PAST AND PRESENT OF ISABELLA COUNTY MICHIGAN BY HON. ISAAC A. FANCHER ILLUSTRATED 1911 B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA A I 2523 27 I DEDICATION. This work is respectfully dedicated to THE PIONEERS, long since departed. May the memory of those who laid down their burdens by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer flowvers, for their toils and sacrifices have made Isabella County a garden of sunshine and delights. ^ I PREFACE All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exertion and suffering. 'The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privilege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the present conditions of the people of Isabella county, Michigan, with what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land, it lhas come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendi(l industries and immense agricultural and tinlber productions. Can any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the foundation upon which has heen reared the magnificent prosperity of later (lays? To perpetuate the story of these people and tc( trace and record the social, political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The work has been in the hands of able writers, who have, after much patient study and research, produced here the most complete biographical nmemoirs of Isabella county, Michigan, ever offered to the public. A specially valuable and interesting department is that one devoted to the sketches of representative citizens of this county whose records deserve preservation because of their worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend their thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully lat)ored to this end. Thanks are also due to the citizens of Isabella county for the uniform kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking and for their many services rendered in the gaining of necessary information. In placing the "Past and Present of Isabella County, Michigan," before the citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident that our efforts to please will meet the approbation of the public, v.e are, Respectfully, THE PUBLISHERS. -RW J I 1945 CONTENTS (HAPTER I-TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF ISABELLA COUNTY --- —----- 25 Course of Rivers and Streams-Drainage-Surface Geology-Geographical Location-Civil Divisions-Topographical Survey-Region in General-The Moraines-Terminal Moraines-The Ground Moraine-The Wash-Geological Conclusions-Contact of the Ice Lobes-Lake Saginaw-River Terraces. CHAPTER II-GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER NAMES --- —---------- ------- 40 Derivation of County Name-Indian Designations-Eminent Public Men Commemorated-Indian Names for White Men Derived from Traits of Character -Indian Superstitions. CHAPTER III-EARLY HISTORY --- —----------------------------------- 45 Lavish Grants of Land-Ordinance of 1787-Acts Relative to Michigan-Assent ' of the State of Michigan-Admission of Michigan as a State-Organization of the Territory-Early Governors-First State Constitutional Convention-Boundary Line Misunderstanding-The State Capital-Erection of New Capitol Building. CIAPTER IV —INIIAN TREATIES AND PATENTS --- —--------------------- 61 Treaty with the Chippewas of Sagiinaw, Swan Creek and Black River-Amendments-Indian Land Certificate-Treaty of 1864-Contention as to Kind of Patents-Land Entry Complications-An Attempted Fraud and Its Annulmentt -Indian Industrial School —Congressional Acts Relating Thereto-Growth of the Institution-Sulerintendents-Indians as Civil War Soldiers-Isabella County Indians Industrious. C(ILPTER V-ORGANIZATION OF ISABELLA COUNTY --- —---------------- 83 Act of the Territorial Council Setting Off Isabella County-Subsequent ActsFirst Election for County Officers-First Meeting of Board of Supervisors''heir Official Acts-Location of County Seat-Removal of County SeatCensus-First County Order. CHAPTER VI-EARLY REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS --- —----------- 8p Pioneer Hardships and Privations-Independence Day Celebrations-First Things —Mail Routes and 'ostoffices-Determined to Marry-First Land Entry in I'sieila Contilty-Didn't Relish His Bed-Seeking Justice Ami!i Difficulties -Squab Hunting-A Plucky Woman-The Year '61-Notes from an Old-Time liary-Another Bright Spot in the Oasis-Early Settlement of Isabella County -Increase in Population —Reminiscences by irving E. Arnold-Early Schools -Early Educational Facts. CHAPTER VII-EARLY TRANSPORTATION, TAVERNS, ROADS, ETC. ------ 107 Difficulties of Road Making-Heavy Timber-The First Road-Laying Out and Construction of First Highways-State Aid-Legislative EnactmentsMaking of Gravel Roads-Early Taverns and Hotels-Mills-First Mill Erected by John Reynolds-Government Mill-Saw-muills —Great Quantities of Timber Sawed-Lumber Mills Disappear-Grist Mills-Gorham Brothers CompanyElectric Light Plant —Mt. Pleasant Light and Fuel Company. CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII-COURITS, BENCH AND BAR --- - ------------------ 121 Early Territorial Laws-The Circuit-Judicial Districts and Their Boundaries -Changes-The County Seat-The Court Houses-The Bench-Brief Mention of the Circuit Judges-Members of the Bar-Personal Mention-The Local Bar Noted for the High Order of Its Legal Talent-Probate Judges-Early Cases in Circuit Court-First Jury Case-First Divorce-Interesting Cases in Circuit Court-The Hursh Case-The Shawboose Case-The Williams Case. CHAPTER IX-RAILROADS IN ISABELLA COUNTY --- —------------------ 139 Early Need of Railroads-Flint & Pere Marquette First to Enter County-A Boon to Lumbermen-The Ann Arbor Line-The Detroit, Lansing & Northern -Branch Roads-The County Now Well Supplied With Transportation Facilities. CHAPTER X-EDUCATION IN ISABELLA COINTY --- —---------- -------- 143 Paramount Importance of Education-First School IIouse-Other Early Houses and Pioneer Teachers-First Teachers' Institute-School Statistics-First Districts Laid Off-Text-books Used-Mt. Pleasant Schools-First BuildingsSchool Census-Change in School House Sit.e-Election-Erection of Building -Growth of Village and Increase in School Accommodations-Educational Provisions for the West Side-The Shepherd School —Mt. Pleasant High SchoolCourse of Study-Commercial Department-Manual Training and Domestic Science-Mechanical Drawing-Proposed Agricultural Department-Graduates of Mt. Pleasant High School-Some of the lEarly School Teachers-The Sacred Heart School-Courses of Study-Graduates. CHAPTER XI-CENTIRAL STATE NORMAL SCIIOOL ______ ----___ _ --- —---— _ 175 Necessity of Facilities for Fundamental Education-Formation of Mt. Pleasant Improvement Company-Suggestion of the State Normal School, as Told by S. W. Hopkins, the First Secretary-Many Difficulties Met and Overcome-Erection of Building-A Flourishing School-Appeal to the State-Legislative Efforts-Opposition-Final Passage of Bill-The Bill-First Courses of Study -Special Iurpose, the Preparation of Teachers-Liberal State Appropriations -Building Improvements-Schedule of Classes, 1910-The Summer SchoolFaculty-Extent and Efficiency of Work. CHAPTER XII-JOURNALISM ----------------------------------- ------ 191 Importance of Local Newspapers-The Northern Pioneer-Isabella Enterprise -Northwestern Tribune-Mt. Pleasant Times-Mt. Ileasant Democrat-Isabella County Courier-Central Michigan Times-The Observer-Isabella County Repubr!cnn-Isabella County Ilerald-Morgan's Watchtower —istrict School Journal-Evolution of the Newspaper Business. CHAPTER XIII-BANKS AND BANKING --- —-- ------ ------------------ 193 Rufus Smith the First Banke'-Hicks, Bennett & Company —Webber & Ruel -Isabella County State Bank-Duseib!iy, Nelson & Company-Exchange Savings Bank-Brown, Harris & Comlany —Commercilal Bank-People's Savings Bank-Shepherd Banks-Commercial State Bank-The Ryan Bank-Rosebush Banking Company-Weidnian Banking Company-Central State Savings Bank-Farmers and Merchants' Bank. CONTENTS. CHAPTERt XIV-THE MEDIICAL 1i'I,(FE1'SSI()N ----------------- 202 Plhysi clans in Important Faictor in Society-Wesley J. Corbus, the First Physichin hi Isabella County-O0ther Early Doictors-Men of Ability,aiid High Char. arter iief XIentloii of Isabhella Coiinty Physiciatis, Past and PresentPreseiit Rloiter-i)entlstrvy-Veteri~iiri.iriis. CHAPTER XV-CHUtICH IiiSTOiI --- —------------------------------------- 217 Chlurch History Coiniiildeiit With First Settleiieiit-1First Clni1-rch Built for the Indiaiis ~ethoidists Early in the Field-Erectioni and Dedication of First Chnreh-Hi'iloiy of H1. E., Society at Mt. 1'Ieasant-1"irst Sunday SchoolMiiiisteis of tliis Soiiety-Preshyterians —A -New Church Erected-Mi1niste-rs — The Baptist Chiurcli Episcopal Church-Free-will Baptists —Free Methodists -Church of hind-The Dlsciples-MIN. I,. Church at Salt River-Other 'Methodist Cliurches-Wesleyan Meliodilsts-tUniteih Bretlirein-Seveuth-Day AdventistsEvaiigelical Clinrcli-(eriiian Lutlieraiis —Ciircli of the Open Hible —Holiness Chuiirch-Eviingelical Lutheraii Triiiity Chiurch-Tlie toriierltes-Cathilic. Societies aiid Schiiol-s-Christian Sceiice Church-An Indian Prayer-Unitarlan Church. CiJ1APTEII XV1-C_.IViC AM) IlENEVOLENT SOCIETIES8 --- —----------------- 244 tree anil Accepted M1asoiis-Salt Rtiver l~odge No. 288 —Wahon Lodge No. 305 -Mt. P'leasaiit Chapter No. 1.11, R. A. M1.-Order of the Eiasterii Star-Cedar Viilley ILiiige No..3l8. F. & A. M.-'Masoiis at Weldmaii-Indepiendent Order of O(di Fellows-M1t. Pleasant Lodge No. 217-Coe Loidge No. 239, Salt RiverCedar Illidge l~odge No..540, at Wlnn-Odd Fellows at Blanchiiri-Daughters (it Itebekai-Kiiighils of the Maiceabees-t~idy Maccabees-Gleaners-Gold iteserve Associatiiii-teiievoleiit and Protective Order of Elks-Knights of 1Pytiilas-Miiilerii W'ooduneii of Aiaerlca-Niitional Protective Legion —Court of 11loior-Eiiiglits if Coliiiibus-Isabella County Humane Society. CHALPTEIR XVII-MANUF'ACTUREFS ---------------------------------------- 263 Viiliie of Orlgiiial Forests-Condition of Isabella County in 1854-First Saw Mtill-Water towerAniounit of Lumber Cut and Shippied from Isabella County -Timb~er Floated in Chiiipewa Rtiver-Value of Timuber-Much Tiniber Destroyil tby Forest fires. CHAPTERt XVIII-AGRICUIMTt~lAl, INTERESTIS --- —------------------------ 266 Au Iiiiportiint 8ulijeet-Waste of Soil and Its Effect on Posterity-Agriculture Au Up-11111 Business iii the Early Days-Tho First Clearling In Isabella Ciiunty -Erectionu of a PI'on. r Cauiii-Cleariiig, of the Laud-First Crops-lumibering -Forest Fires-Early tack of Truansportation Facilities-Advent of Railroads -Populationu Statistics-St-itistics (if Farnus and Farin Products-Values by Towsvhslips-t'riiclipal Crops-Live St-ock-Crops-iDairying luterests-Feiuces oii the Fauriuu-liuule Suguir mnd Syrup-Draininig-F.'ucts and Figuresi-Boys' Corn Clib Priae Whuiuers-Thue G'range-Farmers' Cluibs-Fuirmers' Schoolslsahuella County Agriculturaul Society-Constitution. and By-Laws. CHAPT'ER XIX COU.NTY 1001R FASIM ------------------------------------- 307 A Public Ne'essity-Early Provisioiis fur the Poor-Action of the Hoard of 8uplervisors-Purchas of a Farni-Expenses for 191.0-Temporary Relief by Township Supervi.ors-Preseut Superinteuidents. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XX-MILITARY RECORD --------------------------- 310 Isabella County's Proud Record-Largest Proportionate Enlistment-Privations Endured by Soldiers' Families-Bounties —A Remarkable Record-War Meetlngs-Isabella Enlistments-Woman's Relief Corps-Wa-ba-no Post, Grand Army of the Republic-Ralph Ely Post. fciAPTER XXI-NECROLOGICAL RECORD --- —--- ---- ------------ --------- 319 Early Settlers a Hugged and Hardy Class-First Deaths in the County-Brief Mention of Prominent Early Settlers Who Have Passed Away. CHAPTER XXII —TOWNSHIPS AND VILIAGES --------------------- 327 Coe Township-Isabella Township-Chippewa Township-Union TownshipFremnont Township-Vernon Township-Rolland Township-Broomfield Township-Coldwater Township-Sherman Township —Glmore Township-Wise Township-Deerfleld Township-Nottawa Township-Denver Township-The First Settlers-Cittes and Villages-Isabella City-Salt River-Vernon City -Longwood-Loomis-Shermnan Clty-Dushville-Blanchard-Winn-Delwin -Rosebush-Calkinsville-Ehn Grove Addition-Weidman-Beal City-Caldwell-Leaton. CHAPTER XXIII-CITY OF MT. PLEASANT --- —-------------------- 343 Purchase of Original Plat-The Morton House-Other Hotels-Beginnilng of Commercial Life-Fire of 1875-Plats and Additions-Mt. Pleasant Improvement Company-Early Business Houses-Growth of the City-Old Business Firms-Present Commercial Houses-City Official Roster-ImprovementsWater Supply-Bond Issues-Sidewalks-Public Parks-Municipal Indebtedness. HISTORICAL INDEX A Admission of Michigan --- —_ --- —-- Agricultural Society ------------- Agriculture ------------------- Ann Arbor Railroad --- —---------- Arnold, I. E., Reminiscences of --- — 57 295 266 140 101 B Banks and Banking --- —----— __ — 196 Baptist Church ---------------- 223 Bar, Members of the --- —-------— 126 Beal City ---------------------- 342 Bench and Bar --- —------- ------ 121 Bench, The --------------------- 125 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks --- -- -- Benevolent Societies ------ Big Salt River ----------- Birth, the First -------------- Blanchard — _ --- —------ Bond Issues -------- Boundary Line, Ohio --- —--—. Boys' Corn Club --- —-----—.Broomfield Township ------- Brown, Harris & Co. -------- Building a Cabin --- —-_ ---.Business Houses. Early --- — -- 258 — 244 27 0 --- -- 339 _ — 377 --- 52 --- 290 -- 330 - 198 -- 268 --- 348 Chippewa River ------------------- 25 Chippewa Township ----------- 328 Chippewas, Character of ------------ 79 Christian Science Church ----------- 239 Church History ----------------- 217 Church of God --- —----- --------- 226 Church of the Open Bible --- —------ 233 Circuit Court, First -------------- 121 Circuit Judges ----------------- 125 Cities and Villages --------------- 335 City Official Roster --- —--------- 373 City of Mt. Pleasant ------------- 343 Civic Societies ----------------- 244 Coe Township ------------------- 327 Coldwater River ----------------- 26 Coldwater Township -------------- 331 Commercial Bank ---------------- 199 Commercial State Bank ------------ 200 Condensed Milk Company --- —------ 277 Constitutional Convention ---------- 57 Colntentions as to Patents --- —---- 74 Convention, Constitutional --- —------ 57 Corbus, Wesley J. --------------- 202 County l)rains -------- ----- 281 County Officers, First --- —---------- 85 County Poor Farm --- —------------- 307 County Seat -------------------- 123 County Seat, Location of --- —------ 86 County Seat, Removal of ---------- 86 Course of Study, Normal School — - 184 Court Houses --- —-------------- 124 Court of Honor --- —-------------- 260 Crops -------------------------- 275 D r Cabin Building ---------------- 268 Caldwell ---------------------- 342 Calkinsville -------------------- 341 Capital, State ------------------ 58 Capitol, New State --- —----------- 58 Catholic Church -------------- - 235 Catholic School ------------------ 171 Celebrations --------------------- 89 Census of County, 1860 --- —-------- 87 Central Michigan Times --- —-------- 193 Central State Normal School ----. — 175 Central State Savings Bank --- —---- 200 Character of Chippewas ------------ 79 Ci(ppewa Indians, Treaty with --- —- 61 Dairying Interests --------------- Daughters of Rebekah ---- -------- Deerfield Township ---- -------- Delwin ------- Dentists ------------------- Denver Township ------------ Ietermined to Marry --- —- --- Diary, An Old-Time --- —------------ Didn't Reltsh His Bed ----------- 277 252 332 341 214 333 91 97 92 HISTORICAL INDEX. Disciples Church ------ District School Journal-_Districts, Judicial -— _Domestic Science --- —--- Draining -------------- Dusenbury, Nelson & Co. -- Dushville -------------- E - 226 - - 194 ---- 122 ---- 155 - 281 _ --- 197 ---- 339 Early Business Houses --- —--------- 348 Early Cases in Court --- —--------- 134 Early Celebrations ---------— 8 --- — 9) 'Early Educational Facts --- —------- 105 Early Hardships ----------------- 89 Early History -------------------- 45 Early Mail Routes ---- ------ ------- 90 Early Physicians ----— _ --- —------- 203 Early Reminiscences -------------- 89 Early Roads ------------------- 107 Early School Teachers ----------- 169 Eqrly Schools ------------------- 103 Early Settlement ------------------ 99 Early Settlers ------------------- 100 Early Taverns ------------------- 111 Early Transportation -------------- 107 Eastern Star ------------------ — 246 Education in Isabella County --- —--- 143 Educational Facts --- —----------- 105 Electric Light Plant -------------- 119 Elks ------------------------— _ —2 258 Elm Grove --------------------- 341 Episcopal Church -------— _ --- —-- 223 Evangelical Church -------------- 232 Evangelical Luth. Holiness Church_ — 233 Exchange Savings Bank ----------- 197 F Faculty of Normal School --- —------ 88 Fairs --- —-------------------- 302 Farm Statistics ---------------- 271 Farmers & Merchants' Bank ------ 201 Farmers' Clubs ------—. —. --- —-. 293 Farmers' Schools ----------------- 295 Fences ------------------------- 279 First Birth ----------------- 90 First Church -------------.2 --- —-17 First Circuit Court- -—. — — _______ 121 First Clearing ------------------- 267 First County Officers --- —---------- 85 First County Order ---------------- 8 First Court IIouse --------------- 124 First Divorce Case --------------- 135 First Jury Case --------------- -134 First Land Entry --- —------------ 91 First Legislature ------------------ 57 First Marriage ------------------- 90 First Mills ---------------------- 107 First National Bank, Mt. Pleasaintl-l 196 First 'Physician --------------- 202 First Postotfies ------------------ 90 First Road --------------------- 107 First School House --- —---—. --- —- 143 First Settlers ------------------- 334 First State C'onvention ------------- 57 First Teachers' Institute ---------- 145 First Things --------------------- 90 Flint & Pere Marquette tailrodad —.. 141 Free and AcCepted Masons-oI --- —— __ 244 Free Methodist Church ------------ 225 Free-will Baptist Church- ------- 225 lremont Township --------------- 32) Geographical Nam es ----- Geology, Isabella Counlty ---Gernman Lutheran Church --- Gilmore Township --- —__ — Gleaners ---------- ---- Gold e.serve Association. --- Gorham Brothers --- —_ --- —Governors, Territorial --- —.Graduates of High School_ — Grand Army of the Republicrange ----------------- Gravel Ronds ------------ Ground Moraine ----— ____ - 40 - 25 _- 233 -- 331 -- 255 — __ 257 -- 117 -- 56 -_ 161 -- 316 -- 292 -_ 109 -- 34 H Hicks, Bennett & Co. ------------ 196 High School at Mt. Pleasant --- —-- 153 High School Graduates --------- 161 Holiness Church --- —------------- 233 Hornerites ---------------------- 234 Humane Society --- —------------- 261 Hunting Squabs ---------------—. 93 Hursh Case -------------- - 135 I Improvements ------—. —_ --- —-_ 375 tIdebtedness, Municipal --- —------ 379 HISTORICAL INDEX. indlependieoce Dis Coloebraitorns --- 89 Indtependent Order of Odd IFollows- 240 Indiant Inidustrial School ------— 76 Indian hoond Cer'tiiic'tte --- —-------- 68 Indiain ~Nones --- —---------- 43 Indian Patentts ------------- 74 Indian Prayi --- —---------- 240 ldliant Sopors ltloots --- —----- 44 Indlian Treaties --- —--------— 61 Indlustrial School -----------— 76 Isabella Clty --- —--------— 335 Isaliella Counoty Agriculturatl Society 295 -Islelaiounty C1u 001101 ----- 19-1 Istibellti (County Uo.ology --- —— 2 Isabella Courtya Hotal --— t --- 14 Ittttlelltt Cotnrty Itumanrie Sticiety 'till6 Isaltheilt Cotritta Locttt n ttrt — tt -- ts lsaltelltt Corrntta OrgatititioImi ttt vi lsttlellt Coutyitt Iepolt ichlt ttr ----- 93 Isaltelli (outytrl- 'I't l ---i - ---- - ir1 Isabeltla Couttyt "toateBankit 9 Jsaibellti Ctuntily Topittrliraph --- —-2 Isatlelltt Enlilstr etiois -- - - -- - - - 314 l saltellht Entterpriso -------- 191 lsailellar, Origin ttf Nt i. 4ii Isahllat Toaanslhipt -- -------— )2 Jol-airritil bu --- —---------- 191.litigts ttf tlte C ircurit tCourt --------- 5 Jiny (ittat, tire FirstI ------ 3 K little Salt lila r-or ------ Live Sttick - - - - - - - - - - Itrlcalon of Coonty Setit ---Locatioir of Isabella Conrity --- Lorrg woa - -- -- --- -- -- -- Loorrris -- - - - - - - - - - - Lurrrberirrg - - - - - - - - - - Lrr erhor-ir Startistics ----- H Mitacca bees - - - - - - - - - - Mail Rtoutes -- - - - - - - - - Mlianrtal 'Irt-finitr g- - - - - - - - lil'trrrr t urt rers - - - - - - - - Malttte 'Sougar idSyrp ---olt - Marri-igo the Firest -------- SI-r1oariri 0Ortler - -- - - -- - - liedical Prottessitirt ------ lilborritrs of the llrr -- ---- - lithotdiiist LEtisitpai Chrirchlr — lilietia-ri -tiriri -sit --- --— of 31i I Is-ira --- --- — 'ttrt — M~ills E —rty -- - - - - - - - - Miodernr VINoodrrror of Atrer-ica — lilt ar illtOs - - - - - - - - - - - Miorgan' s W3 -tebtowor ----- Mit. 'lrors'rt L)morrtcrat --- — Mt Pleasarrt Hirghr School --- MlIo t. 5 n81t hritmptrorrrorrt Cti — 'ill P'lea-istrit ILigt & Riot Co..Mit. l1(It-tx t ittt I h rrtrs Mi. PIIsant St itotlso --- — Allt Pleasirnt Tirres ------ Munlticiital Inriebtednretss --- — N'utrtts, Origitt if- - - -- - - - Nlottiorul Prottoctive Legion --- Noirologictal Record ------ N~orrrrti Scirool (litrrse of StrrdyNotrmrra Scholrti, F~acutt-r-t — Normrral school Legislartiorr --- Nirrrrrtri Schrtol, State ---- --- Northernrr Pirireer ------.Nttr'tlraeslorrr Trihrrrro --- —Nottttto-t Townshripr ------- 27 27T4 86) 28 337 337 2113 264 253 90 155 2(63 90 244 202 126 217 57 310 113 1ii7 260 29 29 194 343 192 1 53 -17.5, 347.119 -- -147 -- -145 -- -192 -- -379 Kirgt~grs cit Colurmrbuis --- — Knirgcts ttt tytiritr ------ Kniigira ts of i the l-ice-rlteos It irlate' S'agirirro- -- - - - - - Lirrnt tertificatte, Irndiatrti Landrt Enttry, F'irst --- —----- Lrrnd hr anIlts4 --- —-- Ltrawyors, ],lust triri Preseirt treirtor -------------- he-gioliturrr, First ----- ---— 2530 --- - 45 * ----342 * 40 260 319 184 188 -182 175 191 192 332 HISTORICAL INDEX. 0 Observer ------------------------- 193 Odd Fellows ---------------------- 250 Officers, First County --- —-------- 85 Official Roster, City --- —--------- 373 Ohio Boundary Line --- —--------- 52 Old-Time Diary --- —--------- 97 Order of the Eastern Star --- —---- 246 Ordinance of 1787 --- —----- ---- 45 Organization of Isabella County --- — 83 P Parks, Mt. Pleasant --- —--—. Patents to Indians --- —----—. People's Savings Hank --- —--—. Physicians, Early ---------- Physicians, Present --- —------- Pine River ----------------- Plucky Woman ------------- Poor Farm --- —------------- Postoffces ---------- Prayer, An Indian --- —-—. Iresbyterian Church --- —----—. Present Court House ---------- Present School Districts ----. Principal Crops ------------- Irobate Judges --- —------- Public Parks ----------- __ 378 -- 74 -- 199 -- 203 206 -- 27 - 94 -- 307 - 90 __ 240 __ 219 __ 124 -_ 145 __ 274 -- 133 - 378 School Districts, Iresent --- —------ 145 School House, the First --- —----- 143 School Teachers, Early --- —------ 169 Schools, Early ------------------- 103 Schools in Mt. Pleasant --- — ------- 145 Settlement, Early --- —--------- 99 Settlers, Early --- —------------ 100 Settlers, First --- —------------- 334 Seventh-Day Adventist Church ---- 232 Shawboose Case ----------------- 135 Shepherd School ----------------- 152 Sherman City ---------------- - 338 Sherman Township -------------- 331 Sidewalks ---------------------- 378 Soldiers' Bounty ------------------- 311 Soldiers from Isabella County ---- 310 Streams and Branches ------------- 25 Squab Hunting --- —-------------- 93 State Capital ----------------- 58 State Convention, First --- —-------- 57 State Normal School --- —---- ----- 175 State Roads -------------------- 109 Statistics, Agricultural ----------- 271 Sugarmaking, Early --- —-------- - 98 Superstitions, Indian__ --- —------ 44 Surface Geology --- —------------ 27 Survey of Isabella County --- —----- 28 T Taverns ------------------------ 111 Teachers, Early School --------- 169 Teachers' Institute, First --- —---- 145 Terminal Moralnes --- —---------- 30 Territorial Governors --- —---------- 56 The Bench — ------------------- 125 The Wash --- —-------- --------- 36 Timber, Value of --- —----------- 265 Topography, Isabella County --- —- - 25 Township Farm Statistics --- —--- 272 Townships --------------------- 327 Transportation, Early --- —------- 107 Treaties, Indian --- —-----------—.- 61. Treaty of 1864 --- —---------------- 69 Treaty of Saginaw --- —----------- 122 Treaty with Chippewas --- —----- 61 U Union Township --- —------------ 328 Unitarian Church --- —------------- 242 United Brethren Church ---------- 232 R Railroads in Isabella County --- —-- 141 Religious History- ------- - - 217 Remarkable Record --- —-------- 313 Reminiscences ------------------ 89 Reminiscences by I. E. Arnold --- —- 101 Removal of County Seat --- —------- 86 Roads, Early ------------------- 107 Rolland Township --------------- 330 Rosebush ----------------------- 341 Rosebush Banking Co. ----------- 200 Roster of Physicians --- —-------- 214 Royal Arch Masons --- —--------- 245 S Sacred Heart School --- —----------- 171 Saglnaw, Treaty of --- —--------- 122 Salt River --- —---------------—. 33 Saw Mills --------------- 263 School, Central State Normal ----- 175 HISTORICAL INDEX. V Webber & Ruelt --- —------— 1%96 Weidnian --- —----------- 341. Vernon City --------------- 37 Wlna Banking Co. --- —--- 0 Vernon Township ------------- 30 Wesleyan 'Methodist Church --- —-2.32 veernrin — - 21 hitney-Taylor Conmpany ------— 117 Village"s --- —-------------- Willianms Case -----------— 1315 W Wiinn --- —-------------— 340) W~alker Creek -------------— 26 Wise Township ------------— 332 War 'Meetings ------------- 313 Woman's Relief Corps --- —---- 314 Water Supply ------------— 375 Woodmen ---------------— 2600 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX A Albbott, Harrison --- Allen, ICci -V ---Allen, Ed(gar AV — -- Alleni IGeorge It. ---- Alien Phiipii I — ---- Allyni 1i Ingen c 1-. --- Ailslpighi D Invid ---A tk i I IsG,1.enrge ---11 Bnchcl, Anion 8.- ---- l14deltner. Johni ---- Boine, FI~yiiicis ----- Briophly, Wilbert WV. _ B-rowrn. Erasion ---- Brown, Norris. J1- --- lBrowni, Willis l". Biicklhmrojigii, j1 lij -- Tilliokiy. la nici ---Caimeroni lE'ncol T. Cilipblcl, Cluirlcs WV. in iii in,111 W illiam ---- Oistci AMelvin H - ---- Caistel, W illiani ---- - Cha pmni i Robcrt H. Ihaiolicioinn.1. E.- ---- (71ore, Jotseph ------ (:iark, Alien E. ----- Clark, George T.- ----- (lark, Robert --- —(C11ff, Janacs A.- ---- I'o~dilngton, (Ihariea.._ (ole. George W. --- — - 0131 * (300 * 4816 * 48(3 * 5114 5)(394 585 5.14 704 7041 702 (335 39(3 443 428 575 598 462 4(30 415 725 (337 559 (339 519 502 480 C ole. Lcwiis ) - ---- (rmtser 8 nr1I-innel ---- Damnon, Jiiln A.- --- D ersiivli Beriiird Et. Dibleen WllirinicL. __ Dodisli FrIi ins II --- Doddils Petier 1' --- —Doflltt, (icirge A ---- I i~oki,, Eduward --- — Duiggaiii Ilii-hiel ---- linsentelinry Frank II. - 1)nseniburi v (cn ge A. Eidmonids Iiihii I -- --- Ei-31s. Franklin WV. Esltee. (Clanude 11.- ---- Estee. Perry H.. Jr. EFslee ['erry 11. Sr. I-sichmiige, Savings Bank. F Fa'iiclicr. fmaci A. ---['aner. Freil1 II --- — TalCe, Josilili IV --- Ferris. Eli I. --- —-- Ferris. (7ciirge A. --- — Fielid. (lark C --- —-- Frzye, Siil F.- - -- - - - (a (lirh~ani Arwin E -—.(lorhani. (lCelser R ---- 49(3 (3698 * 555 * 477 *:1 98 * 72.3 * 439 ~ I45(36.447 I553 * 4113 4634 (3684 (375 (343 - 5(32 (377 401. 408 1;46 5(07 (383 715 (311 589 592 528 701( 714 417 417 (324 (310 381 400 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. Glorham, Ezra S. --------- 432 Gould, Charles H. --- —------------- 711L Gover, George H. --- —------------- 565 Graham, Josepth A. --- —----------- 596 G1raham, Thomas --- —------------- 579 Graham, William H.- ------------- 579 Graham, William J.- -------------- 669 Granger, George I1 —. --- —---------- 422 Grawn, Charles T.- --------------- 392 Gruss, Peter --------------------- 586 Guy, Charles W. --- —------------- 691, H L ILapearl, Louis --- —Laubenthal, Nicholas-_ Leighton, Charles H1. Leonaird, Solonmon 0. Leonard, 11ev. Williamn --- Little., Alfred ---- - - Me( Maclloniald, 1Rev. A. I1. MacKersie, Ja4mes ---McAllister, Rev. John J..M~cC'ullunt, WVillard ---McGregor, Thomas A. - MtcLachlan, Ilan --- — McMillen, Winfield S. Mc'Nanmara, Francis --- McNamara, Michael --- McNerney. John --- — IM -- 547 -- 482 -- 654 -_ 49-4 __ 494 -- 591) -- 500 -- 473 -- 692 -- 710 _- 539 -- 608 -- 505 __ 441) -- 449 -- 650 Hammond, Sylvester C. Hance, John W ---- --- Harris, Edward 0. Harris, Henry G1.Harris, John A. --- —Harris, Ralph (1,.Hokemeyer, Christian L. HopkIns, Samutel — --- Hopkins, Samuel W. __ Houghton, 311. Earl --- — House, Alfred G.House, George ----- House,, Henry S. G. 1-ouse, John ( --. --- House, Joseph W ---- Hulflnger, Williaum 0. - Hummell, William --- Hyslop, Robert ----- J Jackman, John --- — Johnson, Gilbert ----- Johnson, Oren W ----- Johnston, Hugh D. ---Johnston, John Y, ---K Kane, Michael E. --- --- -- - -487 --- -- - -560 --- -- - -394 --- -- - -426 --- -- - -72s -----— 463 --- -- - -700 ----- -38.3 ------ 383 - --- - - u- -- - I 1 Marthey, Pelter J. ------— 5469 Matthews. Rloy D. Maxwell, William J. * --- —----— 5284 Mead. LyvmanF____ -----— 49 Menierey, Mtartin -- * --- —------- l111r, Albert ----- 656 --- 31111cllr. Anthony W.711 M31111r, Htarry 0l. — -----— 600 M1111cr, Lasvrence B.Mill1s, Thomas ---Miser, (leorge --------— 577 Mliser, Joseph ---- -----— 535 Meody, Ansel L..__ -----— 536 Moody, Clireoice E. - -----— 516 Moody, William H. - -----— 657 Moor, Ilavid K ---Murphy, Emmet A.Murtha, S. P. --- — -----— 470 Myers, Irving --- -------- 721 ------— 40)3 -------— (139 ------— 726 ------— 454 ------— 678 ------— 68I2 -------- 406 -------- 626 -------- 498 ------ 633-W 1~ * --- —----— 633I -------- 694 -------- 527 * --- —------- 588 ------------- 567 --- - - - -491 --- - - - -712 --- - - - -697 Kane, Patrick ------------------- 470 Keller, J. W. ---------------- 55,7 Keller, Michael --- —--------------- 557 Kellogg. Chester A.- --------------- 440 Kennedy, James H. RH. ----------— 6(21 Kennedy, Hubert L.- -------------- 708 Kinney, Arnold ------------------- 433 Kinney, John --- —---------------- 433 N Neelands, Robert ------------------ 5)3 Neff, Jacob --- —------------------ 424 0 O'Connor, Rev. Thomas... --- —— 405 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. P PIayne, 1,oren C. - Perkins, Wilson Ct. --- lierpont, Wilbur N. -- 'itts, George A. ---- I'reston, Albert A. — Preston, Wilber E. -- P'llen, Charles 1). -- R Itlou, Stephen M. ----- Roberts, H. L. ------- Robinson, Thomas W. -- Itowlader, Alfred C. -. Russell, Charles T. --- RuIssell, Fred -----—. S Sanford, Herbert A. ---. Seymour, Levi —. - - Shaw, B. Corning ----- Shepherd, Isa.ac N.. —. Sltter, Charles ----—. Smith, James.. ----- Smith, Oscar ___ ----_Stevens, Benjaiin B. -. Stickle, (eorge K. —.. Struble, Albert (. --—. Struble, Henry ----—. Struble. Jason H. —. Strlule, Joseph A. _. Struble, Kenneth E. —. T Taylor, Frank M ------ Tevens, Joseph. --- ——. __- --- 695 — _ ---- 581 ------- 563 ----- 717 ----- 406. --- —- 466 ------- 414 Tice, William M -—. Tilmann, Anthony --- V Van Leaven, Elton J. — W --- 430 --- 576 649 526 52'2 571 45.8 68S 441. - 451 _ 613 (_ 44 - 628 - 50) - 701 - 585 _- 623 - 671 - 603 - 549 _ 549 - 475 -_ 652 Walling, William II. Wallington, Fred (,. Walton, Harry E. - Walton, John _-_ —. Walton, John H. -. Walton, Perry ---Wardrop, Rolert C. - Warwick, Alfred B.. Watson, Ilugh ---Watson, James ----- Watson, James —_-_-. Watson, John --- — Weidman, John S. - Weller, George E. - Wellllan, Reuben..-. West. John B. --- West, William --- — Wetzel, Iarry M. - Whitehead. Frank B. Whitehead. William Whitney, Nathaniel-. Wild, Henry -------- Willie, Eudelmer E.. Wing, Warren --- —Wood, James E. Wood. Thomas --- -6 --- —- - 629 -------------- 445 ------------- 659 -------------- 673 ----- -------- 659 -._ --- — 660 ---- --------- 437 ------ ------- 493 ------------- 615 ------------- 453 --------------- 523 -------------- 517 -------------- 631 -------------- 647 --------------- 641 ------------ 595 ------------- 511 ---- --------- 544.-. --- —------- 410 -------------- 410 --------------- 668 --- --- 661 ------- ------ 412 --------------- 513 ---- --------- 606 ---- --------- 541 722 Z Zugelder, lRev. Alexander F. ----- 553 I A i HISTORICAL. CHAPTER I. TOPOGRAPIIY AND GEOLOGY OF ISABELLA COVNT'Y. The general topography of Isabella county wouldtl be \\what is called level, with a general trend down\ward from the west to the east. This is indicated 1)b the course of the rivers and smaller streams flowing through the county. The Chiplewa river, which is the principal one in the county, enters the west line thereof about six miles south of the northwest corner. The upper part of the river and before it enters this county is made up of two branches, the south branch and the north branch. The south branch has its head in the Chippewa lake, in Mecosta county, in township I6 north, range 8 west, and from thence runs in an easterly direction until it intersects the north branch, which has its head in the lakes and swamlps near Chippewa Station in townshl-i 17 north, range 7 west, and runs thence in a south direction till it joins with the south branch and is then the Chippewa. Entering the county at Sherman City, it runs south and some east through Sherman tovwnship. leaving the township on section 34; coming back across the line in section 35, it runs northerly about a mile andl then takes a south and easterly course, leaving the township at the southeast corner..\lout two miles south of Sherman Citv it is fed by a group of four )or five small lakes, from the west, and is also fed at Btndy, which is on section 3 in Broomfield township, by Indian creek, which also comes in from the wvest. As you colme down the river and on the west of it, there is some considerable rolling land as you leave the river valley and go west. There is also somie rolling land as you go east from the said valley, none of it, however, so steep or so rough that it can not be utilized as famiing lands. As you enter the township of Deerfield there is something of a rise on hoth sides of the river, but not very abrupt, nor very high. The river runs south and some easterly to where it crosses the section line between sections 26 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 32 and 33, about sixty rods south of the north line, and there it turns to the east and a little north and goes out of the township on the north half of section 25, where it enters the township of Union and runs in a northeasterly direction through this township and passing through the city of Mt. Pleasant, thence north and east, leaving the township of Union and entering the township of Chippewa on the southwest corner of section 6 and thence in a general easterly course through this township to the east side of the county, leaving the county on section I2 of Chippewa. The eastern part of the county along the said river and reaching back from the river for a long ways is generally level, with a surface just rolling enough to make it drainable without too much outlay of money and labor. Where it makes its most southerly detour in Deerfield there is some quite rolling land, as if the waters had been retarded there and afterward had broken through and passed on to the east. In the northwest portion of the township of Coldwater there is a small creek running west to the north branch of the Chippewa, indicating somewhat of a dividing ridge and creating a water shed to the west. Then again about the middle of the said township several small streams join together and form what is known as Walker creek, which flows in a southeasterly course, emptying into the Coldwater river just above Weidman. Where these creeks form and come together it is some rolling, but nothing serious, and it also shows a general trend to the southeast. The Coldwater river has its source in Littlefield lake in sections 17, i8 and 20 of the township of Gilmore and runs thence a southerly course to Weidman and then on to the Coldwater lake, through that lake on south till it empties into the main Chippewa on section 7 in Deerfield. The territory drained by the Coldwater is comparatively a level country. The course of the river being so nearly straight, it would seem as if it had taken the shortest route possible. As you move on to the east three or four miles you encounter the North branch of the Chippewa in Isabella county. This stream comes into the county on the north side and on section 5 in Gilmore takes a southeast course to the southeast corner of section 24, where it receives the waters of Stevenson's lake and then makes a straight break south for the Chippewa, going almost due south for something over twelve miles. then turns a little to the east and enters the Chippewa in section 19 in Union. All of the territory drained by the branch and its lesser branches is comparatively level and is first class farming land. It only has a gentle slope to the south. The only elevations found are on the south side of Stevenson's lake, where you can find a few small hills, but nothing to make it objectionable. Just north of Stevenson's lake there seems to be somewhat of a dividing line ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 27 and a small part of the township drains north to the Tobacco river. The east part of Vernon, Isabella, and all of Wise and Denver, drain to the east; the waters are carried off by the little creeks and rivers, viz: The Little Salt, which arises at or near Loomis and takes a southerly and easterly course to where it crosses the railroad at Delwin, when it veers off to the east. This river is fed by several small creeks, one of which starts in section 7 in Wise and, running a little south of east, empties into the branch. Another, the Kinney, starting in section 11, Vernon, and running east and south, empties into the Salt; also another commencing about at section 27 in Vernon. known as the Killenbeck, running almost east to the Salt. Another starting near the north line of Isabella township, known as Spring creek, running east to the South branch of the Salt; also the South branch of the Salt, commencing about a mile north of Whiteville and running east to the Salt; and also one called the Jordan, commencing near ~Whiteville and running east to the Salt; and also another known as the Kneff, commencing on section 5, township 14 north. range 4 west, and running in a northeasterly direction to the Salt, all of these streams running into the Salt. All of the country drained by these creeks. embracing nearly one quarter of the county, is a level country with very little rolling or hilly land. It is substantially the same kind of a surfaced country drained by the Big Salt which rises in the west part of Lincoln township and runs east and north through Shepherd and on to the Chippewa. The country is some more rolling than that north of the Chippewa river, but not to make it objectionable. The only other river of note draining a portion of the county is the Pine. This river enters the west line of the county in section 6. township of Rolland, and, running nearly due east about four miles, is there intersected by the Poney, which traverses the south half of Broomfield. crossing the south line thereof and then runs into the Pine. The Pine then continues in a southeasterly direction to the southeast corner of Rolland. It is fed on its way from the west side by a creek running through Blanchard and by another, known as Skunk creek, which is near the south side of the county. There is also a swamp lying south of Winn fed by springs; these finally form a creek known as the North branch of Pine river. This extends south to the main Pine. This part of the county is quite level, except on the west side of Rolland, which has some considerable hills. None of these hills are of such a nature as to make them worthless for farming purposes and there is scarcely an acre of land that can not be utilized for some profitable purpose. 28 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. SURFACE GEOLOGY OF ISABELLA COUNTY. By Fabian Houton Dodds. Isabella county, Michigan, is a tract of land situated approximately between eighty-four degrees and thirty-seven minutes and eighty-five degrees and four minutes west longitude and forty-three degrees and twenty-seven minutes and forty-three degrees and forty-eight minutes north latitude. It contains five hundred and seventy-six square miles, being twenty-four miles s(quare. It is divided into sixteen townships, each six miles square. Its population is twenty-two thousand seven hundred and eighty-four. It may he reached by the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette railroads. It is a prosperous farming county, and contains a diversity of soils, from boulder clay to coarse sand. The water supply is adequate, the average rainfall being thirty-three to thirty-five inches. The region is drained by the Chippewa river and its branches. The ground water level varies from a few feet in the eastern part to one hundred and sixty feet below the surface in the western part. The region formerly contained some of the best cork pine in the state, and still contains some excellent hard wood timber. There are extensive deposits of marl around several of the lakes, notably Littlefield's. The writer wishes to acknowledge the aid of Prof. R. 1). Calkins, of the Central State Normal School, and of Mr. Clarence Tripl), in the collection of field data and for many helpful suggestions. Mr. Leverett's nlap of the region has also been of great aid as a check, and great care was taken in the survey of that particular locality, where an interpretation differing frorm his is suggested. Work was commenced August 6, I9o6, and the field work swas completed September I, 1906. The ground was covered for the moast part on bicycles, though teams were used when necessary. Of course these means of conveyance were supplemented by excursions on foot where there vwere no roads and when it was found to be necessary to cross sections in order to get a sufficiently accurate view. The amount of ground necessary to be traveled depended, of course, upon the topography and upon the absence or presence of standing timber. Therefore where the relief was low and the land clear it was not always necessary to cover the ground so minutely. It seemedl necessary also in many cases to approach a point front two sides in order to interpret the data correctly, so that in all over nine hundred niles were covered. A compass, a clinometer, a soil auger, and an aneroid barometer reading to three thousand feet were found necessary. The accuracy of the barometer ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 29 was preserved by frequent complarisons with the barograph in the Central State Normal School. Althou1g there is ne topographical map of the region. a field map was made and data located by means of sections. It has seemed advisable to locate the special parts here treated of 1b means of townships and sections, though reference has bleen made in a few cases to well known points. TIlE REGlION IN GFNERAL. Isabella county. situated as it is in the center of the Great Lakes district, presents in detail a smlall part of the problem of this interesting region. Its surface shows very plainly the work of the ice. and in the eastern part tle shore and bed of the glacial Lake Saginaw stand out distinctly. It seems plain that those problems which involve the direction of ice motion and the relation of the terrace and beach levels cainnot he ldefiitely worked outt without a detailed knowledge of the whole surrounding region. so that this report has been made largely descriptive. along with sluch theory as coul)l be \wor-ked out bv a sttudy of the countv itself. It has heen ilmpossible always to distinguish between "glacial wash." "out wash" and "river wash," as the three are often blended. The relief as well as the height above sea level increases toward thle \west, the eastern part bleing albout seven hundred and sixty feet above sea level, while the western Imoraines reach nine hundred feet above. Bundv's hill. il section 8 of Broomfield, rising to ablout one thousand three hundred and fifty feet alove sea level, or four hundred feet above the surrounding cotuntry. There are manly morainal lakes in the coutity, Coldwlater lake. ill section 30, Nottawa, the largest, being about two miles long and one mile in width. These are usually surroundedl b wash. and drain into the Chippewa system. The region has Ilany artesian wells, al-was on the east side of a morainal ridge, which would indicate a general eastern dlip of the gravel ibeds. It is an interesting economic fact tliat the change of soil is nearly always shown hIv tle condition and size of the farm buildings. (On a rich clay soil may be seen a large stone residence, with two large barns, while less tlan half a mile away is a log shack with a tumnlle-do\wn stalle, the latter farm being situated on sanldy wash. Moreover. a glance at the map wiill show' that roads are lacking wlhere the soil is sandy and unproductive. TIE MORAINES. The moraines have been distinguished as terminal and ground, though in many cases the line between theln has been draswn- only after much delibera 3o ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. tion and in a few instances may be said to be a matter of personal opinion. The word "terminal" is used for all moraines where the ice paused long enough to leave a ridge or a thick hummocky moraine. The eastern moraines are more truly recessional than terminal. The general trend of the terminal moraines is nearly north and south. There are five of them and, although they are broken by wash plains, they can be traced the whole length of the county, with the exception of the ridge at the extreme east. Accompanying these terminal ridges, and usually parallel to them, there are irregular patches of ground moraine. In a few places these are totally surrounded by terminal, and some are seemingly in front of the terminal. This of course raises the question of ice motion. THE TERMINAL MORAINES. The moraine farthest toward the east consists of a ridge beginning in a hummocky patch in sections 20 and 29, Chippewa, and extending southward through sections 28 and 33, Chippewa, and sections 4, 9, 15, i6, 22, 27 and 35, Coe. It averages about one-fourth mile in width, though it widens to a mile or more in several places. It is about twenty feet higher than the surrounding country. It is composed largely of boulder clay, though there is a layer of gravel through it. This layer of gravel would seem to be of great importance, since east of this ridge and along nearly its whole length there are artesian wells, some filling a two-inch pipe. This ridge is a true recessional moraine and shows one of the various pauses during which the ice thickened the ground moraine and left a ridge. North of the end of this ridge, in sections 17 and I8, Chippewa, there is a ridge about a mile in length and one-fourth mile wide. It stands alone amid the wash plain, and though it is of comparative low relief yet it shows the moraine characteristic. Directly west of the village of Shepherd, in sections 7 and 8, Coe, and section 12, Lincoln, there are three almost parallel ridges which, though lower than the main ridge, show very plainly their recessional character. The next moraine is much larger. On the north it enters the county in sections I and 2, Vernon, and extends south through sections 4, 14, 22, 27 and 33, Vernon, 4, 8, I8, 19, 30 and 3I, Isabella, 6, 7, 8, 20, 28 and 34, Union, and 2, Io, 14, 24 and 25, Lincoln. At its northern edge it is fully two miles wide and widens slightly until it reaches Isabella, where it narrows rapidly until at the point where the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 3I Chippewa river valley cuts across it it is scarcely a half mile in width. South of the Chippewa valley it continues as a narrow,, irregular ridge, sometimes so low as to be confounded with the surrounding ground moraine. It widens somewhat at its southern end. At its northern extremity it is somewhat hummocky, but does not lose its ridge character. West of section io, Isabella, the moraine consists of a series of parallel ridges gradually growing higher toward the west. It is here very difficult to draw the line between ground and terminal since the terminal differs from the ground in degree only. As it enters Union it again assumes its ridge form and is easily distinguished from the somewhat lower ground moraine surrounding it. It is composed mostly of boulder clay, though it contains some sand and gravel. The next moraine toward the west is separated from the second one by a belt of wash and ground moraine. At the north it enters the county in section I, Gilmore, and extends south to Stevenson's lake, where it is cut through by a wash belt. This part of the moraine is distinctly hummocky in form and has an irregular series of kettle holes. There are no definite ridges. It is here four miles wide and fifty feet high. In section 6, Vernon, was found a formation of pleistocene sandstone into which were cemented several large striated boulders. The formation is apparently purely local. South of the wash belt the moraine continues through sections 26, 27 and 33, Gilmore; 4, 9, i6, 20, 27 and 32, Nottawa, and 5, 9, I6, 21 and 28, Deerfield. It is cut through by the wash belt in the Chippewa valley. This part of the moraine gradually assumes the ridge-like character, though it is irregular both in width and height. It widens considerably near the wash belt. South of the Chippewa valley it widens still more, and in section 2, Fremont, it divides, one tongue reaching the southern boundary of the county through sections 6, 7, 18 and 19, Lincoln, and 25 and 36. Fremont. The other tongue ends in a wash belt in section 22, Fremont. A belt of ground moraine separates the two. About a mile east of Littlefield lake, in Gilmore, there appears a bit of terminal ridge extending from section 6 southward to section 32. It is entirely surrounded by wash and bordered on its eastern side by swamp. In shape it is an irregular ridge (or succession of ridges) and rises to a considerable height at its southern end. The only southern moraine which would seem to correlate with this isolated piece is in section 26, Sherman, five miles south. This, though cut by the valley of Indian creek, continues south to the edge of the county. In section 26, however, the moraine is composed mostly 32 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of clay and is very hummocky. It continues southeast and in section 33, Deerfield, is separated from the third moraine treated of by the Chippewa valley. In the northwest corner of section 32, Deerfield, a small tributary of the Chippewa in draining a small lake has cut a deep V-shaped valley in the moraine, giving it the appearance of high relief. From this point it extends southward to section 7, Fremont, where it divides, one part ending in section 31, Fremont, the other cutting the southern boundary of the county in section 32 of that township. The material between those two parts has the character of ground moraine, though wash predominates in the valley between. The moraine varies in width and height, its width being from one-half to two miles. It is impossible to say with certainty whether this rather irregular moraine belongs to the moraine toward the east or not, though at one place at least it nearly connects with it, there being only a narrow wash belt between. The moraine, or group of moraines, farthest west presents the most interesting data. One patch occupies nearly the whole township of Coldwater and extends eastward into sections 9 and 19, Gilmore, and south into sections 7 and Io, Sherman. Howv far it extends north into Clare county and west into Mecosta county could only roughly be estimated. That part of the moraine in this county is very high, being two hundred feet higher than the wash in the valleys to the east. It is very hummocky in places and in sections 2D and 29, Coldwater, it assumes the form of ridges. In its southern portion in northern Sherman it has much the appearance of high ground moraine, vet near its edge it becomes higher and then drops off into a high wash terrace. Nearly all the northern and northeastern portions are sandy and the soil poor, but near Brinton the soil is clay. From the character and size of this moraine it would seem to be more truly terminal than those farther east. The Chippewa valley cuts through sections 6, 7 and 17, Sherman, and south of this the moraine narrows, scarcely reaching the center of section 28. It again narrows, passing through the center of section 31 and gradually rising toward the south, till in sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, Broomfield, it reaches its highest point, over thirteen hundred feet, in Bundy's hill. This is an irregular shaped hill, rising four hundred feet above the wash and having thin crests. These crests shape gently to the vwest and finally die out as ground moraine in Mecosta county. The eastern slopes are steeped, sometimes twenty and thirty degrees, and have a series of "foothills" or knobs, which do not seem to be entirely the work of erosion, for there are some undrained depressions. *-l:v.,;, - 1~a;>S1~::'ia D: ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 33 At nearly the highest point there is a boulder of granite which measures forty feet in circumference and probably weighs twenty tons; there are several more, slightly smaller, near it, and others of the same type appear farther south. None of these are found in the moraine farther east. The hill proper is composed mostly of sand, though there is clay near its borders. It slopes rapidly down until, in section I6, the moraine appears as a low, narrow ridge, scarcely one-half mile wide. It slightly widens and dies out in section 26. Between this and the next eastern moraine there appear three small, yet marked, ridges less than a mile in length; these are separated from the eastern moraine by wash, from the western ground moraine. In sections 2 and II, Sherman, there are two small oval hills. They are probably remnants of the large moraine, which have been isolated by erosion. South of the JBundy moraine, and separated from it at its eastern end by the Pine river valley, lies a high moraine whose long axis is roughly east and west. It occupies sections 31, 32. 33, 34 and 35, Broomfield, and is about one and one-half miles wide. It slopes down on the south to the Pine river valley. It is composed of a series of ridges, though at its eastern end and near its base it is quite hummocky. In composition it is clay, though somewhat mixed with sand. Its soil is generally good. It shows many of the characteristics of the Bundy and Coldwater moraines. South of the Pine river (which is tributary to the Chippewa) another high moraine occupies sections 7, 8, 9 and i5, Rolland. It is composed of one central ridge, though at its eastern end and along its base it becomes hummocky. It slopes rather abruptly down into the valley of a tributary of the Pine, and on the south side of the valley there appear patches of a lower moraine having a very hummocky appearance. At the western end of these moraines in Mecosta county the valley between them disappears and they join and form one. Thus it would appear as though the Pine and its tributary had headed up into a moraine and dissected it, forming tongues. There is comparatively little wash in those valleys and they present rather young characteristics. South of Skunk creek, in sections 34 and 35, Rolland, there is a wide ridge of moraine, sandy on its northern edge, but good clay near the edge of the county. It runs southward for a considerable distance into Montcalm county. In section 29 there is a small oval hill which seemed marked enough to designate as terminal. (3) 34 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE GROUND MORAINE. The ground moraine usually occurs behind the terminal and next to it. In several cases, however, it has been necessary to designate areas which do not occupy this regular position as ground moraine. Again it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between terminal moraine and ground moraine on the one hand, and ground moraine and wash on the other, as sometimes the wash is but ground moraine rehandled slightly by running water. There is a narrow belt of ground moraine east of the first terminal in Coe. Its surface is rather rolling and it is composed largely of boulder clay. It is bounded on the east by a very marked beach ridge. Southeast of Mt. Pleasant there is a belt of ground moraine about four and one-half miles wide situated between the two narrow terminal ridges. It is cut through near its southern edge by the narrow wash belt of the Salt River valley. It has a rolling topography and has several small swamps. It contains the three small morainal ridges already spoken of. The same belt apparently continues north of the Chippewa valley. It takes a northeasterly course and leaves the county at the north through sections 4, 5 and 6, Wise. It has a rolling topography and is composed of boulder clay. South of Mt. Pleasant, and west of the second terminal, there is a belt of ground moraine about three miles wide. Towards its southern edge it is separated from the second and third terminals by wash. North of the Chippewa valley this belt continues, though dissected by the North Branch valley. In fact, it is entirely cut away from the second terminal north of section T. Deerfield. It joins for a short distance north of Stevenson's lake, and leaves the oounty as a narrow belt about a mile wide. It is very irregular and apparently made more so by the wash belt cutting it lengthwise. In sections II, I2 and I, Deerfield, there is a peculiar ridge about a mile and a half long and thirty feet high. Its form is eskar-like, yet at its eastern end, in section I, it is composed of boulder clay for about a quarter of a mile. Then it assumes a true ridge-like character, though with several irregular offshoots toward the north and west. From here westward it is composed of sand and gravel, in many cases beautifully stratified as shown by sections in gravel pits. One of these especially showed a distinct dome-like character and the stones were rounded by water action. Although this ridge could not be called a true eskar, yet it showed the characteristic of a serpentine kame. North of Stevenson's lake the ground moraine is quite level, though it is clay, even at the surface. In this moraine there are several flowing wells, one just north of the lake and several as far south as the Chippewa valley. ';:i:'.? f. 7: ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 35 The patch of ground moraine il eastern Fremont is a low belt of rolling country flashed on either side by the tongues of the terminals described above. Near its southern boundary it is bordered on the west by a wash belt. IIl sections 20 and 29, Fremont, there is an oval patch entirely surrounded by moraines, though a narrow wash belt has cut in on the west. It is rather rolling, yet it is not high nor hummocky enough to be classed as terminal. Its position is at least unusual. In sections I and 12, Rolland, there is a narrow strip of moraine sloping from the termlinal on one side to the wash on the other, yet it is composed of clay and has a rolling topography. Directly east of the Bundy moraine there is a strip of ground moraine five miles long and one wide, which, though bounded on the east by wash. would seem to belong to the terminal east of the Bundy terminal. North of this the grolund moraine does not appear in the county, though it probably alppears a few miles west in Mecosta. WVest and south of the Bundy moraine there is a wide tract of rolling groun(l moraine which lits snugly agailst the Biundly moraine on the north and the terminal rmoraine on the south. It is rolling and slightly sandy and contains soime swamp land. South of Blanchard there is a large tract of ground moraine which extends back into Mecosta and Mlontcalhn counties. It is somlewhat sandy, though as a rule the land is good. It is rather rolling, liut is lower than the terminals on the east. It can now readily be seen that the general trend of the moraines is north and south; that the termninals increase in height and dimensions toward the west, and that the eastern ground moraines cover a much larger per cent of the morainal area than the western ground moraines. It may also be remarked that east of the Chippewa valley the ground moraines are on the east side of the terminals, while on the west side of the valley they are on the wvest side. lMoreover, the character of the moraines west of the valley is different from that on the east. The western moraines are more sandy and contain very large boulders of granite and a quartzite conglomerate which were not found east of the valley. All the drainage is east or southeast with the exception of a small stream in northw-est Coldwater. The streams have cut valleys across the moraines, and in most cases the valley narrows in passing across theln. In nearly all cases the original trend of the Illoraine can be readily seen. 36 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE WASH. As before stated, the term "wash" has been used for both glacial wash and river wash. In some parts of the region they are distinct, in others they are so intermingled that any line of separation is impossible. The wash is usually more or less stratified sand or rounded gravel. It usually follows the river valley, though there are notable exceptions. The swamps have been classed as wash. though the large ones have been differentiated. The lake bottom, flat in the eastern part, has been classed as wash, for it shows quite a depth of sand upon the clay beneath. In many cases the rivers come from the moraines in comparatively young valleys and distribute the wash in their lower courses. In a few cases, notably in front of the high terraces near Weidman, the lower flats are made from rehandled glacial wash. Along some of the valleys the glacial wash terraces look much the same as the lower river terraces, though their surfaces are much more uneven than the river terraces and present the appearance of pitted plains. The strip of wash immediately around Littlefield lake consists of low, marshy land, and near the lake and somewhat farther south there are extensive marl beds. On the east side of the small strip of terminal the wash is somewhat sandy, though close to the moraine there are a series of small swamps. A narrow strip of wash follows the valley of North Branch eastward and combines with the Stevenson's lake wash. Directly north of the Coldwater moraine, and fitting snugly against it, are a series of high glacial wash terraces. Near the moraine they are very little modified by erosion and form a very good example of a pitted plain. About a mile north of Weidman these are dissected by erosion and from this point south nearly to Coldwater lake another lower terrace has been cut from the high one. Both terraces are, of course, dissected by erosion, and from this point south nearly to Coldwater lake another lower terrace has been cut from the high one. Both terraces are, of course, dissected by the important drainage lines. The southern edge of the high terrace swings westward and joins the Coldwater moraine close to the Chippewa valley. Remnants of this high terrace can be noted in section 6, Nottawa. The land being dissected by erosion, it was impossible to note any remnants south of Coldwater lake, the lake itself being on the same level as Weidman. The lower terrace gradually blends into the wash in the Chippewa valley. The wash in the valley of the Pine River system seems to be rehandled glacial material brought from the dissected moraines toward the west. It is. v.. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 37 a broad, rather flat valley, containing a good soil. In section i8, Fremont, there is a small swamp whose drainage is south through a wash belt into the Pine. In the valley of the north branch of the Pine there is considerable wash, and north of Winn it assumes the character of swamp land. The wash in the southern end of the valley is rather sandy. South of Stevenson's lake the wash belt narrows and swings through a narrow pass into the valley of the north branch of the Chippewa. This valley is apparently cut from the ground moraine and the inroads made by tributaries in the southern part of the valley show that the work is still in progress. How much of the terminal moraine on the east has been cut away can only be judged from the evidence furnished by the existence of the remnant on the south end. In section 17, Lincoln, there begins a large swamp which drains southward. It continues about two miles wide and still appears as markedly swamp on the southern edge of the county. In the eastern part of Lincoln a belt of wash a mile in wlidth at its source graldually narrows as the river approaches the lake flat. At Mt. Pleasant the wash widens rapidly and its southern boundary extends east to section 21, Chippewa, then nearly southeast to the southeast corner of the county. The northern boundary of the wash is marked only by the change from sand to clay, as the till plain is as level here as the wash. The line of separation is an irregular line passing through sections 31, 29, 21, 16, 1o and 13. Denver. The till plain has been mentioned and it does not seem out of place here to continue the discussion. The line of separation from the moraine on the west is not at all satisfactory, it being very marked in places and entirely disappearing in others. In a few places there appears even the semblance of a beach ridge, yet it is only local and always dies out within a short distanoe. Yet the till plain is so level and grades so imperceptibly into the wash on the south that it is at least probable that the lake covered this also, at least for a time. The flat plain of wash proper is covered on top with a sandy loam, which varies in depth from a few inches to several feet. Its surface is almost level except where drainage lines have dissected it. In section 36, Coe. there appears at the eastern edge of the lake flat a low ridge of sand and gravel, which extends along the lake border to section 21, Chippewa. It has an even crest and slopes with an even angle out into the lake flat. In places it has been destroyed by erosion, but it is clearly traceable along the edge of the flat. -At its northern end it divides and forms two 38 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN..projections, one behind the other. This would indicate a sort of spit formation. Moreover, about a quarter of a mile toward the east there is a low ridge running out from the end of the terminal. It is apparently a spit formed when the waters of the lake at a slightly higher level were blown as a littoral current northward off the end of the moraine and into deeper water, where the spit was deposited. Then the waters of the lake fell, due, probably, to the shifting of the ice, and the beach ridge was formed, the little spit first, then the eastern one. The beach ridge seems at no place to have been a barrier, though modifications since may have destroyed the evidence. As stated earlier in this report, no attempt has been made to give more than a descriptive statement of the surface geology of the region. There are a few conclusions which might, however, be suggested. It was probably in the western part of the county that the Michigan lobe and the Saginaw lobe of the ice sheet came together. Perhaps the only legitimate evidence of the point of contact is the fact that the Chippewa valley separates the moraines by a comparatively wide wash basin, and that west of this basin the ground moraines are west of the terminals, while east of the valley they are east of the terminlals. Moreover, the terminals east and west differ in material and in the size and nulmber of the large boulders. The fact that the whole valley near Weidman was filled with high w-ash sloping eastward would tend to indicate wash from the west. Then in many cases the lower terraces fit into the uneven edge of the dissected terrace and slol)e estward. There is a probability that the Michigan lobe advanced and deposited the western moraine, and that the wash was formed in front and sloped toward the east, and that then there was cut and formed a high terrace. Later the Saginaw lobe advanced to the position of the terminal east of Weidman and its wash sloped away from its front and fitted into the erosion lines of the high wash. Lake Saginaw was formed when the ice had retreated from the recessional moraines farthest east, and the water was held betwesa the moraine and the retreating ice. How far it extended westward at Mt. Pleasant is only a matter of conjecture, for the wash from the Chippewa has destroyed the ridge if there ever was any. The absence of the beach north of Mt. Pleasant may be explained by the fact that the lake remained only a short time, and that it had washed over very little material is shown by the absence of sand on the till plain. The question of river terraces and the correlation of levels would be an interesting problem, but would require a careful study of all the surrounding rivers and of the lake shore both north and south. It is probable, however, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 39 that the terraces in the valleys correspond to the fluctuations in lake level, which were in turn caused by the advance and retreat of the ice. It is hoped that the work done in this county will be some small aid in the solution of the more general problem of the Great Lake region. [The above article on the geology of Isabella county is entirely the production of Fabian Bouton Doddls, and to him is to be given all credit for his thorough and painstaking labor, as well as his knowledge of the subject.I. A. FANCHE(IIR.] CHAPTER II. GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER NAMES. The geographical names in the county are not many. The first of the names was that of the county itself, called Isabella, and is supposed to have been named at the time the lands of the county were set apart from the rest of the state and given a name by those in authority. The territory comprised within the limits of the county being of the best, if not the best, as a whole in the state, it would be but natural that they should look about for some good person whose name it should bear and when they came to that of the good Queen Isabella they cried "Eureka" and named it Isabella. The first township organized in the county was that of Coe. This township was organized at the time, in 1855, when George A. Coe was lieutenantgovernor of the state and this township was named after him, the law being approved February 13, 1855. In the very early days of Michigan the territory of the Saginaw valley was inhabited by the Chippewa Indians and the river now known by the name Chippewa was then, as now, flowing peacefully down to the bay and was a highway of travel by the native in his canoe and was known to be a territory well stocked with fish as well as inhabited by wild game and the fur animals. There are still today many evidences of the habitation of the beaver, and all of the old settlers can vouch for the deer, wildcat, hedgehog, mink, marten, muskrat; so when the white man came the river had nothing to do but retain its old name. There was also the Pine river, named from the fact of its running through a wilderness of pine forests. The Coldwater river is named from the fact that it is noted for its clear, cold spring water as it flows from the lake of that name, which also is a body of pure, ice-cold water and was formerly bordered by dense cedar swamps, which in this country are a sure index of pure, cold water. Chippewa township was set up October I2, I858, and was named after the river, which crosses the town from west to east. Isabella township was set up in i857 and was named after the county, and in its first organization was nearly co-extensive with the county boundaries. A.^;, 00 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 4I Union township was organized in I86r, when the cloud of disruption of the union of states were rising in the east, and the patriotism of the board of supervisors rose to the occasion and the new organization was named Union, which, under the circumstances, was a most sensible and patriotic thing to do. Fremont township was given life and vigor in I863 and was named after Gen. John C. Fremont; and at the same session of the board of supervisors the township of Lincoln was organized and named after the then President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It was at a time when every eye and thought was turned toward the great struggle then going on between the North and the South, and these great men were constantly before the people. Vernon was set apart in June, I866, and its name is supposed to have been suggested by some one who had settled there from the town of Vernon in the more southern portion of the state. In October of the same year Rolland was organized and named Rolland, but why we are uninformed. Broomfield was set apart in March, i868, and was named after one of its oldest and most respected settlers, William Broomfield. We are pleased to note that the old gentleman is still with us and has been permitted to enjoy the respect and esteem of his friends and neighbors for these many years. Coldwater was given life the same day that Broomfield township was and was named after the lake of that name. Gilmore, which is township I6 north, range 5 west. was organized in 1870 and was named after Admiral Gilmore. Wise township, organized in January, 1872, was named after George W. Wise, one of the first settlers and one wMho contributed very much in an early (ay toward the development of that section of the county. Sherman was brought to life and light in October, I868. and was named after the great general of that name. Deerfield was set up in 1876 and some of the Indians claim that its name was given it on account of the fact that it used to be a great runway for deer and, in fact. it is generally known that it was a wonderful field for the beautiful animal. Nottaway was erected in 1875 and was named after the old Chief Notto-way, who, after the Indians had laid by their roving habits, had settled in that town and became one of its citizens. Denver township was the last to be organized, which was accomplished in January, I876, the centennial year, and it is said that it derived its name from some one who had been or lived in Denver, Colorado. Salt river, in the southeast part of the county, is said to derive its name 42 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. from the fact that there used to be some (leer-licks on the upper portion, places where the deer used to go to get their salt, and some say that that is the place that the lesser politician migrates to when he can't lick salt in the party any longer. There are the Little and Big Salt rivers in the northeast portion of the county, but whether they derive their names from any such source or not we are uninformed. The Littlefield lake derived its name from a Mr. Littlefield who some years ago was interested in a large tract of pine timber located in that vicinity. He was a native of New York and was considered at one time one of the foremost men of his section of the state. Stevenson's lake derived its name from an English gentleman who came to this state and county for the purpose of securing a tract of pine timber that he might buy, cut, run to Saginaw, cut it for shipmlent or ship the logs to England and there cut and build a castle for himself out of that native timber of Michigan. He bought and cut the timber here, but was unable at that time to get it down the north branch of the Chiplpewa and aftcrward abandoned the project, but the lake still bears his name. Aside from geographical names, there are others that will probably interest some at least. Among the first of the settlers that came to Mit. Pleasant and vicinity were several for whom the Indians carved out a name signifying some peculiar trait of character possessed by them and they expressed it in their own language as follows: Judge William H. Nelson, who was also a hotel keeper at Isabella City, they called Mack-saw-gay, meaning "a big bird." The Rev. George Bradley, who was their missionary preacher for several years and one that did a good deal for their benefit, they called Mack-tay-quome-ya. Francis S. Babbitt, the man that sold them goods for many years at Isabella City in an early day of their settlement here, they called Ah-gach-godaw-gaw, being "sharp voice," he having a fine, clear voice. Cass Mosher, who was the son of Nelson Mosher, the first lawyer to settle in the county, they called Mo-she-zhismh, meaning "young Mosher." One of the first settlers in the west part of the township of Union was A.'M. Merrill, who cut his way through the wilderness and made him and his family a home and who was one of the very early men of affairs in the county; 'him they called Ah-gah-che-go-daw-gaw, which, in plain English, means 'little head." Phil Gruett, one of the oracles of the tribe and one who had as extensive and perfect knowledge of the Indians and of their names and -ancestors as any one of the tribes, they called Mu-sob. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 43 Joseph Bradley, another of the bright ones and who is at the present time unearthing some of the lapses of the government in regard to their payments to the Indians under the treaties and who is getting considerable of that money for his people, they call Kak-kak-naw-bay. Gay-bos-se-gay, or I)an Covert, or D)an Sunshine, they call on account of his brightness of countenance, bright sunshine; and by the way he was a sharpshooter in the war of the Rebellion and on tile right side, as he enlisted from Isabella county. Pay-baw-mash was one of the good Indians and one who accompanied the writer on many of his journeys in the woods while surveying lands and locating state roads, one of the reliable ones; they called him, in English, Alonzo Barrows. Shaw-shaw-wan-ne-beece. the great chief of the whole tribe. was called, in English, Green Bird. And surely lie was a most powerful and eloquent man as well as a great orator. O-saw-waw-bon, interpreted into English, is Gall. Johln Irons was Naw-gaw-n-way-w-e-dulng in Indian. John Collins was Maw-che-che-won, and William Smith is Nin-keens. Charles Rodd, who was for some time United States government interpreter in Isabella and was intcrlreter at the time of the treaty of 1864, was. in Indian, She-she-bons. which means "little duck," and Thomas Chatfield. who was an TInlian doctor, was Shav-bo-lnay-be. These Indians used to have their yearly feast, \hen they would all get together and have the best there was and go through their religious rites. 'hey have a (Great Father, called by them \Vin-do-go, meaning a "giant" or "lig man." At these meetings was the tinie when every Indian donned his best and most costly wearing apparel. They washed up as best they could, just as white folks do about Easter time, and if they had anything good or costly or nice they had it on, as they expected that Win-do-go might come at any time and was sure to come some time. Where they got this no one knows; it has been handed down to them from time out of mind. Shawv-shaw-wan-ne-beece many years ago told Phil Gruet that the United States government had borrowed of these Indians some fifty thousand dollars and had never paid but two annuities of that amount, and that the balance was now due to this tribe. Quo-quo-cum-a-gawv means "lroken stick." Pork, in Indian, is Ko-kosk, but one old gentleman who used to trade with them a considerable always insisted on calling it Coc-koo-se. Cold water is interpreted as Chic-sin-nah-lish. 44 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. These Indians also have their superstitions, like most Indians and some white folk. We remember being with a party of them in the woods over in Mecosta county on a survey when a certain one of the Indians lay down on the ground at his bed time and, as usual with most of the Indians, he lit his pipe for his last smoke of the day and proceeded to take his sleep, but in his dreams he was aroused and when fully awake found that fhe camp was quiet, so he thought he would take another smoke, so reached over on a root where he had last laid his pipe and it was not there. He arose, lighted a torch and proceeded to hunt for the lost pipe, but it could nowhere be found, so he lay down for another nap. When he awoke in the morning the first thing he thought of was his pipe; he put out his hand to the root where he had laid it the night before and, lo and behold, there it was, but to his surprise it was warm. Finding it in this condition, he immediately assumed that some wild Indian had borrowed his pipe, taken a smoke after he had searched for it and had laid down and fallen asleep, and had returned and laid his pipe in the place where he had first placed it. While the camp was at breakfast, cooking and eating our broiled ham and crackers, there appeared to be some commotion among the Indians and on inquiry we discovered what had happened. The Indian had been looking for the track of the wild Indian and had found what appeared to him to be that of the track or footprint of some giant wild Indian, and they all took up the story and trouble was in the air. We finished our meal as soon as convenient and packed and started for the east toward home. Noon came and we desired to send two of the Indians for water some distance south of our camp, but no Indian could be prevailed on to leave the camp, so all had to don their loads and march south about a mile to water. The march was kept up all the afternoon and by night time we had crossed the county line into Isabella, and. then the Indians were relieved. At another time John Irons' family, who lived just west of the now Indian School farm, had laid down a walk of bark leading to the spring where they got their water for culinary purposes, and evidently the wind had scattered the bark, but the family laid it to evil spirits and for a long time could not be prevailed on to replace them and obtain their water from the spring. After a long time it wore away, the scare was removed and the water again sought, as of former times..^ ^ ^-:r _... * ' CHAPTER III. EARLY HISTORY. It is amusing and also instructive to look back over the distant past and see how lavish the people of this country and those assuming authority were with the broad acres of this, then an unknown wilderness. On October II, I614, the New Netherlands were granted to the Amsterdam Company, embracing all of the territory between latitude forty and fifty degrees, and extending from sea to sea. In 1620, not to be outdone, a great patent was granted to the Plymouth Company, extending from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree north latitude and extending from ocean to ocean. In 1628 came the Endicott grant, extending from three miles south of the Charles river to three miles north of the Merrimac river and from ocean to ocean. Then, in 1784, Virginia ceded to the general government all her territory from forty-one degrees north latitude south to the Ohio river. In I785 Massachusetts ceded to the general government her western territory, lying between parallels forty-two degrees two minutes and one second and forty-three degrees and thirty minutes; and in I786 Connecticut ceded to the general government the territory between degrees forty-one and fortytwo and two minutes. Following these cessions, the general government, on the 23d day of July, I787, passed the following ordinance: ORDINANCE OF I787, IFOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES NORTHWEST OF THE RIVER OHIO. I. Be it ordained by the United States, in Congress assembled, that the said territory, for the purpose of temporary government, be one district, subject. however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may. in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient. 2. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the estates both of resident and non-resident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, 46 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. shall descend and be distributed among their children, and the descendants of a deceased child, in equal parts; the descendants of deceased child or grandchild to take a share of their deceased parent in equal parts among them; and where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next of kin in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parent's share; and there shall, in no case, be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving, in all cases, to the widow of the intestate her third part of the real estate for life, and one-third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descendants and dower shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws, as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her in whom the estate may be (being of full age), and attested by three witnesses; and real estate may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed and delivered by the person, being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, such conveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof be duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts and registers shall be appointed for that purplose; and personal property may be transferred by delivery, saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskias, Vincents, and the neighboring villages, who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them relative to the descent and conveyance of properties. 3. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, that there shall be appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a governor, whose commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in one thousand acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. 4. There shall be appointed from time to time, by Congress, a secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for four years, unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and preserve the acts and laws passed by the Legislature, and the public records of the district, and the proceedings of the governor in his executive department; and transmit authentic copies of such acts and proceedings every six months to the secretary of Congress. There shall also be appointed a court, to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form a court, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 47 who shall have a common law jurisdiction, and reside in the district, and have each therein a freehold estate in five hundred acres of land while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions shall continue in force lturing good hehavior. 5. The governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original states, criminal and civil, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time; which laws shall be in force in the district until the organization of the General Assembly therein, unless disapproved of bv Congress; but afterwards the Legislature shall have authority to alter them as they shall think fit. 6. The governor, for the time being. shall l)e commander-in-chief of the militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general officers; all general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress. 7. Previous to the organization of the General Assembly the governor shall appoint such imagistrates and other civil officers in each county or township as he shall find necessary for the plreservation of the peace and goodl otrder in the same. After tle General Assemblly shall be organized the powers and( duties of the magistrates and other civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said Assembly but all magistrates and other civil officers, not herein otherwise dlirected, shall, Iur-iig the continuance of this temporary government, be appointeld by thl governior. 8. For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted or made shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the execution of process, criminal and civil, the governor shall make proper divisions thereof; andl he shall proceed from time to time, as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the district in which the Indian titles shall have lien extinguIished, into counties and townships, subject, however, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the Legislature. 9. As soon as there shall be five thousand free nale ilnhabitants of full age in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the governor, they shall receive authority, with time and place, to elect representatives from their counties or townships to represent them in the General Assembly; provided, that for every five hundred free male inhabitants there shall be one representative, and so on progressively with the number of free male inhabitants shall the right of representation increase until the number of representatives shall amount to twentyfive, after which the number and proportion of representatives shall le regulated by the Legislature; provided, that no person be eligible or qualified to 48 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. act as a representative unless he shall have been a citizen of one of the United States three years, and be a resident in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the district three years, and in either case shall likewise hold in his own right, in fee simple, two hundred acres of land in the same; provided also, that a freehold in fifty acres of land in the district, having been a citizen of one of the states, and being resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years' residence in the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a representative. IO. The representative thus elected shall serve for the term of two years, and in case of the death of a representative, or removal from office, the governor shall issue a writ to the county or township for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue of the term. I. The General Assembly, or Legislature, shall consist of the governor, legislative council and a house of representatives. The legislative council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress; any three of whom to be quorum. And the members of the council shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives shall be elected, the governor shall appoint a time and place for them to meet together, and when met they shall nominate ten persons, residents in the district, and each possessed of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as aforesaid; and whenever a vacancy shall happen in the council, by death or removal from office, the house of representatives shall nominate two persons, qualified as aforesaid, for each vacancy, and return their names to Congress; one of whom Congress shall appoint and commission for the residue of the term. And every five years, four months at least before the expiration of the time of service of the members of council, the said house shall nominate tell persons, qualified as aforesaid, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as members of the council for five years, unless sooner removed. And the governor, legislative council and house of representatives shall have authority to make laws, in all cases, for the good government of the district, not repugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established and declared; and all bills, having passed by a majority in the house, and by a majority in the council, shall be referred to the governor for his assent; but no bill or legislative act whatever shall be of any force without his assent; the governor shall have power to convene, prorogue and dissolve the General Assembly when in his opinion it shall be expedient. 12. The governor, judges, legislative council, secretary and such other ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 49 officers as Congress shall appoint in the district shall take an oath or affirmation of fidelity and of office; the governor before the president of Congress, and all other officers before the governor. As soon as a Legislature shall be formed in the district, the council and house assembled, in one room, shall have authority, by joint ballot, to elect a delegate to Congress, who shall have a seat in Congress, with a right of debating, but not of voting, during this temporary government. 13. And for extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and their constitutions are erected; to fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory; to provide also for the establishment of states, and permanent governments therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils, on an equal footing with the original states, at as early Ieriods as may be consistent with the general interest. 14. It is hereby ordained and declared, by the authority aforesaid, that the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact between the original, and the people and states in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit: ARTICLE I. No person, demeaning himself in peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments in the said territory. ARTICI.E II. The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the Legislature, and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared that no law ought (4) 50 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. ever to be.made, or have force in the said territory, that shall in any manner whatever interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide and without fraud previously formed. ARTICLE III. Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent, and in their property, rights and liberty they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars, authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall, from time to time, be made, for preventing wrongs being done them and for preserving peace and friendship with them. ARTICLE IV. The said territory, and the states which may be founded therein, shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the articles of confederation, and to such alteration therein as shall be constitutionally made, and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said territory shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts, contracted or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, to be apportioned on them by Congress according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other states; and the taxes for paying their proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the Legislatures of the district or districts, or new states, as in the original states, within the time agreed upon Iy the United States in Congress assembled. The Legislatures of those districts or new states shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands, the property of the United States; and in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways and forever free, as well to'the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States and those of any other state that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost or duty therefor. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 5I ARTICLE V. There shall be formed in the said territory not less than three, nor more than five, states; and the boundaries of the states, as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of cession, and consent to the same, shall become fixed and established as follows, to wit The western state in the said territory shall be lbondeld by the Mississipl)i, the (hio and \abash rivers, a direct line drawn for tie \N'ahash and Post Vincents, due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada; and by the said territorial line to the Lake of tile Woods and the Mississippi. The middlle state shall b1e ountlded by the said direct line. the \Valash froim Post \incents to the Ohio, by the ()Ohio, bv a direct line drawn duie north from the mouth of the Great Miami, to the said territorial line, anld b)y the said territorial line. The eastern state slhall be hounded by the last-mentioned direct line, the Ohio. Pennsvylania and the said territorial line plrovidled, how-ever, and it is further understood and declared, that the boundlaries of these three states shall be subject so far to be altered that if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have autliority to form olne or two states in that part of the said territory which1 lies north of an east and west line drawn through tile southerly l)endl or extreme of Lake Michigan. And whenever any of tile said states shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such state shall be admitted, 1b its delegates. into the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with tile original states in all respects whatever, adi shall he at liberty to forim a periianent conlstitutiion and state government. l rovided. the constitution andl govermnlent so to be formed shall be relpuilican and inl conformitity to the principles coitainedl in these articles; and, so far as it can le consistent with tlie general interest of the confederacy, slchi admissioc n shall be allowed at an earlier period, andl when there may be a less numbler of free inhabitants in the state than sixty thousand. ARTICL.E VI. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary seritulde in the said territory. otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party slall have been dtul convicted - provide(l a\\-ays, that any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original states, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed anid conveyed to the person claiming his or her lalor or service, as aforesaid. Be it ordained lbv the authority aforesaid, that the resolutions of the twenty-third of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, relative 52 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. to the subject of this ordinance, be and the same are hereby repealed and declared null and void. Done by the United States in Congress assembled, the thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth. WILLIAM GRAYSON, Chairman. CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary. ACTS RELATIVE TO MICHIGAN. An act to establish the northern boundary line of the state of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the state of Michigan into the union, upon the conditions therein expressed. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the northern boundary line of the state of Ohio shall be established at, and shall be a direct line drawn from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Maumee (Miami) bay, after that line, so drawn, shall intersect the eastern boundary line of the state of Indiana and from the said north cape of the said bay northeast to boundary line between the United States and the province of Upper Canada, in Lake Erie; and thence with the said last-Ientioned line to its intersection with the western line of the state of Pennsylvania. SECTION II. And be it further enacted, that the constitution and state governmlent which the people of Michigan have formed for themselves be, and the sa5me is hereby accepted, ratified and confirmed; and that the said state of Michigan shall be, and is hereby declared to be one of the United States of America, and is hereby admitted into the union upon an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever; provided always, and this adlission is upon the express condition, that the said state shall consist of and have jurisdiction ~ over all the territory included within the following boundaries, and over none other, to-wit: Beginning at the point where the above-described northern boundary of the state of Ohio intersects the eastern boundary of Indiana, and running thence with the said boundary line of Ohio, as described in the first section of this act, until it intersects the boundary line between the United ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 53 States and Canada, in Lake Erie; thence, with the said boundary line between the United States and Canada, through the Detroit river, Lake Huron and Lake Superior; thence in a direct line through Lake Superior to the mouth of the Montreal river; thence through the middle of the main channel of the said river Montreal to the Lake of the Desert; thence in a direct line to the nearest headwater of the Menominee river; thence through the middle of that fork of the said river first touched by the said line to the main channel of the said Menominee; thence down the center of the main channel of the same to the center of the most usual ship channel of the Green bay of Lake Michigan; thence through the center of the most usual ship channel of the said bay to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence through the middle of Lake Michigan to the northern boundary of the state of Indiana, as that was established by the act of Congress of the nineteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixteen; thence due east with the north boundary line of the said state of Indiana to the northeast corner thereof; and thence south, with the east boundary line of Indiana, to the place of beginning. SECTION III. And be it further enacted, that, as a compliance with the fundamental condition of admission contained in the last preceding section of this act, the boundaries of the said state of Michigan, as in that section described, declared and published, shall receive the assent of convention of delegates elected by the people of the said state; for the sole purpose of giving the assent herein required; and as soon as the assent herein required shall be given, the President of the United States shall announce the same by proclamation; and thereupon, and without any further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of the said state into the union, as one of the United States of America, on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, shall be considered as complete, and the senators and representatives who have been elected by the said state as its representatives in the Congress of the United States shall be entitled to their seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, without further delay. SECTION IV. And be it further enacted, that nothing in this act contained or il the admission of the said state into the Union as one of the United States of America, upon an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, shall be so construed or understood as to confer upon the people, Legis 54 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. lature or other authorities of the said state of Michigan, any authority or right to interfere with the sale by the United States, and under their authority, of the vacant and unsold lands within the limits of the said state; but that the subject of the public lands, and the interests which may be given of the said state therein, shall be regulated by future action between Congress, on the part of the United States; and the said state of Michigan shall in no case, and under no pretense whatsoever, impose any tax, assessment or imp)osition of any description upon any of the lands of the United States within its limits. ASSENT of the state of Michigan to the act of Congress of June 15, 1836, given in convention at Ann Arbor, on the i5th day of December, T83)6: Whereas, by an act of Congress of June 15, 1836. the constitution and state government which the people of Michigan have formed for themselves is accepted, ratified and confirmed; and whereas, the admission of the state of Michigan into the union as one of the United States is providedl 1y the said act to be upon the express condition that the said state shall consist of anl have jurisdiction over all of the territory included within the following lboundaries, and over none other, to wit: (See description in section 2 in last act.) And whereas, no authority or power is designated in the said act of Congress, by which such convention shall be called or convened; but in the third section of said act, the right of the people of Michigan to elect said delegates, without any previous action of their constituted authorities, is clealyv recognized and manifest; and whereas, the convention originated with, and speaks the voice of a great majority of the people of Michigan; and whereas. it is provided and enacted in said act, that as soon as the assent therein required shall be given, the President of the United States shall announce the same by proclamation, and thereupon, and without any further proceedings on the part of Congress. the admission of the said state into the union, as one of the United States of America on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, shall be considered complete. Now therefore, this convention are of the opinion, that the Congress of the United States had no'constitutional right to require the assent aforesaid, as a condition preliminary to the admission of the state into the union. Nevertheless, as the Congress have required such assent to the condition, and as the interest and prosperity of the state will be greatly advanced by our immediate admission into the Union, as one of its sovereign states: and the people of the said state are solicitous to give to her sister states, and to the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 55 world, unequivocal proof of her desire to promote the tranquility and harmony of the confederacy, and to perpetuate the unity, liberty and prosl)erity of the country. Therefore, le it resolved, by the people of Mfichigan in convention assemb)led, that the assent required in the foregoing recited act of the Congress of the United States is hereby given. AN ACT to admit the state of Michigan into the union, upon an equal footing with the original states. \\lhereas, in pursuance of the act of (ongress of June 15, I836, entitled, "An act to establish the northern b)oundary of the state of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the state of Michigan into the union upon the conditions therein expressed," a convention of delegates. elected by the people of the state of Michigan, for the sole purlpose of giving their assent to the boundaries of the said state of Michigan, as described, declared and established in and 1)y tlhe said act, did on tle T tlh dlay of December, 1836, assent to tlhe provisions of said act. therefore: SECTION r. Be it enacted bv the Senate and House of Representatives of tlhe United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the state of Michigan shall be one, aidt is hereby declared to be one, of tle United States of America, and admitted into the union on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever. SECTION II. And be it further enacted, that the secretary of the treasury, in carrying into effect the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of the act of the 23d of June. I836. entitle(d, "An act to regulate the deposits of the public money," shall consider the state of Michigan as being one of the United States. Approved, January 26, I836. The territory of Michigan was duly organized by the governor and judges at Detroit on the 4th day of July, 1805. This form of government continued until 1824, when Michigan entered uplon its second grade of government. The first was to us the novel method of a governing powxer being reposed in a governor and judges, who were the executive, legislative and judicial, and consisted of Governor William Hull, Chief Justice Augustus B. Woodward and Senior Associate Justice Frederick Bates. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Their first legislative act was "An act concerning the temporary seal of the territory of Michigan:" "Be it enacted by the governor and the judges of the territory of Michigan, that the'description in writing of the temporary seal of the territory of Michigan, deposited and recorded in the office of the secretary of the territory, shall remain a public record, and shall be and continue the temporary seal of the territory until another permanent seal shall be provided; and the person administering the government of the territory of Michigan shall have the custody of the said seal, and all such matters and things as issue under the said seal shall be entered of record in the office of the secretary of the territory; the same being adopted by the laws of one of the original States, to wit, the state of New York, as far as necessary and suitable to the circumstances of the territory of Michigan. Adopted and published at Detroit, the ninth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and five. WILLIAM HULL, Governor of the Territory of Michigan. AUGUSTUS B. WOODWARD, Chief Justice of the Territory of Michigan. FREDERICK BATES, Senior Associate Judge of the Territory of Michigan. Attest: PETER AUDRAIN, Secretary of the Governor and the Judges in their Legislative Department. The laws of said territory of Michigan continued to be enacted and published during the year I805 up to October 8th, and during that period the said governor and judges passed thirty-four acts for the government of the said territory of Michigan. Gen. William Hull continued to be governor until his surrender of Detroit to the British August I6, 1812, for which he was court-martialed at Albany, New York, January 3, I814, and was sentenced to be shot, which sentence was remitted. Many of the territorial records were destroyed by the British at the capture of Detroit and much of the official data was lost. On October 29, 1813, Gen. Lewis Cass was appointed governor, and continued as such until August I, I831, when he resigned to go into the cabinet of President Jackson as secretary of war. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 57 Under the governorship of General Cass we have what is known as the "Cass Code or Digest of Laws of the Territory of Michigan." which comprise the acts of the governor and judges during the Cass regime. August 6, 1831, George B. Porter was appointed governor of the territory of Michigan and held that position until his death, which occurred July 6, I834. At the time of the death of Governor Porter, Stevens T. Mason was secretary and by virtue of his office became acting governor of the territory of Michigan and retained that office until Michigan adopted her state constitution in 1835, when he was elected as governor and was inaugurated as such November 3, I835. The first state convention to adopt a state constitution for Michigan was held in Detroit in May, 1835. The territory had acquired the necessary population to entitle it to be admitted into the union of states, to wit, sixty thousand. as provided in the ordinance of T787. A constitution was formed by the convention of May, i835, and an election was provided for and duly called for the ratification of said constitution and for the election of state officers, to be held on the first Monday of the following October. At said election, the constitution was duly adopted, and Stevens T. Mason was elected governor, Edward Mundy, lieutenant-governor, and Isaac E. Crary, representative in Congress. The legislature met in November, I835, and proceeded to elect John Norvell and Lucius Lyon, United States senators for Michigan. All was now ready for statehood and admission into the Union. At this juncture a misunderstanding arose between the state of Ohio and the government of Michigan as to the boundary line between them. Through carelessness or inadvertence Ohio had been admitted into the Union with an uncertain boundary in 1802. The act of 1805, organizing Michigan territory, fixed the boundary at a line running due east from the southern end of Lake Michigan. This included Toledo and a considerable strip of land which Ohio claimed. In 1835 the governor of Ohio issued a proclamation assuming control and the state Legislature passed an act to organize the county of Lucas. Acting Governor Mason of Michigan called out the militia and proceeded to Toledo to prevent the Ohio officers from exercising control of the disputed land. A few shots were fired, but no blood was shed. Congress than took the matter in hand, held up Michigan statehood, offered Michigan the lands now known as the Upper Peninsula, provided she would relinquish her claim and allow the southern line to be established where it now is. This explains how Michigan became possessed with the Upper Peninsula. This dispute being settled, Michigan was duly admitted as a state and became the twenty-sixth in the galaxy of states, just doubling the original thirteen. The final act was approved January 26, I837. 58 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE STATE CAPITAl.. The seat of government was at Detroit from the time of Cadillac's occupancy of Fort Ponchartrain, 1701 to I847, but in the latter year the Legislature decided to locate the permanent capital of Michigan at Lansing, then covered with a dense forest and forty miles distant from any railroad. The project at first seemed to the people visionary and much adverse criticism was heard all about the state. As time elapsed and buildings and clearing was had, roads and railroads laid out and constructed, it was found not to be so poor a place for the seat of government as first supposed. The people became reconciled to the change of location, the city of Lansing began to grow so that there was accommodation for those desiring to do busiless at the capital. The state was acquiring some reputation as an agricultural. manufacturing, mining and lurmbering entity and railroads were projected alnd built to the capital city, thus giving them an outlet and inlet for b)usiness and travel. The old capitol building was getting old and insecure as a place for valluable records such as state naturally and necessarily owns and possesses, so that ill 1871 the Legislature, feeling the necessity of a more secure repository for the records of the state and a more suitable and convenient place for the Legislature to meet during their sessions, as well as suitable and convellient places for the state officers and all employees, passed an act entitled "A\n act to provide for the erection of a new state capitol and a building for the temll)porary use of the state officers," approved March 31, 1871. By this act the governor was authorized to appoint a building committee of three suitable men and he appointed as such committee E. O. Grovenor, James Shearer and Alexander Chapoton. They met at the office of the governor on the Ilth day of -\pril, I871, took the constitutional oath of office, filed their bonds and colllpleted their organization by the election of Commissioner (rovenor as vice-presidentt of the board, Govetnor Baldwin being ex-officio the presiding officer. On the 5th of June the committee met and advertised for plans and specifications for a building. Several plans were presented to the commission and finally, on the 24th day of January, 1872, the commission, out of twenty sets of plans, unanimously adopted those presented by Elijah E. Myers of Springfield, Illinois. On March 20th the board entered into an agreement with Elijah E. Myers to act as architect and general superintendent of the construction of the -new capitol, at a compensation-of twenty-five thousand dollars. On the 20th of May the detail drawings and specifications were completed by Mr. Myers and on the 21st advertisements were sent to the papers at New York, I. 1 14 - I ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 59 Chicago, Detroit and Lansing soliciting proposals from builders and contractors for erecting and completing the capitol in accordance with the plans and specifications adopted. The bids were submitted July 8th, and on the I5th the commissioners entered into a contract with N. Osburn & CompIany, of Rochester, New York, and Detroit, Michigan, to construct and complete the capitol, in accordance with the plans, specifications and detail drawings, for the sunm of $1,144,057.20, all four fronts to be constructed of No. i Amherst, Ohio, sandstone. The building was to be completed December J, 1877, and the contractors entered up)on the work at once. The Legislature by a joint resolution, in 1873, approved Aprlil 24th, provided for a lpulic celebration uplon the laying of the corner stone of the capitol and for the appointment of a committee to provide aplroplriate arrangements therefor. The committee was to consist of the governor, who should be its chairman. the members of the board of state building commissioners and ten citizens of the state, to b)e appointe(l by the governor. The commlittee so al)l)pintled consisted of the following persons: Governor John T. Baglev, chairman, Detroit; Ebenezer O. Grovenor, vice-president, Jonesville; Allen L. Blours, secretary, Lansing: James Shearer, Bay City;:Alexander Chapoton, I)etroit; David Anderson, Bear Lake Mills; John P. Hoyt, Vassar: William H. Withington. Jackson: Augustus S. Gaylord, Saginaw\; Ellerv T. (arfield, Detroit; John Hibbard, Port Huron; Leonardl I. Rand'all, Grand Rapids; ()liver L. Spaulding, St. lohns; \Villiam H. Stone,.\dlrian; John S. Tooker, Lansing. The board of state building commissioners was directed lby the Legislature to procure a suitable corner stone and to cause the following inscription to be carved thereon with raised letters ill sunk panels: On the east face, "A. D. T872," and on the north face, "A. D." and the year of completion. New Hampshire granite was the material selected for the corner stone, and the design was prepared by Architect Myers and the contract for preparing it was awarded to Struthers & Sons of Philadelphia. The corner stone of the capitol of the state of Michigan was laid on Thursday, the 2(1 day of October, I873. A procession was formed under the direction of Gen. William H-unl)hrey, chief marshal, consisting of tile iilitary, civil officers, commlanderies of Knights Templar, Masonic fraternity. encampmlent and fraternity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, after which all introductory address was delivered by Governor Bagley. This was follow\ed by prayer of Bishop Samuel A. McCoskv. and the singing of the national anthem, "America." by the assembled multitude. Then came the ora 60 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. tion of the day by Hon. William A. Howard, following which was the impressive ceremony of laying the corner stone, conducted by Hon. Hugh McCurdy, grand master of the grand lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Michigan. The capitol was finally completed in 1878, at a total cost of $I,5I0,130.59. The total appropriation amounted to $1,525,241.05, leaving an unexpended balance of $15,110.46. The state capitol was dedicated and occupied in January, 1879. It is situated in the center of a square tract of land containing ten acres; is three hundred and forty-five feet long; including porticoes and steps, four hundred and twenty feet; one hundred and ninety-two feet wide; including porticoes and steps, two hundred and seventyfour feet; and two hundred and sixty-seven feet high. It covers one and onesixth acres and has a walk around the outside of one thousand five hundred and twenty feet in length. During the year I899-I900 a system of electric lighting was inaugurated in the capitol, which necessitated the laying of thirty-four miles of rubber covered wire, thirty-four thousand feet of circular loom conduit and four thousand five hundred feet iron conduit; three thousand four hundred incandescent and five arc lamps were placed in position, the expense of which was about eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. The capitol is at present occupied by the Legislature when in session, the governor, the state officers, the supreme court, and the state library. Owing to the growth and development of the state, the business of the various departments has increased until the commissioner of labor and the food and dairy commissioner are compelled to occupy quarters in the old state building, corner Washington avenue and Allegan street. The military equipage is also stored in the old state building and the state tax commission is at present quartered in the city hall building. It is to be hoped that the good people of the state will insist on better and more economical administration of the affairs of the state and a lopping off of unnecessary employees as well as unnecessary divisions of government, to the end that we will have sufficient room for all necessary governmental offices and save the necessity of adding to the present capitol building. CHAPTER IV. INDIAN TREATIES AND PATENTS. Franklin Pierce, President of the United States of America. To all to whom these presents may come, greeting: Whereas, a treaty was made and concluded at the city of Detroit, in the state of Michigan, on the 2d day of August, I855, between George \V. Manypenny and H-enry C. Gilbert, commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chippewa Indians, of Saginaw, parties to the treaty of January 14. 1837, and that portion of the bands of Chippewa Indians of Swan Creek and Black River, parties to the treaty of May 9, 1836, and now remaining in the state of M ichigan, which treaty is in the words and figures following, to-wit: Articles of agreement and convention, made and concluded at the city of Detroit, in the state of Michigan, this second day of August, I855, between George W. Manypenny and HIenry C. Gilbert, commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chippewa Indians of Saginaw, parties to the treaty of January 14, 1837, and that portion of the bands of Chippewa Indians of Swan Creek and Black River, parties to the treaty of May 9, 1836, and now remaining in the state of Michigan. In view of the existing condition of the Indians aforesaid, and of their legal and equitable claims against the United States, it is agreed between the contracting parties as follows: ARTICILE I. The United States will withdraw from sale, for the benefit of said Indians, as herein provided, all the unsold public lands within the state of Michigan embraced within the following descriptions, namely: First. Six adjoining townships of land in the county of Isabella, to be selected by said Indians within three months from this date, and notice thereof given to their agent. Second. A tract of land in one body, equal in extent to two townships, on the north side of Saginaw bay, to be selected by them, and notice given as above provided. 62 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The United States will give to each of the said Indians being the head of a family, eighty acres of land; and to each single person over twenty-one years of age, forty acres of land.; and to each family of orphan children under twenty-one years of age, containing two or more persons, eighty acres of land; and to each single orphan child under twenty-one years of age, forty acres of land; to be selected and located within the several tracts of land hereinbefore described, under the same rules and regulations, in every respect. as are provided by the agreement concluded on the 3Ist day of July. A. D. t855, with the Ottawas and Chippewas of Michigan for the selection of their lands. And the said Chippewas of Saginaw, and of Swan Creek and Black River, shall have the same exclusive right to enter lands within the tracts withdrawn from sale for them, for five years after the time limited for selecting the lands to which they are individually entitled as is extended to the Ottawas and Chippewas by the terms of said agreement. ARTICLE TWO. The United States will also pay to the said Indians the sum of two hundred and twenty thousand dollars, il the manner following, to-wit: First. Thirty thousand dollars for educational purposes, to Ihe paid in five equal annual instalments of four thousand dollars each. and in five slubsequent equal annual instalments of two thousand dollars each, to be expended under the direction of the President of the United States. Second. Forty thousand dollars, in five equal annual instalments of five thousand dollars each, and in five subsequent equal annual instalnments of three thousand dollars each, in agricultural implements and carpenter tools, household furniture and building materials, cattle, labor, andl all such articles as may be necessary and useful for them in removing to the homles herein provided and getting permanently settled thereon. Third. One hundred and thirty-seven thousandl and six huntred dollars in coin, in ten equal annual instalments of ten thousand dollars each, and in two subsequent annual instalments of eighteen and eight hlun(lreld dollars each, to be distributed per capita in the usual manner of paying annuities. Fourth. Twelve thousand and four hundred dollars for the support of one blacksmith shop for ten years. The United States will also build a grist and saw-mill for said Indians at some point in the territory, to be selected by them in said county of Isabella, provided a suitable water power can be found, and will furnish and equip the same with all necessary fixtures and machinery, and will construct such ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 63 dam, race andt other appurtenances as may be necessary to render the water power available provided that the whole amount for which the United States shall be liable under this provision shall not exceed the sum of eight thousand dollars. ARTICLE TIREE. Thle said Chippewas of Saginaw, and of Swan Creel and Black River, hereby cede to the United States all the lands witlin the state of Michigan heretofore owned by them as reservations, and whether held for them in trust bv the United States or otherwise: and they do herelbly jointly and severally, release and discharge the United States from all liability to them, aund to their or either of their said tribes, for the )rice and value of all such lands heretofore sold and the proceeds of which remain unpaid. And they also hereby surrelnder all their. and each of their lerllanenlt annuities. secured to tlhen, or either of thlem by formerl treaty stipulations. including that portion of the annuity of eight hundred dollars paablle to "the Chipplewas' by the treaty of November 17, 1807. to which they are entitled, it being distinctly understoodl and agreed. that the grants and payments hereinlbefore provided for are in lieu and satisfaction of all claims legal and equitable on the part of said TIndians. jointly and severally. against the United States for land. money, or other thing guaranteed to sai trilbes, or either of them, 1b the stipulations of an\- former treaty or treaties. ARTICTI: FOTUR. Tlhe entry of lands heretofore made by the Indians and bv the Missionary Society of the IMethodist Episcol)al church for the benefit of the Indians on lands withdrawn from the sale in tow-nship 14 north, range 5 east. alnd townshilp lo north, range 5 east, in the state of Michigan, are hereby confirmed, and patent shall be issued therefor as in other cases. ARTICIE F1VE. The United States will provide an interpreter for said Indians for five years, and as much longer as the President may deem necessary. ARTICLE SIX. The tribal organization of said Indians, except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this agreement, is hereby dissolved. 64 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ARTICLE SEVEN. This agreement shall be obligatory and binding on the contracting parties as soon as the same shall be ratified by the President and Senate of the United States. In testimony whereof, the said George W. Manypenny and the said Henry C. Gilbert, commissioners as aforesaid, and the undersigned, chiefs and head men of the Chippewas of Saginaw, and of Swan Creek and Black River, have hereunto set their hands and seals at the city of Detroit the day and year first above written. (Signed) GEORGE W. MANYPENNY. (L. S.) HENRY C. GILBERT. (LT. S.) RICHARD M. SMITH, J. LOGdAN CHIPMAN, Secretaries. SAGINAW BANDS. Ot-taw-ance, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) O-saw-waw-ban, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Nanck-che-gaw-me, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Kaw-gay-ge-zhick, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Shaw-shaw-way-nay, Chief, his X 1mark. (L. S.) Pe-nay-se-way-be, Chief, his X mark. (I. S.) Naw-we-ge-zhick, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Saw-gaw-che-way-o-say, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Naw-taw-way, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Wain-ge-ge-zhick, Chief, his X mark. (TI. S.) Caw-we-squaw-bay-no-kay, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Pe-tway-we-tum, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Kay-bay-guo-um, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Pay-baw-man-she, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Aw-be-taw-quot, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Aish-quay-go-nay-be, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Pay-me-saw-aw, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Aw-taw-we-go-nay-be, Headman, his X mark. (I. S.) Pay-she-nin-ne, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 65 SWAN CREEK AND BLACK RIVER BAND. Pay-me-quo-ung, Chief, his X mark. (L. S.) Nay-ge-zhick, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Maw-che-che-won, Headman, his X mark. (L. S.) Executed in the presence of G. D. Williams, George Smith, WV. H. Collins, Manasseh Hickey, P. 0. Johnson, Joseph F. Marsal, John M. D. Johnson, Charles H. Rodd, S. M. Moran, Interpreters. And whereas, the treaty having been submitted to the Senate of the United States for its constitutional approval thereon, the Senate did on the 15th day of April. I856, advise and consent to the ratification of the same, by a resolution in the words and figures following, to-wit: In executive session, Senate of the United States, April 15, I856, resolved (two-thirds of the senators present concurring), that the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty made with the Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River of the 2d day of August, 1855, with the following amendments: Article One. Strike out the words "a tract of land in one body equal in extent to two townships on the north side of Saginaw bay to be selected by them, and notice given as above provided," and insert in lieu thereof the words "townships Nos. 17 and I8 north, ranges 3, 4 and 5 east;" same article, insert after the word "entitled" last clause but one, the following, "and the same right to sell and dispose of land entered by them, under the provisions of the act of Congress, known as the graduation act." Article Two. Add thereto the following paragraphs: "The United States will also pay the further sum of four thousand dollars for the purpose of purchasing a saw mill, and in repair of the same, and in adding thereto the necessary machinery and fixtures for a run of stone for grinding grain, the same to be located on the tract described in clause second. article one." (5) 66 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The United States will also pay the further sum of twenty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, to be applied in liquidation of the present just indebtedness of said Indians; provided, that all claims presented shall be investigated under the direction of the secretary of the interior within six months, who shall prescribe such rules and regulations for conducting such investigation, and for testing the validity and justice of the claims as he shall deem suitable and proper. And no claim shall be paid except on the certificate of said secretary that, in his opinion, the same is justly and equitably due; and all claimants who shall not present their claims within such time as shall be limited by said secretary, or. whose claim having been presented, shall be disallowed by him, shall forever be precluded from collecting the same or maintaining an action thereon in any court whatever. And provided also that no portion of money due said Indians for annuities as herein provided, shall ever be appropriated to pay their debts, under any pretense whatever: Provided, that the balance of the amount herein allowed as a just increase for the cessions and relinquishlments aforesaid, after satisfaction of the awards of the secretary of the interior, shall be paid to said Indians, or expended for their benefit in such manner as the secretary shall prescribe, in aid of any of the objects specified in this treaty. Attest: ASBURY DICKINS, Secretary. We, the undersigned chiefs and head-men of the Chippewas of Saginaw and of the Chippewas of Swan Creek and Black River having heard the foregoing amendments read and the same having been fully explained to us by our agent, do hereby agree to and ratify the same. Done at Saginaw this 14th day of May, A. D. 1856. Nach-che-gaw-me, his X mark. (L. S.) O-saw-waw-bun, his X mark. (1. S.) Shaw-way-naw-se-gay, his X mark. (I. S.) Way-shaw-wan-no, his X mark. (I. S.) Naw-ne-ge-zhick, his X mark. (L. S.) Shaw-shaw-way-ne-beece, his X mark. (L. S.) Saw-gaw-che-way-o-say, his X mark. (L. S.) Caw-gay-ge-zhick, his X mark. (L. S.) Ot-law-ance, his X mark. (L. S.) Pe-nay-se-way-be, his X mark. (L. S.) Ah-co-gin, his X mark. (L. S.) ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. (67 Pay-me-quo-ung, his X mark. (L. S.) Naw-gaw-ne, his X mark. (L. S.) Nay-ge-zhick, his X mark. (L. S.) Wain-e-ge-gezhick, his X mark. (L. S.) Kavw-me-gwan-te-no-kay, his X mark. (L. S.) Naw —taw-way, his X mark. (L. S.) Signed in presence of Henry C. Gilbert, Indian agent, Charles IT. Rodd(, Interpreter, Samuel Kirkland, Interpreter, P. 0. Johnson, P. Marksman, Interpreter, G. D, Williams. 1. B. Adams. Now, therefore, he it knon\\. that I. Franklin Pierce, President of the United States of America. (lo. in pursuance of the advice and consent of the Senate, as expressed in their resolution of the 15th day of April, I856, accept. ratify and confirm the said treaty. In testimony I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereto affixed, having sigiied the saiii with my hanld. lone at the city of \Vashington. this twenty-first day of June, A.D. I856, and of the independence of the United States the eightieth. By the President: FRANKLIN PIERCE. W. L. iM'ARCY, Secretary of State. It was provided by the treaty of 1855 with the Chippewas of Saginawv, Swan Creek and Black River, that they were "to have the same exclusive right to enter lands within the tracts withdrawn from sale for them for five years after the time limited for selecting the lands to which they are individually entitled, and the same right to sell and dispose of land entered by them, under the provisions of the act of Congress known as the Graduation Act, as is extended to the Ottawas and Chippewas hy the terms of said agreeinenlt." The terms referred to in the treaty of July 31, I855, with the Ottawas and Chippewas. are as follows: That each Indian entitled to make a selection of land should indicate what governmental description he had selected \ 68 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. as his and deliver the same to the Indian agent. That for the purpose of determining who were entitled, lists were to be made designating them in four classes. Class one to contain heads of families; class two, those of single persons over twenty-one years of age; class three, those orphan children under twenty-one years of age, comprising families of two or more persons; and class four, those single orphan children under twenty-one years of age. After the completion of these lists the Indian had five years to make his selection. As soon as the selection was made the Indian was entitled to possession and a certificate from the government guaranteeing possession and title ultimately to the land. Such certificate to be nonassignable and the land could not be alienated by the holder of the certificate. After the expiration of ten years, such restriction on the power of sale was to be withdrawn and a patent issued in the usual form. These certificates were in the following form: INDIAN LAND CERTIFICATE. OTTAWAS AND CIIIPPEWAS-TREATY OF JULY 3IST, 1855. Office Michigan Indian Agency. Detroit, December 19, 1865. It is hereby certified that Thomas Nay-waw-caw-gish-kung is entitled to eighty acres of land under the provisions of the treaty of July 31, 1855, and that he has selected the east one-half of the southeast one-quarter, containing eighty acres of section I9, in township 15 north, range 4 west, in the county of Isabella. The said Thomas Nay-waw-caw-gish-kung may take immediate possession of said land and occupy the same, and the United States guarantees such possession and will hold the title thereto in trust for him and his heirs, until a patent in the usual form shall be issued therefor according to the terms of said treaty. This certificate is not assignable and the said Thomas Nay-waw-cawgish-kung is expressly prohibited from assigning or attempting to assign the same and from selling or transferring the said land, or disposing of the same or of any interest therein to any person under penalty of an entire forfeiture thereof. RICHARD M. SMITH, Indian Agent. In another paragraph it is provided that all lands not selected at the end of five years shall remain the property of the government and be subject to ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 69 entry by the Indians only, and at the same rate as other government lands. All such lands to be sold to the Indians without any restrictions and patents to be issued therefor. TREATY WITH TIlE CIIIPPEWAS OF SAGINAW, SWAN CREEK AND BLACK RIVER, 1864. Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the Isabella Indian reservation, in the state of Michigan, on the i8th day of October, in the year I864, between H. J. Alvord, special commissioner of the United States, and D. C. Leach, United States Indian agent, acting as commissioner for and on the part of the United States, and the Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River, in the state of *Michigan aforesaid, parties to the treaty of August 2, 1855, as follows, viz: Article 1. The said Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River, for and in consideration of the conditions hereinafter specified, ldo hereby release to the United States the several townships of land reserved to said tribe by said treaty aforesaid, situate and being upon Saginaw bay, in said state. The said Indians also agree to relinquish to the United States all claim to any right they may possess to locate lands in lieu of lands sold or disposed of )by the United States upon their reservation at Isabella, and also the right to purchase the unselected lands in said reservation, as provided for in the first article of said treaty. Article 2. In consideration of the foregoing relinquishlnents. the United States hereby agree to set apart for the exclusive use, ownership and occulpancy of the said Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River, all of the unsold lands within the six townships in Isabella county reserved to said Indians by the treaty of August 2, 1855, aforesaid, and designated as follows, viz: The north half of township 14 and townships 15 and I6 north, of range 3 west; the north half of township 14 and township 15 north, of range 4 west, and townships 14 and 15 north, of range 5 west. Article 3. So soon as practicable after the ratification of this treaty, the persons who have heretofore made selections of lands within the townships of Saginaw Bay, hereby relinquished, may proceed to make selections of lands upon the Isabella reservation in lieu of their selections aforesaid, and in like quantities. After a reasonable time shall have been given for the parties aforesaid to make their selections in lieu of those relinquished, the other persons entitled thereto may then proceed to make their selections in quantities as follows, viz: 70 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. For each chief of said Indians who signs this treaty, eighty acres in addition to their selections already made, and to patents in fee simple. For one head man in each band into which said Indians are now divided, forty acres, and to patents in fee simple. For each person being the head of a family, eighty acres. For each single person over the age of twenty-one years, forty acres. For each orphan child under the age of twenty-one years, forty acres. For each married female who has not heretofore made a selection of land, forty acres. And for each other person now living, or who may be born hereafter, when he or she shall have arrived at the age of twenty-one years, forty acres, so long as any of the lands in said reserve shall remain unselected, and no longer. In consideration of important services renlldered to said Indians during many years past, by William Smith, John Collins ist, Andlrew J. Compan, and Thomas Chatfield, it is hereby agreed that they shall each be allowed to select eighty acres in addition to their previous selection, and receive patents there for in fee simple; and to Charles H. Rodd, eighty acres, and a patent therefor in fee simple, to be received by said Rodd in full consideration and paymlent of all claims he may have against said Indians, except claims against individuals for services rendered or money expended heretofore by said Rodd for the benefit of said Indians. It is understood and agreed that those Ottawas and Chippewas and Pottawatomies now belonging to bands of which Mletayomieig, May-me-shegaw-day, Keche-kebe-me-mo-say and Waw-be-mlaw-ing-gun are chiefs, who have heretofore made selections upon said reservation, by permission of said Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River, who now reside upon said reservation in Isabella county, or who may remove to said reservation within one year after the ratification of this treaty, shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges to select and hold land as are contained in the third article of this agreement. So soon as practicable after the ratification of this treaty, the agent for the said Indians shall make out a list of all those persons who have heretofore made selections of lands under the treaty of August 2, 1855, aforesaid, and of those who may be entitled to selections under the provisions of this treaty, and he-shall divide the persons enumerated in said list into two classes, viz: "Competents" and "those not so competent." Those who are intelligent, and have sufficient education, and are qualified by business habits to prudently manage their affairs, shall be set down as "competents' and those who are ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 71 unedtlcated, or unqualified in other respects to l)rudently manage their affairs, or who are of idle, wandering or dissolute habits, and all orphans, shall be set down as "those not so competent." The United States agrees to issue patents to all persons entitled to selections under this treaty, as follows, viz: To those belonging to the class denominated "competents" patents shall be issued in fee simple, but to those belonging to the class of 'those not so comletent" the l)atent shall contain a provision that the land shall never be sold or alienated to any person or persons whomsoever, without the consent of the secretary of the interior for the time being. Article 4. The United States agrees to expend the sum of twenty thousand dollars for the support and maintenance of a manual labor school upon said reservation: Provided, that the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church shall, within three years after the ratification of this treaty, at its owln expense erect suitable buildings for school and boarding-house purposes, of a value of not less than three thousand dollars, tipon the southeast (luarter of section 9, township 14 north, range 4 west, which is hereby set apart for that purl)ose. The suplerintendent of public instruction, the lieutenant-governor of the state of Michigan, andi one person, to be (lcsignated l)r said missionary society. shall constitute a board of visitors, whose duty it shall be to visit said school once during each year, and examine the samle, and investigate the character and qualifications of its teachers and all other persons connected therewith. and report thereon to the commissioner of Indian affairs. The said Missionarv Society of the Methodist IEpiscopal church shall have full and undisputed control of the mnanagement of said school and the farm attachcd thereto. Upon the approval and acceptance of the school and b1oarding-house buildings b)y the board of visitors, the United States will pay to the authorized agent of said mlissionary society. for the supplort and mlaintenance of said school, the suil of two thousand (lollars, and a like sum annually thereafter, until the whole sumi of twenty thousand dollars shall have been expendel. The United States reserves the right to suspend the annual appropriation of two thousand dollars for said school, in part or in whole, whenever it shall appear that said missionary society neglects or fails to manage the affairs of said school and farm in a manner acceptable to the board of visitors aforesaid; and if, at any time within a period of ten years after the establishment of said school or farm for the purpose intended in this treaty, then, and in such case, said society shall forfeit all of its rights in the lands, buildings and franchises under this treaty, and it shall then be competent for the secretary 72 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of the interior to sell or dispose of the land hereinbefore designated, together with the buildings and improvements thereon and expend the proceeds of the same for the educational interest of the Indians in such manner as he may deem advisable. At the expiration of ten years after the establishment of said school, if said missionary society shall have conducted said school and farm in a manner acceptable to the board of visitors during said ten years, the United States will convey to said society the land before mentioned by i)atent in trust for the benefit of said Indians. In case said missionary society shall fail to accept the trust herein named within one year after the ratification of this treaty, then, and in that case, the said twenty thousand dollars shall be placed to the educational fund of said Indians, to be expended for their benefit in such manner as the secretary of the interior may deem advisable. It is understood and agreed that said missionary society may use the school house now standing upon land adjacent to the land hereinbefore set apart for a school-farm, where it now stands, or move it upon the land so set apart. Article 5. The said Indians agree that, of the last two payments of eighteen thousand eight hundred dollars each, provided for by said treaty of August 2, I855, the sum of seventeen thousand six hundred dollars may be withheld, and the same shall be placed to the credit of their agricultural fund, to be expended for their benefit in sustaining their blacksmith shop, in stock, animals, agricultural implements, or in such other manner as the secretary of the interior may deem advisable. Article 6. The commissioner of Indian affairs may, at the request of the chiefs and head-men. sell the mill and land belonging thereto at Isabella City, on said reservation, and apply the proceeds thereof for such beneficiary objects as may be deemed advisable by the secretary of the interior. Article 7. Inasmuch as the mill belonging to said Indians is partly located upon land heretofore selected by James Nicholson, it is hereby agreed that upon a relinquishment of ten acres of said land by said Nicholson. in such form as may be determined by the agent for said Indians, the said Nicholson shall be entitled to select eighty acres of land, subject to approval of the secretary of the interior, and to receive a patent therefor in fee simple. Article 8. It is hereby expressly understood that the eighth article of the treaty of August 2, I855, shall in no wise be affected by the terms of this treaty. In testimony whereof, the said H. J. Alvord and the said D. C. Leach, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 73 commissioners as aforesaid. and the undersigned chiefs and headmen of the Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River, have hereunto set their hands and seals at Isabella, in the state of Michigan, the day and year first above written. H. J. ALVORD, (seal) D. C. LEACH, (seal) Special Commissioners. In presence of Richard M. Smith. Charles H. Rodd, United States Interpreter, George Bradley. S. D. Simonds. Chief, his X mark. (seal) Lyman Bennett, Headman, his X mark. (seal) Jno. Pay-me-quo-ung, Chief, his X mark. (seal) \Villiam Smith, Headman, his X mark. (seal) N'auck-che-gaw-me. Chief, his X mark. (seal) Me-squaw-wa\-naw\-quot, Headman, his X mark. (seal) Thomas Dutton, Chief, his X mark. (seal) Paim-way-we-dung, Headman, his X mark. (seal) Elliott Kayback, Chief, his X mark. (seal) Solomlon (ttawa. Headman, his X mark. (seal) Andw'. O-saw-waw-bln. Chief, his X mark. (seal) Thos. WVain-dawnaw-quot. Headmnan. his X mark. (seal) Saw-taw-way, Chief, his X mark. (seal) I-kay-che-no-ting, his X mark. (seal) Ne-gaw-ne-quo-lum, headman, his X mark. '(seal) \Vaw-be-man-l-d(o. headman, his X mark. (seal) Ne-be-nay-aw —lnaw-quot-Rway —le chief, his X mark. (seal) Key-o-gwavw-iav-be. headman, his X mark. (seal) William Smith, chief, his X nark. (seal) Naw-gaw-ne-va-w\e-(dung, headman, his X mark. (seal) I-valk, headmvn, his X mark. (seal) Nav-aw-be-ttng, chief. his X mark. (seal) Jos. Way-be-ge-zhick. headman. his X mark. (seal) Samil Mez-haw-quaw-naw-unl, chief, his X mark. (seal) John P. Williams, headman, his X mark. (seal) L. Pay-haw-maw-she. chief, his X mark. (seal) David Fisher, chief, his X mark. (seal) 74 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In presence of Richard M. Smith, Charles H. Rodd, United States Interpreter. Amos F. Albright, Superintendent Mills. Marcus Grinnell, United States blacksmith. M. D. Baurassa, F. C. Babbett, George Bradley. At the time of the making of the treaty of I864 there was a good deal of contention between the Indians and the agents of the government as to the kind of a patent the Indian should receive for the land he should select. The Indians were claiming patents in fee simple, while the representatives of the government were desirous of making this reservation a perpetuity for the Indians. They feared that if the Indian obtained a title to his land that was alienable, he would squander it and would soon be without land or a home. One of the grandest and most pathetic pleas we ever hear(l was made on that occasion by the Great Chief Shaw-shaw-waw-na-beece, in behalf of his people. He recounted many of the wrongs that his people had suffered at the hands of the white man, and the many times they had been promised title to their lands. and the many times that the promises had been lbroken by the Great Fath-er. His plea carried conviction to all except the spirits representing the government and the Methodist Episcopal church, the said church having these Indians particularly under their supervision. The final result was a compromise between the contending parties, to the end that they agreed that the Indians should be classified according to their education, habits, ability to conduct their business affairs, as shown in the treaty. This designation was to be made by the Indian agent, and the interesting question then Nwas, who will be that agent. The white folks were desperately in favor of Brother Lo getting a clear title to his land, and he had good reason for his desire. ''here were about one hundred thousand acres of land, a large portion as fine as any in the state, and millions of splendidl pine timber, with large amount of hard wood timber and all of it just coming to be worth good money. If this is all to be tied up ly the Indian agent, it surely would be a calamity not to be tolerated, if there was any way to avoid it. On the other hand it was expected that Richard M. Smith might be the agent who wou(l make the designatioi, and it was known that he was strongly in favor of limiting tile number of "competents." While the Indian and the white settlers were anxiously awaiting the time when the designation should be made, and the die cast, the vessel with Mr. Smith on board went to the bottom of Lake Huron and Mr. Smith was drowned. We think that Mr. Smith was a conscientious man and felt that if the title to the lands were given wthlout reservation that it ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 75 would not he long before the lands would pass from under their ownership or control, and( I am not sure but what he was right. rWhile this was transpiring, another difficulty arose. Under the treaty of 1855, there was a provision authorizing any Indian after five years from the ratification of the said treaty, in which they were authorized to select and locate lands for a home, to enter lands within the reservation; this was confilied to Indians of this tribe. Conceiving that they might profit by that provision. two of the Indians, Andrew J. Complau and Charles IT. Rodd (United States interpreter), as soon as the treaty was signed at Isabella, saddled their horses anld made haste for the United States land office, then located at lonia, Michigan, and proceeded to enter some twelve thousand acres of the said reservation. These lands were entered principally for the pine and other timber upon said lands, which at this time was becoming very valuable. It will readily appear to any one knowing the Indian's proclivity for slenlding his money very soon after he receives it. that neither of these Indians had money to enter these lands, and that some white genius must have been in the scheme, not only to furnish the monley, but to have the various descriptions examined to lkno, what wsas on the land, for at that time the land:f itself was of little value' so it appears that as soon as the certificates of selection were made, a deed of the said lainds was made. a part )y Andrew J. Compau and a part by Charles T1. Roddl to one Frederick Hall, of lonlia, This comilication called for some heroic action on the part of the Indians: nIit there did not seem to l)e any one who desired to take the initiative. Two or three meetings were called with the idea of uniting the said Indians on some procedure to recover these lands, but the call was frustrated bv the missionair stationed among the Indians. Then another scheme was instituted, that was to get a few of the princilal chiefs and the missionary to meet at the court house in Mt. Pleasant, and canvass thie matter. They came, and Rev. George Bradley was made chairman. The purpose of the meeting was stated to be to get a hearing w\ith the secretary of the interior or with the commissioner of Indian affairs, and if possible induce the United States authorities to colmmence suit to annul the said selections, and the certiticates issued by the register and receiver of the land office. Tlie claim was that the action 1y the register and receiver exceeded their authority: that the clause in the treaty of 1855 was not available at that time. as a lnew treaty had been made in 1864, and had been duly signed )y the special commissioners of the United States and the several chiefs and headmen of the bands of Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River; that all it needed was the ratification of the Senate of the United States; that when so ratified the treaty would take 76 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. effect from the day of its execution; that by the terms of the last treaty all of these lands were withdrawn from entry under the old treaty and were held subject to the provisions of the new treaty. After a short conference, Rev. George Bradley was selected to act as chairman of a committee of five, composed of himself and four of the principal Indians, they to go to Washington, procure an audience with the secretary of the interior and see what could be done. Money was raised for their transportation and expenses, and they went to headquarters, sought and obtained an audience with the secretary; stated their grievance; obtained and brought back with them the promise that the matter would he investigated and if found as representedthat steps would be taken to annul the fraudulent entries and the land restored to its original status. The secretary carried out his promise, an investigation was made, a bill was filed in the United States court at Detroit, and on hearing a decree was granted annulling said selections and certificates to Charles H. Rodd and Andrew J. Compau, also the conveyances by them to Frederick Hall. The decree wiped out the fraud and cleared the lands of the cloud, since which all of said lands have been selected and patented to the Indians entitled thereto. INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCIOOL. During the session of Congress in I890-I Hon. A. T. Bliss, then a memler of Congress from this district, secured the passage of a bill making pr-ovisions for the establishment of such a school, as follows: "An act for the construction and completion of suitable school buildings for Indian industrial schools in Wisconsin and other states. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the secretary of the interior be, and is hereby authorized and directed to cause one Indian industrial or training school to be established in each of the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, at a cost not exceeding thirty thousand dollars for each school, said schools to be as near as practicable moulded on the plan of the Indian school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Provided, however, that no such school shall be established on any Indian reservation wherein Indians are located under an agent." It further provided that the buildings for the state of Michigan should be located in the county of Isabella. Seventy-five thousand dollars was appropriated, to be expended by the secretary of the interior for the purchase of suitable grounds and the erection of buildings, and for such other purposes as should be found necessary to carry out the purposes of the act. 'I"",: UNITED STATES INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BUILDING, MT. PLEASANT ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 77 The people of Isabella county, and especially the Indians, feel very grateful for the efforts of Colonel Bliss in securing this school, for without the appropriation we could not have hoped to locate one here. The interior department sent out its agent to secure a suitable site for such a school, and,.after a good deal of examination and investigation of different places for a site, they finally located on the present plot of ground, which lies just to the northwest of the city of Mt. Pleasant, on a high and commanding spot of ground, rolling and with a good descent to the east and with splendid drainage to the Chippewa river. The first building erected for the school was built in 1892-3 and was completed on or about the Ist of July, 1893. The government had anticipated solmew\hat the building and completion of their building and had opened a school in the Commercial block in Mt. Pleasant, with thirteen pupils as a nucleus for a larger attendance -when their rooms should be ready for occupancy. Dr. E. E. Riopel. as superintendent; Mrs. Riopel, matron; Mrs. Quinn. laundress; Mrs. Josephine Ayling, cook; Mrs. Brubaker, laundress; Miss Olie Lett, seamstress: Miss Holliday, a graduate from the Indian school of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as teacher; E. E. Nardin, as farmer, and Charles Slater, as carpenter. The rooms they occupied were not well adapted for such a purpose, but they remained, doing the best they could undler the circumstances, for about two months, when they moved into a dwelling house on the farm which they had remodeled for the purpose, and remained there until the first of July, when they moved into their own building. The first building erected was a brick structure, about one hundred and twenty feet by forty-five feet, two stories high with basement and attic, which was used as a dormitory, making the structure equivalent to a four-story building. They started with three horses and a light equipage of farming utensils. The growth of the institution has been marvelous, considering the common sentiment in regard to the Indian and his education. Lands have been added to the first original purchase until now they have three hundred and twenty acres, or half a section. being the east half of section 9 in township 14 north, range 4 west, Isabella county. Their outfit of buildings at the present time consists of eleven brick structures which are, one building one hundred and twenty feet by forty-five feet. with two full stories, a basement and an attic, all utilized; an assembly building, eighty-five by forty-five feet. with one wing forty feet by forty feet and another wing forty-five by eighty-five feet, all two stories and basement: 78 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. a girls' dormitory, ninety by ninety feet, two stories and basement; a Iboys dormitory of- the same size and dimensions; a building for a dining roonm, domestic science, and bakery, with a capacity for three hundred students; a hospital building, thirty-five by forty-five feet, with basement; power house, fifty by forty-five, one story and basement, equipped with three boilers, engine and dynamo; a laundry, forty-five by seventy-five, one story, fully equipped and sufficient for the needs of the school; a storehouse, twenty-five by fifty, one story; an industrial building, including blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, tailor and shoe shop, also a band room; a club house for the teachers and cook; this is devoted to the use of the six lady teachers and the lady cook. There are also several wooden buildings, to wit: A barn, forty by one hundred and twenty-four feet; a store building, forty by fifty; a storage builling, thirty-two by fifty; driving shed, twenty-eight by one hunldred; three cottages for the employees, viz: clerk, tailor, disciplinarian and carpenter; an ice house, twenty-four by thirty feet; a piggery, twenty-two bv eighty: a farm barn, forty by eighty, and a farm house, thirty by forty. for the assistant farmer; a dwelling for the night watch, upright sixteen by twenty-six, with a wing fourteen by twenty feet. This school has had a marked effect upon the Indians of this and other counties in the state. Their numbers have steadily increased until they now average something over three hundred students, which is the normal capacity of the school. Quite a number of the students have graduated and are now holding good positions in the government employ. As fast as they become proficient in the branches taught here, they may go to Carlisle, or, if sufficiently equipped, may seek employment in some other like institution, the government being at all times anxious that they should continue the work and thus stimulate others to a better life than that which they were wont to live. Here they are removed to a large extent from their natural haunts and come in closer touch with a better civilization, one that serves to change their environment and will in time modify their heredity. Knowing the tribal life of the Indian, one is surprised to see how soon they change to a large extent from their roving life to one of industry and good husbandry. In their school all of the conmmon branches are taught, besides which they have domestic science and mlanual training. Many of them have good voices and become quite proficient in music. The school supports a good brass band, and( they can play base ball and foot ball with proficiency. The government is doing what it consistently can to better the condition of a race that is fast disappearing and twill soon be among the peoples that were, unless by the change in their habits and modes of living they shall overcome the tendency to obliteration. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 79 The superintendents that have at times conducted the business and looked after the interests of the school are, first, Dr. E. E. Riopel; then came Rodney S. Graham, who was followed by E. E. Nardin, and he by the present incumlbent, R. A. Cockran. The superintendent's salary at first was one thousand( five hundred dollars; this has been increased to one thousand seven hundred dollars. The teachers receive from six hundred to eight hundred and forty dollars. The clerk, J. W. Bauman, who was formerly a student in the school, receives one thousand dollars. Two assistant matrons, one assistant cook and the gardenler are each graduates here, and John \Williams, present farmer, and Samuel Gruett, disciplinarian, have each been students in tile school. Charles Slater, carpenter, is the only perslon who has remlainedl in the employ of the school ever since it opened, which speaks volumes for his efficiency and faithfulness. One thing the authorities of the school are to be comp)llmelnted for is the preservation of tlhe forty acres of native forest situated just north of the plat on \lwhich the buildings are located. It is one of the finest pieces of green timber in the county, in fact I doubt if another such can be found. There are about seven hundred nice har(d inaple trees on the plat and the school is guarding these trees with jealous care. It has been said by many that the In(lian was a warlike creature, biut we do not think that applies with iiuch force to the Chippewas of the preseit day. The Inlians here have been a peaceable people for several generations at least. Yet, when our country was in need of soldiers to put down the Relellion, none were more rea(lv to enlist than the native Americani. We have tried to obtain a full list of those enlisting, but have been unalile to procure one. We herewith present a partial list, secured direct froli some of those who went into the service, allnd have personal knowledge: John Jackson, Thomas Smith. Dan Sunshine (or Covert), Abranm lrock (son of the great Chief Shaw-shaw-waw-naw -beese), James (.ruett, William Chatfield, Charles Chlatfield, John Waw-he-naw, George Corbin. Amos Chamberlain, Marcus Otto, Joe Fisher, Samuel Fisher, Ke-go. William Westbrook, John Chatfield, \Nilliam Kay-ne-go-me. William Isaac, Dan Ashman (a drunmmer), Dan Paymos-se-gay, Thomas \Vaw-le-naw, Sag-a-tup, James Quaw-be-way, John Collins (sharpshooter), Johnny Collins (sharpshooter). Not-to-way, Peter Barnes, Peter Camlpau (Seventh Michigan Cavalry), Lewis Pe-che-ka, Peter Bennett, Peter Johns. John Andrew, Mart Ne-ome. The story would not be complete without mention of another attempt made by those who undertook to despoil the Indian of his rightful possessions. During the time that the lands were held by the Hall interests, a bill was introduced in the Congress of the United States, intended to confirm title in Hall 80 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and his grantees. The bill was carefully and ingeniously drawn, and when it came up for action the question was propounded as to how much land was involved, and the congressman from this district flippantly replied, about one hundred and sixty acres. The answer, for some cause, was not satisfactory; action was postponed and the bill was never passed. The evasive or untruthful answer cost the congressman his office, and he was not returned. Soon after the treaty of I855, to-wit, in I856, the Indians commenced to move to their reservation in Isabella county. Some of them came by the way of St. Louis in Gratiot county, there being a few families living on the banks of the Pine river just below St. Louis; among them were the Gruets. Chatfields, Rodds, Bradleys, Lyons, Smiths, and others coming into the county by the pony route, packing upon the pony or upon their own backs all of their belongings. Others came into the county by the Chil)pewa river route with canoes, dug out of pine logs. In these canoes they stored away all that they possessed, including the wife and pappooses; as one Indian expressed it, "the river was full of canoes, and we brought all that we possessed." They landed at or near what was afterward Isabella City, where the mill was built, made their selections of land under the treaty of 1855 and settled upon the same. They built small wigwams out of birch bark or of logs, covered them with bark to keep out the inclement weather and proceeded to make some clearing, cutting down the timber and burning the same. It will be remembered that the lands were all covered with a dense growth of timber and underbrush. Most of the older selections and settlement was made in the summers of 1856-7. Their history is that most of the Indians coming in those years were quite industrious, desiring to make a home on the reservation, and for four or five years made considerable improvement upon their lands. Not getting their patents at the end of their first five years, as they supposed they would, and the fact that the idea of making the reservation perpetual had become noised about among the Indians, their enthusiasm for clearing and subduing land that some shrewd or designing paleface should afterward reap the benefit of his hard labor began to abate and the longer it continued the less did poor Lo crave the job of enriching the white man by his voluntary labor; so that they began again to neglect their clearing and improvement and many of them left their land to again seek a livelihood by hunting, fishing, trapping and the making of baskets by the female portion of the family, gathering the material for baskets and woven articles wherever most convenient. The Indians report that when they came to Isabella county in I856-7 there was an abundance of fish in the streams and lakes of the county, and JACOB TIPSICO Chippeway Indian, Born in McConll) County, Michigan, March 1, 1827 , ", ", r, .,.,"v.,0 .-, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 8I great quantities of wild fowl in the timber and on the lakes, with deer, bear, mink, musk-rat, coon, beaver and fox in great plenty, with some wolves, wildcat, lynx and pole-cat thrown in to give flavor to the list. All or nearly all of these have now passed away or been legislated beyond the reach of any one, except he desires to bask for a time in the county jail or take a trip to the workhouse in Detroit. The Indian is not supposed to have inherited aly great desire to work, but is accredited with having a great longing for fire-water. In this the supposition is not altogether correct, for I think it can be truthfully said that the Indians who came to Isabella under the said treaties were greatly above the average in their desire to be good, sober citizens and that but a small percentage of them were addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors to excess. On the whole, they were a very quiet and peaceable class of citizens. The writer of this article has had much to do with the Indian in this county, having spent a great many days and nights in the timber in the early days of the settlement of the county, running out state roads and public highways. generally working with one white man and fron eight to ten Indians. They make good chainmen and axe-men, as well as flagmen, in a surveying party. They were very good workers in the woods, cutting logs, and especially good in driving logs down the river in the spring to their destination at Saginaw and Bay City. The Indians were possessed of guns for hunting at the time they came to Isabella; some had ponies, but no wagons or other conveyance by land and only the ordinary dug-out canoe for transportation on the lakes and rivers. In employing them for work in surveying roads and for like work in the woods, they were not difficult to satisfy in the line of provisions; their first requirement when starting on a surveying tour through the forest was a goodly supply of tobacco and pipes; these were absolutely essential and nothing could take their place. Next was a sufficient supply of ham, bacon and bread or crackers; after that you could chink in almost anything of the eatable class and there would be no grumbling. In the treaty of 1855 there were made certain provisions for the education of the Indian children, and to carry out that portion of the treaty several school houses suitable for that purpose were built. Irving E. Arnold had the contract in 1858 to build four school houses to be used for the Indians, and as soon as they were completed teachers were secured to conduct them. These schools were continued for several years, with more or less success. The principal difficulty was in the poor attendance, with the further fact that as a rule the teacher did not understand the Indian (6) 82 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. language and the children could not understand the teacher, with the further fact that as soon as the school closed for the day the child returned to its home, there to talk Indian until the school hour the next day. My observation has been that but little benefit was derived from the schools as then conducted. At a later date it was thought that the Indian was entitled to further consideration in the educational line and an attempt was made by some of the good citizens of Isabella county toward establishing an industrial school. CHAPTER V. ORGANIZATION OF ISABELLA COUNTY. The lands comprlisced w\ithin the boundaries of Isabella county were duly laid off by an act of the Territorial Council in the year I831, by "An Act to provide for laying off into separate counties, the district of country adjacent to Grand River, and for other purposes. "Be it enactel by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan. "Section 13. That the country included within the following limits, to-wit: west of the line between ranges 2 and 3 west; east of the line between ranges 6 and 7 west; south of the line between the townships 16 and 1 7, and north of the line betw-een townships 12 and 1 3 north, containing sixteen townships, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Isabella. "Approved Mar-ch -, 1831.' The county at this timle was an unllroken wilderness of timber, devoid of inhabitants, white or Indian; up to this time not a tract of land, great or small, had been entered by anyone. In the year 1853 an act was passed attaching Isalella county to the county of Saginaw for certain purposes, to-wit: "Section I. The people of the state of Michigan enact, that the counties of ilidlland. Arenac, Gladwlin. Isabella and losco, be alnd the same are hereby attached to the county of Saginaw, for judicial and representative purposes. 'Sec. 2. The counties of Gladwin, Arenac and Isabella he and the same are hereby attached to the township of Midland for the purposes aforesaid, and for the purposes of taxation, until set off and organized into other townships; andl that the county of Iosco be and the same is hereby attached to the township of -lamplton, in the county of Saginaw. for like purposes. "Approved February 3, I853.' In this act there is no provision made for the return of any vote on any subject, and it is evident that there were no settlers in the county at that time. Further that no township had been organized in the county. 84 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. The Legislature of 1855. by act No. 98, "An act to attach the counties of Isabella and Gladwin to the county of Midland for judicial and municipal purposes. "Section I. The people of the state of Michigan enact, that the counties of Isabella and Gladwit be and the same are hereby attached to the county of Midland for judicial and municipal purposes. "Sec. 2. All acts or parts of acts controvening the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. "Sec. 3. This act shall take effect immediately. "Approved February 12, i855." The same session of the Legislature organized the township of Coe in Isabella county. "No. 151, an act to organize the township of Coe, in county of Isabella. "Section I. The people of the state of Michigan enact, that the surveyed townships described as town 13 north, of range 3 west, and 14 north, of 3 west, in the county of Isabella, be and the same are hereby organized into a township by the name of the township of Coe, and the first township meeting therein shall be held at the house of Mr. Campblell, on section 17, in town 13 north, range 3 west. "Approved February 13, I855." In I859, by act "No. I I8, to-wit, an act to organize the county of Isabella: "Section I. -The people of the state of Michigan enact, that the county of Isabella shall be organized, and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by law the inhabitants of other organized counties of this state are entitled. "Sec. 2. Provides for an election of county officers, to be held on the first Monday of April, 1859, such officers to enter upon their duties on the first Monday in May, 1859. -Sec. 3. Board of canvassers to meet at the house of John M. Hursh on the second Tuesday of April next after the said election, to canvass and declare the result of said election." In the same act the county of Clare was attached to the county of Isabella for municipal and judicial purposes, and to the township of Isabella for township purposes. Approved February II, I859. An election was held as provided in section 2, the board of canvassers met according to requirement and canvassed the vote and declared Richard ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 85 Hoy elected as county treasurer, Irving E. Arnold, clerk, Charles H. Rodd (Indian), sheriff, James Wilsey, judge of probate. Malcom D. Davis, county surveyor, and Nelson Mosher, prosecuting attorney. - The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held at the house of John M. Hursh, on May 9, 1859. Supervisors Perry H. Estee, of Coe, N. C. Payne, of Chippewa, and A. G. Ferris, of Isabella, were present, they representing all of the then organized townships. I. E. Arnold, county clerk, was clerk of the board, and P. H. Estee was elected chairman. Their first official act was to approve the bond of Richard Iloy, county treasurer; the second act was voting to bond the county for one thousand five hundred( dollars for the relief of the destitute of the county. William R. Robbins, of Coe, was applointed agent to negotiate said bonds and purchase provisions, to be sold on time to the suffering and needy settlers. He was not to sell said bonds for less than seventy-five cents on the dollar, and by his report he used but five hundred dollars and returned the balance into the treasury; Robbins was instructed to take security, either real estate or approved notes, for the provisions he distributed, to be made payable on or before two years. There was turned into the treasury in notes the sumt of four hundred ninety-eight dollars and ninety-eight cents. After allowing wolf bounties to Isaiah Ah-pwa-qua-naw, John Pe-boom and Abram Ah-ne-mahhong. and a few minor accounts, they proceeded to fix the salaries of the county officers, as follows: The county treasurer, from May ist to January ISt, fifty dollars, and from January I, I86O, to January I, 186I, three hundred and fifty dollars. County clerk, from May T, I859, to January I, I86I, three hundred dollars. Prosecuting attorney, for his full term, one hundred and fifty dollars. The board then fixed the time for a meeting with the board of Midland county for the purpose of making a settlement on account of Isabella county having been annexed to the county of Midland for municipal and judicial purposes and for the purposes of taxation. The time set for such meeting was December 13, 1859. A meeting was held as provided, which resulted as follows: "Midland City, Michigan, January 4, 186o. Minutes of a joint meeting of the supervisors of the counties of Midland and Isabella, at the treasurer's office of Midland county. The board came to order at one o'clock P. M.; present from Isabella county, Coe, P. H. Estee, Chippewa, N. C. Payne; from Midland county, Charles D. Searrin, Samuel D. Gaskill and Sylvester Erway; chairmen, Charles D. Searrin and P. H. Estee. At five o'clock the board took a recess until after supper. The board came to order at seven o'clock, members all present. It is hereby agreed and resolved by the board of supervisors of Midland and Isabella counties, now in joint session, 86 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. that for the purpose of effecting a settlement in full of all accounts and demands between said counties to this date, that the county of Midland shall account to the state for all of the state tax liable to be paid by Isabella county for the year I859 and I86o, and that the above shall be in full as a settlement by and between said counties. Provided, the above resolution shall il no way effect a settlement between the said county of Midland and the several towns of Isabella county, but the same shall be accounted for and paid over by the said treasurer of Midland county to the several towns of the county of Isabella according to law. "Dated at Midland City, January 4, i86o. "CHARLES D. SEARRIN. (I.. S.) "SYLVESTER ERWAY. (L. S.) "SAMUEL D. GASKILL. (L. S.) "In behalf of Midland County. "P. H. ESTEE. (L. S.) "N. C. PAYNE. (L. S.) "In behalf of Isabella Co0unty. "Upon motion, the board adjourned without day. "IRVING E. ARNOLD, "Clerk of Isabella County." The place selected by the commission appointed by the governor was at the geographical center of the county. There was no settlement there whatever, not so much as an Indian, the nearest settlement being on section 22, township 14 north, range 4 west, just on the south side of Mt. Pleasant. The land on which the county seat was located was not blought from the United States until December I5, I855. REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT. On October IO, I859, the board of supervisors met in regular session at the center and, after transacting the October business, adjourned until the second Tuesday of January, i86o. On January 1o, I86o, they met pursuant to adjournment, and after transacting some business, adjourned to the 20th of February. After allowing some bills and a couple of wolf bounties, they adjourned till the next dav, when the following resolution was offered by P. H. Estee: "Resolved by the board of supervisors of Isabella county, that the following described piece or ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 87 parcel of land be and hereby is designated by this board for the location of the county seat of this county, as prolosed to be removed, as provided hy law, towit: Beginning at the center of section 15, in township 14 north, range 4 west, state of Michigan, from thence running northerly forty rods, along the -state road running from John M. Hursh's to the Indian Mills, and botunded westerly by said road, thence east twenty rods, thence southerly forty rods, andli bounded easterly by a line running parallel with said state road, thence west to the place of beginning, containing five acres of land more or less. Said resolution was duly carried by a two-thirds vote. After the passage of said resolution, it was then provided that the proposition should be submitted to the qualified electors of the county at the April election of 1860. The county clerk was directed to post notices of such election and the purpose of the same in all of the to\wnships in said county. "After the election a special lmeeting of the said board of supervisors was called to meet at the Isabella center for the purpose of canvassing the votes. The 1oard( met on the Ith (lay of May, I86o. The board then consisted of \Villiam R. Rolbins, of Coe, N. C. Payne, of Chippewa, and Charles H. Rodd (Indian), for Isabella. The canvass resulted as follows: For the removal, Isalella, yes, 86, noes, 87; Coe, yes, 54, noes, T4: Chip)l)ea, T6 for and 2 against, IIaking a majority in favor of removal of fifty-three votes. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: 'Resolved, by the board of sul)ervisors of Isabella county, that the county seat of said county is herel)y remlovel. and( bl this act is established and located at the l)oint (lesignated by the -board(l of supervisors of this county, Felruary 21, 1860, said point being near the center of section 15. in t(ownslhil 14 IInrth, range 4 west, state of M iichigan. "W. R. RoBuINNS, ChairmIan. "IRVING E. ARNOLI), County Clerk." IThe census of the county at this time, as taken l)y M... Davis, was one thousand four hundred and( forty-one, alout one-half American and one-half Indian. The number of votes cast at the said election for and against the removal of the county seat would indicate that nearly the entire vote was cast. David Ward. the person w ho owne( the lands on which the county seat was located and on which the city of Mt. Pleasant was afterward located, had 1much to (10 with the removal from the center of the county. He donated to the Indians seventeen and one-half acres of land on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15. tonIl 14 north, range 4 xwest, the place \\where the south half of the city park is now locatel, and also several lots to 88 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. different Indians who were supposed to have considerable influence with the Indians. It was a good scheme, for the reason that the present location of the capital of the county is much better than the one at the center, where there is no river, lake or stream of any kind; whereas the present location has a very desirable water privilege on the Chippewa river, has fine boating facilities, and the plat is comparatively level and of a light sandy soil, most of it easy of drainage and devoid of mud. Mr. Ward further promised that if the county seat was moved to his lands at Mt. Pleasant, he would build a court house and donate it to the county. It was built according to promise and was completed. On the I2th day of July, I860, the board of supervisors met at Mt. Pleasant and after organizing, they proceeded to inspect the court house anld accept the same, also to accept the job of clearing and grubbing one and onehalf acres of land on the court square, which had been let to W. II. Nelson at one hundred and forty dollars and one hundred and fifty dollars for measuring one and one-half acres. At the same session J. E. Arnold was paid for transcribing the records affecting this county which had been made at Midland county when Isabella was attached to that county for municipal and judicial purposes. The first payment was sixty-six dollars for transcribing six hundred folios of records and afterward thirty dollars for completing the same. The first county order was issued to M. D. Davis for services in drawing a jury; the amount was seventy-five cents, written on legal cap paper, and was as follows: "$00.75. Treasurer of Isabella county, pay to M. D. Davis or bearer 75-1oo dollars out of money in your hands raised for incidentals. Isabella Center, October IIth, I859. "P. IH. ESTEE, "Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "I. E. ARNOLD, Clerk.' CHAPTER VI. EARLY REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS. There are many little incidents of early history that call hardly be expected to find their way into a general history and therefore must seek a place in the little incidents that occur as the days go by. Going back to I854-5, at the time that the very first settlers made their way into this then dense wil(lerness of timber, we find the pioneers laboring under many great hardships and privations. At first there were no roads, no stores, no mills, no postoffice, so that when the first stock of provisions was exhausted there was no place near by where they could be replenished. Maple Rapids, or Fish Creek, was the nearest and that was not less than forty miles (listant, and through the forest at that. Thither were they compelled to go for some time for supplies, as well as for mail and to mill. A journey over the trail at that time gave them lots of time for reflection and on one of their tours Dan Brickley and John Stewart with one other, purchased a hand grinder with which they could grind their corn into meal and their wheat and rye into flour. This mill they rented to their neighbors for their use at one shilling per bushel. Some, either for want of the price or for other reasons, did not use the pony mill, but resorted to a more primitive manner of obtaining the same results, namely, by using a coffee mill, and William Payne and John Fraser, being artists with a jack plane, were able to keep the family going by shaving the corn from the cob with their jack plane (and this when Fraser had six hundred dollars in gold in the house), and Charles Taylor made a trough out of a black ash log, fastened an iron wedge into a hand spike and with that beat the corn into meal and the good wife made the meal into what they called a black-ash Johnny cake. Who will say that the cake was not wholesome, aye delightful? INDEPENDEDNCE DAY CELEBRATIONS. Our first settlers were not all savages, for it is recorded that as early as March 25, 1855, in a log house, the residence of Eber Hamilton, Charles Taylor preached the first sermon ever preached in the county, and it is said that it was a genuine good old fashioned Methodist sermon. 90 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In that same year the Fourth of July was celebrated at the house of William B. Bowen. The next celebration of the Fourth of July was had in i86I at the house at Salt River. N. C. Payne was president of the day, Hon. P. H. Estee, reader, and Hon. Nelson Mosher, orator. A pole was raised which was one hundred and twenty feet high and remained there until the night of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, when it blew down. The following ladies prepared a handsome flag and hoisted it themselves, to-wit: Mrs. James Campbell, Mrs. D. D. Burham, Mrs. H. 0. Bigelow, Mrs. James WVilsey, Mrs. William R. Robbins and Mrs. P. H. Estee. There were present at this celebration about one thousand persons, great and small, which \\ould be about all of the people of that vicinity. FIRST TEINGhS. The perpetuation of the race as well as the peopliIig of a coulnty is a matter of prine importance and one worthy to be preserved in the annals of history. There has been some controversy as to who was the first born in the county and we have investigated the matter quite fully with the result that the first male child born was Adelbert Revlolds and the first girl was Mary \.,Fanning, born May 5, I855, with a close second il Isabella I ursh, I)orn in June, 1855, and Isabella Campbell, born August 20, 1855. The first marriage ceremony was performed by AW. H. Stewart, a justice of the peace, who received coon skins for his fee (how many lie received is not stated) and the act was performed upon Daniel Robinson and Jane Foutch. On the same day it is claimed that David Foutch was married to Agnes. daughter of William B. Bowen. The pace set on that day has continued ever since, with ever increasing celerity, until now we number from two hundred and ten to two hundred and forty each year. This splendid showing in the line of domestic felicity is a trifle marred by the fact that from sixteen to twenty-four divorces are granted each year. And yet, to those who believe that no divorces should be granted, it may seem large: to those who believe that mismated people should not be compelled to live together in perpetual unhappiness, it is not so large. MAIL ROUTES AND POSTOFFICES. In any civilized community of today the facilities for the transmission of news is very much desired if not demanded. Therefore at an early date in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 91 the settlement of Isabella we find this much desired object achieved by the establishment of a mail route from St. Louis in Gratiot county to Salt River, in Isabella, and the establishment of a postoffice at Salt River, with William R. Robbins as postmaster. The office was opened on the 8th day of August, 1857. About the same time Joel Drake, who lived near the northwest corner of Coe township, was made postmaster of a postoffice estallished there, called Wiota. Not long after these were established the route was extended to the John ML. Hursh residence, jist south of here on what was then known as the IHursh farm; the office was called NewvAlbany and J. M. Hursh was its postmaster. Not long afterward the route was continued still farther north to the Chippewa river w\here the village of Isabella City was located, where a postoffice was established and F. C. Btbbitt made postmaster. The first mail was brought into the county by a carrier on foot, and came from the south through Gratiot county to Salt River, thence north and west to \W'iota and on west and north to New Albany atid thence north to Isabella City and there stopl)ed for several years. After the organization of the county and the establishllent of the county seat at Mlt. Pleasant, several attempts were made to have the postoffice departllent estallish an office at the county seat, but without avail. All such matters were sent to the congressman from this district, who was at that time a resident of Saginaw. All such importunities were entirely ignored or sent to the nearest postoffice, which was Isabella City, and there pigeonholed. The tilne came when the congressman needed to be renomiatc(l or remain at home. Hle then became approachalle and anxious, so much so that he matle a visit to Mt. Pleasant to fix up his fences; but he found the lbars all down aind no one to put them up or to keelp them tip if they were lpit lup, and when he went out to view the open space he found posted over the barway the following legend: "No postoffice; no votes." He took the hint and in a few days Mt. P'leasant was the proud possessor of a postoffice and Milton Bradley was postmaster. The salary was small, but the acconmmodations great. Mt. Pleasant was halppy over her new acquirement and the congressman happy over the votes that he received. DETERMINED TO MARRY. The first piece of land was entered November 28, I85, by Aloney Rust. This piece of land was not soon settled upon, but remained wild until I860, when Aloney Rust sold it to his brother, Ezra Rust. After the purchase of Ezra and in i86o, he desired to know what he had gotten for his money, so 92 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. he and a friend rigged up a team of horses, attached them to a light two-horse wagon and, putting in their saddles and their provisions for a week's journey, they started for the woods. Arriving at the quarter house and not being able to go farther with their rig, they stripped their horses of their harness, put on their saddles and started out. After having been out for several days and on returning, they found that their wagon and harness had departed. On making due inquiry, they learned that a couple from Isabella City, being over desirous to become married, had saddled a couple of ponies and started out in search of a minister or justice of the peace who could relieve their distress; had found that horse-hack riding in a wilderness was not the most pleasant pastime so they unsaddled their ponies, donned the harness of Rust, hitched the ponies onto the wagon, seated themselves and drove for Midland. Arriving there in safety, they soon found the proper official, who joined them for better or for worse. They then sent the ponies and wagon hack to the place from whence they got them and went on their way rejoicing. The wagon returned in good season and Mr. Rust now tells the story with a good degree of zest. DIDN' T RELISH HIS BED. There are some ludicrous things that happen in a new and woolly country as this was in the early days. There was to be a dance in a distant part of the county and at the appointed time the merry participants began to congregate for the occasion. It so happened that it was not a prohibition place and the spirits soon became over jubilant, so much so that one, at least, lost himself to the pleasures of this world and became oblivious to time and his surroundings, so the other spirits deemed it but proper that he be made comfortable and safe from harm. In looking about for a suitable place, they discovered that it was hog-killing time and that a large porker was lying just outside the partition of the dance hall, and in a place that was convenient so that they might visit it occasionally and see that no harm came to their subject. So they lifted the subject, carried him to the spot and there deposited him inside of the porker that lay with outstretched arms to receive him. There he lay till the morning dawn, when, on awaking, he discovered his place and companionship. Naturally he felt humiliated and he resolved to have redress for the great wrong done to a human being. So he started for a place where he could obtain the redress he felt he was entitled to. Arriving at the office of the proper officer, he demanded in imperious and ineloquent terms for a warrant for the miscreants who had humiliated him. The officer very meekly asked who it was that he wanted the warrant for and his reply was neither i.. -." - * Sxi';^ ".1 1 '* * ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 93 elegant nor genteel, but still it gave the officer no ground to work upon and again he inquired who it was that he desired the papers for, and again the party was abusive and gave the officer nothing but the vilest slang and abuse and so much so that the officer lost his patience in the turmoil and, seizing a shovel used for removing ashes from all old fashioned box stove, aimed a blow at the intruder, which caused him to flee to his rig and escape toward his home. 'he officer, feeling the dignity of his office insulted, swore out a warrant, put it in the hands of the sheriff and he with a deputy started in pursuit of the fleeing offender. After a long chase, they finally corralled the culprit, arrested and brought him back to answer to a charge of a breach of the peace. lie was tried and convicted and fined twenty-five dollars. He paid the fine and departed a wiser if not a better fellow. SEEKING JUSTICE AMID DIFFICULTIES. There was a time back in the sixties when a considerable number of families were on the verge of starvation. They had lost what little of their crol)s they had attempted to raise and in the spring they were compelled to subsist upon wvild leeks and maple sugar. with but very little of anything else. At one of these times there was a controversy between a couple of these settlers, which they undertook to have settled in a justice court. The suit was brought and came on for trial. The court was held in a small room in the old court house and was plresided over by a worthy justice who probably. before such honors were forced upon him. had acquired the habit of taking a quiet smoke, ostensibly to brighten his intellect for the occasion. Now if you have a very imaginative Inind you can probably conceive of the delectable condition of the atmosphere of the room wlere there was no more ventilation than in Noah's ark, with a fair amount of heat radiating from a box stove fire, connected with the breath of a room full of stomachs loaded with leeks and maple sugar gulping up gas, internlingled with smoke from a much-used pipe, loaded with some costly tobacco, intermingled with the fumes of the poor cigars of the time, you can appreciate the pleasure of one who was obliged to undergo the ordeal. SQUAB IIUNTING. Did you ever eat squab? Did you ever hunt squab? If you did not, you can hardly say that you have feasted on the fat of the land in which you live. In an early day the woods were full of the wild pigeon, and about I870 they appeared here for the last time. Their roost was in the east part of Mecosta 94 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. county. Seeing the pigeons going and coming each clay in flocks of thousands, a party started from Mt. Pleasant and made their way west on an Indian trail and road, following the line of the pigeons' flight until they came to the roost proper. where they arrived just before (lark. It was an interesting sight to see the thousands of birds coming from every direction to their nesting place and to hear them swoop and swirl through the branches of the tall trees. seeking out their proper home and family, bringing with them the food gathered during the hunt of the day. Gathering a few squabs before it was too dark to seek out the nest, the party built a fire of sticks and brush and after cleaning the little beauties proceeded to impale them upon sharp sticks and roast them in the fire until the scent of the frying meat was too much for a famished cannibal and then they proceeded to devour the delicious morsels. This was continued until all of the captured birds were dispatched, when a bed was made on the ground under the trees where the pigeons were roosting, and there they lay down for the night. All went well until alout daylight when the buzz and whir of the birds going out upon their hunt for food for themselves and their young became too exciting for further sleep, for the hunters also must be up and doing in order to secure a sufficient numlber of squabs for a breakfast, together with a few to carry home to their families. This job was soon accomplished and after a repast such as a king might be proud of, the horses were saddled and the home journey entered upon. All day the air was full of the faithful pigeons on their pilgrimage for food. This roost was the last in this section and substantially the last of the wild pigeon. For many years none have been seen migrating north in the spring or south in the fall and today they are extinct so far as can be ascertained. Who can tell the cause of their disappearance from off the face of the earth? We say extinct, for the reason that large bounties have been offered by several parties for the recovery of a single pair of the once plentiful wild pigeon and so far as we are informed no one has succeeded in furnishing any of those beautiful birds. A PLUCKY WOMAN. On one occasion in the early sixties a young woman was left with two small children to do the work at home, while the husband had gone to the front to fight the battle for freedom and had left a patch of turnips and also a small field of potatoes to harvest. No help could be had, so she was compelled to go into the field and pull the turnips and dig the potatoes with the aid of the oldest boy, a lad of nine. They harvested the crop and then sold seventy-five bushels of the turnips for twenty cents a bushel. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 95 These were used by many of the families as their staple food. The balance was fed to the stock, as there was no hay in the settlement at the time and the stock was compelled to browse upon the brush and limbs in the woods. The hard work and exposure in the field and in caring for the stock in winter caused a felon to appear on the woman's hand and, after four (lays and nights of intense pain and suffering, she started one starlight night for the doctor's house, some two and one-half miles away, following the trail through the woods, timid anl fearful of meeting some ferocious wild animal, as the forests containedt at that time many bear, some wolves, catamounts and occasionally lynx. Fortune favored the brave woman and after a long tramp she arrived at the doctor's residence about three o'clock in the morning and she rapped at his door. He soon appeared, invited her in and after examining the hand, prohed it with a lance and relieved the pain and after applying some soothing applications she felt relieved and started back to her little ones at home. At another time, not long after the above incident, a family living in the forests of Isabella, whose )arents resided in western New York state. the wife learned that her parents had sold their farm and were coming to Isabella. It was in the month of March and they had made their journey by rail to the then village of St. Johns, some fortr-five miles distant from the home of her daughter. and. coming into the county by wagon over the corduroy and mud roads of the country, on arriving were very much wearied and nearly exhausted so that it seemed necessary that the old lady at least should have a good strong, soothing cutp of tea. She did not know that tea in the wilderness was a great luxury. The daughter knew, however, that her mother would expect it, but what could she (o? There was nothing left, as it seemed to her, but procure the tea. The nearest store was at Salt River, so she (lonned her bonnet and shawl and started out for the beverage. It was a long journey to walk six miles and more in the month of March, but she made the trip and returned with the article, made the tea and her mother enjoyed it very much. She remarked that she thought that she must have sonie very good neighbors that she should stay so long and visit, or else they must be a good ways off. In the year '61, I remember it well, We ('llle to the Michigan forests to dwell, No signs thit the white niin had yet passed that way W'here Nature, most primitive, fully held sway. First a few trees were felled and a small space was cleared Where a little log-cabin was speedily reared, With just one small window to let in the light, And a wooden-hinged door that we made fast at night. We brought witll us bedling,. stove and some food, Amd the axe-most implortant —our chief ally stood; We were then young and healthy, with courage quite keen, Though tIndi.ans nnd wild enasts were freluenttly seen. 96 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The opening around us grew broader each day, Letting in the blue sky and the sunlight's bright ray, Then the birds came to greet us and sing 'mong the leaves And build tiny nests 'neath the cabin's low eaves. Other settlers came in and took up a claim And the township received then its first legal name, Which was Lincoln, and passable roads were cut through Where each built his cabin and started anew. Then the women found time to make calls-I should sayGoing oft in the morning and staying all day; With knitting in hand they thought it no labor To walk a few miles to visit a neighbor. It may interest you to know how we made Our pastry and puddings from things that we had; But the maxim was just as true then as to-day That "where there's a will, there's always a way." We made good mince pies without apples or meat, And the elder bush furnished us berries to eat, Baked in pie, with a few leaves of sorrel to sour it. You would know it was good had you seen us devour it. Our cookies and cakes would just take the lead, Made of nice maple sugar and caraway seed, Cut out with a teacup or fashioned by hand, Our pioneer cakes were the best in the land. From barley and peas nicely roasted and ground A fine cup of coffee could always be found; It wasn't quite Mocha and Java, 'tis true, But preferable far to to-day's Postuml brew. Some used the wild strawberry leaves for their tea, And the white inner bark of the fr;i grant pine tree; Its medicinal virtue no tea can excel And the use of it daily kept each of them well. How well I remember our first home-grown foods — Cucumbers and turnips grown there in the woods, And tame, juicy berries, delicious and sweet, We now had abundance of good things to eat. If a wood-bee was planned all the men turned out strong And women and children of course went along; Each carried a basket or pail full of dinner And made no distinction between saint or sinner. But all joined together; and while the men worked, We women just visited-never one shirked In doing her share of the talking and greeting That made of that day an experience meeting. Well, times somewhat changed as the years rolled between When fine farms appeared, and nice homes were seen, And fashion crept in according to station, And visits were made only by invitation. Some even dropped out-I am sorry to sayAnd became more exclusive, like some are today, While a spirit of rivalry if not of strife Drove out of our midst the old simple life. I' - ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 97 There is one more experience I will explain Though I never should wish to explain it again. The time for the watch-meeting service drew near To watch out the old and to greet the New Year. I had never attended a meeting like this, And thought it was something I ought not to miss. Though, to tell just the truth, I didn't feel right In leaving my husband and children at night. But a neighbor, his wife, and another dear friend, Who had always:ccustomedl themselves to attend, Had said they would call for me if I would go, And so I decide(l I would not say no. 'Twas a bitter cold night —with an old open sleigh I)rawn by oxen, and filled in with st raw or with hay, With blankets for robes to protect from the storm, Which were quite insufficient in keeping us warm. Then the slow:lce began, for some three mIiles below, To the Chippewa schoolhouse where we llad( to go. It seemed we would lnever the meeting-l:lace reach, Or hear any sermon the good man might preach. But we reachedl there at last. with no time to spare, Quite chilled from tile ride in tile cold, frosty air, The stove gave out warmtlh most grateful to all. But no seats nere provided except Inea the wall. So T sat il a corner, a bench for a seat, And the cracks in the floor gave no warmth to my feet. 'Twas a small congregation with only a few Who had rallied to aid in the work there to (o. I patiently listened to hear what was s;il: They slang a shortl hymni, tllhe the minister read A portion of Scripture. and two or three prayed, When the minister urged tlhem to not be iafraid But to speak a few words, some experience to give And tell the friends present the right way to live. Just then something ran down my shoulder and dropped And out of my lap a poor famished mouse hopped. Well, the first exclamation I made then and there, It wasn't appropriate, was not a prayer, And if ever I gave grateful thanks it was when The minister said, "Happy New Year —Amen." — MRS. ELLEN WOODWORTII. NOTES FROM AN OLD-TIME DIARY. April 13, I862.-Me n to get dinner for and no bread in the house and no salaratus. So I must send to the neighbors and borrow a little. So I send to the neighbors and receive the distressing intelligence that they are entirely out and have no money to buy with. Then I send to another and she says she has only a little and can't spare any. Pretty soon in comes a small boy and says, (7) 98 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Ma wants to borrow some salaratus, your sieve and some salt; she says she is all out and Pa can't spare the time to go to the store. So I send the sieve and the salt and console myself that I am no worse off than my neighbors. I am glad to know that there is one thing that never becomes empty and that is the mending basket, so I console myself that if I can't do anything else I can patch. ANOTHER BRIGHT SPOT IN TIIE OASIS. April 14, I862.-It is sugar-making time and we sugared off today. Have made so far one hundred and eighty pounds and expect to -make at least fifty pounds more. It is of good quality and is the only kind that we have or expect for some time to come. The sap is caught in troughs which are made out of logs cut the right length, split in two and then hollowed out with all axe to a sufficient depth to hold a pail of sap. The sap is gathered into pails and carried to the boiling place by men or put into barrels, placed upon a sleigh and hauled to the boiling place by a horse or team. There it is stored in a large tank until ready to boil. An arch is made of sticks and clay laid up in an oblong manner, the walls plastered with clay mortar: the hoiling pan is placed on top of the wall and a fire built under the pan and continued until the clay is thoroughly baked, when it becomes as hard as a rock. The sap is then placed in the boiling pan and a steady fire kept burning until the water is largely evaporated and the product becomes syrup, when it is sugared off if it is sugar; if you desire otherwise, it is bottled up as syrup. The process and( the apparatus for converting the sap into syrup or sugar is primitive and rude in construction, but it answers the purpose. It is all enjoyed by young and old and when other sugar is not to be had it is a great blessing, especially as it is worth one shilling per pound and can be used in trade for other articles of necessity in the family. It also many times saves the silverware and other heirlooms from being disposed of to purchase necessities for the family. It went quite a ways toward buying tea at two dollars per pound, wheat, three dollars a bushel, calico, twenty to fifty cents a yard, hay thirty-five dollars per ton, and oats one dollar per bushel. St. Johns was nearest trading post and railroad and it took five clays to make the trip with an ox team and there were none other in the county, the freighters charging three dollars per hundred pounds for cartage. There are many bright places in a woods life and they were not wanting up here. In I864 there was a quarterly meeting to be held at Nippesing church, or mission, so ten of the settlers, five men and five women, procured ISABEILA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 99 Indian ponies and saddles and nmale a pilgrimage to the church, following the Indian trail through the woods. Arriving, we found the building packed to overflowing with Indian women and men, with Rev. George Bradley as their preacher. The text has passed from my memory, but it was a good sermon, preached in English and interpreted into the Indian by an Indian and, all in all, it was very impressive. The singing was good and sounded peculiar to an ear that was not accustome(l to the soft mellow voice of the native. All singing was in the Indian language and at the end of the lreaching services the rite of baptism was administered to alout twenty Indian babies and two Indian women. English names were given to the babies as they were baptized. The services over, we all moluntedl our lonies and filed hoiie through the forest, very much enjoying our day's outing and the services of the meeting. EARLY SETTLEMENT OF ISABEI.LA COUNTY. As early as 185I, Alony Rust located the southwest (quarter of section 4, in townshil) T1 north, range 3 west, and soon thereafter a few others entered lands, but none of them for perlmanent settlement until about the loth day of ()ctober, 1854, when Daniel Brickley, John Stewart, Andrew F. Cihilds, James Wilsey, Laniel Childs, James Campbell. George Reasoner, Charles F. Young and M. J. HIall entered each a quarter section of land under the graduation act, at fifty cents per acre, for the purlpose of settlement. Most if not all of them soon thereafter settled upon their purchases and began to improve the same. About the first of Novelnmber of that year, the first road was cut from the south line of the county north to Salt River, at the center of section 9, by William B. Bowen, William Adams. James Shephers, J 1. W. alton, George and Dow Greenfield, 'William 11. Bowen driving the first horse team and wagon as far as Salt River. 'I'he next day Jacob Middaugh, \V. W. Middaugh and John Hendershot came over the same road with an ox team, and cut a road on through to section T in the same townshilp. These, it must )e rememlbere(d, were but trails through the woods, the country being covered with a heavy growth of hardwood timber, with the usual concomitant of swamp, creek, high and lowr lands, underb)rush and fallen timber, in fact, nearly everything tending to make life miserable for the early settler. On November 21, 1854, Josel)h Roberts, Sr., his wife aind children. Patrick Fanning and family and Thomas Roberts move(l onto the northeast quarter of section Io. townslhi) 3 north, range 3 west, being the first families that moved into the county. To them must ever be given the honor of being the first families of Isabella county. Ioo ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIiGAN. On November 2Ist of the same year, Daniel Brickley and John Stewart moved with their families into the west part of the same township. From this time on settlements were made in rapid succession. In December, John -Hursh and Lewis Jenner cut a trail from Brickley's place to the farm on which the Norman school is now located, and on the 25th (lay of February, i855, John M. Hursh and family moved onto the place and formed the first nucleus for settlement in this part of the county. About the same time John Fraser crossed the Tittlbawassee river, at the mouth of the Pine, and with two or three others cut their way up the Pine to the old Indian mission, and then across to where he had purchased a half section of land, it being the south half of section 31 in the township of Chippewa. It took four teams to convey Mr. Fraser's goods and family into the county and he has the credit of building the first frame barn built in the county, which was built in 1857. He was one of the thrifty farmers and soon had quite a tract of cleared land. HIe claims to have sold hay as high as eighty dollars a ton, corn for one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and wheat as high as two dollars and fifty cents per bushel. John Q. A. Johnson was another of the early settlers, having bought and settled in the township of Coe in June, 855; he claims to have been the seventh person to have settled in Coe. He was afterward a justice of the peace, sheriff and lastly judge of probate. Rev. Charles Taylor was an early settler in Chippewa. He bought two hundred and forty acres of land in February, I855, and built a log house upon1 it for a home. It was located on section 9 of that township. Ransom Kyes was another pf the early ones. He purchased two hundred acres in I855 and settled upon it, cleared a portion and when the war of the Rebellion was the hottest he enlisted and went into the army. He was afterward elected sheriff of the county. George Atkin was another of the early ones. He bought under the graduation act one hundred and twenty-five acres on section 6. in Coe township, and made himself and family a home, where he resided until his death. And so they came from time to time until the homestead law took effect.-.i. 1862, when the tide of emigration was increased and the south portion of county was soon taken by the homestead settler. The population of whites had increased from about seven hundred in i86o to four thousand one hundred and fifteen in 1870. In the building of the Catholic church at Mt. Pleasant they had some very devout and untiring men in their society and they delved in sunshine and in storm until they saw the last shingle on the roof and the interior finished and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. IOI furnished ready for its dedication. There was one man in that endeavor who is entitled to more than a passing notice and that is John Fox. He was un- ~ tiring in his efforts to establish a church for himself and his friends and so richly was he imbued with the spirit and so attached to the cause that he requested that, no matter where he was when his time came to surrender to the Great Leveler of all mana's ambitions, he desired that his remains be brought to Mt. Pleasant and be interred in the sainted grounds of his church and people. And when the message finally overtook him his kin, know\ing of his desires, brought llis remains from a (listant state and in all things met the wishes and desires of his father. For this act of filial affection and regard for his father's wishes, he is entitled to much credit. Wkise township used to have almost any kind of a surprise in store for the people and occasionally a queer incident. At one time a couple came from a neighboring county, desiring to become married, and went to Squire Robinson to have the ceremony performed. and for pith and briefness we think this one is an example, being as follows: The Squire-"Join hands: joined; will you have him? Wrill you have her? and how mIuch am 1 to have? Amen." REMINISCENCES BY IRVING E. ARNOI.). One of the old settlers at MAt. Pleasant and vicinity at and before there was any Mt. Pleasant, and who is still living in the West, has this to say in regard to the early settlement of this section. His name is Irving E.:\rnold and some of the older of the few settlers now remaining that were here in the fifties will readily recall him as one of the prominent men of that time. He says he camle here in 1857, at the time of the great panic, and remained here for a number of years. He confirms the statement that there never was any sort of a court house built upon the grounds selected for that purpose at the center of the county, but that George W. Jefferies built a log house of sufficient size, say twenty by sixteen feet, possibly sixteen by twenty-four feet and one story high. This building was occupied by Jefferies and wife and was also used for a court house, a hotel, store, county clerk's office. Nelson Mosher had a small stock of goods there and was running under the name of Nelson Mosher & Company. This was the only building at the time at the center, while it remained the county seat, save a barn. The office of register of deeds was also kept in this building. Mr. Arnold was the first county clerk of the county and he used to go to the Center once a week and do whatever recording and any other business that had accumulated in the interim. Hle remarks that Mrs. Jefferies was not I02 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. -used to primitive life and that at one time John M. Hursh was at the Center and inadvertently spit upon the floor and straightway Mrs. Jefferies proceeded to get the mop and water and clean up the Inuss, and it is safe to say that Uncle John did not forget the hint. lie confirms the fact that some of the Indians began to settle in Isabella in I856, that the Indian Mills were built in 1857 and that up to that time there was no Indian settlement of any kind. He first located on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15, township 14 north, range 4 west. That as soon as the county was organized the agitation commenced in regard to the removal of the county seat from the Center. David Ward owned two hundred acres of land at Mt. Pleasant and offered to build a court house and donate five acres of ground. At that time A. M. Fitch, a brother-in-law of F. C. Babbitt, was Indian agent and had acquired eighty acres of swamp land adjoining the Indian Mills, so that Mr. Fitch joined forces with Jefferies to fight the remloval of the county seat, on the grounds that later he could remove it to the Indian Mills, and Mr. Babbitt, as agent for Fitch, worked among the Indians for several days before the election. The Indians at that timne cast at least two-thirds of the votes in the county. Jefferies had some parties working in Coe and a few inl Chippewa, or, more properly speaking, Mr. M\oslher had some friends in the two townships and lie was very highly respected by all. \t that time.,. M. Merrill had a board shanty at the river crossing near the mill and Sam Smith lived near by and Joseph Miser, then sheriff. and his family and \Villiamll II. Nelson occupied the hotel anld these were the only other families there. Smith had charge of the mill and Babbitt was agent for P'itch, at least for two Indian payments, so that he had quite an acquaintance with tile TIndians. Mr. Ward took no active interest in the election for removal, leaving it entirely to me. Cushway was Indian blacksnith, knew every Indian alnd spoke their language fluently and as employee of Fitch worked against rem-oval and for Jefferies and Smith for the same reason. A. M. Merrill, who was township clerk, was also against removal, so it will be seen that the combination against removal was quite formidable. The year previous I ha(l built four school houses for the government on different parts of the reservation, which gave me quite a general acquaintance with the Indians. Jim Eastman was a merchant at Midland City, and had been for a long time, and knew every Indian on the reservation and could speak their language and was very generally liked by the Indians. The third day before election I saddled my horse and about four o'clock in the afternoon started for Midland City, arrived there about ten o'clock P. M., saw Eastman, and next morning we were on the road to Isabella. He stayed until the afternoon of the election, when he re ISABELLA COIUNTY, MICHIGAN. o03 turned to his home. His work was very effective and 1 paid him an even one hundred for his work; \ard paid no part of it. It did not all come out of my X pocket, but most of it did. The polls were held at the office of the township clerk antd A. M. Merrill was the clerk and consequently clerk of the election. \ fter the polls closed, the board of election decilded to postpone the count until the next clay. I was satisfied the plan was to stuff the ballot box. John M. liursh, George Ferris, Jim Vleit and 1 lecidedl that we would watch the box until the ballots were counted. The Jeffcrics becanme furious and finally (rdered us aw\ay from the premises. Revolvers were displayed by both sides. Well, we saw those votes colllted, w\ith the result of one majority against removal. Coe and Chillpe\a carried it for reiloval hy a sulstantial majority. Mlr. \Vard surveyed and platted the townl site and called it by its present name. Suhsequently I resurvevedl and platted the grounds and Vard at once built the old court house' 1 put up) the building, furnishing everything for the munificent sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. Miscellaneous 'The first dwelling house built in Mt. Pleasant was by Dr. E. Burt, afterNward houtght by William Preston. First child born was F. F. \rnold. First postmiaster, or, rather. postmlistress, was Tlarriett Hursh. Mail once a week. First frame building, the (ol(1 court house. -1. E. ARNO.lD. EARI.Y SCHOOLS. Tn the spring of 1864, through tile influence of (eorge WV. Lee, who afterwards became Ilndian agent, Almos F. Albright canle to Isallella from Livilgston country, as supelritendent of llndian miills at Isalella City. After some correspondellce with the Indlian agent, D. C. Leach, Mr. \lbright's daugh-ter calne to the Indian reservation to teach one of tile schools. There were. or had been, I aml told, six il numbier. One was west of tile government school section, and was called the Bradley Mission School. 'There 4a(d leen across the road, on what is now the government school section, a Methodist Indian church and cemetery. At the time of \which T wr-ite the church had been burned. A second school, five miles north of this, was closed at the time, as was the third, at Shiim-ne-con. now Nottawa. TIiese two were later burned. A fourth, at Nippising, swas in a flourishing condition, as was the Mission school. Across the road was a very good Indian church, Methodist, and around it were some, for the times, very intelligent and prosperous farmers. Wrilliam Smith. Doctor Chatfield and John Collins were some of the leaders. Two miles north of this, at one time, there was, I am told, a school, held Io04 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in a log building and in charge of the Lutheran mission. Mr. Meissler, a German missionary, taught there and wrote a dictionary in the Indian language. It is my impression that this school was discontinued at the log school house and held in the school house two and one-half miles south of Nippising or about half way between it and Isabella City. This was the school Miss Albright had in charge in 1864 and I865. There was only one north of her and that was Nippising. A small band of Lutheran Indians held services in this school house, once a month, and were in charge of Ma-cha-ba, a very eloquent Indian speaker. There were among the school books one of Indian and English words. Phillip Gruett attended this school very little; lie had spent one year at Fort WVayne, at a Lutheran Mission school, Mr. Meissler having sent him there. For these reasons I think it probable that there never were but five schools. In 1864 there were but three open, I think, "The Mission," "The Nippising," and the one Miss Albright taught. This was considered the largest and most turbulent, though it is only fair to say that there wvere only two pupils who ever made any trouble and they attended but a verv small part of the time. The five frame school buildings were built on government contracts, by Irvin E. Arnold, and contained one school room and three or four living rooms for the teacher. The house and cookstove was furnished the teacher in addition to the salary. In I864 the Mission school was taught by Maria Hines, of Lansing. She resigned her position in 1865. The school was later taught by Miss Nellie Weldon and by Miss Addie Wilder. The Nippising school, in 1864, was taught by Miss Laswv, wvho resigned the following summer. I think that Miss Susan A. Foy, of Trenton, came to Isabella as a teacher to the Indians, though which school, the Nippising or the Mission, I do not know, but think it was the Mission. In I864 she was married to I. E. Arnold, and lived at Isabella City. She, however, afterwards taught in both of these schools. Miss Albright succeeded a Mr. Brooks and took charge of the school the first week in September, 1864. After she left the school it was. I think, closed for a time. Some years later it was taught for a time by a half breed, or his white wife, by the name of John R. Robinson, he acting as Methodist missionary at the same time. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Io5 It would seem that even at that time the tribe on this reservation was grow-ing less in numbers, as witness the two closed schools; a treaty looking to the stopping of the annual payments and giving the Indians deeds to their lands, or so many of them as were competent, was then being discussed. Miss Albright was present at one of the council meetings, when Mr. Leach, the agent, and a committee of three gentlemen from Washington, of whom Doctor Arnold was one, were laying the matter before the Indians, Charles Rodd, a half breed, acting as government interpreter. In 1865, 1 think, Mr. Leach resigned as agent, Mr. Smith, his secretary, taking his place. In 1866 he told Miss Albright that the schools were to be closed. Acting upon this statement, she engaged to teach a six months term of the White school at Isabella City. I-is plans were evidently not carried out as promptly as he expected, as the schools were carried on for a number of years after, more or less regularly. The school' building in which Miss Albright taught has been renodeled and is now a comfortable farm house, owned by Joseph Ray. The one at Nippising was burned. The old church is still standing as a harn on the farm of Mrs. Thomas Carroll and T am told that the Mission school is now used as a stable bly Mr. Barnard. MIRS. CAPTAIN MOSIIER. EARLY EDUCATIONAL FACTS. It is worth while to note some peculiarities of the old school system and some of the parties that participated in them. Away back in the sixties there was a superintendent of schools. Albert Fox was superintendent as early as j866. John B. Young in I869 and C. 0. Curtis in 187I. The office was abolished in 1875, and after that each town was a law unto itself as to schools. Then came the county school board, consisting of three mlembers, one of which was elected and served as school examiner, Fred Russell being the first and T. Knox Jeffords next. S. J. Jamison was, in August, I890, elected secretary of the board of county examiners, this being the title under which the executive officer administered supervision of the rural schools. Mr. Jamison was the last of the examiners to act under this title, for during the year of his incumbency of the office the Legislature changed the title to commissioner, and Mr. Jamison was elected to the same office under the new title, hence was the first commissioner of schools for Isabella county. For many years the educators and teachers of the state had advocated that the rural schools be classified and graded and enough had been said to io6 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. arouse the opposition of the farmers, who thought such a classification meant added expense. One of the first duties of the new secretary and coimmissioner was this innovation and, while he met with determined opposition before the end of the first year, every child in the rural schools had been classified, a complete record of the classification of every school made, and Isabella county could boast of the first classified and graded rural schools in the state. Mr. Jamison held the position until 1893, wheln Mr. Bellinger was elected and held it until 1897, when he was followed by Orin Burdick and he by H. A. Graham in I901, he holding the position tntil 1907, when E. T. Cameron, was appointed and still holds the office, having b)een elected in the spring of I91T. CHAPTER VII. EAR.\1, TRANSPORTATION, TAVERNS, ROAI)S, FIRST MILLS. These are interesting topics and( of much importance. especially to the early comer. Isabella county being originally a heavy timl)ered coutntry. and of a comparatively level slrface, together with the fact that thle tilmber was so dense that the sun dlid( not penetrate to the ground onl lmuch of its surface. and being to somle extent of a level and marshy character, the reader will appreciate the fact that making roads was a matter fraughlt witlh much difficulty to the early inhabitant. The very tirst road, or, more properly speaking, trail, was cut from the soutl line of the county ntorth to Salt river, to the center of section 9, no)\\ in tlhe township of Coe, ii November, 1854, by \\illiam l. B owen, William \dams, James Shepherd (father of Isaac S. Shepherd), J. B. Walton. George and Dow Greenfield, \Villiaim B. IBowe\n driving the first horse teallm and vwagon over tle line to Salt river. William B. Bowen was the father of tile late Eugene IBowern of Alt. Pleasant andl W\ illiani A-\damls was the father of Oliver I-. Adamls and Ed Adams, botli of Shel)herd. The next day after Bowen and company came, Jacob Mliddaugl, \V. W\. MAiddaugh and John Hen(lershot came over the same trail with an ox teall and cut a road onl to section 1 in the same township. Onl the 7th of November, 1854, Joselh Roberts, Sr., wife and family, Patrick Fanning anll family alnd Thiomas Roberts moved upon thle northeast quarter of section 1o, in said towlnship, they being the first families to move into the county. On November 21, I854, Daniel Brickley and Joseph Stewart camle with their families to Salt river and then cutt their wav west to the w'est side of Coe alnd there located. InT December of the same year George Hursh and Lewis Jenner cut a trail from Bricklev's in a northwest lirection to section 22, townshlilp 14 north, range 4 west, and on February 25, I855, John M. ITursh came with his family and settled upon the west one-half of the northeast quarter of said section, this being the same piece of land that the Normal school is now located upon. In I856 John Fraser had the pleasure of cutting a road some forty miles or more that he might bring his family and goods into the county; he came by the way Io8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of Saginaw and Midland through to section 3I, in ChippeNa. About the same time A. M. Merrill, who had purchased section 32, township 14 north, range 4 west, came up the Chippewa river by the way of Midland, navigating the stream with a scow to a point some nine miles below Mt. Pleasant and from there cutting his way through the woods to his land. The theory of making this kind of a road was to keep as much as possible on the high, dry ground and cut and remove just as little of the timber and underbrush as one could and still pass over the ground with a team and wagon. As soon as lumnbering became profitable, the lumbermen opened up what they called 'tote" roads, which were roads of the same general character, just sufficient for them to "tote" in their supplies. One such was built in the west part of the country known in an early day as the Merrill tote road, named in honor of Charles Merrill, of Detroit, one of the successful lumbermen of Michigan. This road extended from the south line of the county north, keeping on the west side of the Chippewa river until they got above Two Rivers, there crossing the Chippewa and continuing to Merrill's camp, a few miles up the river; from there it was afterward extended up the river to Sherman City and thence on up the said river to the forks in Mecosta county. One was also opened up from Isabella City to Midland and Saginaw, keeping at all times on the north side of the river. This was used for a good many years by our people, generally, as the only thoroughfare to Saginaw in fact, until 1870, when the Flint & Pere Marquette railroad was opened for traffic. After a few years of this kind of roads, the farmers who had located and commenced to improve their lands, converting them into farms, began to have something to sell and take to market, and something was done toward laying out and constructing public highways. It was a tedious and costly process, for the cutting out of a mile of road meant the chopp)ing down and clearing away the timber and underbrush of eight acres of land. And when that was done you had only made a good start toward a road; it was then to be graded and drained. Most of the early draining was done by cutting what we called cross-way timber and either split that into rails or put them into the crossway whole, being careful to mismatch the logs as to size so that those who used the road would surely know that he was passing over a made roadway. We have seen miles of such corduroy road, some of it built by laying stringers made of large logs along the roadway and then placing the shorter logs on top of the stringer crosswise so that the top of the road would be from two to three feet above the ground. About 1865-6 the state took hold of the matter and authorized some of the swamp land of the state to be used for the laying out and construction of state roads in the several counties. ISABELLA COIUNTY, MICHIGAN. IO9 One was built from St. John's, in Clinton county, to Ithaca, in Gratiot county, and then extended to Alma and from there to Mt. Pleasant; later it was continued to Isabella City and from there turned west. going through to the west line of Isabella and then continued in a northwesterly course to Big Rapids in Mecosta county. Another was started at Tonia, run in a northerly direction to the southwest corner of Isabella county, running north to Milbrook and thence in a northeasterly idirection through the townships of Broomfield and Sherman, cutting across the southeast corner of Coldwater into Gilmore. and thence in a northeast direction to Farwell, in Clare county, and then on to Houglhton Lake, in Roscominon county. There was also one running from Isabella City north to Clare, in Clare county, and one from Mt. Pleasant east to Midland City. These state roads were of a good deal of service to the people, as they were main thoroughfares through the county and were on the lines of greatest travel. After a few years of the state swamp land road regime. things lagged on account of the decrease of the swalmp land available for such purposes. The highway business fell back to the old principle of highway commissioner and pathmaster, which had been the highest conception of how to make a road., anld we went on improving some all of the time, occasionally going back some and then making another spurt to catch up what we had lost..\11 this time a few of the far-seeing men and farmers were agitating the matter of good roads, all the while claiming that it would be a great saving even to the farmer who was bitterly opposed to any stuch burden for improvement of the public highway. At last the Legislature was persuaded that something should l>e done. Others were doing something along that line and why not Michigan? So the Legislature of I905 passed an act, which was approved June I, I905. and appropriated the suti of thirty thousand dollars, for that year and sixty thousand dollars for the next year, to aid those who should build such roads as were prescribed in said act: and also provided for the appointment of a state highway commissioner, defining his duties and compensation. Some of the counties very soon took advantage of the appropriations and commenced to build roads under the new system, receiving from the state the amount prescribed in the act as an aid in the building of the roads. Several efforts were made in this county to enlist the farmers to take hold of the matter, but of little avail. It soon dawned. however, on the conservative minds of the farmer that we were paying money all the time to assist those in other counties to have good roads and we were still wading through the mud with a very light load and making very slow time. Then they began to think. '"Well. if I have IO ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. got to pay for good roads, wouldn't it be a pretty sensible thing for me to pay a little more and I get the benefit instead of the other fellow?" When the real situation dawned upon him he saw the point and seized the "critter' by the horns and, pulling himself together, lie slung the aninal out of the way and asserted his manhood, and he is now on the right side of the fence and is serving his own interests rather than that of the other fellow. The kind of road prescribed is as follows, viz: The roadbed to be well graded with good and sufficient ditches to carry off the surface water, and the roadbed to be not less than eighteen feet between the ditches, and to have a wagon way or travel track not less than nine feet wide, madle in two courses; the bottom course to be of approved mixture of clay and sand not less than five inches thick after being rolled, and covered with a layer of gravel which shall be not less than five inches thick after rolling. Both shoul(lers and metaled track shall be properly crowned so as to shed water quickly to the sides of the ditches. Such a road, when accepted by the state highway commissioner. shall merit from the state a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars. The steepest incline to be not over six per cent. For a road with the same requirements, except that it must have not less than eight inches of compacted gravel put on in two courses and rolled separately, is entitled to a reward from the state of five hundred dollars. A road built on the same condition, except it is to have at least four inches of crushed stone in the bottom, after being rolled, and not less than three inches of gravel after rolling, will merit a reward of seven hundred and fifty dollars, for each mile, and one made on the same basis, the bottom layer to be of gravel not less than four inches thick, after being thoroughly rolled, and a top of crushed stone not less than three inches thick, after being thoroughly rolled and properly bonded, with sufficient stone screenings, will merit seven hundred and fifty dollars per mile. And for each mile of road made under the same conditions, except that the road way is to be at least six inches of macadam put on in two layers of three inches each, after being well rolled, for which when accepted they are entitled to receive one thousand dollars for each mile. It is a fact that up to the time of the passage of this act, there had been built in the county about ten or twelve miles of gravel road. During the year I909 there were contracted and mostly built under the new law about sixteen miles as follows: In the township of Coe, commencing one and one-half miles north of the southeast corner of the county and running north one and onehalf miles, and in the same township, commencing on the county line directly east of Shepherd and running west two and three-fourths miles, then cwest between sections 7 and T8, Coe township, one mile; south between sections 17 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1 1.1 and i8, one mile; on the south county line and south of sections 33 and 34, two miles; in Lincoln township between sections 12 and I3, one mile, and between sections 2 and 3, one mile. This year, 19Io, there have been located and let alsxmt seventeen miles, as follows, as near as may be: In Coe township, one-half mile between sections 24 and 19; also one-half mile between sections 25 and 31; one mile between sections 18 and 19; one and one-fourth miles between sections 7 and 8, and one-fourth mile letween sections 7 and I8, and one-half mile north of county line and run north one-half mile between Coe and,incoln towniships; and one mile in Lincoln between sections 25 and 30 and also between sections 24 1and 19; in the township of Union, one-half mile between sections 9 and T6, also one-half mile on East Broadway in section I4; three-fourths of a mile between section 22 and 23; one-half mile in section 22; in Isabella township, one mile between sections 2 and 3, and one mile between sections 14 and 15; in Vernon township, one mile between sections 3 and lo; one mile between sections 22 and 23, and one mile between sections 5 and 22; in Sherman township, one mile on the east andl west quarter line of section 13. andl one mile on the north and south quarter line of section 24. It will be seen from this that the people are really awake at last to their material interests. And we also give these facts that a conmparison may be made in the future as to the growth and developmlent of the principle of good roads. EARLY TAV1RNS. The very first one was at the Indian mills, built alout 1857 by \\illiaml II. Nelson, who was afterward judge of probate. That hotel remained there and was kept by Judge Nelson as long as he lived. The next one was built at Mt Pleasant by the Mortons, Nwhlo were the proprietors of the village plat. This one was built in the summer and fall of i863, and was located where the Donovan House now stands. About i865 or '66 Elijah M{oore built one at Salt River, no1w known as Shepherd. It was located on the very northwest corner of section i6 of Coe townshili and a part of it is now standing. This hotel did a good business in the early days and upl to the time that the Ann Arbor railroad was built and the village of Shepherd started. when the business gradually drifted toward the depot and finally left old Salt River. In the year 1878 there was a hotel built at Dushville by Turnbull & Osborne. This village hadl then been settled only a short tilme. About the same time the village of Blanchard had been started and had then the prospect of a stdden and healthy growth, it being in a -wonderfully rich pine dis 112 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. trict. They were not mistaken as to the pine and a party from Howard City purchased lots and built a very large and commodious hotel. It proved too large for the place and was not a paying investment. It being a lumbering town, where there are more or less chances for fire, they kept it well insured and it is well they did as it was not a long time before it took fire and was totally destroyed. Soon after this was destroyed the Londaville Hotel was built and that, too, met the same fate and then the Penobscot was btilt and lasted for a time and that also went up in smoke. In 1873 the village of Sherman City was started and soon thereafter a second plat was laid out by Johnson and Ellis and very soon afterwards a hotel was built. It was at a time when the lumtlering operations were beginning to be at the best and it was well patronized as long as the lumbering lasted and after that it continued. lbut not so prosperous. In 1871 the Pere Marquette railroad was built through to Clare from Saginaw and the village of Clare was started. Alx)ut the same time a state road was built from Mt. Pleasant to Clare; that being only fifteen miles distant, it was the nearest railroad station. A stage route was estallished and very soon after 1873 James L. Bush built and conducted the I-alf Way Iouse at what is now Rosebush. This hotel served a very good purpose and continued for a number of years. About 1878 Oscar T. Brinton located at what is now known as the village of Brinton, and laid out a village and built a number of coal kilns. As soon as the village was started, a hotel became necessary and one was built and has been continued to the l)resent time. although the coal business has long since ceased. In I882 James C. Caldwell, then a resident of Fremont. removed to Deerfield and in May of that year opened up the hotel at Caldwell, sometimes called Two Rivers, and a hotel has existed there ever since. In 1885 the Ann Arbor railroad was built to Shepherd and a village plat was laid off to be known as Shepherd. Very soon thereafter a hotel was built at that place and has since continued, and in fact a second one has been built there. This is a village not likely to go into disuse as it is in the oldest settled portion of the county. The hotel at Weidman is of a later date, as the village did not take on full dress until I895, but as soon as it did a hotel was built and has been maintained to the present time. The lumbering interest, which was the foundation of the town, has disappeared. but agriculture has taken its place and the village is retaining that business and has made a very satisfactory growth. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. TI3 MILLS. Mills are a very necessary class of improvements in a new country, and especially in a heavily timbered country such as this was before the improvements commenced. It is true that the settler can avail himself of the timber to make himself a log cabin as well as log stables and barns, but they are not satisfactory as a general thing. The thrifty farmer desires something neater and cleaner, and where there is plenty of good timber and mills to saw the logs into boards and timber for frames and roofing, as well as shingles for the covering of the roof, it gives much greater satisfaction to all concerned. The first mill built in the county was erected by John Reynolds in the year 1856 and was located on the Salt river about two miles below Shepherd. It was said to be the first frame building erected in the county. It did business for several years and then was sold and removed to old Salt River village. Afterward it burned and there is nothing left but the nmemory of what it was in its palmy days. The next mill to be built was erected in the year 1857 and was built by the United States government for the Indians of the Chippewas of Saginaw. Swan creek and Black river, unlcer and by 1virtue of the treaty of 1855. This mill was both saw and grist-mill. The )buhrs were brought from Saginaw up the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers, lashed on two canoes decked over. In fact all of the machinery was brought up the rivers in the same way. The ldam to create the power was built across the Chippewa river on section Io, township 14 north, range 4 west. It was considered a good mill power. The mill continued to do business for the Indian, also for whites who desired to patronize it. It had a capacity of about four thousand feet of sawed lumIer and twenty bushels of wheat or corn. The capacity was sufficient for the purpose for which it was built, as the Indians (lid not become farmers to an alarming extent. Mr. Penmont was the contractor and comipleted the mill in time, but did not get it accepted until the next spring. A. M. Fitch was then Indian agent and lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and it was not convenient for him to come up and inspect the work until the spring of 1858. This mill also butrned in the year I870 and no attempt was made to rebuild. The dam also went out, so that there is now no mill on the dam site nor dam on the mill site. The next mill built was one at Salt River, built by George W. Miller. For this mill the power was derived by damnming the Salt river, thus creating a pond of water, which dam was just south of the highway and east of the four corners at old Salt River village. This mill was afterward sold to (8) II4 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Stahlman & Young, who operated it for some time, when it changed hands several times and finally met the fate of the others and went tip in smoke. The dam also departed this life and is now ntmbered among the things that were, but are no more. In I866 a saw mill was built hy the IIapner Brothers at Mt. Pleasant, the power being obtained by damming the Chippewa river at that place, and afterward, in I872, the Harris Brothers built a grist mill on the power. The saw mill continued for several years and then the power owned and controlled by the owner of the saw-mill, George WV. Brower, was sold to the owners of the flouring mill and the saw mill dismantled and removed from its location and a steam saw mill was built upon the grounds of the one now owned by the Gorham Brothers Company. That was built by ()wens & Clinton and afterward it changed hands several times and about 188I it was sold to A. 13. Ipton and soon went into the firm of Leaton & Upton., who converted it into a mill having a capacity of forty thousand feet per day. They continued to operate it until about 1889, when they turned it over to some of their creditors. who formed the Mt. Pleasant Lumber & Manufacturing Company who operated it until the panic of 1895. \when that also went to the wall and the property was sold and dismantled. Some time after this the Gorham Brothers Company purchased the mill site and grounds, including booming and floatage in the mill pond, and erected the sawmill now being operated by their company. This is now the only saw mill of any considerable importance in the county. There are lperhaps three or four small portable mills, but none of large capacity. The county used to be a regular beehive of saw and shingle mills; now the timber is substantially exhausted and there is no call for such mills. Even the (;orham Brothers ship in by rail about all of the logs they cut, and the dla of saw and shingle mills has passed and gone. There have been some important saw and shingle mills in the county other than the one at Mt. Pleasant. viz.: In the spring of 187T George W. Wise erected a saw mill at what is now the village of Loomis and commenced the manufacture of lumber, and also added to that a shingle mill and commenced the manufacture of shingles, running the saw mill day timnes and the shingle mill nights. There were then great quantities of pine and cedar timher in the vicinity of the mill. This mill burned in 1875, but was rebuilt and remained until the timber was exhausted and then it was dismantled and removed. About 1875 a mill was built at Blanchard for the purpose of cutting out the timber in that vicinity, which was one of the Inost heavily timbered por ISABELLA CO()UNTY', MICHIIGAN. I I j tions of the county. Some of the most thickly timbered land we ever saw was found ill Rolland township. One section alonle cut over twenty-two million feet of pine tilmber; that section coull have been bought at one time for two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and were the tiimbler standing upon the land at the present time and in as good condition as it was at that time it would bring the neat stim of not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, some sax three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 'The mills relmained in Blancharld until the ltimberinlg Ias exhailste(l, and thern went out. At Bundy, onl the Chil))ppewa river, another large mill was lbilt for the lptirl)ose of cutting a large tract of timiher in Broomfield township, and what might be brought down the river froml abl)ove. This lasted blit a few years, tntil tile tract was cut and renmoved, when the mill was removed also andl the town or village of LBunly il disappeare(l from the face of the niiap and Bundy is no more. There was another of our plrincil)al saw mills, also a shingle mill. built in the northern part of the township of Vernon soon after the Flint & i'ere M[ar(tette railroad was liilt. ]'t remained for several years until the timber sutpply was exhautisted and then this mill was also dismantled( and remioved fromi the counitv. Thle last named miill was owne(l alild ol)erlaite(l by the Wilsonl Brothers. So, one after aiotlher. thle saslv and shingle mills caine and(l vweit as long Ias timil)er could he foundal sufiticient to op)eliate them. (O)le of the vervy last of the l)rilicipal saw alnd shingle nills was thait of John S. \Veidman, who caime into the counity about the year 1893 anid )ilurchasedl a tract of timber, largely hard wood, at anld near what is now the village of \Weidman; he ol)erated there until about a \ear ago, when lihe. too, hlaving exhauste(l the tilmbl)er supply, dismanlltled his mill ainld closed outit his lumtiiber iiterests at that lplace. This was one of the miost prosp)erous limiber enterprises in the couinty. The saw- mill capl)acity was forty thousand feet per dlay of mixedl timber, the shiligle lill had a capacity of fifty thousan(l (aily, an( l) laner, with a cal)acity of thirty thousanl feet. He cutit in all about o(le liindred andl fortv million feet of ltiill)l-er, and one hulindred mIillion of shliiigles. 'T'hese Iluliber andicl shingle mills were of the first importanice, as it was necessary that the settler shouildl have lliml)er to make hlimself and familxy a hiome and shelter, as well as barnis and stables for his grain and stock. After the home, came the necessity for grist mills to grind the floutr and feed for- man andl beast. 'The Reynolds mill was both a saw and grist mill andl suppulied the nlecessity of such a mill in a very early date in the county. So also was the Indian mill and so was the IMiller mill at old Salt River, which was purchasedl b)y ii6 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Stahlman & Young in I866 and for some years operated by them, but has now disappeared. The one built at Mt. Pleasant by the Harris Brothers is still standing and doing a good business. They have added to the mill a large grain elevator with a storage capacity of about fifty thousand bushels. It has a grinding capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels every twenty-four hours. It is now operated by the Harris Milling Company, Limited. This is an extra good piece of property and the parties are doing a very prosperous business. There was another of the early mills of the county erected about I869 by Henry Wooden on the Chippewa river in the township of Sherman. This was a saw and grist mill, of moderate capacity, but served the collmmlunity well for a good many years. The mill is still standing, but it has not been used very much for several years. This mill was run by water power created by damming the Chippewa at that place; it was a good power which served a purpose, propelling the mill and flooding millions of feet of logs down the the Chippewa river each spring for all the years that logs were floated through the river to the Saginaw mills. In the early seventies William Beckley, another early settler in the township of Rolland, dammed the Pine river and built a combined saw and grist mill. It, like all of the other mills of the early settlement of the county, served the people of the vicinity, and was of supreme importance in the earlV development of the country. The mill is still doing business. There is also a, grist mill just west of Sherman City, owned by Mr. Smith which is in good running order and doing a fair business, sufficient to supply the wants of the community. The power is created by a dam across the Chippewa river, a fairly good stream at that place, it being a short distance below the junction of the north and south branches of the Chippewa river. Another and more pretentious mill is to be found at the village of Weidman, built on the upper portion of the Coldwater river, the power being derived by damming the river. This mill has connected with it an elevator of about thirty thousand bushels capacity. The company owning the property is the Holweg Milling Company, capital stock, fifteen thousand dollars. They not only grind all kinds of grain, but are large dealers in beans, hay, grain, potatoes and all other kinds of produce. They have a good outlet to outside markets over a branch of the Pere Marquette railroad. Said branch runs from Weidman south and west to Remus and there intersects with the main line, which extends south to Ionia and on south and east to Detroit. Another of the staple mills is the C. C. Field Shepherd Roller Mill, built soon after the railroad was completed to Shepherd. This, as its name indicates, is a roller mill with one set of buhrs used in grinding buckwheat, corn ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1I7 and feed. This mill gets its power from a steam engine and boiler and is conveniently located on the track of the Ann Arbor railroad. Their storage capacity is about six thousand bushels. This mill has a good reputation and is doing a flourishing business. The other mills along the line of converting timber into some useful article were the stave and heading mills, also hub mill, basket factory and veneering factory. In the early eighties one Prentis built a stave mill for cutting staves. principally from water elm, which at that time was very plentiful in the county and had no commercial value except for staves. His mill was built upon the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15, township) 14 north, range 4 west. This mill run for some years and finally went out of business for want of timber. There was also a heading mill in the north part of the city conducted by Hornung & Son, that run for some years and then burned down, was rebuilt and conducted for some time and then burned again. The last fire was about 1907; after this last fire, the timber being so nearly exhausted, the owners concluded not to rebuild and that industry ceased. There was also a stave mill built at Shepherd about i885 and was successfully operated for several years. The Gorham Brothers Company purchased grounds for a pllant in Decenmber, 1887, and commenced to build in February, 1888, and have been here ever since. Their first enterprise was that of making fruit baskets and in that thev still continue, only to a small amount, however. They branched out into making trunk slats quite early in their transactions, then added veneering, and then a saw mill, which they now operate. More recently they have been very extensive makers of veneer panels. The company has been a stable and prosperous institution, employing at times as many as two hundred and seventy employees and are employing about one hundred and seventy at the present time. Something may be judged of their business also by the amount of power it requires to run the plant. Their present power is rated at two hundred and fifty horse power and the company is now installing another boiler vwith a capacity of three hundred and fifty horse power. A large quantity of the material used in their factory has to be shipped in from other states and some even from foreign countries. Their capital stock is one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars with seventy-four thousand seven hundred subscribed and paid in; present worth of real and personal property, alxut two hundred thousand dollars. A\nother important industry established in the county and at Mt. Pleasant was a hub mill. This was built about the year 19oo by the Whitney-Taylor Company. a corporation with capital stock of two thousand five hundred dol II8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. lars and operated for several years, then the hub machinery was moved away and the building sold to Mt. Pleasant Body Works. They remodeled the factory, put in different machinery, something suitable for making buggy bodies. This was a corporation, incorporated March 31, 1902, with twelve thousand dollars capital. This company also purchased what was known as the "Priest Patent" for making a plugless buggy body, suplposed at the time to he the best and mlost substantial buggy body on the market. They conlmenced to manufacture buggies about July, 1902, continued for a time and then finding that they needed more capital. they voted to raise it to thirty thousand dollars, though it was afterward red(uled to twenty tlotlusand dollars. After this increase of stock they went on with the work and it seemled to be getting along fine, so that the parties were julilant over their success in the venture, so mluch so that on January 15, 1903, a meeting of the stockholders was called to vote tupon the proposition of raising the capital stock to fifty tliousand dollars. The vote was had and the stock authorized. It only took a short time to print and execute the stock andl get somle of it on the market. \ll were now buoyant and things were going along swilmmlingly. It was one of the conditions of the last increase that the old stockholders were to have gratis an amount of the new stock equal to the amount of stock then held blv them. They then employed a man to spend some of his timle in selling the surplus stock and he went out and succeeded in disposing of soime of it. Ihe scheme then looked so light and airy that it began to inflate som-e of the stockholders and one of them. one Mason Bamnbrough, camle forward with a proposition to increase the stock to two ilundred and fifty thousand dollars, he and one Leeb, of Chicago. to be the promoters. They were to pay into the corporation thirty-one thousand dollars il cash, give to the old stockholders one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars in the new stock for their holdings and they to take the balance. They were then to build a new and complete factory, to cost fifteen thousand dollars. Banmbrotgh was to have six months to complete his organization and get matters in shape. Then the company. thinking that they would operate the factory but a short time, reduced their force and run light handed. At the end of the six lmonths the big scheme did not materialize and the plant was finally sold to Barnbrough by order of the stockholders for the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, taking a msortgage on the plant for the entire amount of purchase money. He took over the plant and held it till the spring of 1904, when the mortgage was foreclosed and sold at public auction for two thousand one hundred dollars. It was afterward sold to J. F. Butcher & Company, who operated it for a short time and then dismantled and moved the machinery out of the county. V, , I. o,,4. ,_, : - 4 - lkil - 1. ISABELLA. COUNTY, MICHIGAN. II9 About t\o years ago the hub mill was moved back to Mt. Pleasant and put in operation and has been doing a good business. The parties who are the owners and operators of that plant have also adlded a very much needed plant. viz: a tile mill, where all kinds of cement tile are made. They are making a good appearing tile and if it shall l)rove a success, so far as the lasting (qualities of the tile are concerned, it will prove to be a most needful concern. Wte are informed, and it lookls most reasonable, that there is absolutely no question of the lasting qualities of the tile and f-rom our knowledge of the material we have no question of their goodness. l.lC'rRIC LIGHT PLANT. On l)ecembcer 0). 889. a franchise was granteld b! the commlon council of MLt. Pleasant to tlhe Mt. Pleasant Electric (C ollpany to build and install an electric light and po\wer plant. An olrganization was forlmed December 3, 1889, to take over the franchise all )build a plant. This organization was known as the Mt. Pleasant Electric Coimpa-ny, with capital stock of twentyfive thousand dollars, divided into one thousa-nd sllares. This company ibecame the property of W\alter S. Newblerrl, \who reallly built the plant and operated it until about the ist lday of Mala. 90C8, when he sold to Ed Hlarris. Mr. Harris is still operating the plant and is giving go)od service to his patrons. It has lieen a growing business froml the start and is \well patronized. it furnishes incandescent as well as arc liglts for both citizen and city. The city is plrilcipally lighted by electricity, haviiig forty-two of the arc liglts at fiftv dollars each per year; four all-niglit Tulngsten lamlps. at thirty dollars each per y!ear: seven series at fifteen dollars each andl two lamps at twenty!-five dollars each. In all, the city is paying this company two thousand three hundred and seventy dollars per year for lights. The other electric lights in the city are at the (orham Brothers Company and at tle Indian school. They each have their own dynamos and furnish their own lights. There is also a ldynamo in the mill of the Holmes Milling Company at Weidman, used for the mill only. Also at Shepherd, the-y have electric lights, the plant being oxned and operated by the village of Shepherd. Also at the Central Michigan Normal School there is a plant used exclusively for their own purpose Another industry is that of the Mt. Pleasant Light & Fuel Comlpany, a corporation with a capital stock of seventy-five thousand dollars, organized in 1904, and now having about ten miles of gas mains. The gas plant manufactures about forty thousand( cubic feet of gas per day, with somle six liutn 120 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. dred patrons, using the same for lighting and cooking. They have a holder with a capacity of fifty thousand cubic feet and use in the manufacture of the gas about twelve thousand tons of gas-making coal per year, which is steadily increasing as their mains are extended. It is a good industry and will continue to grow as the wood supply becomes more scarce. It seems almost incredible that a county twenty-four miles square and in i860 covered with a dense growth of timber, should in fifty years be using almost exclusively coal for heating purposes and gas for cooking, but such is the case in this county. This plant has the honor of being the first of its kind in the county and the only one up to the present time. It is appreciated by our citizens and very well patronized. In the making of gas from coal there are always some by-products, such as tar and coke. The coke is useful for heating purposes and readily sells for about five dollars per ton. The company now produces about six hlundred tons of this kind of coke and of the coal tar about two hundred barrels per year. The tar also has a market value and is used in roofing and many other ways, so that it is a valuable adjunct to the making of gas. CHAPTER V11I. COURTS, BENCH AND BAR. There is nothing more interesting and instructive in the line of investigation than the research necessary in catching up the threads that go to make up the warp and woof of history; and this is true whatever the subject may be, as one will find by following back, student-wise, the lines that reach to the beginnings we seek. But truth is rarely reached without labor. At first thought it would seem easy enough to write the history of an institution that came into existence within a century, but an attempt will prove that when the purpose is to arrive at the exact facts, the undertaking is not unattended with difficulties; and a portion, at least, of the present inquiry is no exception to the rule, as the opening paragraphs of the advertisement to the Revised Statutes of 1838 will show: "In the change from a territorial to a state government, great inconvenience was experienced in adopting the territorial laws under the state constitution. They consisted of enactments of a period of more than thirty years, commencing with those adopted and published by the governor and judges, a part of which had been re-enactled by the first ILegislative Council of the late territory of Michigan. Each subsequent Council passed its additional quota of acts, seemingly without any regard to former enactments, and they appear in mlany instances without date of approval. Several repealing acts had been passed without sufficiently designating the acts or parts of acts intended to be repealed, and frequent legalizing and explanatory acts, all serving to confuse rather than to explain. Two attempted revisions had been made. one in i827, the other in 1833, the latter of which wanted a general harmonizing and explanatory act to make it intelligible, even to those most familiar with it." TJIE CIRCUIT. The first definite trace we have of the judicial history of the territory now comprising the county is found in a proclallation by the governor of the then territory, Lewis Cass, on the I3th day of April, 1821, wherein he proclaimled 122 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. that by virtue of the power in him vested, he attached to the county of Oakland all the tract of country to which the Indian title was extinguished by the treaty of Saginaw September 24, I819. Afterwards, and on the i9th (lay of September, 1822, the former proclamation was ratified and continued by another wherein it was ordained that all said country- should be "attached to and become a part of" said Oakland county. The treaty of Saginaw above referred to provided for the cession by the Indian tribes of all that part of the territory included substantially within a boundary line commencing at Fort Gratiot at the head of the St. Clair river, and running west to a point near where the city of Grand Rapids is located; thence northeast on a direct line to the headwaters of Thunder Bay river. and thence, following the course of said river, to Lake Huron. The western boundary line given above just touches the northwest corner of this county. then unnamed and unbomunded, leaving it within tile territory -lelnt;one(l in the proclamation of the governor hereinefore mentioned. Although the county was hounded and named on March 2, I83 r it was not recogliized as an entity, and oil the 2d day of Marclh 1836, it was enacted that all the country lying north of the county of (ratiot, not organized into counties, should be attached to the county of Saginaw for judicial purposes. until otherwise directed by the Legislature. This affected tle east half of tile county only, but on the I8th day of March, 1837. by a like enactment, all the country north of the county of lonia, and which included the west half of Isabella, was attached to Ionia for like purposes. In the revision of the laws made in I837 and 1838. and known as the Revised Statutes of 1838, the state was divided into four circuits. and the counties of Saginaw and Ionia, wvith the attached territory, were both placed in the fourth circuit, and this relation was continued by chapter 89 of tile Revision of I846. In I848 the supreme court was required to redistrict the state and to add a circuit in the Grand River valley, but if it was done, no record of the same appears to be now in existence. In I85I the Legislature divided the state into eight judicial circuits and Saginaw, with its attendant territory, including the east half of Isabella county, was made a part of the seventh, while lonia, with the west half thereof, was placed in the eighth circuit. This continued until, in 1853, the whole county was attached to Saginaw, where it remained until, in 1855, it was annexed to Midland county which had been previously organized. At the extra session of 1858 the act of 185I was amended and the state divided into ten districts, the tenth to be composed of Isabella, Gratiot, Miid ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 123 land Alp)ena andl losco. ()On February io, T859, Saginaw and(l Bay were added to sutch circuit, and on the next day Isabella was fully organized and remainled a part of said circuit utntil., inll 1875, when the twentv-fi-hrst circuit was created. The latter wvas composed of Isabella, Clare. Midland. Gratiot, (Gladwin and Roscommon, the last three of which have since heen detache(l therefrom an(ld make 01) a part of other circuits. No otlher clhange has lbeen made thereill. THE COUNTY SEAT. liefore the legal orgauization of the county, and at the sessioin of i855, tlie egislature l)rovideil for a commiission of three persons to locate the county seat, and that they, or a majorlit o)f them. should file their oaths of office with thle secretary of state, and proceedl to examine locationls lprolposed, iand withill one c-ear file a certificate under their seals with satid secretarv of state shlowing tie location chosen, andl such place wats to be the "legally established county seat." The commission, comsisting of Stel)hen F. Iage, G(eorge \V. Lee and (George 1). Hill, was al)l)ointed 1)y the goverlilor o111 l oay, i85, andicl on Februalry 12, 1i8f56, filed its findinm, as follo\ss "\'e, the iundersigned comlmissioners duly appl)oited by thle goverlnior of the state of Michigaii to locate the county seat of Isabella coiunty in said state of Michigan, being duly qualified alnd having examine(l the several points prop(se(l for said location, do after dlie c(onsi(dleratioll and deliberation herleby) locate saidl county seat 1upon the northeast qualrter of section one ( r). town f(ollrteell (r4) 1north, range five (5) wvest, )upon land known and described as follows, to wit: Comlmenlicing at a point three ro(ls xwest from thile east line of said section and three rodls south of thle north line (of said section, rutinning thence south forty rods parallel with the east line of said section, thence west twentt ro(ils parallel wvith the north line of said section, thence north forty rods parallel with the east line of said section, thence east parallel with the north line of said section, twenty rods to the place of beginning, containing five acres of lalnd. "GEORGE W. LEE, "GEORGE D. HILL, Commissioners." It will be seen that the commiussion left one rod of lanld between the roadl and the court house site. This, no doubt. was anl oversight. The board of suplervisors at its session of February 21, 186lo. held at Isabella Center, as l)rovided by lav, passed a resolution designating the pres 124 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ent court house site for court purposes, and Mt. Pleasant as the county seat, and ordered that legal notice be given and the question of the removal of the county seat to Mt. Pleasant should be voted upon, at the spring election of i860. On May Ioth the board of supervisors met at Isabella Center and canvassed the votes cast, from which it appeared that those cast for the removal were one hundred and fifty-six and those cast against it, one hundred and three, giving a majority of fifty-three in favor thereof. Thereupon, by resolution of the board, the county seat was located at Mt. Pleasant, where it has since remained. The land chosen was owned by David Ward, a lumberman, and he donated it to the county so long as the county seat should remain at Mt. Pleasant. THE COURT HOUSES. At Isabella Center, court was held in a log building that served at least four purposes, a dwelling, a store, a hotel and the court house. This was not located upon the grounds designated by the commission, but on the opposite side of the road. But one term of court was held there. The old court house, as it is called, was a wooden structure, built near the northwest corner of the present site by said David Ward and, with the land, was donated to the county and accepted July 12, 186o, but the county paid for clearing the ground upon which it stood. A cut of this building graces the walls of the present court room. It was not an imposing edifice, but looked good to the pioneers for whose benefit and protection it was erected. The present court house was built at the center of the court house grounds during the season of 1876. Repeated attempts to appropriate money to build a more commodious structure than the old one had failed, but I. A. Fancher, then state senator, discovered that the system of bookkeeping employed in the office of the auditor-general was faulty and that ten thousand four hundred eighty-six dollars and seventy-six cents was due the county from the state. At his instance a resolution was passed by both Houses that the county be credited that amount, and this action was afterwards held legal and binding by the supreme court. When paid to the county, ten thousand dollars of the amount above stated was appropriated by the board of supervisors for a court house. Two thousand dollars more was raised by the people of the county, and one thousand dollars by taxation. A building committee, consisting of William R. Crowley, Samuel Kennedy, William M. Patterson, IHenry I-. Graves and Irving E. Arnold, was appointed, and the contract was let to Hemmeter & Kaiser, of Saginaw, to be built in accordance with plans and specifications furnished by John B..Dibble, architect. The Freemasons, with ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I25 the assistance of other secret societies, laid the corner stone on the 28th day of July, 1876, and the building was completed October 26, I877. When ready for occupancy, the entire cost was sixteen thousand one hundred ninety dollars and forty-nine cents, all of which was paid down. In I88o, by resolution of the board of supervisors, the court yard square was graded and improved and the beautiful trees that now adorn it were set. 'This was done untler the supervision (of Charles M. Brooks, then sheriff. These trees were ten(led by the late Albert A. Preston, who lived just across from the northwest corner of the court yard, and this care extended for the period of five years. 'The grounds have since been improved by building cement walks at all places where needed. THE BENC[[. \\ilbur F. Woodworth, of Midland, who had been elected circuit judge on the creation of the tenth judicial circuit, was the first judge to hold court in the county. He presided at the two terms commencing January 24th and July 24th, respectively, in i86o. lie was a young man, with but little experience in practice, andl remained onl the bench but a short time when lie resigned and went West. James Birney, who succeeded him, was a resident of Bay county, and a man of affairs and ability. He had been elected lieutenant-governor and was inaugurated April 3, 186I, but soon afterward resigned to accept the place made vacant by the resignation of Judge Woodlworth. He completed the remainder of that term of office and held the terms of court in this county from the 23rd day of July, I86i, to ald including the term commencing June 12, I862. Judge Birney afterwards (fromn I876 to 1882) served as minister of the United States at The Hague, and was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1867. Jabez G. Sutherland followed Judge Birney and held his first term of court in the county on the 2ISt day of January, 1863, and his last term, July I7, I870. He had been a melmbler of the constitutional convention that framed the state constitute of 1850, and also of the convention for the same purlx)se held in 1867. Ile was nominated and elected to the house of representatives of the forty-second Congress. He afterwards become the author of several law books of great merit, among them his work upon Damages, considered of high authority by the bench and bar of the nation. On the resignation of Judge Sutherland, to take his seat in Congress, John Moore, of Saginaw, succeeded him. He held court in the county from 126 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. July 18, 1871, until the term commencing January 20, 1874, when he resigned and went back to the practice of law. Judge Moore was a lawyer of large experience and great legal attainments. He has always been considered one of the strongest judges that has served upon the Michigan bench. William S. Tennant, also of Saginaw, followed Judge Moore on the bench of the tenth circuit, and presided at all terms in this county from May 4, 1874, to the creation of the twenty-first circuit (of which, as shown above, this county formed part) and the election of a judge in the spring of 1875. At the spring election of 1875, Henry Hart, of Midland, was elected to fill the remainder of the term, which would expire with the year, and also for the full term to begin January I, 1876. He was re-elected in I88T, and again in 1887. Judge Hart was a man of great strength of character, had high ideals, and profound respect for the "majesty of the law." -ie had in a wonderful degree that peculiar possession known to the bar as a "judicial mind " and this, with his broad knowledge of humanity, made him the ideal judge. Peter F. Dodds, of Mt. Pleasant, the present incumbent, began practice of the law in this county in 1875 and continued the same to the timue of his election to the bench in 1893. He was re-elected in 1899, and again ill 1905, the last being without opposition. Hle served as prosecuting attorney of the county in I88I and 1882. THIE BAR. Nelson Mosher was the pioneer attorney of the county and it was well for the people and the lar that he was the first, as well in leadership as in residence, that he might, as he did, direct in the formative period of the county's legal history. He was "a gentleman of the old school"' and Nestor of the bar. Somewhat reserved and unassuming, he was a splendid specimlen of that type of lawyer who believes that his is among the most honorable and useful of the professions, and that it is incumbent upon every memlber thereof to keep himself fit to be enrolled in its roster. He was the first prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner of the county, serving in both offices in 1859. He held the office of county treasurer from 186o to r864. and again from I868 to I872. in which latter year he died. James P. Mosher, son of the last above, was elected prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner and succeeded his father in I86o, and held said offices for two years. He remained in the county but a few years. He enlisted in Company C, Twenty-sixth Michigan, served during the war, returned here for a short time, going thence to California, where he afterwards died. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 127 T lie recor(ls show that Moses Tompkins was elected l)proseculting attorney and circuit court COlmmissioner ill 1862, but how lollg he served or when he left the county does not app)ear- to le knowvn to anyone whose evidence is obtainable. Isaac A. Flanlchler came to the coutnty in 1863 and was elected as prosecitiing attorney and1 circuit court commissioner for a two years term. He was again elected to both offices in 1870. In I873 he was called to the lower house of the Legislature. where lie servedl one term, and( in 1875 lie w-as elected anld served a term inll the state Senate. He is anld has been for llmany years the hlonored president of the County Bar Association. an(l, since the (leath of Nelson 1loshler, has alvavs lenii known as the "Father of the Bar." Cornelius Beimlett camie to the county in i86. aLfter graduating from the lav dlepartment (of the State University. He was elected as circuit court colmmlissioner for the term comimencing January i, 1876: as county clerk and register of deedls for f871-2, and as register of deeds again for 1873-4. H-e held the office of judge of probate from 188f to i888, and the office of justice of the peace in the township of Union and(l inl the city of MIt. Pleasant for more than twenty years. No man had a firlmer place in the reslpect and affection of the Commuitlnity. \While hle was seldom seen in trials in the circuit court, lie was considered a soundl counsellor-, and is saidl to hlave settled more cases than ll an otlier attorney in the coutnty tried in the court. He departed tlhis life ill I8g6. Albert Fox caille soon after Mr. Bennett. For somle time hle enlgagled in the active prlactice of the law, but later became inltereste(l ili other puirsuits and wa.s at oln time edlitor of the ]Enit/crpri.e. lIe was p)rosecuting attorney from 1 866 to 1868, andl again inll 1872. in which latter year lhe also served as circuit coln-t comilm1issioner. He held the office of county superinteindent of schools in 18i67-8. 8 is death occurred in I 878. ('hristol)her C. Foutch was a(lmitted to the bar Februal-ry 29. I868, inll Mt. Pleasant, and enlgaged(l in the active practice of the law for several years. He afterwards removed(l to Gladwin county- where hlie engaged in the practice of the law and other pursuiits until his dleath. AMyron AlcLarran came ii the late sixties froim Lenawee county and served as circtuit coturt commllissionler in iJ868 and 1869. Tl-Te was here but a few years an(l gave but little attention to law practice, being engaged in otlher lusiness. He returned to lJenawee county anld (lied there a short tilme afterward. John C. Leaton graduated fromi the University of Michigan inl I870 alld camie here in T871, and utp to the time of his death, in 1894. was in the 128 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. active practice of the law, although a large portion of the latter years he was also engaged in real estate and lumbering. He has been universally judged to have possessed the brightest legal mind of aly member of the bar. He served as president of Mt. Pleasant, but always refused any other office. Samuel W. Hopkins was graduated from the law dlepartment of the State University, and was admitted to the bar at Grand Rapids in 1872. Soon afterward he came to this county and began the practice of the law as a partner with Mr. Fancher. Later, he was associated in law successively with Michael Devereaux, Wade B. Smith and Free Estee, hereinafter mentioned. During the later years he gave the greater part of his time to real estate business. He served as prosecuting attorney in 1875-6 and was a member of the state House of Representatives in 1877-8-9 and I880. He represented this senatorial district in the state Senate in 1893-4, and was chosen president pro tern. of that body for the term. Henry H. Graves graduated from the law department of the Louisville (Kentucky) University in 1869. He came here in 1871 and was admitted to the practice in January, 1872, and for many years was one of the most active practitioners at the bar of this and adjoining counties. He is considered one of the ablest criminal lawyers in celtral Michigan. William N. Brown graduated from the State University in 1872, and soon afterward came to this county and entered into copartnership with John C. Leaton, above mentioned, and for many years the firm did a thriving law business, being engaged in much of the important litigation of the county. He was nominated by the Republican convention as a candidate for the state Senate in 1883, but declined the nomination. He has been extensively engaged in real estate and lumbering. Asa M. Tinker came to this county from Ohio in the middle seventies. He was prosecuting attorney in 1877 and 1878, and circuit court commissioner in 1875-6, 1879-80, I88i, and 1882. He was also justice of the peace for several years, as well in the township of Coe as in the city of Mt. Pleasant. In the middle eighties he moved to Harrison in Clare county, where he resided until the time of his death. Albert Coe came to the county from Eaton county and continued in the active practice of the law until a few years before his death. He was prosecuting attorney in i889 and 1890. J. Rufus Smith came to the county early in the seventies from the county of. Lenawee. He was a man of learning and, while well versed in the law, he never entered into the practice thereof in this county except in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 129 connection with his own business, which was that of private banking. He removed from here to Denver, Colorado, where his death occurredl. D. Scott Partridge was admitted to practice iln New York ill 1874 and admitted here in 1875. TTe served for some years as justice of tie peace in Mlt. Pleasant, practiced for some time, was at one time a member of the firm of Fancher, Dodds & Partridge, and afterwards was for a number of years cashier of the Filrst National Bank of Mt. Pleasant. I Ie removed from here to Grand Rapids, \here he now resi(les. John Maxwell came to the county in 1863 and was admitted in January, J87f6. lie had held the office of sheriff ill T870 and afterwards the office of county treasurer for seven years. Ie was elected judge of probate in J888 and lhas held the office ever since. Michael L)evereaux graduated from the State University in 1876 and immediately ciane to this coulntY. In I878 lie was elected prosecutiing attorey- alnd afterwards served as secretary of the board of school examiners. For a great numbier of years he served as justice of the peace iln AIt. Pleasant. Simeon C. Blrown came to the county in the early seventies. Ile served;is justice of the peace in the township of Coe and in Mt. Pleasant for several years. W\as admitted in January, 1876, and afterwards served as circuit court. colmmissioner. He also served as clerk of the tax commission duIring a legislative term at LTansing, and was afte-rwards editor of the.R ~ t,'l7 1~i clF / 'll'ill,,,(..Vorthwcs'tcruI, Tribuic. Charles A. Brown, a soil of the last above, was adlilitted in I877, )ut never gave much attentiol to practice anid died a few years after his adm(ission. He was a very light young man. but was a,ictim of ill health. Charles I. Russell was admitted to th(e bar at Charlotte, iln Eaton coMuty, in 1877 and came here ill 1878. In t88o le servedl as village attornev (of Mt. Pleasant, andl in 188i as village president. lie served as prosecuting attorneyv ill 1883-4-5-6 and again in g907-8. He served as postmaster in the city of Mt. Pleasant four years, from 1894 to T898. -le has been enigaged iln much of the contested and impilortant litigation of the county since he camle here. \Vade B. Smith was admitted Mlay 14, 1878, and practiced for several years, a portion of the timie being in partnership with S. \. Hopkins. He removed from here to Emmet county; where he still resides. Frank F. }-libblard was admittedl in January, 1879, but mo(st of the time afterward devoted his time to real estate andi insurance. He died in 1908. (9) I30 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. A. L. Deuel was admitted in I879; was in the county but a short time afterward and removed to Harbor Springs, in Emmet county. where he has since resided. F. H. Dodds graduated from the State University in I880. Soon afterwards he commenced the practice of law in this county and, except for a short interval, has been in practice here ever since. He was elected to the House of Representatives of the United States in I908 and re-elected in I9I0. Fred F. Huntress was admitted in i88i, practiced here for some years and moved to Duluth. He is now living in Portland, Oregon. Fred Russell was admitted in i88I. He served as circuit court commissioner several terms and also as county school commissioner. lie was in partnership for some years with his brother, Charles T. Russell. and afterward with E. D. Wheaton. Of late years he has been giving his attention to other business. Free Estee graduated from the State University in 1879, practiced for a time in Ohio and in I88i came to this county and formed a copartnership with S. W. Hopkins. Afterward he served as justice of the peace for several years, and was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1885-6. He died in I897. George E. Dodds was admitted in 1882 and was a member for some time of the firm of Dodds Brothers. HTe afterwards moved to Colorado, where he now resides. W. I. Dodds was admitted in 1883. Soon afterwards he went into the business of real estate, which was continued until his death in 1894. Cyrus E. Russell came to the county in I882. He served several terms as circuit court commissioner and was prosecuting attorney for four years. He served a great many years as justice of the peace, which office he still holds. Bert L. Parkhill was admitted in I884. He served as circuit court commissioner in 1895-6. He was engaged for a number of years in the banking business, and now occupies the position of bookkeeper in the Gorham Brothers Company of the city of Mt. Pleasant. Herbert A. Sanford was admitted to the bar in 1887 and since that time has been engaged almost exclusively in the active practice of his profession. He was prosecuting attorney from I89i to 1894, inclusive. HTe has been engaged in most of the criminal litigation of the county, but is not at all confined to it, as he has a large civil practice. In his treatment of court and counsel in court, his courtesy is always noticeable. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 131 Elijah D. lWheaton was admitted at Iarwell in July, 1874, and moved to this county late in the eighties, when he commenced active practice, having a large acquaintance in the northern part of this county. He was prosecuting attorney in 1895-I896. Mr. Wheaton was a forceful advocate before a jury, and at the same time was well versed in the law. Ile died at his home in Mt. Pleasant, July 4, 1901. Albert A. Loveland was admitted in 1888. Te has been justice of the peace and circuit court commissioner for a great many years. His practice. however, has been largely in the pension department of the United States. Tholmas Costello was admitted in June, 1889, and at once entered the active practice of the law, and up to the time of his death perhaps was engaged in as many cases as any other attorney that ever practiced at this bar. Oscar F. Sheldon came to the county from Blissfield in Ienawec county, where he had practiced mlany years. HIe remained here in active practice for more than ten years. He is now in practice in Colorado. M. M. Larmouth was admitted in 1894. Almost immediately thereafter he moved to Sault Ste. Marie, where he has since been in plractice. George Reed was for four years county clerk of this county. He was admitted in January, 1895; practiced here some years; was appointed receiver of the First National Bank of Ithaca, and after closing up the business thereof, he moved to the Upper Peninsula, where he still resides. Lewis E. Royal graduated froml the State University and was admitted to the bar at Ann Arblor in June, I896, and immediately afterwards engaged ill the practice of the law in this county. Afterward he moved tc, Des Moines, Iowa, and still resides in that state. Edward NV. Grewett was admitted in Roscommon county in May, 1887, and practiced there for several years. Afterwards, for a time, he resided in this county, and thence moved to Marion, in the county of Osceola, where lie still resides. Patrick H. Kelley was graduated from tlhe law department of the university and was admitted to the bar in the supreme court in April, I899, residing here for a short time thereafter. He then moved to Detroit and was engaged in the practice of the law for several years. From there he Inoved to the city of Lansing, where he is still in active practice. He was appointed as a member of the state board of education by Governor Bliss; was after-ards elected to that office for one term, and then elected as superintendent of public instruction, serving one term. He has been twice elected as lieutenant-governor of the state, which position he still holds. I32 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Bruce C. Shorts graduated from the law department of the university and was afterwards admitted to the bar at Lansing in I901. Soon afterward he moved to the city of Seattle in Washington, where he has since been engaged in an active and lucrative practice. For some time lie has held the position of assistant city attorney. F. H. Dusenbury was admitted in I902, and since that time has been in active practice in the county. lie served as prosecuting attorney from 1905-1908, and was elected a member of the state Legislature in 19o8. and again in 1910. Roy D. Matthews graduated from the university in 1902 and was admitted in the suplreme court at LJansing, in June of the same year. He came to this county in 1903 and )practiced his profession at Shepherd until, in I908, he was elected prosecuting attorney. Tie then mioved to Mt. P'leasant and has since been in the active practice of the law in that city. Ite was re-elected to the same office in 191o. Perry Shorts graduated from the State University in o906. He remained but a short time in this county after his admission to the batr and remtoved to Kansas City, Kansas, from wherc, after a short interval, lie removed to Saginaw, in this state, where he has been in active practice, though largely engaged in insurance law and practice. Amasa K. Brown was admitted( at Lansing in 1903. lie )racticed for a few years in this county, 1smoved thence to the West, and afterwards took up his residence in Chicago. where lie is no\\ engaged in other lines of business. F. B. Dodds graduated from the law department of the State University in 1907, and was admitted to the bar at Lansing in June of that year. After a short residence inl this counlty he moved to Spokane, Washington, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Douglas H. Nelson graduated from the University of Michigan in I908. and almost immediately thereafter moved to the state of Washingtosn, where he has since resided. George McHugh came to this coutity illn 899, alnd was for a time engaged in the law practice in copartnershil) with Mr. Fancher. After a short stay here he remioved to Port Huron. Norris J. Brown came to the county from G(rand Rapids. where ihe had long been in practice. He has tlhe managemient of tlhe Mt. Pleasant Light & Fuel Comnpany, and has given little attention to tlhe law business since his arrival here. Frank M. Burwash came to the county from Chicago and broutght witl ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I33 him a large and valuable legal experience. He entered into copartnership with Mr. Fancher and the firm is carrying on successfully a large general practice. PROBATE JUDGES. On the organization of the county in 1859, Janes \\ilse, a farmer and resident of tlhe township of Coe, was elected judge of probate to serve the remainder of the term. Judge Wilsey, with several others. had arrived in the county on (ctober 1o, 1854, and took up a homestcad in the township of Coe. where he resided until his death. Perrl H. Estee, the second one to occupy that office. was elected in the fall of I86o and served a term of four years. He came into the county sool after J(uclge Wilsey and was the first personi to locate land within tlle tow\nllslip of Coc. ITlis was done i (October, 1854, andl the location was the northwest quairter of section T8, in tow\lship 13 nortll. of range 3 west (Coc township). Judge Estee was always a farmer. an1d 1was identified for many years witl the political interests of the coIunty. \Villiam H1. Nelson succeeded Judge Estee andl occuplied tle office froml 1865 to i868. }Ie lived for some years at Isabella City and afterward at Mt. Pleasant. He was the father of Douglas lt. Nelson, for many years one of tile leadling business men of the coltv..s stated alove, lie held the office of the colllt clerk during the seconld ternm after the county was organized. Richard Hov, of the toiwnshi)p (f Coe. was electedl jtldge.of p-robate in J,868, andl served for one term. udlge I lo was one of the early settlers of tile cotntv an(l had been elected and served as coumtv treasurer cduring the first term after the organization of the countlt. l)lrill most of Ilis life lie was a farmer. He lied iln.o19, at thie age of eidgtv-three. \illiam W\. Struble, of the tow\nship of Chilpp)ea, succeedel d Judge Ilov on the ist day of January,.1873, iand presildel during (-)one terml. lie -was also a farmer andt one of the early settlers of the countv. John C.. \. Johnson was elected in the fall of 1876, and also served one term, and was the sixtih farmer to hIold that office inl tills coulnt\. He liveld during tile last!ears of his life on his farm in the tow\-nshil of Union. Corneliuls Bennett, who hlas bee-n menltioned above. \was elected in tlle fall of I 88 and re-elected in 1884. He was the first larwyer to occlupy the office. I34 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. John Maxwell, a sketch of whom has been given above, was elected as successor to Judge Bennett in 1888 and has held the office to the present time. EARLY CASES IN CIRCUIT COURT. As stated above, the first cause on the law side of the court was heard at Isabella Center on the 14th day of January, I86o, by Hon. Wilbur '. Woodworth, then circuit judge. The cause was entitled "Charles B. Young. Plaintiff, vs. Township of Isabella, Defendant." L. P. Bailey, of Midland, appeared for the plaintiff, and Nelson Mosher for the defendant. A motion was first made to amend the declaration, which being granted, the cause proceeded and judgment was finally entered in favor of the plaintiff, Charles B. Young, for the sum of one hundred and one dollars and two cents. No jury was empaneled. Irving E. Arnold was then county clerk and entered the judgment, which was in the regular form. The next proceeding that shows upon the calendar was on July 23, 186I, when Isaac Marsten, who was not a resident attorney of the county at the time, was appointed lrosecuting attorney for the time being, no other prosecuting attorney being present. Mr. Marsten was afterwards elected attorney general of the state, and later, a justice of the supreme court, where he served for many years. The first jury case, as shown 1by the journal, began on the 28th day of February. 1862. This entry, however, is evidently an error, and it should have read the 28th day of January, as the following days in the journal show. The court was presided over by Judge Birney, who, before proceeding with the regular work of the court, approved the appointment made by William H. Nelson, then clerk of the court, of Douglas H. Nelson as his deputy clerk. The cause was entitled "Louis Bright, Plaintiff, vs. George -Hursh, Defendant," and the action was one of trespass. A jury was empaneled, consisting of A. M. Merrill, Patrick Cleary, IT. Sherman, Horace Handy, John B. Walton, Samuel Leonard, John Mouser, L. D. Handy, George W. Jeffries, Silas Fosgate, R. J. Hill and Henry;Gulick. The cause was submitted to the jury on January 29th and on January 30th they gave their verdict, "Guilty of Trespass," and awarded the plaintiff damages of six dollars above his costs. Nelson Mosher appeared for the plaintiff and Tompkins & Marsten were attorneys for the defendant, Hursh. Afterwards, and at the same term, was tried the first criminal case ever tried in the circuit court in the county. It was entitled "The People of the State of Michigan vs. John Wade." The charge was larceny. A ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 135 jury was empaneled consisting of H. Gulick, I. E. Arnold, A. G. Ferris, i\. M. Merrill, G. A. Atkins, S. Fosgate. J. B. Walton, H. Handy, S. Leonard, Patrick Cleary, L. D. lanmly and R. J. Hill. Joseph Miser was the officer sworn to take charge of the jury, who, after being absent for a time, returned into court and gave their verdict of "Guilty." Afterwards. and upon the same day, the defendant was sentenced to serve eighteen months at the state prison in Jackson. The first chancery decree was made on the 24th (lay of January, I86o, by Judge Woodworth, hereinbefore mentioned. It was entitled "Caleb Ives and Albert Ives vs. Josh T. Copeland. May I. Copeland. Saomuel Copeland. Timothy Baker, Jr., and Nelson P. Stewart." The bill was filed to foreclose a mortgage upon the west half of the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section lo, and the south half of the southwest quarter and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section II, and the north half of the northwest quarter of section 14, in township r4 north, of range 4 west, which township is named the township of Union. The report of the commissioner submitted to the judge, computed the amount due on the mortgage as one thousand five hundred seventy-two lollars ant( forty-two cents, and the decree was for that amount. The sale was to le made on or before January 18, 186I. George F. Hemingway. of Midland, Mlichigan, appeared as solicitor for the complainant. The first divorce case as appears on the calendar was filed on the 26th day of August, I865. Williaml Chatfield was complainant and May Chatfield was defendant. Nelson Mosher appeared for the complainant, lbut no one appeared for the defendant. The decree was mlade by Judge Sutherland, then judge of the circuit, on the T2th (lay of January, j867. The parties were both Indians. On the same day a decree of divorce was granted to May A. Sanders from her husbanld, Thomas Sanders, though the bill was filed after the Chatfield case. J. A. Fulmer appeared for the complainant and the case was heard by default. INTERESTING CASES IN CIRCUIT COURT.-TIE "TH'RSI' CASE. The land upon which the Central Michigan State Normal School is located has a history. It was patented to John M. Hursh on March Io, I856, and afterwards, in 187J, was conveyed by him to his wife, Elizabeth -Tursh, through certain.mesne conveyances. In 1872, Mrs. Hursh gave. her said husband a power of attorney to sell and convey all her real estate I36 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. within the county. Afterward, and in the said year, said John M. Hursh made and executed to one John Jeffrey an instrument, in form a deed, of said land with other lands, and received back an instrument, in form a land contract, for the reconveyance upon condition of the repayment of three thousand five hundred forty-one dollars and forty-six cents. There were morig-ages upon said land at the time of the transfer from Hursh to his wife, and a part of said consideration went to pay them. After the death of John Jeffrey, a portion of his estate, including above instrument, was purchased by John Scriven of St. Johns, Michigan, alnd in 1876 he filed a bill for the foreclosure of the same as a mortgage, and a decree was rendered upon default. Afterward, ho\ever, application was made to open the case, and upon appeal to the supreme court the defendants were given the right to answer (39 Mich. 98). Thereupon the complainant dismissed his case and an action of ejectment i as begun by the same attorneys in the name of the minor heirs of said Jeffrey, deceased, against Elizabeth Hursh and Robert Hillock, the latter having, in tlhe meantime, purchased from Mrs. Hursh upon a. contract. At the trial of the ejectment suit, when the evidence was all in, the court left it to the jury to determine whether the transaction between John M. Hursh and John Jeffrey was a mortgage transaction or a sale upon con(lition. The jury found it ai mortgage and gave their verdict for HIur-sh and Hillock, but on appeal to tlhe supreme court the judgmenlt was reversedl on the stated groundls that tlhe instrumentet, being a deed in form, carried possession, and holding that if defendants had anv remeedy, it was in equity (42 Mici. 563). The case, when it came on for trial the seconll time, involved the validity of a tax title which the supreme court held on appeal was not a good defense in the halnds of the defendanlts (45 Mich. 59). ()n the third trial in tlic circuit, the defendants contended that inasmuch as the instrumenlt between Hursh and Jeffrey was intended as a mortgage, it was void because the power of attorney fronl Mrs. Hursh to her huslband gave no power to mortgage. On appeal this position was sulstained Iby the supreme court and the case was returned for trial. This question was never before decidlel in this state (49 Mich. 31). At the next trial the defendants prevailed and thereupon the plaintiffs paid the costs, and under the statute took a new trial. The case was then on the application of said plaintiffs transferred to the county of Bay. In the Bay circuit the jury, under the charge of the court, found the instrument a deed and judgment passed for plaintiffs, but upon appeal it was reversed, the supreme court holding that on the questions involved, the instrument ISABELLA COUINTY, MICIIIGAN. 137 must he held to le intended as a mortgage as a matter of law, and final jtidgmnent was entered for (lefendants ill the cour-t l)elow (58 Mich. 246). Thereupon John Scriven again filed his bhill in equity, and decree passed for him for such amount of the consi(leration of three thousand(l five hundred fortv-(mc (lollars and fortv-six cents as had been used to pay the former nlor-tgages. and the title was forever quiete(l in Robert Hillock, who in the teantime had received a full warranty (deed from- Hursh (68 MAich. 176). In the above litigation. Spaulding & Cranson, of St. Johns. rel)presente(l the Jeffrev-Scriven interests, and( Brown & i.eaton and Fancher & l)oddls that of HTursh and Tlillock. Trll' "SII.\\w BOosi,' CASE. 'Thle ad(ove case was of great iml)olrtance in this c(montv. where six townships were reservedl for the Indians. Jacob Shawhoose. an lndial of the handl of Cil)ppewas, 1)v treaty was entitled to and hadl made a selectioll of the land( in question in that case. The treaty )rovided(l that on selection heiln- ma(le, the agent for thle Indians should dividle the persons selecting into twoO classes. those who were by training considered "competent" to manoige their ownl affairs were to he so designated, and those who were not were to be designated ''"not sO competent.".\ "not so competent" could not aliienate his land \without the consent of the secretary of the interior for the tihe leing.,Before the (lesignation had lieen made, Shawboose sol(d the ti1iher, t(o) c(motiplainanilts and( the land to clefendants. After the desi-gnlatiot was Madile a(l Shawlt)oo)se hadl been eleiominated collmpetenlt. lie mad(le a further dlee(l to comp)lainants. The two conveyances miade before Shawb)oose was denominated colmpl)etent 1)v the c()mtissioter of ITl(lia aftfairs. were held void, althotigli tlhev contained coveniant of warranlty, anl the onte miadcle afterward(l was held to le validl (34 *iclt. 142). Jolin J. Wheeler. () of Saginiaw, aippeared as solicitor for complainant, (;col-rge Raymond, et al., and Johnl C. Leatotn and W\\illiam N. Brown appI)earedl fo' the lefendlants, Hill aitd Gaml)le. TILE \WILLiAMS CASE. e\ erCy iimportant case to Tsal)ella comintv -was decided by the suptreme coumt i' I 892. I'revioums to this time it had been the customt to assess for taxes Indian lands that had bheen classified as '"not so comlpetent." The pateits to these lands contaitned the following clause: "That the land shall 138 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. never be sold or alienated to any person or persons whomsoever, without the consent of the secretary of the interior, for the time being." The auditorgeneral's department had maintained that these lands were subject to taxation. They had been taxed for years, and returned and sold for the taxes. For the purpose of having the matter judicially determined, a friendly suit was maintained, and the court held that these lands were not subject to taxation. The case is reported under the title "Auditor-General vs. Sarah Williams," and reported in Vol. 94, page I80, of the Michigan Reports. H. A. Sanford represented the auditor-general, and I. A. Fancher and United States District Attorney T. F. Shepherd, who was directed to represent the Indian department, appeared for the Indian woman, Sarah Williams. This decision was afterwards discussed by the cabinet at Washington, and declared in harmony with the ideas of the federal government. CHAPTER IX. RAILROADS IN ISABELLA COUNTY. Let the dirt roads be as good as they may, yet they do not meet all of the necessities of a growing, thriving country. Cheaper and quicker transportation is needed for both business and travel. Isalella began, along about the seventies, to feel the need of a railroad. One was headed toward the county, but was to only touch the northeast portion of it. This road was the Flint & Pere Marquette, a land grant road, where a strip of land embracing each alternate section for six miles on either side of the center line of said road was granted by the United States government to the state of Michigan June 3, 1856. to aid in the construction of railroads in the state, and by the state accepted by an act of the Legislature of February a corresponding amount of land turned over to them. The line was graded through this county in I87o and the track laid in 1871. The line entered the county at or near Coleman, about three and one-half miles south of the northeast corner of the county, running thence in a west and northerly direction, leaving the county about one and one-half miles west of the northeast corner of the township of Vernon, thence running along west near the north county line to Farwell, thence continuing a little north of west until it left Clare county some four or five miles north of the northwest corner of Isabella county. It will be seen that it embraced quite a scope of country belonging to Isabella. It was a great road for lumbermen. Its full capacity was at times used for the transportation of logs from the pineries to the great banking grounds along the Titabawassa river and the Saginaw. It was of small benefit to Isabella except it was an outlet that was finally reached by building first a narrow gauge from Mt. Pleasant to Coleman, a distance of fifteen miles. This road was constructed in the year 1879 under the name of the Saginaw & Mt. Pleasant. Jesse Hoyt, of New York, was president; I. A. Fancher, of Mt. Pleasant. vice-president, and William I. Webber, of Saginaw, secretary and treasurer. It was afterward widened to a standard gauge and became a part of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway system, now the Pere Marquette. It was a happy clay for the people of Mt. Pleasant and vicinity I40 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. when they felt that they were in touch again with the outside world by the bands of steel. The enterprise cost about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, and the people of Mt. Pleasant were required to furnish fifteen thousand dollars and the right-of-way, also depot grounds. The fifteen thousand dollars was furnished by subscription, and the right-of-way was securedl and paid for by Cornelius Bennett, George L. Granger and 1. A. Fallcher. The work was completed on the 8th day of December. 1879, 1and was opened for business on the i5th day of Decembelr. Business was suspended, business houses closed, and every one was (out with a broad smlile on his radiant countenance. The incoming train, with the officials of the road, was mlet at the depot. An address of welcome was made by the president of the village, John C. Leaton; Maj. J. W'. Long acted as marshal, who formed the parade as follows: First, the Mt. Pleasant band; second, president and common council of the village; third, steaml fire engine; fourth, the hook and ladder company; sixth, citizens on foot; seventh, citizens in carriages. The procession formed at the depot and marched to the court house, where William N. Brown delivered a very pleasing address. followed by Dr. -H. C. Potter, of Saginaw, one of the railroad officials, D). 11. Nelson, of MAt. Pleasant, and I. A. Fancher, vice-president of the road. In the evening the town was illumined alnl AV. N. Brown threw opell his ldwelling for a reception, at which, with the host and hostess. assisted 1v, Mlrs. T. A. F.ancher, Mrs. C. Bennett, Mrs. J. W. Long Mrs. J. C. Leaton, Mrs. \\. S. I-Hunt and Mrs. J. *R. Doughty, the assembled crowd was receivedl and a most delightful evening was spent in honor of the occasion. The comingi of the railroad was the dawn of a new era for Mt. Pleasant and every class of business took on new life and vigor. The county as well as the city felt the impulse for better things; lands were inlcreiased in valuie toLwn lots were advanced in value; manufacturing enterprises sought locations: timber was made of some value; the farmer felt a new impulse to clear and improve his farm now that he could reach an outside market. The next railroad enterprise to look toward building a road into Isabella county was the Ann Arbor, or, more properly speaking, the Toledo & Ann Arbor. This road, under the direction and leadership of (Governor Ashley, of Toledo, Ohio. had been creeping along from Toledo, north, during the latter seventies and fore part of the eighties, and had finally reached Owosso, when they picked up the stock, franchise and right-of-way of a road that had been commenced at Owosso, running thence to Ithaca and so on to Alma, and thence to Mt. Pleasant. That road had graded a track from Owosso to Ithaca, and part of the way from Ithaca to \Alma, and had surveyed a ISABELLA COUNTY, -MICHIGAN.14 14I line onl to 'Mt. Pleasant, a coissiderable portion of the line had also been tied. liut after this hadl all beets done, under the clams of tlse officers of tlse roadl tisat tse M ichsigan Central Radlroadl Comnpany would gnarantee the lionils antd furnish tise iron anti rolling stock, the saidl comspany flatly refnsed to (10 anytlsing of the kindl and the project iprovedi a faikure. Tise ToleolCl & Atsn Arborw roadl, finditig it its that coiscition, lpropo(sedl to take tse fraiscisise, stock ansd road lbedl ansd conlllete the sante. This being what the eoplle (lesi ed, thsey readlilyv tutrned over all to theis atid tlse Toledo & Almi Arbsor proiceedleil to cossstrtsct the sam-e frost Owosso ti Ithsaca. At tlsat polint they pttrlopsedl to run1 to St. Louis itnsteatd of coistisssng onl tse dold line tos A\lma. Thsat (lid sot pllease ilse Alnia peopile, aisd~ Messrs. A. WV. WVright. \V. S. Turk. Jamies Gatrgett, WVillians N. Browni, Jolsn A. 1-Isrris and othsers o r-attizet the Latisin-, Alma, Mt. Pleaisaist atsd Northsern Railroad Contlsstusv. Thsey conssequientlv abandonted tlse o(sI litte to Almsa atnd rast their lisse to St. Louis, atsd frost there ttirnedl west atsd rats otl tte isorths side of Almia as-ld tlhetsce to Atft. P~leasantst reachsiig, tlsat ltoitst about t 88,~. Thle tortisert terstitits remtainied at, Mt. Pleasant stistil thev locdated ass extesisioti to tte cit\ oif tlare, soste fifteess msiles itorths, whlere tlsev Crossedl the P ere sl aistiette risad:froms there they Coistilitied the lute oits to C~adillasc andl theisce to Franikfort (at JLake 'Micltigais. -Not long after they tad coislpletedl thseir usne o)f roasu tos thu. lake ilsey felt tlse iiecessitv osf out outlet across the lak~e assul tlsets it uas ' tlist tli Ashil( s cosutivetse the ldea i)f bstillitsg a ferry lutit of sittlocoetit psow ciaitl tcapacits Its ti aisslurt a trains of loaded ca-rs aicross the Lake isithouuht hireaking sul.k. T hey built a boait, issale the tribal atsd] it p~rovedl suEccessfuil It tfusli.s bescam denmonstratedl fact anid \\-I]l reisaiss so fur all tust to) conlie. About the year s875 s 1st aiih sit thic Dctrosut, Latisitig & Northserts isas stutelfiss iosa, r unisngi to Sutaittoi, Edmoruie, TBlansehard, 'ill~lbiseak aisld thenice itorthwuest to kceitis anid Big Ralsids. IFhits road gave ass outlet tos the south ass] wvest liortiiui of the county aisd iwas afterward, absont 1893. increased hr a branchb from Remtus tot Bmttdv and Weihissani, at tistaisce front Renisss of tlsirteeis miles. Thtis Issaishs servedl as sain ontlet for the lusher of the cotilittrv inl aisu ahout Weidmant wsil -also for the fat-i p~rodtucts raised Its a largec posrtoios o)f Nuittawav. (ihtiore, Sherman, Deerfielh stitc Broomfihell touviisslips. There wuas also a lirausch puit into ihriuston front the Pere Marqtuette for tlse ptiurpuse of shippinsg suit the chsarcoal inside sit the v-illage of Briiston. That brasnchi w\as of sntucs service aitu proftit to the pieshhe inl ansd srosund the village, as it gave labor to a large nittimber of pseople tit cuttting, hatacling atid bsurniing thse Avord iistd chsarcoal. Thi-is indlustry silso 142 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. made a market for thousands of cords of wood that otherwise would have had to be cut and burned in fallow without the owner receiving any revenue from the timber. It lightened the burden of the farmer and enabled him to more quickly convert his timber land into crop-producing condition, whereby he could obtain some revenue from his land as a husbandman. The last branch of road was, after it had served its purpose, discontinued and removed. CHAPTER X. I)l'(, 'ION IN ISABELLA COUNTY. Education is, I believe, )aramount to almost any other subject that will be written about in this history. It is a matter that shoul(l and does interest the great mass of people. There is no other matter that can take hold of the people as strongly and nerve them to action so effectually as this. The thirst for it came with the early settler when he moved into the count\y, and it has continued and has grown with the growth of the country. If we go hack to the early settlement of the county and examine the means of education within the reach of the children, that were destined to form one of the principal elements in our social system, wve shall necessarily find it crude and uncongenial. Nothing to invite the youth by a log building and plank seat, without map or chart, and almost without a teacher; with no guide through the woods but an Indian trail or a blazed line. But, crude and uninviting as it was, it found young America with his usual amount of force and will, equal to the task, and bent on preparing himself for the burdens yet to be borne by him when.he should take upon himiself the responsibilities of full citizenship. The first schoolhouse built was in the township of Coe, on the southeast quarter of section 9, township 13, range 3, and was taught by Caroline Kilburn, who receive(l her certificate from Richard Hoy and George W. Miller, inspectors, and was dated May 5, 1857. From this time they spread over the county as the settlements acquired sufficient number of school children to demand. One was built on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 27, township 14, range 4, at a point about where William Crowley now lives, and was taught by Elizabeth Gulick. In I858-9 I. E. Arnold built four schoolhouses for the United States government for the use of the Indians. One was called the Mission school and was just west of the present Indian school. This one was taught for three or four years by a Miss Hinds, she boarding with Rev. George Bradley. This school was afterwards taught by Addie Wilder. About I86o a schoolhouse was built in Coe township, on the west side of section 7, and known as the Drake schoolhouse. Also one on the south 144 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. west corner of section 2, and known as the Abbott schoolhouse. Also one on the northeast corner of section 35, and known as the Williams schoolhouse. In Chippewa there was the Taylor schoolhouse, situated on the northwest corner of section 29. Also one on the east side of the same section. known as the Landan schoolhouse. As the settlement worked west into Union township, other schoolhouses were built. Tn the early sixties one was built on the west side of section 26. known as the Bouton schoolhouse. This is a district that has acquired some prominent as being where Judge Dodds taught for some time, and where he wooed and won his hell)lmate. (oing a little farther west, we have the Gulick schoolhouse, andl a little farther west the Johnson schoolhouse, named after John Q. A. Johnlson, one of the oldest residents and one who held several important offices, among them judge of probate, also sheriff, as well as justice of the peace. Then you get further south into the towniship of Lincoln, we have the Ioover schoolhouse, on section 14. Also, in the same township, the Center schoolihouse, on section 16. A little farther west was the l'ine schoolhouse and on the south si(le of section 19 the Titus schoolhouse. Moving west into the to\\wship of Fremont. we have the Caldwell schoolhouse, on sectioll 2. aind. crossing the s\\wail) west of Winn, we get the (arner schoolhouse, an(l southwest from there the Peterson schoolhouse, in the town\ship of Rolland, named after \Villiam Ml. Peterson, one of the first settlers of that part of the county. Going north into Broomlfield, we have the Broomfield schoolhouse, named after the father of that township, and who is still living in the western part of the countv. As we journey on north with the tide of emigration, we next collie to the Hummel settlement, where is located the school named after them: goingthen into Shermant, the next early school was the \Vooden scho-ol, Ilamled after Henry Wooden, one of the early lioneers of that town, ant1 \\who was energetic and liberal in school matters. (oing farther iup the Chippe\wa river to Sherman City, we find the school located at that burg. Along in the sixties there was a small settlement established in Gilmore township, and with it a school district or districts fornled; one known as the Glass district, after Rufus F. Glass, on the south side of section 14; one on the southeast corner of section 26, known as the Scofield, and one on the southwest corner of section 2, known as the Beach. These were established as the settlements were formed and are known as the earlier schools established, and also as the central places Iwhere each second year the various political parties would hold their political school for educating and persuading the inhabitants to meander over into their particular fold. The schools did not increase very fast until after 1871-2, w\hen the Inlian ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. I45 lands began to he sold and lumbered or settled upon, and the pine lands of the county were being lumbered; then the farmers began to occupy and develop the farming lands more rapidly. As soon as I867, on the 27th (lay of December, there was held at Mt. Pleasant a teachers' institute, under the supervision of Albert Fox, the then county school superintendent, at which ten teachers were present. A good deal of interest was manifested and afterward, through the influence of C. O. Curtis, then superintendent of schools, a state teachers' institute was held at Mt. Pleasant, State Superintendent Oramel JTosford and Professor Estabrook, of the State Normal School, being present. This was a most instructive and entertaining meeting, and created a good deal of enthusiasm among the teachers of the county. At this institute there were fifty-four teachers in attendance and forty-five schools of the county represented. In I876 there were in the county fifty-three school districts; number of log schoolhouses, twenty, and twenty-eight frame buildings, some of them as fine as can be found outside of the cities. There were two thousand one hundred and nineteen scholars, as shown by the school census of 1874, then in the county. At the present writing, November, i9Io, there are, exclusive of the schools of the city of Mt. Pleasant, one hundred and six school districts, distributed as follows: Broomfield township has nine; Chippewa, nine; Coe, eight; Coldwater, seven; Deerfield, nine; Denver, seven; Fremont, seven; Gilmore, five; Isabella, six; Lincoln, seven; Nottaway, six; Rolland, seven; Sherman. four; Union, five; Vernon, six, and Wise, four. In Mt. Pleasant the first school was taught by Ellen L. Woodworth in the summer of 1864, and by Celia E. Preston the following winter. There were some twenty scholars in a log school building built by John Kinney, one of our oldest citizens, living at the preselnt time in the city, but who at that time was lumbering in this vicinity. lie owned several pieces of timber land on section I5, which is the one that the first plat was laid out upon. A.s early as December 25, 1863, the school inspectors of the township of Union laid off the following territory into district No. i, bounded as follo\\s: Sections T3, 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, north half of 19, north half of 20, north half of 21, north half of 22, north half of 23. and north half of 24. The first meeting was appointed to be held on the I6th day of January, I864, at the court house in Mt. Pleasant. Due notice was given and the meeting held, at which the following officers were elected, viz.: Milton Bradley, moderator; I. A. Fancher. director, and E. G. H. Meisler, assessor. H. A. I)unton was made chairman and N. Mosher, clerk of the meeting. At that (Io) I46 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. meeting there were present the following gentlemen: John Mouser, J. P. Case, Mr. Geer. M. V. B. Sherman, A. Yale, Mr. Kinney, E. Bradley, George Bradley, J. Saunders, I. A. Fancher, H. A. I)unton and H. Morton. On January I6, 1864, a special school meeting was called for the purpose of locating a schoolhouse site. This was signed by H. A. Dunton, E. G. H. Meisler, N. Mosher, I. A. Fancher and M. V. B. Sherman. Notices were duly posted for the 27th (lay of January, 1864, at which time the district met and located the site on the southeast corner of block 24, Mt. Pleasant, on lots T and 2. Messrs. Harvey and George Morton, proprietors of the village plat, very generously donated the two lots selected by the district. A meeting \was dtly called and hleld on the 5th day of April, 1864, for the purpose of raising money to build a suitable school building. L.. Bentley moved that three hundlre(l dollars b)e raised for that purpose, which was duly carried. John Kinney mlove(l to adjourn till the next Mon(lav to make arrangements to build,. \hich carried. At the adjourned meeting Messrs. Lance, Mosher and AWk. WA. Preston were elected a building committee to see to the erection of a.school buildling according to the plans and specifications of the board. On May T, 1864, Ellen L. \N')Woodwolrth was contracted with to teach the school. In September the district met and voted to raise thirty-five dollars for contingent purposes, one hundred dollars for teachers' wages and thirtvtwo dollars to pay the indebtedness of the (listrict. The erection of the school building was let to IT. T. Sherman for eight hundred and( fortyseven dollars. There was paid to the teacler, Mrs. \Voodworth, during 1i864 at one time thirty-six dollars and fifty cents. and at another time thirty-four dollars and twenty-five cents, and to C. IF. Preston, ninety-six dollars, as teacher in the old log school building, and to Mr. Kinney sixteen (lollars and fifty cents for rent. Then they moved into the new building and on the 25th day of September, I865, they contracted with Miss Lydia M. Frary to teach ten weeks of school at five dollars and twenty-five cents per week. A-t the same elate the board established the following text-books to he used in the school: Orthography, Webster's Dictionary; reading books, Sanders' series of Union Readers; Greene's Elements of English Grammar; Clark's Rhetoric and Composition: Kane's Elements of Criticism; Wilson Treatise on Punctuation; Davis' New School Arithmetic and Davis' University Arithmetic; Mitchell's Outline Maps and School Geography; Wilson's History of the United States; Wells' Natural Philosophy; WXTood's Botany; Wayland's Moral Science. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.14 147 After the term of 'Miss Frary expired, S. E. Clay was hired to teach for some timre anti on May 14, i866. said Clay wvas colltracteti with to teach a summer term of sixteen weeks at thirty-live (lollars iper school mlonth. At tile anmial school meeting in Septemher. 1866, Cornelius Bennett was elected (ljrector anti Nelson Mosher as modlerator. It was moved that we hlave five months of winiter scilool aild hy a male teacller, an-d tilat we have four monltlls summelllr school. Also tilat we raise one (lollar per scholar to pay teachers' wages. It \vas also fixed tilat tile wvin-ter term shlould commienlce oin the second Mxoiildav ill Octoher andi t~lait it b~e taliglit liv S. EIL Clav..\t tllc allnual scihool meeting for 1867. J. M. Hlnrsh wvas re-elected - assessor. and it \vas lecid(lcd tllat tilev lace five llonths' (illter and four uloitls' sllllmllr school, aild~ that tile teachier he a 11a1. Also Illat tllev raise two (oldlars, per scliolar for teachers' wvages. anld tilat tiley raise t\\ceiltv cenlts per scllolar for a (lictiollarv. Tlhe anlmtal scliool tilectin5g for 1868 was simiplv a repetitioll of thle former Ncear as to lenigth of schlool and bywhom111 to he taugl~lt, as Nvell as tile, allouint tllat sholild lbe raised per schlolar for teachers wvages. Wtallace W\. Prestoni was electedl director. On1 thle 30t11 oIf -Novemnher, i 868. thle (list let made a colltract wvithl Cllristoplier Columhus Foutli te 1) teachl tile s(1hoo1 to xsninlence onl that dlav allt rolntinule for four mlolitihs at fiSftc d(Illlars iper lloilltl. And thle (ext Ala (11rl1 IC'(urtis ((vts emlpim-(edl to teacht four llomllts' summe11r schlool at. fifty 11 1 d llar per 1(11th. elle innlg, 1)1 thle 19111 day (If April. i869. Tille mlatters Ii the sch1oo1 listrict cortiintied to go 011 tabou~t as they ilac for somle timle ulltil thle buildinlg blecamle too slmall tor t he 111c1e sId nutmber of plipllls. S) att tIle a~llillial 5(11](101 Illeetiug1 Of 18/71 it wsas 11111edI that 1. Ak. l'iallller. E. G. Chtattield aidi C. Bennlett he atppollltedl a Icommlittee to make examnllatli Il, estillates all lilans for all,additumn to the tllen present huildinig. Thtey accep)tedl the task anrld reported at atu ad tom 1i1(1 meeting tilat ani allditioll of albout tile sam~e size as thle olongillal (ole c011l( he huilt for seveni hltldred mid fiftv tiollars. TIhe miieOlv was ordrerell raisedl and tile coml~llittee wvts requecstedl to Colltract for anti slilperin-teni-l tie hblildilig of the addition, Nvh~lir~ tllev did. M.atters tilell IovedI ah)115 for a tille, eacil year tile allnlual scihool lleetillg votinlg six ilulldred idal~ fifty dlollars for teaciters' wages liltil tile year 1875, wilell H. H1-. Graves sulggestedi tllat tile district shlould bieginl to look forward to tile tim~e whlen wde should nleedi mlore 100111 atlld tliat 1100 was tile tillle to proculre lots. A comm~littee w(as appoitltedl. lint nothinig was finllayi accollplishedl ill that dlirectidll. 111 1873 tile scihool ce11511s was, olle lhutldredi aldl sixteell andIi ill 176 itf had illereaseti to tovo li)Iltred 1111(1 tilirty-tilcee. A-t tile aitnlual scholO~ 148 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. meeting a proposition was made to organize the district into a graded school district and, after due deliberation, it was put to a vote and H. H. Graves and P. F. Dodds were appointed to count the vote, which resulted in thirty for and two against the proposition. This district being now a graded one, it was necessary that the meeting elect six trustees and this meeting, held on the 3d day of September, 1877, proceeded to elect M. Deveraux and John Maxwell trustees for one year, I. A. Fancher and P. E. Richmond for two years and S. W. Hopkins and J. A. Harris for three years. On the 4th of September, the trustees met and organized by electing S. W. Hopkins, moderator,'M. Deveraux, director, and I. A. Fancher, assessor, each for one year. The board then proceeded to employ teachers for the several departments, as follows: A. L. l)euel, as principal, at eighty dollars per month for nine months; Miss P. Della Pierce as intermediate teacher at three hundred and seventy-five dollars for nine months, and Mary C. Vedder, to teach the first primary department. The board, on the 3d of October, I877, decided to build an addition to the east end of the East school. to be thirty-eight feet long and to correspond to the old building. On account of the increase of students, it was found necessary to employ another teacher and Miss Frankie Relyea was hired to teach the B primary department at six dollars per week. As the city increased in population, so also the school advanced in numbers and importance. Additions were made from time to time to the old school building until we had three additions, called by Maj. J. WX. Long "warts." Matters went on in the school until the annual school meeting of I880, when Mr. Deveraux introduced the following resolution: "Whereas. our present school building has been inadequate to accommodate the number of pupils who were in attendance during the past school year, and, whereas. the overcrowded condition of our school rooms impairs the usefulness of our school and is injurious to the health of the children; therefore, resolved, by the legal voters of school district No. I of Union township that said district do borrow ten thousand dollars for a term of ten years, at a rate of interest not to exceed six per cent per annum, for the purpose of erecting on the site recently purchased by the district a brick school building of suitable dimensions to accommodate the wants of our growing community.' The resolution was seconded by I. A. Fancher and, after some discussion, on account of the lateness of the hour the meeting was adjourned until the next evening, July 13, I88o. at seven-thirty P. M. to further consider and give opportunity to vote upon the resolution. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 149 At the adjourned hour the vote was taken and resulted in the adoption of the resolution by thirty to four votes. The idea of a change in the school house site had been before the people for some time and at a meeting of the district as early as March 28, 1878, a vote was taken as to the advisability of making a change, which resulted in favor of the proposition forty-five to twenty-eight. but no place was named. Afterward and on the heels of the first resolution, a vote was taken to move the site, which resulted in favor of the removal, seventy-nine to thirteen, being a vote of more than two-thirds in favor. It was declared carried. Then came the question as to what place it slould be removed, and the 4th of April, 1878, was fixed for the time to settle that question. A meeting was called and a vote taken, which resulted in seventy-eight votes for block 26, Kinney's addition, the present site: twenty-eight for block 34, old plat, the block where the Sisters' home is now located; four votes for block iterian Ministerial.\id Society \was formedl. Its object was to aild in tlie raising of the miniister's salary and such other work in the clllrch as such society might find to do. Thle ladies who organlized the society are as follows: Mrs. I. A. Fancher, Mrs. E.G. \.ildler r In Fox rs. s. a Fo s.. \Villey, Mrs. \\. Trim, Miss Jennie Haller, Mliss Sadie Halnert. Miss Ade \\ilder. The gentlemen who were lhonorary miemlers were as follows: E.. \V ilder. Albert Fox. A. \Villcy and W\. Tril. The first officers were: Mrs. E. G. \Vilder, president; AlMrs. Ai. WTilley, vice-presicdent; I rs. 1. A. Fanlcher, secretary, and Miss Addie Wilder, treasurer. They knit, sewed and held ten-cent socials until they had accumulated one thousand dollars, \\hen they wrote to Rev. Father Clark, of Marshall, [ichigan, to come uip and look over the field and see if a Presbyterian church could not be formed at Mt. Pleasant. In July of that year he came, bringinig w\ith lilm Deacon Heidelberg. of Kalamazoo. They visited all of the famiilies in MIt. Pleasant and foundl t\wo wllo had been Presbyterianis in New York anld two who would unite on p)rofession of faith. On this occasion a society was formed with the four meiimbers, tle records \were writteni up and placedl in the hands of one of the Illelmbers. 220 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. A few weeks later Rev. Chester Armlstrong, a Presbyterian minister from Lansing, came to Mt. Pleasant and preached several times to the people, baptising children and perfecting the records of the church. The Methodist Episcopal people having in the meantime built their church and organized a Sunday school, taking with them the larger portion of the Union school and also the sulerintendent, his wife and daughter, which left but a single member of the Presbyterian church. In the changes wrought the records of the Presbyterian church disappeared and were never recovered, so that it was necessary to draft proceedings from memory or wait and have a new organization. Mrs. W. Doughty had come to Mt. Pleasant to live and she and the other member of the Presbyterian church proceeded to organize a Sunday school under that persuasion, which has continued to the present time. In April, I870, Rev. Hlenry Belknap was sent to the Presbyterians to work in the cause. He was a very fine Christian gentleman and had a most estimable wife; his health, however, was delicate and he only stayed a short time until he was advised to seek a warmer climate and moved from the town. A little later on Rev. M. Cameron, of Bay City, came to the town and intended to remain with the Presbyterians. He further perfected the organization of the church by calling a meeting and electing trustees under the statute. The Ladies' Aid Society purchased a parsonage at his request and had the garden made. The reverend gentleman finally went back to Bay City for the purpose of moving his family to Mt. Pleasant, but for some reason not known to the people here he failed to return. The ladies sold the parsonage without even reserving the unharvested crop of potatoes. In the early winter Rev. George Wood came from the Flint presbytery, reaching Mt. Pleasant in the early morning on a Sabbath day. Ile had walked from Midland, thirty-six miles, through the mud and slush of a thawing time. A more forlorn, disconsolate looking individual we never saw. Think of a parson tramping thirty-six miles in the mud, water and slush, through a dark, strange and uninhabited wilderness of timber all night long, with his mind on the sermon that he expected to deliver to the people of Mt. Pleasant on that Sunday, and ask yourself if you don't think that an all-wise Ruler would have done a humane thing if he had interfered just a little and kept that minister over the night in Midland and let the good people of Mt. Pleasant starve just one more Sunday for the spiritual food the reverend gentleman expected to give them. This gentleman was a scholar in all of the dead languages. He had Latin, Greek and Hebrew in every pocket, but he had no more idea of what ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 221 this world or the people in it were made for than a barbarian. His knowled(ge was all head work, with but little heart work in it. lIe was excusable from the fact that he was born in a foreign land and had not mixed with people-only delved in books and only such books as would tend to make of him a minister. Why, he was so impracticable that he could not drive a horse and cutter through a ten-foot gateway. We saw him try it once; he was to bring to a social function gotten ulp for his benefit a school mann from the Indian Mills. The horse and cutter was hitched up for him at the barn, he mounted the seat, picked up the lines and started; for the gateway, which was straight ahead. \Vhen lie reached the opening lie went 1)lump against the south gate post and broke the rave of the cutter, he then backed up and swung off to the left, started again and went plumtp against the north post, breaking off the left cutter rave. Some of the members of the Ladies' Aid Society in 1874-5 were Mrs. Hopkins, Doughty, Fancher, Nelson, A. Harris, Bouton, Murry, Miss E. Slater, R. Nott and Mrs. Gilman. These were the years that the Aid Society was working for money to purchase the lot for the church building to l e erected upon. During these years they held socials, fairs, etc., in twenty-one different places and cleared so that they had on hand the sum of one hundred twelve dollars and sixty-three cents, and. with this they paid as follows: April 2, 1875, to C. Bennett, on church lot......................$ 6o.oo June 24, I875, to C. Bennett, on church lot..................... 20.00 October 19, 1875, to C. Bennett, on church lot................... 20.00 October 27, I875, to C. Bennett, on church lot................... 1o.oo Total..............................................$I o.oo The credit of this work and aid to the church bItilding belongs to the Ladies.-\id Society. After securing the lot the members and( friends of the church began to collect material and means for the erection of a church edifice. A subscril)tion list was circulated, with the result that the church was encouraged to undertake the task of securing plans and specifications for a building and to get tle material on the ground and to commence tle )uildinlg. A\fter much hard work and worry the building was finally completed and preparations for its dedication were arranged for. Tn February, 1875. the g)oold people congregated at the church, having with them the Rev. Middlemus. of Saginaw. who preached the dedicatory sermonll. Rev. Calvin Clark, 222 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Rev. Mr. Willett, Knott, Sparling, ITurrell and others assisting. This building was, for the time, a very respectable edifice and answered the purpose for which it was built for many years, to-wit, until about 1907, April rst, when they sold the property to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the meantime the society had negotiate(l for the lot on which their present church is situated and soon thereafter commenced the erection of a very beautiful and commodious structure, it being on lot 8, in bliock 32, il the city of Alt. Pleasant, original plat. The new church is a fine structure, of a miodlern style of architecture and very commodious, is well lighted and heated, is in a central place anid is an ornament to that part of the city. The structure cost alout eight thotisanl dollars. They now have albout one ihundred and twenty —five meimbers. xwhich is a good showing considering the small co-lmmencement. TIhe organization was made back in the early days of Ilt. Pleasant when it too was in its in fancy. January 10, 187r. another effort xwas miade and the society was organized, Rev. E. Wishard and Rev. Luke Nott being l)resent to assist. The lmem-llers to form the society were James Brodie and Mrs. C. Brodie, \Alexander (;ray, Henry S. Bouton and Mrs. C. A. Boultonl, Mrs. Sallie Hapner, Emily H. Case, Mrs. Jane A. \Varner. oMrs. A. I. Fancher, rs. ary. Doughtv, irs. Sallie A. WVelper, Mrs. Huntress. Alexander (ray and TH. S. Bouton were made elders. Afterward and in January. 1873, \William Slater and wife and Charles Slater united alnd afterward (hlarles Slater was made an elder: these t\o elders have remained such ever since and are now acting as such. The first minister having charge of the chulrch was Rev. TLuke Nott, colmmencing back in 1871. Ile remailned until about 1876. \-when Rex. Charles A. Taylor took his place. Then canle Rev. E. W. Borden ill April, 1878, who remained about a vear and then wxas followed by Rev. Camplbell, who remained for some time and xwas followed by Re... C. Cheeseman, \\who renained until about April, 1885, when lie severed his connection xith the society. He was followed bv Rex. F. A. Bissell ahout Noveliher, i, 8, he remaining for a couple of years, when Rev. Melvin Frazer was engaged alnd took the pulpit about June, 1888. He remained luntil ahout March, 189o, when his resignation was accepted and in December, 1890, Rex. \'. H. Hoffman took the pulpit and remained until October, I895, when he severed his pastorial connection and moved awav. After Mr. HIoffmlan left they had no regular preaching until alout T896 when Prof. Charles McKenney, of the Central Normal, occupied the pulpit for a time and then, in April, 1897, Rev. H. Vanommeron was secured. He remained till about January, 1898. or ISABELLA CoI:NTY, MIUCHIGAN.22 223 99 anll then lie withdrewv and ah~ont May. 1899. NV'. FT. Simmons came to the chnrch and hie reniained for sonic timie, severing his connections with the clinrch albont Novemnher. 1902., aiid was followedl hy Rev. Ml. Grigshy Jannary 27, 1903. H~e remained otitil ahonit Septeniher. 195.an was followed hy Rev. J. A-. _McGrahimn Septeinher 25, 1905~. He remnainiedl and( was a strong mover in the erection of the clinrch. A fter the clnreli was htilt hie remiainedl for a tithe and] then niovedl to Wlisconsin anid Rev. Wv. H. Long took opl the work and is still in the active discharge of his duties as piastor of the chtrch. T[he clinrlt has the ttstlal societies that go with aldI are, really a plart of thc xvori kn- fo I e of the chctrch. Their Stnda-v school intmhers aboctt (Ine htntdred (ndl tOwenty-five, with Prof. John Kellev as superintendent. They have a Hotti aid F oreign '.l ission Society a Christiati Endeavor Society. of ahbott towentyt metmiers. wsith Mliss Ethel Preston as p~residlenit a Ladies Aid Societ. (It some fitftv teiiehers. wvithI Mrs. 1R-eeler ais presilelnt and lBMrs. Dlr. Sheline ss sec Ie-i Tilese ar ear e all active alid necessary aljunicts,, to the church anid ale domn- -s odc wvork. TIhe pr esen~t s'ession is comiiposedl of (Charles Sister. George Snid~er, Ii. S. Bointonl F. (. Cr-o' Al. F. llrowvn. wvitlh Prof. C. T'. Grawn as clerk. Thie hoard 11f trnstees a11e Prof. C. T. Grawn. B. IL. Parkhilll, R. LDonghltv. C. E. I~a-ail. lllil 1-l~elley, D~r. J. F. A\dams. lDr. G. F. R ichlardlsonI. IV. S. Adc-Milhail and( Charles SlIter. 'r~lE tAIS\TIT Cit RCR11. Thie lext chulrchi to he erected ill Isahella cIollmitv was tile Btaptist churcli at Salt River. 1idly railed Shephderd. Ihis]- chllllcli wvas h)"Ilt il 872, bV a fewv l(en a(11d womien olf thle Biaptist plersuaision with others wholv felt that it cllllcli (i a (lew clmiltry was a gooIl alelillsitiohi an1( wmildlr well repay any effort il mlotev olr lahor that they- might mhake. In tS8.3 the Elpiscopalills, feehng thle nieed of a stable tnd cotisecrated plare (If worshipi. hegam the. hnddmin of a neat alil comiioiiouhI~s chapel ill the sollth and~ wvest part oif the cl t 1u1on1 a lot genierously doniated to the chllrch hy Gen. Dwvight Mlay, father of MNrs.\ Wllhiami N.\. Browni. It was largely thronghi the efforts (If W~illiam N. Br1 own that the chitrch was built. It was comiipleted at a cost of ahont four thousns d dollars. andil was dtlv rdedicaterd and consecratedl onl JantiarV 10, 1884. hy the Rt. Rnv. Bishop George 1). Gillespie, of G~ranid Rapids. MichiganIi assisted hy Revs. WV. A. Mlasters. of Detroit, B. F. 224 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mattrau. Stears, Pritchard, and Rhames. The ceremony of consecration was very solemn and impressive and left a lasting impression on every one present. After the dedicatory services the sacrament of the I.ord's Supper was administered to all who were pleased to partake and a great imany accepted the very generous invitation. After these solemn ceremonies were concluded the invited guests were invited to repair to the Bennett House to a sumptuous dinner at the request and as the guests of William N. Brown, \whlo treated them royally. The building is a neat structure, of frame, veneered with brick, and is copied largely from one of the old English churches. The church is well and centrally located, is nicely finished inside, the l)pews are commodious and easy of seat, and it has-sufficient capacity for about two hundred persons. The chancel is furnished with both a reading desk and a communion table, with also a vestry room with all the necessary vestments. The present rector, the Rev. Herman J. Keyser, has been in charge since September l, I910. Since his arrival there has heen very much active work performed. In all, six working organizations have been organized, supl)lenienting the strongest organization in the parish, the L.adies Guild. The parish organizations are the Ladies Guild, the Daughters of the King, the (Girls Friendly Society, the Junior Auxiliary, the Woman's Auxiliary,. the Knights of St. Paul and the Little Helpers. The parish is alive and has a number of great plans for the future. The rector, like the congregation, is intensely interestedl in the developmliellt of the civic life of the city. The Baptist people formed a society in 1883 of some six memb)ers and hliad preaching from time to time as places could be found to hold services in, until, in I885, the society had gained in numbers and strength sufficient to warrant them in undertaking to build a church edifice of sufficient size andl capacity for their present and future needs. So in the year 1886 thev commenced the erection of a building, having purchased lot 9 in block 2, Killnney's addition to Mt. Pleasant. It is a fine location, on the north side of Broadway street and conveniently and centrally located as to population. They completed their building about 1886 and occupied the same for church purposes. The building was duly dedicated with the solemn de(licatory services usual in that organization. They have a fair attendance at their weekly services and have the usual Sunday school and other auxiliary societies connected with their church. All of them report a good attendance and are pleased with their growth and outlook for the future. The Baptists have an organization and church building on section 30 of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 225 Lincoln township. It was established some years ago and is still prosperous and has as supporters such families as David Bush, the Hapners, Figgs and others, which is a guarantee of stability and growth. Rev. Allenbaugh is their pastor and is an efficient and ardent worker. About eighteen years ago Milton Forbes, an ardent Baptist, was instrumental in the forming of a society of that persuasion and in building the Baptist church, known as the Forbes church. It was a fine and commodious building and served all of the necessities of the organization. Mr. Forbes afterward died and the society has ceased to occupy the building and the Dunkards are now occupying the Iroperty. FR EI - NIIL BAPTISTS. There is a Free-Will Baptist organization in Gilmore. organized in i88I, and their church is located on section 22 of that town. The church is a small one, but sufficient for the accommodation of its members and supporters. Mrs, Sifton, John P. Sifton, 'Mrs. Elliott and others are the stable persons in the society. They have no stated p)reacher now. Like many others. they are not able at all time to secure competent preachers for the money they can afford to pay. FREE METI ODISTS. The Free Methodists have a church organization in I,ncoln. ''he building, which is on section 9, has been built quite a number of years and was at one time very active and prosperous, but the members have died or scattered so that at the present there are but few. Villian Tomlinson is one of the standbvs and to him is largely due the credit for keeping tip preaching at the church. It meets a certain need of religious worship in the community and they are entitled to much credit for their perseverance and self-sacrifice. There was another organized sonic years ago in Broomfield. The church is located on section 34, on East Side, and its principal supporters are John Packard and several ladies. In this case, as others, the ladies are largely the mainstay and supl)ort of the feeble churches. They have no stated preacher, but hold services and have a minister when convenient. A Free Methodist church was organized in Deerfield some time ago and a church built at the Reynolds corners on section 4 in the southeast corner. It is a good building, well built and well seated, but the interest seems to have ceased and the building is closed. (i5) 226 ISABE.LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Also on the Stucky farm there was a church of the denomination bluilt and a society formed some years ago. The church is on section 33. In Weidman, May 27, 1899, John Cline, Thomas Farl-quer and Jacclo W\iley were elected trustees of a Free Methodist organization. TlE. C'HURCH OF (OD). The Church of God is represented by an organization in the l)elo settlement in the town of Fremont. Their church is on the southwest quarter of section 17. They have a good church and a good following andl their llellbers are among tle stanch people of.the town. Thel have a stated preachler, and keel) up a good religious atmosphere in the vicinity. The Holiness l)eople organized as the Church of (i-l in Jesus (hrist on the 26th of March, 189I, at the meeting house on the southeast cornerl lf section 32. W. M. Allen, Jennie Allen, T. McShea. ('c)ra PBailey and sixteen others formed the organization and are still working and worrshiping tllcle. Some years ago a Union church was built west of \\illn. It w\as used for some time and then went into disuse and the Methodist Elpiscolpal pe)lie later used it, though it is unoccupied at present. THE I)ISCI PLES. The Disciples were among the earliest to hold church services at Mlt. Pleasant. As far back as 1863 I.angdon Bentley and a few other melmbers of that persuasion were in the habit of holding occasional services in the city and as early as 1863 a few of their peoplle organized a society in Mlt. Pleasant. It was during this year that one Goodrich came and plreache(l a few das! to the people. His plea was a union of all Christians on the Bible alone. "A faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God," being the only creed. "..\ repentant attitude toward God for all sin." "A confession of -His name before the worl." "An actual baptism of the whole body," as the primary act of obedience, and these followed by a life of love and purity. This organization was kept up for a time and then became lukewarm and ceased for a time to meet. About 1876 Elder R. R. Cook, of Shepherd. preached for the scattered few for a time and effected an organization. During the year 1882 Mrs. Mary R. Peak, who was an ardent Disciple, settled in Mt. Pleasant with her family, several of whonm also were of that faith. This gave the cause some further strength. Things moved along in about the samle wav until I888, when Rev. C. M. C. Cook moved here and went into tbusiness. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. loi four vears, nole thiugos Nveuit ouI about as usual until Elder F. Ri. Cohuril au(. wrife miovedl from \Wiun to Mft. lPleasant. Soou thlerea fter these two elders, Cook andl ~tolurn, mlade a cauvass aiol found seveuteeu ipersons that w\ere o)f their faith. So) ou thle 12th1 of November. 1892. tilese sevenlteen pers005 ((let at the resillellcc of M\I s. Peak ami. aLfter- at SiOrt talk ibv 1-ev. Csk. a lpermlitIlell orgaulizatioi was for(meli. PIdicers Cook a1111 Co)t~lmr beug madle elders aud Reuigsegger mnd Mrs. Peak, (leacons. 01u Decemllier 3(1 a mlectill"g ((as hield att Eider tCohllrnls ((11( tile work~ (If organ ization \\I la completedl. A Iollllillittee Il,-as authorizedi to liccmtiatc with the 1 ini~trotn peop> ror thle renta of their chinch 1hilildlill'u wI ill Was 15 IcIIllIlIShei~,a~ (111 I tile ltCI 11(f D~eeeml11cr thley took possess]( an 11 this II ( tiieii chinch ho(m(te tiiitii tiler ent~erel thteir 0110 Chinch 1 luildiloli I11)111I Ries. ti. M - C. Cook wlas tticir pireacher fl-(I 11 Suoldav to Suold 11 fo sI (li time., withl IIccal~oiilllv olie from outtsidec who11 catile fmsor mlle speecial meetlil- at wvhichi timies ilelihiers Il-rc gatliereli 1tIIIti 11'I t18q7, wvhd tile ilem111rship11 1h(1( Incrasedi to(llIe hclundred (1111 fiftytour. (Do l eccimber I 898. Rel C 'M.- C. (~olk passed to tile l1eyI~ld to itieet hiis rewvardi. Theno 1ev. Ii. 12 RI Isell callcd aiid filleli tile pulpipt (ltilt about No-embier. I R)), wvhel lie resigiicd. Ill tile foilowfiug sirinig FredI S. Lluseil. fi-ouIl Paw PawIl, i\Iichigaii. to~ok the pastorate, anll ciiirinig tile stummler at ileetiug of the cuiigregation was held ((liii it wlas dlecidledl to lundertake tile biiiilding (If at chtiich. As 51101 ats itaterial cottld lbe glottenl together tile wr~k(as comuileilced a1n( wa-;s eoiitiiitiedii s faist 01s tile ftnds w0o111 admliit of. Re-. Linsell. father of tile pastolr. (iiiateri all (If tile Nvillildms, at a cost of ((He litilillici ltld tiftv diloiars. Ill w (ife (11s1 -ale fiftv dollairs to lii'd 'il tile goOd1 work. The Ilork w(ct 1111 oieiriii tile Ilinter srI thiat aboult 'March ist thlev heldi seirvices ill t le new ~iildliil fmi tile fiist timle. 111ey all 111 seaots, sote\ liroi-iigt chairs from hioilie. thle genierouis Piaptists senduing over somiie fifty chairs toielpl ut There wer oligilts, so t tel- hrouh ap l oce froiu home. No orgotn, buit the generous Mres. Day loaned them ((le- NI) puiilpit, so a st01111 tollk the (lace..Rel-. Linsell resigned Jtuie 17, 1901. aind o Jly jtI1TSt, f0ollowing-, Prof. fohu Miiiro, o~f Bethany, tlo)k Itip the 11(1k. lie. worked tiitil july t, 1903,3 wheii lie resigned and1( on the i 5th (if November, 1905, Eliler J. Frank (Green took liii tle (orok. He (las all en~thutsiltstic wo-lrker and called iii to hielp filiii Rev. -Ratim, witli Miss thick as soloist. Coder Rev-, (Greein the number (of miemnbers raii tip to abouItt twvo hundred andi sixty-six. hoI November Elder Greecos time expired alud lie (renit to Rochester, Newr York, and onl February ist, Rev. C. A. Whialey wais eingaged aiwd lie stayed tIll 1907. whleni lie resignedl to go to other fields. 228 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In the fall of that year Rev. J. O. Walton took his place and remained for about one year and was then succeeded by Rev. A. R. Harper, who came il April, I9IO, and is still in the field. They have a large church membership, numbering some two hundred, with a Sunday school of about one hundred and thirty-five enrolled, with Harrison Walden as superintendent and Rexford Chapman as assistant. The Ladies Aid have a membership of about thirtyfive, with Mrs. A. R. Harper as president and doing a splendid work in the cause. They have also a Christian Endeavor Society with about thirty meinbers. In connection with the Sunday school, they have a class of young people under the tutelage of the minister and in connection with that they publish a fourteen-page paper, issued monthly with Rex Chapman as editor. Malcom Crawford assistant editor and Mrs. Clorine Crotser as reporter. They are publishing a very neat and readable paper. All in all, they are all doing good and efficient work in their particular field. Some twenty years ago the Disciples organized a church at Salt River and continued to hold meetings for a time, until they were sufficiently strong to build a church. About seventeen or eighteen years ago, feeling the need of a church edifice. they began the erection of a medium sized building, sufficiently large for their accommodation, and after some effort the church was completed and dedicated by proper ceremonies. It is a good brick edifice and has supplied their need for these many years. The congregation and membership is made up of some of the foremost representative men and \omlen of the town, such as Doctor Gruber, Joseph Miser and family, Thomas Hannet, Thomas Ankrenm, \. S: Fordyce and others, with Rev. E. C. Neese as minister. The church is in a sound and substantial condition and is doing good Christian work in the community. There was a long time ago another Disciples church founded at Coe, in Coe township, at what was known as the Leonard settlement. The earlier settlers of Leonards, Fordyces, Woods and other were largely Disciples, coming from Pennsylvania and Virginia. This organization built a church building about ten years ago, a neat and commodious edifice sufficiently large for their accommodation. The Rev. Wingate is their present minister. In I88i in the township of Gilmore there was a Disciples church organization and a church building at the northeast corner of section 27. The leaders are J. L. Fordyce. Thomas Mills, Jessie Wood, M. L. McAlvey, Eli Fordyce, Lakins Fordyce, H. L. Wood, Shattuck Jarman and others; their minister is Rev. Wyman. This is a live and prosperous organization, the church is well attended and is in a prosperous condition. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 229 About the year 1857 the Methodist Episcopal people of Salt River formed an organization in the old log school house on the James Camplell farm, just south of the Salt River corners. They built a church building in 1883-4. They were then few in numbers, but have since increased in numbers and in interest. The first pastor was Rev. R. P. Sheldon and the class consisted of fourteen members. They increased so that in 1909 they were able to construct a fine church edifice, costing about twelve thousand five hundred dollars. It is a large and imposing building and is well and beautifully finished and was opened December 19, 1909. The society now includes such persons as IT. I). Bent, W. L. )ibble, A. E. Clark, E. Ashworth, J. Clark their families with others. Their minister is Rev. N. 1'. iBrown. Thev have a membership of one lundred and thirty-two and they are in a highly prosperous condition. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and fifty, with \. E. lark as superintendlent. The Shepherd Aid Society has sixty-eight members, with Mrs. E. L. ()rser as president, and the Epworth League has forty members, with H. A. I on as president. Pastors have been Revs. Sheldon. George Bradley, D. 0. Fox, LI.. Garlock, J. H. W ebb, J. W. Cawthorne, J. Hills, D. B. Searls. C. \\. Smith. iln 1883-4, Thomas Carton. A. \. Darling, Thomas Youtlg, (. 1 I. Lockhart, E. L. Sinclair, (. \\G. W. Riggs: \W. V. Manning, D. E. Reed, \. \\ Aylswxvorth, Elliott Bouk, Frank Cookson. Louis Blancheiie, C. V.. Pollock: then comes the ne\w church xithl Rev. N. P. Brown. The original chlarter memlbers were \William W\onch and wi fe. Richard Wonch and xwife, Charles Sawver and( nine iothers, long since dead. This is, saving the Methodist Episcopal church at 'Mt. Pleasant, the largest and most prosperous of the Methodist churches in the countv. It had an earl- start, in fact, before the one at Mt. Pleasant and even before Mlt. Pleasant w-as thought of and several years before it was platted. It was by far the most happily located of any ill the county, as it was at Salt River, where all of the repentant defeated politicians congregate after an untlStccessfuil camplaign. Perhaps the saddest part of it is that they generally are without funds when the unsuccessful canipaign is closed and if so are but little use or comfort to the brothers and sisters that have their lpermanent albi(ling place there. The good brothers and sisters, seeing their unfortunate dileiimma. changed their location and aire no\\ in the village of Shepherd and awax froinl that baleful influence. The Methodists have a church and building on section 31 in Lincoln township. Joseph Brownridge is one of the principal pillars inl the society and is very much interested iln the xwork an(l growth of the church. It is not a large e(lifice, lbut comfortable and makes them a good home. Thleir 230 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. present minister is the Rev. Rodes. who lives at WAinn. He is a good preacher and they sustain a good congregation and are in good order. Winn.has a Methodist Episcopal church, with Mrs. L. E. Hunt. Mrs. Jacol Baker, J. L. Sanderson andl others as leaders in the church. The Rev. Rodes also fills this pulpit and is a wise and successful advocate o(f his l)rofessions. A Methodist Episcopal church is established and located at Blanchard, with Mrs. J. Miller and others as leading members. Their present pastor resides at Millbrook in Mecosta county. There is also one called the Pleasant Hill church on section 28 in RI)ollau(l township. Mrs. William Moody, \illiam Miller. Iarrv B'oll and A. J. Smith being among tlie leaders and supporters of this organization. They are a recent organization formed in January, 1907, and built a new church building only a cotuple of years ago. This gives them a fine church home and they enjoy their new quarters very much. They are making all they can of their opllortunities and are prosl)erous anl hlappy. Caldwell has a church society of the Mlethodist Episcopal )ersIuasinii. Henry Bacon, MIrs. Richardson, \who has now gone \\est, aind so(me o)thers were the movers and sustainers of the church. Solme sevecn 1o eight!ears agoo they started to build a church and with a good deal of effort were able to finish it a year or so ago. At Deerfield Center one was established about 1)2 or 1893. It is supported and sustained by such promnintent ersons as )Davlid Johnson. \Villiam Irvin, T. T. Covert, William J. Johnson and (;eorge Reed, with others. Another Methodist EIpiscopal organization was effected. some twenty-four or twenty-five years ago called the Coomer church. It is located near Mr. Coomer's and is sustained by N. G. (oomer, Frank Durner. Ar-nold Stutting, Michael Ackerman and others. The present minister is thle Rev. Roles, of W\inn. This is a zealous and efficient church, and is in a substantial condition. The Methodist E)iiscopal church known as the,anldon church was ibuilt some seventeen years ago. largely throtgh the efforts andl persuasion of Miss Ardelia Landon, who worked assiduously for some time for its establlishment and the construction of a church building. She lived to see the cornerstone laid and soon after wenet to her reward. The church cost some two thousand dollars and was a most commodious andl substantial building and has served well its purpose in building. The first minister was Rev. David E. Reed, who filled the pullit about four years and was succeedeld by A. L. Sinclair, George W. Riggs, then Revs. W\. P. Manning, Levi Aler, A. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.23 231 WY. Agleworth. E. Botick, L. Blancliett, then H-I Jarrett, C. Seip anl now Re\-. C. F_ lDavis. On section] 4 Of D~enver there was oxr0ganizedl a church society andi a chutrch built some fifteeu vears ago. T. 0. M\cGregor is the leadiug spirit andi Rev. Davis is now their p~astor. Tt is not a largw one. hut meets thle dlelandn for that p~art of the county. There is also inl the same toxvnship one loxatein at Leatoil, which was org-anizedi somiething like eighteen yearis a-oox This is a small hut coimmodious buildinilg anil answers all the requiriinments o)t thin people of that persuiasion inl that xvininitv. 'Thomaxs ITonkin axux xwife are meimbers anl. xvith others. are holxlinio the foirt suit imkiio- goodl use of thleir olxlxorttinitics. The Rex. LDavis als~o siitpliisn txis plpl~tit tn -Iv'es the p~eople good service. TIhle Mxethiodists Iiavxe laxtely git a fooxtholxl anl save bxuilt a iieat little church bhmldxu - Ii xlt mile x illst ixnl too mxiles west of lBrintoix. They have asmall ci ol - c ta i'xeeitiiisiinhexo.'The chu~rch wais huilt ill 1910 aiix is xti nrixl buiildlii Ah\lit I 873 a Mxethodshxt Elpxscnopal society vwas forimexl inl ( ilimxre toxviiship and i lhurch buildxxinxg xv'xts erectedl on t le sxuthwxest. quarter (If sect'I(Iiii 24. Sxxme ot the presen et inieiiilein axxxx slxiporters (If that society arc Frank W\olfer, Joseph Glraixam. Fraiik 'Feicixmut, x les Schioticlxd jaiiies Schxx)fielxl, Lewvis Richaxcds wvith o)thlers. TIlics save soxme sevenity memihers inl all anxd are a stroug auit alvancixig xchurch.'lxRe'. Ieueis thei pxastor and is at strong anit (onvincin' miniiister. A\t toomnis there is anl orgaxization andltdie\' have takeis over the buildingr thxat was built some ve'c-,ars (g as a unxion chuxrchs, or free for all coriners. \Vhlen Lxxoxils lost ixs xaititxaccxirilg bxusiiiess it settlexl xdoxi as atix agricxiltxxrxl commistlitv anxx so farl it has ixit vet retuiried to its forimer gloxrv aunt thxcv seeux to he coxntexit to live xxiI Such fat of the land as ax gxoxxx farmiing country caix pAtxioice. xwhichx is all thati ianl le haxd aiixxxhere. Sxx) they Iivxe anid eiil'iv themuselxes spirituially axs wnell as ill even' other xxax tlex' caix. A\t I lerrix'k thle Methxxxists hiaxe a prosperouis orgaxnizatixxi xxitls Sxich as J. It. Lansimng W\illiamu lRadgly, J. P~resley'. and others of that staxmp as leadtex's. It is aix olxd aiix well establishexd chlurchi. buiilt and dexdicatexh iii Noxeinlxer, i8go, hv RX-ev. Goxvu, presixliixg elxder, sitli Rex'. Walker, of Clare, as preachier. Tlie first serision xxaxs hv Rex'. Daxyton axt N\V.illxiim [haxglev's, anxl fi ist Sunudax' schoxol~ iii u88o. 'This is a stauich asuit sot xl xrganiization axnx is ioi~ug miixchx gxsox iii that commniixiity'. It supplhies xxll of thseiri spirxitxual xxaiits, xxnxh] xxhxx canl wvxxt noxexue 232 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. WESLEYAN METHODISTS. The Wesleyan Methodists have a society and church, also a parsonage, at Blanchard. Mr. Mower is the leading spirit. UNITED BRETHREN. The United Brethren have a church organization at Rolland. They are located on section 2, with William McCabe as one of the leaders. Their church is a frame building and is thoroughly adapted to their wants. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS. The Seventh-Day Adventists have an organization and church. They were organized many years ago and \Wallace Cole, George Cole and Joseph Struble were a building committee and they purchased a piece of land on Stephen Stillwell's farm, on the west side of section 35 in Union township. The church has had a varying existence. At present there is no regular service. They or other people sustain a nice Sunday school. Clyde Showalter is the superintendent and it is in a proslCerous condition. EVANGELICAL CIIURCII. There is an Evangelical organization in Union kno\wn as the Brookens church. They are located on the northwest corner of section 5. The Evangelical people also have an organization in Chippewa in the Taylor district. Their church was built some twelve years ago while Rev. Charles Taylor was yet alive. Rev. J. J. Marshall is their minister an(l is an active, energetic and Ilersuasive gentleman. HIe is doing a goodl ork and has some good people to aid and assist him, such people as the A. C. Van Deens, J. M. Kennedy, J. Imhoff, all good workers. Their society is in a prosperous condition. The same minister, Rev. Marshall, has lately organized and built a new church at or near McFaren's, in the southeast part of the tovnship of Chippewa, on section 35. This was built in I910 and cost about one thousand dollars. It is, in fact, a church that was removed from the south lpart of the state to this place and remodeled and is now a very presentable structure and accommodates all of the people in that neighborhood. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 233 GERMAN LUTHERANS. A\ German Lutheran church was organized in Broomfield township some twenty years ago, at what was then known as the Hummel settlement. They have sustained a good organization ever since and now number something like one hundred members. This has always been a good substantial organization and has been instrumental of very tuch good, educationally and sliritually, as they have a German school every Saturday afternoon, when they teach their children in German and keel) up1 the fatherland sentiment. They enjoy the society of such families as the Fritzes, Rodes, Tumm11ells and the Leudes and( manv niore of the solid substantial citizens of the vicinity. At the village of Brinton there is a union church, w hich is open to all who desire to worship there, and there is also a Latter-Day Saints organization. CHURCIh OF Tl11. OPEN BIBLE. Also at Brillton there was organized. on the 20th day of January. 1908, a Church of the Open Bible. They organized with thirty-four nlembers and it is said to be a strictly new and unique organization. Jacol Schultz is one of the movers in the new thought. HOLIN EISS CIIURCH. On D)ecember 26, i903, there was at Brinton an annual conference of the Ioliness Movement church led by Bishop R. C. Horneg and I... Bishop. -Among those in the movement were David C. lReedl Elizaleth M. Walchem, J. Dickinson, Willard I. Sherman, Stella Burr, J. \:. Day and Robert Day. EIVAN(ELICAL.LUTHERAN. TRINITY C(IITURCl..\n Evangelical Lutheran Trinitv church was organized September 22, I9o8. in \It. I'leasant. with Otto L. WVissbeck, William l-luimmell, Sr., \Villiam tumimell, Jr., Charles Hiummel, A. J. Gross. David WiIiterstein and others. The movers in this formation are amiong our stanchest and most reliable men and women. They have a nice church finely adapted for their use and are ill a prosperous condition. The Presbvterians of Rosebush organized about the year 1874 and some time afterward erected a church. Some of the original movers in the enterprise are Joselph AMcNighlt, Donald Morrison, Timothv I)ingman and others. 234 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. They also keep up a Sunday school in connection with the church. Rev. Luke Nott was the minister who organized them and who filled the plulpit for some time. At WVise is another Presbyterian church and( congregation. The church was built about 1898 and the supporters of the cause at that place are J. J. Stevens and family, E. F. Wilt, J. Buckbrough with others. The Rev. Belden, of Coleman, officiates as pastor. The church is in a fine condition and is doing nucih good in the community. There was a Baptist church established at Rosebush about J1anluary 24, I887. The leading members in this religious bodly are Daniel Coyne, John Jackman, some of the House family,. John Mendon. They have in connection with the church a Siunday school which is luite well attended. The pulpit is sul)plied froml Mt. Pleasant. The first trustees were Jolhn \Walton. Elmer Hunt, W\alter Monroe; the clerk was Hannalh Coyne; the charter illemblers, Tohn W\\alton, Mlina \\alton, Sarah \Valton, Hannahl Cov\e, Rvanee Monrloe. Charles Monroe. Sarah Cammeron' present ofticers. John \altonll. first deacon; Charles Monroe, treasurer. The church was dedicate(l Jlune 3. 1894. Thle Methodist people also support a goodl church and( congregation. Thev built a church building about 1882. They inumil:er al)out fifty membiers. have a goodl Suiday school of about sixty attendants and a Lalies' -\idl Society of twelve or fifteen members which has bccn running for the last twelve or fifteen years. They have some goodi cmsecrate(l workers among them, such as Hugh (;raham and family, \\illiam Johnsoin, 'Ed Johniiso-, anil many others, with Rex. Holden as pastor. They are filling a place in the religious world about Roselilsh which no other can sul)ply and are (doing service as they see the right. THE HORNFRI IIT.S. There is also a Hornerite organization at Rosebush, sulpported and( carried on by John Y. Johnson, Norman W\ager and others. They erected a church building about four years ago. They entertain their pectilia-r eliefs and are very tenacious in their position and are also working ul) to their highest standard as they see the Scril)tures. We sometimes feel that plerhaps it is a good thing that the Scriptures are of such a makeup as to give everybodly a clue to his preconceived idea of God and the universe so that he may enjoy in this free country any or all of the peculiar religious beliefs that lnma come to him. This society has been established about eight years and heside the churich ISABE1LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.23 235 proper they support a Sunday school, not a large ouri, but one that is enthutsiastic in its Nvav. There was estahlished at \Weidmnan in194 'ree Methodist church aind II. C. Pritchard wvas Instrumental in the bild~ing of the edlihice. It was aW(odlen structure aibout thirty-six feet by fifty feet, andl was lint 01) inl a seat alul commod~)(ious tnaniler. Although the congregation was small, it was mnade up of some of thle hest of tile village. Mrs. Mary Rathhutrn, Mrs. Wetitore andi others. \With thle ahove are to he ckisseli S. EV. Taylor, S. 11. Carpecttcr, Thomas (This aidl WX. tf. Switzer and others. After thle alsmve calmei tile Metihodlist ipeople and ill 1903 they organizedi 20(1 commsuenced to huildi a chulrch. G. H. MiIidiiesworth was chairman (If thle hauildlilig comissoittee.,J. A-. D~amon was secretary, and J. S. \Veidnam Owls A1s(1 o)n the committee, while 1.8 cIni sosiasr Among the first trustees were J. S. WVeidman, G. 11. Mlidlllsworth. J. A. Damon. J ames A. Cli ft and lo)ins~i McCienathan. The chitrci Nvas Ieleicatcd ala-mt Seilteilher (Jr- Octoher. 1903, Vy D r. L~evi P. Master, wviths tile sistial impliressivye cerensomeis. tise citircis lbeiisg fuli] to overliowiiig with tile nienilers andl nleighisl rs. It hsas Iseis a bleacons light ill that consnlmiitv ever sin1ce. It has a hlte h~asciiieiit unde11r tile church foll tile ptii15(cs recllireli an11 Is 11(1w ill pr isle w(0 kilg, I 101r. The numbiller of tile collillliicliits arie from (hnot tifttv to lx \t and51 tisev also hasvC gali Siitidav schoo~l i l conni~ectionl. wthui alhlmit sevenity siemsiers, 111d hiave Stiperintendent. Slsauppner to lead thems. IThev a s' havc aii Eapsvortli Leagtie as;ml aux\iliaiy wh5 111.1 is very illitili Iii I 5an1 iii arli(est 11l tile (('rk. Vise Vice \ietisodists (If Mt. Pleasant mrgaiiizeli a societv 111 tile 18thl 1v(I'\ f NOVC nil ci 1907, Witis foiirteens mlembiers. lie tfliloing l aire anilmig7 tile first organiiiers, La fayette Lencisi (hg, Hla (ilrwks M 1111 Demisnsig, ('lara Vincenst Sarahii Hoag..\ihert 13. Pliciart. fLvdia Hlaill Thiese, with tile (otilers 111,ke a v erv nice small churns 21111d arc tilliiig thseir1 p1 ce Ill the Chr1i'stianl woild. Tise Unsitedi Bretlireis in Christ (ale heli services ill the Stucky church buiildling. They comimilenced il 1)11 ibruarv I 3. 1902. T he truistees elec(tell were Ediward Riggle fllr oine year, \Williaim I.iiit for two~ years, tCharles D enslo for three vears, 1.Master ((Jr fotir velirs alil Fredl Delo for ive. veais C.\TTIIIIC SOCIE(TIES ANDI 5C 11(10 Tise Cathsolic ipeoplie hsave a suiiihr o)f chutrchses In tise counlity aind they lire generally wvell attentded aisd aire iprosiperouas. Biesidel tle onse at \Mt. Pleas 236 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ant, which is one of the most important as to numbers and which has a large and prosperous school also, there is one in Vernon township, located on section 35. This church cost something like three thousandl dollars and has also a priest's residence, a very fine one, valued at about four thousand dollars. Father Crowley built the church and the first priest after him was Father Edward Kozlowski. He was followed by Father James Moher and at a time when he was indisposed Father O'Conner took charge, but as soon as the Father was restored to health he returned and after a time he departed and Father Ruessmann took the charge, then next came Father John Engramann, and then Father Thomas \Whalan and then Father F. D. Malone and then Father O'Connell. About three years ago last November I5thI Father John J. McAllister took the field and has remained since. Their church is thriving and has about one hundred families in the parish, numbering about five hundred souls. They are in a thriving condition and their charge is well sustained. They are a thrifty class of people and are living in one of the best portions of the county. There is a church also in Nottaway, which was established about 1892. They built a church about that time which they afterward used for a school and in 1897 built a fine church huilding. This was struck by lightning and burned. In I905 they built a very fine church and priests' residence and in connection therewith is a large and prosperous school of one hundred sixty students under the tutelage of four Sisters. They also have a good school house. as well as a fine Sisters' residence. built in T910. They also have a resident priest, Father Alexander Zugelder. These people are largely German alnd have a fine, well improved and thrifty farming commnunity. At Blanchard there is also a Catholic organization and a church building. It is a frame building and is suitably adapted to the wvants of the people there. They have a fair congregation and the priest is stationed at Remus and sulpplies this pulpit. Tt is well sustained and meets the demand of the peol)le. The Catholic society built a church building some four years ago at Leaton, which is well supported. It was organized Mlarch 24, T906, and the land was purchased of Joseph Kerky. There are some twenty-four families attending there, which means some one hundred and twenty persons. and they are supplied by Father O'Conner, who attends one week day in each two weeks. At Shepherd they bought the Baptist church about two years ago and transformed it into a properly arranged Catholic church and are now occupy ISABELLA C()OUNTY, MICHIGAN. 237 ing it. There are about forty families, numbering two hundred members, and they have Father John iMulvey, who supplies their spiritual necessities, and they are happy in their acquirement. The Catholic people at Mt. Pleasant were quite early on the ground in Isabella county and soon after their arrival felt the need of a church organization and also of a building to worship in. After looking around for a time for a location, they secured the gift of three acres in the southwest part of the city and the 7th day of August, 1872, a deed was made of the chosen ground to Casper H. Burgiss, of Detroit. This was accepted and on the 5th of September was placed on record in the county. Thle church organization was formed ahout this time with the following melmbers: John McDonald, Rosy McDonald. Felix Lafromboise, Thomas Thompsoln, William Bamiber, Thomas Judge. Michael Kane, Cornelius Bogan, who acted as secretary and kept the minutes of the meeting, which was held at the Bamber Hotel iln Mt. Pleasant. The first mass was had at Thomas lThomllson's house, southeast of town (tie farm w\here John Warner lives), bv Father Van Der Iladen. the priest officiating. A mleeting was called on the (th of September, 1874. for the purpose of electing a building committee..\t tlis meeting there were elected l)resident, Thomas Judge; secretary, \V. H. Richmond, and treasurer, \Villianm Ramler. The buil(ling commllittee were T'homas Judge, R. F. McDonald, Michael Kane and John A. Kehoe. At the same nieeting it was arranged that the congregation should meet on the church grounds on Septemlber 26th. to clear off the ground, and it was further given out that Father Sweeney would I)e here at Mt. Pleasant on October 14. 1874. On October 31, 1874, it was "Resolved as follows by the building committee of the Catholic church, that we build a church at Mt. Pleasant on the said church grounds at Mt. Pleasant. the size of the church to be thirty-eight b) sixty feet, the height to be twenty-four feet between joists. the frame to be of square timber; offered by R. E. McDonald and carried.". committee to consist of John McDonald and Felix Lafromboise was appointed to raise money for said church. The work then really commenced in earnest and in the winter. January 25. 1875, they entered into contract with Brower & Main for twenty-five thousand three hundred and twenty-five feet of common lumber and thirteen thousand five hundred feet of clear lumher, seven thousand feet of black ash and basswood lumber, and twentyseven thousand shingles, the entire bill to be nine hundred and thirty dollars. The workmen on the building w\ere \\. It. Richmond, John Fox, Hank Richmond. WV. I. Dodds. George Dodds, Charles Fox and Charles McKinnon. 938 238 ISAB3ELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN. The subscription list ran op to over two thlousanld six ihundiredi (lollars. lUp to June 3, 1876. tile lalbor on tile bildin~ilg 1had( 1111 tip to eight hundllredi forty'four dollars and fourteen cents. Tile bitldin~ig wxas finially compilietedi anld tile society occthlied this buhildin~g and~ groundls thitil allott February 28. 18S87I When they, purchased block< 22, of tile city (If Alt. Pleasant. lpreparatory- to tile cllange of location of tileir church told scilool. Tllis is tile liock where tile churich, schlool, priest's residlence aild tile 01(d sclool bui.llin11 lgare located. Thlev afterward purchlased a Sisters' residence (Cross tile street to the sothtl where thev 110w residle. The old buthilding was mlovedi from its first site to tile said loci k as ut i888 and iaisel as before, and~ afterward for- several years as a Schosli bilding. On December 29. i887. they soldl and dleleded the old site to Gorhamns; for a factory site, it beinlg convenient to tile A-nn Aris)r alulroad tracks. T1hw three thousand dollars they received froul the Gorhami-s for tile ulmi site wvent to a11( thleml ill bulilding 011 tile flew. Ille lpreseilt cilurcil was commllenced ill the year i888, and1( wals so far conmpleted during that year and the fore palrt of i88q that thlev were able to hold services il tile ibasemnelt, whicih tllev didl for- some lelgtl oIf tune ahlld ihitil tiley finally completed tile stehlettre andi commhlencedl tile use (If it getierally. It is a large an11( commlodlious bulildling and~ s11 far itas supl1liedl tile (leniands of the s(Icietv. The totall valuie of the strhletlre is aboullt tvelitvfive thousand dollars. It is tt fine structtlee, wvell and~ applroplrialtely hinishled and ftlrnisiled internlally. As s0oo1 as tile new citrell wvas so far collpletedl tiltt tiley could llse it for services they thell remlode~ledl the 01(1 ole illto a schooIl butildling. (1111 opelled a ilarocilial scilool. This sichool Ilas been colltillledl ultil tile lpresenit tulme and~ is 110w larger than it ever was lbefolre. Tile gr'owtl (If the school Ilas been schel tilat in 19(18 they felt that tiley were ollligeti to ilave more rIoom1 andl a letter equitpmlenlt than tiley had before andtile)' comlmenlced tile erectioll of a nlew buildling hyn putting in a foundation, which they left till the next spring, wvhen tile)' egahl the superstructture. Tile building is a Ilotleril mlodel of arcilitectllce alid finish. They ilave been very forttinate ill the priests they Ilave hlad. Father McCarthy was tile first residlelt priest. colming in i88o and rellaillilg alohit five years wilen he sickened and (lied. Ilis deatil oecclrrillg onl June 19. i885. Father J. A. Crowley succeede hlelimi, locating here in July. i885. and lab~oredl with the Peopile until Julie 12, 1899. wheln he died ande Fathler O'Conner took tup the work August i, 1899. and~ is still witil Iis lpeoplle. ISABELLA COUNTrY, micH CA\N. 3 23 9 A.large amiounit of work has been (lone l)v7 these several Fathers'. whichi is evidenced by the v~isilile resuilts inI building s aoil other impri venients. andl from thle growth of the cong(r)egations o)f the Ihurch and the adlvance in the schools iii inniliers. as, well ats III the equipmieneit a11d a highier aiiid iiore exteinded scope of stii(lies, aS- well as their nI eiing ao ardlei a place oni the iiiiversd tv list. The chcliiihiemiberslhip ias m1cireaiwd froml a1 few commmiiiiiicaiits ii 1 874 to ali"iit thi rteeli hlitindril. it tIE piresent timle tinli Somie three hundlredl probationists. Father (irowley ii Inienceil the erect]( on f at resi - eilelce for the Fathers aind had liearly completedl it w hen hie Oi5stricken with d1isease, from which lie icier recovercd \After hisi death n(((( the arrivial Father f 'Cmnncir it \\a5t finishied. furnished andl( o-)cenlijel be him11. It Is It large aiii ci iimoilioiis resiidence, is convcenient to the church uiil s~cliioh and Is, much appreciated 13v all. anid especially the Father. CHRISTI.\N SCIFNCE c'11iitRC11. As earls1 as lTaimarc. i Spo, tliere was at call froni AlIt.. Pleasaiit for)I it worker ]iii1 tiristiaim Scienice Sent to AlIius Sarah J. Clark. of Toledlo. Chii, aind AlrIs. S. I.1ltboni respoiidedh to the call to go( tci Alt. Pleasant whmere shme found anay persiois who ivere weary of the disappointments III the ef fort tohmeml byv thme old nmaterial met hods. S everal cases of disease wvere tealeil and there followedil a intteirest Itt the reailin- of 'iScence and I Iealth," anid each \Vednesdav art iom- was devoted to answeriniig fqnest iciis froin anyntnquiiifireis. These gatheiniugs Ic d to a recfuest foi Stnniav services where more comdd have. the oppiiitnimitV to hear the inessiw of trnthi ihichi has come tci this age thtrongh Alary Baker G Imby ITh _bille lessons pubh~lished liy the Christian Scieniee Puhlishiiig Society, if Btostonm Al\ assachuisetts, were Iiitroiliceil. which gave tlte pr iV ilepYe of studying the Bhiile, toigether with -Science anid Health." AlI IS I olnokwas called awNay- andt in tltc 6th dav of Nlarch. i8,9. Al1iss E. R. Adlaims tciik her place. Children begni to gathler adintl class if seven si-as formnei lMarchi 9th as it nticlenis of at Stinday schioul wvhicht rapicdly increaseil. eeigthe necessity if Some place for- their ineetlim's, tell oif the ladies voltinteereil tci lprovide a pilace. anid a idwelling hctitse was sectured onI Ahichigan street and wat5 etItlileil wvith the niecessarv Clhiistiain Scienice literattire anid op~enetl tci the litillic in Jamniary. i 8gi. During the veitr many expressed ilcesirec to lie tatight tlte rudmeiniits cif Christian lieahiitg Faid( the ser'Vices of Afiss Siarai J. Clark. of Bostcon. Alassachimisetts, wvas sectired. She came in June to Mt. Pleasauit and tatight ai class of five. 240 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. It very soon became evident that they should form themselves in closer relations and on June 15, I89I, an organization was formed and charter taken by fifteen of the parties who had identified themselves with the new movement. The first officers were as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Bnamborough, Mrs. Ida S. Dusenbury, Mrs. Anna S. Coutant, Miss Emma I,. Kent, Mrs. Mary L. Nelson. These officers were duly sworn and the organization completed. They then called Miss E. R. Adams to he their pastor and thus was finished the letter of their organization, which is the first step toward the spiritual. They then found that they needed a church building and they finally selected and purchased the present site on the T8th day of July, 1907. The house and site was that of the residence of Richard Balmer, on Normal avenue, a central and convenient location. The residence was remodeled into a very convenient and spacious church and is very prettily finished alnd decorated with beautiful windows, all showing good taste. In April, I905, Miss.VAdams resigned on account of a rule laid do\wn by the head of the church that the Bible and "Science and Health" was to be the only preacher that was necessary. On April 19. i908, their beautiful church was duly and reverently dedicated, Mr. Leonard, of the Christian Science board of lectureship., eing present and conducting the impressive ceremonies. Mr. Leonard was one of the early adherents of the faith and reports that he belonged to the mother church in Boston when one hundred and seventy was considered a large congregation and when the services were held in the thir(d story of a building; now he claims that there are churches in all climes of the universe. At the time of the dedication, W. H. Marsh was the first reader and Mrs. E. J. Van Leuven held the position of second reader. They coilduct their services without the aid of a preacher, the readers taking the place and one reading from the Bible and the other correlative matter from "Science and Health." This church now possesses some of our most devout and worthy people and has made wonderful progress since its organization. It is claimed that this society is the first one formed and chartered in the state. They also keep tip their Sunday school and are in a thriving condition. AN INDIAN PRAYER. In I865 there was a preacher and teacher among the Indians of the reservation in Isabella county by the name of E. G. H. Meisler. He was a good scholar and understood the Ojib\ay language and for the purpose of TSAIJF.LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN'. niakin- the Indlians niore familiar with the Lord's Praver lie translated it into the Indlianl laniguage andl gave it a lpoetical interpretation as follows: 0 weosinigion(I (isliigonieision Enamnisiang~on. \pe-islikidanozowiil Ked-hitw ivendlagwvak ()andaolnaikijig Klitohimaiiwn in inn1 likikeniiiikxwa Akiioendinikiji-. \ I-moootaishiiloioii Kitiiienilmiiowixi Oinaakingeiaiang Tibishni i gisliigongInsa idoslig'eiij iziiing i'illshishiixaiig iomigoni K\inl sa wenidianiawxvigai (;eiki) nezeiaig. \aIIJci I. law isti onji.r) Kax lnabana isliinii I~lixeldkah ozei,11inig Aloi 1slinawizigsinisTsl\laclikiaiixi )seiinig. i~ ACch-i)wsh 242 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Kibishigendagoigo Kil Eshpendogoziian Kinlaetakitibendan Iu oginlawiwin. Obin Bamatizitan Kagiganainigong Ima kitoginawieining Pundagashishihiken. Thus endeth the Lord's Prayer, Amen. UNITARIAN CHURCH. A Unitarian church was organized in October, 1881, with about twenty members. Rev. Conner had preached, here a few times and Rev. R. \V. Savage had delivered a course of lectures before the liberal people and had created quite a lively interest in the more liberal doctrine. For some time their meetings were held in the opera house. Discussion was had from time to time in regard to building a church building and was finally decided to undertake the task. The work was begun alout February, 1883, and was completed about December of that year at a cost of three thousand dollars. It was formally dedicated about MTarch, 1883, at a time when the Unitarian state conference was held at Mt. Pleasant. Rev. R. Connor, of Saginaw, preached the dedicatory sermon, assisted by Rev. T. B. Forbush. Rev. J. T. Sunderland, of Ann Arbor, Rev. George Stickney, of Grand Haven, Rev. Julius Blass. of Jackson, and Rev. F. E. Kitridge, the state Unitarian missionary of Michigan. Delegates were here from all of the Unitarian societies in Michigan save Kalamazoo. The church will seat about two hundred and has a parlor that can be thrown open and will seat alout fifty more. In all it is a neat and pleasant little church. A. B. Upton was made president of the society, Hon. S. \V. Hopkins, vice-president, Free Estee. secretary, and Hon. J. NV. Hlance, treasurer. The executive committee was composed of William T. Whitney, John Fraser and V. F. Conlogue. In 1882 there was organized a Ladies' Union, the officers being Mrs. A. B. Upton, president; Mrs. J. J. Stoner, vice-president; L. J. King, secretary, and Mrs. C. C. Whitney, assistant secretary, with Mrs. W. Woodburry as treasurer and for collectors, C. M. Brooks and Miss Dennison. This society of ladies still continue and have been of inestimable value to the church; much. if not all, of the time they have paid the running expenses of the church, save the minister's salary. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICITGAN. 243 This church has had its varying experiences, about as other churches. Many of the old members have died or moved from the town. A few years ago the society adopted the name of the First Congregational church of Mt. Pleasant and its present officers are, president, A. A. Borden; secretary, John Clark, and treasurer, Dr. A. 1. Getchel. The trustees are Wilber E. Preston, A. 'T. Getchel, A. A. Borden, John Clark, Ti. Dingman and I. A. Fancher. The finance committee is composed of 1. A. Fancher, S. W. Morrison and WV. E. Lewis. The present officers of the Iadies' Union are Mrs. S. \. Morrison, president; Mrs. A. T. Getchell, secretary, and iMrs. A. A. Rorden treasurer. Tn the church at the present time there are about sixty members and since Rev.. I. Van Ommeran severed his pastoral connection they have had preaching but once each month. Mr. Van Ommeran was with the church five years and did heroic work; he then left and took a church in Massachusetts and is liking it very much. TIhe pulpit is now being supplied by the Re-. B. F. Mills, of Traverse City. He is liked very miuch and may be induced to come to M[t. Pleasant and take charge of the church. CHAPTER XV1. CIVIC AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-MASOIN-IC. The first lodge of Free ait AccelptevlMsos Lodge N.288. Was organized at Salt River about January 13. 1871. The first officers were Charles Merrill, worship)ftl mnaster; Richard Hov. senior wardlen, anil H enry Struble-, junior warden. The early organiizationi embraced most of the stanch men of that early settlement and has continuetd to 10)1( themr andi has received mnany since its organization andl is still flourishing. ihe charter mlemblers. as far its can he remembered, the recordls being lost. wvere Charles Merrill, John G. Zeigler, Richard IHoy J. C. Conklin, Charles Puichart. Charles WV. Sawver. Heni-v Stiruble, Sainuvl Kr.-nnedv, Vt T. Ross aml I.1 NT. Shepherd. Thle nanie -'o\ enl to the lodge was Salt Rite LiI(SIT No288. Free and Acceptedl Masons. This lodgc lIas doways been in athrivingo conl(litioni and is still growling andt in tine Imniniig omdciThe seconid oigallization of M asonic lodgecs w\,is at \lt. PIeasanit Inl 18'71. The charter niembieis werie A\ Fox. \illiam N. Haii is, Willtiam II. Gavvitt. John IAlaxtwell. Isaac A\ 1anvlw, Sefhi T. Vt iiidlen ChIairlcs F. \\ordlci. James Fockler. Delos BiramanmA B. Bakcom C. 0. (ui-tis iint IT. AT. Gilman. The first officers wvr civ \1heirt Fox. wvorshiipful master: Wt. II. Gavvitt, senior wardlen: W. -N. Hairis, junioi warden: I. A.;. Falicher, treasurer: John Maiiners, secretarv: I J. Vt r(d n, seiniir deacon. Cliailes Vtordeii. junioi deaicon; andl A. B). Balcom, txylei The lodge was iiaiietd after anl old aind miuchi beloved Tn~ldia chief, then living iii the citintv. by the aiiie oif Wtabon. the full niame andl title being \Vabon LodgeNo 30-5. Free and A\ccepted Miasons. This Iod'e las cell one of the striiig-est and most Iiiipilar lodges oif northerii Michio~an, and has connected writhi its membiersliip a large minobee of thle best butsiness and] pirofessional menii i the city. TFhe lodge sf ill retains its high staniding aiii influenice il the communi~tv. The plast ilasters are as follows: Aflbert lox, deceased: T. A.: Faiiclir. George McDonald, Williami Starkxveatlier, John M~axtwell. IBirt IL. Parkhill. D. S. Partridge, NV. R. Kennedy, NNV. A. Osborne, deceased: Hi. El. Detnel, F. J. V'an Leuyven. NVilliaml H. Lloyd. \Villiaim VN. Sage aiii II. C. Duiiilap. The followring is a list of the imembers oif the lodge at this dlate: ISABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN.24 245 1i1hineas Allen, Bliss A\ Xlbro, johni T. A-\t. XV1illain Liroomfield, Samuel Beilrose, PIlidellins tennett, Louis J. Burch, Augustus Bor den, A. \V. IBalilke, J. 1. Bedish, Janies W Balmner, G. M. Baylis R. L. Briggs, Charles F. Cole, Geoi ge A\ Chstteirtoil A\ S. Cositaiit. John J. C ovsin IFiank B. Clark, bias. N. Conirad C horles A\ Cairnahan. A. Z. (Cimpbell, Fred F. C-onlsani, WValter I) Con1r1ad Edwsin J. C 1e, Frank G. Clement, XXT G Crosby, Ernest T. (Caneion Isaa Mi.X Cook, Peter F. Dodids, F rancis H. D)odds, Ira F. avi H dissidL~nelIsssis\ l)nnsjoseph L. Dicker son ',Henry C. Dnlap, Hlomei Dcii, Jasies H. D ingmanai. Allbert F. 1 lly Chadles F. Edgar, 1 ra F. E glestonl Geoi ge C. Fasulkiiei Frank J. Forrest, Thoinas J. IFordyce, 1. A. 1-anclier, joseph A. Graham. Thonias Griy Fied J. (rasham, Hughi A. Grdaiim, George 11. tGover, 1High G raham on r\wo i E. Goihamn Blcit G rasv A\. WV. Grahnun, C. H. Gade, Blert Ml. mIind. Waldtei ( Getche, Johnt A. I larris. Charles H. Houck, A\lexander II endleirssi Cassins A\ I'laios Jo hn Hathawrav, W~illiam Ml. H-ealv, I. R. laisnis i olii jaiskinw so H-arr is. Jeff rev, TIm thy 1). Jamisoii. William R. IKennedys I ird L IXeeleirT E. ierkpatrick, id.L -. IKanie, Oliver lKeck. jacob XX. Kethics A\ A\ Loveland, X\illjain H. Lloyd, Fraiik Al. Laiiih, C". S. 1Larzelcre, 1)amid 1 Lv oni Ttiomais Lawreiice. Johni Mla~xvell. Samnel Morrison. I ieorsc Alcl~omald, ILewis N. Al irsli, John Meyer, Saisinl Al isy Jolsii \W. Morrison, Petei Afori 5soni, Wallace H. Marsh, Rohscrt 1. Ml I mhlini Chiarles E. Owen, ciIolin 1 iiker, Fraiik D). Patter50o5. Biiit I IPairkhill, Loress C. Paviie Chale Is I). Pollen, I). A. lease. Loreii Post. I F. Rosvel, F. Rhodes. Chliiiles I. Rixssell. F. AX. Roblssoii, W. W. Resdu A\ AX Reigel. Chester X\ Rsiches WV. A. Starksveather, Tlsoisas ~Sampsoni AXilliami A. Sisitli, I" Al. nSiiths Paull Sisiltls, Wi1illjais V. Sage, XX illi sis S ha ckelfordil. Bruce C. Shiits, L). Trevegnci, Jamses L. IL sii. AX W. Tavis I i C. F. Tainbling- I irink I. Tiiers. Robert F. Tolibs, XV XX T'aylor, E'dward Ttrisner, K ". V ain LIlsosci Buel II. Van ILeiiveii. C B. W\hiiniev, F. IL. Wells. A\rthiur Xrigh1t, Iiusini i Wyiiain, A. N. W~ard. JI SWeidmaii, F. S. AWood, Ju1an D) \\ lliuigtsons Geor-e AWatermani. AV.. XXaltoii, Charles F. AWestmiauu. and Jsoliii A\ XXiles. ROYAL. AiRCii SiNISONS Alt. IPlasauut Clhapter No. i i. I oya Ar ci cli'Massois, was ourganiiie 1lisis4, i188.4. miiiser a dhispiensation gi anteul thom to work April o. i188g-". Ih uc (harter mseuuubers svere Robuert Lasighhinu Nlairk F. Fasqiuelle, John R. Rocbiiisonii Silcniiss A. Simoins, D). Scsstt Pairtridge, C. C. Curtis, P. F. D~odsds, I- I. Alcieeii. AWilliaim A. Osborn, Ciccio KEiimball, I. N. Shepherd. Joshii Malxwiell, Saimiuel Keusuiedy. Richard TIovs, jnies, B. Kenniecdy. Henry Struhule. 246 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The first officers elected were the following: Robert Laughlin, high priest; M. F. Fasquelle, king; John R. Robinson, scribe; S. A. Simons, treasurer: D. Scott Partridge, secretary; Charles O. Curtis. captain of the host; P. F. Dodds, principal sojourner; E. F. McQueen, royal arch captain; \Villiam A. Osborn, grand master of the third veil; C. Kimball, grand master of the second veil; John Maxwell, grand master of the first veil, and I. N. Shepherd, sentinel. The first person to be initiated into the holy mysteries of the Royal Arch was William T. Whitney. The lodge has been a prosperous body ever since its organization and still retains its prestige in the community, and numbers many of the most popular and successful citizens in the city. It not only comprises many of our successful business men. but also of the professional fraternity. Doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers an(l retired capitalists all seek the mystic rights of the fraternity. Their lodge rooms are centrally and pleasantly located, easy of access and as the blue lodge of Masons occupy the same rooms they have furnished them beautifully with everything that goes to beautify and adorn not only the halls but the work as well. Well may they entertain a Imodest pride il their fraternal and social surroundings. They enjoy a membership at the present time of about one hundred, but as all are graduated from the blue lodge it seems hardly necessary to give a list of their present members. ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR. We all recognize the fact that there are but few things that are really and genuinely enjoyed by the male fraternity that the female class are not also desirous of participating in, and so we find that after the establishment of these Masonic bodies, the ladies met and considered the advisability of their also establishing a fraternal association. It was finally decided to organize a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and a chapter was formed, to be known as the Mt. Pleasant Chapter No. 55. At present the officers are: Ellen V. Keene, worthy matron; J. J. Cowen, worthy patron; Effie G. Graham, assistant matron; Florence N. Ward, secretary; Clara L. Pullen, treasurer; Laura B. Taylor, conductress; Lettie Trevegne, assistant conductress; Ethel Taylor, Adall; Nettie A. Cowen, Ruth: Maary D. Keen, Esther; Mabel Ferris, Martha; Nora L. Loveland, Electa; Rebecca \Vells. warder; Samuel Bemrose, sentinel; S. Louisa Cowin, chaplain; Clarissa Marsh. marshal; Ella Parkhill, organist. The past matrons are A. Elizabeth Chattel-ton, Helen E. C. Balmer, Nora L. Loveland, Elizabeth Van Leuven, Minnie Leaman, Elva Reed and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 247 Florence N. Ward, and the past patrons are H. Edward Detel, George McDonald, Richard D. Balmer, Arthur S. Coutant, George A. Chatterton, and Edward L. Wells. The number of the present membership is about one hundred and twentyfive. The list of members shows that the organization contains many of the leading ladies of the city and bespeaks for them a delightful social and fraternal organization. MASONS AT WINN. The earliest records of Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383, Free and Accepted Masons, at Dushville, now Winn, Isabella county, 1\ichigan, show that under date of July 2, i886, Michael Schumaker, grand master of Masons of Michigan, affixed his signature and seal to a dispensation empowering the following brothers, as charter members: John \W. Curtiss, Allen Keene, John Starkweather, David Moor, Marshall Abbott, James Maxwell, Charles F. Curtiss, Thomas H. Lowe and Shurman D. Eldred, to meet and practice all the rights of ancient craft masonry. The above Masonic brothers continued to meet and work under the above mentioned dispensation until January 26, I887, at which time the grand lodge of Michigan issued a charter, which created Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383., Free and Accepted Masons. On March 23. 1887, the most worshipful grand mlaster. Reuphes C. Hathaway, did consecrate and dedicate and install the first regular officers, at which time Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383 assumed all the responsibilities and burdens incidental to a new lodge in a new and sparsely settled part of Isabella county. At this time the lodge occupied the second story of a building at the east end of the village, and on the north side of Main street, owned by William A. Starkweather, which they continue(l to occupy until April 9, 1890, when, by permission of the grand master, the lodge was imoved to the hall owned by P. Allyan, at the west end of the village, where they remained until suitable rooms could be arranged for. At this time S. J. Ulam had a two-story building under construction, the lodge arranging to lease the tpper story. After this building was completed and furnished, Past Grand Master Arthur M. Clark, acting grand master, (lid, on January I, i89I, duly dedicate this the third home for Cedar Valley Lodge, where for seventeen years the fraternity peacefully labored in laying a foundation, broad and deep, which should later support her future fraternal and material edifice. In the early p)art of 1907 the membhers of Cedar Valley Lodge began to feel the need for more room, and( purchased a location on block 2. according to the village plat, andl perfected such arrangements that would eventually enable the local body to erect and own. in fee simple, the proposed home. 248 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. On August 28, 1907, the worshipful master alppointed a committee consisting of E. H. Allyn, Fred M. Sanderson and Burt M. Adams, to draft articles of association and do such cther duties as \ould be necessary to incorporate. So well did the above committee discharge their important duties that on January 7, I908, the Masonic Temple Association of Winn, Michigan, held its first regular organized meeting and became a factor in securing worthy, more pretentious environments. The above meeting is worthy of Imore than a passing notice, for it was at that meeting that this small band of Masons assumed the burdens and responsibilities of erecting a temple of solid brick thirty-seven by eighty feet, and two stories high with basement, two store rooms on first floor. The entire second floor is used for Masonic purposes. and divided into seven rooms, consisting of lodge room, preparation room, anteroom, parlor, kitchen, liinig roonm, and committee room. The entire building is fitted with steam heat and the light is generated by an acetylene gas plant in the lbasement. On December 17, 90o8, the most worshipful grand master, Herbert IMolntague, assisted by nearly all the grand lodge officers, dedicated the nexv temple to Freemasonry, virtue and universal benevolence. The new temple cost eight thousand dollars, and the drawing of the material from ten to sixteen miles was a heavy burden on the memherslil), which was met with fortitude becoming Masons. And today they have the comfort and satisfaction of owning the first Masonic temple, entire from foundation to roof, in Isabella county. It is worthy of note that at no time has there ever been one cent against the temple, as all obligations have been assumed and carried by the membership. The Mlasons of Cedar Valley Iodge have been abundantly blessed. In tlhe twenty-six years of its existence and of the ninety-five members that have from time to time belonged. but four have died, and only two of them initiated members, the other two having joined by dimits from other lodges. The first officers of Cedar Valley Lodge were: Hon. John W\. Curtiss. worshipful master; Allen Keene, senior warden: John Starkweather, junior warden; David K. Moor, treasurer: Marshal F. Abbott, secretary; James Manwell, senior deacon; Charles F. Curtiss, junior deacon; Thomas H. ILowe, tyler. The present officers are:.Cassius J. Shenk, worshil)ful mnaster; Ilenrv I.. Smith, senior warden; Charles A. Spicer, junior warden: Davidl K. Moor. treasurer; S. J. Ulam, secretary; William Glen Osborn, senior deacon: Jacob Burher, junior deason; Miles S. Fuller, tyler. The roster of past masters is: John XW. Curtiss, three years; Allen Keene, 1SABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN.24 249 seven ycars: John L. Brubaker, one year; John NV. Cranle. six years; Charles F. Cnrtiss', five years; Birt M. Adams. one year; Em-lon A. Sanderson, twvo years. The first ofhicers of the Masonic Temple association: John NV. Cranec, Ipresidlent: David K. Moor, treasnrer; S. J. Ulam, secretary,. The first boa-rd of trustees: john i'elo, chairman, Chester.1. Perkins, Clifford T. Abbott. -lihe Ipresenlt numtber of memb~ers of the lodge is seventy. ORDER OF THlE EASTERN STAR. A chapltcr of the Ord(er (If the Fasterni Stat owas estalblishecd It Wino.1 Michigatt Nia It dt I 1909. 1The charter members weire Nrst SMNI g'le Adams. Mrs. Luicv I ow e Nitss Alta ITIXll 111W ilbet N. Ptetpitt Ni e(otrgia Pliepont, Mlrs. A\imna P rktnis Nrst AlanI r Ktnneys Asa Dell. I olgene II. Alien, A!rs. Julita \Ivii Ca~sstns J. Shtettk Nilrs. A\a Shettk NIs Emma111 NMoor. NI rs. Lizzie Nolti, Nit. Anns 1Hunt1 Chatrles A\ Spier Jolhn Rtetn 1(111 W. (rane, Rifts i(ffotd, Nil AgNnes Gitfford TI' Xits S. Futllet Ni -S. -)la IFutler, Ge'ela111 S. Fttllet Nit Belrtit Fulttlet. NMrts Jenntie Stullivan. Thy fItst Ilficet e lecettl we(1e is fo1llows5 5Wortliv mlatrolt, Nir-s. Abunina IPerktns worIlthy 11att-on. NN tibet N.I tielrplttt: associaleI mtttlron, Mrls. Geotgi Putiternt ll; secretary, Nits C elta Delo, treasurer, NMrs. jtolia Allytt; condiuctr ess NIMrs. MnIdite Sttittittttg associate cottditctress. NIMrs. Ellen Shentk chalplain, Nits. 'Niaage AdatmsIl organist, Nitss Esthter Osborn: Adah. Mrs.VilaI iliet Rut Nir -\tscs( tfotd Es Ither, NIMrs.; Bertha Fuller: Mfartha~, Mts Malrkc Kinevs Fleca tIrN s. -nttr Tt inttt: wardlet, Mrs.Ltv ILowe: senttnel, Johni S. Keeni This chapte1r is imlade upi of most of ithe entetrprising, ettergetic and( slocial allies and~ genttlettett lit that co~tmmunitv 1111d titey are exerttillg a tutlhtv Ittdoettene fot "0011 socia and 11 fraternal feelittg Iit tite cottttttItttttsv whitohI is att elemietit sotrels tlell(le ttt a sillage atll( cIttttrX cllttlttttvt IThes bhIse labored b111 ii Shollrt tttte lilt 1n11w ttttmber Somte sxtyI-six mieittbets in goodllIl andl regular stattdtttg At let ast anttuad election the followinig officers XXer etc ctell attd illstalled: XXolltbX mtrllon, N~I rs. Ailma Perkinis; ssolthtll patr1111 Gerald Fttlier; assocatett tuatroit Ni A rs. G eorgia 1PierIpott: secretatXNt Ms. itita Allvin treasurer. MIrs. Ellen Spicer -,conducctress. Mris. L~illie Keett: associate conlidictress, NIrs. Bertha Fttller: chaislain. NIlrs. Niaggie Adlatms: marshal. Mfiss Altat Taylor; organist, Mrhs. Pearl Edmonotds; Ada. 'irs. Viola Fitiller: Ruttht Nirs. Agnes Gifford: Elsther, M'vrs. Elletn Shettk: Martha. Mrs. Effa IDelo: Elleeta, Mrs. E-mmtt Fox; \vardien. 'Mrs. IMartha Dells setntinel. John S. Keeit. 250 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. WEIDMAN MASONIC LODGE. The village of \Weidman also boasts of a first class lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, which was organized in 1900oo. They own their own hall, have a membership of about eighty and are growing all of the time. They are nicely located and take great pride in their work and are said to have some of the best workers in the county. John A. Cliff, Wilber Johnson. Floyd Mitchel and others of the same class of leading gentlemen make up tilhe rank and file of the fraternity in that burg. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FEI.I.OWS. The Odd Fellows organized at Mt. Pleasant, April 4, 1874, being No. 217. The charter bears the name of G. \V. Griggs as grand master and E. H. Whitney as grand secretary. The charter memblers vere James I.. Sweeny. Albert Holmes, Martin K. Morse, Jared H. Doughty and John R. Doughty. The grand officers who instituted the lodge were:. \V. (Griggs. grand master; Albert Earl, grand secretary; WV. HT. Ostrom, grandl warden; W\. \V. Cook, grand marshal; C. C. Hart, grand guardian; 1. \V. Shaw, grand herald. The first elective officers were James L. Sweeny, noble grand: Jared H. Doughty, vice-grand; M. K. Morse, recording secretary, and John R. Doughty, treasurer. The lodge has gone through many ups and downs and has been burned out, having the charter burned, but they have kept oni their feet and each time have rejuvenated the order. and continued in their good work until they have brought the order to a high state of perfection in this city. They have increased in numbers from their small beginning of six charter members to about two hundred and fifteen members at this time. They have l)urchased a building, which was originally the Presbyterian church, which they purchased April I, 1907, of the Presbyterian society for two thousand dollars. The lot is centrally located, being nearly opposite the Bennett House. It makes a fine place for their meetings and they are able to accommodate other societies, such as the Grand Army organization, the Salvation Army and such others as need a place for a gathering for social and fraternal purposes and for suppers and lectures. The order is highly appreciated by its members as a social iand fraternal organization. It numbers among its memblers many of the best and most prosperous business men, as well as men in the various professions, such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers and ministers, in fact it is a good and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 251 proper place for any and all good men that enjoy social meetings and feel that they would like to do some good in the world and make society better and more noble for their having leen here and mingled with struggling humanity. All this and more they are doing. There is also an encamplment, as well as a Relekah lodge. who meet in the same building. This lodge has also been honored by having one of its nmembers elected to an honorable office in the grand bodv of the Independent (rder of Oddl Fellows, William R. Kennedy, who was in 1908-9 elected to be grand master of the grand lodge. The present officers of the home lodge are: A. C. Crapo, noble grand; F. l. Klunsinger, vice-granl; Charles 1). Brown. recording secretary; \V. C. Perry, financial secretary; H. H. Hunter, treasurer, with C. L. Patee, past grand. Tn 1874 at old Salt River was established an Odd Fellows lodge. The charter was given Octoler 5th of that year and they commenced with a goodly number of members and have been in a nice condition ever since and are now enjoying a degree of proslerity. Their number is 239 and is called Coe Lodge. ''he charter members were: 'I'holias Austin, noble grand: J. I\. R. Kennerv. vice-gralnd: S. G. Ieonard. secretary; Henry Strut)le, treasurer; Samuel Kennedy, Lester 'ilsey, Philandler Childs. A. F. Swan and \\illiam A. Smith. Allen F. (lark is the present noble grand, and sends these minutes. The. are in a good thriving conditionl, are having good attendance and are growing with tile growth of their lpretty and substantial village. \VINN ODD)FELLOWSHIP. Cedar Ridge Lodge No. 540, Indlel)endent Order of Odd Fellows. at Winn, Isabella county, Michigan, was organized July 22, 1908. Its charter members were John Hiendelison, William I.. Delo, Lester Briggs, Walter G. Starkweather Levi Underwood, Fred C. Gifford ILindly T. Booth, John Malish, Frederick Delo, Delbert I). Richardson, Charles Riggle, John Fox, George Russell, Percy 1'. Spicer, Clifford J. Abbott, sixteen in all. The first officers were Lester Briggs, noble grand; Charles Riggle. vice-grand. and \\. G. Starkweather. secretary and treasurer. The lodge is a strong and growxing institution, having grown from sixteen charter members to a lodge of seventy-six members, and is still increasing both in membership and in influence in the community. They have and 252 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. may well feel a just pride in the fact that their lodge is made up) of a large per cent. of the stanch and thrifty men in the community, and the lodge gives them an opportunity to meet together and become more social and( cultivate a stronger spirit of brotherly love and a kindlier slirit toward one another and the race generally. Long may they have the privilege of their soci;il meetings. The present officers are John HendersoIn noblle grand; Thomlas Sandbrook, vice-grand; Clinton Cazatt, recording secretary; Clifford 1. Abbott, financial secretary; \Vard Foglesong, treasurer. The lodge have their mIeeting place in the hall of S. J. Ulam, and meet on Thursday evenling. BLANCIIAR) LODGE. Blanchard has a lodge of Odd Fellows, established in 1903. Thev are as prosperous and substantial as any in the county, ntumberting at the present time one hundred and seventeen members, with Henry lMoke as noble granld George Wood, vice-grand; F. Allen, financial secretary. This lodge is on the high road to success. They have built and own their hall, rwhicli is t\ventvsix by eighty feet and two stories high. costing about four thousaldl dollars, nearly all paid for. The society occup)y the upper story land the lower story is an opera house. The charter melmbers were as follows: Fred Standish, Jav Rogers, Newman Fitzgerald, Claud Rogers, \W. HT. Shepherd, E. \V. Reeder. Henry Mloke, N. (. Mason, Riley King, Frank Garrison and Amos Dixon. nAUGHlTERS OF REtBEKATI. There was a Rehekah lodge organized at \\inn, formerly I)usliville, on April 2, 1909, by Hannah Bailarge, with ten charter nelmbers, aid the name Locust was given it by Sabia Gifford. To be precise, the name and numl)er were ILocust Rebekah Lodge No. 226. The charter melimbers were Jeinnie Sullivan, Emily Smith, Salia Gifford, Pearl Edmonds..\lmira Perkins, \\altcr Smith, Fred Gifford, William Edmonlds, Walter G. Starkweather. The lirst officers were Sabia Gifford, noble grand; Pearl Edmonds, vice-gralndl; V.;. Starkweather, secretary; Emily Smith. treasurer: Almina Perkins, right sulpporter of the noble grand; J. WV. McNutt, left supporter of the nolle grand; Lottie Gifford, warden; Mamie Stutting. condluctor; Wallace Richardsoln, inner guard; XWalter Smith, outer guard; Catherine Haas, chaplain, w\ith Olive Foglesong, right supporter of vice-grand, and Pearl Barden as left stupporter of ISABE'LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.25 253 vice-grand~. This lodlge has lirosliereci wvonderfully Nvell and n10W nuimibers one hiinldredl ncemheis. Their liresent officers are: Noble granid, Ola Fuller; vice-grandl. Rlflie Caszatt" secretarv, Sadie (ifforti treasurer. Emilly Smith; right supporter of the niolle grand, Delia Starkwveather, left supporter of the n-oble granil, Almina Perkin-s; vardeii, Lottie Gifforci. A~t Brinton, about twventv-twoi years ago, there was established on Odd Fellows lodloe which for sonite tiiie was a otirishin g ilistittition. The orin nal was nlamed Silver linik aiid D~octor \Vorden was largely inlstrumlental in guetting it started. It flourished until at one tinie it had about (inc lhtidred and thirty-onle Imembers, but since the village has dleclineil somewhat it has had an effect upoin the nlunm1ir of lodge iuembeis y et it is tloiiiIlg good work ait die Ipresenit thime aiii iitinibeis abocit fiftty members. The presenit officers are: Edgar Robert. nolile Irand- John Fitch, vice-aramitl H. V. Koble, secretarv:S. Atchlduson, iliaiicial. scre taox 11c xli- Rogers, treasurer-. In 1906. at Rosebush, i lodge it Odd F ellows wcas organized with about sixty iueilimers. with I. G FHouse -is iioble i-iiidl I). MX ussel, vice-gramol, anid ((liii House, secretaiv. It i,- a stiron and activxe organization and is doing go sI work, tincreasinii nimeumbcirship and in thle good vifi luence itexertsii the comumunii111v. Xe \\eidtilui tibc\ hxve a fir st-class lidle ot the I idependent Order i f )dd F~elloxws. which is III ci lry proserou aiiil inc oroikinig ciiniitioii. Thley ownl their Own biall aiicl ho e tlheiri sessions regularhy dilim aood work and s~at'n viitiirieueI sil It Is oic of die liest of flit fra teniai l orgaiiizatinois. KNIGTi OF ToHvE AixcixmuE An\iother (,f die orsalems liii is vademilated to pni iiotc fit imedslipi amil brotlierlv I vc, kimoximi as die Kniii its of the -Maccabees, iv.as dclul oi g iiized oin the I7th dayV (f i 1arb i84 I ai ilso a muimtutal reliet soc iety and has beeni of mulestiumablc vxaluc to a large nuumbei of ouir citizens liy thle pivyieit toi the bereaved faimiilies of ileceaseil Maccaliees wxhbcn the hianil of aitflictioni has fallcii heavily oi tili c depeindent failimlx at tlieir 1 liitector' tdeath, oif the amount for which the member, whcni hx ivinvol prioxvideil tiii the assistaimee of hits famiilv. It is a worthyv orgaiiizatmon imimlhi is ho its liiiiiihtiiess andm dhispatchi relieved moanv a worthy famiily fr om suffrnm ig anid histiress ]ii time if troulble. The cifficers, of the fir1st organization xxvcie 1F ft. TIx ei last coiiammcnder Charles T.1. Russell, comimiimmmher: V.. Ff. mmmilo-tie, iueiiteiiaut Iti Fred Russell. recoril Iceeier- 1F. WV. Ralph. finlamie I ccpei: XX C. 1D)imemihur pi-elite; F. H-. 254 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Tyler, physician; J. J. Kitchen, sergeant; J. B. Van Fossen, master at arms; 0. W. Stebbins, first master of guard; F. E. Prince, second master of guard; I. L. Swan, sentinel, and W. R. Sturgis, picket. The organization flourished for some years until they numbered some four hundred members. They now number about three hundred and eleven members, and the present officers are: Vern Van Wie, commander; George W. Leuvoy, lieutenant commander; William 0. Barz, record keeper; WV. A. Chatterton. finance keeper; Earnest D. Ford, sergeant. They hold their meetings in the Commercial block, and meet each week. The numbers have fallen off some for a short time back on account of quite a number of the members having arrived at the age of seventy, whell they are entitled to draw ten per cent. per year on their policy and there seems to be a fear that the monthly rate or dues will increase. They cal also draw for disabilities and as the age increases there is more of that. Then about a year ago the Lady Maccabees increased their rate and many dropped out on that account. These are questions that the Knights will have to meet. One was organized at Leaton numbered 538, with Charles l. Cole as commander, Thomas B. Snowden, record keeper, and with a goodly number of members. This tent was afterward disbanded and they with one or two other small tents went into the organization at Rosebush. On April 8, 1893. one was started at Vernon, known as the Russell Tent No. 727. They flourished for a time and built a hall, but afterward the interest in the matter flagged, the hall was sold and moved away and now there is no organization kept up. Tent No. 306, of the Knights of the Maccabees, was organized at Sherman City, the organization being effected May 29, 1895. Edward 1'. Strong was commander, Grant M. Lyon, record keeper, and filed October 28, 1895. This tent is kept up and is in a fairly prosperous condition, having at this time about forty members. Another was started at the village of Brinton and was a live tent for some time and then it ceased to keep up its interest and finally ceased to exist. Eldorado Tent No. 559, Knights of the Maccabees. was organized at Calkinsville February 22, 1898. They own their hall, have about one hundred and twelve members and are in a prosperous condition. Their present chief officers are George F. Bayless, commander; William M. Hovey, secretary and treasurer. They also have at this place a Ladies of the Maccabees lodge with a good membership. They too are in a prosperous and thriving condition, and the order is quite popular. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 255 At Caldwell, about twenty years ago, a lodge was formed. They own their hall, which cost something like eight hundred dollars. They are in a flourishing condition, with about thirty-five menibers, with Thomas IIogg as commander, Burt Bozer, record keeper, and F. E. Phillips as finance keeper. At Blanchard, in 1904, there was a Ladies' Tent of Maccabees organized. Mrs. E. Allen is commander and Mrs. Charles Robertson, Mrs. Bragg and Mrs. Scott are among the influential members. They have a nice social and fraternal set of members and now number sixty-four. They are in a most prosperous condition and are proud of their society, as well they may be. There is also a regular Maccabee tent at Blanchard. It was organized some time ago and is still doing business. At WVinn the Maccabees organized, il 1891, Tent No. 524, with J. W. Crane, commander; Robert Brown, record keeper; Fred Delo, finance keeper. They have now some fifty members and Lester Briggs is commander, AV. W. Dickerson, finance keeper, and are in a prosperous condition. The Lady Maccabees have also a tent with M]rs. XV. N. Pierpont as commander- Mrs. Ienryi- Curtis, finance keeper; Mrs. John Taylor, record keeper. They have a tent of thirtv-five members and own the hall, which cost them about five hundred dollars. They are in fine condition and embrace some of the leading ladies of the village and vicinity. They feel justly proud that thce own their hall and are in good working order. At Shepherd a MAaccabee tent was formed some years ago, and for a time was in a flourishing condition. Some changes in the amount of dues has created some lukewarmness in many of the tents and they are not so prosperous. There is a lodge of Maccabees at \\eidman, organized some years ago, and composed of such men as George Drallette, George C. Fisher, Charles Pierce, Mr. Schauppner, Charles Carr, Charles Buitler, Adam Scott and others. They have been in a.goo(d working order for some time and have a large membership for a place of the size of W'eidman. and are now numbering something like one hndl ed mIembers. There was also a Ladies' tent, but they have allowed their ch;:rter to lapse and are no longer an organization. G LEANERS. \ Gleaner organization w\as established in Lincoln township, at Crawford. something like sixteen years ago, and has continued and prospered ever since, and at the present time they have about one hundred members, with 256 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Roy Proudly as chief gleaner. They are a fraternal and mutual blenefit association and are at the present one of the most popular and most-sought-after organizations in the county and state. This organization owns its own hall, which cost about eight hundred dollars, and is in all respects prosperous and happy. There is also another in this town located at the Baptist church on section 30, organized Decemher 29, 1896, andl numbered seventy-one, and having at the present time some onle hundred members, with Melvin Castle, David Bush and others as leaders. This one also ow\ns its hall and is doing a prosperous business. At Blanchard, in Rolland. township, there is a Gleaner organizatio.i These use the Odd Fellowvs liall. Their lodge is in good condition, being a combination of some smaller lodges which colmlindt, so that no\\ this one combines all of the smaller ones and has somne go-)(od 1lenl. such as Shaw. Lawrence. A\. Miller and others. The organizatiol was perfected A-ugust 14. I9OC. and the charter members were Allthony Miller. 1Elmer Comlpson., d.. Sheels, Edmond Miller, Alonzo Allen, Lawrence Miller and Maggie Mlillbrook. A lodge of (leaners was establishedl in llBrooieldl, on section 2'8. ill I905. It has about fifty members and is (loing \ell. In Deerfield to\wn\ship a lodge was established at l)eerfield Center. John Ash is chief gleaner and -1. E. \\oodl is secletarl- nd treasurer. Tlle use the town hall for their place of nmeeting. A CGleaners arbor, No. 197. \as olrglnizedl in C'hilpp)Ce in I896. The chief movers \\-ere Frank Creg, Fran k, Haridgrove, (;eGeor-ge Rlichlmoind,.\. P. Kern, N. D. Montgonlery, \\alter Wing, Richard HIoy, (;eorge Merrill. They bought the Landon clheese factory and remodleled it iinto a lall suitable and convenient for their purposes: tlhe still om\n the hall. They have been very prosperous and no\\ nllumler somlething like one hundred and sixtv members, with Harvey Johnson as clief gleaner; N. 1). Montgomlery, vicechief gleaner: Mintl \Villnot, chaplain: Albert Halsted, secretary and treasurer; Edward Andrews, conducttor: R. M1. Mer —ill, conductress; Fred Smiith. lecturer; Leon Wilmot, imilner guar(l, and Charles Francis, ioter guard. ''here are Gleaners also in Denver town\shill..\n arbor was established at Delwin some years ago and has now about sixty imemnlers, an(l J. F'. Sllitll is chief gleaner and J. H. Jorden. secretary andl trea.srer. 'lhey are (loing good work and getting ahead. The Gleaners of Coldwater townshilp organized about five years ago. They hold their meetings at private dwellings. Cecil.llen and Grant Hlarper ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 257 are the main parties in the order and are doing much to enlarge and make it a success. Gleaners organized in 1898 in Gilmore with thirteen members, and they now have about seventy-five. Their headquarters is at the northwest corner of section 22, near the Baptist church. They are in good working order with fine prospects for the future. G. A. Pitts is chief gleaner and John Sifton is secretary and treasurer. In Vernon there is a lodge located at Little's, on section 28. It was chartered on the l4th of February, 1897, and is numbered 283. \illiam Page is chief gleaner and Jessie K. 'urbush is one of the principal gleaners. There is also one in Wise township and their hall is located on section 21. The Gleaners of Shepherd were organized in December. 1908. The chief gleaner was Raymond Clark; vice-gleaner. Charles WNilsey, and James \Vood, secretary and treasurer. They started with about sixty memnbers. which they have increased to about one hundred and fifty or more. Their first chaplain was Mrs. Clifford Childs. They are a very prosperous and strong organization and are reaping some benefit out of the relation on account of being able, as farmers, to purchase their binding twine at about one-half of what they had to pay as simple farmers. And as no one not a farmer can hold office it gives the farmer a strong lead and is quite an inducement for those who are eligible to unite with the fraternity. They meet twice each month for a good social as well as business purpose and time. At present their chief officers are: Chief gleaner. Jessie Childs; vice-gleaner, Stewaid Curtis: secretary and treasurer, James \ood. and for chaplain, Mamie Best. Most of the members carry about one thousanld dollars insurance, that being the limit ordinarily, although under certain conditions some may take two thousand dollars. Their principal purpose. outside of insurance, is the social feature and that they all enjoy and their interests seems to continue, as their meetings are all well attended and very much enjoyed. There is also one at the village of Coe, started about the same timle of the others. It has a fine list of members and is doing good work and fully meeting the expectations of all who have joined. The Gleaners are generally clailling that it is a splendid organization and is giving its patrons splendid returns for tleir monley and time, not only in a social manner, but also in financial results. GOLD RESERVE ASSOCIATION. The Gold Reserve was organized May 29, 190go, under and by virtue of tlie statute for the organization of fraternal societies. The officers at its (17) 258 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. organization were: Michael E. Kane, l)resident; Fred Russell, secretary, and George A. Dusenbury, treasurer. They have now been in business nearly ten years and have grown from a new and untried b)eginning to a mlemblership of three thousand one hundred memnbers and have assets to the amount of thirty thousand dollars. This is surely a good showing an(l with such an increase in business and thI standing and responsibility of those in charge is a good guaranty that everything will be conducted upon strict principles of business and social integrity. The present officers are M. E. Kane, president; C. W. Campbell, secretary, and Fred Russell, vice-president and treasurer. ELKS. A lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was, on July I8, I909, granted a charter, on the application of the following brothers: Josiah Harper, Chester A. Kellogg, Ivan Wallington, Harry G. Miller, J..\. Swan, Edward J. Diittmlann and Fred F. De Foe, the lodge to be known as the Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 1164, and to hold its sessions in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The charter members were R. A. Cockran, Rov S. Falk, Ellis Faint, D. Travegno, J. H. Campbell, F. J. Seibel, P. E. Richmond. Farl Miller, John W. Benford, Roy S. Iean, Wells B. Brown, Marion Smlith, T. R. Dougherty, E. T. Cameron, TI. W. Coddington, F. S. Klunsinger, F. F. Vandercook, Edward 0. Harris, Robert P. Ward, James E. Johnson, F. G. Clement, W. A. Dion, J. F. McNutt, Charles E. Hagan, Robert M. Hidey, Bert Sook, Frank C. Crego, Charles A. Carnahan, P. T. Johnson, A. F. Gorham. The trustees \vere Herbert A. Foster, IH. F. Chatterton and L. N. Marsh. Chester N. Riches, esquire: Howard D. Jeffords, junior gulard, and B. M. Gould, chaplain. The officers elected were: Jasper Harper, exalted ruler; Chester A. Kellogg, leading knight; Ivin WVallington, loyal knight; Harry Miller, lecturing knight; I. H. Swan, secretary, and E. J. Diittmlann, treasurer. The Elks are very largely a social organizationl, and it is intended that they shall have a place to meet for recreation as well as for reading and also a place for those that are fond of games and want a quiet place of their own where they can go for play at billiards or pool for the rest and relaxation that they so much need after being in the office or store all (lay at hard work. They have rented rooms on the second floor of three stores and have fitted them up, a part for a dining room and kitchen, over another store a billiard and pool room, for those who are fond of games, and over another a sitting room, cloak room and other accommodations, and they sturely have a fine lot ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.25 259 of mem-bers ain( a fine place for their meetings. They have increased their 11.numbers to one hundred fiftv-five and are still building uip the bloge. They now mnumber among their number a very large per cent. of the lbusiness lien, bankers, clerks, office men. witli a sp)rinlklinlg of clergymen, and in fact tlley embrace a goodl many of thle real good fellosws of the city. They are Every Iliooughtful and consideraste of tile wcives amnd families anld are entitled to a gooll (leal of credit for what tlhev have dolie andc are (loinlg for sonic of tllc families that have rniet with becreavemlenlt amirl that will appreciate thle imlterest takell (uI teinem oi1 aCCOnL1t of the fact thlal thmeir familyr was lumbered almbing tlle menibers of this exalted ordecr of Elks. Tile lpresenlt officers are:C. A. Kellogg, exalted ruler: Iviin Wallington, leading knighlt Harry Miller, loyal knight Mart MNalierv. lecturhig kllight IN". B. Brownl, esquire, J. A. Swall, secretary, E. J. Diittniann, treasurer-, F. U. Vanldercook, imnner guard A. Z. Camlpbell, tiler; trustees, H. E. Chattertoll, L. N. Marsh arid C. T. Russell. I Lon" mav t11eyvlise to carry olit their lbenievolenlt a~ldi social olijects forwhich thlev were organiized. 'KNIGHTS OF PYTlIIAS. The Knlights of Pvtliias wvas oramiizedl imi Mt. Pleasamit albommt Marchl, m886, with a g oodly~ numiber of charter Ilemilhers, so11e of wlomin wvere H. H. Graves. W~illiam Pickard, W~illiaml T. \\V hitnev, P. Gardnler alil others. Tlhev are strictly a fraternal society amid have in fornier days beenl one of thle miost soismlht-for of all suicm orgammizatiolls, and tllis lodge bias mmmrmbered as high as omme lumudred fifty at a timie. Of late v'ears they hlave not beemn quite as lprominiiiet, other fraternal oirganlizationls having takesm tile lead. Tllis lodge was at omne timile tile fimiest Iil tile state amld whlen ill miarchinlg ordler the first foulr raniks of fosmr eaclm weighled over fouir ilumilrel potiuls; eacll. alid their Uni forml Ran~k mlutmibered abtIut sixty mlemiiers. Tlley were tile orgamiizatioml selected to lay thme coroner, stonle of the Cemitral Normala School and wvere gligly piraisei for thleir efficiemlcy amld gemieral work. They still nmimiber a(Imit eighty miembllers amld, while tiley hlave bleell sellimsg off tlmeim chall frmriliIlire. 11ev vet retaiml tliei r loge furiniture aold expect to lake tip tlleir resinIhei-le abs a bIlge mi the buildinlg of thle Odd Fehllows. Thleir lpreselit oIfficers are:Fred Russell. chlancellor comlmmland~er: Prof. J. W. Kebder, vice-chialcellol-. Harry T Illuhsoill keeper of tile records XVNN. WV. CoIx, master (If fiiammce..\- FlA. D~aytons was tlheir cahltaill. 260 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA. This organization was perfected at Blanchard February 10, 1908, with the following as charter members: Earnest Culp, George Christorphenson, Clarence Stafford, Albert Tate, Joseph Fate, Edward Houghton, Carl Mason, Nathan Munn, Chester McDonald, C. J. Nohlas, Arthur Purybery, O. J. Reynolds, Jessie Robert, J. A. Ramey, Earl Swayze, Vern Russell, H. M. Swift, William A. Walker, Leuten Stafford, William F. Wood. Doctor Watley. This list of names gives to the village of Blanchard and vicinity a strong organization and one that is making good in the fraternal work they have entered upon, and, barring unforseen stumbling blocks, should continue for many years to come and prosper in their good works. They also have at Blanchard, beside the above, a camp of Royal Neighbors of America, organized March 4, I909, with sixteen charter members, as follows: Mrs. C. Holbrook, Mrs. Leo Aldrich, Mrs. F. Meyers, Mrs. E. Crawford, Mrs. H. Luimell, Mrs. E. Robinson, Mrs. George Kimball, Mrs. M. Konkle, Mrs. N. Hotchkiss. Miss June Hill, Mrs. Leola \Aers, Mfrs. J. Metz, Mrs. C. McDonald, Mrs. Judd Morgan and Mrs. William Snyder. This is called Rolland Camp No. 556I. NATIONAL PROTECTIVE LEGION. Blanchard has also a National Protective Legion, organized December II, o906, with the following charter members: Neuman Smith, Tom Scott. Morris High, Kate Dagle, Leumie Engle, Charles Sanders, Elizabeth Rolinson, Minerva Scott. Ralph Sanders, James A. Engle. The list of names of the charter members of the last two organizations ought to inspire confidence with any one who desires to become a melmber of either of the lodges. It is a sure index that they will accomplish whatever they undertake. COURT OF HONOR. A Court of Honor, Chippewa District No. 41, was organized at Mt. Pleasant about 1890. They are also a fraternal and insurance organization. This society has been an active and prosperous one up to the present time. It commenced with a limited number of charter members and has steadily increased until now they number about one hundred fifty members in good standing. This society accepts ladies to their membership and they meet at ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 26I the Odd Fellows' hall every two weeks, on Monday evenings. The present principal officers are: Charles Reen, chancellor; A. \.. Bush, past chancellor; Mrs. Thomas Dougherty, vice-chancellor: Mrs. Kittie Reen, chaplain; J. I,. Crittenden, recorder, and Jessie Sheldon, conductor. Their meetings are well attended and they are having a very nice social time at their gatherings and arc also privileged to take out insurance and are able to carry the same at a reasonable cost. They are all pleased with it and hope to continue. KNIG11TS OF COLUMBUS. Mt. Pleasant Council No. 1297, Knights of Colum1bus, was lduly organized on the 9th day of February, T908, with about seventy charter nmembers. The first officers were: (rand knight, Dr. Jamles ATcEnltee; deputy grand knight, Frank Keenan; recording secretary. 1'. Cory Taylor; financial secretary, Williamn F. McDonald: \warden, AT... XMcCue; chancellor. J. Harry Kane; trustees, P. Breidenstein, James E. Johnson and TT. F. Hoffman. This is a fraternal, social, insurance and charitable organization, its lembershi)p 'being confined to the membership of their particular church. They can take out insurance for sums of one thousand, two thousand or three thousand dollars, according to circumstances, and those who have taken advantage of that feature number now about sixty. The order has gro\\n wonderfullv since it first started. so that at the present time they have about one hundred sixty-five members and others have applied for admission. The present officers are: Grand knight, Frank A. Sseeny; leputy gralnd knight, William 0. Bartz: recording secretary, P. I.. McFarland; financial secretary. W. J. Somerville; w\arden. Hugh Murphy: chancellor. J. Harry Kane: trustees, James Johnson. John Johnson and Tames F. O'Brien, with H. F. THoffman as lecturer. This is a strong and growing organization and one that is entitled to the good will of all, as the objects of its being are to be cherished as something worthy of respect and encouragement. Their social meetings are to he recommended as bringing the members more in touch with each other and the charitable proposition can not le too highly recommended and that, with the insurance, which is intended to provide for that rainy day that so often comes. that too is to be recommended. ISAIELTI,A COT.NTY UItMANE SOCIETY. The Isalella County Humane Society was organized March 9. 1908o and incorporated under Act 171 of the laws of 1903. Its purposes or objects, as 262 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. stated in the articles of incorporation, are "The impressing and diffusingl of the principles of humanity and mercy and the enforcement of laws for tile prevention and punishment of cruelty to children and animlals, birds and fowls." The term of its corporate life was fixed at thirty years. The following named persons joined in incorporating the society: W. E. Preston, Marilla J. Preston, H. Van Ommeren, Mrs. H. Van (}nmmeren, N. J. Brown, Ferris Holcolm, Amanda Decker THolcolm, Susie IL. Chatterton, Ella Potter, A. S. Coutant, A. T. Getchell, Ella Getchell, Nora L. Loveland, May I. Sherman, Augustus Borden and Mary E. Borden. The following named persons have joined the society by subscriling to its by-laws since the incorporation of the society: \V. F. Newberry, C. I. 'ambling, WV. E. Lewis, I. A. Fancher, J. W. Hance, B. M. Gould, \V. O. Hullinger, Minnie I. Termaat, F. H. Dodds, Charles Coddington, Charles Slater, Kate Feeney. C. S. Larzalere, Edna M. Bouton, Palmer Landon, Virginia VWestlake and Mrs. Ross Sanford. The first election of officers of the society occurred March 28, when W. E. Preston was chosen president, Nora L. Lovelandl vice-president, A. S. Coutant, secretary, and I-. Van Ommneren, treasurer. During the short life of this society many cases of cruelty to children and to aninials have been brought into court )y its officers and received Ipunishment, many cases of cruelty and distress have been relieved withouit bringing the matters into court, andl a marked dinlniition of the number of instances of cruelty is noticeable since offenders became aware that this society existed and its officers prepared to enforce the law governing offenses of the kind. The date for holding the annual meetings of the society is fixed at the first Monday in March of each year. NV. E. Preston is the present p)resident of the society and the office of the society is at his offices in the Commercial Bank buillling, Mt. Ple::sant. CHAPTER XVI. MANUFACTURES —VALUE OF ORIGINAL FORESTS. This would certainly be a most interesting chapter if we were able to portray the country just as it was in 1854 when the first white settler set foot on Isalella soil. It was then an unknown and unblroken wilderness of timber, not one acre of prairie and but a very few acres of marsh land. It was all timber and a large amount of it was densely covered with the original forests. Not a stick had been cut for any purpose, not even a trail through the woods. We have kno\wn a single forty-acre lot to have as high as two million feet of timber on it. Many of the first saw\ mills were small mills intended only for the local needs of tie farmer, not dreamiing of what value the timber would Ie in the future. H ow little the farmer realized in those davs what the result of his cutting (lown and burning op tile timber on his land was to have upon the value of the land. The first mill was located on the Salt river just b)elow Salt River village. It was a small one and never cut any lumller for shilllent. Tlle one built at Isabella City was of the same stamp, they b)eing a combination of saw andl grist mill. These were built about 1857, and in T867 tler-e was one built at Mt Pleasant by Ilaller cBrothers, and ill r 868 Lamb & Tracy built one in MTt. Pleasant, but it relmained but a short time. IThere was also one built by Samuel Kennedy in all early day about one mile south of Salt river and( contilltied for a l nullller of years and (oe in the town of Lincoln by J. D)arrow\, \whicl remainedl for a numtber of years. Then there was ioe, called Pecklev's mill. in Rlolland, witlh (moe on section 30 and one on section 26 in Fremollt. Most of the early ones were water poswer mills, but somle of therm wvere steaml. There w\ere two at I)ushville. both steami. one of which blew 1l), aind there is a saw\\ and shingle mill there now,. but the timl>er is mostly exhausted so that tlere is not much for it to d(. There vere also in Lincoln one on tle ol( Hance farm, on section 25. and one ow-ned by J. M. R. Kennedy on section T5. 264 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In Deerfield there was one just south of Caldwell and one on section II. In Nottawa there is one at Beal City, and there was one some vears ago at Vandecar, which was torn down and removed from the county. In the township of Gilmore there was one located on section 27, which was a good deal of a convenience on account of being some distance from the railroad or any lunmber market except the home market. In I868 Henry Wooden came to the county and settled on the Chippewa in the township of Sherman and built a saw and grist mill combined, which was run by water power. lThis mill is still standing. but is largely out of commission. There was also one built at Shoards, about one mile up the river, and another in an early day at Sherman City; this one only lasted for a short time and then was put out of commission. There were some others scattered about the county that remained for a time and then were removed to some other place until now there are only a very few of the original that were built and operated for the benefit of the local community. Of those that were built to cut lumber for shipment was the one built by \Vise & Loomis at the village of Loomis and operated for several years. This mill shipped most of its lurmler and shingles. It probal)bly cut some 50.o000000 Iillion feet of lumber and about the same in shingles. At \Wise was the Richmond & Feeney mill that cut lumber and shingles. Wilson Brothers were located for several years in the township of Vernon and operated a saw and shingle mill. They cut about 50o000,000 feet of lumber and some 50,ooo00,00 of shingles. The Mt. Pleasant miill cut some 60,ooo,ooo feet of lumber and the one built at Bundy to cut out the tract of timber purchased of Edmond Hall by the Bundy Company, manufactured about 75,000oo,ooo feet and the one built by John S. Weidman at Weidman, manufactured I40,000,000 feet of lumber of all kinds and about Ioo,ooo,ooo of shingles. There was a mill built at Blanchard about the time that the railroad was built through that place and was located on a branch of the Pine river. This mill cut out about I50.000,ooo feet of lumber and was one of the best of the mills in the county, as it had a location that could rely upon a good supply of pine timber. There was manufactured by all of the mills for shipment not less than 550,000,000 feet of lumber during the time that the timber lasted to be cut for the outside market, and a good many million feet cut and consumed in the county in the way of building houses, barns, outbuildings, fences and for articles manufactured in the county. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 265 As to amount of timber floated dowvn the Chippewa river, down the Big and Little Salt and down the Pine that was was cut in the county it can not be less than,55o,ooo0,00ooo feet and that. added to the amount cut by mills in the county, 55o0.000,oo000ooo. would make a grand total of 2,100,000,000 feet. Or, if you choose to approximate by taking each forty acres of land in the county and allowing 56o,ooo feet of lumber to the fortv, you would get the neat amount of 2,292,000,000 feet of lumber. This amount of timber, at $15 per thousand feet would amount to the sum of $34,380,00, while the county is now, with all of its improvements, assesse(l in the amolint of $8,772,465, and the personal at $946,304, being a sum total of $12,957,358, and if we concede that the property is not assessed for more than three-fourths of its value and you add one-fourth you will have the sum of $16.196,697, which then would he not one-half as lmulch as the timber would be worth were it now standing on the land. We ought also to take into account that quite an amount of timber was destroyed by the forest fires of I871, and in the early days, a number of millions of feet of timber was burned in the clearing of the land for agricultural purposes, also the amlount that has been consumIed in the form of wood for domestic purposes. Taking all of these together, the reader will get some slight idea of the tremendous value of the Isabella forests and the amount of labor it took to clear it off of the ground and make it available for agricultural purposes. CHAPTER XVIII. AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. The matter to be covered by this chapter is certainly one of the most important of ally in this history. The matter of agriculture has been a paramount subject ever since man emerged from his state of barbarism. And when we look back over the nations of the world and ask ourselves the reason of the lands becoming a barren waste, may Nwe not ask with somle degree of reason if m:in1 has not been somewhat to i)lame for this great destruction of the fertility of the soil and its abandonlment? And niy1 w\e not ask ourselves what might the consequences have been to the lihumanl race above \\hat it was had that soil been fertilized and kept in a condition to suplport lmankind and thus ren(lered the environment of the peol)les of that time far more inhallitable? Or shall we be allowel to come closer to our own timle and ask ourselves why is it that the Eastern andl some of the Soulthern states are so largely throlwn out to the commons as \-aste land when it was once a fertile and inhabitable country? And coming closer home, may we not ask ourselves \what is to lbe the result here in our own county and state if we continue to take so much out of the soil and return nothing to it to repair that tremelndous waste. If we go back in our co1unty only tile short space of fifty-six years, we will find here a dense wilderness of tillller where nature had been at work for huntlredls and thousands of years in forming and shaping the country andl Irodlucing an(l building up that nlolle forest of tillmer and fertilizing the soil, prel)arilg for man's good. And what have we done to assist nature since we camle or dlo we think that nature can take care of herself without any assistance from man? Well, it looks very much to us as if man did think that the (;o(d of nature was able and possibly willing to take care of all this and that manl could go on in his blind way and abuse the work of nature all he wishes to and at the same time expect that nature will give to him for his pusillanllillous course nothing but good in return. No, gentlemen, you have got no such God of nature and you abuse the use of the soil and take from it all you can and then return nothing to it. Time will inform you that you are not wise and you and your posterity will suffer the consequences and pay the penalty. ISABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 267 In Isabella county agriculture was an ulp-hill business in the first instance, for all should know that it was necessary first to clear the land from its mammoth growth of timber, which occupied every acre. The cost of such clearing and fencing was in the early days put at twenty dollars per acre. ''hat was no easy job, especially to those-and there were very many of them -who came here with nothing liut their strong arms and lmighty will as an equipment for the work. It was a good eight or ten days' work to chop and clear and fence one acre of land; and that was not so ha(l if you had the wherewith to feed and clothe the wife and balbics at home while you were doing it, but when it was necessary to work one-half of the timie at least to keep soul and body together before you could tackle your own work it then became a more serious question. Again, we must remember that there was absolutely no market for a stick of that timber that was oil your land, but all of it had to be burned lefore you could dare to lput out your seed for a crop. It wouild have been so nmuch I)etter if all of that wood could have been allowed to decay on the ground aicl the material that it had taken from the soil been allowed to go back to motler earth. ''hey say that fire is a great purifier, but I would rather have it done in some other way and save the original element for, to me, a better lpurlose. I am aware that it left sonme pot-ash, but that is lwhat was done. You will readily see then that the pcolple that cleared up this county v.re entitled to a good deal of credit for the great amount of labor that it cost, say naught about the waste of imuscle and the mnany backaches that were thlrown ill. Those that had some means to secure the xwork done bv) others were soon repaid, for the first crops brought a good price generally for what the farmer could spare after laying aside sufficient for the needs of himself and family. 'The first clearing commencedi in the southeast corner town of tile county for the reason that there was xwhere the lirst land was secured by William B. IBowen, \William.Adams, James Shepherd, J. 1B. Walton, George and Dow Greenficld, who located and cut the first road through the woods from the south line of the county to section 9, where Miller's addition to Old Salt river was afterward located. l'lis roald w as cut out about the ist of No)veimber, 1854. Others, to w\it: Daniel Brickley. John Stewart, Andrew F. Childs, James \Vilsey. Daniel Childs, Janmes Camilnlell. (eorge Reasoner, Charles F. Youing and IM. J. Ilall had, on the loth day of October, of that year, purchased lands under the graduation act at fifty cents an acre and soon thereafter also \ent into the wilderness and commnenced to clear the land for buildings and for crops. Then camie John M. Hursh and Mr. Jenner in the 268 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. winter of I854 and Judge Perry H. Estee, who settled on the northwest quarter of section I8 in Coe, and cut the first tree on his land on the 4th day of July of that year. Then later came Uncle John Fraser and settled on the south half of section 31 in Chippewa, then Woodworth and A. A. Preston, also James and William Hoag, in Lincoln, and Bouton, Goodsell, Ioveland, Ferris, Sherman and others. In 1860 the census shows a population of one thousand four hundred thirty-three, of which there were five hundred seventyseven whites and eight hundred and fifty-six Indians, and the whites were distributed as follows: Sixty-seven families in Coe, twenty-four families in Chippewa, there being one hundred sixty-seven persons, with twenty-eight families, in Union and Isabella. The first thing to do in such a country was to cut telc necessary logs and roll them up in the form of a house. Slit out soim shake for a roof and rive out some boards for a door and make and hang it on wooden hinges. Then find some clay, which was not a difficult job. mix it into a plastic condition, make a wooden trowel and plaster up the chinks in the wall and make it wind and squirrel proof. Rive out some p)lank for a floor, and lay them down and your house was ready for occupation and you today would he surprised how nice and neat and clean some of them were. There being no foundries, it was necessary that a fireplace and chimney should be built, so some short sticks were split out, laid up in a square or oblong form; make some more clay mortar and plaster it outside and in, and you have it. These were the pioneers' mansions, and also their barn and stable builtings were made in the same way, minus the chinking and chimney. Now they were ready for the timber and for that all he required was a good sharp axe, a strong will and lots of nmuscle. The trees were felled to the ground, the limbs cut from the body of the tree and then piled into large brush piles and allowed to remain until they should have an opportunity to dry, when a fire was set and the brush consumed. Then came the logging bee, when the oxen hauled the logs to a given place, where the men with hand spikes rolled them into mammoth piles, waited then until a dry time and put fire into the log pile and waited until the fire had consumed the timber, when the fanner proceeded to brand up the chunks left and then it was ready for the shovel plow. Another way was to fall the trees into a wilndrow as far as possille, lop down the large limbs and cut off those that reached over too far and pile them onto the winrow, then wait until a dry time, set fire to the brush and burn out as much as would burn. then cut up the timber into logs and roll up the logs as before and clear them off by fire, and you are ready again for the shovel plow. One fault in this process was the destruction of all the vegetable mould, the little limbs, leaves and rotten wood that was a covering for the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 269 ground and contained a large amount of fertility for the soil. Another way was to girdle the large timber and allow it to die and then fall it and remove the same without burning the ground over, leaving all of the refuse to go back to mother earth and thus enrich the soil just as nature had intended that you should. After your ground is cleared of the timber, the question arises, what shall the crop be? What is of most importance? Well, the first thing necessary was something for the family. and wheat was the crop that would come nearest to meeting that want. And then in these early days if you could raise more than needed for food vou could sell the surplus to your neighbor less fortunate than you and for a goodly price, m1any times as much as two and three dollars per bushel. Then, again, hay was necessary if you kept horses; if cattle. then the straw and some browse in the timl)ber would suffice. Corn and oats were necessary, also potatoes were also a good crop, for potatoes were as high as two dollars per bushel, corn one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, hay sixty dollars per ton, beans as high as seven dollars per lbushel and other things ill proportion. These )prices were laid often, hut not all of the time, lbut there was no time during the fifties and sixties that they did n1ot bring a good price to those wvho could raise such to spare. Another thing that affected agriculture during the sixties was the matter of lumbering. About I86o was the time of the first of the lumbering in this neighborhood and all of their supl)lies had to be raised here or carted from the outside. say Saginaw or St. John's, and witl nothing )but tote roads cut through the woods, with no graded roads and nobody to build bridges or culverts, it was a costly matter to haul in goods and supplies, it costing as high as three dollars per hundred for any kind of goods. Another thing that then prevailed was that the would-be farmer felt obliged to work for wages in the woods to slupplort his family, so that he coull not cut much timber on his own land for clearing. Also in those days no logs 0woutld sell for any price except a No. I or No. 2 pine, and a No. i was a perfect log with no crook, no knot, il fact, n11 defect of any kind and a No. 2 log must be perfect on one side at least. A common pine log was of no value whatever. Neither was any other class of timber of any value. The result was that a great many of our farmers neglected the work of clearirg their land on the farm and worked most of the tilme in the lumber camp, or upon the river in the spring in running the logs to the Saginaw b>oom, which often carrie(l the work well up to June. But time wvent on and one by one the farmers got back to their legitimate calling andl the forest began to disappear. Another element stepped in in I871 and that was the tremendous forest 270 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. fires of that year. The whole country seemed ablaze with fire and the leol)le were almost suffocated, so dense was the smoke. The (estruction of property was enormous, houses, l)arns. fences, crops, timber and in solme cases all that the people had in their houses or barns. But the greatest destruction was the timber and soil. A large percentage of the timber overrun was killed by the heat and fire so that it was ruined unless it could lIe cut the comling winter and that was impossible. As you go through the county today and find such a small amoiut of timber land you are led to inquire the cause unless you wvere familiar with these forest fires. Another embarrassing element in the development of the county agriculturally was the fact that so much of the lands hadl more or less pine timber upon them and the timbermen were very imulch averse to having the farmer settle near them on account of tle fire that was lialle to occur in their timber, so that until their lumblering was c(mlplete1d they would not part with the title of their landl that ha(l already )been lumbered. So also was there another drawback-five to\wnships, or 1ooooo0 acres of land, embracing a large percentage of fine farming land, had been in 1855 with(lrawn from market as an Indian reservation and unltil that could be selected and conveyed to the Indians swho sllhoutl Ie entitled to it by the treaty otf 864, nothing could be done on any of that except by the Indlian, as, by the Sha\\Boose decision of our supreme court, no Indian could alienate his lanll until the government had pronounced him competent and that was not done until 1871. I mention these obstructions to the earlier clearing of the land for the reason that some may think that fifty-five years is a long time to clear lup a county and remove all of the timber therefronm, and so it would have been ill this case had it not been for the hindrances that came to the farmers in'this case. It was about I879 or 1880 that the hard woods andi hemlocks began to have a value as lumber or staves or something of the kind and froml that (late the clearing and sul)duing of the lands were more rapid. Another great drawback to its rapid development was lack of transportation. The first railroad was not built until I871 anll then only accoIlmmodated a very small portion of this county, as it crossed the extreme northeast portion of the county and then crossed into Clare county and kept gradlually retiring farther from the north line of this county unltil at the northwest corner of this county it was several miles distant. The first one we were favored with was the road from Coleman in 1879 and later, in 1885-6, the Ann Arbor road, which gave us an outlet from the south. ISABELIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 271 By this time the lumlerman's demand for produce had so far diminishe(l and the crops in the county so much enlarged that we needed an outside market very badly and these roads gave us relief, so that from that time may be marked the great impulse to agriculture. In 1870 the population of the county had increased to 4,113, of hichl 2,211 were males and 1,902 were females. This was exclusive of Indians and government employes. 'he census was again taken in 1874 and at this time there were e 6,059, witlh 3,273 males and 2.786 females, an increase in four years of I,948. This shows that increase was not rapid in the county along these years. The lnuml er of males twenty-one years and over, not married. \was 420; -ll;rried, T,20T; d(ivorced or widowers. 78. Of the female portion, tile showing is miore bright and lovely, for the single num)ers is reducedl to 139, while tile numbler married is,I62. This is is somewhat marred lv the fact that 85 are divorced or widowed. The number of males of tile age of ten and under twenty-one is 688, of females, 503, while of the males we find six married aInd of the females there were 25. STATISTICS (F FARMS AND FARM PROL)CTS. I laving given somlething of the difficulties of early extensive development of tie county, we desire no\\ to show somlething of the advance made from 188o, after the lumbering!lad hbegan to decline and1 transportation hald Iecome more easy and convenielt. There are all)roximlately 23,04o acres of land in a township. This county has sixteen townships and therefore 368,640 acres il the county. Of this, there were cleared and cropped in 188o. 55,316 acres, diviledl into 1,679 farms, of which i,59( were Xworked by the owners an1( 31 were rented for moniev rental, while 57 w\ere rented for shares of the crops. In I884 the numlber of farms had increased to 2.038; of these 1,857 were farmed by the owner, 73 rented for cash and Io8 for a portion (of the crop. The total acreage had then increased to 76,399 acres. In 1890 the acres of cleared land was 99,419, divided( into 2,456 farms; of these, 2,180 were tilled by the oiwners, wliile 57 were rented for cash and 219 (were on shares. 1894 the improved lands were 114,614, dividedl into 2,642 farms, and of these 2,316 \ere worked hy' the owner, while o19 were rented for cash and 217 for a portion of the crol). In 1904 the farms had increased to 3,I03: owened 1y whites, 3.043 a(nd * b colored, 6o. Of these, 2.772 were operated by tile ownler, 7 by a lmanager, 79 by cash renter and 245 on sliares. Total acreage in farms, 250.556; im)roved, 152.360; uniml)roved, 98,196; ow\ned, 215,6lo: and leased, 34,646. 272 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. Total value of farm property $8,653,0I4; land and improvements except buildings, $5,059,958; buildings, $1,826,436; implements and machinery, $358,611; live stock, $1,408,009. The farms by townships are as follows: Broomfield has I68 farms, containing I4,034 acres, of which there are 7,498 improved and 6,536 unimproved; owned, I2,0I4, and leased, 2,020; total value, $324,280. The improved lands without the buildings, $148,739, and the buildings, $80.865; implements and machinery, $25,530, and value of live stock, $6o,146. Chippewa has 198 farms; total acreage I4,976; improved, 9.029, and unimproved, 5,947; owned, I,779; rented, 3,197; total value, $560,641; land and improvements except buildings, $335,725; buildings, $I08,700; implements and machinery, $21,425, and live stock, $94,791. Coe, the oldest of the counties, has kept in the lead as to value. but not quite as to number of farms. Coe has 261 farms, all containing 20,231 acres, with 14,996 acres improved and 5,235 unimproved; owned, I6,861, and leased, 3,370; total value, $1,006,568; lands without the buildings, $85.695, and the buildings at $252,407; implements and machinery, $34,12'5 and live stock, $134,391. Coldwater has 171 farms, of 16,312 acres; improved. 7,579 acres, and unimproved, 8,733; owned, 15,205, and leased,.0ro7; valued at $285.,55; the land, less the buildings, $162,475, and the buildings at $46.1 r5 with live stock, $66,099, and implements and machinery, $10,466. Deerfield has 226 farms and in them 17,345 acres of land. of -which 9,84I are improved and 7,504 unimproved; owned, 14,755, and leased, 2.590 acres: total value, $5II,966;-land and improvements, except buildings, $299,700, and buildings. $I00,578; implements and machinery, $19,035. and live stock, $92,653. Denver has 179 farms and 12,686 acres; improved, 7,403, and unimproved, 5,283; owned, IO,96I, and leased, 1,725; total value, $481,371. with land and improvements, except buildings, $289,598; buildings, $85,505: implements and machinery, $19,I40, and live stock, $87,128. Fremont has I92 farms and in them 17,401 acres; implroved, 9,863. and unimproved, 7,538; owned, 14,726, and leased, 2,675; total value $515,89I; land and improvements, except buildings, $325,640, and buildings $87,3Io; implements and machinery, $21,215, and live stock, $8i,8I6. Gilmore has II2 farms; IO,146 acres; improved, 5,467, and unimproved, 4,679; owned, 8,687, and leased, 1,459; total value. $224,343; land and illprovements, except buildings, $II7,675; buildings, $44,T50: implelllents and machinery, $10,585, and live stock, $5I,933. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 273 Isabella has 150 farms, total acreage in farms, 13,01o; improved. 8,690, and unimprove(l, 4,321; oSwned, T1.551, and leased, 1,460; total value, $476,526; land and improvements, less buildings, $3TT1300; buildings, $IOI,900; implements and machinery, $13,6oo. and live stock, $49,726. Lincolhn has 273 farms, in all 2o.687 acres; improvel, 14.449, and unilmproved, 6,238; owned, 16.771, ant leased, 3.9r6, all of the value of $911.471; land and improvements, less buildings, $557.445, anld buildings, $202,025; implements and machinery, $28,956, and live stock, $123,035. Nottawa has 217 farms. acres I6.138: improved, 9.633, and unimproved, 6.505; owned, I4,878, and leased, 1,260; total value, $642,349; land and improvements, except buildings, $393,911: buildings, $124.750; implements and machinery, $31,245. and live stock, $92,443. Rolland has 147 farms of the average size of 94 acres each, alnd in all T3,776 acres; improved. 8.465. and unimproved, 5,311; owned, 12,836, and leased, 940 acres; total value, $340,528: land and improvements, less buildlings, $I84,250, and buildings. $79.230: implements and machinery, $14,200; live stock, $62,848. Sherman has I58 farms. 11.957 acres; improve(l, 6,oo5, and unimproved, 5,952; owned, 10.777; leased. IT,80o total value. $240,I91; land and improvements, less buildings. 12.3.625, and Ibuildings. $45,675; implements and machinery, $I4,094, with live stock at $56,749. Union, with 231 farms, total acreage of 16.980: improved, I2,399, and unimproved, 4,581; owne(d, 15.442. and leased, 1,528; total value, $992,I03; land and improvemenlts. except buildings. $60000,40; buildings. $227,966; implements and machinery, $46f505. and live stock, $117,232. Vernon, with 231 farms, of 20,236 acres; implroved. 13,077; unimproved, 7,159; owne(l, I6.298, and leased, 3,938: total value, $724,003; land and imlprovemenlts, less buildlings, $385,420, and( buildings. $I68,410; implements antd machinery. $32.010. with live stock at $138,163. Wise has 205 farlms with 13,639 acres; improved. 7,683, and unimproved, 6.256: owned. T11,13. and leased, 2,508; total value, $351,285: farms, without buildings, $204,450 buildings, $53,000: machinery and implements, $14.030: live stock, $78,805. Mt. Pleasant has 13 farms and i,ooI acres: 583 improved and 418 unimplroved: owned. 92.8, and leased, 73: total value, $64,253: land, without buildings. $33,850, and buildings. $17,850; implements and machinery, $i.450; live stock. $11,103. (T8) 274 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. PRINCIPAL CROPS. It is a difficult matter for us to say what tlhe principal crops of the county are. The crops differ in different localities. Some townships have a light loamy or sandy soil, some have rolling land, some have quite heavy clay soil and others have a black loam. and so it goes. Tf they are to be gauged by the crops they raise, perhapls that would b)e as good an in(dex as we can give. The best crop, so far as money goes to prove the fact. is live stock. There was sold in 1904-and these are the last records available-in cattle of all kinds and grades. $378,277. Beside those sold as above. there were slaughtered on the farms during the year $80,349 worth. Of the above amounts, there were in dairy stock, $340,000. The corn crop was the next in value, being $290,210. The potato crop was next and brought $248,665. Clover hay stood at $221T340, and wheat was valued at $201,I50. Then follows oats at $162.21 I1. Timothy hay was valued at $118,187, and the horses sold at $103,0ooo0; sheep for $90.000, and beans at $79,460, with sugar beets at $64,260 and apples for $36,212; rye for $34,248; barley at $9,445, and buckwheat for $9,477. The clover seed sold for $I7,276. Below will be found a better index as to where the larger proportion of these crops and animals vwere raised: LIVE STOCK. June I, 1904, Isabella county contained 595 colts under one year of age, worth $17,705, and 730 between one and two years of age, worth $67.955, with 8,062 over two, worth $756,835; also 31 lmules of the value of $3,105. Of sheep, there were i6,65I under one year of age, worth $25,304, and 22.578 one year and over, worth $64,290; rams and wethers one year and over, worth $7,420. Of swine, 22,232, value $83,078, and goats, 27, value $96. Of pure blooded horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, registered or eligible to registry on hand June I. 1904, in Isabella county, were as follows: Percherons. 6, valued at $2,650o; French draft, 2, value $55o; Clydesdale, 2, worth $I,400; Hambletonian, 9, of the value of $2,330. Of cattle there were: Holstein. I I, value $440; Jersey, 6, value $295; Shorthorn, 85, value $5,235; red polled, 4, value $210; Herefords, 8. value $1,710i Aberdeen-Angus, 23, at $I,850. Of sheep there are 136 Shropshire, of value of $1,097; Hampshire, I, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN 27 -275 value $i5; Oxfords, 13, value $14.5. Large swine. 16 Berkshire, at $2I.5; Poland China., 17, at $2,52; Duroc-Jersey, 24, at $260; Chester-White, 2, at $45, and of small swine, ictra t$0; Yorkshire. 5. at $ioo. CROPS. Acres, vield and value of corn, wheat, oats, barley andi rve prodcleic in the county ill the Year 1903: 20.918 acres of corn, bushels 597.081. at $290.8To; T4.336 acres of wheat, 262,147 bushels, at $20I,i156: oats, 14.4.56 acres. bushels 48I1,58, valuec $162,211 h arley, 694 aCIT Ts 7.956 hushels., valuec $9,445: rve. 5.oo05 acres, 66.664 bushels. saltie $34.'48. Coc and Lincoln are the townships havisng tile gireatest acreage of corn and the largest yield. Vernon and Coe iadi tile iaio-est acreage 10(d greatest yield (If wsheat. TIn oats. Coe, Vernon. Taelleil '1(1 Inioll laci tile largest acreage, and Coe, Vernon, -Union andi Lincoln the lalr"est vielli. in the order nlamedi. Tri ilarley, Denver anld Wise hav e the lialgei acreage and( \Wise and~ Denser tile larger vield. In rye. Shermns Biroomfield and Coldwater tise largest acreage 8111 Coliwater, Sherman and~ Br oomfiteld tile larger number of bushels. Of hnckwhieat, IsabllIa coluntv lhad 1 50 aci es. svieiling i8,o86 blushels, of tile value O~f $9 477, clover seed, 3,229 buIdS1C s duite 'si 26, oiass seed, 1(16 husllels, Nalnie $17' closvei ills 23024 aci es. sieldm'- 34,I25 tolls Of hla\, value $2'21 341. 1111 10 312' acreS lOt tilll~l)ls\ 5 leilililgT I.,O tOils (If hay, VALIe $1 18,1 87 Wsild is i} acres. ayielding 190 toiis salue $972; millet aind 11lungai' al stli 49, and valuiie $866: alfalfa, 4 acres, ssi th 3 tons, aaltue $27 -ra 111cu, e 46 acires. 6i tons. saluie $361, Ilie tolls p1ulttinlg ((lit the largest aceicage Ill these eseieral prodcliets are ais followss Fr emont put Out the most and Biroomfield the llext )inhcksvleat and received the largyest amiiiut (If money for the cr01). TIn closer seed, Fre1mon1t has almost dlouhle that of ally othler townisihip; Lincoln is next and Roliandi next. Of grass seed, IDeerfield is first anld D)ervel aidi Ver11101 a tie. TIn clover hlas, Uiiion is at tile iheadi, ssith isahella a close secodlls \\ 'ith timiothy llav. Coe standls first and Vernon a cdose secondl. With svill girass, Un11101 is first an111 Shermanl standls next, wsith imillet. Fremlonit is hi st alil Shiermans seeAludi. \With alfalfa. Broomfield is thle on1v tosvn haviiiU.11Ns. V' tim grain cuit green, Siseriman is at the head and Colcdsater ilext. In potatoes., Broonifielel is at the heaed ssith $,56,509 wor01th, and RollandI sv-itli $38,,802 and Shermaii swith $3.5,038;, in bieans, Lincoln has $16,53i1, and Fremonit, $13,228; in peas, Vernon has 3,437 bushels, svorth $1,718. and Gil 276 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. more has 1,448 bushels, wo;th $I,OI8; of maple sugar, Broomfield made 300 pounds, Coldwater 500 lpounds, and of maple syrup, Lincoln made 66fo gallons and Union 270 gallons. It is about ten years ago that the first sugar beets were raised in the county as a field crop. In T904 the report is that the crop in the county reached the sum of $64,269, Coe furnishing $18,944, Union $11,182 and Denver $9,123. In cabbage, Denver takes the lead with 4,225 heads, worth $236, while Wise has 5,000 heads for $1oo, Coe 4.137 heads, for $192, and Lincoln, 3,925, worth $I75. Isabella county, for an inland one, is a very good county for fruit, especially the hardier kinds. The county had, in T904, 3,079 acres in apple orchards, with 89,731 trees, bearing 140,827 bushels of apples, worth $36,2I2. Coe has the most trees, with Lincoln second and Union third. In peaches, there were 98 acres, with 8,152 trees and 1,730 bushels of fruit. value $I,952. Here Broomfield is first. with 1,576 trees, 24 bushels, worth $25; Lincoln, 1,104 trees and 295 >bushels fruit, worth $292; while Coe has I,057 trees, with 16 bushels, worth $I6. The county is somewhat of a dealer in and possessor of fowls. June i, 1904, there were in the county 127,895 chickens, 850 turkeys, 818 geese anld 930 ducks, of the value of $44,248, and the farmers raisedl during the year in poultry $55.418. The eggs produced were 720.874 dozen, of the value of $I06,793. There were 1,I83 swarins of bees on hand June T, 1904, valued at $4,332, and produced that year 47,495 pounds of honey during the season, and of wax 878 pounds, the honey and wax being worth $4,728. In I904 there were in the county 7 silos, with a capacity of 746 tons; I in Coe, 3 in Union, 2 in Vernon and I in Mt. Pleasant. There were 23,266 fleeces sheared. weighing i68,oi5 pounds, worth $35,773. The farmer paid for outdoor labor on the farm at the average rate of $1.46 per day, including board, and an average by the month of $35.82. The milk produced for the year was 5,116,596 gallons: they sold 220,827 gallons for $21,643; they prodluced 67,500 gallons of cream and sold 67,300 gallons for $28,789: they produced 92,509 pounds of butter and sold 34,604 pounds for $7,165; produced 400 pounds of cheese and sold 300 pounds for $40; they consumed of the dairy product oni the farm $155,150. It will be seen by the above that but a small amount above one-half of the total acreage of the county was in farms in 1894, and of the farms, comprising I94,031 acres, only 96,711 acres were being farmed and 17,903 acres were taken up in permanent pasturage, meadow, orchard, vineyard, nurseries and market gardens, with 48.125 taken up in forest and woodland. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 277 DAIRYING INTEREISTS. A large portion of Isabella county is natural grazing land. We have seen in the early days of the settlement, when passing through the timber, pony grass a foot high and thick on the ground: have seen the timothy in the old lumbler roads growing as high as a mani's head, and also clover all along the track. As soon as the timber is cut down aind the sun gets to the ground, it will be but a very short time before the ground is covered with \ill grasses. 'IThis alaltation to grazing has caused many of our good farmers to turn their attention to the dlairying business. A few years ago there were two creameries i-n Mt. Pleasant, one at Shepherd, one at Rosebush, one started at \Weidman. John Latndpn had a cheese factory o() his farm, which is still standing. These and others have met \\ith varying success. buit a nmlher of them have ceased to do business..bout J)07 the (ondllensedl Mlilk (Comlpany commenced to build a factory for the condensation of milk and started the work of condensation in the splring of 1908. and have continuel the business ever since. The plant is a goo(l one and is doing a thriving business and they are paying a liberal price for milk from the farmers. so that for the last season they have used about forty thousand pounlds of milk per day. 'Ihe price has been such that a great many farmers have invested in co\\s for the purpose of selling the milk to this factory. It is a scheme that iappeals to the farmer's wife as well as to the farmer. As one man explressed it "W\e used to keep a few cows alnd made butter at home: that made a lot of hard work for the women, as they were lobliged to set the milk inl open plans for the cream to raise, then skim the cream and empty the milk, then \\ash all of the milk ipanis alnd pails, and then when the cream was thought to be ripe for the churnin- g emlipty tile salme into the churn and wash the cream holder and scald that out. Then for the churning — well every housewife, hired girl, boy around the house and some of the girls know what that means, and especially when the cream gets on a rampage and will not ultter for the world, and they commence to lint in hot water because the cream is too coll, and then try it again, ibut no butter, and so douse in some cold \water because the cream must be too warm, and at it again, and so on, until patience seems to be exhausted, and then they pull up the churn handle, land, lo and behold! there are some specks on the handle' so call mother to get her judgment of what that means, and after she has passed her opinion take new courage and at it again with a vim until mother stops him for fear he will spoil the whole outfit, and then lie settles down for an all-day job, 278 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. when, to his utter astonishment, the dasher begins to lift harder and harder until at last the butter is there. "Well, by this time some crazy fellow announced that it was just as well to separate the butter fat from the milk while it was fresh as to let it stand in open pans for the ugly microbe to be fooling witl it; so he brought out the separator, and they were soon in the honles of a large nulller of tlhe farmers, and they were happy that they might milk and immediately repair to the house and proceed to separate the milk from the butter fat and then put the cream away to ripen and feed the milk to the pigs. Then the creamery came along, and it would come to your door and take your crealm C ff your hands and give you its value, and that was better still: but no\\ comes the condensary, and it takes your milk fromv your very door and pays you \what would have been, a few years ago, a big figure for it. and you have no further trouble with it. It is surely a grand move in the riglht direction. and all that the condensary asks is that your milk must test to three per cent. of butter fat, be not watered and be kept clean; that is, it means that the stables must be kept in a sanitary condition and the cows kept healthy and in good condition, all of which is reasonable and right. The result of this change is that our farmers, many of them, are being educated to kno\ h1ow to care for a good cow, and they are beginning to know a good cow when they look into the face of one, and the amount of money they are getting out of a good cow creates a kindly feeling between them and they take better care of theml and treat them more as they should. It is nothilg now to go out and find plenty of cows that it takes from one hundred to one lihudred and fifty dollars to buy." Another thing it does for the coun1ty is that it keeps a large per cent. of the hay and grain to be fed upon the farm and the ingredients returned to the soil that are alsolutely necessary to keep up its fertility. One of our dairy farmers remarked a few days ago that lie h-ad seventeen cows, mostly Holsteins, and gave a little history of how he managed his herd. It was very interesting to hear him state the care that lie took of his stock and what ie received in return. -lis method of feeding and caring for his cows was as methodical as if he were running a steam mill. Everything just at the minute and the rations all weighed out, so that there was absolutely no question of what each one got, and then when the milking time came they were just as careful of how they treated the cows and tlle number of pounds of milk tlat each cow gave at each milkilng and then. to sum up, he quietly remarked that he was able with those cows. after paling all expenses, to put away in the bank a straight one huntdre(l dollars each month. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 279 This factory has a capacity for handling one hundred thousand pounds of milk per day, and now reaches out in some directions fifteen miles. it ought, and we are sure it will, if kept up to the present standard, add at least twenty-five per cent. to the value of every acre of tillable land within the radius of its reach. FENCES ON TILE FARM. Fences on the farm have always been a very great necessity. In the early days of the county there was perhaps a great necessity, for, unless fenced in, vou could hardly know whether you were to have fresh milk for the baby or for your own mush in the morning; besides, it probably meant a long hunt for the cow at night or for your oxen in the morning. Manv a farmer has splent mlany a long search for his stock, and it soon b)ecame a prime necessity and he began to devise means for some Ianneri of keeping tlhe cattle within bounds. So they commenced by felling what they called a winrow of trees,. lopping down the large lillbs and piling SOme lbrush upon the winrow, until it should be of sufficient height and closely enough piled to make a defense to the cattle and horses. Next was the rail splitting and clearing of a space to lay up) the fence. This, too, was a job of no small almount, as it took eighteen rails to lay up one rod of fence, and it cost considerable to hire the rails split, besides the cost of hatling and laling up. This method of fencing was followed for some years ill fact, there are a great many rods of rail fence in the county at the present time. Along alout 188) rail timber began to be quite scarce anlld the farmller began to look around for somle cheap and sulbstantial material for a substitute for rails, and the American genius, seeing the necessity, invented barbed wire, and then a large quantity of that material was used. This. however, did not prove entirely satisfactory, as it was destructive to cattle as they came inl contact with it, and often to horses that would get their feet or legs tangled in the wire or allow one of the barbs to catch them in the eye, which meant an eye out. More recently the woven-wire fence seems to have taken the place very largelv of all others, and surely this class of fence is more humane and is very lasting when properly put up, andl at the present timle would seem to be the only one thlat should be used. There seems to lIe no scarcity in the supply. as you may see at every little burg piles of it ready for the buyer. Pine stumps is another material ill localities where they are sufficielltly plentiful. Thev are raised from the ground, hauled to the line of thle fence, 280 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. where a trench is dug, and then they are raised upon edge, trimmed off and the long roots lopped off until, when well put up, they forni a very formidalle fence and one that will last just as long as you desire, and should you ever get short of fuel or kindling, all you have to do is to go to the fence and get a supply, and you may be reasonably sure that as long as you nceld such mlaterial it will be there for you. There was also a time when post and board fence was quite extelsivcly used, say along in the eighties and forepart of the nineties. A-t this time lumber was very cheap and also posts. This combination made a good fence, but it was not lasting, as the posts soon rot out and the boards sun check, the nails become loose and the fence goes down. After it once gave out there was no remedy, as lumber went so high that no one would think of trying to continue that kind of a fence. MAPLE SUGAR AND SYRUP. From the date of the very first settlement this iln(lstry wass all illl)ortant one. The county was full of the finest of malple trees and( the seasons w\ere generally favorable to the industry. Almost every farmer had his sugar bush, and each spring as the time for tapping the trees came they were active in getting their spiles, troughs or pails ready and the boiling place replaired. unless this work was done at the house. As soon as it would do to tap, the family were out gathering the sap and getting it to the place of boiling, wherever that might be. Some tapped a few trees and some tappedl hundreds. Those tapping many generally had a boiling place in the woods with a shanty to keep their tools and supplies in, and sometimes a bed for coiifort. The sap was gathered in pails by the party and carried to the place of boiling, or he rigged up a sleigh with a barrel or large can in which lihe could pour the sap, and sometimes when the snow got deep, which it often did in those days, he would be obliged to gather the fluid by wearing sno\v shoes to prevent his sinking in the snow. In these ways hundreds of pounds of maple sugar and thousands of gallons of maple syrup were made by the farmer. In fact, it almost took the place of all sweets for the family, and many of the earliest ones that had settled upon the homestead lands were obliged to depend exclusively uponl this for all the sweet they had. Many a family in those early lavs of the county lived for days and weeks upon the maple sugar that they made, and( the leeks that they were able to gather as the snows went off in the spring. The good old days of maple sugar and the fun in making it have now van ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.28 291 ishell oniy to a very few that have been able to save a fev maple trees and have the anibition to wade through the snows and carry or haul the sap to the house. They have no\\y turned their attention to the raisinig of sugar lbeets and hauiling them to the factory and are content onl living upon tile sugar malle fromt beets and forego that delightful flavor tile genuine maple sugar ipossesses. The cause (If tile dlisappearaiice (If the maple timlber is twofold. One wvas tile forest fires of the sevenlties alld tile other tile (leilaid tilat canme aind tile pr-ice paidl for mlaple logs whicih illdllced tile farnier to clut Ilni sell Ilis Ilinapie timber to mill nien, vill) very soon exilaustedl tile supply of tillt kimd of timber. nIRAINENG;. Draining is o1e (If tllC necessary adjlllcts tol farming Ill tilis eI)llllt\v. anld ollr farmers hlave realizell that. esplecially for tile lpast twenty \years, alnd inl an increasillg raltill. The counlty canl never lbe at its best until it is Nvell aild thorouighly dirained, a;lu( whille illuell Ias alreallv bell (bile. thlere is room~ and Inecessitv for very iluich more. Thlere ilas been a good (lea]l Iof pirivalte drll illll b~othl in tile and oIleni ditch', wilicil it is impolss5ible for us,; to give at tile pI esent t1111k. The eIsOs (If 1894 gives as tile nlumber of rolls of open hitches ill tile counlty 68.93,. adul (If tile drainl 70,,608 rods. There is 110 stateileilt as to wvhat is privIate and~ ix 11hIt are publilic (Iri lns. We have m~l neaIilai If tile numberi wname lellgth and cost (If all of the countyr drainls, which is as follows Comm~leninlg bacIk to tile t~ime whlen Alex Brodie \vas counl~ty rrain commi~ss~ioner till fillst drai-n recordrel was5 tile Riggle Marsh (irain, ill whlich tile Iletitionl 01 applIca twIol \,,as tiled 1111 Jilly5 i886. Thiis l]eirail was 1.352 rodls long. affecterd Bro omhielli, Rolland aiir Fremnllt townshipils, a1111 cost tholse b-.enefited by tile draill $1,801.07. _No. 29 was tile Oberlin lirain, ilocatedi inl Unioln and Chipplewva towlilsiips,, wvas.appllierl for ill June. i888. aild was 272 rods loilg and Cost $237. No. 3 was tile Garvin (Irain, applied for in 1894. It wvas locatell ill Uinion towlvilship. was 495~ rodis long andl cost $,538.07. At this tinme J. -M. R. Kennedy was couilty diraill commlnissionier. NO. 4 wsva tile McDonald Creek llrain. applied for in 1892. aild was locatedl in the townships of Wise and Vernon, was 408 rodls long aiid total clost was $948.48. The toltal cost of the drain in all cases also embraces 282 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the costs of the necessary bridges and culverts, not only on the highways that cross the drain, but also the culverts and bridges from the highway to the farmers' premises. No. 5 was the Jasper drain, located in Coe and Midland townships. The proportion belonging to Coe is only given. This drain in Coe was 432 rols in length and cost $I,55.' No. 6 was the Dutt drain, applied for in 1892, was 590 rods in length and cost $600. No. 7, the Coe and Lincoln drain, was applied for inl 894. was 105 rods long and cost $I70.12. No. 8, the Miser drain, located in Chippewa and Union, was a)pplied for in I894, was 900 rods long and cost $1,o84. 5. No. 9 was the Potter Creek drain, located in Union, Lincoln, Chilppewa and Coe, was applied for in 1894, was 1,408 rods long and cost $2.co9.13. No. IO was the \Villow Lake drain, applied for in 1894. located in Vernon, cost $1,296.63. and was 544 rods in length. No. II, the Hunter drain, in Coe, was 492 rods long and cost $368.36. No. 12, the Keyes drain, in Coe and Lincoln, is 440 rods long and cost $409.39. No. 13, the Priestly drain, applied for in I894, is located in Chilppewa. is 348 rods in length andl cost $288.38. No. 14, the North Branch drain, applied for in I896, is located in the townships of Gilmore, Vernon, Isabella and Nottaway. is 976 rods in length and cost those benefited $5,606.45. No. 15 is the Brodfe improvement County drain. and was applied for in I894. It affects the townshipls of Union, Lincoln, Coe and Chippewa, is 912 rods in length and was dug at an expense of $1,o56.87. No. I6 is the Vinson Creek drain, located in Isabella and Nottawav, cost $547.85 and is 472 rods in length. No. 17 is in Union and Lincoln and is called the Stilwell drain. It was applied for in 1894, is 620 rods long and built at a cost of $721.I4. No. 18, the Horning drain, was applied for in 1894, is 1,104 rods in length and was built at a cost of $3,504.57. No. 19, the Smith drain located in Deerfield and Nottawa. was applied for in 1895, was I80 rods long and cost $230.74. No. 20, the Taylor drain, in Coe, was applied for in 1897. is 138 rolds long and cost $107.55. No. 21, the Tobacco extension, was applied for in 1897 and cost Vernon people $94.78. ISABELTLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 283 No. 22 is the Wing drain, in Vernon, and is 890 rods long and cost $I,843.51. No. 23, Schofield, applied for in I895, is in Gilmore and Nottaway, is 582 rods in length and cost to construct $1,684.28. No. 24, the Knipe drain, asked for in 89.7, is 582 rods long and cost $706.37. NoX. 25, tile Sharp drain, asked for in I898, is 600oo rods long and cost $I,066.21. No. 26. the Thacher drain, in Lincoln, is I95 rods long and cost $285.67. No. 27. the Richardson drain, was petitioned for in 1898, is 304 rods long and cost $384.70. No. 28, the Fair drain, was applied for in 1898, is 776 rods long and cost $893.55 -No. 29, the Varnum drain, applied for in 1898, is 523 rods long and cost $520. No. 30. the Gilniore drain, in Gilmore, applied for in 1898., is 222 rods long and(1 cost $350. No. 31, the Duncan drain, in Vernon and Mt. Pleasant, applied for in 1898. is,760o rods long and cost $3,530. No. 32, the TTance improvement drain, in Union and Chippewa. applied for in 1898. is 950 rods long and cost $4,028.64. No. 33, the Bachelder drain, in Lincoln and Fremont. applied for in 1898. is 1,971 rods long and cost $3,57r.67. No. 34, the Hutchinson drain, in Coe, applied for in 1899. is 1,10o6 rods long and cost $2,456.95. No. 35, the Granger drainl, in Chippewa, applied for in 1898, is 640 rods long and cost $856.57. No. 36. the Bardlen & Ross drain, in Coe, applied for in 1899, is 336 rods long and cost $369.80. No. 37, the McKinnon drain, in \Vernon. applied for in 1899, is 192 rods long and cost $460.93. No. 38, the Coorr drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1900, is 128 rods long and cost $434 -No. 39, the Love drain, in Notta\\a. applied for in 1898, is 1.028 rods long and cost $2.640. No. 40, the McDonald (drain, in Vernon and Wise, applied for in 1899, is 779 rods long and cost $2,413.54. No. 4T, thle North Branch Extension drain, in Union. NVernon. Deer, Isabella, Nottawa and Gilmore. applied for in 1898, is 2,624 rods long and cost $20o.846.76. 284 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. No. 2, the Burgess Extension drain, ill Nottawa and Gilmiore. applied for in 1902, is 78 rods long and cost $I53. No. 43, the Willow Lake Extension drain, in Vernon. applied for in 1902, is I84 rods long and cost $407.05. No. 44, thle Seely drain, in Vernon, applied for in I899, is 590 rods long and cost $I,439.30. No. 45, the Saunders New Improved drain, in Lincoln, applied for in I899, is 505 rods long and cost $2,133.30. No. 46, thle \Vyant drain, in Lincoln, applied for in 1899, is 924 rods long and cost $1,264.30. No. 47, thle Stanly Improved drain, in Fremont. applied for in 1897, is 1,630 rods long and cost $4,435. No. 48, the Calkins (drain. in Isabella, applied for in 1899. is.100oo rods long and cost $2,737.40. No. 49, the Nevil drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1899, is 764 rods long and cost $I,858.oI. No. 50, the Wise drain, in Wise and Denver, applied for in 1899, is 1,845 rods long and cost $4,033. No. 51, the Ewing drain, in Coe, applied for in 1900.oo, is 1.224 ro(ls long and cost $2,395. No. 52, the Horning drain, in Nottawa and Vernon, applied for in 1900, is 945 rods long and cost $3,504.57. No. 53, the Mitchell drainl, in Coe, applied for in 1901, is 1,648 rods long and cost $5,937. II. No. 54, the Best drain, in Coe, applied for in 1901, is 734 rods long and cost $I,854.94. No. 55, the Struble drainl, in Coe, applied for in 1901. is 1.382 rods long and cost $4,905.90. No. 56, the Gilbert drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1902, is 489 rods long and cost $887.49. No. 57, the Dixon drain, in Vernon, applied for in I899. is 1,157 rods long and cost $5,649.64. No. 58, the Vincent Creek drain, in Isabella and Nottawa, applied for in 1898, is I,O99 rods long and cost $3,506.60. No. 59, the Kempter drain, in Chippewa, applied for in 1900. is 417 rods long and cost $687.90. No. 60, the Quarter Line drain, in Union and Chippewa. applied for in I9OI, is 597 rods long and cost $1,707.11I. No. 6I, thre Herring drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1899, is 330 rods long and cost $I,800. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 285 No. 62. the Burgess drain, in Nottawa and Gilmore. applied for in I900, is 639 rods long and cost $2,I81.45. No. 63, the White drain, in Nottawa, apl)lied for in I900, is 649 rods long and cost $2,535.I3. No. 64, the Burdick drain, in Lincoln. applied for in I901, is 212 rods long and cost $57T.05. No. 65, the Hunt drain, in Fremont. applied for in 1901, is 480 rods long and cost $2,020.81. No. 66, the Coe and.incoln drain, ill Coe and Lincoln, applied for in 1902. is 640 rods long and cost $2,358.82. No. 67, the Forest drain, in Nottawa, applied for in 1903, is I6O rods long and cost $372.42. No. 68, the De Pugh drain, in Chippewa, applied for in 1902. is 400 rods long and cost $2,002.1I. No. 69, the Hance Ilmprovedl drain, in (hippewa. Union alndl Mt. Pleasant, applied for in 1903, is 1,344 rods long and cost $3.600. No. 70, the Figg (lrain, in Iincoln, applied for in 1903, is I.6oo rods long and cost $8,000. No. 71, the Bickerton drain, iln \ise. applied for in T903. is.o000 rods loln and cost $4.400. No. 72, the Hill drail. in Chippewa, applied for in 1903, is 56o rods long and cost $1,500. No. 73. the Jordon C(reek drain, in Isabella, applied for in 1903, is 1,46o rods long and cost $5.200. No. 74, the Fair (lrain, il Chippewa, applied for in 1903, is 775 ro(ls long and cost $765. No. 75, the Hannett drain, il Coe, applied for in 1903, is 271 rods long and cost $725. No. 76, the Mission Creek drail, in Union, applied for in 1903. is 1,016 rods long and cost $4.200. No. 77, the Davis drain, in l)eerfiell. applied for in 1904, is 536 rods long and cost $2,000. No. 78, the West Side drain, in Union and Mt. Pleasant, applied for in 1904, is 336 rods long and cost $2,150. No. 79, the Upton drain, in Union, applied for in 1903, is 672 rods long and cost $1,550. No. 80, the Flood drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1904, is 88 rods long and cost $470. No. 8r. the Loomis drain, in Vernon antd Wise. applied for in 1903. is 2,662 rods long and cost $17.000. 286 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. No. 82, the John Neff drain, in Isabella. Deer, Nottawa, Denver and Union, applied for in I903, is 2,752 rods long and cost $12,500. No. 83, the Lewis drain, il Isabella and Denver, applied for in T903, is 2,I52 rods long and cost $16,ooo. No. 84, the Salt River drain, in Lincoln and Coe, applied for in 1903, is 3,184 rods long and cost $20,000. No. 85, the Riggle Marsh drain, in Broom, Roll and Fremont. applied for in 1904, is 1,280 rods long and cost $4,900. No. 86, the lHuher drain, il Nottawa, applied for in 1903. is 304 rods long and cost $950. No. 87, the Tice drain, in Union, applied for in 1904, is 728 rods long and cost $2,300. No. 88, the Dnncan drain, in Vernon. aI)plied for in 1903, is 1,644 rols long and cost $1,400. No. 89, the Forest drain, in Nottawa, alpplied for il 1903, is.o056 rods long and cost $4,700. No. 9o, the Knight drain, in Fremont, applied for in I904, is T.456 rods long and cost $3,300. No. 9I, the Williams drain, in Fremont, alpplied for in T904, is 560 rods long and cost $I,400. No. 92. the Church drain, in Coe and Chipl)lewa. applied for in 1903. is I,I76 rods long and cost $3,700. No. 93, the MAiser draiin in Union and Chippewa, applied for in 1903, is 1,472 rods long and cost $2,500. No. 94, the Lowe drain, in Nottawa, applied for in I904. is 280 rods long and cost $240. No. 95, the Cotter drain, in Nottawa, applied for in 1904, is 256 rols long and cost $650. No. 96, the Howard drain, in Rolland and Fremont, applied for in 1904, is 480 rods long and cost $1,600. No. 97. the Grimm drain, in Lincoln; applied for in 1904, is 176 rols long and cost $400. No. 98, the Stiwell drain, in Fremont and Union, applied for in T904, is 544 rods long and cost $700. No. 99, the Pitts drain, in Nottawa, applied for in 1904, is 72 rods long and cost $I63. No. TOO, the Thorp drain, in Coe, applied for in 1904, is 144 rods long and cost $435. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 287 No. IOi, the Curtis drain, in WVise, applied for in I903, is 944 rods long and cost $3,500. No. 102, the Seiter drain. in Vernon, applied for in 1904, is 608 rods long and cost is pending. No. 103, the HIowland drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1903, is 6o8 rods long and cost $1,700. No. 104, the Wagner drain, in Nottawa. applied for in I904, is 1,248 rods long and cost $5,393. No. 105, the Gruett drain, in Nottawa and( Isabella, al)plied for in T904, is 320 roIls long and cost $880. No. IO6, the Barden & Ross drain, in Coe. applie( for in 1905, is 904 rods long and cost $3,55o. No. 107, the Cohoon drain, iln Union anl Lincoln, applied for in 1904, is 736 ro1(ls long and cost $800. No. Io8. the Frost Extension drain, in Coe, applied for ill 1904 is 1,o68 rods long and cost $T,5oo. No. 109. the Jefford drain. in Union, applied for in 1905, is 223 rods long and1 cost $9T T. No. 1IO, the Halstead drain, in Chippewa, applied for in 1903, is 904 rods long an(l cost $2,721. No. I I, the Dutt & Hart drain, in Coe, appllied for ill T904. is 1,500 rods long and cost $3,000ooo. No. i 2, the Little Salt drain. iln Coc, applied for in T904, is 238 rods long 1an(1 cost $4,6oo. No. 113, the McFaren drain, in Coe, applied for ill 90o6, is 429 rods long and cost $900. No. 114, the Campbell drain, in Coe and Lincoln, apl)li(ed for in 1906, is 57o rods long n111d cost $2.050. No. I5, the Masters drail, in Frelont and Rolland, applied for in 1906, is.480 rods long and cost $1,282. No. i16, the Carpenter drain, in Isabella, applied for in 1906, is 232 rods long an(l cost $707. No. I17, the \Nhetncy drain, in Isabella, applied for in 1906, is 282 rods long and cost $55o. No. TT8, the Saunders:Extension drain, in Lincoln, applied for in 1906, is 816 rods long and cost $1,900. No. I 19, the Krick drain, in Coe, applied for in I903, is 60 rods long and cost $177.6o. 288 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. No. 120, the Little Tobacco drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1906, is o00 rods long and cost $I45.40. No. 121, the Murry drain, in Lincoln, applied for in 19o6, is 240 rods long and cost $540. No. 122, the Priestly drain, in Chippewa, applied for in I906, is 320 rods long and cost $450. No. 123, the Seymour drain, in Gilmore, applied for in 1904, is 480 rods long and cost $I,587. No. 124, the Quarter Line drain, in Union and Mt. Pleasant. applied for in 1904, is 968 rods long and cost $2,900. No. 125, the Onion Creek drain, in Union, Chippewa and Mt. Pleasant, applied for in I906, is 1,432 rods long and cost $5,550. No. I26, the Winn drain, in Fremont, applied for in I907, is 368 rods long and cost $1,725. No. 127. the Oderkirk drain, in Vernon, applied for in 190o7 is 200 rods long and cost $825. No. I28, the Conway drain, in Isabella, apl)lied for in 1907, is 688 rods long and cost $2,635. No. 129, the Gilmore drain. in Vernon, applied for in 1905, is 45 rods long and cost $146.32. No. T30, the Demle drain, in Fremont, applied for in 1907, is 456 rods long and cost $1.620. No. 131, the Parcher drain, in Lincoln, applied for in'I906, is 1,432 rods long and cost $5,450. No. 132, the Ewing drain, in Coe, applied for in 1907, is 410 rods long and cost $980. No. 133, the Atwater drain, in Coe, applied for in 1905, is 752 rods long and cost $1,800. No. I34, the Potter Brodie drain, in Union, Coe and Chippewa, applied for in 1906, is 2,760 rods long and cost $15,860. No. I35, the Dubois drain, in Lincoln, applied for in 1907, is 850 rods long and cost $3,840. No. 136, the Durfee drain, in Chippewa, applied for in T904, is 728 rods long and cost $i,650. No. 137, the Willow Lake Extension drain, in Vernon and Gilbert, applied for in I907, is 992 rods long and cost $7,340. No. 138, the Murphy drain, in Denver, applied for in 1908, is 20T rods long and cost $387. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 289 No. 139, the Paisley drain, in Union, applied for in I9o9, is 312 rods long and cost $I,200. No. 140, the Riley drain, in Wise, applied for in T909, is 312 rods long and cost $1,467. No. 141, the Adgate drain, in Coe, applied for in I908, is 416 rods long and cost $1,400. No. I42, the Hlance Extension drain, in Union, applied for in I909. is 136 rods long and cost $532. No. 143, the Salt River Extension drain, in Lincoln, appl)lied for in 1909, is 334 rods long and cost $859. No. 144, the Sherman drain, in Sherman, applied for ill 1909, is 240 rods long and cost $770. No. 145, the Ilorning drain, in Vernon, applied for in 1909, is 1,104 rods long and cost $1,559. No. 146, the Lamont drain, in Vernon, applied for in 19o9, is 140 rods long and cost $838. No. 147, the Tlance Improvement drain, in Union and Mt. Pleasant. applied for in 191O, is 304 rods long and cost $I,I98. No. 148, the Landon drain, in Chippewa. applied for ill 1910. is 472 rods long and cost $I,268. No. 149, the Lincoln drain, in Lincoln and Fremlont, applied for in I910. is 584 rods long and cost $1,884. No. T50, the Hunter drain, in Chippewa, applied for in 1910, is 673 rods long and cost $2,168. No. 151, the Sterling drain, in Union and Chippewa, applied for in 191o, is.62 rods long and cost $1,368. No. 152, the 'Miles drain, in Chippewa. applied for in I910, is 400 rods long and cost $1,032. No. T53, tle Lawrence drain, in Isabella, Gilmore and Vernon, applied for in 1910, is 176 rods long and cost $655. No. 154, the Neff Extension drain, in Union and Chippewa, applied for in 1909, is 984 rods long and cost $2,268. No. 155, the Cotter drain, in Nottawa, applied for in I910. is 256 rods long and cost $232. No. 156. the Smith drain, in Nottawa and Deerfield, applied for in 1909. is 321 rods long and cost $432. No. 157, the Hawe Joint drain, in Wise and Vernon, applied for in r908, is 672 rods long and cost $2,788. (19) 290 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The length of the several drains is, in rods, 1II,176, or, in -rolund 1 mbers in miles, 357. Their combined cost to the farmers is $377,276.o7. This does not take into consideration any of the individual drains, either open or tiled. It must be remembered that in this statement of the cost of the drains there should be considered the cost of the culverts and bridges that were built at the time of the construction of the drains, the law requiring that where it was necessary that a bridge or culvert was needed to lperfect the work that the drain should build it in the first instance and then they w-ere turned over to the town authorities to be kept in repair with the other bridges and culverts in tile txownship, and those built to accolimmodate the farm crossings are to he built by the drain, and when the drain is completed these are to helong to the farnier and kept in repair by him. 'lThese, however, are all lnecessary to colmplete the efficiency of the drain. There are now in the ].ands of the county (Irain commissioners tell lew drains that are nearly ready to let. of about 4,000 rods ill length and w\ill cost when completed something like $15,ooo. We may say here, in passing, that a large prolortion of the large drains have already been constructed. It is true that many of the old ones will have to be cleaned out from time to time and some of themi enlarged as thle farmers continue to lay tile drains in their farms to carry off any surplus waters which they are sure to have as long as the rains fall and the snows and ice ilelt in the spring. Our county drain commissioners have been, first, Alexander T rod(ie. then Anson R. Arnold, J. M. R. Kennedy, Allen S. Clay, Sherman I). Eldred, C. H. Freeman, WN. F. Dersnah and Cecil M. Johnson, the present inculmbent of the office. BOYS CORN CI.UB. Ve' are pleased to record another new and interesting (leparture from the old beaten track and that is the formation of a Bovs' Corn Club, which was inaugurated this year for the first. It is another step in the right direction and if continued, and it will be, we shall real) a rich reward far beyond our highest expectations. This club was organized in g9ro by a few progressive educators, who are disposed to climb out of the old rut and, if possible, induce the boys to spend some of their spare time in the education of the agricultural propensities of their natures. The week commencing with January i6, 191,. was a week of institutes. Monday, the i6th, was a day set apart for the Teachers' Association Institute, and it proved to be a very interesting day, there being some six hundred stu ISABELLA COUNTY, M IC IIGAN.29 291 dents am! teachers present to listen to the addresses of I'i-ofessnir lHarvey. of Stout Institoitel, ann President Lancaster, of Olivet College. Thet e wieire folly one hondredl of the roral teachers lireseilt to listen to the imessages of these oliler and more exlperience(1 teachers and we are sore that it wias an inspiration to theni. Toesdav was devoted to the Corii Cloh and the hovs thor oughly enjoyed i t. T'here were ninetv-ei ght Iboys whTIo took dnijner ainl listeoul to the talk of President G_'rawxn, of the Normal School. suhject. ''The Boys- s also Judge Doddls, ivhlo spoke on the subject oif "Thie Law.'' ~Vtilliaim Coopei sang "amie Ryan;-' Rev. C. AVt. Camphell also gave anr interestiig aiid instiroctive talk to the hovs. Thleri owtie thui ti foor chirter mcmlxirs in the cdoh anrl thiIrti -foori cxhiliits ivere pi esentecl ~T e hiere g"ve a list of the hoiys w ho won prizes:j Clayton 'F asloi of Firemont. No/Bnehhandeen t ipci o 3. 'Norman Sailshoiry, hlilppioaN 3. t. W\oodl Union, ti raiin col Mt. Pleasant, 4, 11 Voo d A felt, I i iioiit No 4 4, LbsocI Roii Inderi Linco0n. N. 2;4' Hai-old \\Valdiron, t 0100, No 3 4, LeRoy Jody, Liiicoln, No.;4, Keninethi C ole, Union, NOa 3,4, (Chorles Richaiidson, Ii oiont -NO. 2 5.Floyd Dav is, Fremonitiit No 4 Frai nk Quoinlan, Sacried H eart Acadlemv AlrdIlano. TLinoln., No'0 7 (harks Ric liidson Liroomfield, N.o 9; Arthur-111 Acheson. Coldwatei, No. 6 -lnM l(lo -e No Leon I lart. Gilmiore, No- 4 1 i, Fanklin Giraham iGilmorec No. Tee i~einzelman. B~rooiiiieldl. No. 9 -,Airthoi Mlanaosa iLCnion, No. ~ Tihe tirst prize is teii dollai s annl a scholarsip11 at Michigan \gricultuiral College: the second prize.t fiv lol isinlacoaI shp It i i n rcl toral College, third prize, threie nlollairs fooi tl o ize, two o nillars iind fifth pirize, one ilollar. Eachi cont(estant gets hiv w ialnoit tirees fiee. The Exchaige Savings Thank gave a large, hcaotiful 17niteil States flag to the Frien-iont nlistrict Nni. 7. whose iiiy ivon thie fii st pn i/c H. ( (Cassette is the teacher In that ilistrict. Clayton Tlavlor is thirteen vears olil. 'The methoillhe emlplov ed in his prize effort will lie Interestinig to oitlier s. Master Tayliii dlowed his oneeighth acre April i 5 arwdi a 4. 7.6f 2 1. 2 6 mod 2'7 Planted it May 19. Cultivatend it June 7. i4, 15. 20, 25 aiid July I, 13, 23 ~iiii 30. Used hamiyard manuire for fertilizer First tassel appeairedl JolIY 4. F'ist ripe ear Septemhcr 6. ('mit the corn Oetoher i. Yiedl fourteen toirty-poinde crates. E"stimateil cost. tivo nlollars and twenty-eight ceiits. The soil wias clay. Thiere were eighty-six hoys enrollel doring the year and more Nvill suirclv he enrolleil for the comingea.s the sceibem osi h ovs. There is thoti-ht in the direction now\ of organizing the girls also. 292 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE GRANGE. The Grange is an important institution and one that has clone mluch toward a better understanding, of farming. It has been very productive of a better understanding of the rights of the farmer and has served to make them more social and better acquainted than ever before in the history of the race. It is lamentable that imore of the farmer population (do not join in these societies and accept the advantages they might have by contact with their neighbors and get more of the spirit of advancement in farming as well as in the matter of education in other matters. We all desire to see a better and more intelligent state of society and yet many we find that have such a fund of self-complacency that nothing but dynamite can ever raise them out of the rut their forefathers run in. A good start, however, has been made and, \ith agriculture in the schools, we hope to see the dawn of a better condition of things. A Grange was organized about six or seven years ago in Lincoln, with such farmers as Edward Decker, Charles Proudly, Charles Hand, F. Kyes and others of the progressive men of the farm, and is now swelled to about seventy-five members. They meet every month and are prosperous in numbers as well as in social and agricultural information. They are thrifty and proud of their success as an institution for the betterment of its memblers. There is also one in the township of Fremont, of about twenty members, who are doing what they can to improve their condition and make life on the farm more pleasant and less irksome than it was in former days. T'hey mIcet in the Maccabee hall. Union township has a Grange organization in the south part of the town. They have no hall, but have a good class of live farmers in it, consisting of C. Mead, E. R. Waldron, W. H. Wood, John Maxwell, Jr., Wheeler Bandeen, Edward Salsbury, J. Kennedy, Lee Miller and others. They meet and canvass the best means of improving their conditions and the best way to get the most out of their efforts. It is a good organization and worthy of all the efforts they can give to it. There is also a Grange hall and society on the south side of section 4, in Union township, with T. W alton as master and Ian McLaughlin. overseer, Fred Farner, secretary. and thirty-five memblers that pay state dues. They are in fine condition and are getting all and more than it costs out of the organization. In Denver township there is a Grange at Delwin. J. W\. Keller, master, and T. M. Gregor. secretary, with a fair number of active and( sulbstantial members. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 293 At Rosebush, in Isabella township, there is another Grange order. In Brinton there was a Grange established some time ago. W. F. Clark, Richard Murphy and B. B. Stevens are among the leaders, which is a guarantee that it is a good one and doing good work in that neck of the woods. In 1900 an organization was effected in Gilmore and they are located at the samie place as the Baptist church.. I. G. (amble, master. G. A. Pitts. overseer, H. A. Perry, secretary, Frank Rawson, treasurer, with about fifty lmembers, and all working together for the good of the order and the implrovement of their own condition as farmers. They all seem to imbibe the same spirit as to the value of such an organization and the benefit it is to them and to tleir children. Long may this good cheer permeate that community. Alt. Vernon Grange was organized some titme ago in Vernon township. Their hall is located on section 14, and is a good one for the purpose. \Vith \\illiam MlcKai! as master, and )one hundred and twenty mellmbelrs as a sllpport. we can well imagine that they have one of the very best in the county. They are doing fine work, are prosperous and hapl)py in tlieir proslerity. They all feel that there is nothing along the line of improvementn to tile farmer that call compete with the CGrange unlless it be their twiln sister. the Farmlers Club. FARMERS CLUBS. The Farmers' C(lubs, organized( and sustained among the farmers of the county, is another advance step toward the betterment of farm society anid is anl educator in more ways than one. It cements tile farm interests, it gives the m-en and women a better and more intimate acquaintance with one another, gives tlhem ease in society and enables them to express themselves in public and when on their feet. It gives them an invitation and desire to express tleir vie\\s on any suilject before the audieince. lMany toda(l are among our most entertaining speakers, wxho only a short time ago felt that they could not rise in public and express their thoughts. I.ong may the Farmers' Club be a thing of interest and profit to the people and long mav it 1be before it shall lag or die out unless the ingenuity of men or women shall devise sometiling letter to take its place. Lincoln township boasts of a Farmers' Clubl. which meets monthly at different farmers' residences and discusses important matters pertaining to the farmer's calling and, don't forget, they not only talk and learn from one another, but they have music, declamation.and dinner, and such a dinner as can le found at no other place but a farmer's. They embrace such families as George Wilse, Mel Castle, Ed Decker, Wilson and manv others. 294 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In Broomfield township they have had a Farmers' Club for the past ten years. E. W. Woodruff is president and is supported by about fifty members. They meet every month and are prosperous and hapl)y. Union township also has a Farmers' Club, which has been runninlg ever since I895, and is still keeping up its interest and lnumbers. It is supported 1b the following as some of the influential mlembers: WN. E. W'aldron, W\. H. Wood, W. Prescott, J. Maxwell, Jr., \V. \V. Preston and others. They have their monthly meetings and have a good time generally. They have no desire nor intention of discontinuing their meetings. for they find it a great source of information as well as pleasure. In Wise and Vernon townships they have a joint Farmers' Club, which is well patronized, and each year they hold a picnic at Stevenson's lake and have a good time generally. They announce the time of tlieir picnic so that the people generally have knowledge of the time and they generally have some speakers of promlinence from outside of Isabella and sometimes some of the talent of the county. Thousands congregate oni some of these occasions and are very much interested in their gatherings. The Deerfield Farmers' (lub was organized February 21, 1895, with tle following as charter members: \Villiani and Clary Redfield, FrankliI and Clarasa Rhodes, Columbus Coles and wife, Mlary F., N. \V. Coomer and his wife, Ella A., John I). Gulick and wife, Mary G., F. M. Boyden and Lucy B. Boyden. George D. Brown and Mary B. Bro\\-n, Sam Johnston ald wife, Sarah B., George A. and Eliza L. Lucas, W\illianm R. Ilollovwat and wife, Sarah H.. Samuel Topley and wife, Eliza, Alva D. and Nancy \Veston. The second meeting they-addled twenty-six new members. ''he first meeting w\as held at the residence of John D. Gulick and they had royal goo(l tille. The first officers were Columbus Coles, president; F. Rhodes, vice-president; Ella A. Coomer, recording secretary; N. V. Coomer. corresponding secretary; Mary Gulick, treasurer, Nwith F. M. Boyden and George D. Brown as directors. They keep up their meetings froml m1onth to monlth and at their annual election they alppoint the places of their leetings for the comiing year so that each one knows when their turn comIes to prepare for a feast. They all feel proud of their society and think thlat it has (lone more toward breakling the ice between the farmers than any other method ever (levised. 'I'ey have nolw been at work for sixteen years andl there is as much interest an(1 entlhusiasm as at first. Samuel Craft, one of their ol(d memblers, used to be an enthusiast and was very much taken up with the work. Sam was also a great lover of fine swine and used to raise som0e very fine ones. so when his time came to spread the feast he selected the finest of the herd and iproceeded to ISABELLA COUNTY, MICllIGAN. 295 prepare and r(oast it, which hie could (lo to the queen's taste and when the houseful had arrived and dininer was calledl there w\as presente(d a feast sufficient to regale the gods. At one of their gatherings the guests numbered one hundred and thirty-six and( a number of times it has exceeded one hundlredl. They take in a radius of albout eighlteen miles, SO that they have a good large country to draw from. Another thing they are claiming is that their organization is not a secret one. hut entirely a mutual, social and beneficial one. No secrets to keep or divulge, but a good time socially and( one that shall make them all imore social and intelligent' a sort of a brotherly love institution that also includes the ladies. Long may it live and d(lo good. T'his claims to he the oldest society of the kilnd in the county and it looks as if it was, as tiley organized in February, I895 howvever, the one ill Union townsihip was ( organized in 1895, hut we have not the exact (late. FARMERS SCHOOLS. 'I'here is one more innovvati()n in the old methods among the farmers or rather want of method, and that is the recent opening of a school foir farmers where the best scienttific as well as the l)est postedl anl most successful famers meet and conduct a regular school of instruction..\Any an(l all of the farmers are invited to atten( l(nd it is l)proving to l)e a wondlerful advantage to all those that attend(l the school. ''Thliat and the introduction of agriculture in the (day schools is sure to be replaid fouir-fol(d ill the near fututre. The old idea that any fool can l)e a goodl fariner is futilly exl)loded all(nd now the mIlall that can make two bladles of grass grow l\here formerly grew liut one is colnsi(leredl a l)plilalnthrol)ist. \Vhat shall the maln be who can raise two biushiels of wheat or corn \where but one is raise(l today or that can add one-half to the pro(lduction of the soil of all kinds and(l of all kinds of crops? IRemember that wve as a country are very near the )oundarvy line when we shall pass by the time when our couintry will raise all of the food grailns demanded for the wants of the Ameriecan peolple. ISABEI.IA COU() NTY AGR1C I.T RAI. SOCI'.ETrY. Ah.\lout the first (day of March. J88o. a citizens' meeting was called to take into consideration the advisability of forilnig an agricultural society for the county of Isabella. At such mieeting quite a numher of the farmers and citizens of Mt. Pleasant met at the court house an(ld, after somie consultation. 296 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. it was thought advisable to undertake such an organization and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws and to present them to an adjourned called meeting. Hon. John Maxwell was the chairman of the first meeting and called a meeting to be held at the court house on the 20th lay of March, I88o, to receive the report of the committee on constitution and by-laws. At such meeting Major J. W. Long submitted the following as the report of the committee: "Articles of association of the Isabella County Agricultural Society. Know all men by these presents, that on this 20th day of March, A. D. i880, at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in pursuance of the statute in such cases made and provided, "We, the undersigned citizens of said county and state, have formed ourselves into an association to be called and known as 'The Isabella County Agricultural Society of the State of Michigan. "The business and object of such society shall be the promotion of the agricultural interests of Isabella county, Michigan, by the dissemination of knowledge among its members, the holding of fairs, and such other means to this end as may seem best to those having the matter in charge. "The officers of the society shall consist of a president, sixteen vicepresidents (one from each township in the county), a secretary and treasurer, such officers to constitute, ex-officio, the board of trustees. directors or managers, the secretary to act as secretary of such board." The report as read was accepted and adopted and the society proceeded to elect officers as follows: President, Isaac A. Fancher; Mr. Maxwell then vacated the chair, giving it to Mr. Fancher, who proceeded with the election of vice-presidents as follows: Broomfield, John Hutchinson; Chippewa, Ephraim A.. Salisbury; Wise, George M. Quick; Isabella, Joseph Graham, Sr.; Lincoln, Zerah Burr; Deerfield. Samuel Craft; Gilmore, Prince IT. Robbins; Sherman, James H. Tinker; Coe, William B. Bowen; Denver. Jesse H. Jordan: Vernon, James A. Converse; Union, Thomas J. Root: Fremont, John Ulam; Nottawa, NMichael McGihan; Coldwater, William B. Forbes; Rolland. William Beckley. The society then proceeded to the election of secretary and treasurer, resulting as follows: Secretary, James W. Long, and for treasurer, John Maxwell. The following original members signed the articles of association: I. A. Fancher, James W. Long. John Maxwell, Samuel Craft, Zerah Burr, WV. B. Bowen, Thomas J. Root, Henry Burr, E. A. Salsbury, J. \V. i ance, Lewis ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 297 Hawkins, John Rowlander, hMichael McGihlan and William Broomfield, fourteen in all. The customary affidavit of acknowledgment was attached to the articles. 'he following paid the membership fee of one dollar to the secretary, which was by him handed to the treasurer: Samuel Craft, Thomas J. Root, Zerah Burr, VB. B. Bowen, John Mlaxwell, Ilenry Burr, E. A. Salsbury, J. W. I lance, \\illiam Broomfield, M'. -MIc(Gihan: total, ten dollars. The meeting thereupon adjourned to meet again at the same place on Saturday, April 10o I88o, at ten o'clock a. m. At Mt. Pleasant, April Toth. the society met pursuant to adjournment, President Fancher in the chair. A. S. Fav paid his membership fee to the secretary and received his certificate. Called to order and the minuites of previous proceedings readl 1y the secretary. On motion of Saiimel Craft. they were accepted and adoptedl. Salmuel Craft addressed the meeting in regard to the appointment of a committee, and also in relation to the selecting of grounds for the joint purposes of a driving park association and fair purposes. On motion of Samuiel Craft, the president was instructed to appoint a colmmittee to prepare a constitution and by-laws. The following were appointed as such committee: Samuel Craft, Henry Burr and James 'W. Long. April 23, I88O, the society met at ten a. in. and adjourned to one p. Im.. at wlich time it again assembledl, with President Fancher in the chair. The minutes of previous meeting were read and approved. Major Long, fromi the committee (o constitution and bv-laws. made the following report, which on motion was accepted and adopted, as follows: CONSTITLTION. Article 1. This society shall be called "Isabella County Agricultural Society," auxiliary to the "Michigan State Agricultural Society," and the same is organized and established for the encouragemlent and advanicement of agriculture, ITmanufacture and the mechanics arts. Article II. Any person may become a member of this society by paying one dollar ($1.00) into the treasury. l.ife membership may be oltained on paymient of the sum of ten dollars ($To.oo). Article III. The officers of this society shall consist of a presilenlt, sixteen vice-presidents (one from each to\wnship). a treasurer and secretary, such officers to constitute, ex-officio, the board of directors or managers, and be called the executive board, the secretary to act as scretary of such board. 298 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Article TV. Duties of Officers-Section i. The president, or in his absence, one of the vice-presidents, and in case neither are present, such one of the members as the society may elect, may preside at all meetings of the society. Sec. 2. The secretary shall keep a record of all me-mbers of the society and of its proceedings, and shall also be secretary of the executive board, and shall attend to such other business as usually pertains to such office, and shall turn over all books, monies and papers belonging to such office to his successor. Sec. 3. The treasurer shall receive all monies of the society and expend the same only by direction of the executive board on the order of the president, countersigned by the secretary. He shall keel) a correct accounit of all receipts and expenditures, and make a full written report, at each annuial meeting of the society, of his affairs as treasutrer, and shall give bonds for the faithful performance of his duties in such pelnalty anll with such security as the board may (direct. Said bond to be filed with the secretary within ten ldays after such election, and shall turn over all lonlies, books and papers belonging to such office to his successor. Sec. 4. It shall lie the duty of the executive boardl to exercise a general sulpervision over the affairs of the society; to al)l)rol)riate the funds of the same in such a manner as shall, in their julglment, hest subserve the interests and forward the objects of the society; to call special imeetitigs \hlen necessary, to app)oint marshals, superintendents and examininig committees. Said board to designate the (lays for hoclding the fair andl the premiums to lue aw\arde(l, giviing at least ninety (lays' public notice of the same, and to make the inecessary preparations for holding said fair, and to adopt a code of b)y-laws. and publish the same with the constitution, for the benefit of the society; and they may, from time to time, alter or amend said b)-laws, by a majority of the board present. Sec. 5. It shall he the duty of the vice-presidents to receive anid distribute in their several townships premium lists, circulars, and such other matter as shall be forwarded to them from time to time, and to encourage the hriunging forward articles for exhibition, and to look after the welfare and interests of tile society in their townships. Article V. The annual meeting of this society, for the election of officers and the transaction of other necessary business. shall be held on Saturday following the 2oth dav of March, in each year (unless otherwise determined by the executive board). at such place as the boar(l shall appoint, they giving suitable notice thereof. Article VI. The society shall hold an aninual fair and general exhibition ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 299 of animals, agricultural and horticultural products, articles of doimestic manufacture and( of the mechanic arts, and also such other matters as the executive board shall determine. Article I J. No premitum shall be given to any one not a member of the society. Article VIII. Any vacancy in the office of the society may be teiiiporarily filled )y the executive board. Article IX. The constitution may be altered or amended at any regular annual nmeeting of the society 1)y a two-thirds vote of the imembers present. Article X. Tt shall be the duty of the several officers to ol)tain the names of )ersons wishing to become rimeliers of the society. and to pay over to the treasurer all monies received for mlelnlershilp (and as donations. BY-LAWS. Section I. it shall b)e the duty of the Imarshal to maintain order, to assign to the suplerinteldents the places to he occupied by the classes under their supiervision; and at all times shall he subject to the direction of the executivee board. \nv imember who shall refuse to ohev the lmarshal, when acting w\itlin tlhe sphere of -his dutv, shall be expelled froim tle society. Section 2. No article slhall le entitle(l to a l)remiium buht such as belongs to and blona fide property of the com)petitors..-\lplicanits. wheln required, shall give w\ritten statements relative to the article exhibitedl. and shall l)e l)rel)pred to give satisfact(ory evid(ence to sustain them. Section 3. The vi\wing committees shall b)e atten(led to the pens by the sullerinltelndlent, alnd any o\wner of stock or imemllerl of the society w\ho shall attempt to influence the decision of the coiiimmittee shall forfeit all claim to a prelitm. \ny mIemlber w\ho shllll refuse to obey the sup)erintendent, when acting within the sl)here of his duty, shall b)e expelled from the society. Section 4. All reports of viewing committee shall be in writing, and signed lx the members of tle committees assenting thereto; and premiums shall be conferred on the awarld of the miajoritv of the coimmiittee. Section 5. No animal p)resented for completition shall he entitled to receive more than ione premium annually in any one class, and shall not show in lmore than one class, unless it be herds of cattle. special andl sweepstakes premitiums, drawing, walking or trotting. Section 6. When there is lbut one exhibitor in a class or subdivision of a class, the article or aninmal will be awarded the first or second premium or innle at all, as tIhe judges shall deem it worthy. 300 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Section 7. The executive board shall audit the accounts of the treasurer and, if found correct, shall certify to the same, prior to its submission to the annual meetings of the society. Section 8. It shall be the duty of the president, upon application of five members of the executive board, to call a meeting of the same for the transaction of business. Section 9. No person shall be entitled to vote unless he shall have complied with the provisions of the constitution. RULES AND REGULATIONS —MEMBERSHIP, AI)MISSIONS AND) ENTRIES. I. The payment of ten dollars at once constitutes a life member, who is entitled to receive (on presentation of his ticket at the treasurer's office) all of the privileges of the society grounds lduring the exhiition, and also entitles them to enter articles for exhibition under the rules of the society. 2. Any person paying into the treasury the sum of one dollar previous to the closing of the books, shall be entitled to four single admission tickets to the annual fair and to make any entries under the rules of the society. 3. Persons wishing for passes for necessary attendants on stock, will be furnished with such passes upon application to the superintendent of the grounds, which passes will be good only at the exhibitors' gate and for the person named therein. Any attempt to use such pass by any person not entitled thereto will be regarded by the society as a forfeiture thereof. If partners or joint owners of articles entered are present, each one Imust be a member of the society. 4. All persons renting booths. stands or grounds, for the purpose of furnishing articles for sale. or for any other speculative purpose, shall furnish themselves and their attendants with passes. PRICE OF ADMISSION. For each admission................................$.25 For children between eight and twelve years...........T5 For admittance for single horse and carriage............25 For two horses drawing carriage......................50 For one horse.........................................25 5. Each person in a carriage must have an admission ticket, and all admission tickets will be taken up at thle gate, before person or team are al. lowed to pass. No check or other ticket will be given at the gate and n(l money allowed to be paid at the gate for admission under any pretext what ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 301 ever. The foregoing regulations of admission and entries are adopted by the executive board. 6. The secretary will furnish complimlentary tickets to clergymen and such visitors from abroad as the executive board shall direct. 7. All articles or animals offered for premiums must be entered by the owner, his agent or a member of his family entitled to admission under his ticket, and must be owned in the county, except foreign stock. 8. All articles and animals intended for exhibition must be entered in the secretary's office before entering the fair grounds, and receive a card with a number, as enterel upon the books. 9. All articles for exhibition to be designated by the name of the exhibitor. instead of numbers. Io. Exhibitors are requested to make their entries on or before the first tda of the fair. The books will positively be closed on the evening of the second day. I. No animial or article can b1e taken from the ground during the continuanlce of the fair without permission from a member of the executive board. 12. Feed will be furnished upon the fair grounds at the expense of the society, for animals entered for exhibition. 13. When there is but one exhibitor in a class, or subdivision of a class, the article or animal will be awarded a first or second premium, as the jutdges may deem it worthy, and no premium shall be awarded when the article or animal is unwortly, though there be no comlpetition. T4. All discretionary premiums recommended by the judges shall be subject to the approval of the executive board. and they may modify or refuse to allow the same as they deem proper. 15. The judges are requested to file their report with the secretary at or before ten o'clock in the forenoon of the last day of the fair. I6. All stock entered as thoroughbred nlmst be accompanied with a concise written statement, certified to by the owner. showing their age, breed and pedigree. 7. All horses entered as matched horses must be owned by the same person and kept as a span. I8. Cards or ribbons will be furnisheld )y the judges, to be placed on articles or animals, when decisions are made. First prize, blue; second prize, red; third prize, white. i9. Under no circumistances shall any booths or stand be rented for the sale of intoxicating liquors on the ground. nor shall any such sale be allowed. Nor shall any game of chance, lottery or prize package scheme be allowedl. After the adoption of the constitution and by-laws. on motion of Major 302 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Long, a committee of five was appointed by the chair to look up a suitable ground and ascertain the price and terms. The following gentlemen were then appointed: Messrs. A. S. Fay, T. J. Root, Joseph A. Grahaim, Jessie H. Jorden and Henry Burr. The secretary was instructed to have printed five I-hndred copies of the constitution and b)y-laws, after which the meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the president. Another meeting was called to meet on the 26th day of June, 1880. They met as per call, but, the committee on grounds not being ready to report, the meeting was adjourned until July 3d, at which time the committee reported in favor of the purchase of the southeast q(uarter of the northeast quarter of section 10, township 14 north, range 4 \\est, heing alouIt one mile from the village of Mt. Pleasant in a north direction. The price to 1)e paid was seven hundred dollars. At a meeting of the society held on the 8th day of October, article V of the constitution was amended so as to provide for holding the annual meeting on the last dav of the fair in each year. The fair grounds were partially cleared by the citizens and farmers by means of bees, and on June 21, I881, a meeting was held of the society, at which meeting it was decided to hold a county fair for that year and also that the county should be represented at the state fair for that year. At this meeting Henry A. Dunton was made a committee to let the job for clearing twenty acres more of the grounds. At the meeting on June 4, I881, Mr. Fancher tendered his resignation as president of the society and John T. Landon was elected in his place. The first fair was held on October i8, 19 and 20, I88r. The following were the division superintendents: Division A, horses, V. L. Brown; division B, cattle, John D. Richmond: division C 1), E, sheep, s\ine and poultry, Michael Haley; division F, G, grain and vegetables, Joseph A. Grahaml division H, fruits, John Fraser; division J, mechanics arts, William R. Crowley, also for division K, musical instruments; dtivision L and M, dairy and domestic manufacturers, P. F. Bennett; division N and 0, fancy work, draswing and painting, Mrs. J. T. Landon; division P, plants and flowers, Mrs. William E. Harris; division Q, boys and girls, no selection; division R. mlusic, Mrs. J. W. Long. At a meeting of the society held at the court house in Mt. Pleasant on March 25, 1882, the following were adopted as amendments to the constitution: "Article III. This society shall consist of a president, a vice-president for each township, a secretary, a treasurer and an executive committee of five members (exclusive of the president and secretary, who shall be members ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 303 ex-oflicio of the committee). lThree shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of lusiness at any meeting of said committee; provided, that each member shall have been notified in the usual manner of such meeting. All of the al)ove officers to ble elected annually, excepting the executive committee, who shall be elected respectively for five, four, three, two and one years, so that one vacancy shall occur annually." "Article IV. Sec 4. T'he executive board shall be the judicial (body of the society, and shall enact all laws, rules and regulations governing the society, and shall have full charge of the annual exposition and shall fix the salaries o(f the officers. T'he )osard shall have power to displace any officer for neglect of duty or abuse of position, and shall fill all vacancies by appolintment. Aleetings may lie called by the president, or by a majority of the members of the board. It shall be the duty of tile board to look after tlle general welfare of the society; levise new methods of ilmprovementl keep the society upon a sound financial basis and provide for every necessity as it shall arise. All measures of implrtance slall e sti)bmitted to this boar(d ut ) ma be referred back to the society." "Article TX. Any addition or revision of these laws may )ie Ina(le lb a two(-thirds vote of the elllers present at an) annual meeting of tile socicty, one month's notice having been given." A\rticle XI. This society in its regular or slecial meetings shall )e governed by ordinary parlianmentary usages." "Article XII. Thlis society nay hold real estate and persollal l)rol)erty. to tle amount of twenty thousand dollars." The above amendments and additions to tle constitution were accelted and adopted bl a vote of all present excepting one, S. Craft. At this meeting the retiring secretary, James \. Long, male his final relort of the society, as follows: "John T. LTandon, president )of the society. Sir —.\t the close of my term of olfice as secretary of this association, 1 have the honor to submiit the following general report: This association was organized into an agricultural society March 20,, o with I Ion. I. A. Fancher as president, J. \W. Long as secretary and John Maxwell as treasurer. "No grounds having been urclhased, the first fair was held on grounds in the corporation limits of the village of Mt. Pleasant, and notwithstanding every discouragement, a creditable shoswing was made. TI'e total receilts were five hundred twelve (lollars and seventy-four cents, and the total disbursements were five hundred twelve dollars and twenty-six cents, leaving a lalance of forty-eight cents." \After reviewing and reciting the different meetings of the society he further says that "it was decided, on November 19, 304 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I88I, to give a note of the society or rather of its individual members for the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, running five years, in order to raise money for current expenses. This note was negotiated with Hon. John Moore, of Saginaw, and of the amount of seven hundred thirty-five dollars was paid to Cutler & Walker as purchase money in full for the grounds, being the principal charges and interest to date. "The balance of five hundred sixty-five dollars was turned. over to the treasurer, I presume, but as it did not pass through nmy office as it should have done, I have no official record of it, save that I placed the deed on recor(l. "The following orders, passed as correctly as possible, have been drawn on the treasurer: For lumber and material..........................$589.82 For fair, including premiulms...................... 302.75 For contingent expenses, including purchasing of grounds..................................... 788.66 Total................................... $1,621.23 "Respectfully submitted. "JAMES Wr. LONG, 'Secretary." The treasurer then submitted the following report: "John T. Landon, President. Sir-On September 17th. I88T, 1 assumed the duties of treasurer of the society. There was a balance of forty-eight cents due from the late treasurer, which T have received. I have received the following amounts: From sale of membership certificates..............$ 66.oo From sale of tickets at fair...................... 256.75 From J. NV. Long. secretary...................... 45.oo From note by Hon. Tohn Moore................. 1.300.00 From Alexander Brodie, county treasurer.......... 369.17 To which add balance on hand....................48 Total receipts............................. $2,037.40 Disbursements on orders........................$. $,599.33 Balance on hand............................. $ 438.07 "Respectfully submitted. "WILTLAM E. HARRIS, Treasurer. "JAMES W. LONG, Secretary." ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 30o5 At Mt. Pleasant, on April I5, 1882, the executive committee met pursuant to a call by the president, with all of the members present. At this meeting it was decided to hold the next county fair on the I3th, I4th and Tthl of Septembler, 1882. Also provisions were made for fencing the grounds. The board met again on July 15, I882, and made contract with Taggart & Bartlett for the building of a hall, to he twenty-six by sixty-six feet, at a cost of one hundred twenty dollars. On September 2, I882, the association entered into a contract with the Driving Park Association by which they leased to said association the grounds for a term of ten years, the association to make a suitable half-mile track and providing as to the relative conditions on w0hich each should enjoy the grounds. A very good half-mile track was constructed and maintained for several years. The annual fairs were kept up for a nunimber of years and generally with a good deal of interest and ver-y well attended and supl)orted. But it finally proved that the location and the conditions of the lands were such tlat interest secleed to fall off and the attendance declined so that in the enld the attendance was not sufficient to w\arrant its continuance and it was finally discontinued. Another incident that perhaps had some force was that it was discovered that underlying a portion of the grounds there was a strata of bromide which was finally tested by the Dow Chemical Comlpany of lMidland City, Michigan, and the north portion of the grounds were finally sold to that compalny and they plt down several wells alnd have been opelrating a plant for several years and with iprofit to theln. The Driving Associationt also ceased to be an active and paving investmenlt and has becolne of little if any value. The south half of the grounds are still olled by thle society, but tlihe lave been granted permission by the circuit court of the county to sell tie same whenlever they can obtain a satisfactory lprice for the samlle, and the societv is now trying to negotiate with the city of Mt. Pleasant for certain plrivileges on tile park grounds for place and conveniences for the holding of agricultural fairs. The city has sufficient grounds that they could set apart for that use if it was thought best and tile locationr would then be an ideal one. bleing within the corplorate limlits of the city and within a stone's throw from the center of the business portion of the city. The matter of agriculture is of such prime importance that it seems there slloutll be some way devised to the end that there might be agricultural, horticultural and kindred subjects exhibited each year to the end that the farmers could come together once a vear and compare notes as well as samples of (20) 306 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. grain and animals of all kinds, so that it, in connection with our annual gatherings in the winter, might serve to encourage and strengthen the love and interest in the farmer's profession. The day is coming, and not far distant, when the ability of the farmer to supply the nourishment for the nation will be sorely taxed unless the soil can be made more productive and yield a larger supply of the necessaries of life for our people. CHAPTER XIX. COUNTY 1001R FARM. A. eouty po(Ir farm seems, to lbe a pubiic riecessitv. It is sa11, and with. mutch truth, that "The poor you have with youi always, so that amloiug thle first o)f thle llilporlt mt things of a uiew couuty was to providie for the 1)001. At the sessiou o-f the hourd of supervisors in Octoher. i86o. the hoard,, cousisting aIt that time of \\illiimi R. Rohhinis, of Cue towusip N. C. Paynie, of Chippew~a. aunl C. II Roxd. Isahella, with Rohlbiis as chairmau aud I. F..-\rnold as coun~lty Cleik Onl motiou of Supervisor lPavuie, Aihert G. Ferris, of Isahella. James -Moo se (If Ciihppewva. aud Cv.renus Kinter. of Coe weea inte(I as mi~llntv supeirlitendlemst (If tile poor for Isahella coulity. At the same1 sessiori tile hoardi (If suipervisors set apart a fuie (If olle lutlliredl nititvt (11d1ofllar o tile supp)ort (If the poor. File sllperilteilldlts Cilterell uputhi lltles wdul Ilshursell tile finids as the uiecessitv occurredl. ile firs year tile\ speuit illilet ((lie dollars ((ld twenctyt-fiv-e eeuts aud ill 1862 tile sm111 of t\\vo llllldlled slxtv-mie elollars mid thirteeu cents. anli il tue next year tile Still of twVo huildril slix5tv-five diollars and~ sixty-two cects. 'liis mletilA o iletilliled Ilitil the Oetobier session (If tile iloardl of suiperviso.rs, 18_64. wihen the foiiowiugip resolltlill 0a p5lassedi (1)11 IltiCtol of Steplihell ii lllllpireNy a lla~jorlitv (If the hoard voted tol purchelase a fa1111 for tile use of tile collnty iIor. I lie vote stoodi. yells, St ephen I-timllphre) F. J. WI illiams. 'NV. II. Nelson, 'N illial Tiffalnv (lul A. G. Ferris, aid iays. Jamlies '"IN ey. A-t the same sessIoni a 1resoiltltiol was passed toi raise tile 51111 (If tliiee tiloulsanlI dollar~s to purechase and impriove tile farm aill Ferris. Humphrey aid Tiffany were appinilltedi a committee to pureciase a farmn. Oii lauuul- 1,86,~ the eomimittee I epoi tedl the following:"Your coiiilittee visited aud inspeeteli tile farms (If the follow ing iiamed persous-, tue slairs set oppo)Isite is the picne asked for saill faim a1 t tue time (If iiisiection Willi1am F. Pane, wheat 011 the ('romidl amd farimm tool~s inelulleli $3,000 Ni. Pradley and J. Fouteh, $2.ioo, H. T. Shermiaii, wheat onl tule ground (11111 farmin' utensils iiieludell. $3,000. "You)tr cominnttee did not make a selectioni of either, bint ieft that open for vour acetion. Signed. 'I G. Ferris 1113d Step~hen Hlumphrey. Committee.' 308 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. January Io, I865, the offer of \Villiamn F. Payne of his farm for a poor farm was unanimously adopted and on the same day a resolution ordering the chairman and clerk of the board to draw orders on the treasurer of the county for three thousand dollars and deliver the same to \\illiam F. Payne on the delivery of a good and sufficient deed of the farm and the delivery of the possession thereof. On October 12, 1865, the board of supervisors authorized the superintendents of the poor to engage a suitable person to care for the poor farm. The farm consisted of one hundred sixty acres of land, with fair lildlings for the time, as it was only ten years after the first settler came to the county. About four years ago the county purchased forty acres of land adjoining at one thousand eight hundred dollars. The farm has been run ever since and has been a good paying investment to the county, and has served a noble purpose in providing a good home, with nourishing food and care and medical attendance when sick to those so conditioned that they are unable to care for themselves. The farm has increased in value aIdl is now worth about twenty thousand dollars. The average numlber of inmates to be cared for last year was t\wentytwo. It cost last year to run the farm and care for the inmlates as reported by the superintendent of the poor the sunl of $ 1,46T.98. Paid out for Physicians and Medical Services....... $759.58 For Permanent Paupers.......................... 498.9I For Postage and Telephone........................ 24.66 For Transportation........................... 59.42 Hospital Expenses.............................. 139.30 Total....................................$1,480.87 They further report that they turned into tlhe county fromn the farm $I,491.6I and had a balance on hand on October II. I910, of $238.88. The county farm expenses were as follows: Salary of keeper, $700; hand labor, $385.95; hell) in the county house, $145.50; food, $616.o6: clothing, $263.30; drugs and medicine, $62.20; burial expenses, $51; coal and xwood, $I83.70; turpentine, $7.75; insurance, $27.15; telephone, $33.66; newspapers. $4; farm tools and repairs, $ 59.48; grain and seeds, $54.1I; stock, $24; phosphates, $179.93; ditch tax, $60.o6; transportation, $87.82; fruit trees, $17; threshing and bailing hay, $64.34; binder twinse, $13.04; fencing, $75; building barn and painting, $I,392.66; putting bath and closets, $200; tile for farm and laying, $242.69; total, $5,050.89. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 309 Beside the expenses at the poor farm, ther.e was expended in temporary relief by the supervisors of their townships the following amounts: Other Township. Food. Clothing. Fuel. Nurse. Burial. Expenses. Supervisor. Total. Coe ------- $97.62 $19.30 --- $37.00 -- --- $9.00 $162.92 Chippewa - 180.61 36.49 11.25 42.00 — __ $7.00 19.50 313.12 Denver ---- 300.61 31.00 -___ 55.70 $64.00 ---- 19.50 470.81 Wise ----- 150.63 14.52 ___- — __ 130.00 ---- 3.00 298.61 Lincoln ---- 15.43 4.00 --- -- --- -—. 12.00 31.43 Union ---- 106.47 24.35 16.00 -- --- ---- 14.00 160.82 Isabella --- 82.76 22.06 --- --- 57.00 ---- 5.25 167.07 Vernon ---- 78.64 _ --- — -- — _- -— _ 16.95 95.59 Frcmont - 56.10 21.88 10.50 77.70. -- 3.00 169.88 Deerfeld - 86.46 34.67 --- 21.00 20.00 —.- 18.00 180.13 Nottawa -- 242.04 32.61 11.75 16.14 61.00 __- 4.05 366.59 Gilmore - 138.62 31.19 4.25 110.00 ____ 9.38 28.40 321.84 Rolland -- 66.62 48.86 14.12 96.50 31.50 ____ 10.00 267.75 Broomfield 16.13 — __ -— _ 51.90 --- ---- 6.00 74.03 Sherman -_ 95.98 28.45 3.25 155.89 20.00 -- 36.00 338.57 Coldwater - 162.33 9.75 -- 55.15 __ — 33.00 7.50 267.73 1st Ward -_ 170.17 12.00 58.65 37.50 30.00 -_- 13.50 392.88 2(1 Ward 232.25 55.50 85.78 9.30 10.00 — __ 5.00 392.88 3d Ward --- 246.47 44.45 189.51 40.75 4.00 -- 41.50 566.68 $2,526.09 $486.14 $404.06 $807.28 $397.50 $49.40 $267.65 $4.940.12 The present superintendents are Charles Cassadv, J. A. Struble and R. II. Gardner. The present value of tlie farm and improvements is about thirty tlhotsan(l dollars. They have now about twenty-six inmates to care for. The amount apl)lrpl)riated for the suplport of the poor for tlhe year 1911 is the sum1 of nine thousaand dollars. CHAPTER XX. MILITARY RECORD. Today is Washington's birthday anniversary and our minds naturally recur to the events of that time and the life of the Father of his Country. WVho can dare to divine \hat this countrv and nation might or woulhl have been had it not been for that great man, and his leadership in the tremendous events that followed during his active life. He helped to carve out and preserve, all things considered, the greatest nation on earth. Isabella county can not boast of any great events in the Civil \war for which she can take credit, but she can claim that according to her )o)lpulation at that time she gave more men in proportion to her population than any other county in the state, if not in the nation. Her total popllation in T86o w\as hut one thousand four hundred forty-five, divided about equally hetween whites and Indians. The government took from us about sixty-seven lndlianls \tho enlisted in the various delartments of the army. many of them goiing into the service as sharpshooters. Of the cwhites, the record shows that fifty-three enlisted into the army under the enrollment systemi. and that six re-enliste(l in the field, and that the product of the draft was twenity-six, l)esides one drafted man coimmuted. There were of the one-year men forty. and of tile threeyear men forty-six. The total credit under the enrollmnent systemi \\as eightysix an(l those enlisting before September 19, 1863, were fifty-one, making a total of one hundred thirty-seven. The nulmber enrolled for draft September o1, 1862, blet\-een the ages of eighteen and forty-five, was two hundred seventy-one. Another enrollment \\ as made in the summer of T86af, dividedl into two classes: for tlie first class there were one hundred fifty-three. and in the second class. sixty-one. The order was then made to draft one-fifth of the first class so enrolle(l. In Jlue, 1864. the draft took place. The credits then stood for Isabella, the number enlisted prior to Januarv. I864, as sixty-one and from January to October 3T, I864, fifty-five, \\ith three more that were cre(lited as having enlisted prior to January i. j1864, Ilakilng a total of one hundred nineteen. The enrollment for draft stood, Decelmber 31. 1864, as one hundred twenty-three and the quota under the call of I)ecember 19, i864. was fifteen for Isabella county. JSABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.31 311 There has always been in the county a sentiment and ilelief that the county of Isabella (lid not get her proier credits for all the men that enlisted andl entered the army, hut that cluite a number wvere vir-tually sold or given to other counties and that they received the credit that Isabella should have been enitied to. Let be as it may, there were times durilig the colltilluance of the Civil wvar that tilere was scarcely an able-bodied man left in the county. WVho can estimate or measure tile privationls that the fam-illies of tile soldiier tlllderNvent wvhile tile lead of tile falniiy wvas away figilting for tile plerpletuity of the government? Could tile realier of this article havte ibeel here andi seell tile variolls famnilies of tile soldier wvho had gone tol tile frollt, iivilg ill tile woods ill a little log lhlt, with blarelv tile absolute Ilecessities of life, Iliggillg l1cr firewood11 from 11nderC tile 11005 ill tie winter alll caring for tile cowv ill tile stable or hlunting the cow in the slllllllr ill a lpasture as valst a15 tile bouindaries of tile tlownshlip 1)1 Counlty, trlldginlg thrcough tile 15110115s and listellilg for tile SCollrd of tile bell jingling frolm tile Ileck (If tile almost entire supiport (If ilerself alld little (Iles. Or whiile she was sitting ill tile co~rner (If 11Cr cabinl. wcaiting alnl watchiill for- the mallal carrier, wihl sihouldl bring her 11 letter frolll]11Cr hulsblandi, withl tile pittanlce tilat -Ullcie Saml should~l have given 11111 for his services ill defense of 11i5 cltilntrv y or to wvatcil the tears trickling dowvn iler chleeks whenl tile carrier goes by, leaving her lneither 111)1ey nor~ tidillgs (If tile (lear oue at tile front. JO oti plrosperity todiav. I fear Nve thinilk too( lightlty of tile (lays 1(11 Iggone liy whlel tile bo)y wvere at tile fronlt andl tile fallilies dependen~t 111)0n theml Were left blehind~ to get alon~g as best teire mlighlt. lallv of ()III best alld 111(st -able-ibodied menC~ wlent to tile fronut, a1111 mlany failed tI) ccturn~:111hev remlailled a sacrifice t1o tile causeC of freedoll. This day tile remnllant left of thouse ilcave lovs (If tile sixties are 110\1 i1ldlin-ll a Ileetilng ill commemoclllrationl of tile ibirthdalv of tile Fathler of our Counltry. T1he 1post (If IXit. Pleasan~t 11115 linvitedi tile Shlephierd post. wlitih tile Relief Co~rpls to Imeet withl thleml alld to lie tileir gu~ests. to sull withl thleml a11( Illjoy sticil hospiitalitv as tile hlave, and lnonle canl have setter. Thlev are e~iiiving tile Ilusic, tile speeches and~ tile chilidrells;, presen~tationls. \et every llcetillg inlds their rallks thinnl~er tihaln tfiev Nvere at tile last onle, aldi some1 saddler faces 1111 accoullt of tile absellce (If ((Ie (lear to thleml wvio las ceasedi 11) alnswer tile roll call. Th ie peoplle at hlomle tried to mlake tile blurdien a little less to tillse wvho weCnt tol tile flout, or- at Ileast sonlle oIf theCml. I'lle b~acd of supiervisors, [ehiruav8. 1864. passed a resolutioll granltillg a ]IIItllltv (If two lillldirCe dollars to dacil oc 1111 enllistedi aild was crediited (oc wh11o was drcafted aldi credlitedl alnd adccepited. (j)ile hlundcredl dollars wals to be plail ill oeC year and tile ((tiler oneC lililldred do~lliars to lie plaid ill twlo years. 312 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. A REMARKABLE RECORD. It may be a little irregular, but I think that I shall be pardonedl for introducing this bit of history for the benefit of the younger generations who know but little if anything about war, and because the soldier is a citizen of Isabella county. He was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, New York State Volunteers, First Brigade, 'Third Division, Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac, and these are the battles he was engaged inl: Brandy Station, Virginia, June 9, I863; Wapping Heights, Virginia, July 20, 1863; McLean's Ford, Virginia, October 5, T863; Catlet's Station. Virginia, October 15, I863; Kelly's Ford, Virginia, Novemlber 7, I863; Mine Rn, Virginia, November 26, 1863; Locust Grove, Virginia, November 27, 1863; Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 6, 7, I864; Spottsylvania Court H-ouse, Virgillia. Maq 8-9, 1864; Spottsylvania, and Laurel Hill, Virginia. May io and 21, inclusive, 1864; North Anna, Virginia, May 22 and 26, inclusive, 1864; Tolopotorny, Virginia, May 27 and 30, inclusive, 1864; Hanover Court House, Virginia, May 31, 1864; Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1, 2, 3, 1864; before Petersburg, Virginia, June 17 and July 5, inclusive, 1864; \\eldon Railroad, Virginia, June 21, 22, 23, 1864; Monocacy, Maryland, July 9, 1864; Snickers Gap, West Virginia, August II, I864; Berryville, West Virginia, August 1o, 1864; Winchester, West Virginia, August ii, I864; Middletosiwn, W1est Virginia, August 12, I864; Strausburg, West Virginia, August 13, i864; Charlestown, West Virginia, August 21, 1864; Leetown, West Virginia, August 28-29, 1864; Smithfield or Berryville, \est Virginia, September 3, 1864; Opequon Creek, West Virginia, September 19, 1864; Fisher TTill, West Virginia, September 22, I864; Mount Jackson, West Virginia, September 24, 1864; Strausburg, West Virginia, October 14, 1864; Cedar Creek or Sheridan's Ride, West Virginia, October 18, 1864; Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, I865; Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 6, 1865; Petersburg Works, Virginia, March 25, I865, and fall of Petersburg, Virginia, April 2, 1865. This is a part of the war record of William H. Salsbury, of Deerfield township, Isabella county. And a most remarkable record it is. WAR MEETINGS. During I863-4, after many had enlisted and the call was made for more troops, the people became very much exercised, as it began to look as if a draft was sure to follow. The government was sending out recruiting officers and one came to Isabella county to see what could be done here. He was ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 313 escorted through the settlements by S. Woodworth, who enlisted with others and went to the front. 'hey heldl war meetings, where the men were persuaded to join the army of the United States. The first war meeting was lield at the house of Azariah I)unham, in the township of Lincoln, he having the most commodious one of the settlement, and, although it had neither door or window in it, answered the purpose and the meeting was the means of several enlisting. The meeting had been well advertised, as they hald (listributed notices and had nailed them to the trees along the trail through the timber, so that a good( crowd was secured. Chairs in those days were scarce, so tlat logs were sawed off into blocks and they were placed on end around the inside of the b)uilding, and sap troughs, with a few loose boards placed upon them, were also in use for seats. For lights, there were a couple of tallow dips sputtering oi a rough pine tahle, so that, all in all, we were all well accommodated. (ld patriotic songs were sung, speeches made and papers read to show how tliigs were going at the front and to what straits the country was put to Oll account of the treason of the South. The songs were sung with a zest, the deep bass, the tenor and the miasculine soprano, with the inspiration of Old John Brown in their hearts, madle the woods ring with tle old patriotic songs, and when any one stepped forward and signed the roll there came up such a shout as can oinly be heard connected with patriotism. These meetings were kept up at different places in tlIe county, at Salt River and in the township of Chippewa, until nearly every able-bodied man had signed for the army. After a few days orders came to go to the front and the sad leave-taking was had. The oxen were hitched to the old double wagon, the family placedl thereon and a start was made to the Indian Mills, where the enlisted were to mleet and from there were to go down the Cliippewa river on a raft provided for their journey. The roads were trails through the woods across the swanmps and over the corduroy, and it recalls to memory the parody on Poe's "Raven" "Once upon a spring time dreary,,While we plodlded, weak and weary, Over many a bog and muddy hole, Of the treacherous roads of yore, WThile we bumped and splashed and floundered Through the swam)ps that we encountered, Oft we stopped awhile and pondered And sometimes I fear we swore."-E. L. W. 314 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. After an all-clay's journey over these delectable roads, we arrived at our destination and put up for the night. In the morning all was made ready for the soldiers' departure. The raft that had been made to float them dolown the river was loaded with the luggage, blankets, rations and bIedding. \\When at last all was ready, the bank of the river was lined with the families and friends of those departing, the last kiss was given, the last gooldby was said and the raft was made loose, swung out into the current of the stream and they were afloat. Then it was that the wife and family realized what war meant and sobs could be heard, and tears were shed as they turned away from the shore of the river and once more were afloat on the shore of time, little k\\wing what the tempest of war would bring to them. In that company were Samuel Woodworth, Daniel McLarn, Alonzo Holland, Joseph \tkins, witlh lprobalbly somle others. ISABELLA ENLISTMENTS. Here is a partial list of those who went into the army from Isabella: Joseph Miser, Azariah Dunham, A. J. Goodsell, Samuel Loveland. H. S. louton, Samuel \oodworth, Lucky Doolittle, D. H. Nelson, \Villar(d McOtieen, Thomas Campbell, Daniel Brickley, C. B. Young, Henry Cannute, Calvin Bigelow, George Bellinger, Monroe Kinter, Benjamin Cahoon. I-I. 0. Bige!ow, Martin Cop (died in Andersonville prison), Orin Johnson, C. C. outclh, David Foutch, William Cowden, Jacob Armstrong, lran k Cushway, \illiam Froggett, Daniel Robbinson, John Mouser, W\illiam M cClintic. George Scott, Charles Hall, Hiraim Fllsworth, Hart Fllsworth,.\lellert Mlartil, Paul Smith. Harvey Wardwell, Steven Losey, Calvin Lose-, Horace Bellinger. Warren Wing, George H. Stockham, Daniel MIaclar, Keit TLandon I ien l.andon, Charles Dunham, Stephen Murthy, Northrop, Leonard Ives, Jacol Smlith, James Hoag, Andrew J. Gotldl, Caswell, Lou Holland, Little, Jake Smith, R. Kyes, Charles Crippin, Newton Merrill, Neal Beach, Richard \onch. George Gruber, Andrew Childs, David Black, Samuel Titus, Peter IHawlev, Charles Handy, Henry Kinter, Andre\w Condon, Oscar Condon. WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS. In connection with every well regulated Grandl Army of the IReplulic post there is a W\Voman's Relief Corps. The W\a-ba-no \rolnan's Relief Corps No. 56 was organized September I, I885, by Emma Stark ITamlpton, deputy president, with fifteen charter members, as followss Mrs. Ellen A. I-icks, Mrs. Sarah Churchill, Mrs. Maria Brown, Mrs. Minnie E. \\oodworth, Mrs. Ella ISABELLA COUINTTY MICHIGAN.31 315 Bowen, -Mrs. Adaline Sanderson. MNrs. Alice J. Conlogue. TNIrs. Lvdia A. Pferdssteller, M~rs. LDora Whitney, Mrs. Cora J. Ralph. Mrs. 'Nora S. Lovelaud, Mdrs. Helen J. \*Vatson. Mrs. Olive Simonds. Msrs. Kate Harris. Mrs. Stella Jeffords. The first officers electedl were: President, Mrs. Ellen A. Hicks:- senior vicelpresidlelnt, M~rs. Sarahi Churchill; junior vice-presidlent. 'Mrs. 'Nora S. Lovelaud: secretary. M~rs. Kate Harris: treasurer. Mrs. Ella Bowven: chaplain, Mliniiie Woodwvorth: conductor, Mrs. Dora E. \Vhitnev; guard. Mrs. M.varie Browii. Tile corps) has heen kept up ever since it first started and has heen a source of mutch good. especially, to thle 01(1 soldiers and their fauiiics, as oweli as to the public. Tihere is never any great d oin-s hv tile Gian 11r(m-k as 1(st that thley dlo not have somle ilrdon-ilent part to iperformu, and especriais o hen tiley desire to have a goodl (liuer or suipper, then tie ladies of theco p ar le very nitucil in evidence. lFor illstance, at the last gatilerillg ot the post tiley invitedl tile Salt River or Shepherd post to hie present anld lie gucsts of thle \\Vi-ha-llo 11ost A suniituolls feast was set hefore thiem lbv tile W\omlan' lxelicf Corps of Mt. P'leasanlt and( thley also furnishled a good portioll of tile eutcl talilleilt in the wax of siuiging. mlarchinlg, with thle drill of tile youing gnirs, dr essed ill applrolpriate dress. wyitih their flags iiufurled to the bricce 0e wiChl mladle a fiue appeai auce andi pleaisel the audience vcrv much. 'Flie ofhiceirs of 11)11 are:1s followsv iiresidlent Rehecca Gardner: seilil-r vice-ipresilcut, Doia F Daggett, junior svice piresideiit MAars WVeller: secretary, Enti)y Totttii tI eamstrer-. Ellen A. Illicks: cdala)1 O\lMargaret Mtill: conlductor. Janctte Johnlson: assistanlt colldllctol \Pulas Skidmore: guard. Ada Cof fill: assistamt gma d, Lucinda Dtushi pamtriotic lnstrllcfor. Sarali Hoag,press cou resfoiclet, Elila Foilcli mmicllldll 1 sdiai Brosvnistetter;:color hearer No. I jeniiie Browllstetter: cololr bmearer NO.2 Rebecca W'ells: color hearer No'0 3 liAla E. Lea: color heairei 'No 4 _\alilissa Stevensou. The lpreselt numblaer helonging tom the corps is 4. ThIc ohjects of these auxiliary llrgallizattionis are grandi awll noblie. They are to spmecially aidi aldi assist the Graiim Arimy of tile Repiiblic aiid iperpettitite the iuciuorv of their heroic (leali to1 assist such Unioii veterans as need our hielp and iprotectioli. 1111( to exteild lneedlful aid to their svdolos aill orphalls-: to tiinl themn homes and eiipiovillernt, and amssiire thueii of symipamthy aind friends: to cherish anmd ellitilate tIle leeds of our arnuv nurses aind of all loyal svoimen svhio reinheremi hoviiig sees-ice to our country iii her hotir of peril: to iiaiiltaiii true aliegiancee to tile United -States of America: to inculcrate lessonls of patriotisml anmi lose cmf cotmtrv aiuiolig- (Our chilidreii aiid in tile coimmunities ill whiichi we live: and encourage tile sp~reamd of uniuversal liberty and emiual rights to all. 316 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. WA-BA-NO POST, G. A. R. Wa-ba-no Post No. 250, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Mt. Pleasant on the 24th (lay of April, I884, with thirty-seven charter members as follows: William T. Whitney (since dead), John A. Harris, Warner Churchill, George W. Whitney, Archie McSwain, Ira ~Watson, Henry W\alsh, Samuel Woodworth (since deceased), L. C. Griffith, Moses Broswn (since dcceased), John Richmond (now deceased), George Priest. George WV. Myers (since deceased), Fred Pferdsteller, George Francisco, 1rank \V. lalph, George L. Granger, John Block, Samuel Hague, Charles T. WVhitney (since deceased), Samuel W. Morrison. Charles Jeffords, James W. Long (since deceased), William II. Richmond (now deceased), A. A. Loveland. John J. Kitchen (now deceased), John J. Bastella, H. 0. \Vheelan (lately deceased), William H. Carpenter, J. J. Stoner, M. Hungerford, J. Brownstetter. Charles Bennett, J. N. Drake, Daniel Covert (Indian), John Neebes, and John Mull, since deceased Since the organization was effected there have a numbter joined them, until now they number about sixty members. They have lost quite a number by death and removal, especially within the last fevw ecars..As we look over the post as they are gathered, we plainly discover that the time of most of them is quite limited, when they too will answer the last roll call on earth and take their departure for the unknown. The officers of the post for the year 191I are as follows: Commlander, Samuel W. Morrison; senior vice-commander, W\arner Churchill; junior vicecommander, J. Manchester; adjutant, John A. I-arris; patriotic instructor, H. Edward Deuel; chaplain, Lafayette Hall; surgeon, James Hoag; quartermaster, Charles Jeffords; officer of the day, Sylvester Johnson; officer of the guard, Joseph Brownstetter, quartermaster sergeant, James Slater; sergeant major, Mr. Crosby. Too much can not be said in behalf of the members of the post. They were men that enlisted because the government needed their assistance and their reason was not of the mercenary kind, as the pittance of pay would be of no influence for them to leave home and friends for the vicissitudes and dangers of war and go to the front and there take their place in fighting ranks, with the positive knowledge that many of them would never return to their home and friends. RALPH ELY POST NO. I50,.G. A. R. This post was organized June 8, 1883, and the following charter members were mustered in by comrades of Post No. IO1, of Ithaca, Michigan: George ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 3I7 \W. Fouts, Sol H. Fordyce, P. Childs, R. Wellman, J. B. Struble, B. A. Cohoon, F. F. libbard, J. M. Kinter, John H. 1Iillikee, Sidney Clark, Austin Campbell, \\. H. Kinter, George Gruber, Monroe Loomis, Henry Fuller, Ransom Kyes, C. \. Smith. The past commanders are George W. Fonts, J. B. Struble, R. Wellman, A. C. Vredenburg, J. B. Northrop, Thomas Pickett andl. E. Hiblard. The roster of this post numbered, in 1897, seventy-seven members. Quite a number have since been dropped or have lied. Quite a number of the nmembers of that time were enlisted or drafted and joined Michigan regiments; among these are Henry Austin, private Company D, Eighth Michigan Infantry; Calvin Bigelow, Irivate Company B, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry; John Bronk, private Company E, 'TIenty-third Michigan Infantry; Daniel Brickley, private Company F, Twelfthl Michigan Infantry'; B. A. Cohoon, sergeant Corplany K, Eighth Micligan Infantry; A. J. Condon, private Company D, E.ighth Michigan Infantry; Philander Childs. private (tompany C, Eighth IMichigan Infantiy; A\ustin Campblell, private C(opllany C. Eighth Michigan Infantry; Henry Chadwcick, private Companyi E Eighth Michigan Infantrv; Alonzo Converse, private Company G, Fifth 'lichigan Infantry; Edward Case, prixate Company I, Ninth Michigan Infantry: Henry Fuller, private Company II, Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry: Jason lunt, private Conipany G, First Xlichigan A\rtillery; \V. H. Harriisol. private Company D, Second Michigan Intantry; \William Joslin, private Company K, Eighth Michigan Infantry; \W. II. Kinter, private Compnany F, Ftifth MIichigan Infantry; J. \. Kinter, private Complany C, Eighth Aclilhigan Cavalry; Monroe Loomis, private Company I, Eighth Michiganl Infantry: Theo Morton, private Companly A, First Michigan Engineering andl Mlining Corps; F. IM. M cClintic, private Company A, Twenty-eighth Mlichigan Infantry; Joseph XIMers, Conipany 1, 'I\\cwnty-third Michigan Infantly; Lev i Nichols, corporal Company G, Thirtieth Micligan Infantry; A.,C. Vredenlmurg, pri\ate Company (G, Te\\nty-ninth Mlichigan Infantry; C. A. Vredenhurg, private Conllpany E, Eighth Michigan Infanltr; Jeremiah Viniig, private Comipany I. Twenty-fourth Michligaan Ilifantry James Vining, private Company I, Ninth Michigan Infantry; Richard \\ollch, private Company I, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry; Eugene h\-litc, private Company C, Eighth Michigan Infantry; Solomon W\olf, private Comipany C, Eighth Michigan Infantry. The present officers of this post are: Commander, J. B. Struble; senior vice-coniniander, \Willianm Joslyn; junior vice-commiander.l Joseph Moore; adjutant, N. \illoughlby; cuarternmaster, B. A. Cohoon; officer of the day, \Villiami Swix; chaplain, Ilenry Barret; officer of guard, Sherman Allen; 318 ISABEI.AT COUNTY, MICHIGAN. quartermaster sergeant, R. Wellmaan; sergeant major, G. \V. Fouts; color bearer, S. H. Iordyce. This is a good strong post and has in it a large nulmber of patriotic citizens, men holding some of the best and most responsible places in the community. \Vhen you see them together you will notice that they are all on the shady side of life and that they can not stay much longer to enjoy the honors which is their due for the gallant work they did in the defense of their country. It will not now be long before the most of them will have answered the last roll call and will be where the tumult and strife of battle will he no longer heard. May the United States government and all that are now living and enjoying the freedom they fought for, see to it that not one of them shall suffer for the necessaries of life;nd the care they merit \when the final call shall come. Connected with this post is the usual Woman's Relief Corps. This was organized August 7; 189o, and the charter members were Mvra E. Wellman, Catherine Shepherd. IHarriett Bigelov, Addie Picket, Addie Hance, lmmina NMcClintic, Mary E. Fouts. M[ary O. Struble, Dora Cohoon. Mary Nor-throp, Carrie Struble. Luda V. Moore. The names of this list is a sure guarantee that the post has a grand auxiliary body, one that will perform all that is found by theml necessary to be done for the relief and care of the needy or distressed. CHAPTER XXI. N ECROLOGICAL RECORD). This part of a history has some good features and creates some sad reflections: however, it seems to be necessary that those conning the book should have the privilege of knowing, as far as convenient, the term of life meted out to those who came to the county in an early day. An examination of the record of deaths reveals to us that we are all born to die and raises an interesting question as to who has gone or who will go first. There were but few settlers in the fifties, as they did not commence until in the fall of 1854 to come at all and then only a very few families moved into the woods until some one coul(l come before and prepare an abode of some kind to shelter the family when thev should arrive. Andl( then there was this fact, that they were generally a sturdy, rugged class of people. for it meant lhar( work, anr a good deal of it, to fit this county for the habitation of man. The records are only available back to June, 867(, when it is recorded that \iAnna Shepherd died on the 18th thereof, she being an inhabitant of Coe township, and the next one recorded was that of Thomas E. Tlarbison, also of Coe, who died January 8, r87i. Rev. George Bradley. a missionary among the lndians, who came al)out 1857, was aIppointed as Indian agent and fell on the street of New York while there for the purpose of getting his instructions in regard to his official duties: his remains \\ere b1rought back to MIt. Pleasant for lmrial, as his family were all here. His death occurred on the 15th lay of April, 1871. Nelson Mosher. one of the most prominent of the early- settlers, coming to the county about 1857 and putting a small stock of go(ods at the center and staying there for a short timle, then removing to the county seat, and who was elected as pr()secuting attornev at the first county election and was afterward elected to several of the important offices of the countv, was finally overtaken by the grim lestrover onl April 28, 1872. John Irons (Indian), who with his family came to Isabella in i856 and located just west of the Indian school lands, died on May 14, 1883. Jane Baw-go-zhick wvas another of the natives whlo came ablout the same time and located on her selection and who lived here until July 23, I874, when she too wvent to tihe happy hunting ground at the good old age of one hundred and five. 320 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. John and Mary Wab-way also located as Chippewas on the Isabella reservation and lived together as ether Indians live until the good spirit called them and then Mary, being ninety. consented to go on the Ioth day of June, I876, and John, after grieving for a time and finally realizing that he could no longer chase the deer, being ninety-five, concluded that he would follow his good wife and so laid by his cares in this world on the 24th day of December, 1876. John M. Hursh was one of the very early pioneers-in fact, the very first to bring his family into this part of the county, having located on section 22, the land where the normal school is now located, in I855, on February 25th. HIe renained here for a number of years, was postmaster of the New Albany postoffice, the first one in this part of the county, was justice of the peace and on the school hoard and in fact one of the first in these parts. IIe afterward moved to Loomis, this county, and there died on the 25th of Novemher, 1877, at the age of sixty-four. Chief Not-to-way, after whom the township of Nottaway was named, was another of the old timers who came with the tribe and \ho lived until August II, 1881, when he too hung up his bow and arrows and submitted to the inevitable. Everybody used to know in an early day old Father Sheldo-n the Methodist Episcopal preacher. I-e was one of the best and most humanitarian gentlemen we ever met. Hle was good and oiily good. He came here inl the fifties and remained in the field until Novemnher 9, 1882. when he too lpassed to the unknown realm from whence none return. George W. Miller came to Salt River in the fifties and after a time he built a mill and later laid out the plat of Salt River. He was a progressive gentleman and after getting his mill pretty well along sold it to Messrs. Stahlman and Young and then continued on his farm until Decemiler 9. i886, when he passed away, at the age of seventy. William Adams, of Coe township, came in the fifties and located near Shepherd on a piece of land, the same being now the farm of his son, Oliver Adams. He lived to the gcod old age of eighty and died on the 3d day of March, I899. John Hinman was another of the iindians who camie up under the treaty of I855 and located on the reservation. He used to be the boss poler of canoes on the raging Chippewa, andl was the man who brought much of the freight fron Saginaw and Midland to Isabella City and is said to 1e the party who brought the Babbett piano up the river on two canoes lashed together. He remained here most of the time and finally died September 30, 190o. at the advanced age of eighty. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 321 William B. Bowen has the credit of (Iriving the first horse team into tlie county about the first of November, 1854: he caie as far as Salt river with two or three others. lie settled uIpon his land, which lie had blought under the graduation act at fifty cents per acre and was coming to make a home. He continued to live in the county until his death, which occurred March 29. 1892, at the ripe old age of seventy-six. John Q. A. Johnson was a settler in the townslip of Coe, coming here in June. 1855, and located on section 22 of that township. lie was an allround man an11 served in the county as preacher, justice of the peace, sheriff and judge of prolate and finally died in the township of Union, w\here he had settled some years before on tie 17th day of January, 1893. at tile age (of sixty-five. Ransom Kves came to Isabella county in April, I855. and ilought two hundred acres of land in Coe, where lie resided unltil he died in I893, on December 9th. He held the office of sheriff, being elected in 1866 and( was reelected in 1868, thus holding tile office for four years. George Atkins was of English (lescent and came to Isalbella in A.pril. 1855. locatinlg on section 6 i!: the township of Coe, \where he made a farm anll lived with his family for manlly years. but in his advanced age he came to Mt. Pleasant and there resided until the tilie of his death, which occurred June 14, I905, at the advance(d age of eighty-five. William Atkins. the sonl of George. came to the county with his father and remained on the farm.n1d as the father and Imother advanced in age lie co(liucted the work until they had acquirell a colmpetency. He Ilarried aind lroulght up a family and was pr- rosperinlg up to the time of his deatl. which (cculrred 0o Novemlber TI, 9o3. at tlie age of fifty-three years. James W\ilsev was one of tie leading settlers. HTe cale lere in October. 1854, being one of tile first on tile grotlund in the counity. He settled on a farm of one hundred sixtv acres. whichi he took tip lunder tile graduiatiol act. He \\was the first judge of prolate after the county was organized anld served two termls; supervisor of Coe township two termis and held other town offices. ITe cleared about forty acres of his land and died at the age of seventl-one. (n tile 5th day of May. 1882. Rev. 'Charles Taylor cnme to Isabella in February, 1856, and settled on t\-o hundlredl and fort! acres of land lie 1bought. built a log house which was occuplie(l for several years blv him and his family. lie was a licensed Metho(list Episcopal preacher and a very fine man. lTe lived to enjov the fruits of his lard work and early deprivations. He it was who preached tile first sermoln ever preached in the county, aind he it was who madle a trotugh out of a (21) 322 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. black ash log, fixed an iron wedge into the end of a hand spike and punimeleul his corn into meal, which, when mixed into hoe cakes anl baked in the oven, were called black ash Johnny cakes. He lived to see better days and to a ripe old age and died on the ist day of September, I897. at the age of sixty-eight Perry H. Estee came to Isabella and settled in 1855 on section 18 in Coe. He came on foot through the woods and landed on his lanol on tile 4tll of July, 1855, and chopped the first tree toward a clearing. Mr.;. Estee first built a bark shanty twelve feet square, chopped ten acres of timber and then put up a log house which served him and his family for a number of years. He was one of the foremost men of his town and held many of tle offices of the township; was supervisor when they were oblliged to go (o foolt thrnogh the woods to Midland to attend the meetings of the board of supervisors. He was a member of the constitutional conventionl of 1867 and1 wa\s elected as judge of probate in 1860 and held other offices. He never mortgaged or in any way encumbereld his lands and livedl uponi the farml up to the tiiiie of his death, which occurred on the 3ISt day of March, 19o7. at the ripe old age of eighty-two. L. D. Estee was a son of P. H. Estee and \\as about five years old \\lien he moved with his father to Isabella county. He lived here ever afterward. at first with his father and then for himself. Later he was engaged iln b1siness at Shepherd, where he died on October 6, 19o7, being then fifty-seven years old. Richard HToy was another of the away-back settlers, coming to Isabella in December, I855, and taking up one hundred twenty acres of lanll on sectioll 16 in Coe township. He was born in Ireland and when but an infant came with his p)arents to America He was a publlic-sl)iritedl nian and was elected as the first county treasurer of Isabella county. He lived in the county lntil the time of his death, which occurred on the 17th day of May, 19o0. at that time he had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. John Fraser was for many, mnany years a prominent personage in the county. He came here in 1856, having purchased three hundred twenty acres of land in Chippewa township. Tie came by the way of Saginaw, there bluying a team of horses and wagon to transport his family and goods to Isabella. lie was obliged to hire three other teams to bring in the goods anid was collmpelled to cut about fifty miles of original trail through tle woods to get to his land. When he arrived in the townsship there were but five other families in the town, but as he had somle means beside his land he soon cleared off sufficient so that he might colmmence to raise more than sufficient for his own use. He was thrifty and a worker. He built the first frame barn in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 323 the county, lived upon his falrm for a long time and then move tto Mt. Pleasant, where lie spent his declining years, dying onthe 2th day of November, 1907, at the advanced age of eighty-eight. Cornelius Bennett came to Isabella county in the year 1865, in the lmonth of May, fresh from the University L.aw School, having graduated in the law department in March, with the degree of I)octor of Laws. On arriving in Mlt. I'leasant he took up the practice of the la\. blit after a few years he seemed to gravitate towiard politics and lel(l several of the county offices, suclh as cotunt cleric, register of deeds, justice of the peace and judgie of probate. He was a genial, jovial, kind-hearted gentleman and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of a I rge circle of friends. Ile it was who builded the l-ennett House in T882-3 and also was a dealerl in lands. Imakilng a specialty of dealing with the Indians, with whom lie was esl)ecially adlapted. Ile was pulblic spirited and philanthropic. Ile was in an early day connecteld with the bank of Hicks. Bennett & (.Comany. He died May 2, 1896, at the age of fifty-six years. Albiert Fox came to the county just after the close of the (ivil w\ar, in which he was a soldier. He was a good scholar and soon 0iecaiiie identified with the schools of the county and \vas elected to the office of county school sul)erintendlent in 1866 auld liel tile first teachers' institute of the county, which was held at Mt. Pleasant on December 27, I867, at which they iiustered a total of ten teachers. He also held the office of prosecuting attoreyv for the countv and was the first worshipful master of Walon Lodge, 1Free 1and( Accepted Mlasons. Ile afterward became prolprietor and editor of the Etlcrprisc, a weekl! newsspalper then as now. Fox diedl at Mit. Pleasant in February, 1873, leaving a widow and one child. Langdon Bentley came to the couity in 1855, in the spring of that year, coming by the way of Alma north to the Payne settlement, the place where 110n is located the county poor farml-, and from there cut his way north to the north side of the Chippewa river and located on section 3 of the townshlip of Chippewa. I-e remained there for a time and then took up a homestead, where the DePew farm is no\\ located, and in the fall of I864 he was elected county treasurer. In that capacity he served for two terms, at first keeping his office in the old wooden court house and when not busy vwith the,luties of the office (and at that time they were not very arduous) he was ciiaking boots and shoes, being a good shoemaker. Afterward lie took to lumblering and looking pine lands, for which lie was especially adapted. Having made something of a fortune at that, he sold out and moved with his family to Monmouth. Oregon, where he died about T908. 324 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Henry A. Dunton was one of the first men to start a store in Mt. Pleasant in 1864. He had a small stock of goods and only continued in the business for a short time and then sold to John Kinney. He then went out on his farm, where he (lied on January 22, 1882. Charles H. Rodd was in an early day a United States government interpreter for the Indians. He was half French and half Indian and was the first sheriff elected in the county in I86o, at the organization of the county. He was interpreter for the treaty of I864 and was one of the persons selected by the white men to obtain a large tract of the Indian reservation at thle close of that treaty, which signally failed. He continued to live on the reservation until his death, which occurredl oi November 3, 1867. William H. Nelson was one of the very first of the white men that canme to Isabella City, where he and his family located about 1856 or '7. lie built and conducted a hotel for many years at that place and also held the office of county clerk for a time and wvas elected as judge of probate and held that office for a time. He it was that cleared off the grounds wShere the first court house cwas built. He was a most affablle, kind-hearted and social person and when he died, on October 31, I870, he left a host of friends behind to regret if not mourn his passing away. Douglas H. Nelson was a son of W\illiam Il. Nelson and came with his father to Isabella as a young man. After a time he wvent into partnership with F. C. Babbitt, then located at Isabella, and some time afterward \\as married to Nellie, the daughter of his partner. They residled here for some years, when Mrs. I). H. Nelson died on August 14, 1881, and afterward Nelson vas married to the piresent lMrs. Nelson and they lived in Mt. Ileasant until on June I. 1910, when Mr. Nelson died. Francis C. Babbitt was one of the noted persons of the early settlement of Isabella. He came from Cleveland, Ohio, about i857, and located at Isabella City in the mercantile business with one John Eastman. They continued for a time, when E astnman went out of the firm and Babbitt conducted it alone for a time and then D. 1H. Nelson became a partner. They continued for some time at the Mills and then moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he continued in his business up to the tinie of his death, which occurred in 1875 or '6. Mrs. Babbitt continued to live here for a time and then went to Cleveland. Mrs. Babbitt was very much thollght of by the Tndians and they used to call her WVa-sash-conm-nlo-quay, "the wvoman lwho brings light." W*esley J. Corbus settled in Isabella with his family in 1863 anld for a time lived on his farm in Lincoln township. HIe then came to AMt. Ileasant and remained for a time. He was one of the very first doctors to settle in the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 325 county. He was a genial gentleman and enjoyed the respect of all. He was here (luring one of the smallpox outbreaks and attended to a patient in Iincoln until he was taken dolwn with the disease, when he called in Dr. Delos Braman and lie attended the patient until he died, when the doctor was attacked with the disease in a light form. Doctor Corbus remained here for a number of years and then moved to the \West. He died December 19, 1893, at the age of seventy-five. His wife. Christina, followed him on February 9, 9go6, at tle age of eighty. William W\. Struble carne to Isabella county in Octol)er. 1864, and settled upon a quarter section of land in Chippewa and lived there for some time, clearing his land from the timber and putting it in state of cultivation. In 1870 he was elected to the office of judge of prolate. He died July 30, 90o8. at the age of eighty-four years. In the year 186 Albert A. Preston and his brother-in-law, Samuel \Woodwlorth, came from WVestern New York to Isabella county to locate lands for themselves. They secured one hundred sixty acres apiece and then waited for the United States government to pass the homestead law that they might homestead the same, which they did in i862. They continued to live on their land, which was located in Tincoln township. until they finally secured their patents. Tn the winter or spring of 1864 William and Mary l'reston and family moved here and settled in ATt. Pleasant. They live(d here until November TO, 188I, wxhen William Preston died. He was followed bv Albert Preston, who died on July 22. 1885. aged fifty-seveln. His mother, Mary Preston, survi\ved him some three years and she die(l on the Iotli day of Februarv, I888. Samuel Woodw\orth, who married Ellen L. Preston, (lied March 14. 1899. Mrs. Althea M. Falncher, anlother (laughter of \Villiam and Mary Preston, died Septelmbler 13. I900, while Celie E. and Emmia -\. Preston, her sisters, had preceded her some years before to the unkno\wn. Martlha, wife of Albert A. Preston and the mother of Wilber E. Preston, of Mt. Pleasant, died on the 25th day of Felruary, 1900. Free Estee, who was a son of Perrv H. Estee. one of the earliest settlers, w\as born in Michigan, was educated, became a lawyer, justice of the peace tlnsl membler of the ITegislature, an( dliel October 27, 1897. George Moshler, a son of Nelson Mosher. was born in this state and came to Mt. Pleasant with his father. He was a bright and energetic young lman, but met with a sad accident at Coldwater lake and was drolwned on the 23d lay of March, 1878. Elijah D. Wheaton was an early settler in the north part of tle county, \where he settled on a farml alnd cleared and tilled the soil for a time, tlen 326 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. went to Clare, where he became a lawyer and judge of probate and afterward removed to Mt. Pleasant, where he held several offices of trust and was considered an exemplary gentleman. Ile (lied on the 4th day of July, i901, at the age of sixty-four. On the 7th day of November, 1854, Joseph Roberts and family and Patrick Fanning and family moved into the county and made settlement on lands in the township of Coe, Roberts settling on section 2 and Fanning on section ii, and there they hewed out homes for themselves and their families. There they worked, chopping and clearing away the brush and timber and rolling up logs for a house and what other buildings they were able to build and needed. It was a lonely business for a time, but there seems to be a charm about a new home in the forest that you find nowhere else and it seems as if it must be that we get closer to nature there than in a crowded city or a cleared-up country. There they lived and delved until they miade a honme and reared a family, some of whom are still here to represent the kind of settlers they were and have already proven the stability and worthiness of their ancestors. Mr. Roberts (lied in February. 186o. and IMr. Fanning remained until January i8, 1891, when lie too went to his reward, both of them leaving a worthy posterity to mourn their departure. CTAPTER XXII. TOW\NSIIP AND VILLAGES. The early organization of the townships is an important feature of a reliable history of the county. It will to a large extent show where the first and principal settlements were made andl will mark the early development of the different sections of the county; for where the white man planted himself and family there were sure to follow others to help lighten the burdens of living in a wilderness wild, with none of the luxuries or pleasures of life unless you could wring them out of the solitary woods, ott of tle ring of the axe as it sunk in the side of the stalwart oak or maple; the crack of the rifle as it sends its missile after the oundling (leer; tie bark of tihe wolf as lie prowls about your log cal)in and sniffs through the chinks in the wall; or the squeal of the last pig as bruin has alprlopriated it andl hies off to his lair. COE TO\NS II P. Coe towniship w\as the first one organize(l 1) tile Iegislatlre l> act Xo. i, "\An act to organize the to\wnship of ('oe in tile county of Isabella. "Section T. Tile People of the State of Alichigan enact, that the surveyed townships described as towns 13 north. of range 3 w\est, and 14 north, of range 3 w\est. in tile county of Isalella. le and the same are hereby organized into a to\nshipi by the name of the to\wnship of Coe. and the first township meeting therein shall b)e held at the house of Mr. Camplbell, on section 17 in tow\\n T3 nolrth, of range 3 west. Ap\lproved lFebruarv 13. 1855. \\illiam B. Bowen was elected the first supervisor, in the spring of I856. Isabella county not having yet been organized, lBowen was forced to go to Midlandc county seat to attend tile sessions of tile board, a distance of some sixteen or eighteen miles as the crow flies, Ibut aly dlistance ou ll may desire th-rough the woods, s1am1ps and marshes. At the general election, 1856, there were sixty-six votes cast, all of which hadl to be written with pen and ink. ISABEL.,\ TOWNSIrl'..\fter the organization of Coe, and al)olt T857, the balance of tile countyt was organized into a township called Isabella. Charles A. Jeffries was the 328 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. first supervisor. i-e lived at the center of the county, where the county seat was first located. He was also obliged to go to Midland to meet with the board of supervisors, which was not a task to be sought for the pleasure there was in it. It will be seen that he was much farther from the place of meeting than the supervisor of Coe, who was located in the southeast part of the county, while Jeffries was at the center. Jeffries' constituents were mostly Indians, as the Indians had just commenced to move to Isabella county and settle upon the lands set apart for them by the treaty of i855. Up to this time there was no settlement in this part of the county save possibly one settler at the center, John M. Hursh, who had located just south of where Mt. Pleasant now is, and A. M. Merrill, located on section 32, township 14 north, range 4 west. CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP. Afterward, and on or about the I2th day of October, 1858, the townlship of Chippewa was organized out of township I4 north, range 3 west, and the election to be held on the first Monday of April, 1859, at residence of W'illiam Payne and Langdon Bentley. William F. Payne and John Fraser were inspectors of election. At the first election Norman C. Payne ias elected supervisor. These were the three townships organized at the timle of the organization of Isabella county in 1859. UNION TOWNSHIP. Union was the next township to be organized, which was done by the board of supervisors at their session March IT, 1861. on petition of Langdon Bentley and others, asking that the following territory be organized into a township, to be called Union, to wit: Commencing at tile southeast corner of section 12, in township 14 north, range 4 west, running thence west to the southwest corner of section 5, in township 14 north, range 5 west, thence due north to'the northeast corner of section 4, in township 16 north. range 5 west, thence due west to the northwest corner of said county of Isabella, thence south to the southwest corner of township T4 north, range 6 west, thence east to the southeast corner of township 14 north, range 4 west, thence north to the place of beginning. The first townshil) election to be held in the school house in school district No. I, on the first Monday of April, I86:t, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, and Hiram Sherman, Andrew J. Goodsell and Albert G. Ferris to be inspectors of the election. At this meeting W. R. Robbins was chairman and Douglas H. Nelson, deli)ty county clerk. At said election Langdon ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 329 Bentley was duly elected supervisor. The school house referred to was a log school house, and stood on the ground about where the residence of Willianm Crowley is now situated, on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 27, township 14 north, range 4 west. The south part of the county was beginning to settle quite rapidly on account of the passage by Congress of the Homestead bill. which gave to the settler one hundred sixty acres of land substantially free, only requiring of him a small entry fee and a settlement and residence upon the said la(nd for the term of five years: when he had performed that and had improved the same in good faith, he was to have a patent in fee simple of the said land. The ITomlesteald act was passed by Congress and approved May 20, I862. Section 2289, United States statutes, provided, that every person who is the head of a family, and who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years andl is a citizen of the United States, or whlo las filed his declaration of intention to become such as p)rovided by law, shall be entitled to enter one quarter section or a less quantity of unapprolpriated Ipublic lands. As soon as it was kno\wn tlat there were tracts of land in Isabella county tliat could be taken under the homestead law, settlers began to flock into the county, and the lands were eagerly sought for and settled tupon. This brought in many permanent settlers and they spread through the south an1d west part of the county. On the lotli day of January. 1860, the board of supervisors b1ein in session and notice having been given in due form, a resolution was passed detaching from the tovwnship of Isabella and( attaching to tile tow\nship of Coe. township 13 range 4, 5 and 6 west, thus giving to Coe the four south townships of the county. FREMONT TOWNSIIIP. At the October session of the board of supervisors. in 1863. a resolution was passed organizing township 13 north, ranges 5 and 6 west, into a township to be known as the township of Fremont. The first townsllip meeting was to be held at the residence of Jerome Bachelder, on section II. township 13 north. range w\est: Williaml Tiffany. Jerome Bachelder and James C. (Caldwell were to act as inspectors of election, said election to be held on tlle first Monday of April, 1864. The election was held as directed and William Tiffany was elected supervisor. William H. Harrison, clerk, NV. Winters, treasurer, and Norton Skinner, justice of the peace. At the same session of the said board of supervisors and on the 16th of October, the township of Lincoln was duly organized, to consist of township 330 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 13 north, range 4 west, the first annual township meeting to be held at the house of H. N. Griswold, on section 15 in said township, and W. J. Griswold, Wesley Corbus and F. I. Williams to act as inspectors of the election. The township meeting was held on the first Monday of April, 1864, andl. I. Williams was elected supervisor of said town. VERNON TOWNSHIP. Vernon township was duly organized by the board of supervisors June II, T866, on application of Cornelius Bogan, Simon Haggerty, James M. Stough, John Herring, B. C. Farnham, George R. Pcase, O. IT. Farnhalm, George XV. Stine, Patrick McTautghlin, Duncan Carmichael, Abel I\vwater, William Phinnisey, George \\illiams, Jacob E. Shaffer, Jolhn O'Neil and \'. L. Turbush. Said township was to consist of township I6 nlorth, range 4 west, with townships 17 and 18 north, ranges 3 and 4 west. The first election to b)e held at the residence of George \\. Stine, on the second lMlonday of July, I866. with W\illiam Phinnisey, Cornelius Bogan and Jamles M. Stough as inspecto(rs of election. \William Phinnisev was elected sulpervisor at the first election. There were seven votes cast. ROIANI) T)\, NS II P. At the October session of the hoard of suplervisors, held October 9, I866. on application of \. B. Goodwin, (;randerson Norman, \Villialm M. Peterson, Aaron F. Norman, Levi P. Beardslev and several others, township 13 north, range 6 west, was erected into a town to )e known as the town of Rolland, and the first election to be held at tle lumber calmp of Johln Bailey, on the first Monday of April. 1867, Willialm M. Peterson, S. E. Chapman and Daniel Robinson to act as inspectors of the election. In A\pril the election was held and VWilliam ML. Peterson was duly elected as supervisor. BROOMFIELD TOWNSIIIP. Afterward, on the 3(1 day of March, I868, the aplplication of L. C. Griffith and thirty others was presented to the board of supervisors, then in session, for the erection of a townsLip to be known as the township of Broomfield, and to consist of township 14 north, range 6 west. After investigation, it was decided to grant the petitiont, and Broomfield township was set tup, with ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.31 33I atithority to 1101( an electio~n on the hirst MNonday of April, i868. at the luimber caiip of E. 1Hall, located onl section i 6 in sail towvn, E-lijah. Cole, J. H-utchinson andi George 1L. Hitchcock wvcre appointed to act as inspectors of election. At asich clection W~illiam Broomnfield wvas (tlulv electedl as supervisor, whicih \\sas vcry appropriate action, for the rcason that the township was namedI a fter and] In hionor of their towvnsman. COLDWATER TOWNSHIP. Onl the same day that B~roomifield was organized. an app~licatio~n usas iniade b S. S. Smith aiid thiuv ie ters, for the organization of a town, to lie known b-v tile namic of Coldwater, and to consist of township 16 north, range 6 wvest; the inspcctor-s of election to coiisist of I I. A. Birubaker, H-. B. Robcrts and IV. WV. Rverson;tlic first clcction to he held 00l thle first Moniday of April, i868, at the store of 'H. B. Roberts. At tlic timie appoiiitcl tlic said electioil was held an-d J. J. Coflcv seas clected its supervisor. SHERMAN TOWNSHIP. October 13. t868, thie biardl of supcrv'isors. on tile petition of Mil1o TF. Dean, Cvruis DtinbarHi andh otheris, prain. g for- this erectioIn of a towlishiip ((it of towsvushlip i 5 iiorthu, rangc 6 ssvcst, to lbe knowuu as thlc township of Sherman, bv resoliitioil offerrol hv 1) H. Estee, tile prayer (If thle said petitioners was dIiihy granted aiid tile timie for the fiist tow\Ilsilip iieetiilg for the electioiu of towii officers wvas tixcrh as tile 'qthi dayu (If October, i8S68, at the house of Cyruls Diunblar, audi Cyrus tDunbar N i o 'T. LDcaii and Aaron Oshern were duIv aippoiiltedh as iilsledtors, i)f said electioil At such clection johii T. Cohioon svas elhectedl to the office (If S011er5islri (iiLMOREt 1TOWNSHIP..\ Pli I, 87o. this application of citizeils of townshpi6iothrne (vest, having been plreseintedl to the hoard (If supherviso rs Mill havinlg ibeen dutlyN cdMlsithleredh. Johln MNaxwell, then suplervisolr of tile tolvrishlip (of Lincoln, offered a resolution oIrdlerinlg the erection of stcli a township, wvhichu was aldophtedl, audi leaillel Gilmorel, after Geiieral Gilmore, which ilalie wuls stig-,(estedl bv Rufuis Glass, thle first to~vnlshih) ileetiiig to he ileldi at the residence dof Ruffuis Glass, 1)11 thle uortheast quarter Of Sectioii 24, lie hbeing one of thle first settlers of thuut towil sail tlowilshlil electioi tdo hbe heidi on the 28thl day 332 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of April, 1870. and Rufus Glass, Amos F. Albright and Jessie Wood were made inspectors of the election. At which election Rufus F. Glass was elected supervisor. WISE TOWNSIIP. Wise was the next township to be erected, and to consist of townships I5 and 16 north, range 3 west. Such a petition was presented to the board of supervisors at their session on January 4, I872, and was duly granted, the election to be held on the first (lay of April, 1872, with George \V. W\ise, Benjamin L. Loyd and Cornelius V. Hulburt as inspectors, said election to be held at the school house in the village of Loomis, which resulted in the choice of Isaiah Windover as their supervisor. DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. Deerfield was next added to the list of organized townships and was composed of township 14 north, range 5 west, and \as authorize(l by the said board of supervisors on the 14th day of October, 1874. pursuant to a petition of William M. Peterson and others, after an investigation and report oi a committee of said board, duly appointed to investigate the legality and sufficiency of the proceedings. Such report being favorable to the organization of the township, on motion the said town was duly organized, to be kno\\n as the township of Deerfield. tl:e election for township officers to be held at the house of Joseph S. Brazee on tle 5th (lay of April, 1875, and William MI. Peterson, Frederick M. -Sanderson and *Malden R. Beach to be inspectors of election. A supervisor demanded the yeas and nays on the adoption of the resolution. The result of the vote was yeas, Messrs. Bogan, Bown, Brodie, Broomfield, Davis. Doxie. Estee, Fordyce. Grinnell, Mattison, Richardson and Voorhees; nays, none. At the April election for town officers W\illiam Peterson was chosen as supervisor. NOTTAWA TOWNSHIP. On January 8, 1875. a petition vwas presented to the board of supervisors for the organization of the township of Nottawa, to consist of township 15 the yeas and nays was demanded, and on roll call resulted, yeas, Messrs. Bogan, Bown, Brodie, Broomfield, Doxie, Estee, Fordyce, Wooden, Mattison, Richardson and Voorhees; nays, Mr. Davis. The first Monday in April, 1875, was fixed for the first election in said township and to be held at the house of ISABELLA COUNTY, MIClITGAN. 333 Eli Ford; Eli Ford, Michael McGehan and John Hyslop were to act as inspectors of election. At said election Michael McGehan was elected their sulpervisor. There were thirty-three votes cast, five white and twenty-eight Indian. This township is named after an old Indian chief of the Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River Indians. At the same session a petition was presented hy H. H. Graves and eighteen others, asking that the board detach from the township of Isabella sections I to 12 inclusive, in township I4 north, range 4 west, and attach the same to the township of Union. Also a petition to the same effect by Peter Jackson and thirty-six others from the township of Isabella. Said petitions were duly referred to the proper committee and after due consi(leration the said committee reported in favor of granting their request. and by a resolution offered by Supervisor Bogan the request was granted. This action left the county duly organized into townships of one full township of land of thirty-six sections each, except the township of \ise. DENVER TOWNSHIIP. Centennial year is at hand. The board of supervisors are in session. A petition is presented to saild hoard for the organization of the township of Denver, which was at that time a part of the township of W\ise. They asked that the territory known as township 15 north, range 3 west. be detached fronm Wise township and be organized into the township of Denver, which, after due deliberation, was granted, the first meeting to be held at the house of Robert Pearson, on the 3d day of April, 1876. withlJames Render,.Ason Fritchet and Robert Pearson as inspectors of election. \t said election Robert learson was elected supervisor. This rounds out the full list of township organizations for the countv and gives to each its full quota of sections of land, namely, thirty-six sections, or aplproximately twenty-three thousand forty acres of land, to the township, or three hundred sixty-eight thousand six hundred forty acres in the county-. JFor ready reference, commencing at tlhe southeast corner of the count-, and following the township and range, we have first the townshil of Coe, namied after Lieutenanlt Governor George A. Coe. He was lietutenant-gover1or at the time of the organization of the township. The next one west of Coe is the township of Lincoln, named after the lmartyred President. The iext one west is Fremuont, nameed after General Fremont. Next is Rolland. Then returning to the east side of the county and north of Coe lies (Chippcwa. named after the river of that name passing 334 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. east and west through the said township. Next west is Union, andl west of that comes Deerfield. deriving its name from the prevalence of deer in the early days of its settlement. West of that comnes Broomfield, named ill honor of one of her earliest and lnmost respected townsmen, \Villiam Broomlfield, a citizen of the town when organized and still living near his old home. Returning again to the east side of the county and north of Chippewa, is located Denver; west of Denver is Isabella, of the same name as the county: next in order is Nottawa, named after the old Indian chief Nottawa. \Vest of this lies Sherman. named after General Sherman. Returning again to the east side of the county anid north of Denver, we have the township of Wise, named after the pioneer of the town. George W. Wise. Going west, Vernon is the next, and next to that is Gilmore. And finally the sixteenth and last one is Coldwater. THE FIRST SETTLE.RS. The first settlers went into the township of Rolland under the lolomestead act of Congress, i862. The settlers were Granderson Norman, who took his location January 9, I863, Charles D. Rolhertson, William B. Goodwill, Amos A. Norman. John Martin, Daniel W\. Robinson, Paul Smith, S. E. C(haplman. William Cowden, \Villiam AM. Peterson, Daniel l)oxy, A. Sanderson, A. Geer and others. In this township there were in 1876 about sixty colored people and they were armong the best settlers. They were industrious and honest and wvere in all good citizens. The first grave was dug on section 6, near the center. and contains the remains of Amos A. Norman (colored), who died of insanity. The first settler in the new township of Broomfiel(l was I)oraville \\'hitney. who came in the fall of i86o. and the first school house was built on section 31, and in this school house the first quarterly meeting was held by Rev. F. B. Bangs, in I866, but the first sermon was preached by one Aldridge at the house of William Broomfield, the minister coming into the county barefooted. W\e understand that some good Samaritan furnished him a pair of boots to preach in, but allowing him to take theln off before lie left the county. The first Sunday school formed in this part of the county was in Rolland, at the first school house built there and was in 1876. Loomis was first started by Messrs. Wise and Loomis, they building the first mills. In March, 1871, George W\. \Vise, with thirteen men, landed where Loomis now is and commenced to build a saw iill, and on the tenth day they had a portable mill running and on the twentieth commenced making shingles also. Their mill was kept running most of the time day and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 335 night. cutting lumber in the day time and shingles nights. The mill burned in May, 1875, but was soon replaced by another. \'ise & Loomis with others built and stocked a store. fThe Flint &- Pere Marquette railroa(l built a depot and a hotel was built. called the Hursh House. There was also another shingle mlill built, which \was run until 1874, lwhen it blew up, killing olie man. In 1872 a complany was formed and built a hemlock extract factory at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, and it has manllfactured a large amount of extract. Afterward a shingle mill was lut into the factory. Fletclcr 'Tubbs opelnedl up the first farm in tie township. The first religious services were heldl il the mill of \Vise & Loomis by C. V. I lulbert someC tie inl June, iS1; a bible class was formed about the same time. In May, 187J, a sclhlol district was forimed, a school liiuse built and tile ir-st school was taulght therein lby Mliss Allen. MIr. (ardy Iwas the first man to intrloduce that grand curse to human society, a saloon. The first cause tried was for assault and battery. CITIES AND V\LLAGES. Thle organization, growth and deveelopmlllent of cities and villages in a cotilltv is an interesting subject. In a very early day in the history of.Isabella county, ini fact before there was very much of a popullation in tlle couiitv. and very soon after the tide of emigratiol of tile Chilppewa Indians commlenced toward their reservation in Isabella, there \were two piarties, Jo11)h S. Eastman and Francis C.,Babbitt, who migrated to what was afterward known as Isabella City, and they, ill connection with A\. A. Fitch, tlhen Indian agent, p)latted a part of sections 2 aiond 3 in the noM\ to\wnship of Union, and caused the plat to l)e recorded ill Volume I of Deeds o:n page 156, the same being recordedl oin Janluary 23, T861. This was the first plat recordedl in the county It flourished for a few years, anti tlhen it began to declille, as Mt. I'leasant. tlie colnty seat, had been located andl as only oine aind one-half miiles distant. E.astman & Babllltt opened a general store there. William 11. Nelson. afterward judge of probate, Iuilt and coinducted a liotel. In 1857 the Indian mills were built, consisting of a saw mlill, the old sash-saw make, with a capacity of altott four or five thousand in twenty-four hours. A grist mill. with one run of stone. Tlhe power was from a dam across the Chippewa river. Major James \V. Long also settled there and carried oil business, built a store and afterward moved it to Mt. Pleasant. Babbitt & Nelson also moved their buildings and business to M t. Pleasant and thle city of Isabella ceased to be a city, and only a few houses now remain to mlark the spot once noted as headquarters for the Indians of the tribes of Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black Rivel. 336 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Duncan Carmichael homesteaded the first eighty acres that was settled upon in Vernon township. This was on June 6, I865, and was located on section 22. He was piloted into the town and upon the land by the writer of this article and at the time he settled there he was the only white man north of the Indian reservation. Soon thereafter Villiam Phinnessy, \Villiam Turbush, J. M. Stough, G. xV. Stine, C. Bogan, Peter Alger, John Baker, John Herring moved in alnd settled upon land and made them good homes. Dr. J. H. Maynard was the first physician settling in the township, he settling on section o1 in October, i867, and doctored anid kept "batch" for four years. The first child born in the town was Isabella Carmichael, born Atugust 19, I866, and was named after the couity. The first death was Murdock McSwain, who was smothered in a well. The first marriage was B3. B. Bigelo to Kittie Stough, on the 4th of July, T867, wiho were married by old Father Sheldon, Methodist Episcopal minister. Everything that was used at that time had to be brought in on the back of a man or an Indian pony, and from ten to fourteen miles. Pork was then twenty-five cents per pound (a little ahead of present prices), flour twenty-three dollars per barrel, groceries in prolortion, and then to he carried ten to fourteen miles over a trail and through the forest. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Keith at the house of Mr. Shrope, one mnile south and one mile west of Clare, in 1867, and the first Sllunda school was organized at the same place and in the same year. John Armstrong was elected sulperiltendent. SALT RIVER. The village of Salt River was platted by Elijah Aloore on the 5th day of September, 1866, and consisted of two blocks and twenty-t\-o lots, and is located on the northwest quarter of the nortlhwest quarter of section 9, township 13 north, range 3 west. On this plat the same Elijal Moore built a hotel which for many years was the only tavern in that p)art of the county. In I867 George W\. Miller, one of the old settlers of the place. platted Miller's first addition to Salt river, consisting of three blocks and divided into forty-five lots. This plat was considerably built upon in the early days of the village, and there are some very good buildings on a portion of it at the present time. The principal business of the place has moved farther west where the village and the railroad is located. Later, in 1870, on March 9th, Miller laid out another plat on tle soutlhwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 13 norlth.l range 3 west, called Miller's second addition. It consisted of one block and tw\elve lots. But little building has been done on this plat. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 337 On the 26th (lay of April, 1870, Elijah Moore laid off another plat, consisting of one block and five lots. This was located just south of his first plat and was adjoining the highway running north and south, which street is called Chippewa street. VERNON CITY. Vernon City was established by John L. Markey in the year I870, when, on the 3rst day of October, lie platted the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of sectioa 3, in township of Vernon. There were one hundred and eighty-four lots in sixteen blocks. Quite a little village sprung upl, but as Clare City was just across the line, it did not obtain any great dimensions. It is situated on a fine elevation overlooking the city of Clare, and makes a desirable place for one desiring a quiet abode. I.ONGWOOD. Longwood was established on February 30, 1871. by Major James V. Long and John P. Hawkins. It was located on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section i i, of Union township, and just across the Chippewa river from Isa;lella City. Not munchl w\as done by the Major to estalblish a city. He did. Iho\ev-er, build a small factory for the making of "M'onarch Bitters" and at one time offered t o (o something toward the building of a court house for the coulty. provided the county seat w-ould be moved to his burg. The people did not seem to take kindly to the proposition and the scheme failed for want of cheerful sulpl)ort. And soon after the Major moved all of his buildings ancd1 belongings to Mt. Pleasant and became a part of tle city. erecting a very large hotel on the spot now occupie(l by the CoInmercial block. LOO NIS. The village of Loolis was laid out by Erastus G. Loomis, George W. Wise and E. F. Gould November 21, 1871. and being situated a part on section 9 and a part on TO. There were platted three hundred and ninety-one lots, in thirty-five blocks, surely a sufficient amount of land I)latted to warrant a goodsized town. The village thrived for some time and became quite notorious as the toughest place in the county. It was at first a lunlbering and saw-mill to\wn. In the early days of the town, it was mlade up largely of lumber laborers, many of whom were reckless and dispose(l to drink and carouse, spending all of their earnings in the saloons. Very soon after the mill was (22) 338 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. established one Cady opened a saloon, which was soon followed by one Long Tonm with another and which proved to be the roughest kind of a place. This man dealt out death and destruction in unstinted quantities to all that called. It soon became a menace to all good government, as well as to the safety and good order of the community. For all that, the place grew to be quite a village, until the lulmbering ceased and the town was forced to delend upon its agricultural resources and then, being new and but little land cleared, there was not much to support a village and as tie mill was closed the laborer sought work in other places. The hotel and hoarding house closed for w\ant of patronage. There is now left only a couple of stores, a plostoffice, school house and few other concomitants that go with a small community, with good railroad facilities, the Pere Marquette running through the center of the village. The people can Tnow live in peace and quietude. The saloon has long since ceased to annoy the good citizens of the village, and the church and school house are steadily repairing the waste places. SHERMAN CITY. Sherman City, Cahoon's plat, was laid out September T, T873, by John Cahoon and wvife and was located on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 6, in the townshii) of Sherman, and consisted of seventeen blocks with one hundred and thirty lots. It was located on the Chippcwa river with the principal part on the east side. It was a good place to build a city. He had a mill site. A few dwellings were erected, when Johnson & Ellis conceived that there was sufficient room and prospects for a larger city than 1Mr. Cahoon had realized, and they platted a part of the south half of the southeast quarter of section 31, in Sherman township, also a part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 3T and a part of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter and a part of the northeast quarter of the northwvest quarter of section 6, in Sherman township, in all twenty-four blocks and one hundred and fourteen lots. The public highway was located lon the section line between section 31, Coldwater, and section 6, in Sherman, so that the Johnson plat had the advantage of being along the highway and equally well situated. Everything being equal, it had the greater natural advantage and the village gravitated along the section line and nost of the business was located there. The town thrived for some years, grew and became the headquarters for that portion of the county. Being upon the river, it was a central point for lumbering operations in that portion of the great lumbering district of the northwest Chippewa. Thus, while in its prime the village grew. A hotel was I ISABE,I,A COUNTY, MICHIG.AN. 339 built, dry goods and grocery stores were opened, hardware was pit in, eslecially building and lunmllering hardware supplies. So long as the lumbering continued it was a thriving village, but at last the lumberman was seen no more on her streets and the logs had ceased to sail down the raging Chippewa on the high tide of the spring freshets. The farmer could no longer dependl upon the men of the camp for Iis market nor find employment (luring the winter months for himself and his teams, so he was forced to change his occupation to that of a farmer indeed and to clear up his farm, subdlue the soil, put out his crops in the sprinlg and reap in the fall. Under the change wrought by conditions l)eyond the control of the settler, the township has put on a new garb; the fields have been cleared of the brush and stumps and there are now to be found somie of the most fertile fields in the county. some of the finest buillings to be seen anywhere in farming countries and the farmer is 1no1 prosperous to what he was when he delp)enledd ulon the labor he could secure in the lumber camps. The village has reduced somewhat its size and some of its strenuousness, but those that survived the ordeal are still there and doing business. D)tSIIVILI.I.. Dushville is the next to be considered. It was platte(l on ()cto)ler 25, 1876. by \Williami \Viley Dtsh and embraaced tile northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15, in the township of( Fremont, co(nsisting of fifteen blocks and about one hundred and twenty lots. It thrived, several business buildings were built and several good stocks of goods were plt in and sustained. It is situated in a fertile section and -ood farms are continuous to the village. The greatest drawback to its development was the cedar swamp lying along the \est side of the place. but that has been graded and graveled so that it is now a very good highway and very generally traveledl. It holds its own as well as any of the small villages in the county for the reason that they have some very live and substantial business nlen, men that would be an honor to anv burg. BLANC ARI). Blanchard is a village in the southwest part of the county. It was laid out and platted July 17, 1878. was on the northwest quarter of section i8, tow\nship 13 north. range 6 west. It is composed of forty-two blocks and aboult one thousand two hundredl lots. It w\as a lively city in its palmy lays, when lumbering was in full blast. Thev built saw and shingle mills, with 340 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. everything that accompanies such an industry. While the lumbering lasted the town was very prosperous. There was a large amount of timber tributary to the village and it lasted for quite a number of years. At last it was exhausted and then the inhabitants were obliged to turn to agricnlture or move to other parts. A sufficient number of merchants and business men remained to supply the wants of the community and they now have a bright little village and have a very good country about them. WINN. On November 21, I885, one Samuel C. Williams laid off a plat consisting of eight blocks of eight lots each, it being on the north half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15, township 13 north, range 5 west, and being an addition to the village of Dushville. which is now called Winn. In 1885, when the Ann Arbor railroad was laid out and built through the lands of I. N. Shepherd, west of the village of Salt River, it was thought that it would be a proper thing to do to build up a burg between the railroad and the old village, so A. XW. Wright. X. Shepherd, J.. I. Kenter, Sid-ne Clark, E. Gruber, James Campllbll, WV. E. Wessels and John V. Struble platted a large tract of land and divided it into some twenty-four blocks and about four hundred lots, there being about eighty acres of land on either side of the section line between sections 8 alll 17 in the township of Coe. The result has shown their foresight, as they now have one of the finest little villages in the state. The main street has grown pl) with first-class lbusiness houses and with good mills. They have a fine farming country about them, with many of the most prosperous farmers found in the county. Evcrything about the burg indicates thrift and prosperity. Oscar T. Brinton, in 1887, platted seventeen and one hundred and fortyfour one-thousandths acres cf the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section I5, township T6 north, range 6 \est. This plat was afterward vacated. Again in 1889, on the 25th day of February, O. T. Brinton, Joseph Gerard, Lewis George, with their wives, platted a portion of the same forty acres into four blocks and seventy-two lots. This was first started as a home for those that had congregated there to work at the coal kilns. This part of the county was at that time covered largely with hard wood timber. The timber was several miles from any market and Mr. Brinton conceived the'idea of cutting the timber and converting it into charcoal, which at that time bore a good price. The industry was carried on as long as there was any timber ISABELL.A COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 34I that could be reached and be made available. The Pere Marquette railroad built a spur from their main line into the village, principally to carry out the charcoal and such other commodities as were there to convey. The charcoal business lasted for several years, but was finally exhausted and then the little village declined until the farmers could get a start. A considerable of the village went out, but enough were left to form a center of trade in that vicinity, and now they have a few business houses. The unfortunate feature is that the railroad company removed their track an(l all of their belongings, leaving the village without a permanent and substantial market. OTHER VILLAGoES. Del win, a small burg located on the Pere Marquette, b)etween -Mt. Pleasant and Coleman, about eight miles out of Mt. Pleasant, was platted February i8, T888, and consists of five blocks and forty-four lots. It has a station and a few buildings. It has a very good country around the place: has good railroad facilities and will grow some as the country shall develop. Rosebush was platted by James L. Bush on the 28th of December, 1888. and was laid off with twelve and thirty-six one-hundredths acres of land on the south half of the souih half of the southeast quarter of section lo, townsship i 5 north, range 4 west. and is near the line of the Ann Arbor railroad and is accommodated by that road. It consists of four blocks and fiftvfour lots. Calkinsville is an addition to Rosebush and was platted by Elias B. Calkins, January 12, I890, and consists of four blocks and fifty-three lots. This is located on the southeast corner of section I, township 15 north, range 4 west. These two places really form but one village. It is a good, smart little place with a hotel, bank, elevator, hardware and dry goods stores, with all other kilds of shops and places for business, is located in a first-class farming country, well improved, and are now awake to the building of good gravel and macadam roads, which, with their railroad facilities, will make it an ideal place for a farmer to buy and hold farming land. Elm Grove addition was platted November 8, 1894, and is laid off in the form of outlets, is situated on the west side of the railroad and depot. It is fine land and may some time become part of the village, blint it is probably some time in the future. It is what its name indicates, elm bottom lands, very rich and productive. but not enough as at present to warrant much of a city built upon it. The village of Weidman is another of these burgs that sprung up when lumbering was the principal industry in the county. The village was platted 342 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. September I5,-I894, by J. S. Weildman and E. F. Guild. It lies in two townships, a part in Sherman and a part in Nottaway, on section I8 and the balance on section 13 in Sherman. It consists of somte thirty-four )locks, divided into about four hundred and fifty lots. There are sufficient lots to warrant a good sized village. They have aheadv a fine nucleus for a considerable of a town. They have a good, safe bank, wtith several moneyed men at their back. Have a good flouring mill, elevator and the usual number of thrifty stores. It also has had to pass through the ordeal of changing from a lumber town to a farming village and they have passed the ordeal much better than most of them have. The railroad is still there to give tlem a good outside market for their surplus proutlcts and to bring anything they may need fromn the outsi(le world. Bissell's addlition to the village of Shepherd was platted by e lecta M1. Bissell. It contained sixty-seven and one-qluarter acres of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 13 north, range 3 west. This was platted in the form of outlots. It is a good piece of land and if the village of Shepherd shall grow very fast, in time this property may be used for building purposes. It seems to be quite a distance from the business portion of Shleplerd. Lawrence addition to Brinton was platted by George ILawrence January 3, i89o. consisting of two blocks of thirty-three lots in all. It lies on the south side of the principal street in the hurg and has its share of business and business houses. Beal City is another small hamlet of a few houses, store and post office, a Catholic church and parochial school. It is in the center of one of the very best of farming communities. It is settled largely with (ermans. a thrifty, prosperous and intelligent class. This is one of the places in the collilty that you can stand on a raise of ground and count from one spot nine large ovalroofed farm barns, a sight that is seldom witnessed anywhere in the state, or in any other state. It speaks volumes for their industry and thrift. Caldwell is another little hamlet, the lands sold off by Iletes and bounds. It is located just east of the Chippewa river on section 7, Deerfield. It also has the usual concomitants cf a small village. It is away from any general thoroughfare save a common highway and is located about ten miles west of Mt. Pleasant and about six miles from Weidman. Leaton is another of the snmall places that have sprung up along the I'ere Marquette railroad, and is loJcated about six miles northeast of Mt. Pleasant. It has a station, stores, a school house with two or three churches; has a wonderful fine farming country west of them and a fairly good soil on their east. It is a thriving little place, with good railroad facilities, and nothing but good work required to make them a happy and prosperous people. CHAPTER XXIII. CITY (F MT. I'LEASANT. In the summer of (863, -Harvey and (George Morton, of New York Ipurchased of l)avid Ward the original plat of grounld wheie the village of Mt. Pleasant (now city) was located, and caused it to be platted and recorded, which was done in February, 1864..t that time there were in buildings the old court house; a residence on lot o1 of )lock 7, built and owned Ib Doctor Burt, afterward bouight and occulpield b William Preston and family; it is still standing; also a house built by Joseph Miser, built on the block where now stands the Fancher 1lock. During the summler and fall of 1863 tile lMortons built a hotel on the lot where now stands the Donovan hotel. The old MIorton house was a woodlen structure of the style and finish of a village hotel of fifty years ago, consisting of twenty-two r(\- oms, and was of sufficient capacity for the wants of the public for some time. lt was run for a timie by the builder, I tarvev Mrorton, and then. in May, 1864, Wallace W. Preston rented it and ran it for a time, when John M. IHursh bought it. He conducted it for a time and then, about May, 1865, sold the property to W'allace W. 'Preston. who took possession and conducted the hotel business for about three years, and then rented it to D)avid Alorse, who run it for albout tw\o years, when Preston sold it to William Bamnber. He conducted the business for a time and then sold to Frank and Mike O'I oro, who ran it until 1883, when Patrick Donovan plurchased the plroperty and condullcted it till 1890, when lie colmmenced1 the erection of a forty-five room brick structure, heated with steam and finished in a commodious and attractive manner. He finished and openled his ne\w building in i891 and is still conducting the business. It is the best situated of any hotel in the city. It has lieen a good paying investment. The next hotel was built by Henry Dunton on South Main street, about half a block off of Broadway. It was first used as a store building. He used it as such for a time and then turned it into a hotel. THe afterward sold the property to John Nicols. This hotel finally burned under peculiar circumstances. It had a mortgage upon it, thle mortgage was foreclosed and sold by the sheriff in the forenoon. and at ten o'clock at night of tile samne day it was burned to the ground. 344 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mt. Pleasant commenced her commercial career in an humble way. HIenry Dunton opened a small store in I864, run it a short time and then sold it to John Kinney. In the summer of I864 J. C. Groves brought in a small stock of goods and also sold to John Kinney. In the winter of 1864-5 Moses Brown was running a peddler's wagon; the roads wAere silmply trails through the woods, just so one could with great caution and perseverance get along. lie broke down at Patrick Clary's, on the south line of Union township, and Mr. Clary hitched up his ox team and brought Moses out of the wilderness into the city. Moses placed his goods in the hotel Morton and proceeded to lay the foundation of what was afterward a successful business. Soon after Alexander Stevenson built a store and dwelling on North Mlain street and opened up a store of groceries and dry goods. He remained in business for a number of years and then closed out his business and moved away. Not long after Stevenson opened up business he was followed by WVillianm N. Harris, 'about I866, who rented for a time and then, in 1869, built upon the block where the Commercial block now stands. He put in a stock of dry goods and groceries and continued in business for several years. Soon after Harris came, Babbitt & Nelson moved their store building and stock of goods from Isabella City to the lot where the Foster furniture and hardware store is now located. Then came the Dcughty brothers, Wilkinson and Jared H. They opened up a store where the Fancher block now stands, and remained there until they were burned out in g875. In 1876 they built a double store on the south side of Broadway. it being of brick and the first brick store in the city. Theirs was the first hardware store in the county. They remained in business for many years, but when they moved into the new stores divided the business, Wilkinson taking the dry goods and Jared the hardware. Jared afterward built a three-story building farther east on Broadway, moved out of the store on the corner and rented it to Marsh & Lewis. In the fire of 1875 thirteen business houses were destroyed, among them the store of Carr & Granger, which was situated at that time on the north side of Broadway, so in I877 they built their brick store on the south side of Broadway and moved their stock of drugs and groceries into their new building, and they are still doing business at the old stand. Carr & Granger and the Doughtys are the only parties that have continued in business continuously since I869 and 1871. PLATS AND ADDITIONS. Business houses and residences kept dropping here and there so that the old plat was filling up. and enterprising men thought that it was opportune ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 345 that additions should be added, and Langdon Bentley, Elisha H. Brooks, F. C. Babbett, W. H. Lockwood, Lucius R. Parker, Emily L. Case and John M. Ilursh platted what is known as the Bentley addition to the village (now city) of Mt. Pleasant. This was in December. 1867, and( comprised a part of tile southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, townshilp r4 north, range 4 west, consisting of fifteen blocks and eighty-one lots. It is today one of the hest built portions of Mt. Pleasant. July 13, 1875, J. Rufus Smith platted twenty-three and one-quarter acres of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of said section 15, into nine blocks, containing eighty-six lots, now knownv as Smith's i(ddition to said city of Mt. Pleasant. 'his joins the old plat on the southwest. This proved to be a judicious p)roceedingll for the reason that it is nearly all built upon, there being scarcely a vacant lot. A little later 1ion. Samuel Wr. Hopkins. desiring to letter his woi-dly condition, conceived the idea of adding to his material wealth a few more shekels, andl to aldd glory il the perlpetuation of his namlle (lid, with I. E. Arnold. Sarah C. Huntress, C. M. IBrooks and E. J. \Wiley, on the i,th lda of October, 1875, p)lat a portion of the south part of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section.5, aforesaid, into what is known as Hopkins' addition to said city of Mt. Pleasant. This consisted ()f six blocks and tifty-one lots. This. too, is now all or nearly all built up)on, with manyl of the finest residences in the city..Among those now living on the said plat is Mr. I lopkins, Howard Chatterton, of tile firm of Chatterton & Son, Robert C. Wardrop, IF. J. Thiers, Hon. F. H. Dodds, Saimuel Morrison. While tie city was building ul) on the south, it was also extending east, and on Jule 27. 1877, John Kinney platted the lnortheast quarter of the southeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section 15, into thirtyone blocks, having two hund(red and fifteen lots. A large plortion of these lots are now1 occupied by residences, among themn some of the most costly and elaborate of any in the city. It contains the quiet part of the city, not disturbed lby the presence of the large number of normal students that are found in closer proximity t(o the normlal school on tlhe south side of the city. THall's addition was the next to be added, platted ly Alexander Hall and \ife March 29, 1880, and was a part of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, aforesaid. It consisted of eight blocks and thirtyone lots, block eight consisting of but one lot, as that was the location of his lhome where he lived for a great many years. Partridge addition lies west of Hall's and is part of the southwest (luarter of the southeast quarter of section 15 aforesaid, and consists of five blocks and is divided into twenty-two lots. It was platted l>b D. Scott Partridge, 346 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Frank and Jared Doughty, S. A. and Fred Huntress, S. \V. Iopkins, Francis L. Brooks and Sarah t'. Henderson, April 9, i88o. It adjoins Normal avenue on the east, and has several residences of the normal professors. among them President Grawn, Professor Calkins, Professor Bellis and Bessie \Vightnman, head of the drawing department. Bennett's addition was laid out by Cornelius Bennett and wife oi Mayv 5, I882, being the east thirty-three and one-third acres of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15, and consisted of sixteen blocks, divided into one hundred and twelve lots. This is p)retty well built ul) \\ith residences and lies just east of the grounds of the Pere Marquette railroad. July 31, I884, Thomas J. IFordyce and C. Bennett plattedl ifteen and ninety-two one-hundredths acres of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section io, in towvnship 14 north. range 4 west, into eight blocks, divided into fifty-one lots; some of these have heen built upon. while the rest are still vacant. John Kinney platted his second addition September 15, 1884, covering a part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section T15, into nine blocks and seventy-two lots. This addition has )eeln partially built ul), but there are still some lots suitable for good residences. A few houses had been built on the \-est side of the C'hiplpe\\a river. Leaton & Upton, owning some lands on that side, thought it \\oul be a good idea to plat the land and on the iilth day of October, i886, they laid off a part of the northwest quarter of the nolrthwlest quarter of section 15. into four blocks, containing thirty-six lots. Most of these lots are now\ occupied ly permanent residents. Hopkins & Lyons seem to have been ilmpressed \ith the same spirit, for on the next day, the i2th day of October, they platted a part of the south onehalf of the north one-half of the southeast quarter of section 16, into t\\elve blocks and one hundred lots. These are nice, rich garden lan(ls and also good residence property. November 5, 1887, Young & Vedder platted a part of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15, into lots and blocks and kno\w as Young & Vedder's addition to Mt. Pleasant. There \ere thirty-two lots in six blocks. Douglas H. Nelson was the owner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, within the city limits, and on the 18th day of May, I888, he platted thirteen and thirty-eight one-hundredths acres of the forty into eighty lots and six blocks. A few good houses have been built upon the property and the balance is suitable for city property or for farms. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 347 Addition of Stone's outlots were p)latted by Mary and Celia Heather, in connection with Stella G. Leaton, MAay I5, 1891. It consisted of sixteen lots on East Broa(dNay, being a part of tile north half of thle southeast quarter of section 14, tOwn'shil) I4 north, range 4 west. These lots are quite well built up, they are good groulinds for gardening alnd(l some (of thleml are used for that purpose. The o0l gentleman. \Viillianm Bamber, some years ago, h ought and built up onl a plart of the soutthealst quarter of the soulthwest (Jquarter of section 15 aforesaid, which property afterward camie to his son \\illiaml, w1ho on October 5, I89T. platted his holdingS inltO twellty-two lots. MAost, if not all, has been sold and largely lbutlilt uipon. The next add(l(lition was thlat of:MIartins, which was a plart of thle nlortlh half of the northleast quarter of section 22, knlowil as the JIlirshl farii, it being the first piece of land settled tl)On in the towlnship. Thlle Peol)le's Savings Bank. by its presidenlt, Hlenry I)ittri-an. andll its secretary, John F. Ryan, execulte(l the plat onl the 21St (lay of AMarch. 1892. There were twenlty-two lots. It is well locatedl and has a nlumber of good resi(lellces ll])Ol it. College Hill addition was addedl aboutt the same time, collsistinlg of two blocks, and being also a part of thle ol( Jollhnl M. -lurilsh farm. This was plattedl May 26, 1892, is a fine level piece of ground. and largely )llilt over, being inl close proximlity to the normnal school. whlere large numlbers of st(udents find roolllms anld boarld. Bennlett & Burrowxs ad(dledl another plat to thle city Jlllune 2, 1892, colsisting of sixty-eight lots ill eight blocks, and being a part of the nlortlhwest qutarter of the southlwest quarter of section 14, and lying on East Broadway. The soil is good for gardlening as well as for builling purposes. John (1. I lalnce was the llext to seek his fortune by laying out anl addition to thle city. This timlle it wxas ion the southeast part of the city. and was a part of the northleast quarter of the northeast quarter of sectiol 22, in said township. On the 3(1 of October, 1892, T-lance anld NV. NV. Prestoln Iperfected the plat, consisting of fifty-five lots in three blocks. This plat is also near the nlormalll school buihldings, is of goodl soil and is building up as fast as coull be exlpected. The Alt. Pleasanlt Til)rovelllellt Company was formed in thle year 1892 for the plirl)ose of build(linlg nlorlilal school butilling (1and( equill)pinllg the same to lbe tised for the l)urpose of condll(luctinlg a nlormilal school, esl)ecially to prepare teachers for teaching ill thle rtiral schools of the state. A part of the old( John(1111 M. h11irsh farm was seculredl alllnd divided( illtO lots allndl Iblocks, being plattedl Decemlber - 1. 892. Thlere were to hunllldre(d a1nd(l sevenlteenl lots 348 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and twelve blocks. Ten acres of the said ground were laid out in one block and donated to the normal school. The school building was built upon that block, which was numbered on the plat as block TO. The school building was placed upon this block. the balance of the block anl a considerable portion of the plat in fact was and still is covered with native hardw-ood timber and is as fine a park in its natural state as call be found in the state. More will be said alout the normal school under a separate head. On December 27, I892, Moses Brown laid off into lots and blocks a part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section I4, ill township 14 north, range 4 west, there being sixty-eight lots in four blocks. There is also in this plat a part of the south half of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of said section 14. This is also good farming land. It was built up some and the rest is used for farming purposes. October 16, 1893, Edward S. Crowley and wife platted two pieces of land, one addition to Mt. Pleasant and the other in outlets, the lands being a part of the north half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the other a part of the north half of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 14 north, range 4 west. John F. Ryan, in iApril, 1896, laid out the east third of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14 aforesaid, into two blocks. Lea's addition was added in I898, being the north half of the south half of the northeast quarter of section 16, and divided the same into twelve lots. Not many of these have yet been built upon. John Kinney and Dr. Peter E. Richmond, in July, 1904, platted the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15, into seven blocks; this was so recent that not much has been done upon the addition. In 1894 and 1895, the then Commercial Bank platted what was called South Mt. Pleasant and an addition to South Mt. Pleasant, being a part of the southwest quarter of section 27, and being located alout two miles south of the center of the city of Mt. Pleasant. It is so far from the city that it has not met the hopes and anticipations of the founders. It has one redeeming quality-it is good land and can be utilized for farming purposes by its founders, and as the bank has busted, it makes a good place for the officers to retire and reflect upon the uncertainties of life. EARLY BUSINESS IOUSES. Dennis Ryan commenced the grocery business in Mt. Pleasant on South Main street in the year 1878 and! continued for a time, when he was burned ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 349 out, which occurred April I, I885. IIe then bought a building which was being constructed on South Main street. This he finished and finally moved into it, where he remained doing a good business until I889, when he was elected county treasurer and went out of the grocery business. B. Grossefent commenced business for himiself in T902 in the confectionery and bakery business. He continued in that business about one year and then added groceries and has been engaged in that ever since. He is having a good run of trade and has bought the building that he occupies as a grocery and the one adjoining, so that he is very nicely situated. In the year 1870 H. H. Graves came, in the government employ, to Isabella City and finally located there for a time. Soon after lie came, Maj. J. \V. Long was sent ull by the government to designate the Indians as to their competency and he, too, finally settled there. He built a store building which was occupied by Crane & Gilman as a general dry goods store. They remained there until 1874 and then m-oved to Mt. Pleasant with their families and stock of goods and remained here for some time. The Major also bought a piece of land on the east side of the river at Isabella and built a store there and I.ong & \Vestlake opened a drug store \\hich they carried on for a time there and then moved to Mt. Pleasant, where they went into businless. The Major finally took down his store buildings and moved them to *Mt. Pleasant, having secured the lot where tlhe Commercial Bank block now stands and put them on tlhe lot, one on tile east side of the lot. which was occupied by Anngell & \\ood, and L.ong & \Westlake put their stock of drugs in the west one. next to the Carr & G(ranger lot. These buildings were moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1874 and the Major had also bought the lot tlat Doctor Richmond's office is on and had built a dwelling house there for his family. There being a necessity for a court room, the Major conceived the idea of taking his two stores, removing the roof of each facing each other and then putting up rafters that should reach from the peak of each to a peak common to both so as to cover the space between the two stores and thus make another store and also lhave a number of rooms in the second and third stories and this was done and completed and turned into a hotel called the St. James, whicl remained there until the fire which (lestroyed the St. James hotel, about 1882. after which, about 1885, the Major sold out and mIoved away. The burning of the St. Jaimes hotel caused some changes to be made. as Thomlas AMcNanmara was occuping one of the stores and Fred Pferdsteller another. McNalmara removed to the Tunis \W. Swart store, on the southeast corner of block 16, where Swart had, in 1879, built a brick store building. 350 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. About i885 the principal men and firms in business in Mt. Pleasant were Carr & Granger, in the drug and grocery business; in dry goods, John Maxwell, E. E. Wood, A. E. Chattelton, I". A. & \. E. Ward; in staple and fancy groceries, D. H. Gilman. WV. S. Hunt, D. Ryan, E. G. Curtis, F. I.. Davis & Company, andt Kane Bros.; in (dry goods, boots and shoes were T. McNamara, H. M. Angell and W. Doughty; strictly boots and shoes, WV. II. Yerrick and Alex Hall; in jewelry were C. H. Thompson and D. Switzer; in hardware, L. N. Smith, T. H. Doughty and George Falkner & Company. The hotels at that time were the Bennett house, built in 1883 by Cornelius Bennett and run by F. A. Stebbins and Marvin Richardson; the Bamber house, at the corner of Main and Broadway streets; the Peninsular house, operated by J. N. Vancise; the Union hotel, by M. S. Garvin, and the Exchange hotel, by Linus 1). Estee; the Bamber house, conducted by Patrick Donovan, who built the present Donovan house in I890. And, by the way, he is the only landlord now in business who \was in the hotel business in I885. All of the rest are away and out of business and most of them are now deceased. Of the drug men in business in I885 there is now\\. \\. Cox and Granger. Charles Westlake run the city drug store in the early eighties and McQueen & Ralph the Main Street drug store. Iley, too, are out of the business. At that time J. E. \\ilcox andl Fred Pferdsteller were in the furniture and undertaking business. The millinery business was represented by Mrs. C. Kimball, O. S. Stanton and Ruth M. I)avis. For clothing we had Sam May, and he is here still and in the same business: \adhamis & Farrell and Frank F. Foster, both of the last gone. Russell & \Whitney were in the insurance work, and in real estate were Hopkins & Lyons, Hance & I)evereaux, Brovwn & Leaton, A. B. Upton and \\. I. Cutler. V. F. Conlogue was the lone dealer in agricultural implements and in farm wagons and buggies. The dentists at that time were Dr. G. A. Goodsell and J. B. Van Fossen. Of liveries, we had George McDonald and W\hitney Brothers, with V. K. Brown. About these days, Proc & Bamber \\ere running a foundry and planing mill, which has long since gone out of commission. F. E. Prince & Company had a hoop and novelty mill and were doing a good business. That, too, has gone, and Fred has gone to Texas, where he has made a small fortune. Mt. Pleasant at that time boasted of a novelty works owned and operated by Charles Jeffords and Charles C. Whitney. They manufactured doors, sash, blinds and did scroll sawing and ornamental work. ISABELLA COT'NTY, MICHIGAN. 35 1 The city of Mt. Pleasant has had a slow and steady growth. After the great fire of 1875, which destroyed nearly every business house in the city, the parties losing their property by the incendiary fire (lid not lose courage. Although but few of them had any insurance, still they went to work with a will and soime of the burned (district was rebuilt with brick. The I)oughty Brothers built a double store of brick two stories high in 1876 and what gave them additional courage was the building of the then new court house, \hich is still standing. In 1877 Carr & (;ranger built a large two-story brick store which they soon thereafter occupied with their grocery and( drug store and are still at the ol(l stand, except that Mlr. Carr was removed bv death about the 27th day of i)ecenber. 1910. In the year [877 the Fancher brick block was erected on the southw\est corner of block 18. It is a two-story building, intended for tw\o stores and( with offices in the second story. The east half was fitted for a hardw\are store and was rented to L. N. Smith. a hardware merchant, who remained in it for seventeen years. Then he built in T894 on South Main street where he continued in business for several years, when lie sold the stock to Frank B. Clark, w\ho remained for a timle and then Clark plurchased tlle hardware stock of Jared II. Doughty and rented the Doughty hard\\are store and moved in. combining both stocks. Clarlk continued the husiness for some years. when he sold his stock of hardware and business to Johnson & Hlarper. They continued for a time and then Johnson bought out Harper and is still conducting the business. Smith has retired from active business, but still owns his store and it is now rented to a clothing firm. One of the first of our merchants was lrancis C. Babbitt. He came to Isabella City at first and when the Indians first settled there. He was from Cleveland, Ohio. Startinig with a verv small capital, by saving, and prurient management and the full trade of the Indians for several years, lie was able to amass quite a competency. lie remiained for a few years at the mills and then moved his buildings and business to Mt. Pleasant and established himself in the northeast corner of block 16. where the firm of Babbitt & Nelson continued in business until the death of Mr. Babbitt about 1875. About A lugust 31. 1897, the building and lot was sold by Nelson to the Foster Furniture and flardw\are Company and they took possession and commienced to improve and beatitify the property preparatory to putting in a new stock of goods, which, as soon as it was complete(d, were put in and they commenced an active and very profitable business and kept it up for a long time and tuntil a disastrous fire overtook them in June, I905, destroying the building and injuring mlany of the goods. As soon as the insurance matters were 352 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. adjusted they colmmenced the erection of a fine three-story brick building, which was finally completed about December 9, I905, and they moved in with a fine stock and have been doing business ever since. They now have one of the best corners for business in the city and one of the finest store buildings and they are doing a nice ald safe business. With their furniture and hardware, they have conducted an undertaking establishment and have done a handsome business in that department. Another old firm was that of Doughty Brothers, who came about 1869 and opened a hardware business on the southwest corner of block 13, where the Fancher block now stands. They continued in business there until the fire of 1875, when they, with others, were burned out. They then bought some lots on the south side of Broadway, opposite where they had been in business, and in 1876 they completed a double store of brick and two stories high with basement. They then divided their stock, Jared IT. Doughty taking.the hardware and Wilkinson Doughty taking the dry goods, he drawing the east store, where he continued in business up to the time of his death, which occurred on February 7, 1909, and after his death his son, Ralph Doughty, continued to carry on the business and is still at his post waiting upon his customers as of yore. They have always been considered a good and reliable business house, and have in the time they have been in business done a very extensive amount of trade and today Ralph is enjoying his full share of patronage of the city and country. Jared H. Doughty took the west and corner store and continued his hardware business for a number of years and then, finding his quarters too small for the business, he, iln the year i883, purchased a lot just east and adjoining Carr & Granger and built a three-story building of brick and adapted it especially for the hardware business. As soon as it was completed he moved his stock into it and continued to carry on the business until he sold his stock to F. B. Clark and rented the store building to him. Mr. Doughty was a constant man in business, was always at his post and did a fine business all of the years he was so engaged and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor and care, which he is justly entitled to. The business when sold to Clark was a union of the I,. N. Smith stock and the Doughty stock. Clark continued in the business for a time and then sold to Johnson & Harper and then Johnson took over the Harper interest and is still conducting the business. Alexander Stevenson came September 17, i867, and built a store and dwelling combined directly opposite and west of the court house and put in a stock of groceries and some dry goods. He continued for a number of years and then closed out and went to Ann Arbor, where his children were then in school, and finally died-there. MAIN SYFREF I, NIT. PLFIASANT', LOOKING, SOUTHI ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 353 William N. Harris was an early merchant here, locating in the city about January, i866. He rented a store on the southwest corner of block 13, Mt. Pleasant, and opened a dry goods and grocery store. He remained there for about three years and then built a store on the northeast corner of lot 4, block 17, and moved over there. He continued doing business as before and remained several years, when he closed out and moved to British Columbia, where he died and was brought back to Mt. Pleasant for burial. Moses Brown was another venturesome individual who commenced business in an early day, as noted, above. After he made his start he prospered and carried on a lively and paying business. He changed locations several times and finally, with Mr. Balmer, built what was for some years known as the Brown block, located on the northwest comer of block 24, Mt. Pleasant, a three-story building of brick, well constructed, but at the time too far from the center of business in the city and, times being dull, there was not much to invite a change to that particular place, so that it did not prove to be as good an investment as they had expected and after a time the property was disposed of and Mr. Brown went out of mercantile business. He had invested somewhat in real estate and laid out an addition to Mt. Pleasant klnown as M. Brown's addition. He built a brick dwelling house upon a part of his addition where he made his home up to the time of his death, which occurred April 8, I907. \Vorden & Gavitt came to Mt. Pleasant from Ohio about 1867 or I868 andl erected a building on the north side of Broadway, on block 13, for a drug store. They commenced business in that line and continued the same until 1871, when they sold the store and stock of drugs to F. W. Carr. They remained but a short time and then went back to Ohio. Mr. Carr having bought and entered upon the business, soon thereafter George (Granger took an interest in the business and the firml name was Carr & (ranger and has remained so ever since. They remained in the first building until the great fire of I875, when they, with the rest of us, were burned out. They commenced immediately to rebuild and in sixty-six days they moved into the new building. This was a wooden building two stories high. They remained in this store while they were building the one they now occupy. which they commenced soon after the fire and continued at it until 1877. when it was completed and they moved from the wooden building to the brick and have been there ever since. They have been very busy men and have (lone a very large business in the retail of drugs and medicines and also of groceries, carrying at times thirty thousand to forty thousand dollars w\orth of stock and doing at times a large wholesale business. (23) 354 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Carr died very suddenly on the 27th day of December, 19Io, and since that time Mr. Granger has gone on with the business. It is a great load on Mr. Granger and as he has richly earned a rest he is reducing the stock with an idea, we understand, that as soon as it call be done with proper regard to all concerned the business will be closed, up and Mr. Granger will take a long-needed rest from the active business of a store and spend more time on his farms and with his fat cattle and occasionally take a stroll up the river where the trout are always pleased to see him and seldom refuse to nibble at the tempting bait that he casts before them. IIe has a competency and as there is no need, of his further spending his time over the books of a store he ought, in justice to himself and his family, save his strength and take especial care of his health. In I875 the Fancher store was burned with the rest. In 1877 he built a double brick building suitable for two stores and offices above. As before stated, L. N. Smith occupied the east portion for seventeen years as a hardware store. The west store was rentced.November T, 1877, to Angel & Wood to be occupied( as a dry goods store. Thev continued in the business until November I, I88i. It was aftcrward rented for a time to E1. Angel and he continued for some time and after he went out then Alpern & Company took possession and remlained for sonic timie, w\\hen S.. Harrison went in with a stock of dry goods and ran the business for solme time and then went east to New York state; after which Seiticr & Comlpany wenit in and remained for somle time, dloiig a large business, \\hen he concludle( that lie ought to be in a larger city and moved to Tolelo. )Ohio. In i9To, w\hen Seitner moved away, it was rented to F. D. Graves for a racket store and he continued in that for a time, when he sold to the Wattermans. XWatterman had taken the east store, having bought out the stock of AMr. Zank, the firm being then Watterman & Hagan Company. Timrited. This firm continued in business at that place until February T5. 1903, w\hen the \\attermans bought out F. D. Graves and they took posession of the west store and have continued in that store ever since and are still occupying it. The Watterman Brothers have since enlarged their business to such an extent as to require more roon and when the Kennedv Brothers;and Patrick Leahy vacated the two one-story buildings north of the Fancher block they rented those and added to their business to correspond to the extra room. This change was made about November, 1907. They continued for a time in this way until they and the ITagan Company each of them desired more room and neither desired to relinquish what they had, but finally Mr. Hagan, seeing no prospect of obtaining more room where he was, bought a ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 355 double lot across the street and in I910 built a fine double store of modern style and finish and about the 15th of last October moved his stock ot goods to his new quarters. As soon as he moved out the Watterman Brothers took possession of that store also and commenced to remodel it to suit their purposes and are now running a large department store of many kinds of articles such as are generally found in such a store. They are all good workers, attend strictly to business and are doing an excellent business and are reaping their reward in an advanced patronage. They are introducing several new lines in their now extensive stock, which has already an extensive variety. When they have all of their lines in place they will have a model store and one where all can get a fair deal and their moneyC's worth. M r. Hagan started in with 1Mr. \Vatterman, as above mentioned, and continued in that namtie until \\atterman bought out Graves and then Hagan took in lMr. ]:Proud1 an the firm was ITagan & Proud. This continued until about the first of January. 19)o6, when Mr. Proud went out of the firm and Mr. Hagan ran the lbsiness alone. He continued until about January, I909, when the business \\as taken o\er )\ HIlagan & Company, a joint stock company witl ten thou1sand dollars capital, all paid in. This organization is still conducting the business and in their new store they surely have a fine show and are oillg a clever buisinless and ldisplaying a fine line of goods. TIhey are pl)rgressiv\ e atd will surely, with their advantages of a fine store and good location. reap a good reward from their business. Away back, about 1877. V. S. Hunt and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary IA. Iclliion. calie to \ lt. I'leasant a;n Ilpurchased each of thenm a business lot where the Kane Brothers are now located. They each built a building for business land HTTIlt started in the grocery business. He was a bright and alert indi\vidual and very eager to do 1)usiness. HTe kept a good stock of goods and was alert to keel the Ibest and freshest il tile market. lie prospered and some tinie after Ibilt a fine brick dwelling, the one where John Neff now lives..\fter awhlile and albout 1879, he purchased another buildillg lot amhl lnilt tlhe brick store n0ow ow\iled by.Alrs. T[cNutt and occupied by her brother, \Mr. H-arris as a bakery. TMr. Hunt, after building his brick store, imoved his stock of groceries into tle new building and continued in the business until al)out T883. when i le sold his stock of groceries to Chattertons and the buildingt to (;Gruner. \who established a bakery there and contintued it up to the timie {of his death and after thlat his widow continued in the husiness up to 1go(), \\ihen she turned the business over to her brother, Ralph Harris. who is still ruilining the business. Tt has been a fine business and a fine place for the business. 356 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In 1883 the Kane Brothers came to Mt. Pleasant to start in business and bought the Henion building and also the east building formerly owned by W. S. Hunt, he having sold the property and Mrs. R. S. Johnson then owning it. The Kane Brothers started in the grocery business and continued in that for the space of eighteen years, doing a good and profitable business. Then they sold out the groceries and opened up a boot and shoe store. In I902 they concluded to build a brick block and entered upon the work. Having completed that, they then moved their stock of clothing into the new building and also opened up a clothing department and have since that time continued to handle both departments and with eminent success. They are reliable and steady. workers, always accommodating and anxious to please and satisfy their customers. They have done a handsome business and have built up a good and substantial trade and stand today among the strong men of business. They have made good money and today are on easy street. Palmer & Taggart, druggists, started in business together on December 20, I902, in the building where they are now located on East Broadway, north side, and have continued and are always at their place of business. Palmer had been employed for about eight and one-half years with Carr & Granger just before he started in the present enterprise and Taggart had been in the drug business for himself in the city of Olivet for some six years before coming to Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Palmer is at present city treasurer and has held that office for some time. They are attentive to business and are doing a good business. They do not carry a large stock, but are credited with having good fresh drugs and medicines, and as being honest and competent in their deals. Will Lewis, the clothier, is the next on the street east in the clothing business. He started in Mt. Pleasant twenty-eight years ago clerking for Thomas McNamara and continued with him for six years, when he formed a partnership with Lew Marsh and they together bought out the clothing stock of Frank Foster, who was then in business here and had been for some time and was then located in the Hance & Deveraux block on the north side of East Broadway street. They remained at the same stand for some six years and then bought the J. H. Doughty store on the south side of Broadway and moved their stock of clothing into that building. There they remained until March 8, I908, when they sold the buildings to the Exchange Savings Bank and the firm then dissolved, dividing their profits and the business and each went their way. Mr. Lewis took a short rest and then opened another gents' clothing ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 357 and furnishing store where he is now located in the Dusenbury block on the north side of Broadway and is having a fine trade and doing a splendid business and following the old plan of a fair deal with all who come. Mr. Marsh, after a short rest, rented the John Neff building on South Main street and put in an up-to-date stock of clothing and gents' supplies, put in new and up-to-date fixtures and furniture and is doing a very satisfactory business. He has been in the city for a long time until everybody knows him, as he clerked for Foster for a long time before he and Lewis bought him out in about I889. W. W.- Cox, the druggist, is located in the Deveraux block on the north side of Broadway street. He is one of the ancient business men of the town, having started in business here in I884. He started on the south side of East Broadway and was there two years when he moved to his present quarters. He is a good, reliable and substantial druggist and business man, attends strictly to business and has made a success of it. You will always find him at his post ready to wait upon his customers, keeps a good stock and pleases his customers, and what more can anyone do. The Normal Drug and Book Company is an organization formed a few years ago as a successor of the Fox & Thiers and afterward the Thiers drug and lxook store. Fox came here and located in 1895 and Thiers followed the next year and they were together until I898, when Fox went out of the firm and moved to the north. F. (. Thiers then continued the business up to 1907, when he and others formed a stock company of the business and it has continued in this form up to the present time. Mr. Cowdrey & Rowlader are the principals in charge of the business and have been for some time, as Mr. Thiers has been interested in other classes of business, being connected with the Isabella County State Bank and dealing in real estate and loaning money on his own account, so that Cowdrey & Rowlader are now in charge of the business and are well adapted to it. They are punctual and well informed in that class of work and seek to satisfy all customers and are surely making a success. Their stock is full and complete in both drugs and books, also stationery-in fact as to all that is expected to be found in such an establishment. Continuing east on Broadway, we come to another of the old established and well respected boot and shoe firms, Henry Diittman & Son. Henry Diittman started in business some twenty-eight years ago on the south side of East Broadway in the stand where Alex Hall was located. He remained there one year and then bought a wooden building where he is now and moved into that. This was in I883. He continued in business at this place 358 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. until the fire of 1894, which burned his building. They immediately commenced to rebuild with brick and soon had a fine brick store completed and moved into it and have remained there, one of the reliable dealers ill boots and shoes. In I901 the business was taken over by H. Diittman & Son, the son being Edward Diittman. This is the present form of the firm. They surely get their share of the business and are as surely entitled to it, as they are considered as one of the most reliable of business firms. They carry a large stock from which their customers may select. They are reasonable in charges and reliable in recommendations. They intend to furnish you with just what you want and at a fair price and in all things be square and upright in their deals. Sam May, the clothier, is another of the solid men of the city. He has been in Mt. Pleasant over thirty years and in business all of the time. -lHe is very attentive to his business and ready at all times to meet you at the door and show what he has for sale. lie will treat you as a gentleman and give you the worth of your money. He came when lie had to come by stage from St. Louis to Mt. Pleasant. Samn has soume knowledge of pioneer life as. well as mercantile business, having had long experience in both. Frank A. Sweeney came to Isabella county some thirty-eight years ago when the country was wild and not much settled. HI-le had the pleasure of coming on foot from St. Louis to Salt River and there he secured an old gray horse to help in the balance of the journey. Ihis mission was looking land and timber, which he followed for some time and then, in 1i88, he concluded to enter the mercantile business at XMt. Pleasant and located on the spot where he is now doing business. He put tip what then seemed to hibm to be of sufficient capacity for what he expected to do, but after being in business for a time he saw that he needed more room and in T897 he remodeled and enlarged his building. His business has been general groceries and with that he has an elevator and handles beans and seeds. He has had a good business in his store and elevator and has also dealt some in real estate and timber and lumber and, being a genial, happy and companionable fellowv, has occasionally united business and politics and is now enjoying the honor of being one of the aldermen of the first ward of the city. P. Cory Taylor, the druggist, settled in Mt. Pleasant on September II, I888. He came from Williamston, Michigan, and, with his brother, started in the drug business on the spot where Keenan & Son are now located on the west side of South Main street. They remained there until November of that year and then moved north on that street to the store where Minto Woodruff Company are located, next to Foster's furniture block. There ISABELLA COUNTY, MICI] IGAN. 359. they carried on the business for one and one-half years and then P. Cory bought out his brother and continued the business. IHe was in all fifteen years in the Nelson building and then moved to the Jacob Neff building, remained there six years and then, when the Exchange Savings Bank changed location, they fixed up their vacant bank building into a modern store building and Mr. Taylor took possession of that and is still occupying it. He carries a large stock of drugs and. medicine, wall paper, books and stationery, school supplies, kodaks and phonographs and other things too numerous to mention. He is (loing a large and prosperous business, gives good satisfaction and is considered one of the stanch merchants of the city. On the same street and on the same side of the street is located Johnson Brothers' shoe and clothing store. John II. Johnson and James P. Johnson came to te county about I883 anc( were employed in lumbering, rwhlich they followed until about T893, when they built a store on the west side of South Main street and in 1894 put in a stock of shoes, both ladies and men's wear, and followed that for eight years. when they added men's clothing and furnishings and have continued the same from that time. They have made a success an(l are doing a capital business, making money for themselves and doing good to others. They have a large and convenient store, two stories and a basement, all occupied by themselves and whoever calls on them wvill be nicely treated and surely made better and happier. Johlln.. Kenney &c Son are another of the prosperous firms of tic cit-. They have been in business for the past eighteen or nineteen years and are carrying a large stock of groceries, dry goods, clothing and shoes-in fact, a general assortment of almost anythilng in that line that you may (want. Mr. Kenney carried on the business alone until about ten years ago and then his son Mlike became a partner in the business. They are carrying on a very large and lucrative business and probably have as many customers as any in the town. They are rushing all the time to keep up with the trade, are generally liked and are bound to succeed if fair dealing will do it, and it surely will. Keenan & Son commenced business in Mlt. Pleasant in 1893 in the line of meats and canned goods. They built their brick block in that year and continued the business. Their store is a two-story and basement building, with all of the appliances for the meat market business. After continuing in. that line, they then added groceries, so that for some years past they have been carrying both these lines and have made a success of the business. They are good business men and look after their affairs personally. When you go to the store and ask for any article that they have for sale you may be quite 360 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. sure that you get what you call for and will at all times be nicely treated so long as you appreciate the favor and return the compliment. Jesse Struble also has a meat market on the same street which is located in the L. N. Smith building which has been fitted up so as to be a model market building. He opened his business during the last year and is carrying on a good and satisfactory market. He has been for years a dealer in cattle and other fat animals and is a good judge of all kinds of meat and can furnish you anything that your appetite may crave. Although he has been but a short time in this particular line, he is doing a very satisfactory business and giving good satisfaction. On the corner of South Main and Michigan streets, in the McNamara building, is located the firm of Pappas & Terkos, Greeks, who are engaged in the candy business and run a soda fountain in connection, also make and dispense ice cream, all of their own make. Their fountain is of the latest style and make, being the 191 I style. It manufactures its own ice, so that they (lo not have to depend upon the city ice. It is really a very nice, commodious and up-to-date piece of work and in warnm weather will no doubt be an attractive and wholesome portion of their business. They are experts in making candies and are doing a fine business and say they are here to stay. They purchased the business of Patterson Brothers in October, I908. Patterson Brothers were here some four or five years and had made a very good settlement, when they sold out and removed from the city. On the opposite side of South Main street, and south of Michigan street, is located one of the principal milliners, Mrs. Ella Fishley. She located in Mt. Pleasant something over a year ago, coming from the village of Clare. She carries a good stock of millinery supplies and is doing a good business, considering the time that she has been in the city. She is bright and alert in her business, gives good satisfaction and her trade is increasing to her great satisfaction and that of her customers. Thomas Dougherty, the music mall, has been in the city for some twenty-five years and has all of the time been in the music trade in some form. He started in a small store just north of the Donovan hotel and remained there for two or three years and then moved to the building that McMillan now occupies on South Main for a coal office. There he remained some five years and then moved to a store just north of the Fancher block where he remained about a year and then went back to the Welsh store, which he bought. He remained there two years and then sold the store to Sam Coverstone and moved into the second story of the Neff building, where he remained for a year and then moved back to the old stand north of the Dono ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 36i van hotel, where he remained for five years and then moved to his present quarters in the Doctor McEnte brick store, just south of Michigan street. Here he is now snugly located and doing a large business. He has not been asleep, for if he had been he couldn't have moved so often, but it seems that he is like the boy's snowball, that every time it rolls over it adds one more layer of material; so with Tom-he just accumulates and now has everything you want in the music line from a jew's-harp to a piano and it will surprise you to go into his place of business and see all that he has and the splendid bargains you can make with him. He has guitars, mandolins, violins, organs, pianos, phonographs, both Victor and Edison, sewing machines, a cart load of records, sheet music till you can't rest-in fact, it would be easier to give a list of what he hasn't got than of what he has. And he runs the United States Express besides. Now just give him a call and see if he doesn't make you happy, and if he can make a little out of you he will be happy also. Martin Welsh is another groceryman that has been here for some time. He came to Mt. Pleasant about twenty-four years ago, clerked for a time for Dennis Ryan and then bought a new stock of groceries and went into business for himself and has continued in that ever since. About five or six years ago he moved into the brick building where he is at present and has continued there, doing a fine business and one that is steadily increasing in volume and in profits. He keeps a good class of goods and gives general satisfaction to his customers. The next one on that side of the street is that of Morrison & Dains. Thev have the honor now of being the oldest firm in continuous business in Mt. Pleasant. A few weeks ago it was Carr & Granger, but on the death of i. NV. Carr they, ranking second, became first. Mr. Morrison came into the city in 1871, when the place was very small, and went into the lumber and shingle business and has been an active business factor ever since. If any one can tell what he hasn't been into that is legitimate, we should be glad to note it. He was for himself for some time and then took in a partner, Mr. Dains, about tswenty-six years ago. They have handled real estate, mortgages, all kinds of lumber and shingles, driven logs on the river, clerked, run an agricultural implement store, bought out all kinds of broken and bankrupt stocks, sold bicycles, run a repair shop for the past twenty years, had a garage for the past sixteen years, sold automobiles for several years, and bought a brick store building in I894 where they are now in business. Sam has acted as under sheriff for a time and may be considered as an all-round man of business. The only way that we can account for his versatility in business is that he was born on the banks of the Kennebec river, in Bath, Maine, and if we 362 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. were sure that he would not object we would say in the year of our Lord 1846. They are successful operators and have the ready money always to take any good thing found laying around. They are good citizens and are entitled to all of the prosperity that they enjoy. Mr. Dains, desiring to keep abreast the times and the ambitions of his partner, accepted the position of under sheriff last winter and is now enjoying that distinction. Daniel Anderson was in the grocery and shoe business commencing in I884. The first firm was Anderson & McLellan, who occupied the present Anderson block on South Main street. The company continued for about two years and then Anderson bought out his partner and for fourteen years continued the business alone. He then sold his boots and shoes to Morrison & Dains and the groceries to Will Hapner. Hapner continued in the business for some two years and then sold the stock and it was removed out of the city. Mr. Anderson remained for a couple of years in Mt. Pleasant, then moved to Detroit, where he remained for two or three years, and then returned to Mt. Pleasant, where he still lives to enjoy the fruits of his toil for the time he was in business. He was a careful, prudent trader and made many friends while in business and money enough to keep the wolf from the door. Anderson built his brick block the same year he commenced business at Mt. Pleasant, and owns it still. The Minto Woodruff Company is another clothing, shoes and furnishing business house, located on the west side of South Main street, next the Foster furniture and hardware store. They have been in business here about eight years. Mr. Woodruff, who is in charge of the business, was originally from Union City, Michigan,-and an old head in the business. They are carrying a good stock and doing a fine business. They have a centrally located place for business, being so near the main crossing of Broadway and Main street that they catch the eye of all persons coming to town. They are fair dealers and will give you a generous price if you want to buy and, by their square dealing, they are justly entitled to the reputation that they have earned since they came into the conmunity. Stephen Dondero is another dealer who is entitled to favorable notice in this history on account of his faithful and efficient work done here in his line of work. He is a dealer in fruits and confectionery, together with all kinds of nuts. He came here from Owosso in I899 and commenced his trade in a small way in a small store building on South Main street, east side, and second door from Michigan street. There he located and there he is still doing a prosperous business. At his post at all times, with a smile that says to every comer, "Buy my candies, for they are sweet, and my oranges, for they will ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 363 suit you, and the price is just right and will please both of us." If you go into that place you are sure to buy and as sure as you do you will come away satisfied. Don will take religious care of the nickel you leave with him. We have never known of his departing from his legitimate business but once, and then he got back as quick as he could, and soon had nickels enough to fill that little gap and I pity the chap that shall undertake to tell him how to get rich quick again. C. F. Marsh, tle grocery mlan, went into business in the city in I900. I-e commenced business on the south side of Broadway, next to Davy Rodmani's store building. in a place rented of George (Granger. lie remained there for about four years and then mioved to the north side of the street in the Deveraux building, where he is now located. He has been actively engaged in the business since he first started and ias built up a large and prosperous trade. Ile keeps up a good fresh stock and his prices are reasonable. The volume of his trade marks tle success of the business. Ed Ward came here in June, 1880. At the tine his father had located in Blanchard, Isabella county, lint remained( there but a short time, coming to Mt. Pleasant soon after Ed came. The father. C..\. Ward. commenced business here in 188o. in connection with one Christopher Chrysler. Chrysler only remained for a short time and then turned over his interest to Mr. Ward. After that the father, Chester A. W\ard. joined with \Villiam E. \ar(d, and the firm was known as C. A. & \. E. \Vard. They continued doing business Ior a long time and wer'e located on South Main street in what is now the McNamara store building. They did a large and lucrative business and were at the time considered one of the strongest firms here. They continued their trade until the old gentleman died February 13, I,18, and after that W. A. continued tlhe business for some time when he sold out the business and lived on the money they had accumulated. Taylor & Ratliff are comparatively a new firm- in tlhe grocery business, having established thenmeslves in the business June 18, 1907. in the present place opposite the Bennett house to the east, where they are doing a good and safe business. Mr. Ratliff has been here for the past twenty-nine years and Taylor was born here and was one of the very first in the county, having been )born on the old Charles Taylor farm in Chippewa township on the 2Ist lay of October, I855. Their citizenship in Isabella county gives them a right to expect generous and fair treatment, which they are receiving. Fred Stebbins was in the county iln 883, coming from Ithaca and going into the Bennett house with Marvin D. Richardson. They remained for a time and then he went into the jewelry business and followed that for a time. 364 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Then he sold out to J. C. Freeman, who carried on the business for some time, when he sold to Mr. Palmer, who conducted it for a time and then sold to Charles E. Hight. The latter conducted the business for about five years and then turned it over to Russell & Folen, August I, I905. Since that time it has been largely increased by the adding of several new branches, so that now it is one of the best and largest establishments of the kind in this section. They carry a large assortment of all kinds of jewelry, diamonds and precious stones, cut glass, watches, and fancy clocks. They also keep two men at work on repairing, so that it always has a lively and prosperous as well as attractive look. They are doing a fine business and are justly entitled to the patronage that they enjoy. Thomas Lawrence opened up in Mt. Pleasant in the coal and agricultural business in I905 on East Broadway, where he is still carrying on his trade and is doilng a satisfactory business. He occupies one of the stores of the C. Bennett estate and is in the very same place where he started. Just across the street is the Howard Harkins block, built in 1903. The building is a three-story building, the upper story occupied by the Masons, the second one by the Pythians, the east portion by the Mt. Pleasant postoffice. The west portion is now occupied by Mr. Harkins as a bakery and grocery. He commenced in June, 1909, having bought out Veeder and he in turn purchased the business of James Lynch. Ie is doing a satisfactory business and is well pleased with his outlook for the future. 0. H. Longcor is located just west of the Harkins block. He has been in business there for the past thirteen years, having migrated to this place at that date. He has -a resaw, small planer and tools for making door and window frames, also boxes for the use of the condensed milk factory. It is a busy place and he seems to be happy. He built and occupies his own building. Alfred B. Warwick owns and carries on a harness shop just west of Longcor's. He built his building in I90o and has occupied it since that time. He has been in the business in Mt. Pleasant sixteen years in May next, having for a time been located on the east side of North Normal avenue, opposite the Bennett house. He has had a good business for many years and is ready to retire to a good farm just as soon as he finds a man that desires to take his place. He has a good location and a good business for some younger person to now step into. Gray & Lathrop commenced in the drug business in I909. Lathrop has been a citizen of Mt. Pleasant for the past thirty-four years and Gray was a clerk for Carr & Granger for about seventeen years before he formed a part ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 365 nership with Lathrop and launched out in the drug business. They have a large and commodious business place finished in the modern style and method and are doing a thriving and successful business. They carry a large stock and it is fresh and gives satisfaction to their customers. Mitakos & Lianos are comparatively a new concern. They started in business of catering to the public in the Barber building, April 20, I9I0. They conduct a restaurant, ice cream, candies and soda and are doing a very satisfactory business. Their prices are reasonable and very satisfactory, and they appear to be entirely satisfied with the patronage they receive. They are men of experience and attend strictly to business. Roy S. Dean, jeweler, is located in the Opera House block, in a fine and commodious store equipped with mlodern and convenient appliances. He is having a fine trade and is in a prosperous condition. lie expresses himself as well pleased with his trade and outlook. He has a good stock of watches, jewelry and all things connected with the business. He is an artist in his trade and is receiving the p)atronage that is his due. -Ie olpened up his business in September, 1907, and has been steadily increasing in popularity as well as in his trade. Marsh & Graham.l dealers in dry goods, carpets and ladies' furnishings, have been in business now about eighteen years. They first started in a oneroom store about twenlty by fifty-five feet, but they soon outgrew their (luarters and then added a room at the rear of the first room. They continued after that for a time and then again their business outgrew their quarters and they took on an addition to the west of their first room. In that they continuetl and finally, in g909, thev induced the owners of the building to remodel and make it more convenient antl attractive and they did so and now they have one of the most attractive places of business in the city. They carry a good line of goods, are fair dealers and are enjoying a lucrative trade. Every thing looks prosperous and they seem happy in the fact that they have accomplished what they set out to do in the commencement of their career as merchants. Theison & Roland started in the grocery business some four or five years ago and continued until September Io, I9I0, when J. J. Theison purchased the interest that Boland had and then continued the business and is still in the business, carrying a good stock of goods and having his share of the trade in the city. HTe enjoys the confidence of the people as a fair and honest dealer and it is giving him a goodl hold on the people, all of which he is deserving of. The firm of Breidenstein & Kane opened in the hardware business in the Chatterton building, next west of the Commercial Bank block, in I904, and 366 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. they are there still, but are preparing to build them a store opposite their present location next summer. They expect to put up a store twenty-six by one hundred and twenty feet, two stories and a basement, which will give them ample room for their extended business. Since they first opened they have added paints and oils, and also sell doors. sash and glass and have opened a furniture and undertaking department. They are very accommodating dealers and give the people what they desire in the way of good goods and fair dealing. Their business has increased from the start and is still on the increase, so that they will soon fill the large store they are expecting to erect. The store building will be of modern style and finish, with plate glass front and in every way up-to-date. Their stock consists also of stoves of all kinds, also woven wire fencing, as well as barbed wire for fencing and all kinds of general hardware. F. A. Schmidt, the tailor, commenced business in Mt. Pleasant in 1894 and has been in the harness ever since. THe usually has three or four helpers and is doing a thriving business and giving satisfaction. J. L. Anspaugh started a moving picture show in May, 910o, in a builling of George L. Granger on South Main street, which he fitted up for the purpose. lie reports that he is having a good attendance and is satisfied with the business and its outlook in Mt. Pleasant. lie is showing a very satisfactory class of pictures. Upl until recently there were three moving picture establlishments in Mlt Pleasant, but one sold out a short time ago and was removed froml the city. There is one still running just east of the Isalella State Iank. owned bv\ \Vestlake & Trevegno. This has been the leading one for some time and is still having a good run and giving good shows. The building has been remodleledl and presents a fine appearance from the street and walk. These shows seem to pick tip a good many nicl:els. They are great things to tlraw the children and it is very necessary that the older ones go with them to see how thec enjoy the show. Mrs. R. S. Johnson is one of the older persons in business, ha;ving located in Mt. Pleasant in the bazaar business November 20, I883. in the place now occupied by the Kane Brothers clothing store. She commenced in the woodlen building built by the Hennions and conducted her business in that, adding in the spring a millinery business. She continued for three years alnd then bought the building and carried on her trade there until 1902. then sold her building to Kane Brothers and moved her stock of goods to) the Wright store on South Main street, where McMillan & Son are now. She carried on the business there for five years and then moved to her present quarters on the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 367 corner of Main and Michigan streets. She sold the bazaar stock to Morrison & Dains when she moved to her present quarters and now has but the millinery business. She expresses herself as being satisfied with her business at present, but would sell if she had a good opportunity, and take a much needed rest. Kate Feeney is anotler milliner located at the west side of the Bennett house on Broadway. She entered the business in 1905 and was then located on North Main street. but after a time found the present location and moved to that. She is having a nice trade and gives her customers satisfaction, and is considered as one of the best in the city. Peter Dent, thle garage alnd bicycle repair nan. is located on South Mlain street and is doing business in his profession. IThe city is filling up so fast with autos that it requires several men and firms to keel) the machines in order. Morrison & Danis keep onle man all the time at such work. On West Broad\\av is Beebe, wvith a shop, and on South Main Mr. Bush has lately opened tip a place for repairing, paillting, storing and educating people how to run and how to care for machines aid also proposes to house and keel) ill order any maclhine vou dlesire to leave ill his care. Jolin \\N. Morrison is one of the older members of the mercantile professioni. He is a New Y orl- mIanl. lit calme to the W\est i all ear-ly (da. locating for a time in I enawee colunty and moved to Isabella ill I882. TTe at first located onl a far-m 1and afterw\ard. in 1887. entered into tle business of handling agricultu;ral i;-npletenlts. THe opened up on \Vest Broadway, where Smithers 11no is, but in a different building. He relnained there one year and then located at the skating rink colrner, where he remained until 1897, when he secured his lpresent site on tile northeast corner of block 24, corner of Normal avenue and Michigan street, where lie still remains. He carries all kinds of agricultural implleenlnts, also woveln wire fencing. Any one wanting a good article at a fair price call on Uncle John and you wvill find it and lmay get it if you have the price or can satisfy him that you are reliable. On West Broadway you can find another agricultural implement mTan. ETl Smithers. IHe can sell you anything you want in that line and sell it to you right. He commenced business some years ago and is still there waiting on his customers. who are mnnly. He carries a full stock, has a good building for the business, being built of brick with cement floor. TTe is there to stay and the people want him to as they are satisfied with the treatment they receive and the bargains they can make. C. M. Brooks & Company was one of the very earliest of the agricultural implement houses, Mr. Brooks having gone into that business as early as 1881-2 with J. W. Hance and A. B. Upton. They continued in the business 368 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. until the fall of i882, when they sold the entire stock to Victor F. Conlogue, who continued the business for several years. Conlogue finally sold to Curtis & Dougherty, who ran the business for a time and then sold to Ivenson & Sampson, they conducting it until they sold to Morrison & Dains. They held it a while and sold to Hamilton & Son, who carried it on for a time and then resold to Morrison & Dains who in the end closed it out. J. W. Hersey is another of our long-standing business men. He came to Mt. Pleasant in I888 and was in several kinds of trades until 1894, when he entered into the feed business on North Main street, north of the Donovan house, where he remained doing business up to 1894, when he went out of that business and went upon the road until I901. Then he bought a stock of agricultural implements and started out on that line. He opened up April I ith of that year and is still at the old place, which is situated just east of the postoffice, in what was originally the brick livery barn of George McDonald. He bought and now owns the property. He has added to the original business the selling of harness and of automobiles, together with everything else usually kept in that kind of an establishment. He is doing a rattling business, is always busy and is liked by all his customers and is generally a mighty good allround man. Cornelius Bennett built a hotel in 1883 on lot to, block 13, of the Mt. Pleasant plat. It was a fine brick structure and at the time it was the best by far in the city. It was first rented to F. A. Stebbins and Marvin Richardson and formally opened by them in the month of June. It was built at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. and has served its purpose well ever since it was built. 'Messrs. Stebbins and Richardson conducted the business for some time and then Stebbins sold his interest to Mollette and after a time the firm of Irish & Jones wvent in and they conducted it until Mrs. Day purchased it, about twenty-five years ago. She and Mr. Day conducted the hotel for about twenty years, when her health failed her and she could no longer stand the labor and worry of its attendance, so they finally sold it to George Dillan, who is now conducting a first class hotel. There is not so much money in it today as of yore, on account of the fact that the county went dry some time ago and no bar is kept. It is a good piece of property and is needed in the city, as that and the Donovan house are the only two hotels of consequence in the city of five thousand inhabitants. E. J. Lee & Company are active in the business of gathering butter, eggs and poultry and are located on Michigan street, west, where they have been for the past three or four years. They are doing a lively business and gathering in the shekels as well as the chickens and the fruit thereof. " A*k" ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 369 F. L. Klunzinger located here in 1907, having bought out the stock and jewelry business of S. W. Rogers, who had been in the business in Mt. Pleasant for the past twenty years, but who took a notion to go West and did so, settling in Portland. Oregon. where he now resides. Mr. Klunzinger followed in the steps of a good jeweler and took up a line long and favorably known. He is doing a very satisfactory business and is having a nice line of customers and a splendid repair business. He keeps a full and complete stock and is giving good satisfaction to his customers. He also keeps a line of optical articles and is doing a fair business in that line. lIe is located on South Main street in the brick owned by Thiers & Keeler. The millinery firm of Larson & McDonald also carry on their business in the same store building. They are good milliners and have been here about a year, coming from Alpena to this place. Benjamin Goldman is just across the street in the Jacob Neff building. He came from Cadillac, where he had been in business for the past ten years. He carries a full line of dryl goods, shoes and clothing and is doing a good business. lHe has a full stock to select from and although only here since the loth day of October, 110o, lie has established a satisfactory trade and is well satisfied. He has made no mistake in his selection of a place and location for business... D. Butterfield is engaged in the tailoring business and is located in the building so long occupied by Ion. S. W. Hopkins on East Michigan street. Hte came here from Gladstone, Michigan, in April, 19ro. lTe is having his share of the trade and expresses himself as satisfied with his prospects and business. The next door east of him is located the steam laundry now owned and operated by LT. Holman, x-ho b ought out Emmett Cole in January, g9ro. This is the same laundry that Cletnent owned, having bought it of Kinch. Holman is doing a nice business. having a good trade and is well satisfied. His business has grown so that it requires as many as four to six employees to handle the trade. Kennedy brothers commenced in Mt. Pleasant about 1891 in the draying business and continued in that for some time; then they engaged in the feed business and afterward added coal to their list of trade. On October 15, 190o, they moved to the store building just north of the Fancher block, where they remained until Novemler, 1907, when they purchased the building and lot where they are now located on North Main street. They have a very conmmodious store and barn building, where they keep all kinds of feed and hay, also cement, lime, brick and tile. with a full supply of coal and coke of (24) 370 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. all kinds. They are doing an extensive business and are giving satisfaction. They are now located on a paved street, which gives their business a city air and better conveniences for handling their coal, feed and other commodities kept in their business. Mrs. Munro is located just south of the Kennedy Brothers' place of business. She came with her husband to Mt. Pleasant in I88I and commenced business at the stand she now occupies as a boarding and rooming house. At that time her husband was with her, but he fell sick and in November of that year he died and she has continued the business ever since. She has been a hard worker and prudent manager and has received, as she deserved, the confidence and support of the people and has saved a nice sum for a rainy day should it overtake her. She is surely deserving of a great deal of credit and all of the success in business that she has acquired. Mrs. \Villiam (O'Brion is another deserving of remembrance on account of her faithfulness and fidelity. She and her husband came to Mt. Pleasant twenty-two years ago and started in the grocery business. They were carrying on a good business up to 190I, when the husband sickened and died, leaving her with quite a family of small children to care for and the business to conduct. She has struggled along until now the children are some of themi at least large enough to be of help to her and together they are still carrying on the store, adding to the bu;siness feed, hay and draying. She boasts of a plate glass front in her store building and is prospering to a very satisfactory degree and no longer fears the wvolf or dire distress. Patrick Leahy also came to Mt. Pleasant some years ago and, with I)onohue, commenced the )businiess of grocerymen. They continued for a time and then Doinohue went out of the firm. Then Leahy i)ought out ltTim Battles and moved into the store north of the Fancher block. He remained in that location until I907, whenl he mncved across the street to where Bringard is now locating, remaining there for about one year, and then bought the building and lot where he now is, remodeled that and moved in about April, i908, and is still there. He has recently been confined to groceries, but is now preparing to increase the business and to add feed and hay. Pat is attentive to business and now has his son William with him and together they are doing a prosperous and satisfactory business. H. H. Hunter, on December I, I897, opened up a bazaar store on South Main street, on the west side, in the O'Horo store building. He carried a full line of common bazaar supplies and continued the business up to February, I908, when he sold to R. C. Damman, who had been in the superintendency of a bazaar stock in Ithaca, Michigan. He has continued the business and is now ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 37I doing a good and thriving trade, is well patronized and is having his share of the patronage of the city in that line of goods. McMillan & Son are in the coal and feed business on South Main street. They started in business about I904 and were then located in the Nelson office building. At that time it was a coal business, but after a time, in I907, they added feed to the business and continued in that until o909, when they added groceries and are now located with their store and office on the east side of South Main street in the building next south of the Ryan store building. They are square dealers and are doing a large business, especially in coal. There are several persons that are in the business of manufacturing and selling cigars. D. Trevegno, who has been in it for the past twelve years; George Dillon, about four years; C. C. Allen, who has been in the business about ten years, and Frank Bringard, who has run a factory but about one year. They are all doing considerable business and some of them employing several hands in the \-ork. They supply the city largely and do quite a jobbing trade with the outside cities and villages. When the county was new and but few settlers in the city, Cicero Kimball came from western New York and about 1869 he commenced in the butcher and meat market business. In the fall of I869 he hought a lot on East Broadway and put up a good store )lilding and shop, twenty-two bv forty feet, and two stories high and completed it in a good style anll finish andl then opened his meat market, which he continued until the fire of 1875, which destroyed his building with the others on that street. lTe had no insurance. so that it was a total loss. In J877 he and his brother Adelbert started in the same business and followed it for a long time. l'his has been a lively town for men1 of the blacksmith and wagonmaking trade. In the early days of the county, while the lmnbering operations were being carried on, there was great demand for the kind of iron work that went with that business, and then the roads were of such a character that much repairing had to le done to such vehicles as were then in use. If you should step into a shop at that time you w\ould see it lined with log chains, pevies, pikes, cant hooks, horse shoes. clevises and such other articles as were in constant use. In the early sixties not a buggy could be found in the county and but few double wagons. NOw scarcely a farmer is without his buggy. Then there were but few horses, ex en on the farms, but now the oxen are no more to lbe found on the farm. Occasionally one drives into town with an ox team, lbut at the time aforementioned they all drove oxen on the road, to mill and to meeting. I presume some of our ladies that are sporting their automobiles would feel queer to step into a lumber sleigh drawn by a sleek yoke of oxen and 372 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. proceed to make her social calls, but such was the style at one time in this neck of the woods. Milton Bradley was the first blacksmith to locate in Mt. Pleasant, his shop being east of the court house square. He only followed the business for a short time. Thomas Turnbull came here in I866 and opened up a shop and continued in the business until 1874, when he went to Dushville in the hotel business. Afterward, about I888, he went into partnership in the blacksmithing business with George Osborn, which continued for about three years and then quit the business. Peter Gardner found it. Pleasant October T4, 1T(88, and liked it so well that he is still here. He first located on the south side of Broadway on the spot where D. Rodman's store is now located, remained there a year and then went onto South Main street axbout where the Anspaugh picture show is. He remained there until I876, when he bought the lot he is now located upon, built a shop, moved his forge and tools into it and has been there ever since. Mr. Gardner has been a long time in the business and from the amount of hard work he has done it would seem that he should 1e granted a rest. He is a good workman, very accommodating and, withal, a genial neighbor. Lew Maxwell is another old timer in the business. As a boy he worked at the trade in Mt. Pleasant in the early seventies. He worked for Peter Gardner in 1871 and in 1876 he built the shop on Washington street. where he is now located in his blacksmithing business. He, too, is a good workman and generally finds plenty to do. He is well liked, which is proven by the fact that he has remained so long in that calling. Renwick & Westervelt came here on July 14, T875, and started in the business of blacksmithing and wagonmaking. They bought a lot and built the shop which is still standing and is the place where Mr. Renwick is still carrying on the business. After they had been in business about five years Westervelt went out and for about a year Mr. Renwick run the business alone and then he took in William Hovey and they were together for about ten years and then' Mr. Hovey went out and since that Mr. Renwick has conducted the business alone. Mr. Renwick is a good workman, thoroughly capable and honest and, withal, is a good citizen. He has done an immense amount of good work and is entitled to the esteem and friendship of the community which he has. There is also a blacksmith shop on the corner of Michigan and Washington streets, now conducted by Mr. Barnes, who lately bought and took possession. He bought of Joseph A. Meyers, who operated it for some time. It ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 373 was at one time the headquarters of William Manners. There have been others, for instance Pat Stapleton and one Patrick Sullivan; also Peter Hawley, who had a shop in the north part of town. There is also Uncle David Lett, now on North Main street, who has been there for a long time and is one of the best of workmen in that line; in fact, he is in some things a sort of a genius. There is also one situated on the north side of Michigan street, between Main and Normal avenue, conducted by Frank Drew, who bought out Robert Richie one year ago last February. And also one owned by William McDonald. located east of the Bennett house. He has been there some three years is having a good run of business and is prospering. CITY OFFICIAL ROSTER. Mt. Pleasant was first platted in 1863 by David Ward, who was then owner of the lands, but this plat was not recorded and in the spring of 1863 he sold the property, except: few lots that he had sold before to the Indians, to H. A. Dunton and Joseph Miser and to Harvey and George Morton of the state of New York. Harvey Morton came on with his family and took possession of the property and immllediately commenced to build a hotel on the lots on which now stands the Donovan house. When the writer of this article came to Mt. Pleasant, in the latter part of June, i863. he found the old court house, built by Ward, on the location of the county seat at Mt. Pleasant; the house now standing on lot IO, block 7, just across from the northwest corner of the court house square, and a dwelling where the Fancher block now stands, built by Joseph Miser. The present plat was drawn and recorded in February, I864. The plat remained in that condition and was still a portion of the township of Union and was assessed and taxes collected the same as in the township until 1875, when, sby act of the Legislature, it was organized into a village. The first election after the incorporation was held on May 1i, 1875, and resulted in the election of John Maxwell as president of the village and as trustees there were elected Cornelius Bennett, \Villianm Richmond, John A. Harris, Wilkinson Doughty, Daniel H1. Gilmlan and George W. Brower; as clerk, George N. Mosher; assessor, I. E. Arnold; street commissioner, John Fox; marshal, Cicero Kimball. John Maxwell held the office for two terms, when Dan. H. Gilman was elected and held it two years, then John C. Leaton was elected and held it for one year. Then I. E. Arnold for one year, Charles T. Russell for one year, 374 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. John A. Harris for one year. Then George L. Granger was elected in the spring of 1883 for one year, Robert Laughlin for one year, Thomas J. Fordyce one year, D. H. Nelson for one year, John Kane one year, John Kinney for one year and Warner Churchill for one year, I889. In I889 the village was organized into a city, under the laws of 1873 applying to the government of cities and the reorganization of villages into cities, providing they have a population of three thousand or more. At the first election there were elected the usual officers, as follows: Lewis E. Royal as mayor, with L. D. Newton, J. H. Doughty, C. Kimball, D. Rodman, William Bamber and D. G. Robinson as alderman. On April 15, 89o0, M. Deveraux was elected mayor, with aldermen as follows: John Richmond. William H. Manners and Tobias Hornung, as new ones, and Rodman, Kimball and Bamber holding over. The next year Deveraux was re-elected as mayor and Peter Gardner, P. J. Stapleton and Phil Garvey as the new alderman. In 1892, E. D. Wheaton was elected as mayor. In 1893 it was C. Bennett; in I894, Tobias Bergy; in I895, I. A. Fancher; i896, M. Deveraux, and again in T897; in 1898, C. M. Brooks and he was re-elected the next year. At this juncture the people decided to become a city of the fourth class and accordingly reorganized as such under the laws of I895 and amendmlents thereto. Under the new arrangement Levi Schaffer was elected mayor in 900o and again in I9OT; he was followed by A. N. Ward in 1902, and he by H. Edward Deuell for three successive years, when he was followed in 1906 by H. A. Miller and he by M. Deveraux; he by Walter L. Snider and he by H. E. Deuel for two terms and he, in I9II, by Fred Russell, just elected at this April election. The present aldermen are: First ward, F. A. Sweeny and Elmer A\alsh; second ward, James W. Hersey and E. W. Crandall; third ward, George Powers and W. E. Ratliff, with Horace H. Hunter as clerk, E. E. Palmer, treasurer, and C. E. Russell and William Starkweather as justices of the peace. IMPROVEMENTS. The city has made many and valuable improvements since the first organization as a village in 1875. At that time we had no public water system, no sewers and but a small number of sidewalks and they of lumber. Our fire department was very inferior and our streets were very sandy. A water works system was inaugurated about I882 and two wells were dug on the east side of the Chippewa river, just south of the Ann Arbor depot, and a pumping station was installed near by and water mains laid from the pump house south ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 375 to Michigan street and thence east to the main portion of the city and from thence in various directions so as to accommodate the most of our citizens-. The largest of the pipes was at that time eight inches in diameter and a large portion of them were of logs made at Bay City, Michigan. The first bonded indchtedness for water purposes was ten thousand dollars issued about July 15, 1882, payable in ten years, drawing five and one-half per cent. interest. The resolution providing for the issue of these bonds was passed by the common council in due form and a vote of the electors authorized to he held,. which vote was taken and the bonding authorized, and the council met and ratified the action and authorized the execution of the bonds, which was done. The avails of these bonds were used for the purpose of digging a public well and installing a pumping outfit just north of the Harris mill. The bonds have been refunded two or three times. but are all paid except one bond of one, thousand dollars. During the sai(l year of 1884 the village commenced tlhe matter of sewering an(l a contract was let to (-oe MlcSlov to build a sewer to commence at the Bennett house or Court street and to run wvest to the center of Washington street and there to turn north and run to the river. The total price of saidsewer. catch basins and manholes was to be one thousand six hundred fortyfive dollars and eight cents. But for some reason it cost a good deal more moll(e! and. while there \\as a sewer district formed, the village finally paid for the w\ork. The sewer was very poorly built and was never of much benefit to the district nor to the city. Recently it was taken upl and a sewer put in. conducting the water in a different direction, east into the main or trunk line sewer; and more recently the city has made a drainage se\wer to run into the north end of the old sewer to the river. There were also four thousand dollars of bonds issued by the township of Union, called pul)lic improvement bonds, about June 3, I885, drawing interest at five and three-eighths per cent. which were refunded October 21, 1902. The city of Mlt. Pleasant aftervard assumed the obligation. WATER SUPPLY. The matter of water supply for the inhabitants has been for a long time a vexatious question as at no time has the supply been sufficient for all purposes and at all times in the year. They built first two wells and reservoirs that were supposed to lie of sufficient capacity for all purl)oses, they going down to the water gravel or nearly so anll the water flowing freely up into the reservoir. One of the pipes they sunk to a depth of three hundred and fifty feet and there 376 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. encountered brackish water, so that pipe was plugged instead of having an elbow put upon it, and the water allowed to flow into the tail race that the people might ascertain what it was composed of. After some time the wells seemed to fail or cease to supply sufficient water for all purposes and then it was suggested to put down some wells on the west side of the river, so several wells were put down over there; these wells were flowing ones when the sand was kept from stopping the flow. These were down only about twenty-five feet until they struck the water, sand and gravel. In all, they put down about a dozen of these wells and some experts that were imported for the purpose of giving expert information assured the good people that when they got clown to this strata there would be an ample supply. But each time something came in to dampen the ardor of the citizens and it was not good, pure water either. Then it dawned upon some one that if the city would make a monstrous reservoir, say about one hundred feet long and about fifty feet wide and eighteen or twenty feet deep and cement the sides and a part at least of the bottom and dig a well in the east end of that, say about twelve feet in diameter. and put some wells in the bottom of the main reservoir and pile that to the pu)llmp house we would all be happy. Well, they all nibbled at that bit of bait and as the old Dean pump had been in use for a good many years and was supposed by some to be out of date, and at one time, when the city had a very destructive fire, it gave out for a time, it was decided that they bond the city again for money enough to build the great reservoir, put in the wells as described, build a new and up-to-(late pumping station, pipe the water from the reservoir to the pump1 house, lay a few more rods of large water main, connect these with the old water mailns and then be happy indeed. The proposition was to again bond the city and this time for twenty thousand dollars. The council passed the requisite resolutions, the people voted yes and the bonds were issued on the Ist day of March, 1907, to draw four per cent. and one boncd of one thousand dollars to be paid each year. The plans and specifications were made, submitted and adopted and the work commenced. The great reservoir was built, the water wells put down, the water piped to the new well house on the east side of the river, a new Dean pump put in and every one then supposed that the water supply was inexhaustible. Some of the good people, acting upon that theory, promised to supply the milk condensory with a large supply of cool water to be used for cooling their milk. This extra drain on the supply was too much, so that the company were obliged to sink some wells of their own and, as good luck would have it, they were successful in finding a fair supply. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 377 Our water works are put upon the direct pressure plan-that is, the pump to run continuously and thus hold an equal pressure at all times except in case of fire. What some think, is that we should have an elevated water tank to be kept full of water and have it so arranged that at the hours of sprinkling that water could be utilized and relieve the pump and some feel that it should be large enough so that it could be used to relieve the constant use of the pump. These propositions are still in embryo and the city fathers have been looking about for a greater water supply, so the good people are waiting and paying their sprinkling bills with a wry face and grinning when it is clone. The next original honds to be issued was five thousand dollars issued September i, 1884, due in five years and these were issued for water works. They became due July 15, 1892, and were then with the ten thousand dollars issued in 1882, refunded by an issue of fifteen thousand dollars and are called refunding water works bonds. Just where the other five thousand came from. the resolution does not explain, but it must have been the five thousand dollars of T884. These ran the fifteen years and were again refunded July i5, 1907, to run ten years. May 21, 900o, there was issued ten thousand dollars, water extension bonds. Another water iml)rovement bond of twenty thousand dollars was authorized by a vote of the electors of the city on the 24th day of September, I9o6, the vote standing three hundred thirty-four yes to fortyseven no. The bonds were issued on the TSt (lay of March, 1907, there being twenty bonds of one thousand dollars each and falling due one bond each year, said bonds to draw interest at four per cent. semi-annually, and payable at the People's State Bank in Detroit, Michigan. Tn I901 the city decided to build some sewers for the purpose of providing a sanitary outlet for the sewage of the city. Plans and specifications were provided and the city was bonded for ten thousand dollars, for general sewer purposes. The bonds were authorized and issued on May i, I90T. the 1)n(ds to run for twenty years. The money from the sale of these bonds was to be used to build a main or trunk line sewer, the outlet to be in the Chippewa river just below the Bradley bridge and to run thence east and then south to Michigan street, with a branch both east and west on Michigan. Other sewers were afterward built as laterals to the main sewer and were built by special assessment, according to the sewer district, until now we have an estimated amount of about seven and one-half miles of sewers, ranging from six to sixteen inches in diameter. It is to be noted that the original sewer was built as a sanitary and not as a drainage sewer, but as soon as the sewer was started the council authorized the putting in of catch basins, which were intended to receive the surface water 378 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of that part of the city traversed by the sewers and the effect has been that the water gathered has at times overtaxed the capacity of the sewer and some have had the sad experience of having their cellars inundated with sewage, to their great annoyance. SIDEWALKS. As early as about i900 the lumber in the county began to be scarce and of an inferior quality for use for sidewalks and the people determined to utilize some more substantial material. They commenced the use of Portland cement and found it to meet the requirements and so the scheme was inaugurated to have the city build the walks out of cement and the property owner to pay a certain price per square foot or square yard and the city do the work and furnish all of the material. For the purpose of expediting the work and not distress the lot owner, bonds to the amount of eight thousand dollars was authorized by a vote of the people and the bonds were issued, sold and the money placed in a sidewalk fund. It proved to ble a great impetus toward building sidewalks so that at the present time they have probably more and better sidewalks in Mt. Pleasant than any other city of its size in Michigan. There are substantially twenty miles of first-class cement sidewalks and cross walks and altogether the city is now very well supplied for walks on all of the main streets. PUBLIC PARKS. Something like thirty years ago the people of Mt. Pleasant thought that they should be providetl with a public park and after looking over the surrounding country they discovered that there was a piece of land lying adjacent to the Chippewa river and on the west side thereof and just opposite the Ann Arbor station that could be purchased for a thousand dollars, the seller donating the sum of one hundred dollars, provided that it should bear his name and provided further that in case it ceased to be used for a; public park the title should revert to him. With these slight conditions, the land was purchased and named Nelson park. The land still remains there as a monument of the forethought and good judgment of the purchasers. It has some beautiful native trees which are thrifty and on which the foliage in summer is always green and with the gravel drive and walk through the park to the cemetery it makes rather a delightful and interesting place to while away an hour or so when the sun is hot and one needs rest and something to detract his thoughts from the common things of life. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 379 As time advanced and the'city enlarged to the point of five thousand inhabitants, there was a feeling among the people that they should make provision for a public park that could be used for the purl)oses for which parks are generally used, so they looked about and found what they thought would answer their lurpose and they submitted a proposition to the people as to the matter of the purchase of the same. Being submitted, it was carried by more than a two-thirds majority and bonds to the amount of five thousand dollars were issued and delivered to the owners for the grounds, including the iron bridge and right of way to the street. The grounds were composed of about thirty-seven and one-half acres of bottom lands in the valley of the Chippcea river and including the grove of native timber. The city immediately commenced and during the fall of I909 conmpleted a ditch or canal on the west side of the purchase and tililt a dam so as to create slack 'water for boating privileges. It is an ideal place and can hardly be duplicated in the state for a natural park. It lies within the city limits and within thirty rods of the center of section 15, which is the center of the city, so that a walk of five minutes carries you0 upon the groundl( of the park. \Nhen properly laid out by a landscape gardener and developed, no finler spot can be found for a park. It has not onll water for boating, but it also has a flowing well with waters of a medicinal quality, being pure and very palatable. The city at this time has about twelve miles of water mains ranging from four ilches o otwelve inches in diameter. This gives domestic and fire facilities to nearly all of the inhabitants in the city. MUNI CIPAL IN ) EBTEDNESS. The honlded indeltedness still outstanding is as follows: Two $1,000.00 public improvement bonds; $i5,ooo water refunding bonds; $5,ooo water extension bonds; $ ro,ooo main or trunk line sewer bonds: $5,000 cement sidewalk 1)on1ds; $3.361 bonds for purchase of lands for addition to normal school; $i6,ooo water improvement bonds. and $4,500 park bonds, being a total bon(led indebtedness of $6(o,(61. on an assessed valuation of about $000,000ooo for the city. BIOGRAPHICAL ARWIN E. GORI-AM. A potent factor in the business life of Isabella county for many years has been Arwin E. Gorham, who holds a high place as one of the progressive manufacturers of the Wolverine state, being president of the Gorham Brothers Company. a large and widely known concern, and president of the Exchange Savings Bank, both located in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Gor-ham is the representative of a sturdy old pioneer family of the Buckeye state, having been born at Euclid, July Io, I868. There he spent his boyhood days, attending the district schools until he was fourteen years old, then went to East Cleveland to attend a private school. He began life for himself as a basket manufacturer, first, however, working by the day. When the manufacturing concern transferred its interests to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, he moved to this city, in February, i888, and has since been identified with the firm; in fact, since lie was fourteen years of age he has been in the service of the company which was started by his father and uncle, so that he became familiar with every detail of their large business interests, and for many years had complete charge of their entire clerical business, as well as considerable responsibility along other lines of their transactions. This firm enjoyed a large trade here from the first and in due course of time became the leading manufacturers in this section of the state. This concern started in business in Isabella county with a small mill, forty-two by sixty feet, two stories. Under judicious management their business grew rapidly and continuously until it became necessary for additions to be made annually to the plant, and this growth has continued to the present time until now large and commodious quarters are occupied, which are equipped with the latest designed machinery and only the most skilled artisans are employed, there being about two hundred on the payroll all the year round, being one of the largest employers of labor in this part of the state, having started with less than a dozen employes. From an infant industry, newly established, and making every effort to secure a foothold among the older manufacturing concerns of the country, this enterprise has grown to be one of the largest in 382 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Michigan, and today the Gorham Brothers Company is among the largest and most extensive manufacturers of veneered panels in the world. The business of this firm was first started at Euclid, Ohio, being conducted there until the supply of available timber became very scarce, which fact induced its removal to the city of Mt. Pleasant. Its business had by that time grown to considerable proportions, yet since it has been conducted from this point it has continued to advance in a very remarkable manner. This firm is also extensively interested in lumbering operations in other sections of the state. One of the largest stocks of lumber of various kinds is to be found in the large yards of this company in central or southern Michigan. The company does a very extensive retail business, and it has succeeded in building up a reputation for the l)roduction of first class goods in all of the articles manufactured by it, and the fact that it is able to place these goods on the market at prices advantageous to the buyer has enabled it to firmly establish itself as one of the most successful manufacturing concerns in the southern part of the state, if not the entire state. The building of an enterprise of this class and lmagnitude is not an every-clay affair, and the success of this company is not due to luck, but to goold management, couple(l with careful consideration of the conditions and demands of the trade which it hoped to supply; the production of articles which would give entire satisfaction to the users and which might he placed on the market at prices which fully met all competition. It is the successful combination of these conditions which has brought success, and for results the lmembers of the firm are entitled to full credit. The operations of the Gorham Brothers Company are one of the many things to which the citizens of Mt. Pleasant point with pride, partly because of what the firm has been able to accomplish for itself and the standing it has gained in the commercial world, and partly because its success has been the largest individual element in the building up and advancement of this city, by the steady and profitable employment of large numbers of laboring men and mechanics at good wages, theirs at all times having been the largest payroll within this city. A wide and secure prestige is enjoyed by this firm in the production of first-class goods that are eagerly sought after. In all the articles here produced an effort is made to secure high-grade quality, hence their success and envied standing in the industrial world, which has been due in no small measure to the able management, good judgment and wise counsel of Arwin E. Gorham, who has also made his influence felt in other lines of business here, having been one of the original organizers of the Exchange Savings Bank, of which he was elected president in 1905, having been one of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 383 the directors of the same since its organization, and has continued in this capacity to the present time, managing its affairs in a manner that has reflected much credit upon his ability as a financier, an organizer and promoter, and to the entire satisfaction of the other stockholders and patrons of the bank. I-ION. SAMUEL WHALEY HOPKINS. In every life of honor;n(l usefulness there is no dearth of incident, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch only those salient points which give the keynote to his character. Thus in setting forth the life record of Hon. Samuel Whaley Hopkins sufficient will be said to show, what all who know him will freely acquiesce in, that he is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of Isabella county, being one of the leading attorneys and business men of Mt. Pleasant. Michigan, and one of the public-spirited and representative men of the great Wolverine state. Mr. Hopkins is the son of Samuel and Freclove Burlingame (Arnold) I-opkins. The father \\as horn in Coventry, Rhode Island, January TO, 1803, the son of Rtufus and Amy (Shi)ppee) Hopkins. Rufus ITopkins \\as the son of EIsquire Samuel Ilopkins, who was the son of Joseph Hopkins. Tradition says that the last named married a daughter of Edward Whalley, one of the regicide judges who fled from England tupon the restoration of Charles II, and according to tradition, Judge Whalley lived in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, and is buried upon Hlopkins hill in that township. Mr. Hopkins says that when a boy he visited the hill and was shown the grave of Judge Whalley. It is from this ancestor that Mr. Hopkins takes his middle name, spelling it with but one "1." Most of the Hopkins family have been engaged in the great industry of Rhode Island cotton manufacturing. Samuel Hopkins, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, lived in the towns of Coventry, West Greenwich and Exeter, Rhode Island, until I856 andl w\as extensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. He built several mills and was a prominent man in his section of the country. The great financial panic of i856 and 1857, which engulfed so many thousands in the vortex of financial ruin and affected to some extent every business man in the United States, was the end of his active business career. I-e had been a very active, energetic man, of sanguine disposition and buoyant spirits, but this failure seemed to break his strength of purpose. With the remnant of his fortune he bought a farm of seventy acres of land in Coventry, Connecticut, where he lived a 384 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. retired life until his death, February 19, 1875. His family included nine children, seven sons and two daughters; seven of the nine lived to reach maturity. Mrs. Sally (Gorton) Arnold, Mr. Hopkins' maternal grandmother, was the daughter of William and Sallie (Whitford) Gorton. William Gorton was the son of Dr. Samuel Gorton, whose father was Samuel Gorton. (So the name Samuel is a double family name.) This ancestor came from England to Massachusetts and was called a heretic by the Puritans, who drove him from their colony. He bought a home of the Indians in Rhode Island and named it "Patuxet." He lived to be a centenarian. Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of the subject are of pure English stock, as the Hopkinses and Arnolds are of the long line of New England descent, and tradition says that three Hopkins brothers, bearing the name of Rufus, Mark and Samuel, were among the "Mayflower" crowd that landed on Plymouth Rock. Whether this tradition is true or not, Mr. Hopkins cannot say, but certain it is that from time immemorial and in all positions of life, from the great college president, Mark Hopkins, whose forty years broke the world's record, to Sam, the cow-boy, and in all sections of our land, from Maine's British border to California's golden gate, the names of Rufus, Mark and Samuel have been very familiar in the Hopkins family. The subject's father, his great-grandfather, his great-great-grandfather on his paternal side; his great-grandfather and his great-great-grandfather on the maternal side of the house were named Samuel, therefore his baptismal name was familiar in the family records long before his birth, and his mother, being a Roger Williams Baptist, never deemed it necessary that any of her children should be baptized, so his name is baptized only in history and deeds. The name of Arnold, too, is as frequent in New England and national history perhaps as is the name of Hopkins. The eldest brother of Mr. Hopkins was named Rufus; another brother was named Arnold and his son being named Samuel, the family kept up the record well. Stephen Hopkins, who defied the king and with a strong will wrote with a trembling hand his name to the Declaration of Independence, was an ancestor of the subject. Freelove Burlingame (Arnold) Hopkins, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, January 15, I807, the daughter of Elijah and Sally (Gorton) Arnold, whose family consisted of three sons and one daughter. Elijah Arnold was the seventeenth child of James and Freelove (Burlingame) Arnold, and James Arnold was a son of Thomas Arnold, who bought a mile square of land in Warwick, Rhode Island, and divided it into six farms. At that early day in Rhode Island that amount of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 385 land for one man to own wvas regarded as remarkable. The mother of the subject was born on the middle one of these farms on the Coweset road. The purchase of Thomas Arnold was known as "Arnold's Square." The mother of the subject was called to her rest at Coventry, Connecticut, February I4, 1888. She is remembered as a woman of many praiseworthy characteristics and, like her husband, was popular with a host of warm friends. Samuel Whaley Hopkins, of this review, was born in Exeter, Rhode Island April I, 1845. He was the youngest of a family of nine children. His father was also the youngest of a large family of children; so Mr. Hopkins has always been way down toward the foot of the family class for age and associates. He was given the name of Samuel, and his father's name being the same, his name was written in the old family Bible, "Samuel Hopkins, Jun.." after the fashion of the times. When arriving at mature age he, after consulting his parents. wrote in the name Whaley for his middle name, thus obviating the necessity of always writing the "Jun." to designate him from his father. He never saw either grandparent on the paternal side, as they had both passed to the great beyond before his birth. Book learning came easily, in fact, lie was a precocious child; at the age of three he knew the two books he possessed well by 1'eart; they were Young's "First Reader," a book of stories for children. and \Vebster's "Spelling Book," in which lie was able to spell and pronounce, without assistance, words of two and three syllables. His school opportunities up to the age of eleven were limited. He having been frail and unable to walk far. and no school near his home, he studied mostly at his mother's knee. some six months constituting all his schooling. In 1856 the family nloved to C(oventry, Connecticut, and here the lad, who grew stronger, began to face the stern realities of life. With an invalid mother. two invalid sisters and a father broken both in health and hopes, the work of a man fell upon his shoulders and lie made a full hand in the work on the farm. being able. when fourteen years of age, to swing the scythe and carry a full swath with stronger and older mowers. At the age of eleven he could read, write, spell and repeat most of the multiplication table: then it was that he got down to business and with a sixteen weeks' winter school for two and a half winters and the same for two summers, supplemented with private instruction, given by an experienced teacher, Mary K. Hutchinson, and one term of select schooling, he was ready, at the age of fifteen, for the schoolroom as teacher. He secured a school, but the trustees. learning his age, refused to permit hinm to proceed with the work, although he was successful in the required examination; however, at the age of seventeen he began teaching and devoted six years to the swork, three in Connecticut, at Andover, Mansfield (25) 386 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and Willimantic, also Coventry, putting in a select term at Andover and so doing without any vacation for the year. i —e taught three years at Little Falls, New Jersey. He got in a term at Ellington Academy as a student and a term also at the Manchester Academy. After the finish of the school year he would return to the home farm and put in the summers assisting with the farm work, also worked at selling books on subscriltion. and he went to Charleston, South Carolina, selling merchandise for a brother. Later he came to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College, which was succeeded by the Felton & Bigelow College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1865. After the age of twelve years he cared mostly for himself in a pecuniary way and also helped care for others. Many nights after a hard day's work on the farm has he lain studying b1) a tallow candle, and, falling to sleelp, would awake in the morning to find the candle burned to a stub, and, arising, repeat the previous (lay's program-work all day and study practically all night. It was common to lilnd him at two o'clock in the morning at his book. In the fall season he was on the road with a team, sometimes with two pairs of oxen, taking wvood to Rockville, sometimes with horses, driving all night, taking alder wood to H-azardville to sell, it being used for making powder. It was his ambition to enter and graduate fron Harvard, but the sickness in the family and the struggle necessary to care for the ones in need forbade. lie obtained an academic education. served his time as an instructor. and in the sutmmer of 1870 began reading la\w with Benezeret H. Bill. of Rockville, walking six miles and return three times a week to recite; these trips of twelve miles a day on foot over mountainous roads were no doubt conducive to developing himt physically. In the fall of 1870 he entered the law department of the University (f Michigan, and was graduated therefrom in 1872, devoting the months of the summer vacation to study with Hon. John M. Hall, of Willimantic, Connecticut, making a four and a half mile walk every morning and evening. nine miles daily, and studying and looking after Mr. Hall's business, Nwho wvas most of the time absent. having been a member of the Connecticut Legislature. These trips were 1y rail in addition to the day's walk, so the whole day-the walk, the ride, the office work-was a very busy one. After his graduation, in March. 1872, he visited his old home for a few weeks, after which he returne(l to Michigan and located at Grand Rapids. There he was admitted to the bar and was principally occupied in settling the estate of a Mr. Gardner. This work took him through the central and northern parts of the state. While at Clare, Clare county, making collections for the estate, he met I-on. I. A. Fancher, of Mount Pleasant, who induced him to come to Isabella county and nake it his future ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 387 homeI. These two gentlemen were partners in the practice of law for three years. Mr. HIolkins was then for two years in partnership with Michael Devereaux; commencing with January i, 1 875, his partner was for nearly two years VWade B. Smith. f-le then associated himself with Free Estee, who had previously studied law with him. Mr. Ilopkins' health having failed, principally from over-work, and lbeing a member of the state Legislature, his business was looked after almost wholly 1by his partners, first Mr. Smith, then Mr. Estee. He spent two sunimers at Higgins Lake, Roscomr-on county, in search of rest and health, and in the winter of 1881 anld T882 visited his mother at Coventry, Connecticut, where he remained for six mnonths. With health ilmproved. he returned to Mlt. Pleasant and the first of January, I883, formed a co-partnership witlh Daniel E. Lyon and entered the real estate and insurance business; the outdoor life being congenial to him. he gained mnich of his forlller strength. They (li(l a large insurance and loaning business, the latter amomnting to one hundred thousand dollars in 1883, secured (o iniproved farms. Mr. Hopkins is a Reptiblican in politics and has always taken a great interest in pullic matters. \V llen twenty-twxo years of age he was elected a member of the board of education for Coventry, Connecticut, his name having been placed lunaniiiiousl o!. l)otll the Relublicall asndi Democratic tickets, and he served tlhree years. In the early part of 1873 lhe was appointed clerk of L'niton townships, IsTabella cu-Mntty, Alichigan, and in the spring was elected to the position,: nd w\as twice re-elected. -He served seven years as justice of tlhe peace, alnd two!-ears as deptty towinship clerk wxhile attending to the duties as justice. Ile was for (ole year sutperintetnlenlt of schools at Mt. Pleasant for IUnion townslhil p ad also for the city; and for six years he was a member and president of the board of education for the city, and was the first village attorney. WVhen olly seventeen years of age he was president of the Young ATen's ITceium anld Delbatinlg Society in Coventry, Connecticut, and while a student at the Michiga'n ULniversity president of a literary society knoswn as tlhe Jeffersonian, whscich was connected with the law department. In 1875 to 1876 inclusi\e lie served as prosecuting attorney of Isabella county, this ternt lbeing a particularly busyv (nie, several important matters claiming his attention, the one of mlost interest to the putllic being the case in w\hicli the county was defendant in a suit brought by Vernon township) to recover ten thousand dollars of tax nmoneys. Formerly Clare county had been attached to Vernon townlship, and previously to Midland and Mecosta, one-half each. Mr. Hopkins succeeded in sustaining the county's position, and afterwards, while a umembher of the Michigan Legislature, again defended the county in a claim 388 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. brought by Midland and Mecosta counties and after a hard effort extending over four weeks, he won again for his county. He was elected to the Legislature as representative from Isabella county in I876, and, having made such a worthy record, he was re-elected in I879, serving four years. During the first term he was a member of the committeee on judiciary, also public lands and liquor traffic. During the second term he was a memlber of the judiciary and educational committees, and was chairman of the special committee on taxation and of the special joint committee of the -House and Senate on taxation. This was the most important committee of the session, and Mr. Hopkins was the youngest member of it. Messrs. Hall, Stanchfield, Ferguson and Kuhn, of the House, and Senators Childs, Cochrane and Farr were the meinbers. A bill to reorganize the tax matters of the state passed the House, but failed in the Senate. A year later a commission appointed by the governor prepared a bill carrying into effect provisions similar to those of Mr. Hopkins' bill. He was offered the senatorial nomination, but declined to run, as his health forbade. He served for six years as chairman of the Republican county committee. In all these positions of public trust he served very faithfully and ably in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In I874 Mr. Hopkins platted the Hopkins addition to the town of Mt. Pleasant. In I877, while in attendance to the Iegislature, he was nominated without his knowledge for village president hbut was not elected. Tn T882 he was accorded the unanimous nomination on the Republican ticket for prosecuting attorney of Isabella county; he made no canvass and was not elected. In T884 he was an alternate and attended the Republican national convention held at Chicago which nominated Blaine and Logan. In 1892 Mr. Hopkins, as chairman of the executive committee of the Business Men's Association, had charge of the work of locating the United States Indian Industrial School in Isabella county, and carried on the correspondence concerning it with the authorities at Washington and with the member of Congress for the district, Colonel Bliss, afterward governor, and succeeded in locating it at Mt. Pleasant. He then conceived the idea of platting land, selling it and applying the proceeds for the erection of a normal school. This was done, the present Central State Normal being the result. A company was formed and incorporated and Mr. Hopkins has always been its secretary. The school is the pride of the city. Mr. Hopkins has been interested in four additions to the city and is the owner of two. In I892 Mr. Hopkins was elected to the state Senate and he served during the session held in I893. He was president pro tem. of the Senate, and was ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 389 chairman of the special committee of the Senate and joint committee of the House and the Senate on taxation, and he introduced a bill revising the tax laws of the state which becamc a law and, with some changes, is the present law of the state. He was a member of the judiciary committee and the university committee, also the committee on education. He was appointed chairman of the last, but resigned in favor of another member, still serving, however, on the committee. In 1896 he espoused the cause of bimetallism and supported Bryan and Sewell for the leaders of the national ticket. IHe was chairman of the Silver Republican committee for the eleventh congressional district, and was chairman of the Silver Republican convention held at Bay City and vice-chairman of the joint convention of Silver Republicans, Populists and Democrats held there, and at the union of the parties he and Senator W. R. Burt were appointed to namie the candlidates for governor and lielutenant-governor, which they did. In a convention of three hundred delegates, MIr. Hopkils neeledd only one and three-fourths votes to receive tile nomination for candidate for congress. He canvassed the state, being il several joint discussions, olne at (adillac, o()ie at Escanaba and one at Traverse City. With the strongest and allest debaters the parties could pit against lill, he never failed to carry his audience, \which often ntumbered thousands. He was nomllinated oni the Union ticket for the state Senate in 1896. but while hie ran far ahead of his ticket failed to overconle the heavv majority of the district and was not elected. In 1898 he was nominate(l for prosecutitng attornev, but againl met defeat, although lie r-an ahead(l of hlis ticket. I-Te supported Bryan and Stevenson anl cainvassed the state in 19oo. He was onle of tile four delegates-at-large for the national Lincolll Republican convention held in I900 at Kansas City, and he was chairman of the notification commlittee to notify Mr. Bryan of his nomination and he wrote the letter of notification, and received from the great colmmonelr a letter compnllinlentting him upon the one lie had received regarding the notificationi. le was an alternate to the Democratic national convention ill I9O, held in Kansas City, and was also chairman of the state (lelegation to the People's party national convention held in Sioux City in 900o, and he attended all these conventions, and canvassed the state for the ticket. Since then he has takein lut little active part in politics. Mr. HIopkins was president of the Mt. Pleasant Sugar Company for several years. After this work was largely in the hands of others and the building stolpedl. he turned his attention to other improvements and succeeded after a year's effort in locating.the Michigan Condensed Milk Company in Mt. Pleasant, an additional improveme nt to the city and county of vast importance. Upon his return from New York, when he finally succeeded in 390 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. locating the factory here, he was met at the station upon arrival of the train by the mayor, who was accompanied by the government school band and a delegation of the board of trade, of which he is a charter memler, and of citizens and escorted to the Bennett hotel and thence to the opera house, where the assembled audience listened to a recital of his accomplishlment in securing the factory, and where the mayor, for the citizens, presented to him a new hat and a pocketbook containing five twenty-dollar gold pieces, making a sum of one hundred dollars. Some twelve years before. E. B. Mucller & Company, of New York, chicory manufacturers, came to MIt. Pleasant to look up a location, but placed their establishment at Port Huron. In 19iO Mr. Hopkins, who had kept in touch with them, entered into a corrcslpondence regarding the erection of a plant in this city, and after several letters had passed between them they were induced to come to this city. w\here they were introduced to the board of trade and other citizens by Mlr. Hopkins. who miet with them. Owing to the telmporary failure of Mr. Hopkinls' health, he could not give the matter further attention, but the hoard of trade carried the matter through and another very successful and important industry was addled to Mt. Pleasant. His public spirit has always been unlimitedl as he has always had great faith in Isabella county, and has insisted that Mt. I'leasant should be a city of much more importance and of more rapid gr-owth. The domestic life of Mr. Hopkins began on Decelmber lo, 1873. \\hen, at Jerusalem, New York, he was united in marriage with MXargaretta \'edder. a lady of culture and refinement and the eldest daughter of Rev. Dr. Edwi\\ and Ida (Williamson) Vedder, the former a native of Schenectady. New' York, and the mother of the state of New Jersey. The death of the latter occurred on July 4, I900. Doctor Vedder is living at the advanced age of ninety-five years, having arrived at that age on August 22, I9TO. IHe lives with his children and at his summer home at Schoharie, New York. He has done an incalculable amount of good and is a grand old man w\homi to know is to honor and admire. Mrs. Hopkins was born February I, 1846, at Little Falls, New Jersey, and she lived with her parents while her father preached at the churches of his denomination at Berne, Middleburg, Gallupville. Schoharie, New Scotland and Jerusalem, all in New York, he having left Little Falls, New Jersey, when Mrs. Iopkins was a small child. As pastor (of the Reformed churches at the above named places he was very popular and built up the congregation. One son, Herbert Vedder, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins, on August 21, 1876, at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and he died at Jerusalem, New York, August 4, I877. A daughter, Lila Vedder, was born to them on April ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 391 20, 1885. She was married to Jay Harris Buell, September 3, I907, and they have one child, Harris Hopkins Buell, born November 12, I909. Their home is at Gaylord, Michigan. The commo-dious, modern and attractive home of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins is a park-like place, the wide, spacious lawns being shady and inviting, ornamental and fruit trees, shrubbery, vines and flowers being in profusion, and because ten stately oaks grow near this beautiful residence the place is known as ()akten. It is on Normal avenue and in the mIost desirable residence portion of the city. Ilerc the many friends of the family often gather, finding an oldtime hoslittality and good cheer ever prevailing. The house is equipped with a splendid and carefully selected library, where Mr. Hopkins spends many pleasant hours, losing himself "in other men's miniids," and is familiar with the world's best literature. \\While a member of the board of education for the city, Mr. Hopkins took part in locating three sites for schools and erecting five school buildings. He assisted with xvork and liberal contributions in the erection of the county court house, the railroads which enter the city and the chemical xorks, as wsell as many other industries. Ile has delivered many Fourth of July addresses, also mlade Meniorial day orations, many of which have been published, and addresses before state religious conferences, state and coulnty fairs, high school and( college graduating classes and oni many other occasions, often addlressing audiences composed of thousands of people at Lansing, Grand Rapids. Port Huron, Alma. St. Louis. St. Clair. Marine City, Midland. Mayville, Big Rapids, Reed City, Mt. Pleasant, Shepherd, Clare. Cadillac, Traverse City, Barralga, Iancock. Calumlet. iLake l.inden, Escanaba, Menominee, Ludington, Scottville, Lake Odessa, and other cities. Many of these addresses have been published. His letter to Mr. Bryan has also been published and may be found in the Central State Normal Library at Mt. Pleasant. As a speaker he is logical, earnest and often truly eloquent, never failing to hold his audience in rapt attention. Mrs. Hopkins is a member of the Presbyterian church, in vwhich she has been an active worker for ye;.rs and for years she was president of the Ladies' Aid Society. Although not a melmber, Mr. Hopkins was for years trustee and secretary and treasurer of the board and helped build the local church of this denomination. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for several years. Tle l)elongs to the Unitarian church, which he assisted very materially in building, and for two years he was vice-president of the board of trustees and for twenty years president of the board. For years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school and is usually found in church on Sunday. His habits 392 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. have ever been exemplary, and he has never drank a glass of intoxicating liquor nor used tobacco in any form. He is a fearless and independent thinker-no dogmas for him. He believes in the gospel of intelligent industry, and that the boys or girls who care for themselves properly and work industriously and intelligently will reap their measure of reward. He has beell of great assistance in encouraging young people and starting them on the right road in life and many a young man owes his success, in a measure at least, for having heeded his advice when hesitating at the parting of the ways. His life itself could be held up as a worthy example to the youth whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. PROF. CHARLES T. GRAWN. The life of Prof. Charles T. Grawn, the popullar and efficient president of the Central State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant, has been one of hard study and research from his youth and, since maturity, of laborious professional duty in the several relations in which he has been placed. The high position to \\hich he has attained is evidence that the qualities he possesses afford tilhe illanils of distinction under a system of government in which 1)laces of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be found Nworthy of them. H is thirty years of service as the head of various institutions of learning have been characterized lbv a series of advancements in educational methods whiich dellloustrate his ability as a man of progressive ideas, besides wnilng for hill an honorable place among the leading educators of the state. Possessing great force of character and executive ability of a high order, lie has brought the schools to a high standard of efficiency and by insisting that onily teachers of recognized scholarship and professional experience be employed. and that the most approved methods of instruction he adopted( lie looks hopefully forward to still greater improvement in the future..As an edtucator lie is w\i(lely kno\vn throughout Michigan and other states and his suggestions pertainiing to matters educational command respect in all the institutes, associatiolls and conventions of educators which he attends. President Grawn is the scion of a sterling Swedish ancestry, ilany of whose winning attributes seem to have descended to him. Ilhe Nwas born in Salem, Washtenaw county, Michigan, on October 4, I857, and le is the son of Andrew and Christena Grawn, both born near Stockholm, Sweden, the ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 393 father in I814 and the mother in I820. The father served for a period of fourteen years as major in the standing army of Sweden. Prof. Charles T. Grawn enjoys the advantages of an excellent education, having graduated from the State Normal College at Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1880, and having received the degree of Master of Arts from Columbia University in the city of New York. lie received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of Michigan in I906. He has always been a student and has kept well abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to his vocation, current events, as well as the progress in science and the world of literature. Early in life he fostered a laudable ambition to become a teacher, aid. bending every effort in this direction, succeeded admirably from the first. From I880 to I884 lhe was principal of the high school at Plymouth, Mlichigan; from 1884 to 1899 he was superintendent of the schools of Traverse City. Michigan; he was director of the Training School of the Ypsilanti State Normal College from 1899 to 19go, and since the last date he has been president of the Central State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant, an institution which has done m1uch to advance the educational interests of the state. In all these institutions lie has l)erformed his work in a manner that has reflected iluch credit up)on llimlself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. building up the systeml in each place and greatly strengthening the work in all departmlents. Politically, the l'rofess r is a Republican, and while he is always ready to sluppl)ot such measures as make for the general good. he has never found timle to b)e a politiciall or hod1 public office. Religiously, lie is an active mem1ber of the Presly-teriian c(hulrch. of which he is ruling elder and president of the ho;ardl of trustees. ()n No\vember 24, T884. President (rawn was united in marriage with Helen I. Black\ood, a ladv of culture and refinement who has been of great;issistance to him in his life work. She represents an excellent old pioneer family, being tle dlaulghter of Samuel alnd Mary Jane (Ewing) Blackwood, of Northville, MAichigan. This union has been graced by the birth of two children. Iildegarde ML. Grawn and Carl Blackwood Grawn. President (rawn is a gentleman of pleasing address, courteous, obliging and genteel, and in the school rooml he is both an instructor and entertainer. He is known to all classes as one of the scholarly men of the county, who, not content to hide his talents amid life's sequestered ways, has by the force of will and correct ideals forged to the front in a responsible and exacting calling, and earned an honorable reputation as the head of one of the most important branches of public service. 394 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. EDWARD 0. HARRIS. The life of the eminent and successful business man, though filled to repletion with activity and incident, presents fewer salient features to excite the interest of the general reader than the man whose place in the public eye has been won through the glamour and display of military achievement. But to acquire distinction or great prosperity in the business pursuits which give to the country its financial strength and credit requires ability of as high if not higher order than that which leads to victory on the field of battle. This will be readily appreciated by all who tread the busy thoroughfares of trade, for present-day industrial battles are almost as fierce as any. Thus the man who wins in this field, especially at an early age, as has Edlardl 0. Tarris, the well-known mill man of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella county, is deserving of a great deal of credit and of the universal confidence and esteem which he today enjoys. Those who know himr best will readily acquiesce in the statement that he is a man of unusual sagacity in business matters, exercising rare soundness of judgment, foresight and acumen and at the same time guarding well the honored name of the Harris family, also doing his full share in promoting the interests of his county. Mr. Harris was born at Mt. Pleasant on August 15, 1877. lie is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Harris, an excellent and well-known family, which is fully mentioned on another page of this work. Edward 0. Harris grew to maturity in his home town and attended the common schools, being graduated from the local high school. Being by nature of a business turn of mind, he started in the commercial world when young in years, entering the milling business with his father and uncles when eighteen years of age, and he is now in charge of a large and popular milling plant, which he is conducting in a manner that reflects much credit upon his business ability. It is the only grist mill in Mt. Pleasant and no better products are turned out by any mill in the North, which fact results in the widespread demand for the products of this mill throughout the country. Mr. Harris also runs an extensive and well-equipped electric plant, which he purchased in May, 1907, and which furnishes light for the city, of one hundred and fifty kilowat capacity, the streets being lighted by it. It is one of the neatest and best little electric plants in this part of the state. Mr. Harris was married to Pearl Vroman, a lady of culture and refinement and the representative of a prominent old family, the date of their wedding being in April, I905. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Robert and Richard 0., both at home. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 395 Mr. Harris is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. IIe is a popular young man in all circles and has proven his ability to manage large affairs. The Iarris Milling Company is one of those institutions which have contributed quite largely toward the building up of this city, as well as the development of the territory surrounding, it being a pioneer among the business enterlrises of this city. This mill was erected in 1872 by Harris Brothers, the firm consisting of J. A.. V. E. and Henry G. Harris and Warner Churchill, a brother-in-law. This was the only mill in this section for many years, consequently attracting many farmers toward this city who otherwise might have gone in other directions for their merchandise. This mill has also furnished a good market for grains at all times, a fact which has been, and is, thoroughly appreciate(l both by tile people of this city and the farming community. This mill, when first put in operation, was a very modest one in coimparisoln w\ith the present plant. it having been enlarged as the business grew and circullstances )woul(d w,\rrant, until today it is consideredl one of the best equipped florinig mills in this section of Michigan. The business was condlucted by lHarris IBrothers f-ronl 1872 until I898, when the H-larris Mlilling Company, Limited, was organized. they havinlg con(ducted the business p1) to the present time. The officers of the company are: President, Samuel L. -larris; secretary and treasurer, Edward O. larris. This m1ill has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels of flour, seventyfive barrels of buckwheat flour or meal and fifty tons of feed per day. The two brands of flour which this comnpany pushes are "Famo" and ";A 1 Bread Flour," besides putting first-class articles of buckwheat, graham flour and corn meal on the market. They have worked up a very extensive local trade and besides have merchants handling their flours in every village or city along the.Ann Arbor railroad from Owosso to Frankfort, while shipping to a considerable number of places on the Pere Marquette lines. They also ship quite extensively in car lots to Baltimore. Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This mill also does a very extensive "customs" business, that being the term applied to the business of grinding flour, etc., for the farmers of this section, the reputation for fair dealing and the production of a desirable article having built for them a very firmly established business in this line. The fact that this mill also furnishes a local market for all of the wheat and oats raised in this section is something which the farmers appreciate, yet in order to meet the demands of its business the firm is compelled to purchase in outside markets and ship to this city annually from eighty thousand to one hundred thousand bushels of corn, which is ground into feed and shipped north. 396 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. This mill is run by water power, the company owning one of the most desirable water powers to be found in this section of Michigan, from which there are at the present time six water wheels being run, with a total of five hundred and twenty-five horse power. Besides supplying all of the power needed for their own use in the conduct of the mills, the company leases power to the city of Mt. Pleasant, from which the municipal water system is run, and also to the Harris Electric Company, in addition pumping water for the Ann Arbor railroad for their water tank and round house at this point. PROF. ERNEST T. CAMERON. The life of the scholarly or professional man seldom exhibits any of those striking incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract attention to himself. His character is generally made up of the aggregate qualities and qualifications he may possess, as these may be elicited by the exercise of the duties of his vocation or the particular profession to which he belongs. But when such a man has so impressed his individuality upon his fellow\ men, as to gain their confidence and, through that confidence, rises to a high and important public trust, he at once becomes a conspicuous figure in the body politic of the community and state. Prof. Ernest T. Cameron, commissioner of public schools of Isabella county, is one of those scholarly men, who, not content to hlide his talents amid life's sequestered ways,. has, by the force of will and a laudable ambition. forged to the front in a responsible and exacting calling, and earned an honorable reputation as the head of one of the most important branches of public service. He was born on April 14, 1879, in lIeith. Ontario, and is the son of John R. and Anna (Morrison) Cameron, the father born in New Brunswick in I849; they were married in Ontario, where the mother was born, in Gray county. Their living children are, Ernest T. of this review; Erma, who married I. D. Wallington. a well-known citizen of Mt. Pleasant; Morrison, who is attending the State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant. Professor Cameron was brought by his parents to Milbrook, Mecosta county, Michigan, when six months old, and there his father engaged in the mercantile business, and there the son grew to boyhood. In I885 the family moved to Sherman City, Isabella county, the father being one of the early settlers there and one of the first to engage in the drug and hardware business. The subject received his education in the district schools at that place, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 397 his father remaining there the rest of his life, dying on January 9, 1908; the mother is still living, making her home with her son, Ernest T., during the winter months and on the old homestead in the summer time. After passing through the district schools, Ernest T. attended the Central Normal, where he received a graded life certificate in I898. After working in his father's store one year, he attended the Normal College at Ypsilanti and got a life certificate in I900. He taught in the Holland high school one year, and while living there was married to Mattie Johnson, of Sherman City, who was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1878. She moved to Sherman City from Bay City, Michigan. To the Professor and wife three children have been born, one dying in infancy; Ronald was born in February, I907, and Ernestine's birth occurred on September 26, I908. After teaching school a year after his marriage, Professor Cameron went to Lansing, Michigan, as clerk in the auditor-general's office, where he remained three months, then was transferred as clerk to the state tax commission, remaining in this position three years. He then returned to Isabella county, and spent two years teaching and in business with his father-in-law. Gilbert Johnson, in a stock farm. The father died at this time and Ernest T. took charge of his affairs in the spring of 1907. About the same time he became a candidate on the Republican ticket for the office of school commissioner. and was subsequently elected. His term expires on July I, 19 11. He taught science in the Central Normal in the summer of I908 and in T910 taught the institute courses. His chief work as commissioner has been, first, in placing the buildings in all the school districts throughout the county in good sanitary condition and seeing that they are perfectly equipped, thereby permitting a larger amount of work to be accomplished, also in keeping the financial conditions of the various districts in better shape; and in bringing the county commissioner in closer touch with the schools of the county. He has been very successful in his work, considering the short time he has served as commissioner. The enforcement of the compulsory educational act has to the present time resulted in doubling the number of the eighth grade graduates in the last two years. The financial affairs of the school districts are in such condition that the directors' reports of 1909 were, according to the state department of education, the first to be received in perfect condition. Professor Cameron is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees of Sherman City, Hammond Tent No. 307, he being past commander of the same. He is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. I 164, of Mt. Pleasant; he is trustee of Castle Hall No. 66. Knights of Pythias, and a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 217, Indepen 398 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. dent Order of Odd Fellows. He is senior warden of Waubon Lodge No. 305. Free and Accepted Masons, of Mt. Pleasant, the chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Mt. Pleasant, the council of Royal and Select Masters, at Lansing,'and the Bay City Consistory, he being a thirty-second-degree Mason and prominent in Masonic circles. He is also a member of Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Detroit. Mr. Cameron was the first president of the library board of Mt. Pleasant. JOHN ADAMS DAMON. Among those men of sterling attributes of character who have ilmprcssed their personality upon the community of their residence anld have borne their full share in the upbuilding and development of Isabella county, mention must not he omitted of John Adams )amnon, the present lpoplular and efficient county treasurer and well known business man of Isabella couinty. He has exerted a strong influence for good, being a man of upright principles and desirous to see the advancement of the community along moral, educational and material lines. Mr. Damon was born June 4, T850, in Madison. I ake county, (hio. l-e is the son of George and Mary (Tyler) Damon. both natives of Massachusetts. of which state their parents had long made their residence. There lMr. and Mrs. George Damon grew to m-aturity and were married, later movilg to Pennsylvania. thence to Ohio. The following children were born to tlhem: Henry. who died in 1864. while in the Union army; Harrison, who resides in Massachusetts; Rev. W. C., of Oakland, California; Isaac rT., of Millingtonl Michigan: George E., who died at Pleasant Hill. Missouri, Februarvy 1;, I910; Mary E., who married Wash WVoodard, of \\indsor, W'isconlsiln Frances E.. of Oakland, California; John A., of this review: Charles. who died at Denver. Colorado, April 3, I905; Martha, now Mrs. Frank I ulber-t. lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. The parents of these children are 1)(th deceased, the father dying in I860 and the mother in 1864, 1K)th dying in Wisconsin, where they moved from Ohio in T855, locating near Madison. John A. Damon, of this review, was five years old when his parents moved to Wisconsin. IIe obtained a good education at Madison and spent three years in the preparatory department of the University of Wisconsin. and one year as a freshman, making four years in all in the State University there. He began his sophomore year, but was compelled to leave school on ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 399 account of weakening eyes. Being inclined to try the rosy path of literature, he devoted considerable attention to this work, and he taught school for two years near Madison, working on a farm during the summer months. He later went to Beloit, Wisconsin. and was employed in a drug store as clerk there for four years, preparing to make the drug business his life work. At this time lie was married to Ella G. Jewett, May 10, 1873. She is the daughter of Joseph L. and Sarah Jewett. Her people were from Vermont and New York, respectively. She was born at Beloit, Wisconsin, May io, 1853. To this union these children have been born: I-oward P., whose birth occurred at Beloit, July 31, T874, is now a shoe salesman at Grand Rapids; Mabel G. was born in Millington, Michigan, on July T3, I880, and she married Floyd Mitchell, of Weidman, Isabella county. After spending four years in Beloit. John A. I)amon located at Millington, 'l'uscola county, Ihlichigan, in the spring of 1876 andl engaged in the drug and grocery business, he being a registered pharmacist. Mr. Damon has alway!s been (leeply interested in political matters andl his genuine worth and lpublic spir it has been recognized and appreciated 1y leaders in tl-e Republican party. \\hile at W\eidman Mr. Damon w\as active in organizing the first school district and later in the graded school district served on the school board continuously xwhile there. lie was a member of the school board in Millington also. He was selected as the party's candi(date for the state Legislature from the first district, Tuscola county, iln 1886, and was duly elected, serving four years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, wiinning a record in that important body of which anyone might well be proud. IIe will long lie remembered, amnong other things of service he did there for the general public, by intlroducintg the I)amon liqluor bill, designed to regulate the general liquor business of the state. In 189o he was in charge of branch of recorded indebtedness of the state of Michigan the eleventh census, having one assistant in each congressional district. The financial interests of the state were carefully gone over in this work, and six months were spent in this undertaking. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Damon sold out his business and went to the state of Georgia. w\here he engaged in the manufacturing business, but returned to Michigan the following year. He purchased a stock of drugs and wall paper at 1iubbardston. lonia county, where he remained two years, then moved his goods to \eildman, Isabella county, in the fall of 1894, where he put in a line of groceries. HTe was burned out in June, 1897, ibut immediately rebuilt on a more extensive scale than formerly, and engaged in a general mercantile business. handling nearly everything but hardware. I-Ie continued 400 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. here with his usual success until December, I906. In the fall of that year he was elected county treasurer, and was re-elected in I908, having made a splendid record during his first term and he is now the incumbent of this office. Selling out his business at Weidman, this county, he moved his family to Mt. Pleasant and he intends to make his future home here, though he has retained some business interests in Weidman, being connected with the Weidman Banking Company as vice-president. He is also connected with the Holmes Milling Company there, being vice-president of this company also. Since coming to this county he has been successfully engaged in business. Mr. and Mrs. Damon have been for many years consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. CHESTER R. GORIIAM. In reviewing the history of those who have been instrumental in the upbuilding and advancement of the material growth of the city of Mt. Pleasant, the name of Chester R. (orham will rank among the first. Coming to Mt. Pleasant in r888, he with his brother and: son established the plant now known as the (orham Brothers Company, giving employment to many, and the homes which have been built and the improvements which have been brought about through the influence of this great work will be a lasting monument to his ability, quiet and unassuming ways, and honest industry. After long years of faithful service and toil, he rests from his labors, in the silent grave, the resting place of all mankind, where he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking, but the forces he set in motion here for the material and moral good of the community will never die away, and the example he set the young men of Mt. Pleasant in the way of a successful battle against odds and obstacles and of wholesome living in all the relations of life, is far-reaching and will continue to grow. Chester R. Gorham, widely known as the president of the Gorham Brothers Company, was the scion of a sterling Eastern family, his birth having occurred in Chenango county, New York, in 1846. When but a child his parents moved to Ohio, settling at Euclid, near Cleveland, and now a suburb of the Lake City, and there he received his education and grew to maturity. When eighteen years of age he commenced the manufacture of baskets. In his humble workshop was laid the foundation for the present extensive business of the Gorham Brothers Company. At first the working force was very t -9 I Ir-. I I I I,.0 1 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 401 small, and frequently Mr. Gorhanm himself was the only man on the payroll, the payroll itself being somewhat irregular and uncertain. lie was not easily discouraged and he pushed forward in the face of all obstacles, relentlessly persevering until ultimate success crowned his efforts, becoming in dclue course of time the head of an institution of which he had just cause to feel lroud, which will ever stand as a fitting monument to his industry, sagacity and foresight. Mr. Gorhain maintained a home at Cleveland where his family preferred to reside, but the major portion of his time was spent in Mt. Pleasant. His (eath occurred on March 13, 1910. FRANK H. DUSENBURY. It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs that makes the real history of a community, and his influence as a potential factor of the body politic is difficult to estimate. The exanlmples such men furnish of patient pturpose and steadlfast inteagrity strongly illustrate what it is in tlhe power of each to accomllish, and there is always full measure of satisfaction in adverting even in a casual way to their achievements in advancing thle interests of their fellow ineii and in giving strength and solidity to thle institutions which tell so much for the prosperity of the comlmunity. Such a man is Frank 1H. Duisenbury, one of the leading attorneys of southern Mlichigaln and at present representative in the state Legislature. Such a life as his is an inspiration to 'others who are less courageotis and m11ore plrone to give up the fight when obstacles thwart their way, or their ideals have been reached or definite success has been attained in any chosen field. TIn thle life history of Mr. Dusenbury are found evidences of a peculiar characteristic that always makes for achievement,persistency coupled with fortitude and lofty traits,-and as a result of such a life lie has long stood as one of the best known, most influential and highly esteemed citizens of Isabella county. Mr. Dusenburv was born in Mt. Pleasant, this county, on May 26, 1878. He is the scion of an excellent old pioneer family, being the son of Frank H. and May V. Dutsenbury, the father born in Marshall, Michigan, and the mother born in Coldwater, this state. The father served his country during the Civil war as assistant paymaster on the gunboat "Prairie Bird," United States nlavy. At the close of the wxar he received an honorable discharge. The son, Frank TH. Dusenbury, grew to maturity in his home town and (26) 402 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. received his primary education in the public schools, also attended the high school at Mt. Pleasant and at Saginaw. He was always a student and made rapid progress, and, having early in life decided to enter the law, he accordingly began to bend every effort in that direction, and after he had a general literary education, entered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he made a brilliant record and from which he was graduated, in the class of 1902. Soon afterward he returned to Mt. Pleasant and opened a law office. His success was instantaneous and his clientele has continued to grow until he has long since taken a place in the front rank of attorneys in this and adjoining counties, figuring in most of the important cases that come up in the local courts. He is a painstaking, resourceful, energetic and fearless advocate, and keeps abreast of the times in every respect, especially in the matter of important decisions and state rulings, and he is a vigorous and individual investigator. Mr. Dusenbury was elected prosecuting attorney of Isabella county, and served the same with much credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, the court records standing as evidence of his eminent success as an incumbent of this important office. Hlaving long been interested in the welfare of his county in a general way and taking an abiding interest in politics, he was elected representative from- his district in the state Legislature inl T9 8. serving until T910, when. having made a brilliant record, he was re-elected. He has made his influence felt in the House for the good of his constituents and is ever alert for the interests which he represents. As a speaker he is earnest, logical, forceful and often eloquent. So far, his record has justified the'wisdom of the Republican party, which he has so faithfully advocated, in placing himl in this high office. On December 27, I906, Mr. Dusenbury led to the hymeneal altar Edith E. Gorham, a lady of culture and refinement and the daughter of Ezra S. and Mary M. Gorham, ai respected and influential family of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Dusenbury one child, Anne, was born on June 17, 1909, but died in infancy. Fraternally Mr. Dusenbury is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Maccabees. Mr. Dusenbury is a young man of ability and talents, honest, conscientious and conservative. He believes, and has proven this belief by his record, that justice should be impartial, and that the arm of the law should be wielded alike in the enforcement and defense of every citizen, regardless of politics, race, religion or financial standing. Although he believes that the safety of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 403 society rests in the prompt and successful prosecution of crime, he yet believes that the machinery of the law should be set in motion only after due deliberation and careful investigation. Ile is truly making a name for himself, and his conduct in office has been such that lie has not only gained, but retained, the confidence of all concerned, and, judging from his past record of honor, one would predict a future of much promise. FRANCIS H. DODDS. Francis H. i)odds, of Mt. Pleasant, was born in the township of Louisville, St. Lawrence county, New York, June 9, 1858. He moved to Isabella county with his parents in I866, where he attended the public schools and obtained his early education. lie began teaching when he was but sixteen years of age and pursued this calling for three years, in the rural schools of the county. in the village schools of Mit. Pleasant and in the village schools of Farwell, in Clare county. Mr. Dodds is a graduate of Olivet College; was graduated from the law dle!iartment of the University of Michigan in I88o, and was elected Ipresident of the law alumni of that institution for the then Insuilg year. e I as lbeen elgaged in tle piractice of law continuously since then-from 1884 to. I886 at Bay City, Michigan, and during the rest of the time at Mt. Pleasant, and has served as citv attorney and as a member of the board of education of the latter place. MAr. Do(ds is a Republican, and was elected to Congress from the eleventh congressional district in November, 90o8. and was re-elected to the sixty-second Congress in November, 191o. He is married and has four children, E. Nugent, Daphne A., Dorothy E. and (ertrude Mae Dodds. ROY D. MATTTHEWS. The present popular and efficient prosecuting attorney of Isabella county, Roy I). Matthews, is now moving along the pathway of professional success with many years of profitable activity before him. He is a man of thought and study and finds essential nutriment in dining and supping with the legal authorities. His life has been a busy and useful one, and he is a man of unshrinking integrity, rigid honesty, technical in his definitions of right living in all walks of life. 404 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Matthews was born in Thornapple township, Barry county, Michigan, February II, 1878. He is the son of C. P. Matthews, who was born inl Russell township. four miles from Chagrin Falls, Russell county, Ohio. From there he moved to Barry county, Michigan, we hen was twenty-eight years of age. While living in Ohio he was married to Celinda Reed, at Chagrin Falls. From Barry county, Michigan, he moved to Owosso, this state, where he followed teaming, and he is still a resident of that place. His children are as follows: Arthur G., who lives in Shiawasse county, Michigan; Roy, of this review; Iva E., Bert L., Lilah and Pearl, all living in Shiawassee. Roy D. Matthews was ten years of age when his parents moved to Owosso City and there he sold papers for several years. iHe had attended the district school in Barry county and he finished the graded schools at O'wosso. He then worked continuously without missing a day until the following September, for E. F. Dudley, in the produce business in Owosso. In the fall of 1899 he entered the University of Michigan, took the law course. working his way through college, and was graduated with honors in 1902. Tle won tile admiration of his fellow students, for lie was not assisted l)v anyone and he had many obstacles to overcome. After his gradua1tion he wenlt to the office of Watson & Chapman, of Owosso, and remained there nltil January i, 1903. He then established an office at Shepherd. Isabella countv. W\hile in the lUniversity of Michigan he won an "M " on the baseball team. \While in the office of Watson & Chapmanll he was appointed( by Governor Bliss as circuit court commissioner, which piositiont he held with credit until his removal to Shepherd. He remained in that place until 1908. lie enjoyed a very satisfactory practice and won a wide reputation as a careful, painstaking and well informed lawyer. The first mlonth he was in Shel)l-erd lie made no iore thlan expense money; the second month showed a small increase, and after that his business grew steadily until he became one of the leading members of the local bar. Being an ardent Republican and a pullic-spiritedl nan, Ihis alility alnd worth were soon recognized by party leaders and lie was elected prosecutilg attorney in the fall of 1908. He movel to Mt. Pleasant and since assuming charge of the duties of this office he has proven the wisldom of his selection, for he is always found at his post and has made a record of which his friends and constituents may well be proud. Mr. Matthews was president of the village. while living at Shepherd and he did many things for the general good( of that community. On October 27, 1903, Mr. Matthews married, at Owosso, Michigan, Fannie C. Crawford, (laughter of Robert D. and Olive Crawford, natives of Michigan and Massachusetts, respectively. Mrs. Matthews was born in T882 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.40 405 at Owosso, Michigan. This union has been graced by the birth of one child, Olive Louise, who was born April 27, 1909. Mrs. M~,atthews graduated from the high school at Owosso in 1900. Fraternally- MIr. Mlatthewis is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodo'e NO. 288. of Shepherd. t * meeiei re of 0(1( Felow of Mtr. Pleas~ant, the Knights of Pythias at Owvosso, and the M7\odern Wioodmen of Amierica, at Shepherd. Icing clerk of the latter for two or three years. Selling his property in Shepherd, Ilc purchased very desirable prop~erty at M~t. Pleasant when hie mnoved here. \WhIile in Shepherd hie pronmoted and e,'taihlisliedl Fan illsllrance business, which hie sold when lie m-oved to M\t. IPleasant. f-ATJl-Jk THOMAS O'CON)N\Oh. The 1intloence (If Father Thomas Otionnor.1- Worthv- aldI well-knoown Cath(Ilic priest (If Nlt. IPleasmnt. has long beeni most saluitary Ii Isabella co unty, where hie has labs (ell earnestly for thle ameliolration of his p~eople, conrtcnt ill fIllowing the exalople of tile. io\\ I\ Nazarel inc lularIinlg little for tlse admlliring lamlits (If m~en. l~e is,- emmletly lieservin (I of tile ((gil esteeml tllat is rep(sed l i him Iw- evervone. folrc I lls (aee h~as icn tht of a 01a1 whose ideals:1rc high anld \\K lwe heart is (iI 111s wor0k F'ather Otionoor11 Wits ((011(11 Ji (((in 28 I 86.()II0 far 111((al Hulntingtoll, ntehec, (Canada. relnaillin' therl uni Itl hie wass eight years of Page. and there hic began his ediucationlal tramowg IlIe then mIov id tol Albany coonty, New VNik. I i 871). Ill 1879 hie e((tel clSt. ILawrenceli (College at MNontreal, Canada, finis"hinig tile classical comrsi there theni took two o ars' philosophlical course iti1 tile Francescans at Brookbvn. Ne Yo\1)k. He then took theology at at role, Pennsv Isvanl I Benellictile's). lie was orllained on lilly 26, (888. alt (rand Raidspal Michiganl. and Siwls appin~ltedl assistanlt at St. 'Marv's church. I liskcgon, \ll1(111an. In Jalilarv. 18oI, lie was5 a1)15illted to Midland, and itlrillg tile xMalle cear lill \\~s trallsferrell to Gralnd ITlaven.- On Allglst I, I 55)9, le c-aie to Mkt. IPIcasan-t, 11d ichilianl w\here he has conltinued~ inl the wvork t,0 the plresent tone, 11avilg, nilt il) the congregation ill a manner that reflects ((((ch credit (1110n las ealrnlstlcss (If plurpose, his genuinne ability an(l his powler In(spire contidenice in lis parisll. H e was instrumltental ill securilng the parocilial sebool. andlihe bou)tght tse Sisters' prolperty. Being anl ardent ad(vocate (I elltcation. hie Isas lbtilt Ilere Sacred Ilcart Academy at anl expense of about (weiity-five thousaml dollars. It is beauitifuil Iin all its appointments, sillstall 406 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. tial, convenient and well suited for every purpose. Here are eight Dominican Sisters. It is a diploma school of the University of Michigan, and here are to be found about three hundred pupils, and the school is in a very flourishing condition and wields a powerful influence in this section of the state. It is under splendid management in every respect. When Father O'Connor came here he found the church unfurnished; he had it remodeled, at anll expense of probably ten thousand dollars, making it a splendid edifice, and he also raised money to repair the Sisters' house. Since he came to Mt. Pleasant he has raised about fifty thousand dollars for buildings. He has a congregation of about three hundred families. These facts are certainly criterions enough of his indomitable energy and unswerving zeal. He has taken a great interest in all movements calculated to benefit the city in any way, such as inducing various enterprises to locate here. He is well liked and popular, and justly so, by the people of this vicinity-of all classes and creeds. Personally he is a very pleasant gentleman, kind, genial, a fluent conversationalist and a man who at once inspires confidence and respect, never courting publicity, plain and unassuming. HARRY G. MILLER. It is not everyone who makes a success as a journalist or publisher-indeed, there are perhaps more failures in these lines than in any other avenue of human endeavor. ILike the poet, the newspaper man must be born-gifted by nature. Hundreds enter the ranks Awho, after a struggle against great odds, are borne under by the current and eventually take tip something else as a life work. Thus he who makes a success as a devotee of the art preservative, over the "case" or in the sanctum of the editorial room, demonstrates that lie has powers peculiar to himself, and also that he has been a very hard worker. Very likely he is a public-spirited man, for it has doubtless been necessary for him to declare himself on questions and issues on which men and parties divide, and it is certain that hlie is an advocate for everything that goes to promote the upbuilding of his communiity. Such a man is Harry G. Miller, editor and joint owner of the Isabella County Courier, the popular Democratic paper of this vicinity, and which, utinder his able managemnent, is regarded as a molder of public opinion and a power in promoting the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Miller was born on January 9, i880, near Vassar, Michigan. Hlie is the son of H. A. Miller, long a prominent citizen in that section of the state, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 407 who at the time of the subject's birth was editor of the Vassar Timlies. He went to school in Vassar, and when about ten years of age the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, the father becoming editor of The Democrat, which paper he purchased at that time and developed into a valuable property, and later was called the Isabella County Courier. The son thus grew up in a newspaper "atmosphere' in Mt. Pleasant. and under the judicious training of a wise sire he was early in life fitted for a career as journalist, and while now young in years he is an able and experienced publisher. Here Harry G. Miller attended high school, and later the State Normal, being graduated from the latter, with a life certificate. in I901, having made a splendid record for scholarship; but he did not make teaching his life work. lie assisted his father in the office of his paper the summer after his graduation. In the fall of 90'2 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan and spent one year there. During the next four years le turned his attention to the stage and traveled as an actor throughout the country until 1907, evincing much talent in this line, and becominmg well known in theatrical circles. TIowever, he (lid not enter the professioni in a serious manner, (lesiring to gain a knowledge of the world first hantded. -e gave up theatricals oin account of his father removing to Saginaw and lie was thus enabled to get a go(od business foothold in Mlt. Pleasant, which lie (lid 1w taking charge as editor of the paper ownied by1 his father, with his brother. Earl M.. as business manager. The father is still working in Saginaw with tlle United States Health and Accident Insurance Company, holding the position of purchasinlg manager of the institution and also is editor of The.Alcident.-ge. Thle mother makes her honie in lt. Pleasant. The sons have leen very successful in their management of this paper, the circulation having rapidly increased and the prestige of the same become well established. As stated, it is the only l)emocratic newspaper in the county and as a party organl it is most valuable, ieing well edited and judiciously managed. It is rclrdered valualble as an aldvertising medium and has a bright, clean appearance fromn a mecihanical standpoint. Its coluttnls teem with the latest. choicest and crispest news antd it is read with pleasure and profit by a wide and ever increasing circle o(f patrnms. In the spring of 9gro (April) Earl Ailler wenlt to Clifton,. \rizr'na. becomiing editor and manager of the Copper Era. leaving Harry (G. M'iller as editor and manager of the local papler. \hile at the university IMr. Miller became a memlber of the University Comiiedy C'lub. This led to his position with a theatrical troupe, giving him 1a opl)orltunity to see the United States and tto iroaden his mind in many \way s. buit he was not reluctant to leave the stage when he saw an opportunity to enter his chosen life work. 408 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Miller is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Mt. Pleasant, also the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Phi Delta Pi of Central Normal, and he is a member of the Episcopal church. He is deeply interested in the growth and welfare of Mt. Pleasant and the general development of Isabella county and stands ready to aid il any movement for the good of the masses. GEORGE ABRAM DUSENBURY. This biographical memoir has to do with a character of unusual force andt eminence, for George Abrani Dusenbury, whose life chapter has been closed by the hand of death, was for a long lapse of years one of the financial leaders and prominent citizens of Isabella county andl( one of the leading promoters of the city of Mt. Pleasant, having come to this section in pioneer times, and he assisted in every way possible in bringing al)out the transformation of the country from thle wil(l condition found by the first settler to its later-day progress and improvement. \Vlile lie carried on a special line of business in such a manner as to gain a comfortable competence for himself, he also belong to that class of representative citizens who promote the public welfare while advancing individual success. There were in him sterling traits which coinmanded uniform confidence an(l regard, anidl his memiory is today honored 1)Y all who knew him and is enshrined in the hearts( of his imanyv friends. Mr. Dusenbury was the representative of a fine old family of the \\olverine state, his birth having occurred in Marshall, Calhoun county, Michigan, on February 21, [845. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Butler) Dusenbury, natives of Broome county, New York. The father was a merchant and in T836 lie came to Michigan and settled at Marshall where he engaged successfully in the mercantile business until his death in 1857. He was a man of excellent business qualifications and a man of honor and integrity, well known and highly respected. When sixteen years of age George A. Dusenbury, of this review', having received a good common school education, launched out in the comminercial world by taking a position as bookkeeper in the mill of E. B. Walbridge at Kalamazoo, this state. He then went to the United States and American express companies, and later spent four years in the Chicago office of the American Express Company, giving eminent satisfaction and gaining much general and practical knowledge in a business way. In 1866 lie assisted in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 409 starting a local express company in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and after one year there he sold out and went to New York where he found employment in the office of the American Express Company, where he remained, giving his usual high-grade service, until 1876, when he returned to Michigan and engaged in tile mercantile business with increasing success for four years at Homer, Calhoun county. His brother, Frank, dying in Mt. Pleasant, in January. i88o, and his widowed mother and sister having already located there, he moved to this city and engaged in the real estate and loan business, and in I88I established a private banking enterprise, in partnership with his brother, \Villiam C. Dusenbury utnder the firm name of G. A. Dusenbury & Company, and they operated the same with success from the first until T888, when it was succeeded by l)usenhury, Nelson & Company, the two Dusenburys retaining their interest in the instittion. Tlis firm continued the business as a private bankilng institution, but adopted the nanme Exchange Bank. Tn May, 1894, the Exchange Savings Bank \was organize(l and incorporated as a state hank, under the laws of the state. succeeding to the business of D)usenbury, Nelson & Company. In its list of first officers, G. A. Dusenbury was cashier and \N'illiaml C. DIusenburv \as assistant cashier. These officers continued in charge of the )ank until January 19, 1900, when another change was made in the officers, but the subject retained his old position, and in 1903 he was elected president and continuedl in that iml)ortant capacit! in a manner that reflected mluch credit upo1n Iilllself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned until his death, (on September 22, 1905. This is the oldest bank in the county a1ndl one of the most popular in this section of the state. Tt is in the market at all times for good loans, and nIakes a specialty of loaning its funds on Isabella county real estate, where the security is amlple, and loans to school districts, the constant aiml of the mlanagelment having ever been to throw around each loan every safeguard consistent with sound and conservative banking. and its savings department is a very popular and important one. Nothing creates a stronger and more lasting impression amlong commercial and financial circles with regard to the importance and prosperity of a city th-an the condition of her banks and financial institutions. In this respect the Exchange Savings Bank has contributed its full share toward placing Mt. Pleasant il a very enviable position with the outside world. Therefore, too much credit cannot be given to George A. Dusenbury nor too mnuch reverence paid his imemory for establishing this bank, but there are many other reasons why he deserves a conspicuous place in the history of Isalella county. In 1884, in company withl J. M. Shaffer, Mr. Dusenbury erected a sub 4Io ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. stantial block at Gladwin, Michigan, and engaged in the mercantile business, being very successful. He was a man of fine business acumen, keen discernment, and exercised sound judgment and was by nature an organizer and promoter. Straightforward and honest in all his transactions with his fellow men, he commanded their utmost confidence and respect and was popular in all the relations of life. Personally he was a nian of pleasing address, a genteel gentleman and charitable in his impulses. Mr. Dusenbury was married on June 24, 1875, at Evanston, Illinois, to Ida S. Perry, a lady of culture and refinement, and the representative of an influential and highly respected old family. She was born at Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, in I85o. Five children were born to this union, Elizabeth, Allan T., Ross Butler, Ralph and Philip George. FRANK B. WI-IITEIEAD. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch holds an important and responsible position with one of the largest business firms of central Michigan, and the manner in which he has discharged his duties indicates that the trust reposed in his ability and faithfulness has not been misplaced. William Whitchead. the subject's father, was a native of Northamptonshire, England. as w\as also the mother. who previous to her marriage was Betsey Mead. After the birth of three of their children, Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead came to the United States and settled in Wayne county, New York, where they made their home until about the year I867, when they moved to Isabella county. Michigan, and settled on a new farm four and a half miles southwest of Mt. Pleasant. Willian-m \Whitehead's motive in coming to Michigan was to secure more and cheaper land, but the failure of his crops on account of early frosts the first two years greatly discouraged him. A fine crop and good prices the third year, however, put him upon his feet and from that time on his circumstances greatly improved, although the family suffered severely for several years on account of the ague, a disease common to nearly all new countries, especially those heavily timbered. With the assistance of his sons, Mr. WThitehead in dcue time cleared a good farm and established a fine home in Isabella county, where he spent the remainder of his clays, his first wife dying before the falily moved to this state. He subsequently married Ann Reed, who accompanied the family to Michigan and who survived him a few years, leaving one of the three chil ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 4 r dren born to them, namely, Carrie, widow of the late Noble Moss, and who now lives on a part of the homestead. By his marriage with Betsey Mead Mr. Whitehead was the father of seven children, namely: Mary, who married Francis Nichols, a carpenter, and both are now deceased; Jennie, the wife of C. F. Marsh, whose occupation is farming and fruit evaporating; Charley, a carpenter by trade, and a successful superintendent, having served the Bickford & Hoofman Grain Drill Company for a period of twenty-nine years, dying in their employ; George William, a farmer of Union township near the home place; Matilda, wife of Charles Slater. whose sketch appears elsewhere; Frank B., the subject of this review, and Estella, who married Henry Ellsworth and lived at Rapid City, this state, both being now dead. Frank B. Whitehead was born November 7, 1857, in Wayne county, New York, and came to Michigan with his parents when ten years of age. He remained at home lmltil twenty years old and at intervals in the meantime attended the public schools. When strong enough to be of service in the woods and fields, he was put to work ant in the clearing and developing of the farm in Isabella county he faithfully and energetically bore his part. At the age of seventeen. he worked as a farm hand for several of the neighbors, and three years later accepted a clerkship with the Daugherty mercantile firm. which position li he ld during the five years ensuing. About I891 Mr. Whitehead entered the employ of the Gorham Company at Mt. Pleasant, and remained with the firm during the ensuing seventeen years, first as foreman, and subsequently as superintendent, in addition to the duties of the latter position. also buying and selling timber lands, serving as superintendent about five years. Severing his connection with the firm, he wvent to the Pacific coast, where lie spent two years buying timber lands, principally in Oregon. but at the expiration of that time returned to Mt. Pleasant and again engaged with the Gorham Company, whose yard work, manufacturing, purchasing of timber. mill supplies, etc., he has managed since the fall of 1909, being at this time general superintendent of the business with an average of one hundred and thirty nmen under him, a number which du-ring busy season is not infrequently increased to two hundred. Mr. Whitehead possesses executive ability of a high order, as is demonstrated by the manner in which lie manages important trusts and the responsible position which he now holds with one of the largest concerns of the kind in the central part of the state indicates his faithfulness as well as efficiency as a man of mature judgment. keen sagacity and wise foresight. By making his firm's interests his own and never losing sight of the rights and privileges of his subordinates, he has gained the unbounded confidence of his employers, 412 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. while his courteous and gentlemanly treatment of those under him have won their loyalty and friendship and bound them to him as with bands of steel. In his political faith Mr. Whitehead supports the Republican party, but has never posed as a partisan or seeker after the honors or emoluments of office. He has served on the city board and board of public works, in both of which capacities he labored zealously for the interests of the municipality and was instrumental in bringing about a number of improvements which have been highly prized by the public. Fraternally, he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Masonic order of Mt. Pleasant. Mrs. Whitehead, who prior to her marriage w\as Faithful McClure, was reared in Ohio, and is a lady of beautiful life and character, well fitted to be the wife of the enterprising mian whose name she bears and honors. One son has blessed their union, Roy Brooks VWhitehead, vwho was graduated from the Central State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant, and is now plrincil)al of the public schools of I.akeview, this state. EUDELMER E. WILLIE. E. E. Willie, superintendent of buildings and grounds of the Central State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant, and for many years a leading citizen of the various localities in which he has resided, is a native of New York and a son of William and Mary (Hlosmer) Willic, the former born September 8, I819, in New York City, the latter in Niagara county, that state, in the year 1847. The father departed this life November 23, 1902, while the mother, who is still living, is spending the evening of her life at Mt. Pleasant, where she has a large circle of friends who prize her for her many estimable qualities of mind and heart. Eudelmer E. Willie, who was born in Niagara county, New York, on the 8th day of December, i850, attended the public schools in his youth and later pursued his studies for some time in a country academy. Leaving his native county in the fall of 1871, when twenty-one years old, he came to Shiawassee, Michigan, where he taught school the following winter and in the spring went to Genesee county, this state, where he also devoted the winter months to educational work. The next spring found him in Farwell, Clair county, where he remained until his marriage. which was solemnized in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 413 the county of Genesee. June TO, I873, with Emma Knickerbocker, whose birth occurred in New York state on the 4th day of October, 1856. After spending the summer of 1873 in Genesee county, Mr. Willie, the following fall, came to Isabella county and settled in section 7, Vernon township, Nwhere lie bought eighty acres of land w\hich he at once proceeded to improve and cultivate, the iealnwhile devoting his spare time to carpentry, which trade he had previously learned and which for some years he had carried on in connection with teaching. In due time lie cleared up his land and developed a good farm, later purchasing other real estate in the vicinity and during his residence of nine!ears in \'erlnon township he prospered as a mechanic alid tiller of the soil )esi(les acquiring conlsideral)le reputation as a teacher..\t the exlpiration of the period indicated he was made superintendent of the county poor farm, which position he held during the ensuing twelve years, the lmeanlwhile, as opportunities afforded. working on his own land and a(hdinig (t its illlrovemtenit and value. Resigning the above post at the cidl of his twelve rears of efficient service, lie returned to his own farni where lie followedl the vocation of agriculture for a period of seven years aind then rented the place and removed to Mt. I'leasant, and one year later became sulperintend(ent of buillings and grounds of the Central State Normal School. at Alt. 'leasanlt. which responisible position he now holds. In his present cal)acity. Mr. \illie has charge of all the buildings of the institution with which he is connected and looks after the grounds, which he sees are kept in condition as is required by the state, inspects all contracts for work and repairs oin the premiises, besides making all necessary incidental purchases an(l exercising supervision over the janitors. \\hile a resident of Vernon township, Mr. \Willie served three years as supervisor of the same, and for a like period was superintendent of the schools of that jurisdiction. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought on all matters of interest, is fully abreast of the times on the leading questions of the day, and takes broad and liberal vie\s of political issues, although a Republican and firm in his convictions and opinions. As a man and citizen, he has always stood high in the commnunity in which he lived, and those who know him best speak in high praise of his many qualities and sterling worth. Mrs. W\illie is the daughter of Andrus and Mary (Bander) Knickerbocker. natives of the state of Ne\\ York, the former born October I, I829, the latter on the 22nd of June, 1834. Mrs. Knickerbocker died January 24, I9o6, and her husband, who survived her, is living at the present time in the city of Mt. Pleasant. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Willie include the following 414 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. children: Alma, born May 30, 1875, is a teacher by profession, now holding an important position in the schools of Washington; she was a member of the first life class graduated from the Central State Normal and has achieved signal success in her chosen calling. Iva, who was born June 30, 1878, married Abe Vogel and lives in Montana. Stanley, born July 13, 1882, married Mary Park and is now a contractor and builder in Idaho. Glenn, whose birth occurred on the I7th of April, 1885, is unmarried and for some years has been living in San Francisco, California. Fay, the seventh in order of birth, is now pursuing her studies in the high school of Mt. Pleasant. All the above offspring have enjoyed excellent educational advantages and are intelligent and well fitted for the spheres of life in which they are engaged or for which they are preparing. They have tried to keep untarnished the family escutcheon and thus far their conduct has been a credit to the honorable name bequeathed to them by a long line of ancestors. CHARLES D. PULLEN, M. D. The subject of this sketch, a leading physician of Mt. Pleasant, is a native of Allegan county, Michigan, born in the village of Allegan oni the 20th day of August, 1864, being a son of a farmer and merchant who moved to that part of the state a number of years ago from Wayne county, New York. After receiving his preliminary education in tlhe schools of his native town, the subject completed the high school course illn 1887. Being the oldest of the family, he was early obliged to contribute to the general support of his parents and the younger children, accordingly, while still a mere youth, he made himself familiar with the mercantile business and a little later could do almost a man's work at any kind of outdoor labor. Actuated by a desire to improve his education, he worked among his neighbors for means to prosecute the same and when sufficiently advanced in his studies, engaged in teaching, which calling he followed for several winter seasons in the rural districts of Allegan county. While thus engaged, he yielded to a desire of long standing by taking Lup the study of medicine in the State University at Ann Arbor, which institution he attended until completing the prescribed course in 1892, receiving, on June 30th of this year, the degree of M. D. from the College of Homeopathy. After his graduation Dr. Pullen located at Mt. Pleasant, where in due time he built up a large and lucrative practice, which he still commands, being ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 41 5 at this time one of the best known medical men of the city, with much more than local repute as a skillful physician and surgeon. Like others of his school, he has to contend with the prejudices of older practitioners, but his success compelled them to acknowledge his abilities and he now commands the respect and confidence of the medical fraternity of the city as well as of the general public. By a courteous, manly deportment, and by the gentleness and skill with which he treats his patients, he has greatly extended the area of his professional business and today occupies a conspicuous place among the leading physicians of the county besides standing high as an enterprising, public spirited citizen. Doctor Pullen has availed himself of every laudable means to add to his professional efficiency, including post-graduate courses in the cities of Chicago and New York. where he profited by the instruction of some of the ablest medical men of the day. HIe also belongs to the county, state and American medical associations and keeps in close touch with their deliberations. A close and critical student, who believes in the honor of his calling, he has labored conscientiously to make himself a true healer, and, being in the prime of life with vigorous mentality, his many friends predict for him a bright and promising career in the future. Doctor Pullen was married. October 12, 1892, to Clara I.. French, of Otsego, Allegan county, this state, who has borne him two children, Dwight French, an intelligent and manly youth of fourteen, and Marian Clarice, w'ho is five years of age. In addition to his general professional duties, Doctor Pullen has been medical attendant of the Indian Industrial School at Mt. Pleasant, and for five years served as secretary of the United States pension examining board at Mt. Pleasant. Aside from his profession, he is interested in whatever makes for the material prosperity of his city and county, takes an active part in all measures for the general welfare of his fellow men and meets his every responsibility as one who knows his duty and, "knowing, dares maintain." WARNER CHURCHILL. This well-known retired farmer and business man and ex-soldier is among the many substantial citizens of Michigan whose birth occurred under another than the flag for whose honor he rendered such faithful and valiant service. Warner Churchill was born January 1, 184I, in Prescott, Ontario, and at 416 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the age of five was brought to Oakland county, Michigan, where he grew to maturity, spending the years of his childhood and youth in the village of Orion and Oxford. His father being a merchant, the lad went into the store at an early age and continued behind the counter until the former's death, which occurred when Warner was about seventeen years old. -le then began working as a farm hand and a little later found employment in a sawmill at Greenville, to which place he went in I859, the year after his father died. In I86I, with the spirit of patriotism which animated so many young men throughout the North, he entered the service of his country to assist in putting down the rebellion, enlisting in a company recruited from the counties of Whitewater, Lake and Waslitenaw for the Third Michigan Cavalry under Colonel Misener. Shortly after his enlistment Mr. Churchill accompanied his command to Jefferson BIarracks, St. Louis. thence the following year to the scene of conflict in Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, TIexas and other states. He was with his regiment throughout all of its varied experience of campaign and battle, took part in the action at Island No. 10 and various other engagements and participated in the ill-fated Red River expedition under General Banks, (during which lie realized in all of its significance the meaning of war. Later lie was at the fall of Mobile and at the close of the war marched back to Baton Rouge, thence overland via Shrevelport, to San Antonio, Texas, and on to the Mexican bo1rder during the anticipated trouble with Mexico in i860, on account of the French invasion. In1 March of the latter year he was mustered out at San Antonio. and sent back to Jackson for his discharge, receiving which, lie returned to XMontcalmn county, Michigan, and, locating six miles north of Greenville, began clearing a farmi from the heavy woodland of that section of country. During the four years ensuing Mr. Churchill worked hlard, renmoving the forest growth and getting his land in condition for tillage and some idea of the extent of his labors may be obtained from the fact that by the end of that time he had one hundred acres in cultivation, besides mlaking a inumber of improvements. He did much of his farming in partnership with Henry Harris, his brother-in-law, and in 1873 the two came to Mt. Pleasant and joined the latter's brother, William Harris, in operating the grist mill at that place. Mr. Churchill bought an interest in the mill which he still owns, although he remained in the business as a partner but four years. During that time the firm did a very thriving business and became widely known on account of.the superior quality of their brands of flour, which always commanded ISABELLA COUNTY; MICHIGAN. 417 the highest market prices. Retiring at the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Churchill has since resided in Mt. Pleasant, where he has a beautiful home, with a full complement of conveniences and comforts, and is now well situated to enjoy the many material blessings which have come to him as a result of his labors and the judicious management of his business interests. He has been active in municipal affairs and was largely instrumental in bringing about the incorporation of Mt. Pleasant, his efforts in the movement leading to his election as the first mayor of the city, which office he resigned after a short time. Ile also served as supervisor of the village prior to its being incorporated, and for several years represented his ward in the city council, \\here he was influential in promoting much important municipal legislation. In politics he is a Democrat and in religion a Methodist, bcing a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Mt. Pleasant. Fraternallyl he belngs to \Vabano Post No. 250, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he now holds the office of post commander, and his name also adorns the records of the Knights of Pythias, Knights Templar and Maccabees, in the city where he resiles. The marriage of M11r. Cu'lrclill \as solemnized 0on the 25th day of February, 18f4, while he was at home on a furlough, with Sarah Harris, sister of William, John and Henry larris, esteemed citizens of Isabella county, who are mentioned elsewhere in these pages, the union being without issue. ElIT T.. IFERRIS. The slbject of this sketch. an honored representative of one of the early p)ioneer families o)f Isabella couiintv, has been a life-long resident of Union township, having been born on the farml where he now lives.\ugust 29, 1864. George A:. [Ferris. his fathler, a native of Broomle countyt, Ne\ York, w\as bo)rn November X8. 1835, andl at the age of twentv hcame to Michigan and spellt the four years elsuiing at Saginaw. wliere he achieved considerable relputation as a carpenter anld builder. At the exlpiration of the pericod inlicatedl he came up tIle Chippe\wa river by canoe to Isabella county, being accompanied by five Indians who carriedl provisions through the woods to the place where..lMr. Ferris had previously decided to make a settlement. Leaving tile river, he was obliged to cult a path through the dense forest to his destination. on reaching which he and the Indians hastily constructed foumr rude sheds or wigwamns for the accommodation of'the latter, after which. (27) 4i8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. with their assistance, he proceeded to erect a simple log cabin for himself and family. This, according to the mnost reliable information obtainable, was doubtless the first permanent settlement in what is now Union township, Mr. Ferris taking possession of his land merely as a squatter, as this part of the state at that time was not subject to entry. In 1862, when the homestead act became a law, he laid claim to the quarter section of land which his soil now owns, paying one dollar per acre as the fee for recording the entry. Addressing himself to the task of its improvement, Mr. Ferris worked early and late in all kinds of weather, subjecting himself to many hardships and privations in order to establish a home for himself and those dependent upon him. In due season his labors were rewarded and the farm which he developed from the wilderness was long a landmark, later becoming one of the finest and most desirable farms in the township. After a strenuous life, during which he made a comfortable home and accumulated a competency, this brave pioneer and estimable citizen was called from the scene of his labors and triumphs, dying in June, i88i, at the age of forty-six years. Susan Miser, wife of George A. Ferris, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 4, I835, and departed this life in Isabella county, Michigan, ill October, I897. The children of this excellent couple, four in number and all living, are as follows: Laura A., born February 13, 1863, married Walt Ferris and resides in the state of Washington; Eli L., the subject of this review, is second in order of birth; George Irving, born October i6, I865, married Frances Sangster and lives in Alberta, Canada; Nettie E., the youngest of the family, was born April 22, 1870, and is now the wife of Albert Harry and makes her home in Midland county, this state. As indicated in a preceding paragraph, Eli L. Ferris first saw the light of day in the family homestead where he now resides and his early life included the experience common to the majority of lads reared amid the active duties of the farm. As soon as old enough to be of service he was put to work in the woods and fields and it was not long until he became an expert axman as well as an efficient helper at all kinds of manual labor required to clear the land and fit it for cultivation. While thus engaged he attended, as opportunities afforded, the public schools of Union township, and in due time acquired a fair knowledge of the common branches, this training, supplemented by reading and intelligent observation in later years, making him one of the well informed men of the community. Having a predilection for the soil, he early decided to devote his life to agriculture and that he has succeeded in this laudable endeavor is attested by the fine farm which he now owns and the prominent place to which he has attained among the representative men of his calling throughout Isabella county. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 419 In 1904 Mr. Ferris turned his land over to other hands and moved to.Xt. Pleasant, but, after a residence of four years in that city, yielded to a strong desire to resume agricultural pursuits by returning to the farm where lie has since followed his chosen vocation withl most gratifying results. In connection with tilling the soil, he is also quite largely interested in the raising of fine live stock, devoting especial attention to I olstein cattle, with which high grade animals he has stocked a very successful dairy, the proceeds from which form no small part of his income. Among the various improvements lie has made from time to time is the fine commodious barn, thirty by thirtyt\o feet in dimensions and well adapted to all the purposes for which such structures are used, his other buildings being up to date and in excellent repair, his fencing first class and everything on the premises bespeaking the energy and oversight of a proprietor who understands his vocation and stands high among the leading men of the same in his part of the state. Mr. Ferris is a Republican in politics, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking office or aspiring to leadership, although he has filled with credit various local positions of trust, having served as commissioner of his township and discharged the duties of the same with credit to himself and to tie satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is identified with the Knights of Maccabees, Lodge No. 129, and Grange No. 814, and, religiously, subscribes to the creed of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which body his family also belong. Mary Lowe, who became the wife of Mr. Ferris in I890, bore him two cilldren, Bessie Mae and George, both deceased Mrs. Ferris died March t. 1901. Mr. Ferris' second marriage was solemnized on July 3, 1904, with Mrs. Ida M. (Miser) Struble, the union being without issue. By her previous marriage Mrs. Ferris has two children, Coral L. and Gertrude M. Struble, the former born March I2, 1887. the latter on the I3th of November, I895, b)oth being nmembers of the home circle. JAMES DAVIS. Few if any men are as widely known throughout Michigan and other states of the central and northwestern part of the union as the gentleman \hose career is briefly sketched in the following lines. In the business enterprise with which he was formerly identified he controlled the markets in the northern part of the United States and Canada and since engaging in his 420 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. present undertaking his name has become a household word among horse dealers throughout the entire country. Iike so many of the substantial citizens of Michigan, Mr. Davis is a Canadian. having been born in Oxford county, Ontario, on the 27th day of December, 1847. At the age of nine years he moved with his parents to Huron county, in the same province, where he remained until nineteen years of age, working on a farm the meanwhile and during the last four years devoting a part of his time to the manufacture of staves. At the expiration of the period indicated young Davis went to Door county. Wisconsin, whither his parents soon followed him, and during the ensuing four years dealt in cedar fence posts, working by the job. Being convinced of the feasibility of the stave business if conducted upon a somewhat extensive scale, he left Wisconsin at the end of four years and, going to Tuscola county. Michigan, engaged in the manufacture of staves in T872. in partnership with his brother, Michael Davis, the firm thus constituted lasting one year when the business was divided and the subject continued in the same line. After continuing one year longer at that place, he moved to Saginaw. MNichigan, wlicre (luring the six years ensuing he built ull a very extensive trade and became \widely known as one of the lea(lers of that line of business in tlhe state \Vhile thus engaged lie employed upon aln average of one hundred and fifty- men during the \inter months and for awhile manufactured mlore staves of the Canada pipe kind than all the other firems combined in the entire Northwest. In 1878 lie moved his plant to M;t. Pleasant where he continued the business with marked success for ten years, making thirteec consecutive years in an enterprise in which lie had little comp)etitiol and which returnedl hiin a fortune of no slimall magnitlude. In the nmeantimte lie tlurned his attention to farminlg which lie carried onl for several years inl connection with his manufacturing interests, gradually drawing the latter to a close in ordle t( give his attention to another and entirely different kind of enterprise. In the year I888 Mr. Davis discontinued the stave bulsiness and, in partnership with F. J. M\c(rae. began dealing in fine blooded horses, but at tlhe end of two years the firm nwas dissolved and since that time the subject has been in the business alone. He owns a valuable farm of three hundred and( sixty acres in Deerfield township, where he keeps his horses. devoting special attention to the Percheron breed, in the raising and handling of which he has met with success such as few horsemen attain. At one time he lhad nine fine stallions, which represented a large amount of capital, seven being kept on the road, and the number of high grade animals on his farm varies from forty to fifty head, which he disposes of at fancy prices. While de ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 421 voting special attention to 'ercherons, he raises and handles various breeds of heavy draft horses, the demand for which he sometimes experiences considerable difficulty in supplying. lie has exhibited his animals at various lhorse, county and state fairs and whierever shown\ they invariably have taken the first prizes, four successive nedlals from as many state fairs indicating the character and standing of his horses and his own reputation as one thoroghly conversant with the business. Mr. Davis is a \ide-awake man of sound, practical intelligence and mature judglnent and his efficiency in the business to w-hich his talents are being devoted has given hinm an honorable reputation among the leading horse l)reeders of the United States. Ilis farm- is visited )by dealers and buyers froim all parts of thle country and sluch is tlhe high reputation of his animals thiat he invariably gets his \ow0n plrice and that, too, without overmtuch disculssion or debate. \\hile in his forl ier business lie led all competitors and (Itlring the intcer-i between 188 So and.1885 controlled the stave market at )ucbec, manufacturing and shipping illmore staves than all others combined. In1 a single year he shiple(l as nmay as seven vessels of staves to the European markets, and there, as on tlis side of tlie Atlantic, \\as kinoln as the greatest (,f American stave aIlllkcs..\ otf his enterlprises have proven successful land he is today one of the fiinancially solid ien of ills county and state, and as;l citizen exhiliits the Slirit aitl ilnterest in l)ublic and general affairs which characterize the natural leader of eni. I.'ersonally, lie is held in high esteem aind wherever lknownit his.name is syVnonVlllons with fair ald honorable dealing anld his character and reputattion have ever been above reproach. In llis owni commiunity his inflluence. which is acknowledged by all, has had emuch to do in liiolding anld dlirecting opinion not only ini business circles, l1t iin matters of general interest and it is a complimnent worthily bestowed to class hitm with the noted lmen of hiis lay and generation in the city of his residence. Mr. Davis is a Democrat and, wiliile w\ell informed on tec leading questions of the times, his business interests have been such as to prevent him taking a very active part in politics. On state and national issues he votes in conformity with his party, but in local affairs is independent, giving his su)pport to the man best fitted for the office lie seeks. Reared a Roman Catholic, he has ever been a true and loyal son of the mother church, and as such has great influence among his parishioners, being a liberal contributor to the church at Mt. Pleasant and a leader in its various lines of good work. Mr. Davis' wvife was formerly Mary Sweeney, and their marriage has been blessed with four children, whose names are as follows: Mary C., a 422 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. graduate from the Sacred -leart Academy and a singer of considerable note, married Dr. William F. Sheehan and lives in New York City, where her husband practices dentistry; Margaret L., who also was graduated from the above institution and from the normal school at Mt. Pleasant, is unmarried and still a member of the home circle; Helen E., also at home, was a graduate from both the above institutions, and is a young lady of fine mind and varied culture; Richard J., the youngest of the family, was graduated some time ago from the Mt. Pleasant high school and is now pursuing his studies in the State Central Normal School. GEORGE L. GRANGER. One of the influential citizens of Isabella county is George L, Granger, well-known merchant at Mt. Pleasant. A man of excellent endo\wments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his county along material, moral and civic lines. Mr. Granger was born in Kent county, Michigan, May 5, 1846. The subject's paternal grandfather was born in Scotland and he married in England. They came to America in an early day and their son, WVilliam I., father of the subject, was born in Troy, New York, five weeks after his parents landed. The subject's maternal grandparents were both born in Londonderry, Irelandl, and they, too, emigrated to the United States in an early day, and their daughter, Miranda Carr, mother of the subject, was born soon after they landed on our shores. When he was only one year old his parents moved to Prairieville, Barry county, Michigan, and located on a farm. He remained there until I854 when the family moved to Hastings; there he went to school, and there his father was engaged in the mercantile business until 1857 when he moved to Charlotte and engaged in the same line of business, remaining there until 1862. Then the subject proved his mettle and his love of country, although a lad of only fifteen years, by enlisting in the Federal army, as a member of Savage's brass band, playing a baritone horn, this band being with Custer's cavalry, and he remained in the same until it was dispensed with just before the battle of Gettysburg. He was then given duty as a clerk, remaining as such until the close of the war. He remained in the same line of work after the close of hostilities and was ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 423 sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was mustered out of the service on June 27, 1865. He then went to Grand Ledge, Michigan, and engaged in the mercantile business for four or five years, making a great success there. In December, I871, he came to Mt. Pleasant and continued in the mercantile business until the present time. His place of business burned iln 1876, but, nothing daunted, he built again on a more pretentious scale, a two story structure. He built his present substantial block in 1876 and has been in his present location ever since. He at first handled drugs and groceries alone, and while he still handles both lines he has added others. Hiis store is in shape like an I. and faces Main street and Broadway, drugs being on one side and the other entrance is to the groceries. He has a substantial, convenient and well arranged store, three stories high, built of brick, and lie has a modern and well furnished building, the store beiing twenty-two by one hundred feet. He owns considerable property both in tlle city and county and has been very successful as a business mani, making a success of whatever lie turne(l his attention to. He has always managed well and has made what le has iunaided and in an honest ianner. I e is well known throughout the county and his trade extends into remote parts of the same. He has b)een in partnership all the while with F. \\. Carr, since coming here. Their store is always well e(lquipl)ped with a carefully selected stock of goods and thleir aim is to give full value received. Mr. Granger was married on February 2,. 891, to Emma Loomis, at Mt. Pleasant. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Loomis, of Indian M.ills, as the place was formerly known. This tinion has resulted in the birth of the following children: Gretchen, born February io, 1892, is a graduate of the local high school and is living at home; Barbara was born August 18, 1895, and is attending school in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Granger has always done what lie could toward helping the institutions of the county, particularly the normal school, the Indian school, the.\nn Arbor railway, the Pere Marquette and many smaller enterprises. He is a noted follower of Izaak Walton, delighting in fishing, frequently going to the best streams in the northern country where the best fish abound. -He votes politically as he chooses, generally for the man whom lie deems wvorthiest to fill the office soughit. Personally he is somewhat reserved and never makes a donation to charity or does anything, in fact, for the sake of the notoriety it may bring him-indeed, lie has always avoided publicity, desiring to (ldo what good he could for the sake of doing good alone. He is a very pleaslant and agreeable gentleman at all times and has a host of warm personal friends, and his large success in the business world is well merited. 424 ISABLLTA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. JACOB NEFF. The proud title of self-made man has been fairly and honorably earned by the enterprising citizen whose career is briefly sketched in the following lines. To begin the struggle of life without capital or the prestige of family or friends, to surmount olstacles calculated to hinder and impede our progress, and finally to rise superior to all opposing circumstances and reach a condition of financial independence in business circles and a position of honor and trust in the sphere of citizenship, indicate ability, judglment and initiative such as few possess. Jacob Neff is essentially a man of affairs, practical in all the terml implies, and it is with more than orllinary satisfaction that the following review of his active and eminently successful life is placed upon record, so tlat others, whose careers are still to be achieved, may imitate the example which he so worthily affords Mr. Neff was born Jlune 13. 1851, in Lorain county, Ohio, where his parents, natives of Alsace, France, now Germany, had located some years before and where their respective deaths also occurred. \Vhen about fourteen years old he came to Ionia county, Michigan, where his two older brothers were then engaged in the boot and shoe business and began learning the shoemaker's trade unlder his brother, Louis, with whom he remained three years. receiving for the first year four dollars per month, and eight and twelve per month, respectively, for the third and fourth years. During the period indicated he became very proficient in the work and it was while plying his trade that he also studied music and achieved a wide reputation as a skillful violinist. Mr. Neff had a natural aptitude for music, as lad his bothers, also their father, having been a musician in the French army and an accomplished player on nearly all kinds of instruments. \While in the military service he taught Imsic to such as desired to learn, and also imparted instruction in various languages, having been a linguist of considerable note and -able to converse fluently in seven tongues. While still a youth, Jacob was able to play for dances and other social functions and in this way he added materially to his income. Of a thrifty and economical nature, he saved his earnings with scrupulous care so that by the end of the third year with his brother he had succeeded in laying m side four hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninetynine cents, a handsome sumn to be accumulated by a youth whose surroundings tended towards extravagance. With the above capital young Neff embarked in the boot and shoe business at Sheridan, Montcalm county, in partnership with his brother, George, and it was not long until their store became the leading establishment of the ISABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 425 kind in the town. In connection with merchandising they did a thriving business, buying and selling all kinds of peltry, furs, hides, etc., and during the three or four years spent at Sheridan they accumulated considerable means and were among the financially strong imen of the place. While living there Mr. Ncff, at the age of twenty-four years. was united in marriage with Ruth B. McDonald, a native of Pennsylvania, though reared in Tonia, Michigan, shortly after which he disposed of his interest in the store and, in partnership with his brotlers, John and Liouis, bought the Glenn lumber mill, which they moved from Sheridan to McBride, in the same county, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles. l'urchasing three hundred and sixty acres of timber land in the vicinity of the town, thle Neff hrothers began operations and in dlue time l)ilt up an extensive lumber business, buying land the meanwhile and ipurchasing timber from various parties. During the twelve years they remained at McBride the firm sawed all the timber from a large area of territory and in addition thereto also did a large and lucrative business manufacturing shingles, which in time became their chief interest. They sold nearly all the latter product in New York, Pennsylvania. and other eastern markets, gave enmployment to an average of about twenty-three or twenty-four men ant( soon forged to the front among the leading shingle makers of the state. The Neff brothers emlbarked in the lumber business with a capital of eiglit thousand dollars and at the expiration of the period indicated, with a surplus considerally in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, they closed out. With no previous experience, they successfully did business alongside of old lumbermen. who failed and \who frequently predicted the same fate for them, but thev o\\ed their success to the persistency with which they pushed their business and by always looking on the bright side. The subject made several judicious investments in real estate. a part of which was a fine farm of one hundred sixty acres oil which he erected good buildings and made various other improvements. Tie lived in this place until 189I, when, desiring better educational advantages for his children, he moved to Mt. Pleasant, \where he has since resided. Since taking up his residence in the above city, Mr. Neff has devoted his attention very largely to real estate, which, like his other enterprises, proved quite successful. He has purchased and improved several city properties, erecting four neat modern dwellings, besides other )uildings, and among his various holdings are two store buildings in Mt. Pleasant and two fine farms of eighty acres each, one two miles east, the other three miles southeast of town, a third farm of eighty acres in Mt. Pleasant township, one of two hundred and forty acres in 426 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. the township of Nottawa, and a tract of three hundred and twenty acres on the St. Louis river, in the state of Minnesota. In addition to these large and important interests, he is also actively engaged in agriculture and stock raising, giving special attention to the breeding of high grade Holstein cattle and other blooded stock, and realizing handsome returns from the same. He is always in close touch with all of his properties, keeps his various buildings in excellent repair and managed his affairs with the skill and foresight which have characterized all of his dealings and which have been instrumental in making him the shrewd, broad-mindled business man that he is today. As indicated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Neff began life a poor boy and the success which he has since achieved shows him the possessor of ability and acumen such as few under similar circumstances would have displayed. His career, though marked by continuous advancement, has been eminently honorable and praiseworthy and among his neighbo-rs and fellow citizens his character is above reproach and his simple sword as sacred as a written obligation. He has always kept clear of political and public affairs and attended strictly to his own business, being independent in the matter of voting and never aspiring to the honors of office; nevertheless, he manifests a lively interest in the welfare of his city and its people, encourages all laudable mleasures for the pulblic good and is ever ready to lend his influence and support to better the condition of his fellow men. He is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, belonging to Ednlore Lodge No. 260. aside frosm which he is not identified with any other fraternal or social organization. Mr. and Mrs. Neff have four children, the oldest being a son. Norma, who married Libbie Demings McKay and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mildred, the second in order of birth, is the wife of Clarence Spooner, of Isabella county. Florence is still with her parents and Walter, the youngest, is a married man, doing for himself, his wnife having formerly been Helen Myers, of this county. HENRY G. HARRIS. The subject of this sketch, who is now living a life of honorable retirement in the city of Mt. Pleasant, was born in London, England, September 9, I846, and in 1852, when about six years old, came to Amterica with his parents, William S. and Sarah (Heath) Harris, who settled in /Montcalm county, Michigan, where the lad spent several ensuing years in close touch with ISABELA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 4-27 nature on a farm. Both of his parents were natives of the great city in which his birth occurred, the father being induced to immigrate to this country in expectation of securing either land or remunerative employment, though not at his trade, as he was an expert cork cutter, a calling for which there was little demand at that time on this side of the Atlantic. On coming to Michigan, William Harris settled in the woods of Montcalm county and spent the remainder of his life cutting out a farm and establishing a home for himself and those dependent upon him. Ile did not live, however, to enjoy the fruits of his labors, dying two years after securing his land, leaving a widow and five children, all small and able to contribute but little to the support of the family, the oldest being about thirteen years of age when deprived of a father's care and guidance. Actuated by a laudable ambition to make the most of her opportunities, the mother took charge of the farm and, the children working with her and to each other's interests, the family was kept together and in due time succeeded in getting a fair start in the world. The sons remained on the farm, and as soon as old enough attended to tle cultivation of tle same, the daughters working out the meanwh\ile and contributing tleir earnings to a common fund. In this way they made substantial progress, andl in the course of a few years were in comfortable circumstances with well defined plans for tlhe future. Thev built the first mill in 1873 in Mt. Pleasant, which, under the firm name of Harris Brothers, did then and has since done a remunerative business which added vcry materially to the general income. Tn the spring of 1873 the Harris family transferred tleir residence to Isabella county, though still retaining the farm in the county of Montcalm, the farm being in charge of a brother and a brother-in-law by whom it has been operated with gratifying success, the earnings from, the mill alone making all of them practically independent. W\illiam lHarris is no\v the miller, Henry G., however, being able to take charge of any part of the work, as he is a skillful mechanic and familiar with every phase of the milling business, as he is also with the pursuit of agriculture Henry G. Harris grew up with proper conceptions of life and the duties and responsibilities of manhood and by industry and judicious management has succeeded in accumtulating a sufficiency of this vorld's goods to enable him to retire and spend the remainder of his (lays in the enjoyment of the ease and comfort which he has so nobly earned. He has private interests which. require the greater part of his time and attention, among which is the raising of ginseng, an enterprise in which lie ventured a fewv years ago upon a small scale, but which, notwithstanding the limited area of forty by sixty feet on which the plants grow, now yield him in excess of three hundred dollars per year. 428 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Encouraged by such returns, he proposes to engage in the business more extensively hereafter and his neighbors and friends are now watching with great interest an enterprise which promises such large returns Mr. Harris was married April 2, 1874, in Montcalm county, to Mrs. Annie V. Stilwell, a native of IIolmes county, Ohio, and the widow of Andrew J. Stilwell, an ex-soldier of the Civil war. Irior to her first marriage she bore the name of Mankin, her parents having come to Michigan a number of years ago and settled in the county of Montcalm where she grew to womanhood and received her educational training. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Iarris, a son answering to the name of Alfred M., now a lad of twelve years who is pursuing his studies in the city schools. In his religious faith Mr. Ilarris is a Methodist and a zealous worker in the church at Mt. Pleasant, as is also his wife, who for five or six years has been one of the stewards of the congregation. She is likewise interested in all the social functions of the church and good work under the auspices of sane, is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and of the Pythian Sisters, in both of which societies she has been honored at intervals with important official positions. Mr. Harris believes in getting all the legitimate enjoyment out of life there is in it, to which end he spends the greater part of the winter months in Florida, where in the quite pursuit of angling he finds rest for both body and mind, the summer season usually findling him in the northern woods of his own state. WILLIAM CARNAHAN. Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Isabella county within the pages of this book, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests are identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above. William Carnahan, well known auctioneer and liveryman of Mt. Pleasant, was born on July 31, I844, in Caledonia township, Livingston county, New York. He is the son of Elijah and Catherine (Dingman) Carnahan, the father born in Bath, Steuben county. New York, and the mother in Cato township, Allegany county, New York. They were married in Livingston county, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 429 New York, and after their marriage spent the balance of their lives in that county. The father died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1902, having survived his wife a hal f a century, her death having occurred in Livingston county, New York, in I85I. The father was a cooper by trade and followed this all his life. Three children were born to them: Charles died in Andersonville prison in 1863, having been captured while a soldier in the Federal army; Marx died in 1850; William of this review. William Carnahan worked on the home farm until he was seventeen years old. He then showed his patriotism by enlisting in the Twenty-fourth New York Battery, which was formed at Perry, Wyoming coutltv. that state, his enlistment bearing the date of August 28, 1862. I-Ie was under Captain L.ee, and was in the battles of Newl)-burn, North Carolina, Kingston, \Vhitehall. Goldsboro, Weldon, Peletier's Mill, Newport and others. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, I864. He was ini tl A.lil ((le I)epartment of the Army of North Carolina. lIe was wotmunded when captured aid(l was taken to Salishury, North Carolina, later to prison at Savannah, Georgia, also lilan and Andersonv ille. I is brother was captured at the same timne and the two were taken to prison together until the death of the brother, alreadv mentioned. This was five months and ten days after they were captured. The subject was in prison thirteen months in all. When captured he weiglihed one hundred and seventy-five pounds, and when released his weight was eighty pounds, showing that lc had undergone great privation. Ic was paroled and later exchanged at Savannah and was given furlough to go home. So lie returned to New York and was home three months, returning to the army in time to take part in the Grand Review in \Vashington City. tie was discharged at Syracuse, New York, oni July 7, I865. Later he came to Michigan and settled at Hubbardston, Ionia county. ln Septembler, 1866, he married Nannie Proseus, daughter of Anson and Susan Proseus. She was born in 1848, in Sodus, NVayne county, Newx York. The family moved to Mlichigan,. and lived for a time in Bloomer, Montcalm county, later at I hubhardston. Tonia county, Mr. Carnahan meeting his wife in the latter place. To this union these children wvere born: Charles, born June 17, 1867, married l'rincie Peak, of Mt. Pleasant, in which city Mr. Carnahan is now assistant postmaster; Pearl was born in HIubbardston, Michigan. Mr. Carnahan was for several years engaged by a lumber company in Hubbardston, driving a team. He also drove a stage from Pewaumo to Hubbardston and Carson City for several years. Hie conducted a livery barn at Hubbardston, but was finally burned out. He then. in I888, moved to Mt. Pleasantt, buying property here and began a livery business in the McDonald barn on Broadway and 43~ ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. lived over the barn for eight years. He then purchased the house in which he now lives and built a barn; the former faces Lansing street and the latter, which is just back of the house, faces Franklin street. lie owns both lots and both buildings. His barn holds about twenty-five horses, and he is well equipped to do a good business. He began auctioneering about thirty years ago, in I88o, and he has continued in a very successful manner to the present time, and he is widely known, being the principal auctioneer of his county. Pfobably no man in the county is better known. He was deputy sheriff of Ionia county for twelve years, and he has been superintendent of the third ward in Mt. Pleasant for the past ten years, still holding that office. Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to the Mt. Pleasant post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Mt. Pleasant. WILLIAM MORGAN TICE. The gentleman whose sketch is here submitted is an honored member of one of the old and highly esteemed families of Union township, Isabella county, and as such is worthy of being represented among the leading citizens of the same. Like many of the substantial yeomanry of central Michigan, he is of Canadian birth and first saw the light of day in Dunnville, Ontario, September 2, I86i. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Markle) Tice, were reared in Canada and remained -in the province of Ontario until I866 when they moved to Saginaw county, Michigan, and spent the ensuing nine years carving out a home from the wilderness in which they settled. At the expiration of the period indicated the family moved to Isabella county and located on land about one and a half miles west of old Council Room or Indian Mills, the place having been an Indian reservation on which but little improvement had been made. William Tice bought one hundred and twenty acres of this land and at once took possession, moving into a little frame shack, fourteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and containing a single room, quite limited quarters for a family of nine members. The nearest neighbors were Indians, there being but two white men within a radius of a mile from the cabin. These men, a Mr. Loomis and a man by the name of Wait, both afterwards died where they originally settled. In the fall of i875 Mr. Tice put in a small crop of wheat and during ISABELLA COUNTY, MIC}IIGAN. 431 the following winter experienced not a few hardships, owing to the scarcity of food and the long distance to the nearest market place, it being eighteen miles to Clare and twenty-four to Alma. JI-e made several trips to those villages, cutting a road through the woods the greater part of the way and encountering many obstacles in other places where the timber had been removed by lumbermen, leaving the branches and portions of the trunks of trees in promiscuous confusion. He purchased the first threshing machine ever brought to his part of the county, hauling it over one of the indefinite roads described above, and operated the same until his death, which occurred on the i8th of October, 1876, at the age of forty-nine years. On the death of their father the two older sons, Byron E. and William M., took charge of the farm on which they worked during the spring and summer months, devoting the winter seasons to labor in the lumber camps. During the greater part of the winter time William remained in the woods, Byron and the younger brothers clearing and improving the farm, which in due time became one of the best and allong the most desirable homes in the locality. Mrs. Tice departed this life in the spring of 1893, aged sixtytwo years. She was a kind and loving mother, an excellent manager, and during the years of her widowhood, when she was the head of the family, the farm was well tilled and everything connected therewith appeared to prosper. The early experiences of William M. Tice while clearing the home farm, working in the woods and mingling with the Indians, were always interesting and at times quite thrilling. As long as his mother lived he worked for her interests and by every means within his power ministered to her comfort, proving under all circumstances a true and loyal son, who lost sight of self in his efforts to promote the welfare of others. Some time after the death of his mother he went to Dakota, in which state and northern Minnesota he spent the summers, but inheriting forty acres of the home place he returned and, taking possession of the same, for some years thereafter devoted his attention very closely and successfully to the pursuit of agriculture. Subsequently he purchased forty additional acres of the homestead, thus making a beautiful and improved farm on which he lived and prospered until I901 when he hired a man to operate his farm and engaged in the ice business at Mt. Pleasant, which enterprise he still carries on, the success of which having more than met his most sanguine expectations. From a modest beginning in the above year, Mr. Tice has greatly enlarged the scope of his business, handling at this time about seventeen hundred tons of ice per year, which affords constant employment to four men 432 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and during certain seasons to a much greater number. IHe furnishes the city with an abundant supply of fine, wholesome ice and, his business increasing with the increase of population, he has been obliged to enlarge the capacity of his houses from time to time in order to meet the growing demands of his customers. Mr. Tice votes with the Republican party and has served two years as supervisor of the first ward, though by no means an office seeker. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Maccabees and the order of Woodmen, in all of which he is an active and influential worker, besides having been honored at different times with important official trusts in the different organizations. Mr. Tice was married December 13, I888, to Ida May Newberry, of Midland county, Michigan, the union resulting in the birth of seven children, namely: Bertha E., wife of Prof. Lee N. Griggs, a teacher of manual training in the Mt. Pleasant high school; Sophia, Arthur, Ruby, Clara, Joyce, Ida and Morgan, all living except Ida, who died when eighteen months old. The following are the names of the subject's brothers and sisters in order of age: Mary E. married Thomas McCartney and lives in Mlidland county, this state; Murray died at the age of thirty-six'; Byron F. lives on a part of the family homestead in Union township; William M. of this review is the fourth in order of birth; Helena, swidow of John Swanson, lives in Nottawa township; Levi is a resident of Emmnett county, Michigan, and Fred, the youngest of the family, lives in the town of Kalkaska, Michigan. EZRA S. GORHAM. The name of Ezra S. Gorham will be one of the best remembered in the history of Isabella county of the present generation for it was long very closely associated with her business and financial interests, and although he is today numbered among the silent inhabitants of "God's acre," the good he did, his many little acts of kindness and the influence of his wholesome life still live and are potent in the lives of many who were associated with him. Ezra Gorham was well known as the treasurer of the large firm of the Gorham Brothers Company, of Mt. Pleasant. He came of an excellent family of the old Empire state, his birth having occurred in New York in r848, but he -was reared in the state of Ohio whither he moved with his parents when a child, and he received his education and early business training at I ii t.;:,I " i j! " ) :i ,/ I. 1; ( , ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 433 Euclid, in the vicinity of the present great city of Cleveland. He started out on a business career early in life, in fact, devoted his manhood years to the upbuilding of the present vast business of the firm mentioned above, an account of which is given in detail in another part of this work. He took up the manufacture of baskets when young and made constant progress in this line, joining his brother, Chester R. Gorham (wXhose sketch appears elsewhere), and he put his shoulder to the wheel, whether the road was rough or smooth, contributing his full share to their joint enterprise, and these two brothers pulled together in perfect harmony lduring all the business history of the firm, an(l by a very careful application to all the details of the enterprise succeeded( in gaining a very successful commercial position. Ezra S. Gorham continue d to reside in Cleveland, Ohio, until 1902, when he moved with his family to -Mt. 'leasant, Michigan, where they have since resided, honored and respected by all who knew him, and here his death occurred on Thursday, February 17, 19T1. JOHN KINNEY. The gentleman whose name appears above occupies a conspicuous place in the business circles of central Michigan, and to him and such as he is this part of the state largely indebted for its present advancement and prosperity. For many years identified with the lumbering interests of St. Clair. Isabella and other counties, he was instrumental in clearing large areas which are now among the finest andl most productive agricultural districts in the state and he has also been an influential factor in local affairs, as his efforts in promoting the material interests of Mlt. Pleasant attest. John Kinney was born in St. Clair county, Michigan, October 13, 1837, being a son of Arnold and Taura IM. Kinney. both natives of Steuben county, New York. Arnold Kinney was born in the year 1804 and came to Michigan in 1828, locating in Clyde township, St. Clair county, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer, dying on the 8th of December, 1872. Laura M. Babcock, whose birth occurred in I8io, moved with her parents to Monroe county, Michigan, in 1830, and three years later became the wife of Arnold Kinney, with whom she lived in happy wedlock until her death, on March 9, 1849. Some time after her demise Mr. Kinney married Mrs. Louisa Vincent, of Clyde township. who survived him several years. On coming to Michigan Arnold Kinney entered the employ of the gov(28) 434 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ernment to assist in the construction of a turnpike road to Fort Gratiot and various other roads in different parts of the state. He also purchased land in Clyde township which he subsequently cleared and developed into a fine farmn and from time to time bought other tracts which he cleared and reduced to cultivation. At one time he owned four hundred acres of tillable land in a single body which is said to have been the largest farm in the county of St. Clair at that time. While prosecuting his lumber interests lie bought a large tract of fine land west of Mt. Pleasant in Isabella county, from which in clue time his son, the subject, cut the timber and reduced the soil to cultivation, it now being mostly sold. He also bought considerable land in other parts, including about two thousand acres in the county of St. Clair, for which he paid. the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre, for one hundred and sixty acres, the balance being secured from other parties, and which he subsequently sold at a handsome profit, after disposing of the timber. Arnold Kinney was a man of intelligence, judgment and fine business capacity and for many years was a leading spirit in the public affairs of the county in which lie lived. He served thirty years as township treasurer, was a prominent Whig and, when that party ceased to exist, became one of the influential Republicans of his lart of the country. I e came to Michigan when the greater part of the territory was a wilderness, and shortly after his arrival engaged to work in a saw mill, but had no mioney with which to pay his board until he could earn it by his labor. In this dilemmila lie solicited a small loan from a friend sufficient to tide him over until pay (lay, but the request was refused. However, he lived to see the (lay when he could buyi and sell his former friend a dozen times and then have means to spare, for at his death he was one of the wealthiest men of his township as well as one of the most influential citizens. The family of Arnold Kinney consisted of seven children: Daniel, the oldest, who died at Grand Rapids in 1907. was a leading contractor of that city; George, the second in order of birth, died in childhood; John, the subject of this review, is the third in numlbler; Charles died some years ago in Clyde township, St. Clair county; his widow subsequently becoming a renowned temperance worker in Michigan and other states, being at this time one of the board of managers of the State Girls' School at Adrian, though still making her home in Clyde township; Frank lives on the old( farm in St. Clair county; Chester, the next in succession, lives in Seattle, Washington, and Laura, the youngest of the family, married \William Gardner. and died near the old Kinney homestead in St. Clair county. The early life of John Kinney was spent in the woods andl on the farm ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 435 and amid such surroundings he grew up strong and rugged and well able to meet the varied experiences which he encountered during the early (lays in the county of his birth. In such schools as the country afforded he obtained the rudiments of an educaticin and( later, in the stern school of practical life, learned lessons of much greater import than those acquired within the walls of college or university. His first visit to Isabella county was in 1854, at the age of seventeen years, when he looked over the timber. He early turned his attention to lumbering, tl-en as now the leading indlustrial interest of the state, and in 186o began the business upon his own responsilility il his native township. After operating there for a periol of three years he came to Isabella county to lumber off the land which his father had purcllsed nine years before, a part of which now: adjoins the city of Mt. Pleasant. \Vith the assistance of ten men, during the years of I863-4 le cut all the timlber on the land worth sawing andl il the meantime reduced a goodly portion of the land to cultivation. In the latter year lie bought a stock of goods which he stored inl tlhe (welling of one ITenlr Duncan, which stood o(n the corner now occupied bv tle Exchange TBank, this being the first mercantile enterprise in Mt. Pleasant. In the satne year the "Bllunt" postoffice, four 'liles to the south, was transferred to the village with lMr. Kilnney as postmaster, although the original iname was retained tuntil changed to Mt. Pleasant by the government some years later. Mr. Kinnev's mercantile venture was highly prized by the settlers in tile village and vicinity and prove(l fairly successful. To assist him in his two-fold duties of merchant and postmaster, lie applointed Wilson Moser. at that time county treasurer, also tile first lawyer to locate in Mt. Pleasant, as his deputy, and Cass VMoser. a son of the latter, became his assistant in the store. In the spring of I86(5 ATr. Kinney sold his stock of goods to Nelson IBabbitt and returned to his farm in St. Clair county where he resumled lumlering cutting timber within (ole mile of the present tunnel under St. Clair river and doing a very pIrofitable business. Tile land on whlich he operated was very heavily timllereld, most of which was cut full length anld used in the construction of rafts, al enterprise \hich proved highly remunierative. He continued in the vicinitv of PIort Huron until 1887, but in the meantimie, about the year 1872, began luimbering seven miles west of Mt. Pleasant, in Deerfield township, oni land which his father had previously purchased, also operated on the Chippewa river, near which he had a fine body of tilmber. and for three winters (lid a thriving business on the Au Sable. In connection with lumbering. Mr. Kinney. duringl the year 1877, got out ship spars. which lie shipped by 436 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. rail to Port Huron, and which, like his other enterprises, proved signally successful from a financial point of view. Returning to Mt. Pleasant in 1877, Mr. Kinney laid out an addition to the town, consisting of eighty acres, and seven years later platted a second addition, disposing of the lots at good prices, but on easy terms to those desiring homes. Still later, I904, in partnership with Dr. P. Richmond, a third addition was platted, which proved a great impetus to the growth of the town, many of the lots finding ready purchasers. Mr. Kinney erected quite a number of buildings on the above additions which he sold to homeseekcrs, but in the main he disposed of the lots without making improvements and realized liberal profits on his sales. In 1887 he erected his present imposing brick dwelling in Mt. Pleasant, which with his varied other improvements, has added greatly to the beauty of the city and made it one of the most attractive places of residence in the state. Mr. Kinney is one of the men who have done much to promote the material prosperity of the town, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest and most liberal benefactors. From the tine it was an insignificant country village he prophesied its future growth as an important commercial and business center, and to this end he contributed freely of his means and influence, and, as already stated, he is today recognized as one of the founders of the city as well as one of the most enterprising citizens. Though still engaged in lumbering, Mr. Kinney of recent years has limited his enterprise to a considerable extent, his large interests in various parts of the state being managed by others, although he keeps in touch with his business and familiar with the doings of all in his employ. Tie ownss a large amount of real estate, much of which is improved, and fine farml land. He has two hundred and eighty acres of the five hundred-acre tract which he formerly owned in Wise township, two hundred acres in St. Clair county and his son owns the old homestead in Clyde township where he was born and reared. In addition to the above, he has investments in a number of enterprises and utilities, and is not only one of the financially solid men of his own city and county, but also ranks anong the wealthy men of the central part of the state. As already indicated, Mr. Kinney has been influential in pul)ic matters ever since becoming a resident of Mt. Pleasant, and during the past thirty years he has not been without an office of some kind. Tn I888 he was elected village president and township supervisor, and for mlore than a quarter century served as a member of the local school board, during which time he did much to advance the cause of education in the town, in recognition of which service the Kinney school was so named in his honor. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 437 When the question of incorporating Mt. Pleasant came before the people he took an active part in favor of the measure and to him as much as to any one man is due the credit of obtaining a charter and establishing a city government. In his political views Mr. Kinney was originally a Republican and cast his ballot for Lincoln. In 1872 he voted for Horace Greeley. since which time he has been somewhat independent, though of recent years has generally given his support to the Democracy. At one time he was a candidate for county treasurer, but suffered defeat with the rest of the ticket and later was honored by a nomlination for Congress in St. Clair county by the Greenbackers, in which race lie was also unsuccessful.:r. Kinneyr was imarrierl, July 31, 1858, to Margaret W. Atkins, whose birth occurred in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 14th day of September, 1838. Five children have been )orn of this union, namely: Arnold, vwho lives on the home farm- in St. Clair county; Nettie (deceased) was the wife of \Villiam Stevens, of Mt. Pleasant; i.aura, formerly a teacher in the schools of St. Clair county and Mt. Pleasuant, wsas graduated from the Central State Normal and Yspsilanti Normal and is now living at Providence, Rhode Island; Bertha I.. married \\'. E. Lewis, of Mt. Pleasant, and lives with her father; M\arion is the wife of Dr. George Van Pen Schotel, a practicing physician in the city of Providence. Rlhode sland. Tn addition to the above children, Mr. Kinney had an adopted son, Lester -Taley, whoni he took at the age of ten and to whom lie devoted the same attention and care that he bestowed upon his own offspring. Lester was quite an intelligent youth and made rapid progress in his studies, beinig graduated from the Mt. Pleasant high school when but seventeei yvears old. He was given a position in the eighth grade of the city schsools and taught one year when a promising career was cut short by his being drowned. He was in the river with several of his comrades and getting beyond his depth, sank before he could be rescued. ROBEIRT C. VA\lRD)ROI'. An active and successful career has brought the subject of this sketch promineintly before the public and few imeni of central Michigan are as widely known in business circles as he. Robert C. Wardrop is a native of Hastings countv, Ontario, where his birth occurred on February i7, I856, being a son of William and Fortune (Todd) Wardrop, both parents born in Scotland. William Wardrop immigrated to Canada a number of years ago and settled 438 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. in Hastings county, Ontario, where he lived until the gold excitement in California, when he bade farewell to his family and went to seek his fortue ill that far-away delusive land. This was in 1856, the year prior to the birth of the subject, and a little later he was killed in the mining region, where his body now rests in an unmarked grave. Robert C. Wardrop spent his early life in his native province and at the age of thirteen accompanied his mother and step-father, Richard \'aters, to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where the family lived for one year, at the expiration of which they moved to Clinton county and settled on a tract of wild land, which in due time was cleared and rendered fit for tillage. Young Robert did his share of the hard work necessary to the developlment of the farm from the wilderness and, while still young, became expert with the ax, later growing up to the full stature of strong, well-developed manhoo(d and well fitted for the duties which fell to him as a woodsman and tiller of the soil. Like a dutiful son, he remained at home assisting his parenlts until his twentyfifth year, but in the meantine, on attaining his majority. he purchased land (of his own adjoining the family homestead, which he afterward farmed for himself. This was also new land and much labor was required to reclaim it. After holding it for some years and making various ilmprovements, lie sold the place and bought other land in the samle township, where he helped clear a second farm from the woods. Disposing of the latter in i88I, le discontinued agricultural pursuits and in the fall of that year opened a livery barn at Fowler, Clinton county, where he soon built up a very satisfactory business. At the expiration of four years, he sold his establishment at the above town and came to Mt. Pleasant, where, in partnership with Thomas J. Barler. he again embarked in the livery business which the firm thuls constituted carried on during the two years ensuing. Disposing of his interests in Mt. Pleasant at the end of the period indicated, Mr. Wardrop went to Colorado and pre-empted a claim near the town of Sterling, at which place he also established a livery barn which he conducted with fair success for two years, when he located at Denver in the same line of business. In connection with his livery interests in the latter city. Mr. Wardrop began dealing in horses, which he bought and sold upon quite an extensive scale throughout a large section of Colorado and during his four years in Denver he did a thriving business and became widely and favorably known among ranchmen and horsemen. Closing out his western interests in the fall of 1893, he returned to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and purchased his old stand, which in the meantime had passed through various hands and which, tinder ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 439 his able and judicious management, soon became the leading estallishment of the kind in the city. With his characteristic energy and foresight, le soon built up a large and lucrative business in the livery line, in connection with which he also bought and sold horses, which likewise proved satisfactory from a financial point of view. After devoting thirteen consecutive years to tle livery business, Mr. Wardrop, in 1907, sold his establishment in Mt. Pleasant and retired from this line of trade. THe continued his other dealings, however, and during the past three years has bought extensively for various markets, giving special attention to draft horses which he purchases at many places in Michigan and other states and ships to the leading cities of the country, principally to the East. He is by far the largest horse dealer in Isabella county and among the most extensive buyers and shippers in the central part of the state, his patronage taking a very wi(e range, and, as already indicated, giving him much more than local repute as a shrewd though honorable and far-seeing business man. For some time past his interests in the east were looked after by Williamn M. Keeler, who attends to the sales and shipments in that part of the country where his business has stealily grown in volume and importance, his interests now being looked after by Charles Mills, at Spencerport, New York. At the present time Mr. Wardrop handles from thirty to fifty horses per month, on all of which lie realizes handso-me profits, as his long exlperience in the business enables him to exercise due caution in his transactions and he seldom if ever makes a deal which does not result to his advantage. In addition to his live stock business, Mr. Wardrop has large farming interests in Isabella county, in various parts of which he owns valuable lands which add very materially t( his incomne. He also owns good city property, which with his other holdings have made him independent and given him prominent standing among the financially strong and stable men of his part of the state. Although primarily a business man and giving the best powers of his mind to the interests in which engaged, he also manifests commendable zeal in lpublic and political matters, being an influential worker in the Republican party. He hiad previously served for several years as under sheriff of the county and is filling various other official positions from time to time. Mr. Wardrop. when twenty-six years of age, was united in marriage with Lizzie Hurlburt. of Fowler, Michigan, though born in New York, and adopted in early childhood by Nelson Waters, her mother dying when she was quite young. She was reared in Clinton county, this state, received a high school education at St. James and from the time of completing her course in that institution until her marriage she taught in the public schools. One child 440 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wardrop, a son, Malcolm S., an intelligent young man of twenty years, who now holds the responsible position of principal of one of the largest ward schools in the city of Monroe, this state. tie was graduated from the high school when quite young, later completed a full normal course and at nineteen was made principal of the schools of Omar. which position he resigned to accept the one he now so ably fills. CHESTER A. KELLOGG. That the plenitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be considered a most beneficial deprivation, for where amnbition is satisfied and every ultimate end realized, if such be possible, apathy must follow. Effort would cease, accomplishment be prostrate and creative talent waste its energies in inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been those to whom satisfaction lies ever in the future, who have labored continuously, always finding in each transition stage an incentive to further effort. Chester A. Kellogg is one whose well directed efforts have gained for him a position of desired prominence in the industrial circles of Isabella county. and his energy and enterprise have been crownied by success. Mr. Kellogg was born in Easton township, Ionia county, Michigan, November 26, I872. He is the son of Harding Kellogg, who was born in the state of New York in 1849. When three years of age the latter moved with his parents to lonia county, Michigan, and remained there until I879, and in the meantime he was married to Eliza Connor, who was born in I849, in Ontario, Canada, from where she moved with her parents to Ionia county, Michigan. The father devoted his life to farming and is now living retired in Mt. Pleasant where he moved in I907. His wife is still living, and they are the parents of these children: Carlton, deceased: Chester, of this review; Lee is living at Lake View, Michigan; Neal is deceased. Chester A. Kellogg was seven years of age when he moved to Lincoln township, Isabella county, and there he attended school, later went to Alma College, where he remained three years, taking a general and commercial course, being graduated from that institution in I888. For two or three years following his school life he was variously employed, casting about for a life vocation. He came to Mt. Pleasant in the fall of I89I and, finding employment in the private bank of Dusenbury, Nelson & Company soon afterwards, he has followed this line of endeavor. He began as clerk, and showing ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 441 a natural aptness for banking business he worked his way up to cashier. This institution was reorganized as a state bank in 1894, under the name of the Exchange Savings Bank. Mr. Kellogg was elected in 1902 as cashier of the new institution and as such has given his usual efficient and commnendable service. Mr. Kellogg was married on June 30, I898, at Mt. Pleasant, to Anna Pickard, daughter of WVilliamn and Celesta Iickard, the father being from New Rrunswick and the mother from Ohio. Mrs. Kellogg was born in Saginawv, Michigan, August 25, 1874. She met Mr. Kellogg in Mt. Pleasant. This union has resulted in the birth of two chil(dren, Kathelyn, born April 9, 1904, and Hester, born Septemb-er 23, I906. Mr. Kellogg arrived in Isabella county with lbut meager capital, but being a man of indomitable courage he has forged to the front and has been very successful, and because of his connection with the banking life of the county he has become well known throughout tlis locality. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternallyl he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Mt. Pleasant. He is at this tilne president of the Board of Trade here and is one of the imost influential Imeihers of the same, haviiig been president for the past two years. He is a stockholder in the hbank in which he is employed. He owsii a modern and very comfortable home and several valuable lots in Mt. Pleasant. He is secretary of the board of directors of the bank. The bank of which le is now cashier is the oldest and largest in Isabella county, having been organized in i88I. FREI) RUSSEIL. Among the progressive men of Mt. Pleasant, identified with implortant industrial enterprises, whose rare business acumen. public-spirit and unquestioned integrity render himi eligible to rank as one of the representative citizens of Isabella county is Fred Russell, who is too well known to the readers of this history to need any formal introduction here or any undue encomium on his life and work. He is essentially a man of the people, broad-minded, caplable and possessing an equipoise of attributes that stanmp himn as a natural leader of his fellows; but, being entirely unassuming, he would never consent to such a title or believe that he, in any way, merited the plaudits of anyone. Mr. Russell was born on a farm at Grand Ledge, Michigan, in 1855, the scion of a sterling old family who were highly honored and influential in their 442 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. community. IHe grew to maturity on the home farm. working the crops (luring the summer and attending the local schools in the winter time. lie began life for himself by teaching school in his community, studying law the meanwhile, and remaining at Grand Ledge until the spring of I88I. After his admission to the bar at Harbor Springs he came to Mt. Pleasant and formed a partnership with his brother. Charles T., which continued several years. In 1887 he was elected the first school commissioner of Isabella county, after which he formed a partnership with the late Judge Wheaton, which continued successfully until Mr. Russell took charge of the Mt. Pleasant postoffice as deputy postmaster, in which he served with as much fidelity and business-like ability as he did his former office of school commissioner. After leaving the postoffice he, in partnership with C. D. Bowen, bought and conducted The Times, the popular newspaper of Mt. Pleasant, and they built up the property in a manner that proved them to lie fully abreast of the times in the journalistic field. He has for some time dealt in real estate and has made some important deals. Mr. Russell has several times been elected circuit court commissioner of the county, serving the people in this connection with his usual tact and satisfaction. In October, 1887, Mr. Russell married Florence Hunt, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hunt, an excellent family of Lincoln townlship. this county. As a lawyer he is painstaking, persistent, profoundly versed in jurisplrudence and ranks high among his professional brethren. At the annual meeting of the Michigan Retail Jewelers Association held in Detroit, July I th and 12th, Mr. Russell was the choice of the convention for president during the ensuing year. That the convention made no mistake in its choice goes without saying among those who know Mr. Russell best. He has a broad and liberal education, is an attorney by profession and a prominent member of the Isabella county bar, a deep thinker, a good reasoner and an orator of no mean ability. For years Mr. Russell has been interested in insurance operations. He was president and treasurer of the Phoenix Sick and Accident Company for several years. Severing his connection with that institution in I900, he founded the Gold Reserve Life Association at Mt. Pleasant. which contained so many commendable and up-to-date features that it at once gained a foothold in the insurance field, and has become one of the leading life associations of the state, and he is now vice-president and treasurer of the association. The firm of Russell & Foland, of which the subject is the prime moving spirit, are the hustling and popular jewelers of Mt. Pleasant, their stock representing a very complete line of all that is thoroughly new and modern in styles. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 443 finish and patterns in everything in that line. This store was first opened by Fred Stebbins, sold by him to J. C. Freeman in 1886, the latter selling to T. R. Palmer four years later. In 1893 T. R. Smith purchased this stock from Mr. Palmer, conducting the store for one year and then selling to Charles E. Hight, who conducted it until the present firm purchased it; thus it has been in successful operation for over a quarter of a century and is one of the best known jewelry stores ill this part of the state. Messrs. Russell & Foland are giving very careful attention to the class of stock purchased by them, to the end that theirs may at all times be the most desirable assortment in this line to be found in this section, and that their efforts are being appreciated is shoiwn by the large increase which they have made in the volume of business since taking hold of the enterprise. Their store is a model of neatness and convenience, is managed under a superb systeii and every customer is treated with the utinost courtesy and consideration. Mr. Russell is one of the foremost citizens and business men of Mt. Pleasant antd is worthy of any honor that may be bestowed upon him. CHAI-RLES W. C'\AMPBELL. The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article is eminently of that class who earn the indisputable right to rank in the van of the army of progressive men, and by reason of a long and strenuous career devoted to the general good of his fellow en li he occupies a position of influence and has malde a name that will long live in the affections of those with whom he has come into contact. Charles \V. Campbell was born on June 20, 1859, in Yankeetown, Wisconsin. He is the son of Charles H. and Louisa (Sherman) Campbell, both natives of New York, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married. The father ran a shoe store, employed a large number of assistants and did a thriving business. He made shoes to order, as was the custom in those early days. He finally left the Empire state and emigrated to Wisconsin, locating at Soldier's Grove, where he became postmaster. At that time lie also conducted a store. His next move was to lonia county, Michigan, where he was living when the war between the states began, and he enlisted in the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry in 1863, seeing a great deal of service during the latter part of the war, in the Army of the Potomac. He was in the march to the sea, and he was wounded during the latter part of the 444 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. war. This wound proved to be serious, and he was sent home, where his death occurred about I865. After his death, his son, Charles W., of this review, had charge of the family, the entire care of supporting the same falling on his shoulders; this somewhat bitter experience engendered in himn rare fortitude which was of great value to him in the subsequent battle of life. Tie worked as a clerk in a store until he was twenty years of age, and upon attaining his majority he was married to Sophronia Whitman, on September 20, 1879, at St. Louis, 'Michigan. She is the daughter of John 0. and Nancy Whitman, the father a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the mother of New York. They finally moved to Ionia county, Michigan, their daughter Sophronia accompanying them. She was born Septermber 20, i86o, ill the state of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell two children have been born: Effie L., who was born June 20, I88o, married Verne Moulton oin August 24, 19T0, and they live in Lansing. Michigan: Willard, \\ho was born oI July 20. 1884, is living at home. After his marriage Mr. Campbell started out alone, inspecting Itlumier inI the lumber mills and he followed this for several years. lie came to 'Ilt. Pleasant in 1882 and entered the employ o(f the Leaton & Upton l.umber Company, at first as bookkeeper, then as foreman. Tie remained in the employ of this company about four years, then formed a partnership with George Wetmore, under the firm name of Wetmore & Campbell. They established a plant for the manufacture of sash, doors and a general house building line, and they were very successful from the first. Continuing in this line for about three years, Mr. Campbell sold out and entered the Salvation Army as an officer. feeling that it was his mission to do something for the d(lcwn-trodden o his fellow men, and he was a potent factor for good in this connection. Two years later he was made divisional officer and had charge of several states. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and even Canada, with his offices at Mt. Pleasant. It bwas necessary for him to travel through all these states in the discharge of his official duties, having general supervision of all this country, and he did a most commendable work. Severing his relations with the Salvation Army. he organized the Christian Crusaders in I891, an inter-denominational evangelistic work, and he went to different churches in several states in the interest of this movement. He was very successful in this and the organization still exists in the East and South, gradually growing in power and influence. On account of his voice failing temporarily, Mr. Campbell was obliged to give up his work, and he entered the Gold Reserve Life Association as secretary, and he has been performing the duties of this office ever since. from 1903 to 1910. When he entered the office the company was in its in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 445 fancy, but it has enjoyed a substantial and continuous growth and its prestige is rapidly increasing, due in no small measure to Mr. Campbell's earnest and judicious efforts. He is the owner of some valuable townI property. He is now affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, being local elder of the Methodist church, and in politics he is independent; he is also superintendent of the Sunday school at his church, which is one of the largest north of Grand Rapids, and the largest in this district in this denomination. At times he still does evangelistic work for other churches. Ile is now secretary of the. local option society at Mt. Pleasant. He is a strong, useful man and does a great am-ount of good. FRED C. WALLINGTON. -Amlong the meni( of sturdy integrity and reliable traits of character who have contributed their quota to the advancement of the upbuilding of Isabella county, mention must most consistently be mlade of him whose iname appears above, who ranks among the leading business men and public-spirited citizens of Union townlsllip where he has maintained his home for a numbler of years. 'Fred C. Wallington was born in Eaton county. Michigan. October 28, IJ86o. le is the son of Cornelius Wallington, who was born in Buckingham*.hire. England. in 1833, and he came to Amierica with his parents when iwelve years of age and settled in \Vashtenaw county, Michigan. where they remained all tir li their lives, the parents both dying there. When he was nineteen years of age Cornelius WNallington came to Eaton county and lived and died there, his death occurring in October, I903. H-e was a farmer and homestcaded land which was all in the wilderness. He cleared the same, building first a log house, but by hard work he eventually had an excellent home and a,good farm. He married Mary Reed, daughter of John C. and Eliza Reed, of St. Lawrence county, New York, from which county her parents came to Michigan, settling in Eaton county, and here the parents of the subject were married in 1852. The mother is still living at the home of her daughter near the old homestead. They were the parents of these children: Ellen is living in Petoskey; Rose is a resident of Tonia county, this state; Vernie lives in Eaton county, and Fred C., of this review. Fred C. Wallington remained in his native community in Roxanna township, Eaton county, Michigan, until he was twenty-four years old. He received his education in the district schools. When twenty-one years of age his father gave him sixty acres of land. He worked on this place three years, 446 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and during his residence here his son, Ivan, was born. He left this farm in the spring of I885, when he went to Ionia City, Michigan, where he read law one year in the office of Webster & Miller, and, having made rapid progress, he was admitted to the bar on February 20. I886, at lonia City. and on the following March he came to Mt. Pleasant and opened an office about a month later, in April, and he has been here ever since. He formed a partnership with Walter S. Walker, of lonia. He had little business at first, but soon his talents became recognized and he has built up a very satisfactory clientele. Mir. Walker left the office the following summer, leaving the affairs of the samie in the hands of Mr. Vallington. I-e returned in the fall and Mr. WVallington bought him out. The subject ran for prosecuting attorney that fall against Mr. Walker, his former partner, being the choice of the Republican electors, btt was defeated. Mr. \Vallington was married in December, I88I, in Eaton countyr, to Marietta McCargor. daughter of John \V. and Lucy McCargor. a prominent and highly respected family of E.aton county. Mrs. Wallington was born on February 15, i858, in Roxanna township, Eaton county. She was reared and educated there and became a teacher and while thus engaged she met Mr. Wallington. Their son, Ivan D., was born in December, i884. He marrie(l Emma Cameron, daughter of John Cameron and wife, of Shermanl City, this county, where they met while Mr. Wallington was teaching school there, and their marriage was celebrated on June I, 19o06 they have one child, Greta, born June I, T907; they are living in Mt. Pleasant, the son being associated with his father in business, having formed a partnershilp with him in the fall of I906. Besides a general law business, Mr. W\allington and his son do a large business in loans, collections and insurance. They have enjoyed a very iiberal patronage which is constantly growing. The elder Waallington was city attorney of Mt. Pleasant two years, and Ivan was alderman from the first wxard for two years. Both are loyal Republicans. The latter is an officer in the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Mt. Pleasant, being a charter member of the same. Ivan Vatllington is secretary of the Masonic order at Mt. Pleasant. HTe is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Shriners at Detroit in the Masonic order. Both Mr. WVallington and his son own several farms, three in Isabella county and two in Eaton and Ionia counties, in all comprising three hundred and seventy acres; one of these farms is the old homestead. They also own several lots and two houses elsewhere. When the elder Wallington came here there were many opportunities to buy property, but he had himself, wife and child to support and upon his ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 447 arrival here had a capital of ten dollars. He bought property il the heart of town, seventeen hy one hundred feet, in 1909; this has hecome very valuable. His office is located on the same. He maintained an office in the Isabella State Bank buildli-g here for a period of nineteen years, paying nearly three thousand dollars rent during that time, ibut his gross earnings during that 1periodl amlounted to sixty thousanl dollars. Shortly after coming to this county he had occasion to pass through Wise township, when he hecame lost ill the woods. wandering about o(ne entire afternoon, finally finding a house after nightfall where lhe found lodgment. Such were the almost interminable forests here at that time. Mr. \allington is regarded as a keen. far-sighted business man. whose ideals have always been high and in whom the utmost confidence caln be relosed. M ICH.-\El, DEVEIREAUX. Holding distinct prestige among the leading business Ilen and lawyers of Isabella county, Michael Devereaux can claim to have had much to do with the advancement of local interests in a Imaterial as well as a civic and moral way. havin long mnaintained his home at Mt. Pleasant which he has assisted in making one (f the imllortant commercial and educational centers in this section of the great \Volverine state. The study of such a life cannot fail of interest and incentive, for at the same time he has established a repultation for lasting integrity and honor. As a counselor he is known as a man \ vho is guartded in his expression of opinions, deliberate, wary and cautious in arriving at conclusions, seeking to attain a thorough knowledge of the cause before tlle adllinistration of advice or the commencelment of action. Tn the trial acts of the court room lie is self-possessed and cool, not easily irritated or excited, alld conductts his procee(lings in lhand w\ith fairness to all parties concerned, strictly obeying the canons of courtesy to the court and the opl)osing counsel. Mr. Devereaux was born January T7, I845, in Irondequoit township, Monroe county, New York eight miles froml Rochester. He is the son of Patrick and Mary (Conklin) Devereaux. His parents moved to Michigan one vear after his birth, and settled on a new farm in Osceola township, Livingston count3. In 1855 they nioved to Deerfield townslhip, the same county, where the mother died in r858. The following year the family lmoved to Hartlalnd township, that county. In the midst of such primitive conditions the subject grew to maturity. When ten years of age, while making a hand 448 ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. sled, he accidentally cut one knee, causing a lameness, unfitting him for farm work, so he was given the advantages of a liberal education. lie attended the common schools until he was eighteen years old. He then spent a year at a private seminary at Howell, Michigan, after which he commenced teaching. His first school was in Osceola township, after which he taught the village school at Fowlerville one winter. IHe then took charge of the village school of Zilwaukee, Saginaw county, for two years. Having an ambition for a more liberal education, he attended the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, where he studied for two years. Tie then spent five years as I)rincipal of the schools at Ontonagon, Michigan, making a fine record as al educator there. But he abandoned the school room to begin the study of law in 1874, in which year he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in the year 1876, and coming to Mt. Pleasant the same year, he formed a partnership with S. HX. Hopkins. The firm continued in business until I8.78. when Mr. Hopkins \vas elected as representative in the state Legislature, and Mr. Devereaux as prosecuting attorney of Isabella county, he and Sheriff Charles M. Brooks being the only candidates elected on the Democratic ticket. Tn I882 Mr. Devereaux formed a partnersh-ilp with I. \\ W.Iance, under the firm name of Hance & Devereaux, for the transaction of a general real estate and loaning business, which firm has continued successfully to the present time, and is considered one of the old and established enterprises of Mt. Pleasant. They also carried on an extensive lumbering interest, especially in Midland county. In T883 they erected a business block which for years was the leading block in the town; Mr. Devereaux purchased this entire block on March 22, 1895, also in that year he erected the handsome block in whiclh the firm's office is located, the new one taking the place of the block erected in 1883, which burned in March, I895. Mr. Devereaux served Mt. Pleasant as mayor in 1890 and 189T, and again in 1894 and I895, and in 1907 he resigned his position as president of the board of public works to become mayor of the city for the third term. While an incumbent of this office he did many things for the permanent good of the community and his administrations met the approval of all good citizens. He was one of the nine directors of the Mt. Pleasant Improvelent Company, which secured the State Normal School for this city, serving as president of the same. In I896, upon the death of C. Bennett, he was appointed administrator of that estate, handling the same with satisfaction to those interested and with credit to himself. He has long been deeply interested in educational affairs, serving as a member and secretary of the school board for many ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 449 years and as chairman of the board of county school examiners. Fraternally, he has been a member of Tent No. I29, Knights of the Maccabees, since April IO, 1885, and of the Knights of the Loyal Guard since November, I897. FRANCIS McNAMARA. One of the best known lnames in Isabella county is that of Francis McNamara, a counselor-at-law whose reputation has far transcended the limits of his own county, being known in his professional life as an earnest. cautious. painstaking and upright man of affairs, who devotes his thought, judgment. ability and genius to the cause of his clients. He is a close student, fully understands the law, thoroughly investigates causes under his consideration, is possessed of great tenacity of purpose, and when he believes he is supported by the law lie will not ble driven from his conclusions or propositions. As a citizen he is public spirited and progressive antd has shown himself to be wvorthy of tile trust aiid confidence reposed in him. Mr. McNamara was born in Lalpeer, Michigan, on August 24, 186I. He is the son of Michael andl Mary MlcNamara, both born in county Clare, Ireland, the father on August I8, I820, the mother in 18I9. While young il years they emigrated to America with their parents. The father settled in New York alnd came to Michigan in 1856, locating in Lapeer county. The McNamara family located in the state of New York upon coming to this counltry, and tlere the plarents of Francis IMcNamara of this revie-w were married, at tlhe town of Lockport, ill 1840, and it was only a short time until they followed the tide of emigration then setting in strongly for the WVest anld took up tlleir abode in tle \\olverine state. Michael McNamara \was a contractor and stone mason there until 900oo, then, his faithful life companion being called to her rest, he came to M1t. Pleasant and made his home with his son, Francis, until his death, whicli occurred iln 901. Fralcis McNamara remained in Lapeer until 1881. He attended the city schools and was graduated from the high school there, then, on tlhe date last referred to, lie entered the literary department of the University of Michigan alnd received a good education. He began life for himself by teaching in tlhe high school at Port Huron, Michigan., where lie remailned for four years. He was princilal of the high school alnd was very succcessful as an educator, being popular with both patron and pupil. But believing that his true bent was along legal lines, he took up the study of law, and after spending (29) 450 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. one year in a law office, where he made rapid progress, he was admitted to the bar in Detroit in i886. Then he came to Mt. Pleasant and for tsvo years served as deputy county treasurer, having b1een apl)ointed by his brother, who at that time held the office of county treasurer. He was then cashier of the Commercial Bank at Mt. Pleasant for three years. For several years lihe engaged very successfully in the practice of law here with Charles T: Russell. and since 1901 he has been practicing alone. He was successful from the first and his practice has known a gradual increase until he now has a very satisfactory clientele. Mr. McNamara is a Republican in politics and lie has always been active in party affairs. Local leaders at once recognized his ability and singled him out for local offices xwh-ich he filled with much credit to himself land to tle entire satisfaction of his constituents, including that of prosecutilng attorlnev for one term, and he has been city attorney of Mt. Ptleasant for a mll)ber of terms allnd is holding that office at present. Ile has been a member of tle local school board for a period of nine years and is now president of the same. He has (ldone a great deal to bring the school system here lup) to a high stalilndarl, being deeply interested in educational matters. FHe is attorney and director of the Exchange Savings Bank of Mt. Pleasant. He is one of tle attorneys of the Ann Arbor Railway Company. He has dealt some in real estate, in which lie has been very successful, as lie has in whatever lie has turned his attention to, being a man of keen discernment and w\\ith an analvtical mind and sound business principles. His home in Mt. Pleasant is a commodious, modern and beautiful one and is known as a place of hospitality to the many friends of the family. He owns several lots in this city alnd considerable wild land in the county. Mr. McNamara was married on October 28, 1890. in Mt. Pleasant to Anna Dibble, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Dibble, of Mt. Pleasant, a \\wellknown and highly respected family here. She was b)orn in Splring Lake, Ottawa county, February 21, 1865, and moved wvith her parents to Isabella county about I88o. To Mr. andl Mrs. McNamara the following children have been born: Thomas, who is attending the normal school at Mt. Pleasant, was horn on October I, i891; Josel)hine, born December 23. 1893; Catherine. born August 3T, 1899: Frances, born April 6, I902; James, born December 6, 1906. They are all members of the home circle and are attending the local schools. Mr. McNamara has been scribe of the Ben Hur lodge; also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; was commander of the Knights of the Maccabees; was advocate of the Knights of Columbus for several years. 1SABE'LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.41 43 1 and( was presidlent of the Catholic Mlutual Benevolent A1Dssociation. InI all these orders hie takes an -abiding interest and is wcell kilosn its fraternal cir'cles. Ilie anti hIs family are meimhers and faithful sulpporters of the Catholic church. Ile is well knowvn throughout the county and has figtredl InI all inportatit law suilts here (luring the past ten years, in lboth thle city and county. TIIFBIZIAER A. SANFORD). Hld1(inig wottly sprestig'e sisioli the leaidniii uiciiibers, if the Isabella countyt bsi, the siubject of this sketth ha s acthiesved distinctiVe suiccess inl hIs cho(.sen calhnig ind it is eminineitli ittiiig tliat its retool, both officiallv.,and in the gentiiral Ipractice of hIs priottess1o15 be 1)1awed upon the prinitedl page. Herbert A. Sainfoird is s ii tisve it Jicksi ii toitmtit IMichsigan sihere lie svas born on March it hi~o. 1Ils i niildfathri Abrahdi SiaYn foiid, wias a pionieer if Lihertv towssihipl) tli it cutiiiit mviiiiig tio Michwins it whii thle couiitrv wyas' almost a scildcrtiess asId tlte fete of the re m ieii still priessedl the sioil. George 11. Saitsfortd. the subiject's fathier s ad fisve out lsd o lit tlte fanils liicated a house stild the svildls of iberttyitis owishsip grewic up amnid the sttirtritig scenes ot Isioteer life, latei becameiit eniter pritsing tiller of tht si il, id whei ici vyountg nusti lie miarriedl Ruth F. lheel, sshose brhi i octurritd inl %teuibei couintv, Ness York. ansI] remsoveil to Jactksoni countist -Mli lii 'n, Nisen slit wais stwo years old. H er parients were ilsis tirly se ttler s isf 1 tksoti cissints Michigasn. After living in tlt ilsisve countst sistil i 868, Georg"e I. Satnford ilmoised his famisti tos Flint, i-Michi-an. andi a',sit i etutis cd to Isabeilla countty ili 1870 anil took uil a hoiiiesttead its se tm t/titlcolis tiownship, whlichli e imtiprioseil in sdne tilme. Ili cotnnections with thle cuiltivatiots of sthe soil lie slsos etgaged in lutmberingp Ini the viciiitv if his ]siome and inl Clsre county. Mlovin to "Isre countyt its i8ysj8 lie spient the remtainider iif his life its that coutnty. lying there twvo years later at the asge of sixty-nine. leaving a svidiis anid three children tosimouirn his loss. thle tam1es of tile latter being- as foillowsv (larenice F., a farmler of Clire counitv l, r. Fred C.. a practicinig physsicians of thle city of Clare, asndi Herbert A.. whlose liame initroduces this reviesv. I leilseit A. Sin ford receivted his prelimitnaty eduications In thle I~tll',ic schools tof Linicolni towvnshiip aisd MAt. Pleasant, this training beinig afterwvards suppillettettedl ly a coiirse in fi-llsilale College. wshere lie psrosecuited Isis sttislies for a lieriodl of three years. havinig taught schotil in the mseantimie to assist its Isisyting Isis expeisses andl maaie ati liotorable record as a stucleist. \Vitls this 452 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. excellent mental discipline as a basis, he took up the study of law in the office of Hon. H. H. Graves, of Mt. Pleasant, under whose able instructions he continued until his admission to the bar, fourteen months later. Mr. Sanford was formally admitted to the Isabella county bar September 7, 1887, by Judge Hart and immediately thereafter engaged in the practice of his profession, which he has since continued with gratifying success. For two and a half years he was associated with Hon. Fred Estee, and in 1890 was the Democratic nominee for prosecuting attorney, defeating his competitor in the ensuing election and entering upon his official duties under very favorable auspices. Mr. Sanford proved an able and judicious prosecutor, his career while in the office meeting the expectations of his friends and fully justifying the party in the wisdom of its choice in again making him a candidate. lle was elected prosecuting attorney again in 1892. He dischargedl his duties creditably and fearlessly, took high rank as an industrious and faithful public servant and during his incumbency prosecuted a number of important cases besides attending to a large amount of legal business that did not come within his official sphere. After serving with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people of the county for a full term of four years, he retired from the office with a creditable record and, resuming his private practice, soon built up a large and lucrative professional business which is still growing in magnitude and inmportance. Hle has served several terms as city attorney and as such he was unremitting in his efforts to conserve the interests of the municipality and from time to time prior thereto and since, his name has been connected with many of the most important cases a(ljudicated at the Mt. Pleasant bar. In his practice Mr. Sanford is eminently a lawyer of resources. Always a student, careful in the preparation of his case and quick to see and anticipate difficulties which are or may be encountered. hie is never discomfitedl by them, being able to shape his cause so as to avoid them when it is p)ossible to do so. Vigorous and at times aggressive, he is also always kind, courteous and gentlenmanly in dealing with witnesses and opposing counsel, and however interesting and momentous the cause at issue may be, he never allows himself to fall below the standard of a gentleman. In politics he is an ardent Democrat and for a number of years has been one of his party's trusted leaders and judicious counsellors in Isabella county, besides becoming widely acquainted in political circles throughout the state. He has been an influential factor in making platforms and formulating policies in both local and state issues, having long served on the county committee, of which he is now secretary, and he is also a member of the Democratic state committee, where his opinions always give weight. In a strongly Republican county he has been instrument ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 453 al in reducing the large normal majorities and electing Iemocratic candidates from time to time, being an indefatigable worker and having few equals as a shrewd and skillful, though honorable, campaigner. MIr. Sanford has been quite successful financially and is now ill independent circumstances, the earnings from his practice being liberal, in addition to which he is interested with his brother in Clare county farm lands. In his fraternal relations he is a membier of the Knights of the Maccabees, the Knights of Pythias, the order of \Voodmen, the National Guards and other organizations, aside fromn which he keeps in touch with all laudable imeans for the social and moral good of his fellow mnen. The domestic chapter in the life of Mir. Sanford bears the date of Septembler 6, s888, aI t which time was solemnized his marriage \\ith Maggie Peak, of Mt. Pleasant, daughter of Iriinig C. and M:lary R. Peak, natives, respectively, of Michigan and Kentucky, the father and mother being now deceased. Two children have blesse(l tils marriage, the older, Aura Peak Sanford, being a graduate of Mt. Pleasant high school and the Central State NorI-ial at MAt. Pleasant and at this time a teacher in the schools of Niles, this state; Mary Ruth. the second in order of birtl, is a bright vouing miss of ten years, who is now\ pursuing her studies in the city schools. Mrs. Sanford and her elder daughter are memlbers of the Christian church of Mt. Pleasant and zealous in all lines of good work connected with the same. While independent in matters religious and not identified with any church. Mlr. Sanford has profound respect for the churlch which he believes to be a powerful factor for good and one of the great controlling forces in civilization. JAMES W\ATSON. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a native of Middlesex county, Ontario, and the third of a family of six children \whose parents, James and Rosella (Roselbush) Watson, are noticed elsewhere in these pages. lie was born in the year 1871 and when about four years of age was brought to Isabella county, where he spent his early life on his father's farm, attending at intervals., luring his childhood and youth, the district schools of his neighborhoo(l. lie was reared under excellent home influences, learned while a mere youth the value and dignity of honest labor and grew up to the full measure of manhood with the idea that it is honorable to earn one's daily bread by the sweat of his brow. After assisting in cultivating the farm for 454 ISABL'LLA COUNTY, MCIIIGAN. some years, he became a clerk in a mercantile establishlnent in Clare county. but seven years' experience satisfying him with the goods business le spent a short time in the West. Returning to Michigan he bought eighty acres of land in Isabella township and at once addressed himself to the task of its improvement. Mr. Watson has a fine farm in an excellent state of tillage, all but fifteen acres being susceptible to cultivation and his buildings of all kinds are substantial and up to date. In I903 he erected the large barn, thirty-six by sixty-five feet in area, which is well finished and admirably adapted to the purposes for which intended, and by a judicious system of tile drainage he has reclaimed considerable land and added greatly to its productiveness. His farll is not only well tended, but is neat in appearance and its every feature besleaks the home of a prosperous, progressive, well-to-do agriculturist of today who takes pride in his vocation. Mr. Watson votes with the Republican plarty, Ibut has never entered thi domain of politics as an office seeker; nevertheless he has been honored by his fellow citizens from time to time with important official positions, having served two years as treasurer of Isabella township, and for the same length of time was a smelmer of the board of review. He dischargedl his lduties in a manner highly creditable to himself and to the satisfaction of the pu1llic alnd in both positions earned an honorable reputation as a cal)palle and trustworthy official. Mr. \'atson married Octoler 5, i95,. Anna Kennedy, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio. July 19, 1876. To them were born two children, Florence Ruth and Bieulah May. Mrl.. \\'atson's parents were both born in Carroll county, Ohio, and moved to.Michigan in I878, Mr. Kennedy being proprietor of a saw mill until his death, October i5, I893. MARTIN MENEREY. Martin Menerey, register of deeds, Mt. Pleasant, is one of Michigan's native sons and dates his birth from March 26, 1869. His father, Jacob Menerey, was born in the province of Ontario, and his mother, whose maiden name was Annie K. Brown, is a native of Quebec. These parents were married in St. Clair county, Michigan, in 1863, where they made their home until their removal in 1893 to Isabella county. Jacob Menerey purchased a farm in Wise township, which he still owns and cultivates. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 455 Martin Menerey first saw the light of (lay ill St. Clair county and there spent the years of his childhood anld outh, while still young learning the lessons of industrv and thrift on the falily homestead. After completing the common school course, hle entered a high school, where he lmacde corlmienldal)le progress ill his studies, in the meantime assisting his father wvith the work of the farm an(l p)roving not onll an industrious hoy, lht a trule and worthy son. He accompanied his parents upon their removal in 1893 to Isabella contty and reniained at holme, looking after the farm tntil his election. ill i90o8, to the office which hlie nowx holds, since which time he has lived in Mt. Pleasant, in order to give his attention to his public duties. Noi sooner had Mr. MAenerev become a resident of Wise township than hlie l)egan manifestinig a lively interest in the affairs of the saiie and it was not long iuntil his fellow citizens selected him clerk of that jurisdiction, a position for which lie seemed pl)eculiatrly fitted. He also served as supervisor of the townlship) for eight years, bteing chairman of the board for four years. anld in this, as inll the offices referreil to. his aliilitv was stichl as to bring him to the favoralble considerationl of his friends for something preferalble to nominial local positionlls. A\ccordingly. in 1908 lie was nominatedl lbV the Repul)lican party for register of (deels. to which office hlie was tritimpliantly electedl in the fall of that sear. Sinice enteriig ulpon his official dulties \ldr. Menerev has fullvy iiet the expectatiomis (,f his frienlls atdl lhis course thus far has )eeii elliuenutlv credlital.le to himnself anld satisfactory to the piulic, thus jiistifying the wis(loi of his election and( hespeaking for him still further hlonors at the handls of his fellow citizens in the futucre. Careful, prutdent and courteous to all who have lbiisiniess to transact ill his office, lie has strengtheiedl his holl ulpoli the peuople of the coiunity. all of whoi, irreslpective of political affiliatiolln. repose coTlfidlence ii his integrity anl hold him ili high l)ersonal regard. He po)ssesses tlhe faculty of winning aind retaining frieinds whose loyalty canniot le lquestioned and it is not presuimptioni to state that there are todav few as popular yountig men in Isabella county as this intelligent. wiide-awake vounug gentleman, to wholn the pleople have entrusted one of their importanlt official interests. Mr-. Menierey has a farmi in \Vise township, to the management of which hlie gives consideral)le attention, and lie is also interested in whatever tendls to proimote the material (leveloplmenit of the township and ieniefit the people. He is ptublic spirited and progressive. cises his influence to further all.moral andl humaniaitarian enterprises and endeavors to realize within himself his high ideals of manhood and citizenship. \With the laudable object in view of henefiting his fellow men as well as himself, hlie has becomie identified with 456 ISABELLA COUNTY, MIC-IIGAN. several secret fraternal orders, in all of which he has been active and influential, striving by all means at his command to make them answer the purposes which they are intended to subserve. He is prominent in the Masonic brotherhood at Mt. Pleasant, belonging to the chapter of Royal Arch Masons; has served as worshipful master of the Blue lodge and represents the same in the grand lodge of the state. He also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of the Maccahees and Benevolent and PFl-otective Order of Elks, in which he has held important offices from time to time. On September 4, I909, Mr. Menerey was happily married to Edna M. Bouton, of Mt. Pleasant, (laughter of Henry S. and Cornelia A. (Swart) Bouton, who moved from Calhoun, Michigan, to Isabella county about the year I862 and settled in Union township. After living in that locality until 1907 Mr. Bouton retired to Mt. Pleasant, his wife having died two years prior to that date. Mrs. Menerey was born December 23, I868, in Union township, this county, and is an intelligent and estimable lady, and all who know her speak of her many excellent qualities. BERNARD E. DERSNAH. Although a man young in years, Bernard E. Dersnah, of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella county, is a man of marked business enterprise and capability, and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He is an important factor in business circles and his popularity is well deerved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unabated energy, unbending integrity and industry that never flags. Mr. Dersnah was born in Harrison City, Clare county, Michigan, November 25, 1885. He is the son of William Dersnah, who was born in Ada, Ontario, Canada, in I86I, from which place he was brought to Michigan by his parents when four years of age, and he lived at Saginaw until he was twelve years old, then came to Clare county with his parents, where the latter lived until I886. He was employed as assistant superintendent of a lumber concern in Clare county. He purchased eighty acres in Vernon township, Isabella county, and lived on it twelve years, the family remaining there longer, the'father, William, having moved to Mt. Pleasant to become assistant drain commissioner. He was supervisor of Vernon township three terms, then elected county treasurer two terms, after which he spent a year in Lansing, having been appointed a committee clerk at the capitol. After returning ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 457 home he was elected drain commissioner, and he was holding this office at the time of his death, on June 18, 9gog. He was a very faithful public servant, serving in various capacities in the county for a period of twelve years consecutively. He married Maria Brazington, daughter of Seymour and Malinda (Wickins) Brazington, of Gilmore township, this county. She was lorn in Oakland county, Michigan, and moved to Gilmore with her parents about I877, where she lived until her marriage, in 188I. Mr. and Mrs. Dersnah lived at Farwell. Clare county, for a short time, and they lived at various places until they finally located on their farm in Vernon township. The following children were born to them: Hattie married Ed. Hornby; Bernard, of this review; Eugene, who has remained single, is attending school in Mt. Pleasant; Seymour is living at home; Thelma is also a member of the home circle. The mother of these children is residing in Mt. Pleasant. William Dersnah was for many years prominent and influential in politics. lie was an ardent Republican and was highly honored for his many sterling characteristics. Bernard E. Dersnah was fifteen years of age when his parents moved to Mt. Pleasant. He attended the district school and wvas graduated from the local high school in 9oG6. -le was a noted football player and always took an interest in general athletics. The year after he left high school he took a course in the Michigan Agricultural College, and while there he was the mioving slpirit of the footlall team. He returned to Isabella county, and taught school at W\inn, Fremont township. one term. then assisted his father in his work as drain commissioner during the siummner, and in the fall began teaching at Tndian school, filling a vacancy for awhile, at the same time coaching the Indian football team. On the following January he purchased the loaning business of J. A. Livingston at Mt. Pleasant; to this he added real estate and has continued both lines to the present in a very satisfactory manner. Considering the short time he has been in business. he has built up a very satisfactory real estate department. and the loaning del)artment has increased noticeably. As a real estate dealer he has been instrumental in raising the price of lands in the county, principally by advertising the land in different ways and in various states, thereby bringing iln many buyers. He has three branch offices in Ohio, each of them soliciting buyers for the land in Isabella county. Fraternally Mr. Dersnah is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. I164. at Mt. Pleasant; the Modern Woodmen of America camp at Mt. Pleasant; also the Ioyal Guards of Mt. Pleasant. Politically he is a Republican. On February I, 1908, Mr. Dersnah was married at Mt. Pleasant, to Grace 458 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. A. Riley, a lady of education and refinement, the daughter of L. 1. and Allie Riley, a prominent family here. Mrs. Dersnah was born in February, 1887, in Avery, Ohio. She moved to Isabella county with her parents in 1893 anld settled in Union township, just outside Mt. Pleasant. 'lThis union has been graced by the birth of one child, Telen. ALFRED C. ROWL.\DER. A conspicuous figure in the political history of Isabella county an(d honored with important official trusts, the subject of this sketch fills a large place in the public eye and to a marked degree enjoys the esteemii and confidence of his fellow citizens. Alfred C. Rowlader, county clerk andl on-e (f the proiminent men of Mt. Pleasant. is a native of MRichigan and a son of Washington and Permelia (Myers) Rowlader, the former born in New York of W\\IrteImberg German ancestry, the latter born in Pennsylvania, both coiming to Michigan a number of years ago and settling in Barry county, where the subject was horn on April 2I, I856. Alfred C. was reared under excellent home influences, early becamle accustomed to the duties of farm life and at the proper age entered the public schools, where his progress was such that whe\\n nineteen years of age he was sufficiently advanced in his st(udies to pass the reluisite examination and obtain a teacher's license. Mr. Rowlader remnained with his parents until his twenty-third year, liut in the meantime taught several terms of school in lonia county and in 1878 severed home ties and came to Isabella county with the object in view of engaging in agricultural pursuits. Purchasing eighty acres ill section 15, Iincoln township, shortly after his arrival, he at once began improving the same and one year later returned to his native county, where he married the lady of his choice in the person of Cora Cooper, whose parents, Israel and Elizabeth (Smith) Cooper, natives of New York, moved to Barry county in an early day and died there in the years I864 and I867, respectively. Mrs. Rowlader was born March 26, I858, at Woodland, Barry county, and at the early age of sixteen began teaching, which calling she continued until her marriage, in the year I878, achieving marked success in the mleantime and a notable place among the poplilar and influential teachers of her county. Setting up his domestic establishment on his land in Lincoln township immediately after his marriage, Mr. Rowlader applied himself with renewed energy and diligence to the matter of improvement and in due time succeeded ISABELLA COUNTY, M1ICIIIGAN. 459 in removing the forest growth and fitting the soil for cultivation. Ile labored to such advantage that it was not long until his farm was in first-class condition, with substantial buildings, his dwelling )eing comfortable, commodious and equipped with a full complement of modlern conveniences, his barn, also a large and stable structure, comparing favorably with any other edifice of the kind in the township. As a tiller of the soil he was industrious ant( energetic, seldom if ever failed to realize handsome returns from his labors and by his progressive ideas didl much to arouse an interest in modern agricultural methods and advance the farmer's vocation to the high place it no\\ holds in the minds of the people. Mr. Rowlader is a Republican and for a number of vears has been a leader of his party in Isabella county. lIc earl! Ibegan taking an active part in public matters and when only twelnty-four years old became township clerk, which office lie held two years, and for a period of eight years served as supervisor, discharging the duties of both positions in a calable and satisfacto-r manner and proving a most faithfull and judicious publlic servant. His activity and influence il political circles. to(gether with the ability displayed in the positions referred to commlllending him to his party throughout the county as an available candidate for somlething higher than mere local offices, he was nominated in 1898 for county clerk and at tle ensuing election defeated his competitor )y a majority of three hundred and eighty-three votes. lie enteredl ulpon tlte lduties of tlle )ositioi under very fav o-ralle auspices and so ably and c-redit al)l did lie conduct the office tliat in tle vear I9o0 he was chosen his ow\\ successor.b a greatl increased majoritv, receiving one tholusand and fifty-six mIore votes than his comlpetitor, whicl restult attested his great pol)ularity with the i)people irrespective of political ties. His efficienlc and faithfulness as a i)ublic official having leen abun(lantly demonostlratedl tile voters of the contilt decide(l to retain him in tlhe position which lie so ably and( honorably filled, accordlingly lie was renominated 1a(d re-electedl for six consecutive telrms, being three times nominated by acclamaltion and at the last election, in 1908, receiving the unlprecedentedl mtajority o oone thousand four hundred and eighty-two votes. ITlle better to (levote all of his time to his official duties, Mr. Rowlader. in I902, turne(l his farm over to other hands and the year following moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he has since residedl. Sufficient has alreald been said to indicate his high character as an intelligent. broad-mindedl man of affairs, while as an official who makes every other consideration subordinate to the interests of the people, it is only necessary to add that the county has never been served by a moire capable, judicious or pol)tular clerk. Furthermore, to his credit 460 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. be it stated that in the various conventions by which he was so signally honored he put forth no extra efforts to receive the nomination and at the ensuing elections, in some of which he did no campaign work whatever, it was the office seeking the man, rather than the man seeking the office. He has long been an adviser in the councils of his party in Isabella county, has had much to do in formulating and carrying out its policies, and from time to time has served on the county central committee, of which for four years he was chairman. Mr. Rowlader is an influential Odd Fellow and takes great interest in the work of the order. He has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge at Mt. Pleasant with which he holds membership, and for some years has been a trustee of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' Home at the same )lace, a flourishing and praiseworthy institution, to the success of which he has in various ways contributed. While looking after the public good, he has not been unmindful of his own interests, being careful and methodical in business and exhibiting sound judgment and wise discretion in all of his affairs. He has been quite successful financially, and is now one of the substantial and well-to-do men of the county, owning valuable city p)roperty and large agricultural interests, among the latter being two farms, one in Fremont township of eighty-six acres and one of one hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, all fine land, well improved and yielding him a handsome income. Mr. and Mrs. Rowlader are the parents of three children, Bessie P., Inez L. and Alfred W. Bessie married Henry Cutler and lives at Menominee, \Wisconsin, where her husband is engaged in business. The second daughter. who is the wife of Albert I'ohland, lives at Iron River, Michigan, and the son, familiarly known as "Fred," is proprietor of a drug store in Mt. Pleasant and one of the rising business men of the city. J. F. CHATTERTON & SON. The firm of Chatterton & Son, of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella county, is deserving of a very high rank in local industrial circles, since it has done as nuch as any other to establish the prestige of this vicinity abroad and contribute to the general upbuilding of the town and county. The adherence to a straightforward and honorable policy and the treating of their patrons with the consideration due them is the key to much of the success of this firm, and that they are destined to continue the upright course they have thus far pursued ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 46I and reap still greater financial rewards is the belief of all who are familiar with the firm's methods. The personal relations of the members of this thriving and popular firm with their fellow men have ever been mutually agreeable, and the high esteem in which they are held indicates the universal hold they have on the confidence and respect of the people, regardless of class or condition. The firm was started by J. E. Chatterton and Howard E. Chatterton, and has been doing business under this firm name for over a decade, although not all the time in the present line of business. They first engaged in the retail grocery and meat husiness in Mt. Pleasant, which was very successful and was finally disl)osed of. During the time the Chattertons were in this line of business they established the most extensive retail grocery trade ever built up by any firm in Isabella county, during the last year of their business as grocers they sold between seventy and eighty thousand dollars' worth of goods, and employed thirteen persons in their store, which was regarded as a model of its kind and one that would have done credit to a much larger city. In February, 1903, this firm purchased the Horning elevator, since which time they have conducted that business in a most successful manner, being todav almong the largest and most extensive handlers of all kinds of grain, hay, wool, potatoes and apples in this section of Michigan. 'lhis firm is also very extensively engaged in the handling of beans-in fact, making that line of farm produce a specialty, and employing about thirty-five women and girls in picking beans, thus enabling the shipping of a very superior article of the hand-picked article to the outside markets. This branch of their business has Leen far more than ordinarily successful, and they have paid as much as twenty-five thousand dollars in one month to the farmers of this immense section for that product of the farm. Isabella countt farmers are engaging very extensively in the raising of beans, the county being among the leaders in this state, and the quantities handled by this firm shows that these gentlemen have established themselves very strongly with the agriculturists of this section, enjoying a reputation for honesty, fair dealing, and paying top-of-the-market prices seldom gained by any firm. The reputation built up by them, however, is not confined to this locality, as intimated in a preceding paragraph. The reputation they have gained in the large cities for placing a strictly first-class article upon the markets puts them in a position to command at all times the best of prices and make ready sales, thus enabling them to pay the farmer the very best figure. Not only do they ship quite extensively to all parts of the United States, but quite a number of car loads of beans, which have been shipped by them, have been ex 462 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ported to foreign markets. This firm also does an extensive coal an(d w\ood business am-ong the citizens of Mt. Pleasant and vicinity. J. E. Chatterton, deceased, the senior member of this firm, was born of an excellent old New England family, his birth occurring in the state of Vermont on l)ecember 7, 1839. There he spent his early boyhood and attended school sonme. In 1851 he accompanied his parents to ichigan, locating on a farm in Meridian township. Ingham county, four miles east of Iansig. There young Chatterton completed his education, also attended the lansing schools, and later took a three years' course in the agricultural college of this state, near that city. He then attended the Eastman Business (ollege, at P'oughkeepsie, New Yiork, from which institutionl he was gradluated in t863. In the meantie lie hadl engaged in teaching school, having taught six winter terms very successfully, froni i859 to i865. Thus'well equillpedl for a lusiness career, he formed a partnershilp, in 1866, with his br)other, George A., and together they established a mercantile business at Hublbardstoll. lonia county, this state. Four years later Mr. Chatterton purcha(sed his brother's interest, continuing to manage the business until the spring of 188o. In that year he moved to IMt. Pleasant, and since that time has been in active l)usiness in this city, at all times being very closely allied w ith every mov-eent which has tended toward the upbuilding of Mt. Pleasant, andl always showing that he had the true interest of the city at heart. It was through the instrumentality and perseverance of Mr. Chatterttn that the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company was organized, and fori five years, froim- 1895 to I900, he acted as its secretary. The managemient of such an organization is very largely in the hands of its secretary, and nmuch iof the success of the company is due to the founldation laid by M r. Chatterton during those years. IHe is a man of keen (liscernment, wise foresight and solind judgment, an organizer and pIromoter ly nature and he carries to successful issue whatever he turns his attention to, and his life has been such as to warrant the high esteem and confidence in which he is hell bIv all who know hiim. Mr. Chatterton 'as married on April 28, 1867. to \. Elizaleth.\ldams, of Shiawassee county, Michigan. The junior member of the firm of J. E. Chatterton & Son, Ho\warl E. Chatterton, a man of marked business ability aind commendablle attributes of both head and heart, was born at THulbardston, Miichigan, on March r6, 1872, where he received his early schooling, later attending the Maichigan.-\gricultural College, at Lansing, and the Central Michigan Normal College in Mlt. Pleasant. He made a splendid record in these institutions anid earlv in life launched out in a successful business career. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 463 In 1895 the younger Chattelton engage(l in the grocery business at Bowling Green, Ohio, two years later disposing of his mercantile interests and engaging with a large wholesale house at Toledo as salesmi an and i)rchasing agent. I ere he continued with his usual success until 1898. when lie rcturned to Mt. Pleasant and blecame a menlller of the finrm of Clhatterton & Son. J. E. Chatterton died on \lAugust 3, 1907, and How\ard thei incorl-orated tlhe business of which lie is maiiager and principal stockholder. lIe has also boulght an interest in and is president of tlhe \\ hitney-Taylor (:Compa) y. manufacturers of hub blocks and concrete tiling, being the largest tile (concrete) manlufactulrers in tle world. Tie is an indefatigable w\o(irker and the notable ligh grade and( honorable methods which lie ever enilloys in his business life, lnd in fact in all tlhe relations witll his fellow men, have br1)ougt the rewards d(lue himn. and( lie stands todav second to nonl iil the industrial world. andi is popular w\ith all classes of citizens, bIeing a good mixer and a straightforward. unassmintiiig gentleman (of correct principles. Mr. Chattel-tol- \as married to Minnie H-. Harris. of tllis cit,. in 8(;7. She is a ladlv of culture and refinement and the representative of mle (of the oll aindl influential famlilies here. 1RALPH G. HARRIS. L1 the constant and laborious struggle for an1 honoralble comllpetence antl a creditable name on the part of business or professional men. there is soi(liethiing to attract tle reader ill the career of an individual who. early ill life, gives evidence of traits that lead to ultimate success, when propl) rly dlirectedl as they have evidently been done in the case of Ralph G. Hlarris, a well k nown alld lprogressive business man of 5Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. \Vith little other means tihan a sound lmind anil fertile perceptioni, le has wonl a pllace ill the industrial world, ad, a. what is to lbe mIlore highly esteemed, the confid(llce and goo() wvill of his fellow iimen. Mr. Hlarris comes of nar excellent old family which is given proper mentioi on another page of this work. THe \was horn in Mt. Pleasant, January 27, 1884. and here he grew to mIaturity and attended the local schools, graluating from tle high school. Early in life lie gave evidence of ability along jomurnalistic lines, especially tle biusiness side of it, and started in the magazine lusiness in 1904. Foir a period of three years lie w-as connected with the advertising department of the Outing Publishing Company and was managing 464 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. editor of the Retailer and.4Adertiser Maga.zinc for a period of four years, during which time this popular trade magazine gained rapidly in circulation and general prestige. He swrote for various trade papers and his articles never failed to attract an interested audience. He resided at Deposit. New York (the famous magazine center), two years, also lived in New York city four years successfully engaged in his chosen line of endeavor. He is an independent thinker, a wide reader, familiar with the world's best literature and keeps abreast of the times in modern thought and investigation. Mr. Harris resigned his position in New York and returned to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in I908, and purchased a general bakery and refreshment parlors, which he is now successfully conducting, enjoying a very extensive patronage in the city, county and adjoining localities. lIe has a beautiful and well-equipped soda fountain and his place of business is always filled with customers. On December i8, 9go6, Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Cecil M. Wright, of Deposit, New York, a lady of culture, education and refinement and the representative of a fine New England family. 'This union has been graced by the birth of two children, John G. and Catherine -1. Fraternally, Mr. Harris is a member of the Masonic order, having attained the Royal Arch degree, and he belongs to the chapter at Mt. Pleasant; also the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Mt. Pleasant. JUDGE PETER F. DODDS. Standing ofit distinctly as one of the central figures of the judiciary of southern Michigan is the name of Judge Peter F. Dodds, of Mt. Pleasant. Isabella county, the present able and popular judge of the circuit court. Prominent in legal circles and equally so in public matters beyond the confines of his own jurisdiction, with a reptutation in one of the most exacting of professions that has won him a name for distinguished service second to tlat of none of his contemporaries, there is today no more prominent or honored man in the locality long dignified by his citizenship. Achieving success in the courts at an age when most young men are just entering upon the formative period of their lives.wearing the judicial ermine with becoming dignity and bringing to every case submlitted to him a clearness of perception and ready power of analysis characteristic of the learned jurist, his name and work for years has been allied with the legal institutions, public enterprises and political IIU)\. IVIP. Y' KR I. I) 1)I S ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 465 interests of the county and state in such a way as to earn him recognition as one of the distinguished citizens in a community noted for the high order of its talent. A high purpose and an unconquerable will, vigorous mental powers, diligent study and devotion to duty are some of the means by which he has made himself eminently useful, and every ambitious youth who fights the battle of life with the prospect of ultimate success may peruse with profit the bliography herewith presented. Judge I)odds is a scion of a sterling old family, and he was born on January 4, T849, in St. Lawrence county, New York, the son of John and Catherine (}Toy) Dodds, who, after spending their early years in that state, emigrated to Coe township, Isabella county, Michigan, in 1866, and they took up their abode in Mt. Pleasant in I875, the father's death occurring here on December 3, I879. He was a man of honor and integrity. His son, Peter F., had received a good primary education in his native state. He was seventeen years of age when he canie to Isabella county, and here he soon began life for himself as a teacher, when nineteen years old, continuing successfully for several years. Deciding to turn his attention to the law, he attended the State Normal School in order to lay a broader foundation and was graduated fron- the same in T874, after teaching some time, having read law while thus engaged. Tn 1875 lie was admitted to the bar at lthaca. and he becaime a partner of I..\. Fancher. and D. Scott Partridge was also for a time associated with them. In I880 Mr. Fancher having moved to Detroit, his brother, Francis H. (now a member of Congress), and later his oller brothers. George F. and Willianl I., were partners. In i88o the subject was elected prosecuting attorney and served one term. He also served on the county boarld of school examiners. In April, 1893, he was elected judge of the circuit court and since January I, 1894, has discharged the duties of this important trust in a manner that has brought the higlest encomium from all, irrespective of party alignment. Fraternally, the Judge is a member of TLodge No. 305, Free and Accepted Masons, Mt. Pleasant Chapter No. I 1, Royal Arch Masons, and of the Ithaca Commnandery, Knights Templar, and one would judge from his daily walk before his fellow men that he endeavors to carry their high precepts into his every relation with his fellow men. In 1882 Olivet College conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts and later the degree of Master of Arts. On April 20, 1876, Judge Dodds was married to Minnie E. Bouton, the representative of a highly honored family, being the daughter of Henry S. and Cornelia A. Bouton, of Mt. Pleasant. She was born in HIomer, Calhoun county, Michigan, March 12. 1859. (30) 466 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. They have one son, Fabian Bouton Dodds, born Decemlber 8, 1884, who graduated from Mt. Pleasant high school at sixteen years. He afterwards graduated at Central State Normal School, life course; at twenty -he gradluated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan; at twenty-two lhe graduated from the University of Michigan as Master of Arts and Bachelor of Law\s. He is now p1racticing law\ at Spokane, Washington. He married Nell Garnett Hclden, of Spokane, Aiugust 3, 910. WILBER F'. PRESTON. A well known and successful real estate dealer of Mt. -Pleasant, who has long enjoyed distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Isabella county is Wilber E. Preston, who has fought lis way onward and upward to a prominent position in industrial circles, and ill every relation of life his voice and influence has been on the side of right as he sees and understands the right. Ite has always been interested in every enterprise for the general welfare of the community and liberally supports every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men, and he therefore has the confidence, the esteem and the good will of all who know him, and his office is always a busy place. He may be found at No. 19T Chippewa street. Mr. Preston is the representative of a sterling old Eastern family, his birth having occurred in Java township, \Vyoming county, New York, on October 21, I854. He is the son of Albert A. and Martha A. (Nichols) Preston, the father born August I6, 1827, at Stratford, Orange county, Vermont. and died at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, July 25, 1885; the mother w\as born at Keene, New Hampshire, April 16. 1833, and died at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in February, 9g00. Albert A. Preston's father, William Preston, was born at Stratford, Orange county, Vermont, June 28, T803, and died at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, November IO, 1881. The latter's wife, known in her maidenhood as Mary Fisk, was born January 31, 80o6, and (lied in Mt. Pleasant, this county, February Io, I888. William and Mary (Fisk) Preston were married September 7, 1824, and removed to Java, Wyoming county, New York, in October, 1835. William Preston's father, Robert G., was born August 12, I766: he married Hanna Brown, born December 6, I770, their wedding occurring at Chester, New Hampshire, May 1, 1786. Robert G. Preston's parents, Edward and Edna (Greenough) Preston, vwere married January 27, I763. Mary (Fisk) Preston's father was born at Boscawen, New ISAB.ILIA COU.'NTY, MIICHIGA N. 467 Hampshire, April 18. I773, and her mother was born at Newberry, Mlassachusetts, May 28, 7177. They were married June 22. 1795. Albert A. Preston glrew to manhood in \\Wolingl county, New York, acquiring a good education, and there lie met, w\on and married Martha A. Nichols, the daughter of George oand Alary (Robinson) Nichols. IThe were married April 13, I85I, and this union resulted in the l)irth of five children, namely: MTary E., borli il Java tow\nship. Wyoming county, New York, Deceiml)ber 5, I8, mlarried Ar\thur B. Calldw\ell a they are 1now living in Moneta, Los Angeles county, California; Wilber E., of this review, was next in order of birth: \lice A., born in the same locality in New York, February 20, I86o, married \William \tkins, of Isabella county. Mlichigan, and her death occurred at M\t. Pleasant, ()ctober 23, I907, and her husband is also deceased; David D., born in Lincoll tow nship. Isabella county Mlichigan. May 9, 1864, died when three and one-half years of age: B. \\. Preston, born in the salme locality, December i6, T867, I.rriei Nellie Calhoon, anl is now\ living at No. 504 South Fancher avenue, Mt. Pleasant. Albert A. Preston caine to Isabella county. dMichigan. in March, 1863, and purchaserd froni a man named Smith his "squatter" rights to the southwest quarter of section 2. ITincoln totwnship, for fifty dlollars. Smith had cleared three acres and erected a log cabin, roofing tile same with elmn bark. Returning to News York for his family, Mr. Preston sol(l his modest home there and with a team of horses and a "democrat" wagon brought the family to Buffalo, where tlhe all embalrked for Detroit by boat: arriving at Detroit, the family drove the one hundlre(l and forty miles, liuch of the \way through woods and over cord(lroy roads, to their inew- homie in Tsabella county, coming l1) way of St. Johns. reaching Tsalella county May i8, 1863. \When entering the southern por-tion of Gratiot couiitys, iMr. Preston met his fellow settlers on their way to Ionia. where they hoped to be able to prevent the "speculators," as they were called. fromi buying up their lands b)efore they, the actual settlers, Ihad pl)lportuniity to prove up their squatter claims and get certificates showing they had a right to their lands for homesteading. Only two weeks were to be allowed settlers in which to prove up their claims, after which the lands were to( le opened for purchase regardless of squatters' rights. Learning this fact, I Mr. Preston hurried his famil- on to the home of his sister, Mrs. Samuel W\oodworlth, then living on the southeast quarter of section 1I, Lincoln township, where he left them atnd, taking one of the horses, rode hack to Ionia to join the others and prove up his claim or rights to the land purchased from Mr. Smith. Arriving at lonia, Mr. Preston learned that only those settlers' rights would be recognized whose families were at the time living on the land claimed, which fact must be proven by at least one reputable witness. 468 ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Thereupon Mr. Preston's brother-in-law, Samuel Woodworth, started back home, mounted on the same weary horse, to take the family over to the log cabin in the woods with its elm bark roof, and leave them. Fitting up the "democrat" wagon, Mr. Woodworth hitched the same horse to it and took the family to their new home, ate dinner with them. cooked over a cailmp-fire out of doors, returned to his home and, mounting the other horse, rode back to Ionia and testified that he had seen the family of Albert A. Preston in their home on their farm, and had eaten dinner with them there. Mr. Preston thus secured his certificate and, in due course of time, his patent for the land, which remained for over forty-five years in possession of his family. It is needless to say that the family followed Mr. \Woodworth back to his home as soon as they felt certain that he had departed for lonia again and remained there until the husband and father returned to them. Albert A. Preston develope(l a good farm here and became an influential citizen, honiored and respected by all. From i88 hlie made his home in Mt. Pleasant and assisted in erecting many of the first buildings in the place, ineluding the first three stores, and he did much for the general development of the town and community. Wilber E. Preston grew to maturity on the home farm and(l early in life knew the meaning of hard work. He received a good education in the public schools of his community and in the graded schools of Mt. Pleasant, and in a persistent study and reading of his private library, one of the best in the city of Mt. Pleasant. In 1870, when eighteen years of age. he taught his first school near where the village of Winn now stands, then an unbroken wilderness of woods. The following winter lie taught in what was known as the "Green district," boarding round among the patrolns of the school. Ihe next taught one year in what waas then known as the Williamnson school. one mile west of the present village of Winn. Thereafter Mr. Preston taught only during the winter months, working upon the farm during the summer time and attending the schools of Mt. Pleasant for a short time each fall under the instruction of Samuel Clay, Charles 0. Curtis and Peter F. Dodds, the latter being the present circuit judge of the district in which Mt. Pleasant is located. Continuing his work as teacher and student for ten years, Mr. Preston then abandoned teaching and devoted his entire energies to his farm until July io, I890, when he, in company with the late E. S. Bowen, purchased the Northwestern Tribune, a weekly newspaper published in Mt. Pleasant. and took charge of the paper as editor. In the fall of i890, during the soldiers and sailors' encampment at Mt. Pleasant, Mr. Preston edited and publlished the first and only daily paper that city has so far had. In the spring of I90o ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 469 Mr. Preston sold his interest in theNortlhwestern Tribune to his partner and accepted a position as secretary of the Land, Loan and Title Guarantee Comlany. This colmpany owned the only abstract books of the county, furnished abstracts and tax histories, guaranteed titles, loaned money and lought and sold real estate. In 1897 IMr. I'reston resigned his position and accepted an appointment as one of the receivers of the defunct People's Savings Bank of Mt. Pleasant, in compain with Elton J. Van Leuvan and L. E. Royal, Mr. Van Leuvan resigning his post to accept the position of cashier of another bank just organized. Mr. Preston shortly afterwards resigned Ills position as receiver andt opened l a abstract, loan and insurance office, in the fall of 1898, which business he hlas followed very successfully to the present time. his office comprising a neat and convenient suite of rooms in the Commercial Bank block, known as "Bank Chaimbers." Mr. l'reston has always been initerestedl in farming anl still owns a fine farm of one hut(ndred and thirty acres whilc is well impl)lroved and which he plers olly suil)eriltenls. Mr. I'reston is a Republlican. He lias 1been twice elected commissioner of ul)llic schools of his township, three times elected as sutlerintendlent of schools of his township, once elected as justice of the peace of his township, four tiimes chosen as treasurer of the same and twice as supervisor while residing in Liiicoln to\wnship. resigning the office of stllervisor in 189o, when lie removed to Mt. Pleasant. I le was chosen chairman of the Business Mien's:Association of Mt. Pleasant. served three years on the board of education and five vears as a menmi er of the board of public works, andl niow holds the position oif the county agent of the state board of correction and charities under appointmienit of the goverinor. In every position of public trust he has proven himself an earliest, able and conscientious servant of the people and given the utmost satisfaction to all, regardless of party alignment. In religious matters Mr. Preston is a memlier of the Unitarian church, and fraternallyi he lelongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of the Maccabees and the Court of lonor. Ini March, 19o8. Mr. Preston. with others, organized and had incorporated the Isabella Cointy Hunmane Society, the purposes of which, as stated in the articles of incorporation, are "The impressing and diffusing of the principles of humanity and mercy, and the enforcement of laws for the prevention and punishment of cruelty to children and animials, birds and fowls." Mr. Preston was chosen presidlent of this society and still fills the position. On February 22, i877, Mr. Preston was united in marriage with Marilla J. Abbott. daughter of an excellent and highly respected old family, and she acquired a good education and taught one temi of school before her marriage. She is a member of the Unitarian church and the Ladies of the Maccabees. 470 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Her father. Harrison Abbott, died September I8, 1907, and her nmother, known in her maidenhood as Martha \alling, is now living at Shepherd, Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Preston the following children have been born: Harold A., born June 30, 1884, is a graduate of the School for the Deaf of Michigan and of Gallaudet College of \Vashington, D. C., married Belle Van Ostrand, of Mason, Michigan, October 27, 910o; she was a former student of Gallaudet College, and later a teacher in the Michigan School for the Deaf; they reside in their own beautiful home at No. i 106 Lyon street, Flint, Michigan, in which city Harold A. Preston is engaged as one of the assemblers and finishers of the automobile bodies at the Buick automobile works. Ethel 1. Preston, born March 31, i886, is a graduate of the Central State Normal Sclool; she prepared herself for a teacher, but is at present homekeeper for her father and younger brother and sister, during a visit of her mother inl southern California. Harriet Fisk Preston was born October 21, 1889, is a graduate of the Central State Normal School, and is in charge of music and drawing in the schools of Elk Rapids, Michigan. Isabella. born November (16, I893. died in infancy. Marion Morse Preston was born Octobelr 21, I895, and is a high school pupil. Bliss Abbott Preston was born Atugust 2, 1900, alnd is now a student in the fifth grade of the Normal Training School. MICHAEl. E. KANE. The notable success achieved by the sulject of this revie\\, together with his honorable record as a public-spirited citizen, has mlade his namle almost a household word throughout the to iwnshii in which lie lives and as one of the notable men of his day and generation in his adopted county, it is hoped that the follow-ing review of his life may influence some young imen at the parting of the ways to imitate his examlle. Patrick Kane, the subject's father, was a native of Londonderry county, Ireland, but when a youth he came to America and grew to maturity in New Brunswick. where he began life for hinself as a lumlerman. He married in that country about the year I835 and a little later secured a homestead in western Canadal, to which place he had removed shortly after his marriage This homestead consisted of one hundred and thirty-five acres, which he converted into a fine farm and on1 which he anld lis good wife slpent the remiainder of their days, both dying a number of years ago. Their family consisted of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHAIGAIN.47 471 six children: Marv- married John Coleman and lives in Canada; John died some1 years ago onl a hom~estead in Ontario; James. whose wife was a Mis Hludson-, is living ini the latter province, as is Daniel, who has remained single; Mfichael, the suhject of this sketch, is the fifth in the order of hirth; tile sixtil was Mrs. Anna MeWRae, wiho dliedl ill Canada; tile youngest lbeillg Margaret, will is unlmarriedi ann occuipyinlg a Canada homestead. Mfichael E. Kane wvas born,1 On IDecen-her 20, 1845, Ii MHiddlesex countv, Ontario. alni remained in hIls nlative pirovince m~itil eighteen years old, attelldiilg s;cihocl in tile lleanwhile aiid makilng rapidi advniscenment ill his stud~ies. TPossessing a file 1liild alnd all aptitude for learning, lie wvas enahled, at tile early age (If sixteell. to palss tile requlirerd examlinlationt and ob~tainl a license clltittilig Iil to teachl il tile publhic scho(7ols. He tatigit twol termls hefore ilis eigilteelltl vear, after whicihl lie attellded sthool until sllfficientlv adivaneed to obtain a first class licelise, secllrilg whiich hie wvelt to New Brunswick, (lut not to celgage ill edlICatilloal wvork, as hie took 01) tile tralie of hairness mllkillg ill tile city of Fredierickston s0011 after reacllilg tilat provitice After lieconlihig a skilled w~orkmlall lie returned Ionie ani (luring tile six lonfltis ellsillilg stavedl withl his parenlts amd helped with tile lahor (If tile farn'll At the emi of tilat tille hie started to California. lhnt owing' to scarcity of meanls In. got as tar as Detroit, MNichiganl, lear whicihl citv lie follod emlliovlllelt dulrinlg the s11111 -111r of tha-t vear 011I I farlli an11( tile followving winiter weorked on Ceniar river ill tGladwl(( 111 1.1111 this state. For tile llext tell years lie devoterd iis tille to farull 1)1111) aild~ log Illivsinlg. tile latter lprileipally, m01d diurinig that p~erio~d sillel sllftRclent 111011v to 11n11 onle hundl~red ando tell acres (If lan~d solltilwest (If Mt. Pl1easalnt. IliIsabelia cotlmlt, for wh iich lie laid tile sum~l of tihree ttlolsalld diollars. Bs tile 1.nd of tile stlinIller lie had explen~ded ill implirovemlents tile r-eil~lugll six hundr1111ed ot the allotillt lie 11ad( saIvedan 1(111ble illunireli111 more, huit tiem oneyut Was p11t to goool ll5 adIlni (ille timle retulrnedi a 11a(110 -Ill J tIlne, 1875, alt Annirbor Mr. Kanle was mIlltedi Ii miarriage to) M.\ars lHa-en ll 11( imnimoliately thlereafter birolight hlis brine to Tsabl~lla. county lund, settilig Ill) his niomestic establishmlent 01) his farm ill Ulioll townlshipo, hegall givig, hiis elltire lattelntioll to) algicul~tlur. Froml tim~e to timle he aninerd to his landi and] llliie a lmlllller of imlprovemnelts, amlong" Which were two larg-e ibarlns. fortv hsv sixty feet eacil luaid basemlenlts. I thlirdi larnl, tweli-ty byv for-tv feet. for yomlll rattle, andlIl 1 imposin~g hrick residellee. tile m111in bonyv thil tv bv thlirtvfetewn site by eitv feet, tile blliloling copliete i) eversIlart, hlandosomlely tillisild elaI 11 sulppliedi with the latest lmodern conlvenliencees, All (If his hutilolings are upl-to-diate alnd eoilil~iped with ilab~or-saving devices, 472 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. among the latter a large wind mill which supplies water to the harn and variious parts of the premises, besides many other improvements, such as men of his ample means and enterprising spirit can afford and as few other farms in this part of the state contain. Among the later accessions to Mr. Kane's estate are the two eighty-acre tracts adjoining the place on the east, which he purchased some years ago, making two hundred and seventy acres in a single bo(ly, all exceedingly fine land with modern improvements on the different parts. He also bought twenty acres across the road froim the original farm and later an additional one hundred and thirty acres in the same section, thus swelling his realty to four hundred and twenty acres, whlich was aniOug the largest individual holdings in the county. By reason of advalncing age and the desire to free himself from the cares and responsibilities of manlaging such a large estate, Mr. Kane, in January, I9IO, sold the two hundred( and seventy acres for the handsome sum of twenty-two thousand dollars, one of the highest prices ever paid for land in this county. lie still owns a splendid farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which is largely devoted to stock raising, the river running through the place affording ample water and drainage and especially adapted to this iliportant branch of agriculture. Mr. Kane made much of his monliey from fine stock and Iwhen activelv engaged in farming never kept fewer than one hundred head of fine cattle and from thirty to fifty hogs of the best breeds, for which animals there \was always a demand at the highest prices the market afforded. Since practically retiring from active life, lie has kept no live stock, only looking after the general management of the farm and attending to his other interests, which, bv the way, are large and important, but not of sufficient magnitude to keep himll from enjoying the rest and leisure which he has so ably earned and to which lie is so honorably entitled. The large price which he received for tile farmn recently sold was not only a surprise, blit a revelation to his fellow citizens throughout the county, as it opened their eyes to the merits and value of land in this part of the state and stimulated many of them to imitate his exampllle in the matter of improvements and proper agricultural methods. fHis success came to him as the restult of well directed labor and judicious management, and what he has accomplished he believes others can accomplish, provided their efforts be controlled by sound judgment and wise foresight. Mr. Kane has long been one of the leading farmers of Isabella county and has abundant reasons to be proud of his record as such. He has also been influential in the affairs of his township and county and, possessing muany of the elements of leadership, his judgment has frequently been consulted by his neighbors and friends and his opinions have ever carried weight and coni ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 473 manlde(l respect among his fellow citizens. Integrity and a high sense of honor have characterize(l his relations with others, and his personal popularity is hounded only ly the limits of his acquaintance. Few citizens of the county have as many friends anl1 none have shown themselves more deserving of friendship aind confidence. Among the public enterprises with which his name is associated are the Farmers Mlutual Insurance (iomipany, of Isabella comitv, an(l the (old Reserve Insirance Company, having been president of the latter ever since its organization, al)otut twenty years ago. Tie has served sixteen years as supervisor of Unimo township ind.proved a most cal)able alnd faithful official, giving to the duties of the position the same care and consideration lislplayed in thle management of his own interests. Fraternally, lie belongs to the Independent (rder of 0Odd Fellows at Mt. Pleasant, and tle Knights of thle la;ccablees at the same place, and ever since ol0 enough to exercise tlhe right of citizenship he lhas wielded a strong influeice for the Democratic pa-rtv. For fourteen years lie has been chalirnlan of the Dlemocratic county comllmlittee anl( for sixteen years lie has beel President of thie Isabella Coulntv A.\ricultural Society. -lIm. and lMrs. Kane are the parenits of four children, lnamely: Sarah, who married John (Carl and died some years ago in Pennsylvania; Jolhn, who is ill the \\est; Nellie, wife of Merrill Gee, lives in Lakeview; AIrtlur. who is the yo-ungest of the family alnd unmarriedl, is at Big Rapids attendling school. JAMES MAcKERliSI. The subject of this sketch is one of the widely knlowul citizens of the tow\nship ill which lie resides, having come to this part of Isabella county forty-three years ago, since which time lie has been actively identified with the varled interests of his colmmunitv. Tames MacKersie was born January 15, 1838. in (lasgow, Scotland, anil when five years of age accompanied his parents to the city of Perth, Ontario, where lie spent the five years ensuing. At the expiration of that time he emigrated with the family to Waterloo county, Ontario, where lie remlained four years. removing thence to the county of 1-luron, where he made his home for a period of eight years, in the meantime, T86i, having united in marriage with Maria Johnson, who was born in England. Shortly after his marriage Mr. MacKersie came to Michigan and for one year worked as a farm hand near Detroit. He then moved to a point alout 474 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. four miles from that city where he supported himself and wife by daily labor for a period of two years, removing at the expiration of that tinle to Clinton county, where he devoted the ensuing year to farm work and the manufacture of staves. In October, I866, he ma(le a tour through Isabella county and. being pleased with Coldwater township, located a homestead in section 28, immediately after which he vent to lonia to pay the governmenlt fees on his land. Returning to his homestead in November, he erected a log cabin to which he brought his family, consisting of his wife and two children ill February, I867. After living on his homestead six years and making a lnulier of improvements, he discontinued farming to enter the employ of A.\os Johnson, a merchant of Sherman City, for whom lie clerked during the ensuing six years, becoming familiar with every pllase of the goods business in the meantime. Later Mr. MacKersic vworked for several years at different vocations, a part of the time being manager of a store on the Chippewa river, and when John Cameron started a general mercantile establishment at Sherman City he entered that gentleman's emplloy and continued as his chief clerk for a period of nine years. Hie served twenty-eight years as justice of the peace and still holds that office, has been a notary public for thirty-five years, alld when Coldwater township was organized lie was appointed its first clerk, in addition to which position he also filled the office of supervisor one term. Some years ago he sold his farm aiid purchased a half acre of grounll a(ljoining the village, on whicih he erected a conlnmodious and( comlfortable modern dwelling, besides making a number of other implrovements, his home at this time, with its attractive surroundings. being one of the most beautiful and desirable places of residence in the community. Mr. MacKersie is,n acconplished business man and as such is frequently consulted!b his neighbors and friends to whom his judicious counsel aind advice have bleen especially valuable, leading to the amicable adjustment of not a fe\w difficulties and misunderstandings and preventing much expensive litigation. TTe is \\ell read and wvidely informed, keeps in touch \with the leading questions of the (lay and abreast of the times on all lmatters in which the lu)ll)ic is likely to be interested. Personally, he is held in high esteenm by his neiglhbfors and fellow citizens, his character and integrity having ever been above criticism, and he has always kept unsullied the luster of an honorable name. Mr. and Mrs. MacKersie are the parents of children as folloss: \Anna E., wife of William Powers, lives in Isabella county; Stephen J., wllo married a lady by the name of Nelson, lives in Leeds, North Dakota, his wife dying a few years ago, George A., also a resident of Leeds, narried Mildred Tap ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIG AN. 475 poll; Ellen J. is deceased, as is Maggie, the fifth ill order of birth; Jessie, now Mrs. Clayton Koch, lives in Grand Rapids, where he is yard master for the Pere MArarquette railroad; Charles \'. married Annia Loomis and lives at Barreton, this state, where he is engaged in the meat business; Flora B., unmarried, is a stenographer and typeswriter at Portland, AMichigan; Gordon E., also single, holds a position in a grocery store at (ranld Rapids, and Raymond A., who1( is nnmarried and lives in San Francisco, California. is a fitter of electric machinery. JOSEPH A. STRUBLE. The sutbject of this sketch belongs to an old and well known family of Isabella county, and co)mbines in his personality many of the sturdy characteristics for which his antecedents were noted. A farmer by occupation, lie has succeeded \ell at his calling and as a citizen he has always been interested ill the progress of the community. taking an active lart in for\varding all legitilmate menis to this end. W\illiam W\. Struble, the subject's father, was ol)rni in Knox coiuty, ()hio. November 6, 1822. He married, in that state. Ilary M\lrphv andl in the fall of 1864, while his olldest soi was in the armyl, i oved to Isabella countv. iclligan, and settled on ine hlunred and sixty acres of land in Chippewa to\\nslhip which lie purcllased and which in due time lie and his sons cleared and reduced to ciiltivatioi. He served four years as lprilate judge; was five years supervisor of his townlship, and later served the same length of time iln a simlilar capacity in the second war il of Alt. I'leasant. \\illiam Strulle -was an intelligent. public spirited mai an and during his life in Isabella county did much to promiote the material welfare of the comnimiitv in which he resi(ded and advance the interest of his fello\ citizens. Ile died 0oi thle 30th day of July, 19o8, his wife in tlhe year 1878. The following are the names of the children born to this couple: John, who married Mary Oberlill; Joseph A..,of this review: Mary Salbine, deceased' Harriet, wife of \Wavie Fosgett, of Mt. Pleasallt; \illiam, deceased; James, wlo married Mlary Stearns atd lives in the Upper I'eninsutla; Frank, a resident of Chicago, Illinois, married Elizabeth Lacock; Elmer, who was accidentally killed in the lank at Shepherd; Rachael, deceased, and U. S., who married Izora Cole and lives in the city of Mt. Pleasant. Joseph A. Strublle was born January I6. T848. in Knox county, Ohio, and lived in his native state until the removal of the family to Michigani in 476 ISABILJA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the year 1864. In the meantime he acquired a common school education and during the spring and summer months worked on the farm and proved of great assistance to his father in the cultivation of the soil. When abolut twenty-one years of age, he received from his father forty acres of the family homestead which he cleared and otherwise improved alnd on which he lived for some years, later selling the land and moving to a farm in section 22, Chippewa township. After residing a few years on the latter place, he moved,'to the old Sheldon farm, in the same township, where hlie has since made his home, owning at this time forty acres of as fine land as there is in the countl, his improvements of all kinds ranking among the best in the neighborhood, while his stan(ling as an agriculturist is second to that of inone of his contemporaries. For somie years after beginning life for himself, Mr. Struble cxperiencect not a few vicissitudes and, to make both ends lmeet, was obliged to work in the lumber *woods during the winter months, devoting the rest of the year to clearing his farm and making his improvements. In the meantime lie was married to Lucretia T. (rinnell, an intelligent and estimable young lady who taught in the plublic schools and whlo proved a true wife and helpmeet in getting a start in the world. During his early struggles aiind trials. she assisted him with her counsel and encouragement, and to her advice and cooperation is much of his later success directly due. Mr. Struble has a fine farm, a comfortable and attractive home and is the possessor of a sufficienlcy of this world's goods to place him in independent circumstances. He has been honored from time to time with important official trusts, having served eight years as township treasurer, three years as school director, eight years as assessor. and for a period of four years held the position of supervisor il his township, and is now superintendent of the poor of the county, ini all of which positions he displayed business ability of a high order and proved a faithful and conscientious public servant. In politics he is an unswerving Republican and, judging by the number of times he has been favored with public places. it is easily perceived that he is an active worker for his party anld an influential factor in winning success at the polls. Fraternally he belongs to the Chippewa lodge of Gleaners, and all worthy enterprises for the general good find in him an enthusiastic advocate and liberal patron. Enjoying to a marked degree the confidence of his neighbors and friends, esteemed for his initegrity and high ideals of manhood and citizenship, his purposes have ever beenl upright and honorable, his life fraught with good to those with whom he mingles, and he is today one of the notable men of the community in which he resides. Mr. and Mrs. Struble have a pleasant home which has been blessed by ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 477 the birth of the following children: Nellie J., who married Frank Hardgrove. is living in Mlt. Pleasant, her husband being deceased; Cora E., who married A. J. Olson, is living ill \Wisconsin; MAirta married Corwin Hardgrove, anll she is working as a stenographer in Mt. Pleasant; Albert married Maud Ellis and lives in Chippewa township; Mar! and Hattie died in infancy. There are seven grandlchildlren and one great-grandchild. JOHN \W. CURTIS. The success achieved by the gentleman whose name intlroduces this sketch entitles him- to a prominent place amiong the representative men of the countyv in which lie resides and his influence in the various sllheres of activity to which his talents have been devoted has won for him a large place in the esteem of the public and marked prestige as a citizen. John W\. Curtis is a native of New Y'ork, a state to swhich not onl- M\lichigan but the entire central and northwestern parts of the republic are largely indelbted for the class of substantial, enterprisingl men who add solidity to the bIody politic and constituted soi much of the nioral bone and sinew of the plolpullace. Ilis birth occirretl in Genesee county. February 13 8, 84(, beinig a so of \Valdo \W. Curtis and Margaret MclTugh, the forlmer born at Naples. New York, in 1820, the latter in Ireland about the year I825. These parents were married in the Empire state and there spent the remainder of their lives, tle father dying in the month of IDecemlber, 1857, the motther following him to the grave in August of the year 1875. The early life of John W. Curtis was spent in the county of his birth and at the proper age he entered the district schools, the training thus received being afterwards supplemented lby a course in the Cary Collegiate Seminary where he made substantial progress in the higher branches of learning. He was reared to agricultured pursuits and while still a youth decided to devote his life to that honorable calling, but the high price of land in New York caused him to look elsewhere for a more favorable place in which to seek his fortune. Having heard and read much of Michigan and its advantages in the way of cheap lands, he finally decided to ascertain for himself; accordingly, in the fall of I868, he came to this state. After lix-ing at various places during the seven years ensuing, he moved. in the spring of I875, to Isabella county and purchased one hundred andl sixty acres in section 4, Fremont township. where he has since lived and prospered. W\hen Mr. Curtis took 478 ISABEL.LA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. possession of his land there were sixty acres cleared and otherwise indifferently improved, but in due time he cut away the forest growth and reduced the greater part of the place to cultivation, hesides inaugurating a series of improvements which have added greatly to the beauty and value of the farm. During the past thirty-five years Mr. Curtis has dealt quite extensively in real estate, making judicious investments from time to time and realizing handsome profits from his sales; meanwhile he cleared in excess of three hundred acres and now owns a valuable tract of three hundred and ninety acres which is devoted to general farming, and in which are some of tlie best improvements in the locality, his buildings of all kinds being first class ani( in excellent repair and everything in the premises indicating the close attention and progressive spirit manifested by the proprietor in the prosecution of his labors. In connection with agriculture Mr. Curtis is still interested in real estate and his deals have resulted largely to his adlvantage, as is itndicated by his independent circumstances and solid financial stanling. He is essentially a self-made man, as he came W\est with only meager means anl during the interval between T875 and 1883 worked for monthlly wages ill the lumber woods, the earnings from this source enabling him to ladd to his original purchase, as stated above, and olbtain the start which since then has made him one of the well-to-do men of his adopted county. Mr. Curtis served two terms of two years each as official surveyor of Isabella county, three terms as supervisor and in i892 Nwas elected to represent the county in the state Legislature, making the race on the Indelpendent party ticket and defeating his competitor by a very decisive lnajority. lIe made an honorable record in the General Assembly, serving on several important committees, where his opinions and judgment commanded respect, and he also took an active part in the general deliberations on the floor of the chalmber, proving under all circumstances a judicious legislator who looked carefully after the interests of his constituents anld was instrumental in the passage of a number of laws of great advantage to the state. HIe has always manifested an active interest in public affairs and his influence il moulding thought and shaping opinion is second to that of none of his contemporaries. Like the majority of enterprising men, he is identifiedl ith tlhe lMasonic fraternity and for some years he has been a leading member of Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383. and Mt. Pleasant Chapter No. I i, Royal Arch Masons, in both of which branches of the order he has been honored from tine to time with important official trusts. In the year 1880 Mr. Curtis contracted a matrimonial alliance with Mina Hey, who was born June 17, 1865, in Jackson county, Michigan, being a ISAiBI'LLA CO)UNTY, MIIiCHIGAIN.47 479 daughtei of Ch ries Hey and M\aryv \ieter, both natives oIf Gernmany. These iparents xweire hoin in the years 1840 and i1842., respectively. and have spent their mrra ied lite in tile United States, their home at the llresenlt time iieiilg tile village of M\ontcdlnl, Isabella coullt\v wilere theyar glyesenedba large encicl elf frilenlcis Mr. and M~rs. Cmrtis are tile parents of fifteeii cliiilirei, 11s follows One holril Jalllarv 6, 1882, (lied Max-V 24, 18821, nunmarIed; Henry W\\ bloii.\uguISt 29, 1883. married Marjorie E. Crokr ugs o 1910. aiii is emiploxyed as salesmlan ill the 13. INi. Ailams store at \Vinn T ames C., horn June 9, i 8(85 marriedi Ilellillh A'. Cllr-tiss MAarch 9. i905~, and~ is alto empl~oyedl it the i-i 'MI Adaiis store, Dwight Z., horil April1 20. 1887, married Pearl C) Riggle lDeeelber 27 1905; Idi M \1 ilorn Decemiber 27, i888, iiiecd Felbritai x2, 1889 \Pi "lar-aet A\l. hoirii May i i, 1890.o mlarried F. Lenoll Rayillolnd Mf iu-h 2r 190)1 Fannie1 1. 10111 'di 26) 189',. wilo is livingf at liom-e, as aire ail the otiher Ihiliril (1 C all ICAl. bllrn 11 1111W10, 1894: W. Vlite. horn Febli;11- 2i 9, 1 896: - \gles S. mci Adalilie I. twviis, holrnI J dV 20, 1898; AdValiine B3 diedi Jiy' 21 1906, liira F. bolrn.\PiniI 3, 19(11: Oscar O)., bolrn [anllarv 1 19113 xy1r11 S. a111 Mxyr11111 toi1115 hoIrnl Janulary 15. 1907; Mx-vriam (led at 151rthl JOSEPH- WIJLLIAM HOUSE. Tile subiject of this sketch. a xwell knowni anld ihighly esteeliled farmer of Isabella coun~ty- andi oine of the enterprising citizens of the community- ill xvhich hie resides, is an older brother of H. 5. Gi. Houlse, xvhose sketcll appears elsewhiere ill these pages., 211(1 a son of George and Sarall A. House, xvhn are also nloticedl ill tilis volum~e lit 50111 lellgtll. Mr. I lou-se is cf Enlglish lo )10( 11nd( first sasw tile ligilt of dlay in tile toxxn of WValton, Somersetsllire, Eng1211(, MNarch 8, h'elcc~llllelii aet to America in 1869. and reilaileol xvith his fatiler, helping~ xvith the xvork of tile farm unitil i88o, xvlenl he began the strulggles of life for hillself as a laborer in tile pilecies. lie xvorkeil in tile xvoods (lllriilg the xvinter tulle ailt hlaving purchalsedl forty, acres of laild in Isabelila toxxnsh1ip tlt aibove year. dexotedi tile tsummler tilotltils to clearing 1)nd( imlprovinlg the same. Mr. House began operatiolls 111101 quite a ilodest scale, hut ill a fe~v y-ears, not 0on1y succeededi ill reducing ilearly all of Ilis fortv acres to cultix-ation, but bought (tiler Iland in the v-icinlity fromt timie to time until his relulty amlounted to one hundred and sixty acres, all p)artially xvooded xvhlen i e ilade tile (hifferent purchases. Wheil lie bought his first forty acres, lie xvas oblliged to coit a xvay through tile dense woods in order to reacil it. tile unix semblahlnce oil tile land (If a road being a faintly- defined trail ox-er xxhichl iIndians 112( 480 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. formerly been accustomed to travel. Slight improvements had been made on the several other tracts, but on taking possession he pushed the work of clearing and improving until his farm was finally among the best and most valuable in the township, a reputation which it still sustains. In the year 900o Mr. House added greatly to the appearance of his farm by erecting a fine barn, forty by fifty feet in size, which has since been remodeled. His dwelling, which was built at an earlier late, though small, is comfortable. At the present time he has one hundred and twenty-six acres in cultivation and well drained, and raises all of the grains, vegetables, fruits, etc., grown in this part of the state, also an abundance of hay, which is one of his most valuable crops. He has four hundred rods of fine wxire fencing on the place, which, with other improvements, adds much to the appearance of the farm which to the owner and his family is a home in which they take a pardonable pride and which to tlhell is the lappiest and most desirable place the world affords. Margaret Marlin, who became the wife of the subject on January 27, 1892, was born in Hastings county, Ontario, on the 6th day of October. I862. T-er father, Janes iMarlin, a native of Canada. was born June 22, I832, and lives in Isabella county at the present time. Her mother, \\Iho previous to her marriage bore the namne of Margaret Brandon, was born February 23, I840, and departed this life in Isabella county in 190o, both having resided for a period of thirty years in that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. House have four children, namely: Albert J. born December 30, 1892; Ella B., September 30, I894; Edwin A., November T2. 1904, and Emma I'.. whose birth occurred on March 28, 1907. Religiously the subject and wife are devoted members of the Baptist church, he having filled different offices in connection with the church and Sunday school. Politically he is a Replublican, though by 1no means an active politician. GEORGE W. COLE. Conspicuous among the successful self-made men of Isabella county is George W. Cole, a leading farmer and stock raiser of Lincoln township and a public-spirited citizen whom to know is to esteem and honor. I-le was born October 2, 1842, in St. Lawrence county, New York, and is a son of Benjamin and Eunice (Calkins) Cole, both natives of that state; the father was born in I809 and died in the month of June, 1876, and the mother was born in I8I6 and died in her eighty-second year, in I897. When the subject was quite young his parents moved to Ohio where ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 48I they spent the four years ensuing, at the expiration of which time they changed their residence to Allen county, Indiana, where they made their home until their removal, twelve years later, to Isabella county, Michigan. settling in Lincoln township in the winter of I864-5. Grolwn to maturity the meanwhile, the subject was a strong. active young man, well calculated for the duty of clearing a farm and establishing a home in what was then a comparatively new and undeveloped country. Tle purchased, in 1865, the eightyacre tract in section o1 which had been previously homesteadced by James Tloover, of Tonia, but two,cres being cleared when he took possession and little if any other improvement attempted. Animated by a laudable ambition to succeed. Mr. Cole at once addressed himself to the formidable task of removing the dense forest growth and fitting the soil for cultivation. and in view of his present beautiful farn. with its fine buildings and other evidences of prosperity, it is needless to state that he succeeded in his undertaking and in due time forged to the front among the leading agriculturists and representative citizens of the community. Mr. Cole has been enterprising in all the termi implies and successful both as a tiller of the soil and breeder of fine live stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses, for which there is a great demand by the farmers of his own and other localities. His improvements rank among the best in the county, the commiodious barn thirty-six by sixty-six feet in size, with cement basement, and his nodlern residence, being fine buildings and well aldapte(l to tie purposes for which intended. \Vhile first of all a farmer andi making everything else subordinate to his calling. Mr. Cole has always found time to dlvote to the public and to discharge the duties andl responsibilities which every g(ood citizen owes the communitv in which he lives. Ile has fillerl various local offices, serving -one year as to\wnship clerk and three years reslectively as highway and drainage commissioner, proving ill these responsille positions true to the interests of the people and( disclharging his duties with credit to himiself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. In his political allegiance he is a p)ronounced Republican and as such has been an influential factor in the affairs of his party ever since becoming a citizen of the county. although his zeal has never been in the way of office seeking nor aspiring to leadership. In the summer of r866 Mr. Cole went back to Ohio, where, on A.' lgust I2th of that year, he was married to Relecca J. \Vaters, w\hose lirthl- occurred in I849, she l)eing a daughter of Samuel and Maargaret (31Brle) \'aters, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Immediately after his marriage he returned to Tsahella county with his bride and setting up their domestic estab(3T) 482 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. lishment on the farm in Lincoln township, they entered upon tile mutually happy and prosperous life which has made them popular in the conmlmunity and which their friends trust may be continued many years in which to bless the world by their presence and influence. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cole are as follows: Alzada, born July 3, I867, is the wife of Almer Servose, of Coe township); Warncr S., horn l)ecember 13, 1869, married Cora Bellinger, and lives on a farm in Union township; Muzetta M., now Mrs. Chase Ilann, was born July 23. 1872, and resides in Lincoln township; Vernon D., born February 12, 1875, married Anna Campbell and departed this life in the state of Washington July 17, 1908; Joseph W., whose birth occurred on September 15, I879. married Ethel I)e KIrion and lives in the township of Lincoln; Elmer M., the youngest of the fam 1ily, was horn April 23, 1883; he is a farmer of Denver township, also a married man, his wife having formerly been Blanch Collier. Mr. Cole is a firm believer in revealed religion and his stud(ly of the sacred scriptures leading him to accept the doctrine of thie second advent of Christ, he is now an influential member of that church land a pillar of the local congregation to which himself and wife and several of his children belong. NICHOLAS LAUBENTTIAL.. As indicated 1sy the name, the subject of this sketch is of foreign birth, being one of the sturdy citizens who came to this country from,Germanv ald, like so many of his compatriots from the fatherland, he inherits the sterling qualities w\hich distinguish his nationality. Nicholas laulcenthal, farmer, of Nottawa township and an ex-soldier in one of the greatest civil wars il the annals of time, was born in Prussia in the year 184T. When eleven years old he came to America with his parents and during the ensuing tell years lived in Lorraine county, Ohio, where he grew tlp onl a farm and received a common school education. At the breaking out of the great rel)ellion he was among the first young men of the above county to tender his services to tile government, enlisting, at the age of twenty-one, in C(omipany GC One Hutlndred Seventh Ohio Infantry, with which lie served for a period of three years and four months, during which time lie took part in a number of callmpaigns in Virginia, Maryland and elsewhere and participated in sonme of the most noted h)attles of the war. His regiment was with the Army of the Potomac and he shared with his comrades the vicissitudes of warfare in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 483 many thrilling and dangerous experiences. In the battle of Gettysburg he was wonllded by a musket ball in the right arm and right hand, which necessitated his bleing taken to a hospital in Baltimore, where he remained but two days, going thence to a Philadelphia hospital, in which he received treatment for about five weeks. From the latter city Mr. Laulbecthal was transferred to a hospital at Cincinnati, thence to Covington. Kentucky, and two weeks later was removed with a number of others to Camp Dennison, ()Ohio, \here he remained nearly one year in the invalid corps. During the greater part of that time lie received treatment, but whenl his woulnd improved, lie as made master of one of the hospital wards. At the expiration of the period indicated he with thirty others of his o\wn complany, was removed to a hospital in the city of Cleveland, where he remained on (dut for ten months and tlen returLned to Camp Dennison. where, three weeks later, lie received his discharge. IIs miilitary career was ian active and eminelltly honorlable one, and lie left the service with a record of which anv solicdie migllt \ell feel proud. While at tlle front. lie was al\\was readv for duty. Inever shirkedl a responsibility a:lll lwhether io the march, iin ca-i1l), or amidl tle din anll confusion of battle his conduct was ever above relproach and right nobly did lie sustain the reputati(ol of a brave and gallant soldier. For some time after the war Mr. Iaulbenthal was employe(d by a gentle1a1n in Lorain county, ()hio. to oversee the latter's farm aiidl nursery. in connection \\ith which he subsequentlyl took charge of a genieral store also. Still later a saw and shingle machine were added, andu for several months he looked after and managed these several lines of enterprise and(l that, too, in a Imanier entirely satisfactory to tle proprietor. He r-emained in Ohio for a number of years, devoting his attention prilcipally to agricultural pursuits, hut in 8(99 lie disposed of his interests in that state anii( came to Isabella count'y, M\ichigan, settling in May o(f that year ili the woods of Nottaw\a township a(nd began operating a saw mlill. -le also purchased a tract of land in that tow\nship, from which he cut thle timber, ain which lie later cleared aind ilproved, making a good farm, on which lie still resides. Mr. Laubenthal has been a verv industrious mian and has always madle his labors count, as his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres with its up-to-dalte impr)ovements albundantly attest. He erected all of his buildings, princil)ally by his own labor, enclosed his farm with first-class fences anil i)v artificial drainage s increased the productiveness of tle soil in no sinll degree. TIe is an excellent farmer, in that he has made a careful study of soils and their adaptation to the different kinds of crops and by judicious 484 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. rotation and the use of modern methods of cultivation, he sellom, if ever, fails to realize ample returns for his time and labor. In politics he is an independent, refusing to be bound by any strictly party ties, and in religion is a Roman Catholic, belonging with his family to the local church at Beal City. He served as three years as supervisor of his township, ten years as school director, and at the present time holds the office of school treasurer, in all of which. positions he discharged his duty with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. In the year 1867 Mr. Laubenthal and Mary Cotton were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, the latter being a native of Lorain county, Ohio, where she was born November i8, 1850, being a dlaughter of George \V. and Eliza Cotton. The children that have blessed this union are as follows: Anna C., wife of Stephen Schon, of Ohio; Joseph G., who married Emma Simmer and lives in Nottawa township'; Elizaleth M., now NlMrs. sMat Dietrich, lives in Henry county, Ohio; Emma T. lives in Nottawa township and is the wife of Joseph Zimmer; Frank J. married Christine Ptung and lives in Cadillac, this state; \\illiam J., of Nottawa township, married Telena l)olli; Myra J., wife of Janes IMead, resides in the toxnsliip of Nottawa; Clara., who married Albert (iesige. lives in Henry county, Ohio; Elnora, of Henry county, that state, lmarried to Walter Westrick, of I-Ienry coulntv, Ohio; Mary L., unmarried, is still with her parents. JOT-N G. TIOUSI1E. John G. House, the oldest son of George and Elizabeth (Chancellor) House. and a representative farmer and stock raiser of Isabella township. was born in England onl May 15, I859, and in i869, when tell years old, accompanied his parents to America, spending the ensuing six years in the dominion of Canada. Rermoving with the fam-ily to Michigan at the expiration of that period, he lived with his parents in Monroe county until 1879. when he accompanied them to Tsabella coulty and assisted in clearing and ilmproving the farn in Isabella township, where tley still live, in the meantime, as opportunity afforded, attending school at his several places of residence. Reared in the country and early inured to the practical duties of the farm, he grew up strong, vigorous and well calculated for the vocation of agriculture, which he chose for his life work, and on attaining his ma!jority lhe began cultivating soil for himself on the family homestead. 1SABEPLLA COUNTY, MICJIIGAN. 485 In i885, Mr. House was united in the bonds of wedlock with Charlotte Armstrong, \whose birth occurred in Peel county, Ontario, in February, I86o, and who came to Michigan with her parents. John and Mary (Baker) -\rmstrong, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The former, born in 181o, died in 1876; the latter, born in 1822, departed this life in the year ()05, the family being among the early pioneers of Vernon township. Shortly after his marriage Mr. House moved to forty acres of land in section 5 of the a)ove township and five years later increased his holdlings by an additional forty acres adjoining the original purchase, both of whlich he inlproved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Still later he bought twenty acres n1mre, making the farml of one hundred acres, its present area, in the meantimie commencing and carrying to compilletion mainy additional improvements, thus increasing the value of his land and atdding greatly to its attractiveness as one of the desirable places of residence in a part of the county long noted for its beautiful homes. THis dwelling. a fine two-story brick edifice, substantially constructed and of imposing appearance, is furnished wsith the usual modern conveniences, and the b)arn, erected in 1903, compares favorably w\ith the best structures of the kind in the locality, its diimensions being fortyfour by sixty feet, with a large stone baselment and every feature of the luiling bearing evidence of first-class workmanship. lie has also recently lsought eight!acres of good land at Stevenson Lake, Vernon township, which lie prloposes to devote to pasturage. In all that constitutes a modern farmer of progressive ideas, Mr. House is the peer of the most enterprising of his fellow agriculturists of Isal)ella countv. He devotes careful attention to the soil: the maxilmum productiveness lie aims to retain by artificial drainage and the judicious rotation of crops, and in connection with general farming he miarkets every - ear considerable live stock. being a successful breeder and raiser of fine shorthorn cattle, blooded Leicestershire sheep and high grade Berkshire hogs, all of which conmmand high prices anld vield hiiin ample financial returns. He also olperates a small dairy which, like his other interests, is quite remunerative and it is not too much to state that everything to which he turns his hands appears to prosper anl that too in no small degree. Mr. House inherits many of the sterling qualities of his sturdy English ancestry and is a gentleman of high character, inflexible integrity, and in his relations with his fellow men has ever been characterized by honest and conscientious motives. He is spirited in his efforts to promote the material prosperity of the community in which he resides, takes an active part in all that makes for the social and moral good of his fellow men and keeps in 486 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIG\N. touch with the times on political matters, being a Republican in his views, but in matters local voting for the man rather than the party. The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. House has been gladdened by six children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Mary, October 5, 1887; Chancellor, August 21, I889; Flossie Mae, April 7, 1893; Grace I., December 23, 1895; Emily F., April 4, 1898, and Esther C.. who was born on March 6, I9OI, all living and members of the home circle. GEORGE H. ALLEN. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a prosperous business man and public-spirited citizen who for a number of years has been identified with the development and growth of Isabella county, especially with the township now honored by his citizenship. (eorge H. Allen, a native of Clinton county, Michigan, was lx)rn in tle year I8j being a soil of I'hilip I'. and Mary A. Allen. His father, whose birth occurred April 21. 1829, ma1rried, when a young man. Mary A. Sawtelle, \who was )born July 2. 183o. both parents being natives of New York. In March. 1854, they moved to Maple Rapids, M1ichigan, where AMrs. A11en died on January 1o, i865, some time after which, though in the same year, Mr. Allen went to Gratiot county, where he remained during the starvation period in that and other parts of the state. About the year 1884 he becanme a resident of Isabella county,. where he spent the renainder of his life, dying on the ^1th lday of December. I908, lamented by all who knewb him. In many respects Philip P. Allen was more than an ordinary maln. He early became prominent as a politician and while living in Gratiot county took a leading part in establishing tle public school systelm and arousilng an interest in the cause of popular education among the people. On coming to this county he also took a deep interest in educational matters, besides beconming an influential factor in local politics and a leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member until a short time before his death, when he united with the Seventh-day Adventists. In all of his dealings he was the soul of honor and his memory will long be cherished as one of the leading citizens of his day in the several communities where he resided. When an infant, George H. Allen was taken to Gratiot county by his parents and there grew to manhood and received his education. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Muskegon and, after working seven years in ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 487 the iills of that city, came to Isabella county, and in partnership with his brother bought forty acres of land in Coldwater township. He worked for some time cutting wood in this township and luimbering, and later, in July, 1896, started a general store at the village of Brinton, of which he is still proprietor. In his mercantile business lie has been quite successful, having a large and well-stocked establishment and coimmanding a patronage which from the beginning has grown steadily in magnitude until he is now one of the leading merchants of the county with encouraging prospects of still greater success in the future. Mr. Allen votes with the Democratic party and, like his father before himn, manifests a lively interest in public and political matters and keeps abreast of the times on the leading questions and issues before the people. He served three tern-s as treasurer of his township, one term as superintendent and d(uring the second administration of President Cleveland was postmaster at Brinton, holding the position four years and proving a very capable and popular official. He has always been greatly interested in the cause of education, in recognition of which lie was elected school director, which position he held, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, for a period of line years. For a number of years he has been (luite active il Odd Fellowship, having passed all the chairs in the local lodgle with which lie holds menimbership, besides representing the organization four times as a delegate to the grand lodge. He is also identified with the Order of Gleaners, in which lie has been honored with official trusts from time to time and lends his influence and assistance to all other enterprises for the social and moral advanicemient of his fellow men. As already indicated, he has met with encouraging financial success, owvning, in addition to his store, a number of lots in Brinton. and other property elsewhere and is today o(le of the substantial, well-to-do men of the village and township. SYLVESTER C. HAMMOND. The sublject of this review was b)orn in Clinton county, Michigan. December 7, i854, and is a son of Carmi and Mary Ann (Willitt) Hammond, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Carmni tHammond. whose birth occurred in the year I807. grew to manhood among the Green mountains of the Granite state and later came to Michigan, where he splent the residue of his life, dying in the year 1883. Mrs. Hammond was borni in 1814, passed her early life in her native state, and died in Michigan in 1876. 488 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Sylvester C. Hammond grew up on the home farm in Essex township, Clinton county, attended at intervals during his minority the district schools and at the age of twenty came to Isabella county and settled in Coldwater township on eight acres of land. In his youth and early manhood Sylvester HIammond learned carpentry and after moving to this county he worked at the trade in connection with clearing his land and cultivating the soil. For some years there was great demand for his services as a builder and a numnlcer of dwellings, barns and other edifices in his own and other townships still bear witness to his mechanical skill. Mr. Hammond's farm, which was originally homesteaded by his fatherin-law, M. M. Ryerson, from whom he bought it, lies in one of the finest agricultural districts of Coldwater township. and the eighty acres which lie has reduced to cultivation produces abundant crops of grain, hay, fruits and vegetables, such as are grown in this part of the state. The place is enclosed and subdivided with good vrire fencing, the buildings are modern and in excellent repair, the barn, thirty-two by forty-four feet in size, with stone basement, erected in I909, being one of the best structures of the kind in the township. Mr. Hammond takes great interest in agriculture and his pride in his home indicates his contentment with his lot. Everything onl the farm bears evidence of prosperity and it is not too much to claim for him distinctive prestige among the leading agriculturists of the county as well as a worthy place among the representative citizens of the community in which he lives. He has been honored from time to time with various local offices, including those of township supervisor, in which he served eight years, township treasurer two terms and one term as township clerk, in all of which he performed his duties faithfully and well and proved a most capable and painstaking public servant. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs of the lodge which holds his membership, his wife being a member of the Rebekah degree and, like himself, active and influential in disseminating the principles of the order. Mr. Hammond was happily married on March 5, 1876, to Jennie Ryerson, who was born October IT, 1859, being a daughter of M. M. Ryerson, the original owner of the home where she and her husband live. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hammond: Orton C. died February 26, I898, aged twenty-one years; Orville, who married Lelia Kilburn and lives in Berrien county, this state, where he is general manager of a large lumber company; Mary Bell married Ed. Gorden and lives in Coldwater township, her husband being a farmer by occupation; Lena, now the wife of Ben Gordon, lives in California; Lillie, who married Wade Suylandt, lives ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 489 in the city of Saginaw; Martin died in September, 1884, aged five months; Bessie is the wife of Ed. Teall, a farmer of Coldwater township: Earl, whose wife was formerly Edna WNiley, lives with his father and helps run the home farm, and Maude, the youngest of the family, departed this life December 26, 1907, aged nineteen years. Mr. Hammond and family have always commanded the respect and confidence of the conmmunity and wherever known the name is above reproach. Interested in the development and prosperity of his township and county and standing for upright manhood and citizenship, he has wvielded a vwholesome influence for morality among his neighbors and friends and those who enjoy his acquaintance speak of him as an intelligent, broad-minded American who makes duty paramount to every other consideration and frequently loses sight of self in his efforts to promote the interests of his fellow men. (G;EORG(E TIOUSE. The prosperous farmer and enterprising citizen \hose career is lbriefly sketched in the following lines is a native of Somersetshire county, England. and a son of Willianl and Sarah House, the father, a baker by trade, dying when the subject was quite young, the mother surviving him until I864. George Tlouse was born December I. 1828, and at the proper age entered the schools of his native place and in due time acquired a liberal education. In his sixteenth year he entered a mercantile house at Walton, Somersetshire county. where he remained for a period of eight years, during which time lie developed fine business capacity and met with gratifying success as a salesman. On May 6, 1852, he married Sarah Adeline Petvin, who was horn in the above county April 15, 183J. Mr. House's first marriage was blessed witl two children, the older of whom, Joseph \Villiamn, was born in England on the 8th of March, 1853. and lives in Isabella township, )eing nmarried and engaged in agricultural pursuits; Alfred George. also a native of England, was horn January II, I855. He married Miss Yager, and is one of the enterprising farmers and esteemed citizens of the above township. Mr. Touse's wife dying October 3, 1857. he subsequently chose a second companion and helpmeet in the person of Elizabeth Chancellor, to whom he was united in marriage on the 6th day of May, 1858, and with whom and with his entire family, consisting of eight children, decided that he could do better in the New World where land was cheaper and expenses not so high. He disposed of his interests in I869, and in the spring of that year emigrated 490 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. to Canada. During the ensuing year he lived in the county of Wellington, but removed at the expiration of that time to York county, where he resumed the pursuit of agriculture and met with encouraging success as a tiller of the soil. After a residence of five years in the latter county, Mr. House moved to Monroe county, Michigan, where he purchased two hundred and sixty-five acres of land, on which he lived until T879, when he sold out and came to Isabella county, investing in one hundred and sixty acres in section 4, Isabella township, all thickly timbered and as nature had created it. Mr. House at once addressed himself to the formidable task of improving his land and in the course of a few years had a goodly number of acres in cultivation and a very comfortable home established. By energetic and continuous toil he finally succeeded in reducing all but ten acres of his land to successful tillage and found himself the possessor of one of the finest and most desirable farms of the township. his improvements of all kinds being first class and bearing evidenlce of the care with \which he cultivates his fields and the good judgment displayed in the management of his business affairs In i19I he renlodeled( his )iarn, putting in an excellent stone andl cement basement, andt now has a commnodious structure, in size forty-two by seventyeight feet, and admirally adaptced to the ends for which intenlded, while the present fine brick dwelling, equiplpel with all modern conveniences, was built ill 1903, and is considered one of the hest edifices of the kind in the locality, being substantially constructed, neat and tasty in ploint of architecture and answering all the purposes of a comfortable home. Mr. HIouse has met with success commensurate with his energy and labor and now, as the evening of life conmes on apace, finds hiimself the possessor of a conpetency ample for the needs of himself and those del)en(lent upon himn and sufficient to insure a comfortable old age. He is greatly esteemned by his neighbors and fellow citizens, commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact and his life has been such that he now looks back over the past and perceives little that he could wish changed. He is a Republican in politics, a Baptist in religion, as are also his wife and children, all being active church workers, and deeply interested in the propagation of the Gospel both at holme and in lands which have not yet received its light. The subject's present wife was born January 29, I836, in the same village where he was reared, being a daughter of William and Mary Chancellor, both natives of England. in the soil of which their bodies now rest. Ten children have resulted from the second marriage, namely: Alexander J. G., of Isabella township, born May 15, 1859. in England, married Miss Arm ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.49 491 strong, and by occnpation is a tiller of the soil; M~rs. Sarah J. XWallace, also of English bii th, fist saw the light of (lay on December 28, i 86o. and lives in the towxnship of 1 sabella, where her htisband is eilgagedl in agriculture; Jarmes G., Loin in E ngland Angust 12, 1862. married Edna \Wilder and lives in Union toxxnsship Hienry, George, whose birth oecnrred in tile old counitry onl the 8th (lx oft June., 1864,, mlarriedi Mary Ellen jasmi-in, of Isahella townshipi Feirdinabnd G. also a. resident of the above towvnship, wvas borii in Englanil Max 6, i866, and is a married man, his wife having formerly been Heiirietta Mnliia, of tilis counity;. MNary, C., the last oif the ciiildreii horn iii England, d ites ier birth fromn February 29,. i868, aiid is nowy the wvife of Gecorae Sav'age oIf Isahella towxnshipi Etistace C. was horn Juiie 9. I 869, Ill CaI'-La, iarruIem Edith Nxlavlhe, of 1sabella co~unty, and is olle (If Isaliella toxwnship s totemrpriincr tammemrs Elizah~eth M., whose birthm occurred inl Cammada 1Febrmroi\ 7, i87'x the wxife of WVilliam Teeter, (If Isabeila count\y, Emmilx\' A., non\\i Mrs mEixi A \Archer, aid a resident of the abov'e toxwnishipil \vas iioriin hiall oaad 'Pril 7i 1874- tGeoiige, the youngest of die famiily w ias horn iii Monroem cotuIniitx '\hch'Iaii [nix\ 6, i 876 lie lmarrnied Rose Soplhia Sciiigg EMMET A. MNURPHY. 1-Immet A\ Miiiphly, healer in liroiltce anil muember (If tile firt oIf Murp)hv & Ainilve.Yx Shepher d, is a miiatixe of lVasiiteiiax countx. M\ichligani owmere Ilii birth (Cliii eli oiiMa 22. 186. He xxas reaired to agricultural pursuits in D)exter toxx uhip, lt the above comntv. anli grewx 111 xwithi thle conxictioni that luan should e irn his bread I-IN tile sxveat (If his face and that xxillfuli idleness 1s 11111 fai i umoved froni crime. Onl arriving at anl age xxheni voung men are presurneli toIa plax1)ns for their fituire, lie engaged in the hixery husiiiess at Pinckmcv. Livxingston countyr, this st ate, anul after spIendhiig txxo vears ill that tIoxvn Iisplosed oIf his interests and came to Shephlerd, xvhere hie again eniharked in tile livery. 1 Isilless, thought upon a much larger scale thaii forimerhy. Purcilasing a commodious Ivrn, xwhichi lie enlarged amid greatly imlprllved. and keepillg from siN to eight excellent romoisters anli tile Lest type of moidern vehlicles, lie xxas soon in the enjoymenet (If a lucrative patronlage and from the beginning the business prospered and fully realizedi Iliis highest expectatiomis, as xxas indhicatel iby the constanit iemiandi for accomimlodationls lby tiie travelinig public as ivell as by pleasure seekers of the toxvn anmd vicinity. 492 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Murphy continued the livery business for a period of sixteen years, during which time his establishment became one of the best known and most popular of the kind in the county, and he never suffered from a lack of patronage nor failed to command the esteem and confidence of the public. At the expiration of the time indicated, he sold his livery barn and stock alnd shortly thereafter effected a copartnership with Iewis H. Mulvey in the produce business, which the firm thus constituted still carries on, the enterprise, under their joint management, having grown rapidly in volume and importance until their establishment at Shepherd is among the largest and m-ost successful of the kind in the county, the patronage taking a wide range and earning for the proprietors much more than local repute in commercial circles. Mr. Murphy is careful and methodical in all of his undertakings, judicious as a business man and eminently honorable in his dealings. By fair and considerate treatment he has gained a large number of well-pa!ing customers and, being familiar with every detail of the trade, his efforts have redounded greatly to his success and he is now on the high road to fortune and financial independence. He not only commands the respect of the public in the line of his calling, but socially stands high in popular favor, being a gentleman of pleasing personality, agreeable in his manners and a favorite in the social circle in which he moves. Mr. Murphy served six years as alderman of Shepherd. lduring which time he took a leading part in the deliberations of the town board and was instrumental in bringing about much important municipal legislation. He is an unswerving supporter of the Democratic party and as a politician he has made his influence felt in a number of campaigns, 1)oth local and general, being a judicious adviser in party councils, an untiring worker in the ranks and his activity in conventions has had much to do in making platforms and formnulating policies. His fraternal relations are represented by the Royal Guards in the local lodge of which at Shepherd he has been a leading spirit, and in matters religious the Catholic church holds his creed. Mr. Murphy was born and reared under the influence of the mother church and has always been true to the same, being one of its loyal and dutiful sons, ready at all times to lose sight of self in his efforts to promote its advancement, and no reasonable sacrifice is too great for him to make if thereby he can arouse al interest in sacred things among his fellow men. The church at Shepherd, with which he is now identified, was organized in i908 mainly through his labors and influence and since then he has been untiring in his efforts to make the enterprise a success, which laudable endeavor has already been crowned with splendid and abundant results. Shortly after the organization became a cer ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 493 tainty. he inatugurate(l a movement for a house of worship and not being able to build one to their liking, the parish, under his leadership. purchased. the edifice formerly used by the Baptists, which in due time was mioved to its present site on lots procured for the purpose and, being remodeled and beauttified, it now answers well the object of a temple in which the p)ious Catholics of the town and vicinity can meet and worship thle Most Htigh. The parish at this time itumlbers something in excess of thirty-five families, public services being conducted regularly by l)riests sent here from other p)laces. MJr. Murphy deserves great credit for his earnest efforts and tunselfish devotion to the church of his fathers land the parishioners repose implicit confidence in his ability to direct and control the various interests of thle organization. Mr. tMurphy and Miss Nellie lFianning were united in the holy 1)bonds of matrimony according to the rite of the chulrch which xboth love, the tlnion being blessed with five children, namely: Cecil T., MAildred, Joseph. Alp)hinstus and M1\ary J., all living and at home except Cecil. who die(l at the early age of thirteen years..\LFRED B. \\WR\I\VICK. Alfred B. \Warwick, proprietor of the oldest alld most extensive harness business inll Isabella couinty and for some years one of the lealding citizens of ilt. P'leasant, is a native of MIcComb (countt, Michigan, where lie was l)orlni inl thle year 1855. Ile spent his early life and received his educational training near the place of his birth alnd remained in his native county until i88o. \\hen lie vent to the comity of L.apeer. A\lthotugh reared oil a farml, lie di(l 11ot take kicn(ly to agriculture, accordingly \\hen a yoing manl lie learne(l the liarness trade and worlced at the same for some time inll his owsn couliity and from 188o to 1883. incluLsive. was inll the emplloy of Stock & Bolton. at Ialay City inl the county of Lap)eer. Ili the latter year lie weiit \Vest, wherle lie remained until 1885, when lie retr'ned to Drydei anid started in liusiness for himself. h)eginning with a capital of one hlndred and sixty-five dollars and closing out teli years later swith tweiity-two hiuldred dollars in his possessioll. In I895 Ar. \Nar\svick camie to SMt. Pleasant anld purchased the hrnless shop formerly oi)erated b)y lTom Barber, of which lie has since been proprietor. In the ineautimue lie has greatly enlarged the establishlment to meet the demands of the trade and now\ has a very extensive and lucrative business, the largest and mlost successful of the kind not only in the county, but in the celltral l)art of the state. In addition to mnanufacturing all kinds of harness for 494 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the general trade, his stock also includes whips, brushes, trunks, suit cases, etc., in fact, nearly everything in the way of leather goods and hardware such as the business demands. As already stated, his establishment on Broadway is one of the best known places in the city, the business averaging considerably in excess of eight thousand dollars per year and growing steadily in magnitude and importance. Mr. Warwick is an accomplished workman, a master of his vocation, and he also possesses business ability of a high order, as his rapid advancement and gratifying success abundantly indicate. In addition to his shop and other city real estate, he owns twenty acres of fine land two miles east of the town, on which he has made a nuniber of ilmprovements. The shop which he now occupies was erected in 190o and is admirably adapted to the purposes for which designed, being twenty-two by ninety feet in dimensions, two stories high with a large basement and equipped throughout with improvements calculated to facilitate every department of the business. Mr. Warwick is a D)emocrat and a wheel horse of his party in Isabella county. He was twice nominated for office in the county of la)eer and secured more votes than any other Democratic candidate oin the ticket both times lie ran, but the party being in the minority, he suffered defeat witll the rest of the ticket. Before moving to Mt. Pleasant he served two years on the village board of )ry'den, several years as township clerk and for soilme timle as treasurer of his township, in all of which offices he acquitted himself with credit and to the satisfaction of the public. He was married in I.apeer county in the year I887 to Editha Anderson, of Almont, Michigan, the union being without issue. SOLOMON G. LEONARD. This old and highly esteemed resident of Coe township dates his citizenship in Michigan from T865. He was born in Greene county, Pelnnsylvania, February 5, 1834, being a son of Rev. \Villianm and Sarah (Guthrie) Leonard, both natives of the Keystone state, where their births occurred in 181 2 andt 1815, respectively. These parents were married in Pennsylvania Ianld remained there until I865, when Mr. Leonard moved to Michigan for the p)urpose of securing land for his children, his family at the time beintg (uite large and land in his native state commandin g a higher price than he could well pay. After looking over the country for a favorable location, he finally purchlasce four hundred and eighty acres, a part of which was cleared, the rest beinog as nature had created it. In due season the land was divided among his chil ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 495 dren, affording each a home. anti he also gave some attention to agricultural pursuits, although devoting the greater part of his time to preaching the Gospel. William TIeonard was a minister of the Disciple church and preached for a numiber of years throughout Isabella and other counties of central Michigan, traveling over a large area of country in the putrsuit of his holy calling and planting congregations in a number of places. He was a man of noble purposes and highl ideals, as well as an able and popular preacher, and his labors proved very effective in checking manyv of the prevalent evils of tlhe tim;es..-fter a bIusy and useful life, devoted to the welfare of his fellow men, he was called to his reward illn 1876, his ife dying tweintv-two vears later, in 18!08. The family of W illiiam and Sar ah Leonard consisted of the following chil(lren: Soloimon G., of this review; Elizabeth;.\rchiballd; Martha, vwido\\ of A. FordVlce: J(ohn ald \W illiam..\, only two of who.m, IMrs. Fordlce and the sublject of this sketch. survive. Solomon G. Leonarl grew to maturity ill his native state and was reared to agricultiral pursuits. hn c)onnection with tilling the soil lie also learined carpentry, w\hich tradle le followed for some time in Pelinsvlvanial and after- c(oiling to Miiclhigan il 1865 his skill as a builde was i great demanil throuiglhout various nparts of Tsabella county. He helped clear and imlrove tile farmi ill Coe township oin whicli his father lived and later devoted his time to his trade until engagigin i merchandi sing at Coe postoffice, where lie has l)een selling goods for a period of eighteen years and doing a profitable business. AIMr. Ieonard has l)een quite active in the affairs of his township and at intervals has filled various local offices, one of which, that of justice of tile lpeace. lie served for a period of thirtv-two - years and still holdls the same, hiesides being a imemibler of the townshipl board and for eighteen years a notary public. Ill religious imatters lie las long bIeein quite active and pron-minent, the bilde alone representing his creed and the l)isciple church hollding his lmembership. For a numhler of years he has been a leader of the local congregatio1n at Ileasiant Ridge which his father reorganized soon after moviing to this county and froil time to time ihas served the society as elder, deacon and clerk. besides looking after the interest of the Sunday school andl doiing much to promiote the welfare of neighboring churches. At one time he was ant Oddl ellow lanld helpedl organize lodges at St. Iouis and Shepherd, in the latter of -which he )assed all the chairs, also served as district grandl master, but of recent vears he has not been very regular in his attendance upon the mleetings of the society to which lie belongs. 496 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Leonard married, in Pennsylvania, Mary Wood, who was horn in Greene county, that state, on the ist of March, I837. She departed this life in the year I896, after bearing her husband the following children: William, who lives in Frankfort, Michigan; Horace, a resident of Coe township; Perry, who resides in Coe and who, like the preceding, is by occupation a farmer; Almond, who is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, lives in Isabella county, as do also Thomas, David and Alice, now Mrs. Hart; John is a resident of Gratiot county, this state, and Sara, the youngest of the famliy. who married a Mr. Norton, lives in Coe township; Adelia, the ninth in order of birth, is deceased. LEWIS D. COTIE. A truly noble man but fulfills the plan of the Creator. The life of ilan describes a circle: the cycles of existence of different lives form concentric circles, for some are given but a few decades in which to complete their appointed work, while the span of others varies to the allotted three score and ten. But how tiue and comforting that life is measured, not by years alone. but rather by a purpose achieved, by noble deeds accredited to it. How often are we confronted when an esteemed friend and co-worker answers the final summons, with the question. "Why must lie go when there yet remains so much for him to do, when he can so illy be spared?" But the griml messenger heeds not. and we are left to mourn and accept submissively. Such thoughts arise when we contemplate the busy, useful and highly colnmen!dalle career of the late Lewis D. Cole, of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella county, a contractor of statewi(le reputation and a high-minded and prominent citizen, whose tragic and untimely death removed one of the most useful men of the commtuniity, and the many spontaneous and beautiful tributes to his high standing in industrial, social and civic circles as a m1an and citizen attest the abiding place he hlad in the hearts and affections of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Cole was born on Decelmer 25, 1867, in Lincoln township. Isabella county. Ile was the scion of an excellent old family, being the son of \V. W. and Katie Cole. the father born in the state of New York, of Yaiikee stock, and the mother was of Scotch and English descent. They grew to maturity in the East and were married in Indiana. They emigrated to Michigan and were among the very early settlers in Isabella county and they were prominent here in the early affairs of the community. They are no\w\ living on a very desirable and well improved farm at Crawford, Lincoln township, this county. I-I'I(),) 'd SIAVIA "**I*. ", ibb 14II I I ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 497 His boyhood was spent on the home farm which he worked during the summer mnonths, attending the common schools in the wintertime. From the trade of mason, which he learned early and which he followed many years, his native ability and skill carried him into the contracting business. IIe worked at his trade first I)y the day, later by the job, contracting jobs in all parts of the state, and as a contractor he stood second to none, his work;always giving the utilost satisfaction. He has built large public buildings all over the state, notably at the Soo, Owosso and IMt. Pleasant, erected many of the buildings at the Indian school, built the gymnasium, training school and heating plant, besides other buildings, and he repaired the normal school buildings, built the Carnegie Library at Soo, also tie high school and an addition to the court house there, and built the high school at Owosso and also at Ovid, Michigan, besides many other inmportant buildings at various points. His own modern, attractive and commodious residence on Normal avenue, MNt. Pleasant, testifies to the high quality of his own mechanical skill, for a large part of it was built by himself. He left a large number of untinished contracts in 190o. among the most imiportant of lwhich were the Training School and the chicory plant at Mt. Pleasant, which were finished by his brother and son. W\hen twenty-one years of age, Mr. Cole was mlarried to Alice M. Stell, a lady of culture and the representative of an excellent old family, being the daughter of Jacol and Sarah Stell. natives of Germany and.England, respectively. She \\as )crn in _Hillsdale count., Michigan, February 19, i868, and w-hen seven years of age she accompanied her lparents to Shepherd and lived there until her marriage. Iler father is deceased and the mother lives on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Cole were married on March 2, 1889, and this union has been graced by the birth of these children: Leo Ray, born September 2, 1891, is living at honle; Jesse L. was born April 26, I894; Lyle S. was born February 28, 1896~; Reuel Gerald was 1horn Autgust 7, T909. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cole lived in Shepherd, where all the children but one were horn. They moved to Mt. Pleasant in March, I905, and Mr. Cole here built the beautiful home mentioned above. It has every modern convenience, is elegantly furnished and neatly kept and the lawn is a thing of beauty. After coming to this city. Mr. Cole continued contracting, becoming one of the best known andl most popular of the city's business men. lis several years of residence here has indebted the collmmunity to him for his business enterprise and official worth when lie served the second ward as alderman. Many large buildings stand as a monument to his honesty and skill as a contractor. In the prime of life the city lost one of its best citizens and ablest contractors and his loss was keenly felt in business and social circles. He (32) 498 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. met death by accident while driving his automobile on July 25, 1910, on the road near Alma,.Michigan, his lifeless body being found in the early morning beside his overturned and partly wrecked auto, which, it is believed, had become unmanageable and, in overturnihg. crushed out his life instantly. He had started to Croswell, where he had a new building under way. Mr. Cole was a very successful business man and had accumulated a very comfortable competency, owning considerable property in Mt. Pleasant and he was a director in the Isabella County State Bank. He formerly owned an excellent eighty-acre farm in Lincoln township, which he sold in 1910. He was a man of ambition and a hustler. Fraternally Mr. Cole was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand master of the latter, all of Mt. Pleasant. He was quite prominent in these orders, taking an active part in thelm. Mr. Cole was formerly a member of the Rebekahs. Personally, Mr. Cole was interested in the general development of Isabella county and was always ready to do his full share in supporting and furthering any laudable movement looking to the general good. He was charitable, kind, genteel, and because of his known honest and straightforward methods of business, he easily won and retained the confidence and good will of all who knew him. THOMAS MTILS. One of the owners of valuable and extensive farming interests in Gilmore township, Isabella county, is Thomas Mills. His splendid property has been acquired through his own efforts, his persistency of purpose and his determination, and the prosperity which is the legitimate reward of all earnest effort is today his. He is a man who believes that the things worth while in life must be fought for, that nothing of much consequence comes to the inactive and the castle builder, his slogan having always been, "Keep busy and be honest." Mr. Mills was born in Oxford county, Ontario, September io, 1863, and is the son of James and Ann Mills. The father, who was a native of Canada, died when his son Thomas was two years old; the mother was born in Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, in I840, and is now living in lonia county, Michigan. These parents were married in Oxford county and lecame the parents of these children: Will; Jennie died in i886; Thomas. of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 499 this review. Mr. and Mrs. James Mills lived in Canada until the father's death, then the mother came to lonia county, Michigan, married a second time, an(l her last hlusand is also deceased. She experienced many hardships after the death of her first h-usbhad, suplorting her children by taking in washing and working out, but, being a woman of rare courage and stability, she succeeded in rearing her family in respectability. Thomas was about seven years of age when she brought him to lonia county, where the father had purchased a farm, and there the sulject received a limited education. T-le assisted his step-father clear the farm, working there until he was thirteen years of age, then worked out, receiving seven dollars per month. His brother, who left home with him, received eight dollars per month. For two years he hired out in the summer and attended school in the winter, doing chores for his' board on a farm. HTe then returned to Canada and worked on a farm for his uncle until he was seventeen years ol,. receiving ten dollars per month and board. Having heard that conditions were good in Isalella county, he came here by way of Detroit and Reed City. He had a short time prceviotsly worked three weeks, braking on a railroad at London, Canada. He had about seventy-five dollars when he reached this county. He remained at the home of his uncle in Gillllore township until he could find suitable employment. He worked in the woods at intervals for nine years; then he and his brother took up eighty acres of land, for which they paid the sum of eight hundred dollars, on the installment plan. The place was divided into forty acres each. Thomas finally buying his brother's interest..'pon moving to the farm his sister kept house for him for three years or until her death in 1885. This place was heavily timbered with the exception of a few acres, and there was not a building on it. lie erected some meager shanties, including a stable just large enough to hold a yoke of oxen and a cow, the hay being kept outside. The ctuntry roundabout was wild and (leer were frequently seen near the house. When twenty-seven years old, in 1890, Mr. Mills was married to Elizabeth Wright, for whom he went to Canada, and there they were married on January 9th of the year mentioned, after which they came to Isabella county to reside. Mrs. Mills. who is the daughter of I)avid and Rachael Wright, was born in Oxford county, Ontario, on a farm, May 14, I864. Mr. Mills set to work with a will and gradually brought his land under cultivation, and in due course of time had a very comfortable home and a good farm, although not until he had passed through much trying experience. He is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, his other forty being in section 27, Gilmore tovwnship, which he uses for pasture, through which a creek flows, 500 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and this is excellent land. He has kept his eighty acres under cultivation, raising abundant crops. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished as a farmer and for the hard work he has done in developing a place from the wilds until it ranks with the best farms in the township. He has built three different barns on his place. the last one being one of the largest and best in the neighborhood, and also bluilt several large sheds. The first log house lie built was burned, this being replaced with a better dwelling, in which he lived until 1903, then moved to his present place, a very substantial, convenient and attractive btuilding, finished in red oak, a very desiral)le grade of woo(l for this purpose. He has a good cellar, basement, windmill, circular-roofed barn-in fact, everything about his place indlicates that a gentleman of excellent taste and good judgment has its management in hand. lie has prospered by reason of hard work and good management and has laid by a fair competence for his declining years. Mr. Mills is preparing to rent his farm and take life easier, since he is evidently entitled to a little respite, owing to his former years of hard work. The last few years have brought prosperity to him. Ile has lived to see a vast.change in this country, for when he first came here there were no roads, only Indian trails, and he helped chop out the first road through this vicinity. He has taken much interest in the general development of the locality and has done his full share in this line. Politically, lie is a Repulblican, but has never been an aspirant for office. He is a member of the Disciple church in Gilmore. Having lived here so long, lie is well and favorably known throughout the county. He has belonged to the Grange for eleven years and has taken a very active part in the local lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have no children. They are both popular and influential in the neighborhood and have a host of warm personal friends. REV. A. P. MA.cDONALD. The writer of biography, dealing with the personal history of men engaged in the various affairs of every-day life, occasionally finds a subject whose record commands exceptional interest and admiration and especially is this true when he has achieved more than ordinary success or made his influence felt as a leader of thought and a benefactor of his kind. The Rev. A. P. MacDonald, now engaged as a farmer and stock raiser in Wise township, where he maintains one of the "show places" of Isabella county, is eminently of that class who earn the indisputable right to rank in the van of the army of pro ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.50 501 gressive men and by reason of a long and strentuotus career devoted to tile goodi of his fellows he occnpies a position of wvide inftluence and has made a nanse which wviii long live in the hearts and affections of the people., having becen engarged in the work of the ministry for many years. Rev. Mr. Mlacl~onaid was horn ill Coiborne, Northumberland connty, Ontario, in 1857. He is tile sonl of James G. and Catherine (M'Aorrison) M,-acDonald, botih born ill Catnada. Thse isaternal gralldfather was a Scotcnmanl. The subject grew to matuirity in Canada tnd was rearedi on a farmi nntii hie lbegans to isrepare hinsseif for a wvider andl greater spisere of influence. For eigist years lise was sticcess fully eligagedi in general blackstnithisits and( carriage lsakilsg, disposing of thlis tiusiness ill I187.7 for tile ptirpose o~f entering scisool for the preparation of the Gospei misnistry. lie came to Port Httron, Mlicisi g(als. ill t88i, wisere lise remsainedi souse two years. suppliniilg the First Baptist cisuech (If Br)cksvav ansd Cohintsths whlile fnrtlser prep)arinsg himisself for Isis ftiltce wvork, and( Wais ordained Deccesber., iS88, In Coitslumnus, St. Clair cottinty, Mi'(ii-iigt. TI-e becamse pastor of tile First Baptist chturchs of Lyotss, 1015ia cottisty, in 1883. ILeaving tisere, lise msoved to Mt. Pleasalst its i88-6 atsd svas for foutr yeatrs psastor of tile First Baptist chttrcs tisere. During this pastoratte lie organsized seven otiher Baptist chssirhes and~ bttiit live holuses of Wvorshitii a15( tite msentbershtip at Mt. Plieasant Ilnereasedi frotts sixteels to otie itt~ti Iel asd ift' iltittgthe f oit s- ea rs. IeI resigseli to accept tile district seeretary~sisip (If tue Baptist state mhissions, an~d lie conttistldi ill tiat wvork o'itis ittlich credit to hsitmseilf aidil to tise satisfacetiont of ail conseerlset for a pserioti of tlsirteelt years. UZesigllilg tisat plositiolt to take chlarge of the chtapel car ''Herald of H-ope' for tse Atmericans Baptist Ptublication Society, of Phisiiadeltphia, Pclsnsvivalsia, was mastnager of the sanse for five years tlldi seveni mtoritts, ttakisg st great sitccess of tise enteriprise. Whinle secretary itis tlistrict coveredl tite Ilorts isalf otf tise state (If Mfichigans. F-Ic w as a very assiditotts worker and~ earricli to a successfjul isstse witatever lie tinsdertook<. As a pastor lie httiit IIp the consgregationllise servesi. greatiy strelsgtlsellilg the various cisarges CIntrtustedl to iliti, altt as all exlpottndier of tise (inectriises (If tise Nazarene lise \vas earlest, learnsed and1( oftels trttiy eloditenst, ansd, bteinsg a maitn o-f Istusalsittrian ititiuises, lise was faithful i ll is attelstiolss, to tiiose ill needll i Isis colsgregaltiols. tisus wilsninig tise estectm ansd love of all who knew hitt. Btut stucl artlent zeal andc persistelst elsleavor begats tos tdlerliiile Isis itealtis aliidl ie was compslelledl tol give uip itis work, and lise retiredi to Itis presenst farms of otse lsulsdred alsd sixty acres in sectidst 21, WN.ise townshiip, Isabella cotmty. Iln Julne. 19o,5. Silsce tisel lie has carried on general farintig verv suceessfrdllv hut lie is gradually tralssforming Isis place ilsto a stock 502 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN..farm. He raises an excellent grade of stock, registered Berkshire hogs, mixed cattle, inclining to the Hereford breed, and at present has a fine registered bull. He has laid four hundred rods of tile and has his place well fenced, with four miles of wire. He has made many substantial improvements on his place, removed his barn, cleared fifty acres, now having one hundred acres under cultivation. Ie has placed a large basement under his barn, and, in fact, has made all necessary improvements to make a valuable and desirable farm. He is a member of the Wise Farmers' Club. Rev. MacDonald was married May 4, 1882, to Bertha Pearce, who was born in Columbus, St. Clair county, Michigan. She is a woman of many estimable traits of character and has been of great assistance to her husband in his various lines of endeavor. The subject assisted in the organization and establishment of the Central State Normal, before the state owned it. Politically, he is a Republican. -He still preaches at intervals, but has no regular work, devoting his attention to his farming and stock raising. The following children have been born to Rev. MacDonald and wife: Clarence P., who will graduate from the dtental department of the State University at Ann Arbor in 19 II, is a member of the Delta Sigmna fraternity; Grace, who married Lr. W. H. Wismer, lives in Grand Rapids: she is highly educated, having gradluated from the high school and normal at Mt. Pleasant and also from the Conservatory of Music at Detroit; Ralph II., who graduated from the Mt. Pleasant high school in 99og, is living at home and is carrier on a free rural delivery route; Norris B. is living at home. CHARLES CODDINGTON. The subject of this sketch is a native of Michigan. having been born in St. Joseph county, in the year 1842. H-e spent the boyhood years of his life near the place of his birth, attended, as opportunity afforded, the public schools and grew up strong, vigorous and well fitted for tle future and( tle duties and responsibilities which he subsequently encountered. In August, i861, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Complany A, Eleventh Mliclligan Infantry, with which he served three years and one month, during which time lie rose by successive promotions to the rank of captain anld plarticipated in a number of noted campaigns and battles. The Eleventh Regiment was in the Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, alnd experienced much ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 503 hard service, including the battle of Stone River, the various engagements around Atlanta and other fighting elsewhere, in all of which the subject received only a slight scalp wound and was not absent a dlay fronm duty. At the expiration of his period of enlistment, September 30, 1864, he was honorably discharged and, returning to Michigan immediately thereafter, bought eighty acres of land in Kalamazoo county, which he at once proceeded to clear and improve. Mr. Coddington labored hard but effectively on this land and in due tinme had the greater part under cultivation and substantial buildings erected. After living on the farm until 1868, he sold out and moved to \Vashington county, Kansas, where he purchased a half section of land which he afterwards increased by an addlitional hundred acres and on which he lived until 1876. After the death of his wife in that year, he returned to his native state and during the ensuing two years farmed in St. Joseph county. Having been elected sheriff of that county, he discontinued agricultural pursuits at the expiration of the period indicated to attend to the duties of his office which he held one term with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. On quitting the shrievalty he again sold out and went to Colorado, where he engaged in mining, a venture which d(li not prove a success, as he had anticipated. During the two years which he devoted to mining, he not only failed to realize a fortune, but, on the contrary, lost all lie possessed, so that wh-un lie returned to Michigan he was obliged to begin at the bottom of the ladder and miake his way by slow degrees. From the time of his return from the \est until 890o lie sold goods on the road, lbut in the latter year resigned his position and bought forty acres of lard in Union township, Isabella county, which lie improved andm on w\hich lie continued to reside during the eight years ensuing. Disl)osing of his farm at the end of that tiiie. lie entered the government lmail service as a rural route carrier, with central office at Mt. Pleasant, a position whlichl he still iholds. Mr. (Coddliington ownis a home in the alove city and, notwithstanding his reverses, is in comfortable circumstances. Tle is a well read and widely informed manl familiar with the leading qluestions of the day and in touch with the times on all matters of general interest. His first wife, to whom allusion has already been made, was Lucy Duiifee, whom he married in St. Josephl county and who ideparted this life in Kansas in the year 1876. Two years after that (late he entered the marriage relation with Addlie W\atkins, and in I89o Mrs. Carrie (Atkins) Kyer became his wife. By his first wife thei'e were three children, namelv: Bertha. who lmarried a tMr. Lee and lives in Bangor, Michigan; Cora. wife of Wells G. Brown, of Iansing, and Lydia, 504 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. who is single and lives at home. There were two children by the second marriage: Harry, a plumber of Mt. Pleasant, whose wife was formerly Alma Wright, and Kate, now Mrs. Harry Hewitt, of Lansing, the last union being without issue. The following is a brief outline of Mrs. Coddington's family history. Her father, George Atkins, whose birth occurred in Nottingham, England, May 16, I820, was by trade a lace designer and maker. He came to the United States in the spring of 1847 and spent the seven years following on a farm in New York, working the greater part of that time near Sackett's Harbor for monthly wages. He cultivated a farm for one year on the shares and then bought twenty-four acres of land on which he lived until 18,55. x-len he sold out and moved to Michigan. On coming to this' state he p)urchased eightyseven and one-half acres of land in Union townshil), Tsabella colnty, and later bought an additional eighty,cres in ITincoln to\wnship, and in due time becalie qutite well to do. During his early experience in Coe township, Mr..\tkiins made in one spring eight hundred plOunils of lmaple sutgar on the family cook stove. l'Two of his neighbors having made considerable sugar also, tlle three loaded a boat with the sweet cargo an(l started down the Sagina\\w river to market. They had not proceeded far on the way until the boat stlruck a snlag and capsized and the cargo sank, to be dissolved by the waves, causing a very heavy loss, as the men were depending upon it for food for their fanilies;Inld various other articles, it being their only source of income at the time. As already stated, Mr. Atkins was a lace maker and designer, his father having been the proprietor of large lace factories in Nottingham, Ilnglanld. He came to America primarily for his health, but, being pleased with the country, decided to remain andl seek his fortune on this side of the.\tlantic. He was married in his native country in May, 1843, to Sophia Hodsin, dauighter of Joseph and Sarah (Wallace) Hodsin. Mrs. Atkins xas lirnm Mlarch I8, I818, and bore her husband the followiing children: Joseph, \\illiam. Sarah, Carrie, wife of Mr. Coddington; Susan, George and an infant that died unnamed, all but Mrs. Coddington being deceased. The oldest child was born before the family left England, the next three in New York, and the last two in Isabella county. Mr. Atkins was one of the first settlers of Isabella county and experienced all the hardships and vicissitudes of life during the pioneer period. In 1865 he bought another eighty acres of land in Lincoln township, and at that time he was one of the largest owners of real estate in the county, also one of the most influential citizens. He served two years as justice of the peace, three years as postmaster, nine successive years as tax collector, besides filling every ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.50 5 o) i otlher local office wvithin the gift of the pubhlic. He early ibecamle oneC of tile Repuhlican lealiers in Isabella county, and until his death took an active Ilart ill publlic alnd political affairs. Tie wvas madle all 0(d( Fellow in hisl- lative coimtry m11d wvas largely instrumental ill establishing sev~eral lodges of the ordelr in) Isabella couintv Ii an early, tlay. lie liedl in Mt. Pleasant Ii tile year \V1INFIELD S. M~cMILLEN. 'i'hc well-knolwn business mall of wvhlm the biogrlaplher wr ites Ii thiis cl)Illlectioll has lellievedl Iistinctivre success in tile Iliffelrent splers oIt effort to wihichl his talents have ibeen dlevotedl. and~ as a citizen, ilnteIestell111 all that conlcernls the adivancemlent (If 11is coluntv and( the (developmuent (If its r es((mlces. lie occup~ies a dleservcdlly conlspicuIous place ill tile esteeml 111(1 collhllenc(e of tile public. \V infield S. cdil()is a native vlf Clarion vollIltN) PImsllxvvallia. and a sonl o)f JameslC an~d Sarahl J. McMillen. 1)0th 1)01 II Ill11.1 GouIltv, thle fathler in 1827) — thle mother i tile ear 1835..-\lbouIt tile year 18(93 tilev llv~ to ilcas coluntN7. ilo)a. anld after a residellee of thirteen yvairs ill that state, cam~le tv) Isab ella coumitN7 Nl ichiian. and( settledl 1)1 a far m of eighlty acres 10i '(cr11011 townlship, whiere thley llltll splent tile remlaillder (If thirel inves, Mr. Mcllcillenl departinlg this life Ii 1900 and1( Iis wife ill 11)0. \Vintield S. MeM cillen was blorn ill the year I 85, 1111 wa s eiglit years ()1(d wvhel hiis parents mligratevd to fowa. During the thilIteell years spSlelt ill tililt state lie wvorkedl ((II tile farmi as s0011 as 01(1 enoglgi for his ser vices to lie lltilizedl, alttend~edl tile (listrict schoolls alnd p~rovedl a wr01tliy and efficient assistanlt to hlis father as, lonig as tile ftmiiv renlailled Iltile W\est. In 1876 lIe accomlpanied hils parenits tlponl tlieir remnoval to. Michigan, an~d tile salile i-ear blolghlt eiglltv acres of land Iin section 36, Xvernion town~shlip. tllirtv acres (If whici l ie cleareti alnt implroved. 11n11 later pulrchasedi a simlilar tract ill seetivIll 30 Ilf tile same~l colllntv and1 town-Ishlipl tile greater (art of whlich lie r-edllCedi to cultivlitioIl. Ill the mneanltinme. 883. lie dlisposed of his (origillal purclase andl dllrilng tile several years en~suing dlevotedl his alttenltion to the InIllrIvemlellt anlt culltivationl of ilis 1)1nd( in sectioll 30, whlich ill (Ilie timle, uinder Iiis effective labiors an judllticiouls mlanaigemlenit, blecamle o11e (of tile finest farms and~ anl((ll tile 1m1(st healltifll4 alni (lesiraible rural hom~les ill tile towliishill. The place is Ilearly all fenced wvithiv ire alil Nvell drained alld the bluildlings. illcluding a large anti wvell-appoinlted barn anti a fine Illolernl resitlence, are stIllstanltially conlstrucetedl and] Ii excellent repair. 506 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In 1899 Mr. McMillen turned his land over to the other hands and occupied the position of foreman of the Carnegie docks at Conneaut, Ohio, but after three years in that capacity returned to the farm, removing thence to Mt. Pleasant a short time afterward. In I904 he engaged in the coal business, which he still carries on and to which after three years he added a full line of general groceries, feed, etc., and now has the largest establishment of the kind in the city, his coal business alone amounting to more than ten thousand dollars per year. He has been equally successful in his other lines, at the present time commands a very extensive and lucrative patronage, and occupies a conspicuous place among the leading business men of his city and county besides being widely known in commercial circles throughout the state. Mr. McMillen has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen nor lacking in interest concerning the general good of the coimmunity. He served one year as highway commissioner of Vernon township. three years as treasurer of the school district and three years as moderator of the scho(ol district, and since moving to Mt. Pleasant he has represented the first ward in tile city council for two years. A Democrat in politics and il thorough accortd with his party on the leading (luestions of the times, he can hardlly be called a politician, neither does he entertain amlbition for public preferment or leadership. He is essentially a business Ilan and as such makes his influence felt in the circles in which he operates; he has been prosperous as a farmer also andi is today one of the financially solid men of Isablella county, his interests in both city and country being large and ilmlortant and placing himi in indepen(lent circumstances. Fraternally, he belongs to Lodge No. 217, Indel)endenlt Order of Odd Fellows, in Mt. Pleasant and holds membership with the Court of Honor, as does his wife also. In the year I883 Mr. McMillen and Mary E. Phillips, of \\1ane county, Michigan, were made husband and wife, the latter being a daughter of Nicholas J. and Cynthia J. Phillips. the father born in England in 1835. the mother in Nesw York il the year 1844. These parents were mlarried ill New York state and in an early day moved to Wayne county, Michigan. where their daughter, Mary E., was born in 1864. About the year 1868 they disposed of their interests there and came to Isabella cotunty, locating in Gilrnore township where Mr. Phillips procured land and engaged in farming. lThecy were among the earliest settlers of the above township and experienced the hardships and vicissitudes of pioneer life while establishing a hole il what was then a ne\w and sparsely settled country. The nearest market place was Mt. Pleasant, thirteen miles away and Mr. Phillips often carried flour anm other necessities from the town, making his way through the woods by means of a dimly marked trail and not ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 507 infrequently becoming confused ere reaching his home. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips still live where they originally settled, a hale and hearty old couple, who enjoy the friendship) and esteem of a host of neighbors and acquaintances. During their residence of forty-two years in Gilmore townshil they have seen the country develop from a wilderness into a very garden of plenty and beauty, and to the extent of their alilities have contributed to the bringing about of conditions that now obtain. Mr. and \lrs. McMillen are the parents of two children, a son. Irving, and a daughter who answers to the name of Villa. The former, who was born in the year 1884, is his father's partner and one of the enterprising business men of Mt. Pleasant. He married Julia Anshaugh. whose birth occurred the same year as his own. and is well situated, owning a beautiful home in the city and an interest in one of the leading commercial establishments. Villa was born in 1888 and is still with her parents. She received a high school education and graduated in 1910 from the State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant, holds a life certificate as a teacher, and is now engagedl in teaching in the public schools at Clare, Michigan. She is an intelligent andl cultured lady who moves in the best social circles of the city in which she lives. FRANKLIN \V. ELLIS. Esteemed as a citizen and holnored as a (lefender of the flag during the l)eriod when the armed lhosts of rebellion attemplted to disrupt the national union, there are few men in Isal)ella county as widely and favorably known as the gentleman w\hose name appears at the head of this sketch. Franklin W. Ellis was I)orn Fel)uary 11, 1842. in \Vnyomling count*y. New York, and grew to manlhood familiar with the wholesome discipline of farm life. Tle receivedl a comlmon school education and remainedl with his Iparents until the national skies became overcast with the ominous clouds of civil war, when, with true p)atriotic devotion. hle lai(l aside the impllellents of husbandry anl tendered his services to the government. Enlisting in April, 186o, in Coanp)an F, of the Thirty-third New York Infantry. he servedl with that regiment tintil honorably (lischarged on June 23d of the year 1863. Shortly after tile latter date he re-enlisted inI the Twenty-fifth New York Indlepeldenl t Battery. with which he remained until September, 1865, spending the last two years of his army service on the Mississippi and in the department of the Gulf under General Canby. The Thirty-third New York formed a part of the Armiy of the Potomac 5o8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and saw much active service in Virginia during the early part of the war. Mr. Ellis shared with both of his commands their various experiences of calnp and battle, was under McClellan until that general was succeeded successively by Burnside and Hooker, and participated in nearly all the fighting in which those leaders were engaged. He was in all the battles in which the \I-rmy of the Potomac took part, including the second battle of Fredericksburg, where his regiment fought after its time had expired, losing one hundred and fifty of the three hundred men engaged. In a battle at Bottom's Bridge, Virginia, he fell into the hands of the enenmy, but in the afternoon of the same day lie was recaptured by men fron his own regiment. During his long and varied military experience lie received no injury, although, as previously stated, lie was in mlany of the bloodiest battles of the war and never shirked a duty however difficult or dangerous. At 'the expiration of his period of enlistment he returned to his native state, where he remained until the spring of i(S69, when he moved to Isabella county, M\ichigan, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Coldwater township, which ull(der his efficient labors were cleared in due time and developed into one of the )est farms in the locality. In connection witl agricultural pirsuits, Mr. Ellis, in partnership with his brother, Wesley, kept a hotel at Sherman City for seven years, and later the two engaged in the lumber business in which they built up an extensive trade and were quite successful. After a residence of twenty-seven years in Coldwater township, Mr. Ellis sold his farm and moved to Mlt. Pleasant, but continued the lumber business for some time thereafter, principally in Montmorency and neighboring counties. In February, 1897, he Nwent to Alaska on a prospecting tour, but after spending one season there, returned the followving October, since which time he has been engaged in different enterprises in Isabella county, besides coming prominently before the people as a pulblic official. In the year I899 he was elected sheriff of the county and served two terms, proving a very calpable and judicious official. FIe was highway commissioner in Coldwater township for a period of eight years, during which time he helped lay out nearly every public road in that part of the county, besides being active and influential in developing the resources of the country. Mr. Ellis has been a stanch Republican ever since old enough to exercise the elective franchise and since becoming a citizen of Isabella county he has forged rapidly to the front as an able and discreet party leader and successful campaigner. \When he came to this part of the state the nearest road was sixty-five miles distant, but since then he has seen Isabella county grow into one of the finest and most prosperous counties of the commonwealth, with ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 509 railvay and other modern facilities on every hand, in the bringing about of which condition he has not been a spectator merely, but a prominent and influential factor. TTe is a memenber of the Grand Army of the Republic at Mt. Pleasant, in which lie has held important official positions, and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which has likewise honored him from time to time with official trusts. Mr. Ellis was married in January, 1874, to Mary A. Bright, who has presented him with one child, a d(aughter, Elsie, now the wife of George F. Johnson and living in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Two other children are deceased. Vernon \V., wlho diel at the age of fourteen months, and Iva J., who died at the age of twenty-three. CHARLES SLATER. Charles Slater, teacher of carpentry at the Indian Industrial School, Mt. I'leasant, also instructor in that branch of mechanics, was born in laaldernian comtyv, Ontario, Octolber 27, 1846. having first seen the light of day in the to\wn of Caledonia, whlere his father, \Villiam Slater, of Derbyshire, IEngland. settled some years before. Williani Slater came to Amelrica i 1828, swhen alboit fourteen years old, and located at Jollistown, New York, where lie subsequently married Sarah Matilda Horton, the laughter of a veterani of the war of I812 and granddaughter of a Revolutionary soldier. Later lie went to (anlada, where several of his children wcre born, and in July, i868, moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where he worked for some time at carpentry. Charles Slater spent his early life in his native province and when a young man learned carpentry under his father. lie accomplanied his parents upon their removal to Michigan in the year indicated above, worked xvith his father and brother at Saginaw until October, I872, when the family, consisting of the parents and several children, moved to Isabella county, Michigan, and settled about three and a half miles southwest of Mt. Pleasant, on a tract of land of which but ten acres were improved. Here, amtid surroundings not altogether inviting, the father and sons addressed themselves to the task of developing a farm, and in due time their labors were crowneld with success, the home wvhich they established being among the best in the locality and still in the family name. William Slater ended his clays in this place, dying about 1883 or '84, at the age of seventy years, his widow, who survived him until i)o6, departing this life in her eighty-first year. Charles Slater remaineld ith his parents until the farm was well under 5IO ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. way and in 1875 came to Mt. Pleasant, where he resumed the carpenter's trade. His proficiency as a mechanic was not long in being recognized and shortly after his arrival he became one of the leading builders of the city. When the Indian Industrial School was established he assisted in erecting the various buildings and at the opening of the institution he was given charge of the carpentry department, which position he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the management. In addition to looking after buildings, keeping them in repair and doing various other kinds of work in his line, Mr. Slater teaches carpentry to the students and to his credit be it said that not a few Indian youths have left the school first-rate mechanics and are now maintaining themselves and families by their trade. During the seventeen years which he has devoted to the post he nosw holds lie has been unremitting in his duties, faithful to every trust reposed in him and today there is no one connected with the institution who stands higher in the esteem of the students and management or enjoys to a greater degree the confidence of the public. From I875 until 1909 Mr. Slater lived in Mt. Pleasant, but, the better to attend to the duties of his position, he removed in the latter year to the campus where he now occupies a small but comfortable home well suited to the needs of his family, which has been constantly decreasing in numbers the meanwhile. While in Saginaw he united with the Presbyterian church and for a period of thirty years has been an elder of the same. in addition to which he is also a member of the board of trustees, holding both positions in the church in Mt. Pleasant, to which he transferred his membership upon his removal to the latter city. His life has been consistent with his religious profession, being active in all lines of church and charitable work and ready at all times to lend his influence and support to enterprise and measure for the good of his fellow men. Mr. Slater, in the year 1876, was united in the bonds o-f wellock with Matilda Whitehead, whose father was \Willialm Whitehead, a native of Lincolnshire, England, who located in \Wayne county, New York, and came to Isabella county, Michigan, in 1865, engaging in farming near Mt. Pleasant. For some years previous to marriage, Miatilda Whitehead taught in the schools of the county and ranked among the most efficient and popular teachers in the city of Mt. Pleasant. She is a lady of fine mind and exemplary character, and by her culture and beautiful life has attained to a prominent place in the best social circles in the city in which she formerly resided. Mr. and Mrs. Slater have six children, all well educated, the majority holding important positions which they have dignified and honored. Mary, the oldest of the family, began ISABEILLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 5 I I teaching in Isabella county, and is now on her seventeenth consecutive year as an educator, holding at this time the chair of English in the high school of Elk Rapids, Anna E., the seconld in order of birth, was for five years stenographer with the Daugherty mercantile firm of Detroit, and later went to l'orto Rico to accept a similar position in the city of San Juan, where she is at present located. Bessie E. went to Porto Rico as a teacher in the employ of the government and is now\ supervisor of the schools of San Juan; she -married John \V. Zimmerman, who is in the insular service, both being highly esteemed in the city of their residence. Eolah C., also a teacher by profession, taught in the schools of Bayport and Traverse City and now holds a position in the high school of the latter place. \Walter C., like his sisters, took kindly to educational work, but his promising career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of twenty-one while principal of schools at Boyne Falls, this state. Sarah Ruth, the youngest of the family and a teacher of more than local reputation, holds an important position in the schools of Grayling, Michigan, where her work is highly appreciated. All of Mr. Slater's children enjoyed the best available educational advantages, finishing the public school course in Mt. Pleasant. and later being graiduated from the Central Normal School of that city. They have made commendable advancement in their chosen spheres of endeavor and the responsil)le positions which they now occupy bear ample testimony to their intelligence, liberal culture and sterling worth. Mr. Slater is well versed on the questions of the day, while in point of general information lie is recognized as one of the most intelligent men of the community. lie holds membership with the Masons of Mt. Pleasant, having attained the Knight Templar (legree, and, though devoted to the duties of the position he holds, he finds time to meet the responsibilities which every true citizen owes to the public. \\WILLIAM WEST. For a number of years the subject of this sketch was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. but having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to discontinue active labor. he recently turned his farmi over to other hands and moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he is now living in honorable retirement. Willialm \WNest is a native of Kingston, Ontario, and dates his birth from the year 1849. W\hen about seven years of age, he was taken to Perth county, in the same province, by his parents and there spent his early life, attending at intervals the public schools and learning in his young man 512 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. hood the trade of carpentry. Leaving Canada in I869, he located in York county, Michigan, where he worked at his trade until 187I, when he returned to his native province. After spending about one year there, he again came to Michigan and from 1872 until after the panic of the following year lived at the town- of Caseville, Huron county, and supported himself by his labors as a builder,. Tn the latter part of I873 Mr. West again returned to Canada, where he followed agricultural pursuits (luring the ensuing seven years, in the meantime, I875, being united in marriage with Mary Ann Hennessey, who was born and reared in tie province of Ontario. In r880, with his wife and three children and accompanied by his parents and two brothers, he moved to Isabella county, Michigan, and bought eighty acres of land in section 25. Isallella township, all in the woods and presenting any but an inviting prospect for a home. Hle at once addressed himself to the task of clearing and improving his land and was obliged to work single-handed, his father, who was a painter by trade, 1being unable to render him any assistance in the cutting of timber, grubbing and other hard labor required to fit the soil for cultivation. BT plersevering effort, however, he finally succeeded in not (only develloping and improving a very valuable farm, but in adding to his realty from time to time, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as the county of Isabella affords, besides a beautiful residence in Mt. Pleasant and four city lots vwhich are constantly growing in value. Mr. W\est cleared the greater part of his land with his own hands and made all of his improvements, including three large, commoldious barns and an imposing modern dwelling, the main plart twenty by thirty feet. the wing eighteen by thirty feet, two stories high and a model of architectural skill. By a successful system of drainage he has greatly enhanced the productiveness of his land and, as already stated, his farm is today among the best improved and most valuable in the tovwnship. For some years, Mr. West, in addition to general farming, has devoted a great deal of attention to the breeding and raising of Durhaml cattle, a branch of farming which proved highly remtunerative, but of recent years he has been more interested in the Holstein breed, of which liie nl'I has a numlber of very fine animals, including a registered bull whichl: represents an investment of no small magnitude. He also raises high grade' heep and hogs, and his horses, which are of the best breeds, always commniarid high prices. Mr. West has been prosperous far beyond the majority of farmers, his success being due entirely to his persevering labors, economical thrift and good management. In the full meaning of the term, he is a selfmade man, also an enterprising citizen whose efforts to promote the advance ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 5I3 ment of the community have been unsparing and whose influence has ever been exerted in behalf of what he deems for the best interests of his fellow men. He is one of the leading Democrats of Isabella county, prominent in the councils of his party, and an active and successful worker for its success in campaign years. He served two terms as treasurer of his township, aside from which lie has held no elective office, neither has he desired any such expression of public favor. Religiously he was born and reared a Catholic and has ever remained true to the teachings of the mother church, belonging at this time to the congregation worshiping in Mt. Pleasant, with which his family is also identified. As already indicated, Mr. West now resides at the county seat, where he removed about three years ago and where he is now well situated to enjoy the material comforts and blessings which he has so faithfully earned and to which lie is so nobly entitled. lie is highly esteemed by his fellow men and, though practically retired, still gives personal attention to his business interests and keeps abreast of the times on all matters of public import. Mr. and Mrs. West have a family of eight children whose names are as follows: John B., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Anna, a professional nurse now in Chicago; Alice T., who is engaged in the telephone service at Mt. Pleasant; Minnie, wife of Sydney Soules, of Boyne City, Michigan; 'Thomas, who married IHazel Lynn, and lives at XVest Branch, this state; \Villiamn, who was accidentally killed in a railway collision when eighteen years of age; George, who married Ethel McKenzie, lives on and manages his father's farm; and Fred, who is unmarried and makes his home with his brother George, with whom he is interested in farming and stock raising..-11 of Mr. West's children are intelligent and respected, and those that have left the parental roof to establish homes of their own or engage in various lines of enterprise, are doing well and are highly esteemed in their several placcs of residence. WARREN WING. Among the older citizens of Isabella county is Warren Wing, a prosperous farmer of Fremont township, where be has maintained his residence since the close of the great Civil war, in which he participated. Long an influential factor in the affairs of his community, hie has become widely known and in the various relations of farmer, soldier and citizen his record is without a blemish and he occupies today a conspicuous place among the enterprising (33) 514 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. men of his day and generation in the township which he assisted to develop and in which he still makes his home. Warren Wing was born in Chautauqua county, New York, May 5, 1842, being the fourth son and fifth child of Wesley and Salina Wing, both natives of the Empire state. The Wing families in America are all descended from one family that settled in Massachusetts over two hundred and thirty years ago. David Wing, the subject's great-grandfather, was a patriot soldier ill the Revolutionary war. Wesley Wing, the subject's father, whose birth occurred in the year I8oo, was married in New York about I830 to Salina Wilcox and after farming in Chautauqua county until 1850, moved to Towa, where he remained two years, returning to his former home at the expiration of that time. Later, I863, he again moved West, with Michigan as his destination, and in due time arrived in Isabella county, where he bought two tracts of government land of one hundred and twenty and one hundred and sixty acres, respectively, the one hundred and twenty acres being located in Union township, where he and his wife died some years ago. He made some improvements on his land, clearing in all about seventy-eight acres. Their children in order of their birth are as follows: Williard, Winthrop, William. Anna, who married Levi Williams; Warren, Walter, Elmira, wife of Delbert Merrill; Angeline, wife of J. K. Wellman; and Amelia, all deceased, except the subject, and Mrs. Merri!! and Walter, both residents of Union township. Warren Wing spent his early childhood and youth in his native county and 'when six years old was taken to Iowa by his parents, where the family lived about two years. Returning to New York at the end of that time, he remained in Chautauqua county until I863, when he accompanied his parents to Isabella county, Michigan, locating on the one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 2, which his father had previously homesteaded, where he soon became accustomed to the hard work and numerous vicissitudes which necessarily attend the planting of a home in a new and sparsely settled country. In February of the following year he enlisted in Company H, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and within a short time thereafter accompanied his command to the scene of hostilities in Tennessee, where the regiment became a part of the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. Later the Eighth was transferred to the Eastern army, and by reason of the different commands in which it served was subsequently known as the wandering regiment, the men not knowing one day whither they would be moved or ordered on the morrow. Without following Mr. Wing's military experience in detail, suffice to state that he shared with his comrades the vicissitudes and fortunes of war in a number of campaigns and participated in not a few notable battles, among ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 5I5 which was the bloody engagement or series of engagements in the Wilderness, where he was sorely wounded in the right arm, that member being still stiff as a result of the injury. He spent several months in a hospital, where his \wound was treated and where he also was detailed as nurse. Some time after the battle of the Wilderness he was transferred to the First Battalion, Sixteenth Veteran Reserve Corps, where he remained about four months, during which time his command rendered effectual service in the Alleghany mountain region, also assisted in rilding the county of the Ku-Klux-Klan, besides being detailed at intervals to search for and bring in deserters. i-e was with his company among the Alleghany n1ountains when General Lee surrendered and later was a member of the detachment that searched railway trains for John \Vilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln. After being mustered out of the service in Pittsburgh, l-'ennsylvania, in August, 1865., Mr. Wiing returned to his native state, where he shortly afterwards married Lucinda Burt, of Chautauqua county, immediately following which he brought his bride to Isabella county, Mlichigan, and set up his domestic establishment on one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had homesteadcd prior to entering the army. By energetic and continuous toil he cleared the greater part of his land and in due time had a good farm in successful cultivation and a number of substantial improvements made. He has added to his real estate from time to time until he now owns two hundred and five acres, the greater part susceptible to tillage and well improved, his farm being among the most productive and valuable in the township, and it is not too much to say that there are few, if any, more beautiful or more desirable rural homes in the county than the one he has established and occupies. Mr. Wing has been quite successful financially and is today among the well-to-do men and representative citizens of the community in which he resides. He is enterprising in all the term implies and public-spirited, lending his aid and influence to further all laudable measures for the general welfare, no worthy project ever appealing to him in vain. In addition to his own improvements, which include a comfortable and commodious dwelling, a large, modern barn, granary, tool. house and various other buildings, he has been of great assistance to some of his neighbors in the clearing and improving of their farms, besides constructing roads in different parts of his own and other townships and helping promote various other utilities which have proven beneficial to the public. Mr. Wing is a close student of political. social and industrial questions, and has intelligent and well defined views relative to these and other matters of interest before the people. HIe is indedependent as a thinker, a clear and logical reasoner and his opinions carry 5i6 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. weight and command respect among his fellow men. A gentleman of strict integrity and high character, he is held in great esteem by all who know him and the confidence which he commands has been fairly and honorably earned. Mrs. Wing, who was born in 1843, died a few years ago, having borne her husband three children, namnely: Williard, who lives on part of his father's farm and is a successful tiller of the soil; Leon is deceased; and Nellie, who is now a widow and lives with her father and manages the home. Mr. Wing has served his township in various public capacities, though never a seeker after the honors or emoluments of office. He was justice of the peace for some years and proved a very capable and judicious official; also served as road commissioner and school inspector, in both of which positions he was unremitting in his duties to the people. HUGH DAY JOHNSTON. Farmer and mechanic and for thirty-eight years an honored resident of Isabella township, the subject of this sketch is a native of Peel county, Ontario, and a soIl of Frank and Elizabeth (Newhouse) Johnston, both of Canadian birth. These parents were born in the years I819 and I830, respectively, and were married in Ontario. The father died on May i, 1875, the mother, who survived hilm, making her home at this time in the village of Rosebush, Isabella county. Hugh Day Johnston was born in the month of December, 1848, spent his early life on his father's farm in Peel county and remained there until his removal to Isabella county, Michigan, in I873. On coming to this part of the state, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in section I6, Isabella township, all wooded, and addressing himself to the task of clearing and developing the same, spent the several following years at continutal toil. ntluch hard labor being required to remove the forest growth and fit the soil for cultivation. In due time, however, his efforts were rewarded and he now has a fine farm with up-to-date improvements, his dwelling, erected in 1875, and a commodious barn, ill the year I898, being the results of his own mechanical skill. In connection with general agriculture, Mr. Johnston from time to time has done considerable carpentry work for his own and other localities. his proficiency as a builder causing his services to be in great demland. He follows the trade at the present time when he can be spared from the farm and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 5I7 today a number of dwellings, barns and other edifices in different parts of the country bear witness to his skill as a first-class mechanic. It is as a tiller of the soil, however, that his greatest success has been achieved, his farm at the present time being among the best in the township, and his home the dwelling place of a family happy amid their surroundings and contented with their lot. Mr. Johnston is an excellent neighbor, a praiseworthy citizen and keeps in touch with all matters of general interest to the community. He stands for law, order and good government, uses his influence on the right side of every moral issue, and though quiet and unostentatious in demeanor and always attending strictly to his own affairs, his life has been fraught with good to all with whom he comes in contact. In his political faith he is a Republican, in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally is identified with the Masonic brotherhood, belonging to the blue lodge and the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Mt. Pleasant. Mrs. Johnston, who previous to her marriage was Elizabeth Johnson, was born March 9, i85o. and has presented her husband with eight children, namely: Abigail. who is still with her parents; Mary married Wesley McKnight and lives in Isabella township; Frank married a Miss Strickle, and is a resident of the above township, as is also Maria J., now Mrs. Fred Madison; Sarah is the wife of George Nolan, and Susan married Ed. Graham, both gentlemen being farmers of Isabella township; Benjamin, the seventh in order of birth, runs the family homestead, and Athold, the youngest of the number, after being graduated from the high school at Mt. Pleasant, entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he is pursuing his studies preparatorv to a career of honor and influence. JOHN WATSON. One of the sterling citizens of Isabella county is John Watson, a name well known, especially in Denver township. where he has a splendid and attractively kept landed estate, being regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of the same. As a result of his industry, integrity and genuine worth he is held in high esteem by the people of this vicinity, mainly as a result of his principles of modern farming and progressive and upright citizenship. Mr. Watson was born on November i. I865, in Hastings county, Ontario, Canada, and he is the son of James and Rosella (Bush) Watson, who 5 8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. are mentioned in a separate sketch in this volume. They moved with their son, John, into Middlesex county, Ontario, when he was eighteen months old and made that their home for six years, at which place the son attended school awhile. Then the family moved to Isabella county, Michigan, locating in Isabella township. Here John grew to manhood and assisted his father with his general work, remaining at home and attending the neighborhood schools in his early youth. In fact, he did not leave his parental roof-tree until his. marriage, on April 16, I902, to Martha Rohert in Mt. Pleasant. She was born in Erie county, New York, on July 6, 1874. When a child she moved with her parents to Livingston county, Michigan, and from there to Isabella county, and here she and the subject went to school together. The latter was eight years of age when he moved to this county, and the school he attended was the Roy district school. He helped his father on the home place, with the exception of four winters, until 1891, when he bought his present place. During the four winters referred to he worked in Missaukee county one winter, and three winters in Clare county, in the woods. lIe and his father cleared the home farm of about two hundred acres, so he knew what hard work meant all his life and he has succeeded as a result of his habits of persistent industry, which have been well applied. He bought his present farm of eighty acres, as stated, in I891, for which he paid eighteen hundred and fifty dollars. A year later he bought an adjoining forty acres, for which he paid seven hundred dollars. The place had at that time forty-five acres cleared, but nol buildings or fences, and was, in fact, entirely unimprove(l. H-e worked on his place, but boarded at home until I902, the year of his marriage, after which he moved to his place, erected a convenient. substantial and attractive dwelling of veneer brick and a large and convenient barn, also other good outbuildlings, built fences and made all the necessary improvements, and developed his place in a manner that stampls him as a twentieth-century farmer of the first grade, and his place now ranks with the best in the county. He has, in fact, two barns, both large and substantial, a good granary, a sheep barn, and is well equipped to carry on general farming and stock raising in a successful manner. He has put in six or seven miles of tile. There are three fine flowing wells on his place, the water being cold and of the best quality, no wiindllill being needed. He devotes his attention to grain farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, handling horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. He also has forty acres of good land, which he uses for pasture, lying two miles east of his farm. It is nearly all wooded. Mrs. Watson is the owner of forty acres of good land in section 23, Isabella township, making a total of two hundred ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 5I9 acres owned by the family. Mr. lVatson cleared about twenty-five acres of his first purchase. It had been neglected and was "run down," but under his management it was soon built up and made productive. He has so skillfully rotated his crops and built up the soil that it has been greatly strengthened, as is shown by the fact that his first oats crop here averaged only eightecn bushels per acre, whereas now sixty bushels per acre are produced. He has worked hard and has been successful, achieving a competency unaided, literally "digging" it out of the ground. He now has his splendid property out of debt. Mrs. Watson's parents, Edward and May Robert, are now living on a good farm in Isabella township, this county, having made their home in section 36 of that locality for the past thirty years, where they are well and most favorably known. Mr. Robert has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm of two hundred acres. The following children'have been born to Mr. aid Mrs. Watson: James, born I)ecember jo, 1903; Robert, John Alexander and Arline, all living at home. Mr. Watson is connected with the Illinois Life Insurance Company, Politically, he is a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Hie was township treasurer two years, performing his 'duties very faithfully.' He is influential in this township and'has an unblemished reputation. JAMES A. CLIFF. Success has been orthily vwon by the gentlelman of wihoni the biographer writes in the following lines, a man of strong will and determined purpose who has contributed his shiare to'the'material development of the county in which hle lives and forged to the front amonig the leading citizens of the same. James A. Cliff, present deputy sheriff of Isabella: county, 'was born January I2, I850, in'Leeds coulnty, Ontario, where his father, Samluel Cliff, a native of Limerick. Ireland. settled about the year 1842. Agnes Cochran, wife of Samuel Cliff and mother of the subject; was also of Irish birth,' and first'sLaw the light of day in the town of Nei\ey. county Armagh. These parents were married in their native isle andl in the yiar indicated above camie to America and spent the reniainder of their lives in the province of Ontario. The father arid mother moved to Michigan in 1874 and located in Onondaga, where thev'diied anid were buried. James A. Cliff x'as reaied to farm labor and remained in his native land 520 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. until attaining his majority, when he severed home ties and came to Michigan, locating at Onondago, Ingham county, whither a brother had preceded him. For some time after his arrival in this state he worked at clearing land and in the lumber woods, spending the ensuing winter at Morley and Millbrook, where he was variously employed. During the following six years he worked at different occuptations and at the expiration of that time was married at the town of Onondaga to Ida Buckland, of Ingham county, the ceremony being solemnized on the I3th lay of September, 1877. Mrs. Cliff's father and mother, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, came to Michigan about I830 and were among the early pioneers of Ingham county. They stood high in the esteem of their neighbors and friends, lived good honest lives and their memory is still cherished in the community which they helped to establish and from which they were called to their final reward not many years ago. He worked at Jackson at the cooper's trade, at which time there were but six houses in the town. He remembers the first prison enclosure, which was made by placing tamarack poles on end in a trench, making a sort of stockade. Mrs. Cliff was reared and educated in the above county. For some time before taking unto himself a wife Mr. Cliff held the position of guardian in the state prison at Jackson and served in that capacity until the month of March following his marriage. He then severed his connection with the institution and went to southern Kansas and took a homestead in Bourbon county, which he at once proceeded to improve. Owing to the hot winds which destroyed his crops and almost literally burned up the country during the two years of his sojourn, he abandoned his claim at the end of that tiiie and, sending his wife back to her friends in Michigan, went to Colorado in search of something to do. Shortly after reaching that state he found remunerative employment as a miner, at first by the day and later by the job. He continued that kind of work until his earnings amounted to about five hundred dollars, when he decided to return to Michigan. His brother, who was with him in the West, dying about that time, he started home with the body, but meeting with a serious reverse, found himself with barely sufficient means to reach his destination and not enough to enable him to return to the West. During the next seven years Mr. Cliff lived at Onondaga and devoted his time to various kinds of labor. In I888 he went to Washington territory for the purpose of locating, but not being pleased with the country he returned to Michigan at the end of a couple of months and took a pre-emption in Houghton county, later took another claim in the same locality, both containing fine timber and excellent soil. He proved up on these claims and during the five years ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 521 following not only improved his own land, but bought land for others, meeting with gratifying success in these transactions. He afterwards sold the above land at a good price and his dealings since then have also resulted greatly to his financial advantage as is indicated by the fact of his having realized something in excess of six thousand dollars, within the last three or four years. Returning to Onondaga after closing out his interests in Houghton county, he lived in that townl until 1894, when he changed his residence to Mt. Pleasant, removing thence the following year to Weidnan, where he now makes his home. In 1895 Mr. Cliff bought, near the latter place, a small tract of land from which the timber had been cut, and at once set to work to remove the stumps and roots and fit the soil for cultivation. In the fall of the same year he bought an additional eighty acres of stump land, later a forty-acre tract of the same kind, both of which he has since cleared of obstructions and otherwise improveid. Within a few years he has brought this land to a high state of cultivation, erected good buildings and at this time has one of the finest farms and among the mlost desirable homes in his part of the county. Mr. Cliff has done much to promote the material prosperity of the thriving little town near which he lives and is public-spirited in all the term implies. His life has been a very active one and, though experiencing not a few reverses, he has been quite successful in the main and is now among the well-to-do men and influential citizens of the community in which he resides. tIe has served on the school board from time to time and in other public capacities has used his influence for the benefit of his town and the social and moral advancement of the conmmunity at large. In politics he supports the Republican party and in religion the Methodist Episcopal church represents his creed, both himself and wife being active members in the local congregation at Weidman. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being a charter member of Nottawa Lodge, No. 424, at Weidman. of which he was the first worshipful master. He has been prominent in the work of the order, representing his lodge in the grand lodge and standing high in the confidence of his brethren of the mystic tie. TI addition to the above lodge, he belongs to Chapter No. 36o, Order of the Eastern Star, and the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Eaton Rapids, his wife being a member of the Eastern Star also and at this time is serving as the treasurer of the chapter with which identified. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff have three children: Claude S., living on the homestead in Saskatchewan, western Canada; Amelia, wife of E. C. \iley, of \Weidman, and Blanche, who lives at home. 522 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. H. L. ROBERTS. Standing out prominently among the leading farmers of Coldwater township is H. L. Roberts, who was born in Pennsylvania in the year i848. Hosea Roberts, his father, whose birth occurred in the above state on May i, 1826, moved to Isabella i'county, Michigan;, in 1867 and homesteaded the farm of eighty acres in section 26, Coldwater township, which the subject now owns. He did not live long enough to prove up on the land, dying in 1871, following which the subject took the homestead and procured a deed for the same during President Cleveland's first administration, since which time the place has been in his name. Lucy M., wife'of Hosea Roberts and mother of the subject, never came to this township, but ended her earthly career a few years ago. It was at the home of Hosea Roberts that the first religious services in the township were conducted and the 'f-st' Stin'day school was organized. The township organizationi was effected'fiThder' his roof, and it was at the same place that the first election of officers was held'. Hosea Roberts was highly esteemed and his'untimnely death so soon after moving to this county, was greatly deplored by his neighbors and friends. H. L. Roberts came to Isabella county with his father in 1867 and since that time has been an honored resident of the township in which lie now resides. He was reared to farm labor, grew upl) an indtistfious and energetic young man and, taking possession of the family homestead on the death of his father, has since developel' and managed the same, besides purchasing other 'land the meanwhile, his real estate at the present time amounting to two hundred and forty acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres are in cultivation and highly improved.' He made all of his improvements, brought the land to a high state of tillage and, as already indicated; is today one of the leading 'farmers of the township, also an enterprising, 'public spirited citizen, who has done much to promote the material resources of his section of the cotuntry. While raising all the crops grown in this part of the state, he devotes special attention to hliay, potatoes and beans, which he markets in large quantities every year, and he is also interested to some extent in live stock, which he fir/ds a very profitable branch of farming. Mr. Roberts has been thrice married, the first'time to Elizabeth Ryerson, whose death occurred after bearing him one child, a son, Charles, now a hotel keeper in Shepherd, and a man of family, his wife having formerly been Sara 'Longton, of Isabella county. The subject's second marriage was with Stella Wooley, who bore him children as follows: Alofizo, who married Florence Smith and lives in Mecosta county, Michigan- Mina, wife of Art. Conley, of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 523 Coldwater township; Edgar, who lives at home; Lafayette, a resident of Mecosta county; Sophia, who is still under the parental roof, as is also Fred, the youngest of the number. Some time after the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Roberts married his present wife, Mrs. Mary Roberts (nee Bailey), who was born March I8, 1854, in the state of New York. By her previous marriage she had three children, namely: Ella, now Mrs. James WVagner, of Coldvater townlship; Charles, who married Gertrude ladams and lives in Gilmore township, this county, and Effie, wife of F. Brazington, who is also a resident of the town ship of Gilmore. Mr. Roberts is a prominent Republican, but not a politician, although he aims to keel) informed on the questions of the day and in touch with the people on all matters that concern the public welfare. He served eight consecutive terms as road commissioner, aside from which he has held no office. neither has he been an aspirant for any kind of public distinction. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he has been through the chairs, and he is also an active worker in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. MNrs. Roberts is also a memlber of the ()rder of Maccabees, in which she las held the office of the keeper of finance. She is also identified witl the Reblelcahs and, religiously, is a communicant of the MXethodist Episcopal church. JAMES WATSON. From far-off bonny Scotland, the land of Robert Burns and Robert Bruce, the land of the thistle and the heather, the land of picturesque ancient castle and the rose-covered cottage. famied alike in song and story. the land that ihas produced anl heroic race of mien, strong in war and strong in peace alike-the type of men that (lo things, that push onward the car of civilization, comes James \Natson, a sterling citizen of Isabella county. who is eminently worthy of representation in this work, owing to his long life of persistent industry and his scrupulous honestv. Mr. Wsatson was born in Rothshire, Scotland, March 26, 1834, and there he grew to maturity aind received his schooling, emigrating to the (ldominlion of Canada upon reaching maturity and settling in Northumberland county, being twenty-two years of age upon his arrival in the New World. For five or six years he worked in a grist mill, though his former experience had been solely as a farmer on his father's farm in Scotland on which he worked when he became of proper age while not attending the common schools. While livinig in Canada Mr. Watson married Rosella Bush. In i864 he 524 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. brought his family to Middlesex county, Ontario, and lived there six years. There he worked at his trade about a year, but being dissatisfied with the country he decided to buy a piece of wild land there. It was all timbered and he began clearing and improving it and he cleared about thirty acres, put up log buildings, fenced it and began raising general crops. He paid the sum of four hundred dollars for this land, which was as good dirt as that locality afforded. He remained there until the fall of 1874, when he sold out at a good profit. Having several children, he thought it best to buy land and give it to them when they grew up. He came by way of Saginaw, Michigan, to Isabella county and located here. His first trip to this county was made in I865, when he came to see the country, but it did not suit him then. Tie settled on one hundred and sixty acres in Isabella township, paying twelve hundred dollars for it. He kept that land until 9o05, when he gave eighty acres to his three oldest sons, selling the other eighty to his other son at a low price, each son then having a place of his own. Then Mr. Watson moved to his present place, which he at once began to improve and which now ranks with the best in the community. He has a very comfortable home and excellent outbuildings, and he has made a great success as a general farmer and is well and favorably known throughout the county. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Watson: John. a prosperous farmer in Denver township, whose sketch appears in another part of this work; Will is farming in Denver township; James, who is farming in Isabella township, also has a sketch in this work; Mary is married and lives in Chicago; -Hugh, whose sketch appears herein, is farming on the old home place; Catherine, who married Garfield Libble, is living at the home of her father. HENRY S. G. HOUSE. The subject of this sketch is essentially a self-made man, and as such occupies a conspicuous place among the most enterprising and successful of his contemporaries. He was born in Somersetshire, England, in the year I864 and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George House, the latter of whom now lives on his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the farm of Henry of this sketch. Mrs. George House died twelve years ago. Mr. House was reared to agricultural pursuits, but did not begin life for himself until I889, at which time he bought twenty acres of land in Isabella township which he cleared and otherwise improved and which he subsequently increased by an additional twenty acres, which in due time he also reduced to ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN: 525 cultivation. From the beginning of his career his labors appear to have been effective and prosperity attended his every effort. It was not long until he was enabled to add eighty acres to the realty already in his possession and still later he purchased forty acres more in the immediate vicinity, making him one of the largest land owners in the township as well as one of the leading men of affairs. Mr. House from time to time disposed of his holdings. as indicated above, until there remains but twenty acres of the old farm now in his name, though he still owns valuable lands in other parts of the state, including a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres in Clare county. which he rents, and also a valuable farm of eighty acres in Vernon township, Isabella county, the proceeds from which add very materially to his income. In the year I899 Mr. [louse discontinued agriculture to engage in the farming implement business, which he still carries on and in which he has been successful beyond his most ardent expectations. He handles upon a very extensive scale all kinds of agricultural machinery and iml)lements, drills and threshing machinery, wagons, buggies and other vehicles, and does an annual business considerably in excess of seven thousand dollars. In addition to his main office near Rosehush, he has branch offices in Osceola county and elsewhere, and his patronage, which takes a wide range, extends from Marion to St. Louis and is continually growing in magnitude and importance. By honorable dealing he has become widely known throughout Isabella and other counties of central Michigan. stands high in business circles and is today the leading mans in his line in the territory to \\which his operations are principally confined. lie also carries all his notes, the interest on the same bringing him a nice income. Mr. House began life with no help other than native talents and willing hands, and the success which lie has achieved and the honorable place to which he has attained among the leading Ibusiness men of his county are due entirely to his own efforts. Hie possesses keen practical intelligence, mature judgmlent and discreet foresight, and while aggressive in his dealings and ever ready to take advantage of opportunities. his relations with his customers have always been honorable and( his reputation without a stain. Mr. Hlouse was married in T891 to Mary Ellen Jasmiss. whose birth occurred in Coe township, Isabella county, on the 8th day of January, I876. Mr. and Mrs. House are the parents of the following children: Gladys, born December 9, T892; Delia, born August T. 1894; Elizabeth, born February 2, 1899; Harry, born April 8, 1903; Reuben and Roy, twins, died when fifteen months old; Marie, born in September, I906. and Ruth, who died at eight months old. Politically, Mr. House is a Republlican, but his business interests are such as to prevent him fromn taking a very active part in politics. He 526 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. keeps himself well posted, however, and abreast of the times on all matters of public import and on the leading questions of the day has well grounled opinions which command the respect of his fellow citizens. Mr. House, with all the business he has (lone has only been in court once as a witness. He lives in peace and his motto is to look after his own affairs and expects others to do the same. STEPHEN M. RAU. This enterprising business man is a Canadian by birth but, as the name indicates, he is of German descent, his father, Fred Rau, coming from the fatherland a number of years ago and settling in the province of Ontario. About I885 he moved to Isabella county, Michigan, and since that year has been living on a farm in Nottawa township. Margaret Newbecker, the subject's mother, is a native of Ontario, where she married Mr. Rau and the two now reside on a forty-acre farm where they are spenling the closing years of their lives. Stephen M. Rau was born in the month of December, 187I, in Bruce county, Ontario, and when about seven years of age accompanied his parents to Greenville, Michigan, where he received his educational training and learned the tinner's trade. After becoming a proficient workman he went to Grand Rapids, where he was employed for some years in a tin shop, in connection with which was a hardware department, in which also he worked when his services as a salesman were in demand. After remaining in that city for a period of fifteen years, he went to Soo, Canada, where for one and a half years he was in business for himself, at the expiration of which time he came to Weidman and engaged in the general hardware trade, which he has since carried on with encouraging success. Mr. Rau began business at this point on a somewhat modest scale, but by patient industry, efficient management and honorable dealing, he has succeeded in building up quite an extensive establishment, as is indicated by his sales which amount to something in excess of fifteen thousand dollars yearly. He carries a full and complete stock of hardware such as the general trade demands, is careful and methodical in all of his transactions and by treating his customers'fairly and courteously he has gradually enlarged the area of his trade until it now includes the greater part of the country for a number of miles around the village. In connection with his hardware business he nmnages the local Bell Telephone Company, the central office of which is in his store and which, from twenty subscribers when the enterprise was established, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 527 five years ago, has grown until there are now two hundred and fifty patrons, with prospects of many more in the near future. lie also deals some in real estate, in which he has quite a renunerative business, and since locating at Weidman his several lines of enterprise have resulted greatly to his ~financial advantage. In addition to three good buildings in the townl, which rent at fair figures, he ow\ns an eighty-acre farm in Nottawa township, the proceeds from which add considerally to his yearly income. Mr. Rau is a Imember of the Catholic church at Beal City and is zealous in upholding and defending his religious faith. Ite belongs to the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal society under the auspices of the church, and is also identified with the Knights of the.Maccabees and Modern WVoodnen of America, being an active and influential worker in both organlizations. MTarie CK. Kuhbry, who became the wife of Mr. Rau in the year 1898, was )orln in l'erth county, Ontario, on February 11, 1877. lier parents, Michael and Regina (Schnurr) Kubry, both natives of the above county, were born D lecellher 3, 844, and September 3, I853, respectively. lThey were Ilarried in Ontario and for some time past have I)een making their home with the subject. M r. and iMrs. lRan have no children. 'Ihey are interested in the social and religious life of their town, and assist to the extent of their abilities all charitable and humanitarian enterprises and enjoy the friendship of the large circle of acquaintances with whom they are accustomed to associate. CLARENCE E. MOODY. Among the well known citizens of Rolland township whose interests in the affairs of the community have given them character and prestige, is Clarence E. Moody, a gentleman of excellent repute, whose influence and popularity have made his name familiar in every household of the township in which he resides. He is a son of William H. and Rachel Moody, whose sketch appears elsewhere, and a younger brother of A. L. Moody, who also has a biographical notice in this volume. Mr. Moody was born December 10, 1870, in Eaton county, Michigan, and spent the first nine years of his life on his father's farm in Benton township, attending for a couple of years the district school not far from his home. In 1879 he removed with the family to Isabella county and for some time thereafter continued his studies until sufficiently advanced to pass the required examination and secure a teacher's license, when he took charge of a school and, devoted the two 528 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. years ensuing to that line of work. In the meantime he also turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has since followed with most gratifying success and at this time he occupies a prominent place among the leading 'farmers of Rolland township, owning one hundred and twenty acres of fine land,. seventy of which is in cultivation and well improved. Mr. Moody cultivates the soil with the latest improved machinery and implements and may properly be termed a scientific farmer. His work is judiciously conducted and in the management of his affairs he exercises sound judgment and wise discretion and rarely fails to realize handsomely from his time and labors. Public spirited and intelligent, he takes an active interest in whatever makes for the material prosperity of his township and every enterprise or movement having for its object the social advancement and moral good of the community finds in him an earnest advocate and liberal patron. He has shown himself worthy of the confidence of his fellow citizens, as is indicated by his frequent election to positions of honor and trust, among which were those of township treasurer and various school offices, and as justice of the peace he has proved a capable and popular dispenser of the law. For some years he has been an influential worker in the Masonic fraternity, including the Eastern Star degree, and he is also a member of the Order of Gleaners. On the 29th day of November, 1894, Mr. Moody was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Cedonia E. Merillat, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November Io, 1872, a daughter of Paul and Lydia Merillat, the union being without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Moody are among the most highly esteemed people of the county and enjoy the confidence and good will of all who know them. Kind and courteous in their relations with others, in private-life and in the atmosphere of the home, they shine with a spirit which is always wholesome and elevating to those who come within the range of their influence. HON. ISAAC ALGER FANCHER. Much has been written with'regard to the self-made men of Michigan, yet there have been but few more striking examples than that presented by a careful consideration of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review, a born leader of men, but, being entirely unassuming, he does not court that distinction. However, the accomplishments of HTon. Isaac Alger Fancher, attorney at lt. Pleasant, who is too well . ':.1 N, A..*,-,.:,Clark" I 4 AP I' 1, N m ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 529 known in Isabella and adjoining counties to need any introduction here, have forced him into a widespread notoriety which his modesty does not seek. The principal capital with which his parents endowed him was a rugged constitution, a stout heart and a determination to succeed, which, no doubt, has proven a more desirable capital than would have almost any amount of money, unless the latter could have been accompanied with the same traits of character. Thus, from an environment none too auspicious, he has forced himself to the front and made for himself a name which is unanimously accorded a very proud position among the foremost citizens of the Wolverine state Mr. Fancher's enterprise, his force of character, his sterling integrity, his fortitude amid discouragements, and his marked success in bringing to completion large schemes of trade, have contributed very largely toward the development of this section of Michigan, strong in his friendship, good in the generalities of business, a most able advocate, unswerving in his convictions of right, his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact among friends, acquaintances and business associates. Born to lead, his experiences have made him a safe counselor and guide. He is independent in thought, and, when conviction has been once reached, firm and unchanging. He stands today mature in years, yet a strong man, and a worthy example for young men to pattern after, as showing what intelligence and probity nay accomplish in the way of success in life. Mr. Fancher is the scion of a prominent old family of sterling worth, and he was born in Florida, Montgomery county, New York, on the old homestead of one hundred and twenty-five acres, on September 30, 1833. He is the son of Jacob S. and Eunice (Alger) Fancher, the father born at Florida, New York, in 1803, died at the place of his birth in I838; the mother was born in Niskayuna, Saratoga county, New York. They grew to maturity in their native communities, were educated and married there, in fact, spent nearly all their lives there. The son, Isaac A., bought a small house and lot at Braman's Corners for his mother on which she lived for some time, then made her home with him and with a daughter. The following children constituted the family of these parents: Caroline; Richard died at the age of eighteen years; Isaac A. of this review; Orin Schuyler; they are all deceased but the subject. Isaac A. Fancher grew to maturity on the old homestead, and went to school two or three summers when a child. He was four and one-half years of age when his father died, leaving the family in somewhat strained circumstances. They lived one whole year with no wheat flour in the house, subsisting onl barley flour. After the father's death the boys hired a man for (34) 530 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHTIGAN. seven years who finally married their sister. Isaac A. knew the meaning of hard work very early in life, assisting with the general work on the farm when but a mere lad. When eleven years of age he did all the fall plowing on one hundred and twenty-five acres. Until he was about fourteen years old lihe attended school during the winter months. His sister lived near a better school on the Western turnpike and when lie was sixteen years old he attended that school, boarding with his sister for three months, /being compelled at the end of that time to go home and work on the farm. lHe continued to work on the home place until he was nineteen years of age, then swent to Princeton Academy three months, returning to the farm during the summer, and the following fall returned to the academy for five months, then farmed all summer; in the fall he went to Amsterdam Academy for nine months, taking a general course. The next summer he left the farm and started for WAisconsin in September, hiring out at the town of Delton. He also taught school there and traveled during the summer. He then taught two more years, traveling during the summer months, covering the state of Minnesota during the second summer, also Missouri and Iowa. He traveled for the purpose of locating land for other parties. He had long desired to take up the study of law, and he accordingly entered the law office, at Delton, Wisconsin, of Jonathan Bowman, remaining in the same one year, then went to a law school at Albany, New York, for one school year, then returned to W'isconsin and located at Kilbourn City, opening an office alone and remained there until the spring of I862. HIe had a very satisfactory start in his profession, )but on the last mentioned year he and three companions started across the plains, making the long and somewhat hazardous trip to Nevada. They wvent over to Snake river, finding upon their arrival there about six hundred wagons that had failed in their attempt to cross the mountains, so Mr. Fancher anid his party turned southward, went through Nevada into the Humboldt mountains, silver having been discovered there just the year previous. They prospected in those mountains about a month and a half, but were unsuccessful, but they located claims. Mr. Fancher took the mules of the party into California that winter and remained there about a month. He fell ill with Panama fever and was sick for several weeks; then, after making further arrangements regarding the mules, he went to San Francisco where he remained ten days, then started home by way of the Isthmus of Panama, coming to New York by ship, the trip from the Isthmus requiring ten days. He had the same fever in New York that attacked him in California. He came home and \was sick seven weeks. After recovering, he went to Wisconsin where he remained a few months, then came to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He built a little place and went back home to settle up his business and get his family, whom he loaded ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 531 in a two-horse wagon and nade the return trip by way of Milwaukee, Chicago, Niles and other principal cities, the trip requiring about three weeks. They moved into the house he had built here. Mr. Fancher was married on June 6, i86o, to Althea Preston, at Java, Wyoming county, New York. This was after he left the law school. They met il Delton, \Wisconsin, where she had come when a girl, andl during his western trip she returned to her parents in New York. To this union was born Preston S. Fancher, who is at present making his home in Detroit, and is running a mill near Howell, Michigan; Bessie R. married Prof. Tambling, director of athletics at the Central Normal School at Mt. Pleasant; Blanche died in 1873. Mr. Fancher was admitted to the bar at Albany, New York, and later at Baraboo, Wisconsin, and in Mt. Pleasant, in January, 1864. TTe was later admlitted to the United States courts (circuit and district) in l)etroit, and still later in Grand Rapids. Soon after coming to Mt. Pleasant he was m1ade deputy register of deeds. H-e did considerable practice considering the fact that there was but little for lawyers to (do in this locality at that early day. IThe following year le took up surveying an(l running out roads. The next year he was appointed dep)uty state swanl)p land road commissioner. He spent a large part of his time during the sulmmers of 1865, 1866 and T867 in locating state roads, having located over two hundred miles of roads and superintended the building of one hundred miles more. M!ost of the three summers spent in surveying roads was in Isabella and Gratiot counties, also surrounding counties. TTe was then elmploye(l as register of deeds and he practiced la\ at the same time. About T865 he built a store, two stories high, at about the corner of what is now Main and Broadway in Mt. Pleasant. This store and thirteen other buildings were all burned in 1875, in fact about all the business section of the tow\n was swept away. In 1877 he luilt the Fancher block, at nearly the same place on which his first store building stood. He now maintai ns his office in this building. \When lie came here le bought three lots in the heart of Mt. Pleasant. Two years later he traded eighty acres of his land for eighty acres ill Union township; he traded his eighty in Union township for three lots on what is now Broadway, giving two hundred dollars as a cash difference. The lots were sixty-six by one hundred and thirty feet. lHe was instrumental in the upbuilding of the city, and especially in the erection of several churches. He and two other men secured fifteen thousand dollars toward building the Coleman bran-ch of the Pere Marquette railroad, which was built at a later date. Mr. Fancher was vice-president and one of the directors of this road. Prior to that timle he went to St. Johns, Michigan, for the purpose of meeting her 532 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. citizens and organizing the people of the county for the purpose of building a railroad, known as the Lansing, St. Johns & Mackinaw railroad. He raised in the towns along the proposed route a bonus amounting to the sum of four hundred thousand dollars, to be used in the building of this line. Just as they commenced building the road, the supreme court decided that the bonds were unconstitutional. After this failure they organized a road to run from Owosso, Ithaca, Alma and Mt. Pleasant. It was graded as far as Ithaca and some graded even as far as Alma, the road being surveyed and located by way of Shepherd to Mt. Pleasant. Then the Michigan Central, which had been relied upon to furnish bonds, failed to make good and that scheme had to be abandoned, also. The stock of this company was later turned over to the Ann Arbor railroad and it was extended. Mr. Fancher was interested in the road most of the time it was being built. He bought forty acres of land from 1. E. Arnold, selling the south twenty to Hapner Brothers, who built a (lam, headrace, millrace, etc., and ran a mill awhile, then bought them out and ran the mill, sold one-half interest and the privilege to operate the concern to the Harris Brothers, and they built the grist mill which is still operated there. Mr. Fancher then sold all of his holdings in this mill and xbought an entire saw mill, that had been built about this time. Tie later bought a steam saw mill from Owen & Clinton which they had built above the grist mill. This he ran until I88I. He has been interested in several other industries in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Fancher's first wife died in I900, and on July 3, 1902, he was married to Mrs. Mattie Dodds, daughter of a West Virginia family. She was the mother of one child before her union with Mr. Fancher, Vivian. Isaac Alger, Jr., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fancher, on September i6, I904. Mr. Fancher practiced his profession with Judge Dodds for a period of six years. He has also been associated with three other Dodds boys and with other lawyers. At present he is associated with F. M. Burwash. In 188I Mr. Fancher sold his mill, but retained his other property in Mt. Pleasant, and went to Detroit. At one time he was in partnership with S. W. Hopkins. Fraternally, Mr. Fancher is prominent in Masonic affairs, and politically he is a Republican. He has always taken an abiding interest in political and public affairs, and his public spirit and genuine worth being recognized early in his career here, he was elected to the state House of 'Representatives in i867. His seat was contested by a man living near Alpena. He held his seat only thirty days, but passed all the bills he was interested in, then deliberately left the chamber and went home. This occurred as a result of irregularities in voting. He was elected in 1873 on the issue of taxing the railroad lands, with just two votes in the district against him. He was in the special session ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 533 in 1874 and was elected to the state Senate in the fall of 1875. W:hile in the Senate he made his influence felt on the floor and in the various councils, and he was instrumental in putting through the notable railroad bill of that year, this being a very hard light, for the railroads had not been taxed before. He has not held any except city offices since then. He was mayor once and city attorney for one term. Both in an official capacity and in private citizenship, he has done as much if not more for Mt. Pleasant and vicinity than any one man. He is now a member of the local school board. and he was on the first board organized here, in fact, he has been on the board a good deal of the time since, and he has done much to promote the cause of education here. As a counselor Mr. Fanicher is guarded in his expression of opinions, cautious il arriving at conclusions, wary, painstaking. and always seeking to ascertain the true knowledge of the cause before the adllliistration of advice, or tlie commencement of action. Ilc is self-possessed and cool in the trialacts of the court room, not easily excited or irritated. conducting the proceedings witli a fairness to all parties concerned. His frankness and courtesy to tlie court and to his colleagues at the bar causes all of his professional relations to he of a mlost pleasant character. Iis plea before a jury is logical, earnest, convincing and often truly eloquent, as are his public addresses. He is profoundly versed in the law and keeps abreast of modern thought and investigation, in latest decisions and in all the intricate working of jurisprudence. H-e is a good reasoner and tactician, interprets the strategy of antagonists, and aims to read the inscriptions on the reverse side of the legal proposition. Hle is resolute, tenacious, strong. self-reliant, and even defiant, if necessary, when aroused and pushed into action. HTe is a pungent, keen and cogent crossexaminer. As an advocate he is direct, incisive, forcible and convincing; is possessed of a vigorous, virile, commlon-sense intellect. He goes to a trial intrenched in the facts and the law, and drives his facts to the court and jury, seemingly forgetting him-self in pursuing the facts. Personally he is a gentleman of unblemished reputation and the strictest integrity, and his private character and important trusts have always been above reproach. He is a wide reader and he has the courage of his convictions upon all subjects which he investigates. He is a man of the people, cosmlopolitan in his ideas, and in the best sense of the word a type of that strong American manhood, which conmmands and retains respect because of inherent merit, sound sense and correct conduct. He has a state-wide reputation and is one of the leading citizens of the commonwealth, having so impressed his individuality upon all classes as to win their confidence and esteem and has become a strong and influential power in leading them to high and noble things. 534 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. FRANCIS BONE. This prosperous farmer and gallant ex-soldier is a native of Ireland, where he was born in the month of April, I845. When he was three years old, his parents immigrated to the United States and settled at Geneva, New York, removing three years later to Wayne county, Michigan, where Francis spent his boyhood and received his education. His father dying the meanwhile, he chose his own guardian, under whose directions he continued until eighteen years of age when he tendered his services to the government by enlisting in Company F, Twenty-seventh Michigan Infantry. It was not long after entering the army until he was at the front rendering valiant service for his adopted country and during the three years he was in the South he took part in some of the most noted campaigns and battles of the Civil war. Mr. Bone's regiment was in the Eastern department and saw much hard service during the Virginia and Kn6xville campaigns. In the bloody battle at Spottsylvania Court House he received a painful wound in the left shoulder, and from May 12th until the following November he was an inmate of the Campbell Hospital, Washington, D. C., receiving treatment for his injury. When sufficiently recovered he rejoined his regiment and from that time until the cessation of hostilities, did his duty faithfully and well and earned an honorable record as a soldier. lie was honorably discharged at \\ashington. D. C., on November 9, T864, and returned home. In October, 1866, Mr. Bone came to Isabella county and spent the greater part of the ensuing six years in Broomfield township. He drove a team for some time and did any other kind of labor to which lie could turn his hands and later worked on the Muskegon river, and for seven or eight winter seasons was employed in various lumber camlps, in the meantime assisting in the construction of a state road. About 1885 he homesteaded eiglty acres in Coldwater township, swhich he cleared and improved in due time and on which he still lives, the-meanwhile adding to his holdings at intervals until he no\\ owns three fine farms of eighty acres each, all in a high state of cultivation and well improved. As a farmer Mr. Bone is energetic and progressive, ranking among the most successful men of his calling in the county, and lhe also stands high as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen. He manifests a commendable interest in everything that tends to advance the community along material lines, lends his influence to all laudable measures for the general welfare, and in private life, as in his relations with his fellow men, his integrity has never been questioned nor his character impeached. He is a member of the Grand ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 535 Army of the Republic, Post I6, at Everett, Michigan, in which he has held every office within the gift of the organization, besides taking a leading part in the general deliberations of the body. tIe is also an Odd Iellow, a eicmber of the Grange and his name likewise adorns the records of the Sons of Veterans, in all of which lie is a zealous and influential enmber. Mr. Bone's wife was formerly Minerva 'Poxwell, of Athens county. Ohio. She has borne him the following children: Patrick, who married Rose Beecher and lives in Coldwater township; Mary, now Mrs. \Villiam Valentine, lives inl Osceola county, Michigan; Empson lives in Coldwater township, his wife prior to her marriage havinig been Maud Iluffmall; Louise is unmarried and at home; John is also a mlember of the home circle, alnd Maud, wife of Frank IHolmes. lives in the town of Clare, this state. GILBERT JOHNSON. For a number of years the sulject of this sketch has ranked among the leading citizens of Isabella county and in the towniship of his residence he occupies a place second in importance to none of his contemporaries. No other resident of the colmmuniity has been so actively identified with its development and progress, and none has so indelibly impressed his personality upon the inllds of the peoplle or exercised so potent an influence in directing and rcontrolling public affairs. Gilbert Johnson. lumberman, farmer alnd business mlan. was Iorn in New York in i845 and spent his early life in his native state. n 187 li he went to East Saginaw, Michigan. where he engaged in lulmbering, and during the ensuing six years did well in that city, besides acquiring considerable reputation as a discreet and highly honorablle business man. Disposing-of his interests in East Saginaw in 1876, he came to Isabella county and. in partlership with his brother and 1Mr. Pettibone, purchased fifteen hutlred acres of land iin Coldwater townlship. u1pon which duriiig the ten years following they cut the timber aind did (an extensive alnd very lucrative lutlhber business there and elsewhere. At the expiration of the timle ind(icated, Mr. Johnson discontinued lulmbering to engage in merclhaidising with his hrother, the two opening a general grocery store at what is now Sherman City, which the) conducted as partners until the subject purchased his brother's interest, after which lie ran the establishnent with encouraging success until 1903, when he sold his stock and retired from business. lie is still one of the largest owners of real estate 536 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in the county, his holdings in the township of Sherman and Coldwater amounting to over seven hundred acres, two hundred and forty of which are in cultivation. The improved land, which is largely devoted to the raising of hay, he rents to other parties and since the illness of his wife, who is now a confirmed invalid, he has been gradually winding up his business interests, with the object in view of permanently discontinuing all participation in active life. Mr. Johnson has long been prominent as a local politician and, as a Republican leader in Isabella county, has made his influence felt in making platforms and formulating and directing the policies of his party in this part of the state. lie has been a delegate to several district and state conventions, where his judicious counsel and leadership have had weight and his judgmlent, which is frequently consulted in local affairs, has seldom been at fault. He is a widely known and deservedly popular citizen, prominent in all matters having for their object the material advancement of his township and county. and in his immediate community no man is more highly esteemed or enjoys in greater degree the confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens. He was formerly an active and influential member of the Masonic fraternity buit of recent years has taken but little part in the deliberations of the order, although manifesting its principles in his relations with others, as well as in his daily life and conduct. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Clara Dotson, a lady of marked personality and, like himself, possessing many sterling qualities bf mind and heart. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children, but shortly after their marriage they adopted a young orphan girl whom they raised as their own daughter, and who is now the wife of E. Cameron, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages. They also opened their hearts and home to an adopted son, Willonby Knapp, who remained with them until his twentyfirst year, when he engaged in the drug business at Saginaw, where he is now the head of one of the leading establishments of the kind in the city and doing well. OREN W. JOHNSON. The gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection is one of the oldest citizens of Isabella county, there having been fewer than thirty permanent settlers here when he arrived, forty-eight years ago. He has seen the country developed from a wilderness into one of the most prosperous counties of the state and to the extent of his ability has contributed to ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 537 bring about conditions that now obtain. Oren Johnson is a native of Pennsylvania and oldest in a family of six children whose parents were Lewis and Elizabeth Johnson. The father was born at Pine Hill, New York, the mother in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, their deaths occurring in the years 1872 and I867 respectively. The following are the names of the children born to this couple: Sarah, who married Steven Humphrey, both deceased; George Ii. lives in Oakland county, Michigan; Nancy, wife of Maffot McGinis, of Mackinac, this state; Mahala married G. Goodman and lives in Crawford county, Pennsylvania; James Lewis, a resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Oren WV., of this review. Oren W. Johnson was born March 28, 1835, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and when fifteen months old was taken to Michigan, the family making the journey to this state principally by water and landing at Detroit. Leaving his wife and children in a little log hotel in that city the father went to Oakland where he procured a yoke of oxen and, returning after an absence of two weeks, moved his family to the latter place. The subject grew to maturity in Oakland county and remained in that part of the state until about the year I862, when he came to Isabella county, which has since been his home. As already indicated, there were but few settlers in the county when he arrived and for some years he experienced the usual vicissitudes incident to pioneer life. With the sum of three hundred and fifty-eight dollars he bought forty acres of land in Chippewa township, where he now lives, a condition of the deal being the support of the owner of the land for a period of.years in addition to the purchase price. This provision was faithfully carried out, Mr. Johnson in the meantime bending his energies to the improvement of the place besides manifesting a lively interest in the settlement of his part of the county and the development of its resources. On April 8, I865, he responded to one of the last calls for volunteers to help put down the Rebellion, but the war ending within a short time. he saw no active service, receiving his discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, -the same year, after which he returned home and resumed his labors as a tiller of the soil. Mr. Johnson has a fine farm in excellent condition and the improvements, which are first class and in good condition, are among the best in the township. The dwelling is commodious and comfortable, the large barn, forty by seventy feet in area and equipped with all the means devised by modern ingenuity to lighten labor, compares favorably with any other structure of the kind in the community, the other improvements, including two large sheds, a wind mill, several outbuildings, fences, drainage, etc., adding very '538 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. materially to the value of the farm which is conceded to be one of the best of its size in Isabella county. Mr. Johnson believes in progress and, by cultivating the soil according to modern methods, seldom fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor expended on his fields. Being in comfortable circumstances, with ample means for the future, he is no longer obliged to labor as diligently as in former years; nevertheless, he dislikes to be idle, hence makes the most of his time, gives personal attention to his affairs and in the main is one of the busy men of his neighborhood, as well as one of the most contented. Mr. Johnson is Republican in politics, a Baptist in religion and a Imember of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Mt. Pleasant. IIe is a (levout Christian and a faithful worker in the local church which holds his meimbership and among his neighbors and fellow citizens he is held in high esteem on account of his many estimable qualities. Mr. Johnson was married September 27, 1868. to Sarah Staggers, a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, but who for many years had been living in Isabella county, Michigan. The union was blessed with two dauglhters: Rena M., who. in Felruary, 1891, became the wife of Franklin B. Ripley, and Libbie E., who died February 19, 1890, being the older (of the two. ROBERT N ELAN ND)S. The gentleman whose name introduces this article is a citizen of the United States by adoption, being a native of Peel county. Ontario, where he was born in the year 1833. Ile was reared to maturity near the place of his birth, received his educational training in the public schools and grew to manhood in close touch with nature on the farm. His early experiences -icluded the usual routine of labor in the fields and on arriving at the age,totnake a choice of a, vocation he selected agriculture as the one best suited to his tastes and inclinations. Mr. Neelands followed his chosen calling in the land of his hirth lutil forty-three years of age, when he disposed of his interests there and in 1877 came to Isabella county, Michigan, and purchased one hundred acres of unimproved land in section Io, Isabella township, which in due time he cleared and put in condition for tillage. He made all of his first inprovements with his own hands and that, too, with a common chopping ax. and for several years he experienced the various vicissitudes whiclh usually at ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 539 tend settlers in a new country, to say nothing of hardships which doubtless would have discouraged one of less faith and energy. By diligent application, however, he finally overcame such obstacles as were calculated to deter and dishearten and in the course of a few years the results of his well directed labors became apparent in the fine farm and substantial improvements which he now owns and on which he is living a prosperous and contented life. surrounded by the many material blessings which conltribute to his comfort and ease Mr. Neelands' present dwelling, a substantial and commodious brick edifice fully supplied with modern conveniences, was erected in 1903 and the barn, a forty-four by sixty-six feet in size, was built fourteen years prior to that date. Neither pains nor expense have been spared in other improvements such as wire fencing, of which there are now three hundred and forty rods of the latest pattern, while the close attention given to the soil has greatly enhanced its productiveness, the farm at this time ranking among the best in Isabella township and affording a home in which few comforts and conveniences are lacking. Mr. Neelands is a Republican on state and national issues, but in local matters votes for the best qualified candidates irrespective of party affiliations. He has a firm and abiding faith in the Christian religion and for a number of years has been a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist EIpiscopal church, in which he is now serving as class leader, having formerly been one of the trustees. His domestic life, which was a happy one, dates from the year 1874, when he was united in marriage with Margaret Caesar, whose birth occurred in Peel county, Ontario, in 1840, the union being terminated by her death in the year 900oo. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Neelands. namely: Leuella G., James E.. and Ollie, all living under the parental roof and with their father constituting a mutually happy and contented household. THOMAS A. McGREGOR. The history of Isabella county is not an ancient one. It is the record of the steady growth of a community planted in the wilderness in the last century and, reaching its magnitude of today without other aids than those of a continued industry. After all, the history of any locality is but a record of the doings of its people. The story of the plain. common people who constitute the moral bone and sinew of the country should ever attract the at 540 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. tention and prove of interest to all true lovers of their kind. In the life story of Thomas A. McGregor there are no striking chapters or startling incidents, it being merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals, and because of which fact it has become a potent element in the life of the community, he being well and favorably known in Isabella county where he maintains a pleasant and attractive home and works an excellent farm. Mr. McGregor was born on November 3, 1859, in Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Robert and Isabella (Elliott) McGregor, the father born in Scotland, from which country he emigrated to Canada in an early day and ran a stage route, and there he met and married his wife. Two children were born to them, Thomas A., of this review, and Robert, who is living in Fenton township, Genesee county; he married a Miss Burr. When the subject was a child his father went into the Union army as first lieutenant of the Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers, and he never returned, no one knowing w'hether he was killed, lost or captured. The mother married again, her second husband being John F. Skyring, in Canada, and four children were born to them: Charles; Frank, of Lansing, Michigan; Belle and Emma; the first named and the two daughters all reside in the state of Washington. Mr. Skyring died in I9oo at Loomis. Thomas A. McGregor remained in his native community two years, then was taken to Cleveland, Ohio, where his step-father was engaged as a bookkeeper, and there Thomas A. attended school. From Cleveland the family moved to Loomis, Wise township, Isabella county, and here Mr. Skyring engaged in the mercantile business, keeping a general store, and bought property there. Thomas A. continued to go to school after coming here, the step-father maintaining his store five years. The country was then wild; there were no roads and not many houses dotted the almost interminable expanse of woods, and there was but one mill for miles around. From there Mr. McGregor went to Fenton township, Genesee county, and worked on a farm for seven years. When twenty-one years of age he went to South Dakota where he remained one summer working at farm work, then returned to Loomis, Michigan, for one year, working on the Pere Marquette railroad. On July 28, 1882, Mr. McGregor was married, while living in Loomis, to Lucinda Fish, daughter of. David and Prudence (Havens) Fish. She was born on April 3, I859, in Ontario, Canada, and moved to Isabella county with her parents and here met Mr. McGregor, in Loomis. One child was born to them, a daughter who died in infancy. After his marriage Mr. McGregor moved to Fenton township, Genesee ISABELLA COUNTY, M CIIIGAN. 54r county, where he rented and worked a farm for three years, being fairly successful and laid by a competency. He then moved to Loomis and worked on the Pere Marquette railroad for a year, as a member of the section gang lTe moved onto his present place of sixty-five acres in I886, buying the same from William Brown of Mt. Pleasant. Mr. McGregor cleared this farm andit is all now under cultivation. He has placed substantial and excellent improvements on it, including a barn thirty-six by eighty-six feet, and a house twenty-five by thirty-two feet, the latter of cobble stones, in I909. It is a most attractive dwelling, beautiful in every appointment and in the midst of nice surroundings. His cottage is one of the most substantial and desirable homes in the vicinity. He formerly had a frame dwelling. Tie also has one of the best dug wells in the community. He is a member of the Grange, and politically he is a Democrat. tIe was a highway commissioner for seven years, and township clerk for three years, also served as justice of the peace for three years. He has always been much interested in school work and for nine years has been moderator. of his school district. Was re-elected township clerk in T911. Is also interested in the Farmers' telephone line. helping build sixteen miles of telephone line connected with the Michigan State Company at Rosebush. In all these positions he discharged his duties in a most worthy manner and. to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church in Denver township. THOMAS WOOD. Among the well known citizens and successful farmers of Gilmore township, Isabella county, is Thomas Wood, who has lived to witness great changes since coming here. Towns and villages have sprung up and fertile farms have been developed from the wilderness and the swamp, and marked progress has been made along educational, social and moral lines. What has been accomplished for the substantial benefit and material improvement of the county has been of much interest to Mr. Wood, and the active co-operation which he has given to measures for the general good is worthy of notice in the reckoning of what has been accomplished here. For he has always stood ready to do his full share in general development, and his life has been such as to command the respect of his fellow citizens, honest and ever busy. 542 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Wood is a descendant of a sterling old Pennsylvania family. he himself having been born in the old Keystone state, the date of his advent being recorded as November 17, I86o, and the place as Greene county. He is the son of Jesse H. and Martha (Leonard) Wood, the father born in Pennsylvania in December, 1838, and the mother in that state in I842. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, of this review; \Valtcr died March 6, 191o; Hiram lives in Gilmore township, this county; Hannah, Edward, and Henry are also living in Gilmore township, Isabella county; Effie lives in Shepherd, Michigan; Jesse lives in California. Thomas Wood was brought by his parents fron Greene county, P'ennsylvania, to Coe township, Isabella county, Michigan, when he was five years of age, remaining there about four years. Then his father moved to section 34, Gilmore township, and homesteaded a farm of eighty acres, which his son, Thomas, helped clear and improve, remaining there until lie was twenty-one years of age. He then bought his present place of eighty acres, for which he paid six hundred and forty dollars. It was first growth timber land and had no buildings cr other important inmprovements on it, but Mr. Wood was always a hard worker and he soon had the place under a high state of improvcment, which he has continued to develop, and it is now well worth the sum of eight thousand dollars. lHe cleared the entire tract and built a substantial and cozy home, two stories, sixteen by twenty-six feet, and lived there until three years ago. He now owns one hundred and fifty acres, one hundred and ten acres in one tract and forty acres nearby; besides his eighty acres, which is under a high state of cultivation, the land is mostly in pasture and not cleared to a great extent. His eighty acres are well drained, having on it seven hundred yards of tile, and other tile is being laid. He makes cement tile for others. He erected a substantial cement block house in 1907, in two parts, each sixteen by twenty-six feet, one and one-half stories, and has a splendid cellar. In 1906 he built a convenient and substantial barn, forty-four by sixty-four feet, with a basement. His place is well fenced and improved in an up-to-date manner. He has been very successful as a farmer, having started in with nothing, and he has made what he has unaided. He has a small orchard of fine fruit, and his entire place presents a splendid appearance, showing that a gentleman of excellent tastes and good judgment has its management in hand. He is a general farmer and stock raiser. He is familiar with pioneer life in all of its trials and vicissitudes, having worked in the woods ten or twelve winters upon coming to this county. Politically Mr. Wood is a Republican. Although he has never sought ISABELLA COUNTY, MICilIGAN. 543 offices and cares little for them, he has held a number of minor local offices, but always inl a very faithful malner. He is influential in the conimunity and has a host of friends wherever he is known. Mr. Wood was married May 9, 1887, to Mary E. Mount, daughter of Benjamin P. and Adeline;(King) Mount. Her father was a pioneer of this county, having been clerk of Isabella county and several times supervisor of Gilmore township; he is still living. Mrs. Wood was born June I7, 1863, and was one of a family of nine children, four of whom are deceased. Two sons have been born of this marriage: Walter E., born March 3, t888, and Alvin C., born October I8, 1892, both still at home helping on the farm. CECIL WV. ALLEN. Prominent among the successful farmers and influential citizens of Isabella county is C. W. Allen, of Coldwater township, a representative of ain old and esteemed family that came to Michigan in T854, andl for some years was identified with the section of country in which the subject lives. Philip P. Allen, father of the subject, was born April 21, 1829, in Delaware county, New York, larried, July 22, 1850, Mary Sawtelle, who bore him two childlren: (eorge H., \\whose sketch appears elsewhere, and Ozema, who lives in California. Some time after the death of this wife, Mr. Allen contracted a marriage with Eimm-a Bellows, who was born in Marshall, Michigan, January 25, 1846. This union was blessed with four children, namely: Claude W., born February 5 1864. married Addie Tombs and lives in Missaukee county; Cecil W., of this review, who was born October I, I871, in Gratiot county, this state; Tessie, born June 2, 1877, is now the wife of Thomas Copping, of Bay Shore. Charlevoix county, and Rexford, of Coldwater township, who married Nellie Fackler. and is by occupation a farmer. Philip P. Allen was a man of intelligence and influence and during his residence in Isabella county, of which he became a citizen in 1884, took an active part in public affairs. In politics lie was a local leader of the Democratic party and in religion belonged with his wife to the church of the Seventh-day Adventists. Hie was a farmer all his life and died December 15, i908, respected by the entire community. Cecil W. Allen spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm in Gratiot county, received a fair education in the public schools and when about fourteen years old moved with his parents to Isabella county, since which 544 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. time his life has been closely identified with the history of the township of which he is now an honored resident. On attaining his majority he began life for himself as a tiller of the soil, which vocation he has' ince followed with success and financial profit, being now classed with the leading citizens and agriculturists and stock raisers of his township, owning a fine farm of one hundred acres on which are some of the best improvements in the community. His land, which is well drained by tiling, is admirably adapted to farming and stock raising, and it is to the latter that Mr. Allen has devoted the greater part of his attention during the past four years. Carrie White, to whom Mr. Allen was united in marriage in 1892, was born in Rochester, New York, on the 5th day of November, I869. Her father, Edward White, also a native of that state, was born October 12, 1826, and married in his young manhood Jennie E. Quick, who was born June 27, 1846, in Michigan. About I889 these parents moved from Calhoun county to the county of Isabella and located in Coldwater township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs. White dying November i8, 1893, her husband on the 2d day of June, 191T. Mr. White was a farmer and a public spirited and exemplary citizen. In early life he was active in his support of the l)emocratic party, later became a Greenbacker and a few years previous to his death accepted the principles of Socialism. He was born and brought up under the gentle and wholesome influence of the Society of Friends and throughout life exemplified in his daily walk and conversation the principles which govern this excellent religious sect. He was prominent in the affairs of his township and county, assisted in furthering all charitable and humanitarian projects and his influence was ever on the right side of moral issues and reforms. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have three children: Vera, born September 5, 1892; Ozema, November 24, I9oi, and Donald, whose birth occurred on the 2d day of October, I907. HARRY M. WETZEL. Among the successful business men of the thriving town of Shepherd, Harry M. Wetzel holds a deservedly conspicuous place and as a man and citizen he is no less prominent and influential, as is indicated by the interest he manifests in the public welfare at large. Mr. Wetzel is a native of Stark county, Ohio, and the second of three children whose parents were Lewis F. and Ellen (Breninger) Wetzel. the father born May 20, 1848, in Stark ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 545 county, Ohio, and the mother on the 17th day of April, 1852, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Myrtle V. Wetzel, the oldest child of this couple, lives on the family homestead in Coe township; Grace G.. the third in order of birth and, like her sister, unmarried, lives at the same place also, and Harry M., who is the second of the family, first saw the light of (lay on April 7, 1879. Lewis F. Wetzel moved to Isabella county in 1887 and settled on the farm in Coe township where he spent the remainder of his life, dying April 19, I904, his wife preceding him to the grave in the month of September, 190I. Harry M. Wetzel spent his early life amid the active duties of the farm and at the proper age entered the public schools of Coe township, where he made rapid advancement in his studies, the training thus secured being afterwards supplemented by a course in the normal school at Mt. Pleasant, from which he was graduated with an honorable record in 1902. With a mind well disciplined by scholastic training, he turned his attention to educational work and during the ensuing two years taught school in the country, following which he was elected principal of the high school of Maple Rapids. After filling the latter position three years and earning a creditable reputation as a capable and painstaking instructor, he became principal of the schools of Shepherd, his pedagogical experience terminating with his second year in that town. Mr. Wetzel achieved much more than local repute as an educator and had he seen fit to make teaching his life work it is the opinion of many that he would soon have forged to the front among the educators of the state. Not being satisfied with the insufficient salary which the profession commanded, however, he refused further positions, to engage in a more satisfactory and remunerative calling; accordingly, after his marriage in the year I909, he formed a partnership with H. E. Walton in the hardware business, which line of trade lie has since conducted with most encouraging success in the town of Shepherd. Mr. Wetzel's brief career in the mercantile business has been eminently creditable and satisfactory and the establishment with which he is connected has grown into one of the largest and best conducted hardware houses in the county, the stock being full and complete and requiring the two comnllOdious rooms now used to be handled to advantage. He gives close attention to every detail of the business, foresees with remarkable accuracy the future outcome of present action, hence makes his purchases with care and judgment and thus far has realized handsomely from the enterprise to which his time and attention are being devoted. Mr. Wetzel's marriage, to which reference is tiade in the preceding paragraph, was solemnized with Mildred Murtha. whose birth occuirred in (35) 546 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. this county on the I6th of May, I884, her parents being Stephen and Catherine Murtha, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in these pages. In social life as well as in his business relations Mr. Wetzel, although a young man, wields a strong influence and his position as one of the leading public spirited citizens of the community is recognized by all and duly appreciated. His integrity is unswerving and his character above reproach, these and other equally admirable attributes constituting important assets in a personality which is destined to fill a still larger place in business circles and the world of affairs as the years come and go. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 288 at Shepherd to the interests and welfare of which he gives no little time and attention. ALFRED G. HOUSE. The subject of this review is a son of George and Elizabeth (Chancellor) House and dates his birth from the year 1855, having first seen the light of day in Somersetshire, England, where his parents were also born and reared. When seven years of age he was brought to America and during the six years ensuing lived in Canada, removing with the family at the expiration of that period to Monroe county, Michigan, where he remained until his parents transferred their residence to the county of Isabella in 1879. In the meantime he attended school as opportunities afforded and from the time he was old enough labored in the woods and fields and while still a mere youth became familiar with all kinds of rugged labor on the farm. On coming to Isabella county he helped clear and develop the home place in Isabella township, later engaging in the pursuit of agriculture upon his own responsibility. In I885 he was united in marriage with Fidelia Yager, whose birth occurred August 3, I866. Henry and Belmira (Manning) Yager, the parents of Mrs. House, were born in the years I828 and 1819, respectively, the latter dying in I892, the former, who is still living, making his home in Isabella township. Mr. House's first purchase of real estate consisted of forty acres of woodland in section I8, of the above township, and in due time he cleared and reduced it to cultivation, besides adding a number of improvements from time to time. He subsequently added to his original purchase until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in one of the most productive agricultural districts of the county, all but fifteen acres in cultivation ISABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 547 and improved with excellent buildings and fine wire fencing of the most approved kind. His residence, a substantial brick edifice, containing all the modern improvements and conveniences with which such structures are usually equipped, was erected in 1903 and is among the most comfortable and attractive homes in the township; the barn, built five years previous, is a large and comnmodious structure, being in dimensions forty-four by sixty feet, with stone basement, and admirably adapted to such uses as it is intended to subserve. Like most enterprising and progressive tillers of the soil, Mr. House raises considerable live stock of the finer breeds, including blooded horses, of which he now has eight head, a flock of fifty-six sheep, and his cattle, which average from eighteen to twenty-five head, are among the finest animals of the kind in the neighborhood and represent no small amount of capital. Fraternally, Mr. House is a member of the Grange and as such takes an active interest not only in the social features of the order, but in all means for the advancement of farming, being a careful student of agricultural science and a believer in the honor of his calling. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, but has no ambition to gratify in the direction of office seeking, being content with the plain, simple life of an American citizen, which in point of dignity he considers second to no other vocation or profession. Mr. and Mrs. House are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Elmer, born February 29, 1896; Oliver, born October 20, I898, and Hazel, who was born on July I6, I902. LOUIS LAPEARL. Among the large land owners and successful farmers of Isabella county the subject of this sketch occupies a deservedly conspicuous place. In connection with agriculture he carries on quite a large business buying timber and manufacturing it into lumber, buys and sells wood upon quite an extensive scale, besides loaning money and dealing in real estate. Louis Lapearl belongs to the large Canadian ontingent which constitutes such an important part of the population of Michigan, having been born in Ontario, on June I8, I857. He spent his boyhood and received his education in his native county and remained there until eighteen years old, when he came to Michigan and during the ensuing six years worked as a farm hand near Farmington, in 548 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the county of Oakland. In December, I886, he came to Isabella county and purchased forty acres of land in section 17, Nottawa township, which he at once proceeded to clear and reduce to cultivation, a task of no little magnitude, the land being heavily wooded and interspersed with a dense undergrowth. With his characteristic industry and energy, however, he was not long in fitting the greater part of the tract for tillage and a little later he added to his original purchase by buying other land in the vicinity. Without following in detail Mr. Lapearl's struggles and successes, suffice it to say that in due time his efforts were abundantly rewarded, as he soon became one of the leading farmers of his township, besides purchasing at intervals additional land there and in other parts of the county. lie made splendid improvements in the way of buildings, fences, etc., brought his place to a high state of cultivation and everything to which he turned his hand appeared to prosper. The reputation which he early earned of being one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Isabella county he still sustains, and he is also among its nost enterprising and well-to-do men of affairs. By well drected industry and judicious management he has accumulated sufficient of material wealth to make him independent, owning at the present time seven hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in the townships of Sherman and Nottawa, three hundred of which are in cultivation and highly improved and, as already indicated, constituting one of the finest and most valuable farms in the county. As stated in a preceding paragraph, his entire time is not given to agriculture, as he devotes considerable attention to the buying and selling of timber, lumlber and wood, a line of business which has been very profitable and which is steadily growing in magnitude and importance. In addition to his farming and timber interests, he deals quite extensively in real estate, in which he has acquired a large and lucrative patronage, and also does a very satisfactory business loaning money. Mr. Lapearl is a man of sound practical sense, discreet tact, and his judgment is such that he is seldonm if ever at fault in forecasting the future outcome of present plans and actions. His financial success has imade him one of the solid men of his township and( county, at the sanie time he manifests commendable interest in public affairs and is ever ready to co-operate with his fellow citizens in promoting the general welfare of the community. Mr. Lapearl was happily married to Anna Wixom. who was born August 31, 1860, in Oakland county, Michigan, where her parents, John R. and Rhoda (Jaceway) Wixom, had long resided. Her father, whose birth occurred on the 9Ith of September, 1828, was the second white child born in Farmington township of the above county; he was a farmer by occupation ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 549 and an excellent and praiseworthy citizen and his death, on the 23d of December, 1906, was greatly deplored by all who knew him. Mrs. Rhoda Wixom was born February 3, 1833, in Elmira. New York, and departed this life on July 30, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Lapearl have three children whose names are as follows: Fred, born March I8, i882, married Miss Minnie Tracey and lives on the family homestead which he now manages. Bertha, whose birth occurred on the 17th day of August, I883, is the wife of Charles Bamber and lives in Detroit; Violet C., the youngest of the family, was born May IO, 1893, and departed this life May 29, I9OI. Joseph Lapearl, the subject's father, was born in Canada in the year 1820 and when a young man married Josephine Leger, also a native of that country. He was called to his eternal rest in I895, being survived by his wife who is still living. JASON H. STRUBLE. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a native of Ohio, born in the town of Primrose, Williams county, on July I8, 1862, being a son of Henry and Eliza (Wickham) Struble, the former born in Knox (now Morrow) county, that state, November I8, 1824, the latter in England on the 3oth day of June, I834. Henry Struble came to Michigan June 2, I868, and engaged in general merchandising at Salt River, where he carried on a good business for about five years, removing at the expiration of that time to a farm in Coe township, where he lived in honorable retirement until his death, which occurred February 7, 1911. He was twice married, the first time in 1848 to Rebecca Murphy, who was born in I830, and died in I854, after bearing her husband two children, a daughter, Zilla Ann, who was born September Io, 1850, in Fulton county, Ohio, and who was marrie(l November 19, I868, to Julius Conklin, of Coe township; Nathaniel W., the second in order of birth, first saw the light of day in the same county and state on the 22d day of September, 1852. He married Nettie T. Allen January 18, i88o, and at this time lives in the village of Shepherd. Eliza Wickham, the second wife of Henry Struble, to whom he was married January I4, I858, bore him four children and departed this life in the village of Shepherd August 26, I906, the following being the names of her offspring: Sarah M., born November 14, 1858, married George 55~ ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Murtha July I, 1876, and resides in Mt. Pleasant; Jason TI.. the subject of this sketch, is the second of the number; Albert G., born in (Ohio, October I, 1864, married Jennie Morris, and lives in the village of Shepherd; Kenneth E. (see sketch on another page of this work) was born in West Unity, Ohio, November 17, 1867, and at the present time lives in Isabella county, throughout which he has become widely and favorably known. Jason H. Struble was six years old when his father moved to Isabella county and since June, I868, his life has been very closely identified with the growth and development of the township of which he is now an honored resident. He received his educational training in the schools of Coe township, but discontinued his studies at the age of fourteen and began work as a salesman in a general store. On attaining his majority he began business for himself in partnership with his brother, N. W. Struble, the firm thus constituted lasting until 1892, when he purchased the latter's interest and became sole proprietor of one of the largest and best arranged mercantile establishments in the village of Shepherd, to which place the stock was transferred in 1887 from the old town known as Salt River. This move was made on account of the railway advantages and other facilities, and since the subject took charge of the store the business has grown rapidly in volume and importance until he now carries the largest and best stock of goods in the town, including all kinds of dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, clothing, furnishing goods, etc., indeed everything that can be found in a first class general mercantile establishment for which there is any demand. By close attention to business and by consulting the wishes of his customers he has built up an extensive and far-reaching patronage and, as already indicated, he now occupies a conspicuous place among the leading merchants of the county and enjoys much more than local repute in the commercial circles of his part of the state. In connection with his mercantile enterprise he has been identified with the financial interests of his town since 19o8, at which time he purchased stock in the Central State Savings Bank of Shepherd, and was made vice-president of the institution, which position he still holds, being also a menmber of the board of directors. Possessing business ability of a high order, he has contributed greatly to the success of the bank and helped make it one of the most popular institutions of the kind in the county, its continued advancement and the important place it holds in public favor being largely attributed to his foresight and management. He is also interested in the Winn Banking Company at the town of Winn, this state, being one of the leading stockholders and an influential factor in promoting the success which the institution now enjoys. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 551 Mr. Struble is identified with the Masonic fraternity and has filled all the offices within the gift of Salt River Lodge No. 288, to which he belongs. He is also an active worker in the Knights of Maccabees Tent at Shepherd, which from time to time has honored him with important official positions, and in politics he supports the principles of the Republican party. Mr. Struble is a kind and affable gentleman of pleasing address and attractive personality, and it is not too much to say that no man in the community enjoys a larger measure of public confidence or stands higher in the esteem of the populace. His integrity is inflexible, his character above reproach and his relations with his fellow men have always been characterized by a high sense of honor, which qualities, with others equally commendable, have made him quite popular and earned for him an influential place among the leading citizens of his day and generation in the place of his residence. Mr. Struble, on January 2, I888, contracted a matrimonial alliance with Lola L. Upton, who was born September 6, I866, in Coe township, Isabella county, where her parents, J. J. and Wealthy Upton, now residing at Shepherd, settled a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Struble have a beautiful anll attractive home in the town and move in the best circles of the community, their marriage being without issue. WILLIAM I. DIBTBLE. This representative business man iantd popular citizen is a native of Livingston county, Michigan, where he was born on the i2th day of January, 1854. At the tender age of five years death deprived him of a father's care and guidance and four years later his mother remarried, after which event he remained at home until his thirteenth year, when lie began earning his own livelihood as a farm laborer. During the nine years ensuing, le lived with II. S. Ridmund, to whom he is indebted for his training in the upright, manly course which he has ever pursued. At the expiration of the period indicated he chose for himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Estella Webster, an excellent young lady to whom he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock in the year 1880. In I889 he moved to Shepherd. where he has since resided, spending the following ten years as a drayman, which business he found fairly successful and enabled him to lay aside some means with the object in view of engaging in a more remlunerative enterprise. Accordingly, in 1896 he effected a co-partnership in the hay and grain 552 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. business with H. D. Bent, the firm thus established building up a large and lucrative trade in the above lines, in addition to which Mr. Dibble also began dealing quite extensively in coal and ice, which in due time returned him a handsome income and won for him a conspicuous place among tle leading business men of the town. The firm of Dibble & Bent has continued to the present time with a very successful patronage and the subject still owns the large coal yard which he formerly operated in connection with the ice business, but which for some time past he has rented to other parties. Additional to the business to which his attention is specially directed, he is identified with various other enterprises of a private and public nature, among the latter being the Commercial State Bank of Shepherd, in which he is a large stockholder, also a member of the board of directors, and during the past six years he has filled the responsible position of town marshal. As a guardian of the peace he is watchful and alert, fearless in checking all attempts at lawlessness, and so ably and impartially has he discharged the duties of his office that his name has becomes a terror to evil-doers and the criminal classes, who, some years ago so numerous, now find it convenient to give the town a wide berth. lie also served as treasurer of Coe township, and while holding this position proved a judicious custodian of one of the people's important trusts, performing all of his official functions with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public and earning a record second to that of none of his predecessors. Mr. Dibble is a Democrat and while interested in the success of his party and ready to make any reasonable sacrifice in behalf of its principles and candidates, he is by no means narrow or prejudiced in his views, according everyone the same right of opinion which he claims for himself. In party councils his judgment is always respected and his advice carries weight, and in the conventions, which he invariably attends as a delegate, his influence has had much to do in drafting resolutions, making platforms and formulating and directing policies. Mr. Dibble is a man of broad humanitarian principles and nothing appeals to him with greater force or is as sure of enlisting his sympathy and generosity as a tale of suffering or duress. He is known far and wide on account of his kindness to the sick, no night being too dark and no weather too inclement to keep him from the bedside of suffering, where his genial presence at once begets confidence and his words of cheer seldom fail to arouse encouragement. Standing for law and order and believing in reducing evil to the lowest possible minimum, he aids and abets all measures for the moral advancement of the community and has ever tried to realize within his own personality his highest ideals of manhood and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 553 citizenship. Not only is he deeply interested in the material progress of his town and county, but all worthy measures for the intellectual, social and moral welfare of his fellow men arouse his interest, such as the various secret fraternal orders for which he has always manifested profound regard. tie is an active and influential member of Salt River Lodge No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons, Coe Lodge No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs, and to him belongs the honor of having been the first candidate in Hive No. 232, Knights of the Maccabees, in the town of Shepherd. Mr. Dibble's first wife, who bore him no children, departed this life in I899, and the following year he was united in marriage with Maud Raymond, of Pleasant Valley, Midland county, this union resulting in the birth of two children, Francis and Harold, aged eight and six years, respectively. In December, I9o6, the death angel again entered the home of Mr. Dibble and removed from thence his devoted wife, leaving him a second time bereaved. Animated by a strong and living faith in Him who doeth all things well, he bore up manfully under his sorrows, cheered by the thought of ultimate reunion with the loved and lost in a world where all tears shall be wiped away and partings be no more. In his religious views Mr. Dibble is a Methodist and as such has long been active in the work of the local church to which he belongs, besides contributing liberally to spread the gospel at home and abroad. He has served the church at Shepherd in various official capacities, holding at the present time the positions of trustee and treasurer. REV. ALEXANDER FRANCIS ZUGELDER. The beloved pastor of St. l'hilomcna's IRolman Catholic church in Nottawa township and one of the popular priests of the diocese of Grand Rapids, was born January 6, 1869, in Konigheim, Baden, Germany, and spent the early part of his life in the land of his nativity. He was primarily educated in the gymnasium schools of Baden, where he pursued his studies until his nineteenth year, when he came to the United States and during the four years ensuing attended St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, following which he finished his theological studies after one year in the Grand Seminary at Montreal. Father Zugelder was ordained priest at Grand Rapids, Michigan, on 554 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. June 29, 1893, and immediately thereafter entered upon his first pastorate at Cadillac where he labored with great acceptance for a period of eighteen months, at the expiration of which time he was transferred to Provemont, this state, where he ministered to the spiritual wants of a growing church during the ensuing four years. From the latter place he went to Beaver Island, where he spent six very useful years, and then came to his present field of labor in Isabella county, where, since I9O5, he has been pastor of St. Philomena's church, one of the leading Catholic organizations of central Michigan and the largest church of any denomination in the county outside of Mt. Pleasant. When Father Zugelder took charge of the work in Nottawa township he found the parish in an embryo state and no house of worship for the congregation. He at once turned his attention to the remedying of this ill conditioned state of affairs and by skillful leadership and able financial management soon succeeded in arousing his flock to an appreciation of their needs and to prepare them for the enterprise which he had in view. The old btil(ding having been struck by lightning and burned the year previous to his arrival, he at once inaugurated a movement to erect a temple of worship more in keeping with the growth of the parish and the advancement of the communtity. In due time work on the new edifice began and being puslhedl forward as rapidly as circumstances would admit, it was not long luntil the present imposing temple, fifty-two by one hundred and twenty-eight feet in (limensions, constructed entirely of the finest granite with steel ceiling and absolutely fire proof, was finished at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars and formally dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. (For a more comllllete account of this building, see history of St. Philomena's church by the pastor in another chapter of this volume.) Since the completion of the building, which is acknowledged to be one of the finest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in the central part of the state, a residence for the Sisters who teach in the parochial school has also been erected, being, like the former, a beautiful and substantial granite edifice, two stories high and containing ten commodious rooms which are fully equipped with modern improvements and conveniences. In connection with his clerical duties, Father Zugelder has charge of the school under the auspices of the church, which now has an average attendance of two hundred pupils, a number which is constantly increasing. He is greatly beloved by his parishioners, also by the public at large, and is a most zealous worker in the cause of the church and as a devout and highly esteemed pastor has made his presence and influence a power for good since taking charge of his present field. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 555 Through his generosity, genial disposition, pious enthusiasm and indefatigable labor in behalf of his parishioners, he has won an abiding place in their affections, besides gaining many warin friends regardless of creed, and he stands today a true exempllar of Christianity and the Catholic faith. Being in the prime of life and influence, with the greater part of his mission yet to be accomplished, it is eminently fitting to predict for him a long and brilliant future in the noble work to which his time and talents are being devoted. EMANUEL CROTSER. Conspicuous among the prosperous farmers and public spirited men in the township honored by his citizenship is the well-known and highly esteemed gentleman whose career is briefly recorded in the following lines. Anthony Crotser, the subject's father, was born in Ohio in 1817, and died in MTichigan in 1865; the mother, who prior to her marriage was Rebecca Fritz and a native of the same state as her husband, was born in 1830. and departed this life in Kalamazoo count\, Michigan, in the year 1896. Emanuel Crotser. whose birth occurred in Portage county, Ohio, November 2, 1857, spent his early life in Kalamazoo county, where his parents settled when the subject was quite young. His father dying when Emanuel was eight years old, the lad grew up under the fostering care of his mnother and, as opportunities offered, attended the district schools until acquiring a pretty thorough knowledge of the coImmon branches of learning. The subject and his mIother o\\wned a farm near Croton, in the county of Kalanazoo, on which he lived until attaining his majority, when he sold his interest in the place and later, January 5. I88o, purchased the forty acres in Isabella county to -which he moved on August 24th of the same year, and which he still owns. In the meantime, he chose a wife and helpmeet in the person of Isabella Kindy, of Medina county, Ohio, who accompanied him to the new home in Tsabella county and set up their domestic establishment in the month and year indicated above. Mr. Crotser at once began improving his land and in due time had tle greater part under cultivation. Subsequently he increased his realty by the purchase of an adjoining forty acres, which, under his effective labors and judicious management, has also been improved and made productive, the farm. which now contains eighty acres, ranking among the best farms of its size not only in the township, but il the county. 556 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. and Mrs. Crotser have labored to good advantage in the making of a home and they take a pardonable pride in the result of their efforts. A beautiful and imposing brick dwelling, seventeen by twaenty feet, upright, sixteen by eighteen feet in the wing, and containing eight commodious rooms, was erected in I896 and is one of the most substantial and comfortable country residences in the county. A large barn, forty by sixty feet, was erected in 1893, these with the usual outbuildings, good fencing and ample tile drainage, adding much to the appearance and value of the place and making it a home creditable alike to the owners and to the locality in which it is situated. Mr. Crotser has been prosperous as a tiller of the soil and from the beginning until now his career presents a series of successes and advancements which prove him a man of progressive ideas and a master of his calling. In all of his efforts he has been heartily seconded by his wife who has proven a helpmeet indeed and worthy to bear the name which she has long honored. Both are highly esteemed members of the social circles in which they move, and all enterprises and measures for the good of the community and the moral betterment of those with whom they mingle are sure to enlist their co-operation and support. Owing to her illness, which occurred while the farm was being developed, it was found necessary for Mrs. Crotser to seek a more healthful locality, accordingly she was moved to a distant locality where she remained three years, returning at the end of that time with bodily powers fully restored. During the period indicated Mr. Crotser fell considerably in arrears with his work, which with the necessary expenses incurred threw him somewhat behind financially, nevertheless the end justified the means, as the continued good health of Mrs. Crotser ever since abundantly attests. Mr. Crotser was one of the first farmers in Isabella township to introduce the sugar beet into this part of the state and for a period of fifteen years he gave constant attention to its culture, being influential in inducing others to engage in this branch of farming. The industry proved quite remunerative and he still devotes a portion of his land to the raising of these vegetables, which promise ere long to become one of the country's most important crops. He also raises live stock of the better breeds, his horses, cattle, sheep and hogs ranking among the best in the township and yielding him every year a handsome profit on the capital thus invested. Politically he votes the Republican ticket and religiously holds to the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs, both being active and influential church workers and deeply interested in all legitimate means for the spiritual good of the community in which they reside. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 557 A number of years ago, when there was no Baptist organizationl il Isabella township, Mr. and Mrs. Crotser united with the Presbyterian society which met for worship in the government schoolhouse about two miles from their home. They took a leading part in the services until a Baptist church was established, when they joined the latter and have ever since been faithful and devoted members. They contributed liberally of their time and means toward the erection of the house of worship in 1908, and at this time Mr. Crotser holds various official positions in the organization, his wife being one of the most efficient teachers in the Sunday school and a leader in the Ladies Aid Society. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Crotser consists of two children, Clarence and Floyd. The former was born January 6, I880, received a high school education in Mt. Pleasant and now owns forty acres of land in Chippewa township, this county, though still living with his parents: Floyd, whose birth occurred on the i8th of June, 1893, finished the coimmon school course and is now pursuing his studies in the Mt. Pleasant high school where he has made an honorable record as an industrious and critical student. David Kindy, father of Mrs. Crotser, was born in Canada in the year 1831. and when a young man married Elizabeth Cult. a native of Medina county, Ohio, where her birth occurred in 1838. The latter died in 1904: the former, who survived her, is now living in Kalamazoo county, Michigan. Mrs. Crotser was born in Medina county, Ohio, in T86o, and when one year old was taken to Kalamazoo county, where she grew to womanhood and married. J.. KELLER. To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving perseverance and wise economy which so prominently characterize the farning element in the Wolverine state. Among this class may be mentioned J. W. Keller, who, by reason of years of indefatigable labor and honest effort, has not only acquired a well-merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he has associated, and he is regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of Denver township, Isabella county. Mr. Keller was born in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, February 5, 1865. He is the son of Michael Keller. who was born in 1828 in Germany 558 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGGAN. and who emigrated to New York city in 1848. He drifted thrdugh several Eastern states, finally reaching as far wvest as Louisville, Kentucky, thence back to Ontario, where he settled on a farm and was married to Eliza Holman in 186i, at Exeter, Huron county, Ontario. They remained there until the spring of I880, when he came to Michigan and bought one hundred and twenty acres which is now divided among his three sons and being part of their homes. The older Keller put up a small log house on his land here, then returned to Ontario for his family, moving to Michigan the following fall, and he lived on this place the rest of his life, dying in I894. He was an honest, hard-working man, highly respected in his community and who provided well for his family and was kind to all, withholding charity from none in need of same. The mother is now living with her children. They reared a large family, named as follows: Martin lives at Stevenson Lake, Michigan: John, of this review; Jennie, who married Robert Ervine, of Coleman, Michigan; Eliza married J. H. Trip and lives in Kalkaska, Michigan; Mary married Delbert Morris, of Chicago, where they still make their home; Michael lives on the old home place in Denver township; George R. is living on a part of the old homestead; W. Joseph is living in Toledo, Ohio; Esther died in the spring of 9gog; Eleanor married and is living in Mexico. J. W. Keller was fifteen years old when his father nioved to Michigan. He went to school in Canada and assisted his father in his farm work. lie worked at home for five years after conming to this state, and when he reached his majority he went to Minnesota and the Dakotas to see the country, spending over a year there engaged in carpentering, then returned hone, where he remained until I888, working on the home place and at carpentering in that vicinity. In i888 he went to Oregon and followed his trade and worked also as a millwright, remaining there until the summer of i89O. He m1ade good money there considering the length of time he was engaged. The father became seriously ill and he was summoned home. The following fall he was married to Mary Rolfe, daughter of B. H. and Emily Rolfe. who was born on July 23, I869, in Ingham county, Michigan. Her parents moved to Isabella county when she was young and her marriage occurred in Denver township at her home. His father gave them forty acres of wild land and they moved on it and improved it. Two children were born to this union, E. Irene, who is a graduate from the Central Michigan Normal, and Gladys M., both at home. Mr. Keller is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land, forty acres being bought in 1889 and the other twenty in I902, also a fine dwelling property in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He built all the buildings on the place, including an excellent, large and attractive dwelling and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 559 t\o splendid barns, the latter one in I906. Being a carpenter of much skill. he erected his own buildings. He was compelled to clear his land of heavy timber and to stunlp it. He has placed many substantial improvements on the place, including many outbuildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising, keeping large numners of Durham cattle and a fine drove of hogs. also some good horses. \While he does not mingle much in political affairs, he is always interested in the affairs of the township, county and state, and has held several of the local offices, such as justice of the peace, which office he is nosw holding; he has for years held the office of supervisor and county canvasser and highway commissioner, and also has held school offices. He belongs to the Baptist church, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rosebush and Mit. Pleasant and has held some of the chairs in the same. He has been a melmber of the Grange for several years and wxith the exception of one year has always held the office of master, and while a member of the Gleaners he was a chief for four years. Politically he is a Republican. laving lived here the major part of his life and been more or less active in public affairs, he is well and favorably known throughout the county and is well liked by everybody. GEORGE T. CLARK. The subject of this sketch is a native of England, born in Gloucestershire on the 3d day of May, I856. tIe remained in the land of his birth until fourteen years of age, at which time he accompanied his parents to Oxford county, Ontario, where he grew to young manhood and acquired a fair education in the public schools. When twenty years old he moved with the family to Ionia county, this state, and after remaining one year in that part of Michigan, came in the fall of 1876 to Isabella county and during the ensuing ten years lived in the township of Isabella, devoting his attention the meanwhile to farm labor. In J886 Mr. Clark moved to his present place of residence in section 30 of the above township, the eighty acres which he then purchased being all wooded and requiring much hard work to clear and fit for cultivation. He helped cut roads through the forests, assisted in making various other public improvements and did his full share in developing the section of the country in which he lives and making it one of the finest agricultural districts in the township. In the course of a few years he had the greater part of his land cleared and in cultivation, besides adding to his 560 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. original purchase from time to time until his real estate now amounts to two hundred acres of fine land, on which are some of the best improvements in the locality. Mr. Clark has made all the improvements on his farm and, as already indicated above, he now has a beautiful and attractive country home and is well situated so far as material prosperity is concerned. By industry and good management he has succeeded in accumulating a 'sufficiency of this world's goods to place him in independent circumstances, being one of the leading farmers of his township and a Ipublic-spirited citizen who manifests commendable interest in all measures having for their object the social advancement of the community and the moral good of his fellow men. While well informed on the leading public questions of the times and the issues concerning which men and parties divide, he is not a politician, though on state and national affairs he generally votes with the Republican party, heing independent in local matters. Religiously, he was reared in the church of England and still adheres to the Episcopal faith, though liberal in his views and ready to accord'to every man the same right of private judgment which he claims for himself. The presiding spirit in Mr. Clark's home is the lady of intelligence and gentle presence who bears his name and who previous to her marriage was Mary Stutter of Gloucestershire, England. Their family circle is composed of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Jesse. Frank. MIabel. Albert, Emma, Jennie, Ina, Gladys, Thomas, Charles and Rosilie, a son, George. who was the first in the order of birth, being deceased. tO1N. JOHN W. HANCE. The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides and incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. The gentleman whose life history is herewith briefly set forth is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good l)urpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the various spheres to which his talents and energies have been devoted, Mr. Hance being widely known in this section of Michigan as a citizen of high rank, a public spirited man who has ever manifested a willingness to serve his fellow men. a man who miade a most commendable record as state senator, and at present' the postmaster at Mt. a III, I( I \ xv I ' \ ' I I ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 56r Pleasant, having long maintained his home in Isabella county, whose interests he has ever sought to promote in every way possible and which he evidently has at heart. He is known as a man of unshrinking integrity, rigid honesty, technical in his definitions of morality, unbending in his fidelity to them. championing the right with zeal and enthusiasm. Mr. Hance, who is the scion of a sterling old pioneer family, was born on A\ugust 2, 1848, in Marengo, Morrow county, Ohio. He is of German descent, his ancestors Quakers, having emigrated to the state of New Jersey in an early day. He is the son of Adamt Hance, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, and Mary A. (Morrison) Hance who also was born in Ohio, of Welsh ancestry. In I863 the family came to Isabella county, Michigan, and engaged in farming. John W. Hance of this review was the third son. The father and paternal grandfather were loyal to the Union cause and assisted in the work of the "underground railroad," helping many a slave to reach free soil and freedom. Mr. Hance received a good education and began life as a school teacher, which profession he followed with much success for a period of six years. In January, T875, he became deputy county clerk and register of deeds under Joel C. Graves, whom he met by chance and who at once said to him: "I recently dreamlied that you were my deputy in office, and I no\w appoint you to that place." Mr. Hance accepted. Mr. Graves served two years and then I lance was elected and (;rave as as ith Ilance. In 1882, having long manifested an abiding interest in public affairs, he was elected state senator for his district, which included Isabella, Gratiot, Midland and Clare counties. Te made a commendable record in this important office. He was chairman of the committee on state public schools, a Imember of the committee on canals, rivers and harbor improvements, also banks and corporations and federal relations. Mr. IHance came to Mt. Pleasant in January, I875. He was for a number of years interested in the real estate business, also in lumbering. He has been fairly successful in whatever he has turned his attention to, and is now the owner of a well improved and valuable farm adjoining the city. He lives on this place, having a large. modern and attractive home. In 1883, in partnership with Michael Devereaux, he erected a large brick block, in connection with many enterprises. He is a business man of keen discernment and sound judgment. Mr. ITance was married on May 24, 1889, to Sarah C. Marshall, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Corbus. a fine old family of this county. This union has been without issue. (36) 562 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Hance was appointed postnlaster at Mt. Pleasant on February 13, I902. TIhis is a second-class office and Mr. Hance is now1 serving his third term. He has given entire satisfaction both to the department and to the citizens here, being faithful to duty at all times. 1Ie has two commissions from Roosevelt and one from Taft. Although the office takes much of his tilme, he is still engaged in the real estate and lrcan lusiness with Mr. Devereaux. MICHAEL DUGGAN. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of six children whose parents, Edmond and Margaret ((win) D)uggan. were natives of Irelan(l. The father was reared in his native island and, when about thirty-five years of age, came to the United States and settled in New York, where he remained a few years and then went to Ypsilanti, Michigan. Later he moved to Isabella county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land in section 36, Lincoln township, on which he built a log house, purchased a yoke of oxen and began clearing the farm. Two years later, about 1857, his marriage with Margaret Qwin was solemnize(d. \ith the aid of his sons, he subsequently cleared and converted the land into a good farm. He spent the remainder of his life on this place and at his death, in the year 1899, it was willed to his six children, seventy acres falling to the subject, who afterwards purchased the entire tract, less thirty-six acres. Michael Duggan was born on the family homestead in Lincoln township, Isabella county, October 20, 1859, and received a common school education. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and early in life formed the habits of industry and'thrift, which made him a valuable assistant to his father and later enabled him to lay broad and deep the foundation of his own success as a tiller of the soil. Inheriting a part of the estate at his father's death, as indicated above, he proceeded at once to improve his land, which in due time was brought to a high state of cultivation and later, by purchasing his brother's and sister's interests, his farm was enlarged to its present area of one hundred and twenty-four acres, nearly all susceptible to tillage and well improved. Mr. Duggan's career as a fartner has been satisfactory in every respect. He has succeeded admirably and is now one of the well-to-do men of his township, with a comfortable and attractive home and a sufficiency of material wealth to make him independent. IHe has improved his farm with good buildings, fences, drainage, etc., and with ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 563 all tile modern accessories of agriculture at hand, he makes his labors remunerative and adds every year to the ample competency which he has accumulated. Mr. Duggan has ever manifested a lively interest in the development and prosperity of his township and in point of continuous residence he is now one of its oldest and most highly esteemed citizens. He enjoys to a marked degree the confidence of his fellow men and hy a life singularly free from faults his influence has always made for the good of those with whom lie has mingled. From time to time he has been honored with various local offices, in which. as in his relations with his fellow citizens, his integrity was never impeached nor his veracity questioned. In politics he supports the Democratic party and takes an active part in promoting its success; he belongs to the organization of Gleaners at Summerton and is a loyal and devout member of the Catholic church. Mr. Duggan, in the month of October, 1890, was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Hannah O'Brien, who has borne him the following children: IEdmlund, Paul, Arthur, Marie. Bernice and Beatrice, the two last twins. \WILBUR. PII,;RI'ONT. Iolding worthy prestige as a citizen andl distinctively one of the leading farmers of the townslhip in which lie resides, the subject of tlhis revie\\ occupies an imlportant place Laong the representative men of Isabella colltty and it is witlh ntuch satisfaction that the biographer presents in this connection the following outline of his career and a modest tribute to his worth. Wilbur N. Pierpont is a native of Livingston county, New York, borln in the town of Lima, September 28. 1i865. W\hen eight years old lie was taken by his parents to O\wosso, MAichigan, wlhere he grew to maturity in close touch with the soil and until attaining his majority worked at farm labor in the summler time and (luring the winter months he attended the district schools, also the high school at Owosso, gratluating in i885. Reared to agricultural pursuits, lie early (lecided to levote his life to the cultivation of the soil, accordingly in Nokvember. T89T, lie came to Isabella county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 15, Fremont township, which he at once proceeded to improve and which he subsequently increased by a forty-acre tract adjoining, making his home place of one hundred and twenty acres one of the finest and most desirable farms in the township. 564 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. From the beginning of his career to the present time Mr. Pierpont has been uniformly successful and in addition to the farm on which he resides he now owns other valuable lands, including eighty acres in section 23 of the above township, and a like number of acres in section o0, his real estate amounting to two hundred and eighty acres, being among the best and most desirable in the county and increasing in value with each recurring year. As a farmer he easily ranks among the most enterprising and successful of the township in which he lives, being progressive in his ideas, a believer in modern improvements and cultivating the soil according to the latest and most approved methods. By remodeling his dwelling and adding a number of modern conveniences, he now has a commodious and comfortable home with attractive surroundings, and his other buildings, including a substantial barn. leave little to be desired in the way of improvements. While devoted to his calling and making every other consideration subordinate thereto, he takes an active interest in the advancement of the community, lends his influence and support to all laudable measures for the welfare of his fellow inen and is ever ready to encourage enterprises having for their object the general good of his county and state. A Democrat in politics, he was four times elected supervisor and served in that capacity, during which time he discharged his duties in a straightforward, business-like manner and pIroved, in the most liberal meaning of the term, an able and judicious official. He has been one of the directors of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Isabella county for the past twelve years. Fraternally, Mr. Pierpont is identified with the ancient and honorable order of Freemasonry, belonging to Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383, and also holds membership with Cedar Ridge Lodge No. 540, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, besides being a leading spirit in the Eastern Star chapter, the Grange, the Loyal Guard and the Knights of the Maccabees, in all of which organizations he has been honored at intervals with important official trusts. The domestic life of Mr. Pierpont dates from the year I888, when he was united in marriage with Georgia M. Mack, whose birth occurred. on the 6th of May, I869. Mrs. Pierpont's parents, William and Jane (McCrea) Mack, were natives of Canada, born in the years 1832 and 1837, respectively. They came to Michigan a number of years ago and spent the remainder of their lives in this state, both dying at Owosso, the mother in 1883, the father in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Pierpont have two children, Clarence N., born in the town of Owosso, on April 20, I890, and David W., whose birth occurred in Fremont township, Isabella county, January I, 1892, both being intelligent and manly young men and their father's efficient assistants in cultivating the farm. ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 565 Samuel N. Pierpont, the subject's father, was born in Livingston county, New York, in i830, and in I874 moved his family to Owosso, Michigan, where he continued to reside until the death of his wife in 1904. since which time he has made his home with his son, \Vilbur N., in Isabella county. Augiusta Wilbur, wife of Samuel Pierpont and mother of the subject, was born in North L.ondonderry, Vermont, in 1837, and departed this life at Owosso in the year indicated above. GEORGE H. GOVER. In examining the life-records of self-made men. it will invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. True there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advancement of personal interests,-perseverance, discrimination and masterilg of expedients,-but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent labor. At the outset of his career, George II. Gover, well-known citizen of Leaton, Michigan, recognized this fact. and he did not seek any royal road to the goal of prosperity and independence. but began to work earnestly and diligently in order to advance himself, anmid the result is that he is now numbered among the progressive, successful men of Isabella county. Mr. Gover was born in London, England, in June, I846, and he grew to maturity and was educated there, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age. Having a desire to see America and believing that better conditions prevailed here for a gentleman of his tastes he came to New York, but a week later came west to Chicago, where a friend who accompanied him to our shores from England had friends. He remained there three months, but did only a little work. He then moved to Bloomington, Iowa, where he remained two weeks, then went back to Chicago and from there to Ludington. He had worked in England at the printer's trade from the age of thirteen to twenty-one. at first receiving about fifty cents per week and boarded himself; his wages increased until lle received about ten dollars per week. He worked in the mills and woods after going to Ludington, remaining there three or four years, walking along the lake from there to Manistee. He worked at Howard City, where he assisted in building a saw mill in which lie worked for some time, remaining there two years when it was a village of only a few houses. They took the mill over to Lake View, the best pine having been used up at Howard City; he ran the mill at Lake View four or five years, 566 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. during which time he also worked in the woo(ls. When he left there he went to Palo, Ionia county, and there married, on April 2, 1878, Margaret Soel, who was born in 1845 near Niles, Michigan. Mrs. Gover died two years after her marriage without issue. Mr. Gover engaged in the grocery business and enjoyed a good trade. especially witl farmers, having as a partner his brother-in-law, Gideon No)el. He remained in this business until nine months after his second marriage, which occurred in March, 1883, while living in Palo, to Mrs. Emma J. Moss, daughter of Dr. David and Mary Hollister. Mr. Gover's store was hurned in 1883, which fact caused him to move to Isabella county, and at Mt. Pleasant he conducted alone a general store for eight months, then moved his stock of goods to Leaton and bought property here in I884, building a store-house on one of his lots, twenty-two 1b sixty feet, with a wing. fourteen by twenty-eight, and another building eighteen by twenty, which is now occullie(l by J. B. Cleveland. He maintained that store for twenty-four years, during which time he built lup a very extensive and satisfactory trade, then rented it. During this time he bought forty acres of good land on which he now lives, later purchased eighty acres in section 29, one mile from his present place. He rebuilt the residence, which had been erected by C. J. Blondhleilm. He bought lands at various times for purposes of speculation, which netted him very satisfactory gains. \\hile living in Palo Mr. Gover studied pharmacy with his brother-in-law. who was a druggist, and one of the doctors there also gave him much assistance. They added drugs to their grocery business and carried on an excellent trade. After the death of his first wife Mr. Gover returned to England on a visit, where he remained three months, visited Hampton Court, the British Museum, the Tower of London, Chelsey College and other places of interest. By her first husband. Mrs. Gover was the mother of one dlaughter, Annella, now the wife of William J. Cooper, of Mt. Pleasant, and they are the parents of one child. To Mr. and Mrs. Gover were born two children: Noel D., who was horn at Palo December 12, T883, and is inow a successful merchant at Shepherd, married Myrta Wood in October, 19o6. Harry G. Gover, who was lorn at Leaton, May 13, 1889, is a successful teacler and bookkeeper. When Mr. Govei came here the country was wild and many Indiians made this their place of abode. The land was cove'red with stumps and logs and there was little improvement of any kind. Hle has always been interested in the development of this country and has done his share. He madle many improvements about his two farms, erected all kinds of outbuildlings, includ ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 567 ing a good barn, twenty by forty feet, and sank a flowing well on both places, also remodeled his store-house. For twelve or fifteen years Mr. Gover was )ipostmaster at Leaton, also held minor offices, always to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was chairman of the Repullican township committee when it was first organized and is still occupying that position. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, Tent No. 559, Eldorado, at Rose)bush, also the Free and Accepted Masons at Mt. Pleasant. His wife is a member of the Order of the I.astern Star and the Maccabees. )DAVID K. M1OOR. The subject of this sketch is an honorable representative of one of the old and esteemed families of Isabella county and to him also belongs the credit of having been an active participant in the settle-ment and subsequent developmient of Fremont township, where lie located in an early day. \illianm Moor, the stubject's father, was a native of Armstrong county, l'ennsylvania, as was also his mother, vwho bore the lai(den name of Eliza Kier. These parents moved to (hio a lnumler of years ago and fronl 'i Putlamll county, that state. caime to Isal)ella county, Michigan, in 1865, settling in the wilds of what is now\ Fremontt township. \William Moor located on eighty acres of homestead landl in section 7 and experiencedl all the hiardships and vicissitudes incident to life in the hack woods. For some tin-e lie acted as "tote man" for the settlers west of the Big tCedar sw\amp, drawing supplies from H1tubhiardston' and lonia with a team of horses. the mneanwhile as opportunity afforded, felling the forest, grutbinhg the ground and preparing his land for tillage. Later he devoted his entire attention to the inplrovemllent of his land and in due time succeeded in developing a iine farim and1 a comfortal le home. 'Ihis lie sold out'and moved to the southwest part of Indiana, both dying there some years ago. I)avid K. Moor was born October 28, 1842, in Armlstrong counlty. Pennsylvania, and when quite young was taken by his parents to Putnam county, Ohio. where lie spent his early life and obtained such educational discipline as the' indifferent country schools of those times affordell He assisted his father on the farm until arriving at the years of maturity and in i865 moveld with the family to Allegan coulty, Mfichigan, where he worked for a few months, helping Construct a damn, after which he came to Isabella county 568 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and assisted his father to clear and improve the farm in Fremont township, to which reference is made in a preceding paragraph. Leaving the parental roof a few months later, he homesteaded his present farm in section 21, consisting of eighty acres, to the improvement of which he at once addressed himself and which under his effective labors and judicious management was in due season cleared and reduced to cultivation. While thus engaged he endured many vicissitudes and hardships not a few, among others being the high prices at which groceries and other necessities sold. flour at one time commanding as much as twenty-five dollars per barrel, the barrels having to be rolled through the woods to the houses where ordered. With the passing years success attended the efforts of Mr. Moor and it was not long until he was comfortably situated, with bright prospects for the future. By energetic and continuous toil, he.succeeded in bringing his land to a high state of tillage and later increased its value by a number of substantial improvements, including a fine modern brick residence erected in 1906, also a good barn and outbuildings, besides a large amount of fencing. -He now has one of the best farms and among the most attractive and desirable homes in the township and is certainly well situated to enjoy the many material blessings by which he is surrounded. Beginning life in the woods, with no means worthy of mention and no help from influential friends, he has with his own strong arms, backed by a determined purpose, carved out a comfortable competency, his farm being conservatively estimated at six thousand five hundred dollars, to say nothing of valuable live stock, machinery, implements, etc., and a surplus capital which insures his future against the proverbial "rainy day." Mr. Moore served his township twenty terms as treasurer and proved a most capable and faithful official, besides holding for one year the position of road conunissioner. He has been active in political circles and is one of the leading Democrats of Frem(cnt township, still wielding a strong influence for his party, keeping in touch with the leading questions and issues of the day and abreast of the times on all matters in which the public is interested. On November 5, 1865, he was united in marriage with Ellen Callwell, whose birth occurred November 12, 1845, in Putnam county, Ohio, being a daughter of David and Eve (Perine) Callwell, natives of that state, the father born in I823 and the mother in I825. These parents spent nearly, if not all, their lives in Ohio and died there in the year 1884 and 1846, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Moor have reared a large family, fourteen children in all, whose names are as follows: William, born October 17. I866, is deceased, being survived by a widow who prior to her marriage was Issa Estella; Melissa, born August I6, I868, is the wife of Joe Rundell and lives in Owosso, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 569 this state; Robert was born November 7, I870, and lives at Heron, Montana, his wife having formerly been Amy Roberts; Letitia, born February 22, 1871, married Enoch Smith and resides at Big Rapids, Michigan; John, whose birth occurred on November 13, 1873, married Emma Vicory and is a farmer of Fremont township; Charles, who married Nellie Delo and who is also a resident of Fremont township, was born May 27, 1875; Anna, born January 13, 1877, is the wife of Earl Jordan, of Detroit; Mary, no0w Mrs. Walter HJardy, was born August 25, I878, and lives in Big Rapids; Emmet. born February 2, i88o, works on an ore steamer plying the Great Lakes, but makes his home with his parents; Lottie, wife of Norm Mathews, wvas born January 28, 1881, and lives in the city of Big Rapids; Stella, born January I8, 1884, married Minor Walton and lives in Mt. Pleasant; George A. C. was born March 6, 7886, and is also married, his wife having formerly been Edith Conrad(; Grace. born October 17, T887, is deceased; Edward, whose birth occurred on April 23. I891, is unmarried and a member of the home circle. I:ETER BELTINCK. As the name suggests, the subject of this sketch is of foreign birth. his native land being the kingdom of Belgium, where he first saw the light of day on June 8, 1854. He spent his early life near his native town of Ousbeekee, in the schools of which he received a fair educational training and later began earning his livelihood as a tiller of the soil. Mr. Beltinck labored diligently on a farm, but owing to the small wages which unskilled lalx)r in his country commanded he did not succeed in getting anything ahead, accordingly he decided to quit the land of his forefathers and try his fortune in the great American republic beyond the sea. WVith this object in view, he married, in 1875, the young lady of his choice and the day following the ceremony took ship for his distant destination, being twenty-nine years of age at the time, and with but little means above the price of his and his wife's passage across the water. Immediately after landing, Mr. Beltinck made his way to Frankfort, Michigan, near which place he spent the first years as a laborer for monthly wages, and at the expiration of that time became foreman in a lumber camp, which position he filled during the nine years ensuing. Severing his connection with his employer in 1893, he came to Isabella county and purchased eighty acres of woodland in Union township, going in debt for the same, as he 570 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. was able to save little above his living from his wages as a lumberman. Addressing himself to the task of improving his land, he labored diligently during the following years and in due time had a goodly number of acres cleared and in cultivation, besides making various improvements in the way of buildings. fencing and ditching, which added greatly to the productiveness and value of the farm. Without following his career in detail, suffice it to state that in the course of time his land was cleared and otherwise improved and the last dollar of indebtedness paid, and in addition to his original purchase he has since bought an eighty-six acre tract near by which under his effective labors has also been brought to a successful state of tillage. Mr. Beltinck paid for his first eighty acres the sum of one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, but with improvements since made it is lno worth over six thousand dollars, for every cent of which he is indebted to his own efforts and thrift. Among the improvements are a fine modern barn forty by fifty feet in dimensions, several outbuildings, which are substantial and in first-class repair. One thousand five hundred rods of eight-inch, one thousand rods of six-inch and four thousand rods of three-inch tiling, making in all six thousand five hundred rods of ditching, by means of whicli a number of acres of very fertile land have been reclaimed and the productiveness of the rest of the farm greatly enhanced. Financially. Mr. Beltinck has met with sticcess commensurate with the'labor and time which lie has expended( on his lands and he is now among the well-to-do farmers and substantial citizens of his township and county, living in independent circumstances with sufficient means at his command to insure a prosperous and 'comfortlable future. In connection with tilling the soil he gives mtuch attention to live stock, 'alking a specialty of cattle of the Holsteii' breed, of wlich sulperior' animals lie now ih's quite a number, including a dairy of thirty co\s and a finie bull which represents a value of several hundred dollars. 'During the' last few xears lie had devoted consideralle attention to the buildig of high grade cattle mnd his reputation in'this'important branch of farming'has imiade him widely and favorably known among the'leading stock men throughout the central part of the state. - '.... Mrs. Beltinck, whose maiden name was Leona Adelia Rommlel, \\as lbon(i on'April 23, 858, in Belgium,,'andi as already stated, became the wife of the s.ublject the day before starting for the United States in i875. She has 'bo-rne her 4husband' children, as 'follows: Florence, wife of Charles Culpert, of Toledo; Ohio; Ona, who miarried Mary Allen and has one child, Florence, lives'on the home farm, ivhich he helps cultivate; Romman is married to Miss Edith Faber and'lives' on the farm 'homestead. Mr. anid MTrs Beltin'ck have ISABEILLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 571 moved to Mt. Pleasant, retired from farming, leaving their sons il comfortable circumstances. Fraternally, Mr. Beltinck holds memlership with I live No. 129, Kinghlts of the Modern Maccabees, and politically votes with the Democratic party. Himrself and wife were reared Catholics and now belong to the church of that order at Mt. Pleasant. to the supplort of which he is a liberal contributor. THOMAS W. ROBINSON, M. D. P'rominent in the affairs of Isabella colnty and distinguished as a physician and citizen far beyond the limits of the locality honored by his residence, the name of Dr. Thomas \W. Robinson stands out conspictuolsly among the successful and representative men in his chosen line of endeavor in central and southern Michigan. Characterized by remarkable breadth of wisdom and strong individuality, and in all his undertakings actuated by noble motives and high resolves, his success alnd achievements represent the result of fit utilization of innate talent ill directing effort along those lines where mature judgmentt, professional skill and rare discrimination lead the way. He is a studious man and is tireless in his research in an effort to keep abreast of the times in everything, especially his professioIn and as a result of such habits, coupled with his native tact and gentlemanly attributes, he is held in esteenm by all who know\ him and ihas the utmost confidence of all classes. Doctor Robinson was )orn on Fel rary 13, 184. ill Canada. Ie is the scion of a sterling ancestry. being the son of John and Margery (Montcreaf) Robinson, both natives of the state of New York, and people highly respected and influential in their commnitunity. Tlhey moved to SaginSaw, Michigan, \hen their son, Thomas W\.. was eight years of age, and they remained there four years, then, in 185, the subject went to Iowa and worked chiefly as a teamster until lie was twenty-tlhree years of age. Then he returned to Hartings, Peterlorough county. C'anada, and remained there until 1871, \when he came to Saginaw, Michigan, and there lie worked as check clerk for the Flint & Pere Matiquette Railroad Company until the 'fall of 1873, when lie located in Loomis.' Aise township, Isahella countyl. lie was interested in the lutniher business at first. In 188ro he I)lglht eighty acres of land in section 8 and settled there'in the spring of 1882, and he still runs this place and has been very successful, having odevelopedl an excellent farm. He also has sixty acres in section 4. lie has pllaced many valuable and substantial improvements ' on these farms and they rank with the best liand in the county. 572 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Doctor Robinson was married on February 25, I862, at Norwood, Ontario, to Eliza Weston, who was born in England, of an excellent family, on February 22, 1845. Her death occurred on January 18, 1876, at oomis. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: George, who married Miss Davoe, is a veterinary surgeon and lives in Clare, Michigan; Violet married Robert Atkinson, and they live in Niles, Michigan; Sheldon is single and resides in the state of Washington; Beverly is married and lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. On February 22, 1900, Doctor Robinson lmarried Mrs. Tellie Webb Walker, of Alma, Michigan. Doctor Robinson had the advantages of a fairly good early schooling and he has since sulpplemented the same by extensive home reading and study. He took up the study of medicine and has specialized on the eyes and diseases.of the head and has been very successful, being widely known as a specialist, and he has numerous patients from other states. He always has about ten patients in Loomis and vicinity, where he maintains his office. He is well versed in this line of work and keeps abreast of modern science. lTe also maintains an office at Clare, Michigan, where he goes two or three times a week and where he has numerous patients. lie has been health officer of Wise township for the past ten years and has been very faithful in the discharge of his duties in this connection. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a notary public for two years, school director for three years and justice of the peace for thirty-four years. Hle is knownl to be a very conscientious and able public servant and always discharges his duties to the best of his ability. He has seen this country grow from the wilderness to its present advanced stage of civilization, and he has played well his part in this development. Fraternally, the Doctor is a Mason, and Ielongs to the Knights of Honor, Court No. I772, at Loomis. FRANK M. TAYLOR. The subject of this sketch, a well-known dealer in general merchandise and one of the leading business men of Shepherd, is a native of Jackson county, Michigan, and a son of John F. and Angeline (Williams) Taylor, the father born irr England, the mother in Jackson county, both being now deceased. Frank M. Taylor first saw the light of day July 24, I865, and spent his childhood and youth on the home farm in his native township of Hanover, where at the proper age he entered the public schools, which he attended until sufficiently ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 573 advanced in his studies to secure a teacher's license. He remained in the county of his birth until about twenty-two years old, when he came to Isabella county, where from I887 to 189I he was engaged in teaching, discontinuing the profession the latter year to accept a clerkship in a mercantile house at Shepherd. After spending two years as a salesman, he engaged in business upon his own responsibility and at the expiration of one year he removed his stock from the old building which lie first occupied to his present location, where he has since built up one of the largest stores in the town, his stock of general merchandise including dry goods, boots, shoes, hardware, groceries, indeed everything complete and filling the two commodious apartments which he finds necessary for the successful prosecution of his business. Mr. Taylor is a self-made man and as such occupies a commanding place aniong the enterprising merchants of his town and county. Possessing husiness ability of a high order, his career fronm the beginning has been characterized by continuous success and the influence which he now wields in commercial circles may be accepted as an earnest of still greater achievements in the larger sphere of usefulness which he is destined to fill in the no distant future. Public-spirited in the most liberal meaning of the term and deeply interested in wllhatever makes for the material prosperity and social advancement of the co(rmmunity, he takes a leading part in all worthy enterprises and it is to him and such as lie that Shepherd is indebted for the standing which the town enjoys in other parts of the state. In his political allegiance he is a D)emocrat and as such has filled a large place in the public eye not only as an influential leader of his party but as a capable official in various imiportant positions. He served one year as township clerk, twelve years as town assessor and for a period of nine years was chairman of the local school board, during which time he labored diligently for the cause of education and made the schools of Shepherd compare favorably with those of any other town in the state. In common with the majority of wide-awake enterprising men, he belongs to the ancient and honorable order of Freemasonry, holding membership with Salt River Lodge No. 288. and he is also identified with Hive No. 237, Knights of the Maccabees, in both of which societies he has been honored from time to time with important trusts. In the year 1892 Mr. Taylor was happily married to Irene Peterson, whose birth occurred in i886, being a daughter of Daniel and Susan Peterson and a lady of intelligence who is well worthy to be the wife and helpmeet of the gentleman whom she honored with her heart and hand. Mr. and Mrs. 'Taylor's pleasant home is brightened by the presence of four children, ranging in age from youth to young manhood and womanhood, their names being as 574 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. follows: Irene, Fred, Helen and Mildred. A sister of the subject, Ella, now Mrs. George Nealey, came to Isabella county in I886 and since that time has lived at Shepherd. MELVIN R. CASTEL. A fanrier of Lincoln township and one of the citizens of the collmmunity in which he resides, Melvin R. Castel was born in Montcalm cotnty, Michigan, August 5, 1853. His father, \Villiam Castel, horn June 2, 1812, in New York, moved from that state a number of years ago to Washtenaw county, Michigan, thence to the county of Montcalm, of which he was an early settler. He endured many hardships and trials dluring the pioneer period, served eighteen years as supervisor of the latter county. and while living there was married on February 23, 1841, to Betsey Stevens, who was borll oln May 22, I8i9, and who departed this life about the year T896. The names of the children born to this couple are.as follows: Francis, Harriet, William H., Jerusha and Melvin R., all deceased except the subject and NW'illiami H., wlho lives at St. Johns, this state. Melvin R. Castel' spent his early life on the parental homestead in his native county, attended the public schools as opportunities afforded and grew to mature years with well developed plans for his future. \When twenlty years of age, lie married the lady of his choice, Josephine Gobel, and at once rented one hundred acres of land, which during the next few years he devoted to general farming, paying special attention to corn, oats, buckwheat and potatoes, of which lie raised large crops and sold at liberal prices. D)isposing of his interests in Montcalm county in 1878, he came to Isabella county and purchased the farm in Lincoln township which he still ownis, in the meantime buying and selling several other tracts of land in various parts of the county and realizing handsomely by some of his deals. At the present time his realty amounts to one hundred and twenty acres, eighty of which are unimlproved. though minus the timber, which he recently sold for a goo(lly sum,. He is now preparing to remove the stumps from the land and fit the soil for tillage, which when done will add greatly to the productiveness and value of the farm, which is already the equal of the best in the township. On moving to his present place Mr. Castel built a small house for the reception of his wife and took possession of the same before doors and windows had been provided. Although limited as to space and lacking many conveniences, the little domicile answered the purposes of a dwelling during ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 575 the ensuing twenty-five years, at the expiration of which time it was replaced by the present residence, a handsome stone structure, the mIain body twentyeight by twenty-eight feet, the wing twelve by thirty-three feet, the entire buildinlg well finishcl, and equipped with conveniences and comforts such as are found in first-class rural homes of today. 'The better to carry on the lal)or of the farm and care for his crops and live stock, he has provided the place with a fine larn, thirty-four b)y fifty feet in area, a tool she(d, in size twenty-two ) b thirty-six feet, several large sheds for stock and other buildings, all substantially constructed and in excellent condition. In the matter of farmingl Mr. Castel ranks amiong the leading men of his calling in Isabella county., eing enterprising in his ideas and methods, and in touch with the a(lvancelneilt of agricultural science in all of its phases. In conlection with the cultivation of the soil he raises consideralle live stock, including several horses, quite a number of high grade cattle, among which are five cows of especially fine breeds, also a fine flock of sheep of superior quality and a large number of hogs to which he devotes imuch attention. -Mr. Castel stands high as a citizen, taking a prominent part in all matters relating to the prosperity of his township and county, and for a nulmber of years he has been interested in public mlatters. Ie was justice of the peace for twelve years, proving a capal)le and judlicious official, and at different times held various school offices in his township, in all of which he discharged his duties ably and satisfactorily. Mr. Castel is a member of Strickland Arbor, Order of Gleaners, in which he served two years as chief gleaner and since 1902 has heen secretary of the organization. He is a charter mlemlber of the Gold Reserve Life Insurance Comlpalany and has bceen an influential factor in the same ever since it was established, besides lie encourages all other enterprises and utilities having for their object the general welfare of the comnmunity. Mr. and 1Mrs. Castel have no children of their own, but are deeply interested in the young people of the neiglhborhood, wshomi they strive to benefit by any means at their coimmand. They are esteemed by the social circle in which they move, keelp pace with the intellectual life of the community and their influence is exerted in behalf of all worthy charitalle and humanitarian projects. For some years they have been identified with the Lincoln Township Farmers' Club, an organization having for its object the social improvement of its membership which is composed of residents of Lincoln township and people from the northern parts of Montcalml and (ratiot counties. The meetings, which are held mlonthly at the homes of the members, are occasions of great interest and enjoyment, affording as they do an agreeable break to the 1monot 576 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ony of life and a means of social and intellectual improvement which all who belong fully appreciate. The locality being removed from any town or populous center, renders the meetings of more than ordinary interest and profit, being looked forward to as supplying a social need for which ordinary means would prove inadequate. Mr. Castel served as president of the club and held the office for a period of two years, besides taking a leading part in the general exercises of the organization. ANTHONY TILMANN. A well known and successful farmer of Nottawa township, Isabella county, is Anthony Tilmann, who, like many of the progressive citizens of our republic, was born in Germany. His life has been one of great activity and since coming to this county his industry has been rewarded by the handsome competence which he now enjoys. He has made many valuable improvcmients on his farm, including a very comfortable dwelling, slubstanltial outbuildings, and, in fact, whatever has been necessary to make his place rank with the best in the vicinity, while the fertility of his farm has been increased to the greatest productive capacity. He stands in the front rank of agriculturists and stock raisers in this locality, sparing neither labor nor expense to make his place as nearly ideal as possible, and doing his full share to raise the standard of agriculture in the highly favored locality where his home is situated. Mr. Tilmann's birth occurred in the province of Westphalia, Germany, on April 30, 1855. When two years of age, in 1857, his parents brought him to the United States and located in Detroit, Michigan. After remaining there one year, they moved to Clinton county, this state, where their son, Anthony, grew to maturity and worked on the farm. He attended school in the winter time, remaining there until the fall of 1875, when he moved to Isabella county, locating in section 33, Nottawa township, on forty acres of timber land, which he purchased. No roads were laid out, through or around it until 1876. He did not begin to clear it until 1877, but he is a hard worker and soon had a comfortable home here and a good farm. He worked in the lumber camps during the winter. He traded his first forty acres for a part of his present farm, in section 21, and he is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres of as valuable land as the township can boast. He has cleared his land and now has one hundred and ten acres under cultivation, the re ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 577 mainder being pasture. He keeps some good stock, cattle, horses, sheep, etc., buying large numbers of cattle which he often prepares for the market. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock man, and, having worked hard with no outside assistance, he is eminently deserving of the large success that he has achieved. Mr. Tilmann was married on May 30, 1882, to Catherine Simon, who was born on August 21, 1858, in Clinton county, Michigan. Mr. Tilmann is a Catholic, belonging to the church at Beal City. He was treasurer of the church for some time and is at present a member of the building committee. Politically he is a Democrat, but is independent for the most part, voting, as a rule, for the man instead of the party. Tie has been for some time a lmember of the board of review of this township, and he has been school moderator for twelve years. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tilmann: Mary E. married George Neubecher, of this to\nship; Louisa, who has remained single, is living at home, and attends the normal school at Mt. Pleasant, having taught very successfully for four years; Trese is a graduate of the rural course at the normal school and she is living at home; Anna has passed the teacher's examination: Philomenia has also passed the teacher's examination; John is living at home. Mr. Tilnlann is a man of influence in the church and other circles in his community and he is highly respected by all who know him owing to his upright life. JOHN JACKMAN. Holding worthy prestige among his fellow citizens of Isabella township and distinctively one of the leading farmers of the township in which he resides, the subject of this sketch has had an active and honorable career and is worthy of a place in the list of men to whom Isibella county is entitled for its proud position among the most favored sections of the commonwealth. John Jackman is a native of York county, Ontario. where his birth occurred in the month of June, 863. \William Jackman, his father, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1837, and died in Isabella county, Michigan, December 17, 1908. His mother, who previous to her marriage was Rebecca Baker. was born in York county, Ontario, in 1839. and departed this life at her home in Isabella township June 17, I904. (37) 578 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The early life of John Tacknan was spent on a farm in his native province, and in the public schools of York county he received a fair English education. He was reared under excellent home influences, grew utp with well grounded habits of industry and remained with his parents until attaining his majority, two years after which he accompanied them to Isabella county, Michigan, and settled on a tract of eighty acres in section 3. Isabella township, which he helped his father clear and otherwise improve. The land being wild and covered with dense forest and much undergrowthi, a great deal of hard labor was required to remove these obstructions, but, strong of body and resolute of purpose, young Jackman adrlressed himself to the task with a will and knew not what it was to eat the bread of idleness. Being the only child, much of the work naturally fell to him and right nobly did he discharge his duty to his parents, not only assisting to clear and develop the farm, but in many other ways looked after their interests and miinistered to their comfort until their respective deaths. Succeeding to the farm after the!v had passed away, he continued making iImprovemnents and fron time to time addedl to his realty, until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres of as fine farm land as can be found within the borders of the county. In 1905 he built the brick dwelling which the family now occupy and which. with its full comnplement of modern conveniences, is among the most attractive rural homes in Isabella township, neither money or pains having been spared to make it vwhat every home should be, the most desirable place on earth to its inmates. The commodious barn, erected some years ago, was rebuilt and enlarged in 1909, and at this time compares favorably with the best similar structures throughout the county. Other improvements, including good outbuildings and wire fencing, of which there are seven hundred and sixty rods. have added not only to the appearance, but also to the value of the farm and the condition of the fields and everything on the premises indicates the presence of an up-todate American farmer who believes in the dignity of honest toil and the nobility of the calling to which his time and energies are being devoted. Mr. Jackman is a Mason of high standing, holding membership with Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 333, Chapter No. I I, Royal Arch Masons, at the same place, and for some years he has been identified with Rosebush Lodge No. 519, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs. He united with the Baptist church in Canada in 1882. Mr. Jackman's home is presided over by a lady of intelligence and gentle presence, who previous to her marriage with him bore the name of Nettie Mendham. She was born in 1863 and is a daughter of Robert and Nancy (Hawkins) Mendham, natives of England and New York respectively and ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 579 among the early pioneers of Isabella township. Mr. Mendham was born in 1830 and died in this township in 1894, his wife. whose birth occurred the same year as his own, (lying in I88I. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman have two children. \\illiam, born August 28. I891, was recently graduated from the Mt. Pleasant high school and at this writing is preIparing to enter the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Howard, whose birth occurred in 1895, is pursuing his stu(lies at the former institution, both sons being intelligent and studious and intent upon fitting themselves for careers of usefulness. In his political allegiance Mr. Jackman is a Repullican, but has never posed as an office seeker nor aspired to public honors of any kind. He has well grounded convictions concerning the questions and issues before the l)eople, nevertheless is liberal in his views and1 considerate of the feelings and opinions of others. As a neighbor and citizen he tries to do his whole duty and thus far his life has been fraught with much good to his fellow men. WILLIAM 11. GRAHTAM. Among the men of intelligence and sterling worth who contribute lmuch of the moral bone and sinew of the body politic in Miichigan and other states of the North anld \West, a large and eminently respectable contingent hail froms the donminion of Canada, among the numlier in Isabella county being Thomias H. Graham, the father of the gentleman whose name furnishes the caption of this article. Thomas H. Graham was born June 23, I848, in Peel county, Ontario, and grew to maturity in his native country, receiving his educational discipline in the public schools. lie was reared to agricultural pursuits and when a young man married Sara Baldwin, who was Iorn in the above county on the, 18th of January, I846. After living in the land of his birth until I874, he disposed of his interests there and moved to Isabella county, Michigan, locating in the fall of that year on a tract of land in section 9, Isabella townsi, hip, ch hie purchased and which in due time he cleared and otherwise improved. In early life Thomas Grahami was an iron moulder, which trade he followed in Canada for a number of years, but after coming to Michigan he devoted his entire attention to agriculture and met with gratifying success in tlhat vocatiol. The land in Isabella county which he selected for a home consisted of one hundred and twenty acres, from which he at once began to remlove the forest growth and by patient and continuous effort the task was 580o ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. finally accomplished and a series of improvements inaugurated and in due time carried to completion. He gave his attention to general farming and, as indicated above, achieved marked success as a tiller of the soil, as the handsome competence which he accumulated attests. After placing himself in independent circumstances he divided the home place between two of his sons and moved to the forty-acre farm in section 5, which is also highly improved; in addition thereto he owns another farm of eighty acres in the same township, which, like the two mentioned, is in excellent state of cultivation. Some idea of the labor (lone by him is afforded by the three splendid farms to which reference is made, a total of one hundred and sixty acres, nearly all of which he cleared with his own hands, removing the undergrowth and stumps, enclosing it with fine wire fence and adding improvements in the way of buildings, which rank among the best in the township, to say nothing of the soil, which is in excellent condition and exceedingly productive. Since moving to his present home, in I892, he has done little active labor, contenting himself with the management of his interests while living the life of honorable retirement which he has so nobly earned. Hie is still an energetic, wide-awake man, takes an active part in the development and progress of the community in which he resides and keeps in touch with all matters of public import. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, politically a Democrat and his religious belief is represented by the Methodist Episcopal church, with which both himself and wife are identified. Thomas H. and Sarah Graham are the I)arents of eight children, whose names are as follows: Myra M. is the wife of David Lowry, of Isabella township; Ernest B. whose wife was Edna Maybee; Frank, whose wife was formerly Elizabeth Pitts; William IT., the fourth in order of birth; Joseph H., wNho is unmarried, lives in California; John J., who married Jennie Peete; Lulu L., wife of Ed. Gardner, and Lowell, whose wife bore the maiden name of Tressa Gross. William H. Graham, fourth child of Thomas H. and Sarah Graham, was born in Isabella township, where he now lives, in the month of January, I877. Hie was reared to habits of industry and as soon as old enough for his services to be utilized he took his place in the woods and fields, and while still a young man was able to do a man's part at almost any kind of manual labor. During the winter months while growing up he attended the district schools and, though not educated in the sense that the term is usually understood, he nevertheless possesses a valuable practical knowledge such as colleges and universities fail to impart and by reading and observation has become anl intelligent and widely informed man. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 58i Mr. Graham, at the age of twenty-three, began life for himself on the family homestead, which he has since operated, purchasing his lrother's interest in the place some years ago and becoming sole owner. He has made a close and critical study of agricultural science, understands the nature and adaptability of soils and by applying his knowledge of practical ends has met with encouraging success in his chosen calling, occupying at this time a place in the front rank of Isabella county's representative farmers. Since taking possession of his farm, he has added a number of improvements, including the remodeling of the residence, the erection of a fine barn, forty by eighty-one feet in size, and putting up mlany rods of fencing, besides beautifying the same so that his home is now among the most valuable and desirable in the section of countr-y lwhere it is situated. On October T4, 1902, Mr. Grahama entered the marriage relation with Ida Byron, who was l)orn May 24, 1883, and who departed this life in December, 1908, leaving, besides a husband, two children and a host of friends to mourn her untimely loss. Chester D., the older of the children, was born August 23, 1903; the younger, a daughter who answers to the name of Eloida M., was born on December r9. T906. WNILSON CHESTER PERKINS. The enterprising business man whose name introduces this sketch is a leading citizen of lWinn, Michigan, and since moving to the town has been untiring in his efforts to promote the matters of interest of the same and give it publicity as a desirable place of residence, a fine business point and a favorable locality for the judicious investing of capital. W. C. Perkins is a native of Lenawee county, Michigan, born in the town of Ttudson on April I9, 1869. His father, Chester J. Perkins, came to Michigan a number of years ago from New York and settled in Lenawee county where, in due time, he married Charity Smith, later, about 1872, moving to St. Louis, this state, and from that town, in 1874, to Isabella county, of which he is still a resident. Wilson Chester Perkins was three years old when his parents moved to St. Louis and five when they transferred their residence to Isabella county. After spending the ensuing seven years in Coe township, he went to Gratiot county, where he remained fifteen years, during a part of which period he studied pharmacy, having previously obtained a good literary education, graduating from the Alma high school with a creditable record as a student. 582 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Having decided to make the drug business his vocation, he devoted two years to the study of the same at Alma and Ithaca and for three years was in drug stores at the latter place and Ashley, making rapid progress and in due time acquiring a thorough knowledge of the profession. In I896, Mr. Perkins established a drug business at \Vinn, which from the heginning was very successful, more than meeting his expectations and gaining for him a prominent place among the leading business men of the town. His establishment, one of the largest of the kind in the county, was stocked with every line of merchandise found in first class drug houses and in the management of the same Mr. Perkins displayed business and executive ability of a high order while his proficiency in pharmacy drew to him an extensive patronage in that line, and gave him wide publicity as a skillful and accomplished druggist. On the 5th of September, 1910, Mr. Perkins sold this business to O. J. Baker and engaged in the general mercantile business. embracing dry goods, groceries, etc., under the firm nalme of \WV. C. Perkins & Company. As indicated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Perkins is an intelligent and enterprising man of affairs whose interest in the growth of his town is second to that of none of his fellow citizens and who has left nothing unldone to promote the material prosperity of the commullnity. To him more than to any other man helongs the credit of establishing various publlic utilities, includillng among others, the telephone from Shepherd to \Vinn, to the furtherance of which enterprise he devoted his time and energies iuntil a sufficient lllinher of subscriptions were procured to justify the management in extending the line between the two 'llaces and establishing a local exchange at the latter. The Winn Rural Telephone Company, which has been doing business about three years, operates one of the best lines in the state, the management beilng in tlhe hands of capable and thoroughly reliable business men and the patronage including all of the best citizens of the towns where exchanges are maintained and along the various lines. Mr. Perkins was married on the 5th day of October, I895, to AlImina Miller, who was born in Gratiot county, this state, Octoler 23, 1876, the union being blessed with one child, Leon Chester, whose birth occurred Decelmber 19, 1902. Mr. Perkins takes a pardonable pride in the large business which he now commands, and the establishment of which he is the head is certainly a credit to himself and decidedly a valuable asset to the commercial interests of the town. He is an influential worker in several secret fraternal societies, being a mnember of Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383, Free and Accel)ted Masons, which he served one termi as secretary; is identified with the Knights of the ISABELTLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 583 Maccabees at Winn; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the same place, and formerly belonged to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Ashley, though not connected with the organization at the present time. Interested in all that pertains to the general welfare of the community and keeping in touch with the times on matters of public import, he wields a strong influence for good, and as a business man, neiglhlor and citizen, is held in very high esteem. JOHN BOE()TTNER. TTolding distinctive i)restige among the enterprising agriculturists of Deerfield township, Isabella county, is John Boettner, whose record here briefly outlined is that of a self-made man who, by the exercise of talents \with which nature endowed him, has successfully surmounted the obstacles encountered in his earlier vears and risen to a position as one of the substantial and influential men of the communitity honored bv his residence. He is a very creditable representative of that large class of German citizens who have taken up their residence in thlis country. possessing maniy of the admirable qualities and characteristics of that sturdy race that has lone so Imuch in the general (levelopmenrt of our various states. IMr. Boettner was l)orn in the village of Erbenhausen, T-lessen, Germany. September I1, 85j8. He grew to maturity there, went to school eight years, anl assisted his father with his work, thus assisting to sulpport the famliy. The father dying when John was nine years of age, Imuch reslpoisilbility was thrown upon him. This was one of the reasons \wh he did not enlist in the regular arm1. lbut he trainedl for a time ani( w\ould have heen subject to being called out in case of war. W'hen John left his parental roof-tree, his two brothers (did the work at home. I is mother died when he was one (lay old and the father married again. Before coming to America John Boettner worked on a farm eight or nine years as a farm hand. Ilaving relatives in America an(d desiring to see our country lhe emigrated to our shores, but not with the intention of remaining pelrmalnently. Tie reachled New York on May 3, T884. and soon visited his relatives in Elkhart, remaining there the following summer and finally decided to remain in the United States, so he hired out on a farm near Elkhart. remaining there one year. His friend, Peter Gruss, whose sketch appears in this work. w\as then living in Tsabella county, Michigan. and inviting Mr. Boettnler to visit him, he did so. This country was then Ipractically a wilderness, but he liked it and has never desired to 584 ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. change his place of residence, for he saw that it was large in opportunities for young men. He was then twenty-seven years of age. He purchased forty acres for eight hundred dollars, all of which was wooded but four acres, the road passing this place had just been made, later Mr. Boettner assisted a great deal in building roads in this vicinity. He now owns eighty acres, the other forty having been purchased in 1894. It is all good land and raises excellent crops under his skillful management. After deciding to make his future home in America, Mr. Boettner sent for his sweetheart and they were married in this country on May 30, I885. Her maiden name was Christina Altheino, who was born in Germany September 16, I864. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Anne, who graduated from the State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant; Elizabeth, Mary, John and Hilda. Mr. Boettuer has made all the improvements on his place, building a large, convenient and comfortable dwelling, two stories and a cellar, also a large barn with a cement basement under its entire extent. His fields are free from stumps and rocks and his land is in first-class condition and has been well kept and is substantially fenced, with woven wire for the most part. He has sixty-five acres under cultivation, the rest being in pasture, with a wood-lot of ten acres. He has been very successful raising stock, especially hogs, which he prepares for the market. Both he and his wife belong to the Gleaners arbor at Deerfield. They belong to the Lutheran church at Bloomfield, and he has held some of the church offices. Politically he is a Republican. He was school treasurer for nine years and assisted in building a new school house in this district. I-lHe was elected justice of the peace and served in this capacity very acceptably for a period of four years, also served as highway commissioner one term and school inspector one term. He was chairman of the committee that secured the first free rural delivery route through from Mt. Pleasant, route No. I; he worked very hard for this and was also instrumental in securing telephones for the farmers in this vicinity, he having assisted in securing a certain number of subscribers in order to get the enterprise started. He is a member of the Farmers' Club, having for its object the protection of the interests of its members and for the promotion of enterprises in the township. But he is not so active in political matters as formerly, though he stands ready to do anything to promote the general good. He has modern farming machinery, and he is now planning extensive improvements on his place. He has been very successful. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 585 OSCAR SMITIH. Oscar Smith was born May 6, I855, in Eaton county, Michigan, and grew to maturity on his father's farm, with the rugged duties of which he early became familiar. He obtained a public school education and remained at home until his twenty-third year, working at intervals, the meanwhile, at any kind of honest labor he could find, but devoting the greater part of the time to the home farm. In 1878 he married the young lady of his choice whose name was Lovinia Favorite, and who, like himself, was a native of Eaton county, her home at the time she became his wife being at the town of Brookfield. IHer mother, Mrs. Mar-y Favorite, was seventy-one years old at the time of her death, which occurred on April 15, I9II. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Smith moved to Lake Odessa, a new town which had just been laid out, where for about six years he was variously employed, working at odd jobs, hauling building material and doing general teaming. Before locating at the above place, he had purchased a small tract of land near Brookfield, which increased rapidly in value with the growth of the latter town and which he sold at a handsome profit a short time prior to transferring his residence to Lake Odessa. Disposing of his interests in that place at the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Smith moved to Isabella county and bought from a lumber company eighty acres of land in Freniont township, the first growth of which had been cut off, leaving the stumps, trash and undergrowth, which required a great deal of hard labor to remove. With his characteristic energy, however, lie addressed himself to the task and in the course of a few years the obstructions disappeared and the virgin soil was in condition for tillage. Not long after moving to the new home, Mrs. Smith became quite ill and that she might have the treatment she so much needed her husband took her to the home of her parents, where. under the tender care and loving ministration of her mother, she gradually recovered her accustomied health and strength and in due time returned to her husband with health fully restored. During her absence Mr. Smith lived by himself and at times was very lonely, but hard labor being the best panacea for such a condition, he applied himself very diligently and by the time she was ready to return he had a goodly part of his farm ready for tillage and a number of improvements made. Mr. Smith has sixty of his eighty acres in cultivation and his improvements are among the best in the neighborhood. The farm occupies a part of an elevated tract of land from which a splendid view of the surrounding country for many miles can be obtained, for which reason he calls his place 586 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. "Fairview Farm," certainly a very appropriate name, as all who see it readily admit. Recently he erected a large barn, forty by sixty feet in size, with basement under the entire structure, this with a comfortable dwelling, good outbuildings, substantial wire fences and various other improvements, adding greatly to the appearance and value of the farm and making it a home of which he feels deservedly proud, representing as it does the labor of his own hands. The first year of his inarriage, Mr. Smith went to Kansas with the object of locating in that state, but the country not meeting his expectations, he returned after a few months, satisfied with his brief experience in the West. IHe is now well situated to enjoy the many material blessings with which lie has surrounded himself and family and his present intention is to spend the remainder of his days at the pleasant home which he now occupies. lie votes the Republican ticket, but is not a very active politician, neither has he any ambition to gratify in the way of holding office; nevertheless, lie served his township nine years as school director, and proved a caplable and judicious public servant. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Ira, who is married to Iva Riggles and lives in Iremnont township, and \VNilliam, who is unm11arried atnd a citizen of Jackson township, both being farmers and greatly esteccmed in their respective places of residence. PETER GRUSS. Hard and laborious effort was the lot of Peter (russ dluriiig his youth and early manhood, but his fidelity to duty won him the respect and confidence of those with whom lie was thrown in contact and by patient continuance in well doing he gradually arose from an humble station to his present high standing among the leading farmers of Isabella county. Always giving his personal attention to his various industries with the same energy and( foresight that have characterized his labors during his busy and honorable career and having every dollar in his possession as the result of honest effort, and that, too, in the face of opposing obstacles and not a few adverse circumstances, he can -without ostentation lay claim to the proud American title of self-made man, although Mr. Gruss is an American by adoption only, his birth having occurred in Germany on June 29, I854, in Brusse. He grew to maturity in the fatherland and obtained his education there. Believing that larger olpportunities awaited one of his inclination in the United States, he emigrated to our shores when twenty-eight years of age, locating at Grand Rapids. Michigan. Be ISABEIiLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 587 fore leaving his native land he had served three years in tile army of the empire and had learned the butcher's trade, and, as stated, having received a good education he was well equipped to take utl his work in this country and it was not long until he had a good start. He was brought up in a village, but he had the oplportunity of learning the lutcher lusiness in a city, and he wvorked at the same until he was twenty years of age, then went into the army, which is the custom in (ermany. lie was a soldier from I875 to [878. His sister's husband dying after the subject left the arniy, he took charge of his business, that of a hotel-keeper, and conducted it very successfully. Te stayed at Grand Rapids, Mlichigan, two years. Not liking the trade of butcher in Amlerica, lie took to farming. In the fall of 1884 he returned to Germany and came back to America in tle spring of 1885, working for his former employer near (rand Rapids. On January r3, 1885, while living in Grand Rapids, he was Imarried to Anna Theisen, who was horn Decemlber 8, I863. in Germany, the daughter of Nicholas and Kate Theisen. She was four years old when her parents brought her to Big Rapids, but she met Mr. Gruss in Grand Rapids, whither she had later mIovsed. This union has resulted in the b)irth of the following children: Elizabeth, born September 2o, 1888: Emma, born March 9, i8go: Joseph. horn April 6, 189I; Frederick, born July 31, 1893: Frank, born January 9,, i89 ': argaret bor-n.:Algust 6, 1897; Marie, bor-1 July 6, 19oo. The oldest child, a soI. died when onie year o1(1, in tle fall of I886. 'Th e alcoe namlled children are all single and are living at home, excel)ting Elizabeth, who was married November 8. 1i1o..\fter his marriage Alr. Gruss lived in Grand Rapids two weeks, moving to his present place on January 28. 1885. He Iought eighty acres, for whlich he paid twelve hunllred and fifty dollars. This was timbered land and he has had plenty to (1o in clearing and developing it, but he has now one of the lest improved places in the township. He has since added to his original purchase as he lias prospered, first, forty acres, later ten acres, all adjoining. At present he has about fifteen acres in the woods. He has almost every kind of fruit known in this latitude, lut none in large quantities. He raises a great deal of wheat, which, under his skillful management, averages a yield of twenty-five bu)shels per acre. lie has built a sublstantial and convenient house, with a good cellar, a large and well arranged barn with a basement, also built tool shed, sheep pen, granary and many other outbuildings and general improvements. He keeps some good stock of various kinds and is a very successful farmer and stock raiser. He uses up-to-date farming implements, has a good wind-mill, and he usually feeds cattle in the winter, selling them in the spring. 588 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Gruss is a member of the Catholic church at Beal City, was a member of the church committee three or four years. He was pathmaster for two terms and has held some of the school offices, though he is not an office seeker, caring but little for public positions. Politically he is a Demnocrat, but he usually votes for the best man. The subject's father, Peter Gruss, was born in Germany in 18T3. lie married Elizabeth Weiber, who was born in the same neighborhood in 1822. The father's death occurred in I905, having survived his wife twenty years, her death having occurred in I885. They spent their entire lives in Germany where the rest of the subject's relatives reside. WILLIAM H. MOODY. The subject of this brief biographical mention was born May T3, 1838, in Washtenaw county, Michigan, and has spent his life within the limits of his native state. In 184I, when three years old, he was taken to Eaton county by his parents where he grew to maturity amid the invigorating breezes and wholesome discipline of rural life, the meanwhile doing his proportionate share of the farm work and attending the schools of the locality as olpportunities afforded. Reared to habits of industry and early impressed with the idea that idleness is almost tquivalent to crime, he reached the age of young manhood with proper conceptions of life and well founded plans for his future course of action. Accustomed to farm labor from his youth, he chose agriculture for his vocation, and on attaining his majority engaged in the salme in Eaton county where he continued to reside until his removal, in 1879, to the county of Isabella. On coming to this part of the state Mr. Moody purchased the tract of land in Rolland township where he has since lived, a part of which he has improved in the meantime and established a comfortable and attractive homestead. He has been a diligent worker and a good manager and the one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land now in his possession represents the labor of his own hands. Mr. Moody has held various offices in his township from time to time, in which he displayed sound judgment and a commendable interest in the welfare of the public, and aside from these he has always given his aid and influence to all worthy measures for the advancement of the community and the good of his fellow men. His neighbors esteem him highly for his many sterling qualities and in all the elements of honorable manhood and citizenship he stands a worthy example. ISABFLLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 589 While a resident of Eaton county, Mr. Moody married the lady of his choice, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Doxsie, and whose birth occurred in that part of the state on the 12th day of April, 1841. The family of this worthy couple originally consisted of five children, all but one living, their names being as follows: Charles: Efelda, wife of W\illiam Delo; Ansel LI. and Clarence E.. the last two mentioned elsewhere in these pages; Stephen, the second in order of birth, died some time ago in Fremont township, this county. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Moody are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and zealous in the various lines of work under the auspices of the local society with which identified. He possesses much more than ordinary ability as a public speaker, which with his activity and zeal has been the means of causing many to repent of their sins and seek the better life. PERRY H. ESTEE, SR. This biographical memoir has to do with a character of unusual force and eminence, for Perry H. Estee, Sr.. whose life chapter has been closed by the fate that awaits all mankind, was for a long lapse of years one of the prominent men of Isabella county, having come to this section among the earliest of the pioneers,-ini fact he is supposed to have been here before the Indians made this their place of albde, by some two years, and he had the honor of placing the center stake on the site of the present thriving city of Mt. Pleasant. for while he- was not a surveyor by profession he occasionally followed that line of work. He was present at both the noted treaties of l)ogtown. I-e assisted in every way possible in bringing about the transformation of the county, especially Coe township, where he maintained his home, from the wild condition which he found upon his advent here to its later day progress and improvement. While he carried on his chosen line of endeavor in such a manner as to gain a comfortable competence for himself, he also belonged to that class of representative citizens who promote the public welfare while promoting individual success. There were in him sterling traits which commanded unbounded confidence and regard, and his memory is today honored by all who knew him and is enshrined in the hearts of his many friends. Perry H. Estee, Sr., who was named by his parents Oliver Hazard Perry, after the great naval commander on the Great Lakes during the war of I812, changed his name himself to Perry H. when he grew up. He was born in Water Valley, Erie county, New York, on September 9, 1824, the 590 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. son of Silas and Mary (Hodge) Estee, who were among the very first families to emigrate to Coe township, this county. The father (lied when the subject was seventeen years of age and the latter started in life for himself. Tie had the advantage of a very good education andl he taught school for three terms in New York state. In Chautauqua county, that state, he bought one hundred acres of land. After farming five years he sold his place and emigrated to Iowa. Mr. Estee and a party of men were coming into Isabella county, Michigan, to settle and they were met in the northern part of Clinton county by seventeen men who were returning from Isabella county, who informed the immigrants that all the land in Isabella county was good, advising them to lose no time in getting possession of some of the land there before it was all taken. One of the party of seventeen produced a plat of Coe townslip and advised Mr. Estee to take up a certain tract at once; he hastened back to the land office, a distance of sixteen miles, and selected the lortheast quarter of section i8, Coe township. Two days later found him camped on the banks of Salt river in Isabella county. The following (lay he and his traveling compianions examined their land, and for their supper that night they had but one water biscuit apliece. They later returned to Erie county, New York, where Mr. Estee taught school one year, after which lie returned to *.his land in Isabella county an(l cut the first tree in the section on which ihe located, his nearest neighbor being a mile distant. Mr. Estee assisted in the erection of the first frame building of the county, the saw mill of John Reynolds, in section 9, Coe township. He became very successful, owning one hundred and fifty-four acres at one time and eighty-four at the time of his death, which was equally divided between his son, Perry H., Jr., whose sketch appears herein, and a (aughter. He took the first assessment of the county, and he was the second supervisor of Coe township, which was the first township organized in the county. Mr. Estee was a member of the state constitutional convention ill I867. He was judge of the probate court four years, and was the first township clerk of Coe township. He was justice of the peace for eight years. He was an Abolitionist, and after the organization of the county he was a Republican. As a public servant he did a great deal of good, being a man of ability and watchful in discharging his duties to the general good, and he won the confidence, the esteem and hearty commendation of his constituents and all concerned. He was a man of the people, broad-minded, alert, and capable. Mr. Estee was married in Eden, Erie county, New York, on October 24, I848, to Carrie Dole, who was born in Eden, September 13, 1825, and this union resulted in the birth of these children: Linus D., Mary E., Hattie, Free and Perry H., Jr. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Estee, as stated above, was a very important factor in the affairs of Isabella county in the early (lays of its history, politically and industrially, anId was highly respected by all classes. The death of this excellent citizen occurred March 31, 1907, his wife, a woman of beautiful attributes, dying May 13, 1901. ALFRED LITTLE. This worthy old pioneer is one of the none too numerous connecting links between the present and that l)ictutresque period now almost buried in the mists of the past. He has been a witness of Isabella county's development from the virgin forest to its present prosperous condition. Homes and villages have sprung ulp on every hand since he first saw the county; forests have disappeared before the axe wielded by the strong arm of the woodsman; farms, with fertile. well tilled fields, fine orchards, comfortable buildings, and 'all the adjuncts of civilization, have taken the place of the tangled wilderness which sheltered numerous beasts of prey and the painted Indian. Usel's to add. le has taken no small part in the development of this locality. Alfred Little was born on November 3, 1844, in 'Wayne county, Ohio, where he remained until lie was ten years of age, but most of his life has been spent in Isabella county. Michigan, his residence now being in Denver township. His father, John Little, was born in Pennsylvania, in I813, and remained there until after his marriage to Catherine Smith, who was born in the same neighborhood in Pennsylvania, in I815. The father followed teaming in his native county, also after his removal to Ohio. They remained in the latter state several years, then came to Ionia county, Michigan, having made the long journey overland by team in typical pioneer fashion. The present large citv of Lansing was at that time unthought of, the site of that city then being a field of stumps; the following year the railroad was built to Ionia. The father bought eighty acres at first, for which he paid four hundred dollars. It was good land and he established a very comfortable home here in time. When the homestead lav became effective, he secured eighty acres more, this being swamp land. He rented a place of one hundred and ninety-eight acres, later buying the same, paying the sum of four thousand and five hundred dollars for the land, tools and crops. The following year his two oldest sons went to war, leaving four sons at home who assisted with the farm work. The parents (lied on this place, the mother's death occurring about i886 and the father about i895, he reaching an advanced age. He was aln honest and kind-hearted man whom everybody liked. 592 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The children sold the farm at a fairly good profit, receiving fifteen hmildred dollars more than he gave for it. His family consisted of the following children: Andrew is living at Belding, Michigan; Margaret lives in Montcalm county, this state; William lives in Denver township, this county; Dorothy lives in Belding, Michigan; Alfred, of this review. Alfred Little received his education in the pulblic schools of his native community in Ohio and Ionia county, Michigan, working on the home farm during the summer months, and remaining there until he got a start in life, or for a period of twenty-eight years. When he nvas thirty-three years of age he was married to Ellen Rock, in Palo, Ionia county, on January 20, 1877. She was born in I853 in Shiawassee county, Michigan, and accompanied her brothers to Ionia county when young. Mr. Little remained on the home place until he purchased the farm where he now resides. His brother came to this county with him. Alfred bought eighty acres, all in timber with the exception of seven or eight acres, for which he paid eleven hundred and fifty dollars, cleared all the land himself, built a barn thirty-six by fifty feet, also built several sheds and made many substantial improvements. He works about fifty-five acres, has twenty acres of woods, and he raises principally corn and beans. He keeps horses, cows and sheep and has a good place and comfortable home. Politically, Mr. Little is a Democrat. He has served very ably as township treasurer for nine years, and as justice of the peace for four years. EXCHANGE SAVINGS BANK. A bank means something more to a community than simply a medium of exchange. The convenience afforded the public by a banking institution is only one of its many functions. It is, in a real sense, an educator, a counselor and a -friend. When one chooses his banking home, he does wisely when he thinks over- the character and motives of the men with whom he will come in close contact while transacting his ordinary commercial business with the institution. No man is a complete tower of strength unto himself as he passes along the highways of industry in this world. He is strengthened or weakened, by his associates, and there always comes a time when friendly counsel will be valuable to him. In performing the function of a business friend the banker is filling his most important place in the community. One of the most popular and sound institutions of the state of Michigan I(;X(IIAN(;E SAVIN(;S HANK, MI'. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 593 is the Exchange Savings Bank of Mt. Pleasant, and the good it has done Isabella county is far-reaching and inestimable, as it has maintained a splendid record for a period of upwards of thirty years, gaining a very solid standing in the commercial and financial world. It has been conducted in a safe and conservative manner, so as to gain and retain the unbounded confidence of the people, having thrown around its patrons every possible safeguard and has been up-to-date in all its business methods. This bank was first establishe(l as a private enterprise in I88i by G. A. Dusenbury & Company, the members of the firm being George A. and \illiam C. Dusenbury, and operated by them until J888, when it was succeeded b)y Dusenbury, Nelson & Conpany, that firn consisting of George A. Dusenbury, William C. Dusenbury, I.evi N. Smith, John Kinney and 1). H. Nelson, which firm continued as a private institution, but adopted the name of Exchange Bank. In May, 1894, the Exchange Savings Bank was organized and incorporated under the laws of the state, succeeding to the business of Dusenbury. Nelson & Company, its first officers being Douglas II. Nelson, president; John Kinney and L. N. Smith, vice-presid(ents; George A. Dusenbury, cashier; William C. Dusenlury, assistant cashier. The officials of this bank continued to change from time to time lintil, upon the death of George A. Dusenilury, on Septemnber 22, I9o5, Arwin E. (orham (a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work) was elected president. The capital stock at that time was fifty thousand dollars, with a surplus and undivided profits of fifteen thousand dollars. Under the able. conscientious and judicious management. of Mr. Gorham and his associates, it has gradually increased il all its departments. Besides Mr. Gorham, the other officers of the bank in 191 are as follows: Charles T. Grawn and, Frank B. \hitehead, vice-presidents; Chester A. Kellogg. cashier; C(hester W. Riches, assistant cashier; Ella I.. Frazer, assistant cashier, savings department; directors, C. M. Brooks, William E. Lewis, A. E. Gorham, C. T. Grawn, Frank B. Whitehead, Francis McNamara and C. A. Kellogg. Up to I909 the bank remained in its old building, when new and more commiodious quarters were planned, and an elegant, substantial, modern and attractive building was erected, thoroughly equipped. The bank moved into its new quarters in June, 1909. The management planned, in arranging the new building, to meet the needs of both employes and customers, and have succeeded in meeting all the requirements of a tidy, convenient and attractive banking office, cozy at all seasons, having been quite solicitious with regard to the homelikeness of every appointment. Here business men who can waste no time find an air of prompt business methods which ought to satisfy their ideals, but at the same time the management wishes to engen(38) 594, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. der a feeling in all of its patrons that every employee, as well as every appointment, has in mind the comfort and happiness of all who make these offices their banking home. Among the conveniences of this banking house which are worthy of specific notation are the safety deposit boxes; the ladies' room, equipped with every convenience; the men's room, for purposes of writing, consultation, etc.; telephones, writing tables, equipped with stationery, etc.; a notary public always at hand in connection with the acknowledgment of papers, and every employee is instructed to be, in a sense, an information bureau ready to assist any patron of the bank in any possible way. The commercial department of this institution offers as liberal terms as are consistent with the principles of conservative banking, makes loans on approved securities, discounts conmmercial paper, buys and sells exchange and gives especial attention to collections. This bank has an exclusive savings department, for handling savings deposits and certificates of deposit. 'IThis money is loaned( exclusively on 1bonds and mortgages, on property worth at least twice the amount loaned and which is set apart, under the law, for the protection of savings depositors, whose interests this bank has jealously guarded. Lady customers having business with this department will find a courteous attendant in charge and can be waited on at a window opening into the ladies' room, a special feature, with every convenience, for the accommodation of lady customers. Special pains are taken to make this department attractive to the little people, and, in a sense, schooling is given to those who desire to know how to do banking business correctly, and every opportunity is given then, to learn the principles of banking as applied to the duties of this depository. In this department drafts are bought and sold on the leading foreign cities of the world, having arrangements by which this bank's own drafts are drawn direct. Corporation statistics and financial papers are always on file and at the service of the depositors, as is also any data or knowledge the management and employees may possess on financial subjects, not heldl confidentially. Here is to be found two customers' rooms, equipped with easy chairs, writing desks and telephones, solely for the use of the patrons of this bank, for in planning and equipping the new building the purpose of the management has been not merely to give themselves a better home but to provide more convenient and attractive quarters for the patrons of the bank and to erect a building which would be an architectural addition to Mt. Pleasant. Following is a condensed statement of the business of the Exchange Savings Bank, which is criterion enough of its standing in the financial world: Resources: Loans and discounts, $20I,3i5.26; bonds and mort ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 595 gages. $I63,188.50; banking house and fixtures, $i6.ooo.oo; overdrafts, $1,o59.To; in transit, $5,244.66; cash in vault, $32,670.98; cash in reserve banks, $90,613.T15; total, $5o0,091.65. Lialilities: Capital and surplus, $75,500.00; undivided profits, $3,516.05; deposits, $43T,075.60; total, $5I o0,91.65. The Exchange Savings Bank is the oldest financial institution of Isabella county, and its influence in the upbuilding of this locality cannot be estimated. It is in tile market at all times for good loans, and makes a specialty of loaning its funds on Isabella county real estate, where the security is ample, and loans to school districts, the constant ailm of the management being to throw around each loan every safeguard consistent with sound and conservative banking. 'This institution has greatly aided saving people whlose deposits are received and interest paid upon them. The Exchang e Savings Bank has certainly contributed her full share toward placing Isalella county in a very enviable position with the outside world in regard to her importance and prosperity. JOHN B. 'WEST. The subject of this sketch. who is the oldest son of William 1andl Mary Ann (Hennessey) Wecst, was born November 19. 1875. in St. Mary's, Ontario, and since his fifth year has been living in Tsabella township. Isabella county, Michigan. bllng at thlis tile one of the leading citizens of the tow\nshlip in lwhich lie resides. LTike all boys reared amid the inspiring scenes of country life, he earl- l ecame acquainted with the active duties of the farm, attendled sclool during the wilter mlonths and grew 11)u strong of body and with a well defined pu)rpose to make the most of his opportunities so as to become of some use in tile world. Hle assisted in the cultivation of the home farm diuring his youthful years and on attaining his maturity engaged in the pursuit of agriculture for himself, though it was not until T9oo that he purchased his l)resent farm in section 18, Isabella township, and began tilling the soil upon a more extensive scale. Mr. \iest's farm consists of eighty acres of very fine land which he has reduce(l to a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings, including a barn, thirty-six by seventy-two feet in size, a comfortable mod(ern residence, with the usual conveniences, and various outbuildings, the place being enclosed and subdivided with wire fences and well drained. \While engaged in general farming, he gives special attention to grain and hay, of 596 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which he grows large crops every year, and he is also interested in live stock, which branch of farming he finds quite remunerative and satisfactory. Mr. West uses the best modern implements and machinery and by carefully following the most approved methods of tillage is sure of large and satisfactory returns from his labors. His financial success has been commensurate with the interest and energy which he has ever displayed and he is today the possessor of a beautiful and desiralle home and sufficient means to maintain himself and family in confort and to provide for the future welfare of his children. Mr. West is public spirited, takes pride in the development and growth of his township and county and lends his influence to all enterprises and measures having for their end the material prosperity of the community and the general good of his fellow men. A Democrat on state and national issues, he is not bound by party in local affairs, where he gives his support to the candidate best qualified for the office to which lie aspires. Fraternally he is an active member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and religiously is a Roman Catholic, belonging with his famlily to St. Henry's church, Vernon. Mr. W\est, on the I6th day of October, 1901, was married to Margaret Lawler, daughter of James and Catherine (Pierson) Lawler, both parents natives of Canada, the father born in 1847. the mother in the year 1846. Mr. Lawler died in 1906 and his widow now resides il Denver township, this county. Mrs. \Vest was born June I9, I873, and her marriage has been blessed with four children, Leo, Bernard. George and Helen. JOSES'PH A. GRAHAM. The gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection is a native of Canada and a son of Andrew and Maria Graham, the former born in May, 1810, in Ireland, the latter in the year 1818 in the city of Toronto, Ontario. These parents were married in the latter country and there spent the greater part of their lives, the mother dying in 1875, the father in i880. Joseph A. Graham first saw the light of day at Toronto in the year 1838, and spent his boyhood in his native city. receiving his preliminary education in the schools of the same, later pursuing his studies for some time in Buffalo, New York. After being graduated from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College in the latter place, he turned his attention to educational work and for a period of fifteen years taught school at different places and for two years was bookkeeper for a business firm in the city of Toronto. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 597 In 1875 Mr. (raham came to Isabella county, Michigan. and purchasing the northwest quarter of section 15, Isabella township), at once addressed hilmself to the clearing and improving of his land, working on the same during the spring and sutimmer and part of the fall months and devoting the winter season to teaching in the district schools. By energetic and well directed effort, he finally reduced the greater part of his land to cultivation and by making improvements from time to time added greatly to the value and attractiveness of a farm which is now not only among the most productive in the township, but is also one of the most beauttiful and desirable country homes of the community in which it is situated. Mr. Graham brought to his vocation a well disciplined nlind and by reason of his intelligence he has long held a position of influence among his neighbors and fellow citizens. For a period of six years he was official strveyor of Isabella county, the duties of which position he discharged in an able and signally creditable manner and served his township two years as clerk, besides hol(ling various school offices and doing much to promote the cause of education in his own and other parts of the country. Hle was originally a Republican in politics, but )ecoming disappointed with the policies of the party and with its failure to redeem certain pledges made to the people, he severed his connection therewith andl for somse years has voted with the opposition, being at this timhe one of the leading Democrats of Isabella township and an influential factor in the cause which lie advocates and supports. Widely informed on the questions and issues of the times, lie has well grounded convictions concerning the same and, though not narrowly partisan, he is firm in the defense of his opinions, but allows others the same rights of private judgment which lie claitms for himself. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 305, Free and Accepted Masons, at Mt. Pleasant, and, though not identified with any religious organization, he has great respect for the church and is a liberal contributor to the Methodist Episcopal society which lie and his wife attend. Mary Ann Graham, who became the wife of the subject in 1882, was born November 18, 1838, and is the mother of three children, Hugh A., Fred and Catherine E., the first two residents of Isabella county and esteemed by all who know them. Hugh A. Graham, whose birth occurred on January 28, I863, married Effie Elwell and lives in Mt. Pleasant. He is an intelligent and well educated gentleman, and served as county school commissioner for a period of six years, previous to which time he was engaged in teaching. Since the expiration of his official terms, he has been devoting his attention to educational work and is now recognized as one of the most successful men of 598 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the profession in Isabella county. Fred J. Graham, the second son, was born on April 18, 1865, and for some time past has been practicing medicine at Sumner, this state. He is an accomplished physician and surgeon, stands high in the profession and has gained more than local repute for efficielcy and skill in alleviating human suffering. His first wife, formerly Elsie Standish, dying, he subsequently married Anna Mulford, a lady of beautiful life and character and a true helpmate in the noble work to which his talents are being devoted. Catherine E., the third child, was born December 14, I866, and (lied November 7, I88i. ROBERT I-. CHAPMAN. The subject of this sketch is a prosperous farmer of Isabella township and as a citizen is worthy of mention among those who by upright lives and wholesome influence give stability to the body politic and respectal)ility to the communities honored by their presence. Like many of the substantial yeonanry of Michigan. he comes from the dominion of Canada. where his ancestors settled a number of years ago and( where representatives of his family still live. Robert Chapman, the subject's father, a native of Yorkshire, England, was born in 1804 and died in Canada il August,.I877. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Wolf, also came fronm England, where her birth occurred in the year 1816. She departed this life at her home in York county, Ontario, in I892. Robert II. 'Chapman was born in Otobicoke, York county, Ontario, June 21, I846, andl spent his childhoold anl.youth in that townl, receiving his education in the schools of the satie. Leaving holme at the age of nineteen, he went to Palmyra, New York, where he learned the cabinetmaker's trade, and after working at the trade three. and a half years ini that city returned to.Canada to assist with the labor on the farm. One year later he went to Day county, Iowa, where he followed his vocation for a period of three years, at the expiration of which time he returned to. Canada and spent the ensuing five:years in the province of Ontario. Ile then went to South Dakota, where he remained four and a half years, and in 1885 came to Isabella county, Michigan. locating at Rosebush, where. for three years. he applied himself to omechanical work, removing at the end of that time to.a forty-acre farm in Isa-.bella township, which he cultivated as a renter during the three years ensuing. Purchasing eighty acres in section 16, at the expiration of the period ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 599 indicatedl moving to the samc, he applied himself energetically to its improvement and from that time to the present his career as a farmer has been very satisfactory. Mr. Chapman has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, raises aluntdant crops of all the grains, vegetables anid fruits grown in this latitude and by continuous industry and good mranagement has placed himlself in easy circumstances. Ilis improvemlents are among the best in the locality, and the prosperous appearance of everything on the farm Ilarks him not onll as a man of energy' but as possessing exceeding good taste. By remodeling and adding to his residence, lie now has a commodious and comfortable home, equipped with many modern conveniences, his other luildings being in keeping therewith. In 1903 he erected a fine barn, thirty-four lby fifty feet in dimensions, with -stone basenment, and from time to time has further addled to the value and productiveness of his land by a successful system of tile drainage, besides enclosing the farm and subdividing it into fields with the latest type of wire fencing. Mr. Chapnan was happily mlarried in 1875 to Sarah Steele, whose birth occurred in Peel county, ()Ontario, March 14, i858. Her parents, George and Mar-y (Armstrong) Steele, were natives of the dominion, the former born April 7, 1827, and is still living; the latter was born September 5, 1832. and delparted this life on the i2th day of September, Igoo. Mir. and lMrs. Chapman are the parents of children as follow\s: m\elia M.. wife of Pearl Doane..of M[t. 'leasant, was boIr in Canada. September 27, 1875. Helrbert (-., born May 28, 1877, is single and lives in South Dakota. Ernest J., who also is 'uniarried and who is still with his parents, was born on the 24th day of Mlarch, 1879: Nina H., born in South Dakota. August I2, I882, married rHerbert Maybee and lives in (Oil Center, California; Ida M.; now\\ Mrs. Earl -Johllson, born May T8, 1884, in South D)akota, is now living in Isabella township, where her husband is engaged in farm ing; JFlorence mnni born on the family homestead in this county, September 25, 886 is unmarried and lives in the city of tKalamazoo;:Eva Orabel, born May 23, -I890, is a metlmber.of the home circle, as is also Willard S., the youngest of the family. who.was born on the 2oth day of December, 1899. Mr. Chapman votes \\ith the Prolhiiition party, is ea-rnest in the support of his plrinciples and a1n uicoimpromisinlg enemy of the liquor traffic. He has long been active in religious iwork, being a devoult memiber of the Methodlist -Episcopal church arid for six years served 'as steward of the local society xwith -4hich identified, also lboldilng the, position of trustee for a period of seven years. Mirs. Chapman, \whi is also an earnest and consisteit Christian, hIs.been supei-intendeit of' the SundayS school for tx-o years anct duting the past 6o00 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ten years has served as president of the Ladies' Aid Society. She is a wotman of fine mind and marked individuality, very capable in public religious work and one of the valuable members of the church to which she and her husband belong. EDGAR W. ALLEN. Individual enterprise, which is justly the boast of the American people, is strikingly exhibited in the career of the gentleman lwhose naine forms the introduction to this sketch, for the well improved andl well cultivated farm and splendid home which he has accumulated by his own efforts in \Vise township, Isabella county, would indicate that he has let no obstacle thwart him. lie has been a very active man in the development of this part of the county. He has seen the rapid growth of this locality from the primeval woods, inhabited by red men and wild beasts and the part he has taken in this growth entitles him to a place in his county's history. Edgar W. Allen was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, March 13, 1841. When sixteen years old he moved with his parents to Genesee county, Michigan, and most of his life has, therefore, been spent in the Wolverine state. He is the son of Samuel and Nancy A. (Douglass) Allen, the former born in Vermont, and his death occurred on July 31, 1868, in Tuscola county, Michigan; the mother was born in Connecticut in I800 and her death occurred about i886. These parents grew to maturity and were educated in the East, lived for some time after their marriage in northern New York, then moved to Ohio. Their son, Edgar W., was sixteen years of age when the family moved to Genesee county, Michigan, being the only son. He attended school in Ohio until he was sixteen years of age. He knew what hard work was early in life, being the main support of his aged parents. In the spring of 1871 Edgar W. Allen came to Saginaw, Michigan, and remained there two years, and engaged in various kinds of work, on the dock, on farms, etc. In 1873 he came to Isabella county, and located in section 17, Wise township, when the country was wild and there were no established roads. He purchased eighty acres of land, all in the woods, sixty acres of which is now under cultivation. He has been very successful as a general farmer and fruit grower, has a well improved place and has erected substantial and comfortable buildings. He has made a great success as a horticulturist, being one of the largest fruit growers in the county, raises apples, plums, grapes and small fruit, and has twelve acres in fruit of various kinds. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 6oi Everything about his place shows that a gentleman of good taste and industrious habits has its management in hand. He has made all the improvements himself and deserves the success he has attained. Mr. Allen was married while living in Genesee county, on September 9, 1862, to Minerva A. Parke-, who was born August 25, I864, in Livingston county, New York. She is the daughter of Eden B. and Minerva (Bacon) Parker, natives of Vermont. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics and he belongs to the Granger lodge. In August, I883, he was appointed supervisor of \Vise township to fill the vacancy of James McLeod, and he was re-elected to this office in 1884 and served very faithfully for five or six years. He \\as later highway commissioner for one year, and he has also held school offices, such as school inspector. He is now justice of the peace. having held this office in a very satisfactory manner for several years. He is one of the oldest settlers in the township and he is well known and highly honored by all classes. He has done his full share in the development of the community and is a man who has always performed very faithfully every task reposed in him. In his family are the following children: Maud M.. who married W. T. Tubbs, lives in Alpena, Michigan; Ruth S. married L. E. Mcintosh and lives with her father; Ralph C. married Ida Tucker, a jeweler and druggist at Harbor Beach, Michigan; Clyde C., who married Edna Kidd, is a painter by trade and lives on his father's farm. PERRY H. ESTEE. JR. It is proper that the descendants of the old settlers, those who cleared the land of its primitive woods, should see that the doings of the early years are fittingly remembered and recorded. Could the lives of the first settlers be fully'and truthfully written what an interesting, thrilling and wonderful tale it would be. Think of the prolix journey from the North or East, of the hardships of clearing the soil and the difficulties of properly rearing the family. A native of Coe township, Isabella county, and one of the best known, and highly honored citizens of the same is Perry H. Estee, Jr., a progressive farmer and stock raiser, who came to us from those picturesque days of the pioneer, who has lived to see and take part in the wondrous transformation of this locality, a man of many sterling attributes and worthy characteristics, like his distinguished father before him, and a man who, for varied reasons, is 602 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. -eminently entitled to conspicuous mention in a work of this character. Mr. Estee was 'born on his father's farm in Coe township, this county, on June 23, 1866. He is the son of Perry H. and Carrie (Dole) E.stee, who are mentioned at proper length in another part of this volume. The subject, who was the youngest member of the family, grew to maturity under his parental roof-tree and attended school one-half mile north of his birth place. He worked on the home farmi during the summer and attended school in the wintertime, in fact he has always engaged in farming. The father's place consisted at one time of one hundred and fifty-four acres, but he sold twenty acres; to his son he gave forty acres, then sold ten acres more, owning eightyfour acres when he died, of which the subject received forty-two acres and the sister the other forty-two acres, Perry H., Jr., having the one-half oln which the buildings stand, which wsere erected by the father. He has a windmill and the place is well improved in every way and is under a high state of cultivation. He keeps considerable good live stock of various kinds, and about three acres of his land is in fruit of a fine variety and quality. He sometimes has as much as twenty-five acres in beans, which nets him a good profit. About seventy acres of his farm are under cultivation. He has a most excellent farm and he manages it with such skill that the best results possible are obtained. Mr. Estee is a member of the (leaners, being a charter member of the arlx)r at Shepherd. He is school director at the p)resent time antd he takes an interest in whatever tends to promote the general good of his communliity. Mr. Estee was married to Ellen Coffman, \who was born on Feblruar 5, i866, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, where her parents lived and died. 'I'he brother of the subject, whose wife had died in Pennsylvania, induced Ellen Coffman to come and make her home with his parents and keep house for them, and she was here two years hefore her marriage, which occurred in the present Estee home on March 12, 1887, and she and Mr. Estee have residedl *here continuously to the present time. Mr. Estee. recalls the incidents of the early days here \when he assisted in. clearing the home place. He owns a farm of eighty acres in secti(o 17, Lincoln township, on which he built a small house and a barn. He bought this.place from his brother in I892, for which he paid twelve hundred dollars, and itis now worth four thousand dollars. Fifty acres are cleared-, the rest being in timber, beech, maple ant pine, the timber being worth overi fifteen hundred, dollars. He has nOtW' fin thfis ylace fifteen acres of oats, tiwentvi-six acres of clover, which hestlireshes for the& seed.' The rest is in pasture and:miscellaneous crops. He irYetendsit- stock'this farmn with sleep. MiT,. Fstee ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 603 has worked hard and managed well and he has been amply repaid, being now very comfortably fixed and being one o)f the leading farmers and stock men of Coe township. To Mr. and Mrs. Fstee the following children have been born: Marion D. lives in Shepherd, having worked in Taylor's store for the past five years; Sadie L. V., Ivan and Iva (twins), Mary E., Perry II., Jr., Rush C., Merrill M. and Frances J. are at home. A child died in infancy when ten days old, unnamed. ALBERT G. STRUBLE. The success achieved by the gentleman whose name introduces this review entitles hiim to honorable mention among the representative citizens of Isabella county and it is with much satisfaction that the following outline of his career and tribute to his worth are accorded a place in these pages. Albert G. Struble, second son and third child of Henry and Eliza (Wickham) Struble (see sketch of J. H. Struble), was born Octolber I, 1864, in Williams county, Ohio, and in the spring of T868 was brought to Isabella county. Michigan, by his l)arents who settled in the village of Shepherd, in Coe township, Isabella county, where the lad spent his childhood and youth. Reared to habits of industry and thrift, lie early- proved a valuable assistant in a general store and at farnm work, etc., and while still young he made p)lans for lis future. resolving to be something more than a mere passive agent in the world. At intervals during his minority lie attended the public schools of Coe township and in the fall of I885, when he was married, he moved from Salt River, now called Shepherd, to a farm in Lincoln township all.d in the fall of 1888, when ts\enty-foutr years old,. began dealing in agricultural iJmiplements and machinery, at Shepherd, Michigan, which- business for about thirteen xears lie carried on with s.uccess such as few attain. In addition to his regular business Mr. Struble, from time to tilme, h as been and is now identified xx-itli vairi6us- enterprises, including the Central State Savings Bank, at Shepheherd, xhich lie took the leading part in organizing, also the Wsinn Banki'ng Compllany, which lie helped to establish, and of which lihe is the heaviest stockholder, director and vice-president in both banks besides at one time being a stockholder and director of the Isabella State Banik at Mt. Pleasant, of which he was one of the first directors.:The other utilities With which he is identified are the Union Telephone Company, bf A.lma, this state, the Valley Teleljhone Company, at Saginaw, in both of 604 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which he is a heavy stockholder, and he also has various other interests in different places. Financially his success has been commensurate with the energy and judgment displayed in his undertakings, and at the present time he ranks among the large property holders and well-to-do men of central Michigan, among his possessions being the finely improved farm of two hundred acres il Coe township, valuable business property and a number of lots in Shepherd and other places. I)uring his residence of the most of his life time in Salt River and Shepherd, he has taken a leading part in the development and growth of the town, served five years in the council, and was foremost in every movement which had for its object the welfare of the commtnity and the general good of the populace. Such a man would naturally become interested in political and public affairs and for a number of years Mr. Struble has kept pace with the timles concerning all matters on which men and parties divide, and holds tenaciously to opinions which he forms only after deliberation. I-He votes the Republican ticket and is an influential factor in his party, though not a partisan, much less a seeker after the honors and emoluments of office. He holds membership with Salt River Lodge No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons, and for several years served as secretary of the same, besides contributing in many other ways to bring about the flourishing condition for which the organization now is noted. Mr. Struble, on October 7, I885, was united in marriage with Jennie E. Morris, born January I I, I868, whose parents, Franklin and Mary J. (Annis) Morris, were born in the years 1830 and 1836, respectively, the father dying in 1897; the mother, who is still living, makes her home in Lincoln township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Struble have two children, the older of whom, Edna Alberta, born January I9, 1890, is a teacher and lives with her parents, and will graduate in June, 19I I, at the State Normal School in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; Lena Belle, who also is a member of the home circle, was born October 17, I903, and is now attending the Shepherd, Michigan, public school. HARRISON ABBOTT. Few residents of Isabella county were as widely known and as highly esteemed as the late Harrison Abbott, of Coe township. Coming to Michigan in an early day, he bore an active part in the development of the section of country in which he settled and by a long life singularly free from fault ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 605 and largely devoted to the welfare of those with whom he mingled, he earned the confidence of his fellow men and left to his descendants a name above the suspicion of dishonor. Mr. Abbott was a native of New England and inherited many of the sterling characteristics of a long line of sturdy ancestors. lie was born in Shrftsbury, Vermont, October 4, 1823, and when eight years old accompanied his parents, Adna and Cvnthia Abbott, to Washington county, New York, where he grew to maturity and received his educational training. On-May 26, T853, at TIartford. New York, he was united in marriage with Martha A. Walling, whose birth occurred at Gouverneur, that state, January 8, T828, she being a daughter of William and Polly (Smlith) \alling, the father a well known resident of (Gouverneur and for many )ears proprietor of a shoe shop in the place of his residence. In the year 1868 Mr. Abbott disposed of his interests in New York state and moved to Isabella county, Michigan, purchasing a section of fine land in Coe township for which he paid the sum of thirty-five dollars per acre and which, by persevering and \vell directed lalor, was in due time improvetd and became one of the most beautiful and desirable farms in that locality. Tie raised abundant crops of all the grains and vegetables common to central Michigan, besides devoting considerable attention to live stock, and from the splendid lmaple orchard on his farml he was known to make as high as eight hundred pountlds of sugar a year. the greater part of which \\as sold at the neighboring store or exchanged for such commnodities as the family needed. In all that constituted a successful agriculturist and enterprising man of affairs, Mr. Abbott \as easily the peer of any of his fellow citizens and. though of quiet demeanor and a true type of modest worth, he exercised a strong influence for good in his neighborhood and always stood for the right and for the strict enforcement of la\\ and order. In his relations with his fellow men he \as the soul of honor and wherever known his simple word had all the sanctity of a written obligation. His ideals were always high and his pirposes noble and it was ever his aim to realize within himself the high standard of manhood and citizenship which he hoped might become general in a community whose morals were not always at a premium and good government at times was lacking. Personally, he was a man of pure and clean habits and it was without boosting that he abstained from all kinds of intoxicants, never used tobacco in any form. nor indulged in any kind of excesses which pollute the body and degrade the better nature. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were the parents of two children, namely: Marilla, born in White Creek, New York, October 25, I856, married W. IE. Preston, of Mt. Pleasant, where the couple now- live (see sketch of W. E. Preston); 6o6 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Miles D., whose birth occurred in White Creek, July 24. I860, was married April I8, I881, to Mina Walton and is now engaged in farming. Harrison Abbott lived beyond the allotted span and., like a shock of wheat fully ripened for the garner, was gathered to his fathers in his eightyfourth year, dying from old age and feebleness on September 18, (907. JAMES E. W\OOD. In calling the reader's attention to the honorable and successful career of James E. Wood, well known farmer and merchant and pullic-spirited citizen of Gilmore, Gilmore township, Isabella county, no attempt shall be made to recount all the important acts in his useful and busy life. for it is. deemed that only a few of the interesting incidents in his career will suffice to show him to be eminently worthy of a place in this volume along with his fellows of high standing and recognized worth. Mr. Wood was born on0 July 21, 1872, in Gilmore township, this county, the son of Jesse II. and Martha Jane Wood, the father born in I'ennsylvania in 1838 and the mother also in that state in 1842. The elder Wood has a very pleasant home in Farwell and is a highly respected man. His family consists of the following children, living: Thomas, Hliram L., Hannah. James, of this review, H-enry, Mary Effie, Jessie J.; Walter died in 19T0. The parents of these children came to this county in I865 settled first in Gratiot county, then came to Gilmore township, Isabella county, the father homesteading eighty acres, whiich, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared, at least the major part of it. The family lived at Forest Hill, Gratiot county, one year, and, having little money when they first came to this state, suffered a great many hardships. They assisted in making a trail in order to get into Isabella county. After getting a start they lived very comfortably. James E. Wood grew to maturity in his native community and went to school in the Schofield district, Gilmore township. During the summer months he assisted with the work on the farm, working out some. being compelled, on account of hard times, to hustle for himself part of the time during his boyhood. lie remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, then worked in the woods, did jobbing, in fact, most anything to earn an honest dollar. He took contracts to clear land and do similar work, continuing this at intervals for about seven years. He then went to Conneaut, Ohio, where he shoveled iron ore, and there he began saving his money and ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 607 got a good start. Before going to Conneaut he had purchased eighty acres; of wild land in Gilmore township, for which he paid. the sum of two ihunldred (lollars. Iis father and brother ownied a store here at that time, and: with the money lie had saved at Conneaut and his eighty acres lie purchased the interest of his father in the store, which \was worth three thousandl fourl hundred dollars. He went in debt for part of it, then, on April 27, 1907, bought, out his brother's interest, and he still owns and runs the store. On November I2, 1902, Mr. \ood was united in marriage with Frances C. Glass, dlaughter of Herb-ert and Hannah Glass. She was born on March, 17, 1878, in Gilmore to\wnship. Her parents were old settlers in Gilmore township and were p)rominent in the early life there, being quite well-to-do: now, owning two hundred acres of excellent land, a fine home and several large barns. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James E. \ood: Williaim Wallace, Iorn November 7, I9o8, died November 7, 7908; Herbert E.. born May 24, T905. A\fter their marriage Mr. and Mrs. W\ood continued to reside here, the former working in the store. IIe ran a grocery wagon most of the time, his brother doing the work in the store, and he has followed this nearly every summer since, he and his brother owning each a half interest. James E.. bought his brother's interest on April 27, 1907, since which time he has managed the store alone. This store has always been well patronized. The W\ood Brothers built an addition to the store and remodeled the building, the store nosw being well arranged and attractive in appearance. They also had a cement basement dug under the store, and Mr. Wood has very recently added other important improvements, including a modern furnace which makes his store very comfortable during the winter months and an acetylene gas lighting plant. The average sales at this store now\ amount to seventy dollars daily and the trade is gradually increasing. Mr. Wood employs two men on the delivery3 wagon and such help as he needs in the store. During the year 19To twenty thousand dollars' worth of goods were sold, an increase of four hundred dollars over the previous year. A general mercantile stock is carried, including groceries, drugs, hardware, dry goods, shoes, etc. This is; the only store in Gilmore township and it is patronized for miles around. It is located six miles from Farwell. nine miles from Weidman, ten miles from Rosebush and Clare, seven niles from Beal City and sixteen and one-half miles from Mt. Pleasant, thus being exceptionally well located, drawing customers from a wide field, in the midst of a prosperous farming community. The fact that the reputation of Mr. W\ood among all his customers is that of 6o8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. a scrupulously honest man has done much to build up his fine trade. He keeps increasing his stock all the time, and he is very grateful to the people of this vicinity for their patronage. Mr. Wood is also the owner of one hundred and forty acres of good land in Gilmore township, which is well improved and is well kept, about eighty acres being in cultivation, the rest being in pasture and most of his time is spent on the farm with what help he needs, while his wife looks after the store. He keeps some stock, including a teanl of mules worth five hundred dollars. General farming is carried on. He has good wells on his farm. streams running across his fields. Most of it is well fenced and well drained. and he built a good barn on his place in I908. - DAN McLACHLAN. The successful farmer and representative citizen whose career is herewith briefly outlined is a native of Canada, but since 187T has been actively identified with the material interests of Isabella county, Miichigan, of which he is now an honored resident. His father, John McLachlan, was born in Scotland in the year 1832. and. at the age of twenty-tlhree, crossed the Atlantic and settled in Canada, where he secured land an(t engaged in agricultural tursuits. After residing in that country until 1860 he moved to the vicinity of Port Huron, Michigan, and settled in the woo(ls amnong the Indians, having been one of the early pioneers of that part of the state and among the leading citizens of the coilmunity which he helped plant in the wilderness. Ten years later lie disposed of his interests in the county of St. Clair and changed his residence to Isabella county, purchasing lands in Isabella township. which in diue time he cleared and developed into a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, where he lived until his death, in the year 1898. He married, in Canada, Catharine McLachlan, who, though of the same family name as his own, was no relation, and became the father of ten children, whose nalnes are as follows: Jessie, wife of Anthony F. Fitchell, lives in Isabella county; Daniel. subject of this review; Nancy, who married Chris Heins and died in this county some years ago; Catharine died unmarried; Hugh married Mary Fisher and is one of Isabella county's prosperous farmers; John, a resident of Mt. Pleasant, married Belle Porter and is a respected citizen of that town: Belle, now Mrs. Wallace Spaulding, lives in Isabella county, as does also ISABELLA COUNTY MICHIGAN. 6og Duncan, the next in order of birth, a single man and enterprising citizen; Jennie, who married Joseph Raymond, lives in Wisconsin, and James, whose wife was formerly Dora Fall and who makes her home in the county of Isabella, being the youngest of the number. Daniel McLachlan, the second of this large and highly esteemed family, was born in Canada on the 22d day of February, 1845. Reared under excellent home influence, hie grew up a strong, well-developed lad, and at the age of fifteen accompanied his parents to Michigan, where he early became familiar with woodcraft as a workman in various lumber camps. He followed that line of labor for a period of twenty years, during a part of which time he lived with his parents near Port Huron and from I862 to I875 made his home in Saginaw. moving from that city to Isabella county in the latter year, where he has since devoted his attention to the pursuit of agriculture. In addition to his landed interests in this county he also owns a farm of eighty acres in the county of Midland (a lumber district), which he purchased for five hundred dollars, but which is now conservatively estimated at considerably in excess of seven thousand dollars. Mr. McLachlan received his early education in Canada. where he attended school during the winter months for several years, devoting the summer season to work on the family homestead. Later, by mingling with his fellow men hlie became the possessor of a valuable fund of practical knowledge, which, supplemented by much reading in the meantime, has made him a well informed and influential man. Recently he rented his farm and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors and excellent management in a life of practical retirement, although still giving personal attention to his various interests and keeping abreast of the times on all matters of public moment, being enterprising and wide awake and ever ready to lend his assistance and influence to all worthy measures for the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellow men. Fraternally lie belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mt. Pleasant I.odge No. 1o5. in which lie has passed all the chairs, besides holding melmbership with Lodge No. 305. Free and Accepted Masons, of the same place. in which lie has also been honored with important official positions. He stands high in the latter fraternity and for some years has been a leading member of Chapter No. fir, Royal Arch Masons, which from time to time has called him to stations of responsibility and trust. ' In his political views Mr. McLachlan is a Democrat and as such wields a strong influence for his party in the county, having served six years as township supervisor, and four years in the important o(-ffice of highway commnissioner. From childhood (39) 6Io ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. he has been a firm believer in revealed religion and, as a devout ilemlber of the Presbyterian church, demonstrates by a life of inflexible integrity the beauty and worth of an abiding Christian faith. Mr. McLachlan married in St. Clair county, Michigan, Emma l-oughton, who was born in England on the 22d of April, 1840, her parents, John and Jane Ioughton, natives of England, coming to this country a number of years ago and settling in the county of St. Clair, where they reared a family and became widely and favorably known for their many sterling qualities. Mr. and Mrs. McLachlan have no children of their own, but their beautiful and attractive home is a favorite resort of the young people of the neighborhood, its doors standing ever open to all who seek its hospitality. They stand high in the social circles of the community, being ready3 at all times to countenance and encourage every enterprise for the intellectual and mioral advancement of those with whom they miingle and all whlo enjoy the favor of their acquaintance speak in high praise of their gentle demeanor and sterling worth. SOL. F. FRYE. The subject of this sketch has had a varied and exceedingly interesting career, only a mere outline of which is possible in an article of the limits of this review. Sol.' F. Frye is a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and a son of David K. and Elizabeth (Fordyce) Frye, both born in that county and state, the father on the I4th day of July, I8T2, the mother in the year 18I7. These parents were married in Greene county, where they lived a number of years, moving later to West Virginia, where their deaths occurred in I859. David K. Frye enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment for the Mexican war, but hostilities having ceased and peace been declared while en route to the scene of action, he saw little service except the trip to and from Mexico. Sol F. Frye was born July 22, 1844, and spent his early life in his native county. After the death of his parents, which occurred when he was fifteen years old, he went to live with an uncle, Archibald Fordyce, with whom he remained two years, attending school at intervals in the meantime. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company H, First California Infantry, under Colonel Baker, for the hundred days' service, at the expiration of which time he re-enlisted at Camp Oregon, Washington, D. C., for three years. Colonel Baker, being from California, was empowered by the war ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 6ii department to raise two regiments in the East to represent that state, tile transportation of troops from the Pacific coast at that time being considered an undertaking too great to lbe practicable. Mr. Frye \as in one of these regiments. The bill passed by Congress proviling for the organizing of the regiments stipulated that (Colonel Baker should keep thelm on the coast and as they entered the service very early in the war, July I, I86I, they were called the First United States Volunteer Infantry, the name being sulbsequently changed to the Seventy-first Pcnnsylvania Volunteers. From the time of entering the army Mr. Frye experienced much active service and not long after enlisting his regimient was engaged in desperate fightig with the Confederates in various parts of \irginia. He was with his colmmand in the battles of Little Bethel, lMunson Hill aind the bloody enigagement at Ball's Bluff, where lie was taken prisoner and where the gallant Colonel Baker fell while bravely leadinlg his mIen. \Vhen captured, Mr. Frye had been four (lays and three Ilights without food and xvas in literally a condition of starvation. He was given but four ounces of bread and, with a number of his colm-rades, was started for Libby Prison, where he arrived in due time, his weight at the time of his entrance into that infalmous pen being one hundred and seventy-six pounds and when exchanged, four months later, he barely tipped the beam at sixty pouInds, and that too when heavily clothed. While in durance vile he was taken with diphtheria, which necessitated his being treated for three weeks in the prison hospital in Richliiond and after his exchange, which took place on the 22d of February, 1862, he was sent to the Soldiers' Home in Washington. where lie remained six weeks. By reason of sickness while in Libby, his throat became so affected that he could not speak and after becoming a patient in the Soldiers' Home the physicians devoted special attention to the treatment of his throat. On being dismissed from the latter institution, Mr. Frye secured a furlough for twenty-four (lays and wvent to H-arrisburg, Pennsylvania, where, by special order of Governor Curtin, he was appointed recruiting agent. After discharging the duties of the position until the expiration of the period indicated, hle returned. in March, I862. to his regiment at Yorktown, where the following ilonth he was seized with smallpox while on duty and four days laid exposed to the rain with no covering other than his blanket to protect him from the fury of the storm. On being rescued he spent one day in an old brick church and was then taken in a dilapidated ambulance through the rain to Fortress Monroe, where he arrived at niight in a condition better imagined than described. After remaining in the smalllox hospital near Fortress Monroe until the 20th 6I2 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of the following June, he was transferred for one month, when he rejoined his command the day preceding the battle of Malvern Hill, in which he participated. One month later he was discharged, being a mere skeleton at the time with scarcely sufficient strength to walk. During the years follow-ing his discharge Mr. Frye suffered greatly, although he tried hard to work, as he did not like to be dependent upon his friends for his livelihood. When sufficiently recovered he accepted the position of watchman on the steamer "Starlight," plying the Ohio river, but being taken sick at St. Louis, he was obliged to resign the place, after a short time and again seek relief under the physician's care. Later he engaged as watchman on the steamer "Allegheny Belle No. 4," but did not long retain the position, resigning after a few months and going to the city of Pittsburg, where he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Central road, in which capacity he continued (luring the ensuing two years. Severing his connection with the road at the expiration of that period, he went to St. Louis, Michigan, thence, on March I3th of the year i866, came to Isabella county, locating in Coe township, where he made his headquarters while devoting the several years following to different pursuits. Mr. Frye attended high school at St. Louis for some time, subsequently worked at Indian Mills in Union township and was also employed for some months in a hotel at Indian Mills, 'kept by John Campbell. Later he looked up timber in Isabella county for Joel Graves and also taught school for four years in Gilmore township and elsewhere. In i888 he moved to Brinton and engaged in the drug trade. to which he has since devoted his attention, being at this time proprietor of a well stocked establishment and doing a safe and lucrative business. In addition to the several business and other relations referred to. Mr. Frye taught school for two years in his native state and for two years was in the general grocery trade at Farwell, Michigan, in partnership with P. M. Shumway. Disposing of his interest in the winter of 1877, he engaged as clerk in a hardware store kept by Mr. Todd, in whose employ he continued until the following spring, when he embarked in the drug business at Altona in partnership with Dr. J. E. Gruber. to whom he sold his interest in May. 1882. In October of that year he was appointed postmaster of Altona by President Arthur and held the position during the ensuing ten years, also thirteen years as township clerk and became one of the leading Republican politicians of Mecosta county. Since moving to Brinton he has been active in promoting the interests of the village and adjacent country and he is today not only one of the popular business men of the community, but also among the most es ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 613 teemed citizens of the township in which he lives. He has served fourteen terms as clerk of Coldwater township, two years as director of school district No. 6, and has been a notary public for a period of thirty-two years. He is still interested in politics and, like all good citizens, keeps in touch with the trend of public thought and well informed on the great questions and issues concerning which men and parties divide. In i884 he was enumerator of the state census for the township of Hinton. county of Mecosta. and in 9o10 was appointed enumerator of Coldwater township for the national census, the duties of which position he discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner. Mr. Frye was married March 3. 1867, to Lucy Leonard, daughter of David and Sarah Leonard, natives of Pennsylvania. the union resulting in the following children: Edward B. and Edwin, twins, who were born June 5, 1869, the latter deceased, the former a farmer of Kalkaska county, this state. Archibald was born July 2, 1876. ill arwell, Clare county, and Edith, wife of W\ayne Parker, who was born August 13, 1882. Mrs. Parker and her husband achieved a national reputation some years ago as aeronauts, ha\ving traveled over the grcater part of the United States making balloon ascensions from nearly all the large cities. The mother of these children dying in 1882, Mr. Frye. in March, 1890, married Minnie M. Lawrence, who was born October 20, i868. The pledge of this union is a daughter, Beulah, whose birth occurred in the year 1894, and who is now pursuing her studies in the normal school at Mt. Pleasant. LEVI SEYMOUR. The efforts of Levi Seymour, well known and successful farmer of Gilmore township, Isabella county, whicl have been practically unaided, a fact that renders him more worthy of the praise that is freely accorded him by his neighbors, have resulted in much good to himself and family and to the community in general, for his life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. MIr. Seymour was born in Oswego county, New York, March 16, I86o, andli he is the son of an excellent and highly honored couple, Elem and Harriet Seymour, the father a native of the state of New York. Besides Levi, their children were: Mary, who married G. A. Pitts, is living in Gilmore township, this county; Albert E. works in the state of Washington and is married to Chloie Temple; Adelmer is deceased. 614 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. Levi Seymour grew up in Oswego county, New York, and attended school there. His father, who died when the son was two years of age, was a saw-mill man. Thus deprived of a father, Levi was early in life thrown upon his own resources and knew the meaning of hardships and hard work, being enmployed on farms and in the woods. He was seventeen years of age when he came to Michigan with his brother, Albert, having heard of the excellent prospects in this state for young men, but he had no thought of making it his permanent hcmle. Ile first went to Muskegon, then to Farwell, but a few days later went into the woods and began work, engaging in this line of endeavor at frequent intervals for about sixteen years. He arrived here without means, but he was economical and saved his money and in due course of time had a start. Tle purchased forty acres of land a half mile north of his present place in Gilmore township, Isabella county, two years after his arrival here, paying two hundred dollars for the same, having earned the money with which to pay for it by work in the woods. Tt was all first growth timber and there were no buildings on it. lie set to work with a will and cleared about half of the forty acres and erected a small house which he later added to, making that his home until he came to his present place, which, although he has not lived here all the time, lhe has called his home. Mr. Seymour was married, when twenty-one years of age, to Eva Robbins, daughter of P. H. and Isabelle Robbins, who was born in Nova Scotia in September, 186o. They were married on the farim where they nosw reside, her father having owned the place at that time. Mr. Seyimour was in the Northern Peninsula two andl one-half years engaged in lumbering. In Iro8 lie traded for forty acres west of his present place, subsequently purchasing the forty on which he now lives at sheriff's sale, later buying more land across the road, making in all one hundred and twenty acres. This constituted a very desirable farm in every particular and one of the best in the connmunity. Hiis farm is nearly all cleared, and he has placed on it most excellent improvements of every description. The former dwelling having burned, he replaced it with a substantial and attractive cement block house in I9o9, before which date he had lived in a rented house. He has also erected a large, substantial and convenient barn. He has a good cellar under his house, in fact, has everything about his place to make it attractive and desirable. When he took charge of this land it was far from being what it should have been in point of productiveness, but Mr. Seymour is a skilled agriculturist and he has built up the soil until it now produces abundant harvests of almost all kinds known in this latitude. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 6r5 To Mr. and Mrs. Seymour the following children have been born: Pearl, who married William Murphy, lives in Saginaw; Bessie married Ilerb. Glass and lives in Gilmore; Millard married Cora Robbins and lives in Milnnesota; Ruth married George Pitts and lives in Gilmore; Lena, who is now thirteen years of age, is still a member of the family circle at home. Politically, Mr. Seymour is not a party man, preferring to vote independently. He takes an abiding interest in whatever tends to advance the general good of his community and county. HUGH \WATSON. The subject of this reviews is descended from sturdy Scotch ancestry and inherits many of the sterling (Iualities of head and heart for which his nationality for generations has been noted. Ilis father, James Watson, whose birth occurred in Cromarty. Scotland, in 1835, came to America at the age of twenty-one and settled in Tlastings county, Ontario, where he spent the ensuing eighteen years as a farmer and miller, having learned the latter trade before leaving his native land. In 1 865 lie visited various parts of central Michigan and(l, being pleased with Isabella county, spent one summer in Mt. [Pleasant, returning to Canada at the end of that time and remaining there until 1874. In the latter yver lie returned to that county and bought a quarter section of land il Isabella towiiship, which he developed from a wilderness condition into a fine farm and to which he subsequently added iintil the place now contains two hundred acres, nearly all improved and in a high state of cultivation. James \Vatson is still living and at the present time is one of the old and highly esteemed citizens of Denver township, where he is now spending the closing years of a well spent life in honorable retirement. He married, when a young man, Rosella Rosebush, who was born in Hastings county, Ontario, in 1841, the union resulting in the birth of children as follows: John, William, James, whose sketch appears elsewhere, Minnie, Hugh, the subject of this review, and Catherine, all of whom grew to maturity and became well known and greatly esteemed in their respective places of residence. Hugh Watson was born in January, 1877, in Isabella county. Michigan, and his early experience emnbraced the usual routine of farm labor, varied during the winter seasons by attendance at the district schools. Amiid the wholesome and inspiring atmoslphere of the country lie grew up to a well 616 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. rounded man, capable of grasping the problems of life and well qualified to fill the place in the world which, while a mere lad, he had chosen. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he naturally selected that calling for his vocation and as a tiller of the soil he has been quite successful, owning at this time a beautiful and well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Isabella township, where he raises abundant crops of all the grains, vegetables and fruits for which Michigan has long been noted. He also has a fine sugar grove on his place and every spring manufactures large quantities of maple syrup and sugar, for which there is always a ready demand and good prices. Mr. Watson was married in the year 1903 to Edith Cooper, whose birth occurred in Mt. Pleasant on the 27th day of January, I88i. and who. for three years following her graduation from the State Central Normal School at Mt. Pleasant in I9oo, taught in the district schools of Isabella county. Her father. Henry Cooper, was born March 8, T855, in Canada and died in Sanilac county on April I6, 1898. The maiden name of her mother was Nellie WVeller. She was born in W\ashtenaw county, Michigan, October io, I864, and some time after the death of Mr. Cooper she married George Gilpin and is now living in Union township. Mr. and Mrs. \Vatson have one child, a daughter, Ethel Marie, who was born on March 28, 1908. Politically, Mr. Watson is a stanch Republican and religiously belongs with his wife to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds the position of trustee. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and manifests a lively interest in the local lodge which holds his membership. JOHN BUCKBOROUGH. One of the leading citizens and representative farmers of Denver township, Isabella county, is John Buckborough. His has been an eminently active and useful life, but the limited space at the disposal of the biographer forbids more than a casual mention of the leading events in his career, swhich, in our opinion, will suffice to show what earnest endeavor and honesty of purpose rightly applied and persistently followed will lead to-ultimate success. He is looked upon as a man thoroughly in sympathy with any movement looking to the betterment or advancement in any way of his community, where he has always been regarded as a man of sterling honesty and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect which his fellow citizens have been free to accord owing to his upright and industrious life. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 617 Mr. Buckborough was born on January 13, 1863, in \Vindham township, Norfolk county, Ontario. He is the son of James C. and Rachael (Smith) Buckborough, the father born in I824 at Beverly, Ontario, and the mother in Brant county, Ontario; they were married in Beverly, Ontario, in 1854 and there her (leath occurred in r1or; the father is still living on his farm of one hundred and fifty acres in that province, having devoted his life to farming. The following children were born to thelm: Sarah, Phoebe, George, Amelia. John. of this review, Rachael, Sydney, Edward. Seigal and ITaura. Johln Buckborough relmained at his parental homle in Canada until he was eighteen years of age, assisting with the work on the home farm and attending the dlistrict schools during the winter months. He also worked in a cheese factory two years, (luring which time he learned the "ins and outs" of this business. lie came to Michigan in 188I by way of Saginaw. which was at that timle a great lumllering town; he came on through Midland to \Vise township, Isabella county, where he bought eighty acres in Denver townslip, wllich still forms a part of his farm and for which he paid the suti of six hundred and fifty dollars. After remaining on the place about a month lie went to 1Forest Hill, Gratiot county, and worked for J. \W. Doan on his farm for about two nlonths, then returned to \ise township, Isabella county, and worked in the lumber btlsiness, in the woods all winter and lduring a part of the following summer, only a small part of his work being on the river. He remained there a year and a half, or until about 1884; he then came to his place, which he had neglected for the most part, and proceeded to clear it, remlaining ol it three years. living with a friend on an adjoining farm, doing their own cooking and housekeeping. He rented eighty acres and went to work for the Chippewa.umlber Company, Chippewa Lake, Mecosta county, Michigan., remaining with theni one year. lie took up blacksmithing there and worked mlostly in the woods, then went to work in Clare county, doing blacksnmithing and running a hoisting engine for hoisting logs onto a train, following this in the summer and his trade in the winter. He remained in Clare county two years. then went to Lake Odessa, Ionia county, where he remained one year, working for his brother George as a blacksmith, then returned to Clare county and took up his former occupations, remaining there until August 17, I893. Wlhile living there, he was married, on October i6, T891, to Ida Cramer, who was born in October. 1866, in Norfolk county, Ontario. She came to Saginaw to work and there met Mr. Buckborough. Finally moving to his present place Mir. Buckborough set to work and developed an excellent farm, 6i8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. first adding forty acres to his eighty, making one hundred and twenty, having purchased this a year before he settled on his farm permanently. lie lived in a small house, twelve by sixteen feet, until o901. when he built his present substantial, comfortable and beautiful residence; it is of cobble stones, the first of its kind to be built in the township, and is thirty by thirty feet; he also built a barn ninety-five by thirty-five, upright, and forty-five by thirty wing, under which is a basement the same size as the barn. He has cleared off the one hundred and twenty acres and about I897 lbought twenty acres adjoining. He maintains a blacksmith shop on his place, but does his own work only. He carries on general farming and keeps some good live stock, horses, cattle, sheep, etc. I-He has been very successful in his farming operations and has developed one of the best farms in the township and hle is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for it has all been by hard work and honest effort. He put up the first windmill in the township. After he bought his first eighty acres and took the stage to Forest H-ill, where he had secured employment, he had the sum of ten cents after paying his fare. Such a man, who is willing to work long and hard to accomplish his ambitions, is worthy of success. He is a Democrat and has held school offices. He belongs to the Presbyterian church of \Vise and is a member of the Grange, Lodge No. 1063, of Denver. DAVID ANSPAUGH I. David Anspaugh was born August 8, 1854, in Williams county, Ohio, and is a son of Benjamin and Rachel (Koin) Anspaugh, the former living, the latter departing this life in Rolland township in the year I909. Mr. Anspaugh was reared to maturity in his native county and state, spent his early years on a farm and has practically devoted his life to the cultivation of the soil. He remained in Ohio until twenty-seven years of age and then came to Isabella county, Michigan, purchasing, in the spring of 1882, the eighty acres of land in Rolland township which he improved and on which he has since lived. By diligent labor he has converted his land into one of the best and most desirable farms of the locality in which it is situated, while his improvements compare favorally with any others in the township, his dwelling, but recently erected, being a beautiful and imposing edifice, well equipped with modern conveniences and his other buildings substantially constructed and up to date in all of their appointments. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICTIGAN. 6T9 As a farmer Mr. Anspaugh is energetic and progressive and believes in the honor and dignity of his calling. By good managemnent he has accumulated a comfortable competency and. being in independent circumstances, he is now able to live at greater case than formerly and enjoy many of the material blessings by which he is surrounded. Personally he is quite popular among his neighbors and friends and ever since coming to this state he has manifested a lively interest in the affairs of his townshil aind county and done all within his power to advance the various interests of the community in which he resides. From time to time he has been honored by his fellow citizens with important official trusts, having served ten consecutive years as school director, hesides filling other local positions to which elected. ITe is a member of the fraternity of Odld Fellows, in which he has also been chosen to official stations and in politics votes with the Republican party. Mr. Anspaugh is a gentleman of intelligence and good taste, a reader and thinker and w-idely informed on manv subjects, including the leading public (luestions andl political issues of the times. He is also an accomllished violinist and for man y-ears devoted much time and study to the king of mulsical ilstruments, \\hichl he now\\ lays with the alility and skill of a master. Had he seen fit to make music a profession, he doubtless would long ere this have become one of the distinguished violinists before the public. Mr. Anspaugih was married in Williams county, Ohio, July 2, 1876, to Ellen Gloar. of Crawford county. that state, who has borne him five ciildren, only one of whom, Blanche hM.. wife of Irving Delo, is living; the following are the names of those deceasel: Ira, Lloyd. Grace and Gertrude. The daughter last named grew to womanhood and became the wife of Jacob Buhrer. but after a brief but halppy wedded experience, departed this life in the winter of 90o8, the other cliildren dlying in childhlood. M. EARL HOUGHITON. The gentleman whose name introduces this article holds distinctive prestige as a business man and to him in no small degree the thriving town of Blanchard is indebted for its reputation as an important trading point, also for its advantages as a place of residence and vllere capital may be safely invested. 620 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. M. Earl Houghton is a native of Ionia county, of the state now honored by his citizenship, having been born on the s5th day of August, I875. His father, Dr. Loren A. Houghton, was long a prominent physician of the above county, but later, about 1883, removed to Blanchard, in the county of Isabella, where he practiced his profession until his death, which occurred April I, 1907, at the age of sixty-two. The maiden name of Mrs. Dr. IHoughton was Diana Foster; she is still living, as are two of her three children, M. Earl, of this review, and Edwin NM., his business partner. M. Earl Houghton was eight years old when his parents moved to Blanchard and since I883 his life has been closely interwoven with the village and its various interests. He received his preliminary education in the schools of the town and later took a course in the Ferris Institute at Big Ralpids, where he made commendlable progress in his studies and earned an honorable reputation as a student. Ile early manifested a desire for a business life and in 1907 was enabled to carry his intentions into effect. IForming a )artnership that year with his brother. Edwin M. Houghton, the present mercantile house, under the firm name of Houghton Brothers, was founded, since which time it has grown rapidly in public favor until it is now one of the largest and most successful general mercantile establishments in the town of Blanchard. Mr. Houghton has demonstrated fine ability in his business and, by judicious judgment and managemlent and courteous relations with his customers, has secured a large and lucrative patronage. The brothers carry full lines of all kinds of goods to meet the demands of the general trade, attend closely to their business and manifest commendable interest and zeal in whatever tends to the improvement of the town and the benefit of the people. The subject has long been a factor of considerable influence in public affairs, having served two years as trustee of Rolland township, besides in private capacities doing much to encourage enterprises and movements having for their object the development of the country and the general good of his fellow men. Well informed on the questions of the day and the issues concerning which there is a division of sentiment, he is not allied with any party, having independent views in politics, giving his support to the candidate who, in his judgment, is best qualified for the office to which he aspires. In his fraternal relations he is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, in both of which he is an active worker and from time to time has been elected to offices in each. Mr. Houghton is a man of mature judgment and wise discretion, and it is not too much to say that there are few more judicious or better business men in the county than he. He has managed his various interests very suc ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 621 cessfully and is now the possessor of a comfortable competency, which includes property in the town where he resides and considerable farm property in the counties of Isabella and Mecosta, the greater part of his real estate being well improved and returning him handsome profits on the capital invested. Mr. Houghton was happily married on the 2d day of September, 1898, to Grace Shepard, daughter of William and Alice Shepard, of Tonia county, Michigan, the union being blessed with three children, Everett L.. Leatha E. and Edith L. JAMES M. R. KENNEDY. The successful business man and prominent citizen whose career is briefly sketched in the following lines is a native of Carroll county, Ohio, and the oldest of a family of three children whose parents were Samuel Kennedy and Mary WVest, the former born April I6, I823, in county Down, Ireland, and the latter in Carroll county, Ohio, on May T, 1827. Samuel Kennedy came to America when eight years old, married Miss WXest in Ohio and in May, 1863, moved his family from that state to Isabella county, Michigan, settling on the place in Coe township which the subject now owns, paying one thousand dollars for the eighty acres of land, which was mostly timber and presented fewr inducements for the making of a home. With the assistance of his sons, Mr. Kennedy cleared and developed a good farm on which he spent the remainder of his days as a prosperous tiller of the soil. in addition to which vocation he was in business for some time, besides taking an active part in public matters, the present courthouse having been constructed under his supervision. At his death the farm was equally divided among his three sons, whose names in order of birth are as follows: James M. R., Stephen and Andrew, all of whom became respected citizens. J. M. R. Kennedy was born October 16, 1850, and at the age of thirteen accompanied his parents upon their removal to Isabella county, from which time until his twentieth year he lived on the family homestead in Coe township and bore his part in the development of the farm. Meanwhile, in his native state and this county, he attended the district schools at intervals during his minority and when twenty years old engaged in the manufacture of lumber with his father, the portable saw mill which they operated being the first mill of the kind ever brought to Isabella county. 622 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In connection with sawing lumber, they also operated a planing mill, which was extensively patronized, both branches of business proving successful and yielding handsome earnings to the proprietors. After his father's death the subject continued to operate a saw mill until 900o, since which time he devoted his attention to his other interests, principally agriculture, which he carries on quite extensively, owning at the present time several fine farms in Isabella county, including one of one hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, another of one hundred and sixty acres, besides a twothirds interest in the home place of eighty acres, which he still retains. Mr. Kennedy has met with success such as few attain and as a. business man ranks among the most enterprising and progressive of his contemporaries. With sound judgment, discreet tact and wise forethought, he lays his plans with the greatest care Lnd, possessing the power to foresee with remarkable accuracy the future outcome of present action, seldom if ever fails to attain the ends sought and that, too, by the most honorable and straightforward methods. His relations with his fellow men, business or otherwise, have always been above suspicion, his integrity has never been questioned and his high character as a broad-minded, public-spirited man of affairs has won the confidence of all with whom he comes into contact. Believing in using his means to worthy ends, he has been unsparing in the fitting up of his home and making it attractive, his residence, a beautiful and substantial edifice with all modern conveniences, comparing favorably with the best country dwellings in the county, the other buildings being in keeping therewith, while the splendid condition of fences, fields, etc., indeed the appearance of everything on the preimises, bear evidence to the interest manifested in his affairs and indicate the presence of an upto-date American farmer and business man who is imaster of his calling and proud of the same. His financial success has been commensurate with the energy and ability displayed in all of his undertakings and he is now one of the well-to-do men of his township and county. In politics Mr. Kennedy is uncompromisingly Republican, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking office or aspiring to leadership; nevertheless, he served eight years as drainage commissioner and, had he seen fit to accept, could have had almost any other official position within the gift of his fellow citizens. He stands high in Masonic circles, having been identified with the order for thirty-nine years, belonging at this time to the blue lodge and chapter at Mt. Pleasant, also to Division No. 8, Royal Guards, at the same place. Mr. Kennedy, in October, 1870, was united in marriage with Margaret ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 623 E. Walters, who was born August 29, 1850, in New York, the union being blessed with four children, namely: Howard, who lives in Isabella county; Samuel, now pursuing his art studies in Paris, France; Frank, who is still with his parents, and Maimie. who married John Martin and lives in Coe to\nIship. Samuel, the second son, after being graduated from the Mt. Pleasant Normal and Michigan Agricultural College, devoted his entire attention to art, in whichi he is especially talented, anid before going abroad achieved a wide reputation with his brush. As stated above, he is now in the city of Paris studying 1under somle of the world's mIaster painters and the pictures of his on exhilbition have already \\onl honlorable mention and given him a name amnong the rising artists of Europe and the United States. A close and painstaking student a(1d( completely albsorl)ed by his profession, he has before him a. lrilliant future whicl- his friends and the plublic in general are watching with great interest. BENJAMIN B. STEVENS. The subject of this skech is ldscended from sturdy New England stock and combines many of the sterling qualities for which his ancestors were noted. IHis parents, John and Maria Stevens, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively, have spent the greater part of their lives in Michigan and now reside ill the town of Vermontville. this state. Benjamin B. Stevens was born January 17, 1859, in Bay county. Michigan, and when about six years old moved with his parents to Vermontville, Eaton county, where he secured his education and grew to maturity. On attaining his majority lie se ered home ties to make his own way in the world. going to Dakota territory, wvhere he took up land which he improved and on which he spent the ensuing twenty years as a farmer and stock lman. Disposing of his interests in Dakota in 1904, Mr. Stevens came to Isabella county, Michigan. and purchased all of section 13, Coldwater township, on which there was practically nothing in the way of improvements. Since then he has cleared and reduced to cultivation one hundred and sixty acres on which he has made a numlber of good improvements and which he designs for a sheep ranch. He now has a herd of three hundred fine sheep on his place. also quite a number of hogs, in the breeding and raising of which he has been fairly successful. The greater part of his land is devoted to clover hay which he feeds on the place, and from the sale of clover seed, which he makes a specialty, his earnings from this source constituting a large part of his income. 624 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Stevens is a man of energy and foresight, enterprising in all the term implies and is essentially a man of the people with the best interests of the community at heart. He lends his influence to all worthy movements and his name is connected with every laudable measure whereby his neighbors and friends may be benefited. For some years he has been a leading member of the Grange, which he has served in various official capacities, and at the present time he holds the important position of master in the local organization. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Ancient Order of United Workmen of North Dakota and is active in church and Sunday school work and is always opposed to the saloon. In his political allegiance he is a "progressive" Republican and as such wields a strong influence for his party in the township of his residence, besides having been elected supervisor one term, also township clerk, being the present incumbent of the latter office. Ida Parmenter, who became the wife of Mr. Stevens in 1885, was born in the year 1859, the marriage being blessed with five children whose names are as follows: Ruth, who was graduated from the Central State Normal School at Mt. Pleasant in 1910, and is now one of the county's efficient teachers; Grace and Marjorie are graduates of the Vermontville high school and have attended the normal at Mt. Pleasant and are now teachers in the public schools; William and Bruce, the youngest members of the family, are pupils of the district schools and are well advanced in their studies. Mrs. Stevens died March II, I9T1, and in her death the home lost a mother and counselor much needed and the community a force in social uplift. CLARK C. FIELD. Clark C. Field, proprietor of the flouring mill at Shepherd and one of the leading citizens of that townv, is a native of Eaton county, Michigan, where he was born in the year I853. He spent his boyhood days near the place of his birth and owing to adverse circumstances obtained but a limited education, but by much reading and intelligent observation he has subsequently made up very largely for this deficiency. being now one of the well informed men of the community whose opinions on matters of general interest carry weight and command respect. During his minority Mr. Field worked at farming aldl other kinds of labor which he found to do, and at the; age of twenty-one took up the stone mason's trade, at which he soon acquired proficiency and to whic't .XLRK C FIFLI) I ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 625 he devoted his attention during the six years ensuing. In I88o he chose a wife and helpmate in the person of Emma Egbest, of Charlotte, Michigan, and shortly thereafter entered the employ of his father-in-law in the latter's flouring mill where he was engaged until going to Iastings and organizing a stock company in the erection of a mill at that place a few years later. After the completion of the mill he went on the road to sell flour-mill machinery, which line of business he followed for three years and for a similar length of time was engaged in contracting and building at the town of Charlotte, where he located after his marriage and where he made his home until his removal, in 1895, to Shepherd. Mr. Field moved to his present place of residence for the purlpose of engaging in the manufacture of flour, purchasing in the above year a half interest in ti-e Shepherd inlls, subsequently becoming sole l)rol)rietor. One year later the roof of the mill was blown off during a storm, entailing quite a heavy loss, and in 1900 the entire structure was destroyed by fire. He immediately rebuilt on modern plans and now has one of the best mills of the kind in the country, the building being a commodious and substantial structure equipped with machinery for the manufacture of flour by the most approved process, the output being absolutely No. i grade and commnanding the highest prices in the local and general markets. By years of painstaking experience. Mr. Field has made himself familiar with every detail of the milling business and as master of his calling has met with the most encouraging success, the eighty barrels per day capacity of the mill being inadequate to supply the constantly growing demand for a grade of flour, which has few if any equals and has no superior in the markets of central Michigan and elsewhere. In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Field owns a small though highly improved and valuablle farm near Shepherd, to the cultivation of which he devotes considerable attention, and he is also the possessor of other property in the town, being in independent circumstances and among the financially solid and influential men of his part of the country. He manifests an abiding interest in all that pertains to the progress of the community along material lines, assists to the extent of his ability every enterprise having for its object the social and moral advancement of his fellow men and has made his influence especially felt in secret benevolent work, being an active member of Salt River Lodge No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons, Shepherd Lodge No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias lodge at Mt. Pleasant, and the Knights.of the Maccabees in the town of his residence. In his political affiliation he is a Democrat, and in religion a Methodist, hold(40) 626 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ing membership with the church of that denomination at Shepherd, and for a number of years serving the congregation in the calpacity of trustee. Mrs. Fieldl, whose birth occurred in the month of July, 1855, has borne her husband five children, whose names are as follows: Horace married Miss Hearst and lives in Shepherd, being his father's assistant in the mill; Nathan. whose wife was formerly Ella Hathaway, lives in Detroit,.Michigan, and holds an important position in an automobile works of that city; Mabel, a young lady of varied culture, who is especially talented as a singer, also artistic to a high degree, is still with her parents and a general favorite of the social circle in which she mnoves; Nellie, who also possesses musical ability of a high order, was graduated from the School of Music at Ainn A\rl)bor, and is now prosecuting her studies at Eureka College, lllinois; Ned, the youngest of the family, is in the employ of the Dime Savings Bank of l)etroit. Mlichigan, and is "making good." lie is a young man of fine mind and his laudable ambition to excel bespeaks for him a distinguished career in the p)rofession which hlie proposes to make his life work. LA\VRENCE B. MILLER. Conspicuous among the up-to-date agriculturists and public-spirited citizens of Isabella county is Lawrence B. Miller, who was born on the farm in Rolland township where he now lives, May 17, I879. His father, the late Andrew Jackson Miller, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, who prior to her marriage was Elizabeth Pratt, was horn near Coral, Montcalm county, Michigan. His father came to Michigan about 1870 and worked in the lumber woods about four years. lie was married April 5, 1874, and located on the quarter section of land in Rolland towniship which their son Lawrence now owns and lived there the remainder of their days, Mr. Miller improving the farm in the meantime and taking high rank as a successful tiller of the soil. He was a man of good mind, sound, practical intelligence, took a leading part in the affairs of the township and county and, with his wife, was long an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His first wife dying in I898, he afterwards married Mrs. Emma Kelly Miller, widow of the late George Miller, of this township. Andrew J. Miller lived an honorable, upright life, fraught with much good to his fellow men, and entered into rest on the 20th (lay of February, I9Io. By his first marriage there were five children, namely: Lawrence ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 627 B., the subject of this sketch; Alice, wife of Robert Banks; Cora, who married Valis Tucker; Myrtle, who (ied in infancy, and Pearl, who lives with his brother, Lawrence. Ilis second wife bore him one child, a son who answers to the name of Carl Miller. Reared amid the active duties of country life and being the oldest of the family, Lawrence B. Miller wvas early taught the necessity of indtstry and while still a mere youth much of the labor of the farm devolved upon him. At the proper age he began his studies in what is known as the Miller school and continued the same until obtaining a practical knowledge of the common school branches, the meanwhile assisting his father with the labor of the flarm and grow\ing ip a strong, well developedl otllg man, admirably calculated by nature and training for the part he was soon to play in the great struggle of life. On Felbruary 15 1900oo, shortly after attaining his majority, lie was married in Broomlfield townlship. this county, to Maggie Hutchinsson, daughter of John and Isabella ITutchinson, and at once began farming for hilmself on the homie place, which subsequently came into his possession, and on which lie has since lived. Mr. Miller is one of the most progressive agriculturists of the township in which he resides, anld his farmi of one hundred and sixty acres is well improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and compares favorably with any like area of cultivated land in the county. He devotes careful attention to the soil, w\hich is kept in fine condition by judicious rotation and ample fertilization, and lie sellonm fails to realize handlsome returns from the abundant crops which the farms every year produces. By planting fruit and shade trees, he has not only added to his income, but also to the attractiveiless of the farm. w\hich is among the miost beautiful and desirable places of residence in Rlolland township, every feature bearing evidence of the presence of a mlan of taste as well as of a master of his calling. Mr. Miller manifests a lively interest in public matters and lends his influence to all means for the improvement of the county and the development of its resources. Amlong his neighbors and friends he is highly regarded, and his relations with his fellc \\ men have ever been honorable andl his integrity above criticism. He holds membership with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Order of Gleaners. He does all within his power to promote the welfare of the community along material lines, and is not indifferent to the social anld moral implrovement of his neighborhood. Financially his success has been very gratifying and, as indicated in a preceding paragraph. he is today anmong the sullstantial, well-to-do farmers and enterprising citizens of the township in which lie lives. 628 ISABELLA C()OUNTY, MICIIIGAN. ISAAC N. SHEPHERD. Conspicuous among the representative business men and public-spirited citizens of Isabella county and one who has long been an interested participant in the development of the town of Shepherd, is the well-known gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review. Mr. Shepherd has made his influence felt for good in his community, being a man of sterling worth, whose life has been closely intervowen with the history of this locality and whose efforts have always been for the material advancement of the same, as well as for the social and moral welfare of his fellow men. The well regulated life he has led, thereby gaining the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens, entitles him to representation in a biographical work of the scope intended in the present volume.. He comes of a sterling old family, the Shepherds having been identified with the progress of Isabella county from the pioneer days, from the epoch of the interminable forest and wild beast and the red man to the present. Isaac N. Shepherd is a native of the old state of Vernont, his birth having occurred on December 3I, 1840, and is the son of Robert and Ann (Leach) Shepherd, natives of England, where they spent their youth and from which country they emigrated to New England in I834. where they made their home until I856, when they emigrated west and took up their abode in Coe township, Isabella county, Michigan. There they established their home, beginning life in true pioneer fashion, and underwent the hardships and privations incident to the usual life of the first settler, and here they spent the remainder of their lives, having been deceased now a number of years. The Sather was a man of strong characteristics and was a hardy and influential citizen in the first development period of the county, a man whom all honored for his integrity and honor. Isaac N. Shepherd, of this review, was thirteen years of age when he came with his family to Iillsdale county, Michigan. He had received some schooling in the common schools of his native community, but conditions being very primitive in Michigan, he had little opportunity to gain an advanced education. In January, I856, he came to Isabella county. His brother was one of the two men to cut the first road or trail from Pine river, near where the town of Alma now stands, to Salt creek (or Salt fork), in the fall I854. Here the subject grew to maturity and assisted in the work of developing a farm in the wilderness, not an easy task by any means, but he was a husky lad and never shirked the hard duties devolving upon him. In i86I he began buying land and continued to the present time. In 1884 he owned ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 629 over two thousand acres. He has been very successful in all his operations and has long been one of the most substantial men of the county, one of the most active in industrial affairs. Ile built a large, convenient and costly residence in 1873 on his farm west of Salt River village and in I885 he platted the village of Shepherd on said farm and later when the village of Shepherd was incorporated it took in the village of Salt River and thus it also became a part of the village of Shepherd. In I884 lie operated a shingle mill, and cut lath and lumber. He was very successful in this and his mill became widely known. He became interested in the Lansing, Alma, Mt. Pleasant & Northern railroad and was a dircctor in the same and helped build said railroad from Alma to Shepherd, which was afterwards sold to the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Railroad Company and became a part of its line (now the Ann Arbor railroad). Fraternally he is a Mason and is a nmember of the Baptist church, and politically le is a IProhibitionist. He has for several years been president of the Commercial State Bank of Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd was lnarried in Jackson. Michigan, on January 3. 1864. to Catharine Neely, daughter of John and Rachael (Sloat) Neely, a fine old family of this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd the following children have been born: John L., Jennie L., Franklin S. (died when fourteen years of age), Annie R. and William I. N. Mr. Shepherd's first wife, Catharine, died on March 10, 191o, and Mr. Shepherd was married to his second wife, Leila B., daughter of Ellis and Syrion (Gates) Faunce, of Shepherd, Isabella county, Michigan. Personally Mr. Shepherd is a man of generous impulses, a good mixer, a man of good judgment and sound business principles, whom to know is to admire and respect, for his character has ever been above reproach. WILLIAM HENRY WALLING. Prominent among the old and well-known residents of Isabella county is William Henry Walling, who has been identified with this part of Michigan about forty years, during which time he has not only seen the country developed from its original wilderness condition to a very garden of beauty and plenty, but to the extent of his ability has contributed towards making the township in which he resides among the finest and most prosperous communities in the commonwealth. Mr. Walling is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born in the town of Gouverneur January 17, 630 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I831. His father, WXillianl Walling, also a New Yorker, was born in Hartford, Washington county, March 27, I798, and on October 30, I824, married Polly Smith, whose birth occurred in the same county and state, August 21, 1808. William Walling was a farmer by occupation and lived a long and useful life, dying in St. Lawrence county, New York, October 30, I878, in his seventy-ninth year, his wife surviving him tntil 1883, when she too was called to her eternal rest, dying in Fort Edward, \Vashington county, New York. William Henry WNalling spent his childhood and youth on the family homestead in his native state where in early life he became familiar with the duties of the farm, and later learned the trade of shoemaking. which trade he followed during the winter months, and at other times when the weather would not admit of outdoor labor. In the meantime, as opportunities afforded, he attended the schools of the neighborhood until acquiring a fair knowledge of the common branches. On arriving at an age to begin the struggle of life for himself he chose agriculture for his vocation, which, with his trade, afforded him a comfortable, though by no means an affluent, livelihood as long as he remained in the state of his birth. Thinkilng to better his condition in the W\est, where land was cheap, hie disposed of his interests in New York in 1866 and came to Isabella county, Michigan, purchasing, in partnership with his brother-in-law, A. J. Gibbs, a quarter section of land in Coe township, which in due time he cleared and otherwise improved and on which he lived and prospered during the twentyfive' years ensuing. At the expiration of that time he sold his farm and moved to the town of Salt River (now Shepherd), where for a period of twenty-five years he carried on the grocery trade with success and financial profit, building up a large and lucrative business in the meantime and taking high rank among tle leading merchants of the county. Disposing of his business at the end of the time indicated, he (liscontinued active pursuits and since then has heen living in retirement at Shepherd in the enjoyment of the material )lessings which came to him as a result of his capable management arid well directed thrift. Mr. Walling early manifested an interest in the public affairs of his township and county, and at intervals was elected to various local offices, in all of which he discharged his duty with commendable fidelity and proved worthy the confidence of his fellow citizens. H-e was the first drainage commissioner of Isabella county, served several years as justice of the peace, and as a local school officer did much to promote the cause of education in the township in which he resided. In politics he was originally a Republican, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 63I and for many years labored earnestly for the success of that party, but becoming dissatisfied with its attitude on the liquor question, he subsequently became a Prohibitionist and is now an uncompromising supporter of the principles which he espouses and an unyielding foe of the saloon, which he looks upon as the crying evil of the age, to be gotten rid of only by stringent legislation. Mr. \Valling was married in Hartford, New York, February o., I86o, to Anzolettie Brayton, who was born September 16, T841, in \ashington county, New York, the daughter of Amlby and Lydia Ann Brayton, natives of that state, the union resulting in tlhe birth of one child, a son, Charles H., who first saw the light of day in Hartford, New York, October 12, i861, and who is now a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Coe township, Isabella county. He has been twice married, the first time to Tallev Stahlman: subsequently lie contracted a matrimonial alliance with hlis present wife, whose name was formerly A\nna Babber. Mr. \Valling is essentially a man of the people, dleeply interested in all that concerns the welfare of the community, and although in his eightyfirst year, he retains to a marked degree the possession of his faculties, both physical and mental, and keeps abreast of the times on the leading questions and issues before the public, being ever ready to defend the principles to which lie has pledged allegiance. Among his neighbors and friends he is held in great rcspect, as his life llas ever been along the lines of integrity and probity and he always maintained inviolate the honorable reputation for which llis family have al-ays been distinguished. JOHN S. WEIDMAN. Success is not necessarily a matter of genius, as held by many, but rather the outcome of clear judgnment, persistency and rightly applied energy. The successful manl is he who plans his own advancement and acconmplishes it in spite of opposition. Difficulties and obstacles will always disappear before determination and unfaltering energy, and, while the road to prosperity does not seem plain, there can ever be found a path leading to the goal of one's hopes; but one nmust be willing to fight, for the battle of life is never won by the timid and hesitating, at least in anything but a mediocre degree. Among the worthy and progressive citizens of Isabella county is John S. Weidman, well-known\ lumbermran and banker,.who has 632 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. gained a prestige in the business world through his own efforts-sheer force of his individuality, a truly deserving, self-made man. Mr. Weidman was born in Kenockee township, St. Clair county, Michigan, May IO, I852, where he continued to reside until fourteen years of age, when his parents moved to a farm in Mecosta county, twelve miles south of Big Rapids, on the Muskegon river. Mr. Weidman attended school in winter until he was seventeen years of age, starting in life as a river driver at that time, going out into the world to make his own living, and his ambition, physical courage and endurance manifested all along the road of life, has resulted in winning large success and accumulating a competency. He worked on the Muskegon river during the summers as a log runner until he was twenty-five years old and in the woods in the winters, being foreman of various lumber operations. On July 3. 1877, at Big Rapids, was performed the ceremony that united Mr. Weidman and Margaret A. Mitchell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Mitchell, of that city, and this union has resulted in the birth of six children, namely: Lenora D., Mildred A., John S., Jr., Robert, Lucille and Elvan, all of whom are living, the oldest son, John S., Jr., being engaged in the lumber business in upper Michigan. After his marriage Mr. Weidman engaged in the lumbering business six miles south of Morley, taking contracts on which he cleared $i,ooo during the first winter. He continued lumbering for the next nine years, in the meantime developing the farm which he had previously purchased. In 1887 he had added very largely to his farm, and, as there was considerable good timber, he erected a saw mill which he successfully operated for the next six years, cutting his own timber and buying other in the neighborhood, cutting in all about twenty-five million feet. In 1892 he purchased a large tract of timber land in Hinton and Millbrook townships, Mecosta county, which he afterward sold. In I893 he purchased a tract of several thousand acres of timbered lands in Isabella county, where he erected saw, shingle and planing mills, founding the village of Weidman, and where for sixteen years he conducted very extensive lumbering operations, cutting ten million feet of lumber annually. In addition to cutting into lumber the logs which came from his own land Mr. Weidman purchased very extensively from adjoining owners. The village of Weidman is now recognized as one of the most thriving villages of this section and, with the fne farming country which surrounds it, it is destined to become a place of considerable importance. In I903 Mr. Weidman purchased the private bank of Webber & Ruel in Mt. Pleasant, which was later incorporated as a state bank under the name ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 633 of the Isabella County State Bank, of which institution he is the largest stockholder and president. He is also president of the Weidman Banking Company and the Rosebush Banking Company. In September, 1905, Mr. Weidman moved his family to Mt. Pleasant, where he resides at the corner of Main and Maple streets. Mr. VWeidman is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and in politics a Republican. He is an attendant at and a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Weidman is regarded by all as a man of unusual business qualifications, keen, alert, far-seeing and a man who is capable of predicting with remarkable accuracy the outcome of a present transaction. lie is straightforward and honest in all his relations with his fellow men and is in every way deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by everyone. His word has never been questioned, his integrity in all things being well known and he, therefore, has the confidence and good will of all classes. JOSEPH MISER. George Miser, the father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was born in Maryland in 1812 and when about eighteen months old was taken by his parents to Ohio where he spent his childhood and youth amid the wholesome discipline of country life, the meanwhile acquiring a limited education in the indifferent schools of those days. In I858 he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and purchased the southwest quarter of section 5, Coe township, which he improved in due time and on which he carried on general farming until his death, in August, I866. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Beidler, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, survived him until 1886, on June i4th of which year she too was called to her eternal rest. The family of this couple consisted of six children, of whom the subject is the oldest, the others in the order of their birth being as follows: Win, who married Abbie Wanch; Susan, who became the wife of George Ferris; Mrs. Salome Shaffrey: Solomon, who never married, and Mary, wife of Charles Bennett, of Mt. Pleasant, all deceased except Joseph and Mrs. Bennett. Joseph Miser was born January 28, 1831, in Holmes county. Ohio. and when about four years of age was taken to Wayne county, that state. There he grew to maturity and while still young learned the carpenter's trade. He worked at his trade in Tuscarawas county for a period of six 634 ISABEILA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. years and in I854 entered the marriage relation with Wealthy Ann Minard, whose birth occurred in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 2o, I836, following which he came to Isabella county, Michigan. and in April. I8,8. settled on a farm in Coe township witll his parents, with whom he lived one year. lie then purchased forty acres of land in section 7 of the same township, a part of which he cleared, but in January following he discontinued work in the woods and took up his residence at Indian Mills, the oldest town in the county, where he entered the employ of the government to construct a bridge across the Chippewa river and erect a council chainber, in which the Indians and whites could hold their public meetings, mIake treaties and transact other kinds of business. He remained two and onehalf years in that town, during which time he erected a store building and hotel in addition to the work mentioned, besides doing various other kinds of mechanical labor and proving one of the useful citizens of the place. At the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Miser, in 1862, moved to Mt. Pleasant and luilt the first dwelling on the northwest corner of the courthouse square, which he occupied while attending to his duties as sheriff, having been the second man in the county elected to that office. Although a Democrat, his name was not placed on a ticket, the citizens indicating their choice by voting for whom they pleased, the result of thle balloting showing a large majority for Mr. Miser, who appears to have b)een a favorite with the people of the county irrespective of party. His term expired in 1863, and shortly after quitting the office lie entered the army enlisting on August 26th of thiat year in Comipany M, First Mlichigaii Engineers anl(l Mechanics, in which capacity he served until September, 1865, when lie was discharged on account of physical disability, after spending about.four moniths in a hospital, in Louisville, Kentucky. Returning home at the close of the war. he traded his property in Mt. Pleasant for an eighty-acre farm in Union township on whict he lived as an industrious and prosperous tiller of the soil until alout the year 1897, when he discontinued active labor to spend the remainder of.his life in retirement. Mr. Miser has ever malifested a colmmendable interest in public affairs, served one year as col.stable and four years as commissioner of highways, besides taking an active part in promoting enterprises for the material advancement of his township and county and the social and moral welfare of his fellowtmen. A firm believer in the Christian religion and a faithful memnber of the churcl of God, his daily life has been consistent with his profession and his influence is ever on,the side of right where moral issues are involved. He stands for law and order and a high standard of manhood, and as a citizen is enter ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 635 prising, public-spirited, andl always ready to lose sight of self in his efforts to help others. He was a prominent factor il county affairs in an early day and it was largely through his efforts that the seat of justice was moved from Indian Mills to Mt. Pleasant. In the fall of 1858 he helped gather three bushels of blackberries on the site of the present courthiouse. and among his other early experiences was the making of a trip to Letroit to obtain money with which to purchase land., going as far as St. John on foot and there taking a train to his destination. \Vith two thousand dollars tied in?:,0andkerchief, which he fastened around his body, he returned in safety, but felt not a few misgivings lest somebody might learn of the suln in his cx session and relieve him of the burden. Mr. iser has not only seen Isabella county developed from a wilderness into its present proud position among the most prosperous counties of the state, but to the extent of his ability has contributed to the bringilg alout of conditions that now oltain. lie takes pride in the county, has faith in the future, and hopes ere long to see it the rival of the most enterprising and progressive counties of the comlmonwealth. Mrs. Miser's parents were John and Mary (Hoagland) Minard, both natives of New York, Iorn in the years 8T12 and 1813, respectively: the father died il the year 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Miser have children as follows: Leander O., who mlarried Mlary Converse, and lives in Hillsdale county, Michigan; Ella, -wife of Thomas I-Tannett, lives in Coe toxwnship. Isabella county; Ida May m1arried Eli Farris, a farmer of Union township; Ely, wvho lives in Solon, this state, is also married, his wife having formerly been Carrie Teel; WVilliam D)., the vounlgest of the family, married Celia (;reacher, and resides in Coe. ORION L. BURI)ICK. Among the enterprising, progressive and( public-spirited men whose activity in business and private circles as well as public affairs has made Isabella county one of the best sections of the great Wolverine state and the town il whichl he resides an important trading center, is the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review, who is. now engaged principally in the real estate businress in Shepherd, but whose reputation rests principally as an educator, in which line of endeavor he holds rank second to none. 636 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Orion L. Burdick was born on October 15, 1865, and is the son of Daniel and Mary (Hackett) Burdick, his father born in 1843 in \Villiams county, Ohio, and the latter born in Jamestown, Ontario, August I5, 1847, but she came to the United States when a child and was reared in Ohio. The parental grandparents were Lewis and Rachael (Cook) Burdick, natives of Massachusetts and New York, respectively. Daniel Burdick remained in his home country until he was thirty-eight years old. He served through the Civil war in the Federal army, principally in Tennessee. He was with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign. In 1865 he bought eighty acres in Lincoln township, Isabella county. He took charge of the land when it was a wilderness, through which he had to cut roads and clear alnd improv, in general, erecting a splendid set of buildings. The place is now owned by the brother-in-law of the subject and the father is 110now living in Lincoln township on a farm. Mary Hackett was born in I850, in Ontario, Canada, and she and Mr. Burdick were married in Ohio about 1862. The following children were born to them: Orion, of this review; Ernest E., Theron D., Grace, and Bessie. The mother of these children is still living. Orion L. Burdick, of this review, received his education in the district school and he worked on the home farm during the summer montlhs.in his youth. He attended the high school in Mt. Pleasant and was graduated from the same in 1889, completing what was known as the English course. Then for three years he taught in the district schools, two years at Loomis, in Wise township, and one in Lincoln township. He had a second grade certificate and served five years on the board of examiners for teachers. After he finished teaching at Loomis he attended the Ypsilanti Normal School for two years, graduating with a life certificate. He then taught in Shepherd one year, was superintendent of schools there, and he was elected school commissioner, serving two terms of two years each, in a manner that brought him much praise from all classes, and during that time he did a great deal to promote the cause of education here. Mr. Burdick was married on June 19, 1897, to Lotta Hibbard, at Alma. She was born July 10, 1878, in Mt. Pleasant. This union has been graced by the birth of one daughter, Frances Josephine, born December 30, 1907. Mrs. Burdick's mother, who is now living in Shepherd, is a sister of Frank and Judge Dodds, of Mt. Pleasant. After attending the literary department of the University of Michigan one year. Mr. Burdick taught one year in the normal at Mt. Pleasant, teaching civics, English, United States and general history. He made a splendid ISABEI.LA COUNTY, MICHIIGAN. 637 record as an instructor and his services were in great demand, but he gave up teaching to go in business with his father-in-law, Frank Hibbard, in 1903. He has been very successful in this, carrying on insurance, loan and real estate business on an extensive scale; he also does a little law business in justice courts, but because of lack of time he does not go into the law very extensively. This partnership was continued until February 8, I908, when Mr. Hibbard died, since which time Mr. Burdick has continued the business alone in Shepherd, but he has a real estate office in Mt. Pleasant with his brother. He is a Republican in politics, and he takes an abiding interest in all matters looking to the general good of his county. ALI.EN E. CLARK. Allen E. Clark, lumber dealer at Shepherd, and one of the leading business men of his part of the country, was born February 8, 1854, at Fort Covington, Franklin county, New York. When about three or four years ol(l, lie was taken 1)n his parents to St. Lawrence county, that state, and at the age of ten acconmpanied the faimily to Michigan, making the journey from Ogdenburg to Saginaw 1by boat and from the latter place to Isabella county by driving overland. He remained with his parents until reaching the years of manhood and in the meantime attended at intervals the public schools of Isabella county, devoting the larger portion of each year to various kinds of manual labor. At the age of twenty-five. Mr. Clark married Phene Austin, who was horn in Ingham county, Michigan, January 12, 1857, being a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (HTull) Austin, early residents of that part of the state and among the esteemed people of the town of Leslie where Mrs. Clark spent her childhood and youth. A fter the subject's marriage lie settled on his father-in-law's place, where lie remained one year and then purchased forty acres of land in L.incoln township, Isabella county, for which he paid the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars, and; which he sold three years later for one thousand dollars. On leaving the latter place he went to Reed City wxhere he was engaged in the lumber business about one year with another party., during which time lie did fairly well, clearing about eight hundred dollars, part of which he invested in two town lots at Shepherd. Erecting a commodious dwelling on one of the lots, he made the place his home for a period of three years, about one-half of which time he worked 638 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. on the railroad, devoting the remainder to the manufacture of lumber in partnership with a friend, whose interest in the mill he purchased at the end of two years. During the ensuing five years, Mr. Clark operated a saw mill in Lincoln township and did a thriving business, but at the expiration of that period he moved the mill to the town and took his brother, Sydney, as a partner. Under the firm name of Clark Brothers, the enterprise was continued for four years when the subject bought his partner's interest and dtlring thle six mlonths ensuing conducted the business alone. In 1901 he sold tile mill and embarked in the lumber business at Shepherd. where he has since Ibuilt up a large and lucrative patronage, his sales, which amounted to about five thousand dollars the first year. having gradually increasedl until tlhe are now considerably in excess of eighteen thousand dollars per year. with elncouraging prospects of still larger gro-vth in the future. Mr. Clark owns tile only lumber yard in the town and, having no competition in his line. his advanlceIlelnt has been very encouraging. Ile handles lumber, lath, shingles, Imoultliig and various other kinds of building material, also brick, cement, lime, wood Ipll), etc., and owns the yard, sixty-six by three hundred andl sixty-six feet, on which his business is conducted. He has other town property, including three substantial residences, one of which he occupies, and manifests an active interest in all that concerns the material prosperity of the colnmlunitii and the social and moral well being of his fellow men. Mr. Clark stands high in business circles and as a citizen is enterprisilg, public spirited and alive to all that makes for the good of the community. He holds membership with Salt River Lodge No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons; Shepherd Lodge No. 239, Independent Order of Odld Fellows, which he joined at the age of twenty-one, and is also identified withl Tent No. 237, Knights of the Maccabees, at Shepherd. In religion, he is a Methodist and for a number of years has been an active and influential worker in the church, being a leader in the congregation at Shepherd and zealous in disseminating the gospel among his fellow men both at home and abroad. His father w\as a life-long Democrat and from boyhood he was subject to the influence of that party, but of recent years lie has been independent politically, voting for the best qualified candidates, regardless of party ties. Mr. Clark has been honored from time to time with important public trusts, and in every relation of life has shown himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He served four years as secretary of the school board. was justice of the peace one term and a member of the school board at the present time. He is a stockholder in the Commercial ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 639 State Bank of Shepherd, and is also interested in the canning factory at the same place, besides being identified with other utilities and enterprises which tend to the growlth of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have no children of their own, nevertheless they are deeply interested in the young people of the colmmunity and 10o all within their power to inculcate in them the sterling principles of manhood and wvomanhood, to the end tlat they may grow up to useful lives and fill honoralle positions in the world. Like her husband, Mrs. Clark is levoutly religious and her activity in the church has made her life a strong intluence for good among all with whom she mlingles. Robert Clark, father of the subject, \as born in Franklin county, New York, in 1807 and remained in his native state until 1864. In the latter year he moved to Isabella county. Michigan, andl purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14. Coe to\\nship, all wooded and requiring much labor to clear and improve. Later he disposed of half of the tract and in due time cleared up the remaining eighty acres and converted it into a fine farm aind comfortable home. lTe lived on this place about twenty-one years, when, owing to advancing age, he discontinued active labor and moved to Shepherd. where he spent the reimainder of his days in retirement, dying in 1903 at the rile old age of ninety-six years. His wife Martha, the daughter of Francis and Betsev --, w\as born in Cornwall, Canada, in 1820, and when young accmpallnied her parents to New York where, in 1840, she became the wife of Robert Claik. She bore her husband the following children: Mlyron, deceased(l Sydney died in the fall of I9(9); Hudson died in the year i862, while in the army; Milton lives in Coe township and took care of his mother, who lied November 9, 1910, at the age of ninety-one; Daney died in 1908: Allen of this revie\v; Robert, who married Sarah Dunn and. resides in Isabella county; Anna. wife of Charles Belch, of Shepherd; and Henry, who departed this life at the age of twenty-three. WILLIAM J. MAXWELL. One of the most evident things to the thoughtful farmer is the fact that life at no stage is a bed of roses. There are thorns, and many of them, along the path of farming life, and the luckiest ones are they who are pierced by the fewest and avoid the most. And this being the case it often becomes necessary for us to help one another along the road of life. William J. Maxwell, popular and successful farmer of Wise township, Isabella county, 640 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. is one who believes in the motto, "Live and let live." He believes in honest emulation and fair competition and is willing to march side by side with his fellow creatures and take his chances with the rest, giving them their dues and taking his own. He was born in Hastings county, Ontario, Canada, in 1852, the son of Robert and Jane (Joyce) Maxwell, both natives of Ireland. He never had an opportunity to attend school, for when he was six years of age he was taken by his parents into the woods where there were no schools, so the opportunity never presented itself until he was past school age, but he has become a well posted man by actual contact with the world. I-e remained with his father on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, then was apprenticed at six dollars per month for two seasons to learn carpentering; he also studied general textbooks at the same time. The next season he received twelve dollars per month, then worked as a millwright for five years at twenty dollars per month. In I879 he came to Isabella county and settled in section 6, \Wise township. His father bought eighty acres in section 5; the son's land, forty acres, was all in timber and there were no roads here then. ITe continued to work as a carpenter and builder and bridge builder until 189T. He built bridges for the Ann Arbor railway for three years at eighty dollars per month, working from Clare to Frankfort. He was regarded by the company is an expert in his line and one of their most valued and trusted employes. As a carpenter his work was in great demand, being of a high grade. Mr. Maxwell was married, first, in 1882 to Christina Marlin, of Hastings county, Ontario, and subsequently to Augustes \Wheeler. also of Hiastings county, Ontario, and she died five months afterwards; his third marriage was to Clara Mcjames, and was solemnized in 189I. She was a native of Essex county, Ontario. Two children were born of his first marriage, George, who has remained single, owns a "bus" line in Duluth, and operates the same; Jane A. married John Horden and lives at Flint, Michigan. The children by his third marriage were Bertrand, Carl, Nellie, Arthur, Grace, Ralph and Marion. In 1891 Mr. Maxwell came to his father's old farm and has resided here ever since, carrying on general farming in a very successful manner on his one hundred and twenty acres, having seventy-eight acres under cultivation; he raises corn, oats, wheat, sugar beets and hay. His land is all well fenced; the county ditch runs through the place and it is well improved in every respect. He has a substantial, cozy and attractive dwelling and excellent outbuildings and everything about his place is neat and well kept, showing good management. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 641 Mr. Maxwell was the first school director in district No. 3, when it was formed, and he was again elected in I89I and remained director until this district was consolidated with district No. 2. He still holds office as director. He was township treasurer two terms and for three years he was secretary and treasurer of the Gleaners. He was secretary and treasurer of the Herrickfull Cream Cheese Company for three years, was a stockholder and on the board of directors. Politically, he is a Republican, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; for the past twenty years or more he has been a trustee of the church, also served as steward and in other capacities. He has been an influential factor in local affairs ever since he came here and he is well and favorably known and has a wide circle of friends. REUBEN WELLMAN. This representative citizen and gallant soldier of the greatest civil war in the annals of time, is a native of Genesee county, New York. and dates his birth from September 18, 1833. He was reared to maturity in that state and after the death of his mother, which occurred when he was eight years old. was apprenticed to a farmer of his native county, with whom he remained until attaining his majority, the meanwhile during the winter months attending the public schools until well versed in the branches constituting the usual course of studly. After serving his term, he came to Michigan with his brother. Almon. lTis brother John had preceded him three years before and during the two years ensuing he was in partnership with the latter in the manufacture and sale of chain pt11ips, in which business he traveled in various parts of the state and met with fair success as a salesman. While thus engaged, he formed the acquaintance of an estimable young lady by the name of Velissa Godfry, \homl he subsequently married, after which he returned to his native state, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he exchanged the implements of husbandry for the death-dealing weapons of warfare, enlisting that year in Company G, One Hundred Sixtieth New York Infantr-, with \which he serv-ed with an honorable record until his lischarge, in 1865, after giving two years and nine months to the defense of the national union. Mr. Wellman's regiment formed part of the Army of the Potomac and participated in some of the most noted battles of the Virginia campaign, in one of which, the engagement at Cedar Creek, he fell into the hands of the (4T) 642 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. enemy and for three weeks thereafter he was incarcerated in the old Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia. At the expiration of that time lhe, with many others equally unfortunate, was removed to Salisbury, North Carolina, where, on February 22, 1865, he was plaroledl immediately after which he returne(l to Michigan and has since made his home in this state. Mr. Wellman's wife died while he was in the service, and later, on receiving his discharge at the close of the war, he located on a forty-acre tract of land in Coe township, Isabella countv, which he cleared and ilnproved and in due time found himself the possessor of one of the best farms and among the most attractive homes in the section of country in which his place is situated. He moved to his iand in July, i865, and in the followinlg Septembler was united in marriage with Myra Sawyer, who lias proven a true wife and helpmate, assisting him in his efforts to improve the farm and encouraging him in seasons when fortune did not always pave his pathway with favor. After spending ten years on the farm andl accumulating a comfortable competency, Mr. Wellsman removerl to the town of Shepherd, where he is now living a life of retirement, although still in touch with his various enterprises and abreast of the times on all matters of local and general interest. Twentyseven years ago he was elected justice of the peace, which position he still holds and in which he has earned a creditable record as an officer of the law, much important business being brought to his court and so able and impartial have been his decisions that but few of them have been reversed by higher tribunals. He also served three years as township treasurer and a similar length of time as constable, proving in these offices, as in that of justice of the peace, a wise and judicious public servant who made his duty Ilaramount to every other consideration. Mr. Wellman votes the Republican ticket and has long been an active worker and influential adviser in the councils of his party, and to the various conventions, township and county and district and state, he is invariably chosen a delegate. He is a member of Salt River Lodge No, 288, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has served as tyler and is also a leading spirit in Ralph Ely Post No. 150, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has been honored with every position within the gift of his comrades of the order. -Mr. Wellman's first marriage was blessed with two children, Carrie S., wife of Clarence Struble, of Mt. Pleasant, and Hattie, whose husband, I. N., Fordyce, died in July, I9Io, since which time she has lived in the village of Shepherd. His present wife has borne him children as follows: Minnie, who married Noah Lyons, and made her home in Shepherd, died in i9oo; Charles A., also a resident of that town and a married man, his wife having ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 643 formerly been Bertha Wilson; Winifred D. and Wilfred are twins, the former being single and living with her father, the latter an employ of the Ann.\rbor railway, and lives at Owosso, where he has a home presided over by an intelligent and popular young lady, who, before marriage to him, resided in St. LTouis, Michigan, and bore the name of Minnie Reed. EDW^ARD DUGGAN. The subject of this sketch was born August T6, I863, on the Duggan family homestead in Lincoln townshipl and has been a resident of Isabella county all his life. His father, a native of Ireland, was born in 1822 and at the age of thirty-eight came to the United States, settling first in New York where he farmed a few years and then sold out and migrated to Isalella county. Michigan. locating on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 36, Lincoln township, which lie purchased from the government for fifty cents per acre, sixty dollars per acre being a conservative estimate of its value at the present time. Mr. Duggan and sons cleared the place of timber and by continuous toil succeeded in reducing the greater part of the land to cultivation besides making a number of substantial improvements in the way of buildings, fencing, etc., and reclaiming some of this farm by means of artificial drainage. When the father died lie willed the place to his sons, by whom it is still owned. The mother of the subject, whose birth occurred in 1832. was a native of Ireland. She first met the mian who afterwards became her husband in Ypsilanti. Michigan, their marriage being solemnized in that city in the year 1857. The following are the names of their children: Michael, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; William, Edward, Mary, wife of James O'Brien; Katie, now Mrs. Henry Freeman, and Ella, who married John Fanning. Edward Duggan grew up on the homestead and as soon as his services could be utilized to advantage lie was put to work in the fields, where he was soon able to do a man's part at almost any kind of manual labor. He obtained a fair education during the years of his childhood and youth 'and remained at home until two years after his father's death, when he took possession of the farm in Lincoln township which he now owns and on which he has achieved distinctive success as an energetic and progressive agriculturist. Mr. Duggan's farm, which includes a part of his father's old farm and another tract adjoining, contains one hundred and sixteen acres of valuable land for ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which he has been offered the sum of fifty dollars per acre, and with the improvements he has added it is now among the most desirable farms in the township. When he moved to the place it was in poor condition, lbut by energetic and systematic labor he has brought the soil to its present high state of tillage, increasing the productiveness of certain parts by judicious tile drainage and increasing the value of the whole by several substantial buildings which he has erected from time to time. As a farmer he ranks among the most successful of his neighbors similarly engaged, being progressive in his methods, using the latest modern implements and machinery and managing his affairs with the good judgment and foresight characteristic of the master of his vocation. Mr. Duggan has never taken upon; himself the duties and responsibilities of matrimony. He is popular with the large circle of friends with whom he associates and as a citizen is public-spirited to the extent of encouraging all measures for the advancement of the community materially and otherwise stands for law and order and uses his influence for the right on matters involving moral issues. Politically he votes with the Republican party and religiously is a Roman Catholic, belonging at this time to St. Patrick's church at Seville and manifesting a commendable interest in all the good work of the same, also;contributing liberally of his means to the support of the parish. Personally he is a companionable gentleman of pleasing address and easily approachable, his integrity being unquestioned and his character above the suspicion of dishonor. He stands four square to every wind that blows. an honest man, whose veracity is beyond question and whose upright conduct has gained for him a conspicuous place among the representative citizens of the township in which he resides. B. CORNING SHI-AW, M. D. Holding distinctive prestige among the representative medical men of Isabella county is Dr. Bowman Corning Shaw, who has been practicing his profession at Rosebush since 1906, and who in the interim has achieved marked success in his calling as well as an honorable place in the esteem of the public. Although a native of Canada, Doctor Shaw's intecedents were originally from Massachusetts. removing thence in an early day to Nova Scotia and from there to the province of Ontario, where the Doctor was born on August 31, 1856. His father, John Shaw, whose birth occurred at Yarmouth, Nova ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 645 Scotia, in 1829, was a seafaring man until mid life, after which he became a farmer. Sarah Vichery, his wife, also a native of Nova Scotia, was born July 12, T833. and is still living in St. Clair county, Miichigan, her husband having died in the year 1904. The early life of Doctor Shaw was spent in his native county of Kent, and in the country and grammar schools he received his preliminary edllcational discipline. Later he took a six months' business course at Chatham, Ontario, following which he spent about the same time on the Atlantic coast for the benefit of his health, which had previously become somewhat shattered by reason of close confinement and hard study. Returning to Canada, he yielded to a desire of long standing by taking up the study of medicine which lie plrsuted in the office of a local physician for two and a half years when he laid aside his books and during the two years ensuing served as a reporter on the Detroit Ccmilercial Advefrtiser. Severing his connection with the paper at the expiration of that time, he engaged in the practice of medicine at Niagara Falls under a preceptor with whom he continued one year and then opened an office of his own at the town of Rosebush, Tsabella county, Michigan, where he remained twelve years, during which time he met with gratifying success and built up a very lucrative professional business. During his second year at the latter place, Dr. Shaw took the Michigan state medical examination and, receiving his degree, took a post-graduate course at Chicago Polyclinic, Chicago, Illinois, after which he located at Clare, where he practiced for six years and then returned to Rosebush, where he has since acquired a thriving patronage and taken high rank as a skillful physician and surgeon. Doctor Shaw is a close and conscientious student and he has ever aimed to become a true leader and a benefactor of his kind. To this end he has kept in touch with the latest advancements in the science of medicine, availing himself of every opportunity to add to his professional knowledge and efficiency and, as already stated, he now occupies a conspicuous place among the leading men of his calling in Isabella county and, being in the prime of his mental and physical powers, with a laudable ambition to succeed, it is eminently fitting to predict for him still greater usefulness in years to come. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Order of Gleaners and Independent Crder of Odd Fellows at Rosebush, in all of which societies he is an influential worker, besides holding official positions at various times in each. HIe is not indifferent to the public interests of the community in which he resides but manifests a lively regard for the general welfare of his fellow men and to the extent of his ability encourages all measures and enterprises with this object in view. 646 ISABELLA- COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Doctor Shaw has been twice married, the first time in 1884 to Martha Sexsmith, who (lied in 1898 after bearing him the following children: John, born December 27, 1887, married Florence Hines and lives in the city of Flint, this state; Irene, born October i6, i888, is the wife of Frank Cornwall and lives at Tecumseh, Michigan; Edward, born Novemlber 23, 1893, is single and lives at home; and Vera, the youngest of the number, was born October 23, I894, and is a student of the Clare high school. 'The Doctor's second marriage was solemnized in 1904 with Orie Denman, whose birth occurred onl August i8. I883, the union being blessed with two sons, Norman, born August 23, 1906, and Wayne, who first saw the light of day on April 23, 1908. JOHN H. EDMONDS. The gentleman of whomn the biographer writes in this connection enjoys distinctive prestige as a farmer, and as a citizen he is interested in all that tends to promote the material prosperity of the community land benefit his fellow men. John H. Edmonds was born November 16, 1865, in Calhoun county, 'Michigan, and spent his early life on his father's farm, receiving his educational training in the district schools. lie remained in his native county until his twenty-second year when he went to Dallas county, Texas, and engaged in gardening. Becoming dissatisfied with the South, he returned to Michigan after an absence of nine months, and six months later camIe to Isabella county and bought the forty acres of land in section 20, Isabella township, which in due time he cleared and improved and on which he still resides. Subsequently he purchased an additional forty-acre tract, which he likewise improved and at the present time his farm of eighty acres is not only onle of the best in the township but compares favorably with any other of like area within the bounds of Isabella county. Mr. Edmonds stands for modern methods in farming and believes that moriey put into improvements is wisely invested. To this end he has been unsparing of his means, erecting in I894 a fine modern dwelling of amiple size and iniposing appearance, building one year later a large and commodious hbarn,'twenty' hy sixty feet in dimensions, besides laying over two thousand rods of drain tile and putting up four hundred and twenty rods'of woven wire and one hundred rods of barbed wire fencing, to say nothing of various outbuildings and other improvements, such as are found on first class, up-todate farms. All but seven acres of his place is in cultivation andl he raises ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 647 abundant crops of grains, vegetables and fruits for which central Michigan is noted, also devotes considerable attention to live stock, his cattle, sheep and hogs being of the best breeds and adding very materially to his income. Mr. Edmonds is all intelligent, wide-awake man who is ever alive to the best interests of the community and ready at all times to use his influence in furthering laudalle means for the public good. On national and state issues he votes the Republican ticket, but in local affairs gives his support to the best candidates irrespective of political ties. He served one year as township supervisor and for two years was treasurer of his townlship, in both positions proving a very capable and obliging official and leaving nothing undone to advance the interests of his jurisdiction. Jennie L. V\an Buren, wife of Mr. Edmonds, is a daughter of Ephraim and Olive ( Myers) \Van Buren, both natives of New York. The former. who is a cousin of President Martin Van Buren, was lorn in i818 and still living, making his home at this time with the subject; the latter, whose birth occurred in 1822, departed tlis life in the year l85I9. Mr. and MArs. Edmonds are the parents of children as follows: Clarence V. B., born in i885, married Florence Rlohertson and lives in Isahella township; ATiola, whose birth occurred in the year 877,. is the wife of NWilliam F unnel, of the samte tow\nship; Zella, lo(rn in 1883, lives in RenoN, Nevada, and Charles, also a resident of that city, was born in the year 1887. The father of the subject wvas Charles lFdmonl(ls, a native of New York, where his birth occurredt in 1829. The.mother, whose maiden iiame was Sara Ide, was born in that state in the year 1837. These parents were married in Battle Creek and their deaths occurred in the years 1886 alnd 1904 respectively. GEORGE F. W. ELLER. This enterprising farmer and ex-soldier is a native of Orange county, New York, where he was boirn in the year 1845. Vhen he w\as four years old, his parents moved to.Michigan and frolm 1849 Iuntil the breaking out of the great Rebellion lie lived on a farm and attended during the winter months such schools as we\re then common in this state. Tn i86f,. w-hen a mere youth of sixteen, he responded to the President's call for volunteers by enlisting in Company I of the lTwenty-second Michigan Infantry. witl which he served for three years, during which time he took part in a number of campaigns and shared wvith his comrades the fortunes and vicissitudes of war on many bloodv 648 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. fields of conflict. On September 20, I863, at the battle of Chickamauga, he received a painful wound in the left ankle joint which necessitated his going to a hospital in Nashville, where he was treated for some weeks, later being removed to St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit where he remained until sufficiently recovered to rejoin his regiment ill June, I864. At the expiration of his period of service, lie was honorably discharged and, returning to Michigan immediately thereafter, began working by the month as a farm hand in Livingston county, later being employed by the year in that and the county of Oakland, where he remained until moving to Isabella county in 1876. In the meantime, I865, shortly after quitting the army, Mr. \Veller was united in marriage with Mary Opdyke, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1846. When twelve years old she was taken to Iowa by her parents and, after spending three years in that state, came to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where she grew to maturity. For several years following his marriage. Mr. Weller supported himself and wife as a farm laborer, but on coming to Isabella county he purchased land in section 25, Isabella township, which he improved and on which he lived during the seven years ensuing. At the expiration of that time, he disposed of his original purchase and moved to his present place of eighty acres in section 36 of the same township where he has since resided and which, under his effective labor and judicious management, has been developed a,,d improved until it now ranks among the best farms in the locality. Mr. Weller is a man of progressive tendencies, cultivates the soil according to modern methods and seldom fails to realize amply from the time and labor expended on his farm. I-Ie has cleared considerable of his land, made a considerable section of road and by judicious tile drainage has not only reclaimed much valuable soil, but greatly enhanced the productiveness of the land. He has good buildings, fine wire fences, and all in all his farm is under an excellent state of cultivation and compares favorably with the best places of its area in the county. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, though not a partisan, and his fraternal relations are represented by the Wabano Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Mt. Pleasant, with which he has, held membership for a number of years and in the deliberations of which he takes an active part. Mrs. Weller belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps, No. 56, Mt. Pleasant, and is likewise a zealous worker in all the interests represented by the organization. She served three years as senior vice-president and at the present time is junior vice-president, also assistant to the secretary of the encampment. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Weller consists of the following children: ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 649 Nellie. born October, i866, is the wife of George Gilpin anti lives in Mt. Pleasant: \Villiam E., was born in January, I868, married Mollie Wallace, and lives in Isabella township; Maude. born September, 1870, is the wife of Thomas Lawrence and lives in Mt. Pleasant; Nora and Dora, twins, were b0orn August, 1878; the former is unmarried and at home, the latter being the wife of George Wallace, of O\osso, this state; Blanche, who also resides on the home farm, is the wife of A. Meyer, and George, lho is still with his parents, was born in November, T885. ELT'ON J. VAN IEUTVEN. Prominent among the energetic. far-sighted and successful business imen of Isabella count- is Elton J. Van Leuven, of Mt. Pleasant, whose life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest ptrpose. Integrity, activity anll energy have been the crowning point in his career and have led to desirable and creditable success. His connection with banking institutions and various lines of business have been of decided advantage to the comnunity, promoting its welfare along various lines in no ur-certain manner, while at the same time he has made an untarnished record and unspotted reputation as a business man. His methods are progressive and he is quick to adopt new ideas which he believes will prove of practical value in his work. Indolence and idleness are entirely foreign to his nature, and owing to his close application to business and his honorable methods he has won prosperity that is richly merited, while lie enjoys the friendship andi esteem of the people of the entire locality. Mr. Van Leuven was bcrn in Seville township, Gratiot county. Michigan, July 29. T866. lTe is the scion of an excellent and influential old family of the Empire state, being the son of Lucius and Mary Van Leuven, both natives of the state of New York. The subject has reflected all his life the wholesome training he received in his home. He received a good education in the high school at Mount Pleasant and the Detroit Business University. He had long entertained a laudable ambition to enter the banking arena, and consequently bent every effort in that direction and became well equipped for this special line of work. He entered the employment of the First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in 1884 and at once succeeded in making his influence felt in strengthern ing the prestige of that old financial institution. By nature an organizer and 650 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. promoter, in I898 he organized the banking house of \Vebler & Ruel at Mt. Pleasant, and was its cashier and manager for a period of five years, (luring which time he placed it on a very sure and solid basis. lie organized the Isabella County State Bank of Mt. Pleasant, taking on the business of \Vebber & Ruel, bankers, in 1903, and he has since served as its cashier an(l director, performing his duties in this connection in his usual able and conservative manner, which has reflected much credit upon himlself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. The business of this bank has been very prosperous and it is regarded as one of the safest and most popular banking institutions in this section of Michigan. Its assets are now over a half million dollars. Mr. Van Leuven held the office of treasurer of the Michigan Bankers Association one year, winning the hearty approval of the members of the same by his judicious management of this office. Politically he is a Relublican and is a loyal advocate of his party's principles. He has very faithfully discharged the duties of city treasurer, alderman anl a melmber of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. On June 2, 1885, Mr. Van Leuven was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hitchcock, a lady of culture and refinement w-hose genial personality has long rendered her a favorite with a large circle of friends. She is the laughter of John Hitchcock, who formerly lived in this county but more recently a citizen of Bismarck, North Dakota. TIis union lias been graced 1b the birth of two children, Buel H. and Ruth E. Mr. and Mrs. Van Ieuven have a modern. conmmodious and comfortable me hoe and they stand high in the best social circles of the county. JOHN McNERNEY. Prominent among the prosperous farmlers and public sl)irited citizens of Isabella township is the subject of this review, a gentleman of intelligence and liberal culture,.whom to know is to esteem and honor. John McNerney was born January I, 1854, a native of the Emerald isle. The subject spent the first eighteen years of his life near the place of his birth, but at the age indicated accompanied his parents to the United States and during the ensuing three years lived on a farm in Livingston county, Michigan. At the expiration of that period he camne to Isabella county, but after a brief sojourn in the township of Isabella entered the Detroit Business University, from ISABELLA COUNTY, MiICHIGAN. 651 which he was graduated in due time, after which le returned to this county and engaged in educational work. Mr. McNerney taught school for the first term in Isabella township in the winter of 1877 and during the ensuing fifteen years had charge of schools in various parts of the county, achieving the meanwhile an honorable record as an efficient and popular instructor. Not caring to devote his life to school work, lie discontinued the profession at the expiration of the time indicated ai;(l bought the farm of forty acres in section 17, Isabella township, which he still owns and cultivates and which lie subseiquently enlarged by the addition of a like area adjoining, besides purchasing another forty-acre tract ill section 19. ITe now owns one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in one of the finest agricultural districts of Isabella county, has made a numbler of substantial improvemlents on tile same and 1)y his well directed labors and judicious management, the farm at this time ranks among the most plrolductive and valuable of the township in which it is situatedl. Mr. McNerney believes il using his means to proper ends, accordingly he has been unsparing of b1oth money and time in beautifying his honme and laddling to its attractiveness and value. His fine brick residence erected in 19o0 is a model of architecture as well as convenience. and fully eu(ipped with mlodern impro\veiments. I1 T1895 lie ibilt a c(mmlolious lbairnl \\whicli answers all purposes for wllich intended and his othler improvements, including artificial drainage, goo(l fencing alnl a nmiber of substantial outbuildinlgs, are all up to date and indicate the interest which lie takes in the calling to which his time and energies are devotel. Mlr. McNerneyv in the!ear T885. was united inl the holy lonlds of matrimony \w\itlh Elizalbeth Ilase. who \as born February 17, 1858, the union terminating with the untimely death of the wife in September, 1908, after bearing her lusband( the following children: Frank, born June 17, 1886, is single anti lives at home: Pauline, also a member of the home circle, was born August 21, 1887: Rose, who was horn September 17, 1889, is a graduate of the Central State Normal School and one of Isabella county's most efficient andi popular teachers; Mary, borni June 7, 1891, is also an alumna of that institution: Theresa, who was born June 26, 1892, is also a graduate of the same school: \Anna, the youngest of the family, was born March I, 1894, and, like her sisters, is preparing herself for teaching, being at this time a student of the Central State Normal and standing high in her classes. Mr. McNerney is a Democrat in politics and, being a reader and thinker, is wxell informed on the (questions of the day and is an influential worker for the success of his party. He was reared a Catholic and has always remained trtue to the teachings of the mother church. At the present time he belongs 652 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. to St. Henry's church, Vernon, with which his children are also identified, and is a liberal contributor to the support of the parish. He has never been an office seeker nor aspirant for public honors, nevertheless the voters of his township some years ago elected him township clerk, which position he filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the citizens of his jurisdiction for a period of eight years, besides serving four years as superintendent of the township schools. KENNETH E. STRUBLE. This prominent and public spirited citizen has richly earned the csteem and confidence which he now commlands and it is by no means presumptuous to claim for him a larger place in the public view than any other of his contemporaries in the community where he resides. For a number of years he has been more or less actively identified. with the varied interests of the thriving town of Shepherd, and has contributed to its advancement, not only in a material way, but along social, educational and moral lines as well. Kenneth E. Struble is a native of Williams county, Ohio, where his birth occurred on November 17, I867. He was brought to Isabella county, Michigan, when but six months old, spent his childhood and youth at Salt River, Coe township, and in the public schools which he attended during his minority he received an intellectual training which served as a foundation for his subsequent career in the various lines of business to which he has devoted his talents. Mr. Struble's first practical experience was as a salesman for his brothers, N. NV. and J. H. Struble, in their mercantile establishment at Shepherd. in which capacity he continued until the dissolution of the partnership. when he accepted a position wvith J. H. and remained in his store for a period of fifteen years. during which time he developed business ability of a high order and gained the confidence of all with whom he came into contact. On November 30, 19oI, he was appointed by President Roosevelt postmaster of Shepherd and, entering at once upon the duties of the office, has continued them to the present time. earning the meanwhile an honorable reputation as a capable and popular official-indeed, the most efficient of the many who have held the position. When Mr. Struble received his first commission Shepherd was a fourth class office, but in July, 1902, it was advanced to the third class, since which time it has more than doubled its capacity, being now the center of a large rural delivery, which includes five routes and takes in as many townships, ISABE.LLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 653 besides touching parts of three others. Ile has received three commissions fronm President Roosevelt and on March 17, 1910, was reappointed by President Taft, his long retention in the office speaking well for his efficiency, also for the confidence reposed in him by the department. as well as by the general public which he serves. Mr. Struble represents a class of citizens distinguished for those measures of public policy which iear directly upon material interests, and he enjoys a high reputation for business sagacity and integrity, his opinions and views being worthy of the highest consideration and regard. TTe is identified with a nulmber of enterprises and utilities which make for the material prosperity of the town in which he lives and in all that concerns the social and moral welfare of his fellow townsmen his influence and co-operation have been unsparing and constant. He is a stockholder and director of the Central State Savings Bank of Shepherd, and is likewise identified with the banking company at the town of Winn, to the success of x)th of which institutions he has contributed in no small degree, being recognized as a discreet business man whose judgment and opinions have weight with his associates and command the respect of the public. Since old enough to read intelligently. lhe has kept in touch with the leading questions and issues of the people and a careful investigation of the principles of the opposing political parties led him into the Retpublican ranks, since which time he has been unremitting in his advocacy of its policies and an untiring worker for the success of its candi(lates. Active and influential cs Mr. Struble has been in political work, he has never sought office for himself. his first thought being for his friends whom lie has assisted from tilme to time hy every legitimate means within his power. To his efforts the success of not a few candidates has been due and his judicious advice in party councils and activity durling the progress of campaigns have helped to win victory for the entire ticket in a number of hotly waged contests. He was a member of the county committee one term and rendered effective service in that capacity and also served for somle time on the Republican congressional committee, where his judicious counsel was likewise appreciated. Before President McKinley's first nomination, he assisted in organizing a McKinley Club and served as president of same and during the campaign which followed rendered valuable service in winning the large majority which that popular candidate carried in Isabella county. Mr. Struble has been (uite successful in his business affairs and in addition to his interests in the banks referred to in a preceding paragraph. he owns valuable real estate in both town and country, the former including a fine modern residence on Wright avenue, the principal street of the city. 654 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIGAN. His home is imposing and attractive and, being situated in the business district, the property is growing rapidly in value. Mr. Struble is an enthusiastic Mason, belonging to Salt River Lodge No. 288, in which he has been lhonored with four terms as worshipful master. In addition, his activity in the general work of the order is manifested in that he is now serving as president of the Masonic Building Association, which has control of the Mlasonic temple in Shepherd and various other interests connected therewith. HTe is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, in which he served seven years as worthy patron, and he likewise belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he now holds the title of past consul. In the year T897 Mr. Struble was happily married to Coral C. Hibbard, the accomplished daughter of F. E. and Louisa HIibbard, of Isabella county, the union being withlout issue. At the time of her marriage an(l for some time prior thereto. Mrs. Struble was a teacher in the public schools of Shepherd. Tater her husband aplpointed her assistant postmaster, a position which slie has since filled with credit and satisfaction, being prompt and courteous in attending to the duties of the office and popular in her relations with the public. CHARLES H. LEIGHTON. In nearly every community are individuals who by innate ability and sheer force of character rise above their fellows and wvin for themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. While Charles HT. Leighton, a progressive farmer of Rolland township, Isabella county, does not court such a distinction, yet it is evident that he has won a larger amount of success than the average farmer and that this has bhen done by his own unaided efforts, since it has never been his nature to depend upon anyone. During the long period of his residence in this vicinity his life has been closely interwoven with its material growth and development, while his career as a man of affairs has been synonymous with all that is upright and honorable in citizenship. Mr. Leighton is the scion of a sterling old New York family, of which state he himself is native, his birth having occurred at Sodus, Wayne county, on August 30, 1843, on a small farm, on which he worked when he became of proper age, attending the district schools during the winter months. In March, 1853, when ten years of age, he came to Kalamazoo county, Michigan., where the father purchased eighty acres of heavily timbered land in Wakeshma township, which he cleared with the help of his sons. Here Charles H. did ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 655 his first real hard work, and here he received some additional schooling. He remained in that county twenty years and purchased a snmall farm of twentyfive acres, which he later s(ld and came to Isabella county in the spring of 1872. believing that here were the better prospects. lie settled on his present excellent farmi of sixty acres in section 8, Rolland township. In typical pioneer fashion he made a little clearing in the dense woods and started the nucleus of a home and farm. and, being a hard worker and good manager, he has succeeded in establishing a very comfortable home and developing one of the hest farms in the township, now having but five acres of timber land, having cleared and ilmproved his place himself. HTe first lived in a small log house an(l obtained his provisions at AMillbrook. two miles away. He did considerable work in the woods for lumber companies in order to get a start and make a living. He had a teani when lie reached here, but lie sold it an(l put the money in his place He later built a very substantial dwelling and a good barn and added such outbuildings and other improvements as his needs seeni to require. Mr. I.eightor was married in i868, at Wakeshmia, to Margaret Martin., who was born on April 22, 1843, in Canada. She is the daughter of Thomas anl Margaret Martin, and three children have been born to this union: IHerbert, who is living at Bear Lake, Michigan, is school commissioner of Manistee county; Raymond owns a farm adjoining that of his father an(l he works hoth farms; Wilbur WV., who died March 12, I889. Mr. Leighton has a good orchard of two acres, and he has carried on general farming. Hlis place is well kept and yields abundant harvests. In the early days he had a great many hardships which are always incident to pioneer life, having started in with nothing. He is well known in the community, and he takes an active interest in the Wesleyan Methodist church at Blanchard(, in which hie has held many offices. He was school inspector and township clerk for some tinme, and he is the oldest justice of the peace in Isabella county. Ile assisted in building all the roads in this locality. When he came here the town of Blanchard was a blackberry patch. The parents of Mrs. Leighton came to Michigan when she was six years of age, locating in Kent counuty, having made the journey fromn their old home with a four-horse team, the trip requiring three weeks. After visiting awhile they purchased one hundred and sixty acres, and there Mrs. Leighton grew to maturity. While visiting her uncle in Kalamazoo county, whose farm joined the Leighton place, she met the subject for the first time, and. a year. later they were married. She taught school in that neighhorhood, also taught in district No. 2, Rolland township, Isabella county, for two years after her 656 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. marriage. Mr. Leighton also taught singing school here, and he sang at funerals and various gatherings, and in so doing made many friends, in fact, he and his wife have never lacked for plenty of friends since coming here, and they are popular and influential in the community. WILLIAM 0. HULLINGER. Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are worthy of record. By a few general observations may be conveyed some idea of the high standing of William O. tHullinger, publisher of the Central Michigan Times at Mt. Pleasant, as a business man and public benefactor and an editor of unusual felicity of expression and whose facile pen has deliglted thousands of readers. tnoulling public opinion and doing his full share in promoting the interests of Isabella county along general lines. Mr. Hullinger was born near Bradford, Ohio, August IS, 1875 and lie came to Barry county, Michigan, with his parents when young. ITe lived with his parents on a farm during the early years of his life, but when he was ten years old the family moved to Nashville, Michigan, because of the advantage of schools that the town would afford the children. \William 0. left school when fourteen years of age and began his apprenticeship in the Nashzille News printing office. After two years of "deviling" and almost a year at setting type by the thousand ems, he returned to the high school at Nashville with sufficient money to complete the twelve grades, and he was graduated in I895. The following year he spent in the University of Michigan, taking a literary course. In October, I897, Mr. ]Hullinger established the Press, a weekly newspaper, at Potterville, Michigan, which he successfully conducted for its owner for two years. In I899 he bought the Perry (Michigan) Journal, and three years later merged it with the Morrice Clipper and continued there until he came to Mt. Pleasant, enjoying a very satisfactory business. In April. 1904, he came into possession of the Central Michigan. Times of Mt. Pleasant. Three years later, in July, the business was organized into a corporation known as the Isabella Printing Company, and B. M. Gould became his btusiness associate. A little over two years later Mr. Gould disposed of his interests, and now Mr. Hullinger again has full management and control. When he took possession of this paper it was not regarded as a very important factor in the community, but by his judicious management and enterprise he has WILLIAMI 0. 1II 1IJINGLR ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIG(;AN. 657 increased its prestige until it is well known and is influential in this section of the state, and now has a circulation of nearly two thousand. Its mechanical appearance has been greatly improved, its editorials are strong and convincing, its columns teerm with the best and brightest news of the day and its value as an advertising medium has been greatly augmented and is now widely recognized. The plant is well equipped with the latest mechanical devices known in the "art preservative." The value of the equipment has, in fact, more than doubled under the control of Mr. Itullinger, until now, with thle building which he owns, it is a valuable piece of property. The circulation is rapidly increasing. Here is to be found the only linotype machine in the county, and his paper is the largest in the county in size. The Timcs plant is seventy-two by thirty-three feet and extends on two lots. The Tilmenc is a strong defender of Republican principles. Mr. Hullinger owns a very pleasant home in Mt. Pleasant. Although a loyal Republican, he has not taken an aggressive part in political matters since coming here. Fraternally he belongs to the Tndcpendent Order of Odd Fellows at Mt. Pleasant and was noble grand of this order while living at Perry. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. JOHN Y. JOHNSTON. The subject of this sketch, a leading farmer and representative citizen of Isabella county, is a Canadian by birth and a son of Francis and Elizabeth Johnston, both natives of the province of Ontario, the former born on May 1, 1817, the latter on the 21st of September. 1830. Francis Johnston came to Isabella county, MTichigan. in 1873 and purchased the farm in Isabella township which the subject now owns, the latter succeeding to the place on the death of his father in 1874. Mrs. Johnston, -who is still living, resides at Rosebush, this county, where she is spending her declining years in the enjoyment of the quiet and comfort to which her long and active life entitles her. John Y. Johnston was born in Peel county, Ontario, where he also spent his boyhood and obtained his education. He was reared as a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits in his native country until 1875 when he came to Michigan and spent the summer of that year in Isabella county. Three years later he went to California where he remained three and a half years variously enployed, working a part of the time on a farm and during certain seasons operating a header in the wheat fields of that state. Returning to Michigan at the expiration of the period indicated, he took possession of the place in (42) 658 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Isabella township referred to above, and since then has added to his real estate until he now owns a fine farm of one hundred twenty acres which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and on which are some of the most valuable improvements in the county. On January 29, 1883, Mr. Johnston was married in Ontario to Mary J. Steele and immediately thereafter brought his bride to the new home in Isabella county, which at that time consisted of a small log house and about five acres in wheat and thirty acres of starting. Animated by a laudable ambition to succeed, he addressed himself resolutely to the work of clearing his land and fitting it for tillage, his good wife the meanwhile assisting him with words of encouragement and cheer and presiding with true grace and dignity over the humble home in which they spent some of the happiest times of their lives. Without narrating in detail his labor and progress, suffice it to state that since the time indicated, Mr. Johnston has converted his land into a splendid farm, which in point of cultivation and improvements ranks among the most desirable homesteads in the central part of the state. He has been unsparing of his means in adding to its beauty and value, erecting substantial buildings, including a commodious barn forty-four by sixty-four feet, and an imposing brick dwelling, containing ten rooms and supplied with every convenience calculated to augment the comfort of the occupants and render rural life desirable. The former building was erected in I892, the latter in 1905, and recently the barn has been remodeled and greatly improved, water being supplied by wind power and various modern methods adopted to facilitate and lighten labor. Mr. Johnston displays commendable public spirit in matters pertaining to the material progress of the community and the social and moral adlvancement of the populace, being at the present time chairman of the Law Enforcement League of his township and a leading worker in the cause of temperance. In the recent campaign to decide the question of local option, he was largely influential in carrying the county for that measure and since the election he has been untiring in his efforts to enforce the law and drive the drink evil from the land. For a period of twenty-five years he was an active and consistent member of the Methodist church, but is now identified with what is popularly called the Holiness movement, a religious society which insists upon a higher standard of religion than obtains in the older and more numerous bodies and greater consecration to the cause of the Master in daily life and conversation. In his former church connection he was a local preacher, besides holding various other offices, including those of steward, Sunday school superintendent and trustee, he being a leader of the congregation with which identified and a ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 659 zealous advocate of all reformatory and humanitarian projects, indeed any movement calculated to benefit his fellow men and lead them to a higher life is sure to enlist his hearty sympathy and support. Mrs. Johnston, whose birth occurred in Peel county, Ontario, October 24, I859, is a lady of high character and sterling worth and a zealous and faithful Christian and her hn:sband's able helper in all of his efforts to advance his own interests and those of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Her father, George Steele, was born Ap:il 7, 1827, in England and is now living in Peel countl, where he has made his home for a number of years. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Armstrong, was born in Canada, her birth occurring on September 5, 1832. She married Mr. Steele in Ontario and departed this life at her home in Peel county on the I2th day of September, 900o. Mr. and Mrs. Tohnston are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: George F., born October 9. 1883, is unmarried and lives at home; Elizabeth, born August 18, I885, is the wife of Clyde Craig and lives in Montreal, Canada; Mary J., whose birth occurred on April 24, 1889, is single and a member of the home circle: Ruth, who is also with her parents, was born \August 10, 1894, and Faith M., the youngest of the number, first saw light of day on July 3, 1902. HARRY E. WALITON. This enterprising farmer belongs to the younger generation of Isabella countv's substantial citizens and is eminently worthy of notice among the representative men of the township honored by his residence. He belongs to an old and highly esteemed Michigan family, the record of which in this state dates from the birth of the grandfather, John B. Walton, which occurred in the town of Sterling, McComb county, November 30, 1833. This ancestor grew to manhood near his native place and later, in the fall of 1855, came to Isabella county and took up land under the graduation act, selecting the southeast quarter of section 4, Coe township, which he at once proceeded to improve and on which he lived until his death, in I879. Subsequently he married Artemissia Blount, who was born in Oakland county, Michigan, December 3I, 1834, and by her he had children as follows: Mina, wife of Myles Abbott, lives in Coe township; Fred married Lily Vining, and is also a resident of Coe township; Perry married Martha L. Harry and is the father of the subject of this sketch; Charles married Teressa McGrath and lives on the 66o ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. family homestead, which he now owns; Frank is not married and makes his home with his brother Charles; Willard, -whose wife was formerly Mabel Hamilton, is proprietor of a bakery in Gladwin, this state, he being the youngest of the family. John B. Walton enlisted February 17, 1864, in Company E, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and served until the close of the Civil war, taking part in the Virginia campaigns and participating in a number of noted battles, in one of which, the bloody struggle in the Wilderness, he received, on June T8th of the above year, a severe wound in the hand. After the surrender of the Confederate forces under General Lee he was honorably discharged and, returning home immediately thereafter, resumed agricultural pursuits, which he continued wvith encouraging results until his death, on June 15, 1879. Mrs. Walton, who survived her husband, is still living on the home place in Coe township, having reached the age of seventy-six years, and still retaining possession of her mental and physical powers. Perry Valton, the third in order of birth of the above children, was born July 26, i866, and spent his life as a tiller of the soil. \fter living in Coe township luntil 1890, he moved to Clare county, this state, where he remained two years, and then changed his residence to the county of Missaukee, \wliere he purchased a farm of forty acres on which he spent the remainder of his days, departing this life on October i, 1892. Martha I,. Harry, who became the wife of Perry Walton, was born June 29, I868, and for the past eight years has made her home in Alberta, Canada. The children of this estimable couple, two in numbler, are Harry E., whose name introduces this sketch, and Alta, whose birth occurred August 24, i886, and who now lives with her mother in Canada, having in the meantime become the wife of Joseph Poniter. Harry E. Walton was born June 12, 1885, in Coe township, Isabella county, and grew up amid the bracing airs and under the wholesome influence of rural life, becoming inured to farm labor at an early age and obtaining a practical education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he discontinued farm labor to accept a clerkship in a hardware store, and after filling the position seven years and demonstrating commlendable business capacity, became a partner of H. M. Wetzel in the hardware trade, the firm thus constituted purchasing the stock of the Shepherd Hardware Company, which establishment is now under the management of the firm of Wetzel & Walton. The above firm carries a large and well selected stock of general hardware and by close attention to the demands of the trade and judicious management has built up quite an extensive patronage,.which from the beginning has grown ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 66I steadily in magnitude and importance, their store at this time being among the most successful business houses of the kind in the county. As indicated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Walton has made commendable progress as a business man, his career presenting a series of advancements such as few achieve, and he now occupies a conspicuous place among the representative merchants of this part of the state, his past success bespeaking a bright and promising future. In his relations with his fellow men, business or otherwise, he has been actuated by motives of honor and integrity, and in the community which has been his lifelong home his name represents the highest standard of manhood and citizenship. Fraternally he belongs to Salt River Lodge No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons, and he also holds membership with Camp No. 8178, Modern Woodmen of Amnerica, in both of which societies he has held positions of honor and trust and been an active and influential worker. Mr. Walton is a married man, but has no children, his wife having formerly been Florabell Shepherd, daughter of 11. D. and Mary Shepherd, the father living, the mother dying D)ecember 12, 1905. Mrs. Walton, whose birth occurred at Ashley, Michigan, December 25, 1887, is a lady of intelligence and l1eautiful character, a fit companion for the enterprising man whose name she bears and over whose home she presides with grace and dignity becoming one who makes her husband's interests her own, and spares no reasonable effort to make their married life mutually agreeable and happy and to the largest degree useful. They move in the best social circles of the community and their popularity is only bounded by the limits of their acquaintance. HENRY WILD. The gentleman whose career is here made public is an American by naturalization, being a native of Switzerland, where his birth occurred in the month of April, 1859, and where he spent the first twenty-one years of his life. In his youth he learned the trade of dyeing and coloring clothing, which he followed in his native land until attaining his majority when he decided to seek his fortune in the great republic across the sea of which he had read so much and heard so many favorable reports. Accordingly, in I88o be bade farewell to the romantic scenes of his childhood and youth and in due time landed in America and made his way direct to Saginaw, Michigan, where he spent the ensuing eight years variously employed. In the spring of I888 he left that part of the state and settled on a tract of land in Vernon town 662 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ship, Isabella county, which he obtained by trade and which at the time referred to was as nature had made it. With his characteristic industry and energy Mr. Wild at once proceeded with the work of clearing his land and getting it in condition for ctltivation, a task of no small magnitude, considering the dense woods with which it was covered, and the difficulty of removing the roots and stumps after the timber had been cut. By continuous and well directed toil, however, he finally succeeded in reducing the greater part to tillage, besides making a number of substantial improvements in the way of buildings, fences, etc., and planting certain pastures with fruit trees. In 1897 Mr. Wild suffered quite a heavy loss in the destruction of his dwelling house by fire, but he at once rebuilt upon a more extensive scale. the residence which the family now occupy being decidedly superior to its predecessor. His barn and outbuildings are substantial and in exccllent repair and in his farm work he has aimed to keep pace with the times, using improved machinery and implements and cultivating the soil according to the latest modern methods. He has been very successful in all of his undertakings and is now in independent circumstances, his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres yielding him not only a liberal livelihood, but an ample surplus each year to lay up against any emergency that may arise, also to insure an easy and comfortable old age. Mr. Wild is a public spirited man and since becoming a citizen of Isabella county has been quite active in public and political affairs. having served three successive years as supervisor of Vernon township and two years as treasurer of the same. In both offices he demonstrated business ability of a high order and a faithful regard for the interests of the public. He is a stanch Republican in politics and an influential worker for the success of his party, being one of its leaders in Vernon township, where his opinions and counsel always command respect. Fraternally, he belongs to the Grange, in the deliberations of which he has ever taken an active part, and he also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees, having from time to time been honored with important official positions. Mr. Wild married in his native country Emma Kundig, whose early life was spent near his own birthplace, and who has proven a faithful companion and helpmeet in his labors and struggles and is now able to rejoice with him in the fortune that has crowned their mutual efforts. They have four living children, one dying in infancy, the names of the survivors being Herman, Frank, William and Harry. Although of foreign birth, Mr. Wild is as truly American as if born on American soil, and as a citizen he is highminded, intelligent, a great admirer of the institutions of his adopted country and ready ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 663 to defend them with his life's blood should the necessity arise. He is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and the confidence reposed in lhim by his neighbors has never been misplaced. EUGENE H. ALLYN. The subject of this review is widely and favorably known and for a number of years has been one of the enterprising, public spirited men of the township honored by his citizenship. Eugene H. Allyn, who is a native of Germany, first saw the light of day in the year I859 and when six months old was brought to America by his mother, his father dying six months previous to his birth. Owing to the peculiar circumstances surrounding his mother after reaching this country, she found it well nigh impossible to rear her child; accordingly, he was adopted bv a Mr. Allyn, who with his good wife looked after the lad's interests as if he were of their own blood and spared no efforts to have him grow up an honor to himself and them and a blessing to the world. His own mother lived for a number of years after coming to the United States, dying at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1907. In I867 Mr. Allyn's foster father moved from Ohio to northern Michigan, where he lived until I876. when he transferred his residence to Ohio, since which time he has made that state his home. Young Allyn attended the public schools as opportunities afforded, the meantime devoting the summer months to labor on the farm. He grew up a strong, well developed young man, With proper conceptions of the duties and responsibilities of life, and on arriving at an age to plan for the future he came to Winn. Freniont township, Isabella countv, and went into the mercantile business, which he followed for ten years, but finding the confinement undermining his health he bought a farm and sold his store, the outdoor work greatly benefiting him. He owns valuable real estate in Isabella county and is otherwise well to do, the farm of one hundred acres on which he lives being among the best inproved and most desirable in Winn township and leaving little to be desired in the way of modern conveniences and comforts. Mr. Allyn is a gentleman of progressive ideas and fine taste and during his active years not only cultivated the soil with success and profit, but was unsparing of his means in improving and beautifying his home. The commodious dwelling which his family now occupy is furnished with the various conveniences calculated to render rural life happy and desirable, being heated 664 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. by the hot water system and equipped with other modern ilmprovements, the barns, outbuildings, fences, etc., being first class and in excellent condition, the farm and everything pertaining thereto being up to date and bearing evidence of the intelligence, enterprise and public spirit of the proprietor. As a tiller of the soil he stands in the front rank of Isabella county's progressive agriculturists and as a citizen is energetic and wide awake, keeping in touch with the trend of current events and abreast of the times on all matters of public interest. In politics he is a Democrat, but not an office seeker, although for twenty consecutive terms he served as clerk of his township and discharged the duties of the position in an able and eminently praiseworthy manner. I-e is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic brotherhood, belonging to Cedar Valley Lodge No. 383, in addition to which he encourages all benevolent and humanitarian projects, being always ready to assist worthy enterprises and never turning a deaf car to the cry of suffering or distress. Mr. Allyn, in I88I, entered the marriage relation with Julia Allyn, who was born in the year I86o, being a daughter of Phineas and Celia (1Butler) Allyn, natives of Connecticut, where their births occurred in 1829 and 1831, respectively. Phineas Allyn came to Michigan about the year 1879 and is now living in the city of Mt. Pleasant, his wife having died in 1870. One child has blessed the marriage of Eugene II. and Julia Allyn, a daughter, Nellie, who was born February 25, I896, and who is now pursuing her studies in the public schools. WILLIAM BADGLEY. Among the men of influence in Isabella county, who have the interest of their locality at heart and who have led consistent lives, thereby gaining definite success along their chosen lines, is William Badgley, a successful farmer of Wise township, having there a valuable and highly productive landed estate, which he manages with the care and discretion that stamps him as a twentiethcentury agriculturist of the highest order. Mr. Badgley was born October 29, I845, in Hastings county, Ontario, Canada, the son of William and Abigail (Garrison) Badgley, both natives of that place, and there he passed his boyhood and attended school a short time. He remained on the farm, which he worked until he was thirty-two years of age.. He was married to Elizabeth Presley of his own community in Ontario, rorn in 1847. At the age mentioned above Mr. Badgley came to Saginaw, Michigan, where he remained three months, then came to Clare City, Clare ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 665 county, and lived two years, working on the section of a railroad, also in the woods. lie then moved to section 8, \Vise township, and bought sixty acres of timbered land, through which and around which there were no roads,-in fact, Mr. Badgley was one of the first settlers in that township, comingt here when the great forests were inhabited by Indians and wild beasts, but he set to work with a will and in due course of time had a comfortable home and well cultivated farm. In 91io he purchased an additional forty acres, making his farm now one hundred acres, which ranks with the best and most attractive in the township. I-e has, as intimated, a neat and well arranged dwelling which he remodeled in 1888 and in 190o he erected a good barn, thirty-six by eighty-two feet. His place is well fenced with wire and is well drained. He has eighty-five acres under a high state of cultivation and is carrying on general farming in a manner that brings abundant success. Hle is also very successful as a stock raiser, paying special attention to full blood shorthorn cattle and he has other good stock. This year he has ten acres in beets, seven acres in beans, besides wheat, oats and barley, and has one acre of fine fruit. He uses the latest models in farmiin machinery. He is a stockholder and a member of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Society of Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Badgley is a nmember of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a trustee of the same, having held this office for the past two years. I-is family also belongs to this church and all are very faithful in their attendance on the same. Mr. Badgley has also been a steward of this church for several years. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never sought public office. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Badgley: Frank, who married a Miss Goodnough, lives in Flint, Michigan, where he is employed as bookkeeper; Anna, who married a Mr. Vandelindy, lives in Pembine, Wisconsin; Thomas A., who married a Miss Smith, lives with his father on the home farm; John Leroy is married and is engaged in railroad work in North Dakota. No family in Isabella county is respected more highly than the Badgleys and they are influential in their community. DANIEL BUCKLEY. The interesting career of the subject of this sketch entitles him to worthy notice among the representative men of his township and county,and it is with no little satisfaction that the following review of the leading facts of his life 66f ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. is herewith presented. Daniel Buckley was born March 21, 1845, in Norfolk county, Ontario, and at the early age of eight years death deprived him of a mother's loving care and guidance. Shortly after this sad event he was bound out to learn the tailor's trade, but not being pleased with the prospect of so long a period of service, and with little or no love for his master, he soon decided to cut loose from his environment and make his own way in the world; accordingly, when a favorable opportunity presented itself he stole away and in due time arrived in Detroit, where he hired to a party of men to help take a drove of horses to St. Louis, Missouri. On receiving his pay the lad went from the latter city to Nashville, Tennessee, where he entered the employ of the government as teamster, but at the expiration of three months resigned the position, and returning to his native province, spent the following year at home. Becoming weary of inactivity and longing for the wild free life of which he obtained but a slight experience, young Buckley. in I865, again severed home ties and going to Detroit, enlisted in Company A, Nineteenth United States Infantry of the regular army, subsequently being transferred to Company A, Thirty-seventh Regiment, and still later to Colmpany K, Third Infantry, as corporal. Mr. Buckley served six years in the regular army, during which he footed it across the plains, took part.in a number of raids against the hostile redskins, did garrison duty at not a few frontier outposts and passed through many other experiences in the West and other parts of the country ere the termination of his period of enlistment. While in the West he was detailed for duty, carrying United States mail dispatches, driving stage coach, etc., between Fort Wingate, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Trinidad and other forts. On the trip across the plains "\'ild Bill" was scout and a part of the command was the famous Seventh Cavalry conmianded by General Custer, this being the latter's first trip across the plains. His time having expired, he returned to Ontario, but after spending about a year there, decided to seek his fortune in Michigan, accordingly, in 1872, he came to Isabella county and for some time thereafter assisted his brother, who was conducting a store at Isabella city. He also worked for some months in various lumber camps and later purchased the forty acres of land in section 36, Isabella township, on which he has since lived and prospered. Mr. Buckley has not only cleared and reduced to cultivation the farm on which he now resides, but has carried to completion several improvements, erecting a fine barn, thirtv-six by seventy feet in dimensions, in I899, a commodious modern dwelling in lI9o, besides laying a great deal of drain tile, enclosing the greater part of the place with improved wire fence and purchasing an additional forty acres near by. tHe has ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHlIGAN. 667 met with gratifying success as a tiller of the soil, and is now in comfortable circumstances with a sufficiency of this world's goods in his xpossession to assure a future free from care. Mr. Buckley has been twice married, the first time to Maria Annis, who bore him four children, and departed this life in the year I905, the names of the children being as follows: Harry, a railway engineer with headquarters at Proctor, Minnesota; Ray, who is also engaged in the railway service at that place; Thomas, who lives at Indiana Harbor, Indiana, and Kate, who makes her home in the state of Minnesota. By his second wife, who previous to her marriage was Ann McClaine, Mr. Buckley has one child, Herman R. AARON S. BEACH. Though uneventful, the life of the subject of this review has been eminently honorable and to him and such as he the body politic is indebted for much of its moral bone and sinew and the community for the respect for law and order which insure happy homes and a contented people. Aaron S. Beach, a native of Oneida county, New York, was born in the year 1847 and spent his early life near the place where he first saw the light of day. He was reared amid rural scenes, early became familiar with the duties of the farm and in the public schools of his neighborhood received a fair education. He remained on the home place in his native county until his father's death, which occurred in 1862, and later, when nineteen years old, accompanied his widowed mother to Connecticut. where he remained one summer. Going to Ulster county. New York, at the expiration of the time indicated, Mr. Beach devoted the ensuing two years to farm labor, and then came to Clinton county, Michigan. where he spent the following sixteen years, working by the month for different parties, although owning a farm of his own from which he received a fair rental. Disposing of his farm in the above county in i885. he came to Isabella county and for two years thereafter worked principally by the day, his main object in coming to this part of the state. however, being the desire to benefit his health, which at the time referred to was in a precarious condition. In 1887 he purchased eighty acres of land in section 3, Nottawa township, all in the woods and presenting any but an alluring prospect for a home, but under his effective labors, the forest growth gradually disappeared and in due time he had a goodly part of his farm cleared and in cultivation. 668 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. During the past twenty-three years Mr. Beach has succeeded well as a farmer, the greater part of his land being in an excellent state of tillage, with good improvements, including a commodious barn erected a number of years ago, but remodeled in 1908, a comfortable and substantial residence etquipped with the usual conveniences, up-to-date outbuildings. the place being enclosed and subdivided with first-class wire fencing, and the productveness of the soil enhanced by a judicious system of drainage, four hundred rods of which is by means of tiling. All in all, his success has been very gratifying and he is today in comfortable circumstances with a sufficient competency in his possession to render his future free from care. He has always been a hard worker and having no one but himself to provide for, being free from the dluties and responsililities of matrimony, he gets all the enjoyment out of life there is in it. assists his neighbors and friends in their efforts to promote the general welfare and uses his influence for the right as he sees it and understands it. He is a gentleman of pleasing address, and those who know him best speak in high terms of his many estimable qualities of mind and heart and of his sterling worth as a neighbor and citizen. NATHANIEL WHITNEY. Conspicuous among the leading farmers and representative citizens of Isabella township is Nathaniel Whitney, who was born in Northumberland county, Ontario, on November 22, I859. He was reared to farm labor in his native province, received a good common school education and at the age of twenty left home and came to Evart, Osceola county, Michigan, where he spent one year, devoting the spring and summer months to farm work and the winter season to labor in the woods. At the expiration of the period indicated he came to-Isabella county and, being pleased with the appearance of the country, purchased forty acres of land in section 21, Isabella township, after which for several winters he worked in various lumber camps, while devoting the other months to clearing his land, fitting it for cultivation. Without narrating in detail Mr. Whitney's efforts in making a farm and establishing a home in the forest of Isabella township, suffice it to state that, by well directed industry and good judgment, he finally succeeded in clearing the greater part of his original purchase and erecting substantial improvements thereon, besides adding to his realty at intervals until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as the county can boast, one hundred ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 669 and fifty acres being in cultivation, all but fifty acres of the latter representing the labor of his own hands. In I908 he built an imposing modern dwelling, the upright thirty by sixteen feet, the wing twenty-two by sixteen feet, the edifice being complete in all cf its parts, fully equipped with conveniences and well calculated to make life within its walls comfortable and desirable. After remodeling the barn and converting it into a first-class structure, he erected two other similar buildings, seventy by thirty-six feet and thirty by forty feet, respectively, besides enclosing his place with fine wire fences, and greatly enhancing the productiveness of the soil by a successful system of drainage. As a farmer Mr. Whitney ranks among the most enterprising of his neighbors similarly engaged and since becomiing a resident of Isabella county his success has been continuous, being at this tine the possessor of sufficient means to make him independent and to provide amply for his children when they see fit to sever home ties and begin life for themselves. A Democrat in politics and having implicit faith in the plrinciples of his party, he is not a partisan, and has never sought nor desired office, being content with the quiet andl successful life of a tiller of the soil and satisfied with the simple title of citizen. In religion he is a Romlan Catholic, holding membership with the church in Mt. Pleasant and contributing, lilerally to its material support, also to the various henevolences and other lines of good work under the auspices of the parish. The domestic life of Mr. \Vhitney (dates from May, 1889, at which time was solemnized his marriage with Laura Fortin, \-who was born in Northumberland, Ontario, November T9, 1872, being a daughter of Joseph and Bridget (O'Donnell) Fortin, both living in Isabella township at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. \Vhitney are the parents of the following children, Joseph, William, Hlelena, Eugene, Loretta, E'dwin, Marie and Beatrice, all living and commanding the esteem ald confidence of their friends and associates. WILLIAM J. GRATIAM. The gentleman whose career is briefly sketched in the following lines has achieved success such as falls to the lot of few, and as a farmer, stock raiser and citizen he occupies a prominent place in the community and commands in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow men. William J. Graham is a native of Canada, born in Peel county, Ontario, in July, I853. At the tender age of one and a half years death deprived him of a 670 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. father's care and guidance and from that time until reaching the years of maturity he spent the greater part of the time with his brothers and mother on the Canadian homestead, the meanwhile obtaining a practical education in the public schools and becoming familiar with the rugged duties of rural life. In the winter of 1874-5, when twenty years of age, he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land in section IO, Isabella township, and during the next few years applied himself to the clearing and developing of the same, making a number of substantial improvements in the meantime and meeting with gratifying success as a tiller of the soil. Since taking possession of his land he has reduced, one hundred and eight acres to cultivation and added good buildings, including a commodious and comfortable modern dwelling erected in I884, a large barn, forty-four by sixty feet, with basement, the following year, besides five hundred and fifty rods of wire fencing, which, with other improvements, have greatly augmented the value of the farm, which is now conceded to be one of the best in the township. Mr. Graham is a progressive farmer, being familiar with the nature of soils and their adaptability to the different crops grown in this latitude and by judicious rotation and careful tillage he never fails to realize ample returns from his time and labor. In connection with general agriculture he pays considerable attention to live stock of the finer breeds, his horses being high grade and among the best in his section of the country and his cattle, of which he keeps quite a number, including from eight to ten fine milch cows, having long been noted for their many points of superiority and excellence. By his industry, energy and thrift, backed by sound judgment and rare foresight, he has so managed his interests as to acquire a handsome competency and he is today among the most successful farmers of the county with a sufficiency of this world's goods in his possession to make him independent. Mr. Graham was married October 26, 1882, to Minnie McNeill, who was born in Middlesex county, Ontario, February 7, 1862, being a daughter of John McNeill and Jannet Cameron, both natives of that province. These parents were born in the year I820 and 1825, respectively, married in Ontario and spent their lives principally in Middlesex county, where they also passed to their final reward. The father died in London in 1892, the mother came to this country two years before she died, in March, I9Io. In her youth Mrs. Graham attended the public schools of her native county and later pursued her studies in London, Canada, and was afterward graduated from the high school of Strathroy, Ontario. In I880 she taught the school in district No. 3, Isabella township, and the following year had sole charge of ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 671 the Nippesing Indian schools on the reservation in this county, in which work she was associated four years wvith Mrs. J. R. Robinson and Miss Snyder, who taught at the other two Indian schools on this reservation. During her five years' experience in the schools of Isabella county, before and after her marriage, Mrs. Graham achieved marked distinction for the thoroughnesss of her work and the reputation she enjoyed as one of the most successful teachers the county has ever known was fairly and honorably won. She is a laly of fine mind and varied culture and her beautiful life and character have made her popular among her many friends and associates. She belongs with her husband to the order of Gleaners and is also a member of the Pomona Society of the Grange, which she and Mr. Graham helped to organize and to the success of which they have largely contributed. Mr. Graham is a Democrat in politics and an influential worker in his party. He served four years as township clerk, two years as township treasurer and proved a very capable and popular official. He enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, is a public-spirited man in the most liberal meaning of the term and in every relation of life his conduct has been such as to commend him to the favorable consideration of his fellow men. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have six children, the oldest being Linna, who was born April 9, 1885, and is now the wife of John W. Kramer, of Isabella township. Laura, born December 19, 1887, was graduated from the Central Normal Institute at Mt. Pleasant, after which she taught three years in Michigan and in I909 wvent to the state of \ashington, where she is now engaged in educational work. M. Kenneth was born November 24, 1889, and lives with his parents. After completing the common school course he entered a business college at Lansing, from which he was graduated in due time with an honorable record. Jeannette, born June io, 189J, is still at home, as are also Martha I., who was born December 24, 1892, and IH. Kendall, whose birth occurred on the 7th of August, 1902. GEORGE B. STICKLE. George B. Stickle, farmer and fruit grower, as well as one of the enterprising men of the township honored by his citizenship, is a native of Ontari Canada. and a son of A. N. and Elizabeth Stickle. The former, born in 186, died in 1893; the latter, whose birth occurred in 18I7, departed this life in the year 1906. George B. Stickle was born December 6, 1839, in Hastings county, Ontario, attended the schools of Sydney township in his youth and 672 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. grew to maturity familiar with the duties of farm life. He was reared to habits of industry, grew up with a proper appreciation of what the world expected of a young man and, like a dutiful son, remained at home assisting his father on the farm until old enough to make plans for his future course of action. Having decided to devote his life to agriculture, he engaged in the same on attaining his majority and continued in his chosen calling in his native country until his removal, in 1878, to the state of Michigan. In the meantime Mr. Stickle took to himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Elizabeth Munn, to whom he was united in the bonds of wedlock in 1841 and with whom he traveled life's highway until her death, in the year 1872. Later he married his second wife, whose maiden name was Sara Thorne and whose birth occurred on February 19, 1843. On coming to this state, Mr. Stickle located near the city of Flint, where he farmed during the ensuing three years, and then moved to Isabella county and took charge of a farm in Chippewa township, on which he lived for a period of two years, at the expiration of which time he purchased forty acres of land in section 7, Isabella township, on which no improvements of any kind had been made, the land being thickly wooded and presenting any but an alluring prospect for a home. With his characteristic energy and industry. Mr. Stickle addressed himself to the task of clearing and imnproving his land and in the course of a few years had the largest part in cultivation and substantial buildings erected. He continued his labors as the time passed until he now1 has one of the most desirable little farms in Isabella township, with improvements comparing with the best in the locality, his dwelling, a fine brick edifice, erected in I904, being lodern and a model of architecture and convenience. and his barn a commodious structure in size forty by sixty-eight feet, contrasting favorably with any other building of the kind in the township. His other improvements, which include a wind mill, three hundred fifty rods of wire fence and five thousand tile, have added very materially to the value of the farm. Recently Mr. Stickle has been giving considerable attention to fruit growing, for which his lands seems peculiarly adapted, and he now has a half acre of trees that yield abundantly every year and another orchard of one and a half- acres, from which he will soon be gathering fruit from which he will doubtless derive handsome profits. In his political views Mr. Stickle is a Republican with Prohibition tendencies and of late years he has taken an active part in opposing the liquor traffic, which he considers the crying evil of the times and an ulcer on the body politic to be gotten rid of only by drastic legislation. In matters relig ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 673 iolS he is a Methodist and for three years he served as trustee of Center church in Isabella township, also helped build the present house of worship. He has always been interested in the progress of agriculture and to this end united with the Grange some years ago and is now a zealous and influential worker in that excellent organization. He held the position of school treasurer fifteen years, aside from which he never sought official preferment nor aspired to public recognition. Mr. Stickle's first marriage was blessed with two children, namely: Arthur, \ho was born November 4, I863, in Canada, and who married Anna Doolittle. of that country, and at the present time lives in the city of Toronto: Olive. horn June 28, 1872, is the wife of J. K. Johnson and lives at Rosebush, this county. I lis present wife has presented him with one child, a daughter by the name of Frankie, whose birth occurred on February 4, I877, and who is now the wife of Frank Johnson, of Isabella township. JOHN \VALTON. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the leading farmers of Isabella township, while his fame as a )breeder and raiser of fine stock is not only state wide, but extends to every part of the Union. As a man and citizen he is also well known and since becoming a resident of the county in which he now lives he has been actively identified with its agricultural interests and foremost in promoting means and measures for the social and moral advancement of the community. John \'alton was born November 2, 1852, in North Middlesex county, Ontario, and is a son of Nicholas and Sarah (Hughes) \Valton, the former born April 22, 1826, in England, the latter in \Vales in the year 1830. The mother departed this life in Isabella county, Michigan, in 1889, being survived bv the father, who is now\ living in Isabella township. John Walton spent his boyhood in his native county, attended the public schools of the same and grew to maturity amid the active duties and wholesome discipline of the farm. While still young, lie began paying attention to live stock, his father having been a successful raiser of the same, and on attaining his majority he decided to make stock raising his vocation. In 1874, when twenty-two years old. he married Jamesena Craig, of Ontario, and two years later, 1876, came to Isabella township and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 8, all in the woods except one acre (43) 674 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which had been practically cleared. Going in debt for tle greater part of his land and obliged to pay the exorbitant rate of twelve per cent. for money, he sold eighty acres, but later repurchased it and, in order to free himself from debt, subsequently reduced his farm to its present area of sixty acres, which is well named "Phoenix Stock Farm." Mr. Walton has been an energetic worker, a successful farmer and in the matter of improvements has kept pace with the most enterprising and progressive of his fellow agriculturists of the township in which he lives. le has greatly advanced the productiveness of his land by tile drainage, of which he now has over three hundred rods, also four hundred and eighty rods of woven wire fence, while his buildings, including a comfortable modern dwelling and a large barn, forty by fifty-three feet in size, and a barn twenty-four by thirty feet (the above barns being built on stone and cement walls eight feet high with stabling underneath), together with the usual outbuildings, are ul) to date and compare favorably with the best in his neighborhood. Impressed with the idea that stock farming would prove more satis factory and remunerative than the mere cultivation of the soil, Mr. Walton early turned his attention to sheep and ever since becoming a citizen of Isabella county he has made a specialty of the Shropshire and Leicester sheep, in the raising of which he has achieved almost national repute. lie has exhibited his animals at a number of state fairs and stock shows throughout the country and has taken more prizes for high grade Leicester sheep than any other man in the United States, a fact of which he feels deservedly proud. The high reputation of his animals creating a good demand for them among the leading sheep raisers of the country, he has sold in nearly every state of the Union, and to him also belongs the credit of having won five of the eight champion cups awarded at the Michigan state fair in the city of Detroit for the best ram and ewe on exhibition. But it is not by sheep alone that he has acquired an enviable reputation as a stock raiser, having been almost as successful in the matter of swine of the Berkshire breed, which he has been raising for the last thirty years, and from the sales of which he has acquired no small share of the comfortable fortune now in his possession. lHe also takes great interest in poultry and keeps a large number of very fine Plymouth Rock fowls, which have won their due share of prizes wherever exhibited. Mr. Walton manifests pardonable pride in his success as a raiser of fine domestic animals and poultry and the high reputation which he now enjoys has been fairly and honorably earned. He deserves great credit for his efforts to improve the live stock of his own and other states, and his example is being imitated by many of his fellow farmers of Isabella county, who have ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 675 learned by experience that it is just as easy to raise first-class aninlals as poor and indifferent breeds and much more remunerative. Mr. Walton's first wife, to whom reference is made in a preceding paragraph, was born in December, 1853, and died July 28, 1878. She bore her husband the following children: Sara J. married Emory First, and lives in Isabella township; James N., a farmer of the same township, is also married, his wife having formerly been Miss Swinelehaust; Florin J., who is single, is a railway engineer with his headquarters at Saginaw, this state; John WV., also unmarried, is in the express business at Seattle, Washington; Mina Bell, born October To, 1887, (ied Aiuglst 8, i89o; New\ton Edwin. born September 29, 1894. (lied September 20, 896; Ira C. who is in the mail service and unmarried and lives at Rosebusl, Michigan. Mi. Wltol, in October. 1902, married TMrs. Jcinie L. Carpenter, who was l)orn June 24, I860, and is the daughter of Albert and Emily Iarmouth, the forimer of New York state and the latter of Canada, the union being without issue. In his fraternal relations, Mr. \\alton is an Odd lellow, belonging to Rosebush Lodge No. 519, and( also holds membership in tlhe Grange. Politically he votes with the Prohibition party and religiously is a Baptist, in which church he was a trustee for twelve years, besides serving as elder and filling several minor positions. EDWART) DU BOIS. In point of age the subject of this review is among the oldest residents of Isabella county, eighty-one years having dissolved in the mists of the past since he first saw the light of day in his native land among the romantic mountains and valleys of Switzerland. Born in the canton of Berne, that country. in 1830, he attended school iduring the years of his boyhood and on laying aside his studies learned the butcher trade. which he followed near the place of his birth until 1854, when he bade farewell to home and friends to carve out a career in a new destiny in the great American republic beyond the sea. Mr. Du Bois was induced to come to this country in the hope of securing land, as the crowded condition in Switzerland rendered it impossible for a man to obtain anything beyond a mere livelihood. Landing at New York after a long but uneventful voyage, he made his way direct to Wayne county, Ohio, where five months later he.was united in marriage with Marie Burkhart, also a native of the canton of Berne, where her birth occurred on the 2d day of November, 1832. FIor several years following his marriage he worked as a 676 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. farm laborer and with money thus earned subsequently purchased forty acres of land in the above county which during the ten years ensuing he brought to a high state of cultivation and otherwise improved. Disposing of the farm at the expiration of that time, he moved, in the fall of I864, to Isabella county, Michigan, and purchased onre hundred and sixty acres in section T2, Lincoln township, which he at once proceeded to improve and on which he has since lived and prospered, though for some years practically retired from active life. Mr. Du Bois settled in the woods of Isabella county and the splendid farm which has been his home for so many years is the result of his unaided toil and thrift. THe has been an industrious, hard-working man and by economy and good management succeeded in acquiring a competency besides providing comfortably for the children who have left the parental roof to establish themselves elsewhere. In connection with the tilling of the soil he has paid considerable attention to breeding Durham sattle and other high grade live stock and from the latter source much of his income has been derived. Believing in improvements, he has not been sparing in the expenditure of his means in this direction, his buildings of all kinds being among the best in the neighborhood, including a commodious barn, forty by eighty feet in dimensions and admirably adapted to the purposes such structures are designed to subserve, also a number of well constructed sheds for live stock, besides a substantial and comfortable dwelling and various other improvements, all of which bespeak the presence of a master of his vocation, who takes pride in his home and strives to make it the happiest place on earth to its occupants. The Du Bois farm lies in one of the finest agricultural districts of the county. He has added very materially to its productiveness by a judicious system of tile drainage, of which there is now considerably in excess of one mile, and the two miles of fine fencing has also increased the value of the place. While retaining a warm affection for the romantic land of his nativity, Mr. I)u Bois is loyally American as one to the manor born, being an ardent admirer of the free institutions under which the greater part of his life has been spent and his success achieved and a devoted and public spirited citizen of the state in which he resides. A Democrat in politics and interested in the success of his party, he is not a partisan nor an aspirant for office, being content with the plain, satisfactory life of a tiller of the soil and satisfied with the simple title of citizen. In matters religious the German Reformed church holds his creed, to which body his wife also belongs. There being no church of this denomination in their vicinity, they attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Shepherd. ISABELLA COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 677 Twelve children have been born to *Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois, Mary, Anna an(t Lena dying in infancy. Those living are Edward, Emma, Fred,.\lbert and Alice, twins; Celia, Marie, Ella Louise and Carrie Elizabeth. All of the above children are highly esteemed and command the confidence of the social circles in which they move. Those who have left the parental roof are well settled in life ani highly respected in the various localities in which they reside. ROBERT' DUNN. The subject of this sketch was horn in Kent county, Ontario, May 7, I86i. and is a representative of two old and respected families of that province. Ilis father, who also bore the name of Robert Dunn, was born in 1819, his mother, Agnes Cameron, in the year 1829. These parents were married in Canada and spent the greater part of their lives in Ontario, the father dying in 1893, and the mother in I899. Robert Dunn, of this review, was reared amid the bracing breezes and wholesome influences of the country, early formed those habits of industry and sobriety which make for clean life and honorable manhood and by attending the schools of his native county at intervals during his minority obtained a fair education in the common branches of study. Until his twenty-first year Mr. Dunn remained in Ontario, but shortly after attaining his majority he came to Isabella count\y, Michigan, with his brothers and widowed mother and settled on forty acres of land in section 5, Isabella township, which he purchased and partially improved. Later lie bought his present farm of eighty acres in section 8, twenty acres of which he cleared in addition to what was already in cultivation, there being now but five acres of unimpl)roved land on the place. Mr. Dunn has labored to advantage and managed well so that he is now in comfortable circumstances with a good farm, a fine home and sufficient means at his command to assure him a prosperous future. In connection with the tilling of the soil, he sells wire fence, in which line of business he has been quite successful, and he is also devoting considerable attention to horticulture, having already planted two hundred fruit trees of the finest varieties, besides catalpas, which in due time will furnish ample fuel and more than sufficient fence posts for the needs of the farm. His buildings are substantial and in good repair, the barn, a commodious structure thirty-eight by sixty-eight feet in size with basement, being among the best in the neighborhood. The residence is comfortable and con 678 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. veniently arranged and the five hundred rods of fine wire fence now on the place, together with the excellent condition of the soil, bear evidence of the care and attention which he devotes to his farming interests. Mr. Dunn is independent in politics, notwithstanding which he takes an active part in public affairs and from time to time has been honored by his fellow citizens with important official trusts. From 1891 to 1894, inclusive, he served as highway commissioner. in 1909 was overseer of roads in his township and at the present time he is holding the office of township treasurer, in all of which trusts he proved capable and painstaking and lost sight of self interests in his efforts to promote the public good. He is an influential miember of the Grange, in which he held the office of master for six years and is also a leading spirit in the Kniights of the Maccabees lodge at Roselbsh, to the success of which he has in a large measure contributed. Mr. Dunn was married in his native province to Mliss Elizabeth \Valton, who was born in Middlesex county, Ontario, November 2, 1863. HTer father, Nicholas Walton, was born Tune 21, 1826, in England and her mother, Sarah Hughes, whose birth occurred in 1830, was a native of \Vales. These parents spent their wedded life in Canada. The mother died ill Isabella county, Michigan, in I889; the father, who is still living, mllakes his home with the sub)ject. Mr. and Mrs. l)unn have seven children, viz: Ethel Maud, born June 17, 1885, married Loren Dowlney and lives in Traverse City; lillmo B. was born August 3, 1887, and lives in California; TTilliard 0., also a resident of the latter state, was born August 9, 1889: \\Vorth, born September 8, I892, is still with his parents, as are Evit D., born May 12, 1894, Murrill, born September 29, 1897, and Herman A., whose lay of lirth was the 9th of August, I900. ALBERT MTLIER. The subject of this sketch has had a varied and interesting career and the position he now holds among the leading citizens of his adopted county speaks well for his intelligence and sterling worth, also for the enterprise and high moral purposes displayed in all of his undertakings. Albert Miller, son of Orlen and Ermmaline Miller. was born in Palmyra, New York, on the I4th day of January, I847. His father was lx)rn December 27, I81o, married Emmaline Bristol in 1841 and departed this life ten years after the latter date; Mrs. Miller, whose birth occurred April 4, 1824, died on September 30, 1887. At the age of one and a half years, the subject was taken to Battle ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIIGAN. 679 Creek, Michigan, where his father (lied in 185I, and one year later he was taken to Cleveland, Ohio, by an uncle, with whom lie remained for a short time. Leaving the home of his relatives, he lived for a time near the above city with one Loren Gilbert, who soon moved to Dorr, Allegan county, Michiganl, taking the lad with him. Yotiung Miller remained nine years at that place and then joined his mother at Bedford, this state, where he spent the following two years at farm labor. On September 2, I864, w\hen seventeen years old, he enlisted in Company I), Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, \ith which he served until the close of the Civil war, his regiment forming a part of the army under General Sherman and taking part in a number of battles in Georgia and other states. In one engagement he was wounded in the left shoulder and another ball grazed his head. He went with Sherman from Chattanooga to the sea and at the close of the war took part in the Grand Review at W\ashingtoin, receiving his discharge in April, i865. By reason of exposure while in the service lie contracted an illness from which lie has never fully recovered. In 1870 Mr. Miller married Olive B. Van Buren, of Battle Creek, Michigan, after which lie went to northwestern Missouri, and during the two years ensuing farmied near the town of Princeton. At the end of that time he moved to Trenton in a neigl:lhoring county, where he remained one and a half years, and then returned to Battle Creek, thence after a few iimonths moved to the vicinity of L.ansing, whiere for one year lie operated his uncle's farm as a renter. Leaviing that part of the state. he spent the three years followiiig at Grand Ledge and at the expiration of that time came to Isabella county and bought forty acres of land in Isabella township, on which he erected, the ensuing fall, a log house for the reception of his family. Mr. Miller came to this county with but mneagre mealns, the sum total of his possessions consisting of two yoke of cattle, a wagon a few implements and one dollar and fifty cents in cash. I e sold one yoke (of oxen to buy his land and worked by the month to pay the interest on the same, which at the rate of ten per cent. required a goodly share of his earnings. \With commendable courage, however, he resolutely faced the future and by continuous and well directed effort finally succeelded in wilping out his indebtedness and getting his farm cleared and on a paying basis. It would lie interesting to follow Mr. Miller's struggles and final triumphs in detail, but the limits of this sketch forbid more than a passing notice. Suffice it to state that the many difficulties and obstacles in his way were overcome in due time and he was enabled not only to provide comfortably for his family, but also to add to his real estate by the purchase of another forty acres which. cleared and otherwise improved, makes his present farm 68o ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of eighty acres one of the best and most desirable in the township. The original log cabin and stable of similar construction have been replaced by fine modern buildings, the present residence, erected in 1895, being comfortable, commodious and well suited for the purposes for which it is intended to subserve. His barn, forty by fifty feet in size, was built in 1898, the other improvements, consisting of four hundred rods of wire fence, ample artificial drainage and one of the interesting features of the farm is a large flowing well which discharges its contents at the rate of fifteen quarts every ten seconds and which is highly prized as an unfailing source of as fine water as the state of Michigan can afford. Mr. Miller is uncompromisingly loyal to the Republican party and takes an active interest in promoting its success, being judicious in counsel and untirirg in his work. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Mt. Pleasant, and nothing affords him greater interest and pleasure than to meet with his comrades of other times and recount the thrilling experiences of their iron days of endeavor. Mrs. Miller was born at Battle Creek, Michigan, September 2, 1845, and is a daughter of Ephraim andl Olive (Myers) Van Buren, who were born in the years of 18I8 and I824, respectively. The mother died in t8(0. and the father is still living and making his home in Isabella township. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Miller consists of the following children: Frank W. married Louise Edmunds and lives in Lansing, this state; Clarenes, whose wife was formerly Carrie Johnson, is a farmer of Isabella township; Birdie is the wife of John Lowrey and lives in the same township; Olive D., who married Henry Block, resides in Nottawa township, and Jennie B., now Mrs. Chauncey Thayer, lives in Mt. Pleasant; Edwin Van Buren, who is at home at the present time. WILBERT \V. BROPHY. Those who belong to the respectable middle classes of society, being early taught the necessity of relying upon their own exertions, will be more apt to acquire that information and those business habits which alone can fit them for the discharge of life's duties, and, indeed, it has long been a notable fact that our great men in nearly all walks of life in America spring from this class. Wilbert W. Brophy, well-known citizen of Denver township, Isabella county, is a worthy representative of this class from which spring the true noblemen of the republic. Wilbert W. Brophy was born on April 22, i858, in Columbus township, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN, 68i St. Clair county, Michigan. He is the son of John and Cynthia (Youngs) Brophy, who came to Michigan from Ontario in 1855 and settled in Columbus township, St. Clair county, their present home. lie grew to maturity in his native community and attended school there, assisting his father with the work on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, then, in 1877, lie came to Isabella county and worked here that fall, and the following spring he bought forty acres of good land in section 19, Denver township, most of which was timbered, all but six or eight acres. There was a small log house on the place when lie purchased it, but there were few other improvements. lTe did not use this, but erected a board shanty, sixteen by twenty-four feet. Ile did not settle on this place until after his marriage, having, up to that event, worked at various jols, principally doing farm work in summer with his brother, Norman, who resided in Isabella county at the time, and working in the lumbler rwoods in Clare county in the winlter months. When Mr. Brophy first came to Denver township there were but seven white men besides himself living here. He assisted in cutting out many miles of roads andl endured many hardships incident to pioneer life. Ile married Elizaleth Gardiner at Mt. Pleasant, on March 8. 1882. She was born March 11, 1856, in New Boyne, Leeds county, Ontario, from wchich country she moved with her parents, Joseph and Alicia (Rogers) Gardiner. They settled at Vassar, Tuscola county, Michigan, in 1867, and in April, I876, they renmoved to Isabella county. About three years after his marriage Mr. Brophy built a good house on his place, but, renting his farm, moved onto his father's place in St. Clair countv and farmed there three years, then came back and settled on his present place and has been here ever since. In the fall of 1890 he added forty acres, which joinedl his original forty and he now has eighty acres. He cleared most all of his second forty. He has a substantial and convenient dwelling and a good larn which he erected himself; he has made many other substantial improvements on his farm, including the laying of some two hundre(l rods of tile. Since erecting his dwelling lhe has veneered it with brick, making it very attractive in appearance I-e has a basement under all of his house, and a flowing well supplies his need in this direction. He has two acres of bearing apples, some grapes, plums and cherries. Hle carries on general farming, raising wheat, oats, beans, corn, beets, hay. Sixty-seven of his eighty acres are cleared and under a high state of cultivation. He keeps some good live stock, horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. He has put up five hundred and fifty rods of woven wire fencing. and he uses up-to-date farming machinery. He has one of the best farms in this township. 682 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. Politically, Mr. Brophy is a Republican. lie attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, Eldorado Tent No. 559, at Rosebush. To Mr. and Mrs. Brophy one child has been born, whom they nanled Irene Blanche, her birth occurring in i886. She married Arthur Mutersbaugh, and is living in Denver township. They are the parents of tswo children. Mr. Brophy is known to be an honest and neighborly mnan, good to his family and his friends, consequently he has the good will of all. ANTHONY W. MILLER. This well-to-do farmer and representative citizen is a native of Ohio, born in Tuscarawas county, June 7, I850. His parents, Barrett andl Margaret Miller, were also natives of that state and spent their lives in its borders, both dying in the county of Defiance, where they had made their home for a number of years. Anthony W. Miller is the oldest of a family of nine children. which fact accounts for much of the labor of the farm falling to him at quite an early age. He was reared on the homestead in his native county and remailned with his parents until about twenty years of age, when lie started out to make his own way, with Michigan as his destination. He arrived in Mecosta county, this state, in 1870 and for some time thereafter worked in a timbler camp, later discontinuing that kind of work to enter the employ of a railway company in Allegan county. After spending four winters in the latter capacity, he returned to Ohio where, on March 31, 1874, he was married to L.ouisa B. Clark, the ceremony taking place in Paulding county, where the bride's birth occurred on December 4, 1849. During the five years following his marriage, Mr. Miller devoted his attention to farming in the counties of Paulding and Defiance, at the expiration of which time he returned to Michigan and purchased eighty acres of land in Rolland township, Isabella county, on which he settled in Felbruary, I879. and on which he has since lived and prospered. Mr. Miller's land was wild when he moved to it and much hard work was required to remove the timber and stumps and get the soil in proper condition for tillage. By dint of long, continual work, however, the forest gradually disappeared and in due time good improvements were made, fine orchards and shade trees planted, to say nothing of the many other evidences of prosperity which now make the farm one of the fitest in the township, and his home second to few in the entire county. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 683 In the l)rosecution of his labors he has manifested not only commendable zeal but judicious management and as a tiller of the soil he is up to date, progressive in his ideas and ranks among the most enterprising men of his calling in the community where he resides. A gentleman of good tastes as well as of industrious habits, he has not been sparing of his means in beautifying and adding to the attractiveness of his home, as the appearance of the modern dwelling with its surrounding of smooth lawn, grateful shade trees, fine shrubbery and other pleasing features abundantly attest. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics and as such has been elected to various local offices from time to time, having served four years as township treasurer and for more than a quarter century he has held thle position of school assessor. He belongs to the Indepenlent Order of Odd Fellows and the order of the Gleaners and, with his w\ife, holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which at intervals lie has been honored with various trusts. Mr. and Mrs. Miller;re the parents of seven living children, whose nanlcs are as follows: Nellie, wife of N. V. Turney; Flora, who married F. A. Oswalt; Carrie, now Mrs. James W\elch; Lena, wife of 0. \\. Swisher, and three who are members of the hoime circle, Anna. Rachel and (Grover. CLXlD'nT TDANN'ETT ESTEE. A.mong the enterprising and successful young business menl of Isabella countyv none stand higher in the esteem of his fellow\ citizens than the gentleman whose name lleads this sketcli. Persistent industry, well-directed effort and solund business judgment have been the concomitants which have contributed to the success that has crowned his labors, and his sterling integrity and upright life have gained for him universal respect. Claude Hannett Estec was born on.March 18, 1879, in Coe township, this cotlnt!. HTe is the son of Thomas Ilannett andl Caroline (Burlingame) Hannett. NWhen a baby he vent to live with L. D. Estee and wife, who resided vest of Shel)herd. Ile attended the district schools until he was fourteen years of age and worked some on the farm. He went to the high school at Shepherd one year, and taught school part of a year. He worked in a grain elevator at intervals, Mr. Estec having purchased the elevator belonging to Hannett & Estee. Mr. Estee went to school at Big Rapids after his first experience at teaching; he pursued a commercial course for a time, then re 684 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. turned to his home and entered into partnership with Mr. Estee, when he was twenty-one years of age. He had a good education, especially in a business line. Thus well equipped, he entered his life work in the fall of 901o. He assumed complete management of the business upon the death of Mr. Estee on September 6, 1907. However, he did not have entire charge of the elevator until the following January. He has greatly increased the business and under his capable and judicious management it has become widely known in this locality. Claude II. Estee has added wholesale and retail flour and feed; he also buys produce from the farmers, which they bring him, often from remote parts of the county, and he is also successfully operating a retail yard, handling coal, cement, etc. He has a very satisfactory and extensive patronage throughout the country, and he is regarded as a business man of honest principles and one who believes in a square deal. On June 26, I903, Mr. Estee was married to Nora Bent, in Shepherd, Michigan. She was born on July 20, 1879, in Waterloo, Jackson county, Michigan. One child, bearing the name of Helen Elizabeth, now five years of age, has graced this union. As a business man Mr. Estee has been very successful. He is also a stockholder and director in the Commercial Bank of Shepherd. lie takes a great interest in fraternal matters, belonging to the order of Free and Accepted Masons, ILodge No. 288, of Salt River, Mt. Pleasant Chapter No. I I, Royal Arch Masons, and the Knights Templar Commnandery No. 40 in Ithaca; also the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Detroit. GEORGE A. DRALLETT. Among the well known business men of the thriving town of Weidman is George A. Drallett, who in several lines of trade has built up quite a lucrative patronage and is now proprietor of one of the largest and most successful commercial establishments in the place. Mr. Drallett is a native of Washington county, New York, and dates his birth from the year I86o. When only three months old he was taken to Eaton county, Michigan, where his parents lived for a number of years and it was in that part of the state that he grew to manhood and received his education. He was reared to farm labor and on reaching the years of maturity turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in connection with which he also bought and sold considerable live stock, the latter enterprise taking the greater part of his time until his thirty-second year, taking horses north and exchanging for cattle. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 685 In 1872 Mr. I)rallett went to Kalamazoo county, where he remained one year, going thence to Stanton, this state, where he continued two years. when he opened a meat market at Weidman, which town has since been his place of residence. After running the market for some time, and seeing a favorable opening for other lines of business, lie added a stock of groceries which found ready sale, and a little later began dealing in boots and shoes, gradually increasing his stock until in due time he found himself proprietor of a large general store, the success of which more than realized his highest expectatiolns. As time passed he turned his attention to the buying and shipping of wool and the handling of everything in the way of produce the farmers of the vicinity raised to sell, his establishment being highly prized by them by reason of bringing a good market almost to their doors. Having had considerable experience with live stock, he soon began buying and shipping cattle and hogs and hardly a week passes that lie does not ship from one to two car loads of stock to the leading markets of the country. Mr. Drallett possesses unusual energy and judgment, and since locating at \\eidman his business interests have brought himn prominently before the people as osne eminently worthy of the success which he has achieved. He carries a complete assortment of all kinds of merchandise so as to meet the demands of the general trade and as a buyer and shipper he has built.up a business of large magnitude, as great perhaps as that of any other man in the county similarly engaged. He has done much to promote the material growth and general prosperity of Weidman and give it its present reputation as a thriving business center, and has also given his influence and assistance to further all imovemeniits having for their object the social and moral advancemeiit of the community. Notwithstanding the pressing claimis of his variouts business interests, lie finds time to devote to public matters, having served two terms as supervisor of Nottawa township, and lie is now on his second term as school treasurer. He votes the Republican ticket on state and national questions. but in township and county affairs lie is independent of party control. Mr. Drallett has accunlmulated a handsome competency since emblarking in business at Weidman and is one of the well-to-do men of the place, owning in addition to good town property one hundred and forty acres of land in Sherman township, which he is having cleared for the purpose of pasturage. He takes great interest in secret fraternal work, holding menibership with the Masonic order, in which he served as junior and senior warden, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the 686 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. chairs. Mr. Drallett was happily married to Nina Dunn. who has borne him three children, namely: Winnie, wife of Adam Scott, of Sherman township; Miles married Albertice K. holmes and lives in that township also. and Mitchell, who, with his parents, constitute the home circle at the present time. JOHN BEUTLER. Tmp)rovement and progress may well he said to form the kcvnote of the character of John Beutler. a well known and influential farmer and stock raiser of Sherman township, and he has not only been interested in the work of advancement in individual affairs lnut his influence is felt in upbuilding the community. He has been a very industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, more prosperous, more sedate and with a larger number of friends than the preceding. Mr. Beutler was born at Brighton, Livingston county, Michigan, August 30, I864. He is the son of John Beutler, Sr., who was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1823. He was drafted in the army, but on account of a crippled foot was not compelled to serve. He married Caroline Fuss, who was born in the same locality in Germany, a year after his birth, and they knew each other about two years before their marriage. The elder Beutler was a journeyman blacksmith, and while thus engaged met his wife. He was a skilled blacksmith and made good money at it. He came from Prussia to:\merica in 1849, and located in Livingston county, Michigan, his wife, whom he had married in 1847, following him here a year later. Mr. Beutler had been following his trade in Hamburg, Livingston county, two years, then moved to Brighton, a few miles from there, where he maintained a blacksmith shop for ten years, then moved to Weberville, Ingham county, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, also ran a blacksmith shop, hiring the work done on his farm. He was there three years, then sold his farm and moved to Handy, Livingston county, where he had a shop and bought five acres of land. Remaining there five years, he then moved to Amsden, Montcalm county, where he lived two years, then to Wood's Corner, Ionia county, where he also had a shop two years. He came to Isabella county on January 9, I877, and bought sixty acres of land in Sherman township, and his oldest son now lives on this place. He bought eighty acres more and on a part of this his son, John, of this review, now lives. The father was also engaged in the lumber business ISABEILLA COUNTY, MICI-IGAN. 687 for a time, being agent for a company in Saginaw. hTis death occurred in 1897, and the (leath of his wife occurred on February 12, I892. They both died at \Wooden's Mills, where their last home was. The following children were born to them: Fredericka, who married Robert Appleton, lives in New York; Herman, who married Mary Mull, lives in section 27, Sherman township, this county; Theresa, w\ho married John Hine, lives at Wooden's Mills; Matilda, who married Stephen Morey, lives in the state of Louisiana; John, of this review. John Beutler lived at a number of places before coming to Isabella county, being then thirteen years of age. He attended school in Sherman township, and from the age of sixteen to twenty he kept a store next to the Beutler dwelling, and got an excellent start for a boy. He remained at home until he \was twenty-two years of age. On May 5, i886, Mr. Beutler was married to Eliza Brooks, daughter of William and Nancy Brooks. She was born in Jay county, Indiana, September 20. 1867, and she moved to Isabella county about the same year that marked the advent of Mr. Beutler. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Blanche, born in 1887, lives at Beal City, Michigan, and is the wife of Doctor McRae; George, born in 1889, is living at home, assisting his father; Clyde ard Hervey, the former born in 1895 and the latter in I904, are both living at home. Mr. Beutler is the owner of three hundred acres of excellent farming land, forty acres of which formerly belonged to his father, as stated in a preceding paragraph. It was only half cleared and was not improved. After his marriage he lived in Manistee, Michigan, two years, working principally at the carpenter's trade, then he returned to Isabella county and worked in a lulmber mill one year, living on section 32. In the spring of 1890 he built a very substantial and convenient dwvelling on his place. IHe also built two good barns and other outbuildings, including a work-shop, under which is a cellar, also a tool house. He has a modern system of water works in his house, pumping his water by gas engine. He uses up-to-date farming implements, and his place indicates in every way that he is a twentieth-century agriculturist. He has stumped one hundred and twenty acres, on which were over five thousand stumps. ITe has five miles of stump fence, four miles of woven wire fence, and he has under cultivation at the present time one hundred and twenty-five acres, the rest being in pasture, and he has some firstgrowth timber. No small part of his income has been derived from handling various kinds of live stock, of which he is regarded as an excellent judge, keeping large droves of sheep and fine cattle, shorthorn Durhams, horses and 688 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. hogs. He has been an extensive potato raiser and has been very successful as a general farmer. In 1902 he raised three thousand and four hundred lbushels of potatoes, for which he received the suni of twenty-five hundred dollars. He averages raising two thousand bushels of potatoes annually. Hle has a small orchard of choice fruit. His place is one of the model farms of the county, is well kept, well improved and skillfully managed. Mr. Beutler is interested in the Rural Telephone Company, being president of the same, and its widespread popularity is due in a very large measure to his efficient management. He is also connected with the Weidman Imported Percheron Horse Company, which breeds horses extensively, and he is also interested in the Union Hall Company, being secretary and treasurer of the hall which this company erected in Sherman township, which is rented for various purposes. Mr. Beutler does his own carpentering, blacksmithing and Imason work. having full kits of tools used in these trades. He raises all kinds of small fruits and he raises on an average of twenty bushels per acre of rye. He uses clover as a fertilizer. Fraternally Mr. Beutler is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Wabano Lodge No. 376, of Weidman, also belongs to Lodge No. 800, IToor Arbor of Gleaners. Politically he is a Republican. ITe has held several school offices, was highway commissioner two terms, township supervisor one term and two years township treasurer. CHARLES T. RUSSELL. This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clearbrained men of high 'resolves and noble purposes, who give character and stability to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence and leadershippare easily discernible in the various enterprises that have added so greatly to the high reputation that Isabella county enjoys among her sister counties of this great commonwealth. Conspicuous among this class of men whose residence is in this county is the progressive citizen under whose nalme this article is written, and to a brief outline of whose career the biographer is herewith pleased to address himself; but only the most salient facts will be given, owing to the well known aversion of Mr. Russell to undue laudation and also because of the fact that his record is already familiar to all classes, being a lawyer of recognized ability and a public-spirited citizen. LIHARI.S T1. RSFA ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 689 Charles T. Russell was horn May 17, I853, at Grand Ledge. Eaton county, Michigan. His father was a farner and the son remained onl the home place, assisting with the general farm work and attended the district schools during the winter until he was twenty-one years of age. Later he attended school in Eaton, taking a general literary course. After becomning of age, he took up) the study of law, teaching school the meanwhile in the district schools for four winters, under a second grade certificate. He was very successful as a teacher, but he gave it up to continue the law, studying in anl office in Grand Ledge. ITe was admitted to the bar at Charlotte. Michigan, in I877, and he came to Mt. Pleasant in 1878 and began the practice of his profession alone, enjoying a very satisfactory clientele from the first. Taking an interest in public affairs, he was soon in line for positions of public trust, and in I882 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served in a very faithful manner for two terms. He was also president of the village for a time and was postmaster under Cleveland's administration. In 19o6 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Tsabella county a second time. Politically, he is a Democrat. Inl 1903 he was candidate for circuit judlge, but the party was in the minority that year and he went ldown with the rest of the ticket. Mr. Russell was married in March, I882, in Burlington, Vermont, to Nettie M. \hite, who lived near that city. She is the daughter of an excellent New England family, the \\hite family having Ieen in this country from early times and manyI of them have figured more or less prominently in various walks of life, like the Russell family. Two children have graced this union, Ruby, who is tcaclhing music in the publlic schools at San Bernardino, California, and \Walter \\., who is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is engaged in real estate hlusiniess in Mt. Pleasant. Of late!ears Mr. Russell has been a very busy man, his practice having gradually increasedl and he figures in many of the leading law suits in Isabella county. He is a strong advocate of improved educational conditions, and is interested in the normal school at Mt. Pleasant, in fact, assisted in founding the same. He has al\ways trun against adverse conditions politically, being on the minority side, but he lias stood firm with his party and served his constituents well in the offices entrusted to him. lTe has been of great assistance in inducing various industries to locate in Mt. Pleasant, and has done what he could in inmproving industrial conditions in this vicinity. -Te has been a member of the local school hoard for the past ten years, and is serving his fourth term as an officer of the board. He is a director in the Phoenix Preferred Accident Association of Detroit, and he is also a stockholder and director of the Gold Reserve Life Insurance Company of Mt. Pleasant. He is prominent (44) 690 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and active in lodge circles, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees, all of Mt. Pleasant. ROBERT HYSLOP. The subject of this skctch, a prosperous farmer of Nottawa township and a leading citizen of the community in which he resides, is a native of Memphis county, Ontario, born in the year 1862. John Hyslop, his father, was born in 1837, in Scotland, and is living at the present time in Pulaski county, Kentucky. ITis mother, previous to her marriage M\argaret Bain, was born May, 1847, and departed this life in the month of January, 19o0. John and Margaret H-yslop reared a family of seven children, namely: Mrs. Margery Ford, who died in 1902; Margaret, of Nottawa township; Jessie, wife of Fred Speck, of Mt. Pleasant; Robert, of this review; Mrs. Libbie Keller died in the year I9oo; Mrs. Stella Ash, who resides in Nottawa township, and Lima, who lives with the subject and helps operate the latter's hotel. \Vhen Robert Hyslop was eight months old his parents moved from Canada to McComb county, Michigan, where they remained about six years and then came to Isabella county, settling in Nottawa townshil, when there were only two or three families living in the township. The elder HTyslop bought eighty acres of wild land in section 29 and it was in the pioneer home in the midst of a dense forest that the subject spent his early life and grew to manhood. As soon as old enough he did his part in the clearing of the land and developing of the farm and, as opportunities afforded, attended the public schools of the neighborhood until acquiring a knowledge of the common branches of learning. Reared a farmer and having a taste for the cultivation of the soil, he chose that vocation for his life work and ever since his young manhood he has followed the same with gratifying results in the township of Nottawa. Mr. Hyslop owns a fine body of land, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, of which fifty are in cultivation and well improved, and by industry, energy and thrift he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome competency and placing himself in comfortable circumstances. In connection with agricultural pursuits he runs a hotel at Coldwater Lake, which he opened eighteen years ago and which has been well patronized in the meantime, highly prized by the traveling public and pleasure seekers, and proving a paying investment. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 691 Mr. Hyslop, in the year 188T, entered the marriage relation with Lottie Bowman, of Ohio, who has horne him the follo\wing children: Laura, Bain, Fred and Eva, all unmarried and at home except Eva, who is the wife of Ed. Butler and lives at Mt. Pleasant. The family is highly esteemed in the community. the reputation both of parents and children being above reproach, those knowing them best speaking most in praise of their miany sterling qualities. Mr. Hyslop is not only a progressive farmer, but as a citizen he ranks aliong the most enterprising and public spirited of his contemporaries. Interested in all that benefits the community and alive to the welfare of his fellow men, he lives an honorable, upright life Iand lihas made the world better bv his presence and influence. C(IIARLF.S W. (;UY. A\mong the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Rolland township is Charles \W. Guy. a gentleman of high character and reputation, \\ho to know is to esteem and honor. A quiet, utnostentatious mlan, who makes his presence felt by his actions and influence rather than b1)y conversation and public acclaii, he has contributed not a little to the stability and respect of the body politic and all who know\ hini bear cheerful testimony to his many sterling qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Guy is an Ohio man, born in Muskingum county, that state, on the 2d day of June, I852. At the age of ten years lie was brotught to.Michigan by his parents andll after living for somlle time in Berrien county, removed lwith the family to the county of Molntcalm, later to lonia coutnty. where lie remained until the year 1874. Meanwhile as opportunities afforded, he attended school at his different places of residence, and grew to maturity accustomed to farm labor both in the woods and the fields and was early taught the lessons of industry, thrift and sobriety by which his subsequent life has been characterized. Reared to agricultural putrsuits in a comparatively new country, Mr. Guy, on beginning the struggle of life for himself, very naturally became a tiller of the soil and on coming to Isabella county, in 1874, he bought eighty acres of land in Rolland township, at the same time took a contract for clearing land for others, to \which task he devoted the spring and summer seasons, working during the winter months in the lumber woods. He was thus engaged during the greater part of the ensuing sixteen years, in the meantime developing a portion of his own land and cultivating the same. By energy 692 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and well directed industry he finally succeeded in making a good farm on which he has erected a number of substantial buildings, besides adding other improvements, and he now lhas a productive and well tilled place of one hundred and forty-nine acres, and a comfortable and convenient home of which he feels deservedly proud. As a farmer he is enterprising and his success has been very gratifying, as his independent circumstances attest. He has been a hard worker, but is now so situated as to render further continuous toil unnecessary, although he still gives personal attention to his farm and manages his interests with that ability which insures the greatest possible results. In matters pertaining to the development and growth of his township, he has not been a mere spectator, but, to the best of his ability, has contributed to bring about conditions that now obtain, besides lending his influence to every means for promoting the general welfare of his fellow men. He is a Republican in politics, but not a partisan, and from time to time his fellow citizens of Rolland township have elected him to various local positions, including that of school assessor, in which he proved a capable official who mlade every other consideration subordinate to the interests of those whom he served. While a resident of Ionia county, Mr. (;uy married Sarah J. Pointer, who, like himself, is a native of Ohio, their union resulting in the birth of two children, Fred, the elder, having been accidentally killed in the woods while loading logs, his age at the time of the sad occurrence being thirty-four years. Edward, the second son, lives in Isabella county and is a farmer by occupation. REV. JOHN J. McALLISTER. Rev. John J. McAllister, the pastor of St. Henry's Catholic church and one of the well known and popular clergymen of the diocese to which his labors are confined, is a native of Michigan, born in the city of Alpena on April 28. 1878. After completing his preliminary studies in the schools of his native place, he entered the college at Montreal, Canada, where he laid broad and deep the intellectual foundation for his subsequent career in the priesthood and later pursued his theological studies in the Grand Seminary at Montreal. With a mind well disciplined by intellectual and professional training, he was ordained priest at Grand Rapids on August 27, 1904, and immediately thereafter was stationed at St. Andrew's cathedral in that city ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 693 where he lab(ored as assistant pastor for something more than a year, during which time he gained the esteem and confidence of his superiors and greatly endeared himself to his parishioners. From Grand Rapids he was transferred to Bay City as assistant pastor of St. James church, where he labored with great acceptance for two years when he was made pastor of St. henry's church, Isabella county, his present charge. Father McAllister entered upon his duties and labors at St. Henry in November, 1907. and is practically the first regular pastor of the parish, although the building had been erected some years before and the locality visited from time to time by different priests who ministered to the spiritual needs of the Catholic residents in the vicinity. Since taking charge of the work Father McAllister has made a fine impression in the community, not only among his parishioners, but among the people generally, irrespective of church or creed, and thus far his efforts have greatly strengthened the church, both numerically anld spiritually, and the future outlook appears most encouraging. lie is held in high esteeml by the bishop and clergy, as well as by the people with whoml his lot has been cast, his many noble qualities of minl and1 heart colmmennding him to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and especially fitting him for the noble work of leading humanity to the higher life. Scholarly, devout and charitable, he wields a vhlolesome influence for good and well deserves the warnm place in the hearts of the people which he holds. St. Henry's church is the outgrowth of a demand for a place of worship on the part of about twenty-five Catholic families that settled from time to time in the townships of Isabella and Vernon within a radius of several miles from the present building, which was erected in 1885. Later the number increased quite rapidly until there were fully one hundred families in the parish, and to meet their wants, priests from other points visited them at intervals, but it was not until I903 that a pastoral residence was erected and steps taken to make the parish an independent charge. For some years Father John Engemnman, of Superior, and Father Crowley, of Mt. Pleasant, visited the parish, but it was the coming of the present pastor in I907 that marked a new era in the history of the church, which since that time, under his wise and judicious leadership, has moved steadily forward to higher and grander achievements and made its influence a power for good in the region round about. The laws of the diocese of Grand Rapids require, whenever possible, a parish school to be established in each parish. The work of erecting a school will begin next spring. 694 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ANSEL L. MOODY. The enterprising farmer and respected citizen whose name appears at the head of this brief review was born in Eaton county, Michigan, September 29, I865, being a son of \Villiam H. and Rachel (Doxsie) Moody, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages. When fourteen years old he came with his parents to the county of Isabella and since then his life has been closely identified with the varied interests of the township now honored by his citizenship, his attention the meanwhile having been devoted to agriculture, which he early chose for his vocation. Previous to and for some time after coming to this county he attended the public schools and though not a scholar in the sense the term is usually understood, he is nevertheless quite well informed and possesses a valuable practical knowledge such as schools and colleges fail to impart. With the exception of four years during which he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Osceola county, this state, Mr. Moody, as already indicated, has devoted his time and attention to tilling the soil and as a farmer he easily ranks among the most successful and progressive men of his calling in the township of his residence. His home place of one hundred and eighty acres in Rolland township is admirably adapted to agriculture and fruit raising, the soil being deep and exceedingly productive and the improvements among the best in the locality. One hundred and thirty acres are cleared and in cultivation and yield him a liberal incone, in addition to which he ow\ns in the same township two hundred acres of stump land, which when cleared of obstructions and fitted for tillage will be among the best farm land in the township, possessing as it does a fine fertile soil, capable of producing abundant crops of all the grains and vegetables grown in this latitude. Mr. Moody is a gentleman of keen perceptions and sound judgment and has so managed his affairs as to obtain the largest possible results. His agricultural interests have been (uite remunerative and the energy and thrift displayed in his labor have enabled him to accumulate a sufficient surplus of material wealth to place him among the financially solid and well-to-do mlen of his community. In his political allegiance he is a Republican and while ever zealous for the success of his party, he has no ambition to gratify in the way of office or leadership; nevertheless, he has been elected from time to time to various public positions of a local character, including, among others, that of highway cormmissioner, in which he served for a period of two years, discharging the duties of the office in a very creditable and satisfactory manner. Believing in the efficacy of secret fraternal work, he has allied himself ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 695 with several societies based upon this principle, being an influential meimber of the Masonic brotherhood, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Gleaners. The domestic chapter in the life of Mr. Moody bears date of December 25, i888, at which time was solemnized his marriage with Blanche Bennett. daughter of David J. and Florence E. (\alker) Bennett, of Eaton county. Michigan, where Mrs. Moody was born on the 6th day of August, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Moody have had two children, a son, Clyde, who (liedl September TO, I904, in his fifteenth year, and Florence R., whose birth occurred on the 4th (lay of May, I902. LOREN C. PAYNE, I. D. A life devoted to the alleviation of human ills is the record of the wellknown iphysician and surgeon whose name introduces this sketch, a gentleman whose professional career has made his name a household word in hundreds of homes and who is endeared to the many patients whose sufferings have yielded to his skill. Dr. Loren C. Payne was b.orn in Salem, Washtenaw county, Michigan, February I7, 1848, and is a son of Barton and Maria (Cronkheit) Payne. natives of Ontario, Nesw Yo:k. These parents moved from the latter state to Michigan as early as 1838 and settled at River Rouge. near the city of Detroit, where they lived until returning to New York, four years later. Subsequently they again came to Michigan and for some years Barton Payne operated a flouring mill at Farmington, Oakland county, but, owing to failing health, he afterwards discontinued that line of work and engaged in lumbering in the county of Shiawassee, where he wsas accidentally killed at the age of fifty-t o. Loren C. Payne spent his childhood and youth at the various places mentioned above and was fifteen years old at the time of his father's death. Meanwhile he received such educational discipline as the common schools afforded and after the death of his father he began working on a farm for six dollars per month, with the proiise of an increase of wvages as he grew older. The money thus earned went to the support of his mother, whose mainstay he continued to be until her second marriage, a few years later. WNhen seventeen years old, lie was employed in a woolen mill at Pontiac where in due time lie learned the trade of weaving, receiving for his services the sumi of fifteen dollars per \eek, the wvages of a skillful workman. While 696 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. thus engaged he conceived a strong desire for the medical profession and as soon as the opportunity admitted he began preparing for the same at Ovid, in the office of Doctor Leorard, a successful physician of that town, under whose instructions he continued until entering the Bennett Medical College, Chicago, where he made rapid progress in his studies and researches. On leaving that institution in I875, he opened an office at Eagle, Clinton county, where he remained six years, during which time he built up an extensive practice and achieved honorable repute in his profession. At the expiration of the period indicated Doctor Payne located at W\estphalia, in the same county, where he spent the ensuing two years and in the spring of I883 transferred his office to Beal City, a new town just being started in Isabella county, which at that time consisted of about forty families, the majority from Westphalia, for which reason he decided to move with them. When he first saw Beal City the place presented anything but a cheerful outlook as a field for practice, and he almost decided not to remain, but, taking counsel of his better judgment, also from the opinions of a number of his friends and former patrons, he finally opened his office and it was not long until his practice taxed him to the limits of his bodily powers. During his sojourn of nine years at that place his patronage, which grew rapidly from the beginning, took a very wide range and in a region fifteen miles in every direction from the town he was the principal practitioner and his services were in constant demand. For several years he rode almost (lay and night and was out of the saddle only long enough to feed his horse and catch a few minutes' sleep, then away to see other patients clamorous for his help or to answer calls in localities remote from his place of residence. At the end of nine years Doctor Payne moved to Caldwell, or Two Rivers, a town ten miles west of Mt. Pleasant, but after spending two years there he sought a more favorable field for the exercise of his talents in the latter city, where he located at the expiration of the time indicated and where during the nine years ensuing he enjoyed an extensive practive which was successful financially and professionally. The Doctor bought a beautiful home in Mt. Pleasant which he still owns and was well situated to enjoy the fruits of his professional labors, but in 1902 he was induced to make another change, perceiving, as he thought and as time fully demonstrated, a fine opening at Weidman, then in the palmy days of its lumbering interests and giving promise of future growth and prosperity. Since moving to Weidman the Doctor has fully sustained his reputation as a safe and skillful physician and surgeon, and his practice, which is one of the largest in the county, is still increasing, and the place he occupies in his ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 697 chosen calling is second to that of few if any of his professional brethren in the central part of the state. He is still a student, keeps in touch with modern professional thought and abreast of the times on all matters relating to the healing art, being a member of the Isabella County Medical Society and various other organizations which have for their object the advancement of medical science. Fraternally, he is a Mason of high degree, with which order he has been identified for thirty years, belonging to W\acousta Lodge at Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant Chapter, Royal Arch Masons,. the Indep)endent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights ot the Maccabees at the same place, in all of which he is an activ e w0orker and influential in carrying out the principles upon which the societies are founded. Doctor Payne, in the year 187i, contracted a matrimonial alliance. with Frances Lyons. of Oakland county, Michigan. the union resulting in the birth of one child, a daughter, Minnie, who married Bert Leadman and who still lives with her parents. Doctor and Mrs. Payne hold to the Methodist creed and are active workers in the church at Weidman. Socially they are highly esteemed not only in their own community but in the various places where from time to time they have resided. IRVING MYERS. The subject of this sketch, the well known foreman of the Edwin Bell Company stave factory at Shepherd and deputy sheriff of Isabella county, is a native of Fulton county, Ohio, born on the I3th day of December, I863. When quite young he was taken to Paulding county, in the latter state, where he attended school until fourteen years of age, at which time he went to work in a stave mill, with which line of manufacture he soon became familiar and to which he has ever since devoted his time and attention. Leaving Ohio in 1892, he came to Shepherd and accepted a position with the E. Bell Stave Company and after working in various capacities during the eight years ensuing and demonstrating more than ordinary skill and worth, he was promoted in 1900 foreman of the mill, which position he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his employers. W\hen a young man Mr. Myers resolved to do well what his hands found to do, and by adhering to this resolution he in due time became master of the calling which he has so long followed and now holds a position which conmmands a liberal salary. By thrift, economy and good management, he has 698 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. made several judicious investments, owning, in addition to a beautiful home in Shepherd, a good farm of one hundred twenty acres in Midland county, Michigan, which he rents and from which no inconsiderable part of his income is derived. Since becoming a citizen of this state he has manifested commlendable interest in public matters, kept in touch with political issues and current events and taken an active part in promoting the material prosperity of his town and county, besides filling from time to time important official positions. In 19o6 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Isabella county, which office he still holds, and during the last six years he has been a member of the city council, doing much to promote various municipal interests in the latter capacity. Mr. Myers is a man of strong personality. positive in his convictions, though broad minded and liberal in his relations with his fellow citizens. Of pleasing presence and easily approachable, he has a wide circle of friends, among whom he is quite popular and by the general public he is held in high esteem. His has been a very active life, amid the pressing claimis of which he finds time to devote to social matters and to discharge the duties which every true citizen owes to the community. He is a married man and the head of a very interesting household, his domestic life dating from the year 1885. when he was united in marriage with Etta Montroy, a native of Canada, who has borne him children as follows: Jennie, Clarence, John, Irving, lone, Donald and Lucille. all living and, with the exception of John, who holds a position in the city of Flint, this state. still members of the home circle. DANIEL COYNE. Among the prosperous business men of Isabella county, Michigan, the subject of this review occupies a deservedly conspicuous place and the following brief outline of his career and tribute to his worth should be perused by those whose life work is yet a matter of the future. Honorable in all of his dealings, considerate of the rights of others and a man whose influence has ever been on the side of right, his life has been fraught with good to his fellows and the world made better by his presence. Daniel Coyne is a native of Canada and a creditable representative of the large and respectable class of citizens who from time to time have moved from that country to the United States and taken a prominent part in the developmlent and progress of the various localities in which they have settled. He was born November ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 699 I4. I861, in Peel county, Ontario, and is a son of Edward and Mary (Johnston) Coyne, both of Canadian birth, the latter deceased, the former still a resident of Peel county where the greater part of his life has been passed. Daniel Coyne spent his childhood and youth in Brampton, a town of the above county, early became familiar with the various duties of the farm and at intervrals attended the public schools until acquiring a fair knowledge of the branches usually taught. Until eighteen years old he remained at home. assisting his father with the labors of the farm, but at that age he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and located on eighty acres of land in section 21, Isabella towniship, Not knowing what it was to eat of the bread of idleness, Mr. Coyne grew up to the full stature of well rounded manhood and with proper conceptions of life, -which to be successful he realized should be directed along the line of industry..ccordiligly he bent all of his energies to the development and improvemenet of his land and in due season was rewarded with a farm which in point of prod(luctiveness and all the elements of a pleasant home was not excelled by any other place iU! the township. During the next (luarter of a century he lived and prospered( as a tiller of the soil, but at the expiration of tlhat time sold his farm and purchased( of Thomas Gray & Son the elevator at Rosebush, \\-here he has since been engaged in the grain business. The elevator which lie operates is twenty-four by one hundred feet in dimension aind equippl)l witli the imost al)lro ved malchinery and all al)liiances for the handling of grain and it is needless to state that during the busy season its capacity is taxed to the utmlost and that as nuch wheat, oats, barley and corn are shipped from Roseliusli as from any other town of its size in central Michigaan. In addition to grain, Mr. Coyne deals quite extensively in lumber, salt, cement, etc., in all of vwhich lie has built up a large and lucrative trade, his success since engaging in his present business fully mIeeting his expectations and returniing hiii a handsome illcoime. At one time he ran a meat market which pirovedl quite remunerative, but at the end of one year he disposed of the business, though retaining the buililing, which he still owns. He then began buying and shipping cattle, which he carried on four or five years, in connection with agriculture and oinly discontinued his efforts in that line when he sold his farm and engaged in the business to which he now gives his attention. Mr. Coyne is a l)emocrat in politics, a Baptist in his religious belief, and for several years has held the office of deacon in the congregation with which he is identified. He belongs to the Gleaners and is an active member and influential worker in the Knights of Maccabees lodge at Rosebush, in addition 700 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. to which he lends his influence to all worthy measures for the social advancement and moral good of the community in which he resides. Hannah Walton, wife of Mr. Coyne, was born in the year 1862, and has presented her husband with two children, the older of whom is Lorne. whose birth occurred in 1894. After finishing the common school course, he entered the high school at Mt. Pleasant and he is there pursuing his studies at this writing. Velma, the second in order of birth, saw the light of day in the year I905 and is a bright little miss and the light of the household. CHRISTIAN L. HOKEMEYER. The gentleman whose career is briefly outlined in this sketch is one of the substantial Germans who have become Americans by naturalization, but who nevertheless are loyal to the land of their adoption and ready, if need be, to make any sacrifice for its defense and perpetuity. Christian Hokemeyer was born October I, 1851, in Hlanover, Germany, and received a good education in the schools of his native place, which he attended until his sixteenth year. Like many of his fellow countrymen, he early decided to seek his fortune in the United States, accordingly at the age indicated he bade farewell to the scenes of his childhood and youth and, taking ship in 1875, arrived at his destination in due time, proceeded direct from the city of New York to Chicago, Illinois, near which place, a little later, he engaged in farming. After tilling the soil until I880, he started a creamery which he operated near the latter city during the seventeen years ensuing, at the expiration of which time he closed out his interests in Illinois and came to Shepherd, Michigan, where he found a favorable opening for the same kind of business. Shortly after his arrival here Mr. Hokemeyer erected a fine creamery which, equipped with the latest and most approved machinery and appliances for the manufacture of butter, he has since operated at its full capacity, doing a large business and realizing handsome profits from the enterprise. His patronage includes both the local and general trades and the average weekly output of thirty-five hundred pounds of first-class butter, which commands the highest market price, is not sufficient to supply the rapidly growing demand, hence he is considering the advisability of increasing the capacity of the plant at no distant day. Mr. Hokemeyer is familiar with every detail of the business in which he is engaged and has so conducted it that he is now on the high road to independence. Industrious, thrifty and economical, he makes ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 70o the most of his opportunities and those who know him best speak in high praise of his well alanced jvdgment and business acumen and predict for him a prosperous career in the enterprise to which his time and attention are being devoted. Personally, he possesses many of the sterling characteristics for which his nationality is distinguished, and since becoming a resident of Shepherd he has been interested in the prosperity of the town and lends his influence and supplort to all laudable measures for the general welfare. Ere moving to Michigan, he was a regular attendant of the Genrnan Evangelical church, with which he has long been identified, but there being no organization of that body in Shepherd, hl e now attends the various Protestant congregations of the town besides contributing of his means to their support. Mr. Hokcmeyer has been twice married, the first time to Minnie Bushe, after whose death he contracted a matrimonial alliance with Louise Schwerman. his present wife, who was born in Hanover, Germany. April I, i86o. The following are the names of MAr. Hokemevycr's children: Minnie, Lylia, Tillie. Mamie, Albert, Louis and Francis, all living and affording bright and pleasant hopes for the future JTAMES E. SMITI..\lthough among tlhe younger citizens of Isabella county, both as to age and time of residence, the subject of this review has achievedl distinctive success in the line of his calling and a position of influence in the township where lie lives. James E. Smith was born in W\illiams county, Ohio, on the I6th of March, 1876, and is the youngest of six chilldren whose parents, Benjamin and Sarah (Gares) Smith, were also of Ohio birth and among the esteemed and well-to-do people of Madison township. Williams county. The early experience of the subject on his father's farm was similar in.most respects to that of the majority of country lads, his time in summer having been taken up with labor in the fields and during the winter months he pursued his studies in the district school near his home. After obtaining a preliminary education, he completed a high school course, the discipline received being supplemented by a normal school training at Wauseon, Ohio, where he earned a creditable record as a student. While attending the above institution, he lived at home and continued his labors on the family homestead until after attaining his majority, the meantime forming plans for the future and laying broad and deep 702 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the foundation for his subsequent career as an enterprising farmer and influential man of affairs. After remaining in his native county until thirty years old, Mr. Smith came to Michigan and, in April, 19o6, purchased seven hundred and twenty acres of land in Rolland township, Tsabella county, about four hundred acres being improvedl, and on this farm he has since lived as a prosperous tiller of the soil and made his influence felt in all matters relating to the advancement of the community and the welfare of the populace. Though comparatively a recent comer and averse to any kind of publicity, the people of his toiwnship have not been slow to recognize his ability and sterling worth, with the result that he has been honored from time to time with various official trusts and is today in no small degree a leader of thought and moulder of opinion among his neighbors and fellow citizens. Mr. Smith is pronounced in his allegiance to the principles and traditions of the Republican party and his wide general information and familiarity with the leading questions and issues of the (lay give him considerable standing and influence as a local political leader. He keeps in touch \with all matters upon which men and parties divide, has well grounded convictions concerning public affairs and his opinions, which he expresses freely and fearlessly when necessary, always carry weight and command respect. A believer in revealed religion, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church a number of years ago and since then his daily life and conversation have been consistent with the faith he professes, his wife being a Methodist also and deeply interested in the work of the local church where the two hold membership. On March IT, 1896, in Williams county, Ohio, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith and Dora Cummins, a native of the same county and state, the union resulting in the birth of three children, namely: Homer C., Everett S. and Benjamin N., who, with their parents, constitute a mutually happy and contented family circle. VII.LIS E. BROWN. Among the strong and influential citizens of Isabella county the record of whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section, the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical record occupies a prominent place and for years has exerted a beneficial influence here. His chief characteristics seem to be keenness of perception, a tireless energy, ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 7o3 honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common-sense, which have enabled him not only to advance his interests, but also to largely contribute to the moral and material advancement of the community. \Villis E.. Bro\\wn editor and publisher of the Isabella County Republican at Shepherd, was born in Ohio, May 6, 1856. Ile is the son of Dr. Simeon C. Brown, who was born in 1825, and who became a prominent practitioner. Willis E. Brown went to school in Ohio before coming to Isabella county, Michigan. He went to school here until he was sixteen or seventeen years of age, attending school with Francis Dodds and J. M. R. Kennedy in a little frame school house. After leaving school he studied music with Prof. Benjamin and wife, of Tonia county, Michigan, studying band and piano music with them nearly a year. Ie then taught music in different parts of Isabella county, giving )private lessons, going from house to house twice a week, making his visits in a buggy. He became widely known as a skilled musician and a very able instructor, and he continued in this line until he went in business with his father in 1879. He has been a band instructor since I880. \hen living in Mt. Pleasant he organized the Fireman's Band, consisting of twenty-six pieces, and drilled them; he was also director of the City Band of Mt. Pleasant for five years. Ile is proficient on the cornet and, in fact, nearly every instrument in a band. lMr. Brown, his brother and father started the Nortlhwesternl Tribune in Salt River, and they ran this successfully for nearly two years and then moved to Mt. Pleasant, continuing to issue the paper under the same name, and continued here for seven years, during which time he built up an excellent property and his paper became a molder of public opinion under his able management. Mr. Brown was married in I879, before moving to Mt. Pleasant, the ceremony uniting his fortuies with Ella Struble occurring on February 28th. She is the daughter of Dr. J. J. and Harriet (Osborn) Struble. They became acquainted in Ohio whlen children, and were married in Salt River, Michigan, their homes in the Buckeye state having been but three miles apart, and her parents moved to Salt River one year before the coming of the Brown family. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown two children have been born: Clark \V., who is a clerk in the office of the secretary of state at Lansing, Michigan: he married Dora Brayton, Minnesota. Mae R. Brown is assisting her father in the management of the paper. After selling out his paper in lt. Pleasant, Mr. Brown worked most of the following five years in the office of the Enterprise, until October, 1893. He then came to Shepherd and started the Isabclla County Republican, under 704 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the firm name of W. E. Brown & Son, starting the paper on December 14. 1893. Since that time he has moved four times, and has been in his present location two and one-half years. He has by judicious management and close attention to business built up a very fine paper which is rapidly growig-g in circulation and which is regarded as one of the best edited papers of its type in this section of the state. It is rendered valuable as an advertising medium and is a newsy and popular sheet with all classes. Mr. Brown is a member of the Republican township committee, and he never loses an opportunity to foster his party's principles. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, Tent No. 237, of Shepherd. NORRIS J. BROWN. Though a comparatively recent resident of Isabella county, there is no more public spirited citizen or enthusiastic business man in Mt. Pleasant than N. J. Brown, secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Mt. Pleasant Light and Fuel Company. lie is one of those solid men of brains and substance who give stability and prestige to a city. Having a keen appreciation of the inestimable value of civic improvement and commercial supremacy. he is always alert in promoting and endorsing every enterprise that has for its object the moral and material betterment of the community. Mr. Brown became a citizen of Mt. Pleasant in I904, but during his residence there he has been particularly active in championing every movement calculated to improve his adopted city. Mr. Brown is a native of the Empire state, having been born in the town of Granby, Oswego county, New York, April 21, I852, the son of Erastus and Jane E. (Miller) Brown, both also natives of New York. Erastus Brown, a farmer by vocation, came from New York to Michigan in 1855, locating in Branch county, where he lived until i86o, when he removed to Ionia county, living there until I887, and finally settling in Montcalm county, following, the meanwhile, the pursuit of an agriculturist. To him and Jane E. were born three children, viz: Emma, who is the wife of Jason Hicks, of Belding, Michigan; N. J., of this sketch, and Ida, who is the wife of William Lang, of Kalamazoo county, Michigan. The mother of these children died February 21, I888, and in the year I896 Erastus Brown married Mrs. Belle Grasely. Erastus Brown died in 1907, at the age of eighty-three years, in Mont r NORRIS J. BROWN I ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 705 calm county, Michigan. He was a man of fine habits, an indefatigable worker all through life, and the possessor of a comfortable competence. He was a Methodist and a Prohibitionist. N. J. Brown received his primary education in the district schools of his community. At the age of fourteen years he was advanced to the high school at Portland, Michigan, from which he graduated in the classical course in 1871. At the age of sixteen years, however, he had begun teaching school in Ionia county, which he successfully followed there for five years, and then taught one year in Montcalm county. In the meantime he had undertaken the study of law in the office of Hon. A. Williams, of Ionia, and was admitted as a member of the Ionia bar in 1873. He began practice in Montcalm county in i875, and met with unusual success from the start. Always a popular and influential Republican, his fitness for official position was soon recognized by his party. For four years he was circuit court comllissioner of Montcaln countv antd was then chosen prosecuting attorney, serving four years. As the state's attorney he was particularly aggressive and unusually successful. In 1889 he was elected to the state Legislature from Montcalm county by a majority of four hundred and forty-one, whereas his predecessor had been elected by only one. As a member of the lower house, he was very active and efficient and was the author of several important bills. He was chairman of the committee on railroads and a member of the judiciary committee. H-is popularity gained for him the sobriquet "the big-hearted member from Montcalml." In I890 Mr. Brown removed to Muskegon, Michigan, where he again met with flattering success as a lawyer and for one year was city attorney. In January, 1897, he remnoved from Mulskegon to Grand Rapids, where he also colmmande(l a prominent position as a lawyer and citizen. In I904 Mr. Brown came to Mt. Pleasant and organized the Mt. Pleasant Light an(d Fuel Company. Primarily it was not his intention to relinquish the practice of law, but later circumstances made it imminent, in order to better conserve his interests, that he assume personal charge of the concern. From the organization of the company to the building of the plant, Mr. Brown has been the guiding genius of the institution. Among her public utilities there is none of which Mt. Pleasant has more just cause to be proud than the service which is given by the Mt. Pleasant Light and Fuel Company. It is one of the most modern and up-to-date plants to be found in the state, while the quality of the gas, together with the service rendered, is of that character which pleases the people and insures good dividends for the stockholders. The company is a close corporation, with a capital stock of seventy-five thou(45) 706 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. sand dollars, Mr. Brown controlling a majority of the stock. They secured their franchise September 21, 1903, and work was begun the following December. The mains were laid in I905, and the supplying of gas to the patrons began February I, 1905. The company has ten miles of mains, and maintains a first class office on Broadway. Mr. Brown was married in Montcalm county, Michigan. I)ecember 2.1 1876, to Anna B. Pitcher, who was born in the state of New York in the year I852, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Pitcher, whose parents were pioneers of Michigan. To them came two child(ren, l.ula M., born February i, 1878, and Wells B. Brown, who is associated with his father in the Mt. Pleasant Light and Fuel Company, being vice-president of the company and a director of the same. IHe was born D)ecember 4, I883, and received his education in the schools of Muskegon and Grand Rapids, Michigan. ITe spent three years in the clerical department of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company offices at Grand Rapids, and in I904 came to Mt. Pleasant with his father. He was married July 5, I906, to Vivian I)odds, daughter of William Dodds, of Mt. Pleasant. Like his father, he is a man of fine business aptitude. Mrs. Anna B. Brown died July 5, I906, and on October 23, 1908, N. J. Brown was married to Mrs. Eppa A. (Rich) Brown, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, a schoolmate of his boyhood. Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a Mason and an Elk. As previously stated, Mr. Brown has been an influential factor in promoting the growth and development of his home city. He was the prime organizer of the Mt. Pleasant Board of Trade and was its first secretary. He takes an especial interest in everything that will-conduce to the industrial improvement of the community, and few cities can claim a more thoroughly progressive, public spirited, broadminded citizen than he. FRED D. FARNER. This well known and esteemed citizen of Union township hails from Ohio, the state so prolific in great men, having been born in Maumee, Lucas county, on May 7, I874. His father, John E. Farner, also a native of the Buckeye state, was born February 7, 1840, and when a young man married Catharine Dill, whose birth occurred on February 12, I850. John E. Farner joined the.One Hundredth Ohio Infantry at the breaking out of the Great Rebellion and served the full term of three years, during which he participated in some of the most noted campaigns and battles of the war and earned an ISAB1ILLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 707 honorable record as a brave and gallant soldier. lie and his estimable wife have been residents of Isabella county, Michigan, for some years and at this time live in the town of Mt. Pleasant, where they enjoy the confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Of their family of two children, the subject of this sketch is the first in order of birth, the seconld, a daughter, Maude, being the wife of D. R. Myers, a hardware merchant and respected citizen of Maaumee, Ohio. The early life of Fred D. Earner was spent on the home farm in Lucas county, where in due time he became familiar with the varied duties of agriculture and while still young matured plans for his future course of action and conduct. In the public schools of his native locality and the D)avis Business College of Toledo, Ohio, lie laid the foundation of a sound practical education and after assisting to cultivate the home place and helping manage the dairy until attaining his majority he began life upon his own responsibility, choosing for a vocation the honorable calling of agriculture which he has since followed with the success and profit characteristic of the master of his calling. In the year 90o3 Mr. Farner came to Isabella county, Michigan, and located on what is known as the Ferry place, one of the oldest farms in Union township, the first improvements on which were made lby the Indians a number of years prior to the advent of the white man. In addition to the eighty acres in this place, he purchased forty acres adjoining and now has a beautiful and well cultivated farm of one hundred and twenty acres where he carries on general agriculture, besides devoting considerable attention to dairying, which adds very materially to his income. Since moving to his present place he has made a number of valuable improvements, including a fine barn, fifty by thirty-six feet, which admirably answers all the purposes for which intended, also an eighty-five-ton silo, besides a large amount of fencing and ditching, the latter consisting of something in excess of four hundred rods, resulting in the reclaiming of a number of acres of fine land and greatly enhancing its productiveness. As a farmer, Mr. Farner is easily the peer of any of his neighbors similarly engaged, being industrious and progressive in his ideas and believing in modern improvements, various kinds of which he has adopted to his great advantage from a financial point of view. By well directed iabor, good management and economy he has not only gotten his farm in splendid condition and made it one of the most desirable rural homes in Union township, but with commendable thrift he has added continuously to his means, until he is now in independent circumstances with a sufficiency of material wealth at his command to insure his future against any ordinary contingency that may arise. Interested in all that relates to agriculture, he has been a leading spirit 708 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in Union Grange No. 1220, which organization he served six years as secretary and to the success of which he has contributed in various ways. He also held the position of school director for six years, besides having serve(l as trustee and clerk of the local branch of the United Brethren church, to which he and his wife belong. Mrs. Farner was formerly Daisy Rowe, the accomplished daughter of Rev. Jacob A. and Nancy (Drake) Rowe, the father born May 13, 1850, in Shelby county, Ohio, the mother in the year I85I, in the same state, their residence at the present time being Chapin, Michigan, where Mr. Rowe is engaged in the ministerial work of the United Brethren church. After receiving a preliminary training in the public schools Mrs. Farner completed a high school course in Swanton, Ohio, and, as already indicated, she is a lady of culture and refinement whose beautiful life and gentle influence have not only made her home a very happy one. but also rendered her quite popular in the community where she resides. She too is an active worker in the Grange and since childhood has been deeply interested in the church and Sunday school, also being at this time a respected member of the congregation with which identified and zealous in promoting all worthy movements for the intellectual and moral advancement of those with whom she mingles. No citizen of Union township stands as high in public esteem as Mr. Earner. Although comparatively a young man, his career has been signally successful and what he has already achieved bespeaks for him a bright and promising future. intelligent, enterprising and public spirited, he stands for progress and improvement, and on all moral issues his voice and influence are on the side of the right as he sees and -understands the right. ROBERT L. KENNEDY. To the person traveling by railway across Isabella county in this day it seems almost incredible that only a few decades ago almost every foot of land was covered with a dense forest through which even the light of day scarcely penetrated. But such was the fact. The tide of civilization swept westward and innumerable hands have removed the great woods, but not without toil and hardship. This would never have been done had it not been for the fertile soil beneath and the comfortable homes that awaited the efforts of the settlers. The task was a long one, but repaid the pioneer well for his trials and labor. Robert L. Kennedy, one of the well known and progressive farmers of Isabella ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 709 township, passed through just such experiences. He has certainly played well his part in letting in the sunlight to the fertile acres anld causing the wheat and corn to thrive on the site of the virgin forests, and because of his life of industry and honesty and his public spirit he is justly entitled to rank among the leading citizens of his locality and have a place in its history. Mr. Kennedy was born of a sterling old Canadian family, his birthplace being in Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, and the (late April io, 1842. Hle grew to maturity in his native community and was educated there. He has nmade farming his chief life work an(d has been very successful in this line of endeavor. He left Canada when twenty-eight years of age and went to Kansas where lie remained six years engaged in farming. He then came to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where he lived three years. He then came to Isalella county, and settled in section 7, Isabella township, on one hundred and twenty acres of timbered land. There was not so much as a road through it or around it. Bult he set to work with a will and cleared it and soon had a very comfortable home and anl excellent farm which he has kept improving from time to time until it ranks with the best in the township. In 1900 he built an excellent barn, forty-four by eighty feet, with a basement beneath. lTe has eight undrecld yards of wire fence, and has a splendid and cozy dwelling, in fact, everything to tmake life desirable in the country. M:r. Kennedy is a \ell educated man and keeps well posted on current events and abreast of the times in modern thought. Besides a good common school education lie attended the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Buffalo, New York. He is a faithful member of the Baptist church and a liberal supporter of the same and is a deacon in the local congregation. He is also a Bible class teacher iand superintendent of the Sunday school, having held these offices for several years, in fact, he is a pillar of the local church. Iis wife is also a great chuich worker, is president of the Ladies Aid Society and teaches in the Sundla school. Like her husband, she is influential in the community and has a host of warm personal friends. Politically, Mr. Kennedy is a Republican, 1but he has never figured prominently in political matters. Mr. Kennedy was married in Canada when twenty-six years of age to Alta M. Iitch, who was horn of a fine old family, in 1848. This union has been blessed lby the birth of the following children: James S., who married Elizabeth Lyonl, is principal of the East Saginaw central school. He was the first male graduate of the Central State Normal: Frank, a printer, married Alice Cummings and lives in Los Angeles, California: Hattie, the eldest, married Oren Culver and lives in Frankfort, Michigan; Gertrude married George Robinson and lives in Seattle: Robert, a graduate of the Central State Normal, 7Io ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. married Edna Wier and lives in Bay City; Howard, who has remained single, lives in the state of Washington; Florence married R. F. tlughes and lives in Los Angeles. These children were all given the advantages of a good education. were reared in a most wholesome home atmosphere and are well launched in the affairs of the world, all highly respected in the communities where they reside. WILLARD M 'cCUTLLUM. The descendant of sterling Scottish ancestors, whose many fine traits have come down to him, \Villard McCullnm has directed his efforts along stch legitimate lines as to be w-orthy of ranking with the leading agriculturists and citizens of Nottawa township, Isabella county. He has shown hilmself to be a man of courage, self-reliance and of the utmost integrity of purpose, as a result of which, he has, during his entire life, stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends and is therefore deserving of a place in this book. Mr. McCullum was born on June 17, 1859, in Franklin county, TNew York. He is the son of John McCullum, who was born in Scotland. -He was a seafaring man anld came to New York city as a sailor. He mlarried Evalinc Martin, a native of the state of New York and their union resulted in the birth of these children: Tily Jane is living in Jackson county, Michigan; Calvin lives in Clinton county, this state; Henry lives in Jackson county; Willard, of this review. The subject of this review remained at his parental home until he was twenty-one 'years of age, working on the home farm and attending the neighboring schools. He then came to Jackson county, Michigan, and, liking the prospects there, decided to cast his lot in that county. While living there he met and married Emaline Towne, who was born March 17, 1883, at Jackson City. To this union these children have been born: nez is living at home and is teaching school; Sabry, who married Bennet Humbret, is living in Nottawa township; Mildred is teaching school and living at home; Iva and Irene are living at home. Mr. McCullum remained in Jackson county six years, engaged in farming principally, and he bought one hundred acres of first class land. This was during the panic of 1883 and 1884. In April, 1887, he came to Isabella county, and after he had lived here a year he settled on the place which he now occupies and which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and ctlti ISAIBILLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 7II vation. It consisted of forty acres of timbered land. He cleared it unaided and built, at first, a sniall log house. His dwelling is now well worth two thousand dollars, is well furnished and has a good cellar and a furnace, and a wind-mill stands nearby. lie has modern farming machinery and his place indicates that he is a very progressive agriculturist. His one hundred acres is high grade land and yields abundant harvests, is well fenced and in good shape in every way. He has a splendid orchard of two acres and some other small fruit. He keeps various kinds of live stock and a considerable part of his income is derived from them. Hlis land is all under cultivation and il a high state of improvement. Politically. Mr. M cCullum is a Republican and he attends the Disciple church at Gilmore. -le has held several -linor offices in his township, but is not a politician. He has, besides his house and barn, another dlwelling and barn on his place in which his daughter Sabry and her husband live. In the fall of i9oo he built an excellent barn with a basement, thirty-six by sixty feet. He raises nmostly hay, corn, beans and wheat, besides large numbers of live stock, as already indicated, and he is very successful in all his operations. CIlA\RLES II. (GOULD. The gentleman whose name appears above is a native of Branch county, Michigan, and a son of (Gorge and l.ida Gould, both of this state. The father, whose birth occurred in I856, died in the year 1893; the mother, who survived himl, is living at this time in the county of Van Buren. Charles 1. (Gould was born April T2, 1 88o, spent his childhood and youth on the family homestead in California township of his native county, received a conmmon school education and remained with his parents until his twenty-first year. On attaining his majority he severed home ties and went to Macosta county, but after spending a few months there lie came to Mt. Pleasant and engaged with Mr. Rogers to learn the jeweler's trade. During the four years he was under the instruction of that gentleman he became quite a skillful workman. and at the expiration of the time indicated he established hinself in business at Rosebush, where he has since remained. In addition to conducting a general jewelry establishment and doing the work which necessarily belongs to that line, he also conducts an undertaking business, having become familiar with the latter while learning his trade. Froni time to time he added other lines of goods, such as hardware, furniture, 7I2 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. etc., and is now the proprietor of a general store, with a custom which is steadily growing in magnitude and importance. Mr. Gould is a young man of great energy and fine business talent and his success since locating at Rosebush has more than justified his venture, as the rapid advancement of his establishment attests. lie is enterprising and public spirited, takes an active interest in all that pertains to the growth of the town and lends his influence to every laudable measure for the general welfare of his fellow men. Fraternally, he holds membership with Lodge No. 519, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which lie has passed all the chairs, and religiously is identified with the Church of Christ, Scientist. at Mt. Pleasant, to which organization his wife also belongs. Since old enough to exercise the rights of citizenship. he has manifested a lively interest in political matters and as a Republican he wields a strong influence for his party in his part of the county, being one of its leaders and trusted counselors in the community where he resides. He is now serving his third term as township clerk, in which office he demronstrates ability of a high order, as well as proving faithful to every trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. On the 12th day of October, 19o6, Mr. Gould entered the marriage relation with Gertrude Jeffords. She was born August 25, 1878, being a daughter of Jason and Evalyn Jeffords, of Isabella county. Mrs. Gould is a lady of intelligence and varied culture, highly esteemed by the social circles in which she moves and by her beautiful life and amiable qualities has gained the friendship and good will of all with whom she comes in contact. S. P. MURTHA. Among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Coe township is the gentleman whose name appears above. He also holds worthy prestige as a citizen and is a creditable representative of that large and eminently respectable class of people who by deeds rather than words give stability to the body politic and by their influence honor the communities in which they reside. S. P. Murtha was born August 6, 1846, in Ionia county, Michigan, being a son of - and Ann (Hoy) Murtha, natives of Ireland, but for a number of years prior to that date residents of the United States. When the subject was eight years old, his parents moved to Isabella cotunty and settled oin a quarter section of land in Coe township which the father bought, later securing an additional eighty acres which, with the original purchase, he sub ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 713 sequently divided among his children. Young Murtha grew up in close touch with honest toil and received a fair educational training in such schools as were taught in this part of the country in an early day. Reared a farmer, he early decided to make agriculture his vocation, accordingly when old enough to begin life for himself he received eighty acres of land from his father which he at once began to improve and which by his effective labors was in due time cleared and in cultivation. Mr. Murtha's career as a tiller of the soil has been entirely satisfactory as his fine farm and excellent improvements attest, and it is no disparagement to others to claim for him a place in the front rank of Isabella county's most enterprising and successful agriculturists. In connection with general farmling he devotes considerable attention to the breeding and raising of high grade live stock, which returns him a handsome income, and he also realizes no small sum from the fine cows \which he always keeps, there being about ten of these sul)erior animals on his place at the present timie. Mr. Murtha is a member of Lodge No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Shepherd, and has passed all the chairs in the same, besides representing the organization twice as a delegate to the grand lodge. lie belongs -to the Knights of the Maccabees at the above place, also being an influential worker ill the society and at intervals has been honored by his brethren with iml)ortant official trusts. The domestic life of Mr-. AMurtha dates from December 9, 1877, at which time was solemnized his marriage with Catherine Gruber, of Coe township, this county, five children resulting fron the union, namely: Montel, deceased: Nellie, who lives in Idaho: Mildred, wife of Harry Wetzel; Arthur. a student in the medical department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and Dale, who lives at home. The father of the subject came to America when eleven years of age and for some tinme thereafter lived in Vermont. From that state he went to New York, thence, after some years, removed to lonia county, Michigan, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and where he resided until his removal to Isabella county a- already stated. Here he secured valuable real estate which he divided among his children and during his residence in this county he became \idely and favorably known and stood high as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen. Ann Hoy, mother of the subject, was born in the same part of Ireland in which he first saw the light of day and both made the voyage to the United States on the same vessel. They knew each other from childhood and were married in New York, the following children being the fruits of their union: Thomas, Michael and Elizabeth, who are 714 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. deceased; S. P., of this review; George, who married Mary Stouble and lives in Mt. Pleasant; Arthur, also a resident of Isabella county; Sarah, wife of John Young, lives in California, and Richard, who married Elizabeth Rodder, makes his home in the latter state. JOSEPH W. FATE. The subject of this sketch is essentially a business man and as such has made his influence felt among his contemporaries, besides rising to a prominent place as a public spirited citizen. LTike many of the enterprising men to whom Michigan is greatly indebted for its material prosperity and present proud position among its sister states, hIe is a native of Canada, having been born in Bruce county, Ontario, on the 7th day of July, 1871, being a son of Joseph H. and Rachel (Schwoob) Fate, of English and German descent respectively. When Joseph W. was about two and a half years of age his parents moved to Mecosta county, Michigan, and settled on a tract of land which had been partially cleared:nd on which he grew to maturity, assisting his father with the labor of improving and cultivating the farm when (ol( enough for his services to be utilized. In the district schools he obtained a fair knowledge of the branches taught, and at the age of sixteen began making his own way in the world by working in the lumber woods. During the fourteen consecutive years which he devoted to that kind of labor, he was elmployed principally in drawing logs, which experience, although hard at timnes and rough, served to develop a strong, vigorous physique and aroused in him a self reliance and spirit of manly independence which have served him well in his subsequent career as an enterprising and progressive business man. At the expiration of the period indicated above, Mr. Fate discontinued lutmbering and engaged in the grain trade at Remus, this state, in partnership with D. M. Mansfield, the firm thus constituted lasting six and a half years, during which time they greatly extended the scope of their operations, built up a large and lucrative patronage and became widely and favorably known as enterprising and eminently honorable business men. Severing his connection with his partner in the spring of I905, Mr. Fate came to Blanchard, where he was instrumental in erecting the large warehouse which has prove(l of such advantage to the village and adjacent country and which, occupied at the present time by J. W. Fate & Company, has made the town one of the most important local trading points in Isabella county. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHI(;AN. 7 I 5 In addition to handling grain, the company deals extensively in all kinds of produce, thus affording a fine and easily accessible market which is greatly prizedl by the farmers throughout a large area of territory. Mr. Fatc is an intelligent, wide-awake manl, thoroughly devoted to his btsiness affairs and deeply interested in all that makes for the material grownth and dlevelopment of the community. He keeps in touch with matters of pulblic import, is alive to the leading (luestions of the day and as a neighbor and citizen enjoys the confidence of all with whom he has relations, husiness or otherwise, and it is a comipliment worthily bestowed to class him w ith the lea(ling men of the countv in which lie lives. As a membler of the school board Mr. Fate has done much to promote the educational interests of the community andl iin private capacities his influence has ever been used for the good of his fellow men. Fraternally. he belongs to the Modern \Woodmen of America. On July 19, T895, in the tow\n of Remus, AMr. Fate was united in marriage with Margaret Scitz, whose birth occurred in Ontario and who lived in that province until her sixteenth year, when she came to MIichigan. Mr. and i IMrs. Fate have a beautiful home which is iiiade interesting by the presence of three children, Martha E., Gertrude S. aindl Margaret R. LINUS D. ESTEE. Am1ong those persons who. 1y virtue of their strong individual (qualities. earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fellow citizens, having by sliecr force of character anl persistency won their way from an humble beginning to La place of pirominence and influence in the commtunit where they were active in industrial affairs, the late Linus D. Estee is entitled to special mention in a volume of this character. lie was a man whom evervone admired, living, and no\\ that he has taken up his abode in the "windowless palaces of rest" his memlory is revered by a very wide circle of friends and acqcuaintances, and the vountn man hesitating where the highways divide could take no better model in shaling his career than to follow that of MNr. Estee. Born on M1arch I8, 1850, in Chautauqua county. New York, his parents brouight him to Michigan when he was five years of age, his father buying one hundred and sixty acres of land in Coe township, Isabella county, for which he paid fifty cents per acre and wvhich subsequently became very valua ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ble land. Here Linus D. Estee assisted in clearing and developing the place. living at home until his marriage. Advantages for obtaining an education in those early (lays were meager, but he attended the district schools during the winter months for a time, later "picking tip" a great deal of miscellaneous knowledge. When twenty years of age he was married in Pennsylvania..to Sarah Miller, whose death occurred in Pennsylvania, on January 12, 1884. \Vhile living there he adopted a baby, Claude Hannett, who assumed the name of Estee. On March 28, i886, Mr. Estee married Nettie J. Campbell. a representative of an excellent old family, being the daughter of James and Euphemla (Nelly) Campbell. They were married in Coe township, Isabella county, Michigan, this union being without issue. After his first marriage. Mr. Estee lived on his father's farm until he purchased a farm adjoining that of his father, also bought a little in another place, making in all fifty-one acres. He erected a house and barn and lived on the place until about 1904. making a pronounced success in his farming and stock raising operations. He then moved to Shepherd, where he lived some time before moving into the present beautiful Estee home. It is an elegant and substantial house of cobble stones and cement blocks. It is one of the most pretentious and is the best built dwelling in Shepherd, and here the many friends of the family alw avs found an old-time hospitality and good cheer prevailing. Before the death of his first wife, Mr. Estee conducted the Exchange hotel in Mt. Pleasant about a year. HIe took his wife to her home in Pennsylvania and there her death occurred. Soon afterwards he worked in Mt. Pleasant for Carr & Granger in the elevator business. He did well at whatever he undertook, and when the railroad was built into Shepherd he came here and went into business with the Mr. Hannett referred to above, in I886, which partnership continued from the spring of T886 until 1893, when the partnership was suspended, and until about T900 the subject conducted the business alone in a very successful manner, then took his adopted son, Claude, in with him. From 19oo until about three years before his death he attended to the buying, leaving young Estee to take charge of the books and, in fact, to look after the principal part of the business. The death of Mr. Estee occurred on September 6. 1907, after having been in failing health for two or three years. He was a highly honored and influential man, beloved and respected by all, and at his death the local paper said: "In the death of Mr. Estee the village suffers the loss of a foremost and progressive citizen. one who was allied with every substantial improvement looking toward the welfare of Shepherd and his interests were unselfish. Mr. Estee has added greatly in making our village the good market point that it is today. He ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 717 will be greatly missed, both in his home and outside, as he was a great home body. a good provider, and always thoughtful of the poor." Mr. Hannett, who was his partner in business for several years, speaks very highly of him, and when he said that Mr. Estee was always very well known, having lived in the community nearly all his life and was in business that would bring him in touch with all classes of people who always knew him to be honest in all his dealings, a truth was stated and a very great compliment was paid him. Mr. Estee was a noted sportsman, enjoying greatly a fishing or hunting trip, but these were taken mostly on his own land, his large ranch, consisting of eight hundred acres in Clare county near Lake George, known as the "Estee Ranch," furnishing plenty of recreation in this direction. He was very successful as a business man, being a keen observer, a man of splendid judgment and foresight and his scrupulotsly honest methods won and retained the confidence of all classes. By his own indomitable courage and perseverance he accumulated a large amount of valuable property and a handsome competence. While he was a public-spirited man and always willing to (lo his full share in promoting the general interest of his locality, yet he was not an office seeker and lield only a few minor ones, for hle preferred to devote most of his time to his individual affairs. IHe was interested in the Commercial State Bank of Shepherd. He was not a strong partisan, preferring to vote for the man whom he deemed best fitted for the office sought. rather than for the party. Fraternally he stood high in the Free and Accepted Masons of Salt River, being a Master Mason. Like iher honored and popular husband, Mrs. Estee, a wooman of many fine attributes, is a favorite witl a wide circle of friends, whom she delights to gather at her elegant and neatly kept home. GEORGE ALBERT PITTS. The record of George Albert Pitts, a leading farmer of Isabella township, is that of an enterprising gentleman who worthily upholds an honored family name and whose life, for many years, has been very intimately associated with the material prosperity and moral advancement of the locality where he resides, and, during the most progressive periods of the history of this vicinity, hie has always been found on the right side of questions looking to the development of the same, and he has at the same time won an enviable reputation for honesty and wholesome living. 7I8 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Pitts was born in Grandville, Washington county, New York, on January I2, I857. He is the son of John and Mary (Wright) Pitts. The father was born in Connecticut in 1825 and died in I860, and the mother was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in I8I9, and she and Mr. Pitts were married in Washington county. New York. Their children living are Jamtes W., of Nottawa township, this county; John, a soldier in the Union army, died at the battle of Resaca, Georgia; Rosanna, who married R. J. Skinner, lives in Gilmore township; Elizabeth, who married Thomas License, lives in Vermont; Amanda married Jerry Fuller and lives in Rutland, Vermont; George, of this review. The parents of these children spent most of their lives in the state of New York. They were excellent people and highly respected by all who knew them. George A. Pitts was nine years of age when he accompanied his parents from his native community to Oswego county, New York. He had attended school sone in the former place and he grew to manhood and finished his education in the latter, remaining there until he was twenty-seven years of age. The subject's mother was twice married and George A. worked on the farm of his step-father. ITe learned the trade of stone mason and worked at that practically all the time while he lived in Oswego county when he was not farming, and he was married while living there, choosing as a life partner the daughter of a good old family, Mary Seymour, who was born September 6, 1862, at Constantia, Oswego county, New York. She is the daughter of George and Harriet (Clock) Seymour and was married to Mr. Pitts on May 9, 1879. They lived in their home country five years after their marriage, Mr. Pitts working at his trade; he made money and saved it, so that when he moved to Isabella county, Michigan, and settled in Gihlore township, he was enabled to buy forty acres of good land in section 35, nearly ail of which was timbered, of which he cleared five or six acres. He kept the place about three years, then sold out and began preaching, going on a tour to Gladwin and Midland counties, remaining away three years and doing a great amount of good in this work. His health failing, he finally, in I8(6, came back to Isabella county and settled on his present place on section 23, Gilmore township, buying twenty acres at first, then twenty acres more in I900. He has cleared most of this and made all improvements, bringing it up to a high standard of efficiency and causing it to rank with the leading farms of the community. He first lived in a log house, but this was burned on September 5, 1903, losing heavily and having no insurance. He then remodeled an old store building and has made a very comfortable home out of it. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICIIGAN. 719 The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pitts: Albert E.. born in 1887, married Gertrude Teachout and they are living in Gilmore and have one child; Bertha May, born in 1885, married \W. W. McNeill and they are living in Gilmore township; John L., born in i888, married Bessie Robinson and is living in Ccntralia, Washington; Blanch B., born in I89o, is unmarried and she is employed in an insurance office in Saginaw; Walter (., born in t896, is living at home. Mr. Pitts made himself a preacher, having devoted a great deal of home study to the Bible and such other literature as would be of service to him. lie still does a great deal of work as a mason, in fact, he has done more building than any other one man in the township, both as a brick and stone mason and as a carpenter, and his work, always being of a very high grade, is in great demand. Religiously, Mr. Pitts is a Free Will Baptist, and in politics he is a Repllublican. He is at present serving his fourth term as supervisor of Isabella township. That he is popular in this office and has done his work well is shown by the fact that at the election in tle spring of I9o1 he received a tmuch larger majority than he had ever been given before. Mr. Pitts has a house-moving outfit and he does a general contracting business. This takes most of his time, so that he farms but little. He has always taken an interest in township affairs. He has been a member of the Grange for five years and is a charter member of the local arbor of Gleaners, No. 457, at Stony Brook, having been chief of the same two and one-half years, and he has also held office in the Grange. WILLIAM HUMMELL. The United States can boast of no better or more law-abiding class of citizens than the great number of German people who have found homes within her borders. Though holding dear and sacred the beloved mother country, they are none the less devoted to the fair country of their adoption. Among this class is William Hummell, a thrifty farmer of Broomfield township, Isabella county, who for a number of years has been one of the leading citizens of the same, having labored hard not only for his own advancement, hut also for the good of the community, his efforts having been abundantly repaid with financial success and the esteem of his fellow men. Mr. Hummell was born near Strahleshund, Prussia, Germany, on De 720 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. cember I8, I855. He is the son of Gustav and Sophia Hummell, the former of whom was born in Prussia in 1812. and the latter born there in 1812, a native of the same village as the father of our subject. They came to America in the fall of 1869; the father, having been blind in one eye, and not physically strong, was exempt from the usual military service in his native country. He believed he could better his condition by coming to America. -Te settled in Oakland county, Michigan, and worked out by the day on a farm. remaining there until the spring of 1873, when he came to Isabella county and settled on his present place, consisting of eighty acres. HIis family consisted of the following children: Charles is living in Detroit: Theodore is deceased, dying in 191o; Fred lives in Macomb county, this state; Gustav also lives in that county; William, of this review. The father of these children died in 1890 and the mother about 1895. William Hummell was fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States. He had attended school in his native country. but he received no schooling here. He was seventeen years of age when he came to Isabella county and helped his father clear the place he bought. which was heavily wooded. He worked in the woods during the swinter and had a pretty hard time of it at first. He built a little log house, started with practically nothing, and he has, by hard work and persistent effort, accumulated a very comfortable com!petency and now has a good farm and a good home. His father paid three dollars per acre for this land. The son lias kept it well improved and carefully tilled the soil so that it has lost none of its original fertility and strength. The father was old when he came to this country, so the son lived with his parents during their lifetime and fell heir to the farm of eightv acres. He erected in 1903 a comfortable, roomy and substantial dwelling, xwith a cellar under its entire length. He has a good barn, under which is a cement basement, and good outbuildings in general. He has a splendid apple orchard of two acres and everything about his place indicates good management and comfort. He has plenty of small fruit and is a general farmer tand stock raiser. He and his father literally hewed the place out of the wilderness and brought it to its present high state of cultivation. Mr. Hummell now owns two hundred acres of as fine land as this locality can boast. Some of the place is used for pasturing purposes. He has been successful as a general farmer and has a right to be proud of his place. He has been an interested spectator to the county's growth which he has witnessed all along the line, from the wilderness to its present thriving condition, and he is well known in the community and highly respected. He is a mlellmber of the Lutheran church at Mt. Pleasant. He was township treasurer for ISABELLA COUNTY, MIC1IGAN. 72T twelve years and superintendent for eight years, also justice of the peace for one term, filling the positions with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. Politically he is a Republican. PETER J. MARTHEY. The subject of this review, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, is an (hio man, born in Holmes county, that state, in the year 185I. Ite attended school during his boyhood years in what is known as the "French Settlement" and grew to maturity familiar with the active duties of farm life. Reared in close touch \itl the soil and having early manifested a decided taste for agriculture, he naturally selected that vocation for his life work and ever since attaining his mnajority has pursued the same with encouraging results. Mr. Marthey remained near the place of his birth until 1882, when he disposed of his interests in Ohio and came to Isabella county, Mi.chigan, and bought one hundred and seventy-four acres of land in section 19, Denver township, nearly all of which was as nature had created it. \itl characteristic industry ani energy he began imlproving his land and in due time had the greater part cleared and in cultivation, besides erecting good buillings and enclosing the farm with substantial fences. After living on his original l)urchase until 1904(. le moved to his present place of residence in section 34. of tile same townshil), \\here he owns a finely improved farm of seventyseven acres, in addition to which lie has eighty acres in Denver township. the amountt of his real estate in the county being at this time three hundred and thirty-one acres, tile greater part suscelptible to cultivation and highly in. proved. Mr. Marthey is engaged in general farming and, as already indicated, his career presents a series of continual successes until lie now ranks among the most enterprising agriculturists of his township and county, being in independent circumstances an(! well fitted to enjoy tile many material blessings by which lie is surrounded. Ini c(nnection with tilling the soil, he has achieved considerable reputation as a breeder alnd raiser of fine live stock, making a specialty of thorloughbred short horned sheep and Belgian horses, for which he finds a ready demand at fancy prices. In the matter of improvements, he has not been sparing of his lleans, and believing that home should be made beautiful and attractive, lie has recently remodeled his dwelling, building a large veranda which adds very imuch to the appearance of the house, the (46) 722 ISABELLA COUNTY, M ICHIGAN. entire edifice being modlern in its appointmlents and admirably adapte(l for the purposes which it is intended to subserve. In the year 1878 Mr. Marthey was united in marriage with Josephine Trahin, the union resulting in the birth of the following children: Edward. a sttudent of the State Central Normal School at Mt. Pleasant; Angelia, who lives with her parents; Mary, a graduate nurse of St. Mary's Iospital at Saginaw; John, Charles, Elmore and Burnadet, all four of \\hom are still under the parental roof. Mr. Marthey votes with the Democratic party and is a mian of strong convictions and tenacious of his opinions \when satisfied that they are correctly founded. He served four years as splervisor of I)enver tolwnship and pro-e(l a very capable and judicious official. lie was brought up in the Catholic faith and has ever been a loyal son of the imother church, belonging at this time to the congregation worshiping in lt. Pleasant, with whlicli body his family are also identified. Public spirited and progressive in his ideas. he manifests a commenldable interest in the advancement of tile commiunitv andI as a neighlor andl citizen lie enjoys to a marked degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow men. JOSEPIH TEVENS. The honorable subject of this sketch is a successful agriculturist of Rolland township and as a citizen enljoys a creditalle reputation in that lie exhibits commendable zeal in promoting the material interests of tile community and lends his influence to whatever makes for the.social and moral advancement of his fellow ien. Joseph Tevens is a native of Canada, born in Lindsay county, Ontario, on July 18, 1867. Like the majority of the sturdy people of his province, he was reared to honest toil as well as to hablits of industry and thrift and on reaching the years of maturity lie had his plans well matured and his future course definitely definedl. Mr. Tevens was about fifteen years of age hlen lie calie to Isabella county and since 1882 his life has been closely identified with tile t-\onship of Rolland. where lie now makes his home. Wlhen a young man hle began railroading, which has been his principal business for a numtlber of years. and in connection therewith he is also engaged in agricultural pursuits \which he has conducted with success and financial profit, ow\niing at this time a fine body of land upon which lie has erected good buildings and miade many other ISABFLLA COUN TN, MICHIGAN.72 723 substantial imnpro.vemnents. MIr. Tevenis farm, which contains one hundred and ninety-nine acres. is ailiiiralily sitiiateil in nnci of the miost favored agricultural nlistricts of Isabella county and siince coming into Ilis possession it has lbeen brouglit to a high state of cuiltivation aiii is iiow tile solurce (If a comlfortalde inicomel. 'As a railroadecr lie Cenjoyedl il a imarked (legree the Confidence of his superiors ill the coimiiany by which empilloyedl, anil idiriiig his long pleriod (If service piriovd a capahle workman aiii wris true to every trust rcposedl in lhin. Iii tlic ieiglliborhoodl w\here hre rcsidlcs lic is greatly esteciiied, ais his character ills evcr lieciu abilve rcproacli. his intcgrity unqu(lestioned aiii lie strivcs 1v all lcgitimate means to iliscluarge tle itidties (if citizenshil) as hecomnes ain intrll gent iliciuuhcr oIf thc hodyx politic and to show himself worthy the coniihulcii of his fellow men. He has lbeen toownship treasurer and school ilirector, ill 1)1th of which hiositiuns, lie disichlirged hIs duties with credlit tni hiiiiself aiii to die satisfactioii of the puhlic piioxving anl able and trustedl Olhicial who mule everv othecr consideration sec ondaryx tii the iiiterests of the pole I of Illis jiirisdictioii. Mdr. Teveus hais a lileaslImt homue andi n mntcresting family, consisting gof a\vi eanld tlicir clui1rllrcu woluo i'kc huimselft enjox the I espect and contidlence of the iieiglhborhood and are hiighly esteeiiid lby ill whoi know tlheii. Previouis to1 ier mlarria-e Mrs. Tcvciis xxas.1-lattie Jo;rdiii amel lived in Mt. Pleasant. the followxinug heing tlic namiles of the children she has borne her hushand Rosc. Florenuce and Clara. AARON J)AV1S. The subject (If this review is a piriosperois fariiier ainl belong's to thle ((lce great, hut noxx ralpidly diminishing, army xwhich (fluring the five years ouir niation xxas inl the thriiws of the mlivst terrihle cixil xxar knowni to historv, ilcfeateil the host-s of treason, restored thle 'Union aiid rendered any further atteililts at rcbellicn forcver iluphossible. Aauron D~avis. third son anel fifth chilil of olin R. aiii Rebecca (Claypool) lDaxis, xvas horn in licking coiunitv, OhIio, on thle 3oth (lay of JulyN, 1844. His father and mnother, both natives of ticking comuuity, wycre hiornmi in 809 aii]ih 811, respectixely, and their niarriage, xvhichi also took hplace there, xxas solemiiizeel onl M\arch I14. I 83o. Their children, in order eof birthi, xxere: James, William, 'Elizabeth, Naiicv aiii A\aroni, all exccelt the siibject deceased. Aaroii Davis xvas reared after thle iiaiiner if most country lails anel spelt the early part (If his life at xxork inl thle fields diriiig the spring and 724 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. summer months and in the winter time attended the schools of his neighborhood. He remained at hon-e until twenty-two years old and then married a young lady who was born October 22, 1845, ill the same locality and with whom he had been well acquainted since childhood. The ceremony by which they were made husband and wife was solemnized on the 21st day of October, I866, and from that time until his removal to Michigan, eight years later, he followed agricultural pursuits in his native county and met with fair success at his vocation. Shortly after the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Volunteers, a regiment composed of sharpshooters who were selected by reason of their skill as marksmen, each being obliged to pass a rigid test before he was accepted. His regiment was attached to the Armv of the North and saw much active service during the calmpaigns ill Tennessee, Georgia and other states, taking part in some of the bloodicst battles of the war. including Chickamauga and Chattanooga, going from the latter place to Atlanta and becoming a part of the force under General Sherman. After the reduction of that stronghold, Mr. Davis did not take part in the celebrated "mlarch to the sea," but went with his regiment to Nashville to help check the Confederate force under Hood which suffered a crushing defeat at that place by General Thomas. When Lee surrendered, Mr. Davis was at Eastport, Mississippi. Later he took part in the review at Nashville and at the close of the war was present at the funeral of President Lincoln. Receiving his discharge at Camp Chase, Ohio, at the expiration of his term of service, he returned home, where he was married in dtle time. as already stated, and where he continued to reside until 1874, whlen he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and rented one hundred acres of land a half mile south of Dushville, where he lived until his removal to his present farm in lremont township the following year. Mr. Davis purchased forty acres in the above townsship antd at once began improving the same. In due time all of the timber was removed and the soil reduced to tillage and at intervals good buildings were erected and the farm put in splendid condition. He now has a beautiful and attractive dwelling equipped with many of the comforts and conveniences wshich lighten the housewife's duty and make rural life desirable, also a substantial barn and the necessary outbuildings, together with good fences, a successful system of drainage and various other improvements which add materially to the appearance and value of the farm. Mr. Davis is a member of Cedar Ridge Lodge No. 540. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held the offices of chaplain, vice ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 725 grand and vice-suppo)rlter, and also belongs to the (;range, in which he has long been an active and influential worker. He is a Democrat in politics and as such has been zealous in promoting the success of his party, though not an office seeker nor aspirant for any kind of public preferment. He served twelve years as justice of the peace, however, and proved very capable in the discharge of his duties; much important business was brought to his court during his term of office, and such were the impartial nature of his rulings and the justness of his decisions that few if any appeals were taken from the latter to higher tribunals. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of seven children, vwhose names are as follows: Robert married Flora fletherington and lives in Eremont township; Ola, wife of Ed. Bellinger, lives in Lincoln township; Lydia. who married L. Hetherington, mioved to Mexico some years ago, where her death subsequently occurred; Smith, whose wife was formerly Clara Gerry, is a farmer of Fremont township; James, who is unmarried, lives at home and helps cultivate the farm; MIary. now Mrs. Clinton Root, lives at Hope. Idaho, alnd Olive, the youngest of the number, is deceased. JOSEPH CLARE. Success has been honorably attained by the well-known farmer and stock raiser whose name introduces this sketch, a gentleman of high character and sterling -orth whom to know is to esteem and honor. Joseph Clare is a native of Erie county, New York, and a son of Frank and Sophia (Rame) Clare, both born in the county of Erie. the father in 1838, the mother in the year 1841. Frank Clare moved his family to Isabella county, Michigan, in 1879, and settled in Isabella township. purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 26. all but aboutttwo acres unimproved. By well directed labor, lie soon cleared and reduced to cultivation the greater part of his land, besides making many substantial improvements and in dtue time forged to the front as a successful tiller of the soil and enterprising citizen. A Democrat in politics, he wielded a strong influence for the party and, a Roman Catholic in religion, his daily life was consistent with his. Christian faith. He died on the r Tth day of August, 1896, being survived bv his wife, lho has since lived with her son, the stubject of this sketch. Joseph Clare was born in I869 and when ten years of age was brought to Isabella county, Michigat, since which time his life has been closely inter 726 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. woven with the interests of the township in which lie resides. He was reared to habits of industry and as soon as his services coull be utilized, \\as ptit to work in the woods and fields, where lie soon developed strong physical powers, being able to do a man's part at all kinds of farm lalor when ibut a vyottl in years. Like a dutiful son, he remained at home, working for his )parents and looking after their interests until his thirty-first year when lie bought his present farm of eighty acres in section 26, Isabella township, near the family homestead, which lie has since greatly improved and brotught to a high state of tillage. All lbut twenty acres of his land is in cultivation and his improvements, which are anlong the liest in the township, include a fine barn erected in I1892. and remodeled in the year i909, a colmmodious sdwelling with a full complement of modern conveniences, three hutndred rods of \\wire fencing. one hundred and sixty rod(s of drain tile, to say lnothing of the excellent condition to which the soil has been reduced and the many attractive features of the home and surroundings. Mr. Clare is essentially a progressive mana and as such ranks among the most enterprising farmers of his township and county. IlI addlitio( to tilling the soil, in which his success has long leen demonlstlrated, hle devotes considerable attention to live stock, making a specialty of fine cattle, altlhough his horses and hogs are also of high grades and give evidence of the care bestowedl uplon them. In his political allegiance lie is strongly.)emocr;itic alnl, like his father before himi, wields a potent influence for his party in the towvnship of his residence, though not an office seeker (nor aspirant for any kind of public distinction. He too was reared under the influence of the Roman Catholic church and has ever remained true to the principles and teachings of the same, leing one of the leading imelmbers of the church at Mt. Pleasant and a liberal contributor to its support. Tlis name also ahdorns the records of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, an organlization under the auspices of the church. Mr. Clare was united in the holy bonds of \wed(lock when thirty-four years of age with Catherine Gallaher, who has borne him two children, Mary J. and Joe E. LYMAN F. MEAD. The gentleman under whose name this sketch is written is a native of New York, born on September II, I845. When ten years old hIe moved with his parents to lonia county, Michigan, where he helped clear and improve a ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 727 farm on which he continued to reside for a period of twenty-four years, during the early part of which time he attended the public schools and otherwise fitted himself for the duties and responsibilities of life as a tiller of the soil. In the year I879 he chose a wife and helpmeet in the person of Catherine Iong, of Ohio, and about the same time moved to Clinton county, Michigan, where he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and where he made his home until his removal in I889 to Isabella county. On coming to this county Mr. Mead bought forty acres of land in section 17, Nottawa township. which lie at once proceeded to imaprove and to which he subsequently added from time to time until his realty now amounts to one hundred and twenty acres, sixty of which are in cultivation. When lie moved to his original purchase there was no road to the land and he was obliged to cut one through the woods for a considerable distance in order to reach the site of his future home. The land being quite heavily timbered with a dense undergrowth among the trees, a great deal of hard work wsas required( to get the soil in condition for tillage, but. being strong, energetic and in the enjoyment of almost perfect health, he labored early and late, cheered by the prospect of success that would ultimately attend his efforts. In the course of a few years he had a goodly part of his place in cultivation and from that time to the present his advancement has been steady and certain and it is not presumptuous to claiml for him at the present clay a conspicluous place among the leading farmers and representative citizens of the township in which he lives. Tn the year I902 AMr. Mead added greatly to the appearance and value of his faril by erecting a model larn in size forty by sixty feet with a commodious stone basenment and six years later the present dwellinlg. an imposing two-story edifice, containing eleven rooms, was built and furnished with a full complement of comforts and conveniences. Mr. Mead takes great pleasure in his home and has not been sparing of his means in beautifying and making it attractive. In connection with general farming he pays considerable attention to fruit raising and at this time he has an acre in apples, pears and cherries which he selected with the greatest care and from which he receives no small part of his yearly earnings. Being a practical horticulturist and satisfied that fruit is a more renlunerative crop than the ordinary products of the farm. he proposes to enlarge his orchard ere long and go into the business upon a more extensive scale. Mr. Mead is a D)emocrat in politics and, with his wife and family, belongs to the Catholic church at Beal City. Mrs. Mead has been her hus1band's faithful and efficient colaborer 728 ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ever since assuming his name and to her assistance and co-operation not a little of his success is due. She has borne him three children, namely: George, who lives at home and helps cultivate the farm; Mary married Pierce Summers and lives in Nottawa township; Thomas, who married Mary Lay, lives on the home place, and James, whose wife was formerly Marie Laulhenthal, resides on the family homestead also. JOTIN A. HARRIS. Among the enterprising and public-slirited citizens of Mt. Pleasant, none has been granted a greater meed of respect and admiration than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Ior Ilany years actively and successfully engaged in commercial enterprises of importance, he was an efficient and widely recognized factor in the growth and advancement of the business interests of the community, in which he has never lost interest, thotigh now practically retired from active participation therein. John A. Harris was born in London, England, September 23, 1842. His father was WVilliam Harris. born in Cornwall, England, wXho camle of an ancient Cornish fanily. His mother, Sarah (Heath) Harris, was botrn in London, England, descended from a Scotch family. \\Villiam allrris was a produce merchant in London, and emigrated to the United States in 1852, bringing his wife and family, consisting of five children. He died in Newv York city in I854. In August, I862. John A. Harris enlisted in the Union army and joined Company F, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, August 8th that year. The regiment formed part of the Army of the Cumberland r. r. arris was discharged from service of the army July 5, I865. }e then returned to the family farm in Montcalm county, where he remained engaged in farming and lumbering until 1872, when he came to Mount Pleasant, where he has since resided. On coming to Mount Pleasant, Mr. Harris and his brother William, who came with him, built the Mount Pleasant flouring mills, which have always been and are now operated by the Harris family. Mr. Harris continued active in the flour milling business until about four years ago, when he retired from business. ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 729 Mr. Harris has always taken a keen interest in the affairs affecting the progress of the city, but has not been a seeker of office. He served as one of the trustees of the village board for several years, one term as president of the village, and since Mount Pleasant has grown to be a city he has served a term as aldlermanl. I-e has always taken great interest in Grand Arlmy affairs, and was the first commander of the local post, \Vabuno No. 250, an hionor which his comrades conferred on him for several years afterwards. Mr. Harris has taken an interest in the educational affairs of the city and served on the school board for some years. Mr. IIarris has been twice married. On May 3T, 1872, lie married Catherine Holmden, at Greenville, Aontcalm county. She was a native of Michigan. born in Grand Rapids, the dlaughter of George and Hester Holimden. Seven children were born of that mIarriage: Cassius A\., born August 12, 1873. has lived in New York city for several years; Hester Lottie, born July 9, I875. lives ill Mount Pleasant, the wife of J. F. McNutt; Edwlard Owen, born August 15, 1877, lives in M[ount Pleasant; John Glenn, born February 28, I882, died November T6, 1887; Ralplh Garbutt. bornl January 27. 1884, lives in Mount Pleasant; rlizabeth B., born August 21, T889, is a teacher in the schools in Pontiac; Sate, born Novelmber 20. 189o, lives at home. Mrs. Catherine (Holmden) Harris died Octoler 25, I894, and on December 6, 1897, Mr. Harris married Helen F. Rogers. Iler father was Jacob Ferris, descended from an old family of New York. lie was captain of Company D, Twentyfirst Mlicligan, the regimlenlt in which Ilr. Harris served. After the war he was an attorney in Grand Rapids for several years. -o *'1 I.I