  captured. 
He  was  held  by  the  rebels  about  36  hours,  when  a 
charge  was  made  by  Cen.  Custer  and  a  rescue 
effected.  He  accompanied  the  forces  of  the  cavalry 
chief  to  City  Point,  and  went  back  to  his  command 
via  Washington.  He  took  part  in  all  the  liattles 
where  his  regiment  was  engaged,  until  his  discharge 
from  service,  Oct.  11,  1864. 

He  came  to  Michigan,  and  in  July,  1866,  entered 
a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land,  where  he  established  his 
homestead.  The  entire  tract  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber.  He  has  added  to  his  estate  by  subsequent 
purchase,  and  now  owns  a  fine  landed  properly  of 
240  acres.      In  jwlitics  he  is  indei)endent. 

He  was  married  Nov.  21,  187 1,  to  Ruth  A., 
daughter  of  Elijah  and  Rhoda  Blanchard,  of  Chip- 
pewa, Mich.  Mrs.  Morse  was  born  Aug.  16,  1S49, 
at  Calon,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.   Of  this  marriage  there 

^^^^ — ^-K^na 


are  four  children,  lx)rn  as  follows  :  Nancy  R.,  March 
29,  1874;  Emmett  L.,  May  8,  1875  ;  Leonard  E., 
Nov.    19,    1877;  Orville  T.,  Aug.  19,  1879. 


'V^^<'  l;?;i?"icc;M:  ^►i"»,rv. 


I 


^^^^ames  M.  Darrah,  of  the  firm  of  Darrah 
'S^^i''  '^''o*-  '''^'  ^  '^•'  proprietors  of  the  City  Flouring 
|te.^%  Mills  at  Big  Rapids, 


i 


^1 


'W   and  Sinia  (Mitel: 
Y*    Co.,  Pa.,  when  h 


was  born  in   Luzerne 

^  Co.,  Pa.,  March  4,  1835.  His  parents,  Robert 
hell)  Darrah,  went  to  Jefferson 
he  was  two  years  of  age,  and 
where  his  father  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering. 
His  parents  and  brother  came  west  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  and  in  the  fall  he  followed.  He  found  eniplov- 
ment  in  the  lumber  woods  and  for  some  time  worked 
by  the  month,  engaging  a  part  of  the  time  in  scaling 
logs.  He  was  in  the  service  of  the  lumber  firm  of 
Roberts  &  Hull  nine  years,  and  during  the  three 
last  of  these  he  was  in  sole  charge  of  tiieir  lumber 
interests.  The  force  of  assistants  numbered  nearly 
100  men. 

.\t  the  end  of  nine  years  he  bought  limber  land 
and  engaged  in  [lie  lumber  trade  on  his  own  behalf, 
and  also  conlinucd  to  fulfill  contracts  to  furnish  lum- 
ber for  other  parties.  In  the  winter  of  1S82-3  he 
managed  the  labors  of  .So  men,  and  put  in  nearly 
seven  million  feet  of  lumber. 

In  .\ugust,  1882,  the  Darrah  Bros.  (James  M.  and 
Ciiarles  M.)  bought  the  City  Flouring  Mills  in  upper 
Big  Rapids,  and  not  long  afterward  the  son  of  one 
member  of  the  firm,  W.  E.  Darrali,  was  admitted  to 
the  firm  as  a  partner.  They  are  now  engaged  in 
building  a  new  mill  for  llieir  trade  and  will  ap|iropri- 
ate  the  old  mill  to  custom  work  and  feed. 

Mr.  Darrah  owns  a  fine  farm  on  sec.  2ih  '^^  dreen 
Tp.,  containing  80  acres  of  land;  also  one  of  80  acres 
in  the  Township  of  Colfax,  and  40  acres  of  land  in 
Missaukee  County,  besides  four  lots  in  the  city  of  Big 
Rapids.  He  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Oct.  11. 
1874,  to  Emma  L.,  daughter  of  Daniel  C.  and  Rhcu- 
ama  Gore.  Mrs.  Darrah  was  born  at  Elkhart,  Ind. 
Nov.  28,  1852.  Of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Darrah  three 
children  have  been  born, — Grace  E.,  March  9,  1877; 
Ella  R.  and  James  Chester.  Only  the  first  named 
child  survives  Mr.  Darrah  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  was  one  of  the  charier  members 
of  the  Big  Rapids  National  Bank.     He  was  elected 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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Director  al  its  organization  and   is  a  member  of  its 
present  Board. 

As  one  of  tlie  reiiresentative  citizens  of  this  County, 
and  a  gentleman  well  worthy  the  position,  we  present 
the  portrait  of  Mr.  Darrah  in  this  work. 


) 


■<^ 


:) 


-s 


|enjamin  T.  Lovejoy,  farmer,  sec.  4,  Sheri- 
dan Tp.,was  born  Jan.  16,  1830,  in  Catta- 
raugus Co.,  N.  Y.  Almon  Lovejov,  his 
father,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  June  22, 
1792,  and  came  of  a  clear  line  of  Puritan 
ancestry,  and  died  Nov.  27,  1880.  His 
mother,  Hannah  (Ames)  Lovejoy,  w^s  of  Welsh 
descent,  born  near  the  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  Sept.  18,  1795,  and  died  Nov. 
6,  1880. 

Mr.  Lovejoy  was  married  Dec.  25,  1857,  in  Paris 
Tp.,  Kent.  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Charlotte  A.  Van  Amburgh. 
She  was  born  May  6  1830,  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Matthew  Van  Auiburgh.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lovejoy  have  been  the  parents  of  four  children, 
born  as  follows:  Almon  M.,  Oct.  22,  1859;  Abner 
L.,  May  19,  i85i;  James  Nelson  and  George  Ben- 
jamin, twins,  born  Feb.  16,  1863,  and  died  three 
weeks  subsequent  to  birth. 

Mr.  Lovejoy  came  to  the  State  of  Michigan  in  the 
fall  of  r843,  ^"d  settled  in  Hillsdale  County.  Li 
1855  he  went  to  Kent  County,  where  he  remained  25 
years. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Southern  Rebellion,  he  felt 
himself  impelled  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  avert  from 
the  nation  the  impending  evils  of  disruption.  He 
enlisted  Aug.  5,  1862,  in  Co.  E,  21st  Mich.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  was  in  the  service  three  years,  three 
months  and  seven  days.  Among  other  engage- 
ments in  which  he  took  part  were  the  battles  of 
Perryville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,1862;  Miirfreesboro,  Tenn., 
Dec.  31,  1862,  and  Jan.  i  and  2,  1863.  He  was 
transferred  to  the  Livalid  Corps  on  account  of  dis- 
ability, and  was  discharged  Nov.  12,  1865,  at  Spring- 
field, 111. 

He  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1S80,  and  boughl 
80  acres  of  land,  where  he  has  since  been  farming. 
He  has  improved  his  farm  to  the  best  advantage; 
has  50  acres  in  tillage,  a  good  frame  house,  and  suit- 
able farm  buildings.  He  is  a  Republican  and  be- 
longs to  the  United  Brethren  Church. 


ugh  Johnson,  farmer  and  lumberman,  sec. 
6,  Chippewa  Tp.,  was  born  in  Middlesex 
Co.,  Can.,  June  18,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of 
Alexander  and  Mary  (Nesbit)  Johnson.  They 
were  natives  of  Scotland,  where  the  father  was 
born,  in  February,  1794,  and  the  mother  in 
January,  1806.  They  came  from  their  native  land 
to  Canada  iii  1820,  and  lived  on  a  farm  until  the 
death  of  the  senior  Johnson,  which  occurred  Oct.  4, 
1874.  In  1882  the  mother  became  an  inmate  of  the 
family  of  her  son. 

Mr.  Johnson  became  "  his  own  man  "  at  the  age 
of  18  years,  working  as  a  day  laborer  on  a  farm  and 
as  a  hand  in  the  saw-mills  of  the  vicinity  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  He  was  married  in  i860,  to 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and  Wealthy  (Degraw) 
Whiting.  The  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  the  daughter  in  Caradock,  Middlesex  Co., 
Can.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Johnson  operated  as  a 
farmer  in  the  Dominion  12  years.  He  sold  out  and 
in  July,  1876,  came  to  Chippewa  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co., 
bought  136  acres  of  land  on  sec.  6,  and  engaged 
exclusively  in  agriculture  until  1882.  In  that  year, 
associated  with  his  brother,  John,  he  erected  a  saw- 
mill and  has  since  been  diligently  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber.  The  niill  has  all  the  most 
desirable  modern  fixtures,  with  a  capacity  to  saw 
daily  12,000  feet  of  hard  or  soft  lumber. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  been  the  parents  of 
five  children.  Three  are  still  living, — Amelia  L., 
Alexander  G.  and  Maggie  L.  Two  are  deceased, — 
Wealthy  A.  and  Mary  E.  The  family  attend  the 
Baptist  Church.     Mr.   Johnson  is  a  Republican. 


l.Vharles  B.  Lovejoy,  grocer  at  Big  Rapids, 
i£  was  born  in  Locke,  Ingham  Co.,  Mich., 
May  21,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Israel  H. 
and  Mary  B.  (Hill)  Lovejoy.  The  father  set- 
tled in  Locke  in  1840,  when  that  and  the 
'  joining  townships  were  in  their  primeval  con- 
dition. In  order  to  reach  the  location  of  his  claim, 
he  was  under  the  necessity  of  cutting  a  road  through 
the  wilderness  a  distance  of  three  miles.  At  that 
time  only  half  a  dozen  families  were  settled  in  the 
township,     and   those    at    widely     distant    points. 


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Lansing  was  the  market  for  the  produce  of  Ingham 
County,  and  the  city  pioneers  were  then  clearing 
away  the  limber,  where  now  the  thronging  citizens 
traverse  finely  graded  streets  and  behold  stately  and 
splendid  buildings.  Mr.  Lovejoy,  Sr.,  was  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  two  brothers  and  three  sis- 
ters, all  of  whom  are  now  living,  each  having  an 
average  age  of  ^^\i  years.  He  is  a  second  cousin 
of  the  brothers  Elijah  Parish  Lovejoy  and  Owen 
Lovejoy,  the  great  Abolitionists.  (The  former  died 
a  martyr  to  princii)le  on  the  evening  of  Nov.  7,  1837, 
at  Alton,  111.,  and  the  latter  was  a  conspicuous  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  who  died  in   1S64.) 

Mr.  Lovejoy,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  nine 
children  who  attained  mature  age.  (Two  sisters  and 
one  brother  are  now  deceased).  He  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  at  20  years  of  age  went  to  Albion,  Mich., 
where  he  took  a  special  course  of  commercial  study 
at  Mayhew's  Business  College.  On  leaving  school 
he  made  his  parents  a  short  visit,  and  with  $8.50  as 
a  capital  for  future  operations  he  set  out  to  Bay  City 
to  commence  life  on  his  own  account.  Eight  weeks 
later  he  went  home  and  entered  the  eni|)loy  of 
George  N.  Cady,  merchant  at  Albion,  at  $10  per 
month  and  board.  Six  months  later  a  better  situa- 
tion offered,  and  he  went  to  Litchfield,  Hillsdale 
Co.,  Mich.,  to  enter  the  store  of  his  cousins,  F.  E. 
&  A.  C.  Lovejoy,  as  clerk  and  accountant,  where  he 
remained  three  years;  in  187 1  he  came  to  Big  Rap- 
ids, where  he  engaged  as  book-keeper  five  years;  in 
1876  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  G.  Gill,  in 
the  grocery  business,  a  relation  which  existed  18 
months  and  dissolved.  He  was  for  some  time  em- 
ployed by  various  firms  in  the  capacity  of  account- 
ant, and  .Sept.  i,  1883,  entered  the  business  house  of 
Cannon  &  Gottshall,  as  book-keeper  of  the  Big  Rap- 
ids Iron  Works,  but  only  remained  until  October, 
15.  '883,  when  he  went  into  the  general  grocery 
business  on  his  own  account. 

Mr.  Lovejoy  was  married  in  Litchfield,  July,  10, 
1870,10  Lucy  E.,  daughter  of  Hanford  B.  and  Jane 
Wood.  Of  their  marriage  four  children  have  been 
born,  namely,  Winfield  E.,  Allie  M.,  Edith  M.  and 
Edna  J.  (twins).  Mr.  Lovejoy  is  a  member  of  ilie 
Mas(jnic  Order  and  Royal  Arch  Chapter;  has  also 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the 
Fifth  Ward  five  years,  and  in  1875  was  Supervisor  of 
that  ward.  He  owns  his  residence  and  three  lots  on 
North  Stewart  avenue. 


429  ^ 


J 


.^fjEj^jharles  L.   Tuttle,  farmer,  sec.    18,   Grant     v, 
ij|k=ial  Tp.  was  born  in  Rochester,  Monroe  Co., 
^}^        N.  Y.,  Jan.  18,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  David 
^^    and  Mary  Ann  Tuttle.     His  father  was  born 

Vy.     Jan.  3,  1 813,  in  New  York,  and  died  Sept.   i, 

^  1879.  His  mother  was  born  in  the  Empire 
Stale  Sept.  24,  18 15,  and  died  Feb.  15,  1847. 

Mr.  Tuttle  became  a  citizen  of  the  Peninsular 
State  in  1864.  After  a  stay  of  a  few  months  at 
Grand  Rapids  he  went  to  Cannon  Tp.,  Kent  Co., 
where  he  remained  a  year,  and  after  passing  a  simi- 
lar period  of  time  in  the  township  of  Cortland,  in 
that  county,  he  came  to  Grant  Tp.,  and  entered  a 
homestead  claim  of  80  acres.  He  has  since  bought 
80  acres  across  the  highway  on  sec.  19,  both  tracts 
being  choice  land.  In  1880  he  built  a  fine  dwelling- 
house  on  sec.  18,  at  an  expenditure  of  §2,000. 

Mr.  Tuttle  was  married  Jan.  6,  1858,  lo  Mary  C. 
daughter  of  R.  L.  and  Mary  LTnderhill.  The  father 
was  born  April  27,  1810,  in  New  York,  and  died 
Aug.  10,  1854;  his  father,  Samuel  Underbill,  was 
born  in  the  same  State,  in  1777,  and  died  Aug.  17, 
1850.  The  mother  was  born  Nov.  19,  18 14,  and 
died  April  4,  1852.  The  grandmother,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Underbill,  was  bom  in  1780,  and  died  May  20, 
1859.  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  born  at  Allen,  Allegany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  March  4,  1833.  She  is  the  mother  of  six 
children:  Livingston  D.,  born  June  18,  1859;  James 
W.,  Sept.  18,  1861;  Roseltha  A.,  June  11,  1863 
(died  .Sept.  2,  1876);  Irving  A.,  July  4,  1865;  Charies 
M.,  July  9,  1S70  (died  July  26,  1870);  Florence  L., 
Sept.  13,  187  I  (died  Aug.  30,  1873).  Mr.  Tuttle  is 
a  Republican  in  political  sentiment  and  was  the  first 
Supervisor  after  the  organization  of  the  township. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  I'nited  Breth- 
ren Church. 

Livingston  I).  Tuttle,  farmer,  sec.  19,  was  married 
March  7,  1881,  to  Mary  Ella,  daughter  of  Ralph  and 
Sarah  A.  Walker,  born  Sept.  7,  1857.  There  is  one 
child, — Rali)h  Latham  Tuttle, — born  .\pril  15,  18S2. 

In  selecting  representative  men  with  whose  por- 
traits we  wish  to  embellish  this  .Vlbum,  we  have  cho- 
sen the  subject  of  this  biography,  Mr.  Tuttle,  and 
present  his  portrait  u|)on  the  preceding  page. 


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ames  P.  Cawthorne,  fanner,  on  sec.  36, 
Wheatland  Tp.,  was  born  in  Flint,  Genesee 
y.x^  Co.,  Mich.,  May  7,  1853.  His  father,  John 
'%%  ^^'-  Cawthorne,  is  an  Englishman  by  birth  and 
ir  descent,  and  his  mother,  Myra  J.  (Calkins) 
I  Cawthorne,  is  a.  native  of  New  York.  Mr, 
Cawthorne  is  a  music  teacher  by  profession  and  has 
for  years  combined  his  labors  in  that  avenue  with  the 
other  duties  of  life  which  have  devolved  upon  him. 
He  finished  his  preparation  for  his  vocation  at  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti  and  begin  to  teach 
in  1872.  He  justly  deserves  the  wide  local  reputa- 
tion he  has  earned  as  a  skillful  musician  and  a  com- 
petent teacher,  whose  success  in  the  latter  capacity  is 
acknowledged  without  qualification.  He  teaches 
both  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  He  was  married 
March  2,  1876,  to  Susie  A.,  daughter  of  John  A.  and 
Ada  ((jolden)  Wood,  who  was  born  May  27,  i860,  in 
Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  parents  are  of  French  and 
German  descent.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cawthorne  resided  with  their  parents  until  18S1, 
when  they  located  on  the  farm  where  they  now  reside. 
The  place  was  purchased  some  years  previous,  and 
contains  120  acres,  with  47  acres  under  cultivation. 
Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cawthorne  are 
two  children :  Charles  C,  born  June  3,  1879,  and 
Mabel,  Nov.  9,  1882.  Mr.  Cawthorne  is  a  Reinibli- 
can  in  politics,  and  is  Secretary  of  the  Order  of  Good 
Templars.  Himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


'irij^aj 


-i:^^ 


Jl^^liarnabas  Kelley,  farmer,  sec.  13,  Millbrook 
-^lE^Jl^  Tp.,  was  born  in  Canada,  Sept.  15,  1841. 
^'{^Jjif^  His  parents,  William  and  Maria  (Samos) 
''1^'^  Kelley,  were  also  natives  of  Canada,  and  about 
1869  settled  in  Wheatland,  Mecosta  Co., 
where  they  now  reside.  Until  the  age  of  16 
Mr.  Kelley  passed  his  time  at  school  and  as  a  farm 
laborer;  after  this,  until  he  was  22  years  old,  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  various  farmers,  and  passed  one 
year  working  as  a  lumberman.  He  came  to  Ionia 
Co.,  Mich.,  in  1S65,  and  worked  one  year  on  a  farm, 
coming  to  Millbrook  in  1 866.  He  purchased  40  acres 
of  wild  land  on  sec.    14,  and  at  once  commenced 


clearing  and  otherwise  improving  it.  To  his  original 
purchase  he  has  added  too  acres,  and  now  owns  a 
valuable  farm  of  140  acres,  with  a  considerable  pro- 
portion under  the  plow,  and  a  good  house  and  barn. 
He  has  acquired  his  property  by  frugality,  persistency, 
and  the  exercise  of  good  judgment. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  Jan.  27,  1863,  to  Mary 
L.,  daugliter  of  Samuel  and  Betsy  Fisher,  and  they 
have  had  five  children  :  Almon  E.,  Charles  H., 
William  E.,  Ida  A.,  and  Medora  D.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kelley  are  members  of  the  Advent  Christian  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  K.  is  an  an  ardent  Republican. 


^JAU^i" 


andall  T.  Capen,  retired  farmer,  resident  at 
Remus,  was  born  in  Tolland  Co.,  Conn., 
June  2,  1823.  His  jiarents,  Philip  R.  and 
Julia  A.  (Fenton)  Capen,  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  of  English  descent.  During  the 
I  years  previous  to  attaining  his  majority,  Mr. 
Capen  attended  school  winters,  and  spent  alternate 
summers  in  labor  in  the  cotton  factories  at  Windham 
and  Bozrah.  On  reaching  the  age  of  21  years  he 
entered  Swift's  cotton  mill  asoverseer,  and  afterwards 
occupied  the  same  position  in  Fitch's  mill,  in  the 
town  of  Bozrah.  He  was  married  June  16,  1S44,  to 
Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Geo.  H.  and  Lydia  A.  (Miller) 
Armstrong,  who  was  born  Dec.  1,  1825,  and  is  of 
English  and  Scotch  descent.  She  was  liberally  ed- 
ucated in  her  native  State,  and  in  hergeneral  deport- 
ment gives  evidence  of  her  New  England  training. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capen  worked  in  the  cotton  mills  after 
their  marriage  until  the  fall  of  1847,  when  Mr.  Capen 
had  a  serious  attack  of  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs, 
and  was  incapacitated  for  labor  three  years.  When 
sufficiently  recovered  he  engaged  in  farming,  adopt- 
ing agriculture  as  a  calling  in  life  in  1850,  pursuing 
it  diligently  until  the  last  few  months,  when  he  re- 
tired from  active  life  and  fi.xed  his  residence  at  Re- 
mus. 

In  1850  Mr.  Capen  went  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  owned  a  farm,  and  operated  until  the  fall 
of  1S59.  He  then  came  to  Wheatland  and  bought 
I  20  acres  of  wild  land,  built  a  pioneer's  shanty  and 
proceeded  after  the  most  approved  pioneer  style  to 
clear  and  improve  his  farm,  putting  45  acres  in  first- 
class  farming  condition. 

The  first  election  held  in  the  lownshi])  of  \\'heat- 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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^  land  occurred  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Capen.     It  was  in 
^j   the  fall  of  1864,  and  14  voters  asseinliloil,  i_;ut  iliciii 
.'fl  castinn  their  liallots  lor  Ahiahaiii    l.iiuolii   k>r   I'lcsi- 
•    dent. 


V 


.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capen  luive  live  cliiUlren,  vi/..; 
Cyrus  R.,  born  July  5,  1S45  ;  Charles  H.,  (U:l.  15. 
1849;  Pearl  L.,  Keh.  i,^,  1855;  Ellen  J.,  .April  19, 
1S63;  Estella  R.,  Sept.  1,  1S66.  Tiiey  have  re- 
ceived a  good  business  as  well  as  common-school 
education.  Mr.  Capen  is  a  radical  Republican  in  poli- 
tics and  has  held  various  local  offices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  of  G.  T.  at  Millbiook. 


^v^Si 


^ 


V 


eorge  Brady,  farmer  on  sec.  22,  yElna  'I'p  , 
was  born  in  Virginia,  Feb.  18,  1823,  and  is 
a  son   of  Thomas    and    Jemima   (Culver) 
Brady,  who    were  natives   of    Canada,     '{"he 
date  of  the  father's  birth   i .    unknown,  but  he 
ived  in   Virginia  all  the  early  period  of  his 
/^  life,  and  died  in  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  in   1839.     The 
mother  wa.s  born  in  iSi  i    and  died   at  the  age  of  72 
years,  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Morley  Cemetery.     On   the  death  of  his   father 
the   maintenance   of  the    family   devolved   on    Mr. 
Brady,  and  they   soon   after  went  to  ."^andusky  Co., 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  until  1847,  t'l"-'"  .^^oi'ig  to 
Fulton  Co.,  Ohio,  where  th^y  resided   until  1856,  the 
date  of  their  settlement  at  C'roton,  Newaygo  Co.,  and 
after  a  residence   of  two  years  they  came  to   ^l^tna 
Tp.,  where  they  fi.xed   their  residence  on   80  acres, 
which  Mr.  Brady  had  previously  purchased.     It  was 
all    in   timber,   and   Mr.    Brady  built  the  usual  log 
house  and  sought  his  fortune  in  the  lumber  business. 
The  original   purchase  of  80  acres  is  now  in  a  fine 
slnte  of  cultivation,  well  supplied  with  modern  build- 
ings except  the  house,  which  will  soon  be  replaced 
by  a  suitable  residence. 

Mr.  Brady  is  the  uldest   resident  settler  of/Ktna 
Tp.      He  was  an   inhabitant  of  the   township   seven 
years   before   its  organization.      He  was  married  in 
s-^-  Fulton  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  i,    1862,  at  the  age  of  28,  to 
1     Alvira,   daughter   of    John    and    Permelia  (Hadley) 
■-'-  Davis,  born  Feb.  11,    1835;  parents  were   natives  of 

fOhio  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brady  iiave  had  eight  <  hildren,  si.\of  whom  survive: 
^r»)  Kiugene,  born  Jan.  5,  i8t;4;  Adelbert,  May  20,  1856; 
^  Adaline,  March    6,   1861;  William,  Aug.   10,   1863; 


'^ 


Isabell,  Oct.  23,  1867.    Those  decased  are,  Florence,      ^ 

born  May  1  i,  1856,  died  July  15,  1857  ;  a  child  born        4 
Sept.  [,  1872,  died  Nov.  12,  1882. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brady  are  active  members  of  society, 
though  of  liberal  religious  views.     Mr.  Brady  is  still      .  " 
in  busy  life,  and,  as  a  land   inspector,  has   no  rival. 
He  is  independent  in   |K)litical  thought   and  action. 


•^- 


lljLgl^iidrew  MeFarlane,  farmer,  sec.  16,  C.reen 

i^^^Jt  Tp.,  was  born  in  (iodmanchester,  Can.,  Oct. 

/;  f !f>  30,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret 

V  .i     ((Jray)  MeFarlane.     His  parents  were  natives 

of  Scotland  and  emigrated  to  America  in  early 

life,  locating  in  Canada,   where  the  father  died;  the 

mother  came  to  the  "  States  "  with  her  children.     -She 

is  still  living  and  has  a  home  with  her  son   I'eter,  in 

Mecosta  County. 

Andrew  MeFarlane  came  to  Michigan  in  1856. 
Reaching  Grand  Rapids  by  established  routes  of 
travel,  he  found  that  an  almost  trackless  wilderness 
lay  between  him  and  his  \y6\w\.  of  destination,  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  he  walked  to  Mecosta  County, 
and  found  employment  in  the  lumber  camps  during 
that  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1S57  he  bought  160 
acres  of  land,  paying  therefor  ten  shillings  per  acre, 
located  near  Hersey,  Osceola  Co.,  and  on  it  he 
labored  five  years.  In  1862  he  sold  his  farm  and 
bought  a  half  interest  in  a  mill  and  a  tract  of  land, 
and  turned  his  attention  and  energies  to  milling  and 
lumbering.  He  was  thus  occupied  about  16  years, 
sold  out  again  and  interested  himself  in  hotel  and 
mercantile  business  at  Paris,  in  which  he  continued 
si.\  years.  In  May,  1878,  his  store  was  burned,  and 
he  determined  to  devote  the  balance  of  his  life  to 
agriculture  and  settled  on  his  present  farm.  He 
owns  640  acres  of  land  in  Mecosta  and  Osceola 
Counties,  his  home  place  having  150  acres  in  the 
best  condition  for  agricultural  i)urposes. 

Mr.  MeFarlane  was  married  July  5,  1862,  to  Laura 
E.,  daughter  of  James  and  Laura  L.  (Hungerford) 
Montague,  born  Oct.  9,  1845.  (See  sketch  of  C.  H. 
Montague.)  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MeFarlane  have  had 
five  children,  born  as  follows:  James  A.,  .Aug.  18, 
1865;  {Villiam  A.,  March  28,  1867;  Henry  C.,  Feb. 
5,  1870;  Frederick,  Dec.  15,  1882.  John  M.,  born 
Dec.  12,  1863,  died  Aug.  26,  1866.     Mr.   MeFarlane 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


^  has  always  been  alive  to  the  public  interest  of  the  com- 
^  munity  of  which  he  is  a  meml)er,  and  served  his 
•'.^  townshi|)  in  several  local  offices;  is  at  present  School 
T  and  Township  Treasurer.  Himself  and  wife  are 
^1  members  of  the  M.  E.   Church.     Politically  he  is  a 

Republican.     We  give  a  iMrtrait  of  Mr.  McFarlane 

opjx)site  the  preceding  page. 


arry    M,    Wilder,    farmer,    sec.    30,    ('.rant 

Tp.,  was  l)orn  March   20,  1837,  in    Pontiac, 

Oakland   Co.,    Mich.,  and  is  a  son  of  Joel 

and  Hannah  Wilder,  both  of  whom  were  natives 

of  Ontario,  N.  Y.     His  father  was  born  Sept.  6, 

1794,  and  died  June  28,  1S67  ;  and   his  mother 

was  born  July  19,  iSoo,  and  is  now  living  in   Lapeer 

Co.,  Mich.,  where  tlie  family  settled  in  1836. 

Mr.  Wilder  became  a  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  en- 
listing at  Detroit,  Aug.  20,  1861,  in  Co.  F,  i6th 
Mich.  Vol.  Inf.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  [)articipated  in  the  siege  of 
Yorktown,  in  April,  1862  ;  Hanover  Court-House, 
May  27,  1862;  Mechanicsville,  June  26,  1862; 
Gaines'  Hill,  June  27  ;  White-Oak  Swamp,  June  30; 
Malvern  Hill,  June  30;  Turkey  P.end,  July  i  ;  2d 
Bull  Run,  Aug.  30;  Antietam,  Sept.  16;  Shepards- 
town,  Sept.  19;  Fredericksburg,  Hec.  13;  Chancel- 
lorsville,  .\pril  3,  1863;  Middleburg,  June  21; 
Cettysburg,  July  i  to  3 ;  Williamsport,  July  12; 
Wapping  Height,  July  21  ;  Bristow  Station,  Oct.  14; 
Rappahannock  Station,  Nov.  7  ;  Mine  Run,  Nov.  27  ; 
Wilderness.May  5,  1864;  Laurel  Hill,  May  8;  Sfx^tt- 
sylvania  Court-House,  May  18;  Magnolia  Swamp, 
June  I  ;  Bethsaida  Church,  June  2 ;  Petersburg, 
June  iS;  Petersburg  &  Norfolk  Railroad,  July  30; 
Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  18,  19,  21 ;  Preble  Farm,  Sept. 
30;  Hatcher's  Run,  Oct.  27;  Dabney  Mill,  Feb.  6, 
1865  ;  Hatcher's  Run  (2d),  March  25,  1865. 

Mr.  Wilder  holds  the  following  testimonial  from 
his  superior  officer: 

"Sir:  Accept  my  congratulations  and  thanks  for 
having  so  nobly  and  successfully  perforpied  your 
duty  during  your  perilous  term  of  service,  ai^d  for 
having  been  connected  with  an  organization  which 
has  with  honor  to  itself  participated  in  the  following 


V 


7> 


■  '  '9 


named    Iwttles :    (See   foregoing  list.)     With  many 
good  wishes  for  your  future, 

I  am  respectfully  yours, 

B.  F.  P.^  TKinGE, 
Col.  Commanding  16th  Mich.  Vol    Inf.' 

Mr.  Wilder  was  married  Jan.  15,  1863,  to  Melinda 
Thompson, of  Lapeer  Co.,  Mich.,  born  April  26,  1845. 
One  child  was  born  of  this  marriage — Don  J.,  March 
31,  1866.  The  mother  died  .April  21,  1866;  and  Mr. 
Wilder  was  again  married  June  18,  1867,  to  Lydia 
K.,  daughter  of  L.  D.  and  Nancy  Marsh,  of  Charlotte, 
Katon  Co.,  Mich.  She  was  born  in  Ouincy,  Branch 
Co.,  Mich.,  May  22,  1849.  Of  this  marriage  two 
children  have  been  born:  Del.  C.,  .\ug.  17,  1870,  and 
l)io  D.,  May  28,  1872. 

Mr.  Wilder  came  to  this  townshii)in  August,  1865, 
and  entered  a  homestead  claim  of  80  acres,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace  and  Road  Commissioner,-  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  of  the  Order  of  Masonry.  He 
was  one  of  12  voters  who  organized  the  township  in 
1  866,  and  his  first  wife's  death  was  the  first  event  of 
that  character  in  Grant.  The  present  Mrs.  Wilder 
tauglit  the  first  school  term  of  13  weeks.  She  re- 
ceived Init  $2.20  cash  for  her  services,  her  patrons 
paying  her  in  such  articles  as  they  possessed.  One 
man  settled  his  proportion  with  ax-helves,  another 
with  part  of  a  harness,  another  sent  his  ox-team  to 
work  on  her  husband's  farm. 

Those  people  were  all  honorable,  and  iiave  made 
their  way  in  the  world,  now  owning  well  improved 
farms.  The  character  of  the  primary  school-ma'am 
of  Grant  may  be  better  understood  from  the  fact  that 
she  walked  twice  to  Big  Rapids  and  back — 15  miles 
— to  hear  political  speeches,  feeling  it  her  duty  to  be 
informed  on  the  popular  issues  of  the  day. 


unson  Lamb,  farmer  on  sec.  5,  .Etna  Tp. 
was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  15, 
1829.     His  parents,   Isaac   and   Emeline 
(Hickok)  Lamb,  were  natives  of  New  York     t^ 
■,!"     and  Vermont  respectively.     He  came  to  Mich- 
igan in    1838,   and  made  his  first  location  at 
Hillsdale,  where  he  was  married  in  1854,  to  Clarissa, 
daughter  of  Thomas   and  Mary   (Millsi)augh)   Jolls, 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


435 


f  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Mrs.  I.anib  was 
born  Aug.  9,  1S40,  in  Hillsdale  Co.,  Midi.,  where 
■;^^  they  continued  to  reside  for  eleven  years.  Mr. 
iLamb  removed  in  1865  to  Lansing,  Ingham  Co., 
Mich.,  and  there  carried  on  farming  16  years.  In 
18S1  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  located  where 
he  now  resides,  in  yEtna  Tp.  Of  five  i  hildrcn  horn 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lamb,  one  is  deceased.  Noble  was 
born  Dec.  29,  1S56,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1S59;  Mary 
K.  was  born  Jan.  3,  1859;  .Mverta  was  born  Dec. 
15,  1 86 1 ;  Thomas  J.  was  born  April  11,  1S6.);  Ihillie 
was  born  Feb.  9,  1866. 


) 


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^^hif^k^ 


eorge   P.    Waring,    resident    on    sec.    1, 
W  liealhuul   Tp.,   a   well-driver  by   calling, 
I'^r         was  born  in  Farminglon,  Ontario  Co.,  Can., 
Sept.  30,   1836.     His  parents,  Nathaniel  and 
Sarah  ((  Hid)  Waring,  were  natives  of  the  same 
|>hue.      Until  the  age  of    25    Mr.    Waring   was 
an  assistant  on  liis   lather's  farm,  an<l   dbtained   his 
education  at  the  academy  at  Maccdon  Center,  Wayne 
Co.,  N.  Y.     He  was  married   Oct.   9,    1S61,  at  tliat 
place,  to  Louise,  daughter  of  Orrin  and  Betsy  (Keed) 
r     La|)hani,  who  was  born  in  Maccdon,  N.  Y.,  Nov.    19, 
1842,  and   educated  at  the  academy   in   her  native 
town.     After  completing  her  education  siie  entered 
upon    the   duties   of   housekeeper   for   her   i)arents, 
whicii  (Hjst  she  filled  until  her  marriage.     Herself  and 
husband  lived  with  her  parents  two  years.      In  the 
spring  of  1865  they  came  to  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich., 
and  locatedon  a  farm  in  the  town.shipof  Texas,  selling 
out  two  years  later  and  taking  jxDSsession  of  75  acres 
in   Oshtemo  Tp.,  in  the  same  count).     In  tlic   fail 
of  I S70  he  went  to  the  city  of  Kalama/oo  .ind   cm- 
barked  in  the  grocery  business.      In  1874  he  went  lo 
riainwell,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  and   commenceil    to 
operate  as  a  well-driver.     In  the  summer  of  1879  he 
locateil  on  80  acres  of  land  in   Wiieatland    Tp  .  and 
has  placed  a  jxirtion  of  it  under  improvement. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waring  have  had  three  children,  born 
1        as  follows:     J.   Allyn,    Feb.    19,    1870;    Minnie    1,., 
'cp     May    26,    1S73;    Marion,  Feb.    19,   1874.      The    last 
y      named  was  killed  by  the  cars  Oct.   5,    1865.     Mr. 
^     Waring  is  a  zealous  Republican  and  is  now  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  .School  Inspector.     Mrs.   Waring  is  a 
member  ol   the  I'lcsbylcrian  Cluiri  I1. 


?^*-^l-3i^S 


ii. 


'^g^    enjaniin    L.    Wolcott,    farmer,    sec.    23, 
'Sj      Milibroiik  Tp'  ^^''>s  born  Dec.  5,   1853,  in 

fvA-^  the  State  of  New  \'ork,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  15.  and  Ruth  (Taylor)  Wolcott  (see 
sketch).  .\l  the  age  of  23  years,  Mr.  \\'olcott 
bought  40  acres  of  timbered  land  whereon  to 
establish  his  home,  and  as  a  starting  ]X)int  to  build 
his  fortunes.  He  now  has  20  acres  cleared  and 
under  gootl  improvements.  He  was  married  in  Mill- 
brook,  Mich.,  14,  1S77,  to  .Mice  M.,  eldest  daughter 
of  Solomon  and  Jane  (Reed)  Evarts.  The  father 
was  a  physician  in  Shiawassee  County,  where  he  died  ; 
the  mother  resides  with  her  children.  Mrs.  Wolcott 
was  liorn  in  N'ernon,  ."shiawassee  Co.,  June  9,  1849, 
where  lie  obtained  a  good  education,  and  for  ten  years 
previous  to  her  marriage  was  a  po|nilar  and  success- 
ful lea<her. 

Mr.  Wolcott  is  a  Republii  an,  and  has  been  the  in- 
cuml)cnl  of  all  the  responsiiile  official  i>ositions  in  the 
tdwnship.  Himself  and  wife  attend  the  Wesleyan 
Melliodist  Cliurcli. 


ohn  Blossom,  farmer,  sec.  24,  ylvtna  Tp., 
•i  was  born  .March  21,  1844,  in  Jenkins  Co.. 
Wis.,  and  is  a  son  of  /enas  and  Mary 
(Hunt)  lilossom.  His  parents  came  to  Mich- 
igan when  he  was  7  years  old,  and  settled,  in 
;\llegaii  Co\inly,  where  lie  lived  until  the  out- 
i)reak  of  the  Rebellion.  He  enlisted  in  the  I'jghth 
Michigan  Cavalry,  his  regiment  being  assigned  to 
the  .\rmy  of  the  t'umberland,  under  Hurnside.  He 
was  with  that  command  until  1863,  when  he  was 
iransferreil  to  that  of  Sherman.  At  Macon,  Ca.,  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  sent  to  the  stockade  prison 
pen  of  Andersonville.  -After  three  and  one-half 
months  incarceration,  a  removal  was  ordered  to 
Cioldsboro,  and  he  made  his  escape  by  jumping  from 
the  train.  He  soon  foimd  a  friendly  negro  who 
secreted  him  in  a  barn  three  weeks.  He  then  fell  in 
with  Sherman's  advanced  guard — 17th  .Army  Corps — 
and  joined  Sherman  at  Milledgeville,  Ca. 

In  the  winter  of  1865  he  came  home  on  a  lurlough, 
and    uliinud    |an.  8,  to  Tennessee.     lie  was  pu>- 


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moted  to  a  Corporal's  rank,  and  honorably  discharged 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  Sept.  28,  1865. 

The  following  paper  is  a  valuable  testimonial  to 
the  bravery  of  character  and  high  esteem  in  which 
Mr.  Blossom  was  held  by  his  superior  officers: 

"  This  witnesseth  that  Corporal  John  Blossom  of 
Co.  F,  Eighth  Mich.  Cav.,  has  no  superior  in  all  that 
is  reijuired  to  make  an  excellent  soldier.  For  the 
cheerfulness  and  alacrity  with  which  he  always  per- 
formed the  duties  assigned  to  him;  for  his  gentle- 
manly conduct,  wliether  on  the  marcli  or  in  the  camp, 
and  for  his  fortitude  and  courage  while  in  the 
enemy's  prison  and  on  the  battle-field,  he  will  be 
highly  esteemed. 

(Signed)         Homer  Manvei., 

Adjt.  Eighth  Mich.  Cav." 
In  January,  1S73,  he  purchased  80  acres  of  bind 
on  which  is  now  his  residence,  60  acres  of  which  are 
improved.  His  farm  buildings  arc  convenient  and 
substantial,  and  he  has  recently  completed  a  good 
residence,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  has  held  several  offices  in  the  ser- 
— r     vice  or  his  township. 

1<^         Mr.  Blossom    was   married  in   1873,  to    Rebecca, 

^     daughter  of  John  and  Martha  (Cuitan)  McCormick. 

^     She  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  Nov.  24,  1840. 

S     The  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blossom  were  born 

)      as    follows:    Edward,  July    17,  1877,  and  I-aura  M., 

March  20,  1880.     The  latter  died  Sept.  14,  1881. 


lexander    Bane,    farmer,  located    on    sec. 

32    of    Deerfield  Tp.,  P.    O.   Morley,  is  a 

son  of  Alexander  and  Susan  (I'.olton)  I'ane. 

His  father  was  born  in   Scotland  in   1816  and 

died  June  24,  1883.     His  mother  is  anativeof 

Lanark    Co.,  Can.,  and  is  still  living  in  the 

place  where  she  was  born. 

Mr.  Bane  was  born  in  Lanark  County,  Jan.  10,  1840. 
He  obtained  his  education  at  the  common  schools 
and  worked  in  a  saw-mill  wlien  in  youth.  At  the 
age  of  18  years  he  engaged  in  luinbering,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1871  came  to  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he 
stayed  three  years  in  the  em|)loy  of  the  C.  R.  &  i. 
Railroad  Company.  (Jn  the  ex])iration  of  his  engage- 
ment he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  bought  40 
acres  of  unimproved  land  <>f  Henry  A.  l-'rench,  where 


I 
4 


he  now  resides.     Twenty   acres  are  now  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Bane  was  married  Dec.  15,  1862,  to  Sarah 
Jane,  second  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Sly)  Ward.  She  was  born  March  17,  1840.  Five 
of  the  nine  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bane  were  born 
as  follows:  Emery  E.,  Feb.  23,  1864;  James,  Sept- 
25,  1 871;  Addie,  June  6,  1874;  Ernest,  Feb.  10' 
1879;  William,  Nov.  iS,  1882.  The  deceased 
were  Winnie  E.,  Ale\ander,.Susanand  an  unnamed  in- 
fant. The  family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Clnircii. 
Mr.  Bane  is  independent  in  political  sentiment  and 
action. 


-^>— ?- 


■"^ll  euben    J.   Weber,   fanner,   sec.   35,  JVXn^ 

'p.,  was  !)orn  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 

85 8.     He  is  a  son  of  John  and  I'hebe 


(Martin)  Weber,  natives  respectively  of  C.er-   ( 1 


\'iJ  many  and  Ireland.  Mr.  Weber  remained  at 
home  under  the  care  of  his  parents  and  at- 
tending school  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Kiddville, 
Midi.,  and  after  a  residence  there  of  a  few  months 
he  went  to  (Irand  Rapids.  Here  he  went  to  school, 
and  was  variously  engaged,  until  the  spring  of  187  i, 
when  he  came  to  .'Etna  Tp.,  and  lias  been  since  oc- 
cupied as  a  farmer.  In  1882  he  purchasetl  40  acres 
of  wild  land,  and  now  has  a  consiilerable  portion 
cleared. 

In  politics  Mr.  Weber  is  a  Repuiilican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  ('hurch,  and  active 
in  furthering  its  interests.  He  is  still  a  young  man, 
zealous  in  what  he  undertakes,  and  executes  intelli- 
gently. He  is  sure  of  future  success  and  a  life  of 
usefulness  in  his  generation. 


mos  R.  Streoter,  junior  memlier  of  the  firm 

^1   of  Slawson   &   Streeter,    proprietors   of  the 

^^"^  stave-mill  in  Mecosta  village,  Morion  Tj). 
was  born  in  Tioga,  I'a.,  July  12,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jesse  and  Lydia  (Reed)  Streeter. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education.  His  father  dying  when  he 
was  about  14  years  old,  himself  and  mother  man- 
aged the  farm  one  year  and  then  sold  out.  In 
March,    1871,    Mr.   Streeter    came  to  Altona,   Me- 


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cost.i  Co.,  and,  with  his  brotlier,  Wm.  W.  Strecter,  as 
a  partner,  he  estalihshed  himself  in  the  hlacksinith 
business.  In  1S76  he  wcnl  to  Rustford  and  engaged 
in  the  same  emiiloyment  singly,  managing  success- 
fully until  August  of  that  year,  when  lie  went  to 
Roland 'I'l).,  Isabella  Co.,  and  there  operated  simi- 
larly one  year.  In  August,  1S79,  lie  came  to  Me- 
costa village  and  opened  a  sliop,  which  he  still 
owns,  together  with  two  lots  on  Main  street,  lie 
bought  So  acres  Ml  the  township  of  Martiny,  and  for 
two  winters  was  engaged  in  cutting  cedar  timber  for 
telegraph  j)oIes  and  fence  jwsts.  Of  the  latter  he  mar- 
keted alx)ut  30,000,  and  of  the  former  several  thou- 
sands ;  he  also  cut  a  considerable  amount  of  pine  logs. 

In  the  spring  of  1883  he  formed  a  business  rela- 
tion with  \V.  A.  Slawson  and  Iniilt  a  stave-mill.  The 
products  include  tub  and  pail  staves,  and  are  ship- 
ped chiefly  to  Granil  Rapids.  Phe  mill  fixtures 
comprise  the  most  modern  machinery,  and  the  ag- 
gregated daily  product  averages  from  15  to  20  cords 
of  staves.  About  20  men  are  employed.  Mr. 
Streeter  owns  his  residence  and  three  lots  on  Main 
street,  and  40  acres  of  land  on  sec.  14,  near  the  mill, 
also  two  village  jots  in  Sujierior  City,  Wis.  Hebe- 
longs  to  the  .A.  O.  U.  \V.,  anil  was  elected  a  menvber 
of  the  Town  t'ouncil  in  the  spring  of  1S.S3.  In 
1S80  he  was  Townsliip  Clerk,  and  in  iSSi  was 
Superintendent  of  Schools. 

Mr.  Streeter  was  married  in  DL-erfieli!  Tp.,  Sc)!!. 
24,  1876,  to  Lillian,  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Kliza 
Chipman,  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.  Tiiey  have 
one  son.  Royal,  born  in  Rustford,  May  30,  187S. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Streeter  died  at  Jamestown, 
N.  v.,  Dec.  26,  1877. 


f  onathan  Milner  came    to   Big    Rapids    in 

''Ie>?^|j-    1870,  and  formed  an  association  with  Col. 

,,  ,     ^  J.   O.  Hudnutt  and    H.   M.  Hanks  in  the 

Is    F.ilcon  Planing  Mill.     Four  years  later  he  sold 

^F    his  interest  to  his  partners,  and  devoted  his  at- 

I      tention  exclusively  to  an  apiary  which  he  had 

gradually    been     establishing    near    his     resilience. 

The  seasons  jjroving  favorable,  his  careful  anil  skilled 

management  brought  its  reward,  and  his  apiary  soon 

numbered  400  colonies  ofbees,  which  he  continued  to 

manage,  with  satisfactory   success,  until    1X79.       In 


June  of  that  year  he  purchased  the  site  of  the  build- 
ing where  he  has  since  carried  on  his  transactions, 
and  proceeded  to  erect  a  suitable  structure  for  the 
consummation  of  his  plans.  The  mill  is  ci)mi)ara- 
tively  new,  is  50  .\  130  feet  in  size,  and  is  fitted  with 
the  best  modernized  machinery  for  turning  out  first- 
class  products  in  its  line.  Mr.  Milner  is  skilled  in 
his  business,  and  carries  on  transactions  amounting 
annually  to  about  $8,000.  He  employs  a  number  of 
hands,  and  does  ]ilaning,  matching,  re-sawing,  mold- 
ing, etc.  The  peculiar  situation  of  the  Eagle  Planing 
Mill  is  eminently  advantageous  to  managing  its  ship- 
ments, having  a  side  track  of  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  rail- 
road on  its  west  side,  and  a  branch  of  the  G.  R.  &  I. 
road  on  the  east  side  of  the  building. 

Mr.  Milner  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng.,  Oct.  28, 
1S17.  His  ])arents,  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Long- 
horn)  Milner,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
August,  181S,  and  purchased  a  farm  near  New 
Castle,  Del.  The  son  was  a  student  at  school  and 
his  father's  farm  assistant  until  he  was  16  years  old, 
when  he  went  to  Wilmington  and  learned  the  car- 
lienter's  trade.  He  was  married  in  that  city,  June 
10,  1843,  to  Minerva  Daidy.  They  had  one  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  Wil- 
minglon,  .\piil  6,  1846. 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  Mr.  Milner  came  west  to 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  was  engaged  by  John  Lajioint 
as  manager  of  a  sasli  and  door  factory,  and  later  with 
Smith  McVicker.  Two  years  afterward  he  removed 
to  .Mlegan  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  was  interested  in 
luiiil)ering  until  1854.  In  that  year  he  entered  the 
sash  and  iloor  fa<  lory  of  Messrs.  Krouse  iV  Kellogg 
at  Kalamazoo,  as  manager,  where  he  continued  until 
lie  (  anie  to  liig  l\:i|iids. 

Mr.  .Milner  formed  a  second  matrimonial  relation 
in  .Mlegan  County,  Nov.  5,  1854,  with  Loretta  M., 
daughter  of  Julin  and  Melissa  Barnes.  She  was  born 
in  Odeaiis  Co.,  N.  Y..  March  9,  1S31.  They  have 
four  children:  Charles  H.,  eldest  sou,  is  a  druggist  at 
Big  Rapids;  Ceorge  W'., second  son, is  in  his  employ 
as  clerk;  'I'homas  J.  and  Mary  E.  are  the  younger 
chikiren. 

Mr.  Milner  is  deeply  interested  in  the  educational 
affairs  of  Big  Rapids,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  jxartrait  of  Mr. 
M  ihuT  in  this  wmk 


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ilson  E.  Darrah,  is  junidr  meinlicr  of  tlic 
^^Mli?  liini  of  Darrah  Bros.  iV  Co.,  proiirietors  of 
'^IS^'^  the  Big  Rapids  City  Mills,  and  wholesale 
M^}  and  retail  dealers  in  flour,  feed  and  grain, 
is  a  son  of  Charles  M.  and  Sarah  E.  (Hall) 
Darrah,  and  was  horn  April  [5,  1856,  at 
Hrookville,  Jefferson  Co.,  i'eim.  I  lis  parents  re- 
moved to  this  county  in  i''^57,  hetore  it  was  or- 
ganized. His  father  bought  40  acres  of  timber 
land  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Mecosta. 
In  1S67,  having  cleared  and  almost  wholly  improved 
his  tract  of  land,  his  father  sold  and  bought  240 
acres  of  land  on  sec.  6,  with  about  1 00  acres  cleared 
and  under  tillage.  In  1872,  Mr.  D.  left  home,  and  for 
some  years  was  occupied  in  locating  timber  land.  In 
1882  Charles  M.  and  James  M.  Darrah,  brothers, 
associated  with  Mr.  Darrah  of  this  sketch,  ])urchased 
the  Flouring  Mills  of  Big  Rapids,  situated  on  Osce- 
ola avenue  antl  at  the  foot  of  Waterloo  street. 
Their  business  reaches  an  average  of  $75,000 
annually,  and  is  rapidly  increasing.  They  oper- 
ate four  run  of  stones  and  employ  four  hands;  arc 
manufacturing  about  half  the  amount  ot  prod\icts 
for  which  they  have  capacity.  They  are  now  en- 
gaged in  the  erection  of  a  fine  new  building  near 
the  old  one  for  milling  purjioses,  37  .\  50  feet,  with 
four  stories  and  basement.  It  will  be  the  most  ex- 
tensive milling  establishment  in  the  county  and  pos- 
sesses a  capacity  of  150  barrels  a  day.  It  will  be 
fitted  with  all  the  latest  improvements,  and  be  form- 
ally styled  the  Big  Rai)itls  C"ity  Mills.  The  present 
works  of  the  Messrs.  Darrah  arc  the  only  flouring 
mills  in  this  city. 


I 


t  acob   Parrott,    farmer,  sec.    12,    Millbrook 

fe.  Tp.,  is  a  native  of  1'' ranee.     He  was  born 

W^  Aug.  6,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 

Elizabeth  I'arroti,  alsf)  natives  of  France.     He 

came  to  the    United    Slates  in    the    spring   of 

^       1845  and  settleil  at  Detroit,  coming  five  years 

later  to   Kent  ("ounty.     He  was  a  farmer  there  20 

years,  and  in  the  summer  of   1S71    came  to  Mecosta 

County  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  the  townshiji 


of  Millbrook.  He  now  owns  40  acres  of  his  original 
purchase,  25  of  which  is  in  tillage.  He  was  married 
in  Kent  County,  Ajnil  9,  1859,  to  Sarah  A.,  eldest 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Louisa  (Ford)  Aldrich,  natives 
respectively  of  Canaila  and  New  York.  She  was 
born  in  Grattan,  Kent  Co.,  Mich,  Sept.  19,  1844. 
Of  their  seven  children,  six  survive,  viz  :  Emma  E., 
Charlie  E.,  Lewis  ?>.,  Lida  A.,  Vernon  L.  and  Myrtle 
M.  Julius  (lied  when  two  years  old.  I'olilically 
Mr.  1'arrotl  is  a  Kepublican. 


■t^' 


oseph  Smith,  farmer,  sec.  4,  Chippewa  Tp. 
"^^  was  born  Jan.  14,  1844,  in  Norway,  a  son. 
of  Ole  and  Ine  Smith.  He  came  to  America 
in  1861,  and  during  the  ne.xt  two  years  was  a 
sailor  on  thelakes,  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago.  His 
ne.xt  employment  was  at  (irand  Haven,  where 
he  worked  in  the  hmiber  woods  one  winter,  coming 
thence  to  liig  Rapids  and  engaging  in  the  lumber 
camjis.  In  the  fall  of  1867  he  homesteaded  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides,  containing  80  acres,  35  of 
which  he  has  placed  under  fair  cultivation. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  1870  to  Lucy,  daughter 
of  Hibbard  and  Lucy  (Lease)  Preslon.  She  was 
born  Nov.  27,  1852,  in  Tioga  Co.,  N.  \ .  Of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  five  arc  living : 
Lucy  A.,  Minnie  I.,  Jennie  M.,  Olson  K.  .ind  Wil- 
liam  G.  One  daughter,  Ella  J.,  is  deceased.  In 
]iolitics  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Kepublican. 


( 'hippew  a  'I'l)., 


y!Sg^|lf  ohn  White,  farmer,  sec.   5 


l^p||-  was  born  Oct.  31,  1838,  in  Argyleshire, 
?w'''^  Scotland,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
4g  (McLaughlin)  While.  'I'lie  jiarents  came  with 
their  family  to  Canada  in  1843,  and  located  in 
in  Williams  Tp-,  Middlesex  Co.,  where  they 
lived  on  a  farm.  The  father  died  .'Vug.  24,  1863; 
the  mother  resides  with  lur  son  in  Chiiipewa  Tp., 
aged  70  years. 

Mr.  White  was  married  in  1862  to  l.ydia  .Ann, 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Ann  (Spanswick)  Tol- 
man.  Her  father  was  born  Oct.  22,  1821.  in  Phila- 
delphia; heruH)therin  1S26,  in  \'orkshire,  l'',ng.,  and 
died  in  1859.     Mr.  Tolman  resides   in   Saginaw  Co. > 


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Mich.  Mrs.  While  was  born  in  the  village  of  Pres- 
ton, WalcrliK)  Co.,  Can.,  Sept.  19,  1S42.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  White  was  a  fanner  in  Williams  Tp.  u|)- 
wards  of  si.\  years,  when  he  became  a  resident  of 
Warwick  Tp.,  Lamhlon  Co.,  Can.  Between  tliree 
and  four  years  later  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Me- 
costa Co.,  Mich.  He  reached  Chippewa  Tp.  May 
9,  1 87  2.  and  bought  160  acres  of  land.  Willi  the 
energy  atid  perseverance  characteristic  of  the  nation- 
ality to  which  he  lielongs,  he  has  prosecuted  iiis 
lal)ors  until  one-half  of  his  acreage  is  in  a  finely  cul- 
tivated condition. 

Following  is  the  record  of  the  nine  children  of 
which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  l)een  the  parents: 
John  M.  was  born  July  17,  1S63;  Peter,  Feb.  6, 
1.865;  Lydia  Ann,  Dec.  13,  1866;  Alexander,  ( )ct. 
16,  1870;  Mary  K.,  Jan.  23,  1876;  Hugh,  born  July 
22,  1877,  died  Sept.  S,  1877;  Catherine  M.,  born 
Aug.  20,  1879,  died  Feb.  5,  1881;  .Vn  liibald.  born 
Aug.  18,  1 880,  died  Sept.  21,  1880;  William  C.eorge, 
born  June  21,  iSS2,died  July  7,  18S2. 


:<§ 


^<g§.^»- 


„rnold   Ely,   farmer,   sec.  1 8,  Colfax   Tp.,  a 
a  prominent  1  iti/.enof  Mecosta  County,  whose 
-■jt'S  portrait  appears  on  another   page   of  this   vol- 
^\xr    ume,  was  born  F"eb.  20,  1845,  in  .\lbion,  Cal- 
houn ("o.,   Mich.,   and   is  a  son  of  Wells    and 
Maria  .\.  l-'.ly.      ISoth  parents  are  natives  of  the 
State  of  New    V'ork   and    belong   to  the   agricultural 
community   o(  Hranch  Co.,   Mich.,   where   they   are 
now  resident. 

When  Mr.  Ely  attained  iiis  majority  he  commence<i 
farming  in  I,it(  hiield,  Hillsdale  Co.,  where  he  worked 
a  farm  on  shares.  In  1869  he  prospected  through 
.Mecosta  County,  and  finally  purchased  a  farm  of  176 
acres  in  Colfax  Tp.,  lying  two  miles  from  the  ( itv  of 
Big  Rapids  and  in  full  view  of  it.  He  <  losed  nego- 
'^  tiations  for  the  land  in  September  of  the  year  named 
I  and,  Dec.  24,  made  a  permanent  location  with  his 
.,t,  family.  M  the  time  of  purchase  the  land  was  all 
"j5  dense  forest,  15  acres  being  pine  timber  and  the  re- 
Jg  mainder  of  the  tract,  lying  in  a  hardwood  belt. 
S)  Mr.  Ely  has  90  a<res  in  a  high  order  of  culliva- 
'^    tion,  with  a  comfortable  frame  house,  good  farm  fix- 

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tures  and  one  of  the  best  and  handsomest  barns  in 
the  township,  built  in  i88o.  The  proprietor,  having 
placed  his  farm  in  a  prosperous  condition,  is  begin- 
ning to  give  his  attention  to  im()roving  his  stock. 

Mr.  l'"ly  was  married  Sept.  i,  1867,  to  l.ucinda, 
iLiughter  of  I'liilip  and  Diana  llaight,  of  Butler, 
ilranch  Co.  Her  mother  died  Aug  20,  1S81.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  F'.ly  have  seven  children,  Minnie,  Maria, 
Diana,  Certrude,  Myrtie,  Philip  and  Frank. 

Since  becoming  a  citizen  of  Mecosta  Co.,  Mr.  Kly 
has  e.xerted  every  infiuence  to  promote  its  settlement 
and  induce  people  in  search  of  homes  to  make  Col- 
fax Tp-  f'leir  objective  ]K)int.  He  is,  and  has  been, 
operating  ipiile  extensively  in  real  estate,  l)U)ing  and 
selling  timber  lands. 

Mr.  l"/ly  is  a  Rei)ublican  of  the  most  radical  type. 
He  has  been  Supervisor  of  Colfax  three  years,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  six  years  and  Township  Treasurer 
a  like  period;  is  a  member  of  the  Township  Com- 
mittee to  build  a  new  town  hall  on  sec.  21  of  the 
township.  In  18S2  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Re- 
publican parly  for  Sheriff  of  Mecosta  County,  but  lost 
the  election  through  the  coalition  of  the  Democrats 
and  Nationals.     P.  O.,  Big  Rapids. 


=£*- 


SJ  ilCl  ■■  °^^  ^    Armstrong,   farmer,  sec.  6,  Chip- 

{l^^L    ])ewa  Tp.,  was  born  in   Seneca  Co.,  N.  V., 

vSn5  '    ^    Oct.  6,  t82^,  and  is  a   son  of  Thomas  and 

i^    Fjunice  (Disbrow)  Armstrong.     His  father  was 

jf     a  native  of  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  mother 

I       was  born  in  Fairfield   Co.,  Conn.     Their  early 

married  life  they   passed  on   a  farm   in  the   Empire 

Stale,  and  in    1833   located   in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich., 

where  the  father  died  in  1853.     The  mother  died  in 

.874. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  about  10  years  of  age  when 
he  was  brought  to  Oakland  County  by  his  parents, 
and  there  he  was  educated  and  bred  to  agricultural 
jjursuits  until  the  age  of  20  years,  when  he  set  out 
in  life  on  his  own  res|X)nsibiIity.  He  was  married 
in  December,  1851,10  .Susan  .\.,  daughter  of  Evert 
and  Lucy  (Newton)  Hawley.  Her  fither  was  l)orn 
in  ( )ntario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her  mother  was  a 
of    Massachusetts.     They    located    in     Wayne 


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>^  Mich.,  in  1835,  and  some  years  after,  the  father  went 

'x-'i  to  California,  returninj;  after  six   years  as  far  as  Fay- 

,%,  ettc  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  died   in  1867.     The  mother 

I    died  in   April,    18S1.     Mrs.    Armstrong   was  born  in 

,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28,  1830. 

In  i860  Mr.  Armstrong  went  to  Fayette  Co.,  Iowa, 
and  there  followed  farming  for  seven  years.     In  the 
fall  of  1867,  he  came  to   Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
took  a  farm  of  80  acres  under  the  regulations  of  the 
homestead  act.     He  and  his  son  own  250  acres   of 
/  land  in  Mecosta  County,  lying  contiguous.     In    1S69 
%  Mr.  Armstrong  was  elected   Supervisor  of  Chippewa 
C  and    served   nine   successive   years.     He   has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace   12  years,   and  is  one  of   the 
jjresent  incumbents  of  that  office   in  the  township. 
He  belongs  to  the   National   party,  and  was  nomin- 
ated in    1880  as  candidate  for  Representative  on  the 
Greenback  ticket,  and  made  a  good  run. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  have  had  three  children, 
one  of  whom,  Ellen,  is  deceased.     Those  living  are 
^  Thomas  H.  and  Estella  M. 


^H 


illiam   Broomfield,   farmer    and    lumber- 
man,   sec.    31,    Hloomfield   Tp.,    Isabella 
Co.,   was   born   in    Ontario,  Canada,  Oct. 
JP  2,    1832.      His  parents,  Neil   and  Catherine 
l^-^s      (McLerin)  Broomfield,  were  natives  of  Ar- 
gyleshire,   Scotland.      They  came    to  America 
and  settled  in  Canada,  in  1831. 
Mr.  Broomfield  acipiired   the  elements  of  a  good 
education  at  the  schools  of  the  place   where  he  was 
born,  which  he  attended  until   he  was    17  years  old  ; 
by  his  experience  and  observation,  he  has  improved 
his  early  acquirements  to  an  unusually  practical  de- 
gree.    In  1849  he  went  to  Lockport,  Niagara  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  there  employed  some  lime  in   a  siiingle 
factory.      He  went  thence  to  Hamilton,   Canada,  and 
engaged  extensively  in  the  shingle  trade.     .After  some 
months,  he  made  a  prospecting  trip  through  Western 
Canada,  and  in  the  sjjring  of    1853  came  to  Sanilac 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  engaged  in  shingle  manufacture.   He 
remained  there  two  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1855 
.,j    journeyed  through  the  Western  country,  visiting  his 
^    home   in  Ontario  in    1856.     He   extended  his  stay 
•      there  tnilil  1861,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  came  to 
^    (now)  Bloomfield  and  sijuattcd  on  the  place  where  he 


^ 

^ 


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now  lives.  He  could  only  hold  his  land  by  the  right 
of  possession,  as  the  homestead  act  was  not  yet  pass- 
ed. He  kept  himself  informed  as  to  the  particulars 
affecting  the  interests  of  such  land-holders  as  him- 
self, and  immediately  upon  the  passage  of  the  home- 
stead act  by  Congress  he  entered  the  first  claim 
under  its  provisions  in  Isabella  County.  The  record 
was  effected  in  May,  1864.  His  landed  estate  now 
includes  360  acres  of  land,  of  which  he  has 
placed  260  acres  under  the  best  improvements.  .Ml 
the  buildings  thereon  are  of  the  first  order,  and  his 
beautiful  residence  cost  $3,000.  In  politics  Mr. 
Broomfield  is  a  Republican  ;  has  held  the  position  of 
Supervisor  in  his  township  for  ten  years,  and  has 
been  State  Road  Commissioner  by  appointment.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  ancient  Order  of  Masonry. 

Mr.  Broomfield  was  married  at  Ontario,  in  April, 
1859,  to  Ellen  J.,  daughter  of  Marshall  and  iSIary 
(Jackson)  McLerin, who  dietl  Oct.  31,  186S,  of  tyjjhoid 
fever,  leaving  three  children:  Ida,  born  March  i, 
i860;  Marshall,  June  17,  1863,  and  Nellie,  March  15, 
1 86 1.  Mr.  Broomfield  contracted  a  second  marriage 
in  Ontario,  Can.,  March  17,  1870,  with  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Malcom  and  .\gnes  (Cameron)  Malhiy, 
natives  respectively  of  .Scotland  and  Canada.  She 
was  born  April  11,  1840.  Three  of  six  children 
born  of  this  union  are  living;  Catherine, born  April  1, 
1871;  Neil,   Jan.  14,    1873,  and    .Archibald,   July,  3, 


■(^Si  '  ^'^^  Pearson,  farmer,  sec.  5,  l!ig  Rapids  Tp., 
^^P  was  born  Feb.  2,  1831,  in  Smith  Tp., 
>^*  Peterborougii  Co.,  Ont.,'Can.,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Mary  Pearson.  The  father  of 
William  Pearson  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, an  American  soldier  (if  the  Revolution, 
and  removed  to  ("anada.  ( )n  the  advent  ol 
the  second  war  with  (Jreai  Briiain,  his  son  Wil- 
liam went  to  the  Bay  State  and  enlisted  in  the 
American  service,  fought  at  Plattsburg  and  returned 
to  the  Dominion  after  the  war  was  ended.  He  is 
still  living  there  and  receives  a  pension  from  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Pearson  became  a  citizen  of  Michigan  in 
1870,  when  he  caiue  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought 
68  acres  of  land,  where  he   now   resides.     He   has 


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placed  50  acres  of  his  farm  in  a  creditable  state  of 
cultivation,  and  has  erected  tliereon  a  t;o()d  frame 
liouse.  Ill-  was  married  in  October,  1S54,  in 
Kli/.a  Jane  Diiard,  of  Canada,  where  she  was  l)orn 
June  25,  1S36.  Children:  William  1).,  Jane,  Mary, 
Kliza  A.,  John  E.,  Richard  /.,  Harriet  A.,  Joseph 
A.,  Nellie  and  Minnie  E. 

Mr.  Pearson  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  I'aUons 
of  Husbandry. 


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r.  Jerome  F.  Pease,  dnii;i;ist  and  dealer  in 
^  real  estate,  resident  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born 


in  Otisco,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  28,   1848. 

His  father,  Jerome   Pease,  was  born   Feb.    22, 

8 15,  in   Knfiekl,   Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  and  be- 

K       *    came  a  citizen  of  the  Peninsular  .State  m   1839. 

\      He  was  married  Jan.  29,    1843,  to    Deiiorah    Ann, 

-  daughter  of  Samuel  and  .\nna  Dcmorest,  of  Otisco. 
He  was  a  man  of  peculiar  temperament,  developed 
under  the  circumstances  in  which  he  was  reared  anil 
fostered.  He  was  by  nature  ambitious  and  energetic, 
and  his  pioneer  labors  in  Ionia  County,  witli  the  per- 
plexities under  which  he  strove  to  accouiplisli  his 
life's  purixjses,  culminated  in  rendering  him  a  husband 
and  father  of  uncompromising  principle.  The  mother 
was  born  July  6,  182  1,  in  Prattsburg,  Steuben  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  of  a  family  of  stainless  repute  and  record.  She 
is  one  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  and 
who  are  wearing  worthily  the  descending  laurels  of 
their  ancestral  virtues.  They  are,  Clark  L.  Demorest, 
Mrs.  D.  A.  Pease,  Samuel  L.  Demorest,  Lyman  Dem- 
orest, Mrs.  Ezra  Satterlee,  Mrs.  Henry  Green,  Valen- 
tine Demorest  and  Mrs.  Abram  Satterlee. 

The  second  son,  .Samuel  I,.,  reached  distinction  in 
the  service  of  his  country  during  the  Rebellion.  He 
went  to  the  front  us  a  Captain  in  the  25th  Mich.  Vol. 
Inf,  performed  valiant  duty  in  action,  passed  through 
the  various  degrees  of  promotion  and,  before  reach- 

'~^  ing  the  termination  of  his  meritorious  career,  dis- 
played the  stars  of  a  Major-General. 

Mrs.  Pease  was  a  thrifty  and  affectionate  wife  and 
a  judicious,  conscieniious  mother.  Three  of  five 
children  live  to  hoilor  and  adorn  her  record  as  a 
woman  and  a  Chris^an.     Her  son.  Dr.  Pease  of  this 

V     sketch,  places  \\\tvh  permanent  record   his  sense  of 


r.-) 


the  beauty  of  her  character  and  unselfish  devotion 
to  the  best  interests  of  her  family.  Her  (  hildren  are 
.S)piironia  Ann,  Charlotte,  Jerome  K.,  Sophronia  Adele 
and  Deborah.  The  first  named  daughter  died  when 
a  year  old;  her  namesake,  third  child,  dieil  at  19,  at 
the  dawn  of  a  [iromising  womanhood,  leaving  a  most 
precious  and  beautiful  memory.  She  learned  the 
Christian's  hope  early  in  her  life,  and  in  her  prema- 
ture death  she  verifieil  the  truth  in  the  words,  "Those 
lives  are  long  that  answer  life's  great  ends."  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Dr.  Pease  comes  of  a  long  ancestral  line  of  de- 
scent in  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  lineage, 
strongly  characterized  by  almost  unparalleled  tenac- 
ity of  life.  Four  j)rogenitors  within  his  own  jiersonal 
knowledge  became  centenarians,  or  approximately  so, 
and  a  great-great-aunt — Peggy  Demorest  (Mrs.  Van- 
\'ranken)— is  living  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  aged 
io_5  years.  The  maternal  grandmother  died  of  an 
acute  bilious  attack  when  she  was  aged  84  years. 
She  was  recovering  her  sight  and  licr  gray  hair  was 
being  rapidly  replaced  by  a  new  growth,  with  its  pri- 
mal dark  color. 

Dr.  Pease  was  a  boy  of  ardent,  sanguine  tempera- 
ment, entering  early  into  an  understanding  of  his  re- 
lations to  life  and  the  world  at  large.  His  labors  as 
the  son  of  a  pioneer  and  the  circumstances  which 
surrounded  him,  brought  upon  him  the  sobriety  and 
apparent  maturity  of  advanced  years.  At  15,  Dr. 
Pease  foimd  himself  destitute  in  a  new  world,  one 
that  demanded  of  him  the  best  application  of  all  he 
believed  himself  to  be  lioth  in  ])iirpose  and  capacity. 
His  early  life  had  tleveloped  in  him  a  determina- 
tion and  |X)wer  of  will  that  acknowledged  no  ruling 
element  in  events,  and  his  ac'ive,  energetic,  ho[ieful 
temperament  stood  him  in  good  stead  when  occasion 
demanded  their  co-operation.  He  has  naturally  all 
the  traits  of  a  successful  business  man,  and  has  met 
with  a  |>rosperity  which  refiects  a  large  degree  of 
(  rcdit  upon  his  abilities.  His  already  generous  for- 
tune is  the  second  he  has  accumulated  within  20 
years.  He  possesses  to  an  unusual  degree  the  traits 
of  promptness,  shrewdness  and  perception,  is  honest 
and  upright  in  his  dealings,  and  understands  with 
clearness  the  re<|uisite  ipialifications  of  a  financier. 
His  moral  character  is  unimpeachable,  his  habits 
those  of  a  self-respecting,  Christian  man.  He  con- 
siders the  means  he  [assesses  as  a  trust  to  secure  to 
those  in  whom  he  is  interested  the  comforts  and  priv- 


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ileges  their  merits  demand.  His  character  is  dem- 
onstrated by  the  record  of  his  care  of  and  kindness 
to  the  afflicted  family  of  his  wife.  He  has  alleviated 
by  every  means  in  his  power  the  burden  resting  upon 

'§■  them  through  the  disability  of  the  husband  and 
father,  and  is  giving  the  advantages  of  education  to 
the  two  young  brothers  of  Mrs.  Pease  and  guarding 
the  personal  interests  of  all  with  the  same  vigilance 
he  bestows  uixm  his  individual  affairs.  In  political 
adherence  and  action  he  is  a  staunch  Republican. 
He  possesses  a  fine  sense  of  the  value  of  mental 
culture,    and    acknowledges    the  supremacy  of   the 

%  world  of  intellect.  He  has  a  keen  discrimination  in 
books  and  finds  a  high  enjoyment  in  terse  poetry. 
The  following  is  one  of  his  favorite  quotations  : 

""Tis  toil  tliiit  over  nature 

Gives  mini  his  ])r<)iul  euiitrol. 
And  i)uritics  mid  lialliiws 

Tlic  t('nii)lc  of  liis  soul : 
It  scatters  I'oiil  diseases 

With  :ill  tlicir  j;li:istly  tniiii, 
I'lUs  iidii  ill  the  iiiiisclc. 

And  ciystiil  ill  tlic  liraiii. 

TIk' giMiid  Ahniiility  liiiildcr. 

Wild  liisliidiii'd  (lilt  tlic  c:irl  li. 
li:itli  s|:iiii|icil  Ids  sc:il  id'  Ikhkh- 

<  >M  l,:iliiir  IVdiii  licr  liiitli. 
Ill  every  :iiig'el  lliiw  er 

'I'lial  lilusMiiiis  tVniii  tlie  sod, 
Bellidd  llle  lll;Hlel'  tiillelles — 

'I'lie  ll:nidi\\dll<  nf  (idd!" 

When  Dr.  I'ease  found  himself  at  liberty  to  enter 
uix)n  a  career  in  his  own  behalf,  with  wise  judgment 
he  availed  himself  of  the  first  opportunity  that  jire- 
sented,  and  engaged  with  Frank  Belding,  a  neighbor- 
ing farmer,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  a  year. 
His  next  service  was  with  the  Hon.  John  Avery, 
M.  D.,  of  Greenville,  where  he  won  the  esteem  of 
all  by  his  energy  and  probity.  In  1867  lie  entered  the 
employ  of  J.  M.  Fuller,  druggist,  now  County  Clerk. 
In  187 1  he  "came  to*  Big  Rai)i(is,  where  he  engag- 
ed in  the  drug  trade  and  practice  of  medicine, 
for  which  he  h;ui  prepared  at  intervals  during  his 
other  engagements.  His  business  was  prosperous, 
and  in  1874  he  built  a  store  and  dwelling-house. 
In  1876  he  relin(iuished  his  medical  practice  on  ac- 
count of  impaired  health,  and  spent  about  two  years 
in  travel  in  the  Eastern  and  Southern  States.  In 
1878  he  began  to  operate  in  real  estate,  to  which 
branch  of  business  he  has  since  devoted  a  portion  of 
his  time  and  attention.  In  1S79  Dr.  Pease  estab- 
lished a  drug  business   at   Gowen,    Montcalm  Co., 


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which  he  is  still  managing.  In  1S83  he  purchased 
a  stock  of  drugs,  located  at  the  corner  of  Scotten 
and  Michigan  avenues,  Detroit,  where  he  is  doing  a 
jirosperous  and  increasing  business. 

Dr.  Pease  was  married  July  29,  1878,  to  Anna, 
daughter  of  M.  F.  and  Caroline  (Hill)  Gerls,  born  in 
Texas,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio,  July  26,  1854.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  man 
of  shrewdness  and  capacity,  possessed  of  natuial 
characteristics  such  as  would  tend  to  secure  a  large 
degree  of  puijlic  influence;  but  in  1S72,  while  yet  in 
manhood's  prime,  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and 
has  since  been  a  sufferer  from  its  irremediable  effects. 
He  was  ever  keenly  alive  to,  and  solicitous  for, 
the  best  advantages  for  his  children,  and  made 
many  [lersonal  sacrifices  to  secure  for  them  what  he 
considered  substantial  benefits.  Mrs.  Caroline  Gerls 
was  born  in  .Sterling,  Windham  Co.,  Ct.  She  pos- 
sesses the  traits  of  character  which  in  early  times 
made  the  women  of  New  England  historical.  Her 
patience,  perseverance  and  hopefulness  are  remark- 
able, and,  combined  with  uncommon  mildness  and 
amiability  of  temper,  serve  to  render  her  a  type  of 
woman  worthy  of  emulation.  She  has  devoted  her- 
self with  untiring  assiduity  to  the  care  of  her  hus- 
band and  father  for  the  past  twelve  years,  and 
yielded  most  unselfishly  to  tlie  e.xtraordinary  de- 
mands incumbent  upon  her.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerls 
have  been  the  parents  ol  ^\\c  cliiidren  :  Mrs.  Eli/a 
^\'est,  deceased;  Mrs.  Ellen  Henry,  of  Sherwood, 
Mich.;  Mrs.  Pease;  'I'homas  W.  and  J.  Henry 
Gerls.  The  two  last  nametl  are  young  men  of  pure 
lives,  correct  habits  and  unusual  piomise.  The  elder 
is  in  charge  of  the  business  of  Dr.  Pease  at  Detroit, 
the  second  is  occupying  the  same  position  at  (lowen. 
Thomas.  F.  Gerls,  paternal  uncle  of  Mrs.  Pease,  is 
Postmaster  at  Pontiac,  Mich.,  and  is  generally  esteem- 
ed fi)r  his  sterling  traits  of  character.  Henry  Hill, 
brother  of  Mrs.  Gerls,  was  a  soldier  in  the  25th 
Mich.  Inf.,  rose  by  merit  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  and 
is  now  cashier  of  the  l'"irsl  National  Bank  of  Green- 
ville. 

The  earliest  ambition  of  Mrs.  Pease  was  to  enter 
the  ranks  of  jiublic  educators,  and  she  bent  every 
energy  to  the  achievement  of  her  purpose.  She  be- 
gan her  career  as  a  teacher  in  Mecosta  County  when 
14  years  of  age,  and  alternated  as  a  student  at  school 
and  a  teacher  until  she  was  19  years  old,  when  she 
was    graduated    at    the    high    school    at  Greenville. 


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449 


She  passed  eminently  creilitable  examinations  and 
ranked  as  a  superior  scholar.  Since  she  left  school 
she  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  tlie  pursuit  of 
her  chosen  vocation,  and  has  made  rapid  [)roL;ress  in 
the  grade  of  lier  position.  In  1874  she  was  Trecei)- 
tress  of  a  school  at  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co.,  and  in 
1S76  was  Sui)erinteiident  of  a  school  at  Howard  City. 
Tlie  suhsemient  four  years  she  taught  at  (Ircen- 
ville,  and  in  1881  received  her  appointment  as  I're- 
ceptress  at  Big  Rapids,  where  she  is  doing  a  work  tliat 
will  result  permanently  to  the  advantage  of  educa- 
tional interests  at  that  i)lace.  Too  much  cannot  he 
said  of  her  as  a  disciplinarian.  Her  silent  control  of 
her  pupils  is  a  marvel  to  witness,  and  is  accomplished 
l>y  an  innate  skill  that  cannot  he  described  :  it  is  a 
natural  gift  jxassessed  by  few. 

Of  her  work  at  Greenville,  Iv  P.  Cliurcli,  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  says  :  "  She  is  most  excellent 
help.  She  jwssesses  skill  to  impart  instruction,  is  a 
good  disciplinarian,  manages  pupils  easily,  is  a  will- 
ing and  faithful  worker  and  presents  to  her  pupils 
the  example  of  a  blameless  Christian  lady  in  her 
every-day  life.  We  should  be  happy  to  secure  her 
services  again  in  our  corps  of  teachers.  "  This  ex- 
pression is  fully  corroborated  by  testimonials  from 
R.  F.  Grabill,  editor  of  the  Greenville  Irulcpciulint, 
Rev.  J.  I-.  Patton,  Dr.  ('has.  Martin  and  Hon.  James 
W.  Helknai),  all  of  Greenville.  I'rof.  J.  S.  Crombie, 
.Superintendent  of  Schools  at  I'.ig  Rapids,  says : 
"  Her  management  of  the  school,  an<l  the  results  ob- 
tained from  the  work  done  by  her,  have  been  exceed- 
ingly gratifying.  Personally,  I  would  say  that  I  re- 
gard Mrs.  Pease  as  a  very  superior  teacher,  and  one 
who  can  guide  and  control  a  room  in  a  manner  sel- 
dom witnessed.  At  the  same  time  her  work  is 
thorough  and  she  succeeds  in  winning  the  res|)ect 
and  g(jod-will  of  her  pui>ils.  "  A  partial  iViend  says 
of  her:  "It  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  long  career  of 
usefulnesss  lies  before  Mrs.  Pease.  .She  is  a  wonian 
of  uncommon  character  and  asiii rations,  which  should 
place  her  in  a  fitting  si)here  to  do  entire  justice  to 
herself  and  benefit  the  generation  to  which  she  be- 
longs, and  in  whose  interests  it  is  her  highest 
ambition  to  labor.  Her  temperament  is  as  ecpiably  ad- 
justed as  is  |)ossible,  and  her  subservience  to  con- 
science and  religion  guides  her  life  in  unswerving 
right.  She  sways  her  friends  by  her  firmness,  her 
candor,  her  loler.ilion    and  her  hopcf.ilne^s,  and    lu-r 


possible  iiilluencc  on    the   lives  of  others   is   always 
with  her  a  matter  of  constant  solicitude.  " 

In  their  relations  to  Christianity  both  heiself  and 
husband  afford  worthy  examples.  They  both  be- 
canie  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  early  in  life 
and  devote  unlimited  time  and  me  ms  to  furthering 
the  interests  of  the  Church  and  Sunday-school. 

A  permanent  reprint  of  the  features  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pease  may  be  found  on  page  446,  in  connection 
with  this  sketch. 


k^satf    s.  Baker,  Cashier  of  the  Northern  National 


bank  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  near  Bridge- 

'.ViFT    water,  C!onn.,  Sept.  21,   1853.     His  parents 

w 


removed  to  Chicago  in  1864,  where  his  father 
>p  operated  as  a  capitalist,  and  was  a  member  of 
v  the  Board  of  Trade.  Mr.  Baker  came  to  Big 
Rapids  when  he  was  12  years  old  (in  1865).  His 
grandfather,  Daniel  Stearns,  was  a  resident  of  Big 
Ra|)ids,  as  was  also  a  considerable  circle  of  relatives, 
lie  attended  school  and  was  employed  in  various 
business  houses;  kept  the  books  in  the  mercantile 
house  of  1 ).  K.  Stearns  two  years,  and  serveil  one 
year  in  the  same  capacity  with  ( ).  P.  Pillsbury.  In 
the  spring  of  1S72  he  became  book-keeper  in  the 
Northern  National  Bank  and  has  been  promoted 
through  the  different  positions  to  the  post  he  now 
fills,  to  which  he  was  ap|)ointed  in  January,  1875. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  Directi)rs,  and  heavily  inter- 
ested in  transactions  in  lumber,  being  connected 
with  three  different  firms.  He  owns  a  half  interest 
in  the  mill  and  yards  of  P>aker  &  Stearns,  situated  at 
Cra]X),  in  Osceola  County,  where  the  firm  have  car- 
ried on  an  extensive  lumber  trade  six  years.  They 
employ  a  force  of  100  men,  and  manufacture  be- 
tween 12  and  15  million  feet  of  lumber  annually. 
Mr.  Baker  also  owned  a  half  interest  in  the  concern 
styled  "B.  F.  Comstock  &  Co.,"  founded  in  1881. 
Their  production  of  lumber  in  1882  was  alwut 
twenty  million  feet.  Their  mill  was  sold  in  the  fall 
of  18S2,  andthe  firm  are  about  to  close  their  rela- 
tions. Mr.  Baker  keeps  a  desk  in  the  bank  for  trans- 
actions in  lumber,  i)ine  lands,  etc.  His  real-estate 
interests  include  about  20,000  acres  in  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin,  and  some  small  tracts  of  farming  Ian 


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Mr.  Baker  was  married  in  Paris,  Mecosta  Co.,  to 
Emma,  daughter  of  James  Cooper.  She  was  born 
in  Halstead,  Essl'X  Co.,  Eng.,  July  6,  1S53.  A  son, 
Arthur,  was  born  Dec.  6,  1875,  and  a  daughter,  Kitty 
Irene,  Oct.  10,  i<S8i. 

Mr.  Baker  served  as  Alderman  of  Big  Rapids  three 
years. 


ji  ichard  W.  Poling,  harness  and  shoe  maker, 
Austin  Tj).,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
where  he  was  born  Dec.  24,  1846.  He  is 
a  son  of  Zephaniah  and  Eliza  Poling,  natives 
of  Ohio,  where  they  still  reside.  He  came 
to  this  county  in  1879,  settling  in  Austin  Tp., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  following  his  occupation. 
He  was  married  to  Julia  M.  Vining,  who  died  Oct. 
28,  1877,  leaving  five  children:  Cornelia  A.,  born 
March  3,  r86i ;  Viola  A.,  March  15,  1865  ;  John  W., 
Aug.  17,  1867;  Violetta  B.,  Sept.  17,  1868;  Rosa 
A.,  Oct.  28,  1873.  April  20,  1881,  Mr.  Poling  mar- 
ried Angeline  Wheeler,  widow  of  Orange  Wheeler, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Walker.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  had  had  eight  children  :  Rodney  F.,  died 
June  12,  1853;  Amos  H.,  Maria  J.,  Justin  E.,  Har- 
riet A.,  and  Edgar  L.  are  living;  Eliza  and  Clara 
M.  are  deceased. 

Mrs.  Poling  is  the  discoverer  of  a  medicine  on 
which  she  obtained  a  patent  in  1872.  It  is  known  as 
Mrs.  Wheeler's  Vegetable  Syrup,  for  which  there  is 
justly  claimed  great  alterative  and  tonic  properties, 
especially  adapted  to  diseases  of  the  liver.  She  has 
had  great  success  in  the  sale  of  this  medicine  for  the 
short  time  it  has  been  introduced  to  the  public,  and 
for  whi<  h  there  is  an  increasing  demand.  Mr. 
Poling  owns  80  acres  of  fine  farm  land,  u]i()n  which 
he  resides. 

-^^B-^^— 

?iharles  F.  Barnard,  of  the  firm  of  Reed  & 

if 


'a    Barnard,  Stanwooil,  is  a   native  of  Living- 
1^1,^     ston  Co.,   Mich.,  where   he   was   born  Oct.  2, 
fi^      i'*^5.v     He  is  a  son  of  Ely  and  Aristeen  (Cur- 
M^      lis)     iiarnard,    natives    of   New    York;    the 
former  emigrated   to  Michigan   in  1834,  and 
the  latter  at  a  later  date,  where  the  father  followed 
farming   thiongh  life  and  died,  in    July,   187 1  :  the 


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'  ^^^ifohn  Carr,  farmer,  sec.  27,  liig  Rapids  I'l)., 
was  born  Ian.  9,  1843,  in  Chillenden  Co., 
Vt.  Abraham  C'arr,  his  father,  was  Iwrn  in 
Champlain,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1806,  of  Irish  and 
Cicnnan  i)arentage,  and  was  married  in  1828, 
in  Vermont,  to  Eliza  Creen.  She  was  born 
Feb.  18,  181 1,  in  Louisville,  N.  V.  Of  her  marriage 
to  .\braham  Carr,  10  children  were  liorn.  The 
father  died  April  29,  1876.  Mrs.  Carr  is  still  living. 
Mr  Carr  was  the  seventh  child  of  his  parents. 
He  left  his  native  State  Sept.  15,  1863,  a  few  months 
before  he  was  20  years  old,  and  reached  his  destina- 
tion, Lowell,  Dodge  Co.,  Wis.,  three  days  later. 
After  a  residence  there  of  1 1  years  he  deciiled  on  a 
change  of  base,  and  in  the  month  of  October,  1874, 
he  came  to  Big  Rapids 'I'p.,  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Carr  was    married   Sept.  17,   1873,  to   Lucy  A. 


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mother  is  still  living.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and, 
altliough  his  educational  advantages  were  limited,  he 
managed,  by  his  own  exertions,  to  obtain  sufficient  Q, 
knowledge  to  enable  him  to  teach  school,  after  which  1 
he  worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summer  season  and 
taught  during  the  winter,  for  several  years.  In 
March,  1879,  he  came  to  Mecosta  County  and  en- 
tered the  store  of  C  W.  Reed,  at  Stanwood,  as 
clerk.  After  one  year  he  entered  into  i)artnership 
with  Mr.  Reed  in  mercantile  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Reed  &  Barnard.  They  keep  on  hand  a 
large  and  superior  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries, 
boots,  shoes,  hats,  etc.,  and  command  a  large  trade, 
their  sales  amounting  annually  10^30,000.  Mr.  Bar- 
nard is  a  self-made  man.  He  had  no  means  to  com- 
mence life  with  ;  but  having  early  acipiired  habits  of 
industry  and  economy  he  has  succeeded  in  accumu- 
lating considerable  property.  In  all  his  dealings  he 
is  marked  for  his  uprightness  and  integrity.  He  is  at 
present  serving  the  township  of  Mecosta  as  Clerk. 

He  was  married  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  May  13, 
1878,  to  Alice  M.,  daughter  of  Staats  and  kachel 
(Wilcox)  (rreen,  who  was  born  in  Yates  Co., N.  Y.,  May 
13,  1861.  They  have  had  two  children:  Edna  L., 
born  Dec.  25,  18S2;  one  died  in  infancy.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  religiously,  is  lilier:il. 


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S[f  Parham,  of  Concord,  Dodge  Co.,  Minn.      They  have 

'h  two   children :    Ina    May  and   Jennie  Eliza.      Mrs. 

.'j^  Carr  was  born  Dec.  2S,  1S55.      Mr.  Carr  votes  with 

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illiam  Hugh,  senior  meniherof  the  lumber 
linn  ot'  Higl)ee  iV  Hugh,  was  born  in  Kid- 


*^'(^  willy,  Wales,  l'"eb.  2,  1829.  He  is  the 
J"'  son  of  \Villi;nn  and  Rebecca  ((lonar)  Hugh, 
natives  of  Kiihvilly,  where  the  father  died 
about  iS^>5-  '"^'l  '''^  mother  in  tiie  spring  of 
tSSo. 

Mr.  Hugh  experienced  all  the  hardsliips  of  the 
class  of  people  to  which  he  belonged  in  his  native 
land,  gaining  his  limited  but  eminently  practical  edu- 
cation l)y  studying  under  the  most  adverse  circum- 
stances. He  commenced  life's  active  work  at  the 
early  age  of  12.  His  father  was  the  village  i)lack- 
smith,  and  he,  assisting  in  the  shop,  gradually  learned 
the  trade.  For  a  period  of  about  five  years  he  was 
occasionally  employed  in  some  iron  works  and  rolling 
mills;  tlien  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  timber 
business.  His  next  employment  w^as  with  the  South 
Wales  Railway  Company,  in  which  work  he  went 
from  his  native  country  to  England,  engaged  with  a 
railroad  construction  corjjs. 

SiKin  afterward,  in  1853,  he  sailed  for  this  continent 
and,  upon  landing  at  New  York,  at  once  proceedeil 
to  Cincinnati.  Here  for  a  year  he  was  occupied  in  a 
machine-sliop,  on  blacksmith  work,  and  also  on 
sleaml)oat  work.  He  assisted  in  making  the  needed 
iron-work  and  finishing  the  rountl-house  of  tlie  (".,  H. 
&  I.  R.  R.,  at  Cincinnati. 

He  had  become  imbued  with  a  desire  to  eng;ige  in 
fanning  in  Iowa,  and  he  took  a  trip  to  the  Hawkeye 
State,  but  on  reaching  there  changed  his  intentions. 
He  retraced  his  route  as  far  as  Chicago,  and  thence 
went  to  New  York,  where  he  embarked  for  \\'ales,  by 
way  of  I,iveri)ool,  with  the  purjxjse  of  returning  with 
his  wife.  His  final  decision  was  that  he  would  first 
establish  a  home  in  Cincinnati.  He  sailed  once  more 
for  the  ITnited  .States,  but  when  off  Cape  Clear,  Ire- 
land, his  steamer  collided  w  ith  a  coast  vessel ;  and 
being  disabled  she  put  back  to  Liverpool,  her  captain 
not  daring  to  venture  across  the  sea  in  a  (  rip|)led 
vessel   with  600  or  700  souls  on   board.       Mr.  Hugh 


returned  then  to  Wales,  and  when  he  finally  reached 
New  York,  proceedeil  direct  to  Hamilton,  Province 
of  Ontario,  Can.,  locating  at  a  small  village  near  that 
city.  He  started  a  common  blacksmith  shop,  and 
finally  began  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments. His  residence  there  lasted  18  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1S72  he  came  to  Morley,  and  built  the  first 
planing  mill  in  the  townshiii,  which  he  conducted 
nearly  seven  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1879  he  went  into  business  with  Mr. 
Higbee,  and  built  the  saw  and  planing  mill  where 
they  now  carry  on  an  extensive  business.  Politically 
Mr.  Hugh  is  a  Re|niblican ;  for  eight  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  village  Board  of  Trustees.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

Mr.  Hugh  is  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  financially,  as  he 
held  no  pro])erty  when  he  commenced  life  for  himself. 
By  habits  of  industry,  economy  and  fair  dealing,  he 
has  acquired  a  substantial  property,  and  is  now  classed 
among  the  representative  citizens  of  Mecosta  County. 

Mr.  Hugh  was  married  in  Wales,  in  the  winter  of 
1851,  to  Amy  Thomas,  who  was  born  Nov.  8,  1828, 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  'I'jiomas.  The 
family  circle  n(.)w  incluiles  five  children:  .\nn,  Iwrn 
Se|)l.  33,  1853;  William,  born  June  19,  1858;  Re- 
becca, born  Feb.  20,  i860;  Jane,  born  -Aug.  28,  1861, 
and  DavitI,  born  Oct.  15,  1870. 

.\  [)t>rtr:iit  of  Mr.  Hugh  is  given  in  this  volume. 

—Cdtf — 

P  illiam  Crecvcy,  farmer,  sec.  26,  I'ork  Tp., 
was  born  in  County  Rildare,  Irelantl,  April 
28,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Rose 
(.Armstrong)  Creevey,  both  of  whoni  were  na- 
tives of  Ireland.  Mr.  Creevey  was  18  years 
old  when  he  left  his  native  land  to  come  to  the 
New  World.  He  first  located  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  after  a  residence  of  three  years  came,  in  the  fall 
of  1855,  to  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  and  worked  as  a  farm 
laborer  three  years.  In  1858  he  married  Jane, 
(laughter  of  Jonathan  and  Agnes  Seidler.  She  was 
born  in  Sieinbrook,  Penn.,  where  her  father  died 
when  she  was  quite  young.  Her  mother  married 
("onrad  l'"riend,  and  now  lives  in  Eaton,  Mich. 

,\fter  marriage  Mr.  Creevey  took  farms  to  work  on 
shares  until  he  had  by  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment acipiired  sufficient  means  to  enable  him  to  ven- 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


ture  upon  the  purchase  of  a  home  for  himself,  and  he 
finally  bought  40  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved 
and  occupied  until  1867  ;  and  then  he  sold  out  and 
came  to  Mecosta  County,  locating  80  acres  of  land 
under  the  homestead  act,  on  sec.  26,  in  the  township 
of  Fork,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  the  Union  Sept.  i,  1864,  and 
received  his  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war,  June 
10,  1865.  He  was  taken  sick  at  Newhern,  N.  C,  and 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Foster,  and  three  weeks  later 
to  David's  Island  Hospital  in  New  York  Harbor, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  discharged. 

Mr.  Creevey  was  elected  the  first  Supervisor  of  Fork 
Tp.,  at  the  meeting  held  for  its  organization,  a  posi- 
tion he  has  filled  10  years.  He  has  officiated  as 
Postmaster  of  Fork  14  years,  was  Road  Commis- 
sioner 10  years.  Justice  of  the  Peace  12  years,  Treas- 
urer one  year.  School  Director  three  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Post   No.   77,  at   Sherman 

City. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Creevey  comprises  the  following 
children,  born  in  the  named  order:  Rose  M.,  Jan. 
S,  i860;  George  M.,  Oct.  8,  1861  ;  William  J.,  April 
14,  1863;  Charles  c:.,  March  10,  1870;  Edwin,  Sept. 
27,  1872;  Perry,  Aug.  26,  1875;  Agnes  P..,  March 
12,  1879;  Arthur  Grant,  Dec.  25,  1881. 

1 


Big 

,  in 


'  jFj^A"!' iiliam  C.  Philleo,  farmer,  sec.  27, 
iit^aMfe  Rapids  Tp.,  was  born  April  25,  1S4 
J^ '        Savannah,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son 

'^>  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  /\nn  Philleo,  the 
former  born  Jan.  20,  1815,  in  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  died  Aug.  20,  187  i  ;  the  latter  was 
i)()rn  June  6,1821,  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
still  living,  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.  The  paternal 
grandsire  was  a  soldier  of  18 12,  and  fought  at  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg. 

Mr.  Philleo  was  married  Oct.  30,  1867,  to  Mary 
Jane,  daughter  of  .Mien  G.  aid  Jane  M.  Pierce,  of 
Flint,  Mich.  The  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.  Two  (  hildren  have  been  born  of 
this  marriage:  Anna  M.,  Jan.  6,  1872,  and  Fannie 
A.,  June  17,  1882. 

Mr.  Philleo  came  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  in 
1854,  and  settled  in  Ottawa  County.  He  was  edu- 
cated chiefly  at  Kalamazoo  College,  where  in  1863  he 

^^«^#- ^^^F^ 


took  a  scientific  course.  He  aftenvards  took  a  com- 
mercial course  of  study  at  P>astman's  Business  Col- 
lege at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  which  he  completed  in 
1 806.  He  has  taught  43  terms  of  school,  mostly  in 
Ottawa  and  Kent  Counties.  Mrs.  Philleo  taught 
school  12  terms  after  her  marriage 

In  1869  Mr.  Philleo  bought  100  acres  of  land  on 
sees.  27  and  28,  in  Big  Rapids  Tp.,  and  has  since 
added  40  acres  adjoining  by  purchase.  He  has  put 
So  acres  under  advanced  improvement,  and  has  one 
of  the  best  barns  in  the  county.  He  has  nearly 
completed  arrangements  for  the  erection  of  a  dwell- 
ing in  keeping  with  the  general  character  of  the 
place. 

In  iwlitical  affinities  Mr.  Pliilleo  is  independent. 
He  has  been  Townsliip  Supervisor  four  years,  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace  eight  years.  He  was  nominated 
for  Representative  by  the  Democratic  party  in  1879, 
but  jxjsilively  refused  to  become  a  candidate. 

^^I'fe^'fe'ames  W.  Mann,  farmer,  sec.  15,  Fork  Tp., 
1|^^li7  was  born  in  Maine,  Jinie  24,  1854,  and  is  a 
Wh'"^  ^  son  of  John  F.  and  Susan  A.  (Churchill) 
"'^  Mann  (see  sketch  of  John  F.  Mann),  who 
were  natives  of  the  Pine-Tree  State,  and  in 
1866  came  to  Saginaw,  and  later  to  Fork  Tp., 
Mich.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  connnon 
schools  of  Saginaw  an<l  was  bred  to  the  business  of 
fixrmer  and  lumberman  by  his  father,  in  which  he  is 
now  engaged  in  Fork  townsliip.  He  was  married  in 
1S77  to  C:iara  L.,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (IIou- 
ser)  Grove,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  State,  Aug.  21,  1858.  They  have  two 
children,  I.ula  M.  and  Ivldie  Iv  Politically  Mr. 
Mann  is  a  Republican. 


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Jl^^^ohn  M.  Conner,  farmer,  sec.  23,  Big  Rapids 

il^^S  '^'P-'  *^*  '""^^  '"  ^^''^''''i"''  I'P-'  ^^';i"i'  ^o-. 

IS"''^  I'ld-.    J"'y  4'    ''^■?7-       ^^'^   father,   James 

Conner,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  his 

mother,  Mary   (McCoy)  Conner,  was   a  native 

of  Ireland. 

Mr.    Conner  was  a   resident   of    hi 

from  his  birth  until   \ov.  17,  1S6.),  wl 


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Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  and  settled  in  Jiij;  Rapids  'r|>., 
wliere  he  has  since  resided.  In  Oitol)er,  1.S69,  he 
located  on  the  farm  he  at  present  ociupies.  He  was 
married  Dec.  23,  1S67,  to  Etta,  daughter  of  A.  C 
and  T.  G.  Kneeland.  She  was  born  at  Indianapolis, 
Sept.  6,  1S40. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conner  have  three  children,  horn  as 
follows:  James  C,  May  13,  1869;  Vesta,  Oit.  15, 
1S71;  l>ellis,  Nov.  17,  1872.  In  [xditical  matters 
Mr.  Conner  is  a  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
National  party. 


■■i«'i«<    |;;«;;jot;;;;i    >."%,-t- 


eroy  Cartwright,  farmer  on  sec.  10,  Hin- 
ton  'I'pi  "''^*  \'<oxn  in  Union  Co.,  Ind.,  Manli 
19,  1846.      His  parents,  Calvin  and  Tahitha 

(Wright)  Cartwright,  were  natives  respe<  lively  of 
i'^     Indiana   and   Virginia,    and    were    residents    of 

Union  County.  'I'liey  went  to  llerrien  Co., 
Mich.,  in  185S  and  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  the 
spring  of  i<S65.  Mr.  Cartwright  was  19  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Hinton  'I'p., 
where  he  bought  80  acres  of  wild  land,  on  which  he 
ti.xed  his  residence  in  the  spring  of  1872,  and  entered 
vigorously  into  the  details  of  clearing  and  imi)roving. 
He  has  since  added  40  acres  to  his  original  i)urchase 
and  owns  80  acres  in  the  Township  of  Millbrook. 

Mr.  Cartwright  was  married  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
Kel).  26,  t872,  to  Sarah  E.,  youngest  child  of  Orlo 
Winter.  Of  four  children  born  of  this  marriage, 
three  survive:  Eva,  born  June  i,  1873;  Mernett, 
Aug.  26,  1874;  Martin,  Aug.  28,  1878.  A  son  died 
in  infancy.  Mrs.  Cartwright  is  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Disciples.  Mr.  C.  is  a  Repiil)lican  ; 
has  been  Treasurer  of  his  townshii)  eight  years,  and 
Supervisor  two  years. 


f  i^urdoch  Sterling,  farmer,  sec.  28,  ]?ig  Rap- 
i:53-    ids  Tp.,  was  born  April  8,  1S22,  in  God- 
'     manchester.   Province  of  (^uetiec.    Can. 
yi-X.  ■  \  His    parents,    James   and    Agnes    Steriing, 
''     were  Ixjth  natives  of  Scotland,  and   his  father 
^  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the   Revolution  at 

^      the  time  of  the  surrenderor  Burgoyne. 


In  [848  Mr.  Steriing  came  to  Michigan  and  was 
engaged  lor  six  years  in  the  manufat  ture  of  lumber 
in  Newaygo  County,  going  thence  to  Ada,  Kent  Co., 
where  he  was  occupied  in  farming  seven  years.  In 
1861  he  came  to  Hig  Rapids,  and  two  years  later 
bought  the  farm  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  [)ursuils,  containing  80  acres  of  valuabli- 
land. 

Mr.  Sterling  was  niarrieil  Jan.  4,  1858,  to  Margaret 
McFee,  of  ("roton,  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.  She  was 
born  on  Prince  Edward's  Island,  May  3,  1833.  The 
records  of  the  children  of  this  marriage  are  as  fol- 
lows:  Sarah  M.,  born  June  18,  1859,  is  now  the  wife 
of  John  Baird,  of  Mecosta.  William  was  born  May 
26,  i86r;  James,  April  18,  1863;  Katie  M.,  Aug.  2, 
1S65  ;  John  W.  M.,  A|)iil  24,  1867;  Cynthia  J.,  Aug. 
10,  1870. 

Mr.  Steriing  has  held  the  oflicc  of  School  Direc- 
tor during  the  last  five  years;  himself  and  wile  be- 
long to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


^1 


i  obert  Austin,  I'armcr,  sec,  27,  .Austin  Tp- 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Takey  (Johnson) 
i^^T^'  Austin,  natives  of  Elgin  Co.,  Ontario,  Can., 
'  <V\  ^^here  Robert  was  born  Dec.  16,  1853.  In 
the  summer  of  1870  the  family  came  to  Me- 
costa County  and  the  spring  following  pur- 
i  based  80  acres  of  timberetl  land,  where  the  father 
and  son  labored  together  to  i:lear  the  ground  and  es- 
tablish a  home.  Robert  Austin  was  married  Feb.  1, 
1876,  to  Chariotte,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Nancy 
(Gray)  Cummings.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York,  settled  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  where 
the  daughter  was  born  .Aug.  25,  1849.  The  young 
people  settled  upon  40  acres  of  the  homestead.  Of 
this  land  25  acres  have  been  reclaimed  and  placed 
in  good  condition.  They  have  now  an  attractive 
home,  endeared  to  them  by  their  labors  and  the  as- 
sociations which  center  there.  Four  children  have 
been  liorn  to  them,  as  follows:  Maud,  Dec.  11, 
1876;  William  H.,  Jan.  21,  1878;  Ira  H.,  June  20, 
1S82.  The  latter  is  a  twin  child;  the  other  died 
soon  after  birth. 

Mr.  Austin  is  a  liberal  Republican  in  polilus;  is 
averse  to  notoriety,  and  invariably  refuses  to  hold 
office.     Mrs.  .Austin  is  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary 


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intellectual  accomplishments.  She  attended  the 
district  school  in  her  native  place  until  she  was  ten 
years  oUl,  when  she  went  to  Wyandotte,  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  studied  at  the  college  about  eight 
years.  She  also  studied  for  a  time  at  Ann  Arbor, 
and  finished  her  educational  course  at  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti.  She  was  a  popular  and 
successful  teacher  four  years  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage. 


["oseph    Falardo,    resident    at    Bit;    Rapids. 
||r-  was  l)orn  in   St.  Es[)rit,  I'rovince  of  (Que- 
bec, July  28,  iSj7.      He  is  a  son  of  Louis 
and    Lucille    Falardo,  the  former  a   carpenter 
and  wagon-maker  by  trade.     Mr.  Falardo  is  of 
French  descent,  his  ancestors  having  emigrat- 
ed from  that  country  to  America.     The  family  name 
has  been   changed    fnim    Falardeau   to    its    present 
form. 

Mr.  I'alaRlo  began  life  for  liiniself  as  a  clerk  in  a 
general  store,  where  he  was  em[)loyed  two  years,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  went  to  New  Hartford,  Conn., 
where  he  worked  in  a  cotton  mill  about  i<S  months. 
His  father  moved  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  with  him,  and  pursued  it  five 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  his  parents  removed 
to  Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  where  he  went  to  work  in  a  sash, 
door  and  blind  factory,  and  was  thus  employed  one 
year,  when  lie  bought  tlie  machinery  and  fixtures  of 
the  concern,  and  began  operations  on  his  own  ac- 
count, associated  with  John  De  ViHier  and  his 
father,  Ix)uis  Falardo.  Messrs.  Falardo  and  De  Vil- 
Her  bought  out  the  interest  of  the  senior  Falardo  at 
the  end  of  a  year,  and  continued  operations  si.\ 
months,  when  the  mill  was  sold,  and  it  became  nec- 
essary to  remove  their  macliinery. 

In  December,  iS6i,Mr.  I'alardo  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  E.  B.  Hayes,  and  established  a  sash,  door 
and  blind  factory  at  Vergennes,  Vt.,  wliere  they  em- 
ployed an  average  working  force  of  100  men,  and 
usually  turned  out  between  300  and  400  doors  daily. 
Their  business  was  extended  and  [irosperous,  and  at 
the  end  of  eight  years  Mr.  Falardo  liought  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Hayes  and  connected  Iiimself  with  Charles  C^ 
Parker.  The  latter  relation  e.visted  over  three  years, 
but  the  financial  crisis  which  wrought  such  mischief 


in  every  avenue  of  business,  affected  them  seriously 
and  the  affairs  of  the  concern  were  brought  to  a  close. 
Mr.  Falardo  went  to  Essex,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  his  two  brothers  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness. A  year  later  he  went  to  Whallonsburg,  in  the 
same  county,  and  managed  the  mills  of  Capt.  Root 
one  year.  His  next  business  venture  was  at  White- 
hall, N.  Y.,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Hayes,  and  leased  a  mill,  which  they  o|)erated  about 
18  months,  and  in  February,  18S2,  they  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  built  their  mills,  and  established  themselves 
in  business.  The  concern  is  vmder  the  proimetor- 
ship  of  Joseph  F.  Hayes,  and  is  conducted  by  Messrs. 
Hayes  iS:  Falardo.  A  working  force  of  50  men  is 
employed,  and  the  daily  jiroducls  are  125  doors  and 
80  pairs  of  blinds.  The  machinery  employed  is  the 
best  known  in  the  business. 

Mr.  Falardo  was  married  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
23,  1859,  to  Aiwlline  Le  lioeuf,  a  native  of  Canada, 
born  April  8,  1841.  The  household  includes  six 
children:  Eli  V.  R.,  Mary,  Theodora,  Charles,  Ed- 
ward and  Lucille. 

During  his  residence  in  the  city  of  \'ergennes,  he 
was  Alderman  two  years  and  Justice  of  the  I'eace 
three  years.  The  family  belong  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 


M.  D.  Knettles,  farmer,  resident  on  sec. 
Jll!!pJ||  15,  Mecosta  Tp.,  was  born  in  Tompkins 
"^  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  27,  1845.  His  parents, 
Henry  and  Rachel  (Teeter)  Knettles,  were  na- 
tives of  N.  Y.,  and  were  respectively  of  Dutch 
and  English  extraction.  When  Mr.  Knettles 
became  of  age  he  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in 
Mecosta  Tp.,  locating  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  Big  Muskegon  River,  soon  afterward  purchasing 
56  acres  of  lanil,  to  which  he  added  70  acres  more  a 
few  years  later.  This  was  all  in  a  wild  condition ; 
but  on  the  first  place  there  was  a  small  house,  which 
he  inhabited  15  years.  The  energy  and  persevering 
efforts  af  Mr.  Knettles  find  his  family  have  reclaimed 
the  unbroken  forest,  and  wherfe  the  dense  timber 
shut  out  the  rest  of  the  wodd  from  view,  fair,  fertile 
fields  have  succeeded  and  the  marks  of  progressive 
civilization  are  everywhere  visible  on  the  place.  In 
addition  to  other  improvements  is  a  fine  young  or- 


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chard,  containing  120  trees.  The  farm  is  well  sup- 
plied with  buildings  and  a  new  and  beautiful  resi- 
dence has  just  been  completed,  at  an  expenditure 
ofS2>ooo-  Mr-  K..  and  his  family  may  justly  be 
rated  among  the  leading  inhabitants  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Knettles  was  married  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  4,  1856,  to  Susan,  daugliter  of  Joseph  and 
Katie  (Protts)  Everhart,  lorn  May  21,  1846,  in 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  two  children  born  of  this 
marriage  are  still  living:  Cora  B.,  born  .April  6,  1868; 
Libby  M.,  April  18,  1870.  Mr.  Knettles  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  jxjlitical  faith,  and  im  lines  to  the  Ur.iversal- 
ist  doctrinal  views.  Mrs.  Knettles  is  theoretically  a 
Presbyterian. 


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'   p"^'"  tephen  S.  Wilcox,  of  Big   Rapids,  whose 
;^  '  ,    "     portrait  appears  in  proximity  to  this  page, 
was  born    July    29,    1S40,   in    Schenevus, 
/i\^    Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Y\      Amanda  (Upson)  Wilcox.      His   father,  who 
was  of  English  descent,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of   1812,  and  a  pioneer  settler  near   Hartford, 
Conn.     The  first  frame  house  ever  built  in  Schene- 
vus was  erected  by  him  and  is  still  standing. 

Stephen  S.  Wilcox  was  the  youngest  of  six  children, 
and  was  educated  at  tlie  schools  and  seminaries  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  home,  until  he  was  r5  years  old  ; 
he  then  removed  to  Galesburg,  111.,  wheie  he  served 
as  clerk  for  his  brother  in  the  hardware  business,  and 
finally  learned  the  trade  of  tinner. 

After  serving  tiiree  years'  apprenticeship,  duiing 
which  tiine  he  spent  his  leisure  in  study,  he,  in  the 
fall  of  1S58,  taught  the  district  school  in  Otsego,  N.  Y. 
In  1859  he  bought  a  stock  of  hardware,  and  con- 
ducted a  small  business  successfully  for  a  short  time. 
In  1862  he  removed  to  Detroit,  and  for  several  years 
worked  as  a  tinner. 

In  1868,  the  firm  of  S.  S.  Wilcox  &  Co.,  consisting 
'^  of  Mr.  Wilcox  and  his  father-in-law,  J.  W.  Barlour, 
I  commenced  a  general  hardware  business  at  12ig 
\^  Rapids.  I'our  years  later  Mr.  Wilcox  assumed  the 
^  entire  management  of  the  business  and  has  since 
^  conducted  it  successfully. 

/■^j       His  son-in-law,  Mr.  W.  J,  Sloss,  was  admitted  an 
^  active  partner  to  the  firm  of  S.  S.  Wilcox  &  Co.  at  the 


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commencement  of  the  present  year  (1883).  Mr. 
Sloss  was  born  in  Dearborn,  Michigan,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  removal  to  Big  Ra|)ids,  excepting  four 
years  spent  at  the  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing. 

Mr.  Wilcox  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of  this  place. 
He  gives  his  [wlitical  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  but  does  not  aspire  to  office.  Thorough 
accpiaintance  with  the  practical  details  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  strict  personal  attention  to  every  depart- 
ment of  it,  have  insured  his  success. 

Mr.  ^Vilcox  was  married  Feb.  7,  1863.  to  Miss 
Adelaide  L.,  daughter  of  Theron  W.  Barbour,  who 
removed  from  Vermont,  and  settled  at  Pontiac,  in 
1830,  when  Michigan  was  a  "Territory. '  His  family 
comprises  the  following  children  :  Ida  B.,  born  at 
Farmington,  Mich.,  Jan.  26,  1864;  and  Fred.  The- 
ron, born  at  Big  Rapids,  Mich.,  Oct.  29,  1869. 


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ames  Caudle,  farmer,  sec.  24,  Big  Rapids 
Tp.,  was  born  Dec.  14,  1802,  in  Hailes, 
Gloucestershire,  Eng.  (Hailes  is  the  sup- 
:*!ij  ixjsed  site  of  Troy.)  The  parents  of  Mr.  Cau- 
'W  die,  William  and  Mary  (Wallis)  Caudle,  were 
[  married  Nov.  iS,  17S4,  in  Hailes,  Eng.,  and 
never  removed  from  England.  The  father  was  born  in 
Hailes,  Nov.  16,  1759,  and  died  March  8,  1855.  The 
mother  was  born  July  25,  1762,  and  died  in  the  fall 
of  1846. 

Mr.  Caudle  was  married  Dec.  12,  1831,  to  Julia 
Pauline  (Francis)  Gubeau,  born  in  Kirckerville,  Nor- 
mandy, France,  Feb.  15,  1805,  and  died  Dec.  27, 
1872,  in  Walker  Tp.,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.  They  left 
England  March  3,  1832,  and  landed  at  the  ])ost  of 
New  York,  May  i,  1832.  They  located  first  at 
Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  resided 
32  years.  They  started  thence  to  Michigan  April 
II,  1864,  and  came  to  Kent  County,  where  they 
lived  in  Walker  about  12  years.  They  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  Nov.  29,  1876,  where  they  established  a  per- 
manent home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caudle  had  12  childien.  l''.ight  of 
these  have  been  removed  by  deatii.  Wm.  ),.  Cau- 
dle, only  surviving  son,  died  July  27,  1865,  of  dis- 
ease contracted  while  a  soldier  of  the   Union  army- 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


Julia  (Caudle)  Newcomb  was  born  Sept.  3,  1834, 
and  lives  at  Bay  City  ;  Mary  (Caudle)  Nordon,  born 
April  26,  1S36,  lives  in  Walker,  Kent  Co.,  Mich; 
Ann  (Caudle)  Waring,  jjovn  July  26,  1837,  is  a  widow 
and  keeps  her  father's  house.  Sarah  F.  (Caudle) 
Martin  was  born  April  19,  1841,  and  lives  in  Sum- 
mit, Mason  Co.,  Mich. 

Mr.  Caudle  is  a  Democrat  in   politics  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 


Mi  obert  Jamieson,  farmer,  sec.  22,  Chippewa 
5?A3.     Tp.,  was  born  July  6,  1845,  ""  ''""^  'f*''^  °f 


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J'"'  Islay,  and  is  the  fifth  child  of  Donald  and 
,..-^    Margaret  (McDougall)  Jamieson,  the  former 

V  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Bute,  the  latter  born  on 
the  Isle  of  Jura.  (The  islands  named  are  in 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  west  of  and  belonging  to  Scot- 
land.) The  inxreiits  came  to  Canada  in  i860,  where 
the  mother  died  in  1S64,  and  the  father  in  1882. 

Mr.  Jamieson  obtained  a  fair  education  in  his 
native  country,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
and  resided  a  year  with  them  in  the  Dominion.  He 
came  to  Michigan  in  1861  ;  in  1867  he  located  in 
Chippewa  Tp.,  this  county,  in  which  year  several 
other  settlers  made  their  entries  of  land  and  began 
with  energy  the  work  of  clearinof  and  settling  that 
part  of  the  wilderness. 

Mr.  Jamieson  was  married  in  1868,  to  Minnie, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mena  (Licker)  Martiny,  born 
in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  in  1850.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany,  and  pioneer  settlers  of  Mecosta 
County,  being  the  first  permanent  residents  of  Mar- 
tiny  Ti>.,  which  received  their  name.  (See  sketch  of 
John  Martiny.)  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jamieson  have  had 
three  children  :  Donald,  John  and  Alexander. 


J-Wv^-f- 


)  r\].;,arwin  C.  King,  Postmaster  at  Morley,  was 

'  y'      born  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.    12,  1846. 

His  father,  Laban  King,  was  a  farmer,  and 

is  still  a  resident  of  Wayne  Co.     His  mother, 

^         Matilda  (Ringer)   King,   died  in  1866.     Mr. 

\  King  was  reared  at  home,  and   until  the  age 

of  20  assisted  in  tlie  labors  of  his  father,   and  ac- 

([uired  his  education.     At   that   period  of  his  life  he 


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went  to  Yates  Co  ,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  as  a  farm 
laborer.  In  1869  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  at  first 
found  employ  in  Jackson  Co.,  with  his  uncle,  Jas|icr 
King,  remaining  14  months.  He  then  went  to  Battle 
Creek  and  s[ient  six  months  as  cleik  in  a  store.  In 
1872  he  came  to  Morley  and  found  a  situation  in  the 
general  store  of  E.  W.  Gerrish,  and  acted  in  that 
capacity  two  years.  His  next  engagement  was  in 
"Schofield's  "  restaurant.  The  ne.xt  year,  1875,  he 
began  to  operate  in  lumber,  shingles,  etc.,  and  has 
been  so  engaged  to  date.  He  was  associated  for  a 
time  with  D.  W.  Stewart,  and  later  with  W.  D.  Lake 
in  a  general  store  and  lumbering.  In  1880  they  sold 
their  claims  in  the  business  and  Mr.  King  has  since 
continued  alone.  He  received  his  appointment  as 
Postmaster  of  Morley  in  January,  1S83.  He  was 
married  Feb.  2,  1881,  to  Miss  Lake,  daughter  of 
Robert  O.  and  Maviette  (Redker)  Lake,  natives  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  Mr.  King  is  a  Republican 
in  political  faith  and  has  held  the  offices  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  Assessor,  etc.,  a  long  period  of  years. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  U.  S.  Grant. 


oseph   J.  Everhart,  farmer,  sec.    34,    Big 

Ra^jids,  was  born  Feb.    17,   1843,  in  Rose, 

.|,,;,     '-■'  \\'ayne   Co.,    N.    Y.     His   father,    Joseph 

I'liy    Everhart,    was    born    Feb.  3,   1799,  and  died 

'W     April    16,    1866,    in    Lansing,   Tompkms   Co., 

P     N.  Y.     His  mother,  Catherine  Everhart,  was 

born  in  Pennsylvania,  Dec.   27,   179S,  and  died    in 

1872. 

Mr.  P2verhart  left  his  native  State  in  1867  and 
went  to  La  Grange,  Ind.  In  1868  he  came  to  Ber- 
lin, Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.,  and  after  a  year's  stay  there 
came  to  the  township  of  Big  Rapids,  and  in  1869 
bought  80  acres  of  land,  lying  wholly  within  a  belt 
of  hard  wood.  He  has  65  acres  under  the  plow, 
and  the  place  and  fixtures  are  in  the  best  condition. 
The  tract  has  a  fine  lot  of  bird's-eye  maple  and 
other  standing  timber. 

Mr.  Everhart  was  married  March  13,  1S66,  to 
Dora  Teeter,  a  native  of  Lansing,  Tompkins  Co., 
N.  Y.  She  was  born  Feb.  25,  1846,  and' is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Vincent  and  Catherine  Teeter,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  April  23,  1807;  the 
latter  was  born  in   New   York  in    1822.     Children, 


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Lewie  E.,  born  Oct.  2,  1867,  and  died  Feb.  18,  1872; 
Oreii  v.,  born  Dec.  12,  1870;  George  K.,  born  Oct. 
7,  1878. 

^fr.  Everhart  is  a  pensioner  of  the  hue  war,  in 
which  he  was  a  soldier.  He  enlisted  Aug.  20,  1862, 
in  Co.  D,  Ninth  N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  was  in  t'.ie  ser- 
vice until  Feb.,  1864,  when  he  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  disability,  his  liealth  having  become  hope- 
lessly broken.  He  is  Road  Commissioner,  and  lias 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  year;  is  a  niemher  ot 
the  G.  A.  R. 


^  oah  Eaton,  fanner,  sec.  24,  Chijipewa  Tp., 
was  born  in  Ingham  Co.,  Mich.,  July  25, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Eliza 
(Cole)  Eaton,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  latter  of  New  York.  'I'liey  came  to 
Ingham  County  in  1835. 
Mr.  Eaton  was  trained  to  agiicultural  pursuits, 
and  had  only  a  common-school  education.  On  reach- 
ing his  age  of  legal  freedom  he  began  life  for  himself 
as  a  farm  laborer,  working  in  Jackson  Co.,  Miih. 
In  1870  he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  entered  a 
claim  of  80  acres  under  the  regulations  of  ihc  lionie- 
stead  law,  and  now  has  20  acres  in  first-i  lass  fanninii 
condition. 

Mr.  Eaton  was  married  in  1875  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  .Simon  and  Ann  (Crawford)  Mott.  Siie  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  in  1858,  and  became  the  mother  of 
one  child,  Merrilon,  born  Dec.  16,  1876:  she  died 
in  1877.  In  political  matters  Mr.  E.  belongs  to  the 
National  party. 


^•^f^^-'o.^'  Hayes,  resident  at  Big  Rapids,  was  liorn 
at  P.ennington,  Vt.,  Nov.  19,  1837,  and  is  a 


.      f^T'th'        son  of   Erastus   H.  and  Maria  (Harmon) 
'^<       iSv  Hayes.     His  father  died  when  he  was  between 
i         ..     four  and   five  years  of  age,  leaving  the  motiier 
■^       _       with   four  young  children,  the  eldest  of  whom 
^    was  but  nine  years  old.     With  the  energy  and  de- 
termination which  characterize  New  I'aigl.ind  mothers, 
she  kept  her  flock  together,  bringing  her  lio)s  up  to 
work  on  the  little  farm  of  36  acres;  and  when  Mr. 


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Hayes,  her  youngest  child,  was  17  years  of  age,  the 
place  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  distributed  among 
the  heirs.  Through  the  mismanagement  of  a  brother, 
Mr.  Hayes  lost  his  little  patrimony  and  entered  upon 
his  life's  struggle  empty-handed.  His  first  work  for 
iiimself  was  to  learn  his  trade,  and  he  went  to  Glens 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  for  the  prosecution  of  that  purpose.  He 
stayed  there  five  years,  accomplishing  all  the  plans 
he  had  designed  and  becoming  familiar  with  all  me- 
ciianical  details. 

Five  years  later  he  went  to  Stillwater,  N.  Y.,  and 
became  foreman  for  Cornell  &  Ladow  in  the  same 
line  of  business,  and  filled  the  position  three  years. 
He  then  began  business  on  his  own  account  in  the 
same  avenue,  employing  half  a  dozen  youths  as  as- 
sistants. He  soon  afterwards  admitted  John  E.  Bur- 
rows as  a  partner,  and  the  ne.xt  spring  they  removed 
their  business  to  Mechanicsville,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
continued  to  operate  nearly  three  years,  when  they 
made  another  remove  to  Lape  Hollow,  near  Lansing- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  where  they  remained  about  a  year. 

Mr.  Hayes  sold  out  and  went  to  Vergennes,  Vt., 
and  formed  an  association  with  Joseph  Falardo. 
They  established  a  large  and  prosi)erous  business, 
whii  h  they  prosecuted  about  eight  years,  when  Mr. 
Hayes  sold  out  again  and  bought  the  establishment 
of  the  X'ergennes  Machine  Co.,  manufacturing  pump- 
ing machinery  for  supplying  water  to  towns  and 
cities.  He  had  three  associates,  and,  the  affairs  of 
the  concern  eventuating  disas'.rously  at  the  tennina- 
tion  of  si.\  years,  Mr.  Hayes  closed  business.  Again 
associating  himself  with  Joseph  Falardo,  they  started 
a  mill  in  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  and  operated  about  18 
nioiilhs  in  the  manufacture  of  iloors,  sash  an<l  blinds. 
In  l'"ebruary,  1882,  they  removed  to  Big  Rapids  and 
built  a  sash,  door  and  blind  factory  at  the  east  end 
of  the  lower  dam.  Of  this  establishment  Jose[>h  F. 
Hayes  is  the  proprietor,  and  the  operative  depart- 
ments are  managed  by  Messrs.  Hayes  &  Falardo;  a 
force  of  50  workmen  is  usually  employed,  the  busi- 
ness is  prosperous  and  its  relations  gradually  widen- 
ing. Mr.  Hayes  has  a  genius  for  his  peculiar  line  of 
i)usiness.  and  is  naturally  adapted  to  the  construction 
of  mill  machinery. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  married  at  Glens  Falls,  March  27, 
r857,  to  Frances  M.,  daughter  of  Stei]hen  V.  R.  and 
Sarah  Shouts.  She  was  born  at  Glens  I'alls,  .March 
28,  1842.     Of  f(Mir  children  born   to   Mr.  and   Mrs 

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Hayes  three  are  living:  Stephen  V.  R.,  an  attorney 
at  Big  Rapids,  Joseph  F.  and  Fannie  J.  Lousie,  eldest 
cliild,  is  deceased. 


-•il'P^raines  M.  Parkill,  farmer,  sec.  8,  Green  Tp., 
i^-'/l      was   born   at  Beloit,  Wis.,  Oct.    25,  1842. 


•■"'^  He  is  the  second   child  of  Dennis  N.  and 
Sarah  (Dunn)  Parkill.     The  father  was  born  in 


New  York,  and  was  a  mechanic;  he  died  in 
Wisconsin,  and  the  mother,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
spent  the  last  years  of  her  life  at  Grass  Lake,  Mich. 

Mr.  Parkill  was  sent  to  the  common  schools  of 
Farmington,  Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  until  14  years  old, 
when  he  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the 
calling  of  blacksmith,  which  he  prosecuted  until 
1 86 1.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  H,  8th  Wis.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  discharged 
from  service  in  October,  1862,  on  account  of  a  wound 
received  at  the  battle  of  James  Island.  He  re- 
sumed his  trade  on  returning  home,  and  continued  to 
reside  in  Wisconsin  until  1867,  when  he  came  to 
Mec(3sta  Co.,  Mich.,  and  settled  at  Big  Rapids, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  five  years.  In  1872  he 
bought  the  farm  on  wliich  he  hns  since  resided,  con- 
taining 80  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Parkill  was  married  in  April,  1867,  to  Ella  P., 
daughter  of  Erastus  and  Sarah  R.  (Palmer)  Fisher. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  her 
mother  of  Ohio.  They  are  now  residents  of  Me- 
costa County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parkill  have  had  six 
children,  as  follows  :  Dennis  J.,  L.  J.,  Eva  M.,  Sarah 
M.,  O.  T.  and  Jessie  J.  (deceased). 

Mr.  Parkill  is  a  Democrat  in  his  jrolitical  views 
and  sympathies. 


A.  Wilcox,  farmer,  sec.  7,  Big  Rajjids  Tp., 
!■}•  was  born  Feb.  6,  1858,  in  Wilna,  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
t'ox.  The  father  was 
born  in  New  York, 
April  12,  1833,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Ne- 
waygo County.  Elizabeth  Ressiguie  was  born  May 
17.  1844,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  is  of  French 
descent.  She  became  the  mother  of  three  children  : 
William  L.  Wilcox,  eldest  son,   was  born  in  Hounds- 


M  Elizabeth  (Ressiguie)   Wilcr 
■T^  of   German   descent    and    1 


ville,  Jefferson  Co.,  Aug.  29,  1854.  He  came  to 
Michigan  in  1S65,  and  in  1868  went  to  Denver,  Col.; 
is  now  a  resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.  Samuel  C. 
Wilcox  was  born  Oct.  16,  1859,  in  Wilna,  N.  Y.,  and 
came  to  Michigan  in  1865;  went  to  Washington  Ter- 
ritory April  2,  1883. 

Mr.  Wilcox  came  to  Michigan  in  March,  iS65,and 
settled  in  Oceana  Co.,  Mich.  He  came  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  settled  in  Big  Rapids  Tp.,  Nov.  5, 1880. 
He  was  married  .\pril  25,  1880,  at  Big  Rapids,  to 
Emma  L.  Haight.  She  is  of  German  descent  and 
was  liorn  in  Big  Prairie,  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  May  i, 
1862.  The  ceremony  of  marriage  was  performed  by 
Elder  Grice. 

Mr.  Wilcox  is  connected  with  the  National  party 
in  his  jiolitical  affiliations. 


homas  Shaw,  Sr.,  Circuit  Court  officer  and 
;,i^^i    Deputy  Sheriff  of  Mecosta  County,  residing 
I'T-.rlJiS"  *■  at  Big    Rapids,  was    born'  in    Manchester, 


Eng.,  .'\ug.  28,   1813.     He  is  the  third  son  of 


0  John  and  Eleanor  (Robinson)  Shaw,  the  former 
I  a  native  of  Radcliffe,  Lancashire. 
Mr.  Shaw  passed  the  years  of  his  youth  in  the  man- 
ner common  among  the  people  of  his  nationality,  and 
at  the  usual  age  learned  the  craft  of  decorator  of  pa- 
per hangings.  He  was  married  Jan.  31,  1835,  *o  Nic- 
olas, daughter  of  James  and  Nicolas  Stott,  born  Oct.  23, 
181 1,  at  .Alnwick,  Northumberlandshire.  The  family 
came  to  .\nierica  in  185  r  and  landed  at  Boston,  going 
thence  to  Lynn,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
a  few  months.  He  went  successively  to  Hanover 
Society,  Conn.,  and  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  similarly  employed  a  short  time,  and  then  Law- 
rence, Mass.,  for  several  years.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Mecosta  County  and  pre-emi>ted  a  quarter  sec.  (17) 
of  land  in  Green  Tp.,  the  year  previous  to  its  being 
taken  out  of  market.  His  experiences  differed  in  no 
material  sense  from  the  oft  repeated  but  never 
wearisome  history  of  the  average  pioneer  settler,  un- 
til the  clouds  of  war  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  land 
and  disunion  seemed  imminent.  The  promptness 
with  which  foreign-born  citizens  flocked  to  the  Union 
standard  was  significant  of  two  things:  first,  the 
sense  of  obligation  awakened  by  the  privileges  they 
enter  upon  at  once  under  the  regulations  of  this  Gov- 
ernment; and,  secondly,  the   value  of   discipline  in 


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early  training.  Mr.  Shaw  felt  that  the  emergency 
demanded  his  aid,  and  himself  and  two  sons  enlisted 
at  Big  Rapids.  He  enrolled  in  August,  1863,  in  Co. 
A,  Tenth  Micli.  C'av.,  and  was  assigned  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Hospital  Steward,  and  afterward  was  promoted 
to  the  post  of  Assistant  Surgeon.  The  regiment 
went  to  the  Dei)artment  of  East  Tennessee  and  was 
first  in  action  May  20,  1864,  at  Greenville,  followed 
by  the  fights  at  Morristown,  Kingsiiort,  Carry  lirancli, 
New  Market,  Morrisburg,  William's  Ford  and  Dutch 
Bottom.  These  engagements  covered  the  service  of 
the  regiment  in  the  months  of  July  and  August. 
The  work  entitled  "  Michigan  in  the  War  "  gives  an 
interciting  account  of  the  wounding  and  subsequent 
interviewing  by  Gen.  Wheeler  ((onfcderate),  of  a 
farmer  named  Griggs,  who  with  six  others  had  ex- 
hibited singular  bravery.  Mr.  Shaw  was  ordered  to 
go  to  Griggs,  which  he  did,  with  an  escort  of  one, 
brought  him  within  the  Union  lines  and  attended 
him  until  he  was  well.  The  regiment  was  in  the 
famous  cavalry  raid  of  Gen.  Stoneman,  which  covered 
a  period  of  72  days.  The  initial  movement  was 
made  about  the  middle  of  March,  1865.  One  result 
of  the  expedition  through  the  western  part  of  North 
Carolina  was  the  cafHure  of  Salisbury  and  a  large 
•piantity  of  rebel  stores.  The  Union  prisoners  were 
removed  in  time  to  prevent  their  liberation,  but  the 
prison  pens  and  arsenal  were  destroyed.  In  this  the 
Tenth  Mich.  Cav.  participated.  On  the  aSth,  Mr. 
Shaw  was  injured  by  his  horse  falling  on  him.  Her- 
nia of  a  painful  type  was  the  result,  but  he  did  not 
report  himself  ill  and  continued  to  discharge  the  du- 
ties of  his  ix)st  until  the  mustering  out  of  the  regi- 
ment Nov.  II,  1865,  at  Memphis.  He  was  dis- 
charged from  the  service  at  Jackson,  Mich. 

On  returning  to  Green,  Mr.  Shaw  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  medicine,  which  he  pursued  two  years, 
but  was  obliged  to  abandon  it  from  inability  to  per- 
form the  necessary  duties  of  the  profession  at  night, 
and  he  resumed  farming.  He  held  most  of  the  local 
offices  of  Green  Tp.,  and  after  a  few  years  moved  to 
Big  Rai)ids.  Later,  he  sold  his  farm.  He  has  been 
Deputy  Sheriff  eight  years,  and  was  appointed  to  his 
position  in  the  Circuit  Court  in  January,  1881. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  in 
England,  and  one  in  America.  An  infant  died  before 
their  removal  to  the  New  World.  Eleanor,  eldest 
child,  and  Mary  Ann,  fifth  child  and  second  daughter, 


46s   "S 


are  deceased.     James  Stott  Shaw,  eldest  son,   is  a    af 
popular    physician    in    Boston.     John    and   Thomas    1^ 


were  soldiers,  enlisting  respectively  in  the  Infantry 
and  Cavalry  service  and  passed  their  terms  of  enroll- 
ment in  safety.  Annie  Howard  Shaw  is  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  and 
preaches  at  East  Dennis,  Caiie  Cod.-  She  is  now 
pursuing  a  course  of  medical  studies,  preparatory  to 
filling  the  ]X)st  of  a  missionary  where  the  competent 
services  of  a  Christian  woman  are  in  most  urgent  de- 
mand.    Henry  Charles,  fourth  son,  is  deceased. 


^«— 


^^^®  M|j  ilbur  A.  Hendryx,  physician  and  surgeon 
"^^Ml  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  at  Seymour,  New 
jljSVi-,  Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  Feb.  21,  1849.  He  is 
^-^^  a  son  of  Wilson  E.  and  Rosetta  (Booth) 
I  Icndryx.  His  father  was  a  mechanic  and  had 
I  harge  of  the  Humphreyville  Edge -Tool  Fac- 
tory more  than  30  years.  He  was  born  in  South- 
bury,  Conn.,  in  18 10.  Dr.  Hendryx  was  a  pupil  in 
the  public  schools  of  Connecticut  until  he  was  iS 
years  of  age,  when  he  spent  a  year  in  the  establish- 
ment where  his  father  was  chief,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Ansonia,  New  Ifaven 
Co.  In  187  I  he  came  to  Pentwater,  Mich.,  and  1  e- 
gan  to  read  for  his  piotession  in  the  office  of  Dr.  E. 
N.  Dnndas,  and  afterward  matriculated  at  Rush 
College,  Chicago,  where  he  was  graduated.  He  at- 
tended this  school  in  the  winters  of  1872-3-4.  He 
took  there  a  special  medical  course  in  anatomy, 
surgery  and  diseases  of  the  chest,  and  sjient  con- 
siderable time  in  special  wards  of  the  principal 
hos[)itals  of  the  Garden  City.  He  went  theme  to 
Evart,  Mich.,  and  three  months  later,  in  August,  1874, 
came  to  Big  Rapids  and  entered  into  partnership  with 
Fred.  B.  Wood,  M.  D.  The  relation  continued  about 
eleven  months,  when  Dr.  Hendryx  established  him- 
self in  an  office  on  Michigan  avenue.  In  November, 
i88i,he  admitted  Dr.  Buikart  to  a  co-partnership 
and  the  connection  existed  until  November,  1882. 

Dr.  Hendryx  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  extensive 
and  popular  practice.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
Order  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Northwestern  Medical  Society.  In  18S1  he  was 
appointed  local  surgeon  of  the  G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.  Co., 
and  in  the  same  year  as  such  for  the  the  D.,  L.  &  N. 


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R.  R.  Co.  He  was  physician  in  charge  of  Mercy  Hos- 
pital three  years,  and  for  some  time  was  Surgeon  of 
tlie  2d  Mich  State  Troops,  with  the  rank  of  Major, 
but  in  October,  T883,  was  promoted  as  Brigade  Sur- 
geon, with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel.  He  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Big  Rapids  in  the  si)ring  of  1880, 
previous  to  which  he  served  two  years  as  Alderman. 
He  has  been  United  States  Examining  Surgeon  on 
pension  claims  since  r876,  and  operates  in  the  same 
capacity  for  several  insurance  companies,  among 
tiiem  the  Travellers' Accident.  He  has  also  a  drug 
store  in  connection  with  his  office,  in  which  he  is  as- 
sociated with  A.  H.  Weber,  style  \V.  .A.  Hendryx  & 
Co.  Their  stock  includes  a  full  line  of  drugs  and 
druggists'  sundries,  and  is  valued  at  "about  $4,500, 
with  business  amounting  annunl.'v  to  $10,000.  Dr. 
Hendry.\  owns  a  shingle-uiill  at  Lumberton,  Neway- 
go Co.,  with  a  capacity  of  about  1,000,000  monthly; 
shipments  are  chiefly  to  Eastern  markets.  He  also 
owns  his  residence  and  two  lots  on  the  corner  of 
Spruce  street  and  Warren  avenue. 

Dr.  Hendryx  was  married  at  15ig  Rapids,  Dec.  22, 
1875,  to  Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Guy  B.  and  Sarah 
A.  Shepherd,  of  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  who  was  born  at 
Sheboygan  Falls,  March  7,  1856. 

As  one  of  the  truly  rejiresentative  men  of  Mecosta 
County,  not  only  as  a  citizen  but  as  a  professional 
and  business  man,  we  present  the  portrait  of  Dr. 
Hendryx  in  this  work. 


*yMi!r  eorge  Grimes,  deceased,  was  born  in  Car- 
•lil^l    roll  Co.,  Ohio,  March  24,   1824.     His  par- 
"c'kjl"    '^  ents,  George  and  Isabella  (Smith)  Grimes, 
jt     ^^^'^  '°"g  residents  of  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
X      died  there  at  an  advanced  age.     Mr.  Grimes 
I       passed  all  his  early  life  in  his  native  State,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1868  came  to  Michigan  and  l)ought  40 
acres  of  wild  hir.d.     He  built  tliereon  a  board  house, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had   cleared   25   acres. 
He    afterwards    purchased    160    acres    on    sec.    15. 
He  (lied  April  27,  1879.     Mr.  Grimes  was  first  mar- 
ried   Dec.  3,   1848,  to  Catherine  Wathey,  who  was 
born  Sei)t.  7,  1826,  and  died  Oct.   29,    1849.     They 
had  one  child,  Matilda,  now  tiie  wife  of  Wesley  Carr. 
Mr.  Clrinies  was  afterward   married  a  second  time 
April    13,    1852,  in    Carroll    Co.,    Ohio,   to    Eliza    J., 


daughter  of  Peter  and  Ann  (Guthrie)  Warren.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  went  to 
Carroll  County,  where  they  were  pioneers,  and  where 
they  died  about  the  year  1857.  Mrs.  Grimes  was 
born  in  Ohio  Dec.  r,  1829.  All  the  children  of  this 
marriage  are  living,  born  as  follows :  Milion  P., 
July  t9,  1853;  Lorenzo  D.,  Oct.  19,  1855;  Cora  A., 
May  10,  1859.  Mrs.  Grimes  manages  the  farm  left 
to  her  by  the  death  of  her  husband. 


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s";  •i^l'l  acob  M.  Dubois,  farmer,  sec.  8,  Green  Tp., 
T'iili  was  born  in  Tyre,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct. 
^  ',',j  -'  18,  1826.  He  is  a  son  of  Conrad  M.  and 
ff  Susanna  (Spear)  Dubois,  the  former  a  native 
of  Dutcliess  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  the  latter  was  born  in 
New  Jersey.  The  father  came  to  Lodi,  Wash- 
tenaw Co.,  Mich.,  in  183 1,  where  he  was  a  farmer. 
He  went  thence  to  Ionia  County,  and  afterwards  to 
Clinton  County,  where  he  died  in  1873.  The  mother 
died  in  Mecosta  County,  Oct.  12,  1874. 

Mr.  Dubois  obtained  a  reasonable  education  in  tiie 
common  schools  of  Washtenaw  and  Ionia  Counties, 
and  remained  at  home  until  llie  age  of  18  years, 
when  he  set  out  in  life  to  work  for  himself.  After  a 
few  years  he  returned  home  and  interested  himself 
in  tlie  care  of  llie  family  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County  and  worked  in  the  lumber  camp  of  W.  S. 
Utley  during  the  winter,  and  in  tlie  spring  of  1856 
he  located  r2o  acres  of  land,  under  the  provisions  of 
the  Gradation  Act,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
Sept.  17,  1 861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Second  Mich.  Cav., 
Colonel  Gordon  Granger  commanding.  He  was  in 
several  sknniishes,  and  at  the  battle  of  Perryvillle. 
In  the  summer  of  1862  he  was  taken  sick  and  was 
in  Hospital  No.  7,  at  Louisville,  for  some  time,  going 
thence  to  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  remained  a  year. 
In  the  spring  of  1864  he  went  to  Nashville,  thence 
to  rejoin  his  regiment,  and  passed  the  last  month  of 
his  ]ieriod  of  enrollment  in  tiie  service.  He  received 
an  honorable  discharge  Oct.  22,  1S64. 

Mr.   Dubois  was  married  June  28,   i8()5,  to  Pru- 
dence A.,  daughter  of  Tyler  and  Mary   A.  (Henlley) 
Duncan,  who  was  born  at  Oswego,  N.   Y.,  Oct.  31, 
1823.     Her    parents   were    natives   of    Fulton    Co. 
N.  Y.,   and    in    1856    located    in    Mecosta   County, 


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where  they  resided  during  the  remainder  of  their 
life.  llic  mother  died  Dec.  28,  1863,  and  the 
father  March  S,  1867.  rohtically  Mr.  Dubois  is  a 
Republican.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
county,  and  is  considered   one  of  its   most  reliable 


-!-?'• 


'A  ■   »  ■tj?e» — 


^apt.  James  Judkins,  Paris,  Mecosta  Co., 
was  born  in  Hehnont  Co.,  Ohio,  March  24, 
1825.  His  fatlier,  Dr.  James  Judkins,  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  came  to  Ohio 
at  an  early  date,  where  he  foUuwcil  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  for  more  than  50  years.  He 
was  a  brother  of  Drs.  Jesse  and  William  Judkins,  well 
known  physicians  of  Cincinnati.  His  mother,  Susan- 
nah (Boyce)  Judkins,  was  born  in  rennsylvania ;  both 
families  were  Quakers. 

'I'he  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the 
Quaker  college,  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Jefferson  Co., 
Ohio.  At  the  age  of  22  he  married  Miss  Mary  h. 
Dorneck,  daughter  of  John  Doriieck,  of  Salona,  Clin- 
ton Co.,  Pa.  She  was  educated  in  the  academy  at 
that  place,  and  afterward  went  with  her  parents  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  at  Flushing,  Belmont  Co.,  where 
she  was  married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judkins  have  had 
five  sons,  three  living  and  two  dead.  Judge  Byron 
Judkins,  of  Hersey,  Mich.,  is  their  eldest  living  son ; 
Lewis  R.  and  Henry  S.  are  telegraph  operators. 
They  also  have  an  adopted  daughter. 

Capt.  Judkins  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  differ- 
ent township  offices  most  creditably  for  many  years. 
He  enlisted  May  i,  1864,  in  the  i56ih  Regt.  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  remaining  in  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war. 


I^arles  W.  Pullman,  farmer,  sec.  16,  Big 
Rapids  Tp.,  was  born  in  Oxford  Co.,  Upper 
'anada,  Jan.  22,  1856.  His  father,  George 
Pullman,  was  of  English  descent  and  born  in 
XewVorkin  1829.  He  was  1  soldier  in  the  civil 
war  and  died  in  captivity  in  Libby  prison,  in 
December,  1 863.  The  mother,  Mary  (Oamer)  Pull- 
man, was  born  in  1 8 37, in  (;ermany,and  died  in  Oxford 
Co.,  Can.,  in  December,  1863,  in  the  same  month  she 


was  left  a  widow.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Albert  \V.  was  born  Oct.  14,  1 858,  and  settled  in 
Big  Rapids  Feb.  15,  1870,  in  company  with  Mr  Pull- 
man of  this  sketch,  (leorge  R.  was  born  in  t  S60  and 
died  the  following  year. 

Mr.  Pullman  was  married  0(  t.  13,  1S80,  to  Mar- 
garet A.  McCune,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza 
(McKee)  McCune,  born  Jan.  13,  1861,  in  Mecosta 
County.  Of  this  marriage  there  is  one  (  hild,  Oeorge 
R.,  born  March  6,  1SS2.  Mr.  Pullman  is  a  Republi- 
can in  liis  political  views. 


i  obert  H.  Bovay,  farmer,  sec.  t^t,,  Chip- 
pewa Tp.,  was  born  in  I'rince  Edward  Co., 
'"   Ameliasburg  Tp.,  Can.,  Jan.   14,  1846,  and 

,rT     is  a  son  ot  John  and  Minerva  (Hlake)  Bovay. 

ty       His  father  was  born  in   England,  in  August, 

I  "792,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Canada, 

where  she  still  resides. 

Mr.  Bovay  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
only  a  common-school  education  in  his  native  Prov- 
ince. .\t  the  age  of  eight  years  he  was  "  bound  "  to 
William  Anderson,  M.  P.  P.,  and  resided  under  his 
guidance  until  between  19  and  20  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  anrf  thence  to  the  Che- 
mung River,  where  he  worked  two  months  in  a  saw- 
mill; then  worked  on  a  farm  in  Canada  six  months, 
during  which  time  volunteers  were  called  out,  and 
he  enlisted,  going  to  Prescott,  ("an.,  for  a  short  time; 
then  was  on  a  farm  on  Prince  Edward  Island  three 
months  longer,  where  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged. He  was  then  at  Saginaw  until  1868,  in  the 
lumber  camps  winters,  and  working  at  saw-mills 
during  the  intervening  summers.  He  then  came  to 
Chippewa  Tp.  and  bought  80  acres  of  land,  which 
he  has  since  increased  to  120  acres.  He  has 
placed  40  acres  under  improvements,  and  has  good 
buildings. 

Mr.  Bovay  was  married  May  29,  1873,  to  Sarah 
Jane,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (House)  Con- 
nor, born  in  Sheffield,  Can.,  Dec.  26,  1850.  Her 
failicr  was  a  native  of  Irelantl,  and  her  mother  was 
born  at  St.  John's,  N.  B.  The  four  children  of  the 
family  were  born  as  follows  :  W'illiam  .Albert,  March 
6,  1874;  Alice  Lauretta,  Nov.  27,  1876;  Frankie  H. 
and  T'"annie  May  (twins),  Jan.  4,  1883. 


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Mr.  Bovay  is  Republican  in  politics  ;    was  elected 
District  Treasurer,  Jan.  22,  1882,  and  Justice  of  the 


homas  Sales,  farmer,  sec.  7,  Green  Tp., 
was  born  in  Caroline  Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  4, 
1823.  He  passed  the  first  18  years  of  his 
life  in  farming,  alternating  with  other  pursuits 
as  occasion  demanded.  He  left  home  in  1841, 
and  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  going  thence  in 
1S46  to  Chicago,  where  he  spent  two  years  in  various 
employments.  In  1848  he  came  to  Michigan,  to  en- 
gage in  lumbering,  and  passed  through  Mecosta 
County,  en  route  to  the  lumber  camp  of  Delos 
Blodgett,  in  Osceola  County,  and  was  in  the  employ 
of  that  gentleman  until  1858.  In  that  year  he 
bought  a  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  Creen  Tp., 
containing  40  acres  of  land,  where  he  expended  labor 
and  energy  for  five  years,  selling  the  property  at  the 
end  of  that  time,  and  removing  just  across  the  line 
into  Newaygo  County,  where  he  lived  two  years.  In 
i860,  he  bought  tlie  farm  on  which  he  is  now  located 
in  Green  'I'p ,  containing  88  acres  of  unimproved 
land.  He  has  api>lied  his  time  and  efforts  to  the 
clearing  and  improvement  of  his  farm  to  the  best 
purpose,  and  has  40  acres  in  advanced  cultivation, 
with  a  fine  residence,  good  orchards  and  fi.xtures, 
generally  in  e.xcellent  condition.  He  is  esteemed 
among  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  regarded  as  a  valu- 
able and  public-spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Sales  was  married  in  i860  to  Mrs.  Catherine 
Goose,  a  native  of  Germany.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Maria  L.  and  William  T.  Mrs. 
Sales  had  seven  children  by  a  former  marriage  :  Kate, 
George,  Margaret  and  Mary,  now  living,  and  Henry, 
Lizzie  and  Mary  deceased. 


^a-^^ 


jl^red  B.  Wood,  jjliysician  and  surgeon,  at 
miP  -iig  Kapids,  was  born  Sept.  12,  1844,  at 
'"  Bainbridge,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Farnham)  Wood. 
When  he  was  two  years  old  his  parents  moved 
to  Williams  Co.,  Ohio,  and  went  a  year  later  to 
De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind.,  where  his  father  dieil  within  the 


same  year.  His  mother  was  of  Scotch  lineage,  and 
by  her  death  six  years  later  her  seven  children  were 
fully  orphaned.  The  little  Hock — four  boys  and 
three  girls — were  scattered,  never  more  to  gather 
under  the  home  roof. 

Dr.  Wood  co'.unienced  his  career  as  a  practitioner 
after  the  manner  in  which  children  often  indicate 
the  bent  of  their  proclivities.  He  experimented  in 
surgery  on  small  animals,  and  dosed  with  harmless 
compounds  such  persons  as  he  could  induce  to 
yield  to  his  importunities.  He  began  to  study  early, 
and  when  1 1  years  old  went  to  work  for  Wm.  Mitch- 
ell, of  Steuben  Co.,  Ind.,  receiving  $4  per  month  the 
first  season,  and  a  dollar  additional  during  the  second 
year.  After  that  he  worked  for  Martin  Eldredge  two 
summers,  at  %i  a  month,  and  went  to  school  winters. 
He  saved  his  earnings  and  spent  the  school  years  of 
1859-60  at  Hillsdale  College,  where  he  first  studied 
anatomy.  In  February,  1861,  he  went  to  work  for 
Benj.  Dygert,  of  Steuben  Co.,  Ind.,  and  in  May  fol- 
lowing enlisted  at  Angola,  in  Co.  A,  29th  Ind.  \'ol. 
Inf ,  for  three  years'  service.  He  was  the  second  en- 
rolled soldier  from  that  county,  and  went  out  under 
Capt.  J.  H.  M.  Jenkins,  rendezvoused  at  La  Porte,  Ind., 
and  crossed  the  Ohio  in  June,  1861,  from  Jefi'erson- 
ville,  Ind.,  to  Louisville,  Ky.  His  first  smell  of  rebel 
powder  was  at  Mumfordville,  Ky.,  followed  by  engage- 
ments at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth  (1st  and  2d), 
Shiloh,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Liberty  Gap  and 
Chickamauga,  where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  head.  At  Liberty  Gap,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
leg  by  a  niinie  ball,  and  spent  a  few  days  in  the 
hospital.  On  the  last  day  of  the  fight  at  Chicka- 
mauga, Sept.  20,  1863,  he  was  captured  and  sent  to 
Scott's  [)rison  at  Richmond ;  was  transferred  success- 
ively to  Royster,  Pemberton  and  Belle  Isle.  Feb. 
22,  1864,  he  was  sent  to  Andersonville  in  the  first 
S(piacl  that  peopled  that  (iolgotha  of  modern  times 
He  was  transferred  Sept.  7,  1864,  to  Savannah,  and 
went  thence  to  MiUen,  Oct.  3,  1864.  Nov.  20,  fol- 
lowing, he  was  returned  to  Savannah. and  exchanged, 
after  spending  14  months  in  rebel  prisons.  He 
added  largely  to  his  medical  knowledge  by  doing 
hospital  duty  while  in  cajjtivity.  He  had  charge 
of  the  sniall-iiu.\  patients  at  Richmond,  and  as 
sisted  in  hosi)ital  organization  at  Andersonville, 
Savannah  and  Millen.  He  was  sent  from  An- 
napolis, Md.,  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  was  fur- 
loughed  90  days,  went    home   and  returned  in  the 


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winter  of  1864  to  the  place  last  named,  to  be 
mustered  out  of  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
In  the  spring  of  1865  he  resumed  his  studies  at 
Hillsdale.  The  next  winter  he  taught  school  and 
pursued  his  medical  course  with  W.  Alphonso  Wood, 
of  Angola,  and  in  the  winter  of  1866-7  went  to 
Hellevuc  (N.  Y.)  Hospital  Medical  College,  and  at- 
tended lectures. 

Dr.  Wood  came  to  Big  Rapids  Feb.  14,  1867,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  company  with 
Dr.  D.  F.  Wooley.  Mecosta  County  was  in  its 
pioneer  days,  and  the  experiences  of  Dr.  Wood  dur- 
ing the  next  few  years  present  a  fair  exhibit  of 
the  life  of  a  physician  in  the  early  history  of  a  lum- 
ber district.  Big  Rapids  had  less  than  400  inhabit- 
ants, but  it  was  the  central  point  of  a  large  section, 
and  the  lumbermen,  at  widely  scattered  points,  de- 
pended wholly  on  the  physicians  there  located, — 
Drs.  Wooley,  Whitfield  and  Wood.  The  sanitary  con- 
ditions in  the  woods  differed  from  those  at  local  [wints. 
The  lumbermen  were  in  constant  need  of  medical 
aid.  In  addition  to  accidents,  of  which  there  was  a 
large  percentage,  the  exposure  and  carelessness  of 
the  men  at  work  in  the  woods  occasioned  a  large 
amount  of  sickness.  In  the  winter  of  1867-8  l)r. 
Wood  entered  into  a  contract  with  all  llie  lumber- 
men on  the  Muskegon  and  its  tributaries  north  of 
Big  Rapids,  by  the  terms  of  which  each  man  paid 
him  one  dollar  monthly,  thereby  securing  medical 
treatment  as  his  case  demanded.  Dr.  Wood  set  out 
on  his  route  every  Monday  morning,  rode  on  horse- 
back an  average  of  68  miles  daily,  returning  Satur- 
day or  Sunday  following.  He  carried  with  him  his 
medicines  and  the  mail  for  the  lumber  camps  he  ex- 
pected to  visit.  The  woods  he  traversed  were 
Indian  trails  or  worse,  and  the  incidents  of  his  jour- 
neys included  such  experiences  as  are  common  to  the 
early  settlement  of  a  lumber  section. 

In  1870-1  Dr.  Wood  attended  lectures  at  Rush 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  was  graduated  m  the  lat- 
ter year,  and  in  1879  completed  another  course  at 
Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.  In  1877  he  engaged  in  the  drug 
trade  at  Big  Rapids,  and  continued  the  management 
of  that  branch  of  business  until  April,  1880,  when 
he  sold  out  to  Willard  Jeffts  and  went  to  La  Grange, 
Ind.,  where  he  fomied  an  association  with  W.  A. 
Stewart  in  the  drug  business,  combining  medical 
practice  therewith.     In  the  winter  of  1881-2  he  at- 


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tended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical  College, 

and  again,  in  the  winter  of  1882-3,  took  a  jxjst  gradu- 
ate course  at  the  same  institution.  June  26,  1883, 
he  returned  to  Big  Rapids  and  resumed  his  career 
as  a  medical  practitioner. 

Dr.  Wood  married  July  20,  1865,  Maty  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Wm.  E.  and  Eliza  J.  (Thornburgh)  Sargent. 
The  parents  are  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent,  and 
the  father  became  a  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  going  into 
the  service  as  Lieutenant  of  the  same  company  in 
wiiich  Dr.  Wood  enlisted.  The  household  of  the 
latter  includes  two  sons:  J.  Fordyce,  born  Jan.  13, 
1868,  and  Phonso  S.,  born  Feb.  6,  1872. 


ohn  S.  Weidman,  farmer  and  lumberman, 

'^  resident  on  sec.  29,  Hinton  Tp.,  was  born 

in  St.  Clair  Co.,  Mich.,  May  10,  1852.     He 

t"X  is    a   son  of    Evan    and    Harriet    (Edgecomb) 

%    Weidman,  who  settled  in  Hinton  Tp.   six  years 

Y  ago  and  still  reside  there.  Uiit  1  the  age  of  25, 
Mr.  Weidman  was  attending  school  and  working  on 
the  farm,  and  was  also  employed  on  the  rivers.  He 
bought  40  acres  of  timber  land  in  Hinton  Tp.,  in  the 
fall  of  1876.  In  1877  he  was  employed  in  lumbering 
on  the  Little  Muskegon  River  and  passed  seven 
months  in  that  occupation,  then  settled  on  his  tract 
of  80  acres  he  liad  bought  for  a  homestead.  He 
built  a  frame  house,  and  spent  five  months  clearing 
his  farm,  then  returned  to  liis  lumbering  interests  on 
the  Big  Muskegon,  where  he  was  occupied  nearly 
eight  months.  He  has  continued  ever  since  to  alter- 
nate farm  labors  with  lumbering.  He  has  added  to 
his  farm  and  other  land  until  he  owns  600  acres, 
witli  60  acres  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  W'eidman  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  July  3, 
1877,  to  Maggie  E.,  third  daughter  of  William  G.  and 
Mary  (Plimi)ton)  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in  A-^tna 
Tp.,  Nov.  4,  1847.  They  have  two  children, — Ten- 
ora  D.,  born  Sept.  8,  1S78,  and  Mildred  A.,  Aug.  i, 
1880.  Mrs.  Weidman  is  a  memljcr  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Mr.  Weidman  deserves  tlie  trilmte  due  to  every 
self-made  man.  He  began  in  the  world  ov\\y  with  his 
hands,  his  energy  and  determination  as  farmer  and 
lumberman,  and  has  reached  a  social  and  financial 
status  that  compares  fairly  with  the  records  of  other 

M'ry- — ^"-  ^' --^  X  •  > 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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leading  men  of  Mecosta  Count)^     In  politics  he  is  a 
Rei)ul)lican. 

We  present  a  portrait   of   Mr.  Weidman    in    this 
book. 


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lonzo  Vangilder,  farmer,  sec.   6,  Big  Rap- 
ids, was  born  Feb.   24,  1824,  in   Onondaga 

?3':  '•■■/        '-°->  ■'^-  ^1  '^"'^  '^  ''^^  third  son  of  Ransom 
--•JUrf    ,^1-jij  A^iiba^  (Vantassel)  Vangilder,  the  former 

a  native  of  Vermont. 
1  Mr.  Vangilder  left  his  native  State  and  settled  in 
Wisconsin  in  1846,  and  resided  in  that  State  princi- 
pally until  1865.  He  was  married  at  Foud  du  Lac, 
Wis.,  Oct.  22,  1854,  to  Maria  Williams,  who  was 
born  Jan.  16,  1826,  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  In 
August,  1865,  Mr,  Vangilder  came  to  Mecosta  Co., 
Mich.,  and  settled  in  the  township  of  Big  Rapids, 
where  he  now  owns  100  acres  of  land,  with  40  acres 
in  tillage,  20  acres  cleared  for  pasturage  and  40  acres 
of  good  timbered  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vangilder  have  had  four  daughters 
and  two  sons:  Hannah  M.,  Annis  R.,  Mary  E., 
James  R.  (died  in  February,  1881),  Clara  L.  and 
Grant. 

Mr.  Vangilder  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
Aug.  31,  1864,  enrolling  in  Co.  A,  38th  Wis.  Vol.  Inf., 
on  what  was  known  as  the  "one-year  call."  Mr.  V. 
was  honorably  discharged  June  2,  1865,  the  war  be- 
ing practically  ended.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 


''  I-  -    '-^^ 

V   /"f.  ^   lanson  B.  Schofleld,  farmer,  sec.  32,  Chip- 
'.\zJ.'JJl.     pewa  Ti).,  was  born  in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y., 


^I'i 


Aug.  10,  18 1 9.     His   [)arents,  Reuben   and 


.^bT  Ruth  (Kelley)  Schofield,  were  natives  of  Ver- 
.'-'  niont,  and  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
■  where  they  resided  30  years,  after  which  they 
located  in  Branch  Co.,  Mich.  After  a  residence 
there  of  five  years  they  again  moved,  going  to  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich,  where  they  ultimately  died. 

Mr.  Schofield  came  to  Branch  County  with  his 
parents,  and  was  there  interested  in  farmmg  for  20 
years,  on  a  farm  of  160  acres.  His  first  change  of 
locality  was  to  Black  Hawk  Co.,  Iowa,  and  there  he 


engaged  three  years  in  land  traffic.  He  came  back 
to  Branch  Co.,  Mich.,  bought  100  acres  of  land,  and 
carried  on  farming  two  years,  when  he  again  sold  out 
and  went  to  Polk  Co.,  Iowa,  and  there  engaged  in 
farming  between  two  and  three  years.  He  again 
liberated  himself,  and  traveled  in  the  Eastern  States 
for  a  time.  On  his  return  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County,  and  in  the  fall  of  1875  bought  160  acres  of 
land  in  Chippewa  Tp.,  and  again  became  practically 
interested  in  farming.  He  has  continued  to  add  to 
his  landed  possessions  until  he  now  owns  640  acres 
in  Chippewa  Tp.,  and  is  the  most  extensive  land- 
holder within  its  limits.  He  owns  also  100  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Martiny.  In  regard  to  the 
principles  of  national  government  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

Mr.  Schofield  was  first  married  in  1840,  to  Cor- 
delia Schofield,  a  native  of  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
died  in  1841,  leaving  one  child,  .4nna  C.  He  was  a 
second  time  married,  to  Rachel  Bates,  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  She  died  in  1857,  leaving  a 
daughter  who  bears  her  name.  The  third  and 
present  wife  of  Mr.  Schofield  was  Delilah  Bates,  a 
sister  of  his  second  wife,  by  whon\  he  has  three 
children, — Robert  R.,  Essa  May  and  Bertha  D. 


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||fWiil|,,  urelle  P.  Glidden,  Attorney  at  Big  Rapids 
pllJ'.iy/i^'  (firm  of  Glidden  &  Marsh),  was  born  in 
ff^'"^  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  12,  1S50.  He  is 
%^^  son  of  Oliver  D.  and  Adaline  L.  (Coy)  Glid- 
den. His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1 8s  2  removed  with  his  family  to  Paw  Paw, 
Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  afterward  in  mercantile  business.  Young  Glid- 
den attended  the  public  school  until  he  was  16,  when 
he  taught  a  term  or  two  in  the  common  schools. 
The  following  year  he  matriculated  at  Hillsdale  Col- 
lege, and  was  graduated  in  the  Latin  Scientific 
Course,  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.,  in  the  class  of  1873. 
Meantime,  he  had  taught  a  year  in  the  high  school 
at  Paw  Paw  as  assistant,  and  another  as  Principal  of 
the  public  schools  at  South  Haven,  Mich.  During 
his  teaching  and  college  course  he  had  been  reading 
law,  and  after  graduation  at  college  entered  the 
office  of  Hon.  James  Gould,  of  Jackson,  Mich., 
where  he  continued  his  legal  studies  until  February, 
1874,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.     In  Marchi 


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1874,  he  opened  an  office  at  Paw  Paw,  remaining 
there  until  September,  1875,  when  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  formed  his  present  partnershij)  with 
E.  J.  Marsh,  April  i,  i<S78.  The  firm  occupy  a  suite 
of  rooms  fitted  up  for  tliem  in  the  Northern  Hotel 
block.  They  are  rated  among  the  leading  attorneys  of 
Mecosta  County,  and  are  doing  a  successful  liusi- 
ness.  They  are  also  engaged  in  real-estate  opera- 
tions, which  they  conduct  almost  exclusively  in  their 
own  interests. 

Mr.  Glidden  has  figured  somewhat  prominently  in 
the  political  arena  of  the  county  and  district.  He  is 
a  staunch  Democrat,  and  during  the  Presidential 
ca:r.paign  of  1876  supported  Tilden  &  Hendricks 
with  great  zeal,  throughout  the  Ninth  Congressional 
District.  He  is  the  Chairman  of  the  Democratic 
County  Committee,  and  has  done  much  to  organize 
that  [larty  in  his  county.  He,  with  his  father,  start- 
ed the  Big  Rapids  Herald,  in  Ai)iil,  1875,  it  being 
the  first  Democratic  pai)er  in  the  county,  and  one  of 
the  first  in  Northern  Michigan.  Mr.  G.  is  Grand 
Chancellor  of  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Pythias  in 
Michigan,  having  been  elected  at  the  Grand  Lodge 
session  at  Kalamazoo  in  July,  1883,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Glidden  to  Lynn  Van  Ant- 
werp occurred  at  Edwardsburg,  Cass  Co.,  Mich., 
Dec.  21,  1874.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Simon  and 
Louisa  Van  Antwerp.  There  are  two  children :  Coy 
H.,  born  June  4,  1877,  and  Grace  L.,  born  March  2, 
1880. 


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t^jj:  ou  A.  Pelton,  hardware  merchant,   at   Mor- 
i    ley,  was  born   at  Grand    Rapids,   .April   3, 


•Si" 


He    is    a   son  of    Aid  rich    W.    and 


'iy^  Amanda  (Gray)  Pelton,  the  father  a  native  of 
f'S  Canada,  and  the  mother  of  Troy,  N.  \.  L'pon 
:  their  marriage  they  settled  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  and  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  where 
that  city  now  stands.  The  senior  Pelton  still  resides 
there;  his  wife  died  in  February,  1872. 

Mr.  Pelton  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  tinner's 
trade,  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  prosecuted 
his  trade  at  Grand  Rapids  until  the  age  of  21  years, 
when  he  went  to  Chicago  and  there  remained 
two  years,  working  as  tinsmith.     He  then  returned  to 


;niir:>T 

COUNTY. 


Grand  Rapids  and  remained  nearly  eight  months, 
going  thence  to  Cadillac,  Mich.,  and  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Hicks  &  Peck  for  13  months.  This  engage- 
ment was  ended  I5y  the  burning  of  his  employer's 
store.  He  went  to  Cedar  Springs,  Kent  Co.,  and 
was  there  em])loyed  fouryears.  In  September,  1881, 
he  came  to  Morley,  bought  the  building  and  lot  he 
now  occui)ie3,  and  has  a  fine  stock  of  hardware,  agri- 
cultural implements  and  farmers'  tools,  and  is  man- 
aging a  flourishing  and  increasing  trade,  ranking 
among  the  first  business  men  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Pelton  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 
July  5,  1877,  to  Mary  A.,  eldest  daughter  of  J.  S.  and 
Nancy  L  (VVeeden)  Wright,  who  was  born  in  \\'alker 
Tp.,  Kent  Co.,  Feb.  12,  1854.  They  have  one  child, 
La  Verne  A.,  born  April  16,  1879.  In  politics  Mr. 
Pelton  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  has  been 
Village  Assessor,  and  was  Township  Clerk  of  Solon 
Tp.,  Kent  Co.,  one  year,  but  on  removal  resigned  the 

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acob  J.  Tallman,  farmer,  sec.  34,  Chip- 
pewa Tp.,  was  born  in  the  City  of  New 
PS^IP^  York,  July  10,  183 1.  His  father,  John  J- 
Tallman,  was  born  in  Rockland  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  10,  1796,  and  was  a  farmer,  carrying  on 
that  business  for  a  number  of  years,  when  he 
sold  his  farm  and  went  to  New  York  city,  where  he 
resided  eight  years.  He  purchased  a  house  at  Hack- 
ensack,  N.  J.,  and  engaged  in  real-estate  tranbactions 
until  his  death,  which  transpired  in  1875.  The 
mother  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  s  still  resi- 
dent there,  in  the  township  of  Passaic. 

Mr.  Tallman  was  bred  on  his  father's  farm  and  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  25  years  he  came  to  Cass 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  found  employment  in  the  town  of 
Porter,  where  he  remained  'iw^  years.  He  was  the 
owner  of  40  acres  of  land,  which  he  purchased  and 
put  into  an  improved  condition. 

Three   years  afterward  he  sold  this  and  went  to 
Kalamazoo,   where  he    resumed   his   occuiiation    of     1 
laborer  by  the  day  and  month,  which  he  followed  two  ^  " 
years.      'I'aking   advantage   of  an  opportunity  that    (:. 
offered,  he  went  to  Mieldlc  Tennessee,  to  engage  in   ^ 
bridge  building  on  a   railway,  and  after  a  stay  of  si.\    (? 
months  returned  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  worked  at   ^ 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


the  Seminary  about  iS  months.  After  three  months' 
residence  at  Big  Rapids,  he  moved  upon  his  farm, 
which  he  had  "  proven  up,"  containing  80  acres  of 
land;  this  he  began  to  clear  and"  prepare  for  the  pur- 
poses of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Tallraan  was  married  March  31,  1858,  to 
Mrs.  Electa  Irene  (Tyler)  Truesdell,  widow  of  Ali- 
merin  Truesdell,  who  died  in  Sacramento  city,  Cal., 
in  1 85 1.  Of  her  maniage  with  him  two  children 
were  born,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  sec- 
ond, Jonathan  Alimerin  Truesdell,  was  born  in  1850, 
and  died  Jan.  14,  1882. 

Mrs.  Tallman  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  16,  1829.  Her  father.  Job  Tyler,  was  born  in 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  farmer,  as  also  a 
minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church  five  years,  when  he 
became  a  convert  to  the  tenets  of  the  Seventh-Day 
Baptist  Church,  and  entered  its  ministry,  continuing 
his  labors  until  his  death  in  1851.  The  mother, 
Sally  (Davis)  Tyler,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  died 
April  21,  1877.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tallman  have  had 
two  children:  Milford  J.,  born  July  19,  1863,  and 
died  July  27,  1865;  Josephine  Alida,  born  April  4, 
1866. 

Mr.  Tallman  is  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years, 
and  has  officiated  in  the  positions  of  Constable, 
Township  Treasurer  and  School  Assessor  of  Chip- 
pewa Township. 


^•s$<4l|^$$>^ 


ugene  F.  Burdiek,  teacher,  residing  on 
N^Qi';  sec.  3,  Hinton  Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Reuben  S. 
®)v4^"^^°  and  Laviuia  (Bailey)  Burdiek,  natives  of 
jiW  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they  now  reside 
and  where  tlicir  son  was  born,  June  20,  1S50. 
He  spent  his  youth  in  the  common  schools  and 
finished  his  course  of  study  at  Aurora  Academy, 
Erie  County.  He  taught  school  in  his  native  State, 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  came  to  Mecosta 
County  and  located  in  Hinton  Tp.  In  the  spring 
following  he  bought  a  small  tract  of  land,  on  which 
he  built  a  frame  house,  where  he  now  resides.  Since 
coming  to  the  county  he  has  been  engaged  in  teacli- 
ing,  and  has  earned  an  enviable  reputation  in  his 
calling. 

He  was  married  April  5,  1874,  in  the  house  which 
he  now  occupies,  to  Evaline,  youngest  child  of  Emery 


and  Ruby  (Petiingill)  Hewlett.  Her  [)arents  were 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  They  moved 
thence  to  Indiana  and  afterward  to  Michigan,  finally 
settling  in  this  County,  where  the  father  died  in  1876. 
The  mother  is  now  residing  in  the  Township  of 
Wheatland.  Mrs.  Burdiek  was  born  in  Berrien  Co., 
Mich.,  Feb.  26,  1858.  She  is  the  mother  of  two 
children, — Gertrude  E.,  born  Aug.  3,  1881,  and  Reu- 
ben R.  born  April  26,  1883.  Mr.  Burdiek  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  held  the  office  of  Notaiy  Pul)!ic 


I 


fames  Johnson,  farmer  and  miller,  resident 
p  at  Paris,  this  county,  was  born  in  Sandusky 
Sj"'^*^  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  28,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of 
H  Lewis  and  Abigail  (Stults)  Johnson.  The 
r  father  was  born  in  Ohio,  of  Irish  parentage, 
I  audjnoved  to  Jay  Co.,  Ind.,  when  the  son  was 
but  seven  years  of  age,  afterward  removing  to  Port- 
land Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  died.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Virginia,  and  died  in  1880,  at  Winchester,  Ind. 

Mr.  Johnson  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  19,  working  on  the  farm  and  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  machinist.  When  he  left  home  he 
went  to  Fremont,  Ohio,  and  worked  as  a  machinist 
and  millwright  until  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war. 
He  enlisted  in  i86i,in  the  71st  Ohio  \o\.  Inf.,  sta- 
tioned at  Fremont,  and  was  seized  with  an  affection 
of  the  eyes  which,  after  three  months,  caused  his  dis- 
charge. Afterward  he  enlisted  in  the  same  regiment, 
and  was  in  the  service  nine  months,  when  he  was 
again  discharged,  on  account  of  sickness. 

Ou  leaving  the  army  he  went  to  Ohio,  bought  a 
saw-mill  and  interested  himself  in  lumbering,  operat- 
ing until  Sept.  i,  1S64,  when  he  enlisted  a  third 
time,  enrolling  in  the  64th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  the  regi- 
ment being  attached  to  the  command  of  Gen. 
Thomas,  and  was  in  the  service  until  the  termination 
of  the  war.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he  resumed  the  pro- 
fession of  millwright.  In  1868  his  place  of  business 
was  burned,  and  he  lost  everything.  He  came  at 
once  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  and  located  at  Paris, 
where  he  followed  the  callings  of  millwright  and 
miller.  In  1875  he  bought  a  farm  on  sec.  15,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  agriculture,  and  continues  to 
manage  his  mill  for  the  accommodation  of  the  coun- 
try trade. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Bridget  Mulholland,  a 


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native  of  Ireland,  and  daughter  of  Owen  ard  Bridget       It  was  first  in  actional  Bull's   Run  (2d),  wliere  an 

engagement  lasting  only   15   minutes  (Aug.  29)  cost 


477    "S 


Mulholland.  Four  cliildren  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnson,  three  of  whom  are  living,  vi/. : 
Francis,  Mary  Ellen  and  Sarah  Jane;  James  is  de- 
ceased. In  his  political  principles,  Mr.  J.  is  a 
Democrat. 

-^•d» 5— 


-}- 


•.ol.  Nathan  H.  Vincent,  resident  at  Big 

pfa^^;    Kapids,  was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.   V., 

Dec.  5, 1839.    His  parents,  David  and  Freegift 

■^r  (Saunders)  Vincent,  resided  50  -years  on  a 
farm  in  Almond  Tp.,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  there  in  the  fall  of  1866,  the  demise  of 
the  father  occurring  three  months  before  that  of 
the  mother. 

A  few  months  after  Col.  Vincent  had  attained  his 
majority,  the  country  was  convulsed  by  civil  war.  It 
roused  to  activity  every  sentiment  of  loyal  patriotism 
existing  in  the  North  ;  it  taught  men  how  strong  were 
their  own  unrecognized  love  and  fealty  for  home  and 
country;  it  brought  to  the  altar  of  the  Union  the  best 
blood  in  the  land,  and  developed  to  the  awe-stnick 
and  wondering  nations  of  the  earth  the  imperishable 
character  of  American  institutions. 

Col.  Vincent  enlisted  Aug.  29,  1861,  in  Ilornells- 
ville,  N.  v.,  in  Co.  D.,  86th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  D. 
S.  Ellsworth,  and  his  rc;;imcnt  was  mustered  into  ser- 
vice at  Elmira.  After  six  months'  service  as  a  private, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Corporal,  and  suc- 
cessively to  those  of  Sergeant  and  Sergeant  Major, 
and  Feb,  15,  1863,  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. May  3,  following,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
Captain  of  his  Company.  His  commissions  as  Major, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Colonel  followed  in  swift 
succession,  and  after  a  command  of  eight  months  he 
brought  the  regiment  to  Elmira,  where  it  was  mus- 
tered out,  .\ug.  5,  1865. 

On  leaving  Palmira  tlie  86th  N.  Y.  Regt.  proceeded 
to  Washington,  and  was  engaged  during  the  winter 
building  fortifications  for  the  defense  of  the  Capital. 
Early  in  the  spring  it  was  assigned  to  detached  ser- 
vice in  Washington  and  Georgetown,  and  did  provost 
guard  duty  until  the  return  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac from  the  Peninsula  Campaign  under  McClellan, 
when  it  joined  the  army  at  Manassas  Junction,  and 
was  assigned   to  the  command  of  Fitz-John  Porter. 


1 


Jr.'.-^ 


the  senior  Captain  killed,  and  Captain  Ellsworth 


the  regiment  upwards  of  200  men.  Col.  Vincent 
was  wounded  below  the  knee,  and  was  sent  to  the 
hospital,  where  he  remained  until  the  following  morn- 
ing. As  the  coming  daylight  streaked  the  east,  he 
discovered  that  the  Union  forces  had  moved  to  the 
heights  at  Centreville,  and  the  rebels  were  advancing 
to  occupy  the  ground  held  the  previous  day  by  the 
Federal  soldiers.  He  pressed  two  fence  pickets  into 
service  for  crutches,  and  made  his  way  to  a  ruined 
bridge,  crept  across  on  a  stringer,  and  joined  the 
army. 

He  recovered  in  time  to  participate  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  Fredericksburg.  May  2,  1863,  he  was  again 
under  fire  at  Chancellorsville,  at  the  close  of  what  is 
on  record  as  exceeding  in  disaster  any  previous 
campaign  in  which  the  Federal  army  had  been 
engaged. 

The  loss  in  officers  of  the  86th  at  Chancellorsville 
was  terrific.  Ceneral  Whipple,  on  the  first  day,  led  a 
rcconnoitering  force  toward  the  left  from  the  point 
held  by  the  right  wing  (Howard's  corps),  and  at- 
tacked the  rear  guard  of  Stonewall  Jackson.  Mean- 
while the  latter  made  his  daring  Hank  movement  with 
his  advance,  and  utterly  routed  the  right  wirg. 
After  some  hours'  severe  figluing,  Gen.  \\'hipple  fell 
back  to  an  open  field  in  the  vicinity  of  the  position 
whence  the  "  right  "  had  been  driven.  It  was  after 
nightfall,  and  the  rebel  pickets  surrounded  the  field 
on  three  sides,  a  portion  following  in  the  rear  of  the 
withdrawing  force  and  closing  in,  while  the  other 
sides  were  guarded  by  pickets  from  Jackson's  force 
holding  the  former  position  of  Gen.  Howard.  The 
night  was  thus  spent,  and  at  break  of  day  it  was  dis- 
covered that  the  enemy's  pickets  had  not  joined  on 
the  side  nearest  the  Union  forces,  and  the  beleaguered 
troops  under  Gen.  Whipjjle  availed  themselves  of  the 
promise  thereby  afibided,  and  made  a  precipitate 
bolt,  followed  by  the  rebels.  The  soldiers  crossed  a 
ravine  and  met  Gen.  Hooker  with  his  forces,  who 
joined  battle  with  the  troops  under  Jackson. 
Whijjple's  men  moved  to  a  position  to  support 
Hooker's  batteries,  but  were  obliged  to  cross  the 
ravine  on  the  right  to  intercept  the  enemy  marching  a|.' 
"n  the  Union  lines.  Under  the  severe  fire  to  which 
the  86th  was  subjected,  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  com- 

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Co.  D  fell  at  the  side  of  Col.  Vincent.  Whipple's 
men  came  up  into  the  road,  but  an  enfilading  fire 
compelled  them  forward  toward  the  batteries  which 
they  had  previously  supported,  to  find  them  fallen 
back  to  the  Chancellor  House,  whither  they  follow- 
ed, and  while  yet  heated  and  panting  were  ordered 
back  to  the  relief  of  a  regiment  that  had  been  cut  off. 
The  destruction  of  officers  had  been  so  great  that  it 
was  next  to  impossible  to  determine  who  was  the 
legitimate  leader,  and  Col.  Vincent,  the  junior  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  assumed  command,  led  back  the 
regiment,  rescued  the  organization  and  flag,  but  lost 
more  men  of  his  own  force  than  he  saved  of  the  regi- 
ment he  delivered.  He  was  covered  with  blood  from  a 
scalp  wound,  and  while  standing  amcjVig  the  battle- 
stained  men.  Gen.  Whipple  came  up  and  advised  him 
to  go  to  the  rear.  Col.  Vincent  e.xpressed  his  deter- 
mination to  abide  with  the  regiment.  His  General 
marked  him  for  promotion  and  moved  on.  A  few 
minutes  later  they  were  once  more  in  action,  below 
the  Chancellor  House,  where  Col.  Vincent  received 
another  scalp  wound,  a  slij;ht  injury  in  the  right  arm, 
and  another  in  the  right  hip.  Gen.  Whipple  was 
shot,  and  his  duty  devolved  on  others. 

The  regiment  was  next  engaged  in  a  fight  at  Bev- 
erley's Ford,  whither  they  went  on  a  forced  march, 
and  did  effective  service,  capturing  the  rebel  head- 
quarters, with  papers  outlining  Lee's  plans  for  carry- 
ing the  war  into  ALaryland  and  Pennsylvania.  The 
rebel  chief  found  himself  unexpectedly  on  the  eve  of 
battle,  and  his  hopes  scattered  like  autumn  leaves 
when  it  became  certain  that  two  years  of  indecisive 
war  had  lulled  his  sagacity  blinded  his  judgment, 
and  inveigled  him  into  premature  battle. 

The  86th  N.  Y.  Regt.  was  prominent  through  the 
Gettysburg  campaign,  where  it  did  heroic  service  in 
repulsing  the  impetuous  attack  of  the  corps  of  Gen. 
Longstreet,  July  2,  1S64.  Being  in  Sickles'  corjis,  he 
participated  in  several  actions  along  the  route  of  the 
Orange  &  Alexandria  railroad,  and  in  the  valley  of 
the  Shenandoah.  It  was  transferred  to  the  command 
of  Gen.  Hancock,  and  went  into  action  at  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  May  5,  having  770  etjuipped  men. 
The  struggle  ended  seven  days  later,  but  at  roll-call 
at  the  close  of  May  10,  only  50  men  of  the  86th  re- 
sponded to  their  names. 

Col.  (then  Capt.)  Vincent  was  disabled  by  gun- 
shot wounds  in   the  left  arm  and  thigh,  and  was  off 


duty  three  months.  His  left  arm  was  badly  shat- 
tered, and  has  never  recovered.  He  was  an  inmate 
of  Seminary  Hospital  at  Georgetown,  until  sufficiently 
well  for  furlough.  At  the  end  of  60  days  he  went  to 
the  Convalescent  Hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  and 
was  sent  thence  on  detached  duty  to  Camp  Gilmore 
Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  occupied  in  the  duties 
attendant  upon  the  assignment  of  recruits.  In 
November  he  made  application  to  be  relieved,  and 
joined  his  command  before  Petersburg.  On  his  way 
he  stopped  at  Albany,  and  received  his  intermediate 
and  final  commissions  from  Gov.  Seymour,  and 
assumed  command  of  his  regiment  as  its  Lieutenant 
Colonel.  Soon  afterward  he  ijecame  Colonel  in 
verity,  and  took  part  in  the  closing  conflicts  of  the 
spring  of  1865,  among  tliem  Hatcher's  Run,  Peters- 
burg (final  battle),  and  the  other  engagements  in 
pursuit  of  Lee,  until  the  surrender  of  the  latter  to  the 
Federal  authority  at  Appomattox  Court-House.  The 
regiment  went  thence  to  Beeksville  Junction,  and  on 
to  Washington  for  the  Grand  Review. 

Col.  Vincent  hears  on  his  body  seven  scars — the 
ineffaceable  credentials  of  his  bravery  on  the  field. 
The  regimental  flag  of  1864  is  preserved  at  Albany, 
N.  v.,  with  the  record  of  the  year  and  the  following 
statements :  "  This  flag  was  received  at  Brandy  Sta- 
tion, Va.,  in  March,  1864 :  "  and  "  Four  Color-bearers 
have  fallen  beneath  its  folds."  This  was  but  one  of 
several  flags  carried  by  the  "86th  "  during  the  war. 

Col.  Vincent  returned  to  Hornellsville,  where  he 
went  into  business  as  a  real-estate  broker,  and  oper- 
ated three  years,  officiating  also  as  policeman  and 
ticket  agent  of  the  Erie  railroad.  \\\  May,  1868,  he 
came  to  Big  Rapids,  where  he  purchased  a  lot  and 
built  a  residence,  which  he  sold  soon  after,  and 
bought  the  well-known  Stimson  farm,  containing  280 
acres  of  land,  situated  on  the  north  border  of  the 
city  of  Big  Rapids,  and  lying  on  sees.  3  and  4,  Big 
Rapids  Tp.  On  this  he  moved,  and  followed  farm- 
ing about  II  years.  He  has  made  considerable  im- 
provements, and  still  owns  the  place.  Li  1881,  he 
bought  25  acres  adjoining  his  farm.  In  the  spring 
of  1883  he  sold  21  acres  off  the  southern  extremity. 
He  also  owns  two  lots  in  the  rear  of  the  Northern 
Hotel,  each  240  x  60  feet;  two  lots  adjoining,  front- 
ing on  State  street,  50  x  150  feet,  on  one  of  which  he 
[jroiioses  to  erect  his  residence.  He  is  engaged  in 
breeding  trotting  slock,  in  which  he  takes  great  pride 
and  satisfaction. 


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Col.  Vincent  was  married  at  HornellsvlUe,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  i6,  1864,  to  Angeline  Ellsworth,  sister  of  Capt. 
Ellsworth,  and  a  daughter  of  Horace  and  Susan 
Ellsworth,  born  in  New  York,  Dec.  22,  1841.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Vincent  have  two  children:  Clara  A.,  born 
at  Hornellsville,  May  7,  1865,  and  Daniel  H.,boni  at 
Big  Rapids,  Sept.  7,  1869. 

In  the  fall  of  1S76,  Col.  Vincent  was  ele<ted 
Sheriff  of  Mecosta  County,  on  tlic  Republican  ticket, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  following  term.  He  served 
two  years  afterward  as  Under-Sheriff,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  and  several  insurance 
societies.  He  is  the  present  Deputy  United  States 
Marshal.  He  was  an  actor  in  the  organization  of  the 
city  of  Big  Rapids,  and  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee which  framed  its  charter. 

A  recent  writer  says  a  man's  temperament  is  his 
fate.  The  statement  probably  amounts  to  a  truism 
in  the  case  of  Col.  Vincent.  It  is  always  imijossible 
to  estimate  the  exact  degree  to  which  a  man's  traits 
of  character  are  inherent,  or  to  determine  whether 
they  are  the  result  of  education  and  circumstances. 
The  question  is  too  broad  for  present  discussion,  but 
its  interest  in  this  individual  case  is  no  less  intense, 
awakened  as  it  is  by  a  career  and  position  which 
must  lead  every  careful  observer  to  reflection,  and  due 
weight  must  be  accorded  to  innate  tendencies,  train- 
ing, and  ihe  influence  of  events.  The  fatlier  of  Col. 
Vincent  was  such  a  man  as  made  tlie  period  in 
which  he  lived  a  most  significant  era,  from  its  bear- 
ing upon  that  which  lay  in  the  immediate  future. 
The  Whig  i)arty,  of  which  he  was  an  adiiereni, 
reached  its  ultima/inn  during  his  active  life,  and  the 
element  of  which  he  was  the  type,  in  its  quiet  but  in- 
flexible and  unswerving  methods,  made  the  political 
history  of  this  people  during  tlie  last  40  years  a  grand 
possibility,  and  an  illustrious  certainty. 

The  character  of  Col.  Vincent  was  molded  by  that 
of  his  father.  The  reflective  habits  of  the  latter 
trained  him  in  such  directions  that  in  the  simultane- 
ous advent  of  civil  war  and  his  legal  freedom,  he 
found  the  opportunity  of  his  life.  The  disaster  of  the 
first  Bull  Run  engagement  brought  the  nation  face 
to  face  with  a  most  ixjrtentous  fact.  The  culmina- 
tion of  a  colossal  national  wrong  was  precipitated 
u{>on  an  apathetic  people.  The  sentiment  of  the 
Englishman  who  scornfully  informed  the  parties  at 
Big  Rapids  with  whom    he   was   negotiating,   where 


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news  was  received  of  the  disaster  at  Bull  Run,  that 
their  business  was  off  because  they  had  no  country, 
was  identical  with  that  which  filled  the  North  with 
unutterable  shame,  and  awakened  her  hidden  lieroes 
to  a  sense  that  men  were  needed  at  the  front.  The 
young  Vincent,  in  the  first  flush  of  his  untrammeled 
existence,  only  saw  one  fact, — that  the  time  to  act 
had  come,  and  the  emergency  demanded  promptness 
and  self-abnegation.  The  story  has  already  been 
told  in  brief,  but  in  the  cause  wherein  was  the-  ele- 
ment of  success  is  contained  a  lesson  that  the  young 
men  of  this  generation  might  consider  with  profit.  In 
a  cursory  review  of  the  facts  of  his  career  he  was  asked 
concerning  the  governing  impulse  of  which  he  was 
conscious.  "  I  only  realized  an  earnest  desire  to 
understand  my  duty,"  was  the  resjxjnse  which  merits 
permanent  record,  both  as  an  exponent  of  its  author's 
character  and  in  what  it  may  mean  to  others. 

On  reaching  his  post  of  duty,  his  incompetency  irt 
military  detail  led  Col.  Vincent  to  strive  in  every 
way  to  remedy  the  defect,  and  lie  devoted  all  the 
time  and  opportunity  he  could  control  to  that  pur- 
pose. His  aiiparent  proficiency  in  acquiring  the 
details  of  mililaiy  tactics  obtained  his  rapid  advance- 
ment through  the  non-conmiissioned  grades  of  [iromo- 
tion  :  his  bravery  in  action  did  the  rest.  Like  jxiets, 
leaders  are  born. 

The  grandest  development  of  the  civil  war  was  the 
exhibit  to  the  world  of  what  stuff  Americans  are 
made  ;  how  quiet  men,  moving  in  humble  walks  in 
life,  rise  to  heights  reached  by  few  others  under  the 
impelling  power  of  an  unheralded  emergency.  Fore- 
thouglit  and  self-knowledge  are  the  foundation  of 
Col.  Vincent's  achievements,  in  whatever  avenue  he 
acts.  He  needs  no  eulogy  :  his  record  is  his  crown 
of  fame,  but  its  luster  pales  in  the  glory  of  his  perfect 
and  pre-eminent  manhood.  His  portrait  on  page 
476,  enhances  the  value  of  this  volume. 


^PgiUlen  Chapin,  merchant  at  Morley,  is  a  son 
^*'  of  James  and  Mary  A.  (Rice)  Chapin,  the 
father  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  the 
mother  of  New  York.  At  the  age  of  1 2  years 
Mr.  Chapin  left  home  to  enter  ujion  his  life 
work  alone.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
other  occupations  until  18  years  of  age,  when  he  i^n 
rented  a  large  dairy  farm  in  Illinois,  which  he  man-    ^ 


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aged  one  year.  His  parents  had  moved  to  Michigan 
where  they  were  pioneers,  and  Mr.  Chapin  has  passed 
his  life  at  different  points  in  Michigan,  Ohio  and  In- 
diana. In  tlie  fall  of  1868  he  came  to  Morley  and 
has  since  resided  here  uninterruptedly.  He  carries 
on  a  general  merchandise  business,  with  an  average 
slock  of  $5,000.  He  is  also  owner  of  40  acres  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Deerfield,  20  acres  of  which 
is  cleared.  He  is  independent  in  political  sentiment 
and  action,  and  has  occupied  the  positions  of  Town- 
ship Clerk  and  Village  'I'rustee,  and  has  declined 
several  offices  to  which  he  was  elected. 

Mr.  Chapin  was  married  at  Logansport,  Ind.,  June 
12,  1862,  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
Warner,  who  was  born  Jan.  g,  1S45.  They  have  one 
child,  Frank,  born  Feb.  29,  1864. 


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.enson  IiIcDuffie,  farmer,  sec.  18,  Big  Rap- 
ids Tp.,  was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  in 
1823.     His  father,  Enoch  McDuffie,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  county  and  State,  and  his 
mother,  Catherine  (Pope)  McDuffie,  was  born  in 
I     New  Jersey.      They  removed  to  Ohio  and  two 
years  later  fi.ved  their  residence  in   Rush  Co.,  Ind., 
^    where  the  father  died  in  1840,  aged   45  years.     The 
mother  married  the  Rev.  James  Stallard,  after  two 
years  of  widowhood,  whom  she  outlived,  dying  at 
the  age  of  70  years. 

After  the  marriage  of  his  mother,  Mr.  McDuffie 
went  West  and  stayed  about  two  years  in  and  about 
Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa.    He  returned  to  Indiana  .and 
,    in  1846  married  Miss  L.  J.  Beckner.     Of  their  marri- 
•ft,    age  eight  children — six  sons  and  two  daughters — 
■^      were  l>orn,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 

In  1S64,  Mr.  McDuffie  became  a  Union  soldier, 
and  was  in  the  campaign  under  Gen.  Shemian.  He 
returnt"d  at  the  close  of  the  war  to  tind  his  wife  a 
hoi>cless  suffeivr  under  the  ravages  o{  consumption, 
of  which  she  died  in  1867. 

Mr.  McDuffie  was  again  married  in  i8o8,  to  Elvira, 
youngest  child  of  Andrew  and  Jane  (Day)  McFarlin, 
lK)m   in   Ohio,  in    1S35.      Her  father  was  bom  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  17 82.     His  parents  came 
'       with  their  family  to  America  in   1796,  and  the  son 
^    Andrew  iHv.ime  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Mr.  McDuffS-  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1871 
and   established    himself  in   the   township   of   Big 


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Rapids.  He  is  the  present  Township  Clerk,  and  has 
held  the  position  six  years.  Mrs.  McDufifie  is  serv- 
ing the  township  as  School  Inspector,  and  is  the  first 
lady  incumbent  of  that  office  in  Mecosta  County,  re- 
ceiving her  appointment  from  the  Township  .School 
Board. 


r  alorus  W.  Bruce,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  Big  Rapids  Cm  rent,  was  born  in  Leslie, 
Ingham  Co.,  Mich  ,  March  26,  1843.     His 

V  father,  William  Bruce,  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, born  Sept  12,  18 18,  and  was  a  black- 
P  smith  by  trade.  His  mother,  Diantha  C.  (Rice) 
Bruce,  was  born  in  Vermont,  Dec.  22,  1822. 

Mr.  Bruce,  in  early  life,  was  for  a  brief  season  em- 
ployed in  his  father's  shop,  after  which,  until  the  age 
of  19.  he  interested  himself  in  agriculture. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  he  shared  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  hour,  and,  despite  the  fact  of  his 
minority,  enrolled  himself  as  a  private  soldier  in  Co. 
.•\,  17th  Mich.  Inf..  Capt.  L.  L.  Comstock.  He  was 
in  the  service  iS  months,  and  was  in  action  at 
Fredericksburg  and  Vicksburg.  .^t  the  battle  of 
Campbell's  Station,  Tenn.,  Nov.  16,  1863,  during 
Longstreel's  advance  on  Knoxville,  he  received  a 
severe  wound,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  his  right 
leg.  He.  with  19  others,  was  captured  by  the  rebels, 
and  placed  in  a  field  hospital.  He  was  carefully 
nursed  by  Mrs.  Nancy  S.  Galbraith,  a  Union  widow- 
lady  ;  and  when  the  countr\-  was  once  more  at  peace 
he  made  a  practical  exhibit  of  his  gratitude  by  secur- 
ing to  her  from  the  general  Government  a  just 
remuneration  for  her  services.  Mr.  Bruce  was 
discharged   at  Detroit,  March  4.  1S64. 

The  use  and  advantages  of  a  more  extended  edu- 
cation to  one  in  his  circumstances  became  a  fixed 
conviction  during  his  illness,  and  on  recovery  he 
entered  college  at  .-Vdrian,  Mich.,  and  there  pursued  his 
studies  until  1867,  when  he  obtained  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Auditor-General  at  Lansing. 
He  discharged  the  duties  of  the  situation  continuously 
until  May,  1870.  At  that  date  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids  and  established  himself  in  business  as  a  book 
and  stationery  dealer.  He  continued  his  trade  until 
the  autumn  of  1S76,  when  he  sold  his  interests. 

During  the  session  of  187 1,  he  acted  as  Engrossing 
and  Enrolling  Cleit  of  the  Michigan  House  of  Rep- 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


resentatives,  at  Lansing,  and  while  absent  at  his  post 
his  name  was  placed  on  the  Union  ticket  of  Big 
Rajjids  as  a  candidate  for  City  Recorder.  He  was 
elected  and  served  one  year.  At  the  Legislative 
Assembly  of  1877,  he  was  elected  Postmaster  of  tlie 
two  Houses. 

In  June,  1877,  .Mr.  Bruce  commenced  his  career  as 
an  editor,  by  the  purchase  of  the  Recorii,  at  Howard 
City,  Montcalm  Co.,  which  he  managed  until  1879. 
On  the  6th  of  February  of  that  year,  associated  with 
\V.  F.  Slawson,  lie  founded  tlic  I'lig  Rapids  Ciimiit, 
and  soon  afterward  sold  the  Howard  Record.  .After 
a  partnership  of  a  few  months  he  jnirchased  the 
interest  of  Mr.  Slawson. 

The  Current  is  a  creditable  representative  of  the 
Republican  press,  anil  is  ably  and  consistently  con- 
ducted. It  is  the  official  newspaper  of  the  county, 
is  (piarto  in  size,  and  has  eight  pages  of  seven  col- 
umns each.  It  has  the  largest  circulation  in  tlie 
county,  and,  mechanically,  is  an  evidence  of  the  good 
taste  of  its  manager.  It  is  printed  on  a  fine  Camp- 
bell i)ress.  The  office  receives  a  considerable 
amount  of  job  patronage. 

Mr.  Bruce  was  married  in  Creeii  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co., 
Oct.  22,  1873,  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Jesse  A.  and 
Caroline  Barker.  She  was  born  in  Cascade  Tp., 
Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  19,  T847,  whither  her  parents 
came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1855,  as  pioneers. 
They  made  the  journey  to  Green  Tp.  from  the  city 
of  Grand  Rapids  with  an  ox  team,  coming  all  the 
way  through  the  woods.  Mrs.  Bruce  was  educated 
at  Grand  Rapids  and  Muskegon,  and  began  her 
labors  as  teacher  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  continued 
them  until  her  marriage.  Herself  and  sisters  were 
prominent  among  the  pioneer  educators  of  Mecosta 
County.  .Mr.  Barker,  her  father,  was  Chairman  of 
the  first  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county,  and  was 
its  first  Probate  Judge. 

In  1872,  Mrs.  Bruce  was  appointed  to  the  charge 
of  the  money-order  department  of  the  ixjstoffice  at 
Big  Rapids,  under  her  uncle,  Thomas  Lazell,  Post- 
master. The  abilities  of  Mrs.  Bruce  are  in  rei|uisi- 
tion  co-ordinately  with  those  of  her  husband  in  the 
publication  of  the  Current,  in  whose  profits  and 
resix)nsibilities  she  is  with  him  e([ually  interested. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruce  have  one  child,  Carrie  C".,  born 
at  Big  Rapiils,  Jan.  13,  1876. 

Mr.  Bruce   is   a  zealous    member  of   the  M.  E. 


Church,  and  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  since  187 1,  e.xcept  during  his  brief  residence 
at  Howard  City. 


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li  Frederick,  Siieriff  of  Mecosta  Co.,  resi- 

>   dent  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born  near  North 

Liberty,  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  -Aug.   24,    1843, 

^^  and  is  a  son  of  Christian  P.  and  Esther  (Divel- 

K    bess)  Frederick.     When  he  was   14  years  old 

!  his  parents  moved  to  Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
his  father  bought  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  management  of  these,  followed  agricul- 
ture. 

Mr.  Frederick  was  trained  to  active  liabits,  and  at 
the  age  of  17  commenced  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
vocation  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  about  two 
and  a  half  years.  In  1863,  he  yielded  to  tlie  influ- 
ences which  controlled  men  and  events,  and  enlisted 
at  Mansfield,  Richland  Co.,  (^hio,  in  Co.  G,  71st 
Ohio  Vol.  Inf ,  and  served  in  the  ranks  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  in  action  at  Pulaski,  Franklin 
and  Nashville,  besides  being  in  a  number  of  skir- 
mishes, and  was  discharged  at  San  .\ntonio,  Texas, 
Oct.  16,  1865.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  trade 
in  Ohio,  and  pursued  farming  to  some  e.xtent. 

In  the  fall  of  i868  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and 
opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  in  company  with  a  Mr. 
Chellis,  which  they  managed  about  18  months.  Mr. 
Chellis  was  succeeded  by  James  M.  Parkhill  and  the 
last  relation  existed  about  four  years,  the  firm  selling 
out  their  Inisiness  in  1874. 

Mr.  Frederick  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  carriage 
and  wagon  manufacturing  establishment  of  L.  C". 
Lincoln.  The  concern  continued  to  transact  busi- 
ness until  the  fall  of  1882,  when  Mr.  Frederick  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  the  county  on  the  Fusion  ticket, 
running  against  Arnold  Ely.  His  majority  was  433 
votes,  showing  an  advance  of  nearly  a  thousand 
votes  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

He  was  married  in  Big  Rapids  Jan.  24,  1S70,  to 
Anna,  daughter  of  James  and  Susan  Cooper,  a  native 
of  England,  born  .\ug.  24,  1850.  They  have  three 
children:  Harley  E.,  Cora  M.  and  Lora  E.  Mr. 
Frederick  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry  and 
belongs  to  the  fraternity  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  has 
been  Supervisor  of  the  Second   Ward  two  years  and 

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He  is  of    a  speculative  tuni  of  mind,   and    has 

f  always  been  engaged  more  or  less  in  handling  real 
estate,  which  is  now  his  sole  business.  He  owns  his 
f  residence  on  State  street,  80  acres  of  farming  land  on 
'^    sec.  22,  Grant  Tp.,80  acres  in  Newaygo,  and  a  house 


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and  three  acres  of  land  in  Walworth  Co.,  Wis.  He 
belongs  to  the  fraternity  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a 
member  of  Post  French,  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Jacques  was  married  in  Ottawa,  Waukesha 
Co.,  Wis.,  April  5,  187 1,  to  Alice  I.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Alvira  Boone,  a  native  of  Iowa.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Nevada  P.,  born  in  Wisconsin, 
Jan.  28,  1876. 

Mr.  Jaciiues  has  given  a  great  deal  of  time  and 
interest  to  the  science  of  fish  culture.  He  has  stocked 
a  number  of  the  water  courses  of  the  county,  and  in 
1874  established  a  trout  fishery  on  sec.  24,  Big 
Rapids  Tp.,  starting  with  10,000  eggs.  A  year  later 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  scheme  on  account 
of  his  fish  being  stolen. 


M«2ae/!si@«— i»/£i 


^^-SWTZTOv 


ames  Martin  Denney,  farmer,  sec.  30, 
Sheridan  Tp.,  was  born  Aug.  ri,  1817,  in 
Ciallia  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of  \Villiani 
F.  and  Mary  Ann  (Fulk)  Denney,  l)orn  in 
^F  North  Carolina,  respectively  in  1794  and  1791. 
'  Tlie  former  was  of  Scotch  and  Welsh  descent 
and  the  latter  German.  In  1831  they  settled  in  Jay 
Co.,  Ind. 

Mr.  Denney  was  married  Sept.  20,  1842,  to  Lois 
E.,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Laura  (Miner)  Scranton, 
born  April  5,  1820,  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  of  Welsh 
descent.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Connecticut.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Denney  have  had  11  children,  as  follows: 
John  S.  (dec.)  ,  Mary  A.,  William  T.,  James  M. 
(dec),  Nathan,  Laura,  Joshua  (dec),  Jordan, 
Henry  F.  (dec.) ,  Lois  L.  E.  and  Riley  S. 

Mr.  Denney  came  to  Michigan  in  August,  1865. 
He  first  located  on  sec.  21  of  Wheatland  Tp.,  and 
came  thence  to  the  section  where  he  now  resides. 
Everything  was  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  he  has  re- 
claimed the  land  from  a  dense  forest  and  established 
himself  comfortably.  He  has  served  two  terms  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  filled  other  offices. 


^aijg^jr- 


He  is  an  old-line    Democrat,  and  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Church.     He  owns    120  acres  of  land, 
of  which  are  under  good  cultivation.       His  timbered 
land  includes  pine  of  first-class  cpiality. 


ather  Henry  W.  Grimme,  Priest  in  charge 
,„  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Mary,  at  Big  Rapids, 
^'^  was  born  at  Hanover,  Germany,  July  3, 
■q,-^  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Margaret 
■S"-.  Grimme,  and  when  16  years  of  age  accompa- 
i       nied  his  parents  to  the  United  States. 

His  early  education  was  obtained  in  his  native 
land,  and  on  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  was  sent 
to  Mount  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  at  Cincinnati,  to  pre- 
pare forhis  vocation,  the  priesthood.  After  ten  years' 
arduous  application  to  his  studies,  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Wyandotte, 
Mich.,  where  he  officiated  three  years  and  three 
months.  He  then  went  to  Olisco,  Ionia  Co., 
and  after  a  brief  tarry  there,  in  December,  1880,  he 
came  to  Big  Rapids,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  station  here.  The  society  includes  the  members 
of  150  families,  and  has  doubled  since  the  beginning 
of  his  labors  as  parish  Priest. 

His  mission  stations  are  at  Cedar  Springs,  Morley, 
Ensley,  Croton,  Fremont  Center,  Newaygo,  Hesperia, 
White  Cloud,  Reed  City,  Evart,  etc  He  is  popular 
among  his  people,  and  liked  by  tlie  comnuinity. 

Attached  to  the  parish  buildings  is  the  Convent  of 
the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  including  about  15  sistera. 
The  school  belonging  to  their  quarters  was  discon- 
tinued for  a  while,  owing  to  the  destruction  of  the 
convent  by  fire,  l)ut  has  since  been  re-opened  in  con- 
nection with  the  Church. 

Ifdl^  illiam  P.  Montonye,  one  of   the  earliest 

ft  raj  Mk 

\^S!mL  comers  to  Big  Rapids,  is  a  son  of  Hiram 

'JiJ^O      '''"'^  Elizabeth  (Shafer)  Montonye,  and  was 
*>    born  Dec.  7,   1835,  at  Forty   Fort,   Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.     At  15  lie  left  home  and  proceeded 
\^    u|)  the  west  branch  of  tlie  Susquelianna   River 
to  [.ock  Haven,  where  he  jiassed  three  years  in  the 
occupation  of  lumberman,  when  he  arranged  to  per- 
fect himself  in  the  details  of  the  carpenter's  trade. 


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and  spent  two  and  a  half  years  in  the  prosecution  of 
'i^    this  calling. 


In  the  simng  of  1858  he  came  to  Big  Rapids. 
While  (•//  route  he  reached  (Irand  Rapids  and  paid 
three  dollars  to  be  conveyed  to  this  place.  He  was 
accompanied  by  other  travelers  of  similar  destination; 
and  soon  after  leaving  Grand  Rapids  he  and  one  of 
his  companions  became  disgusted  willi  their  tardy 
progress,  and  made  their  way  on  foot,  outstripping 
the  stage  by  several  hours.  At  that  date  there  were 
but  two  residences  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  He 
worked  as  a  carpenter  at  Big  Rapids  and  bought  of 
Zera  French  a  block  in  the  Third  Ward;  also  some 
lots  in  the  First  Ward,  and  continued  to  work  at  this 
trade  until  the  advent  of  tlie  civil  war. 

Yielding  to  the  influence  which  swayed  the  entire 
North,  Mr.  Montonye  enlisteii,  Feb.  22,  1862,  in  Co. 
E,  Third  Mich.  Cav.,  Capt.  Lattimer.  His  regiment 
was  attached  to  the  Western  army,  and  he  was  in 
active  service  at  the  battles  of  Shiloli,  luka,  Corinth 
(first  and  second),  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Rocky 
Ford,  Miss.  He  was  first  sent  to  Mobile,  and  suc- 
cessively to  Richmond,  Andersonville  and  Savannah. 
He  spent  eleven  months  in  captivity,  undergoing  all 
the  horrors  whose  unparalleled  activity  stand  out  in 
bold  relief  on  the  events  of  modern  warfare.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  was  exchanged,  and  in 
June,  1865,  was  discharged  from  service,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

On  his  return  to  Big  Rapids  he  embarked  in  mer- 
cantile traffic,  in  company  with  Charles  Shafer. 
Their  store  was  located  on  part  of  the  site  of  the 
Furniture  block,  and  the  business  relation  existed 
three  years,  when  Mr.  Montonye  sold  hisinterest  and 
built  a  livery  stable  on  Michigan  avenue,  in  com- 
pany with  George  B.  Jones.  Two  years  later  he  sold 
to  his  partner,  and  since  that  time  has  been  operat- 
ing in  scaling  logs  for  various  lumber  firms. 

Mr.  Montonye  resides  in  the  Fourtli  Ward,  on 
Woodward  avenue.  He  owns  15  acres  of  land  in 
that  precinct,  and  two  city  lots  and  barn  on  .Maple 
street,  rented  and  occupied  by  an  omnibus  line,  and 
also  owns  the  dry-goods  store  on  Michigan  avenue, 
tenanted  by  S.  Wildberg.  He  was  married  at  Grand 
Rapids,  to  Amanda  Eggleston,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut. She  died  at  Evart,  Osceola  Co.,  and  Mr.  Mon- 
tonye was  again  married  at  Big  .Springs,  Ottawa  Co., 
in  January,  188^,  to  Mrs.  Lydia  Demond.     lie  be- 


489  \ 


longs  to  the  Order  of  Masonry,  and  during  the  first    ^ 
year  of   his   residence  here  was  elected  Constable,     A 
holding  the  office  one  year.  *•',■• 

1 


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-jj,j_5-_*,on.  William  Ladner,  Probate  Judge  of  Me- 
|-||^ali    costa    County,    residing    in  Me<osta    Tp., 
1^        whose   iiortrait    is   given    on    the   opi)3site 
(&     page,  was  born  in  Cornwall  Co.,  England.     He 
i      is  a  son  of  James  and  Jane  (C'hirgeoin)  l.adner, 
I      natives  of  the  county  of  Cornwall.     The  father 
was  born  Dec.    15,    1807,  and  died   Scjit.    21,  1882; 
the  mother  was  born   Nov.   22,   181  2,   and  died  Jan. 
26,  1876.     The  record  of  their  ten  children  is  as  fol- 
lows:    William,  born    Nov.    r,    1834;    Richard    D., 
April   I,  1837;  Herbert,  June    15,    1839;    Jane    E., 
June  8,  1841  ;  James,   May   21,    1843;  Frank,   Feb. 
25,    1845;  Thomas,   May  3,  1847;  ttenry,  Oct.  8,     C 
1849  (died  Sept.  24,  1878);  George,  Sept.  4,  1851; 
Emily  A.,  Oct.   10,   1853  (died  in  May,  1875).     Mr.    f^ 
I.adner's  parents  came  to  America  in  185  i,  with  eight    ^ 
children,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Cannon  Tp.,  Kent     />' 
Co.,  Mich.,  where  the  father  and  mother  died.  ^ 

William  was  kept  in  school  until  his  parents  came  V/ 
to  the  United  States.  His  father  purchased  a  farm  ^ 
of  80  acres  in  the  township  where  he  located,  and 
his  son  became  his  assistant,  remaining  on  the  home 
place  until  he  was  20  years  of  age.  He  then  came 
to  Muskegon  and  interested  himself  in  lumbering, 
operating  winters  and  engaging  in  farm  labor  sum- 
mers. In  1856  he  settled  in  Mecosta  County  and 
bought  a  timbered  tract,  80  acres  in  e.xtent,  in 
Mecosta  Tp.,  then  an  annexation  of  the  township  of 
Leonard  (now  i5ig  Rapids).  Mr.  Ladner  brought  his  i' 
inherited  energy  and  perseverance  to  bear  uiwn  the 
portion  of  wilderness  of  which  he  had  become  the 
possessor,  and  added  to  its  dimensions  by  purchase, 
until  he  now  has  a  valuable  farjn  of  440  acres,  with 
240  acres  under  the  best  improvements. 

Mr.  Ladner  has  been  identified  with  the  interests 
of  his  township  since  his  first  location  therein,  and 
has  held  most  of  the  positions  of  trust  in  the  man- 
agement of  its  local  affairs.  In  1876  he  was  placed 
in  nomination  by  the  Republicans  of  the  county  for 
I'robate  Judge,  and  receiveil  a  decisive  majority  over 
Dr.  Gruber,  of  .Mtona,  opposition  candidate.  In  the 
fall  of  1880  he  was  again  the  successful   nominee  of 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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his  party,  running  against  Wni.  Warren,  of  Hinton 
Tp.  Judge  Ladner  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  20  years.  He  resides  on  liis 
farm,  located  five  and  a  half  miles  from  Big  Rapids, 
and  drives  to  the  city  during  the  sessions  of  court. 

He  was  married  in  the  township  of  Big  Prairie, 
Newaygo  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug,  21,  t86o,  to  Lucy  A. 
Howe,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Howe, 
who   was   born   in    Pennsylvania,   March   12,    1843. 

Their  family  includes  seven  children:  Linnie,  Fred, 
Harry,  James,  Eugene,  Allen  R.  and  Florence. 
Judge  Ladner  has  never  had  occasion  to  call  a 
physician  to  treat  his  children,  and  has  always  man- 
aged his  affairs  so  judiciously  that  he  has  never 
needed  the  services  of  a  lawyer. 


-tec- 


illiam  Miller,  farmer,  sec.   10,  Grant  Tp., 
..      „    was  horn  in   Glasgow,  Scotland,  April  15, 
'"^l^yf    1838.     His  parents,  John  and  Mary  Mil- 
ler, came  to  the  United  States  in   1842,  and 
l^-y  ■>     settled  at  Mooers,  N.  Y.,  where  the  mother 
lived  but  a  sliort  time.     Not  long  after  her 
death,  the  father   returned    to  Scotland,  and  there 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.     After  the  death 
of  his  mother  Mr.  Miller  went  to  C'anada,  and  there 
found  a  home  with  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  he  was  15  years  old. 

ill  1S53  he  returned  to  Mooers,  N.  Y.,  and  three 
years  later  went  to  Orwell,  Vt.  He  remained  two 
years  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  then  went  to 
Nunda,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.  Three  years  afterward 
he  returned  to  Orwell,  where  he  was  married  Sept. 
14,  1859,  to  Emily,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
Rogers,  who  was  l-orn  in  West  Haven,  Vt.,  Oct.  11, 
1S39.  Her  father  is  still  living,  in  (.rant  T|).  Her 
mother  died  April  16,  1875,  in  Orwell. 

Mr.  Miller  enlisted  Dec.  16,  1863,  in  Co.  K,   i  ith 
Vt.   Heavy  Artillery,  and  was  detailed   for  duty  at 
Fort  'I'otten,  Washington,  1).  C,  where  he  continued 
until  the   following  spring.     In  May,  1864,  his  regi- 
ment was  sent  to  the  front,  and  he  was  first  initiated 
■'■*?   into  the  merits  of  war,  with  all  the  accompaniments 
/    of  fierce  battle,  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va.     The  fights  at 
fjy.  Petersburg  and  Cold   Harbor  followed  in  swift  suc- 
1®    cession,  and  his  command  was  sent  on  to  guard  the 
^>    Weldon  Railroad.      The  force  was  cajjtured  by  the 


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rebels,  taken  to  Libby  Prison,  and  held  there  a  week, 
when  they  were  transferred  to  Danville,  and  thence 
to  Andersonville,  arriving  in  time  to  witness  the  exe- 
cution of  six  Union  soldiers  for  the  crime  of  stealing 
from  their  comrades  in  bondage,  a  proceeding  which 
received  the  sanction  of  the  Confederate  and  United 
States  authorities.  On  Sherman's  appearance  within 
the  borders  of  Georgia,  the  prisoners  were  removed 
to  Millin,  where  they  were  retained  a  short  time, 
and  then  taken  back  to  Andersonville,  w-here,  two 
weeks  later,  the  stockade  was  broken  by  heavy  rains, 
and  the  captives  were  sent  to  Savannah.  P'our 
weeks  later  they  were  remanded  for  the  third  time 
to  Andersonville.  In  November,  Mr.  Miller  was  sent 
again  to  Savannah  to  be  paroled,  and  while  waiting 
suffered  all  the  miseries  of  cold,  nakedness,  disease 
and  exposure,  froze  his  feet  badly,  and  lay  on  the 
ground  in  the  bitter  atmosphere  without  covering. 
When  he  was  sent  to  the  parole  camp  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  he  was  in  so  exhausted  a  condition  that  he  was 
carried  from  the  steamer  on  a  stretcher.  He  re- 
covered somewhat,  and  received  a  furlough  of  60 
days.  When  the  time  expired  he  joined  the  Union 
forces  once  more,  returning  just  in  time  for  the  final 
assault  on  Petersburg.  His  discharge  papers  bear 
date  June  17,  1865. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  Mr.  Miller  came  to  Michigan 
and  entered  a  homestead  claim  of  80  acres  of  valu- 
able land,  on  which  he  is  now  resident.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  The  Miller  household  in- 
cludes two  children:  Mary  E.,  born  Sept.  16,  1862; 
and  Julia,  July  30,  18S0. 


I^^L  orest  W.  Aldrich,  wagon-maker,  Millbrook 
^^JL    village,  was  born  in  the  township  of  MIll- 

r'^  '■-  brook,  Aug.  28,  i860.  His  father's  family 
were  the   first   white  settlers  in  the  township, 

...^  removing  there  in  1859  and  settling  on  sec.  '4. 

{  His  mother,  Sarah  J.  (Decker)  Aldrich,  is  still 
living,  and  is  a  sister  of  Peter,  James  and  John 
Decker.  (See  sketches).  Leonard  Aldrich,  her  first 
husband,  and  father  of  Mr.  Aldrich  of  this  sketch, 
died,  and  Mrs.  Aldrich  was  married  to  J.  S.  Denney, 
brother  of  W.  F.  Denney,  who  died  leaving  seven 
children.  She  was  married  a  third  time,  to  Hazen 
Aldrich,  brother  of  her  first  husband,  and  lives  on 

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5ec.  !.  F.  W.  Aldrich  was  the  oldest  of  three  chil- 
dren, and  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  town- 
shij),  receiving  his  name,  Forest,  from  tlie  forest 
in  whose  depths  his  conscious  existence  commenced. 
He  obtained  such  education  as  the  facilities  of  that 
l>eriod  afforded,  attending  school  as  opiJOrtunily 
served,  until  the  age  of  17  years.  In  1877  his 
parents  removed  to  Montcalm  County,  where  he  was 
emi)loyed  two  years  in  a  shingle  mill ;  he  afterward 
returned  to  Millbrook,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  and  manages  a 
repair  shop.     He  is  independent  in  politics. 


^*HJH»^ 


wjt'enjamin  F.  Woolworth,  Morley,  harness- 

^3^   maker,  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich., 

Aug.  29,  1846.      He  is  a  son  cf  Benjamin 

'/if'^    and    Sarah  Woolworth,    the    latter    born    in 

'i       Pennsylvania,  the  former  in  New  York.     Mr. 

!  Woolworth  was  apprenticed  in  1869,  to  learn 
the  trade  which  he  is  now  pursuing.  His  engage- 
ment lasted  three  years,  and  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.  Co.,  and  there  continued 
eight  years. 

In  1879,  with  a  capital  of  S90,  he  established  liis 
present  business  at  Morley,  and  now  owns  a  fine 
stock  of  goods  peculiar  to  his  line  of  trade,  and  is 
free  from  debt.  In  politics  Mr.  Woolworth  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  married  at  Elkhart,  Ind.,  about 
1873,  to  Lizzie  Ross,  whose  parents  were  of  .Swiss 
nativity.  Charles  H.  and  Frederick  B.  are  the  names 
of  their  children. 


li  Hathaway  was  born  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  V'., 
July  25,  1820;  he  is   a  son  of  Henry  and 
Lucy  (Seavill)  Hathaway,  natives  of  New 
York:  they  settled  in  Kalamazoo,  Mich., in  1842 
the  father  died  in  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  and  the 
mother   came    to  Mecosta  County,  where  she 
died  in  1880. 

Although  his  advantages  for  an  early  education 
Were  limited,  Mr.  Hathaway  managed  by  his  own  ef- 
forts to  obtain  sufificient  learning  to  enable  him  to 
teach  school,  which  he  did  several  terms.     He  has 


''  *"  '''^    bridge,  Mass.,  Jan.  30,  1S36. 


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followed  farming  principally  through  life.  He  was 
married  in  .-Xllegan  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1850,  to  Sarepta,  fl- 
daughter  of  Silas  and  Polly  Nicholas;  she  was  born  -i 
in  Berrien  Co.,  Mich.,  in  October,  1828.  They  have 
had  the  following  children:  Mary,  wife  of  Timothy 
Haughy;  Lina,  wife  of  William  King;  Henry;  Ed- 
ward E. ;  Lucy;  and  Matilda,  deceased. 

Mr.  Hathaway  is  an  uncompromising  Rei)ublican 
and  prohibitionist.  He  has  held  nearly  all  the  town- 
ship offices;  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  came  to 
Mecosta  County  in  1869,  settling  in  Big  Rapids,  and 
now  owns  a  farm  of  60  acres,  in  Creen  Tj). 


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|tQ'?J?'  tephen  R.  Crandell,  Assistant  Postmaster 
at   Big  Rapids,  was   born  in  West  Stock- 


He  is  a  son 

«^^  of  Stephen  W.  and  Harriet  (Frisbee)  Crandell. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  a  few  weeks  old, 
and  soon  afterward  his  father  removed  to 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  Mrs.  Starks,  of  Whiting's  Pond.  He  remained 
with  her  until  he  was  three  years  old,  when  his 
father  was  again  married,  and  he  was  taken  to  Hud- 
son, where  the  family  resided. 

He  received  a  good  common  and  select  school 
education,  and  at  18  secured  a  position  on  the  West- 
ern railroad,  where  he  reuiained  14  years,  acting  in 
the  capacity  of  foreman  of  section  corps.  He  was 
next  employed  as  engineer  on  a  "  stationary,"  where 
he  operated  one  year. 

In  1866  he  bought  50  acres  of  land  in  Tioga  Co., 
N.  Y.,near  Owego,  which  [jroperly  he  held  two  years. 
DisixDsing  of  his  interests  at  the  North,  he  bought 
land  in  Virginia,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Point 
Lookout  &  Washington  R.  R.  Co.,  and  became 
Superintendent  of  road  construction  in  Maryland, 
where  he  operated  about  18  months.  He  next  en- 
gaged with  the  Fredericksburg  i^-  OordonsviUe  K.  R. 
Co  ,  to  construct  five  miles  of  track;  but  the  |)rojeclors 
failed,  involving  Mr.  Crandell  in  a  loss  of  $8,000. 

This  disaster  (()mi)ellcd   him   to  begin  his  career    •^i 
anew,  and  he  went  to  Washington,  where  he  entered   Jc 
into  the  service  of  contractors,  and  was  employed  one     •'i 
year  on  the    public  works.      He  then  returned    to   ^ 


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New  York  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1879,  when  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  accepted  his 
present  position  under  his  brother,  C.  W.  Crandell. 
(See  sketch.)  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Masonry,  and  was  elected  Treasurer  of  the  City  of 
Big  Rapids,  April  2,  1883. 

Mr.  Crandell  was  married  in  November,  1857,  in 
Canaan,  N.  Y.,  to  Mary  A.  Anderson,  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State.  The  wife  died,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Harriet,  wife  of  George  Michaels,  residing  near 
Owego,  N.  Y.  He  was  married  a  second  time  in 
Cheshire,  Mass.,  Dec.  25,  i860,  to  Ella  Jenkins,  a 
native  of  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  Four  sons  have  been 
born  of  this  marriage  :  E.  Burdette,  Stowel  A.,  Fred- 
die W.  and  Ellis  M. 


115  infield  S.  Tucker,  merchant,  Stanwood, 
was  born  in  Southfiekl,  Oakland  Co., 
Mich.,  Nov.  18,  1852.  His  parents  were 
Ransom  D.,  and  Maria  (Dexter)  Tucker,  the 
I  i.  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  of  English 
!_,  descent;  the  latter  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
and  also  of  English  ancestry.  His  father  died  in 
Oakland  County,  in  February,  1S77  ;  his  mother  was 
killed  by  the  cars,  Sept.  28,  1883.  Winfield  S.  was 
the  eldest  of  two  children,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm. 

His  chances  for  an  early  education  were  limited, 
yet  by  his  own  studious  efforts  he  obtained  a  suffi- 
cient education  to  fit  him  for  almost  any  commercial 
position  in  life.  He  worked  on  the  farm  during  the 
summer  season,  to  earn  means  to  enable  him  to  at- 
tend school  during  the  winter. 

AVhen  1 8  years  old  he  learned  the  art  of  telegraphy 
and  first  operated  at  Milford,  Oakland  Co.  He  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  eight  years,  four  of  which  were 
on  the  F.  &  P.  M.  railroad.  He  came  to  Mecosta 
County  in  1877,  entering  into  the  mercantile  business 
at  Stanwood,  which  enterprise  he  still  follows. 

He  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Mecosta  Tp.,  in 
1876,  which  position  he  still  holds  and  fills  accept- 
ably. He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  1877,  and  is 
the  present  incumbent ;  is  also  a  Notary  Public. 

He  was  married  in  this  county,  July  18,  1874,10 
Mary,  daughter  of  William  T.  and  Sarah  A.  (Davis) 
Russell,   who  was    born    in    Rock  Co.,  Wis.      Her 


father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  mother 
of  New  York  ;  both  were  of  German  descent.  They 
emigrated  to  Mecosta  County  in  1868,  where  they 
still  reside. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tucker  have  had  three  children  ; 
Anna  L.,  born  Aug.  10,  1882;  two  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Tucker  begrn  his  business  career  without  any 
means,  but  by  industry  and  frugality  has  acquired 
considerable  property,  and  bids  fair  to  become  one  of 
Mecosta  County's  most  useful  citizens. 


illiam    W.    Smith,    farmer,   sec.    8,   Fork 
Tp.,  was  born    in  Lenawee    Co.,    Mich.i 

j|^>  Smith,  was  born  Nov.  6,  1812,  in  Pennsyl- 
li/^  vania,  and  came  to  Michigan  in  1834,  where 
t  he  was  a  farmer,  until  his  death,  Oct.  12,  1864. 
His  mother,  a  member  of  a  well  known  Vermont 
family  named  Terrill,  was  born  in  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State,  Nov.  14,  18 11,  and  died  Nov.  22,  i860. 

Mr.  Smith  received  a  common-school  education, 
and  was  an  assistant  on  his  fiither's  farm  until  his 
marriage  with  Phebe  Sanford,  which  occurred  Oct. 
14,  i860.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  New  York,  and 
died  in  Michigan,  June  6,  1864.  Their  first  child, 
Augusta  A.,  died  in  infancy.  A  second  daughter, 
Cora  E.,  is  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Laraway. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  second  time  married  April  20, 
1867,  to  Frances  Amelia,  daughter  of  Everett  W.  and 
Mary  Jane  (Sweezy)  Horton,  who  was  born  in 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  i6,  1839.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Wallkill,  same  county,  Dec.  28,  1816,  and 
her  mother  was  born  July  24,  1819,  in  New  Jersey. 
They  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Woodstock, 
Lenawee  Co.,  in  1848,  and  are  now  residing  there. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  two  children,  Mary  Annora 
and  William  Evert. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  farmer  in  Lenawee  County  until 
the  spring  of  1878,  when  he  removed  to  the  county 
of  Mecosta,  and  located  80  acres  of  land  under  the 
homestead  act,  in  the  township  of  Fork,  where  he 
has  with  vigor  and  success  prosecuted  the  work  of 
clearing  and  placing  his  farm  in  a  condition  suitable 
for  the  best  type  of  farming.  It  was  heavily  tim- 
bered, and  the  manual  labor  necessarily  severe ;  but 
the  reward  is  in  jjvoportion  to  the  effort,  the  farm 
ranking  now  among  the  best  in  the  township.    It  has 


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an  unusually  good  spring,  which  by  means  of  a 
"hydraulic  "  sends  living  water  to  the  house.  There 
are  other  springs  on  the  farm  where  required.  TIk' 
first  place  of  shelter  erected  on  the  land  was  a  tent, 
where  he  and  his  wife  lived  several  weeks,  until  he 
made  a  clearing  and  luiilt  a  tog  house,  in  whi(  li  he 
still  resides. 

Politically,  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  township,  and 
has  held  all  the  local  offices  of  any  importance. 


dwin  H.  Kenrick,  druggist,  MiIII)rook  vil- 
lage, is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Philip  Hen- 
ry, who  was  born  in  the  city  of  London,  in 
**    163 1,  and  educated  at   Westminster,  and  was 
1     one  of  the  2,000  clergymen  who  left  theC'hurch 
{    of  England  in  1662  in  consequence  of  the  pass- 
ing of  the  "act  of  uniformity." 

Our  present  subject  lias  in  his  possession  the  en- 
tire chain  of  genealogy  extending  back  through  more 
than  250  years,  but  was  himself  born  in  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  25,  1845,  and  is  a  twin  brother  of 
Edward  A.  Kenrick,  of  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.  He  is 
of  English  descent  in  the  paternal  line,  his  father, 
Edward  Kenrick,  being  a  native  of  Worcestershire, 
England,  where  he  was  born  Feb.  10,  1801.  His 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Wilcox,  was 
of  Rhode  Island  stock,  but  born  at  White  Creek, 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  28,  181  r,  and  was  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage  with  Edward  Kenrick  the 
widow  of  Abraham  Kalder.  After  their  marriage  the 
parents  settled  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  where  they  are  yet 
living. 

Mr.  Kenrick  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools,  where  he  was  a  student 
until  15  years  of  age.  He  entered  the  grammar 
school  at  Hillsdale  and  afterward  the  college  in  that 
city,  where  he  studied  five  years.  He  completed  his 
educational  course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commer- 
cial College  at  Chicago,  where,  after  a  year  of  study, 
he  graduated,  receiving  his  diploma  in  November, 
1866.  To  allow  his  twin  brother  to  complete  his 
college  course  he  returned  to  Hillsdale  County  and 
for  two  years  managed  the  farming  interests  of  his 
father. 

Mr.   Kenrick    went  to  Ohio  in  September,  1868, 


and  engaged  in  general  merchandise  at  Pioneer, 
Williams  Co.,  forming  a  partnership  with  A.  C.  Mar- 
shall, under  the  style  of  Marshall  iV  Kenrick.  Dur- 
ing the  three  years  of  their  combined  business 
engagements,  circumstances  impelled  them  to  take  an 
interest  m  a  lumber  mill  owned  by  (r.  R.  Joy  &  Co., 
wliich  they  lield  some  months.  In  the  springof  1871 
Mr.  Kenrick  sold  his  interest  in  the  mercantile 
branch  of  the  concern,  and  confined  his  efforts  to 
the  prosecution  of  lumber  manufactures.  Radical 
changes  had  placed  the  mill  property  in  wholly  dif- 
ferent conditions,  and  it  was  now  operated  under  the 
style  of  Sweet,  Kenrick  &  Co. 

A  few  months  later  Mr.  Kenrick  embraced  an  op- 
portunity to  sell  out  his  mill  property,  and  at  once 
embarked  in  the  drug  trade,  three  years  of  his  col- 
lege course  having  been  taken  with  a  view  of  grad- 
uating as  an  M.  D.  Mr.  E.  N.  Skinner.of  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  became  a  partner,  and  they  operated  under 
the  style  of  E.  H.  Kenrick  &  Co.  The  firm  entered 
upon  the  prosecution  of  the  business  and  operated 
one  year,  when  Mr.  Skinner  sold  to  the  senior  part- 
ner, who  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  concern  alone 
until  the  spring  of  1878.  He  then  sold  out  his  en- 
tire property  in  Pioneer,  Ohio,  and  in  May  of  that 
year  he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  located  at  Mill- 
brook  and  became  by  purchase  the  proprietor  of  the 
small  stock  of  drugs  owned  by  Dr.  E.  B.  Tucker,  at 
that  lime  the  only  representative  of  liiat  line  of  trade 
between  Stanton,  Montcalm  Co.,  and  Big  Rapids, 
north  and  south,  and  Mt.  Pleasant,  Isabella  Co.,  and 
Morley,  east  and  west,  thus  covering  a  diameter  of 
more  than  50  miles.  At  the  date  of  writing,  the  drug 
establishment  of  Mr.  Kenrick  ranks  favorably  with 
any  other  in  the  same  line  north  of  Grand  Rapids, 
and  he  is  engaged  in  a  thriving,  prosperous  business, 
conducted  on  commercial  principles  of  acknowledged 
uprightness,  which  have  secured  him  a  large  confi- 
dential patronage.  A  special  branch  of  his  business 
is  the  manufacture  of  a  "diphtheria  cure,"  which  is 
swallowed,  and  is  considered  an  antiseptic  for  this 
dread  malady,  and  is  claimed  to  be  the  first  medicine 
ever  given  internally  for  this  disease.  He  ships 
large  quantities  of  the  medicine  to  all  parts  of  this 
country  and  to  England. 

He  was  married  at  Adrian,  Mich.,  Dec.  24,  1866, 
to  Caroline  A.,  daughter  of  David  C.  and  Abigail  T. 
(Jackson)  Fuller.  She  was  born  in  Hillsdale  Co., 
Mich.,  May  9,  1846.     They  have  one  child,  Maud 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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C,  who  was  born  at  Pioneer,  Ohio,  March   14,   187 1. 

Mr.  Kenrick  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
in  1880  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  at 
Jackson;  but  he  is  a  practical  business  man, intensely 
devoted  to  his  private  interests,  and,  as  he  s;ys, 
"  has  Yankee  blood  enough  in  his  veins  to  make  him 
love  a  good  bargain  more  than  political  advance- 
ment." 

He  is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  made  the  "  Pilgrim- 
age "  to  San  Francisco  in  1883,  and  devoted  more 
than  three  months  to  the  journey,  "doing"  not  only 
the  Rocky  and  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  but  the 
whole  Pacific  coast  as  far  north  as  British  Colum- 
bia; and  on  his  return  delivered  several  lectures  on 
"  What  I  heard  and  what  I  saw  in  a  Journey  of 
10,000  miles."  He  also  wrote  a  series  of  letters  de- 
scriptive of  his  trip,  which  were  published  in  the 
the  Big  Rapids  Current  and  were  well  received. 

We  take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait  of  Mr. 
Kenrick  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


a.^iharles  H.  Crane,  Abstracter,  Notary  and 
i^    Conveyancer,    Big   Rapids,   was   born   in 

IP^^  East  Smithfield,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  May 
j*  30,  1858.  He  ii  a  son  of  Stephen  R.  and 
Lorinda  W.  Crane.  His  father  was  born 
March  15,  T822,  in  Port  Byron,  N.  Y.  ;  is 
a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  is  still  residing  in  Ulster, 
Pa.  His  mother  was  born  in  East  Smithfield,  April 
16,  1822,  and  was  married  there  Sept.  12,  1844.  She 
became  the  mother  of  eight  children,  born  as  fol- 
lows :  Ezra  H.,  Oct.  14,  1846  (died  Aug.  6,  1850); 
Lucy  J.,  Oct.  17,  1848;  Lewis  E.,  Oct.  9,  1850; 
Ella  J.,  Apiil  27,  1853  ;  Almira  E.,  Dec.  11,  1855; 
Charles  H.,  May  30,  1858;  Harlo  G.,  Nov.  i,  i860; 
T.  Cornell,  Aug.  14,  1864.  The  parents  removed  to 
Columbia  Cross  Roads  in  i860,  and  in  1873  Mr. 
Crane  of  this  sketch  went  to  Troy,  Pa.,  and  was 
there  employed  two  years  as  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  West 
to  Lansing,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  Jones 
&  Porter,  real-estate  and  insurance  agents.  Two 
years  later  he  entered  the  office  of  J.  H.  Moores, 
dealer  in  pine  lands,  etc.,  and  a  year  after  returned 
to  the  employ  of  Jones  &  Porter,  remaining  with 
them  until  April,  1882,  when  he  came  to  Big  Rapids 


and  engaged,  and  is  at  present,  with  Joel  Perry. 
The  set  of  abstracts  in  their  possession  was  made 
originally  by  J.  ^L  Colby,  and  has  been  supple- 
mented and  brought  down  to  present  date  by  Mr. 
Crane.  They  are  complete  in  every  respect,  and  are 
the  only  set  in  Mecosta  County.  Abstracts  of  any 
property  within  the  limits  of  the  county  can  be  fur- 
nished. 

Mr.  Crane  was  married  in  Lansing,  Dec.  15,  1S81, 
to  Ada  M.,  daughter  of  D.  K.  and  Mary  A.  Fuller, 
born  June  12,  i860.  Mr.  Crane  is  a  member  of  the 
Big  Rapids  Lodge  of  Sons  of  Industry. 


—5- 


*^ 


-^-^ 


A.  Verity,  senior  member  of  the  grocery 
^^l|  house  of  C.  A.  Verity  &  Co.,  Big  Rapids, 


was  born  in  Kimball  Tp.,  St.  Clair  Co., 
Mich.,  Marcli  3,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam B.  and  Maria  L.  (Adams)  Verity.  The 
latter  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Quincy 
Adams.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  of 
German  lineage,  and  followed  the  calling  of  a  farmer 
all  his  life ;  he  died  in  Oshtemo  Tp.,  Kalamazoo  Co., 
June  28,  1872,  at  the  age  of  51  years.  His  mother 
was  also  born  in  the  Empire  State,  and  died  in  Osh- 
temo, Oct.  19,  187  I,  at  the  age  of  49  years. 

Mr.  Verity  was  taken  to  Kalamazoo  County  by  his 
parents  when  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He  found 
himself  an  orphan  at  16,  and  went  to  Kalamazoo, 
where  he  attended  school  two  years,  and  afterward 
entered  the  grocery  and  crockery  store  of  Barrett  & 
Torrey,  where  he  operated  two  years,  going  thence  to 
Sturgis  and  engaging  about  si.\  months  in  the  same 
capacity.  His  ne.\t  employ  was  with  L.  E.  White, 
dry-goods  merchant,  and  he  continued  to  serve  in  the 
house  as  a  clerk  two  years,  after  which  he  obtained 
a  situation  with  L.  (i.  Twitchell.  Six  months  later 
he  opened  business  for  himself  at  Kalamazoo,  selling 
groceries  and  provisions  about  seven  months. 

He  came  to  Big  Rapids  Jan.  i,  1879,  where  he  en- 
tered into  a  business  connection  with  W.  H.  Swift  in 
the  sale  of  groceries.  The  relation  existed  about 
eight  months,  when  Mr.  Swift  sold  his  interest  to  E. 
R.  Keith.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Verity  became  sole 
proprietor,  by  purchase,  changed  his  location  and 
operated  alone  until  Feb.  20,  1S82,  when  he  admitted 
William   Fish,    his    present    associate.      The    firm 


A 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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I. 

497    "S 


2K  carries  a  stock  valued  at  §2,500,  and  transacts  an 
i)     annual  business  of  §30,000. 

,',\"»  Mr.  Verity  received  the  appointment  of  agent  for 
T  the  U.  S.  Express  Co.,  Sept.  15,  1880,  and  is  siill 
$.    managing  in  that  capacity.     He  is  a  member  of  the 

M.  E.  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Royal  Templars  of 

Temperance. 


V 


cS 


ohn  Lonsdale,  farmer  on  sec.  16,  Green 
Tp.,  was  liorn  in  .Vccrington,  Lancashire, 
England,  May  i,  18  ig.  His  parents,  Ed- 
mund and  Manila  (Hindle)  Lonsdale,  were 
English  by  birth;  fatlicr  was  an  engraver  by 
profession,  and  was  employed  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  designs  for  calico  printing.  The  family 
I  came  to  America  in  1842,  and  located  in  Providence, 
'P  R.  L  Some  time  later  they  went  to  La  Salle  Co., 
t  111.,  where  the  father  died. 
/S  Mr.  Lonsdale  passed  Iris  boyhood  in  the  manner 
°  common  to  the  youth  of  his  class  in  his  native  land, 
\^  acquiring  such  education  as  he  could,  and  at  14 
^  commenced  to  prepare  himself  to  follow  the  business 
of  block-printing  for  calico.  He  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  in  1842,  and  in  1841  was  married  to 
Ellen  Wilson,  an  English  girl,  daughter  of  John  H. 
and  Agnes  Wilson.  He  became  acquainted  with  her 
in  Pawtucket,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
five  years,  and  as  an  engraver  two  years.  In  1850 
lie  went  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  technical  business  of  roller  etching  and  polishing 
for  the  Manchester  Print  Works.  He  passed  a  year 
in  that  capacity,  and  then  went  to  Lawrence,  Mass., 
where  he  was  four  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Bay 
State  Manufacturing  Company,  and  worked  two  years 
in  the  Pacific  Mills. 

He  came  to  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1856,  and 
bought  a  farm  in  Creen  Tj).,  which  lie  at  once  began 
to  improve.  He  has  added  to  his  first  land  invest- 
ment until  he  now  owns  320  acres,  with  90  acres  un- 
f*st  der  the  plow.  The  privileges  and  progress  possible 
i  to  all  men  under  a  republican  form  of  government  are 
exemplified  in  the  career  of  Mr.  Lonsdale.  He  came 
to  this  country  to  find  a  remunerative  field  for  the 
practice  of  the  craft  to  which  he  succeeded  by  heri- 
6*'  tage  and  training,  as  is  customary  in  England.  Our 
^    institutions  plant  the  germ  of  advancement  in  the 


1 


heart  of  every  foreigner  who  sets  his  foot  on  our  free 
borders,  and  foster  the  growth  with  such  equality  of 
rights  and  advantages  as  he  has  earned  by  honest 
industry  and  self-respect. 

In  187 1,  Mr.  Lonsdale  took  a  trip  to  Florida  for 
the  benefit  of  the  health  of  his  wife,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1875,  went  to  California  ;  returning  in  1876,  he 
spent  a  brief  time  in  Philadelphia  at  the  Centennial, 
passed  the  remainder  of  that  year  at  the  East,  return- 
ing in  the  spring  of  1877  to  Michigan.  Mr.  Lons- 
dale has  held  the  position  of  Treasurer  two  years 
and  officiated  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years. 
He  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  and  joined  the  Republi- 
can ranks  on  the  organization  of  that  party. 

Robert  Wilson  Lonsdale  is  the  only  child  of  the 
household.  He  was  born  July  27,  1846,  and  married 
Marion  Simons,  of  Salem,  Mass.  Mrs.  Lonsdale 
died  Sept.  g,  1883,  after  a  long  and  painful   illness. 

||S*ij  nsel  Rowley,  farmer,  sec.  14,  Grant  Tp., 
^^f&BM'  ^^''s  hoxn  Dec.  28,  1836,  in  Winstead,  Litch- 
I|i3?  "^  field  Co.,  Conn.  His  father,  Elias  Rowley, 
S']^  was  born  March  22,  1798,  in  Winsted,  and 
;|^  there  died  in  1875.  His  mother,  Lura  Row- 
I  ley,  was  born  in  East  Hartland,  Litchfield 
County,  and  died  in  1870,  at  Winsted.  The  ances- 
tral descent  of  Mr.  Rowley  on  the  side  of  the  father 
is  English,  and  on  that  of  the  mother,  Scotch.  He 
passed  the  years  of  his  minority  with  his  parents  in 
the  "land  of  wooden  nutmegs,"  and  after  leaving 
home  worked  for  some  time  as  a  farm  assistant.  In 
i860,  he  went  to  work  in  a  carriage-bolt  factor)', 
where  he  remained  three  years. 

Sept.  I,  1863,  he  enlisted  for  one  year  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  reported  for  duty  aboard 
the  "Commodore  Hull,"  Capt  Joslin,  which  was 
assigned  to  the  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron, 
and  cruised  chiefiy  along  the  coasts  of  North  and 
South  Carolina,  on  special  duty,  to  search  for  rebel 
torpedoes.  That  fleet  will  be  a  subject  of  Ameri- 
can history  for  all  time,  as  it  disjiatched  the  torpedo  i 
boats  thai  destroyed  the  rebel  ram  "  Albermarle  "  at  ^ 
Plymouth,  N.  C.  «/ 

In  July,  1864,  an  order  was  issued  from  the  Naval  ^ 
Department  discharging  such  recruits  as  had  less  *> 
than  three  months  to  serve  on  their  periods  of  enroll*      v 


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ment ;  and,  having  been  in  the  service  nine  months 
and  eight  days,  he  received  his  discharge  papers. 
He  went  to  Orwell,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  coming  to  Michigan  in  1868.  He  entered  and 
proved  a  claim  under  the  homestead  law,  of  80  acres 
of  choice  land,  which  he  has  placed  under  good  cul- 
tivation, and  has  a  comfortable  house  and  farm 
buildings. 

Mr.  Rowley  was  married  Sept.  12,  1857,  to  Delia 
R.  Rogers,  of  Henrietta,  Monroe  Co.,N.  Y.,  who  was 
born  in  Orwell,  Vt.,  Aug.  12,  1841.  Her  father  was 
born  in  i8og,  and  is  yet  living;  her  mother  was  born 
in  Benson,  Vt.,  in  1821,  and  died  in  Orwell  in  1875. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowley  have  five  children;  Estella  D., 
born  Feb.  22,  1859;  Carrie  A.,  Nov.  12,  1863;  Kate 
S.,  Feb.  16,  1861:  Leman  E.,  Aug.  23,  1870;  Jen- 
nie L.,  Sept.  6.,  1873.  Mrs.  Rowley  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Rogers  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  belongs  to  Post  French,  No.  28, 
G.  A.  R. 

• — ->^-<?^ — o<S!rM«l({|s>->s>c — §:— J-4- — 


Pi  ^jf  f^fji.  ohn  Frederikson,  Jr.,  of  the  firm  of  Beu- 
S  ^llSMJ,,'  iliien  &  Frederikson,  proprietors  of  the 
vi'  J  "  Cierman  House,  is  a  son  of  John  andChar- 
'm£  lotte  Frederikson,  and  was  born  in  Copenha- 
^t  gen,  Denmark,  Aug.  13,  1852.  His  father  is  a 
I  seaman  and  owns  a  trading  vessel,  of  which  he 
is  himself  Captain.  The  son  was  trained  to  life  on 
the  sea  on  board  his  father's  ship  until  the  age  of  18, 
when  he  shipped  as  an  able  seaman  on  the  U.  S. 
man-of-war,  "  Plymouth,"  and  belonged  to  her  crew 
three  years. 

He  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  1873  and  followed  vari- 
ous vocations  until  July  5,  1883,  when  lie  associated 
himself  with  Mr.  Beulhien  in  the  management  of  the 
German  House,  where  he  is  engaged  in  a  prosperous 
business.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  (.'hurch. 


such  remuneration  as  a  boy  of  that  tender  age  might 
receive,  and  managed  to  procure  his  living.  At  17 
he  apprenticed  himself  to  Henry  Buckner,  of  Lancas- 
ter, Ont.,  and  served  four  years.  On  the  termination 
of  his  indentures  he  went  to  work  for  himself.  In 
the  spring  of  1855  he  came  to  Ionia,  Mich.,  and  there 
passed  14  years  in  vigorous  prosecution  of  his  trade, 
going  thence  to  Stanton,  where  he  operated  one  year. 
In  1870  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Mecosta  County, 
where  he  has  since  worked  at  his  trade.  In  the  fall 
of  1875  he  purchased  a  farm  containing  160  acres. 
He  sold  80  acres,  and  has  improved  the  remainder 
until  it  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  part  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  I,ockman  was  married  Sept.  7,  1874,  in  Isa- 
bella Co.,  Mich.,  to  Mrs.  Lura  Brown,  daughter  of 
Gilbert  and  Mary  (Hall)  Shepard,  natives  ol  Ontario, 
Can.,  where  Mrs.  Lockman  was  born  April  13,  1843. 
The  family  includes  nine  children.  Mr.  LockiiAan 
has  four  by  an  earlier  marriage,  three  girls  and  one 
boy.  Of  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Lockman  has  one 
son,  and  four  children  have  been  born  of  her  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Lockman — Maud  A.,  June  15,  1875 
Edmond,  April  20,  1876;  Earl,  Jan.  28,  1878; 
Edith,  Aug.  31,  1882. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lockman  is  a  Republican,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Order  of  Good  Templars. 


bram   Lockman,   farmer   and   blacksmith, 
li^STtf^  sec.  12,  Wheatland  Tp.,  was  born  in  Ham- 
>Jj|(-jE'  ilton,  Ontario,  Can.     His  father,  Abram  Lock- 
"•jiil     man,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,   and    his 
■r      mother,     Rachel      (Patterson)     Lockman,    of 
,  -  Pennsylvania.     When  Abram  was  eight  years 

^     old  his  father  died,  and  he  went  to  work,  obtaining 


I 


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.^f 8^.^pharles   D.   Crandell,    Postmaster   at    Big 

^|fc^3    Rapids   (1S83),  was  born   at   Bridgeport, 
^^^  Conn.,   Dec.  5,  1845.       His   father,  Stephen 
UU      W.   Crandell,   was    born     in    Columbia   Co., 
'J^      N.  Y.,  in   1800,   of  Welsh  lineage.     He  was 
engaged  nearly  all  his  life  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  the  city  of  New  York,  residing  meanwhile  at 
Hoboken.     He  began  his  commercial  life  as  a  com- 
mission mercliant  in  West  Washington  Market,  in  that 
city,  and  afterward  established  himself  in  the  whole- 
sale grocery  trade  on  Vesey  street.        He  was  a  man 
of  most  positive  character.     He  possessed  abilities  of 
much    more  than   ordinary    tyjie,  and    fi.xed  himself 
firmly  in  all  his  connections,  basing  his   views  uix)n 
an   instinctive   understanding  of   his  obligations   to 
himself  and    humanity.       He  died  at  a  period  that 
roused  to  active  life  all   the  best  impulses  of  a  man 
who  cherished  home  and  country,  and   realized  the 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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peril  of  both  in  view  of  the  issues  that  were  ap- 
proaching cuhnination  in  tlie  national  affairs.  He 
understood  that  safety  lay  only  in  the  watchfulness 
of  the  generation  of  that  day,  and  in  rearing  his 
cliildren  he  instilled  into  iheni  both  by  deed  and 
Word  that  lives  were  worse  than  worthless  unless 
guided  by  inflexible  princijjle  and  moral  courage. 
Mr.  CrandcU,  Sr.,  was  an  active  iwliiician  and  a  zeal- 
ous abolitionist.  He  was  no  demagogue,  never  held 
or  sought  the  emoluments  of  office  ;  but,  recognizing 
the  fact  that  the  strength  of  a  republic  lies  in  the 
people,  he  strove  to  do  what  he  believed  the  incum- 
bent duty  of  every  man  under  the  protection  of  the 
national  flag, — to  uphold  whatever  was  right  and  just 
in  the  institutions  of  the  Government,  and  to  throw 
all  his  influence  against  the  evils  which  threatened 
the  life  and  |)rosperity  of  the  nation.  He  was  killed 
by  the  cars  Jan.  9,  1865,  at  Chatham  Four  Corners, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  mother,  Sarah  Ann 
(Conklin)  Crandell,  was  a  member  of  an  old  English 
family,  and  was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  in 
1810.  She  died  at  Chatham,  Sept.  29,  1861. 
^  Mr.  Crandell  of  this  sketch  was  in  earlv  childhood 
•^  when  his  parents  removed  from  Bridgeport  to  Ho- 
p=  boken.  In  1855  his  father  placed  his  family"^  at 
Chatham  to  secure  for  tlieni  the  salubrity  of  that 
well-known  section  of  the  Empire  State,  and  to  re- 
move them  from  the  mulliiuiiinous  dangers  to  health 
and  morals  in  and  near  the  great  city  where  he  con- 
tinued to  push  his  business  interests.  Mr.  Crandell 
aciinired  his  elementary  education  at  the  ])ublic 
schools  of  Chatham,  and  was  placed  for  a  few  terms 
of  study  at  the  Seminary  at  Armenia,  X.  Y.  His 
father  designed  to  fit  him  for  the  profession  of  law, 
and  in  1864  he  was  sent  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  to  at- 
tend the  union  school  preparatory  to  a  collegiate 
course  of  study.  Tliis  purpose  was  frustrated  by  the 
accident  which  deprived  him  of  his  father,^and  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  career  which  had 
been  marked  out  for  him.  He  left  school  and  re- 
turned to  New  York,  where  lie  passed  the  ensuing 
three  years. 

Mr.  Crandell  came  to  Big  Rapids  .\pril   28,1868, 
and  connected  himself  with  the  Tioga   Manuf.n  tur- 
Co.,  becoming  a  stockholder  and   interesting   himself 
-y      actively  in   its  operations  as  accountant.       He  con- 
<5v      tinued  this  relation  until  Jime,  1874. 

His  public  career  in  Big  Rapids  commenced  two 
years  earlier.     He  was   elected   City  Treasurer   in 


% 

April,  1872,  and  served  three  successive  years.  He  ^ 
received  his  appointme.  t  as  Postmaster,  Feb.  16,  £ 
1875,  and  has  continued  since  in  the  discharge  of   '•-• 


the  duties  of  that  position,  aided  by  his  half-brother, 
Stephen  R.  Crandell,  and  two  assistants.  The 
affairs  of  the  office  are  conducted  with  systematic 
energy,  and  its  affairs  are  managed  to  the  entire  sat- 
isfaction of  the  public. 

Mr.  Crandell  is  conspicuous  among  the  multitude 
of  irerilorious  citizens  of  Big  Rapids,  from  his  ac- 
knowledged inflexibility  in  adherence  to  principle. 
One  of  the  best  evidences  of  the  esteem  and  ap- 
preiiation  in  which  he  is  held  is  the  outspoken  esti- 
mate of  his  political  opponents.  No  imputation  of 
vacillation  or  uncertainty  of  purpose  lies  against 
him.  No  vagary  of  political  advancement  can 
lure  him  from  his  undeviating  pursuit  of  duty  in 
the  light  of  principle.  In  thought,  word  and  ac- 
tion he  invariably  "hews  to  the  line."  He  is 
a  born  and  bred  Republican,  and  in  every  jjolitical 
issue  follows  his  innate  convictions  unswervingly 
and  regardless  of  possible  advantage  to  be  derived 
from  the  casuistry  which  is  so  marked  a  feature  in 
the   management  of  local  and  national  campaigns. 

Mr.  Crandell  was  married  at  Big  Rapids  June  26, 
1.S74,  to  Joanna,  daughter  of  Timothy  H.  and 
Joanna  Lee,  born  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  Oct.  9,  1S39. 


•5- 


-#^-#- 


1 


( 


arl  E.  Hobart,  photographer.  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich  ,  July  27, 
1^/15-     ^   1845,  and   is   a   son  of   Horace  O.  and 
^'Y\    Frances  A.    (Monroe)    Hobart.       In    early 
j*     youth  his  time  was  devoted  to  acquiring  a  com- 
mon-school education.     At  2  1,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Breakey, 
after  which  he  entered   the  Medical  Department  of 
tiie  University  of  Michigan,  wliere  he  was  graduated 
in  the  spring  of  187  I.     Meanwhile   he  had  acquired 
the  photographic  art,  for  which  he  had  a  great  liking, 
and   in  the  fall  of  187  r  came  to  Big  Ra])ids  to  engage 
in  it  as  a  business.     He  bought  the  stock  and  inter-     y 
est  of  W.  F.  Louckes,  who  was  located  neatly  opposite     t 
the  Opera  block,  where  he  continued  three  years,  re-    *• 
moving  in  1874  to  where  now  stands  the  Morrissey    & 
&  Stickncy  block.      After  a  year  he  went  to   Texas  ^ 
and  established  his  business  at  San  Marco,  Hays  Co.,     *  / 


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Longview.  His  stay  there  was  brief,  and  in  1876  he 
returned  to  Big  Rapids  and  opened  a  gallery  on 
Michigan  avenue,  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
J.  Wiseman.  Two  years  later  he  established  his 
business  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Maple  street  and 
Michigan  avenue,  his  present  quarters.  He  is  a 
pojjular  and  successful  artist  in  his  line,  doing  an 
annual  business  of  $5,000. 

Mr.  Hobart  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  July  12, 
1882,  to  Lucy  E.,  daughter  of  General  Stephen  and 
Amelia  (Barker)  Bronson,  born  in  Chicago,  111.  (See 
sketch  of  Gen.  Bronson.)  Mr.  Hobart  belongs  to 
the  Odd  Fellows,  and  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Hobart  is  inserted  on  another 
page  of  this  Album. 


A.  Brigham,  farmer,  sec.  2,  Chip- 
pewa  Tp.,  was  born  in  Fayston,  Washing- 
^  ton  Co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  21,1821.  His  father, 
5s.  Elisha  Brigham,  was  a  pioneer  of  that  section 
i  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  His  mother, 
Sophronia  (Ryder)  Brigham,  was  a  descendant 
of  the  Chase  family,  well  known  and  widely  esteem- 
ed in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 

The  Brigham  stock  is  traced  back  to  Northumber- 
land Co.,  England,  which  adoiJted  the  family  patro- 
nymic under  one  of  the  appointments  of  the  Dooms- 
day Book.  The  name  has  been  upheld  in  honor 
through  descending  generations,  and  is  rejiresented 
at  Grand  Rapids  by  Dr.  G.  N.  Brigham,  who  has  been 
established  in  that  city  since  1879.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man of  considerable  literary  standing,  being  a  con- 
tributor to  several  medical  publications  and  to  a  large 
number  of  leading  newspapers  in  various  sections  of 
the  country. 

Mr.  Brigham  was  reared  to  the  calling  to  which  he 
has  devoted  his  life's  energies,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  paternal  household  to  the  age  of  26  years.  In 
1847  he  invested  his  time  and  entire  capital  in  a 
saw-mill,  and  on  the  termination  of  the  enterprise 
five  years  later,  had  lost  both. 

In  1852,  he  went  to  Franklin  Co.,  N.  V.,  where  he 
remained  seven  years,  engaged  in  farming,  removing 
thence  to  Nebraska,  where  he  resided  about  iS 
months.  He  returned  to  Michigan,  and  remained 
near  Grand  Rapids  until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he 
'"-  -  _>r^,,W^ -^^'»  n  11 


came  to  Mecosta  County  and  bought  40  acres  of  land 
in  the  then  unorganized  township  of  Chippewa. 
Here  he  accomplished  pioneer  service  in  a  forest  so 
dense  that  the  work  of  removal  seemed  impossible. 

Mr.  Brigham  was  married  June  20,  1849,  to  Celia 
Baxter,  daughter  of  Eber  H.  Baxter.  She  was  born 
in  Moretown,  Washington  Co.,  Vt.,  March  16,  1826, 
the  third  of  14  children  born  to  her  parents.  Mr.  Bax- 
ter was  an  esteemed  citizen  of  Fayston  while  he  was 
a  resident  there,  and  in  1851  removed  to  Michigan, 
with  10  children.  One  child  died  in  infancy  and  two 
remained  in  Vermont.  Twelve  of  the  children  born 
in  this  family  survive.  Ira  C.  Baxter,  sixth  son, 
yielded  up  his  life  for  the  Nation's  redemption  from 
disruption,  Sept.  20,  1863,  on  the  field  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  Seven  of  the  fraternal  band  have  become 
more  or  less  known  through  their  literary  work.  Al- 
bert Baxter,  of  the  Grand  Rapids  Eagle,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Michigan  since  1845.  Mrs.  Brigham  has 
been  a  poetical  contributor  to  the  current  press  many 
years.  Her  work  is  imaginative  and  graceful,  with  a 
spiritual  tendency,  which  adds  largely  to  its  merit  and 
beauty.  Her  sisters,  Mrs.  Cadwell,  of  California, 
Mrs.  Cooper,  of  Evart,  Osceola  Co.,  Mich.,  and  Mrs. 
Corman,  of  Lowell,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  wield  facile 
pens  ;  and  Uri  J.  Baxter,  a  lawyer  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  is  no  less  distinguished  for  poetical  genius  and 
literary  ability  than  the  other  members  of  this  gifted 
and  accomplished  fraternity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brigham  have  had  four  children : 
Rosa  May,  born  April  4,  1859,  died  Jan.  5,  1S68. 
Ziba  W.  was  born  May  8,  1850;  Elisha  K.,  Dec.  23, 
1851;  Edwin  B,  Oct.  i,  1857. 

Ml".  Pirigham  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  On  the  organization  of  Chippewa 
Tp.,  he  was  the  first  Clerk,  and  has  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace  19  years. 


F.  MeElroy,  veterinary  surgeon,  Big  Rap- 
ids,  was   born    at  TuUmore,  Queens  Co., 
5f;!^*^  Ireland,  May  28,  1848.    His  parents,  James 
and  Elizabeth   (Smith)  McElroy,  came  to  the 
United  States  when   he  was  six  months  old, 
settling   at    Syracuse,    N.  Y.     In    May,    1850, 
they  went  to  Elgin,  111.,  where  they  now  reside. 

Mr.   McElroy  learned   his  business  of  his  father^ 
and  practiced  with  him  until  1876.     In  that  year  he 


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came  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  lie  operated  in  the 
same  jirofession.  In  tlie  fall  of  1879  he  came  to  Big 
Ra|)ids  and  established  his  business,  which  he  has 
since  i)rosecuted  witli  success  and  growing  [X)pularity, 
the  custom  covering  an  area  of  50  miles  square. 

Mr.  McElroy  was  married  at  Spring  Lake,  Ottawa 
Co.,  Mich.,  May  27,  1874,  to  Emmeline,  daughter  of 
Duncan  Stewart,  a  farmer  of  Gratiot  Co.,  Mich. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  their  marriage, — 
William  J.  and  Mary  E. 


^t^K-^f^B-f^ 


l^harwin  B.  Kelley,   employe   in    the   steam 

||.   saw-mill  of  John   E.    Reiter,  at  Sylvester, 

|i^"^    Hinton  Tp.,  was  born  in   Ionia,  Feb.    15, 

;^  '859.  He  is  a  son  of  Travis  and  Amanda 
(Banks)  Kelley,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Ohio,  who  came  to  Michigan,  settling 
first  in  Hinton  Tp.,  where  the  father  was  employed 
in  the  steam  saw-mill  at  Sylvester.  In  the  spring  of 
1 88 1  they  went  to  Isabella  County,  now  their  place 
of  residence. 

At  the  age  of  18,  Mr.  Kelley  bought  half  the  mill 
interest  of  Joseph  Misho,  and  in  December,  1881,  he 
sold  out  to  John  E.  Reiter.  He  went  South  in  the 
summer  of  1882  and  was  there  employed  a  short 
time  in  a  mill,  but  returned  .ind  entered  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Reiter. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Sept.  17, 
1878,  to  Amelia,  daughter  of  James  N.  and  Cath- 
erine (Flanagan)  Decker,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren:  Mabel,  born  Aug.  13,  1879;  Ida,  born  June 
27,1881,  and  an  infant,  born  Sept.  8,  1883.  Mr. 
Kelley  acts  politically  with  the  Republican  party. 


ames  W.  Fuller,  builder,  residing  at  Big 
-  Rapids,  was  born  in  Somerset  Tp.,  Hills- 
dale Co.,  Mich.,  Oct  7,  1844.  He  is  the 
son  of  Lewis  and  Chloe  (Lee)  Fuller,  who 
moved  from  Monroe  Co.,  X.  V.,  about  1835,  to 
Michigan  and  settled  in  Hillsdale  County.  In 
1854  they  went  to  Hudson,  Lenawee  Co.,  and  occu- 
pied a  farm  they  owned  there  several  years,  after 
which  they  returnetl  to  Somerset,  where  they  now  re- 
side. The  father  is  86  years  of  age,  and  the  mother 
is  79  years  old  this  current  year  (1883). 


While  living  with  his  parents  in  Hudson,  Mr.  Ful- 
ler fixed  uixjn  his  calling  in  life,  and  at  16  years  of 
age  came  to  Cortland,  Kent  Co.,  and  worked  with  his 
brother  Lewis  about  two  years,  going  next  to  Chicago 
and  soon  after  to  the  Pacific  slope,  where  he  passed 
four  years  in  San  Francisco  and  at  other  joints.  In 
187  I  he  returned  East  and  entered  at  once  ujKjn  his 
business  as  contractor  and  builder.  Among  the 
buildings  constructed  under  his  management  are  the 
hardware  store  of  S.  S.  Wilcox,  the  First-Ward  school- 
house  and  a  number  of  private  residences.  He  em- 
ploys a  force  of  10  assistants.  In  1880  he  built  a 
planing  mill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  near  the 
mill  of  Hayes  &  Falardo,  which  he  managed  with 
success  nearly  three  years.  He  owns  a  residence 
and  lot  on  Michigan  avenue,  and  a  lot  with  dwelling 
one  block  south;  also  two  dwellings  in  the  Fifth 
Ward.  In  1876  he  was  elected  City  Treasurer  and 
held  the  post  one  year;  in  the  spring  of  1881  he  was 
elected  Alderman  and  officiated  two  years. 

Mr.  Fuller  was  married  at  Big  Rapids  Aug.  26, 
1874,  to  Ellen,  daughter  of  Clark  Ransom,  born  in 
Ransomville,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  parents  were 
early  settlers  of  that  place,  which  received  its  name 
from  her  family.  One  child,  Linnie,  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fuller,  is  deceased. 


Pilndrew  Breakey,  farmer  on  sec.  11,  Hinton 
^  Tp.,  was  born  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  23, 
844.      His   parents,  Andrew  and   Catharine 
j{^     (Crass)  Breakey,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Ireland    and    Canada,    and  removed    to   New 


York  prior  to  their  marriage,  which  took  place  in  that 
city.  Three  years  after,  Andrew  Breakey,  Sr.,  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  the  city  of  Rochester,  X.  Y., 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  contractors  of  the 
Erie  Canal  as  a  stone  mason.  He  had  been 
employed  in  his  native  country  in  peddling  dry  goods 
and  linens,  and  early  in  his  life  was  a  companion  of 
A.  T.  Stewart.  Himself  and  wife  died  at  Rochester. 
I'ntil  he  was  10  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  atti-nded  the  public  schools  of  Rochester. 
He  began  to  jjrepare  for  the  business  of  boat-calker 
and  was  so  emiilo)ed  three  years.  The  work  was  so 
severe  and  the  manager  so  exacting  that  the  proprie- 
tor himself    remarked   that  "  that  fellow  would  not 


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stay  a  week;"  but  he  persisted,  and  managed  to 
accomplish  his  business  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  parties  interested.  In  1861  he  went  to  Canada 
on  a  visit,  but  concladed  to  remain  there,  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  his  brother-in-law  for  nearly  four  years. 
He  visited  the  city  of  New  York  and  his  old  home  at 
Rochester,  and  in  the  summer  of  1866  came  to  Me- 
costa, Mich.,  and  bought  40  acres  of  unimj^roved 
land  in  Hiptjn  Tp.,  where  he  built  a  log  house  and 
began  his  career  as  a  pioneer.  Later  on  he  added 
40  acres  to  his  original  [uirchase  and  now  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  80  acres,  with  50  acres  under  first- 
class  improvements.  He  also  owns  40  acres  in  Mill- 
brook  Tp. 

Mr.  Breakey  has  been  Constable  of  Hinton  Tp. 
for  nine  years.  School  Inspector  two  years,  Highway 
Commissioner  two  years,  Town  Treasurer  two  years, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1880  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  Supervisor  in  the  springof  1883,  of  which 
positions  he  is  the  present  incumbent.  He  has  been 
School  Director  six  years,  and  is  identified  with  the 
issues  and  interests  of  the  Democratic  party;  him- 
self and  wife  were  formerly  communicants  of  the 
English  Church. 

Mr.  Breakey  was  married  in  Canada,  July  19, 
1864,  to  Matilda,  fourth  daughter  of  James  N.  and 
Catherine  (Flannagan)  Decker.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  mother  of 
Canada,  and  are  now  residents  of  Hinton  Tp.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Breakey  have  had  six  children :  James  G., 
born  Nov.  28,  1867  ;  Andrew  N.,  July  15,  1872;  Ed- 
ward and  Edwin  (twins)  July  15,  1874  ;  Nellie,  Jan. 
5,  1880.  Ella  was  born  Aug.  9,  1869,  and  died  Oct. 
1 1,  1870. 


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fames  MoCormick,  proprietor  of  the  Sher- 
man   House  at  Big  Rapids,  was   born  in 
Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  2,  1847.     He  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Mercer)  McCor- 
niick.     At  the  age  of  2 1  he  came  to  Michigan 
and  settled  at  Saginaw,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  lumber  woods,  and  afterwards  on  the 
river,  at  rafting.     After  strenuous  labors  for  a  period 
of  six  years  he  commenced  to  work  as  a  contractor) 
and  cut  and   put  in  logs  about  nine  years  at  Saginaw, 
going  thence   to   llartland,   Livingston   Co.,    Mich.> 
v»    where  he  bought  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  worked 


18  months,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  lumber  camp  in 
the  woods,  for  A.  J.  Bentley,  and  followed  that  oc- 
cupation three  years.  He  went  to  Evart  in  1S73  and 
opened  a  saloon;  four  months  later  he  rented  the 
Union  House,  which  he  managed  six  months,  return- 
ing at  the  end  of  that  time  to  Big  Rapids  and  fol- 
lowed lumbering  a  year,  and  afterward  opened  a 
saloon.  In  January,  1875,  he  rented  the  National 
Hotel,  which  he  conducted  until  May,  188 1.  At 
that  date  he  purchased  a  residence  and  three  and 
one-half  lots,  of  Charlie  Lovejoy. 

He  began  the  building  of  his   hotel  in  September,  ' 

1881,  and  opened  it  to  the  traveling   public  in  July, 

1882.  It  is  two  stories  in  height,  53x96  feet,  with 
accommodations  for  70  guests.  A  bar  with  the 
usual  accessories  is  attached  to  the  estaljlishment. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  married  in  Hartland,  Livings- 
ton Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  24,  1866,  to  Ellen,  daughter  of 
Patrick  and  Mary  Kelley,  born  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
Jan  22,  1 84 1.  Of  this  marriage  there  are  three 
children, — William  P.,  Mary  and  Elizabeth. 


•   000   " 

homas  Ariss,  retired  farmer,  Remus,  was 
born  in  Waterloo  Co.,  Ont.,  Can.,  July  3, 
1S33.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary 
P^  (Bacheldor)  Ariss,  natives  of  England.  Mr. 
Ariss  made  his  first  venture  in  life  as  a  lumber- 
man, and  spent  some  years  in  the  woods  and 
in  "chopping  fallows."  He  was  married  Aug.  14, 
1854,  to  Myra  Smith,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  they 
have  had  nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living- 
James  was  born  April  26,  1858;  John,  April  22,  i860  • 
Thomas,  April  23,  1862.  The  mother  died,  and  Mr. 
Ariss  came  to  Wheatland  Tp.,  in  the  spring  of  1862, 
and  settled  on  sec.  23,  where  he  bought  160  ac:res  of 
land  and  pursued  farming. 

In  1880  he  came  to  this  place  and  settled,  being 
one  of  the  founders  of  Remus.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried, March  3,  186-,  in  Mecosta  County,  to  Cath- 
erine, daughter  of  Alexander  and  Nancy  (Campbell) 
McLeod,  who  were  natives  of  Scotland.  The 
daughter  was  born  in  Russell,  Ont.,  Can.,  June  15, 
1840.  Nine  children  have  been  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, as  follows:  William  F.,  Aug.  8,  186-;  George, 
Oct.  19,  186-;  Mary  A.,  April  24,  1869;  Alvira,  July 


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17,  1871;  Benjamin  N.,  June  25,  1873;  William  V., 
May  I,  1875;  Emily,  Aug.  19,  1877;  Bruce,  March 
19,  1880;  Viola,  March  4,  1883. 


i 


j^uncan  McLellan,  a  iiionecr  resident  of  Big 
Rapids,  was  born  in  Huntington,  Canada, 
[uly  15,  1830.  He  isof  Scotch  extraction, 
his  father  being  a  native  of  Paisley,  Scotland. 
^^  He  is  a  son  of  Malcom  and  Margaret  (Carrie) 
McLellan,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  province.  At  the  age 
of  13  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemaker  at 
Huntington,  and  four  years  later  settled  at  Grand 
Rapids,  then  a  small  village,  where  he  spent  a  year. 
His  next  remove  was  to  Croton,  Newaygo  Co.,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  four  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1857  he  bought  120  acres  of  pine  lands  on  the  Big 
Muskegon,  located  about  60  rods  from  the  present 
site  of  the  village  of  Paris.  Mr.  McLellan  moved 
into  the  woods  to  give  his  personal  attention  to  cut- 
ting and  "putting  in  "  the  timber.  He  lived  in  a  log 
shanty  with  "  scoops  "  for  its  roof  and  with  a  punch- 
eon floor.  The  timber  was  cut  in  the  winter  and 
sold,  at  Muskegon,  to  John  Rudnian,  a  well-known 
lumberman  there,  still  living.  In  the  spring  of  1858 
he  bought  120  acres  of  land  seven  miles  north  and 
east  of  Newaygo,  on  what  is  known  as  Maringo 
Prairie,  and  passed  the  summer  in  farming.  In  the 
winter  of  1858-9  he  purchased  140  acres  of  pine 
land  two  and  a  half  miles  below  Big  Rapids,  and 
passed  the  season  as  he  had  done  the  winter  previ- 
ous, in  personal  supervision  of  his  lumbering  inter- 
ests,— returning  to  his  farm  in  the  spring.  His  wife 
was  in  a  decline,  and  he  took  her  to  Chicago  for 
medical  treatment,  and  there  s[)ent  tlie  summer 
without  any  benefit  to  her,  and  she  died  in  the  fall  of 
1859.  The  summer  of  i860  he  spent  on  his  farm  at 
Maringo  Prairie,  and  in  the  autumn  bought  160  acres 
of  pine  land  at  Byers'  Station,  built  lumber  camps 
and  passed  the  winter  of  1860-1  in  active  business 
life. 

His  connection  with  the  history  of  Big  Rapids 
commences  in  1859,  when  he  bought  80  acres  of 
farm  land  in  the  townshi])  of  Leonard,  changed  by 
act  of  the  Legislature  in  1865  to  Big  Rapids.     This 


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property  is  still  in  his  iwssession,  in  addition  to  a 
considerable  acreage  he  has  since  purchased,  his 
homestead  now  aggregating  320  acres.  Mr.  McLel- 
lan went  to  Muskegon  in  the  spring  of  1861  and 
bought  the  Forest  City  Hotel,  and  continued  its  man- 
agement until  1862.  The  tide  of  war  that  over- 
whelmed the  land  swept  away  his  individual  plans 
and  purposes,  as  of  so  many  others  who  realized 
their  ])rivileges  under  the  institutions  of  the  country, 
and  he  returned  to  Big  Rapids  to  enlist  in  defense 
of  the  Union  flag.  He  was  enrolled  in  September, 
1S62,  in  Co.  I,  Sixth  Mich.  Cav.,  with  Capt.  Deane, 
of  Pentwater,  going  out  with  his  regiment  as  a  sad- 
dler. He  was  in  active  service  three  years  and  three 
months,  and  in  the  item  of  constant,  unremitted  ser- 
vice he  has  an  almost  unparalleled  record.  From  the 
date  of  his  enrollment  and  being  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  Slates,  he  personally  partic- 
ipated in  every  battle  in  which  his  regiment  was  en- 
gaged. After  the  virtual  collai)se  of  the  Rebellion  in 
the  spring  of  1865,  his  command  was  sent  to  Powder  r 
River,  Dakota,  remaining  there  until  the  fall  of  the  ^ 
same  year.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  ^ 
Jackson,  Mich.,  in  December,  1865.  *<•' 

In  the  fall  of  1S61  Mr.  McLellan  purchased  two  i=l 
lots  in  tlie  city  of  Big  Rapids,  at  that  time  in  a  wild  \^. 
state,  which  he  improved  and  on  which  he  erected 
the  building  he  now  occupies  in  the -year  following 
the  purchase.  In  1868  he  purchased  a  lot  on  Mich- 
igan avenue,  which  he  at  once  improved,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  a  large  three-story  frame  building. 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  year  later,  involving  a  loss 
of  $3,000.  In  1868,  with  E.  L.  Gray,  of  Newaygo, 
as  associate,  Mr.  McLellan  constructed  a  State  road  y 
from  Big  Rapids,  southwest  nine  miles,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Big  Prairie.  As  a  remuneration  they  received 
3,300  acres  of  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  a 
considerable  portion  of  which  was  well  covered  with 
pine.  Some  hundreds  of  acres  of  this  are  still  in 
Mr.  McLellan's  possession.  He  continued  to  prose- 
cute the  business  of  lumberman  mail  1870,  when 
he  bought  the  tannery  property  of  Robert  A.  Moon,  (*' 
which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  The  annual  prod- 
uct is  shipped  chiefly  to  Boston  and  amounts  in  the 
aggregate  to  §25,000. 

In  the  same  year  in  which  he  made  his  first  in- 
vestment in  real  estate  at  Big  Rapids,  he  established 
a  boot  and  shoe  store,  which  in    1872  he  converted 


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into  a  harness  shop  and  still  continues  its  manage- 
ment. 

The  gross  landed  estate  of  Mr.  McLellan  in  Me- 
costa and  Osceola  Counties  is  about  1,200  acres, 
besides  27  lots  in  the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  He  re- 
sides in  the  rooms  above  his  place  of  business,  on 
South  Michigan  avenue,  opposite  the  Opera-House 
block.  .  He  has  served  two  years  as  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  he  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
also  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Mr.  McLellan  was  married  in  Grand  Rapids,  Sept. 
25,  1855,  to  Margaret  Lee,  born  in  Massachusetts. 
Their  only  child,  Mary  Ann,  died  when  three 
months  old,  and  in  i860  the  mother  passed  to  the 
land  of  silent  mystery.  Mr.  McLellan  contracted  a 
second  marriage  with  Adaline,  daughter  of  Abram 
and  Eliza  Carr,  of  Croton,  Newaygo  Co.,  in  October, 
1862.     She  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1834. 

The  publishers  take  peculiar  satisfaction  in  pre- 
senting on  another  page  the  portrait  of  Mr.  McLel- 
lan. He  has  had  a  long  and  successful  career  in 
Mecosta  County,  and  his  name  will  ever  be  associ- 
ated with  the  records  of  the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  His 
public  and  private  character  will  long  be  revered  by 
this  and  future  generations. 


illiam  H.  Hicks,  druggist  at  Morley,  was 

born  July  30,  1849.     He  is  a  son  of  John 

■J^^'"  and  Delia  A.  (Myers)  Hicks.     His  father 

X'  was  a  native  of  England  and  his  mother  of 
Connecticut.     At  11  years  of  age  Mr.  Hicks 

went  to  live  with  an  uncle  and  accompanied 
him  to  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  i860,  settling  in  Ionia 
County.  Aug.  4,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  Third 
Mich.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  was  in  the  service  two  years,  re- 
ceiving honorable  discharge  in  Texas.  He  returned 
thence  to  Ionia  County  and  went  to  school,  and  was 
engaged  on  the  farm  at  the  same  time.  In  the  fall 
of  1866  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store  in  Ionia,  and  there  learned  the  tinner's  trade, 
following  it  over  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Grand 
Rapids  and  not  long  afterward  to  Morley,  where, 
about  the  year  1870,  he  went  into  partnership  with 
Nelson  Pike.  The  connection  existed  about  one 
year,  and  Mr.  Hicks  established  himself  in  the  hard- 
ware business  at  Cadillac,  Mich.,  wliere  he  continued 


nearly  eight  years.  He  sold  out  and  embarked  in 
the  drug  business.  Shortly  afterward  he  came  to 
Morley  and  commenced  a  substantial  business,  tak- 
ing the  lead  in  the  drug  trade  in  that  place.  His 
business  is  in  a  flourishing  state,  and  he  is  justly  es- 
teemed an  upright  and  honorable  man  in  his  dealings. 
In  pol'tics  he  is  a  Republican  ;  he  holds  tlie  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  is  a  member  of  the  School 
Board,  and  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  and  K.  of  H. 

Mr.  Hicks  was  married  in  Morley,  July  7,  1872,  to 
Hattie  M.,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth 
(Forbs)  Swanger.  Of  this  marriage  three  children 
have  been  born,  as  follows  :  Fred  G.,  July  28,  1873; 
Percy  J.,  Aug.  30.  1878,  and  Ivy  M.,  March  12,  1881. 


-f«- 


1  umner  Barstow,  farmer,  real-estate  broker 
and  luml)er  dealer,  at  Big  Rapids,  was  born 
in  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  24,  1833.  He  is 
a  son  of  Charles  R.  and  Charlotte  (Coburn) 
Barstow.  The  father  was  appointed  Post- 
master of  Owego  in  1849,  and  Mr.  Barstow 
of  this  sketch  left  school  and  engaged  in  the  office  as 
clerk. 

This  occupation  terminated  in  1853,  when  Mr. 
Barstow  became  connected  with  the  N.  Y.,  L.  E.  &  W- 
railroad,  and  in  a  short  time  rose  to  the  positon  of 
conductor,  which  situation  he  retained  on  several 
roads  successively  until  June,  1874.  His  railroad 
experience  was  continuous  for  21  years,  save  during 
the  period  of  his  service  in  the  civil  war.  He  en- 
listed in  Owego,  N.  Y.,  in  April,  1861,  as  Captain  of 
Co.  C,  23d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  for  a  term  of  two  years, 
and  was  in  action  at  Antietain,  Fredericksburg,  and 
numerous  other  engagements  of  greater  or  less  im- 
portance. He  was  discharged  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  in 
1863. 

In  June,  1874,  Mr.  Barstow  came  to  Big  Rapids, 
and  with  his  father  engaged  in  lumbering,  and  the 
association  existed  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  Dec. 
10,  1880.  They  purchased  pine  lands,  and  placed 
the  lumber  on  the  market.  Mr.  Barstow  owns  a 
a  farm  containing  365  acres  in  Norwich,  Newaygo 
Co.,  and  has  transferred  considerable  real  estate  in 
the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  There  are  in  the  Third 
Ward  two  additions  known  as  "  Barstow's,  "  and  a 
third  in  the  same  ward  designated  "Barstow's  Second 


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Addition. "     He  is  also  the  proprietor  of  two  stores, 
and  owns  six  lots  with  houses.      He  was   elected  in 
•v^"*   the  spring  of  1880  member  of  the   Common  Council 
I     of  the  city  and  resigned  after  three  months. 

Mr.  Barstow  was  married  in  Dansville,  Livingston 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  13,  1857,  to  Mary  F.  Dubois,  born 
May  10,  1837.  Of  their  three  children,  but  one, 
Fred.  D.,  is  now  living;  he  is  an  employe  in  the  U. 
S.  Express  office  at  82  Broadway,  New  York,  and 
acts  in  the  capacity  of  cashier.  Edmund  P.  and 
Jessie  are  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  Ale.xan- 
dria,  Va.,  March  5,  1864,  and  the  father  was  again 
married  in  Omaha,  Neb.,  Dec.  20,  1867,  to  Sarah  E. 
Lewis,  born  at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.  Of  five  children 
three  aie  yet  living:  Charlotte,  eldest  daughter,  is 
deceased;  Charles  L.,  an  infant  child  who  died,  Al- 
len and  Thomas  P.  are  the  names  of  the  children  in 
the  order  of  their  birth. 

I) 


1 
I 


iS^WSj  illiam  J.  Hyatt,  for  the  last  19  years  a 
'IksJMi?  prominent  citizen  of  Hinton  'I'l).,  is  the 
'^1^/^'^^'^  youngest  son  of  Newton  and  Susannali 
^  («^^  Cooley)  Hyatt,  and  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  April  3,  1850.  His  father  was 
from  German  ancestry,  his  mother  from  Irish, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  tliree  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Until  nine  years  of  age,  .Mr.  Hyatt,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  was  brought  uj)  on  Little  JJeaver, 
in  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.;  then,  in  the  fall  of  1859,  he  went 
to  .\ugusta,  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  and  when  14  years  of 
age  he  commenced  operation  in  a  portable  saw-mill; 
in  the  spring  of  1865  he  moved  witii  the  mill  to  Me- 
costa Co.,  Micii.,  arriving  April  26.  This  was  the 
first  steam  mill  in  the  eastern  part  of  tjie  county, 
Mr.  Hyatt  being  among  the  first  settlers.  His  prin- 
cipal occupation  to  the  present  time  has  been  steam 
engineering  and  milling,  and  by  his  reliability  in  these 
specialties  he  has  won  for  himself  an  enviable  repu- 
tation. He  is  a  gentleman  of  considerable  reading, 
making  an  intelhgent  use  of  the  liest  works.  In  1873 
he  was  Constable  in  his  township. 
^  A  few  months  after  he  was  17  years  of  age  he  was 
V  married  to  Miss  Fannie,  eldest  daughter  of  Matthias 
'S  and  Magdelana  K;issner,  and  they  now  have  three 
I*  daughters,  namely,  Emma  Viola,  Mary  Henrietta 
4._  and  Adella  Magdelana. 


_o?50_ 


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^fpl^ji^'ames  M.  Colby,  ex-Register  of  Deeds  of 
J^^BL'  Mecosta  County,  resident  in  Big  Rapids, 
Ij p  '  ^  Tp.,  was  l)orn  in  Freeman,  Cattaraugus 
|!Jj  Co.,  N.  v.,  July  12,  1834,  of  English  ancestry. 
It     His  parents,  James  and  Abigail   M.  (Mctcalf) 

\  Colby,  were  born  in  Vermont.  The  former,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  Wisconsin,  where  he 
went  in  1843  and  resided  about  40  years.  The  lat- 
ter was  born  May  30,  1803.  She  came  with  her 
parents  to  New  York  in  her  childhood,  going  later  in 
life  to  Wisconsin,  and  is  yet  living,  at  Wesley  Station, 
Kossuth  Co.,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Colby  was  married  in  Delafield,  Waukesha 
Co.,  Wis.,  to  Anna  M.  (Harris)  Jacipies,  both  of 
English  extraction  and  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  emigrat- 
ing thence  in  1844  to  Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Colby  was 
born  in  Nova  Scotia  Aug.  12,  1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
C'jlby  have  six  promising  children,  the  two  eldest  of 
whom  were  born  in  Wisconsin,  and  the  other  four  in 
Michigan,  as  follows;  Milton  J.,  June  20,  1862; 
W.  T.  Sherman,  April  5,  1865  ;  Maria  A.,  April  5, 
1867;  lo  Vesta,  Sept.  17,  1869;  Alta  R.,  Sept.  8, 
1873,  and  James  M.,  April  13,  1883. 

In  1864  Mr.  Colby  came  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich., 
and  resided  at  Greenville  a  year,  removing  thence  to 
Hinton  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co.  In  1867  he  came  to  the 
city  of  Big  Rapids,  and  in  1878  fixed  his  permanent 
residence  on  sec.  24,  of  Big  Rapids  Tp. 

Mr.  Colby  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  the  Union  in 
Delafield,  Wis.,  .'\iig.  11,  1861,  and  did  valiant  ser- 
vice in  his  country's  defense,  until  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Perry ville,  Oct.  5,  1861. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  in  November, 
1866,  was  the  successful  candidate  on  his  party 
ticket  for  the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds  of  Mecosta 
County,  and  held  the  position  16  years.  While  the 
incumbent  of  the  post  he  compiled  the  set  of  ab- 
stracts now  in  use. 

Milton  J.  Colby,  the  eldest  son,  was  five  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  Big  Rapids.  He  was 
a  pupil  at  the  schools  of  the  city  until  he  was  17 
years  old,  when  he  entered  the  office  of  his  father, 
Register  of  Deeds,  and  served  as  Deputy  during  the 
remainder  of  the  term  of  office,  which  expired  Jan. 
I,  1883.  He  then  re-entered  school  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  duties   of  a  student  until  April  i,  fol- 

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lowing,  when  lie  was  employed    by  Chas.  H.  Crane, 
[^  Abstracter,  to  jKepare  a  sectional  index  of  the  lands 
•v^j  of  Mecosta  County.      That  labor  accomplished,  he 
I    entered   the   employ   of  Stephens    &   Remus,  sash, 
door  and  blind  manufacturers,  at  the  east  end  of  the 


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lower  bridge  in  Big  Rapids. 


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eorge  E.  Sparks,  farmer,  sec.  23,  Chip- 
pewa Tp.,  was  born  April  25,  1853,  and  is 

W""^    the  son  of  John   W.  and   Mary   E.   (Har- 

v-^  ris)  Sparks.  (See  sketch.)  His  parents  were 
natives  of  Crawford  Co.,  I'a.,  and  went  to 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  when  the  son  was  but 
two  years  of  age.  When  he  was  14  years  old  he  ac- 
companied them  to  Mecosta  County,  and  until  he 
23  years  of  age  was  the  assistant  of  his  father. 

Mr.  Sparks  was  married  May  7,  1876,  to  Nettie 
Buckland.  She  was  born  May  16. 1853,  in  Wyoming 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  daughter  of  Timothy  W.  and 
Jane  (Prey)  Buckland.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Vermont  and  her  mother  resides  at  Hersey,  Osceola 
Co.,  Mich.  Her  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  civil 
war  in  1861,  and  died  a  prisoner  in  the  iiands  of  the 
rebels  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  No  comment  is  needed 
upon  the  manner  and  means  of  his  death.  Salisbury 
prison  pen  is  the  synonym  for  every  species  of  con- 
summate atrocity  that  human  ingenuity  can  devise. 
Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sparks  three  ciiil- 
dren  have  been  born  :  Edna,  Aug.  27,  1879;  John- 
nie, born  Jan.  13,  1883,  and  died  Feb.  7,  1883,  and 
an  infant. 

Mr.  Sparks  is  a  Republican  in  his  views  of 
National  questions.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  School 
Inspector  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  farm  con- 
tains 120  acres  of  land,  40  of  whicii  is  improved. 


'^^^^'^ 

||  dward  P.  Shankwiler,  miller.  Big  Rapids, 

was  born   July  28,   1853,  in  Seneca  Co., 

N.  Y.     His  father,   Dewitt  P.  Shankwiler, 

f|^   was  born  in   the  same  county,    Nov.  25,   1823, 

of    German   lineage.       His    mother,    Mary    J. 

(Thomas)  Shankwiler,  was  a  native  of  the  same 

place,  born  in  1825. 

Mr.  Shankwiler    was    brought    up  on  his  father's 


if 


farm,  receiving  a  good  education  and  graduated  at 
the  University  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1872.  He 
came  to  Michigan  in  1877,  and,  in  company  with 
J.  P.  Burroughs,  rented  a  flouring  milljat  Hersey,  Os- 
ceola Co.,  where  they  operated  a  year.  Mr.  Shank- 
wiler came  to  Big  Rapids  and  bought  the  Mecosta 
County  Flouring  Mills,  situated  on  Ryan  Creek,  one 
and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  the  city,  admitting 
D.  L.  Garling  as  a  partner.  The  business  has 
proved  a  success,  its  demands  requiring  three  assist- 
ants. In  jMay,  1883,  Mr.  Shankwiler  rented  his 
interest  to  his  partner  and  turned  his  attention  princi- 
pally to  real  estate.  He  erected  and  owns  a  resi- 
dence on  South  Ives  avenue,  is  the  owner  of  several 
city  lots,  and  of  116  acres  of  land  on  sec.  24,  Big 
Rapids  Tp. 

Mr.  Shankwiler  was  married  in  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  20,  18S0,  to  Annie  B.,  daughter  of  David  and 
Mary  Selmser,  born  Nov.  9,  1856,  at  Amsterdam, 
N.  Y.  They  have  tvvo  children,  both  born  at  Big 
Rapids;  Eleanor  May,  Jan.  12,  1881,  and  Donald, 
Jan.  13,  1S83. 


iWWl'?'-  aniel  Stearns,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
f  I^MIr  Mecosta  CouTity,  resident  at  Big  Rapids, 
llf'^^  was  born  in  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  June  29,1799. 
v^£^     He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Annie  (Stuart) 


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(Stuart) 
Stearns.     His  father  was  a  farmer  in  Wind- 
ham Co.,  Vt.,  and   Mr.  Stearns  was  bred  to 
the  same  pursuit. 

When  he  reached  the  age  of  21  years  he  went  to 
Bath,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  went  to  work  in  a  dis- 
tillery for  his  brother,  remaining  one  year.  He  then 
went  to  Ellisburg,  and,  associated  with  another  bro- 
ther, established  the  business  of  cloth-dressing,  which 
existed  about  five  years.  He  came  to  Newaygo  in 
1854,  and  built  the  Brooks  House,  named  in  honor 
of  its  owner,  John  Brooks,  which  Mr.  Stearns  man- 
aged two  years.  In  1S59  he  came  to  Big  Rapids 
and  bought  a  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Michigan  avenue  and  Maple  street,  which  he  con- 
verted into  a  hotel  and  ran  two  years.  In  1861,  in 
company  with  George  F.  and  Daniel  E.  Stearns,  two 
of  his  sons,  he  opened  a  general  store,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1879,  when  he  retired  from  business. 
He  owns  a  fine  residence  and  two  lots  on  the  corner 


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of  Warren  avenue  and  Oak  street,  and  two  lots  on 
State 'street. 

Mr.  Stearns  was  married  in  F-Uisburg,  N.  Y.,  to 
Elizabeth  Coburn ;  she  died  at  EUisburg,  Ai)ril  10, 
1829,  leaving  two  sons,  Chester  E.  and  Sanuiel  C. 
Mr.  Stearns  was  a  second  time  married,  at  EUisburg, 
to  Elizabeth  Martin.  Of  this  marriage  eight  chil- 
dren were  born  :  George  F.,  Sarah  E.  (dec),  Francis 
C,  Martha  H.  (dec),  Daniel  E.,  Mary  C,  .\lfrcd  P. 
and  Albert  S.  (dec).  The  moihcr  died  in  1863,  and 
Mr.  Stearns  was  again  married  in  1871,  to  .Mary 
Gollady. 


libel  B.  Knapp.  farmer,   sec.   2,  Grant  Tp., 
^BJLffi   was  born  Dec.  13,  1843,  in  Bronson,  Huron 
^l^p°       Co.,  O.,   and    is    a  son    of    Adolphus    G. 
'    l.^]«     and    Hannah    (Richardson)    Knapp,   botii  na- 
>    ll^      tives  of  New   York.     Tiie  fatlier  is  a  son  of 
'^     1         Brundage  Knapp,  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
°  and  was  born  Feb.  19,  1820;  in  early  life  he  went  to, 
^  Salem  Tp.,  Westchester  Co.,  O.,  and  afterwards  to 
°   Huron  County,  where  he  was  married  Nov.  12,  1842. 
^  The  mother  was  born  Sept.  22,   1824,   and  accom- 
S  panied    her  parents    to  Ohio  when    she  was  eight 
years   of  age.     She    became   the    mother   of  seven 
childreri,  all  of  wliom  are  living  in    Michigan.     The 
senior  Knapp,  in   the  course  of  his  active  life,  had 
frequeiit  occasion  to  change  locality,  and  a  singular 
fact  resulting  was  that  in  passing  alternate  periods  of 
his  life  in  Michigan  and  Ohio,  three  daughters  were 
born   in  Michigan  and  three   sons  in  the    Buckeye 
State,  alternating  in  order.     In   January,   1859,  the 
S    family  removed  to  \\' right  Co.,  Mo.,  but  the  secession 
element  governed  that  portion  of  the  State  and  they 
returned  to  Ohio,  and  finally,  in    1866,  came  to  Me- 
costa Co.,  Mich.,  settling  in  Grant  Tp.,  where  the 
father  secured  80  acres  of  land.     One  of   che  sons 
bought  60  acres  in  Chippewa  Tp.,  and  Mr.  Knapp  of 
this  sketch  entered  a  claim  of  80  acres  in   Hersey 

iTp.,  Osceola  Co.  The  mother  died  March  26,  1879, 
of  pneumonia,  followed  by  heart  disease,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  a  week.  Her  children  hold  her  menH)ry 
-y  sacied,  and  speak  in  loving  remembrance  of  her 
^  motherly  devotion,  her  unselfish,  sacrificing  spirit 
I  *  and  her  lovely  character. 
/:_      Mr.  Knapp  of    this  sketch   remained   under    his 


parents' supervision  until  he  was  18  years  old,  when 
he  was  released  by  his  father  to  become  a  tanner  and 
currier.  He  worked  at  his  trade  until  Januar)-,  1864. 
He  is  now  a  stalwart,  sinewy  man,  but  he  was  in 
youth  of  light  iMiild  and  matured  slowly.  Repeated 
efforts  to  enlist  when  the  war  broke  out  were  futile; 
the  examining  surgeons  were  inflexible  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in  enrolling  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union  only 
at  the  date  named.  He  enlisted  in  1863  in  Green- 
ville, Huron  Co.,  but  did  not  weigh  100  [jounds,  and 
was  rejected.  'I'he  following  year  he  was  successful, 
and  was  credited  on  the  quota  of  Mansfield,  Rich- 
land Co.,  as  a  recruit.  He  joined  Co.  L,  loth  Ohio 
Cav.,  at  Chattanooga.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to 
La  Vergne,  Tenn.,  and  went  into  winter  quarters. 
A  detail  was  sent  to  Nashville  for  horses,  and  the  time 
was  spent  in  drill  until  spring.  The  regiment  joined 
the  command  of  Kilpatrick  at  Ringgold,  Ga.,  and 
made  its  first  ac(iuaintance  with  set  battle  at  Resaca. 
.'Xfter  the  victory  there  the  loth  Ohio  was  ordered 
out  light  mounted  and  spent  a  day  in  hot  action, 
fighting  from  nine  a.  m.  to  five  p.  m.,  repulsing  a 
charge  and  retiring  to  the  morning's  position.  The 
same  orders  were  repeated  the  following  morning, 
and  they  were  on  the  scout  five  weeks  without  over- 
coats, blankets  or  haversacks,  and  some  without  can- 
teens. Regular  rations  were  not  served  during  the 
entire  period.  Food  depended  on  success  in  forag- 
ing, and  on  one  occasion  Mr.  Knapp  was  without 
food  three  days  and  four  nights.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  fourth  day  he  secured  a  piece  of  mutton, 
which  he  devoured  raw  and  without  salt,  the  bloody 
juice  streaming  meanwhile  from  the  corners  of  his 
mouth.  Regular  rations  were  first  served  at  Adairs- 
ville.  The  next  battle  was  at  Kingston,  and  they 
afterwards  went  into  camp  at  Gillam's  bridge  on  the 
Etowah  River,  where  they  kept  up  cavalry  service, 
foraging  and  scouting,  until  Kilpatrick  set  out  on  his 
remarkable  raid.  Mr.  Knapp  was  ill  and,  instead  of 
taking  a  part  in  the  brilliant  action  of  his  command, 
as  he  anliciiiated,  with  all  the  relish  of  a  true  soldier, 
he  was  ordered  off  on  sick  leave  to  Chattanooga,  and 
48  hours  later  was  on  his  way  to  Nashville,  where  he 
was  ill  two  months  with  malarial  fever  and  camp 
diarrhea.  Later  he  went  to  Jefferson ville,  Ind., 
where  he  was  furloughed  for  30  days.  The  rebellion 
came  to  a  virtual  close,  and  he  was  discharged  from 
the  service  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  May  31,  1S65. 
He  returned  to  I'eru,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his 


7 


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514 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


v) 


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trade  for  a  time,  and,  determining  on  a  permanent 
settlement,  he  journeyed  through  Indiana,  IlHnois 
and  Iowa,  prospecting,  and  came  at  length  to  Me- 
^  costa  County,  whither  his  father's  family  had  come 
shortly  before,  and  reached  Big  Rapids  in  September, 
1866. 

He  located  land  in  Hersey,  Osceola  Co.,  in  its  orig- 
inal state,  and  there  entered  upon  the  career  of  a  pio- 
neer, spending  five  years  in  the  manner  common  to  the 
early  settlers  in  this  portion  of  Michigan.  In  1872 
he  bought  the  land  on  which  his  father  settled  in 
1866,  and  80  acres  adjoining.  His  homestead  in- 
cludes 160  acres,  with  120  acres  cleared.  It  is  con- 
sidered a  first-class  place,  lying  in  a  hard-wood  belt, 
with  soil  a  mixed  clay  and  sandy  loafh,  capable  of 
producing  the  justly  celebrated  Michigan  crops.  In 
connection  with  his  labors  as  a  farmer  Mr.  Knapp 
has  engaged  in  lumbering  sii.ce  his  settlement  in 
Northern  Michigan,  acting  in  behalf  of  other  parties, 
scaling  logs,  managing  corps  of  lumbermen,  operat- 
ing as  foreman,  etc.,  finding  ample  field  for  his  efforts 
at$roo  per  month.  His  farm  has  good  buildings 
and  a  new  barn,  built  in  1883,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fine  grades  of 
draught  horses,  and  at  the  fair  at  Evart,  Osceola  Co., 

\/  in  the  fall  of  1883,  took  tliree  premiums  on  colts  and 
^  single  horses.  He  has  been  active  in  town  matters 
)  since  he  located  in  Grant,  and  served  the  township 
as  Supervisor  in  1874  and  1882.  He  joined  the 
M.  E.  Church  in  1878,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
officials  of  the  society  since.  He  is  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Mecosta  County,  and  foremost 
among  the  active  workers  for  its  progress  and  sub- 
stantial improvement.  The  neighborhood  in  which 
he  is  located  is  designated  by  his  name,  and  he  has 
been  the  responsible  member  of  his  father's  family 
for  years.  He  was  a  Republican  from  the  beginning 
of  his  political  career  until  the  establishment  of  the 
National  party,  when  he  became  its  adherent,  and  in 
1876  was  the  candidate  for  Sheriff  on  the  Greenback 
ticket,  in  opposition  to  Col.  N.  H.  Vincent,  Republi- 

-^  can  nominee. 

"I  Mr.  Knapp  was  married  Oct.  29,  1877,  to  Gertrude 

};     E.,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Mary  J.  Royce,  of  Deer- 


) 


■^ 


12,  18! 


Del- 


1^    field  Tp.  (see  sketch),  born  Nov. 
^  mar,  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.     When  she  was   12  years  old 
'•^   her  parents  came  to  Deerfield  Tp.  She  devoted  herself 


*) 


i 


parents  came  to  Deerfield  Tj 
vigorously  to  obtaining  an  education,  and  at  16  com- 
menced teaching  at  Millbrook.     She  taught  12  terms 


of  school,  all  in  Mecosta  County  save  one,  the  Bar- 
ton school  in  Winfield  Tp.,  Montcalm  Co.  She  be- 
came a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1875,  and 
was  active  in  all  avenues  where  a  laborer  was  needed. 
She  has  served  as  Superintendent  of  Sunday-school 
and  lent  energetic  and  judicious  aid  wherever  need- 
ed. She  is  a  lady  of  fine  acquisitions  and  generous 
impulses,  a  valuable  member  of  her  social  sphere 
and  warmly  regarded  by  her  intimate  friends. 

The  elder  sister  of  Mr.  Knapp,  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Nelson  A.  McCord,  lives  in  St.  Louis,  Gratiot  Co., 
and  is  the  mother  of  three  children.  Franklin  B. 
Knapi)  is  a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
located  at  Salt  River,  Isabella  Co.  He  is  married 
and  is  tiie  parent  of  three  children.  Phebe  A.,  wife 
of  \Vm.  Cook,  residing  in  Chippewa  Tp.,  has  four 
children.  John  A.  Knapp  is  unmarried  and  lives  in 
Grant.  Josephine  J.  (Mrs.  Owen  Bentley)  has  three 
children.  Vernor  G.  Knapp  resides  with  his  brother 
in  Grant. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp  may  be 
found  in  this  work. 


n^ji  i-j  ilbert  W.  Smith,  lumberman,  of  the  firm 

of  Foster,  Blackman   &    Co.,  Big  Ra|)ids, 

''k&^^'    was  born  in  Vernon,  Conn.,  May  15,  1852, 

jv9> 


•m 


and    is    the    son 
(Keith)    Smith. 


of    Amos    and    Angeline 
His    parents    removed    to 


Brighton,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1857,  and 
soon  after  to  Howell,  where  his  father  was  engaged 
as  a  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes  about  15  years.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  Howell  until  he  was  18  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor  and  entered  the 
Literary  Department  of  the  University,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1874.  Immediately  after 
that  event  he  became  a  member  of  the  lumber  firm 
of  Galloway,  Blackman  &  Co.,  of  Howell. 

In  the  spring  of  1877  the  present  business  house 
was  constituted,  consisting  of  Chapin  C.  Foster,  of 
Indianapolis,  Hudson  B.  Blackman,  Elias  D.  Gallo- 
way, and  \V.  W.  Smith,  of  Howell.  The  interests  of 
the  new  association  were  established  at  Big  Rapids 
at  the  same  time,  with  Mr.  Smith  as  resident  mana- 
ger. They  are  operating  extensively  in  Uimlier,  hav- 
ing a  steam  saw  and  shingle  mill  at  Edmore, 
Montcalm  Co.,  where  a  laboring  force  of  100  men  is 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


"Ziifiscf'^ 


— --^j^ 


commonly  employed,  and  the  product  amounts  annu- 
ally to  about  10,000,000  feet  each  of  shingles  and 
lumber.  At  Baldwin,  Lake  Co.,  the  firm  owns  a 
steam  saw-mill,  and  employs  about  100  men  in  the 
mill  and  woods,  cutting  about  10,000,000  feet  of  lum- 
ber yearly.  They  own  about  3,500  acres  of  pine 
land  in  Lake  County,  where  Messrs.  Morton  &  Tea- 
chout  have  just  completed  a  mill  contract  for  4,500,- 
000  feet  at  Lumberton,  Newaygo  Co.  Their  ship- 
ments are  commonly  made  to  Lidiana  and  Ohio,  and 
to  some  extent  to  Eastern  markets. 

The  firm  have  suffered  considerable  losses  by  fire ; 
one,  which  occurred  at  Edmore  in  1881,  resulted  in 
the  destruction  of  their  mill  and  lumber  to  the  value 
of  §14,000,  partly  remedied  by  $9,000  insurance. 
Aug.  20,  1883  (current  year),  they  suffered  a  loss  of 
2,500,000  feet  of  lumber,  valued  at  $25,000,  with  an 
insurance  of  $18,000. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Lapeer,  Mich.,  June  10, 
1875,  to  Elizabeth  P.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Gustavus  L. 
and  Hannah  (Petlingill)  Foster.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Smith  was  a  clergyman  of  repute  in  Presby- 
terian circles  in  the  State  of  Michigan  for  many 
years,  and  a',  the  time  of  his  death  his  labors  exceed- 
ed in  continuity  those  of  any  other  minister  in  that 
denomination.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  Clinton,  Len- 
awee Co.,  Mich.,  March  27,  1853.  One  child  has 
been  born  of  her  marriage,  Oustavus,  May  19,  1876, 
at  Howell,  Mich.  Mr.  Smith  was  elected  City 
Alderman  in  the  spring  of  1883;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


EEj-^-^if'^ 


j.erbert  Ladner,  lumberman  and  farmer,  on 
sec.  34,  Big  Rapids  Tp.,  was  born  in  the 
county  of  Cornwall,  Eng.,  June   15,   1839. 


His  parents,  James  and  Jane  (Chirgwin)  Lad- 
ner, came  to  America  when  he  was  nine  years 
of  age,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town^hip  of 
Cannon,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  until 
the  age  of  25  years  He  bought  80  acres  of  land  in 
the  same  township  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
continued  on  it  five  years.  In  1882  he  bought  a 
farm  containing  80  acres  on  sec.  34,  Big  Rapids 
Township. 

Mr.  Ladner  was  married  July  i,  1869,  to  Huldah, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Catherine  Ganong.  She 
was  born'in  the  State  of  New  York,  June  22,   1848, 


and  died  in  Big  Rapids  Tp.,  March  12,  1874,  leaving 
two  children,  Albert  W.,  born  in  Big  Rai)ids,  March 
5,  187 1,  and  Vernia  B.,  born  in  Osceola  County, 
March  18,  1873. 

Mr.  Ladner  contracted  a  second  marriage  in  Big 
Rapids,  Oct.  13,  1880,  with  Sinia  E.  De  Tarr,  born 
Aug.  7,  1856,  in  Lee  Co.,  Iowa. 


resjii  gorge  P.  Cornell,  lumberman,  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  in    Ekfrid  Tp.,   Middlesex    Co., 
Can.,  Jan.  22,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip 
^^  '  and  Letilia  (Parker)  Corneil. 

Mr.  Corneil  was  a  farmer  until  he  was  22 
years  old  ;  since  that  age  he  has  been  chiefly 
engaged  in  lumbering.  He  left  the  Dominion  in 
1865,  coming  in  December  to  Big  Rapids,  where  he 
at  once  interested  himself  in  the  leading  pursuits  of 
that  period,  getting  out  logs,  not  long  afterward  ris- 
ing to  tiie  position  of  foreman,  a  post  he  filled  in  the 
interests  of  different  parties  forsomeyears.  In  1869 
he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account.  In 
1870  he  commenced  getting  out  ties  and  bridge  tim- 
ber for  the  G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.  Co.,  under  a  contract, 
witli  which  he  was  occupied  until  the  fall  of  1873. 
He  went  to  Cadillac  and  formed  a  jiartnership  with 
R.  McDowell,  of  that  place,  where  they  embarked  in 
the  grocery  trade  and  also  operated  as  contractors 
"  putting  in  "  timber.  Two  years  later  Mr.  McDowell 
sold  his  interest  in  the  lumber  business  to  his  brother, 
A.  McDowell,  Mj.  Corneil  selling  his  claim  in  the 
grocery  at  the  same  time  to  his  partner.  The  new 
association  continued  three  years,  Mr.  Corneil  be- 
coming sole  proprietor  by  jjurchase.  He  managed 
alone  one  year,  continuing  to  buy  and  sell  pine  lands, 
as  he  had  been  doing  on  his  own  account.  He  went 
to  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  spent  two  years  specula- 
ting in  farming  lands.  He  returned  to  Big  Rapids  in 
1882,  and,  on  the  first  of  October,  be(iame  associated 
with  his  brother,  A.  C.  Corneil,  which  relation  still 
exists.  A  month  later  he  formed  a  connection  once 
more  with  A.  McDowell,  with  whom  he  operated  as 
contractor  in  lumber,  and  grading  track  on  the  G.  R. 
&  I.  R.  R.,  doing  a  heavy  business,  with  a  working 
force  of  70  men  on  the  railroad  and  35  men  in  the 
woods.  Corneil  Bros,  employ  an  equal  number 
in  their  lumber  operations. 


•4 


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516 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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Mr.  Cornell  owns  a  farm  of  90  acres  in  the  Third 
Ward  of  Big  Rapids,  which  is  all  in  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  eight  acres 
of  timber  land.  He  also  owns  a  half  interest  in  two 
vacant  lots  in  the  Fourth  Ward.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights  Templar. 

Mr.  Corneil  was  married  in  Cadillac,  Mich  ,  Aug. 
31,  1876,  to  Annie,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Almira 
Aldrich,  born  near  Sharon,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich., 
Aug.  3,  1855.  They  have  one  daugliter,  Susie  Clara, 
born  Jan.  23,  1881,  at  Minneapolis,  Minn. 


n;j^?5-ri- 


ms3 


^fp^.^pharles  W.  Cunningham,   book-keeper  in 
^^Sj  the  Big  Rapids  National  Bank,  was  born 


4'h 


in  De.\ter,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  March   13, 


Vt?      '  '^S^'  '^"d  is  son  of  John  and  Sarah  A.  (Adams) 
'j^      Cunningham.       His     father    was    ticket    and 
freight  agent  for  the  Michigan  Central   Rail- 
road Company  at  Dexter  about  12  years,  and  died  at 
Vicksburg,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  where  his  mother 
is  yet  living. 

When  he  was  12  years  old,  Mr.  Cunningham  was 
engaged  for  a  year  as  clerk  in  a  store.  His  parents 
removed  to  Battle  Creek,  where  he  attended  the 
graded  schools  until  the  age  of  r5.  They  removed 
the  next  year  to  Vicksburg,  where  Mr.  Cunningham 
learned  telegraphy  in  an  office  on  the  Chicago  & 
Grand  Trunk  railroad.  After  acting  as  relieving 
agent  on  that  road  six  months,  he  was  stationed  at 
Bellevue  and  remained  there  one  year.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1875,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged as  telegraph  operator  and  ticket  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad  of- 
fice, then  located  in  the  Mason  House,  where  he 
operated  four  years.  The  next  two  years  he  was  em- 
ployed as  operator  and  ticket  agent  at  both  depots 
of  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad,  situated 
at  upper  and  Jower  Big  Rapids.  In  August,  1881,  he 
engaged  as  general  agent  for  the  Detroit,  Lansing  & 
Northern  Railroad  at  Big  Rapids,  where  he  ojjerated 
until  January,  1883,  when  he  resigned  and  en- 
gaged as  traveling  auditor  for  the  Chicago  &  West 
Michigan  Railroad.  June  i,  1883,  he  accepted  the 
position  he  now  holds.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he  was 
elected  Recorder  of  the  City  of  Big  Rapids  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  which  post  he  held  two  years. 


Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  in  Big  Rapids,  Sept. 
24,  1879,  to  Jennie,  daughter  of  Alfred  S.  and 
Amanda  Mason,  born  Jan.  5,  1859,  in  Jamestown, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunningham 
have  one  child, — Charles  A.,  born  June  3,  1881. 


^ 


"i 


■  S^'enjamin  F.  Brown,  M.  D.,  iSIorlty,  was 

H)  ft)  \l'''^ 

^^J|>:  born  ui  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,   Jan.  3,    1840. 

Ig^  '^  His  father,  Jacob  Brown,  was  a  native  of 
cf^  Ohio,  and  his  mother,  Lavinia  (Bombarger) 
Brown,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania;  they  now 
reside  on  the  "Western  Reseive,"  where  the 
father  is  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  At 
the  age  of  18  years  Dr.  Brown  became  a  student  at 
Hiram  College,  under  tlie  management  of  James  A. 
Garfield,  its  President,  and  continued  his  course  two 
years;  going  thence  to  a  high  school  located  at  Brim- 
field  Center,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  in 
attendance  three  terms.  In  i860  he  began  his  prepar- 
atory course  of  medical  study  at  Mogadore,  Portage 
Co.,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Ferguson,  study- 
ing with  him  at  intervals  for  three  years.  Dr.  Brown 
had  a  brief  army  experience  during  the  civil  war, 
enlisting  Sept.  6,  1861,  in  Co.  C,  Ninth  Ind.  Vol.  Inf , 
and  serving  as  Hosiiital  Steward  until  July,  1862, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  returned  to 
Ohio  and  resumed  his  studies  for  his  profession.  In 
the  winter  of  1862-3  '"^  attended  lectures  at  the 
Cleveland  Medical  College.  His  next  removal  was 
to  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  S. 
W.  Bertys,  as  assistant.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  came 
to  Michigan  and  settled  at  Muir,  Ionia  Co.,  and  there 
engaged  for  a  brief  time  in  lumbering.  He  there 
owned  an  interest  in  a  planing-mill,  which  was  totally 
destroyed  by  fire  and  entailed  a  loss  of  $10,000. 
This  circumstance  cri[)pled  him  so  severely  that  he 
was  for  some  time  virtually  out  of  business.  He  en- 
deavored to  re-establish  himself  in  lumber  projects 
at  Big  Rapids,  but  his  ill  fate  again  supervened  and 
he  determined  to  resume  his  medical  studies.  In 
October,  1876,  he  went  to  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, at  Ann  Arbor,  and  entered  the  Department  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery,  there  prosecuting  his  studies 
until  April,  1877.  He  then  came  to  Big  Rapids,  but 
only  acted  in  auxiliary  practice  until  February,  1878, 
when  he  began  his  career  as  a  practitioner  at  Morley. 


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Dr.  Brown  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  his  husi- 
ncss  and  ranks  fairly  witli  the  profession  in  Mctosta 
County.  His  business  is  already  extcndctl,  and  in- 
creasing with  encouraging  rapidity.  He  owns  a  lann 
on  sec.  30,  Deerficld  'i'p.,  of  120  acres,  with  55  acres 
under  tillage,  which  he  bought  in  March,    1881. 

Dr.  Brown  was  married  Jan.  3,  1866,  in  Lyons, 
Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Amelia  Ross,  who  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  Dec.  29,  1842.  The  Doctor 
is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry. 


oseph  T.  Escott,  capitalist,  farmer,  and  rep- 
'^  resentative  pioneer  citizen  of  Big  Rapids, 

'A¥?,  ^  ^'^^  ^*"^"  J^"'  "5'  '^3^'  ^^  ^^'^  Rochelle, 
Westchester  C"o.,  N.  Y.  He  is  of  a  clear  line 
of  English  descent,  both  parents  being  born  in 
England  of  ancestors  native  in  that  country. 
His  father,  Joseph  Escott,  was  born  in  Bristol,  Glou- 
cestershire, Feb.  23,  1806,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
Escott.  The  latter  was  born  at  Hampton,  Devon- 
shire. He  was  left  an  orphan  at  four  years  of  age, 
and  was  bound  to  a  farmer.  When  he  reached  the 
age  of  21  he  went  to  Bristol,  and  lived  there  con- 
tinuously until  his  death  at  84  years  of  age.  Up- 
wards of  30  years  of  his  life  was  passed  as  a  foreman 
in  a  brush  and  bellows  factory.  Joseph  Escott  be- 
came a  shoemaker,  and  varied  that  trade  witii  the 
labors  of  a  market  gardener. 

In  1827  he  married  Betsey  Tyler,  born  I'eb.  9, 
1 80S,  at  Tvower  Easton,  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Bristol,  where  her  parents  were  engaged  in  market 
gardening.  Joseph  E^scott  came  to  the  New  World 
with  his  family,  making  the  passage  in  a  sailing  ves- 
sel, consuming  37  days  in  the  trip.  They  landed 
July  30,  1830,  at  New  York,  and  the  husband  worked 
there  about  nine  months  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking, 
removing  thence  to  Westchester  County,  residing 
successively  at  Port  Chester  and  New  Rochelle,  occu- 
pied with  his  trade  and  keeping  a  turnpike  toll-gate. 
In  June,  1839,  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  moved 
from  Detroit  to  Crand  Rapids  in  a  wagon,  over  the 
old  Territorial  road.  At  Fentonville,  the  eldest  boy 
fell  from  the  wagon  and  broke  his  leg,  necessitating 
a  delay  of  five  weeks,  (jrand  Rajjitls  was  a  sniall 
village,  provisions  of  all  kinds  sold  at  high  rates,  and, 
to  ad4  to  the  discomforts  of  jxiverty  in  a  strange 


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country,  the  entire  family  (parents  and  four  children)     ^^ 
contracted  tlie  fever  and  ague,  which  confined  them 
to  the  house  nearly  all  of  tiie  first  year. 

In  1842,  the  senior  Escott  pre-emi)ted  80  acres  of 
Covernment  land  on  the  east  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  sec.  15,  Walker  Tp.,  Kent  Co.  This  he 
bought  afterwards,  cleared  and  improved,  and  resid- 
ed thereon  about  30  years,  occui)ied  in  farming  and 
gardening.  The  family  increased  to  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  eady  life,  and  five  grew  to 
mature  years  on  the  home  place.  Two  sisters  and 
two  brothers  of  Mr.  Escott  of  this  sketch  yet  survive. 
The  father  and  mother  came  to  15ig  Rapids  Nov.  9, 
1872,  to  pass  their  declining  years  with  their  son. 
The  mother  was  suffering  from  an  incurable  disease, 
which  she  bore  uncomplainingly  and  with  Christian 
fortitude  for  years.  She  died  Oct.  29,  1879,  after  a 
life  of  usefulness  and  merit.  The  father  is  yet  living, 
in  comparatively  good  health,  in  his  78th  year. 

Mr.  F,s(0lt  was  first  sent  to  school  at  10  years  of 
age,  and  spent  the  winters  of  his  life  until  he  was  19 
obtaining  an  education,  walking  a  mile  and  a  half 
to  the  old  red  school-house  at  Walker  Center.  He 
never  studied  more  than  four  months  in  a  year,  and 
did  the  chores  on  the  farm  while  his  father  worked  at 
his  bench.  At  19  he  taught  a  term  of  school  in  the 
Colton  district,  in  Alpine  Tp.,  Kent  Co.,  "  boarding 
round,"  and  enjoying  all  the  "  perquisites "  of  a 
pedagogue  of  that  period.  1  le  taught  seven  terms  of 
school  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Rapids. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  A.  Ixjuckes,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(Thompson)  l.ouckes,  farmers,  resident  in  \\alker 
Township. 

Iiilin  1,0111  kes  was  born  in  Highgatc,  Franklin  Co., 
Vt.,  lune  4,  1806.  His  parents  went  to  Mallahide, 
Middlesex  Co.,  Out.,  when  he  was  14  years  old,  and 
he  was  married  there  Jan.  30,  1827,  to  Susan  Thomii- 
son,  a  native  of  Niagara  District,  Ont.,  born  .\ug.  15, 
1810.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  l.ouckes  spent  the  succeeding 
27  years  in  the  Dominion,  engaging  in  pioneer  labors, 
and  enduring  the  privations  of  the  place  and  period. 
In  1854  they  moved  to  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  and  liought 
a  farm  on  sec.  1 1,  Walker  Tp.,  where  the  father  died 
July  4,  1881.  The  mother  resides  on  the  homestead 
with  her  son.  Mrs.  Escott  is  one  of  a  family  of  12 
children,  of  whom  three  sisters  and  five  brothers  are 
living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Escott  entered  upon  their  married  ^  ,\, 


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life  with  hearts  buoyant  with  hope,  and  in  their 
apparently  promising  prospects  anticipated  a  career 
of  comfort,  with  no  more  hardship  than  is  common  to 
people  in  health,  with  energy  to  follow  up  a  success- 
ful entry  upon  a  contest  with  the  world.  Mr.  Escott 
bought,  of  Jackson  Rogers,  a  land  contract  for  a  tract 
situated  in  the  western  part  of  Alpine  Tp.,  Kent  Co., 
built  a  house  and  cleared  48  acres  of  heavily  timber- 
ed land.  He  sowed  30  acres  of  wheat,  and  saw  the 
season  advancing  in  ho[)eful  content,  when  he  found 
he  had  trusted  in  a  broken  reed.  Only  a  verbal  con- 
tract held  the  man  of  whom  he  obtained  his  right  to 
the  land,  and  he  transferred  the  title  to  a  party  with 
whom  Mr.  Escott  could  make  no  terms.  In  si.x 
months  he  found  himself  destitute,  and  with  a  heavy 
load  of  debt. 

The  succeeding  fouryears  they  lived  in  Tallmadge, 
Ottawa  Co.,  and  in  Walker  Township.  Prospects  did 
not  brighten,  and  in  April,  1863,  they  came  to  Big 
Rajuds,  in  the  hope  of  building  up  their  shattered 
fortunes.  If  an  adequate  jMcture  could  be  drawn  of 
the  country  through  which  they  traveled  and  the 
condition  of  the  roads,  some  idea  of  that  journey 
might  be  conveyed ;  but  no  pen  can  do  it  justice 
v,filh  words.  'I'iie  household  effects  were  piled  on  a 
wagon,  and  tlie  motlier  witli  one  precious  baby  rode 
a  part  of  the  distance,  dismounting  to  walk  over  the 
worst  places.  They  came  i)y  way  of  Newaygo  and 
Big  Prairie,  and  fifteen  miles  of  the  distance  from  tlie 
latter  place  was  -unbroken  forest.  The  journey 
occupied  tliree  days,  and  tlie  wagon  tipping  over  once, 
bringing  ruin  to  some  of  the  crockery,  was  the  only 
disaster  of  any  account.  They  found  Big  Rapids  in 
its  early  youth,  having  two  stores,  and  a  small  com- 
munity of  whole-souled  people,  whose  uniform  cir- 
cumstances placed  them  on  a  social  level,  which 
added  materially  to  the  general  comfort. 

Destitute  of  means,  but  young,  healthy  and  not 
afraid  of  work,  Mr.  Escott  found  his  strength  and 
energies  in  demand  at  remunerative  rates,  and  the 
money  he  earned  as  a  day  laborer  and  was  enabled 
to  save  through  his  wife's  economy  and  good  manage- 
ment, soon  cleared  his  indebtedness  and  placed  him 
in  comparative  ease.  He  began  the  purchase  and  sale 
of  land  contracts,  still  working  at  whatever  paid  best, 
and  finally  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Green  Tp., 
(now  the  property  of  James  Dalzell),  and  built  a 
small   house,  into  which  the/   moved  before  it  was 


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fitted  with  door  or  window.  The  first  summer  he 
cleared  two  acres,  and  sowed  25  cents'  worth  of  ruta- 
baga seed,  which  crop  he  sold  on  the  ground  for 
$i8q.  Later  he  sold  his  farm  and  secured  a  position 
as  teamster  with  B.  E.  Hutchinson,  one  of  the  mer- 
chants of  Big  Rapids.  His  duty  was  to  drive  to 
Grand  Rapids,  via  Newaygo  (70  miles),  buy  goods, 
do  numberless  errands,  and  bring  back  his  purchases 
to  supjily  the  demands  of  the  country  trade.  He 
commonly  started  Monday  morning  with  an  empty 
wagon  (save  chance  passengers),  consume  two  days 
en  route,  spend  one  day  in  collecting  his  load,  and 
three  more  in  driving  back  to  Big  Rapids,  if  fate  was 
propiiious;  but  often  the  round  trip  occupied  two  or 
three  days  more.  This  business  he  followed  iS 
months,  at  satisfactory  wages. 

In  1S65  Mr.  E.scott  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  A.  S.  Mason,  and  at  the  election  of  the  follow- 
ing year  was  the  successful  candidate  on  the  Rcpuli- 
lican  ticket  for  the  office  of  Sheriff.  His  jurisdiction 
e.xtended  over  Osceola  and  the  east  half  of  Lake 
Counties,  then  attached  to  Mecosta  County  for  judi- 
cial purposes.  The  county  being  new  and  roads  very 
rude,  if  any  at  all,  made  it  necessary  to  transact 
most  of  the  business  either  on  foot  or  horseback,  and 
he  frequently  brought  in  the  sinners  against  the  maj- 
esty of  the  law  from  the  woods  or  camps  on  foot  and 
single-handed. 

In  1868  he  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority.  In 
1870  the  law  prohibited  another  re-election,  but  he 
was  appointed  Under-Sheriff,  with  D.  F.  W'ooley, 
Democrat.  In  187 1  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
the  Fourth  \Vard  of  Big  Rapids.  In  1872  and  1874 
he  was  elected  Sheriff,  and  the  fulfillment  (>f  these 
terms  made  an  aggregate  of  r  i  years  in  which  he 
discharged  the  duties  of  that  office.  He  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  offici- 
ated as  Deputy  U.  S.  Marshal  under  James  Henry 
and  John  Parker,  acting  about  eight  years.  In  1878 
he  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  Fourth  Ward  and 
and  held  the  jilace  four  years.  In  18S1  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Gov.  Jerome  one  of  the  managers  of  the 
Ionia  State  House  of  Correction  and  Reformatory, 
which  post  he  held  until  Jan.  i,  1883.  In  the  spring 
of  1883  (current  year)  he  was  again  elected  Super- 
visor of  his  ward. 

In  1865  Mr.  Escott  bought  80  acres  of  land  now 
situated  within  the  limits  of  the  city,  being  the  west 
half  of  the.  ri,oi;thwest  quarter  of  sqc..  15,  to  which  he 


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^    has  gradually  added  by  purchase  uiilil  lie  has  a  farm 
^    of  280  acres  of  land,  lying  in  one  hody  and  all  im- 
.^   proved,  of  which  210  acres  are  within  the  city  liniiis. 
\     Fifteen    acres,   known    as    "Escott's  Addition, "  arc- 
platted  in  city  lots,  which  he  is  selling  and  supplying 
with  buildings.     In  1S67  he  erected  his  residence  on 
the  corner  of  State  street  and  Sanborn   avenue,  on 
land    then    covered    with   indigenous    forest    trees. 
About  1X75  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Big  Rap- 
ids Furniture  Stock  Company,  and  was  elected  its 
President,  operating  one  year  as  a  manager  of  the  re- 
tail department.     He  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  being  a  member  of  the  Lodge,  Chapter, 
Council  and  Cominandery. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Escott,  two  daughters  and  a  son.  The  latter,  George 
B.,  born  May  6,  187  i,  is  the  sole  survivor;  Susan  E., 
born  July  8,  1861,  in  Tallmadge,  died  of  membran- 
ous croup,  Nov.  26,  1864,  'at  the  home  of  her  grand- 
father Louckes,  in  Walker,  where  her  mother  had 
taken  heron  a  visit.  Nellie  M.,  born  Sept.  3,  1866, 
at  Big  Rapids,  died  of  hemorrhage  of  the  bowels,  Aug. 
21,  1868,  in  Tallmadge,  where  her  mother  was  visit- 
ing a  sister. 

Mr.  Escott's  portrait  on  another  page  presents  the 
likeness  of  a  man  whose  entire  record  gives  a  con- 
tinuous exhibit  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
steady  adherence  to  a  worthy  purpose.  He  has  only 
taken  opi>ortunity  at  its  best,  the  secret  of  every 
man's  success  in  a  new  country.  He  is  still  in  the 
supremacy  of  a  perfect  manhood,  llis  tem|ieiate 
habits  and  active  life  have  preserved  liis  health  antl 
strength,  his  eye  has  all  its  pristine  keenness  and 
brilliancy,  and  he  walks  with  the  erectness  of  a  vig- 
orous vitality.  He  never  had  a  lawsuit,  never  was 
sued,  never  owned  a  gun  or  a  dog,  and  never  drank 
a  glass  of  liquor  at  the  bar  in  his  life. 

In  the  pub!i<:  and  private  career  of  Mr.  Escott  are 
the  salient  points  which  render  him  a  representative 
of  the  manner  of  men  who  have  placeil  tiie  county 
of  Mecosta  and  the  city  of  Big  Rapids,  in  a  marvel- 
ously  brief  period,  in  their  present  stale  of  [jrosperily, 
with   a  future  of  splendid   promise.     The   class  of 

f'  "*    which  he  is  an  acknowledged  type  deserve  a  volume 
for   the   adei|uate  record  of  the  worth   of  their  ex- 
ample and  achievements.     The  results  anil  develop- 
*      ments  of  the  coming  years  will   round  and  complete 
^     the  annals  of  this   ix)rtion  of  the   Peninsular  .Stale. 


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ucas  I.  Witbeck,  Morley,  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  Sept.  4,  1845.  His 
^  ^  ,  parents,  Abraham  and  Maria  (Van  Vranken) 
ujO'"  Witbeck,  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State  and 
are  still  residents  there.  His  ancestors  settled 
in  the  same  State  about  the  year  1636,  among 
the  eailiest  of  the  colonists,  and  were  participants  in 
the  Revolution.  Mr.  Witbeck  was  under  the  care  of 
his  father  until  the  age  of  16,  alternately  attending 
school  and  working  on  the  farm.  He  then  went  to 
learn  the  trade  of  cari)enter  and  joiner,  and  served 
three  years.  He  followed  that  vocation  until  1871. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year,  interested  himself  in  the  bus- 
iness of  butchering,  which  he  continued  nearly  five 
years,  opeating  as  a  wliolesale  dealer.  He  came  to 
Michigan  in  the  summer  of  1875  and  settled  at 
Sturgis,  following  his  trade  as  a  builder  for  a  short 
time,  then  removed  to  Lima,  Ind.,  where  he  kept  a 
meat  market  two  years.  He  tlien  returned  to  Sturgis, 
where  he  bought  a  market,  and  remained  there  until 
December,  i8Si,at  which  time  he  sold  out  and  came 
to  Morley,  where  he  became  proprietor,  by  purchase, 
of  the  meat  market  owned  by  .\ugust  Rowland.  This 
is  his  present  establishment. 

He  was  married  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Har- 
riet, daughter  of  Ciles  and  Rebecca  (Swort)  Gates, 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  where  Mrs.  Wit- 
beck was  born.  Children :  Abraham  L.,  Annie, 
Clarence,  Gertrude  I.,  Lucas  I.  and  Maud.  Clara 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Witbeck  is  independent  in  pol- 
itics and  belongs  to  tlie  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


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oren  T.  Loveless,  projirietor  of  the  Na- 
\  tional  barber  sho})  and  bath-rooms,  under 
.•'Jt^^^^  the  Northern  National  Bank,  was  born  in 
'liiT  Newark,  Ohio,  Sept.  7,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of 
'K  Henry  and  Marinda  (Thompson)  Loveless. 
I  They  went  in  1846  to  Pontiac,  III,  where  the 
father  died  in  1852,  and  the  motlier  in  1853,  of 
cholera. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  llie  war  Mr.  Loveless  went 
to  Cairo,  III.,  and  shipped  on  the  U.  S.  gunboat 
"  Louisville  "  as  an  able  seaman,  and  took  part  in 
seven    engagements:    Island    No.     10,  Fort   Pillow, 


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Memphis,  Haines'  Bluff,  Vicksburg  and  Arkansas 
Pest.  At  the  end  of  13  months  he  received  honor- 
able discharge,  and  returned  to  Fairbury,  111.,  where 
he  re-enlisted  in  the  Third  111.  Cav.,  Capt.  Carnahan, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his 
discharge  at  Springfield,  111.  He  was  in  action  at 
Red  River,  Franklin,  Nashville,  Memphis  and  dur- 
ing Forrest's  raid. 

After  the  war  he  went  to  Dewitt,  Iowa,  and  opened 
a  store  for  the  sale  of  masons'  supplies — lime,  hair, 
cement,  etc., — which  he  sold  out  in  February,  1866, 
coming  thence  to  Newaygo,  Mich.,  where  he  obtained 
employment  as  clerk  in  a  store.  A  year  later  he  be- 
gan to  drive  stage  and  carry  mail  between  Grand 
Rapids  and  Traverse  ("ity,  and  acted  in  that  capacity 
one  year.  His  next  business  venture  was  in  Neway- 
go, where  he  opened  a  barber  shop,  which  he  con- 
tinue/! to  manage  until  1870.  In  July  of  that  year 
he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  and  in  1871  opened  a  shop 
for  the  prosecution  of  his  business,  in  the  old  Shafer 
block.  Six  months  afterward  he  made  another 
change,  succeeded  by  several  others,  and  in  January, 
1882,  settled  in  his  present  quarters,  which  are  finely 
fitted  with  all  modern  conveniences,  having  first- 
class  bath-rooms  attached.  He  now  employs  two 
assistants. 

Mr.  Loveless  was  a  member  of  the  State  militia 
nearly  nine  years,  belonging  to  Co.  E,  Second  Regt. 
Mich.  State  Troops,  Capt.  Brazee  ;  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  holds  the  position 
of  Noble  Grand.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Fire 
Department  about  nine  years,  and  is  Assistant 
Inspector-General  in  the  G.  A.  R.  He  owns  his  resi- 
dence on  South  Warren  avenue,  a  dwelling  near  it 
which  he  rents,  and  a  vacant  city  lot. 

Mr.  Loveless  was  married  March  22,  1869,  to 
Carrie  E.  Thomas,  a  native  of  Michigan.  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage,  Arthur 
L.  and  George  M. 


homas  G.  Horton,  farmer,  sees.  30  and  32, 
Sheridan  Tp.,  was  born  in  Vinton,  Athens 
*  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  14,  1829.  Daniel  M.  Horton, 
his  father,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1791,  of 
English  parentage.  His  mother,  Anna  (Kim- 
ball) Horton,  was  born  in  Hector,  Tompkins 
N.   Y.,   in   1S06,  of   German    extraction.      Mr. 


Horton  was  married  Sept.  24,  1858,  to  Lucy  Pren- 
tiss, of  Cameron,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was 
born  in  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  Co.,  111.,  and  has 
been  the  mother  of  1 1  children  :  Hector  A.,  Victor 
E.,  Frederick  C,  Jessie  F.,  John  C,  Eva  T.,  William 
K.,  Melvin  E.,  Thomas  G.,  Isabella  L.  and  Maud 
M.  The  three  elder  children  are  deceased.  On  his 
mariiage  Mr.  Horton  located  in  Bath,  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  removed  to  Millbrook,  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich., 
where  he  settled  June  7,  1866.  He  removed  to 
Sheridan  in  November,  1S69,  and  has  since  been  a 
citizen  of  that  township.  He  is  a  Repubhcan  in 
politics,  and  has  been  Township  Treasurer  two  terms 
(1881-2);  was  Supervisor  in  1876,  and  has  served 
two  terms  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Mr.  Horton  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  war. 
He  enlisted  in  the  76th  N.  V.  Vol.  Inf ,  in  Steuben 
County,  and  on  account  of  decimation  of  the  regi- 
ment at  the  battle  of  Mine  Run,  he  was  transferred  to 
Co.  K,  147th  N.  Y.  Inf  He  was  wounded  June  16, 
1864,  at  the  battle  in  front  of  Petersburg,  while  in 
the  act  of  storming,  and  was  in  the  hospital  one  year, 
receiving  his  discharge  June  14,  1865,  at  the  close  of 
the  war. 

pen.  Edgar  Peirce,  Representative  from  Me- 
Bj^^^  cosla  County,  resident  at  Big  Rapids,  was 
>§^  born  in  Elk  Tp.,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  May  6,  1841. 
He  is  of  English  lineage,  being  descended  from 
I  John  Pers,  a  native  of  Norfolkshire,  Eng.,  who 
I  settled  in  New  England  in  1637.  His  father, 
Francis  Peirce,  was  born  in  Waltham,  Mass.,  and 
eventually  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  mar- 
ried Betsey  Boomer,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  Mr. 
Peirce  was  the  eighth  of  nine  children  born  of  this 
marriage. 

He  received  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  academy  of  his  county,  and  was  bred  to 
the  business  of  milling.  He  was  on  the  eve  of  his 
majority  when  the  assault  on  Fort  Sumter  sent  an 
electric  thrill  round  the  world,  and  a  few  months 
after  reaching  the  period  of  his  legal  freedom  he  en- 
rolled in  defense  of  the  Union  flag.  He  enlisted 
Sept.  13,  1862,  under  t'apt.  W.  W.  Miles,  whose 
company  was  assigned  to  the  14th  Pa.  Cav.,  in  ren- 
dezvous at  Pittsburg,  with  Col.  J.  M.  Schoonmaker 
as  its  superior  officer.     Tiie  regiment  was  attached  to 


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the  command  of  Gen.  Averill,  of  raiding  notoriety. 
In  an  engagement  at  Rocky  Gap,  Va.,  Mr.  Peircc 
was  severely  wounded  through  the  left  leg,  and  rode 
on  his  horse  to  Beverly,  West  Va.,  150  miles  distant, 
rather  than  be  left  on  the  field  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  rebels.  He  was  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenan- 
doah under  Sigel,  and  was  with  Hunter  on  his  dis- 
astrous expedition  to  Lynchburg.  When  Gen.  Early 
caused  the  destruction  of  Chambersburg,  Mr.  Peirce 
rode  with  his  command  through  the  burning  city,  in 
pursuit  of  McCausland,  and  was  in  the  advance  bat- 
talion in  the  charge  at  Moorefield,  Va.,  when  the 
command  of  the  rebel  incendiary  was  nearly  annihi- 
lated, and  Chambersburg  avenged.  Mr.  I'eirce  was 
placed  in  command  of  his  company  (I)  by  election, 
and  led  his  men  at  Winchester  and  Fisher's  Hill, 
and  at  Cedar  Creek,  where  Sheridan  snatched  vic- 
tory from  defeat.  He  participated  in  the  work  of 
destruction  in  the  valley,  of  which  the  record  says: 
''There  was  nothing  between  the  Jilue  Kidge  and  the 
AUeghanies  worth  fighting  for." 

Mr.  Peircc  passed  through  the  non-commissioned 
grades  of  promotion  from  private  to  Orderly  Sergeant, 
and  in  March,  1865,  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. After  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,""  he 
was  sent  West  on  detached  duty  to  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, and  was  mustered  out  in  November,  1865. 
He  returned  to  Pennsylvania. 

In  187  I  Mr.  Peirce  removed  to  Michigan,  and  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  shingles,  in  Colfax  Tp., 
Mecosta  Co.,  and  continued  to  prosecute  that  busi- 
ness eight  years.  In  1878  he  was  elected  County 
Treasurer,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  ]X)sition  in 
1880.  On  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  he  was 
elected  Representative,  and  served  in  the  Thirty- 
second  Session  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan.  In 
his  record  as  a  member  of  that  body,  Mr.  Peirce 
clearly  demonstrated  his  fitness  for  any  post  to 
which  an  appreciative  and  judicious  constituency 
might  raise  him.  He  is  eminently  ipialified  in  every 
sense;  he  ix)ssesses  a  fine  mental  organism,  coolness 
and  courage  in  moral  issues,  correct  judgment  and 
wise  discrimination  in  popular  measures,  and  brings 
the  test  of  a  disciplined  intelligence  to  bear  u|)on  all 
([uestions  of  the  day.  His  leading  traits  of  character 
designate  him  as  essentially  a  man  of  the  pcoi)le, 
e(iuipped  for  quiet,  persistent,  infiexiijle  conflict  in 
the  avenues  in   which  circumstances  may   lead   iiini. 


Mr.  Peirce  was  married  Uec.  27,  1869,  to  Mary 
M.  Wells.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them  : 
Harriet  I,.,  June  21,  187  i  ;  Mary  E.,  Aug.  25,  1875, 
Grosvernor,  Aug.  i6,  1881. 

In  October,  1SS3,  Mr.  Peirce  formed  a  partnership 
with  (i.  ("lough,  in  the  hardware  business,  firm  style 
being  Clough  &  Co.  They  carry  a  full  line  of  mer- 
chandise common  to  such  establishments,  and  have 
every  prospect  of  entering  at  or.ce  uijon  a  safe  and 
successful  business. 


"W.    Reed,   merchant,    Stanwood,   Mecosta 

Tp.,  was  born  in   Livingston   Co.,   Mich., 

^   July  8,  1844.     He  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and 


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Louisa  (Barnard)  Reed,  the  former  a  native  of 
Vermont,  the  latter  of  New  York.  The 
father  followed  farming  until  his  death,  in  1859. 
Mrs.  Reed  is  still  living,  and  resides  in  Stanwood 
with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was 
raised  on  his  father's  farm,  and  Dec.  1 1,  1861,  at  the 
age  of  15,  he  enlisted  in  the  i6lh  Michigan  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  Company  1,  which  joined  the  .'Vrmy  of 
the  Potomac  under  Gen.  Mc(  U'llan.  He  was  in  the 
Seven  Days'  battles  before  Richmond,  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  many  other  hard-fought 
battles,  and  was  honoral)ly  discliarged  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Returning  home,  he  worked  on  the  farm  until  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  when  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County.  During  the  winters  of  1863  and  1864  he 
worked  in  the  woods  as  laborer.  In  1865  he  entered 
80  acres  of  land  under  the  homestead  law,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  build  the  log  house  in  which  helivetl  until 
1874,  during  which  time  he  added  about  300  acres  to 
his  farm  by  purchase,  and  cleared  80  acres. 

In  1875  he  entered  upon  mercantile  business  at 
Stanwood,  continuing  in  that  till  the  present  time. 
He  keejjs  on  hand  a  large  and  well  selected  slock  of 
thy  goods,  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  etc.,  and  com- 
mands a  large  trade;  also,  has  been  engaged  in 
lumbering  quite  extensively.  In  1S80  he  associated 
with  himself  a  partner,  Charles  F.  Barnard. 

Mr.  Reed  was  married  in  Mecosta  County,  in  1S64, 
to  l^li/a  Moultcr.  They  had  two  children:  David, 
born  in  October,  1865,  and  Sarah,  born  in  1867.  He 
was  a  second  time  married,  in  1S75,  to  Marv  E., 
daughter  of  S.  Kimball  and  Uretta  (Hawks)  Bagley, 
born  at  Platlsburg,  N.  \.,  Oct.  26,  1853.     This  mar- 


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riage  has  resulted  in  four  children :  Georgia  W., 
born  July  i,  1876;  Jessie  M.,  born  May  31,  1878; 
Guy  K.,  born  July  21,  1S79,  and  Charles  W.,  born 
Feb.  26,  1882. 

By  energy,  industry  and  economy,  he  has  acquired 
a  nice  properly,  and  his  mental  and  social  qualities 
have  made  him  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
the  county.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
two  terms,  Justice  of  the  Peace  seven  or  eight  years, 
and  Highway  Commissioner  one  year.  He  w.ts  one 
of  the  Board  that  divided  Austin  and  Mecosta 
Townships.  He  was  ap[X)inted  Postmaster  for  Stan- 
wood  in  1876,  and  held  the  position  for  five  years. 
Mr.  Reed  is  politically  a  Republican.  He  is  liberal 
in  religious  views,  and  is  a  member  of  tfte  1.  O.  O.  F. 
His  portrait  appears  on  page  524. 


-I-^-^'^^^^^-^^^'*^^'^-^- 


'^i 


idney    H.    Koosevelt,     proprietor  of     the 

)iiSSi;\    Northern  Hotel  at  Big  Rapids,  was  l.iorn  in 

ijlp  '''•    Flint,  Mich  ,  April  18,  1848.     He  is  a  son 


Cornelius  and  Elvia  (Hamilton)  Roosevelt. 
The  father  was  a  hotel-keeper  and  was  propri- 
etor of  the  Carrolton  House  at  Flint  a  number 
of  years,  and  Mr.  Roosevelt  was  trained  to  his  calling 
under  the   care  of  his   father  and   within   the  influ- 
ences of  his   business. 

At  the  age  of  16  years  he  learned  telegraphy  and 
was  engaged  in  the   pursuit  of  that   vocation  about 
five  years.     In  1870  he  went  to  East  Saginaw,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  Everett  House  four  or  five  years 
i  as  clerk,  and  went  thence  to  Bay  City,  wheie  he  was 
employed  in  the   same   capacity   three   years.     His 
next  engagement  was  at  "  Sweet's  "  at  Grand  Rapids, 
where  he  remained  five  years.     In  1881   he  came  to 
Big  Rapids  and  opened  the  Northern  Hotel.     It  is 
the  leading  hotel  in   the  city   and  receives  the  best 
class  of  patronage.     The  building  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  P.ig  Rapids,  and  is  described   in  detail 
-k    elsewhere.     (See  sketch  of  Hood  &  Gale.)     Its  pat- 
ions  include  a  large  number  of  day  boarders,  and  its 
%     repute   under  the    management  of  its   experienced 
-k    and  obliging  manager  secures  a  large  proixjrtion  of 
>   the  traveling  pul)lic  as  guests.     The  i)resent  clerk  is 
^  Charles  Miller. 

\^        Mr.  Roosevelt  was  married  in  Saginaw,  Mich.,  to 
J^  Mary,    daughter  of  Christopher    Morass,    born   in 


Windsor,  Can.,  Aug.  4,  1855.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roose- 
velt have  one  child — Ral|)h — born  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Feb.  22,  18S1. 


gl^^genson  E.  Brown,  farmer,  sec.    i,   Hinton 

S'^ES^F  '^V-1  ^^'is  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug. 

'W^^   20,  1844.     His  father,  Peter  Brown,  was 


\^ 


born  in  Connecticut,  and  his  mother,  Mary 
(Libby)  Brown,  was  a  native  of  New  York. 
The  fonner  died  in  the  Keystone  State  in 
1855  ;  the  latter  resides  with  a  son  at  Altona.  Mr. 
Brown  was  1 1  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  worked  on  the 
fami  and  in  the  lumber  woods.  In  the  spring  of 
1867  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  after  a  brief  stay  in 
Lapeer  County  he  came  to  this  county,  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  his  brother,  H.  J.  Brown,  three  years 
He  purchased  So  acres  of  unimproved  land  in  1S70, 
built  a  frame  house  and  barn,  and  has  placed  40 
acres  of  his  land  under  advanced  irai)rovenients.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  the  post  of 
School  Assessor  four  years,  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent of  that  office.  In  April,  1S83,  he  was  elected 
Township  Treasurer. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich., 
Oct.  8,  1870,  to  Lydia  C,  daughter  of  William  J.  and 
Emmeline  (Webster)  Allen.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  New  York,  and  removed  to  Canada,  where 
Mrs.  Brown  was  born  May  5,  1842.  The  family  cir- 
cle includes  three  children:  Delia  B.,  born  Jan.  5, 
187 1  ;  Ernest  A.,  Oct.  5,  1874,  and  Charlie,  born 
May  12,  1879. 


sl^^Sillen  E.  Williams,  lumberman,  Upper  Big 
^g^3i  Rapids,  was  born  in  Pembroke,  Genesee 
|f^^Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7,  1 848.  His  parents, 
,P>ja    John  L.  and    Emeline  (Allen)   Williams,  were 


farmers  and  removed  to  Sycamore,  De  Kalb 
!  Co.,  III.,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm.  Mr. 
Williams,  of  this  sketch,  was  at  that  time  ten  years 
old,  and  two  years  later  his  father  removed  with  his 
family  to  Iroijuois  Co.,  111.,  and  there  pursued  the 
same  vocation. 

Mr.  Williams  came  to  Muskegon,  Mich.,  at  the  age 


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of  17  years,  and  was  there  eiii])loyed  by  O.  P.  Pills- 
bury.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  in 
the  interests  of  his  emjjloyer.  and  in  December,  1867, 
opened  a  store  on  State  street,  where  Mr.  Pillsbury 
was  engaged  in  general  merchandise  two  and  one- 
half  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  deter- 
mined to  make  his  present  calling  the  pursuit  of  his 
life,  and  threw  liimself  with  all  his  energies  and  re- 
sources into  the  details  connected  with  the  business 
of  lumbering,  going  himself  into  the  woods,  locating 
pine  lands,  driving  on  the  river,  etc.  His  chief  bus- 
iness for  the  last  ten  years  has  been  buying  and  sell- 
ing lands  and  employing  men. in  cutting  and  putting 
in  logs. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  at  Big  Rai)ids,  May  _^i, 
1S69,  to  (leurgia  [.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Harriet 
(.Malbon)  McDaniels,  born  at  Orono,  Penobscot  Co., 
Me.,  Oct.  19,  1854.  Mr.  McDaniels  came  to  Big 
Rapids  in  1864  and  engaged  in  lumbering,  his  family 
following  the  next  year.  He  prosecuted  his  business 
as  a  lumberman  to  a  considerable  extent  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  Jan.  14,  i88i.  He  was  69 
years  old.  Mrs.  McDaniels  resides  with  her  daugh- 
ter; she  is  68  years  old. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  Democrat,  and  represented  his 
district  in  the  convention  at  Lansing  in  1880,  and  at 
Jackson  in  1882.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 


IChomas  S  Reed,  farmer,  sec.  17,  ("iranl  Tp.. 
was  born  Aug.  6,  1831,  in  Steuben  fo.,  N. 
Y.  His  father,  Benjamin  Reed,  was  born 
Aug.  12,  iSoi,  in  New  York,  and  died  Jan.  22) 
18S2.  His  mother  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
about  the  year  1798,  and  died  Jan.  10,  1S71. 
They  moved  to  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  not  long  after  the 
birth  of  the  son,  removing  thence  to  Noble  Co.,  Ind. 
Mr.  Reed  came  to  Michigan  and  to  the  township 
of  Grant,  in  1872.  He  bought  his  homestead,  con- 
taining So  acres  of  land,  which  he  is  rapidly  develop- 
ing into  a  valuable  farm.  He  was  married  March 
4,  1858,  to  Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  All  worth,  of  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  her  father 
is  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  seven  children  :  Samuel 


v;. 


W.,  born  Nov.  25,  1858;  Esther  E.,  Aug.  31,  i860  V& 
(Mrs.  Ma.xin  Pion);  William  J.,  Feb.  15,  1863;  Ben-  ^ 
jamin  F.,  March  6,  1866:  Edward  L.,  Jan.  4,  1869J  ^^ 
(died  Feb.  24,  1874);  Minnie  M.,  .\ug.  26,  1872  ^ 
Francis  E.,  June  20,  1875  ;  Amy  E.,  Feb.  17,  1878.  J. 
The  family  attend  the  l^.  B.  Church,  of  which  the 
parents  are  members. 


^PBii;:  eter  S.  Decker,  farmer,  sec.    12,   Millbrook 


jj^!    Tp.,  was  born  in  New  York,  July  30,  1830, 
JJ|,0'-i|?   and  is  a  son  of  Ciilbert  and   Afar)'  (Stanley) 


Decker 

He   left    iiome  at    20  years   of   age,  and   for 

two  years  thereafter  was  variously  occupied, 
anil  the  year  following  wasemiiloyed  in  a  mill.  His 
next  occupation  was  in  a  machine  shoi)  at  Newcastle, 
Canada,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In  the 
siiring  of  1S58  he  went  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Kane  County,  where  he  worked  a  farm  on  shares  ^ 
nearly  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  i86o  he  bought  ^ 
80  acres  of  land  in  Millbrook  Tp.,  on  which  he  has  ^ 


V 


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.-^i^^ 


since  resided.  He  afterward  bought  1 80  acres  addi- 
tional, sold  80  a<res,  and  deeded  50  acres  to  his  son.  ?7^ 
His  farm  now  comprises  170  acres  of  land,  with  too  S^ 
acres  under  the  best  class  of  improvements.  The 
humble,  unpretentious  log  house  built  by  Mr.  Decker 
on  his  farm  in  the  first  year  of  his  occupancy,  gave 
place  a  few  years  ago  to  as  fine  a  residence  as  can 
be  found  in  the  township. 

He  was  married  in  Clark,  Canada,  May  27,  1S52, 
to  Caroline,  third  daughter  of  Lorenzo  and  Fanny 
(Fisher)  .Mdrich.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  New 
Ham|)shire  and  Massachusetts,  who  settled  in  Can- 
ada. Mrs.  Decker  was  born  in  the  Dominion,  Dec. 
21,  1835.  Of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Decker  nine  chil- 
dren have  been  l)orn,  as  follows:  I^iirena  J.,  May 
24,  1S53:  Lorenzo  D,  .\pril  21,  1855;  C.ilbert  A., 
July  16,  iS58(set  sketch);  Rosetia  .\.,Jan.  24,  1S61 
(first  female  child  born  in  the  township)  ;  Richard 
S.,  Sept.  ir,  1864;  Hazen  A,  .'Vpril  13,  1S67;  Mary /^ 
Tv,  June  2,  1869;  Charlotte  E.,  .April  25,  i87i,and  ' 
Maiiel  Iv,  June  24,  1879.  •'  ■ 

Millbrook  township  was  organized  in    1S65.  and    :. 
Mr.  Decker  was  elected  the  first  Supervisor  at  the  ^ 
meeting  of  organization,  an  office  he  has  held  six  ^ 
years.     He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  six  years,  ^ 


mt^^^^ 


■^my.m>T 


"^^li^-. 


^^^(^^M^) 


528 


^    ..      . 

>&  and  District  Assessor  nine  years.      He  is  a  Repub- 

^A\  lican  in  political  sentiment.      He  and  his  wife  are 

-^^  members  of  the  denomination  known  as  the  "Church 

f  ofOod." 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


^ 


'% 


-<^.^>^>.- 


/ 


aria  E.  Brown,  Big  Rapids,  daughter  of 
^^._  luhan  and  Nancy  (Wilmer)  Brown,  was 
^^  ''  born  in  Owego,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  21, 
^^^\  1825.  Her  father  was  born  March  1 1,  1 7 91, 
in  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  was  of  English  de- 
scent. Her  mother  was  of  Irish  extraction,  and 
a  native  of  Stockbridge,  where  she  became  the  wife 
of  Ethan  Brown.  Of  eight  children  born  to  them 
three  yet  survive,  viz  :  William,  resident  at  Saginaw  ; 
George,  in  business  in  Washington  Territory,  and 
Miss  Maria,  of  this  sketch.  Tliose  deceased  were 
John  F.,  Caroline,  Marcus,  and  Susan  C,  widow  of 
Mason  Herrick.  Miss  Brown  is  rearing  three  of  the 
children  made  orphans  by  the  demise  of  Mrs.  Her- 
/s  ri'^k.  They  are  Addie  L.,  John  F.  and  Marcus  E. 
=i  Miss  Brown  resided  in  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  until 
■^  1874,  when  she  came  to  Big  Rapids,  to  live  with  her 
3  brother,  John  F.  Brown.  She  owns  his  residence 
f  on  Osceola  avenue,  eight  lots,  and  60  acres  of  land 
within  the  city  limits.  The  main  portion  of  the 
home  was  once  one  of  the  finest  structures  in  upper 
Big  Rapids. 


ilEiEI«»»llEiS!II 


i  ev.  William  H.  Manning,  farmer,  sec.  34, 
Chippewa    Tp,,     was     born    in    Odelltown, 
•^'"  Can.,  Aug.  15,    1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Ga- 
tlyv;   '""iel  and  Polly  (Green)  Manning,  the  former  a 
Y     native  of  New   York  and  the  latter  of  Ver- 
mont.    His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  after  his 
marriage  went  to  Canada,  and  there  died  in  1866  ;  his 
mother  died  in  1869. 

Mr.  Manning  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
which  was  situated  in  a  rural  district,  and  he  obtained 
little  education  in  early  life.  This  defect  he  remedied 
after  he  had  grown  to  manhood.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  22  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Manning  was  marrietl  May  14,  1850,  to  Per- 
,, ,  melia,  daughter  of  Preston  and  Lydia  (Marsh)  Groot, 
^  who  was  born  in  \Vhitby,  Can.,  Nov.  23,  1830.  Her 
.K'  parents  were  natives  c.f  Lower  Canada,  and  her 
^     grandfiither  was  a  soldier  in  the  British  army  in  181 2, 


and  a  Baptist  minister.  Her  great-grandsire  was 
a  British  officer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Manning  have  eight  children :  Addison 
A.,  Celia,  Lydia  A.,  Bertha  M.,  Ellen  M.,  William  G.. 
Wallace  P.  and  Lewis  H. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manning  resided 
in  Canada  until  1862,  when  they  came  to  Michigan 
and  located  in  St.  Clair  County,  near  Memphis, 
Macomb  County.  In  1S65  Mr.  Manning  connected 
himself  with  the  Dryden  (Lapeer  Co.)  Conference, 
and  entered  upon  his  labors  as  a  Christian  minister. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1S50,  while  he  liveii  in 
Canaila.  He  was  a  licensed  exhorter  of  tlie  Oryden 
Circuit  one  year  and  then  went  to  Dansville,  Ingham 
Co.,  and  was  connected  with  that  circuit  for  a  year, 
and  afterward  supplied  the  Wheatfield  mission  one 
year. 

In  November,  1869,  Mr.  Manning  came  with  his 
family  to  Mecosta  County  and  located  in  C'hippewa 
Tp..  where  he  entered  and  proved  a  claim  of  80  a(  res 
of  land  under  the  homestead  law.  He  has  been  dil- 
igently engaged  in  farming,  and  has  continued  to 
preach  at  intervals  as  opjiortunity  has  served  or  oc- 
casion demanded.     He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


I—* 


1 


ohn  F.  Mann,  farmer  and  lumberman,  re- 

^ It   siding    at   Evart,   Osceola   Co.,    was    born 

^■"  Oct.  22,  1832,  m  Penobscot  Co.,  Me.  His 
parents,  John  and  Sarah  (Sammons)  Mann,  are 
both  living.  The  former  was  born  in  Maine, 
the  latter  in  Ireland. 
Mr.  Mann  was  reared  to  the  business  of  lumber- 
man, in  his  native  State,  entering  the  woods  when  a 
boy,  as  a  teamster  in  the  winters  and  passing  the 
summers  in  log-driving  on  the  rivers.  He  came  to 
Saginaw,  Mich.,  Aug.  12,  1866,  and  after  spending 
some  time  in  the  mills  there  again  engaged  as  a  lum- 
berman, and  pursued  the  business  nine  years  at  tluit 
place.  In  1871  he  came  to  Fork  Tp.,  Mecosta  Co., 
anil  engaged  in  lumbering  and  logging  for  Palmer  & 
Bro.,  operating  as  foreman  in  their  em]iloy  three 
years.  In  1875  '^^^  '00k  possession  of  a  farm  in  Fork 
Tp.,  and  now,  in  connection  with  his  son,  owns  280 
acres  of  land,  which  is  under  the  management  of  the 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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latter.     Mr.  Mann  has  recently  transferred  his   resi- 
dence to  Evan. 

He  was  married  July  2,  1855,  to  Susan  A.,  daughter 
of  James  C.  and  Susan  (Roe)  Cliurchill.  Her 
parents  were  natives  respectively  of  New  Brunswick 
and  Maine.  Mrs.  Mann  is  a  native  of  the  Pine-Tree 
State,  and  has  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living:  James  W.,  Maud  M.,  Nettie  M.  and  Jay 
F.  Those  deceased  were  Charles  F.,  Bessie  and 
Genevra. 

^ ^%^ ^ 


r\ 


> 


h  illiam  Van  IjOO,  Secretary  and  Manager  of 

■^j^^-K  ''''^  ^'o  '■^''P''^!^  Furniture  Co.,  was  horn  in 

J  fe'j^  "  the  Netherlands,  Dec.  3,  1836.     In  1849 

*- '^^     his    parents,  William  and    Mary    Van  Loo, 

iilT''     came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  a  year's 

_,    stay  in    C)ttawa  County  moved    to   Greenville, 

Montcalm  Co.,  and  engaged   in   agriculture.     They 

returned  to  Ottawa  County  in  i>i5,S.  where  the  father 

died,  in  187 1,  and  the  mother  in  1879. 

.\t  the  age  of  14  Mr.  Van  Loo  entered  a  mercantile 
house  as  a  clerk,  and  in  1861  formed  a  partiiersln]) 
with  his  employer,  Manning  Rutan,  in  the  sale  of 
general  merchandise.  Li  1S66  the  relation  was  ter- 
minated by  Mr.  Van  Loo's  selling  his  interest.  He 
came  to  Big  Rapids  and  built  the  grist-mill  on  Ryan 
Creek,  known  as  the  "  Mecosta,"  the  first  mill  for  the 
exclusive  purpose  of  grinding  grain  in  the  lounty.  In 
this  enterprise  he  was  associated  with  John  Bigelovv. 
At  the  same  time  Mr.  Van  Ta)o  opened  a  store,  which 
he  sold  in  1S70,  and  in  1872  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  the  mill.  In  July  of  that  year  the  Big  Rapids 
Furniture  Co.  was  organized.  Mr.  Van  Loo  be- 
came one  of  the  leading  stockholders,  and  was  per- 
sonally active  as  a  salesman  in  the  retail  department. 
In  July,  1874,  he  was  elected  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, departments  of  which  he  was  the  virtual 
head  several  months  previous.  He  is  now  the  active 
manager  of  the  business  of  the  corporation.  The 
works  of  the  company  are  located  at  the  west  end  of 
the  upper  bridge,  and  comprise  a  frame  building,  40 
X  60  feet  in  dimensions,  with  water  [jower.  The  ac- 
tive capital  is  $21,600.  In  1870,  Mr.  Van  Ixx)  erected 
the  first  brick  block  in  the  county,  and  from  the  time 
of  his  fixing  his  residence  at  Big  Rajiids  has  been 
among  the  foremost  in  promoting  the  substantial  in- 
terests of  the  place.     Mr.   Van  Loo  was  married  in 


to  Marie   L.   Church, 
born  Sept.  21,  1865,  is 


Greenville,  Aug.  24,  1863, 
Their  elder  son,  William  C. 
[jursuing  a  scientific  course  of  study  at  Albion  Col- 
lege, Calhoun  Co.,  Mii  h.  Kingsley  was  born  June 
22,  1869,  being  the  first  boy  born  in  the  city. 

In  1S69,  Mr.  Vanlxjo  was  elected  first  Supervisor 
of  the  City  of  Big  Rapids,  and  Chairman  of  the 
Hoard  of  Supervisors ;  served  several  years  as  Coun- 
<  ilman,  and  in  1879  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  and  has  been  its  President  since 
1S80.  He  is  a  zealous  and  acrive  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  for  whose  interests  his  solicitude  has  been 
unflagging.  He  has  been  Class-Leader,  Trustee,  S. 
S.  Superintendent  and  Steward,  and  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  building  and  establishing  the  Church 
and  society.  He  owns  his  residence  and  three  build- 
ings utilized  as  stores  on  Michigan  avenue. 

Mr.  Van  Loo  is  a  zealous  Republican  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  party  and  its  issues  since  its 
organization  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  In  all-  his 
views  he  exhibits  the  traits  of  the  race  from  which 
he  is  descended.  His  love  for  civil  and  religious 
liberty  is  his  heritage  from  his  ancestors,  some  of 
whom  were  engaged  in  the  memorable  struggle  be- 
tween Philip  II  of  Spain  and  the  Low  Countries, 
when  that  unscrupulous  monarch,  after  his  marriage 
with  Isabella  of  France,  had  no  better  field  for  the 
development  of  his  kingly  genius  and  prerogatives 
than  an  attempted  subjugation  of  the  people  of  the 
countries  then  under  the  control  of  the  government 
whose  supremacy  he  so  miserably  travestied.  His 
failure  in  his  matrimonial  schemes  with  Elizabeth  in 
a  sense  relegated  him  to  his  appropriate  si)here,  and 
his  mistaken  essay  to  establish  the  inquisition  where 
the  pa))al  power  was  at  best  but  nominal,  has  sent 
his  name  to  prosterity  with  that  of  Bloody  Mary, 
Catherine  de  Medicis  and  Coligny.  Let  it  be  once 
more  recorded  in  the  immortal  interests  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion  that  Protestants  and  Catholics  made 
common  cause  against  the  monstrous  innovation,  and, 
instead  of  fastening  the  darkest  device  of  the  Rom- 
ish Church  upon  a  [leople  whose  national  simplicity 
and  purity  was,  at  that  period,  unique,  the  perma- 
nent independen(  e  of  the  Provinces  was  secured  and 
the  Protestant  religion  established  in  that  (lortion  of 
Europe.  The  representatives  of  the  race  who  could 
in  an  emergency  centralize  their  strength  upon  an 
issue  so  momentous  in  its  bearing  upon  the  fate  of 
future  generations,  are  among  the  best  and  most  val- 


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532 


AIECOSTA  COUNTY. 


liable  of  the  elements  of  our  composite  nationality. 
Mr.  Van  Loos  [wrtrait  is  an  appropriate  accom- 
])ainment  to   this    sketcli,  and  may    be     found    on 
page  530. 

R^oseph  Wendling,  Mecosta,  Morton  Tp., 
was  born  in  Canada,  .■\])ril  15,  1859.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacol)  and  Mary  (Schnoob) 
Wendling,  both  natives  of  Canada.  They  left 
the  Dominion  in  the  winter  of  1873,  coming  to 
Mecosta  County,  where  they  now  reside. 
Mr.  Wendling  made  the  change  of  residence  with 
his  parents,  with  whom  he  remained  until  23  years  of 
age.  At  15  he  began  acting  as  accountant  for  a  lum- 
bering firm,  and  remained  with  them  three  years. 
He  was  then  employed  in  the  store  of  C.  H.  Clement 
at  Millbrook,  one  year,  and  then  taught  school  one 
term  ;  he  subsequently  engaged  with  M.  Carman,  a 
merchant,  as  head  clerk,  where  he  still  remains. 

Mr.  Wendling  was  married  in  Wheatland  Tp.,Feb. 
8,  1 88 1,  to  Angeline,  second  daughter  of  George  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  Willett.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Wend- 
ling is  a  native  of  England,  and  the  mother  of  Can- 
ada. They  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  the  spring  of 
1863,  and  are  still  resident  in  the  township  of  Hinton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wendling  have  had  one  child — Charles 
— born  in  April,  1882,  and  surviving  but  a, few  days. 
The  family  attend  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  Mr.  W.  is.  a  member.  He  is  iilentilied  with 
tiie  Democratic  party. 


harles  W.  Sebastian,  farmer  and  lumber- 
man, sec.  4,  Green  'l'|).,  was  born  m  LO- 
BS'' gan  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  7,  1855.  His  parents, 
^^  Nicholas  and  Magdalena  (Cooley)  Sebastian, 
^\  were  born  in  France,  of  German  parentage. 
They  came  to  the  United  States,  and  located 
in  Mecosta  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the  spring  of  1867,  where 
the  father  bought  a  farm  on  sec.  4,  and  proceeded 
with  the  work  of  clearing  up  the  land  and  putting  it 
in  a  tillable  condition;  he  died  Dec.  24,  1875.  The 
mother  resides  at  Hig  Rapids. 

Mr.  Sebastian  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Lngan  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Mecosta  Co.,   Mich.,  and 

— -^<'tia 


was  his  father's  assistant  in  the  homestead  until  the 
latter's  death,  and  after  that  event  continued  its 
management.  Feb.  20,  1883,  he  started  a  saw-mill 
on  sec.  8,  where  he  saws  about  15,000  feet  of  lumber 
daily. 

Mr.  Sebastian  owns  360  acres  of  land  in  Mecosta 
County,  and  is  largely  engaged  in  cutting  and  shij)- 
ping  telegraph  poles  to  the  markets  of  St.  Louis, 
Philadelphia  and  Cincinnati.  Some  of  the  linest 
specimens  of  that  peculiar  variety  of  merchandise 
have  been  out  on  his  land,  being  superior  in  (piality 
and  size,  and  measuring  from  40  to  60  feet  in  length. 
He  has  often  obtained  two  60-foot  poles  of  the  finest 
quality  of  cedar  from  one  stump,  with  bases  iS  inches 
to  two  feet  in  diameter,  and  one  foot  at  the  top. 

Mr.  Sebastian  was  married  to  Ida  W.,  daughter  of 
Moses  C.  and  Caroline  (Whipple)  Besemer.  Of  this 
marriage  one  child,  Lena,  was  born,  Jan.  13,  1878. 


-xaaec/®^^— ►/ 


s.ti^^^-h 


-m~>.^myiri^ 


fii^>  °.  ®^^^  Kelley,  farmer  and  saloon-keeper.  Big 

^lliS';  Rapids,  was  born  in  Somerville,  Ala.,  Feb. 

I  •^/-'■■^•^     18,  1842,  and   is  a  son  of  Patrick   Kelley, 
^iifj   born  in  Ireland,  Feb.  2,  1814,  and  Mary  (Egan) 

■'/u^  Kelley,  born  in  Ireland  in  18(8,  and  died  at 
^  Big  Rapids,  Nov.  13,  1880. 
The  parents  came  to  the  North  and  settled  in 
Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1847.  They  bought  120 
acres  of  land  in  Hartland  Tp.,  and  there  reside<l  un- 
til 1872,  when  the  place  was  sold,  and  they  moved 
to  Milford,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.  The  senior  Kelley 
bought  a  hotel,  managed  it  a  year,  and  went  to  High- 
land, in  the  same  county,  where  he  owned  and  kept 
the  "Highland  Center  House,"  together  with  40 
acres  of  land.  In  1879  the  family  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  where  he  speculated  in  real  estate  until  his 
death,  June  8,  1883. 

Mr.  Kelley  of  this  sketch  came  to  Big  Raiiids  in 
the  fall  of  1869,  and  was  employed  some  time  as  a 
lumberman,  afterwards  operating  as  a  contractor  and 
foreman  on  the  river  and  in  the  woods.  He  was  for 
a  considerable  period  in  (  harge  of  the  lumber  yard  of 
T.  D.  Stimson,  in  the  city  of  Big  Rapids.  In  187  i, 
Mr.  Kelley  bought  a  house  and  lot  on  Maiion  ave- 
nue, which  he  exchanged  nw,  1873  for  80.  acres  of 
land  in  Green  Tp.,  where  1m:  nesided  a  year.  M.e  sold 
out,  came  to  Big  Rapids,.  «!»!l.  enibarked.  in  th.ei  lijuuor 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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business  on  North  State  street.  In  1879  he  went  to 
Evart,  Osceola  Co.,  and  managwl  the  Irvin  House 
about  18  months,  wlien  he  came  back  to  Hig  Rapids. 
In  February,  1882,  he  opened  his  present  business, 
and  is  carrying  it  on  with  marked  success.  In 
August,  1880,  lie  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  sec.  9, 
Big  Rapids  Tp-,  under  good  improvements,  where  he 
is  engaged  as  a  farmer.  He  also  owns  a  residence 
and  four  city  lots,  besides  a  business  i)uilding  and  lot 
40  X  150  feet,  on  the  corner  of  Hemlock  street  and 
Michigan  avenue. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  married  at  Grand  Rapids,  Oct.  17, 
1872,10  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Raf- 
ferty,  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  23,  1847. 
They  have  six  children :  William,  Charles,  Frank, 
Nellie,  George  and  Kittie.  The  family  belong  to  the 
Roman  Catholi<:  Church. 


^§^J>braham  Van  Alstine,  farmer,  sec.  ro,  Grant 
Tp.,  was  born  March  26,  1842,  in  W'olcott, 
\Vayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Jacob  Van  Als- 
tine, was  lx)rn  Nov.  1,  1S12,  in  New  York,  and 
died  Dec.  28,  i86o,  in  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich. 
His  mother,  Eleanor  Van  .Mstine,  was  born  in 
the  Empire  State,  Dec.  26,  1820,  and  is  yet  living,  in 
Michigan.  His  ancestors  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  one  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  181  2. 
In  1857  Mr.  Van  Alstine  came  to  Michigan  and 
settled  in  Sciota,  Shiawassee  Co.  Nine  years  later  he 
homesteaded  a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land,  now  in- 
cluded in  his  landed  estate,  which  aggregates  320 
acres,  of  excellent  cpiality.  His  farm  is  in  first-class 
condition,  with  large,  fine  barn  and  other  convenient 
buildings  necessary  to  successful  farming.  He  is 
making  i)reparations  to  construct  a  dwelling-house  in 
keeping  with  the  farm  and  its  other  improvemenis. 

He  was  married  June  18,  1867,  to  l^leanor, daugh- 
ter of  Horace  and  Maria  Burr.  Her  father  was  iiorn 
in  Vermont  in  1818,  and  died  in  May,  1859.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Ontario  in 
1829,  and  is  still  living.  Mr.  Van  Alstine  was  born 
Dec.  20,  1849.  Following  are  the  dales  of  births  of 
their  six  children  :  Franklin,  Aug.  28,  1868;  Wade, 
June  21,  1871;  Etta  A.,  Aug.  i,  1873;  .\dele.  July 
3,  1876;  Jay,  Dec.  20,  1879;  Ralph,  April  20,  1882. 
Early  in  life  Mr.  Van  Alstine  determined  to  exert 


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all  reasonable  effort  to  obtain  an  education,  and  by 
Strenuous  exertion  succeeded  in  fitting  for  college. 
He  entered  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1S59,  and 
studied  one  year.  His  three  years  preparatory  to  a 
collegiate  course  had  given  him  a  good  fundamental 
education,  and  at  the  end  of  his  first  year  at  Ann 
Arbor  lie  judged  it  wisest  to  discontinue  his  studies. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  principle  and  has  been  Super- 
visor of  Grant  Tp.  a  year.  Clerk  the  same  i)eriod. 
Road  Commissioner  three  years,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
four  years,  and  Township  School  Superintendent  five 
years. 

;  homas  K.  Hurley,  farmer  and  blacksmith, 
sec.  8,  Green  Tp.,  was  born  July  10,  1828, 
in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Mapes)  Hurley.  His 
f.ither  was  a  descendant  of  the  Welsh,  and 
was  by  occupation  a  mason.  Among  other 
important  works  on  which  he  was  engaged  was  the 
construction  of  the  Neversink  bridge  in  Sullivan  Co., 
N.  Y. ;  he  died  in  1S50.  The  mother  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  died  in  1872. 

Mr.  Hurley  remained  with  his  parents  until  the 
death  of  his  father.  His  marriage  to  Minerva  Cole 
occurred  in  Schuyler  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1850.  She  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Ira  and  Nancy  (Bailey)  Cole.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurley 
had  three  children.  Only  one — .Vda  (Mrs.  Dwight 
I.yilell) — is  living.  Two  died  in  infancy.  The  mother 
dicil  May  6,  1847,  and  Mr.  Hurley  contracted  mar- 
riage a  second  time  Jan.  9,  iSjSjwith  Emma,  daugh- 
ter of  John  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Cod)ett)  Allen.  She 
was  born  in  .Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  6,  1836.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  and  /" 
ilicd  in  Steuben  County,  when  she  was  very  young. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurley  have  three  children,  namely: 
I'^ttie  (Mrs.  Jason  Lydell),  Mary  A.  and  Cora  B. 

At  the  age  of  18  Mr.  Hurley  commenced  learning 
the  trade  of  blacksmith  with   Isaac    P.  Goodsell,  re- 
maining with  him  two  years  and  afterwartl  operated    k 
on  his  own  account  15  years,  in  his  native  State.    He      \ 
enlisted  Jan.   i,    1864,  in  the    loth  N.  Y.  Cav.,  and    «-' ■ 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  discharge    ( 
at  Harwood  Hospital,  Washington,  D.C.,  June  6, 1865.    ^^ 
During  his  (leriod  of  enlistment  he  worked  at  black-    ,, 
smithing,   and  in  the  winter  of  1864  was  in  active    ^ 


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service,  being  under  fire  at  Hatcher's  Run  and  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  after  which  he  was  ill  and  was 
in  various  hospitals  three  months.  His  last  fight 
was  at  Petersburg,  and  after  his  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  Schuyler  County,  where  he  was  sick  a  year 
with  disease  contracted  in  the  army. 

In  1867  he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  on  the 
26th  day  of  June  located  on  sec.  8,  Green  Tp.,  where 
he  has  since  been  busily  occupied  with  farming  and 
his  trade.  He  owns  46  acres  of  land,  all  in  good 
condition.  With  reference  to  National  issues  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


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*'il^^'  ^^^^  Snider,  farmer,  sec.  21,  Austin  Tp., 
^^~'  was  born  in  Toronto,  Can.,  Oct.  9,  1827 
jj,®!^  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Rachel  Snider, 
were  natives  of  New  Brunswick,  and  early  in 
life  came  to  Canada.  The  father  died  at  85, 
the  mother  at  81  years  of  age.  When  24 
years  old  Mr.  Snider  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  carpenter  on  a  tobacco  planta- 
tion. His  stay  Was  brief  and  he  went  back  to  the 
parental  roof  and  began  to  work  for  his  fiither.  He 
was  married  Nov.  25,  1852,  near  Toronto,  Can.,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (Mitchell) 
McMann,  a  family  of  Irish  descent.  She  was  born 
Feb.  17,  1830.  A  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Snider 
embarked  in  mercantile  business  and  continued  op- 
erating in  trade  eight  years.  In  1861  the  family  came 
to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Newaygo  County,  where 
Mr.  Snider  controlled  a  grist-mill  one  year.  He 
then  came  to  .\ustin  Tp.  and  settled  on  a  40-acre 
farm  which  he  had  previously  purchased,  and  .to 
which  he  has  since  added  by  purchase  120  acres. 
He  has  60  acres  under  cultivation.  Five  living  chil- 
dren are  members  of  this  household  and  two  have 
passed  to  the  other  world  and  are  held  in  sacred 
remembrance.  Following  is  the  record  of  their 
births  and  deaths:  Oliver  C.  was  born  May  14, 
1858;  Mary  A.,  Jan.  9,  1861;  Albert  H.,  April  13, 
1863;  Hiram  G.,  July  29,  1866;  Emma  M.,  Sept. 
13,  1868;  Robert  W.,  Nov.  8,  1853,  died  Dec.  15, 
1856;  Sarah  J.,  born  .^pril,  1855,  died  Dec.  3,  1856. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider  have  been  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  since  1857,  and  have  both  been  ar- 
dent laborers  in  the  cause  of  religion.       Mr.  Snider 


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has  been  Steward  many  years  and  is  now  Class- 
leader.  He  has  always  been  active  in  the  cause  ot 
education  and  in  tlie  interests  of  tlie  Republican 
party. 

I  ohn  B.  Fribley,  harness-maker.  Big  Rapids, 
was  born  in  Lycoming  County,  near  Wil- 
i  ;,  '"  liamsport,  Pa.,  Dec.  21,  1837.  He  is  a  son 
|i*y'  of  John  and  Sarah  (Sutton)  Frii)ley.  At  the 
^F    age    of    17    he  went    to    Muncy    in    the    same 

1"  county,  where  Re  learned  his  trade.  In  1856 
he  went  to  Ottawa,  111.  He  left  the  latter  place 
Aug.  17,  of  the  same  year,  with  a  party  designing  to 
settle  in  Kansas.  At  Iowa  City  they  "  fitted  out  "  with 
26  wagons  laden  with  clothing  and  provisions.  They 
met  another  party  with  similar  intentions  and  joined 
in  company  with  them.  They  crossed  the  Missouri 
River  at  Nebraska  City  in  small  flat-boats,  and 
traveled  six  weeks  before  reaching  the  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  line.  There  they  were  met  by  "  Jim " 
Lane  and  John  Brown  (Ossawatomie).  Tlie  former 
made  a  political  speech,  and  Sunday  morning  Brown 
preached  a  characteristic  sermon,  incorporating  his 
views  on  the  negro  (juestion.  On  attempting  to 
cross  into  Kansas  the  entire  number  were  taken 
prisoners,  their  arms  and  stores  were  confiscated, 
and  the  party  taken  to  Topeka,  where  they  were 
liberated  by  Gov.  Geary. 

Mr.  Fribley  settled  at  F.aston,  Leavenworth  Co., 
Kansas,  where  he  established  a  business  and  also 
followed  farming,  near  Toi)eka;  he  also  owned  a 
ferry,  plying  across  the  Kansas  River  at  Leconipton. 
He  went  to  Colorado  and  was  interested  one  summer 
in  mining  for  gold. 

At  Denver,  Colorado,  Mr.  Fribley  enlisted  in 
August,  1861,  in  Co.  A,  First  Colorado  Vol.  Inf.,  under 
Capt.  Wynkoop,  and  was  in  the  United  States 
service  three  years  and  eleven  months.  His  first 
detail  was  to  Apache  Canyon  and  I'aralto,  New  Mex- 
ico, with  the  Te.xan  troops,  and  after  the  campaign 
there  was  terminated,  the  regiment  returned  to  Col- 
orado atid  was  there  mounted  and  ordered  to  the 
frontiers  for  duty  in  tlie  Indian  disturbances.  Mr. 
Fribley  was  regimental  saddler,  but  was  in  several 
Indian  engagements.  He  participated  in  the  Shi- 
vington  massacre  on  Sand  C'reek,  40  miles  north  of 
Fort  Lyon,  on  the  Arkansas  River.     The  affair  took 


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place  Feb.  17,  1863,  and  the  whites  sustained  a  loss 
of  16  killed  and  5,5  woundetl.  The  slaughter  of  In- 
dians was  complete,  and  included  nearly  400  niL-n, 
women  and  children.  The  record  says:  "There 
weie  none  left  that  were  big  enough  to  die."  The 
interpreter,  John  Smith,  saved  a  little  boy. 

In  June,  1864,  he  went  with  a  tletail  of  100 
soldiers  and  teamsters  in  inirsuit  of  a  band  of  ma- 
rauding Indians,  whom  they  found  encamped  at  the 
head-waters  of  Smoky  River, — about  700  in  force, — 
and  had  with  them  the  closest  kind  of  a  hand-to- 
hand  encounter.  One  of  Mr.  Fribley's  reminiscences 
of  his  campaign  gives  strong  ])roof  that  the  peculiar 
cunning  and  sagacity  that  makes  the  Indian  so 
dreadful  a  foe  and  so  powerful  an  ally,  is  only  due  to 
the  circumstances  of  his  training  and  education,  in- 
stead of  being  the  traits  of  his  nature.  While  out 
with  two  comrades  on  a  hunting  and  scouting  expe- 
dition, they  were  suddenly  surrounded  by  upwards 
of  200  Cheyennes.  Hy  an  assumption  of  friendli- 
ness and  interest  the  red-skins  were  led  to  believe 
that  Mr.  Fril)ley  and  his  companions  were  not  con- 
nected with  tlie  U.  S.  troo[is,  and  were  decoyed  within 
the  lines  of  the  command.  Catting  loose  from  the 
mass  of  the  band,  the  chief  rode  with  the  white  men 
within  range  of  the  arms  of  the  rear  guard,  who  fired 
upon  the  advancing  party.  Six  bullets  were  found 
in  the  body  of  the  chief,  but  the  scouts  were  un- 
harmed. Mr.  Fribley  was  discharged  at  Fort  Riley, 
Kansas,  July  15,  1S65,  made  a  brief  visit  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  returned  to  Kansas. 

In  1867  he  opened  a  shop  at  Medina,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Kansas,  worked  a  year  at  his  trade  and  engaged 
in  fanning  several  years,  after  which  he  again  re- 
turned to  the  Keystone  State.  Two  yei^rs  later  he 
opened  a  shop  in  Topeka,  operating  there  some 
months,  and  then  again  spending  three  years  in 
Pennsylvania,  going  thence  to  Colorado,  and  a  few 
months  later  coming  to  Big  Rapids,  where  he  located 
in  August,  1S80.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  Ihnican 
McLellan  about  16  months,  when  he  fnunded  his 
present  business,  and  is  now  in  a  [irospeious  and  in- 
creasing trade. 

Mr.  Fribley  was  married  in  Lycoming  Co.,  I'.i., 
May  14,  1876,  to  Kate  Tomlinson,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Four  children  have  been  born  of  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  l-'ribley:  Sarah,  Mary,  I,aura 
and  FMizabeth. 


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'^^^^■t,dison  S.  Hooker,  dealer  in  lumber,  lath 
^sMM^  and  shingles,  at  Pig  Rapids,  was  l)orn  in 
\}V!,^  Mount  Vernon,  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  15, 
y.)t^    I S46.     He  is  a  son  of  Royal  D.  and  Courtney 

;      Hooker,  and  was  brought  up  on    his  father's 
;        farm. 

When  he  was  17  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  Lima, 
Ohio,  enrolling  Jan.  14,  1863,  as  a  private  in  Co.  H, 
32d  Ohio  Vol.  Inf,  Capt.  Barrett.  He  was  in  the 
engagements  at  Vicksburg,  Kenesaw  Mountain, siege 
of  Atlanta  and  at  Savannah,  where  the  rebels  sur- 
rounded them  on  an  island,  cutting  off  supplies,  a 
process  which  compelled  the  entire  division  to  sub- 
sist ten  days  on  rice  in  the  sheaf,  gathered  in  the  low 
lands.  He  was,  besides,  in  a  number  of  skirmishes, 
and  veteranized  Jan.  4,  1864,  serving  until  July  20, 
1865.  On  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Allen  Co., 
Ohio,  having  saved  with  his  bounty  $2,500. 

He  remained  a  year  on  his  father's  farm,  when  he 
engaged  in  lumbering  and  purchased  considerable 
land,  heavily  timbered.  He  built  a  saw-mill  in  Spen- 
(  erville,  and  in  1S79  he  bought  a  grist-mill,  and  plan-  = 
ing  mill,  which  he  sold  in  August,  1883.  He  sold  '*. 
his  saw-mill  in  the  fall  of  18S2.  He  built  a  fine  ^ 
residence  in  Spencerville  in  the  summer  of  1S81,  at 
an  expenditure  of  $7,000.  This  lie  still  owns,  with 
the  lot  whereon  it  stands,  99  x  132  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, besides  two  acres  in  the  town.  Mr'.  Hooker 
met  with  success  in  his  lumber  operations,  and  also 
in  a  large  provision  and  grocery  business,  which  he 
managed  two  years. 

R.  H.  Hooker,  father  of  Mr.  Hooker  of  this  sketch, 
came  to  Mecosta  County  and  settled  in  Creen  Tp., 
where  he  bought  160 acres  of  farming  laiui,  and  pur- 
sued agricidture  until  his  death,  which  look  place  July 
27,  1882  ;  he  was  aged  69  years  ;  the  mother  died  .\ug. 
9,  1866.  In  1879  Mr.  Hooker  bought  120  acres  of 
pine  land  in  Mewaygo  County,  and  in  January,  18S2, 
he  came  to  Mecosta  County,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
built  a  saw  and  lath  mill  in  (ireen  Tp.,  which  he  is 
still  operating,  and  employs  50  men  in  the  mill  and 
wooils,some  as  teamsters.  In  .Seiitember,  1882, he  pur- 
chased a  fine  residence  at  Pig  Rapids,  and  in  July, 
18S3,  he  purchased  of  1).  F.  Comstock  five  acres  on 
the  river,  where  he  purjKjses  to  build  a  saw,  shingle 
and  lath  mill,  having  all  the  latest  improvements. 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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He  was  married  in  Allen  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  14,  1866, 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Henrietta  Fisle, 
a  native  of  Germany.  Of  this  marriage  nine  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  in  the  following  order,  seven  of 
whom  are  living:  Charles  A.,  John  R..  Henrietta, 
Anna  L.,  Laura  (deceased),  Katie  (deceased),  George, 
Adison  S.  and  Lavinia. 

Tlie  ijortrait  of  Mr.  Hooker  may  be  found  in  this 
volume. 

-» .    ;^=:j)<3$<li»^6>^:=:;    ■  »- 

illiam  F.  Denney,  furniture  dealer,  Mill- 
brook  village,  is  a  son  of  James  M.  and 
Lois  E.  (Scranton)  Denney,  and  was  born 
March  7,  1846,  in  Indiana.  'Che  father  was 
in  moderate  circumstances,  with  a  large 
family,  and  the  elder  children,  as  they  grew  in 
years,  aided  in  sustaining  the  burden  of  the  family 
supiiort.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Mecosta 
County  and  located  in  Wheatland  Tp.,  and  after- 
ward moved  to  Sheridan  Tp. 

About  the  year  1874,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
purchased  a  building  lot  in  Millbrook,  on  which  lie 
has  since  built  a  good  frame  structure,  where  lie  is 
doing  a  thriving  business,  carrying  a  stock  valued  at 
$2,000.  He  commenced  life  empty-handed,  and 
learned  the  cabinet-making  trade,  also  that  of  carpen- 
ter and  builder.  By  frugality  and  good  management 
he  has  established  himself  in  business  on  a  perma- 
nent basis,  and  owes  to  no  one  save  himself  the  ad- 
vance he  has  made  toward  a  fortune  sufficient  for 
the  needs  of  tlie  years  and  chances  held  in  the 
future. 

He  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Dec.  23,  1880,  to 
K;ila  E.,  daughter  of  Newman  G.  and  Jane  Capen,  a 
native  of  Wisconsin.  They  liave  one  child,  New- 
man G.  Mr.  Denney  is  independent  in  political 
seiiliinenl  and  action,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Kellows  fraternity. 


ikhauneey  Warren,  farmer,  sec.  32,  Austin 

if.    Tp.,  was  born  in  l'>ie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  21, 

1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Fanny 

(Watson)  Warren,  natives  of  Vermont.      He 

)\    was  occupied  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  age 

of  23,  when   he  went  to  Ontario,  Can.,  in  the 

fall  of   1846,  and  there  engaged   in  a  saw-mill.     He 


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was  a  resident  of  Canada  18  years,  and  was  married 
there  Aug.  13,  1849,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Susan  (Winegarden)  Roberts,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  respectively  of  Welsh  and  Dutch  e.\- 
traction.  Mrs.  Warren  was  born  Sept.  t,  1827. 
During  his  stay  in  the  Dominion,  Mr.  Warren  was 
chiefly  engaged  in  lumbering.  He  came  to  Newaygo 
County  in  1S64,  and  thence  to  Austin  Tp.,  where  he 
entered  a  claim  of  80  acres  of  land,  60  of  which  are 
well  cultivated,  with  valuable  buildings.  Here  has 
been  the  homestead  for  2 1  years,  and  here  the  heads 
of  the  household  expect  to  pass  their  sunset  days. 
The  family  includes  two  children  :  Adelbert  D., 
born  Feb.  1 1,  1859,  and  Rosetta  E.,  March  1 1,  1868. 
Three  children  are  deceased:  William  H.,  born  Oct. 
7,  1850,  died  April  29,  185 1 ;  Charles,  born  July  30, 
1852,  died  Feb.  28,  1853;  Alvaretta,  born  Nov.  i, 
1854,  died  June  14,  1882. 


I'r  J  avidM.  Benjamin,  lumberman,  resident  at 
j-iiiiy^ !  Grand  Raj)ids,  was  born  at  East  Livermore, 
5f(|e''^^  Me.,  July  28,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  David 
"wii,  and  Catharine  C.  (Stanwood)  Benjamin,  and 
^  was,  until  the  age  of  16,  brought  up  on  a  farm 
\  and  attended  the  common  school.  He  then 
entered  the  academy  at  Farmington,  where  he 
studied  two  terms,  going  successively  to  Litchfield 
and  Westbrook,  attending  the  acadeiuv  in  those 
l>laces  the  same  length  of  lime. 

His  first  business  venture  was  at  East  Livermore, 
where  he  was  station  agent  on  the  Androscoggin 
River.  After  a  year  there  he  engaged  as  a  lumber- 
man on  the  Penobscot  River,  and  acted  in  that 
capacity  until  he  was  28  years  old.  He  came  to 
Muskegon,  Mich.,  in  October,  1862,  where  he  had  a 
year  before  invested  in  pine  lands,  and  operated  in 
lumber.  In  the  summer  of  1864  he  erected  a  large 
steam  saw-mill,  fitted  with  gang-saws  and  all  the 
most  approved  appurtenances  pertaining  to  similar 
establishments.  The  works  were  among  the  most 
extensive  in  that  city,  having  a  cutting  capacity  of 
240,000  feet  daily.  I  le  conducted  his  business  alone 
until  1873,  when  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
O.  P.  Pillsbury  and  Daniel  W.  Bradley.  'I'he  firm 
style  at  present  is  O.  P.  I'illsbury  &  Co.,  and  in 
eludes  the  senior  member  named,  Mr.  Benjamin, 


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Win.  H.,  Edward  and  James  W.,  sons  of  D.  W. 
Bradley.  The  house  is  operatins;;  extensively  in 
lumber  traffic,  and  have  offices  at  Muskegon  and 
Milwaukee.  Their  timber  tracts  include  15,000 
acres  of  pine  lands  in  Michigan,  60,000  in  \Vis(onsin 
and  a  considerable  acreage  in  Minnesota.  Tlieir 
house  and  jobbing  forces  combined  number  alioul 
200  men.  The  firm  have  a  large  planiiig-mill  at  Mil- 
waukee, with  a  working  capacity  of  25,000,000  feet 
annually.  They  own  about  9,000  acres  of  pine  lands 
in  Mecosta  County. 

Mr,  Benjamin  was  married  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
Tune  16,  1869,  to  Annie  Louise,  daughter  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Annie  Fitts,  born  in  Southampton,  N.  H., 
April  16,  184S.  They  have  one  son,  Fred  W.,  born 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Jan.  23,  1S78.  Mr.  Benjamin  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views. 

asper  E.  Bisbee,  grocer  and  druggist,  was 
)r  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  29,  1845, 
'"  a  son  of  Alanson  and  Mary  C.  (Bagley) 
Bisbee,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Albany 
Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  in 
1858  located  in  the  town  of  Campbell,  Ionia 
Co.,  Mich.,  residing  there  until  his  death  in  1863. 
The  mother  died  in  i860. 

Mr.  Bisbee  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools;  he  obtained  a  situation  in  a 
store  at  Saranac,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  and  acted  as  clerk 
there  one  year,  after  which  he  learned  the  art  of  boot 
and  shoe  making,  which  he  followed  as  a  vocation 
some  years.  He  went  next  to  Newaygo  County, 
where  he  worked  during  one  summer,  engaging  in 
the  fall  with  another  party,  and  spent  the  next  three 
years  in  travel  and  in  giving  public  entertainments 
with  the  troop.  On  the  termination  of  this  business 
he  resumed  work  at  his  trade  in  Newaygo,  which  he 
pursued  some  time.  He  next  operated  some  months 
as  a  <:lerk  in  a  hotel. 

Mr.  Bisbee  was  married  in  1869,  to  Sarah  E., 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Fuphemia  (Thompson)  Scran- 
ton.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio  and  she  was 
born  in  that  State.  In  the  family  are  three  children  : 
Ead  E.,  Glen  W.  and  Frank  L. 

Mr.  Bisbee  located  in  Paris  in  1870,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  trade  some  years  and  established  a  heavy 


:|iKV^>5«ii€^ 


business  for  the  locality,  which  he  sold  out  and  then 
devoted  his  attention  one  year  tofarming,  after  which 
he  reluniecl  to  I'aris  and  embarked  in  the  enterprise 
he  is  now  pursuing.  In  |)olitical  faith  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  held  the  office  of  Dei)uty  Sheriff. 


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ay  D.  Robinson,  wholesale  and  retail  dealer 

;,„,,     in  meals  of  all  varieties  at  Big  Ra|)ids,  was 

||li-) '"  ^    born  at  Romeo,  .Macomb   Co.,    Mich.,  July 

d,5^    II,  1850.     His  father,  H.  Robinson,  was  born 

jt      in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.   Y.,  and  located  in  1833,  in 

\       Romeo,  being   the   third    settler    in    Macomb 

County,  whither  he  and  his  father,   Henry  Robinson, 

made  their  way  through  the  woods  with  an  ox  team, 

cutting  the  road  as  they  iiroceeded.     Mr.  Robinson's 

father  was  a  giant  in  statue  and  strength,  standing 

six  feet  and  three  inches  in  stockings,  and  the  object    (  ] 

of  great  interest  because  of  his  power  to  lift  immense 

weights. 

Tlie  mother,  Nancy  Robinson,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, 12  miles  northwest  of  Pittsburg,  and  is  now 
living  with  her  son  at  Big  Rapids,  aged  59  years. 

Mr.    Robinson   received  a  common-school   educa- 
tion, and  when  14  years   okl   went  to  Cincinnati  and 
entered  the  river  servi<:e.      His  fust   employ  was  as  a 
cabin    boy    on    the   "  Roljerl    Burns,"    a    jjassenger 
steamer.     He  attained  to  the   post  of  second  clerk, 
and  was  absent  frop.".   his  home  four  years.     On  re- 
turning he  established  himself  in  mercantile  business 
at  Holly,  in  com|)auy  with  \\'.  A.  Taylor.     'I'heir  op- 
erations  were   successful,  and    they    were  soon  en- 
abled to  add  a  wholesale  department  and  estal>lished 
warehouses    at    Saginaw   City.     They    continued  to 
londuct  iheir  business  with  satisfactory  results  until 
the  geueial  de|)ression  of  1876,   when  the  shrinkage 
of  values  in  all   avenues  of  trade   involved  them  in 
heavy  loss,  when   they   brought  their  affairs  lo  a  ter- 
mination.    He  went  afterward  to  Deadwood,  Dak.,  in 
company  with  Kli  Hammond,  and   they  trafficked  in 
miners'  su|)plies,  horses  and  merchandise  of  varied  ^ 
character,  operating  profitably   for  two  years.        Mr.     I 
Robinson  became  connected  with  the  notion  house  of  ^^ 
Jacob    Brown   at    Detroit,   where    he    remained    two    ra 
years,  going  thence   to  ^Chicago,  where   he  was  en-  ^ 
gaged  with  Keith  Bros.,  who  kept  a  gentlemen's  fur-  (^. 
nishing   goods   establishment.     After   two   years,  in  ^ 

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1 88 1,  he  came  to  Big  Rapids,  where  his  family  re- 
sided for  a  year  previous.  He  opened  his  present 
business  Nov.  3,  18S1,  and  carries  a  well  assorted 
stock  of  $5,000  to  $6,000  ;  the  annual  business  trans- 
actions amount  to  about  $jo,ooo.  Four  assistants 
are  emiiloyed.  He  owns  eight  acres  of  land  on  the 
border  of  Big  Rapids,  where  he  has  a  stock  yard^ 
pasturage,  etc. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  married  Jan.  8,  1874,  in  Holly, 
to  Klla  C,  daughter  of  Solon  and  Vanda  (Bunker) 
Cooley,  born  in  Pontiac,  Mich.,  July  22,  1855.  Fred- 
die J.,  only  child,  was  born  in  Holly,  Sept.  25,  1S74. 
The  motlier  died  at  Big  Rapids  March  16,  1883. 


'  rank  S.  Maxon,  farmer,  sec.  32,  Deerfield 
I'p.,  was  born  Nov.  28,  1850,  in  Jackson 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  is  a  son  of    F.  D.    and 

tMeriba  (Dunham)  Maxon,  both  of  whom  are 
natives  of  New  York. 

(  Mr.  Maxon  received  a  fair  education  at  the 

common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  a  thorough 
training  for  his  vocation  of  agriculturist.  In  1S75 
he  i)urchased  40  acres  of  land  in  the  townsliii)  of 
Deerfield  and  setUed  thereon,  engaging  since  in  farm- 
ing and  putting  his  place  in  the  best  possible  con- 
dition. 

Mr.  Maxon  was  united  in  marriage  in  the  State  of 
Missouri,  Feb  18,  1872,  with  Lorania,  daughter  of 
F/li  and  Mary  (Wray)  Maxon,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Maxon  was  born  Feb.  12, 
1S56,  in  Nodaway  Co.,  Mo.,  and  has  become  the 
mother  of  five  children  :  Charles  A.,  born  Dec.  20, 
1872;  \Villiam  L.  and  Wilson  R.,  twins,  born  June 
25,  1876;  Lewis  E,  March  18,  1878;  Edgar  H., 
Nov.  I,  I  88 1.  In  political  jiriniiple  Mr.  Maxon  is  a 
Republican. 


-^-•<-^'4#=^>" 


tjhester  W.  Comstock,  Cashier  of  the  Big 
^Z    Rapids  National  Bank,  was  born  at  Alex- 
>'^'*'     andria,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  30,  1856. 
He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  F.  and  Dollie  E.  Com- 
stock.    In  A|)ril,    1871,  his    father   removed 
his    family  to    Big    Rapids,    remaining   until 
when  another  removal  was  mode  to  Cadillac, 
,   where   the  senior    Comstock   established   a 


banking  house,  Chester  W.  officiating  as  cashier  five 
years.  On  the  return  of  the  family  to  Big  Rapids  in 
1879,  both  father  and  sou  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business. 

The  National  Bank  of  Big  Rapids  was  founded  in 
1883,  and  opened  June  4  of  that  year,  Mr.  Comstock 
being  elected  its  Cashier.  It  is  a  home  institution, 
the  stock  being  cliiefly  owned  in  Mecosta  County. 


homas  B.  Pitman,  farmer,  sec.  1 1,  Deerfield 

Tp.,  was  born   m  Canada,  Se.\iX.  25,  1852. 
His   parents,  John  and   Mary  A.  (Hewett) 

Pitman,  were  natives  of  Canada,  and  came  to 
%Y     Michigan   in    1868,   residing   at    Saginaw    two 

years,  and,  coming  thence  to  Mecosta  County 
settled  in  Deerfield  Tp.,  where  they  are  now  living 
on  sec.  II.  Mr.  Pitman  accompanied  his  parents  in 
their  migrations  and  bought  40  acres  of  unimproved 
land  adjoining  tlie  tract  owned  and  occupied  by  his 
father.  He  built  thereon  a  board  house  and  now 
has  23  acres  of  land  under  cultivation.  He  was 
married  in  the  township  of  Deerfield,  Oct.  29,  1874, 
to  (jeorgiana  Van  Cordon,  a  native  of  the  Slate  of 
New  York,  where  her  parents  are  now  living.  Mrs. 
Pitman  died  July  2,  1879,  leaving  one  child — Harry 
\V. — born  Dec.  5,  1875.  Mr.  Pitman  attends  the  M. 
E.  Church,  and  is  independent  in  politics. 


■^p§«. Ifred  S.  Mason,  postal  clerk  on  the  Chicago 
■     ^J(    iv:  West  Michigan    railroad,   resident  at  Big 
W  "  Rapids  (route  from    Big  Rapids  and  Hol- 
land),  was   born  in  Ellicott  Tp.,  Chautauqua 
1^      Co.,   N.    Y.,  Sept.    16,   i,S28,   and   is  a  son  of 
1         Martin  and  Polly  (C.riswold)  Mason. 
The  father  of  Mr.    Mason   was  a  farmer,  and  he 
was  reared  to  the  age  of  t6,  in  the  habits  and  pur- 
suits common  to  farmers'  sons.     The  family  had  re- 
moved to  Jamestown,   two  miles  distant,  and  at  the 
age  named  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  harness- 
maker,  serving  an    apprenticeship   of    three   years, 
after   which  he  establislied  liimself    at    Jamestown 
and  continued  in  business  until  tlie  outbreak  oi  the 
Southern  Rebellion. 

He  responded  to  the  first  call  for  troops  and  en- 


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543   > 


listed  at  Jamestown  in  Co.  B,  7  2d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  in 
the  Sickles  Brigade.  On  the  organization  of  the 
company  in  April.  1861,  Mr.  Mason  was  elected 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  while  on  the  Potomac,  Nov. 
5,  1861,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieuten- 
ant. He  was  discharged  at  Yorktown.  ALiy  20, 
1862,  for  disability.  He  returned  to  Jamestown  and 
assisted  in  raising  the  112th  Reg.  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf. 

He  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  the  fall  of  1862,  mainly 
to  recruit  his  impaired  health.  He  interested  him- 
self in  the  lumber  trade,  and  was  for  some  years  as- 
sociated with  the  Cireen  Brothers  in  buying  pine 
lands  and  "  putting  in  "  logs,  transacting  a  heavy 
business.  In  18 —  they  purchased  the  properly 
which  is  now  tlie  site  of  the  Fainnan  and  Newton 
block,  on  which  a  hotel  was  in  process  of  erection. 
They  completed  the  building  and  it  was  named  the 
Mason  House.  It  was  one  of  the  first  hotels  in  the 
county  and  became  prominent  from  its  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  progress  of  Big  Rapids. 

In  the  fall  of  1874  the  same  association  took  a 
contract  to  grade  14  miles  of  the  G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R., 
four  miles  south  of  (."adillac,  six  miles  north  from  the 
Manistee  River,  and  four  miles  from  the  north 
branch  of  the  Boardman  River  in  Kalkaska  County. 
This  was  accomplished  in  the  autumn  of  1874  and 
the  following  spring.  They  then  contracted  to  grade 
and  bridge  seven  miles  west  of  Reed  City  on  the 
F.  &  1'.  .M.  R.  R.,  which  undertaking  was  finished  in 
the  fall  of  1876.  The  force  usually  employed  num- 
bered about  250  men  and  the  required  teams.  Tiie 
Messrs.  Green  &  Mason  carried  on  lumbering  winters 
and  building  State  roads  summers,  thus  operating 
two  years  on  what  is  known  as  the  East  Tawas  & 
Houghton  Lake  State  road,  of  which  they  i>uiU  t2 
miles.  This  was  the  last  business  venture  of  tiie 
company,  the  partnership  relations  being  brought  to  a 
close  at  the  same  time  with  the  com|)letion  of  tlic 
job.  In  January,  1S80,  through  liie  influence  of  Jay 
Hubbell,  Mr.  Mason  was  appointed  to  his  present 
[Kisition  of  Mail  Agent. 

He  has  been  a  Republican  ever  since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  party,  and  has  been  quite  prominent  in 
the  field  of  politics.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Me- 
costa County  and  served  two  years.  He  lielongs  to 
the  Order  of  Masonry,  is  Master  of  Big  Rapids  Blue 
Lodge  and  I'ast*  High  Priest  of  the  Royal  .\rch 
Chapter  of  that  city.  He  owns  a  fine  residenc  e  and 
)ot  on  Ives  avenue. 


X 


-si^'y^ 


Mr.  Mason  was  married  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  Feb.   ^ 
27,    1854,  to  -Amanda  A.,  daughter  of  \V.   D.   and     '' 
Hannah    (Belden)   Green.    (See    sketch   of    \V.    I). 
Green.)     Mrs.   Mason  was  born  in   Rensselaer  Co.. 
.\.  v.,  May  13,  1831.     Jennie,  only  daughter  of  Mr.    i 
and  Mrs    Mason,  is  the  wife  of  C.  \\ .  Cunningham, 
book-keeper  in  the  Big  Rapids  National  Bank.     She 
was  born   in  Jamestown,   N.   Y.,  Jan.  15,  1859.  (See 
sketch  of  C.  W.  Cunningham.) 


Joseph  West,  farmer,  on  sec.  27,  Green  T|i.,  f 
was  born  in  Wiltshire,  Eng.,  Nov.  7,  1829. 
I (§''"'' '^  His  parents,  William  and  Sarah  (Bimester) 
T^  \N'esl,  were  I'jiglish  by  birth  and  belonged  to 
the  agricultural  class  in  their  native  country. 
He  was  the  only  son,  and  when  two  years  old 
iiis  father  died.  The  education  of  .Mr.  West  is  such  ^ 
as  is  acquired  by  tiie  majority  of  men  similarly  situ-  *> 
ated  in  youth.  His  father  and  stepfather  were  men  \y', 
of  the  class  who  bear  the  brunt  of  the  world  in  their  ^ 
native  land, — those  on  whose  efforts  and  needs  the  ;C'! 
so-called  upper  classes  thrive  ;  and  liis  labors  were  ^ 
necessary  for  the  family  supi)ort.  Thomas  Beasent  y^/ 
was  a  widower  with  children  when  he  became  the  •' 
husband  of  Mrs.  West.  In  1853  Mr.  Beasent  came  ( 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Mecosta  County,  ' 
tiie  children  on  both  sides  accompanying  him.  Mr. 
West  married  Mary  .\nn  Beasent,  Oct.  23,  1851; 
she  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Gay) 
Beasent,  antl  born  Oct.  27,  1836.  Mr.  Beasent  died 
in  Mecosta  County.  V 

Mr.  West  obtained  employment  as  a  lumberman  a  «  ^ 
few  months  after  coming  to  America,  and  in  the  ^' 
spring  of  1854  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  soon  after 
located  on  sec.  t,},,  in  Green  Tp.,  where  he  bought  80 
acres  of  land  inder  the  Gradation  Act,  paying  75 
cents  per  .icre.  There  he  labored  and  resided  until 
1S67,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, Kuitaining  1 60  aires  of  land.  Mr.  West  is  a  ^ 
Republican  and  an  honored  citi/en  of  Green  Tp. 
His  thrift  and  persevering  industry  have  met  with 
the  reward  of  well  directed  eflorl,  and  he  is  in  liic 
p/issession  of  substantial  evidence  of  the  wisdom  of 
his  pur|)oses  in  life.  The  land-holder  is  a  sovereign 
by  primal  kinship  to  the  first  man,  endowed  divinely  j 
with  all  the  lands  of  tiie  earth.  \ 

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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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William  L.,  eldest  son  of  Mr.  West,  was  born  in 

1852,  in  England;  married  Clara  Hovey,  of  Green 
Tp.,  and  lives  in  Dakota.  The  remainder  of  Mr. 
West's  children  were  born  in  Michigan.  Eliza  M. 
married  William  Dalziel.  The  others  are:  Charles 
E.,  Anna  J.,  George  W.  and  Eddie.  Chester  E.  and 
Louisa  are  deceased. 

We  give  a  portrait  of  Mr.  West  in  this  voiiune  as 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Mecosta  County. 


r-^i^-mM^^ 


■^Ipa-^jyrus  r.  Richardson,  farmer,  sec.  8,  Big 
Jl^^i  Rapids,  was  l)orn  in  Ohio,  April  11,  1838. 
^Ip"  His  father,  Luther  Richardson,  was  born  in 
fjjtj^  Maine  ;  his  mother,  Rachel  Richardson,  was 
m  a  native  of  Ohio.  His  parents  came  to  the 
'  State  of  Michigan  in  1843,  and  he  was  reared 
to  manhood  at  Grand  Rapids. 

At  the  age  of  22  years  Mr.  Richardson  came  to 
Mecosta  County  and  worked  at  lumbering  one  sea- 
son. In  the  spring  of  1861  he  bought  80  acres  of 
land,  where  he  established  his  home  and  has  since 
pursued  his  calling  of  agriculturist.  He  has  placed 
60  acres  of  his  farm  under  good  cultivation,  has  a 
handsome  residence  and  good  farm  buildings.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Union  service  Aug.  15,  1864,  in  Co. 
L,  First  Mich.  Reg.  Engineers  and_  Mechanics,  and 
was  discharged  June  6,  1865.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  has  held  the  office  of  Township 
Treasurer  four  successive  years,  and  is  at  present 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

He  was  married  Nov.  9,  i860,  to  Maria  Youard,of 
Grand  Rapids.  She  was  born  in  Ontario,  Can.,  July 
21,  1840.  Her  father  was  drowned  when  slie  was 
four  years  old  ;  her  mother  is  still  living.  Children  : 
Mary  J.,  born  Nov.  17,  1861;  died  Nov.  30,  1882; 
Luther  J.  C,  Oct.  2,  1863;  William  T.  S.,  May  17, 
1866;  Minnie  L.,  Oct.  27,  1868;  Rachel  M.,  Jan.  3, 
1873;  Kittie,  Sept.  16,  1876,  died  May  31,   1879. 


-ei- 


HJt— e— , 


enj.  J.  Shourds,  farmer,  sec.  i.Wlieatland 

M3|g  Tp.,   is    a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sophronia 

(Jones)  Shourds,  who  were  natives  of  New 

"^    York,    and    descended    from      French    and 

English  ancestors.     Mr.  Shourds  was  born  in 

Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  183S,  and   was 

reared  at  home  to  the  age  of  21  years.     He  obtained 

^(^*|^ :^^fL -^<sil|j; 


his  education  at  the  academy  at  Macedon  Center,  in 
his  native  county,  and  on  attaining  his  majority  be- 
gan to  work  the  homestead  farm  with  his  brother. 
He  was  married  in  Wayne  County  April  12,  1866,  to 
Sarah  D.,  daughter  of  Orrin  and  Betsey  (Reed) 
Lapham,  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  who  was  born 
at  Macedon  Center,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  12, 
1836,  and  was  chiefly  there  educated,  finishing  her 
course  of  study  at  the  LTnion  C'ollege  at  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.  After  marriage  Mr.  Shourds  was  engaged  in 
farming  in  Wayne  County  until  1868,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  locating  in  Palmyra, 
where  he  engaged  in  running  a  lath  and  planing 
mill.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  went  to  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business. 
In  the  fall  of  1879  he  returned  to  his  native  State 
and  managed  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  when  Mr.  Shourds  came  back  to 
Michigan.  He  located  on  a  farm  of  120  acres  in 
Wheatland  Tp.,  which  had  been  partly  improved, 
where  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Masonry.  Mr.  Shourds  belongs 
to  the  Baiitist  Church. 


M'P^U/iram  R.  Reynolds,  farmer  on  sec.  20,  Me- 
r  ikivdj    costa 'I'p.,  was  l)orn   in   Williams  Co.,  Ohio, 
^j^         Nov.  2,  1851.     He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and 
UX    Delilah  (Osmun)  Reynolds,  natives  of  Vermont 
i      and  New  York  respectively.     Mr.  Reynolds  re- 
I      niaincd  with  his  parents  until   he  reached  man's 
estate,  and  for  several  years  after  attaining  the  age  of 
21  years  worked  as  a  farm  laborer.     In  1874  he  pur- 
chased a  farm   in   Fulton   ("o.,  Ohio,  where   he  op- 
erated seven  years,  and  in  the  sjjring  of  1882  bought 
a    farm    of    102  acres   in    Mecosta  Tp.  on   the  Big 
Muskegon  River. 

He  was  married  Dec.  i  i,  1874,  in  Fulton  Co., 
Ohio,  to  Ida  i\I.,  daugliter  of  Stephen  and  Soi)hia 
(Henderson)  Green.  Her  parents  were  of  English 
descent,  and  she  was  born  in  Paulding  Co.,  Ohio! 
Dec.  22,  1854.  She  was  adopted  at  the  age  of  three 
years  by  Mr.  Chancy  Lane,  of  Fulton  County,  who 
cared  for  her  until  her  marriage  and  has  made  her 
the  legal  Iieir  of  his  estate.  The  five  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  were  born  as  follows:  Lula 
L.,  Nov.  20,  1875  ;  Medora  A.,  Oct.  31,   1877  ;  Bazil 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY 


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B,  April  8,  1879;  Geo.  A,  Sept.  16,  1880,  and 
llolilie,  May  5,  1873.  Mr.  Reynolds  is  a  Republi- 
can. 

J;iL^fla  oseph    Gaunt,    farmer,    sec.    26,    Deerlield 

^'l^^L'   "^1''  *''^  '^'*^'^"  "^  Monroe  Co.,  Mii  b.,  Sept. 

;V',"^    3,  1834,  and   is  the   son  of  Harrison  and 

\<£  Mary  A.  (Rushwortliy)  Gaunt,  who  were  na- 

^r     lives  of  England. 

,  Mr.  Gaunt  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life,  ex- 

cept four  years,  when  he  was  employed  as  a  black- 
smith. He  was  married  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich., 
Feb.  20,  1862,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Nelson  and 
Jane  (Austin)  Wells,  natives  of  New  York  Mrs. 
Gaunt  was  born  in  Michigan,  Sept.  1 1,  1839.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaunt: 
Minnie  J.,  Dec.  13,  1862;  Ida  M.,  Jan.  16,  1S66; 
Jolm  \\'.,  July  23,  1869.  Mrs.  Gaunt  had  one  child 
by  a  former  marriage,  Edward,  born  Aug.  3,  1859. 

= ^^^^^^^^ — H 

|j  assel    Bowen    Hughes,    resident    at    Big 

R.ipid^,  was   l)orn   at  Camilhis,  Onondaga 

Co.,  N.  V  ,  Oct.  4,  1828.     When  lie  was  12 

years  of  age  his   father  moved   to  Bellevue, 

Mich.    He  married  Addale  D.  ?iolden,  of  lliat 

place,  Feb.  i  3,  1848. 

1850,111  company  with  James  Holden,  David 
Thomas  and  J.  J.  Cook,  he  started  for  California, 
influenced  by  the  gold-mining  excitement  which  was 
then  at  its  height.  Tliey  drove  tlieir  teams  to 
La  Salle,  111.,  and  then  took  a  steamer  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  from  tiiere  to  Si.  Jose|)li,  wiiere  they  arrived 
al)Out  the  ist  of  May,  and  made  arrangements  with 
other  parlies  to  travel  together  for  pioleclion  .ind 
assistance.  May  10  they  started  with  a  train  of  10 
or  12  wagons,  40  men  and  about  50  horses.  'I'hey 
real  lied  Salt  Lake  City  about  the  251)1  of  June,  hav- 
ing made  1,200  miles  in  about  45  days.  July  6,  they 
left  their  camp  at  Salt  Lake  and  continued  their 
march,  reaching  the  Sacramento  River  on  the  i04tii 
day  from  the  Missouri  Kiver.  They  put  their  spare 
horses  on  a  ranch,  and  started  for  tlie  mines.  They 
made  their  first  camp  at  "  Rough  and  Ready,"  a  min- 
ing town  in    Nevada  County,  where  liiey  worked  in 


545  -S 


the  mines  until  the  rainy  season,  when  they  sold 
iheir  iiorses  and  joined  a  company  lliat  had  disiover- 
ed  a  quartz  vein  at  Brown's  Valley,  on  the  Lower, 
Yuba  River.  They  expended  considerable  money, 
dug  a  large  amount  of  rock  that  turned  out  well,  and 
built  a  mill  whic  h,  when  nearly  completed  was  car- 
ried away  by  a  flood.  They  aijandoned  the  claim. 
Mr.  Hughes  tlien  engaged  in  operating  some  mines 
and  a  mining  store,  which  was  quite  successful  for 
a  few  months,  until  the  mines  failed.  In  the  spring 
of  1852  he  went  to  work  by  the  day  for  a  mining 
con.pany  at  Park's  Bar,  Yuba  River.  He  received 
$5  a  day,  and  worked  about  three  months.  About 
Sept.  I,  he  took  the  steamer  "General  Scott  "  at  San 
Francisco  for  Panama  ;  arriving,  he  crossed  the  isth- 
mus to  Asjiinwall  and  took  the  steamer  "  Ohio  "  for 
New  York.  When  off  Cape  Hatteras  a  gale  drove 
the  steamer  into  Charleston,  S.  C.  Many  passengers 
left,  but  he  remained.      He  arrived  home  about  Oct. 

Here  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  i86i,\vhen  he,  on 
the  first  day  of  November  of  that  year,  entered  the 
service  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Merrill's  Horse,  and 
passed  the  following  winter  in  tents,  in  Northwestern 
Missouri,  where  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  keeping 
down  the  rebels.  In  the  summer  of  1862  he  was 
promoted  First  Lieutenant,  but  still  remained  on  the 
regimental  stafT,  where  he  had  been  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  beginning.  He  was  regimental  Treasurer  and 
Ordnance  oflici-r  during  his  entire  term  of  service. 
During  the  summer  of  1862  the  regiment  was  actively 
engaged  against  the  guerrillas.  The  winter  of  1862-3 
was  passed  at  Warrenton,  about  160  miles  from  St. 
Louis,  and  the  next  summer  in  fighting  the  guerrillas, 
with  an  occasional  battle  with  more  regular  forces. 

June  1,  1863,  he  was  promoted  Captain,  and  the 
same  month  marched  to  Iron  Mountain,  under  com- 
mand of  (ien.  Steele;  they  marched  against  and  cap- 
tured Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  engaged  in  several 
severe  battles  and  skirmishes.  Passed  the  winter  in 
camp  at  Brownsville. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  he  marched  with  liis  division 
from  Little  Rock,  for  the  pur|>ose  of  forming  a  junc- 
tion with  Gen.  Banks  near  Shreveport,  La.,  which 
was  not  accomplished,  on  account  of  the  inability 
of  the  latter  to  rea<  h  that  jKjint.  The  expeililion 
returned  to  Little  Rock  after  an  absence  of  40  days, 
which  had   been   almost   a  continuous    battle.     IK 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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4 


^>  then  with  his-  regiment  joined  the  division  of 
f%^  den.  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  where  he  served  until 
-I-  the  end  of  the  war.  It  is  a  notable  fact  that  during 
i  all  his  service  he  rode  the  same  while  horse,  and 
i  although  engaged  in  many  conflicts  neither  himself 
^  nor  horse,  which  he  still  owns,  received  any  serious 
injur}'.  Col.  Merrill,  the  commander  of  the  regiment, 
also  used  the  same  horse  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  the  war. 

(.)n  returning  home  al  tlie  close  of  the  contest  he 
again  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Bellevue, 
Mich.,  until  1S76,  when  he  went  into  the  employ  of 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad  Company,  at 
I'.ig  Rapids,  Mich. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  have  no  children.  He  rep- 
resented Eaton  County  in  the  Legislature  of  Michigan 
in  187  I. 

-^5 ^^^ >^ 

19,   Grant 


/'if?  alter  McFarlan,   farmer,    sec. 

'  ^^'i>  'l'p'>  ^vas  born  March  14,  iSi4,in  Arcadia, 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Walter 
McFarlan,  was  born  in  (ilasgow,  Scotland, 
May  I,  1774,  and  remained  in  his  native 
country  until  he  was  19  years  old,  coming  to  the 
United  Slates  in  1793.  He  followed  the  profession 
of  a  calico  printer  in  Scotland,  and  when  he  settled 
in  New  N'nrk  he  became  a  farmer.  He  adoi)ted  the 
new  country  with  all  his  might,  became  a  "minuie 
man  "of  1S12,  was  keenly  alive  to  the  issues  that 
arose  day  by  day  brought  forward  for  popular  consid- 
eration, and  exerted  all  his  energies  to  aid  the  op- 
pressed and  relieve  suffering  of  whatever  type. 
When  the  Ihitish  invaded  llie  county  of  which  he 
■^  was  a  citi/en,  he  held  himself  in  readiness  to  answer 
her  cry  of  distress,  and  was  on  duty  when  the  in- 
vaders burned  the  village  of  .Sodus,  in  \\'a\ne 
County.  He  was  an  early  adherent  to  the  anti- 
slavery  cause  in  New  York,  and  on  coming  to  Wayne 
County,  Mich.,  became  an  essential  factor  in  the 
operations  of  the   Underground  Railroad,  of  which 


'^h  ^Vayne 


n, 

4^ 


he  was  known  to  be  a  "conductor,"  and  wiihout 
ipiestion  aided  as  much  as  any  other  one  man  in 
securing  safety  and  ultimate  freedom  for  the  slaves 
of  the  South  who  sought  escape  from  bondage,  and 
placed  themselves  under  his  guidance  and  protection. 
He  was  a  zealous  worker  for  temperance,  and  was  a 


member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  more  than  70  years. 
He  was  in  its  ministry  40  years  before  his  death.  He 
came  to  Detroit  in  1S25.  His  wife,  Margaret  McF'ar- 
lan,  was  born  at  Fort  Bruland,  N.  J.,  in  1778,  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  her  father  was  killed 
by  the  Indians  near  the  fort.  She  was  married  in 
1800  and  died  Oct.  12,  1S62. 

Mr.  McFarlan  of  this  sketch  came  to  Michigan 
with  his  parents  and  remained  with  them  during  liis 
minority,  engaged  in  farm  duties.  He  has  been  a 
farmer  all  his  life,  commeiicing  that  business  on  his 
own  account  by  the  purchase  of  a  farm  in  Huron, 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  on  which  lie  lived  16  years.  He 
next  purchased  a  farm  in  St.  Johns,  Clinton  Co., 
Mich.,  and,  eight  years  later,  came  to  Grant  Tp., 
where  he  bought  85  acres  of  valuable  land.  Politic- 
ally, Mr.  McFarlan  is  a  Republican ;  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  iS  years; 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  12  years. 

He  was  married  Jan.  4,  1843,  to  Caroline  Garret- 
son,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.  She  was  born  April  5, 
1S26,  and  is  of  English  extraction.  Of  this  marriage 
12  <:hildren  were  born,  but  four  of  whom  survive: 
Helen  P.  was  born  March  20,  1844,  and  died  May 
19,  1S75  ;  Franklin,  born  Jan.  3,  1846,  was  a  soldier 
of  the  civil  war  where  he  served  two  years,  and  died 
at  Fort  Hallock,  Neb.,  Oct.  30,  1865;  John  Q.  A., 
born  Jan.  3,  1S48,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
service  and  died  June  9,  1867,  of  chronic  diarrhcta 
contracted  in  the  army;  h'illniore  W.,  liorn  May  7, 
1850,  died  Sept.  12,  1872;  Norman  J.,  born  March 
29,  1S53,  died  lS.\m\  11,  1877;  Elva  'P.,  born  June 
15,  1855,  is  now  Mrs.  J.  A.  Harvey,  of  Newaygo  Co. 
(married  Aug.  6,  1876);  Florence  R.,  born  Nov.  24, 
1857,  was  married  July  12,  1880,  to  John  Moore,  ol 
Grant 'I'l).;  Caroline  E.,  born  .\ug.  10,  i860,  died 
Jan.  26,  1882;  David  H.,  born  Oct.  14,  1S62;  P.en- 
jamin  R.,  born  July  9,  [866,  died  July  23,  1867; 
Clarissa  A.,  born  Jan.  i,  1869;  Sarah  Jane,  born 
Dec.  12,  1872,  died  March  27,  1876. 

-i^X  8|d.3!^;harles  H.   Henry,  harness-marker,  at  Riu 
born   at    Marshall,   Callioun 


^^    Rapids,   was 


Co.,  Mich.,  March    3,    iS;2.     He  is  a  son  of 
si!?       l.ysaniler  antl  Sabriua  (Demming)  Henry.   His 
father  was  a  stone-mason,   and  after  he  ob- 
tained a  fair  education,  at  the  age  of  17,  he  began  to 


r^ 


^^^ 


mm^ 


f-?! 


^ 


(^    :  ^  =^ 

vU  learn  his  trade,  serviiiijalioiit  two  years  iii  llic  aciiiiiic- 

fn    ment  of  its  details. 

;'-,  He  enlisted  in  the  regular  United  States  military 
4  service  at  Detroit,  Dec.  21,  1S70,  enrolling  in  Co.  K, 
'  19th  U.  S.  Inf.,  Capt.  Chas.  W.  Hotscnpiller.  The 
command  was  sent  to  New  Orleans,  Holly  Springs, 
St.  Martinsville,  La.,  Camp  Supply,  Indian  Territory, 
and  to  Fort  Elliot,  Te.xas,  where  Mr.  Henry  received 
his  discharge,  Dec.  21,1875.  Returning  to  Michi- 
gan, he  went  into  a  harness  shop  at  Hastings,  Barry 
Co.,  remaining  about  18  months.  He  re-enlisted  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  as  saddler,  and  ac- 
companied the  regular  army  to  Fort  Hayes,  Kansas, 
Fort  Leavenworth  and  Fort  Garland,  Col.,  and  went 
with  McKenzie's  command  on  the  Uncompahgrc  Ex- 
pedition when  that  tribe  of  Indians  was  removed  to 
Utah.  He  went  next  to  Arizona,  and  thence  to  New 
Mexico,  where  he  was  stationed  at  Fori  Craig.  He 
returned  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1882,  and  on 
the  7  th  of  August  following  he  came  to  Big  Rapids 
and  for  a  time  was  in  the  harness  shop  of  D.  McLel- 
lan.     Six  months  later  he  opened  his  present  busi- 

=1    ness,  where  he  is  operating  successfully  and  steadily, 

«>    building  up  a  substantial  trade. 

£^  Mr.  Henry  was  married  June  15,  1882,  at  Lowell, 
Kent  Co.,  Mich  ,  to  Lois  S.,  daughter  of  (leorge  and 

(Kinnie)  Elms.     Mrs.  Henry  was  born  at 

Fayettville,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  23,  1852. 


■r<-^|]D:<Dlls>v 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


■>6><wr-r" 


549 


A 


O 


illiam  G.  Mitchell,  farmer  and  lumlierman, 
resident  on  sec.  7,  .-Etna  Tp.,  was  born  in 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  9,  1S23  His 
father,  Zephaniah  I'latt  Mitchell,  and  his 
mother,  Anna  (Saxton)  Mitcliell,  were  natives 
of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  V.,  and  settled  in  .Sara- 
toga County,  their  farm  lying  on  tl.e  site  of  the  most 
celebrated  resort  in  the  world;  there  they  died,  aged 
87  and  86  years  respectively.  .Mr.  .Mitchell  received 
'y\  all  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  and  par- 
]  ental  care  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  when  he 
»>%  came  to  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  and  worked  on  a  farm 
'y  from  r843  to  rS5o,  operating  winter  seasons  in  the 
s/  lumber  woods  of  Mecosta  County.  He  came  here  in 
(\4)  '850,  to  fix  his  final  residence,  and  has  been  actively 
\^    engaged  in    lunibering   and   in    buying   and    selling 


lands, — a  period  of  over  30  years.  He  owns  a  tract 
of  400  acres  and  a  home  farm  of  80  acres  in  a  finely 
inijiroveil  condition  and  valuable  for  location  and  fer- 
tility. 

Mr.  .Mitciiell's  name  is  inseparably  associated  with 
the  history  of  Mecosta  County  and  /Etna  Tp.  Ira 
P.  Mitchell,  his  third  ciiild  and  eldest  son,  was  the 
first  white  child  l)orn  in  this  township  and  county. 
The  family  retain  the  sense  of  their  pioneership  to 
an  extraordinary  degree.  The  farm  is  su|iplied  with 
modern  buildings  for  all  necessary  pur|)oses,  but  only 
recently  did  the  primitive  log  house  give  place  to  the 
substantial,  comely  frame  house  now  occupied  bv  the 
family.  The  old  door  and  its  latch  are  preserved  in 
memory  of  the  "first"  days  of  the  county  and  there 
are  in  their  possession  several  relics,  valuable  for 
their  age  and  associations.  Among  them  is  a  ixjcket- 
book,  1 10  years  old ;  a  pair  of  eye-glasses,  more  than 
150  years  old,  with  lenses  of  the  commonest  material, 
and  several  times  larger  than  those  in  modern  use, 
round  as  the  jfull  moon,  with  iron  braces,  heavy  and 
cumbersome;  a  .razor  more  than  300  years  old  is 
l)reserved  and  has  all  the  veritable  claims  of  its  spe- 
cies for  sharpness.  .\  fact  specially  to  be  noted  is 
that  Mr.  Mitchell  was  the  first  to  effect  a  permanent 
settlement  in  the  Townshij);  there  were  other  earlier 
comers,  but  they  [iroved  to  be  goers  also.  It  was  be- 
lived  at  that  date  that  this  section  was  useless  for 
agricultural  purposes,  but  an  experiment  the  first  year 
proved  the  fallacy  of  the  supi)Osiiion.  Tiie  small 
garden  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  planted  witii  a  variety  of  veg- 
etables, was  the  fust  effort  at  agriculture  in  Mecosta 
County. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  in  Livingston  Co.,  Put- 
man  T]).,  to  Mary  .\.,  daughter  of  Simon  and  .Mary 
(Jenkins)  Plyton,  natives  of  .Mew  \'ork,  where  Mrs. 
Mitchell  was  born,  in  VVeedspoit,  May  7,  1832.  They 
have  had  13  children,  eight  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Sarah  E.,  born  July  26,  rSsi,  now  wife  of  Peter 
Cahill;  iMiima  M.,  born  May  r9,  1853,  wife  of  Joseph 
Cahill;  Ira  P.,  born  June  4,  1855;  Margaret,  wife  of 
John  Weid.nan,  boin  Nov.  4,  t858;  William  C,  born 
Oct.  4,  r863;  Oliver,  born  July  31,  r865  ;  Nora,  wife 
of  Jefferson  Miller,  of  Monticello,  born  May  4, 
t868,  and  Floyd,  born  .\ugust  24,  t874.  The  ile- 
ceased  were  Martha,  born  Oct.  22,  1849,  died 
Sept.  6,  1851 ;  Edwin,  born  Sept.  2r,  1867, died  May 
r,  1868;  Alona  R.,  born  .May  22,  r873,  died  Oct.  rs, 


4V  .* 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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1873;  Hattie  M.,  born  Oct.  29,  1870,  died  Feb.  13, 
881  ;  Jennie,  born  Aug.  22,  1878.  died  Feb.  16,  i88r. 
Mr.  Mitchell  is  independent  in  politics,  and  is  an 
adherent  of  the  M.  E.  Church;  has  been  Township 
Treasurer  three  years,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  four 
years.     His  ])ortrait  is  given  in  this  book. 


) 


■>v 


eorge  W.  Cornell,  farmer  on  sec.  35,  A'Ana 
Tp.,  was  born  Oct.  31,  1833,  in  Westches- 

j^^^K  ,er  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  Thomas  and 
^'W^  Anna  (Merritt)  (.:ornell,   were   natives  of  the 

t       same  State. 

^  On  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1850,  he  left 

home  and  went  to  Steuben  County,  where  he  was  oc- 
cupied with  agricultural  pursuits  until  1864,  when  he 
returned  to  Westchester  County  and  there  was  simi- 
larly engaged  until  the  autumn  of  1872.  He  came 
in  that  year  to  Mecosta  County  and  settled  in  A-'An^ 
Tp.,  where  he  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  a  wild 
state  and  has  now  30  acres  in  a  cultivated  condition. 

Mr.  Cornell  was  married  in  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  March 
9,  1858,  to  Lydia  M.,  daughter  of  John  W.  and 
Polly  (Wheeler)  Richardson,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Mrs.  Cornell  was  born  June  19,  1839,  at  Ridgeberry, 
Bradford  Co.,  Penn.  She  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  actively  interested  in  all  questions  of 
general  advantage  to  the  community  to  which  she 
belongs.     Her  mother  resides  with  her. 


1 


^ 


'  'fy^\j|.^aniel  r.  Woolley,  M.  D.,  the  pioneer  phy- 
j-i^^Jr  sician  of  Big  Rapids,  was  born  Aug.  16, 
T^  1829,  at  Fremont,  Ohio.  His  father  died 
r*tiC  when  lie  was  18  months  old.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  until  the  age  of  12,  when  he  went 
to  learn  the  trade  of  harness-maker  and  worked 
three  years.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  L.  V. 
V).  Cook  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store,  where  he  re- 
i  mained  until  1849.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Grand 
V^  Rapids  and  attended  the  school  of  Prof.  Franklin 
.^  Everett  several  terms.  He  next  found  a  position  with 
^  J.  Morrison,  general  merchant,  where  he  was  occu- 
,  i)  pied  until  1853,  in  which  year  Mr.  Morrison  estal)- 
^    lished  a  branch  of  his  i>usiness  at  Croton,  Newaygo 


Co.,  and  placed  Dr.  Woolley  in  charge.  In  the  fall 
of  1854  the  latter  went  to  Newaygo  and,  associated 
with  A.  B.  Furman,  commenced  the  sale  of  groceries 
and  provisions.  He  sold  out  in  the  spring  of  1855 
and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  drug  store  of  Dr. 
Charles  H.  Leonard,  where  he  transacted  business 
until  the  fall  of  1S57,  when  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor 
and  entered  the  Medical  Department  of  tlie  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan.  He  went  to  Lawton  in  the  spring 
of  1859,  where  he  remained  but  a  few  months. 

While  in  business  at  Newaygo,  he  became  satisfied 
of  the  practicability  of  Big  Rapids  as  a  point  to  es- 
tablish himself  as  a  medical  practitioner.  It  was  the 
nucleus  of  a  large  lumber  district,  and  the  place  it- 
self as  well  as  the  section  contiguous,  had  no  phy- 
sician, and  experience  and  observation  both  proved 
conclusively  the  feasibility  of  the  outlook  ;  moreover> 
his  ac([uaintance  with  the  few  permanent  settlers  in 
the  county  was  propitious.  He  was  well  known 
among  them,  and  had  acquired  a  fair  degree  of  popu- 
larity, which  was  eminently  favorable  to  the  project ; 
and  in  1859  he  transferred  his  interests,  business  and 
family  to  Big  Rapids.  His  first  patient  to  whom  he 
was  called,  within  an  hour  after  his  arrival,  was  the 
daughter  of  Judge  Barker,  now  Mrs.  V.  \V.  Bruce,  of 
the  Big  Rapids  Current. 

The  city  was  in  its  incijjiency.  The  households 
were  less  than  ten  in  niuiiber,  and  the  entire  white 
resident  population  included  about  60  persons.  The 
comparative  sanitary  condition  of  Big  Rapids  and 
adjacent  districts  was  much  more  favorable  than 
afterwards.  The  inhabitants  were  all  in  moderate 
circumstances,  lived  simply  and  regularly,  and  were 
in  no  sense  invalids.  As  a  rule,  pioneers  are  a  hardy, 
robust  class,  people  who  exiiect  to  encounter  hard- 
ship and  ])ossess  the  requisite  physical  qualification. 
Hence  the  local  practice  at  Big  Rapids  and  that  of 
its  immediate  vicinity  was  restricted.  The  trappers 
and  Indians  were  literally  free  from  disease;  but 
with  civih'zation  came  sickness.  The  removal  of  the 
forests  admitted  sun  and  liglit,  and  the  consequent 
decay  and  transformation  of  vegetable  accumulations 
set  free  deleterious  matter  and  malarial  disease  fol- 
lowed. The  consequent  increase  of  medical  business 
can  be  estimated  from  the  grade  of  increase  in  tiie 
])opulation,  coupled  with  the  resultant  conditions 
named. 

Dr.  Woolley  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  reliable 
members  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Northern  Mich- 

:«:dii->'-*— 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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^ 


igan.  His  name  is  a  houseliold  word  at  Big  Rapids, 
so  intimately  is  he  connected  with  the  majority  of 
the  leading  families  there.  His  traits  as  a  man  in- 
spire the  confidence  necessary  to  a  successful  prose- 
cution of  his  business,  which  is  sustained  by  a  large 
and  constant  patronage.  He  has  been  identified  with 
all  public  movemenis  for  the  progress  of  the  city, 
and  his  efforts  in  all  directions  where  his  influence 
was  needed  have  been  unremitting.  He  belongs  to 
the  Order  of  Masons,  and  has  served  his  county  two 
terms  as  Sheriff.  He  owns  his  residence  and  two 
lots  on  Locust  street,  between  Michigan  avenue  and 
State  street. 

He  was  mariied  in  Xewaygo,  Oct.  25,  1858,  to  Fran- 
ces C.  Stearns,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
Stearns.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  ^'.,  March 
17,  183S.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Woollcy,  four  children 
have  been  born:  Veruor  S.,  Kate  M.,  Jesse  and 
Edith  E.  Kate  M.  \\oolley  died  .Aug.  30,  1883, 
aged  17  years. 


^^4— ».@§>SWW2rav 


■  H|5  illiam  F.  Slawson,  city  editor  of  the  Big 
aaL  Rapids  Daily  Pioitcc>\\\n'i  born  at  Green- 
y^  '  ville,  -Mich.,  May  30,  1849,  being  the  son 
!'  of  Hiram  H.  and  Eusebia  (P'leming)  Slawson, 
and  until  the  age  of  18  i)ursued  his  studies  at 
the  high  school  of  his  native  [ilace,  with  the 
cxcep.ion  of  about  a  year  and  a  half,  which  time  was 
si)enl  in  attending  school  at  Rockford,  111.  At  theage 
of  18  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Greenville ///r/c/fV///- 
e/it  as  an  apprentice,  and  served  three  years,  at  the 
ex|)iration  of  which  time  he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
and  entered  the  extensive  job  printing  establishment 
of  Hitchcock  &  Smith,  where  he  remained  a  few 
weeks,  and  then  engaged  with  the  Seneca  Falls 
RevcilU\  in  which  office  he  remained  a  short  time, 
and  then  returned  to  Syracuse  and  entered  the  office 
of  Rose  &  Miller,  job  and  book  i)rinters.  Here  he 
s|)ent  several  weeks,  and  then  returned  to  the  office 
of  Hitchcock  &  Smith,  where  he  was  located  when, 
in  1871,  he  received  an  urgent  invitation  from  his  old 
employer  in  Greenville  to  again  enter  his  employ  as 
foreman  of  the  office,  which  invitation  he  concluded 
to  accept,  and  in  this  cai;acity  remained  in  the 
/ni/epeiiiifii/  office  six  years.  .\l  the  conclusion  of 
the  six  years  Mr.  Slawson  leased  the  job  department 


of  the  Ini{fpeii<{(-nl  office,  conducting  the  same  one 
year,  and  then  removed  to  Ionia  County,  where  he  re- 
mained neatly  a  year,  and  then  returned  to  (Jreen- 
ville  and  established  the  Moiildilm  Telegram,  an 
independent  local  paper,  and  continued  its  publica- 
tion until  January,  1879,  when  he  removed  the  office  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  in  partnership  with  Mr.  V.  \V.  Bruce 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Big  Rapids  Ciir- 
renl.  In  the  following  November  Mr.  Slawson  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  in  the  Current,  Mr.  Bruce 
purchasing  the  same,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Detroit  Paper  Company  as  traveling  salesman. 
After  a  few  months,  however,  he  quit  the  road,  and 
opened  a  grocery  store  at  Sebewa,  Ionia  Co.,  in 
which  business  he  was  engaged,  when  Mr.  Bruce,  his 
former  partner,  in  the  publication  of  the  Big  Rapids 
Current,  made  him  a  proiiosition  for  the  pur|X)se  of 
receiving  his  services  on  the  Current,  which  pio|)osi- 
tion  he  accepted  upon  (losing  out  his  grocery  busi- 
ness, and  remained  with  the  CVz/vr/// until  the  spring 
of  1882,  when  he  became  connected  with  the  Pioneer 
in  the  above  mentioned  capacity. 

Mr.  Slawson  was  married  in  Greenville,  on  the  8th 
day  of  March,  1877,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Justice,  who  was 
born  in  Chicago,  Feb.  25,  1857.  Mr.  Slawson  and 
vtrife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  of 
which  he  is  Treasurer,  and  is  also  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school. 


? 


^I^Jjii  ohn  W.  Sparks,  farmer,  sec.    14,  Chippewa 
>|1^JL"    '  P-.  ^^as  born   Feb.  i  t,   1830,  in  Crawford 


II 


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M'"'"^  Co.,  Pa.  He  is  the  fifth  child  of  Henry 
fb  and  Rebecca  (Davis)  Sparks.  His  father  was 
jt  born  in  Trenton,  N.  ].,  and  was  a  son  of  Leon- 
i  ard  and  Lydia  Sparks.  The  family  are  of 
mixed  Welsh  and  German  origin  on  the  [>aternal 
side,  the  great-grandparents  of  Mr.  Sparks  having 
been  natives  of  those  countries  respectively.  His 
father  was  a  teacher  of  prominence  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
and  after  marriage  went  to  Crawford  County,  and  es- 
tablished himself  as  a  farmer  when  that  iwrtion  of  ' 
the  Keystone  State  was  i)rimeval  wilderness.  He 
passed  40  years  on  his  homestead  and  then  died, 
July  23,  1883.  The  mother  was  born  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, Aug.  4,  1804,  and  died  in  March,  1875. 

Mr.    Sparks    was  reared  to  the  age  of  18    years 
under   the    personal    care  of    his    father.      He    then 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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fe 


went  to  work  for  Uriah  Foust,  blacksmith,  with  whom 
he  remained  two  years,  going  thence  to  Hartstown, 
wliere  he  remained  three  years.  While  there  he  was 
married — July  3,  i8j2,  to  Marry  Harris,  a  native  of 
Crawford  County,  born  Sept.  12,  1835.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Annie  (Boyer)  Harris,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  origin.  Mr.  Sparks 
went  to  Williamsfield,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  1863,  when  he  went  to  the 
oil  regions  of  Venango  Co.,  Pa. ;  thence  he  came 
four  years'  later  to  Michigan  and  located  where  he 
now  lives,  in  September,  1867.  That  part  of  Me- 
costa County  was  almost  wholly  a  wilderness,  there 
being  but  one  settler  within  the  limits  of  Chippewa 
Tp.  He  built  a  log  house,  the  second  structure  for 
several  miles,  and  when  the  township  was  organized 
he  was  elected  its  first  Supervisor,  and  served  two 
terms.  The  first  township  meeting  was  hel(.l  in  his 
house,  as  was  the  first  religious  meeting ;  and  the 
first  Sunday-school  was  organized  there.  This  is  the 
historic  house  of  the  township  of  Chippewa,  and  is 
still  occupied  by  the  original  proprietor  and  his 
family. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Sparks  died  in  Williamsfield, 
in  1859.  Two  of  her  five  children  yet  survive: 
George  E.  and  Emma  A.  (Mrs.  Edgar  Morford). 
Mr.  Sparks  was  married  a  second  time  to  Celia, 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Permelia  (Grout)  Man- 
ning. She  was  born  June  17,  1835.  Of  this  mar- 
riage five  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  Celia  Bell  and  Ceylon  Manning. 


ames  Burrison  farmer  on  sec.  15,  Hinton 
|-  Tp.,  was  born  in  Canada,  Sei)t.  7,  1819. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jolin  and  Mary  (Johnson) 
Burrison,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  the 
^F  latter  of  Canada,  wliere  both  died.  Mr.  Burri- 
'^  son  lived  in  Canada  until  1870,  engaged  in 
fanning  and  lumbering.  He  came  to  Grand  Rapids 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  and.  was  occupied  three  years 
in  teaming,  and  in  1873  bought  80  acres  of  wild 
land  in  I  linton  Tp.,  which  he  has  since  improved 
and  where  he  now  resides.  He  purchased  an  addi- 
tional 80  acres,  and  now  has  90  acres  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation.  Politically,  Mr.  P..  is  a 
Democrat.     He  was  married  Aug.  19,  1855,  in  Can- 


ada, to  Ann,  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  Bennie. 
the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of 
Canada,  where  Mrs.  Burrison  was  born  Jan.  19,  1840. 
They  have  had  eleven  children,  as  follows :  James 
W.,  born  July  16,  1859;  John,  April  28,1861;  Sarah 
E.,  June  27,  1863;  Joshua,  June  6,  1865;  Sybil,  Oct. 
6,  1868;  Charley  E.,  April  17,  187 1  ;  Mary  E.,  July 
27,  1874;  George,  born  Aug.  12,  1877,  died  July  27, 
1878. 


J 


^p       London,  Eng.,  May  9,  1S47,  and  is  a  son 
y    of  Thomas  P.  and  Eliza  Nisbett. 

In    1 861  he  i:ame   to  the    United  States  in 

_,  company  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  New 
York,  and  two  years  later  removed  to  Pontiac,  Oak- 
land Co.,  Mich.  The  last  call  for  troops  to  aid  in 
quelling  the  Southern  Rebellion  was  made  just  pre- 
vious to  the  eighteenth  birthday  of  Mr.  Nisbett,  and 
he  enlisted  as  a  recruit  for  the  i6th  Midi.  Inf.  then 
actively  engaged  at  the  front.  He  was  in  the  United 
States  service  but  a  short  time,  being  mustered  out  in 
June,  1865,  at  Jackson,  Mich. 

In  January,  1869,  Mr.  Nisbett  founded  and  com- 
menced publishing  the  Pontiac  Bill  Post cr,\i\\\<:.\\  he 
continued  until  1S76,  when  ill-liealth  necessitated  a 
change,  and  he  sold  out  his  interest  as  publisher, 
but  remained  its  political  editor  until  the  close  of  the 
Presidential  campaign  of  1880.  Under  his  manage- 
ment the  paper  became  a  widely  circulated  and 
influential  Democratic  organ.  He  became  well 
known  in  the  politics  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  and 
was  twice  chosen  Secretary  of  the  State  Democratic 
Convention.  In  his  own  section  he  was  a  leader  in 
politics,  and  was  during  six  years  Chairuian  of  the 
Oakland  County  Democratic  Committee.  He  has 
always  been  a  declared  Democrat,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  to  ojipose  and  actively  combat  the  Green- 
back movement  in  Michigan. 

He  was  elected  .Mderman  of  iiis  ward  when  21 
years  old,  and  served  two  terms  subsequently  as 
Supervisor.  He  was  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Pontiac 
f'ire  Department,  with  wiiich  he  was  connected  a 
number  of  years,  and  filled  acceptably  other  positions 
of  trust  while  a  resident  of  Pontiac,  which  covered  a 
period  of  17  years. 

On  leaving  there  he  spent  a  short  time  in  C^olorado. 


I 


[ffifcilliam   P.  Nisbett,  editor   and   proprietor 
^Sg  uf  the   Big    Rapids  Herahi,  was  born  in 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


">^^- 


553 


Vf  After  visiting  other  parts  of  the  West,  he  came  to 

%^  Big  Rai)ids,  and  in  the  spring  of  1882  purchased  the 

,-3;i  Big  Rapids  Heralii,  and  again  settled  himself  in  the 

j'    publishing  business.     The  Hini/</\f,  rapidly  iinprov- 

"    ing  under  his  management,  and  is  fast  becoming  an 


^  . 


influential  and  profitable  country  newspaper. 


V 

•  *» 


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h 


Miver  D.  Glidden,  with  CUidden  \-  Marsh, 
"SJIBJ';   was  born  in  Clarendon,  Odeans  Co.,  N.  Y., 

IfTrs^TS^  Aug.  I,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Jehiel  and 
Betsey  J.  (Davis)  Glidden,  and  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  attending  winter  terms  of  school.  At 
9  he  entered  the  Rockport  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute, where  he  was  a  student  a  part  of  each  of  two 
years.  He  then  spent  summers  and  winters  alter- 
nately in  farming  and  teaching. 

In  1852  he  came  West  to  Paw  Paw,  Van  Buren 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  became  clerk  and  accountant  in  a 
store,  where  he  passed  several  years.  In  1876  he 
came  to  Big  Rapids  and  started  the  Big  Rapids 
Heralil,  the  first  issue  of  which  appearetl  May  24, 
1876.  Its  contemporary,  the  Big  Rapids  Magnet, 
thus  announced  its  advent :  "The  Big  Rapids /Tw^r/c/ 
made  its  appearance  last  week.  It  is  a  six  column 
quarto — same  size  as  the  Magnet — and  Democratic 
to  the  core." 

The  publishing  firm  was  O.  D.  Glidden  &  Co. ;  D. 
F.  Glidden,  son  of  the  senior  i)roprietor,  jjcing  |)artncr 
and  associate  editor.  In  1878  the  latter  retired,  and 
B.  H.  Howig  was  admitted  as  successor.  During  llie 
last  yearof  Mr.  Glidden's  connection  with  the  Herald, 
its  publishers  collected  a  large  amount  of  statistical 
matter  concerning  the  early  settlement  of  the  city 
and  county,  wliich  was  arranged  and  jiulilished  in  tlie 
columns  of  the  paper,  and  finally  was  issued  in 
pamphlet  and  book  form.  It  was  also  a  complete 
Business  Directory  of  Big  Rapids  at  the  date  of  its 
publication — T081. 

The  publishers  of  the  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Album  of  Mecosta  County  have  the  pleasure  of 
acknowledging  the  valuable  assistance  derived  from 
the  unpretentious  work  of  Messrs.  Glidden  it  Howig. 
Its  data  of  early  history  have  been  found  reliable, 
and  its  simplicity  and  accuracy  have  materially  expe- 

¥^^ ^^ft- — -K^d! 


dited   the  labors  attendant  \.\\)0\\  the  compilation  of 
this  book. 

Mr.  Glidden  dis[)osed  of  his  moiety  of  interest  in 
the  Heralit  to  his  partner  in  188 1,  and  has  since 
been  occupied  in  his  present  capacity  for  various 
firms. 

He  was  married  in  Clarendon,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. 
March  30,  1848.  His  wife  died  in  Paw  Paw,  Mich. 
March  4,  1864,  leaving  two  children:  Durelle  F. 
born  in  Clarendon,  N.  Y.,  June  12,  1850  (see  sketch), 
and  Ida,  born  M.iy  17,  1852,  and  died  iri  Paw  Paw, 
Marcli  7,  1875.  Mr.  Glidden  was  again  married  in 
Paw  Paw,  Feb.  16,  1865,  to  Miss  Maria  Flynn,  of 
Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. 

While  a  resident  of  Van  Buren  County,  Mr.  Glid- 
den was  Supervisor  one  year,  Town  Clerk  one  year, 
and  Village  Assessor  of  Paw  Paw  seven  years.  He 
was  elected  Supervisorof  the  First  Ward  intlie  spring 
of  1883  (current  year),  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Good- 
I'emplars. 


nV]^®!-;  illiam  H.  Brown,  farmer,  sec.  20,  Fork 
;  I^aA^  Tp.,  was  born  in  Middlesex  Co.,  Mass., 
vi^P  Nov.  5,  1833.  His  father,  William  H. 
•r^  Brown,  was  lx)rn  in  Concord.  Mass.,  and 
All''  died  in  1881.  His  mother,  Anstris  (Bald- 
ly will)  Brown,  was  born  in  Waltham,  Mass.,  and 
died  in  1838.  He  obtained  such  education  as  the 
district  and  high  schools  of  his  native  county  afforded, 
and  when  ready  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
he  went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  obtained  a  situation 
as  fireman  on  the  Richmond  &  Danville  R.  R.,  trans- 
ferring later  to  the  employ  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
R.  R.  Co.,  where  he  workeil  in  their  shops  one  year. 
He  was  then  employed  as  fireman  by  the  same 
company,  and  a  year  later  "got  his  engine,"  and 
operated  as  an  engineer  four  years.  He  spent  nine 
months  in  New  Hampshire,  among  his  friends,  and 
again  returned  to  Piedmont,  Va.,  where  he  again 
commenced  life  as  an  engineer,  continuing  in  that 
ca[)acity  two  years.  He  went  thence  to  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  and  was  engaged  in  the  same  business  on  the 
Ceil.  O.  R.  R.,  three  years.  While  in  this  employ- 
ment he  was  injured  by  a  car  wheel  passing  over  his 
foot.     Later  on  he  went  to  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  111.,  and 

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was  engaged  there  three  years  in  farming.  Returning 
to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  he  obtained  employment  in  the 
machine  shops  and  remained  there  four  years,  going 
thence  to  Rockford,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  four 
months  in  the  car  shops.  His  ne.\t  transfer  was  to 
Adrian  Mich.,  to  the  employ  of  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R. 
R.  Co.,  and  three  months  later  went  to  work  on  the 
Sandusky,  Dayton  &  Cincinnati  Railroad. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  he  came  to  Mecosta  County, 
and  located  80  acres  of  land  under  the  homestead 
act,  in  the  township  of  Fork.  The  place  was  no  ex- 
ception to  the  general  state  of  the  land  in  the  town- 
ship, and  was  In  heavy  timber.  Of  the  original  pur- 
chase, he  has  20  acres  under  the  best  improvements. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  July  15,  1856,  to  Cynthia 
L.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  R.  and  Hannah  (Simonds) 
Bourne.  Her  father  was  born  in  Summers,  Tolland 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  her  mother  in  Enfield,  Conn.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brown  have  two  children :  William  E.  was 
born  June  30,  1858,  and  married  July  12,  1883,  to 
Ida  Ingraham;  Oliver  P.  was  born  July  30,  1863. 
Mr.  Brown  is  a  Republican,  and  among  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  the  township;  has  been 
Treasurer  two  years,  and  Clerk  ten  years. 


^ 

1 


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illiam  H.  Webster,  of  the  firm  of  G.  W. 
Webster  &   Son,  architects  and    builders. 
Big  Rapids,    was   born    in  Montoursville, 
Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  13,  1857. 

G.  W.  Webster  operated  many  years  as 
Master  Mechanic  on  various  railroads  in  the 
East,  and  came  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1867.  A  year 
later  he  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  engaged  as  contrac- 
tor in  building  bridges,  depots,  round-houses,  etc.,  on 
the  (i.  R.  &  I.  railroad,  afterward  enteringthc  service 
of  the  C.  &  W.  M.  railroad  in  the  same  capacity. 

William  H.  Webster  attended  school  in  his  native 
town  until  he  was  17  years  old,  when  he  came  to  Big 
Rapids,  and  was  some  time  under  the  instructions  of 
his  father  in  learning  the  business  of  architect  and 
builder.  Meanwhile  he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  spent  two  winters  at  Williamsiiort  College, 
and  afterward  went  to  Hillsdale  College  one  winter. 
He  studied  architecture  in  the  winter  of  1882-3,  in 
the  office  of  Hewitt  liros.,  of  Piiiladel|)hia. 

His  partnersliip  with  iiis  father  was  formed  in  1880, 


since  which  they  have  operated  together  as  builders, 
etc.,  furnishing  also  plans,  specifications  and  esti- 
mates of  cost  of  buildings.  They  have  erected  a 
number  of  buildings  at  Big  Rapids. 


lathan  M.  Coates,  farmer,  sec.  4,  Big  Rap- 
\l_  ids  Tp.,  was  born  June  2,  1829,  in  Norlh- 
"^  amiitonshire,  Eng.,  and  when  a  year  old 
was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents. 
Mr.  Coates  came  to  Michigan  in  June,  1852,  and 
settled  in  Muskegon  County,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  resided  until  1857.  In 
that  year  he  sold  his  place  and  came  to  Big  Rapids, 
where  he  bought  80  acres  of  land,  then  in  its  primal 
condition  of  dense  wilderness,  lying  one  mile  north- 
west of  the  city  limits,  and  the  homestead  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  has  cleared  and  iniiMoved  60 
acres,  which  is  now  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and 
has  a  good  frame  house  and  other  creditable  farm 
appurtenances. 

Mr.  Coates  was  married  April  15,  1S60,  to  Emily 
Jane  Preston,  of  Big  Rapids,  born  in  Owego,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  9,  1841.  She  died  Nov.  30,  1877,  leaving  seven 
children  :  William  H.,  George  D.,  Lucy  A.,  Harriet 
L.,  Charles  (died  June  14,  1883),  Anna  and  Nathan. 
Mr.  Coates  was  a  second  time  married  Oct.  12,  1880, 
to  Delinda  Mawhorter,  born  in  Ohio,  Jan.  28,  1837. 
She  was  a  widow  with  one  son,  Willaid  A. 

Mr.  Coates  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  si.\  years 
and  Road  Commissioner  the  same  length  of  time. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


|?|Slohn  Hinton,  first  settler  in  the  township  of 


l^^l-  Hinton, 
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was  a  native  of  Wales.  He  mar- 
^hebe  Kibble,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
m  IS  1 2.  They  came  to  Mecosta  County  in 
October,  1855,  and  settled  on  sec.  15.  Mrs. 
Hinton's  death  occurred  Feb.  18,  i860,  and  was 
the  first  event  of  the  kind  in  the  township.  It  is 
held  that  the  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Hinton  to 
Mariette  Rockwood,  celebrated  May  26,  i860,  was 
the  first  marriage  in  liie  township.     The  first  frame 


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barn  was  erected  by  Mr.  llinton  in   1856.     He  died 
Jan.  4,  1874.     The  township  was  named  in  his  honor. 


.tephen  Hoynes,  resident  at  l!ig  Rapids 
was  born  in  Ohiistead,  now  West  View, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  26,  1858,  and  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  Hoynes.  His 
father  was  born  in  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  in  1829, 
pursued  agriculture  all  his  life  and  died  at 
West  View,  May  2,  1878.  His  mother  was  born  in 
New  York  in  1826,  and  is  resident  on  the  homestead 
at  West  View. 

Mr.  Hoynes  was  engaged  in  acquiring  his  educa- 
tion until  the  age  of  16,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to 
a  tailor  at  Olmstead  Falls,  and  served  four  years,  fit- 
ting himself  in  all  details  for  a  practical  tailor.  He 
then  went  to  Cleveland  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Jacob  Wageman  as  cutter.  He  worked  successively 
for  Henry  Cobel,  and  Petzkie  &  Stern,  remaining 
with  the  latter  house  four  years,  meanwhile  obtaining 
a  commercial  education  in  the  Spencerian  Business 
College.  He  came  to  Big  Rapids  Feb.  15,  1882,  to 
enter  the  employ  of  F.  W.  Joslin  <is  chief  of  the 
merchant-tailoring  department,  of  which  he  is  still  in 
charge.  He  is  popular  and  efficient  in  all  the 
branches  of  business  of  which  he  is  the  manager. 

John  H.  Hoynes,  his  brother,  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Adams  &  Hoynes,  hardware  dealers  at  Cleve- 
land. William  Hoynes,  another  brother,  is  manager 
of  a  department  with  C.  M.  Clark  &  Co.,  hardware 
merchants  of  the  same  city.  Michael  J.  Hoynes,  a 
third  brother,  is  foreman  of  the  Cleveland  Ivlectro- 
type  Company. 


^'ames  H.  Buck,  farmer,  sec.  7,  yEtna  Tp., 
was  i)orn  in  New  York,  Oct.  i,  1830,  and  is 
a  son  of  Allen  and  Mary  Buck,  both  natives 
of  New  York,  where  they  resided  until  about 
1862.     In  that  year  they  came  to  Barry  Co., 
Mich.,  where  they  remained  during  the  closing 
^   years  of  their  lives.     The  father  died  in  1866  and 


555 


the  motlier  departed  this  life    very   soon    aftenvard. 

Mr.  Buck  was  married  in  New  York,  in  1855,  to 
Sophia,  daughter  of  George  and  Hannah  Christer. 
She  was  born  in  the  Empire  State  in  1832.  Of  this 
marriage  11  children  have  been  born:  Mary  (Mrs. 
John  Carlon);  Hannah  (wife  of  Alphonso  Oberley) ; 
('■eorge,  Charles  and  Lewis  W.  There  are  si.x  de- 
ceased, viz :  Len,  Caroline,  James,  Gertrude  and 
two  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Buck  came  to  Mecosta  County  in  1866,  and 
settled  on  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  previously 
purchased  in  yEtna  Tp.,  which  has  since  been  his 
homestead.  He  is  a  memlier  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  is  an  indorser  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 


j^-ames  Aitken,  lumberman  and  farmer.  Big 
^.         Rapids,  is  a  native  of  .\lbany,  N.  Y.,  where 
p^^i'^T^.'  he  was   born    July  7,    1831.     His  parents, 
^  John  and  Janet  (Bald)  Aitken,  were  both  born 
F    in  Scotland.     The  father  was  engaged  in  the 
■*    manufacture  of  patent  leather  in  Albany,  and 
when  his  son  was  but  a  child  removed  his  family  to  a 
farm  in  Kingston,  Can.,  where  the  boy  was  brought 
up  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  trained  as  a  lumber- 
man.    At  17  he  was  emi)loyed  in  the  Dominion  as  a 
"  land-looker." 

He  went  to  Ancaster,  Can.,  in  1856,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years,  removing  thence  to  Morris,  Huron 
Co.,  Can.,  and  bought  a  farm  of  102  acres,  where  he 
gave  his  attention  to  agriculture  eight  years.  His 
next  transfer  of  home  and  interests  was  to  Albion, 
Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.  He  remained  there  one  year, 
and  in  1867  came  to  Big  Rapids,  where,  he  was  en- 
gaged some  years  as  a  land  inspector.  He  after- 
wards formed  a  partnership  with  Wm.  I'hippen,  in 
the  purchase  of  pine  lands,  putting  the  timber  in  the 
river.  This  relation  existed  three  years,  and  on  its 
dissolution  he  entered  into  a  business  association 
with  S.  H.  Gray,  and  prosecuted  the  same  enterprise 
until  the  spring  of  1S83,  when  their  connection 
ceased. 

On  the  location  of  Mr.  Aitken  at   Big  Rapids,  he 


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bought  two  city  lots  of  C.  C.  Fuller,  and  built  his 
dwelling-house.  In  1868  he  bought  120  acres  of  land 
in  the  Fourth  Ward,  all  of  which  is  in  a  state  of 
progressive  cultivation.  He  is  also  the  proprietor  of 
1  20  acres  of  hard-wood  land  in  the  southeast  y^  of 
sec.  34,  and  of  40  acres  in  the  northwest  y^  of  sec. 
13,  township  of  Big  Rapids,  besides  several  tracts  of 
stump  land,  aggregating  between  1,500  and  1,600 
acres.  He  was  elected  member  of  the  City  Council 
in  the  spring  of  1883. 

Mr.  Aitken  was  married  in  Ancaster,  Can.  W., 
Dec.  15,  1856,  to  Jennelt,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Dorothy  (Wright)  Patterson,  born  at  Dundas,  Can., 
June  10,  1838.  Robert,  eldest  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Aitken,  was  born  Dec.  15, 1857,  at  Ancaster,  and 
died  at  Big  Rapids,  Dec.  5,  1869;  Jennie  was  born  at 
Ancaster,  Oct.  18,  1859;  David  A.,  was  born  Nov.  17, 
i86i,in  Morris,  Can.,  and  John,  born  in  the  same 
place,  Aug.  12,  1863.     They  are  all  at  home. 


^ 


jTohn  Franklin  Brown  (deceased),  was  born 
in  Newark  Tp.,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  under  the  supervision  and 
instruction  of  his  parents,  and  received  a  busi- 
ness training"  whose  character  and  value  were 
amply  elaborated  by  the  splendor  of  his  career 
until  it  was  closed  by  his  death. 

His  business  life  began  in  Owego,  Tioga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  lumberman  by  a 
gentleman  named  George  Hollenbeck,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  and  stock  trade  in  his  native 
State,  having  his  head(iuarters  at  Owego,  N.  Y., 
until  he  located  at  Big  Rapids.  In  1864  he  came 
West  and  Ijegan  lumber  operations,  where  is  now  the 
beautiful  and  thriving  Forest  City,  then  a  village 
comparatively,  and  in  1S68  he  transferred  his  entire 
interests  to  this  (loint,  where  he  was  actively  engaged 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  30,  1881. 

His  business  connections  at  Big  Rapids  were  ex- 
tensive and  varied,  and  in  their  management  he  dis- 
played a  shrewdness  and  judgment  second  to  that 
of  no  man  who  was  ever  associated  with  the  public 
aff.urs  or  commercial  interests  of  Mecosta  County. 


His  influence  will  be  felt  until  the  i)resent  generation 
have  joined  him  in  the  world  beyond,  and  the  enter- 
prises which  he  initiated  and  assisted  in  establishing 
are  among  the  most  prominent,  permanent  and  reli- 
able of  this  city  and  county.  In  1871  he  organized 
the  Tioga  Manufacturing  Company,  and  was  its 
Managing  Director  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was  as- 
sociated in  the  organization  of  the  Northern  National 
Bank  at  Big  Rapids  in  1871,  and  his  connection 
therewith  as  its  second  official  Vice-President  termi- 
nated only  with  his  life. 

Mr.  Brown  was  never  married.  In  his  private  life 
his  record  is  stainless ;  he  won  and  held  the  confidence 
of  his  friends,  and  those  whom  he  assisted  in  seasons 
of  perplexity  preserve  for  him  deep  and  lasting  grati- 
tude. The  business  and  social  world  of  Big  Rapids 
will  long  cherish  the  memory  of  his  unselfishness 
and  solicitude  for  the  best  interests  of  the  community 
and  mourn  his  irreparable  loss.  (See  sketch  of  Mp,ria 
Brown.) 


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ohn  Hickey,  Big    Rapids,   was   born    July 
23,  1S45,  at  Montreal,  Can.,  and  is  a  son  of 
John    and    Angelique  Hickey.      He   was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  imtil   the  age  of  17,  at- 
tending school  most  of  the  time. 

In  i860  he  went  to  the  State  of  New  York 
andwastliere  variously  occujiied  one  year,  wjicn  he 
came  to  Muskegon,  Mich.,  engaging  in  the  lumber 
woods  and  driving  logs  in  the  river.  In  the  fall  of 
1874  lie  came  to  Big  Rapids  and  engaged  in  the 
Montreal  House  as  a  clerk.  The  following  spring  he 
engaged  as  clerk  in  the  clothing  store  of  F.  W.  Jos- 
lin,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  A.  Sa<  hen,  clothing  merchant,  and 
clerked  there  two  years. 

In  1879  he  opened  business  at  his  present  stand, 
where  he  keeps  a  good  stock  of  foreign  and  domestic 
li(]uors,  cigars,  etc.,  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business. 
He  was  married  at  Big  Rapids,  Sept.  12,  1876,  to 
Fanny  Smith,  born  in  Pembroke,  Can.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hickey  are  the  parents  of  two  children, — Angelique 
and  John. 


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A   ITHIN  one  brief  generation, 
•fijja  dense  and  unbroken  wilder- 
ness has  been  transformed  into 
a  cultivated  repon  of  thrift  Awd. 
'jxa    prosperity,  by  the  untiring  zeal 
:o  and    energy   of  an    enterprising 
people.     The  trails   of  hunters 
and  trappers  have  given  i)lace  to 
railroads  and  thoroughfares   for 
vehicles   of    every    description ; 
tlie  cabins  and  garden  patches  of 
the  pioneers  have  been  succeeded 
by  comfortable  houses  and  broad 
fields  of  waving  grain,  with  school- 
houses,  churches,  mills,  postoflfices 
and  other  institutions  of  conven- 
ience for   each  community.     Add 
to  these  a  city  of  five  thousand  in- 
habitants, and  numerous   thriving 
villages,  with  extensive  manufactur- 
ing interests,  and  the  result   is  a 
work  of  which  all  concerned  may 
well  be  proud. 

The  record  of  this  marvelous 
change  is  history,  and  the  most  important  that  can 
be  written.  For  thirty  years  the  people  of  Mecosta 
County  have  been  making  a  history  that  for  thrilling 


interest,  grand  practical  results,  and  lessons  that  may 
be  perused  with  profit  by  citizens  of  other  regions, 
will  compare  favorably  with  the  narrative  of  tlie  his- 
tory of  any  county  in  the  great  Northwest;  and  con- 
sidering the  extent  of  territory  involved,  it  is  as 
worthy  of  tlie  pen  of  a  Bancroft  as  even  the  story  of 
our  glorious  Rei>ublic. 

While  our  venerable  ancestors  may  have  said  and 
believed, 

"Xii  pcMl-n])  l"lii';i  I'oiitrai'ts  our  pnwoi-;, 
I'm-  llic  v\liiili>  ImmmkUcss  eiiiitiiK'nl  is  nurs," 

tliey  were  nevertheless  for  a  long  lime  content  to  oc- 
cupy and  possess  a  very  small  corner  of  it;  and  the 
great  West  was  not  opened  to  industry  and  civiliza- 
tion until  a  variety  of  causes  had  combined  to  form 
as  it  were  a  great  heart,  whose  animating  principle 
was  improvement,  whose  impulses  annually  sent  west- 
ward armies  of  noble  men  and  women  and  whose  pulse 
is  now  felt  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
liest  country  the  sun  ever  shone  upon, — from  the 
rocky  coasts  of  Maine  to  the  vineyards  of  California, 
and  from  the  sugar-canes  of  Ix)uisiana  to  the  wheat- 
fields  of  Minnesota.  I^ng  may  this  heart  beat  and 
push  forward  its  arteries  and  veins  of  commerce! 

Not  more  from  choice  than  from  enforced  neces- 
sity, did  the  old  pioneers  bid  farewell  to  the  play- 
grounds of  their  childhood  and  the  graves  of  their 


( 


>• 


Si 


r 

f 

I 


r^f-^ 


:<nD>:> 


^ 


.^^pTi. 


<^D  D  >:  D  D^  >v-^ 7^^^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


4^^C<S 


^^ 


■i'j 


yy   fathers.      One  generation    after  another  had  worn 

'-  themselves  out  in  the  service  of  their  avaricious 
landlords.  From  the  first  flashes  of  daylight  in  the 
morning  until  the  last  glimmer  of  the  setting  sun, 
they  had  toiled  unceasingly  on,  from  father  to  son, 
carrying  home  each  day  upon  their  aching  shoulders 
the  precious  proceeds  of  their  daily  labor.  Money  and 
pride  and  power  were  handed  down  in  the  line  of 
succession  from  the  rich  father  to  his  son,  while  un- 
ceasing work  and  continuous  poverty  and  everlasting 
obscurity  were  the  heritage  of  the  working  man  and 
his  children. 

Their  society  was  graded  and  degraded.  It  was 
not  manners,  nor  industry,  nor  education,  nor  quali- 
ties of  the  head  and  heart  that  established  the 
grade.  It  was  money  and  jewels,  and  silk  and  satin, 
and  broadcloth  and  imperious  pride,  that  triumphed 
over  honest  poverty  and  trampled  the  poor  man  and 
his  children  under  the  iron  heel.  The  children  of 
the  rich  and  poor  were  not  permitted  to  mingle  with 
and  to  love  each  other.  Courtship  was  more  the 
work  of  the  parents  than  of  the  sons  and  daughters. 
^  The  golden  calf  was  the  key  to  matrimony.  To 
*^  perpetuate  a  self-constituted  aristocracy,  without 
^  power  of  brain,  or  the  rich  blood  of  royalty,  purse 
was  united  to  purse,  and  cousin  with  cousin,  in  bonds 
^  of  matrimony,  until  the  virus  boiling  m  their  blood 
was  transmitted  by  the  law  of  inheritance  from  one 
generation  to  another,  and  until  nerves  ix)werless 
and  manhood  dwarfed  were  on  exhibition  every- 
where, and  everywhere  abhorred.  For  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  poor  man  to  remain  there  was  to 
forever  follow  as  our  fathers  had  followed  and  never 
lead;  to  submit,  but  never  to  rule;  to  obey,  but 
never  to  command. 

Without  money,  or  prestige,  or  influential  friends, 
the  old  pioneers  drifted  along  one  by  one,  from  State 
to  Slate,  until  in  Michigan — the  garden  of  the 
Union — they  have  found  inviting  homes  for  each, 
and  room  for  all.  To  secure  and  adorn  these  homes 
more  than  ordinary  ambition  was  recpiived,    greater 

-k^  than  ordinary  endurance  demanded,  and  unflinching 
determination  was,  by  the  force  of  necessity,  written 
over  every  brow.  It  was  not  pomp,  or  parade,  or 
glittering  slow,  that  the  pioneers  were  after.  They 
sought  for  lionies  which  they  could  call  their  own, — 
homes  for  themselves  and  homes  for  their  children. 
*)    How   well  tliey  have  succeeded  after  a  struggle  of 

^   many  years  against  the  adverse  tides,  let  the  records 


■  '4 


and  tax-gatherers  testify;  let  the  broad  cultivated 
fields  and  fruit-bearing  orchards,  the  flocks  and  the 
herds,  the  palatial  residences,  the  places  of  business, 
the  spacious  halls,  the  clattering  car  wheels  and  pon- 
derous engines  all  testify. 

There  was  a  time  when  pioneers  waded  through 
deep  snows,  across  bridgeless  rivers,  and  through 
bottomless  sloughs,  a  score  of  miles  to  mill  or  market, 
and  when  more  time  was  required  to  reach  and  re- 
turn from  market  than  is  now  required  to  cross  the 
continent,  or  traverse  the  Atlantic.  These  were  the 
times  when  our  palaces  were  constructed  of  logs  and 
covered  with  "shakes"  riven  from  the  forest  trees. 
These  were  the  times  when  our  children  were  stowed 
away  for  the  night  in  the  low,  dark  attics,  amongst 
the  horns  of  the  elk  and  the  deer,  and  where  through 
the  chinks  in  the  "  shakes "  they  could  count  the 
twinkling  stars.  These  were  the  times  when  our 
chairs  and  our  bedsteads  were  hewn  from  the  forest 
trees,  and  tables  and  bureaus  constructed  from  the 
bo.xes  in  which  their  goods  were  brought.  These  were 
the  times  when  the  workingman  worked  six  and  some- 
times seven  days  in  the  week,  and  all  the  hours  there 
were  in  a  day  from  sunrise  to  sunset. 

Whether  all  succeeded  in  what  they  undertook  is 
not  a  question  to  be  asked  now.  The  proof  that  as 
a  body  they  did  succeed  is  all  around  us.  Many  indi- 
vid\ials  were  perhaps  disappointed.  Fortunes  and 
misfortunes  belong  to  the  human  race.  Not  every 
man  can  have  a  school-house  on  the  corner  of  his 
farm ;  not  every  man  can  have  a  bridge  over  a  stream 
that  flows  by  his  dwelling;  not  every  man  can  have  a 
railroad  depot  on  the  borders  of  his  plantation,  or  a  city 
in  its  center;  and  while  these  things  are  desirable  in 
some  respects,  their  advantages  are  oftentimes  out- 
weighed by  the  almost  perpetual  presence  of  the  for- 
eign beggar,  the  dreaded  tramp,  the  fear  of  fire  and 
conflagration,  and  the  insecurity  from  the  presence 
of  the  midnight  burglar,  and  the  bold  bad  men  and 
women  who  lurk  in  ambush  and  infest  the  villages. 
The  good  things  of  this  earth  are  not  all  to  be  found 
in  any  one  place ;  but  if  more  is  to  be  found  in  any 
one  place  than  another,  that  place  is  in  our  rural  re- 
treats,— our  quiet  homes  outside  of  the  clamor  and 
turmoil  of  city  life. 

In  viewing  the  blessings  which  surround  us,  then, 
we  should  reverence  those  who  have  made  them  pos- 
sible, and  ever  fondly  cherish  in  memory  the  sturilv 
old  PIONEER  and  his  i.ou  cahin. 


V^ 


I 


^: 


(> 


^/)«^^»- 


-^^^f^ ^-K4I1  n  5^  DDr> 


/    -■ 


■^^€§^ 


«|j^f 


r-ijiSs 


V 


-On 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


<&  Let  lis  turn  our  eyes  and  lliDUghts  l>ack  to  thelo';- 

'R  cabin  days  of  a  ([uartcr  of  a  century  aj;o,  and  cun- 
^  trast  those  homes  with  the  comfortable  dwellings  of 
'  to-day.  Uefore  us  stands  the  old  log  cabin.  Let  us 
enter.  Instinctively  the  head  is  uncovered  in  token 
of  reverence  to  this  relic  of  ancestral  beginnings, 
early  struggles  and  final  triumphs.  To  llie  left  is  the 
deep,  wide  fire-place,  in  whose  commodious  space  a 
group  of  children  ma)  sit  by  the  fire  and  up  through 
the  chimney  may  count  the  stars,  while  ghostly  sto- 
ries of  witches  and  giants,  and  still  more  thrilling 
stories  of  Indians  and  wiUl  beasts,  are  whisperingly 
told  and  shudderingly  heard.  On  the  great  crane 
hang  the  old  lea-kettle  and  the  great  iron  jxat.  The 
huge  shovel  and  tongs  stand  sentinel  in  either  corner, 
while  the  great  andirons  patiently  wait  for  the  huge 
back  log.  Over  the  fire-i)lace  hangs  the  trusty  ride. 
To  the  right  of  the  fire-|)lace  stands  the  spinning- 
wheel,  while  in  the  further  end  of  the  room  is  seen 
the  old  fashioned  loom.  Strings  of  drying  apples 
and  poles  of  drying  pumpkins  are  overhead.  Opi)o- 
site  the  door  in  which  you  enter  stands  a  huge  deal 
S  table,  by  its  side  the  dresser  whose  "  pewter  plates  " 
^  and  "  shining  delf"  catch  and  reflect  the  fire-place 
S  flames  as  shields  of  armies  do  the  sunshine.  From 
•^  the  corner  of  its  shelves  coyly  peep  out  the  relics  of 
S  former  china.  In  a  curtained  corner  and  hid  from 
~)  casual  sight  we  find  the  mother's  bed,  ami  under  it 
the  trundle-bed,  while  near  them  a  ladder  indicates 
the  loft  where  the  older  children  sleep.  To  the  left 
of  the  fire-place  and  in  the  corner  ojiixisite  the  s[iin- 
ning-wheel  is  the  mother's  work-stand.  LTi)on  it  lies 
the  Bible,  evidently  mucli  used,  its  family  record  tell- 
ing of  parents  and  friends  a  long  way  off,  and  telling, 
too,  of  children 


■3<^ter 


^-# 


561 


'■  Seattcrcil  liki'   losivs  in  li|( 
Sonic  at  tlii^  liriclal,  and  soiii 


at   till'  liiiiili." 


Her  spectacles,  as  if  but  just  used,  are  inserted  be- 
tween the  leaves  of  her  Bible,  and  tell  of  her  purjKjse 
to  return  to  its  comforts  when  cares  |>ermit  and  duly 
is  done.  A  stool,  a  bench,  well  notched  and  whit- 
's^ tied  and  carved,  and  a  few  chairs  comi>lete  the  fur- 
niture of  the  room,  and  all  stand  on  a  coarse  but 
well-scoured  flour.  Let  us  for  a  moment  watch  the 
city  visitors  to  this  humble  cabin.  The  city  bride, 
innocent  but  thoughtless,  and  ignorant  of  labor  and 
_,  care,  asks  her  city-bred  husband,  "Pray,  what  sav- 
^    ages  set  this  up.'"  Honestly  confessing  his  ignorance, 


he  replies,  "I  do  not  know."  But  see  the  jiair  on 
whom  age  sits  "frosty  but  kimlly."  I'irst,  as  they 
enter,  they  give  a  rapid  glance  about  the  cabin  home, 
and  then  a  mutual  glance  of  eye  to  eye.  Why  do 
tears  start  and  fill  their  eyes?  Why  do  lips  ipiiver.' 
There  are  many  who  know  why  ;  but  wlio  that  has 
not  learned  in  the  school  of  experience  the  full 
meaning  of  all  these  symbols  of  trials  ami  privations, 
of  loneliness  and  ilanger,  can  comprehend  the  story 
'that  they  tell  to  the  jiioneer?  Within  this  chinked 
and  mud-daubed  cabin,  we  read  the  first  pages  of 
our  history ;  and  as  we  retire  through  its  low  door-way, 
and  note  the  heavy  battened  door,  its  wooden  hinges 
and  its  welcoming  latch-string,  is  it  strange  that  the 
scenes  without  should  seem  to  be  but  a  dream.'  Bi(t 
the  cabin  and  the  palace,  standing  side  by  side  in 
vivid  contrast,  tell  their  own  story  of  this  people's 
progress.     They  are  a  history  and  a  prophecy  in  one. 

-* — :=^»iJHS!K=:  "»- 

VALUE  OF  LOCAL  HISTORY. 


l<=EFORR  proceeding  with  the  narrative  of 
£  the  develoi)ment  of  Mecosta  County,  it 
may  not  be  inappropriate  to  refer  to  the 
value  of  local  history.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
present  to  commemorate  the  past,  to  per[)etu- 
ate  the  names  of  the  pioneers,  to  furnish  a 
record  of  their  early  settlement,  and  to  rel.Ue  the 
story  of  their  progress.  The  civilization  of  our  day, 
the  enlightenment  of  the  age,  and  this  solemn  duty 
which  men  of  the  present  time  owe  to  their  ancestors, 
to  themselves  and  to  their  jiosterity,  ileniand  that  a 
record  of  their  lives  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In 
local  history  is  found  a  |)ower  to  instruct  man  by  prec- 
edent, to  enliven  the  mental  (acuities,  and  to  waft 
down  the  river  of  time  a  safe  vessel  in  which  the 
names  and  actions  of  the  people  who  contributed  to 
raise  this  region  from  its  primitive  state  may  be  pre- 
served. 

Surely  and  rapidly  the  noble  men  who  in  their 
prime  entered  the  wild  forests  of  .\merica  and  claimed 
the  virgin  soil  as  their  heritage,  are  passing  to  their 
graves.  The  number  remaining  who  can  relate  the 
history  of  the  first  days  of  settlement  is  becoming 
small  indeed,  so  that  an  actual  necessity  exists  for 


s 


% 


< 


r 


■v^pn- 


U^im 


^W^M<>^^ ^^^^ 


^^•>i^ 


»L'.r.j 


1 


V<-^ll(l^lltlf>r 


■•^"■^■■Tf^ 


MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


% 


^ 


the  collection  and  preservation  of  historical  matter 
without  delay,  before  the  settlers  of  the  wilderness 
are  cut  down  by  time.  Not  only  is  it  of  the  greatest 
imixDrtance  to  render  history  of  pioneer  times  full  and 
accurate,  but  it  is  also  essential  that  the  history  of 
the  county,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  day, 
should  be  treated  through  its  various  phases,  so  that 
a  record,  complete  and  impartial,  may  be  handed 
down  to  the  future.  If  this  information  is  not  now 
collected  and  comjiiled  in  historii'al  form,  the  genera- 
tions of  the  future  will    be  called  upon  to  expend 


large  sums  of  money  in  research  and  exploration' 
The  present,  the  age  of  progress,  is  reviewed,  standing 
out  in  bold  relief  over  the  cpiiet,  unostentatious  olden' 
times;  it  is  a  brilliant  record,  which  is  destined  to 
live  in  the  future;  the  good  works  of  men,  their  mag- 
nificent enterprises,  their  lives,  whether  commercial 
or  military,  do  not  sink  into  oblivion;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  grow  brighter  with  age,  and  contribute  to 
build  up  a  record  which  carries  with  it  precedents 
and  ])rinciples  that  will  be  advanced  and  observed 
when  the  acts  of  soulless  men  will  be  forgotten,  and 
their  vefy  names  hidden  in  the  grave. 


) 


<m 


vp 


A 


V5   GEOGEAPHICAL  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL. 


V 

s 


o 


o<rx>   , 


HE  county  of  Mecosta  is  a  model  county  in 
point  of  size,  shape  and  divisions.  It  is  an 
exact  stpiare,  composed  of  16  Congressional 
townships,  four  on  each  side.  These  coincide 
with  the  16  civil  townshiiis  which  have  been 
organized  within  the  county,  with  two  excc])- 
lions.  In  the  case  of  Grant  and  (Ireen  Townships, 
owing  to  the  interference  of  the  Muskegon  River, 
about  two  sections  naturally  belonging  to  Grant  are 
attached  to  Green.  Each  Congressional  township 
contains  23,040  acres,  and  the  county  accordingly 
contains  368,640  acres  "  more  or  less."  Of  this  area 
there  are  but  30,000  acres  under  cultivation,  com- 
prised in  1,200  farms.  From  this  significant  fact  one 
may  form  some  idea  of  the  future  possibilities  of  Me- 
costa as  an  agricultural  count). 

The  16  Congressional  townships  are  designated  in 
the  Government  survey  as  townships  13,  14,  15  and 
16  north,  ranges  7,  8,  9  and  10  west.  The  county 
lies  a  little  west  of  the  center  of  the  Lower  Peninsula 
of  Micliigan,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Osceola 
County,  on  the  east    by  Isabella,  on   the   south   by 


Montcalm,  and  on  the  west  by  Newaygo  County, 
The  Muskegon  River  flows  through  the  western  tier 
of  townships,  and  the  Little  Muskegon  River,  rising 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  flows  in  a  south- 
westeriy  direction,  emptying  into  the  Muskegon  just 
outside  of  Mecosta  county,  thence  into  Lake  Michi- 
gan. The  Chippewa  River  rises  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  county,  and,  flowing  southeast  and  then 
east,  empties  into  the  Tittabawassee  River,  thence 
into  the  Saginaw  River  and  Saginaw  liav.  Numerous 
little  streams  throughout  the  county  afford  ample 
drainage  and  plenty  of  living  water.  A  number  of 
lakes,  from  one  acre  to  800  acres  in  extent,  are  situ- 
ated in  the  east  and  north  [lart  of  tiie  county.  These 
lakes,  and  smaller  water-courses  are  described  more 
fully  in  connection  with  the  respective  townshi[)s. 

The  surface  of  the  county  is  slightly  rolling,  and 
the  soil  rich  and  [iroductive  for  all  kinds  of  crops. 
Portions  of  the  county  are  sandy,  especially  among 
the  ])ine  woods,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  make  the 
soil  unproductive.  Tlie  timber  is  largely  beech  and 
majde,  mixed  with  valuable  pine. 

Mecosta  is  already  well  supplied  with  railroads, 
and  others  now  proposed  will  doubtless  be'  built  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years.  The  Grand  Rapids  iV' 
Indiana  railroad  runs  north  and  south  through  the 


V 

K^^ 


sy 

^ 


r 


'K3^^^'-' 


'^m:<M'^>^ — ^"^^ 


^>rr>^^ 


j& 


7<^llti:<llDv>v 


zsHsk^r 


^^^9f  .V/^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


5<^i 


western   part  of  the  county,  |)assini;  thrmigh  Paris, 
Bii;  Rapids,  liyers,  Kiislforil,  Stanwooil,  Hells  Cross- 
ing  and     Morley.      The    Chicago    &   West    Michi- 
1      gan  railroad  has  about  four  miles  and  a  half  of  track 
J      east  and  west   in   liig    Rapids    Township,  with   its 
-  ■^   terminus  at  Big  Rapids.   The  present  terminus  of  the 
Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  railroad  is  also  at  Big 
Rapids,  the  road  having  been  but  recently  built  into 
the  county.    It  runs  from  Big  Rapids  east  and  south- 
east through    Colfax,    Martiny,  Morton,  Wheatland 
and   Millbrook  Townshi[>s,  leaving  the  county  at  a 
lX)int  south  of  the  village  of  ^[illl)rook.     A  branch  of 
this    road    runs   to    Chip[)ewa    Lake,    in    C'iiip|)ewa 
Townshij). 

The  county  contains  one  city  and  two  incorporated 
villages,  besides  a  number  of  other  platted  villages, 
which,  with  the  three  railroads  already  in  operation, 
afford  good  markets  for  all  produce  raisetl. 


) 


-s 


A 


GEOLOGY 


EOLOGY   teaches  that  the  continents  of 

tiiis  world  were  once  beneath  the  ocean. 

It   is   natural,  therefore,   to   su|>i)o,se   that 

?»  there   are   inecpialities  in    the    bottom   of  the 


■  ■*     ocean    like    those  on    the  land.     The   recent 
i '  .  ... 

deep-sea  soundings  confirm  this  o])inion,  and 

reveal  mountains  and  hills,  valleys  and  table-lands. 
The  greatest  depth  reached  in  sounding  is  29,000 
feet,  which  exceeds  the  height  of  the  loftiest  moun- 
tain of  the  Himalayas.  Some  of  the  mountains  of  the 
sea  are  steeper  and  more  abru|)t  than  r.ny  on  the 
land.  In  the  British  channel  the  depth  changes 
within  ten  miles  from  600  to  12,000  feet;  and  it  is 
very  common,  within  a  few  miles  of  the  coast  of 
continents  and  islands,  for  the  depth  to  change  sud- 
denly from  a  few  hundred  feet  to  many  thousand. 
In  other  cases,  as  in  a  large  part  of  the  bed  of  the 
Atlantic,  between  Euro|)e  and  the  United  Slates, 
there  are  plateaus  extending  hundreds  of  miles  with 
very  slight  undulations.  The  mysterious  race  that 
once  occupied  this  continent  may  have  sailed  in 
their  galleons  over  the  Peninsula,  and  soundecj  the 
depth  of  the  waters  which  rose  aljove  it  in  precisely 
the  same  manner  .is  the  mariner  of  lo-dav  (  asts  out 


the  sounding  line.  At  the  close  of  the  Corniferous 
epoch  a  great  upheaval  of  sea  botton)  formeil  a  line 
of  land  across  the  southern  counties  of  Michigan, 
which  e.vtended  to  an  older  and  wider  formation  in 
the  southern  part  of  Ohio. 

The  lantl  now  within  the  boundaries  of  Mecosta 
was  still  submerged,  but  by  degrees  the  southern 
belt  rose  higher,  spread  out  towards  the  northern 
continent,  and  was  actuall)  approa"hing  the  state  of 
dryland  at  the  beginning  of  the  coal-deiX)sit  era. 
At  its  close  Mecosta  and  the  counties  bordering 
formed  the  high  lands  of  the  Lower  Peninsula.  It 
is  stated  that  Lakes  Michigan,  Huron,  Erie  and  On- 
tario were  not  in  existence  then,  their  places  being 
represented  by  a  swift  running  river,  with  expansions. 
The  great  geological  age,  the  Mesozoic,  dates  from 
this  time.  It  was  marked  by  activity  in  the  animal 
and  vegetable  kingdom,  mild  climates  and  the  myri- 
ads of  reptiles  which  swarmed  in  rivers  and  over 
land.  Save  in  the  fossils  there  is  no  record  of  the 
progress  of  this  age  to  be  found  within  the  bounda- 
ries of  Mecosta.  The  Tertiary  period  succeeded  the 
Mesozoic.  It  was  an  age  of  beautiful  climates  and 
high  development  of  mammals.  Animals  greater 
than  the  mastodon  roamed  over  the  land  through 
verdant  forests,  meeting  their  enemy,  man,  and  ulti- 
mately disappearing  inider  his  continued  attacks. 

The  scene  was  changed;  the  snow  and  ice  came 
on,  burying  all  nature  in  its  whitenesF,  and  robbing 
the  land  of  life.  It  was  the  beginning  of  the  Olacial 
l)eriod.  The  duration  of  this  age  is  lost  in  mjstery. 
Were  it  possible  to  ignore  the  work  of  a  Cod  in  the 
formation  of  the  world,  the  continuance  of  the  ice 
age  might  be  set  down  at  two  thousand  years ;  ac- 
knowledging a  divine  economy  in  the  handiwork  of 
the  world,  the  period  of  its  duration  might  have  been 
an  incretlibly  short  lime.  Spring  time  came,  and 
with  it  the  sea  of  ice,  which  covered  the  land  and 
water  to  a  depth  of  over  i;.ooo  feet,  began  to  break  up 
and  dissolve,  and  the  solids  hekl  within  its  grasp  fell 
down  and  formed  a  bed  of  rocky  fragments  or  boul- 
der drift.  The  countless  currents  which  sprang  into 
existence  and  formed  for  themselves  ten  thousand 
channels,  were  the  princijial  agents  in  the  conforma- 
tion of  that  pel  uliar  stratum  known  as  the  '"  Modified 
Drift." 

I'Vom  Saginaw  Bay  to  Lake  Michigan,  via  the 
v.dlcNsof  the   Shiawassee  and    Muskegon  Rivers,  a 


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great  channel,  deep  and  wide,  extended.  South  of 
this  line  barriers  existed  that  checked  the  flow  of  the 
waters  south  and  from  hundreds  of  reservoirs.  This 
accumulation  of  ice-water  and  the  second  season  of 
ice  resulted  in  the  formation  of  another  glacial  field, 
differing  from  the  great  glacier  in  its  dei)th  and  dur- 
ation, being  not  over  four  feet  in  thickness.  Along 
the  borders  of  those  reservoirs  the  ice  became  an  in- 
tegral part  of  the  shore  soil,  of  course  including  the 
limestone;  and  when  the  second  geological  spring 
time  arrived,  millions  of  cubic  feet  of  water  were 
added  to  these  lakes,  resulting  in  bursting  asunder 
their  green  covering  of  ice,  which,  in  ascending, 
carried  with  it  the  limestone  tables,  and  as  the  waters 
fell,  deposited  them  in  the  positions  which  they  hold 
to-day.  As  the  Niagara  rock  was  worn  down,  the 
rushing  waters  made  for  themselves  deeper  channels, 
and  the  inland  lakes  lowered  just  in  proportion  as 
the  great  lakes.  The  present  river  system  was  laid 
out  by  nature. 

There  are  few  special  features  in  the  geological 
character  of  Mecosta  County.  There  have  been 
valuable  deposits  of  gypsum  discovered,  and  both 
coal  and  petroleum  are  supposed  to  abound  beneath 
the  surface.  The  future  geologist  will  doul)tless 
find  much  of  value  and  interest  not  at  present 
known  in  regard  to  this  region. 


BOTANICAL 


[t  T  is  unnecessary  to  name  the  flora  of  Me- 
costa County  since  the  species  are  so  nu- 
merous and  well-known.  Dr.  Gray,  in  his 
treatise  on  the  Botany  of  the  Northern  States 
East  of  the  Mississippi,  gives  130  orders  of 
flowering  plants.  In  i860  a  botanical  survey 
of  the  State  was  made,  under  N.'  H.  Winchell.  His 
report  regarded  every  flower,  plant,  shrub,  tree  and 
grass  to  be  found  in  Michigan,  then  numbering  1,205 
species,  as  all  native  with  85  exceptions.  In  1880 
Messrs.  Wheeler  and  Smith,  of  Hubbardston,  Mich., 
comiiited  and  published  a  coniiilcte  flora  of  this 
State,  with  corrections  to  date.  Of  this  great  num- 
ber there  are  at  present  found  within  the  confines  of 
Mecosta  County  nearly  400  genera,  emoracing  pos- 
sibly 1,000  species.  A  large  number  of  species  con- 
sidered in  the  rei)ort  of  1S60  have  disappeared, 
while  perhaps  25  species  have  been  introduced 
within  the  last  20  years.  The  flowers,  etc.,  arc  as 
rich  generally  as  may  l)e  found  in  any  of  the  North- 
ern States;  in  a  few  instances  the  l)rilliancy  of  hue 
is  unequaled  by  any.  All  appear  to  reach  perfection 
in  tliis  iiortion  of  the  Peninsular  State. 


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HE     Indians   visited    by    tin.- 
AScarliest  wiiite  explorers  of  this 
continent  were  without  culti- 
vation,   refinement    or   litera- 
ture,    and     far     behind     the 
Mound-Iiuilders    in    the   knowl- 
edge of  the  arts.     The  question 
of  their  origin  has  long  interested 
•  archx'ologists,    and   is    the    niofl 
difficult  one  they  have  been  call- 
ed upon  to  answer. 
Of  their   [iredecessors  the  Indian 
M.  tribes  knew  nothing;  they  even  had 
^,  no  traditions  respecting  them.    It  is 
fi  ([uite  certain  that  they  were  the  siic- 
\h    cessors  of  a  race  which  had  entirely 
passed  away  ages   before   the  dis- 
covery of   the   New   World.     One 
J1]  hypothesis  is  that  the  American  In- 
-      dians  are  an   original  race  indigen- 
ous   to    the    Western  Hemisphere. 
Those    who     entertain    this    view 
think  their  peculiarities  of  physical 
'        structure  preclude  the  jwssibility  of 
a   common    parentage    with    the    rest  of    mankind. 
Prominent  among  those  distinctive  traits  is  the  hair, 
V       which  in  the  red  man  is  round,  in  the  white  man 
i       oval,  and  in  the  black  man  flat. 
*jP         Among   common    supiwsitions,    however,   is   that 

fthey  are  a  derivative  race,  and  sprang  from  one  or 
more  of  the  ancient  peoples  of  Asia.    In  the  absence 
of  all  authentic  history,  and  when  even  tratlition  is 
^      wanting,  any  attempt  to  point  out  the  particular  loca- 


tion  of  their  origin  must  prove  unsatisfactory 
Though  the  exact  place  of  origin  may  never  be 
known,  yet  the  striking  coincidence  of  physical  or- 
ganization between  the  oriental  type  of  mankind  and 
the  Indians  jwints  unmistakably  to  some  parts  of 
Asia  as  the  i)lace  whence  they  emigrated,  which  was 
originally  peopled  to  a  great  extent  by  the  children 
of  Shem.  In  this  connection  it  has  been  claimed 
that  the  meeting  of  the  Europeans,  Indians  and 
Africans  on  the  continent  of  America,  is  the  fulfill- 
ment of  a  prophecy  as  recorded  in  Genesis  ix,  27  ; 
"  God  shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  shall  tlwell  in 
the  tents  of  Shem;  and  Canaan  shall  be  his  servant." 
Assuming  the  theory  to  be  true  that  the  Indian  tribes 
are  of  Shemitic  origin,  they  were  met  on  this  conti- 
nent in  tiie  fifteenth  century  by  the  Japhetic  race 
after  the  two  stocks  had  passed  around  the  globe  by 
directly  opposite  routes.  A  few  years  after  this  the 
Ilamitic  branch  of  the  human  family  was  brought 
from  the  coast  of  Africa.  During  the  occupancy  of 
the  continent  by  the  tliree  distinct  races,  the  children 
of  Japhetli  have  grown  and  prospered,  while  the 
called  and  not  voluntary  sons  of  Ham  have  endured 
a  servitude  in  the  wider  stretching  valleys  of  the 
tcjits  of  Shem. 

Wlien  Ciiristoi)her  Columbus  had  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  demonstrating  tlie  trutli  of  his  theory 
that  by  sailing  westward  from  Europe  land  would  be 
discovered,  disembarking  on  the  island  of  San  Salva- 
dor he  supposed  he  had  reached  the  East  Indies.  This 
was  an  error,  but  it  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  name 
"  Indians  "  for  the  inhai)itants  of  the  isknul  and  the 
main  land  of  America,  by  which   name   ihe  red  men 


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of  America  have  ever  since  been  known.  Of  the 
several  great  branches  of  North  American  Indians 
the  only  ones  entitled  to  consideration  in  Michigan 
history  are  the  Algoni|uins  and  Iroquois.  At  the  time 
of  the  discovery  of  America  the  former  occupied  the 
Atlantic  seal)oard,  while  the  home  of  the  Iroquois 
was  an  island  in  this  vast  Algon(iuin  population. 

An  almost  continuous  warfare  was  carried  on  be- 
tween tribes;  but  later,  on  the  entrance  of  the  white 
man  into  their  beloved  homes,  every  foot  of  territory 
was  fiercely  disputed  by  the  confederacy  of  many 
neighboring  tribes.  The  Algonquins  formed  the 
most  e.\tensive  alliances  to  resist  the  enroachment  of 
the  whites,  especially  the  English.  Such  was  the 
nature  of  King  Phillip's  war.  This  king,  with  his 
Algonquin  braves,  spread  terror  and  desolation 
throughout  New  England.  With  the  Algonquins  as 
the  controlling  spirits,  a  confederacy  of  continental 
proportions  was  the  result,  embracing  in  its  alliance 
the  tribes  of  every  name  and  lineage  from  the  North- 
ern lakes  to  the  gulf.  Pontiac,  having  breathed  into 
tlieni  liis  ini[)la(able  hate  of  the  English  intruders, 
ordered  the  conflict  to  commence. 

The  Indians  had  not  only  their  "  /iuiiii/(>iis,'  but 
also  their  evil  spirits ;  and  the  wild  features  of  the 
lake  scenery  appears  to  have  impressed  their  savage 
minds  with  sujjerstition.  Tliey  believed  that  all  the 
prominent  points  of  this  wide  region  were  created 
and  guarded  by  monsters ;  and  the  images  of  these 
they  sculptured  on  stone,  painted  ujxm  the  rocks,  or 
carved  upon  the  trees.  Those  who  "  obeyed  "  these 
supernatural  beings  they  thought  would  after  death 
range  among  flowery  fields  filled  with  the  choicest 
game,  while  those  who  neglected  their  counsels 
would  wander  amid  dreary  solitudes,  stung  by  gnats 
as  large  as  pigeons. 

INDIAN  LIFE. 

HE  art  of   hunting  not   only  supplied  tlie 
Indian  with  food,  but,  like  that  of  war,  was 
^         a  means  of  gratifying  his  love  of  deslinc- 
tion.     The   male   children,  as   soon    as   they 
nccjuired  sufficient  age  and  strength,  were  fur- 
nished with  a  bow  and  arrow,  and  taught  to 
shoot  birds  and  other  small  game.    Success  in  killing 


large  animals  required  years  of  careful  study  and 
practice,  and  the  art  was  as  sedulously  inculcated 
in  the  minds  of  the  rising  generation  as  are  the  ele- 
ments of  reading,  writing  and  aritlimetic  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  civilized  communities.  The  mazes 
of  the  forest  and  the  dense  tall  grass  of  the  prairies 
were  the  objects  of  the  most  searching  scrutiny,  and 
revealed  at  a  glance  the  animal  that  made  any  visi- 
ble traces,  the  direction  it  was  pursuing,  and  the 
time  that  had  elapsed  since  it  had  passed.  In  a  for- 
est country  he  selected  the  valleys,  because  they 
were  most  frequently  the  resort  of  game.  The  most 
easily  taken,  perhaps,  of  all  the  animals  of  the  chase 
was  the  deer.  It  is  endowed  with  a  curiosity  which 
l>rompts  it  to  stop  in  its  flight  and  look  back  at  the 
approaching  hunter,  who  always  avails  himself  of  tiiis 
op|X)rtunity  to  let  fly  the  fatal  arrow. 

Their  general  councils  were  comjiosed  of  the  chiefs 
and  old  men.  \\'lien  in  council  they  usually  sat  in 
concentric  circles  around  the  speaker,  and  each  indi- 
vidual, notwithstanding  the  fiery  passions  that  burned 
within,  preserved  an  exterior  as  immovable  as  though 
cast  in  bronze.  Before  commencing  business  a  per- 
son appeared  with  the  sacred  pipe,  and  another  with 
fire  to  kindle  it.  After  being  lighted  it  was  first 
presented  to  heaven,  then  to  the  earth,  then  to  the 
presiding  spirit,  and  lastly  to  the  several  councilors, 
each  of  whom  took  a  whiff.  These  formalities  were 
observed  with  as  close  exactness  as  state  eticpietle  in 
civilized  courts. 

The  dwellings  of  the  Indians  were  of  the  simplest 
and  rudest  character.  On  some  (ileasant  sjiot  by  the 
i)ank  of  a  river,  or  near  an  ever  running  spring,  they 
raised  their  groups  of  wigwams,  <  onstructed  of  the 
bark  of  trees,  and  easily  taken  down  and  removed 
to  another  sjwt.  The  dwelling-places  of  tlie  chiefs 
were  sometimes  more  spacious,  antl  constructed  wiih 
greater  care,  but  of  the  same  materials.  .Skins  taken 
in  the  chase  served  them  for  repose. 

Though  principally  dependent  upon  hunting 
and  fishing,  the  uncertain  supply  from  these  sources 
led  them  to  cultivate  small  patches  oi  corn. 
Every  family  did  everything  necessary  within 
itself,  commerce,  or  an  exchange  of  articles,  being 
almost  unknown  to  them.  In  case  of  dispute  and 
dissension,  each  Indian  relied  upon  himself  for  retali- 
ation ;  blood  for  blood  was  the  rule,  and  the  relatives 
of  the  slain  man  were  Ijound  to  obtain  bloody  revenge 
for  his  death.     This  principle  gave   rise,  as  a  matter 


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of  course,  to  innumerable  and  hitter  feuds,  and  wars 
of  extermination,  when  such  were  ixassible.  \\"ar, 
indeed,  rather  than  peace,  was  the  Indian's  glory  and 
dcHght — war,  not  conducted  as  in  civilization,  hut 
wliere  individual  skill,  endurance,  gallantry  and 
cruelty  were  prime  reijuisites.  For  such  a  i>urpose  as 
revenge  the  Indian  would  make  great  sacrifices,  and 
display  a  patience  and  perseverance  truly  heroic  ;  hut 
wiien  the  excitement  was  over  he  sank  hack  into  a 
listless,  unoccupied,  well-nigh  useless  savage.  Dur- 
ing the  intervals  of  his  more  exciting  pursuits,  the 
Indian  employed  his  time  in  decorating  his  jierson 
with  all  tiie  refinement  of  paint  and  feathers,  and  in 
the  manufacture  of  his  arms  and  canoes.  These 
were  constructed  of  hark,  and  so  light  that  they 
could  easily  he  carried  on  the  shoulder  from  stream 
to  stream.  His  amusements  were  the  war  dance, 
athletic  games,  the  narration  of  his  exploits  and  lis- 
tening to  the  oratory  of  the  chiefs ;  hut  during  long 
periods  of  such  existence  he  remained  in  a  stale  of 
toriwr,  gazing  listlessly  ujion  the  trees  of  the  forest 
and  the  clouds  that  sailed  .ahove  them;  and  this 
vacancy  imprinted  haiiitual  gravity, and  even  mehiu- 
choly,  upon  his  general  deportment. 

The  main  lahor  and  drudgery  of  Indian  communi- 
ties fell  ujjon  the  women.  The  planting,  tending 
and  gathering  of  the  crops,  making  mats  and  baskets, 
carrying  burdens, — in  fact,  all  things  of  the  kind 
were  performed  by  them,  thus  making  their  condition 
hut  little  better  than  slaves.  Marriage  was  merely  a 
matter  of  bargain  and  sale,  the  husimnd  giving  ])res- 
ents  to  the  father  of  the  bride.  In  general  they  had 
hut  few  children.  They  were  subjected  to  many 
and  severe  attacks  of  sickness,  and  at  limes  famine 
and  pestilence  swept  away  whole  tribes. 


#«^ 


-S— 


THE  INDIAN  DEAD. 


HE  nature  of  their  funeral  rites  is  thus  de- 
scribed:     .\  few  days   after  the   burial   the 
child,  the  father  or  mother  or  near  relative 
of  the  deceased  gave  a   feast.     The   food   was 
prepared  and  carried  to  the  grave,  to  which  all 
sympathizing    friends   repaired.     If    the   feast 
was  prepared  by  a  man,  none  hut  men  attended ;  and 


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the  same  rule  applied  to  women,  as  in  the  case  under 
notice.     When  assembled,  the  ruler  of  the  feast  dis- 
tributed  to  each  one  present   a   jjortion  of  the  food 
prepared  ;  and  each  one,  before  i)artaking,  put  a  small 
ciuantily  on  the  head  of  the  grave,  so  that   it  might 
fall  through  an  aperture  and  reach  the  l)ody  of   the 
dead.     In   such   a  female  gathering,  if  one  of  the 
company  were  deemed   profligate,  she  was  not  per- 
mitted to  make  this  offering  to  the  dead  through  her 
own  hands;  but  another  received  it  from  her,  and  of- 
fered  it  on  her   behalf.     After   the   offerings    were 
made  to  the  deceased,  the  remainder  of  the  food  was 
eaten  by  the  company.     Similar  feasts  were  held  in 
honor  of  deceased    men    and    women.     When    the 
party  consisted  of  warriors,   addresses  were  made, 
and  the  virtues  of  the  dead  chanted.     The  festivals 
are  repeated  every  year,  and   when   returning  from 
their  wintering  grounds  to  their  villages  in  the  spring 
they  were  accustomed  to  clear  away  the  grass  and 
weeds  from  each  grave,  and  keep  them  cleared  dur- 
ing the  summer.     Ainonji  the  Ottawas  it  was  custom-   ^ 
ary  to  i)lace  a   post,  proi>ortioned  in   height   to  the    .  >. 
age  and  size  of  the  deceased,   at  the    head  of  the    = 
grave.     On  one  side  of  this   post  a])peared  the  pic-    ^. 
ture  of  an  animal,  the  name  of  wliicli    was  the  pre-    ^ 
vailing  name  in  the  family.     On  the  other  side  was   'C/ 
a  clumsy  drawing,  slightly  resembling  a  man   minus   *' 
a  head,   representing  a    i)erson   whom   the  deceased 
had  slain  in  war;  or,  if  it  were  a  child,  the  victim 
of  one  of  its  relatives  was  painted,     k  man   with  a 
head  signified  a  person  wounded.     Such  hieroglyph- 
ics were  multiplied  in  just   such  measure  as  circum- 
stances pointed  out.     Near  the  grave  jwst  was  [daced 
a  cane,  about  two  feet  in   length,  so  that   when  the 
D.issing   Indian  or  visitor  arrived  at    the   grave    he 
strikes  the  post  two  or  three  times   to  announce   his 
arrival.     Posts  eight  or  ten  feet  high  were  frequently 
placed  by  the  side  of  a  hut,  and  always  near  the  wig- 
wam or  hut  wherein  the  conjurers  met  to  consult  on 
the  cause  of  severe  illness.     On   the   upper  end  of 
this  post  was  cut  the  figure  of  tlie  human  face.     Mr. 
I,>  kins,  afterwards  associated  with  McCoy,  discovered  ^ 
one  on  Grand  River,  on  wliii  h  was  carved  with  sav-     ' 
age  ex(|uisiteness  a  bust  of  some   Indian  chief.     In  ^,V. 
the    village    was    seen   a   tall    jxjle,    neatly    pealed,  r* 
streaked  in  vermilion  and  surmounted  with  a  hunch    <i 
of  green  boughs,  probaljly  representing  the  victory  of  (^^ 
some  savage  political  party.  ^ 


>: 


^ 


rz^- 


MECOSTA    county'. 


THE  INDIANS'  FUTURE. 


lTORM  and  flood  and  disease  have  created 
^^k  sad  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  tlie  ahoriiiines 
snice  the  occui)ation  of  the  country  by  the 
white  man.  Inlierent  causes  have  led  to  the 
decimation  of  the  race  even  more  than  the  ad- 
vance of  civihzation,  which  seems  not  to  affect 
it  materially.  In  tiie  maintenarjce  of  the  same  num- 
ber of  representatives  durins;  tliree  centuries,  and  its 
existence  in  the  very  face  of  a  most  unceremonious, 
and,  whenever  necessary,  cruel,  comiuest,  the  grand 
dispensations  of  the  Unseen  Ruler  are  demonstrated; 
for,  without  the  aborigines,  savage  and  treacherous 
as  they  were,  it  is  possiljle  that  the  explorers  of  for- 
mer times  would  have  so  many  natural  difficulties  to 


contend  with  that  their  work  would  be  surrendered  in 
despair,  and  the  most  fertile  regions  of  the  continent 
reserved  for  the  plowshares  of  the  coming  generations. 
It  is  very  ([uestionable  whether  the  ultimate  resolve 
of  Columbus  was  not  strengthened  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  bodies  of  Indians  on  the  coast  of  Europe, 
even  as  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  a  people  in  the 
interior  led  the  French  explorers  in  the  very  heart  of 
the  continent  in  later  days.  From  this  standpoint 
their  services  can  not  be  over-estimated.  Their  e.\- 
istence  is  embraced  in  the  plan  of  the  Divinity  for 
his  government  of  the  world ;  and  it  will  not  be  a 
matter  of  surprise  to  learn  that  the  same  intelligence 
which  sent  a  thrill  of  liberty  tlirough  every  nerve  of  the 
Republic  will,  in  the  near  future,  devise  sotne  method 
under  which  the  remnant  of  a  great  and  ancient  race 
may  taste  the  sweets  of  public  symi>athy,  and  feel 
that,  after  a  long  season  of  suffering,  they  have  at 
last  found  a  shelter  amid  a  sympathizing  people. 


p:  a  r  l  y 


SETTLEMENT. 


%3al35EJgy>-V\V'VyV-\'gVtffcrA-W-Vv\-\\-\AA^EE£}rsS3A^A^ 


lOl'CH    less  than  a  third  of 
•J^  a  century  has  passed  since 

ft  lie  first  pioneers  began  im- 
[irovements  in  this  region, 
tiiey  have  converted  the 
dense  wilderness  into  a  culti- 
vated, productive  country,  fit  for 
the  home  of  an  intelligent  peo- 
ple, and  affording  all  the  con- 
veniencies  and  comforts  of  an 
advanced  civilization.  The  first 
white  settlers  within  the  limits  of 
what  is  now  Mecosta  County  were 
John  Davis  and  family  and  John 
Parish,  the  former  of  whom  are  still 
living,  and  residents  of  this  county.  Mr.  Davis 
located  on  what  is  now  section  27,  in  the  township  of 


Mecosta, in  1 85  i,  where  he  and  his  family  still  reside. 
Mr.  Parish,  who  was  a  bachelor,  located  al)0ut  tiie 
same  time  on  a  point  of  land  in  a  bend  of  Muskegon 
River,  about  a  mile  below  where  the  lower  iiridge  in 
the  city  of  Big  Rapids  now  spans  tiie  stream.  He 
built  a  log  cabin  and  cleared  three  or  four  acres, 
which  was  afterwards  known  to  all  tlie  early  settlers 
as  the  "  Parish  lot."  A  short  distance  up  stream 
from  tliat  [joint  tlie  current  of  the  water  is  very 
swift,  and  the  place  was  known  among  lumbermen 
as  the  "  Big  Rapids."  When  the  village  was  founded, 
which  has  since  grown  to  be  one  of  the  promising 
cities  of  Michigan,  the  lumbermen's  name  was  re- 
tained. Mr.  Parish  continued  to  reside  on  his  first 
claim  (which  was  within  the  [iresent  limits  of  the 
First  Ward  of  Big  Rapids)  for  three  or  four  years,  and 
then   removed  to  the  township  of  Green,  locating 


I 

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(g) 


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^-^D!i^ntiv>-^-^ 


■—4^^^ 


m 


v* 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


-^^^^^ 


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m 


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V 

> 


n\ 


where  the  village  of  Paris  now  stands.  He  laid  out 
tiiat  village  some  years  before  his  death  in  1869.  A 
year  after  these  first  settlers,  came  William  Brockway, 
who,  July  20,  1852,  moved  his  family  into  a  ''logging 
shanty,"  which  stood  on  tiie  south  hank  of  Mitchell 
Creek,  near  where  the  dwelling  of  Jesse  Varney,  in 
the  Fourth  Ward,  was  afterwards  built.  Mr.  Brock- 
way  was  engaged  in  lumbering,  residing  in  the  shanty 
mentioned  till  the  spring  or  summer  of  1853.  Feb. 
12,  1853,  his  wife,  Margaret  Brockway,  gave  birth  to 
a  daughter,  who  was  named  Alice,  and  who  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  the  county.  Mr.  Brockway 
is  still  living,  being  a  resident  of  Hinton  Township, 
in  this  county.  Early  in  March,  1854,  Zerah  French 
and  family,  and  George  French,  with  his  mother  and 
sisters,  removed  to  Big  Rapids,  and  were  the  first 
white  families  permanently  located  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  flourishing  place.  Their  nearest  neighbors  were 
the  finiily  of  John  Davis,  about  ten  miles  distant, 
and  the  nearest  settlement  was  at  Big  Rapids,  up- 
wards of  twenty  miles  away. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  various  t()wnshi|is  are 
mentioned  in  the  township  sketches,  and  in  the  his- 
tory of  Big  Rajiids  is  given  a  full  account  of  the 
settlement  of  that  place. 


HOW  OUR  FATHERS  LIVED. 


ago. 


HE  young  men  and  women  of  to-day  have 
little  conception  of  the  mode  of  life  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Mecosta  County.  In  but 
few  respects  are  the  manners  of  the  present 
time  similar  to  those  of  a  quarter  of  a  century 
The  clothing,  the  dwellings,  the  diet,  the  social 
customs,  etc.,  have  undergone  a  total  revolution,  as 
though  a  new  race  had  taken  jjossession  of  the  land. 
Pioneer  life  in  Mecosta  County  finds  its  jjarallel  in 
almost  every  county  in  the  State,  and  throughout  the 
Slate,  and  throughout  the  entire  Northwest.  The 
land  was  to  be  cleared  of  forests,  and  the  skill  of 
human  art  used  to  transjdant  to  this  fertile  region 
the  civilization  of  the  East.  Cabins  were  to  be 
erected,  wells  dug,  and  the  rivers  and  creeks  made 
to  labor  for  the  benefit  tof  mankind. 


A 


As  many  living  citizens  can  well  remember,  the  Vj 
|)ioneers  had  many  difticuliies  to  contend  with,  not  ■■' 
the  least  of  which  was  the  journey  from  civilization  •'.'. 
to  their  forest  iiomes.  The  route  lay  through  a  wild 
and  rough  country;  swamps  and  marshes  were  .' 
crossed  with  great  exertion  and  fatigue;  rivers  were 
forded  with  difficulty  and  danger;  nights  were  passed 
in  the  dense  forests,  with  mother  earth  for  a  couch 
and  the  trees  and  foliage  for  a  shelter;  long,  weary 
days  and  weeks  of  travel  were  endured,  but  finally 
their  eyes  were  gladdened,  and  their  hearts  beat 
faster,  when  a  vision  of  their  future  home  burst  ujkju 
them. 

The  first  thing  upon  arrival  was  to  set  about  build- 
ing a  cabin.     While  this  was  being  done,  the  family 
slept  in   their  wagons  or  upon  the  grass,  while   the 
horses  or  mules,  hobbled  to  prevent  escape,  grazed 
the   country  near   them,     'i'rees  of   a  suitable   and 
uniform  size  were  selected,  felled  and  prepared  for 
their  places.  The  day  for  the  raising  was  announced, 
and  from  far  and  near  came  other  ])ioneers  to  assist 
in  the  labor.    The  structure  went  up,  a  log  at  a  time, 
those  engaged  stopping  now  and  then  to  "  wet  their 
whistles,"  and  soon  it  was  ready  for  the  clapboard  roof, 
which  was  held  on  by  huge  weight  poles.  A  doorantl 
a  window  were  cut  where  the  good   wife  directed,   a  \^ 
chimney  built,  and  the  building  was  ready  for  its  occu-  "^ 
pants.     The  space  between  the  logs  was  filled  in  with 
split   sticks   of   wood,    called    "chinks,"    and    then 
daubed  over,  both  inside  and  out,  with  mortar  made 
of  clay.     The    floor   was    sometimes    nothing   more 
than  earth  tramped  hard  and  smooth,  but  was  com- 
monly made  of  "  puncheons,"  or  split  logs,  with  the 
split  side  turned  upwards.     The  roof  was  made  by  V 
gradually  drawing  in   the  top  to  the  ridge-pole,  and    ; 
on  cross-pieces  laying  the  "clapboards,"  which,  be-  . 
ing  several   feet  in  length,  instead  of  being  nailed 
were  held  in   place  by  "  weight-poles,"  reaching  the 
entire  length  of  the  cabin.     For  a  fire-place,  a  space 
was  cut  out  of  the  logs  on  one  side  of  the   room, 
usually  about  six  feet  in  length,  and  three  sides  were 
built  up  of  logs,  making  an  ofi"-set  in  thewall.     This  (^ 
was  lined   with   stone,  if   convenient;  if   not,    then,     | 
earth.     The  flue,  or  upi)er  part  of  the  chimney,  was 
built  of  small   split    sticks,  two  and   a    half  or  three 
feet  in  length,  carried  a  little  space  above  the  roof,   'j( 
and  i)lastered  over  with  clay,  and  when  finished  was  '^ 
called  a '' cat  and-(  lay  "  chimney.     The  door  space    */ 
was  also  made  by  cutting  an  aperture  in  one  side  of  \ 


^kV*'*^«^^-- 


^^yf^ 


V 


<^illi:<':nils>^ 


-:^i:^%r- 


•^•^^  vyvi^i 


57° 


Z^^ 


viK 


^^r^v<<Mm\(<>^^ 3*€^e^ 


^ 


A 


>v 


V 


^ 


MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


the  room  of  the  required  size,  the  door  itself  being 
made  of  clapboards  secured  by  wooden  pins  to  two 
cross-pieces.  The  hinges  were  also  of  wood,  while 
the  fastening  consisted  of  a  wooden  latch  catching 
on  a  hook  of  the  same  material.  To  open  the  door 
from  the  outside,  a  strip  of  buckskin  was  tied  to  the 
latch  and  drawn  through  a  hole  a  few  inches  above 
the  latch-bar,  so  that  on  pulling  the  string  the  latch 
was  lifted  from  the  catch  or  hook,  and  the  door  was 
opened  without  further  trouble.  To  lock  the  door  it 
was  only  necessary  to  pull  the  string  through  the 
hole  to  the  inside.  Here  the  family  lived,  and  here 
the  guest  and  wayfarer  were  made  welcome.  The 
living-room  was  of  good  size,  but  to  a  large  extent 
it  was  also  kitclien,  bed-room,  parlor  and  arsenal, 
with  flitches  of  bacon  and  rings  of  dried  pumpkins 
suspended  from  the  rafters. 

Tliese  simple  cabins  were  inliabited  by  a  kind  and 
true-liearted  people,  and  in  them  were  domestic  in- 
dustry, happiiiess  and  hospitality  rarely  elsewhere  to 
be  found.  It  is  well  for  "  Young  America  "  to  look 
back  on  those  early  days.  They  involved  a  life  of 
toil  and  hardship,  and  the  lack  of  many  comforts; 
but  it  was  the  life  that  made  men  of  character.  Me- 
costa County  to-day  has  no  better  men  than  the  sons 
of  those  who  built  their  cabins  in  the  forest,  and  by 
patient  endurance  wrought  out  of  the  wilderness  the 
landmarks  for  a  prosperous  commonwealth. 


^,<s$-<«!B>->s:-^ 


WEDDINGS. 


I'LddiR  J'^l'f'INGS  constituted  an  attractive  feature 
of  pioneer  life.      There  was  no  distinction 
"W^O  ^'^  rank,  and  very  little  of  fortune      On  these 
'''W%\     accounts  the  first   impressions  of   love  uen- 
|Y        orally    resulted    in    marriage.       Tlie    family 
L    est:'.blishment  cost  but  little  labor,  and  nothing 
more  than   labor.      The   marriage  was  always  ce!e- 
l)rated  at  the  house  of  the  i>ridc,  and   she  was  gen- 
erally   left  to  choose  the   ofticiating  clergyman.     A 
wedding,  however,  engaged  the'altention  of  the  whole 
neighborhood.     It  was  anticipated  by  both  old  and 
young  with  eager  expectation.      On  the  morning  of 
the  wedding  day,  the  groom  and  his  intimate  friends 
assembled  at  the  house  of  his  father,  and  after  due 

^^Vl>«^f|- "^^^ ^<•^Da^^|]D^•>^ 


preparation  departed  en  masse  for  the  "  mansion  "  of 
the  bride. 

The  journey  was  sometimes  made  on  horseback, 
sometimes  on  foot,  and  sometimes  in  farm  wagons 
and  carts.  It  was  always  a  merry  journey,  and  to 
insure  merriment  the  bottle  was  always  taken  along. 
On  reaching  the  house  of  the  bride  the  marriage 
ceremony  took  place,  and  then  dinner  or  supper  was 
served.  After  the  meal  the  dancing  commenced, 
and  generally  lasted  until  the  following  morning. 
The  figures  of  the  dances  were  three  and  four  hand- 
ed reels,  or  square  sets  and  jigs.  The  commence- 
ment was  always  a  square  four,  which  was  followed 
by  what  pioneers  called  ''jigging,"  that  is,  two  of  the 
four  would  single  out  for  a  jig,  and  were  followed  by 
the  remaining  couple.  The  jigs  were  often  accom- 
panied by  what  was  called  "cutting  out;"  that  is, 
when  either  of  the  parties  became  tired  of  the  dance, 
on  intimation,  the  place  was  supplied  by  some  one 
of  the  company  without  interruption  of  the  dance. 
In  this  way  the  reel  was  continued  until  the  musi- 
cian was  exhausted. 

About  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  deputa- 
tion of  young  ladies  stole  off  the  bride  and  put  her  to 
bed.  In  doing  this  they  would  have  to  ascend  a 
ladder  from  the  kitchen,  composed  of  loose  boards. 
Here  in  the  bridal  chamber,  the  young,  simple-hearted 
girl  was  put  to  bed  by  her  enthusiastic  friends.  This 
done,  a  deputation  of  young  men  escorted  the  groom 
to  the  same  apartment.  The  dance  still  continued 
until  all  were  weary.  On  the  next  evening  the 
"  infare  "  was  held,  nowadays  called  "  reccjjtion." 


A 


( 


"  SHAKES." 


J  MOTHER  feature  of  pioneer  life,  which 
IjWKa  every  old  settler  will  vividly  recall,  was  the 
'ili-QT  "chills    and     fever,"  "fever    and    ague,"  or 


j|a,r  "  shakes,"  as  it  was  variously  called.  It  was  a 
y  terror  to  new  comers,  for  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  almost  everybody  was  afflicted  with  it.  It  was 
no  respecter  of  persons  ;  everybody  looked  pale  and 
sallow  as  tliough  frost-bitten.  It  was  not  contagious, 
but  derived  from  iiupure  air  and  water,  which  is  al- 
ways developed  in  the  ojiening  up  of  a  new  country. 


t 

i 


•»#S-36^ 


m, 


r-Sg^ 


|/>/^':^=s^i^-*^ 


I 

T 


— 7<!aa:o:ill]v>-s — 

MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


>^^ia/  ^ 


V 


)k'.--'j 


57'    ^^ 


A 


V 

> 

■) 


The  iinpurities  continued  to  bo  absorbed  from  day  to 
day,  and  from  week  to  week,  until  the  wliole  body 
coriKjrate  became  saturated  with  it  as  with  electricity ; 
and  then  tlie  shock  came;  and  llie  shock  was  a 
regular  shake,  with  a  fixed  beginning  and  ending, 
coming  on  in  some  cases  each  day,  but  generally  on 
alternate  days,  witli  a  regularity  that  was  surprising. 
After  the  shakes  came  the  fever,  and  this  "  last 
estate  was  worse  than  the  first;"  it  was  a  burning 
hot  fever,  and  lasted  for  hours. 

When  you  had  a  chill  you  couldn't  get  warm,  and 
when  you  had  the  fever  you  couldn't  get  cool.  It 
was  exceedingly  awkward  in  this  respect, — indeed  it 
was;  nor  would  it  stop  for  any  contingency;  not 
even  a  wedding  in  the  family  would  stop  it.  It  was 
imperative  and  tyrannical.  When  the  apiwinled 
time  came  around  everything  else  had  to  l)e  stojjped 
to  attend  to  its  demands.  It  didn't  even  have  any 
Sundays  or  holidays.  After  the  fever  went  down 
you  still  didn't  feel  much  better;  you  felt  as  though 
you  had  gone  through  some  sort  of  collision,  thresh- 
ing macliine,  or  jarring  machine,  and  came  out,  not 
killed,  but  next  thing  to  it.  You  felt  weak,  as  though 
you  had  run  too  far  after  something,  and  then  didn't 
catch  it.  You  felt  languid,  stupid  and  sore,  and  was 
down  in  the  mouth  and  heel,  and  jjartially  raveled 
out ;  your  back  was  out  of  fix,  your  head  aclied,  and 
your  appetite  was  crazy ;  your  eyes  had  too  much 
white  in  them;  your  ears,  especially  after  taking  ([ui- 
nine,  had  too  much  roar  in  them,  and  your  whole 
body  and  soul  were  entirely  woe-begone,  disconso- 
late, sad,  poor,  and  good-for-nothing;  you  didn't 
think  much  of  yourself,  and  you  didn't  believe  that 
Other  people  did  either,  and  you  didn't  care.  You 
didn't  (juite  make  up  your  mind  to  commit  suicide, 
but  sometimes  wished  some  accident  would  happen 
to  knock  either  the  malady  or  yourself  out  of 
existence.  You  imagined  that  even  the  dogs  look- 
ed at  you  with  a  sort  of  commiseration;  you  thought 
the  sun  had  a  sort  of  sickly  shine  about  it.  Al.'out 
this  time  you  came  to  the  conclusion  that  you  would 
not  take  the  whole  State  as  a  gift ;  and  if  you  had 
the  strength  and  means  you  would  |>ick  up  Hannah 
and  the  baby,  and  your  traps,  and  go  back  "  yander  " 
to  "  Ole  V'irginny,"  the  "  Jarseys,"  Maryland,  or 
"  I'ennsylvany." 

This  bilious  condition  was  as  bad  as  the  consuni])- 
tion  for  promising  to  leave  you  alone,  and   failing  to 


keep  its  engagements;  as  bad  as  a  weak-minded  old 
debtor  in  promising  to  pay  and  e\er  delaying  the 
fulfillment  of  his  promise. 

.\iiil  lo-ilay  till'  swalldw-i  lUtling 
){i(Uiiil  niv  ral)lii  sec  nic  silting 
^loiiilily  witliin  tlic  sun-iliiiic, 

.liHl  inside  my  sileiil  iloor, 
\\  :iil  inn'  t'nr  tlip  ■*  agcr,"  .-ippniiiig 
Like  .1  man  foioviT  (h'cainiii^: 
.\li(l  till-  suiilijllit,  iMi  uir  .strraiiiiii;;. 

Thiows  nil  sli.iijiiws  on  tlii'  llimr: 
I'lir  Tni  lull  llilii  anil  salliiw 
To  nial<i'  shallows  on  tin'  Iloor — 

Xary  shallow  any  inori-! 

Tiie  foregoing  is  not  a  picture  of  the  imagination  : 
it  is  simply  recounting  in  quaint  phrase  what  actually 
occurred  in  hundreds  of  cases.  Whole  families  would 
sometimes  be  sick  at  one  time,  and  not  one  member 
at  all  able  to  wait  upon  another.  Labor  or  exercise 
always  aggravated  the  malady,  and  it  took  General 
Laziness  a  long  time  to  thrash  the  enemy  out.  These 
were  the  days  of  swallowing  all  sorts  of  roots  and 
"  yaibs,"  and  whisky  straight,  with  some  faint  hopeof 
relief.  Finally,  when  the  case  wore  out,  the  last 
remedy  got  the  credit  of  the  cure. 


FIRST  THINGS 


r 


y^ 


f 


A 


■V 


jfc  X  Mecosta  County  the  first  white  child  born 
was  Alice    Brockway,  daughter  of  William 
and  Margaret  Brockway,  the  second  family     5^ 
to  settle  in  the  County.     She  was  born  l-'eb.  12,    ^ 
1853,  less  than  a  year  after  her  parents  settled    / 
■'among  the  pines.' 
in  the  fall  of  1854,  Silas  Moore  and   Mrs.   Sally 
French  were  married  at  Big  Rapids,  by  Elder  Kelly, 
of  Big  Prairie.     This  was  the  first   wedding  in    the 
county. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  James  Montague,  of  fT 
dreen  Township,  sowed  two  acres  of  winter  wheat,  [ 
which  was  undoubtedly  the  first  wheat  sown  in  the  • ' 
county. 

In   the    summer   of    1856,    John    Hinton,   of  the    y^ 
township    of    Hinton,    built    a   large    frame    barn, 
which   was  the   first  frame  building  erected  in   the    ^ 


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^   county.     The  lumber  for  it  was  cut  with  a  whip-saw, 

fU    involving  a  task  that   would  discourage   most  men. 

^    John  Davis   erected  a  large  frame  l)arn  in  the  town- 
i     ship  of  Mecosta  the  same  year. 

^  In   the    fall  of    1856,  Warren  &  Ives  erected   a 

part  of  the  frame  for  a  water-jxjwer  saw-mill  on 
Mitchell  Creek,  near  where  Michigan  avenue,  in  Big 
Rapids,  crosses  that  stream.  The  mill  was  com- 
pleted during  the  next  spring  and  summer,  and  start- 
ed for  the  first  time,  and  a  few  boards  sawed,  on  the 
Fourth  of  July,  1857,  twenty-six  years  ago.  This 
was  the  first  mill,  and  the  first  lumber  manufactured, 
in  Mecosta  County.  This  mill  was  the  first  manu- 
factory of  any  kind  ever  erected  in  the  county,  and 
in  those  days  was  regarded  as  an  institution  of  no 
little  magnitude.  It  was  well  known  to  all  the  ear- 
lier inhabitants  as  the  "  Old  Red  Mill,"  and  was  in 
operation  for  many  years,  furnishing  the  lumber  and 
limber  for  all  the  oldest  wooden  buildings  in  this  city 
and  vicinity.  It  was  torn  down  a  number  of  years 
ago,  and  little  trace  of  the  once  busy  mill  now  re- 
minds the  resident  of  earlier  days. 

Immediately  after  the  mill  was  put  in  operation, 
the  same  firm,  Messrs.  M'arren  &  Ives,  erected  a 
small  frame  building  for  an  office,  a  few  rods  south  of 
the  mill.  Dining  the  same  summer,  they  erected  a 
two-story  frame  boarding  house,  which  was  the  first 
"j  frame  dwelling  in  Big  Rapids,  and  also  a  large  frame 
barn. 

In  November,  1857,  a  weekly  mail  was  established 
between  Big  Rapids  and  Greenville.  Jesse  L.  Shaw 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Big  Rapids,  the  name 
of  the  office  when  first  established  being  Leonard. 
It  was  kept  at  the  office  of  Warren  &  Ives,  near 
the  mill,  and  was  the  first  post-office  in  the  county. 
Prior  to  that  time,  the  nearest  post-office  was  at  Cro- 
ton,  in  Newaygo  County,  twenty-eight  miles  distant, 
from  which  point  mail  for  this  region  was  usually 
brought  in  a  hand-satchel,  the  settlers  taking  turns 
in  going  after  it.  In  December,  1863,  a  tri-weekly 
mail  route  was  established  between  Big  Rapids  and 
Newaygo;  and  alwut  the  same  time,  a  Mr.  Van- 
sickle,  of  Big  Prairie,  who  was  the  mail  carrier,  com- 
menced carrying  passengers  in  a  rickety  old  two- 
seated  wagon,  which  he  called  a  tri-weekly  stage.  It 
was  the  first  thing  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  its  establishment  was  hailed  as  a  luxury. 
In  May,   1858,  a  log   school-house    was   built   on 

^     section   twenty-eight,  in  the  township  of  Creen;  and 


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during  the  summer  following  a  school  was  taught  in 
it  by  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Evarts.  This  was  the  first 
school-house  built,  and  the  first  school  taught  in  the 
county. 

During  the  summer  of  1858,  Augustine  N.  Will- 
iams erected  and  opened  a  small  hotel,  which  grew 
to  be  the  Pacific  House  of  later  years,  but  which  is 
now  not  run  as  a  hotel.  A  part  of  the  present  struc- 
ture is  the  original  building  erected  by  Mr.  Williams. 
Although  every  settler's  ''  latch-string "  was  kept 
hanging  out,  and  every  man's  cabin  afforded  a  stop- 
ping place  for  the  traveler,  this  was  the  first  hotel  in 
the  county. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  Mecosta  County,  held  Sept.  i,  1859,  Warren  and 
Ives  were  granted  permission  to  establish  a  rope 
ferry  across  Muskegon  River,  near  the  place  where 
the  lower  bridge  in  this  city  now  spans  the  stream. 

The  first  equalized  assessed  valuation  of  the  county 
(including  the  then  unorganized  county  of  Osceola, 
which  was  attached  to  Mecosta  for  judicial  and  mu- 
nicipal purposes),  as  determined  at  a  regular  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  October,  1859,  was 
$376,447.84.  The  first  county  tax,  which  was  levied 
at  this  same  meeting,  was  113,137.40. 

The  first  general  store  in  Mecosta  County  was 
opened  by  Edson  Fuller,  in  1859,  in  Big  Rapids. 
The  stock  of  merchandise  for  this  store  was  hsuled 
by  teams  from  Grand  Rapids,  over  roads  that  neither 
tongue  nor  pen  can  describe.  The  store  stood  on 
the  corner  of  Michigan  avenue  and  Elm  street. 

The  first  frame  school  building  in  the  county  was 
a  two-story  edifice  built  in  Big  Rapids  in  1859. 

At  the  April  election  in  i860,  a  proposition  was 
carried  to  raise  by  tax  $6,000  to  build  a  bridge  over 
Muskegon  River  and  to  build  a  county  jail.  Aeon- 
tract  to  build  tlie  bridge  just  above  where  the  lower 
bridge  in  this  city  now  stands,  was  let  to  John  F. 
Tinkham,  May  24,  i860,  for  $2,500.  The  bridge  was 
completed  and  accepted  Sei)t.  14,  i860,  and  was  the 
first  frame  bridge  over  the  Muskegon  in  Mecosta 
County.  The  proposition  to  build  a  county  jail  was 
afterwards  abandoned,  and  rescinded  by  the  Board. 

The  first  term  of  tlie  Mecosta  (Circuit  Court  was 
held  at  the  school-house  in  the  village  ot  Leonard, 
commencing  April  17,  1S60,  Hon.  F.  J.  I.ittlejohn 
presiding. 

The  first  lime  burned  in  this  county  was  by   John 


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Snyder,  in  i860,  in  the  township  of  Green.  Judge 
C.  C.  Fuller  bought  the  first  load  of  it  and  used  it  in 
the  construction  of  a  dwellint;  on'the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Michigan  avenue  and  Linden  street,  in  Big 
Rapids. 

The  first  genera!  celebration  in  this  county  of  the 
national  anniversary  was  held  at  Big  Rapids,  July  4, 
1862.  The  officers  of  the  day  were  Charles  Shafer, 
President:  C.  C  Fuller,  Reader;  E.  L.  (>ray.  Ora- 
tor; J.  O.  Coburn,  Marshal;  and  Rev.  Mr.  .Mills, 
Chaplain. 

The  first  photograph  gallery  in  the  county  was  es- 
tablished at  Big  Rapids,  by  Zerah  French,  in  1862. 

The  first  election  of  county  officers  was  held  on 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  1859,  at  which  time  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  chosen  :  Alfred  L.  Clark,  Sherifl'; 
Orrin  Stevens,  Clerk  and  Register;  Charles  Shafer, 
Treasurer;  Jesse  A.  Barker,  Judge  of  Probate;  Aug- 
ustine N.  Williams,  County  Surveyor.  William  T. 
Howell,  of  Newaygo,  was  apix)inted  the  first  Pros- 
ecuting Attorney. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Sui)ervisors  was 
held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1859.  Present 
Jesse  A.  Barker,  Supervisorof  Green, and  Luther  Cobb, 
Suijervisor  of  Leonard — there  being  at  that  time  (jut 
two  organized  townships  in  the  comity. 

The  first  kiln  of  brick  burned  in  the  county  was 
put  up  by  James  Gillespie,  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
alx)ut  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  the  original 
plat  of  the  village  of  Big  Rai)ids.  .A  Mr.  Fitzgerald 
put  up  a  small  kiln  in  i860,  in  the  hollow  on  State 
street,  a  short  distance  south  of  C.  C.  Fuller's  resi- 
dence, but  abandoned  it  before  burning.  Prior  to  the 
burning  of  Gillespie's  kiln,  all  brick  used  in  Uiis 
region  were  hauled  from  Grand  Rapids,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  from  $50  to  $80  per  thousand. 

The  first  fire  in  the  county  occurred  Jan.  29,  1863, 
when  French's  hotel,  a  large  frame  structure,  was 
burned.     It  had  been  built  the  summer  i)revious. 

The  first  secret  order  established  in  the  county 
was  Big  Rapids  Lodge,  No.  171,  Free  and  Accei)ted 
Masons,  which  was  instituted  in  1865. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  Thomas  Lazell  put  up  and 
commenced  operating  a  steam  saw-mill  and  planing 
machine  in  Big  Rai)ids, — the  first  steam  power  in  the 
county. 

The  first  harness-shop  in  the  county  ivas  started  in 
Big  Rapids,  by  A.  S.  Mason,  in  October,  1864. 

The  first  millinery  establishment  in  Mecosta  County 


was  opened  in  the  spring  of  1865  in  Big  Rapids,  by 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Tenny. 

The  first  religious  society  in  the  county  was  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Big  Rapids, 
which  was  organized  Oct.  23,  1865,  with  William  |. 
Aldricli  as  pastor.  During  the  following  summer  the 
society  built  a  church  edifice, — the  first  in  Mecosta 
County, — and  dedicated  it  Nov.  16,  1867. 

The  first  daily  stage  route  was  established  between 
Big  Rapids  and  Newaygo,  in  November,  1S65,  by 
Hiram  Misner,  and  with  it  came  a  daily  mail.  The 
following  December  a  weekly  mail  route  was  estab- 
lislied  between  Big  Rapids  and  llersey. 

The  first  drug  store  in  the  county  was  opened  in 
February,  1866,  in  Big  Rapids,  by  J.  W.  Perry. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  John  Bigelow  and  William 
Van  Loo  built  a  large  flouring  mill  on  Ryan  Creek, 
about  two  miles  southeast  of  Big  Rapids.  This  was 
the  first  mill  devoted  exclusively  to  the  grinding  of 
grain  in  the  county. 

In  July,  1866,  at  a  s[)ecial  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  permission  was  granted  F.  II.  Todil  & 
Co.,  to  build  a  dam  across  the  Muskegon  River  in 
the  u[)i)er  i)art  of  Big  Rapids.  This  was  the  first 
dam  across  the  Muskegon  River  in  Mecosta  County, 
and  it  afterwards  became  known  as  the  'I'ioga  Com- 
pany's dam. 

During  the  summer  of  1866,  James  Sutherland 
erected  a  brick  dwelling  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
State  and  Maple  streets  in  Big  Rapids,  which  was 
the  first  brick  structure  in  the  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1867,  Gen.  Stephen  Bronson  and 
his  son  Charles  D.  opened  a  banking  house  in  Big 
Rapids, — the  first  in  Mecosta  County. 

In  1867,  Duncan  McLellan  and  Robert  A.  Moon 
built  and  opened  a  tannery  on  the  Tioga  race  in  Big 
Rapids, — the  first  institution  of  its  kind  in  the 
comity. 

Sejjt.  17,  1867,  a  school-teachers'  convention  was 
held  in  Big  Rapids, — the  first  gathering  of  the  kind 
in  the  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1868,  ("hades  H.  McConnell 
opened  a  book  store  and  news  depot  in  Big  Rapids, — 
the  first  in  the  county. 

In  1868,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ- 
ized, with  E.  B.  Miner  as  pastor.  In  1872,  the  so- 
ciety erected  a  commodious  brick  edifice  in  Big  Rap- 
ids,— the  first  brick  church  in  the  county. 


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The  first  foundry  in  the  county  was  built  on  the 
Tioga  race,  in  Big  Rapids,  by  Price  and  Osborn, — 
who  were  succeeded  by  E.  G.  Haney, — during  the 
summer  of  1869. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  county  of  Mecosta  was 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  railroad;  June  20, 
1870,  the  iron  w  s  laid  on  that  road  into  the  corpor- 
ate limits  of  Big  Rapids,  and  a  locomotive  entered 
the  city  for  the  first  time  on  that  day.  The  road  was 
soon  completed  to  Paris,  and  the  first  passenger 
coach  passed  over  it  on  the  2 2d  of  July.  Regular 
trains  commenced  running  August  8th,  following. 

In  1870,  ^Villiam  Van  Loo  built  the  first  brick 
block  in  Big  Rapids,  and  the  first  in  Mecosta  County. 
It  was  completed  in  December,  and  occupied  by 
D.  E.  Stearns,  with  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  Jan.  i, 
1S7,. 

The  Northern  National  Bank  was  opened  JiUne  12, 
1 87  I, — the  first  national  bank  in  the  county  of  Me- 
costa. George  F.  Stearns  was  elected  President  and 
Charles  P.  Gififord,  Cashier. 

The  first  county  fair  was  held  in  1874,  commenc- 
ing Sept.  29,  and  continuing  three  days. 

The  first  lawyer  in  Mecosta  County  was  J.  H. 
Mulford,  who  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  1859. 


The  first  physician  in  the  county  was  Dr.  D.  F. 
Woolley,  who  located  in  Big  Rapids  in  1859. 

The  first  resident  clergyman  was  Elder  William 
Kelley,  who  came  to  Big  Rapids  to  live  about  1861. 

The  first  resident  dentist  was  Dr.  A.  ^V.  Eldridge, 
wlio  came  to  Big  Rapids  in  1867. 

The  first  mason  was  Thos.  Lazell,  who  located  at 
Big  Rapids  in  1S60.  The  first  stone  wall  laid  in 
lime  mortar,  iiowcver,  was  built  by  C.  C.  Fuller,  in 
the  summer  of  i860. 

The  first  wagon  and  carriage-maker  was  James 
Jones,  who  located  in  Big  Rapids  early  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1857.  There  being  no  demand  for  his  work, 
however,  he  did  not  open  a  shop  till  several  years 
later. 

Tlie  first  resident  blacksmith  was  Edward  L.  Wil- 
liams, who  left  his  farm  in  the  township  of  Green 
a  d  opened  a  shop  in  Big  Rapids  about  i860. 

Robert  Palmer  was  the  first  resident  boot  and  shoe 
maker. 

John  Shaw  was  the  first  painter  in  the  county. 

The  first  village  in  Mecosta  County  was  Big  Rap- 
ids, recorded  Nov.  3,  1859. 


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UST  previous  to  tlie  organiza- 
,"a  tion  of  tlie  county  of  Mecosta, 
tlie    territory    now    included 
within  its  limits  was  attached 
X^  to  Newaygo  County  for  judicial 
.\;*C^'  7     '^'id  niuniciijal  purposes,  the  com- 
bined  territory  being  then  a  por- 
tion of  the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit 
'■^\  of  Michigan.     The  Legislative  act 
\       establishing    the   new   county   of 
Mecosta  was  passed  Fob.  ii,   1859. 
The  county  seat   was  by  the   same 
authority    fixed    at    the    village    of 
fijj   Leonard,  whose  name  was  changed 
in  November  following  to  Big  Rapids. 
On  the  first  Monday  in  .Vpril,  1859, 
the  first  election  was  held  for  county 
officials,  at  which  time  the  following 
ii?  [|    were    elected  :      Sheriff,    Alfred    S. 
Clark;    Clerk   and    Register,   Orrin 
Stevens;  Treasurer,  Charles  Shafer; 
Judge  of  Probate,  Jesse  A.  Barker; 
County  Surveyor,  Augustine  N.   Wil- 
liams.    William  T.   Howell,  of  Ne- 
j       waygo,  was  appointed  the  first  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  for  the  county  of  Mecosta. 


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c; 

One  month  later,  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1859,  ^ 
the  first  meeting  was  held  of  the  County  Hoard  of  ;^. 
Su[>ervisors.  There  were  at  that  time  but  two  organ-  ^ 
ized  townships  in  the  county, — Green  and  Leonard, 
and  there  were  present,  of  course,  but  two  Supervi- 
sors,— Jesse  A.  JJarker,  of  Green,  and  Luther  Cobb, 
of  Leonard.  Jesse  A.  Barker  was  elected  Chairman 
of  the  Board.  June  first  of  the  same  year,  a  joint 
meeting  of  the  Boards  of  Supervisors  of  Mecosta 
and  Newaygo  Counties  was  held  at  Newaygo,  to 
effect  a  settlement  between  the  two  counties.  Me- 
costa was  found  to  be  indebted  to  Newaygo  County  to 
the  amount  of  i§r,ooo.  Osceola  and  Lake  Counties 
were  attached  to  Mecosta  for  municipal  and  judicial 
purposes  for  a  number  of  years,  until  sufficiently 
populated  to  "stand  alone."  Osceola  at  first  formed 
but  one  township,  but  when  separated  from  Mecosta 
comprised  five  civil  townships. 

The  counties  of  Osceola  and  I>ake  remained  at- 
tached to  Mecosta  until  the  spring  of  1869.  ^L^rch 
4,  of  that  year,  a  bill  for  the  organization  of  t)sceola 
County  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  without 
a  dissenting  voice.  It  had  already  passed  the  Senate, 
and  accordingly,  when  signed  by  the  Governor  a  few 
days  after,  became  a  law  and  took  immediate  effect. 
It  located  the  county  seat  at  the  village  of  Hersey, 
and  provided  for  the  election  of  county  officers  on 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


the  fifth  of  April.     This  election  resulted  as  follows: 

Sheriff — Isaiah  Manes;  no  oppposition. 

Clerk — J.  A.  Gamage,  9  maj. 

Treasure! — R.  F.  Morris,  35  maj. 

Pros.  Att'y — S.  F.  Dwight,  no  opposition. 
Cir.  C.  Com. — S.  F.  Dwight,  no  opposition. 

Recorder  of  Deeds — J.  A.  Gamage,  9  maj. 

Surveyor — E.  F.  French,  1 19  maj. 

Coroners — J.  W.  Ash,  28  maj.;  E.  H.  Wood,  no 
opposition. 

The  same  Legislature  passed  bills  incorix)rating  the 
city  of  Big  Rapids,  and  attaching  the  west  half  of 
the  unorganized  county  of  Clare  to  Mecosta  County, 
for  judicial  and  municipal  purposes. 

The  Boards  of  Supervisors  of  Mecosta  and  Osce- 
ola Counties,  being  unable  to  agree  upon  a  settlement 
between  the  two  counties,  five  commissioners  were 
appointed  by  the  Circuit  Court  of  Mason  County,  on 
the  application  of  Osceola,  to  adjust  all  unsettled 
claims  and  matters  of  difference.  Three  of  the  com- 
missioners, William  Freeman,  E.  N.  Fitch  and  S.  F. 
White,  met  in  Big  Rapids,  Aug.  i,  1871,  and  after  a 
session  of  two  days  awarded  Osceola  County  the 
sum  of  $676.59,  also  the  field  notes  and  plats  of  the 
towns  in  that  county.  The  costs  of  the  hearing 
amounted  to  $154.80,  which  were  also  paid  by  Me- 
costa, making  a  total  of  $831.39.  This  amount  was 
about  $16  less  than  that  offered  by  the  Mecosta 
County  Board. 

Leonard  (now  Big  Rapids)  and  Green  Townships 
were  organized  in  1858;  Hinton  in  i860;  Deerfield 
and  Mecosta  in  1861  ;  Wheatland  in  1862;  Grant, 
.Etna  and  Millbrook  in  1S65  ;  Fork  and  Sheridan  in 


1867;    Chippewa   in   1868;   Austin    and   Colfax   in 
1869;  Martiny  in  1875,  and  Morton  in  1877. 

When  Big  Rapids  was  incorporated,  it  was  entitled 
to  three  representatives  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 
Since  then,  by  provision  of  the  Legislature,  it  has 
been  allowed  one  for  each  of  the  five  wards.  The 
Board  of  Supervisors,  at  first  consisting  of  two,  now 
comprises  twenty-one  members,  as  follows : 

^^^tna — John  Pierdon. 

Austin — John  Potter. 

Big  Rapids — E.  C.  Moore. 

First  Ward— O.  D.  Glidden. 

Second  Ward — Thus.  Skelton. 

Third  Ward — Thos.  J-  Shari)e. 

Fourth  Ward— J.  T.  Escott. 

Fifth  Ward — C.  F.  Mynning. 
Chippewa — Henry  Hammond. 
Colfax — E.  A.  Straub. 
Deerfield — M.  T.  Nethaway. 
Fork — Wm.  Creevey. 
Grant — L.  F.  Corey. 
Green — W.  D.  Hopkinson. 
Hinton — Andrew  Breakey. 
Martiny — John  Porden. 
Mecosta- — W.  S.  Tucker. 
Morton — L  W.  Ferris. 
Millbrook— D.  C.  Fuller. 
Sheridan — John  A.  Markle. 
Wheatland — Isaac  Wambold. 

Mecosta  County  has  been  a  separate  judicial  dis- 
trict since  1873;  and  in  1881  it  and  Newaygo  County 
were  organized  into  the  27  th  Judicial  Circuit.  At  the 
same  session  of  the  Legislature  it  was  made  a  part 
of  the  27th  Senatorial  District,  with  Manistee, 
Osceola  and  \Vexford  Counties,  and  a  part  of  the 
9th  Congressional  District  with  twelve  other  counties. 


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OR  historical  purix)ses,  no  for- 
mal organization  of   the  old 
settlers   of   Mecosta  County 
has    yet     been    undertaken, 
though    such    an    association 
will  doubtless  be   formed  in  due 
time.        On    several     occasions 
many  of  the  pioneers  have  been 
brought       informally     together, 
but  the  largest  gathering  of  the 
kind    occurred    at    the     OiJera 
House   in    Big   Rapids,   in    the 
evening  of    Thursday,   Jan  23, 
1879.     Nearly  all   the  early  set- 
tlers of  Big  Rapids  were  in  at- 
tendance, and  the  surrounding  townships  were  well 
represented,  with  a  few  from  Newaygo,  Osceola  and 
Montcalm  Counties.     They  all  "set  out  "  to  have  a 
good,    old-fashioned   jolly  time,   and   they    had    it. 
Everybody   seemed   young   again,  and  Opera    Hall 
never  contained  a  happier  crowd.     Those  who  de- 
sired to  indulge  in  the  "  poetry  of  motion  " — and  there 
were  few  who  did  not,  in  Money  Musk,  Opera  Reel, 
Virginia  Reel,  McDonald's  Reel,  and  other  old-fash- 
ioned contra  dances — had  the  floor,  while  others  oc- 
cupied seats  about  the  room,  and   engaged  in  social 
chat   upon    the   scenes   and  incidents  of  days  long 
gone  by.     The  supper  at  the  Mason   House  was  not 
one  of  the  modern  "high-toned"  affairs,  with  more 
•'  style  than  victuals,  but  a  real,  genuine,  old-fashioned. 
The  bill  of  fare  embraced  oysters 

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in  every  style,  baked  pork  and  beans,  meats  of  every 
description,  mince,  pumpkin  and  apple  pie,  with  an 
abundance  oi  ct-cctfras.  The  committee  of  arrange- 
ments had  bargained  for  a  genuine  old-fashioned 
supper,  and  right  faithfully  did  Mr.  White,  the  hotel 
pro[)rietor,  carry  out  his  part  of  the  agreement. 
Many  pronounced  it  the  best  meal  they  ever  ate  at  a 
hotel.  Only  one  thing  occurred  to  mar  the  pleasure 
of  the  occasion,  and  that  was  a  failure  of  the  lights 
before  tne  assemblage  was  ready  to  disperse. 

OLD  SETTLERS  OF  THE  MUSKEGON 
VALLEY. 


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'JiM  N  association  has  been  formed  called  the  "Old 
Settlers  of  the  Muskegon  Valley,"  which 
has  held  several  annual  re-unions.  June 
'^^  18,  1879,  it  held  a  meeting  at  Rig  Rapids, 
lt|;  about  two  hundred  people  attending.  The  as- 
I  sociation  was  called  to  order  at  noon  by  the 
President,  Mr.  T.  D.  Stimson,  and  Judge  Brown  de- 
livered a  welcoming  address.  About  60  new  names 
were  added  to  the  register.  At  two  o'clock  an  old- 
style  dinner  was  served  at  the  Mason  House,  to 
which  all  did  ample  justice.  One  table  was  set 
with  dishes  belonging  to  Mrs.  White  that  were  the 
property   of    Mrs.    Wliite's  great-great-grandmother. 

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A  mustard  spoon  and  cup  were  two  hundred  years 
old.  After  dini;er  the  meeting  was  addressed  by  Dr. 
Tatman,  W.  S.  Utley,  J.  V.  Crandell  and  Hannibal 
Hyde.  A  general  good  time  was  had,  and  the  old 
friends  and  neighbors  of  years  ago  had  a  real  old- 
fashioned  visit. 


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SECOND  OLD  SETTLERS'  PARTY. 


"  ^^f  ^  ''^^  evening  of  Feb.  10,  1S80,  another  old 
1 1  settlers'  party  was  held  in  Big  Rapids,  at 
Barrows'  Hall.  No  speeches  were  delivered 
and  merely  an  informal  party  was  intended. 
Superfluous  style  and  affectation  where  entirely 
ignored,  and  all  hands  went  in  for  a  good  time, 
such  as  was  common  15  and  20  years  ago.  There 
were  41  dance  tickets  and  97  supper  tickets  sold, 
the  latter  indicating  the  number  present,  besides  the 
musicians.  Those  were  invited  to  be  present  who 
had  been  residents  ten  years  or  more.  These  old 
settlers'  parties  were  so  successful  that  it  was  de- 
termined to  keep  them  up  as  an   annual  institution. 


and  it  was  agreed  that  all  residents  of  more  than  ten 
years  should  be  welcomed. 

The  third  annual  party  came  off  Friday  evening, 
Feb.  II,  1881,  and  was  very  successful.  Tickets 
were  sold  to  the  number  of  79,  indicating  an  attend- 
ance of  over  150.  Dancing  was  commenced  at  half 
past  seven  o'clock,  and  was  kept  up  with  no  inter- 
mission, except  for  supper,  till  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  Many  did  not  participate  .in  the  dancing 
festivities,  but  they  put  in  good  time  in  social  chat 
and  talking  over  old  times.  Taken  all  in  all,  it  sur- 
passed all  former  gatherings  of  the  old  settlers  of 
this  region.  The  gross  receipts  were  $162.50;  ex- 
penses $124.10;  surplus,  $38.40,  which  was  placed 
in  the  treasury  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  of  the 
Muskegon  Valley. 

The  fourth  annual  party  was  held  at  Armory  Hall, 
on  the  evening  of  Friday,  Feb.  17,  1882.  Eighty-five 
numbers  were  sold,  and  over  two  hundred  people 
participated  in  the  dance.  It  had  been  announced 
that  dancing  would  "  begin  at  candle-light,  and  con- 
tinue till  breakfast  time,"  and  this  program  was  very 
nearly  executed.  Supper  was  furnished  at  the 
Bracket  House. 

No  party  was  held  in  1883. 


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UDICIAL   tribunals   and   le- 
t;al  advocates  will  always  be 
found  in  every  civilized  coni- 
nuinity.      Mecosta   County  is 
no  exception   to  this  rule,  al- 
though  its    citizens    are    not 
much  given  to  litigation,  and  its 
criminal    cases    are     remarkably 
rare. 

The  first  term  of  court  held  in 
the  county  was  in  April,  i860,  pre- 
sided over  by  Judge  F.  J.  Littlejohn, 
of  Allegan.  Mecosta  was  then  in 
the  ninth  judicial  circuit,  which  in- 
cluded all  of  Northern  Michigan. 
I  The  first  case  called  was  that  of 
William  H.  Leeds,  versus  John  Powers.  The  first 
case  decided  was  Theodore  Newell  versus  Philetus 
P.  Jones,  a  case  of  assumpsit,  and  was  ended  by 
default.  There  was  no  formal  trial  at  this  term,  but 
several  cases  of  importance  were  tried  at  the  second 
term,  held  in  September,  i860.  'I"he  first  criminal 
case  tried  at  this  term  was  the  People  versus  Walter 
Kilpatrick,  on  a  charge  of  rape.  Kilijatrick  was 
actpiitted. 

In  regard  to  the  Bar,  we  should  bear  in  mind  that 
the  prosperity  and  well-being  of  every  community  de- 
pends U[x3n  the  wise  interpretation  of  its  laws,  as  well 
as  upon  their  judicious  framing.  Ui)on  a  few  |>rin- 
ciples  of  natural  justice  is  erected   tin:  whole  su|)er- 


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structure  of  civil  law,  tending  to  relieve  the  wants 
and  meet  the  desires  of  all  alike.  Hut  when  so  many 
interests  and  counter-interests  are  to  l>e  protected 
and  adjusted,  to  the  judiciary  is  presented  many 
interesting  and  complex  problems.  Change  is  every- 
where imminent;  the  laws  of  yesterday  do  not  com- 
pass the  wants  and  necessities  of  the  people  of 
to-day.  The  old  relations  do  not  e.xist,  and  new  and 
satisfactory  ones  must  be  established;  hence  the 
true  lawyer  is  a  man  of  the  day,  and  his  capital  is 
his  ability  and  individuality.  He  cannot  bcipieath 
to  his  successors  the  characteristics  that  distinguish 
him,  and  at  his  going  the  very  evidences  of  his  work 
disappear. 

In  compiling  a  sketch  of  the  Bar  of  a  county,  one 
is  surprised  at  the  paucity  of  material.  The  pecu- 
liarities and  the  personalities  which  form  so  pleasing 
and  interesting  a  part  of  the  lives  of  the  members  of 
the  Bar,  and  which  indeed  constitute  the  charm  of 
local  history,  are  altogether  wanting.  The  court 
records  give  us  the  main  facts,  but  tiie  auxiliary  facts 
and  interesting  circumstances  of  each  case  are  pre- 
served in  the  memory  of  but  few,  and  even  there  they 
are  generally  half  forgotten. 

The  first  lawyer  in  Big  Rapids  was  a  ''  transient." 
1  le  came  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  left  early  in  the  win- 
ter. He  found  but  little' to  do,  and  did  that  little  so 
un])opularly  that  he  eked  out  a  very  meager  living, — 
in  fact  he  was  "starved  out,"  and  left  on  the  api)roach 
of  cold  weather,  wearing  his  summer  clothes.  It  is 
related  that  when  some  one  asked  him  why  he  did 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


not  go  to  work,  he  replied  with  an  oath  that  he  had 
a  profession,  and  "if  that  doesn't  support  nie  I'll 
starve  before  I'll  work!"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  he 
found  some  more  congenial  abiding  place  than  Big 
Rapids.  The  next  member  of  the  legal  profession  to 
arrive  in  the  village  was  H.  \V.  Wiltse,  who  came  in 
the  spring  of  i860,  and  was  elected  Prosecuting 
Attorney  for  the  county  the  same  fall.  He  practiced 
law  until  his  death,  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Ceylon  C. 
Fuller,  whose  services  forever  20  years  are  well  known 
to  the  citizens  of  this  region,  and  who  at  present  fills 
the  position  of  Circuit  Judge,  came  to  Big  Rapids 
May  I,  i860.  The  fourth  attorney  to  practice  in  the 
county  was  John  G.  Murdock,  who  remained  a  uum- 


ber  of  years,  and  then  went  to  Texas.  J.  O.  Coburn 
was  another  early  lawyer  of  prominence.  He  enlist- 
ed in  the  Ur.ion  army  in  1862,  and  died  in  Libby 
Prison. 

The  present  Bar  of  Mecosta  County  contains  the 
following  practitioners:  M.  Brown,  John  H.  Palmer, 
Lewis  C.  Palmer  (Palmer  &  Palmer),  John  B.  Upton, 
Elijah  F.  Dewey,  Frank  Dumon,  Calvin  W.  Notting- 
ham, D.  F.  Glidden,  Edwin  J.  Marsh  (Glidden  & 
Marsh),  Douglas  Roben,  A.  W.  Bennett  (Roben  & 
Bennett),  O  E.  Mann,  F.  A.  Mann,  C.  L.  Northrup, 
G.  R.  Malone,  Andrew  Hanson,  and  S.  V.  R.  Hayes, 
all  of  Big  Rapids;  Dewitt  C.  Moshier  and  John  V. 
Haist,of  Morley  ;  and  David  C.  Fuller,  of  Millbrook. 


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LTHOUGH  Mecosta  has  uni- 
formly been  Republican  since 
its  organization,  on  National 
,  and  State  issues,  yet  in  local 
-'ya  elections  there  has  been  a 
'''■  ^/  tendency  to  cast  away  party 
/  discipline  and  support  the  best 
candidate.  Before  the  war,  the 
settlers  were  too  few  in  number, 
and  their  attention  too  much 
taken  with  more  pressing  mat- 
ters, to  allow  much  political  dis- 
cussion. During  the  war  all  citizens 
^jy  united  on  the  simple  platform,  the 
I  unconditional  support  of  the  Union. 
In  this  great  question  was  merged  all  minor  ones. 
Since  the  Rebellion,  the  strength  of  parties  has  some- 
what varied,  as  is  seen  in  the  following  summary  of 
elections,  beginning  with  the  first  election  after  the 
organization  of  the  county,  in  the  year  1859. 


ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  6,   i860. 

President. 

Abraham  Lincoln 109  54 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 55 

Governor. 

Austin  Blair 109  53 

John  S.  Barry 56 

Lieutenant-Governor . 

James  Birney 109  53 

William  M.  Fenton 56 

Secretary  of  State. 

James  B.  Porter 109  53 

William  Francis 56 

State  Treasurer. 

John  Owen 109  53 

Elon  Farnsworth 56 

Auditor-  General. 

Langford  G.  Berry 109  53 

Henry  Pennoyer 56 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


581  ^ 


S^  Attorney-General. 

:  J    Charles  Upson 109 

:'li    Chauncey  Jojlyn 56 

*  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruetion. 

jr. 

/)    John  M.  Gregory 109 

Francis  W.  Sherman 56 

Commissioner  of  State  Land  Office. 

Samuel  S.  Lacy 109 

Samuel  L.  Smith 56 

Member  of  Board  of  luiiication. 

Edwin  Willets 1 09 

_i    John  V.  Lyon 56 

\  Representative  in  Congress. 

Rowland  E.  Trowbridge 95 

Edward  H.  Thompson 49 

Francis  W.  Kellogg 13 

Thomas  H.  Church 7 

Amendments  to  Constitution. 

For  Amendm't  to  Banking  Corjxjration  .   82 
^    Against     "  "  "         .    73 

/A,    For  Amendment  to  Sec.  2,  Art.  iS 104 

i^    Against     "  "  "     5 

=    For  Amendment  as  to  Leg.  Sessions. ...   89 

^  State  .Senator. 

■r  ■     Osmond  Tower 98 

Y    Frederick  Hall 65 

^    Nelson  Green i 

Reprtsentative  in  Legislature. 

Martin  P.  Follett 109 

Irving  E.  Arnold 45 

William  S.  Howell t 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER    4,   1862. 

Go-<rrnor. 

Austin  niair 103 

Byron  G.  Stout 31 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Charles  S.  May 118 

Henry  R.  Riley 14 

Secretary  of  State. 

i       James  B.  Porter 121 

^^     William  R.  Montgomery 13 

i  State  Treasurer. 

t^     John  Owen 121 

<%      Charles  C.  Trowbridge 14 

^  Attorney-General. 

1  i'      Albert  Williams 120 

>^     John  S.  Holmes 14 


53 


53 


53 


S3 


46 


9 
99 

33 
64 


72 


104 


108 


107 


106 


t 


107 


107 


107 


107 


66 


Vs. 


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Auditor-General. 

Eniil  .Anneke 121 

Rodney  Payne 14 

Commissioner  of  State  Land  Office. 

Samuel  S.  Lacy 121 

Charles  F.  Heynman 14 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

John  M.  Gregory 121 

Thomas  11.  Siiiex 14 

Member  of  Board  of  Education. 

Edward  Dorsch ■.121 

Daniel  Brown 14 

Representative  in  Congress. 

Francis  W.  Kellogg 100 

Thomas  B.  Church 34 

State  Senator. 

Charles  Mears 1 20  noopp. 

Reprcsentati'i'e  in  Legislature. 

William  T.  Howell 1 1 1    no  opp.     v 

Sheriff.  -^ 

Daniel  F.  Woolley 86 

Samuel  W.  Rose 53 

County  Clerk. 

Orrin  Stephens 140  noopp.    < 

County    Treasurer. 

Sumner  Stickney 82 

John  Dalziel ^7 

Charles  Shafer i 

Register  of  JJeeds. 

Luther  Cobb 82 

William  P'uller 48 

Scattering ^ 

Judge  of  Probate. 

1  )aniel  Stearns gr 

Hamilton  M.  Herrick 45 

Jesse  A.  Barker 14 

Prosecuting  A  ttorney. 

C'eylon  C.  Fuller i  77 

C.  P.  Ives '  , 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 

Ceylon  C.  l''uller So 

John  H.  Murdock 62 

County  Surveyor. 


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34 


40 


Augustine  N.  Williams 1 


39  noopp. 


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MECOSTA   COUNTY. 


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S^  Coroiwrs. 

•Q  Daniel  Stearns 145  no  opp. 

■''i  John  \V.  Rose 142  noopp. 

^  ELECTION  OF  APRIL,  1863. 

Circuit  Judge. 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn 106 

William  J.  Cornwell 87 

Associate  Justice  Supreme  Court. 

/  James  V.  Campbell 105 

^  David  Johnson 92 

■*  Regents  of  the  State    University. 

Henry  C.  Knight 105 

Thomas  D.  Gilbert •"*•  105 

Edward  C.  Walker 105 

J.  Eastman  Johnson 105 

George  Willard 105 

James  A.  Sweezey 105 

Alvah  Sweetzer 105 

Thomas  J.  Joslin 105 

I*  Oliver  C.  Comstock 93 

^  William  A.  Moore 93 

=  Zina  Pitcher 93 

,^  Nathaniel  Balch 93 

_^  Charles  A.  Richmond 93 

=1  Adam  A.  Roof 93 

^  Elijah  F.  Burt 93 

y  Joseph  Coulter 93 

*^  ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  S,  1864. 

President. 


Abraham  Lincoln 143 

George  B.  McClellan 97 

Governor. 

s^  Henry  H.  Crapo 146 

William  M.  Fenton 97 

Lieutenant-  Governor. 

Ebenezer  O.  Grosvenor 146 

Martin  S.  Brackett 97 

Secretary  of  State. 

James  B.  Porter 146 

'^  George  B.  Turner 97 

,  State   Treasurer. 

•<r    John  Owen 146 

I*    George  C.  Monroe 97 

Member  of  Board  of  Education. 

Witter  J.  Baxter 146 

Oliver  C.  Comstock 97 

*--=**■■ ^'^^ — '- 


19 


13 


12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 


46 


49 


49 


49 


49 


49 


Representative  in  Congress. 

Thomas  W.  Ferry 147 

Frederick  Hall 96 

Associate  Justice  Supreme  Court. 

Thomas  M.  Cooley 146 

Alpheus  Felch 97 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

William  S.  Utley 1 30 

Daniel  F.  Woolley   ; 1 10 

State  Senator. 

James  B.  Walker 14!; 

William  J.  Mead 97 

Sheriff. 

Alfred  S.  Mason 161 

Charles  B.  Humphrey 95 

Judge  of  Probate. 

Ceylon  C.  Fuller 164 

Samuel  G.  Hutchins 98 

County  Clerk. 

John  Dalziel 162 

Orrin  Stevens 102 

Register  of  Deeds. 

Samuel  Chipman 166 

Floyd  Misner 98 

County  Treasurer. 

Sumner  Stickney 168 

Charles  Shafer 95 

Prosecuting  Attorney. 

Elias  O.  Rose 1 63 

John  G.  Murdock 100 

Surt<eyor. 

Augustine  W.  Williams 168 

Justus  W.  Tenny 96 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 

Ceylon  C.  Fuller 164 

John  G.  Murdock 99 

Coroners. 

Rufus  T.  Morris 1 63 

B.  Elial  Hutchinson 167 

Alfred  Clark 98 

William  Brockway 98 

ELECTION  OF  APRIL,  1865. 


50 


49 


48 


66 


66 


60 


68 


73 


63 


72 


65 


65 
69 


Associate  Justice  Supreme  Court. 
Isaac  P.  Christiancy 83  no  opp. 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


V 

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Regents  of  the  State  University. 

Edward  C.  Walker S3  no  opp. 

George  Willard 83  no  opp. 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  6.  1866. 
Goj'ernor. 

Henry  H.  Craixj 274         165 

Alpheus  S.  Williams 109 

Lieutenant  Governor. 

Dwight  May 274         1 65 

John  G.  Parkhurst 109 

Secretary  of  State. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding 275         167 

Bradley  M.  Thompson 108 

State  Treasurer. 

Ebenezer  O.  Grosvenor 275  167 

Luther  H.  Trask 108 

.■I  u it i lor  General. 

William  Humphrey 274  166 

George  Spaulding 1 08 

George  Gray i 

Commissioner  of  State  Land  Office. 

Benjamin  I).  Pritchard 275  1 67 

Louis  Dillnian 108 

Attorney  General. 

William  L.  Stoughton 275         167 

George  Gray 108 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

Oramel  Hosford 275  167 

Samuel  Clements 108 

Member  of  Board  of  Education. 

Edwin  Willets 275  167 

John  Bischmore 1 08 

Representative  in  Congress. 

Thomas  \V.  Ferry 276         169 

John  B.  Hutchins 107 

State  Senator. 

John  1 1.  Standish 278  no  opp. 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Charles  W.  Dean 277   no  opp. 

Revision  of  Constitution. 

For 239         204 

Against 35 

Sheriff. 

Joseph  T.  Escott 264         147 

William  P.  Montonye 117 


County  Clerk. 

John  Dalziel 268 

I")aniel  F.  WooUey 112 

James  M.  Colby i 

County  Treasurer. 

Andrew  Green 242 

Daniel  Stearns 91 

Sumner  Stickney 46 

Prosecuting    Attorney. 

Elias  O.  Rose 245 

John  G.  Murdock 136 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 

Ceylon  C.  Fuller 257 

John  Ci.  Murdock 126 

Register  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  Colby 238 

1  )aniel  F.  Woolley 99 

Thomas  Lazell 42 

County  Surveyor. 

Benjamin  F.  Gooch 272 

George  Brady 1 09 

Coroners. 

Isaiah  J,  Whitfield 269 

Thomas  Sliaw 272 

Charles  B.  Humphrey 110 

Thomas  Cahill 108 

ELECTION  OF  APRIL,  1867. 

Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Benjamin  F.  Graves 232 

Sanford  M.  Green ." .   69 

Regents  of  the  State  Uniivrsity. 

Thomas  1).  Gilbert 232 

Hiram  W.  Burt 232 

Ebenezer  Wells 69 

William  M.  Ferry 69 

Circuit  Judge, 

Moses  B.  Hopkins 230 

Robert  W.  Duncan 70 

Delegate  to  Constitutional  Convention. 

William  S.  Utley 195 

Scattering 10 

County  Superintendent  of  Schools. 

Zephaniah  W.  Shepherd 190 

John  G.  Murdock 15 

Scattering 16 


139 


163 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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141 
394 
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ELECTION  OF  APRIL,  1868. 

Nc7v  Constitution. 

Against  adoption 474 

For  adoption 333 

For  annual  sessions  of  Legislature 519 

Against  annual  sessions  of  Legislature. .  125 

For  Prohibition 396 

Against  Prohibition 362 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  3,  1868. 

President. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant 775 

Horatio  Seymour 352 

Governor. 

Henry  P.  Baldwin 765         404 

John  More •  36 1 

Lieutenant  Governor. 

Morgan  Bates 770         411 

Salathiel  C.  Coffinbury 359 

Secretary  of  State. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding 771         412 

Richard  Baylis 359 

Treasurer. 

Ebenezer  O.  Grosvenor 771         412 

John  F.  Miller 359 

Auditor  General. 

William  Humphrey 771         412 

Louis  Dillman 3^9 

Commissioner  of  State  Land  Office. 

Benjamin  D.  Prichard 771         412 

Henry  Grinnell 359 

A  ttorney-  General. 

Dwight  May 771  412 

Augustus  C.  Baldwin 359 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

Oramel  Hosford 771         412 

Duane  Doty 359 

Member  of  Board  of  Education. 

Daniel  E.  Brown 771 

Isaac  W.  Bush 359 

Representative  in  Congress. 

Thomas  W.  Ferry 775 

Lyman  G.  Mason 356 

Senator. 
John  H.  Standish 772  noopp, 

Representatiiv  in  Legislature. 

C.  C.  Fuller 946 

Augustus  Paddock 117 


412 


419 


Sheriff. 

Joseph  T.  Escott 760 

Lewis  H.  Green 369 

James  Donley i 

County  Clerk. 

John  Dalxiel -746 

Orrin  Stevens 378 

Judge  of  Probate. 

George  VV.  Crawford 722 

James  Kennedy 370 

County    'Treasurer. 

Stephen  Bronson 657 

George  F.  Stearns 472 

Register  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  Colby 742 

Erastus  E.  Thompson 376 

George  F.  Stearns i 

Prosecuting  A  ttorney. 

Frank  Dumon 663 

John  G.  Murdock 365 

Elias  O.  Rose 88 

C.  C.  Fuller i 


I 


Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 


Frank  Damon 
John  G.  Murdock 
Elias  O.  Rose 

County  .Surveyor. 

Theodore  W.  Robbins 
Edwin  F.  French 
Marquis  Morgan 

Coroners. 

Isaiah  J.  Whitfield 
F.  B.  \Vood 
Sidney  P.  Phelps 


723 

37° 

4 


108 
S 


39' 


368 


343 


•85 


366 


290  S 
353  y^ 

109S 


761    385 

1055  (noopp.) 
376 


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ELECTION  OF  APRIL,  1869. 
Regents  State  University. 

Joseph  Estabrook  703 

fonas  H.  McGowan  704 

Tohn  M.  B.  Sill  167 

John  F.  Mills  166 

Circuit  Judge. 

Moses  B.  Hopkins  639 

Robert  W.  Duncan  208 

Superintendent  County  Scliools. 

829   I    Michael  Brown 

I   George  W.  Warren 


424 
188 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


-2«^^!C- 


'^•^lii^ 


f  ELECTION  OF  APRIL  4,  1870. 

Circuit  Jiiiigc. 
'^  • 

'v*     Augustine  H.  Giddings 
J       Levi  W.  King 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  8,  1870. 


9'7 
4 


9'.; 


Governor. 


Henry  1'.  Baldwin 
t'harles  C.  Conistock 


538 
241 


297 


Representative  in  Con^^ress. 

Thomas  W.  Ferry  562         343 

Myron  Ryder  2  19 

.State  Senator. 

Seth  C.  MofTatt  549  (no  o]'i).) 

Representative  in  Legislature. 


Edgar  L.  Gray 
Seth  C.  Moffatt 


r     Daniel  F.  Woollcy 
^     Edward  S.  Decker 


533 
16 


Sheriff. 


421 
346 


^  County  Clerk. 

•^    Charlie  Gay 
ca    Orrin  Stevens 
^    George  Warren 

^  Register  0/  Deeds. 

>    James  ^L  Colby 
William  IJrockway 
Scattering 

County  Treasurer. 

Charles  Shafer 
George  W.  Warren 
Scattering 

Prosecuting  Attorney. 

Frank  Dumon 
John  G.  Murdock 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 


430 

344 

I 


55' 

2'3 

3 

385 
372 


430 
332 


5'7 


75 


86 


538 


Elijah  F.  Dewey 


County  Sur7ieyor. 


^ 


Edmund  i'ucker 


\     Augustine  N.  Williams 
1    Edward  Tucker 


694  (no  opi).) 

406  102 

304 
4> 


<iA 


■V  W.  Irving  Latimer 
i»jjk  Everett  Douglass 
■'*)  Sidney  P.  Phelps 
v^  William  Remus 


Coroners. 


550 
545 
230 
228 


222 

2'5 


ELECTION  OF  APRIL  3,  1871. 
Representative  in  Congress. 
Wililci  1).  Foster  806 

William  M.  Ferry  341 

County  .Siiperin/endent  of  .Se /tools. 

Henry  C.  Peck  832 

John  15oyer  i  1  1 

Scattering  4 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER   5,   1S7; 
President. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  1 103 

Horace  Greeley 

John  J.  Bagley 
Austin  Blair 
Henry  Fish 
William  M.   Ferry 


Governor. 


319 

1 102 

357 
4 

2 


3f'5 


7-' 


^ 


784 


745 


f 


748  X 


803  t' 


1008 


710 


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Represenlali've  in  Congress. 

Jay  A.  IluhlicU 1 106 

Samuel  P.  Ely 358 

Slate  Senator. 

Edgar  L.  Gray 1112 

George  W.  Innes 309 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Elias  O.  Rose 1 082 

George  F.  Stearns 74 

Sheriff. 

Joseph  T.   Escott 1074 

John  \\ .  Weaver 364 

William  Gailii:k -XiZ 

Judge  of  Probate. 

Walter  S.  I  lowd 874 

Thcron  W.  Barliour 564 

County    Clerk. 

Charlie  Gay 1 095 

Orrin  Stevens 366 

County  Treasurer. 

W,  Irving  Latimer 1000 

Charles  Shafer 472 

Register  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  t!olby 1 133 

William  Warren 312 

Prosecuting  Attorney. 

Benjamin  F.  Graves 1025 

Byron  F.  Lockvvood 389 

Michael  Brown 24 


V 


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528 


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Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 


II 17        '09S 


f 

■:{    Calvin  W.  NotUngham. 
;%   Donald  Mclntyre 22  . 

T  Coiinly  Stirivyor. 

!ji   Darwin  (i.  Bell 1 1  2 1 (no  opp) 

Coroners. 

Thomas  Shaw 1129         793 

Everelt  Douglas 1109         754 

Sidney  P.  Phelps 354 

Thomas  Cahill 336 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Elias  O.  Rose 1846        1705 

George  F.  Stearns 141 

Benj.  H.  Coolbaugh 12 


MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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A 


ELECTION  OF  APRIL  7,  1873. 

County  Supcriiiteiulent  of  Schools. 
Lewis  G.   Palmer 949(no  opp) 


ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  3,  1874. 

f^  '  Governor. 

f=    John  J-  Bagley. 758         396 

■\J    Henry  Chamberlin 362 

i»    Charles  K.  Carjienter 77 

'  )  Representative  in  Congress. 

Jay  A.  Hubbell 832         604 

Henry  D.  Noble.  . .' 228 

Henry  H.  Noble [32 

State  Senator. 

Edgar  L.  Gray 831          827 

Edward  W.  Andrews 4 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

George  F.  Stearns 553           14 

Fitch   Pheljjs 539 

Natlianicl  T-.  Gerrish 99 

Sheriff. 

Joseph  T.  Escott 820         446 

Jv     Stei)hen  W.  Foster 374 

^  County  Clerk. 

.  -s     Charlie  Gay 818         45 1 

Orrin  Stevens 367 

v|5  County    Treasurer. 

,  V      VV.  Irving  Latimer 897          601 

^      Joseph  H.  Kilboiirne 296 


Register  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  Colby 866 

William  Hiien 330 

Scattering 3 

Prosecuting    .Ittorney. 

Benjamin  F.  ( Graves 754 

Frank  Dumon 417 

Scattering 3 

Circuit  Court  Conunissioiier. 

Calvin  \V.  Nottingham 67 1 

Douglas  Roben 501 

Scattering' 7 

County  Surveyor. 

Marshall  Wheeler 796 

Theodore  W.  Robbins 3S6 

Scattering i 

Coroners. 

John  H.  Foster 833 

Thomas  Shaw 827 

Matthew  Roben 364 

Sidney  P.  Phelps 361 

ELECTION  OF  APRIL  5,  1875. 

Circuit  Judge. 

Richard  A.  Montgomery 1076 

Augustine  H.  Giddings 582 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  7,  1876. 

President. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes 1342 

Samuel  J.  Tilden 926 

Peter  Cooper 10 1 

Governor. 

Charles  M.  Croswell 1341 

William  S.  Webber 945 

Levi  Sparks 85 

Sheriff 

Nathan  H.  Vincent i  25  i 

Stephen  W.  Foster 1040 

Charles  W,  Whitfield 53 

Judge  0/  Probate. 

William   Ladner 1337 

John  E.  Gruber 92 1 

Thomas  La/.ell in 

County  Clerk. 

Charlie  Gay 1325 

Daniel  E.  Stearns 975 

Isaac  W.  Clifton 46 


536 


337 


170 


410 


472 
463 


494 


V 

A 


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416 


396 


416 


350 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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322 


409 


419 
427 


Ri\s;is/i'r  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  Colby 105S         224 

Simon  G.  Webster S34 

Benjamin  Chamberlain 503 

County  Treasurer. 

W.  Irving  Latimer 1369        446 

Richard  D.  Ladner 923 

Jolin  Wiseman 63 

Troseeutin^  .-l Homey. 

Benjamin  F.  Graves '318         336 

Durelle  F.  Glidden 97  2 

John  S.  Evans 55 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 

Walter  L.  Roberts 1 3 1 5 

Wallace  W.  Carpenter 993 

Michael  A.  liartigan 57 

County    Surveyor. 

William  Jacques 135  2 

Samuel  S.  Mitchell 943 

Ambrose  M.  Bell 84 

Coroners. 

Thomas  Shaw 1355 

Lyman  Nelhaway 1356 

Albert  E.  Newman 936 

Jesse  Varney 929 

Augustus  G.  Fisk 74 

Robert  Walker 76 

Representative  in  Congress. 

Jay  A.  Hubbell 1323         303 

Joseph  H.  Kilbourne 1 020 

State  Senator. 

Marsdcn  C.   Burch 141 7         469 

John  S.  Law 94S 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Fitch  Phelps ^H'^         39^ 

Charles  M.  Darrah 9-56 

William  K.  Hill 95 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  5,  1878. 

Goi'ernor. 

Charles   M.  Croswell 1 1 92         463 

Henry  S.  Smith 729 

O.  M.  Barnes 311 

Representative  in  Congress. 

Jay  A.  Hubbell 1  t 79         435 

George  I'armelce 744 

John   Power 306 


587^' 


Circuit  Judge. 

Michael  Brown 1887  (noopp.) 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Filch   Phelps 1139  419 

William  E.  Hill 720 

Chauncey  B.  Hannum 360 

S/ieriff. 

Nathan   H.  Vincent 1198         518 

Allen  V^.  Williams 349 

Abel  B.  Knapp . .  . . ; 680 

County  Clerk. 

Lewis  Toan 1 102         421 

George  M.  Gotshall 681 

William  ().  Lake 452 

Register  0/  Deeds. 

James  M.Colby 1224         491 

Alexander  H.  Lane 733 

Charles  H.  Ix)vejoy 266 

County   Treasurer. 

Edgar  Peirce 1 192         478 

Edmund  M.  Stickney 714 

Charles  P.  Bigelow 33 1 

Prosecuting  Attorney. 

Lewis  G.    Palmer 1067  390 

Durelle  F.  Glidden 677 

Wallace  W.  Carpenter 487 

Circuit  Court  Commissioner. 

Calvin  W.  Nottingham 1 165         396 

Jacob  C.  Clark 768 

Wallace  W.  Carpenter 279 

County  Surveyor. 

William  M.  Jacc|ues 1204         495 

Sumner  Stic  kney 709 

Samuel  S.  Mitchell 307 

Coroners. 

William  Creevey 1 1 94         463 

Lewis  (!arnian 1 1 90         4158 

Willard  S.  Whitney 732 

l.ucien  W.  Toniey 731 

John   E.  Grouber 314 

John    I .ane 310 

ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER  2,  1880. 
President. 

James  A.  Garfield 1621  769 

\V'infield  S.  Hancock 852 

James  B.  Weaver 275 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


Go'i'cnior. 

David  H.  Jerome 1518 

.'.■^    Frederick  M.  Holloway 979 

I      David  Woodman 248 

li  Reprcsnitalivc  in  Ciuigicss. 

Jay  A.  Huhbell 1592 

Edwin  S.   Pratt 1020 

George  Parmelee 91 

S<-ii{T/(ir. 

R.  Ambler 1735 

D.  Rutherford 530 

G.  Fowler 408 

Rcprcsciitali'c'r  i/i  Lri;is/ir/iire. 

Martin  V.  Gale 1756 

John  V.  Armstrong 93S 

S/irriff. 

John  Shaw 1^60 

Stei)hen  W.  Foster 1157 

Ji/i/i^e  of  Prohah-. 

)C    William  Ladner 1632 

>.     William  Warren 1 1 08 

.A«,  Comity  Clerk. 

■^    Lewis  Toan 1 849 

7^    George  B.  I  )ougalI 86  r 

>^  Register  of  Deeds. 

James  M.  Colby i486 

Homer  A.  Morey i  240 

County   Treasurer. 

Kdgar  Peirce 1726 

Koscoe  G.  Wakefield 998 

Troseci/ting  Attorney. 

y     Lewis  G.  Palmer 1584 

V      VValhice  W.   Carpenter 1 100 


H 


Ciicuit  Court  Coniwissioner. 

Cluircliill  II.  Thrall 1846 

Wallace  W.  Carpenter 181 

County  .SurTevor. 

William  Jacc^ues 1620 

Samuel    S.  Mitchell 1122 

^  Coroners. 

4.     William  T.  Bliss 1624 

■|j      Gardner  F.  Cutler 1632 

Rufus  Kent 866 


^ 


4 


539 

572 
1 201; 

818 

403 
524 
988 
246 
728 
484 

.665 
498 


458 
763 


ELECTION  OF  APRIL  3,  1882. 
Circuit  Judge. 

Ceylon  C.  Fuller 1324 

George  Luion 97  i 


ELECTION  OF  NOVEMBER,  1882 

GoTernor. 

David   H.  Jerome 1367 

Josiah  W.  Begole 122 

Daniel  P.  Sagendorph 44 

Charles  C.  Foote 7 

Representative  in   Congress. 

Byron  M.  Ciitcheon 1572 

Stephen  Bronson 1 030 

.State  .Senator. 

Fitch  Phelps 1502 

Smith  Fowler 1 1 44 

Representative  in  Legislature. 

Edgar  Peirce 1556 

Robert  Robbins 1095 

.Slierijf. 

Eli  Frederick 1545 

Arnold  Ely 1 1 22 

County  Clerl;. 

Lewis  Toan 1481 

Richard  D.  Ladner 884 

Charles  A.  Munn 295 

Register  of  Deeds. 

Daniel  W.  Stewart 1527 

Joseph  H.  Kilbourne 1 108 

County  Treasurer. 

Simon  G.  Webster 1705 

Chauncey  B.  Hannum 950 

J'roseeuting  Attorney. 

Frank  Dumon '473 

Lewis  G.   Palmer 1167 

Circuit  Court  Conunissioner. 

Churchill  H.  Thrall 1575 

Oscar  E.  Mann 1 1  34 

County  Surveyor. 

Harry  I.  Orwig 1622 

Samuel  S.  Mitchell 1033 


Coroners. 


Thomas  Shaw . 


Colonel  Ethan  Allen 869 

\«       Willard  S.  Whitney 252 

^     Sidney  L.  Rood 251 


David  C.  Fuller 1504 

Willard  S.  Whitney 1151 

John  V.  Armstrong 1 148 


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'..'1 ".  '1 ".  '1  ■.  '1 ".  '1". 'X' ; V  .'if."'i' .'  1'  .■'■'  .'1' .'  1' ."  1'.;  i';^'^'5Sj"^ii«<i'  p 


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UST  as  President  Lincoln  cn- 
%^  tiTcd  upon   his  first  term  of 
■y    office,  the  attack  on  and  tlie 
/J     fall  of  Fort  Sumter  was  the 
s      signal    for  the    loyal   people 
tliroughout  the  North  to  rouse 
themselves  and  rush  to  arms  in 
defense   of  the    flag.     Even    in 
f    Mecosta    County,    then     thinly 
populated,  and   on  the    remote 
L  borders  of  civilization,  the  feel- 
•  ij    ing  of    enthusiasm    was    intense. 
Recruits  promi)tIy  stepped  forth  to 
swell  the  army  of  the  Union,  and 
departed  for  the  front   amidst  the 
prayers   of    far.'.ilies,   friends     and 
fellow-citizens.    With  cheerfid  alac- 
rity the  people   responded    to  the 
successive  calls  of   the   President 
for    troops     throughout    the    war. 
'I'iiere  is  something  grand    in  the 
patriotism    animating   that    [leople 
which,  after  stiaining  its  resources 
'        for  months  to  meet  one  call,   and 
hearing  the  news  that  500,000  more  are  wanted,  goes 
untiomplainingty,  eagerly,  into  the  work  of  raising  its 
quota  once  more. 

What  terrible  ordeals  those  trooi)s   passe<l   linough 


during  their  long  and  eventful  military  career,  and 
what  magnificent  results  crowned  their  service !  Vic- 
tims of  swamp  and  typhus  fevers ;  baffled  time  and 
again  by  the  flood ;  battling  at  every  disadvantage 
with  the  flower  of  the  enemy,  on  a  strange  soil,  with 
a  hostile  population;  long  denied  a  victory;  matured 
plans  jeopardized;  fighting  all  day,  marching  all 
night ;  advancing  until  they  saw  the  spires  of  Rich- 
mond, then  back  again  within  sight  of  the  white 
dome  of  Washington ;  never  elated  with  success, 
never  depressed  with  defeat;  disaster  following  dis- 
aster,— they  were  buoyant  to  the  close.  Smiling 
through  tears  they  parted  with  their  beloved  chief; 
one  brave  commander  gave  place  to  another,  yet 
gaily  they  transferred  their  fealty.  Marching  to  cer- 
tain death  u|)  Mary's  Heigiits  on  those  awful  days  at 
Fredericksburg;  falling  by  thousands  at  Chaiicel- 
lorsville;  the  waves  of  war  sweeping  toward  their 
homes,  spreading  devastation  worse  than  the  track  of 
the  tornado,  they  again  gave  battle  to  that  exultant 
invader  at  Gettysburg,  and  on  that  renowned  and 
thrice  sacred  field  for  three  long  days  they  fought 
and  won  the  victory  that  turned  the  tide  of  war  and 
saved  the  North  from  desolation.  Hack  again  they 
follow  the  unyielding  foe,  drenching  the  wilderness 
with  gore;  for  still  another  year  they  bleed,  \nuil 
Richmond  falls;  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
overwhelmed  with  numbers,  anil  supjilies  exhausted, 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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■  ■;• 


capitulated,  the  Confederacy  was  crushed  and  the 
Union  preserved!  In  a  few  months  all  that  were 
left  of  mighty  opposing  forces,— victor  and  vani  pushed, 
officers  and  privates, — returned  to  their  homes,  doffed 
their  uniforms,  furled  their  battle-flags,  and  their 
deeds  passed  from  the  present  to  the  reahns  of  his- 
tory. 

FIRST  ENLISTMENTS. 

HEN  the  loyal   people  of  the  North  were 

3L  tailed  upon  to  rally  around  the  stars  and 

stripes,  Mecosta  County  responded  with  a 


i>  will.  The  patriotism  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county  was  equal  to  that  of  any  people 

in  the  State.  May  13,  1861,  George  French 
went  to  Grand  Rapids  and  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
Tliird  Regiment  Michigan  Infantry,  and  soon  after- 
wards returned  to  Big  Rapids  for  more  volunteers. 
John  Shaw,  Fred  L.  Barker,  Sidney  Fox,  James  Mc- 
Allister, Alexander  French,  James  Misner,  Robert 
Misner,  Elias  Snyder,  Fred  Schriver  and Cole- 
man enlisted  with  Mr.  French,  and  constituted  the 
first  squad  of  volunteer  soldiers  from  Mecosta  County. 
They  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
June  10,  1861,  and  shortly  afterward  accompanied 
their  command  to  the  front,  where  they  did  their  full 
share  toward  earning  for  the  "  Old  Third  "  its  bril- 
liant record  as  a  fighting  regiment.  Of  the  original 
number,  Messrs.  French,  Shaw,  Barker,  and  James 
and  Robert  Misner  lived  to  return  home.  Tlie  lives 
of  the  others  were  sacrificed  in  defense  of  their 
country. 


COUNTY  AID. 


HE  county  autliorities,  as  patriotic  as  those 


^  *■    of   every  other  county  in  loyal    Michigan, 


early  adopted   measures  for   assisting   the 

families  of  tliose  who  volunteered  for  the  Un- 

Y     ion  army.     At  a  special  meeting  held  in   Aug- 

'       ust,  i<S62,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  passed  a 

resolution  to  pay  a  bounty  to  volunteers  enlisted   in 

the  county,  of  $50,  and  also  to  pay  the  families  of 

the  volunteers  seven  dollars  per  month  for  the  wife 

and  two  dollars  for  each  child  under  the  age  of  fif- 


teen  years.  This  resolution  took  effect  from  its  pass- 
age, and  did  not  apply  to  those  who  had  enlisted 
previously,  except  the  support  of  families  which 
applied  to  all  in  the  county,  regardless  of  the  time  of 
enlistment,  and  was  to  be  paid  regularly,  whether  the 
family  were  in  a  destitute  condition  or  not. 

This  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction,  because  it 
was  not  right  that  the  family  of  a  volunteer  be 
obliged  to  consume  the  last  morsel  of  food,  and  wear 
out  the  last  article  of  clothing,  and  the  wife  com- 
pelled to  take  in  washing,  or  engage  in  some  otlier 
menial  employment  to  support  her  family,  because 
her  rightful  protector  and  supporter  was  fighting  the 
battles  of  his  country,  before  receiving  from  the 
county  the  aid  so  generously  and  wisely  authorized 
by  the  State. 

Under  the  encouragement  of  this  stej),  a  number 
more  volunteers  came  forward  within  a  month. 

DRAFT. 

In  the  summer  of  1863  an  enrollment  was  made  of 
those  in  Mecosta  County  liable  to  perform  military 
duty,  by  E.  O.  Rose,  enrolling  officer;  and  it  was 
found  that  there  were  226  of  the  first  class,  and  78 
of  ihe  second  class;  a  total  of  304.  Those  between 
the  ages  of  twenty  and  thirty-five  who  were  married 
and  up  to  forty-five  unmarried,  constituted  the  first 
class;  the  married  inen  between  thirty-five  and  forty- 
five,  the  second  class.  Of  tlie  total  number  thus  en- 
rolled, thirty-five  claimed  to  be  aliens. 

Soon  afterward  came  a  call  by  the  President  for 
300,000  more  volunteers  before  January.  The  quota 
of  Mecosta  County  under  this  call  was  32  men.  Re- 
cruits came  fonvard  slowly  for  a  while,  but  in  Decem- 
ber a  sum  was  raised  by  subscription  to  pay  each 
volunteer  an  extra  bounty  of  $100.  The  quota  of 
several  townsliips  were  aliout  full,  and  a  draft  was 
continually  expected  in  the  remaining  townships, 
which  however  was  postponed  several  times,  until 
in  the  spring  came  still  another  call  for  200,000  men. 
This  necessitated  a  draft  from  all  tlie  townships  but 
Leonard  (Big  Rapids),  which  filled  its  quota  under 
both  calls  by  volunteer  enlistments.  The  draft  took 
place  June  13,  and  47  were  drawn,  as  follows: 

Richmond. — Henry  Zeitler,  Christian  Schafl",  John 
Pepper,  Philii)  Mosser,  Murray  Cromwell,  John  Ger- 
hardt,  Theodore  Lotte,  Isaac  Osborn,  Neil  Mc- 
Farlan. 

Green. — George    Shust,    Joseph    West,    Andrew 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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Green,  Andrew  J.  Hyatt,  ]o\\n  Dalziel,  Ariel  Alilrieli, 
George  W.  (ireen,  William  dibson. 

Mecosta. — Franklin  Smith,  Nelson  Ganong,  John- 
son E.  Hiirgess,  Hiram  Hull,  John  Davis. 

Dt\-rfii-liL-  Frederick  Hunter,  William  Senar.Henry 
Mills,  John  (."link,  Lewis  Eckhardt,  William  Callar, 
Lewis  Swartout,  Ellis  Davis,  Samuel  Hutchins,  Wil- 
liam H.  lUirsse,  William  Mitchell. 

IVIieatland. — James  McCloud,  \Viliiani  Scheidel, 
John  W.  Gingrich,  George  Miiikel,  John  Schneider, 
Michael  Diltel,  Dorvil  H.  Whitney,  Randall  F. 
Capen. 

Hill/on. — John  W.  Rose,  John  Van  Dewater,  Wil- 
liam J.  Allen,  John  Bower,  Asa  Brockway,  Bentley 
Davis. 

SUPPLEMENTARY  DRAFT. 

For  various  reason;  the  above  draft  did  not  sup- 
ply the  requisite  number,  and  a  supplementary  draft 
came  off  July  i.  The  Pioiurr  \\uk  humorously  al- 
ludes to  it : 

.  "A  kind  of  supi)!ementary  draft  came  off  this 
week,  and  the  lucky  ones  are  now  being  notified. 
This  draft  is  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  place  of 
those  who  reported  in  Canada  instead  of  at  Grand 
Rapids  on  the  last  draft,  and  also  those  who  were 
exempt.  The  town  of  Richmond  seems  to  have  been 
the  most  fortunate  as  to  skedaddlers,  as  a  new  draft 
of  five  men  was  made  there  ;  and  we  are  informed 
that  three  of  those  drafted  before  are  now  in  C'anada, 
thus  leaving  those  who  remain  a  chance  of  being 
drafted  to  fill  their  places.  Other  [)arts  of  the  county 
are  in  a  similar  situation." 

Those  drafted  this  time  were  : 

Richmond. — Louis  Reminapp,  Conrad  Folmer- 
hauser,  Ale.x.  McFarlane,  Thomas  Sales,  Henry  Ger- 
hardt. 

Mecosta. — Henry  Myres,  Edward  Davis,  diaries 
Marsh. 

Dcerfield. — George  Gilmore,  James  Buchner,  Mar- 
cellus  T.  Nethaway. 

Hintoii. — W'illiam  Brockway,  Daniel  Van  Antwerp, 
John  Godfroy. 

Wheatlaihi. —  Eli  W.  Gingrich,  Adam  Kunk- 
elman. 

MORE  RECRUITS. 

This  year,  1864,  the  Government  was  determined 
to  crush  the  Rebellion  by  force  of  numbers,  and  call 


after  call  for  troops  brought  forth  a  cheerful  res]X)nse 
throughout  the  loyal  North.  Hardly  was  this  draft 
over  when  500,000  more  were  asked,  and  under  this' 
call  the  (piota  of  Mecosta  County  was  as  follows: 
Richmond,  6;  Green,  7  ;  Leonard,  8;  Mecosta,  5  • 
Decrfield,  6  ;  Hinton,  3;  Wheatland,  2. 

Leonard,  Mecosta  and  Wheatland  Townships 
raised  their  quota  before  March  i,  1865,  and  Rich- 
mond, Decrfield,  Hinton  and  Green  resolved  to  await 
the  draft.  This,  however,  never  came  off,  as  soon 
after  came  the  fall  of  the  Confederacy,  and  all  enlist- 
ments stopped. 

THE  END. 

II  EJOICING  at  the  end  of  the  cruel  war  was 
fully  as  great  in  Mecosta  County  as  else- 
'^(^\  where.  Ujxjn  the  reception  of  the  news  of 
•V,  the  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis,  the  citizens  of 
Big  Rapids  turned  out  and  bought  all  the 
powder  in  town,  and  fired  fifty-two  guns. 
This  accomplished,  they  deemed  it  advisable  to  exe- 
cute the  "  old  reprobate;"  whereupon,  an  image  of  the 
ex-president,  made  of  straw  and  old  clothes,  was 
speedily  put  together  and  suspended  by  a  rope 
around  the  neck  from  a  long  pole,  in  which  condition 
it  was  conducted  to  a  cart,  and  after  being  properly 
put  aboard,  was  conveyed  through  the  principal 
streets,  followed  by  a  long  procession  carrying  bells, 
horns,  circular  saws,  and  everything  from  which 
a  noise  could  be  made,  that  could  be  got  hold  of. 
After  marching  around  for  about  an  hour,  the  crowd 
came  to  a  halt  in  front  of  Hutchinson's  store,  and 
hung  the  effigy.  Speeches  were  then  called  for,  and 
short  addresses  were  made  by  several  citizens. 

The  soldiers  in  due  time  returned  to  their  homes 
and  resumed  their  ordinary  vocations. 


1: 


THE  SURVIVORS. 


HE  brave  men  who  survived   this  struggle 

have  as  true  sentiments  of  i)atriotism  with- 

jy'iM^        in   t'leir  breasts    to-day  as  when   they  left 

•^-     mother,  father,  wife  and   family  for  the  front. 

t      wherever  they  are  found,  in  all  <piestions  of 

National   or  State  imjjort,  it  springs  forth.     It 

is  not  spasmodic  in  its  action,  blazing  forth  only,  as  in 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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a  comet's  erratic  course,  in  times  of  public  trials  or 
danger,  upon  great  occasions,  and  upon  great  incen- 
'tive;  but  it  is  their  rule  of  conduct, — constant, 
equable,  incorruptible  and  enduring.  M'ealth  cannot 
bribe  it;  power  cannot  reduce  it;  ambition  cannot 
blind  it ;  friendship  cannot  swerve  it  from  justice. 
Fear  cannot  intimidate  it,  nor  injustice  warp  it,  nor 
luxury  corrupt  or  enervate  it.  We  speak  only,  of 
course,  of  the  men  who  volunteered  from  inspirations 
of  patriotism  ;  and,  since  their  return  from  the  field, 
by  a  conscientious  deportment,  stirred  by  these  true 
principles  of  patriotism,  they  have  earned  the  general 
respect  of  the  people,  and  have  filled  some  of  the 
highest  offices  in  the  land ;  and  as  patriotism  seeks  to 
be  effective  to  the  interests  of  a  State,  to  vindicate 
its  rights,  redress  its  wrongs,  and  secure  its  prosperity, 
these  can  never  be  better  left  than  with  those  men 
who  braved  death  for  the  Union  of  States,  and  that 
the  States'  rights  might  not  be  trampled  upon  in  the 
mire  of  secession  and  rebellion  ; 

Men  win)  their  iliitic^  know. 

But  also  know  their  light-,  ami,  l<no\\  ing-. 

Dare  niainlain  them. 


1 


V 


SOLDIERS'   REUNIONS. 


IC    VERY  successful  reunion  of  soldiers  and 

[  sailors   was  held  at   Big  Rapids  on  Tues- 

Although  the  weather 


day,  Sept.  ro,  187  8 
in  the  morning  was  threatening,  the  attend- 
ance was  large  enough  to  fill  Armory  Hall. 
N.  H.  Moody  acted  as  Marshal,  assisted  by 
John  Shaw  and  G.  W.  Crawford.  The  procession 
was  formed  at  11  o'clock  in  the  following  order:  City 
Cornet  Band  ;  Light  Guards;  Old  Soldiers,  headed 
by  men  who  had  been  commissioned  officers — the 
whole  forming  a  long  column.  The  line  of  march 
was  northward  to  Pine  street,  eastward  to  Warren 
avenue,  southward  to  Oak  street,  westward  to  State 
street,  northward  to  Linden  street,  eastward  to  Mich- 
igan avenue,  and  northward  to  the  Armory. 

Three  tables,  extending  the  whole  length  of  Arm- 
ory Hall,  with  seats  for  240  people,  were  loaded 
down  with  edibles  of  every  description.  The  tables 
were  tastefully  ornamented  with  flowers  and  miniature 


flags,  and  presented  an  appearance  that  did  credit  to 
the  ladies  having  the  picnic  in  charge.  Dinner  was 
announced  at  half-past  twelve,  and  after  all  the  seats 
were  filled,  a  blessing  was  invoked  by  Rev.  C.  A. 
Munn,  formerly  Chaplain  of  the  looth  Regiment 
Indiana  Volunteers.  As  there  were  nearly  a  hun- 
dred people  unable  to  obtain  seats  at  the  first  table, 
a  second  one  was  prepared  after  the  first  had  been 
cleared  off. 

After  dinner  came  the  speaking.  The  meeting 
was  presided  over  by  E.'O.  Rose.  A  brief  but  elo- 
quent address  by  L.  G.  Palmer,  of  Morley,  then  fol- 
lowed,   after   which  these   toasts  were  offered  and 

responded  to : 

I.  Oui' Couutrv  :  One  ami  lii-epar.-ilih'.  Kespon-e  by 
Serg't.  Edjrai-  I'ieree. 

■2.  The  I'resideiit  ol  the  I'liileil  Siiiti-.  Response  by 
Gen.  Bron.soii. 

8.  The  Army  ami  the  Xavy.  Kesponse  by  lloughis 
Koljeii. 

4.  'J'he  Stars  ami  Stripes.  Hespouse  by  Col.  .1.  O. 
llmliiut. 

.'i.     .Miehiiiaii  in  U'ar.     Hesjionse  by  J.  H.  Palmer. 

(1.  Miihigan  in  Teaee.  Kes))0iise  by  ('apt.  B.  F. 
(« raves. 

7.  (m'M.  liiant  ami  hi-  Lieutenant-.  l!e>iMinse  by 
L.  II.  Palmer. 

5.  The  Hank  ami  File  ol'  om'  V(ilimt<'er  Army.  Ke- 
sponse by  Serg"t.  J.  H.  Kilbonrne. 

9.  The  Rebel  Pris(Uis  and  their  I'nfortmiate  Inmates. 
Response  by  Dr.  F.  B.  Woo. I. 

1(1.  Our  Fallen  Comrades.  J{esi)onse  by  the  audieuee 
silently  rising. 

II.  The  Loyal  AVomen  of  the  I'liion.  Itesjionse  by 
Lieut.  'J',  .r.  Owc-n. 

\i.     The  ( '(dored  Troops.     Response  by  Charlie  Seott- 

l:i.  The  Press— The  Headlight  of  Anieviean  Institu- 
tions.    Respoii.se  by  Lieut.  E.  O.  Rose. 

1  I.  When  Johnnie  (Monies  Mairhing' Home.  l{es|)oiise 
by  S.  MeClanatlmn. 

The  res|)onses,  which  were  both  able  and  elocpient, 
elicited  fre(iuent  applause,  and  were  listened  to  with 
marked  attention  throughout.  The  exercises  were 
interspersed  with  instrumental  music  and  singing. 
The  former  was  furnished  by  the  City  Cornet  Band, 
and  the  latter  by  a  glee  club,  consisting  of  E.  F. 
Dewey,  S.  S.  Griswold,  S.  D.  Henderson  and  Mrs. 
Campau,  with  Miss  Jennie  Mason'  at  the  organ. 
The  pieces  selected  were  the  patriotic  songs  of  war 
times,  and  the  audience  joined  heartily  in  the  chorus 
of  each.  This  reunion  will  long  be  remembered  by 
the  participants  as  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  days  of 
their  lives. 


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M F.COSTA   COUNTY 


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593 


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A  permanent  organization   was   effected,   with  a 
view  to  future  reunions. 

SECOND  REUNION. 


.A  second  reunion  was  lickl  on  I'licsday,  Si:\>[.  j  5, 
1879,  and,  like  the  former  occasion,  was  a  gratifying 
success.  Something  over  two  hundred  veterans,  ac- 
companied by  their  wives  and  families,  were  in  at- 
tendance from  the  city  and  surrounding  country.  At 
10  in  the  forenoon,  a  national  salute  was  fircil,  and 
shortly  afterward  the  procession  was  formed  for  the 
street  parade  l>y  ("apt.  H.  F.  Hrazee,  acting  as  Mar- 
shal, in  the  following  order:  City  Cornel  Band  ;  Big 
Rapids  Light  Guard ;  veteran  soldiers  and  sailors  on 
foot;  one  of  the  rilled  cannon  which  once  formed 
a  part  of  the  e(iuipment  of  the  famous  Loomis  Bat- 
tery;  mounted  veteran  cavalrymen,  among  the  lat- 
ter being  ]}.  C.  Allen,  who  was  a  private  in  the  war 
of  iSt2.  Mr.  Allen  carried  a  well  worn  flag,  which 
was  the  identical  flag  borne  by  him  in  active  service, 
and  which  he  has  since  preserved  as  a  relic  of  the 
last  great  struggle  between  England  and  the  United 
States. 

The  line  of  march  was  as  follows:  north  on 
Michigan  avenue  and  Osceola  street  to  Waterloo 
\y  street;  thence  west  to  State  street;  thence  south  to 
^  Hemlock  street ;  thence  east  to  Michigan  avenue  ; 
)  thence  south  to  I'inc  street;  thence  east  to  Warren 
avenue ;  thence  south  to  Oak  street ;  thence  west  to 
State  street ;  thence  north  to  Linden  street ;  thence 
east  to  Michigan  avenue  ;  thence  north  to  the  Arm- 
ory. Many  business  and  private  residences  along 
the  line  of  march  were  tastefullydecorated,  conspicu- 
ous among  the  latter  being  the  house  of  J.  1'.  Huling, 
which  was  adorned  with  a  large  portrait  of  Wash- 
ington, a  bust  of  Lincoln,  and  a  profusion  of  flags, 
mottoes  and  accoutrements  of  war.  The  column 
was  halted  opjwsite  Mr.  Uuling's  house,  faced  to  the 
right,  and  three  rousing  cheers  given  for  Washington 
and  Lincoln. 

.-\rrived  at  the  .\rmory,  the  parade  was  dismissed, 
and  shortly  afterward  the  seats  around  the  four  long 
■^  tables  in  Armory  Hall  were  filled.  .Mthough  pro- 
I  vision  had  been  made  for  upwards  of  three  hundred 
^  people,  the  1  rowtl  was  so  great  that  only  about  two- 
^  thirds  of  it  could  be  accommodated  at  the  first 
'^    sitting. 

After  an  intermission   of  about  an   hour,  during 


^ 


^ 


A 


which  the  tables  were  removed  and  seats  arranged, 
the  crowd  re-assembled,  filling  the  li^UI  to  its  utmost 
ca|>acity.  The  stage  was  handsomely  decorated  with 
flowers,  flags  and  various  implements  of  war.  .\lr. 
.\llen,  the  veteran  of  1812,  occupied  a  iX)sition  at  the 
front,  i>roudly  bearing  aloft  his  old  flag.  Order  being 
restored,  the  audience  was  treated  to  a  medley  of 
National  airs  by  the  cornet  band,  after  which  Lieut. 
E.  O.  Rose,  President  of  the  Association,  delivered  a 
very  elo(|uent  address,  from  which  tiie  following  brief 
extract  is  taken : 

"Every  man  and  woman  who  can  say,  'my 
father  (or  grandfather)  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1.S12  or  in  the  Revolution,'  utters  it  with  a 
feeling  of  i)ride;  and  in  after  years  our  children 
and  grandchildren  will  experience  the  same  feeling 
of  pride  in  alluding  to  the  part  we  took  in  the  great 
struggle  for  the  maintenance  of  national  unity. 

"  As  we  view  this  vast  assemblage,  and  reflect 
upon  what  brings  us  together,  the  mind's  eye  invol- 
untarily wanders  back  over  the  lapse  of  years  to  the 
time  when  we  left  our  several  avocations,  and  went 
forth  to  assist  in  defending  the  old  flag  and  the  Ciov-  ^ 
eminent  that  floats  it.  We  see  the  farmer  leaving  y, 
his  plow,  the  mechanic  his  bench,  the  merchant  his  ^ 
store  and  the  professional  man  his  office;  we  see  s^ 
them  sign  their  names  to  the  muster  roll,  and  put  on 
the  uniform  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States;  we  see  tliem  finally,  with  blanched  cheek 
and  (piivering  lip,  bidding  good-bye  to  those  they 
love ;  we  hear  the  gray-haired  mother  speak  in  trem- 
ulous tones  as  she  bestows  a  ])arting  blessing  u|x)n 
iier  darling  l)oy;  we  hear  the  sister's  reluctant  fare- 
well, and  the  sweet-heart's  stifled  sob  as  she  bids  her  V 
nftianced  good-bye;  we  hear  the  wife's  agonizing 
groan  as  slie  ga/.es  through  blinding  tears  upon  the 
receding  form  of  her  husband  and  protector;  while 
little  children,  unalile  to  comprehend  the  solemnity 
of  tlie  occasion,  cling  to  her  skirts  with  a  frightened 
l<x)k  and  wonder  what  it  is  all  about.  And  could 
von  look  into  the  hearts  of  the  men  who  thus  tore 
themselves  from  the  ties  of  home,  and  boldly  went  ^ 
forth  to  brave  the  perils  of  a  soldier's  life,  you  would 
find  photographed  there  mental  struggles  which  few 
but  old  soldiers  can  understand.  Many  of  those 
family  i)artings  were  the  last  upon  earth,  for  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  those  who  battled  for  the  I'nion 
found  graves  in  Southern  soil. 

"  In  conclusion,  let  nie  exi)ress  the  hope  that  this 


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reunion,  so  pleasantly  begun,  may  be  throughout  a 
season  of  rejoicing.  When  we  go  to  our  respective 
homes,  1  trust  that  each  may  feel  that  it  was  '  good 
to  be  jiere.'  May  the  chain  of  friendship  which  was 
first  linked  together  in  the  camp,  on  the  march  and 
on  the  battle-field,  be  brightened  and  strengthened. 
Many  of  our  comrades  fill  Southern  graves  ;  others 
are  falling  by  the  wayside  from  year  to  year,  and  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  sods  of  earth  will 
cover  the  last  of  the  grand  old  army  of  the  Union. 
And  as  we  pass  down  the  declivity  of  time,  each  day 
bringing  us  so  much  nearer  honored  graves,  may  the 
love  and  gratitude  of  the  Nation,  and  the  choicest 
blessings  of  heaven  and  of  earth  be  yours." 

After  another  air  by  the  band,  Frank  Dumon  re- 
siwnded  to  the  toast,  "The  Union,"  following  whicli 
the  band  played  '"Hail  Columbia."  J-  B.  Upton 
then  responded  to  the  "Old  Flag"  in  such  eloquent 
words  that  they  are  worth  recording  here. 

"  Wlien  a  few  years  ago  the  message  flashed  over 
the  wires,  'The  Duke  is  dead,'  every  person  knew 
that  il  meant  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  When  it  was 
announced  that  the  Senator  was  dead,  every  i)erson 
knew  that  Charles  Sumner  was  no  more.  And  when 
now  we  hear  the  words,  '  the  old  flag,"  every  intelli- 
gent, enlightened  American  citizen  knows  that  they 
mean  the  history  of  the  United  States  as  a  nation. 
They  mean  the  high  and  glorious  resolve  of  our 
forefathers  that  this  goodly  land  should  be  free,  and 
the  home  of  millioJis  of  undisputed  sovereigns.  They 
mean  all  the  sorrows  and  grief  they  bore  to  secure 
this  grand  heritage  for  their  descendants,  as  well  as 
the  joy  they  experienced  in  contemplating  such  a 
grand  and  glorious  legacy.  They  mean  their  heroic 
bravery,  their  unflinching  devotion  to  the  principles 
of  liberty  during  all  the  long  years  of  the  war.  They 
mean  their  victory  and  elation  at  Saratoga;  their 
defeat  at  Germantown;  their  heroic  enduran<:e  and 
suffering  at  Valley  Forge;  their  unswerving  devotion 
to  the  just  cause;  and  their  grand  and  glorious  victory 
at  Yorktown,  wherein  they  smote  and  shivered  the 
power  of  haughty  England,  and  secured  for  them- 
selves and  us  their  descendants  the  priceless  boon  of 
independence.  They  mean  the  type  and  symbol  of 
our  national  growth  until  the  war  of  i<Si2,  in  whii  h 
it  floated  jiroudly  over  our  victorious  soldiers  on  the 
land  and  on  the  sea,  and  saw  England  again  the 
suppliant  for  peace.  They  mean  the  daring  and  the 
courage  of   our  patriotic    soldiers    in    the   war  with 


Mexico,  and  their  victories  achieved  therein.  They 
mean  the  power  of  a  loyal  government  of  patriotic 
men  and  women  to  suppress  the  mightiest  domestic 
insurrection  and  rebellion  recorded  in  the  annals  of 
history.  They  mean  the  heroic  resolve,  the  dauntless  \^ 
courage  of  our  gallant  soldiers,  many  of  whom  are 
here  now  present.  They  mean  the  quarter  of  a  mil- 
lion of  slaughtered  brothers,  husliands  and  fathers; 
the  sorrow,  the  grief,  the  desolation  in  thousands  of 
households;  the  nntlinching  devotion  of  our  sisters, 
wives  and  mothers.  They  mean  the  sanguinary  as- 
sault, the  deadly  affray,  the  rei)ulses,  the  victories, 
during  all  the  years  of  the  war,  until  the  rebellion,  in 
the  person  of  General  Lee,  laid  down  the  scei)ter  ol 
its  power  at  Ai)pomattox,  at  the  feet  of  the  silent 
man, — the  mightiest,  the  greatest  and  the  grandest 
general  of  the  world, — Ulysses  S.  Grant.  They 
mean  thereafter  the  healing  of  the  nation,  and  the 
restoration  of  the  powers  of  Government.  They 
mean  the  marching  onward  of  our  Government  from 
its  infancy  until  it  is  recognized  as  among  the  leading 
powers  of  the  earth.  They  mean  the  development 
of  our  country  until  it  has  become  the  granary  of  the 
world — the  Egypt  where  all  the  sons  of  want  may 
come  to  procure  the  needed  sustenance  of  life.  To 
the  loyal  and  patriotic  of  to-day  they  mean  a  greater  y 
love  for  our  institutions,  a  higher  zeal  for  their  sup- 
port, a  more  hearty  consecration  to  their  maintenance, 
and  a  firmer  determination  to  uphold  tliis  Govern- 
ment, because  it  is  'of  the  people,  by  the  |ieo[)lc, 
and  for  the  peo|ile.'  They  mean  the  hearty  orthodox 
prayer  of  heaven  for  the  defenders,  and  hell  for  the 
destroyers  of  'The  Old  Flag.'" 

The  glee  club  sang  "  Rally  Round  the  Flag,  Boys," 
aixl  then  the  third  toast,  "Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
martyred  President,"  was  resjionded  to  in  a  fitting 
manner  by  L.  G.  Palmer,  as  follows: 

"No  need  to  recite  history.  It  is  indelibly  written 
upon  every  loyal  heart.  From  the  cabin  to  the  cap- 
itol,  his  record  is  that  of  an  honest  boy,  a  faithful 
citizen,  a  loving,  brave  commander,  content  to  labor 
in  the  most  humble  calling,  yet  competent  to  decide 
the  destinies  of  a  great  nation.  Never  within  the 
period  of  our  national  history  had  we  such  need  of  a 
Lincoln  ;is  when  he  entered  upon  his  perilous  duties,  y-. 
Asking  the  prayers  of  his  countrymen,  he  took  tlieir  ^^ 
cause  upon  his  broad  shoulders,  carried  it  trium|jh-  '"^ 
anily  through  the  dark  struggle,  landed  it  safely  at  •< 


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the  cost  of  his  hfc.  Marlyr  indoed  !  Never  did  the 
old  flag  take  haif-inast  u[kiii  so  sad  an  occasion  as 
when  the  wires  flashed  lliat  fatal  message,  "  Lincoln 
is  dead."  The  nation  was  at  Srst  convulsed  as  by  an 
earthiiuakc,  then  it  trembled,  then  wept  as  a  child. 
Sad  silence  reigned  everywhere.  The  hum  of  ma- 
chinery was  hushed.  All  gayety  gave  place  to  deep 
sorrow.  The  palace,  tiie  cottage,  the  hovel,  were 
alike  drajjcd  in  mourning.  Strong  men  met,  greeted 
each  other  in  whisjjers,  and  sobbed  aloud. 

"  In  his  death,  every  human  being  lost  a  friend. 
He  long  ago  predicted  and  expressed  a  belief  that 
his  life  and  the  rebellion  would  end  together;  and 
his  blood,  though  shed  by  the  cowardly  assassin,  as 
the  agent  of  our  ungrateful  people,  has  cemented  the 
bonds  of  our  Union;  and  accursed  be  the  traitor  wlio 
dares  attemi)t  to  break  that  sacred  seal. 

"No  name  enrt)lled  ui)on  the  pages  of  history  calls 
forth  such  tender,  loving  enthusiasm  from  the  .'\mer- 
ican  jieople  as  the  honored  name  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  was  not  only  great  as  a  statesniar,  l>ut  a 
man  in  the  purest  meaning  of  that  term.  'I'he  mur- 
mur of  a  child  would  move  his  sympathy;  and  wlien 
his  country  called  upon  liiin,  above  all  others,  to  re- 
unite, if  possil)le,  the  l)roken  bonils  of  brotherhood, 
he  res|K)nded  from  ti\e  depths  of  his  great  heart, 
'  We  are  not  enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be 
enemies.  Though  passion  may  have  strained,  it 
must  not  break,  the  Ijonds  of  affection.  'I'he  mystic 
cords  of  memory  stretching  from  every  battle-field 
and  patriot's  grave  to  every  living  heart  and  hearth- 
stone all  over  tiiis  broad  land,  will  yet  swell  the 
chorus  of  LInion,  impelled  by  the  better  angels  of 
our  nature,  with  malice  toward  none,  with  charity 
to  all.'  These  are  but  a  trifling  example  of  the  calm, 
deliberate,  loving  sentiments  of  our  sainted  hero. 
Yet  with  gentleness  he  combined  firmness.  When 
he  heard  the  lash  of  the  master,  followed  by  the 
groan  of  the  slave,  mark  his  expression  : 

"'Fondly  do  we  hope,  fervently  do  we  i>ray,  that 
the  scourge  of  war  may  soon  pass  away,  liut  if 
God  wills,  let  it  continue  until  all  the  wealth  piled 
up  ljy  the  bondmen's  250  years  of  nnre(piited  toil 
shall  be  sunk,  and  every  drop  of  blood  ilrawn  by  the 
lash  shall  be  paid  by  another  drawn  by  the  swoid.' 
Yes,  he  heard  the  i>iteous  appeal  and  hastened  to  the 
rescue.  He  struck  the  shackles  from  4,000,000 
slaves  and  left  them  as  God  inlendeil  tliey  should  be. 


unfettered,  free  as  the  waves  of  ocean,  the  winds  ol 
heaven.  .Xnd  though  he  could  not  heal  the  aching 
limbs,  he  could  rob  the  slave-pen  and  the  whippiii- 
|)0st  of  further  victims.  He  could  clasp  the  black 
hands  that  were  everywhere  u|)held  to  him.  He 
could  heal  their  wounded  hearts. 

"History  has  recorded  many  noble  documents, 
some  never  to  be  forgotten.  '  Magna  Charta,'  dear 
to  us  all;  the  '  Declaration  of  Independence,'  which, 
please  (lod,  shall  never  die;  last  in  number,  first  in 
human  kindness  and  brotherly  love,  Lincoln's  im- 
mortal '  Proclamation  of  Kmanci[)ation.'  It  brought 
forth  liberty  from  bondage,  warmed  the  cold  hearth- 
stone, restored  many  a  lost  link  so  cruelly  severed 
from  that  golden  love-chain  that  binds  a  mother  to 
her  child.  Forever  green  in  the  memory  of  that 
humble  |)eople,  Lincoln  will  be  your  name.  It  will 
be  lisped  in  |)rayer  until  every  lip  is  s])eechless  anil 
every  heart  is  still. 

"  But  why  prolong  tiiis  eulogy.'  Human  e.\i)ression 
is  too  feeble  to  portray  his  merits  or  do  justice  to  his 
noble  character.  He  stands  alone  in  history,  the 
liuniblest,  yet  the  highest.  Summon  the  artillery  of 
the  nation,  marshal  in  solemn  colinnn  all  her  soldiers, 
iier  sailors  and  her  citizens.  Let  sweetest  music  be 
wafted  on  every  breeze.  Aye — mingle  with  it  the 
heavenly  chorus  of  angels,  and  chant  his  requiem 
from  shore  to  shore.  Float  the  oUI  flag  from  every 
hduse-toii  and  mast-head,  and  then,  even  then  you 
have  but  a  just  response  to  your  toast,  '.Abraham 
Lincoln,  Our  Martyr  rresident.'" 

The  glee  club  then  sang  the  song,  "  Lay  me  down 
anil  save  the  flag, "  and  after  that  Dr.  F.  B.  Wood  re- 
sijonded  to  the  toast,  "The  l'i<ket."  This  was  fol- 
lowed l)y  two  songs,  the  "  Picket  Guard,"  and  "  King- 
diini  t'omin', '  by  the  club.  Judge  M.  l>rown  then 
respi)nded  to  the  toast,  "The  Prison  Pen."  After  a 
graphic  portrayal  of  the  sufferings  at  Andersonville 
and  Libby  and  other  rebel  prisons,  the  speaker  said : 

"  No  nation  can  prosper  which  would  treat  its  pris- 
oners with  such  cruelty.  1  honor  my  country;  1  love 
its  institutions;  but  whenever  it  resorts  to  such 
treatment  of  prisoners  of  war,  then,  1  pray  that  he 
who  holds  the  destinies  of  nations  in  his  hands  may 
blot  it  from  the  map  of  empires." 

The  glee  club  then  sang  "  Tramp, Tramp,  Tramp," 
and  then  the  toast,  "Our  Fallen  Comrades,"  was  re- 
spondeil  In  by  the   ludience  rising,   and   standing   in 


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silence  while  the  hand  played  a  dirge.  "The  Loyal 
Women  "  was  then  responded  to  by  J.  M.  Colby,  and 
the  band  next  played  "The  C.irl  I  left  behind  me." 
After  tliis,  Noble  D.  Rood,  of  Colfa.x  Township,  spoke 
briefly,  from  experience,  of  tlie  rebel  prisons,  confirm- 
ing all  that  liad  been  said  of  their  cruelty.  At  the 
conclusion  of  Mr.  Rood's  remarks,  it  was  suggested 
that  all  who  had  been  prisoners  of  war  stand  up. 
A  count  of  those  who  arose  to  their  feet  in  response 
to  this  suggestion  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  audience 
contained  twenty-seven  men  wiio  were  living  wit- 
nesses of  the  atrocities  perpetrated  upon  those  who 
had  the  misfortune  to  be  captured  by  the  rebels  dur- 
ing the  war.  'I'he  next  toast  was  "The  Bivouac," 
whicli  was  responded  to  by  Lieut.  Edgar  Peirce,  as 
follows : 

"  Of  the  many  recollections  of  a  soldier's  life 
brought  to  mind  on  occasions  like  the  present,  none 
are  perhaps  more  vivid  and  interesting  than  the  recol- 
lections that  cluster  around  the  bivouac  fire.  As 
memory  wanders  back  to  those  stirring  times  of 
1 86 1 -5,  and  calls  to  mind  the  countless  fires  that 
have  gleamed  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Gulf,  marking 
each  day's  progress  on  that  long  and  bloody  road, 
what  a  panorama  moves  before  our  mental  vision  ! 
Those  fires  have  long  been  cold,  but  in  memory  tliey 
burn  as  brightly  to-day  as  they  did  in  years  gone  by, 
and  give  rise  to  many  pleasant,  many  tender,  and 
many  painful  emotions. 

"  What  pleasanter  scene,  for  instance,  can  be  im- 
agined than  that  presented  by  an  evening  bivouac  at 
the  close  of  a  i)leasant  summer's  day,  in  some  beau- 
tiful sjjot  in  the  valley  of  Virginia?  'I'he  blue  moun- 
tain tops  in  the  hazy  distance,  the  green  field  dotted 
witli  wliite  tents,  the  myriads  of  twinkling  camp-fires 
surrounded  by  careless  and  picturesque  groups  of 
boys  in  blue,  the  inspiring  strains  of  martial  music, 
mingled  with  the  sounds  of  laughter  and  song,  all 
combine  to  make  a  s(  ene  of  enchantment  whicli, 
once  seen,  can  never  be  forgotten. 

"But  when  autumn  came  with  its  icy  winds  and 
chilling  storms  of  rain  and  sleet,  and  the  roads  were 
one  endless,  hopeless  stretch  of  mud,  the  picture  had 
a  darker  shade.  Then,  after  wearily  plodding  all 
day  through  mud  and  rain,  often  \intil.  late  at  night, 
we  would  at  length  turn  aside  into  some  dripping 
piece  of  woods,  and  listen  to  some  s\ich  command  as 
this:    'Halt!     Dismount  and  fix  \ ourselves  comfort- 


able for  the  night!'  Comfortable!  Easy  said;  but 
with  the  rain  coming  down  in  torrents,  blankets  and 
clothing  soaked  through,  teeth  chattering,  fingers 
stiffened  and  benumbed  with  cold,  and  stomachs 
yearniiig  for  mother's  cupboard  at  liome,  the  prospect 
for  comfort  was  not  flattering.  AV'e  lived  through  it, 
however,  and  can  again,  if  occasion  require  it. 

"But  what  a  troop  of  mournful  and  tender  recol- 
lections come  crowding  on  the  memory  when  we 
think  of  the  bivouac  after  the  battle  ;  when  the  clash 
of  arms  had  ceased;  when  the  sounds  of  the  shrill, 
demoniac  Southern  yell,  and  the  deep-chested,  full- 
mouthed  Northern  roar  were  no  longer  borne  on  the 
breeze;  when  the  last,  fierce,  desperate  charge  liad 
been  made,  and  the  battle  lost  or  won  !  Silently  we 
gathered  around  the  bivouac  fire  in  sadly  diniinishetl 
numbers,  missing  the  merry  voices,  and  dear,  familiar 
faces  of  many  loved  comrades,  who  only  the  evening 
before  were  with  us  full  of  life  and  mirth  ;  b\it  to- 
night their  unshrouded  and  uncoffined  forms  lowly 
lie  in  unmarked  graves. 

"  Hundreds  of  thousands  of  those  loved  comrades 
now  lie  quietly  resting  in  their  last  bivouac.  .Scat- 
tered all  over  the  sunny  South  they  peacefully  sleep, 
making  its  vaunted  sacred  soil  truly  sacred  with 
their  loyal  dust.  On  the  pleasant  slopes  of  Cemetery 
Hill,  at  Gettysburg,  on  the  very  spot  where  in  life 
they  stood  a  living  wall  against  which  Lee's  trained 
legions  surged  like  a  mighty  wave,  only  to  be,  like  a 
wave,  dashed  back  in  fragments,  thousands  of  them 
gloriously  rest.  And  I  hoiie  that  these,  our  annual 
reunions  or  bivouacs,  as  the\'  might  be  called,  uill  be 
kept  up,  if  for  no  other  purpcjse  than  to  keep  the 
memory  of  those  brave  men  green.  I  trust  as  time 
rolls  on  and  our  numbers  diminish,  our  interest  in 
these  gatherings  will  increase,  initil  we  finall\  meet 
in  that  grand  reunion  on  the  other  shore." 

The  band  then  played  "  Yankee  Doodle,"  after 
which  M.  T.  Nethaway  resfjonded  to  the  toast,  "The 
I-ong  Roll."  His  remarks  were  very  interesting,  and 
at  their  conclusion  the  bugle  call  for  the  long  roll,was 
sounded  from  behind  the  scenes,  which  was  followed 
by  the  genuine,  old-fashioned  roll,  beaten  upon  the 
drums  by  Messrs.  Palmer,  Miller  and  Hobart.  Gen. 
Stephen  Bronson  then  spoke  on  the  "  Close  of  the 
War."  The  exercises  closed  with  the  song,  "  Red, 
White  and  Blue,"  by  the  glee  club. 


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Tirikn  REUNION. 

Aug.  24,  iSSo,  another  reunion  was  held  of  the 
Old  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Association  of  Mecosta 
County.  The  attendance,  owing  to  unfavorable 
weather,  was  not  as  large  as  on  previous  occasions. 
t\  procession  was  formed  at  the  armory  about  1 1 
o'clock,  under  direction  of  Marsnal  Owen,  assisted  by 
W.  D.  Moody.  First  came  the  City  Cornet  Band, 
then  came  the  Big  Rapids  Ciuard,  and  the  veteran 
soldiers  brought  up  the  rear.  The  procession  moved 
eastward  to  Warren  avenue,  thence  southward  to 
Oak  street,  thence  westward  to  State  street,  thence 
northward  to  Woodward  avenue,  thence  westward  to 
Stearns'  drove.  In  passing  the  residence  of  A.  C. 
Tibbits,  on  Oak  street,  the  procession  was  halted,  and 
three  hearty  cheers  were  given  for  the  decorations 
wliich  adorned  the  front  of  the  building.  At  the 
grove,  after  dinner,  a  stirring  address  was  given  by 
the  ])resident,  Edgar  I'eirce.  Just  as  he  was  closing 
a  sudden  rain  caused  the  meeting  to  adjourn  to 
Armory  Hall.  Here  the  following  toasts  were  re- 
siwnded  to : 

I. — "C?///-  F/iig." —  Response  by  Hon.  Michael 
Brown. 

2. — ^^  Our  Fallen  Coiniadi-s." — In  silence,  audi- 
ence standing. 

3. — "  General  Custer." — David  Burns. 

4. — "  T/ie  Foragers." — J.  B.  Upton. 

The  exercises  were  interspersed  with  music  by  tlie 
band,  and  songs  by  a  glee  club. 

FOUR  111    kl'.UNION. 

The  fourth  annual  reunion  was  a  grand  suicess. 
It  occurred  Thursday,  Aug.  4,  18S1,  and  was  largel) 


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attendetl.  The  great  novelty  this  year  was  the  use  of 
real  tents,  and  the  peiformance  of  army  camp  duties 
by  the  veterans.  A  salute  was  fired  at  10  o'clock, 
and  shortly  aftenvard  a  procession  formed  under  the 
direction  of  Captain  Brazee,  assisted  by  G.  W.  (Craw- 
ford and  Thomas  Shaw,  in  the  following  order: 
Knights  Templar  Band;  Big  Rapids  Guard,  armed ; 
old  soldiers,  armed ;  a  veteran  war-horse,  and  a  sec- 
tion of  artillery.  The  procession  moved  through  the 
principal  streets,  and  then  returned  to  camp  for  din- 
ner. An  excellent  dinner  was  served  under  a  big  tent 
erected  for  that  purixjse,  and  squads  had  dinner  in 
nearly  all  the  mess  tents  on  the  groimds.  After 
dinner,  a  patriotic  address  was  delivered  by  Hon. 
.M.  Brown,  and  the  following  toasts  were  proposed 
and  appropriately  responded  to,  as  follows: 

"On  the  March." — Response  by  L.  G.  Palmer. 

"  The  Bummers." — Res|)onse  by   Frank  Dumon. 

" Boo/s  and  Saddles." — Resiwnse  by  Edgar  I'eirce. 

"Our  Fallen  Comrades." — In  silence,  audience 
standing. 

"  7 he  Chaplain." — Res|)onse  by  Rev.  C.  .\.  Munn. 

Music  was  furnished  by  the  Knights  Templar 
I'and.  At  the  business  meeting  the  Executive 
Committee  were  authorized  to  purchase  a  ceme- 
tery lot,  whereon  indigent  members  might  be  buried. 
A  letter  of  regret  was  read  from  Robert  T.  Lin- 
coln, Secretary  of  War.  The  reunion  closed  with 
a  ball  at  the  .\rmory,  which  was  attended  by  125 
couples. 

The  Third  Michigan  Infantry  held  a  reunion  at 
Big  Rapids,  Dec.  13,  1881,  which  was  attended  by 
200  veterans.  Among  the  exercises  was  the  toast, 
"-The  Boys  in  Blue,"  to  which  J.  B.  Uplon,  of  Big 
Rapids,  made  an  impromptu  response. 


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XTENT  and   fertility  of  the 
soil  constitute   a  measure  of 
the  permanent  wealth  of  the 
locality.        Great    as    is    the 
lumber  industry  in  Mecosta 
County,  it  is  nevcrlheless  true 
thai   the  time  will  come  wlien 
the  forests  of  Central   Michi- 
gan will   be  all  cleared   away, 
and    the   State   no  longer  fur- 
nish  lumber   for   a   continent. 
It    is    therefore  well   tlial  the 
soil  of  this  county  is  ricli  and  cap- 
able of  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
;        A  very  great  variety  of  crops  can 
be  raised  here  profitably:  fruits,  grains  and  garden 
stuff;  and  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  county 
'\    can  be  imagined  when  it  is  considered  that  in  1882 
the  1,200  farms  comprised  only  30,000  acres  under 
cultivation,  which  is  less  than  a  tenth  of  the  area. 

Iviriy  in  March,  1S74,  steiis  were  taken  to  form  an 
agricidtural  society.  A  meeting  of  citizens  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  county,  for  this  purpose,  was  held 
March  5,  at  the  office  of  B.  F.  Craves,  in  Big  Rapids. 
1  Col.  N.  H.  Vincent  was  made  Chairman,  and  G.  VV. 
•  •|«  Warren,  Secretary.  B.  F.  Graves  drafted  articles  of 
^  association,  which  were  signed  by  N.  H.  Vincent, 
^  Carlos  Teachout,  F.  P.  Wood,  John  McCutcheon,  C. 
I)  C.  Fuller,  J.  K.  Klesner,  A.  Vangilder,  C.  W.  Whit- 
^     field,  G.  VV.  Warren  and  Henry  Main.     Messrs.  G. 


W.  Warren,  B.  F.  Graves  and  F.  P.  Wood  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  distribute  to  the  suiiervisor 
of  each  township  and  ward  throughout  the  county  a 
subscription  paper,  to  be  placed  before  the  voters  at 
the  next  spring  election  ;  and  the  following  address 
issued  to  the  people  through  the  press: 

TO  THE   CITIZENS  OF  MECOSTA  COUNTY. 

Steps  have  been  taken  to  organize  an  agricultural 
and  mechanical  society.  Articles  of  association 
have  been  drawn  uj)  and  signed  by  the  requisite 
number,  and  an  invitation  will  be  extended  to  every 
voter  in  this  county  to  become  a  member.  Subscrip- 
tion lists  will  be  in  the  hands  of  some  competent  per- 
son at  every  ])oll  district  in  the  county,  at  the  s|>ring 
elections  in  April  next.  The  object  of  this  society 
is  to  develop  and  promote  the  agricultural  and  me- 
chanical interests  of  this  county;  and  to  the  end  that 
it  may  be  made  a  successful  enteri>rise,  it  is  desired 
that  ever)'  citizen  of  this  county  give  it  their  hearty 
co-operation  and  supjiort.  l!ut  little  is  known  here 
yet  of  the  great  agricultural  resources  of  Northern 
Michigan.  Possessed  of  a  rich  and  fertile  soil,  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  this  county  will  not  be 
surpassed  in  agricultural  and  mechanical  productions 
by  any  county  in  Northern  Michigan;  and  that  she 
may  not  fall  behind  her  sister  counties  in  the  great 
race  of  development  and  civilization,  it  is  desired 
that  every  effort  be  put  forth  by  the  people  of  this 
county  to  build  up  and  firmly  establish  a  society  of 
this  kind.  In  the  great  agricultural  districts  of  the 
F2astern  and  Middle  States,  societies  of  this  kind 
have  become  permanent  fixtures,  and  they  are  well 
calculate<l  to  stimulate,  build  \\\>  and  promote  the 
stock-raising  and  producing  interests  of  an  agricultu- 


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ral  coniimiuity.  The  pine  forests  of  this  lounty  are 
fast  clisai)|)caring,  ami  a  few  years  hence  improved 
farms  will  take  their  place.  Let  us  then  make  every 
effort  to  biiilil  ui)  and  [iromote  the  aijriciiltiiral  and 
ntechanical  interests  of  the  county  that  tliey  may 
keei)  pace  with  iliC  lumberman's  ax.  Nature  has 
done  much  for  us  in  this  county,  and  with  the  en- 
couragement and  assistance  of  the  combined  efforts 
of  the  people  of  this  county,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  capital,  that  will  come  in  time,  this  county  can  be 
made  one  of  the  leadini;  manufacturini;  counties  in 
the  State;  and  nothingis  better  calculated  to  stinui- 
late  the  manufacturing  interests  than  a  society  of  this 
kind.  We  tliink  this  is  a  matter  of  great  importance 
to  us  all,  and  we  hope  that  no  op[)ortunity  will  be 
lost  to  make  it  a  success. 


Cr.  W.  Warren. 
Foster   P.  Woou. 

BeNJ.    1''.    C"i RAVES. 


Big  Rai)ids,  March  7,  1874. 


The  meeting  held  .April  <»,  for  tlie  elei  tioii  of 
officers,  was  attended  by  about  40  persons.  Charles 
Shafer  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  (i.  W.  Warren 
Secretary.  Col.  N.  H.  Vincent  was  then  elected 
President  of  tlie  society,  (i.  W.  Warren,  Secretary, 
and  W.  I.  Latimer,  Treasurer.  The  following  per- 
sons were  elected  Directors:  Fitch  Pheljis,  Levi  H. 
Roberts,  W.  W.  Smith,  John  A.  Markle,  Charles  Tea- 
chout  and  John  V.  .Vrmstrong  for  one  year;  J.  T. 
Escott,  P.  S.  Decker,  S.  S.  Chii)man,  John  F. 
McCabe,  J.  O.  Rose  and  James  Canaan  for  two 
years;  and  J.  N.  Decker,  C".  M.  Darrah,  George 
Minkle,  H.  M.  Johnson,  B.  F.  Graves  and  Luther 
Cobb  for  three  years.  J.  ( >.  Rose,  G.  W.  Warren 
and  B.  F.  Graves  were  ap|)ointed  a  committee  to 
draft  by-laws  for  the  society,  and  present  them  to  tlie 
Directors  for  their  a|)proval.  It  was  directed  that 
the  third  Monday  in  April  l)e  fixed  as  the  time  for 
holding  annual  meetings,  and  also  that  all  persons 
who  had  paid  into  the  treasury  the  sum  of  one  dol- 
lar be  considered  members. 

.At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  held  .April  28,  they 
decided  that  the  Society  hold  a  fair  for  three  days, 
commencing  on  the  29th  of  Septemlier  following. 
Committees  were  apixsinted  to  secure  grounds  and 
prepare  a  premium  list. 

FIRST  FAIR. 

The  first  fair  was  duly  held  at  the  appointed  time, 
and  was  a  grand  success.     It  was  the  first  time  the 


peo[)le  had  hail  an  opportunity  to  compare  produc- 
tions of  agricultural  and  mechanical  skill,  and  to 
exhibit  what  was  raised,  made  and  owned  in  Me- 
costa County.  The  entries  aggregated  over  500,  and 
$408.50  were  i)aid  in  i)remiums.  A  g(x)dly  number 
were  in  attendance,  in  spite  of  bad  weather.  For 
the  succeeding  year  the  following  officers  were  elect- 
ed:  President,  Luther  Cobb;  Treasurer,  W.  I.  Lati- 
mer; Secretary,  G.  W.  Warren;  Directors  for  three 
years — Fitch  Phelps,  of  Colfax;  L.  H.  Roberts,  of 
Morley  ;  W.  W.  Smith,  of  Fork  ;  K.  P.  Strong,  of  Sheri- 
dan ;  C.  Teachout,  of  Green ;  J.  V.  Armstrong,  of 
Ciiippewa.  Director  for  two  years  (to  fill  vacancy 
caused  by  electing  Mr.  Cobb  as  President),  A.  Van- 
gilder,  of  r>ig  Rapids. 

SECOND  FAIR. 

Tlic  second  fair,  held  in  Se[>tcinbcr,  1875,  was 
nuu  h  inferior  lo  the  first  lair.  Tliere  seems  to  have 
been  little  interest  manifested  either  by  exhibitors  or 
visitors.  The  following  officers  were  ele(  ted  :  Presi- 
dent, William  Ladner;  Secretaiy,  John  Dal/iel; 
Treasurer,  C.  M.  Dariah.  Directi)rs  for  three  years: 
J.  T.  Escott,  C.  Main,  Geo.  Gilmore,  R.  D.  Ladner, 
J.  ().  Rose  and  A.  B.  Knapj). 

THIRD   lAlK. 

The  third  annual  fair  was  helil  Oct.  j,  4  and  5, 
1876,  and  was  an  improvement  on  the  preceding. 
Six  hundred  entries  were  made,  and  the  attendance 
was  excellent.  An  annual  aildress  was  delivered  by 
J.  r>.  Uploii.on  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day. 

FOURTH    FAIR. 

The  fourlli  fair,  held  Oct.  2,  3  and  4,  was  still 
better,  as  a  very  general  interest  was  manifested. 
The  display,  both  of  cro[)s  and  live  stock,  was  fine. 
On  the  afteriioon  of  the  second  day,  there  was  a 
band  contest,  in  which  the  Rvart  band  won  the  first 
prize,  the  Big  Rapids  Cornet  Band  the  second  prize, 
and  the  Big  Rapids  Light  Guard  Hind  the  iliird 
prize.  A  baby  show  was  held  the  same  afternoon, 
which  furnished  much  amusement.  Four  prizes 
were  offered.  On  the  last  day  was  held  a  firemen's 
tournament,  in  which  four  companies  entered.  For 
the  ensuing  year  William  Lailner  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, George  W.  Warren  Treasurer,  and  C.  M.  Dar- 
rah, Secretary. 


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FIFTH  FAIR. 

The  fifth  fair,  held  Sept.  i.S,  19  and  20,  1S7.S,  was 
a  partial  failure,  on  account  of  persistent  rain  the 
last  two  days.  The  first  day  gave  promise  of  a  suc- 
cessful fair. 

SIXTH  AND  LAST  FAIR. 

No  fair  was  held  in  1879.  'I'he  sixtji  fair  was  held 
Sept.  28,  29  and  30,  1880.  The  weather  was  very 
unpropitious,  and  Jience  the  attendance  was  small. 
The  number  of  entries  was  222.  The  receipts  were 
so  small  that  the  premiums  were  paid  only  at  the 
rate  of  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar.  Since  then  no  at- 
tempt has  liecn  made  to  have  a  fair.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  enterprising  citizens  of  the  county 
will  take  hold  of  tliis  matter  and  revive  these  fairs, 
as  they  are  unquestionably  a  benefit  to  all. 

FARMERS'  INSTITUTE. 


N  the  fall  of  1879,  it  was  announced  that 
six  farmers' institutes  would  be  held  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  State,  one  of  tliem  at  Big 
Rapids.  This  was  duly  held  Jan.  15  and  16, 
untler  the  direction  of  Professors  Beal  and 
Kedzie,  of  the  State  Agrictdtural  College,  and 
was  a  very  interesting  and  profitable  meeting.  Col. 
N.  H.  Vincent,  as  President,  called  the  assemblage 
to  order  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  Thursday, 
and  delivered  a  short  opening  address.  He  spoke 
approvingly  of  all  gatherings  of  this  kind;  dwelt 
upon  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  better 
understanding  among  farmers,  and  a  more  extended 
cuhivatii}n  of  the  social  relations.  He  urged  the 
organization  of  farmers'  clubs  in  every  town,  that 
there  might  be  frecpient  interchange  of  opinion,  and 
a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  subjects  pertaining  to 
agriculture.  If  the  farmers  would  do  this,  he  felt 
confident  that  the  next  county  fair  would  be  a  grand 
success,  and  result  in  great  profit  to  all  concerned. 
He  expressed  gratification  at  seeing  so  many  farmers 


present,  and  assured  them  that  the  people  of  this 
city  would  endeavor  to  make  their  stay  pleasant 
during  the  session  of  the  institute. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Fraser,  of  Fowlerville,  New  York,  be- 
ing introduced,  gave  an  intcit;sting  lecture  on  the 
structure  and  anatomy  of  the  horse's  foot;  the  vari- 
ous acute  and  chronic  diseases  to  which  the  horse's 
foot  is  subject,  and  the  best  ways  to  avoid  contraction 
of  such  diseases.  He  illustrated  his  talk  by  the  use 
of  the  bones  which  enter  into  the  structure  of  the 
horse's  foot  aiul  lower  part  of  the  leg,  and  also  by 
blackboard  diagrams. 

The  next  morning's  session  opened  with  a  large 
attendance.  After  a  little  time  spent  in  discussing 
questions  from  the  drawer,  R.  Y .  Kedzie,  teacher  ot 
chemistry  in  the  State  Agricultural  College,  was  in- 
troduced, and  delivered  a  learned  lecture  on  "Su|)er- 
phosphate  for  the  Farm."  The  sjieaker  explained 
the  component  parts  of  superphosphates,  their  prop- 
erties and  effects  upon  vegetation,  cost,  etc'.  L.  G. 
Palmer,  of  Big  Rapitls,  then  read  an  excellent  essay 
entitled,  "  Boys  on  the  Farm." 

In  the  afternoon  Judge  Brown,  of  Big  Rapids, 
treated  the  audience  to  an  essay  entitled,  "  Brain  and 
the  Farm."  Mrs.  J.  K.  Upton  read  an  essay  entitled, 
"  Polly  and  the  Kettle;"  and  George  W.  Warren  read 
an  essay  on  the  culture  of  roots  for  winter  and 
spring  feeding.  Prof.  Beal  also  talked  a  little  on  in- 
sects injurious  to  vegetation. 

In  the  evening,  before  a  full  house,  Prof.  Beal 
talked  for  an  hour  or  more  on  "  Horticulture  at  the 
Agricultural  College."  Sherman  Ui)ton,  of  Big 
Rapids,  then  followed  with  "College  Life,"  illustrated, 
embracing  a  series  of  cartoons  and  crayon  sketches. 
This  caused  a  great  deal  of  merriment  and  formed  a 
very  ajipropriate  closing  chapter  of  the  institute. 

Music,  which  was  one  of  the  leading  features,  was 
furnished  by  the  Big  Rapids  and  Green  Glee  Clubs. 
Just  before  final  adjournment,  resolutions  were  unan- 
imously adopted  tendering  thanks  to  the  .Xgricul- 
tural  College  Professors  and  others  from  abroad  for 
their  assistance  and  instruction,  to  the  Glee  Clubs 
for  their  music,  and  to  the  people  of  Big  Rapids  for 
entertainiu"  visitors. 


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STORY  of  railroads  is  not 
void  of  interest,  and  espe- 
cially interesting  is  the  his- 
tory of  railroads  jKissini; 
.  through  Mecosta  County. 
The  pioneer  railroad  of 
this  county  is  the  Cirand 
Rapids  &  Indiana.  Its  history  is 
very  similar  to  that  of  many  other 
railroads  in  the  United  States. 
While  it  is  now  a  profitable,  well- 
equipped  and  well-managed  road,  it 
passed  through  the  usual  stages  of 
struggling  and  poverty  and  mis- 
management incident  to  most  roads 
which  are  attempted  to  he  built  with- 
out money.  The  regular  program  for  all  such  roads 
is  first  to  get  a  land  grant  from  the  State,  then  to 
spend  several  years  in  canvassing  cities  and  town- 
ships for  local  aid  in  the  shape  of  cash  or  bonds ; 
then  to  grade  a  portion  of  the  route  and  build  a  few 
miles  of  railroad;  then  follows  a  period  of  inactivity, 
in  which  frequent  announcements  are  made  to  the 
effect  that  so  many  millions  have  been  raised  in  the 
East  or  in  Europe,  and  work  will  immediately  be  re- 
sumed; then  at  last  the  road  does  slowly  creep  along, 
and  the  citizens  who  first  aided  the  road  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  tlieir  children  may 
finally  ride  over  the   railroad.      In    the    meantime 


trequent  ciianges  ot  management  occur,  lawsuits  re- 
tartl  operations,  and  i)erhaps  the  road  is  sold  two  or 
three  times. 


GRAND  RAPIDS  &  INDIANA   R.   R. 

Ij-  United  States  land  grant  for  the  building  of 
IjIp^SrSp  a  gre^.t  north  and  south  line  was  in  e.xist- 
'"^'m  ^"^'^  '^'^'""  ^^°"'  >8so,  and  efibrts  were  from 
y^  time  to  time  made  to  find  a  company  who 
:  would  accept  it  and  commence  the  work.  In 
the  early  part  of  i860  a  party  of  English  capitalists 
sent  a  representative  to  this  country  in  the  person  of 
Mr.  Samuels,  a  civil  engineer,  to  examine  the  route, 
tile  character  of  the  lands  and  country  through 
which  the  road  was  to  be  constructed,  and  to  make 
his  report  to  ihe  American  directors,  which,  if  favor- 
able, would  at  once  secure  all  the  means  recjuired. 
To  show  what  a  trifling  cause  gave  check  to  the 
growth  of  this  entire  region  for  nine  years  longer,  it 
is  wortii  recording  that  Mr.  Samuels  made  the  sur- 
vey, was  gratified  with  the  prospect,  and  was  before 
the  Board  of  Directors  in  the  city  of  New  York  to 
say  that  he  would  accept  the  securities  and  furnish 
the  money  at  oiice ;  and  while  making  the  final 
arrangeme.its,  ne"s  ■  anie  of  the  disastrous  defeat  of 


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the  Union  army  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
Rising  in  his  seat,  Mr.  Samuels  said :  "  Gentlemen, 
you  cannot  give  us  proper  security  for  our  money. 
Vour  armies  are  defeated,  and  you  have  no  country ! 
Our  conference  is  at  an  end,  and  I  return  to  England 
upon  the  next  steamer." 

After  the  war  closed,  the  project  was  again  revived 
and  the  work  commenced,  the  objective  point  being 
Little  Traverse  Bay,  antl  it  was  only  through  the  un- 
tiring perseverance  and  determination  of  one  man 
that  a  direct  line  was  secured  through  the  embryo 
village  of  Big  Rapids,  and  the  great  benefit  of  a  rail- 
road secured  to  Mecosta  County.  This  road,  the 
Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana,  was  built  and  oi)erated  for 
some  years  under  contract  witli  the  original  owners, 
by  the  "  Continental  Im[)rovenient  Company,  of 
Pennsylvania." 

The  road  was  liuilt  very  slowly,  and  the  various 
townships  and  villages  along  the  proposed  line  were 
thouroughly  canvassed  for  subscriptions  to  aid  the 
construction.  Big  Raiiids,  Green  Township  and 
others  resiwnded  liberally,  voting  the  maximum 
amount  allowed  by  law.  The  line  was  gradually 
constructed  from  Grand  Rapids  northward  as  far  as 
Cedar  Springs,  and  there  seemed  for  a  time  "stuck  ;" 
but  in  the  summer  of  1869  work  was  resumed  north 
of  that  place.  A  thousand  men  were  put  at  work, 
with  teams,  etc.,  and  a  short  journey  from  Big  Rapids 
would  bring  the  citizen  face  to  face  with  the  van  of 
the  army  of  laborers.  During  August,  work  was 
prosecuted  on  the  contract  of  \Villiam  S.  Patterson, 
commencing  two  miles  south  of  Big  Rapids  and  ex- 
tending six  miles  southward. 

The  natural  supposition  would  be  that  the  advent  . 
of  this  road  would  have  united  the  interests  of  all  in 
the  hitherto  isolated  Big  Rapids,  but  on  the  contrary 
there  now  commenced  an  internecine  strife  between 
the  upper  and  lower  portions  of  the  town,  which 
were  alike  disastrous  and  disgraceftd.  The  railroad 
company,  desirous  to  conciliate  all  parties,  endeav- 
ored to  stand  aloof  from  the  contention.  About  this 
time  tlie  afterwards  famous  railroad  magnate,  Tom 
Scott,  bought  a  tract  of  land  of  T.  C.  Hunt,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  near  the  upper  dam,  paying 
therefor  $14,000.  It  was  at  that  time  really  the  in- 
tention of  Mr.  Cass,  President  of  the  Continental 
Improvement  Company,  to  locate  the  repair  shops  of 
the  road  at  this  point;  and  it  was  of  course  generally 


supposed  that  this  fact  would  transfer  the  center  of 
commercial  business  to  the  north  part  of  the  city. 
Residents  of  that  part  were  elated  over  the  prospect, 
and  when  visiting  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower  town 
would  facetiously  observe  that  grass  would  soon 
grow  in  their  streets,  generously  offering  to  furnish 
the  necessary  timothy  and  clover  seed,  even  drinking 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  "  street  dairy  farm."  Soon 
after,  when  the  citizens,  by  a  donation  of  forty  acres 
of  land,  bound  the  railroad  company  to  perpetually 
maintain  a  station  on  east  Maple  street,  a  ])arty  from 
tlie  lower  part  of  town  retaliated  by  going  in  a  body 
to  the  north  side,  and  in  open  day  actually  sowing 
grass  seed  in  the  streets  and  harrowing  it  in.  Bitter 
words  and  still  more  bitter  feeling  resulted,  and  as  a 
matter  of  course  all  general  interests  suffered. 

As  the  road  actually  approached  Big  Rapids,  the 
question  of  location  of  the  dejwt  became  an  impor- 
tant one.  The  company  offered  to  build  the  depot 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  the  site  just  north  of 
the  old  red  saw-mill,  provided  the  city  would  procure 
for  and  donate  to  them  the  right  of  the  way  through  the 
city  limits,  and  the  above  mentioned  field  as  a  site 
for  depot  and  shops,  also' $8,000  in  cash,  or  in  lieu 
thereof  the  bonds  of  the  city  to  the  amount  of  $10,- 
000.  The  citizens  thought  this  demand  was  too  ex- 
orbitant, and  the  railroad  authorities  claimed  that  it 
was  no  more  than  would  fully  compensate  them  for 
the  extra  cost  of  earth-work,  and  several  hundred 
feet  of  extra  track  which  they  claimed  would  l)e  re- 
(juired.  The  result  was  that  as  the  citizens  refused 
to  pay  the  amount  asked,  the  dejwt  was  located  about 
sixty  rods  east  of  the  river,  at  least  three  times  as  far 
from  the  business  center  of  town  as  the  proposed  lo- 
cation on  the  west  side,  .\nother  depot  was  con- 
structed at  the  same  time  at  the  upper  end  of  town,  and 
trains  now  stop  at  both  "  Lower  Big  Rapids "  and 
"  Upper  Big  Rapids." 

Early  in  September,  1869,  G.  A.  McDonell  tS:  Son, 
contractors,  broke  ground  for  the  railroad  within  the 
city  limits  of  Big  Rapids,  east  of  the  river  Muskegon. 

October  i  r  of  the  same  year,  the  comjiany  began 
to  run  daily  trains  each  way  between  Grand  Rapids 
and  Morley,  in  this  county.  One  was  a  passenger 
train,  and  the  other  a  mixed  train,  having  in  addition 
to  freight  cars  two  passenger  coaches.  The  passenger 
made  the  trip  each  way  in  two  hours  and  a  half.  Tliis 
made  Morley  a  place  of  some  consequence,  being  the 


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teniijorary  temiiniis  of  tlie  road,  and  the  growth  of 
the  village  really  dates  from  that  time.  A  ix)st-office 
was  estal)lished  at  Morley,  the  first  postmaster  being 
also  first  station  agent  on  the  railroad, — F.  1'.  Bodwell. 

Ill  the  latter  part  of  May,  1870,  the  company  be- 
gan to  lay  iron  north  of  Morley  at  the  rate  of  a  mile 
a  day,  during  pleasant  weather,  and  on  Monday, 
June  20,  1870,  the  track  reached  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent depot  east  of  the  lower  bridge,  and  the  citizens 
of  Big  Rapids  at  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a 
real  live  locomotive  in  their  midst.  A  barrel  of 
sugar,  surrounded  i)y  about  a  Inuidred  citizens,  greeted 
the  thirsty  track-layers  when  they  reached  the  deixjt 
grounds,  thus  testifying  to  the  satisfaction  felt  by  all 
in  witnessing  the  fulfillment  of  what  had  been  so 
long  promised.     June  30,  the  track  was  laid  to  Paris. 

July  6,  work  was  commenced  on  the  lower  depot 
at  Hig  Rai>ids,  which  was  buiit  24  x  60,  and  was 
ready  for  use  the  same  month.  Another  was  built  of 
the  same  size  at  the  upiier  station,  one  mile  from  the 
lower. 

July  27,  the  interests  of  the  railroad  met  with  a 
temi)orary  check.  An  injunction  was  issued  out  of 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Mecosta  County  enjoining  and 
restraining  the  company  from  running  their  cars 
across  certain  lands  belonging  to  Col.  Stewart  Ives, 
the  company  having  made  no  arrangements  about 
tiie  right  of  way.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day, 
Marshall  Lynch,  of  Big  Rapids,  with  a  corps  of  as- 
sistants, "  tore  up  "  one  length  of  the  rails  which  was 
laid  across  the  saiil  lands.  This  caused  but  a  tem- 
porary delay,  however.  The  company  relaid  the 
rails  and  brought  suit  against  Col.  Ives  for  trespass. 
The  rails  were  not  again  <listurl)ed,  and  on  Monday, 
Aug.  8,  the  first  regular  train  came  through  Big 
Rapids.  Paris  was  now  for  a  short  lime  tlie  termi- 
nus of  the  road. 

The  citizens  of  the  County  began  to  derive  benefit 
from  the  railroad  before  regular  trains  were  run,  as 
freight  was  carried  to  some  extent  on  the  construc- 
tion trains,  by  arrangement  with  Mr.  Zimmerman. 
Between  June  24  and  July  2,  113'j  tons  were 
brought  from  the  South  to  Big  Rapids,  34^  tons  on 
one  day. 

September  13,  1870,  a  special  train  was  run  from 
Grand  Ra|iids  to  Paris,  for  the  accommodation  ofCiov. 
ISaldwin,  wliose  duty  it  was  under  the  law  to  ins])cct 
each  twenty-mile  section  of   road,  as  completed,  in 


order  to  make  the  necessary  certificate  to  secure  the 
railroad  company  the  Government  land  to  which  the 
construction  entitled  them.  The  CJovernor  was  accom- 
panied by  Hon.  T.  W.  Ferry  and  other  prominent 
citizens  of  the  State.  The  party  stopped  at  Big 
Rai)ids  for  dinner,  at  the  Mason  House.  The  Gov- 
ernor and  others  were  profuse  in  praises  of  the  road, 
of  Big  Rapids,  Paris  and  the  surrrounding  country. 
A  week  later  a  train  containing  railroad  notables  and 
others  was  run  from  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  tt)  Paris, 
200  miles,  in  ten  hours. 

For  some  time  it  was  e.vpected  that  the  company 
would  locate  car  shops  at  Big  Rapids ;  but  Grand 
Rapids  held  out  to  the  railroad  officers  such  in- 
ducements that  the  shoi)s  were  erected  in  that  city. 

The  annual  reixjrt  of  the  road  for  the  year  ending 
June  30,  1870,  contained  the  following  with  reference 
to  business  between  Grand  Rapids  and  Morley  : 


From  Passengers, 
"      Freight, 
"      Other  Sources, 

Total, 

( (perating  Expenses, 

Net  Fiarnings, 


S45.903  60 

7  •.97''^  5' 

7.533  22 

$i25.4'5  ZS 

65,182  97 

$60,232  36 


Vi, 


Oct.  10,  1870,  the  road  was  formally  opened 
through  from  Fort  Wayne  to  Paris.  Karly  the  next 
year  it  was  comi)leted  to  Reed  City.  We  will  follow 
its  detailed  history  no  farther.  It  has  since  been 
completed  to  Traverse  City  and  Mackinaw.  The 
importance  of  the  road  to  Big  Rapids,  and  also  of 
Big  Rapids  to  tlie  road,  is  shown  by  llie  following 
table  of  receipts  for  1S71,  at  both  stations  at  Big 
Rai>ids  : 


< 

A 


LFpper  1 

)ei)oi. 

Lower  Dejiot. 

January, 

§45  3 

99 

S3.867 

73 

February, 

341 

46 

3.829 

24 

March, 

611 

92 

3,802 

94 

April, 

748 

62 

3.543 

'9 

May 

752 

97 

3.5  4S 

68 

Iiine, 

816 

82 

3.249 

7S 

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'■ 

.luly, 

688 

5^' 

3.799 

32 

August, 

575 

00 

3.f<3f' 

96 

i 

September, 

1,098 

57 

4.'J37 

«3 

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October, 

974 

3' 

3.9of' 

y] 

November, 

1,162 

98 

5.4«6 

t ' 

J. 

December, 

841 

72 

5.353 
$48,862 

f'5 
40 

S9,o66 

92 

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The  total  at  both  stations  was  therefore $57,929.32. 
Of  course  the  business  now  is  much  larger. 

SMASH-UP. 


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4 


On  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  April  8,  1872,  occurred 
a  smash-up  on  this  road,  in  Mecosta  County,  which 
was  the  most  destructive  that  had  occurred  up  to 
that  time  anywhere  on  its  line.  It  took  place 
between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  about 
five  miles  south  of  Big  Rapids,  the  regular  mail 
train  from  the  south  being  the  victim.  On  that 
■-3  Tuesday  morning,  some  time  after  the  early  mail 
train  had  gone  south,  a  small  jiortion  of  the  road-bed 
over  a  little  swamp,  a  short  distance  north  of  Morley, 
had  settled  so  as  to  render  it  impassable  for  a  time, 
and  necessitated  the  transfer  of  passengers  and  bag- 
gage from  train  to  train  on  either  side  of  the  sink. 
For  this  purpose  locomotive  No.  14,  driven  by 
Engineer  Tinkham,  with  two  box  or  freight  cars, 
backed  down  from  Big  Rapids  in  the  evening,  to 
meet  the  regular  mail  train  from  the  south,  which 
was  due  at  4:46.  Workmen  had  been  engaged  on 
the  sink  during  the  day,  and  at  a  little  before  nine 
o'clock  succeeded  in  repairing  it  so  far  as  to  admit 
of  the  passage  of  trains;  and  instead  of  transferring, 
the  coaches  composing  the  mail  train  were  attached 
to  the  rear  of  the  box  cars,  and  the  whole  proceeded 
toward  Big  Rapids,  at  about  20  miles  an  hour. 

In  passing  through  the  long,  deep  cut  south  of  the 
"  high  bridge,"  about  half  or  three-iiuarters  of  a  mile 
south  of  Byers'  Station,  the.  train  encountered  a 
quantity  of  earth  that  had  caved  down  from  the 
eastern  bank.  The  locgmotive  was  thrown  from  the 
track,  and  the  box  cars,  being  crowded  forward  by  the 
momentum  of  the  baggage  cars  and  coaches,  were 
crushed  and  smashed  into  a  promiscuous  pile  of 
splinters  and  rubbish,  while  the  tender  turned  a 
complete  somersault,  landing  clear  in  front  of  the 
engine,  with  its  rear  to  the  north. 

Three  men  were  in  the  engine  cab  at  the  time  of 

the  accident — M.   II.  Tinkham,  engineer ;  Isaac  L. 

Walker,  fireman,  and  Ed.  Stoff,  brakeman  on  a  freight 

train.     Walker  and  Stoff  were  instantly  killed,  both 

being  so  wedged  in  between  the  wrecked  cars  and 

.V,      engine   that  it  was  impossible  to  extricate  them  till 

/<      the  debris  had  been  removed  by  the  wrecking  train. 

*       'i'he  engineer  was  pitched  forward  through  the  front 

^      cab    window,    and  landed    in    the    mud    beside   the 


boiler,  the  tender  passing  over  him  in  executing  its 
flying  leap.  He  was  considerably  bruised,  but  had 
no  bones  broken.  His  escape  from  an  instant  and 
terrible  death  was  almost  miraculous. 

The  forward  end  of  the  baggage  car  pitched  into 
the  bank  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  track  from  the 
engine,  while  the  rear  end  was  thrown  off  the  other 
way,  leaving  it  diagonally  across  the  track.  Its 
inmates,  the  mail  agent,  baggage-master  and  express 
agent,  all  escaped  with  only  slight  scratches  and 
bruises. 

Forward  of  the  baggage  car,  between  that  and  tlie 
box  cars,  was  a  freight  caboose,  which  contained  a 
large  number  of  laborers  who  had  been  at  work  on 
the  sink ;  and  although  the  caboose  was  somewhat 
stove  up  and  turned  partially  across  the  track,  as 
well  as  canted  up  on  one  side,  none  of  the  men  were 
seriously  hurt. 

The  passenger  coaches  were  brought  to  a  standstill 
without  being  thrown  from  the  track.  They  were  all 
well  filled,  and,  marvellous  as  it  may  appear,  all 
escaped  with  nothing  more  serious  than  fright,  and 
slight  scratclies,  bumps  and  bruises  for  a  few.  This 
good  fortune  is  probably  attributable  to  the  fact  that 
the  crushing  of  the  box  car  materially  diminishetl  the 
shock  which  the  coaches  must  otherwise  have  sus- 
tained, as  well  as  the  moderate  speed  of  the  train. 
Had  it  been  going  at  as  high  a  rale  as  the  mail  train 
usually  runs,  with  no  box  cars  to  receive  the  force  of 
the  shock,  the  inevitalile  result  is  siui|jly  terrible  to 
contemplate. 

The  excitement  and  confusion  which  followed  the 
crash  can  only  be  realized  by  those  wlio  have  wit- 
nessed and  experienced  similar  scenes.  The  dark- 
ness was  impenetrable,  the  mud  on  both  sides  of  the 
track  miry  and  deep,  and  the  whole  hemmed  in  liy 
a  steep  bank  on  either  side,  higher  than  the  tops  of 
the  cars.  The  escaping  of.  steam  from  the  disabled 
engines  made  a  most  frightful  noise,  drowning  tiie 
voices  of  all  about  the  wreck,  and  adding  to  the  al- 
most perfect  bedlam  which  seemed  to  reign  for  a 
time. 

The  train  was  in  charge  tif  Conductor  .\rnold,  who 
walked  to  the  lower  depot  in  Big  Rapids,  bringing 
the  first  intelligence  of  the  disaster,  and  reporting 
the  same  by  telegraph  to  the  company  authorities. 
Quite  a  number  of  passengers  walked  through  to  Big 
Rapids,  anil  during  the  night   several    women    and 


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^   children  were  brought  up  in  wagons  which  were  sent 
■^    down  for  them ;  hut  many    remained    till    morning, 

."^^j  suffering  from  huniier  and  numerous  other  discom- 
forts  incident    to   their   castaway    situation.     These 

"^1 .  then  g<>t  away  as  best  they  could,  some  on  foot,  a  few 
on  a  hand-car,  and  others  in  wagons  which  went 
down  from  this  city. 

Early  that  morning,  the  telegraph  operator  at 
Lower  Hig  Rapids  was  transferred  to  the  wreck,  the 
wire  tapped,  and  direct  communication  opened  with 
headipiarters.  Su|)l.  Gorham  and  Ass't.  Supt.  Walk- 
er were  on  the  ground  as  soon  as  they  could  reach 
there  from  their  respective  headquarters,  and  a  force 
of  men  put  to  work  at  removing  the  debris. 

Walker  had  been  in  the  employ  of  the  comiiany 
some  time,  and  was  a  favorite  among  his  associates. 
He  was  a  single  man.  .Stoff  was  a  married  man, 
his  family  residing  in  Middleville,  Barry  County, 
Mich.  He  had  but  just  entered  the  employ  of  the 
company,  and  was  making  his  second  run  when  his 
earthly  career  was  thus  suddenly  and  tragically  ter- 
minated. No  blame  was  attached  to  the  engineer 
or  any  other  employe  on  the  ill-fated  train.  It  being 
very  dark,  and  the  obstruction  of  exactly  the  same 
color  as  the  road-bed,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that 
he  should  not  discover  it  till  so  near;  and  Iiaving 
passed  safely  over  the  same  track  within  the  preced- 
ing hour,  there  was  nothing  to  occasion  unusual  cau- 
tion on  his  part.  If  blame  rests  anywhere,  it  is  uijon 
the  company,  for  permitting  stumps  and  trees  stand- 
ing \\\K>n  the  very  brink  of  cuts,  to  become  gradually 
undermined,  and  finally  tumble  down  the  bank  with 
the  disastrous  result  witnessed  in  this  instance. 


RE-ORGANIZATION  OF    THE  ROAD. 

Jan.  14,  1874,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  Conti- 
nental Improvement  Conijiany,  held  at  Grand  Rap- 
ids, the  formal  transfer  of  the  road  from  the  C.  I. 
Co.  to  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  completed,  the  latter  having  taken  actual 
possession  on  the  first  of  December  previous.  Un- 
der this  new  arrangement,  W.  O.  Hughart,  of  Pitts- 
burg, formerly  President  of  the  Pittsburgh  Connells- 
ville  Road,  was  elected  President  of  the  G.  R.  &  I. 
R.  R.,  and  entered  at  once  wyion  the  active  duties  of 
his  oftice.  He  made  Grand  Rapids  his  home,  and 
from  that  time  on  the  road  has  been  managed  exclu- 
sively from  that  city. 


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CHICAGO  &  WEST    MICHIGAN    R    R. 

HIS  was  the  second  road  built  into  Me- 
costa County,  and  was  projected  soon  after 
the  G.  R.  iV  I.  Ry.  first  entered  the  County 
Feb.  5,  1870,  a  meeting  of  representative  citi- 
zens was  held  at  the  Mason  House  in  Big  Raj)- 
ids,  at  which  resolutions  were  adoiHed  favoring 
the  building  of  a  railroad  from  Muskegon  to  'Big 
Rapids,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  citizens  of  Muskegon  and  intermediate  points. 
This  committee  consisted  of  Gen.  S.  Bronson,  Hon. 

C.  C   Fuller,  J.  F.  Brown,  Col.  Stewart  Ives,  Andrew 
Green,  George  F.  Stearns,  T.  D.  Siinson,  J.  O.  Rose, 

D.  M.  Benjamin,  Charles  Shafer,  E.   Fisher  and  G. 
W.  Crawford. 

Another  meeting  was  held  March  21,  at  Brown's 
1  lall,  at  which  enthusiastic  speeches  were  made  ;  and 
it  was  reported  that  the  citizens  of  Muskegon  had 
already  subscribed  $30,000,  and  would  raise  the 
amount  to  $So,ooo.  Resolutions  were  ado|>ted  in 
favor  of  Big  Rapids  Township  aiding  the  scheme  to 
the  extent  of  $40,000. 

The  Muskegon  &  Big  Rainds  Railroad  Company 
was  formally  organized  April  12,  1870,  at  Muskegon. 
Big  Rapids  was  represented  on  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors by  George  F.  Stearns,  John  F.  Brown,  Jacob  O. 
Rose,  Col.  Stewart  Ives  and  Sumner  .Stickney.  Gen. 
Bronson  and  Col.  Ives  were  ai)i)ointcHl  from  this  city 
to  receive  subscriptions.  At  a  sul)set|iient  meeting 
of  the  Directors,  oflicers  of  the  company  were  elected 
as  follows:  Alexander  Rogers,  President;  George 
F.  Stearns,  Vice  President;  Stewart  Ives,  Secretary; 
C'hauncey  Davis,  Treasurer.  Early  in  May  the  actual 
survey  of  the  road  was  commenced,  and  all  seemed 
to  be  going  on  well,  when  unexpectedly  the  Suineme 
Court  of  Michigan  decided  against  the  constitution- 
ality of  local  aid  given  to  railroads.  This  decision 
killed  many  railroad  projects  in  the  State,  and  for  a 
time  the  Muskegon  v\:  Big  Rapitls  Railroad  seemed 
to  have  been  effectually  strangleil. 

After  a  year  or  so,  however,  the  company  was  once 
more  organized,  with  Hon.  I,.  G.  Mason  as  President, 
and  F.  A.  Nims  as  Secretary,  and  it  was  determined 
to  build  the  road  with  no  aid  except  that  of  individ- 
uals.     In    the    summer  of    1S72    they   visited    New 


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York,  and   on    returning  announced   that   the  road 
could  be  built  and  equipped  that  year,  under  one  ar- 
,'i    rangement.     This  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a 
1      consolidation  of  the  company  with  the  Chicago  & 
'  .    Michigan  Lake  Shore,  whose  road  was  then  built  and 
operated  as  far  north  as  Pentwater.     This  arrange- 
ment was  cordially'endorsed  bytlie  stockholders  and 
directors  resident  at  Big  Rapids  and  Muskegon,  and 
the  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  entire  road, 
to  be  completed  and  in  running  order  by  the  first  of 
i    January  following,  was  let  to  a  Mr.  Thompson,  a  rail- 
'Pd   road  contractor  wlio  had  just  been  performing  a  piece 
^    of  work  for  the  Michigan  Central,  and  who  at  once 
transferred  his  entire  force  of  about   i,ooo  men,  with 
all  tlie  necessary  tools  anti  ciiuipmenTs  for  railroad 
work,  to  this  Muskegon  &  Big  Rapids  road,  begin- 
ning at  the  same   time   at  both   ends  of  the   line. 
With  this  large,  efficient  and  well  organized  corps, 
the  work  was  pushed  as  rajiidly  forward  as  it  could 
have  been  under  the  circumstance.s. 


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Owing  to  bad  weather  and  other  obstacles,  the 
completion  of  the  road  was  delayed  till  the  summer 
of  1873.  In  July,  regular  trains — two  passenger 
and  one  freight — were  put  on  the  line.  The  stations 
and  distances  on  the  line  are  as  follows:  Big 
Rapids;  Hungerford,  6}^  miles  from  Big  Rapids; 
Traverse  Road,  11  miles;  Filigree's  Dam,  19  miles; 
Morgan  Station,  20  miles;  AUeyton,  21  miles;  Wor- 
cester, 25  miles;  Fremont  Center,  31  miles;  Fre- 
mont Lake,  i^;^  miles  ;  County  Line,  36  miles;  Holton, 
yj  miles;  Twin  Lake,  45  miles;  Big  Rapids  Junc- 
tion, 5  i  miles;  Muskegon,  55  miles. 

The  completion  of  the  road  was  celebrated  by  an 
excursion  from  Big  Rapids  to  Muskegon,  which  was 
well  patronized.  In  connection  with  this  road's  his- 
tory, it  may  be  mentioned  as  an  interesting  fact  tliat 
it  crosses  the  natural  bed  of  Mitcliell  Creek  thirty- 
two  times  within  two  miles  of  Big  Rapids,  and 
thirty-eight  times  within  three  and  a  ipiarter  miles. 
Five  or  six  years  after  the  completion  of  this  road, 
the  Chicago  &  Michigan  Lake  Sliore  and  the  Muske- 
gon and  Big  Ra|)ids  lailroails  were  organized  as  one 
road,  under  the  name  of  the  Ciiicago  &  West  Michi- 
gan railroad. 

Tims  the  city  of  Big  Rapids  has  direct  communi- 
cation witli  ("hicago  and  all  the  lake  ports  interven- 
ing. 


HIS  was  the  third  railroad  built  into  Me- 
costa County.  Its  present  northwestern 
terminus  is  Big  Rapids.  The  Ionia  &  Stan- 
ton Branch  of  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  R.  R.  was  made 
by  consolidating  the  Ionia  &  Stanton  road  with 
the  D.,  L.  &  N.,  a  number  of  years  ago,  and 
almost  every  year  since  the  project  has  been  dis- 
cussed of  extending  that  road  to  Big  Rapids.  Feb. 
21,  1879,  Col.  J.  O.  Hudnutt  received  a  letter  from 
J.  B.  Mulhken,  Suijerintendent  of  the  D.,  L.  &  N., 
saying  that  he  was  then  "  ready  to  talk  railroad  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  listen  to  any  proposition  the  citizens 
might  wish  to  make."  On  the  evening  of  tlie  next 
day  a  meeting  of  business  men  was  held  at  the 
Mason  House  to  talk  up  the  matter  and  answer  a 
list  of  questions  proposed  by  Mr.  Mulliken.  John 
F.  Brown,  F.  Stearns,  F.  Fairman,  J.  T.  Escolt  and 
C.  P.  Bigelow  were  appointed  a  committee  to  confer 
with  the  railroad  authorities.  The  railroad  company 
finally  agreed  to  ask  no  money  bonus,  b\it  to  liuild 
the  road  at  once,  if  the  citizens  would  procure  the 
right  of  way  through  the  county,  which  was  done. 

A  meeting  was  held  at  Big  Rapids,  May  ro,  to 
discuss  means  for  obtaining  the  right  of  way.  It 
was  finally  decided  that  the  most  feasible  and  prac- 
tical way  would  be  to  solicit  subscriptions  from  the 
resident  property-holders  of  the  city,  ecpuil  to  about 
two  per  cent,  of  their  respective  assessed  valuations, 
to  be  paid  as  needed  in  ten  per  cent,  installments. 
The  following  committeer  were  ap[)ointed  to  solicit 
such  subscriptions:  First  Ward,  E.  P.  Clark  and  1''. 
W.  Joslin;  Second  Ward,  H.  R.  Hardy  and  S.  S. 
Wilco-x;  Third  Ward,  G.  W.  Warren  and  C.  D. 
Crandell;  Fourth  Ward,  S.  C.  Webster  and  J.  T. 
Escott;  Fifth  Ward,  P.  I'-rikson  and  S.  S.  Criswokl. 
These  committees  met  with  gratifying  success  in 
their  canvass,  and  in  four  days  reported  from  the 
First  Ward  $1,200;  Second  Ward,  $2,100;  Third 
Ward,  $900;  Fourth  Ward,  $500;  Fifth  Ward,  $100; 
total  $4,800. 

The  road  was  completed  to  P.ig  Rapids  in  the 
spring  of  1880,  and  regular  trains  began  running  on 
Monday,  May  31.  This  road  is  now  the  luincipal 
medium  of  traffic  with  the  East,  and  Mecosta  C^omity 
has  now  railroads  extending  to  each  of  the  four 
points  of  the  compass. 


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AfECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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^  S  the  settlers  of  Mecosta 
^^  County  came  fioiii  a  (■ouiitiy 
y  of  free  schools,  their  nttach- 
/'*  ment  to  such  institutions  re- 
mained with  them,  and  soon 
became  manifest  in  their  works. 
They  believed  that  svich  agencies 
were  the  most  powerful  in  advanc- 
1  ing  the  condition  of  the  i)eo])le. 
The  great  Frenchman,  Jules  Simon, 
said:  "That  people  which  has  the 
best  schools  is  the  best  people;  if  it 
is  not  so  to-day,  it  will  be  so  to-mor- 
row. "  The  first  school-house  in 
the  county  was  built  in  May,  1858, 
nine  years  before  the  people  were 
able  to  build  the  first  church.  During  the  summer 
of  the  same  year,  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Evarts  taugln  the 
first  school.  This  was  on  sec.  28,  in  the  township  of 
(ireen.  The  scIkkiIs  of  the  county  have  more  than 
kejit  pace  with  the  progress  of  other  matters. 

The  following  are  the  latest  educational  statistics 
for  Mecosta  County,  being  compiled  for  the  year 
1882: 

School  Children  and  Apportionment. 

Wlioli-  iMiinlii'r  i>\  childri'ii  in  ii'ii>u<.  I..MI7 

NiitnlxM- iiii  hiilcil  ill  :i|(|Miitii>iiiiiriil.  -l.lTii 

Si-hoiil  riiiiil  appiirtioni'il  S.">,r)'">0.'i4 

General  School  Statistics. 

Xo.  tiiwiisliiiis  anil  cith's  I" 

"     si'liool  (listricls  '^•"> 
"     ilistrii-ts  that  maintained  si-liDol    duriiifj:  year 

'■     ^nuli'il  siliiinls  •'! 

••    chililicn  liclwiMMi  livi-  and  twenty  years  of  a^Ti-  ."i.(K»."> 


\(i.  of  1  liililieii  alli'iiiliiii;  -iIhmiI  ilminj;  ilie  year     :{,7<iO 

.\ve|-:iiri'    iiiiiiiImt    nl'  inniillis   seliools  were  niaili- 

laiiii'il  li.t; 

Nil.  Ill'  liiiik  ^iliiiiil-liiiiiM's  1 

■■     nl'  liMiiie  scliiiiil-lKinses  (is 

••     of  lug  srli(i(il-li(iii.-es  l(i 

"     iif  pupils  lliat  rail  lie  aeeoiiiiniiilateil  ;'i.tl08 

Ksliiiialed  value  of  selidiil  property  §85.204 


4 


■"•     ^ ■    !"■•    I 

\(i.  of  i(iwiisliip>  loi  I'eitinjj  I  heir  lilirary  iimneys 

■■     Iciwnsliips  m.iinlaiiiing  liliraiies  .1 

Wlmle  niiiiilier  111'  vnliiines  ill  liliiaries  'ISA 

.\iiiniiiii  {i:iiil  Icir  I K-  ami  i.ue  ol'  liliraries  .Sll.-V! 

.\iiniiiiil  lit  taxes  VHled  tor  liliraries  ."i(t.(Kt 
.Nnioiiiil  lines,  ele..   reeeiveil  I'ldiii    ('oiinly    'I'reas- 

iirer  lor  support  of  libraries  Pi7.9."i 


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KMi'i.in  mi;n  r  Ol-  •rK.\(iii:Ks. 

No.  ol   male  teaelieis  eiiiployeil  ;j(l 

■•     female  leaeliers  eiiiployeil  101 

"      mniillis  lailglil  liy  male  le.ielieis  20.i.-l 

■■      moiillis  lailglil  by  female  leaeliers  Xl'^.2 

'Icilal  uages  of  male   leaelieis  lor  the  year  8li,!)H.">.(W 

'I'olal  wages  ol'  lemale  leaelieis  for  llie  year  l.')..!7".  14 

Average  numlhly  wages  of  male  leaeliiMs  :il.(l!l 

Average  monthly  wages  of  female  leaelieis  ■2.'^.84    ^ 

KKSOiniCKS  OK  SCIIOUI.  msTIilCTS.  I, 

Moneys  on  liaiiil  Sepl.  .">.  ISSl  S](;.7!l!).!).". 

OiK'-ii'iill  lax  2.77."i.:«» 

I'limarv  school  iiiien'>l  fiim!  !).:!0!l.ll 

l.ilir.ny  moneys  1.07!».:i:t 

Disiiii'i  laxesfor  all  imrposes  :iO,:{2l.2S 

I'ai-i'il  lidiii  all  oilier  sonrees  .■<.S1!).72 

Tolal  le-oiirees  for  llie  year  (i."i.250.2!> 


KXI'KN  urn  lil  s  ii|-  SI   IKidl.  lU^I  Kli    r'-. 

Paid  leaeliii-.  .•*22.2;!l.iil 

■'     lor  liiiildings  and  repairs  l."i.271.2li 

lilirary  hooks  and  care  of  lihrai  y  S(;;{.OS 

on  honded  illdehledlies~  .■i,(>Sl).7:! 

for  all  oilier  |iiirpo~i  >  <>.882.17 

.\nioiiiil  on  hand  Sepl.  1.  1S,S2  14.:I21.44 

Total  expeiidilures.  ineliKliiig  aim I  on  liand  (l."i,2.")0.2!t 

STATISTICS  o|-  ToWNSIIir    l.ll'.H  UdKS. 
No.  of  lownslilps  leporllng    lihiaiy  moneys  used 
for  general  selioid  purpose 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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STATISRS  OF  SCHOOL  DISTKICT  LIBUARIES. 

'•          female  teachers 

14 

No.  of  (listrk-ts  of  le.ss  than  100  cliiUlivn.  report- 

Average  number  of  pupils  to  each  teacher 

47 

iiii;  liliraiics 
No.  of  voliiiiu's  reported  liy  tlic  same 

7 

487 

Mecosta. 

••     ilistricts  of  more  tliaii  100  ehililn'ii. 

main- 

Xumlier   of    children     lietweeii    five    and    twenty 

taiiiinu;  litiraiies 

:{ 

years 

172 

Xo.  of  vdliniies  addi'd  duniij;  yi'ar 

'.m 

Estimated  value  of  school  property 

.$2,100 

"     voliiiiii's  ill  siu-li  lilirarifs 

1.04.") 

Amoimt   paid   for    siiperiiileiideiice    and    instruc- 

Amoimt paid  for  siip|ior|  of  siuli  iilnarii's 

§7.")0.2S 

tion 

3.-.6..-)0 

of    lino.   etc..    leeeiviil    from    < 

omit  V 

Average  monthly  wages  of  male  teachers 

40.00 

Treasure)- 

i,oo-j.3.s 

'■              ■■              ••            female  teachers 

3.5.74 

Expeiuliture.s                                                              1 

,2S5..5!) 

Graded  School  Statistics. 

M<,ih;j. 

Jiig  Bapids. 

Xumlier    of    diildreii    hetweeu    live    and    twenty 

Nimi))er  of   cUildren   Ijctvoen   five    and 

wentv 

years 

13.-) 

vea  r.s 

!.(«!» 

Estimated  valuation  of  school  projierty 

§1,000 

Estimated  valuation  of  seliool  property 

.$30,000 

Amount   paid   for    superintendence  and   instruc- 

Amoimt jiaid  for  instriietion 

6,.5(il  .J.") 

tion 

70.5 

Averai;e  montlily  waires  of  male  teachers 

•      130.00 

Average  monthly  wages  of  male  tiMchers 

50 

Averaj;e  monthly  wages  of  female  teai-hers 

33..5.-> 

"               ••             female  teachers 

3.5 

Grand  total  exiiemli tines 

■21 ,171 .02 

Total  cost  per  capita  for  instruction  and  inci- 

(iraiid total  indelitedness 

0.000.00 

dentals 

il.r)S 

( 'osi  |iere:i  )ila  of  instiiirtion 

S.72 

Total  euidlliueiit 

114 

Total  enrol  ment 

I.OSII 

Average  numlier  helongiug 

80 

Avera<;e  iiumlier  lielonjcing 

020 

daily  attendance 

0.5 

••  '      daily  atteiidaiiee 

.■)30 

Xumlier  of  male  teachers 

1 

Nmnher  of  male  teachers 

1 

■'            female  teachers 

1 

\}pm^jj^o)^*m^  1 


^p 


r^Ess. 


S    tlie    Big    Rapids    Pioneer 
Sg  was  the    pioneer  newspaper 
§    of    this   part   of    the    State, 
"     it  was  rightly  named.     The 
sfc,"-^.?^;:'-  j,^      first  number  was  issued  April 
"'",i\   17,   I S6 2,  and  was  a  very  credit- 
able sheet    in   every    particular, 
though  it  did  not  exhibit  a  very 
liberal  advertising  patronage  for 
the   first    few  months.      It  was 
started  as  a  five-column  folio,  by 
Charlie  Gay,  as  pulilisher  and  pro- 
prietor, and  though  it  has  had  several 
changes  in  size,  it  has  been  essenti- 
ally under  the  same  management  for 
the  nearly  twenty-two  years  it  has  thus  far  been  pub- 


■K-^D!i:o:Dtl>:>A 


ished.  Established  when  Big  Rapids  (or  Leonard) 
had  less  than  150  inhabitants,  and  Mecosta  County 
little  over  1,000  inhaL'itants,  and  always  devoted  to 
both  town  and  county,  even  its  enemies  admit 
that  it  has  materially  aided  in  the  development 
and  progress  of  this  seition  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 
Politically  it  has  lieen  uniformly  an  exponent  of 
Rei)ublican  principles,  which,  when  the  paper  was 
started,  were  synonymous  with  support  of  the  Union. 
The  following  salutatory  gives  the  platform  of  the 
paper,  and  also  shows  to  some  extent  the  feeling 
generally  prevailing  among  the  people: 

"  In  presenting  our  little  sheet  to  the  public  for 
their  <  riticism,  we  shall  offer  no  aixilogy  for  its  di- 
minutive proportions  or  for  the  matter  contained 
therein,  but  bespeak  for  the   Pioneer  a  candid  and 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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impartial  reading.  It  will  be  the  aim  of  this  paper 
to  ailvance  the  interests  of  Mecosta  County,  not  fur- 
getting  in  tlie  meantime  the  interests  of  the  pro- 
prietor. 

"As  to  [(olitics,  we  shall  discuss  them  as  little  as 
possible,  believing  as  we  do,  that  at  the  present 
time,  when  our  country  is  shaken  to  its  center  by  the 
most  causeless  revolt  that  has  ever  happened  in  the 
history  of  nations,  as  the  lamented  Douglas  said, 
"  ever)'  man  is  a  patriot  or  k  traitor." 

"  We  shall  not  stop  to  discuss  party  issues, 
nor  party  measures,  but  stand  on  the  broad  platform 
of  American  liberty ;  determined  to  know  no  party 
preferences  aside  from  the  one  great  and  glorious 
sentiment,  "'the  union,  the  constitution  and  en- 
forcement of  the  LAWS.' 

"When  this  unholy  rebellion  sh.ill  have  been 
crushed,  and  its  guilty  leaders  have  suffered  a  just 
penalty  for  their  damning  treason  ;  when  the  glorious 
old  Stars  and  Strifies  shall  wave  again  in  triumph 
over  the  whole  of  our  reconstructed  Union,  and 
peace  again  smiles  upon  us,  then  we  shall  find  time 
to  talk  of  party  politics — not  till  then.  We  shall 
heartily  supjwrt  the  National  administration  as  long 
as  its  policy  is  the  utter  subjugation,  and  annihilation 
if  need  be,  of  traitors  to  our  flag;  not  believing  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  Government  to  treat  with  treason, 
nor  to  be  influenced  by  any  excuses  which  may  be 
made  for  the  rebellion,  by  Southern  rebels  or  North- 
ern traitors. 

"  We  liave  always  been  a  Repulilican  since  the 
first  organization  of  the  iJarty;  but  we  now  stand  on 
the  great  Union  plattbrm,  with  the  President,  all 
Union  Republicans  and  patriotic  men  who  have 
forn.erly  been  identified  with  liie  Democratic  parly, 
as  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Joseph  Holt,  Andy  Johnson 
and  hosts  of  others  who  love  their  country  more 
than  the  notoriety  of  being  party  leaders,  or  the  re- 
cipient of  party  favor.  \\'e  shall  claim  the  right  of 
expressing  our  views  through  the  columns  of  the 
Fioiu-er  on  any  and  all  subjects,  as  our  motto  will  be 

"  INDEPENDENT    IN     ALL    THINCS,    NEUTRAL    IN   NOTH- 

INO ;  "  and  we  may  say  some  things  that  will  be  dis- 
tasteful to  our  readers;  therefore  we  will  here  ask 
their  pardon  in  advance,  as  we  can  do  so  with  inucli 
better  grace  than  after  the  offense  is  committed.  It 
will  not  be  our  policy  to  criticise  the  actions  of  our 
leading  statesmen,  nor  the  behavior  of  our  Generals; 


neither  to  advise  the  President  when  it  is  best  to 
order  the  advance  of  our  "Grand  Army,  "  believing 
as  we  do  that  those  whom  we  as  a  nation  have  en- 
trusted with  the  management  of  the  civil  and  mili- 
tary affairs  of  the  country,  are  ([uite  as  competent 
tu  judge  of  what  is  best  and  necessary  in  the  matter 
as  we  are,  pioneers  in  a  Michigan  wilderness 
neither  shall  we  be  so  very  severe  in  our  reviews  of 
the  leading  journals  of  the  Union  as  some  of  the 
country  papers  sometimes  are,  thinking  that  perhaps 
their  editors  are  as  competent  and  do  as  well  as  we 
would  under  like  circumstances.  And  finally,  we 
sliall  attempt  to  mind  our  own  business,  work  for  the 
success  of  the  Pioneer,  and  strive  to  render  it  worthy 
of  the  confidence  and  sui)port  of  the  people  of  Me- 
osta  C'ounty  and  the  respect  of  our  contemporaries. '" 

C".  ('.  Fuller  was  associated  with  tiie  Pioneer  in  an 
editoiial  cai)acity  from  the  beginning  forseveral  years, 
but  for  the  first  three  years  it  was  owned  exclusively 
by  Ml  Gay.  Dec.  2,  1865,  with  the  beginning  of  the 
fourth  volume,  appeared  the  announcement  that 
Orrin  T.  Fuller  had  been  received  as  a  partner.  The 
paper  was  then  jiublished  by  Charlie  Gay  &  Co.  un- 
til May,  1S73,  and  then  Mr.  Gay  was  alone  until 
November,  1876,  when  the  A/agne/ was  combined 
with  the  Pioneer,  and  the  Pioneer-Magnet  Printing 
Company  was  formed,  consisting  of  Charlie  Gay,  M. 
\V.  Barrows,  and  E.  O.  Rose.  In  February,  18S2, 
Mr.  Harrows  purchased  Mr.  Rose's  interest.  Since 
Ml  IJarrow's  death  in  February,  1S83,  Ml  Gay  has 
been  once  more  sole  manager,  although  Mrs.  Bar- 
rows still  retains  an  interest  in  the  paper.  Besides 
these  changes  in  ownership,  the  paper  has  experi- 
enced several  changes  in  size.  For  the  first  five 
years  it  was  published  as  a  five-coluinp  folio,  l-'rom 
1867  to  1S70  it  was  a  seven. coUunn  folio.  F'rom 
187010  1874,  a  nine-column  folio;  and  in  the  latter 
year  it  was  enlarged  again  to  a  seven-i  olumn  quarto. 
On  this  occasion  its  name  was  changed  to  the  "Big 
Rapids  Pioneer. ''' 

Nov.  16,  1876,  ai)peared  the  first  number  of  the 
Pioneer-Magnet,  the  editors  of  the  two  palter^  having 
concluded  to  join  forces.  The  following  announce- 
ment explained  this  change: 

We  greet  our  patrons  and  friends  to-day  with 
the  Pioneer-Mitgnef,  a  consolidation  of  the  Big 
Rapids  Mitgnet  and  the  Big  Rapids  Pioneer. 
We  have  merged  the  mataial  and  business  of  the 
two   offices   into   one,   and   have  organized  a  stock 


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association  under  the  laws  of  this  State,  which  is  to 
be  known  as  "The  Pioneer-Magnet  Printing  Com- 
pany." This  change  has  been  adopted  after  mature 
deliberation,  with  the  belief  that  it  will  enable  us  to 
more  effectually  promote  our  own  and  tlic  public 
interests. 

The  Fionrci-Ma^^net  will  be,  as  its  predecessors 
have  ever  been,  the  champion  of  all  the  material  in- 
terests and  v;iried  resources  of  Mecosta  County.  No 
effort  will  be  spared  to  make  it  a  welcome  visitor  to 
every  family,  and  a  source  of  profit  to  all  business 
men  whose  patronage  it  may  enjoy.  In  politics  it 
will  be  Republican  to  the  core.  It  must  not  be 
understood  from  this,  however,  that  it  is  blindly 
pledged  to  sanction  every  measure  and  act  of  the 
party,  or  of  its  individual  members,  for  deserving 
criticism  will  never  be  withheld. 

The  patronage  and  friendship  which  our  respective 
papers  have  enjoyed  in  the  past  are  duly  ajipreciated, 
and  we  venture  the  hope  that  the  business  relations 
between  our  new  company  and  the  public  may  be 
pleasant  and  mutually  profitable.  With  the  increased 
facilities  afforded  by  uniting  the  material  and 
machinery  of  two  well  ecpiipped  printing-offices,  and 
the  employment  of  thoroughly  competent  workmen, 
we  flatter  ourselves  that  the  "  Pioneer-Magnet  Com- 
pany "  has  no  superior  in  the  printing  business  in 
Western  Michigan. 

E.  O.  Rose. 

Charlie  Gav. 

M.  W.  B.\RRo\vs. 

The  daily  issue  was  started  Aug.  i,  i88i,in  size  a 
five-column  folio.  The  following  salutatory  greeted 
the  public  at  this  time: 

In  commencing  Uie  publication  of  the  daily  Pio- 
iitcr-Magiiet,  we  have  but  little  to  say.  Believing 
that  a  readable  nevvsi)aper,  containing  the  latest  tele- 
grai)hic,  general  and  local  news,  will  i)e  su|)ported  by 
the  people  of  Big  Ra|3ids  and  vicinity,  we  undertake 
to  furnish  such  a  i)a[)er.  A  liberal  outlay  of  money 
for  telegraphic  news  and  help  will  be  made,  and  an 
earnest  effort  put  forth  to  make  the  daily  Pioiiccr- 
Magnci  worthy  of  the  patronage  it  seeks.  It  will 
contain  the  regular  afternoon  press  dispatches,  which 
cost  quite  a  sum  of  money,  and  no  efforts  will  be 
spared  to  make  its  local  news  department  perfect  and 
com[)lete.  Wiienever  warranted  l)y  the  demands  of 
patronage,  its  jiresent  modest  proportions  will  be 
enlarged,  and  all  improvements  necessary  to  keep 
pace  with  the  times  will  be  made.  Trusting  that  our 
efforts  will  be  appreciated,  and  supported  by  an  intel- 
ligent public,  the  daily  J'/iwcrr-Magnrt  is  launc  hed 
upon  the  sea  of  journalism. 

April  24,  icS82,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  J'io- 
neer,  and  the  size  made  six  columns. 

The  Big  Rapids  il/a^'/ztV  was  established  under  the 


name  of  the  Big  Rapids  Independent,  in  1870,  the 
first  number  appearing  June  21.  E.  O.  Rose  was 
editor  and  proprietor.  It  was  started  as  a  four-page, 
32-column  paper,  very  neat  in  appearance,  and  mani- 
festing much  ability.  The  following  extracts  are 
taken  from  the  salutatory  : 

This  is  an  humble  and  [lerhaps  difficult  undertak- 
ing, promi]ted  by  neither  desire  nor  ambition  to  con- 
trol in  political  or  societary  matters,  but  to  be  a 
chronicler  of  local  and  general  news,  which  we  pro- 
pose making  a  specialty,  and  in  which  we  shall 
endeavor  not  to  be  excelled, — in  other  words,  we 
shall  publish  a  news  paper.  We  do  not  mean  by 
this,  liowever,  that  upon  all  political  and  social  sub- 
jects we  shall  be  silent,  for  we  shall  fearlessly 
express  our  opinions  and  convictions  upon  any  and  all 
matters  in  which  we  happen  to  become  interested, 
and  condemn  wrong  whenever  and  wherever  we 
find  it. 

In  our  political  ideas  we  shall  be  governed  by  no 
man  nor  set  of  men,  and  our  platform  will  be  Inde- 
pendence IN  EVERYTHING,  NEUTRALITV  IN  NOTHING. 

In  National  and  State  politics  we  shall,  from  a 
life-long  preference  for  the  great  and  undying  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  party,  support  the  nominees 
of  that  party ;  but  in  local  politics,  where  we  have 
the  advantage  of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  the 
individuals  craving  the  support  of  the  i)cople,  we  re- 
spectfully reserve  the  right  to  determine  for  ourselves 
which  is  the  most  deserving  of  it,  believing  as  we  do 
that  in  all  local  and  jietty  offices,  integrity,  conijie- 
tency  and  fitness  should  have  more  to  do  with  the 
selection  than  party  lines. 

Promises  are  among  the  cheapest  conmiodities,  and 
sometimes,  at  the  commencement  of  su(  h  an  enter- 
prise, more  are  made  than  are  afterward  fulfilled; 
but  not  being  given  to  a  profusion  of  them,  and  pre- 
ferring to  be  judged  by  our  deeds  rather  than  words, 
we  simply  announce  that  we  shall  publish  just  as 
good  a  paper  as  is  possible  with  our  limited  facilities, 
and  as  the  supiwrt  we  receive  will  warrant,  and  that 
it  will  be  our  special  aim  to  make  the  Independent 
interestinsi  and  profitable,  not  only  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  Big  Rapids  and  Mecosta  County,  but 
of  the  whole  Muskegon  Valley. 

With  the  beginning  of  tiic  year  187  i,  J.  O.  Rose 
became  a  partner,  and  the  paper  was  published  by 
J.  O.  and  E.  O.  Rose,  the  latter,  however,  continu- 
ing to  manage  the  paper  personally.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  its  fifth  volume,  June  18,  1874,  the  Magnet 
(the  name  for  which  the  Independent  had  been  ex- 
changed) was  enlarged  to  a  six-column  quarto.  The 
connection  of  J.  ().  Rose  ceased  the  last  of  October, 
1874,  and  the  paper  was  then  published  and  edited 


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by  E.  O.  Rose  alone    until    it    was    united  with  the 
Fiont-i-r,  in  November,  1876. 


^  Big  Rapids  Regulator. 

^El'T.  I,  1880,  the  jiaper  bearing  this  name 

was  established,  and  published  witli  more 

or  less  regularity  for  about  two  years,  by 

David    Drake   Cooper,   of    Big   Rapids.      He 

claims  to   have   liad  a  circulation  of  1,200  at 

one  time;  and  at  the  present  writing  promises 

that  the  paper  will  soon  be  revived. 

Big  Rapids  Current. 

3i^K  I-IVELY  paper  by  the  above  name,  and 
^1(^3^  the  youngest  of  the  three  at  Big  Rapids, 
%^^  is  published  Wednesdays,  by  V.  W.  Bruce.  It 
'J'ir    was  started  early  in   1879,  by  Mr.  Bruce  and 


W.  F.  Slawson,  the  first  number  appearing 
February  6.  Tiie  following  is  extracted  from 
the  salutatory : 

In  the  ages  long  ago,  before  Big  Rapids  had  a 
name  or  even  a  being,  the  powerful  current  which 
now  flows  through  our  beautiful  ciiy  started  on  its 
course  from  the  highlands  of  Michigan,  around 
Hougiiton  Lake,  and  ever  onward  lias  been  its  flow, 
scattering  l)lessings  without  number  to  all  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  .Muskegon  Valley. 

To-day  another  Curriiil  starts  on  its  course  to  ac- 
complish a  similar  purpose;  and  it  is  tlie  earnest 
hope  of  the  |)ul)lishers  tliat  it  may  as  honorably  ful- 
fill its  mission.  We  do  not  come  basing  our  hopes 
of  success  ui)on  the  downfall  of  others;  for  did  we 
not  believe  that  there  is  room  for  another  paper  in 
Mecosta  County,  among  its  thousands  of  iniia!)itants, 
we  should  not  come. 

We  shall  make  the  collection  of  local  and  county 
news  a  s|)ecialty,  and  will  be  grateful  for  any  such 
items  furnished,  whether  we  deem  it  best  to  use  them 
or  not.  Party  jwlitics  and  its  rewards  shall  not  beour 
gliding  star,  although,  being  Republicans,  we  shall 
stand  by  our  principles  as  individuals;  but  our  pa|)er 
will  be  independent  (not  neutral)  on  all  [xilitical 
matters.  Temperance  being  the  great  <|uestion  of 
the  day,  our  Current  will  gladly  bear  on  the  temper- 
ance standard  worthy  men  and  measures,  without 
exception,  who  may  confidently  look  for  our  encour- 
agement and  supixjrt,  but  no  others  need  apply.  To 
build  up  and  strengthen  the  community  in  every  way 


possible  will  be  our  constant  aim,  and  every  enter- 
prise bearing  this,  or  the  development  of  the  city  and 
county,  in  view,  may  draw  on  us  as  the  soil  uixm 
that  other  current. 

The  C///7<7// was  started  as  a  seven-column  folio, 
and  enlarged  to  a  quarto  July  20,  1881.  Mr.  Slaw- 
son retired  in  November,  1879,  and  Mr.  Bruce  is  now 
sole  proprietor. 


Big  Rapids  Herald. 

i^'^.^l  RlNd  the  spring  of  1S76  this  paper  was 

^yi'  started  by  O.  D.  (Hidden,  and  the  first 
^ih^^     number  appeared  May  24.     In  size,  it  was 

iV**  a  six-column  quarto;  and  in  politics,  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  as  will  be 
\  seen  by   the   following,  extracted    from    the 

salutatory : 

We  come  before  our  readers  with  this  new  candi- 
date for  i)ublic  favor,  with  the  belief  that  it  will  fill  a 
want  heretofore  fell  in  this  part  of  the  State  for  a 
])aper  Democratic  in  princijjles,  and  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  people  of  northern  and  central 
Michigan.  We  shall  endeavor  to  make  the  HcraU 
a  paper  not  alone  for  Big  Rapids  and  Mecosta 
County,  but  for  the  people  of  this  part  of  the  State. 
Politically,  the  Herald  will  be  on  the  side  of  De- 
mocracy and  reform,  believing  that  the  Republican 
party  is  res[)onsil)le  for  the  reckless  extravagance 
and  corruption  in  government. 

We  believe  the  only  way  by  which  the  great  jjrob- 
lem  of  economy  and  purity  of  government  can  be 
solved  and  the  issues  of  to-day  met  in  the  interest 
of  the  people,  is  in  the  complete  overthrow  of  that 
party  and  the  success  of  the  Democracy,  lommitted 
as  it  is,  to  economy  and  reform.  And  we  invite  the 
cooperation  of  the  Democrats  and  reformers  of 
Northern  Michigan,  that  we  may,  together,  do  our 
full  share  towards  such  a  success.  We  will  cheer- 
fully give  space  in  our  columns  for  the  discussion  of 
these  and  all  other  questions  of  general  interest  to 
the  people.  While  the  Jleralil\s\\\  occiqjy  no  eipiiv- 
ocal  position  politically,  we  shall  endeavor  to  make 
it  eminently  a  home  paper, — such  a  jiaiJcr  that  every 
man  in  Northern  Michigan  will  find  it  jirofitable  and 
interesting  to  read  ;  and  that  it  shall  be  a  welcome 
visitor  in  every  home. 

In  1S78  the  paper  was  sold  to  a  stock  company, 
and  [lublshed  for  a  few  months  in  the  interest  of  the 
Ciieenback  party,  under  the  name  of  the  Greenback 
Heralil.  B.  H.  Howig  theji  became  editor,  and  after 
a  few  months  Mr.  Glidden  again  became  connected 


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with  the  paper,  which  was  for  two  years  pubhshed 
under  the  firm  name  of  GUdden  &  Howig.  Then 
came  another  change,  Mr.  Howig  leasing  the  paper 
for  a  year  of  Mr.  Glidden.  April  i,  1882,  the  office 
was  sold  to  William  P.  Nisbett,  the  present  proprietor 
and  editor.  It  is  now  a  six-column,  eight-page  paper, 
30  X  44. 

Daily  Morning  Enterprise. 

URING  the  spring  of  1881  this  short- 
lived paper  was  started  at  Big  Rapids,  by 
J/jju^"^  W.  S.  Stevens,  who  came  for  this  purpose 
)m^  froiH  Newaygo  County.  Soon  after  this,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Wesley  Griffith,  of 
Greenville.  It  was  independent  in  politics,  and 
in  size  a  four-column  folio,  afterwards  enlarged  to  a 
five-column  folio.  Its  office  was  just  north  of 
McLellan's  shoe  store.  After  a  struggling  existence 
of  three  or  four  months,  the  material  was  sold  to 
Muskegon  parties,  and  the   paper  discontinued. 


Mecosta  Advance. 


U:  N  April,  1 88 1,  this  paper  was  started  by 
T.  W.  Harrison,  formerly  of  Edmore,  where 
1^  he  had  l)een  engaged  in  journalistic  work. 
Sept.  I,  18S2,  he  sold  out  to  the  present  propri- 
etor, H.  M.  Trussell,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  connected  with  the  Daily  Chronicle. 
It  was  started  as  a  seven-column  folio,  but  with  the 
beginning  of  the  second  volume  it  was  enlarged  to  a 
five-column  quarto.  It  is  published  every  Friday. 
Politically  it  is  independent.  The  Ailvancc  is  an  ex- 
cellent local  newspaper,  and  has  good  correspond 
ents  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  Morley  Ad'oance 
is  published  also  by  Mr.  Trussell,  and  is  of  the  same 
size  and  ap))earance  as  the  Mecosta  issue.  The  first 
number  appeared  April  13,  1883.  H.  O.  Lake  is  the 
Morley  editor. 


WS.a*..?"^-®-'''^^'^''^^  ! 


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■-•, 

?•  I   ECOSTA  County  is  so  situa 

1  h^   on  the  border  of  a  great   t 
'  if 

! 


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ated 
great  tim- 
ber country,  and  yet  at  con- 
venient distances  from  good 
markets    and   great   distribu- 
ting    points,     and    contains 
within   its  l)orders  pine   forests  so 
valuable,  that  it  is  to  be  expected 
that  the  hmibering  industry  be  of 
the   greatest    importance.       The 
lumber  of  Michigan  is  known  all  the 
world  over  for  its  quality ;  and   as  to 
ya^    quantity,  it  is  sufficient  to  be  a  source 
of  enii)loynient  and  wealth   for   de- 
cades  to  come.      Even    before    the 
.        first  settlement  of  Mecosta  County, 
its  territory  had  lieen  crossed   by    many   adventurous 


lumbermen.  The  "  Big  Rapids  "  were  known  among 
the  lumbermen  long  before  the  site  of  the  present 
city  ceased  to  be  the  property  of  the  United  States 
Government.  The  Muskegon  river  was  recognized 
as  an  extremely  convenient  means  of  transporting 
logs  from  the  interior  of  the  State. 

The  lumbermen  leave  no  record  of  their  work, 
and  no  trace  other  than  pine  stumps  of  theii'  visit ; 
hence  it  is  imirossible  to  give  any  extended  account 
of  early  operations.  Glancing  through  the  cohnnns 
of  the  Pioneer,  one  sees  here  and  there  an  item 
which  indicates  the  magnitude  to  which  the  business 
had  reached  in  an  early  day.  In  the  issue  of  April 
29,  1864,  appeared  the  following  item  : 

"The  'Big  Drive  '  is  now  passing  our  village,  and 
in  a  few  days  will  be  over  the  rajnds,  as  the  water  is 
at  a  good  stage,  and  some  thirty  men,  we  believe,  are 


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helping  the  logs  over  the  rough  places.  About  100,- 
000,000  feet  of  logs  have  heen  put  in  the  past  winter 
on  the  Muskegon  and  its  tributaries.  " 

Again,  June  9,  1866:  "Commodore  Pingree,  of 
Muskegon,  widely  known  as  the  oldest  navigator  of 
the  Muskegon  river,  has  just  made  an  entirely  suc- 
cessful experiment  in  -getting  the  '  Big  Drive  '  over 
the  rapids  at  this  place.  The  logs  were  piled  two  or 
three  deep  for  about  two  miles,  and  about  half  a  mile 
on  the  flat  the  logs  were  on  drj'  land,  the  water  hav- 
ing gone  down  and  left  them  there.  The  getting 
them  off  seemed  almost  an  im|)ossil)ility,  but  the 
Commodore  got  them  all  afloat  by  filling  the  channel 
below  with  logs,  and  raising  the  water  over  three 
feet,  thus  producing  slack  water  for  nearly  lialf  a 
nnle.  The  logs  are  now  being  floated  ofT  rapidly, 
and  new  'jams  '  are  made  farther  down,  as  necessity 
re<iuires.  He  says  he  will  run  the  logs  to  the 
mouth,  unless  the  river  dries  up  entirely  ;  and  from 
the  manner  he  is  operating  here,  and  the  kind  of 
men  he  has  to  help  him,  we  have  no  doubt  of  his 
success. " 

Again,  April  30,  1868:  "Commodore  Pingree' 
passed  over  the  rapids  here  on  Sunday  last  with  the 
'  Big  Drive,'  consisting  of  about  60,000,000  feet  "of 
logs.  The  drive  is  considerably  ahead  of  time  this 
year,  and  must  reach  its  destination  several  weeks 
in  advance  of  former  years."  And  so  every  year 
whole  forests  are  fioated  down  the  Muskegon,  yield- 
ing wealth  and  employment  to  thousands. 

LIFE  IN  A  LUMBER   CAMP. 

Real  life  in  a  lumber  camp  is  so  iuiii|ue  that  a  brief 
account  of  a  visit  to  such  a  place  may  not  be  out 
of  place.  Every  one  who  can  do  so  should  visit  a 
camp,  and  see  how  the  work  of  cutting  and  putting 
in  logs  is  conducted.  That  is  one  thing  that  should 
be  seen  before  wandering  in  foreign  lands  to  feast 
one's  eyes  on  strange  and  wondrous  things,  for  no- 
where abroad  will  he  find  what  we  have  near  home. 
The  camp  visited  we  found  under  the  immediate 
supervision  and  management  of  two  gentlemen,  who 
had  the  contract  for  cutting  and  putting  into  the 
river  the  timber  from  240  acres  of  land.  The  camp 
was  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  and  consisted  of  six 
^  buildings,  situated  conveniently  near  together,  and  of 
>  •  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  seventy  men 
^    twenty  pairs  of  horses  and  seven  pairs  of  oxen.     The 

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first  is  the  "  cook  shanty,"  20  x  5?  feet  in  size,  and 
one-story  high,  which  serves  for  a  kitchen  and  dining- 
room  for  liie  entire  crew.  The  work  of  this  depart- 
ment is  performed  by  four  girls  and  a  chore  boy,  the 
latter  bringing  wood  and  water  and  making  himself 
useful  in  a  thousand  ways.  Pwo  long  tables,  covered 
with  enamel  cloth,  enable  forty-two  men  to  take  tlieir 
meals  at  once.  Two  large  cooking-stoves  are  kei)t 
constantly  in  use;  and  when  told  the  amount  of  pro- 
visions consumed  per  day  or  week,  the  ipiery  natur- 
ally arises  how  so  few  hands  can  prepare  such  a 
f|uantity  of  food  with  only  two  stoves.  Work  in  the 
woods  creates  an  appetite  like  a  furnace,  and  provis- 
ions disappear  before  a  crew  of  seventy  men  like  dry 
leaves  in  a  whirlwind.  The  bill  of  fare  consists  of 
potatoes,  beans,  pork,  bread  and  molasses,  and  other 
substantial  food,  one  meal  seldom  varying  materially 
from  another,  with  strong  tea  three  times  a  day.  A 
full  force  of  men  consume  each  week  about  five  bar- 
rels of  flour,  five  barrels  of  jwrk,  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  bushels  of  potatoes,  and  other  things  in  like 
proportion. 

In  one  end  of  this  building  a  room  is  partitioned 
off  which  serves  one  of  the  contractors  as  a  private 
residence  and  the  sleeping  apartments  of  tlie  female 
help.  An  alarm  clock  at  least  three-(|uarters  of  an 
hour  ahead  of  the  true  time  awakens  the  inmates  of 
the  shanty  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  the  day's  laljor 
commences  at  once.  The  teamsters  are  first  called, 
and  while  breakfiist  is  being  prepared  they  feed  and 
harness  their  teams;  while  they  are  at  breakfast,  the 
chojipers  and  other  workmen  rise,  and  fill  the  second 
table.  The  teamsters  are  off  to  their  work  long  be- 
fore daylight,  and  usually  make  one  trip  to  the  river, 
a  distance  of  two  miles,  and  back  before  darkness 
disappears.  Five  trips  constitute  the  day's  work,  and 
when  that  is  accomplished,  they  unhitch  and  do  no 
more  till  the  next  morning,  although  it  may  be  several 
hours  before  sundown. 

'I'he  "men's  shanty  "  is  26  x  36  feet  in  size,  and 
one  and  a  half  stories  high.  It  is  provided  with 
thirty-two  bunks,  eighteen  on  the  first  floor,  and  four- 
teen in  the  chamber,  each  designed  for  two  men, 
though  three  can  sleep  in  them  very  comfortably. 
They  are  made  of  Iwards,  ranged  on  either  side  of 
the  room,  in  tiers  one  aiiove  another,  and  aie  i)ro- 
vided  with  a  straw  tick  and  blankets.  The  building 
is  warmed  with  a  large  box  stove,  and  lighted  at  nights 
with  kerosene  lnm))s. 


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The  barn  proper  is  30  x  52  feet,  with  a  stable  on 
either  side  fourteen  feet  wide,  making  it  52  x  58  feet 
on  the  ground.  It  is  made  warm  and  comfortable, 
and  furnishes  stabling  for  forty  horses  and  fourteen 
oxen.  Near  by  is  the  granary,  a  small  building 
where  the  grain  for  the   teams    is   kept. 

In  another  building,  a  blacksmith,  and  a  worker 
with  edge  tools,  sometimes  called  a  "wood-butcher," 
find  employment, — the  latter  doing  the  wood-work 
on  the  logging  sleds,  putting  in  axe-Iiandles,  etc., 
while  the  former  does  the  horse-shoeing,  irons  the 
sleds,  repairs  broken  chains,  etc. 

In  a  small  building  near  the  cook  shanty,  the  other 
contractor  resides,  with  family,  and  "  keeps  store," 
his  stock  consisting  chiefly  of  tobaccOj^lumbermen's 
clothing  and  such  other  commodities  as  the  hands 
reciuire.  A  large  bell,  suspended  on  a  pole,  the 
strokes  of  which  can  be  heard  for  two  or  three  miles, 
calls  the  men  to  their  meals. 

A  logging  sleigh  is  an  institution  deserving  more 
than  a  passing  notice,  for  it  never  fails  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  novice.     In  ajipearance  it  resembles 


a  cross  between  a  pile-driver  and  a  toll-gate.  It  con- 
sists of  a  pair  of  "bobs"  with  runners  three  inches 
thick  and  shod  with  steel  bars  three  inches  wide. 
The  beams  and  other  parts  are  correspondingly 
heavy;  crosswise  each  sled  is  a  beam  of  timber 
called  a  "  bunk,"  seven  feet  in  length,  with  a  huge 
spike  in  either  end  to  prevent  the  load  from  sliding 
off.  They  are  built  low  and  wide,  the  runners  being 
from  four  to  five  feet  apart,  to  prevent  capsizing  on 
uneven  ground.  On  this  vehicle,  an  ordinary  pair  of 
horses  move  a  load  of  from  five  to  fifteen  logs,  scal- 
ing from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  hundred  feet,  board 
measure,  and  making  a  load  in  bulk  nearly  or  tpiite 
as  large  as  a  load  of  hay.  To  haul  such  loads,  the 
roads  must  be  in  good  condition, and  it  is  well-known 
that  the  logging  roads  are  the  best  in  Michigan. 
This  description  of  one  camp  will  give  an  idea  of 
all  camps,  though  of  course  no  two  are  alike.  This 
camp  had  turned  into  the  river  4,500  000  feet  in 
three  months,  and  r, 000,000  feet  more  had  been  cut 
and  rejected  by  the  scaler,  for  some  defect.  The 
labor  on  this  1,000,000  feet  was  all  lost. 


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t    HILE  the  people  of  Mecosta 
^     County  Inive  licen  as  a  rule 
°i'-S  a    very   orderly    people,   yet 
some  black  sheep  are   found 
in  the  best  communities  in  the 
world;  and  accordingly  there 
'\-.'  ^  0_i'^  was  an  early  sentiment  in  favor 
of  erecting   a  county  jail.      As 
early  as    1862  the  question  was 
seriously  raised,  and  it  was  de- 
cided to  ask  the   voters  at  tlie 
Ajiril  election,  1863,    to  vote   a 
tax  of  $1,500   for   the    purpose  of 
erecting  a  jail.    The  J'lc'/itrr  favor- 
ed the  measure,  and  in  the  issue  of 
Man  h  19,  1863,  said  : 

"  It  is  well  known  that  we  have 
now  to  send  what  few  criminals  we 
have  to  the  jail  in  Newaygo;  and  it 
It]  is  also  evident  to  any  one  who  has 
seen  that  structure,  that  it  is  not 
fit  for  a  stable,  much  less  a  proper 
place  in  which  to  confine  a  prison- 
er. Some  will  object  to  the  tax,  on 
account  of  other  taxes  being  high, 
and  may  think  it  cheaper  to  use  the  so-called  jail  of 
Newaygo  than  to  build  one  of  our  own ;  but  when 
the  I'act  of  expenses  incurred  in  taking  prisoners  to 
Newaygo  and  boardmg  them  at  the  Brooks  House  at 
§4  a  week — as  we  believe  has  been  done^is  taken 
into  consideration,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  to  build 
for  ourselves  will  be  considered  the  better  [xalicy,  be- 
sides showing  that  we  are  able  to  have  at  least  one 
public  building  in  the  county.' 


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'I'hc  proi>ositiun,  however,  was  rejected  at  the  elec- 
tion, and  not  seriously  raised  again  until  after  the 
war  closed.  After  many  discussions,  the  Supervisors 
raised  $1,000  in  1866,  and  it  was  decided  to  build  a 
jail,  if  $r,50o  more  could  be  raised  by  special  tax.  A 
proix)sition  to  this  effect  was  submitted  to  the  voters 
in  1868,  and  carried  by  a  strong  majority.  The  vote 
stood,  600  in  favor,  and  246  against,  leaving  a 
majority  of  354  in  favor.  The  townshii>s  in  Osceola 
and  Lake  Counties  attached  to  Mecosta,  cast  159 
votes  in  favor  of  the  tax,  and  19  against  it,  which 
left  a  clear  majority  of  214  for  the  tax  in  Mecosta 
County  alone,  indei)endent  of  the  territory  attached. 

.\t  the  next  meetirig  of  the  Boartl,  the  Supervisors 
voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  ex[)cnding  the  $2,500 
raised  for  a  jail,  at  Big  Rapids.  E.  O.  Rose,  Chair- 
man of  the  Board,  John  l)alziel.  County  Clerk,  and 
Joseph  T.  I'.scott,  Sheriff,  were  ajJiKjinted  a  Building 
Committee,  and  given  full  power  to  select  the  site 
and  have  the  jail  erected.  The  citizens  of  Big 
Kai>ids,  feeling  well  satisfied  with  the  action  of  the 
Supervisors,  manifested  their  exhilaration  by  furnish- 
ing them  a  supper  at  the  Mason  House  on  the  eve- 
ning after  the  decision,  where  some  30  or  more  of  the 
business  men  joined  with  them  in  discussing  a  good 
meal.  The  contract  was  speedily  let,  and  the  build- 
ing completed  the  same  fall. 

Propositions  to  build  a  court-house  at  Big  Rapids 
have  been  voted  down  a  number  of  times,  the  ma- 
jority thinking  that  the  county  seat  would  some  time 
be  located  at  or  near  the  geographical  center  of  the 
county,  and  hence  objecting  to  the  ex[>ense  of  erect- 
ing a  court-house  so  near  one  side  of  the  county. 

The  county  offices  are  at  present  located  in  the 


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Big  Rapids  Opera  House.  At  the  October  (1883) 
session  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Mr.  Escott 
introduced  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Mecosta 
County,  that  the  question  of  raising  the  sum  of 
$30,000  by  tax  upon  the  taxable  ])roperty  of  said 
county,  to  be  raised  in  manner  as  follows,  viz :  $15,- 
000  during  1884,  and  $15,000  during  1885,  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  court-house  and  county  offices 
in  Mecosta  County,  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  said 
county,  at  the  election  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April,  1884. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote: 
yeas,  14;  nays,  6. 

A  substantial  county  poor-house  and  insane 
asylum  was  erected  in  1883,  at  Stanwood,  in  Me- 
costa Township,  and  in  the  fall  it  was  burned  down, 
presumably  by  incendiaries.  The  County  Board  of 
Supervisors  have  offered  a  reward  of  $500  for  the 
detection  of  the  guilty  party  or  parties. 

FOREST  FIRES. 

ILIRES     in     the     forests     of    Michigan    are 
dreaded    as  much   as  the   jjrairie  fires  of 


Illinois  and  Iowa  once  were.  They  come 
generally  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  dead 
leaves  are  on  the  ground,  and  are  most  destruct- 
ive after  a  dry  season.  Mecosta  has  suffered 
slightly  from  these  fires  at  different  times,  but  the 
days  have  gone  by  when  these  are  very  dangerous  • 
and  as  the  timber  is  gradually  cleared  away,  the  fires 
are  dreaded  less  and  less. 

October,  187  i,  was  a  month  long  to  be  remembered 
as  the  one  which  witnessed  so  much  destruction  in 
Chicago,  and  through  many  portions  of  the  State  of 
Michigan.  Several  localities  in  Mecosta  County  were 
visited,  though  comparatively  slight  damage  was  done. 
On  Sunday,  Oct.  S,  the  fire  commenced  spreading 
among  the  brush  and  down  limber  which  covered 
the  ground  west  of  Sanborn  and  Rust's  Addition  to 
Big  Rapids,  and  during  Sunday  night  it  crossed 
Mitchell  Creek,  and  entered  the  brush  and  timber 
along  the  north  side  of  the  stream.  It  soon  swept 
\\\i  witliin  dangerous  proximity  to  the  numerous 
dwellings  in  that  part  of  the  town,  which  were  only 
saved  from  destruction  by  the  timely  efforts  of  the 
fire  de|)arlmenl  and  citizens,  who  were  called  out 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.      By   the  perse- 


verance  of  the  inhabitants,  the  flames  were  held  in 
check  till  about  half  past  two  o'clock  on  Tuesday 
morning,  at  which  time  a  slight  shower  of  rain  ren- 
dered further  work  unnecessar)'.  The  moisture  from 
this  little  rain  was  completely  exhausted  during  Wed- 
nesday and  Thursday,  and  a  high  wind  springing  up 
Friday  forenoon,  the  destruction  of  the  town  seemed 
imminent.  The  fire  raged  all  along  the  western  side 
of  the  city,  in  many  instances  in  dangerous  proximity 
to  dwellings  and  other  buildings,  while  a  similar  fire 
was  sweeping  directly  toward  the  town  from  the 
south,  on  both  sides  of  State  street.  Many  men  were 
endeavoring  to  check  the  progress  of  the  flames  dur- 
ing the  forenoon,  and  at  noon  the  danger  seemed  so 
great  that  all  places  of  business  were  closed,  and  all 
the  male  adults  ordered  out  with  pails  to  prevent  the 
fire  reaching  the  town.  A  large  number  were  en- 
gaged in  the  vicinity  of  Warren's  Addition,  but  the 
greater  portion  went  southward,  to  the  farm  of  Isaac 
Griffin.  This  latter  force  were  not  on  the  ground  a 
moment  too  soon,  for  a  perfect  conflagration  was 
raging  in  the  large  amount  of  combustible  material 
in  the  woods  on  the  south  side  of  Griffin's  farm,  from 
which  sparks  were  blown  entirely  across  the  fields, 
setting  fire  to  the  woods  on  the  north  side,  where  the 
principal  part  of  the  limlier  had  been  cut  into  fire- 
wood. Had  the  flames  attained  headway  in  this  lo- 
cality, the  approach  of  the  fire  towards  town  would 
have  been  difficult  to  prevent.  By  dint  of  hard 
work,  however,  the  destroying  element  was  held  in 
check,  and  no  buildings  were  destroyed.  Friday 
night  came  a  moderate  rain,  wliii  h   afforded  relief. 

In  the  county  at  large  a  few  parties  suffered.  In 
Chippewa  Township  a  house  was  burned  belonging 
to  a  Mrs.  Beck,  a  homestead  settler,  who  had  been 
at  work  in  Big  Rapids  all  summer  to  earn  the  money 
to  pay  for  its  construction.  It  was  nearly  comj)leted, 
but  not  yet  occupied.  One  of  the  most  sweeping 
losses  that  happened  was  that  of  Peter  Powers,  who 
resided  on  a  homestead  in  the  llbrthern  part  of  Green 
Township,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  in  tiie  bend 
to  the  eastward  of  the  railroad,  and  it  occurred  on 
the  9th.  Mr.  Powers  lived  in  a  shanty,  near  which 
he  had  completed  a  good  log  house.  During  the 
night,  the  fire  was  driven  by  the  wind  so  close  to  his 
buildings  that  he  thought  they  could  not  be  saved, 
and  he  removed  all  his  household  stuff  and  wearing 
apparel    into    the    garden, — a    supposed    place  of 


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safety.  The  new  building  took  fire  and  Inirned ; 
sparks  from  it  f.et  fire  lo  his  pile  of  goods,  and  they 
too  were  all  consumed,  leaving  him  nothing  but  a 
naked  shanty,  and  an  almost  naked  family,  consist- 
ing of  a  wife  and  four  children,  ranging  in  age  from 
four  to  twelve  years.  Mr.  Powers  had  been  engaged 
a  part  of  the  preceding  summer  and  fall  in  getting 
out  shingle  bolts,  all  of  which  were  burned.  In  tlie 
town  of  Austin,  a  little  boy  aged  about  four  years, 
son  of  Jacob  Snider,  was  badly  burned.  He  was  out 
in  the  woods  with  an  elder  brother,  a  lad  of  some 
six  or  seven  years,  where  his  parents  were  fighting 
fire,  though  some  distance  from  them,  when  his  pants 
caught  fire ;  and  before  assistance  reached  him,  they 
were  completely  burned  from  his  limbs,  and  one  of 
his  boots  roasted  to  a  crisp.  Several  buildings  were 
burned  in  Wheatland  Township. 


STARVATION. 

ETTLERS  in  the  early  times  occasionally 
suffered  from  the  lack  of  the  necessities  of 
life,  owing  to  unexpected  failures  in  crops,  be- 
fore they  had  become  able  to  provide  for  such 
contingencies  by  accumulating  a  surplus.  In 
the  Pioneer  of  December  31,  1S68,  appeared 
the  following  notice,  startling  enough  to  the  reader  of 
to-day,  but,  alas!  too  familiar  to  those  inured  to 
pioneer  hardships : 

"Our  citizens  must  take  action  at  once  to  relieve 
the  destitution  which  now  prevails  in  the  northern 
part  of  Osceola  County.  It  is  a  fact  that  a  large 
number  of  families  are  now  subsisting  on  potatoes 
and  salt,  and  some  are  not  even  as  well  off  as  that. 
These  people  moved  into  the  wilderness  during  the 
past  spring  and  summer,  without  means,  and  settled 
uix)n  homesteads,  and  on  account  of  the  dry  season 
the  few  crops  put  in  by  them  were  nearly  ruined ; 
hence  they  have  scarcely  anything  to  eat.  Many  of 
them  reside  several  miles  from  neighbors,  in  an 
almost  unbroken  wilderness.  The  fact  is,  these  help- 
less women  and  children  will  starve  before  the  open- 
ing of  spring,  unless  timely  relief  is  furnished.  Our 
Hoard  of  Supervisors  should  also  act  promptly  in 
affording  temiwrary  relief  to  these  iX)or  sufferers." 


-i— <• 


"  HEREOF  FAIL  NOT." 

I'4.ARLY  in  July,  1872,  a  man  was  brought  to 
Big  Rapids   to  be  committed  to  jail  on  a 
document  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy, 
>^S>-    fictitious  names  being  inserted  for  those  in  the 
instrument  : 

"  State  of  Michigan,  County  of  Mecosta.  To 
any  Constable  of  said  county  :  In  the  name  of  the 
People  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  you  are  hereby  com- 
manded to  take  one  John  Pack,  or  whatever  his  name 
may  be,  and  bring  and  have  him  forthwith  before  me, 
one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  said 
county,  at  my  office  in  the  village  of  Paris-Green,  on 
the  second  day  of  July,  1872,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  then  and  there  to  answer  a  complaint  made 
by  G.  Staba,  for  burning,  in  a  plea  of  burning  a 
building,  to  the  damage  of  four  hundred  dollars;  and 
after  such  arrest  you  are  to  notify  the  plaintiff  there- 
of. Hereof  fail  not,  but  of  your  doings  make  full 
return  according  to  law.  (liven  under  my  hand  at 
Paris-Cireen,  this  2d  day  of  July,  1872. 

"John  Doe,  J.  P." 


IRON-CLAD  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY. 


►■?— 


^■f^K- 


OT  many  years  ago  in  the  history  of  Me- 

i  costa  County,  a  newly  elected  justice  of 

^  the  peace  who  had  been  used  to  drawing 

wills  and  deeds,  and  little  else,  was  called 

1(5   upon   as  his  first  official  act   to  marry  a  couple 

who  came  into  his  office  very  hurriedly  and  told  him 

their  purpose.     He  lost  no  time  in  removing  his  hat, 

and  remarked,  "Hats  off   in    the    presence  of  the 

court.     .\11  being  uncovered,  he  said,  "  Hold  up  your 

right  hands.     You,  John  M — n,  do  solemnly  swear 

that   to  the  best  of  your  knowledge  and  belief  you 

take  this  woman  ter  have  and  ter  hold  for  yerself,  yer 

heirs,  execkyerters,  administrators  and  assigns  for  your 

and  their  use  and  behoof,  forever.'  " 

■'  I  do,"  answered  the  groom. 

"  You,  .Mice  E — r,  take  this  yer  man  for  yer  hus- 
band, ter  hev  and  ter  hold  forever;  and  you  do  fur- 
ther swear  that  you  are  lawfully  seized  in  fee  simple, 


'I 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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are  free  from  all  incumbrance,  and  have  good  right 
to  sell,  bargain  and  convey  to  the  said  grantee,  yer- 
self,  yer  heirs,  administrators  and  assigns?" 

"  I  do,"  said  the  bride,  rather  doubtfully. 

"  Well,  John,  that'll  be  about  a  doUar'n  fifty  cents." 

•'Are  we  married?  "  asked  the  bride." 

"Yes,  when  the  fee  comes  in."  After  some 
fumbling  it  was  produced  and  handed  to  the  "court," 
who  pocketed  it  and  continued  :  "  Know  all  men  by 
these  presents :  that  I,  being  in  good  health  and  of 
sound  deposin'  mind,  in  consideration  of  a  dollar'n 
fifty  cents  to  me  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  whereof  is 
hereby  acknowledged,  do  and  by  these  presents  have 
declared  you  man  and  wife  during  good  behavior 
and  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the  court." 


) 


MODEL  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY. 

'HE   following   is    an    actual   occurrence  in 

Chippewa  Township,  in  the  fall  of  1871, 

and  for  brevity  and  simplicity  may  well  be 

termed  a  "model   marriage  ceremony."     It  is 

here  given  for  the  benefit  of  those  dignitaries 

and  ofticers  who  are  authorized  to  marr\-,  and 

also  those  who  contemplate   a  similar  leap  in   the 

dark : 

The  first  preliminary  was  the  payment  of  a  fee  of 
five  dollars,  which  the  Justice  required  in  advance. 
He  then  directed  them  to  join  hands,  and  inquired 
their  ages.  The  groom  replied  "  sixty  years  ;  "  and 
the  bride  elect  blushingly  admitted  that  she  had  seen 
fifty-six  summers  fade  into  autumn  and  winter.  He 
then  inquired,  "  Have  you,  or  either  of  you,  ever 
luid  a  living  husband  or  wife  i  "  to  which  he  received 
a  negative  answer  from  both.  Then,  addressing 
them,  he  inquired  if  they  took  each  other  for  lawful 
husband  and  wife;  and  receiving  affirmative  answers, 
announced  with  due  solemnity,  "Then  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  I  pronounce  you  man  and  wife." 

Even   the  above,  however,  has  been  excelled  in 
brevity.     A   Methodist    minister,  of  a  jovial   dispo- 
sition, knowing  that  the  couple  applying  to  him  de- 
sired   a   short   ceremony,   accommodated   them    by 
^^     omitting  all  accessory  forms   and  simply  l)idding  the 


parties   to   stand  up  and  saying,  "I  pronounce  you 
husband  and  wife.  " 


c>i5o~ 


POPULATION  OF  MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


u  TRUE  index  to  the  rapid  growth  of  Me- 
J^  costa  County  is  the  increase  in  the  popula- 
tion as  indicated  by  the  census.     The  county 


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which  had  in  1859  about  1,000  inhabitants, 
has  now  perhaps  16,000.  The  census  of  1S80 
credited  the  county  with  13,973,  as  follows: 

.^tna  Township,  including  part  of  Morley . . . .      894 

Morley,  part  of 221 

Austin  Township 833 

Big  Rapids  Township 549 

Big  Rapids  City 3,552 

First  Ward 601 

Second  Ward 710 

Third  Ward 1,110 

Fourth  Ward 561 

Fifth  Ward 570 

Chippewa  Township 445 

Colfax  Township (>('() 

Deerfield  Township,  including  part  of  Morley.   1,093 

Morley,  part  of 78 

Fork  Township 343 

Grant  Township 307 

Green  Townshij),  including  I'aris i.'32 

Paris 155 

Hinton  Township,  including  Altona  and  Syl- 
vester        986 

Altona 85 

Sy  1  vester 55 

Martiny  Township 192 

Mecosta  Township,  including  Stanwood 613 

Stanwood 1 46 

Millbrook  Township,  including  Millbrook 706 

Millbrook 242 

Morton  Township,  including  Mecosta 47  i 

Mecosta 189 

Sheridan  Township 207 

Wheatland  Township 981 

Total, 13,973 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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619 


TAXATION. 

\l  v.  give  in  tlic  following  lalile  an  cxliihitiuii, 
in  a  condensed   form,  of  the  luxes  spread 
*P  ui)on  the  rolls  of  the  respective  townships  of 
the  county,  and  the  wards  of  the  city  of  Big 
Ra|)ids,  for  the  year  181S4,  as  determined  by 
the   Board  of  Supervisors,  at  their  session    in 
October,  1883: 


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ASSESSED  AND  EQUALIZED  VALUATION. 

|Kk  summary  of  the  present  wealth  of  Me- 
|?5^^S  costa  County  may  be  seen  from  the  follow- 
^lltt  ^"^  table  of  the  assessed  and  etiiiali/ed  vahia- 
i|^  tion  of  property  by  townships  and  wards,  the 
j  figures  of  which  were  determined  b\  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  the  county  at  the  regular  October 
session  of  1883.  This  portrays  in  undeniable  tlgures 
the  present  wealth  of  the  county  : 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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^TNA  TOWNSHIP. 


HIS  'I'DWiiship,  o(;cupying  the 
southwest  corner  of  Mecosta 
County,  is  numbered  thirteen 
nortli,  range  ten  west,  Con- 
gressional survey,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Me- 
costa Township,  on  the  east  by 
DeerfieldTownsliip,  on  the  south 
by  Montcahn  County,  and  on 
the  west  by  Newaygo  County. 
It  is  watered  by  both  the  Mus- 
kegon, which  crosses  the  northwest 
corner,  and  Little  Muskegon,  cross- 
ing the  southeastern  corner.  It 
contains  also  Rycrson  Creek  and 
lirockway  (reek,  flowing  into  the  Muskegon,  and  Big 
Creek,  with  its  tributaries,  West  Branch  and  Clear 
Creek,  flowing  into  the  Little  Muskegon.  The  town- 
sliij)  contains  several  small  lakes,  among  which  are 
Davis  Lake,  Briar  Patch  Lake  and  Brady  Lake.  The 
greater  part  of  the  village  of  Morley  lies  in  ^tna 
Township,  'i'he  drand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad 
runs  through  sections  thirteen,  twenty-four,  twenty- 
five  and  thirty-six. 

.^£tna  was  the  eighth  township  organized  in  Me- 
costa County,  its  fust  election  occurring  Oct.  lo,  1865. 
Its  first  Supervisor  was  Frederick  R.  Luther.  The 
first  white  settler  was  William  Brockway,  who  located 
on  section  twenty-nine.  The  first  birth  was  that  of 
Ira  P.  Mitchell,  son  of  William  G.  and  Mary  A. 
Mit<hell.  The  first  death  was  that  of  Piatt  Mitchell, 
in  April,  1855.     The  first  coupl?  married  were  Fred. 


Matthews  and  Mary  Howe,  by  Clark  D.  Green,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  in  June,  1864.  The  first  frame 
building  was  a  dwelling  erected  by  Clark  D.  Green, 
in  1868.  The  first  mill  was  a  portable  saw-mill  put 
up  by  A.  B.  Bunn,  in  1869.  The  first  school-house 
was  a  log  building  erected  on  section  ten,  in  i860. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Rachel  \vniitzel,  in 
i86i.  The  first  store  was  opened  by  John  Butler,  in 
1869.  The  first  post-office,  Morley,  was  established 
in  1869. 

.'Etna  Township  shows  remarkably  steady  and 
rapid  increase  of  population.  In  1870,  at  the  first 
census  after  its  organization,  yKtna  had  already  a 
population  of  385.  The  State  census  of  1874  gave 
557,  and  the  last  census,  in  1880,  showed  a  total  of 
894.  In  1874,  it  had  722  acres  of  improved  land, 
and  in  1881  in  had  r,22i  acres.  In  1866  the  ecpial- 
ized  valuation  of  its  real  and  personal  estate  was 
$27,078.  Its  present  valuation  is  $192,480.  The 
total  vote  in  November,  1S82,  was  231. 

MORLEY. 

The  village  of  Morley  owes  its  existence  to  the 
construction  of  the  G.  R.  &  I.  railroad.  The  first 
settlers  on  the  village  plat  were  Charles  Lawson, 
Nelson  Pike,  M.  Swanger,  (leorge  H.  Ward,  Hiram 
Bryant,  Allen  Chapin,  Rodney  Elmer  and  Harvey 
Winas,  all  of  whom  came  in  the  summer  or  fall  of 
1869.  The  ix)st-office  was  established  the  same  fall, 
and  Frank  P.  Bodwell  was  apiwinted  the  first  Post- 
master.    The  present  I'ostmaster  is  D.  C.  King. 

The  population  of  the  village  increased  very  fast, 


A 


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MECOSTA  COUNTY. 


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and  in  one  year  had  become  328,  by  the  actual  count 
of  M.  Swanger,  who  took  a  census  in  the  fall  of  1870. 
This  showed  a  sufficient  [Xjpulation  to  warrant  the 
incorporation  of  the  village,  which  was  ordei^d  by 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  the  same  fall.  The 
first  officers  elected  were  :  Michael  Swanger,  Presi- 
dent; A.  Chapin,  Clerk;  H.  Daniels,  Treasurer.  In 
1883  Morley  was  incoiwrated  by  the  Legislature,  and 
the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  George  H. 
Ward,  President ;  W.  H.  Richmond,  Clerk ;  George 
H  Force,  John  Pierdon,  William  Hugh,  Sen.,  M.  T. 
Nethaway,  William  '1'.  Jones  and  John  Hanson, 
Trustees. 

The  population  of  the  village  is  now  between  500 
and  600.  The  following  is  the  list  of  business  men 
and  firms  now  in  Morley; 

Beard,  F.  C.,  grocery. 

Carr,  J.  M.,  lumber  and  shingles. 

Chapin,  Allen,  general  store. 

Cutler,  J.  F.  &  Co.,  hardware  store. 

Dickerson,  Isaiah,  livery  stable. 

Davy  it  Flock,  wagon  shop  and  blacksmitii. 

Higbee  iS:  Hugh,  lumber  and  lath. 

Hill,  William,  restaurant. 

Force,  George  H.,  general  store. 

Hanson  Bros.,  grocer)'. 

Hicks,  W.  H..  drug-store. 

Hanson,  M.,  notions. 

Jones,  W.  I'.,  shingles. 

Jones,  Wellington,  crockery. 

Jones  iV  Hugh,  grist-mill. 

Lake,  W.  O.,  stationery. 

Loshbough,  G.  B.,  wagon-slio[)  and  blacksniithing. 

Lawson,  Charles,  boot  and  shoe  store. 

Morgan  Bros.,  furniture  store. 

Mickins,  Spencer,  barber  shop. 

Pehon,  Lon.  A.,  hardware  store. 

Pike,  Nelson,  drug  store. 

Pike,  Mrs.  .'\.,  millinery  shop. 

Pierdon  iV  Sanegar,  tannery. 

Reynier,  Julius,  hotel  and  saloon. 

Rockwell,  Mrs.  Wm.,  millinery  shop. 

Richmond,  W.  H.,  jewelry  store. 

Smith,  O.  W.,  photograph  gallery. 

Swanger.  M.,  bakery  and  restaurant. 

Thurkow,  John  E.,  general  store. 

Trask,  R.  S.,  saloon. 

Wiley,  N.  W.,  shingles. 


Ward,  Mrs.  G.  H.,  millinery. 

Wagner  &  Foolmer,  shingles. 

Wliitbei  k,  L.  I.,  meat  market. 

Woolworth,  B.  F.,  harness  shop. 

The  medical  profession  is  represented  by  Drs.  1!. 
I'.  Brown,  B.  H.  McMullen  and  J.  B.  Cook;  and  the 
legal  by  D.  C.  Moshier. 

M.  L.  Jones  is  the  station  agent  on  the  G.  R.  iV  I. 
Railroad. 

The  Morley  Aik'ancc  is  a  five-column  folio,  printed 
at  Mecosta,  of  which  about  three  columns  are  items 
pertaining  to  Morley.  H.  O.  Lake  is  the  Morley 
editor.  H.  M.  Trussell  is  the  proprietor  and  pub- 
lisher, '['he  first  issue  of  the  Advance  appeared 
April  13,  1883. 

General  Wool  Post,  No.  164,  G.  A.  R.,was  muster- 
ed Aug.  2,  1883,  with  the  following  officers :  Charles 
Reed,  Com.;  Orwell  Ball,  S.  V.  C;  M.  T.  Netha- 
way, J.  V.  C;  D.  C.  King,  Q.  M. ;  William  Rock- 
well, Chap.;  Sanford  Reed,  O.  1). ;  Orrin  I.  Hill.  O. 
G.;  William  H.  Hicks,  Surgeon;  Clark  Van  Wie, 
Adj.     The  post  numbers  24  members. 

The  only  church  in  Morley  is  that  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  denomination,  organized  in  tlie  fall  of 
1870.  For  some  years,  until  able  to  build  a  church, 
the  society  held  its  services  in  the  school-house. 
They  have  now  a  commodious  church  edifice,  seat- 
nig  between  300  and  400,  and  which  cost  $1,500. 
Services  are  held  at  least  once  every  Sunday,  and 
twice  every  alternate  Sunday.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  C.  W.  Smith,  who  commenced  his  duties  in 
September,  1883. 

The  school  building  -at  Morley  was  erected  in 
187  1-2,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  Additional  sums  have 
been  spent  on  the  building  at  different  times — $1,000 
in  1883.  The  Principal  of  the  school  is  Frank  O. 
Wickham,  and  he  is  assisted  by  Miss  Gertrude  Gro- 
ver.  The  Morley  Academy  is  a  private  school 
taught  by  Clark  Van  Wie,  and  was  opened  in  |uly. 
1SS3.  It  has  a  model  department  for  preparing 
teachers.  The  attendance  varies  from  30  to  40.  The 
institution  is  supported  by  a  stock  company,  which 
has  raised  $1,500  in  shares  of  $25  each. 

A  driving  park  has  just  been  purchased  west  of 
the  village,  and  a  track  laid  out  and  graded.  The 
park  contains  20  acres.  The  President  of  the  as- 
sociation is  John  Bell;  Secretary.  H.  W.  Stewart. 

Morley  has  been  a  severe  sufferer  from  fire,  on  two 


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occasions.  The  first  was  Oct.  6,  1876,  when  the 
National  Hotel,  the  Central  House,  and  the  Com- 
mercial House,  and  all  south  of  them  to  the  river 
were  burned.  A  woman  and  child,  living  near  Rust- 
ford,  were  consumed  in  this  blaze.  The  fire  is  sup- 
posed to  have  originated  in  a  lamp  explosion.  Feb. 
17,  1880,  the  business  block  from  Second  to  Third 
streets  was  consumed.  These  two  conflagrations 
swept  away  nearly  the  whole  of  the  village,  though, 
Phocni.x-like,  Morley  is  now  more  of  a  place  than 
ever.  The  second  fire  is  supposed  to  be  due  to 
incendiarism.  Albert  Fairchild  was  tried  for  the 
crime  of  arson,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  the  State 
Penitentiary  for  life,  but  through  a  technical  error 
obtained  a  second  trial  and  was  acquitted. 


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AUSTIN   TOWNSHIP. 

HE  township  of  this  name  is  numbered  14 
north,  range  9  west.  Congressional  survey, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Colfax 
Township,  on  the  east  by  Morton  Township, 
on  the  south  by  Deerfield  Township,  and  on 
the  west  by  Mecosta  Township.  Austin  lies  between 
the  Muskegon  and  the  Little  Muskegon,  the  former 
of  which  just  touches  the  northwestern  corner  of  the 
township.  Rising  in  Austin  Township  are  a  score  of 
small  streams,  which  all  flow  from  the  center.  Those 
on  the  east  flow  to  the  east,  those  on  the  south  to 
the  south,  and  those  on  the  west  to  the  west. 
Among  the  more  imix)rtant  of  these  streams  are 
Mac's  Creek,  (^uigley  Creek  and  Beaver  Creek. 
In  the  northeastern  corner  is  Burdon  Lake.  The 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  passes  along 
the  western  border,  running  through  sections  6  and 
31.     The  township  contains  no  villages. 

Austin  was  organized  in  January,  1869,  and  its 
first  Supervisor  was  Jacob  Snyder. 

'I'he  population  of  the  township  according  to  the 
census  of  1870,  was  346.  In  1874  it  had  grown  but 
a  little,  and  had  416.  By  the  census  of  1880,  it  had 
doubled  its  \)opulation  of  si.x  years  before,  and  had 
833.  Its  increase  in  acreage  of  improved  land  was 
still  greater.  In  187411  had  1,089  acres,  and  in  1881 
it  had  2,464.  'I'he  equalized  valuation  of  its  real 
and  personal  estate  at  the  time  of  its  organization  in 


1869,  was  but   $125,727.      Its  present  valuation  is 
$267,028.    Its  total  vote,  in  November,  1882,  was  56. 


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BIG  EAPIDS  TOWNSHIP. 

HE  township  of  Big  Rapids,  containing 
the  city  of  the  same  name,  is  an  exact  Con- 
gressional township,  being  township  fifteen 
north,  range  ten  west.  It  contains  23,040, 
acres  of  land,  of  which  as  large  an  amount  is 
under  cultivation  as  in  any  other  township  in 
Mecosta  County.  It  is  intersected  by  the  Muskegon 
River,  which  flows  in  a  winding  course  south  through 
the  eastern  part  of  the  township.  Flowing  east 
through  the  northern  part,  and  emptying  into  the 
Muskegon  at  Big  Rapids,  is  Mitchell's  Creek.  In 
the  southern  part  are  Cold  Spring  and  other  small 
creeks,  which  flow  into  the  Muskegon.  Big  Rapids  is 
pre-eminently  the  railroad  township  of  the  county. 
being  traversed  by  three  lines, — the  Grand  Rapids 
&  Indiana,  the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern,  and  the 
Chicago  &  West  Michigan  (formerly  the  Muskegon 
&  Big  Rapids). 

The  township  was  organized  in  1858,  under  the 
name  of  Leonard.  Luther  Cobb,  was  the  first  Super- 
visor. In  1865,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  the  name 
was  changed  to  Big  Rapids.  The  first  white  settler 
of  the  township  was  John  Parish,  who  located  on 
section  14,  in  185 1,  and  was  also  one  of  the  first  two 
settlers  in  the  county.  Many  of  the  first  events  in 
the  county  occurred  in  this  township.  The  first 
first  birth  in  the  township  and  also  in  the  county  was 
that  of  Alice  Brockway,  daughter  of  William  and 
Margaret  Brockway,  Feb.  12,  1853.  The  first  mar- 
riage in  both  township  and  county  was  that  of  Silas 
Moore  and  Sally  French,  solemnized  by  Elder  Kelley 
in  the  fall  of  1854.  The  first  frame  dwelling  was 
the  two-story  boarding-house  built  by  Warren  & 
Ives  in  1857.  The  first  mill  was  the  water-power 
saw-mill  built  by  the  same  parties  in  the  spring  of 
the  same  year.  This  was  the  first  frame  structure  in 
town;  and  a  run  of  stone  afterwards  added,  made  it 
the  first  grist-mill  in  the  county.  The  first  school- 
house  was  a  two-story  frame  building,  erected  in 
1859,  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  avenue  and  Oak 
street,  in  Big  Rapids,  and  afterwards  known  as  the 
First  Ward    School-house   of    the   city.     The   first 


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school  was  taught  by  ^[rs.  Mary  Fuller,   in  the  siini- 
iner  of  i86o. 

The  population  of  Hig  Rapids  (then  Leonard) 
Township  in  i860  was  317  ;  in  1864  it  was  342;  in 
1870  it  was  465;  and  in  1880  it  was  549.  It  had 
2,440  acres  of  improved  land  in  1878,  and  2,239 
acres  in  i88i .  The  decrease  is  only  apparent,  and  is 
due  to  different  standards  used  in  different  years. 
The  equalized  valuation  of  real  estate  and  personal 
property  in  1859  was  $161,279.36;  and  its  present 
valuation  is  i53i  2,790.  This  of  course  excludes  Big 
Rapids  City.  The  total  vote  in  Noveuilier,  1S82, 
was  87. 

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Chippewa  Township. 


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west.  Congressional  survey,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Osceola  County,  on  the 
east  by  Fork  Township,  on  the  south  by 
Martiny  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Grant  Town- 
ship. It  is  on  the  divide  between  the  two  slopes 
drained  by  the  Muskegon  and  the  Chippewa,  though 
most  of  it  is  tributary  to  the  Chippewa.  Pogie  Lake, 
in  the  northwestern  part,  is  the  source  of  Pogie 
Creek,  which  unites  with  Muskegon  River  in  Grant 
Township.  South  through  the  central  part  of  the 
townshi[)  flows  Roundy  Branch,  which  enters  Upper 
Evans  Lake  on  the  southern  line  of  the  township. 
This  lake  has  from  its  southern  end,  which  is  in 
Martiny  Township,  a  short  outlet  flowing  into  Lower 
Kvans  Lake.  This  in  turn  flows  by  another  short 
outlet  into  the  South  Branch  of  the  Chippewa.  On 
the  head-waters  of  the  Roundy  ISranch  and  tributary 
streams  are  Pine  Lake,  Fnierald  Lake,  and  a  num- 
l)er  of  smaller  bodies  of  water.  On  the  northern 
boundary  lies  Big  Stone  Lake,  which  projects  into 
Osceola  County,  and  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
township  lies  Chippewa  Lake,  the  largest  body  of 
water  in  Mecosta  County.  It  may  be  considered  as 
tlie  source  of  the  .South  Branch  of  the  Chippewa. 
It  covers  parts  of  sections  19,  20,  21,  29,  and  30,  and 
is  800  or  more  acres  in  extent.  A  railroad  has  re- 
cently been  built  to  Chippewa  Lake,  as  a  branch 
from  the  Detroit,  Lansing  i<:  Northern   railroad,  and 


a  small  steamer  plies  on  the  lake.  It  may  in  time 
bee  ome  a  very  [wpular  resort.  Chippewa  Township 
was  given  a  civil  organization  in  1868,  and  it  elected 
as  its  first  Supervisor,  John  W.  Sparks.  The  first 
while  settler,  a  Mr.  Pollo(  k,  located  on  se(  tion  six,  in 
the  spring  of  1865.  The  first  birth,  tliat  of  Mary 
McCormack,  daughter  of  Malcolm  and  Catherine 
McCormack,  occurred  Ai)ril  20,  1868.  The  first 
death  was  that  of  Mrs  Sylvester  Smith.  The  first 
marriage,  that  of  Robert  Jamieson  and  Minnie  Mar- 
tiny, was  solemnized  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Miner,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1868.  The  first  frame  building  was  a  barn, 
erected  by  William  Perry  in  1874.  The  first  mill 
was  a  saw-mill,  erected  by  R.  \V.  Kimball,  in  1872. 
The  first  school- house  was  a  log  building  erected  on 
section  eight,  in  the  spring  of  1870;  and  the  first 
school  was  taught  by  Z.  N.  Tidd,  in  the  summer  of 
the  same  year.  The  first  store  was  opened  by  Wil- 
son Brothers  in  June,  1873.  The  first  iwstoffice, 
Chippewa  Lake,  was  established  in  1870,  with  S.  V. 
Tice  as   Postmaster. 

The  Chijipewa  Grange  is  an  organization  deserv- 
ing mention.  It  was  started  in  1874,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  25.  At  the  jiresent  time  it  has  30  mem- 
bers, and  is  in  excellent  condition.  They  have  a  hall, 
built  in  1879. 

The  lumber  interest  is  of  great  im])ortance  in  Chip- 
pewa Township.  The  Chippewa  Lumber  Company 
l)urchased  150,000,000  feet  of  timber  near  Chippewa 
Lake,  in  the  fall  of  1882.  They  also  purchased  the 
I).  F.  Comstock  Mill  at  Big  Rapids,  and  removed  the 
same  to  Chi[)pewa  Lake  during  the  winter.  They 
commenced  sawing  the  ist  of  June.  They  will  soon 
have  a  large  planing  mill  and  shnigle  mill  in  connec- 
tion with  their  lumber  business.  Tiie  same  firm 
have  platted  a  village  called  Chii)[iewa,  which  is 
growing  rapidly,  and  has  excellent  prospects  for 
future  prosperity,  as  the  nearest  towns  are  Ev.ut  and 
Big  Rapids,  12  miles  distant.  On  section  2  is  a 
saw-mill  with  a  capacity  of  18,000  feet  per  day,  run 
by  William  Wilson,  Bro.  &  Miller. 

In  1S70,  the  population  of  Chippewa  Township 
was  only  140.  In  1874  this  had  increased  to  291, 
and  in  i88o  the  census  credited  it  with  445.  In  1878 
it  had  1,522  acres  of  improveil  land;  and  in  1881  it 
had  1,737  'teres.  In  1869,  the  ecpialized  valuation 
of  its  real  and  personal  estate  was  §32,414;  and  its 
liresent  valuation  is  $426,680.  The  total  vole  of  '.he 
township,  in  November,  1882,  was  54. 


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DEEBFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 

EERFIELD  Township  is  thirteen  north  and 
nine  west,  of  the  Congressional  survey.     It 
"5"  lies  in  the  southern  tier  of  Mecosta  County, 
and  is  bounded  as  follows  :     On  the  north  by 
Austin  Township;  on  the  east  by  Hinton  Town- 
ship ;  on  the  south  by  Montcalm  County ;  and 
g    on  the  west  by  .-Etna  Township.     It  is  well  watered, 
the    Little    Muskegon    flowing  nearly  west  through 
the  middle  of  the  township.     It  traverses  the  town- 
ship on  sections  thirteen,  twenty-four,  twenty-three, 
twenty-two,    twenty-one,   twenty,    twenty-nine    and 
thirty,  from  which  it  leaves  the  Township.     In  the 
northern  part  of  Deerfield  are  Quigley  Creek,  which 
flows  with  and  enters  the  Little  Muskegon  near  the 
center  of  the  township,  and  the  East  Branch  of  Big 
Creek,  which  flowing  southwest  unites  with  the  Lit- 
/S  tie  Muskegon  near  the  village  of  Morley,  in  ^-Etna 
Township.     In   the  southern  part  of  Deerfield  begin 
several    small   streams,   which,    although    they    flow 
south,  finally  find  their  way  to  the  Little  Muskegon. 
The  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  railroad  barely  enters 
the  township,  running  through  sections  six  and  seven. 
A  portion  of  the  thriving  village  of  Morley  belongs 
to   Deerfield,  although  the  main    part   is   in    JEXn^ 
Township.     Bell's  Crossing  and  Rustford,  small  sta- 
tions on   the  D.    L.  &:.    N.  railroad,  are  situated  in 
Deerfield  Township. 

The  territory  included  in  Deerfield  was  organized 
in  March,  1861,  and  its  first  Supervisor  was  Samuel 
S.  Chipman.     The   first   white   settler   was   George 
Quigley,    who   located   on   section    four.     The    first 
birth  was  that  of  James  Quigley,  son  of  George  and 
Jane  Quigley,  in  1858.     The  first  death  was  that  of 
Frederick  Eckard,  in  1863.     The    first  marriage  was 
that  of  Isaac  Sedore  and  Elizabeth  Smith,  solemnized 
by  George  Quigley,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1862.     The  first  frame  building  in  the  Township 
was  a  dwelling  erected  by  Lysander  Quigley,  in  1859. 
The  first  mill  was  a  small  water-power  grist-mill  and 
saw-mill,  built  on  the  Little  Muskegon  River  by  Ethan 
.,.    Satterlee.     The  first  school-house  was  a  log  building 
^    erected  on  section  five,  in  1862  ;  and  the  first  school 
_     was  taught   the   same   year  by    Margaret    Quigley. 
^    The  first  store  was  opened  by  George  Magill,  in  1863. 


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The  first  jx)st-oflfice,  Big  Creek,  was  established  about 
1865. 

In  1864  the  pojnilation  of  Deerfield  Township  was 
296;  in  1870  it  was  564;  in  1874  it  was  654;  and 
in  1880  it  was  1,093.  ^'^  'S?^  'he  township  had 
4,389  acres  of  improved  land;  and  in  1881  it  had 
4,491  acres.  At  the  time  of  its  organization,  in  1861, 
the  equalized  valuation  was  $40,45  i  ;  and  its  present 
valuation  is  $300,080.  The  total  vote  of  the  town- 
ship in  November,  1882,  was  145. 


COLFAX  TOWNSHIP. 


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Of  HIS  is  township  15  north,  range  9  west. 
Congressional  survey,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Grant  Township,  on  the  east 
by  Martiny  Township,  on  the  south  by  Austin 
■I-  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Big  Rapids 
I  Township.  The  township  is  drained  jjrinci- 
pally  by  Ryan  Creek,  which  flows  west  through  the 
northern  part  of  the  Township.  There  are  several 
good-sized  lakes  and  a  number  of  smaller  ponds  in 
Colfax.  The  largest  is  Clear  Lake,  on  section  21. 
In  the  northwest  corner  are  Long  Pond  and  Town 
Line  Lake.  On  the  northern  boundary  is  Pickerel 
Lake;  and  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  townshi]) 
are  Colby  Lake,  Cook  Lake,  Mud  Lake  and  Twin 
Lakes.  In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township  is 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  railroad,  which  crosses 
section  31.  On  this  road  is  Byers' station  and  post- 
office.  The  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  railroad 
runs  through  sections  18,  17,  16,  15,  14  and  13.  In 
section  13  the  Chippewa  branch  connects  with  the 
main  line,  and  at  this  junction  is  the  new  village  of 
Rodney,  which  has  good  prospects  for  future  growth. 
The  township  of  Colfax  was  organized  in  1869, 
and  its  first  Supervisor  was  Sidney  L.  Rood.  'I"he 
first  white  settler  was  Lloyd  W.  Simonds,  who  located 
on  section  19,  in  i860.  The  first  death  was  that  of 
Helen  A.  Rood.  The  first  couple  married  were 
Noble  D.  Rood  and  Martha  A.  Edwards.  'I'he 
ceremony  was  performed  June  30,  1869,  by  Lloyd  W. 
Simonds,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  first  frame 
building  was  a  barn  erected  by  L.  W.  Simonds  in 
1868.  The  first  mill  was  a  i)ortable  steam  saw -mill, 
put  up  by  Henry  Escott,  in  1 869.     The  first  school- 


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house  was  a  frame  building  erected  on  section  3 1 , 
in  1870. 

The  ]X)pulation  of  Colfax  Township  in  1870  was 
only  146.  In  1874  it  had  increased  to  263;  and  the 
census  of  18S0  showed  a  furtlier  increase  to  669.  It 
had  2,001  acres  of  improved  land  in  1881.  The  pres- 
ent equalized  valuation  of  tlie  real  and  personal 
property  of  the  township  is  $264,842.  Its  total  vote 
in  November,  1882,  was  94. 


Fork  Township. 

ORK  Township  is  situated  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  Mecosta  ("ounty,and  is  Coiigress- 
■i^"  ional  township  16  north,  range  7  west ;  and 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Osceola  County,  on 
the  east  by  Isabella  County,  on  the  south 
by  Sheridan  Township,  and  on  the  west 
Martiny  Township.  It  is  watered  by  Chip- 
pewa River,  the  North  and  South  Branches  of  the 
same,  Rat-Tail  Creek  and  Cliippcwa  Creek.  The 
last  two  are  tributaries  of  the  Noith  Branch,  which 
they  join  in  about  the  center  of  the  township.  These 
streams,  especially  the  South  Branch,  are  the  outlets 
of  a  score  or  more  of  lakes,  of  which  but  tluee  or 
four  are  in  Fork  Township.  The  others  are  mostly 
in  Chippewa  and  Martiny  Townships.  Fork  has  no 
railroad,  no  village,  and  but  one  post-office, — Fork. 

The  territory  above  described  was  organized  into 
a  township  in  October,  1867,  and  William  Creevey 
was  elected  the  first  Supervisor.  The  first  white 
settler  was  Marvin  A.  Rogers,  who  located  on  section 
28,  in  the  winter  of  1865-6.  Among  the  other  early 
settlers,  who  came  between  1866  and  1868,  were 
John  H.  Gibbs,  Charles  Rogers,  Chauncey  Rog- 
ers, Charlie  Powers,  Almond  Mott,  Leonard  Chro- 
shaw,  Walter  Kendall,  Philip  Chroshaw,  Will- 
iam Brown,  J.  H.  Groom,  Oliver  Bark  and  Leland 
Roe.  The  first  white  child  born  was  Gazelle 
Murphy,  daughter  of  James  and  Josephine  Murphy, 
Aug.  21,  1866.  The  first  death  was  that  of  John 
Nicholson,  in  the  fall  of  1869.  The  first  marriage 
was  that  of  Marvin  A.  Rogers  and  Alice  Ford,  in  the 
fall  of  1S67,  solemnized  by  Elder  Z.  W.  Shepherd. 
The  first  frame  building  in  the  township  was  erected 
by  L.  W.  Roe,  in  the  fall  of  1870.     The  first  school- 


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house  was  a  log  building  put  up  on  section  28,  in  the 
summer  of  1870;  and  llie  first  school  was  taught  by 
Mrs.  Cynthia  L.  Brown,  during  tlie  same  summer. 
The  first  store  was  opened  by  Lewis  E.  Wolcott,  in 
1875.  The  first  and  only  post-office,  Fork,  was  es- 
tablished in  the  spring  of  i860. 

In  1870,  the  [wpulation  of  Fork  Township  was 
163;  in  1880,  this  had  more  than  doubled,  being 
343.  In  1878,  F"ork  had  1,670  acres  of  improved 
land.  In  1881,  under  a  different  rule  of  assessment, 
it  had  1,219.  ^'s  eipialized  valuation  in  1868  was 
$64,096;  and  its  present  valuation  is  §122,705.  The 
total  vote  in  November,  1.SS2,  was  43. 


Grant  Township. 

HIS  is  slightly  smaller  than  any  other  town* 
^  ship  in  the  county.  It  comprises  all  of  lown- 
'^rd^  ship  sixteen  north,  range  nine  west.  Congress- 
ional survey,  except  se<  tion  six  and  parts  of 
sections  five  and  seven,  which,  being  cut  off 
by  the  Muskegon  River,  are,  for  the  sake  of  conven- 
ience, attached  to  Green  Township.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  ncKth  by  Osceola  County, on  the  east  by  ('hip- 
pewa  Township,  on  tlie  south  by  Colfax  Township, 
and  on  the  west  by  ( ireen  Township.  It  is  watered 
in  the  northern  part  by  the  Muskegon  River  and  its 
tributaries,  Pogie  Creek  and  Blodgett  Creek,  and  in 
the  southern  part  by  Pickerel  Lake  River  and  Ryan 
Creek.  The  Township  contains  several  small  lakes, 
drained  by  these  streams,  of  which  the  most  impor- 
tant are  Blodgett  Lake,  Mud  Lake,  Pickerel  Lake, 
Young  Lake  and  Little  Young  Lake.  These  lakes 
and  streams  abound  in  fish,  and  no  better  field  for 
the  sportsman  exists  than  Grant  Township.  It  has 
no  railroad  within  its  borders  and  yet  much  of  its 
territory  has  been  cleared  and  settled. 

The  township  was  given  a  civil  organization  in 
1865,  and  the  first  election  was  held  in  October  of 
that  year.  The  first  white  settler  was  Sylvanus 
Ford,  a  single  man,  who  located  on  section  20  in 
1863.  The  first  family  to  settle  in  Grant  was  that  of 
Charles  L.  Tuttle,  who  located  on  section  iS,  also  in 
1863.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  Irving  Tuttle,  son 
of  Charles  L.  and  Mary  C.  Tultle,  which  occurred 
July  4,    1865.     The   first  death  was  that  of  Uryal 

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Aldrich,  in  1865.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
Uryal  Aldrich  and  Mary  Donley,  in  1863.  The  first 
frame  building  was  a  dwelling  erected  by  Sylvanus 
Ford,  in  1871.  The  first  school-house  was  a  log 
building  erected  on  section  '18,  in  1868.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Lydia  Marsh,  in  the  same  year. 

By  the  census  of  1870,  the  population  was  144;  in 
1874  it  was  179,  and  in  1880  it  was  307.  In  1878, 
Grant  Township  had  1,231  acres  of  improved  land  ; 
111  1 88 1  it  had  1,324.  Its  equalized  valuation  in 
1866  was  $44,797;  its  present  valuation  is  ij)!24o,io7. 
Its  total  vote  in  November,  1882,  was  71. 

The  first  officers  of  the  township  were:  Super- 
visor, Charles  L.  Tuttle;  Clerk,  Abram  Van  Alstine; 
Treasurer,  Allen  Moore ;  School  Inspectors,  Peter 
Long  and  S.  C.  Hemphill;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Hugh  McCune,  R.  Whalen  and  H.  M.  Wilder;  Jus- 
<tices  of  the  Peace,  Sylvanus  Ford,  Hugh  McCune, 
S.  C.  Hemphill  and  R.  Whalen;  Constables,  William 
White  and  Joseph  Morgan. 


►^^-<^i.— 

Green  Township. 

REEN  Township  is  numbered  16  north, 
range  10  west,  of  the  Congressional  sur- 
'^i'^  vey,  and  lies  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
cws  Mecosta  County.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Osceola  County,  on  the  east  by  Grant 
Township,  on  the  south  by  Big  Rapids  Town- 
ship, and  on  the  west  by  Newaygo  County.  Besides 
an  exact  Congressional  Township,  Green  includes  a 
little  over  two  sections  which  naturally  belong  to 
Grant  Township,  but  are  cut  off  from  it  by  the  Mus- 
kegon River,  and  are  therefore  for  convenience'  sake 
attached  to  Creen.  Muskegon  River  forms  thus  the 
eastern  boundary  for  a  mile  and  a  half  It  then 
flows  west  for  about  four  miles  and  then  in  a  south- 
eriy  direction  until  it  leaves  the  township.  The 
land  is  watered  also  by  Buck  Horn,  Paris,  Shaw  and 
Tinny  Creeks,  and  a  number  of  smaller  streams,  all 
of  which  are  tributary  to  the  Muskegon. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1858,  before  the 
County  of  Mecosta  was  detached  from  Newaygo, 
and  was  one  of  the  only  two  townships  organized 
when  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  Mecosta  County  was  held,  in  May,  1859.  Jesse 
A.  Barker,  who  was   at   this   meeting,   was  the  first 


Supervisor  of  Green  Township.  The  first  white 
family  in  the  Township  was  that  of  James  Montague, 
who  settled  on  section  27  in  June,  1854.  The  first 
white  child  born  was  Helen  Montague,  daughter  of 
James  and  Laura  Montague,  born  in  1855.  Theo- 
philus  Humphrey,  son  of  Charles  B.  and  Jane  Hum- 
phrey, was  born  in  the  fall  of  1857.  The  first  death 
was  that  of  Mrs.  Millard,  in  1859.  The  first  mar- 
riage, that  of  John  McFarlane  and  Betsey  Turk,  was 
solemnized  by  Jesse  A.  Barker,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Dec.  25,  i860.  The  first  frame  building  was  a  house 
erected  by  Andrew  and  Lewis  H.  Green,  in  1857. 
The  lumber  for  it  was  drawn  from  Big  Prairie,  a  dis- 
tance of  30  miles  or  more,  and  the  mortices  of  the 
framework  were  dug  with  an  old  chisel  and  a  mallet, 
without  the  aid  of  an  auger,  there  being  no  such  a 
tool  in  town.  John  Parish  and  Andrew  McFarlane 
erected  a  frame  dwelling  the  same  year  The  first 
mill  was  a  saw-mill,  built  by  John  Parish  and  An- 
drew McFarlane,  in  1857,  on  Parish  Creek,  near 
where  the  village  of  Paris  now  stands.  The  first 
school-house  was  a  log  building,  erected  in  May, 
1858,  on  section  28.  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
Martha  J.  Evarts,  in  the  summer  of  1858.  The 
first  store  was  opened  by  Edmund  M.  Suckney,  in 
1866.  The  first  post-office,  Paris,  was  established  in 
1 864. 

The  census  of  i860  gave  Green  Townshiii  246  in- 
habitants; in  1864,  the  State  census  showed  but 
235.  In  1870  the  population  had  increased  to  616; 
in  1874  to  886,  and  in  1880  to  1,132.  In  1878  the 
township  had  1,395  ^^^res  of  improved  land;  and 
4,638  in  1881.  Its  equalized  valuation  in  1859  was 
$144,306.60;  and  its  present  valuation  is  $418,676. 
Its  total  vote  in  Novemlier,  1S82,  was  166. 

PARIS  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Paris  is  located  on  the  east  half  of 
section  16,  and  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Muskegon 
River.  The  first  white  settler  was  John  Parish,  the 
"father ''of  the  village,  which  he  laid  out.  It  was 
named  "  Parish,"  and  this  was  afterwards  changed  to 
the  present  appellation,  "  Paris."  He  also  built  the 
first  house  of  logs,  about  1864,  on  the  village  site. 
He  also  built  the  first  frame  house.  Among  the 
early  settlers  was  Andrew  McFarlane,  who,  in  part- 
nership with  Parish,  built  and  operated  a  saw-mill. 
Other  early  settlers  were  E.  M.  Stickney  and  James 


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Wright.  Mr.  Stickney  opened  the  first  store,  in 
February,  1S66.  Shaler  &  Fitting  built  the  mill 
now  owned  by  E.  M.  Stickney,  in  1867. 

Paris  is  not  incorporated,  and  has  a  population  of 
about  350.  There  are  no  lodges  or  other  organiza- 
tions. A  small,  neat  church  has  just  been  built  by 
subscription,  in  which  all  denominations  may  meet. 
The  pastor  who  preaches  every  Sunday  in  this 
church  lives  at  Hersey,  Osceola  County. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  business  men 
of  the  village  : 

Bisbee,  J.  E.,  grocery  and  drug  store. 
Frink,  L.  M.,  Frink's  Hotel. 
Hopkinson,  W.  D.,  general  store. 
Johnson,  T.  C,  wagon  shop. 
Leggett,  I.  J.,  drug  store. 
Murphy  &  Dolan,  saloon. 
Nichols,  J.  E.,  restaurant. 
Robison,  H.  M.,  blacksmith. 
Symonds,  S.  H.,  shoe  shop. 
Swigler,  N.  J.,  blacksmith. 
Stickney,  E.  M.,  saw  and  grist  mill. 
Scranton,  W,  S.,  saloon. 


The  medical  profession  is  rejjresented  only  by  Dr. 
I-  J-  Leggett. 

The  most  imiwrtant  event  in  the  history  of  Paris 
was  the  great  fire  of  1879.  At  about  half  past  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Monday,  ^fay  26,  the  rear 
part  of  Andrew  McFarlane's  store  was  discovered  to 
be  on  fire.  A  strong  wind  was  blowing  from  the 
northeast  at  the  time,  and  but  two  or  three  minutes 
elajised  before  the  entire  building  was  enveloped  in 
flames.  McFarlane's  hotel,  the  "  Muskegon  House," 
which  stood  adjacent  to  the  store  on  the  south  side, 
was  on  fire;  but  a  few  minutes  after  the  alarm  was 
given,  and  the  inmates  of  the  hotel  had  barely  time 
to  get  out,  some  of  them  saving  but  a  part  of  their 
a])parel. 

The  store  buildings  of  E.  M.  Stickney,  situated  un 
the  opix)site  side  of  the  street,  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
S.  Elwood,  with  a  general  stock  of  merchandise,  were 
on  fire  before  half  the  people  of  the  village  had  been 
aroused  from  th^ir  slumbers.  A  two-story  building 
1  adjacent  on  the  south,  owned  by  Mrs.  Annie  Hall,  of 
'^  Detroit,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Elwood  with  a  stock  of 
'jj  crockery,  melted  into  smoke  and  ashes  with  the  rest. 
^  A  large  two-story  building,  originally  designed  for  a 
\^  store,  but   occupied  by    Elliot   Cheney  for  a  hotel, 


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which  stood  next  south  of  the  store-buildings  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Elwood,  was  also  in  flames  about  as  soon 
as  the  others,  all  of  them  being  directly  in  the  course 
in  which  the  flames  were  driven  by  the  wind.  The 
inmates  of  this  last  mentioned  building  escaped  with 
most  of  their  apparel,  which  was  about  all  that  was 
saved.  The  Cheney  Hotel  was  owned  by  Mrs.  Roxy 
Compton.  .\nother  large  two-story  store  building, 
situated  several  rods  south  of  the  Cheney  Hotel,  was 
the  next  to  take  fire.  It  was  occupied  as  a  residence 
by  two  families,  one  of  them  being  that  of  Mr.  Jud- 
kins,  station  agent  at  Paris,  and  they  had  time  to  re- 
move all  or  nearly  all  their  household  goods.  A 
substantial  barn  belonging  to  E.  M.  Stickney,  and 
two  or  three  cheap  cow  stables,  complete  the  list  of 
buildings  destroyed. 

Mr.  McFarlanc  saved  literally  nothing  from  his 
store,  in  fact  no  one  attempted  to  enter  the  building, 
the  entire  inside  being  a  sheet  of  flame  before  the 
inmates  of  the  surrounding  buildings  were  apprised 
of  the  danger  that  threatened  them.  Mr.  McFar- 
lane's loss  on  buildings  and  stock  was  about  $7,000 
or  $8,000,  with  no  insurance.  Mr.  Stickney 's  loss  on 
buildings  was  about  $2,500,  with  $1,500  insurance. 
He  also  lost  about  $200  worth  of  lumber,  which  was 
piled  near  the  railroad  track,  in  the  rear  of  McFar- 
lane's store.  A  small  warehouse  situated  at  the  rear 
of  Stickney 's  building,  and  owned  by  Fox,  Shields  & 
Co.,  of  Grand  Rapids,  was  insured  for  $300.  Mr. 
El  wood's  loss  on  merchandise  was  about  §10,000, 
with  $4,000  insurance.  Only  a  few  handfuls  of 
goods  were  saved.  The  postoffice  was  located  in 
Elwood's  store,  and  the  letter  case  and  stamp  drawer 
were  saved,  but  the  paper  mail  and  the  jwuch  con- 
taining the  letter  mail  to  come  south  that  morning, 
were  swallowed  up  in  the  flames.  Mrs.  Hall's  build- 
ing was  worth  about  $t,2oo.  Mrs.  Com[)ton's  build- 
ing was  worth  about  $1,200,  and  was  insured  for  $300. 
Mr.  Cheney,  who  occupied  the  building,  lost  about 
$500  with  no  insurance.  Mrs.  Staab's  building  was 
worth  about  $1,000.  Many  other  buildings  were  in 
imminent  danger;  but  the  activity  of  the  citizens 
fortunately  saved  them.  Among  other  things  burn- 
ed were  the  books  and  records  of  the  town  of  Green, 
which  were  in  Mr.  Elwood's  store.  The  origin  of 
this  disastrous  conflagration  is  not  known.  It  was 
probably  a  case  of  incendiarism. 


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Hinton  Township. 

HIS  is  Congressional  Township  13  north, 
range  8  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Morton  Township,  on  the  east  by  Mill- 
brook  Township,  on   the  south  by  Montcalm 

I  County,  and  on  the  west  by  Deerfield  Town- 
ship. It  is  drained  by  Silver  Creek  (into  which  flows 
Decker  Creek),  in  the  northern  part,  and  by  Tama- 
rack Creek  in  the  south,  which  flow  westward  into 
the  Little  Muskegon,  sometimes  known  as  the  South 
Fork  of  the  Muskegon  River.  This  stream  itself 
flows  in  a  southwesterly  direction  through  the  north- 
western corner  of  the  Township.  There  are  two 
post-offices  in  Hinton.  Altona  on  sections  six  and 
seven,  and  Sylvester  on  section  ten. 

The  township  of  Hinton  was  organized  in  Janu- 
ary, i860,  and  the  first  Supervisor  was  R.  Van  De- 
water.  The  first  white  settler  was  John  Hinton,  who 
located  on  section  fifteen,  in  June,  1855.  The  first 
birth  was  that  of  Margaret  Kibbe,  daughter  of  Ho- 
ratio N.  and  Margaret  Kibbe,  Aug.  15,  1857.  The 
first  death  was  that  of  Phoebe  Hinton,  Feb.  18,  i860. 
The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  Hinton  and 
Mariette  Rockwood,  solemnized  by  Leonard  Aldrich, 
Justice  of  the  Peaqe,  May  26,  i860.  Another  report 
says  that  Samuel  \\'.  Rose  and  Ann  Hinton  were 
the  first  couple  married.  The  first  frame  building 
was  a  barn,  30x50  feet,  erected  by  John  Hinton,  in 
the  summer  of  1856.  Tlie  first  mills  were  a  saw- 
mill, built  by  William  Seaton  and  Bartley  Davis,  and 
a  flouring  mill,  built  by  Harrison  J.  Brown,  in  the 
summer  of  1868.  Both  are  water-power  mills, 
located  on  the  Little  Muskegon,  where  the  village  of 
.Altona  was  afterward  platted.  The  first  school-Jiouse 
was  a  log  building,  erected  on  section  21,  in  1861. 
Tiie  first  school  was  taught  by  Rachel  Whitzell,  in 
the  summer  of  1861.  Otliers  say  that  Lydia  Allen 
taught  the  first  school,  in  the  spring  of  1861.  One 
report  says  that  Harrison  J.  Brown  opened  the  first 
store  in  1868;  another  says  that  David  Fowler 
opened  the  first  at  Sylvester.  The  first  post-office 
in  Hinton  Township  was  Hinton,  established  in  1S62. 

In  i860,  tlie  year  of  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship, the  population  was  153;  in  1864  it  was  167;  in 


1870  it  was  390;  in  1874  it  was  638,  and  in  1880  it 
was  986.  In  1878  the  township  was  reix)rted  to 
have  3,799  acres  of  improved  land;  in  1881  only 
2,971  acres  were  reported.  This  apparent  decrease 
was  due  merely  to  a  change  in  Supervisors,  and  con- 
se(iuently  no  standard  of  classification.  Hinton's 
equalized  valuation  at  the  time  of  organization  was 
$70,194.38,  and  its  present  valuation  is  $302,298. 
Its  total  vote  in  November,  1882,  was  189. 


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Martiny  Township. 

HIS  is  township  15  north,  range  8  west 
'^  Congressional  survey,  and  is  bounded  on 
on  the  north  by  Chippewa  Township,  on  the 
east  by  Sheridan  Township,  on  the  south  by 
Morton  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Colfax 
Township.  It  is  drained  in  the  northeastern  part  by 
the  South  Branch  of  the  Chippewa,  including  its 
tributaries,  Upper  and  Lower  Evans  Lakes,  Bloom 
Lake,  Dimon  Lake,  Tubb's  Lake  and  others;  but 
the  greater  i)art  of  the  Township  is  drained  by  the 
West  Branch  of  the  Litde  Muskegon  River,  which  is 
the  outlet  for  Horsehead  Lake,  Martiny  or  Johnson 
Lake  and  Pretty  Lake.  Horsehead  Lake  is  the 
second  body  of  water  in  the  county,  in  point  of  size. 
In  the  southeast  part  is  the  East  Branch  of  the 
Little  Muskegon  River.  Through  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  Township  runs  the  recently  constructed 
Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  railroad,  and  through 
the  northwestern  part  runs  the  Chippewa  Branch  of 
the  same  road. 

Martiny  was  organized  as  a  civil  township  in 
January,  1875,  and  elected  its  first  Supervisor,  Nich- 
olas Thieson.  The  first  white  settler  was  John  Mar- 
tiny, who  located  on  section  four  in  1S6S.  The  first 
birth  was  that  of  Helen  Albert,  daughter  uf  Christo- 
pher and  Ann  Albert,  in  1870.  The  first  death  was 
that  of  John  Johnson,  in  1873.  The  first  marriage 
was  that  of  Noah  Eaton  and  Mary  Kent,  solemnized 
by  George  Shields,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  June  7, 
1875.  The  first  school-house  was  a  log  building 
erected  on  section  four  in  1873.  The  first  school 
was  taught  by  Nellie  Sheir,  in  1873.  The  first  post- 
office — Martiny — was  established  in  November,  1875, 
The  census  of  1880,  the  only  one  taken  since* 
Martiny  was  organized,  gives  it   192  inhabitants.     It 


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had  287  acres  of  improved  land  in  1879,  and  642  in 
1881.  Its  eiiualized  valuation  when  organized,  in 
1875,  was  $102,470.50;  and  its  present  valuation  is 
§424,47 8.     Its  total  vote  in  November,  1882,  was  25. 


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Mecosta  Township. 

ECOSTA  Township  is  numbered  14  north, 
range  10  west.  Congressional  survey,  and 
is  situated  in  the  western  tier  of  townships 
of  Mecosta  County.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Big  Rapids  Township,  on  the  east  by 
Austin  Township, on  the  south  by  /Etna  Town- 
shij),  and  on  the  west  by  Newaygo  County.  It  con- 
tains some  of  the  best  agricultural  land  in  the 
county,  and  also  much  fine  timber,  of  which,  however, 
the  greater  part  has  been  cleared  away.  It  contains 
the  villages  of  Stanwood  and  Rustford,  on  sections 
25  and  13. 

The  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  railroad  runs 
through  sections  12,  13,  24  and  25;  and  the  Grand 
Rapids  and  Big  Rapids  State  road  runs  through  the 
central  portion  of  the  township. 

Mecosta  is  excellently  watered,  and  its  land  is 
lower  geographically  than  any  other  land  in  Mecosta 
County.  The  Muskegon  River  enters  the  township 
in  the  northeast  corner,  and  leaves  it  in  the  south- 
west corner,  though  it  flows  in  by  no  means  a  straight 
line.  It  meanders  in  such  a  fashion  that  the  total 
length  of  river  is  more  than  twice  the  length  of  a 
line  drawn  diagonally  through  the  township.  Be- 
sides the  river,  there  are  no  less  than  a  dozen 
streams  flowing  into  it  within  the  township,  of  which 
the  most  important  are  Cold  Spring,  Mac's  and 
Davis  Creeks. 

The  township  of  Mecosta  was  organized  in  .March, 
1 86 1,  and  R.  A.  Moon  was  its  first  Supervisor.  The 
first  white  settler  was  John  Davis,  who  located  on 
section  27,  in  1851,  and  was  also  the  first  settler  of 
the  county.  He  resides  still  on  his  first  location. 
The  first  birth  was  that  of  James  Hyde,  son  of  Han- 
nibal and  Mary  Hyde.  The  first  death  was  that  of 
William  Davis,  who  departed  this  life  in  February, 
1852.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  James  Suther- 
land and  Hannah  C.  Jaipiett,  solemnized  by  H.  Gil- 
more,  clergyman,  Oct.  21,  1859.      The  first  frame 


building  was  a  barn,  built  by  John  Davis,  in  1856. 
The  first  mill  was  a  saw-mill,  built  by  Francisco  & 
Marcy,  in  1870.  The  first  school-house  was  a  frame 
building  erected  in  1859,  on  section  three;  and  the 
first  school  was  taught  by  Mary  Gilmore.  The  first 
store  was  opened  by  James  H.  Rogers,  in  1865. 
The  first  ix)stoffice,  Mecosta,  was  established  in 
1865. 

In  1864,  Mecosta  Township  had  a  population  of 
222;  in  1870,  263;  in  1874,392;  and  in  1880,613. 
In  187S,  it  had  1,654  acres  of  improved  land;  in 
1880,  1,600  were  reported.  Its  equalized  valuation 
at  time  of  organization  was  $67,627.14  ;  and  its  pres- 
ent valuation  is  $195,035.  Its  total  vote  in  Novem- 
ber, 1882,  was  99. 


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Millbrook    Township. 

HE  Township  of  Millbrook  lies  in  the  south- 
eastern corner  of  the  county,  and  is  num- 
bered 13  north,  range  7  west,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Wheatland  Township,  on  the 
east  by  Isabella  County,  on  the  south  by  Mont- 
calm County,  and  on  the  west  by  Hinton  Township. 
It  is  watered  by  Black  Creek,  in  the  southwestern 
half,  and  by  two  branches  of  Pine  River  in  the 
northeastern  half.  It  also  contains  three  or  four 
small  lakes. 

The  village  of  Millbrook  lies  mostly  in  the  town- 
ship, and  Blanchard  lies  just  outside  of  its  limits  in 
Isabella  County. 

Millbrook  was  organized  into  a  civil  township  in 
October,  1865,  in  the  same  month  with  Grant  and 
^^tna  Townships.  Its  first  election  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Peter  S.  Decker  as  Supervisor.  The  first 
white  settlers  were  Leonard  and  Hazen  .Aldrich,  who 
located  on  section  14,  in  1859.  The  first  birth  was 
that  of  Forest  Aldrich,  son  of  Leonard  and  Jane 
Aldrich,  in  August,  1S59.  The  first  death  was  that 
of  Charles  Roe,  in  November,  1866.  The  first  mar- 
riages, those  of  Hazen  .'\ldrich  and  Jane  Jackson, 
and  William  F.  Thompson  and  Salina  .Mdrich,  were 
both  solemnized  by  John  Bower,  clergyman,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1S65.  The  first  frame  building  was  a  dwell- 
ing erected  by  Ha/en  Aldrich  in  1865.  The  first 
mill  was  a  water-jxjwer  saw-mill,  erected  by   Hazen 

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Aldrich  in  1864.  The  first  school-house  was  a  log 
building,  erected  on  section  11,  in  1863.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Louisa  Allen,  in  1863.  The 
first  store  was  opened  by  W.  S.  Howd,  in  1865,  where 
the  village  of  Millbrook  is  now  located. 

The  population  of  Millbrook  Township  by  the 
census  of  1870,  was  302  ;  by  the  State  census  of 
1874  it  has  412;  and  in  1880  the  general  census 
gave  706  inhabitants.  In  1878  it  had  2,151  acres  of 
improved  land;  and  in  1881,  2,407  acres.  Its 
equalized  valuation  in  1866  was  $29,957  ;  and  its 
present  valuation  is  $564,748.  Its  total  vote  in 
November,  1882,  was  107. 

MILLBROOK  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Millbrook  is  a  thriving  place  of  be 
tween  300  and  400  inhabitants,  on  section  one.  It 
would  undoubtedly  grow  faster,  and  have  more  busi- 
ness, had  not  the  railroad  been  located  so  far  away 
as  it  is.  The  citizens  of  the  village  offered  the  D. 
L.  &  N.  Railroad  Company  every  reasouable  induce- 
ment to  come  to  the  village,  but  opposing  influences 
were  too  strong. 

The  first  house  was  a  log  dwelling  erected  by 
Hazen  Aldrich,  in  1863.  The  same  man  put  up  the 
first  frame  house  on  the  village  site,  in  1864.  The 
fiist  store  was  opened  by  W.  S.  Howd,  in  March, 
1865.  The  present  school-house  was  erected  in 
1869,  at  a  cost  of  $800.  The  principal  is  C.  F. 
Fitzgerald. 

Millbrook  has  two  religious  organizations, —  the 
Congregational  and  Methodist  Episcopal.  The 
former  denominatio:  erected  a  church  in  1874,31  a 
cost  of  $3,000;  and  the  latter  have  a  small  church 
now  in  process  of  construction.  Rev.  Mr.  Schiedel 
preaches  for  the  Congregationalists,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Wyaiit  for  the  Methodists. 

Level  Lodge,  No.  219,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  has  a  member- 
ship of  35,  and  meets  every  Saturday  evening.  The 
principal  officers  at  the  present  time  are  Levi  S. 
Meneri,  N.  G. ;  Charles  Knauss,  V.  G. ;  James 
Wylie,  Secretary  ;  William  F.  Denney,  Treasurer. 

'J"he  postoffice  was  organized  in  1869,  and  Orson 
N.  Earl  was  the  first  Postmaster.  Henry  D.  Brown 
at  present  holds  the  appointment. 

The  following  list  comprises  all  the  firms  at  pres- 
ent doing  business  in  Millbrook  : 

Aldrich,  Forest,  wagon  shop. 


Brooks,  Keller  &  Eicher,  restaurant. 
Brown,  H.  D.,  postoffice,  notions. 
Denney,  William  F.,  furniture  store. 
Dysinger,  George,  blacksmithy. 
Dole  &  Precious,  saloon. 
Decker,  G.  A.,  harness  shop. 
Eicher,  A.,  meat  market. 
Fink,  R.  M.,  dry  goods. 
Harmon,  E.,  Harmon  House. 
Howd,  A.  J.,  feed  and  flour. 
Horton,  E.  T.,  general  store. 
Haggett,  George,  blacksmithy. 
Kenrick,  E.  H.,  drug  store. 
Lock,  Frank,  barber  shop. 
Norton  &  Carman,  grist-mill. 
Pattison,  J.  M.  &  Co.,  drug  store. 
Richards,  James  &  Co.,  hardware  store. 
Stanley,  J.  B.,  grocer)'. 
Stanton,  H.,  blacksmithy. 
Willett,  Ida,  millinery. 

The  medical  profession  is  represented  by  C.  H. 
Rodi,  S.  A.  Gates,  J.  W.  Pattison  and  W.  J.  Cree ; 
and  the  legal  by  D.  C.  Fuller  and  W.  S.  Howd,  the 
former  of  whom  is  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


Morton  Township 


6\i-  1  f?'J'J-'*^K.TON  Township  is  numbered  14  north, 
^■| te^agrf^  of  range    8  west.  Congressional    survev, 
%i^^Z        'I'ld  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Martiny 
/  A  ^  ^  Township,  on  the  east  by  Wheatland  Town- 
',r    shij),  on  the  south  by  Hinton  Township,  and  on 
I      the    west    by   Austin   Township.      The    Little 
Muskegon,  its  East  and  West  Branches,  and  smaller 
tributaries,   drain     the    township.      In    the   western 
part  are  four  good-sized  lakes,  and  two  smaller  ones. 
The  large  ones  are  named  Round  Lake,  Long  Lake, 
Blue    Lake    and    School    Section    Lake.      The   last 
named  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  of  being  partly 
on  section  16,  the  section  which  in  every  township 
is  set  apart  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools  of  the 
State.     The  recently   constructed   Detroit,  Lansing 
it    Northern   railroad    passes    through    the    north- 
eastern portion  of  the  township. 

Morton  was  organized  as  a  civil    township  in  Jan- 
uary,   1877.     The   general  census  of    1880  gJive  a 


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population  to  the  township  of  192.  In  179  it  had 
287  acres  of  improved  hind;  in  1881  it  had  642 
acres.  Its  equalized  valuation  at  the  time  of  organ- 
ization, in  1877,  was  114,840;  its  present  valuation 
is  more  than  double  that  amount,  being  $257,680. 
Its  total  vote  in  November,  1882,  was  162.  The 
township  has  had  a  marvelous  growth  in  the  last 
three  years. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  John  Van  Vleck  &  Son, 
of  Palo,  Mich.,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Little  Mus- 
kegon River,  and  afterward  moved  about  four  miles 
north  of  Mecosta  village,  where  it  is  now  run  by 
Charles  Van  Vleck,  John  Van  Vleck  having  died  in 
1S80. 

MECOSTA  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Mecosta  is  but  little  over  four  years 
old,  and  owes  its  existence  and  prosperity  to  the 
construction  of  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  railroad  through 
this  county.  The  opening  up  of  a  rich  agricultural 
and  lumbering  district,  by  this  road,  made  a  station 
near  the  center  of  the  county,  where  several  years 
previous  a  large  number  of  hardy  tillers  of  the  soil 
had  settled  to  the  south  and  east,  and  already  had 
many  thousand  acres  of  land  well  under  cultivation, 
an  absolute  necessity  ;  for  the  farmer  needed  a  mar- 
ket for  his  grain  and  produce,  as  well  as  a  place  to 
purchase  supplies,  while  the  lumbermen  needed  a 
shipping  point  and  base  of  supplies  in  order  to  carry 
on  the  business  of  manufacturing  the  sturdy  pine  (of 
which  there  is  an  immense  forest  to  the  north)  into 
lumber,  lath  and  shingles  for  transportation  over  the 
new  railroad.  Foreseeing  this  necessity,  Weber 
Bros.,  of  Ionia,  who  also  had  a  large  interest  in  the 
pine  land  at  this  point,  E.  B.  Moore,  of  E'dmore,  and 
Giles  Gilbert,  of  Stanton,  formed  themselves  into  a 
stock  company  and  platted  what  lias  since  been 
known  as  the  village  of  Mecosta,  ilie  plat,  which 
was  duly  recorded  July  17,  1879,  contains  120 
acres,  and  is  beautifully  located  on  the  East  Braiuli 
of  the  Little  Muskegon,  at  the  junction  of  the  Alma 
and  Clinton  State  road  with  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  railroad, 
16  miles  southeast  of  Big  Rapids  and  12  miles 
northwest  of  Millbrook,  and  is  aliout  four  miles  east 
of  the  geographical  center  of  the  county.  The  com- 
pany gave  Amos  S.  Johnson,  formerly  of  Sherman 
t'ity,  full  power  of  attorney,  and  made  him  the  resi- 
dent agent  for  the  sale  of  lots. 

At    that   time   nearly  the   entire    plat  was    heavily 


timbered,  although  the  greater  iX)rtion  of  it  is  now 
cleared.  The  fust  lot  was  sold  to  Charles  Cum- 
mings,  of  Stanton,  shortly  after  the  plat  was  recorded. 
The  first  building  was  put  up  l)y  D.  O'Brien  about 
tjie  I  St  of  October,  1S79.  H.  W.  Bassingwaite, 
George  Evans  and  A.  S.  Johnson  put  up  buildings 
the  same  month,  and  John  Van  Vleck  and  son  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  steam  saw  and  shingle 
mill.  During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1879-80,  sev- 
eral more  buildings  were  put  up  by  actual  settlers, 
but  not  until  the  first  of  May,  1880,  when  trains  com- 
menced running  regularly  over  the  new  road,  did  the 
young  village  experience  a  healthy  growth. 

The  first  store  was  a  general  grocery  and  supply 
store,  kept  on  Main  street,  where  is  now  Parks 
Brothers'  hardware  store,  by  H.  \V.  Bassingwaite. 

The  post-office  was  established  in  December,  1879, 
and  John  Van  Vleck  was  apix)in'ted  Postmaster.  His 
widow  is  now  Postmistress. 

The  first  hotel  was  opened  by  Ephraim  LeGrange, 
in  1879,  and  christened  the  Mecosta  House.  It  is 
on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Weber  streets,  and  is  now 
kept  by  Dominick  O'Brien. 

The  village  was  organized  as  a  school  district  in 

1879,  and  the  school-house,  begun  in  i88o,  was  com- 
pleted in  1881.  This  was  a  log  building,  and  the 
first  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Chipman.  'I'he 
same  year,  the  present  nice  frame  school-house  was 
completed,  at  a  cost  of  §2,000. 

The  first  religious  society  was  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination, organized  by  John  Van  Vleck,  and  held 
its  meetings  in  the  log  school-house.    In  the  fall  of 

1880,  the  Methodists  sent  a  minister  by  the  name  of 
Hoag,  who  remained  about  one  year,  also  preaching 
in  the  log  school-house.  Rev.  J.  Berry  at  present 
holds  services  in  the  town  hall,  but  the  society  is 
preparing  to  erect  a  church  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 

The  first  and  only  bank  is  the  private  bank  of 
(Jilbert  &  Wixs.^n. 

The  Mecosta  Planing  Mills  were  built  by  Rathvon 
Bros.,  and  started  in  tliesj)ring  of  1883. 

Mecosta  I-odge,  No.  93,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organized 
March  30,  1881.  The  present  oflfi<ers  are  A.  S.John- 
son, P.  M.  VV.;  C.  W.  Calkins,  M.  W.;  A.  R.  Street- 
er.  Recorder.     The  present  niemlicrship  is  28. 

Mecosta  Lodge,  No.  55,  K.  O.  T.  M.,  was  organ- 
ized in  1 882,  and,  like  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  is  :{.w  insiir- 


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ance  society.  The  present  officers  are  R.  D.  Reed, 
S.  K.  C. ;  J.  H.Waller,  S.  K.  F.  K. ;  L.  W.  Esselstene, 
S.  K.  R.  K. 

Mecosta  has  a  good  brass  band,  led  by  A.  C.  Wal- 
ler, organized  in  May,  1882. 

The  following  are  the  first  village  officers  of  Me- 
costa, elected  April  2,  1883:  President,  A.  S.  John- 
son; Trustees  for  two  years,  H.  M.  Trassell,  C.  W. 
Parks,  J.  W.  Pierce ;  Trustees  for  one  year,  J.  W. 
Ferris,  D.  O'Brien,  A.  R.  Streeter ;  Clerk,  C.  M.  Calk- 
ins; Street  Commissioner,  E.  La  Grange;  Con- 
stable, Marvin  Spencer;  Assessor,  E.  A.  Davis. 

The  business  interests  of  the  village  are  repre- 
sented by  the  following  firms  : 

Beard,  Henry,  wagon  shop. 
Black,  George,  general  store. 
Bromley  Bros.,  livery  stable. 
Calkins,  C.  W.,  furniture  store. 
Conrad,  E.  S.,  photograph  gallery. 
Cooley,  L.  D.,  drug  store. 
Carman,  M.,  general  store. 
Duley,  R,  H.,  Wilson  House. 
Diller,  Mrs.  George,  dressmaking. 
Evans,  Mrs.  R.  G.,  notions. 
Gilbert,  G.  &  Co.,  general  store. 
Gardner,  J.  T.,  jewelry  store. 
Garland  &  Hornung,  clothing  house. 
Gilbert  &  Wixson,  bank. 
Hullinger,  James,  drug  store. 
Morris  Thomas,  shoe  shop. 
Metzorg,  Isaac,  clothing  store. 
O'Brien,  Dominick,  Mecosta  House. 
O'Brien,  W.,  restaurant. 
Pangburn,  W.  S.,  boot  and  shoe  store. 
Parish,  W.  H.,  saloon. 
Parks  Bros.,  hardware  store. 
Reed,  R.  D.,  meat  market. 
Rice,  Lewis,  blacksmith. 
Rathvon  Bros.,  planing  mill. 
Stewart,  B.  M.,  grocer)-. 
Trussell,  H.  M.,  Advance  o^o.^. 
Thomas  &  Esselstene,  millinery. 
Thomas,  Morris,  harness  shop. 
Wernette  &  Schultz,  blacksmith. 
Wilcox,  D.  W.,  shingles  and  lumber. 
Wilson,  Albert,  barber  shop. 
Wilcox,  John,  blacksmith. 
Woolford,  R.  S.,  grocery  and  drug  store. 


Wernette,  C.  W.,  saloon. 

Woolford,  Mrs.  N.  O.,  millinery. 

Among  the  professional  men  are  C.  B.  Pattison  and 
J.  H.  Waller,   physicians,  and  N.  W.  Bush,  lawyer. 

The  last  school  census  of  the  village  contained  the 
names  of  225  children  of  school  age,  which  would 
indicate  a  total  population  of  nearly  800. 


Sheridan  Township. 

N  the  eastern  tier  of  townships  of  the  coun- 
ty is  township  15   north,  range  7  west.  Con- 
gressional survey,  named  as  above,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Fork  Township,  on 
the  east  by  Isabella  County,  on  the  south  by 
Wheatland  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Mar- 
tiny  Township. 

Sheridan  is  on  the  divide  between  the  territory 
contiguous  to  Lake  Michigan,  and  that  stretching 
towards  Lake  Huron.  It  contains  no  stream  of  any 
size,  except  the  south  branch  of  the  Chippewa  River, 
which  flows  through  the  northwestern  corner.  In  the 
eastern  portion  are  Bamber  Brook,  and  other  small 
streams  flowing  east,  while  in  the  southwestern  part 
are  the  head-vi'aters  of  the  Little  Muskegon.  The 
township  contains  half  a  dozen  verj'  small  lakes,  and 
three  lakes  of  some  size  are  intersected  by  its  bound- 
ary lines.  Lake  No.  6  lies  near  the  southwestern 
corner,  while  Dimon  Lake  and  Tubb's  Lake  lie  near 
the  northwestern  corner,  and  partly  in  Martiny 
Township. 

Sheridan  has  no  villages  and  no  railroads.  It  was 
organized  as  a  township  in  1867,  in  the  same  year  in 
which  Fork  was  erected,  and  in  October  of  that  year 
it  held  its  first  election,  which  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  Edward  P.  Strong  as  the  first  Supervisor.  Mr. 
Strong  was  the  first  white  settler  of  the  township, 
having  located  on  section  1 2  the  first  of  January, 
1866. 

The  first  white  child  born  was  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
William  ^\'.  and  Susan  McComb,  who  greeted  the 
light  April  29,  1866.  The  first  two  marriages — those 
of  A.  Berry  and  Angcliue  Benscoter,  and  Chauncey 
Rogers  and  Minnie  Gibbs — were  solemnized  on  the 
same  day,  Nov.  28,  1867,  by  Elder  Z.  W.  Shepherd. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  Ella  S.  Hanna,  and  oc- 


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curred  June  i,  1866.  The  first  frame  building  in  the 
township  was  the  school-house  in  District  No.  i, 
built  by  John  A.  Markle.  The  first  school-house  was 
a  log  building  erected  on  section  1 1,  in  the  spring  of 
1868,  and  Mrs  Aaron  Osborn  taught  the  first  school 
during  the  summer  following.  E.  P.  Strong  opened 
the  first  store  in  June,  1867.  The  first  [wstoffice, 
Rienza,  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1870. 

Its  population  in  1S70  was  135;  in  187^,  160; 
and  in  1880,  207.  In  1878,  it  rejKirted  990  acres  of 
impioved  land,  and  in  i88r,  1,192  acres.  Its  equal- 
ized valuation  in  1868  was  $44,312;  and  its  present 
valuation  is  §204,139.  Its  total  vote  in  November, 
1882,  was  39. 


Wheatland  Township. 

HEATLAND  Township  is  township  four 
_pMi^^|)  teen  north,  range  seven  west.  Congressional 
jj^Vp  *  survey,  and  is  in  the  eastern  tier  of  town- 
j!^^^  ships  of  Mecosta  County.  It  is  hounded 
on  the  north  by  Sheridan  Townsliij),  on  the 
east  by  Isabella  County,  on  the  south  by  Mill- 
brook  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Moiton  Town- 
ship. It  is  on  the  divide  between  the  watershed 
tributary  to  Lake  Michigan,  and  that  tributary  to 
Lake  Huron,  and  its  land  is  accordingly  jiiglier 
than  that  of  surrounding  counties.  Pointer  and 
other  creeks  tributary  to  the  Little  ^luskegon  drain 
the  northwestern  part,  while  the  greater  part  of  the 
township  is  drained  by  Piie  River  and  its  branches 
(of  which  the  most  iniix)rtant  is  Pony  Creek),  which 
flow  eastward  into  the  Tittabawassee.  Wheatland 
Township  has  a  number  of  small  lakes, — Lake  No. 
I,  Pine  Lake,  Pickett's  Lake,  Gay  Lake,  Mud  Lake, 


Lake  No.  6,  and  others,  which  form  the  head-waters 
of  the  Little  Muskegon  and  Pine  Rivers.  'J'he 
township  is  crossed  by  a  railroad  recently  con- 
structed,— the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern, — which, 
runs  through  the  southwestern  part.  Wheatland 
contains  no  villages,  although  Millbrook  lies  just  on 
its  borders. 

The  township  of  Wlieatland  was  organized  in  Octo 
ber,  1862;  and  its  first  Supervisor  was  Jacob 
Schiedel.  The  first  white  settler  was  William 
Schiedel,  who  located  on  section  24,  in  September, 
i860.  Solon  Hall  located  on  section  36,  the 
same  year.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  Ellen  Hall^ 
daughter  of  Solon  and  Mary  Hall,  in  the  summer  of 
1 86 1.  The  first  death  was  that  of  John  Norman 
September  28,  1864.  t'atharine  Robitzsch  died 
about  the  same  time.  The  first  marriage,  that  of 
Thomas  Ariss  and  Catharine  McCIoud,  was  solem- 
nized by  Solon  Hall,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  1866. 
Others  say  that  Isaac  Harvey  and  Marisa  Blood 
were  the  first  couple  married.  The  first  frame  build- 
ng  was  a  dwelling  erected  by  John  D.  Clement,  in 
September,  1865.  'J'he  first  mill  was  a  water-iX)wer 
saw-mill  erected  by  Frederick  D.  Miller,  in  June, 
1875.  The  first  school-house  was  a  log  building 
erected  on  section  26,  in  December,  1864.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Lydia  Allen,  in  the  winter  of 
1864-5.  Others  say  that  .Adaline  Aldrich  taught  the 
first  school  in  the  winter  of  1865. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1864  was  120. 
This  increased  to  400  in  1870;  to  632  in  1874;  and 
to  1,170  in  1880.  The  township  had  3,534  acres  of 
improved  land  in  187S,  and  4.320  acres  in  1881. 
Its  asssessed  valuation  in  1868  was  $44,312;  and  its 
present  valuation  is  $424,214.  Its  total  vote  in 
November,  1882,  was  200. 


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HE    origin  of  the  above  name 

ihas  lieen  explained  under  the 

heading  "  Early    Settlement.  " 

It  was  a  name    appropriately 

given  by   the  early  settlers  to 

'l'^  the    rajjids    in     the     Muskegon 

River  at   the    point    where    the 

thriving  county  seat  now  stands  ; 

and  when  the  town  was  started  it 

naturally  took  the   name  it   has 

ever  since  been  borne. 

The   earliest  entries  of  any  lands 

now  included  in   the  city  plats  are 

one   fractional    lot   of    32.20    acres 

1^  located  by  Robert  P.  Mitchell,  May 

3,  1853,  and  also  one  fractional  lot 

of  55.70  acres  located   at  the  same 

date  by  John  Parish.     These  pieces 

were  south  of  Mitchell   t'reek,  and 

between  Micliigan   avenue  and  the 

Muskegon  River,  being  portions  of 

the  First  Ward  of  the  city.      A  Mr. 

Fred  Hall  entered  land  soon   after, 

but     the    interest    of    these     men 

must   have  been    purchased   by   Messrs.  Warren   & 

Ives  some  time  afterward,  as   we  hear  no  more  of 

them  in  connection  with  the  village. 

March     i,    1X55,    Zera    French    and    his    brother 
George  came  througli  the  wilderness  -ria  t'roton  from 

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Grand  Rapids,  and  in  one  sense  were  the  real  found- 
ers of  Big  Rapids,  as  they  came  in  search  of  perma- 
nent homes,  and  not  in  any  sense  as  speculators. 
The  entire  region  north  of  Big  Prairie  was  then  a 
wilderness.  Not  a  lilow  had  been  struck,  nor  a 
cabin  raised,  where  Big  Rapids  now  stands,  and  only 
three  or  four  claims  made,  with  the  exception  of 
speculators  in  pine  lands.  We  quote  now  George 
French's  own  words : 

"  We  came  up  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Muskegon 
and  somewhere  near  the  upper  dam  found  Duncan 
McLellan  engaged  in  lumbering, — putting  logs  into 
the  river.  He  had  a  rude  camp  in  which  we  were 
hospitably  entertained  over  night.  The  following 
morning  we  constructed  a  log  raft,  on  which  we 
crossed  the  river.  The  snow  was  several  feet  deep 
on  the  west  side  and  yet  the  view  through  the  forest 
was  to  us  inviting  and  grand,  and  we  at  once  deter- 
mined to  locate  liere.  We  found  a  Mr.  Parish  and  a 
Mr.  Mitchell  had  already  a  (Government  certificate  for 
small  pieces  of  land  near,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Hall  had  possession  through  his  agent  of  about  160 
acres  ;  but  aside  from  this  all  was  undisturbed.  My 
brother  Zera  at  once  purchased  three  forty-acre 
pieces,  tlie  southern  boundary  of  which  was  Hem- 
lock street,  north  of  where  the  Central  scliool  build- 
now  stands,  and  of  course  covered  the  mill  site 
afterward  utilized  on  Mitchell  Creek." 

George  French  made  claim  to  about  the  same 
amount  of  land  as  his  brother,  a  little  farther  to  the 

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north.  They  had  conversed  upon  the  subject  of  a 
future  village  being  located  here,  ond  when  some 
time  afterward  Warren  Ives  surveyed  a  portion  of 
their  land,  and  recorded  a  village  plat,  Zera  Frent  h 
then  laid  out  a  portion  of  his  own  land  north  of 
Mitchell  Creek,  and  lying  on  both  sides  of  State 
street,  into  a  village  plat,  gave  it  the  name  of  Glen 
Elm,  and  it  was  recorded  by  that  name  May  9,  i860. 
A.  N.  Williams  was  the  surveyor  of  this  new  village. 

There  appears  to  have  been  some  little  feeling  at 
this  time  between  Mr.  Ives  and  Mr.  French  in  regard 
to  location  of  county  buildings,  and  this  may  have 
been  the  cause  of  locating  a  new  village  on  the 
French  proi)erty ;  but  it  must  have  been  amicably 
settled  soon  after,  as  Mr.  French  was  persuaded  by 
Orrin  Stevens  and  others  to  change  the  name  to 
"  French's  Addition  to  Big  Rapids,"  which  was  done 
and  recorded  June  4  of  the  same  year.  George 
French  now  decided  to  engage  in  other  business,  and 
sold  his  claim  to  Zera  French,  who,  having  a  small 
family  to  provide  for,  at  once  commenced  the  build- 
ing of  a  log  house.  This  was  the  first  house  of  any 
kind  built  within  the  village  limits.  It  was  situated 
a  little  north  of  the  Big  Rapids  Iron  Works,  and 
about  midway  between  State  street  and  the  river. 
The  ruins  of  its  foundation  may  yet  be  seen.  This 
house,  with  the  south  forty  acres  on  which  it  stood, 
was  sold  to  Ives  &:  Warren,  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
Chauncey  P.  Ives  in  this  country.  Another  forty- 
acre  piece  west  of  this,  covering  the  lot  where  the 
new  school-house  now  stands,  was  included  in  this 
purchase,  and  the  consideration  was  $600  cash  for 
both. 

This  house  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Ives  while  en- 
gaged in  erecting  a  mill  office  and  large  boarding- 
house  near  by.  The  saw-mill  was  built  first,  all  the 
actually  necessary  lumber  for  this  purpose  being 
hauled  from  Newaygo,  and  the  other  buildings  fin- 
ished as  soon  after  as  the  lumber  could  be  cut  by 
the  new  mill  to  construct  them.  Mrs.  Orrin  Stevens 
presided  for  a  long  lime  at  their  boarding-house,  and 
the  old  settlers  remember  many  bountiful  repasts 
served  by  her. 

\  good  story  is  told  by  one  of  the  pioneers  about 
these  days  when  nearly  all  the  necessaries  of  life 
had  to  be  brought  from  Grand  Rapids.  He  received 
from  a  certain  grocer  a  keg  of  molasses  {})  and  in 
the  bill  accoiTipanying  it  found  he  was  charged  for 


ten  gallons,  while  the  keg,  by  actual  measurement, 
could  hold  but  eight  gallons.  He  wrote  back  to  the 
grocer  that  he  "didn't  mind  the  money  overcharged 
so  much  as  he  did  the  strain  on  the  kegl  "  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  the  error  was  in  due  time  recti- 
fied. 

Chauncey  P.  Ives  removed  here  and  purchased 
the  interest  of  Fred  Hall  and  others  about  the  year 
1856.  As  has  been  said,  the  French  Brothers  owned 
and  were  at  this  time  in  possession  of  about  240 
acres  of  land,  bounded  on  the  south  by  Hemlock 
street.  Uixjn  this  land  where  noiv  stands  much  of 
the  northern  part  of  the  city,  they  had  made  consid- 
erable improvement  and  had  designed  much  more  ; 
and  it  had  also  become  known  some  time  previous 
that  they  intended  some  of  this  ground  for  a  village. 
For  this  reason,  although  Zera  French  did  not  i)os- 
sess  the  means  to  push  the  enterprise,  he  deserves  a 
large  share  of  the  honor  of  founding  the  city. 

The  following  incident  shows  what  trivial  matters 
sometimes  change  the  fortunes  of  individuals.  James 
Montague,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county, 
entered  fractional  lot  number  five,  covering  the  old 
red  mill  site,  somewhere  about  the  tune  tlie  same 
lot  was  taken  by  Mr.  ?'rench, — he  claimed  a  little 
before, — and  undoubtedly  had  in  view  the  valuable 
water  power  for  a  mill  site.  Both  parties  appeared 
at  the  land  office,  each  claiming  the  right  to  the  cer- 
tificate of  entry.  In  such  cases  it  was  the  duty  of 
that  office  to  institute  a  court  of  inquiry,  and  after 
mature  deliberation  Mr.  French  was  pronounced  the 
rigjilful  claimant.  Mr.  Montague  always  felt  that 
injustice  was  done  him. 

The  land  upon  whicii  all  the  present  business  part 
of  the  city  of  Big  Rapids  is  built,  was  owned  in  con- 
nection (but  not  in  partnership)  by  Messrs.  Ives, 
Warren  and  Leonard.  Mr.  Warren  soon  afterward 
purchased  the  ei.tire  interest  of  Dr.  F.  B.  Leonard, 
and  the  records  show  that  the  original  plat  was  sur- 
veyed and  recorded  by  Warren  and  Ives,  November 
3,  1859,  and  comprised  about  100  acres  of  land.  A 
Mr.  John  F.  Tinkham,  of  Grand  Rai)ids,  was  the 
surveyor  employed  to  do  the  work,  and  it  is  just  to 
add  that  Mr.  Tinkham  was  thoroughly  competent  as 
a  surveyor.  His  lines  are  more  accurate  than  those 
of  the  Government  surveyors. 

It  is  well  known  that  anything  having  little  present 
or  prospective  value  is  carelessly  handled  and  tossed 
about,  while  an  article  of  real  or  supposed  value  will 


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receive  the  most  careful  attenlion.  It  was  thus  with 
a  great  portion  of  the  hind  in  Northern  Micliigan. 
Its  supposed  worthlessness  made  it  cheap  in  the  eyes 
of  all,  and  a  little  deviation  in  lines,  or  the  loss  of  a 
few  acres  more  or  less,  was  of  no  consequence.  Por- 
tions of  the  forty-acre  tract  known  as  Sanborn  & 
Rust's  Addition  %vas  wanted  at  an  early  day  by  a  few 
settlers,  but  Mr.  Rust  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to 
sell  it  in  part,  although  he  was  willing  to  sell  it  entire. 
Several  of  the  well-known  citiz3ns  therefore  agreed 
to  take  a  certain  number  of  acres  each,  to  include 
the  entire  forty,  and  the  deeds  were  made  out  accord- 
ingly. The  owners  then  determined  to  run  streets 
through  it,  east  and  west,  parallel  with  and  joining 
one  or  two  on  the  Warren  &  Ives  plat ;  and  when 
asked  why  not  plat  their  property  in  lots  and  blocks, 
they  replied  that  they  only  wanted  it  for  pastures  for 
their  domestic  animals  !  It  seemed  foolish  to  them 
to  "  lay  out  the  whole  country  as  a  city."  By  a  glance 
at  the  map  it  will  be  seen  that  each  selected  a  por- 
tion according  to  the  size  of  his  purse,  or  inclinations, 
without  regard  to  shape  or  dimensions,  presenting  an 
appearance  of  either  the  surveyor  or  his  sextant  hav- 
ing been  slightly  "twisted."  Men  who  have  always 
been  known  as  possessing  superior  judgment  in 
other  matters,  failed  to  see  the  vvaut  of  careful 
groundwork  at  that  early  day. 

As  many  additions  have  been  made  to  I3ig  Rapids, 
for  the  sake  of  convenience  they  are  all  mentioned 
here  in  chronological  order: 

The  original  village  of  Big  Rapids  was  platted  by 
Messrs.  Warren  &  Ives,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  duly 
recorded  Nov.  3,  1859.  It  comprised  about  100  acres 
of  land,  situated  upon  the  western  bank  of  Muske- 
gon River,  on  section  14,  township  fifteen  north,  of 
range  ten  west.  On  the  9th  of  May,  i860,  Zera 
French  platted  an  addition  on  the  north  comprising 
about  forty  acres,  which  was  first  called  Glen  Elm, 
and  soon  afterwards  changed  to  French's  Addition  to 
the  Vilhige  of  Big  Rapids.  On  the  20th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1865,  Sanborn  &  Rust  platted  forty  acres  on  the 
west,  which  was  named  Sanborn  &  Rust's  Addition. 
On  the  25th  of  September,  1866,  Clark  &  Fuller 
platted  thirty-six  acres  immediately  south  of  Sanborn 
&  Rust's  Addition,  which  was  named  Rose's  Addi- 
tion. On  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  Ceylon  C.  Ful- 
ler platted  twenty-five  acres  immediately  south  of 
Clark  &  Fuller's  .Addition,  which  was  named  l'"uller's 


Addition.  On  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  Thomas 
D.  Stimson  platted  two  acres,  lying  between  the  orig- 
inal plat  and  Clark  &  Fuller's  Addition,  which  was 
Stimson's  Addition.  On  the  22d  of  October  of  the 
same  year,  George  W.  Warren  platted  forty  acres, 
lying  west  of  Rose's  Addition,  which  was  named 
Warren's  Addition.  On  the  5th  of  November  in  the 
same  year,  B.  E  Hutchinson  platted  thirty  acres,  ly- 
ing west  of  Sanborn  &  Rust's  Addition,  wliich  was 
named  Hutchinson's  Addition. 

The  year  1859  was  full  of  promises  to  the  little 
colony  of  pioneers.  The  act  organizing  the  county 
of  Mecosta,  and  designating  tlie  village  of  Leonard 
(as  Big  Rapids  was  then  called)  as  the  county  seat 
was  approved  by  the  State  Legislature  Feb.  1 1,  1859, 
and  the  election  of  the  first  county  officers  took  place 
soon  after.  The  organization  of  the  county  and  the 
establishment  of  the  county  seat  now  directed  atten- 
tion to  those  seeking  new  homes,  and  gave  a  new 
impetus  to  the  growth  of  the  village. 

It  is  somewhat  difficult,  after  the  lapse  of  twenty- 
five  years  from  the  time  Mr.  Ives  became  a  resident 
of  Big  Rapids,  to  understand  the  various  motives 
which  may  have  actuated  him  with  regard  to  some 
portions  of  his  work.  His  companions  of  that  early 
period  all  unite  in  saying  that  he  was  active  and  en- 
terprising, untiring  in  his  efforts  to  promote  the  public 
good,  generous  where  the  many  could  be  served,  a 
man  of  broad  and  comprehensive  ideas,  never  vis- 
ionary, although  somewhat  prophetic,  and  whose  far- 
seeing  judgment  saw  the  future  city  of  Big  Rapids 
positively  standing,  in  the  distance  !  It  is  related 
that  when  the  first  small  hotel  was  built,  by  A.  N. 
Williams,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  and  the  question 
arose  as  to  the  number  of  lots  retpiired  for  such  a 
purpose,  Mr.  Ives  remarked,  much  to  the  amusement 
of  his  neighbors,  that  "  within  twenty  years  a  two- 
story  hotel  covering  half  a  block  would  be  required 
to  accommodate  the  necessities  of  the  time."  When 
the  reader  considers  the  elegant  accommodations 
now  afforded  the  public  in  the  Northern  Hotel,  one 
of  the  finest  hotels  in  the  State,  and  in  the  mmierous 
smaller  hotels  in  Big  Rapids,  who  shall  say  that  such 
a  man  was  not  worthy  to  be  a  leader  in  the  settle- 
ment of  any  new  country  ?  He  often  spoke  of  the 
geographical  position  of  the  village  in  relation  to 
other  portions  of  o.ur  country  yet  to  be  settled  ;  and 
possibly  in  some  far  distant  time,  he  saw  in  imagina- 
tion a  more  direct  route  from  tlie  Eastern  Hemisphere 


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across  the  continent  to  the  Atlantic, — saw  a  great 
national  roadway  of  iron  from  I'ugct  Sound  to  Lake 
Superior,  thence  direct  to  the  straits  of  Mackinaw  and 
south  througli  the  village  of  his  creation,  bearing 
away  eastward  to  New  York  and  Boston.  "Cientle- 
men,"  said  he  in  one  of  his  speeches,  "I  assure  you 
that  cargoes  of  the  teas  of  China  will  pass  unbroken 
through  Big  Rapids  to  New  Yorkl"  He  was  a  man 
of  kindly  disiwsition,  ever  extending  a  hand  to  the 
weak  and  deserving;  and  it  is  said  of  him  that  no 
man  ever  ai)i)lied  personally  for  work  wlio  was,  if  in 
need,  turned  away.  He  would  even  board  the  man, 
for  the  time,  at  his  own  expense,  until  he  could  make 
business  for  him.  He  has  been  known  to  employ 
three  men  to  perform  one  piece  of  work  in  order  to 
give  them  all  employment  at  a  remunerative  price, 
when  one  man  would  have  answered  the  purpose 
quite  as  well.  He  was  a  man  of  fair  personal  habits 
and  personal  neatness,  but  an  inveterate  smoker,  his 
large,  generous  pipe,  with  its  long  reed  stem  thrust 
deep  into  his  mouth,  being  ipiite  a  constant  compan- 
ion. He  could  not  have  been  selfish,  and  yet  he 
had  his  own  peculiar  ideas,  and  was  determined  to 
follow  them. 

Others  were  now  rapidly  settling  round  about  ^hc 
new  village,  and  additions -to  the  original  plat  were 
now  in  order.  It  may  be  that  these  weie  viewed 
with  a  jealous  eye,  as  calculated  to  interfere  some- 
what with  plans  of  his  own.  Be  that  as  it  may,  Mr. 
Ives,  whose  lands  e.xtended  only  '.o  State  street  on 
the  west,  at  once  determined  to  prevent  additions  to 
the  village  in  that  direction  by  platting  lots  on  the 
west  side  of  Michigan  avenue,  150  feet  deep  to  an 
alley,  reserving  the  remainder,  about  300  feet  in 
width,  to  State  street,  and  extending  from  his  north 
line  the  entire  length  of  his  village  plat  south,  in  a 
complete  state  of  nature.  His  next  and  favorite 
idea,  for  reasons  of  his  own,  was  to  force  the  growth 
of  the  village  over  the  grounds  he  had  plaited  to  the 
south.  To  further  this  project  he  ])ositively  refused 
to  sell  any  portion  of  his  lands  north  of  Maple  street, 
but  was  generous  to  those  who  would  make  improve- 
ments south  or  southeast.  He  felled  the  trees  the 
entire  length  of  Michigan  avenue,  and  opened  from 
the  south  end  communication  with  the  old  trail  from 
Newaygo.  He  also  opened  up  Ives  and  Warren 
avenues  from  Maple  street,  a  long  distance  into  the 
woods,  hoping  to  attract  attention   in  that  direction. 


And  still  later,  when  grounds  for  school  purix)ses 
were  required,  he  offered  to  donate  the  lots  of  his 
own  selection,  which  were  on  the  corner  of  Michigan 
avenue  and  Oak  street,  then  in  the  woods,  seven 
blocks  south  of  his  office. 

He  prevailed  upon  others  to  purchase  lots  and 
open  mechanic  shops  near  the  school  grounds,  and 
many  can  remember  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop, 
and  a  bakery  and  tailor  shop,  all  in  active  business 
in  that  vicinity,  as  late  as  1867.  He  also,  as  soon  as 
a  competent  mechanic  could  be  procured,  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  dwelling  for  himself,  on  the 
corner  of  Michigan  avenue  and  Linden  street,  which 
was  afterward  sold  to  B.  E.  Hutcliinson,  and,  al- 
though moved  from  tlie  original  foundation,  is  still 
an  old  and  time-honored  landmark  of  the  city. 

But,  as  "  the  best  laid  plans  of  mice  an'  men  gang 
aft  agley,"  the  fond  hopes  of  Mr.  Ives  were  not  to  be 
realized  in  his  life-time.  Other  influences  were 
brought  to  bear  against  him  which  will  hereafter  be 
mentioned,  ciianging  the  business  center  of  the  city 
permanently.  .The  following,  although  occurring 
some  years  after,  is  appropriately  related  here,  in 
connection  with  the  location  of  the  business  center 
of  the  village : 

Some  time  in  1861  or  1S62,  when  Mr.  Williams 
built  the  second  hotel  in  the  village,  the  site  pro- 
posed and  thougiu  the  best  was  on  the  corner  of 
Elm  street  and  Michigan  avenue,  where  the  "  Furni- 
ture block  "  has  since  been  located.  In  bargaining 
for  the  ground,  the  party  then  owning  it  insisted  on 
having  an  old  wagon  thrown  in,  the  value  of  which 
may  have  been  $20.  Mr.  Williams  would  not 
accede  to  the  demand,  and  immediately  purchased 
ground  on  the  site  of  the  old  Mason  House,  and 
within  the  next  24  hours  was  laying  the  foundation. 
Judge  C.  C.  Fuller,  whose  interest  was  farther  south, 
noticing  the  change  in  location,  was  thoroughly  dis- 
gusted, and  said  to  ^\'illiams,  "Stop  your  work;  go 
and  complete  the  trade  with  Mr.  Clark  for  that 
ground,  and  I'll  pay  for  that  darned  old  wagon  my- 
self rather  than  have  you  build  away  out  of  town." 
But  the  work  had  already  jirogressed  too  far,  and 
that  unfortunate  vehicle  had,  we  fear,  changed  the 
future  center  of  the  city  for  at  least  the  space  of  half 
a  century. 

Mr.  Ives,  however,  had  exhibited  much  wisdom  in 
his  work  and  ideas  as  to  tlie   future  of  a  large  city. 


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He  gave  all  the  principal  streets  a  uniform  width  of 
80  feet,  crossing  at  right  angles.  The  lots  were  all 
50  x  150  feet,  with  20-foot  alleys  in  the  rear.  He 
left  spacious  public  grounds  in  a  central  part,  upon 
which  the  original  grand  old  forest  maples  were  left 
standing  (but  which  selfish  and  vandal  hands  have 
since  destroyed),  donated  generous  lots  to  the  differ- 
ent religious  organizations  who  might  occupy  them, 
and  planned  everything  for  a  model  village  and  a 
iirilliant  future. 

His  original  idea,  but  one  which  was  strongly  op- 
posed by  his  friends,  was  that  all  streets  should  be 
100  feet  wide  ;  and  nothing  in  the  entire  history  of  the 
city  is  to  be  more  deeply  regretted  than  the  objec- 
tion offered  at  that  time  to  his  excellent  judgment  in 
this  particular. 

Besides  French's  Addition,  others  were  now  from 
time  to  time  recorded,  and  began  to  be  peopled  in 
spite  of  the  proscribed  barrier  of  300  feet  of  forest  on 
the  west.  State  street  was  opened  and  became  a 
public  highway.  It  was  found  tliat  travel  could  not 
be  forced  through  from  the  south  on  Michigan  ave- 
nue, and  inexorable  fate  seemed  to  point  in  other 
directions  for  settlement.  Other  causes  conspired  to 
sever  mutual  interest  between  the  original  owners. 
Litigation,  threatened  and  real,  followed  in  later 
years,  and  gave  a  check  to  the  prosperity  of  the  vil- 
lage, from  which  it  slowly  recovered. 

After  Mr.  Ives  had  completed  his  mill  and  office, 
a  postoffice  seemed  a  necessity.  Application  was 
made  and  one  established,  with  Jesse  C.  Shaw  for 
the  first  Postmaster,  who  was  appointed  under  Presi- 
dent Buchanan.  A  weekly  mail  was  then  opened 
with  the  outside  world,  via  Greenville,  arriving  on 
horseback  every  Thursday,  and  returning  a  portion 
of  the  way  the  same  day.  A  peck  of  mail  matter 
was  a  heavy  mail  for  this  region.  The  first  daily 
mail  was  established  in  1865,  between  Newaygo  and 
Big  Rapids.  For  a  long  time  after  the  first  settle- 
ment here,  it  was  customary  for  the  inhabitants  to 
speak  of  themselves  as  if  "walled  in;"  and  if  one 
left  the  town  he  was  said  to  be  "  going  outside ; " 
and  this  custom  continued  until  the  almost  hourly 
arrival  of  mails  and  trains  broke  down  that  imaginary 
wall  between  themselves  and  the  rest  of  mankind. 
The  railroads  and  telephone  exchange,  now  fixed 
institutions,  have  placed  Big  Rapids  "  inside  "  for  all 

time. 

Orrin  Stevens,  the  first  Register  of  Deeds  of  Me- 


costa County,  came  to  Big  Rapids  from  Big  Prairie, 
in  the  month  of  March,  1859,  and  was  assisted  in 
transporting  his  goods  over  the  primitive  roads  by  a 
Mr.  Hersey,  who  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white 
settler  north  of  the  Muskegon  River,  and  who,  as 
late  as  1880,  resided  at  Croton.  He  found  the  only 
unoccupied  house  to  be  the  one  first  built  by  Mr. 
French,  and  in  which  he  and  his  family  gladly  found 
shelter  for  a  few  weeks.  Thi~,  year,  after  the  county 
officials  were  elected,  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 
build  a  bridge  across  the  river.  County  orders  were 
issued,  and  the  contract  let  to  construct  a  good  sub- 
stantial wooden  bridge  for  the  sum  of  $3,000,  to  Mr. 
Tinkham,  who  had  been  the  village  surveyor.  This 
bridge  was  built  on  wooden  piers,  and  thrown  across 
the  Muskegon  at  its  junction  with  East  Maple  street. 
A  rather  substantia!  two-story  school-house  was  also 
built  about  this  time,  on  the  lots  before  mentioned  as 
having  been  donated  by  Warren  &  Ives. 

This  structure  was  an  imixising  one  for  that  early 
day,  and  the  School  Commissioners  were  empowered 
to  let  the  contract.  Charles  Shafer  was  one  of  the 
directors,  and  the  superintendence  of  the  work  de- 
volved upon  him.  James  Jones  and  a  Mr.  Kirk- 
patrick  were  the  fortunate  contractors,  receiving  for 
the  labor  alone  the  munificent  sum  of  $150.  The 
district  furnished  the  material.  As  lime  was  not  to 
to  be  had  in  this  region  at  that  date,  the  building 
was  ceiled  throughout  instead  of  being  plastered. 
Only  about  a  dozen  children  were  found  to  attend 
the  first  term  of  school,  which  was  i)resided  over  by 
Mrs.  Mary  Fuller. 

In  the  early  spring  of  i860,  the  first  term  of  Circuit 
Court  was  held  in  the  upper  story  of  this  school- 
house.  Judge  Littlejohn  presiding;  and  the  first  case 
called  on  the  calendar  was  William  H.  Leeds  ?Yrst/s 
John  Power.  The  nature  of  the  case  is  not  re- 
corded. 

Charles  Shafer  came  to  the  village  in  September, 
1857,  and  moved  his  family  here  in  February,  1858. 
He  says  :  "  I  found  a  very  small  clearing  in  the 
woods.  Chauncey  P.  Ives,  Jesse  C.  Shaw,  Samuel 
Bailey  and  brother,  /.era  and  George  French  and  a 
few  others  were  here — probably  fifteen  or  twenty 
persons  in  all."  Mr.  Ives  had  thrown  a  rude  dam 
across  Mitchell  Creek,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  where 
it  now  crosses  Michigan  avenue,  and  had  erected  a 
saw-mill,  known  since  as  the  "Old  Red  Mill."  It 
was  an  old-fashioned,    rough-boarded    structure   in 


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which  was  one  upright  saw,  and  which  on  the  fourth 
day  of  July,  1S57,  to  the  great  dehght  of  the  vil- 
lagers, cut  its  first  few  feet  of  lumber.  This  mill 
continued  to  do  work  as  late  as  1868  or  1869,  and 
in  1875  ''  ^^'^^  ''^'^"  down  and  removed  to  the  lower 
dam,  where  new  machinery  was  added,  and  the  mill 
rebuilt. 

The  trees  had  been  cut  out  of  .Michigan  avenue 
south,  and  a  narrow  roadway  opened  for  travel.  On 
the  east  side  of  the  avenue  for  a  long  distance  north 
and  south  a  rude  brush  fence  was  constructed,  so 
that  the  domestic  animals  might  be  safely  corraled 
between  this  point  and  the  river.  The  price  of  cor- 
ner lots  at  this  time  was  $100  each,  and  inside  lots 
§50.  Mr.  Shafer  at  once  purchased  two  lots  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  block  bounded  in  that  direc- 
tion by  Michigan  avenue  and  Elm  street ;  and  in 
consideration  of  his  being  a  mechanic  the  north  lot 
adjoining  this  property  was  donated  to  him,  and  thus 
he  secured  150  feet  square  for  the  trifling  sum  of 
$150.  The  same  land  would  probably  to-day  be 
considered  cheap  at  $10,000.  His  first  work  was  to 
cut  out  a  few  trees  where  the  foundation  was  to  be 
laid,  and  remove  16  feet  of  the  brush  fence,  and 
prepare  to  build  a  dwelling  16  x  24,  on  the  north 
line  of  his  property.  The  house  was  one  and  a  half 
stories  high,  boarded  uf)  and  down  with  rough  lum- 
ber, and  as  no  shingles  could  be  had,  rough  boards 
formed  the  roof  also.  His  first  bricks  for  a  chimney 
were  hauled  from  Grand  Rapids  by  team,  and  cost 
!S65  per  thousand. 

Soon  aftenvard  Mr.  Shafer  built  and  opened  on 
his  corner  lot  the  third  general  store  in  tlie  village. 
Edson  Fuller  iiad  the  honor  of  displaying  to  the 
early  settlers  here  the  first  stock  of  miscellaneous 
merchandise.  His  store  was  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Michigan  avenue  and  Elm  street,  in  a  small  but 
new  structure.  G.  F.  Stearns,  now  President  of  the 
Northern  National  Hank,  opened  the  second  store, 
with  a  capital  of  only  $300,  in  Septemljer,  i860,  on 
Michigan  avenue,  near  the  lot  where  Vandersluis' 
store  now  stands.  Mr.  Shafer,  about  this  time,  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  Postmaster,  Mr.  Shaw 
having  resigned  in  his  favor. 

Mr.  Shafer  also  relates:  "Having  expended 
what  little  money  I  had  on  hand,  after  my  store  was 
completed,  it  l)e<:anie  a  serious  ipiestion  with  me  liow 
I  should  fill  it  in  part  with  a  stock  of  goods.  A  firm 
in   Grand   Rapids   offered   me   all    the   ready-made 


clothing  I  wanted  on  time ;  but  this  alone  would  not 
answer,  and  I  at  once  repaired  to  Detroit,  an  entire 
stranger  there,  and  with  only  a  small  amount  of 
money.  H.  P.  Baldwin,  since  Governor  of  the  State, 
was  then  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in 
that  city.  I  called  at  once  at  his  office  and  requested 
to  see  him  in  person.  In  brief,  I  informed  him  that 
I  was  Charles  Shafer,  ex-Treasurer  of  Mecosta 
County,  now  Postmaster  and  Justice  of  the  Peace; 
that  I  had  no  cash,  but  wanted  a  stock  of  boots  and 
shoes  on  time,  and  would  remit  the  money  in  small 
sums  as  fast  as  possible.  He  seemed  to  be  pleased 
with  my  frankness,  asked  a  good  many  ((uestions 
touching  my  responsibility,  etc.,  then,  rising,  told  me 
to  select  all  the  boots  and  shoes  I  wanted.  I  ship- 
ped home  about  $250  worth  of  his  stock,  gradually 
paid  off  the  indebtedness,  to  his  apparent  satisfaction, 
and  bought  many  more  from  the  same  firm." 

Mr.  Shafer  kept  his  [wstoffice  for  a  short  time  in 
his  dwelling-house,  until  he  commenced  business  as 
a  merchant,  then  removed  it  into  his  store.  There 
was  at  that  time  no  jiostoffice  north  of  this  in  the 
lower  peninsula,  and  of  course  people  came  here  oc- 
casionally from  a  long  distance.  It  was  customary 
for  the  settlers  in  the  woods  to  come  in  on  Thursday 
and  await  the  coming  of  the  mail ;  and  often  every 
family  within  a  radius  of  many  miles  was  repre- 
sented and  on  the  look-out  for  the  mail-carrier,  who 
usually  came  on  a  mule  to  the  east  bank  of  the  river, 
tied  his  animal  to  a  tree,  and  after  feeding  him  fiom 
a  bag  of  grain  brought  for  the  purpose,  if  no  canoe 
appeared  in  sight,  would  either  blow  a  horn  or  raise 
an  Indian  "yell"  to  attract  attention.  Someone 
then  volunteered  to  bring  liim  over;  and  the  mail  be- 
ing distributed  he  was  ferried  back  in  the  same 
manner. 

The  lumbermen's  name — Big  Rai)ids — stuck  so 
thoroughly  to  the  place,  and  was  so  widely  known, 
that  after  the  establishment  of  the  postoffice  here  a 
large  amount  of  mail  matter  came  directed  to  that 
name.  It  soon  became  apparent  that  only  the  (wst- 
office  department  and  the  few  inhabitants  here  knew 
anything  about  such  a  place  as  "  Leonard,"  Michi- 
gan ;  and  a  i)etition  was  signed  and  forwarded  to  the 
proper  officer,  re<piesting  that  the  name  of  the  office 
be  changed  to  Big  Rapids,  which  was  at  once  com- 
plied with,  and  the  village  of  "  Leonard,"  with  the 
exception  of  being  laid  down  on  a  few  old  ni 
now  ceased  to  exist. 


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About  this  time  Mr.  Shafer  was  asked  by  the  De- 
partment to  survey  a  mail  route  from  this  point 
through  the  wilderness  to  Elk  Raijids  via  Grand 
Traverse,  and  to  receive  bids  for  carrying  a  weekly 
mail,  as  during  the  winter  months  the  settlers  at 
these  remote  points  were  practically  ice-bound  and 
isolated  from  the  outside  world.  Among  o'.hers, 
Nelson  Ganong  put  in  the  lowest  bid — $300;  but 
the  route  being  so  expensive  the  Government  aban- 
doned the  project  altogether. 

Comparatively  few  amusements  were  indulged  in 
at  this  early  date,  although  unbounded  hospitality 
was  the  rule  instead  of  the  e.xception  ;  and,  as  in  most 
new  colonies,  no  "aristocratic  cliques"  or  "select 
few  "  caused  the  least  jealous  feeling.  Both  capitalist 
and  laborer,  old  and  young,  stranger  and  friend,  all 
met  at  social  gatherings  on  common  ground,  danced 
and  sung,  grieved  and  rejoiced  together.  In  the 
language  of  one  who  came  over  twenty  years  ago, 
"We  had  plenty  of  plain  food  to  eat,  tobacco  to 
smoke,  and  stories  to  tell ;  and  with  our  weekly  sup- 
ply of  outside  newspapers,  to  give  us  the  news  of 
the  world,  we  were  supremely  contented  and  happy." 
Incidents  sometimes  occurred  to  break  the  monotony, 
and  furnish  amusement  for  the  villagers,  one  of 
which  it  may  be  well  briefly  to  relate. 

In  the  summer  of  1865,  a  trifling  altercation  oc- 
curred between  two  residents,  one  being  at  the  time 
a  cripple.  A  knock- down  was  the  result,  but  neither 
was  seriously  injured.  George  French  was  at  that 
time  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  to  him  the  aggrieved 
party  applied  for  redress.  It  being  a  rather  hot  and 
dull  day  for  business,  this  was  the  signal  for  amuse- 
ment. All  the  legal  fraternity  of  the  place  at  once 
put  in  an  appearance,  and  with  all  the  gravity  befit- 
ting the  occasion  proceeded  with  the  trial.  C.  C 
Fuller  was  retained  for  the  defense,  and  as  a  matter 
of  course  some  of  those  present  volunteered  to  pros- 
ecute the  case,  and  uphold  the  "  peace  and  dignity  " 
of  the  State  of  Michigan.  But  few  witnesses  were 
rei|uired  to  establish  the  fact  that  the  offense  had 
been  "  wantonly  and  with  malice  aforethought  "  com- 
mitted. Some  new  tactics  had  been  urgently  neces- 
sary on  the  part  of  the  defense,  in  order  to  save  their 
client,  and  the  counsel  proved  eipial  to  the  occasion. 
It  is  generally  believed  that  in  that  court  there  was 
not  only  a  little  collusion  between  the  counsel  on 
both  sides,  but  that  the  ])risoner  at  the  bar  was  also 
included,  and  a  kind  of  "  gunjwwder  plot  "  cooked 


up  for  the  simple,  unfortunate  German  complainant. 
"  May  it  please  your  Honor,"  said  Mr.  Fuller,  ad- 
dressing the  court :  "  we  propose  to  show  that  the 
prisoner  is  non  compos  titcntis ;  and,  beckoning  to  a 
civil  engineer  who  happened  to  be  present  as  a  spec- 
tator, and  who  promptly  came  forward,  he  said: 
"We  will  swear  this  gentleman  as  an  expert  on  in- 
sanity, and  allow  him  to  testify."  The  prisoner  was 
also  allowed  to  make  a  statement,  and  to  the  utter 
astonishment  of  that  Justice  he  was  questioned  in 
regard  to  his  diet,  and  admitted  that  it  was,  and 
always  had  been,  principally  mush  and  milk;  and 
that  stranger  and  e.xpert  being  under  oath  testified 
that  such  a  diet  invariably  produced  serious  mental 
disturbances,  and  what  was  known  as  emotional  in 
sanity!  This  was  indeed  an  unheard  of  and  dan- 
gerous result  from  the  use  of  hasty  pudding ! 

"Your  Honor,"  pleaded  the  counsel,  "  having  un- 
questionably established  the  fact  of  insanity,  of 
course  our  client  is  not  responsible,  and  we  ask  that 
he  be  set  at  liberty."  But  the  Justice  concluded,  in 
order  to  partially  heal  the  wounded  feelings  of  the 
German,  to  impose  a  light  fine  of  fifty  cents  and  costs, 
in  all  amounting  to  two  dollars.  The  audience, 
whose  sympathy  for  the  poor,  insane  prisoner  would 
not  allow  them  to  do  otherwise,  now  made  up  a 
purse  to  pay  the  sost,  and  his  Honor  also  remitted 
the  fine,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  complainant, 
who  always  claimed  "  dot  leetle  feefty  cents  "  as  be- 
longing to  him  personally. 

The  first  celebration  of  the  Nation's  birthday  was 
held  in  the  woods  not  far  from  where  the  Methodist 
church  now  stands,  July  4,  1859,  at  which  nearly  100 
persons  attended.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Standish,  from 
Newaygo,  was  the  orator  on  the  occasion.  "The 
following  year,"  says  Mr.  Shafer,  "  a  pic-nic  celebra- 
tion was  held,  and  the  table  was  set  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons,  showing  that  an  increase  of  the 
population  was  expected."  B.  L.  Gray  was  the  orator 
that  year. 

The  first  lawsuit  in  the  village  was  a  case  of 
assault  and  battery,  rather  amusing  in  its  character: 
the  People  versus  McAllister,  tried  before  Charles 
Shafer,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  As  there  was  no  jail 
togo  to,  McAllister  paid  his  fine,  $10,  and  went  on 
his  way  rejoicing. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  village  was  a  Mr.  Hagart 
to  Miss  Goliday,  solemnized  before  Jesse  Shaw  a 


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Notan,'  Public,  as  neither  minister  nor  justice  could 
be  found  at  that  lime. 

The  first  birth  in  the  village  of  Big  Rapids,  after 
the  name  had  been  changed  from  Leonard,  was  that 
of  Charlie  Hutchinson,  son  of  B.  E.  and  Elma  L. 
Hutchinson,  which  occurred  March  i,  1S60.  It  is 
related  that  on  this  occasion  C'hauncey  P.  Ives 
ofl'ered  to  deed  the  child  any  lot  in  the  village  his 
parents  might  designate,  provided  he  was  allowed  to 
incorporate  in  the  name  of  the  infant  some  part  of 
the  name  of  the  village.  This,  however,  was  de- 
clined. 

The  first  butcher  shop  in  the  village  was  opened 
by  Henry  Escott,  who  often  drove  his  animals  from 
a  long  distance ;  and  it  is  related  that  ix)rter-house 
steak  was  then  twenty-five  and  thirty  cents  a  pound. 

The  first  regular  freight  line  from  Grand  Rapids 
was  established  by  Clark  &  Latimer,  in  i860.  This 
line,  with  all  its  running  stock,  was  purchased  the 
following  year  by  B.  E.  Hutchinson,  who  first  settled 
in  the  village  Feb.  10,  i860.  Mr.  Hutchinson  at 
once  supplied  additional  teams,  commencing  his  new 
business  with  six  well  equipped  wagons, — three  at 
each  end  of  the  line.  Two  thousand  pounds  of 
freight  was  considered  a  usual  load,  and  five  to  six 
days  was  consumed  in  making  the  journey  between 
the  two  points  by  «'ay  of  Newaygo.  If  the  teams 
were  on  time,  one  left  each  end  of  the  route  on 
Mondays,  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  of  each  week. 
Through  tariff  was  two  dollars  per  hundred  pounds. 
Mr.  Hutchinson  also  started  the  first  dray  in  the  city, 
a  two-wheeled  vehicle,  in  Ajiril,  1S70. 

The  honor  of  setting  up  and  distributing  the  first 
type  in  Mecosta  County,  belongs  to  Charlie  Gay, 
referred  to  in  his  sketch,  in  a  small  office  on  the 
east  side  of  Michigan  avenue,  between  Maple  and 
Elm  streets,  in  this  city.  He  issued  the  first  number 
of  the  "Mecosta  Coanl^  Fioneer"  April  17,  1862, 
assisted  in  the  editorial  department  liy  Hon.  C.  C. 
Fuller.  Mr.  Gay  seemed  determined  to  adjpt  the 
price  of  his  paper  to  the  [wssibly  limited  purse  of  the 
new  country,  as  for  a  long  time  it  was  only  $1.00  per 
year.  From  that  small,  five-col mnn  folio,  since 
combined  with  the  "  Big  Rapids  Magnet"  has  grown 
the  present  daily  Pioneer,  one  of  the  best  papers  in 
Michigan.  A  further  notice  of  this  paper  is  given 
elsewhere. 

During  the  winter  of  1857-8  there  was  a  great 


*^ 


scarcity  of  food  in  the  northern  part  of  Michigan,  \' 
and  the  State  authorities  in  some  cases  were  obliged  to 
afford  relief  to  the  settlers.  Food  was  also  scarce  in 
the  new  village,  but  wherever  it  was  found  that  the 
families  were  getting  short  of  meat  as  well  as  money, 
there  always  remained  one  alternative  here.  Messrs. 
Williams,  Kirkpatrick  and  James  Jones  constituted 
tliemselves  a  committee  of  three  to  procure  a  supply, 
and  with  guns,  ammunition  and  torches  they  would 
embark  in  a  "  dug-out  "  for  a  night's  deer-stalking  up 
the  river,  usually  returning  next  morning  with  an 
ample  supply  of  venison,  landing  near  Maple  street 
as  a  distributing  point.  The  meat  was  freely  and 
gratuitously  dispensed  among  all  the  settlers,  and  a 
few  of  the  more  favored  ones  would  occasionally 
distribute  some  flour. 

"Late  in  the  fall  of  1858,"  says  Mr.  Shafer,  "  I 
found  myself  getting  short  of  flour  for  my  family.  I 
mention  this  incident  to  show  the  kindly  feeling  and 
extreme  hospitality  of  every  one  in  our  new  settle- 
ment. Selfishness  seemed  unknown,  and  our  com- 
mon wants  seemed  to  create  a  common  bond  of 
sympathy  between  us.  Nelson  Ganong  was  going  to 
Grand  Rapids  with  his  team  and  offered  to  bring  me 
some  flour  if  I  could  raise  the  money  to  purchase  it. 
It  was  then  five  dollars  a  barrel  in  that  city.  I  had 
only  two  dollars  in  cash,  and  prevailed  upon  him  to 
defer  his  journey  a  day  or  two,  until  in  some  way  the 
amount  could  be  raised.  We  both  walked  over  to 
Williams'  Hotel  and  stated  the  case.  Mr.  Williams 
said  it  would  not  do  for  me  to  be  short  of  flour,  as 
winter  was  coming  on,  and  contributed  $1.50  (every 
cent  he  had)  to  the  fund.  His  man-of-all-work 
about  the  premises  also  loaned  twenty-five  cents  to 
the  enterprise,  and  Mr.  Ganong  volunteered  to  make 
the  amount  four  dollars.  But  where  was  the  other 
dollar  to  cume  from.'  Mr.  Williams  was  equal  to 
the  emergency.  Said  he, '  I  am  expecting  some  gen- 
tlemen from  Chicago  in  a  day  or  two,  who  are  lum- 
bering up  the  river.  They  usually  remain  over 
night  at  my  house,  and  from  them  I  shall  obtain  a 
little  money,  and  if  Mr.  Ganong  can  wait  I  will  make 
up  the  desired  sum.'  The  travelers  in  due  time  [)ut 
in  an  appearance,  cash  was  raised,  and  per  conse- 
quence the  barrel  of  flour." 

In  the  first  years  of  the  Big  Rapids  settlement,  as 
a  matter  of  course  provisions  of  almost  every  kind 
had  to  be  brought   here  from  a  long  distance  and 


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with  only  a  narrow  passage  for  any  vehicle  through 
the  forest.  If  the  weather  was  stormy  and  wet,  the 
task  of  making  such  a  journey  was  an  unenviable 
and  often  expensive  one.  Goods  of  every  kind  were 
therefore  high  in  price,  if  at  all  obtainable,  and  often 
money  would  not  purchase  what  was  required.  It  is 
related  that  as  late  as  1861,  when  a  partial  freight 
line  by  wagon  had  been  established  by  Mr.  B.  E. 
Hutchinson,  when  the  roads  were  bad,  and  many 
goods  awaiting  transportation  at  the  opposite  end  of 
the  line,  it  often  was  impossible  to  bring  but  a  lim- 
ited amount  of  provisions  ;  and  on  the  arrival  of  the 
cargo  with  |)erhaps  only  one  barrel  of  flour,  a  dozen 
persons,  some  perhaps  from  a  distance  in  the  country, 
would  all  be  found  awaiting  its  arrival.  There  were 
no  "  favored  "  ones  in  thgse  days,  and  says  an  old 
settler:  "  It  often  happened  that  in  order  to  make 
the  flour  go  round,  each  would  receive  only  a  milk- 
pan  full."  Possibly,  in  a  known  case  of  illness  in  a 
family,  a  larger  quantity  would  be  apportioned. 

In  the  Pioneer  of  June  18,  1863,  is  a  short  article 
written  by  H.  Lucas,  a  minister  of  Big  Rapids,  from 
which,  to  show  the  exact  degree  of  progress  the 
village  had  made  in  four  years  from  the  time  it 
w  as  platted,  the  following  is  extracted: 

"  Big  Rapids  *  *  *  contains  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  and  is  the  county 
seat  of  Mecosta  County.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
beautiful  farming  country,  and  a  more  intelligent  set  of 
inhabitants  is  not  to  be  found  in  any  place,  east,  west 
north  or  south.  There  are  no  liquor  establishments 
in  this  village,  and  of  course  all  is  quiet  and  industry. 
There  are  two  dry-goods  and  grocery  stores  in  the 
place,  conducted  by  Stearns  and  Hutchinson,  both 
enterprising  young  men  and  doing  a  good  business. 
One  pa|)er  is  published  here,  which  commends  itself 
to  the  community,  and  merits  an  extensive  circula- 
tion. A  good  district  school  is  now  in  progress,  and 
there  is  now  every  inducement  for  good  settlers  to 
identify  themselves  with  this  communrty.  I  have 
been  in  Michigan  sixteen  years,  and  have  preached 
to  a  good  many  congregations,  but  never  to  a  more 
respectable  and  attentive  one  than  I  have  found  in 
this  village." 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  the  first  one 
organized  in  Big  Rapids,  and  dates  from  1865.  Oc- 
casional services  had  been  held  for  many  years  before 
that,  but  this  was  the  beginning  of  religious  services. 


In  those  days  the  services  were  marked  by  an  inter- 
est that  is  too  often  lacking  in  later  times.  Congre- 
gational singing  was  the  rule,  and  was  plain  and 
grand.  In  those  days  the  old  hymns  were  not  tor- 
tured in  the  following  style  so  common  now : 

■■  Oh  for  a  man 

Oh  tor  a  man 

Oh  for  a  mansion  iu  the  skie-s."' 

••AVe"ll  oatcli  tho  fleo 

We'll  cati'li  111!'  tlci- 

AVe"ll  catfh  tin;  fleeting  hours." 

'•  Hell  take  the  pil 

He"ll  take  the  pil 

He"ll  take  the  pilgrim  home." 

"With  reverence  let  the  saints  appear. 
And  bow-ow-ow  before  the  I.oril." 

This  society  erected  a  fine  church,  in  due  time,  at 
a  cost  of  $4,000.  This  was  dedicated  on  Saturday, 
Nov.  16,  1867,  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  M.  A.  Daugherty,  and  he 
was  assisted  in  the  services  by  Rev.  I.  Cogshall, 
Rev.  A.  J.  Eldred  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Ross,  of  Grand 
Rapids.  The  quarterly  conference  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  was  held  in  the  afternoon  in  the  church.  In 
the  evening  a  Sunday-school  anniversary  service  was 
observed.  On  the  following  day,  Sunday,  a  love- 
feast  was  held  at  nine  o'clock,  Mr.  Cogshall  preached 
at  half  past  ten,  Mr.  Eldred  at  two  o'clock,  and  Mr. 
Ross  at  seven  o'clock.  For  some  time  after  tliis,  the 
Methodist  and  Presbyterian  societies  alternately  wor- 
shiped in  this  church. 

From  the  same  paper  we  also  quote  as  follows  : 

"  F.  H.  Todd  &  Co.  will  soon  commence  building 
a  dam  across  the  river  at  this  place,  and  expect  to 
have  a  mill  in  operation  the  present  season,  or  early 
in  the  spring.  This  will  be  of  vast  importance  to 
our  village,  as  the  improvement  of  our  water-power, 
together  with  the  building  of  the  G.  R.  &  I.  R.  R.,is 
all  that  is  required  to  insure  the  prosperity  of  this 
country,  and  make  Big  Rapids  a  city  of  to,ooo  in- 
habitants in  ten  years." 

This  water-power  has  been  indeed  a  powerful  aid 
to  the  development  of  Big  Rapids,  although  the  pre- 
diction in  regard  to  increase  of  population  was  hardly 
realized.  When  it  is  considered  that  there  is  at  pres- 
ent but  one-tenth  of  the  water-power  at  command 
utilized,  it  will  be  admitted  that  there  is  no  limit  to 
the  possiliilities  of  the  future,  and  that  the  time  is 
not  far  distant  when  the  prediction  as  to  the  ix)pula- 
tion   will  be  more  than  realized.     This  dam  above 


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referred  to  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1867,  and 
marks  an  important  era  in  the  histor)  of  Big  Rapids. 
The  year  1866  was  a  most  prosperous  one  for  the 
village.  The /'/>//£•(•/•  of  December  8,  1866,  said: 
"  Our  village  has  been  the  scene  of  busy  activity  the 
past  summer,  in  the  erection  of  buildings  and  the 
hurry  of  other  kinds  of  business,  and  the  sound  of 
the  saw  and  hammer  is  still  heard  in  all  directions 
from  morning  until  evening.  Sixty-one  buildings 
have  already  been  erec'ed  and  nearly  all  completed, 
since  the  opening  of  spring,  and  others  arc  yet  to  be 
built  this  fall.  The  scarcity  of  lumber  has  prevented 
many  from  building,  although  three  saw-mills  have 
been  running  nearly  the  whole  summer.  This  diffi- 
culty will  be  obviated  another  season,  as  two  more 
mills,  one  steam  and  the  other  a  water  mill,  will  be 
put  up  and  ready  to  run  early  in  the  spring."  And 
again :  "Our  population  has  more  than  doubled 
during  the  past  six  months,  now  numljering  800  or 
more,  and  many  of  the  mechanical  trades  are  not 
yet  represented." 

The  issue  of  December  said:  "  The  difTerent  kinds 
of  business  and  professions  now  here  are  as  follows  : 
four  general  stores,  one  grocery  store,  one  hardware 
and  grocery  store,  one  tin  shop,  one  drug  store,  one 
meat  market,  three  saw-mills,  one  grist-mill,  one 
furniture  shop,  two  blacksmith  shops,  two  wagon 
shops,  one  jeweler,  two  boot  and  shoe  shops,  two 
hotels,  one  livery-stable,  one  bakery,  one  gun  shop, 
three  lawyers  and  three  physicians,  besides  some 
twenty  or  more  carpenters  and  joiners,  and  two 
masons.  " 

In  May  following  we  are  told  that  fifty  more  build- 
ings had  been  erected.  In  Janu.iry,  1868,  an  article 
appeared  in  the  Pioneer  from  which  it  is  gathered  that 
during  1867  the  population  of  Big  Rapids  increased 
to  1,500,  and  that  during  that  year  nearly  200  new 
buildings  were  constructed.  These  included  several 
dwellings,  costing  from  $1,500  to  $2,500,  one  three- 
story  hotel,  a  large  school-house  and  several  stores. 
The  hotel  cost  $10,000.     We  quote  : 

"The  manufacturing  and  mercantile  interests  of 
the  town  have  kept  pace  with  its  growth,  and  all 
have  had  a  prosperous  year.  The  four  saw-mills 
here  have  been  taxed  to  their  utmost  in  supplying 
the  local  demand  for  lumber,  and  a  part  of  the  time 
were  unable  to  make  lumber  as  fast  as  they  needed 
for  building.     Some  5,000,000  feet   have  been  made 

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since  July  i,  1867,  but  there  is  no  surplus  on  hand,  ^ 
and  spring  will  find  us  with  a  very  short  supply  for 
the  wants  of  the  coming  season.  The  Grand  Rap- 
ids &  Indiana  railroad  being  completed  from  Grand 
Ra])ids  to  Cedar  S[)rings,  and  now  in  operation,  gives 
us  a  more  speedy  means  of  communication  with  the 
outside  worid,  as  we  now  have  a  daily  stage  and 
express  running  in  connection  with  the  cars,  and  can 
reach  Grand  Rapids  in  one  day  instead  of  iwo  as 
formerly.  " 

During  February,  1868,  considered  the  dullest 
month  of  the  season,  Hutchinson's  freight  line  from 
here  to  Cedar  Springs  carried  66,292  jMunds  ;  the 
largest  load  was  5,299  pounds,  and  the  average  load 
was  3,900  ix)unds. 

From  what  has  been  said  on  a  previous  page,  it 
will  be  seen  that  before  the  coming  of  the  railroad 
provisions  were  frequently  scarce  in  Big  Rapids. 
This  is  further  illustrated  by  the  experience,  in  the 
summer  of  1868,  of  Dr.  Woolley,  at  that  time  land- 
lord of  the  Mason  House.  He  sent  a  man  out  in 
the  morning  with  a  two-horse  light  wagon,  with  in- 
structions to  go  in  all  directions  in  search  of  pota- 
toes; and  at  dark  the  man  returned  with  only  two 
bushels,  for  which  he  had  paid  three  dollars,  and 
consumed  the  entire  day  in  order  to  get  them  at  all !  Sj/ 
But  Dr.  Woolley  was  never  out  of  provisions.  His 
gross  receipts  in  cash  after  he  took  possession  of  the 
old  Mason  House  in  1867  were  about  $1,000  a 
month,  and  often  forty  persons  were  obliged  to  sleep 
on  the  lloor  at  night,  so  limited  were  the  accommo- 
dations. 

Dr.  Woolley  was  the  first  physician  in  Big  Rapids, 
and  was  crowded  with  work  from  the  first  day  he 
came.  As  there  was  no  other  physician  in  all  this 
region,  his  practice  extended  as  far  north  as  Clam 
River,  and  through  the  woods  at  every  point  of  the 
compass  for  thirty  or  forty  miles. 

'I'hose  who  voluntarily  became  the  pioneers  "  bear- 
ing the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  "  are  seldom  the 
ones  who  amass  wealth  in  new  countries.  They  love 
the  partially  isolated  life  for  the  quiet  surroundings;  (^ 
for  the  peculiar  beauties  nature,  presents  in  her  most 
primitive  form  where  "  unadorned  she  is  adorned  the 
most;"  for  the  immunities  from  fashion's  follies,  Irom 
the  turmoil  of  crowded  streets,  and  from  the  rush  and 
bustle  of  business,  mental  and  physical,  incident  to 
older  places,  which  often  make  life  a  continual  care 
and  shorten  its  term.     They  are  willing  to  exchange 

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x^  the  wealth  of  money  and  power  for  the  wealth  of 
'rt  health,  peace,  contentment  and  consequent  happi- 
ness, and  are  usually  an  industrious,  hospitable  and 
kindly  disposed  people,  enduring  with  perfect  cheer- 
fulness any  little  privations  they  may  suffer.  Thus 
it  was  with  all   the  early  settlers  of  Big  Rapids. 

Some  trouble  was  experienced  occasionally  by  the 
diverse  feelings  of  the  principal  owners  of  Big  Rap- 
ids. When  Mr.  Warren  purchased  the  interest  of 
Dr.  Leonard  in  the  village  plat,  he  became  the 
(  owner  of  an  undivided  two-thirds  interest  in  the 
whole.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  these  two 
I  men  did  not  form  a  partnership;  for  as  Mr.  Warren 
was  always  a  resident  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  Mr.  Ives  a 
resident  here,  no  legal  business  could  be  transacted 
by  either  party  except  through  an  agent  of  the  other, 
in  regard  to  any  part  of  their  joint  property.  The 
wheels  of  progress  could  be  instantly  blocked  if 
s  either  party  refused  upon  the  least  pretext  to  convey 
his  interest  in  the  title.  Mr.  Ives,  always  anxious  to 
see  improvements  going  forward,  could  frequently 
act  in  cases  which  admitted  of  no  delay,  as  he  would 
had  a  partnership  really  existed,  trusting  to  the  sub- 
sequent approval  of  Mr.  Warren  in  the  matter. 
But,  as  often  happened,  Mr.  Warren  did  not  approve, 
and  his  signature  could  not  be  obtained.  Thus  ill 
feeling  was  engendered,  and  litigation  sometimes 
followed. 

Jacob  O.  Rose  purchased  of  Zera  French  his  en- 
tire interest  in  all  lands  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
village,  including  the  Glen  Elm  Addition,  Feb.  2, 
1864,  and,  as  the  records  show,  for  the  sum  of  $975. 
Another  important  change  in  ownership  of  Big  Rap- 
ids real  estate  occurred  three  years  later,  when  Gen. 
Stephen  Bronson,  of  Illinois,  purchased  the  interest 
in  the  village  so  long  held  by  Chauncey  P.  Ives. 
Gen.  Bronson  had  already  established  himself  here, 
and  in  connection  with  other  parties  had  opened  the 
Excliange  Bank  of  Bronson,  Stickney  &  Co.,  which 
was  soon  after  incorporated,  under  the  general  bank- 
ing law  of  the  State.  This  was  the  first  banking  in- 
stitution in  Big  Rapids,  and  supplied  a  much  desired 
want  in  this  northern  region.  The  transfer  of  the 
property  from  Ives  to  Bronson  is  recorded  Oct.  16, 
j.       1867. 

Xy  Big  Rai)ids  was  growing  so  surely  to  prosperous 
''*)  dimensions  that  in  the  winter  of  1868-9  the  talk  of 
^     adopting  a  city  government  took  delinte  shape.     A 


meeting  was  held  according  to  announcement  Feb. 
II,  i86g,  to  consider  the  iiuestion  of  incorporation. 
It  was  well  attended.  Charles  Shafer  was  elected 
President,  and  S.  F.  Dwight,  Secretary.  A  resolution 
in  favor  of  applying  for  a  city  charter  was  discussed 
at  length,  and  adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 
Charles  Shafer,  Stephen  Bronson,  E.  O.  Pose,  N.  H. 
Vincent  and  G.  W.  Crawford  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  draft  a  charter.  The  matter  was  pushed 
promptly,  and  early  in  April  of  the  same  year  the  bill 
became  a  law  wliich  incorporated  Big  Rapids  as  a 
city.  The  corporation  was  made  to  include  sections 
eleven  and  fourteen,  and  the  east  half  of  sections  ten 
and  fifteen.  It  was  directed  that  the  city  have  three 
represeijtatives  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  one  be- 
ing elected,  and  the  Mayor  and  Recorder  being  en- 
titled to  seats  on  the  Board.  The  bill  also  provided 
for  the  organization  of  the  township  of  Big  Rapids, 
and  directed  a  township  election  to  be  held  at  the 
house  of  John  Halpine,  on  the  third  Monday  in 
April.  The  charter  election  of  the  city  was  fixed  for 
the  same  date. 

This  election  came  off  duly  on  the  19th  of  April, 
and  resulted  as  follows  : 

Mayor. — George  F.  Stearns. 

Recorder. — Charlie  Gay. 

Supervisor. — William  VanLoo. 

Treasurer. — W.  Irving  Latimer. 

School  Inspectors. —  S.  S.  Wilcox  (one  year)  and 
R.  D.  Pierson  (two  years). 

Aldermen. — First  Ward,  Daniel  Stearns  and 
Thomas  D.  Stinson;  Second  Ward,  Morgan  L. 
Palmer  and  John  Y.  Brown  ;  Third  Ward,  Jacob  O. 
Rose  and  A.  Frank  Markham  ;  Fourth  Ward,  Ceylon 
C.  Fuller  and  Alfred  L.  Clark, 

Justices. — First  Ward,  Charlie  Gay  ;  Second  Ward, 
Erastus  Fisher;  Third  Ward,  Everett  Douglass; 
Fourth  Ward,  Elijali  F.  Dewey. 

Constables. — First  Ward,  Edgar  W.  Ford  ;  Second 
Ward,  Robert  A.  Griffin ;  Third  Ward,  George  W. 
Bevington  ;  Fourth  Ward,  George  W.  Jones. 

Lewis  H.  Green  was  appointed  City  Marshal,  E. 
O.  Rose,  City  Attorney,  and  15.  E.  Hutchinson,  Street 
(Commissioner. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  City  Council  was  held 
April  22,  and  the  governmental  machinery  was  set  in 
full  motion.  The  bond  of  the  Marshal  was  fixed  at 
|r,ooo;  of  the  Treasurer  at  $5,000;  and  of  the 
Street    Commissioner    at  $1,000.       At    subsequent 


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^  meetings  the  most  imijortant  of  the  city  ordinances 
'n  were  adopted,  providing  for  licenses,  nuisances,  ini- 
,'%  provenients,  etc. 

I  In  the  fall  of  1870,   the  city  was  cheered  by  the 

arrival  of  the  first  trains  on  the  Grand  Rapids  & 
Indiana  railroad,  a  full  account  of  which  is  given 
elsewhere,  under  the  head  of  "  Railroads.  "  From 
this  time  population  increased  still  more  rapidly,  and 
many  disadvantages  in  the  way  of  improvement 
removed. 

It  is  a  melancholy  truth  iliat  from  tiie  date  c,f  the 
first  entries  of  city  lands,  down  to  as  late  a  ijeriod  as 
1872,  factional  interest  and  jealousy,  and  sectional 
feeling  and  rivalry,  were  almost  continuous,  and 
silently  if  not  openly  expressed,  to  liie  serious  detri- 
ment of  the"  city,  turning  away  valuable  accessions  of 
both  i)eople  and  capital.  But  time,  the  great  leveler 
of  all  distinctions,  with  the  aid  and  advice  of  those 
who  took  up  a  residence  at  a  later  day,  again  pro- 
duced a  unity  of  feeling,  and  to-day  we  are  pleased 
to  record  that  all  is  now  changed,  and  an  era  of 
progress  and  prosperity  has  dawned  U[X)n  the  city 
which  all  sincerely  hope  nothing  can  ever  impair  or 
obstruct. 

Big  Rapids  has  been  a  sufferer  from  fire  at  various 
times,  some  of  which  deserve  mention.  The  first 
fire  of  any  consequence  in  the  place  was  the  de- 
struction of  a  large  (juantity  of  lumber  belonging  to 
Warren  &  Ives  in  the  year  i860.  The  next  was 
French's  Hotel,  in  the  north  ])art  of  the  city,  occupy- 
ing the  ground  where  the  VValdon  House  has  since 
been  erected,  and  whicii  was  destroyed  by  fire  Jan. 
29,  1863. 

Probably  the  most  disastrous  fire  that  has  ever  oc- 
curred in  its  effects  upon  the  growth  of  the  city, 
was  that  known  as  the  "great  fire,"  April  26,  1869, 
when  every  building  on  the  west  side  of  Michigan 
avenue,  between  Elm  street  and  the  Mason  House 
on  the  corner  of  Maple,  was  totally  destroyed.  The 
fire  originated  in  Ford  &  Bailey's  meat-market,  next 
door  north  of  the  large  hardware  and  grocery  store 
of  Crawford  &  (ireen,  at  about  eleven  o'clock,  p.  m., 
1  and  in  two  hours  the  whole  range,  consisting  of  ten 
■; 'f  buildings,  was  laid  in  ashes.  The  loss  was  variously 
W.  estimated  at  from  $20,000  to  $50,000.  No  water 
^  supply  or  engines  for  extinguishing  fires  were  here  at 
.  •  that  time,  and  common  pails  or  buckets  were  the 
^     only  appliances  afforded.     Lines  of  men  were  formed 


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to  supply  water  with  buckets  from  wells  in  the 
vicinity,  and  even  from  the  liver,  but  without  avail. 
The  Mason  House,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
block,  was  only  saved  by  tearing  down  a  small  build- 
ing belonging  to  Harwood  iV  Olds,  and  then  hanging 
carpets  and  bed-clothes  from  the  roof  and  windows, 
and  keeping  them  saturated  with  water.  Nothing 
was  insured  except  the  Mason  House. 

.\nother  disastrous  fire  occurred  on  Sunday  morning, 
July  12,  1874,  which  destroyed  nearly  every  building 
on  the  east  side  of  Michigan  avenue  from  the  old 
Pacific  House  on  Maple  street  to  Shafer's  block  on 
Elm.  Comparatively  little  projjerty  was  saved  at 
this  fire,  and  only  partial  insurance  covered  the  losses. 
The  great  destruction  at  that  time  is  said  to  be  due 
to  defective  linen  hose,  and  not  to  a  want  of  water. 

The  Shafer  Block,  a  large  three-story  brick  ve- 
neered structure,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Michi- 
gan avenue  and  Elm  street,  was  burned  Nov.  9, 
1874,  and  proved  a  very  severe  loss,  not  only  to  the 
owner  but  to  the  city  in  general. 

The  last  extensive  fire  occurred  Oct.  19,  1879, 
when  the  new  .Mason  House  Block,  and  all  the  bus- 
iness houses  south  of  it  on  the  west  side  of  Michigan 
avenue,  to  the  brick  block  now  occupied  by  A.  S. 
Hobart  &  Co.,  were  totally  destroyed.  All  buildings 
on  the  east  side  of  this  block  were  more  or  less  dam- 
aged by  the  intense  heat.  In  fact,  the  fire  extended 
around  and  over  the  Hobart  store,  and  did  consider- 
able damage  beyond.  All  these  disasters  combined 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  retard  the  growth 
of  the  town.  Many  men  lost  all  they  possessed,  and, 
becoming  disheartened,  removed  to  otiier  places, 
while  those  who  remained  were  many  of  them  com- 
pelled to  begin  life  anew. 

The  last  calamity,  and  one  that  threatened  to  be 
one  of  the  most  destructive  to  the  city,  occurred  April 
29,1881.  The  snow  and  ice  from  the  country  and 
lakes  al)ove  melted  with  such  ra|)idity  that  the  Muske- 
gon River  was  swollen  to  an  immense  height,  and  a 
jam  of  logs  completely  filling  the  river  from  bank  to 
i)ank,and  in  many  places  piled  several  feet  above  the 
water,  extending  from  this  city  to  about  six  miles 
above,  commenced  to  move  with  the  current.  The 
booms  and  cribs  gave  way  before  the  moving  mass; 
the  top  of  the  Tioga  dam  and  the  bridge  just  below 
were  swept  off,  and  for  a  time  all  the  mills  and  man- 
ufactories at  this  |K»int  were  in  imminent  danger  of 

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serious  damage,  or  of  being  carried  off  altogether. 
Maple  Street  bridge, ^although  severely  tried,  with- 
stood the  terrible  ordeal,  to  the  delight  and  satisfac- 
tion of  the  hundreds  of  people  who  had  gathered 
upon  the  banks  to  witness  the  grand  but  destructive 
sight.  The  lower  dam  was  partially  carried  away, 
and  required  an  outlay  of  some  thousands  of  dollars 
to  repair  it.  The  entire  damage  to  the  city  from  this 
flood  is  estimated  at  from  $25,000  to  $30,000.  Re- 
pairs were  immediately  commenced,  and  soon  the 
booms,  piers,  dams  and  bridges  were  in  a  more  sub- 
stantial condition  and  better  fitted  to  battle  with  the 
elements  than  ever  before. 

Soon  after  Big  Rapids  became  a  city,  the  question 
of  water  supply  for  fire  protection  and  for  private 
use  became  a  general  topic  with  the  citizens.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  April  11,  1871, 
Alderman  William  Van  Loo  offered  the  first  reso- 
lution, "  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  ascertain 
the  expense  of  supplying  the  city  with  the  Holly 
water-works."  This  resolution,  with  its  amendment 
by  Alderman  Jacob  O.  Rose,  "To  investigate  the  cost 
of  the  works  by  both  steam  and  water  power,''  was 
adopted,  and  the  committee  appointed.  A  majority 
of  the  council  approved  of  the  main  resolutions,  and 
went  steadily  on  with  their  work  and  what  they  con- 
ceived to  be  their  duty,  despite  the  criminations  and 
recriminations  of  the  people,  and  the  various  peti- 
tions/;■(?  and  con  which  were  presented,  and  always 
respectfully  discussed  and  considered.  Its  first  pro- 
posed cost  was  increased  through  unforeseen  causes 
incident  to  all  enterprises,  and  ultimately  amount- 
ed to  perhaps  $70,000. 

The  amount  expended  in  the  fall  of  1 87 1  was 
$30,271.40,  of  which  $10,000  went  to  the  Holly  Com- 
pany for  machinery,  and  $11,192.93  to  H.  Phelps 
for  pipe,  and  for  laying  same.  The  following  spring, 
by  a  vote  of  215  to  123,  the  citizens  decided  to  raise 
a  further  loan  of  $15,000  towards  completing  the 
works.  Then,  at  different  times  since,  various  other 
amounts  have  been  expended,  though  it  has  un- 
doubtedly been  a  good  investment. 

The  fire  department  of  Big  Rapids  was  organized 
in  March,  187 1.  The  first  officers  were:  J.  M.  Cook, 
Chief  Engineer;  E.  O.  Rose,  First  Assistant;  C.  D. 
Crandell,  Second  Assistant.  In  May  of  the  same 
year.  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  i,  was  organ- 
which    at   that   time    constituted    the    entire 


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department.  Its  officers  were :  Charlie  Gay,  Fore- 
man ;  William  H.  Bennett,  First  Assistant;  O.  T.  Ful- 
ler, Second  Assistant;  J.  Frank  Clark,  Secretary;  S. 
D.  Thompson,  Treasurer.  Several  hose  companies 
have  since  been  organized  and  thoroughly  equipped. 

The  "  Young  Alerts,"  of  Big  Rapids,  have  the 
champion  belt  for  hose  companies  in  Micliigan,  won 
at  the  State  tournaments  of  18S2  and  1883.  The 
former  tournament  was  held  at  Charlotte,  in  August. 
The  hose  companies  entered  were  the  Protections,  of 
Ann  Arbor ;  Protections,  of  Muskegon  ;  Cadillacs,  of 
Cadillac;  Hillsdales,  of  Hillsdale  ;  Unions,  of  Battle 
Creek ;  and  the  Young  Alerts,  of  Big  Rapids.  The 
Protections,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Protections,  of  Muskegon, 
and  Hillsdales,  of  Hillsdale,  were  given  no  time,  on 
account  of  imperfect  couplings.  Cadillac  Hose  made 
the  run  to  the  hydrant  in  27  seconds,  but  owing  to 
an  imperfection  in  their  hose  they  were  unable  to 
make  any  coupling,  and  were  given  no  time.  The 
Unions,  of  Battle  Creek,  made  a  handsome  run  in 
41^  seconds;  hydrant  time,  26^^.  The  last  to 
run  were  the  Young  Alerts,  who  made  the  run  in  41 1^ 
seconds;  hydrant  run  in  261^,  winning  by  one- 
fourth  of  a  second.  They  brought  home  a  prize  of 
$125,  and  the  champion  belt. 

At  the  State  tournament  of  1883,  held  at  Marshall, 
Aug.  15  and  i6,  the  Young  Alerts  again  won  the  first 
prize  of  $125,  and  the  champion  belt,  making  the  run 
in  the  unprecedented  time  of  391^  seconds.  The 
competing  companies  were  from  Albion,  Hillsdale, 
Battle  Creek,  St.  Johns  and  Hastings. 

The  team  composing  the  Young  Alerts  this  year 
were  Robert  McGregor,  Foreman ;  David  Aitken, 
Fred  Wakefield,  Fred  Gay,  Dan  McDonald,  Herbert 
Priest,  Alexander  McGregor,  Ferber  Black,  Charles 
Van  Alstine,  John  Hagadone,  Winifred  Case,  John 
Aitken,  Will  Lincoln,  James  Vallies,  Burdette  Cran- 
dell, Walter  Gaunt,  Robert  Moon,  Stowell  Crandell 
and  Ed.  Hagadone. 

SCHOOLS. 


MODEL  of  beauty,  size  and  convenience 

^_^!^  is   the  central  school-house,  and  when  the 

>y|^  new  First-Ward  school  building  is  completed 

■'I'i^      the  city  will  have  ample  school  accommoda- 

:         tions  for  years  to  come.     The  school  census 

taken  in   1883  shows  the  number  of  persons  in  the 


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MECOSTA    COUNTY. 


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district  between  5  and  20  years  of  age  to  be  1,317, 
an  increase  over  1S82  of  178.  This  increase  has 
necessitated  the  employment  of  three  additional 
teachers,  besides  one  for  an  ungraded  school. 

The  following  is  the  full  corps  of  instructors  for  the 
year  1883-4,  with  the  salaries  paid: 

J.  S.  Crombie,  Superintendent S',650 

Anna  Pease,  Preceptress 700 

Prill  V.  Boyce,  Assistant  High  School 475 

G.  L.  Bingham,  Grammar 450 

Fannie  Forrester,  Grammar 400 

Flora  A.  Lincoln 400 

M.  D.  Chittenden 350 

C.  E.  Hulsart 35  o 

Nettie  Peters 350 

Lottie  C.  Price 350 

Allie  Hay 350 

Etta  Smart 340 

Maggie  Switzer 330 

Marion  Palmer 330 

Hattie  Place 330 

Alverta  Lamb 330 

Total $8,200 

The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  district  is  $7,000, 
of  which  $4,000  is  to  be  paid  Feb  i,  1884,  and 
$3,000  Feb.  I,  1885.  The  value  of  the  school  prop- 
erty in  the  district  is  estimated  at  $35,494 ;  number 
of  pupils  that  can  be  seated  in  the  various  buildings, 
1,050;  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  1882-3,1,166. 

Following  is  a  synopsis  of  the  annual  report  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  the  school  year  ending  Sept. 
3,  1883,  and  the  estimates  of  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures for  the  year  commencing  Sept.  3,  1883  : 

RECEIPTS. 

Cash  in  treasury  as  per  last  report $2,901    13 

Receipts  during  year 151^23  22 

Total  general  fund '  8,5  24  35 

Balance  in  building  fund,  Sept.  4,  '82. .  ..  650  95 
Receipts  during  year 5,642  35 

Total  building  fund 6,293  30 

Balance  in  library  fund,  Sept.  4,  '82 405  34 

Receipts  during  year 368  43 

Total  library  fund 773  77 

Total  receipts  for  the  year 25,591   42 

EXPENDITURES  OF    IIIK    NEAR. 

General  fund — teachers'  salaries,  etc. . .  .$15,691   30 


Building  fund — wood  house,  walks,  etc  . ..  4,293  30 

Lil)rary  fund —  new  books,  printing,  etc  .  393  41 

SIJMMARY. 

Total  general  fund 18,524  35 

Orders  paid 15,691   30 

Balance 2,833  °5 

Total  building  fund 6,293  3° 

Orders  paid 4,293  30 

Balance 2,000  00 

'i'otal  library  fund 773  77 

Orders  paid 393  4 1 

Balance 380  36 

Total  amount  in  treasur)-  to  date 5,213  61 

ESTIMATES    FOR    CO.MINd    YEAR. 

Estimate  of  expenditure  for  coming  year. $16,370  44 

Amount  on  hand,  general  fund 2,833  25 

One-mill  tax i  ,500  00 

Primary  school  fund i  ,000  00 

Total  resources 5,333  25 

Recommended  to  raise   by  tax 14.500  00 

Total 19,833   25 

Estimated  expenditures 16,370  44 

Balance 3  462  81 


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.yupBBi|,r  H E  pioneers  who  first  visited  the  ground  on 
Jll^l^  which  the  city  now  stands,  saw  in  the  "  big 
"  ■''  rajiids  "  of  the  Muskegon  River  a  mighty 
power  that  would  some  day  be  the  means  of 
establishing  a  manufacturing  city.  Nature 
seems  to  have  so  designed  it.  A  river  whose 
constant  flow  of  water  is  seldom  materially  affectd 
by  the  snows  and  rains  of  winter,  or  the  extreme 
drouth  of  summer,  with  a  fall  greater  than  any  other 
stream  in  the  State,  seems  to  invite  the  manufacturer 
to  this  spot.  In  the  eariy  history  of  the  city  the 
luml)er  interest  was  the  one  looked  after;  but  as  the  • 
imlier  in  the  vicinity  was  removed,  other  industries     ^ 


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took  its  place,  and  now,  although  it  is  still  head- 
quarters for  a  large  extent  of  the  lumber  manufac- 
turing district,  is  not  dependent  upon  that  alone  for 
its  existence.  The  natural  and  abundant  facilities 
for  manufacturing  has  drawn  men  and  capital,  and 
ever)-  year  it  is  increasing;  and  it  is  confidently  pre- 
dicted that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  Big 
Rapids  will  be  second  to  none  in  the  State  as  a  manu- 
facturing center.  Its  immense  water  power,  the  ex- 
cellent farming  lands  around  the  city,  timber  for 
manufacturing  purposes,  and  many  other  things, 
seem  to  verify  the  prediction. 

The  city  has  three  large  lumber  mills,  two  flouring 
mills,  two  shingle  mills,  five  large  establishments  for 
the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  two 
foundries  and  machine  shops,  in  which  are  made 
anything  from  a  rivet  to  a  steam  engine,  one  large 
furniture  factory,  one  large  and  several  small  wagon 
factories,  one  match  factory,  one  picture-backing  fac- 
tory, besides  several  smaller  manufactories  of  differ- 
ent kinds.  The  last  mentioned — the  picture  backing 
factory  of  James  G.  McEhvee — is  worthy  of  special 
mention,  as  it  is  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 
The  products  of  this  mill  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of 
the  United  States. 

TIOGA  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

This  company  has  been  one  of  the  principal  in- 
struments in  building  up  Big  Rapids  and  its  manu- 
facturing interests.  It  was  incorporated  Nov.  17, 
1870,  by  John  F.  Brown,  Thomas  C.  Piatt  (Owego, 
N.  Y.),  Marcus  E.  Brown  (Hornellsville,  N.  Y.), 
Byron  M.  Hanks  (Rochester,  N.  Y.),  and  Joseph  O. 
Hudnutt,  for  the  purpose  of  ojjerating  in  lumber, 
lath,  shingles,  etc.,  and  also  flour  and  feed.  The 
capital  stock  was  $500,000,  in  20,000  shares  of  $25 
each.  Of  this  stock,  $400,000  were  actually  paid  in 
at  the  start,  the  4.000  shares  representing  the  other 
$100,000  being  held  by  the  Directors  for  sale.  Of 
the  16,000  shares  held  by  the  incorporators,  4,694 
were  held  by  John  F.  Brown;  4,693  by  Thomas  C. 
Piatt;  4,693  by  Marcus  E.  Brown  ;  960  by  Byron  M. 
Hanks,  and  960  by  Joseph  O.  Hudnutt.  John  F. 
Brown,  of  Big  Rapids,  was  Managing  Director  until 
his  death,  in  icS.So.  The  company  built  and  ran  a 
steam-po.tter  saw-mill,  a  water-power  saw-mill  and  a 
flouring  mill.  They  also  held  interests  in  the  North- 
ern National  Bank,  and  many  other  prominent  enter- 
prises in  Big  Rapids  and  vicinity. 


BUSINESS   MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 

A  move  in  the  right  direction  has  recently  been  made 
by  the  principal  citizens  of  Big  Rapids.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  Oct.  26,  1883,  they  organized  themselves 
into  the  "  Business  Men's  Association,"  the  object  of 
which  is  to  induce  capitalists  to  invest  in  Big  Rapids, 
in  manufacturing,  etc.  They  have  raised  a  fund  of 
$r,ooo  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  organization. 
The  following  are  the  officers:  M.  P.  Gale,  Presi- 
dent; F.  Fairman,  G.  F.  Stearns,  W.  S.  Gray,  George 
A.  Roof,  C.  M.  Darrah,  S.  S.  Wilcox  and  J.  McCor- 
mick,  Vice-Presidents  ;  William  P.  Nisbett,  Secretary  ; 
W.  W.  Smith,  Treasurer;  S.  H.  Gray,  J.  M.  Crocker, 
D.  F.  Glidden,  S.  L.  Newton,  E.  G.  Haney,  M.  M. 
Cole  and  J.  T.  Escott,  Executive  Committee. 

TELEPHONE. 
A  telephone  company  was  formed  in  1881,  con- 
sisting of  M.  P.  Gale,  Hudnutt  Bros,  and  others, 
which  was  in  October  of  1881  bought  out  by  the 
present  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Construction  Com- 
pany. Its  office  is  in  the  Furniture  Block,  and  H.  D. 
Reid  is  General  Manager.  The  main  office  is  in 
Detroit.     The  Big  Rapids  system  now  has  85  wires. 

NORTHERN  HOTEL. 

The  hotel  called  the  "The  Northern,"  Sid.  H. 
Roosevelt,  proprietor,  is  justly  conceded  to  be  one  of 
the  finest  hotels  in  Northern  Michigan,  and  has 
added  much  to  the  fair  name  of  Big  Rapids.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1S81.  It  faces  the  south, 
and  is  300  feet  in  length,  extending  from  State  street 
to  the  alley  west  of  the  Northern  National  Bank.  It 
contains,  first,  one  large  store,  40  x  100  feet,  directly 
west  of  the  alley.  Next  come  three  rooms,  iS  x  40, 
for  offices  or  small  stores.  Then  come  the  barber 
shop,  reading-room,  and  other  small  apartments  con- 
nected with  the  hotel.  The  hotel  office,  forty  feet 
wide  and  fifty  feet  deej),  occupies  the  center  of  the 
block.  Directly  in  the  rear  of  it  is  the  dining-room 
40  X  60,  and  in  the  rear  of  that  the  kitchen,  30  x  40. 
Next  come  five  rooms,  iS  x  40,  and  two,  18  x  44,  for 
offices  and  small  stores. 

The  upper  story  is  all  used  as  a  part  of  the  hotel. 
It  is  divided  into  sixty-eight  parlors  and  sleeping 
rooms,  the  largest  being  18  x  18,  and  the  smallest 
10  X  1 4,  and  all  but  four  have  outside  windows.  A  hall 
extends  through  the  entire  block,  and  outside  stair- 
ways at  the  northern  and  western  extremities  render 


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yf^  escape  easy  in  case  of  fire.  Abundant  sewerage  is  fiir- 
f^:  nished,  the  site  being  ujxin  the  slope  facing  Mitchell 
.;,  Creek.  The  entire  block  is  lighted  by  gas  and  heated 
it  by  steam,  the  furnace  and  boilers  being  located  in  the 
J  basement  directly  under  the  dining  room,  with  a 
^  laundry  under  the  kitchen. 

The  "Northern,"  under  the  management  of  Mr. 
Roosevelt,  and  favored  with  the  services  of  so  effi- 
cient and  genial  a  clerk  asCharlcs  I'  Miller,  is  a 
credit  to  Big  Rapids. 

MERCY  HOSPITAL. 

Mercy  Hospital,  at  Big  Rapids,  was  established 
by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  of  Grand  Rapids  at  the  in- 
stigation of  Father  Herbstrit,  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest  stationed  here.  The  institution  was  an  urgent 
necessity  from  the  number  of  accidents  in  the  lum- 
ber woods.  The  sisterhood  purchased  40  acres  of 
land  and  proceeded  to  erect  a  building  which  cost 
$7,000.  It  was  begun  Feb.  5,  1879,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  year  its  list  of  entries  included  200 
names.  The  aggregate  number  for  the  years  1880- 
8 1-'82,  were  respectively  500,  900,  and  800.  Up  td 
date  of  •writing  (Oct.  24,  1883),  the  number  of 
patients  who  have  received  treatment  the  current 
year  is  743.  There  are  now  60  patients  in  the  vari- 
ous  wards.       The  death  rate   has  thus  far  been  the 

'^  J  lowest  of  any  hospital  on  record,  being  but  3j4  per 
cent. 

In  December,  1882,  the  building  was  consumed  by 
fire,  and  a  temporary  structure  has  been  erected  to 
serve  the  demand  until  the  new  one  now  in  progress 
is  completed.  It  will  cost  $24,000  besides  the  ad- 
dition which  is  contf^mjilated,  and  will  require  an  ad- 
ditional expenditure  of  about  $13,000. 

The  Sisters  discharge  all  the  required  labors  of  the 
establishment.  Five  or  six  are  at  all  times  in  attend- 
ance, and  the  hospital  is  sustained  by  the  contribu- 
tions or  sale  of  tickets  among  the  lumbermen  which 
are  solicited  by  agents  in  the  employ  of  the  Sisters. 
Each  ticket  costs  $5,  and  entitles  the  holder  to  the 
benefits  of  the  hospital  in  case  of  sickness  or  acci- 
I       dent.     Patients   suffering   with   any   disease   except 

,.■ -«  those  of  an  infectious  nature  are  admitted.  The 
beneficiaries  of  the  institution  express  their  satisfac- 

»/  tion  with  the  care  and  attention  they  receive,  and  re- 
gard the  gentle  women  who  strive  to  alleviate  their 
sufferings  with  grateful  affection.    The  drugs  required 


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are  kept  in  stock  and  the  medicines  compounded  at 
the  hospit.d. 

Drs.  Burkart  and  Groner  are  the  present  medical 
advisers,  and  their  services  are  gratuitous.  They  visit 
their  charges  on  alternate  days  and  treat  some 
remarkable  cases,  and  perfonn  rare  and  difficult  sur- 
gical operations.  Among  the  most  recent  was  the  am- 
putation of  the  tongue  of  James  McGill,  July  20, 
1883.  The  disease  was  cancer  of  the  tongue,  and  the 
ojieration  was  performed  by  the  regular  attending 
physicians.  On  the  third  day  of  August  they  per- 
formed the  rarely  successful  operation  of  stretching 
the  sciatic  nerve,  with  the  best  results.  Dr.  \V.  A. 
Hendryx  was  attendant  physician  and  surgeon  about 
two  years. 


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BANK  ROBBERY. 


ROBBERY  was  committed  at  the  Ex- 
lj^!^3^  change  Bank  of  Big  Rapids,  between  Sun- 
'■^I^  day  evening,  Nov.  30,  and  Monday  morning, 
'''^l^  Dec.  I,  1873,  of  $2,868.42  in  checks  and 
I  notes.  Upon  attempting  to  open  up  for  busi- 
ness Monday  morning,  at  the  usual  hour,  the 
inner  door  of  the  vault  could  not  be  unlocked. 
All  efforts  to  open  it  being  unsuccessful,  an  opening 
was  made  in  the  back  or  west  wall  of  the  vault> 
through  which  an  entrance  was  obtained.  An  ex- 
amination of  the  door  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  slid- 
ing bars  or  bolts  were  securely  held  in  place  by  a 
prop — a  piece  of  two-by-four  scantling,  about  two  feet 
in  length,  so  placed  as  to  effectually  prevent  their 
being  moved  by  the  key.  Further  examination  also 
disclosed  the  fact  tliat  a  long  framework  of  shelves 
for  the  reception  of  books,  standing  against  the  south 
wall,  had  been  shoved  away  from  the  wall,  and  that 
there  was  a  hole  in  the  cement  floor  in  the  southwest 
corner,  sufficiently  large  to  admit  the  body  of  a  man. 
The  safe  was  found  unlocked,  its  valuable  contents 
gone,  and  the  unpleasant  co.iviction  that  the  bank 
had  been  robbed  was  forced  upon  the  minds  of  every 
one  present. 

A  thorough  examination  of  the  premises  being 
made,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  burglar  entered 
beneath  the  sill  at  the  southwest  comer  of  the  build- 
ing, and  tunneled  his  way  to  the  base  of  the  vault,  a 


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distance  of  about  15  feet,  and  then  by  making  an  ex- 
cavation in  the  masoni-y  or  stone  work  of  the  vault, 
he  was  enabled  to  effect  an  entrance  up  through  the 
cement  floor. 

The  trench  was  large  enough  for  a  man  to  crawl 
from  end  to  end  without  difficulty,  and  near  the  vault 
the  excavation  was  large  enough  for  a  man  to  sit  up- 
right, with  plenty  of  room  for  work.  The  earth  and 
stones  which  had  been  removed  from  the  excavation 
were  packed  away  on  either  side,  filling  the  space 
between  the  joists  clear  up  to  the  floor.  There  were 
found  in  the  tunnel  two  pairs  of  heavy  double 
blankets,  two  straps  (which  had  evidently  been  used 
to  fasten  the  blankets  into  a  compact  bundle  while 
they  were  being  taken  in  there),  an  old  summer  coat, 
a  gunny  sack,  and  a  quantity  of  crackers,  all  which 
would  indicate  that  the  burglar  had  burrowed  beneath 
the  floor  for  some  time;  in  fact,  the  amount  of  work 
done,  considering  the  cramped  position  of  the  opera- 
tor, and  the  caution  with  which  it  had  to  be  con- 
ducted, must  have  occupied  several  days  and  nights. 
The  only  things  in  the  shape  of  tools  found  in  the 
excavation  were  a  small  screw-driver  without  a  han- 
dle, and  a  piece'  of  cross-cut  saw  plate,  about  live 
inches  square. 

One  rather  singular  coincidence,  and  perhaps  a 
very  fortunate  circumstance  for  the  robber,  was  the 
fact  that  the  safe  within  the  vault  had  been  left  open, 
and  after  having  gained  an  entrance  he  had  nothing 
to  do  but  appropriate  its  contents  and  make  his 
exit. 

The  reason  of  tlie  safe  being  unlocked,  (Jen.  Bron- 
son.  President  of  the  hank,  explained  as  follows:  On 
Sunday  forenoon,  having  occasion  to  examine  some 
papers  that  were  kept  in  the  safe,  and  not  under- 
standing the  combination  upon  which  it  was  locked, 
or  how  to  unlock  it,  he  got  Mr.  F.  D.  Brown,  who  was 
at  one  time  cashier  of  the  bank,  to  go  and  unlock  it 
for  him.  Having  taken  out  the  documents  he  de- 
sired, Mr.  Brown  closed  the  safe  door  and  inquired  if 
he  should  lock  it.  He  (Gen.  Bronson)  replied  that 
he  might  wish  to  ins|iect  other  papers  not  yet  taken 
out,  and  Mr.  Brown  thereupon  left  the  bank.  After 
concluding  the  inspection  of  the  documents  he  went 
there  to  examine,  he  returned  tliem  to  their  place, 
closed  the  door,  and  took  hold  of  the  knob  for  the 
purpose  of  locking  it;  but  it  occurring  to  him  that  he 
might  turn  it  the  wrong  way,  and  thus  derange  the 


combination  or  get  the  lock  out  of  order,  and  believ- 
ing everything  to  be  secure  within  the  vault,  he  left 
the  safe  unlocked. 

Two  young  men,  Charles  Stickney  and  Charles 
Milner,  who  slept  in  the  back  room  of  the  bank,  their 
bed  being  rot  more  than  three  or  four  feet  from  the 
hole  made  in  the  vault,  stated  tliat  they  heard  no 
noise  or  disturbance  whatever  during  the  night- 
Young  Stickney  stated,  however,  that  for  several  days 
before  he  had  occasionally  heard  a  scratching  noise 
beneath  the  floor,  but  supposing  it  to  be  caused  by 
rats  or  mice,  he  paid  no  attention  to  it. 

A  track  made  by  a  dirty  shoe-pack  or  moccasin  was 
discovered,  leading  from  the  rear  of  the  building  back 
to  the  alley,  and  thence  southward,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  made  by  the  robber  as  he  depart- 
ed from  the  premises.  It,  however,  could  not  be 
followed  beyond  the  engine  house.  There  were 
numerous  theories  and  speculations  concerning  the 
robbery,  Init  no  satisfactory  traces  of  its  perpetrator 
were  ever  discovered. 


PRESS  CONVENTION. 


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pIG    Rajjids    has   come    to  be  a  a  favorite 

t  place    for   holding   conventions    and    re- 
ur 


inions.  One  of  the  most  prominent 
of  the  meetings  held  in  Mecosta  County's 
metropolis  was  the  second  annual  meeting  of 
the  Northwestern  Michigan  Press  Association, 
Monday  and  Tuesday,  July  14  and  15,1879.  The 
following  journalists  were  in  attendance: 

C.  S.  Ramsey  and  w'ife,  Cheboygan  Tribune. 

App.  M.  Smith,  Manistee  Times. 

Frank  Bracelin,  Montague  Liimheiman. 

Hon.  E.  G.  D.  Holden,  S.  F.  Aspinwall  and  wife. 
Grand  Rapids  Journal. 

L.  A.  Barker  and  wife.  Lake  City  Journal. 

T.  T.  Bates  and  wife.  Traverse  City  Herald. 

G.  E.  Matthews  and  wife,  Fremont  Indicator. 

E.  L.  Sprague  and  wife,  and  Miss  O.  Spencer, 
Traverse  Ba}'  Eagle. 

A.  H.  Johnson,  Sutton's  Bay  Tribune. 

L.  M.  Sellers,  Cedar  Springs  Clipper 

A.  Chase,  Evart  Review. 

G.  W.  Minchin,  Red  City  Clarion. 


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J.  W.  Hallack,  Sparta  Sentinel. 

E.  O.  Rose  and  wife,  Charlie  CJay  and  wife,  M.  W. 
Barrows  and  wife,  Big  Rapids  rionccr-Ma^ncl. 

O.  D.  Glidden  and  wife,  D.  F.  Glidden  and  wife, 
Big  Rapids  Herald. 

VV.  r".  Slawson  and  wife,  V.  ^V■.  Bruce  and  wife, 
Big  Rapids  Current. 

W.  S.  Stevens  and  wife,  Hesperia  Hesperian. 

Maj.  J.  W.  Long,  wife  and  nurse,  Isabella   Times. 

J.  H.  Wheeler  and  wife,  Sherman  Pioneer. 

A.  Bilz,  Miss  Fannie  G.  Bilz  and  Miss  Allie  Sabin, 
Spring  Lake  Repiibliean. 

C.  F.  Chapin,  Cadillac  News. 

Gen.  A.  A.  Stevens  and  C.  C.  Sexton,  Grand  Rap- 
ids Democrat. 

Frank  H.  Rose,  St.  Johns  Home  Chroniele. 

James  Vandersluis,  Grand  Rapids  Banner. 

\\ .  S.  Benham,  Grand  Haven  Herald. 

E.  F.  Grabill  and  wife,  Greenville  Independent. 

F.  Weller  and  wife,  Miss  Theresa  Quinlin,  Mus- 
kegon News  and  Reporter. 

W.  M.  Harford,  Muskegon  Chronicle. 

W.  A.  Smith,  Charlevoix  .Sentinel. 

R.  R.  Johnson,  Muskegon  Journal. 

C.  P.  Rice,  Muskegon  Daily  Times. 

Don.  Henderson,  Allegan  Journal. 

J.  Parmiter  and  wife,  Hart  Journal. 

The  following  representatives  of  papers  outside 
the  Northwestern  Michigan  Press  Association  were 
present: 

Gill  R.  Osniun,  Detroit  Evening  News. 

W.  S.  George  and  wife,  Lansing  Republican. 

Rev.  H.  Lamont,  Chicago  Witness. 

After  a  business  meeting  Monday  afternoon,  an 
evening  was  spent  in  social  chat,  and  festivity.  At 
ten  o'clock  they  were  serenaded  by  the  city  cornet 
band,  and  then  followed  an  enjoyable  banquet  at  the 
Armory  Hall,  prepared  by  A.  R.  White,  proprietor  of 
the  Mason  House.  After  being  seated  in  the  hall, 
S.  S.  Wilcox,  of  Big  Rapids,  ])residing.  Dr.  Bigelow, 
in  behalf  of  the  citizens,  delivered  an  elo'iuent  wel- 
coming address.  The  banquet  over,  T.  T.  Bates,  of 
the  Traverse  City  Herald,  delivered  a  feeling  re- 
sponse to  the  address  of  Dr.  Bigelow.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  toasts : 

"  Michigan.  "—Response  by  Hon.  E.  G.  D.  Hol- 
den,  of  the  Grand  Rapids  Journal. 

"Our  Schools  and  Colleges. " — Response  by  Hon. 


f. 


W.  S.   George,  of    the    Lansing,  Mich.,  Republican' 

'■  The  Editor's  Guests  "  (Will  Carlton)— Recitation 
l)y  Kittie  May  Woolley,  of  Big  Rapids. 

"  The  Press — Indispensable  to  American  Prog- 
ress."— Response  by  Hon.  M.  Brown,  of  Big  Rapids 

"  IVomen — May  she  never  be  Underestimated." — 
Response  by  E.  O.  Rose,  of  the  Big  Rapids  Pioneer- 
Magnet. 

"  Our  Second  Century.  " — Response  by  Rev.  E.  W. 
Miller,  of  Big  Rapids. 

"  The  Newspaper  Man — His  Ups  and  Doivns.  " — 
Response  by  G.  E.  Matthews,  of  the  Fremont  Indi- 
cator. 

The  responses  were  excellent,  and  loudly  applaud- 
ed. At  the  business  meeting  Tuesday  morning, 
E.  O.  Rose,  of  Big  Rapids,  was  elected  President. 
Tuesday  forenoon,  the  entire  party  spent  a  couple  of 
hours  riding  about  town  and  witnessing  the  various 
objects  of  interest,  carriages  for  that  purpose  being 
furnished  by  the  citizens.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  fire 
department  came  out  for  its  review,  and  was  cordially 
praised.  The  party  left  in  the  afternoon  for  the 
north,  on  an  excursion  to  Mackinaw  Island.  This 
meeting  was  the  largest  assemblage  of  newspaper 
men  ever  seen  in  the  State,  up  to  this  time. 


V^ 


ORGANIZATIONS. 

'83;?  IG  Rapids  contains  a  good  representation 
of  secret,   benevolent  and   other  associa- 


tions,  of    which   the   principal   are    here 
wra      noticed.     The   societies    are  functions  of  an 
I''       advancing  civilization,  which  are  destined  to 
grow  and  strengthen  with  the  increase  of  an 
enlightened  poi)ulation. 

BIG  RAPIDS  LODGE  NO.   171,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Was  dedicated  Feb.  8,  1866,  the  ceremonies  being 
conducted  by  Alex.  Mann,  of  Muskegon,  represent- 
ing the  Grand  Master.  The  officers  installed  at  that 
meeting  were  A.  S.  Mason,  W.  M.;  Charlie  Gay,  S. 
W.;  B.  E.  Hutchinson.  J.  W. ;  G.  F.  Stearns,  Treas. ; 
E.  O.  Rose,  Sec. ;  George  French,  S.  D. ;  A.  N.  Wil- 
liams, J.  D. ;  James  Furster,  Tyler.  The  present 
officers  are:  A.  S.  Mason,  W.  M.;  E.  W.  Ford,  S. 
W.;  Peter  McNaughton,  J.  W. ;  G.  F.  Steams, Treas- 


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urer;  A.  W.  Eldredge,  Sec;  C.  H.  Olds,  S.  D.; 
Thomas  Shaw,  Sr.,  J.  D. ;  G.  F.  Whitney,  Tyler. 
The  present  membership  is  about  120,  and  the  lodge 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  It  meets  the  first  week 
in  every  month. 

BIG  RAPIDS  CHAPTER,  No.  52,  R.  A.  M., 

Was  organized  under  dispensation  Aug.  28,  1867, 
with  W.  I.  Latimer  as  High  Priest;  Charlie  Gay, 
King;  Alfred  S.  Mason,  Scribe;  Orrin  Stevens,  Sec; 
B.  E.  Hutchinson,  C.  of  H.;  E.  O.  Rose,  Prin.  Soj.; 
A.  M.  Green,  R.  A.  C;  C.  C.  Fuller,  M.  3d  V.;  J. 
O.  Rose,  M.  2d  V.;  Andrew  Green,  M.  ist  V.; 
George  W.  Green,  Sent.  The  present  officers  are  as 
follows;  Charlie  Gay,  High  Priest;  Hiram  E.  Hardy, 
King;  John  H.  Foster,  Scribe;  George  F.  Stearns, 
Treas.;  Alonzo  H.  Eldredge,  Sec;  Simon  G.Web- 
ster, C.  of  H. ;  O.  D.  Glidden,  Prin.  Soj. ;  Wesley  F. 
Louckes,  R.  A.  C. ;  Alfred  S.  Mason,  M.  3d  V. ;  Hi- 
ram Honeywell,  M.  2d  V.;  Peter  McNaughton,  M. 
ist  V. ;  (ieorge  F.  Whitney,  Sent.  The  chapter  now 
has  a  membership  of  74,  and  meets  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  each  month. 

KING  SOLOMON  COUNCIL  No.  25,  R.  &.  S.  M 
(Royal  and  Select  Masters), 

Was  instituted  Tuesday,  Aug.  4.  1868,  by  James 
Kennedy,  proxy  for  T.  I.  G.  P.,  with  the  following 
officers  :  C.  C.  Fuller,  T.  I.  G.  M. ;  Charlie  Gay,  D. 
L  G.  M.;  W.  I.  Latimer,  P.  C.  W.;  G.  F.  Stearns,  Treas.; 

E.  O.  Rose,  G.  R. ;  D.  E.  Steams,  G.  C.  of  G ;  B.  E. 
Hutchinson,  G.  C. ;  F.  E.  Nelson,  G.  S.  The  present 
officers  are:  Charlie  Gay,  T.  I.  M.;  Peter  McNaugh- 
ton, D.  M.;  B.  Elial  Hutchinson,  P.  C.  W. ;  George 

F.  Stearns,  Treasurer;  Charles  D.  Bronson,  Recorder; 
Hiram  Honeywell,  C.  of  G. ;  Ceylon  C.  Fuller,  C.  of 
C. ;  Joseph  W.  Fearns,  Steward ;  George  F.  Whitney, 
Sentinel.  The  present  membership  is  18.  The 
Council  meets  at  Masonic  Hall  the  first  Tuesday 
evening  of  each  month. 

PILGRIM  COMMANDERY  NUMBER  23, 
KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR, 

Was  organized  under  dispensation  in  November, 
1868,  with  the  following  officers:  W.  I.  Latimer,  E. 
C;  Charlie  Gay,  G.:  C.  C.  Fuller,  C.  G.;  E.  O.  Rose, 
S.  W.;  C.  D.  Bronson,  J.  W.;  B.  E.  Hutchinson,  W.; 


J.  Kennedy,  St.  B.;  G.  F.  Stearns,  Sd.  B.,  and  Treas.; 
E.  O.  Rose,  R.;  F.  E.  Nelson,  S.  It  was  regularly 
constituted  Sept.  10,  1869,  by  T.  A.  Flower,  of  Pon- 
tiac,  Rt  Em.  G.  C.  of  Michigan.  The  present  officers 
are:  Simon  G.  Webster,  E.  C;  Ceylon  C.  Fuller, 
Gen.;  Edward  W.  Hudnutt,  C.  G.;  Calvin  W.  Not- 
tingham, Prel;  Charlie  Gay,  Rec;  George  F.  Stearns 
Treas.;  Alfred  S.  Mason,  S.  W.;  Peter  McNaughton, 
J.  W.;  Hiram  E.  Hardy,  St.  B.;  John  H.  Foster,  Sd. 
Bearer.;  Willis  M.  Slosson,  Warden;  George  F. 
Whitney,  Sent.  The  Commandery  meets  the  first 
Friday  evening  of  each  month.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  96. 

BIG  RAPIDS  LODGE,  NUMBER  iii.I.O.O.F. 

Was  organized  Wednesday,  Sept.  18,  1867,  with  J 
O.  Rose,  as  Noble  Grand ;  Alonzo  Powers  as  Vice 
Grand;  and  E.  O.  Rose  as  Secretary.  The  present 
membership  is  70,  and  the  lodge  meets  every  Mon- 
day night  at  Odd  Fellows  Hall.  L.  T.  Loveless  is 
Noble  Grand,  and  M.  V.  Taylor,  Secretary. 

BIG  RAPIDS  ENCAMPMENT,  NO.  55,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Was  organized  in  1872,  and  has  now  about  45  mem- 
bers. It  meets  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesdays 
of  each  month. 

BIG  RAPIDS  COUNCIL,  NUMBER  174,  ROYAL 
ARCANUM, 

Was  organized  in  1878,  with  E.  J.  Marsh  as  Regent 
W.  W.  Carpenter  as  Secretarj',  and  C.  C.  Fuller  as 
Collector.  The  present  officers  are :  L.  C.  Patterson, 
Regent;  E.  R.  Keith,  Secretary;  George  A.  Roof, 
Collector;  and  John  Watson,  as  Treasurer.  The 
Council  meets  the  first  and  third  Wednesdays  of 
each  month,  and  has  a  membership  of  34. 

MECOSTA    LODGF,    NUMBER    26,  KNIGHTS 
OF  PYTHIAS, 

Was  organized  in  1875,  and  is  now  in  a  very  flourish- 
ing condition.  The  present  officers  are :  C.  D.  Car- 
penter, P.  C;  John  R.  Snyder,  C.  C. ;  C.  D.  Cran- 
dell,  V.  C;  E.  P.  Clark,  Prelate ;  O.  D.  Glidden,  K. 
of  R.  &  S. ;  George  D.  Miles.  M.  at  A.;  T.  R.  Crocker, 
M.  of  E.;  F.  R.  Fowler,  M.  of  F.;  A.  AV.  Withington, 
I.  G.  D.  F.  Glidden,  of  this  lodge,  is  the  Grand 
Chancellor  of  the  order  for  the  State  of  Michigan. 


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THE  KNIGHTS  OF  LABOR 

Have  a  lodge,  organized  in  October,  1882.  It  now 
has  140  members.  The  principal  officers  arc  Gen. 
Stephen  Uronson,  V.  S.;  T.  J.  Wakeman,  M.  W.;  J. 
W.  Griffin,  Fin.  Sec;  J.  T.  Davison,  Sec.  The 
lodge  meets  every  Tuesday  night. 

PINE-TREE  LODGE,  NUML5ER  763,  KNIGHTS 
OF  HONOR, 

Was  organized  Sept.  16,  1877.  It  now  has  a  mem- 
bership of  44,  and  meets  the  second  and  fourth 
Tuesdays  of  each  month.    F.  Fairman  is  Dictator;  J. 

F.  Clark,  Reporter;  and  C.  W.  Nottingham,  Finan- 
cial Re^X)rter. 

BIG  RAPIDS  LODGE,  NUMBER  35,  SONS  OF 
INDUSTRY, 

Was  organized  in  September,  1883,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers :  O.  D.  Glidden,  M.;  D.  W.  Stewart,  W.; 

G.  W.  Trowbridge,  C.;  Charles  H.  Crane,  Sec;  C.  J. 
Hood,  T.;  H.  D.  Reid,  Stew.;  H.  I.  Orwig,  Mar.;  T. 
Edmunds,  G.  The  present  membership  is  37.  The 
lodge  meets  the  second  and  fourth  Thursdays  of 
each  month. 

THF  ROYAL  TEMPLARS  OF  TEMPERANCE 

Have  a  branch  here,  organized  in  August,  1880.  It 
meets  twice  a  month.  E.  E.  Stone  is  S.  C  ;  D.  Emer- 
son, Treas. ;  W.  S.  Whitney,  Sec. ;  and  Wm.  H. 
Andrews,  Fin.  Sec. 

BIG  RAPIDS  LODGE  NUMBER  408,  I.  O.  G.  T., 

Was  chartered  Aug  18,  1880,  with  tlie  following  first 
officers:  O.  D.  Glidden,  W.  C.  T.;  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Cobb,  V.  T.;  M.  D.  Ford,  Chap.;  Mrs.  Jennette 
Blackwood,  Sec;  William  Binney,  Ass't  Sec;  G.  C. 
Gardner,  Fin.  Sec;  C.  N.  Chick,  Treas.  The  lodge 
now  has  a  membership  of  over  a  hundred,  and  meets 
every  F'riday  evening.  The  following  are  the  present 
officers:  Lewis  Toan,  W.  C.  T.;  Mrs.  Millie  Chap- 
man, V.  T.;  G.  R.  Malone,  Chaplain;  H.  E.  Chap- 
man, Sec;  Miss  Lottie  Price,  Ass't  Sec;  C.  W.  Bar- 
ton, Fin.  Sec;  Fred  Hill,  Treas. 


^       AMITY  LODGE,  NUMBER  9?,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
V,   Was  organized  Jan.    12,   1881,  witli   I-^dgar  Peirce  as 


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p.  M.  W.;  Charlie  Gay,  M.  W.;  C.  W.  Nottingham 
Recorder;  F.  Fairman,  Receiver.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  Charlie  Gay,  P.  M.  W.;  W.  W.  Putnam, 
M.  W.;  S.  G.  Webster,  Recorder,  and  F.  Fairman, 
Receiver.  The  lodge  meets  the  second  and  fourth 
Tuesdays  of  each  month,  and  has  about  40  members. 

THE  BRAZEE  RIFLES 

Were  organized  in  June,  1875,  with  B.  F.  Brazee, 
Captain;  M.  D.  Ford,  isl  Lieutenant,  and  Charles 
H.  Milner,  2d  Lieutenant.  The  membership  was 
then  about  85;  and  the  company  will  now  muster 
50.  B.  F.  Brazee  has  been  Captain  continuously 
since  the  formation  of  the  company,  except  in  1877, 
when  S.  G.  Webster  was  Captain.  Daniel  Alcom- 
brack  is  now  ist  Lieutenant,  and  C.  M.  Wiseman  2d 
Lieutenant.  The  company  meets  every  Thursday 
night  for  drill  in  its  armory,  which  is  valued  at  $3,000. 
This  has  a  parlor  up  stairs,  and  an  office  down  stairs, 
both  well  furnished.  The  drill  room  is  40  x  100. 
The  building  is  150  feet  deep,  but  30  feet  are  used 
for  a  stage,  as  the  armory  is  often  used  for  re-unions 
and  public  meetings.  The  company  has  been 
called  out  twice  for  actual  service, —  at  Grand  Rapids, 
in  1877,  and  at  Muskegon,  in  i88r,  the  occasion 
both  times  being  workingmen's  strikes. 

POST  FRENCH,  NUMBER  28,  G.  A.  R., 

Was  organized  Sept.  6,  1 881,  with  eighteen  charter 
members,  and  the  following  officers :  B.  F.  Brazee, 
Com.;  Michael  Brown,  S.  V.  C;  J.  Shaw,  J.  V.  C; 
L.  T.  Loveless,  Adjutant;  Thomas  Shaw,  Chap.;  Ed- 
gar Peirce,  Q.  M.;  Dr.  A.  W.  Whitney,  Surg.;  Wil- 
liam T.  Bliss,  O.  D.  The  present  membershii)  is 
131.  The  post  meets  every  Wednesday  evening. 
The  following  are  the  present  officers:  B.  F.  Brazee, 
Com.;  John  P.  Schort,  S.  V.  C;  Henry  Albro,  J.  V. 
C;  W.  A.  Cole,  Adj.;  Thomas  Shaw,  Chap.;  A.  T. 
Compau,  Q.  M.;  Dr.  A.  W.  Whitney,  Surg.;  D.  Al- 
combrack,  O.  D. 

THE  CHAUTAUQUA  LITERARY  AND  SCIEN- 
TIFIC  CIRCLE 

Has  a  branch  in  Big  Raiiids,  organized  Oct.  2,  1S79,       ^ 
witii  about  a  dozen  members.     Rev.  C.  L.  Barnhart     ^-' 
was   elected    President;    Mrs.    E.  W.   Miller,  Vice- 
President;  Miss    Mary    E.    Russell,   Secretary   and 
Treasurer,  and   Miss  F.  F.  Angell  as   Preceptress. 
The   following  ladies  were  chosen   as  an   advisory 


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committee:  Mrs.  E.  O.  Rose,  Mrs.  C.  J.  Hood,  Mrs. 
V.  W.  Bruce,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Russell  and  Miss  Clara 
Osburn.  The  puriwse  of  this  society  is  to  promote 
a  desire  for  study  among  adults,  whose  time  is  gener- 
ally employed  at  their  regular  avocations. 


CHURCHES. 

HE  pioneer  church  in  Big  Rapids  is  the 
Methodist  Episcojjal,  some  account  of  the 
early  history  of  which  is  given  in  the  his- 
tory of  Big  Rapids  on  a  previous  page.  The 
society  was  formed  in  1865,  and  the  church 
built  and  dedicated  in  1867.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  J.  W.  Hallenbeck,  who  came  in  Sep- 
tember, 1883.  The  society  now  has  a  membership 
of  about  260.  V.  W.  Bruce  is  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  which  has  about  250  on  the  roll. 

THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

Was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1869,  and  the  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  187  i,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Sydney  Beckwith.  The  pastor 
at  the  time  the  church  was  built  was  Rev.  W.  Flower. 
No  meetings  have  been  held  since  December,  1882, 
though  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  speedy  revival.  The 
present  membership  is  65. 

THE  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 

Was  organized  in  1876,  with  Rev.  E.  W.  Miller  as 
pastor.  He  remained  six  years,  and  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  William  McCracken,  the  present 
pastor,  who  came  from  Allegheny  City,  Pa., in  March, 
1882.  The  society  bought  their  church  edifice  of  the 
Baptists,  in  1878.  It  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
State  and  Hemlock  streets,  and  is  now  valued  at 
$3,000.  It  will  seat  about  200.  Tiie  present  mem- 
bership of  the  Church  is  over  100. 


THE  UNITARIANS 
Are  now  building  a  fine  church  in  Big  Rapids,  and 


are  having  a  pipe  organ  constructed  in  Detroit.  This 
will  be  the  first  pipe  organ  in  the  city.  The  Catho- 
lics, Swedish  Lutherans  and  (ierman  Lutherans 
have  organizations  in  good  condition  and  holding 
regular  services. 


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POPULATION. 


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Total . 


1.237 


The  State  census  of  1S74  showed   the   following: 

First  Ward 707 

Second  Ward ,. 1,018 

Third  Ward 886 

Fourth  Ward 47 2 


Total 3.083 

By  the  general  census  of  1880,  the  population  was 
as  follows : 

First  Ward 601 

Second  Ward 710 

Third  Ward i ,  r  i o 

Fourth  Ward 561 

Fifth  Ward 570 


Total 3,552 


The   population  at  the   present  time  is  probably 
forty  per  cent,  more  than  that  in  1880. 


j|3CCORDING  to  the  census  of  the  respective 

l^^^  years  from   1870  to  the  present  time,  the 

ratio   of  increase   of   the    population   of    Big 

>r     Rapids  has  been  steady,  indicating  a  healthy 

'       growth  upon  a  substantial  foundation.     The 

following  tables  give  a  condensed  statement, 

a  form  convenient  for  reference.    First,  the  census 

1870  gave : 

First  Ward 378 

Second  Ward 44 1 

Third  Ward 375 

Fourth  Ward 243 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


0  016  090  707  1