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MI ICH IGAN.
CONTAINING
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@ Presidents of the United states. ~
CHICAGO:
BIOGE:RAPIICA.L PUBLISH:ITG CO.


1893




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P FEFFVE.
1 1 ~^( j LIE greatest of English historians, IACAULAY, and one of the most brilliant writers of
the present century, has said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RECORD,of this county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and
A g lI  By  taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our
corps of writers have gone to tle people, the men and women who have, by their
enterprise and industry, brouglht the county to rank second to none among those
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life
I struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, wit an
influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who
have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have
5'^ ~   become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very
many, who, not seeking the apl)lause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content
to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy-"they have done what
they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace
once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not
be lost upon those who follow after.
Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact
that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be
inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers flatter them,
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given.
The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the
publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the
information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made
at their residence or place of business.
November, 1893.                                        jBIO(;lGtMIII:., PlUiBLISHING Co.




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FIRST PRESIDENT.


^^...O -^^s^^^^f'^^^S
B EO@RGE WAM8~tSIN8%0 W
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'g ^Ad n   HE Father of our Country was
< 1 lm mI ) born in Westmorland Co., Va.,
I    I   r Feb. 22, 1732. His parents
': / lwere Augustine and         Mary
G =.- ~(Ball) Washington. The family
to which he belonged has not
been satisfactorily traced in
England.   His great-grandfather, John Washington, enmigrated to Virginia about I657,
and  became   a  prosperous
planter.  He had two sons,
Lawrence and   John.   The
former married Mildred Warner
i   and had three children, John,
Augustine and Mildred.    Augustine, the father of George, first
married Jane Butler, who bore
him four children, two of whom,
Lawrence and Augustine, reached
maturity. Of six children by his
second marriage, George was the
eldest, the others being Betty,
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles
and Mildred.
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his
-ldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon,
and to George he left the parental residence. George
received only such education as the neighborhood
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left
school, whei he received private instruction in
mathematics.  His spelling was rather defective.


Remarkable stories are told of his great physica:
strength and development at an early age. He was
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fairness and veracity which characterized his whole life.
When George was 4 years old he had a desire to go to
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him,
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was
abandoned.  Two years later he was appointed
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very
essential to him. In 1751, though only 19 years of
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for
active service against the French and Indians. Soon
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They
soon returned, and in the summer of I752 Lawrence
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter
who did not long survive him. On her demise the
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George.
Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was
reorganized, and the province divided into four military districts, of which the northern was assigned to
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this
a very perilous mission was assigned him and accel)ted, which others had refused. This was to proceed to the French post near Lake Erie in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed
was between 500 and 6oo miles. Winter was at hand,
and the journey was to be made without military
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The




GEORGE WASHINGITON.


--


trip was a perilous one, and several times he came near
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in command of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was
commissioned lieutenant-colonel.  Active war was
then begun against the French and Indians, in which
Washington took a most important part. In the
nmemorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Braddock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock
wvere disabled early in the action, and Washington
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter
to his brother he says: "I had four bullets through
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit
him.
After having been five years in the military service,
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he
took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio,
co resign his commission. Soon after he entered the
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an
active and important part.  January 17, I759, he
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy
widow of John Parke Custis.
When the British Parliament had closed the port
of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all."
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Congress of all the colonies was called to meet at Philadelphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties,
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Washington was sent as a delegate. On May io, 1775, the
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Concord and Lexington had been fought. Among the
first acts of this Congress was the election of a commander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and
responsible office was conferred upon Washington,
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted
it on June I9, but upon the express condition that he
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account
of expenses and expect Congress lo pay them and
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country
were so long confided. The war was conducted by
him under every possible disadvantage, and while his
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his


commission as commander-in-chief of the army to
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. H.
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resume.
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all
connection with public life.
In February,1789, Washington was unanimously
elected President. In his presidential career he was
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new
government; trials from lack of confidence on the part
of other governments; trials from want of harmony
between the different sections of our own country;
trials from the impoverished condition of the country,
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and
while perhaps this alone kept our government from
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and
very annoying.
At the expiration of his first term he was unanimously re-elected. At the end of this term many
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March,
I797, at the expiraton of his second term as President, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there
his few remaining years free from the annoyances of
public life. Later in the year, however, his repose
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France.
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to
take command of the armies. He chose his subordinate officers and left to them the charge of matters in the field, which he superintended from his
home. In accepting the command he made the
reservation that he was not to be in the field until
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations
his life was suddenly cut off. December 2, he took
a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling
in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eighteenth his body was borne with military honors to its
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at
Mount Vernon.
Of the character of Washington it is impossible to
speak but in terms of the highest respect and admiration.  The more we see of the operations of
our government, and the more deeply we feel the
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest,
the more highly we must estimate the force of his talent and character, which have bean able to challenge
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and nations, and to win a fame as extended as the limits
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will
be as lasting as the existence of man.
The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry.
He commanded respect without any appearance of
haughtiness, and ever serious without heing dull.










-.J,)






SECOND PRESIDENT.._.


C  _~i^^,_ ___ <~~  -^^"^^^^^^^P^^ -— >>> 00tA*>
-4 +      F~ OHAN ADAM&S. 4". At


[    Ti@J  OHN   ADAMS, the second
i,. ^1: l~t, President and the first Vice-'     l'][" r I Q / l  President of the United States,
[     p.     — 9 ~was born in Braintree (now
)/ A:   '-_  Quincy),Mass., and about ten
X   3)f)~  nmiles from Boston, Oct. 19,
\^l/ G I7 35. His great-grandfather, Henry
J  qll Adams, emigrated from  England
[lX:l about X640, with a family of eight
X )sons, and settled at Braintree. The
parents of John were John and
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His?-   father was a farmer of limited
/  means, to which he added the business of shoemaking.  He gave his
eldest son, John, a classical education at Harvard College.    John
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the
school in Worcester, Mass.  This he found but a
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He
had thought seriously of the clerical profession
but seems to have been turned from this by what he
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical counjils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,"
of the operations of which he had been a witness in
his native town.  He was well fitted for the legal
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick perceptive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister,
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxation turned him from law to politics. He took initial
steps toward holdinr.  town meeting, and the resolu

tions he offered on the subject became very popular
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos.
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leglislature) in I770.
Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress,
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himselt
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad.
vocated the movement for independence against tho
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies
should assume the duties of self-government. He.
was a prominent member of the committee of ive)
appointed June i, to prepare a declaration of independence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through
Congress in a three days debate.
On the day after the Declaration of Independence
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the
greatest question was decided that ever was debated
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil
be decided among men. A resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony, 'that these United
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde.
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of
July, I776, will be a memorable epoch in the history
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary.
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day off
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows




24


JOHN ADAMS.~


24-                    J HN ADAMS.


games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations
fromn one end of the continent to the other, from this
time forward for ever. You will think me transported
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to
maintain this declaration, and support and defend
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is
worth more than all the means; and that posterity
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I
hope we shall not."
In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a
delegate to Frafce and to co-operate with Bemjamin
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money
from the French Government. This was a severe trial
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home,
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and exposed him to great peril of capture by the British cruisers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17,
I779. In September of the same year he was again
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readiness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet
might be found willing tolisten to such proposels. He
sailed for France in November, from there he went to
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and
formed important commercial treaties
Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed
Jan. 21, I783. The re-action from the excitement,
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a continued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he
was advised to go to England to drink the waters of
Bath. While in England, still drooping anddesponding, he received dispatches from his own government
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip.
February 24, 1785; Congress appointed Mr. Adams
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face
to face the King of England, who had so long regarded him  as a traitor.  As England did not
condescend to appoint a minister to the United
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accomplishing but little, he sought permission to return to
nis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788.
When Washington was first chosen President, John
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again
at the second election of Washington as President,
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Washington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was
elected President,though not without much opposition.
Serving in this office four years,he was succeeded by
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics.
While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great


French Revolution shook the continent of Europe,
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the
classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it.
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence originated the alienation between these distinguished
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies
were with England and Jefferson led the other in
sympathy with France.
The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till
after death. No one could look upon his venerable
form, and think of what he had done and suffered,
and how he had given up all the prime and strength
of his life to the public good, without the deepest
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar
good fortune to witness the complete success of the
institution which he had been so active in creating and
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest
station in the gift of the people.
The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half
century since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, arrived, and there were but three of the
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the
earth to hail its morning light.  And, as it is
well known, on that day two of these finished their
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as
to seem miraculous.  For a few days before Mr.
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " INDEPENDENCE FOREVER." When the day was ushered
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons,
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glorious fourth of Julv-God bless it-God bless you all."
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and
glorious day."  The last words he uttered were,
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, resigned his spirit into the hands of his God.
The personal appearance and manners of Mr.
Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face,
as his portrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and hl,
manners were frequently abrupt and uncoiirteous.
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked
the manners and address of Jefferson,








.~-;-   /   '7.,I,',
2~~~




TfflRDL PRESIDENT.T


27


- -P-EI                                                                   -I


f'...._ _-  AHOMAS JEFFERSON was
/^  iV^I   ^ bborn April 2, 1743, at Shad'  well, Albermarle county, Va.
-I      d His parents were Peter and
Jane (Randolph) Jefferson,,'.:'~?  ethe former a native of Wales,
~~ /e  2  and.the latter born in London. To them were born six
daughters and two sons, of
whom Thomas was the elder.
When 14 years of age his
father died. He received a
At     I most liberal education, having been kept diligently at school
from the time he was five years of
age. In I760 he entered William
end Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion
and splendor.  Young Jefferson, who was then 17
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproachaable in his morals. It is strange, however, under
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the second year of his college course, moved by some unexplained inward impulse, he discarded his horses,
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for exercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out
of the city and back again. He thus attained very
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philosophy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and


there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man.
Immediately upon leaving college he began the
study of law. For the short time he continued in the
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distinguished himself by his energy and accuteness as a
lawyer.  But the times called for greater action.
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led
him into active political life. In 1769 he was choser
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.  In
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beautiful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow
Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which
conmmanded a prospect of wonderful extent and
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon
became the most distinguished resort in our land.
In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress.
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he
was placed upon a number of important committees,
and was chairman of the one appointed for the drawing up of a declaration of independence. This committee consisted of Thoiias Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R.
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Congress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July
4, 1776, What must have been the feelings of that




28


TffOM,4S             Y.I-l~SI


_8T          O A  JFE SI


man-what the emotions that swelled his breastwho was charged with the preparation of that Declaration, which, while it made known the wrongs of
America, was also to publish her to the world, free,
soverign and independent. It is one of the most remarkable papers ever written; and did no other effort
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality.
In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to
Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia. At one time
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to
Monticello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jefferson and his family, ere his mansion was in possession of the British troops. His wife's health, never
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and
in the summer of 1782 she died.
Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in I783.
Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Returning to the United States
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State
in Washington's cabinet.  This position he resigned
Jan. T, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice President, and four years later was elected President over
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In
I804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimiity,
and George Clinton, Vice President.
The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstration was disturbed by an event which threatened the
tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our
-outhwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there
a new republic. This has been generally supposed
was a mere pretext; and although it has not been
generally known what his real plans were, there is no
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous
character.
In I809,at the expiration of the second term for
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly
forty years, he had been continually before the public, and all that time had been employed in offices of
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus devoted the best part of his life to the service of his
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his
declining years required, and upon the organization of
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid farewell forever to public life, and retired to Monticello.
Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole
families came in their coaches with their horses,fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and
nurses,-and remained three and even six months.
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a
fashionable watering-place.
The fourth of July, I826, being the fiftieth anniver-,0,7, ',   4.  4.


sary of the Declaration of American Independence,
great preparations were made in every part of the
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer,
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declaration, to participate in their festivities.  But an illness, which had been of several weeks duration, and
had been continually increasing, compelled him to
decline the invitation.
On the second of July, the disease under which
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced
state that his medical attendants, entertained nc
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish thai
he might be permitted to breathe the air of the fiftieth
anniversary. His prayer was heard-that day, whose
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land,
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed forever. And what a noble consummation of a noble
life! To die on that day,-the birthday of a nation,- -
the day which his own name and his own act had
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him,
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings,
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life.
Almost at the same hour of his death, the kindred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors.
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of
freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desperate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a
century they had labored together for the good of
the country; and now hand in hand they depart.
In their lives they had been united in the same great
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not
divided.
In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became
white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his forehead broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as
well as personal courage; and i.s command of temper was such that his oldest and most intimate friends
never recollected to have seen him in a passion.
His manners, though dignified, were simple and unaffected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conversation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is
discernable the care with which he formed his style
upon the best models of antiquity.




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,/      aZ-                                                  /




FO URTHt PRESIDENT.                3$
_..


-,.;   AMES    MADISON, "Father.", ^! I [f:tl~ of the Constitution," and fourth;1    1     I 1 1i"< |< ^President of the United States,
ml ~-   'if was born March i6, 1757, and
(J[( '~(o-^ died at his home in Virginia,
7i:- p ' June 28, 1836. The name of
__ f  James Madison is inseparably coni    [ nected with most of the important
'l   events in that heroic period of our
~j:~7    country during which the foundations of this great republic were
laid. He was the last of the founders
of the Constitution of the United
States to be called to his eternal
Ireward.
The Madison family were among
the early emigrants to the New World,
landing upon the shores of the Chesapeake but I5 years after the settlement of Jamestown. The father of
James Madison    was an   opulent
^ planter, residing upon a very fine estate called "Montpelier," Orange Co.,
Va. The mansion was situated in
the midst of scenery highly picturesque and romantic, on the west side
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and
political attachment existed between these illustrious
men, from their early youth until death.
The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of
I8 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey.
Here he applied himself to study with the most im

prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor
of constitution. He graduated in 177 I, with a feeble
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subs -
quent career.
Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading.
This educational course, the spirit of the times in
which he lived, and the society with which he associated, all combined to inspire him with a strong
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that
his life was not to be long, he directed especial attention to theological studies. Endowed with a mind
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed
all the arguments for and against revealed religion,
until his faith became so established as never to
be shaken.
In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to
frame the constitution of the State.  The next year
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly.
He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and
consequently lost his election; but those who had
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf,
and he was appointed to the Executive Council.
Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained
member of the Council; and their appreciation of his




32


JAMES MADI~SON.


32                            JA AlES AfADZSOiV.


intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not
a little to his subsequent eminence.  In the year
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of
the most conspicuous positions among them.
For three years Mr. Madison continued in Congress, one of its most active and influential members.
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature.
No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no national government, with no power to form treaties
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in
the declaration, that an efficient national government
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commissioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss
this subject. Five States only were represented. The
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island
was represented. George Washington was chosen
president of the convention; and the present Constitution of the United States was then and there formed.
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen- more active in framing this immortal document than the mind
and the pen of James Madison.
The Constitution, adopted by a vote 8i to 79, was
to be presented to the several States for acceptance.
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent
States, with but little power at home and little respect
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the convention to draw up an address to the people of the United
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution,
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and
went into effect in 1789.
Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Representatives in the first Congress, and soon became the
avowed leader of the Republican party.  While in
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a
young widow of remarkable power of fascination,
whom he married. She was in person and character
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs.
Madison.
Mr. Madison served as Secretaryof State under
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration
was chosen President. At this time the encroachments of England had brought us to the verge of war.,0j,,,,,,- '


British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and
our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring
in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser.
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchalance he selects any number whom he may please to
designate as British subjects; orders them down the
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gundeck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the
battles of England. This right of search and impressment, no efforts of our Government could induce
the British cabinet to relinquish.
On the I8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war
against Great Britain.  Notwithstanding the bitter
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th
of March, r813, was re-elected by a large majority,
and entered upon his second term of office. This is
not the place to describe the various adventures of
this war on the land and on the water.  Our infan'.
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grappling with the most formidable power which ever
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February,
I813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole
coast of the United States under blockade.
The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me
ditator. America accepted; England refused. A British force of five thousand men landed on the banks
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesapeake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladensburg, upon Washington.
The straggling little city of Washington was thrown
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city.
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed,
and he could not go back without danger of being
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in
Washington were in flames.
The war closed after two years of fighting, and on
Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent.
On the 4th of March, I817, his second term of
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his Leautiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the remainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi.
son died July 12, 1849.








t,-L-W;.1-e-     --   r-,  "
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'F~IFTH PRES)S


DIPR VENi'.       35


iAMES MONROE, the fifth,. 7;~^  ^| Presidentof The United States,
god01 ^ ^ I was born in Westmoreland Co.,
Va.,Alril 28, I758. His early
nativity. Hi.; ancestors had for,  many years resided in the provincein which he was born. When,
at 17 years of age, in the process
of completing his education at
i William and Mary College, the Co1 lolial Congress assembled at Philadell)hia to deliberate upon the unjust and manifold oppressions of
Great Britian, declared the separation of the Colonies, and promulgated the Declaration of Independence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly
probable that he would have been one of the signers
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left
school and enlisted among the patriots.
He joined the army when everything looked hopeless and gloomy. The number of deserters increased
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring
in; and the tories not only favored the cause of the
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits,
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of cont:nding with an enemy whom they had been taught
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their
l'!itical emancipation. The young cadet joined the
ias1ks, and espoused the cause of his injured country,
with a firm determination to live o. lie with her strife


for liberty.  Firmly yet sadly he shared in the melancholy retreat from Harleam  Heights and White
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled
before its foes through New Jersey.  In four months
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots
Ihad been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charging upon the enemy he received a wound in the left
shoulder.
As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro-I
moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered,
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however,
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the campaigns of 1777 and I778, in the actions of Brandy
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however,
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag;
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as avolun
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits.
In 1782, he was elected from King George county,
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by tha!
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence,
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age; and having
at this early period displayed some of that ability
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards
employed with unremitting energy for the public good,




36


JAMfES MONROE~


he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of
the Congress of the United' States.
Deeply as Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old
-onfederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution,
thinking, with many others of the Republican party,
that it gave too much power to the Central Government,
and not enough to the individual States. Still he retained the esteem of his friends who were its warm
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member
of the United States Senate; which office he held for
four years. Every month the line of distinction between the two great parties which divided the nation,
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more
distinct. The two proninent ideas which now separated them were, that the Republican party was in
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the
Central Government as little power, and the State
Governments as much power, as the Constitution would
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England,
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Constitution, which would give as much power to the
Central Government as that document could possibly
authorize.
The leading Federalists and Republicans were
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed.  In
building up this majestic nation, which is destined
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the combination of their antagonism was needed to create the
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was denounced as almost a demon.
Washington was then President. England had espoused the cause of the Bourbons against the principles of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn
into the conflict.  We were feeble and far away.
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality between these contending powers. France had helped
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse
than that which we had endured. Col. Monroe, more
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous
and noble nature. He violently opposed the President's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in
magnanimity.
Washington, who could appreciate such a character,
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness,
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was denouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr.
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations.


Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Monroe was elected (overnor of Virginia, and held the
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining
the vast territory then known as the Province of
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before obtained from Spain.  Their united efforts were successful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and
district of Louisiana were added to the United States.
This was probably the largest transer of real estate
which was ever made in all the history of the world.
From France Mr. Monroe went to England to obtain from that country some recognition of oul
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those
odious impressments of our seamen.  But England was unrelenting. He again returned to England on the same mission, but could receive no
redress. He returned to his home and was again
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned
to accept the position of Secretary of State under
Madison. While in this office war with England was
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during
these trying times, the duties of the War Department
were also put upon him. He was truly the armorbearer of President Madison, and the most efficient
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of
peace he resigned the Department of War, but continued in the office of Secretary of State until the expiration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the election held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had
been chosen President with but little opposition, and
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years
later he was elected for a second term.
Among the important measures of his Presidency
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the
Missouri Compromise, and the "Monroe doctrine.'
This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that
time the United States had recognized the independence of the South American states, and did not wish
to have European powers longer attempting to sub
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt
on the part of European powers to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing
or controlling American governnents or provinces in
any other light than as a manifestation by European
powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course
of foreign governments, and has become the approved
sentiment of the United States.
At the end of his second term Mr Monroe retired
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830.
when he went to New York to live with his son-inlaw. In that city he died,on the 4th of July T831,




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J, C. A4L6




SIX TH PRESIDRNT.                    3.'T'-      - OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the
sixth President of the United
p         ~'x| I ^ dStates, was born in the rural
Xw)gto  sai    home of his honored father,
vy ^^Jd I^ h d nJohn Adams, in Quincy, Mass.,
on tho e I itll f July, 1767. His
nima)y    Iother, a woman of exalted
/i fther worth, watched over his childhood
mn      during the almost constant abt sence of his father.   When but
fro      eight years of age, he stood with
o Qic his mother on an eminence, listenapp l ineg to the booming of the great battie on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on
upon the smoke and flames billowing up from     the conflagration of
Charlestown.
l When      t eleven len years old he
i    took a tearful adieu of his mother,
to sail with his father for Europe,
through a fleet ot hostile British cruisers. The bright,
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received
from them flattering marks of attention.
Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this
coul;try, in I779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again
john Quincy accompanied his father.  At Paris he
applied himself with great diligence, for six months,
to.tudy; then accompained his father to Holland,
where he entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then
the University at Leyden. About a year from this
time, in I78i, when the manly boy was but fourteen
yea-s of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our minister to the Russian court, as his private secretary.
In this school of incessant labor and of enobling
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and
Bremen.   This long journey he took alone, in the
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed
ums studies, under a privrate tutor, at Hague. Thence,


in the spring of I782, he accompanied his father t.
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance
with the most distinguished men on the Ccntinentexamining architectural remains, galleries of I aintings
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again
becamee associated with the most illustrious men of
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal
themes which can engross the human mind.  Afte-:
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785,
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world,
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a
residence with his father in London, under such circumstances, must have been extremely attractive
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he preferred to return to America to complete his education
in an American college.  He wished then to study
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be
able to obtain an independent support.
Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, being then but twenty-seven years of age, he was appointed by Washington, resident minister at the
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached
London in October, where he was immediately admitted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pincknty,
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with
Great Britian.  After thus spending a fortnight i,
London, he proceeded to the Hague.
In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal a,
minister plenipotentiary.  On his way to Portugal.
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches
directing him to the court of Beilin, but requesting
him to remain in London until he should receive his
instructions.  While waiting he was married to a.
American lady to whom he had been previously engaged, —M'ss Louisa Catherine Johnson. daughter
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accomr
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in tix
elevated sphere for which she w.s de4ined




~Q


JOHNY QUINCY ADAMS.




He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797;
where he remained until July, I799, when, having fulfilled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his
recall.
Soon after his return, in I802, he was chosen to
the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then
was elected Senator of the United States for six years,
from the 4th of March, 1804.  His reputation, his
ability and his experience, placed him immediately
among the most prominent and influential members
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Government in its measures of resistance to the encroachments of England, destroying our commerce and insulting our flag. There was no man in America more
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon
these points, and no one more resolved to present
a firm resistance.
In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Presidential chair, and he immediately nominated John
Qiuincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resigning his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked
at Boston, in August, 1809.
While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense student. He devoted his attention to the language and
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the
European system of weights, measures, and coins; to
the climate and astronomical observations; while he
Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found.
All through life the Bible constituted an important
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five
chapters every day.
On the 4th of March, I817, Mr. Monroe took the
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr.
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of hisnumerous friends in public and private life in Europe, he
sailed in June, I8I9, for the United States. On the
I8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Monroe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary
of State.
Some time before 'he close of Mr. Monroe's second
term of office, new candidates began to be presented
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign.
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson received ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four;
William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirtyseven. As there was no choice by the people, the
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr.
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and
be was elected.
The friends of all the disappointed candidates now:ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in
she past history of our country than the abuse which


was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was
an administration more pure in principles, more conscientiously devoted to the best interests of the country, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per.
haps, was there an administration more unscrupulously and outrageously assailed.
Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, abstemious and temperate in his habits; always rising
early, and taking much exercise. When at his hcmein
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast.
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his
own fire and applying himself to work in his library
often long before dawn.
On the 4th of March, I829, Mr. Adams retired
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice President. The slavery question now began to assume
portentous magnitude.  Mr. Adams returned to
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with unabated zeal. But he was not long permitted to remain in retirement. In November, 1830, he was
elected representative to Congress.  For seventeen
years, until his death, he occupied the post as representative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to
do brave battle'for freedom, and winning the title of
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in
the House, he announced that he should hold himself bound to no party. Probably there never was a
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny.  'I he
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime
in its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury
with expulsion from the House, with assassination
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final
triumph was complete.
It has been said of President Adams, that when his
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before
he slept, the prayer which his mother taught him in
his infant years.
On the 2 st of February, 1848, he rose on the floor
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around hil.
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed lo
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving consciotusness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around ai.d
said " This is the endof earth;"then after a moment's
pause he added, "1 am content."  These were the
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent."








(J C(  / 6




SE VENTH PRESIDENT.
_   ~ ~ ~ H
5. ri


lqwl All,
I                   a
121-1                 IlY-4                J           ta                 — 24
-Z      p                                     - - Z,44VZ4.W< iNDREW            JACKSON, the
Ad ^   |) ~seventh President of the
United States, was born in
Waxhaw settlement, N. C.,
x z,,   ~March 15, 1767, a few days
after his father's death. His
~-~/X    ~parents were poor emigrants
from   Ireland, and took up..)l ~their abode il Waxhaw settlement, where they lived in
deepest poverty,
t ( l   Andrew, or Andy, as he was
universally called, grew up a very
rough, rude, turbulent boy.  His
features were coarse, his form ungainly; and there was but very
little in his character, made visible, which was attlactive.
When only thirteen years old he joined the volunteers of Carolina against the British invasion.  In
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and
imprisoned for a time at Camden.  A British officer
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of
the dauntless boy.
The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate
Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner.
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fearful gashes,-one on the hand and the other upon the
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert
with the same demand. He also refused, and received a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and
were finally stricken with the small-pox.  Their
mother wass successftl iv: obtaining their exchange,


and took her sick boys home. After a long illnss
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon
left him entirely friendless.
Andrew supported himnself in various ways, sazh as
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however,
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, ol
which Tennessee was then a part.  This involved
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish
with the Sharp Knife.
In I791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who
supposed herself divorced from her former husband.
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later,
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occurrence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr.
Jackson into disfavor.
During these years he worked hard at his profes
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand.
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was especially disgraceful.
In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a constitution. Five were sent from each of the elevet,
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates.,
The new State was enttled to but one member in
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jackson was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then leld its




44


ANDRE W JA CKSO-Ar.


4          A R...S.


sessions,-a distance of about eight hundred miles.
Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Detiocratic party.  Jefferson was his idol.  He admired
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr.
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose
second term of office was then expiring, delivered his
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson
did not approve of the address, and was one of the
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been
wise, firm and patriotic."
Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home.
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court
of his State, which position he held for six years.
When the war of 1812 with Great Britian commenced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair.
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who
would do credit to a commission if one were conferred upon him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson
offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops
were assembled at Nashville.
As the British were hourly expected to make an attack!upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was
in command, he was ordered to descend the river
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson.  The
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of several weeks there, without accomplishing anything,
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him
golden opinions; and he became the most popular
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his
toughness gave him the nickname of" Old Hickory."
Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col.
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged,
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was
lingering upon a bed of suffering new s came that the
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white settlers, were committing the most awfal ravages. Decisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assistance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama.
The Creek Indians had established a strong forton
one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the center of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother.
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven
days.  He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or
Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. I814. The bend


of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres oi
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow
neck the Indians llad constructed a formidable breastwork of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors,
with an ample suply of arms were assembled.
The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly desperate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who endeavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morning until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred warrios were killed  A few probably, in the night, swam
the river and escaped. This ended the war.  The
power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter,
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants
of the bands caine to the camp, begging for peace.
This closing of the Creek war enabled us to concentrate all our militia upon the British, who were the
allies of the Indians  No man of less resolute will
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian
campaign to so successful an issue  Immediately he
was appointed major-general.
Late in August, with an army of two thousand
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort,
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious
assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired.
Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little
army, he   moved his troops to   New  Orleans,
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued.
was in reality a very arduous campaign.  This won
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name.  Here his
troops, which numbered about four thousand men,
won a signal victory over the British army of about
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred.
The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be mentioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in T824,
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however,
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he
assumed the reins of the government, he met with
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of
her death he never recovered.
His administration was one of the most mizmcrabie
in the annals of our country; ap'piauded oy one party,
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where
he died June 8, I845. The last years of Mr. Jackson's life were that of a devoted Christian man.








I       I2
/I~zz/j




EIGHTH PRESIDENT.


4


11Z?1~~~'1~~II)  U~~~lq BU~~~E4.~
f~~~~~i~~~~po~~~C,",y/

%;;.   a /   ARTIN VAN BUREN, the
^,!lA *      eighth  President of the
~'~I~f!!~    171 M United States, was born at
e'~i A~i^ X.     Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5,
$,t  m_   u-_ 1782. He died at the same
place, July 24, I862.  His
body rests in the cemetery
at Kinderhook. Above it is
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet
high, bearing a simple inscription
E-.   about half way up on one face.
The lot is unfenced, unbordered
or unbounded by shrub or flower.
There n out Alttle in the life of Martin Van Buren
cf romant c interest. He fought no battles, engaged
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those
incidents which give zest to biography. His ancestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin,
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer,
residing ili the old town of Kinderhook. His mother,
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intelligence and exemplary piety.
Aie was decidedly a precocious boy, developing unusual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies
in his native village, and commenced the study of
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven
years of study in a law-office were required of him
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with, lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pursued his studies with indefatigable industry. After
spending six years in an office in his native village,


he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his
studies for the seventh year.
In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years ol
age, commenced the practice of law in his native village. The great conflict between the Federal and
Republican party was then at its height.  Mr. Van
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had,
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the
many discussions which had been carried on in his
fathers hotel.  He was in cordial sympathy with.
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused tl.^
cause of State Rights; though at that time the FeCeral party held the supremacy both in his tow.i
and State.
His success and increasing ruputation led himl
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tl.
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven year,
constantly gaining strength by contending in th(e
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned
the bar of his State.
Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Ni.
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for
beauty and accomplishments.  After twelve short
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consunp
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovet
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record
of those years is barren in items of public interest.
In T812, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In I815, he was appointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved
to Albany, the capital of the State.
While he was acknowledged as one of the mos:
plominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had




48


AM R Tj N VA N R UR EN. -


48-                       MARTIN- VA    (/


the moral courage to avow that true democracy did
not require that ' universal suffrage" which admits
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of
governing the State. In true consistency with his
democratic principles, he contended that, while the
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open
to every man without distinction, no one should be
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue
and some property interests in the welfare of the
state.
In I82I he was elected.- member of the United
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat
in the convention to revise the constitution of his
native State. His course in this convention secured
the approval of men of all parties. No one could
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the
interests of all classes in the community.  In the
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a:onspicuous position as an active and useful legislator.
In 1827, John Quincy Adams beirg then in the
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to
che Senate. He had been from the beginning a determined opposer of the Administration, adopting the
'State Rights" view in opposition to what was
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adanis.
Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his
seat in the Senate.  Probably no one in the United
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q.
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was regarded throughout the United States as one of the
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians.
It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how
to touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to
organize a political army which would, secretly and
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results.  By
these powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams,
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which
few thought then could be accomplished.
When Andrew Jackson was elected President he
aplpointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately
appointed Minister to England, where he went the
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met,
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned


home, apparently untroubled; was nominated Vice
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election
of President Jackson; and with smiles for all and
flowns for none, he took his place at the head of that
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination
as ambassador.
His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favorite; and this, probably illore than any other cause,
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief E::ecu
tive. On the 20th of May, I836, Mr. Van Buren received the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen.
Jackson as President of the United States. He was
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the
retiring President. "Leaving New York out of the
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen.
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred
upon him the power to alppoint a successor."
His administration was filled with exciting eventsThe insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in -
volve this country in war witl England, the agitation
of the slavery question, and finally the great commercial panic which spread over the country, all were
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was attributed to the management of the Democratic party,
and brought the President into such disfavor that he
failed of re-election.
With the exception of being nominated for the
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848,
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until
his death.
He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits.
and living within his income, had now fortunately a
competence for his declining years. His unblemished
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he
had occupied in the government of our country, secured to him not only the homage of his party, but
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired front
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics
of the country. From this time until his death, on
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old
age, probably far more happiness than he'had before
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life,








4- 7,             4
1-11" "-"V/
10        "2(     "




NINTH PRESIDENT.


5'


X Y^^TPX ILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, the ninth President of
the United States, was born
'c'~i ""   ~at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773.
His father, Benjamin Harrison, was in comparatively opt  m\g7   ulent circumstances, and was
one of the most distinguished
* S: men of his day. He was an
intimate friend of George
Washington, w as early elected
T @ \     a member of the Continental
Congress, and was conspicuous
among the patriots of Virginia in
resisting the encroachments of the
B' ritish crown. In the celebrated
R 0 J  Congress of 1775, Benjamin Harrison and John Hancock were
both candidates for the office of
speaker.
Mr Harrison was subsequently
clhosen Governor of Virginia, and
j    was twice re-elected.  His son,
William Henry, of course enjoyed
in childhood all the advantages which wealth and
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Having received a thorough coimmon-school education, he
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated
with honor soon after the death of his father.  He,hen repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father,
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
JUpon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and notwithstanding the enemonstrances of his friends, he
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army,.laving obtair^A a commission of Ensign from Presi

dent Washington.  He was then but 19 years old
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose
death he resigned his commission. He was then appointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This
Territory was then entitled to but one member in
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that
position.
In the spring of I80o the North-western Territory
was divided by Congress into two portions.  The
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced
in the State of Ohio, was called "The Territory
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil.
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap.
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was invested with powers nearly dictatorial over the new
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four
times appointed to this office-first by John Adams,
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi.
dent Madison.
Whenhe began his adminstration there were but
three white settlements in that almost boundless region,
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French
settlement.
The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. Aboul




52


WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.


F
- --


the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers,
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them.  One of
these. was called Tecumseh, or "The Crouching
Plinther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or "The Prophet."
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomitable perseverance in any enterprise in which he might
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm,
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred
the encroachment of the whites upon the huntinggrounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was
a n orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which
they dwelt.
But the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was,
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent
by the Great Spirit.
Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippecanoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter.
October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When
near the Prophet's town three Indlans of rank made
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a
short conference, arrangements were made for a meeting the next day, to agree upon terms of peace.
But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with
the Indian character to be deceived by such protestations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's encampment, he took every precaution against surprise.
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept
upon their arms.
The troops threw themselves upon the ground for
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversation with his aids by the embers of a waning fire.  It
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possible, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all
the desperation which superstition and passion most
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the
little army. The savages had been amply provided
with guns and ammunition by the English.  Their
war-whoop was accompained by a shower of bullets.
The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hideous yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a
speedy and an entire victory.  But Gen. Harrison's
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them
until day dawned: they then made a simultaneous
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing before them, and completely routing the foe,


Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can -
adas, were of themselves a very formidalie force; but
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the
forest, sear-hing out every remote farm-house, lurning, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier
was plunged into a state of consternation which even
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive,
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagration of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit.
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison
was appointed by President Madison commander-inchief of the North-western army, with orders to retake
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers.
It would be difficult to place a man in a situation
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but
General Harrison was found equal to the position,
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re
sponsibilities.
He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while
i)ursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket
lashed over his saddle.  Thirty-five British officers,
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle.
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted
before the fire, without bread or salt.
In i8i6, Gen. Harrison was chosen a niembler of
the National House of Representatives, to represent
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested
the attention of all the members.
In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate of
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the )residential electors
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay.  The
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate.
In I836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought hil
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against
Van Buren, but he was defeated.  At the close of
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nomir.ated by his
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated
by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presiden( y.
The contest was very animated. Gen. Jackson gave
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election; but
his triumph was signal.
The cabinet which he formed, with l)aniel Webster
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most
brilliant with which any President had ever been
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an administration more flattering, or the hopes of the coulntry
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sic:kness, died on the 4th of April; just one month after
his inauguration as President of the United States.




 .,.,,..                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              -    I                      I    1- -   - 11 1111-   --   l




//-:




TErzVPH PPESIDE2VT


55


a --- —E                                           s


' T  OHN   TYLER,    the tenth,x,,I[ P}% Presidentof the United States.
q   m     l h:~l ie wHe was born in Charles-city
Co., Va., March 29, 179o. He
was the favored child of affluence and high social po^,n,,,=    sition. At the early age of
7. j1a   twelve, John entered \illiam
fS~t.     and Mary College and gradI  X 7  uated with much honor when
but seventeen years old. After
graduating, he devoted himself with great assiduity to the
6. H  study of law, partly with his
father and partly with Edmund
Randolph, one of the most distinguished lawyers of Virginia.
At nineteen years of age, ie
commenced the practice of law.
l    His success was rapid and aston4i 8  ishing.  It is said that three
X14   months had not elapsed ere there
vi     was scarcely a case on the docket of the court in which he was
i,.t retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State
Legislature.  He connected himself with the Democratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the
unanimous vote or his county.
When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and
ably with the I)einocratic plarty, opposing a national
bank, intern-l improvements by the General Govern.


mert, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict construction of the Constitution, and the most careful
vigilance over State rights.  His labors in Congress
were so arduous that before the close of his second
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He.
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful
in promoting public works of great utility.  With a
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his
native State. His administration was signally a successful one. His popularity secured his re-election.
John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the
United States. A portion of the Democratic party
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course,
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent,
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor.
In accordance with his professions, upon taking his
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposition. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and
voted against the bank as unconstitutional; he strenuously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resisting all projects of internal improvements by the General Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr.
Calhoun's view of nullification; he declared that Gen.
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party.
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress,-a record
in perfect accordance with the principles which be
had always avowed.
Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of
his profession. There was a cplit in the Democraitic




56


JOHN TYIER.


56                       ]OHN TYLER.


warty. His friends still regarded him as a true Jeffersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compliments upon him. He had now attained the age of
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In consequence of his devotion to public business, his private affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plantation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg,
for the better education of his children; and he again
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia.
By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in:839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Harrison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To conciliate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice President. It was well known that he was not in sympathy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice
President has but very little power in the Government, his main and almost only duty being to preside over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it happened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a
Democratic Vice President were chosen.
In I841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presilent of the United States. In one short month from
that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler
thus _-und himself, to his own surprise and that of
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harrison. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding
delicacy and difficulty. All his longlife he had been
opposed to the main principles of the party which had
brought him into power. He had ever been a consistent, honest man, with an unblemished record.
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should
he retain them, and thus surround himself with counsellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or,
on the other hand, should he turn against the party
which had elected him and select a cabinet in harmony with himself, and which would oppose all those
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the public welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He invited the cabinet which President Hanrison had
selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and
bless us.
The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States.
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with
his veto.  He suegested, however, that he would


approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval.
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture.
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this measure by a published letter from the Hon. John M.
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely
touched the pride of the President.
The opposition now exultingly received the President into their arms. The party which elected him
denounced him bitterly.  All the members of his
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a
meeting and issued an address to the people of the
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at
an end.
Still the President attempted to conciliate.  He
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign,
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administration passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more,
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his
old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term,
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr.
Polk, the Democratie candidate for his successor.
On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and
probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife,
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842;
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married,
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of
many personal and intellectual accomplishments.
The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly
in retirement at his beautiful home,-Sherwood Forest, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in
his manners, richly furnished with information from
books and experience in the world, and possessing
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was
the scene of unusual attractions.  With sufficient
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the
storms of civil war which his own principles and
policy had helped to introduce.
When the great Rebellion rose, which the State.
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Calhoun had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confederates. He was chosen a member of their Congress;
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by
force of arms, the Government over which he lha
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died.




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ELE E.VEN T1 PRESIDEAr2;


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59,...o,~[  /T    AMES K. POLK, the eleventh
P5^1 resident of the United States,
was born in Mecklenburg Co.,
N. C., Nov. 2, I795. His par~@^ ((@  ) -ents were Samuel and Jane
)j  (Knox) Polk, the former a son. jrjg  of Col. Thomas Polk, who located, rml   at the above place, as one of the
J   ~_   first pioneers, in 1735.
In the year I306, with his wife
and children, ard soon after followed by most of the members of
)   the Polk farnly, Samuel Polk emigrated some two or three hundred
miles farther west, to the rich valley
of the Duck River.   Here in the
midst of the wilderness, in a region
which was subsequently called Maury Co., they reared their log huts,
and established their homes. In the
hard toil of a new farm in the wilderness, James K. Polk spent the
early years of his childhood and
youth. His father, adding the pursuit of a surveyor to that of a farmer,
gradually increased in wealth until
he became one of the leading men of the region. His
mother was a superior woman, of strong common
sense and earnest piety.
Very early in life, James developed a taste for
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain
a liberal education. His mother's training had made
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punctuality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty
principles of morality. His health was frail; and his
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a


sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits.
This was to James a bitter disappointment. He
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy.  With
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half
years, in the autumn of I815, entered the sophomore{
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapell
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious
service.
He graduated in J8I8, with the highest honors,be.
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in
mathematics and the classics. He was then twentythree years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few
miles from Nashville.  They had probably been
slightly acquainted before.
Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican,
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same political faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump.
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and




6o


JAME=S XY. POLK.


4o- JAAI- K POLK


tourtecus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic
nature in the joy s and griefs of others which ever gave
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his
strong influence towards the election of his friend,
jMr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States.
In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was
altogether worthy of him,-a lady of beauty and culture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was continuecd in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew,
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair
of Tennessee.  In Congress he was a laborious
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was
always in his seat, always courteous; and whenever
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any
ambitious rhetorical display.
During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was
Speaker of the House. Strong passions were roused,
and stormy scenes were witnessed; but Mr. Polk performed his arduous duties to a very general satisfaction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of
March, 1839.
In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of October, I839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In I841,
his term of office expired, and he was again the candidate of the Democratic party, but was defeated.
On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugurated President of the United States. The verdict of
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted
its influence upon Congress; and the last act of the
administration of President Tyler was to affix his signature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the
*3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister,
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and
/left the country, declaring the act of the annexation
to be an act hostile to Mexico.
In his first message, President Polk urged that
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be received into the Union on the same footing with the
other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent
II, n7,  _4 —., ".  -


with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande,
where he erected batteries which commanded the
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on
the western banks.
The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first
called one of "observation,' then of "occupation,"
then of "invasion,"was sent forward to Monterey. The
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly
and awfully slaughtered.  The day of judgement
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused.
It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration
that the war was brought on.
'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands.
We now consented to peace upon the condition that
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas,
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower California. This new demand embraced, exclusive of
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles.  This
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were
some Americans who thought it all right: there were
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and
more than a hundred million of dollars.  Of this
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico.
On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from
office, having served one term. The next day was
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same evening, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age.
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits,
and his health was good.  With an ample fortune,
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years
of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the
cholera-that fearful scourge-was then sweeping up
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted,
and died on the i5th of June, I849, in the fifty-fourth
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen,




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TPVEL.PrTII PRESIDENT.l~i~


63


___~ ~   TEL~ PRSDET             63


~1111~-   -- -  --------— ~ — man- — mm  I- fm II w  I - --
~111111~ji J,-   ~11


I;L..a _-~.l\, ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth
Ir-  If^. President of the United States,
'~J?:;fprr;  was born on the 24th of Nov.,
a (  /  Pff I784, in Orange Co., Va. His
i7Qfi}  S  father, Colonel Taylor, was
~6      4. a Virginian of note, and a disi'@-~//    tinguished patriot and soldier of
[l~x~    the Revolution. When Zachary
<)~'~' 7was an infant, his father with his
T l wife and two children, emigrated
'I (/ ]  to Kentucky, where he settled in
the pathless wilderness, a few
miles from Louisville. In this frontier home, away from civilization and
all its refinements, young Zachary
could enjoy but few social and educational advantages. When six years of age he attended a common
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy,
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of character  He was strong, fearless and self-reliant, and
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation.
In I8o8, his father succeeded in obtaining for him
the commission of lieutenant in the United States
army; and he joined the troops which were stationed
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady
from one of the first families of Maryland.
Immediately after the declaration of war with England, in 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilderness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe.
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians,
led by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken


company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of
whom were sick.
Early in the autumn of I812, the Indians, stealthily,
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort.  Their
approach was first indicated by the murder of two
soldiers just outside of the stockade.  Capt. Taylor
made every possible preparation to meet the anticipated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort,
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk
with him. It was evident that their object was merely
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt.
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept
them at a distance.
The sun went down; the savages disappeared. the
garrison slept upon their arms.  One hour before
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of capture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged torture. No pen can describe, no immagination can
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages succeeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses.
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point,
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired.  Capt.
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the
rank of major by brevet.
Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed
in such situations that he saw but little more of active
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one
best could. There were no books, no society, no in



64


ZA CHAP Y -rA Y L O.R


64 -          ZA-AR  rAYLOR.

tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful
years rolled on  Gradually he rose to the rank of
colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part.
For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in
(employments so obscure, that his name was unknown.beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance.
(In the year I836, he was sent to Florida to compel
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and retire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty,
iiac promised they should do. The services rendered
hee secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated
ec 'he rank of brigadier-general by brevet; and soon
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief comaand.of the United States troops in Florida.
After two years of such wearisome employment
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor
)btained, at his own request, a change of command,.lnd was stationed over the Department of the South-,est. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi,.klabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters
ut Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family
i, a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue.
Hl:re he remained for five years, buried, as it were,
firom the world, but faithfully discharging every duty
~imposed upon him.
ln 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the
M.exicans.  The rank of major-general by brevet
wvas then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and
E uena Vista in which he won signal victories over
f rces much larger than he commanded.
His careless habits of dress and his unaffected
i inplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops,
i,e sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.'
The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista
rpread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The
nime of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The
I hig party decided to take advantage of this wonderful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un'?red, honest soldier as their candidate for the
Riesidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the announcement, and for a time would not listen to it; decl,ring that he was not at all qualified for such an
of ice. So little interest had he taken in politics that,
for forty years, he had not cast a vote.  It was not
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen
who had been long years in the public service found
}fI;ir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name


had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste remarked, "It is a nomination not fit to be made."
Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine
writer  His friends took possession of him, and prepared such few communications as it was needful
should be presented to the public. The popularity of
the successful warrior swept the land. He was triumphantly elected over two opposing candidates,Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren.
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position,
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed.
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably
tended to hasten his death.  The pro-slavery party
was pushing its claims with tireless energy; expeditions were fitting out to capture Cuba; California was
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or
Indians
In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor,
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of
but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, I850.
His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died
universally respected and beloved. An honest, unpretending man, he had been steadily growing in the
affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly lamented his death.
Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful
description of his character:-" With a good store of
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been enlarged and refreshed by reading, or much converse
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the consequence. The frontiers and small military posts had
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance.  His simplicity was child-like, and with innumerable prejudices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable,
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an outside pocket,-in any such case, this critic held the
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse),
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase,
'touch with a pair of tongs.'
"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dilworth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short
few men have ever had a more comfortable,!AkSo.
saving contempt for learning of every kind."




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TIR7 EE-IVTI PR 9GSIDENT.T


67


TILL]? Z]~~~~~~~~ENTH PR6S!DENT             67~~~~~~~~~~r


r    ILLARD FILLMORE, thirP^ A  lX  @teenth President ofthe United
States, was born at Summer
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y., on.:'_ the 7th of January, I8oo. His
father was a farmer, and owco 'l\~~_  iing to misfortulle, in humlle cir'        ( utmstances. Of his mother, the
Kj^V^I  daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard,
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been
said that she possessed an intellect
of very high order, united with mnuch
i   personal loveliness, sweetness ofdisposition, graceful manners and exqisite sensibilities.  She died in
1831; having lived to see her son a
young man of distinguished promise, though she was not permitted to witness the high
dignity which he finally attained.
In consequence of the secluded home and limited
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender advantages for education in his early years. The common schools, which he occasionally attended  were
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce
and expensive. There was nothing then in his character to indicate the brilliant career upon which he
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy;
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible,
and had laid the foundations of an upright character.
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier.
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some


enterprising man had commenced the collection of a
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in reading. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate
and the selections which he made were continually
more elevating and instructive. He read history,
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was enkindled in his heart a desire to be something more
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was becoming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed,
educated man.
The young clothier had now attained the age of
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample
pecuniary means and of benevolence,-Judge Walter
Wood,-who was struck with the prepossessing appearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaintance, and was so much impressed with his ability and
attainments that he advised him to abandon his
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The
young man replied, that he had no means of his own.
no friends to help him and that his previous education had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to
take him into his own office, and to loan him such
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous
offer was accepted.
There is in many minds a strange delusion aboutf
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some college. But many a boy loiters through university hal',nd then enters a law office, who is by no means as




___~_


MILLARD
well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothingmill at the end of four years of manual labor, during
which every leisure moment had been devoted to intense mental culture.
In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was
admitted to the Court of Co.nmon Pleas. He then
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region,
his practice of course was limited, and there was no
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame.
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station
she might be called to fill,-Miss Abigail Powers.
His elevation of character, his untiring industry,
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate,
gradually attracted attention; and he was invited to
enter into partnership under highly advantageous
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829,
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the
State of New York, as a representative from Erie
County. Though he had never taken a very active
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with
the Whig party.  The State was then I)emocratic,
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the
Legislature, still the testimony comes from all parties,
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very
unusual degrt e the respect of his associates.
In the autumn of I832, he was elected to a seat in
the United States Congress. He entered that troubled
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our
national history. The great conflict respecting the
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was
then raging.
His term of two years closed; and he returned to
his profession, which he pursued with increasing reputation and success.  After a lapse of two years
he again became a candidate for Congress; was reelected, and took his seat in I837.  His past expe.
rience as a representative gave him strength and
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to
any man can be but little more than an introduction.
He was now prepared for active duty. All his energies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every
measure received his impress.
Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and
his popularity filled the State, and in the year i847,
he was elected Comptroller of the State.


FILL MOREp.


Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, il
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very considerable fame. The Whigs were casting about to
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-President at the approaching election.  Far away, on the
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be
proclaimed in trumpet-tones all over the land.  But
it was necessary to associate with him on the same
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman.
Under the influence of these considerations, the
namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore becalme
the rallying-cry of the MWhigs, as their candidates for
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, I849,
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Miliard
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States.
On the 9th of July, I850, President Taylor, but
about one year and four months after his inaugura
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became President.  He appointed a very able cabinet, of which
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State.
Mr. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend
with, since the opposition had a majority in both
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate
the South; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt
the inadequacyof all measures of transient conciliation.
The poI)ulation of the free States was so rapidly increasing over that of the slave States that it was inevitable that the power of the Government should
soon pass into the hands of the free States. Tie
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr.
Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition
was sent out. On the 4th of March, i853, Mr Fillmore, having served one term, retired.
In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Presidency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten
bv Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war,
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that
his sympathies were rather with those who were endeavoring to overthrow our institutions.  President
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, withourt any
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other.
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874.




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FO UR TEE NTH PRESIDEANT,?.   A,,   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~..N fw


FRANKLIN PIERCE.-r4


I-I&AI-t-i-It ) f(St~JC~~(a?3rf~~~  1~Jmt. &~J~;~~


RANKLIN     PIERCE, the
fourteenth President of the
United States, was born in
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov.
23, i8o4. His father was a
Revolutionary soldier, who,
with his own strong arm,
rhewed out a home in the
wilderness. He was a man
if.7 \     of inflexible integrity; of
strong, though uncultivated
mind, and an uncompromising Democrat.   The mother of
Franklin Pierce was all that a son
could desire,-an intelligent, prudent, affectionate, Christian woman. Franklin was the sixth of eight children.
Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, generous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the
love of old and young. The boys on the play-ground
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors
iooked upon him with pride and affection.  He was
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words,
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact
which taught him what was agreeable. Without developing any precocity of genius, or any unnatural
devotion to b.)oks, he was a good scholar; in body,
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy.
When sixteen years of age, in the year i820, he
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was
one of the most popular young men in the college.
The purity cf his moral character, the unvarying
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and


genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite.
There was something very peculiarly winning in his
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest degree studied: it was the simple outgushing of his
own magnanimous and loving nature.
Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of
the State, and a man of great private worth.  The
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant
political career into which Judge Woodbury was entering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the facinating yet perilous path of political life.  With all
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen.
Jackson for the Presidency.  He commenced the
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote.
In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected
a member of Congress. Without taking an active
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom
he was associatad.
In i837, being then but thirty-three years of age,
he was elected to the Senate of the United States;
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced
his administration. He was the youngest member in
the Senate. In the year I834, he married Miss Jane
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accomplishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every
station with which her husband was honoied. Of the




72


RAlANKLIN PIERCE.




------


 —^

three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with
their parents in the grave.
In the year I838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire.
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos
state of Mrs. Pierce's health.  He also, about the
same time declined the nomination for governor by the
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr.
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, I847.
He took an important part in this war, proving himself a brave and true soldier.
When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advocates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his opponents. He resumed the practice of his profession,
very frequently taking an active part in political questions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery
wing of the Democratic party.  The compromise
measures met cordially with his approval; and he
Strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infainous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distinguished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'
The strong partisans of slavery in the South consequently regarded him as a man whom they could
safely trust in office to carry out their plans.
On the I2th of June, i852, the Democratic convention met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the
Presidency. For four days they continued in session,
end in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown
for Gen. Pierce.  Then the Virginia delegation
brought forward his name.  There were fourteen
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he
received two hundred and eighty-twb votes, and all
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with
great unanimity. Only four States-Vermont, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee-cast their
electoral votes against him  Gen. Franklin Pierce
was therefore inaugurated President of the United
States on the 4th of March, 1853.


His administration proved one of the most stormy our
country had ever experienced. The controversy be
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its
culminating point. It became evident that there was
an "irrepressible conflict" between them, and that
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his administration, did every thing he could to conciliate
the South; but it was all in vain. The conflict every
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution
of the Union were borne to the North on every South.
ern breeze.
Such was the condition of affairs when President
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term
of office. The North had become thoroughly alienated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all
the intellectual ability and social worth of President
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his administrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also,
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advocated those measures of Government which they approved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him.
On the 4th of March, I857, President Pierce retired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two
had died, and his only surviving child had been
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident; and his
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption.  The
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left
alone in the world, without wife or child.
When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which divided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr.
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Government. He continued to reside in Concord until
the time of his death, which occurred in October,
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of
men, an honored communicant of the Episcolai
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. ~ Generous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the alleviation of suffering and want, and many of his townspeople were often gladened by his material bounty.




I




(~~~~~~~~
(/  J  - 6eC & A', 66




IfIFTEENTH PRESIDENT,_..  _.


/ —O  o        -N


[  ("^  ^ & AAMES BUCHANAN, the fif&^- p[~~r    [ ~ teenth President of the United!I 1  IM  States, was born in a small
'1 I   i M #frontier town, at the foot of the
0j['iq      eastern ridge of the Allegha~_ ~,t  X  nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on
^er=  i 9the 23d of April, 17 9. The place
f'itgw  where the humble cabin of his
}}~ i 2,father stood was called  Stony
^ i  Batter. It was a wild and romantic spot in a gorge of the mounj  tains, with towering summits rising
grandly all around.  His father
was a native of the north of Ireland;
a poor man, who had emigrated in
1783, with little property save his
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer,
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilderness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to perform his obscure part in the d-rama of life. In this secluded home, where James was born, he remained
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where
his son was placed at school, and commenced a
course of study in English, Latin and Greek.  His
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle.  Here he de.
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among
the first scholars in the institution. His application
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en

abled him to master the most abstruse subjects wi'
facility.
In the year i809, he graduated with the highest
honors of his clas-. He was then eighteen years of
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster,
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand
with the ablest lawyers of the State.  When but
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he successfully defended lefore the State Senate olre of tile
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles (,
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generall!
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; an(.
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu.
crative practice.
In I820, he reluctantly consented to run as
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and fo!
ten years he remained a member of the Lower Iouse
luring the vacations of Congress, he occasionally
tried some important case.  In  1831, he retired
altogether from the toils of his profession, having acquired an ample fortune.
Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency.
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia.  Tht
duties of his mission he performed with ability, whici
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, ii
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States
Senate. He there met, as his associates, 'Wester.
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the measures proposed by President Jackson, of nmik;ng repn



76


JA2MES B13UCHANAN


76~~~~~~~~~~~~ JAME  BUCHANAN.~~ — ~ -~-~~-   --— ~


sals against France, to enforce the payment of our
claims against that country; and defended the
course of the President in his unprecedented and
wholesale removal from office of those who were
not the supporters of his administration. Upon
this question he was brought into direct collision
with Ilenry Clay. -Ie also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging from the journal of the Senate
the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and
urged the prohibition of the circulation of antislavery documents by the United States mails.
As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advocated that they should be respectfully received;
and that the reply should be returned, that Congress had no power to legislate upon the subject.
"Congress," said he, "might as well undertake to
interfere with slavery under a foreign government
as in any of the States where it now exists."
Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr.
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such,
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct
of the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing the Nueces by the American troops into the
disputed territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross the Rio Grande into that territory
was a declaration of war. No candid man can read
with l)leasure the account of the course our Government pursued in that movement.
Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with
the party devoted to the perpletuatlon and extension
of slavery, and brought all tle energies of his mind
to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. I-He gave his
cordial approval to the compromise measures of
1850, which included the fugitive slave law. AII.
Pierce, upon his election to the Presidency, lionored Mr. Buchanann witl the mission to England.
In the year 1856, a national I)emocratic convention nomin:.ted Mr. B:uchananl for the Presidency.
The political conflict was one of the most severe
in wliich our country has ever engaged. All tlhe
friends of slavery weret ol one side; all thie advocates of its restriction alnd final abolition on1 the
other. Mr. Fremont, tile candidate of thle enemllies
of slavery, received 114 electoral votes. Mr. Bichanan received 174, and was elected. Tlhe popular
vote stood 1,310,618 for Fremont, 1,224,750 for
Buchanan. On March 4, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was
inaugurated.
Mr. Bucllhann was fal advanced in life. (nly
four years were wanting to fill Iup his three-score
years and ten. tlis own friends, those with whom
lie h.ad been allied in political princil)ies and action
for years, were seeking the destruction of the Government, that they might rear upon the ruins of our
free institutions a nation whose corner-stone should


be human slavery. In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly bewildered. IHe could not,
with his long-avowed principles, consistently oppose the State-riglhts party in their assumptions. As
President of the United States, bound by his oath
faithfully to administer the laws, he could not,
without perjury of the grossest kind, unite with
those endeavoring to overthrow the Republic. IHle
therefore did nothing.
The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration
nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standardbearer in the next Presidential canvass. The proslavery party declared that if he were elected and
the control of the Government were thus taken from
their hands they would secede from the Union, taking with them as they retired the National Capitol at Washington and the lion's share of the territory of the United States.
As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders, claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avowing that Congress had no power to
prevent it, one of the most pitiable exhibitions of
governmental imbecility was exhibited the world
has ever seen. He declared that Congress had no
power to enforce its laws in any State which had
withdrawn, or which was attempting to withdraw,
from the Union. This was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with his hand upon his swordhilt, he exclaimed. "The Union must and shall be
preserved!"
South Carolina seceded in December, 1860, nearly
three months before the inauguration of President
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. Tile rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Ft.
Sumter was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and
arsenals were seized; our depots of military stores
were plundered; and our custom-houses and postoffices were appropriated by the rebels.
T'le energy of the rebels and the imbecility of
our Executive were alike marvelous. The nation
looked on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to
glide away and close the administration, so terrible in its weakness. At length the long-lookedfor hour of deliverance came, when Abraham Lirn
colI was to receive the scepter.
The administration of President Buchanan was
certainly the most calamitous our country has experienced. His best friends cannot recall it with
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his
fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its
billows of flame and blood over our whole land, no
word came from his lips to indicate his wish that
our country's banner should triumph over the flag
of the Rebellion. Ile died at his Wheatland retreat, June 1, 1868.








\
I
I
C'
P
&




SIXTEENTHTI PRESIDENT.'.


79


~~~~ —SXEET P-.IE.7


| EABRAHAM                  LINCOLN. A   }
AW        'AMP~     "~WMs~
Mai X    XCI


BRAHAM     LINCOLN, the
i\ sixteenth President of the
United States, was born in
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12,
I809. About the year I780, a
_  man by the name of Abraham
"  "~'~)   ' Lincoln left Virginia with his
ELX famlily and moved into the then
e Q,~-! wildsof Kentucky. Only two years
after this emigration, still a young
' man, while working one day in a
'-' field, was stealthily appIroached )by
an Indian and shot dead. His widow
was left in extremle l)overty with five
little children, three boys and two
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the
boys, was four years of age at his
father's death. This Thomas was
the father of Abrahai I,incoln, the
President of the United States
whose namne must henceforth foever le enrolled
with the most prominent in the annals of our world.
Of course no record has been kept of the life
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among
the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest.
Education he had none; he could never either read
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend-.ess, wandering boy, seeking work.  He hired himself out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a?l)borer in the fields of others.
When twenty-eight years of age he built a log<abin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emigrants, who had also come from Virginia.  Their
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble
womlan, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel.
All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grateful son " I owe to my angel-mother. "
When he was eight years of age, his father sold his


cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Wliertwo years later his mother died.
Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated
commlunity around him. He could not have had a
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts
into words. He also became an eager reader. The
books he could obtain were few; but these he "ead
and re-read until they were almost committe,  tc
m em ory.
As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family
was the usual lot of humanity. The.re were joys and
griefs, weddings and funerals.  Abraham's sistce
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was nmai
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and
soon died. The famiily was gradually scattered. Mr
IlThonas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim:n I830
and emigrated to Macon Co., ill.
Ablraliani Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age4
With vigorous hands he aided his father in ruaring
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when
he announced to his father his intention to leave
home, and to go out into the world and seek his fortune. Little did he or his friends imagine howx brilliant that fortune was to be.  He saw the value ol
education, and was intensely earnest to improve his
mind to the utmost of his power  He saw the ruin
which  ardent spirits were causing, and I ec ame
strictly temperate; refising to allow a drop of iltoxi.
cating liquor to pass his lips. And lie had read in
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in -/.I;" and a profane expressionl he
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. Hiis
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a
single vice.
Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired labore
among the farmers.  Then he went to Springfield
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them  dow\
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham  Lin
coin undertook, he performed so faithfully as to giv,.
great satisfacticn to his employers.  In this adven




8o


A BRA fff,4 H L NCO L N.


8o  AB~hAM INCOLN.


ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon
his return they placed a store and mill under his care.
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem,
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he
received he carried there ready to deliver to those
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. Mr.
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and
began his legal studies. When the Legislature assembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature.  Here it
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In I839 he removed to Springfield and began the practice of law.
His success with the jury was so great that he was
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit.
In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question.
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois,
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became
one of the leaders in that party.  Mr. Lincoln's
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the contest in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most
notable part of his history. The issue was on the;lavery question, and he took the broad ground of:he Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this contest, but won a far higher prize.
The great Republican Convention met at Chicago
on the i6th of June, i86o.  The delegates and
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twentyfive thousand. An immense building called " The
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Convention. There were eleven candidates for whom votes
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most
orominent. It was generally supposed he would be
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him:
and aslittle did he dream that he was to render services
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of
the whole civilized world, and which would give him
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second
cnly, if second, to that of Washington.
Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received i80
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore,
constitutionally elected President of the United States.
The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good


and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this
high position. In February, I86, Mr. Lincoln started
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his
way making speeches. The whole journey was frought
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Baltimore had arranged, upon his arrival to" get up a row,"
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimcre, at an
unexpected hour of the night. The train sorted at
half-past ten; and to prevent any possible communication on the part of the Secessionists with their Confederate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train hac
started the telegraph-wires were cut.  Mr. Lincoln
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated,
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other
prominent opponents before the convention he gave
important positions.
During no other administration have the duties
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to
the lot of President Lincoln.  Knowing this, and
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his
trials, both personal and national.  Contrary to his
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the
most courageous of men. He went directly into the
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving,
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he
had left Springfield, in 186i, however, plans had been
made for his assassination,and he at last fell a victim
to one of them. April r4, i865, he, with Gen. Grant,
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It
was announced that they would Le present.  Gen.
Grant, however, left the city. President iincoln, feeling, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them,
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth
entered the box where the President and family were
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the
next morning at seven o'clock.
Never before, in the history of the world was a nation
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler.
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a
model. His name as the savior of his country w1:1
live with that of Washington's, its father; his cc..ntryme.. being unable to decide- which is the greater.








14;






SE VENTEENTH PRESIDEV T.
-_. -


_  NDREW JOHNSON, seven_,   mV.^ >0 teenth President of the United
States.  The early life of
< c^.  _,]P    A dAndrew Johnson contains but
~' > g^  %the record of poverty, destitu-..'~      tion and friendlessness.  He
'      was born December 29, i8o8,
ireee d  in Raleigh, N. C. His parents,
~</k ~5  belonging to the class of the
T,     "poor whites " of the South, were
in such circumstances, that they
could not c;nr:-.ren the slightest advantages of education upon
their child. When Andrew was five
I   years of age, his father accidentally
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a
friend from drowning. 7Tnii ten years of age, Andrew
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with
her own hands.
He then, having never attended a school one day,
and being unable either to read or write, was apprenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasionally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often
read from the speeches of distinguished British statesmen. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more
than ordinary native ability, became much interested
in these speeches; his ambition was roused, and he
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read.
He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen,
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentleman to borrow the book of speeches.  The owner,


pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the booK
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed oiward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest
and recreatio: to devote such time as he could to
reading.
He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos
sessed some education. Under her instructions he
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent
in the village debating society, and a favorite with
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he organized a working man's party, which elected him
alderman, and in 1830 elected him  mayor, which
position he held three years.
He now began to take a lively interest in political
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes,
to which he belonged.  In 1835, he was elected a
member of the House of Representatives of Tennessee. He was then just twenty-seven years of age.
He became a very active member of the legislature:
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in
I840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin a an
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thos,
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased
his reputation.
In I841, he was elected State Senator; in I843, he
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive
elections, held that important post for ten years. In
I853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and'
was re-elected in I855. In all these responsible positions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi;




84


ANDRE TV~ JOHNSON.


8 4           A N D RE-<*        - — ON S N


ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the working classes.  In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected
United States Senator.
Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his
reason, that he thought this annexation would probably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom,
and become merged in a population congenial to
themselves." In i850, he also supported the compromise measures, the two essential features of which
were, that the white people of the Territories should
oe permitted to decide for themselves whether they
would enslave the colored people or not, and that
the free States of the North should return to the
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery.
Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin:
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that
he owed his distinction to his own exertions.  "Sir,"
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget
that I am a mechanic; neither do I forget that Adam
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Savior was the son of a carpenter."
In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of I8bo, ne
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the:Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the Southern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of
Tennesee.  Tennessee having seceded from  the
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, I862, appointed him Military Governor of the State, and he
established the most stringent military rule.  His
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In
1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15,
1865, became President. In a speech two days later
he said, "The American people must be taught, if
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and
must be ucnished; that the  Government will not
always beai with its enemies; that it is strong not
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole
administration, the history of which is so well known,
was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent


opposition to, the principles laid downl in that speech.
In his loose policy of reconstruction and general
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress; and he characterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In
the beginning of i868, on account of " high crimes
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were preferred against him, and the trial began March 23.
It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three
months. A test article of the impeachment was at
length submitted to the court for its action.  It was
certain that as the court voted upon that article so
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was necessary to his condemnation, he was pronounced acquitted, notwithstanding the great majority against
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty
side would have sustained the impeachment.
The President, for the remainder of his term, was
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently,
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presidency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm  unparalleled since the days of Washington, around the name
of Gen. Grant.  Andrew Johnson was forgotten.
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was
there presented to a man a better opportunity to immortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in
politics until I875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Tennessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Congress, and took his seat in that body, at the special
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of
March. On the 27th of July, I875, the ex-President
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reaching the residence of his child the following day, was
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious.
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at
2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years.  His funeral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August,
with every demonstration of respect..




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EIGHTTEENTH~ PRESIDENtT.


of


EIGHTEENTH -E-E,-,7i)Cotcz
TM          ITI[


k TLYSSES  S. GRANT, the
eighteenth President of the
*United States, was born on
ilthe 29th of April, 1822, of
Q  Christian parents, in a humblle
', home, at Point Pleasant, on the
-i  banks of the Ohio. Shortly after
his father moved to George.
town, Brown Co., O. In this remote frontier hamlet, Ulysses
received a common-school education.  At the age of seven-.  teen, in the year 1839, he entered
t   the Military Academy at West
I   Point. Here he was regarded as a
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of
sturdy, honest character. lie took respectable rank
as a scholar. In June, I843, he graduated, about the
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of infantry to one of the distant military posts in the Missouri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating
Indians.
The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi.  His first
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at
Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle
Df Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its ammunition. A messenger must be sent for more, along
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe.  Lieut.
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians,
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one
side of the anirnal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety.


From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry,
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz.  In
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Chapultepec.
At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant returned with his regiment to New York, and was again
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The
discovery of gold in California causing an immense
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt.
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the immigrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt.
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the
States; and having married, entered upon the cultivation of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but
little skill as a farmer.  Finding his toil not remunerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Galena, ll. This was in the year I860. As the tidings
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said,"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army: though
I have served him through one war, I do'not feel that
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to disharge
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword
and see Uncle Sam through this war too."
He went into the streets, raised a cempany of volunteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield,
the capital of the State. where their services were
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt.
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the,
volunteer organization that was being formed in the
State in behalf of the Government. On the riF, of




38


UL YSSES S. GRA NT.


June, t86I, Capt. Grant received a commission as
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such
that he was soon promoted to the rank of BrigadiertGeneral and was placed in command at Cairo. The
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds appeared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and
stripes were unfurled in its stead.
He entered the service with great determination
and immediately began active duty. This was the beginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he surprised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was
immediately made a Major-General, and the military
listrict of Tennessee was assigned to him.
Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how
to secure the results of victory.  He immediately
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two cannon. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered,
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf.
Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and proceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical measures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels
were routed with great loss. This won for him unbounded praise in the North. On the 4th of February, I864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenantgeneral, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant.
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials
and enter upon tb! duties of his new office




Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to destroy the rebel armies which would be promptly assembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole
continent seemed to tremble under the trampof these
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field.
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable energy and ability, and were consummated at the surrender of Lee, April 9, i865.
The war was ended. The Union was saved. The
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen.
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal.
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair.
At the Republican Convention held at Chicago.
May 2, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294
electoral votes.
The National Convention of the Republican party
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, I872,
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphatically indorsed by the people five months later, 292
electoral votes being cast for him.
Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant
started upon his famous trip around the world. He
visited almost every country of the civilized world,
and was everywhere received with such ovations
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private
as well as public and official, as were never before
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States.
He was the most prominent candidate before the
Republican National Convention in I880 for a renomination for President. He went to New York and
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain,
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to
the penitentiary.  The General was attacked with
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23,
I885, the nation went in mourning over the death of
the illustrious General.




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NINE TEENTH PRESIDENT.                g9


*.               ^*^^^^^(^g ^^ ^^/~^ 1b
~'    L33h3i33__c  Go *S~  '3a~ -  -~i 'N ntA;=1, X -3Y3Y3i=S-~
~~~~~~~~~~~~ --- —i(t                    ~~


UTHERFORD B. HAYES,
the nineteenth President of
the United States, was born in
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, almost three months after the
death of his father, Rutherford
Hayes.     His ancestry on both
the paternal and maternal sides,
was of the most honorable char4~sy    '~. acter. It can be traced, it is said,
as far back as r 280, when Hayes and
' Rutherford were two Scottish chieftains, fighting side by side with
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert
Bruce. Both families belonged to the
nobility, owned extensive estates,
and had a large following. Misforrane over:aking the family, George Hayes left Scotland in i 68o, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son
George was, born in Windsor, and remained there
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his marriage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel,
son of Daniel, was born in I724, and was a manufacturerof scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes,
son of Ezekiel aid grandfather of President Hayes, was
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer,
blacksmith and tavern-keeper.  He emigrated to
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro,
where he established a hotel. Here his son Rutherford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was


born. He was married, in September, I813, to Sophia
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emigrated thither from Connecticut, they having been
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich.
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to
I635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers
in the Revolutionary War.
The father of President Hayes was an industrious
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock,
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and conducted his business on Christian principles. After
the close of the war of I812, for reasons inexplicable
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio.
The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways,
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial
fever, less than three months before the birth of the
son,of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore bereavement, found the support she so much needed in
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the
household from the day of its departure from Vermont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted
some time before as an act of charity.
Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the




PUTHERFORD B. HA YES.


-- - --
- --


I


subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of inquiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died
iast night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of
him, said in a bantering way, " That's right! Stick to
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't
wonder if he would really come to something yet."
"You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You:vait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him
President of the United States yet." The boy lived,
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy
death; and when, in I825, his older brother was
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his
mother.
The boy was seven years old before he went to
school. His education, however, was not neglected.
He probably learned as much from his mother and
sister as he would have done at school. His sports
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being
his sister and her associates. These circumstances
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of disposition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings
of others, which are marked traits of his character.
His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest
in his education; and as the boy's health had imn..
proved, and he was making good progress in his
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His preparation commenced with a tutor at home; but he
was afterwards sent for onq year to a professor in the
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He entered Kenyon College in I838, at the age of sixteen,
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842.
Immediately after his graduation he began the
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq.,
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter
the Law School at Camlridge, Mass., where he remained two years.
In 845, after graduating at the Law School, he was
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he remained three years, acquiring but a limited practice,
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his proCession.
an I849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambition found a new stimulus. For several years, however, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at
this period, had a powerful influence upon his sutlsequent;ife. One of these was his marrage with Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cincinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its
members such men asChief Justice Salmon Chase,


Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many
others hardly less distinguished in after life.  The
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman.
hood. The Literary Cluo brought Mr. Hayes into
constant association with young men of high character and noble aims, and lured him to display th'i
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and
modesty.
In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac,
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office oi
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council
elected him for the unexpired term.
In i86i, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at
the zenith of his professional i;'. His rank at the
bar was among the the first. But the news of the
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take 'ID
arms for the defense of his country.
His military record was bright and illustrious.  In
October, I86I, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle
of South MLountain he received a wound, and while
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude
that won admiration from all.
Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division,
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In
the course of his arduous services, four horses were
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times
In I864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, fromn
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Democratic. He was not present during the campaign,
and after his election was importuned to resign his
commission in the army; but he finally declared, " I
shall never come to Washington until I can come by
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in i866.
In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governorof Ohio,
over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat.
In I869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton.
He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875.
In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Republican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in
augurated Monday, March 5, I875. He served his
full term, not, hcwever, with satisfaction to his party,
but his admirristration was an average or.e




4




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TWEN iRT TIE PRESIDENT.


95


/'f[ g}/?T     AMIES A. GARFIELD, twenJ  1..[  tieth President of the United
Cott1i@~'I:        States, was born Nov. 19,
B,r   /i] 83 I, in the woods of Orange,
O..J[~   ^f '. -Cuyahoga Co., 0  His par@;,     'ents were Abram and Eliza
e.     (Ballou) Garfield, both of New
I/0) i[England ancestry and from fami1^^ 'l J W lies well known in the early history of that section of our country, but had moved to the Western
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle~i,  ment.
The house in which James A. was
born was not unlike the houses of
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It.ls about 20 x 30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be-.ween the logs filled with clay. His father was a
lard working farmer, and he soon had his fields
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built.
fhe household comprised the father and mother and
dheir four children-Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and.ames. In May, I823, the father, from a cold con-.racted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At
this time James was about eighteen months old, and
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can
cell how much James was indebted to his biother's
roil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years succeeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis~ers live in Solon, 0., near their birthplace.
The early educational advantages young Garfield
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of
them. He labored at farm work for others, did carpenter work, chopped wood, or did anything that
would bring in a few-dollars to aid his widowed
mother in he' trllggles to keep the little family to

gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his struggling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain,
modest gentleman.
The highest ambition of young Garfield until hz
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the
understanding, however, that he should try to obtair.
some other kind of employment. He walked all the
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city
After making many applications for work, and trying
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. Heremiained at this work but a short time when he wen':
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in
the meantime, and doing other work. This school
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of
which church he was then a Imember. He became
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more; hence, in the
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from whicl
he graduated in I856, taking one of the highest ho.,ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram
College as its President. As above stated, he early
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous member, often preaching in its pulpit and places where
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of
'Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion:




96


fAAM~S A. GARFIELD..


g6- JAMES A GAFED


" President Garfield was more than a man of
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to
the less stately and cultured Christian communions
in which they have been reared. Too often itis true
that as they step upward in social and political significance they step upward from one degree to
another in some of the many types of fashionable
Christianity.  President Garfield adhered to the
church of his mother, the church in which he was
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsectarian charity for all 'who love our Lord in sincerity."'
Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. i, I858, who proved herself
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of
whom are still living, four boys and one girl.
Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856,
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three
years later he began to speak at county mass-meetings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland,
and in I861 was admitted to the bar. The great
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year,
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He received his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Fortysecond Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug.
14, I86I. He was immediately put into active service, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action,
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the
work of driving out of his native State the officer
*Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speedily accomplished, although against great odds. President Lincoln, on his success commissioned him
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years
before, so now he was the youngest General in the
-army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh,
in its operations around Corinth and its march through
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rosecrans, and was assigned to the "Chief of Staff."
The military bhstory of Gen. Garfield closed with
1. I.....


his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won
the stars of the Major-General.
Without an effort on his part Gel? Garfield was
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio
had been represented in Congress for sixty years
mainly by two men-Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he
resigned his place in the army. At the time he entered Congress he was the youngest member in that
body.  There  he   remained by successive reelections until he was elected President in 1880.
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says: " Since
the year I864 you cannot think of a question whici.
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu.
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by
Mr. Garfield."
Upon Jan. I4, i880, Gen. Garfield was elected to
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his
party for President at the great Chicago Convention.
He was elected in the following November, and on
March 4, I88I, was inaugurated. Probably no administration ever opened its existence under brighter
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every
day it grew in favo: with the people, and by the first
of July he had completed all the initiatory and preliminary work of his administration and was preparing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams
College. While on his way and at the depot, in company with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back.
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never
before in the history of the Nation had anything occurred which so nearly froze the blood of the people
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smitten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty
days, all during the hot months of July and August,
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent
bearing was teaching the country and the world the
noblest of human lessons-how to live grandly in the
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpassingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept.
19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it.
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and executed, in one year after he committed the foul deed.








I                             t)-o7




TWENIVTY-FIRSTT PRESIDENT.NrP


99,W.   -   - -  ~-~ —..  WETYnSPEIEN.9


_ \  HESTER     A.  ARTHUR,
twenty-first Presi_..,l of the
~![~~"if'United States. was born in
"'-~  B  Yl    Franklin Courty, Vermont, on
~- thefifthof Ocober, i 83, andis
" the oldest of a family orf two
i^ v sons and five daughters. His
father was the Rev. Dr. William
Arthur, aBaptist cdrgyman,whG
emigrated to tb.s country from
the county Ant:im, Ireland, in
his I8th year, and died in I875, in
Newtonville, neai Albany, after a
long and successful ministry.
Young Arthur was educated at
Union College, Sc henectady, where
he excelled in all his studies. After his graduation he taught school
in Vermont for two years, and at
the expiration of that time came to
New York, with $500 in his pocket,
and entered the office of ex-Judge
E. D. Culver as student. After
I   being admitted to the bar he formed
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate,
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing
in the West, and for three months they roamed about
in the Western States in search of an eligible site,
but in the end returned to New York, where they
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a successful career almost from the start. General Arthur
soon afterward ronarred the daughter of Lieutenant


Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occasion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two
children.
Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit,
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior
Court of New York City. It was in I852 that Jon.
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided
that they could not be held by the owner under the
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal.
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed
to represent the People, and they won their case,
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward
the emancipation of the black race.
Another great service was rendered by General
Arthur in the same cause in i856. Lizzie Jennings,
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare.
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the company issued an order to admit colored persons to ride
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly




too


CH0ES TER A. AR THUR.


— C-' -- ---
C~


L


-- --


followed their example. Before that the Sixth A venue Company ran a few special cars for colored per.
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all.
General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party.
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Governor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineerin-Chief of his staff. In i86i, he was made Inspector General, and soon afterward became Quartermaster-General. In each of these offices he rendered
great service to the Government during the war. At
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr.
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney
of New York, was added to the firm. The legal practice of this well-known firm was very large and lucrative, each of the gentlemen composing it were able
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if
not indeed one of national extent.
He always took a leading part in State and city
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 I872, to succeed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July,
o2, 187 8, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.
Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in
June, i880. This was perhaps the greatest political
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It
was composed of the e2ading politicians of the Republican party, all able men, and each stood firm and
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their
respective candidates that were before the convention for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield received the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed
was one of the most animated known in the history of
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his
party made a valiant fight for his election.
Finally the election came and the country's choice,vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated
vlarch 4, I88i, as President and Vice-President.
X few months only had passed ere the newly chosen
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then
came terrible weeks of suffering,-those moments of
anxious suspense, wher the hearts of all civilized na



I


tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re.
covery of the noble, the good President. The remarkable patience that he manifested during those hours
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suffering man has often been called upon to endure, was
seemingly more than human. It was certainly Godlike. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr.
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspiciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested
in deed or look of this man, even though the most
honored position in the world was at any moment
likely to fall to him.
At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar.
field from further suffering, and the world, as nevei
before in its history over the death of any other
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities ol
the high office, and he took the oath in New York.
Sept. 20, I88i. The position was an embarrassing
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all
eyes were, on him, anxious to know what he would do,
what policy he would pursue, and who he would select as advisers. The duties of the office had been
greatly neglected during the President's long illness,
and many important measures were to be immediately
decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he
became President, and knew the feelings of many on
this point. Under these trying circumstances President
Arthur took the reins of the Government in 'is owv
hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of
affair. he happily surprised the nation, acting s,
wisely  hat but few criticisea uis administration.
He served the nation well and faitbfully, until the
close of his administration, March 4, I885, and was
a popular candidate before his party for a second
term. His name was ably presented before the convention at Chicago, and was received with great
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party
for another campaign. He retired to private life carrying with him the best wishes of the American people, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory
to them and with credit to himself.




I
a




1-9                          -                       1




T-riEc~zVTY-SEC02VD P.RESIDF-Ar-r.T


I03


-T    T -YSCN -  P  E N —T..


in~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ii,~~na42rl~n~,\? ~lal      an a"Oa


TEPHEN GROVER CLEVEIAND, the twenty- second President of the United States, was
born in 1837, in the obscure
town of Caldwell, Essex Co.,
C     ( 9 /  -N. J., and in a little two-and-ahalf-story white house which is still
standing, characteristically to mark,i-.oC the humble birth-place of one of
America's great men in striking contrast with the Old World, where all
men high in office must be high in
origin and born in the cradle of
wealth. When the subject of this
sketch was three years of age, his
father, who was a Presbyterian minister, with a large family and a small salary, moved,
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most
straggling of country villages, about five miles from
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born.
At the last mentioned place young Grover commenced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned
way." and presumably distinguished himself after the
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the
capacity of the village school and expressed a most


emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to
become self-supporting by the quickest possible
means, and this at that time in Fayette-ille seemed
to be a position in a country store, wvlere his father
and the large family on his hands had considerable
influence. Grover was to le paid $5o for his services
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to
receive $1oo the second year. Here the lad commenced his career as salesman, and in two years he
had earned so good a rep)tation for trustworthiness
that his employers desired to retain him for an in.
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not exhil)it as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy.
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayetteville, he went with the family in their removal to
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a
high school. Here he industriously pursued his
studies until the family removed with him to a point
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent,'" a
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica.
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching
blut three Sundays. This event broke up the family,
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a
small salary, the position of " under-teacher" in an
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his




104


S. GROVER CLEVELAND.~~ND


104                         S. GRO VA'J? CLE VALAND.


calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order,
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as
there was some charm in that name for him; but
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to
*sk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted
stock-breeder of that place.  The latter did not
speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do,
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study
law," was the reply, "Good gracious! " remarked
Lhe old gentleman; " do you, indeed? What ever put
that into your head? How much money have you
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got
any.u
After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $5o a
year, while he could "look around." One day soon
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Ihem what he
wanted. A number of young men were already engaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and
he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and
have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for
his board and washing. The walk to and from his
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat —he had
none-yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular.
On the first day of his service here, his senior employer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans;
Dut in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume.
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for
chasing principles through all their metaphysical
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do
it," was practically his motto.
The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell
to his duty to inflict capital psnishment upon two
ciminals. In i88I he was elected Mayor of the
City of Buffalo. on the Democratic ticket, with especial reference to the bringing about certain reforms


in the administration of the municipal affairs of that
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his
performance of duty has generally been considered
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were ferreted out and magnified during the last Presidential
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui.
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme
to betray the interests of the people and to worse
than squander the people's money." The New York
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve.
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and thereupon recommended him for Governor of the Empire
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882,
and his administration of the affairs of State was
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if
any, were made very public throughout the nation
after he was nominated for President of the United
States. For this high office he was nominated July
I, I884, by the National Democratic Convention at
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F.
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks,
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Republican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleveland resigned his office as Governor of New York in
January, I885, in order to prepare for his duties as
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th ot
March, I885.
The silver question precipitated a controversy
between those who were in favor of the continuance of silver coinage and those who were opposed,
Mr. Cleveland answering for the latter, even before
his inauguration.
On June 2, i886, President Cleveland married
Frances, daughter of his deceased friend and
partner, Oscar Folsom, of the Buffalo Bar. Their
union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Ruth. In the campaign of I888, President
Cleveland was renominated by his party, but the
Republican candidate, Gen. Benjamin Harrison,
was victorious. In the nominations of i892 these
two candidates for the highest position in the gift
of the people were again pitted against each other
and President Cleveland was victorious by an
overwhelming majority.




I




~~~~~/~~ /'  A~z,/~i~~




TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT.                     1i1
*.'~Lr. llllyIY   -  -.....   is


-;p~~~y
C~"~~I'B~-~%i4,~ ~~~~%;W-   rmg:-B
I~~~~~~~~


'[ENJAMIN HARRISON, the
twenty-third President, is
q1  sJ    f i $the descendant of one of the
historical families of t h i s
country. The head of the
family was a Major General
~ ^  e~P   Harrison, one of Oliver
'!!  y  V >   Cromwell's trusted followers and fighters. In the zenith of Cromwell's power it became the duty of this
Harrison to participate in the trial of
Charles I, and afterward tc sign the
death warrant of the king. He subse9    wfflquently paid for this with his life, being
hung Oct. 13, 1660. His descendants
came to America, and the next of the
family that appears in history is BenjaP   rin Narrison, of Virginia, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and
after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison
was a member of the Continental Congress during
the years 1774-5-6, and was one of the original
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He
wwa three times elected Governor of Virginia.
'en. William Henry Harrison, the son of the


distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suo.
cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812,
and with.a clean record as Governor of the Northwestern Territory, was elected President of the
United States in 1840. His career was cut short
by death within one month after Lis inauguration.
President Harrison wa~ born at N'or1  B3cnd.
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1883. His life upto
the time of his graduation by the Miami University,
at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a country lad of a family of small means. His father was
able to give him a good education, and nothing
more. He became engaged while at college to the
daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female school
at Oxford. After graduating he determined to enter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin
cinnati and then read law for two years. At the
expiration of that time young Harrison received thbc
only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left him
a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as a
fortune, and decided to get married at once, take
this money and go to some Eastern town an begin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with
the money in his pocket, he started out wita his
young wife to fight for a plaoe in the world- He




108


BENJAMIN HARRISON.


---- ----




=


decided to go to Indianapolis, which was even at
lnat time a town of promise. He met with slight
encouragement at first, making scarcely anything
the first year. He worked diligently, applying himself closely to his calling, built up an extensive
practice and took a leading rank in the legal proiession. lIe is the father of two children.
In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then began his experience as a stump speaker  He canvassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a
handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the 17th
Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His
regiment was composed of the rawest of material,
out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first
mastering military tactics and drilling his men,
when he therefore came to move toward the East
with Sherman his regiment was one of the best
drilled and organized in the army. At Resaca he
especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery
at Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier General, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most
complimentary terms.
During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field;he Sipreme Court declared the office of the Supremnl Court Reporter vacant, and another person.
was elected to the position. From the time of leavirg Indiana with his regiment until tlhe fall 31 1864
he had taken no leave of absence, but having been
nominated that year for the same office, he got a
thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time
made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected
for another term.  IIe then started to rejoin Sherman, but on the way was stricken (lown with scarlet;ever, and after a most trying siege made his way
to the front in time to participate in the closing
-ncidents of the war.
In 1868 Gen. Hartison declined  r e-election as:eporter, and resumed the practice of law. in 1876
ne was a candidate for Governor, Altholugh dc'eated, the brilliant campaign hc jlade won ior hini
a National reputation, and he was much sought, especiaLy in the East, to make speeches. In 1880,
as usual, lie took an active part, in;lhe campaign,
and was: elected to the UJnited States Senate. Here
u served six years, and 'ras known as one o: tlle
tblest men, bast lawyer; cnd strongest debaters in


I


=


that body. With the expiration of his Scel'atoial:i
term he returned to the practice of his profession,
becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in
the State.
The political campaign of 1888 was one of the
most memorable in the history of our country. The
convention which assembled in Chicago in June ani
named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer
of the Republican party, was great in every particular, and on this account, and the attitude it as.
sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief
among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest
in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly
after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr.
Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This movement became popular, and fron all sections of the
country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed
thither to pay their respects to the distinguished
statesman.  The popularity of these was greatly
increased on account of the remarkable speeches
made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through
the summer and autumn to these visiting delega.
tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were
his speeches that they at once placed him in the
foremost rank of American orators and statesmen.
()On account of is eloquence as a speaker and hi'
power as 'a debater, lie was called upon at an uncolmmonly early age to take part in tle dilscussior
of tlhe great questlolls tllat then l  begtn -t agitate
tlie counitry. lie was an uncompromising ant:
slavery man, and was matched against some of -t;e
most eminent I)eliocratic speakers of his Stat
No nman wlo felt tlle toucll of his blade de-:'red,
be pitted with him again, With ali his e'oq"ence
as.anl orator lie never spoke for oratorica;l effect,
iut lhis wor(ls a:lways went like bullets to the marL
IIe is purely American in his ideas and ic a spler
did type of thle American statesman. Gifted witi.
(luick perception, a logical mind and a ready tongue,
he is one of the most distinguislhed ilmproimptu
spleakers in the Nation. Many of tlese speeches
sl)arkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained
larguments of greatest weight. M-any of his terse
statemttents have already become aphorisms. Origf..
n1:l int thought, precise in logic, te;se in statement,
yet withal faultless in elouence, lhe is recognized as
the sound statesman andl brii l.an orator c tic day


- — ' — --








I
Al.




..A.N4 CHIGAN




0
MEMO
AoNbl
f




HE time has arrived when it
becomes the duty of the
people of this county to per|  petuate the names of their
pioneers, to furnish a record
of their early settlement,
and relate the story of their
progress. The civilization of our
day, the enlightenment of the age
and the duty that men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to


*. J X   themselves and to their posterity,
demand that a record of their lives
and deeds should be made. In bio'  1  gj graphical history is found a power
to instruct man by precedent, to
enliven the mental faculties, and
to waft down the river of time a
safe vessel in which the names and actions of the
people who contributed to raise this country from its
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly
the great and aged men, who in their prime entered
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number remaining who can relate the incidents of the first days
~f settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an
actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of events without delay, before all the early
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.
To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough,
in spite of their best works and the most earnest
efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of
their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion
and to perpetuate their memory has been in proportion to the amount of intelligence they possessed.
The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhumations made by the archeologists of Egypt from
buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people


to perpetuate the memory of their achievements
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monuments, and carving out statues to chronicle their
great achievements and carry them down the ages.
It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling
up their great mounds of earth, had but this ideato leave something to show that they had lived. All
these works, though many ot them costly in the extreme, give but a faint idea of the lives and characters of those whose memory they were intended to
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of
the people that then lived.; The great pyramids and
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity;
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crumbling into dust.
It was left to modern ages to establish an intelligent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating
a full history-immutable in that it is almost unlimited in extent and perpetual in its action; and
this is through the art of printing.
To the present generation, however, we are indebted for the introduction of the admirable system
of local biography. By this system every man, though
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness,
has the means to perpetuate his life, his history,
through the coming ages.
The scythe of Time cuts down all; nothing of the
physical man is left. The monument which his children or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme,
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished,
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated
by a record of this kind.
To preserve the lineaments of our companions we
engrave their portraits, for the same reason we collect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to
wait until they are dead. or until those who know
them are gone: to do this we are aslhimed only to
publish to the world the history of those whose live.
are unworthy of public record.




4
A,
It;
er 7-5 t
ll OA,
I
i
IC.



I












- - - 0-


* BIOGRAP1jICAL.
'  <\-  '- ()
0    (   )I  T   -,   9.  0~~@{


ON. HENRY       H. IHOLT.    Conspicuous
among the progressive and influential men
// of Michigan whom it is a privilege to
know and a pleasure to honor, stands the
name of this gentleman, who won an extended
fame through his efficient and honorable service
as Lieutenant-Governor of this State. His life of
more than three-score years has been a busy and
eventful one, filled with good works and publicspirited deeds, and now, as the shades of evening
gather and he descends into the twilight of life's
brief day, he can recall the past with pride and
look forward to the future with hope. The events
of his career, briefly narrated below, speak more
eloquently than words of the energy, uprightness,
keen discrimination and unwavering loyalty to
the interests of his fellow-citizens which have
characterized his every act.
A native of New York, the subject of this notice
was born in Camden, Oneida County, March 27,
1831. His father, Henry Holt, was born in Chaplin, Conn., in 1803, and, removing to New York
State about 1830, engaged in agricultural pursuits
there until 1852, when, accompanied by his family, lie came to Michigan and settled in Kent
County. Upon a farm he purchased there he has
ever since lived; and now in his old age he enjoys the fruits of his early labors, being the owner
of one of the finest farms in the State.
The mother of our subject was Lorancy, daughter of Philip W. Potter, a farmer of Herkimer


County, N. Y., whose paternal ancestor of the
seventh generation, Robert Potter, came from
England in 1628 and settled in Salem, Mass.,
whence ten years later he removed to Rhode Island, becoming one of the first settlers of that
State. A grandson of Robert, Fisher Potter, married Mary, daughter of Mercy Williams (who was
a daughter of the famous Roger Williams, founder
of the Rhode Island Colony) by her second husband. Samuel Windsor. Our subject, therefore, is
a lineal descendant of this branch of the Williams
and Potter families on his mother's side. Mrs.
Holt died April 22, 1835, when twenty-seven years
old.




In his childhood years Henry H. Holt attended
the district school. In 1848 he continued his
studies at Fairfield Academy, and subsequently
spent one year at Christ's Church Hall, in Pomfret,
Conn. During the 3'ear 1852 lie accompanied his
father to Michigan, and continued for three years
the profession of a teacher, which he had commenced previously. In 1855 he entered upon his
legal studies at a law school in Poughkeepsie,
N. Y., where he remained for one year. Later he
conducted his studies in the Union Law College,
at Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to practice at the Bar in July, 1857, Hon.
David Tod, afterward Governor of the State, being at that time President of the institution.
Returning to Michigan, Mr. Holt was admitted






118


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


to practice at Grand Rapids by   Hon. George
Martin, who at that time was Judge of the Circuit
Court, and subsequently Chief-Justice of the State
Supreme Court. In May, 1858, Mr. Holt came to
Muskegon, and in the fall of that year was elected
Prosecuting Attorney of Ottawa County, which
then included all the territory now embraced in
Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. In 1859 Muskegon County was organized, and our subject was
elected Prosecuting Attorney for the new county,
and held that office four years. At the expiration
of this term he was elected Circuit Court Conmissioner, and was re-elected for a second term
two years later. In 1866 the Republicans of this
district elected him to represent the district in the
Lower House of the State Legislature, to which
office lie was re-elected in 1868, when he became
Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In
1870 lie was again elected, and served in the same
capacity on that committee. Much of his time
was devoted to tlh interests of the charitable institutions of the State, and the present prosperity of
a number of them is due to his earnest efforts in
securing approprialtions.
In 1872 Mr. lic(lt was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State on the Republican ticket, headed
by Gov. Bagley, anid two years later was re-elected
to that office. In 1878 his district again sent him
to the State Legislature, when he was once more
appointed Chairnlan of the Ways and Means Committee. In 1886, when again elected,he was made
Chairman of the Committee on Railroads, and second on the Judiciary Committee. I-e was Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee during
the building of the State Capitol at Lansing. In
1867 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention held at Lansing. Mr. Holt has
served five terms in the State Legislature as the
representative of his district, and two terms as
Lieutenant-Governor, being a longer term of service than that of any resident, past or present, of
the State of Michigan-a record of which he may
well be proud.
In April, 1878, Mr. Holt was elected Mayor of
Muskegon, and was re-elected in 1879, he being
the second Republican Mayor of this city. He has
also served the people in various other public of

fices to which lie has been elected from time to
time. Iis experience in this respect is a remarkable one, in the fact that, of the numerous times
that he has been nominated for office (being about
twenty-five times altogether), he has never known
defeat-a proud record in a city and district as
often Democratic as Republican; a record that
speaks louder tlan words of the appreciation of
his services, and one that shows tile esteem in
which lie is held by the people of the community.
He has ever since taking up his residence in Muskegon maintained a law office, and has continued
in the active practice of his profession.
In 1873 and 1874 Mr. Iolt made an extended
tour of Europe, and in 1875 and 1876 lie again
visited the Old World, journeying through Egypt
and the Holy Land, and making stops at Constantinople and the old cities of the East, from
which he returned with a fine collection of pictures, other works of art, and rare curiosities. The
foregoing history of Mr. HIolt's public career
should be a sufficient guarantee for his personal
charactcr, social and business standing. "Thus
shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor," is as true to-day as it was
thirty centuries ago. In all business transactions
his promise is unquestioned; once made, the fulfillment comes with the day.
During the winter of 1892 Mr. IHolt was, with
several other gentlemen, intrusted by leading business citizens with the delicate task of procuring
an increased appropriation by Congress for the
Muskegon Iarbor, and an appropration for other
purposes, and it can be safely said, and without
detracting from the others, that for tie success of
the mission much credit is due to Mr. Holt. His
knowledge of legislation and governmental methods proved an important factor in the execution
by himself and his associates of the important
duties and interests with which they were clothed.
A life-long Republican, imbued with the doctrines
of his party, and unswerving in fealty thereto, lie
is yet sufficiently generous to see the patriot in a
political adversary. Thoroughly American, he
illustrates in his life and character many of the
better traits of the American citizen.
Mr. Holt has been twice married. Iis first wife




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


119


was Mary Winter, of Lansing, Mich., who died in
May, 1872. He was again married, on the 5th of
February, 1878, this wife being Mrs. Catharine
Hackley.
^^*eb,^^|@, i.. E0.
_ ENRY JOHN BOLT, who is now living reni  ' tired in Grand Haven, well deserves repre/e    sentation in this volume, for he is widely
known among the citizens of Ottawa County and his life record will be received with interest by many of our readers. He was born in Iolland in 1823, and his father, who was also a native
of the same country, crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his residence in Zeeland, Ottawa
County, where he spent the remainder of his life.
By occupation he was a farmer.
Our subject acquired such educational advantages as the schools of his native land afforded.
Tile days of his boyhood and youth were spent
under the parental roof, and he early became familiar with the duties of farm life, aiding his father
in the development of a farm until 1847, when he
came to America. He was then a young man of
twenty-three years. Landing in New York, he
made his way at once to Grand Haven, Mich., and
became the first settler of this city from Holland.
Here he engaged in the milling business for two
years, and was then variously employed for a number of years. Ile had no capital at the time of his
arrival and had to depend upon his own resources
for a livelihood. After a time he began devoting
his energies to farming and fruit-growing, and
thus passed his time for several years. He was
quite successful in that line, and as his financial
resources were increased he began making judicious investments in real estate and dealt in town
property. This proved a profitable investment
and has yielded to him a good income.
In the year 1852 Mr. Bolt was married, the
lady of his choice being Miss Cornelia Elfers,
a native of the Netherlands. Their union was
celebrated in Grand Haven, and unto them was
born a family of eight children: Hannah, now


the wife of John Kolboord, a resident of Battle Creek, Mich.; Alice, at home; Jennie, the wife
of John Boer; Henry, now deceased; Cornelia, who
died at the age of six months; Henry J.; and Albert,
who is engaged in merchandising in Grand Haven.
The mother of this family was called to her final
rest in 1892, and many friends mourned her loss.
Mr: Bolt is a member of the Second Reformed
Church. In politics lie is a pronounced Republican, warmly advocating the principles of the
party with which lie has long been identified. IIe
was elected Street Commissioner of Grand Haven,
and so acceptably did lie fill the office that he was
re-elected again and again until he had served in
that position for ten years. lie has always taken
an active interest in scliool affairs, and the cause
of education finds in him a warm friend. In fact,
no worthy public enterprise seeks his aid in vain,
lie being ever ready to give his support and cooperation to those interests which are calculated
to prove of public benefit. By his own well-directed efforts, and through the legitimate channels
of business, lie has achieved- a success and acquired
a competency which now enable him to lay aside
all care and live retired in the enjoyment of the
fruits of his formner toil.
GAPT. HENRY J. WOODS, the energetic and
efficient keeper of the life-saving station of
Muskegon, Mich., who is possessed of ability
and courage, with a thoroughly practical training
in the necessary duties of his responsible position,
is eminently adapted to the faithful discharge of
the obligations intrusted to his care. A native of
the State of New York and born in Cattaraugus
County May 29, 1850, our subject was the son of
Henry J. and Hannah J. (Starkweather) Woods.
The parents were both of New England birth and
were reared in the Green Mountain State. The
father and mother, descendants of long lines of
reputable ancestry, were early trained to habits




120


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




of thrifty industry and self-reliantly attained to
mature age. During their early years they enjoyed the advantage of instruction in the schools
of their home neighborhood, but both soon began
the earnest work of life. Marrying, they made
their permanent home in New York, where the
father, a farmer by occupation, was highlly respected and numbered among the substantial men
of his locality in the Empire State. Capt. Woods
spent the days of boyhood upon the old homestead, assisting his father in the daily round of
agricultural work and attending the nearest district school.
Continuing upon the old homestead and engaging in farming for sixteen years, our subject
began the battle of life for himself soon after
attaining his majority. He was for some time
variously employed, but, a man of observation and
excellent judgment, lost no opportunity to gain
knowledge and thus advance himself in the world.
Journeying after a time to the farther West, Capt.
Woods came to Michigan, and in August, 1880,
becoming one of the crew at the life-saving station of St. Joseph, held his position for two years,
and during this period of time passed through a
variety of thrilling and profitable experiences,
serving an apprenticeship in the saving of human
lives, many more of which, but for the established
stations, would be annually sacrificed upon the
dangerous lake coasts. Entering upon the duties
of his present position in the year 1882, Capt.
Woods has, with satisfaction to the Government,
had full charge of the Muskegon station. Ile has
with him a tried crew of men, veterans in the
service, seven in number, and under his skillful
command much heroic work has been accomplished.
Our subject is a man to be relied upon in the hour
of emergency, and no storm is too terrible, no
danger too great, for him to face with calm
courage and the confidence which inspires his men
to renewed effort.
In the year 1881 were united in marriage
Henry J. Woods and Miss Hulda A. Wells, of
Grand Rapids, Mich. The estimable wife of our
subject is a native of Ohio and was born in
Marietta. Two daughters, bright and attractive,
bless the home, Hattie H. and Gracie B., who will


enjoy every opportunity for an advanced education. Our subject is fraternally associated with
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is
a valued member of the lodge at St. Joseph; he
*is likewise a member of the Muskegon Chapter,
R. A. M.    He is also   associated with  the
Knights of Pythias, and has a host of friends
among the time-honored orders. Capt. Woods has,
in giving close attention to the manner and
methods of the service, perfected some invaluable
inventions of his own and given most important
suggestions for future consideration. HIe has
arranged a system of carriage locks and buoys,
which facilitate and aid in transportation, and he
displays mechanical genius of a high order. A
brave officer and the right man for his post of
danger, Capt. Henry Woods possesses the regard of
a wide acquaintance and the full confidence of the
general public.
(    ON. HIRAM E. STAPLES, to whose enterprise and executive business ability the
jm^^ present prosperity of Whitehall, Muskegon
County, Mich., is mainly due, is not only
the head of one of the largest lumber-mills of the
State, but is also associated with other interests of
magnitude and is justly entitled to the appellation
of a lumber king. Mr. Staples was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., June 1, 1836, and was the son of
Henry and Mary (Connor) Staples, the parents of
six children, of whom our subject was the second
in order of birth. One brother and one sister only
survive. Joshua, who enlisted in the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry at the breaking out of the Civil War,
died in a hospital in Washington, D. C. One after another three sisters have passed away. Jennie
is a resident of Whitehall. The father, a native of
the Empire State, was born in or near Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1811, the paternal grandparents making Poughkeepsie their lifetime home. Grandfather Joshua Staples was the son of Noah Staples,




PORTRAIT AND BIOG~RAPHl.CAL RECORD.


121


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.           121


an Englishman by birth, but a very early resident
of America and a patriotic soldier of the Revolutionary War. The Stapleses, originally settling in
New York, were small farmers, men of moderate
tastes and means, but were possessed of strength
of character, energy and resolution, which, bequeathed to our subject, formed his main capital
in life during his early manhood.
The mother, Mary (Connor) Staples, was the
daughter of Thomas Connor, a native of the United
States but of direct English descent. His wife, the
maternal grandmother of our subject, was the sister of William M. Dayton, candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with Fremont. Thomas Connor combined the dual occupations of farmer and
contractor, and was a successful and highly respected man. In 1848, tile Staples family emigrated
from New York to Ravenna, Olio, and in 1851
came to Michigan, locating in tIillsdale, and in 1857
came to Whitehall, then White Lake. Here the
father followed farming on a small scale. Both
parents are yet living, the father aged eighty-two,
and the mother also at an advanced age. The
honorable Mr. Staples, in common with other farmer
lads, assisted upon the homestead in boyhood and
attended the district school. lie had entered upon
his collegiate course in Albion (Mich.) College
when the Civil War broke out, and, promptly answering to the call of the Government for "three
hundred thousand more," left his books and in
the early summer of 1861 enlisted as a private in
the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry, he and his brother
Joshua both offering their service in behalf of national existence. Joshua, as before stated, died in
the hospital, and our subject also fell a victim to
exposures and privations, and was likewise conveyed to the army hospital, from which he was
finally sent to his home, being discharged from the
army for disability.
As soon as he had somewhat recuperated, Mr. Staples engaged in the handling of timber lands and
lumber. His available means were small, but with his
characteristic energy he soon began to accumulate
a capital and was ere long enabled to enlarge the
scope of his enterprises. In 1868, he had prospered
to such an extent that in company with his brotherin-law, Lyman Covell, he bought the present site


of their now extensive mills, which, then limited in
size, have become the largest manufactories of lumber in the world. Aside from these mills our subject has invested in numerous paying enterprises,
owning a line of boats, and also being for many
years the President of the Log and Boom Company,
which does an immense business, one of the largest
in the State. Mr. Staples assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Whitehall and
was its Vice-President until that financial institution was merged into the State Savings Bank of
Whitehall, of which he is Vice-President and a
heavy stockholder. Our subject is also engaged extensively in the manufacture of shingles and is
likewise a partner in a large mercantile house. -He
is a very busy man, and without seeking political
honors has had them thrust upon him. For two
terms lie served ably as Supervisor, was for many
years President of the Council, and in 1884 and
1885 was a member of the State Legislature and,
associated with important committees, served with
rare efficiency and to the great satisfaction of his
constituents.
In 1864 were united in marriage Hiram   E.
Staples and Miss Rebecca Covell, a sister of his
business partner and Mark B. and Charles E. Covell, prominent lumbermen of Muskegon County.
Four children blessed the union, two of whom died
in infancy. The eldest son, Dudley E., a graduate
of Orchard Lake Military School, is now connected
with his father in business. HI. Earl, a recent
graduate from the Whitehall High School, is a
young man of promise and unusual ability. Mr.
and Mrs. Staples are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which our subject is a
liberal supporter. Prominently connected with
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Mr. Staples
assisted in the organization of the lodge at Montague, and also aided to establish the lodge at
Whitehall. He was the first master of each lodge,
and has held that position in the Whitehall Lodge
for the past seven years. He has taken the thirtysecond degree of Masonry and is also a member of
the shrine. Politically, lie is and has been a lifelong Republican and is a descendant of an oldline and loyal Whig family. Essentially the architect of his own fortune, the Hon. Hiram E. Staples




122


PO RTRAIT ANUD BIOG~GRAPHICAhL RECORED.


122             PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


will leave as a most valuable inheritance to his
sons the untarnished record of a life successful
from every point of view, his daily walk being
dominated by the sterling integrity and steadfastness of purpose which have overcome obstacles and
won him a position of honor and influence among
the leading men of Michigan.
AVIAS E. BROWN, a prosperous contractor and builder of Muskegon, Mich., has
materially aided in the improvement of
his home city by the erection of numerous handsome structures, private residences and
public buildings, all within the corporate limits of
the town. Our subject is anative of Vermont and
was born in Lainoille County, September 21, 1843.
His father, Samuel H. Biown, also a native of the
Green Mountain State and a man of fine ability
and upright character, remained tliroughought his
lifetime a resident of New England, and after a
life of busy usefulness passed away in New IIampshire in the year 1892. Tie paternal grandfather,
Joel Brown, a brave soldier of the War of 1812,
was a native of Massachusetts, the Browns having
settled upon the rock-bound coast of our country
in a very early day, and throughout these past
changing years of more than a century have as
citizens been distinguished by earnest effort and
patriotic motives. Their remote ancestry were of
Scottish birth, possessing the virtues of the country noted for its industrious thrift. The mother,
Fanny (Fales) Brown, a native of Massachusetts,
was, like her husband, a descendant of an old New
England family.
Our subject spent the days of his childhood in
his birthplace and enjoyed excellent educational
advantages in the common schools of Vermont.
At the age of eighteen years he decided to try his
fortunes in the broader fields of the West, and in
1861,making a prospecting tour, visited a number
of prominent places, finally coming to Michigan,
and in 1863 locating permanently in Muskegon.


Here three years later, in 1866, Mr. Brown, by
trade a carpenter and builder, began contracting,
and meeting from the first with the most gratifying success has continued uninterruptedly in that
business ever since. Our subject built many of
the county buildings and erected the Muskegon
Water Works plant at Lake Harbor, and in 1890
sunk the wells which supplied the city with water.
He also built the Electric Light plant, and in all
his work for private parties or corporations has
given universal satisfaction by the prompt and
faithful fulfillment of his obligations and the excellence of material and workmanship lie hias invariably furnished. Mr. Brown has likewise been
especially successful in laying cement walks, which
are of the best quality and superior durability.
In 1868 Savias E. Brown and Miss Mary L.
Bourdon, of Muskegon, were united in marriage.
The estimable wife of our subject was a native of
New York State and was reared and educated amid
the scenes of her early childhood. The attractive
home, No. 44 Houston Avenue, is brightened by
the presence of three sons and three daughters.
Fannie Mabel is the eldest-born, then follow in the
order of their birth Phoebe An n, Clarence E., Clinton E.,William E. and Loraine. Mr. and Mrs. Brown
and their intelligent family occupy high positions
in the social world of Muskegon and enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of friends. Our subject is fraternally a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted
Masons, and while not a politician is a Democrat,
deeply interested in both local and national issues,
and is numbered among the substantial citizens,
ever ready to assist in matters of mutual welfare.
HARLES L. KING. In noting the business
interests of a city or town, it is particularly
gratifying to be able to point to the success
of such a house as that of C. L. King & Co., for the
reason tlat their success may be used as a fair gauge
of the average of prosperity in the community.
With the inventions, improvements and other ac



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


123


cessories discovered, a degree of excellence closely
akin to perfection in the manufacture of fruit packages, wood plates, veneers, etc., has been attained
in the last tel or twelve years. Charles L. King,
who has been engaged in manufacturing the abovementioned articles in Holland since 1891, is a gentleman possessed of excellent business capacity and
good judgment.
He was born at Winona, Minn., February 22,
1856, and his father, L. R. King, was a native
of the Keystone State, where he grew to manhood.
At an early date lie came Westward and settled in
Winona, Minn., where lie was elected to the office
of Sheriff, being the first one in the county. Later
he removed to Rochester, Minn., and he there embarked in tile agricultural implement business and
followed this until his death, in 1868. He married
Miss Rebecca Sliepllard and to them were born
seven children, two besides our subject now living.
Both parents were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active workers in the
same. The father, who was a successful business
man, accumulated a large property, and gave liberally to tile support of all worthy enterprises.
The youthful days of our subject were passed in
Winona, Minn., and he was educated in the schools
of that city and those of Rochester. After the
death of his father our subject continued to live
in Rochester for three years, when he joined a surveying expedition to Yellowstone Park and experienced many thrilling adventures during this
trip. Returning home, lie went to New York City
and there followed the cigar business for about six
months, after which lie went to Chicago, where he
learned the business he is now following, and which
he has made such a decided success. Two years
later he took charge of a factory at Decatur, Mich.,
and operated it two and a-half years, when the
factory was moved to Muskegon and he took charge
of it there. The factory mentioned was the Wood
Package and Basket Company, and our subject
managed that for several years.
From there Mr. King went to Montague, Mich.,
where he branched out in business for himself.
The present company was organized in August,
1881, and the Hanchett Paper Company, of Chicago,
is controlled by the firm of C. L. King & Co. Mr.


King selected his wife in the person of Miss Mary
Jolnson, daughter of William Johnson, and their
union was solemnized in the year 1882. Politically, Mr. King is a strong Republican and has
taken an active part in the work of his party.
While residing at Montague he was a member
of the Council and was prominent in all matters of moment.   The large factory of C. L.
King & Co. was erected in 1891 and they now have
five large buildings. The main building is a fine
structure, made of Zeeland brick, and is 73x223
feet. Their capital is about $150,000 and they do
an annual business of $250,000. About two hundred hands are employed. This firm also has a
Chicago office, situated at Nos. 11 and 13 La Salle
Street. Mr. King has been at the head of this business since it first started and is familiar with its
every detail. Socially, he is a Knight Templar of
the Masonic fraternity, also of the Mystic Shrine,
and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Ie is active in his support of all
worthy measures, is public spirited and pushing,
and a credit to any community.  Whole-souled
and genial, his friends are legion.
H. MASON, an extensive general merchant,
and present Deputy Collector of the port
of Montague, Muskegon County, Mich., is
numbered among the substantial citizens and leading men of his locality. Our subject was born in
Lindsay, Victoria County, Ontario, February 1,
1862, and is the son of Lawrence and Bessie
(Smith) Mason, both of English nativity. The father was born in I)evonshire in 1838, and was only
a little lad when the paternal grandfather, Richard
Mason, a mechanic, emigrated with his family to
America.  Grandfather Mason settled with his
children in Canada, later removed to New York,
and finally made his permanent home in Michigan, locating in Montague, where he died some
four years ago. Lawrence Mason, the father, is a
man of fine education and excellent business at



124


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




tainments and, prospered financially, is now living upon his highly cultivated farm near Montague. The mother of Mr. Mason, born in Wiltshire, England, was the daughter of a hotel-keeper
of that country, and went to Canada when she was
a small child, but in a short time went to New
York State, later returning to Canada, where her
parents died. Mr. Mason was the eldest of the
six children who blessed the home of the father
and mother. Ida died at the age of twelve years;
Fred is a clerk in the store of our subject; Nellie,
the second daughter, married Prof. H. A. Corbett,
Principal of the schools at White Cloud, Mich.;
Mabel lives with her parents; the other brother
died in infancy.
Our subject spent the days of his boyhood
in Lindsay, Ontario, where his father was then
engaged in business.  Educated mainly in the
High School of Lindsay, he completed a thorough course of study by the time he was sixteen
years old, and then was employed in an office
as book-keeper. The place of business in which
he engaged was a railroad, steamship, telegraph
and express office. He remained with this company for two years, and   during  this length
of time mastered  every branch of the business. Our subject next became an express messenger on the Grand Trunk Railroad, but resigned
that position to accept the more congenial occupation of a book-keeper for Mason Brothers, uncles of his, engaged in mercantile business at Montague, Mich. This change in his location occurred
in 1880, and for four or five years Mr. Mason remained with the firm in the capacity of an employe. One of the uncles having died in the mean
time, our subject then bought the entire business,
which he has since most profitably conducted.
For a time our subject ran branch houses at
Ferry and Shelby, but finally closed them, and now
concentrates his attention upon the one large store
in Montague, which controls the best trade of its
vicinity.  Mr. Mason has also been interested
in real estate, but devotes himself mainly to handling merchandise. In November, 1885, G. H. Mason
and Miss Emma Dalton were united in marriage.
Mrs. Mason is a daughter of Peter Dalton, one of
the pioneer lumbermen of Montague. Two sons,


George Dowling, aged six years, and William Lawrence, aged two, have brightened tile happy home.
Mrs. Mason, an accomplished lady and superior
scholar and a graduate of St. Mary's, of Indiana, inherited from her father considerable real estate,
now managed by Mr. Mason. Politically a Democrat, our subject has always been deeply interested
in matters of mutual welfare, and as Collector of
the port has discharged the duties incident to
the office to the great satisfaction of all interested.
Fraternally, Mr. Mason is a valued menber of the
Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and in lis social
and business relations commands the esteem of a
wide acquaintance. His home, the abode of hospitality, is the centre of attraction for many friends,
both Mr. and Mrs. Mason being general favorites
in Montague.
EORGE B. WOODBURY, a prominent busi(   ness man residing in Eggleston Township,
\..4  Muskegon County, is passing the twilight
of his life quietly and serenely upon his homestead on section 36. He is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in Sutton, Worcester County,
November 18, 1816. He spent his boyhood days
in the old Bay State and thence at an early age
removed to western Michigan, and stopped for a
time at Grand Haven, proceeding from that place
to Muskegon. Tere he engaged in engineering
and also conducted a large business as a blacksmith for several years.
In 1850, attracted to the far West by the
discovery of gold in California, Mr. Woodbury
proceeded to that State, the journey being made
via the Isthmus of Panama. After a long and
tedious voyage he arrived in the golden region,
where he engaged in mining and in other pursuits
for about eighteen months. I-Ie then sailed on the
brig "Mexico" up the Pacific Coast as far as Queen
Charlotte Island. The report of fabulous quantities of gold to be found in that country induced
him, with a number of other men, to attempt its




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


125




discovery. After a few weeks of prospecting, they
were disappointed in their search for gold. Having
heard of a white metal which they supposed to
be silver existing in quantities farther up the
coast, they continued their journey to that point.
Again they suffered disappointment, for the silver
they expected to find proved  to be only a
beautiful white substance, a stalactite formation.
The adventurous miners found the Indians
very numerous and aggressive, making it necessary
for them to erect barricades and use every means
of protection. At the time of their departure, the
savages gathered in great numbers along the shore
near the vessel. To avoid an attack, they waited
for the outgoing tide and suddenly, hoisting sail,
with a gentle breeze blowing from the shore, they
sped smoothly out to sea, followed by hundreds
of Indians in their canoes. The attempt of the
natives to fasten a line to the vessel and tow it
back to shore was only prevented by the careful
guarding of the sailors. The pursuit continued
some seven or eight miles out to sea, and, the
speed of the vessel increasing, the canoes with
their occupants gradually disappeared in the
distance. In due course of time and without
further event, the voyagers arrived at the Golden
Gate.
Mr. Woodbury next assisted in erecting a sawmill at Humboldt Bay, a short distance from the
coast. IIe continued engaged in that business
about eighteen months, but about six months later
returned by the Nicaragua route to Grand Haven.
In that city, on the 11th of December, 1853, lie was
united in marriage with Miss Rachel S., daughter
of George W. and Harriet E. (Ford) Johnson.
The newly-wedded pair commenced housekeeping
at Ferrisburg, where Mr. Woodbury engaged as
an engineer for a milling and lumbering company.
After one year in that village, he again located in
Muskegon,where he followed the business of engineering and blacksmithing.
On the 24th of April, 1885, Mr. Woodbury
came to Eggleston Township and settled upon the
farm  where he has since resided. This farm
embraces one hundred and ten acres, equally
divided by the Grand Rapids Road, and is considered the best estate in the township. Politically,


Mr. Woodbury is a true Republican, and, while
having no political aspirations, takes a deep
interest in matters of public importance. Socially,
he is identified with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. IIe and his wife have been the parents of the following sons and daughters: Lizzie,
Mrs. W. J. Near, of Muskegon; William Henry
and Hattie, deceased; Lincoln J., who is a resident of Park City, Utah; and George B., Jr.,
living at home. Mrs. Woodbury is the niece of
Jonathan Ford, the first settler of Muskegon, who
built the first sawmill in the place.
EDSON STICKNEY, who is engineer and
machinist of the Ilachley & Hume Lumber
Mills, of Muskegon, was born in Painesville, Ohio, January 16, 1842, and is a son of
Charles W. Stickney, a native of Vermont, who
became one of the early settlers of Lake County,
Ohio, where he located in 1816. The mother of
our subject was in her maidenhood Nancy E. Ballard. She was born in Connecticut, and was a
daughter of James Ballard, one of the honored
pioneers of Lake County, Olio.
In his native city, Edson Stickney was reared to
manhood, and in its common schools he acquired
a good education. When a young man of twenty
years he offered his services to the Government,
donning the blue in 1862 as a member of Company D, One Iundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry.
The regiment was commanded by Col. Hall, and
was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He
participated in many important battles, including
the engagements at Perryville, Chickamauga, and
Mission Ridge and was in the Atlanta campaign. He
then went with Sherman on the memorable march
to the sea and through the Carolinas. After about
three years of faithful service, during which he
was always found at his post of duty, he was mustered out at Washington, D. C., in June, 1865.
The honored soldier then returned to his home
in Painesville, Ohio, where he remained until the




126


PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


spring of 1868, when he went to Newaygo County, Mich., and settled in Bridgeton, where he established a small shingle mill, which he carried on
for two years. On the expiration of that time we
find him in the city of Muskegon, where he has
since made his home. He now holds a good position as engineer in the machinery department of
the Hachley & Hume Mills. In politics, he is a
supporter of Republican principles. IIe is a charter member of Muskegon Lodge No. 133, A. O. U.
W., and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen Camp of Muskegon.
Mr. Stickney has been twice married. In 1874
he was united in marriage with Miss Elmira M.
Graves, who (lied in 1876. In 1883, he was again
married, Miss Minnie C. Armstrong, a native of
Van Wert, Ohio, and a daughter of Sidney J.
Armstrong, becoming his wife. Their union has
been blessed by a son and daughter, Clarence B.
and Ethel May, who are the light and life of the
parents' home. The family resides at No. 118
West Muskegon Avenue. Mr. Stickney keeps up
his army acquaintance through his membership
witli Phil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R. tie was
one of the valiant soldiers to whom the country
owes her safety and in a large degree her present
prosperity. For three years he was at the front,
much of the time under fire and always ready to
aid in the defense of the Old Flag which now floats
so proudly over the united Nation.
UTHER WHITNEY, a retired merchant of
(  Muskegon, was born July 26, 1815, in Gil_sum, Cheshire County, N. H. His ancestors came from England to America in 1635. His
grandfather, Samuel Whitney, served as one of the
heroes of the Revolution. The father, Luther
Whitney, Sr., was born in Gilsum in 1791, and
was a merchant and manufacturer. He married
Betsy Dart, also a native of Gilsum, and in 1827
removed with his family to Lawrence County,
N. Y., where he spent his remaining days.


Our subject was the eldest cliild of a family of
four. He remained in the old Granite State until
twelve years of age and then accompanied his parents to New York, where lie grew to manhood
and completed his education in the district school
and by a two-years course in St. Lawrence Academy. After starting out in life for himself he
came to the West and for a time engaged in clerking in a dry-goods store in Green Bay, Wis. He
afterward spent one winter in a lumber camp, and
subsequently we find him in Kenoslla, Wis., where
he remained for several years, engnged in merchandising and in dealing in lumber. tie also engaged in the grain business for a time, tllen went
to Detroit, Mich., where he devoted his energies
to the manufacture of washboards about one year.
Returning to Kenosha, he there remained during
the three succeeding years, and in 1864 he came
to Muskegon.   Accepting a position as bookkeeper in the lumber business of Gideon Truesdell,
he remained in that business from 1864 until
1873.
Mr. Whitney was married in November, 1843,
the lady of his choice being Miss Rebecca J. Irwin,
of Green Bay, Wis., and a daughter of Robert Irwin. She was born in that city and there spent
the days of her maidenhood. By their union
they have become the parents of three children,
of whom two are now living: George B., a contractor and builder and civil engineer, now residing in Chicago; and Thomas D., who also resides
in Chicago and is now traveling auditor for Armour & Co.
In earlylife Mr. Whitney was an old-line Whig,
but on the organization of the Republican party
he joined its ranks and has since fought under its
banner. He was one of the members of Kenosha
Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Kenosha, Wis., but has taken
no very prominent part in social and public affairs,
preferring to devote his time and attention to his
business interests. In 1875, he was appointed
Postmaster of Muskegon, under Gen. Grant, and
held the office for twelve consecutive years under
Presidents Arthur and Hayes. That he promptly
and faithfully performed his duties, and administered the affairs of the office to the satisfaction
of the general public, is well indicated by his long




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


127


continued service. Several other public offices
have been tendered him but he has refused to accept. Hie is now a stockholder in the HIackley
National Bank, the National Lumberman's and
the Muskegon Savings Bank. Mr. Whitney is
now practically living retired in the enjoyment
of the rest which he has so truly earned and
richly deserves. His life has been a busy and
useful one and his public and private career are
alike above reproach. His success is due to his
own industrious and well-directed efforts, and he
may truly be called a self-made man. Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Congregational Church.
- HARLES H. PROCTOR, a successful general agriculturist located on section 3, Ilolton Township, Muskegon County, Mich.,
has held with ability nearly every official position
of trust within the gift of his fellow-townsmen,
and, a man of excellent judgment and superior attainments, has been an especially prominent factor
in the educational advancement of his home neighborhood and vicinity. As a member of the Board
of Supervisors, and as a School Inspector, with the
exception of two years since the organization of
the township, Mr. Proctor has materially aided in
the promotion and rapid development of the best
interests of Muskegon County. Our subject, a
native of Roscoe Township, Ohio, and born in
1836, was the son of -ascal and Nancy (Shephard)
Proctor.  The paternal grandparents, Asa and
Alice (Dane) Proctor, were long-time residents of
the Green Mountain State. The paternal greatgrandfather died when Asa was about seven years
of age, and the grandfather was reared by Thomas
Parker, of Lowell, Mass. Asa received a good
common-school education and learned the carpenters' trade, being a wooden-plow and yoke-maker
as well as a farmer. He married and settled in
Vermont, and into his peaceful home came nine
sons and daughters, all of whom survived to reach
maturity.


The children of the paternal grandparents were,
Sarah, a cripple; Hascal D., the father of our subject; Samuel C. and Alonzo, deceased; Mandana,
wife of Henry Stevens; Orville, deceased; Horatio,
a resident of Ingham County, Mich.; and Horace
and Merrill, deceased. Serving bravely in the
War of 1812, the grandfather fought at Bennington. Politically, he was a Whig and a man of
strong views. Reared upon a farm, his son Iascal received but a limited education, and at the
age of fourteen was bound out to learn the trade
of a tool-maker and blacksmith. Serving a faithful apprenticeship for four years, the father then
began life for himself, and at about the age of twenty-one was united in marriage with the daughter
of William and Nancy Shephard. Ambitious and
enterprising, he later removed to Ohio, and in
Cleveland worked as a tool-maker. He died in
1847, mourned by many friends. Politically, he
was a strong Democrat, and was esteemed as a
true and loyal citizen. Of his two children, but
one survived; the other died in infancy. The
mother passing away three weeks after the death
of the father, our subject was left an orphan at
the age of eleven years, and began life for himself.
A mere lad, cast entirely upon his own resources,
Charles Proctor at once found his way to the country, and for one year worked upon a farm for his
food and clothes. At twelve years of age our subject joined his grandparents, Proctor, in Stockbridge, Micl., to which part of the Wolverine
State the venerable pioneers had emigrated in a
very early day. Mr. Proctor remained with his
grandparents until twenty-three years of age, and
received a good education in the schools of Lansing, and, possessing musical ability, fitted himself
for a teacher, and for four years gave instruction
in vocal music.
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Snyder, and a
native of Washtenaw County, Mich., was married to
Mr. Proctor in Ann Arbor. Five children blessed
their union. Flora is the wife of George L. Bull,
of Wisconsin; Frank was the second born; Edith
married Herman L. Black, of Laketon, Mich.;
Lewis D. and Monie complete the list of sons and
daughters who have brightened the home. Mr.
Proctor having remained upon the farm of his




128


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


1


grandparents until their death, then located in
the dense woods of Muskegon County. There
were no roads, but the trees were blazed for section lines. The family settled in Holton Township in oak openings. At the expiration of two
years Mr. Proctor purchased his present valuable
farm of eighty acres, which our subject cleared,
logged and improved himself.   Mr. and Mrs.
Proctor were both members of the Presbyterian
Church, but the estimable wife of our subject later
joined the Baptist Church. The daughter Flora
was graduated at Fremont, and for years successfully taught in Muskegon County. Fraternally,
Mr. Proctor is associated with the County Grange,
and politically is an ardent Republican. Continuously engaged in the service of the public in an
official capacity, our subject has amply demonstrated his ability to hold office to the great satisfaction of the community by whom he is surrounded. When the Civil War broke out he twice
endeavored to enlist, but was refused for physical
disability, and then patriotically gave $75 and
later $90 to clear his township of the draft. Although absent by force of circumstances from the
battlefield, the loyalty of our subject was unquestioned, and no man in his locality to-day has
a firmer hold upon the true esteem of his friends
and neighbors than Charles H. Proctor.
AMES D. CHEESMAN, the enterprising
President and Treasurer of the CheesmanKelley Manufacturing Company, of Muskegon, Mich., is a long-time resident and
prominent citizen of his present locality, and for
thirty years has been closely identified with the
progressive interests of the Wolverine State. Born
in Jefferson County, N. Y., April 11, 1842, our
subject was but twenty years of age when, independently setting out to seek his fortune in the
West, he came to Muskegon. His father, Francis
Cheesman, likewise a native of the Empire State,
was the son of Jeremiah Cheesman, who cour

ageously fought in the War of the Revolution.
The mother, Susan (Kellog) Cheesnan. born, reared
and educated in the Empire State, was the descendant of sturdy ancestry, who made their home
in America in a very early day. The father, by
occupation a contractor and builder, was well
known and highly respected in his lifetime home,
Mr. Cheesman spent the years of his boyhood in
his birthplace, and received a good, substantial
education in the excellent district school of his
home neighborhood. Attaining to mature years,
and trained to habits of self-reliant industry,
he determined to enter upon the labor of life in a
newer field of action, and with the tide of emigration journeyed to Michigan.
Locating in Muskegon in 1862, our subject received immediate and remunerative employment
in a sawmill, where he continued to remain for a
number of years. Finally, in 1887, he organized
the Cheesman-Kelley Manufacturing Company,
with James D. Cheesman as President and Treasurer, T. B. McNiff Vice-president, and M. G.
Avery Secretary. The company, financially prospered, does a large and rapidly extending business, the success of the enterprise being mainly
due to the energetic efforts and executive ability
of the President and Treasurer, who is also one
of the principal stockholders of the company.
The extensive plant of the Cheesman-Kelley
Company is located at the corner of East Western
Avenue and the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad tracks, and does a general planing-mill business, manufacturing boxes and interior and exterior finishings, and likewise building stairs, etc.
It commands one of the largest lines of custom
given to any similar establishment in this part of
the State. Literally a self-made man, of earnest
purpose and sterling integrity, our subject has in
truth won his way upward unaided, and now, one
of the leading business men of Muskegon, has attained a position of influence, commanding the
respect of all who know him.
In the year 1866 were united in marriage James
D. Cheesman and Miss Helen J. Dean, daughter of
Harvey and Abbie (Warren) Dean, both of sturdy
New England ancestry. The mother of Mrs. Cheesman was a native of Connecticut, and was there




I




4% '~




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


131


reared and educated, but died in the Empire State
in 1859. MIt. Dean, also a native of New England,
was a farmer by occupation, and after residing
in New York returned to Massachusetts, and from
the old Bay State emigrated in 1862 to Muskegon, Micl. The union of our subject and his accomplished wife lhas been blessed by the birth
of two children, a son and a daughter, Frank T.
and Addie, now at home. The pleasant and commodious family residence is located at No. 16
West Webster Avenue, Muskegon, and, desirably
situated, is well known to a large circle of intimate acquaintances and long-time friends. Occupying positions of useful influence, Mr. and Mrs.
Cheesman take an active part in the social and
benevolent enterprises of their locality, our subject being a ready aid in all matters pertaining to
the public welfare..    UNTER SAVIDGE was a well-known resi-!r n  dent of Spring Lake, Ottawa County. -He
l/A7  was born in Columbia County, Pa., April
6, 1828, and was of Englishl descent. His
parents, Benjamin and Esther (Iunter) Savidge,
were both natives of New Jersey, and had a family
of thirteen clildren, of whom our subject was fifth
in order of birth. Ile remained in the Keystone
State until lie had attained his majority, and acquired a good education in the l)ublic schools.
Having arrived at man's estate, Mr. Savidge resolved to try lis fortune in the West and emigrated to Rockford, 11., where lie carried on contracting and building until 1856. That year witnessed llis arrival in Spring Lake, where he embarked in the manufacture of lumber. In 1861,
the partnership of Cutler & Savidge was formed,
which became one of the most extensive and bestknown lumber fiirms in tle West. When Mr. Savidge was about nine years of age his parents removed to Northumberland County, Pa., where his
father worked at his trade of a mechanic. IHunter
there learned the business, and at the age of eigh6


teen was a most proficient workman in that line.
-He then gave his attention to mechanical work
and to school-teacling, but on his removal to
Rockford abandoned the latter and took up contracting and building. We thus see that his previous work made him well fitted for the business in
which lie now engaged as a partner of D. Cutler.
Tlhey prospered from the beginning, and Mr. Savidge became owner of a large amount of valuable
property and was sole proprietor of the famous
hotel, the Spring Lake House, one of the most
popular summer resorts of northwestern Michigan.
On the 12th of February, 1857, Mr. Savidge
married Miss Sarah C., daughter of Lyman Patten,
who resided near Grand Rapids, Mich. They became the parents of three children: William, now
of Detroit; Esther, wife of N. Robins, Jr., of
Grand Haven; and George P., who is pursuing a
scientific course of study in the Sheffield School,
of Yale. Mrs. Savidge is still living in Spring
Lake, where she has a palatial residence, handsomely furnisled and beautifully and pleasantly
located upon a site which commands a picturesque
view of the city. She is a devoted member of
the Presbyterian Church, and is a lady whose many
excellencies of character have won for her the love
of all.
Our subject was one of the most prominent and
influential citizens of this community, and was connected with many leading interests besides the
lumber business. At tlhe time of his death lie was
a I)irector of tile National Bank of Grand Haven,
President of the Ottawa County Booming Company, a Director of the Grand River & Greenville
Log Rolling Company, and his wealth, the income
from these various concerns, was estimated at alhalf million. Socially, he was connected with the
Masonic fraternity and Odd Fellows' society. In
politics, lie was a Democrat, but was never a politician in tlhe sense of office-seeking. However, lie
made an excellent run in 1868 for State Senator, and though the Republicans were greatly in
the majority he was defeated by only a few
votes. He was a public-spirited man, generous
and benevolent, and never failed to respond to
any call for aid in public improvement. Churches,




132


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


schools and charities always found in him a valuable friend, and the poor and needy were never
turned from  his door empty-handed. In cool,
clear judgment lie had few equals, never losing
perfect control, no matter what the emergency.
His advice to a man in an emergency, was " Cut
down your expenses and keep cool."  lie had the
respect of all with whom business or social relations brought him in contact, and his word was as
good as his bond. lie passed away April 11, 1881,
and in his death the community lost one of its
best citizens, his associates a faithful friend, and
his family a loving husband and father.
AVID A. WILSON, a successful lumberman of Muskegon, Mich., and tlie efficient
Aldelrman representing the Fifth W'ard in
the Common Council, is a native of his
home city, and, born September 6, 1865, lhas ever
since attaining his majority been intimately associated with tlhe progressive interests of his birthplace, and is widely known as an enterprising
citizen and man of sterling integrity. The father
of our subject, Matthew Wilson, a l)ioneer lumberman of Michigan and President of tle Union
National Bank of Muskegon, continues a resident
of the city where lie settled in 1855, and, engaging in lumbering, rapidly ainasseld a competence.
Financially prospered, and a man of public spirit,
lie in 1889 organized the bank with whicl lie is
now prominently connected as the principal stockholder, Director and President. The estimable
mother, Mrs. Mary L. Wilson, was likewise identified witl the early history of Muskegon, and, a
lady of worth and intelligence, was recognized as
an important factor in tile social life of tlhe city.
David A. completed the course of instruction in
the Muskegon High School in 1883, graduating
with honor. Immediately after leaving school he
energetically entered into the lumber businessand,
anxious to acquire a practical training and master
every detail, began  his apprenticeship in the


woods, and later became superintendent of tle
woods business for his fatlier.
Our subject is one of tile largest stockholders in
the Maxwell Lumber Compiany, of Muskegon.
Winning his way ral.idly to a leading business
position, le is also one of tlle principal stoekhiolders and a I)irector of the Magom & Kiimball Coal
Company, of Muskegon. Attaining a self-reliant
and intelligent manhood in is native city, Mr. Vilson possesses a llost of friends, his genial manners,
courteous bearing andI fine physique attracting all
with whom lie comnes in contact, either in social or
business relations. A general favorite in society,
our subject received the congratulations and best
wishes of a numerous acquaintance when, upon
March 2, 1892, lie was united in marriage with
Miss Maud F. Marvin, daugllter of Dr. Le Ray
Marvin, a native of New York. but a long-time
and hlighly regarded citizen of Muskegon. The
mother of Mrs. Wilson, Ellen (l)yer) Marvin,
born in Oh()llio, was a direct descendant of the )yer
family who, emigrating to America in tile " Mayflowerl," founded in this country a branch of the
)yers who have given to the United States some
of her bravest and most enterprising citizens, men
of learning and' business ability, and women of
culture and broad intelligence. The accomplisled
wife of our subject, a lady of refinement and winning presence, is a most gracious lhostess, and she
and lier husband, in tleir iagnnificent lhome, No.
37 Peck Street, lMuskegon, entertain royally many
of thle most distinguisled leople of the Wolverine State.
Politically a l)emocrat, Mr. Wilson is a leader
in tlhe local councils of tlhe party, and while his
ward is one of the strongholds of the city Republicans, was elected upon the Democratic ticket by
a lhandsome majority.  In his official position
zealous in tile service of tile city and true to the
best interests of his constituents, our subject comm.ands universal confidence and esteem. I-e is
fraternally associated with Lovell Moore Lodge
No. 182, A. F. & A. M., and is likewise a memnber of Lodge No. 48, B.. 0. C.., tile Grand
Lodge being located at Cleveland, Ohio. Possessing
quick discernment and keen judgment, and being
prompt to grasp a situation, Mr. Wilson has won




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


133




his way to a high place among the substantial
business nen and capitalists of the State, and in
the handling of large moneyed interests and public trusts has exhil)ited an executive ability which
assures his able fulfillment of every obligation of
life as a friend, citizen and public man, faithfully
aiding in the general welfare and upward progress of his fellow-men.
7i, NI)REW J. EMLAW. Mr. Em law, formerly
(   one of the foremost lumber manufacturers
of Grand aIven, \Mich., is now retired
VJ  from the active duties of life, and lives
in the enjoyment of a handsome home on Franklin Street, Grand Haven.  Ilis long life of industry and usefulness, and his record for integrity
and true-lhearted faithfulness in all tlie relations of
life, liatve given him a strong lhold upon tlie communlity whlicl all mi-ght well desire to slare. lis
career is an1 examl)le of the prosperity tllat comes
to him wlio strives, for his success in life las not
been tlhe result of chance, but of his individual
and continuous efforts. Mr. IErlaw is a native of
Vermont, a State always suggestive of the honest,
hard and rugged character in lluman life, and was
bo n in Alburghl Springs February 5, 1829.
His parents, Michael and Wealthy (Maxfield)
Einlaw, were botl natives of the Empire State.
The father was born on tile shore of Lake Chainplain in 1800. HIe was a cooper by trade and an
honeset, industrious man. Mrs. Emlaw    was tlhe
daughter of Isaac Maxfield and of Scotchl descent.
By her marriage to Mr. Ermlaw slie became the
motler of eiglht children, tlle original of this notice being sixtli in order of birth. The early educational advantages of our subject were received
in tile distlict scllools of Franklin County, N. Y.,
and later lie learned the trade of a millwrigllt.
nl the year 1849 lie came to Michigan and located
in Grand Haven, where lie followed his trade and
was also engaged in building sawmills up to 1866,


when lie formed a partnership with C. L. Storrs
& Co., tile firm continuing under the title for five
years, when it was changed to Reynolds & Enmlaw.
This filrm manufactured pine lumber and continued
the business successfuly up to 1875, when the mill
burned. In 1881 thle Grand Haven Lumber Company was organized with C. Boyden as President,
Mr. Emlaw Vice-President and IH. C. A. Keley
as Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Emlaw is sole
owner of the gas plant of Grand Haven.
Our subject remained in the business until 1885,
wlien he retired, and is now living a happy, contented life. Ile has ever been interested in the
public weal, is generous in his support of worthy
measures, and is a model citizen, as all who are
acquainted with him know. The soul of honesty
in all his business transactions, by his correct
mode of living he has made numerous warm and.
faithful friends. Blood will surely tell, and men
who come from good and honored ancestors, and
are reared in an atmosphere of honesty and good
principles, will assuredly make their mark in whatever field of labor fate may destine them to work.
Mr. Ernlaw was married in 1872 to Miss Louisa
Bentlham, of Grand Iaven, Mich., and two children
lhave blessed tlis union, Harlan S. and Martha L.
lMr. Emnlaw's views are embodied in tlhe declarations of the Republican party, and his vote is east
witl that organization.
I
-^ RNEST A. WORDEN. With the development and advancement of any great com'   monwealth are indissolubly connected the
names and careers of certain men who, uniting
their efforts, and with the love of their country at
heart, have sought the advancement of their respective callings, and thus reflected credit not
only ulpon themselves, but upon their professions
and their State. Thus it is tlat Michigan has
within her borders many men to whom slie may
justly point tile finger of pride, and whose names
are inseparably connected with her advancement,




134


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


morally, intellectually and financially. Standing
pre-eminent among the real-estate dealers of Muskegon, Mich., is Ernest A. Worden, who lias made his
name of enduring value in tills city.
This worthy representative of the real-estate interests of Muskegon County is a native of Michigan, born in Utica, Macomb County, September 2, 1852. His parents, Carey and Mary E.
(Madison) Worden, were natives of New York and
New Hampshire, respectively, the father born in
Dutchess County August 1, 1809, and the mother
in Chester March 26, 1819. The former is still
living and makes his home in Almont, Lapeer
County, Mich. For many years lie was a merchant
in the Lake State. His wife died on tlle 31st of
July, 1861, in Almont, Mich. They were the parents of four children, our subject being third in
order of birth.  This was his father's second
union.
When two years of aoe, our subject was taken
by his parents to Almont, Mich., and there, as soon
as old enough, lie begqn attending the district
school. Later lie entered the High School, and after finishing there began clerking in his father's
store, remaining in the same until eigllteen years
of age. lie then came to Muskegon County, and
in 1872 began clerking in the dry-goods store of
Smith & Platt, at Muskegon, where lie remained
until 1880. That year lie embarked in the drygoods business on Iiis own account, and continued
the same until the fall of 1889, when he sold out
and went South and East in search of health. Returning to Muskegon in 1890, lie embarked in the
real-estate business, and is dealing very extensively
in city property. He is conducting transactions
in all branches of the business, buying, selling, exchanging, etc., and is well equipped and prepared
to attend to orders and commissions promptly and
satisfactorily.
In his choice of a life companion lie selected
Miss Lida T. Merrill, a native of Muskegon, Mich.,
and the daughter of E. W. Merrill. Thleir union
was solemnized in 1876, and they have one daughter, wliose birth occurred May 28, 1884. They
have an elegant residence situated in the center of
the block, and this neat home is of the latest
style of architecture, is situated on one of the best


paved streets of the city, and in a good neighborhood. Socially, Mr. Worden is a Royal Arch Mason, and, politically, a stanch Democrat. IIe and
his wife are held in high esteem in the community,
and take a leading part in all worthy movements.
ON. TIOMAS WHITE FERRY, of Grand
Haven, who was from 1875 to 1877 President of the United States Senate, and acting Vice-President of the United States,was
born at Mackinac, June 1, 1827, and was but seven
years old when lie removed with his parents to the
wild lome at Grand Iaven, to experience the
hardships and adversities of pioneer life.  IIe
received a common-school education and was bred
to business pursuit.  its.   ithle exception of two
years spent as a clerk in a store in Illinois, lie remained a co-laborer with his father until the
latter's death, in 1867. In partnership with his
brother, E.. Ferry, lie later continued the lumber business, whlll under his general management
was prosecuted with energy and success.
IIe early manifested an interest in public matters, and at the age of twenty-one years was chosen
County Clerk of Ottawa County. Two years later,
in 1850, lie was elected a Representative to tlle
Michigan Legislature to serve a term of two years.
In 1856 he was elected State Senator for two years.
For eighlt years lie was an active member of the
State Republican Committee. IIe was a delegateat-large, and one of the Vice-Presidents of the
National Republican Convention at Chicago in
1860, which nominated Abraham Lincoln.     In
1863 lie was al)pointed Commissioner for Michigan
of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg.
In 1864 lie was elected a Representative to the
Thirty-ninth Congress, and was re-elected successively to the Fortieth, Forty-first and Forty-secolid
I Congresses, serving on some of thle most important
committees. In January, 1871, after an exciting
contest, lie was elected United States Senator for
six years. He consequently surrendered his fourth



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


135


term place in the Iouse of Representatives of the
Forty-second Congress, and took his place in tlle
Senate March 4, 1871. Iis services of six years
in the Iouse, and the legislative experience there
obtained, were recognized wlen he entered tile
Senate. lIe was chosen Chairman of the Committee
on Revision of Rules; afterwards was repeatedly
electe(d President pro te2mpore of tile Senate; and by
virtue of tills office, upon the death of Vice-President Wilson, became Acting Vicc-President of the
United States. IIe was presi(lent of the joint
meeting of tlie two houses of (Congress during tile
intensely exciting count of tile electoral votes
resulting in the choice of President Hayes and
Vice-President Wheeler.   In this l)osition  lie
acquitted himself with such impartiality and ability, that lie was re-elected iMarch 4, 1877, by a
unanimous vote President pro tnemp)ore of tile
Senate.  In January, 1877, he    was re-elected
United States Senator, to serve for the termn of six
years. In early life lie acted with thle Whigs, but
joined the Republican party as soon as it was
organized, and at once became a zealous advocate
of its principles. In every campaign since 1860,
lie has canvassed the State in be.half of the Republican candidate. As a public speaker his power
lies in his earnest language, concise statements and
sound logic, witlout any attempt at eloquence or
oratorical display. His course in Congress lias
met with the general approbation of tile people of
all parties in Michigan. IIe las done muchl to advance the interests of his native State. To his
efforts Miichigan is generally indebted for the
generous river and harbor improvements which
have so materially aided in developing her resources and in preserving the lives and property
of her citizens. It was mainly through his efforts,
also, that the beautiful Island of Mackinac, or as
much of it as belongs to the United States, has
been converted into a National Park. IHe also
labored zealously in the cause of the soldiers and
sailors of Michigan who participated in the late
Civil War.   lis speeches on finance have been
widely read and are highly valued. IIe has done
much to perfect the postal system, and his work
on the Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads
has elicited the highest praise from  the press


tliroughout tlhe country. The present rules of the
United States Senate, adopted by tihat body under
liis revision and report, are a standing tribute to
his ability as a parliamentarian. To promote tle
general welfare lias been the object of llis Congressional life. An indefatigable worker, courteous and upright, his career reflects honor upon
Iiis State and country.
NI
ROF. h)ANIEL J. MORIARTY, known all
I )) over the county as "Uncle Dan," belongs
to one of tile Irish-American families of
Muskego   n, iMichl., and no one is better
known for earnest industry and devotion to duty,
as well as for tlhe intelligent management of his
affairs, tllan lie. lie has been sufficiently shrewd
to grasp at every opportunity offered for thle
bettering of lhis financial condition, but has never
done so at the expense of liis own self-respect, or
by fraudulent means. Ile has labored faithfully
for himself and family and is now possessed of a
comp)etelice gained by energetic and well-directed
efforts. lie is well known to tile people of Muskegon, and his correct mode of living has gained
him a popularity which is merited in every respect.
Our subject was born in Ireland in the year
1813, and is the son of James and Bridget (Sliea)
Moriarty, natives also of the Emerald Isle. The
fatlier followed the occupation of a farmer in his
native country, and there passed his entire life.
Ile was an honest. hard-working gentleman, and
one whose career was ever upright and honorable.
The mother, after the loss of lier husband, came to
this country, and made her home finally in this
county, where she died. "Uncle Dan" received his
scholastic training in tlhe common schools and
later attended school at Dublin, receiving a thorough course of instruction in that city. Finishing
his education, he came to America in 1866 and
opened the Muskegon Hotel, later the Forest City




136


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.


House, which he carried on successfully until 1874,
when it was destroyed by fire and lie sustained a
heavy loss.
Following his losses by fire, Mr. Moriarty embarked in the jewelry business and has continued
that up to the present time. No man in the city
occupies a higher position for energy, enterprise,
public spirit, integrity and business rectitude tlan
Mr. Moriarty. He is emphatically a business man,
the carver of his own destiny, and lhas made it an
honorable one. In the year 1833 he was married
to Miss Mary Ann Marshall, the daughter of a
Frenchman, and their nuptials were celebrated in
New York City. They had an adopted daughlter,
Pearl Moriarty Power, wlio died in July, 1893.
In politics, our subject is independent, voting for
the man rather than tile party, and las held a number of prominent positions in the city. Ile was first
Alderman of the First Ward, then City Recorder,
and while Alderman discharged the duties of acting Mayor repeatedly.
When starting out in life for himself, "Uncle
Dan" first engaged in teaching school, and was
Superintendent of tile schools of New York for
three years. IHe was a laborious student, and investigated very tlioroughly every object tliat fell
within his duties;:mnd lie is now a close reasoner,
a deep thinker, alnd an honorable, upright citizen.
He has been an nrdent advocate of the cause of
the laboring man and is interested in labor unions.
Before "Uncle Dan" came to this city lie held the
Chair of Abstract Mathematics and Iogic in the
Notre Dame (Ind.) University, which position he
occupied for three years.
W     ILLIAM    D. KELLY. It is the men of
/broad and comprehensive views who give
life to communities and build cities-men
who in the darkness of adverse circumstances as
well as in more favcrable periods look beyond the
clouds and have the pluck and energy and foresight to push forward their enterprises, extend


speculation and fairly wrest success from calamity.
Just such a man is William I). Kelly, who is tile
efficient Secretary and Treasurer of Kelly Bros.'
Matnufacturing Company. IIe is a native of Miclligan, born in Grand Rapids iMay 15, 1858, and
tlhe son of Daniel and Mary (Clancy) Kelly, both
natives of Ireland.
l)aniel Kelly, fatller of tile brothers from whom
the company takes its name, removed from Grand
Rapids to Muskegon in 1865. Ile lIad encouraged
tlie genius of his sons from  their earliest efforts,
and wlien tills firm was formed became thie senior
partner. Success aclhicved by honest industry is
)proverbial among MIuskegon manufacturers, and
the enterprise of the Kelly brothers is a conspicuous example of this fact. In the schools of Muskegon our subject received a good practical education, and besides learning tlhe cabinet-maker's
trtade lie also learned tlhat of ship-building. In
fact, he h'as proven himself a genius witlh tools.
Ills designs are original and of the most unique
character, and no man in Miclligan    possesses
rarer qualities in that direction. I-Ie does all the
designing for the extensive works of Kelly Bros.
In schoolboy days, being ambitious to llelp
themselves, William  D. and his brother Jolln
built a small ferry-boat to run  on Muskegon
Lake, one acting as captain and the otlher taking
charge of tile engine. Tihe venture proved a success, and from tleir earnings they were able to
build a larger and better boat and finally to launch
in their business career as manufacturers. In 1883
they organized the Kelly Bros.' Man ufacturing
Company with a capital stock of $40,000, but have
increased it to 860,000. To-day they have an extensive manufactory in Muskegon Ieights and
give employment to one hundred and fifty men.
Their two-story brick building has two hundred
and sixty-six feet front on IMcKinney Avenue,
extending back one hundred and fifty feet, giving
a floor space of fifty tlousand feet. Their specialty is fine interior decoration and interior finish.
tlhey make all tile cases for tlhe Lyon & I-ealy
Organ Company of Clicago, and the Rigway Refrigerators of Philadelphia, and have filled numerous extensive contracts for inside finishing, among
which may be mentioned the Ilackley Library and




PORTRAIT AND BIGGRAPL'IICAL RECORD.


137


many elegant residences in Muskegon, tile Cuyahog(a Building in Cleveland, and tlie recent fitting
of tile immense refrigerators in the Iotel Lexington and Ilotel Pllaza in Chicago. Tlieir lumber
slieds and dry-kilns aIre extensive and thoroughly
equipped. A one hundred and forty horse power
Corliss engine furnishes power for the works, and
a one hundred and fifty incandescent electric liglit
plant is maintained for illuniinating.
e~+ j --- —--— 10 ~~ v~-q++++L  MT
/'EORGE N. COBB.        After many years spent
in tile pursuit of divers occupations in
'"1 various States, Mr. Cobb, in 1869, permanently located in Norton Townsli)p, lMuslkegon
County, whlere lie now engages in raising fruit
and also follows tlie vocation of a general farmer.
While Ills estate is not large, aggregating about
seventy acres, it is wvell improved and un(der excellent cultivation, proving to a close observer tlle
fact tliat the owner is a man of sound judgmlent
and intelligelnce.
Born in Iartford County, Conn., on the 21st of
February, 1816, tile subject of this sketch is tile
son of Rev. Amos B. and   Ielhitable (IIatlaway)
Cobb, natives of Colnecticut. Tlle father, wlio
was a man of broad knowledge and eloquence,
served for many years in tle ministry of tlie
Methodist Episcopal Church. About 1821 lie removed to MAassaclusetts, where lie resided for four
years, and from tiere 1)roceeded to New York,
where lie lleld a number of lpastorates in various
places. In 1831 lie canme to Micligan and became
one of thle earliest settlers of Lenawee County.
During the following year lie removed to Kalamazoo County and made settlement on 1Prairie Ronde,
where his death occurred in December, 1876, at tlie
age of eighty-six years. Ile was a man of strongl
character and possessed tlhe perseverance and energy tliat lIad characterized his English ancestors.
IIis wife also died at Prairie Ronde, passing away
about 1855.
In the parental family there were five children:


Alonzo D., who served in the Black Iawk War;
(eorge N., of this sketch; Algernon; I)avid, who
died in Wilmington, Ill.; and Fannie, wlio passed
away while residing in Iowa. The only surviving
member of the family is tlie subject of this brief
notice. lie passed lhe years of childhood and
youtll beneath the parental roof, and was a mere
lad wlien lie gained a tllorough familiarity with
agricultu al lpursuits by laboring on his father's
farm. At tlie age of twenty he commenced to
work for himnself, and for a time was in the employ of a farmer residing at Ionia, MIich. After
working for him durinlg two summer seasons, he
returned to Prairie Ronde, wlere lie stayed one
w inter.
From MIicligan proceeding to Illinois, Mr. Cobb
made tile journey via Lake Michigan from St.
Josepll to Chicago, and visited the latter city when
it lad a l)oplulation of only eight thousand inhabitants. Fronl there lie went to Boone County, Ill.,
wlhere lie spenlt one year', working by the month at
anytlhing lie could find to do. Next he removed
to Wisconsin, where lie spent about tllree years in
tlhe pineiies, sixty miles from tlie nearest postoffice.
Tlience returning to Racine County, Wis., he
stayed for ten years there, being occupied principally as a teamster between Milwaukee and Clicago.
Soon after tile close of tile Civil War, Mr. Cobb
removed to northwestern Missouri, where lie resided until 1869, engaged in farming pursuits.
Coming to Michigan in the year above named, he
traded some wild land in Wisconsin for forty-five
acres in Muskegon County, of which about five
acres liad been improved. Through diligent exertions and untiring efforts, lie has placed tle
principal part of his estate under excellent cultivation, and, altlough not the largest, it is conceded to be one of the best farms in Norton Townslip. Farming has been the principal occupation
of his life, but lie has also been otherwise engaged
at various times. For fifteen years he managed
and operated a box factory on the bank of Lake
Iarbor.
Tlie marriage of Mr. Cobb occurred in the town
of Texas, Kalamazoo County, Mich., in 1848, and
united him with Miss Helen Tabor, who was born




138


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


----


in New York. She is the daugllter of Abram and
Eliza Tabor, early settlers of Kalamazoo County,
both of whom resided there until death. JUnto
our subject and his wife there were born two children, one of whom, Lester G., is deceased. The
only surviving child is Rush B., who is now master of a steamboat on Spring Lake. In politics
Mr. Cobb has always been a strong adherent, first
of the Whig party and later of the Republican.
His father was also a strong Whig sympathizer
and later became a Republican, but at the time
of the nomination of Horace Greeley for the Presidency lie changed his views and gave that famous
Democrat his firm allegiance and his ballot. Our
subject cast his first Presidential vote for Henry
Clay. He has served in a number of political capacities, and has been prominent in the public life
of the community. For a tite he represented his
township on the County Board of Slupervisors,
and he has also ofliciated as Justice of the Peace.
Socially, he has been a member of the Independent Order of Fellows at Kenosha, Wis., for many
years.
OVERT KEPEL is nubered amon         the
-OOVE R T KE1PPEL is numbered among the
successful and efficient business men of
Zeeland, where he has resided for many
years. lie is a native of the province of South
Holland, and was born December 15, 1839, being
the son of Iluibert and Margaret (De Jong) Keppel. His paternal grandparents, Teunis and Jenneke Keppel, were also of Dutch birth and parentage. Huibert Keppel was born February 12, 1805,
and grew to manhood in the land of his nativity.
In 1847, accompanied by his family, he took passage on a vessel bound for America, but was shipwrecked and obliged to remain in England for
nine weeks before the ship could pursue its onward course. Although he left Iolland in October, he did not land in New Orleans until the 14th
of the following April.


Having a brother in Keokuk, Iowa, Huibert
Keppel proceeded up the Mississippi River to that
point, and in May, 1848, came to Zeeland, Mich.,
where lie purchased a yoke of oxen and eighty
acres of land. In addition to farming interests,
lie also engaged extensively in buying and selling
flour, meeting with considerable success in that
undertaking. Politically, lie is a Republican, and
has served in numerous official capacities, among
which may be mentioned that of member of tle
School Board. In the Reformed Church lie occupied the position of Deacon for many years. IHe
is a man of energy and high capabilities, and althougl hle has met with many obstacles in life,
success hlas crowned his well-directed efforts and
lie now occupies a prominent position among the
citizens of his community.
Iluibert Keppel has been three times married,
and by his first union had nine children, six of
whom survived to mature years: lKunder, whose
death occurred in Zeeland; Teunis, who enlisted
in tile Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, and died in
the Kalamazoo Hospital; Jenneke; Govert; I-IHerbert, wlio died at the age of forty-three; and Dirk,
who enlisted in Company I), Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, and was killed on Wilmington Island, near the city of Savannah, April 16, 1862.
The mother of these children died in Holland in
1844. She was a daughter of Govert D)eJong, a
hotel-keeper in that country. The second wife of
Mr. Keppel was D)irkje )en Hertog, who died in
Zeeland. The third wife was Mrs. Boar, who is
now deceased.
After carry'ing on his studies in the district
schools for a few years, our subject began to make
his own way in tie world, at the age of twelve.
IIe remained in his father's employ until lie was
twenty-five, after which lie engaged ill the mercantile business in Zeeland for two years. Subsequent to this, lie purchased an eighty-acre farm,
where for four years lie tilled the soil and successfully conducted agricultural pursuits. Upon disposing of his. farm in 1872, lie embarked in the
niilling business, and in 1877 purchased a onethird interest in the concern. Later lie bought
out the interests of his partners, and now owns
the mill, which lie has greatly improved and ren







I


oc_2 A


i




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


141


dered more valuable by the introduction of the
roller system.
In addition to tlhe milling business, Mr. Keppel
has other valuable interests in the village where
he makes his home. lie was one of the organizers
of the furniture factory, in which he is now a
stocklolder. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is now serving his fourth term as President of the village, in which capacity lie has rendered excellent service to his fellow-citizens, and
has been instrumental in introducing a number of
needed improvements. As a member of the School
Board, his labors have been effective in promoting
a high grade of scholarship and in securing tle
teachers best qualified for the work of instruction.
June 26, 1865, Mr. Keppel was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena M., daughter of John
and Magdalena M. (Muelendyk) 1)e Pree. They
were the parents of seven children, six of whom
are living: Hluibert, John, Teunis, Magdalena M.,
Margaret and Allie. One child, Magdalena, died
at the age of two years. The religious home of
the family is in tlhe 1)utch Reformed Church. As
the architect of his own fortune, laving throughl
energy and tireless effort secured a large measure
of success, Mr. Keppel is deserving of the high regard in which lie is held by all wllo know him,
and is entitled to more than passing notice in
enumerating the successful men of Ottawa County.
|    ON.T NELSON DE LONG. At the Bar of
the State of Michigan many men have
won brilliant triumphs, but none have attained a greater fame than that which a
just recognition of his talents brings to Mr. De
Long, who is conceded to be the ablest jury
lawyer in central and western Michligan. To him
belongs the distinction of having won a larger number of cases than any attorney in this part of the
State. In addition to his professional labors, he
has lield with honor various local positions of
trust, and has twice been chosen Mayor of Muske

gon. As chief executive he vigorously promoted
the interests of the city and made an enviable
record, which, in connection with other qualities,
has contributed to his popularity throughout the
city and county.
A native of Michigan, our subject was born in
Essex, Clinton County, November 6, 1848. His
parents, Nelson and Lydia A. (Ayers) De Long,
were widely known and highly esteemed in the
Wolverine State. The father, an industrious man
and upright citizen, was a farmer by occupation
and a practical general agriculturist. Emigrating
from the Empire State, lie located in Clinton
County, where he made his home until his death, in
1891. I-Ie canie to Michigan a young man full of
ambition and earnest purpose to win his way in
life, and was successful in his vocation. A pioneer
of Clinton County, he shared the privations of
the early days, and, clearing, cultivating and improving the land, participated in the promotion of
the farming interests of his adopted State. His
beloved wife, daugllter of John Ayers, entered
into rest many years before her llusband, passing
away in 1874.
Our subject was the fourth of the seven clildren, of whom five yet survive. Reared upon tile
old homestead in Clinton County, he attended
the public school of Essex and assisted his father
in the care of the farm, devoting a large part of
his time to agricultural pursuits until lie had
reached nineteen years, wlen he enjoyed the benefits of instruction in the Normal School at Maple
Rapids. Having completed his studies in tle latter well-known institution, he taught school for a
time and then entered the law department of the
State University at Ann Arbor, from which lie was
graduated March 29, 1871. I-Ie then located in
Maple Rapids and began the practice of his profession.
Succeeding as an advocate at the Bar, Mr. De
Long likewise met with public favor, and was
elected Justice of the Peace and also held the important position of Circuit Court Commissioner.
In the month of August, 1873, he removed to
Muskegon and opened an office for the general
practice of law. In a brief time he entered into
partnership with Joab Baker, under the firm name




142


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of Baker & I)e Long, tlle partnership continuing until 1875, when iMr. Baker retired froml tle
firm. Mlr. De Long continued tie practice of his
profession alone until 1881, wlen lie formed a
partnership with William W. and Eugene Fellows,
under tile firm name of D)e Long, Fellows & Fellows. In the fall of 1876, lie was chosen to fill
the office of Prosecuting Attorney and( served in
that capacity for one term. In 1880 he was reelected, holding the position until June, 1882,
when lie resigned. Forming a partnershlip with F.
W. Cook and Eugene Fellows, under the firm title
of Cook, De Long & Fellows, lie conducted his
practice in this connection until November 10,
1884.
In the spring of 1882, Mr. l)e Long made the
race for May3or on the laboring men's ticket
against a p)rominent )einocrat, who was nominated by tile Republicans and  )emocrats. Notwithstandingl this opposition, lie was elected by
the handsome majority of nine hiutndredand sixtyone votes. In 1883, lie wais re-elected chief executive of the city. lie formed a law partnership
with James O'IHara in 1887, and tile firm continued until August, 1893. In 1887 lie was prominently brouglit before tie people as candidate for
Circuit Judge, on the 1)emocratic ticket, but, tlle
district being overwhelmingly Republican, lie suffered defeat. From 1889 to 1891, lie served as
Attorney of thle city of Muskegon. In 1893 lie
was again nominated on the )emocratic ticket for
the position of Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial
Circuit, composed of Muskegon andl Oceana Counties, and his popularity at home is attested by tlhe
fact tlhat lie had a majority of nearly one thousand in Muskegon County. Oceana, however, contributing to his opponent's majority, secured thle
defeat of Mr. De Long.
June 27, 1872, occurred the marriage of Nelson
DeLong and Miss Jennie L. McCartney, an accomplisled young lady residing in Maple Rapids,
Miic., and the daughter of Robert and Lou (Webster) McCartney. rThe maternal grandfather of
Mrs. De Long was Lyman Webster, a man of ability and high position. In February, 1890, Mrs.
De Long departed tis life, leaving one clild, a
daughter, Nina L., who resides with her father in


their beautiful home at No. 98 Rawson Street,
Muskegon. Mr. I)e long and his daughter occupy a position of distinction in social circles and
enjoy the regard of their acquaintances.
l= ON. I)WI(I1HT CUTLER. Every man in
j, ' tile Uinited States, by birth or its equiv/   alent, slhares or is 'a share-owner in the glo()   rious privileges of our Government to
forge throulgh the ranks of the many and become
one of the few. A man who possesses the ability
to do tllis, who by years of patient toil and unswerving loyalty to truth and integrity forces his
way through the multitudes of others equally as ambitious and determined, and wrests from the world
a meed of victory, does not need a piece of academic parchment, learnedly inscribed, to make his
life valuable to the community in which lie lives,
for by his sterling methods and his high moral
purpose lie has become a leading factor in tlle
conservatism of tle good government of his cornmunity and a valuable example to those whose
efforts in human p1rogress have just begun. Such
a man is lion. Dwiglit Cutler, President of the
First National Bank of (G;rand Iaven, and one of
tlhe most prominent business men of that thriving
city.
Mr. Cutler is a product of the old Bay State,
born in Amherst, November 14, 1830, and is the
son of Dr. Isaac G. and Nancy (Hastings) Cutler. Great-grandfather Cutler was a native of
Wales, but came to America at an early date, and
his grandson was one of the first settlers of Amherst, Mass., wlhere lie and his wife passed the remainder of tleir days. Dr. Cutler was one of the
most eminent physicians and surgeons of his day,
and his extensive practice continued until his
deatll, in 1834, when our subject was but four
years of age. M-rs. Cutler's father was one of the
first settlers of Amherst, Mass., and was a man of
considerable prominence.
Tlhe original of this notice received his scholastic




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


143


training in WVilliston  Seminary, Easthampton,
Mass., and took a special course of instruction.
When about eighteen years of age lie made llis
way to Grand laven, Mici., and entered the employ of Gilbert & Co., forwarding'   and commission
merchants, continuing with. tllat company for
three years and mneeting with unusual success.
During that period lie purchased a number of vessels, botli sail and steam, tlat were used in connection witll llis business. In 1860 Mr. Cutler
commenced the lumber manufacturing business
with Hunter Savidge, of Spring Lake, a village
two miles distant from New  Iaven, and bought a
sawmill known as the old Hopkins Mill. Since
then Mr. Cutler and his partner have bought one
mill, built another, and formed a stock company
witlh a paid capital of $500,000. Tills is the largest lumber manufacturing firm in western MIichigan. Thiley handle upwards of one hundred million feet of lumber in one season, but average
about forty million annually.
Thlis firm had large wliolesale lumber yards in
Michigan City, Indianapolis and South Blend, Ind.,
and in Detroit, Iichi., and they ship their lumber to
almost all parts of tle lUnited States, wllile their
miils and lumberl iterests give employment to
over five hundred men most of the year. They
own extensive tracts of pine land tributary to
Grand River. In 1872 Mr. Cutler erected the
largest and finest hotel building in the State of
Michigan. It stands on Washington Street, in
Grand Haven, is an ornament to the city, and is
known abroad as a Grand Iaven summer resort.
It was named for himself, being called tlhe Cutler
IHouse, and cost, including furniture, etc., $200,00.
The architecture of the building is most beautiful,
defying criticism, and the inner appointments are
excellent. The same year Mr. Cutler, witll others,
organized thle First National Bank of that city,
and held his connection with the same for twenty
years. The charter expiring, lie helped to organize the National Bank of Grand Iaven and was
made President, which position he has held since.
This is one of the solid institutions of the State of
Micligan and is located in the Cutler Block.
During 1870 and 1871 Mr. Cutler held the oilice
of Mayor of Grand    Iaven and discharged the


duties of that important position in a most efficient manner. -Ie has filled the office of School
Trustee for nearly twenty years, but lias never
aspired, however, to the honors of public position,
lhaving declined to accept any of the State or national offices his friends proffered him.
In politics, our.suject is independent, voting
for the man, irrespective of plarty, and his religious
views are embodied in tle faith of tile Unitarian
Church, of wlic lie is a worthy member. IHe is
public-spirited in the highest degree and takes a
deep interest in national, State and county affairs,
and every effort tending to the enllancementof
tlie public welfare has his unqualified support.
Ile is now sixty-three years of age, in tlhe full enjoyment of health, and hlas been a resident of
Grand   Iaven many years, during which time he
has identified hinmself with every worthy enterprise,
his brilliant mental qualities fitting him in an admirable manner to lead whenever tle so desired.
Mr. Cutler was married on tlle 10tli of February,
1858, to Miss Frances E. Slayton, of Stowe, Vt.,
and five children lave been given them: Millicent
S.; Esther P., wife f  n       gey, of J N. aley I)etroit,
Mich.; D)wiglit, Frances and Mary. During his
first year iln Michigan Mr. Cutler received $50 and
his board, but his splendid business acumen brought
him to the front, and lie is now one of tlhe prominent capitalists and representative business men
of the State.
ON. I)ANIEL IJuITON, Sil., deceased, a
)  highly esteemed pioneer settler of Michigan, who throughout a long career of honored usefulness in the Wolverine State
lheld witli efficiency and integrity high positions
of trust, passed to his rest at Muskegon Heights
June 30, 1893, mourned as a public loss. Born
in Newburg, l)utcless County, N. Y., August
27, 1818, our subject was only seventeen years of
age when, a bright ambitious youth, le came with
his parents to Jackson, Mich., and from 1835 until




144


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


his demise, a period of almost three-score years,
was as a leading citizen intimately associated witl
the development of the great West. Iis father,
Samuel Upton, a native of Providence, R. I., survived his removal to Michigan many years, passing
away about a quarter of a century later, upon
January 3, 1860. Ile was a man of upright claracter and steadfast purpose and commanded tile
high regard of all who knew him. The patcrnal
grandfather, also Samuel Upton, was a long-time
resident of Rhode Island, making his home for
many years in Providence. The Uptons were
originally subjects of Great Britian, but emigrated
from England to the United States in an early
period of our Colonial history. The mother, in
maidenhood Clarlotte Frost, born in Westchester
County, N. Y., was the descendant of a long line
of English forefathers, the Frosts settling in New
England notlong after the landing of the Pilgrim
Fathers.
Our subject passed the days of childhood in his
birthplace, and received a good common-school
education in the home district. His father was at
one time a p)rominent woolen manufacturer, and
acquired a comfortable competence. The IIon.
Daniel Upton, Sr., from 1859 to 1866 was widely
known as the popular County Clerkc of Jackson
County, and in 1866 was elected to tie Legislature, being sent from tile second district of Jackson County to the House of Representatives,
where he served on important committees and
faithfully dischargedl the duties entrusted to him
by his constituents. In the fall of 1867 our subject left his long-time home in Jackson, Mich., and
permanently located in Muskegon, where for a
twelvemonth lie engaged in merchandising. Later
he here conducted an extensive and profitable
real-estate business, continuing in tile same until
his death. HIe had for many years been an expert
on values of both inside and outside property, and
in all matters of local improvement was animated
with enthusiastic enterprise until tile close of his
life. In June, 1891, upon the organization and
building of Muskegon Heights, he accepted the
position as Clerk of the Heights, and witl rare
ability transacted every detail of the business devolving upon him until smitten by mortal illness.


From 1876 until 1880, Mr. Upton rendered most
satisfactory decisions a3 Justice of the Peace and
Police Judge of Muskegon, and efficiently holding
this position as he did the other offices with which
the public honored him, possessed the universal
regar(d of his fellow-citizens.
Upon November 2, 1848, were united in marriage Daniel Upton and Miss Mary E. Strong. The
latter was born in Lansing, Tompkins County,
N. Y., and was a daulghter of Edward and Harriet
A. (Egan) Strong, the former a native of Tompkins County, N...    er mother was a native of
Johnstown, Fulton County, N. Y. Our subject
and his worthy wife became tile parents of two
sons and one daughter. Edward S., tle eldestborn, is a citizen of Lake H-arbor, Mich.; I)aniel,
Jr., resides in Muskegon; Cornelia C. is the wife
of Charles Pett, of Fernandina, Nassau County,
Fla. Mrs. Upton, surviving, is a member of the
Episcopal Church, but our subject, clinging to the
simple form of worship maintained by his ancestors, was an Orthodox Quaker, a devout Christian
man, whose rule of life was to do unto others as
lie desired them to do unto him. A true friend
in the hour of need, a citizen of hligh principle
and fidelity, tile memory of the lion. Dlaniel Upton
will long be precious in the hearts of the many
who knew and loved him.
(W      ILLIAM I-. STEVENSON, Postmaster at
Fruitport, is a native of Onondaga County,
\ N. Y., and was born near tlie city of Syracuse, July 31, 1830. Ile traces his ancestry to
one of three brothers who emigrated to America
in company with William Penn and settled in
Pennsylvania, where the descendants for many
generations resided. The family was prominent
in the Society of Friends, and possessed the noble
traits of character noticeable among the Quakers.
The father of our subject, William Stevenson,
was born in New Jersey, and emigrating to New
York when a young man spent his remaining years




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


145


in that State, dying in Cayuga County. Iis wife,
whose maiden name was Sophlia Clark, was born
in thle Empire State and died in Illinois, whitlier
slhe had gone with the intention of making her
home with a son and daughter. HIer remains were
taken back to New York and interred in the old
cemetery where several other members of the family llad been laid to rest. She was the mother of
five sons and two daughters, all but one of whom
are still living.
The fourth in order of birth is the subject of
this sketch. A child of two years when his parents removed to Cayuga County, N. Y., lie was
there reared to manhood, receiving his primary
education in the common sclools and afterward
attending the Auburn Academy and the scliool at
Aurora. On tlie 30th of November, 1859, lie was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Smitl, who
was born in Port Byron, N. Y., being a daughter
of Walter I. and Nancy Smith. Our subject and
his estimable wife are the parents of two sons and
two daughters, namely: Augustus W.; William
Clifton; Anna B.,the wife of Charles 1). Collins, a
resident of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Jessie II.,
who is at home.
During the late war no resident of Auburn,
N. Y., was more active than our subject in arousing the enthusiasm of every patriotic son of America in our country's behalf. In 1861 he assisted
in raising Company B, Seventy-fifth New York
Infantry, of which lie was cliosen First Lieutenant.
With the assistance of another gentleman he
raised the Tenth Company, which lie organized
for service in tlhe Union army. Indeed, lie was so
successful in securing recruits tliat lie was sent
back after going to the front in order to raise another company, and of this, upon organization, lie
was made Captain, serving in tlat capacity for
about twelve months. Finally he was compelled
to resign on account of poo1r health, after having
very nearly suffered the loss of his sight. lie participated in the bombardments of Ft. Pickens, being temporary commander of the company at the
time.
During the year 1869 Mr. Stevenson emigrated
from New York to Michigan, and, coming to Muskegon County, located in what is now Fruitport,


having previously purchased a large tract of land
here. Afterward lie disposed of the major part of
his possessions to what is known as the Fruitport
Company, although lie still retains tlie ownership
of valuable property. I-e has witnessed the growth
of tlle village and lhas been closely identified with
its progress. In 1887 he was appointed Postmaster under the administration of President Cleveland, and served thrhoghout the entire period of
President Harrison's administration and is still
tlhe incumbent of the office. A number of years
since he was appointed Township Supervisor, and
in 1890 was elected to that position; lie has been
re-elected each succeeding year and is the present
representative of tile township upon the County
Board. Always an ardent Democrat, his first
Presidential vote was cast for Franklin Pierce in
1852, and lie lhas since upheld the principles advocated by thle Democratic party. In religious matters lie leans to the Congregational Church, of
which his wife is a member.
A4fAa -1 III f fL  I p h!EIJORGE T. IIITCIICOCK, the popular and
I((   efficient Superintendent of Lake Michigan
PT Park, Muskegon, Mich., is especially well
adapted to meet the demands of tile public position
which lie occupies witli intelligent ability and a
practical knowledge, clearly indicating that he is
the right man for tlhe place, and insuring to the city
the proper management and supervision of one of
tlhe most charming garden spots of thle State. Our
subject is a native of Ireland, and was born in
County Wexford March 10, 1845. IHis paternal
grandfatler, Thomas Hitchcock, by nativity an
Englishman, when arrived at mature age removed
to Ireland, where, remaining until his death, he
reared to self-reliant usefulness his son and namesake, T'homas, the father of our subject. Thomas
Hitchcock, Jr., born, educated and married in the
Emerald Isle, was a man of earnest purpo.se, energetic and enterprising, and finally determined to
try his fortune in the United States. Crossing the




146


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ocean and landing safely upon American shores,
he journeyed to Michigan and settled il Muskegon County, where lie passed peacefully away after a long life of busy industry, in 1887. The
mother, Ann (Keerfud) Hitchcock, likewise a native of Ireland, emigrated witll her husband and
family to America, and died in 1885, in Muskegon
County.
Our subject, spending the days of early bo3yhood
in Ireland, there attended the common schools,
and had arrived at thirteen years of age wlien he
crossed the broad Atlantic with his parents, and,
eiglit and a-half weeks upon tle voyage, safely
landed at last in Quebec, Canada. After settling
with his father and mother in Muskegon County,
George enjoyed the benefit of instruction in the
excellent public schools of his home locality, and
at a comparatively youthful age self-reliantly beginning tle battle of life, found occupation in a
sawmill, and for tell consecutive years ran a mill
for the firm of lRyerson & Hll. Our subject at
the expiration of this lenrgth of time embarked in
the llotel business in Newaygo, and later successfully conducted a grocery trade in tlle same town
for three years. In 1875 Mr. Hitchcock made
Muskegon his permanent home, and not long after
became Superintendent of the S. C. Hall Lumber
Company, and held the responsible position for six
years, giving faithful and intelligent service. In
1890 our subject was appointed Superintendent of
Lake Park, and has full supervision of thle work
and improvements connected therewith.
In 1869 George T. -litchcock and Miss Fannie
Bradley were united in marriage. Slie is a native
of Connecticut, and a daughlter of John Bradley,
likewise born in Connecticut, and the descendant
of a long line of honored New England ancestry.
The union of our subject and his estimable wife
has been blessed by the birtl of one clild, a daughter, Margaret, an accomplished and attractive
young lady, now tile wife of Clarence Power. Mr.
and Mrs. Hitchcock reside in a beautiful home
pleasantly located at No. 230 Beach Street, Muskegon. Our subject is fraternally associated with
the Maccabees, and affiliates with Tent No. 56.
Politically, a strong Republican and an ardent advocate of the party, Mr. Hitchcock has neither


time nor inclination to devote himself to the cares
of public office, but, a true American citizen, is
dee)ly interested in botli local and national issues,
and in all matters pertaining to home enterprise
and progress is ever ready to lend a helping hand.
Mr. Hitchcock and his wife are botl members of
tlle Methodist Episcopal Church.
\     ON. WILILIAM   1I. McKINSTRY, Repre1 sentative from the First District of Muskegon County, and one of the most promi_ nent members of tile State Legislature, was
born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Mich., on
the 1st of July, 1852. Ils parents, Hugh and Solphia (Clare) McKinstry, were natives respectively
of Ilreland and London, England, the latter being
a daugllter of Edward Clare. Emigrating to America, they sojourned in Canada for a short time,
anld thence removed to the United States, making
settlement in Washtenaw County, Mich., in tle
city of Ypsilanti.
In his boyhood our subject was a pupil in tle
public scliools of Battle Creek, and afterward attended tile Iigh Sclhool in the same place. Upon
leaving school, lie learned tile trade of a cigarmaker, in which lie was engaged for some time in
various places in the State.  lis marriage occurred
on the 21st of October, 1874, and united him with
Miss Delia, dauglter of Charles G. Williams, a
lromincnt citizen of Kalamazoo. Mrs. McKinstry
was educated in Kalamazoo, and is an accomplished and cultured lady, who lias ever been a
faithful helpmate to her husband and his counselor in every undertaking.
For nmny years Mr. McKinstry has been closely
identified with the public affairs of the city and
county, where lie has resided since 1886. In politics an ardent I)emocrat, he is one of tlhe leaders
of his party in this section of the State, and also
takes an active part in State and national politics.
In 1891 he was alpointed financial and reading




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


147


clerk in the State Legislature, and was re-elected
during the followitng year. IHe was closen in
1892 as Representative from his district for the
Iouse, and is still serving in that cal)acity.
Mr. McKiinstry is especially active in all measures pertaining to labor organization, and took an
important and promlinent part in tile discussion of
the Congressional appointment and tlhe re-districting of tile State of Michigan. lie was the candidate on thle Labor ticket, alnd was elected largely
by the Labor vote. For tle past twenty-tlhree
years he has been an earnest advocate of labor organization, and a member of the Cigar-makers' International Union.   For several terms he has
served as President of the Trades and Labor Council.
As a citizen, Mr. McKinstry is progressive and
public-spirited, and maintains a constant interest
in every enterprise calculated to promote the welfare of llis fellow-citizens. I-e is liberal in his
views, keen in judgment, and firm in his convictions; altogether, one wlio would attain prominence in any community. lie and his wife lhave
established a pleasant home in Muskegon, and are
held in the highest regard by all wlio know them.
They are the plarents of one child, a daugliter,
Sopllia May, in wlhose education and training thiey
take the warmest interest.
+ ----_+,.
~ ILLIAM   McCOiMB. a leading pllotog// rapher and successful business man, long
located in IMuskegon, \Iicll., and a genuine
artist, enjoying a large and rapidly extending patronage, oives general satisfaction to his custom,
and in his style and finish of work is second to
none in tile State. Mr. McComb is a native of
Canada, and was born in Toronto August 28,
1844. His parents, James and Ann (Thompson)
McConib, were born and reared in Ireland, and, the
descendants of a long line of honored and useful
ancestry, received excellent educations in their


native land, where they attained a mature age.
Young, ambitious and enterprising, they early resolved to emigrate to America, and later made
their permanent hlome in Canada. The fatler, a
man of lneans and superior business ability, entered into mercantile pursuits, and(, prosperous in
liis venture, a'massed a comfortable competence.
While our subject was yet but a young lad, tile
devoted father and affectionate husband passed
away, entering into rest in the year 1858. The
motherl, surviving about seventeen years, and a
woman of elarnest purl)ose and high character,
died in Ottawa, Canada, in 1875, mourned by all
who knew  her. Slhe was the daughter of James
Thompson, a mnan of broad intelligence, respected
for lis qualities as a man and citizen.
Our subject was the ninth in a family of ten
sons and dtaughlters, of whom but four now survive. )During his early childhood, Mr. McComb
attended tile common schools of lhis home locality,
but later learned tile profession of photogralphy,
in which lie is now an adept. H-e acquired his
training in art in Ottawa, Canada, and studied
under tlhe most skillful artists of tile Dominion.
In 1878, determined to try his fortune in tlhe
States, our subject journeyed to Michigan, and located in Muskegon. lie opened a gallely at No.
19 W. Wrestern Avenue, whicll lie fitted up in the
latest and most approved style, and in his studio
uses the modern appliances and tile newest inventions for the exact reproduction of the face and
figuire. To the public Mr. MIcComb offers a choice
variety of phllotographs, varying in size and prices,
and is now making some of tlhe finest life-size pictures ever slhown in Muskegon or tile county.
That lie has been fully appreciated byt the citizens
of Muskegon is evident from the number of familiar faces of people of note to be seen at various
times in his gailery, as well as tlhroughl tlie cabinets
sent to friends far and near. From the firstof his
establishment here our subject met with gratifying success, and as tile time passes his reputation
as an artist especially successful in posing brings
him a new and large variety of custom.
In thle year 1864 were united in marriage William McComb and Mliss Ellen Walker, an estimable
and accomplished young lady of Ottawa, Canada,




148


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and daughter of James Walker, a lifetime resident
of the Dominion. Our subject, fraternally associated witli the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons,
is a Knight Templar and a member of tlhe Consistory and Mystic Shrine of Grand Rapids. The
family residence is pleasantly located at No. 115
Peck Street, in one of the most desirable portions
of the city. Mr. and Mrs. McComb occupy a social position of influence, and have nmale many
friends in their adopted home, where our subject
is now numbered among the prominent business
men and substantial citizens.
V,ILLIAM A. ROW. Few citizens of Muskegon County are more widely known,
and none are more highly esteemed, than
the subject of this sketch, who is familiarly known
as " 'Squire" Row. I-Ie is thle owner of an eightyacre farm located on section 14, White River
Township, and which, through his efforts during
the comparatively brief period of his residence
thereon, has been embellished with a number of
desirable and valuable improvements. Sixty acres
of the place lave been clea:red and are now under
excellent cultivation, yielding each year a bountiful harvest of golden grain.
The parents of our subject, Sebastian H. and
Clarinda (Lewis) Row, resided for some time in tile
township of Windom, ])utchess County, N. Y.,
where the father followed the trade of a carpenter
and joiner. The mother died in Livingston County, N. Y., and her remains now lie buried in the
woods. By a subsequent marriage of Sebastian H.
Row six children were born, of whom only one
now survives: Clarinda, wife of Owen D. Rodgers,
of Indiana, and the mother of three children. The
only survivor of the children born to the first
marriage is the subject of this notice, whose birth
occurred in Windom Township, Dutchess County,
N. Y., July 13, 1826.
When a mere lad our subject accompanied his
father to Livingston County, N. Y., the removal


being made with ox-teams, and settlement being
made in Portage Township, where the senior Mr.
Row erected the first log house ever built in the
township. At tie age of seventeen years William
A. accompanied his father to Indiana and settled
in Whitley County, upon an unimproved tract of
land. At the age of twenty he returned to New
York and there engaged in farming, threshing,
etc. On the 19th of October, 1848, he married
Caroline Elizabeth tIewitt, who was born in Livingston County, N. Y., August 25, 1829, being a
daughter of James B. Hewitt, a farmer of that
county.
In 1866 Mr. Row removed from     Livingston
County, N. Y., to Michigan and settled in White
River Townshlip, Muskegon County, at tile mouth
of White Lake. For several years he was employed in a sawmill, after which he located on his
present farm, in 1887. His first wife died April
28, 1877, and two of their five children are also
deceased. The others are: James Henry, who has
been twice married and is the father of one child
by his first union; Mary, wife of Frank Coleman,
of Montague; and Ella A., who married William
Hawks, of White River Township.
May 11, 1878, our subject married Miss Libbie
M. Gilbert, wllo was born in Canada March 4,
1841. She is the daughter of William and Sarah
(Sloan) Gilbert, natives respectively of England
and Scotland. 'T'ley were married in Nova Scotia,
and in 1861 came to Michigan, settling in Newaygo, where Mr. Gilbert engaged in the wheelwrightt business. Thence he came to Muskegon
and settled at Clay Bank, where his deatl occurred.
Ilis wife is also deceased, having passed away in
1863. They were the parents of eleven children,
of whom the following survive: Mrs. Thursa Rose,
Mrs. Ellen Dean, Thomas, Charles, Robert and
Mrs. Row. Tlie last-named grew to womanhood
in Canada, whence she removed with her parents
to Michigan.
Socially, Mr. Row is identified with the Patrons
of Industry and has served as President of that
organization. tHe is interested in educational
matters and has given his children excellent opportunities for acquiring liberal educations, and
they have all taught school. While holding the




0 rmm
71,
a r=04
I
r






Missing~0
Pag




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


151




various school offices, he has been enabled to
render efficient service in behalf of the educational
interests of this district. lie was Postmaster at
the " Mouth " for ten years, and carried the mail
from there to the village of Montague. Politically
a Republican, lie has always taken an active interest in politics and has frequently served as delegate
to county conventions. For two years lie filled the
office of Township Treasurer, and has also served
as Highway Commissioner of NWhite River Township and as Justice of the Peace almost ever since
locating here. In 1878 he was elected Supervisor
and served for nine years consecutively in that
capacity.
0. WATSON. The gentleman whose name
heads this sketch belongs to that noble
army of self-made men who have fought
the battle of life bravely. IHe is now not
only well-to-do financially, but occupies an enviable position in the estimation of all who have the
honor of his acquaintance. As Ulnited States Collector of Customs for the District of Michigan,
with headquarters at Grand Haven, he is the incurbent of a position for wlicli he is admirably
adapted. Ile was born in St. Lawrence County,
N. Y., April 10, 1859, and is the son of William G.
and Bctsey J. (Rusliton) Watson, natives of the
Empire State.
In 1867 the parents of our subject took up their
abode in Michigan at Coopersville, Ottawa County,
where the father invested sonie of his means in a
stock of merchandise, and until his death, which
occurred in the spring of 1888, he conducted a
successful and remunerative business. His widow
survived him only one year, her death occurring
in 1889. The principal characteristics of Mr. Watson were extreme kind-healrtedness and strict
commercial integrity. In Coopersville, where he
spent his best days, lie enjoyed the confidence,
unqualified respect and steadfast friendship of the
many to whom his virtues, his integrity, and his
high-minded, honorable manliness commended him.
7


D. 0. Watson is the second member of a family
consisting of three sons and one daughter. His
early instruction was such as the public schools of
Coopersvilie afforded, but he afterwards finished
his literary education at Lansing, Mich., pursuing
his studies there for three years with great industry. He thus acquired an excellent education.
He was a young man wlo read and thought, studied and applied, and upon his return to Coopersville he put his knowledge to a good use in his
father's store. After the death of his father he
succeeded to the business, buying out the interest
of the other heirs, since which time he has been so
intimately connected with the mercantile industries of the town, so thoroughly alive to the necessity of building up a reliable house, complete
in all its departments, that he has become an integral part of the mercantile life of his section.
Pre-eminently a man of affairs, the thorough
business methods of Mr. Watson made him a suitable person for the responsible position of Collector of Customs of Michigan, to which position
lie was appointed by Grover Cleveland in 1885.
I-le filled the office until March 2, 1889, when lie
retired on account of the change of administration. On the 2d of April, 1893, he was again
appointed to the position by President Cleveland,
assuming the duties of the office April 26, 1893,
and since that time lie has made his headquarters at
Grand Iaven. lie has taken an active part in
local and State politics and for the past four years
has been Chairman of the Ottawa County Democratic Committee. He has also been Chairman of
the Fifth Congressional District Committee, and
has often been a delegate to Congressional, State
and other conventions.
In 1880 MLr. Watson wooed and won for his
wife Miss Winnie Walsh, of Spring Lake, Ottawa
County, Mich., a daughter of Martin Walsh, a successful merchant and an extensive fruit-grower.
This union has resulted in the birth of two interesting children, Melvin A. and Margaret E. During the hot summer months Mr. Watson and his
fanily retire to their comfortable cottage on the
banks of Spring Lake, where they enjoy the freedom of out-door life. In looking over the events
of Mr. Watson's life one cannot help dwelling




152


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIHCAL RECORD.


upon its fair record, and around his name and
reputation cluster all the manly virtues, truth,
candor and benevolence. IHe is a model husband
and father, kind and generous in his family, and
as a citizen and friend it is a privilege to know
and a pleasure to honor him.


-c_ _
C- -


-     Fi~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ t~~~~~~- 7~~~~~   -


APT. WILLIAM MEES, a retired lake captain, who is now enjoying a well-earned
rest after years of arduous toil at his home
in Muskogon, was born in Somersetshire, England,
on the 18th of June, 1826. His parents, William
and Fannie F. (Baker) Mees, were also natives of
England.   The father served in the British navy
for the long period of twenty-four years, and at
length emigrated to Canada, where his death occurred.
Capt. Mees, whose name heads this record, was a
lad of only eight summers when he accompanied
his parents on their emigration to Canada, landing
in Quebec. The father was also a contractor of
canal building and was engaged on the construction of the St. Lawrence Canal. Our subject's
connection with the Lakes dates from his fourteenth year, when he went with his father to Chicago and secured a position as cook on the
schooner "Drift," which plied on Lake Michigan
between St. Joseph and Chicago, and was coinmanded by Capt. William  Dougan.  Capt. Mees
sailed on the Lakes until 1892, and rose successively step by step until he became captain.  The
first vessel he sailed out of Chicago was the "'Ienry
Clay," in 1848. In 1849, he was captain of the
"Gen. Warren," which he ran for two seasons, and
later the brig "T. W. Morris" two seasons.  He
then moved to Muskegon, in 1851, and entered
the employ of Ryerson & Morris and sailed the
schooner "Roberts," being in their employ steamboating and sailing for about ten years.
Later he resumed business on his own account,
buying a small steamboat, which he ferried across


Muskegon Lake, being so engaged about two years,
when he built the passenger steamer "Pony,"
which was also put into commission as a ferry
boat. IIe afterward sold the above two boats and
then built the tug "Gettie" in connection with
Capt. Tom Walters.
In 1873 he sold the "Gettie" and went to Green
Bay and bought the steamer "Annie," which he
took up to Pine Lake and ran between Charlevoix
and East Jordan for four seasons, and being desirous
of selling the "Annie," lie took her to New Orleans, via Chicago and the Illinois Canal and Illinois River, and disposed of her to advantage. In
the following summer he became superintendent
of the Muskegon Booming Company's floating
stock and was so engaged about six years. I-e was
then engaged as captain of the "Ira 0. Smith" up
to 1891, his practical retirement from the steamboat business dating from that year. Ile has hleld
papers as a pilot and captain for thirty-six years,
but his whole experience on the Lakes runs back
to 1842. I-e is among the oldest lake captains
living.
In January, 1848, Capt. Mees was united in marriage with Miss Winnifred White, a native of Boston, Mass., who died.June 11, 1888, mourned by
many friends. Eleven children were born of tliat
union, but only three are now   living, as follows: Mary, now tile wife of Charles Brown, a
resident of Chicago; Eliza, who resides in Lansing,
Mich., where she is employed in the State Auditor's office; and Winnifred, wife of Robert Foster,
who resides in Muskegon.
On the 18th of NNovember. 1843, during a severe
storm, Capt. Mees was wrecked off the coast of
South H-aven, while sailing on the schooner "Liberty."  Making his way to the shore, lie walked
through two feet of snow  to St. Josepl, a distance of twenty miles. Ile met with a number of
hardships during his life on the Lakes, yet altogether was very successful in escaping wrecks and
injury. Since 1892 he has lived retired and his
rest is well deserved. In politics, he votes with
the Democratic party and is a stanch advocate of
its measures. Socially, he is connected with the
Masonic fraternity, belonging to Muskegon Lodge
No. 140, A. F. & A. M. The Captain is widely




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


153


known throughout this community and has a large
circle of friends and acquaintances, who esteem him
highly for his sterling worth and the many excellencics of his character. Ile is an interesting conversationalist, having many entertaining stories
to tell of his life as a sailor.
' e^====^ 4 *         *    _+
OSIIUA D)AVIES was born in Sidney County, Me., in January, 1818, and died at his
home in Muskegon on the 14th of February, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven years,
respected by all who knew him. Iis father, Charles
Davies, who was also a native of the Pine Tree
State, was a highly educated man, and was quite
prominent in public affairs.
Our subject spent a portion of his boyhood in
the county of his nativity, and afterward went to
Massachusetts, locating in Lowell. There lie acquired his education in the commlon schools, and
later started out in life for himself by working in
a cotton mill. On leavizng Lowell lie went to
Springfield, Mass., where lie was employed in a
cotton mill for some time. lIe was a man of industrlous and frugal hiabits, and as the result of
his economy and enterprise in his early years, lie
acquired suiHcient capital to begin business for
himself. On coming to the West, lie took up his
residence in Kenoslia, Wis., where lie established
and built a foundry and machine slolps. On the
11th of November, 1858, he came to Muskegon
and established the Davies Iron Works, in company with Mr. Emerson. This partnership continued for a year, after which our subject bought
out Mr. Emerson's interest and conducted the
business alone until his death. IIe built up an
excellent trade, and on account of the liberal patronage which he received his business proved a
profitable one.
Mr. Davies was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah N. Gay in Killingly, Conn. She is a native
of Washington, N. II., and a daughter of Abner
Gay, who was born in Dedham, Mass, Her mo

ther bore the maiden name of Anna Warren, and
was a daughter of Daniel Warren, who was born
in the old Granite State. The Gay family is of
English origin, and probably was founded in
America in early Colonial days. Mrs. Davies acquired her education in Massachusetts. Four children were born of the union of our subject and
his wife, three of whom are still living, two sons
and a daughter: Genevieve, wife of Lyman Patten, of Muskegon; Squire V., who is Secretary and
Treasurer of the Davies Iron Works; and Reed S.,
who is now living in Chicago.
In politics, Mr. Davies was a pronounced Republican, a stanch advocate of the party, for he
believed in its principles and in protection for
American industries. Wllen called to his final
rest his loss was mourned throughout the community. Through his successful business career
he was enabled to leave his widow in comfortable
circumstances. She still resides at No. 194 Clay
Avenue, and is a highly esteemed lady.
AVID MILNE. No name is more familiarlv known in Ottawa County than that
of Nlilne, and it is so thoroughly interwoven with its history that a work of this
character would be incomplete without frequent
reference to some member of the family. The man
from New York State has always been a potential
element in the civilization and development of
Michigan. No better blood was ever infused into
pioneer life; no sturdier arm ever set about the
task of subduing the wilderness; and no less vigorous mental activity could have made the State of
Michigan what it is. Mr. David Milne is one of
tlhe oldest settlers of Allendale Township and a
man who, by his upright, honorable career, has
won the respect and esteem of all.
This worthy representative of the old settlers
first saw the light of day in Tompkins County,
N.Y., his birth occurring March 24,1839. Ile was
the only living child boru to the union of Alex



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ander and Margaret (Scott) Milne, both natives of
Scotland, he of Aberdeenshire and she of Haddingtonshire. Alexander Milne wvas one of a family of six children, four sons and two daughters,
and was the first of the family to come to America,
although all of them except one are now on this
side of the Atlantic. I-Ie settled in lMichigan in
1845, but previous to that had resided for some
time in New York, and was there married to Miss
Scott, who had crossed the ocean with her mother
and four brothers a short time before. At the
above mentioned date he came to Allendale Township and purchased forty acres of land on section
22, paying for the same $2.50 per acre. The farm
at that time was covered with heavy timber and lie
began at once to clear it and build a house, moving into the same in the fall of 1846. At this time
only three families resided in the township besides our subject: Richard Roberts, John HIanna
and Ephraim Pierson. Coming to this township
with our subject were Alexander Scott, James
Scott and their mother and sister. These industrious, enterprising pioneers went actively to work
to subdue the wilderness and make fame and
fortune for themselves. Later the brothers and
sisters of our subject came over and settled in
Michigan.
When Mr. Milne first settled in the township,
the nearest gristmill was at Grand Rapids, and the
settleis took their grists there in skiffs, dugouts,
steamers, boats, etc., on the river, daily trips
being made there. The first year Mr. Milne and
the Scott boys took a large whitewood tree and
formed it into a canoe. This was two and a-half
feet wide and twenty-six feet long, and in it they
could carry a large cargo of provisions either from
Grand Haven or Grand Rapids, both places being
accessible. While clearing his land of the timber
Mr. Milne made quite a number of shingles each
year for three or four years, and then turned his
attention almost exclusively to farming, continuing this until the time of his death.  -Ie was tlen
the owner of ninety-seven acres, with forty-five
acres well improved. -Ie only resided on the first
farm he purchased for nineteen years, and then,
selling out, moved down on Grand River, where
he improved another farm. This he sold in 1882


and moved on the place where he received his
final summons, which consisted of sixty-one acres
on section 27. Ile was in his seventy-second year.
His wife had passed away in 1869.
Mr. Milne was elected Township Treasurer in
1851, and served as Justice of the Peace two terms
cf four years each in succession. In 1855 ihe was
elected Supervisor of this township and was reelected five years in succession. After his last
term  as Supervisor lie was again elected to the
office of Township Treasurer, which position he
lleld for four or five years. This was from 1860 to
1865. Later on in life he was appointed Township Treasurer, in the early portion of the winter,
and at the election following was again elected
and held that position for two or three years. IHe
and wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were among the first Methodists in this portion of Michigan. They brought
their church letters from New York and were instrumental in forming the first Methodist Episcopal
Clurch in Allendale. In the church records their
names appeal among the first. At the organization
only seven persons joined: Rev, and Mrs. W. C,
Comfort, Mr. and Mrs, Alexander Milne, Mr, and
Mrs. Johnson Balcom and Miss Lucy J. Speer. Mr.
Balcolm was the last of this band of pilgrims to
pass away, and many remember with pride his
efforts to elevate the condition of the new country.
Mr. Milne was for some timle the Sabbath-school
Superintendent, but he only remained with the
Methodist Episcopal Church for ten years, and then
joined the Wesleyan Methodist, in which lie was
a Class-leader for a number of years and held other
positions.
David Milne received the principal part of his
education in Allendale Township, and then for two
terms attended Adrian College. Being the only
clild, lie remained witll his parents during their
lives and was engaged with his father in agricultural pursuits. Like his father, lie has always
followed that occupation, but in connection has
been engaged in other occupations, principally
teaching school throughout tile county. lie was
first elected to office in the township in 1861,being
made School Inspector, and this office he lheld for
four years. This position lie has filled by election




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


155


several times since. In 1867 he was elected Justice
of the Peace, holding this position for four years,
and before his term had expired he was elected
Supervisor for one year. In 1876 lie was elected
Township Clerk. Since 1870 lie ilas filled the office
of Justice of the Peace two years, having been appointed to fill a vacancy.
Miss Julia A. Stone, who became his wife on the
8th of October, 1867, was a native of the Empire
State and the daughter of William W. and Sarah
L. (French) Stone, natives respectively of Massachusetts and New   York. Both families are of
English parentage. The Stone family came to
America previous to the Revolutionary War, and
the great-grandfather fought bravely for independence. Mr. Stone went from Massaclhusetts to
New York when fifteen years of age and came to
Michigan in 1855. lIe was a farmer, and on settling in tilis county carried on his chosen occupation with success. He and wife were the parents
of only two children. Julia and James 0., of tils
township. Mrs. Stone died in 1852, in New York,
and in 1864 Mr. Stone was married to Mrs. Jane
Jessup, nee Beard. Mr. Stone passed away in 1891,
when seventy years of age. IIe was a member of
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and in politics was a Republican.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Milne were working members of the Wesleyan Methodist Churcl, lie having
been a member of the same since 1867 and she
since 1891. Until recently lie was a Class-leader
in his churchl and he takes a deep interest in all
matters pertaining to tile welfare and good of tlhe
cllurch. le llas been Church Clerk since 1876,
when the church was built, and for quite a number
of years was Trustee of the church. In 1879 lie
was licensed as a local minister and has been
recommended to the Michigian Annual Conference
as a local traveling minister. I-e hlas been a delegate from this circuit to the annual conference of
his church tlree or four times, and attended the
meeting in Grand Rapids in 1876, Allendale in
1878, Pittsford in 1885, and Romulus in 1890.
Mrs. Milne also takes a deep interest in her churcl
and is an earnest Christian worker, one wllo tries
to follow the teachings of tle Goilen Rule. Since
1879 shle has labored in thle Sabbathl-school and


has rarely missed a Sabbath, winter or summer.
Sle is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and was a delegate at Holland
in 1889, and at Sparta in 1892.   She is also
Secretary of the Ladies' Aid Society.   Mrs.
Milne is a lady of intelligence and culture
and for three years was a very successful teacher
in Ottawa County. For quite a number of years
IMr. Milne was a leading Republican, but for many
years he lias voted the Prohibition ticket, and is
an active worker in the cause of temperance.
(IJALMAGE P. COWLES, Clerk of Laketon
/t., Township and a successful farmer of Mus- kegon County, was born in       Delaware
County, Ohio, July 9, 1842. lIe is a son of Joel
Cowles. an old settler of Laketon Township and
one of its most honored citizens, whose long and
useful career lhas been characterized by probity,
energy and industry, and who now, in his advanced
years, lives somewhat retired from active labors.
IIe was born in Oneida County, N. Y., August 28,
1806, and was a son of Joel Cowles, a native of
Connecticut and farmer by occupation. Grandfather Cowles was tle youngest child of the famn ily,
and served sixteen days in tire Colonial army at
the close of the War of the Revolution. Grandmother Cowles bore the maiden name of Susanna
Phelps and was a native of Connecticut, where she
was reared to womanhood in the town of Windsor.
llhe youngest of eight children, Joel Cowles, Jr.,
was about nine years of age when lie left New
York and located in I)elaware County, Ohio. There,
in 1837, lie married Miss Priscilla Smith, a native of
New York, who died after becoming the mother
of six children. Tlhey were: I)elzon, Melvin and
Edward, all of whom are deceased; Elmer, who
resides in St. Joseph, Mich.; Tallnage, the subject of
this sketch; and Esther, the wife of Daniel Jenkins,
of St. Josepli, tills State. Tile second marlriage of
Joel Cowvles united himn with Miss Elizabeth Wilkins,whlo was born in Guernsey (County, Ohlio. Thiey




156


1ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


-


are the parents of four children: Emeline, wife of
George King; Minnie,who married Laughlin Burns;
Lottie, the widow of Theodore Aley; and Bell, who
is now in Chicago.
After his first marriage, Mr. Cowles located in
Delaware County, Ohio, whence he later removed
to Indiana, and from there to St. Joseph County,
Mich. In 1863, he came to Muskegon County and
located in Laketon Township, where he has since
resided. He entered the land from the Goverment
and now enjoys the distinction of being the oldest
settler in the township. He built a small house
soon after settling on the place, and then cleared
and improved the land. Ile now owns one hundred and thirty acres, although at one time lie had
more in his possession. Politically, lie is a Republican and cast his first Presidential ballot for John
Q. Adams; he also voted for W. -. Harrison in
1840, and for Benjamin F. Iarrison in 1892. He
has voted the straight Republican ticket ever since
attaining his majority, and has voted at every
Presidential election, with two exceptions.
Talmage P. Cowles, the subject of this sketch,
w is the fourth in a family of six children,and was
reared in Ohio until the age of seven years. He
tlien accompanied his father to Indiana and resided
in Steuben County for two years, returning thence
to Ohio. At the age of twelve years lie came to St.
Joseph, this State, with his father, and two years afterward he commenced to work in the employ of
otlers, being engaged in farming for some time and
receiving his wages every month. In St. Joseph,
Mich., April 1, 1864, he was united in marriage with
MissUrsula Engle, who was born in St. Joseph
County April 19, 1845, being the sixth among eight
children born to the union of James and Margaret
(Vincent) Engle.
After his marriage Mr. Cowles resided in Burr
Oak Township, St. Joseph County, Mich., whence
he came to Muskegon County on the 29th of December, 1872, and located in the woods on the farm
where he now resides. About four acres of tile property had been cleared and it was not long before the
remainder was under fine cultivation. Fora time
he made his home in a little log cabin, but later he
built the substantial residence at present adorning
the place. He and his wife are the parents of two


children: Julia A., widow of Henry Baars and the
mother of one son, Jolln II.; and James E., who is
at home with his parents. The home farm comprises twenty acres, upon which are raised the
various varieties of small fruits.
A Republican in his political belief, Mr. Cowles
has oficiated in various capacities and has held a
number of local positions, to which he has been
elected by his fellow-citizens. In 1891 lie filled
the position of l)eputy Clerk, and has also served
as Township Clerk, School Inspector, Scllool l)irector and Highway Commissioner. IIe is a member of the Grange, in the progress of which he is
warmly interested. TIe is a man who takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the
advancement of his community, and is a publicspirited and progressive citizen.
A -,~=2~. —s~~.~~ —r~~ ~ —      - )
DWIN J. SMITH, an able attorney, eloquent advocate and the present popular
Postmaster of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., has for over one year discharged the
duties of his present office to the great acceptability of his fellow-townsmen and the general
public. Mr. Smith was born at Grand Rapids,
Mich., November 14, 1856, and was the son of
James W. and Sarah HI. Lobdell Smith, widely
known and highly respected residents of the Wolverine State. The father, a native of Ohio, accompanying his parents to Michigan in 1853,
made his home in Grand Rapids, where he worked
at his trade of a carpenter until 1869. At this
latter (late lie removed to Muskegon, and there
continued in business as a carpenter and builder
until his death. James W. Smith was a man of
excellent business ability, a true patriot, and
served bravely as a soldier in the Tenth Michigan
Cavalry. Enlisting at the breaking out of the
Civil War, lie was severely wounded and discharged for disability, but later joined the infantry, and, receiving the well-earned commission of
a Lieutenant, served faithfully until the close of




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


157


I


the war. H-e entered into rest in Muskegon in the
year 1875. His devoted wife, and mother of our
subject, was the daughter of John Lobdell, a pioneer citizen of Michigan, who, arriving from New
York in the very early days, kept the Lombard
I-louse at Williamston, then one of the oldest and
best hotels of the West. In 1860 Mr. Lobdell located permanently in Grand Rapids and was numbered among the prominent hotelmen of that
thriving city. Esteemed by a host of friends, tile
maternal grandfather of Mr. Smith passed away
in 1856.
Mrs. Sarah (Lobdell) Smith survived until April,
1893, and throughlout her life of busy usefulness
was recognized as a woman of superior attainments, an earnest Christian worker, who gave
active aid in the cause of temperance. She was
also prominently connected with the Woman 's
Relief Corps, and took a leading part in the benevolent enterprises of her locality. To the two
sons and daughters who blessed her home she gave
loving care. Fred E., the brother of our subject,
single, and a clerk in a store in Muskegon, died
in September, 1890. The sister, Effie, now the
wife of M. W. Decker, a prosperous contractor
and builder of Muskegon, began to teach at the
age of fourteen years, and, continuing in that vocation, became one of the most highly valued instructors of ler present home. The first ten years
of Edwin J. Smith's life were spent in the Valley City, but lie attained to manlood in Muskegon, there receiving a thorolugh training in tle
newspaper oflices. His principal preceptor in that
line of work was the Hon. George C. Rice, of tile
Chronicle. Wlhile only a boy, our subject wrote
a poem entitled "Pantheism," which, widely read,
was received with most favorable criticism. At
sixteen MIr. Smith furnished a series of articles for
the Chronicle, which gained him an extended reputation as a local writer, but at eighteen he decided to avail himself of thle opportunity for a
thorough education and entered the Muskegon
High School, from which he was graduated four
years later, having with honor completed a LatinScientific course.
Mr. Smith immediately after leaving school began the study of law under the Hon. F. W. Cook,


and was admitted to the Muskegon County Bar.
Later, upon motion of the 'Hon. John Fitzgerald, our subject was admitted to practice in the
United States courts. Since 1881 he has been a
constant resident of Whitehall, where at the latter
date he entered upon tile successful practice of
the profession of law. May 25, 1882, true to his
instincts as a genuine newspaper man, Mr. Smith
became the proprietor of the Whitehall Forum,
and, aided by this medium, was soon a leading
factor in local and State politics. A man of
briglt intelligence and a liberal Republican, he
has taken an active part in the conventions and
local councils of his party, and has for years been
Village Attorney of Whitehall. May 7, 1892, appointed Postmaster of Whitehall by President Harrison, our subject has since devoted himself entirely to looking after this branch of Uncle Sam's
affairs. The people of the town, appreciating his
efficiency, would be glad, regardless of politics,
to see tlhe present incumbent serve out his term of
office. An energetic citizen, untiring and publicspirited, our subject has been closely identified
with all matters of local progress, and it was
largely through his determined efforts that the
village acquired one of the best systems of waterworks in the State. Ile gave the "Sylvan Beach"
its name, organized an improvement company
and in various ways materially assisted in needed
improvements and enterprises. [Ie was one of
the charter members of the Sons of Veterans of
Whitehall, of which he was First Sergeant. Fraternally, he is also connected with the Odd Fellows, and has been Chief Patriarch of the Encampment and Vice-Grand of the Subordinate
Lodge, as well as Secretary.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss
Minnie S. Floten, an adopted daughter of Attorney Henry Slater, of Muskegon. The pleasant
home of our subject and his estimable wife has
been brigittened by the birth of three children,
two daughters and a son, Edna, Euna and Norval.
Next to these promising children Mr. Smith is
proudest of his Latin-Scientific diploma, his certificate of admission to the State Bar and his commission as Postmaster, which mark the upward progress of a self-reliant man. Our subject is handy with




158


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


the pen and cal)tured the "Blodget Special" first
prize, in 1891 over sixty-five papers for the best
article on the West Michigan Fair. He has unbounded faith in the quick development of Michigan manufactures and agriculture, but he has a
particularly strong belief in Muskegon County,
which, with her rich resources and splendid lakeboard, he thinks will soon be leading in the van,
and in which he has found steadfast friends, without whom he thinks no man can accomplish his
purposes.
W   ARREN T. MARTIN has been identified
with the best interests of Muskegon Township for many years, and occupies a pleasatit homestead on section 28. He was born in
Cayuga County, N. Y., three miles from the village of Jordan, December 2, 1821. Ils parents
were natives respectively of France and the State
of New Jersey, and the father died when W. T.
was a child of two years, leaving a family of three
clildren, of whom he was the second. I-is childhood years were passed in New York, and his
schlooling was principally obtained there. In his
youth he was employed on a farm, also engaged
in tile sawmill business for many years, and worked
on the Oswego River.
September 22, 1846, occurred the marriage of
W. T. Martin to Miss Hannah Breed, who was born
in the town of Clay, Onondaga County, N. Y.,
February 17, 1823. Her father, James Breed, was
born in Manlius, N. Y., and was reared in his native place, becoming a farmer. Her grandfather
was one of three brothers who came to this country in the "Mayflower."  The mother of Mrs.
Martin bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Kinney,
and was born in Manlius, N. Y., where she was
reared to womanhood. In 1817 she became the
wife of James Breed, and with him commenced
housekeeping in Clay Township, Onondaga County. Not long afterward they removed to Hannibal, Oswego County, where Mr. Breed died at the


advanced age of ninety years. His wife had passed
away at the age of forty-eight. They were the
parents of fifteen children, nine of whom grew to
manhood and womanhood, and eight of whom are
now living. Mrs. Martin was the fifth child and
third daughter in respect to age. At the age of
thirteen she accompanied her parents to Hannibal
Township, Oswego County, N. Y., where slie was
married.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Martin located three miles from the city of Osborn, where
for some time he engaged in the milling business.
In 1854 he came to Michigan and at once located
in Muskegon, where he secured employment in
a mill. In 1.862 he enlisted in the Union army,
becoming a private in the Twenty-sixth Michigan
Infantry, and serving until the close of the war.
He participated in a number of engagements and
was sunstruck while under march. He was in
Washington, D. C., at the time of the assassination
of President Lincoln, and was discharged at that
city.
Returning from active warfare, Mr. Martin located on his farm in Muskegon Township and resumed the peaceful pursuit of tilling the soil. IHe
is the owner of a farm of seventeen acres, upon
which are two houses; he also owns five residences
at Muskegon Heights. Success has crowned his
efforts and he is numbered among the most prosperous of Muskegon's farmers. In his political
affiliations he was formerly a Democrat, but is
now an adherent of the principles of the Republican party. He has held a number of offices in
the town of Norton, Muskegon County, and has
served as Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer, Road Commissioner and School Director.
Socially, he is identified with the Grand Army of
the Republic at Muskegon.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been the parents of
four children, three of whom, Josephine E., Eugene
F. and Alson J., are deceased. Their only surviving
child is Mary J., who married Joseph Donoghue,
and is the mother of one child, Ray Martin, now
(1893) four years of age. In the social circles of
this community both Mr. Martin and his excellent
wife occupy high places and have the friendship of
all their associates. For fifty-five years Mrs. Mar



I




6&A/


— f -,
J',
"I'lZ-6




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


161


tin has been a faithful member of the Baptist
Church and is a charter member of the Baptist
Church at Muskegon, being one of the only two
survivors among the organizers of the church.
Mr. Martin is also identified with this denomination and contributes liberally of his time and
means to its support.
HIARLES E. WYMAN. The philosophy of
success in life is an interesting study and
f affords a lesson from which many can profit.
In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts
and opportunity should be considered, as any
young man who has a disposition to become a
respect ble and useful citizen desires to succeed
therein. In his cliosen occupation as a lumber
manufacturer, Mr. Wy-man has reached the top
round of the ladder of success, and is to-day
classed among the substantial and representative
business men of Grand Haven. The people of
Ottawa County are familiar with his name, for he
has resided among them for many years and las
earnestly identified himself with every worthy enterprise which las for its object tile upbuilding of
the city.
Like many of the foremost business men of
Grand Iaven, Mr. Wyman is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Essex County in
the town of Schroon, February 10, 1826. He is a
son of John and Abigail (Potter) Wyman, the
former a native of Essex County, N. Y., born in
1806, and the latter of Pawlet,Vt. Mrs. Wyman's
father, Thomas Potter, was of English descent, his
father having been born in New London, England
Charles E. Wyman is the youngest of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, five of whom
survive at the present time. HIe received his early
educational training in the district school and
later entered a seminary at Chester, N. Y.
After leaving the schoolroom Mr. Wyman became interested in the manufacture of iron in
Elizabethtown, Essex County, but at the end of


two years lie sold out. Later he engaged for a
short time as engineer on a lake steamboat. In selecting his companion in life he chose Miss Iarriet
Reynolds, a resident of Northfield, Ohio, and a
daughter of Cyrus Reynolds. After his marriage
he followed agricultural pursuits for five years
in Summit County, Ohio. From there lie came to
Michigan, and, settling in Blendon Township,
Ottawa County, built a sawmill. This he conducted successfully for four years, when the mill
was burned. He then began operating a mill at
Georgetown and made considerable money in the
enterprise, but two years later disposed of the
business and returned to the Buckeye State.
In 1865 Mr. Wyman returned to Grand Haven
and operated a mill at the mouth of Grand River
for four years, when it was destroyed by fire. He
then erected a new mill a mile up the river and engaged in the manufacture of lumber in company
with II. W. IBuswell, under the firm name of Wyman & Buswell, the connection continuing for ten
years, when Mr. Wyman sold his interest to his
partner. Following that, he, with others, bought
a large tract of pine timber-land in Mecosta
County, under the title of the Chippewa Lumber
Company, and they were soon doing an extensive
business. Later he bought a farm comprising five
hundred and twenty acres in Ottawa County and
has been engaged in farming enterprises ever since.
A wide-awake, thorough-going business man, he
has amassed a fortune. He is one of the Directors of the Grand Haven National Bank and is interested in many enterprises of a paying character. To his marriage were born four children, as
follows: Harvey P., Charles R., George R. and
William  P., all of whom are active business men.
___     +. —....E     /
ZRA E. TYLER, an enterprising and successful dealer in real estate in Muskegon,
_l  _ Miich., is authority on the values of inside
and outside property. In 1883, he purchased thirtythree acres in the suburbs, which in 1889 he platted




162


PO1RTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




out into town lots, now known as Tyler's Addition,
and which he has made one of the most desirable
portions of the city. Our subject has been numbered among the enterprising citizens of the West
for malny years, but is a native of New England,
and was born in Vermont March 11, 1848. Tle
remote ancestors of tlhe Tyler family were of English nativity, but early in tle hibtory of the United
States a forefather settling among the rugged hills
of New England founded the branch of the family
to which Ezra E. belongs. The paternal grandparents making their home among the Green
Mountains of Vermont there reared their fanily to thrifty industry and usefulness. Laban
Tyler, the father of our subject, born, reared and
educated in Vermont, married in his native State,
and was numbered among tlhe energetic and substanltial citizens of lis home locality. Tlie mother,
Elizabeth (Marden) Tyler, was likewise the descendant of honored ancestors, old-time residents
of Vermont, of which State she was herself a native.
Tle parents not very long after their marriage
removed to Stoneham, Mass., where the devoted
mother died in 1876. The father yet surviving,
makes his home at Lynn, Mass. Mr. Tyler was
only one year old when his father and motler removed to the old Bay State, and the:e spending the
days of boyhood he attended the excellent schools
of Stoneham, but before the breaking out of tile
Civil War emigrated to the West. In 1863 lie enlisted in Company II, Third Michigan Cavalry, and
was assigned to the division under Sheridan. Our
subject actively participated in numerous decisive
battles and skirmishes, taking part in thle figlhts of
Corinth, Island No. 10 and Shliloh. After nearly
three years of faithful service, lie was mustered
out at San Antonio, Tex., and was honorably discharged March 20, 1866, at Jackson, Mich. After the close of the war, Mr. Tyler returned to Van
Buren County, Milc., and after some length of
time, employed in traveling through the farther
West, in 1886 made his permanent home in Michigan, and bought a farm near Mona Lake, Muskegon County, and with energy entered into the
pursuit of general agriculture and fruit culture.
In 1844, settling in Muskegon, our subject pur

chased the broad acres which now form Tyler's
Addition, a charming suburb of Muskegon.
Mr. Tyler is politically a Republican, and is interested in both local and national issues, being
intelligently posted in the progressive movements of the day. lie is fraternally a member of
Lodge No. 92, I. 0. 0. F., and likewise belongs
to Pliil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R. Ezra E.
Tyler and Miss Evaline Piper were united in marriage November 18, 1868. The estimable wife of
our subject, in girlhood a resident of Kalamazoo,
later making her home in Muskegon, is the daughter of Alexander Piper, a pioneer settler of the
State, widely known and highly respected. One
child, a daughter, Birdie, has blessed the pleasant
home. The attractive family residence, located
on South Terrace Street, Tyler's Addition, is of
modern design, handsomely finished, and surrounded by a fine class of buildings, evidencing
the rapid march of improvements in this quarter
of the city.
AMES J. GEE, a prominent native of Michigan and an enterprising and prosperous
business man of Whitehall, Muskegon County, was born in the township of Albion,
not far from  the village of H-omer, in Calhoun
County, December 19, 1851. Our subject is the
only living son of William   N. and Lucinda
(Turner) Gee, pioneer settlers of the Wolverine
State. The father, born in Virgil, Cortland
County, N. Y., August 26, 1827, was one of the
two sons of Jacob B. Gee, also a native of Virgil,
and born in 1807. The paternal great-grandfather, John S. Gee, was the son of Maj. John Gee,
an Englishman by birth, but a brave soldier of the
War for Independence. He held a Major's commission and served with distinction during tile entire
period of the struggle. The Major carried an old
bull's-eye watch, since handed down from generation to generation until it came into the possession




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


163


of William  N., while he was yet a boy. Not
realizing the historical value of tile memento,
tlhe father traded the watch off for a cheal) shotgun, but now would give half of his property
if he could recover the old relic of Revolutionary
days. A   brother of the father, Yolney Gee,
served bravely during the Civil War and was
among the first to answer his country's call. When
an attempt was made to cross the Potomac Bridge
at Fredericksburgh in the face of a murderous
fire from the other side, and the commanding
officer called for volunteers to make the dash, lie,
with otheis, in the face of almost certain death,
undertook the hopeless task. Nearly all of the
courageous Federals fell before the deadly fire of
the rebel troops.
Volney Gee was thrice wounded in the right
arm alnd when told that it must be amputated to
save his life, replied tllat he llad rather be sent
home dead than lose his arm. Every effort possible was made to preserve his life, but the heroic
young soldier expired in the hospital in Washington. IHe was Sergeant of his compan  an, nd records
show him one of the bravest soldiers of tile war,
gallant in action, resolute and fearless. Physically, he was a magnificent specimen of manhood,
six feet in height, as straight as an arrow, and
was in deed a soldier born.  John S. Gee, tle
great-grandfather of our subject, was a small
farmer and hotel-keeper of Virgil, N. Y., and his
hotel was a rendezvous for tile soldiers of the
War of 1812. At his deatll tils property was inherited by Jacob B., who was his only son. Jacob
sold the old home and    removed to Steuben
County, N. Y. I-e was a tiller of tile soil, and in
1833 he journeyed to Michigan on a prospecting
tour, and in the pioneer days of 1835 brought his
family to the then falr West and settled in Calho'un
County, Mich. IIe took up a small piece of land
from the Government and bought other real-estate
near Albion. William N., the only living son, was
then a lad of eighlt years. The paternal grandfather married at nineteen years of age Miss Libby
Ballou, who was born in IHerkitner County, N. Y.
Slie was the daughter of a Frenchlman, and a niece
of a celebrated sea-captain. The noted Methodist
preacher, Ballou, was one of this same family, as


was also the mother of tile late President Garfield.
Five of tile ten children of the paternal grandfather are deceased, and their mother long since
passed away.
Our subject's father, William N., the eldest, was
the possessor of more than ordinary ability but had
little opportunity to gain an education, as he was
early obliged to assist his father in thle support of
the brothers and sisters who clustered about the
family hearth. Wlien only twenty years of age
lie was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda
Turner, the daughter of Elijah Turner, a farmer
and tlhe son of a once wealthy distiller whom tlle
revenue laws ruined. The distiller, known   as
Judge Turner, was a prominent politician of his
day and a man widely known and respected. It
was in 1853 that Jacob B. Gee removed to Muskegon County and made his home not fat from
Whitehall, and there upon the old homestead he
is yet living. The Gee family in the West represent four generations: Jacob B., tlle only son
of John J.; William N., the only living son of Jacob
B.; James J., the only living son of William N.,
and tile children of James J.: Carl, Merle and Lynn.
William N. and his family came to Muskegon
County in 1865. He has been asuccessful general
agriculturist and fruit-grower and has accumulated
a comfortable competence. HIe has been a member
of tlle Methlodist Episcopal Church since 1857, and
is and has been a life-long  temperance man,
being identified with the Prohibition party. Ile
hlas never accepted a political office, but has been
a Trustee and for many years a Class-leader in the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the parental father were five children, one
dying in infancy. Emma, the eldest living, was
for fifteen years a successful teacher in the public schools.  She is an active worker in tle
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and is a
clear and forcible writer, strong in argument,
and choice in diction. A maiden lady, she makes
her home with lier parents. Clara married G. A.
Sumner, formerly a merchant, but now cultivating
one of the fine fruit farmns of J. J. Gee; Cora Bird,
the youngest girl, was a graduate of Whitehall
High School and died in early womanhood. James
J., our subject, attained to adult age upon his fath



164


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


er's farm. He was fourteen years old when, in 1865,
his parents came to Muskegon County. He
completed his education in the Whitehall High
School and afterward taught for one year. Later
he entered the hardware store of P. Morse & Son,
of Whitehall, but, the firm failing at the end of
two years' service, lie purchased the stock from the
creditors entirely on time and against the advice
of his friends, who warned him that by so doing
he would only make a second failure of the
business. Confident of his own ability and determined to succeed, Mr. Gee went ahead with
courage and from the first steadily made his
upward way, tie business increasing constantly,
until now he controls one of the largest hardware
and furniture trades in this part of Michigan.
Beginning for himself about fifteen years ago
with about $1,000 capital, our subject has accumulated a handsome property and aside from
his business interests in Whitehall is extensively
engaged in fruit-growing, owning one of the
finest young fruit farms in Muskegon County and
another equally as valuable in Oceana County.
Mr. Gee is an enthusiast in horticulture, giving it
much careful study and attention, and receives
b)oth pleasure and profit from  the possession
of these valuable pieces of real estate. He firmly
believes that Michigan has the finest fruit soil and
climate of any State east of the Rockies. Upon
his Muskegon and Oceana County farms he has
five thousand five hundred trees, the choicest varieties of peaches, apples, quinces, plums and pears
grown in this latitude.
Combining business and recreation, our subject
now spends much of his time in his orchards, and
for the past few years has allowed himself more
opportunity for rest and relaxation  from  the
daily cares of life. By untiring industry and
shrewd business management attaining the pinnacle
of success, lie can now afford to let others do the
work, while lie yet continues the watchful oversight necessary to the prosperity of his extensive
business interests. Mr. Gee has not desired to
hold local office, never feeling he could spare the
time from his own private business, which so long
demanded his unceasing care. Our subject is,
however, a public-spirited man, and with efficiency


served one term as Supervisor of the township
and for two terms ably discharged the duties of
Treasurer of the township.
In August of the year 1880, Mr. Gee and Miss
Ida Widoe, of Whitehall, were united in marriage. Mrs. Gee is a daughter of the late John
Widoe, a prominent clothing merchant of Whitehall. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was
the worthy descendant of a long line of brave and
honored ancestry. The attractive home of Mr.
and Mrs. Gee has been blessed by the birth of
three sons: Carl, aged twelve years; Merle, ten
years old; and Lynn, aged eight years. Our subject
and his estimable wife are both valued members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active in
benevolent enterprises. Fraternally, Mr. Gee is
connected with the Ancient Free & Accepted
Masons, and in his social, business and church
relations commands the esteem and high regard of
the entire community of old friends and acquaintances.
e ~    ------— qq+l              s
ROF. JOSEPH II. SIIEFFIELD, the effiJ) cient and cultured Principal of the Muskegon High School, is a native of New
England, and was born June 21, 1861, in
the city of Worcester, Worcester County, Mass.
The Sheffields are of English ancestry and early
became permanent settlers in Rhode Island and
New York. Charles P. Sheffield, the father of Joseph H., was born in Franklin County, N. Y. The
mother of our subject, Lucy (Keach) Sheffield, was
the daughter of Joseph HI. Keach, a prominent citizen of Connecticut, who long resided in Windham
County, the birthplace of his children. Remaining
in Worcester throughout the years of boyhood,
Prof. Sheffield prepared for college in the Worcester High School, from which, after a full course, lie
graduated with honor in 1879. In the fall of the
same year he entered Harvard University and,
taking the classical course, at the expiration of
four years graduated with the Class of '83, receiv



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


165


ing the degree of A. B. Prof. Sheffield was also
the recipient of especial honors in Latin and
Greek, and during his collegiate course made an
enviable record in every branch of study which
he pursued. Iaving enjoyed the benefit of extended instruction, lie decided to engage in the
vocation of a teacher, and in the fall of 1883 took
charge of Old Lyme Academy, located in the town
of Old Lyme, Conn., situated on the Connecticut
River.
Prof. Sheffield for a twelvemonth retained the
Principalship of the academy, but in the fall of
1884 journeyed to the West and became Principal
of the HIigh School of Manistee, Mich., and successfully held the responsible position until 1889,
when he accepted the charge of the Muskegon
HIigh Sclool and was immediately installed as
Principal. With an average attendance of two
hundred students, the Muskegon High School
justly boasts of its high grade of scholarship, its
pupils entering since 1890 the State University at
Ann Arbor with a high record, of which Prof.
Sheffield may well be proud. The thorough course
comprises four years of Latin, two of Greek, two
of German, and two of French, and throughout the
entire four years the higher branches of English
are pursued, trigononetry being the highest mathematics taught. Prof. Sheffield has seven capable assistants, each excelling in his own department. The graduates of the Muskegon High
School now entering the University of Ann Arbor
as freshmen have enjoyed a most thorough preparation for college, and many of them will undoubtedly take high rank in the university classes.
The new High School building recently erected is
a handsome edifice, built of terra cotta and brick
and resting upon a fine stone foundation. It contains extensive laboratories used in the study of
chemistry, natural philosophy, physiology, biology and physical geography. This magnificent
edifice cost about $60,000.
While in college, Prof. Sheffield was a member
of the Phi Beta Kappa and much enjoys the reunions of the fraternity. On the 1 th of July, 1886,
our subject and Miss W. A. Buchner, of Saginaw,
Mich., and daughter of Isaac Buchner, were united
in marriage. Mr. Sheffield and his accomplished


wife are the parents of two daughters and one son:
Pyrrha B., Ida K. and Charles V. Mrs. Sheffield
is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and, socially, occupies a prominent position. Achieving excellent results as an instructor,
and devoted to the duties of his profession, Prof.
Sheffield also takes an active interest in the movements of the day and is a liberal-spirited citizen,
progressive and enterprising.
_. —      r ---   '
ETER H. WINTERMUTE, proprietor of the
leading livery, board and sales stable at
Muskegon, was born in Orange County, N.
J., on the 30th of November, 1834. He
traces his ancestry to Germany, whence in an early
day his paternal grandfather, John Wintermute,
emigrated to America, making settlement in New
Jersey. There, in 1810, Septer Wintermute, the father of our subject, was born, and in Orleans County, that State, in 1813, Emeline Bartlolf, mother
of our subject, opened her eyes upon the scenes of
earth. The former followed the business of a
hotel-keeper in various places, and also conducted
a livery stable.
The second son in a family consisting of three
sons and two daughters, Peter H. Wintermute
passed the first four years of his life in his native
place, whence lie was taken by his parents to Illinois. There for two years he resided in Bernadotte,
removing from there to Pekin, the same State.
After spending four years there, the family went
to Wisconsin and settled in Whitewater, where
the parents remained until their death. Peter H.
remained in that city until 1870; when he removed
to Milwaukee, Wis., and there continued the livery business, which he had carried on in Whitewater for two years prior to his removal.
In the spring of 1875 Mr. Wintermute came to
Muskegon, Mich., bringing with him the equipments of his livery stable, and purchasing, property in the business centre of the city. In 1881




166


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


he erected for the more extensive prosecution of
his business a brick building, 70x150 feet in dimensions, and two stories in lheight. Here he conducts a large and profitable business, both with
the people of Muskegon and the surrounding
country. In his stable may be found a large number of valuable horses belonging to himself, as
well as many owned by residents of the city. IIe
also carries a full line of hacks, carriages, coupes
and phaetons, which lie rents at reasonable rates.
In 1872 Mr. Wintermute was united in marriage with Miss Reta, daurghter of Joel Clapp, of
Whitewatcr, Wis., and one cliild has been born to
bless this union, a daugliter, Lucy C. -Having
made a careful study of the political issues of the
age, Mr. Wintermute has cast his influence on the
side of tile Democratic party, which lie invariably
supports. In his fraternal relations lie is identified with the Masonic fraternity and tile Kniglits
Templar, being prominently connected with these
social organizations. Ile is a stockholder and Director in the Muskegon Savings Bank,.and is arso
prominently connected with otlher leading enterprises of the city and county. IIis attention, however, is devoted principally to tile details of his
extensive business, and it is through his excellent
judgment, tact and discrimination tliat lie has been
enabled to succeed where others miglit have failed.
ROF. GERRIT J. KOLLEN. Among the
well-known  educators of the State of
Michigan, there is not one who llas attained a higher degree of prominence
than Prof. Gerrit J. Kollen, who is the most efficient, trustworthy and capable President of I-lope
College, at Holland, Mich. He is a product of
Holland, 'where he was born on the 9th of August,
1843, being named in honor of his worthy father,
whose life was devoted to tilling the soil in his
native land.
When the subject of this sketch was about two
years of age he was left fatherless, he being the


youngest of five children born to his parents. As
a youth lie possessed an original and active mind,
and being of a rather adventurous disposition and
an inquiring mind, lie looked below  the mere
surface of things and was considered a promising
lad. In 1851, he, in company witll his widowed
motler, who is still living at the advanced age of
ninety years, in full possession of physical and
mental vigor, crossed the broad Atlantic to the
Ulited States, and with her settled in Allegan
County, Mich., where his early schooling was obtained. In 1862, lie entered the preparatory department of Hope College, at IIolland, in which lie
took the full classical course, graduating in the year
1868. Very shortly after leaving school he engaged in teaching, and during the three years that
lie taught in the district schools of thle county lie
made an enviable record for himself as an educalor,
and gained much practical knowledge of the requirements and duties of a successful instructor.
At the end of tlat time he was elected AssistantProfessor of Mathematics in his Alma Mater, and
in 1878 was made Professor of Pure and Applied
Mathemailtics, which position he held until 1885,
when lie became Professor of Applied Mathematics
and Political Economy, and also had charge of
the Chair of Logic. The duties of these positions
lie filled so ably, so cheerfully and to such purpose
that in 1893 he was elected President of tile college, a position his fine and cultured mind and his
past experience as a disciplinarian eminently fit
him for. Although the friend of all his pupils
an(l their sympathetic adviser, lie commands their
utmost respect, and accordingly system and order
are among the rules of his institution. ITe has
proven himself to be the right man in the right
place, and tlhat the college is a popular one is attested by the fact that it is largely patronized.
Prof. Kollen was married in 1879, Miss Mary
W. Van Raalte becoming his wife. She was a
daughter of Rev. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte, the
founder of I-ope College and of the city in which
it is located, and a sketch of whom will appear
in anotller part of this volume. Prof. Kollen is a
strong 'Protectionist and has taught that theory in
his classes of political economy for many years.
I-e is therefore in sympathy with the Republican




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


167


part)y in his political views, and whenever occasion requires supports the men and measures of
that party botl by precept and example. The college at the head of which lie stands was established by tile Reformed Church of America, of
which Prof. Kollen is a member, and in which he
is one of the Elders. I-e has frequently been a
delegate to the several synods and attended the
last meeting of that body at Asbury Park, N. J.
IIe takes an active interest in everytliing that pertains to the growth and development of tlhe city
of Holland, is an active member of the City
Improvement Association, and is one of the Directors of the First State Bank of the place. In
manners tle Professor is genial, cordial and gentlemanly, and is an easy, fluent and interesting
conversationalist. He has a pleasant smile and a
kind word for everyone, and is highly respected,
not only by the faculty of the college, but by the
citizens of Holland generally.
OHIN  GILLIESPY, a prosperous general
agriculturist, a member of the Township
Board of Equalization and one of the oldest
living English settlers of Chester Township,
Ottawa County, Mich., was born in Westmoreland,
England, November 18, 1828. IHe was the fifth
of the eight children born unto the union of
Thomas and Mary (Cass) Gillhespy, natives of
England and   descendants of a long line of
British ancestry. Tle father was steward for a
Mr. Wilson, and held the position until his death.
A part of the Cass family early made their home
in America, some of them settling  here before
the War for Independence. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Cass, removed to
Canada, where he died, but two of his brothers
had preceded him to America long before his
arrival in Canada. The father of Mr. Gillhespy
died when our subject was but ten years of
age.  Of the children in the parental family,
Thomas, deceased, was the eldest; Ann, deceased,


was the wife of John Bovnton; Mary is the widow
of Joseph Fitchett; Thomas (second) is deceased;
John is our subject; James was killed in 1862, at
the battle of Murfreesboro; Barbara is the widow
of John Boozer, who was killed at the battle of
Bentonville, N. C.; and Thomas (third) is a citizen
of this township. After the death of her husband,
the mother, in 1845, emigrated to Canada, and in
1850, removing   to the States, located on the
same section of land where our subject now resides, and where she improved a farm. She died
on the place in 1857.
John Gillhespy, a little lad when his father
died, attended school until eleven years of age,
when he went on a farm in England and worked
for three and a-half years. Ilis employer, Mr.
Manzer, paid him about 835 per year. When
nearly fifteen years of age our subject accompanied
his mother and family to Canada, and     tlere
assisted in the care of the home farm for two and
a-half years.  Upon tlhe 19th of March, 1848,
3Ir. Gillhespy came to Mictligan, but soon after
journeyed to northern Wisconsin, where he engaged in lumbering, running rafts and doing
similar work for one and a-half years. In the fall
of 1849, again arriving in Mlichigan, our subject
lumbered on Mill Creek for a wliile, and in the
spring of 1850 ran logs from Port Huron to
letroit. Ile then went to Canada for his mother
and family, and after returning with them for
the succeeding three years was employed in lumbering. He also jobbed for some time for Mr.
Cole, and during the winter and summer was
engaged in taking the minutes of pine land for
various firms. In 1855, resigning from the timber
business, Mr. Gillhespy removed to his present
farm, which then consisted of eighty acres of wild
land, to wllicl lie has since added forty acres. A
log house, hewn smooth in the inside, was his first
improvement, and in this primitive building  he
resided for some time after his marriage.
August 15, 1855, were united in m'irriage John
Gillhespy and Miss Lovina Field, a native of St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., and daughter of Edward
and Eliza (Fuller) Field, who emigrated from the
East to Miclligan in 1850, and settled in Ottawa
County. Mr. Field and his family were numbered




168


POIRTRAIT AND) BI OGRA PHICAL RECORD.


168              PORTRAIT ANT) BiOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


among the prominent settlers, and both the father
and mother of Mrs. Gillhespy passed away in this
county, deeply mourned by all who knew them.
Mrs. Field died in 1854, but Mr. Field survived
until 1890, reaching the advanced age of eightythree. He and his excellent wife were the parents
of five children. Lovina was the eldest; Harriet,
deceased, was the wife of H. Hilliard; John -1.,
deceased, died in the army during the late war; the
fourth child died in infancy; and Albert is also deceased. In 1859 our subject and a Mr. Patterson
erected on the farm a sawmill, which had water
power and carried an upright saw.  Tllis mill
Mr. Gillhespy conducted until 1887. In 1875 he
built his present attractive and commodious residence.
Mr. and Mrs. Gillhespy began life on the farm
with but very little capital save their hope, courage and stout wills, and could sum up their
possessions in the land, a log house and yoke of
oxen. At first the wife assisted her husband in
the out-door work, and aided him in clearing
until the country became more thickly settled and
they could afford to hire hands. Of their home
farm of one hundred and twenty acres, one
hundred and five are in a high state of cultivation, and, aside from this property, Mr. Gillhespy
has one hundred and forty acres of land in
Chester Township, eighty of which are under
profitable cultivation. Eleven children have with
their bright presence blessed tile home. The
sons and daughters are: Ann, wife of William
Pierce; Franklin; Ellen, wife of Thomas Morley;
Eleanor, wife of Adam River; Ethlenia, the wife
of Jacob Host; John; James; Amelia, wife of
Edward Kelly; Lovina, wife of George Joblonski; William and George. Ellen and Eleanor are
twins. Our subject and his good wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are
prominent in the social and benevolent work of
the denomination. They are also both worthy
members of the Patrons of Industry. Fraternally, Mr. Gillhespy is associated with Ravenna
Lodge No. 355. 1. 0. O.F.; he has filled all the
chairs of the order, and is now Representative of
the lodge to the Grand Lodge at Lansing. Mrs.
Gillhespy is a Rebecca degree Inember. Aside


from his present public work as a member.of the
Board of Equalization, our subject has efficiently
discharged the duties of Highway Commissioner,
and fully commands the high regard of all his
fellow-townsmen.
I ORENZO PILLEN, of section 23, Dalton
Township, Muskegon County, is one of the
large land-owners of this locality. A native of Canada, his birth occurred at Kingston in
1830. His father, George Pillen, a native of Lancashire, was of humble parentage, and early in
life, being obliged to make his living, learned tile
weaver's trade. He was only eighteen years old
when he went into the British army, enlisting in
the service for life. lie was a faithful soldier for
more than eleven years and took part in the great
wars with France and Napoleon. He was never
wounded or taken prisoner, but at length became
dissatisfied with army life and after paying $80
managed to secure his discharge papers. After
this had been effected he removed to Kingston,
Canada. where for several years he was a servant.
He was there married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter
of Simon and Mary (Walker) Hough, and wlo was
born in Canada. Simon Hough was a refugee at
tile time of the Revolutionary War and wasa Tory.
He received eight hundred acres of Government
land, two hunidred of which fell as an inheritance
to our subject's mother. Mr. HIough removed to
Victoria County and brought up his family on a
farm. He afterward returned to Kingston to live
with one of his children. At the time of his death
he was ninety-two years of age, and was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife
passed away in her seventy-eighth year.
Lorenzo Pillen is the third in his father's family
of nine children, the others in order of birth being John, Adolphus, Charles, Parker, Henry; Finetta, deceased, wife of William Tool; Hannah,
wife of Davis McLauglhlin; and Julia Ann, wife
of Peter Van Allen. Our subject received much








:( Vs

elz
- ),FL,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


171




of his education in the district schools and was
early familiarized with the routine of farm work.
For several years lie turned his attention to the
painter's trade, but finally devoted himself to agriculture. In 1865 Mr. Pillen settled at Romeo,
Mich., where he remained only a year. It was in
1866 that lie located on his present farm, wliere
his first l)urchase was one of one hundred and
sixty acres of wild land. As tle years passed, lie
continually bought tracts of land, imnproved and
otierwise, until lie had in his possession tlhe deeds
of twenty forty-acre farms. In addition to general farming and investments in real estate, Mr.
Pillen llas been extensively engaged in milling
and the lumber business. Iis judgment is universally correct in regard to investments, and, therefore, his opinion is much sought after by his
friends and neighbors.
In 1853, Mr. Pillen was united in marriage, in
Canada, to Miss Abigail, daughter of Benjamin
and Susannah WVilliams. Five children grace their
union: George; Susannah, wife of George Rice;
John; Martha, wife of Martin Eby; and William
II. The members of this family are justly numbered among tlre best citizens of the county.
Recognizing his business ability, the neighbors
of our subject have several times slown their
wisdom in electing Mr. Pillen Treasurer of Dalton
Township, and his able management of affairs has
been alike creditable to himself and to thein. For
three terms lie has capably filled thle position of
Township Supervisor. The vote of Mr. Pillen is
invariably for the nominees of the Republican
party.
AMUEL MAFFETT, tie affable and energetic Treasurer of the city of Muskegon
Heights, is a prominent real-estate man,
and possesses extended information and
thorough knowledge of outside and inside properties. From  his early youth a resident of tle
Wolverine State, he enjoys a wide acquaintapce
8


and intimate association with the leading interests of his present locality. Our subject is a native of Duteliess County, N. Y., and was born
June 25, 1831. His paternal grandfather, Robert
Maffett, emigrated from Ireland to America at an
early day, and settled in the State of New York,
where he reared his family.
The father of our subject, Samuel Maffett, Sr.,
was born in the Empire State, where he passed his
entire life, dying in the natal year of our subject,
1831. By trade a miller, he was successful in his
business enterprises and gained a competency.
He was a man of ability, industrious and upright,
and was highly respected by all who knew him. At
his demise he left to the care of his wife, Mary
(Frost) Maffett, their son, Samuel, then an infant.
The mother, also a native of New York, grew to
womanhood amid tlhe associations of childhood,
and remained in that State until after her second
marlriage.
Durin) g the childhood of our subject, he remained in tile New York home and attended the
excellent public schools of the neighborhood. In
1844, when thirteen years of age, he journeyed to
the West with his mother and step-father, and, settling in Jackson County, Mich., enjoyed the advantages of more extended study. Later he
learned the trade of a millwright, which business
lie prosperously conducted for more than twoscore years. In 1868, locating in Muskegon, he
secured employment as a millwright, in which occupation lie aclieved a comfortable competency
and laid the foundation for greater prosperity.
For some time he has been interested in the handling of a large variety of real-estate deals and has
been prominently connected with the promotion of
numerous enterprises tending to the development
and upbuilding of Muskegon Heights.
In 1852 were united in marriage Samuel Maffett
and Miss Ruth Holmes, a native of New York, and
the daughter of John Holmes, a long-time and
highly esteemed resident of the Empire State.
The union of our subject and his most estimable
wife was blessed by the birth of three children,
two sons and one daughter. Charles and Jolhn
are both deceased; Nellie is the wife of C. B.
Dawes, of Muskegon. The pleasant family resi



172


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


dence of Mr. and Mrs. Maffett is desirably located
upon the corner of Maffett and Delano Streets.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Maffett has taken a
high place in the local councils of the party and
has occupied with distinction various offices of
trust. As a member of the School Board he has
materially aided in tile advancement of educational progress by encouraging the development of
a higher grade of instruction and scholarship. In
1892 he was elected Village Treasurer of Muskegon
Heilghts, and through his faithful discharge of official duties has won the confidence of the entire
community.
VW    ILLIAM M. McKILLIP, an enterprising
and prominent citizen and a retired lumberman of Muskegon, Mich., who for two-score
years actively engaged in business in the Wolverine State, has acquired a handsome competence and
materially aided in the rapid growth of the vital
interests of Muskegon County. The early home of
or subject was in Washington County, N. Y., where
he was born February 12, 1822. His parents, David
and Mary (Mc Lean) McKillip. long-time and wellknown residents of the Empire State, were of
Scotch ancestry, the families having early emigrated to the United States, where they took a
leading place among the honest, industrious and
law-abiding citizens to whom the prosperity of our
country is due. The father was born in New York,
and received his education and youthful training
in his native State, where he married and passed
many years of usefulness, engaged in the occupation of a carpenter and builder. The maternal ancestors of Mr. McKillip came from the Old Country
to New Jersey about a century ago, the grandfather,
James McLean,having been born in that State.
Our subject passed the days of boyhood upon his
father's farm and, attending the district school of
the home neighborhood, obtained a good rudimentary education.
Energetic and self reliant, Mr. McKillip at the


age of fourteen began life for himself, and, determined to make his own way in the world, set
about acquiring a trade.  laving learned coopering, he decided to try his fortune in the broader
fields of the West and, journeying to Ohio, settled
in Summit County, working at his trade in that locality for the succeeding two years. In 1846, attracted by the business prospects of Chicago, our
subject made his home in the Garden City,where he
continued for five years, meeting with ready and remunerative employment. In 1851, Mr. Mc Iillip located in Traverse City, Mich., and was superintendent of a lumbering company until the fall of 1861,
when he returned to Chicago and for four years
resided in the Western metropolis. In the spring
of 1865, our subject went to the Upper Peninsula
and took charge of several sawmills, continuing
there for two years, handling the extensive lumber
interests of John S. Reed & Co., a pioneer lumber
firm, with headquarters at Chicago. In the early
part of 1867, locating in Muskegon, Mr. McKillip
became superintendent of Chapin, Marsh & Co.'s
Mills, manufacturers of lumber, and for fifteen
years retaining his responsible position gave great
satisfaction to the firm, who thoroughly appreciated
his business ability and energy. From  1881 to
1891 he was a member of the firm of McKillip & Co.,
of Manistee, Mich., engaged extensively in manufacturing lumber.
In 1853 were united in marriage William M.
McKiilip and Miss Emma J. IIopper, of Chicago,
daugllter of George IHopper. The union was blessed
by the birth of four children, three of whom survive. George I., a leading citizen, is the present
Recorder of Muskegon; Mary J. is the wife of C.
O. Padly; Hattie is married to W. 11. Mann, of
Muskegon. Financially prospered, our subject is a
stockholder and I)irector of the Lumberman's National Bank of Muskegon, and is likewise a stockholder and Director of the Muskegon Booming
Company, having been prominently connected
with the latter organization for many years. The
home of Mr. and Mrs. McKillip, one of the best in
the city and located at No. 111 W. Webster Street, is
the abode of hospitality and the scene of many a reunion of old-time friends. Politically a stanch
Republican, our subject takes an active interest.in




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


173




both local and national issues, but has never been
in any sense of the word a politician, his earnest
efforts throughout his successful career having been
devoted to the demands of a large and prosperous
business.
I j  LLIAM FAY, the enterprising wholesale
paper dealer and printer of Muskegon,
Mich., handles Japanese napkins, stationely, lead pencils, and manila fibre and other wrapping papers, fine and coarse. Born in l-amlden
County, Mass., January 30, 1821, our subject was
the son of William II. Fay, Sr., a native of Massachusetts and a pioneer settler of Ohio, wlhere he
passed many years and died in 1882. The mother, Mary (Loomis) Fay, was likewise born in
IIampden County, Mass., and was the daughter of
Uriah Loomis, who was of English ancestry, and
wlho in a very early day in the history of our
couIntry nmade his home in the old Bay State, and
later actively engaged in the Revolutionary War.
Our subject was only an infant when, with his
parents, lie journeyed to Ohio, where he remained
until 1849, receiving a good common-school education in tlle free schools of tile home district. In
1849, then about twenty-eight years of age, Mr.
Fay went to tile South and located in Virginia,
where he entered into railroading, and continued
in that employment for several years. lle later
established a shipyard at Richmond, Va., and conducted the business until 1862, when he was arrested by the Confederates and imprisoned for a
time in Richmond, and was later transferred to
Salisbury, N. C., where he was kept a prisoner for
over a year. Iuring this time lie was in Salisbury, from May 1 to September, 1862, and was imprisoned with five hundred other wretched creatures, two hundred and thirty-nine of the number
starving to death.
From September 1, 1862, until January 1, 1864,
Mr. Fay remained a prisoner in Richmond, then,


released, went into the secret service department
of the Federal army and engaged as a scout in
the Confederate camps. He met with many narrow escapes, at one time having a rope placed
around his neck, saving himself only by strategy. He remained in the secret service until the
close of the war, and when the struggle was ended
returned again to Richmond. Our subject was
with Gen. Butler as aid and guide from January
unti1 June, 1864, and with Gen. Grant at Cold
Harbor did valuable service for the Union cause
in and about Ricllmond until October 16, 1864.
At this latter date Mr. Fay returned to Gen. Butler, who was occupying the north side of the
James River, near Cantrill's line. Our subject
continued witli Gen. Butler until lie was succeeded
by Gen. E. O. C. Ord, and was then at the service
of the latter until the surrender of Richmond.
While with Grant our subject kept up a daily correspondence between Richmond and the Union
lines. Mr. Fay, who performed in valuable work for
the Government, was greatly assisted by his wife
and friends in Ricllmond, and in the performance of
his dangerous duties became acquainted witl Secretary of War Randolph. While under Gen. Ord,
our subject, possessing a thorough knowledge of the
people, their customs and the country thereabout,
captured a number of prisoners at various times,
and now owns two guns and a pistol he took at
one time from his prisoners.
After tile fall of Richmond Mr. Fay conducted
Gen. W'etzel's army into the city, and, riding at the
head of the column, became intimately acquainted
witli all the generals who occupied the old Southern city. These commanders were Gens. Deut,
Hlallock, Schofield, Stoneman, Terry and Patrick.
During the occupation of Richmond Mr. Fay
saved the life of Gen. Iallock, who was about to
become the victim of an assassin. After peace
was assured our subject was appointed Inspector
of the post of Richmond, and held the position until the trial of President Andrew Johnson. Mr. Fay remained in Richmond until the
year 1884, and was one of the grand jury which
indicted Jeff Davis for treason. In the year
1884, making his permanent home in Muskegon,
he entercd into  his present line of business,




174


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




which he has since prosperously conducted. Politically a stalwart Republican, our subject has
been a member of the party from the first day of
its formation.
In 1852, in Richmond, Va., were united in marriage William Fay and Miss Eliza T. Hicks, a native of the Old Dominion and daughter of Pleasant Hicks. Four living daughters and two sons,
deceased, have blessed the home. Georgie is the
widow of Edward T. Merrill, of Muskegon, and is
prominent in the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union work; Alice is the wife of Lewis C. Scull, of
Muskegon; Mary is at home; and Mattie is employed as a book-keeper in Muskegon. The cheerful
and attractive family residence, located at No. 77
Sanford Street, is the scene of many pleasant
gatherings of friends, the home being the abode
of hospitality. Few men did the amount of dangerous service for the preservation of the Union
which fell to the lot of Mr. Fay, who never found
a path too dangerous to tread, and never faltered when duty urged him to an effort which involved life and death. The remembrance of his
devotion to the Federal cause is a precious legacy
with which he may endow his children, a bequest
more enduring than houses or lands.
OREN O. BEERMAN, the leading and pros| (@  perous dealer in pianos, organs and all
kinds of musical instruments of Muskegon,
Mich., is widely known as the organizer of the
Muskegon City Band, which, containing twentytwo pieces, is one of the finest drilled bands on
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Mr. Beerman is justly proud of the ability and success of
the Muskegon City Band, of which he has had the
entire supervision and training and directing of
the music. In 1890, in competition at the Band
Tournament held at Big Rapids, the Muskegon
City Band took the first money and won the
plaudits of an admiring audience.  During the
summer the band give open-air concerts and in


the winter play in the Opera House. In his business as a dealer in musical instruments our subject
has acquired an extended trade, carrying a full
line of musical goods of the best manufacture and
most popular makes. A native of Canada, and
born in Ontario, March 6, 1851, our subject is the
son of Stephen Beerman, likewise born in Canada,
but now residing in Muskegon, lich., having late
in life removed from the Dominion to tile United
States. The mother, Sarah (Patterson) Beerman,
was a native of New York and the descendant of
a well-known and highly respected family of the
Empire State.
Our subject spent his early years in Canada,
and in the Dominion received an excellent education. At sixteen years of age le removed to
the States and located  in Ferrysburg, Mich.,
where he worked for ten years in a sawmill.
Later lie learned the trade of a carriage-maker,
and in 1877 went into the business on his own account, continuing the manufacture of vehicles for
twelve years. Ile then sold out the carriage business and engaged in handling musical instruments.
The musical talent of Mr. Beerman undoubtedly
influenced him in his choice of business, and, excelling as a band-master and director, he has made
a wide acquaintance and enviable reputation.
The open-air concerts and the musical programmnes
given by the Muskegon City Band in the Opera
I-ouse have done much to elevate the standard
of music in Muskegon County and the near vicinity.
In 1873 Loren 0. Beerman and Miss Mary
Burbank were united in marriage. The estimable
wife of our subject was a long-time resident of
Spring Lake, Mich., and is the daughter of Isaac
Burbank, a native of Ontario, Canada. The union
of Mr. and Mrs. Beerman has been blessed by
the birth of one son, Fred L., now seventeen years
old, who is posesessed of a very high order of musical ability and plays the piano, the euphium
and trombone. lIe is also an excellent performer
on the traps and drum and takes a leading part
in the concerts, being a pleasing soloist and a favorite with tie audiences. Our subject is fraternally a Knight of Pythias, and is a member of
Banner Lodge, I. 0. O. F., of Lake Side, Muskegon.
HIe is also connected with the Knights of the Mac



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


175


cabees, and in these various orders numbers many
friends. Politically a Republican, Mr. Beerman,
while not an office-seeker, is intelligently interested
in both local and national issues. The family
residence, No. 45 Pine Street, is desirably situated
and well known to the wide circle of friends and
acquaintances by whom our subject is esteemed as
a neighbor and citizen of ability and sterling integrity. Financially prospered, Mr. Beerman is
numbered among the prominent business men of
the city, and is ever ready to do his full share in
all matters of public welfare.
IARLES F. ROSS, Secretary and Treasurer
of the Alaska Refrigerator Company, is a
man distinguished for the most sterling
qualities of mind and heart,and brings to bear experience and the wide knowledge, both general
and technical, which such a position demands.
The present works were established at Michigan
City, Ind., in 1878, at first on a small scale, but were
greatly increased as the demand for refrigerators
became generai. The conmpany continued in business in Michigan City until 1890, when the plant
was moved to Muskegon. The site here covers
fifteen acres, with all the slhipping facilities possible at hand. The factory proper is a brick structure, three hundred and forty feet long, sixty feet
wide and three stories high. It is fitted and
equipl)ed with the best machinery and in the most
approved manner, and is run by a Reynolds-Corliss
engine of three hundred horse power.     Three
boilers, built of steel and sixteen feet long, compose the battery. Tlie building is lighted by four
hundred and fifty incandescent lights and is protected from lire by eight hundred sprinklers.
It is tie aim of the company to meet the wants
of all classes of people wllo use refrigerators, and
therefore its line for the household embraces one
hundred and thirty-five styles, the prices ranging
from $10 to $100. Then there are seven sizes for
grocers' use, three sizes and styles of beer coolers,


and six styles each of single and double cooling
rooms. These range in price from $350 upwards.
Special sizes are made to order, so that every want
can be filled. Tile company uses five hundred
thousand feet of lumber each month. A train
over a quarter of a mile long and drawn by two
of the largest engines on the Chicago & West
Michigan Road carried the first shipment of refrigerators sent out by the Alaska Refrigerator Conpany this year (1893). When the signal was given
for the largest train that ever left this county to
start, the shrieks that broke from the moving double
header were responded to to the echo by the brazen throats of twenty factories, while the two thousand inhabitants of the infant city looked with
pride at the receding train. This train, speeding
Eastward, had for its load four thousand eight hundred refrigerators and represented the product of
the factory for five weeks. The value of the
consignment was $50,000. The Alaska Refrigerator
factory has in the last two years almost doubled
its capacity. Mr. Moon was made president of the
company about 1885, and fills that responsible position in a most satisfactory manner. The superintendent in charge, J. 1I. Ford, is well known here,
having been for a number of years in the employ
of the Leonard Refrigerator Company, Grand Rapids, and since his connection with the big institution lie has driven it right to the front.
Charles F. Ross, tie present efficient Secretary
and Treasurer, entered the service of the company
in 1882 and has been connected with the same
ever since. He was born in tie city of Beloit,
Wis., in 1856, and is the son of L. E. and Susan
(Brown) Ross.   The sclool days of our subject
were passed in Beloit, and he began his career by
clerking in a book store in that city. Later he
came to Michigan and became book-keeper for
the firm of Douville Bros., at Manistee. In 1882
he went to Michigan City, Ind., and there became book-keeper and shipping clerk for the
Alaska Refrigerator Company, and continued with
the company actively until 1890, wlen the plant
was moved to Muskegon.     He became a stockholder and was made secretary and treasurer. Mr.
Ross is thoroughly conversant with every department of the business and is widely known for his




176


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


integrity, ability and enterprise. In 1878 he married Miss Ella J. Meade, a daughter of A. C.
Meade, of Beloit, Wis.  In politics, Mr. Ross
is a Republican and, socially, is a Knight Templar
in the Masonic fraternity, Miclhigan City Lodge.
ZRA STEARNS is one of the old residents
and early settlers of Muskegon County,
having purchased land on section 2, Fruitland Township, where he still resides, in 1867.
Moreover, he is a veteran of the late Civil War,
and as one of the brave preservers of tile Union
he is the more entitled to mention in the history
of one of the States and counties which did so
mluch to maintain the liberty and prosperity now
enjoyed.
Our subject is a native of the Bay State, where
hi.i birth occurred in 1836. lIe is of English descent, his paternal ancestors having emigrated to
New England from their native land. The grandparents, Cyrus and Sarah (Weeks) Stearns, were
re4idents of Goshen, Mass., for a number of years.
The former was a blacksmith by trade and continue, at that arduous employment until he reached
advanced years, when he retired from business and
passed his remaining years with his children. Tie
had passed his ninetieth birthday when summoned
from this life, and his wife had passed from the
slhore of time but a few years previous to his demise. He was an ember of the old Predestinarian
Baptist Church.
The father of our subject, Alanson Stearns, was
one of seven children, the others being as follows:
Ezra, Electa, Almeda, Levi, Enos and Thomas. He
was born in 1800 in Goshen, Mass., and made his
home with his parents until his marriage, which
occurred when he reached his twenty-second year.
In his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade of
his father and followed that vocation together
with farming throughout life. In 1832, lie wedded Eliza Ann Dumbleton. For a number of


years thereafter, he rented land in Massachusetts,
and it was not until 1854 that lie removed to tllis
State. He purchased land near Brooklyn, Jackson
County, and to the clearing and cultivation of the
property devoted himself for several years. After the war lie became a resident of Leoni and there
resided until his death. I-e and his wife were devoted members of the Baptist Church, and for many
years lie held the office of Deacon in the same.
In regard to politics, lie was first a Whig and
later a Republican. To hiniself and wife were
born ten children, as follows: James; John, deceased; Ezra, of whom we write; Marcia E., whose
death occurred at about the age of fourteen years;
Ellen M., the widow of Jairus Bewer; S. Harvey,
deceased; Edwin, who wedded Mary Iinman; Carrie G., widow of Dwight J. Bewer; Frederick, deceased; and Ernest W., deceased. The mother of
these children died in Brooklyn, and the father
married again, taking for his second wife Mrs.
Margaret Aylsworth, whose maiden name was
I-inman. Two children were born of this marriage, Charles and Minnie.
Ezra Stearns was given good educational advantages and assisted his father dutifully until lie
was twenty-five years old. At this time, in company with him, lie purchased eighty acres of land
and, as previously stated, in 1867 finally located
on the land which has been in his possession up to
the present time. He has become a successful agriculturist and is recognized as such by all who
know him. Though his original purchase in tlis
community was a tract of one hundred and eighty
acres, lie has since disposed of a portion, but still
owns one hundred and twenty acres of valuable
land, upon which lie lhas placed many improvements. In Lenawee County, Mr. Stearns was
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Allen,
daughter of Alfred A. and Nancy J. (Stearns) Allen. Three children have come to bless the home
of this worthy couple: Arthur A.; Susie E., now
the wife of H. B. Carr; and Frederique M.
Mr. and Mrs. Stearns are active workers in the
Baptist Church, in which they have held membership for a number of years. In politics, our subject is a stanch Republican and fraternally is affiliated with N. 11. Ferry Post No. 3, G. A. R., of




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPITICAL RECORD.


177


Whitehall. The boys in blue have a warm place
in his heart, for he was one of their number for
three years and one month during the war. On the
30th of September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in
Company II, First Regiment Michigan E. & M. -Ie
was, with his regiment, placed in the Army of the
Cumberland and served on detached duty nearly
all the time during his term. IIe was stationed in
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and
Georgia, and participated in two engagements, one
at Perryville and the other at LaVergne, near
Stone River. As a soldier his career was always
marked by fidelity to duty   and  unwavering
courage. These qualities lie has carried into the
further battles of life, and as a citizen is patriotic
and true to his country in times of peace as well.
G    EORGE TMMILLAN has been for a quarter
of a century a leading agriculturist of Dal/' ton Township, Muskegon County, and for
nearly that length of time has lived on his farm,
wlich is situated on section 30. His parents were
Abraham and Melvina (Pangborn) McMillan. Our
subject's paternal grandfatller was of Scotchl ancestry, though his birtlh occurred in the northern
part of Ireland. After receiving a good education
he came to tlhe United States alone and made
settlement in Onondaga County, N.Y.   Ie was
married in tills country and reared a family of two
children, Abraham and Artlhur the latter of whom
died in early manhood of smallpox. The mother,
whose maiden name was Catherine Smith, was the
widow of a Mr. Speed at the time of her marriage
with Mr. IMcMillan. and by her first union had
two children, Nicholas and lannah.
Abraham McMillan, Jr., was born in Onondaga
County, N. Y., where he passed his boyhood days.
Quite early in life he began working in a woolen
factory and was employed there for many years.
He served an apprenticeship of three years at the
blacksmith's trade and afterward followed that
vocation. About 1841, he married in New York


a daughter of John and Polly Pangborn. About
ten years later, Mr. McMillan removed with his
family to St. Joseph County, Mich., and opened a
blacksmith shop in the village of Burr Oak, which
place was the scene of his labors until he was summoned by the Death Angel in 1875. His wife
survived him only two years. In politics he was
a Whig an a a strong Abolitionist. After the organization of the Republican party, he became one of
its stanchest supporters.
The subject of this record was born in Marcellus, Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1844. In his
boyhood he acquired a good education in the district schools and learned tlle blacksmith's trade of
his father. Ile remained under the homestead
roof until his twentieth year, when he started out
to make his own livelihood. For two years he engaged in blacksmithling at Burr Oak, and in 1866
located on Muskegon Lake, doing.blacksmithing
for lumbermen. The following year he abandoned
his trade and has since almost exclusively devoted himself to the care of the farm which is still
his home and of which lie then purchased a portion. On the place was considerable timber, both
hardwood and pine. Mr. McMillan afterward became the owner of forty acres adjoining and cultivates sixty acres of tlme farm. The timber was
quite valuable and brought to the owner a considerable income for many years. In connection
witll his farm, Mr. McMillan has carried on a
blacksmith shcp to some extent.
On the 16th of April, 1865, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Emeline Wilcox,who
was born in Branch County, Mill.. and is the
daughter of Elias and Hannah ('Thompson) Wilcox. Four children came to gladden the home of
our subject and wife. Etta died at the age of
thirteen months; Nellie is the wife of Ernest R.
Califf; Willie married Alma Lewis; and Emmla resides withi her parents. Tle children were given
good educations and the last-named, who graduated from the district schools, is now engaged in
teaching. The other sister was also a successful
teacher in this county. prior to her marriage.
For nearly fifteen years, Mr. McMillan has
been a School Director and is greatly interested in
the cause of education, being an advocate of our




178


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


admirable school system. He has faithfully served
his township for six years as Supervisor, was Justice of the Peace eight years and for a number of
years was Clerk of the Township. He is a Republican in his political convictions and is in every
sense of the word a patriotic citizen. As a man,
lie is upright, and in all his intercourse with his
friends and neighbors is thoroughly reliable and
honorable. In 1870, Mr. McMillan left his farm
and went to Whitehall and worked at his trade
for about two years, when he returned to his
farm.
HAUNCEY E. KOON, M. D., a noted surgeon of Michigan, and a prominent resi/ dent of Casenovia, was born in Tyrone
Township, Steuben County, N. Y., October 1, 1843,
alnd is a son of Alanson and Marilla (Wells) Koon.
Ilis father, a native of New York and a blacksmith by trade, came to Michigan in the spring of
1844 and settled in Hillsdale County, where lie
died about 1868, at the age of sixty-eight. In
politics, he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. In religious matters, lie was a believer
in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, with which
he was identified. Hie was of Dutch descent, and
the family name was originally Kuhn.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of
IIh nry Wells, a farmer, who passed his entire life
in Steuben County, N. Y. She was the mother of
six sons and two daughters, all of whom attained
maturity. Chauncey E. was reared on the home
farm, and was occupied in farming pursuits when
the war broke out. His patriotic spirit was at
once aroused on behalf of the Union, and on the
24th of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company B,
Eleventh Michigan Infantry. With his regiment
he participated in the battles of Stone River,
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw
Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Peach Tree Creek,
Atlanta, and many other minor skirmishes.
Before leaving Michigan our subject was commissioned Sergeant, and after the battle of Stone


River lie was promoted to be Second Lieutenant,
and commanded his company during that engagement. In the fall of 1863 he was commissioned
First Lieutenant, and in the spring of 1864 became Captain. In the fall of 1864 he was honorably discharged at Sturgis, Mich., at the expiration
of his term  of service. Afterward lie traveled
for a number of years, engaging in the sale of
goods. In the fall of 1870 he commenced the
study of medicine at Lisbon, under the preceptorship of a brother. Two years later lie took a
course of lectures at the University of Michiigan,
at Ann Arbor, and subsequently was graduated
from the Chicago Medical College. In 1873 lie
located at Casenovia, where he has since conducted
an extensive and lucrative practice, making a
specialty of surgery. He keeps abreast with the
latest discoveries in the medical world, and has
prosecuted his studies in the hospitals at Ann
Arbor, Chicago and Bellevue. Socially, he is a
member of the County and State Medical Societies, and is also identified with the Masonic
fraternity. For one year he officiated as State
Medical D)irector of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a member of the United States
Pension Board, which meets at White Cloud.
September 7, 1866, the Doctor was united in
marriage with Miss Rebecca S., daughter of William and Amanda (Lemon) Clark, natives of Monroe County, Ind. Two children have blessed this
Union, William A. and Thomas M. The elder son
was educated in a Normal school, and studied law
in the University of Michigan.  -le is now a resident of Minneapolis.   The younger son was
educated in the Normal at Ypsilanti, and is now
a student in Rush Medical College at Chicago.
Politically a Republican, the Doctor has always
been interested in every measure calculated to
promote the welfare of the community, and has
been honored by his fellow-citizens with the
highest office in their power to bestow, that of
President of the village.
In the medical world the name of Dr. Koon is
well known and his abilities universally recognized.
His biography, thus briefly related, is one that
would honor any man; it is a history that, when
measured by characteristics of sturdy, unemotional




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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


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honesty and common-sense, marks the full rounded
man and citizen wlio is equal to the higher demands of civilization. Such a man is invaluable
in any community, and certainly tlle Doctor has
proved himself an important factor in the progress of Casenovia.
1 EORGE J. TILLOTSON, Vice-President of
(     tithe Lakeside Manufacturing Company, of
\)( Muskegon, is well and favorably known
throughout the county and is esteemed for his many
excellent qualities of mind and heart. Tlhe firm with
which lie is identified conducts an extensive saw and
planing mill and box-factory business, the sawing
capacity being about one hundred and twenty-five
tlousand feet, and tihe annual output aggregating some eighteen million feet. Tlie box department manufactures for tlie general wlholesale trade,
doing a business of about $100,000 in that line.
The affairs of tile company are in a hlighly prosperous condition, its sound business methods having secured for it a wide acquaintance and good
standing in the commercial world.
The business was originally establishled in 1883
by Hunter, Tillotson & Co., who were superseded
by the Tillotson & Loveless Company, with a capital stock of $25,000. In 1890, this firm was bought
out by P. P. Misner, whlose interests were merged
with the present Lakeside Company, which was organized in May, 1891, with a capital stock of
$30,000. The officers are, J. W. Moon, President;
George J. Tillotson, Vice-President; P. P. Misner,
Secretary; and W. W. Barcus, Treasurer, all wellknown business men of Muskegon. Tle original
of thils notice was born in Saratoga County, N. Y.,
November 14, 1819, to the union of David and
Sally (Hamlin) Tillotson. Tlie mother was born
in Saratoga County, N. Y., and was the daughter
of Daniel IHamlin.
Our subject, the fourth in order of birth of
seven children, passed his boyhood in Warren
County, N. Y., and received his education in the


district sclools. He assisted his father on the
farm until seventeen years of age, and then went
to the village of Glens Falls, N. Y., where lie was
employed in a sawmill until 1865. From thiere lie
came to Muskegon, Mich., and was in the sawmill
business in tlis city for eleven years. After that
lie bought a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber for two years, when lie took in as
partner E. A. Blodgett. The business was continued under the firm name of Tillotson & Blodgett
for eight years, when our subject disposed of his
interest to his partner. Later he bought a sawmill at Bluffton, on Muskegon Lake, and conducted this successfully for four years, when the
mill was burned. Since that time lie has been engaged with others in tlle sawmill and box-factory
business, under the firm title of the Lakeside Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Tillotson was married in 1842 to Miss
Martha Norris, a resident of Glens Falls, and a
native of Vermont. Tlhey have three living children: I)allas C., insurance agent for the State of
MAicliigan, representing the West Chester Insurance
Company, of New York; Florence A., wife of D.
D. Erwin; and Fanny, wife of J. E. Montgomery.
In politics Mr. Tillotson is a strong sui)porter of
Republican )rinciples, and since its organization
has voted with that party. lle is a Director in the
Union National Bank, and is one of the substantial and worthy citizens of the county.
c(d -HOMAS C. STINSON, who owns and occu((<^  pies a finely-improved farm of one hundred
i/ and twenty acres in Casenovia Townslip,
Muskegon County, was born in the village of
AIonaghan, County Monaghlan, Ireland, November
4, 1823, being the son of William and Rebecca
(Crague) Stinson. His grandfather, Patrick Stinson, passed his entire life in his native town,
Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland, where he
followed the trade of a cooper. I-He and his wife
were born in the same year, and passed away




182


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAP-IICAL RECORD.


during tie same year, being one hundred and
four years of age. They were the parents of four
children: Samuel, Jane, Elizabeth and William.
In their religious convictions, they were firm
believers in the doctrines of the Presbyterian
Churchl.
The only member of Grandfather Stinson's
family wllo emigrated to tie United States was
William, who was born ill County Monaghan,
Ireland, August 12, 1785. In 1830 lie crossed the
broad Atlantic, and after a monotonous and
uneventful voyage of seven weeks arrived in New
York City. From there lie proceeded to Ohio,
where lie located in Crawford County, three miles
east of Bucyrus. )During his entire life lie followed
his trade of a cooper, altlhough lie also frequently
engaged in farmini l)pursuits. In 1844 lie located
sixteen miles west of Toledo, where his deatll occurred on the 24th of December, 1868. Ilis wife
passed away in 1860. Politically a Republican,
he was active il local affairs and possessed considerable influence in llis community.
The mother of our subject was born in County
Monaghan, Ireland, and was one of a family of
six daughters and two sons, her father being
Thomas Crague, a wealtlhy farmer of Ireland. Ier
two brothers were D)avid and Walter, the former
of whom emigrated to tlie United States and settled in the West. One of ler sisters, Mrs. Margaret Foster, also came to Amnerica and resided in
Crawford County, Olio, until her deatl. After
coimpleting his studies in tile common schools, our
subject learned the trade of a cooper, wlich lie
followed for some years in connection witli farming pursuits. lie clelared forty acres in Ohtio,
whicl lie disposed of in May, 1856, and, coming to
Michigan, boulht sixty acres on section 36, Casenovia Townslhip, Muskegon County. IIe now
owns one huindred and twenty acres of highlycultivated nlaid, lupon wYllich lie enlgages in general
farming.
In numerous plublic positions, Mr. Stinson las
served with efficiency and acceptably to all his
fellow-citizens. For two terms lie filled the position of Supervisor, for twenty years lie served as
Justice of the Peace anld he has also been Township
Treasurer. In September, 1864, he enlisted as a


member of Company I, Ninth Michigan Infantry,
and with his company served on the staff of Gen.
Thomas. At thle close of the war, he was honorably dischargedl, in September, 1865, at Jackson,
MAich. Socially, lie is identified with tile Masonic
fraternity.
December 21, 1845, Mr. Stinson married Miss
Saralh Miller, who was born in Lucas County, Ohio,
being the daughter of Lewis Miller, a shoemaker
residing in that county. Five children were born
of this marriage, four of whom arrived at mature
years: Lambert, who died at the age of forty
years, leaving a widow and four children; Lewis,
William and Samuel. After the death of his first
wife, which occurred in July, 1855, our subject
was united with Miss Catlerine All, a native of
Ulster County, N. Y., and a daughter of Jolln All,
a farmer of Lucas County, Ohio. Seven children
were born of this union, only two of whom survive, Addie, wife of George Paris, and John.
AMAN E. STRONG, a prominent citizen and
enterprising business man, senior partner in
i the well-known firm of Strong & lMcBride,
/ shingle manufacturers of Muskegon, Micli.,
is a native of Cattiaraugus County, N. Y., and was
born May 13, 1850. Our subject was the son of
Jaman and Iarriet (Winchester) Strong, both of
the larents hlaving been born within tile limits of
the Empire State, where their ancestors occupied
positions of usefulness and influence.  The father
had received superior educational advantages, and
was a l)hysiciln of local note, successful in his
chosen profession and enjoying a wide practice in
Cattaraugus County. After many years of untiring devotion to tile cause of suffering humanity,
this worthy physician was so severely injured by
the kick of a horse that lie soon after died, in the
year 1851, passing away deeply mourned by all
wlho knew hiim. The excellent mother, vet surviving, resides in the city of Buffalo, where she has
long made her permanent home. The union of




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


183


tlhe parents was blessed by tlhe birth of brigllt and
intelligent children, who were left fatherless at a
very tender agne. Jnarn E. was tlhe eldest son and
second child of the ogroup whliicll once egathered
abont the fireside of tlie old New York State
home so many changing years ago.
OurL subject, reared in his birthplace, attended
the schools of tle neighborhood during his childhood, anid later received more advanced instruction in an acaldemy at Springville, N. Y., there
completing witl hlonor a course of study. As lie
attained to a self-reliant manhood, lie ambitiously
determined to begin his business career in tlie
farther West, where lie hopefully looked forward
to Inakinlg his fortune. In 1865, journieyilng to
Micligan, Mr. Strong came to Muskegon, and not
long after his arrival obtained employment in a
mill in Monltague, wlhee ie l em ained two years,
and later was variously engaged in the different departments of tlhe lumber business for some
length of time. In 1887 entering upon tlhe m11anufacture of sllingles, our subject two years later, in
1889, received into partnership AIMr. McBride, with
whom lie has since profitably conducted l)usiness
upon tile present site of tlie sllingle mill, wlhicll
now furnishes an immense product to a large and
rapidly increasing trade. Our subject in serving
llis aplprentieeshlip to his l)resent business was engoaged for three years in loginr in tile TpTle
Pelninsula. In 1888, Mr. Strong establisled his
factory in its present location, iand built a slingle
mill and shops. Ilis extensive factory has a capacity of two hulndred thousand shingles per day,
and employs a large force of men regularly.
Jaman E. Strong and Miss Sarahl E. Crane were
united in marriage July 1, 1878. The estimable
wife of our subject was a resident of Montague,
and a daughter of Curtis C. Crane. One child, a
promising son, IIarold C., has blessed the union.
The pleasant home is desirably located at No. 139
Harrison Street.  Politically a Republican, our
subject is well posted in the current affairs of tlle
clay, and is deeplyl interested in local and national
issues. Mr. Strong has one brother living, the
Rev. Leroy Strong, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Albion, N. Y. His sister, thle wife of Nathan
Wilder, resides in Van Buren County, Mich. Our


subject, now numbered among the leading manufacturers of Muskegon County, may witli pleasure
review the struggles and triumplls of a life wllose
manly, earnest efforts liave been so abundantly
crowned withl well-earned success.
n  MANUEL M. DUTT'ENIIOIER, the energetic and enterprising   superintendent of
~i tlhe Eagle Talnning Works, Whitehall, Muskegon County, Micll., is a native of Ann Arbor
and Nwas born 1)ecember 16, 1865. HIs patrents,
Christian (and Geritrude (Sclituli) 1)uttenhofer, were
amiong time early settlers of tile Wolverine State.
'lie fathler was born in tlhe Province of Wurtemberg, Germanyn, in 1835, and was the son of Christian l)uttenllofer, a lifetime resident of tlle Fatherland and( a stonemason by trade. Thle p)aternal
great-gran(dfatller was an honored Lutheran minister, and witli his sons and daugllters spent his entire life in his native land. 'h'le grandfatler havingr but very limited means, his children early fitted themselves for tlhe battle of life. Thie fatlher
of our subject enjoyed but the most limited opportunities for Ian education in tile Old Country and
wheni quite young wNent intto a machline-shopwhlere
lie remained until lie was nineteen years of age.
Young and ambitious, lie finally decided to try
his fortunes in America, and witll but a small capital crossed tlie broad Atlantic and, safely landing
in tle Ulnited States, proceeded directly to the
State of MIicligan. 1)esiring to locate in Ann
Arbor, lie was obliged to borrow twenty-five cents
with whicl to pay the expenses of the last few
miles of Iiis journey.
Christian l)uttenhofer at once received employment in a tannery, and, learning the trade, worked
at it steadily for two years, then spent the succeeding two years in different places in tlle West,
but at last returned to Ann Arbor. In this latter
city, in 1859, were united in marriage Christian
Duttenhofer and Miss Gertrude Schuh, also a na



184


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tive  of Wurtemberg, Germany, born in 1840.
The motlier came to this country when a chlild
with her parents and settled in New York State,
where lier father tilled tlhe soil and remained until
llis deatli.  Previous to this event, however, tile
estimable mothler of.our subject made Michigan
ler home.   Mr. Duttenhoffr owned a small farm
near Ann Arbor, and there lie and his wife settled
and together side by side aided  acll other up the
hill of life. For twenty-five years tile fatller of
our subject continued at his trade, and five years
of this time was proprietor of; tannery, which lie
built ull)on lis farm.  In  1878 lie removed to
Ypsilanti, where lie operated a tannery for a time,
and in 1882 came to WVlitelall, wvhere lie is engaged in tihe duties as foreman of ttle yards of the
Eagle Tannilng Works, of whiclh iis son, Emanuel
M., has the full chl'rge.
Thle father is a devout member of thle Methodist
Episcopal ChurIch and, a ma:n of lligll principie,
is a stancli Prolhibitionist. IHis brolter William
was a soldier in tile German ar1my and later, emigrating to America, journeyed to California and
was lost silght of by the otlier members of the family.  Of tIle brothers and sisters who gatlhered in
the hlome of the parenits, Julia, tile eldest, married
Augusut Coors, a Metliodist preachler at Clare,
Mich}.  Ihenrietta married Uriall Tower, wlio is a
merchant and the Postmast:r at New       Dulltlh,
Minin. Nellie, a graduate of tile ligh School, and
lGustavus Adolpli, a bright student, are botli with
their parents.  Emanuel M., our subject, was educated in the High Scllool of Ann Arbor, and assiste(l his fatller on tile farm, later learning all tile
details of his present line of business in tile tannery at Ypsilanti. In 1882, lie ma(le Wllitelall
his permanent location and for four years was employed in the tanning works of wilici lie is now
the valued superintendent, and in wlicll responlsible position lie llas given faithful service for tile
past seven years. Mr. I)uttenhlofer is justly numlbered among the rising younlg business men of
Whitehall. IIe is a memi-ber of tile Methodist
Episcopal Church and active in religious work and
enterprise.  Fraternally, our subject is connected
with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and politically is a Prohibitionist. For four years he has


been a member of the Board of Equalization and,
possessing executive ability, has in this official
work given great satisfaction to the general public. Our subject is yet unmarried and makes his
home with the other members of his father's family, all of whom occupy positions of usefulness and
command the high regard of many friends.,-JUSTAY IHUBERT is mannager of the Grand
/r /  Haven Manufacturing Company, of Grand:,  ( IHaven, Mich.   The firm   manufactures
wagon jacks, shears, punches, celery plows and
does a general blacksmithing and wagon repair
business. Under the able management of our subject tills business is now in a flourishing, condition
and the company enjoys an extensive trade.
iMr. Hubert is a native of Germany, his birth
having occurred in 1846 in Prussia, where the
days of his boyhood and youth were passed. le
attended the common schools in accordance with
lthe laws of his country until fourteen years of age
and then began serving a four years' apprenticeship to tile blacksmith's and wagonimaker's trade.
Ile is therefore now a practical workman and, as
lie thoroughly understands the business, is capable
of managing and directing others. Iaving arrived at man's estate, he determined to seek a
h(ome in the New World, and in 1869 crossed the
briny deep, landing in New York. Ile did not
tarry long in the Eastern metropolis, but made his
way at once to Kent County, Mich., and has since
lived in this State. There he sought and secured employment at his trade, which he followed
until the year 1871, when lie came to Grand
Haven. Here lie las since resided. Forming a
p!artnership with his father-in-law, August Hubert,
lie established the works of the Grand Haven
MIanufacturing Company and has successfully conducted the business up to the presont time, doing
a good local trade and receiving many orders from
foreign markets. Our subject invented and pat



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


185


ented the "Boss" wagon jack, which lie now manufactures and wlicl is meeting with a good sale.
In 1892, he l)atented tle celery plow, another of
his inventions. It is used in tlhe cultivation of
celery, one of the chief lproducts of Michigan, and
has proven quite successful.
In 1873, a marriage was celebrated in Grand
Haven which united tle destinies of our subject
and Miss Augusta Iubert, daughlter of August
Iubert, who is Treasurer of tlie Grand Iaven
Manufacturing   Company. Unto them has been
born a family of seven children, two sons and
tlhree daughters, wlho in order of birth are as follows: Matilda, Bertha, lenry, Annie and Frederick. The two deceased are Edward and Theresa.
In politics, Mr. Hubert is a suplorter of Democratic trinciples, but llas never been an aspirant
for oflicial preferment. lie cares not to enter
the political arena, desiring rather to give his entire time and attention to his business interests.
lie possesses considerable inventive genius, is a
painstaking and thorough workman and is now enjoying a well-deserved success. IIe need never
have occasion to regret leaving his native land
and comingi to America, for lie has found in tlhe
New World a comfortable home, a good business,
has gained prosperity and lhas made many pleasant friends, who esteem him highly for tle many
excellencies of his character and   his sterling
worth.
OIIN J. BITHER, a leading business man
and enterprising proprietor of the Union Tea
m Company of Muskegon, Mich., carries a com@!   plete line of the choicest teas handled in
the United States. IIe also deals largely in the
best grades of coffee, likewise offering a handsome
stock of queensware.   Catering to the demands
of a large city trade, our subject enjoys an extended custom, reaching out into tile surrounding
country. Mr. Bither, from   his childhood intimately associated with tile growth and upward
progress of the Wolverine State, is a native of


Columbia County, N. Y., and was born January
30, 1857. Iis father, Jolin Bither, a native of
Germany, reared and educated in the Old Country, had arrived at mature age before. bidding
adieu to thle familiar scenes of youth, lie emigrated
to thle United State. 1le made his liome ill New
York until about tlirty years of age, and, a man
of industrious thrift and enterprise, was nurnbered
amrono thle substantial residents of Columbia
County. Thle mother, Frances (Spath) Bither,
born in Germany, was tlle descendant of a long
line of sturdy ancestry, and from her childlhood
trained into habits of self-reliant usefulness, was
well fitted when she arrived at womanhood to assume the cares and responsibilities of married
life.
Children blessed tlle pleasant home of tile parents, and in Columbia County nIMr. Bitler received
llis first schooling inl his liome district. Johln J.
coImpleted his studies in the plublic schools of his
new home, and in 1877, beginning life for himself, located permanently in lMuskegon. lie received a training in tlie handling of merchandise
in tile store of Albert Towel, and continued in lhis
emlploy for two years, making a wide acquaintatnce and gaining a knowledlge of business methods.
'For a twelvemontl h after lie worked for Frank
Alberts, and then received a position in tile grocery house of W. II. Fletcher. In 1886, Mr. Bither
ambitiously embarked in business for himself, then
opening a fruit bazaar at No. 12 Jefferson Street.
I)uring the latter part of 1886, our subject engaged in his present business in partnership with
Mangold & lHess, tle firm name being Mangold,
Iess & Bither. The partnerslhip profitably endured until 1889, when tile present firin of Mangold & Bither bought out iMr. Iless, and have
since prosl)erously conducted a tea and coffee business, one of the best in its line in the county.
In 1887, John J. Bither and Miss Dema Lampnan, of Allegan, Micll., were united in marriage.
The estimable wife of our subject, an attractive
and accoimplishled lady of wortl and high intelligence, possesses tlhe confidence and esteem of a
wide circle of friends. The pleasant home on
Western Avenue hias been cleered by tlle presence of a bright little son, Lyman. Financially




186


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


prospered, our subject has won his own way self
reliantly to an assured position of useful influence. His time is mainly devoted to tle cares
of business, and he may well be proud of the
fine establishment which, 85x22 feet, presents
an array   of wares attractively arranged.  Although not a politician, Mr. Bither, as a good
citizen, takes an active interest in tlhe vital questions of the day, and, ever ready to lend a helpingi
hand in maters of local enterprise, is estenemed a
liberal-spirited citizen of executive ability and
superior business attainments.
g — --   1*^**^**S**1*3,7*_j*. ++qF --- —--
/A ILTON TIOMPSON, an energetic farmer
f  and eflicient Suipervisor of Ilolton Townshil), Muskegon County, Iicli., cultivating
a fine homestead pleasantly located  pl)on
section 15, is a native of tile Wolverine State and,
born in Ray, Macornb County, in 1829, has for
more than threc-score ye:ars been a constant witness of the wonderful growth and rapid development of Michigan. Our subject is tlhe son of Nathaniel and Susan nahl (Sautherland) Thornmpson,
pioneer settlers of tlhe West. The father, a native
of Yates County, N. Y., was reared ul)on a farm
and engaged in thle tilling of tile soil all his life.
Remaining witil the l)aternal grand)palrents until
he had attained to nianhlood lie enjoyed a limited
education in the primitive schools of tlhat time.
The father liad no capital with whlilc to begin life,
but self-reliantly won his own way in tile world.
IIe was married in New York to the dautglter
of David Sautherland and subsequent to tilis
event engaged with courage in the WVar of 1812.
1Unto the parents were born seven children: Joel,
deceased; Maria, deceased, wife of Johln Plunkett;
Robert, deceased; Iannah, deceased, wife of Joseplh Sautheriand; David, deceased; Rhoda, who
died at tile age of nineteen; and Milton. Politically, the father was a life-long Democrat and an
ardent advocate of that larty.
In  1824, the parents emigrated to Macomb


County, Miich., whlere the father bought three hundred and twenty acres of Government land, and before lie received much benefit from his hard labor
passed away, in tile year 1831. Ilis good wife,
surviving him many years, some time after his demise married Alexander Tackles. Our subject remained at home with his mother until nearly
twenty-one years of age and worked at tle trade
of a carpl)entcr to a limited extent. Mr. Thompson
owned at various times different farms in Macomb
County, and for nine years devoted himself to the
manufacture of agricultural implements in Romeo.
Not being successful in tlhat ventureL, in 1877 he
located in Cedalr Creek Township, Muskegon
County, where lie remained for five years, then settled upon Ills present farm. Of tile one hundred
and sixty acres, eighty acres are cleared, cultivated
and under excellent improvements, with a good
dwelling, substantial barns and outbuildings. (ur
subject was mnarried in his native county to Miss
NMartlha MI. Bernard, a daughter of Asahel and
Mlary (l)ean) Bernard. Of the eleven children
wlho blessed tile home of our subject and his
wortlhy wife two died young.    Alice married
Charles L. Stoddard. IIerbert N. was tile second
in order of birti. lMary S. became tle wife of A.
J. Parker; Iloimer, Irwin, Nettie (wife of S. G.
Fryover), Sclhuyler, John and Gertrude complete
tile list of sons and daughters.
Mr. Thomplson serve(1 witlh fidelity during tlle
late Civil War, en)listing)  in November, 1862, in
CompaIl)y (, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, and fought
under (Gen. lIBrnside in tlle Army of Oliio. Our
subject actively participated in the siege of Knoxville, and was reset when   Morgan was captured
after a long pursuit. Mr. T'ompson took an active part in the engagenents of Campbell Station,
Lenore Station, Strawberry l'lains, and  liaine's
Cross Roads. IIe was then placed on detached duty
at Jackson, MIichi., and in May, 1865, received his
honorable discharge, and as a member of Dalilgren Post No. 149 now finds much enjoyment in
tile reunions of the Grand Army of tile Republic.
Mr. Thompson is fraternally connected with the
Ancient Firee & Accepted Masons and joined
Romeo Lodge No. 41. lie is also a memberof the
Grange of 1Iolton. Politically a Republican, lie




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


187


discharged tlhe duties of Treasurer for one year
and for eight years served to the satisfaction of
tie entire community as Justice of tile Peace. Although Supervisor but a short time, lie las ably
demonstrated his fitness for the responsible position and thloroughlly (commands tlhe esteem  and
confidence of a hlost of friends....._
h    ON. GEORGE C. RICE, for many years the
able and enterprising editor and proprietor
of the Muskegon Chronicle, and well known
throughout tile State of Michigan as a man
of sterling worth and broad intelligence, entered
into rest May 31, 1874. Throughout his career of
busy usefulness our subject llad occupied witl
honor many official positions of trust, and although
at his demise but forty-three yearls of age, was
numbered among the leading citizens of tle Wolverine State. Mr. Rice was born in Rochester,
N. Y., February 18, 1836, and, educated in tile
home of his childhood, attained to mature age a
self-made man of ambitious and resolute purpose.
While a youth lie determined to familiarize himself with newspaper work, and to tliat end entered a printing-office and served a faithful apprenticeshlip at tile case, working his upward way
under adverse circumstances and opposed by a
variety of forces, which only stimulated him to renewed exertion. When twenty-four y'ears of age
and thoroughly versed in the practical details of
printing and publishing, our subject lpurchase(l
tlhe Cllenango Telegraph, issued at Norwich, N. Y.
Iuring the twelve succeeding years, in lwhicl lie
edited this paper with marked elliciency, lie was
called to various importait public positions in
the State of New York.
At one time elected County Treasurer and at
another period chosen a member of the Assembly
or Lower House of the State Legislature, lie discharged the responsibilities entrusted to his care
to the great benefit of tlhe general public and the


entire satisfaction of his friends and constituents.
Thrlougliout lhis career tile private and public trusts
rel)posed in him were ever carefully handled with
a fidelity and conscientiousness applarent to all
wlho knew himi. In 1869 lie permanently located
in Muskegon, where lie purclhased and became tile
editor anld proprietor of tile News and Reporter,
tlhe name of which was afterward changed to tlle
Muskegon Chronicle. 1The Chronicle, lresenting a
fine tvypograpllical alppearance and brilliantly edited, enjoyed a large circulation and( was successfully conducted by our subject up to tlle time of
his death. Politically a stanch Republican, Mr.
Rice was with word and pen devoted to tlhe interests of the party, and did excellent public service in belhalf of the priincil)les which lie so ardently
advocated. His course, ever consistent, was guided
by honor and integrity, anld ill his (leatll right
and justice lost a stanch friend. lie was fraternally a valued member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows. an( lad ldamong tlie order a lIost
of sincere friends. Mir. Rice was twice married, his
first wife, wllo died in 1862, being Maria L. Russell, to whom lie was married in 1857 and by wlhom
lie llad two children, namely: Clinton, in thle
newsp)al)er business in Salt Lake City, and Lulu,
wife of Robert K. Mann, of Muskegon.
December 27, 1864, were united in marriage
George C. Rice and MIiss Jennie A. Russell (a sister
of Ilis first wife), a native of Broome County, N. Y.,
and tile daugllter of Calvin Itussell, born in tile
Empire State, but tile descendant of a long
line of honored French and   English  ancestry.
The mother of Mrs. Rice, in maidenhood Miss
Luaanna Page, was likewise a native of New
York, and a laugllter of Jared Page, a'n early and
hilghly esteemed settler of Clienango County. The
estimable wife of our subject spent thle days of
girlhood in New York and was educated in the
excellent schools of Binghamton. Slle lhas proved
to be a kind and affectionate mother to tlhe children of her deceased sister. After tlhe death of
her husband, AMrs. Rice, wllo possesses superior
business ability, assumed tile management of affairs,
then much involved, and for three years prosperously publishing the Chronicle, later sold out,
having liquidated the debts and placed herself




188


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


upon a sound, financial basis. Since, she has
built a fine brick block, two stories high, 70x63
feet, and derives a handsome income from   tle
rents of this valuable   property.  A  refined
lady  of culture, Mrs. Rice llas demonstrated
lher ability to meet and cope with difficulties, and,
respected for her business qualifications, is highly
esteemed for her worth of claracter and social
accomplishmenets. She is a member of tile Congregational Church and is an efficient worker.
The attractive home, No. 18 Jefferson Street, Muskegon, Mich., is visited by t, wide circle of friends
and long-time acquaintances. Nineteen years have
passed since the untimel dlemise of George C.
Rice, but in tle hearts of those wlho knew him, as
lie was a loving husband and father, a true and
loyal citizen, his memory will long endure green
and fragrant..p iILLIAMI F. \WISEIjLO(GIL, tile able propri\\ etor of tle Viselog^el Planing \Iill, MusY  kegon, Micll., and in 1892 tlle efficient
City Treasurer, was born in Stark County, Ohio,
May 28, 1843. His father, Michael W., a native
of Strasburg, Germany, cmigratel to America in
1824 and became a pioneer settler of tlle Buckeye
State. The paternal grandfather, George Wiselogel, also a native of Germarny and a man of worth
and upright character, spent his entire life in tile
Old Country. Tlie mother, Elizlabeth (Snlyder)
Wiselogel, was born in Cologne, Germany. Until
twelve years of a(ge our sutbject residedi iln MalssilIon, Ohio, and then removed witl his parents to
Michigan, locating in Albion in 1855, and there
completing his studies in tile common schools of
his home neighborhood. As he grew to manhood
Mr. Wiselogel became thoroughlyl versed in the
daily round of agricultural duties upon his father's farm. In 1860 lie journeyed to Muskegon,
Mich., and for a twelvemonth worked in a sawmill.
Desirous of learning a trade, our subject was at
eighteen years apprenticed to a carl)enter, and ere


1 long had acquired tile details of planing and
joining and partially fitted himself to become a
carpenter an(ld builder.
In September, 1862, answering to the call of tile
Government, William Wiselogel enlisted in Company-1), Third MIichigtan Cavalry, commanded by
Col.,Johni K. MAizner, and, assigned to tle Army
of tlhe Gulf, actively participated in the decisive battles of Corintll, luka, Jackson (Tenn.),
IIolly Springs, Coffeeville (Miss.), and MIobile,
Ala. In 18(6, after a long and courageous service,
our sulbject was nmustered out at San Antonio,
Tex. IIe tlen returned to Albion, Michl., and not
l ong after took a commercial course in Ira Mallenr's Business College in Albion. I-e next more
satisfactorily finishled his apprenticeslip as a carpenter, and engaged in building until 1869, when
lie settled permanently in Muskegon and engaged
in millwlighating and contracting unti l 1877. At
tills latter date the Wiselogel Planing Mill was
estallished, but it was bulrned to tile ground the
succeeding year. Mr. Wiselogel immediately rebuilt
tile mill, wllicll continued a most profitable investrient until lie sold out in 1886, when lie at once
built his present mill, standing near tile tracks of
tile Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Tlie Wiselogel I'llaning Milll has a cal)acity of one hundred
thousand feet of lumbler er day,, and, equipped
witll tile best improved maclinery, employs tile
year rounld about forty men, and manufactures
saslh, doors, and lhard and soft wood interior
finishings. r. WM.  iselogel lias secured the contract for tile interior finislings of tlie new court
house of Muskegon County, tile llandsome building beint now in course of construction.
O)ctober 12, 1867, were uniced in marriage Willinian F. Wiselogel and Miss Alsemeda l)yer, of Albion, Mill., and daugollter of Francis J. D)yer, a native of Vermont. Thle beautiful lhome of Mr. and
Mrs. Wiselogel is pleasantly located at No. 27 IIamilton Street, Muskegon. Politically a Republican
and a local leader of tile party, our subject was in
1882 elected Alderman from tile Second Ward, and
for a leriod of two years efficiently discharged tile
duties intrusted to him by his constituents. In
1892 elected City Treasurer, Mr. Wiselogel for a
twelvemonth faithfully cared for the public inter



I




, 0




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


191


ests of the department of finance, and through his
wise service won the approval of the general public.
Fraternally, our subject is connected withl Lovell Moore Lodge No. 182, A. F.. & A.., and is
Present Commander of Phil Kearney Post No.
7, G. A. R. lie is also a member of Muskegon
Lodge No. 133, A. 0. IJ. W., and is likewise connected with Muskegon Iodgoe No. 92, I. 0. 0. F.
Our subject is Girand Conductor of the Grand
Lodge of tile Independent Order of Odd Fellows
of Michigan, and is connected with D)avis Encampment No. 47,1. 0. 0. F., and belongs to lMuskegon
Encalnpment No. 6, 1. 0. 0. F. His wife affiliates
with the I)aughters of Rebecca No. 124,1 0. 0...,
and is a member of tlhe Eastern Star, Nezbeth.
Mr. Wiselogel is a valued member of these various
orders and possesses a host of friends. Taking a
deep interest in the promotion of public welfare
and business enterprise, our subject early became
a member of tile Chamber of Commerce, and occupies a hIighl place among the substantial and liberalspirited citizens of his home city and the State.
ACOB B. M(NETT, M. 1)., a retired physician, now living in Grand Iaven, for many
years successfully engaged in the lpractice
of his profession and won an enviable
rel)utation. ()n account of his advancing years,
however, he lhs now laid aside all business cares,
withl the exception of serving as examiinig
surgeon on the Pension Board.
Tlhe Doctor was born in Jefferson County, N. Y.,
February 25, 1816, and comes of an old family of
Scotclh origin tlhat was founded in America during
Colonial days. IIis father, Samuel MeNett, was a
native of Massachusetts, and served as a Captain
in the War of 1812. Ile became a noted politician
and was prominent in public circles. lIe reached
the advanced age of eighty-six and died in the
Einmpire State. His wife, whlo bore the maiden
name of Sallie Iutchins, was a native of New
York.


The Doctor is the eldest of ten children. Iie
spent his childhood under the parental roof and
acquired his education in the common schools and
Geneva College, from which institution he was
graduated in 1845. Wishing to enter the medical
profession and make its practice his life work,
lie began reading with l)rs. Frame & Powers, wellknown physicians of New York. Hie entered upon
practice in his native State, and remained tlere
until 1857, when he emigrated Westward. Casting
his lot among the people of Grand Haven, Mich.,
he las since made his home in this city. Opening
an office, lie conducted a generai practice for more
than a third of a century, and received from the
public a liberal patronage. Since 1892, however, ie
has lived a retired life.
In 1846, Dr. McNett was married to Miss
Louise Iunter, of Huron, Wayne County, N. Y.
Sle died in Grand Ral)ids in the year 1878, leaving
two sons, William, now a resident of Utah, and
Frank, whlo is living in Omaha, Neb. The Doctor
makes Iiis home at the corner of Franklin and
Thirid Streets, in Grand Haven, where he expects
to spend his remaining days. Ile is comfortably
situated in life, having through his labors and
enterprise in former years gained a competence.
In 1863, Dr. McNett enlisted in the service of
his country as Assistant Surgeon of the First
Micligan Sharpshooters, commanded by Col. De
Land, tile regriment being assigned to thle Army of
the Potomac. Our subject was later detailed for
hospital service, having cllarge of the Ft. Wayne
HIospital. After tile close of the war, he was appointed surgeon of thle Navajo Indian Agency, in
Arizona, where lie remained about nine months.
In 1882, lie was appointed physician at the State
Iouse of Correction, which is located at lonia,
Mich., serving in tllat capacity two years. The
appointment was made by Governor Begole, and
at that time I). R. Waters was Warden of the
house. Ile has also served as City Physician and
Health Officer of Grand Haven for several years,
and was one of the pension examiners for tlhe
Fiftl District for four years, and has recently received the appointment again. Socially, lie belongs to Grand Haven Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A.
M., and als( to the chapter. He has taken quite


9




192


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


a prominent part in politics and is a stalwart supporter of the Democracy. The cause of temperance finds in him a warm advocate and one who
is never weary of work in its behalf. Dr. McNett
is both widely and favorably known in this community and has a large circle of warm friends.
(a1 i^        T   -     =3
G EORGE M. MILLER, a leading farmer of
Chester Township, Ottawa County, and one
of tie oldest German residents of the community, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 30, 1s31, and is a son of Christian and Barbara
(Kurz) Miller, who were also natives of tile same
land. Their family numbered eiglit children, of
whom   tile following are still living: George M.,
Henry, and Fredericka, wife of Fred Ata, of Chester Township. The mother died in Germany in
1848, and in 1850 the father was united in marriage with Sophia Kober. They came to America
in 1876, and settled upon the farm of our subject,
where the death of Mr. Miller occurred July 20,
1881,at the age of eighty-one years, seven montlls
and twenty days. His second wife is still living,
and resides in this county. To them were born
three children: Barbara, wife of J. Sehler, of
Grand Rapids; Regina, wife of Benjamin Van
Wildenburg, of Chester Township; and Mrs. Christina Bauer, a widow, who resides with Mrs. Van
Wildenburg.
In accordance with the laws of his native land,
the subject of this sketch attended school until
fourteen years of age, and then learned tlhe trade
of nailmaking, manufacturing all kinds of nails
then in use by hand. His father owned a farm,
and in connection with his other business George
also aided in its cultivation. With tile desire to
try his fortune in the New World, he bade adieu to
home and friends in 1852 and sailed for America,
landing in New York City on the 25th of September. He remained in New York State until 1854,
when he started for Michigan, reaching Grand
Rapids on the 22d of October, with a casl capital


of.200. Ie began working on tile 24th as a
teamster, for $16 per month, and was thus employed for three years, during whiMih time his
wages were advanced to $26 per nontl. Living
economically and frugally, witl his savings he
purchased seven lots in Grand Rapids and erected
two residences. There lie remained until 1860,
when, on the 2d of April, he removed to Chester
Townshlip, O)tawa County, settling a lalf-mile
from his p)resent home. This farm of eighty acres
was almost entirely unimproved. IMr. Miller built
a "box" house, tile floor being boards laid upon
tlie ground, and the cracks in thle dwelling were so
laurge tlat the snow would sift through upon the
beds.
AMr. Miller has since traded his first farm for one
hundred and sixty nclres, of wllicll sixty acres were
cleared. Tills is his present place of residence,
and now one hundred and twenty acres of tile
Ihomestead are under a higli state of cultivation.
Iis landed possessions aggregate five hundred
acres, of wliich three hundred and sixty acres are
cultivated. and to his two sons lie has given one
hundred and five acres each. I-Ie lhas been alike
generous witl his daugllters, to whom lie lias given
$1,000 each. HIe continued tlhe development of
his land until 1883, since whicl time le lias
practically lived retired; however, lie las made
his farm one of tile best in the community. placing
upon it all the necessary improvements and conveniences, and transforming  tlhe raw fields into
tracts of rich fertility. HIe has made judicious
investments in real estate, and in connection witl
his brother and  brother-in-law  owns much of
Conklin. IIe was for years actively engaged in
the real-estate business, and yet carries on operations in tlhat line to a considerab.le extent.
On the 2d of August, 1859, Mr. Miller was
joined in marriage with Barbara Schuler, a native
of Germany, who came to America with lher
parents, l,achman and Catherine Schuler, she being
their only child. Time mother still makes her
home with her daughter, at tile age of seventysix. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller was
celebrated in Grand Rapids, and their union has
been blessed with eight children, namely: Christina, wife of Michael Frank, of Chester Township,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


193


Ottawa County; Henry and Philip F., botl of the
same township; Fredericka C.,wife of Johnl Ulmer,
of Ottawa County; Elizabeth, wife of John Ritz,
of Kent County; Barbara and Clara, botl at home.
The parents are members of the Lutheran
Church, and are higlly respected people, who
hold an enviable position in social circles where
true worth and intelli(gence are received as.the
)assp)ort into good society.  )uring tlle late war
Mr. Miller served as recruiting officer of his township. In politics, he is one of the prominent
members of the I)emocratic l)arty in    Ottawa
County, and lhas been honored with many local
offices. For eighlt years lie was Township 'Treasurer, and for fourteen years was highway Comnmissioner. Ils long-continued service is a high
testimonial to his fidelity to duty. In 1872, Mr.
Miller made a trip to Germany, and pleasantly
spent several weeks in renewing tile acquaintances
of his youth and visiting cliildliood scenes, but le
is content with America as tile land of his abode,
for here he lias found a pleasant home and met
withll posperity.
--  ON. WILLIAM1 CARIPENTEII, the able City
Attorney and eloquent advocate at tile Bar
//    of Muskegon, Micli., is junior partner of the
~(.) successfull legal firm of Blunker ( Carpenter,
and is widely known as a man of excellent judicial
ability and liigll attainments. Our subject, a native of Chautauquia County, N. Y., was born July 6,
1853, and was the son of William A. and Laura
(Smith) C.arpenter. Tlie fatller was a native of
Massachusetts and a descendant of intelligent
New England ancestors. Tl'e mother, wlho was a
native of New York, and tile daughliter of Cyrus
Smitl, a highly respected citizen of tlat State, received an excellent education in tile home of her
childhood. 'lle father, ellergetic and enterprising,
embarked in tile mercantile business and was variously employed for a time, but in 1857 determined to locate in the West. and with his family


journeyed in an early day to Michigan and made
his home in Saginaw.   -Ie remained there until
1872, when lie removed with his wife and children
to Farwell, Mich., and there engaged in handling
merchandise. William Carpenter was the second
of the three children who blessed the home of the
parents. Ile spent tile days of boyhood in attending the common schools of his home neighborhood,
and later received a course of instruction in the
IIigh School, completing his studies with honors.
Mr. Carpenter later taught school, engaging in
I te vocation of an instructor for about one year.
In the mean time lie improved every available opportunity to increase his stock of knowledge by
reading and observation, also by studying and reading law, and spent one year in Farwell. In the
fall of 1870 he entered the State University and
took a thorougll course in thle literary and scientific del)artment, graduating with honor in the year
1877. Immediately upon tlhe completion of his
course in the IJniversity, Mr. Carpenter entered
u)pon lhis duties as Principal of the High School of
Alpena, Mlich. I)uring tlhe following year our
subject kept books, and also pursued his studies,
and was more or less engaged in reading law until tlhe year 1879, when lie was admitted to practice at tile Bar of the State. Later, entering the
law (lepartment of the State University, Mr. Carpenter hnade still more extended preparation for
his professional career and graduated from the law
department in 1880, receiving his degree. Locating permanently in Muskegon, in the year 1887 lhe
formed a parltnership witlh Robert E. Bunker, and
tlhe firm entered upon a prosperous career, attaining to an enviable reputation and enjoying a
large l)ractice in all the courts of the State.
In tlhe mean time, in 1881, William Carpenter
was honored by an appointment to the Bench of
tile Probate Court to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Judge Wylie. Occupying the office with
efficiency, our subject gave faithful service to the
people of the county. For two years Mr. Carpenter discharged with ability the duties of City
Attorney, and, in the year 1892 re-appointed, is
now serving the general public in that capacity.
In politics he is a Republican, and is prominent
in tlhe local councils of his party, and takes a




194


PORTRAIT ANT BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


high place in city and State conventions, being
recognized as a citizen of executive ability and
clear judgment. December 26, 1883, were united
in marriage William Carpenter and Miss H-arriet
Woodruff, of Farwell, and daughter of Ienry
Woodruff. Two daughaters have briglitened tile
pleasant home at No. 55 Peck Street. Our subject, financially prospered in the duties of his profession, is alo engaged in outside interests and is
Secretary and Treasurer of the Weighing-Truck
Company. A self-made man, winning his own way
upward, Judge Carpenter commands the confidence
and high esteem of his fellow-townsmen and tile
general community of Muskegon County.
LBERT MEARS, a leading merchant, extensive property-owner and oldest pioneer settler of Whitehall, was born near
Boston, Mass., September 13, 1821, and
was the youngest of the six children of Nathan
and Lucy (Livingston) Mears. The Mearses were
well known in New England long before the War
of Independence, and the father was a direct descendant of an old Portuguese family. Nathan
Mears was a manufacturer and hotel-keeper of tlle
old Bay State, and, living within easy distance of
Boston, was one of the wealthy men of his locality. Lucy Livingston, the mother, was of remote
English ancestry, her forefathers having landed
upon the shores of New England with other passengers of the "Mayflower."  The parents of our
subject both died while he was very young, and
the family soon after scattered, tile four brothers
and one sister now living in Cllicago. Albert
went to live with the man appointed as his guardian and who looked after his interest in his
father's large estate. Our subject, constantly in
school, had at sixteen years received a liberal education, and in 1837 came to Michigan, to which
State hls elder brothers had preceded him. Edwin Mears, an enterprising man, early journeyed
to the West, and, thoroughly patriotic, enlisted


during tle late Civil War, dying in tile hospital at
Quincy, Ill., during his term of service. Charles
Mears came to Michigan in tile early '30s and
located large tracts of land on White Lake and
in different parts of the lake regions, in time becoming one of the most extensive lumbermen and
prominent merchants of tile Wolverine State. lie
located and laid out tile town of Whllitlhall, then
named Mears in his honor. IIe made a fortune in
his business, and is now and has been for many
years a resident of No. 345 Ohio Street, Chicago.
Nathan Mears was also one of tile leading lumbermien of Michigian and still controls large interests in the State, also being a prominent Chicago
capitalist, residing at.No. 87 Cass Street. Ile is
yet in active business, but his son mainly manages
his extended interests. Lucy Mears married John
Baldwin, a prosperous lumberman and heavy
real-estate dealer, as well as a capitalist and
money-loaner, of Cllicago, where lie died some
years ago, leaving a large fortune. Iis widow
makes her home at No. 3852 Lake Avenue. From
1837 to 1852, our subject continued in business in
Whitehall, then called Mears, and in Paw Paw, being thoroughlly successful in l)oth places. In 1843,
Albert MIears and Miss Mary Ielen Turner were
united in marriage. MrIs. Mears was born in Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y., May 6, 1824. Ier
fatlier, Samuel Turner, born in the Empire State
January 9, 1798, passed away in I)e Witt, MIich.,
October 23, 1848. The Turners date their history
in thlis country back to tlle landing of tlhe Pilgrim
Fathers. Grandfather Joln Turner was a soldier
in the Revolutionary WVar, and an uncle, Joseph
Turner, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The
father, Samuel Turner, was a wheelwright by
trade and emigrated to Micliigan in 1836, locatin' in Paw Paw. lMrs. Mears' mother, in maidenhood Miss Ann Griswold, was born in New York
State February 17, 1798, and died in Sacramento,
Cal., May 20, 1859. The Griswolds also date the
arrival of their ancestors in this country from the
landing of the "Mayflower."
Mrs. Mears, who was the eldest of tile family,
had four brothers and one sister. Edward A.
Turner was born July 16, 1827. lIe journeyed to
California in 1852, and died there July 15, 1860.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


195


_ _


Ienry T. Turner, born August 14, 1829, died in
infancy. Charles R., born April 8, 1831, went to
California in 1852, and there was lost sight of. Ann
Eliza, the sister, born February 5, 1835, died March
10, 1844. Samuel F., bornJune 25, 1837,was a wellknown miner of Nevada, and was killed by tile caving in of his mine, July 17, 1878. Mr. and Mrs.
Mears, in company with a large party, consisting of
a number of families, among whom were the brotler
and mother of our subject, croSSed tile plains to
California.  After a three-months trip they arrived at what is now Placerville. Mr. Mears, possessing a modest fortune left him by his fatler's
estate, engaged in mining and invested in other
ventures on tlle Pacific Coast with unprofitable results, and after leaving the larger part of his
money in tle Golden State, returned to Michigan,
via the Isthmus, and engaged in tile mercantile
business in lWhitellall. Since that time our subject llas been continuously prospered and during
tlhe palmy daysof tlle lumber business in Whitehall
rapidly amassed a competence. After a time he
gave the most of his attention to his mercantile
interests, but lias also continued in lumbering and
various other enterprises. When Mr. Mears returned to Michigan in 1861, lie began the handling of merclhandise in thle store at the foot of tle
street, and lhas remained il that old landmark ever
since.
A l)ublic-spirited and energetic man, our subject was an important factor in building up and
extending tle interests of Whitelall. Including
tlie 5Mears IHotel and other valuable pro)perty, lie
owns a large amount of real estate in Whitehall
and tle near vicinity of tlhe village. Mr. Mears
possesses one of tile finest farmsl in tlhe locality
and lhas expended over $20,0()() upon its improvements. Ile finds much enljoy-ment in hiis beautiful
twenty-acre lake, well stocked witl fish. Our subject was one of thle founders of tlhe bank in Whlitehall and was President and Vice-President of the
bank, but for the past few years has simply been a
stockholder and Director. PIolitically, Mr. Meats
has been a Republican from tle first day of that
party's organization. lie was the first Postmaster
of Whitehall and has served with efficiency as
Supervisor of the township, and as President of


the Village Board faithfully aided in local progress and needed improvements. Fraternally, our
subject has for forty years been connected with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has
been a representative in the Grand Lodge. He is
admitted to be one of the best-posted Odd Felows in tlhe State, but is now demited. He is also
promineltly connected with the Ancient Free &
Accepted Masons, being one of the most highly
valued members of that ancient order.
Mr. and Mrs. MIears were blessed by the birth
of two children, both now deceased.   George
Albert, born January 27, 1849, died March 24,
1850. Helen C., born October 4, 1852, attained to
adult age an accomplished and attractive young
lady. She married David R. Hopkins, and bore him
one child, Albert Mears -Iopkins, who was born October 16, 1876, and died May 4, 1880. Mrs. Hopkins
died Ma'rch 4, 1882. Bereaved of their children
and grandchildren. our subject and his devoted
wife received the sympathy of many true friends.
Mr. and MrIs. Meats upon January 26, 1892, celebrated their golden wedding, tile magnificent entertainment being given at the MIears Hotel. This
social occasion was a notable event in Whitehall,
and among the beautiful souvenirs presented to
our subject was a solid gold-headed cane, handsoinely and fittingly engraved, and a valuable
memento of the brilliant occasion. The host and
hostess, who had for fifty years walked together
side by side, received the hearty good wishes of
a host of friends endeared by the association of
many pleasant years.
ARTIN V. PERLEY, who is foreman of
\ the HIackley & Iume Lumber Company,
j;  of Muskegon, comes from the northeast
corner of the Union, being a native of
Cumberland County, Me. HIe was born July 23,
1838, and on the paternal side is of English descent, while on the maternal side he is of Irish an



196


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


cestry. His grandfather, Abram Perley, was born
in the Pine Tree State, and his father, George
Perley, was also a native of Maine. The mother
of our subject bore the maiden name of Hannah
Low. She, too, was born in Miaine, and was a
daughter of Judge Low.
We now take up thle personal history of our
subject, knowing that it will prove of interest to
many of our readers, for lie is widely and favorably known in Muskegon County. His boyhood
days were quietly passed in his native State, and
at the age of twenty-one lie obtained a position in
the counting-room in the commission house of
his uncle, Jonas H. Perley. The West, however,
furnished attractions for the ambitious and enterprising young man, and in August, 1862, lie came
to Micligan, locating in Big Rapids. I-Ie formed
a partnership with Charles Merrill, Jonas Perley
and Thomas W. Palmer, under tile name of Perley
& Co. This firm engaged in the lumber business
and( the connection was continued for ten years,
wlien our subject sold his interest and purchased
a sawmill, which lie carried on for several years.
In 1864 Martin Perlev was united in marriage
with Miss Ellen M. Ruddiman, daughter of George
Ruddiman, one of the pioneer settlers of Muskegon.
Their union was blessed with a daughter, lMary
Ellen, who resides with her father at No. 303
Western Avenue. The mother was called to the
home beyond in March, 1889.
In 1868 Mr. Perley was appointed County
Treasurer of Muskegon County for a term of two
years, and so acceptably did he fill that office that
lie was elected in 1870 for a term of two years.
Oi leaving that position, he was employed for
several years with the firm of Bushnell, Wallace &
Reed in the lumber business, after which lie was
sul:erintendent of the sliingle mill of 0. P. Pillsbury & Co. for two years. In 1882 lie became foreman of the Hackley & Hume Lumber Company, with
which he has since been connected. Mr. Perley
is ever faithful to the interests of his employers
and can therefore always command a good and
paying position. He is alike true to every public
and private trust, and his faithfulness and fidelity
have won him universal confidence and esteem.
Our subject exercises his right of franchise in


sulpport of the men and measures of the Republican plarty. lie takes considerable interest in Masonry and is a member of Lowell Lodge No. 182,
A. F. & A. M.; Muskegon Chapter No. 47, R.. M.;
and Muskegon Commandery No. 22, K. T. Educational, social and moral interests find in him a
friend, and his supl)ort and co-operation are never
withheld from any worthy enterprise.
SAIAII GOODENOW. For more than a quarter
I of a century this gentleman has made his
h ome upon tlle farm in Tallmadge Townslip
where lie still resides, and to the cultivation
of wlich lie devotes his attention. Upon coming
to Ottawa County in 1866, lie purchased one
hundred and twenty acres, which lie cleared and
improved. As time passed by lie added to his
property until lie became the owner of three hundred and ninety-three acres of fine land. Ile engages extensively in raising grain and also
cultivates small fruits with considerable success.
Born in Sandv Creek, N. Y., on the 1st of May,
1832, our subject is tile son of Edward aiid MTary
(James) Goodenow, natives respectively of New
York and Wales. When Isaiah was six months
old, his parents removed to Erie County, Pa.,
where the father followed agricultural operations
until his demise, in 1852. Our subject was tile
tliird youngest child born to his parents, and in his
boyhood was tle recipient of such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools
of Erie County. IIe    was an observing lad,
thoughtful and studious by nature, and availed
himself to tlhe utmost of every opportunity of increasing his fund of information. Much of his
time in youth was spent upon his father's farm,
where lie assisted in tilling the soil and garnering
the grain.
At the age of twenty years, bereaved by the death
of his father, our subject started out upon his own
responsibility. I-He proceeded to Illinois, and for
eleven years followed farming pursuits in Will




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


197


County, whence lie returned to Pennsylvania and
sojourned there for one year. Not finding thlings
there as lie 1had expected, lie again sought a home
in the West, and came to Michigan, making the
overland journey   witl  a team. Arriving in
Ottawa County in 1866, lie settled  upon one
hlundred and twenty acres where lie now resides,
and where, as above stated, lie engages extensively
in raising fruit and grain.
A  very important event in the life of Mr.
Goodenow was his marriage, which occurred in
1858, uniting him with Miss Gertrude Niskern.
Mr. and Mrs. Goodenow were the parents of tlle
following-named clildren: Cora, who is at home;
Warren E., wlio colnducts farming pursuits in
South Dakota; Frank, May, Florence, Walter and
Charles, wlo reside with their parents. They occupy positions of promiinence in social circles, but
are not identified witl any religious organization,
althoulgh Mrs. Goodenow was inclined toward tlie
doctrines of thle Lutheraln Church durin(g lher life.
Slhe died March 7, 1892. As every public-spirited
citizen should, oulr slubject takes an active interest
in the welfare of his community and contributes
to its material progress. In politics, lie is a 1emocrat, and always gives his supplort to tlhe candidates of that party. Socially, lie affiliates with
Berlin Lodge No. 248, A. F. & A. M.
It lOMAS J. G. )BOLT, a progressive, publicspirited citizen of Moorland and one of
C      ItlMuskegon County's large  lland-owners, was
born inl )evonslire, England, April 16, 1848, being tlhe son of George W. and Jeinima (Guscott)
Bolt, 1ntives of England. Iis father, who was a
farmer by occupation, emigrated to America in
1857, and after sojourning in New York City
about six months, lie removed to Canada and settled near the city of London. In 1858, having
sold his interests in Canada, lie traveled extensively over the Western country with tlhe view of
looking up a suitable location for a home. lie fi

nally settled in Ottawa County, Mich., and there
remained until death terminated his career in
1886. His wife, now eighty-tlree years of age
(1893), resides on the old homestead in Ottawa
County.
Of eleven children, nine of whom are now living, the subject of this biographical notice is the
eighth in order of birth. HIe completed his education at Belmont, Canada, and Grand Rapids,
Mich., and at the age of twenty-one commenced to
teach scliool, continuing thus engaged for a number of years. Hle has tauglt twenty-one successive
winters in Kent, Ottawa and Mluskegon Counties,
and, being a good disciplinarian, as well as a man
of broad culture and extensive information, he has
achieved the highest success in his profession.
HIis interest in educational matters has been deep
and unflagging, and his influence has done Iuch
toward elevating tlhe staldard of education in this
community. I-le has served as Township Superintendent of Schools during the entire period of
that office, and lias also been Scliool Inspector for
a number of years and School Commissioner for
two years in Muskegon County.
In 1875 Mr. BIolt was united in marriage with
MIiss (la, daughlter of Joseph and Harriet (Wyliss)
Minnich, natives of Oliio. Three children were
born of thils union, Louis J., Ada F. and Lucius
P., who are bright and intelligent, inheriting the
studious qualities of their father. The dauglter,
at the age of eleven, received a first-grade teacher's certificate at Muskegon, and the sons are also
well-informed and studious. In politics a stanch
Republican, Mr. Bolt has for a number of years
been prominently connected with all the political
affairs of the county, and ihas been chosen by his
fellow-citizens to represent them in various local
offices of trust and responsibility. His popularity
is proved by the fact that he has represented
Moorland Township on the Board of Supervisors
of Muskegon County for a period of ten years,
during nine of which he received every vote in
the township.
In regard to social connections, Mr. Bolt is
identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for the past seventeen years has been a member of the Independent




rr


198                     PORTRAIT AND BIO
Order of Good Templars. IIe is the possessor of
five hundred and thirty-seven acres of farming
land, the larger portion of which is well improved.
In addition to his landed p)ossessions, lie is the
owner of the comfortable and substantial residence lie now  occupies, and which he erected
in 1892. His business career llas been such as to
win for him the confidence of his associates, and,
socially, his genial, generous disposition has won
for him a host of warm friends.
j     ON. CII A R L E S L. BRUNDAGE. Few
' possessions are more valued and wished
for than strength, but it is not generally
considered that only through long, patient
and continuous effort can it be attained. It is
tlhought of rather as a happy accident, or a native
gift to be passively grateful for, than as a natural
alnd certain result of toil and striving. Bodily
strength, for example, the infant gains through
constant motion, the boy through active play, the
man through toil and burden. This is equally
manifest in  moral and mental strength.  Tle
strong mind is one which has accumulated power
through hard mental activity. Much earnest study,
much effort of thougllt, have combined to give it
tllat vigorous force and elasticity which to its
possessor is so valuable a boon. We look with
ple(asure upon the man thus favored. We admire
his clear thought, his sound judgment, his keen
(iscrimination; we envy the ease with which he
dttects the points of an argument, or solves an intricate question, or applies a principle, but we do
not see, and seldom even imagine, what toil and
patience may have been the source of his admired
strength. The one whom all men honor for his
virtue and integrity, to whom wrong-doing offers
no attraction, and who performs each duty as it
arises, apparently without effort, has not gained
this power by treading paths of ease. The obstacles overcome, the trials which have been so
hard to bear, have called forth the fortitude and


GRAPHICAL RECORD.


heroism which are parts of every noble nature. It
lhas come to him tlrough effort and sacrifice, and
the more it has cost, the greater the reward.
lIon. Charles L. Brundage, present State Senator
for the Twenty-third District of Michigan, composed of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties, is a native of t!e Empire State, born in Bath, Steuben
County, in August, 1830. IIe is the son of Matthew Brundage and tile grandson of Abram Brundage,
who was of English descent. Matthew Brundage
was a native of tlhe State of New York, and was a
farmer by occupation. IHe selected his wife in the
person of Miss Almedia Knickbocker, also of New
York, and of Dutch descent. The original of this
notice was the second son in a family of ten children born to his parents. Ile passed his youth
in Allegany County, N. Y., where he secured a
fail education in the common schools, and in 1849
attended Alfred Academy, afterward Alfred University, from whichl institution he was graduated
in 1854.  Following this lie entered the State
Normal, at Albany, N. Y., and was graduated in
1855. I-e then became Principal of the public
schools of Angelica, N. Y., and was thus occupied
for several years. In 1854 Capt. Brundage married Miss Frances A. Platt, of Allegany County,
N. Y., but a native of Connecticut, and the dauglhter of Joseph Platt. Three children have been
given tlem: Fred, a wholesale druggist in Muskegon, Mich.; Lottie, at home; and Anna, wife of
Edward Latimer, of Muskegon. In 1862 lie enlisted in Company G, One Ilundred and Thirtieth
New York Infilntry, under Col. Alfred Gibbs, and
was assigned to the Army of thel Potomac. On
the organization of the regiment in 1862 lie was
commissioned First Lieutenant, and on the 9th of
November of the same year lie was commissioned
Captain of his company.
In 1863 tlle regiment was transferred to the cavalry and became the First New York Iragoons.
Our subject continued to serve until 1864, when
he was discharged on a surgeon's certificate for
disabilities received in the services. Returning to
New York, he was elected School Commissioner, a
position lie hleld for six years. In 1870 lie was
appointed railway postal clerk, running from
Dunkirk to New York City, and held that posi



I




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0:4, v#-;, ., o.,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPtIICAL RECORD.


201


tion for three years. Thle year 1874 found him
located in IMuskegon, Mici., whlere lie embarked
in tile drug trade, which lie carries on at the present time. The stock is always full and complete,
pure, fresh, and of standard quality, embracing
everything pertaining to a first-class drug store.
In llis political views the Captain is a Republican, and his first 1Iresidential vote was for Col.
John C. Fremont, in 1856. IIe takes a deep interest in local, State and national politics. In 1892
lie was elected State Senator, witll a majority of
eleven hundred and thirty votes on the Republican ticket, running about four lun(red ahlead of
lhis ticket. While in tile Senate, he served on
a number of important committees. IIe is a member of Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. 0. (. F., and
is also a member of Phil Kearney PIost No. 7, G.
A. I., being a delegate to the National Encampment at Ietroit. For two terms lie was a member
of the Council of Administration of the l)epartment of MIichigan. lie lhas a good, substantial
residence at No. 80 Terrace Street.
EORGE F. OUTIIVWAITE, a leading citizen
of Muskegon, wlio entered into rest Fcbruarv 3, 1893, was for many years one of
tlhe promlinent lumbermen of tile WVolvrine State,
and held with fidelity various responsible positions of public trust. In 1872 lie was elected City
Recorder of Muskegon, and later refused a second
term. In tile fall of 1873 lie was appointed County Superintendent of tlle loor, and served for
thirteen years in that oflicial capacity to the great
satisfaction of the general public, wlho thorougllly
apl)reciated his excellent judgment and executive
ability.
A native of tile Wolverine State, our subject
was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Iecember
28, 1836. His parents, John and Alice (Plews)
Outhwaite, natives of England, were numbered
among the pioneer settlers of Michigan, locating


i in Wayne County when tile greater portion of the
State was yet a wilderness. George F. acquired a
good education as tile result of his own exertions,
and may be properly termed a self-made man.
I e studied il the comnnmon and Iighl Schools of
Plymouth, and later took a commercial course in
thle Chicago Business College. In the mean time,
|March 31, 1859, he had removed to Muskegon,
and after completing his studies in Chicago, returned to that city.
Mr. Outlwaite began life for himself, working
for Iiis brotler and Jolhn Torrent in a small sliingle
mill, where lie remained in tlle calacity of an emnplo!e until April, 18(;2. lIe then formed a partnership witli lis brotler, tlle firm being known as
J. II. (utllwaite & Bro. IIe, however, in thle fall
of tile same year sold out his interest to his brother, and engaged ul)on liis own account in tlle lumber and sliingle business, whiich lie prosperously
conducted for a great many years. WVlile holdin g his official positions, lie continued in tile lumber business, andl gradually amassed a coml)etence.
IIe was a man of broad intelligence and liberal
spirit, and as a citizen, energetic and enterprising,
materially aided in thle advancement of many of
tlhe vital interests of liis home locality. Firm in
lhis convictions of right and wrong, and decisive
in action, lie possessed sterling integrity of character, and commanded the esteeml of all wlio knew
him.   lie was politically a Republican and an
ardent advocate of the party, giving his earnest
efforts in bellalf of the success of the principles in
whicil lie believed. Fraternally a member of tle
Masonic order, lie was a Knight 'empllar, and had
a hlost of friends in that organization.
1)ecember 28, 1866, George F. Outhwaite and
Miss Ielen A. Reed were united in marriage. The
estimable wife of our subject is a native of Grand
Rapids, Micll., and is a datughter of E1zra and Catherine (Storring) Reed, botl natives of New York
State, the fatller having been born in Litchfield,
and tlie mottler in tlle Mohawk Valley. MAr. Reed
was one of tile l)ioneers of (rand Rapids, Kent
County, which at tile time of his settlement contained only five white families. The union of Mr.
and Mrs. Outhwaite was blessed by the birth of a
daughter, Blancle C., a charming and accomplished




202


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


young lady, who has been carefully educated, and
is now a student in the University of Michigan,
where sle is pursuing a special course. Mr. (uthwaite resides in a magnificent residence of modern
architecture, containing the latest improvements.
The surroundings are beautiful, and the location,
No. 39 Peck Street, one of the finest in the city.
Eight monthls have come and gone since George
F. Outliwaite passed away, but his memory as a
sincere friend and true citizen will long live in
the hearts of the many who knew and loved him..;-.== co      ~-'~-2 T    c.-,,,,
i   IENRY AIILLER, an able business man, leadID ) ing hardware mercliant and successful gen/ eral farmer, desirably located in Chester
Townsllip, Ottawa County, MIicl., is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born January 29, 1834. lie is the son of Christian and
Barbara Miller, lhis mother havinrg passed away in
the Fatherland in 1849. Thle fatler married again
in 1852 or 1853, wedding Mliss Sophie Kober,
also a native of Germany, with whom  lie emiarated to thle United States in 1874, locating in
Ottawa County, Mich., where lie died in 1881, at
the advanced age of eighty years. His last wife is
yet surviving. By his marriage to the mother of
our subject, Christian Miller became tile father of
four children: Micllael, of Ottawa County; Ienry;
Fred, residing in Ottawa County; andl Frederica,
wife of Fred Ata, of tllis county. BIy his second
marriage the father lhad three children: Balrbara,
wife of John Selller, of Grand Raplids; Regina, wife
of Benjamin Wildemnburg, of Clester Townslhip;
and Christiana, widow of Robert Bauer, of Grland
Rapids.
Henry Miller received his education in the public schools of Germany and was but fourteen years
old when lie began the work of life. lie remained
with his father, wllo was by occupation a farmer
and nail-maker, until twenty years of age, and in
1854 emigrated to America.  Landing in Buffalo,
N. Y., with twelve shillings in his pocket, our sub

ject laboriously worked six months to pay his
board, and meantime studied ambitiously at home
to learn tile English language.  In 1855, leaving
Buffalo for the farther West, Mr. Miller journeyed
to Grand Rapids, where, March 6, he was met by
his brother Michael, who had p)receded him to
America by two years.  For six continuous years
our subject worked in Grand Rapids, doing heavy
teaming, hauling wood and stone. 1le liad reached
there $25 in debt but by patient toil llad in 1860
amassed a small capital. At this period of time
October 10, 1860, he removed to Chester Townshlip,
and located upon section 27, when tills part of the
country was almost entirely covered with a heavy
growth of timber. Purchasing eiglty acres of land,
for which he paid $650, almost his total savings,
IMr. Miller erected a log house, in which he lived
for some years.
When his wife, Mrs. Catherine (Fluhrler) Mliller,
with whom he was united in marriage in 1857, first
saw her new home she wept, and our subject admits
it must have looked a little cheerless to her, coming as she did from the city. As time passed on,
however, tlhe appearance of the farm and its surroundings rapidly changed. Tlhe timber, yielding
to the steady strokes of tile axe, gave cleared and
fertile land, which, yielding to highl cultivation,
annually furnished a bounteous harvest and buildings large and comfortable arose, residence, barns
and sheds.
Financially prospered, Mr. Miller now owns over
one hundred and seventeen valuable acres, ninetyfive acres of which are finely cultivated. lie has
also given to his children about one hundred acres
of excellent land. In 1884, our subject went to
Coopersville and engaged in farming for tlree
years, and in 1888 returned to Conklin, where he
erected the first store building in the village, and
opened it to the public with a well-selected stock
of farming implements. Succeeding beyond his
expectations, lie built in 1889 his present spacious
store, 25x80 feet in size, constructed of brick, two
stories in hleighlt, finely finished in modern style,
and which cost $3,000.  As soon as the building was completed Mr. Miller stocked with a
variety of farming implements and added a large
line of hardware. Commencing business withl a




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.


203


modest capital, lie now carries a complete stock of
goods, valued at from $7,000 to -10,000, and transacts a business of from $15,000 to i25,000 annually, witl ease supplying tle increasing demands
of one of the best trades in tis part of tile county.
The estimable wife of our subject was a native
of Germany and was tile daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Joln Flulher. The l)leasant home ihas been
blessed by the birtl of seven children: IElizabeth,
the wife of Christian D)inkle, of Chester Townslip; Sopllia, the wife of Ilenry Weldenberg, of
Wright Township; George M., Jr.; Christian, (deceased; Margaret B.; IIenry, deceascd; and Anna
B., wlio completes the list of sons ind dauglters.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are both valued members of
the Lutheran Church and active in religious work.
Our subject is, plolitically, a strong Democrat and
lhas been a member of tile D)emocratic County
Convention. IIe was appointed in 1886 lyv I'resident Cleveland tlle first Postmraster of tlie village of Conklin; for eleven consecutive years lie
ably discharged the duties of 'ownship lTreasurer,
and for four years served faithfully as Iigi way
Commissioner. In 1893, re-elected Townslipl Treasurer, Mr. Miller is now with great acceptability
holding tile position of trust assigned him by his
fellow-townsmen, who repose in him tile lligliest
confidence as a friend, neighbor and citizen.
-— ^ ----~t~ —. ---.-  — ^/ OLON C. LIIE, President of the Coopers(   ville Creamery Company, and a successful
'jf  aagriculturist of TallmaLdge Townshilp, Ottawa County, was born in tills township January
6, 1860. Ilis father, Joel B. Lillie, was born in St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., and emigrated to Miclligan soon after attaining his majority. IIere lie
engaged in lumberin and worked in various places
until lie purchased the land upon wliich our subject now resides. To tile improvement and cultivation of this place lie gave his attention until tile
death of Ills wife in 1883, when lie removed to
Coopersville, and made his home in that village


until his deatli, September 19, 1893. I-e was a man
of wealth, and was tile owner of a large brick and
tile factory at Cooper sville.
Thie motler of our subject was Sarah, dlaghlter
of Ammon and Annis Atugur, wlo for many years
resided in tie State of New York, but afterward
came to Michigan. Colon C. Augur, tile uncle
after wlhom our subject was named, is now on the
list of retired army officers. To tlhe marriage of
Joel and Sarah I,illie there were born live chlildren,
two sons and three laugliters. Editli S. married.John M. Park and now resides in WrigHlt Township,
Ottawa County; Walter married Ella AMcGrath and
Iakes his home in Grand Iaven, this State; the
thlird in order of birth is tle subject of tllis notice;
I.Emma E., wlio is unmarried, is a teacher in California' and Annis M., wlio is the wife of William
E. Baxter, lives in Los Angeles, Cal.
In his youth our subject received ordinary common-school advantages. At tlhe age of twenty-one
lie entered tlie MIichigan Agricultural College at
Lansing, where lie remained for four years, receiving tile degree of Bachelor of Science, and gaining
a practical education in farmingl. For four years
lie filled tle position of Princil)al of tile Coopersville schools, resigning it in order to accept tlie office of Commnissioner of tile county. IIe is tle
founder and President of tile Coopersville Creamery Company, a flourishing enterprise wlicli is
establislhed on a:paying basis. At tlie present time
lie conducts the dairy department of tlie rcactical
F(rmer & TFr'tit Growcer, a )po)ular agricultural paper published at (rand Rapids.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Lillie has rel)resented Tallmadge Township upon the County
Board of Suplervisors, and has also officiated as
Countv School Commissioner.   While Secretary of
tlhe County Boarid, lie introduced tile graded system into the sclools of the county, and as a result
of llis efforts tlhe standard of education has been
greatly advanced. In his social connections, lie is
identified witl tle Kniights of the Maccabees and
Coopersville Iodge, A. F.      & A.  H. is marriage occulrred on the 26th of June, 1890, and
united lim with Milss Julia A. Lawton, a dautghter of Albert and Mary A. (Loftus) Lawton.
The young couple reside upon the old Lillie home



204


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


stead, where Mr. Lillie cultivates two hundred and
forty acres of the finest land in Ottawa County.
Everything on his place is of modern improvement,
and he raises large crops of wleat, corn, oats and
hay.
i   ANIEL M. ANGELL. Tllrough tile energetic prosecution of agricultural enterprises,
Mr. Angell lhas become well known throughout Ottawa County as a successful farmer of Tallmadge Township. Iis farm ranks witl tlhe best
in the county, and consists of one hundred and
twenty acres, upon whiclh lhas been placed a substantial set of improvements. including a commodious house and a number of outbuildings for the
storage of machinery and tlhe shelter of stock.
The outward career of Daniel M. Angell can
scarcely be called an eventful one. Averse to all
display, lie has soughlt neither distinction nor
power, but in the rural home, surrounded by those
lie loves, he lives in comfort and serene content.
Born in Clinton County, N. Y., February 11,
1831, our subject is tlhe secondl clild in tlhe family
of i)aniel and Olive (Wheeler) Angell, natives of
New York. At the age of five years lie accompanied his parents to M1ichigna, and settled in wliat
is now Tall ma(ge Townshlip, Ottawa County, where
he grew to manhood. Iis entire educational advantages consisted of a short attendance at the
common schools of La.mont, this county, and one
term spent in a select school. Iowever, through
diligent effort, lie lias gained a good education, and
may justly be termed a self-made man.
Remaining witl his father until lie reacled tile
age of twenty-three, our subject tlen enmbarked in
farming upon his own account, and for nine yeals i
pursued his chosen occulation on tlhe south side of
Grand River. Later lie returned to the old liomestead, and upon the death of Ins father in 1876 lie
assumed the management of the place, wlere lie
still makes his home. HIe carries on general farming, and raises wheat, corn, potatoes and small
fruits. IIe has received little assistance from others,


and his success is due largely to his unaided exertions. He is a man of keen discrimination, foresight and energy, and displays excellent judgment
in tile management of his estate.
The lady who, on the 2d of September, 1854, becaine the wife of Mr. Angell was formerly Miss
Cecelia Blakeney, and was born in New York, being the daughter of William and Susan (Powers)
Blakeney, of Vermont. To this marriage there
were born   eigllt children, five of whom  are
still living, namely: Daniel M., wlo makes his
home with his parents; Frances, Merton P.,Velvia
C. and Mloses R., all of whom are still at home.
In religious connections, botl Mr. Angell and his
estimable wife are identified with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which lie is the present Steward and one of the Trustees. Politically, he is a
Prohibitionist, and votes the ticket of his chosen
party at every election. -le has served as Roadmaster and in other positions where his energy and
ab ility have been instrumental in advancing the
interests of the township and county.
AIAMES IIUTCIIINSON, a leading business
man of Micihigan, an energetic and popular
manufacturer of buggies, spring wagons,.    carriages, package and delivery wagons, has
for twenty-four years been a prominent citizen of
M uskegon, wlhere his well-known factory-enjoyingr a large trade-annually supplies to the general
public some of the finest specimens of vehicles
ever used in road transportation. Our subject, a
native of Canadat, was born in Perth, Ontario,
June 17, 184-4. His father, James IIutchinson, Sr.,
likewise a native of the Queen's dominions, was
reared and educated in Canada and, arriving at
man's estate, married thle mother of our subject.
Ellison Easton, also born in Canada and1 the
dautghter of an old and highly respected family,
the descendants of a long line of honored English
ancestry. Our subject enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and attended school near Lon



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIICAL RECORD.


205


don, Canada, in wlich locality he passed the days
of boyhood. lie early began his preparation for a
self-reliant and self-sustaining future by serving
an apprenticeship to the trade of a blacksmith, and
arrived at twenty-one years of age well fitted to
begin the battle of life for himself.
In 1869, removing to the United States, Mr.
Hutchinson journeyed to Muskegon, Micdl., which
city leas since been his constant home. For a
number of years lie was variously employed, working mainly in lines of business connected with his
trade, but finally, lhaving some capital in money
and a vast amount of enterprise, lie embarked in
his present manufacturing interests upon his own
account. Beginning in a comparatively small way,
our subject has with ability and unwearied devotion to business extended the facilities of his factory, which is now equal to the demands of a large
and rapidly increasing custom; and the public by
its patronage eloquently testifies to its satisfaction
withl the material and workmanship of the superior
product of buggies and wagons whiclh year after
year successfully compete with tliose turned out
by longer established and more pretentious houses.
As a manufacturer, IMr. IIutchinson lias aclieved
an enviable reputation and in tile general conduct
of his business has won the confidence of the public.  lis trade is not local but takes in a large
territory, and the business, from tile first an assured
success, has in the past sixteen years developed
into proportions far exceeding early expectations.
In January, 1873, in   Whiteliall, Muskegon
County, Michi., were united in marriage James
Hutchinson and Miss Abbie Doolan, a native of
Vermont and a daughter of James Doolan, a highly
respected resident of the Green Mountain State.
Tile union of our subject and his estimable wife
has been blessed by tile birth of a bright and intelligent family. Ella E., the eldest-born and only
daughter, an accomplished young lady, is at home.
The three youngest, William, Frank and John, are
likewise with their parents, who reside in a beautiful residence, modern in architecture, convenient
in design, and containing all the latest improvements. The handsome frame house located at No.
10 East lonia Street is the abode of hospitality
and witnesses tile social gatherings of many friends.


Our subject is fraternally a valued member of
Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M., and is
likewise connected with the Foresters. Politically a Republican anid interested in local and national government, lie is not in any sense of the
word a politician, but, doing his duty at the polls
and assisting in matters of local enterprise, is accounted a substantial citizen and man of public
sspirit.
^    RRIIN I). BLANCIIARD, a proslerous and
well-known merchant of Casenovia, and for
many years a prominent educator of Muskegon County, was born in tlle town of Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., March 1 7, 1844, being a son
of Chandler and Lucy (Lindley) Blanchard. His
laternal grandfatler, Nellemniahl 1Blanchard, was
the son of Jeremiah, whlo belonged to a famous
Hugulenot family, of French origin. Grand(lflather
Blanchard was born in New Ilampshire, 'and was a
soldier in tile War of 1812. By trade a shoemaker,
and by occupation a farmer, lie was thus engaged
in Monroe County, N. Y., and later in Genesee
County, tlie same State. Iis deatli occurred in
Murray, Orleans County, N. Y., September 13,
1848, at the age of seventy-four.
Grandfather Blanchard and his good wife, whose
maiden name was Sarah I)ensmore, were the parents of twelve children who attained mature years,
namely: Cummings, Chandler, liarbard, Willard,
Julia A., Livonia, Lewis, Alman, William, Densmore, Orrin and Ira. Chandler Blanchard, fatlier
of our subject, was born in New IIaml)shiire, September 19, 1800, and accompanied his father to
New York. From Orleans County he removed to
Michiigan, and settled in Livingston County about
1840. After his marriage, which took place in
Plymoutlh, Wayne County, lie returned to tile Empire State, wliere lie departed tilis life August 23,
1859. in politics, he was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican. In religious matters, lie was
identified witli the Methodist Episcopal Church.




206


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


The mother of our subject was born near Lyons,
N. Y., in 1819, and died February 15, 1861. Slle
had a fanlily of five children: Orrin 1)., of this
sketch; Wesley, wiho enlisted s a private in Company E, One Iundred and Forty-seventh New
York Infantry, and died on David's Island, ()etober 18, 1864; Rosetta E., Nancy A. and Lelia C.
Orrin 1). received a district-scllool education, and
at the age of twelve began to be self-suppolrting.
May 14, 1861, lie enlisted in Company K, Twentyseventh New York Infantry, and witli his Cregiment participated in tile first battle of Bull Run,
Gaines' Mill, and West Point, Va. Being- calturted
at Gaines' Mill, lie was imprisoned for forty-two
days upon Belle Isle, in the lJames Iliver. Later lie
took part in tlie engtarements at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and in minor skirmishes. At tlhe expiration of his term of service he was dischargled,
on tlie 1st of June, 1863.
In tie fall of 1863, Mr. Blanchlard went to Sliiawassee County, Micll., wher le le attended school
during the following winter. F ebrutlary 14, 1864,
he enlisted as a member of Corpany L, Second
New York Mounted Riflemen, and wllile in Wasllington was afflicted with rheumatism. lie wls
taken to a hospital near1 Washington, where lie
remained for a slort time. IIe rejoinedl hlis regiment on tile 18th of June, at Petersburg, and
participated in all tlhe engagements of the army
until the battle of Stony Creek, where lie was
wounded in tlie rilght hand and tle right temple.
For a time he was confined in Mt. Ileasant Ilospital at Washington, and upon rejoining his regiment continued in active service until his discharge at Buffalo, August 25, 1865.
Coming to Michigan in tlie f.ill of 1865), Mr.
Blanchard attended school during tlhe following
winter. -ce taugllt his first term of scllool in Ingham County, this State. In thle spring of 1868 lie
went to Lisbon, where he worked on a farm during the summer, and in the fall of thle same year
accepted the principalship of a schlool in Casenovia
Township. In 1878 lie taught one term in Wilson
County, Tenn., whither lie went, hoping that tlle
chlange of climate might benefit his wife's health.
Altogether lie lias taught thirty-five terms. For a
number of years during the summer season lie
Vt ~iuu  ~~nirn


worked at the trade of a mason, and for seven
years lhad a meat-market in Casenovia. In April,
1893, lie embarked in the mercantile business under tile firin name of 0. 1). Blanchard & Co., and
is conducting a large and lucrative trade.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Blanchard has
served as Juistice of the Peace and as Superintendent of Scllools.  In his social relations lie is
identilied witli tlie Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and tile Masonic fraternity. I-e was first
married to Miss Bletey Johnson, a native of Mich -
igan, and two children were born of the union,
Ernest C. and Bessie M. Mrs. Blanchard died
April 13, 1879, at the age of thirty-four. Tile
second marriage of Mr. Blanchard united hlim
witl Mliss Ella A., daughter of Henry Bridger, of
Shiawassee County, Mich. AMrs. Ella IBlanchard
died March 5, 1884, and afterward our subject
married Mrs. Mary Peckhlam, who was born in
Norway; her first liusband was Henry Peckham,
by whlom sle became tile mother of one child, Carrie. She is a lady who occupies a high place in
tlhe regard of tile people of tlis community, and
her position is among the most cultured and refiined of Casenovia's residents.
'IIIIIP FAIILING, an enterprising and suej cessful general agriculturist, and son of tlle
first German settler of Chester Township, OtL \  tawa County, AMicll., was born Marcht 2, 1853,
on the farm where lie now resides, and is the only
son of Phililp and Elizabeth Fallingr, both natives of
(ermany. Tlle parents were married in the Old
Country, but soon after emigrating to America
located in ()Ohio, where they remained three years.
FIrom tle Buckeye State journeying to the farther
West with oxen, they came to Michigan, fording
and swimming rivers on tlie way. Arriving in
tlle Wolverine State in 1844, they two years later,
in 1846, entered from tle Government the farm of
one hundred and sixty acres upon whiich they
now live. The land was then heavily timbered,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


207


but, persistently worked upon, has been brought
under a hig!l state of cultivation, and to the original acres llave since been added others, until tle
homestead now contains two hundred and eighty
acres of valuable land, improved witl buildings
of a superior character, commodious, of modern
architecture and finely arranged. When the parents located in Michligan tile father had $300 and
the wife $140, money wlichl they had made in
Olio. Tile father, working on a farm for $10 per
month, had saved it all, and now, witlh Conrad
Kritzer, made the first settlement in Chester Township. The first'white child born in the township
was tlhe eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip
Fahling, Margaret, now IMrs. Klink, of Alpine
Township, Kent County.
When the Fahlings located in Chester Township
they were obliged to do all their trading in Grand
Rapids, and as they had no horses tle grist was
brought upon their backs all tle way home, there
being no roads over which their oxen miight have
hauled tile stuff.  Their nearest neiglhbor was John
Coffee, five miles south from their place. 1)esiring
to fill their beds with straw, they were obliged to
transport the same a long distance on their backs.
The first shanty erected by Mr. Fahling Mll. Kritzer
assisted in putting up, as did also Adam Lachman, a young man who had accompanied them
from Ohio. It was built in three days, no nails
being uset( in the construction, with the exception
of a few in the door. Mr. Fahling and Mr. Kritzer
with their families lived together three months,
and then Mr. Kritzer built a similar house for his
family. These early pioneers, enduring sacrifices
and great privations, toiled unceasingly tlat their
children might in the days to come reap the benefit. The fatiler th rough incessant toil contracted
consumption, and at tile early age of forty-five
years passed away, in 1860, leaving a widow and
five children to mourn his loss. Two little ones
had preceded him to the better land. Margaret,
Mrs. Klink, is the eldest-born; Elizabetl is the 'wife
of Chris Peters, of Casenovia Township, IMuskegon
County; l'lilip is our subject; Christiana, deceased,
was the wife of Fred Rister, of Chester Township;
and Mary, deceased, was tile wife of John Mortz,
of Big Rapids. Tlie mother, married in 1862 to


Ienry Ritz, resides in Sparta Township, Kent
County, and by lher second husband lias one son,
John, a citizen of Sparta Township.
Our subject was educated in tile free and Lutheran schools of his lhome neiglhborhood, both hlis
parents being of tile  Luthleran denomination.
Reared to fatrming life and work, lie was but eigilt
years of age at tlhe timne of his fatler's deatll, and
continued to live witll his mother and stepfatler
until mature age, ulpon his twenty-first birtllday
purchlasing one hundred and four acres of the old
homestead on which lie was reared.
Upon I)ecember 31, 1881, at tlhe age of twentyeigllt years, Phlilip Falling married Christina Rister, a native of New York and a daulghter of Jacob
Rister, who in the early days came to AMichigan
and here prosperouslyh engaged in farming. Unto
our subject and his estimalle wife have been born
three children: Mary, Philip,,Jr., and Charley. MIr.
and Mrs. Falhliig lare both valued nmenbers of the
Lutheran Church anid alre active aids in good work.
P'olitically, our subject, as was his father before
him, is a strong I)emocrat and an ardent advocate
of "the Party of tile People." Fiinancially blessed
witl an abundance of this world's goods, AMr.
Faliling is ranked among tile energetic  an ambitious agriculturists of Ottawa County, and is recognized as a leading man of public spirit, ever
ready to do his full share in all matters of mutual
welfare and enterprise.,^-^w   _______ ^  c^~rj  ______._ _'*gg'^
URT''IS PINTLER, one of the oldest andl
most highly respected settlers, a prominent
horticulturist, and successful stock-raiser
of Chester Township, Ottawa County, Miich., was
born on tle homestead where lie now resides, November 3, 1847. lIe was the only son of John and
Mary (Shaw) l'intler, natives of Orleans County,
N. Y. Thle father and mother were married ill the
Empire State and emigrated to MAichigan in 1845,
journeying by way of Detroit and thence to
Marshall. Arriving in Ottawa County they made




208


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


their permanent home in Chester Township, upon
the old farn where our subject passed tile days of
childhood and hlas since continued to live. Buying a yoke of oxen for $35, a wagon for $8, and a
cow for $12, they hauled their few household effects through tile woods over a blazed road never
before crossed by a wagon. The father was obliged
to take his axe and cut tlhe brush before tlhe oxen
as they advanced, while the mother did tile driving. Locating in 1845,.Joln Pintler erected a
shanty the latter part of tile year, and upon January 3, 1846, moved into it. Tlie new home, 10x16
feet, was built mostly of poles, such as tile fatler
could elevate from the ground, and in tllis primitive residence the husband and wife lived until a
small clearing could be made and a more cornmmodious and substantial house erected. In 1847 a
large and comfortable log house was built, whicll
became widely known as a convenient stoppingplace for many years between Grand Rapids and
MI uskegon.
In 1846 Samuel Free and Jolln Brooks, of Newaygo, started from this place to (Grand Rapids and
Newaygo to survey for a much-needed public road
between these points. The road ran by the father's homestead and lie assisted in blazing thle
trees and cutting down underbrush and laying tile
trail for tlie more advanced work to follow. This
road is now known as the Grand Rapids and Newaygo State Road. For three years tile parents
kept a tavern, or half-way house. and in the fourtl
year after tlhe road was opened to travel a man,
Lot Fulkerson, opened a tavern where Casenovia
stands. In the mean time the fatler was engaged
in tile cultivation and general improvement of lis
farm, which was constantly growing in value. lie
I)urchased thle land warrant from a soldier in 1)etroit for $33 and first located eighty acres, afterward adding forty acres, and fifty-seven acres
he cleared prior to his death, planting out an
apple orchard, which now yields abundantly. In
1847 the first postoffice of tile township was established and John Pintler became Postmaster, the
office being called Pintler's Corners, the name by
which the locality was known for many years.
Lawrence Mang carried the mail for one year on
foot from Grand Rapids to Newaygo. The next


contract as carrier was given to Benjamin Wright,
who took the pouch of mail on horseback. The
first stage-coacl passing Pintler's Corners was
driven in 1855, and carried the mail, the contract
then being held by AMr. McLinothan. Soon the
passenger (tratfic began to improve and tlhe hotel
business boomed.
In 1863 tile present attractive and roomy residence in wlhich ourt subject now resides was erected,
and on moving into this house tile Pintlers ceased
to keel) a tavern.  )uring tile latter part of 1848
Lorenzo Clubb moved into " Pintler's Corners,"
tlhe old place, and there kept llotel, tile former interest of tile business, lheld by the father of our
subject, then being turned over to tile newcomer.
1)uring tliese chanaging seasons tlle father occupied
a position of importance and for twelve continuous years served ably as Justice of tile Peace, and
asi(le from various otlier township offices was for
several years an efficient Supervisor. In every
office wit which lie was honored Johln 1intler discharged tlhe public duties thereto pertaining with
tile faitlful ability which characterized his every
work in life. A sincere Christian man and an upr igit citizen, the fatller was a member of tlhe CloseCommunion Baptist Church and ever threw      his
influence upon tle side of truth and justice. The
three children who made brilght tle home in the
woods were Iucy A., deceased; Curtis; and Ellen.J., deceased, who became tlme wife of Wortlington
MIoe, a native of Middleville, Micli. The father
passed away November 6, 1866, at forty-nine years
of age, beloved and honored by all who knew him.
T'le mother, a devout member of the Methodist
lipiscopal Church, survived until 1879, and entered into rest at sixty-four years of age.
Our subject was educated in tlhe common scliools
of the township and also received instruction in
Granld Rapids. At tile age of twenty years returning to thle homestead le took charge of thle farm.
Mr. Pintler was heir to a half-interest in the
homestead, and now owns thirty-eight acres of tlle
old farm, thirty-six of his acres being devoted to
fruit-culture; seven acres are in apples; twenty in
peaches; one and a-half in plums; one in pears;
one in grapes; and one in quinces. Our subject
has also  two hundred cherry-trees, a flourish



I




I


X    ~~~~~0




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


211




ing vineyard of four hundred grape-vines and a
large quantity and variety of small fruit, which
annually yield a handsome income. Mr. Pintler
has no general agricultural interests but is a stockraiser, profitably handling the Hambletonian and
Clay breeds of horses. He also has high-grade cattle, three-fourths Jersey.
In 1868 Curtis Pintler and Carrie M., daughter
of J. J. and Lydia (Shackelton) Smith, natives
of England, were married. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
were wedded in Canada, and in Woodstock the
estimable wife of our subject was born. In 1863
Mr. Smith with his family removed to the United
States and. a tanner and harness-maker, erected the
first tannery built in Lamont, Ottawa County.
He worked for some years in Grand Rapids, where
he was widely known and highly respected. He
died in 1883, at the age of seventy-three, his wife
having died the previous year, 1882, aged sixtythree. They were both devoted Christian people
and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The nine children who clustered about the family hearth of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were in the order of their birth: Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Nelland,
of Grand Rapids; James I., a citizen of Muskegon;
Cordelia, wife of F. W. Cook, of Eau Claire, Wis.;
William J., residing in St. Johns; H. W., of California; Carrie M., Mrs. Pintler; Maggie M., wife of
Dan Miller, of Alpine Township; Lydia M., wife
of M. Rich, of St. Paul; and Florence A., wife of
Rev. H. O. Lawrence, of Wells, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs.
Pintler have been blessed by the birth of five
intelligent and attractive children: Everett J.,
Minnie M., Nina M., George W. and Aleta. Mrs.
Pintler and the thlee daughters are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active in
the religious, social and benevolent work of their
denomination. Mrs. Pintler is likewise a valued
member of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union and is for the second year Treasurer of the
local association, keeping the records and being the
County Superintendent of Franchise. The accomplished wife of our subject is well known as a lady
of superior executive ability and fine business attainments. Mr. Pintler is fraternally associated
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No.
291, Industry Lodge, and Mt. Horeb Encampment,
10


now located at Casenovia. Without being in any
sense of the word a politician, our subject takes a
deep interest in both local and national issues and
is esteemed a man of broad views and liberal sentiment in all matters pertaining to the general welfare.
DWARD BEHRENS, one of the leading
business men of Muskegon, is connected
with C. D. Stevens as proprietor of the
Muskegon Boiler Works. He well deserves representation in this volume, for he is an enterprising and public-spirited man, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of
his life. lie was born in New York City, on the
18th of December, 1847, and is a son of William
and Willimena (Steinford) Behrens, who were
natives of Germany. The father was a cabinetmaker, and in early life emigrated to New York
City. His death occurred in 1854.
Our subject remained in his native city until
after the death of his father, when he came West to
Chicago, and was there educated. He lived for a
time with P. W. Gates, of that city, and then with
Thomas Turnbull, of Muskegon. In the spring of
1865, he came to this city, and was employed in the.
shops of Mr. Turnbull for some time.  In 1878,
he formed a partnership with Joseph Turnbull and
Charles E. Woodward, and established the Turnbull Boiler Works. This connection was continued
for five years, when the business changed hands.
In the fall of 1889, Mr. Behrens went to Rhinelander, Wis., and there built a sawmill, which he
operated for a year.
In 1869, our subject married Miss Annie M.
Peterson, a native of Canada, and a daughter of
George M. and Susan (Emory) Peterson, the former
born in Ontario, Canada, and the latter in New
York.  When their daughter was a maiden of
thirteen summers they came to Muskegon, where
the father died May 12, 1875, at the age of fiftyone years.  Mrs. Behrens was educated in the
schools of Canada and in Michigan, By her mar



212


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


riage she has become the mother of three sons and
two daughters: William Edward, a farmer; Emma
J., Edna Blanche, Clyde Wesley, and Steinford,
now deceased.
On iiis return to Muskegon in 1890, Mr. Behrens
formed a partnership with C. D. Stevens and established the Muskegon Boiler Works. They manufacture steam-boilers, stand-pipes, etc., and are
enjoying an extensive trade, which has constantly
increased from the beginning, large orders coming
from the West and South. They employ some
twenty-five men. Their main building is 50x100
feet, and to it they have added a wing thirty-five
feet square. They are now building a brick office
near the shops. They also do rolling-mill work.
This industry occupies a leading place among the
enterprises bf the city.
Mr. Behrens also owns one hundred and sixty
acres of good land in Moorland Township, Muskegon County, of wlich one lundred acres are
undei cultivation, and lie has four hundred sugarmaple trees. He makes a specialty of fruit-raisilng. having a large number of cherry, pear, peaclh
and pluln trees, and also many btlackberry and
raspberry bushes. H-e also has a herd of fourteen
cattle and four horses, and the farm is considered
one of tlhe finest in tile county. The owner is a
Republican in politics,and a member of Muskegon
Lodge No. 133, A. 0. U. W. lis wife holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and both are numbered among Muskegon's leading and prominent citizens.
ARSHAALL.KELLEY, an able and highly
successful attorney-at-law of Muskegon,
Mich., and who for the last five years has
given his attention to loans and real-estate,
for many years has been a constant resident of
his present locality and intimately associated with
its upward progress. Our subject was born in Gilmanton, Belknap County, N. H., September 21,
1840, and was the son of William Kelley, also a


native of the same place where the laternal grandfather, Joseph Kelley, early settled with his good
wife, and born in the same house. The paternal great-grandfather, Jacob Kelley, made his
home in New Hampshire in 1771, and was one of
the brave and patriotic soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The grandfather, born in the New
Hampshire home, was a man of ability and earnest
purpose. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth
Osgood, born in New Hampshire, was the daughter
of David S. Osgood, the maternal grandfatler being the descendant of English ancestors who, crossing the broad Atlantic, settled in Massachusetts in
1638. The Osgoods are well known in the New
England States, the family occupying positions of
high usefulness and influence. The parents some
years after their marriage removed from the Granite State to the city of Boston.
Mr. Kelley passed his early years in his birthplace, and there attended the district schools, but
when eleven years of age accompanied his father
and mother to their residence in Boston, and completed his studies in the excellent public schools
of the latter city. Later, attracted by the broader
opportunities of the West, the parents with their
family journeyed to Illinois, locating in Will
County, where the father found ready employment as a contractor and builder. Our subject,
then seventeen years of age, taught school, meantime improving himself by study and reading.
Finally deciding upon a professional career, Mr.
Kelley read law with Judge G. D. A. Parkes and
W. C. Goodhue, and was admitted to the Bar in
1865. HIe began the practice of the legal profession
in Joliet, Ill., where he became a well-known and
prosperous lawyer. He then moved to Wilmington, Ill., and in 1868 moved to Chicago. Previous to entering upon his legal studies, our subject
had, in 1859, journeyed to the far West, and for
tlhree years devoted his time to mining in Colorado. Ile however preferred life in tile East, and
returning to his Illinois home then began the
preparation for the business of his life. From the
year 1865 to 1867, Mr. Kelley with efficiency discharged tlhe responsible duties of City Attorney
of Wilmington, Will County, Ill.
In 1868, our subject located in Chicago, where,




PO RTRAIT AND' BIOG RAPHICA L RECORD.


213. ~ ~ OR R I  AN   BIG AP IA   RE O D            213........................


opening an office, he for the twelve succeeding
years successfully conducted a law and real-estate
business. In 1880, Mr. Kelley removed to Miclhigan, first making his home on White Lake, Muskegon County, but four years later settled permanently in the city of Muskegon, where he has built
'up a fine business, and, combining the l)ractice of
his profession with the handling of real estate, las
achieved a competence. From   1887 until 1890,
our subject was Secretary and Treasurer of the
Muskegon Lumber Company, and has been identified with tle numerous leading public interests of
his present locality. In November, 1878, were
united in marriage M. C. Kelley and Miss May S.
Smith, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of
Rev. William J. Smith, of New York. Five children, four sons and a daughter, have blessed the
union of our subject and his estimable wife. The
brothers and sister are in the order of their birth
asfollows: William Ernest, Grace Osgood, Trueman Lee, Marshall Royal (deceased), and Arthur
Carroll. The pleasant family residence of Mr.
and Mrs. Kelley is desirably located on Money
Lake, a suburb of Muskegon, and is the abode of
hospitality. Politically Mr. Kelley is a stanch Republican, and is well posted on all the vital questions of the day. Financially successful, he and
his excellent wife occupy positions of social influence and possess a host of sincere friends.
OHN F. McBRIDE, a long-time resident and
prominent and prosperous business man of
i Muskegon, MAich., is the energetic junior
partner of the successful shingle manufacturers, Strong & McBride, whose extensive factories turn out both pine and cedar shingles of excellent material and make. A self-made man, rapidly winning his upward way, our subject has,
through unremitting attention to business and superior financial ability, gained a comfortable competence and now ranks among the moneyed men


of the county. Mr. McBride is a native of the
Wolverine State and was born in Grand Rapids,
Kent County, May 23, 1846. His parents, Rowland
and Harriett (Biddulph) McBride, were natives of
Ireland and, the descendants of an industrious and
intelligent ancestry, received good common-school
educations in the Old Country. The parents had
before their marriage emigrated to New York,
where they became acquainted and were married.
The father and mother located in the State of
Michigan when it was yet a comparative wilderness. At that time Grand Rapids was but a small
village of a few inhabitants, and the parents were
eye-witnesses of the wonderful growth and development of the State of Michigan.
The father of our subject was by trade a butcher,
and, a pioneer of the West, was intimately associated with the early history of Grand Rapids,
but late in life went to Wisconsin, where he died.
He was a man of ability and sterling character,
universally respected, and he possessed a valuable
store of reminiscences of the primitive days in the
forests and villages of the Wolverine State.
Removing to Wisconsin, he made his home in
Fond du Lac, and there in 1858 passed away. The
mother, surviving her husband a number of years,
entered into rest in Muskegon, Mich. John F.
is one of four children, two sons and two daughters, who blessed the home of the parents. Our
subject received his education in Grand Rapids
and attended the common schools of his home
district. Early in life beginning his career as a
worker, he found employment near Grand Rapids,
and for some time prior to attaining his majority
labored in the mills. He later spent some years
on a Kent County farm and engaged in the pursuit
of agriculture with excellent results, but finally
entered into other lines of business and was variously engaged for some length of time, becoming
practically acquainted with the handling of lumber from its felling, sorting and piling, until, entering the mill, it became a staple article of manufacture, and was distributed again to different
markets and wlolesale purchasers.
For some years Mr. McBride was a lumber inspector in Muskegon. In 1889 he entered into
partnership with Jaman E. Strong in the manufac



214.PORTRAICT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECOR~D.


214  P I B P R


ture of pine and cedar shingles, and this partnership, now enduring for four years, has been prospered beyond all expectations. The machinery in
use in the factory is the best extant, and the tenblock rotary machine turns out an immense product annually. In 1878 Mr. McBride married Miss
Hannah E. Crane, a most estimable lady and the
second dauglter of Curtis Crane, a successful contractor. Four children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. McBride, one son and three daughters: Jessie
E., Glenn F., Ethelyn F. and one not yet named,
promising and attractive young people, who
have a bright future before them. The pleasant
family residence, located at No. 512 Lake Street, is
in the Eighth Ward of the city and is surrounded
by handsome iomes. Politically a Republican, our
subject is not an office-seeker, but, intelligently interested in the questions of the day and well
posted in the vital issues of local and national
government, is a true citizen, ably assisting in all
matters of mutual welfare. H-e is highly esteemed
by a host of old-time friends, who thoroughly
appreciate the business ability and sterling integrity of character which have distinguished the career of Mr. McBride from his earliest manhood.
OBBY BROWN, the faithful and efficient
Sergeant of the night force of police,
7   Muskegon, Mich., has with ability for several years held his present responsible position, and, occupying various offices of trust, has
long been identified with the public work of the
city. Our subject, a brave veteran of the Civil
War, who entered the service of the Government
before attaining his majority, is a native of the
village of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Conn.,
born August 9, 1842. His father, Henry II. Brown,
also born in Connecticut, in which State he passed
his entire life, was the descendant of a long line
of honored New England ancestry, the paternal
grandfather, James Brown, having likewise been
reared, educated and married in Connecticut, where


at a good old age he entered into rest after a long
life of usefulness. The mother, Susan (Rascoe)
Brown, was a native of Connecticut, and in her
peaceful New England home trained her children
to self-reliant independence and instilled into
them a patriotism true and fervent. Our subject,
remaining with his parents, spent the days of boyhood in Fairfield and enjoyed the benefit of a good
common education in the public schools of his
home locality. At the first rumor of war Mr.
Brown resolved to enter the army, and upon December 29, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth Connecticut Infantry, commanded by Col.
Berge, later known as Gen. Berge.
The regiment was assigned to the Army of the
Gulf under Gen. Butler, and participated in the
battles of Irish Bend, Port I-udson, Grand Ecore,
Pleasant Hill and Cane River. Our subject likewise took part under Gen. Sheridan in the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley, at Winchester,
Fislher Hill and Cedar Creek, and having with faithful courage served bravely four years, five months
and twenty-eight days, was mustered out at Hare
Island in May, 1866. Mr. Brown then returned to
Connecticut, but some time later deciding to try
his fortunes in the West, in 1868 journeyed to
Michigan and settled in South Haven, Van Buren
County, where he industriously engaged in the
pulsuit of farming for eleven years. At the expiration of this length of time our subject removed
to Muskegon and began working in the lumber
regions. In 1884 he was appointed a policeman
for one year, and afterward served with ability as
Deputy Marshal for a twelvemonth.  For the past
seven years Mr. Brown has held his present position to the entire satisfaction of the general public. Politically an ardent Republican, our subject
takes an active interest in local and national issues,
and, a man of observation, is intelligently versed
in the vital questions of the day.
In 1868, Hobby Brown and Miss Ora J. Swift
were united in marriage. The estimable wife of
our subject is a native of New England and was
born in Connecticut, a daughter of Reuben Swift,
also born in Connecticut, in which locality the paternal grandparents settled early in the history of
the State. Mr. and Mrs. Brown reside in a hand



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


215


--


some frame residence of modern architecture, containing the latest improvements, and situated at
No. 170 Pine Street, Muskegon. Fraternally, our
subject is connected with the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, and is a member of the Maccabees. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen,
and affiliates with Phil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A.
R. He is a charter member of Zacl Cllandler
Post of South Haven, and has a host of friends
among these various orders and especially enjoys
the re-unions of the Old Veterans, who recall the
experiences of the days when, side by side, the
tried and true fought for the preservation of
national existence. To-day as then, Mr. Brown is
a loyal citizen, ever ready to do his share in all
matters of general welfare.
ENRY B. SMITH, the enterprising wholesale and retail grocer, located at No. 146
Ottawa Street, Muskegon, Mich., commands one of the best lines of custom in his
part of the State, and, carrying a complete stock
of choice goods, foreign and domestic, is enabled
to supply the demands of his large and rapidly
increasing business witll p'rompt service, appreciated by all who deal with him. Our subject was
born in Holland, Europe, October 14, 1848, and
was the son of B. H. Smith, also a native of Holland
and the descendant of honest and hard-working
people, who lived and died in the same province
of the Netherlands. The mother, Jane Van Oosting, also a Hollander by birth, was reared, educated
and married in her native land. In 1853, the father
with his family bade adieu to the familiar scenes
of the Old Country and sailed for America, where,
arriving safely, he found ready occupation as a
shoemaker and also handled merchandise. Ienry
B. was a little lad four years of age when lie made
the voyage across tile Atlantic, and his first home
upon our hospitable shores was in the city of Paterson, N. J., where he attended the district schools
and later began the daily work of life.


Entering in boyhood a cotton factory, Mr.
Smitl gave five years to that work, and later spent
one year in a woolen factory. Afterward learning the trade of a painter, he engaged in that occupation with profit for twelve years. In 1869,
our subject journeyed to the West and, settling in
Muskegon, continued in tile painting business until 1879, when he embarked successfully in his
present line of trade. Mr. Smith lhas a fine store,
especially adapted to the needs of his business.
The building, 224x70 feet and two stories in
height, is well lighted and conveniently arranged,
each department, wholesale and retail, carrying a
full line of fine and staple goods. Financially
prospered, our subject has invested in valuable
real estate, and in addition to his other business
is engaged in the handling of both inside and outside properties, being considered authority in values and possibilities of future advancement. Intimately associated with the leading interests of
his home locality, Mr. Smith has long been identified with the Chamber of Commerce of Muskegon, and is a stockholder in tile Muskegon Milling Company, of which he was the clief organizer.
Fraternally, our subject is associated with AMuskegon Lodge No. 92, I. O. O. F.; Davis Encampment No. 47, 1. 0. O. F.; and is a member of Rebecca
Lodge No. 124, 1. 0. 0. F.; lie is also connected
with Muskegon Canton No. 6, I. 0. 0. F., Muskegon Tent No. 56, K. 0. T. M., and IMukegon
Lodge No. 133, A. O. I. W., and among these
various orders has a host of sincere friends. Politically a Republican, and ever deeply interested in
both local and national government, Mr. Smith is
in no sense of the word a politician, but is content
to do his duty as a loyal American citizen at the
polls.
In 1869 were united in marriage Henry B. Smitli
and Miss Gertrude Wierengo, daughter cf William Wierengo, a native of Holland, who many
years ago emigrated to this country. Five children, four sons and one daughter, have blessed the
pleasant home. William is the eldest-born; then follow Bernard, Marion, Edward and Harry. Mr. and
Mrs. Smith are valued members of tile Congregational Church and liberally aid in religious work.




216


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


- -- - — ---.


In their pleasant home, No. 188 South Terrace
Street, Muskegon, they enjoy the comforts and
luxuries of life and hospitably receive a wide circle of acquaintance, whose high regard they have
long possessed.
(NW,      FARREN F. ODION, a prominent citizen,
leading agriculturist and stock-raiser of
Cedar Creek Township, Muskegon County,
Mich., is interested in the handling of blooded
Jerseys and Shropshire sheep, and, for many years
intimately associated with the progressive interests of his locality, has held with efficient discharge of duty many offices of trust. Mr. Odion,
one of the early settlers of the near vicinity of
Twin Lake, was born in Gencsee County, N. Y.,
February 21, 1841. Iis parents, Samuel and Abagail (Peck) Odion, were natives of New England,
the father hailing from Vermont, the birthplace of
the mother being Connecticut. Samuel Odion
was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and located
in Michigan in 1866, his wife two years later, in
1868, passing away in her new home. The father
and mother reared a family of eight children.
Darius, the eldest, is now deceased; Emiline, deceased, was the wife of MI. Kelsey; Lorinda is the
widow of A. Lounsbeiry; Abagail married A.
Buell; W. F. is our subject; Robert C. resides in
Batavia. N. Y.; Sarah is the widow of William
Peck; and Esther married James Hiscott. Our subject, educated in the common schools of his native State, at eighteen years of age acquired the
trade of a carpenter and joiner and followed the
occupation of a builder until the breaking out of
the Civil War.
In 1862, Mr. Odion enlisted in Company C,
One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Infantry,
and, attached to the Army of Virginia, participated with bravery in the various battles of the
long campaign, taking an active part in the battle
of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House,


Cold Harbor, Hanover Court House, North Anna
River, Reams' Station, Frederick City, Md., Snickers' Gap, Va.,and siege of Petersburgh. During
the latter siege, which lasted from the fall of 1864
until the 2d of April, 1865, our subject received a
gun-shot wound in the right shoulder while engaged in one of the most hotly contested charges
made by the rebel forces. Mr.Odion was inside
the works when sliot, and was at once conveyed to
the hospital of City Point, Va. At the expiration
of a month he was transferred to Lincoln Hospital,
Washington, D. C., where he was obliged to remain until the 1st of June. Mr. Odion then returned home upon a furlough, and was mustered
out of the service of the Government in Elmira,
N. Y., July 5, 1865, having for two years and
eleven months given faithful service. Ie received
only one serious wound, although engaging at
close quarters in ten regular battles and numerous skirmishes. Entering the army as a private,
our subject retired to civil life with a gallant record as a non-commissioned officer.
After a brief visit to the home of his childhood,
Mr. Odion, in 1866, located on his present homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, of which
sixty acres are now highly improved. On March
20, 1871, Warren F. Odion and Miss Ellis Crocker
were married and settled on the farm where they yet
reside, and where they reared their three children,
of whom William, the eldest, is attending school
at Big Rapids, Mich.; Archie B. is at home; and one
is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Odion are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
our subject is District Steward, and is likewise Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally, he
is an honored member of Whitehead Post No. 342,
G. A.R.  Politically a Republican, he cast his first
Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, when the
lamented President was making his second race.
Active in local politics and frequently a member
of the Republican County Committee, Mr. Odion
has, to the great satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen, held the offices of Township Supervisor,
Township Clerk, School Inspector for ten or fifteen
years, and in 1892 was elected Justice of the Peace,
for four years; he is now one of the County Superintendents of the Poor. In 1883 he secured




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


217


the location of the postoffice at Twin Lake and, appointed the first post-master, resigned in 1886 and
devoted himself more closely to tile demands of
his private business. Our subject is, and has long
been, actively interested in the needed improvements and enterprises of his locality, and, one of
the most influential men in this part of the county,
is worthy of the confidence and esteem rendered
him by the entire community among whom lie has
passed so many busy years.
J OHN E. JOHNSON, now a prominent business man of Casenovia, and for years prominently identified with the farming interests
)    of Muskegon County, was born in Northumberland County, England, in the village of
Allendale, April 22, 1844. His paternal grandfather, John Johnson, was likewise a native of Allendale, and throughout his entire active life engaged in farming pursuits. IHe and hiis good wife
reared three sons and two daughters, namely: William, a resident of Platteville, Wis.; Edward, who
makes his home in Melbourne, Australia; John A.,
the father of our subject; Ann, who married, and
died in California; and Mrs. Hannah Short, who
died in England.
A native of Northumberland County, England,
the father of our subject first opened his eyes to
the light of day in 1813. In England lie married
Miss Deborah Hunter, and they became the parents of seven children. William, their first-born,
enlisted in Company D, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and after serving for one and one-half years
was honorably discharged. On the 26th of March,
1867, lie was killed by the falling of a tree upon
his body. Ann died in girlhood at Racine, Wis.;
IIannah passed away in Wisconsin; Mary, Mrs.
William Bettis, and Betsey, Mrs. 0. D. Blanchard,
are also deceased. The other two children born
of this union are Jasper and John E. The wife
and mother died in August, 1864. The second marriage of Mr. Johnson, Sr., united him with Mrs.


Jane Peaks, tlie widow of Samuel Peaks, who died
in the army. This estimable lady still survives.
In the spring of 1850, Mr. Johnson, Sr., emigrated to America, and after a voyage of eleven
days landed in the United States. IHe arrived in
Racine, Wis., on the 1st of July, and there embarked in the business of shipping wood to Clicago, also working at the trade of a mason. In
England lie engaged in nerchandising, and also
owned a fifty-acre farm. In 1860 ie came to Muskegon County, where he located on section 20,
Casenovia Township, and began tlhe work of clearing one hlundred and sixty acres whicll lie ldad
purchased prior to removing liither. Later, disposing of this property, lie removed to Newtaygo
County, where his deitlh occu red in April, 1867.
Politically, lie was a Republican, but not active in
public affairs. In his religious convictions lie 1had
been a member of tle Cllurch of England in llis
native land, and after corning to America became
identified witll tlhe Episcopal Church.
At an early age our subject was brought to
America by hlls parents, and lie grew to manhood
amid tle pioneer scenes of Wisconsin and Michigan. On the 4tl of January, 1863, lie enlisted as
a member of 1Bttery B, First Michigan Artillery,
and participated in the camplaign of Gen. Sherman in the South, taking part in the battles of
Resaca, Rome Cross Roads, Etawa River, Rome,
Iallas, Chattahoochlee River and Atlanta.  I-e
followed Gen. lHood back to Huntbville, Ala., and
afterward niarched to Macon, Savlannah, Columbia,
Bentonville and other Southern cities, where he
met the foe on many a bloody battlefield. At
Creswellville, Ga., he was wounded in the right
hand.  Ie took part in the Grand Review at
Washington, June 14, 1865, and was afterward
discharged at Detroit, Mich.
Returning home, lie engaged in farming pursuits on sixty acres situated on section 21, Casenovia Township. In 1872 he commenced to work
at the trade of a mason, which he followed for
twenty years in connection with agricultural pursuits. In 1886 he sold his farm, and, coming to
Casenovia, has since made his home in this village.
In July of 1890 lie engaged in the furniture business, in which he met with success from the in



218


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPFH CAL RECORtD.


21_OTM       N  IORPIA  EOD


ception of the enterprise. He has served as President of the village and as Alderman, being one
of the prominent members of the Republican party
at this place. Socially, he is identified with the
Masonic fraternity, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Knights of the Maccabees.
June 18, 1866, Mr. Johnson married Arminda,
daughter of Cornelius and Emeline (Hilton) Bonter, natives of New Jersey and Livingston County,
Mich., respectively, who now reside in Missouri.
Four children were born of this union: Myrtia;
Selden C.; Frank, who died at the age of four; and
Eddie. The wife and mother died May 17, 1886.
The present wife of Mr. Johnson was formerly
Margaret Colman, and is a lady of noble character, who has proved a devoted helpmate to her
husband. Mr. Johnson is exact and scrupulous in
his business relations. His word or promise in
any transaction is taken without hesitation. In
like manner, he exacts the proprieties of life from
all with whom he comes in contact. In his view
the highest citizenship is comprehended in the
morality, enterprise and integrity of the people.
A public-spirited man, his gifts to public and religious institutions have been frequent and generous. He gives to the churches, to the poor, to
public and individual enterprises, and he is as unostentatious in his beneficences as he is in person
and manner.
HELS P. NELSON, a prominent citizen and
popular Street Commissioner of Muskegon,
Mich., and for a quarter of a century a leadi ng factor in the promotion of enterprise, has during
these changing years occupied with honor and fidelity to trusts involved various city and county
positions.  In 1880 elected Alderman from the
First Ward, he served two years as a City Father,
vigorously aiding in the forwarding of needed local improvements and materially advancing numerous public enterprises. In 1886 elected Sheriff
of Muskegon County, and in 1888 re-elected to the


responsible position by a handsome majority, Mr.
Nelson was ever equal to the trying demands of
the office, and by his prompt discharge of duty
gave universal satisfaction to the general public.
In 1892 appointed Commissioner, and in 1893 reappointed, he is now handling this branch of the
city work in a thoroughly practical and energetic
manner, which from the first has won the high
commendation of his fellow-citizens. Our subject,
a native of Norway, was born near Christiana,
August 26, 1848. His father, Peter Nelson, also
born in Norway, passed his entire life in his native
land, dying in 1873. The mother, Anna Nelson,
likewise a lifetime resident of Norway, entered
into rest in 1860. The father and mother, industrious and upright people, reared and educated
six children.
Our subject, spending the days of boyhood in
Norway, attended the common schools of his native land and was likewise trained in habits of
intelligent thrift. At sixteen years of age he
self-reliantly resolved to try his fortunes in the
world of promise beyond the sea. Safely crossing
the Atlantic, after a long voyage he landed in
Quebec. He made no stay in the Canadian Dominion, but, journeying to the United States, went
to Illinois and for a twelvemonth made his home
in Chicago. The succeeding year locating in Manistee, Mich., our subject worked in the lumber region for two years. July 5, 1867, Mr. Nelson
came to Muskegon and received employment in
the lath-mill of Bigelow & Co., continuing in the
same business for the succeeding fifteen years. In
1882 Mr. Nelson, in partnership with Martin Birch,
engaged in the meat business, under the firm
name of Nelson & Birch, and, remaining in this
line of trade, also conducted a general merchandise business on his own account. A stalwart Republican and an ardent advocate of the principles
of the party, our subject has been prominent in the
local councils, and as the candidate of the Republican ticket has won in the official race.
Fraternally connected with the Lowell Moore
Lodge No. 182, A. F. & A. M., also a member of
the chapter, council and commandery, our subject likewise affiliates with the Scandinavian Tent
of the Maccabees. He is a member of Muskegon




I:




(2


__a






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


221




Lodge No. 133, A. O. U. W., and belongs to the
Modern Woodmen, and in these various societies
numbers a wide acquaintance and many friends.
March 21, 1872, Nels P. Nelson and Miss Synava
Johnson, of Muskegon, were united in marriage.
Ten years later the estimable wife passed away,
leaving to the care of her husband one son and
one daughter: Anna, deceased; and Fred. February 21, 1883, our subject wedded his present wife,
Emma O. Holthe, of Muskegon. Two sons, Alvin
H. and Carlton Lester, bless the second union.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson reside in a handsome residence at No. 108 Lake Street and are both valued
members of the Lutheran Church, aiding liberally
in its support and the extension of religious influence. Respected by all who know them, they are
ever ready to assist in the good work and benevolent enterprises of their locality, and our subject
as a public man, a friend and neighbor enjoys the
confidence of his fellow-citizens throughout Muskegon County.
OHN ECKHOFF, one of Crockery Township's progressive agriculturists and a representative farmer of Ottawa County, was
born in Germany on the 20th of December,
1835. His parents, John and Margaret (Ehlers)
Eckhoff, were both natives of Germany, and there
resided until death. A tailor by trade, the father
followed that occupation for many years in his
native land, accumulating a goodly store of the
material blessings of this world through diligent
effort and perseverance. He and his wife were
honorable and upright in their relations with all
whom they met, and were prominent in the Evangelical Church, of which they were devoted members.
The second of a family of five children, the subject of this biographical notice was educated in
Germany, where he remained until he was twentytwo years of age. Emigrating thence to the United
States, he proceeded at once after landing to Michi

gan, where he settled in Ottawa County and has
made his home here ever since. Soon after the
opening of the Civil War, his sympathies, aroused
on behalf of the Union, and with all the ardor
and zeal of a native-born son of America, he enlisted as a member of Company G, Twenty-first
Michigan Regiment, the date of his enlistment being August 11, 1862. For two years and eleven
months he served with conscientious devotion,
and at the close of the war he was honorably discharged, July 5, 1865.
Among the engagements in which Mr. Eckhoff
participated may be mentioned the battles of Perryville and Stone River. In the last-named engagement he was wounded in the muscles of his left
arm, and at the same time was taken prisoner, being conveyed to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on the last
day of the year 1862. On the 3d of January,
1863, he was paroled, but was unable to leave the
hospital for some time thereafter. Upon his recovery he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve
Corps, in which he served until the close of the
war. On account of the wounds received while
in service, he is granted a pension of $8 per month
by the Government.
Very soon after his return from the war, Mr.
Eckhoff established domestic ties, being married
August 31, 1865, to Miss Margaret Simms, who
was born in Germany. The union has resulted in
the birth of eleven children, as follows: John
Henry, Fred W., Andrew E., Mary M., Charles M.,
Henriette L., Anna A., Lewis A., Minnie D., Jessie C. and Archie L. In the fall of 1865, a few
weeks after his marriage, Mr. Eckhoff purchased a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land in Crockery Township, and here he
has since made his home, meanwhile clearing the
land and placing it under a high cultivation. The
place is pleasantly located within five miles of
Spring Lake.
Since casting his first Presidential ballot for
Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Eckhoff has uniformly
maintained the principles for which the Republican party stands. He has served Crockery Township as Highway Commissioner and has also officiated as Constable. In his social connections,
he is identified with the Grand Army of the Re



222


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


---- ---------------------


public, being a member of the postatat Nunica, No.
136. Ile is also a member of Spring Lake Lodge
No. 234, A. F. & A. M. With his wife he holds
membership in the Evangelical Church, and is
prominent in all the benevolent enterprises originated by that denomination.
ON. JOHN W. NORRINGTON. There is
an obscurity in the game of life that to
the robust mind is always attractive. The
)  important uncertainty of the final outcome,
its value to all, serves as an incentive to great
deeds. To push forward and win the battle is the
one common impulse and ambition of humanity.
But in this vast concourse of struggling warriors,
the number who achieve success is comparatively
small, and in the majority of instances is confined
to those who by reason of family inheritance or
extended learning have a far better start than
their fellows. Without these qualifications success
is rarely attained, but when it is, the fortunate being is invariably the possessor of an indomitable
will, untiring energy  n  an  n  al an unusual amount of
native shrewdness and ability. Such a man is
John W. Norrington, the subject of this sketchi,
who is the present representative of Ottawa County in the Legislature.
Mr. Norrington is a native of Berkeley County,
W. Va., born July 28, 1848, and tile son of William
and Mary (Eledges) Norrington, natives respectively of South Carolina and Virginia (now West
Virginia). Both families' came originally from
England, the Norringtons settling in South Carolina and the Hedges in Annapolis, Md., and members
of these families served in the War for Independence. William  Norrington was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred in West Virginia,
on tle farm where he settled directly after marriage. There his wife also passed lier last days.
At the commencement of the Civil War he was a
county official and a stanch Union man. To his
marriage were born seven children. The first died


in infancy; Mary E., wife of Andrew T. Harper,
was born October 3, 1846, close to the old homestead; John W. is next; William L., born October
1, 1850, resides in Seattle, Wash.; Martha J., born
July 3, 1852, died November 8, 1853; Sarah V.,
born January 14, 1855, married H. R. Smith, and resides in South Dakota; and Joseph E., born September 28, 1857, resides on the old homestead in
Berkeley County, W. Va.
John W. Norrington was reared to farm life, and
in his boyhood days attended the subscription
schools, continuing in the same until the breaking
out of the Civil War. In 1865 lie attended the
first free school in the county, and in the winter
of 1867 entered the High School of Odin, Ill.
When fifteen years of age our subject started out
for himself, and his first move was to enlist in
Company C, Third West Virginia Cavalry, under
Capt. Peter Tabler. He was in the battle of Wytheville, Va., on Hunter's raid and at Licksburgh; then
his command went to the Shenandoah Valley and
fought at Winchester. The next engagement was at
Shepardstown, then Chambersburg, where heavy
skirmishing was done, but the hardest engagement
took place at Morefield, W. Va. After this he
was at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Mt. Jackson, Port
Republic and Cedar Creek, where Gen. Sheridan made his famous ride. For a short time they
were in winter quarters at Camp Russell, after which
they went on the Gordonsville (Va.) raid. On
the 27th of February, 1865, they broke camp and
started for White House Landing. The first engagement was at Waynesboro and there the Third
Brigade made the celebrated charge. This charge
was made by Col. Capehart, and three hundred
wagons of Gen. Early's wagon train were captured.
The next battle was at Charlottesville, and then Petersburg, and from that time on it was a continual
engagement until the surrender of Gen. Lee. The
hardest-fought battle during this time was at
Sailor Creek,where Gen. Custer made three charges
before he was successful and captured Brig.-Gen.
Lee and Gen. Ewell, of the Confederate army.
Five Forks was the next engagement in which
our subject participated. During his service Mr.
Norrington was slightly wounded at the battle
of Moorfield, and was captured by Gen. Mosby




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


223


at Bunker Hill, Va. Five other men were captured at the same time. but they succeeded in
overcoming their guards and made their way to
their own camp on the opposite side of the river,
taking the Sergeant along with them. Mr. Norrington was discharged at Wheeling, W. Va., on
the 30th of June, 1865, and left camp July 10
of the same year.
Returning home, Mr. Norrington remained there
for a short time and attended school. On the 1st
of March, 1869, he started to Kansas, but spent
the summer in Weston, Mo. In the fall lie went
to what was then Howard County, now Chautauqua County, Kan., where he took up land close to
what is now the town of Peru. This town was
located by our subject, Mr. Cutler and several
others, and Mr. Norrington assisted in digging the
first well and building the first house, which was
a log structure. The latter was given to a man to
put a stock of groceries in. On the organization
of the county, Mr. Norrington was elected Township Trustee for the south half of the county,
called Belleville Township. Often Mr. Norrington would take a day's provisions and a blanket
and pony and make a two-days trip, camping out
wherever night overtook him.    IIe was reelected the next year, but resigned and came to
this State in 1871. The following spring lie returned to Kansas and remained there until 1875,
when he came back to Michigan. The following
year he embarked in the grocery business at Plainwell, Allegan County, Mich., but since then he
has been engaged for tile most part in farming.
In 1885 he was elected Township Supervisor
and re-elected for seven successive years. In 1891
lie made the race for Register of Deeds on the Republican ticket but was defeated by one hundred
and seventy votes, Charles Ingraham fusion. In
1892, in the November election, he was made Representative over Jacob Barr, 1)emocrat, by two
hundred and thirty-nine votes. Mr. Norrington
was a member of the Labor Committee, Election
Committee, and a member of the State Public
School Board at Coldwater, Mich. February 10,
1869, he was married to Miss Joana Barlow, a native of Michigan, born near Ypsilanti, and the
daughter of George O. and Joana (Williams) Bar

low. Mr. Barlow resides in this county, but his
wife died on the 1st of January, 1893. They
were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom
lived to be grown: Margaret, who is the wife of
Rev. W. Wilson; John, deceased; Mary, wife of
James Chelson; Addie, wife of Mr. Boyce; Sem E.;
Elisha; Joana, wife of our subject; IIana, widow of
M. Sweetland; Nancy (deceased), who was the wife
of John Snell; Elexie, wife of David Lick; and
George O. To our subject and wife have been born
three children: Emery I., born May 12, 1871, and
who died March 26, 1873; Nova Z., born November 12, 1873; and William 0., born March 31, 1877.
Mrs. Norrington is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. Socially, Mr. Norrington is a member
of Ottawa Lodge No. 46, I. O. O. F., the Grange,
and William  Thurkettle Post No. 388, G. A. R.,
at Allendale Center.
i   ON. ELIAS W. MERRILL, a retired lumberman and real-estate dealer of Muskegon,
/  was born in Cumberland County, Me.,
October 2, 1812. He traces his ancestry to
England, whence in 1635 representatives of the
family emigrated to the United States, making
settlement in New England. His father, Elias,
was the son of Humphrey Merrill, a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, who passed his entire life in
Maine, the State of his birth. The mother of our
subject, whose maiden name was Dolly Locke, was
also born and reared in Maine.
The years of his boyhood our subject passed in
the State of Maine, where lie received a good education in the common schools. Later he entered
Maine Seminary, where he prosecuted his studies
with diligence for a period of two years. In 1837,
having resolved to seek his fortune in the West
he came to Michigan, and, locating in Grand
Rapids, engaged in the lumber business for two
years in partnership with his brother Isaac. Returning later to Maine, he spent two years in




224


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


224  PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


that State, and in 1844 again came to Michigan,
this time locating in Muskegon, where he embarked
in the lumber business in connection with his
brother, continuing thus engaged for a period of
eighteen years and meeting with the highest success. In 1859 he turned his attention to the realestate business, in which for a number of years he
was successfully engaged. At the present time he
owns several business blocks and a number of residences in the city of Muskegon.
The public issues of State and nation have
always commanded the earnest attention of Mr.
Merrill, whose peculiar abilities eminently qualify
him for official position. In his political affiliations he was formerly a Whig and a pronounced
Abolitionist, and is at present a stanch advocate
of the principles of the Republican party. In 1857
he was elected to represent his district in the State
Legislature, where he served with fidelity to the
interests of his constituents and with credit to
himself. Among the most important measures
with which he was identified was the bill providing for the division of the large county of Ottawa
into the two counties of Muskegon and Ottawa,
the former having prior to that time been a part
of Ottawa. So satisfactory was the service rendered by Mr. Merrill in the Legislature that he was
elected in 1865 to the State Senate, representing
Ottawa and Muskegon Counties, in which capacity
he served for one term.
The marriage of Mr. Merrill was solemnized on
the 24th of November, 1840, at which time he was
united with Miss Sarah A., daughter of Moses and
Sarah (Batchelor) Titcomb, natives of Maine.
Mrs. Merrill was a native of Maine and received
her education in the schools of North Yarmouth,
where she grew to womanhood. She was the mother of one son and four daughters. Three daughters yet survive: Ellen, Mrs. H. N. Hovey, of
Muskegon; Annie J., Mrs. James H. Smith; and
Eliza M., wife of Ernest A. Worden, also of Muskegon. The deceased were Sarah A. and George
W. The mother departed this life at her home on
the 13th of May, 1893. The family residence is a
commodious structure, pleasantly located at No.
84 Muskegon Avenue, and is furnished in a manner indicating the refined tastes of the inmates.


Mr. Merrill is a man of strong personality, unflinching honesty and integrity, and for many years
has been numbered among Muskegon's most able
and enterprising citizens. In judgment he is wise
and accurate, and his opinion upon matters of importance has the weight of authority among his
fellow-citizens. He is ever ready to take an active part in any business undertaking or enterprise tlat will result profitably to the development
of Muskegon, and has been a prominent factor in
the progress of this city.
PHRAIM      PELTON. The observant traveler as he wends his way along the pleasant roads of Ottawa County finds plenty
to occupy his attention and awaken his admiration. On every hand appear evidences of prosperity. Here are fields of waving grain; there
nestle busy, bustling cities. Probably in his travels he observes no finer farm than that which is
owned and occupied by the subject of this brief
biographical review, who is recognized as one of
the most capable and prosperous farmers of Tallmadge Township.
Born in Canada in 1832, our subject is the eldest
child of Rollin I-. and Abigail (Pelton) Pelton, natives of Vermont and Canada respectively, of whom
further mention is made in the sketch of Rollin Pelton, presented on another page. He was a pupil in
the common schools of Canada, where he acquired
a fair education, being an apt and diligent scholar.
He remained in the land of his birth until he was
a youth of nineteen, when he came to Michigan,
and for a time resided near the city of Grand
Rapids. For six months lie engaged in lumbering
about the river, after which he accompanied his
parents to Ottawa County and settled with them
on a farm in Tallmadge Township.
After working on the farm for a period of twelve
years, our subject began lumbering for the firm of
Hopkins & Monroe, of Grand Haven, this State,
and continued thus engaged for five years. He




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


225


f


then purchased the beautiful farm upon which he
has since made his home. At the time of buying
the property, it was a wilderness, upon which
scarcely a furrow had been turned and no attempt
whatever made at improvement; but through the
diligent exertions of the owner it is to-day one of
the best-improved farms in Ottawa County. Mr.
Pelton uses good judgment in the cultivation of
the soil, and makes a specialty of the cereals for
which the land is best adapted. He makes of farming not only an occupation, but also a science.
In Grand Rapids, on the 1st of January, 1861,
Mr. Pelton was united in marriage with Miss Etta
Quigley, who was born in New York, being the
daughter of William G. and Mary (Franklin)
Quigley. To this marriage there have been born
four children: R. H., who married Miss Helen
Willet and resides in Lowell, this State; Abbie,
who is the wife of W. J. Craik, of Sparta; and
Joseph and Etta, who live with their parents.
While the life of Mr. Pelton has not been characterized by any stirring events or thrilling episodes,
his labors, while quietly done, have been no less
effective toward securing the advancement of the
social and business interests of his community,
and while gaining personal success he has also
promoted the welfare of the township and county.
The Democratic party finds in him a firm adherent
and ardent champion, and he casts his ballot and
gives his influence toward promoting the success
of this political organization.
J   OHN ALBERS, the well-known and enterprising wholesale dealer in meats of all
kinds, and a commission man, the Muskegon
representative of Swift & Co., Chicago packers and dealers in provisions, has been a leading
citizen of his present locality for thirty-six years,
and has spent almost his entire life in the State of
Michigan. Born in Germany in 1842, our subject
was the son of Henry J. Albers, a man of more
than ordinary business ability, who with his fam

ily early crossed the ocean, and located in Allegan County, Mich., where he resided until his
death. He was an extensive shipper of stock and,
widely known in the Wolverine State, commanded
universal esteem. The mother, Fannie (Larman)
Albers, also a native of Germany and yet surviving her husband, continues to make her home in
Allegan County. Our subject was eight years of
age when with his parents he landed in the city
of New York and journeyed immediately after
to the West. He enjoyed the benefit of a good
common-school education in the district of his
home in Allegan County, and at fifteen years of
age came to Muskegon, and here received a higher
grade of instruction in the excellent public schools
of the city.
In 1870 Mr. Albers engaged in the grocery business upon his own account, and a twelvemonth
later began the handling of meats, and later sold
his grocery store, continuing profitably in the meat
business. In 1881 he opened a wholesale meat establishment, second to none in the vicinity, and
still continuing successfully in this line of trade,
in 1887 became likewise a commission merchant,
working in the interest of Swift & Co.. of Chicago,
and handling their meats upon commission. At
the beginning of his business career our subject
served a profitable apprenticeship as a clerk in the
store of Ryerson & Morris and Ryerson, Hills &
Co., well-known and prosperous general merchants.
The four years which Mr. Albers spent with this
firm gave him a clear insight into business methods and insured him a wide acquaintance throughout the county. He also clerked for a time in the
boot and shoe store of W. M. Sawyer, of Muskegon, and when, in 1870, he went into business for
himself, he possessed a fund of practical experience, which was a most valuable reserve capital.
In his present business, acquiring an extensive
trade, our subject has taken his place with the substantial business men of the city and county, and
in all matters of public welfare and enterprise is
ever ready to lend a helping hand.
In 1869 John Albers and Miss Emma Lake, of
Muskegon, were united in marriage. In 1883 Mr.
Albers was married to his present wife, Tryntje
Ozinga, also of Muskegon. Four sons and one




226


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


daughter have blessed the home: Flora, Frank,
Henry, George and James. Mrs. Albers is a valued member of the German Reformed Church, and
is active in religious and benevolent work. The
family residence is desirably located at No. 18
Sanford Street. Fraternally associated with the
Maccabees and a member of Union Tent No. 379,
Mr. Albers is, politically, a Democrat, and a strong
advocate of the "Party of the People."  Untroubled by aspirations for office, our subject is yet intelligently posted in local and national issues and
is regarded by the general public as a man of liberal spirit and a true American citizen.
~_      ~   _A ~        N
< ARWIN  G. BELL, an extensive landowner of Muskegon County, and a resident of Casenovia, was born in Rossie, St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., February 20,
1845, being a son of David and Lucy A. (Blodgett) Bell. His grandfather, David Bell, was born
and reared in Vermont, and in early manhood was
united in marriage with Miss Chloe, daughter of
Asa Carpenter, and niece of Gov. Benjamin Carpenter. They became the parents of ten children,
of whom two sons, David and Emer, and seven
daughters attained to maturity. In politics, Grandfather Bell adhered to the principles advocated by
the Whig party. Ile followed farming pursuits
until his death, which occurred in Jefferson County, N. Y.
David Bell, the father of our subject, was born
in Vermont July 28, 1806, and was but one year
old when his parents located in Rutland, N. Y.
In his youth he gained a thorough knowledge of
agricultural pursuits, which he followed in his native State. In 1851 he came to Michigan and
settled in Hillsdale County, whence, three years
later, he removed to Casenovia Township, Muskegon County. He purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of heavily timbered land on sections
20 and 29, but was not permitted to enjoy the


rich fruition of his labors in witnessing its development into one of the finest farms in the county,
for lie was removed by death February 25, 1855.
As did his father, he identified himself with the
Whig party.
The mother of our subject was born in Franklin County, Mass., in the village of H-eath, April
17, 1812. She still survives, being the wife of
John Brown. Tier parents, Samuel and Susanna
C. (Whipple) Blodgctt, were natives of Massachusetts, the father having been born near Lexington.
In 1828 lie removed to New York, and followed
farming operations in Jefferson County until his
death, at the age of seventy-four years. In religious matters, he was a Free-Will Baptist. IHe was
twice married, and by his first union had twelve
children, five sons and seven daughters. Iis second marriage was childless. I-He was a son of
Timothy Blodgett, a resident of Massachusetts and
of English descent, who served in the Revolutionary War.
In the parental family there were nine children
who attained to mature years, three having died in
childhood.  Those who reached manhood and
womanhood were: Goodloe H., a resident of Battle
Creek; Helen M., who married and is now deceased; Ambrose I)., of Mississippi, who enlisted
in the Third Michigan Infantry, and served for
four years and four months; Emer A., who served
in the Third Michigan Infantry, and was killed in
the second battle of Bull Run; Chauncey, who
served in the Third Michigan Infantry in the
Commissary Department, and now lives in Mississippi; Darwin G., of this sketch; Annette, who is
married and lives in Missaukee County; Mrs.
Emma J. Jackson; and Inez, Mrs. Seaman, who is
deceased.
Our subject acquired his education in the High
School at Battle Creek and at Battle Creek College.
He taught four terms of school in Fremont and
Chester Townships, and at the age of twenty-four
years he went to Big Rapids, where he received
the appointment of Surveyor of Mecosta County.
lIe also engaged in the real-estate and insurance
business there, and for two years served as City
Engineer. For eighteen years he has made his
home in Casenovia, with the progress of which his




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


227




name is inseparably associated.  He served as
County Surveyor for one term, and for fourteen
years has been surveyor for the Western Michigan
Lumber Company.
The real-estate interests of Mr. Bell are extensive and remunerative. IIe is the owner of twenty
acres on section 29, forty acres on section 20, and
forty acres on section 21, Casenovia Township;
he owns an interest in four hundred and eighty
acres in Moorland Township, being the sole owner of one hundred and forty acres; he is also
the owner of a one-half interest in five hundred
and forty acres. In addition, he has valuable
property in the village of Casenovia. Politically,
he is a Republican, and socially is identified with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In May, 1875, Mr. Bell was united in marriage
with Miss Jennie Northrup, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William
II. and Sarah (Tompkins) Northrup, natives respectively of Steuben County, N. Y., and Seneca
County, Ohio. Mr. Northrup is a farmer by occupation, and during the late war enlisted in the
Third Ohio Infantry. In 1869 he came to TMuskegon County, Mich., where he still resides. Iis
wife died in May, 1890, at the age of sixty-one.
They were the parents of four sons and one
daughter. The grandfather of Mrs. Bell was Eben
Northrup, who lived and died in Steuben County.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of four
children: Claude V., Clyde C., Fay and Cora M.
EORGE NELSON JOHNSTON. Through
the good management of his farming affairs
in general, the subject of this sketch has
demonstrated the fact that skill and labor combined produce the best results. He and his brother are the most extensive and successful mintgrowers in Muskegon County, and he has for ten
years or more occupied a farm in Moorland Township, consisting of two hundred and forty acres,
of which one hundred and forty are in a high


state of cultivation. As a farmer and business
man, he stands high in the confidence of the people, whose regard he has won by honorable dealings and genial courtesy.
Born in Haldimand County, Canada, our subject is the son of James and Mary Ann (Yocum)
Johnston. Ile is of Irish descent, his paternal
grandfather, John Johnston, having been born in
the Emerald Isle, whence he emigrated to Canada
at an early age, and engaged in farming there until his death, in 1862, at the age of eighty-one. His
wife, whose maiden name was Susan Stewart, was
a native of Canada, and died about 1865, at the
age of seventy-three. The maternal grandfather
of our subject, Henry Yocum, was a native of
Pennsylvania, but passed the most of his life in
Canada, near Niagara Falls. He died in 1869, at
the age of nearly eighty. IIe was a wealthy and
successful farmer, a prominent citizen, and one of'
the first settlers along Lake Erie. The maternal
grandmother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth
Gould, was born in Canada, of German parentage,
and died in 1855, at the age of fifty years. Longevity has been a prominent characteristic of this
family through several generations. The greatgreat-grandmother of our subject on the maternal
side was Mary Stewart, who attained the ripe old
age of one hundred and six, and a perfect image
of her, as she appeared at that age, has been preserved in wax.
The father of our subject, James Johnston, was
born in the State of New Jersey in 1801. When
a mere boy he acted in the capacity of teamster in
the Government service during the War of 1812.
At the age of thirty-two he moved to Canada, and
after a residence there of nearly twenty-four years
he removed to Berrien County, Mich., whence, in
1865, lie came to Muskegon County and settled in
Eggleston Township, making his permanent home
there. His death occurred October 28,1871, when
he was in his seventieth year, and after he had
suffered severely for a number of years. He was
a member in good standing of the Old-School Baptist Church of Ashland, and was a man of good
habits and lofty principles, whose entire life was
devoted to the faith of which he was a follower.
The lady who in 1836 became the wife of James




228


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


--


Johnston was Miss Mary Ann Yocum, a native of
Rainliam, Haldimand County, Canada, born on the
2d of August, 1816. She was a noble Christian
wife and mother, beloved by all who knew her,
and her life was a blessing to many. She passed
from earth December 8, 1891, at the age of seventy-five.
Our subject commenced in business for himself
at the age of about twenty-two years, and for some
time thereafter he engaged in lumbering, buying
and selling lumber and shingles. In 1882 he settled upon the farm he now occupies in Moorland
Township, Muskegon County. November 8, 1887,
lie and Miss Mary McVaugh were married. The
bride was the daughter of Patrick and Katharine
(Cull) McVaugh, natives of the Emerald Isle who
emigrated to America and settled in Chicago. In
politics, Mr. Johnston is identified with the Prohibition party, and takes a prominent part in
municipal affairs, giving his influence and support
to all enterprises calculated to promote the material welfare of the community. In his religious
connections, he is a member of the Free Methodist
Church, to the support of which he contributes
with liberality.
RANK W. SQUIER, a progressive citizen
of Muskegon County, residing on section 1,
Moorland Township, was born near Rochester, N. Y., October 17, 1853, and is a son of
David W. and Sarah (Dayton) Squier, natives of
the same State. Iis paternal grandparents, John
and Mary (Lampman) Squier, of English and
Dutch descent respectively, were also natives of
New York. The ancestors of this family were a
long-lived and sturdy race, possessing strong physical and mental qualities. The father of our subject, David W. Squier, a farmer and lumberman,
was one of the most prominent citizens, first of
Muskegon, and later of Newaygo County, being
largely interested in and identified with the lumber business of northern Michigan.


Born at Ft. Edward, Washington County, N.Y.,
March 10, 1822, David W. Squier grew to manhood on the homestead of his father, and at the
age of eighteen embraced the opportunity of devoting his time and energy to lumbering, a desire which he had long cherished. The fulfillment
of this ambition decided his life pursuit, and made
possible the success he afterward achieved. One
of his favorite recreations during his boyhood
days was to help in rafting logs down the Hudson
and Susquehanna Rivers. In 1844 and 1845 he engaged as a contractor in Monroe County, N. Y., in
getting out timber to construct the schooner "Genesee Chief" and the brig "Venice," for the Lake
Erie service, working in the heavily timbered
region of the Genesee River.
December 18, 1846, Mr. 3quier married Miss
Sarah, daughter of Idas and Paulina (French)
Dayton. Mrs. Squier was born in Monroe County,
N. Y., January 23, 1829, and was reared and educated in the place of her birth. After his marriage
Mr. Squier changed his plans to some extent for
the time being, and engaged in agricultural pursuits in New York. In tile fall of 1848 he located
in the vicinity of Coldwater, Mich., and again
pursued farming operations, interesting himself
also in buying horses for the Eastern markets. In
1856 he settled in Muskegon County, Mich., on
the Muskegon River, where he engaged in the hotel and lumber business.
In 1858 Mr. Squier purchased one hundred and
forty acres of partly-improved land in Newaygo
County, where he located permanently. He became one of the most extensive operators of pine
and farming lands in northern Michigan, and the
owner of over eight thousand acres, half of which
is improved and under cultivation. He was a man
of quick decision, and gave his personal supervision to all the details of his business affairs. His
management, although skillful, was broad and liberal, and his business dealings were characterized
by strict integrity. His private residence, built at
a cost of $16,000, is reputed to be the finest farmhouse in Newaygo County. He was a believer in
the good old Democratic principles, but was never
an aspirant for political honors. After the death
of his wife, October 13, 1889, he never left the




44




ADAM PATTERSON




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-              I


231.


old homestead, and seemed to lose all interest in
his business affairs. At the age of sixty-eight, after a long and useful career, a short illness resulted in his demise February 4, 1890.
Frank W. Squier is one of five children, only
two of whom are now living. His educational
advantages included a thorough course in civil
engineering, the knowledge of which is very useful
to him in the management of the estate. lie was
united in marriage February 19, 1891, with Miss
Mary Iickinson, daughter of Frank and Maryett
(Kimbell) Dickinson, natives of Vermont and New
York respectively. Mrs. Squier was born in Michigan March 9, 1865, and received an excellent education in girlhood in Newaygo County, Mich.
Our subject possesses many of the sterling qualities of his father, and is highly regarded by the
people of his community. lie devotes the most
of his time and attention to the management of
his extensive interests in lumber and agriculture.
A      PATERSON was bon in        rock,
(t DAMI PATTERSON was born in Brock,
Canada, March 13, 1840, and died in
Muskegon County, Mich., June 17, 1891.
The half-century that spanned these dates
was filled with deeds of kindness and generosity,
and when the end came it was felt by all with
whom he had business or social relations that the
community had suffered an irreparable loss. This
brief record of his life will be perused with interest
by those with whom he was associated in days gone
by, and will also furnish an example for the emulation of the rising generation.
The parents of our subject, Alexander and Mary
Patterson, were natives of Scotland, and in 1837
emigrated to America, settling in Canada, where
they resided about twenty years. They then removed to Michigan and located in Berlin, Ottawa
County. After a residence there of another twenty
years, they sold out their farming interests and removed to Grand Rapids, where Mr. Patterson resided, practically retired from active business, until
11


I


his death. Of ten children, our subject is the
fourtl in respect to age. He remained at home
until about twenty-two years old, assisting his
father on the farm and at the same time acquiring a
common-school education. He then engaged in
farming in Polkton Township, Ottawa County, and
followed this occupation about two years.
Removing from Polkton Township to Ravenna,
Mr. Patterson embarked in the milling and lumbering business, and for about two years had an
extensive trade in that line. Then selling out his
interests at that place, he located at Titiute and
erected a large mill for the manufacture of lumber
and shingles. He did a thriving business here for
about one year, then sold out and removed to Ravenna, where he remained for one summer. Thence
he went to Casenovia and purchased the Edward
Hayward mill, where his usual success attended
him during his two years' stay. His restless ambition, however, induced him to again dispose of his
property, after which lie located on Half Moon
Lake. After one year spent at that place, he went
to Bailey and built one of the largest mills in
northern Michigan, which he conducted for two
years. Later he resided at Nunica, Ottawa County,
and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of
shingles on Rogue River.
After having spent twelve months in the lastnamed place, Mr. Patterson disposed of his interests there and removed to Girard, Kan., where he
engaged in farming. Like many others who settled in the Sunflower State at that time, lie soon
discovered that farming operations there proved
very unsuccessful, owing to the hot winds and the
destructiveness of grasshoppers. As a result of
these causes, he met with the entire loss of all his
property, and after a two-years sojourn in Kansas
returned to Michigan. In this State he located on
a farm ten miles east of Grand Rapids, where he
remained about one year, going from there to a
farm in Moorland Township. Upon property purchased in this township he conducted agricultural
operations on an extensive scale, and in connection
with his farming interests he built and conducted
a large lumber and shingle mill.
Mr. Patterson possessed indomitable pluck and
energy, and we find him in 1877, less than two




232


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


years after his return from Kansas, with his fortune so far retrieved that he was the owner of a fine
farm and a large milling interest. His business
here proved very successful and he made this his
permanent home. He was married July 19, 1865,
to Lovisa, daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Tibbitts, natives of New York. The marriage resulted
in the birth of three children, one of whom, Ethel
May, is deceased. Ella Frances and Elmer Franklin are twins, the former being the wife of Thomas
Workman, of Moorland Township; the son married Mary McMillan and makes his home in Moorland Township. In the summer of 1891, Mr. Patterson returned from an extended tour through
the South, where he had looked up a new location
for milling operations. Ile was making arrangements to return to the South, when a brief and unexpected illness resulted in his death. I-e possessed
many sterling and generous qualities, and his
friendly and social disposition made him quite
popular among his acquaintances.
UDGE EDWARD HUNTINGTON WYLIE,
deceased, a citizen  of superior judicial
ability, a jurist of culture and fine attainments who, with honor and distinction, for
twenty years presided in the Probate Court of
Muskegon County, Mich., and, a long-time resident of the city of Muskegon, held with able fidelity various official positions of trust and, a liberalspirited citizen, was mourned as a public loss
when, upon April 27, 1882, lie was suddenly taken
ill while at work in his office. I-e was removed
to his home and died the same evening. Our
subject, born in Lebanon, Madison County, N. Y.,
December 8, 1819, was the son of Capt. Moses
and Mary (Clark) Wylie.   The mother was the
daughter of Dr. John Clark, a physician of eminence, and the granddaughter of Dr. John Clark,
Sr., whose mother was the sister of the celebrated
divire; Jonathan  Edwards. The remote Wylie
ancestors were natives Of Scotland, sturdy, self-re

specting men and women of rectitude and thrifty
industry. Judge Wylie belonged to the Iuntington family, which contained many distinguished
names. Theodore D. Weld, the famous Abolitionist, was a cousin, also Grace Greenwood, the wellknown authoress. The Clarks were originally
from England, but, emigrating in a very early day
to America, founded in this country a branch of
a family noted for its culture and piety.
Our subject, throughout his life a great reader,
was educated in the schools of Lebanon and Utica,
the days of his boyhood being spent in the two
places.  Arriving at manhood, lie engaged in
mercantile business in his native State and had
attained to twenty-six years when, in 1843, he
followed the tide of emigration to the farther
West and settled in Kent County, Miicli., where lie
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1849
Judge Wylie removed to Muskegon and here became interested in lumbering, but later again embarked in mercantile business, in which he continued for a few years. Politically a stalwart
Republican, our subject soon became a leader in the
local councils of the party and received at their
hands the offices with whic lie was honored, and
which lie by his efficient discharge of duty lionored. Judge Vylie first received an important
political promotion as County Treasurer, and for
several years was in charge of the moneys of
Muskegon County, which lie handled with a clear
judgment, financial ability and sterlin, integrity
which gained him the good-will and respect of his
fellow-citizens. lie was also County Clerk and in
this capacity became widely  known. Elected
Judge of Probate, our subject for nearly a score of
years aided in the administering of estates and
ever sought conscientiously to award all property
so that it should subserve the ends of right and
justice.
On November 22, 1859, Edward Iuntington
Wylie and Miss Eliza Mounteney, a native of
England, were united in marriage. The union
was blessed by tile birth of four children, three
of whom are living, one daughter and two sons:
Maary A., at home; Alfred Weld and Vernon
Huntington. The Judge was a faithful attendant
at the Congregational Churchll Mrs. Wylie resides




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


233


in a pleasant home at No. 102 West Clay Avenue,
Muskegon, and in the hour of her bereavement
received from her many friends, tried and true,
the sincerest sympathy. Eleven years have passed
since our honored subject was suddenly called
from his life work, but his memory is green in the
hearts of all who knew lim and bore him respect
for his many virtues and genuine worth.
ETHI D. ESTES, WllO is now living a retired
life in Muskegon, Mich., claims Maine as
thle State of his nativify, his birth hlaving
occurred in Pownal, Cumberland County,
on April 5, 1828. Iis fatlher, Seth 1). Estes,
was also born in the Pine Tree State, and there
spent his entire life.  lis wife, Mrs. Sarah Estes,
was also a native of Maine. The ancestors of tlle
family came from England, and located in this
country prior to the Revolution.
Our subject spent tlhe days of his boyhood and
youth in the county of his nativity and the common sclhools afforded him his educational privileges. In March of 1868 lie followed lorace
Greeley's advice to young men and came to the
West, locating  in Muskegon, Mich., where lie
lias since made his home on his present homestead.
For a number of years he was eml)loyed as an
enoineer and then embarked in the nanufacture
of boilers, wlich hle continued for sonme time.
Later lie laid out and platted the Estes Addition
to the city and now owns several good lots and
residences in Muskegon. tIis prolerty yields to
him a good income.
Ere leaving his native State, Mr. Estes was
married. In 1848 lie was joined in wedlock with
Miss Artemesia Libby, a native of Maine, and
a daugllter of Abrallam Libby. Tlie union of tllis
worthy couple lias been blessed witil a family of
twelve children, nine boys and three girls, of wlom
six sons are now living, as follows: Alfred L.,
A. True, Simeon, Abram L., Charles F. and Seth


Lincoln. ArI. and Mrs. Estes have also an adopted
daughter, Cora J., whom they took when she was
about two years old. Sle is now the wife of
0. B. Taylor, of Muskegon. Our subject and his
wife reside at their pleasant home at No. 10 Estes
Street. The hospitable dwelling is ever open for
the reception of their friends, who are many.
Mr. Estes was one of the boys in blue during
the late war. lIe had watched with interest the
progress of events prior to the struggle and resolved if secession was carried into effect lie would
strike a blow in defense of the Union. So in
1861, prompted by patriotic impulses, he enlisted
in Company I, Twenty-fiftih Maine Infantry. The
regiment was assigned to the army of the Potomac
and was engnged in guarding railroads and in
doing picket duty. In July, 1863, Mr. Estes was
mustered out in Portland, Me. In politics he is a
supporter of Republican principles, but has never
sought or desired the honors or emoluments of
public office, preferring to devote his time and
attention to his business interests, in which he
lhas met witli success. Iis prosperity is all due to
his enterprise and good business ability and is
therefore well deserved. I-e is now in comfortable circumstances and has enough to keep him
througlh his remaining years without further labor.
I AMES HI. WILLIAMS, resident manager
and member of the firm of C. G. Alley &
Co., lhrge lumber dealers of White Lake, and
\    also interested in various other financial
enterprises, has for the past two years been President of the Village Council of Whiitehall, Muskegon County, Mich. Mr. Williams was born in
Utica, N. Y., February 19, 1848. His father, Orsamus Williams, was born in the same house in Utica
in 1809, and was the son of Sebra Williams, a native of Vermont. The great-grandfather was a
Welshman by birth, but, emigrating to the United
States in a very early day, settled in New England.
Grandfather Sebra Williams, a shoemaker by trade,




234


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


removed when quite young to Utica, and carried
on shoemaking, but, owning a farm of eighty acres
near the city, finally retired to his homestead,
where lie died at the age of eighty years. The old
farm then came into the possession of Orsamus,
who lived on it until 1865, when he removed to
Michigan, and located on a farm near Lawton, in
Van Buren County. For fifteen or twenty years
prior to this time, the father was a large and
prosperous stock-drover, buying in the West and
driving the cattle through to the Eastern markets.
He was said to be one of the best judges of stock
in the country, and made a fortune in the business, but afterwards lost heavily by a dishonest
partner.  While in New   York State Orsanlus
Williams served faithfully as Assessor, and was for
many years Supervisor in Lawton, where he died
in 1874.
'Tle mother of our subject, Abigail (HIowlet)
Williams, was born in Oswcgo, N. Y., in 1808.
She was a most estimable woman, beloved by all
who knew her, and passed away mourned by many
friends in 1891, at the home of a daughter in
Lawton. The parents were blessed with a family
of four sons and four daughters, our subject being
next to the youngest in order of birth. Adelia married James Nash, and lives on the Lawton homestead. Nelson H., enlisting in the late Civil War,
in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York
Infantry, was wounded at Gettysburg, taken prisoner and thrown into Libby, where he spent three
months. At the expiration of this time transferred
to Anderson ville, he remained eight months in that
prison, and, denied medical attendance, suffered
constantly from his wounds. Weighing one hundred and sixty pounds when captured, he was
reduced to seventy-five pounds after his eleven
months in the rebel prisons, and three years later
died from the exposure and privations then endured. Sarah Williams, the second sister, died
when twenty years of age. Elon H. also passed
away at twenty. Ienry S. graduated from Hillsdale College and went to South Dakota, where lie
is now a leading politician, and editor of the
Aberdeen Daily NezVs. He was for some years in
the Government Land Office in Aberdeen, and
served ably as Treasurer of Brown County. Laura


Williams married Seymour Winters, a farmer of
Lawton, Mich. Edna A. became the wife of Scott
Catsner, a successful agriculturist residing near
Lawton.
Our subject was about sixteen years old when
with his parents lie emigrated to Micliigan. Until
nineteen he remained upon the home farm, assisting in the daily round of cares. HIe received his
education mainly in Hillsdale College, and when
twenty-one years of age came to Whitehall without
capital save youth, energy, and determination to
make his upward way in life. Having worked his
passage as far as Grand Haven, and arriving in
the latter city without a cent in his pocket, Mr.
Williams walked the twenty- eight miles to Whitehall, his lunch upon the way consisting of a few
dry crackers. Receiving immediate employment
with Charles TI. Cook, the lumberman, our subject
began piling lumber on the docks, wlicli lie contlnued throughout the summer, in the    winter
cooking in one of the lumber camps. For three
years lie did anything his hands could find to do,
and worked both about the sawmills and in the
camps. In 1875 Mr. Williams again entered the
employ of Charles LI. Cook as foreman of his
mill, and remained in that capacity the succeeding
nine years. In 1884, our subject, taking a new
departure, engaged in the general insurance business, under the firm name of Johnston & Williams, and in 1892 succeeded to the business
which lie yet conducts, as well as engaging in his
lumber business with C. G. Alley & Co., in which
firm lie has had an interest for some three years.
In addition to his other enterprises Mr. Williams
was for some time interested in a furniture and
crockery store in Montague.
In the fall of 1872, James II. Williams and Miss
Minnie Moshier, of Lawton, were united in marriage. This estimable lady died in February, 1874,
without issue. In 1878, our subject a second time
married, entering the bonds of matrinony with
Miss Estella Reynolds, a teacher of Montague.
She died in December, 1880, while on a visit to a
brother in Paw Paw, and passing away after an
illness of three days left no children. December
1, 1888, Mr. Williams married his present wife,
Miss Belle MclIattie, daughter of John McHIattie,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


235


a Scotchman by birth, and the proprietor of a
flourmill at Cedar Springs. This union has been
blessed by the birth of one child, a son, Russell II.,
now about nine months old, and the pride of the
household. Financially prospered, our subject in
addition to his other extensive business interests
operates a large farm, and is likewise interested in
the summer resort, Nahant Beach. Politically, our
subject has been a life-long Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free &
Accepted Masons, a Knight Templar and a Shriner.
He is also a Knight of Pythias, and, widely known
as a business man of ability and sterling integrity,
commands tile esteem of his fellow-citizens, with
whom he is identified in every public enterprise of
importance.
//   EERIIARD BENNINK, the energetic and
f[ s- successful dealer in choice family groceries
j' and fruits, has been a highly respected
citizen of his present locality, Muskegon, Miich.,
since 1866, and since 1885 has prosperously conducted his present business, enjoying a trade second to none in the city. Aside from a coinplete assortment of fine groceries, Mr. Bennink
profitably handles feed, and controls a large custom in this department of his business. From his
earliest residence in the Wolverine State our subject has been intimately associated witl the progressive interests of Muskegon, and in 1889, elected
Alderman from   the Sixtl Ward, discharged the
duties of his office with fidelity to his constituents and to the general satisfaction of the public.
Born in Prussia, Germany, February 9, 1839, Geerhard Bennink was the son of John II. and Trude
A. (Crabben) Bennink, both natives of Germany,
upright and industrious people, who, reared and
educated in their native land. there made their
home after marriage and trained to lhabits of
thrift and industry the sons and daughters who
blessed their union. The father, by occupation a


farmer, year after year tilled the soil, and finally
at an advanced age passed away among the familiar scenes of his youth.
Our subject received a good common-school
education in the excellent schools of his native
land, and during his boyhood assisted his father
in the work of the farm. At the age of eighteen
years he was apprenticed to learn thle trade of a
carpenter. Five years later, in 1863, bidding adieu
to the familiar scenes of youth, Mr. Bennink embarked for America, and after a safe voyage landed
in New York and journeyed at once to tile farther West, locating in Indianapolis, Ind., where
he found ready occupation as a carpenter and
builder. In 1866 our subject removed to MAichigan and, settling in Muskegon, lhere learned tile
business of a millwright and worked for several
years in tlie large lumber-mills, continuing in the
duties of a millwright until the spring of 1885.
Mr. Bennink then opened a grocery and feed store,
and by unremitting attention to tile demands of
a large and rapidly increasing trade hias won hlis
upward way to a comfortable competence, and,
financially prospered, is numll)ered amllong tile leding business men of tlhe city. Politically a lecpublican and an ardent advocate of thle party',,u(m
subject was elected as a candidate on tliat ticket,
as Alderman of his ward, and lias long taken a
hilgh place in tile local councils of his partr.
August 20, 1867. were united in Inarriare (Gev
hard Bennink and    Iliss Cathierine Berglluis, a
daughter of Simeon Berghuis, a courageous soldier serving with fidelity under Napoleon. Mrs.
Bennink was born in 1olland, but her mlother,
Margaret (P'ieret) Berghuis, was the daughter of
Peter Pieret, a Frencllman. Tle estimatle wife
of our subject passed thle days of girlhiood in jlolland and received her education in tlle schools of
her native land. Emigrating to America in 1867,
she landed in New Yoik, and then journeyed directly to iuskegon, were sle w e s  as at once married
to Mr. Bennink by the Rev. Mr. Hubolt. Six cllildren, of whom  but two survive, have brightened
the home. John -I. runs a feed store in Muskegon, and Margaret clerks in her father's grocery.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennink are devout members of
the Fourth Street Iolland Church, and live at




236


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


No. 42 Mason Avenue, a desirable residence locality. They are active in the religious work and
benevolent enterprises of their denomination, and
are highly esteemed by a large acquaintance.
i7 SAHEL G. HOPKINS, M. D., a prominent
physician and surgeon, residing at No. 171
Pine Street, Muskegon, Mich., has been
intimately associated with the growth
and history of the State for more than a halfcentury, and is in fact one of the medical pioneers,
well known and highly regarded. Our subject is
a native of the Empire State and was born in
Washington County September 3, 1819. His father, Martin Hopkins, a native of Rhode Island,
passed away in New York, at the age of seventyeigllt years. He was a brave soldier of the War
of 1812, and by occupation was a farmer, prosperously tilling his fertile fields. The I-opkinees came
of a long line of distinguished English ancestry,
wlose descendants, locating in the United States,
lhave with ability filled many important positions
of trust. The mother, Mary (Pettis) Hopkins,
died when Asahel G. was but six years of age. She
was the daughter of Matthew Pettis, and a woman
of efficiency and fine character. Dr. Hopkins was
educated in his birthplace and completed his preparatory studies in Shelby Academy, Washington
County, N. Y., and later read medicine with Dr.
Savage and Dr. Freeman Hopkins. In 1840, emigrating to Michigan, he settled in Otsego, Allegan
County. After arriving in the Wolverine State,
he read medicine with Dr. Carr, of Whitellall, and
took a course of medical lectures in Detroit. In
1846 he moved to Kalamazoo and followed contracting and building.
Some time later, during 1873 and 1874, our subject took a second course of lectures in Detroit, at
the Homeopathic College, and from 1876 to 1877
studied in the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute. In 1861 Dr. Hopkins, in connection with
C. C. Weeb, enlisted in the service of the Govern

ment and joined Company E, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, organized by Col. Charles C. Stewart,
and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac.
Our subject was commissioned Lieutenant of a
company which lie had recruited, and with the
command actively participated in the battles of
Vicksburg Landing and Shiloh, and was injured
July 17, 1862, on the march between Moorville
and Decatur. On that account he was assigned by
Gen. Buell, in September, to the camp and barracks
at Nashville, Tenn., and remained there until
honorably discharged, May 16, 1863. At the close
of the war returning to Kalamazoo, he then located
in 1)ecatur, but in 1866 made his home at Whitehall, Muskegon County, where lie engaged in
merchandising and was elected Justice of the Peace,
at the same time studying medicine under Dr.
Carr. After graduating from the college in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Doctor located in I)ecatur, Mich.,
where lie remained in general practice until 1882,
when lie removed to Muskegon, conducting a general practice, and making a specialty of chronic
diseases. In 1884 our subject erected the Invalids'
I-ome at Muskegon and superintended the institution with great success until 1891, when the
building was destroyed by fire, May 16.
i)r. Hopkins immediately rebuilt on the same
site and establislied the well-known and prosperous
Hopkins' Sanitarium, conducted on eclectic-electro homeopathic principles. 'The building has
a fine frontage of forty-four feet and is eight
rods in depth, well lighted, and conveniently arranged for tlle care of the sick and suffering. Our
subject is a valued member of the State Medical
Association and is likewise a member of tile American Association of Official Surgeons. Fraternally, he is connected witl the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, belonging botll to tile Sir Knights
and the Royal Arch Masons. IIe also affiliates with
tlhe Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a
member of the Good Templars, and was associated
with the first Grand Lodge of the order. Politically a stalwart Republican, lie cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. William II. Harrison and also
voted for Benjamin Ilarrison. In February, 1841,
were united in marriage Asahel G. Hopkins and
Miss Charity S. Brown, of Lyons, Wayne County,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


237


N. Y., and a daugliter of Ephraim Brown, a native
of Connecticut. August 8, 1890, tile estimable
wife of our subject passed away, mourned by many
friends. She was tlle mother of five children,
three of wlom arc living, two sons and one daughtel. Olin is located in Aluskegon; Asallel G., Jr.,
was the fiftl-born; Frankie is tlle wife of Blenjamin iBray, of Idaho. 1)r. IHopkins lhas a store of
interesting reminiscences of tile early days wllen lie
settled in Kalalnazoo, before tlere was a railroad
in the county. Known tlroughout tlhe State, our
subject commands tile confidence and best wishes
of a host of friends, many of wlhom have recuperated from ill-lhealtli under his faitlful care. November 5, 1892, our sub)ject was married to Miss
Isabella Boughton, a native of New York.
ATIRICK J. CONNELL. In a city of the
'    )) rapid growth and development of Muskegon, tile importance of the line of industry
jLI  in wiicli Mr. Connell is engaged cannot
be overestimated. To tile contractor and builder
in effect, conjointly with tlhe architect, belongs
the task of implarting to tlie city tllat appearance
of solidity, wealth, refinement and comfort whicll
at once stamps its citizens as progressive and enterprising. In a work wliich has for its object a
comlprehensive review of tlie leading enterl)rises
of Muskegon, Mlicl., it is highly important tllat
special attention should be devoted to tliose great
artisans whose skill and labor have been utilized
in the construction of her buildings and public
institutions; and foremost among the number is
our subject, wlio llas been closely identified with
the rise and progress of thle city. Mr. Connell is
senior member of tile firm of P. J. Connell & Son,
contractors and builders of Muskegon, Miich.
Patrick J. Connell was born in Ireland September 25, 1840, to the union of James and Mary
(Malone) Connell, natives also of tile Green Isle
of Erin. The father followed the trade of builder
in his native country, but finally, growing restive,


bade adieu to friends and scenes long loved and in
1842 pitched the household tent in Canada. From
there he moved to the city of New York, remaining there for some time, and then moved to Oswego, N. Y., where his deatl occurred in August, 1847. Hlis wife survived him until March,
1881, her death taking place in Ottawa County,
Mich. She was the daughter of Thomas Malone.
Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Connell, six of whom are living at the present
time, and all honored and esteemed citizens in
the communities in which they make their homes.
Patrick J. Connell, the youngest of the abovementioned children, was left fatherless at a tender
age and was soon thrown on his own resources.
Ile came to Ottawa County, Mich., and all the
schooling lhe obtained was before he was nine
years old. Later, he spent some time in Grand
Haven and went from there to Spring Lake, where
lie was employed in a sawmill, finally going to
Detroit, where lie engaged with Manly D. Richardson, learning the mason's trade there. In 1860,
lie went South to New Orleans, but the Civil War
breaking out, lie returned North, and in 1861 enlisted in Company G, Fifth Michigan Infantry.
After serving three months lie was honorably discharged for disability and went to Chicago, where
lie was married to Miss Maria J. Looney, of that
place. There they made their home until 1870,
wlhen they went to Grand Iaven, Mich. In 1874,
Mr. Connell removed to Muskegon, Mich., and is
now one of the leading contractors and builders
of this city. IIe is a popular and public-spirited
citizen and is worthy the large measure of success
achieved in this difficult, yet so vitally essential,
branch of skilled industry. Iie has made a prominent record in contract work, having erected the
opera house, Occidental Building, Chase piano
works, Alaska refrigerator works, Kelly Brothers'
factory, the iron and steel works, city water works,
tlhe Sheriff's residence and jail and the new court
hIouse.
John J. Connell, son of our subject, was born in
Chlicago in 1856, and learned the mason's trade in
boyhood.   In April, 1891, he became a partner,
making the above firm P. J. Connell & Son. They
employ over fifty men, have $8,000 invested in




238


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




modern building appliances, and annually disburse about $20,000 in wages alone, which goes
towards Muskegon's upbuiiding. Our subject, the
senior member of the firm, and his son were the
contractors and builders of the new court house
at Muskegon, the same being erected in 1893. In
connection with his building interests, Mr. Connell is engaged quite extensively in handling
stone, brick and cement, and has a good office,
well fitted for his business. He is one of the most
successful and prominent business men of the
city.
In politics, Mr. Connell formerly advocated the
principles of the Democratic party. He is now a
stanch Prohibitionist, and for the past eight years
has been Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Good
Templars of the State. He was a delegate to the
Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars at
Des Moines. At present he is Treasurer of the Emens Brick & Tile Company, Director of the Capital and Chattanooga Building and Loan Associations, President of the Curtis Automatic Railroad
Gate Company (the capital stock being $60,000),
and a stockholder in the Iron and Steel Company.
Mr. Connell holds membership in the St. Mary's
Catholic Church and contributes liberally to its
support. He has an elegant residence and is the
owtier of much good property.
O    LE E. GORDON. Muskegon County numbers among her honored citizens and industrious agriculturists many sons of Norway
and Sweden, and to them is due in no small degree the development of this region. For many
years Mr. Gordon was identified with the history
of Fruitland Township and was one of the oldest
settlers of the county. He was born in the western
part of Norway in 1829, and was one of sixteen
children, whose parents were Andrew and Mary
Oleson. He was reared to manhood on a farm and
from early youth earned his own living by work

ing for neighboring farmers. Though his father's
family was large, the children were given good
educations.
Mr. Gordon was an ambitious young man and
determined to try his fortunes on the Western
Continent. Accordingly in 1849 he bade adieu to
the friends of his youth and after his arrival in
the United States at once proceeded to Michigan.
He located in Fruitland Township before its organization, and entered a portion of Government
land, which, with characteristic energy, he proceeded to clear. The following ten years of his
life were years of hard labor and unremitting toil,
as much of that time he was employed in logging
camps.
It was in 1859 that tie first marriage of Mr.
Gordon was celebrated, Miss Hanna Brady, of Oceana County, becoming his wife. After her death
he wedded Miss Emily Ilalvorson, who was born in
Norway. Her parents, Halvor and Emily Halvorson,
likewise of Norway, emigrated to the United States
at an early day, settling in Wisconsin. The father
died soon after his arrival of that dread epidemic,
cholera, after a sickness of only twenty-four hours.
Some years later the mother came to live at the
home of our subject, where she died after attaining the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Gordon,
who was one of nine children, became the mother
of two sons and two daughters. One died in infancy, while those living are Harrison E., Ida G.
C. and Emalinda 0.
For a number of years Mr. Gordon held the
office of Supervisor and filled other local positions.
He was the first Treasurer of Fruitland Township
and was faithful to that trust for thirteen years.
He was a member of the county Grange, and with
his wife was one of the workers in the Lutheran
Church. His ballot was deposited for the Republican nominees, and he was ever to be counted on
to support just and upright measures. His wellimproved farm, one hundred and twenty acres of
which he entered from the Government, he cleared
himself, making many substantial improvements
upon it. In addition to this he owned tracts of
land in many places, and at the time of his death
was possessed of considerable wealth. He was
called from this life in 1889, leaving a host of




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I




RE51DENCE OF GEO A. L-ATH~-A~.A,5EC.23.,ALLEN4DALE WP.,OTTAWA CO.,\ MICH.




a




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


241


- --


friends and neighbors who have missed him in the
various walks of life. He was one of the earliest
settlers of the county, and was well worthy of a
representation in the history of its pioneers.
EORGE A. LATHIAM. The gentleman
whose name introduces this sketch is intelligent and enterprising, and from boyhood has been interested in agricultural pursuits.
He has spent many years of his life in tilling and
cultivating the soil, and is now in comfortable circumstances. As one of the first settlers of Allendale Township, lie has for years been closely associated with the progress of Ottawa County. Born
in the State of New York, he is a son of John and
Mary (Osborne) Latham, who were also natives of
the Empire State. Grandfather Kellogg Latham
was a soldier in the War for Independence, and
John Latham was an active participant in the War
of 1812, being stationed in Connecticut. The maternal grandfather, Israel Osborne, was also a Revolutionary soldier. He reared a large famnily, as
did also Kellogg Latham.
Joln Latham was a carpenter and joiner by
trade, and when the subject of this sketch was
about seven years of age lie removed to Wellington, Ohio, and there he followed his trade until becoming quite advanced in years, when lie abandoned carpentry to take up farming. He continued thus engaged until his death, which occurred
about 1851, his wife having died about 1835.
They were the parents of three children: Julia,
deceased; George A., who was born September
5, 1829; and Clarissa, wife of S. E. Turner, of
Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. Latham  had been married previous to his union with Miss Osborne, and
by Iis first wife had become the father of eight
children, as follows: Warren; Nancy, wife of
George Cone; Almira, who married a Mr. Nelson;
Eliza, the wife of G. D. Graves; Mary A., Mrs. J.
Batterson; Charles, Kellogg, and one that died
young.


George A. Latham was educated in the district
schools of Ohio, and in his youth became familiar
with farm life. At the age of twenty he left the
shelter of the parental roof. and, coming to Michigan, remained here from November, 1849, until
June, 1850, when lie returned to Ohio. After remaining in the Buckeye State for some time, he
returned to Michigan, and for eight years thereafter made his home in Grand Rapids. During that
time he was employed in a lumber-mill, and for a
number of years afterward he was engaged as foreman for Richard Roberts, who was the first settler
of the county. In 1860 he purchased eighty acres
of timber land and eighty acres of farming land,
selling one-half of the latter tract to his father-inlaw, Isaac Tuttle, and disposing of the remaining
forty acres to G. P. Reed. The first eighty-acre
tract lie improved, and the larger part of it he has
sold. For seven years he was engaged in handling lumber and timber in his township for Ferry
& Son, of Grand Haven.
Upon abandoning that occupation, Mr. Latham
came to his farm, but shortly afterward went to
Muskegon, and there worked for his former employers from November, 1866, to May, 1869, receiving for his services $100 per month. In 1869
he returned to his farm, where he remained about
one year. lHe then commenced contracting with
Dwight, Cutler & Savage, and for six years was
in the employ of this firm. IIe then again returned to his farm, and for ten years was successfully engaged in tilling the soil. At that time he
sold sixty acres of his property and purchased
forty acres of the land which he now owns, later
increasing it by eighty acres, which he has since
sold. He now owns a sixty-acre farm, which is improved with a fine residence, good barns and a
magnificent orchard of many of the best varieties
of apples, peaches, pears and plums, besides having an excellent vineyard and quantities of small
fruit. Mr. Latham has served his township as Supervisor for three terms, Highway Commissioner
for twelve years, and is now and for some years
past has been Director of his school district.
The first marriage of Mr. Latham united him
with Miss Mary A. Tuttle, a native of Michigan,
and a daughter of Isaac Tuttle, one of the pioneer




242


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


settlers of the county. To them five children were
born: Jackson E., of Kendall County, Ill.; Edgar,
Kellogg, Benjamin, and Mary E., deceased. Mrs.
Mary A. Latham died in the year 1872, and three
years later our subject wedded Mrs. Susan M.
Pixley, a dauglter of Asa Brown. Her parents
wcre natives of Canada and Massachusetts, respectively.  Mr. and Mrs. Latham  lost their only
daughter, who died at birth. They now have an
adopted daughter, Deme B. Latham. This worthy
couple are members of tlle Congregational Church.
Socially, he is a member of Ottawa Lodge No. 122,
A. F. & A. M. In his political views he has always
supported the men and measures of tle Republican party.
1     OBERT G. WALKER. No industry is of
l X 'such essential importance to every citizen
as that of tlle plumber and,as-fitter. T'here
\\  is no security for the health and comfort
of the population where the best rules that govern sanitary plumbing have been overlooked, for
dread and insidious diseases invariably follow any
violation of tile principle of of hygienic plumbing.
Happily Muskegon numbers among her enterprising tradesmen and mechanics some of the most
reputable and experienced sanitary plumbers in the
United States. Among the foremost of tlese is
Robert G. Walker, whose past success and whose
present reputation equally attest the superiority
of his work.
Mr. Walker opened his eyes to the scenes of
this world on the 18th of July, 1850, in Ontario,
Canada, and is the son of Robert and Jane
(Mooney) Walker. The father followed thle occupation of a farmer for many years and met witl
substantial results. Iis death occurred in 1868,
and his wife followed him to the grave in 1891.
They were honest, upright citizens and worthy of
the respect and esteem in which they were held.
Four children were born to their union, our subject being the youngest in order of birth. The


latter was reared on his father's farm, received a
good practical education in the common schools,
and later went to London, Canada, where he attended Jones & Bell's Commercial College until
1869, when he graduated.
IIe remained in his native country until 1872,
and tlen crossed the boundary line to the United
States, settling in Monroe County, Mich. There
lie bought and sold stock and shipped with John
Stead, of l)etroit, Mich. In 1880 lie came to Muskegon and was employed as book-keeper in the
plumbing, steam  and gas fitting business of John
J. I-owden. Ile remained with Mr. IIowden for
eleven years, and in 1890 embarked in the plumbing and gas-fitting business for himself. His success is an excellent example of the result of energy
and perseverance, and should encourage all who
are endeavoring to struggle troug thou   te difficulties that surround the starting of a new business.
He carries a large stock of the finest gas fixtures
and sanitary plumbing materials, which include
every article in various styles that can be required
in the comprehensive business.
In the month of September, 1877, Mr. Walker
was married to Miss Etta Trowbridge, a native of
the Empire State, which she left to come to this
State with her parents when but a girl. They
have two children,Robert and Zula. Mr. Walker
is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity,
and a member of Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. 0.
0. F. In politics, lie is a Republican.
'AMES MALCOLM. As a progressive and
successful agriculturist of Tailmadge Township, the subject of this sketch is known,
either personally or by reputation, to all
the citizens of Ottawa County. During the long
period of his residence here he has become inseparably connected with the progress of the community, and while advancing his individual interests
has also aided in developing the resources of the




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


243


township and county. In connection with agriculture lie lias also followed tlhe trade of a carpenter, and through the intelligent prosecution of
tlese two vocations lie has accumulated a competency.
In Canada, August 23, 1826, our sulject was
born to the union of Ianiel and Margaret (Crossett) Malcolm, the former a native of Scotland,
while the latter was born in New York, being the
dauglter of James and Margaret (Pescod) Crossett. The only cliild of his parents, our subject
was given every advantage within their power to
bestow upon him, and for some time he was a student in the common schools of Canada. IIe was
employed on tile home farm until lie was twenty,
when lie commenced to learn tile trade of a carpenter, and at tlle exliration of lis aplprenticeship
followed that occupation in Canada for ten years.
Oni coming to the States Mr. Malcoln sojourned
for a time in Grand Rapids, Micli., where lie
worked at his trade for one year. Feeling dissatisfied, however, with the location and prospects
offered by tlat city, lie came to Ottawa County,
where the indications were so favorable tlat lie
decided to lpurclhase prolerty here. The land tllat
he purchased in Tallmadge Township in 1861 was
wlholly unimproved, and it was only after the
most arduous efforts on his part that tile "wilderness was made to bloom and blossom as tlie rose."
Finally tle land was cleared, the soil placed under
cultivation, suitable buildings erected, and ornamental and fruit trees p)lanted, and the farm now
ranks among tile best in the vicinity.
At the age of twenty-three years Mr. Malcolm
was united in marriage witll Miss Elizabeth Parmelia, daughter of 1Ebenezer and Sarah (Vincent)
Stephens, and to this marriage ten children were
born, as follows: Saral Ann; Alethea, wlo beca.me the wife of John Yonker and resides in
Grand Rapids; Rlloda; Minerva, the wife of William  Schroder and a resident of Grand Rapids;
George, who died August 24, 1893; James, Ebon,
Thomas J., Rachel and John.     The wife and
mother died in 1888, mourned by all who knew
her, but especially by the members of lier family,
to whom she had always been tenderly attached.
In his political belief Mr. Malcolm always casts his


ballot in support of D)emocratic principles and candidates. lie llas been the incumbent of numerous
official positions, including the office of Township
Commissioner, wlich lie has held for four terms.
IMr. Malcolm's fatler was twice married; by his first
marrieage e he had three sons and four daughters,
all deceased except one son, Jeremiah, who resides
in Kansas.
AI'ER. ALBERTUS C. VAN RAALTE, D. D.
No name is more widely known and respected in Ottawa County than that of the
father of the Dutch settlements. lie lhas
imprinted himself on its history, and a hundred
years hence his name will stand out in still bolder
relief than it does to-day; for as the fruition of his
life becomes more apparent his fame will increase.
Dr. Van Raalte was a man of commanding appearance, short of stature, witl a wide and thoughtful
brow; a man of deep convictions and fully possessed of the courage of these convictions; a man
of magnificent education and tireless industry,
with a will of iron, and a singular magnetism; a
man born and bred for the leadership of his fellows.
I-e was b:orn at Wanneperveen,in the Netherlands,
October 17, 1811. Iis parents were Rev. Albertus
Van Raalte  and  Christina Catherina liarking.
Seventeen children were born of this union, of
whom only four or five survive.
After the completion of his classical studies, Dr.
Van Raalte went to the IUniversity of Leyden,
where lie became hn associate of a few congenial
students, who had come under the influence of the
men of tlhe "Reveil," especially of the poet-historian, AW. Bildcrdyk. The great struggle for the
freedom of tlie church had just commenced when
Van Raalte graduated, in 1835, from the university.
lIe was one of the suspects, and the Provincial
Ecclesiastical Board of South Holland refused to
admit him to the ministry unless he would
solemnly promise unequivocal submission to the
rules of the church. He refused, and joined the




244


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


24       POTATADBORPIA  EOD


hated "Seceders," who had raised the banner of
freedom. By them he was ordained to the ministry, and with them he shared to the fullest extent
the cruel persecutions which, to the lasting shame
of Holland, raged against the new movement for
several years. On that same occasion, in the midst
of the brethren who met as a free synod at Amsterdam in the early summer of 1836, he married his
estimable life companion, Christina Jolanna De
Moen, a daughter of Benjamin De Moen, a highly
respected burgher of Leyden, and Johanna Wilhelmina Menzel. Of this union several children
were born, who are highly connected in this community.
Early in the '40s a strong migratory movement
began to develop itself in the Netherlands, where
the situation, both ecclesiastically and socially,
had grown insufferable. Hundreds prepared to
leave the Fatherland, and in 1846 Dr. Van Raalte,
who had just passed through a critical illness,
decided to become the leader of the movement,
whicl had the Western States of North America
for its objective point. He arrived with a large
company of pioneers, in a comparatively small
sailing-vessel, "The Southerner," at New York in
October, 1846; and after a brief delay led his
followers as far West as Detroit, where they passed
the first part of the winter. Mr. Van Raalte, himself,
pressed on, and in the severe winter cold of 1846 -47 explored the greater part of the present
Ottawa County, where he was hospitably received
and aided by the Rev. S. Smith, a missionary of
the Presbyterian Church among the Ottawas. The
Indians, well acquainted with the secrets of the
vast maiden forest, materially aided Mr. Van
Raalte in his explorations, and he decided to select this spot for colonization.
Returning to his followers, he reached these
parts again with a devoted band of pioneers,
marching single file along Indian trails, on the 9th
of February, 1847. It is impossible to describe in
this brief sketch the deadly struggle waged by the
pioneers with the forest tangles and wild animals;
with inadequate food and insufficient shelter; with
summer heat and winter cold; with the malarial
effluvia of the swampy forests, and the resulting
decimating diseases; with homesickness and des

pondency, with detractions and evil reports, and
all manner of discouragement. With God's help
they persisted and prevailed. Dr. Van Raalte was
the head and heart of the enterprise, and his death,
in the early years of the history of the Colonies,
would have precipitated  the whole desperate
undertaking of the inexperienced and povertystricken settlers in hopeless ruin and confusion.
The broad, well-tilled acres, the cozy homes
nestling against the sloulders of the rolling hills,
the abundant evidence of affluence and good
cheer appealing to the eye in every direction in
the settlements in Ottawa Countly; the trlliving
city of Holland, Phoenix-like risen in renewed
beauty from the ashes of the destructive fire of
1871; the flourishing Hope College, founded by
Mr. Van Raalte at Holland, and to-day the best
educational centre of Western Michigan; all these
bear the imprint of the man and the leader, and
are the silent witnesses of his signal success.
Truly this man built better than he knew, and
succeeded in rearing for himself a mausoleum
which will outwear the destructive onset of time.
In 1849, Mr. Van Raalte and his followers joined
the Reformed (Dutch) Church in America, the
oldest Presbyterian Church on this continent.
And in this ecclesiastical connection the settlements now spread far and wide over our Western
States have developed into a strong branch of
said church, numbering fifteen thousand communicants, with one hundred and thirty churches and
some ninety pastors.
As a leader Mr. Van Raalte had the gift of wonderful versatility and ingenuity; as a preacher he
excelled in rhetorical power and a clear,analytical
insight into God's Word and the hidden ways of
men's hearts. He was a man of power and often
made his hearers tremble before the majesty of
God. The University of New York and Rutger's
College at New Brunswick, N. J., simultaneously
bestowed upon him the title of Doctor of Divinity. When the War of the Rebellion broke out his
voice rang out clear and strong in defense of the
Union, and willingly he gave his own sons for the
defense and establishment of human rights and
the life of the Union. His wife passed away, after
years of suffering under a frail constitution, on




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


245


the 30th of June, 1871. This blow, quickly followed by the ruinous fire of Holland in October
of the same year, destroyed the remaining strength
of the man, and he fell into a slow decay, under
which lie succumbed, after several apparent rallies,
on the 7th of November, 1876, in the midst of the
bitterly contested general election of that year.
The strongest proof of his hold on his people
is, perhaps, the fact that the announcement of his
death at this critical political juncture paralyzed
the rancorous party spirit of election day, and
made common mourners of bitter political antagonists. The funeral was the largest ever held in
Ottawa County, and in his death one passed away
who is justly called "a man mighty in words and
deeds."  He was one of the pioneers of the State
a citizen of whom Michigan may justly boast, a
man of God and a man of men, one of Heaven',
true noblemen. "Requiescat in pace."
-       1*S~~$~* ~g S*  ---    -
A    LIFFORD S. GAMBLE, the popular and
efficient County Surveyor and City Engineer of Muskegon, Mich., has for a number
of years been intimately associated with the public interests of the Wolverine State, but is a native
of Washington County, Pa., where he was born
May 22, 1852. Our subject is the son of Aaron
and Mary (Shortle) Gamble, both of whom were
natives of Pennsylvania. The father, a man of
learning and culture, was long a prominent physician of the Quaker State, and for many years enjoyed an extended practice in Pittsburgh, Pa.,
and also in Washington County, where he had a
host of friends, by whom he was highly regarded
as a man, citizen and physician. Twice married,
lie survived to many years of usefulness, and
passed away mourned as a public loss in Washington County, Pa. Clifford S. Gamble was the
youngest son of the first marriage, and spent the
days of boyhood in Washington County. There he
attended school and later entered Hoggs Summit
Normal School, in Somerset, Washington County,


and obtained a thorough knowledge of civil engineering. With honor completing a course of
study, our subject was now prepared to enter with
confidence upon his career in life as a business
man.   Determined to try his fortunes in the
broader fields of the West, lie bade adieu to his
early home and the scenes of childhood and journeyed to Michigan.
First employed by a railway company, Mr. Gamble became one of an engineering crew working
for the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad and was
soon enabled to render valuable service to the
corporation. Young, energetic and ambitious, our
subject allowed no opportunity for advancement
to escape him, and won his way steadily upward
in the esteem of all who came in contact with him.
In 1881, locating in Muskegon, Mr. Gamble met
with encouraging success, and after a time became
the Assistant City Engineer, a position of responsibility, which he occupied ably for many years.
While transacting the business of his office he
made many friends by his courtesy and efficiency
and gave universal satisfaction to the general
public. Some time afterward he became associated
with the Muskegon Improvement Company and
did the greater part of the surveying and platting
of Muskegon Heights, one of tle handsomest suburbs of this flourishing city. In 1892 our subject
was elected on the Republican ticket County Surveyor, his term of office being two years. In 1893
he was appointed City Engineer of Muskegon,
and in his dual work of Surveyor and Engineer
leaves no duty undone, but, faithful to each trust
reposed in him, is constantly winning golden
opinions from his fellow-citizens and the community at large.
Since accepting the position of City Engineer
of Muskegon, our subject has rendered invaluable
service in his department and made many suggestions which cannot fail, if acted upon, to redound
to the great benefit of Muskegon and her rapidly
increasing population. In the year 1890 were
united in marriage Clifford S. Gamble and Miss
Dora Harrison, an accomplished young lady of
Muskegon, and the daughter of William H. Ilarrison, a leading citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble are
the parents of a daughter, Maud. Politically a




246


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


stalwart Republican, our subject is intelligently
interested in the questions of the day and occupies
a high place in the local councils of his party. In
their attractive residence, No. 237 Sixth Street,
Mr. and Mrs. Gamble welcome numerous friends
and, social favorites, take an active part in tile
good work and benevolent enterprises of their
home city.
J  OIN  DELANEY.     Many of Micligan's
most enterprising citizens have emigrated
to the United States from the Green Isle
of Erin, bringing with them lhabits of industry, perseverance and economy. In the various
occupations and professions they have gained a
competency, or perchance wealth, while at the
same time they have established for themselves 'ln
enviable reputation as citizens. Ottawa County
contains a large number of farmers whose ancestry
extends back through a long line of Irish forefathers, and in this class we present the name of
John Delaney, an agriculturist residing in Tallmadge Townslip.
Born on the Emerald Isle in 1831, our subject
is the son of Daniel and Iannah (Cudlly) I)elaney,
being their eldest child. At the age of eight years
lie accompanied his parents to America and settled
with them in D)utchess County, N. Y., where thle
elder Mr. Delaney followed the occupation of a
gardener. There John grew to manlhood, receiving
a common-school education and afterward learning
the trade of a blacksmith. In 1851, the family
came to Michigan, and our subject stoplped at
Grand Rapids, where lie learned tile trade of a
machinist. After spending three years in Grand
Rapids, he proceeded to Chicago, where lie spent
the three following years.
From Clicago Mr. Delaney went to the "Sunny
South," and secured employment in tlhe city of
New Orleans. So well was lie pleased witli this
part of our country, and so profitable did his
work prove, that he remained eleven yeare in New


Orleans before returning to the North, in the latter
part of 1871. After a visit of one month in
Miclligan, lie once again proceeded Southward,
and continued to live in New Orleans until the
year 1884.  Iis brother dying, in MIiclligan about
tihat time, lie returned here in order to serve as
administrator of the estate, and has ever since
lived on tile farm  where he now resides. IJe
engages in the cultivation of three hundred acres,
raising wheat, hay and corn, and marketing his
products at Grand Rlapids.
In February, 1864, AMr. I)elaney was united in
marriage witl Miss Alicia Madeline Prophet, who
was of English descent. After having become the
mother of two children, tills estimable lady passed
from ealrth in (ctober, 1868. Mr. Delaney and
Ihis daughlter, Hannah Barbara, reside at the old
home, surrounded by all the comforts that enh:ance tlhe pleasure of living. They belong to the
Roman Catholic Church, and are firm    in tleir
allegiance to the doctrines of that religious organization. In politics, Mr. Ielaney is conservative,
and usually casts his ballot for the candidate
whom   lie deems best qualified for the office in
question, irrespective of political beliefs.


I/~


+z --— E+


'  URNETT F ILKERSON, a progressive farmer of Muskegon County, and the owner
J; } and occupant of a valuable farm consist-    ing of one llhun(red and sixty acres in Casenovia rownship, was born in tle village of Moscow, Hillsdale County, Mich., December 3, 1836.
lie is of German descent and represents a fanily
whose members early emigrated to the United
States, settling in New Jersey. In that State the
paternal grandfather of our subject was born, and
thence lie removed to Tompkins County, N. Y.,
becoming a pioneer of the town of Dryden, where
he died in 1833. Ie and his wife, whose maiden
name was Sally Cook, were the parents of five
sons and four daughters who grew to maturity:




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


247


Silas, Benjamin, Lot, Calvin, Burnett, Jane, Maria,
Ann and one whose name cannot now be recalled.
The family has been represented in the various
wars, and Burnett lost six sons during the Rebellion, all of them dying in active service.
The father of our subject, Lot Fulkerson, was
born in Tompkins County, N. Y., December 23,
1810, and in his youth learned the trade of a
millwright, which lie followed with considerable
success. In 1834 lie came to Michi(gan and settled in IIillsdalc County, where lie entered and
improved one hundred and sixty acres of land.
Later he traded this property for an llotel in Moscow, and thus became identified with the early
history of that village, of wllicl lie was an influential citizen. For two terms lie served as Slieriff of IHillsdale County, and in other ways represented the people, his ability and energy contributing to his success, both in public affairs and
private life.
During the Civil War, Mr. Fulkerson, Sr., offered his service on behalf of the Union, but was
rejected on account of physical disability. Prior
to the Rebellion, lie was a Democrat in party
principles, but afterward became identified with
the Republican party. While serving as Postmaster at Casenovia, under tlme administration of
President Buchanan, le took forty or fifty copies
of the New York Tribune, which lie distributed
among his neighbors. Being requested by tile
Government to either discontinue the papers or
surrender the office, lie chose the latter alternative. IIowever, he became so indignant at tlie
treatment lie had received tllat he left the Iemocratic party and afterward was a strong Republican until late in life, when lie afliliated with the
Greenback party.
Removing to Casenovia, on the Kent County
side, in 1849, Mr. Fulkerson entered one hundred
and sixty acres upon thle present site of the village. lIe erected and managed the first hotel in
the town, and contributed to the development of
the place during tile earliest period of its history.
In youth lie was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but afterward rejected Christianity,
and at the time of his death, April 9, 1888, was
an admirer of Tom Paine, Voltaire, Huxley and


Robert Ingersoll. lie was twice married, and by
his first union four children were born: Sarah,
now Mrs. Joseph Kies; Iarrison, who was killed
by a falling log at the age of nineteen; Burnett,
of this sketch; and William II., wlo (died at tlle
age of thirty-six years. Tlie second wife of Mr.
Fulkerson was Rebecca Iiser, who died in Kansas
in 1892.
Tle mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Maria Swansbrough, and was born in 1)ryden, Tompkins County, N. Y. She was twice married, her second union being with Samuel Northrop. An active and prominent member of the
Metlodist Episcopal Church, and one of the first
members of tlat denomination in Casenovia, she
was greatly mourned when she passed away in
November, 1891. IIer ancestors were for a few
generations residents of Vermont, and removed
from  tllat State to New York. The subject of
this sketch was educated in Casenovia and for
three months attended the first scllool taught in
this place, R. D. Merritt being the instructor. The
latter received, instead of money, five acres of
cleared land in return for teaciling three months.
IIis father giving him forty acres, our subject
in exchange worked on the home farm one year.
lIe has steadily and with perseverance worked his
way upward, until lie now ranks among the progressive farmers of the county. For ten years lie
served as Superintendent of the Newaygo Manufacturing Company, and for tile past ten years
has engaged in cutting lumber on his farm. Of
his property, fifty acres are planted with trees of
various kinds, including apple, peach and plum.
IHe has always refused political honors, but never
forgets to cast his ballot for the candidates of the
Prohibition party. Socially, lie is identified with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
November 25, 1876, Mr. Fulkerson was united
in marriage witl MNiss Eliza Myers, who was born
in Stark County, Ohio, January 4, 1848. Her
father, Eli Myers, was born in Maryland, and in
early life followed the trade of a signmaker.
After his marriage to Miss Susanna Kitcli, lie resided in Ohio for a number of years, and thlene,
about 1853, removed to Indiana, settling in IIuntington County. In 1869, he removed to H-es



248


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHI CAL RECORD.


248IPORTRIT AND BOGRAPHICL RECORD


peria, Mich., where he resided for three years. At
the present time he resides upon a farm in Newaygo County. He and his estimable wife are both
Christians, she being a member of the German
Baptist denomination, while he belongs to the
Church of Christ. They are the parents of five
clildren: Eliza, Daniel, Joseph, Mary and Sarah.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Fulkerson was
Joseph Myers, who passed his entire life in Maryland, his father having emigrated thither from
Germany. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children, Lottie E. and Henry B.
OLON DAGGETT, one of the oldest settiers of Ottawa County, Mich., and an
honored resident of Chester Township,
owning an interest in the old Daggett
homestead, a finely cultivated farm, improved with
a large and handsome residence and substantial
and commodious barns, occupies one of the valued
landmarks of past experience and present prosperity. Our subject, born in Vermont, was the
son of Lorenzo and Sophia (Rolfe) Daggett, the
descendants of highly respected New England
ancestry, prominent in the early history of our
country. The maternal and paternal grandfathers
both fought bravely in the War for Independence,
and the Rolfes trace back their lineage to the
John Rolfe who married Pocahontas, the daughter of the great Indian chief, Powhatan. Lorenzo
Daggett wasa cooper by trade, and, educated amid
the Green Mountains of his native State, had
arrived at middle age before he decided to follow
the tide of emigration to the West. In 1838,
with his family, he journeyed to Michigan, and, looating in Ingham County, engaged in farming in
a sparsely settled district, of which Jackson was
the nearest trading-point. There were no public
roads leading from the farm to Jackson, and the
woods held many wild animals, bears, wolves and
other game being abundant. At the expiration
of eleven years the Daggetts moved to the homestead where our subject now resides.


At that time the nearest neighbor, William
Rogers, was two miles distant, and for some years the
families did their millingat Grand Rapids. The father continued to make his home upon this farm until his death, in August, 1856, when lie passed away
mourned as a pioneer citizen, a true Christian and
sincere friend. He and his estimable wife were
the parents of nine children, eight of whom lived
to years of maturity. The eldest was Jane S.;
Emily, deceased, was the wife of William Hiler;
Solon was the third in order of birth; Orange resides in Ravenna; George lives in California; Henry
is likewise a citizen of California; Pluma E. is the
wife of O. F. Fox, of Ravenna; and M. L. is a
citizen of California. The mother, after a long
life of usefulness, entered into rest in 1858. The
parents were devout members of the Wesleyan
Methodist Clurch, in which the father had filled
various offices. He was politically in early life a
Democrat, but later became a strong Republican,
and was intelligently posted in both local and
national affairs. Solon Daggett received a thorough English education in the excellentscliools of
Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. At the death
of his father, he was obliged to return home and
take charge of the business and the property,
there being quite a large estate.
Our subject, then but twenty-two years of age,
managed the various interests, and continued to
handle the same unreservedly until the death of
his mother in 1858. Some years later, in 1864,
Solon Daggett and Miss Mary E. Williams were
united in marriage. Mrs. Daggett is a native of
Erie County, N. Y., and was the daughter of
Oliver and  Mehitable (Austin) Williams, the
father being a native of Connecticut, while Mrs.
Williams was one of the first children born in
Hamburgh, N. Y. The Austins were among
the early settlers of Vermont, and various members of the family served with distinction in the
War for Independence; others have been favorably and widely known in later days throughout
the East and West. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, emigrating from  the East, located in Aicligan in
1856, and settled in Ottawa County, now a
portion of Muskegon County. Mr. Williams was
a farmer, and, surviving until 1868, industriously




e




I


G',         f                           r/




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHTCAL RECORD.


251




tilled the fertile soil of the Wolverine State. His
excellent wife, who died in 1886, was a valued
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a
devout Christian woman. The five children who
blessed  tleir home were: Mary E; Emily L.,
deceased, wife of Walter Cole; Morgan T., a citizen
of Montana; John A., residing in Allendale Township; and Joseph A., deceased. The latter's family
reside in Grand Rapids. The Williamses f rom early
days occupied a leading position in Ottawa County,
and commanded universal esteem. Mr. and Mrs.
I)aggett, immediately succeeding their marriage,
settled upon the Daggett homestead, consisting of
one hundred and twenty acres, seventy-five of
which are under a high state of cultivation and
improved with buildings second to none in this
part of the county. The pleasant home las been
brightened by tile presence of three children.
Emily I. is the wife of II. Merrick; Olivia teaches
in Whitehall; and Loretta is tile youngest-born. Mr.
and Mrs. Daggett occupy high positions of useful
influence, are members of the Free-will Baptist
Churcl, and are foremost in religious and benevolent enterprise. Numbered with the leading families of the county, they take a prominent part in
all matters of mutual welfare. A stalwart Republican of the township, our subject has served with
efficiency for nine years as constable, and in both
his private life and public work commands tile
high regard of his fellow-townsmen.
O)N. GEORGE F. PORTER, in 1891 elected
) State Senator, representing the Twenty-first
Senatorial District of Michigan, has long
been a popular citizen of Chester Township,
Ottawa County, and is one of the most prosperous
and progressive general agriculturists in this part
of the Wolverine State. Mr. Porter is a native of
New York, and was born in Madison County August 28, 1832. His parents, Curtis and Iannah
(lolt) Porter, were natives of New England, the
12


father having been born in Connecticut, and the
mother in New Hampshire. They settled in the
Empire State some years previous to their marriage.
The mother of our subject was the second wife of
the father, who had married in his native State
and by his first wife had two children, David C.,
and Betsey E., Mrs. John Bennett, both of whom
are deceased.
The parents of Mr. Porter were blessed by the
birth of three children: Ienry B., residing in Kent
County, Mich.; Robert E., deceased; and George
F., our subject. The father emigrated to Michigan
in 1847, and settling in Kent County engaged in
the pursuit of agriculture. IIe was by trade a brick
and stone mason, and assisted in building the
Pierce and Taylor Blocks and many of the first
good houses of Kent County. He resided in Grand
Rapids until 1865, when he came to this township
and purchased forty acres of land, on which he resided until his death, October 30, 1873. His wife
survived until the 3d of March, 1878. The father
served witl courage in the War of 1812 as Sergeant of his company. He was fraternally connected with tle Masonic order and assisted in the
organization of the lodge at Lisbon. lIe and his
wife were valued members of the Episcopal Church.
An able official, he held many important public
offices in Kent County, in all of which he served
with fidelity and efficiency.
George F. Porter was educated in Grand Rapids
Union School. I-e began life for himself at the
age of twenty-one as a general farmer on rented
land ii Kent County. IIe resided in the same locality until 1861, and beside the pursuit of agriculture was for some time employed in gristmills.
In 1857 lie purchased the homestead, consisting of
eighty acres, then in a wild state, and locating
thereon in 1861 entered with ambitious enterprise
upon its cultivation and improvement. During
the war lie built a good house, and from dawn to
eve labored to bring the farm up to a profitable
state of cultivation. Financially prospered, he
added to the original property eighty acres, and
of the valuable one hundred and sixty acres he
has one hundred and twenty whose fertile fields
annually bespeak an abundant harvest.
Beginning life with little or no moneyed capi



252


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




tal, his hope, courage, enthusiasm and tireless industry have wrought results of which our honored
subject may well be proud. A handsome and commodious residence, two large barns and numerous
outhouses attest the thrift and plenty of the Porter farm. The second year after coming to this
locality Mr. Porter had the ruisfortune to lose his
team and was then obliged to go in debt for another. He used oxen at that time, and it was
five or six years later before he owned his first
horse.
In 1855 were united in marriage George F.
Porter and Miss Delilah E. Champlin, a native of
Delaware County, N.Y., and the adopted daughter
of Jeffrey C. Champlin,a higlly esteemed resident
of the Empire State. Our subject and his accomplished wife became the parents of nine bright and
intelligent children, of whom but four lived to
years of maturity. Eugene A. is a resident of Chester Township; Mary E. is the wife of Robert Lange;
Ferdinand is a citizen of Kent County; Charles G.
is attending school. Mrs. Porter, a lady of high
worth and ability, passed away deeply mourned on
the 2d of November, 1882. Sile was a member of
the Free-will Baptist Church and a leader in religious work. Upon thle 2d of February, 1884, our
subject married Miss Mary A. Batson, a native of
this State and a daughter of Aaron Batson, an
early and highly reslected settler of Chiester
Township, who resides upon the place where lie
located in 1850.. M and Mrs. Porter have two
interesting children, Mila II. and Gaylord F. Mrs.
Porter is a prominent member of thle Free-will
Baptist Church and occupies a leading social l)osition. Our subject is also connected by membership with the same denomination and is a liberal
giver in behalf of religious extension and church
work.
Politically a Democrat, Mr. Porter has served
with ability upon the township and county committees and conventions of the party. In 1863
he was elected Township Treasurer for one term.
In 1867 he was cliosen Supervisor, and for seventeen years in all, with intermissions, faithfully discharged the onerous duties of the position. For
one term he occupied the office of Justice of the
Peace. As State Senator, elected in 1891, he is


a member of the Committee on Finance and IIighways of the State and has also served upon otlher
imlportant committees, where lie has distinguished
himself by fidelity to his constituents and devotion to public interests. A self-made man, having
throulgh his individual efforts won his way upward, lie has made a record in his private life and
public service of which his family and descendants may well be proud.
7   EONARD EYKE, Secretary of thle Maxwell
I|  I Lumber Comipany at Muskegon, was born,\L-  iin the Netherlands, September 12, 1813,
being a son of John and Josey ()evries) Eyke,
who passed their entire lives in Iolland. Leonar(l spent the years of his boyhood upon his
father's farm, aid for a time was a student in the
schools of Zeeland, where lie acquired a practical
knowledge of the Dutch language. Upon attaining the age of nineteen years, lie determined to
emigrate to tile United States, and accordingly
took passage upon a vessel bound for America.
Soon after landing at New York City, lie came
West to Michigan and settled in Muskegon.
Here Mr. Eyke secured employment in a sawmill, and for thrlee years was in tile en)l)loy of the
firm of 1ackley & Son, later working for different
parties. In 1879 lie formed a l)artnership with
J. I. Mutrray, under the firm title of Eyke & Murray, and for a number of years engaged in tile inspection of pine lumber. In 1882, lie became
agent for John Murray & Co., establishing his
oflice at Grand Rapids and remaining tlhus engaged for eleven years. Afterward lie became
interested in the firm of Murray, Wilson & Co.,
manufacturers of lumber.
On the 12th of May, 1888, the Maxwell Lumber Company was incorporated with a capital of
$50,000 and the following officers: P.. W. Maxwell, President; J. L. Murray, Vice-President;
Matthew Wilson, Treasurer; and Leonard Eyke,
Secretary. The office of the company is located at




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


1             ~~~~253


No. 542 West Western Avenue. They deal in pine,
hemlock, and other lumber at wholesale, handling
about twenty-five million feet annually.  Some
thirty acres of land are required for stoirage, as the
average amount lleld in stock reaches eight to ten
million feet. About one thousand feet of dock
front furnish vessel privileges, and convenient
side tracks give access by rail. The gentlemen
forming this company are enerogetic and reliable
business men, thoroughlly conversant witll all tle
practical details of this trade. In addition to tlle
sale of lumber, they engage extensively in the
manufacture of lath and shingles.
In 1869 Mr. Eyke married Miss Lena Cowen, of
Muskegon, Micll., and they became tile parents of
two sons, John and Samuel. After the deatl of
Mrs. Lena Eyke, our subject was married, in 1881,
to Miss Mary IIockaday, a native of England, and
at the time of her marriage a resident of Cllicago.
One son, William leonard, has blessed tllis union.
In his social relations, Mr. Eykc is identified with
Muskegon Lodge No. 133. A. 0. U. W.    In 1)olitics an ardent Democrat, he has always been p)rominent in plublic affairs and has served in numerous
official p)ositions, including the office of City Treasurer, which lie filled for one term. lie and his
wife have a pleasant home at No. 268 West Western Avenue, in which they cordially welcome
their hosts of warm personal friends.
ENRY 1). WEATIIERWAX, formerly tle
If   Slieriff of Ottawa County, and now  a
2  prosperous agriculturist of Georgetown
(   Township, was born in Peru, Clinton
County, N. Y., Alril 19, 1833, and traces his
lineage to Germany. His father, Jacob M., was
also a native of tile village of 1eru, and followed
farming pulrsuits in New York State and Michigan
until his death. IIe married MissAnnis Ketchum,
who was born in New York, of Scotch parentage.
They were the parents of seven sons and three
daughlters, Henry D. being the fourth-born.


When an infant six weeks old our subject was
taken by his parents to Orleans County, N. Y.,
where he remained until le was four years of age.
Thence lie accompanied his parents to Michigan
and settled in Adrian, where lie attended school;
lie was also a student in the Hillsdale College.
Early in life he learned the trade of a carpenter,
which he followed in connection witl farming.
In 1859 lie went to California, where he remained
for two years, engaged in mill-building. At the
time when the war excitement had reached its
highest pitch he returned to Michigan.    His
brothers enlisted in the service and left him to
superintend the management of their extensive
lumber interests. He himself did not enlist, although for a time he was engaged as provost-guard.
After the close of the war, Mr. Weatherwax
continued his farming business in Georgetown
Township, and also dealt extensively in land,
buying and selling property in this and adjoining
counties. In tlhe mean time he held responsible
trusts, such as Township Supervisor, etc. In 1869
lie was elected to the position of Sheriff of his
county, and removed to Grand Haven, the county
seat. Ite served the people in this capacity for
two terms of two years each, wlich is the statutory
length of office for one man. At the expiration
of his term of office he returned to his farm,
where lie has since resided, engaged in raising
grain and stock.
In 1863 Mr. Weatherwax married Miss Adeline
V., datughter of George and Rachel F. (Boyd)
Taylor, natives respectively of New Hampshire
and Massachusetts. Mrs. Weatllerwax was born
in Maine, and came to Michigan when five years
old, receiving her education  in Hillsdale, this
State. For five years she was a teacher in various
parts of this State, and has been a prominent
factor in the educational affairs of this county.
She served for two years on the Town Board, and
eight years on the County Board, a part of that
time being its Secretary, and also serving as its
Chairman. She enjoys the distinction of being
the first lady to hold these positions in the county.
In her religious convictions, she is a member of the
Episcopal Church. She has been the mother Of two
children: Helen, who died in infancy; and Harry,




254


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


who resides with his parents. Mrs. Weatherwax
was appointed by the Congressman of her district
Delegate to the Woman's Congress that convened
in Chicago during the World's Fair, in 1893.
Socially, the subject of this notice is identified
with Crescent Lodge No. 322, at Grandville, and
has held a number of offices in the lodge, being
one of its prominent members. He is a Republican in politics, and has frequently been elected
upon the ticket of his party to serve in positions
of prominence. In addition to serving as Sheriff
for four years, he has been Supervisor for six years,
and Justice of the Peace for eight years.
^ORTER P. MISNER, Secretary of the Lakeside Manufacturing Company, Muskegon,
is a sound and responsible business man,
and has materially aided in the development of Muskegon's flourishing industries. He is
a native of this State, born in Kent County August 4, 1841, and the son of Christopher Misner
and grandson of John Misner. Christopher Misner
was born in Canada July 9, 1806, and there grew
to mature years. In 1837 he came to Kent County,
Mich., and became one of the successful farmers
of that county, and there his death occurred in
1892. Ile had married Miss Sarah Perrin, a native
of Canada, and the daughter of Thomas Perrin.
She died in the year 1883, when in her. sixtyeighth year.  Both were most worthy and esteemed citizens of the community in which they
lived and had many warm friends.
Porter P. Misner, the sixth in order of birth of
eight children born to the above-mentioned couple,
was reared on his father's farm in Kent County,
and as soon as his physical strength was sufficient
to enable him to wield the implements of husbandry, lie began contributing to his own support.
His scholastic training was received in the district
schools and he continued to attend the same, principally in the winter time, until twenty-one years


of age, thus receiving a good, practical education.
After leaving the schoolroom  he began clerking
in the hotel at Casenovia and was thus engaged
for two years. In 1869 he came to Muskegon and
became a member of the firm of Montague & tIamilton.
In the year 1873 he engaged in lumber enterprises of all kinds, in different mills, and assisted
in organizing the Lakeside Manufacturing Company in 1891. Ie was made Secretary of the same
and has filled that position in a satisfactory and
efficient manner up to the present time. I-Ie is
also Director of the Muskegon Electric Street Railway, and is emphatically a business man. The
leading points of his character are energy, quick
conception and integrity. In his choice of a
companion he selected Miss Sarah Dow, a native of
Canada, but a resident of Muskegon County,
Mich., at the tim'e of their marriage. She was the
daughter of Lorenzo Dow, also of Canada. Mr
and Mrs. Misner's union was celebrated on the 12th
of June, 1864, and one son, Fred. was the result
of this marriage. IHe is now a prominent young
business man of Muskegon, and is a member of
the firm of Shaw & Misner, of tlat place.
In his political views Mr. Misner is a Iemocrat
and has held a number of political positions. Iie
was Treasurer of the village of Lakeside for three
years and represented the Eighth Ward in the City
Council, besides holding numerous other positions.
Socially, he is a Mason and a Kniglit Templar in
that organization. IIe has a pleasant and comfortable home at No. 60 Iarrison Street.
[    OMER HI. HAYES. The soil of Michigan
l  is in many places peculiarly adapted to
the raising of small fruits, and many of
the most successful citizens now residing in
the State have secured prosperity through tlie medium of this occupation. Fruit-growing is one of
the prominent industries of Ottawa County, and
among those who pursue this vocation     may




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


255




be mentioned Mr. IIayes, who owns eighty acres in
Tallmadge Township. He is an extensive fruit
farmer, his specialties being grapes, peaches and
pears. IIe las ten acres planted with Niagara
grapes, in the raising of which he has been especially successful.
The family of which our subject is a member is
of German.Scotch descent, and has been represented in America for several generations. The
parents of our subject, Ira and Roxie (Kawkins)
Hayes, were natives of Vermont, the former having been born in 1801. They had a family of
thirteen children, the third of whom, Homer H.,
was born in Chenango County, N. Y., February
25, 1834. At the age of three years he was taken
by his parents to Canada, where he remained until
he was eighteen, meantime spending his winters
in the schoolroom and his summers in farm work.
In 1852 Mr. Hayes came to Michigan      and
settled in Lamont, Ottawa County, where for four
years he worked as a day    laborer. Carefully
saving his earnings, lie was enabled at the expiration of that time to purchase a tract of eighty
acres and embark in agricultural pursuits. He was
unfortunate, however, for during the same year in
which lie bought his farm lie was struck by ligltning and injured to such an extent that he was
unable to perform any manuhl labor for some
time thereafter. Indeed, he has never entirely
regained his health and the shock still affects his
nerves.
After recovering sufficiently, Mr. Hayes attempted to join the Union army, but the physicians
pronounced him unable to do active service and
he was rejected. Iowever, lie procured permission
to serve in the Quartermaster's Department and
filled that position for eighteen days, when he was
taken ill and forced to resign. Upon returning
home, he and his wife secured positions as attendants in the Kalamazoo Asylum for the Insane,
where they remained for six years. They then
removed to Muskegon, where Mr. I-ayes worked
at the trade of a carpenter and joiner for two
years, and afterward conducted a boarding-house
for three years. Upon coming to Tallmadge
Township in 1870, he purchased the place where
he has since resided.


In 1858 Mr. Hayes married Miss Alena Smallman, and one child, Harley I., has been born to
bless the union. He is a young man of ability,
and makes his home with his parents. Politically,
our subject is a Republican, and always advocates
party candidates and principles. Socially, he belongs to Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M.,
in which he is prominent.  He is not identified with any religious organization, but contributes to the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Hayes is an active
member.
HARLES II. HILLS, the able Vice-President
of the Iron and Steel Company, Muskegon,
Mich., has during his entire life been
closely identified with the history of his present home city, where he was born December
24, 1863. Iis parents, Charles T. and Jane Hills,
early locating in the thriving young city of Muskegon, were soon numbered among the influential
Iand leading residents, and while the father attained to business prominence the mother was
widely known for her social qualities and accomplishments. The father, a native of Bennington,
Vt.,and born November 14, 1821, removed to
Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1838, being then a bright,
ambitious and energetic youth of seventeen years.
Our subject, Charles H. Hills, received his preparatory education in the schools of Muskegon,
and later entered tile State University at Ann
Arbor, where he pursued his studies for three years,
and then, returning to Muskegon, became connected, in the responsible capacity of assistant bookkeeper, with the firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co. He
was in the employ of the firm for several years and
afterward assumed the duties of book-keeper of
the lumber firm.
July 10, 1889, were united in marriage Charles
H. Hills and Miss Laura McLeod, of Muskegon,
and daughter of James McLeod. Our subject and
his cultured wife are the happy parents of a




256


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


charming little daughter, Julia T. Mr. and Mrs.
Hills, who occupy a social position of prominence,
reside in a beautiful home located on the corner of
Larch and Sanford Streets and there entertain in
royal style their numerous friends and acquaintances.
c. +    +++,      +,+.
ILLIAM D. KELLY, Secretary of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, and one of
V   the representative and public-spirited citizens, has the honor of being a native of Michligan,
his birth having occurred in Ferrysburg, Ottawa
County, November 26, 1865. His father was a
native of New York, but his mother was born on
the Emerald Isle. In tile family of seven children
he was the fourth in order of birth. Iis boyhood
was passed in his native city, where he acquired a
good education, being graduated from the High
School. He afterward served as book-keeper at
tlat place for nine months, and then came to
Muskegon to accept a similar position with Dennis
Smith & Co., one of the principal dry-goods and
house-furnishing firms of Muskegon, in whose employ he remained for two years.
On the expiration of that period, Mr. Kelly became reporter for the Muskegon News, and subsequently became a member of the Simmons &
Kinne Manufacturing Company, who did a planing-mill and lumber business. For four years Mr.
Kelly devoted his energies to that enterprise, and
then embarked in the wholesale lumber business,
under the firm name of W. D. Kelly & Co. In
1889 he established himself in the real-estate business, handling city property and farming lands,
also pine and timber lands. In the fall of 1892,
in connection with others, he organized the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, witl Newcomb
McGraft President, Thomas IIume Vice-President,
William  D. Kelly Secretary, and Andrew  Wierengo Treasurer. It is astrongorganization, made
up of the business men of the city, and for the
benefit of the fast-growing city of Muskegon.
Mr. Kelly was married on the 28th of August,


1888, to Miss Zipha Wlheeler, of Muskegon, daughter of James E. Wlleeler. In politics he is a stanch
Republican, and was one of the prime movers in
the organization of the Republican Club of tiis
city, of which lie was made Secretary. I-e served
as Chairman of the Republican City Committee in
1892, and in 1890 was the Republican candidate
for the Legislature. Receiving tile nomination, he
ran against a strong D)emocratic opponent, and although the district is Democratic, he was defeated
only by a small majority. lIe often takes part in
campaign work and is a good speaker. Socially, he
is a member of the Maccabees. Besides his interest
in Muskegon property, lie is connected with his
brother in the ownership of the Colfax Hotel, in
Colfax, Iowa. He is a man of excellent business
and executive ability, sagacious and far-sighted,
and his good management has made him eminently
successful. The prosperity and growth of Muskegon owes not a little to his untiring efforts, and
its welfare has been greatly advanced through his
labors.
EORGE IOFFMAN, the able and enter(/, prising senior partner of the prosperous and
\A1 well-known firm of IIoffman Bros., dealers
in flour, feed, hay and grain, at No. 122 Pine
Street, Muskegon, Mich., has for nearly a quarter
of a century been a resident of his present locality, and throughout tle changinti years has been
identified with the growth anld upward progress
of his home city. Our subject is a native of the
Netherlands, and was born in the year 1850.
His father, John IIoffman, an honest, hard-working man of keen intelliygence and excellent business ability, likewise born in Holland, early determined to give his children the advantages
offered in the United States, but year after year
passed anld yet lie remained in tile Netherlands,
thougl his son George had long preceded him to
this country, embarking in 1873 for America. I-Ie
journeyed to tlie West and made his home in
Muskegon, where after a life of busy usefulness he
passed away mourned by many friends. The




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


257


mother, Wielbe (Geerling) Hoffman, spent her entire life amid the familiar scenes of her youth.
She was reared, educated and married in her native land, Holland, and there ended her uneventful life, entering into rest beloved by all who
knew her.
George IHoffman was educated in the common
schools of Holland and early began tle battle of
life. In his home traiied to habits of self-reliant
industry, lie arrived at manhoodl well fitted to
make his upward way in the great world, and was
but nineteen years of age when he resolved to seek
his fortune in tlie United States. After a safe voyage our subject landed in tlie city of New York,
but did not make any stay in the metropolis of
the Empire State, journeying at once to Michigan,
tand locating in Mluskegon, where lie immediately3 received employment and for four years successfully
ran a sawmill. Mr. IIoffman was for seven successive years enygaged in millinr, and worked for
the City Milling Company five years, and later was
employed in the feed store of J. M. M. Goodspeed.
In 1887, in partnership with hlis brother Johli, our
subject embarked in his present business, which,
from tile first commanding an excellent trade, has
rapidly increased its proportions an(l now enjoys
a custom  tlhat is one of tile best in tllis line in the
city of Muskegon. I)evoting lhimself to the demands of daily business, Mr. IIoffman liats been
financially prospered, meeting with tile reward well
earned by his sterling integrity and practical industry.
John Hoffman, a brotler and partner of our subject, emigrated to America at tlie age of seven
years and when a little lad entered a public school
of Muskegon, receiving a good education in tlle
common branches of study. As soon as old enoutgh
he engaged in milling and ran a saw and lath
mill for a period of seven years. IIe worked for
John Albert one and a-half years, then in 1887,
entering into his present partnership, llas been financially successful. An ambitious and energetic
young man, he has many friends, and, politically a
Republican, is well posted on local and national
issues.  Unmarried  and a social favorite, Mr.
Hoffman is widely known and makes his home at
No. 61 Muskegon Avenue.


In the year 1876 were united in marriage George
Iloffman and Miss Richey De Grave, a native of
Holland. In the pleasant hlome on Catherine Street,
Muskegon, has gathered a happy family of seven
children, two sons and five daughters. Wielbe is
the eldest-born; then follow IIilda, Anna, James,
Sarah, John and Johanna, all of whom will enjoy
an opportunity for an extended education. Our
subject is fraternally a valued member of the Maccabees, and politically is a Republican and an ar(lent advocate of the "Party of Reform." He has
never been troubled by aspirations for political
oflice, but, a true and loyal citizen of his adopted
country, is ever ready to lend a helping hand in
matters of public enterprise and improvement.
APT. SETH LEE. of Muskegon, is the
owner of tle North Muskegon Ferry and
Tug Boat Line. IHe lias experienced the
life of a sailor for many years, and is widely
known among the sailors on the Lakes. Ile is a
native of Ohio, the place of his birth being in
Lorain County, wlile the date is 1834. His parents were George and Sallie (Rose) Lee, the former a native of the Buckeye State, and the latter
of Albany, N. Y. Tle ancestors of the Lee family
came fromr G(ermany. The father of our subject
emigrated Westward and died in Kalamazoo,
Miic., in 1844.
Capt. Lee, whose name tieads this record, spent
the first ten years of his life in the State of his
nativity, and then began sailing as cook on a
vessel on tile Great Lakes. lHe was successively promoted from one position to another, until
at the early age of nineteen he had become captain of a schooner, the "Ellen Kent," plying between Sandusky and Buffalo. In the capacity of
captain lie continued to sail on the Great Lakes
until 1881, when he purchased the present line of
tug boats, which he has operated successfully since.
In 1874. Capt. Lee chose as a companion and




258


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


helpmate on life's journey Miss Kittie M. Burroughs, of Buffalo, N. Y., and unto them have
been born two children, a son and daughter, Kate
B. and Charles Henry. The family reside at No.
172 West Webster Avenue, where they have a
spacious and elegant residence, handsomely and
richly furnished. In social circles, the Captain
and his wife rank high, and throughout the community their friends are many.
In 1885, Capt. Lee began contracting for the
laying of cedar pavement, and has since paved a
large portion of the streets of Muskegon. IIe is
now engaged in superintending the building of
the large Magoon & Kimball Docks. lie also
owns and operates the People's Steam Laundry of
Muskegon, and his various business interests yield
him a good return and make him one of the substantial and well-to-do citizens of the community.
He possesses excellent business ability and his
good management and careful attention to all
the details of his business, and his honorable,
upright dealings have brought him a reward in
the shape of a handsome competence.
Thle Captain exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Republican party, and in 1886 he
was elected as Alderman of the Third Ward, serving as a member of the Council in a faithful and
acceptable manner. Socially, lie is connected with
Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M. He
possesses the genial, kindly nature so characteristic
of sailors, and is therefore popular and well liked.
*- --    C- *@*,^-,  -— I 3 -o ^'6 -     ~~.' -~/:,k — '.:-: — ra J —
jjrEORGE WASHINGTON JONES, a successful farmer of Muskegon County, and a
resident of Eggleston Township, was born
in Maine, February 4, 1855. He is a son of David
R. and Hattie (Pease) Jones, the former a native
of England,and the latter of Maine. The father,
who was born in Otley, Suffolk County, England,
on the 25th of July, 1810, was a son of Samuel
and Mary (Nicolls) Jones, natives of England.
At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to learn


the trade of a wheelwright under Samuel Reeves,
with whom he remained for a time. Becoming
weary of the hardships incident to his apprenticeship, he ran away and enlisted in the English
army.
At the age of twenty, having served his full
time in tie army, the father of our subject came
to America and settled in Maine, where he engaged in farming. In 1854 he removed to Michigan and settled in Muskegon County upon the
farm he now occupies. Clearing tile land of its
heavy growth of timber, he built a home in what
was an unbroken wilderness, and proceeded to till
the soil of his new farm. As time passed by,
success crowned hlis tireless exertions and he attained a position among tile foremost of Muskegon's citizens and pioneer farmers. Hle still
survives, being in his eighty-third year (1893).
Having been an industrious worker all his life, lie
feels considerably the inability of old age, and
has been practically retired from active pursuits
for several years. I-e is one of the remaining
few who are left to tell tile story of the early
settlement of the country and the experiences of
pioneer days.
Thle first marriage of David  R. Jones occurred in 1838 and united him with Miss Nancy,
daughter of Joseph lRobbins, of Maine. Of this
union there were four chlildren born, all of whom
are now deceased, and the wife and mother died
in 1853. Mr. Jones was again married, in 1854,
choosing as his wife Miss Harriet B., daughter of
Aaron Pease. Two children resulted from   this
marriage, of whom George W. is now   tile only
survivor. The death of the second wife occurred
in 1859. In his political belief, Mr. Jones is an
old-time Republican, and has lleld nearly every
public office in the township. He is highly respected by his fellow-citizens as an honored
pioneer and public-spirited citizen.
At the time tile Jones family came to Muskegon County, George W. was an infant one year
old. I-e grew to manhood on the home farm,
receiving the educational advantages afforded by
tile neighboring schools, and early in life gaining
a thorough  knowledge of agriculture. For a
number of years he has had entire charge of his




i-..-... I  "...  1


I


RPSI D E NCE O F G0. WV. JO0NES, S EC. 35. EGG LE5TON TP., M US5KEGO N


CO. MICH.




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i.i


RESIDENCE OF WMr- T. CARR., SEC. 20.JMOORLAND TF?.,MUSIKEGON CO.3MICH.








PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


261


fathler's farming affairs, and has made a success of
his farming operations. lie was married, June 29,
1875, to Miss Mahalia, daughter of Cornelius and
Mary (Strichner) Clary, natives of Illinois. Six
children have been born of this union: David R.,
Flora, Celia, Walter, Sara, and George Wasllington.
^__ _zIf-_         _. ^2    mILLIAAM   ThIIOtMAS CARR. It has been
truly sai tthat tle iprosperity of acornmuV V   nity depends upon tile individual enterprise and upriglltness of its citizens. In proportion as each l)erson achieves success, will tle
county and State show a favorable advancement
along tie lines of material and commercial progress. The lllgl standing of:Muskegon County and
its prominence among other counties of tlhe State
may be attributed largely to the energy and progressive spirit displayed by its residents. As one
of its successful young business men and agriculturists, we present tile name of William 'T'lomas
Carr, who owns and occupies a finely improved
farm on section 20, Moorland Township.
Born in Sleboygan County, Wis., October 30,
1856, tlhe subject of tllis nlotice is tile son of William and Elizabeth (IPlum) Car', natives of Saratoga County, N. Y.    lis father at an early age
removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and, being well educated, engaged in teaching school. Later he went
to Sheboygan, Wis., and helped to survey and
plat the town, and having secured a tract of fine
land in Sheboygan County engaged in farming.
In 1867 lie removed to iMuskegon County, MIich.,
remaining there until his death, September 4, 1890.
IIe was a man of noble character, and was held in
tlhe highest esteem by his fellow-men. IIe left the
rich legacy of an upright life, that will ever be
cherished by his family, who are left on the shores
of time to mourn their loss. Ilis work done, lie
has gone to his reward, and, like a ripe sheaf of tile
larvest, he is gathered into the garner of God. IHe
was prominent in the Masonic order. Politically


a strong Republican, lie was elected to nearly
every township office.
Of five children, tllree of whom are now living,
tile subject of tlis brief biographical notice is the
youngest. lie received a common-school education and availed himself to the utmost of every
ol)portunity offered him. At the age of twentyone he commenced life for himself, and embarked
in the occupation of a farmer, to which he had
been reared. Locating in Moorland Township, lie
commenced tile cultivation of tile farm on section
20 where he has since resided. His agricultural
operations have been very successful, and he is
numbered among the progressive and efficient
agriculturists of the county. Iis farml embraces
about one hundred and sixty acres, upon which a
set of first-class rural buildings have been placed.
While the duties connected with farming occupy much of Mr. Carr's attention, he nevertheless finds sufficient time to devote to public affairss
and maintains a warm interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of thle community. In his
political affiliations, lie adopts the principles of
the Republican p)arty, and supports its candidates
with his ballot and influence. Socially, lie is a
Imember of tlle Indlependent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes a hearty interest in the progress of
that organization. One of the leading citizens of
t}lis part of the county, lie justly occupies a high
place in the regard of all who know him.
J. IUMPHREY, an efficient and well-known
lumber inspector and shlipper, located at
No. 388 Western Aven ue, Muskegon, AMich.,
has long been associated with the leading interests
of the city, and is a native of the State, having
been born in 1861, in Ferrysburg, Ottawa County.
The father, William  uImphrey, was a native of
the State of New York, and was reared and educated in his birthplace, but later in life, removing
to the farther West, settled in Ohio, where, arrived at mature age, he was united in marriage




262


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


with a most estimable lady of fine ability and
high intelligence and the daughter of a wellknown citizen.  The father was a millwright
by trade, and although hle found    profitable
employment in his native State finally decided
to try his fortunes in the broader fields of the
farther West. With this object in view, ie, together with his family, journeyed to Michigan in
the pioneer days and located in Ferrysburg in
1840, when tile greater portion of the State was
literally a wilderness and wild game abounded.
Many years later lie removed to Muskegon, making the latter city his permanent home in 1861,
and here engaging in the sawmill business.
E. J. -Iumphrey, our subject, was the eldest
son and second child of his parents. Ella is
the wife of J. A. Buckley. Our subject assisted
his father in his youth, aiding him in running
the sawmills in summer. lie enjoyed the advantages of a good common-school education
but early entered upon the daily routine of work.
In 1881, becoming lumber inspector, Mr. H-umphrey for seven years was in the employ of J. L.
Murray, and then formed a partnership with J. F.
Anden, the firm  conducting business under the
name of Iumphrey & Anden. Mr. Anden one
year later was drowned in Muskegon Lake, since
which time our subject has engaged in business
solely upon his own account. In May, 1886, Mr.
lumphrey entered into buying and slipping lumber, and in this venture met with financial success.
In the month of October, 1887, were united in
marriage E. J. Iumphrey and Miss Effie Marshall,
of Muskegon, an adopted daughter of C. P. Rose.
The handsome home, No. 228 West Clay Avenue,
is the scene of many social gatherings, the accomplished and estimable wife of our subject being a
social favorite with a large circle of old friends
and acquaintances.
Mr. Humphrey is fraternally associated with
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is a valued member of Lovell Moore Lodge. IIe is likewise connected witl the chapter, and is a Knight
Templar. Our subject is also a Knight of Pythias
and affiliates with the Maccabees, and in these' various societies enjoying a wide acquaintance, has
gained numerous sincere friends. While not a


politician in any sense of the word, nor desirous
of public office, Mr. Humphrey is interested in local and National issues, and in all matters of mutual welfare and home improvements is ever
ready to do his full share. A man of enterprise
and business ability, and from his youth identified
with the growth and upward progress of Muskegon, it is undoubtedly true that no man in the
State is more thoroughly posted in the details of
his especial line of business than he, and no man
more fully understands the great lumber resources
of Michigan. In the inspection of lumber lie is
an adept of authority and value.
/REI)ERICK A. NIMS, a lawyer of Muskegon, Muskegon County, was born in Clinton, Lenawee County, Mich., June 15,
1839. His father, the late l)Dr. wight B. Nims,
was of English descent, his ancestors emigrating
to tlis country in Colonial times. IIe was a son
of James and Lucy (Boyden) Nims, and was born
in Conway, Mass., September 12, 1808. Iis professional education was received at the Fairfield
(N. Y.) College of Physicians and Surgeons, Western District, and at tlhe Berkshire Medical Institute, from which lie was graduated with the degree of MA. D. in June, 1833. After practicing his
profession in New York State for two years, he
removed to Michigan, first locating at Clinton,
whence le afterward removed to Homer, Calhoun
County, in which place lie remained until 1864,
when he changed his residence to the city of Jackson.
Dr. Nims was one of the best-read and most
successful practitioners in central Michigan, and
was held in high esteem  by all who knew him.
He was a member of the Onondaga County (N. Y.)
Medical Society; the Jackson County Medical Society, of which he was President; the Michigan
State Medical Society, and from  1856 until his
death, which occurred in Jackson on April 15,
1879, of the American Medical Association. I-e




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


263


was married September 8,1834, to Anna A. White
daughter of the late Nehemiah White, a native of
Madison County, N. Y. (where Mrs. Nims was
born), and who later moved to Grand Rapids and
engaged in furniture manufacturing and lumbering, dying at that place in 1859. His daughter is still living, having attained the age of seventy years, and resides with her son Frederick at
Muskegon.
Our subject was the eldest of three children,
of whom   the young1est is leceased. Ilis sister,
Mildred L., is the wife of C. P. Goodwin, of Toledo, Ohio. Up to the age of twelve years he attended the district schools of Iomrer, and in 1851
lie commenced a preparatory course of two years
at the Wesleyan Seminary, at Albion, Mich. In
1853 lie entered IIobart College, at Geneva, N. Y..
where he pursued a classical course until 1856,
when a weakness of the eyes, brought on by a too
close application to study, compelled him to return home. In tlie spring of 1858 lie went to
Grand Rapids and entered tle law office of Withey
& Gray. These gentlemen (now deceased) attained to positions of prominence in their profession, Mr. Withey having been subsequently
appointed United States District Judge, while
Mr. Gray was made General Solicitor of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at New York City.
Mr. Nimns studied law with them until his admission to the Bar, June 5, 1860, when lie associated
himself with Maj. (afterward Col.) A... McReynolds, and opened an ollice in Grand Rapids.
I)uring the political campaign of 1860 and p)revious to the breaking out of the War of tle
Rebellion, Mr. Nims served as one of the political editors of the Grand Rapids Daily Enquirer.
On the first call for volunteers, in 1861, Maj. McReynolds was appointed Colonel of the Lincoln
Cavalry, tlen being organized in New York, and
at tlat time the only cavalry regiment asked for
by the Government. In July, 1861, IMr. Nims
was comniissioned( Second Lieutenant of Col. McReynolds' regiment, which lie immediately joined
in New York. Repairing to Washington in August, the regiment was shortly afterward brigaded with otlers under Brig.-Gen. Innis N. Palmer.
In September, 1861, Lieut. Nims was detailed for


special service on Gen. Palmer's staff, and during
hiis term of service in the army was engaged in
the various campaigns, principally in this branch
of service. I)tring the winter of 1861-62 lie was
Acting Assistant Quartermaster and Commissary
of Subsistence. HIe accompanied Gen. Palmer on
his assignment to the command of a brigade of
infantry in Gen. Silas Casey's division to the
Peninsula in tile following March, with the Army
of the Potomac, under Gen. McClellan. The division was substantially wiped out at the battle
of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862, Gen. Palmer being
relieved of his command, and Lieut. Nims rejoined his regiment. In August following the
regiment was attached to Gen. Burnside's command at Fredericksburg, whiclh was evacuated by
him, however, immediately after tlie second battle of Bull Run, and his forces joined the Army
of tle Potomac at Washington. Soon after the
battle of Antietam Col. McReynolds was put in
charge of a brigade of cavalry and sent to join
Gen. Kelley at Cumberland, Md. Lieut. Nins
was during tills time on Col. McReynolds' staff
as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
In the spring of 1863 the brigade occupied Martinsburg, Va., at tlat time an outpost of- the Shenandoall Valley, and shortly thereafter Col. McReynolds, with his command, joined Gen. Milroy,
thlen occupying Winchester, where they remained
until June, when Gen. Lee's army forced them to
retire into Pennsylvania. Lieut. Nims, being sick
in llospital, was, with about three thousand others,
taken prisoner in this engagement and was held
at Winchester during Lee's advance into Pennsylvania. The battle of Gettysburg forced his retirement, and within six weeks from his capture
Lieut. Nims, with two others, during the excitement of Lee's evacuation of Winchester, escaped
from tlhe hospital through the rebel lines, and remained in hiding in a Unionist's house until, the
Union army coming ul, they were once more at
liberty. On going to Winchester, Lieut. Nims
had been assigned to the staff of Gen. Elliot,
whom, lie found, had during his imprisonment
been transferred to the Army of the Potomac, so
lie rejoined his regiment at Martinsburg. In July,
1863, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff




264


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of Gen. J. C. Sullivan, who was then in command
of Harper's Ferry, where he remained until the
following spring. Early in 1864 lie accompanied
an expeditionary force of about twenty thousand
men under Gen. Sigel up tile Shenandoah Valley,
the movement having for its ultimate object the
capture of Lynchburg. At the battle of Newmarket they were defeated, Gen. Sigel was relieved, and Gen. David Hunter was placed in
command. Continuing Southward, they defeated
Gen. Jones at Piedmont; tlence passing through
Lexington and Buchanan they crossed the mountains at a point called "Peaks of Otter," only to
meet witl defeat when nearing their goal. Being
closely pursued by the rebels, they crossed the
mountains of West Virginia, and after five days
and nights of forced marching without rest they
halted near Charleston, W. Va. The fatigue and
exposure experienced at this time resulted in sickness, and Lieut. Nims returned to Michigan on
leave of absence for one month. Returning in
August, lie remained on Gen. Sullivan's staff
until October, 1864, when he was mustered out of
service at Martinsburg, Va.
The following year our subject spent in recuperating his health at Grand Rapids, and in November, 1865, lie removed to Muskegon. Resuming
the practice of his profession, he continued alone
until 1867, when he formed a partnership with
Francis Smith and George Gray, of (rand Rapids.
Mr. Gray retired from  tile firm in 1869, and in
1870 D. D. Erwin was admitted to the firm, which
was then known as Smith, Nims & Erwin. In
1874 II. J. Hoyt became a partner, when the name
of Smith, Nims, Hoyt & Erwin was adopted, and
the firm still remains as then constituted. This
sketch would be incomplete without a reference
to the railroad interests of Muskegon, with tile
promotion of which Mr. Nims lhas had much to
do, and it is largely to his efforts that the different roads, witli their different interests, owe their
existence in the first place, and in the second
their final amalgamation under one 'management.
We refer particularly to those lines now controlled
by the Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company, the information being furnished by a gentleman who has been interested with Mr. Nims in


all of the enterprises referred to, and has known
him intimately since his first coming to Muskegon.
Mr. Nims was one of the incorporators in 1868
of the Muskegon & Ferrysburg Railroad Company, of which lie was made Secretary and Attorney, while the President was L. G. Mason, of
Muskegon, with whom, conjointly with our subject, the project originated; and, while this road
covered only a distance of fifteen miles, its construction resulted in forcing the building and extension of other lines, so that, while it was the
pioneer of Muskegon railroads, it might be called
the father of the city's present admirable railway
system. In 1870 it was consolidated with the
Grand Haven &    Holland and the Holland &
Allegan Railroads, the consolidated roads adopting tile name of the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Company, Mr. Nims being made Attorney
for the company. Subsequently these roads became a part of the Chicago & West Michigan
Railroad system  by right of purchase. In December, 1871, the Muskegon & Big Rapids Railroad Company was organized, L. G. Mason being
President, and Mr. Nims its Secretary and Attortorney, both being among its incorporators. Soon
thereafter this road was consolidated with the
Chicago & MTichigan Lake Slore Railroad, which
had just completed a line from New Buffalo to
Muskegon, and Mr. Nims was appointed Attorney
of tile consolidated lines. These roads, with others,
as shown above, finally came under the control of
the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company,
in 1871, and Mr. Nims then received tile appointment of Attorney for that company, which position lie has ever since filled. Mr. Nims has also
encouraged and promoted, by financial assistance
and otherwise, the construction of other railroads
more recently completed to Muskegon.
Mr. Nims was for a number of years a member
of the Board of Directors of tle Muskegon National Bank, and was one of tlie incorporators,
and a member of the Board of Directors of tlle
Merchants' National Bank of Muskegon, and
held tile same office in the Monroe Manufacturing Company, of Muskegon. Ile is also President of the Muskegon Street Railroad Company, and has numerous other interests in enter



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


265


prises looking to the growth of the city-among
others tile Electric Light Company. He was first
elected in 1876 a member of the Board of Education of Muskegon, on which lre has served continuously since that time, having been re-elected
to that otlice for the sixth term in 1891. I-e was
President of the Board continuously from  the
spring of 1883 to 1891. Mr. Nims has been connected with the Masonic fraternity for tile last
twenty-eight years, and was in 1888 Worshipful
Master of Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. &
A. NI. IIe has also been admitted to the chapter
and commandery, and is a member of the Loyal
Legion of the Grand Army of tile Republic, and of
the Knights of Pythias organizations. I-e takes
an active interest in temperance work, and is a
member of the various bodies having for their
object the promotion of temperance.
Mr. Nims was married February 20, 1862, to
Miss Mary, daughter of Col. A. T. McReynolds,
by whom he had two children, both of whom died
in infancy. Mrs. Nims died in 1872. May 27,
1873, he was united in marriage with Ellen, sister of his first wife. They have seven children,
as follows: Elizabeth M., born August 1, 1874;
Frederick D., March 27, 1877; Frank N. R., April
11, 1879; Charles B., July 30, 1881; Leslie W.,
May 18, 1883; David E., June 18, 1887; and Louis
Morgan, June 18, 1889.
^^-" ---                       --- -- '
RA B. BRITTIN, a retired engineer, who
worked at his trade in Muskegon, Mich.,
is a native of New York, and passed the
davs of childhood in his birthplace and received his primary instruction in the public schools
of the Empire State. His father, Stephen M. Brittin, a native and long-time resident of New York,
removed with his family to Ohio and located on
a farm, where he industriously entered into the
pursuit of agriculture. Ara B., who was only
eight years of age when his parents settled in the


Buckeye State, there completed his studies in the
excellent schools of the home neigliborhood, and
assisted his father in the daily round of work
upon the farm. Trained    to llabits of self-reliant thrift, our subject early determined to try
his fortunes in the fartler West, and, having attained to mature age, journeyed to the State of
Michigan.
In 1850, arrived within the Wolverine State,
Mr. Brittin made his home in Muskegon, and
was variously employed for a number of years.
The Brittin ancestors were residents of Wales, and
the sturdy characteristics of tllat nation bequeathed
to their descendants insured them success in every
vocation of life. Tlie mother, like her husband,
was a native of the Empire State, and was in maidenhood IIaite Corve, the daughter of old and
highly resplected citizens of New York.
In 1855 Ara B. Brittin and Miss Maria Vince
were united in marriage. The wedding took place
in Muskegon, but the estimable wife of our subject, a lady of native ability and hligh intelligence,
is a native of Ohio, and was educated in tile near
vicinity of her early home. Two children with
their cheerful presence blessed the union of Mr.
and Mrs. Brittin. Thl son and daughter received
tlle best educational advantages the parents could
give them. Mattie was the eldest-born; Jay S.,
a native of North Muskegon, and born on the
4th of October, 1859, is a young man of promise
and excellent business ability. Ile has passed his
entire life in Muskegon, and received a practical
education in the public schools of the city of his
birth. A silversmith by trade, he is now prosperously engaged in the jewelry business.
Our subject, having after years of continued
application to business retired from active duties,
now enjoys a well-earned rest. lie is fraternally
connected with Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. O.
O. F., and, politically a stalwart Republican, has
been a local leader of the party. Elected to the
judicial office of Justice of the Peace, Mr. Brittin
discharged the duties of the position with able
fidelity five years, and gave great satisfaction to
his fellow-citizens, his decisions, rendered in accord with law and evidence, seldom being carried
to a higher court. In the home at No. 198 Mus



266


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


kegon Avenue, our subject and his worthy wife,
enjoying the competence gained by years of industrious effort, receive many friends and wellwishers, and command the esteem of a wide acquaintance.
AMES BALBIRNIE. There is no branch of
industry in which such rapid progress and
improvement have been made in recent
years as in the production of artistic household furniture. Mr. Balbirnie, who is engaged in
the furniture and undertaking business in Aluskegon, Mich., is one of the foremost and successful
business men of thlc city. The latter business is of
the utmost importance to society, and every consideration suggests that its representatives shall be
reliable, symlathetic and experienced. Mr. Balbirnie has all these qualities. IIe is a native of
Canada, born in Ontario April 21, 1838,and is the
eldest son of James and Jane (Linch) Balbirnie.
James Balbirnie was also born in Canada, and followed hotel-keeping there for many years. In that
country lie met and married Miss Linch and subsequently moved to Michigan, locating in the city of
Muskegon, where his death occurred in 1866. Iis
wife survived until 1885.
The boyhood of our subject was passed in his
native country, and his primary education was ieceived in the common schools of the same. Later
he attended school at Ottawa, Canada, and after
attaining his majority he settled in Ottawa, where
he embarked in tle undertaking business. This
he continued up to 1865, when lie removed to
Muskegon. Mich., and continued the undertaking
business up to 1869. At that date he added a
stock of furniture, and since has increased his business and added furniture from the best manufacturels, until now lie has one of the best-equipped.establishments in the place. IIe las furnished over seven thousand caskets for persons in
the city and in Ottawa and Muskegon Counties,
and has secured a liberal and influential patronage


by honestly deserving it. IIe is well known and
popular as an undertaker as well as a dealer in
furniture.
Our subject selected his wife in tle person of
Miss Ella Watson, of Ottawa, Canada, dauglter of
William Watson, and their union was celebrated in
1861. Three children lhave been born to tllis
union: Ellen Tileressa, James and Lillian Maude,
the latter at home. In politics, Mr. Balbirnie is a
Republican. IIe was tile first Supervisor of his
ward and was a member of tlie Board in 1892.
In 1893 lie was a prominent candidate for Mayor,
but withdrew in favor of Mr. Torrens. In Masonry lie is very prominent and is a Knight Templar. lie is alsoa member of thte Mystic Shrine,
and Lodge No. 92,.. 0. F. Mr. BI albirnie is a
fine conversationalist and a good specimen of
physical manhood. lie is sociable and genial and
llas a host of warml friends in tlhe county. Ile has
ever been active in politics, especially in county
politics, and takes much interest in the election of
his friends. Iis home and surroundings are all
tlhat could be desired.
~"'                      -    — l  M   ------
(^^)I MOT'IIY B. CALLAN, tile enterprising and
((   l) popular senior l)artner in thle leading firm
of Callan & l)ratz, dealers in clothing and
gents' furnishing goods, Muskegon, Micll., has
been a well-known resident of his present locality
for the past quarter of a century, and, a man of
fine business attainments, has prosperously aided
in tile conduct of a trade which is now one of the
best in its line in the State, and, carrying a complete stock of goods, conmpetes successfully with the
houses of tie larger and older cities. Our subject,
born in County Cork, Ireland, May 12, 1845,
was the son of Timothy and Jane (Broadrick)
Callan. The father was by occupation a farmer
and platiently tilled the soil of tlie Old Country. Our subject, trained  to habits of industrious thrift, assisted his father in tlhe work of tlhe
farm and in his childhood attended the common




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


267


schools of his native land. At twelve years of
age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
tailor, and gave a number of years to acquire the
details of the clotlier's art. As lie neared manhood Mr. Callan determined lie would follow tlle
tide of emigration, and in common with the sons
of his parents' friends and neighbors seek his fortune in America.
Before he had yet attained his majority our subject, in 1865, embarked for the United States and
having made a safe voyage landed in New York
City, in which metropolis he remained for about
two months. Mr. Callan, who decided to prospect
for a time before locating permanently, next journeyed to Boston, Mass., and finding ready employment in that city continued there two and a-lalf
years. At the expiration of this length of time
our subject traveled to the farther West and visited Chicago, Ill., and then went to Aurora, Ill.,
where he spent tlhe following four months. Ile
afterward made a trip to Milwaukee and finally, in
the year 1868, came to Muskegon, where he engaged as a cutter with William I-. IIerbst. After
some time Mr. Callan entered into partnership
with Mr. Ierbst, tlle business being conducted under the firm name of William IIerbst & Co. This
business arrangement profitably endured until
1877, when the partnership was dissolved, our subject soon afterward connecting himself with John
A. l)ratz, also a practical tailor and fine cutter,
whose work is well known for its style and finish.
The firm of Callan & D)ratz enjoys an extensive
custom and aside from a fine city trade has a large
patronage from the surrounding country.
In 1877 were united in marriage Timrotlly Callan and Miss Maggie Iall, a well-known young
lady of Muskegon and a general favorite with a
large circle of young people. The estimable wife
of our subject is the daughter of John Iall, a
highly respected citizen. The pleasant home of
Mr. and Mrs. Callan at No. 44 Peck Street has
been brightened by the birth of three merry and
intelligent children, two sons and a daughter:
Charles, Frank and Emma. These young people
will be given every opportunity to worthily fit
themselves to occupy with lionor any position of
trust to which they may be called in the future.


Politically an Independent, Mr. Callan casts his
vote for the best man, and without any aspirations
for office does his duty as a loyal citizen, ever
ready to lend a helping hand in all matters of
public welfare.
IRAM HIUNTER, a successful agriculturist
of Moorland Township, Muskegon County,
was born in Brownville, Jefferson County,
N. Y., June 10, 1835, and is tie son of
Silas O. and Sallie (Smedley) Hunter, natives of
Massachusetts. His fattier was a sailor and went
before the mast at tile age of sixteen. Two years
later he was made master of tile vessel on which lie
was sailing, and from that time up to tie age of
forty-five he occupied a commanding position
among the mariners of Lake Ontario. Selling
out Ilis slipping interests at tile age above mentioned, lie moved to Ottawa County, Mich., where
lie was actively engaged in farming during the
remainder of his life. Iis death, at tile age of
eighty-one, was caused by falling from a verandah
wliile in the city of Grand Rapids, MIich.
Longevity is a prominent characteristic of the
Hunter family, whose members possessed very rugged constitutions and usually attained to advanced
years, although some of them  met with violent
deaths in their prime. Of seven children, our subject is the next to the eldest. lie received a
thoroughllly practical business training at an early
age from his father, who took great pains to instruct his children in the best business methods.
lie entrusted them with many of his personal affairs, thereby giving them the advantage of practical experience.
Continuingl at home until the age of twenty-five
years, the subject of this sketch then engaged in
tlie lumber business in northern Michigan, contracting, jobbing and also  superintending for
others. lie followed this business very successfully
for many years. In 1890 he located in Moorland
Township, Muskegon County, where he engages




268


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


extensively in farming and also devotes considerable attention to stock-raising. IIe is an extensive
grower of mint and onions, for which lie finds a
ready sale at fair prices. Ils farm embraces about
seven hundred acres, and its thorough state of cultivation shows the same energy and attention
which are characteristic of Mr. Iunter's every enterprise.
Mr. Hunter has been twice married. I-s first
union was with Matilda J. Snyder, and by her lie
had four children. Louis, tlhe eldest, was killed at
the age of twenty-five, at Lucas, Miic., in a railway accident; the others are: William, wlio resides
in Muskegon; Edward, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Iron River, Micl.; and Georgia,
wlio is at home with her father. Tile second marriage of Mr. Hunter united him with Mrs. Mary
Thompson, who was born in New York. Although
the management of his farm requires his constant
attention, yet tils activity does not seem  to exhaust his energy. IIe affiliates witll the Republican party and is greatly interested in the general
welfare of the community, of wliich lie is an enterprising and popular citizen.
ENRY A. WOLFF, a manufacturer of pianos
and piano stools at Muskegon, and one of
the most progressive business men of this
city, was born in Franklin County, N. Y.,
on the 22d of August, 1851. I-e is a son of Parrit B. and Jane P. (Cassen) Wolff, natives respectively of New York State and England, tile latter
being of English-Scotch extraction. The paternal
grandfather of our subject, John C. Wolff, was
born in the parish of Badendorf, by Wisner, Germany, February 7, 1798, and the lady whom lie
married was also born in 1798, on tlhe 17th of
October, in Orange, Mass.
Parrit B. Wolff was born in Ft. Covington,
Franklin County, N. Y., June 4, 1826, and in his
youth learned the trade of a tailor. For a time
he was in the employ of the Government, and


afterward served as Captain of the Ninety-eighth
New York Infantry. Iis death occurred at Washington, I). C., in January, 1891. IIis wife, whose
birth occurred March 16, 1828, passed from earth
at Malone, Franklin County, N. Y., on the 12th
of February, 1881. Henry A. is the second in a
family of five children, two of whom are now living,
himself and brother, William A., a prominent attorney of New York City, and a member of tlle
legal firm of Wolff & IHodge, of London, England.
Tl'e subject of this biographical notice passed
the days of his childhood in the village of Ft.
Covington, N. Y., and the town of Malone, in the
same State. Ils school advantages were limited,
and at an early age he commenced to work for
the Ogdensburg & Lake Clamplain IRailroad, being in tile employ  of tllat railway company
first as brakeman, and later as barggage master.
Leaving the employ of the railway company, lie
learned the trade of a carpenter, which lie followed
for four years. Afterward, at Malone, lie learned
the trade of a machinist, and was thus engaged
for a period of five years. Ie tllen became an
engineer on tle Ogdensburg & Iake Champlain
Railroad, in wllich capacity lie served for twelve
montls, and later was in the employ of the railway company in Vermont.
May, 1875, witnessed the arrival of Mr. Wolff
in Muskegon, where lie entered the employ of
Fred Vander Werp, dealer in pianos, organs and
sewing-machines. In November of 1875 lie embarked in business with E. 11. Waller, under the
name of Waller & Wolff, continuing in that connection for one year, when he disposed of his interest to L. 0. Beerman. lIe afterward started in
business alone, and upon an extensive scale, dealing in pianos, organs, musical instruments and
sheet music at No. 113 West Western Avenue.
In 1890 lie became a stockholder and Director in
the Nelson Piano Works, at Muskegon, being one
of the principal organizers and incorporators of
that company.
During thle year 1891, Mr. Wolff organized tile
Wolff Piano Stool Company, of wlicll he is the
principal stockholder and the present General
Manager. Later, he became Secretary, Treasurer
and General Manager of the Nelson Piano Com



4




I I


C'      ~




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


271


pany, manufacturers of pianos and piano cases,
and having purchased a large portion of the stock
of this concern lie is now one of its principal
owners. I-e gives his time and attention with the
closest fidelity to the details of his business, and
to his progressive spirit and enterprise may be
attributed the large measure of success whicl he
has attained as one of Muskegon's foremost business men. Althougll he has little time for participating in the details of public affairs, lie nevertheless is warmly interested in every measure lhaving for its object the promotion of the best interests of tills community, and is a warm adherent of
Republican principles. Mr. Wolff was united in
marriage to Miss Ida R. Bassett, who was born in
Malone, Franklin County, N. Y.
EORGE- P. IIUMMER. The development
i| (  of furniture manufacture in the United
^\^K States possesses thle utmost interest for students of industrial history. The large furniture
factory has long since superseded tlle cabinetmaker, and a prominent concern of tlle kind is
that of the West MAichigan Furniture Company, of
Holland, of which George P. IHummer is the efflicient General Manager. At the same time lie discharges the responsible duties of Mayor of tile
city. I-e was born at Belvidere, N. J., December
25, 1856, and is a son of Peter Snyder, of that
State. When lie was six months old, he was
adopted into the family of George Iummer, and
when quite young lie went to live near Grand
Rapids, Mich., in the public schools of wlicl lie
received his education, finislhing in the Northern
Indiana Normal Sclool at Valparaiso, Ind., from
which lie was graduated.
In 1882 Mr. Hummer accepted the position of
Superintendent of Schools at Holland, Mich., and
during the seven years in which he served in that
capacity he greatly improved the schools in various ways, his rule being wise and firm, yet always
13


reasonable and kind. At the end of the abovementioned time he resigned, to organize the West
Michigan Furniture Company, of which he was
at once elected Secretary and Manager, and this
position le has filled with eminent ability ever
since, showing in its management the same intelligence tllat marked his career as an educator.
The West Michigan Furniture Company was organized with a capital stock of $100,000, and the
business lhas had an immense growth, for they
now (10do 500,000 worth of business annually,
and give constant employment to about three
hundred and fifty men. Like many other furniture manufactories, they make a specialty of a
certain kind of furniture, theirs being chamber
sets, and it must be acknowledged that they turn
out some extremely handsome and substantial
articles. Fred J. Metz is the President of the company, and, like Mr. Hummer, is a practical man of
affairs, and an influential citizen. The business
done lias been highly satisfactory to these gentlemen, and is a credit and a great benefit to the
town. Their goods sell at the most reasonable
figures, and lhave become widely known throughout the country. The officers of the company are
gentlemen of high character, and are very prominent in the business circles of Holland. The business has established a reputation, not only for
manufacturing and carrying first-class goods, but
also for fair dealing in all things. The advantages enjoyed in manufacturing enable the house
to offer goods at prices greatly advantageous to
buyers, and the success of the concern has been
largely brought about by the unbounded energy
and push of Mr. Ilummer.
In 1885 Mr. lummer was united in marriage
with Miss Marguerite, daughter of Albert Plugger,
a native of l-olland, and an early emigrant to Ottawa County, Michi. ie was a prosperous citizen,
and the owner of a large flouring-mill in this
county, which he operated for a number of years,
and, being enterprising and industrious, he became
wealthy. To George P. HIummer and his wife
three children have been born: Hilda, Marguerite
and Kate. Politically, Mr. Hummer has always supported the Democratic party, and on several occasions has been a member of the Democratic State




272


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Central Committee, and usually goes as a delegate
to the State Conventions. Ile has always been
active in the affairs of the county, and especially
of Holland. He is one of tlhe stockholders of
the First State Bank and is also a stockholder and
a Director of the Chicago &  Iolland Transportation Company.
OIIN R. KLEYN. Among the many industries of the thriving city of Iolland, that
of the Novelty Wood Works has gained a
prominent footing, and within tlle last few
years has assumed gigantic prolortions. John R.
Kleyn, the original of this notice, and the sole
owner and proprietor of tllis growing business, has
gained for his establishment a most enviable reputation for the artistic beauty and general excellence of its work, as well as for the prompt and
reliable manner in which all work intrusted to
it is executed.  Active and enterprising, painstaking in all his undertakings, and liberal in his
methods of dealing with the public, lie las greatly
and steadily extended tile field of his operations.
Mr. Kleyn was born in the Netherlands, February
21, 1841, and his father, Leander Kleyn, was also
a native of Holland. The elder Mr. Kleyn was a
builder by trade, and superintendent of the Government works at three different places. IIe was
married in his native country to Miss Ileiltje Wilhelmina Korteweg, and in 1854 brought his family
to America. IIe came direct to Iolland, Mich.,
where he engaged in building and contracting, being among the pioneers of the place. Only a few
years later, in 1857, he passed to that bourne from
which no traveler returns. IIis marriage resulted
in the birth of five children, four of whom are
living at the present time, and in the order of their
births as follows: John R.; Jolanna, who is nmarried, and resides in North Carolina; Jane, deceased; Robert, a resident of Iolland, Mich.;
and Martin. The father of these children served


six years in the army in his native country; lie was
at the battle of Antwerp, and later wore the Maltese cross of honor. lie lheld membership in the
Reformed Cllurch, and was a prominent man in
religious circles.
Trle original of tllis notice was about thirteen
years of age when he came to this country, and received tile principal part of his education before
crossing the ocean. When sixteen years of age lie
started out'to learn the carpenter's trade, but two
years previous to that had received some instruction in tlhat trade from his father. IHe also learned
architecture, the most of it out of books, for he
las ever been a great student, and became unusually proficicnt in that. In 1878 lie engaged in tile
hardware business, followed this for four years
witl grood success, and then established the Noveltv Wood Works, wliicll he las conducted up to
tle present. IIe employs fifteen men riglit along,
but lhas employed as many as forty or fifty at a
time.
Mr. Kleyn manufactures all kinds of building
material, and llas a great deal of work on large
contracts for New York. The building in wlich
lie does business is a handsome and substantial
structure, tlhe main part being 50x100 feet. Our
subject started out for himself with a great amount
of pluck and energy, but little else, and is a selfmade man in every sense of the term. lBeing the
eldest of five children, when his fatller died the
suplport of tlme family fell on hlis shoulders. He
strugrgled along for years under hardships tlat
would liave discourtged a less determined or positive character, and is now one of tlhe prominent
and successful business men of tIle city of Holland.
IIis motlher (lied in 1879. P'olitically, Mr. Kleyn
is an independent Republican, and lias advocated
the principles of that party since the Rebellion.
For two years lie was Alderman of tIle city, Assessor for about six years, and llas lheld other positions, altliough he lias never been an office-seeker.
In tile year 1861 lie was married to Miss Dirkje
Johanna Waling, tile daughter of Simon Waling,
who was born in the Netherland, and came to
America at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Kleyn
had born to their union nine children. Leonard
is engaged in the lumber business with his father,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


273


and is foreman of the latter's yard; Lemer makes
his home in Holland; Minnie, wife of Alfred
TWright, resides in Chicago; lenry resides at Sidney, Neb.; George is at lome, as is also Josephine,
Nwho has just graduated from  the Iigh School;
and Anna, Fred, Simon and Maude are all at home.
Mr. Kleyn is a member of tlle Reformed Church,
and a man whio has won a hligh place in tlie olinion of all acquainted with him. He is a stockholder in tlle Cappon-Bertsch Leather (ompany,
and is a wide-awake, thorough-going business
man.
LFRED IIUNTLEY is a prominent engineer and maclinist of tlle city of Holland,
R Micl., and is also fnanager of tile Wolverinc Electric Light Complany of tllat city.
I-le is a native of Kent, England, and tile son of
George and Iarriet   lluntley, who owe tleir nntivity to that country also. Thie youthlful days of
our subject were passed in England, and lie there
secured a good practical education.  WVien fifteen
years of age lie began serving an apprenticeslip
at tile maclinist trade in London, England, and
was tilus engaged until twenty-one years of age.
After this lie began workingi at his trade in London as a journeyman, and, being a tiorougll master of his business, seldom lacked work.
The prlincipal event of our subject's life occurred
in 1871, wllen lie was united in marriage with
Miss Eliza Hobson, a native of England, as was
also her father, Robert Ilobson, who was born in
Yorkshire. M. I. obson was a successful farmer
there, and became quite wealthy. Two days after his marriage, our subject and his wife sailed
for America, and reacled tile ITUnited States after
an uneventful voyage. They settled in Iolland,
Miich., and Mr. luntley was engaged as an engineer
in the Metz Leather Company's tannery, and remained there two or three years. 1-Ie then removed to Muskegon and became foreman in the
sliops of the Chicago & West Micligan Railroad,
which position he filled in a satisfactory manner


for three years. Seeing a better opening for himself, lie came to Holland, Mich., opened a machineshop, and has engaged in this business up to the
present time. IIe does general repairing in all
kinds of machinery, and has five engines on the
Mississippi River. He repairs all kinds of maclines and stationary engines, and has just repaired a large engine of two hundred horse power.
lIe llas all the work he wants, for lie is a firstclass workman. HIuntley & Holly organized the
first electric light company, known as the Huntley & IHolly Electric Light Company, which, however, only lasted one year. Later they organized
the Wolverine Electric Light Company.
Mr. IIuntley is a practical electric light engineer
and manager for the company. He is a very expert machinist and engineer, possesses splendid
executive business ability, and is most reliable, being llighly esteemed in the county. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, which he supplies
with electric light. Mrs. Huntley is also a member of tllat church, and a consistent, worthy Christian. Their union has been blessed by the birth of
seven children, all now at home. Mr. Huntley is
a strict business man, but is public-spirited and
enterprising to a great degree. In politics, he is a
Iemocrat, and socially lie is a member of the order of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and
has filled all the positions in his lodge except that
of Treasurer. I-e is Past Master, and takes a great
deal of interest in his lodge.
ENRY BLOECKER. Human industry has
r     afforded  many striking examples, and
J  among the prominent men of Grand Haven, Mich., who have exhibited those sterling principles of character which lead on to
great accomplishments, Henry Bloecker affords
a striking illustration.. Hie is now the Mayor of
Grand   -Iaven, and is a man whose upright,
capable and honorable career has won a place
in the annals of Ottawa County. In him is won



274


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


derfully exemplified the rare abilities and great
powers of application which have rendered him
one of the most distinguished  representatives
of Grand Haven's advanced and prosperous industries. He was born in Germany, September 6,
1845, and inherits all the thrift, enterprise and
perseverance of his Teutonic ancestors. His father, Mark Bloecker, was a German soldier for
many years.
Our subject was educated in his native country,
and learned the trade of a machinist, following
his trade as a journeyman and traveling to many
of the principal cities of Germany and France.
In 1867 lie took passage for the United States, and
after an uneventful voyage landed in New York
City. From that place he came direct to Grand
Haven, Mich., and soon found employment in the
Ferris Ottawa Iron Works, remaining with the
same until 1879, when he formed a partnership
with John Bryce, under the firm name of Bryce
& Bloecker, in the manufacturing of general marine engines and all kinds of machinery belonging to tugs, steamers, and, in short, all vessels
using steam. This firm continued until the year
1881, when their plant burned and they sustained
heavy loss. Later, they re-organized, under the
firm name of Bryce, Bloecker & Co., and re-built the
works on the old site, enlarged them considerably,
and put in new and highly improved machinery.
This business was continued under the abovementioned title until 1883, when it was changed
to Bloecker & Co., and still later to Henry Bloecker
& Co., which is the title at the present time. The
firm has the best of shipping facilities, and during
the busy season from thirty to forty men are employed.
The happy domestic life of our subject began
in the year 1868, when he was married to Miss
Mary Glazat, a native of Germany, but at the time
of her marriage a resident of Grand Haven,
whither she had moved with her father. To Mr. and
Mrs. Bloecker were born nine children, eigllt sons
and one daughter; those living are as follows:
Hugo, Paul, Fred, Robert, Emma, Ernest and
Henry. Those deceased are Erdmann and one
unnamed. Mr. Bloecker is alive to matters of
public importance, and is deeply interested in the


success of the D)emocratic party, with which lie has
long been identified. He served four years as
Alderman of the First Ward, and in April, 1893,
he was elected Mayor of Grand IIaven. HIe is President of the National Dotare Association and German Workingmen's Society, and is a Royal Arch
Mason, a member of Grand Haven Lodge No.
139, and Grand Haven Chapter No. 84. IIe is
also a member of the Maccabees and is one of the
leading Germans of Grand Haven.
LARENCE A. CHASE, manager and superintendent of the Chase Brothers Piano Coinpany, and one of Muskegon's most influential and successful business men, is a native of
Pennsylvania, having been born in Columbus,
February 12, 1853. IIe is the son of 1Milo J. and
Olive (Stacy) Chlase, natives of New England.
Tlie father, who was a man of genius and high executive ability, embarked in business as a manufacturer of pianos at Ripley, Ohio, many years
ago, at a time when only the wealthy could afford
tlhe luxury of an instrument. Tlirough the exercise of good judgmnent lie attained success, and by
keel)ing in the lead witli improved methods lie was
enabled to furnish superior pianos at competition
prices, so that his name became a familiar word in
almost every household in the land.
In his father's home in Ripley, Ohio, the subject
of this notice grew to a sturdy manhood, well fitted by natural endowments and judicious training
for a position of prominence in the business world.
At the age of fifteen years his school days were
ended and his active business career commenced.
IIe entered his father's piano factory, where lie
gained a practical knowledge of the details of the
business. At the time of the removal of the manufactory to Richmond, Ind., in 1877, lie went
thither, and in 1884 located in Grand Rapids,
Mich., where the business was conducted for a
number of years.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


275


In order to secure a more available site for the
location of the principal manufactory, the concern
was removed to Muskegon, Mich., in 1889, and
the wisdom of this change has been demonstrated
by the history of the ensuing years. Tile present
company was organized in October, 1889, witli Ca
capital stock of $225,000. The factory, completed
in July, 1890, is 60x250 feet in dimensions, four
stories in height, and thoroughly equipped withl
modern machinery, which is operated by a two
hundred horse power Corliss engine. Three Nichlols dry-kilns, with a capacity for seasoning ten
thousand feet of lumber every thirty-six hours,
and all other necessary adjuncts for rapid and perfect work arc found. The company has convelnient docks and warehouse adjoining the plant, for
shipments by water, and railroad tracks alongside
the factory, giving every facility for receiving
lumber and prompt consignment of finished pianos.
Upright and grand pianos are made in all the
popular slades of mahogany, walnut, oak and
rosewood, finished in a superb manner, as every
attention is given to produce a perfect instrument. I
The Chase factory was among the first establishments to meet the demand for upright pianos, and
the proprietors have displayed much skill in surmounting musical difficulties and purifying tone
qualities.  Tle Chase brothers have been connected with the business from boyhood, and are
experts in their specialties, many of the devices
here being the inventions of members of the company. Clarence A., our subject, superintends the
mechanical operations, Braton S. and Leon E. are
traveling salesmen for tile company. T'le immense salesrooms of this company in Chlicago are
superintended by the senior Mr. Clase, who is President of the corporation; C. T. Iills is Vice-President, Thomas IIume Treasurer, and L. E. Chase
Secretary. On the pay-rolls are the names of
more than two hundred artisans skilled in their
special lines. T'le Clase brothers lhave platted
one hundred and eiglit acres in tile vicinity of tile
factory, which is being rapidly taken by employes
and others for residence sites. The wareroom at
No. 87 West Western Avenue has a choice selection of pianos, and seven hundred or more comn

pleted instruments are kept in stock at the factory
and different warerooms.
One of the most beautiful and elegant residences
of NMuskegon is that which is owned and occupied
by our subject. It is pleasantly located on Lake
Street, amid attractive surroundings. The lady
who presides over tills spacious home was formerly
Miss Olive Armstrong, and prior to her marriage,
in 1874, resided in Ripley, Ohio, where her father,
William Armstrong, was a prominent merchant.
Mr. and Mrs. Chase are the parents of two children, Lenora A. and Irene E. Both are accomplished young ladies, and are popular in the social circles of the city.
/ILIAM\ FARR, Treasurer of Grand Haven
\A///' Townshlip, School Inspector and a repre\YVw  sentative general agriculturist of Ottawa
County, MIicli., is a long-time resident of the State,
but, a native of Merrie England, was born under
Britislh rule in tile year 1834. Our subject is the
son of Chlarles Farr, who, leaving his native land
emigrated to America in 1848, and, locating in the
Empire State, made his permanent home in Oswego,
there residing for over two-score years, passing
peacefully away in 1889. The father was a successful farmer and was about forty-one years of
age wllen, bidding farewell to the scenes of his
clildhood, lie sailed for the United States. In
England lie had managed three different stage
routes and was a man of more than ordinary business ability. Our subject received his education
and early business training in the Old Country,
and at the age of thirteen apprenticed to the firm
of Austin & Son learned the trade of casting and
wire-drawing jewelry, stamping and refining. He
attended the free schools of England and well
improved his opportunities of instruction. The
home of his youth was in the city of Birmingham,
Warwickshire.




276


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


Mr. Farr had not long attained his majority
when he decided to follow his father to America,
and in 1855 crossed the broad Atlantic to the land
of promise beyond the sea. Arriving in New
York, our subject soon rejoined his father, from
whoml he had been separated by an absence of
seven years. William Farr remained in Oswego
County for a twelvemonth, and then journeyed to
Canada, which hle made his home for tile five succeeding years. While a dweller in Canada our
subject learned and engaged il the cooper's trade
and some length of time was profitably devoted to
coopering. In the Dominion of Canada Mr. Farr
met and married Miss Frances Maria Long, the
two being united in marriage in 1859. The estimable wife of our subject was a native of Canada,
her parents being of English birth. The seven
sons and daughters who blessed the llappy home
were Addie C., the eldest, who married John II.
Shlire; Charles Frederick, deceased; William, deceased; Helbert Reed; Nellie, deceased; Walter
and Bruce. In 1882 Mr. Farr removed to the
United States and, journeying to Michiigan, located
in Ottawa County, settling at once upon his present valuable homestead, then wild timberland.
Of the one hundred and forty acres, one hundred are under cultivation, yielding bounteous
liarvests of grain and fruit. In addition to farming here in Michigan, our subject also engaged on
his own farm in the cooper business, profitably
conducting the same for over four years. Vitally
interested in educational advancement, Mr. Farr
las as a School Director for ten years materially
aided in the upward progress of the district
scliools of his home locality, and for four years
Township Treasurer has discharged the duties of
the office to the great satisfaction of the general
public. Mr. and Mrs. Farr are both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are
active aids in benevolent enterprises and religious
work. Politically a Republican ever since making
his residence in Michigan, our subject is deeply
interested in both the local and national management of the great trusts involved, and, thoroughly
appreciating a Republican form of government, is
in the highest sense of the term a loyal and publicspirited citizen.


G. CROSBY, an energetic and prosperous
citizen of Muskegon, Mich., senior partner
of the well-known firm of E. G. Crosby &
Co., Government contractors and builders of
piers and dry docks and owners of the best tug
and scow line of Lake Michigan, has been a resident of the Wolverine State from boyhood. Our
subject is a native of Ontario, N. Y., and was born
in 1842. Iis father, Warren Crosby, a native
of New England, born in Massachusetts, emigrated to the West, and died in Michigan. HIis
mother, Louisa (Lincoln) Crosby, was the descendant of an intelligent and patriotic ancestry. The
Crosbys, of Scotch origin, were represented in
America in a very early (lay and were numbered
among the substantial and enterprising citizens
of New England when this country was yet in its
infancy. Passing his boyhood days in Ontario
County, N. Y., AMr. Crosby also pursued a course
of study in Lima College, for two years enjoying
the benefits of instruction in that excellent institution. In 1866, removing to the West, our subject
settled in Lenawee County, Mich., and remained
there until the breaking out of the Civil War.
In 1861, the name of. G. Crosby was enrolled
as enlisting in Company E, First Mliclligan Cavalry,
which, commanded by Col. 1Broadhead, was assigned to the Armny of the Potomac. With
courage our subject participated in the decisive
battles of the campaign, fighting in tlle engagements of the,Wilderness, second battle of Bull
Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and many other figlts
and skirmishes. Mustered out in 1864, lie re-enlisted in the spring of 1865 in IIancock's corps of
old veterans, commanded by Col. IIancock, and
was again mustered out in the summer of 1865.
Immediately after the close of tlhe war Mr. Crosby
went to Hudson, Michi., where until 1869 lie was
variously engaged. At tlhe latter (late he removed to Whitehall, Mich., and after a stay of two
years permanently located in Muskegon. In 1881,
our subject embarked in the tug business and later,
adding scows, found his investment an assured
success. In his work as a contiractor lie lhas dealt
mainly with the Government, constructing a large
amount of public piers and dockage. Hie is now
building the Government Pier at the entrance of




PORTRAIT AND. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


277


Muskegon Harbor. Mr. Crosby regularly employs
about seventy men and does an extensive business, yielding him annually a handsome income.
Politically a Republican and well posted in
local and national affairs, lie is an ardent advocate
of the "Party of Reform."  IIe is, fraternally, a
member of l'llil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R.,
and much enjoys the re-unions of the order. Mr.
Crosby married in early life Miss Catherine
IIalstead, a native of the East and born in the
State of New York. Our subject and his worthy
wife have been blessed witl one son and one
daughlter, Fred and IIattie. The pleasant family
residence, located at No. 74 Ransom Street, Muskegon, is well known to a large circle of old-time
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Crosby both actively sliaring in the good work and benevolent enterprises
of their lhome city, where they receive universal
respect and sincere regard. ()ur subject has selfreliantly won his upward way to linancial prosperity, and is now numbered among the leading
business men of Muskegon County who have by
untiring efforts gained a competence within the
borders of the Wolverine State.
dealer residing in North Muskegon, was
born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Januaryl
22, 1843. Tile family of whichl lie is an honored
member was first represented in America about
1600, at which time several of that name emiglrated from Scotland and made settlement in Mn:tssachusetts. Tlie father of our subject, Leander AV.,
and his grandfatller were both natives of New
York, the former having been born in Warren
County, where lie became an extensive lumberman
and miller.
The mother of our subject was in maidenhlood
Keziah B. Payne, and was a native of Washing(ton
County, N. Y., where her father, John Payne, followed agricultural pursuits. Charles L. was the
second in order of birth among four children, and


was reared in Jefferson County, N. Y., gaining the
rudiments of his education in thle schools of Dexter, and afterward, through self-culture and observation, broadening his knowledge. When tile
dark cloud of war hovered over our nation, his
synmpathies were strongly enlisted on behalf of the
Union, and when ay outh of nineteen, in 1862, he
enlisted as a private in Company 1, Tenth New
York IIeavy Artillery. For gallant and meritorious conduct lie was promoted from tile ranks to
the position of Lieutenanlt, and served in that capacity until the close of the war, participating in
many of tile most important battles of the Rebellion. IIe received his discharge at Sackett's IIarbor, and was mustered out of the service at Petersburg, N. Y.
Returning to Dexter, Mr. Gunn embarked in the
general mercantile business and conducted a flourisling trade for two years. lie then disposed of
the stock and came to Michigan, remailing for a
time in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, in the
emp)loy of C. Colby &   Co., manufacturers of
fruit packages. After three years thus spent, he
entered the employ of A. II. Morrison, General
Manager of the Chicago & West Michigan Railway
Colmpany. In 1873 lie became aclerk in the general oflice of tlhis company, where lie was later promoted to tle position of Assistant Treasurer and
Paymasster. Ile remained for seventeen years, or
until 1890, in their employ and was one of their
most trusted officials.
In 1890 Mr. Gunn came to Muskegon and engaged in the real-estate business. During the following year lie located in North Muskegon, and
has since made iis home in this city. Hle has extensive real-estate interests both here and in Muskegon, and is also the owner of a farm in Muskegon Township. IIe has a pleasant residence in
North Muskegon, where he and his accomplished
wife live in happiness and contentment. Mrs.
Gunn became the wife of our subject on the 27th
of May, 1891, prior to which time she was Mrs.
Hannah Gostage. She was the daughter of William and May Conklin, and the widow of Silas
Gostage.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Gunn was elected
Mayor of North Muskegon in 1892, and served




278


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


-


for one term. He has officiated as Alderman both
in Muskegon and North Muskegon, and has also
been Treasurer of the School Board. In his social
relations he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of St. Joseph Lodge No. 281.
-0 f —  -—:1 --- — -
ALTER S. AVERILL, a prosperous agriculturist and well-known early settler of
Chester Township, Ottawa County, was
identified with the privations of the pioneer days
of Michigan, and, being a man of enterprise and
business ability, has aided in the development of
the interests of his home locality and county.
Born in the State of New York, April 17, 1842,
our subject is the son of Samuel II. and Elizabeth
(MIcFerren) Averill. His father was born in Vermont, November 22, 1797, and his mother in New
York, March 21, 1806. They made their home for
many years in the Empire State, but in the fall of
1848 emigrated to the West, and in the early
winter of 1849 located upon the farm where they
long resided.
Taking from the Government eighty acres of
land at a cost of $1.25 per acre, the father found
himself left with the modest capital of seventyfive cents in ready money. Hle and his children
with united effort toiled early and late to clear,
cultivate and improve the land. He died December 16, 1886, when in his ninetieth year. During
his many years of usefulness he occupied with
fidelity various positions of trust and served sevenll times as Justice of the Peace. He was the
first man who in an official capacity gave orders
to the township. The primitive method had been
to personally notify each individual that at such
a time and upon such an occasion they would be
called upon to pay a certain sum.
Samuel Averill assisted in surveying most of
the sections in Chester Township, and although he
received only four days' schooling he was one of
the best-informed men in the township. Possessing excellent judgment and habits of close observa

tion, he kept himself intelligently posted on all
the public affairs of tile day.  -Ie and his excellent wife were the parents of twelve children,
seven of whom lived to years of maturity. Mary
J. is the wife of Dolph Look, of New York; William B. resides in Casenovia; M. B. lives in Muskegon County; Eliza is the wife of John Hilton,
of Porterville, Cal.; Edward F. resides in Chester
Township; Elvira is the wife of David Waller, of
Chester Township; and Walter is the subject of this
sketch. The mother passed away January 9, 1875.
Our subject came to this State at the age of
eight years, and was educated in the common
schools of the home neighborhood. The first
school of the district was regularly established in
1852. During the first day's session the teacher
found but one scholar, a boy, who could correctly
state what year of our Lord it was. After
dinner the other scholars seized the unfortunate
boy and gave him a thrashing. I-Ie immediately
returned to his home and was never seen more in
that schoolroom; thus was superior knowledge
rewarded in the pioneer days. Upon his father's
farm  Walter Averill attained to manhood, and
immediately after his twentieth birthday enlisted,
in 1862, in Company B, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, and as a private was assigned to tile Army
of the Cumberland under the command of James
Cavanaugh and A. A. Stevens.      I-e actively
participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone
River and other engagements. IIe was twice
wounded-first inl the fight at Perryville, where
lie received a wound on tile left side of his neck
which stiffened the muscles and cords. In the battle of Stone River le had his foot shattered with
a piece of shell, and for nineteen years has never
worn a boot. As a partial compensation for the
suffering resultant from  his injury lie receives a
pension of $12 l)er month.
I)ischarged in July, 1863, Mr. Averill at once
returned home and continued to assist upon the
farm until the death of his mother. Soon afterward he was married, his father residing with him
until he too passed away. The homestead reverted to Mr. Averill, who has through all the
changing seasons industriously cultivated  the
fertile fields. Walter Averill was first united in




r 7                                                                                                I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_.-__   _  I I......~I  7.~,  — r,*-.77


REISIDENCE OF W. S. AVERI LL,~


SEC. 9. CHESTER TP., OTTAWA C0.,MICH-.


RESIDENCE OF GEO, \N. Al KEN, SEC.1., GRAND HAVEN TR, OTTAWA CO.,MLCH.








PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


281


marriage with Minerva Wood, a native of Ohio and
tlle daughter of William Waller, an early settler
of Chester Township, widely known and highly
respected. The estimable young wife survived
only one year and bore her husband one child'
Alice. A second time entering the bonds of matrimony, our subject wedded Miss Anna B. Thatclier, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of
Edwin and Kate (Carpenter) Thatcher, pioneers
of Ottawa County. tMr. and Mrs. Averill are the
parents of four children: Ross G., Judd E., IIettie
M. and Lee W.
Mr. Averill has held with ability various school
offices and is interested in the conduct of public
affairs. Ile is a slanchl Republican, but without
the aspirations of a politician, and is content to do
his duty at thle polls, being also ever ready to lend
a helping hand in all matters of public welfare.
I-e is fraternally connected with Ravenna Lodge
No. 355, I. (). 0. F., and is a valued member of
Albert Sperry Post No. 337, G. A. R., at Ravenna. In tile latter organization lie ias officiated
as Quartermaster and officer of the order. Financially prospered, Mr. Averill owns fifty-five acres of
highly cultivated land, which annually yield an
abundant harvest. Tile improvements of the
homestead are of a substantial and attractive
character, the handsome residence, commodious
barns and outbuildings denoting thrift and comfort.
Our subject hlas a store of interesting reminiscences of the past, and among other incidents relates that Ills father pounded tlhe first bread out of
corn raised upon the farm by means of a stump hollowed out and the use of a heavy wooden pestle.
The pestle was used for this purpose for many
years, and a number of persons came from a distance of four or five miles to thus pound their
corn into meal. Soon after arriving in Chester
Township, the father went to Steele's Landing, a
distance of fifteen miles, and purchased flour, wllicl
lie brought home on his back. They had a team
of oxen, but as no road was open they could not
cross the thickly wooded land. The first team of
oxen owned by our subject he bought in 1863,
with money earned by clearing land. In this toilsome manner tle pioneers gained their homes and


money, and with unceasing industry promoted the
growth and enterprises of the West, which to-day
is rich in resources, manufactures and the energy
of a people whose watchword has ever been " Upward and Onward."
EORGE W. AIKEN, a long-time resident
and prosperous horticulturist of Ottawa
)  County, owns a beautiful home up)n the
banks of the Grand River, a little southeast of
Grand HIaven, and the homestead contains one
hundred and twenty-three acres of fine land,
twenty-five acres of which are devoted mainly
to gardening and fruit-raising. William Aiken,
the father of our subject, was a native of New
England, and was born amid the hills of New
Iampshire, where he received his education and
grew to adult age. After his marriage, lie and
his wife commenced housekeeping near the scenes
of his childhood days.
George W., also a native of New Iampshire,
from the date of lis birth, in 1846, spent the days
of boyhood in his birthplace, and gained his education in the common schools of the district.
When about twenty years old, inspired with a desire to see something of the world beyond the
quiet village of his nativity, lie embarked on a
whaling voyage, and from  1866 until 1870 was
sailing on thle Southern Pacific Ocean, all the time
below the equator. Cruising along thle shores of
Juan Fernandez and out in mid ocean, he made
some successful catclies and returned again to his
home on the 5th of July, 1870.
Upon the vessel "Sappho," commanded by Capt.
James Iandy and owned by a Mr. Seabury, Mr.
Aiken first caughit a glimpse of the life of a sailor,
and experienced the excitements and privations
of a whaling voyage. lie had scarcely returned
to the old New -Hampshire home before he decided
to try his fortunes in the farther West, and from
1870 tol 1874 sailed on the great chain of lakes
connecting Buffalo and Chicago. Between these
two ports he voyaged upon the bark "Chicago




282


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Board of Trade," in charge of Capt. Fountain, and
owned by Charles Bradley. Not long after the
close of the season of 1874, Mr. Aiken bought his
valuable homestead, and settled down to the tilling of the soil and horticultural employments.
In the year 1872, in Port Byron, N. Y., George
W. Aiken and Miss Amelia 1)oud were united in
marriage. Mrs. Aiken is a native of New York,
and a daughter of well-known and highly respected citizens of that State, under whose guidance she arrived at adult age an intelligent and
industrious young woman, well fitted to undertake
the experiences and vicissitudes of life. She received her education in thle excellent schools of
her native State, and in early womanhood removed with her husband to the farther West, locating in Michigan. The pleasant liome of our
subject and his estimable wife has been brightened
by the birth of two children, a son and a daughter. Jessie was born in 1874, and Edward Doud
in 1886. The dlaughter, now in the dawn of
womanhood, lias received superior educational advantages and is a social favorite among a large
circle of friends.
Mr. Aiken has long been a valued member of
the Unitarian Church in Grand Haven, and is a
liberal giver in behalf of benevolent enterprise.
I-e is fraternally associated with the Masons, and
has for many years been connected with that honored order. Politically a Republican, lie is an ardent advocate of the party, but llas never been an
office-seeker nor has lie any desire for public position. IHe is ever ready to extend aid in all matters
of local enterprise, and is intimately associated with
the growth and upward progress of the vital interests of his home locality.
s,- --- r —r --- -.
~V   /?ALTER I. LILLIE, one of the promising
young attorneys of Grand Haven, is a
man possessed of superior mental endowments, strengthened and enriched by the highest
culture. His mind is clear, concise, analytical and
well poised, and he impresses one at once as a man


of great strength,deptll and grasp of mind. The
most abstruse and complicated subjects are handled
with ease and grace, and made perceptible and
plain to the most ordinary understanding. IIe is
of a socal, genial disposition and has a large share
of tliose traits of character that go to make up a
popular citizen. His professional career has been
a success and lie is regarded as one of the leading
young attorneys of the city. I-e is a native of
this county, born in Tallmage Townslhip October 9,
1855, and the people have had every opportunity
to judge of his cllaracter and qualifications, for
lie has resided here the princil)al part of his life.
Joel B. and Sarah (Augur) Lillie, the parents of
our subject, were natives of the State of New
York, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for a livelihood. The grandfather, Cyrus
Lillie, was of Scotch descent, and the Augur family
was of Scotch-Danish origin. In 1845 the father
of our subject became convinced lie could better
his condition by a change of location, and lie made
his way to Michigan and     located in  Ottawa
County. I-e still resides in this county and makes
his home at Coopersville, where lie is highly esteemed. His career presents an example of industry, perseverance and good management, rewarded
by substantial results, well worthy the imitation
of all. i-is children, five in nunber, two sons and
three daughters, were in the order of their births
as follows: Edith, wife of J. W. Park;  Walter
I.; Colon C.; Emma E., who now resides in Los
Angeles, Cal.; and Anna M., wife of William E.
Baxter, who also resides in Los Angeles, Cal.
Walter I. Lillie, the second in order of birth of
the above-mentioned children, grew to manhood
on his father's farm and received his primary education in the district schools. When twenty-one
years of age he entered tile Agricultural College
at Lansing, Mich., and was actively engaged in
his studies in that institution for four years.
From there lie came to Grand Iaven and read law
with George A. Farr, being admitted to the Bar at
Grand Haven in November, 1884. The following
winter lie taught school, and during tllat time pursued his legal studies, afterwards entering the
office of Mr. Farr, where he remained two years. In
the fall of 1886 he was elected Prosecuting Attor



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


283


ney for Ottawa County on tile Republican ticket,
and served in that capacity two years. So great
was lis popularity, and so ably did lie discharge
the duties of that position, iowever, that lie was
re-elected in 1888.  lie has lleld otler prominent
positions, and in his private life has lbeen as exemplary as in his public career lie has been useful
and( influential.
On the 28th of September, 1886, Mr. Lillie was
married to Miss Ella McGrath, of I)enison. this
county, and the daughter of Michael McGratl.
Three children have been born to this union:
Har'old I., Leo C. and Walter Ivan. In politics
Mr. Lillie is a Republican and is (leeply interested
in county, State and national politics. IIe is at
present City Attorney and is a member of the
Judicial Committee.
ETII EVANS, an elficient Supervisor and
promninent general agriculturist of Cedar
Creek Township, Muskegon County, MIich.,
has for more than twenty-six years been
closely identified witlh the best interests of the
State, and, a public-spirited citizen, llas materially
aided in tlle rapid advancement of his home
neighborhood and vicinity. A     native of New
England, 3Mr. Evans was    )1orn in Rhode Island
and remained in llis birthpllace until lie llatd attained his majority. His parents, Setli and Amy
(1)uffy) Evans, were highly respected and wellknown residents of IRlode Island and gave their
children tlhe best possible opportunities for an
education, traianing tleir sons and daulghters
to liabits of industrious thrift and sturdy selfreliance. The father was a native of tile old
Bay State, tile paternal grandfather Evans, born
and reared in Wales, earl ealnigrating to Amerlica
and settling in Massachusetts, where, an honest
and hard-working nan, lie steadily made his upward way. The mother, a most estimable woman,
was the descendant of a long line of energetic and
intelligent ancestry. Marrying, the parents lo

cated permanently in Rhode Island, their pleasant
home being blessed by the birth of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to mature years, six
yet surviving.
One brother resides in New York and four of the
family are located in Massachusetts, our subject
being the only representative of the family in tile
Western country. Franklin Evans served in the
I nited States navy under Gen. Farragut at the'
siege of New Orleans, but mostof tlhe brothers and
sisters hlave spent their lives in New England. Seth,
named in llonor of his father, was married near the
scenes of his childhood and had arrived at middle
age before lie and his wife journeyed to th e far West
and( made for tleir family a home in the Wolverine
State. Our subject was in 1842 united in marriage witll Miss aInnalt Foster, a lady of fine
ability and culture. After a companionship of
nearly thirty years, death in 1871 deprived Mr.
Evans of his wife, who passed away leaving no issue. A second time entering matrimonial bonds,
our subject married Miss Mary Kruse, a native of
Germany, who whlile young crossed thle broad Atlantic to tlhe United States. Six clildren have
witll tleir cleerful presence brightened tlhe home
of our subject and his worthy wife. John is tlhe eldest-born; Frank is deceased; tllen followed in the
order of their birtll Jennie; William; James, deceased; and Frederick, deceased.
Arriving in Michigan in 1866 Mr. Evans settled at once in the locality where lie now resides.
At first lie engaged in tile shingle business, but finally determined to give his entire attention to
tle l)ursuit of agriculture, and took up one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. Our
sulject, financially prospered, later purchased one
hundred and sixty acres and llas brought under a
higih state of cultivation eighty acres, which annually yield an abundant harvest.  The fine farm is
further improved witli excellent buildings, and
presents a scene of thrift and plenty. Politically
a Republican, Mr. Evans has witl marked ability
discharged the duties of various otfices of trust to
the satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen and the
general public. lie was from  1869 elected four
times successively Town Clerk, and in 1874 became a popular Supervisor of Cedar Creek Town



284


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
----— ~~~~~~~~~ --- —---------           _______~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


ship, and has with fidelity occupied this responsible position continuously since, with the exception of two years. Intimately associated with
the rapid progress and upward growth of his
township and county, our subject is widely known
and highly esteemed as a neighbor, friend and liberal citizen, ever ready to aid in all matters of local enterprise or mutual welfare.
Er-  LBRII)GE G. ROTE is President of the
Lakeside Iron Company, which owns one
--  of the leading industries of Muskegon,
Mich. He is a native of the Empire State, his
birth having occurred in Columbia County, N. Y.,
September 6, 1844. He traces his descent from
ancestors who came from Germany to America in
Colonial days. His parents, Matthias and Elizabeth (Wyng) Rote, were both natives of New
York, and there spent their entire lives, the father
following the occupation of farming in order to
provide for the wants of himself and family.
There were three children, of whom our subject is
the youngest.
Mr. Rote spent his boyhood days in Ashtabula,
Ohio, and attended its public schools, acquiring a
good English education. At the age of twenty he
began learning the machinist's trade in Ashtabula,
and in 1866 went to East Saginaw, Mich., where lie
was further instructed in tile business. In 1868
we find him in Bay City, Mich., where lie established the Bay City Iron Works, which were
owned by an incorporated company, of which Mr.
Rote was Treasurer for fifteen years. The concern
was placed on a firm financial basis and did a good
business. In 1884 lie came to Muskegon, where
he has since made his home. The same year lie
organized the Lakeside Iron Company, of which
David Barnes became the first President, while he
served as Secretary of the company. In 1885, however, he succeeded Mr. Barnes in the Presidency,
and has filled that office up to the present time,
while C. S. Clover is now serving as Secretary and


I




Treasurer. The works are located on Western
Avenue, and employment is furnished to about
twenty men, who are engagTed in the manufacture
of heavy machinery. They manufacture a steam
log-loader and are making extensive sales of this
throughout the West.
In 1873 was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Rote and Miss Agnes Brown, of Bay City, Mich.,
a daughter of John Brown, a native of Scotland.
Their union has been blessed with four children,
three sons and a daughter: Robert Justin, a machinist; Charles Winfield, Archie Ray and Beulah
Agnes, who complete the family. The family
residence is at No. 190 Western Avenue. The
household is the abode of hospitality and its members rank high in social circles.
Besides his home and business, Mr. Rote also
owns a good farm in Muskegon County. His success in life is all due to his own efforts, for he
started out e.mpty-handed and has steadily worked
his way upward to a position of affluence, overcoming the difficulties and ostacles in his path by
untiring labor, perseverance and a strong determination to succeed. The Democratic party finds
in him a supporter, but lie has never been an officeseeker. lie belongs to Bay City Lodge, A. F. &
A. M., to the Order of the Eastern Star, and to
Muskegon Lodge, A. O. U. W.
pILLIAM     H. POTTER, a skilled workman
and the efficient foreman of the boiler,  department of the Clicago & West Miclligan Railroad shops, Muskegon, Mich., has enjoyed a wide experience in his present line of
business, and in the various responsible positions
which he has held has given faithful and practical
service. Born in Brockville, Canada, December 20,
1855, our subject is the son of George A. Potter,
a native of England and the descendant of a long
line of British ancestors who, by their diligent industry and intelligent enterprise, have self-reliantly won their upward way to honored and use



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


285


ful influence. The father settled in Canada in
1838, and was married to Miss Helen O'Brien,
whose forefathers were born and reared their families in tie Emerald Isle. William  II., remaining in the country of his birth during his early
life, attended the home schools and was trained
carefully in habits of energetic thrift. Ile was
only a youth when he resolved to try his fortunes
in the broader field of the United States, and at sixteen years of age he left Canada and, journeying
to Elkhart, Ind., there began life for himself.
Giving his time for ten years to an apprenticeship to the boiler-making trade, he became thoroughly versed in every detail of the business, and
later received profitable employment in the shops
of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad.
During the ten years his salary was most limited,
lie receiving for the first year only $1 per day,
and an increase of twenty-five cents per day for
each of the years following. A master of his
trade, Mr. Potter finally began to make his way
up the ladder of success. On the 1st of Septeinber, 1879, after a long journey, lie arrived
in Ft. Worth, Tex., and there for a time worked
in the shops of the Texas Pacific Railroad, thence
departing to Toyall, Tex., where lie took charge
of the boiler department of the shops of the
Texas Pacific Railroad, remaining in the latter
town eiglt months. In the spring of 1881 Mr.
Potter came to Muskegon and entered the shops
of which lie is now the department foreman of the
boiler works. IIe has under his supervision nineteen men and does the repairing of the entire system managed by tile corporation. Without any
desire for political honors, our subject is nevertheless intelligently posted on governmental affairs,
and is an ardent Democrat and a firm supporter of
the party.
Fraternally, Mr. Potter is a member of Lodge
No. 133, A. 0. U. W., and has many sincere friends
within the order. In 1873 William LI. Potter and
Miss Florence E. King were united in marriage.
The estimable wife of our subject was a native of
Vermont and the daughter of John L. King. Intelligent children have blessed the pleasant home
of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and in the handsome residence, No. 33 Ottawa Street, four daughters now


assemble.  Two sons, the youngest-born, have
passed away. *The brothers and sisters were in
the order of their birth: Florence E., Maud M.,
Wilhelmina, Sallie G., and William  I-. and an
infant, deceased. The daughters are favorites
witli a large circle of friends and are enjoying the
excellent educational advantages of their home
city. Mr. and Mrs. Potter are ready aids in matters of public enterprise, religious and benevolent,
and command the high regard of the general
public.
i++++     ++++!     *
ENRY B. W. VANZALINGEN, an architect and builder of Muskegon, is a native
of Holland. IIe was born November 15,
1824, and is a son of John and Bertha
(Ebbaning) Vanzalingen. The father was an architect and builder and followed that business during
the greater part of his active life. His son, whose
name heads this sketch, was educated in the
schools of his native land, and at the age of sixteen he began learning the business of a carpenter, builder and architect, under the direction of
his father. lie followed that pursuit in Holland
until he arrived at the age of thirty years, when
lie resolved to seek a home and fortune in America.
It was in 1854 that our subject bade adieu to
friends and native land and took passage on a
sailing-vessel Westward bound, which at length
dropped anchor in tile harbor of New York. lie
went at once from thlat city to Grand Rapids,
nIich., where lie spent the four succeeding years of
his life. On the expiration of that period he came
to Muskegon, in 1858, and began contracting and
building onI his own account. In 1861 lie built
the first union schoolhouse, and he has erected
many of the leading residences, stores and business
blocks of the city. Iie also erected the court
house, which was a fine structure, and which was
destroyed in the great fire of 1891, which burned
out eighteen blocks in Muskegon. His own dwelling and all his household goods were also swept
away. Mr. Vanzalingen soon afterward, however,




286


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


erected a large and substantial residence, built in a
modern style of architecture and supplied with
all conveniences and improvements.
In 1849, ere leaving the Fatherland, our subject
was united in marriage witll Miss Berthla Vanniftrik, a genial and intelligent lady, also a native of
Holland. Unto them have been born six children:
Mary, wife of Mat Iopper; Anna, a leading dressmaker, who carries on quite an establishment in
that line; Mattie, at home; H-arry, who is manager
of the Muskegon Iardware Company and a stockholder in the same; Jennie, wife of lIon. 0. B.
Fuller, Representative from the lTpler Peninsula;
and Minnie, wife of John II. Moore, a lumber inspector. They also have six grandchildren.
In politics, Mr. Vanzaliugen is a )cemocrat, and
has been honored witl a number of positions of
public trust. IIe served ten years as County Surveyor of Muskegon County, and was also City
Surveyor of Big Rapids. IIimself and wife are
members of the Congregational Clhurch, and are
worthy people of tle community, who have a wide
circle of friends and acquaintances.
'I   ERMANN LANGE, the energetic and popular manager of the Lange Transfer Company, of Muskegon, Milch., llas for nearly
two-score years been identified witl tlie
leading interests of his home city, and during this
length of time has occupied a prominent l)osition
as an able business man and enterprising citizen.
Our subject, a native of Prussia, was born in Beeskow, March 14, 1825. His fatlher, William, born,
reared and educated in the Old Country, there
spent his entire life, and amid the scenes of his
childhood attained to mature years, and after a
long career of industrious usefulness passed away
in Germany in 1837, mourned by mat ny friends
and relatives. The mother, Wilhelmina (Schmidt)
Lange, also a native of Prussia and a woman of
excellent ability and upright character, survived


her husband, wlho died when our subject was only
a lad twelve years of age. The fathier, by occupation a brewer, left his family well provided for,
and during his boyhood Ielrmann attended the excellent public schools of tle Fatherland. Our subject was tlie fifth of thle seven sons who with their
cheerful presence brightened the home of tlhe parents. Tlhe children were trained by their wise and
prudent mother to habits of industrious thrift, and
grew pl) intelligent and self-reliant.
IHermann Lange, remaining to adult age in his
native land, well improved the opportunities of
instruction lie received, and when nineteen years
of age, in 1844, journeyed to France, and, enlisting in the FIrench army, served with courage for
some five years. From 1849 variously employed
until 1853, our subject at the latter period of
time, then twenty-eight years old, finally resolved
to try lhis fortunes in America, and, embarking
from  tlie nearest seaport, in safety crossed the
broad Atlantic and was landed in Boston, from
whicl city lie p)roceeded directly to Buffalo, later
mnaking lhis home in Cleveland, Olio. Tlie succeedin]g year, 1854, Mr. Lange removed to Michigan
and settled permanently in Mluskegon, where for
fifteen continuous years lhe enlgaged in tile sawmill busillness. A man of excellent habits and a
good financial manager, lie prospered, but later
chlanged his elmployment, and has since 1869 successfully conducted a draying and transfer business, which, establislhed for nearly a quarter of a
century, enjoys tlhe custom of a large trade. The
handsome hlome of 1Mr. Lange, No. 84 Terrace
Street, one of thle most desirable residence streets
of Miuskegon, is well known to a wide circle of
old-time friends.
In 1861, HIermann Lange and Miss Ienrietta
Lange were united in marriage, receiving the congratulations of a large acquaintance. The union
of our subject and his estimable wife has been
blessed by the birth of an intelligent family of
five children, three daughters and two sons. Tle
brothers and sisters are in tihe order of their birth,
Emma, Minnie, Robert, James and Clara. The entire family occupy positions of usefulness and
socially enjoy thle esteem of all who know them.
The sons and daughters, receiving excellent edu



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


287


cational advantages, have worthily fitted themselves for the duties of coming life. Our subject
is fraternally a member of German Lodge No. 96,.. 0. F... and, politically a stanch Republican, is
actively interested in local and national issues.
ARENUS VANDER BOSCI..       There is an
ARENUS VANDER BOSCH{. There is an
obscurity in the game of life that to the
robust mind is always attractive. The important uncertainty of the filal outcome,
and its value to all, serve as incentives to great
deeds, and to push forward and win in the battle is
the one common impulse and ambition of humanity. Among those who lave fought the battle of
life bravely is Marenus Vander Boscl, wlho is now
a retired merchant of Grand Iaven, MIicl. Ile is a
native of Iolland, having first seen tile light of day
on the 3d of January. 1849, a son of Rev. Koanne
and Maria (Rooks) Vander Bosch, tile fatlier being a well-known minister of the I:Iolland Christian Reformed Church. They were born, reared
and married in lHolland, but finally decided to
bring up their children in America, and arrived in
this country in May, 1857. After a short residence in the city of New York they came to
Grand [laven, Mich., from which place they went
to Chicago and there spent several years. The
father is now a resident of Grand Iaven and is in
the seveuty-fifth year of his age. His wife died
in Grand Iaven in 1887. HIer four sons and one
daughter are all honored and substantial residents
of Grand I-aven.
In the public schools of his native land and in
America TIarenus Yander Boscll obtained a practical education, well suited to the life he has led,
and his youthful days, when not in school, were
spent in farming, or rather in learning the details
of this calling. After attaining a suitable age lie
began working at the carpenter's trade, but after
following that business for eight years lie gave it
up to turn his attention to other pursuits. He
then became a member of the firm of G. Vander


Bosch & Bro., dealers in general merchandise in
Grand Haven, which firm successfully continued
to do business for thirteen years. They carried a
large and exceptionally well-selected stock of
goods at all times, and as it was well arranged and
sold at the most reasonable figures, a large and lucrative patronage was tile natural result, and the
firm prospered. At the end of the above-mentioned thirteen years Marenus Vander Bosch retired from thle firm, or rather from its active management, but still retained an interest in the business.
Mr. Vander Bosch and his family are now living
in the enjoyment of a competency, which is the
result of continued and undeviating effort in the
early part of his career. Iis marriage with Miss
IIeneberta Korbyn, a native of Gelmany, was celebrated on the 1st of August, 1869, slle being a
daughter of Bastcan Korbyn. She is an earnest and
consistent member of thle Iolland Christian Reformed Church, in which MrA. Vander Bosch has
been an Elder for tlme past eight years. IIe is a
wide-awake man of business and has interested himself in other lines of business besides the mercantile, being a stockholder in the Grand Iaven Furniture Company.   Ie lhas a pretty and comfortable home in Grand Iaven. In politics, lie lias always been a stanch supporter of the principles of
Republicanism. lie has in his possession a bible
which belonged to his grandfather, Thomas Vander Bosch, and which was published in 1690, thus
making it over two hundred years old. It is still
in a good state of preservation and is highly valued by Mr. Vander Bosch.
jch    _    __ _EM
ASTIAN      STEKETEE.      The question  of
food supplies is one of the first with which
J  the human family has to grapple, and,
viewing the competition from a general
standpoint, it will be admitted that tlme wellappointed grocery establishment does the largest share toward the solution of the problem




288


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of feeding the masses. In such connection we
make due reference to the popular grocery of
Bastian Steketee, in Holland, Mich. This popular business man carries a fine line of dry goods,
groceries, crockery, etc., and the prices are such
that no house can surpass him with the same quality of goods. The business is conducted with
vigor and push, and patrons are afforded prompt
and courteous service, while the stock is continually being replenished and kept clioice and
attractive.
Mr. Steketee was born in Grand Rapids, Mich.,
February 9, 1855, and was one of fifteen children
born to John and Maria (Fraanje) Steketee, both
natives of Holland, but the father of German
extraction, and the mother of French descent.
The father followed the occupation of a contractor in his native country, and there remained until 1847, wllen he and his wife and nine
children crossed the ocean to America. They
located in Holland, Mich., but subsequently moved
to Zeeland, where the father bought a farm and
entered actively upon his career as a tiller of the
soil. In 1853 he sold out and moved to Grand
Rapids, where lie was engaged in business until
1858, and tlen came to Ottawa County, Mich., settling at Georgetown. From tlere lie moved to
Holland, this State, and there his death occurred
in 1878. The mother followed him to the grave
the following year. Both were devoted members
of the leformed Church, and people well liked
wherever they made their home. A      strange
thing connected with this family is that all the
children, fifteen in number, are now living, are
married and have families.
The scholastic training of our subject was
received in the old log schoolhouse of pioneer
days, and wlien thirteen years of age lie began
clerking in a store in Iolland, Mich., and was thus
engaged for fourteen years, or until 1883, wlien he
embarked in business with his brother Peter.
Five years later lie bought out his brother and has
since continued the business alone. lie started
with a capital of $1800, and now has one of the
largest groceries in the city. IIis store is very
tastefully fitted up, admirably arranged and well
stocked with everything kept in a first-class gro

cery. Five clerks are engaged, and every courtesy
is extended the customers.
In thle year 1876; Mr. Steketee was happily
married to Miss Ida E. Vanpell, a daughter
of Ilerman Vanpell, wlio came to this country
from  the Netherlands at an early date. Seven
children have been born to this union, all now
living, and the eldest sixteen years of age. In political views Mr. Steketee is a decided Republican,
and in religion hle is a member of the First Reformed
Church, in whicl he is Ieacon, having held that
position for about eight years. Ile is interested
in Sunday-school work and has tauglt a class for
about twenty-two years.
ACOB BAAR. It is impossible to place too
hligh an estimate on the importance of the
real-estate business in comparison with tle
various other elements of commercial and
financial value; certainly none other rests upon a
more conservative and highly) honorable basis as
regards methods and transactions. There are numerous persons wlio plursue tlhe occupation of realestate agents witll credit and success, and earnL a
well-merited reputation for the conscientious and
efficient manner witih which tley conduct affairs
intrusted to their charge. Among tllose of tllis
class may be mentioned Jacob Baar, who is well
known in Grand Ilaven, for lie llas resided here
many years and lhas ever been identified with the
iml)rovement and upbuilding of the city. IIc is
now engaged in tile real-estate and loan business,
and by his straightforward manner of conducting
affairs commands tlie respect of all.
MIr. Baar was born in the then village of Grand
Iaven, May 16, 1859, to the union of Simon and
Hlelena (Yonker) Baar, both natives of tile Netherlands. In 1854 tlle parents emigrated to the United
States withl tle lhope of making la home for tlhemselves in "the land of tile free and the home of tle
brave." They first settled in Chicago, but moved
from there to Kalamazoo, and in 1857 came to
Grand Haven, Mich., where they have since resided. Our subject, the third in order of birth of








V
K 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


291


four children, reached mature years in Grand
Haven and secured a good practical education in
the schlools of the same. IIe began clerking in the
hardware store of G..  iller, and continued in
that gentleman's employ for five years, accumulating considerable means in thle mean time. After
that he was in thle employ of George E. IIubbard,
hardware dealer, until 1880, when he was elected
to the office of Registrar of Deeds of Ottawa
County, filling tlat position in a capable and efficient manner for two years. So satisfactorily did
he discharge the duties of that office tliat in 1882
he was re-elected, and filled that position for two
years onoger. After leaving the office he embarked
in the real-estate business, to whliic  up to the
present lie has devoted most of his time and attention. In commercial circles lhe enjoys tile highest
confidence and is recognized as an honorable, reliable business man, and as a liberal and publicspirited citizen commands the lespect of all.
In the month of September, 1878, our subject
was married to Miss Hatlie Slaghuis, of G(rand
Iaven, Mici., daughter of Abram  Slaghuis, who
fought for the Old Fago during tlhe Rebellion. To
Mr. and Mrs. Baar have been born four children,
three daughters and a son. IIe and his wife hold
membership in the Reformed Church, and for
three terms he was Director in his school district.
He has a very pleasant home in Grand I-aven, a
neat, tasty residence and a large lawn ornamented
witlh huge maple trees and clioice shrubbery. Mr.
Baar is a descendant of an old and prominent
family and is an honor to his name. lie is active
in his support of matters of public importance,
and takes a deep interest in the success of the
Democratic party, with which he has long been
identified.
';   =      =     _    _ j.
RANK SCOTT, dealer in fine wines and
liquors at Muskegon, is a man of excellent
business ability, and for thirty-six years
has been associated with the growtl and prosperity of thle city where lie now resides and where
year after year he has successfully conducted his
14


present line of trade. Mr. Scott is a native of
England, and was born in London Januarly 7,
1824. Ilis father, George Scott, was born, reared
and educated in England, and long after arriving
at mature age, emigrated to America and located
in Michigan. Nine children blessed his marriage,
our subject being tile third in order of birtlh. Ie
attended in cliildhood tile schools of his native
land and early beginning the strLuggle of life enjoyed but little recreation even in Iiis youthful
days. lIe was only fourteen years of age wlen, in
1838, he embarked upon the lorg voyage to the
land of promise, of which lie llad heaid and read
so much. Sixty-eight days were occupied in making the passage, and during the two months upon
the water thle enelrgetic and ambitious boy formed
many plans for a future in tile United States.
Landing in New York City, our subject made
but a brief stay in tlhe great metropolis of the
East. and, journeying still farther to tile Westward, located in the city of Detroit, Micl., wllere
lie secured employment as a sailor upon the Iakes,
continuing in that vocation for a time. Later lie
sailed upon the Atlantic and wlile thus employed
visited the West Indies, in 1849. Enjoying the
roaming life wllich gave him a home in every
port, lie once more, after returning from the West
Indies, followed the Lakes as an occupation, but
in 1857, permanently settling in Muskegon, entered into his present business, which lie has prosperously managed ever since. lie has lachieved a
comfortable competence and owns valuable city
property, including two substantial and commodious brick buildings, two stories in heirgt and located on Clay Avenue. This property brings in a
handsome rental and during tile last few years has
materially advanced in value.
In 1853, Frank Scott and MIiss -lelen Cleaver
were united in marriage, slhortly after the return
of the former fromn the West Indies. Mrs. Scott,
a lady of worthl and intelligence, is a native of
England and was educated in tile land of her
birth. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott was
cheered by the presence of three children, two
sons and a daughter: George, Jessie Helen and
Charles G. The sister and brothers received their
education in Muskegon, where they attended the




292


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


public schools. The pleasant family residence is
desirably located at No. 150 Amity Street. Our
subject is politically a strong Democrat and an ardent advocate of the "Party of the People." During his long residence in Muskegon he has been
identified with the promotion of various public
enterprises and is widely known as a man of liberal spirit and progressive ideas. A sincere friend
and kind neighbor, ever generous to those less
fortunate than himself, he is one of the most popular citizens of Muskegon and possesses the high
regard of a host of friends.
AMES P. FALLON.        There is nothing
which adds so much to the safety and security of the people of a town or city as an
active, well-trained, vigilant and excellently equipped fire department. The history of
the measures for fire prevention in Muskegon is
an interesting one, for the handy wooden bucket
and the nimble feet of such as would help conlposed the equipments of the early residents.
James P. Fallen, who is Chief of the fire department in Muskegon, is a practical and first-class
engineer, and one who thorouglly understands
his business. He is a native of the Nutmeg State,
born in the southwestern part June 12, 1859, and
the son of Patrick and Sabina (Caughlin) Fallen,
both natives of the Green Isle of Erin.
The parents were brought to America when children and settled in Hartford, Conn., where they
grew to mature years and married. Tle father
dealt quite extensively in live stock, and after residing there for some years moved to Menlomonee, Wis., where the parents live at the present
time. Their union was blessed by tie birth of
nine children, four sons and five daughters. Our
subject removed with his parents to Wisconsin in
1874, and assisted his father to cultivate and improve one hundred and twenty acres of good land.
While residing with his parents in Connecticut,
he received a fair education  in the common


schools, and by observation lie has since increased
that until lie is now one of the best-posted young
men in Muskegon.
Our subject left tlle farm in 1876, and began
working for Plankinton & Armour, remaining
with that company for two years. In 1878 he
made his advent illto the city of Muskegon. This
was in tlhe autumn, and lie was with the McGraft
Company, in tlis city, for three years. Ite tlen went
witli tlie Booning Company, and remained there six
months, and in July, 1879, became driver in the
fire department at No. 1 engine house. He was
then made Captain of the lire department, and
filled that position three years, after which he was
appointed Chief Engineer and Fire MaIrshal May
5, 1887, holding the former position at the present
time. I-e thoroughly understands his business
and is one of the most efficient officers the city
has ever had.
In February, 1885, Mr. Fallon was married to
Miss Annie L. Tromp, a native of Muskegon, and
the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Flaley) Tromp.
One daughter, Mary -I., has been born of tllis union. Mr. Fallon is a member of several secret organizations and was County Delegate of the American Order of Hibernians and also Regent in the
Royal Arcanum. In 1892 he was elected Vice-Presidcnt of the National Association of Fire Engineers.
IIe has a pleasant residence at No. 33 North First
Street, and is a popular man in tile community.
' ]ESAR THOMAS, M. I)., an accomplished
(( (  general medical plractitioner and skillful,/ surgeon, whose extended experience in various foreign hospitals and upon the battlefield
has well earned him an enviable reputation as a
master of his profession, has for some eight years
successfully practiced in his present locality, and
resides at No. 20 East Webster Avenule, Muskegon,
Micll. Oui subject was born in Bex, Switzerland,
April 5, 1852. Iis father, Louis Thomas, a native
of the same mountainous country, was the son of




PORTRAIT AND) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORDI)


293


Louis Th'lomas, and botlh tlhe fathier and thle paternal
grandfather were reare(1 and educate(t alnd died in
tlhe vicinity of tlheir 1)irtl l)lace, neitlher exl)eriencing any   desire to le:ve his native land.     1)escended fr'om a lon'g litne of sturdy, lionest, (Go(lfearing peol)le, thley lived out tleir quiet lives
amid tile beloved    and  famllilliar scenesll   of tleir
youth.   ()ur stubject received  lhis primary Cdu(1 lation in Switzerlanld, and, a studtlious lad, determl 1led
to acquire a 1)rofessioii, atll( chose tllhat of nce(licinle.
IIe later enjoyed op)portunities of instrucletion il
Bavaria and Strasburg, l'russia.   lile was at onle
time Assistl:ant lhysician in tle hlosplital at IBlasel,
Switzerland, whee    lie remlllliled for two and ahalf years, profititng by the supervision of lmore
explerienced pllhysicians and enjoying superior op)portunities for observation atnd studly.
Dr. Thomas served for one )year in tile a:111rm  of
Switzerlland, but in 1880 finally resolve, ] to eitiigrate to America, wlhere after a safe voyage lie
landed in tlhe metropolis of New York, an(1 tilelce
proceeding to tile interior of tle Emplire Statte
practiced his l)rofession for tllhree ye.ars iii Sworlmville.  In 1883 olur subject, recrosilsin  the ocean,
revisited his native( land andll  iiduled il ill ore
extende d travel, jouri'lc'itg,' tlrouglli A\fric': t al(1
spending some tilme ill Algielrsi..\t last r'etttllliilg to America't, I)r. Thomll 's, Jtanu ry 10, 1 885,
arrived in Muskegon, since tlhen Iiis Ierlillnnent
home.   Openinl', aii otlice, o(ur suilject Ias from
that timne devoted( limself withl)out inltermission to
the demllnds of a large practice, in wliicli lie has
been especially successfrl, handling' tlhe mnost coinplicated diseases with tile skill acltquired only by
experience.   Aside from   tile llumcrous p)atien-ts
lie has withlin te limits of tile city, Dr. T'l'lomas
covers an immense outside territory, hlis counitry
practice being an imp)ortalnt feature of his dtiily
rounds.
Our subject, who is a: vallued member of tile West
AMichligan AMedical Associ'tion, aniid likewise a member of tile   Iuskliegon  Medical Association, still
preserves his habits of stud(y lnd scientific research.
HIe was at one time a mecmbier of a (elrman association of )phlysicians and surgleons, and has at
various times made valuable contributions to the
discussions concerning a variety of diseases and


tlheir specific  treatnment.  In  Julv, 1889, 1)r.
Tlhomas was unlite(l in     marriae    w ithl l)raier
Theresia G(Ierst,   native of (1ermnany a-  d:t lady
of wortlh   and   intelligence.  Mrs. Thomas is a
member of tlhe Catllolic Chlurcll and, interested
in religiouts advalncemnent, is active in (good work.
Our subject is f raternally a mernl)er of tile Knigilts
of tle IMalccabees and), I)olitic:lly, is a pi-I,ninced
l)emoerat and a Iiril lheliever in tlhe pri lcil)les
and I)latform of thle " Party of thle l'eolle."  I)evoted to his plrofessionai work, l)r. Thlormas has
neithieri time nol' inclination to enter tile political
field, but is hleart and soul 'I true and loyal Aller'ican citizens, interested in both local and national
Governmen t.
_                    _
O (ON. MARTIN         WAALKEES.      In reviewing
the  vallious br1andclhes of inlldustria! ai ld
coin0imercial einterl)rises in tlle city of MIuskeon l, AIicli., it is otur  desire to mention
ill tllis volumine only tllose houses vllicll are tlhorougily rel)resentative in tlhe l)cculiar line of business in w\clic tlIhey  11re engraged.! In  foll(,vinag
out tlhis in teittitii we know  of no house 111 tile
city more wo()rtly of sl)ecial mention tllhtn tlhat of
Mlartin Waalkes, deitler ill clotlhing   almd (gents'
furnishin goo(lds, atld ex-Mayor of Atluskegon.   In
clothiing hle carries a full assortinenit of tile latest
st/yles nd l latterins, suited to evemry season, and the
)busilless is condiilucted in a tlIorouglimly first-class
man iner.  IIe has made a cotnplete success of lhis
tbusiness,,but only by dint of sellincg tlIe very best
articles at, tlhe very lowest prices.
Mr. Watalkes w:vs born in thle Netierlands, IIolland, March1 4, 18I51, to  thle union of John and
(Grietje (Wieringa) Wa:t:lkes.    Thle father was a
carpl)enter by trade, and followved tlat occupation
in his native country until 1866, wllen he grew
restive, b:ld adieu to friends and scenes long loved,
and pitched    tile hlousehold  tent in   Muskegfon,
Michl   In thlis city lie followed hlis businellss as cr



294


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


penter and he is well known and respected in the
community. This worthy couple became the parents of six children, of whom our subject was the
eldest. For the most part our subject's school
days were passed in his native country, but after
coming to Muskegon he attended a three-months
school, where he acquired a fair knowledge of the
English branches.
After leaving the school room young Waalkes
began clerking in the grocery store of R. Kief,
continued with that gentleman several years, and
then for two years was in a clothing-store. Later,
he began clerking for Callan & Dratz, clothiers,
and following this was with H. S. Hensen for four
years. During the time he was with the latter
gentleman he was Alderman of the Third Ward
in the city of Muskegon. Later, he was elected
to the office of County Treasurer one term, and
filled the position in a most satisfactory manner.
He has held other important positions, among them
that of Deputy Treasurer for four years, and in
every instance has discharged the duties in a most
exemplary manner. Few men have lived more
quietly and unostentatiously than he, and yet few
have exerted a more salutary influence upon the
immediate society in which they move, or impressed a community with a more profound reliance on their honor, ability and sterling worth.
His life has not been illustrious with startling or
striking contrasts; but it has shown how a laudable ambition may be gratified when accompanied
by pure motives, perseverance, industry and steadfastness of purpose.
In 1888 Mr. Waalkes started in business on his
own account, in partnership with Burt Stuit,
under the name of Waalkes & Stuit, and has continued this until the present time. In 1889 he
was elected Mayor of thecity of Muskegon on the
Democratic ticket, and served three terms by reelection, thus evincing his popularity. For a time
he was a stockholder and Director in the Muskegon
Savings Bank. In the year 1872 he was married
to Miss Trienlje Dik, of Muskegon, and eight children have been given them, six sons and two
daughters. Politically, he is a Democrat, and, religiously, a member of the Christian Reformed
Church.


C    HARLES A. BROTT, Postmaster at Moorland and one of the founders of this thriving little village, was born in Casenovia
Township, Muskegon County, Mich., on tile 24th
of October, 1858. He is a son of Jeremiah and
Lodica (Platt) Brott, natives of New York, who
migrated to Michigan in 1845 and settled on a farm
in Polkton Township, Ottawa County. Thence, in
1857, they removed to Casenovia, Muskegon
County, where they have since resided. The father,
who is a farmer by occupation, is a man possessing
sterling qualities of mind and heart, and is highly
regarded by the people of his community.
The subject of this sketch is the youngest of
eight children, six of whom are now living. He
received the advantages of a common-school education, and at the age of twenty-three began in
business for himself. Having learned the trade of
a carpenter, he followed that occupation for five
years, and then embarked in the mercantile business, purchasing the stock of Jacob D. Hart, of
Canada Corners, Casenovia Township. Two years
later lie sold his business interests at that place to
Hiram Thompson, and removed to Moorland Township, where he purchased forty acres, part of which
is the present site of the village of Moorland.
He aided in platting the town, and the Toledo
Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad llaving been completed in 1888, he built a store and put in a general
stock of merchandise.
Soon after commencing in this enterprise, Mr.
Brott met with a very serious accident, causing the
death of his eldest child and the loss of the greater
portion of his stock of goods. The accident was
due to the carelessness of a hunter, whose gun was
discharged into a large keg of powder, producing
a terrible explosion and demolishing the entire
front portion of the building. This misfortune
so nearly disheartened Mr. Brott that it was only
through the encouragement of his friends that he
re-engaged in business at this llace. Notwithstanding his reverses, he is now on a substantial footing
financially and is one of the most prosperous men
of the town. He is the present Postmaster at
Moorland, having been appointed to tlat office in
1891, previous to which time he had been Deputy.
May 10, 1879, Mr. Brott was united in marriage




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


295


with Miss Myra J., daughter of lIenry A. and Mary
(Gibbs) Dodge, both natives of New York and
since 1867 residents of Michigan. Of this union
there were born five children, three of whom are
now living: Ada L., Nettie and Charles William.
Byron N. died at the age of five years, and Frankie
passed away when an infant of six months. Socially, Mr. Brott is a member of Ravenna Lodge
No. 355, I. O. O. F., also of the order of Maccabees
at Moorland, and is now Keeper of the lodge at
this place. In politics a Republican, he has served
in numerous official positions to which he has been
elected on the party ticket. lie has been Township
Clerk for six successive terms and is the present
incumbent. Aside from his mercantile business, he
is largely interested in lumbering and milling. The
milling company of whic li e is a member las done
an extensive business, and is now preparing to enlarge its capacity and add a box factory.
rINOS STONE. Americans are the greatest
travelers on the globe, and, as a natural
consequence, in every town of any importance a good livery stable is an absolute necessity,
and adds much to the comfort and convenience
of the traveler. Enos Stone is the proprietor of
a livery and feed stable at Grand Haven, Mich.,
which is a credit to the town and to the enterprise
of the man now at its head. He comes from a
State whose men are noted for their push, enterprise and  intellectual ability-New York-his
birth occurring in Essex County August 10, 1826.
His father, Ephraim Stone, was a native of the
Green Mountain State, and his mother, whose
maiden name was Huldah Wilcox, was also born
there. Ephraim was reared to the laborious duties
of farming and lumbering, and later operated a
carding-machine in the State of New York, whither
he moved at an early day.
In the Empire State Enos Stone attained to
man's estate, and his education, like that of farmers' sons generally, was of that character that


develops the muscles while expanding the mind,
giving to both the culture so necessary to success
in life. The common schools of the State of New
York were employed to implant the rudiments of
an English education, and he succeeded in acquiring a practical knowledge of the ordinary branches
of learning. Both of his parents died when he
was in his thirteenth year, and at this immature
age lie was left to struggle with adversity as best
lie could, and for some time found it difficult to
provide himself with the bare necessities of life.
He struggled manfully onward, and at last came
to the conclusion that the West offered better inducements to the young and enterprising man
than the older East, and he accordingly, in 1847,
went to Summit County, Ohio, where he secured
employment in a sawmill, and later worked on a
farm for some years. Later he began dealing in
horses, cattle and sheep, and also bought and sold
considerable real estate, especially farming land.
In 1872 he came to Grand Haven, Mich., and
purchased an interest in a sawmill, in which he began the manufacture of pine lumber as a member
of the firm of Bigelow, Stone & Co., which business connection continued for six years. It proved
a failure financially, and besides $10,000 which he
lost lie was in debt $700 at the end of that time.
After a time he began handling wood, the annual
amount controlled by him amounting to seven
thousand cords. I-e is now doing an exceedingly
prosperous livery business, and his former experience with horses has stood him in good stead, his
animals and vehicles being well cared for and at
all times ready for the use of the traveling public.
In 1848 lie married Miss Hattie Armstead, of
Columbus, Ohio, who died, leaving him with three
children to care for: Mary J.,now a widow; Henry
H. and Bert. His second marriage occurred in
Summit County, Ohio, Miss Jane Trotter becoming
his wife, to which union no children have been
born. In politics, Mr. Stone has by no means
been a partisan, but has always been very conservative, and votes for the man whom he considers most likely to labor for the good of his section.
Notwithstanding the fact that his early life was
marked by many hardships, and that later in life
lie met with severe financial losses, he has been




296


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECOtD.


reasonably successful from a business standpoint,
and is now possessed of a comfortable competence.
His business qualities are of that class that succeed by steady industry, l)ersevering toil and incorrul)tible honesty. lie is generous in disposition and genial inl manners, and as a natural consequence has a host of friends.
AMES CAVANAUG(II, a lo prominent builder
and contractor of lMuskegon, Micli., is a
veteran of the late Civil WarV and lias occuS/ pied witl distinguished ability various inporlant p)ositions of trust in his lhome city. Born
in Grand Malanl, in tlc BP:y of Fllludy, Province
of New lrunswick, on the 27th of November,
1832, our subject was tile son of William and
Nancy N. (Starr) Cavanaugh, botll natives of
County Tyrone, Ireland, from which locality tile
father emigrated to New Bruinswick, settling in
St. John in 1826. The mother, attaining to adult
age ill tle O(ld Country, later journeyed to New
Brutnswick, wlhere she married( and became tlle
mother of thir'teen children, of whomn James was
the third in order of birth. Wlhile yet a little lad,
five years of age, Mr. Cavanaugh witil his parents
removed to New York City, whiere in early clildhood lie attende(d tlhe collmmon sclhools and received hlis primary education. Apprenticed at
thirteen years of age to a morocco manufacturer,
our subject passed seven years of his life in acqui' ing the details of a trade in whicl lie becatme
an acknowledged expert and a craftsman of more
than ordinal y skill. LHe perfected a system for tlle
tanning and dressing of lambskins and tle nmanufacturing of white kid gloves, and broulght both
art and science to bear uplon the complicated business.
In 1851 Mr. Cavanaugll made his home in l)etroit and on account of his health abandoned his
former occupation and engaged in business as a
carpenter and ship-joiner, remaining in this line of


work nntil 1857,whlen he removed to Grand Rapids.
In 1861,answering to tile cali of thle Government,
our subject enlisted at Grand Rapids in Company
A, Tlird MIicligann Infantry, wlicll company was
originally the old Valley City Guards. The regiment was under' Col. I)aniel McConnell, and the
commander of tlhe brigade was G en. Riihardson.
AMr. Cavanaugll  was Sergeant of tle skirmishers who
fired tle first shot ill the first battle of Bull Run,
and after remaining one year in tile Army of the
Potomac received his commission as Captain of
Company B,, Twenty-first Michligan Infantry, and
served with courage at tile battles of Perryville and
Stone River, also engaging in numerous skirmislies;
but in 1863, on account of failing health, was forced
to resign and returned to his former lhome. Not
long after our subject received his appointment as
Assistant Provost-Marslal of Gran-d Rapids, but
in 1865 came to Muskegon, where lie formed a
partnershil) with 1). Kelley and P. A. I)ucey, under
tlhe firm name of Kelley & Co., manufacturers of
sash, doors and blinds. In 1878 Mr. Cavanaughl
sold out lhis interest in tile business and has since
been variously employed.
In 1869, organizing a fire department in  uskegon, our subject remained its active lead until
1880,when lie resigned tlhe resl)onsible position. 1n
1875, upon tile coml)letion of tlme water works, lie
was appointed Superintendent of tile sanme and remained in full clarge until 1882, when lie resigned
and for a time engaged in tlhe sawmilling business. For three years Mr. Cavanaugll was the efHcient Superintendent of the Monroe Man ufacturinr Company, and thrl'oughlout his career hlas in lhis
private 1an1( public work given gtreat satisfaction
to all parties interested, being widely known as a
tlhoroughlly l)ractical andt honored man of business.
In 1856 were united in marrilage James Cavanaugltl and Miss Anna L. Nolan, a native of Macomb) County, lMicl., and a dauglliter of 1'. 1T. Nolan. Eigllt clildren, five sons and three daughters, liave blessed tile union of our subject and
his excellent wife. Tlie brothers and sisters are
in the ordei' of their birth: May V.; Lizzie J.;
William S., of Muskegon; Katie, the wife of P.
Talley. of Chicago; Charles, living in Menominee,
Micli.; Fank I., a student at college in Sandwilch,
A' 'Ch.; Frank   L,     'CV  1)  /C_1\~ 1II~l




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


297


Ontario; and Frederick, also in Sandwich, Ontario;
Lewis S., is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugll
are devout members of the Catholic Church and
are liberal givers in behalf of religious work and
benevolent enterprise. The pleasant home is upon
Terrace Street and is a most attractive residence,
of modern design and handsomely finished.
Politically a I)emocrat, our subject, while deeply
interested in local and national Government, is not
an office-seeker. IIe is Past Commander of Phil
Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R.,and no one more enjoys tile reunions of the veterans than lie. Mr.
Cavanaugh is a Post Regent of the Royal Arcanum
and has been for seven years, and with great ability
leld every minor office, his executive talents being
thoroughly appreciated by the members of the association. During his career of energetic industry our subject has been financially prosl)ered and
has steadily won his upward way to success and
the high regard of a wide acquaintance.
OSEPII II. (LAIRK, the enterprising junior
partner of tlhe able law firm of Jlones &
Clark, and a well-known and prominent
citizen of Muskegon, Mich., is a native of
Ohio, and was born in Erie County, near tile city
of Sandusky, )ecember 20, 1860.   H-is parents,
Nelson and Sarall (Weller) Clark, were highly
respected residents of the Buckeye State, where
they occupied positions of useful infuence. The
father, born in Vermont and tlhe descendant of a
long line of hlonored New England ancestors, possesses broad intelligence and native ability of a
high order. Partially reared and educated among
the Green Mountains of his native State, Nelson Clark later attained to an ambitious and selfreliant manhood in Ohio, to which State lie
accompanied his parents, there spending forty
years, devoted mainly to the pursuit of agriculture in Erie County. Late in life lie removed to
his present location in North Muskegon.   The


paternal grandfather, Joseph Clark, in whose honor
our subject was named, was a leading citizen of
his locality in Vermont, but became an early settler of Ohio, removing from his New England
home to the then far West, the Buckeye State, when
a large part of the land had not been reclaimed
from its original primitive condition.
The mother of our subject was born, reared and
educated in the State of New York, and was the
daughter of Benjamin Weller, who occupied a
leading position in his part of the country. Enjoying excellent advantages in her youth, the
mother grew up to an able and noble womanhood, and was well fitted to assume the care of
a home and family, and sle now resides with
her husband in North Muskegon. The parents
were blessed by the birth of but one child, a
son, Joseph II., our subject. lIe passed lis boyhood ulon the old Erie County homestead and
was early trained to the round of agricultural
duties, assisting his father in the work of the
farm and attending the nearest school of the district. IIe later enjoyed the advantage of more
advancetl study in Castalia, Ohio, and after a time
entered tile Normal School of Valparaiso, Ind.,
and graduated witlh honor. Mr. Clark then taught
school the two succeeding years in Ohio and was
more than ordinarily successful in his vocation of
instructor.
In 1882 our subject, journeying to Michigan
witl a view to establishing himself in business, remained for a time in White Rock, Huron County,
where lie taugtit school two years and, meantime
enterprisingly reading law, passed an examination
in February, 1885, and at this latter date was admitted to the Bar. ' Ie then entered the office of
Winsor & Snover, at Port Austin, Huron County,
Mich.. and remained with that legal firm one year.
lie next made his home in Manistique, Mich.,
where lie successfully engaged in the practice of
his profession until 1890, when he came to Muskegon and not long after entered into his present
partnership with Arthus Jones, the firm now enjoying an extended and rapidly increasing practice in all the courts of the State. A friend to
educational advancement and vitally interested in
the subject, Mr. Clark for three years was a valued




298


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


member of tlhe Board of School Examiners and
was the Prosecuting Attorney of Schoolcraft. Fraternally associated with the Knights of Pythias,
and also a member of tile Maccabees, our subject
numbers many stanch friends among those orders. Politically an ardent Republican, he takes a
leading place in the local councils of his party
and, financially prosl)erous, has before him  the
prospect of a bright career, and into his future
work of life carries tile hearty good wishes of all
wlio know him. Mr. Clark resides il a pleasant
part of Muskegon, making Iiis home at No. 133
Lake Street.
ORNELIUS VAN          ))OORNE, a highly-esteemed citizen and representative general
agi iculturist residing upon a valuable homestead in (rand Haven T'ownship, Ottawa County, lhas for many years been identified witlh the
growth and advancement of his neighborhood, and
is widely known as a man of sterling integrity
of character.  Iis parents came to this country
withl their family in 1851, and, locating at Grand
Island, near Niagara Falls, for three years lived
in that beautiful region of the Empire State.
Deciding that the West offered greater opportunities, tle father, Martinlus Van Doorne, brought
his family to Grand Haven, Mich., and remained
here about six months. lte thlen located about
four miles south of Grand Haven, upon a farm
wlhicll he had previously purchased, and which
conisijted of cne hundred and twenty acres, situated in the dense woods. Hard work was required to clear thle land before the soil could be
brought under profitable cultivation. The father,
a nian of high ability and excellent attainments,
passed away in 1882, mourned by many friends.
Born in the Netherlands in 1842, our subject
was but nine years of age when he accompanied
his lparents, brothers and sisters across the broad
Atlantic to America, and was only a trifle more
than twelve years of age when lie came to the


farm in the dense wood. Ite never went to school
a day in his life, but learned to read and write
through his own unaided exertions, and is a
well-informed man. In the year 1866 Cornelius
Van Doorne and Miss Anneke Ver Wy were
united in marriage. Mrs. Van Doorne was born
in the Old Country and was a mere child when,
in company with the other members of the famnily, she embarked for America. Her parents settled on Grand Island in 1852, and two years later,
in company with other emigrants from their birthplace, journeyed from New York to Grand Haven,
near which city they made their permanent home.
There the estimable wife of our subject received
her education in the district schools.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Van Doorne resulted
in the birth of fifteen children, ten of whom are
now living: Martinus C., Cornelius J., Marines S.
C., John C., Anneke C., Dirk, Margje, Cornelia, Annas and Peter. Tlie children are unmarried and
all reside with their parents with the exception of
Martinus and Marines. Of the eighty acres comprising tile valuable homestead owned by our subject, forty-five are now under a high state of cultivation and annually yield an abundant harvest
of rye, potatoes and corn, and a large variety of
fruits. The farm is improved witl a substantial
dwelling and commodious barns and sheds, and is
the abode of thrift and plenty. Mr. Van Doorne
and his family commune with tile First Dutch Reformed Church. Politically connected with the
People's party, he is well posted concerning the
cuirent topics of the day, and has for a number
of years efficiently served as Highway Commnissioner of Grand Haven Township.
-- -  ''  ' **''' *i~ylP y^1+ "- ^ m'
N. KENNEY, an enterprising agriculturist, conducts a valuable and highly-improved farm located upon section 2, Hol) ton Township, Muskegon County. For a
score of years he has aided in the development of
the State, and through his own self-reliant efforts has achieved a comfortable competence. A




RESIDENCE OF' F?. N. KENNEY,. 5F0.R.HOLTON TP.,MUSKEGON CO.,MICH.


ri


la.~~~~~~~~


RE5'cIDFNCE OF CORNE.LiiUS VAN D OORN E, SEC1O., GRAND HAVEN TP, OTTAWA CO.)IMICH.




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ii
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1
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1
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


301


native of tle Empire State, our subject was born
in Essex County in 1830, and is a son of Asa and
Lucinda (Heald) Kenney, long-time residents of
New York State, the mother being a native of Essex County. The maternal grandfather, by birth
an Englishman, early emigrated to America and
reared hlis family in the State of New York.
Asa Kenney was a son of Josiah Kenney, who
with his wife and family made his early home in
New England, but passed the latter years of his
life in the Empire State, where he was well known
as a man of ability and sterling integrity of character. Throughout his entire life lie followed the
occupation of a tiller of the soil. Iie was identified with all the local enterprises and progressive
movements of his locality, and was also an aid in
the extension of religious work, from his youth
being a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The sons and daughters who blessed
the home of Grandfather Kenney were: Amos;
Adden; Asa F., father of our subject; Marinda,
wife of James Heald; Anna, who married Asa
Saunders; Lyda, wife of Isaac Williams; and Elthius, all of whom are now deceased.
Asa F. Kenney was born amid the Green MAountains of Vermont, in Cavendish County, and received a limited education in the schools of his
birthplace. He was reared upon a New England
farmn and was thoroughly at home in the details
of agricultural work. At nineteen years of age
lie removed to Essex County, N. Y., and there
bought two hundred acres of wild land. He engaged in distilling when a young man, and through
the profits of that business paid for his farm, which
lie brought to a higl state of improvement. In
the Empire State lie married a daughter of James
Heald, and upon the broad acres where lie spent
the greater part of his life he reared to mature age
ten children, nine of wllom  are yet surviving.
lIe was a man of indomitable will and courage,
and after making his home in New York took an
active part in the War of 1812, afterward receiving a land grant from the Government. He and
his wife were active Christian workers and valued
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, lie was an ardent Jacksonian Democrat,
and a firm advocate of his party. He passed away


at the age of three-score years and ten, his wife
surviving until eighty years of age.
The sons and daughters of Asa F. Kenney were,
in order of their birth: Chittenden, Frederick,
David, Ransome N., Adoniram, Adeline (who
died at the age of seventy years), Caroline, Noursisa, Lourancy and Luream. At the age of twenty
our subject began life for himself, and first engaged in teaming and later in farming. For eighteen years he remained in the employ of others.
About two-score years ago, in Essex County, N. Y.,
were united in marriage R. N. Kenney and Miss
Rosetta, daughter of Thomas and Harriet Combs.
Unto tllis union were born six sons and daughters:
Harriet, wife of John Wooley; Mary A., wife of
Amba Tripp; Ida, wife of O. W. Ston; Allington,
residing in Scottville, Mich.; Arthur, at home;
and Bertha, an artist, in Wisconsin.
In 1873 our subject located in Muskegon, Mich.,
after having spent four years in Oceana County.
Entering eighty acres of Government land, lie
settled in the heart of the woods (mostly hemlock) and has himself improved seventy acres, all
under fine cultivation, the homestead presenting
a scene of thrift and plenty. He and his wife are
valued members of the Baptist Church, and are
ever ready to aid in the good work and religious
enterprises of their denomination. Politically a
Prohibitionist, our subject is a strong temperance
manl, and in all the relations of life may be found
upon the side of right and justice. Self-reliantly
has he won his way to a comfortable competence,
and to-day receives the high regard and confidence
due him as a self-made man and liberal-spirited
citizen.
-                  -
OHN W. BARNS, of The Bryce, Barns &
Green Manufacturing Company, of Grand
Haven, is a wide-awake and enterprising
young business man, who has the honor of
being a native of the city which is still his home,
his birth having here occurred in 1862. His fa



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


thler, John W. Barns, was a native of Vermont,
and became one of tile early settlers of Grand
I-aven, where he resided until called to the home
beyond, in 1892. In politics, he was a Democrat
and took quite an active interest in political and
public affairs. HIe served as Alderman of the city
for several years and was also a member of the
School Board.  lIe long held membership with the
Odd Fellows' Society and was widely and favorably known in this locality. IHe married Ruth C.
Breau, a native of New York, and a daughter of
Peter Breau, who was born in France. She is still
residing in Grand Haven. The ancestors of the
Barns family came from Scotland.
Our subject has spent almost his entire life in
this city. His boyhood days were passed midst
play and work, and in the common schools lie acquired a liberal education. At the age of twentyone lie made a contract to furnisl cooperage stock
for the firm of Kilbourn & Co., of Grand Haven,
and continued in that line of business for a period
of seven years, on the expiration of which lie
abandoned it in order to turn his attention to
otlier pursuits.
In 1884 was celebrated tile marriage of Mr.
Barns and Miss Lillie Stone, a lady of culture and
refinement, who is a native of Ohio, and a daughter of George W. Stone. Their union has been
blessed witli two children, a son and a daughter,
Florence and Kenneth. Thle Barns lome is a
hospitable one, and our subject and his wife rank
Iiigh in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good
society.
After discontinuing his connection with Kilbourn & Co., Mr. Barns formed a partnership with
M. L. Green and Mr. Bryce, and established the
present business, under the firm name of Tle Bryce,
Barns & Green Manufacturing Company. (ur
subject is now superintendent of the works. They
do a general planing-mill business, manufacture
all kinds of woodwork for interior finishiing,
stairs, etc., and also manufacture sasih, doors and
blinds. The mill is equipped with all the latest
improved machinery for work in this line and has
a capacity of forty thousand feet of lumber per
day.  Employment is furnished to ten men


throughout the year, and the business, which is
constantly increasing, is now in a flourishing condition under the able management of Mr. Barns.
IHe is a man of excellent business and executive
ability, pays careful attention to all details, and is
sagacious and far-sighted. I-e is strictly honorable in all deallings, and the confidence and regard of the community are his in a hligh degree. In
politics, he is a supporter of tile D)emocracy, but
has never been an aspirant for official preferment.
Socially, lie is a member of the Order of Red Men,
belonging to Iighland Camp No. 203, Maccabees.
t    AVII) M LALTGIILIN, deceased, since
1864 a prominent citizen of Muskegon,
l      nI Michl., for fourteen years the efficient
County Clerk and Register of Deeds, and
later p)rosperously coinducting a law and real-estate
business, entered into rest in 1891, mourned by
his fellow-citizens as a public loss, and highly respected by all who enjoyed thle pleasure of his
acquaintance. A man of executive ability, clear
judgment and    upright character, our subject
identified himself with all the growino interests of
his home locality, and took an active part in
local, county, State and national politics. Two
years llave passed since his untimely demise, and
to-day iis memory is as fragrant in the hearts of
llis friends as though he had passed away but
yesterday. Mr. McLaughlin, a native of Scotland,
was born in Edinborough County in tile year 1830,
and was in tile full vigor of manhood, mentally
and( physically, at the time of his death, transacting business with the energetic ambition of youth.
Ills father, William, was a Scotchll farmer, who, with
indtlstrious prudence tilling the soil of his native
land, there remained content throuohout his uneventful career.
The mother of our subject, Agnes (Brown)
IMcLaughlin, born, educated and married in Scotland, was the descendant of a long line of sturdy
ancestors, wlo throve amid the hills of old Scotia.




PORTRAiT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


803


I)avid McLaughlllin received his education in tile
common sclhools of his birthplace. lie early assisted his father in tlle round of farming duties,
and while only a lad gained an extended knowledge of agricultural pursuits. IIaving arrived at
lhis majority an ambitious and enterprising young
man, witl a desire to mingle with tle outside
world and try his fortunes in a broader field of
action, our subject resolved to emigrate to tile
United States. Bidding farewell to the friends
and scenes of childhood, lie in 1851 crossed the
Atlantic and, arriving safely in the United States,
journeyed to Illinois and settled in Cass County.
Engaging in general merchandising and meeting
witl unexpected success, lie continued to there
prosperously handle a variety of goods for tile
succeeding twelve years. In 1864, removing to
Muskegon, Mr. McLaughlin here entered into
mercantile business, and for seveial years managed
an extended business, commanding not only a
good city trade, but also enjoying a custom reaching out into the surrounding country.
When elected to tlhe position of County Clerk
and Register of l)eeds, lie retired from merchandising and devoted himself witli faithful ability to
llis public work. In tile mn t ime studying law,
our subject was later admitted to the Bar and, an
eloquent advocate and an expert in real-estate
values, prosperously combinled the two lines of
business up to tlme time wlen lie was stricken by
mortal illness. In 1853 I)avid McLaughlin and
Miss Isabella Campblell, a native of Scotland and a
dalughter of Blair and Isabella (Grey) Campbell,
were united in marriage. Five sons blessed the
union of our subject and hlis estimable wife, four
of whom are now living. William B. is Cashier of
tlhe Union Bank of Muskegon; David C. resides il
Park City, Utali;.l:mes C. is a lawyer and resident
of Muskegon; I'Prof. A. C. McLaughllin, who is the
youngest-born, resides in Ann Arbor.,John died at
the age of about fourteen. Mrs. McLaugIllin,a lady
of native wortlh and broad intelligence, continues to
reside in her pleasant home at No. 185 Terrace
Street. Our subject was a leader in the local and
State councils of thle Republican p)arty, occupied
with hlonor for twenty-five years a position as member of the School Board, and during the quarter of a


century directed Iis earnest efforts to educational
advancement and tlme promotion of higher grades
of scholarship and instruction in the schools of
MIuskegon. A man of ligll principle and sterling
integrity  of character, l)avid McLaughlin bequeathed to his children as a precious legacy the
remembrance of his spotless career as a friend and
citizen, true to every duty of life and steadfast
for right and justice.._ ~ c<-.. -_s~  ~~..   -   7^-...-2>  /
\' iAMES E. BALKEMA. As a conspicuous
example of success in business pursuits in
I Nortlh Muskegon, the establishment of Mr.
RBalkema presents a most notable instance,
its business lhaving steadily expanded from  year
to ye.ar from its inception until the present time
(1893). It is without exception the largest and
most cornmplete establishment of the city, and its
annual sales average froml,25,000 to $37,(00. Ir.
Balkema is a tlorough business man, and supervises all the details witlh a perfect system, and
deals witli all upon accurate, reliable and honorable methods.
A nlative of tlle province of Groningen, Iolland,
our subject was born October 5, 1856, being the
son of Edward B. Balkema, who died at tle early
age of thirty-eight years. Our subject's mother,
whose maiden name was Elsa Kraai, was also born
in Ioiland, and after the death of Mr. Balkema
she married John Dyke. James was the eldest of
three sons, and was a lad of nine years when lie
accompanied his mother and stepfather to America, locating with them il Grand Iaven, Micl.
Prior to leaving lolland, lie had attended the
sclools of tlat country and gained a good knowledge of the Dutch language, whichi lie uses fluentlv. For a time after settling in Grand Haven, he
conducted his studies in the common schools and
there mastered thle English language.
At tlle age of fourteen, the subject of this sketch
commenced to work in a sawmill at Grand Haven,
entering the employ of the firmi of Boyden & Ack



804


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


- - --—  --- —-—  --- —— 

ley, with whom he remained for twelve years. He
carefully saved his earnings until he had a cash
capital of $500, with which he embarked in the
general mercantile business at Grand Haven. From
the first his efforts were successful, and as he was
the possessor of excellent business qualifications,
he was prospered in hisenterprises. After having
conducted his store for five years, lie sold his interest to his partner, clearing $2,000 in the transaction.
In 1886 Mr. Balkema entered the general mercantile business at North Muskegon, and now occupies a position among the most successful merchants of the county. Although his business calls
for his close attention, he nevertheless finds time
for public affairs, and, as a Democrat, takes a
prominent part in local politics. He has served
acceptably as Treasurer of the village, Alderman
from the First Ward, and in other positions of
honor. He aided in framing the charter of the
city, and has otherwise contributed to the progress of the place. Socially, he is identified with
Lodge No. 29, K. O. T. M., at North Muskegon.
The domestic life of Mr. Balkema has been as
happy as his business career has been successful.
His marriage took place in Grand Haven in October, 1882, his bride being Miss Rosie Vyn, formerly a resident of Grand Haven, this State. She
was born and reared there, being the daughter of
Derk and Clara Vyn. The family circle is completed by the presence of five children: Elsie,
Clara, John, Richard and James.
OSEPH H. PARSONS, County Superintendent of the Poor of Muskegon County, and
a prominentand well-known resident of the
city of Muskegon, was born in Hartford
Township, Windsor County, Vt., on the 22( of
January, 1826, and comes of an old New England
family, that was founded in America by English
ancestors at an early day. His grandfather, Moses
Parsons, and his family lived at Royalton, Wind

sor County, Vt., at the time of the sacking of that
place by the Indians, and was taken prisoner and
carried to Montreal with many others. He was a
native of Hartford, Conn., and his father, Joshua
Parsons, was born in Hartford, Vt. The latter
married Laura Safford, a native of Pittsfield, Vt.,
and a daughter of Joseph Safford.
Our subject spent the first nineteen years of his
life in the county of his birth, and the public
schools of the neighborhood afforded him a good
education. At the age of nineteen years he went
to Massachusetts and there learned the currier's
trade, and later learned the trade of manufacturing combs, which he followed for about eight
years. In 1856 he severed his business connections in Massachusetts, and emigrated Westward,
locating in Michigan. Ile took up his residence
in Shernan Township, St. Joseph County, where
lie worked on a farm for eight years. The year
1863 witnessed his arrival in Muskegon County,
where he resumed farming, which he carried on
for a year.
In 1864 Mr. Parsons entered the service of his
country as one of the boys in blue of Company G,
Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, under the command of Col. Spaulding. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Ohio, commanded by
Gen. Scofield. In April, 1866, Mr. Parsons was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C., and at once returned
to his home in Muskegon. For a time he followed
various pursuits, and then among other things was
employed by the Rogers' iron manufactory for
four years as watchman, and there continued until
1875, when he was appointed Superintendent of
the County Poor Farm of Muskegon County,
which position he held for ten years. In the
fall of 1887, he was re-appointed by the Board of
Supervisors to the office, which he has since held.
He has therefore served as Superintendent of the
County Poor for more than fifteen years, and his
long-continued service certainly indicates a faithful and efficient performance of duty.
In December, 1848, Mr. Parsons was united in
marriage with Miss Clarissa Sunderlin, a native of
New York, and a daughter of David Sunderlin,
who was also born in the Empire State, as was his
father, Jeremiah Sunderlin. A family of six chil



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


305


dren has been born unto them, only three now living: Mary, wife of Capt. A. C. Majo, of Duluth,
Wis.; Nettie, the wife of David Henderson, of
Muskegon: and Nina L., wife of E. Humble, of
West Duluth, Wis.
Mr. Parsons and his wife reside at No. 129 Peck
Street. Socially, lie is connected with Kearney
Post No. 7, G. A. R. In politics, lie is a stalwart
advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
In public and private life lie is alike true, and his
official career is above reproach. A high testimonial in his favor is certainly his long-continuance in office.




+==: =7;-740Y,


J OIN CAMPBELL, member of the firm of
Gow & Campbell, manufacturers of lumber
at North Muskegon, was born in Madoc,
Canada, July 12, 1849. His father, Donald
Campbell, was a native of Scotland, and was a
mere child at the time he accompanied his parents
to America. IIe grew to manhood in Canada, and
engaged in business as a lumberman for a long
period, meeting with fair success in that occupation. H-is marriage united him with Miss Catherine McDonald, who was born in Lancaster, Canada, being the daughter of Donald McDonald, a
native of Scotland. The paternal grandfather of
our subject, Archibald Campbell, was born in Scotland, and in an early day bade adieu to his friends
in the land of thistles and, crossing the broad Atlantic, settled in Canada, where he remained until
called hence by death.
Five sons and two daughters comprised the parental family, and of these our subject was the
second in order of birth. IIe passed his childhood
years in the land of his birth, receiving such educational advantages as were afforded by the schools
of Canada. In 1866 he came to Muskegon and for
a time worked as a lumberman in the woods near
this city, in this way gaining a practical knowledge of the business. In 1882, in connection with


James Gow, he established the mill which they
have since conducted. They give steady employment to a force of thirty-eight men, and their enterprise is one of the most flourishing in the
county.
July 4, 1880, occurred the marriage of John
Campbell to Miss Florence Corsaut. This estimable lady was born in Michigan. She was the eldest child of James and Martha Corsaut, and is a
lady whose noble qualities and refined manners
have won for her a host of warm, personal friends.
Three daughters have blessed their marriage: Edna
M., Ethel and Martha F. A Democrat in politics,
Mr. Campbell has been chosen by his fellow-citizens to occupy positions of high honor and trust,
in all of which his abilities have been used for the
promotion of the welfare of the people. He served
as President of the village of North Muskegon
and as Mayor of the city, doing much while serving in these capacities to secure needed municipal
reforms. As President of the School Board, he
has taken a prominent part in educational matters
and has secured an excellent public-school system
in North Muskegon.
OHN VAUPELL. The United States have
given rare opportunities to men with courage, honesty of purpose, integrity and
energy to achieve success. The bulk of
those who have legitimately achieved fortune
have been men with the above characteristics. and
Mr. Vaupell is assuredly one of that stamp. He is
of the people, and his success as a business and
public man has come of his devotion to right and
his tenacity of purpose. He is now Secretary of
The Grand Haven Leather Company, and is widely
known throughout the community as an energetic,
honorable business man, his standing and position in both business and social circles being of
the highest and most creditable character. The
Grand Haven Leather Company was established in
July, 1885, and has a capital of $100,000. All




306


PORTRAIT AND B1IOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


kinds of harness, belts and skirting for saddles are
manufactured, and in quality, elegance and workmanship the goods turned out by this concern are
recognized as first class. The plant is located in
East Grand Haven, near the bank of Grand River.
and hemlock is the kind of bark used in tanning.
The company has good mlachinery and is well
equi)ped in all departments of the works. From
forty to fifty men are employed in the various departments, and five hundred lhides are used per
week, the pro(iucts being sliplped( East. South and to
Western cities. rTle oflicers of this company are:
A. J. Nyland, President; George Stickney, Treasurer; and Mr. Vaupell, Secretary. They are men
widely known   throughout the community     as
energetic, honorlable business men, and their
standing and position in both commercial and
social circles are of the highlest and most creditable
character.
Mr. Vaupell was born in Livingston County,
N. Y., April 12, 1852, and is tile son of IIerman
and Cornelia (Nyhuis) Aaupell, both natives of
the Netherlands. The father was a harness-maker
by trade, and followed the same in New York
State until 1860, wlen lie came to Micligan and
settled in Ottawa County. lie died in Iolland,
tilis county, in January, 1881, and   his wife
breathed her last in January, 1893. Thley were
the parents of seven children, all of whom are now
living. Until eilght yeas of lage the original of
this notice remained in his native State, and tlen
moved witl his parents to Michigan, receiving his
education in the district schools of Ottawa County
and tile Iigh Sclool in -Iolland. lie then began
his career as a shipping-clerk in tlhe store of E. J.
Herrington, a merchant of tliat place, and there
had instilled into his youtlful mind excellent ideas
of business life. lie continued to make his horne
in Holland, and for a time was connected witIh thle
bank, and also served as Marshal and Deputy
Sleriff for four years.
In the fall of 1880 lie was elected Sheriff of
Ottawa County on the Republican ticket with a
good majority. So satisfactorily and efficiently
did he discharge the duties incumbent upon tlhat
position that he was re-elected in 1882. At the
close of his last term  of office lie was made


Secrettry of tlhe Grand Haven Leather Company,
of which lie was one of tle principal organizers,
and now owns a large l)art of the stock. Mr.
Aaupell was mnarried in 1877 to Miss I-Hattie E.
Kellogg, of Grand Rapids, lMiic., but she died fifteen months later, leaving one child. In 1880 lie
married Miss.Joseplline Bicknell, of Malone, N. Y.,
laugllter of Leonar(d Bicknell, and two clildren
lave blessed tlis union: Leonard J. and Helen K.
In politics, lMr. V\aupell is an ardent supporter of
IRepublican plrinciples. lie llas a handsome residence on Franklin Street and is surrounded by all
tlhe comforts of life..=-      Jq''q''.M q'q+++''    -
q --- —  - 0 +++P 0,+ + + + F- -
-:-I.IOMAS JOI    NSTON, one of tile proprietors of the.Jolnston Brotlers' 1Boiler Works.~!"' of Ferrysburg, is one of Michigan's native
sons. his birth having occurred in Detroit in 1851.
Tile family is of Scotch origin. His grandfatlher,
IHamilton,Jolllston, was a native of Scotland, and
his father, J. W. Johnston, was there born in 1814.
The latter crossed the briny deep to America in
1814, and is now a resident of Ferrysburg.  lie
here located in 1864, and establishled the Johnston
Boiler Works, one of the leading industries of the
place. Iis wife, who bore tile maiden name of
Ann Bauld, is a native of Paisley, Scotland.
Tl'e gentleman wlhose name heads this record is
tlle eldest of three children.  Ile spent his boyhood
in Detroit and acquired his education in its common sclhools. At the age of tlirteen he accompanied lis parents to Ferrysburg, and here learned
the trade of boiler-making. Hie has a practical
knowledge of the business in all its departments
and details and is therefore well qualified to superintend the works. In the fall of 1880, lie and
his brother succeeded their father in the control of
thIe concern, which is now run under the name of
Johnston Brotlhers. In 1884, tley established a
branch business in Muskegon, wlich was carried
on under the name of the Muskegon Boiler Works,
and which was conducted until 1891, when they




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


307


sold their plant at that place. In 1892, they establislied the.Johnston Brothers Boiler Works of
Chicago, and a brotler of our subject, J. B. Johnston. has continued in charge of tlle Chicago plant,
which is located on Mather Street, between Clinton and Canal Streets.
In 1876. Mr. Johnston was joined in marriage
with Miss Nora B. Fames, of Ferrysburg, daughter
of B. F. Eames, one of the early settlers of this
place. Their union has been blessed witll a family
of four children, three sons and a daughlter,
nanmely: J. F., Robert E., Nellie V. and James II.
The parents are people of sterling worth, whlo hlold
an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Jolnston is a stalwart Republican ill politics, and is a
member of Spring Lake Lodge No. 234, A. F.&
A. M.; Corinthian Chapter No. 84, R. A. M.; and
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In connection with his other interests, Mr.
Johnston is also a stockholder in thle Grand
IIaven Leather Company. -Ie assumed full control of tlle Boiler Works of Ferrysburg, and later,
by purchase, became sole lproprietor of tile same.
The plant is 270x200 feet, and employment is furnished to about fifty men. A very superior quality of boilers is manufactured, largely for marine
and stationary engines, and the trade extends
throughout tile United States. Mr. Johnston lhas
built up a most excellent business, which lhas constantly increased from the beginning and is yet
growing. Ile is a man of good business ability,
enterprising and sagacious, and by careful management and honorable dealing lie has won the
success which now crowns his efforts. His works
are among the leading concerns of Ferrysburg,
and he is recognized as one of thle most prominent
business men.
ORNELI1,TS J. DE RO() is tlle very efficient
Secretary and manager of thle Walslh-l)e Roo
Milling Company, of Iolland, Micl. Mr.
DeRoo was born in tills county March 19, 1855,
and was named for his father, who came to this


country from  his native land, Holland, about
1847, his birth lhaving occurred in 1834.  He
settled almost immediately in Holland Township, whiere lie at once turned his attention to
milling, erecting the first mill that was ever put
up in tllat section. about three miles east of -Iolland, in 1852. He lived only a short time thereafter, his death occurring on thle 2d of September,
1855. IIe was married to Elizabeth Vandermeulen,
a daughter of Rev. Cornelius Vandermeulen, who
was tlie leader of the  Iolland colonists who settled and founded Zeeland. Mrs. De Roo was born
in Iolland, and was married to Mr. De Roo in
1854, her death occurring in 1871.
The subject of this sketch was the only clild
born to his parents, and after the death of lis
father lie went to live with his maternal grandfather at Grand   Rapids, Mich.  There he received a good, practical education in the public
schools, and after finishing at tle Higlh School he
entered the Business College of Grand Rapids,
from  whicl lie graduated. lie later became a
book-keeper for a firn of that city, but when he
attained to tile age of twenty-four years lie went
to Zeeland and engaged in milling in partnership
with II. Kepl)el, tile firm name being Keppel & De
Roo. lIe remained at that place until 1882, since
wliicll time lie has been a resident of I-olland, and
soon after coming here organized the Walsh-De
Roo Milling Company for the building of the
mill, of which lie is Secretary and manager, it being the first roller-mill erected within a radius of
one hundred miles of this city. Tle positions lie
occupies have been filled with great credit to himself, and lie has clearly demonstrated that he is a
man of sound intelligence and correct principles.
The officers are: Isaac Cappon, President. and H.
Walsh, Vice-President. The capacity of the mill
is four hundred barrels per day and two carloads
of feed and meal, and the capital stock of the concern amounts to $66,000. Mr. De Roo is the Secretary of the Holland & Chicago Transportation
Company, whicll was organized in the fall of 1892,
and whlicli is running a daily line of steamers beteen Cliicago and HTolland. The liners consist of
the propellers "City of [-olland" and "Saugatuck,"
which are well equipped and fitted up with electric




308


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


lights, etc. He is also a Director of the First State
Bank of Holland. Politically, he has always been
a Republican, and has served in the capacity of
Mayor of Holland. He has been Alderman for
two terms, a member of the Board of Education
for three terms, and is now a member of the Board
of Public.Works, to all of which organizations he
has proven an acquisition. He is a member of
the Holland Improvement Association, and has in
numerous other ways manifested a deep interest
in the welfare of the place.
In 1879 Mr. De Roo was married to Miss Sarah
Van Driele, a daughter of Frank Van Dliele, a
dealer in flour, feed and grain at Grand Rapids,
and their union has resulted in the birth of five
children, of whom two are living, Margaret and
Cornelius P. He and his wife are church members, and are people of high standing in Holland
and move in the best social circles.
RUMAN OATMAN, a successful and highly
respected general agriculturist, pleasantly
located upon section 1, Holton Township,
Muskegon County, Mich., has been a resident of
the Wolverine State for over twenty-nine years,
and during this time has been closely identified
with the growth and development of the vital interests of his present locality. Our subject, born
in Ontario, Canada, in 1845, was the son of Darius
and Sarah (McCallum) Oatman. The ancestors of
the family were of Scotch nativity, and both the
maternal and paternal forefathers were the descendants of a long line of earnest, hard-working
and intelligent people. The paternal grandfather,
Darius Oatman, was long a well-known and influential resident of the Empire State, but finally
emigrated with his wife, sons and daughters to
Canada, where he continued in the occupation of
his lifetime, farming, until his death. He was a
man of strong character and high principle, and
was esteemed by all who knew him for his excellent qualities as a friend, neighbor and citizen.


During the War of 1812, lie took an active part
and bravely aided in the defense of his home and
State.  The children who clustered about his
hearth were eight in number, five brothers and
three sisters, who, each trained in habits of industrious self-reliance, arrived at adult age well
fitted to assume the responsibilities of life.
The father of our subject, born in the old New
York homestead, spent the early days of childhood in his birthplace, and when a little lad attended the nearest scliool of the home district.
When twelve years of age he removed with his
parents to Canada, where he yet survives, a hale
and hearty man. lie was one of the pioneer settlers of Ontario, and possessing both enterprise
and ability made his upward way. He married
young, and to him and his faithful companion and
loving wife were born seven clildren. Elvira, the
eldest, married John Davidson; our subject was
the second in order of birth; then follow Norman;
Nelson; Frank; "Aug;" and Amelia, wife of Peter
Johnson. The father owns a fine farm  of two
hundred and fifty acres, highly cultivated and improved with substantial buildings. The mother
passed away in 1892, after an uneventful career of
usefulness. She was a Christian woman, whose
work for others ennobled her own life. Truman
Oatman remained with his parents until his marriage, in 1864, with Miss Geraldine Bunce, a daughter of William and Amanda Bunce, well-known
and prosperous residents of Michigan.
Immediately succeeding their marriage, Mr. and
Mrs. Oatman settled in Berlin, near Grand Rapids,
where our subject rented land and entered with
energy into agricultural pursuits. Later buying
his present valuable homestead on time, Mr. Oatman removed thither with his family and toiled
unceasingly, engaging in a variety of work in order to pay for the land, since his constant home.
Of the eighty acres which comprise the home farm
sixty are under a profitable state of cultivation
and annually yield an abundant harvest. Four
children have blessed the union, all daughters,
Lida, Jennie, Mabel and Maude, and each has enjoyed the advantages of excellent schooling in the
immediate neighborhood. Although never a politician in any sense of the word, our subject takes




Al




C —e —~
P




$T-l




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


311


an active interest in tile management of local and
National affairs, and, a D)emocrat in sentiment, is
an ardent advocate of "tle l'aity of the People,"
and in all matters of mutual welfare may be relied
upon to do Ills full share as one of the substantial
men and public-spirlited citizens of Muskegon
County.


O EORGE  I). SANFORD), ex-Postmlaster of
Grand Haven, is numbered among      tile
'A  prominent and   popular business men of
this elterprising city. lie is still a comparatively
young man, and witli a clear record in tle l)ast,
bids fair to llave a bright one in tile future. lie
was born on tlhe 7th of Jatnuary, 1843. in Kent,
Portage County. Ohio, wlhere lie attended sclool
in Ills earlier yt irs, afterward entering tile Iigh
School at Akron. lie removed with his parents to
Watertown, Wis., and in 1859, when sixteen years
of age, came with them to Grand IIaven, wllere lie
lhas made his honme for over tlirty years. Maty 1,
1873, lie married Miss Frances Stoner, (lauglter of
Jacob and IHannall (Webb) Stoner. Six children
have been born unto them, of whomn two sons and
two (ldaull'ters are living.
In 1860 Mr. Sanford started   in  business for
limself, buying out tlie news stand of George D.
Harvey, for which he paid $50. I)uring the first
week he took ill  12 of counterfeit nioley, but
that was sufficient experielce for him in tliit line,
and thle men wlho can pass a spullious article on
him to-day are scarce. I)uring war times lie (lid
a lively business in newspapers, and when his supply was exhalusted and lie was unable to furnish
liis customers, lie would mnount a store box and
read tlhe news to tlie assembled crowd.
In 1865 our subject first entered tlhe political
arena as candidate for Clerk of tile Townsllip of
Grand IIaven, which then included tlle village in
its jurisdiction, and was elected over lhis competitor, Ienry Brouwer, wlo llad never before been
beaten when a candidate, Since then MrI. Sanford


llas served ten terms uplon tile Board of Supervisors of Ottawa County, and in 1882 ca ie witllin
one vote of receiving the nomination for State
Senator, and would lprobably hlave received it, had
lie not witlldrawn in favor of Jolln Roost, of Hlolland. IIe also served as a member of tlie Board
of Education for ninle years, and was President of
that body. lie is a membe.r of five secret orders,
ill two of  hlich lie hlolds liigll and responsible offices.
IMr. Sanford received lhis appointment as Postimaster under Cleveland Augutst 15, 1885, and was
confirmed February 8, 1886. I)uring tile term  of
his office, lie could always be found in llis proper
place, and emlployillg an efficient corps of clerks,
t!ie service was above criticism, lie raking tile most
l)popular Postmaster that lhas ever served the peop)le of Grand Ilaven. November 17, 1889, lie resiglned from  tile post-oflice, wliic  li e had condlucte(d for over four years. lie mnade a most accept:able officer and enjoys tile cordial respect and
0good-will of all parties.
I Our subject lias always been a stanch l)emocrat,
and served several years as a member of tile State
Central Colmmittee of tllat party. IIe is a genial.
popular gentlcnin, lias a pleasant family, and is a
model and successful imanl of affairs, and lias by a
life of strict integrity:and faitllful attention to
Ibusiness won tile confidence of all wlho know
him.
~ _            _.... /
IIERMAN     I. BOYCE. The credit for a
K vg^  lauie share of tIle enterprise wvlichi hlelps
to make (Grand Hlaven one of tlhe most
thlriving and bustling  cities of western
AMichigan belongs in a considerable degree to such
stirring, enlergetic business men as Sherman II.
Boyce.   IIe is a public-spirited man in the broadest sense of tlie word, and liis name for many
years has been synonymous with honesty and
good judgment.   For many years he was engaged
in the lumber business in Grand Haven, but is now




312


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


retired from the active duties of life, and with
his estimable companion has a very pleasant home
on Franklin Street, this city. Mr. Boyce was born
in the State of New York, Dutchess County, February 19, 1832, and his father, John M. Boyce,
was also a native of that county, born in the year
1780. The elder Mr. Boyce was of English origin,
and followed the occupation of a farmer in his
native State all his life. His wife, whose maiden
name was Hannah Schofield, was a native of Connecticut and the daughter of Jacob Schofield.
Seven children were born to this worthy couple,
four sons and three daughters, and our subject
was the third in order of birth. Only one child
besides our subject is now living, Harvey, who
makes his home in Chenango, N. Y.
The subject of this brief memoir remained in his
native county and received his education in the
schools of the same up to the time when he was
eleven years of age. He then came witl his sister, Mrs. Divine, to Michigan, and settled with
her in Montcalm County, where he made his home
until he had reached his twentieth year. From
there lie went to Grand Rapids, Kent County,
Mich., and resided there until the fall of 1867,
when he made his first appearance in Grand Haven.
This city has been his home since. He became
connected with the lumber industry, engaging in
the business with C. L. Storrs, under the firm name
of C. L. Storrs & Co., and manufacturing pine
lumber. That business continued until 1871. In
1873 Mr. Boyce became associated with Dr. Steven
Monroe in the manufacture of lumber, under the
firm name of Monroe, Boyce & Co., and they carried on their business at Spring Lake, where the
firm is still carrying on operations.
Mr. Boyce is a stockholder and Director in the
National Bank of Grand Haven, and lie is also a
Director and stockholder in the Grand Haven Furniture Company, located at Grand IIaven. Aside
from this, he is a Director and stockholder in the
Globe Match Company, in that city. He is a most
useful and progressive citizen, whose business has
ever been conducted upon the broadest basis of
equity, and those who engaged in business relations with him could rest assured that their interests would be most carefully guarded. The


principles of the Democratic party have always
commended themselves to his judgment, and he
supports them  whenever called upon to do so
like the consistent and straightforward man that
he is. Socially, lie is a member of Grand Rapids
Lodge No. 34, A. F. & A. M., and has reached
the degree of Knight Templar. tIe is very active in lodge affairs. He built his fine residence,
and this is presided over by his capable wife, who
was formerly Miss Mary IIolbrook, of Grand Haven, to whom he was united in marriage April
10, 1881. She is the daughter of J. Holbrook, a
worthy citizen of Grand Iaven.
' REND JOHIN NYLAND affords in his life
and its success another evidence that industry, economy and integrity constitute
the keynote to honorable competency.
He is now the President of the Grand Haven
Leather Company, of Grand Haven, Mich., of the
details of which business he has a thorough and
very practical knowledge, and this, combined with
his own rigid sense of right and wrong, and his
earnest desire to do as he would be done by, has
made his name a synonym for all that is upright
and honorable. IHe is a native of Holland,where his
birth occurred on the 9th of October, 1828, lie being the youngest of four children born to the
marriage of John D. Nyland and Angeline Bovink, whose lives were spent in the Old Country,
and who were well known and highly honored in
their own immediate neighborhood.
A. J. Nyland acquired a good common education
in the schools of the Fatherland, and being a
young man who thought for himself, he became
deeply impressed with the numerous opportunities
to rise in the world offered by the United States
to young men of push and enterprise, and in this
country he determined to carve out a home for
himself. At the age of eighteen years he came to
this country, and after a short time spent in the
city of New York he removed to Buffalo, where




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


313


he put his hands to any honorable work which lie
found to do until he secured employment in a
tannery, where lie learned all the intricacies of
tlhe leather business, and where his intelligence
and energy soon brought lim to the notice of
tlhe proprietors and secured for him good wages.
At the end of seven years, or in 1854, lie came
West to Michigan, anid for one year thereafter lie
was a resident of Kalamazoo. With a view to bettering his prospects lie removed to Breedsville,
Mich., where lie worked for two years alt his trade,
at the end of which time lie went to Ilolland,
Mich., in tile vicinity of which place he followed
farming for four years, and although unfamiliar
witl tlhe work made a reasonable success of it.
From I-olland lie removed to Grand IIaven, where
lie acted in the capacity of superintendent of
a tannery for eighteen months, his superintendency only terminating by tile burning of the
building in which lie was employed. lie then
engaged in business on his own account in Giand
Rapids, Mlici., for eigliteen mn ths,when tliat building was also burned. Tills entailedl quite a heavy
loss, as the building and contents were not insured,
and threw him out of employment for a time, but
it was not long before lie was following the same
line of work in an establislimelit at Milwaukee,
Wis., owned by Ierman Zolirlant, with whom lie
remained in friendly relations for seven years.
Wlhen this time lhad expired IMr. Nyland returned to Hollalnd, Mich., and became Sulperintendent for Cappon & Bertschl, tlle proprietors of
an extensive tannery, fourteen years being profitably spent in tils service. Since tllat time lie has
been a resident of Grand  Iaven, having previously purchased an interest in tle Grand lHI:tven
Leather Company, which is one of tlhe solidly established institutions of the place. and of lwhich
lie has been lPresi(lent for some time. Success lias
attended him  as a business man, the result of his
untiring energy, diligent application and strict
integrity. To tlhe coming generation and to those
already embarked in business life his example is
most worthy of imitation. lie was married in
1851 to Miss Dena Sclowenaar, of Buffalo, N. Y.,
by whom he became the father of eleven children,
seven of whom are living: Nellie, wife of C, Lan

daal; Jennie D., Cornelius C., Henry, Arend J.,
Martha M. and Ilerlman Z. Four children, two
sons and two daughters, are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Nyland are members of the Dutch
Reformed Church and are highly respected by all
the citizens of Grand Haven. They liave a good
residence, comfortably and tastefully furn islhed,
and their lome has come to be recognized as one
of great hospitality. Politically, Mr. Nyland is a
Republican, an(d his sketcl may al)propriately be
closed by saying le is an lionest man, a good citizen and an lionor to his native country, as well as
to tlhe land of his adoption. Ie lhas lield positions of trust, being at one time Alderman wliile
a resident of Holland. Ils sons, following in his
footsteps, lhave the confidence of tlie public, and
C. C. served as Alderman in Grand Iaven, wlile
Herman is an Alderman at p)resent.._  ~  ox _-. t   v *1-_.....'.. -.....
E    NOS B(YER, the courteous a.d energetic
s sipping clerk of tle mechanical depart1 -  n ment of tlhe Cliicagyo & West Micliigan
Railroad, at Iuskegon, Micill., lias for years been
identified witli tile social and business 'nterests of
liis present locality, and, transacting tile various
duties of his resl)onsible position witli able fidelity,
possesses tile confidence of tile officers of the railroad and lias gained tlie esteem  of the general
public. Mr. Boyer is a native of Ohio and was
born in Aslland Coullnty May 6, 1844. His fatlher,
Johln Boyer, a native of Pennsylvania, born in
Huntingdon County in 1804, anld reared and educated within tile borders of the Qulaker State, attained to manhood enterprising and self-ieliant.
Early removing to the Bluckeye State, lie became
one of the pioneer settlers of Aslland County, and
there, rearing to honored usefulness his family,
survived to reach his eighty-fifth year, and after a
life of energetic industry passed away in Williams
County, Ohio. l)uring his residence of about a
half-century within the boundaries of the State of
Ohio, the father witnessed the wonderful dcvelop



314


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ment which transformed the once wilderness into
flourishing farms and smiling villages.
The Boyers are of German ancestry, their sturdy
forefathers crossing the Atlantic and settling in
Pennsylvania in a very early day in the history of
our country. The mother, Margaret (Schantz)
Boyer, was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., but
like her husband was the descendant of worthy
German ancestors, who bequeathed to their children and children's children the habits of plrudent
thrift and earnest effort which have gained them
prosperity and useful influence. Our subject at
the age of two years removed with his parents
from his birthplace to Williams County, where lie
attended school and began the work of life upon
his father's farm. John Boyer was by trade a
blacksmith, and with this occupation profitably
combined the tilling of the soil. Enos, thoroughly
trained in agricultural pursuits, became a practical
farmer, and until twenty-two years of age aided
in the conduct and work of the old homestead.
Leaving the farm in 1866, he then ran a sawmill
and engaged successfully in this business for six
years. At the extliration of this length of time
our subject again returned to the life of a farmer,
and, cultivating the acres of the old home, continued in the peaceful vocation for a number of
years. In 1886 Mr. Boyer removed to Michigan,
and, locating in Muskegon, for four years worked
for his brother, William Boyer.
In 1890 our subject embarked upon his own account in the grocery business, which he conducted
successfully for two years, and then, selling out,
accepted his present excellent positionl, in which he
has full control of the shipping department. In
1869 Enos Boyer and Miss Mary A. Mills, of Williams County, Ohio, and daughter of William
Mills, likewise a native of Ohio, were united in
marriage. The paternal grandparents of the estimable wife of our subject were numbered among
the pioneers of the Buckeye State and, widely
known, were held in high esteem. Mr.. and Mrs.
Boyer are the parents of two sons, Walter -H. and
Charles Isaac. Our subject and his devoted wife
are both valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active in religious and benevolent work. Their pleasant home is located


upon the corner of Jackson and Prospect Streets.
Our subject is fraternally associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a member
of Muskegon Lodge No. 133. In political affiliation a stanch Prohibitionist, Mr. Boyer gives
his earnest influence in behalf of the betterment
of his fellow-men, and without being himself
troubled with political aspirations is well posted
in local and national affairs. A man of business
ability and upright character, he has won his upward way and fully possesses the high regard of
the entire community by whom lie is surrounded.
JA ARK B. COVELL,      a promlinent citizen
|1  and enterprising lumberman of Whitehall,
A Muskegon County, Micl., lias long been
intimately associated with the progressive
interests of his present locality, and is widely
known as a public-spirited citizen and thorougll
business man. Our subject was born in Ridgebury, Bradford County, Pa., June 26, 1849, and
was tile tenth of the twelve children born unto
Calvin T. and Elizabeth (Coleman) Covell. The
father, also a native of New York State, was the son
of James Covell, who had seen service in the War
of 1812. IIe took part in the battle of Plattsburgh,
and moved from    New York to   Pennsylvania
when lie was Captain of the militia. The paternal
great-grandfather, Jonathan Covell, was a soldier
of the Revolutionary War, and transferred to his
son James a tract of land which he had purchased. The wife of Jonathan was of Dutcl descent. James married a Spanish lady, Rebecca
Peirce. The early members of the family were
farmers, and possessed only moderate means, but
were among the most loyal and highly respected
citizens of the United States. Thle immediate aincestors mostly lived and (ied in Pennsylvania,
where the father of our subject passed away in
1879.
The record of the mother's family is very limited. Elizabeth Coleman was undoubtedly born




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


315


in the State of New York, and there received her
primary education. 'She died in Pennsylvania in
1857. The late A. J. Covell, brother of Mark B.,
went to White Lake, western Michigan, in 1857,
and since tile name of Covell llas been a familiar
one up and down the lumber camps of that part of
the State. The otlier brothers, joining A. J., also
labored industriously among the pineries, where
they arrived sturdy, determined young men, with
but little or no capital, and solely with resolution,
perseverance and their excellent business ability,
soon laid the foundations of the competence which
each gained the following years. Andrew.J. Covell, the eldest of the family, settling at White Lake,
now Whitehall, died in 1885, leaving a fortune.
Lyman Covell, identified with the lumber interests
of Whitehall from the early '60s, is now, and has
been since lie tirst engaged in the business, the
partner of Ion. II. E. Staples, who married a sister of the Covells. Lyman, probably the wealthiest of tile brothers, is a man of enterprise, identified with every l)rogressive interest of his locality.
1). W. Covell, a farmer near Whitehall, is highly
esteemed.
Charles E. and Mark 13. are partners in business.
Augusta M. Covell became the wife of John C.
Lewis, the lumbermen's banker and capitalist of
Whitehall. IRebecca is tile wife of the lIon. LI. E.
Staples. These four brothers and two sisters are
tlhe only survivors of the twelve children who
once gathered about the family lhearth. Our subject spent his early life upon his father's farm in
Pennsylvania, and received but a common-school
education. At twenty-one years of age lie came
West. located in Michigan, and for five years
worked for the firm of Staples & Covell. At the
expiration of that time lie engaged in tile grocery
business in company with T. Bennett, under the
firm name of T. Bennett & Co. For ten years the
partnership continued prosperously, Mr. Covell
also investing in lumber and owning and operating a line of boats between Whitehall and Chicago. In 1890, he disposed of his former interests,
and in 1891 bought from the heirs the business of
his late brother, Andrew J., and is now head of the
large mills, and has an interest in a shingle-mill
and various manufacturing plants of Whitehall.


Our subject has been uniformly successful in all
his business undertakings, and the Covell brothers,
whose estate places them among the large capitalists of Muskegon County, are also widely known
for their sterling integrity and upright dealings
with customers and employes.
Mr. Covell has been twice married. He was
first married in 1875 to Miss Mary Byhra, a lady
of Norwegian parentage. She died in 1891, leaving no issue. In the winter of 1893, our subject
was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wilson, a
native of Scotland, who came to Whitehall with
her parents when two years of age. Fraternally,
Mr. Covell is a valued member of the Ancient
Free & Accepted Masons, and politically has been
a life-long Republican, and a descendant of an old
Whig family. For the past eighteen years he has
with fidelity discharged the duties of Treasurer of
Whitehall, and in all matters pertaining to the general welfare is a liberal-spirited and progressive
citizen.,  ON. CItARLES K. HOYT, the present
I       )Representative of the Second District in
thle State,egislature, and a prominent
(   business man of HIudsonville, has contributed as largely to the progress of Ottawa
County along the lines of material and moral
development as any other citizen now residing
here.  An excellent financier, shrewd business
man and progressive citizen, he has, while still a
young man, achieved a large measure of success,
and has gained a position of distinction in this
portion of the State. lie traces his ancestry to
England, whence in an early day members of the
family emigrated to America. His grandfather,
Keeler Hoyt, was a brave soldier in the War of
1812, and was, during the larger part of his career,
a resident of New York.
The father of our subject, Nelson Hoyt, was a
native of Manlius, N. Y., born January 16, 1820,
and in the Empire State he married Miss Elizabeth,




316


PORTRAIT AND 3IO R APHICAL RECORD


---------


daughter of Peter Barber, both of whom    were
born near Baldwinsville.  After their marriage
tlhe plarents of our subject came to Michigan and
settled in Waterloo Township, Jackson County,
where the father still resides, being now among
the oldest surviving settlers of his community.
His first wife, tlhe mother of our subject, died
August 4, 1863, and he afterwards married again,
becoming by tile latter union the fatlier of one
cliild, Scaborn. In politics a stanch Republican,
lie was tile occupant of a number of township offices
and served with fidelity in thle various offices to
whicl lie was elected. IHe was a liberal contributor
to religious enterprises, and Ilis wife, our subject's
mother, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Our subject is one of six clildren, four of
whom are now living. 'They are, Albine L., wlio
married Fannie Finch, by whom lie has become
tlie father of five clildlen; Rev. Peter B., wilo
married Leora Hlall, and resides in Colmmerce, Oaklauln County, Mich., Charles K.; and Harry lI., of
Lawton, wlo married Eva R., daughter of John
N. Waite, of whom see sketch elsewhere in this
volume. Harry H. and his wife are tile parents of
three children. The next to the youngest of tile
family is tile subject of this sketch, who was born
in \Waterloo Township, Jackson County, Mich.,
June 18, 1859. Ile was reared on a farm, and was
educated in tile common sclools of Waterloo Townslhip, wlere he fitted himself for the profession of
a teacher. IIe was thus engaged in Jackson County  in tile winter of 1875-76, and in Hanley,
Ottawa County, for two years, and later in ludsonville for two and one-half years.
From this place Mr. Iloyt went to Pierson,
Monltcalm County, where lie was employed as
book-keeper for F. F. Taylor, a lumber and drygoods rierchant of tllat place. In 1885 lie returned to Hudsonville, where lie embarked in
business for lhimself, opening a store aind filling it
with a complete stock of groceries, dry goods and
notions. IHe still conducts this establishment, although lie no longer gives his personal supervision
to tile details of its management. A Republican
in political belief, he llas for years been prominent
in politics and has frequently served as a delegate


to county and State conventions. For four years
lie filled the position of Clerk of Georgetown
Township, and during    the administration  of
President Harrison lie served as Postnmster at
Hudsonville, resigning that position in order to
accept tile nomination to tlre Legislature.
In 1892 Mr. tIoyt was tile Republican candidate for the position of Representative of the
Second District, and, being elected to that responsible office, assumed tile duties of the place on
the 4th of January, 1893. He has served as Chairman of tlhe Committee on Towns and Counties, as a
member of the Committee on Insurance, and as a
member of tlre Committee on tile Northern Asylum
for the Insane, located at Traverse City; lhe was also
on the Committee of Escort from tile Legislature
to tlle funeral of the Hon. Mr. Leavitt, of Oceana
County. lIe has been prominent in fighting the
saloon legislation and llas worked ardently against
increase of salaries, as well as for all measures
beneficial to farming interests. He was elected
for a period of two years and is still filling tlle
position, rendering satisfactory service on behalf
of lris constituents.
The marriage of Mr. HIoyt occurred November
18, 1880, and united him with Esther M., daughter
of William H. and Anna (Barber) McEachron, natives of New York and early settlers of Georgetown Township, Ottawa County. Later they resided in Jamestown Township, and at tile present
time (1893) they make their home in -Iudsonville.
Tley have been the parents of seven children, of
whom   five are now   living.  Their daughter
Esther M. was born in New York March 19, 1863,
and was educated in lhis State, having formerly
been a teacher in Ottawa County. HIer parents
were members of the Mlethodist Episcopal Church,
and her father was Trustee of the churcl h at Hanley, but she affiliates witli tlhe Congregationalists,
and is an active worker in that denomination, to
which Mr. Hoyt also belongs. Both are prominent workers in tile Sunday-school, and lie lias
officiated as Trustee in tile church. They have a
family of four children, Birney G., Ralph L.,
I-arold R. and an infant unnamed.
From his youth Mr. Hoyt has maintained a
deep interest in the cause of education, and lie has




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


317


been a member of the School Board ever since becoming a resident of  -Iudsonville. The schools
of this place compare favorably with those in
larger towns, and an excellent system of grading
las been introduced through his efforts, assisted
by others. In his social connections lie is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and has filled all the chairs in the lodge here,
which he has also represented in the Grand Lodge.
He is a member of the Order of Maccabees, and
is at present officating as Sir Knight Commander, being the first occupant of that position in
the order in Iludsonville.
AMUEL II. STEVENS, Postmaster and insurance agent of Muskegon, was born in
) Rochester, N. Y., March 4, 1831, and is of
English descent, the family having been
founded in America by ancestors who came from
England. His grandfather was Artemus Stevens,
and his parents were Samuel and Frances Miranda
(Hoyt) Stevens, natives of Massachusetts.
The subject of this sketch spent the first twelve
years of his life in Batavia, N. Y., and then emigrated Westward to Waukegan, Ill., where he
grew to manhood and acquired his education. He
worked on the home farm  until fifteen years of
age, when his services as a farm  laborer ceased
and lie was employed in mercantile pursuits. In
1856 he came to Muskegon and engaged in the
drug business. The following year he became a
partner of Judge Wylee, under the firm name of
Wylee & Stevens, proprietors of a general merchandise establishment, whicl they conducted together until 1861, when the firm retired from
business.
The same year Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Miss Laura S. Boyce, of Detroit, Mich.,
a daughter of Thomas Boyce. Their union was
blessed with a family of five children, three sons
and two daughters: Kate F., wife of Arthur
Sanford, of Muskegon; William H., who is clerk

ing in the postoffice; and Grace L., who is still
with her parents. Harrison J. and Edmost S. are
deceased.
In 1862 Mr. Stevens formed a partnership with
Ira Smith in the mercantile business. At the
expiration of six years, Mr. Stevens purchased his
partner's interest, and devoted his time and attention to his business for nine years. His next venture was in an entirely different line. He opened
an insurance office and became agent for both fire
and life companies; and this business he has since
successfully carried on. In 1891 he was appointed
Postmaster of Muskegon by President Harrison,
and is now the incumbent of that office. In all
his business dealings he has been honorable and
upright, and has therefore won universal confidence and regard.
In politics, Mr. Stevens is a Republican and an
inflexible adherent of the party with which he has
been identified since its organization. Socially,
he is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge,
and also holds membership with Muskegon Lodge
No. 140, A. F. & A. M. He has been connected
with the interests and growth of Muskegon for
thirty-six years, has been prominent in all public affairs that are calculated to promote the general welfare. and is recognized as one of the leading and valued citizens.
J ACOB BAUKNECHT, a prominent business
man and well-known wholesale dealer in
wood, coal and shingles, Muskegon, Mich.,
j   / has for the past twenty-seven years been
intimately associated with the leading interests of
his present locality, and enjoys a wide acquaintance and the sincere respect of many friends.
Born in Germany in 1845, our subject was the
descendant of a long line of sturdy ancestors, who,
through industrious thrift, steadily won their way
upward to positions of useful influence. His father, John Bauknecht, a cooper by trade, reared,
educated and married in his native land, was a




318


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


man of sterling integrity and upright character,
and died in Germany. (ur subject's mother married again and camle witih ller lhusband to try their
fortunes beyond tle sea, that through the broader
opportunities offered by a republican Government
their chlildren might rise in the world.  Jacob
was but tlree years of age when, crossing the Atlantic, he emigrated with Ilis mother to America.
Landing in New York City, tlec family proceeded
on their way to Albany, whiere tlie stepfather and
motlier p)elmanently located,,anl tliere Mr. Bauknecht received his education in tile public schools
of the city and later worked diligently in a stove
foundry.
Until tile year 1861 our subject pursued the
even tenor of lhis way in Albany, but when tlle
war broke out, answering to tile call of the
Government, he enlisted in Com:pany D, Fortythird New  York Infantry, commnanded by Col.
Vinton, and, assigned to the Army of the Potomac, courageously participated in the following decisive engagements: Gettysburg, Antietam,
Marye Heigllts, and tile Seven-Days' Battle. In Noveinlber, 1863, he was taken prisoner near Warrenton, Va., and was incarcerated ill Libby Prison
and upon Belle Isle until Ma:rcll 22, 1864, when,
having undergone inost terrible privations and
sufferings, our subject wais exclianged anld went to
Ann'apolis to recup)erate. Immnlediately upon tlle
partial recovery of Iiis strengthl, lie nobly returned
to tlhe service, and was sent to re-enforce Gen.
Burnside in a tllree-dlys filght at Cold HIarbor, aifter wliicl lie returned( to hils own regimelit:it Petersburlgl. In tile fall of 1864, mustered out, 1Mr. Bauknecllt returned to his Albany homne, and in the sl)ring of 1866 journeyed
to tle fartlier West and settled in IMuskegon. A
man of clear judgment, he saw hlis opportunities
in tlle leading interest of tle State, lumbering, and
for eighteen continuous years ran a sawmill with
excellent results. In 1884 he embarked in his present flourisiing business, profitally sellilig wood,
coal and slingles at wliolesale, and in al cornparatively brief time building up a business wliici in
its extent is second to no other in this locality.
In the montlh of April, 1871, were united in
marriage Jacob Bauknecht and Miss Annie Jesson,


wlo was born in Sweden and is a lady of worth
and superior ability. Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of tlhree
sons and two daughters, wllo with their cheerful
presence brightened tile pleasant home on tile
corner of IHoustonl and Seventh Streets. Ienry A.
is tile eldest-born; then follow  in order of birth
Celia A., Jesse G., Paul Edward and Dora Belle.
These brothers and sisters will all have tile benefit of excellent educational advantatges and be
given every opportunity to fit themselves for any
position of trust to wllicl they may be called.
Mr. Bauknecht is a member of Phil Kearney
Post No. 7, G. A. R., and is fraternally associated
witli Muskegon Lodge No. 133, A. 0. U. W. IIe
takes an active interest in all matters of public
welfare and is intelligently posted on the vital issues of tile day.
/OIIN P. NABER, a prominent agriculturist,
and a courageous veteran of the late Civil
War, hlas for years been Scliool Moderator in tile district of liis home locality,
section 34, Holland Townsilp, Ottawa County,
AMicl. Born in tlhe Netherlands March 19, 1841,
our subject was the son of Peter and Catherine
Naber. The father, wihose birthday was April 15,
1810,was likewise born in tle Netherlands, bult now
makes llis home in Iloll'and Townslip, section 35.
'The l)aternal grandparents, honest, hard-working
people, were.Joln and Cora (Vandersklier) Naber.
'Tile parents of our subject, accompanied by their
family and a brother of tile father, set sail for tile
United States alarch 5, 1848, and were forty-two
days making tile voyage. Landing in New York
City they proceeded by canal boat to Buffalo. From
tlle latter city they journeyed to Chicago by boat,
and thlence came to Iolland, Mich., where the
father's *200 were soon exhlausted, as lie purchased
forty-five acres of land at $3 per acre, and was
obliged to at once lay in a stock of groceries and




It




JOHANNES G.VAN HEES




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


32i


provisions for the use of his family, who lived
witli their neighbors until their little house was
built. The children of the parents were Cora,
John P., Jakobena, Peter and Mary. The fatler,
a devout member of the Reformed Church, was
for ten years a D)eacon at Iolland and for ten years
lield the same sacred office in the Ebenezer Church.
Politically, he is a Republican and a tloroughly
loyal citizen.
Only seven years of age when ihe came to America, our subject received but little schooling in the
Old Country, and never had much opportunity to
gain an education. lIe worked on his f'ather's
farm  until twenty-one years of age, then enlisted
in 1862 in Company I, Twenty-fifth Micligian
Infantry, and, eng(aged in tile Army of tlhe Cunberland, fought at Tibb's Bend and actively particilated in every battle fought under Sherman
until they reached Atlanta. Later lie took part in
tlhe engagement at Nashville, and altlhough in thle
midst of seventeen fierce encounters was never
wounded nor taken prisoner, neither was lie absent
from his regiment one day. Receiving liis honlorable
discharge in North Carolina, Mr. Naber was minstered out of the Government service in,Jackson,
Mich. Returning home, lie again resumed the
clearinlg of thle land, and now owns one hundred
and twenty-live valuable acres, one of the most
finely cultivated farms and substantially improved
homesteads in tile locality. Our subject is a thoroughly l)ractical farmer, trained from hlis early
childhood to the tilling of the soil; lie also understands tlhe culture of vegetables and fruit, and
has made a success of agricultural pursuits, and
upon Ilis extensive homestead lias some excellent
stock.
John 1P. Naber and Miss HIenrietta I)eliaan were
united in marriage June 14, 1866. Mrs. Naber is
the daughter of Jolln and Cliacolena Delhaan, and
was born in tile Netlerlands, as were also her parents, wlo emigrated to the United States when tlle
estimable wife of our subject was but four years of
age. Five children lhave blessed the union of Mr.
and Mrs. Naber: Catlerine, Edward, Peter, Cllacolena and John. Mr. and Mrs. Naber are both devout members of the Reformed Church, of whicl
our subject hlas been a Deacon for a number of


years. Politically a Republican and an earnest
advocate of the party, lie has given great satisfaction in his position as Sclool Moderator, and, intimately associated with the progressive interests
of thle township, is regarded with high respect, and
in his wide acquaintance commands the sincere
confidence due his sterling integrity and business
ability.
(     B13ERTUS G. VAN    IIEES, a successful
farmer and stock-raiser of Zeeland Township, Ottawa County, was born in the city
of Rotterdam, Iolland, April 16, 1838,
and is the son of Johannes G. and Neeltje (DeVries) Van Hees. His paternal grandfatlher, Albert
Van Hlees, served in the army under the famous
Napoleon in 1805, and upon retiring to civic life
enrgaged in business 's a palper manufacturer. Iis
death occurred at the age of forty-five years. He
was survived for many years by his wife, Anna,
who passed from earth in 1851, at the age of
eiglty-three. She left two clildren, Johannes G.
and Jansje.
The fatlier of our subject was born in Gelderland, Holland, in the city of Arnhein. At the age
of sixteen years lie removed to Rotterdam, where
lie married Miss Neeltje l)eVries and resided
nineteen years. Thence, in company with a colony of fifteen hundred of lis compatriots, ie
came to America. Leaving Holland on the 16th
of August, 1847, lie landed at Sag Harbor, Long
Island, on the 20th of (ctober, 1847. His destination was Pella, Iowa, which had been founded
by Rev. II. P. Scliolte. Hle arrived in Chicago
November 18, 1847, and, as the season was then
far advanced, lie remained in tlat city during the
winter. Early in 1848 lie started on foot with
Jacob Bogards for tlie Dutch settlements of
AMichigan, spending two weeks en route. Abandoning his Pella sclleme, he located in Zeeland,
where he arrived on the 16th of August, 1848,
accompanied by his wife, son and father-in-law,
the latter eighty years of age.
-— `- -"~~~' "b"~.i J """ "'z




322


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


At once after settling in Zeeland, Johannes G.
Van Hees became a leader in the colony, both in
political and church circles. He served as Supervisor of the township for twenty-two years and
five months, and also served in other important
positions. A man of noble powers, great ability,
sound common-sense and unusual memory, he was
fitted for the prominent position lie occupied. He
followed the other leaders of his people, Scholte,
Van Raalte. C.Van Der Meulen and others, and left
the State church and his Fatherland for a free land
and a free church. Prior to 1864 lie was a Democrat, but afterward affiliated with the Republicans.
Possessing the most scrupulous ideas of honor and
right, he would not tolerate the least dishonesty
in another.
A friend to the public school system, Mr. Van
Hees served as a member of the School Board
until 1883, when advancing years and enfeebling
powers induced him to resign. Respected and
honored in life, he was mourned when he died
suddenly on the 13th of September, 1891. For
many years prior to his decease he made his home
on section 19, where he had originally owned forty
acres and later was the owner of one hundred
acres. A ruling Elder in the church, lie was prominent in religious affairs, and was a generous contributor to the cause of Christianity. His wife,
who was born April 23, 1803, passed from  earth
August 13, 1874, at the age of seventy-one. She
was a daughter of Gerret DeVries, a native of
Rotterdam, Holland, and a grocer and mason by
trade. After his wife's death, he came with his
daughter to America, in 1847, and died in the
spring of 1849, at the age of eighty-three.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm
and received a liberal education, both in Dutch
and English. He made his home with his father
until the demise of the latter, and still occupies
the old homestead of one hundred acres, where lie
tills the soil and engages in raising Shropshire
sheep and other stock. A Democrat prior to 1860,
he has since that time been a Republican and has
been elected upon his party ticket to numerous
positions of trust. He has frequently served as
delegate to State conventions, has been Notary
Public for twelve years, and is now Justice of the


Peace. A member of the Reformed Church, he has
been a Deacon for fourteen years, and since 1890
has served as Elder.
May 26, 1856, Mr. Van Hees married Francina,
daughter of Arie and Jannetje (Dellaan) Van Bree,
and a native of South Holland. Mr. Van Bree was a
butcher in the Old Country, and served in the
Belgian War in 1832. After coming to the United
States in 1849, lie followed the trade of a butcher
for a few years, also engaging in business as a
shoemaker. He died in Zeeland, December 7,
1891, at an advanced age, haviing been born March
13, 1811, Iis first wife, who was born in 1791,
(lied in July, 1875. Mr. and Mrs, Van Hees were
the parents of fourteen children, only five of
whom survive: John G., of Big Rapids, who is
married and has two children, Frances E. and Vera
M.; Arie; Nellie, the wife of Dirk Pyl, and the
mother of one child, Frances; Albert G. and Anna
F., residing at home. Frank died at the age of
two years, and Jane F. passed away when a girl of
fourteen.
USrTUS STILES, the oldest living settler in
Polkton Township, who voted at the organization of the township, and was in fact
the first settler in town 8, range 14 west,
with the exception of the trappers and hunters
along the river bank, has been' a resident of the
State of Michigan almost three-score years, and
has been a dweller within the county of Ottawa
since 1844. Our subject, a native of St. Lawrence
County, N. Y., was the second of ten children
born unto Justus and Aurilla (Clark) Stiles, both
natives of New England. The father was born in
1778 in Vermont; the mother's birthplace was
Massachusetts. The paternal ancestors were of
English birth. The responsibility of the care and
training of the younger sons and daughters of the
parents devolved mainly upon the son Justus,
who, with enterprising and self-reliant effort, assumed the burdens of the day in his early boy



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


hood. Nancy L.. the eldest of the family, became
the wife of George Cane and made her home in
Battle Creek; Justus came next; Amos lives il
Calhoun; Chauncey S. died in Ottawa County;
Richard C. also passed away in Ottawa County;
Mary A. is the wife of II. Hall, of Battle Creek;
Cynthia, deceased, was tle wife of Jolln Dickenson;
Alma J. is the wife of Edwin Van Winkle, of Battle Creek; Julia A. married Henry Hall, of Battle
Creek; and -Harvey C. died young.
Our subject accompanied his parents to Battle
Creek in 1835, and they found but one frame house
where tlhe city now stands. The father not long
after died, leaving to the care of the widow a large
family of little ones. In 1844 Mr. Stiles was united in marriage witll Miss Ann Streator, and with
his wife soon after made his home in Ottawa
County. They located upon the identical spot
where their first house stood nearly a half-century
ago, and there our subject, toiling industriously,
cleared tile eiglhty acres of land of heavy timber,
and erected a log cabin beside the very stumps of
the trees felled for tlat purpose. At the organization of the township sixteen voted in the first
election lleld at Scranton, now Eastmanville. Mr.
Stiles declined to accept many offices of tile township which were tendered himr, but when he did
occasionally permit tile use of his name lie was invariably elected. Ile and his excellent wife, sliaring in the toils and privations of pioneer life,
buried five little ones in infancy and reared to
adult age five sons and daughters. The eldest
surviving cthild is E. II., now Postmaster at Coopersville; Josephine is the wife of R. Orson Dodge,
of Newaygo; Jane, deceased, was the wife of Edgar
Hamilton, of Coopersville; Henry J. lives upon
the old home farm; and IIezza is the wife of IHarrison Averill. of Ottawa County. Mr. and Mrs.
Stiles are botlh remarkably well preserved, being
hale and hearty and enjoying their many daily
blessings.  Our subject, who is in his seventyfourth year, has witnessed the many remarkable
changes incidental to the life of tlhe frontiersman.
Politically, he and his son are strong D)emocrats
and deepy interested in botl local and national
issues.
Mr. Stiles has until recently taken an active in

terest in the schools of the county, and is a wellknown friend to educational advancement. IIe
gave his children a good common-school education,
and his eldest son taught school many years. Our
subject, although a man of sterling integrity of
character, has never been connected with any
church organization or fraternal society. E. H.
Stiles, tle eldest living son of our subject, was
born in Polkton Township in 1849, and, growing
up to manhood on his father's farm, assisted in the
summer and in the winter attended the district
school. When about twenty-two years of age he
engaged in teaching school and, continuing for
five years a successful instructor, in the mean time
attended the Grand Rapids Business College. Until the winter of 1892-1893 lie taught continuously, and during the summer months, as in
youth, engaged industriously in the pursuit of
agriculture. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary
A. Coburn, of Zeeland, and a daughter of Milan
Coburn. This excellent and accomplished lady
was always delicate, and upon July 2, passed
away mourned by all wlo know ler. Mr. Stiles
hlas been active in the local politics of Ottawa
County and ably served as Clerk of Polkton
Township. In June, 1893, lie was commissioned
under President Cleveland Postmaster of Coopersville, an office whose duties he is well adapted
to discharlge to the great satisfaction of his fellowtownsmen. Fraternally, Mr. Stiles is a Knight of
I-onor, and socially is a plopular man, enjoying the
high regard of many friends.
ORNELIUS WESTRATE.         Many of the
most active and enterprising residents of
Holland Township are natives of this
county and have here spent the greater portion of
their lives. In them we find men of true loyalty
to the interests of this part of the State, who understand,as it were by instinct, the needs, social
and industrial, of this vicinity, and wlo have a




324


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


thorough knowledge of its resources. They are
therefore better adapted to succeed here than a
stranger could be, and are probably without exception warmly devoted to the prosperity of their
native place.
Cornelius Westrate was born in Ottawa County,
Zeeland Township, Mici., in 1849, to tile union of
Marienus and Johanna (Zoutwel) Westrate, both
of whom were natives of the Netherlands. The
fatlier learned tile carpenter's trade in his youth,
and was married in the Old Country. There six
children were born to his first union.  About
1847 he emigrated to the United States with his
family, located at Zeeland, Ottawa County, Micl.,
and there married Miss Zoutwel, wlio bore himn
one child, the subject of this sketcll. In this
township the father bought land, and in connection witli farming carried on his trade until 1851,
when lie was killed by a fall from a house. Of
the children born to tile first union, the following
are now living: Joseph, Nellie, Jane and William.
Their mother died in the Old Country. After the
death of Mr. Westrate his widow married Matthew
Naye, by whom she lad one child, Jane Maggie,
now tile wife of George Lokes.
Until nearly twenty-one years of age our subject remained under tile parental roof, and tile
fundamental principles of education were instilled
into his young mind in the common schools.
After leaving home lie worked out for different
farmers in the section for about a year, and was
then united in marriage to Miss -Ienrietta Kloosterman, daughter of Joln and Fannie (Vink)
Kloosterman, natives of Holland. Tile happy domestic life of our subject has been blessed by
the birth of eight children, as follows: Marienus,
who married Miss Maggie l)epenharst; Fannie,
Johanis, John, Minnie, Peter, Albert and William.
At tie time of his marriage our subject had
little or no means, and the day after his union
he began work in a sawmill at Zeeland, receiving $1.50 per day. lie worked for other people
until 1875, when he rented a farm for four years.
His life of industry and usefulness and his record
for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness in all
the relations of life have had their effect, and lie
is now the owner of one hundred acres of land,


with good substantial buildings, all erected by
hlimself. lie has the resplect and esteem of a large
circle of friends, and lie and his estimable wife
are members of tile IHolland Reformed Church
of Zeeland. In politics lie inclines to the platform
of tile Republican party. Has held the office of
Road Commissioner, and for thirteen years was a
school officer.
'i -   -- -~t-.   ^r L —
ON. C-HARLES HE NRY IIACIJK;IEY,alumberman of Muskegon, was born January 3,
L1    1837,at Michigan City, Ind. His father, Josepll H. IIackley, was a native of the State of
New York, of Welsh descent, and for many years a
contractor and railroad builder. His mother, whose
maiden name was Salina Fuller, passed her early
youth in Ohio, anid attained to the age of fortyeiglht years, dying at Muskegon August 16, 1864.
They had five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom  our subject was the eldest, and
is thle only one now living. While quite young,
his parents moved to Southport, now Kenosha,
Wis., and here Mr. Hackley obtained his education
at the district sclools.
Arriving at the age of fifteen years, our subject
left school and engaged with his father in roadbuilding. At seventeen years of age lie had under him a gang of men and lihad charge of twenty
miles of plank road, his duty being to keep it in
repair. His time was devoted to hard work in
connection with his father's business until the
spring of 1856, when lie engaged to work his passage to Michigan on the schooner "Clhallenge."
Landing in lMuskegon on tile morning of April
17, 1856, witl only a few dollars in his possession,
he went to work at noon on thle same day as a
common laborer for Durkee, Truesdell & Co., lumber manufacturers, and without asking what remuneration he was to receive. Iis foreman afterward gave in his time at $22 per month, which
the firm later increased to $26. In the fall of
1856, when the mill had shut down, lie went into
the woods for tile same company, and there he
was employed the following winter, scaling logs,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


325


receiving $30 per month as wages.    The next
spring lie was made outside foreman and had
charge of tlhe men engaged in sorting and piling
lumber and clearing the mill.
The fall of 1857 was a disastrous one for the
lumber interests, a large number of manufacturers failing, and cormparatively little logging was
done in the woods in the ensuing winter. Mr.
Hacklcy, through his energy, perseverance and
ability, had by this time gained tlhe confidence and
esteem of his employers, and they suggested that
if lie would return to Kenosha and spend the winter at the comnercial school at tlat place, they
would pay a portion of his expenses, with tile understanding tlat if lie proved competent lie was
to return the following spring and take charge of
their books. This proposition was accepted, but
during his absence, the firm of Durkee, Truesdell
& Co. went into liquidation and Gideon Truesdell
became its successor.
Early in 1858 Mr. Hackley became book-keeper
for fMr. Truesdell and also had charge of the shipmncts of lumber and of tlle supl)ly store, which lie
ran in connection witl the mill, and lie filled tllis
position acceptably, while still receiving only *.30
p)er month salary, until the spring of 1859. P'omeroy & IHolmes, lumber manufacturers, failing at
this time, Mr. Ilackley, with his fatler and 1Mr.
Truesdell, purchased the property and organized
the firm of J. IT. IIackley & Co., under whicli name
the business was successfully conducted for the
next two seasons. In 1860 the firm purchlased
the property known as the "Wing mill," which
they continued to operate until 1866, Mr. IIackley
assuming clarge of the books of the two mills in
addition to tliose of Mr. Truesdell, while he was
as well general manager for the latter, who had
moved to Chicago.
In 1866 IMr. Ilackley purchased MrI. Truesdell's
interest in tlie old l'omeroy & Holmes mill, and
with his father and brothers, Edwin and Porter,
organized the firm of IIackley & Sons, under which
style the busieicss was continued until 1874. In
the same year James McGordon purchased the
interests of J. II. Ilackley and Gideon Truesdell
in the old "Wing mill" and went into partnership
with our subject, under the firm name of H1ackley


& McGordon. In 1873 the Hacklev & Sons mill
was sold and removed, and a new one erected
upon the same site at a cost of $80,000. The
following year J. II. IHackley died, and shortly
afterward the mill of Hackley &; McGordon was
destroyed by fire, with a loss of $50,000, and an
insurance of $35,000.
Mr. McGordon having on tile death of J. II.
-IHackley purchased an interest in the firm of Hackley & Sons, a new firm was organized, under the
name of C. II. Hackley & Co. Edwin Hackley
died in 1875, and in 1880 James McGordon died.
The latter's interest was bought by Thomas Hlume,
and the firm again changed its name, adopting
that of IHackley & IIume. In 1884 Porter HIackley died, when tile entire business became vested
in Charles II. IIaekley and Thomas IHume, and has
since that time been conducted by them under the
firm name of IIackley & HIumne.
The mill has a capacity of about thirty million feet
of lumber and eiglt million pieces of lath per season
and is doing one of the largest businesses on Muskegon Lake, and, in fact in the State of Michiigan.
Their timber lands are principally in Clare County,
from wliich for many years tlhey cut annually about
thirty million feet of lumber and hauled from
ten to fifteen million feet for parties owning timber in the same vicinity, all of wlich is transported
over their own logging railroad, fifteen miles in
length, to the Muskegon River at Jonesville, Ciare
County. They are also owners of sailing-vessels,
which are employed in carrying their product
to Chicago, where their principal market is found.
The firm also own large tracts of pine timber lands
in MInnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi and South Carolina. They are also interested in the H1. C. Akeley Lumber Company, of
Minneapolis, Minn., an incorporated company organized in January, 1889. Mr. Htackley is President
of the Hackley National Bank, a stockholder of tile
Lumberman's National Bank of Muskegon, a stockholder of the Muskegon Savings Bank and the
Oceana County Savings Bank, situated at Hart,
and is also a stockholder in twelve other national
banks in various States in the Union. He is Treasurer of the Muskegon Booming Company.
Mr. HIackley succeeded his father in thle office of




326


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


County Treasurer on the death of the latter in
1874, and in 1877 was elected Alderman of the
Fourth Ward of the city, holding that office for
two terms. He was elected a member of the Board
of Education in 1877 for a term of three years, reelected in 1880 but declined to serve, and in 1888
he was again elected to the same office, and by rcelection has been a member since, and is now
President of the Board. May 25, 1888, Mr. Hackley announced to the Board of Education his purpose and desire to place in their hands and in
trust forever the sum of $100,000 for the erection
and maintenance of a public library and readingroom in the city of Muskegon. The conditions
of the grant were of the most liberal character,
in the main being that the library and readingroom should be kept open to the public without
charge, and with suitable rules and regulations to
be prescribed by tile Board. The library is one of
circulation as well as reference, and the readingroom is furnished with the best periodical literature of the day. Since tile donation was made,
Mr. Hackley has for the third time become a member of the Board of Education, this time by a
unanimous vote, and has been enabled to give his
own counsel in the carrying into execution of
the grand trust lie has established. In commemoration of the gift, the Board of Education ordained that the 25th of May in each year shall
be forever set apart and observed by exercises
of a special character, commemorative of the munificence, public spirit and good-will of tlhe donor.
Mr. Hackley subsequently made an additional
donation of $25,000, the amount to be devoted to
the purchase, after finishing the library building,
of books, which further illustrates the philanthropic spirit of the man, and makes the most
princely gift known to Michigan, while it adds
materially to the value and usefulness of the benefactor.
Before building the library, the Board of Education called for competitive designs from six
leading architects of the country, with the result
that in August, 1888, the Board selected the plans
submitted by Patton & Fisher, architects, of Chicago, Ill. The building is a massive structure of
the IRomanesque style of architecture, built of pink


syenite granite, with brown-stone trimmings. It is
symmetrical and artistic, and has a picturesque door
of graceful design in one corner, and a combination of gaoles, windows, arches and columns which
give a rich and impressive appearance. A broad entrance with steps fronts on Webster Avenue, and
there is a private entrance oil Third Street, near
the book-room. From the main entrance a hail
opens into the delivery room, 31x50 feet in size,
fronting on Webster Avenue. To the left of this
room  is a reference library, and to tile right a
spacious reading-room, with ladies' reading-room
adjoining, and the librarian's room on the north.
The book-room, extending along Third Street and
lighted on three sides, is 42x56 feet, and will hold
seventy-one thousand five hundred volumes. On
the second floor is a spacious room, with smaller
and convenient rooms adjoining, suitable for lecture room, art gallery, museum or other purposes.
The basement is divided into convenient rooms
for storage, heating apparatus, fuel and such purposes as may hereafter be determined. The building is constructed in the must durable and substantial manner, is practically fire-proof, and nothing has been left undone to make it an attractive
and convenient building, in every respect adapted
to the purpose for which it is used.
Our subject was married October 3, 1864, to
Julia E., daughter of Hiram Moore, of Centerville, Allegany County, N. Y. Mr. IIackley possesses in a marked degree those elements of cliaracter that insure business success. He is observant, silent, critical, and accurate in judgment,
and is gifted with unusual executive ability in the
administration of business affairs. Iis counsel is
always sought and made use of in the direction of the many financial and business corporations with which he is connected. In the selection
of men to aid him in the conduct of his numerous
and important business enterprises, his practical
sagacity is exemplified and justified. To such he
gives his fullest confidence, and the trust is amply
repaid. Affable and courteous in his manners toward all, hle is nevertheless unobtrusive and retiring. Fond of domestic life and the society of
friends in informal gatherings, lie shuns crowds,
social or political.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPH!CAL RECORD.


327


The possessor of a large fortune, acquired by
the exercise of his fine intelligence, tact and ingenuity, he has never forgotten the comparative
privation of his early life and the hard and bitter
struggle of many who have not been able to obtain a comfortable living. The public knows but
little of the numberless acts of charity and helpfulness that are due to his heart and hand. They
have been done without ostentation, and when
known he has discouraged public notice of them.
They have been done, however, in no hlalf-hearted
or half-handed way, but timely, generously and
efficiently.  Latterly, however, the hidden and
gracious influences that have been molding and determining the real character of the man have impelled him to a rare and munificent act of public
benevolence, that of the gift of $200,000 for library purposes. Thus he has founded a great public
benefaction, of which every intelligent person in
the community becomes a partaker for all time to
come; and while to do good to others by inconspicuous deeds of charity or helpfulness is within
the reach of all, the spirit and ability to perform
such an act of generosityare a privilege that comes
to few.
In 1889 Mr. Hackley purchased an entire block
between Third and Fourth Streets and Webster
and Clay Avenues; had the residences upon it
removed and the ground finely graded, and upon
this lie erected a magnificent soldiers' monument of Westerley granite, seventy-six feet high,
the apex of which is crowned by the Goddess of
Liberty in bronze, heroic size. Near the base of the
monument, on the four corners, stand the four
arms of the military service, represented by heroic
bronze statues. The monument and grounds cost
$71,000, the total amount being about $300,000.
In addition, he presented the city with the fine
granite school buildling known as the lIackley
Public Sclool, located across fron  the Soldiers'
Monument and diagonally across from the library.
This is also a costly and elegant structure. The
entire gifts to the city by Mr. Hackley exceed
$300,000.
In 1891 tie Central Public School building
was burned, having an insurance of only $30,000. In order to enable the Board to replace


the building, Mr. Hackley submitted a proposition stating that if the city would authorize
an issue of $75,000 bonds, bearing interest at
five per cent., to run fifty years, for the erection
of a new building, he would take these bonds at
par and furnish the money as needed. In addition to this, Mr. Hackley donated the entire issue
of the bonds to the public schools, the interest to
be devoted to maintaining the current expenses
of the Hackley Public Library forever. These
propositions were gratefully accepted by the people, and the bonds authorized by city election
April 14, 1891. Tile proposition has all been fulfilled, and the bonds delivered and assigned to
the Board of Education, the income from which
makes the library self-sustaining.
Mr. Hackley has, almost since its organization,
been a member of the Republican party, but is not
in any sense an active politician, though his counsels have been sought by the leaders of his party
in the State.
in the greatest esteem by savage as well as
civilized people, and deservedly so, because
in his hands are so often the issues of life and death.
All honor is due the profession of medicine, because it is composed of the noble army of men who
devote their lives to curing the ills that flesh is heir
to. Among the leading medical practitioners of
Ottawa County, Mich., is Dr. O. E. Yates, who is
of the regular school of medicine, and has his
home in Holland. He was born in Wayne Countv, Mich., October 12, 1845, a son of John C.
Yates, who was born in the State of New York,
and was reared near the city of Albany. When a
boy of fourteen years, he was a member of the
New York State Militia, and went over the ground
at Champion Hill shortly after the battle. Several of his relatives were in the War for Independence. He early came to Wayne County, Mich.,
and soon after his arrival at this place he wooed




328


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and won for his wife Miss Mary E. Stephenson.
In 1846 he removed to Calhoun County, Mich.,
where lie purchased a tract of land, on wlich lie
resided until Iiis death, having become the father
of four children.
The youthful days of our subject were spent
in Calhoun County, and there lie obtained a
practical education in the public schools, and still
later finished his studies in Mayhew's Business
College, at Alhion. For some time following this
he taulght school, worked on the farm, and his
leisure moments were devoted to the study of
medicine, for his naturally kind leart turned instinctively to tllat broad field of lhuman sufferingn
for his life work. In 1867 lie went to Cincinnati
and entered the Eclectic Medical Institute, from
wlicll lie was graduated in February, 1869. lie
soon after located in Plainwell, Micll., where lie
practiced his profession until August, 1880; lie
then went to Fillmore, and in 1883 came to IIolland, wher he has practiced tile regular system of
medicine with much success, and is already largely
patronized.
In 1876 he was married to Miss (Gertrude I.
Giddings, a grand-niece of Joshua R. Giddings,
the great anti-slavery advocate. Mrs. Yates was
born in Kalamazoo County, MIicl., and llas borne
her husband three children: Grace W., Amy M. and
Avis G. The Doctor has always been a Republican
sympathizer and supporter, and by tllat party was
elected Coroner of Ottawa County, and afterward
Mayor of tile city. lie was for five years a memnber of the Board of Education, is President of the
Grand River Valley Medical Society, is a member
of the National and State Associations of Railway Surgeons, is Surgeon for tile Chicago & West
Michigan Railroa(l, and by appointment is Surgeon for the American Casualty Company.
Our subject and his family attend tile Hope Reformed Church, in which they are active workers,
and in the social circles of the town of Holland
they are held in high esteem. The Doctor's office
is located in the McBride Block, and his time is
fully occupied with the large practice which his
knowledge of his calling, his kind and cordial manners, and his promptness in responding to the calls
upon his services among rich and poor alike have


won for him. IIe is a valuable addition to the
city, and by his energy, push and public spirit has
done much to make tle town of Holland what it
now is.
R1I') IIAMILIN CAMI'BELL. Among tle
I,/, young meIn wlo have gained prominence
~1  - in (ttawa County, and who thllough the
exercise of perseverance and energy have accumulated a large share of tllis world's goods,
we present the name of Frcd H. Campbell.
For a number of years engaged at tile trade of a
blacksmith, lie is now following tile vocation of
agriculture, being the owner and occupant of a
higlhly —cultivated farm in Georgetown Townshilp,
wwhere lie las made his liome for a short time.
Possessing a large amount of energy and determination, these qualities, combined with good judgment, have contributed to his success as a farmer.
Born in Iowa, March 5, 1861, our subject is the
son of I)ennis Campbell, wlo was born in tile
State of New York and there spent his early manhood, removing thence to Iowa, where lie followed
tlhe trade of a carpenter for many years. lIe
resided in New York, where his death occurred in
1891. A man of vigorous intellect and genial
manners, lie was mourned in deatll by a large
circle of acquaintances, who leld him in hiigl
reoar(d. Prior to removing to Iowa lie had been
united in marriage with Miss Elizabcth Wilcox.
whlo was born in the Empire State, her father and
mother being natives respectively of Pennsylvania
and New York.
Of a family of eight clildren, our subject was
thle fifth in order of birth. lie was reared to maturity in Iowa and New York, where lie was a
student in the graded schools, and, being a diligent
pupil, lie gained a fair education. In 1882 lie
came to Michigan and located at Whitneyville,
Kent County, where for two years lie followed tlle
trade of a blacksmith. I)isposing of his interests
in that village, lie reimoved to Iudsonville, Ottawa
County, where he conducted a blacksmitl's shop,




I~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~




1746




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Ll7"             s-4
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LxAtC 6, D
W9L49 4) 4+ &
11








PORTRAIT ANI) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


331


carrying on an extensive business in that line for
eleven years. Upon selling out there, he located,
in 1893, upon tlle farm in Georgetown Township
whiere he has since made his home and where lie
engages in raising tile various cereals.
In 1880 Mr. Campbell and Miss Lizzie,daughter
of Talket Croninger, of Kent County, Micll., were
united in marriage, and they are now the parents
of three children: Frank, Artlhur and Roy.  In
his political belief, Mr. Calpbell is a true-blue
Republican, and considers tliat protection of lome
industries is the secret of national progres.
While lie is not identified witl any religious
organization, he gives his support to tlhe Congregational Church, of which his wife is an active
member. Socially, he atfiliates witll Hudsonville
Lodge No. 346, I. O. 0. F., and las been an incumbent of all tlhe chairs in his lodge. As a citizen, he occupies a high pllace in the confidence and
esteem of his business associates, as well as of those
wlom lie Ineets socially.
ENRY KREMERS, MI. I). In tlme learned
l)rofessions Ottawa County lias many noted
representatives, and this is particularly so
in the field of medical science. In a review of this kind it will be readily understood
that only thle most conspicuous figures in a representative class can receive special mention. One
of tile leading members of the learned profession
of medicine is Ienry Kremers, wlio is a native of
Zeeland Township, Ottawa County, Micll., his
birth having occurred on tile 15tll of July, 1850.
The fatlier of our subject, William  Kremers,
was born in thle Netherlands in 1820, and there
received his education. In 1846 lie emigrated to
the "land of thle free," and the following year
took up his residence in Ottawa County, Mich.,
but it was not until 1848 tliat he entered land of
his own and began tilling tlie soil. The land was
at that time a wilderness, but with the utmost


energy and perseverance lhe succeeded in laying
tle forest low, bringing his land to a good state of
cultivation and otherwise improving it with good
buildings. Hle was married to Miss Annie, a
daughter of Lucas IIeins, who died in Holland.
The widow came to tile United States witll the
family in 1849.  )r. Henry Kremers was one of
six children, the others being as follows: Ilarry, a
minister of tlhe Presbyterian Clurcl;  lucas, a
farmer in Soutlh l)akota; Alice; Jennie, and one
tllat died in infancy. Tlle father of tllis family
lived a useful life, and in 1878 died on the farm
where many of his years were spent. Our subject
was reared on tle old home place in Zeeland
Township, Ottawa County, and. like thle great majority of farmer boys at tlhat time, his education
was such as could be obtained in thle common
scllools of tliat day. Iis time wlien not in school
was spent in assisting his father on tlie farm, and
lie obtained a tliorough knowledge of the details
of agriculture. Later lie entered college, where
lie prosecuted his studies for four years. After
teaching school for on     lie entered the medical delpartment of tile Michigan State University,
at Ann Arbor, from which lie was graduated with
tlie degree of M. 1). in 1876. Very ohlortly afterward he located in tlhe neilghborhlood of his old
home, where lie followed hlls profession for six
years. In 1882 lie took ul his residence in HIolland, and here las since plursued his practice witl
the best success.
In 1877 the I)octor was united in Inarriage with
Alice, a daugllter of lRyder Van Zwalawenburg,
wlho was born and reiared in Holland, but eventually became a citizen of the United States. The
Doctor and his wife liave five sons: William,
Robert E., Edward S. 1)., Clarence II., and Ernest.
Shortly after locating  in lolland out' subject
formed a partnerslhip witli William Z. Bangs in
the drug business, whicl connection continued for
about ttlree years. He then lioulgt Mr. Bangs'
interest, and has conducted the business alone
since tlat time, John Roost being at the head of
the drug department. I-Ie owns some valuable
business property in the town,and lias a handsome
residence at the corner of Market and Twelftl
Streets. A Democrat politically, he lias lleld tlle


16




332


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


office of Mayor of Holland and is a member of
the Board of Education.  -le is a Director in the
First State Bank and is one of the stockholders in
the Holland & Chicago Transportation Company.
For some time he has been connected with the
Michigan State Medical Association, the American
Medical Association and the Grand River Medical
Society. He is one of the popular citizens of the
place and is a physician of great skill and ability,
as is attested by his large general practice.
I SAAC F. HUNTOON, a practical general agriculturist and one of the most extensive fruitgrowers of Cedar Creek Township, Muskegon County, Mich., is a lifetime resident of the
State, and was born in Ingham County, in the town
of Leslie, February 23, 1844. Iis parents, William
and Clarissa (Stone) lluntoon, were natives of the
Empire State and New Hampshire, respectively.
Married in New York, the father and mother emigrated to Michigan in 1838, and took a prominent
place among the pioneer settlers of the Wolverine
State. The father, a tiller of the soil, purchased an
unimproved farm of one hundred and twenty
acres, one hundred acres of which lie brought up
to a high state of cultivation. In 1867 William
Huntoon, after a career of industrious usefulness,
passed away lamented by all who knew him. The
home of the parents was blessed by the birth of
eight children. Ora J. is the wife of Leander Landfair; I. F. is our subject; Lydia B. married William Vickery; Samuel J., who was killed at the
Weldon Railroad in Virginia, was a brave soldier
and was severely wounded in the first Battle of
the Wilderness; Harriet E. is the wife of George
Labertaux; James W. lives in Ingham  County;
and Clarissa married George Gates. The eighth
child passed away in infancy. The mother, now
arrived at an advanced age, yet survives.
Our subject was educated in the common schools
of Ingham County and was reared upon his father's farm. Upon the breaking out of the Civil


War Mr. Huntoon enlisted in Company D, Twentyseventh Michigan Infantry, and, attached to the
Army of the Cumberland, served in that conmmand with courage one year. IHe was later in the
Ninth Army Corps, and was engaged in numerous
battles.  After joining  with his regiment the
Army of the Tennessee, our subject participated
in the siege of Vicksburg, from there proceeded
over the Cumberland Mountains to Knoxville,
where he took part in the siege of that city, and
later engaged in the battle at Campbell Station.
Mr. IHuntoon also fought with gallantry at Strawberry Plains and afterward went to Annapolis,
Md., and was attached to the Army of Virginia.
Later, taking an active part in the Virginia canpaign, he was engaged in the Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court H-ouse and Cold
Harbor. Upon the 17th of June wounded in the
right hip at tile first charge of Petersburgh, Mr.
Htuntoon was removed to the HIarwood Hospital in
Washington, I). C., where he remained until fully
recovered, in November, 1864.  Returning to the
army, our subject was immediately engaged in the
siege of Petersburgh and was with his regiment
among the victorious forces when the city was
captured. The fight of Appomattox Court Iouse,
Va., where Gen. Lee was captured, completed
the battlefield experiences of Mr. Hluntoon, who
with his comrades returned to Washlington and
became one of the guards of Surratt and Herod,
and was likewise one of the guards upon the day
of the execution of Mrs. Surratt and ler companions. On the very same day our subject returned
home and was mustered out of the service at Detroit, Mich., August 5, 1865, after serving two
years and nine months. Mr. Huntoon was five
times wounded, but only once seriously.
On again entering upon the everyday work of
life, our subject worked on shares his father's farm
for two years, later purchasing forty acres of land
in Ingham County. He also received employment
in a lumber-mill for three years, and for two and
a-half years handled a large contract for woodhauling. In 1876, Mr. lHuntoon removed to Muskegon County, where he homesteaded one hundred
and sixty acres of land in HIolton Township. Iie
improved a greater part of the land and continued




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


333


to reside there until 1884, when lie purchased his
present home,a fine property of one hundred and
sixty acres, sixty-five acres then being under cultivation. One hundred and ten acres now yield
an abundant harvest, and seven acres of orchard
are devoted to the culture of peachles, two acres to
apples, one acre to plums and a large area is devoted to strawberries and raspberries. I)ecember
24, 1865. were united in marriage Isaac F. Iluntoon and Miss Malvina    Landfair, of Ingllan
County, an(d datugter of Welcome 1). and Marly
(Clark) Landfair. Unto tihe union of our subject
and his estimable wife were born seven children:
James N.; J. Willard, of South I)Dakota; Joln l.,
of Menominee, Mich.; Isaac E., 1dwlrd B., Elnora J. and Flora B. November 29, 1887, Mrs.
Huntoon, deeply mourned, passed away. Slie was
thirty-nine years of age and had long been a devout member of the Congregational Cllhurch. In
1890, our subject wedded Miss Bertha Anderson, a
native of Norway and a daughter of Andrew Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. IIuntoon are tile parents of
one son, Samuel J. Fraternally, our subject is a
member of D)allgren Post No. 149, G(. A. R., and
politically a Republican lhas lleld with etticient discharge of trusts involved the offices of Township
Commissioner and Township Clerk, and is wildeiy
known as a citizen of sterling integrity of character..e   - =++1.+    ~ -++  +. ---
\ ERK VYN. No better class of citizens
las come to Ottawa Coullty, Micl., than
those wlio emigrated from  Iolland, and
none 4iave contributed more to tile growth
and-development of this country titan tliose of
that nativity, for they brought as their inheritance
the traits of character and life which have ever
distinguished them. The Vyn family is of l)utch
origin, and the first branch of the family to take
root upon American soil was the original of this
notice. Nearly fifty yeals of his life have been
passed on this side of the Atlantic, and nearly all
that time has been passed in Grand Haven, Mich.,


wlhere lie is one of tile prominent capitalists, as
well as one of the most worthy and uprigllt citizens.
Mr. Vyn was born on tile 15tlh of January, 1831,
and tiis parents, Nicllolas and Fr'ankie (Spiker')
Vyn, were natives also of tile Netherlands. Tlhree
of the children horn to this wortlly couple grew
to mature years, and our subject is second in order
of birth. Tlle latter received a fair education in
his native country, but whien only sixteen years of
age decided to come to Amerlica. lie took passage
on a vessel and ieallied Baltimore. i[d., on thle
12tll of June, 1847. From there lie camne direct
to lKalamazoo, Mich., and, as his monev was getting
low, lie worked at odd jobs for a year. IIe tllen
went to (Grand Iaven, wlhere lie worked at whatever honorable employinent lie could find, and as
lie saved every dollar, lie liad soon accumulated
sufficient means to invest in tle sawmill business.
Tills lie continued for about eiglit years and then
began teaming. Later lie embarked in tile transfer
business, and this lie lias continued steadily up to
tlie present time, witli the llelp of lissons. Twenty
horses are used in this business, an(1 ill connection
Mrt. Vyn! also keeps a brick and wood yard, the
brick being tile noted Zeeland manufacture. The
wood lie handles by the tlhousand-cord lots.
IMr. YVyn believes tile way' to succeed in life is
to engage in some honorable business and thlen to
stick to it. Sooner or later, witht good management, the best results will be obtained.  As Ilis
business increased, lie made judicious investments
and has accumulated a lhandsome fortune. IIe
still gives his personal attention to much of Ilis
busiless, for lie is well preserved in body and
mind. In tlie year 1852 iMr. Vyn was wedded to
Miss Clara Troost, a native of Gra(nd Haven and
daughter of Lambert Troost. Six children have
been borin to tils union, five sons and one daughter. Thle sons are: Nicholas, in business wtlth is fatlier; Albert, Lambert, Martin and John. Mr. Vyn
has been conlnected with some of the most flourishingi institutions of Grand Haven, and was President of the Grand Iaven Leatller Company for
six years. I-e is still Aice-Piresident of the same.
In politics he is a stanch Republican. Our subject
commenced his career in this cou ntr'y with a




334


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


capital of $3.50, and all he has accumulated is the
result of industry, economy and good management
on his part. He is now one of the wealthy men of
the city, is public spirited and enterprising and is
well posted on all the current topics of the day.
His high reputation and material prosperity came
as the reward of unusual abilities, industriously
applied, and he is esteemed by all.
]M   ARTIN RYERSON, an enterprising and
I  prosperous farmer located in Cedar Creek
Township, near Holton, Muskegon County,
Mich., is a native of the State of New
York, and was born April 20, 1840. Mr. Ryerson
was the third child of the five little ones wlio
blessed the home of Richard and Sarah (Ackerman) Ryerson, who were natives of New Jersey
and New York State, respectively, and of German
ancestry. The father came with his family to
Michigan in 1844, and for a short time settled in
Muskegon, later locating in what is now Newaygo
County. He engaged in the lumbering business,
and also kept the first hotel at the " Dam," now
known as Ryerson's Hills farm. The brother of
Richard Ryerson emigrated to the Wolverine
State many years before the father of our subject,
and was one of the early Indian traders. The
father after a time removed to Kenosha, Wis.,
and there devoted his time to contracting and
carpenter work. He continued in the latter employment seven years, and then returned to Muskegon, where he conducted the hotel business
for the three succeeding years. He also engaged
with success in the grocery business, and after a
long life of busy usefulness now makes his home
in Newaygo County with a son. Twice married.
the mother of our subject was his first wife, and
bore him these sons and daughters: Jane, wife of
John Hepp, of Muskegon; Maria, widow of Henry
Moth; Martin, our subject; and Libbie, wife of
George Dohs, of Tioga County, N. Y.


Mrs. Sarah (Ackerman) Ryerson passed away
deeply mourned in 1848. She was a member of
the Congregational Church and a woman of most
exemplary character, beloved by all who knew
her. In 1849, the father, wedding a second time,
was united in marriage with Miss Maria Gardineer,
of New York. To this union were born seven
children, one of whom  died unmarried. The
eldest, Sarah, is deceased; Mary is the wife of
Arthur Severy, of Muskegon County; Charles was
the third in order of birth; Ida married John
Martin, of New Mexico; George when last heard
of was in Montana; Annie is deceased; and Annie,
the second of the name, is married to Thomas
Berry, of Chicago. Our subject attended the
district schools of Muskegon and Wisconsin and
at eighteen years moved with his father to a farm,
and entered with energy into the tilling of the
soil. Continuing upon the old homestead, which he
has now owned for twenty-one years, Mr. Ryerson
there began life for himself immediately after attaining  his majority, but during his twentyfourth year went to Muskegon and worked as
foreman in a lumber-mill for Tunis Ryerson three
years. The succeeding two years he successfully
logged on the Muskegon River, but finally decided to make farming the vocation of his life
and, purchasing eighty acres of his father's homestead, settled down to the daily pursuit of agricultural duties. His highly cultivated land is
well improved with excellent buildings and is one
of the most attractive farms in that locality.
Making a specialty of sheepraising, our subject
breeds, for the mutton only, the coarse-wooled
variety. IHe has made a success of general farming, his abundant harvest annually yielding him
excellent returns for the time and labor expended.
In 1867 Martin Ryerson and Miss Delia J. Wilson, of Montcalm County, Mich., were united in
marriage. Mrs. Ryerson was the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. 1). A. Wilson, who reared a family of
seven children. Delia, the estimable wife of our
subject, was the eldest; Otis lives in Montcalm
County; Alice is the wife of P. Holcomb; George
resides in Oregon; Jerome is deceased; Nora is the
wife of Charles Mattison, of Oregon; and Bert
makes his home in Montcalm County. Mr. and




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


335


Mrs, Ryerson have two children, Louis M. and
Minnie M., both at home. Beginning life without
capital, our subject had by unvarying industry
acquired one hundred and twenty acres of land
and a modest amount of ready money prior to his
marriage, his course from early manhood leading
upward to the   comfortable  competence  now
shared by himself and family. Mr. Ryerson is
fraternally connected with the Grange, and is
also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
Politically, lie is a strong Republican, deeply interested in both local and national issues, and is
widely known as a liberal-spirited and progressive
citizen.
T[*-C —                  _      T —
DWIN IAYWARD, a prominent land-owner residing in Casenovia, was born in the
village of Farmington, Ontario County, N.
Y. He represents a well-known Eastern family,
whose members have been prominent both in military and civic life.  Iis paternal grandfather,
Stephen Hayward, was born near Boston, Ianss.,
and at tile age of fifteen years, with his father and
brother, participated in the battles of Lexington
and Bunker iill. Of tlhe three wlo marched forth
to battle for the Colonies, he alone returned, his
father having been killed in tile engagement at
Germantown, and his brother at Saratoga. At the
close of tile war lie removed to Ontario County,
N. Y., where lie entered and improved two hundred acres, making his home upon the place until
his death, which occurred in 1836, at the age of
eighty-four.
In the family of Grandfather Hayward there
were five sons and four daughters, who grew to
maturity, viz.: Ienry, Theodore, Elisha, Hallaway, Ormand, Betsey, Lucy, Hannah and Nancy,
all of whom reared families with the exception of
the daughter Betsey. The father of our subject,
Capt. Ormand Hayward, was born near Boston,
Mass., and accompanied his father to New York,
remaining for a time in Ontario County. Later


he removed to Niagara County, the same State,
where lie acquired the ownership of forty acres.
In his old age he and his wife came to Michigan,
and made their home witll our subject until his
death, in 1882, at the age of eighty two. His wife
passed away at Kendallville, Ind., at the age of
eighty-nine years, and her remains were brought
to Michigan for interment. She was a devoted
member of the Christian Church, and a lady of
noble character, whose memory is revered in the
hearts of her children. A Democrat during his
entire life, Capt. Iayward won his title by his
service during the War of 1812.
The lady who became the wife of Capt. Hayward was Sarah B., daughter of George B. Gaskill,
a farmer who for many years resided in Lockport,
N. Y., and there died. Mrs. Iayward was born in
Rutland, Vt., and was one of a family of three
sons and four daughters. By her marriage she
became the mother of four sons and three daughters: I)orinda, Franklin, Edwin, Sarah, Sabra, John
and Montgomery, all of whom are now living.
Tlie subject of this sketch was reared in Ontario
County, N. Y., until he was a lad of nine years,
when lie accompanied his parents to Lockport, and
there grew to manhood. When fourteen years old,
he commenced to earn his own support, and for
eighteen months resided in Canada. Thence he
proceeded to Ohio, and from there in 1842 caine to
Michigan, settling in Eaton Rapids and following
his trade of a cooper at that place. In the fall of
1843 lie traveled by canoe down the Grand River,
and after seven days and nights spent on the
water he reached the village of Portland, the first
white settlement he had passed during the entire
voyage. Upon arriving at the mouth of the Flat
River, he was too sick to travel further, and was
obliged to rest for a few days. For one year he
worked at his trade in that vicinity, and thence,
in the fall of 1844, proceeded via the Indian trail
to Newaygo, Mich., where for seven years he operated a mill for John A. Brooks.
Afterward Mr. Hayward entered into the milling business and conducted a mill on the Rogue
River. Upon disposing of that property he built
a mill at Rockford, Kent County, which he operated until, in the panic of 1857, he lost every



336


PORTRAIT AN) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


thing he had made. Il the fall of the same year
he located on one hundred and sixty acres, comprised in his present farm in Casenovia Township.
In addition to this estate, lie is tile owner of two
hundred acres, which lie has cleared and improved
witl substantial buildings. IHe is also the owner
of a fine fish pond. In 1861 lie purchased a mill
at Casenovia, which for a number of years lie continued to manage. Then, in company with a
brother, lie built a mill at Moon Lake, which he
operated for eiglt years.  During the year 1877
he went to Buffalo. N. D)ak., where lie resided for
live years, returning tlhence to Casenovia. Ie is
the owner of four thousand acres in Arkansas
County, Ark., and has platted the village known
as Grand Cyprus.
Mr. iHayward has been twice married, his first
wife being Mary, daughlter of Brigham P'ettengill,
a lumberman residing in Mlichigan. Thle second
wife of Mr. I-ayward was Alice, daugliter of Minor
Joliison. The first union was childless; the second marriage has resulted in the birth of four chlildren: Edward, Clara, Bernie and lHunter. In his
political affiliations, our subject is independent,
votillg for the best men and tile best priiiciples,
irrespective of party ties.
' —'ERRlIT  J. I)IEKIIEMA   is a prominent at- torney, wlho has met witll marked success in
_  tile practice of his cliosen profession.  Ile
has a decided veneration for the law, and tils,
co!mbined witli the accuracy of his legal knowledge, lucidity of statementi  t an  felicity of illustration, has given lirn the confidence of all Ils patron. He was born at Iolland, Micll., March 27,
1859, a son of W. Iiekema, and was reared and
educated in the town of his birth, receiving tlie
advantages of tlie common schools. In 1873, in
order to more fully fit himself for the duties of
life, lie entered Hope College, in wlich lie took a
full classical course, graduating in 1881. Immediately thereafter lie began tile study of law in


the law department of tile State University of
Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated therefrom two years later. IIe immediately hung out
his shingle at Holland, his old home, and unlike
the majority of young lawyers lie had not long
to wait for clients, but at once entered upon an
active legal practice, which has continued to grow
in volume until lie now has all the work lie can
properly attend to. Ie is at all times faithful to
the interests of his clients, reads tup his cases thoroughly, and is consequently never caught unprepared.
In 1885 our subject was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Alcott, daLughter of Josepl Alcott, a
resident of Illinois, and to their union a family of
tlhree children has been born: Marguerite, Mary
and Willis. Mr. Diekema, his wife and children
are regular attendants of the Reformed Church of
America, and are among tile most highly respected
citizens of Iolland. Politically, tlie Republican
party has always recommended itself to the excellent judgment of Mr. Diekema, and in 1884 he
was elected by that party to the position of Superintendent of Schlools, which office lie filled for two
years. In 1885 his party further showed its appreciation of his mental powers and l)atriotism and
his desire for the good of his section by electing
him to the State Legislature, and this position lie
filled witl distinguished ability for eight years.
in tlie session of 1889-90, our subject was Speaker of the Iouse of Representatives, and presided
with great judgment and wisdom in tills responsible and trying position. He was a!i able legislator, and wliile serving his constituents in tills capacity did much good for his own section, and
was by no means indifferent to tlhe welfare of
otiler portions of the State. lie is usually on the
Committee of Resolutions in tle State Conventions of tlhe Republican party, and in all tile conventions of his county lie is a leader. In 1892 lie
was honored by receiving the nomination for Attorney-General of the State by his Republican
friends, and at tlie election lhad for his opponent
Mr. Ellis, who was the nominee on thle l)emocratic
and tile People's ticket, and owing to this Mr.
I)iekema was defeated, though lie received one
thousand more votes than the Republican candidate




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


337


for Governor, who was elected by thirty thousand
majority. Iis career in the political arena hlas
been one of honor, and he is no less distinguisled
as a lawyer, for lie is a forcible, eloquent and convincing speaker, logical in his reasoning and always deeply in earnest.
Mr. Diekema is one of thle Directors of the First
State Bank of Holland, and as lie has always been
interested in the cause of education, he was considered a suitable man to be a member of the Council of Hope College of tlie city of Holland. He is
the present City Attorney of his town, and as a
legal practitioner does one of the largest businesses
in the State, his practice being very large and
remunerative. In personal appearance lie is prepossessing, in manners he is very popular in tle
social circles of his section.  Ile is one of the rising lawyers of the State, and will without doubt,
ere many years pass over his head, stand among
the eminent men of the country.
1    UIKE LUGERS, bookkeeper for B. L. Scott's
(' lumber business and planing mill at lol/l-\! land, Ottawa County, Mich., was born in
Allegan County, Mich.. on tile 2d of February,
1853, and is a young man of superior ability.
His father, Benjamin Lugers, was born in Holland,
and was there reared and educated.    Being a
carpenter by trade, the father thought to better
his condition financially by coming to the United
States, and in 1848 crossed the ocean. I-Ie decided  to locate in one of the northern tier of
States, and Michigan was the one chosen. He
settled in Allegan County, entered a tract of
Government land, all wild, and began improving
and clearing off the heavy timber. To the original
tract he has since added forty acres, making eiglity
acres of excellent land. Like all the native HIollanders, he was thrifty and industrious, and succeeded in accumulating considerable means. IIe
was married in this county to Miss Henrietta


Brinkman, daughter of Henry Brinkman, and
six children  were born to this union, five of
whom are still living: Henry, residing in Allegan
County; Fanny, Mrs. I)enuyl, of this county; Mrs.
Van Zanten, who resides in this county; Benjamin, residing on the old home place; and our
subject. Hannah, died at the age of twenty-eight
years.
Tlie parents of tile above-mentioned children
are still living and are much esteemed residents
of Allegan County. Ttle father is a member of
the Reformed Church and is an active worker in
the same.   lis son Luke, the subject of this
sketch, was reared in Allegan County, Mich., and
secured a good practical education in tile district
schools. Later lie attended the Normal School at
Otsego and Wayland, in Allegan County, and subsequently began teaching school. continuing this
for seventeen years in that county, and nine years
in the same school. lie was unusually successful
in that profession and was classed among the best
educators of the county. On account of poor
health he was obliged to leave the school, and in
1887 he came to Holland, where he accepted the
position lie now  holds. lie has discharged the
duties of his position in a very capable and efficient manner and is an exceptionally well-informed
1man.
Tlie hlappy domestic life of our subject began in
the year 1878, when lie was married to Miss Lucretia Anna Ellenboss, whose father was a native
of Holland, but came to this country in the
year 1847 or 1848. Mr. Ellenboss was one of
the pioneers of this county and assisted in clearing the  wilderness and making possible the
pleasant homes of to-day. To Mr. and Mrs.
Lugers were born three children, as follows:
Benjamin James, Georgiana Helena and Henrietta
Lucretia. Politically, Mr. Lugers is a Republican,
and after lie was twenty-one years of age he was
elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which
position he filled in a very satisfactory manner for
ten or twelve years. He was then elected Township Clerk, and held that position one year, after
which he was elected Supervisor and was the incumbent of that office until he moved to Ottawa
County, a period of five years. He was School In



38


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRATIHICAL RECORD.


spector a number of years while residing in Allegan
County. In the s)ring of 1893 lie was made Supervisor of Holland Township, this county, being
elected by a majority of one Ilun(dred and fortythree votes. Ile is a member of the Reformed
Church in Allegan County and is a I)eacon of the
church. Ile has been Superintendent of the Sundaysclool and teacher in the same for many years, and
is well posted on all Biblical subjects. He owns
twenty-eight acres where lie lives and two houses
in Holland, but nearly all Iiis time is given to the
duties of his office. Mr. Lugers was reared in
the woods and has witnessed the growth and improvement of the country in the last twenty
years. Ile remembers when deer were plentiful
and when Indians were seen almost every day.
M. I)ARLING, wlo resides on section 24,
Holton Township, Muskegon Count\, where
he carries on agricultural pursuits, is a native of the Green Mountain State.  Ic was born
in Franklin County in 1833, and is a son of Arnold and Rebecca (Marrian) l)arling. The father
was born in Vermont ill 1807, and throughout
his entire life followed tie occupation of farming.
From his youtl lie made his own way in the
world, andi therefore deserves great credit [or his
sucees.. After arrivingr at mature years lie was
narrit(d, and by tile union three children were
born: I). AM., Sarah and Rebecca. Wllen our subject was six years of age the mother of this famnily dlied, and Mr. Darling was again married, his
second union being witll Sarah Preston, by whom
he Ilrid one child. After her deatll lie wedded
Jane Chase, and six children were born of tile
third union.
At quite an early age tile subject of this sketch
began to earn his own livelihlood. He worked
on a farm in order to get a few clothes, and then
went to school, desiring, if possible, to acquire a
good English education. When about sixteen
years of age he learned the carpenter's and stone

mason's trades, and, in connection witli work in
those lines, he also engaged in moving buildings.
To some extent lie continued his labors as a farm
hand, and, in fact, followed any honorable pursuit that offered, whereby lie might earn a livelihood.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey,
Mr. Darling close Miss Almire Preston, and unto
them were born two children, wlio are yet living:
larlon, who married Sophia Ilegstrun; and Nancy,
wife of Charles Anderson. Thle mother of this
family died after the removal to Michigan, and
for his second wife Mr. Darling chose Miss Mary
A. Snow, daughter of Turner and Rachel Snow.
Their union has been blessed with two daughtels:
Mildred and Hester.
In 1856 Mr. Darling emigrated Westward and
settled in Vernon, Wis., where he accepted a position as overseer of a large farm. -He there remained until 1863, when he came to Muskegon
County and settled on land belonging to the
Indians. Purchasing eighty acres which were still
in their primitive condition, lie began lumbering,
selling large quantities of timber from his place.
He has also worked at the carpenter's trade to a
considerable extent in Muskegon County, but now
devotes his energies exclusively to agricultural
pursuits. Tlie buildings upon the place are all
monuments to his handiwork, liaving been erected
by him, and the othler improvements upon the
farm are witnesses of his thrift and enterprise.
In politics Mr. Darling is a supporter of the
Republican party, and is now serving as D)rainage
Commissioner. I-e holds membership with the
Grange, and belongs to D)ahlgren Post No. 149,
G. A. R., of HIolton, for lie was one of the honored boys in blue of the late war. IIe entered
the service in 1864, and was assigned to Company
G, Eighth Michigan Infantry, under Gen. Burnside. Ie participated in the capture of Petersburg and Ft. Stedman. lIe received a flesh wound,
being struck by a spent ball, but was never off
duty until after the close of tlle war. IIe was
present at Lee's surrender, and was in the front
ranks when the army marched between. In July,
1865, lie was honorably discharged in Washington, D. C., and sent to I)etroit, where he was paid




I




1)






PORTRAIT AND BICGRAPHICAL RECORD.


341


off. Hie participated in the Grand Review in the
Capitol City, one of the most celebrated military
pageants ill history, where wave after wave of
bayonet-crested blue passed  by the reviewing
stand and cheer after cleer arose in honor of the
victorious troops.
/ -   h-. —:      i" d:   o
7 OHN ANYS. Tie farming and stock-raising affairs of Ottawa County, and particularly of Olive Township, are ably represented  by  John Anys, who is a descendant of thrifty Holland stock, and has inherited all the energy and perseverance of those
of that nativity. His life of industry and usefulness, and his record for honesty and uprightness,
have given him an influence in the community
which all might well desire to share. lHe was
born in the province of Gelderland, in the city of
Lochem, in the Netherlands, October 7, 1829.
His parents, Garrett H. and Sarah (IIellweits)
Anys, were of German origin.
The original of this notice received his scholastic advantages in his native country, and there
remained until 1852, when lie sailed for America.
Landing in the City of New York, he followed
farming and carpentering until the breaking out
of the Civil War, when he shouldered arms to
fight for his adopted country. At this time he
was residing in New Jersey, and on the 5th of
January, 1864, lie enlisted in Company I, Thirtythird New Jersey Infantry. lie served with Gen.
Hooker's corps and was with Gen. Sherman in his
march to the sea, everywhere bravely fighting for
the Old Flag. IIc participated in the battles of
Mills Spring, Resaca, Rome, Altoona, Pine Knob,
and Muddy Creek. lHe was taken sick soon after
the last-named engagement and did not see any
more service, being discharged in Washington,
D. C., in August, 1865. For some time he was
confined in the hospital in New Albany, and a
long period elapsed ere he regained his accustomed
health.


Returning to New Jersey after the war, Mr. Anys
there lived until the latter part of 1865, when he
moved to Chicago, tlen a city of about one hundred
and sixty thousand inhabitants. As soon as his
health would permit, lie engaged in carpentering,
making his home in that place for several years,
and serving on the police force for some time.
In 1879 lie located upon the farm he now occupies,
which consisted then of eighty acres of unimproved land. Ile engaged actively in the improvement of his farm, and now has twenty-five
acres cleared of the heavy timber with which it
was covered. Aside from his farming industry,
he has been interested in other occupations, and
since 1890 has engaged in sawmilling; he supplies
a large amount of lumber to the surrounding
country, only himself and his four sons being
engaged in this occupation. Hie is a man who,
throughout his whole life, has maintained a high
character for integrity and uprightness, and who
has the confidence and respect of all his acquaintances.
Mr. Anys selected his wife in the person of
Miss Nellie Brun, a native of Holland and the
daughter of Paul and Catherine (Wriglt) Brun,
also natives of that country. Their union was
solemnized in 1857 and resulted in the birth of
nine children, three of whom died when young.
Tlhe others were as follows: G. HI., of Chicago; Pauline, wife of F. C. Marsac, of Hickman,
Ky.; William, Charles, Abram and Martin. Mr.
Anys is a member of Van Rota Post No. 662,
G. A. R., and an enthusiastic supporter of all
public enterprises.
AMUEL BRONER. Among the industrious farmers of Fruitland Township is he
of whom we write, whose birth occurred
in the southern part of Sweden, July 16,
1836. His fertile farm, situated on section 13,came
into his possession in 1860. At that time very
little had been done for the improvement of this




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


county, which was heavily timbered. There were
few roads and traveling was very difficult. The
timber on our subject's place was mostly hardwood, and therefore possessed unusual value. He
has brought his farm to a high state of improvement, and has himself cleared the greater portion
of it.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed
in his native land, where he resided until he had
reached his eighteenth year. As his father was a
man of considerable means, he gave to his children
good advantages. Mr. Broner received a good
education and graduated from one of the higher
schools. His father was at one time the owner of
a large tract of land, consisting of over seven hundred acres. He held various official position during his lifetime and was a Deacon in the Lutheran
Church. He reached the ripe old age of eightyfour years, while his wife, whose maiden name was
Olie Oleson, departed this life at the age of sixtyfour. Their family comprised eleven children,
four of whom died in childhood. The eldest of
the family, Sven, is deceased. James is still a resident of Sweden, as is also the next younger, John,
and the youngest of the family, Johanna. Olif
lives in California. Louis is deceased, and Samuel
is the subject of this sketch.
On arriving at his eighteenth year, Samuel
Broner bade adieu to his many friends and relatives in the land of his nativity, to seek his fortune in the New World. Ie started forth on a
sailing-vessel, the "Cambia," and at the end of
seven weeks on the Atlantic, during which time
the vessel encountered three very severe storms,
they arrived safely in New York City. He at
once proceeded to St. Louis, where he met a brother
who had come to this country two years previously. The latter had changed his name to Broner,
which our subject also adopted. For six months
Samuel Broner worked at the furniture trade in
St. Louis, after which he went to Chicago. In
1855, lie arrived in Michigan, near the present
site of Whitehall. The country was then sparsely
settled with white people and bore little promise
of the great and prosperous future before it. For
a few months our subject worked at various employments in order to obtain a livelihood, and then


entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from
the Government. For some time lie engaged in logging, or up to the time when lie became the owner
of a farm of eighty acres. This property he is still
engaged in cultivating.
In this county Mr. Broner was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Reamer, whose birth occurred in Milwaukee, Wis. IHer parents, Ferdinand and Mary (Winters) Reamer, are natives of
Germany. Seven children were born to this union
of Mr. and Mrs. Broner. Three of the niumber
died in infancy. John 0., the eldest of the family,
was born in 1865. Edward W. was called from this
life when lie lad reached his majority. Alvena,
who was born in 1875, land Chester complete the
family.
Mr. Broner is an ardent supporter of the Republican party and is always to be found in the front
rank of all enterprises tending to benefit the immediate community and the country at large. lIe
is industrious and energetic and has ever been
honorable and just in his dealings with his fellowmen. IHe still clings to the faith of his fathers
and is a member of the Lutheran Church, which
he has attended from boyhood. IIe is a self-made
man, having carved out his own fortune, and having reached his present prosperity entirely through
his own unaided efforts.
ILLIAM   B. CHITTENI)EN, a successful
\  fruit-grower and general farmer of Ottawa
YVY/  County, and a prominent citizen of Crockery Township, was born in the town of I)ix, Chemung County, N. Y.,November 7, 1850. I-le traces
his ancestry to Vermont, where hlis paternal grandparents, Samuel and Sarah ([lodges) Chittenden,
were born, and whence, soon after the War of 1812,
they removed to Geauga County, Ohio. There
lie followed agricultural pursuits until his death.
His wife passed away while residing in New York.
The father of our subject, Benjamin F. Chitten



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


343


den, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, November
7, 1818. In 1856 he came from Geneva, N. Y., to
Ottawa County, Mich., where he resided until
1863, removing tlence to Wisconsin, and spending
one year in that State. lie then returned to
Michigan, and now makes his home upon the farm
wllich lie purchased in 1866, and whlich, through
his tireless exertions, has been cleared and converted into one of tlhe best farms in the township.
In former years lie was employed in sawmills, but
for several years lie has given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits. His wife bore the
maiden name of Abigail T. Woodruff, and is still
living, being well preserved and strong in spite
of advancing  ears.
Of a family of eight children, four of whom are
now living, the subject of tils notice is second in
order of birth. At the age of six years lie was
brought by his parents to Michigan, and grew to
manhood in Ottawa County, receiving his education in the district sclools near his father's home.
I-e resided witli his parents until his marriage,
September 3, 1877, when he was united witl Miss
Julia, daughter of Andrew J. Iale, and a native
of Kenosha, Wis. Five sons and two dauglhters
have blessed tllis union, as follows: Arthur L.,
Emmons C., Villiam B., Manley, Floyd, Alta (deceased) and Emma.
In all local matters pertaining to the welfare of
the community, Mr. Chittenden is interested, not
passively, but in an active manner, aiding them
with his time, money and infuence to the fullest
extent possible. His first Presidential ballot was
cast for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and at each recurring national election lie has taken pleasure in
depositing his vote in the interest of the Republican party. lie is a member of the School Board
of his district, and through his interest in educational matters has been enabled to promote the
cause of public schools and the standard of education very materially.
For ten consecutive seasons Mr. Chittenden and
his brother Eugene hlave owned and operated a
threshing-machine, and as they are thoroughly
competent their services are in constant demand
during harvest. They have recently purchased
their third machine, and expect to continue to


make this businless one of their specialties. In
1881 our subject purchased the forty acres where
lie has since resided. At that time only fifteen
acres had been cleared, but through his efforts the
entire tract has been placed under fine cultivation
and improved with substantial buildings.
p /I1EPKE DIEKEMA, the efficient County
\A/// Superintendent of the Poor of Ottawa
1 County, Mich., and a prosperous general
agriculturist residing upon section 31, Holland,
Michi., has hleld many important public positions
of trust, and was for eight years Highway Cominissioner and for twenty consecutive years ably discharged the complex duties of Township Supervisor. Our subject is a native of the Netherlands,
and was born in that fertile country in the year
1830. His parents, Peter and Bouwena I)iekema, born in the Netherlands, were descendants
of a long line of sturdy ancestry, who cultivated
the land of the Old Country, and with frugal industry won their way up to comfort and prosperity. Peter was the son of Wiepke and Tartje Diekema, and parents and grandparents were natives
of the province of Groningen. The paternal and
maternal ancestors of Mr. Diekema were prominent
people, widely known and highly respected for
their ability and upright character. The paternal
|grandfather was a large farmer, owning about two
hundred acres of valuable land, upon which he
raised with profit both grain and cattle. He lived
to the advanced age of eighty-five years, and at the
time of his death, in 1844, was wonderfully well
preserved, having excellent teeth, white and firm,
and curly hair, and, five feet eight inches in
stature, was a fine-looking man.
The paternal grandfather, a man of more than
ordinary influence in his locality, reared a family of eleven children, all of whom, with the
exception of the father of our subject, lived and
died in their native land. The father devoted




344


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


-


his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and was
both a renter and land-owner of the Old Country.
Witl his family he emigrated to the United States
in 1848, and having made a safe voyage did not
tarry long in the East, but made his way directly
to Michigan, where he bought twenty acres located in the dense woods of Ottawa County, and
situated upon section 31, township of Holland.
Cultivating the soil and improving the farm with
good buildings, he lived to see most of the acres
yielding an abundant annual harvest, and in the
Wolverine State reared his family. The mother
of Mr. Diekenma was a widow when she married the
father, and by her first husband, Walter Vos, had
two daughters: Martha, aged seventy-eight, a
resident of the Old Country; and Catherine,
widow of Marcus Nienhuis. The union of the
father and mother was blessed by the birth of two
children: Wiepke, our subject; and Eilke, the wife
of Paul Berghois, living one mile east of Holland.
The parents were both devout members of the Reformed Church and were active in good work. The
father, politically a Republican, was well versed


in the affairs of Government. I-Ie did not long
survive middle life, passing away in 1850, at
fifty-seven years of age. The mother lived to
reach the advanced age of four-score years and
two, and peacefully entered into rest.
Our subject in 1852 married AMiss Hendrikjen Stegeman, who was born in the Province
of Overisel, in the Netherlands, the daughter


publican and has been since the war. Long identified with matters of local welfare, he began his
public career as a Roadmaster, being elected to
the position in 1868. With fidelity discharging
the duties assigned to him as Supervisor, Commissioner and Superintendent of the Poor, our subject is also a Notary Public and by his official record and private life commands the lligh regard
and confidence of all his fellow-citizens.
^^       =     =    -...  (a:
T OHN A. THOMPSON. Among the citizens
of Muskegon County who have made a
success of their agricultural enterprises,
% o nmay be mentioned the name of Mr. Thompson, who conducts farming ulpon an extensive scale
in Ravenna Township. IHe was born in this townsliip June 16, 1841, and is the son of John and Ann
(Hughes) Thompson, natives of Scotland, who
were there born and reared. His father emigrated
to America at the age of thirty years, preceding
his family, and after landing came West to Illinois,
where he worked as a laborer for a period of one
and one-half years.
Having accumulated a sufficient sum of money
to pay the passage of his family to America, Mr.
Thompson, Sr., wrote them  to come, and upon
their arrival lie settled in Ravenna, Muskegon
County, Mich., where he operated as a renter and
engaged in farming pursuits. Later he purchased
a farm, which he cultivated until his death, in
1873. lie and his wife were the parents of nine
children, of whom four are now living, our subject being the eldest of the surviving members of
the family. He acquired his education in the
schools of Ravenna Township, and during his vacations worked on the home farm.
At the age of twenty Mr. Thompson began to be
self-supporting, and has since conducted farming
operations in this township, where he owns two
hundred and sixty acres of arable land. On New
Year's Day, 1874, he was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Anderson, who was born in Ohio, being


of John and Iendrikjen Stegeman. The home
of Mr. and Mrs. Diekema was brightened by the
birth of eight intelligent children. Peter died
in infancy; Henerika married John Tencate; Peter
died at the age of fifteen; G. J. was the fourth in
order of birth; then follow Aldert, Bouwina, Albert and Martha. In 1852 our subject bought
the eighty acres of land where he resides and to
which he has added until he now owns one hundred and ten acres, formerly wild land, but all now
under high cultivation and well improved with
commodious and substantial buildings, which well
attest the prosperity of the owner. Our subject
and his estimable wife are able members of the
Reformed Church of Holland and are leaders in
church work. Politically, Mr. Diekema is a Re



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


345


the daughter of Charles and Sarah (Shaffer) Anderson, born in Ohio and Penns;lvania, respectively.
Mrs. Thompson is a lady well fitted to 'assist her
husband in all his enterprises, and not a little of the
success he has attained may be attributed to her
cheerful counsel and co-operation. They have been
the parents of seven children, but have been called
upon to lart with three of their little ones. The
surviving members of the family are May, Jessie,
Clyde and Ethel, all of whom reside with their
parents.
In regard to social connections, Mr. Thompson is identified with Hancock Tent, K. O. T. M.,
and Ravenna Lodge No. 355,1. O. O.F. He has
represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge, and has
been an incumbent of all the chairs of the order.
He and his wife also belong to the Rebekah Lodge,
I. 0. O. F. In political relations, Mr. Thompson
has always been a firm advocate of the principles
of the Republican party, to the support of which
his influence is invariably given. I-Ie has served
as Highway Commissioner, and has represented
the township upon the County Board of Supervisors, being a member of the Committee on Equalization while filling the latter position.
- E T E R   A. l)EWITT, the enterprising
) manager and principal stockholder of
the Spring Lake Basket Manufactory, of
Spring Lake, Ottawa County, Micll., is
widely known and highly respected as a man of
more than ordinary business ability and energy.
Born in the village of Spring Lake, in the year
1861, our subject has been from his earliest youth
intimately associated with the upward growth and
progress of his home locality. His parents, numbered among tie pioneer residents and prominent
citizens of this part of the State, possessed the
sincere regard of a large circle of friends, and took
an active part in the early struggles and subsequent development of the interests of their
Western home. Mr. Dewitt received his educa

tion mainly in the district school of his birthplace,
and also enjoyed the advantages of instruction in
the drug business, being in time thoroughly qualified to engage in the trade successfully. IHe became, in fact, while yet young in years a thoroughly practical druggist, and entered into business for himself with profitable results. IHe continued to handle drugs until 1891, and retained
an interest in the same until 1892, when he sold
out and gave his entire time and attention to the
manufacture of fruit baskets. Tile Spring Lake
Basket Manufactory has done business from its
first establishment, now supplying a number of
counties of the State with its goods, and under its
present able supervision cannot fail to continue
a financial success.
In the year 1883, Peter A. Dewitt and Miss
Anna Stark were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject, daughter of B. Stark, one
of the honored pioneer settlers of Ottawa County,
like her husband has grown up among her present
surroundings. Also educated in the home schools
of Spring Lake, she was well fitted to assume the
responsibilities of married life when she joined
her fortunes with those of our subject, to whom
she has been a faithful helpmate and companion.
Two bright little sons, Leslie and Stuart, have
blessed the happy home and will enjoy the advantages of an excellent education and a training
which will enable them to worthily occupy any
position of trust to which they may be called. Mr.
and Mrs. Dewitt fill a position of useful influence
and take an active part in the good work and
benevolent enterprises of Spring Lake and its near
vicinity.
Politically, our subject is a stanch Democrat, and
since attaining his majority has been deeply interested in both local and national issues. Pronounced in his views and possessed of executive
ability, Mr. Dewitt has taken a leading position in
the local councils of his party, and held with efficiency and to the great satisfaction of the entire
community of Spring Lake the position of Postmaster during the first administration of President Cleveland. In all matters of interest to
the general public of his locality our subject is accounted a public-spirited citizen, ever ready to do




346


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


his part in the promotion of enterprise and educational advancement. Passing his mature years
among the friends of a life-time, Mr. Dewitt receives the confidence of all who know him, and is
esteemed for his sterling integrity of character
and thorough business efficiency.
1 D. MEINHARDI.. D., an experienced
I physician and skillful druggist of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., is a native
I  of Emden, in the province of Hanover, and
was horn in the western part of the German Empire October 18, 1848. Dr. Meinhardi is the son
of James and Tedina (Lorentz) Meinhardi, who
were both likewise born in the province of lanover. The paternal grandfather, I). J. Meinhardi,
was known as one of tile most eminent surgeons of
his day. The father, James, was also a noted
physician, having the title of "Sanitatsrath," and,
having been a member of the "Kronenorden,"
was classed among the foremost physicians of
his country. He amassed a large fortune, and
died in his native land at the advanced age of
ninety-three, in October, 1892. Tedina Lorentz
the mother of our subject, was the daughter of
Judge Antone Lorentz, a man of high position in
his locality. An uncle of Dr. Meinhardi's, also
named Antone Lorentz, was a prominent lawyer
and received the title of "Justiz-Rath." The mother
passed away in her native land in 1891, aged seventy-eight years. Our subject was one of a family
of thirteen children. Julia married Fritz KopIp,
Secretary of the Circuit Courts of Emden, Ge'many. Ella is the widow of Mr. Sanders. for
years a clerk in the State Courts of Ostfriesland.
Johann was a Lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry,
in the Hanoverian army, and died during his term
of service. Anna married Jacob Jacobs, Ober-Post
Secretary at Emden. Anton was an officer in the
German navy, and is a well-known sea-captain in
the merchants' trade between Germany and British ports. Rudolph is a member of the firm of


Schreiber & Co., large stove manufacturers in
Ostfriesland. This firm employs some five or six
hundred men, and is a leading house of Germany.
Karl is a wealthy German farmer. George, a Lieutenant in the Third German HIussar Cavalry, was
killed wliile on dut y by eing thrown from his
horse. Edmund is a prosperous agriculturist of
Ostfriesland.  Eduard was for many years Administrator of the Emperor's Drug Store, but is
now a resident of Potsdam, and the owner of a
large drug house.
Our subject spent tle early years of his life in
his birthplace and received his youthful schooling
in the gymnasium, and later studied at Aurich,
where lie was engaged with his books when, in
October, 1869, lie volunteered in the German
army, Third ITussar Cavalry. At the end of one
year lie passed a successful examination, and for
meritorious conduct on the battlefield of Mars LaTour, where le received a sabre thrust in the left
shoulder, was given the Commission of a Lieutenant, and served as such with marked distinction
on tlie field of war. Taking an active part in tile
struggle, Dr. Meinlardi remained in the army until peace was declared between France and Germany.
In tlme spring of 1872, our subject entered Frederick Wilhelm's College at Berlin, and was graduated in 1874, receiving one year's credit for his
service in tlhe army. After passing one year as a
physician on an ocean steamer, the Doctor came in
the fall of 1875 to America, locating at first in
Milwaukee, Wis., where lie practiced for six years,
in 1881 removing to Montague, Mich. In the
spring of 1893, our subject settled permanently in
Whitehall, opening a drug store, but still continuing the practice of his profession. Since making
his home in tile United States, Dr. Meinhardi hlas
several times visited his native land, having but
recently returned from  Germany, where he llad
been to assist in settling up his father's large estate, being an heir of the same to a goodly amount.
In 1883 our subject was united in marriage with
Miss Amanda Molsberger, of Milwaukee, whose
father, Henrich Molsberger, was a civil engineer,
tlen a resident of Milwaukee, but now a citizen of
St. James, Neb. The family of Mrs. Meinhiardi
came from Wildbad in tle Black Forest of Ger



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


347


many, and were among the highly-esteemed people of that district. The accomplished wife of
our subject received a thorough education, and
occupies a high social position. Four children
have blessed tile union: Elsa, seven years old, in
May, 1893; Caesar James, six years old in August,
1893: and Johanna, three years of age in March,
1893. George died in infancy.
The Doctor, a thorough business man and a
highly successful medical practitioner, has always
taken a very active part in politics in the Democratic party, and has held many of the local offices
in Montague. Ile was also at one time Deputy
Game and Fish Warden for the State of Michigan.
Our subject is a valued member of the Maccabees,
and was a delegate to the State Great Camp. Financially prospered, and a man of fine education
and high attainments, Dr. Meinhardi occupies an
honored position of useful influence, and is ranked
among the leading physicians and prominent business men of Whitehall.
i     OMER E. HUDI)SON, a prosperous farmer
residing on section 33, of Georgetown
Townshilp, Ottawa County, has for a num( ber of years been closely identified with
the agricultural interests of this section of the
State. Ile is the son of William P. Hudson, a native of Massacliusetts, who followed the trade of a
mechanic until 1855. IHe then located on a farm
in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, where his
remaining years were passed. His marriage united
him with Miss Delphia, daughter of A. S. Shurwin,
a Revolutionary hero, who in an early    day
removed from Massachusetts to Cleveland, Ohio,
settling on a farm near that city.
In the parental family there were five children,
four of whom are now living, viz.: William P., a
resident of Ohio; Homer E., of this sketcli; Asa
S. and Ruth 1)., both of whom live in the Buckeye State, the latter being a widow. The subject
of this notice was born near Cleveland, Ohio, May


30, 1827, and was reared on a farm until attaining
to manhood years. Meantime he received a good
common-school education and also gained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits, as well as
the nursery business, having since made a specialty
of the latter. In 1848 he was united in marriage
with Miss Clarinda Burt, who was born in Medina
County, Ohio, in 1829. Her parents, Daniel and
Stata (Ganyard) Burt, removed from Massachusetts to Granger, Medina County, Ohio, where
they resided until death. He was a Captain in
the State Militia of Ohio, and was a man of influence in his community.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hudson resulted
in the birth of eiglit children, five of whom are
now living. They are: Delphia C., the widow of
Adelbert Barnaby, and the mother of two children;
Horace A., who married Nellie Purdy and has
two children; Homer F., who chose Miss Millie
Anable as his wife, their union having resulted in
the birth of one child; Elliott E., who married
Miss Kate Pierce; and Belle M., the wife of Adrian
Pompe and the mother of two children. Mr.
IIudson came to Michigan in 1848 and located in
Grand Rapids, where he entered the employ of
Elisha Kellogg, in the nursery business. Thence,
in 1849, he moved to Holland, this State, whither
the Dutch colony had come the year previous.
There he embarked in the nursery business, becoming the pioneer nurseryman of tile place, and
conducting an extensive trade, in company with
Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, the founder of the Iutch
colony.
After remaining thus engaged for ten years,
Mr. Hudson disposed of his nursery business and
removed to the farm, where he has since resided.
The place was then wholly unimproved, and it required arduous exertions on the part of the owner
to clear the land and cultivate the soil. As soon
as lie had sufficiently improved the place, he set
out trees and commenced in the nursery business,
which for seven years he conducted on a large
scale. Then selling out his interests in that line,
he commenced farming, and has since devoted his
attention to the tilling of the soil. He has thirtyfive acres in the home place, which lie devotes to
mixed farming. He also purchased eighty acres




348


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of Luman Jenison, of which the thirty-five acres
mentioned above are a part, and he has another
eighty-acre tract, which is devoted to agricultural
purposes.
On the corner of Mr. HIudson's farm there was
a little schoolhouse, known as Iudson's Schoolhouse, wilere religious services were frequently
held. When the land was surveyed for railroad
purposes, our subject furnished the property on
which the depot was erected, and the station was
called Hudsonville in  his honor. He platted
twenty acres and laid out town lots, many of
wlicl he has disposed of. His interest in the welfare of the town has been deep and unceasing, and
to him more than to any other man is due tile
present prosperity of the village. IIe has given
his children excellent educational advantages, all
of them having completed the studies of the district schools. Tlie eldest son, Horace A., received
a collegiate education at Kalamazoo College, and
engaged for a time in teaching school.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Iudson
was again married, in 1889 choosing as his wife
Mrs. Maryette Aurora (Fox) Manning, a native of
New York. By her former marriage she has one
child, Clarence. Mrs. Hudson is an active worker
in the Congregational Church at Hudsonville, and
has for years been prominent in thle Ladies' Mite
Society, of which she is an officer. She is a teacher
in the Sunday-school and a successful worker in
the temperance cause. Mr. Iudson is a Christian,
and by his life proves the sincerity of his religious belief.
Socially, Mr. Hudson is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which hle has
occupied all the chairs, and has served as Treasurer
for many years. Ite is also an active member of
the Grange, of which lie las been Master for
eleven years. For nine years lie served as Director
of Schools, resigning the position on account of
the pressure of other duties. In politics, he is a
Democrat, firm in his allegiance to tile party of his
choice. He has been elected to the positions of
Highway Commissioner, Township Treasurer (in
which he served for two years), and Justice of the
Peace. On the 1st of May, 1868, hle was appointed
Postmaster at Hudsonville, and filled that position


for several years, the postoffice being located in
his residence. The village was then called Soutl
Georgetown, and upon the change of the name to
Hudsonville, February 18, 1872, he continued
Postmaster, serving in that capacity until 1881.
One of Mr. Hludson's brothers, Asa, served
throughout tile entire period of the Civil War and
was under Gen. Sherman, being Orderly-Sergeant
for tlat famous general. In three different engagements lie was the last man on tle field, and
his bravery gained for him the respect and admiration of liis comrades in arms. Another brotler
of our subject, Thomas, enlisted in the defense of
the Union during the late war and served in Gen.
Garfield's army. lie was a valiant and daring
soldier until lie died from injuries received in the
service.
— h ---     ------  -AOLIN IIALL, a prominent resident of Muskegon Township, was born in Ireland, May
18, 1833, and inherits tlhe perseverance of a
long line of Irish ancestors. His father,
James Hall, a native of the Emerald Isle, there
learned the trade of a carpenter in his youth, and
after his marriage resided for a time in the land
of his birtlh. Thence lie emigrated to Canada,
about 1848, where lie followed his trade, meeting
with fair success in his business enterprises. I-is
death occurred at thle age of forty-five years. Iis
wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret
Thompson, and was likewise a native of Ireland,
now makes her home in New York, and retains the
vigor of former years, though now seventy-eight.
'rTe eldest of a family of seven children, our
subject was eighteen years of age at the time he
bade adieu to his childhood's friends in Ireland
and took passage for Canada, where lie resided until 1856. IIe then removed to New York and followed his trade of a carpenter in Rochester for
two years. Coming West to Illinois in 1858, lie
was engaged at carpenter work in l'utman County for a number of years. His residence in Michigan dates from the year 1863, at whicl time he




I




4/         t4-,,v,/ E./


p0
p




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


351


settled in Port Huron. Two years later he went
to Ionia, and after a residence of two years in that
city he proceeded to Muskegon, in 1867. Here he
has since conducted an extensive business as a
carpenter, and has also been largely interested
in farming.
In 1856 Mr. Hall was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabeth McMillen, a native of Scotland.
Their union has resulted in the birth of two sons
and two daughters: Join, Fred, Margaret and Lizzie. The family occupies a high position socially,
and its various members are highly esteemed
among their acquaintances. In his political affiliations, Mr. Hall is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated by the Republican party, to which
he invariably gives his support. In 1874 he was
elected Supervisor of Muskegon Township, and
officiated in that capacity for ten years. In 1871 -72 he served as Township Clerk; he filled the position of Justice of the Peace for sixteen years,
and las also been the incumbent of a number of
school offices.
Since locating in Muskegon, Mr. Hall has given
his attention principally to the occupation of an
agriculturist, and the result of his efforts is visible
in his fine homestead. He is a man who takes an
intelligent interest in all public enterprises, and
his support may always be relied upon in matters
pertaining to the welfare of his fellow-citizens.
In tile progress of the township and county he has
not been an uninterested spectator, but a prime
factor, and his name is one of the most prominent among the farmers of Muskegon County.
<@-S         t ' I'
J  OHIN T. DAVIS. When the books are balanced, when all accounts are finally adjusted,
figuratively speaking, there will be a larger
credit balance opposite the name of John
T. Davis than is usually placed to the credit of
the average of mankind. While lie accumulated
a considerable amount of wealth as a merchant, he
became the possessor of that which is far more
17


valuable-an honorable name and the confidence
of those who knew him best. He was born in
Wales, August 1, 1821, and was a son of David and
Esther (Evans) Davis, also natives of that country, the former being a tailor by trade and a man
of much intelligence and great honesty. His father bore the name of Thomas Davis.
John T. Davis was the youngest of seven children born to his parents, and was sent by them to
school until lie was eighteen years of age, during
which time he studied in both the Welsh and English languages. Upon leaving school, he followed
in the footsteps of his father, as regarded occupation, and under his intelligent instruction acquired a thorough knowledge of the tailor's trade.
In 1842 he decided to pursue this business in
America, and after arriving in New York proceeded from there to Licking County, Ohio, where
he worked as a tailor for about eighteen months.
Coming to Michigan, he spent one year in Grand
Rapids, and thence in 1846 removed to Grand HIaven, where he made his home until his death.
Embarking in business as a dealer in ready-made
clothing, Mr Davis continued successfully until
1861, but later began dealing in fabrics for their
manufacture, and made a specialty of fine foreign
goods. lie was very prudent and judicious in his
investments, and by industry and economy became
the owner of considerable means. His property
included a fine, well-improved farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which lie rented, besides a
valuable little farm of ten acres within the city
limits and a substantial store building. In 1891
he built a handsome frame residence in Grand Haven, which is modern in design and convenient in
all its appointments. He was for years a stockholder
in the Grand Haven Bank, and in various other
ways interested himself in the numerous movements for the benefit of his section, being at all
times public-spirited, liberal and business-like. He
was a kind friend, and in the home circle was considerate and obliging. His entire life was characterized by diligence and promptness.
In Licking County, Ohio, October 17, 1847, Mr.
Davis married Miss Nancy Evans, who died on the
7th of May, 1871. Her only son, Edward Davis,
is now a resident of Montana, but for about eight




352


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


years was a prominent lumberman of Muskegon,
Mich. The second marriage of our subject was
solemnized in March, 1874, his wife being Miss
Maggie G., daughter of Richard Owens, of Wisconsin. Of this union five children were born,
namely: John T., -onmer S., Charles L., Esther V.
and Margaret G. In 1872 Mr. Davis visited his
old home in Wales, and took that opportunity of
making a tour of the British Isles, but returned to
this country content to spend his remaining days
here. His life was singularly blameless, and when
on the 28th of August, 1893, lie received his summons to the world beyond, he was prepared to depart. Within the circle of his acquaintanceship,
he was mourned in death as lie had been esteemed
in life, and his memory will long be cherished
throughout this county.
AVID R. WATERS, a prominent citizen of
a high order of business ability, whose
prosperous career as a lawyer, editor, and
gallant soldier of the late Civil War is
widely known, is now President of the Grand
Rapids Standard Bed Company, but devotes his
time principally to fruit culture, and makes his
home upon an Ottawa County farm not far from
Spring Lake.   Our subject, born in Lycoming
County, Pa., December 3, 1836, attained to nanhood in his native place, but journeying to tile
broader West began life for himself in Oquawka,
Henderson County, Ill.. where lie studied law,
and in 1858 was admitted to tile Bar. Answering
to the call of his country, Mr. Waters enlisted in
the army in 1861, and joining Company G, Tenth
Illinois Infantry, was upon November 19, 1861,
sworn in as a private. Shortly after, our subject
received promotion as Second Lieutenant and
then soon became First Lieutenant, and upon the
1st of July, 1862, was made a Captain. Under the
command of Gen. Grant at Mound City, under
Gen. Pope at New Madrid. at Corinth under


IIallock, our subject actively participated in the
leading engagements of those perilous days. Later,
transferred to tie command of Gen. Paine, he
went from Corinth to Tuscumbia and from there
proceeded to Nashville, where he passed under the
command of Gen. Paimer.
Mr. Waters was next sent to the South, and remained with Gen. Rosecrans until lie resigned
in 1864. Our subject was Aide-de-Camp on the
field under Gen. Davis and   served as Judge
Advocate under the same general. After he resigned from  military duties Mr. Waters resumed
the practice of law in Aledo, Mercer County, Ill.,
and was in partnership with Charles M. Harris, a menmber of Congress from  the Quincy District. About this time, afflicted with a disease of
the eye, our subject practically gave up law and
went into the newspaper business at Aledo, then
becoming editor of tile Mercer County Press. In
the spring of 1869, Mr. Waters located permanently in Michigan and,a constant resident of the
State for twenty-four years, has been a leading
business man and active politician. Soon after
his arrival within the Wolverine State he purchased eighty-five acres of land north of Spring
Lake, formerly owned by Mrs. E. L. Craw, and
although giving a portion of his time to a variety
of occupations has always been engaged in tile
pursuit of agriculture.  )luring 1872 and 1873
Mr. Waters edited tlie Spring Lake Independent,
and in 1875 was elected Supervisor of Spring Lake
T'ownship, and was likewise Assessor of that township during the years 1873, 1874 and 1875.
At about this time our subject settled in Grand
Ral)ids and took a position on the Grand Rapids
Democrat, resigning in 1876. I-e afterward became the editor of the Allegan County Democrat
and remained with tlat paper until February,
1881, when lie received the editorial charge of the
Grand Rap)ids Evening Leader, continuing in this
latter editorial position until the 1st of February,
1863. Mr. Waters then accepted the wardenship
of tile State House of Correction and Reformatory, at Ionia. In February, 1885, he returned to
the Leader and remained the editor of that paper
from then until the spring of 1890. In the mean
time he had been appointed United States Marshal




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


353


for the Western District of Michigan. In 1890 our
subject with others established the Morning Press,
of Grand Rapids, Mr. Waters continuing as editorial writer until December, 1892. Upon the
organization of the Grange at Spring Lake he was
elected Secretary of the society and retained his
official position as long as he was connected with
the association. The parents of David R. Waters
were native Pennsylvanians, the descendants of a
long line of sturdy and industrious ancestry.
Our subject, entering matrimonial bonds December
18, 1866, was then united in marriage with Miss
Alice Latcha, a native of Lycoming County, Pa.
Of the two children who blessed the union of Mr.
and Mrs. Waters but one survives, Albert Latclia
Waters, a graduate of the State Mining School at
Houghton and the Agricultural College at Lansing. He was born on thie 2d of March, 1869, and
is a young man of brilliant promise. Ever a leader
in tile local councils of the Democratic party, our
subject may review with pride the exceptional
record of his life, which, spent in various fields of
action, has been filled with useful effort. As a
soldier, advocate and editor Mr. Waters has
achieved success and, respected for his qualities as
a man and citizen, he enjoys the he:irty good
wishes and high regard of a host of friends.
I). MOSHEPR, one of the old settlers of
Michllian and one of the leading farmers of
Blendon Township, is a native of tile Empire State, born May 4, 1835. His father, William
Mosher, as well as his grandfatler, James Mosher,
were natives of New York State, the latter being
one of the early settlers of the same. William
Mosher left his native State in 1837 and came to
Michigan, settling first in Oakland County, where
lie tilled the soil for some time. From there lie
moved to Clinton County, Micli., purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government, and remained there for eleven years. Selling out, he moved to Ionia County, Micl., where


he passed the closing years of his life. His wife's
maiden name was Samantha Lawrence, and she
passed her last days in lonia County also, They
were the parents of eight children. Lucy, deceased, was the wife of Jackson Cronket; Laura,
deceased, was the wife of N. Lake; Louisa, deceased, was the wife of Eden Smith; L. B., deceased, resided in Ionia County, and his widow
still lives on the old homestead there; L. D., our
subject is next; L. V. resides in Greenville, Mich.;
and Wallace is deceased.
Tile scholastic training of our subject was received in Clinton and lonia Counties, and lie was
reared in the pioneer days of that State, when the
opportunities for getting an education were anything but good. IIe left the lparental roof when
twenty-one years of age, and began farming on
rented land, continuing this for two years. After
this lie engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he
followed for a number of years, and then moved
to Gratiot County, where he was one of the first
settlers, only four other families living in the
townshi of Arcadia. For two years he remained
there, but not caring about pioneer life he sold
lhis claim for quite a handsome sum for those days
and returned to lonia County, settling close to
the town of Reynolds. -He there purchased an unimproved farm, which lie improved and soon after
sold. From there he moved to Ottawa County,
and bought a portion of his present property, forty
acres, and to this lie has since added, until he now
owns one hundred and twenty acres, with thirtyfour acres under a fine state of cultivation.
Mr. Mosher owns a steam-thresher, also saws
some timber, and has a great deal of farm machinery. IIe was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah Grow,
a native of Montcalm County, Mich., and the
daughter of Eddison and Cllarlotte (Hill) Grow,
natives of New York, and old settlers of Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Grow were born eight
children, six of whom lived to be grown. Melissa,
deceased, tile wife of David Walker; Sarah, deceased, the wife of our subject; Cerena, wife
of Richard Murry, of Hastings, Mich.; Derius,
of this county; Mary E., wife of James Murry,
residing near Hastings; Gertrude, wife of Horace
Weeks, residing in Kent County; Geraldine, wife




354


POIRTJRAIT ANnD BIOG'RAAPHI CAL RECORD.


354    PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


of William Smith, of St. Louis, Mich.; and Wallace, who died when quite young. To Mr. and
Mrs. Mosher were born the following children:
Ellis, who resides in this county; Addison, deceased, who left a wife in Berlin, Mich.; Leanora;
Ralph, of this county; Benjamin; Horace; and an
infant who died unnamed. Mrs. Mosher died on
the 22d of November, 1891, when fifty-six years
of age. She was a member of the Christian Church
in lonia County. Mr. Mosher is a member of the
same church. He was a member of tie Georgetown Grange, and, like his father, has always voted
with the Democratic party.
LAUS KEMME, the only German farmer in
the section of country where he lives, was
born in Hanover, Germany, May 23, 1837,
and no one is better known for earnest industry
and devotion to duty than he. Integrity, intelligence and system  are the characteristics which
will advance the interests of any man and will
tend to the prosperity to which all aspire. As
these are some of the traits of our subject, it is not
to be wondered at that he has become prominent
in his calling and that he is universally respected.
He came to America in 1868, when thirty-one
years of age, and settled in Ottawa County, Mich.,
where he has made his home since. Previous to
coming to this country he was married to Miss
Metta Brugman, a native also of Germany, and
one child was born there.
Upon reaching this State Mr. Kemme had about
$14 in money and he first engaged as a day laborer, continuing this for four or five years. By
industry and economy on the part of himself and
his worthy wife, he accumulated sufficient means
to purchase forty acres of land in Olive Township,
and on this made his home and many improvements for ten years. He then sold out and moved
on his present farm of two hundred and ten acres.
He has this fine tract of land all under cultivation
and raises everything in the way of farm prod

ucts. As a farmer, Mr. Kemme has attained an
enviable reputation, for in conducting his operations he has brought his good sense and his practical views to bear, and as a result has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods.  He extends a helping hand to all public enterprises that
tend to the development and growth of the country, and is very social, friendly and accommodating.
Mr. Kemme's success has been mostly the result
of his own exertions, but he received from his old
home about $1,000. His parents, Claus and Rebecca (Umland) Kemme, were wealthy and influential people of their native country, Germany, and
there passed their entire lives. They were the parents of five children: Margaret,wife of John Brewer,
who resides in Wisconsin; Claus, our subject;
Frederick, Rebecca and Catherine deceased. The
latter was the wife of Henry Elson, of Germany.
The father of these children served in the war
with Denmark. Hie was in the army eight months
and participated in a number of battles, the most
prominent being Holstein. The marriage of our
subject resulted in the birth of eight children, who
are named in the order of their birth as follows:
Catherine, Peter, Mary, Augusta, John, Claus,
Fred and John (the first of that name), the three last
being deceased. While residing in the Old Country Mr. and Mrs. Kemme were members of the
Lutheran Church. Mr. Kemme enjoys to an unusual degree the confidence of the community and
is well known for his honesty and sterling integrity. His fine farm is a standing monument
to his industry and good management.
EORGE WALLIS. Among the well-to-do
farmers of Muskegon County is this gen~     tlemnan., who resides on section 1, Dalton
Township. His birth occurred in 1820, in Lincolnshire, England. His parents were Wallie and
Ann (Spencer) Wallis. The former was in turn




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


355


the son of Wallie Wallis, and both were natives
of Lincolnshire. They were farmers by occupation, and for several generations it appears that
this was the vocation of the Wallis family. Our
subject's father was at one time a clerk in the
Church of England, and though his educational
advantages had been quite limited he was a man
whose true worth and natural ability were appreciated. He was married on arriving at man's estate, and reared a family of seven sons: Joseph,
William, Thomas, Frank, George, Samuel and Edward. Our subject is the only survivor of this
family, and the only one of the number who left
his native land. The mother died when he was a
child of only four years.
George Wallis remained with his father until
he was fourteen years old, when he started out to
make his own living by working on a farm. In
1852 he embarked for Australia, and after a long
and stormy voyage safely landed at the end of
sixteen weeks. Their vessel, while crossing the
Bay of Biscay, was caught in one of the most terrible storms ever known in that locality. In Australia, Mr. Wallis worked at various kinds of labor
for four years. Ile finally bought one hundred
and sixty acres of land, only eighteen miles from
Melbourne. There lie remained until February
16, 1861, when lie returned to England with Iis
family, the voyage consuming twelve weeks and
three days.
The wife of George Wallis bore the maiden
name of Ann Wallis, her parents being John and
Fannie (Skelton) Wallis. They have had three children: Fannie, now Mrs. Charles Putnam; George;
and Ann, wife of Chester Leighton. About four
years after the Wallis family returned to England
they removed to the United States, and at first
settled in Genesee County, N. Y., where our subject bought a small piece of land. At the expiration of eight years, lie traded his New York property for his present farm, a tract of one hundred
and sixty acres. To this he has since added forty
acres, and now has a valuable and desirable place.
When he became its possessor, only ten acres had
been cleared and the remainder was heavy timber-land. After many years of industrious toil, he
has brought the place to its present condition, one


of the best farms in the township, and has made
many substantial improvements thereon.
In politics, Mr. Waliis is a true-blue Republican,
and his influence can safely be counted upon in
all questions having for their object the betterment of the community in which he dwells. He
and his wife are valued members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, with which they have been
identified for many years. They have never regretted their choice of this country as a place in
which to make their home, and as the years have
brought to them success and happiness, they can
only see the wisdom of their move.
U  ARINUS KAMHI-IOUT is a dealer and imI   porter of fine wines and liquors in Grand
HIaven.  Ie llas the honor of being
a native of this city, his birth having
occurred on the 31st of October, 1862. As his
name indicates, however, he comes from a family
of Holland origin. His father, Marinus Kamhout,
Sr., was a native of IHolland, and in that land was
reared and educated. I-e learned the machinist's
trade, which he followed during the greater part
of his life as a means of livelihood. On coming
to America hle made his way to Ottawa County,
Mich., and is numbered among the early settlers
of Grand Haven. He was united in marriage
with Catherine Nelnier, also a native of Holland.
Thie days of boyhood and youth were quietly
passed by our subject, who was reared to manhood
under the parental roof, and in the public schools of
his native city gained his education. As lie arrived
at years when it became necessary for him to make
his own livelihood, he began learning the trade of
manufacturing shingles with the firm of Boyden,
Akeley & Co., and after thoroughly mastering the
business lie became manager of one of their mills,
a position which he filled for seven years to tile
entire satisfaction of his employers.  He then
severed the connection with that company in order to engage in business in his own interest, and




356


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


on tile 1st of June, 1885, he began dealing in fine
wines and liquors. He carries everything found
in a first-class establishment of this kind, and for
the past eight years has successfully conducted the
business, which has proved a profitable one to him.
He is also interested in real estate, having some
valuable town property.
Mr. Kamhout exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Democracy, and has been honored
with public offices. In April, 1890, he was elected
Alderman of the First Ward of Grand -Haven on
the Democratic ticket, and in 1893 he was reelected to the same position, which he is now
acceptably filling with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of his constituents.  Ile takes
quite an active interest in educational affairs, being a warm   friend to the public schools. He
holds membership with some civic societies, belonging to Highland Tent No. 203, K. O. T. M.,
and Ottawa Lodge No. 46, I. O.. F.
A marriage ceremony performed in Grand Haven in 1883 united the destinies of Mr. Kamhout
and Miss Jennie Tourville, a native of New York.
Tlhe union of this worthy couple has been blessed
by a fanily of three children, two sons and a
daughter, namely: Louis, Mamie and Marinus, Jr.
Tlie family has a pleasant home in the city where
our subject has spent his entire life and where he
has a wide acquaintance.
ATRICK DOWD, an enterprising and suc) cessful agriculturist of Muskegon Township, residing on section 36, was born in
i    County Sligo, Ireland, May 30, 1833. His
parents, Michael and Bridget (MeTernan) Dowd,
were also natives of tile Emerald Isle, where they
passed their entire lives, the mother dying when
our subject was a child of eigllt years. The family consisted of four sons and one daughter. The
latter died at the age of three years, but the sons
all attained to manhood years. Patrick, who was
the eldest child in the family, was reared on his


father's farm, receiving very limited educational
advantages and devoting his attention principally to farm work.
In 1850, Mr. Dowd emigrated to America and
proceeded from New York, after a short sojourn
in that metropolis, to Michigan, arriving in Muskegon on the 4th of September, 1854. He entered the employ of Reyson & Morris (now Reyson, Hill & Co.), and for about two years worked
in their sawmill. Later, he was with another firm
for a short time, after which he returned to his
first employers, remaining with them many years.
Upon resigning his position with Reyson & Morris, he was employed by another concern for
thirteen years, and for five years held thle position
of engineer for C. J. -arnilton. I-e was also engineer on a tug, in the employ of the Muskegon
Booming Company, for four years. Later, lie engaged on the lake, and also was interested in milling until 1880, when lie located upon the property where lie has since resided.
In Chicago, in 1858, Mr. Dowd was united in
marriage with Miss Mary Diver, a native of County
Donegal, Ireland, who emigrated to Brooklyn,
N. Y., in 1854, and thence to Chicago, residing in
that city until her marriage.  Seven children
blessed this union, namely: John, the eldest of
the family, who was drowned in the lake at the
age of thirteen years and six months; Andrew, who
was born in 1864 and resides at home, being the
present Supervisor of the township, and enjoying
the distinction of being the youngest gentleman
ever chosen for that office in the township; Martin, who was born in 1866, and is now book-keeper
for the Muskegon Boiler Works; Kattie, who is at
home; Bernard, who was born in 1875, and is at
home; Mary A., who died at the age of three and
one-half years; and Una, who passed away at the
age of one year.
In his enterprises Mr. Dowd has met with more
than ordinary success, and in addition to his farm
is the owner of five houses and two vacantlots in
the city of Muskegon. What he has and what lie
is may be attributed to his indomitable energy,
and not to any assistance from friends or fortuitous circumstances. When he arrived in Muskegon he did not have money enough to pay for his




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


357


dinner.  -le reached this city at eleven o'clock in
the morning, and two hours later commenced
to work with his customary energy, notwithstanding the fact that he had liad nothing whatever to
eat for many hours. It is this perseverance and
dauntless courage that have secured for him the
high degree of success lie now enjoys. Politically, lie is a Republican. In 1856 lie cast his ballot for John C. Fremont, and since tliat time lie
has always voted for the principles he then upheld. For two years lie served as TownshiplTreasurer and afterward lie served for the same length
of time as Highway Commissioner.
~ _
]i OtIN JONES. The creditable condition of
the agricultural districts of Ottawa County,
Michi., is due to a great extent to tile enterprise, energy and intelligence of her
farmers and stock-raisers. Among the most prominent of tliese may be mentioned Joln Jones,
who is pushing, enterprising and thrify, in fact, a
model farmer. IIe was )born on thle farm on which
he now resides January 16, 1856, the only son
and eldest child now living of Th'omas and Ann
(Roberts) Jones, the former of whom came to this
State in 1842, in company with Richard Roberts,
and made settlement on tlhe farm on whlich his
widow still resides. This farm was l)urchased by
the two men, and consisted of three hundred and
twenty acres, and at thle time of their location
there was not another person living in tile township. They came to this country from thle North
of Wales, and after making tile l)urchase Mr. Jones
resided on the place for about nine years, at the
end of which time he returned to his native land
to wed the girl he left behind him, who is now
his widow. Mr. Jones returned immediately to
this country with his young bride, and for a long
time thereafter there was but one small settlement
in the country for many miles around. There
was but one schoolhouse, which was situated on


Mr. JTones' farm, and there were no churches,
preaching being conducted in the scloolhouse, or
at private residences. Milling was done at Grand
Rapids, and as there were no public roads the
journey was a wearisome one. At that time lumber-mills were numerous, and but little farming
was done, the place owned by Mr. Jones being the
largest in the township. During the summer
months lie devoted his time to tilling the soil, and
in tile winter lie and Mr. Roberts did considerable
lumbering, finding tills quite a profitable occupation.  Ile owned considerable pine land, tile
timber from  which he sold after he had cleared
and properly developed llis farm, and this netted him a considerable amount of money. Mr.
Jones was very successful, but lie and Mr. Roberts were more forehanded tlan tie majority
of the pioneers of tlat day, each having a considerable amount of money in his possession.
Mr. Jones purchased Mr. Roberts' interest in the
farm and later made a sl)ecialty of stock-raising,
in whiclh lie was recognized as tlhe leader in his
township. IIe raised a good grade of Durham
cattle and made a specialty of heavy draft horses.
At the time of his deatl lie had one hundred acres
under cultivation, on wlich was one of the most
substantial, well-arr'lnged and neatest farm houses
in tlhe county, besides substantial and commodious
barns of all kinds. IIe was born in Wales June
21, 1822, andl died September 12, 1880. HIe held
the office of Township Treasurer twice, and at the
time of his death was Treasurer of the Congregational Churclh, of wllich lle was a member.
His fatlier was John Enochl Jones, a Welshman,
and his mother was Jennie Jonies. To them four
children were born, Joln, who followed the occupation of merchandising and died in his native
land, and Thomas, the father of the immediate
subject of tils sketch, being the only ones who
lived to mature years. Tile father of Mrs. Jones
was Jolin Roberts, who was a farmer of North
Wales, and her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Roberts, though she was not related to her
husband. 'They became the parents of six children: Rebecca, widow of Richard Roberts, and the
pioneer white woman of Allendale Township; Barbara, deceased, the wife of Roland Edwards, of




358


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Wales; Betsev, deceased, tle wife of Samuel Jones,
who (lied at Liverpool,England; John, a resident
of Liverpool. England; Ann, wife of Tlomas Jones,
and mother of John Jones; and Robert, who resides
on a farm in North Wales. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones
three children were given: Elizabeth, deceased;
John; and Mary, wife of Thomas Lockhart, of this
township.
John Jones grew to manhood on the farm on
which lie now lives and has always followed the
occupation of agriculture. At the death of his father he assumed the care of the home place and
looked after his mother and his two sisters until the
marriage of one of the latter and the death of the
otlier. Like his father, he possesses a natural aptitude for his calling and is actively engaged in
farming and stock-raising, his horses being mostly
Norman and of superior breed, and he is also like
him in the fact that he is a Democrat in his political views. He and his mother are communicants
of the Congregational Church.
ILIIAM SNOWDIN, a representative general agriculturist and successful stockraiser of Chester Township, Ottawa County, lhas been a resident of Michigan for forty years.
An Englishman by birtlh, he was born in Lincolnshire April 30, 1829. He is the second child born
to the union of John and Maiy (Graham) Snowdiin. natives of England,iid descendants of a long
lin. of sturdy British ancestry. His father was
twice married, and by his first union had seven
soi s, all of whom attained mature years. They
we. ' John, Joseph, Charles, Benjamin, George, Septimns and James. The last-named emigrated to
the United States and for a time made his home
in Michigan, but later removed to Beaver Dam,
Wis., where he died. Joseph, George and Charles
also came to America and settled in Wisconsin.
Tile second union of John Snowdin resulted in
the birth of five children, of whom the next to the
youngest died at an early age. The others are


Thominson, who is married; William, the subject
of this sketch; Jane, who is the wife of George
Cross and resides in Wisconsin; and Ann, who
is married and resides upon the old homestead
in England. The father and mother of these
children spent their entire lives in England,
where they both died at advanced ages. William
Snowdin was educated in the excellent public
schools of his native land, and at the age of thirteen years secured a position as a farm laborer.
His first year's salary was $15, and during the
eleven years he continued in the employ of others
his highest salary was $60 per year.
Emigrating to America in 1853, Mr. Snowdin
landed in Quebec, Canada, and from  that city
proceeded direct to Michigan. He pre-empted
forty acres in Sanilac County, which he converted
into a comfortable homestead. As prosperity rewarded his efforts, he was enabled to add forty
acres to the original tract, and devoted his attention to the cultivation of the land. At the expiration of about fifteen years he disposed of that
farm, and in 1868 settled in Chester Township,
purchasing the property upon which lie has since
resided, and which then consisted of seventy acres.
There were very few   improvements upon the
farm; ten acres had been cleared, preparatory to
cultivation, and a board house had been built.
During the quarter of a century covering the
period of Mr. Snowdin's residence upon his present farm, he has devoted his energies exclusively
to the improvement of the place, which is embellished with a spacious residence, commodious barns
and substantial outbuildings. The sixty acres
comprising the homestead have been placed under
excellent cultivation. In addition to this property, he is the owner of forty acres in Ravenna
Township, Muskegon County, adjoining the original homestead, thirty acres of the tract being
finely improved. The stock raised on tile Snowdin farm is noted for its excellence. The cattle
are a high grade of Durham, and the horses, while
not imported, are of superior breeds, comparing
favorably with the finest in the county of Ottawa.
William Snowdin and Miss Mary A. Cross were
united in marriage in England in 1853. The parents of Mrs. Snowdin, John and Annie (Russell)




RESIDENCE OF A. C. NOQRTHOUSE, SELC.-It.,GRAND HAVEN 'ThOGTTAWA GO.jIvHWl.


I      ..          .      I         I.       1..      I.......         I     '.        I        I..-..       -         I.   ...          I        I.


io ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -


RE5iDENCEOF WILLIAM


RE5IDICEOF WLLIAM  N OWD laN.SEC.(7. CH F5TER TPhOTTAWA CO.JM ICH.




I
9




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


361


Cross, were natives of England and had a family
of ten children, all of whom remained in England
excepting Mrs. Snowdin and three of her brothers.
Unto our subject and his estimable wife there have
been born seven children, namely: William E., a
farmer residing in Chester Township; Maria, the
wife of James Nevell, of Wisconsin; Anna, who
taught in the district schools of Michigan, and died
at the age of nineteen years; Robert R., who died
when five years old; Jennie, who engaged in teaching for four years, married S. Heidenreich and lives
in Wisconsin; Albert, who is married and lives
at home; and Nellie, tlle wife of Wesley Maxwell, of Ravenna, Muskegon County. A strong
Republican and a local leader of tile party, Mr.
Snowdin takes an active interest in all matters of
public importance, and is esteemed as a substantial man of superior business ability and broad
intelligence.
— 1++++    4++++q'     '
i LBERT C. NORTHOUSE, a leading general agriculturist, and for over a score of
years an extensive bee-keeper of Ottawa
County, making his home on a finely cultivated farm near Grand Haven, has been crop
correspondent for his township for many years,
and lias also leld with ability various important
local offices. The father of our subject, Cornelius
Northouse, was born in Holland, and, attaining to
manhood in his native land, gained an excellent
education in the public schools of his birtlplace. At the age of about thirty lie determined
to emigrate to the new world beyond the sea, and
sailing for America landed safe and sound in the
United States.
Journeying at once Westward, the father went
to Kalamazoo, Miic., and for two years resided in
that locality. Later he removed to Ottawa County
and purchased a farm one and a-half miles from
Grand Haven. IHe then entered with energy upon
the cultivation of the fertile soil of the Wolverine
State, and was prospered. The original home

stead which lie bought contained only eighty
acres, but to that purchase lie soon added forty
acres of tine timber-land, whicl, like his first eighty,
he cleared and improved with good fencing and
commodious buildings.
Born in 1812, the father survived to pass the
allotted three-score years and ten, and after an
honorable career entered into rest in 1884, fortytwo years after his arrival in America.   Tlle
mother of our subject, Effie Vanmaren, was born
in Europe, and crossed the ocean with her parents
in 1842, locating in Grand Haven, where she was
married. She passed away in 1879, and in 1880
the fathler a second tline wedded, marrying Mrs.
Kate l)anhaff, now  residing in Grand Rapids.
The six children who blessed the union of the father and mother were: Albert, Peter, Nancy, Nellie, Cornelius and Chrissie.
Our subject, Albert C., was born in 1853 upon
the old lomestead in Ottawa County, and attained to manhood upon the farm. Ile was educated in the schools of the district and, early
trained in tile round of agricultural pursuits, grew
up a thoroulghly practical farmer, well versed in
every duty of farming life. He now owns sixty-five
acres, thirty acres being a part of the old homestead. Raising year after year the usual farming
products, our subject also cultivates a variety of
fruit with success, and for twenty years has prosperously handled bees, now owning one of the finest
apiaries in this part of the country.
Albert C. Nortliouse and Miss Ella J. Wilcox, a
native of Allegan County, Mich., and a lady of
worth and accomplishments, were united in marriage August 21, 1883. Two children, Alfred and
Pearl, have with their bright presence cheered
the pleasant home of our subject and his estimable
wife. Mrs. sNortliouse is a'member of the Congregational Church in Grand Haven, and is a ready
aid in good work. The parents of Mrs. Northouse,
Samuel J. and Harriet (Scofield) Wilcox, were natives of New York and early settlers in Ottawa
County, Mich. They had seven children, tlree
sons and four daughters: Alfred J., Cynthia, Ella
Jane, Arthur, Ada (deceased), Merret J. and Hattie
Belle.
Our subject is identified with the Democratic




362


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


party, and has held with efficiency for about ten
years the office of Justice of the Peace, and by his
legal decisions has given universal satisfaction
to his friends and neighbors. For one year Township Clerk and a twelvemonth Township Treasurer,
Mr. Northouse gave to the demands of public
work faithful service, and as a member of the
School Board for eight years has materially aided
in the educational advancement of his home district and has won the confidence of a host of acquaintances, by whom he is esteemed as a friend,
neighbor and liberal-spirited citizen.
ACOB WEERSING, a well-known citizen
and enterprising general agriculturist, and
for more than a score of years closely identified with the progressive growth of Michigan,cultivates a finely-improved farm located on
section 36, Holland Township, Ottawa County,
and, a man of ability and upright character, commands the sincere respect of a large acquaintance.
Mr. Weersing, a native of tile Netherlands, was
born in Drenthe in the y ar 1836. His ancestors had
patiently tilled the fertile soil of the Fatherland,
and although but few of the family gained wealth,
they were all self-respecting, hard-working and
industrious people, bringing their children up to
strict religious observance and unswerving honesty. The parents of our subject, John and Catherine Weersing, were natives of the near vicinity
of the birthplace of their son Jacob. The father,
born in 1807, and the mother in 1809, were reared
and educated in the same neighborhood, and mariying began their housekeeping amid the familiar
scenes of their childhood.
The father, by occupation a farmer, was in excellent financial circumstances, owning one hundred acres of fertile land, which annually yielded
him a good harvest. Brought up from his youth
to the daily round of agricultural pursuits, he had
that thoroughly practical knowledge of farming


which seldom fails to insure success. Eight children blessed the home of the parents, but six are
now deceased. Catherine, wife of John Johnson;
and Jacob, our subject, alone survive. The devoted wife and mother (lied in her native land,
mourned by many friends and relatives. Some
time subsequent to her demise, the father determined to try his fortunes in America, and in 1870,
with his two children, embarked for the United
States. Landing safe and sound in New York,
the family remained but a brief time in the East,
almost immediately journeying to Michigan, where
they located in Holland, Ottawa County, among
former friends and neighbors of the Old Country.
-Iere the father bought seventy-two acres of land,
partially improved, and with energy entered into
the further development of his homestead in a
new land, from thenceforward his permanent residence.
The father survived his arrival in the United
States fifteen years and passed away in 1885, regretted by all who knew him. IIe was a devout
member of the -)utcli Reformed Church, and from
his youth upright, conscientious and faithful in
all things possessed the confidence of friends and
neighbors. Jacob Weersing received his education
in the common schools of his native land, where
he attained to manhood and in due course of time
married Miss Jacoba Boalans. This marriage was
blessed by the birth of four children: John, who
married Ida Lemmon; Catherine, wife of John Dewitt; Jane, deceased; and Jacoba, wife of Ara Tenkate. The first wife died in 1871, after a residence
of about two weeks in the United States. A second time entering the bonds of matrimony, Mr.
Weersing was wedded to Miss Fanny Lemmon.
The home of our subject and his estimable wife
has been brightened by the birth of five children,
four sons and one daughter, namely: Fanny, wife
of William  Dewitt; Benjamin, Johannes, Jacob
and Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Weersing are valued
members of the Reformed Church and are active
in good work.
Politically, our subject is a Republican, deeply
interested in the management of both local and
national affairs, and, a good citizen, is ever ready
to do his full share in all matters of mutual wel



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


363


fare. Financially prospered, Mr. Weersing owns
seventy-two acres of valuable land, highly cultivated and improved with substantial and commodious buildings, the farm presenting a thrifty and
1prosperous a ppearance.
J. GATES is one of the native-born sons
of Michigan who have taken a warm in( terest in the progress of the State and
contributed to its material advancement.
An enterprising and energetic farmer, he has been
highly successful in the cultivation of his place,
which is located on section 11, Laketon Township,
Muskegon County, and which, through his labor,
is one of tlhe best farms in the township. tIe is a
man wlo uses skill and judgmlent in the rotation
of crops and fertilization of the soil, and consequently is able to secure the very best results florm
every acre of his property.
In St. Joseph County, Mich., our subject was
born on the 5th of March, 1838. HIis father,
-Iiram Gates, was born and reared in Onondaga
County, N. Y., being the son of Aschibald Gates,
and a descendant of Scotcl ancestry. Thle mother
of our subject, Margaret Engle, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., and was the daughter of
Jonathan Engle, whose ancestors were German
people. After their marriage in tlhe Empire State,
the parents of our subject came to Michigan and
settled in St. Joseph County, some time in the
'20s, being among the pioneers of this State. They
entered a tract of land from the Government, and
improved tile farm, building a log house and clearing the land. Some years later they sold the
property and removed to Burr Oak, Mich., where
Mr. Gates died at the age of fifty-five; his wife
also passed away at thiat age.
There were six children, four daughters and
two sons, in the parental family, our subject being
the next to the youngest. He was reared on a
farm in St. Joseph County until he was seventeen,
when he accompanied his parents to Burr Oak.


There, on the 14th of February, 1861, he was
united in marriage with Miss Delila McMillan,
who was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., January 29, 1843. She is the daughter of Abram and
Malvina (Pangburn) McMillan, natives of New
York, and was the second of five children. At
the age of ten years she came to Michigan with
her father and located in St. Joselll County, where
she grew to womanhood.
After his marriage Mr. Gates located in Burr
Oak, Mich., where he found employment at his
trade as a noulder. In 1862 lie came to Muskegon County, and for about six months sojourned
in Dalton Township. Hle then entered from the
Government one hundred and sixty acres where
he now resides. He first built a small log cabin,
12x14 feet in dimensions, but after living in it
for one year he erected a good log house, 18x26
feet, in which lie resided until 1887. Since that
time lie has made his home in an attractive and
tastily-furnished house, erected at a cost of $1,200,
and containing all the modern conveniences.
Until about fifteen years ago he was extensively
engaged in lumbering, but since tlat time he has
engaged exclusively in general farming. He cultivates one hundred and forty acres, and has given
his eldest son a sixty-acre tract.
Mr. and Mrs. Gates are the parents of three
sons: Frank, who resides in Laketon Township;
Otis R. and Leon J., who are at home. In politics a
Republican, Mr. Gates las served as the incumbent
of various township offices, including the positions
of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. He was
elected to represent Laketon Township on the
County Board of Supervisors in 1880, and served
with efficiency for two years.
/  - ^ —^.fc  te  t — 4  K
ELS NELSON, who carries on general farming on section 24, Holton Township, Muskeoon County, is one of the worthy citizens that Denmark has furnished this community.
The birth of our subject occurred in Copenhagen




364


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in 1841. His parents were Nels and Anna (Larson) Jepperson. They were farming people, and
spent their entire lives in Denmark. The mother
had been twice married before her union with Mr.
Jepperson, and by each marriage had one child:
Gratt Johnson and John Nelson. Our subject is
the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Jepperson. Both
parents were members of the Lutheran Church,
and highly respected citizens. The father died in
the land of his birth on Christmas Day of 1891,
and his wife passed away about seven years previous.
In his early life Mr. Nelson was afforded good
school privileges, and pursued his studies until the
age of fourteen, wlen lie was forced to earn his
own livelihood. Through experience and through
contact with men and the world, he has become a
well-informed man.  tie was trained to industrious and frugal habits, and has led a busy and
useful life. H-e began working as a farm hand,
and to that labor devoted his energies until eighteen years of age, when lie decided to leave tle
farm and go to the city. Removing to Copenhagen, lie secured employment in a grocery store,
where ie remained until coming to the United
States, in 1867.
Hoping to better his financial condition thereby,
lie emigrated to the New World, and after reaching the shores of this land immediately made his
way to Chicago. After a few months spent in
that city, lie came to Muskegon and began working in a sawmill. For six years he was engaged
in mill work, and then came to his present farm.
As the result of his industry and economy, lie had
acquired some capital, with which lie purchased
the forty acres of land on which he now resides.
It was all in its primitive condition, not a furrow
having been turned or an improvement made
thereon, but, nothing daunted, he began its development, and has now sixty acres under a high
state of cultivation. Iis farm is now one hundred
and twenty acres in extent, and will rapidly be
improved. It is already yielding to him a good
income, and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful supervision.
Mr. Nelson was married in Muskegon, in 1868,
the lady of his choice being Anna Johnson, who is


also a native of Denmark. Their union has been
blessed with two sons, John and Hans. The family is one widely and favorably known in the community, and ranks high in social circles where true
worth is received as the passport into good society.  Mr. Nelson votes with the Republican
party, but has never been an office-seeker. In religious belief he is a Lutheran. When lie reached
America his casli capital was reduced to $5, but lie
was ambitious and energetic, and resolved to win
success. Overcoming the obstacles in his path,
and surmounting the difficulties, he has steadily
worked his way upward until now he is the owner
of a comfortable home and property. His example
may well serve to encourage others who, like himself, have to start out to fight tile battles of life
empty-handed.
HILIP IIEYBOER. Many of the most active
and enterprising residents of the State of
' Michigan have come from       Holland, but
have here spent the greater part of their
lives. In them may be found true loyalty to their
adol)ted country, and they understand, as it were
by intuition, tle needs, social and industrial, of
this vicinity, and have a thorough knowledge of
its resources. They are therefore well adapted to
succeed in life and make useful, progressive and
law-abiding citizens. Philip Heyboer was born in
tlhe south of [Iolland and is a son of Peter and
Wilempis HIeyboer, who were born, reared and
married in Holland. Tlie early life of the father
was spent on a farm, but he also managed to learn
the baker's trade, and after starting out to fight
life's battles for himself, lie followed that occupation as a means of livelihood until his removal
from the land of his nativity to the United States
of Armerica in 1846. He was a man of frugal
and industrious habits, and accumulated sufficient
means to bring lhis family, which consisted of his
wife and two children, Kate (Mrs. R. A. Vogel)
and Philip, to this country with him, and to pro



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


365


vide for them in a comfortable way. He did not
long remain in the East after landing, but wisely
made his way Westward, Ottawa County, Mich.,
being his objective point, and in due course of
time lie found himself with all his possessions at
Grand Iaven, Mich. Leaving his family at that
point, he made his way on foot to Holland and.
being pleased with tile appearance of the country,
he purchased forty acres of land,and after settling
on it with his family, like the majority of early
settlers who made for themselves a home in the
wilderness,
"He cut, he logged. lie cleared his lot,
And into many a dismal spot he let the light of
day."
He gave up his trade and turned all his attention to farming and the sawmill business, but in
time opened a general store in thle vicinity of his
home, in connection with his son Philip, and this
occupation received his attention for about seven
years. Since then lie has been retired from  the
active duties of life and is in the enjoyment of
means which his early industry brought him.
Philip HIeyboer received a fair education in his
native land, and at the time of his parents' removal to this country lie was in his fifteenth year.
After reaching Ottawa County lie could do little
at first to assist his father on the home place, so
accordingly secured work elsewhere, and in this
manner assisted in supporting the family.   In
addition to this lie saved sufficient means to pur*chase a yoke of oxen, which lie gave to his father.
At the early age of nineteen years he was married
to Mary Weitfieldt, who was also born in the Netherlands, on the island of Flakkee. When nine years
old she was brought by her parents to this country,
and here she grew  to womanhood. Her union
with Mr. I-evboer resulted in the birth of seven
children, but two died young, those living being Peter, Matthew, Lizzie, Maggie and Katie.
After Mr. Heyboer's marriage lie lived witli his
father for a number of years, and during this time
lie purchased forty acres of land in connection
with a brother-in-law, but his share in this land
he disposed of and purchased forty acres of another tract. To this he added forty acres at one


time and sixty acres at another, and now has in
all one llundred and twenty acres of as good
farming land as can be found within the confines of
Ottawa County, and which is well improved with
substantial buildings, fences, etc. He is a member
of the Reformed Church, is a Republican in politics, and has held many local offices in his township,
being the present efficient Township Treasurer.
1 OHN FENNER, a progressive and successful
agriculturist of Muskegon County, and the
owner of a well-improved farm on section
14, Laketon Township, was born in Prussia,
Germany, August 2, 1842. HIe is a son of Michael
Fenner, likewise a native of Prussia, who engaged
in milling in that country until 1840. At that
time lie emigrated to the New World, and established his home in Milwaukee, Wis., whlence, in
1865, he removed to Michigan and located in Newaygo. At present lie resides in Muskegon, and
is a promineint and highly-respected citizen of the
place. His wife, the mother of our subject, bore
the maiden name of Minnie Seymour, and died at
the age of tliirty-six years.
The eldest of six children, our subject was six
years of age when lie accompanied his father to
America. Here lie grew to manhood and learned
the trade of a stone-mason, at the same time also
working at the carpenter's trade. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of
Company F, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry,
and participating in a number of desperate engagements as well as many niinor skirmishes. Entering the army as a private in the ranks, lie was
promoted for gallantry and meritorious conduct
to the Captaincy, but refused to accept tlie office.
While in active service he was wounded in the
hip and the right knee, and was sunstruck on two
separate occasions.
After receiving his discharge at Brownsville,
Tex., our subject returned to his old home in




366


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Wisconsin for a short time. In 1865 he came to
Muskegon, and a few years afterward located on
his present farm. About four acres llad been improved, but there was no house on the place, and
one of his first improvements was the erection of
a small log house, where for a number of years he
made his home. As the result of his untiring exertions, he has placed the two hundred and forty
acres comprising the estate under the best cultivation, and it now ranks among the finest farms of
the township. In addition to farming, lie has engaged in lumbering, and has also worked as foreman in charge of large forces of workmen.
Upon national issues, Mr. Fenner is a Democrat,
but in local matters casts his ballot for the best
man and the best principles, irrespective of politics. He has held a number of the school offices,
and has also served as Highway Commissioner and
in other township offices. While he maintains a
deep interest in public affairs, yet his time and
labors are given principally to the welfare of his
family and the promotion of the interests of his
children. To them lie has given every advantage
in his power, and for them both he and his wife
have worked untiringly. His marriage took place
in December, 1870, his wife being Miss Catherine
Lachman, a native of Michigan. They are the
parents of eleven children, all of whom were born
on the Fenner homestead: John L., Fred, Louie,
George, Alfred, Charles, William, Minnie, Lizzie,
Kittie and Anna.
' LBERT G. VANDEN BERG, proprietor of
a meat-market in Grand Haven, began
business in this line in 1886. l-e is one
of the sons of the Netherlands. His birth
occurred in HIolland in 1838, and his father, Peter
Vanden Berg, was a native of the same country.
The latter emigrated to America in 1847, spent
two years in Chicago, and then removed to Holland,
Mich., where he resided until 1853, which year
witnessed his arrival in Grand Haven. He ac

cepted the position of lighthouse keeper at the
entrance to the harbor, and thus served for six
years. Ile became widely and favorably known
in this community, and for a number of years held
the office of Justice of the Peace. [te died in
Zeeland, Ottawa County; Micll., in August, 1867,
respected by all who knew him. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Dena Kampherbeek, was
also a native of Holland, and died in Grand Haven in 1864.
Our subject spent the first eight years of his
life in the land of his nativity, and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. removing with them  to Chicago, where the
father worked in a silk factory for two years. Albert attended the common schools for a time, and
then began sailing on the Lakes, following that
life for a number of years. At length he left the
water, and, coming to Grand Haven, establislled
himself in business in 1886 as proprietor of a nmeatmarket, which lie has since conducted successfully.
Besides his business, he owns several good pieces
of town property.
On the 6th of November, 1859, was celebrated
tile marriage of Mr. Vander Berg and Miss Joanna
Ioffman, a native of tile Netherlands, who came
to America in 1847, at the age of four years, her
father being an early settler of Holland, Micli.
Nine clildren have been born of the union, seven
sons and two daughters, viz.: Martin D., a graduate of the Dental College of Ann Arbor, Mich.,
now engaged in the practice of dentistry in Grand
Rapids; Joln IH., who also graduated from the
same school; Peter U., a student in the Medical
College of Ann Arbor; Marie Joanna, who graduated from the High School of Grand Haven,
and is now a teacher of this city; Dena, who occupies a position as book-keeper; Albert G., who
aids Ills father in tie meat-market; Lawrence H-I., a
student in the High School; and Frank and George,
who also attend school. The parents are devoted
and faithful members of the Second Reformed
Church of Grand Haven, and take an active interest in everything that tends to promote its
growth and upbuilding.
In his political affiliations Mr. Valder Berg is a
Democrat, and has been called upon to serve in




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


367


several public positions of honor and trust. For
four years he was a member of the School Board,
was City Marshal for four years, and for twelve
years served as Deputy Sheriff. In all these positions he discharged his duties with a promptness
and fidelity that won him the commendation of all
concerned and led to his many re-elections. His
fellow-townsmen recognize in him a valued citizen, and it is with pleasure that we present to
our readers this record of his life, knowing that
it will be received with interest by many.
O    LIVER B. CARR. To be a successful agriculturist, it is necessary to possess a strong
physique, great endurance, a clear head and
wise judgment. These qualities, combined witl
patient perseverance, will almost invariably bring
to their possessor a large measure of prosperity.
Of Mr. Carr it may be said that these traits are
all Ihis, and to them he is indebted for the success
already won in the realm of agriculture. IHe has
had many    difficulties to encounter, but with
true American determination and "grit," he has
bravely surmounted each obstacle presenting itself.
One of the most beautiful spots in all Muskegon
County is located in Eggleston Township and is
the homestead of Mr. Carr. In the midst of a
lovely grove of tall pine trees stands the cozy
and commodious residence, seeming in the summer
to sleep in the shadow of the foliage, while in the
winter the tall pines stand like sentinels guarding
the cottage and its inmates. A short distance
from the residence is Wolf Lake, a delightful body
of water, whose beauty is scarcely surpassed by
any of the small lakes in northern Michigan. Its
crystal depths abound with bass, perch and other
varieties of the finny tribe.
For detailed information regarding the parentage and ancestry of our subject, the reader is referred to the sketch of William  Carr, which is
presented on another page of this volume. Oliver


B. Carr was born in Sheboygan County, Wis., November 24, 1853, and is a son of William  and
Elizabeth (Plum) Carr, natives of Saratoga County,
N. Y. He spent his youth and early manhood at
home until his father's death in 1890. Since that
time he has conducted farming operations for himself on the old homestead, which embraces one
hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land,
embellished with a large barn and other substantial
structures.
September 18, 1891, Mr. Carr was united in
marriage with Mrs. Mary (Hoff man) Clark, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Hoffman, natives
of Germany. One child has blessed the union,
Frederick, who was born September 2,1892. Socially, Mr. Carr is a member of the Masonic order,
Lodge No. 140, at Muskegon, of which his father
was the oldest member. He hlas filled a number
of prominent positions within the gift of his fellow-citizens, and served as Township Clerk in
1890 and 1891. He is possessed of many generous
qualities, and is always ready and willing to encourage every worthy enterprise. His domestic
life is one of happiness, and the hospitality of the
little home amid the pines is well known.
M    ARTIN WALSH, a leading merchant and
Postmaster of Spring Lake, Ottawa County, is a native of the Emerald Isle. HIe
was born in Galloway County, Ireland,
November 9, 1831, and is a son of Patrick and
Winnefred Walsh, who were also natives of the
same land. They were farming people, and in the
usual manner of farmer lads our subject passed
his early boyhood and youth, the private schools
affording him his educational privileges. After
leaving school he was apprenticed to a tanner and
served a four-years term, after which he followed
that business during tile remainder of his residence in the land of his birth. Bidding good-bye
to home and friends he sailed for the New World




368


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in 1854, landing in New York City, and going
thence to Oneida County, N. Y., where he remained two years. In 1856, we find him in Chicago, and in the fall of the same year he came to
Spring Lake, where lie remained until the breaking out of the late war.
On the 4th of October, 1861, Mr. Walsh was
made a Commissary of the Fourteenth Michigan
Infantry and assigned to the Army of tie Cumberland, serving as such until August 8, 1863, when
he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. On the 14th of March, 1865, lie was commissioned First Lieutenant and Quartermaster,
thus serving until mustered out on the 18th of
July following. He was always found at his post
of duty, and his adopted land found in him an
able defender.
When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Walsl returned to Spring Lake, cleared a
farm and began fruit-raising, which lie has since
successfully followed. Ie owns one hundred and
twenty acres of good land, of which forty acres
are in fruit, mainly grapes and berries, which lie
cultivates extensively. He has shipped as high as
eighteen hundred cases of berries to Milwaukee in
one season, and this branch of his business has
proved a profitable one. In 1867, he built a store
in Spring Lake, where he carried on merchandising for twelve years. He was then burned out,
but with characteristic energy he rebuilt, and his
general merehandise store is now one of the leading establishments of the kind in Spring Lake.
He carries a large and fine stock of goods and has
built up an excellent trade, so that he is now doing a flourishing business.
Turning from the public to the private life of
Mr. Walsh, we note that in 1858 lie was united in
marriage with Miss Elizabeth Lee, of Spring Lake,
a native of Ireland and a daughter of John Lee.
She died October 11, 1887, leaving five children,
as follows: Winnefred, wife of I). O. Watson, of
Spring Lake; John, Joseplh, Elizabeth and William. In January, 1889, Mr. Walsh was again
married, his second union being with Mrs. Donnell, of Muskegon. Their union has been blessed
by two children, Dion and Edward.
Our subject exercises his right of franchise in


support of the Democratic party, of which he is a
warm advocate. He served as President of the
Sclool Board of Spring Lake for several years and
in 1893 was appointed by President Cleveland to
the office of Postmaster, which position he is now
acceptably and faithfully filling. Socially, lie is a
member of the Royal Arcanuln, and of Perkins
Post No. 279, G. A. R. He is a public-spirited
and progressive man and has the best interests of
his adopted city at heart. - He gives his support
to all worthy public enterprises and does all in his
power to advance the general welfare. He is always faithful to every trust, and whether in business, official or social life, he is ever an honorable,
upright man, worthy the high esteem in which he
is held.
ILBERT CIIADDOCK, who is engaged in
the practice of medicine in Muskegon, is a
\(1 native of the Empire State. He was born
in Genesee County April 30, 1827, and is a son of
Joseph and Polly (Terry) Chaddock, the former a
native of New Hampshire and the latter of Massachusetts. The Chaddock family is of English descent, and the Terry family is of Welsh origin.
Tile maternal grandfather, Hiram  Terry, was a
soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The Doctor spent his boyhood days in the State
of his nativity, and acquired his literary education
in the public schools. Wishing to enter the medical profession, lie began studying with Dr. W.
Sawens, of Orleans County, N. Y., and subsequently took a course of study in the Geneva
Medical College. IHe then attended the University
of Buffalo, from which he was graduated in 1853;
he later spent seven years in Toledo, and in 1860
he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession
in Hillsdale, Mich. During tile f 'llowing year he
entered the army as a surgeon, and was assigned
to the Tlird Brigade, Second Division, Second
Corps. There lie did faithful service, remaining
with his command during the remainder of the
war.




VA




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. 17. i  4l1 —. —'-.If,
-      - 1. _,"
- - I -


40


LuMIAN  J E NI SON




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


371


In 1879 Dr. Chaddock came to Muskegon, Mich.,
where he has since engaged in the practice of his
profession. He possesses skill and ability as a
lphysician, and as the result of his merit he has
succeeded in building up a large practice, wlich
is well deserved.
In 1860 the Doctor was united in marriage with
Miss Anna Sinclair, who was then living in Toledo, Ohio, but is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Their union lhai been blessed with one son, Charles
G. The Doctor has always been a public-spirited
and progressive citizen, and one who manifests an
active interest in everything pertaining to the
welfare of the community in which he makes his
home. Ile gives his support and co-operation to
all worthy enterprises, and his aid is never withheld from an object that he believes will prove of
public benefit. He has always been a close student
of his profession, keeps abreast with all tile discoveries and theories connected with the science,
and has achieved an enviable reputation, receiving
from the public a patronage which yields him a
good income.
U MAN JENISON, in whose honor the village of Jenison was named, and wlho is the
most prominent citizen of that thriving
town, has extensive and valuable real-estate interests in various portions of the State, and may
properly be termed one of tile eminent men of
Michigan. His ancestors were for several generations residents of the Green Mountain State, wliere
his father, Lemuel, and his grandfather, Josiah,
were both born. The first-named was there married to Miss Sarah Sanderson, and shortly afterward removed to New York, becoming a pioneer
of St. Lawrence County.
In the fall of 1834 Lemuel Jenison became a
resident of Michigan, and after a very short sojourn in Ann Arbor came to Kent County, settling in a pinery three miles soutlh of Grandville.
Iere he assisted his cousin, N. J. Brown, in the
18


erection of a sawmill, and afterward cut logs and
did other pioneer work, making his home in that
locality for two years. From there he removed to
Georgetown Township and located on section 24,
where lie purchased an unimproved tract of land
and made his home. Three years after going to
that place lie was killed by a falling tree. His wife
passed away June 26, 1841. They were the parents of a large family of children, three of whom
are now living, Luman and Lucius (twins) and
Betsey. The latter married Benjamin S. Hanchett,
of Grand Rapids, and became the mother of three
children: Lizzie, Benjamin S., Jr.,and Castella, Mrs.
Priestley, who died in 1879.
In St. Lawrence County, N. Y., our subject was
born April 25, 1823. IIe attended sclhool occasionally prior to the age of eleven, but afterward had
no educational advantages, excepting such as lie
gained by self-culture and observation. He accomnpanied his parents to Michigan, and as the
family was in reduced   circumstances he was
obliged to aid in the maintenance of the other
children. In 1842 lie commenced to traffic with
the H-ollanders, and met with unexpected success,
meantime also operating tile home farm.
HIaving accumulated a small amount of money,
Mr. Jenison purchased sixteen  liundred acres
where the village of Jenison now stands, paying
twelve shillings per acre for the property. As
the water power was excellent and the facilities
for milling all tlat could be desired, he built a
mill, and for twenty years superintended its management. In 1863 lie tore down the old sawmill
and began preparations for his present fine flourmill, which was finished in tile fall of 1864. This
mill las a capacity of fifty barrels, is furnished
with six rollers and all tile modern conveniences,
and cost wlien completed $18,000. Steady employment is given to a force of five hands.
Upon the second water power, located a little
below the first, Mr. Jenison built a steam sawmill,
where lie now employs twenty-five or thirty men.
This mill also contains first-class modern improvements and cost $15,000. Although his milling
interests are extensive and have demanded his
close attention, he has also found time for other
large enterprises. For ten years lie conducted a




372


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


general store, doing an annual business of $25,000,
and carrying a stock valued at $6,000. He also
owns and operates a factory, machine-shop and
foundry, where lie manufactures railroad gates,
crossings, frogs, switches, switch stands, radiators,
etc. The plant is worth $25,000, and employment
is furnished to a large number of men.
Mr. Jenison is the owner of a large boardinghouse in Jenison, and a blacksmith slop. He
superintends the management of two hundred
acres of farming land near the village of Jenison,
on which he usually raises large crops of hay. IIe
is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres
where Jenison now stands, and also owns fifteen
of the buildings in the village. His property interests in other places include the ownership of
the Day Plaster Mill at Grandville, valued at $30,000; the flour and feed store at Grandville, as well
as an elegant residence in that city; a large
amount of real estate at Grand Rapids; forty acres
on Fisk Lake, upon which improvements have been
placed amounting to $15,000, the property itself
being worth $40,000; eiglt and one-fourth lacres
on Reed's Lake, valued at $15,000; twenty lots
on the west side of Grand Rapids, tie estimated
value of which is $20,000; nine hundred acres of
land in Blendon Township, Ottawa County; and
the home farm of two hundred and sixty acies, of
which two hundred acres have been brought to a
high state of cultivation.
Upon his homestead Mr. Jenison platted the
cemetery which bears his name and around which
he has placed an iron fence costing $1,100. Iere
all the deceased members of his father's family lie
buried, and here he and his twin brother (who has
been associated with him in all his business enterprises) are building a mausoleum, to cost at completion $12,000. It is constructed of Barre granite, and contains the family name in raised letters
upon the front. The dimensions of the base are
16x18 feet, and the height is fifteen and one-half
feet. The sarcophagus will contain the inscription,
in sunken letters, "Built and designed by J. E.
Harrison & Son, Adrian, Mich." The floor is inlaid
with a neat pattern of black and white marble
tile, with black border. The wainscoting is of
red Tennessee marble, while the walls are of light


veined Italian marble. There is a frieze of light
cream and blue enameled tiles, and the ceiling is
finished in white veined Italian marble. The
sarcophagi, two in number, are composed of light
Italian marble, properly inscribed. TlIe inside
doors are of granite, with fixtures of standard
copper bronze. The guards are strong brass tubes,
each containing a bar of steel.
The career of these twin brothers has in many
respects been identical.  Both started poor in
purse but rich in hope, and both have worked
their way steadily onward and upward to positions
of lprominence in the State. Botll have remained
unmarried, content to live   the  independent,
though lonely, life of bachelors. Both are Democratic in party principle, voting for the candidates of that l)arty at every local or national election. Lucius gives his exclusive attention to the
home farm, while Luman looks after the other
large and valuable interests.  Both are generous,
kind-hearted and philanthropic, and contribute
liberally to every worthy enterprise. Our subject gave $1,000 to the Universalist Church at
Grand Rapids upon the occasion of thle building
of thle new edifice, and has also contributed generously to other religious projects. During the
late war lie paid out $800 to secure substitutes for
a number of poor men who had been drafted into
the army. Socially, he affiliates witl the Masonic
fraternity.
/ AL'TER 1B. MORRISON, M. I)., a popular
family physician and surgeon of wide exvkV:  perience, has been engaged for tle past
twenty-eight years in the active discharge of professional duties in the city of Muskegon, Mich.,
and the near vicinity, his practice extending over
a large territory of patients, old and new. Our
subject is a native of the Wolverine State and
was born in Grand Rapids May 6, 1838. His father, Jefferson Morrison, a native of New York,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


373


early emigrated to the West, in 1834 joining the
pioneer settlers of Michigan and making his home
in Grand Rapids, where he pursued a mercantile
business and yet resides, widely known and highly
respected by his large acquaintance of many years'
standing. The mother, Caroline A. (Gill) Morrison, likewise a native of Michigan, was born in
Port Huron, and was reared, educated and mariied within easy distance of her birthplace. I)r.
Morrison passed the days of boyhood in Grand
Rapids and attended the excellent public schools
of his llome, laying the broad foundations of a
more extended education. lie prepared for college in the High School, and in 1858 began reading medicine with Dr. D. W. Bliss.
Ir. Bliss was then a prominent pllysician of
Grand' Rapids, but later, removing to WVashington, D. C., attained to eminence and was brought
before the public in connection with tlme fatal illness of President Garfield, whom lie attended, caring for ttle terrible wound whose frightful consequence filled a nation with mourning.  After
reading medicine for two years, our subject entered the University at Ann Arbor and took a
course of lectures. In 1861 )Dr. Morrison, animated by patriotism, enlisted in Company K,
Third Michigan Infantry, and was commissioned
Assistant Surgeon of the regiment, under the coinmand of Col. Daniel McConnell, and assigned to
the Army of tlle Potomac. Our subject actively
participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Fair
Oaks, both battles of Bull Run, and the Wilderness, and, having served under Grant, was mustered out in June, 1864, at Washington, ). C.,
then going into the hospital service in Washington.
After the close of the war 1)r. Morrison studied
in the Long Island College Hlospital, and, graduating in tle latter part of 1865, received his diploma and degree of M. I). The latter part of the
same year our subject came to Muskegon and
opened tlie office where he has since continued to
conduct successfully a general practice, altlough
always paying especial attention to surgical operations.
During all these years keeping even pace with the
advancement in the medical world, D1r. Morrison
is a leading member of the Muskegon Medical As

sociation, and is well posted in the latest remedial
appliances. Fraternally associated witli Muskegon
Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M., our subject was
Master of the same for two years. He is also a
member of the Knights of Pytliias, and has a host
of friends within these honored orders. For six
years l)r. Morrison was Surgeon of the West Michigan Railroad, and gave most eflicient and valuable service to the corporation. Politically a pronounced Democrat, lie is deeply interested  in
local and national issues, but is in no sense of the
word a politician, his time being devoted to the
duties of his large practice. in 1871 our subject
was married to Miss Harriet E. Moore, a native
of Allegany County, N. Y., and a lady of worth
and accomplishments. MArs. Morrison is tle daughter of Hiram Moore, a man of prominence in the
Empire State. The attractive residence of Dr. and
Mrs. Morrison, well known to the general public,
is located upon First Street, Muskegon, and is surrounded by the homes of many of the leading
citizens.
L   IVER P. GORDON. Among the publics pirited and successful farmers of Ottawa
County the name of Mr. Gordon, of Crockery Township, stands foremost. For many years
a resident of his present farm, lie has succeeded
in bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and
has embellished it with a set of substantial buildings adapted to rural use. At the time of its purchase, about 1861, tlhe property contained eightyeight acres of wild land, upon which scarcely a
furrow had been turned, and the improvements
now noticeable are the result of the indefatigable
exertions of Mr. Gordon.
In Clinton County, N. Y., in the township of
Plattsburg, the subject of this biographical sketch
was born July 13, 1826. His father, William Gordon, was born in Connecticut, and in early manhood enlisted as a soldier in the American army
during thie Wn of 1812. By occupation he wan




374


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


-


a farmer, and le also followed the trade of a
carpenter, at which he met with fair success. A
man of energy and enterprise, his death, which
occurred in New York when our subject was a
lad of fourteen, was widely mourned, and it was
felt that one of the most capable and honorable
men of the locality had passed to his final reward.
On his father's side he was of English descent,
while his mother was a Scotchwoman. The mother
of our subject, whose maiden name was Annie
Tramblief, was born in France and died in New
York, after having borne her husband nine children.
The third in respect to age is the subject of this
sketch. IIe was reared in Clinton County, N. Y.,
where in childhood he gained a rudimentary education in the common schools. Being obliged to
assist in the support of the family, his attendance
at school after lie was ten years of age was limited
to two months. On the 21st of August, 1851, he
was united in marriage with Miss Cornelia E.
Breau, who was born in Clinton County, N. Y.,
being the daughter of Peter and Esther Breau, natives respectively of France and England. Mr.
and Mrs. Gordon were the parents of eleven children, one of whom is deceased. They are, Willard
E., Etta A., George, Belle, Harry, Frederick, Ella,
Mabel, Richard, Grace and Flora. Richard is deceased.
For a period of twelve years Mr. Gordon worked
at the trade of a millwright in Clinton County,
N. Y. In the fall of 1855 lie came to Michigan
and located at Lamont, where lie resided for a time.
About 1861 he purchased his present property, to
the cultivation of which he has since given his
attention. He has succeeded in clearing the entire tract, with the exception of about six acres.
The farm is located ten miles from Grand Iaven
and one and one-half miles southwest of the village of Nunica. It is through economy and industry that Mr. Gordon has achieved success as
an agriculturist, and to these qualities, combined
with energy, he owes his prosperity.
A Republican in political affairs, Mr. Gordon has
been identified with that party ever since its organization, and is one of its leaders in his community. His first Presidential ballot was cast in 1848.


For a number of terms he has served as Deputy
Sheriff, and has also been Highway Commissioner,
filling these positions with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
':._  _       E   _   _l_.-.._  ~.  ~ ~ ~,~ ~-~ _
I   ARS SORENSON, a well-known agriculturist of IHolton Township, Muskegon County,
who resides on section 23, claims Denmark
as the land of his birth, which occurred in the year
1842. le is a son of Soren and Hannah (Larson)
Johnson. His father was a wagon-maker by trade,
and followed that business in his early life, but
through many years carried on farming. Of his
family of eleven children the following survive:
Caroline, who is the wife of John Anderson; Mary,
wife of Christian Sorenson; Greatt, who is now
the wife of Chris Nelson; Treana, wife of John
Larson; Paulina, wife of Chris Johnson; and Lars,
of this sketch. All these came to the United
States. The parents of this family were members
of the Lutheran Church. Tlie father died in 1866,
at the age of sixty-eight years. Iis widow still
survives him, and is now living in this country
at the age of seventy-five.
In his native land our subject acquired a limited education in the public schools, and was there
reared to manhood. No event of special importance occurred during his youth, much of which
was spent in arduous labor. lIe served in the
Prussian War in 1864, and during the remainder
of the time worked at farm labor. Iaving arrived
at man's estate, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Stena Johnson, their
union being celebrated in Denmark. Ere leaving
their native land one child was born unto them, a
son, John.
It was in 1872 that Mr. Sorenson bade adieu to
friends and native land and sailed with his family
for the New World. Crossing the Atlantic, lie
landed in New York, and at once made his way to
Michigan, locating in IHolton Township, Muskegon County. Here he secured work on a railroad,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


375


and for one year was employed as a farm hand.
Eight years of his life were then passed in tlhe
employ of Blodgett & Byrns. Practicing strict
economy and carefulness (uring that time, he was
enabled to purchase forty acres of land. Subsequently he bought another tract of forty acres,
later an additional forty-acre tract, and at his next
purchase became the owner of sixty acres more.
IIe now has seventy acres under a high state of
cultivation, and his farm is well improved with
all the modern accessories and conveniences.
Since coming to this country, the union of our
subject and his wife has been blessed with two
children: Emma, who died at the age of a year
and a-half; and Hans, who is still with his parents.
Mr. Sorenson is giving both of his sons good educational advantages, tllus fitting them  for tlle
practical and responsible duties of life. The elder
is a graduate of tile Commercial College of Big
Rapids, and the younger is now a student at the
same school. Tlie parents and their family are
members of tile Lutheran Clhurch, and all are
highly respected people, wlo have many warm
friends throughout the community. Our subject
exercises his right of franchise in support of the
Republican party.  lie has lived a frugal and industrious life, and as the result of his good management and well-directed efforts, lie has acquired
a comfortable competence, and need never have
occasion to regret his emigration to the New
World.
_    B 13. CHIURCH, an influential resident of
Mjuskegon County, and a successful agriculturist of Laketon Township, owning
and operating a farm on section 2, was
born in Lysander, Onondaga County, N. Y., April
16, 1821. His father, Marvil, and his grandfather,
Silas Church, were botl natives of Vermont, where
the latter passed his entire active life. The former,
who was a carpenter and joiner by trade, removed
in an early day to New York and followed his
chosen occupation at various places in the Empire


State. lIe tllcre married Miss Martha, daughter
of John Snethen, and a native of New York, her
ancestors being German.
The eldest of nine children, the subject of this
sketch accompanied his fatller in his various removals, and resided in New York State until he
was eighteen. Coming to Michigan with his father in 1839, lie worked at tle trade of a carpenter
in Boston Township, lonia County, where he resided for many 3ears. In 1841 he was united in
marriage with Miss Delia Train, who was born and
reared in Tunbridge, Vt. Their congenial union
has been one of mutual lhelpfulness and aid, and
they have worked side by side for the welfare of
their family. They lhave been the parents of nine
children, as follows: Horace, who enlisted in the
Union Army during the Civil War, and died while
in active service; Eustice E., who resides on the
old homestead in Boston Township, lonia County,
and is one of tile most prominent men of the
county; Louisa, wife of Joseph Baine, a resident
of Petoskey, Mich.; Frances E., wlo married Colborn Osgood and makes her home in Hlastings,
this State; Calvin, who lives in Galesburg, Mich.;
1)ayton M., who married Miss Ella Curtis and resides with his parents in Laketon  Township;
George G., of Grand Iaven, Mich.; Jarvis T., deceased; and Kittie, who passed away when ten
months old. The children who attained mature
years were the recipients of excellent educational
advantages, and they are all prominent citizens of
their various communities.
After his marriage Mr. Church settled on a farm
in Boston Township, lonia County, where for
thirty-eight years lie engaged in tilling the toil,
and where now his eldest son conducts agricultural operations. IHe brought the land under excellent cultivation and embellished the place with
a set of substantial buildings. In 1879 he removed
to Kent County, Mich., where he resided for a
number of years. IIis residence in Laketon Township, Muskegon County, dates from the year 1887.
H-ere lie and his wife own a farm, comprising two
hundred acres of finely-improved land, on which
he engages in raising the various cereals adapted
to this section of the State.
Since the organization of the Republican party,




376


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Mr. Church has been identified with it, giving his
support to its principles and candidates. Plior to
that, he had been a Whig. For six successive'
years he served as a Highway Commissioner in
Ionia County, and lie also occupied other local
positions, in all of which he served with fidelity
and loyalty the interests of the people.
NTH'lONY JASPER. The gentleman whose
I name heads this sketch and who is now
1  successfully engaged in that calling which
has received the attention of man since the
world began-farming-comes of sturdy, thrifty
and honest German stock, and lie himself was born
in the Old Country, at Barton, on the 29th of
March, 1833, his parents being Michael and Theresa Jasper, industrious people and fairly well-todo in worldly goods. In 1846 the parents decided
to come to America, and braving the then long
and toilsome, as well as dangerous, ocean voyage
witli their sons, they landed at New York City in
due time, but only remained there a very short
timlic, rightly judging that the West offered them
better inducements than the already populous
Eastern States. They took up their residence in
Wisconsin, but lived to enjoy their new home only
a short time, leaving three sons, from thirteen
to twenty years of age, to earn their living as best
they could among strangers and in a strange
land. Of these sons, Frank, the second-born,
went to Colorado in 1849, and was living there
w!hen last heard from; Frederick resided in Wisconsin for three years after the death of his father, then went West and was never afterward
heard from; and Anthony is the immediate subject
of this memoir.
Two years after the death of his father, Anthony
made his way Southward, and in 1846 found himself in Ottawa County, Mich., with but $18 in his
pocket, a total stranger to all within its borders.
He, however, possessed the dogged perseverance


and energy for which the German people have always been noted, and was not at all discouraged
by the fact that his capital was small, his knowledge of the country and its people was linited,
and that he was without employment and a mere
boy-only fifteen years of age. He soon succeeded in obtaining employment in the logging
camps at $13 per month, and although the work
was very laborious it brought him a living, and
he continued to follow it for one year. IHe then
began making shingles on shares at $2 per thousand, and being quick and energetic he succeeded
in accumulating quite a goodly sum of money,which
he put aside for a "rainy day."  Later he received
for his work $2.50 per thousand. During the
most of this time he was very much troubled with
chills and fever, but lie kept manfully at his work,
and in time overcame this drawback to early civilization.
In 1857 he purchased with nioney earned by his
own unceasing efforts the farm on which lie is
now  living, which then amounted    to eighty
acres of heavily-timbered land. This timber he
felled and logged to the river, where he peeled
the most of it, selling the bark for from $2 to $5.50
per cord, and using the timber to make his barns,
out-louses and residence, which was a two-story
structure containing ten rooms, a fine residence
for those days. I-e has sinceincreased ]his farm to
one hundred and twenty acres, eighty acres of
which are under a fine state of cultivation, and
show a thrift, neatness and pleasing appearance
generally that show at once what manner of man
is the owner. Mr. Jap)er has been married twice,
first in 1858 to Charlotte Boosenbork, of Waterloo County, N. Y., to which union three children
were given: Frank, Alice and Walter, the latter
being deceased. Mrs. Jasper died in 1865, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the
following year Mr. Jasper married Mrs. Pho(be
Smith, nee Iurhlam, of Seneca County, N. Y., a
daughter of William Durham, and this union has
resulted in the birth of five children: Charles,
Carrie, Warren, Fannie and May. Mrs. Jasper is
a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Mr. Jasper is a stockholder in the creamery at Allendale Center, which is the largest one in the




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


377


county. The German way of spelling his name
was Jarsper, but upon becoming a citizen of tile
United States he began spelling it tile English
way and has so continued ever since.
merlchant, prosperously conducting one of
the largest establishments in his line of
trade in Muskegon County, Mich., llas for many
years been a prominent and prosperous resident of
Whitehall, of which village he is an efficient
Trustee, widely known and highly esteemed. Our
subject was horn in Gilead, Ohio, November 12,
1858, and was the youngest cllild of the late John
Widoe, born in Pennsylvania, and tle second
eldest of four brothers. Tile paternal grandflatler,
by birth a German, became a citizen of tlhe lnited
States early in life, making his home in the
Quaker State. His eldest son Stephen, a farmer
by occupation, journeyed to Olio, and died in
that State niany years ago. Ieonard was an
officer in the army during the Civil War. Later
he settled in Grand Rapids, and, an expert in
handling tools, established a machine shopl and accumulated quite a large fortune. - I-e passed away
in Grand Rapids many years ago. Jesse L., after
giving faithful service as a soldier, at the close of
the Civil War settled in Grand Rapids and became
the successful proprietor of a flouring-mill. Ile
was extensively engaged in speculation in real estate and lost two or three fortunes before his
deatll in Grand Rapids in 1887. Catherine, tlle
eldest (aughter of tile grandfather, married Jacob
Ilarnish, an energetic farmer near Grand Rapids,
and now lives at (randville, Mich.
The father, John Widoe, left home when only
fifteen years of age, and learned the stove-moulder's trade. From that time lie was his own master
and thoroughly self-reliant, but his education was
necessarily limited.  From  his birthplace  tile
father went to Gilead, Knox County, Ohio, and
following his trade made an excellent living.


Twice married, lie had as issue of the first union a
son and a daughter. The son, George Widoe, is a
man of highl cultivation, and an eloquent preacher
of Ohio. Tlhe datughter, Mary, married a celebrated
wood-carver, one of the finest in the country, and
with her husband is located in Ohio. After the
death of the mother of these two children the
father married Mrs. Susan Shults, a widow with
two children. Kate married Edward F. Wadleigh,
a carpenter, who died in Whitehall, leaving his
widow and one child, Gertrude, now witll her
mother in their old home. Edward Shults went
to Ashley, Wis., and there, marrying, settled on a
farm, and financially l)rospered has amassed a
competence, and is enabled to provide liberally
for his large family of children. The marriage of
John and Susan (Shults) Widoe was blessed by the
birth of three children, two sons and one daughter..John F., tile eldest, wllen sixteen years of age had
clarge of his father's clothing store at Montague,
and since 1873 lhas been in tile clothing business
in Hart. lie is a man of superior business ability
and one of the most successful merchants in this
plart of tlhe State. lie married Miss Cora Eastman,
and has one clild, a daughter, Iva.
Ida E. Widoe, a sister of o.ur subject, married
James.1. (ee, a wealthy hardware merchant of
Whlitelhall. Thomas 1B. was tile youngest of the
family. The father, after working some time at
lhis trade in Ohio, engoaed in thle grocery business.
Arriving in MIiclligan in about 1861, lie settled in
lonia, wllere lie devoted himself to tile clothing
business witl the most profitable results, but at
the end of a twelvemontlh removed to Grand
Rapids. In the latter city lie handled clothing
for nine years, and also operated a store at Montague, managed by his son Joln F. In 1871, the
store at Grand Rapids was burned out, the greater
part of tlme stock being a total loss. The father
then removed to Whitehall and with enterprise
resumed business, which he carried on until about
two years before his death, in 1890. Politically,
John  Widoe, Sr., was a l)emocrat, but never
sought office. He was, fraternally, a member of
tlhe Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, universally respected, was deeply mourned when he
passed from among the community where his




378


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


gellial presence had so long been a familiar one.
'The mother, yet surviving, resides in Wlitehall.
Thomas B. Widoe enjoyed excellent educational
advantages, attending the schools of Grand Rapids
and Whitehall, and completing his studies with a
course of instruction in a business college. Soon
after reaching twenty years of age our subject began clerking in his father's store in Whitehall and
later became a partner. Immediately succeeding
his father's retirement from active duties, in 1888,
Mr. Widoe associated himself with the Hon. H. E.
Staples in the same business. Energetic, ambitious
and enterprising, he has made a financial success of
Ilis work in life. In 1880, Thomas B. Widoe and
Miss Jennie E. Basom were united in marriage.
Mrs. Widoe, an accomplished lady, is the niece of
Hon. H. E. Staples, who reared and educated her.
Two of the three children born unto this union
now survive. Hiram D., tile eldest, died at the
age of three years. Edna May is six years old.
Thomnas Russell has just passed his first birthday.
Our subject is a valued member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and, fraternally, is prominently
connected with tie Ancient Free & Accepted
MZ:sons, being the present master of the Blue
Lodge at Whitehall and a member of the Muskegon Chapter and    Commandery. Politically,
Mr. Widoe is a strong Democrat and is widely
known as a liberal-spirited man, generous in his
impulses and ever ready to do his full share in all
matters of general welfare.
EWIS W. GILL. Many years have come
and gone since a little home in New York
was brightened by the birth of a first-born
child. Nearly four-score summers have come with
their flowers and fruits, and as many winters with
their frosts and snows, and time in its flight lias
seen the child grow into the sturdy lad, tile manly
youth, the successful farmer and the venerable
man. Now in the twilight of his useful life, he
can look upon the past without remorse, and upon


the future without fear. The heritage of an honorable life, unspotted by aught that would mar its
purity, such will descend as his legacy to his posterity.
Madison County, N. Y., was the birthplace of
Mr. Gill, and September 4, 1817, the date of his
birth. He was the eldest child of Samuel and
Sarah (Plum) Gill, natives of Massachusetts. During the opening years of the present century, the
schools of the Empire State were primitive both in
appearance and in mode of instruction, the houses
being rudely constructed of logs, with puncheon
floors and slab benches upheld by wooden pins;
apertures in the wall covered with greased paper
answered the purpose of windows, and the chimney
was made of mud and sticks. The textbooks were
few in number, consisting principally of the oldfashioned "blue-back" spelling book, the Testament,
and an arithmetic, from which the pupil learned to
figure. Amid such surroundings as these, our subject gained his primary knowledge of the "three
R's," but the information there obtained has been
since supplemented by careful and systematic
reading upon all subjects of general interest.
At the age of about twenty years, Lewis W.
Gill commenced in active life for himself, and for
a time followed the occupation of a farmer in the
Empire State. Thence, in 1857, he removed to
Michigan, and, coming to Ottawa County, settled
upon the farm where he has since made his home.
He cleared the land, improved the farm, and gradually introduced first-class improvements, thereby
greatly enhancing the value of the place. He now
conducts general farming upon the forty acres
which he has placed under cultivation. He is a
man of prominence in his community, and in politics affiliates with the Democrats. His fellow-citizens have chosen him to represent them in various
positions of responsibility, and in all of these posts
of duty he has served with efficiency and success.
While filling the position of Roadmtaster, lie was
enabled to contribute materially to tile promotion
of the best interests of the township, and the fine
roads here are due in no small measure to his labors.
The marriage of Mr. Gill occurred in 1841, and
united him with Miss Lydia Eddy, who at that




I




S




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


381


time resided in Wyoming County, N. Y. This
venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding
on the 7th of October, 1891, at which time they
were the recipients of the congratulations of hosts
of warm personal friends, to whom tley had endeared themselves during all the years of their
residence in this locality. They have been the
parents of three children, two of whom are now
living. Ophelia became the wife of McMaster Bryant, and makes her home in Cooper, Kalamazoo
County, this State. Amelia marlied Richard Chappel, and resides in Ottawa County.
_ --- — -     ____ _    _
'^jOELOF VENEKLASEN, interested in an
l   extensive brickyard in Zeeland, and one of
the successful men of Ottawa County, was
born on section 23, Holland Township, this
county, June 10, 1856, being a son of Berend J.
and Albertje (Weurding) Venoklasen. Iis paternal grandfather, John H., was a son of John Veneklasen, a farmer residing in Overschie, lolland,
who was twice married, by his first union becoming tile father of two sons and one daughter, and
by his second marriage having four sons and one
daughter.
In Holland, the land of his birth, John 11.
Veneklasen followed the trade of a brickmaker.
In the spring of 1847 he emigrated to the United
States, and after a voyage of thirty-seven days
landed at Baltimore, on the 22d of April. During the latter part of May lie reached Holland
Township, Ottawa County, Mich., and at once
made a settlement on section 27, where le purchased forty acres. lie gave his attention to clearing the land and tilling the soil, and met with
success, being the owner of sixty acres at the time
of his death, December 15, 1877. Politically, he was
a I)emocrat, firm in his allegiance to party principles. I-e aided in the organization of the Reformed Church, of which lie was a prominent
member.


Unto John H. Veneklasen and his good wife,
whose maiden name was Alice Van Linger, were
born three sons and five daughlters who lived to
maturity, viz.: Berend J., Johannas, Gertrude,
Hendreka, Jenneke, Peter, Diekje and Jane. At
the present time three sons and two daughters
are living. The mother passed away August 12,
1847, at the age of forty-five. Tlie father of our
subject was born June 24, 1828, and accompanied
his parents to the United States, settling with
them in Holland Township, Ottawa County, Mich.,
where lie received a fair education. For a short
time lie worked in a brickyard at Allegan, and
later spent one summer at Grand Haven, where
he engaged in loading vessels.
In 1849 Berend J. Veneklasen opened a brickyard in connection with his father, and during
tile first year manufactured fifty thousand bricks.
In 1892 the firm was under the name of the Zeeland Brick Company, which now has yards at
Zeeland, Cloverdale and Hamilton, having two at
tlhe first-named place. Employnient is given to a
large number of men, varying from fifty in the
dull season to two hundred in the busy season.
Tile yard is never closed, and the entire output
aggregates twenty million of brick annually. The
industry is one of tie most flourishing in the
county, and tie success to which it has attained is
the result of the untiring labors of the Vaneklasens,
father and sons.
In politics, our subject's father is a Democrat,
and on the ticket of his party has been elected to
tlhe position of President of the village, Highway
Commissioner, and other places of trust, in all of
which lie has served with efficiency and success.
In religious matters he is identified with the Reformed Church, to the support of which he is a
generous contributor. lIe and his estimable wife
are the parents of the following-named children:
John, Roelof, Albertus, Henry, Peter, Benjamin,
Albert, Garrett and Mary G. Hendreka is deceased.
The mother of these children was born August
17, 1831, and is the daughter of Roelof and Alice
(Boer) Weurding, who emigrated to the United
States in 1849 and settled in Allegan County,
Mich., Mr. Weurding becoming a farmer there.
During his youth the subject of this sketch at



382


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tended the Kalamazoo Business College, and was
the recipient of good advantages. At the age of
ten he commenced to work in his father's brickyard and has ever since been interested in the
business, being the present Secretary and Treasurer of the company. The yards have an annual
output of forty million bricks, common and pressed,
and shipments are made to Chicago, Traverse
City, Battle Creek, and other large places, where
a ready sale is made at favorable prices. Though
an active Democrat, Mr. Veneklasen has always
refused official honors, preferring to devote his
attention to his business. Ie is interested in educational matters, and has served as a member of
the Board of Education. In religious preferences
he affiliates with the Reformed Church.
November 29, 1879, Mr. Veneklasen was united
in marriage with Miss Nellie Moerdyke, who was
born in Kalamazoo, Mich., and is the daughter of
James and Mary (Faas) Moerdyke, emigrants of
1849 from Zeeland, Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Vaneklasen are the parents of six children, viz.: Albertha, Mary M., Bernard J., James T., Jennie
H. and Nellie Elida Elizabeth. The family occupies a prominent position in the social circles of
the community, and is one of the foremost in
the village.,~ —,.,.- ~C>      -.   -....
RANKLIN PIERCE STAMP, M. D., a successful general medical practitioner and
1^ &  skillful surgeon, enjoying the confidence
of a wide acquaintance in Muskegon, AMich., is
thoroughly at home in various details of his profession, and, taking a high place among his brother
physicians, has won his upward way to an enviable
position as a doctor and man of enterprise. Dr.
Stamp is a native of the Wolverine State and was
born in Cass County, March 23, 1853. IHis father, I)avid F. Stamp, born in the Empire State,
and a man of energy and ambitious purpose, early
emigrated to the West, and was numbered among
the pioneer settlers of Micligan, locating in Cass


County in 1832, when the country thereabout
was literally a howling wilderness, infested with
Indians and bands of wild game, which roamed at
their pleasure through the dense timberland of the
State. The home upon the frontier was near
Mottville, and distant from neighbors, who were
then few and far between. The l)aternal ancestors
were sturdy Germans, who, crossing the Atlantic,
settled in New York in a very early day in the
history of the United States. The mother, in
maidenhood Miss Amelia Hartman, was a native
of Pennsylvania, her forefathers also being of
German birth, and among the patriotic citizens
who aided in tile settlement of the Quaker State.
D)r. Stamp was reared in his birthplace, and when
a little lad attended the common schools of Cass
County. As he approached manhood, he determined to gain a profession, and to that end clerked
in a drug store six years, at the same time devoting every spare moment to reading medicine. In
tlie fall of 1873, he entered the University of Ann
Arbor, and for two years gave his entire time to
the study of his profession. IHe then returned to
his former preceptor in Mottville, and practiced
medicine for two years with gratifying results.
In the spring of 1877 our subject, wishing to avail
himself of every opportunity of increasing his
stock of knowledge, and thereby more thoroughly
fitting himself for his responsible work in life,
matriculated at the Cincinnati Medical College,
and graduated with honor from that institution
the same year. Dr. Stamp    immediately  after
winning his diploma began his professional career
in Coopersville, Ottawa County, and remained in
that locality until 1880, when he entered upon a
steady and increasing round of practice in Muskcgon. He at first devoted himself almost entirely to the cares of the family physician, but has
of late made a specialty of surgery, and in this
branch of his practice llas gained an extended
reputation.
Keeping himself fully abreast of the times, our
subject was one of the charter members of the
Western Michigan Medical Association, and is now
Examining Surgeon for Union Tent No. 379,
K. 0. T. M. Dr. Stamp is likewise a member of
St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 56, at Mottville,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


383


Cass County. lIe has also long been connected with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in
tlese various orders as well among his professional
acquaintance has a host of friends. In 1876,
Franklin Pierce Stamp and Miss Maggie Bresnahan were united in marriage. Mrs. Stamp was a
resident of Ottawa County, and a daughter of
John  Bresnahan, a native of Ireland.   Two
children, a son and daughter, Edward F. and Vernie A., blessed tlhe union of our subject and his
first wife. I)r. Stamp, marrying a second time,
then wedded, April 26, 1893, his present wife,
Miss Jennie Gillan,an accomplished lady and a native of Ontario, Canada. The handsome home,
located on Western Avenue, is one of the pleasantest in the city and is well known to the residents
of Muskegon and tile surrounding neighborhood.
Already professionally prospered, the increasing
practice of our subject gives assurance of a still
wider field of usefulness and testifies to the thorough appreciation of the general public.
r- r-    + ~,qi-     - ++++     '
f1t RANK MANGOLD, an enterprising busi) ness man and experienced jeweler of
l 5   Wliitehall, Mich., is a native of tile city of
Freising, Bavaria, and was born April 2, 1849.
His father, John Mangold, likewise a Bavarian, was
born in Rlieinpfalz in 1811. A saddler by trade,
the father was for nearly forty years connected
with tile Bavarian army, serving in the First and
Second Cavalry in tile capacity of a saddler. Ile
amassed quite a fortune, and died in 1888 in
Rheinpfalz, seventeen years after his retirement
from the army on a life pension. The mother of
our subject, Mary (Rohrmeier) Mangold, was born
in Landschutt, Bavaria, and was the daughter of a
carpenter. A brother of Mrs. Mangold, Caver
Rohrmeier, was for many years a soldier in the
Bavarian army, serving with rare bravery. The parents were blessed by the presence of four children,
two sons and two daughters. Walburga, the eldest,
married tenry Bold, a prominent merchant in


Hlermesberg, where she died November 1, 1892,
leaving no issue. Mary, tile second sister, passed
away when she was but fourteen years old. Johln,
a shoemaker by trade, came to America in 1868,
and is now  a resident of Portland, Ore. The
mother, at an advanced age, still makes her home
in tile Old Country.
At thirteen years of age Frank Mangold left
sclool and went to Mosburg to learn the trade of
a watch-maker. IIaving faithfully served an apprenticeship of three years, lie located as a journeyman watc;l-maker in Erding, a small village not
far from his birthplace. IIe remained there but a
short time, next removing to Wurtemberg, on the
Tech, in Baden. Later hle settled in Furth, Bavaria,
and afterward located  in Pheffenhauser, from
which place lie finally departed  for Freising.
October 6, 1870, our subject entered the army, in
the King of Bavaria's own regiment, and, enlisting
as Corporal, was soon promoted to the position of
Sergeant and as such courageously served until
his discharge, July 31, 1873. Iaving distinguished
limself by gallant conduct, Mr. Mangold is now
the proud possessor of a medal, presented to him
for bravery on tile battle-field by tile Bavarian general in the war with France, and which lie will leave
as a bequest to his heirs. After leaving the army
in whicll lie made so enviable a record, it did not
take our subject long to decide upon trying his
fortunes in the land of yet greater promise beyond
thle sea, and in October, 1873, lie sailed from
IIavre for America. Reaching the United States
in safety and landing in New York City, Mr. Mangold made but a brief stay in tile Empire State,
soon journeying  to Michigan, his destination
being Montague, where his brother Joln had
located five years previous.
Mr. Mangold.at first opened a watch-shop, but
spent only a short time in that line of trade, as lie
was then unable to make it pay. For several seasons he worked in the sawmills and in the lumber
camps, and for five years received employment in
a flourmill. In 1882, he again engaged in the
jewelry business, opening a shop in Whitehall.
This enterprise proved very successful, and since
our subject has established a prosperous trade with
excellent financial results, and is now the leading




384


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


jeweler in his locality. April 11, 1875, Frank
Mangold and Miss Louisa Sclrader were united in
marriage. Seven children have brightened with
their merry presence the pleasant home. The six
sons and one daughter are'in the order of their
birth, John, Louie, Frank, Albert, Emil, Henry and
Hedwich, all of whom have received the advantage of the best educational facilities afforded in
their locality. Politically. Mr. Mangold is a
strong Democrat, but, without aspirations for
public office, is content to (lo his duty at tie polls.
Fraternally, he is associated with the Ancient
Free & Accepted Masons, and is also a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has
been Noble Grand. Within these honored orders
our subject has a host of friends and likewise commands the high respect and esteem of all who
know him as a business man, neighbor and citizen.
) DWIN THATCHER, an agriculturist of
Ravenna Township, and one of the most
L-prominent citizens of Muskegon County,
was born in Harford, Susquehanna County, Pa.,
March 28, 1825. His father, John, and his grandfather, John Thatcher, Sr., were both natives
of Attleborough, Mass., the former having been
born July 20, 1787. Our subject's great-grandfather, the Rev. Peter Thatcher, was a minister in
the Congregational Church, and for many years
resided about twenty miles from Boston.
John Thatcher, the father of our subject, received a good education in the common schools
of Attleborough, and upon attaining manhood
selected for his life vocation the calling of a farmer, at which he was engaged until his death, November 18, 1860. His entire life was spent in the
village of his birth. There he married Miss Sallie
Moore, and to them six children were born, Edwin
being the next to the youngest. Four are still living, as follows: Azir, who resides in Harford, Pa.,
at the age of seventy-seven years (1893); Eldred,


a resident of Downer's Grove, Ill., who is now
seventy-five years old; Editha, the wife of Lucien
B. Taft, of Harford Pa., and now seventy-three
years of age; and our subject, who is sixty-eight.
In Harford, Pa., Edwin Thatcher received his
education, which was sufficient to enable him, at
the age of nineteen, to begin teaching. He followed that profession in Pennsylvania until 1866,
when lie came to Michigan. Prior to his removal
to this State, he enlisted as a member of the Fiftysecond Pennsylvania Infantry, in which lie served
until the close of the war, and upon being mustered out of service returned to Pennsylvania. In
the spring of 1866 he settled in Ravenna Township, Muskegon County, where he purchased a
farm, and in connection with the conduct of agricultural pursuits also taught school until 1872.
Elected to the position of County Superintendent of Schools in 1872, Mr. Thatcher served with
efficiency and to the satisfaction of the people.
Upon the expiration of his term  of office, lie returned to the farm, where he has since resided. In
the spring of 1871 he was elected to the office of
Supervisor, and served three years, during which
time (in 1872) he was elected County Superintendent. A few years after the close of his term of
office, he was again elected Supervisor, in 1882,
serving until 1887, at which time his son, Frank
E., was elected to the same office, retaining the position for five years. Edwin Thatcher while Supervisor was elected Chairman for four years.
The marriage of Mr. Thatcher united him with
Miss Catherine S., daughter of Tyler and Mary
(Graham) Carpenter, their wedding being celebrated September 27, 1849. Six children have
been born of this union: Fred A., who married
Therza Rockwell, and lives in Ottawa County;
Annabelle, who married Walter S. Averill, and resides in Ottawa, this State; Amanda P., who is the
wife of Grenville Rockwell, and lives in Ottawa
County; Frank E., who married Sarah J. Bennett,
and makes his home in Elk Rapids; Eldred F.,
who married Miss Lena Keas, and lives in Muskegon, Mich.; and Jennie K., the wife of James R.
Rockwell, and a resident of Ottawa County.
Frank E., as above stated, served for some time as
one of the Supervisors of Muskegon County, and




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


385


was Chairman of the Board for one year. He has
been a member of the Legislature, having overcome the usual majority of six hundred and sixty
in his county.
A Democrat of life-long standing, Mr. Thatcher
has labored unweariedly in the interests of his
party, supporting its candidates and principles
with unwavering fidelity. HIe is identified, socially, with Ravenna Lodge No. 337, G. A. R., in
which he is influential and prominent. Before
leaving Pennsylvania, he was elected Commissioner of his county, and served in that responsible
position acceptably to his fellow-citizens, being the
incumbent of the office for three years.
SCAR M. SHIERBURNE. Among the old
soldiers and successful farmers of Blendon
Township, Ottawa County, Mich., stands
the name of Oscar MI. Sherburne, an honest, upright man, courteous in his intercourse with his
fellow-men and possessed of more than average
intelligence. Like so many of the representative
citizens of the county, lie claims New York as his
native State, his birth occurring in Chenango
County March 28, 1834. He was one of three
children born to the union of S. W. and Amanda
(Root) Sherburne, also natives of the Empire
State. The parents left their native State at an
early date and turned their faces towards the setting sun, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where they
remained for eight years. From there they removed to I)eKalb County, Ill., but five or six
years later came to Ottawa County, Mich. This
was in 1854, and they settled in Blendon Township, where the father was engaged in contracting
and building. He erected the first mill for the
Ohio Lumber Company and many of the first
frame residences in Blendon, as well as in adjoining townships. Ie was engaged in contracting and
building until his death, which occurred in 1884,
at the age of seventy-six.
S. W. Sherburne was twice married, his first wife


dying in 1830. His second marriage was with
Miss Elizabeth Fairchild, who bore him four clildren, all of whom lived to mature years. Harriet
married Henry Woodruff. Charles died in the
year 1866, at the age of twenty-seven. IHe was in
the United States Navy during the war, on the
gunboat "A. C. Collier," Mississippi flotilla. Sarah, deceased, was the wife of H. H. ITodge; and
Ellen, deceased, was the wife of Jacob Leslie.
The three children born to the first union were:
Oscar M.; Malvina, deceased; and Amanda, also
deceased, who was the wife of William Gilliland,
and died in the year 1891, at the age of fiftyfive. The father of these children is still living,
and, although eighty-eight year o a s of age, is enjoying comparatively good health. He has a confortable and pleasant home in Holland, Mich.
Oscar Sherburne received a common-school education, and when twelve years of age went to Illinois, where lie worked on tle farm by the month,
his first wages being $5 or $6 per month. Leaving the Sucker State, he traveled over various
States, and was engaged in lumbering for some
time in Wisconsin. About 1856 lie came to Michigan, and up to the commencement of the Rebellion worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1861 lie
joined Company I, Third Michigan Infantry, under Capt. George Weatherwax and Col. McConnell, and was attached to the First Division, Third
Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Sickles. He
participated in twenty-eight regular battles, and
was in all the battles fought by the Army of the
Potomac from the first battle of Bull Run to the
battle of the Wilderness, except Antietam. He was
three times wounded, first at the second battle of
Bull Run, and was once wounded in the right hand
and left foot. After recovering from the wounds
lie returned to the service and commanded the pioneer corps until the expiration of his term  of
enlistment, three years and two months, when he
was discharged, on the 20th of June, 1864.
Returning to Michigan, our subject worked at
carpentering in Grand Rapids for two years, after
which he returned to this townslip, and has since
made his home here. He was married the first
time in 1859 to Miss Lottie Waite, of Indiana,
daughter of Justus and Mrs. (Flint) Waite. Five




386


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


children have blessed this union: Walter, deceased;
Edwin, who resides in Mason County, Mich.; Merton I., in Duluth, Minn.; Charles F., at Grand Rapids; and Willie, the youngest, deceased. Charles F.
is a mute and was educated at Flint Mute College,
and is now working at the cabinet-maker's trade,
having been one of tile finest workmen in the city.
Mrs. Sherburne died in 1873, and in 1875 Mr. Sherburne married Mrs. Sarah E. Meade, nee Foster.
Mr. Sherburne has filled all the township offices,
liaving been Townslip Clerk for eight years, Highway Commissioner for a number of years, and Supervisor for eight or nine years. He is a member
of Custer Post No. 5, G. A. R., at Grand Rapids.
v.,  ^a^^^Al.c   4 1e,-^^-s       -
L  ORACE L. DELANO is one of Muskegon's
prominent and popular attorneys-at-law.
He has engaged in practice at this place
since 1877, and has established a reputation
of which many an older practitioner might well
be proud. Mr. Delano is a native of Olio, his
birth having occurred in Andover, Ashtabula
County, in the year 1853. His father, Horace
Giddings Delano, was born in Pennsylvania, and
after arriving at years of maturity wedded Miss
Julia Kyle, daughter of Leonard Kyle, of Andover, Ohio. When he was but three years old his
mother died. In 1862 his father enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Regiment,
and was mustered out at the close of the Rebellion,
in June, 1865.
The subject of this sketch received good educational privileges, and after attending the common
schools took a course in the High School. In
looking about him for a profession or occupation
which lie wished to make his life work, he decided
to engage in the practice of law, and began his
legal studies under the direction of Judge Fred J.
Russell, of Hart, Mich. He was admitted to the
Bar in May, 1876, and at once entered upon the
practice of his chosen profession in Whitehall,
Mich., where he remained for about a year.


As before stated, Mr. Delano entered upon his
practice in Muskegon in 1877. The year after his
arrival lie was made Circuit Court Commissioner,
and held that office for four years, or until 1882.
IIe has served as Prosecuting Attorney, having
twice been appointed to fill a vacancy in that
office, and in 1883 was elected to that position for
a term of two years. tIe proved capable and efficient and discharged his public duties with credit
to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.
Other business interests have also occupied tlle
attention of IMr. Delano, who is now Secretary of
the Muskegon Chemical Fire Engine Company.
Ile is largely interested in manufacturing concerns,
and thus has materially and substantially aided in
the growth and prosperity of the city. He is also
a Director of the Whitelall State Savings Bank.
An important event in tIle life of Mr. Delano
occurred in 1880, when was celebrated his marriage with Miss Cora I-Ieald, daughter of Joseph
IIeald, of Mont:ague, Mich. They reside at their
pleasant home at No. 219 West Webster Avenue,
where they keep open house, and their friends,
who are many, are always sure of receiving a
hearty welcome. In social circles where worth
and intelligence are received as thle passports into
good society they hold an enviable position. In
politics, Mr. Delano is a suppOrter of tile Republican party.  HIe has always been instrumental in
promoting the upbuilding of the city, and is ever
found in thle front ranks of any enterprise calculated to advance the general welfare. He is now
enjoying a fine law practice, a just tribute to his
merit.
OSEP-I EDWARD, a prosperous horticulturist, devoting hiis attention principally to
small fruits, strawberries and currants, is
located in Ottawa County, near Agnew,
and is a long-time resident of his present locality.
I-e has held with efficiency various local positions
of trust, and for fifteen years has been a valued
School Director and is now likewise Clerk of tile




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


387


home township.   William Edward, the paternal
grandfather of our subject, emigrated to Canada
in the year 1847, accompanied by his two sons,
but the father of Joseph Edward remained in his
native country, Scotland, and was the trusty land
steward of the Earl of Fife. Our subject, born in
the year 1847, grew up to adult age in Aberdeen
County, near Banff, and received his educational
instruction in the public schools of his birthplace. Remaining in Scotland some time subsequent to arriving at his majority, lie finally decided to follow the example of his paternal grandfather and seek a new home il America. In the
year 1871 lie finally bade adieu to the scenes of
youth and, animated with the spirit of ambitious
hope and courage, sailed for the land of promise
beyond the sea.
As was natural, our subject first located in
Canada, and while in the Dominion spent most of
his time in Toronto and Montreal. During his
residence in the city of Toronto he served on the
police force, and was far from being a novice at
tile business, having been previously connected
for five years with the Scotch police. In 1873
our subject emigrated to the States, and immediately located in Michigan, settling in Ottawa
County, since then his permanent home. Three
years later, in 1876, were united in marriage
Joseph Edward and Miss Ellen Booher, a native
of Indiana. Our subject and his worthy wife at
once settled upon a farm, located seven miles
south of Grand Haven, to which city Mrs. Edward
had removed from her birthplace the same year.
The six children who have blessed the union are,
in the order of their birth: Mary, ten years of
age; Maude, eight years old; Joe, a little lad of
six; Millie, aged four; Jane, a little lassie of
two; and Gordon, the baby of'the flock.
Mr. Edward owns one hundred and sixty acres
of valuable land, eighty acres of the homestead
having been brought up from its wild state into
most profitable cultivation.  The entire farm
when first purchased by our subject was covered
with heavy timber, and hard work and tireless industry have been required to clear, cultivate and
improve the fertile soil. The chief products of
the Edward farm are hay, peaches and a large


variety of choice berries, strawberries and currants, as before mentioned. Politically, Mr. Edward is a stanch Democrat, and has occupied,
to the great satisfaction of the community, every
office of the township with the exception of
Supervisor and Treasurer. IIe was Justice of the
Peace for twelve years, and his legal decisions, in
accord with law and evidence, were seldom carried to the upper courts. As an active member
of the Good Templars, Mr. Edward gives earnest
effort in behalf of the fallen, and firmly believes
that temperance is the sure lever with which to
elevate the masses. While not connected by
membership with any church organization, our
subject is a ready aid in good work and benevolent enterprise, and is widely known as a man of
liberal spirit and earnest purpose.
C. HORTON, who has with efficient ability occupied various official positions of trust in his
present locality, is known as a prosperous general agriculturist and extensive bee-keeper, of
Cedar Creek Township, Muskegon County, Mich.,
and owns the largest apiary in his home county.
Mr. Horton. born October 10, 1834, in the Empire
State, was the son of Henry and Julia (Moore)
Horton, both natives of New York. The family
of Hortons, originally of German nativity and
the descendants of a long line of industrious
ancestry, crossed tile broad Atlantic in a very
early day in the history of America, and in this
country prospered and made their upward way
to positions of usefulness  and honor.   The
branch of the IIortons to which our subject belongs settled in Dutchess County, N. Y., the
members of the family being numbered among
the substantial citizens of the Empire State. The
paternal and maternal grandfathers of I. C. Horton
were botl men of gallant courage and actively
participated in the War for Independence, and
later, again shouldering their muskets, took part in




388


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.




the War of 1812, and fougllt with heroic bravery
under Gen. Jackson in the famous battle of New
Orleans.
The parents of our subject, upright and intelligent, carefully trained tile eight children who
blessed their home. Strong, sturdy and self-reliant, the sons and daughters attained to adult
age and, beginning life, soon made homes for
theniselves and their descendants. They are all
now deceased witl the exception of I. C. and
his brother Alonzo, who also resides upon the
old homestead.  I. C. Iorton was mainly reared
upon a farm. In boyhood he enjoyed limited
advantages for an education, which he well improved, and until the year 1869 spent the greater
portion of his time in the constant daily round
of agricultural cares, and is beyond  doubt a
genuinely practical farmer, at home in every
detail of the cultivation of the soil, as well as
thoroughly understanding the profitable handling
of bees. Arriving in Michigan in 1869, our subject commenced carpentering and found ready occupation as a joiner and contractor, soon doing a
large business,with which he also combined general
farming and bee-keeping. In venturing into beeculture, Mr. I-orton at first met with disappointments, but these he overcame by persistent efforts,
and with patience and larger experience has become an authority on the bee industry. Beginning
upon a small scale in 1877, and experiencing
failure until 1883, our subject now receives from
this source of revenue $700 or $800 per year, and
continues to increase the capacity of his hives.
Mr. Horton's farm consists of eighty acres, twentyfive of which are under a high state of cultivation.
In his twenty-fourth year our subject was married
to Miss Lucy E. Babcock, a native of New York
State and a daughter of Rufus and Almira (Walker) Babcock. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs.
IHorton was brightened by the presence of one
daughter, now deceased. Our subject and his excellent wife adopted and reared a niece, Emma E.
-lulshopa, Mrs. Abner Servrey, residing in North
Muskegon.   Mrs. Horton, a devoted Christian
woman, is a member of the Free-Will Baptist
Church at Twin Lake. Mr. Horton is likewise a


professing Christian. Our subject, politically a
Republican, ably served one term  as Justice of
the Peace of Cedar Creek Township, and was also
elected Town Clerk, but did not accept the office.
He gave great satisfaction to the entire community
of tile neighborhood and vicinity, where he lhas a
host of friends tried and true.
]r'/REDERICK WARBER, one of the representative citizens and a leading business
/1  J man of Grand Haven, is engaged in the
growing of celery, a product for which Michigan
has gained an enviable reputation. Our subject
comes from a far country. I-e is of German birth,
having first opened his eyes to the light of day in
Prussia, Geimany, on the 16th of February, 1847.
I-ls father, Joln Warber, was also born in the
sanie locality. In his later days lie crossed the
Atlantic to America and settled in Connecticut.
Our subject spent hlis school days in the Fatherland, where lie was reared to manhlood under the
parental roof..He attained his majority in Germany; and then determined to seek a home in a
land of freedom, with the hope of bettering his
financial condition. It was ill 1868 that he bade
adieu to the friends of his youth and took passage
on a Westward-bound sailing-vessel. At length
he reached New York, and on leaving the Eastern
metropolis lie made his way to Kansas. There he
spent some years, and was engaged in driving a
team across the plains to Colorado and New Mexico. In this way lie got a start in life. The change
in his location occurred in 1876. That year witnessed his arrival in Grand Haven, where he secured employment in the sawmill of Charles Boyden. He proved a faithful and trusted employe
and held that position for seven years, when he
severed his connection with Mr. Boyden in order
to engage in business for himself.
In 1885 Mr. Warber chose as a companion and
helpmate on life's journey Miss Minnie Allbreith,
of Grand Haven. By their union has been born




O.I




f
00,11                                                       V71 ---
1 F." ely




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAIPIICAL RECORD.


391


one child, a son, W. F., who is the liglit of the
household. It was about 1883 that Mr. Warber began growing celery. lie for the most part raises tile
"white plume" variety, which is a superior kind
and finds a ready sale in the market. lie not
only raises but bleaches his celery, and his farm is
one of the best of the kind in tills locality. I-e
makes extensive shlipments and his only market is
Chicago. This enterprise las proved to be a successful one to Mr. Warber, who is now doing a
large and profitable business. It was a fortunate
day for him when lie came to America, for in tlis
country lie has met with success in his business
dealings and has won a comfortable home and
gained many warm friends. lie is a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, and tlhe excellencies of his character have gained him the lligh regard of all with whom business or social relations
have broughlt him in contact.
r7  IUCIUS LYMAN, an enterprising citizen
Il ("a and pioneer settler of Spring Lake, Ottawa
jj, County, Mich., during his thirty-six years'
residence in his present locality lias filled various
official positions of trust. For two years from the
spring of 1891 lie rendered valuable service as a
member of the Village Council, and in the spring
of 1893 lie was elected President of the village.
Born in Windsor County, Vt., in 1821, our subject
is a direct descendant of English ancestors, the
LyIans early emigrating from the Queen's dominions to the United States, where various mernbers of the family liave been numbered among tlie
honored and patriotic citizens of our great Republic.
In the Green Mountain State Mr. Lyman passed
his early days and received a good education in
the schools of the home district.  Attaining manhood, lie learned the trade of a millwright, and
shortly after reacling his majority engaged in
business for himself. tIe erected numerous machine works, and about 1845 built the first print19


ing machinery used in Manchester, N. HI. After a
time lie received employment in the Ames Manufacturing Company, of Cabbotsville, Mass., and remained witll that firm for three years. In 1848 or
1849, lie emigrated from the State of his birtll to
New York and made Ilis 1home in Jefferson County.
Therl e and in tlle adjacent counties lie constructed
a great variety of milling machinery.
For many years Mr. Lylnan pursued tile even
tenor of his way, until the breaking out of the
Civil War caused him to forsake tlhe occupation of
lis life and enlist in tlhe service of tile Union.
Entering the Second New York Artillery in 1861,
he marched to the front and was located at Arlington Heiglits, where lie assisted in building Fts.
Ward, Worth and Blenker. On account of disability lie was discharged from tile army in 1863, and
returning to New York remained tlhere until 1867,
when lie came to Spring Lake and comnenced to
work at his trade. Since the latter date lie has
been especially successful in this line of work and
hlas beyond all doubt built more mills in the past
score and a-half years than any other man in tile
State. Among tile extensive enterprises in which
lie has assisted was tle erection of a large plant for
the Diamond Match Company in the Nortllern
Peninsula, tlie building of which occupied his exelusive attention for nearly two years.
On tlhe 13th of April, 1843, in Chelsea, Vt., Lucius Lyman and Miss Mary Burgess were united
in marriage. Passing together more tlan a halfcentury of conjugal happiness, they have recently
celebrated their golden wedding, one of the noted
social events in tile history of Spring Lake, the reunion of April, 1893, being a memorable occasion
with all who participated in thle festivities of the
happy time. Nine children accompanied our subject and his estimable wife to their new home in
the West. In 1870, five of the family died of that
dread disease, scarlet fever. Three sons and two
daughters were thus suddenly removed from the
family circle, whose survivors were indeed greatly
bereaved. The four children who are now living
are: Mary, Mrs. Phillips, a resident of Steuben
County, N. Y.; Charles A., a citizen of Grand
Haven and a well-known captain on the Lakes;
Eliza A., wife of John R. Ghent, a prosperous




392


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


druggist of Muskegon; and Malfort G., who went
West early in life and cannot be exactly located.
Although past the boundary line of three-score
years and ten, Mr. Lyman is hale and hearty,
and still follows his -trade of a millwright, being
numbered among the active business men of his
locality. Politically, he is a Republican and comes
of old anti-slavery stock, well known in the Abolition days. He has occupied numerous local
offices and has ever been a prominent leader in all
matters pertaining to the growth of enterprise and
mutual advancement. Fraternally, he is associated with the Grand Army of the Republic at
Spring Lake and enjoys its pleasant social reunions,
where in memory the old veterans again live over
the days when they gave their earnest efforts in
behalf of national existence. Respected by all
who know him, Lucius Lyman has led a life of
integrity and self-reliance, and has faithfully given
to each duty, as friend, neighbor and citizen, his
most conscientious attention and persistent efforts.
5IIO   IMAS H. BIGNELL, a prominent citizen
and representative agriculturist of Ottawa
J   County, Mich., resides upon a magnificent
farm of two hundred and ten acres, containing
some of tile finest land in Grand Haven Township.
Financially prospered and regarded as a man of
sterling integrity of character, Mr. Bignell has occupied important local positions of trust and
firmly holds the confidence of all his fellowtownsmen. His father, John Bignell, born in 1794,
came to this country in 1815, and was sent on
Lake Ontario, engaged in the British service, during the War of 1812. Near the close of the war,
in company with several comrades, John Bignell
deserted the British ranks and leaving Lewiston,
on the Niagara River, rowed across the lake in an
open boat, and, remaining together, safely arrived
in Monroe County, N. Y., where they separated.
The father remained in that part of the Empire


State, and later married in Monroe County, in 1819,
Miss Jane Spratt, a most estimable woman, a
native of Ireland. Emigrating with her parents
to America when only a little child, she received
her education in New York and there attained to
womanhood.   The parents settled in Monroe
County, and there the father made his residence
until in 1838, with his family, he journeyed to the
West and located in Michigan.
Permanently settling in Oakland County, John
Bignell became one of the prosperous farmers of
the Wolverine State and in 1870, esteemed by all
who knew him, passed away, mourned as a public
loss. Our subject was the eldest of a family of
ten children, five sons and five daughters, but
three of whom are now living. The brothers and
sisters were: Thomas II., George, Mary, Rebecca,
Eliza, James, Jolln, Jane, Candace and Judson.
Those surviving are Thomas It., John and Mary,
Mrs. Fish, who rezides in Ottawa County, Mich.
Thomas 11. was born in the year 1820, in Monroe County, N. Y., and in that locality passed
the days of early youth, being eighteen years of
age when he accompanied his father's family to
Oakland County. IIe resided in that portion of
the State for some seven years, and in 1845 was
married in Ionia County, Mich., to Miss Ann
Jaenette Dexter, a lady of superior ability and fine
character. She survived her marriage but four
years anid died without issue. Lamented by many
friends slie entered into rest in lonia County, in
the year 1849. Not long after the demise of this
wife our subject entered the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and was following
this vocation in Shiawassee County, when he met
the lady destined to become his second wife, Miss
Mary Dowell.
Mrs. Bignell is a native of England and emigrated with her parents to this country at the age of
four or five years, the first home of Mr. and Mrs.
Dowell in the Wolverine State being near Ypsilanti. Shortly after his second marriage our
subject engaged in teaching school in Portland,
Ionia County, Mich., but after teaching for a
twelvemontll again resumed the duties of the
ministry, and continued to preach the Word for
fifteen years, mostly in southwestern Michigan.




PORTRAir AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


393


About 1865, Mr. Bignell engaged in the foundry
business in Ionia, and continued to conduct tile
foundry six years, tllen profitably selling out and
later removing to Ottawa County, where lie at
once purchased and located upon his valuable
farm. A successful aoriculturist, lie lias likewise
devoted a portion of his time to tile service of tile
public and lias with efficiency discharged the
duties of Highway Commissiolier, School Inspector and Justice of tlhe Peace. Politically  a
Republican from the formation of the party, our
subject cast his first vote for Fremont, and clings
with earnestness to the principles of thle "Party
of Reform."  The four clildren wllo have blessed
tlie second marriage of Mr. Bignell are Ann
Jacnette; James L., John W. and Jamies. Ann
Jaenette married tlhe Rev. G. L. Pearson, and iesides in Ph'(nix, Ariz. John W. lives at liome;
Jamies is a citizen of Muskegon, and married tile
eldest daughlter of Charles Clark. Tile second
born, James L., is deceased. Our subject, his
worthy wife, daughter and sons are all occupying
positions of useful influence, and socially comnmand
the high regard of a hlost of friends. M1r.
Bignell-a man of acknowledged business abilityis to-day ranked among tlhe leading men and substantial citizens of Ottawa County.
~ -_'J~,k~-'_/~:  ~*.~  ir
-IN TEN     HN AVE. In Jolin Ten Have are
combined all tlie qualities which go to make
a prosperous, law-abiding and honorlable
(ij' citizen, and tlhe success tlat hlas attended
llis efforts is but tile just reward of honest merit worthily bestowed.  Ile is a native of the
Province of Drenthe, Holland, having been born
in 1830, his parents being IHenry R. and Wilhelmine (Gelding) Ten lHave, and his grandparents
Ralph and Wemmigjn     Ten Iave. Ralph Ten
Have was a carpenter by trade, born in the north
of Iolland, but of French extraction. IHe became
a well-known builder, and many of the public
buildings of tlie city of Amsterdam still stand as


monuments to his skill. lIe accunmulated considerable wealth and reared a family of four children
in comfort: John, IIenry R., Nicholas and Alice,
all of whom are now dead. IIe and his wife were
members of tile Reformed Church and      were
highllly llonored in the locality in which thley
lived.
Henry R. Ten Ilave was born in 1780, and in
llis youthl received a good education il one of the
best colleges of his country. lIe was a: very fine
penman, and one of his old colpybooks, written
witll a quill pen, is now in possession of his son
Jolhn.  -Ie was a Second lieutenant in tile army
of Iolland and later was a Ilome Guard. IIe
was married at about the age of tlirty years to
a daughter of Ienry and Mary Gerding, who was
also finely educated and a fluent speaker of French.
After llis narliage Mr. Ten Have conducted a gin
distillery, at whicl lie became wealthy, and he
owned one hundred and twenty acres of land,
wlich was considered a large amount to be in the
possession of one man in that country. DIuring
the latter part of his life lie gave his attention to
tilling this land, and died at tile age of sixty-four
years, leaving a widow   and six children, the
latter being as follows: Ralph, a resident of Ilolland Township; Ienry, deceased; Wilh elmina, deceased; liram, a resident of Holland Township;
Jolln, deceased; and John. The death of lenlry
IR. Ten Ilave occurred in 1843, and about 1847 his
widow witl four of her children emigrated to tle
United States, after selling all her possessions in
tile Old Country. After reacling Ottawa County,
Mich., tley llad only about $500 in money left,
and they soon took up their re-iden(e three miles
north of Ilolland, in an old block-louse with two
other families, but remained there only three
monthls, going thience to New Gioningen, where
Mrs. Ten Iave and her daughter died shortly after.
After tile deatll of tile mother the family became
scattered, and Joln, the subject of this sketch, secured enmployment in a sawmill, but later worked
in Kalamazoo County a few months on a farm.
IHe then learned the shoemaker's trade in Alamo.
which lie has followed more or less ever since. In
1852 he came to Holland Township and bought
forty acres of his present farm, and by industry




394


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


has increased his landed possessions to eighty
acres. When he made his first purchase the land
was in a wild state and there were no roads, but
his good judgment told him that the land would
one day be very valuable, so he continued to
labor energetically and to such purpose that he
now has one of the best-tilled farms of the section,
which, though small, compared with some others,
yet yields abundant harvests.
At the age of twenty-five, Mr. Ten Have was married to Miss Tryntje, a daughter of Gerrit and
Elizabeth (Postma) Van Dyk, and their union
has resulted in the birth of nine children: Henry;
Elizabeth; Gerrit; William, deceased; Ralph; Wilhelmina; Catherine; Aaron, deceased; and Mary.
In the year 1892, Mr. Ten Have lost his barn by
fire and with it $300 worth of lumber which he
had purchased for the erection of a new house, and,
although this loss was a heavy one, he bore it
philosophically and has continued to " pursue the
even tenor of his way" unfalteringly. He and
his wife are members of the Reformed Church, and
politically, he is a Republican. He has ably filled
the office of Justice of the Peace and School
Director, and in his church has held office for over
thirty years, being at the present time an Elder.
L    --  j-+++* 1*
J. DE VRIES, D. D. S. There is no profession which meets the popular needs more
than that of the dentist. I-e confers a
a —   boon on suffering humanity, and supplies
that which is either deficient or destroyed in nature to complete the appearance and enhance the
comfort of his clients. Therefore, no public servant deserves more grateful recognition at our
hands than the dentist. Among the most successful practitioners of that art in the city of Holland,
Mich., is Dr. B. J. De Vries, who is a responsible
dentist, with an established reputation for ability
and skill.
Dr. De Vries is a native of Holland Township,
this county, and as he has spent the principal part


of his life here, the people have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications.
His birth occurred November 20, 1858, and he is
the son of John DeVries, and the grandson of
Berend De Vries, both natives of Holland. The
grandfather was educated in his native country,
was married there, and in 1847, on account of
religious persecution, left the land of his birth
and crossed the ocean to the United States, being
among the first settlers of Holland Township,
Ottawa County. Thiere he entered land from the
Government, but as it was a forest he began clearing and improving, and soon had eighty acres of
well-cultivated land. On this he resided until he
reached advanced years, and then went to live
with his son and near his grandson, Henry DeVries. He and his worthy companion are now
eighty-seven years of age, but enjoy comparatively
good health. Both have been very active church
members and lold membership in the Reformed
Church, in which they are highly esteemed.
John De Vries, father of our subject and son of
tle honored old couple mentioned above, was but
eleven years of age wlien lie came with his parents to the wilds of Michioan. IHe assisted his
father in clearing the home place, and amid rude
surroundings grew to sturdy manhood. He was
married to Everdina Rysdorp, a native of the
Netherlands and daughter of Henry Rysdorp who
came to the United States with many others in
1847. John De Vries remained on the old home
place, engaged in farming, until about thirty-four
years of age. Later lie followed lumbering in Ottawa and Antrim  Counties, and has continued
this business ever since. IIe and his wife are now
residing in Grand Rapids. They became the parents of five children: Minnie, Mrs. Moerdyk; Henry
and Albert DeVries; Katie, Mrs. Keppel, and our
subject. In politics, the father is a strong Republican, and in religion a member of tile Reformed
Church, in which lie was a Deacon in Zeeland for
many years.
The original of this notice was reared on his
father's farm in Holland Township, and graduated
from Hope College with the degree of A. B. in
1880. IHe took the full course in college, and
afterwards took a course of dental surgery in the




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


395


Michigan State University, graduating in 1882.
Immediately afterwards he came to Holland and
entered upon a successful career as a dentist. This
he has followed ever since, and has met with flattering success. In the year 1884 he was married
to Miss Grace L. Boer, daughter of John Boer,
who was also born in Holland. Three children have
blessed this union: John Theodore, Bernard George
and Evaline Grace. Mr. De Vrics' office is located
in the First State Bank Building and he has pleasant and attractive rooms. In politics he is a Republican and, like his immediate progenitors, is a
member of the Reformed Church and a Deacon in
the same, having held that position for six years.
He devotes his entire time to his practice and is
one of the very best dentists of the city.
+:E.~.  ___
ONTGOMERY HAYWARD, a farmer residing in Casenovia Township, and tlh
owner of valuable landed possessions in
N Muskegon County, was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., March 3, 1835, and is a son of Ormand and Sarah (Gaskill) HIayward. l-e traces his
ancestry to Scotland, whence his paternal grandfather, Stephen Hayward, emigrated to America
during Colonial days and made settlement in
Massachusetts, where he died. VWhen the War of
the Revolution threatened the entire destruction
of liberty, he enlisted in the service of the Colonies, and was one of the brave soldiers to whom
we owe the freedom of our beloved country.
The father of our subject was born in Massachusetts, and in his youth removed to Vermont, where
he married. Later he went to New York and settled in Canandaigua, where lie bought a farm. In
1836 he sold his property tllere, and, removing
to Niagara County, the same State, located six
miles east of Lockport, where he purchased and
improved ninety acres of land. In his old age he
came to Michigan and made his home with his
children until his death in 1883, at the age of


eighty-four. Iis wife died in Kendallville, Ind.,
in 1889, and was buried in Michigan. They had
been the parents of eight children, as follows:
Durinda, who resides in Indiana; Frank; Edwin,
of whom mention is elsewhere made; Sarah, who is
married and lives in California; Sabra, Mrs. Root,
of New York; John, who served during the late
war as a member of the Indiana Cavalry and now
resides in Grand Rapids; Stephen, who died at the
age of sixteen years; and Montgomery, of this
sketch. The mother of this family was born in
Vermont, whither her father had emigrated from
England. lie was a Quaker in religion, but she
was a member of the Christian Church.
On account of the poverty of his parents, our
subject was obliged to become self-sustaining at an
early age. In 1856 lie came to Kent County,
Mich., where for a time he engaged in lumbering
on the Grand River and its tributaries. In the fall
of 1871 lie purchased a half-interest in a tract
consisting of about eight hundred acres where he
now resides. At the same time lie erected a sawmill and manufactured lumber until 1884, when
he disposed of the mill and has given his attention exclusively to farming since that time. IIe
owns one hundred and eighty acres upon his present homestead, and also owns three other farms,
two of wliich contain one hundred and sixty acres
each, and one consisting of eighty acres. He is
also the owner of several hundred acres of timberland in various places.
In September, 1861, Mr. Hayward was united
in marriage with Miss Martha Kenney, who was
born in Monroe County, N. Y. IHer parents,
James and Martha (Clark) Kenney, were natives
of Ireland, and settled in Michigan in 1854, where
the father followed the trade of a blacksmith until his death at the old homestead near Rockford,
Kent County. During the late war lie enlisted in
the Union army and served with valor until the
expiration of his term of enlistment. Politically,
he was a Republican. He and his wife were the
parents of four sons and four daughters. Unto
our subject and his accomplished wife two children have been born: Fred C. and Frank.
Long neighborhood association  through the
vicissitudes of lapsing years is perhaps the best




396


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


test by which to judge character. Those who
have been Mr. Hayward's neighbors for many
years have found him a considerate, kind and
helpful friend, careful of their needs in health or
sickness, and jealous of their good names. Companionship with such a man is a privilege not
often enjoyed. While Mr. Hayward is a Democrat politically, he is not a politician, nor does he
show any partisanship in his preferences. I-Ie is a
citizen of whom any community may well be
proud.
e      - g)  ^      L<jr> --
7 RANK J. FOX. The career of Mr. Fox
)presents an example of industry, perseverance and good management, rewarded by
substantial results, well woithy the imitation of
all. IIe was born in Portland, Mich., a son of
Samuel and Matilda (Gardner) Fox, the birtlh of
the latter occurring August 9, 1820, near the vilage of Wichurch, Shropshire, England. She came
with her father to America in 1830, and on the
28th of October landed at New York City. The
following May they removed to a farm in Ontario
County, N. Y., soon after to Yates County, and on
April 1, 1835, Mrs. Fox started for Michigan in
company with tile family of Almeran Newman,
arriving at l'ortland May 23, 1835. In November, 1850, sle moved to Grand Iaven, and was
there married to (G.T. Woodbury, and there slie
continued to make her home until April 14, 1862,
when sle settled with her husband in Ottawa
County, this State, and there continued to reside
until her death. Sle was first married to Samuel
J. Fox, August 16, 1838, at Portland, and by him
became the mother of two sons: Charles D., and
Frank J.; and by her second husband also had two
sons: Jesse G. T. and Warren H. Mrs. Woodbury
was a lady of intelligence and noble character
and was a devout Christian, being a member of the
Congregational Church at tile time of lier death,
although formerly a Metlodist.
Frank J. Fox was born May 3, 1849, and until
thirteen years of age attended the schools of Grand


IHaven. He then came to the farm with his mother
and stepfather, and here attended the district
schools. He commenced life for himself at the
age of twenty-one, but remained with his mother
until ler death. IHe then turned his attention
to lumbering and the sawmill business, and in
the years 1881-82 put up a mill of his own on section 31, where it still stands in the most heavily
timbered section of the county. For the first few
years lie cut from one to one and a-half million feet
of lumber annually, his marketing being done by
means of Grand River at Bass River Landing, and
also by rail. Mr. Fox is one of the oldest settlers
of tle county, and has been prominent in its affairs.
He has filled many township offices, from School
Director, which he held eleven years, to SupervisoI, and lhas also ably filled the position of Justice
of the Peace. In 1880 he was elected Township
Supervisor by a majority of one hundred and
eighty over his opponent, and again in 1891. In
1890 lie was elected Chairman of the Board of
Supervisors, but resigned this office April 27,
1891. In the spring of 1893 lie was again elected
to tlhe position almost unanimously.
April 25. 1891, lie was married to Miss Jenett
Alexander, a native of Canada, and a daughter of
William and Amanda (Miller) Alexander, who
were born in Scotland and Canada, respectively.
Mr. Alexander was a sailor in his younger days,
but in early life came to America, and is now a
resident of Georgetown Township. Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander have eight children living: Mary, wife
of Alonzo Wilcox; Hugh, of Grand Rapids; Jenett;
Robert; James; Grace, wife of Delbert Christler;
Samuel; and Jean, now Mrs. Chester HIorton, of
Jamestown, Micll. Mrs. Fox is a member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in wlich she is
an active worker, and slie belongs to several missionary societies. Mr. Fox has always been a prominent Republican, and is one of the most thrifty
an d successful farmers in the county. I-e purchased
his first farm in 1880, containing one hundred and
sixty-tlree acres, partially improved, and now has
eighty acres under a high state of cultivation, magnilicently improved with splendid barns, outbuildings and residence. In 1885 or 1886 lie purchased
seventy-one acres adjoining, of which sixty were




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


397


improved, and on this place was a large and thrifty
orchard of six acres, principally of apple trees.
Mr. Fox is engaged in general farming and makes
a specialty of Percheron horses, having a nice
herd of this breed. IIe is a stockholder in the
creamery at Allendale, a stockholder in tile County Fair Association, and also in the gravel road
from  Grand Rapids to Grand Iaven. In all the
enterprises attempted by him lie has been successful, and this has been in a great measure due to
honest hard work and close attention to his business interests.
LONZO L. DOW, an energetic, capable
and successful agriculturist of Muskegon
County, residing in Moorland Township,
first opened his eyes to the liglit in Canada, his birth having occulrred in St. Mary's County, July 7, 1856. I-e is a son of Lorenzo and
Katharine (Piester) Dow, natives of New York,
and on his father's side lie is a distant relative of
the famous evangelist, Lorenzo Dow.    During
the early part of his life, the father of our subject
was a cabinet-maker by occupation and followed
that trade with considerable success. In 1857, accompanied by his family, he removed to Michigan
and settled in Grand Rapids.
After a brief stay in that city, Mr. Dow, Sr., removed to Newaygo County, where he remained
for three years. In 1860 lie settled in Moorland
Township, Muskegon County, and as the country
at that time was undeveloped, lie set to work immediately to clear the land of heavy timber. In
a few years lie was in possession of a fine farm, the
reward of his labor in reclaiming the wilderness.
In 1882 he sold his property to William I)urkes
and removed to Muskegon, near Black Lake,
where lie remained until his death, October 27,
1888. Ile was a lighly respected citizen and
successful farmer, and was active in politics and all
matters pertaining to public interest. A brave,
courageous pioneer, he helped to build and make


possible Muskegon County's present prosperity.
Additional facts concerning his life may be
gleaned from the sketch of P. P. Misner, of Muskegon, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Of eight children, our subject was among the
eldest. At the age of twenty-three he commenced
life for himself on the farm he now occupies. By
skillful labor in drainage and cultivation, lie has
developed a farm rich in soil and production and
embellished with a first-class set of rural buildings,
adapted to their various purposes. While success
has usually crowned his efforts, he ias also met
with his share of reverses. A few years ago, lie,
among others in this vicinity, met with a heavy loss
caused by depression in the onion market. With
that exception lie has enjoyed continuous prosperity in his farming and gardening operations.
Tle marriage of Mr. Dow took place on the 17th
of June, 1878, and united him with Miss Ida,
daughter of Wesley and Ann (Johnson) Fuller.
There have been born to tlem   three children:
Sarah, May and Fred Wesley, who are now receiving the best advantages afforded by the schools of
Moorland Township. Possessing a genial, jovial
disposition, bubbling over with life and merriment,
and blessed by domestic felicity, Mr. Dow enjoys
life to its fullest capacity. In politics he is a Republican, ever true to the principles of that party.
Socially, lie is identified with the order of the Maccabees, and takes a warm interest in that organization. He is a popular and enterprising citizen,
and as such is highly esteemed throughout the
community.
OHIN B. WOODWARD, M. D., a prosperous
and skillful physician of Muskegon, Mich.,
is a native of H-amilton, Ontario, Canada,
and was born January 7, 1846. His father,
Jolin B. Woodward, was born in Yorkshire, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1812. HIe engaged in the War of 1812, serving in the British
army as a surgeon, and was a man of fine edu



398


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


cation and possessed of much ability. The paternal grandfather was John K. Woodward, whose
mother was a Kilbourne. The mother of our subject was Margaret (Bunton) Woodward, a native
of Ireland, and daughter of Harry Bunton, also
born in the Emerald Isle, but who, crossing tile
ocean, settled in Canada in the year 1812. Dr.
Woodward enjoyed exceptional advantages for an
education, receiving preparatory instruction in the
excellent schools of Montreal, Canada, and later
entering the college at Toronto, Canada. While
only a youth, he journeyed to Michigan, and at
seventeen years of age, in 1863, enlisted in Company 1), Tenth Michigan Cavalry, commanded by
Col. Standish, and was assigned to the Army of
the Cumberland.
Our subject courageously participated in many
of tlle prominent engagements of the long campaign, and was present upon tile battlefields of
Winchester and the Wilderness, and was wounded
at City Point by the explosion of the magazine at
that place. In 1864, taken prisoner at Westfield,
Va., he was imprisoned for six months in Libby,
and for six weeks was obliged to subsist exclusively upon raw pumpkins. June 13, 1865, he
was exchanged, and as soon as lie gained strength
enlisted again in an expedition sent out to fight
tlhe hostile Indians, and served in the West until
June, 1866. Then returning to Toronto, Canada,
Dr. Woodward re-entered college, and was graduated from tlhe classical course in 1867,and, continuing his studies in 1868 took his diploma from tile
medical department.  He shortly after accepted
the position of Principal of the Public Schools of
Grand Rapids and devoted himself to the duties
of that profession for two years. Ie next went to
Chicago, in wlicl city lie lectured on anatomy in
the Dodge College, and occupied that professorship until 1873, when he returned to Grand Rapids, where lie conducted a general practice in
medicine for tlree years.
In 1876 our subject settled in Newaygo. Newaygo County, Mich., and there continued actively engaged in a round of professional duty until
1884. At this latter date 1)Dr. Woodward made liis
home in Muskegon, but in 1885 departed for a
long tour through Europe. IIe was abroad three


years, and during this time visited the various
countries of Europe, and Egypt, Russia, India
and Turkey, remaining in Mt. Armenia six weeks.
Returning to Muskegon in 1888, Dr. Woodward
resumed general practice, and, combining skillful
surgery, has been especially successful in relieving
suffering and effecting cures.
July 2, 1869, Dr. Woodward and Miss Cynthia
Gould, of Grand   Rapids, daughter of Nelson
Gould, a native of New York, were married. Dr.
and Mrs. Woodward were the parents of one son
and one daughter, Frederick II. and Lottie M.
Thle estimable Wife of our subject passed away,
deeply mourned, in Newaygo in 1884. The pleasant home of the Doctor is desirably located at No.
36 Western Avenue, Muskegon. Our subject is
fraternally  associated with the Grand  Rapids
Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and
both witliin and without this order has many
warm friends, by whom lie is highly regarded for
his qualities as a citizen and physician.
J. POEST. It is doubtless owing entirely
to the industrious and persevering manner
w) itli which Mr. Poest has adhered to the
pursuits of agriculture, that he has risen to
such a substantial position in farm affairs in Ottawa
County. Since 1848 he has been a resident of the
State of Michigan, and as a natural result he is
much interested in tlhe progress and development
of his section, and has done his full share in making it the magnificent farming region that it now
is. He is a product of the southlwestern part of
Holland, where lie was born on the 4th of July,
1821, his parents being Dirk and Gertie (Wilden)
Poest, also natives of the same place. Dirk Poest
received an excellent education in his youth, and
for forty years followed  the occupation of a
school teacher in one village, at the same time
conducting a small but fertile farm which he
owned. In time a family of four children gath



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


399


ered about his hearthstone, as follows:  Jolhn,
a resident of Zeeland; B. J., the subject of this
sketch; MIinnie, deceased; and Jennie, a resident
of Ottawa County, MIici.
B. J. Poest was twenty-four years of age at the
time of his father's death, and under tle able instruction of tlhe latter his initiatory scholastic
training was received, and lie was fitted for tlhe
calling of a teacher. which lhe followed for some
time during the winter months in his native land.
At other times he was employed at the carpenter's
trade tlhere, but the remuneration for his services
was not sufficient to satisfy one of his ambitious
disposition, and he made up his mind to come to
the United States, tlhe Mecca of the poor man. IIe
reached this country in June, 1848.  Iis mother,
leaving the Old Country at the same time with
her otler children, but on a different boat, died
while on the voyage, and was buried at sea.
Soon after his arrival in this country, Mr. Poest
came to Michlign an,  d after spending a short time
in Grand Rapids he obtained an Indian canoe and
paddled his way to Holland. After his arrival
here he worked at tile carpenter's trade for a shlort
time, and after spending one year in Zeeland lie
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild
land and began to convert it into a farm. This
land he sold after a time, and purchased the prop)erty on which lie is now residing, wlich consists
of four hundred and twenty acres, and besides
tills he has one hundred and sixty acres on another
tract.
Althoughl Mr. Poest came to this section when
it was sparsely settled and under little cultivation,
and was compelled to labor hard and do without
many of the luxuries which seem so indispensable
at the present time, he and his family were contented and happy, and prospered in spite of adverse circumstances. In his struggles to obtain a
goodly heritage for his children, lie was ably assisted by his industrious and economical wife,
whom lie married in 1849, and whose maiden
name was Gertie Kamnps, daughter of Berren and
Ilenereka (Askes) Kamps. She was born in the
Netherlands, and was reared there on her father's
farm. She came to this country witl lier parents,
and was united in marriage to Mr. Poest, by


whom she has a family of nine clildren: Geziena,
wife of Leander BarImen; HIenereka, wife of John
Veneklasen; Dirk, Berren, Henry, John, Jacob,
Iannah and William.
Mr. and Mrs. Poest have long been members of
the Reformed Church of Zeeland, and for forty
years Mr. Poest llas been an Elder in the clurch,
and for two years prior to that time was a Deacon.
Ile is a Democrat, politically, lias held a number
of townslhip offices, and has been active in all good
works, a valuable acquisition to any community.! <  _-,-$s^- r/f (._..
1'7OIIRBEJR' G. ROBSON, the energetic and
)l prosperous dealer in pictures and picture
frames, has long been numbered with tile
leading business men of Muskegon, MIich.,
and for the past sixteen years has been intimately
associated with tlhe development and lupward
growthl of tlhe vital interests of the Wolverine
State. Mr. Robson, by nativity an Englishman,
was born in tile city of London in tile year 1824.
Iis parents, George and Rebecca Robson, were also
born in England. Mr. Robson received his preparatory education in the excellent public sclools
of England, and later completed his studies in
a London boarding-school. At a comparatively
early age lie began to prepare for a self-supporting
future, leaving school and entering upon a long
apprenticeship of seven years to his father, who
owned a large wagon-shop. Having at the expiration of tills length of time gained an extended
knowledge of every detail of tlhe business, our subject determined to try his fortunes in America.
Embarking from London, Mr. Robson safely
crossed the broad Atlantic, and after a favorable
voyage landed in 1848 in the metropolis of New
York, and there, finding ready employment, remained for several years. Finally following thle
tide of emigration to the Westward, our subject
journeyed to Illinois, and for seventeen years lived
in Bloomington. Being a skilled mechanic, lie never
experienced any difficulty in obtaining remunera



400


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tive employment, and in making changes of residence was animated only by the desire to better
himself. In 1877, Mr. Robson came to Michigan
and, pleased witll tile country and people, settled
in Muskegon, where at first he worked at his trade
and later engaged in his present business, which
lie has since successfully conducted up to the
present time, his affable courtesy and business
rectitude making him many friends and customers.
In 1848, in the mother country, were united in
marriage Robert G. Robson and Miss Adalaide
Langabeer, of London, England, and six children,
one son and five daughters, have blessed their
union. Our subject is politically a Republican,
and without having ever been in any sense of the
word a politician, hlas always taken a deep interest
in both the local and national management of public affairs. To his adopted country loyal and true,
Robert G. Robson is ever ready to do his duty as
a liberal-spirited and progressive citizen.
YRON B. GODFREY, M. D., a prominent
I)lpysician and successful surgeon of IHudsonville, is one of the public-spirited and
progressive citizens to whose infuence the
present prosperity of the village is largely due.
The family of which he is an honored representative originated in Wales, whence in an early day
some of its members removed to America and became identified with the growth of this country.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas
Godfrey, was a trader between the East Indies and
New York for many years, and later became a
contractor on the Eric Canal.
The father of our subject, Almon Thomas Godfrey, was a native of Van Rensselaer County, N. Y.,
born August 5, 1806.  Ie married Miss Lovina
Beardsley, a native of Hannibal, Oswego County,
N. Y., born September 10, 1812, and tile daughter
of James Beardsley. After their marriage, which
was solemnized in New York, the parents of our


subject resided in that State for a number of years,
and thence removed to Wisconsin in 1853, settling
in Port Washlington. In 1868 they came to Michigan, and located in Tallmage Township, Ottawa
County, where they resided for eight years. Subsequently they made their home with our subject
until their demise, the father passing away on
the 7th of April, 1884, and the mother January
10, 1892.
In the parental family there were eight children, four of whom are now living, as follow: Mrs.
C. E. Smead, of Grand Rapids; Morrill, a resident
of Iansing, Iowa; Mrs. L. G. Allen, of Chicago;
and our subject. The parents were honorable, upright and religious, the father being identified
with the Christian Church, and the mother a
member of the Baptist Church. Politically, lie
was a Whig, and after the organization of the
Republican party supported its principles. The
youngest of the surviving children is the subject
of this notice, who was born in Hannibal, Oswego
County, N. Y., March 1, 1848.  His primary education was received in the common schools of
Port Washington, Wis., and later he conducted
his studies at Fond du Lac.
After completing his studies, our subject taught
school for eight years, beginning at a salary of ^30
per month and "boarding round."   His last term
was as Principal of tlhe Grandville public sclhools.
IIe began his professional studies at Detroit Medical College, and afterwards entered Rush Medical
College at Chicago, from which lie was graduated
with tlhe Class of '78. I-He opened an office for the
practice of his profession at Lamont, Ottawa County, where he remained for one year. In 1880 he
located in Hudsonville, where lie has resided ever
since. At the time of locating here, there were
four other physicians in the place, but he soon
gained the entire practice and is now the only
physician residing here. In addition to his duties
as a general practitioner, lie does a large amount of
surgical work, in fact more than any other surgeon in the county outside of the large cities.
His practice is by no means limited to the village,
but includes a circuit of eight miles, and his
reputation as a skillful and successful physician is
as widely known as his name.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIiCAL RECORD.


401 "


In  1870 tie Doctor was united in marriage
with Miss Mary Calista, daughter of L. T. and
Maria B. (Sctt) Bursley. Hler father was born in
Hannibal, Oswego County, N.. Y., on tile 13th of
March, 1821, and was one of thle very first settlers of tllis townshipi, having aided in the erection of tile first hlouse built in Lamnont.  IIe
still survives, making his homne in this township.
Ilis wife, wlho was born in Ellisburg, N.Y., August 17, 1817, died on the 19th of March, 1872.
They were tle parents of six children, of whom
our subject's wife was the eldest. She was born
on tlie 7th of June, 1851, in Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Mich., and received her
education in tlhe Grand(ville schools. Their union
has resulted in the birth of four children, two
of whom   are now  living, namely: Pearl Cleo
and Almon T. The former, who was born in
'Talmadge Township February     16, 1873, was
graduated fromn Hope College, in lHolland, Micl.,
in tlhe (lass of '90. She became tlhe wife of the
Rev. Isaac Van Kanl)en on the 28th of June, 1893,
anll now resides in Saddle River, N. J., where lie
is pastor of the I)utch Reformed Church, American.
The parents of Mr. Van Karmpen were among the
early Dutch settlers of Iolland, this State. lie is
a young man of fine education, ha:ving graduated
in Sweensburg's Business College, at Grand Rapids;
lope College, at Holland; and Rutger's Seminary,
in New Jersey. Our subject's only son, Almon
Tanner, was born in Tallmadge Tl'ownship, Ottawa
County, and was graduated from the Hudsonville
school in 1893. lie is now a student at Hope
College.
In his social connections the Doctor is identified
with tlhe Masonic order at Coopersville; Lodge
No. 346, I. 0. 0. F, at Iludsonville, and the Order
of Maccabees, of which lie is Examining Physician. lie has been actively identified witl the
Good Templars for a number of years. Iis wife
also takes an active part in the temperance work.
In politics a stanch Rlepublican-Prohibi)ition ist, he
has been for years one of the most influential
members of his party in tlis section of the State.
In 1890 lie was the candidate for Congress from
the Fifth Michigan I)istrict, and received a large
number of votes, althouglh defeated with the re

mainder of tile ticket. I-e was a delegate to the
Prohibition National Convention at Indianapolis,
Ind., in 1890, and has also represented his party in
other iml)ortant positions. IIe has served as
Justice of the Peace and in other local oflices.
In all matters pertaining to his profession, tile
Doctor is interested and well informed. lIe is a
member of the State Medical Society, and in 1891
lie read a paper before that organization upon tlle
subject of "ILa Grippe."   i s contributions to
medical journals prove tle possession of broad
information and wise judgment, and show tllat lie
keeps abreast with every advancement made in the
profession.  ie lhas furnished articles on important topics to the Physician an*d Surgeon, at Ann
Arbor, and tile Afedical Review. I-e is not only
prominent in the State Medical Society, but also
takes an active part in the National Medical Society, and is now serving his third term as Piesident of the Grand River Valley Medical Society.
Througlhout the years of his professional labors,
his interest in agriculture lias been continuous,
and lie has superintended tile management of his
large farm. lie served as President of the South
Ottawa Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and
is influential in farming circles. IIe is also prominent in educational affairs, and is the President of
tle Sclool Board at Hudsonville. IIe aided in
the organization of the South Ottawa Teachers'
Association, and has been an honorary member of
the society since its formation.
'i rTownship no finer farm than that which is
owned and occupied by the subject of this
) sketch. It comprises one hundred and fifteen acres, upon which have been placed the usual
improvements of a first-class estate. The land is
divided and sub-divided into fields of convenient
size, some of which are utilized for pasturage, others
l)lanted with clover and hay, while a considerable




402


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIICAL RECORD.


portion of the property is devoted to the raising
of cereals. There is a fine orchard on the place,
which was planted by Mr. Stein, and from which
are annually gathered large harvests of ripened
fruits.
A native of tile Province of Luxemburg, our
subject was born November 3, 1831. His parents,
Nicholas and Catherine (Sholters) Stein, were natives respectively of Prussia and Luxemburg, and
the former died in Muskegon, Mich. Hubert is
tlhe elder of two children, tile other being a daughte'. Susanna. In his native place lie passed the
years of his boyhood, and at the age of twenty-one,
having resolved to seek a home in the New World,
lie crossed the broad Atlantic and after landing in
the United States proceeded West to Wisconsin, in
1852. Locating at Port Washington, he worked
on a farm, receiving a compensation of $8 per
month.
Coming to Muskegon in 1852, Mr. Stein was
emlployed in a sawmill in the woods during the
winter season, receiving a salary of $12 per month.
Afterward lie engaged in teaming from  Grand
Rapids to Muskegon, before the advent of the
railroad in this section of Michigan. Subsequently
lie embarked in the lumber business and accumulated a large amount of property, being at one
time the owner of twenty-nine hundred acres. lIe
las always been a very industrious and persevering man, and during his prime was accustomed to
toil until a late hour every night. While working for himself, lie las not been selfish or careless
of the rights of others, but all associated witlL him
have found him kind and considerate.
Tlhe marriage of Mr. Stein occurred in the Catholic Church at Muskegon in 1855, his bride being'
Miss Elizabeth Zimet, a native of Luxemburg. Mir.
and Mrs. Stein became the parents of six children,
as follows: Frank, who was born in Muskegon,
and is now the owner of two hundred and eight
acres twelve miles east of Muskegon; Susan, who
resides with her parents; Catherine, the wife of
John Schmidt, of Muskegon; Elizabetll, who is at
home; and two who died in infancy. Mr. Stein
aided in the erection of the Catholic Church at
Muskegon and was the first man married in the
edifice. In his political belief, he is a Democrat


in National issues, but is independent in local politics. Ile has been an incumbent of one or more
townsllip offices for twenty-five years-as Treasurer
of the township, Highway Commissioner or Supervisor.
AANS THOMPSON. The farming interests
of Dalton Township, Muskegon County, are
well represented by our subject, who is a
leading agriculturist of the community, his
lhome being on section 17. He first opened his
eyes to the light of day in the northern part of
Norway in 1833. His parents, Thomas and Con
(Peterson) Tarjuson, were both born in Norway.
They became the parents of seven children, of
whom three died in early childhood. Robert and
Mary are still living in the Old Country; Amelia
died at the age of eighteen years, and Hans completes the number.
The subject of this sketch was confirmed in the
Lutheran Church at the age of fourteen years, and
from that age made his own way in the world.
Ie began to earn his own livelihood as clerk in a
brass store, and in compensation for his services
received $20 per year. After a few years spent in
tlat way, lie purchased a small vessel in connection with his brother, but while making a trip to
Germany the ship sank and they lost all they had.
They then determined to seek a home and fortune
in the New World, for the glory of its privileges
and advantages had reached them in stories which
made them anxious to reach the land of promise.
Leaving their old home in 1857, they crossed the
water and located in Chicago. Hans Thompson
was there employed in a lumber-yard a few
months, after which lie came to Muskegon, where
he began working in a sawmill. He was also employed in a woodyard for several years and was
engaged in the fishing business for a few years, but
the last-named enterprise did not prove very successful.
In  1868, in Muskegon, Mr. Thompson was




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


403


united in marriage witl Miss Turena Thomson,
and by tlleir union have been born three children:
Clara, who is in Chicago; and Ilerman and Johnnie, both at home. The daughter was educated in
North Muskegon and for some time engaged in
teaching.
After he had abandoned the fishing trade, Mr.
Thompson engaged in lumbering for himself for
two years on White River, and during that time
succeeded in acquiring some $2,000. With this
capital lie purchased land, becoming the owner of
his present farm in 1869. He purchased eighty
acres, which was then a swampy wilderness, but his
labors have transformed it into a highly cultivated tract, it being one of the well-improved farms
in the neighborhood, for it is complete in all its
appointments and is supplied with all modern accessories. It is located on section 17, Dalton
Township, and yields to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor lie bestows
upon it.
In his political views, Mr. Thompson is a Republican, and has held a number of school offices.
The cause of education finds in him a warm friend,
and all worthy public enterprises receive his
hearty support and co-operation  We are pleased
to present the sketch of this worthy citizen to the
readers of the BIOG(RAPHICAL RECORI.
LARENCE G. PITKIN, an able druggist
and prominent citizen of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., is a native of the State,
and was born in Ypsilanti, November 2, 1868.
Our subject was the youngest of the six children
of David and Lucy (La Rue) Pitkin. The father,
born in Union, Broome County, N. Y., January 12,
1819, was the descendant of an old Revolutionary family, well known in the Colonial days. By
trade a mechanic, lie was also a practical general
agriculturist, and, arriving in Michigan in April,
1868, located on a farm near Ypsilanti, and on the
homestead built a wagon-shop, and to that busi

ness he gave a portion of his time. The father
also served efficiently as a Justice of the Peace
and was a leading man in his locality. In June,
1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy
La Rue, a native of Union, Broome County, N. Y.,
and the daughter of a wealthy stock-drover, who,
yet surviving, has nearly reached his centennial
birthday, and is now  residing in Binghamton,
N. Y. The LaRues were intimately associated
with the early history of tlhe United States, and, as
the name indicates. are of French origin.
The eldest child of David Pitkin was Sarall,
born August 18, 1853. She married R. E. Kellogg,
a prosperous farmer of Ylsilanti, and llas no
children. George La Rue Pitkin, born January 16,
1856, married Miss Della Dietrich, and has one
child, a daugliter, May, born February 8, 1885.
George La Rue Pitkin is engaged in the drug business at Brighton, Micli. Jennie Pitkin was born
on the 5th of December, 1857, and resides with
her parents at Brighton.   William D. Pitkin,
born April 18, 1863, married Mate Mix and llas
one child, Guy, born February 27, 1887. W. D.
Pitkin is an energetic farmer near Brighton.
Ernest N. Pitkin, born May 27, 1865, is an excellent scholar and graduated from the State Normal
School at Ypsilanti. He is one of tile most
successful teachers in tile State and for three years
has been the Principal of the Iigh School at Hersey, Mich. When our subject was seven years of
age his parents removed to Brighton, Mich., where
lie received his early education in the Union
School. When sixteen years old, lie became a
student in tile Ypsilanti Seminary, where he spent
one year. During the succeeding two years of his
life lie was engaged in the drug store of his
brother at Brighton. IIe next took charge of tile
drug store of C. E. De Pew at Stockridge, Miei.
In 1885, wlen the pharmacy law became effective,
he underwent a most searching examination before
the board, and was the youngest man passing at
that time. After two years' experience as manager
for Mr. De Pew, he spent one year and a-half with
H. Love, of Charlotte, Mich. Then, in 1887, lie
came to Whitehall and took charge of the drug
store then owned by Lyman T. Covell.
When the store was burned out in the fire of




404


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


September 19, 1890, our subject determined to go
into business on his own account and at once purchased a small stock of goods and on the first
of the following October was established in his
present quarters, one of the most finely appointed
and commodious stores in this section of the
State. From the first day tile business under the
supervision of Mr. Pitkin has been a success and,
constantly increasing its proportions, now conmands a custom second to none in its locality.
Upon September 30, 1891, C. G. Pitkin and
Miss Anna Knudson were united in marriage.
Mrs. Pitkin, born in Montague, is tile daughter of
one of the extensive pioneer lumbermen of tliat
part of the State. Our subject lhas ever been a
stalwart Republican, and as a member of the Coinmon Council is a leading factor in tlhe promotion
of the local interests and enterprises of Whitehall.
Fraternally, lie is associated witl tlle Ancient
Free & Accepted Masons, and both within and
without tils order possesses a lhost of friends.
lie and his estimable and acconplished    wife
occupy a prominent social position and are closely
identified with all matters pertaining to tile upward growth and advancement of their home
locality and tile village  which numbers thein
among its enterprising and prosperous residents.
+._.j.^^^ --- +,r
5cH  OMAS W. WATSON         is an experienced
and prominent farmer of Olive Townlship,
Ottawa County, Mich., the grand natural resources of which region have been developed by
the practical and intelligent toil of such men as
Mr. Watson, wiho is a native of England, born February 23, 1852, and tile son of Edward G. and Rebecca (Register) Watson, both of whom were natives of that country. Thle parents came to America in the fall of 1852, and located in Medina
County, Ohio, where they made their home until
1872. From there they moved to Ottawa County,
Mich., settling in Olive Township, and the father


has resided here ever since. Mr. Watson first purchased twenty acres of lan  d an engaged in tilling
tlhe soil, an occupation he carries on at tile present
time. Ile had tlle misfortune to lose his wife in
1889.
Four children were born to tills wortlly couple,
viz.: Elizabetli, wife of Charles Brown, who resides
in Ramson Corners, ()Ohio; T. W., our subject; lIarriet A., wife of Joln Brown, whlo makes her home
in tllis county; and EJdwa1rd, Jr.. also of this county.
The early scholastic training of our subject was
received in the common-schools of the Buckeye
State, and lie continued to make his home there
until 1871, wllen tile favorable reports received
fromn this State decided him to make a settlement
within its borders. After reaching this State he
came directly to Ottawa County,where lie purchased
eighty acres of land, and on this llas resided since.
Thie land wasthen unimproved and covered with
very heavy timber.
At first Mr. Watson engaged in the lumber business until lie had succeeded in clearing hlis place,
and then embarked in agricultural pursuits, at
which lie has been unusually successful. IIe is
now thle owner of one hundred and sixty-two acres
of excellent land, one hundred and forty acres being well cultivated, and on his place is a pleasant
rural llome and substantial outbuildings. I-e is a
practical, progressive and wide-awake young farmer and his accumulations are the result of many
days' hard labor. Aside from his fine farm he is the
owner of a fine lot, 100x50 feet, in Waverlv, and
on this lie expects to build a good residence and
make other necessary improvements.
With his brother lie is engaged in tile stock business and handles many cattle, sheep and hogs during tile year. Like many of tile representative
citizens of the county, lie is self-made, for he commenced for himself at the age of twelve years, and
first received but $2 per month for his services.
While husking corn lie received eighteen cents per
day, and thus by saving he has reached his present
prosperous condition.  As a farmer lie has been
successful; as a citizen public-spirited, enterprising
and prominent; and for many year he was connected with the Grange, holding the position of
Treasurer during 1878 and 1879.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


405


Mr. Watson's happy domestic life began in 1873,
when he was married to Miss Rebecca Dressier, a
native of Medina County, Ohio, who was reared
to womanhood and married in that county. She
was one of five children  born to Joseph and
Elizabeth Dressier, both of whom  were natives
of the Keystone State: James, of Akron, Ohio;
Sarah, wife of Aaron Camery, of Sharon, Ohio;
Clharley, of Akron; Rebecca, wife of our subject;
and Alice, wife of Perry Varney. Mrs. Dressler
was a member of the Lutheran Church and d(ied in
full communion with the same in 1890. Mr. Dressler still survives and makes his home in Akron,
Oliio. He is a highly esteemed and respected citizen. Mr. and IMrs. Watson 's marriage has resulted
in the birth of six children: Carrie, Elnora, Iva,
Lena, Elizabeth and Effie. Mrs. Watson is a worthy
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
she and her husband have a host of warm friends.
E ERLEY LAWTON, for eight years one of
tlie most successful teachers of New York
and for two years in Ottawa County,
Mich., and now a prosperous agriculturist
near Coopersville, Wright Township, born in 1818,
in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., is the son of one
of the early pioneers of the Wolverine State. The
father, Josiah T. Lawton, a native of Rhode Island,
was born in 1785. The Lawton family were of
sturdy and self-reliant Welsh ancestry. The father remained in Rhode Island until about twentythree years of age, and then removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where upon November 26,
1809, he was united in marriage with Miss Betsey
Bradley. In 1845 the family journeyed to Michigan and settled in Ottawa County, at Coopersville. The father, in his younger days a millwright and mechanic, later gave his entire attention to agriculture, and when he came to Michigan bought a farm of one hundred and twenty
acres, all wild and wooded land. There were no
public roads leading to it, and the country was


very new, most of the business in tliat part of tile
State being done in Grand Rapids. There were
then only six families in the settlement, and the
homestead of the fatlier lay out a little distance
from Coopersville, the land all about being densely
covered with a growth of pine and hemlock.
The family was composed of one sister and six
brothers, and all the sons but one are yet surviving. I). B. Lawton, a preacher of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, resides in Florida. Ienry Lawton lives in Coopersville. Tlie otlers make their
liome in Wright Township. The fathler served
bravely in tlle War of 1812, and after a life of
busy industry passed away in 1863. Our subject
continued to reside in his birthplace, St. Lawrence
County, N. Y., until lie was twenty-four years of
age, when lie went to western New York to teacli
school. After studying in the district schools of
lhis home neigliborhood he liad completed his
studies in Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary and
fitted himself for the vocation of teaching. At
twenty-six years of age lie arrived, May 6, 1846,
at the homestead of his father, and after spending
a few montls upon tlhe farm went out three miles
southeast of Coopersville and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, covered with woods
and surrounded by Indians, being in all its primitive condition. For forty-seven changing years
Mr. Lawton lived upon tile farm, which is now
brotugit under a high state of cultivation aind
annually yields an abundant harvest. Here in his
home he now enjoys the fruits of many years' labor and recalls the old times which have gone
never to return.
May 9, 1841, Perley Lawton and Miss Nancy
Ferguson were married in St. Lawrence County,
N. Y., from which State they emigrated to their
home in the wilderness of Michigan. By tlis
faithful companion our subject became the father
of five children, one of whom died at the age of
three years, and four are now surviving: Erwin
married Miss Marion Craig, and lives three miles
from the old homestead; Wellington R. is a merchant of Berlin; Nora, now Mrs. Coe, resides in
Lamont; and Chester makes his home three miles
south of the old farm. The first wife died upon tlhe
homestead in 1882, and in 1883 Mr. Lawton was




406


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


wedded to Mrs. Hannah Green, a native of Ohio,
but a resident of Micligan since her sixteenth
year, arriving in the Wolverine State in 1868.
By her first marriage Mrs. Lawton had four clildren, three of whom  are surviving. George A.
Green is living upon a farm three miles west of
Coopersville; James W. Green, also a farmer, resides near his brother George; Mary P. (Green)
Conklin is at home in Wrilit Township. For
fifteen years our subject as Clerk transacted the
business of the township, and for two years was
the efficient Sulerintendent of the County Poor.
He was nominated for tile Second I)istrict as Representative for Ottawa County in 1862, and caine
within six votes of winning, George Luther being
elected. Our subject was debarred from serving
in the late war on account of his defective eyesighlt. From  1838 to 1848, Mr. Lawton taught
continuously and found both pleasure and profit
in the profession of instructor. In early life a
Whig and later a Republican, he las ever been interested in botll local and National Government.
For nearly half a century an intelligent eye-witness of the rapid development of Michigan, our
subject possesses a store of reminiscences almost
invaluable and is authority upon the few remaining landmarks of tile past.
ILLIAM KOLB. For thirty years or more
\\ / the subject of this biographical sketch llas
conducted farming operations upon the
placie which he pre-empted in 1863. A German
by parentage and birth, he brought with him upon
emigrating to America the solid and substantial
traits of character which have contributed to his
success. After clearing thle land lie gave his attention to its cultivation, embellishing it with a
neat residence, substantial outbuildings and good
fences, and its present attractive appearance is due
to his untiring efforts.
Born in the kingdom    of Bavaria, Germany,
August 5, 1831, the subject of this sketch is the


son of Leonard and IHenrietta (Sproed) Kolb, likewise natives of that kingdom and empire.   In
1849, accompanied by their children, they emigrated to tle United States and located in York,
Pa., where they resided for seven years. In 1856
they came to Michigan, and, settling in Muskegon
County, liere spent their remaining years. The
father's dleath occurred il 1859.  The wife and
mother survived him for a number of years, passing away on the 20th of Mlarch, 1891. In his
chosen calling tlie father was a farmer, although
during a part of his life lie engaged in mining.
Six clildren were born of ttle union of Leonard
and Henrietta Kolb, five soins and one daughter,
of whom William is the only survivor. In the
land of his birth lie received an excellent education in tile German schools, and at the age of
eiglhteen years accompanied his parents to the
United States, settling with them in Pennsylvania.
In the fall of 1855 lie came to Michigan and located in Muskegon County, where for a time lie
worked in the employ of others. In September,
1861, lie was united in marriage with Miss Lydia
A. Butters, a native of New York, who died on
the 17th of January, 1873.
The cause of thle Union was so dear to Mr. Kolb
that on the 1st of November, 1863, lie enlisted as
a soldier in Company I, Fourth Michigan Cavalry,
and fought in the defense of tile Old Flag until
June 14, 1865.   WVlile surrounding Louisville
witl his regiment, there was a heavy snow storm,
and the exposure resulted in a serious attack of
rheumatism, which confined him to the hospital
for some time. Upon recovering from tliat affliction lie was seized witl a throat disease, which
incapacitated him for active service for some
time. I-He still suffers from rheumatism and heart
disease, which lie contracted in the army. Notwithstandi ng these misfortunes, lie participated in
a number of decisive and important engagements,
among whiclh may be mentioned the battle of Rome,
Ga., May   15, 1864; Kingston, Pumpkin Vine
Creek, Dallas, Ga., and many skirmisles. His
brother Adam   was killed in the battle of the
Wilderness, May 4, 1864.
Upon returning to Michigan, Mr. Kolb resumed
agricultural operations. In 1863 he entered from




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RESIDENCE OF ASA JOY,#S.Ec.3.,SPR[NG LAKE TP,OTTAWVA CO., MICH.


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FESI DENCEIOF FRAN K J ON ES SEC.i.3.j FRU ITLAN D TP, MUSKEGON CO., M icH.




RES1DENCE OF WI'LLIAM   KOLB, 3EC. 32.,N R ONT  E UKGON  CO.,M~Ai








PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIICAL RECORD.


409


the Government one lhundred and thirty-five acres
of wild land, which hle has cleared and placed under
excellent cultivation. Indefatigable industry has
resulted in the accumulation of wealtl, and lie is
now recognized as one of the moneyed men of tlle
townshlip. His second marriage occurred on thle
4th of August, 1873, and united him witl Mliss
Theresia Sidel, a native of Germany, who lhas become the mother of one cliild, Justina, born Septenlber 17, 1882.
Thle first ballot of Mr. Kolb was cast for James
Buchanan, and lie has voted for every Republican Presidential candidate since tile second term
of Abraham Lincoln. lie is a man whlo takes an
intelligent interest in all measures calculated to
benefit the community, morally, materially or socially. In his religious connections, lie is a member of the German Lutleran Church, to which his
wife also belongs. Socially, lie is a member of
Phil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R., of Muskegon.
Il  /RANIK JONES. Among tlle well-known and
I    progressive farmers of Fluitland Town1I    ship, Muskegon County, is this gentleman,
who was born in IIolstein, Germany, in 18417.
His residence is situated on his fine and wellcultivated farm on section 13, wlere he llas lived
for many years. IIe is considered one of tile
representative men of tills district. and has accordingly been honored by his friends Iand neigohbors with various positions of honor and trust, in
all of which lie llas acquitted himself admirably.
IIn 1890, lie was chosen Supeivisor, being elected
by a large majority, and has held tliat losition
for three successive terms. For two years lie
served as Townshlip Treasurer and Justice of tlle
Peace. At the lpresent time, lie is one of the
School I)irectors, and can be relied on for thle promotion of all educational interests.
Our subject is a son of Frank and Anna C.
(Peterson) Jones. Iis paternal grandparents were
Peter and McGregory (Thllompson) Jones, who
20


were natives of Holstein, Germany. Peter Jones
was an agriculturist, owning a farm of about one
hundred and sixty acres, and during his lifetime
lie served in various official capacities. Ile was a
devoted adherent of the Lutleran Church.   IIe
reared a family of seven children, namely: Elias,
Frank, Peter, Geoirge, McGregory, Mary and Catherena.
Frank,Jones was reared to manhood in tile Fatlecrland, receiving a good education. At tlme age
of twenty-one years, lie became a coachman in the
household of a German prince. When a few years
had passed, lie was drafted into the Danisl army,
in wliicli lhis father was at the same time serving.
After his three years'service in the Danish army,
lie was drafted into the regular German army,
and remained thlere for four years, during whicl
time several States of 1)en mark became a part of
Germlany. l)uring his arduous service lie was
twice wounded, being upon one occasion cut with
a cavalry sabre, and at another time slot in the
side. After retiring from the army, lie returned
to the service of his l)rince as coachman, and continued thus employed for five years, during which
time he married. Ile still makes his home in Germany, and is now well advanced in years. The
motler of our subject hiad the honor of rearing tle
three children of tlhe Danish king, Frederick VII.
Sle never left her home in Denmark, dying in her
native land.
The subject of this sketch is one of four children, two of whom died in childhood. Iis sister,
Anna Sopllia, is married and resides in Germany.
In tlhe schools of Germany, Frank received an
excellent education, which prepared him for an active career as a farmer and citizen. In 1866 lie was
drafted into tlle German army. lie later left tle
Fatherland, and, enigrating to the United States,
made settiement at Sheboygan, Wis., where for one
year lie followed tile occuplation of a teamster.
Later lie came to Muskegon, and for several years
was employed in a sawmill, after which lie purchased eighty acres of his present farm.
In 1871 was celebrated tile marriage of Frank
Jones and Elizabeth Todd, whose fathler, Andrew
Todd, was a much-respected farmer of this county,
and lost 1hi life in the late war. Their union has




410


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


been blessed with seven children, three sons and
four daughters. Their names in order of birth are
A. Frank, Anna, Susan, Ella, Lettie, Villie and Fred.
In 1885, Mr. Jones became the owner of eighty
acres of land, a portion of his present farm. The
money which he thus invested was acquired
through years of hard work and careful saving.
The land at that time, however, was almost in a
wild state and bore little resemblance to what it
is to-day. It was originally quite heavily timbered
and had been partially cleared of pine. As the
years have passed, the owner has placed many
substantial improvements upon this farm, which is
one of the best in this locality.
In his social relations. Mr. Jones holds membership with several lodges, belonging to Lodge No.
457, K. O. T. M.,of Dalton; to German Lodge No.
179,1. 0. O. F., of Muskegon; and to Lodge No. 546,
County Grange. He casts his ballot in favor of
the nominees of the Republican party, to which he
gives his earnest support. In religious matters, lie
has not departed from the faith in which he was
brought up, the German Lutheran  For his qualities of integrity and true worth he justly deserves
the high respect in which he is held by one and
all, and this record of Muskegon County's pioneers and citizens would be incomplete without his
life history.
' SA JOY, a thoroughly practical farmer and
L  fruit-grower, and a highly-esteemed citizen of Ottawa County, is a native of
t   Michigan and was born in     Redford,
Wayne County, October 6, 1839.    His father,
Bennett Joy, was born in New York State and
long made his home near Syracuse. When about
forty-five years of age he journeyed to the West,
and located in Michigan in 1837. While serving
bravely in the War of 1812, he was wounded and
taken prisoner at Plattsburgh and held in the
Quebec prison for three years, being released at
the close of the war.  He later worked on the


Erie Canal and continued in that business until
his removal to Michigan. Making his permanent
home in Wayne County, he resided in Redford
until his death. His family of eleven children
was composed of five sons and six daughters.
Two daughters and three sons are yet living.
Our subject, the third son, remained in his birthplace until the death of his mother, when he was
about twelve years old. lIe made his home with a
sister in Plymouth until 1862, at which time he
enlisted in the service of tile Government, entering the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, under Col.
Henry A. Morrow. He was placed in the Old
Iron Brigade, Filst l)ivision, First Corps, Army
of the Potomac, under Gen. Wadsworth. The
first commander of the Army of the Potomac was
Gen. Franklin, the second being Gen. John A.
Reynolds. Mr. Joy participated in many of the
most decisive engagements and aided in covering
the retreat from  the battle of Bull Run. He
fought at Fredericksburg and was one of the
soldiers who took an active part in Burnside's
" Mud MIarch."  He was with the Fifth Wisconsin
when they laid tlhe pontoon bridges at the charge
of the Rappahannock, on the Fitz H-ugh Crossing,
before tle second battle of Fredericksburg.
From this scene of war our subject proceeded
to the battlefield of Chancellorsville, and thence
made his way to the conflict at Gettysburg, where
in the first day's fight he lost a leg. I-Ie was in
the hospital in Gettysburg for six weeks, and now
receives a pension of $30 per month, being on the
roll of honor. As soon as able lie returned to Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich., where for seventeen years lie engaged in the milling business.
About 1881 he went to Kansas, and, locating in
Dorrance, Russell County, remained there for five
years, devoting himself entirely to agricultural
pursuits. At the expiration of that time lie returned to the Wolverine State and settled permanently upon his present homestead. The farm
contains eighty-five acres, about fifty of which
have been brought to a high state of cultivation
and yield annually an abundance of general farming products, as well as a variety of fruit, Mr. Joy
meeting with especial success in the culture of
grapes and apples.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


411


When twenty-four years of age our subject was
united in marriage in Canton, Wayne County,
Mich., with Miss Ielen E. Safford, whose parents
were natives of Connecticut. It was in 1829 that
tlhe Saffords emigrated from their Eastern home to
the wilds of Michigan, where they shared in the
p)rivations and peculiar experiences of the l)ioneer days.   Three of tile four children wlio
blessed the home of Mr. and Mirs. Joy now survive: Eva, Mary and Maggie. Eva married G. B.
Atkinson and lives on the farm; Mary is the wife
of 1)i. Brown and makes her home in Dorrance;
and Maggie resides witll her parents. Mr. Joy is
an adherent of the l)emocratic party, altoughll lie
has at times advocated the princil)les of the (reenbackers. Fraternally, lie is identified with the order of the United Workmen. In religious affiliation lie is a Presbyterian, his wife also being a
member of that denomination. In thle varied experiences of his life, in times of peace and war,
Mr. Joy llas witl loyal courage done his full duty,
and is well worthy of the respect and confidence
which he receives from a host of old-time friends
and acquaintances.
IN ON N. WAITE, a prominent business man
residing in Hludsonville, was born in Summit County, Olio, September 10, 1840, and
is tile son of Isaac and Rebecca (l)ove)
Waite, natives, respectively, of Connecticut and
Ohio. Iis father was born in 1800, ndl upon
attaining to mature years settled in Oliio, following the occupation of a farmer in Summit County,
at the same time also engaging at his trade of a
shoemaker. At tile time of making settlement in
Summit County, it was comparatively in the primeval condition of nature, containing few of the
improvements made at a later day.
Isaac Waite was three times married. Of his
first union two children now survive: Allen, who
lives in IIudsonville; and Isaac, a resident of


Kalkaska County. Of his second marriage four
children were born, three of whom are still living:
Benjamin Franklin, of Wexford County and the
father of four clildren; our subject; and Thomas
M., of Georgetown Township, (ttawa County,
who is married and lias tlree children.   The
motler of our subject died in Summit County in
1844, and Isaac Waite afterward married again,
but by this marriaoe liad no clildren. In 1854
lie removed from  Ohio to   MIichigan and settled on section 34, Georgetown Townshlil), Ottawa
County, of which lie was a pioneer. Upon the
farm lie there iml)roved lie spent tle remaining
years of his life, and there passed away in 1859.
The estate is now owned by his youngest son. I-e
was a man of upright chlaracter, and a devout
member of tlie Free-Will B:aptist Church.
The subject oC. thlis biographical notice passed
tle years of his cliildllood in Summit County,
where lie was tlie recipient of such1 meagre 'dvantages as were afforded by the neighboring sclools.
IIis education, however, has been obtained principally in tlle school of experience, by self-culture
and observation. At tle age of nine years lie
left the parental home, and for tle eiglht years ensuing lived with a neighbor, whose home was a
mile fromn is father's. lie accompanied that gentleman to Mlichigltn in 1854, and for two years
lived witli him in Macomb County, after which lie
came to Ottawa County and resided with his father,
working out on neigllboring farms.
On the 1(tll of June, 1861, the name of John
N. Waite was enrolled as a member of Cornmpany
I, Third Michigan In fantry, and withl his regoiment
lie marched gallantly from Grand Rapids to Washington, I). C., wllere lie did guard duty. From
tlat city lie marched to tile front and participated
in a number of tlhe most important and decisive
engagements of tlie war. After taking part in
the first battle of Bull Run, he participated in the
Peninsular campaign and also in the siege of Yorktown. For a time lie was ill, and was confined in
tlhe field hospital, but tlme day after the battle of
Fair Oaks lie rejoined his regiment, and continued
in active service, though far from well. With his
regiment he spent two weeks before Richmond,
Va., and from there proceeded to Harrison's Land



412


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ing. He suffered so severely from  chronic diarrhoea that he was sent to Hampton Hospital, Ft.
Monroe, and for three weeks remained there unconscious. IIe gradually recovered his strength,
and on the 27th of September, 1862, was discharged
from the hospital. Soon afterward he returned
to his home in Ottawa County, but many months
elapsed before he regained his former health.
The marriage of Mr. Waite occurred December
14, 1862, and united him with Miss Jennie L.,
daughter of John J. and Mary E. (Whipple) Johnson. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania,
the father born August 17, 1817, and the mother
February 17, 1816. They removed to Michigan
from New York State in 1861, and settled in Ottawa County on the farm where they spent their
subsequent days. His death occurred in 1867,
while she survived a few years, passing away in
1874. They were the parents of six children, of
whom five are now living, namely: Euphemia,
wife of George Cowan, residing in this township,
Ottawa County; Alvina A., Mrs. Benjamin Edson,
of this township, and the mother of two children;
Mrs. Waite and her twin brother, Lorenzo J., the
latter residing in Grand Rapids; and Emma, the
wife of Thomas Brown, of Jamestown Township,
Ottawa County. The parents of this family were
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
were people of upright lives and honorable character.
Mrs. Waite was born in Barry County, N. Y.,
June 1, 1845, and in her girlhood received an excellent education. For a time slie followed tlh
profession of a teacher in Michigan, meeting with
success as an instructor and disciplinarian. HIer
union has been blessed by the birth of eight chilren, of whom seven are now living. Frank Dorr
died November 24, 1873, when an infant four
months old. Eva R. married Harry II. Ioyt, of
Lawton, Mich., and they have three children,
Goldie, Hazel and an infant unnamed. Louis
Ruez was united in marriage with Miss Clare B.
Kline, by whom he las become the father of two
children, Ivan S. and Clyde E. They reside in
the village of Hudsonville. John J., a resident of
Spring Lake, Mich., married Miss May Lawton and
they have one child, Lisle. Carrie Laverne is the


wife of Glenn Barnaby and the mother of two
children, Mary G. and Worden J. The other
children, Glenn Howard, Theresa B. and Charles
Byron, are at home with their parents.
After his marriage Mr. Waite settled on an unimproved farm in Jamestown, Township, where
he remained until 1870. H-e then disposed of his
agricultural interests and, removing to Hanley, embarked in the mercantile business, which he conducted until 1883. Thence removing to Hudsonville, he opened a mercantile establishment, which
he has since carried on with flattering success. In
1890 he built the store which he now occupies, and
which contains a complete stock of drugs, notions,
etc. In lhis social connections, he is identified
with the Masonic order at Grandville, and also
with tile Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in
which organizations he has served in an official
capacity.
In educational matters, Mr. Waite maintains a
deep interest, and has frequently served as a
member of the local School Board. He has given
to his children the best educational advantages
possible, and they are all well informed and accomplishied. John J., a young man of brilliant
attainments, is regarded as one of the best operators on the Detroit and Grand Iaven Railroad.
In politics, Mr. Waite was formerly a Republican,
later an advocate of the principles of the Greenback party, and at present affiliates with the Democrats. Ile was the nominee of his party for the
position of Probate Judge, but, tlie county being
strongly Republican, he was defeated. For eighteen years he has served as Justice of the Peace,
and is the present incumbent of that office. Ile
is now serving his third consecutive term as Supervisor, and has the distinction of being the only
Democrat ever elected to the office in this township. lie was offered the position of Chairman of
the County Board, but refused to accept. While
a resident of Hanley he was appointed Postmaster,
in 1872, and served for three years. In 1884 he
was appointed Postmaster at IIudsonville and
served until the expiration of his term, when he
was removed against the wishes of almost the entire populace. On the 26th of April, 1893, he was
again appointed Postmaster, and is the present oc



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


413


cupant of tlie position. In religious matters, tie
gives his support to all churches, and while residing in IHanley served as Superintendent of the
Sunday-schlool. He has also served one year in
the office of Assistant Superintendent at Hudsonville.. j^ ETER W. LOSBY is a Justice of the Peace
and Notary Public of Muskegon, and is
recognized as one of tile valued citizens
and prominent men of this place. IIe
manifests a commendable interest in everything
that pertains to its welfare, and always bears his
part in supporting those enterprises calculated to
advance the general welfare.
Mr. Losby is a Norwegian by birth. His father,
Wilhelm  Losby, and his mother, who bore the
maiden name of Bertie Olson, were natives of Germany and Norway, respectively, and the former
followed cabinet-making as a means of livelihood.
Our subject was born in Christiana, Norway, on the
25th of January, 1851. The days of his boyhood
and youth were quietly passed, no event of special
importance occurring during that period. Iis
education was acquired in the common schools,
but at an early age he began to make his own way
in the world, and his school life was thus cut
short. When a lad of nine summers lie shipped
as cabin-boy on a vessel plying between Norway
and England, and continued to live the life of a
sailor until nineteen years of age. Hoping to better his financial condition by removing to the
New World, for he had heard that excellent opportunities were afforded young men in the land
of liberty, he emigrated to America in 1868.
For a few years following, Mr. Losby sailed on
the Great Lakes, and made his home in Chicago
for two years after his arrival. In 1872 he began
working in a sawmill in Muskegon, and to that
labor devoted his energies for some time.  In
1876, he was elected Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, which office he is acceptably filling.
He has also served as Township Trustee of Lake

side Township, and also Township Clerk for two
years, and in 1892 was appointed Acting Police
Justice, which office lie filled for one year. In
politics, he is a stanch Republican, warmly advocating the principles of his party. Socially, he is
connected with the Knights of the Maccabees, and
with the Modern Woodmen of America, being also
a member of Banner Lodge No. 430, I. O. 0. F.
On the 12th of July, 1882, Mr. Losby was united
in marriage with Miss Carrie M. Marshall, of Muskegon County, a'nd a daughter of James Marshall,
a native of England. By their union they have
become the parents of three daughters: Persey B.,
Pearl S. and Lenora A. The family circle yet remains unbroken, and the children are still under
the parental roof. The family resides at No. 28
Blodgett Street. No country furnishes to America better citizens than the Scandinavian Peninsula, and our subject is a worthy representative of
his countrymen.  Since coming to America he
has been successful in his businees career, and in
consequence need never  grgret his removal to the
New World, for it has furnished him a comfortable
home and good property.
OHIN DE HAAS, a successful dealer in all
varieties of meats and provisions, operates
one of the finest and best-stocked establishments of Muskegon, Mich., and is numbered among the leading business men of the
city, his enterprise and ability securing him a fine
custom, second to none in his locality. A native
of the Netherlands and born on the 7th of October, 1836, our subject passed the early years of
childhood in his birthplace. The father, Abraham
De Haas, a hard-working and intelligent man,
finally decided to remove with his family to
America, and in 1843, with his wife and children,
embarked for the new home beyond the sea. The
mother, Jacoba Fisher, a native of Holland, found
her time employed during the passage in the care
of her little ones, and all were happy when the




414


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


long voyage ended and the family safely landed
in New York. From the metropolis of the Empire State journeying to Buffalo, the parents
located near the latter city, where the father purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and,
settling permanently, soon became identified with
the interests of his American home.
John, then but seven years of age, received his
primary education in the public school of the
home neighborhood, and later attended the free
scliools of Buffalo. Our subject was trained to
habits of industry, and remaining until lie was
twenty-five years of age in the Empire State
was variously employed. Energetic and very ambitious, he at last decided to try the farther West.
and in 1861 removed to Miclligan, making his
home in the city of Muskegon. Here lie thorouglily learned the trade of a butcher, and later
engaging successfully in the meat business on his
own account lias since )prosperously conducted a
large trade.
In December, 1860, John I)e Ias and Miss
Catherine Vandervere were united in marriage
in Grand Haven, Mich. The estimable wife of
our subject is a native of Iolland and the
dauglhter of Henry Vandervere, born in the
Netherlands and the descendant of a long line of
honest and thrifty HIollanders. The union of Mr.
and Mrs. De Haas has been blessed by the birth
of four children, one son and three daughters:
Jennie, the eldest-born, is the wife of Andrew
Wierengo, a well-known   citizen of Muskegon;
Nellie is at home; Annie is the wife of Edward
Kraai; and Abraham is a shipping-clerk for Andrew
Wierengo, a wholesale grocer, and is a young man
of fine business ability.
The attractive family residence is desirably
located at No. 147 Terrace Street, Muskegon. Mr.
De Hans is fraternally associated with tile Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a valued member of Muskegon Lodge No. 92. A man of generosity and kindly feeling, our subject lhas as a
member of the German Aid Society assisted many
an unfortunate fellow-countryman, and is ever
active in good works and benevolent enterprises.
Politically a Republican and an ardent advocate
of the principles of the party, Mr. De Iaas was


elected Superintendent of the Poor of the city of
Muskegon, and with efficiency discharging the
numerous duties involved, held with honor the
responsible position for five and a-half years.
In his business and public work earnest, upright,
faithful and energetic, our subject has not only
won financial success and gained a competence,
but las secured the universal esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
HRISTIAN       J. COOK.    Ottawa County,
Michl., is an Eden of fine farms and agricultural tracts. There are comparatively
few very small tracts, and each farmer tries to outdo his neighbor in the cultivation and improvement of his land. Of the many fine, attractive
places none are more conspicuous than that belonging to our subject. Olive Township, like
many other parts of Ottawa County, has been
benefited by an influx into it of the better class of
British emigrants, who have helped to build up
the agricultural and commercial prosperity of this
section of the country.
Christian J. Cook was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, January 29, 1830, and is a son of
William and Frances (Johnson) Cook, also of
English nativity. For many years tile father
followed the hotel business in his native country,
but seeing a better opening for that business in
America hle sold out and crossed the ocean. Tils
was in 1838, and lie located at Cleveland, Ohio,
where lie opened the old St. Clair and Farmers'
I-otel. Later he returned to the land of his birth
and received his final summons tlere, in the town
of Spaulding, Lincolnshire. Ile was the father of
three children, as follows: William H., wlo resides
in West Point, Wis.; Frances E., deceased, who was
the wife of Edward Thompson; and Christian J.
The latter was about eight years of age when
his father emigrated to the United States, but lie
remained in England until 1859. When about
fifteen years of age he started out to fight his




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


415


own way in life, and decided to become a sailor.
For four years he was on a vessel which sailed from
Blythe, and for many years he followed the sea.
Finally he came to America, in 1859, and located
at Chicago, where he reemained for twenty-one
years. Most of this time he was engaged in the
furniture business, and also engaged in painting,
which he carried on very successfully. 'le came
from  there to this county in 1880, purchased
thirty acres of land, and since then has added to
the original tract, until he now owns two hundred
acres of valuable land, seventy-five acres being
under a fine state of cultivation.
Mr. Cook has been twice married, first in Bristol, England, to Miss Mary A. Bourton, daughter
of William  and Ann (Price) Bourton. Eleven
children were born to this union, six of whom
lived to mature years, namely: Frances M., deceased, who was tle wife of G. Anys; Harriet E.,
deceased, the wife of William Goodin; H. E., deceased; Christian B., at home with his parents;
Martin J.; and Ella M., who resides in Kansas City.
Mrs. Cook died in 1883, when fifty-four years of
age. Mr. Cook's second marriage was to his first
wife's sister, Mrs. Caroline Scott, their nuptials
being celebrated in 1888. In the year 1892 Mr.
Cook was elected Justice of the Peace, and discharged the duties incumbent upon that position
in a very satisfactory and creditable manner.
Although a representative Englishman, Mr. Cook
has ever been a strong advocate of American institutions, and gives his hearty support to all
worthy enterprises. In politics he is a Republican, and is deeply interested in all public improvements, contributing liberally of his means to
further all enterprises.
i —_ —_


a native of the State of New York, who removed
from there to Connecticut in early manhood, and
engaged in farming. In the Nutmeg State he was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Canfield, a native of Connecticut, and after their union they remained in New Milford until 1824. Then, returning to the Empire State, the father settled in Pine
Plains, Dutchess County, where he resided until
he departed this life in 1876.
The next to the youngest in a family of six
clildren, the subject of this notice is now the only
survivor of the entire number, with the exception
of Benjamin, a resident of Minneapolis, Minn. In
the village of Pine Plains, Thomas D. received his
primary education, and at the age of twenty years
lie entered the school at Amenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., where he conducted his literary studies
for six months. IlHe aided his father on the home
farm, and worked with unwearied zeal as a tiller
of tie soil until lie was twenty-four, when he lost
the use of his right hand. This unfortunate accident forced him to seek some other occupation
than that of an agriculturist.
Having cherished a fondness for the medical
profession, our subject commenced to study under
Dr. Benjamin S. Wilber, a prominent practitioner
of Pine Plains, N. Y., with whom lie read for three
years. Afterward lie attended lectures at the old
College of Physicians and Surgeons on Crosby
Street, N. Y., where he prosecuted his medical
studies during 1844-45. At that time he was too
poor to continue his studies, and the faculty offered to take his note and allow him to complete
the course of instruction, but Dr. Parker advised
him to remove to the West and practice for a
few years, then return to New York and finish
the course.
Acting upon that advice, the young physician
came to Michigan, and for three months sojourned
in Grand Rapids. His brother had started a lumber-yard in Chicago, and, proceeding there, lie remained in his employ for six months, when the
burning of the lumber-yard obliged him to seek
other employment. He came to Ravenna, Muskegon County, in 1847, but there were so few people
in this village at the time that he was not justified in practicing his profession. He therefore


IIOMAS
(f;  cian of
z' spirited
Township, was
gust 23, 1815.


D. SMITH, M. D., a retired physiMuskegon County, and a publicand popular citizen of Ravenna
born in New Milford, Conn., AuHe is the son of James W. Smith,




416


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


found employment at other work, and has continued to make his home here ever since, retiring
from active practice in 1867.
A Republican in political belief, the Doctor has
served sixteen years as a member of the County
Board of Supervisors, and has occupied otler local
positions. Hle has engaged considerably in conveyancing, etc. Socially, lie is identified with
Ravenna Grange No. 373. The Doctor has nlever
cared to exchange tile independent life of a bachelor for the uncertainties of matrimony, and for
more than forty years has remained continuously
at tile same boarding-house.
l    ENRY DE KRUIF. Among the successful
i) enterprises owned and conducted by tile
2/    citizens of Zeeland may be mentioned tlle
(()n agricultural-implement business, of which
the subject of this sketch is the genial proprietor.
In the year 1882 lie located in this village and
embarked in the business in which he lhas since
engaged.  So greatly was lie prospered that ill
1892 lie erected a commodious and substantial
building, admirably adapted to the needs of his
trade and stocked with a complete assortment of
first-class farming machinery. lie gives employnent to five men, and sells a large number of implements throughout the county.
A native of Ottawa County, our subject was
born at his father's home on section 17, Zeeland
Townslhip, and is the son of H-Tenry and )ina (Van
DeLuyster) De Kruif. His paternal grandfather,
Anthony De Kruif, was a laborer in Iolland, and
had a family of two sons and four daughters. Of
these children, John emigrated to America and
died wlile serving in tile Un ion army during the
Civil War; Henry is the father of the subject of
tills sketch; and Peternella is IMrs. Jolln Peck, and
resides at Greenville.
Henry De Kruif, Sr., was born in Gelderland, Holland, July 25, 1817, and was reared to manhood in
the land of his birth. Emigrating to America in


1846, lie accompanied Dr. A. C. Van Raalte to Holland, Mich., but soon afterward came to Zeeland.
As he soon gained considerable knowledge of the
English language, he was employed by the firm of
Rabbers & Rekken to do business for them among
tile English-speaking people. After engaging in
tlhe mercantile business for two years, hle purchased
an eighty-acre tract of land, which he cleared and
improved and upon which he conducted agricultural operations. In 1861, lie removed to the
village of Holland, where for three years lie engaged in the butcher business, and later carried on
a tannery. He returned to his farm in 1866 and
there remained, engaged in agricultural pursuits,
until the spring of 1892, when he came to the
village of Zeeland, and now lives retired from
active labors.
Politically, Henry De Kruif, Sr., was a Democrat
prior to 1860, since which time he has been an
active member of the Republican party. In his
religious belief he is a member of the Reformed
Church, in whicl lie has officiated as Deacon. IHe
was twice married. His first wife bore him one
son, Geerlinus E., now a resident of Grand Rapids.
She died in Holland when comparatively young.
The second marriage of Mr. De Kruif resulted in
the birth of eight children: Johannes, Anthony,
Dina J., Ilenderika (who died at the age of thirteen), Henry, William, Peter J. and Jannes. The
motler of this family was born in Zeeland, H-olland, December 22, 1824, being tile daughter of
Jannes and Dina (Naaije) Van DeLuyster, who
came to tile United States in 1847, and located
in Zeeland, where the father dealt in real estate.
I He engaged in farming, and accumulated large
and valuable landed possessions. A benevolent
man, kind and whole-souled, lie was highly regarded in tills community, and was the "court of
arbitration" for all who were in trouble in the
community.
The subject of this sketcll was reared on the
home farm and received a commercial education
at Grand Rapids. At the age of twenty-three lie
began in life for himself. In 1880, as above
stated, he came to Zeeland, where lie has since
conducted an extensive and profitable business.
His attention is devoted closely to his business,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


417


and he lhas very little time for political affairs.
Iowever, lie is interested in everything pertaining to tlhe welfare of his community, and casts his
)allot for tile candidates and principles of the
Republican party.   Iis fellow-citizens have frequently solicited limn to accept nominations for
offices of trust, but lie llas steadily refused all such
honors, preferring to give his attention exclusively
to his business affairs.
The marriage of Mr. l)e Kruif occurred April
11, 1889, and united hlim with Miss Henderika J.
Kremel, wllo was born in Holland. IHer parents,
Rev. J. and Mariia Johannali (Kroeze) Kremcr,
were also natives of Holland, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1878, and are at
present living in Detroit, Mich. One son has
blessed te.union of Mr. and Mrs. De 1Kruif, Paul
Henry. Tlie religious home of the family is in
the l)utch Reformed Chlurch, now known as the
Reformed Church of America.      In tile social
circles of Zeeland Mr. 1)e Kruif is well known, and
witll liis excellent wife occupies a hlighl place in
tlIe regard of all wlio know himn.
'  turist and successful fruit-grower of Cedar
Creek Townslip, Muskegonl County, lMiCI.,
)  owns a finely located farm, one of the
most higllly cultivated in the district of Ilolton.
Mr. O'Connor is a native of the Queen's dominions, and was born in Quebec, Canada, June 16,
1846. IIis l)arents, Andrew anld lannah J. (Lewis)
O'Connor, were botli born in the United States,
tlhe father in New York, and the motler in Pennsylvania, but afterward removing to Canada, were
married tlere. Andrew O'Connor was a machinist by tra(le, a nail-maker. IIe yet resides in Canada and lives in the province of Ontario, a lhale
and hearty man of seventy-five. The mother also
surviving is seventy-three years of age. They
reared a family of five clildren, of whom  lenry


was the eldest-born; Mary is the wife of Herman
Clark; William is a cabinet-maker; Sarah married
Robert Lowery; James is engaged in tlle railroad
business in Canada. All tlle sons and ldaugliters,
witll tile exception of Henry, reside in tle lprovince of Ontario and are well known and highly
respected for their ability and upright character.
Our su)bjct, reared in his birtllhplace, was from hIis
earliest youth trained up to habits of industry
and self-reliance.
The parents of iMr. O'Connor, although not
richly endowed with tlis world's goods, gave to
their children thle best 1possible opportunity of
improvement afforded by their limited    means.
Our subject received his education in the province ot Ontario, and after having from boyhood
assisted his parents to care for the younger members of the farnily, finally, at tile age of twentyfour years, began life for himself. IIe learned
after his marriago the trade t which lie followed for
a time, tlhat of a tinsmith. Iaving long resolved
to try liis fortunes in the United States, Mr.
O'Connor imnmediately after forsaking the estate
of single blessedness journeyed with his bride to
the far West of Michigan. The lady whom our
subject married was Miss Margaret Anderson, a native of Ontario and a dalughter of Robert and Letitia (Carlton) Anderson.  This estimable lady
is tlie motlher of four children. Herman and Ierbert (twins) were tlle eldest of the three sons;
Wiley was tlhe next in order of birth; and Miinnie, tlhe only daughter, was the youngest of the
family.
Immediately after arriving within the borders
of the State, Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor settled in
lonia County, township of Saranac, where our subject fitted himself for the trade which lie followed
continuously for eight years, finding ready and
profitable employment as a tinsmitli. At last deciding to devote himself to agricultural pursuits,
Mr. O'Connor in 1878 made his home in Muskegon County, andl located on section 35, township
of IIolton, on Government land. In 1885 he purchased his present farm, consisting then of eighty
unimproved acres. Forty acres of some of tile
best soil of Michigan he has now brought under a.
profitable state of cultivation and further im



418


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


proved with a handsome residence, substantial
barns and outbuildings. Our subject aside from
general agriculture las a peach orchard of three
acres and is constantly adding to the value of his
farm by a wider range of improvement. Fraternally our subject is connected with Saranac Lodge
No. 168, I. 0. O. F., and politically is a )emocrat. lie has filled with ability various local
offices of trust, and for one year served efficiently
as Township Clerk, also for a twelvemontll performing the duties of Township Treasuier to tlie
great satisfaction of the citizens of the locality,
by whom lie was elected in 1893 to the office of
Justice of the Peace. Our subject is a member of
tlie Grange and liberally aids in all fraternal matters pertaining to tile welfare of the public.
1     ON. JOIIN  B. PERHIAM, a prosperous
business man and leading merclant of
Spring Lake, Ottawa County, Mich., has
for twenty-seven years been identified with
his present line of trade, and for thirty years resided in the same locality of the State, at first
engaging in the avocation of a teacher. Born in
Franklin County, N. Y., our subject was the second in a family of seven children, six of whom
survived to mature years. Lorin O. is a well-known
druggist of Spring Lake; John B. is our subject;
Phoebe, tile widow of Henry Cleveland, conducts
a business at Nunica; Jane, Mrs. Perry, resides in
Narragansett Bay, N. J.; Mary, married, resides in
Jefferson County, N. Y.; and Jason is a druggist
of Kent County, Mich. The paren ts of our subject,
Levi and Martha (Sole) Perham, were long-time
residents of New York, in which State the mother
was born, the father being a native of Vermont.
The Perhams are among the leading families of
the East,and for generations have been numbered
with the successful merchants and professional
men of New England and the Empire State. Mr.
Perham received his education and early training
in his native county, but at seventeen years of


age, beginning life for himself, was employed in
the Government survey in Iowa, Minnesota and
Wisconsin. After devoting one season to this
employment, lie taught school three winters in
Grundy County, Ill., and prospected in the summer through Minnesota and Kansas.
At the expiration of this length of time, he
found employment as a teacher in Spring Lake,
and engaged in that avocation for three continuous years, then entering into the business in which
he yet remains and which he has so profitably
handled for so long a time. His partner was the
Hon. Allen C. Adsit, of Kent County, and both of
the firm being energetic and enterprisi ng the business throve and was soon one of the best in this
part of Ottawa County. After eight years Mr.
Perham  bought out his partner, and has since
conducted merchandising alone, and now has the
largest store and greatest variety of goods offered
to the custom of the buyers of Spring Lake and
its vicinity. In 1868 our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Cassie Cross, daughter of
Samuel Cross. Mr. and Mrs. Perham have a fosterdaughter, but no children of their own. They
are both valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been professing Christians
for many years, our subject especially being active
in the support and extension of religious work
and influence. For four years he has been President of tile Ottawa County Sunday-School Association, and for twenty years has been Superintendent of two Sunday-schools in Spring Lake.
In all local matters of religious interest and enterprise lie has taken a prominent part, and is widely
known and highly esteemed as a vital factor in the
promotion of good and the elevation of humanity.
When only seventeen years of age Mr. Perham
joined the Good Templars and has during his entire life been a total abstainer. I-He was instrumental in raising money by subscription to erect
the first Temperance Red Ribbon Hall in Michigan, where the Reynolds movement was inaugurated, and was its President for many years. Our
subject is a pronounced Republican, and has occupied witl distinction a high place in the local
councils of the party. For several years he was
a member of the Ottawa County Republican Com



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.


419


mittee, and in 1880 was elected to tile State
Legislature, and witl ability and to the great
satisfaction of his constituents held tlle office two
telrms. For two terms our subject also discharged
the duties of Supervisor of Spring lake, and was
also Town Clerk two terms. For twenty-five years
as an efficient member of tlle School Board Mr.
l'erham has materially aided in tlhe advancement
of educational facilities in the county, and has
been a true and faithful friend to all progressive
interests. At the time lie was a member of the
Legislature le was Chairman of the Committee on
Education, during his last term, and served as a
member of tile committee his first term. While a
member of tile Liquor Committee lie made a canvass of tile Legislature on tlle liquor question. Ie
was also on tlie Engrossment and Enrollment
Committees. Our subject enjoyed tlle lhonor of
being elected as Delegate to the Republican
National Convention which met at Minneapolis
in 1892, and served as Chairman in tile convention of tlle Fifth District of Michigan, at which
time lie was selected for tlhe responsible position.
Aside from his otlier occupations, Mr. Perham lnas
prosperously and extensively landled real estate,
and self-reliantly winning his upward way commands tle con lidence of tie entire community.
AMIES E. WILKINSON, who is claplain of
the Akeley Institute of Grand Haven,
Milch., was born in Essex County, Mass.,.    February 9, 1857, and is a son of Thomas
Wilkinson. a native of Enlgland. The father d(ied
in the Bay State in November, 1879. Thie mother
of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary
Stanclyffe, and was also born in England.
After attending tlle common schools of Massachusetts, Mr. Wilkinson wllose name lheads this
record entered a preparatory sclhool in Naslhotah,
Wis., and afterwards became a student in Iarvard
University, from  which lie was graduated, after
completing the classical course, in 1884. He


entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church,
and in the autumn of 1884 lie became rector of
St..Thoas' Church, of Iamilton, N. Y., where lie
remained for sixteen months. IIe then went to
Utica, N. Y., and became assistant minister of
Grace Church, under Rev. C. T. Olmstead, remaining with him until April, 1888, when lie calne to
Grand Iaven, MIich.
iEre his removal to tle West, Mr. Wilkinson
was married, in January, 1885, to Miss Abbie Egar,
of Roiie, N. Y., a highly educated lady, wllose
culture and refinement would give her a leading
place in any circle of society. Their union has
been blessed with tlree children, a son and two
daughters: Laurence, I:lary and Elizabeth.
Iaving been appointed rector of St. Jolhn's
Episcopal Church of Grand Iaven, Mich., Mr.
Wilkinson ente'ed upon the duties of tlat position
in the summer of 1888, and in the autumn of thie
same year took charge of Akeley Institute, wlich
was duly opened to the public on tile 12tli of
September, with our subject as clhaplain al(nd his
wife as principal. These positions thle still hold.
The land upon whlich tlhe institute stands was
donated by II. C. Akeley, now of Minneapolis,
Mlinn., in memory of his daughter, who died in
1887. IHe was formerly a resident of Grand
IIaven, and was much interested in the growtl of
tile city. Tle erection of the new building was
due largely to the generosity of Bishop Gillespie,
of (:1 rand Rapids, who is Bislop of western
MIiehigan, and the edifice was erected at a cost of
8s22,000. It is a handsome brick building, 40x130
feet, three stories in heilght, built in modern style,
sul)plied with all tile latest improvements and
)beautifully located on Akeley Hill, where it commands a fine view of tle surrounding country.
This institution was founded for the education
of young ladies, and the first year had an attendance of eleven boarding pupils and twenty day
pupils. Since then the attendance has increased
to tllirty boarding students and fifteen day pupils.
Tlie classical languages are taught, also German
and French, art, music and the sciences. Young
ladies are there plrepared for entering the universities. The professor devotes Ilis entire time to
the institute, and it has made a steady and healthy




420


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


growth under his supervision, and bids fair to become one of Michigan's great seats of learning
for young ladies.  Mr. Wilkinson is a genial,
affable gentleman, whose excellent education and
natural ability make him  well qualified for the
position he so ably fills. In 1888 he was granted
the degree of Pli. D. IIe has direct clarge of the
history and mental science classes and the classics.
His most estimable wife has the personal care of
tlhe young ladies and is principal of the institute.
ILLIAM II. IT. CROCKELR, a practical agriculturist, honored citizen and old settler
of Cedar Creek Township, Muskegon
County, Mich., has lheld witl high ability important local offices, and is widely known and respected by a large circle of old-time friends. Our
subject was born in Genessee County, N. Y.,
September 11, 1813, and was the son of James
and Rebecca (Morgan) Crocker, natives of New
IHampshire. A paternal ancestor, James Crocker,
and his two brothers emnigrated to America in an
early day, locating in New England. The father,
although a patriotic citizen, did not enlist in the
War of 1812, but, drafted after the burning of
Buffalo, furnished a substitute. Immediately succeeding the marriage of the parents they located
in New IHamlpshire, and there remained six years,
then returning to New York, where the father
died. The mother passed away in Illinois, at the
home of her daughter. James and Rebecca Crocker
were blessed by the birth of six children. Caroline
M., the mother of two children, is tile wife of
Abram  Haight; William  II. I-. is our subject;
Mary A. married Henry D. H-inman, of New York
State; Lucius F., Maria L. and James M. are all
deceased.
Mr. Crocker attained to mature years in the
Empire State, and in boyhood received a good
education in the common schools of the home
district. He fitted himself for the battle of life by


learning the art of printing, and while a young
man self-reliantly taught school. I-Ie, however,
later became a miller by trade, and for thirty-eight
years pursued the avocation, during that entire
length of time prosperously conducting an extensive milling business. In 1845, our subject
emigrated from New York State to Michigan, and
located at first in Ionia County, wilere, as at the
East, he successfully engaged in milling.  Mr.
Crocker continued to reside in tlat part of the
Wolverine State until 1871; then, removing, he
homesteaded his present property, consisting of
one hundred and sixty acres, pleasantly situated
in Twin Lake, Cedar Creek Township, and now
one of the finest farms in this section of Muskegon
County, fifty acres of the then wild land having
been brought under a high state of profitable
cultivation and well improved with exellent and
commodious buildings.
In 1845, William  H. 1H. Crocker and Miss
Eunice W. Williston were united in marriage in
the Empire State. Mrs. Crocker was the daughter of Fordyce and Malintlla (Cheney) Williston,
natives of Massachusetts, their ancestors being
among the early settlers of tile old Bay State.
Mr. and Mrs. Williston were the parents of ten
children. Hiram [I. was the eldest-born; Emiline L. married Dennie Chapman; Eunice W. married our subject; Sardonia W. married Albion Fuller; Sarah A. married Myron Balcom; Mary A. became the wife of J. A. Whipple; Winfield S. and
George J. are next in order; Martha P. is the wife
of AI. P. Malcomson; and Emilie J. married Henry
Minich. The fatcer and mother of these sons and
daughters died in New York State, Mr. Williston
passing away May 23, 1845, aged forty-seven. His
wife had preceded him to the better land May 26,
1846, dying at the age of forty-five years. Unto
the union of our subject and his estimable wife
were born five children: William  II., deceased;
Ellis, wife of W. F. Odion; Arthur H., deceased;
Dennie W., deceased; and Theron B. at home.
Mrs. Crocker is a devout member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and has ever been active in religious work. Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, and also voted for
W. H. Harrison, "old Tippecanoe."




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


421


Theron B. Crocker, the youngest child of the
family, was born in Ionia County, Mich., April 7,
1865. lIe was educated lprincipally in Muskegon
County, and attended for one year the Highi
School in Lowell, Mich. Still remaining upon his
father's homestead, he began life for himself at
the age of twenty-one, working the old farm upon
whose broad acres lie was reared. In 1891 lie was
united in marriage with Miss Ida M. IIovey, of
Michigan. This accomplished lady resided near
Romeo, and was the daughter of Perry and Elendor (Nash) Hovey, natives of the Wolverine State.
Mr. Hovey makes his home in Oceana County,
where he has a peach farm. Mrs. Hovey died in
1888, having been the mother of these children:
Edwin A.; Eliza, wife of A. i-anntum; Frank; Ida M.
and William. The sixth and youngest died in early
childhood. The happy home of Mr. and Mrs. Theron Crocker has been brightened by the birth of one
child, Bessie E., born September 14, 1892. Mr.
Crocker is a member of the Grange and, a popular
man, was in 1889 elected Township Clerk and, reelected the succeeding year without a single opposing vote, has in that responsible position for
four terms given most efficient public service to
the lome community, by whom lie is regarded with
thorough confidence.
-^^M- _              i-== - sEORGE L. LEFI        RE, M. D., the efficient
and popular City Physician and surgeon of
'W)  ~Muskegon, Ottawa County, Mich., is a gentieman of superior professional attainments and
high culture, and fully enjoys the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of acquaintance in his
present locality. Our subject, a native New Englander, was born in Grand Isle County, Vt., October 22, 1865. His father, Matthias Le Fevre, was
a native of Montreal, Canada, but went to the
Green Mountain State, where he was reared and
educated, having long passed his youth before he
emigrated to the State of Michigan, now his home,
his residence being in the city of Muskegon. The


ancestors of the Le Fevre family dwelt in France,
but long ago a forefather, coming to America,
gave to his descendants a home in "the Land
of the Free," and insured to our country a citizenship which has distinguished itself for broad intelligence and liberal spirit. The mother, Eleanor
La Brack. was also of French extraction, and llad
within her veins the blood of a brave and heroic
people, possessing both talent and( patience. She
was a native of New York, but for some length of
time made her home in Vermont, after ier marriage residing in Grand Isle County.
Dr. Le Fevre received an excellent preparatory
education in the schools of his native county, and
passing his youthful days in his birthplace lhad
attained to his sixteenth year before he left Vermont. In 1881 lie emigrated to the farther West
and located in, Auskegon, wlere, not long after,
lie began to read medicine with )Dr. Marvin. Ambitious and enterprising, our subject lost no opportunity for improvement, and later studied in
Cliicago, taking a complete course of lectures in
I-ahnemann College, from which well-known institution of medicine lie graduated with honor in
1891. Without loss of time I)r. LeFevre, now a
full-fledged M. D., entered uipon the homeopathic
practice of medicine in Muskegon and the surrounding country. Although but comparatively
a very brief time has elapsed since our subject began his professional work, lie has achieved a success almost phenomenal, and, enjoying a widespread popularity in both city and country, goes
forth day after day upon a wide round of professional calls, extending far out into the country.
Alike in storm and sunshine faithful to duty,
Dr. Le Fevre has rapidly won his upward way to
an assured success in his closen vocation, his
courteous manners and professional skill gaining
him the hearty good-will and confidence of all
with whom lie comes in social or business contact.
In 1893 appointed City Physician, he is now filling
the position to tile utmost satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen, and at the same time neglects no
detail of his large private practice. Our subject
is in religious affiliation a member of St. John's
Baptist Church and is foremost in good work, his
profession giving him an insight into many scenes




422


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of suffering and privation, the depths of whose
misery only a family physician may ever know.
Politically, Dr. LeFevre is deeply interested in
the vital questions of the day, and in common
with all good American citizens is ever ready to
do his full share in the promotion of matters of
public welfare. lie is a favorite with the general
public, and in the city of Muskegon numbers his
friends by the score.
Ii ighly successful medical practitioner and
skillful surgeon of Spring Lake, Ottawa
County, Mict., is a native of tile State. Our subject, born in Lenawee County, is the son of I)r.
David Brown, one of the pioneer settlers of tle
last-named county, but a native of Massachusetts.
Dr. David Brown emigrated with his parents from
New England to tile Wolverine State when only a
child antd attained to manhood upon the farm of
the paternal grandfather, one of the earliest and
most energetic of the general agriculturists of
Lenawee County. The father completed his medical studies in Pittsfield, Mass., and, thoroughly
adapted to his profession by natural gifts and education, became eminent as a physician and surgeon. Aside from his professional duties, as a public-spirited and liberal citizen he devoted himself
with enthusiasm to the betterment of mankind.
From his earliest youth a stanch Abolitionist, lie
did not live to witness the freedom of the slave,
but passed away in 1858, mourned as a public loss.
The mother, in youth Miss H-arriet Peck, of Lenawee County, was a faitlful helpmate to the pioneer physician, and tenderly cared for the three
sons and one daughter who blessed the Michigan
home. Our subject, the eldest of the family, like
his father enjoyed the advantages of an excellent
education, and after a thorough course in the
Hillsdale (Mich.) College, graduated with honor
in the Class of '68.
Deciding to enter the same profession in which


his father had made such an enviable record, our
subject matriculated  at Rush Medical College,
Chicago, and received his degree in 1870. At tlhe
age of seventeen Dr. Brown, answering to thle cali
of his country, enlisted in Company F, Fourtl
Mlichigan Infantry, and was detailed for service in
tile Army of tile Iotomac. lie larticipated as
his initial engagement in tile battle of Fredericksburg, and was in various conflicts, remaining in
tlhe army until 1864, during which year he was
lischarged for disability. In 1869, D)r. Brown was
united in marriage in tile county of his birth witll
Miss Clara J. Ames, tile young couple making their
home in Lenawee County until their removal, in
the fall of 1871, to Spring Lake, where they have
since continued to reside. During tlhe past twenty-two years I)r. Brown has been constantly before
tle public, not only as a professional man but in
various official positions, to tile work of which lhe
has given the executive business ability for wlich
lie is distinguished. For tile first four years of his
residence in his present locality our subject was
Consulting Physician at tile Magrnetic Mineral
Springs. A man of enterprise, lie in 1888 assisted
in the organization of the Clinker Boat Manufacturing Colmpany, of Spring Lake, and as its President aided in the establislment of a fine jobbing
trade in boats. Dr. Brown is interested in goldmining in the Okanagon    inining district, Wasllington, and was one of the first upon the ground
after tile discoveries of treasure.
Our subject has held every office in Grand
Army Post No. 279, of Spring Lake, and was one
of the charter members of the post. For two
terms lie served as Commander of tile post, and at
the time Gen. Rutherford was Department Commander lie served as Medical Director of th:e
State Department.   At the State Encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at
Bay City in the year 1890, the delegates to tile
National Encampment, to be held in Milwaukee, were instructed to cast tleir vote for DIr.
1Brown as Surgeon-General.   Gen. Alger at a
later (late announced  himself as candidate for
Commander-in-Chief, and Dr. Brown withdrew in
his favor. Gen. Alger having been elected, the
Doctor served on hlis staff with the rank of Colonel.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


423


While Gen. Duffield was Department Commander
I)r. Brown was for one term a member of his staff.
For six years he was President of tle United States
Pension Board at Muskegon and likewise enjoyed
the honor of being a delegatc to the National
Convention which nominated Benjamin Harrison,
in the fall of 1888, to the Presidency of the
United States.
Politically, the Doctor las been all his life a
stanch Republican, his father early being an oldline Whig and afterward an Abolitionist of the
most pronounced type. The father was also a devout member of the Baptist Church and an earnest
Christian worker. Our subject is fraternally associated with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons
and has long been connected with that ancient
order. lie is also a member of the Ta Delta, of
IIillsdale, and among the pleasant memories of his
school-days was the companionship of Will Carleton, who was a roommate of his for two years.
Financially prospered, Dr. Brown has enjoyed the
pleasure of extended trips to the West, and in
1892, accompanied by his wife, visited the P'lcific
Slope and spent many months. One son has
blessed the home of our subject and his accomplished wife, Dana Brown, now connected with
the boat business, and an energetic and enterprising young man, with a bright future before him.
It is safe to say that from a social and business
standpoint no man in all the county of Ottawa
more fully possesses the confidence and esteem of
the general public than our subject, who literally
numbers his friends tried and true by the score.
TTO VAN I)YK. Of the younger element
of our prominent, energetic and influential citizens, none is better known than
Otto Van Dyk, who is one of the successful and
substantial agriculturists of Iolland Township.
Like the majority of prominent citizens of the
county, he is a native of Holland, born in West


Vriesland in 1831, and during the time lie las
made his home here lie has shown himself to be endowed with superior ability and much energy and
perseverance. As a farmer Mr. Van )yk las attained an enviable reputation, for in conducting his
farming operations lhe las brought his good sense
and his practical views to bear, and has accumulated
a fair share of tllis world's goods. Satisfied tliat
he has contributed his share toward the advancement of the county, Mr. Van D)yk has retired from
the active duties of life, and can now enjoy tile
fruits of his industry.
The grandfather of our subject, John Van Dyk,
was a man of education and a teacher in the
schools of his native country. He reared a family
of twelve children, but the father of our subject,
Gerret Van Dyk, was tile only one who came to
the United States. The latter received a good
education in early life and was a carpenter and
mason by trade. When twenty-four years old he
married Miss Elizabeth Pasma, daughter of Jacob
and Trentrayn Pasma, and slortly afterward joined
tle Christian Reformed Church, in which he was
ever afterward an active member. In 1845 lie
emigrated with his wife and family to the United
States and first located in Ashland County, AId.
For two years lie worked in the iron mines there,
and then removed to Milwaukee, Wis., which was
then but a village, with no railroad or telegraph
communication.
Mr. Van Dyk made the trip from   Albany to
Buffalo by canal and thle remainder of the way by
steamboat. Ten months later he came with his
family to the settlement of Holland, Ottawa
County, Mich., where A. C. Van Raalte had started
a new town, and there he followed his trade until
1850, when lie came to the farm now owned by
our subject and bought two hundred acres of Government land at $1 per acre. He was the first
white man to chop a tree in North Holland. On
this farm, which he cleared and improved, lie
lived to see all of his children and one grandchild married, and by his honorable conduct
through life became possessed of many warm
friends. IIe was public spirited and progressive
and was one of those who established the church at
North Holland. His children, seven in number,




424


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIHICAL RECORD.


were named as follows: John, Jacol, Otto, Albert,
Broer, Tryntje (who married John Teln ave) and
Catherina, wife of Aaron Brawer.
The scholastic training of our subject was received principally in the Old Country, and he remained with his father, assisting on the farm, until
1855, when lie married Miss Hendrieka Weener,
daulghter of Kerst and Martha Weener. She was
born in tlie Netherlands and came with her parents
to the United States when eleven years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Van )yk were born nine children, as follows: Gerrit, Kerst, K Alert,  tWalter,
Otto, Jr., Martha, Elizabetll, Anna and Kate, wlio
all married and hlave children.  In his political
views Mr. Van Dyk is a Republican. lie received
forty acres from his father. and also forty acres
from his wife's father. I-le lias given his land to
his children and for the past year lhas lived a retired life. When lie first came to this county the
woods were full of game and lie killed forty deer
and one bear in his neighborhood.
DAM SANK         a pospeos general ai^H1 DAM SHANKS, a prosperous general agriculturist and successful stock-raiser of
Muskegon Township, Muskegon County,
M ich., was born in C(anada near the lake
shore in 1839, and was the sixth child of the family of seven sons and daughters born to Adam
and Catherine (Christler) Shanks. Tle parents
were natives of Pennsylvania and were reared,
educated and married in the Quaker State, and
soon after their marriage removed to Canada,
where the father, a farmer by occupation, died
when our subject was only four years old. The
mother, surviving thirty-one years, continued her
residence in Canada and there reared all of her
children to maturity. Lydia, thle eldest-born, is
now deceased; Betsey is the wife of John Van
Lawe, of Canada; Stephen yet makes his home in
Canada; Christopher also resides in Canada; Sarah
is the wife of John Butcher, of Canada; Adam,
named in honor of his father, is our subject; and


Barbara is the wife of George Winger. Adam
Shanks, carefully reared by his devoted motler,
grew up on thle Canadian farm, receiving his education in the neighboring schools of the home district.
Attaining to manly and self-reliant youth, our
subject began life for lhimself, working for wages
away from home long before reaching his majority. Crossing over to the American side and locating in Livingston County, 3Mich., in 1860, Mr.
Sllanks labored by the montl on a farm for three
years. Becoming in heart and soul a citizen of
tlie lUnited States, in March, 1865, answering to
the call of tile Government, he enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Michigan Infantry, and joined
tlhe Army of tile Tennessee. It was not long before the close of the war, and Mr. Shanks never
lhad thle opportunity of participating in a single
battle, as lie had only just arrived in the State of
North Carolina, on his way to the front, when
Gen. ILee surrendered. IIe was mustered out of
service at Little Rock, Ark., and received his
final discharge from tile army in Detroit, Mich.
While in Little Rock, Mr. Shanks was seriously ill
and las never entirely recovered firom a violent
attack which finally resulted in a )ermanent trouble of the eves, from the effects of which he is now
almost blind. When tlhe war ended, our subject
settled in Wexford County, where he homesteaded
eighty acres, entering witli energy into tlie cultivation of the wild land.
Thle health of Mr. Shanks, however not improving, lie was obliged to make a change of residence, and in 1874 lie sold out and removed to his
present property, consisting of sixty-three acres,
twenty-five of which are under a fine state of cultivation.  The productive farm is further inproved withl an attractive residence, commodious
and substantial barns and other buildings. Since
coming to Michigan Mr. Shanks has made his way
upward and accunulated a comfortable colnpetence, being numbered among the substantial
farmers of his vicinity. I-He has been twice married, first wedding in 1858 Miss Rhoda Grant, a
native of New Brunswick.  The parents of Mrs.
Shanks were both born in tile United States. Our
subject and his worthy wife were blessed by the




0
6




/I/




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


427


birth of two children: Christopher J., residing in
Livingston County, Mich.; and Charlotte, wife of
John Shaw. Mrs. Slhanks died in 1863, mourned
by her family and many friends. In 1878 Adam
Shanks and Mrs. Mary A. (Ward) Bennett, a native of England, were united in marriage, and in
tleir home colmunity enjoy the respect and confidence of a wide acquaintance.
Fraternally, our subject is connected witll Twin
Lake Post No. 342, G. A. I. Politically, lie is a
Republican and always votes tllat ticket. During
his residence of over a score of years in his present locality, Mr. Shanks has identified himself witll
local enterlprise and improvement and is in every
sense of tlie word a true American citizen.
I ANIEL M. CHA1MP'IN. Now in tlie twilight of life's brief day, surrounded by the
luxuries his efforts have secured, and ministered to by loving lands, tlhe subject of this notice
resides in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County,
upon the farm which hlas been his home for almost
a hallf-century. With advancing years, lie has retired to some extent from active farming duties,
although lie still personally superintends the management of his place. lie possessed in youth the
courage and enthusiasm so inlispensable to a frontier life.  These qualities gave him unbounded
faith in success and carried him safely over troubles and dangers from which lie would otherwise
have shrunk in terror.
Born in Herkimer County, N. Y., October 23,
1816, our subject is tile son of David and Fannie
(Whipl)les) Champion, natives of Connecticut. IIe
was the only child of this marriage and was but
two years of age when lie was bereaved by lhis
mother's death. For some time afterward lhe remained with liis father, who married for his second
wife Miss Sallie 1)uncan, and who is yet living
(1893) at the ripe old age of ninety-five. Daniel
21


received a very limited education in the schools
of IIerkimer County, where Ilis father conducted
agricultural operations, and also engaged in tile
clotlhing business, l)aniel assisting him in both until lie was twenty-two years old.
At tllat time tie elder Mr. Cllampion sold out
and invested lis money in lands at Newville,
Herkimer County, whither I)aniel accompanied
1him and remained for two years. l)uring that time
lie was Captalin of the militia and also Captain of
Gray's Guards. Leaving Newville, lie went to Orleans County, N. Y., where lie commenced to work
on a farm for liis uncle, remaining thus engaged
for three years. Coming to Michigan in thespring
of 1845, lie sojourned in Grand Rapids for one
year, after wichl lie located upon land that had
been appropriated for salt works, but as they did
not prove profitable tile land was devoted to
Normal School puirposes. Afterward tile property
was offered for sale and purchased by our subject
for $4 per acre. Here lie has since resided, being
at present the owner of more than one hundred
and sixty acres of improved land.
Auguist 12, 1838, Mr. Champion was married to
AMiss Lydia, tle daughter of Ezra and I)iana (Potter) Cllamlpion, of New York State. TIo this narriage were born four children. Fannie V. became
tlie wife of Benjamin Girdler,and they reside on
the old homestead witli Mr. Champion. Ezra D.
died while in the service of his country in tile
hospital at David's Island, N. Y. I)aniel married
AMiss Ielen Macumber and lives in Ottawa County,
Mich. Mary died in infancy. The wife and mother,
wlho for many years toiled lovingly and unweariedly for the welfare of her dear ones, was called
from her earthly home to "a home not made with
lhands" onl the 15th of June, 1889, leaving in tile
family circle a void tlat never can be filled.
While not as active in public affairs as in former
years, Mr. Clampion cherishes a deep interest in
the progress of the community, and as he believes
that protection is best adapted to the welfare of thle
United States, lie affiliates with tile Republicans,
having been a member of that political organization ever since its inception. IHe has filled a number of local positions, including the offices of Township Commissioner and Justice of the Peace.




428


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ERRIT VANDEN BELDT, an able general
agriculturist, and for many years Assessor
of the school district of Holland Township,
Ottawa County, Mich., owns a fine farm desirably
located on section 33, and is numbered among the
substantial citizens of this locality. H-le was born
in the province of Gelderland, in the Netherlands, October 31, 1833, and was tie son of Klaas
and Jennie (Bove) Vanden Beldt, natives of the
Netherlands, their forefathers having dwelt within the boundaries of the kingdom from time immemorial. The grandfather, James Vanden Beldt,
rented land and was by occupation a farmer. He
reared three children, Klaas, tie father of our subject, and two daughters, neither of whom ever left
their native land. Klaas Vanden Beldt remained
with his parents until lie attained manhood and
received a good common-school education. He
ambitiously became master of three trades, being
a carpenter, mason and "decker," or straw-roofer.
He was likewise a wood-worker, and could turn by
hand, and in these various lines of labor accumulated a small capital, which he invested in twentyacre farms, and finally gathered together sufficient
money to enable him to emigrate with his wife
and seven sons to America, to him the land of
promise.
It was in the month of November, 1846, that,
embarking upon a sailing-vessel, the family bade
adieu to their native land, and slowly making
their way across the broad Atlantic, were on the
water forty-seven days. The boat, an American
vessel, the "Platobustor," arrived safely at the
port of New Orleans, from which city the family
proceeded up the Mississippi River to St. Louis,
where they remained until April, 1847. They
then removed to Ottawa County, Mich., where,
with only $5 left after helping a neighbor, the
father bought forty acres at $2.50 per acre on section 33, Holland Township, and here entered with
zeal into the tilling of the soil. While erecting
their log house, the family were for two weeks
quartered with an Indian in the old Indian village. The new house when finished was about
12x20 feet, one room, and covered with elm bark.
The first year they went twelve miles north and
planted some potatoes and beans, and later the fa

ther and two neighbors journeyed by boat on the
Kalamazoo River and bought provisions for the
Dutch settlement. In the fall Klaas Vanden Beldt
began cutting the trees upon his forty acres, and
made shingles enough to pay for his land. In the
succeeding year, duringothe fall of 1848, the father died. A sincere Christian man, a member of
the Reformed Church. he was also a kind friend
and neighbor, a loving husband and father, and
his death was mourned by all as a public loss.
The seven sons were in the order of their birth
as follows: James, Derk, Gerrit, Frederikus, Gradus, Reinder and Henry. The sixth son died on
the ocean voyage. The fifth son died of smallpox the second year after he came to Michigan.
The second and fourth sons died after having families of their own. The mother, surviving the
death of the father until 1862, again married, the
second husband being Walter Niessan. Until this
second marriage, Gerrit dutifully remained to aid
his mother in the heavy burden of caring for the
younger children, but as soon as the step-father
came, our subject, then fourteen years of age, went
to Allegan and worked on a farm one year. IHe
later worked upon a farm in Cooper three years,
and then located in Kalamazoo. For five years
le received employment in a warehouse, and for
a twelvemonth bought wheat upon the street. He
next engaged upon his own account in the manufacture of brick, and, continuing in the business
for eiglt years, was at tile last quite successful.
In the mean time Mr. Vanden Beldt had married
Miss Susanna Marcelia, the daugllter of Herbert
and Margalret ()e Purt) Marcelia.
'rThe union of our subject and his estimable wife
was blessed by the birth of twelve children, eleven
of whom   are yet surviving, one dying young.
'They are in order of their birth: Nicholas, Margaret, Rika, Jennie, Lizzie, Ierbert, Isaac, Fred,
Mary, Gertie and Gradus. Jamie is deceased. While
in the brick business in Kalamazoo, Mr. VandenBeldt purchased forty acres where lie now lives,
and removing to the land began to manufacture
brick here upon his farm, and continued so to do
for twelve years, but since has given his time and
attention strictly to farming duties. Financially
prospered, our subject owns sixty-five acres of




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


429


finely cultivated land, improved with a handsome
residence, good barns and outbuildings. Somefifteen years ago, Mr. Vanden Beldt made a visit
to his native land, and being absent three months
much enjoyed the trip.  lis son Nicholas, a graduate of Iople College, lhaving finished a course as
chemist at Ann Arbor, is now located in Detroit as
a druggist. A mcnber of the Christian Reformed
Church, our subject is likewise a Deacon and a
teacher in the Sunday-school. Politically a Republican, lie lias for many years efficiently discharged the duties of Assessor, and is known to
all his fellow-townsmen as a man of sterling integrity of character.
ON. CIARLES II. LESLIE, Mayor of Northl
Muskegon, and a lprominent merchant of
this city, was born in Johnstown, N. Y.,
Aiugust 3. 1840. IIe is a son of James Leslie,
a native of New Iampslire and a private in tile
War of 1812, who served for tliree years in the defense of our country. After tlhe close of tle conflict, lie resumed his farming operations, which hlad
been interrupted by tile call to arms. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Leslie,
was born in Scotland, and in his young mlanhood
he emigrated to America. For seven and onehalf years lie served in tlhe Colonial army during
the Revolutionary War, and was wounded at the
battle of Lexington.
The mother of our subject bore tile maiden
name of Eliza Vanancller, and was born and reared
in New York, being tle daughter of Jolln and
Abbie (White) Vanancller, natives reslectively of
Germany and Paris, France. After their marriage
tlhe parents of our subject located in New York,
where thle fatler died at the age of seventy-seven.
The motler still survives, at the age of seventyone (1893), and makles her home in Bleecker, N. Y.
They had a family of three daughters and five
sons, and of the seven children who grew to maturity our subject is the eldest. At the early age


of ten years he began to be self-supporting, and,
as may be surmised, his education lhas been gained
principallly througlh self-culture and observation,
his opportunities for sclooling having been exceedilnlv limited.  For a time lie engaged in
lumlering, and not only earned his own living,
lbut also aided his l)arents.
Ait tlle comnlellcement of tile Civil War, Mr.
Leslie enlisted as a member of Company C, Thirtysecond New York Infantry, the date of his enlistment being April 17, 1861. I-e enlisted as a private, later served as Corporal and also Orderly-Sergeant of the company, in whicl lie remained for
two years. In October, 1863, lie enlisted as a veteran in ttle Fourtl Ileavy Artillery at New York,
and was promnoted to be Corporal and Orderly-Sergeant of Company 1), in which capacity he was serving at tile close of the war, in 1865. Ile participated
in thirty-two important engagements and was in
tlle siege of Yorktown, tile siege of Richmond,
and numerous decisive battles. IIe was three times
wounded: first at Gaines' Mill, where tile bullet
struck llis face under the left car and passed
tlhroughl his tongue; second, in front of tile breastworks at l'etersbulrg, where a bullet struck him in
tile forehead; and third, by a minie-ball at South
Side Railroad.
Twice Mr. Leslie suffered imprisonment.  He
was taken prisoner after receiving his first wound,
and was confined in Libby Prison and Belle Isle
for two months. IIe was also taken prisoner while
serving in the Fourtli New York Heavy Artillery,
but escaped and marclied fifty rebel soldiers to
camp and delivered tlem to tile Fifth Corps, under instructions from (Gen. Warren. After participating in many of tile most desperate battles
of tle war, lie was honorably discharged at Hart's
Island, and was mustered out of the service October 5, 1865. Returning to New York, lie resumed his business and again engaged extensively
as a lumberman. In 1866, lie came to Micligan
and opened a meat-market at Lowell. Later he
went to the!ineries on Flat River, where he engaged in tile lumber business during tile summer
and winter of 1867. From there lie proceeded to
Grand Haven and tlience, in 1867, to Lowell.
In 1868, Mr. Leslie purchased eighty acres in




430


PORTIRAIT ANRD B10G'RNn PHI CAL RECORD


430              PORTRAIT AND BIO(RAPT11CAL RECORD


Lowell Township, KentCounty. Later he engaged
in the sawmill business with Armstrong, Gould
& Co., at Muir, Ionia County, and had charge
of a gang of forty sawmill hands until September,
1868, when he returned to Lowell. In the spring
of 1869 lie went back to lonia County, and for a
few months took charge of the same force. In
1870, he returned to his farm, and during the
same year lie married Miss Catherine Bartlett, a
native of Canada.
The young couple commenced housekeeping
on the farm in Lowell Township, Kent County,
where Mr. Leslie continued to till the soil until
1877. While residing there he held the offices of
Justice of the Peace, Highway Commissioner,
Drainage Commissioner, School )irector and Overseer of Highways, and occupied all these offices
during the same year. He served as Justice of
the Peace for four years, and as Highway Commissioner for three years. Disposing of his farm
in 1877, lie removed to Dinwiddie County, Va.,
and purchased a farm south of Petersburg, Va.
After remaining there ten months, he sent his
family to Grand Rapids, Mich., and lie went to
Kansas, where he entered tle employ of the Revolving Scraping Company, of Columbus, Ohio, as
their agent for the States of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and New Mexico, as well as
the Indian Territory. Witl) a horse and wagon
he traveled extensively throughout the country
for two years.
In 1880, Mr. Leslie returned to Grand Rapids,
Mich., and thence proceeded to Indianapolis, Ind.,
where lie engaged with a book firm to canvass for
them. tie traveled in the western part of Michigan in their interests, but finding the work uncongenial, he soon bade good-bye to the business.
Next we find him in Chicago, and two weeks
later in Muskegon, where he secured employment
with the firm of Blodgett & Byrne. Soon afterward lie brought his family here. Two months
were spent in Muskegon, after which lie came to
North Muskegon, in the spring of 1881. For four
years he was engaged at his trade of carpenter.
On the 26th of April, 1885, he was appointed
Postmaster, and in connection with his postoffice
also engaged in the tobacco business and later ad

ded a stock of drugs, and then a stock of hard ware.
He filled the position of Postmaster for five years
and three months.
In a number of other positions, Mr. Leslie has
served with credit to himself and to the universal
satisfaction of the people. IHe served as Township
Clerk, School Inspector for one year, member of
the School Board for six years, its Chairman for
three years, member of the Common Council for
four years, and Vice-President of the Board for
two years. When the village was incorporated, in
1891, lie was elected Alderman of the First Ward,
and served in that capacity for two years. He
was then chosen City Treasurer and was the incumbent of the office for one year. In 1893 he
was elected to the highest office within the gift of
the people-that of Mayor, -Which lie now holds.
In addition to the offices above namned lie was Deputy Sheriff for four years.
Socially, Mr. Leslie is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and is identified with Lodge No. 140,
and Royal Arch Masons No. 47. Ile is also associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 69, in which lie has served as Past Noble
Grand and Grand Master. IHe is a member of
tlhe Knights of the Maccabees No. 29, and the
Grand Army of the Republic No. 280, in which he
is Past Commander. IIe is also Past Commander
of the Knights of Labor, No. 2207, at North Muskegon. Ile and his estimable wife are the parents
of three children: Edward C., a resident of Chicago; Bertlha, wife of Charles Bon, of Grand
Haven; and George. They also have two grandsons, Lewis and George, of whom they are justly
proud.
HARLES E. BRIGGS, the energetic and
successful District Manager for the Mutual
Life Insurance Company of New York, and
also the popular and efficient Mayor of Whitehall,
Muskegon County, Mich., numbers his friends by
the score and has long been identified with the




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


431


progressive interests of his locality. Our subject,
a native of Niagara County, N. Y., was born
near East Wilson, March 27, 1858, and was the son
of George A. and Helen M. (Baker) IBriggs, highly
esteemed residents of the Empire State. The
paternal grandfather, Andrew Briggs, a brave soldier of the War of 1812, left to his descendants
numerous valuable legacies, among them being a
powder-horn carried by him during the troublous
days of the early part of the present century.
Grandfather Briggs was a prominent dairy farmer,
his extensive homestead being located in Black
River County, N. Y. I-e was killed by an accident
when George, the father of our subject, born in
Booneville in 1826, was a small boy.
The history of the Briggs family in America is
intimately associated with tlhe growth and progress
of the United States, four brothers having sailed
from England to America more than two centuries
ago. Thley landed in Rhode Island,and while one
remained in that State, the others scattered to
various parts of the Union. One went to Ohio,
another to Pennsylvania, and the direct ancestor
of our subject settled in tlhe Empire State. To-day
numerous branches of the old family are found in
every State of our Republic, many of the men and
women filling positions of high trust and importance.
The father of ourt subject was an only son, and,
a little lad at tlle deatli of his fatler, went to live
with an uncle, Nathan Briggs, a wealthy dairyman
of Black River County. While with his uncle,
George A. received   excellent advantages for
schooling, and when old enough learned the carpenter's trade, but finally entered largely into
farming and became a leading general agriculturist
of his native State. Geortge A. Briggs was a man
of broad views and sound judgment, and, liberal
in sentiment and kindly by nature, never had an
enemy, but rejoiced in a host of friends. Although a strong 1)emocrat and patriotic citizen, he
was unwilling, although urged to do so, to accept
any political perferment. In all public matters
as well as p)rivate affairs he was sincere, upright
and practical, and was numbered among the
substantial men, ever ready to respond to the demands of duty. This good man and true Ameri

can citizen passed away mourned by all who knew
him July 10, 1889, and in Niagara County, where
the greater part of his life was passed, his death
was accounted a public loss.
Helen M. Baker, the mother of our subject, was
boin in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1837, and was
the daughlter of John Baker, a prosperous contractor and builder of that county. While yet
comparatively a young man, Mr. Baker was killed
by the kick of an ox. Mrs. Briggs had two own
brothers and one sister, also a half-brother, her
mother having married twice. An uncle of our
subject, Charles S. Baker, enlisted as a private in
tlie Civil War, serving with courage four years, a
twelvemonth of whicli time was spent in Libby
Prison. Discharged from the army with the conmission of a First Lieutenant, lie survived until
1880, then dying in New York State. John Baker
is a well-known farmer of Niagara County, N. Y.
IElizabeth E. Baker married Daniel E. Chaddock,
and with her husband came to Miichigan, where she
passed away in 1868. The half-brother, Frank M.,
who also bore the name of Baker, is a successful
contractor and bridge-builder living at Rosedale,
Kan. The mother of Mr. Briggs is now residing
in Lima, N. Y., where she went to educate the
younger children. Tlere were six in the family,
Charles E. being the eldest son. Florence A., the
eldest of the sisters, was educated at Lockport (N.
Y.) Academy, and was for many years a superior
teacher; she now resides with her mother. John
E., also educated at Lockport Academy, is a civil
engineer at Cameron, Mo.; Frank died when a child:
Victoria G., a graduate of the Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary, is a successful teacher in the public
schools of Whitehall, where she has been engaged
for tlhe past two years; Helen C., also educated at
the Wesleyan Seminary, married Bert C. Stockwell,
a prominent attorney of Lockport, N. Y., and
the son of a noted local politician of the Empire
State.
Our subject passed the days of early boyhood in
East Wilson, and had completed his studies in
Lockport Academy at the age of nineteen. Immediately after he acquired in Lockport a knowledge
of telegraphy. In 1878, an ambitious young
man of twenty, Mr. Briggs journeyed to Michigan




432


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and spent one year in tile employ of the West
Michigan Railroad Company as operator at Hartford. HIe next went to Sioux City, Iowa, as
a civil engineer in tlhe service of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad, and after the first six
montls had charge of a division of the road then
under construction. For five continuous years
our subject was in charge of various divisions of
that system of railroad, and then bettered himself
by accepting a position in Cllicago as Assistant
Division Engineer of tlle Nickel Plate Railroad.
At the close of a twelvemonth lie became the
principal Assistant Engineer on the Iannibal & St.
Joseph, Kansas City & St. Joseph, Council Bluffs
& St. Josepl and D)es Moines Railroads.
At tile end of three years, our subject, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, received the position of
Principal Assistant Civil Engineer of tle Ohio &
Mississippi Railroad, but later, on account of his
wife's failing liealtli, resigned that position and in
1888 settled in Michioan, his headquarters being
Whitehall, where lie accepted tile management of
western Miichigan for tile New York Mutual Life
Insurance Company, and in all llis business enterprises has made a success, building up a large and
rapidly increasing patronage for the well-known
and reliable company which lie so ably represents.
A life-long Democrat, MIr. Briggs since his residence in Whitehall has taken an active part in
local politics, and was tlhe first Iemocrat ever
elected to the honored position of President of the
Village Council. Fraternally, our subject is a
valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted
Masons, connected with the Blue Lodge and
chapter. UJpon December 30, 1883, Charles E.
Briggs and Miss Octavia L. Andrews, of Iartford,
Mich., were united in marriage. Mrs. Briggs is a
daughter of Samuel Andrews, a prominent lumberman of Hartford. An uncle, I)r. Josiah Andrews,
of Paw 1Paw, was widely known as one of the most
eminent surgeons of the State of Micligan. A
brother of Mrs. Briggs, Capt. John HI. Andrews,
a brave soldier of the late Civil War,' was
killed at the battle of Dallas, Ga., on the march
with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. Another
brother, Clarles Andrews, became a prosperous
farmer. Nancy 'T. Andrews, the only sister of


Mrs. Briggs, is the wife of W. A. Phelps, of Grand
Rapids, a wealthy lumberman and also thle largest
tan bark dealer in Michigan. The pleasant home
of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs has been blessed by the
birth of three children. Samuel G., a bright little
lad, is now eight years of age; Ethel L. died when
one year old; Ralph E. is four years of age. Tie
beautiful family residence, one of the finest in
Whitehall, is the abode of hospitality, and tile
scene of many social gatherings, out subject and
his estimable wife being held in high esteem by a
wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
O[IN     MASTERSON. Although a resident
of Ottawa County for less than a decade of
[  years, Mr. MIasterson has a wide circle of
acquaintances and business associates,whose
regard lie has won by his genial courtesy, upright
life and the uniform reliability of his transactions.
Ile engages in agricultural pursuits upon his pleasantly situated and highly cultivated farm in Tallmadge Townslip, consisting of one hundred acres
of arable land. As a farmer he is energetic, industrious and efficient, and uses good judgment in the
cultivation of his land.
A native of Illinois, our subject was born in
Lake County August 7, 1841. His father, Thomas
Masterson, was born in Ireland in 1810, and in
1828 came to America, settling in Illinois and following farming operations in Shields Township,
Lake County, until his demise. On first coming
to America, however, lie did not engage in agricultural pursuits, but conducted an extensive business in tlie digging of ditches, etc. It was he who
contracted to clean the brush from the Chicago
River, an arduous undertaking, as may well be
surmised.  Iis wife, wlose maiden name was
Bridget Malloy, was, l;ke himself, of Irish birth
and parentage.
The eldest child in his father's family, tile subject of tills biographical sketch was the recipient
of such educational opportunities as were afforded




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


433


by the public schools of Lake County, Ill. He
worked at lome on the farm until he reached the
age of seventeen, when lie went to Lake Forest and
there secured employment, remaining until 1884.
At that time he came to Alichigan and purchased
tlhe tract of land in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa
County, which has ever since been his home. He
is a man of prominence in this community and an
active worker in tile Democratic party. In religious matters, lie is a Roman Catholic.
The lady who in June, 1866, became the wife
of our subject was formerly Miss Mary Delaney,
and at the time of her marriage was living in Ottawa County. To this union have been born six
children, namely: Thomas and Annie (twins), Mary,
John, Daniel and Lawrence, all of whom reside
with tleir parents with the exception of the eldest
son, who is a conductor on thle Detroit & Mlilwaukee Railroad. The family, socially, is one of the
best-known and most influential in the county, and
both Mr. and Mrs. Masterson have the regard of
their many friends.
U B. CONLEY, a thoroughly 1)ractical and
enterprising druggist, located at Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., is an expert pharmaceutist and a man of excellent business ability. A native of this State, Mr. Conley
was born in Ionia, lonia County, November 27,
1855, and was tlhe eldest of tile family of six clildren, three sons and three daughters, who blessed
tlhe home of his parents, Robert and Susan (Dillon) Conley. The father and mother, botl natives of Ireland, were only children when with
their families they crossed the broad Atlantic to
America. They settled upon Canadian soil, and,
marrying in the early part of 1854, made their
permanent home in Ionia County, Mich., where
the father, a carpenter by trade, found immediate
employment. Combining] with the occupation of
a builder the tilling of the soil, Robert Conley engaged also in general agriculture, and, yet surviv

ing, lives a quiet and retired life in Whitehall, respected by all who know him. His second son,
John R., married Miss Mary Baker, of Montague,
and has one child. Hle and his wife and family are
now residing in Kansas City, where he is prosperously engaged in the drug business. George married a lady of Painesville, Ohio, and is a resident
of that city. Marie Antoinette is the wife of E.
H-. Harwood, a retired business man of Whitehall;
Abby is living witli her parents in Whitehall; and
Maggie died when only eight years of age.
Until eighteen years old our subject passed the
most of his time upon his father's farm. H-e attended the school of his home neighborhood and received a common-school education, which he has
since supplemented by observation and reading.
For tle fourteen succeeding years Mr. Conley
worked in the lumber camps mainly, seven years
of the time being foreman on the river. When
about thirty-one or thirty-two years old, he engaged in business at Whitehall as a builder and
contractor, also extending his trade to Muskegon,
where lie erected numerous houses. In the fall of
1888. having amassed a snug capital, our subject
went into his present business and carries one of
the most complete lines of drugs and sundries handled by any similar store in this locality. Since
1888 our subject has given his entire time to the
details of the drug business, and his fine large store
has earned the reputation of being one of the bestmanaged in Muskegon County.
A first-class business man in every respect, Mr.
Conley also possesses musical talent of a high order
and is leader of the Whitehall band, which he assisted in organizing. July 3, 1881, W. B. Conley
and Miss Grace Phelps, of Whitehall, were united
in marriage, receiving the best wishes and hearty
congratulations of a host of friends. Mrs. Conley
is the step-daughter of Col. T. S. Watson, and is
widely known and highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. Two bright little daughters,
Bessie, ten years old in April, 1893, and Lulu
aged eight, July 13, 1893, are the pride of their
beautiful home. Politically, Mr. Conley is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office. Fraternally,
he is associated with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, has passed the chairs of the order,




434


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge.
Beginning life without capital or influence, our
subject has won his upward way to a position of
useful influence and is numbered among the substantial citizens of Muskegon County.
success in life is an interesting study, and, affords a lesson from which many can profit.
In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts,
olpportunity and disposition to iabor should be
considered, as any young man who has a disposition to become a resl)ectable and useful citizen
desires to succeed in his work. Oni tile 3d of July,
1857, a boy was born in Medina County, Olio,
wlho grew up to sturdy manhood, ambitious to
excel and possessing much energy and determination, attributes which are essential to success in
any calling. This boy was Edward Wattson, his
parents being Edward G. and Rebecca (Register)
Watson. (See sketcl of Thomas AV. Watson).
Edward Watson received a good practical education in the commcn schools of Ohio, and for
some time attended a select school under one of
the graduates of Oberlin College. When sixteen
years of age lie branched out as a farm hand, having learned tlhe details of farm life of his worthy
father, and continued tills for seven montlis, receiving as compensation $14 per montll. During
that time he lost but one day from the field. In
the year 1873 he decided to settle in Michigan,
and for six months after doing so he worked by
the month, saving his wages and economizing in
order to become the owner of land il the future.
He first purchased twenty acres of land, covered
with a heavy growtl of timber, and this, after
slightly improving, lie sold to his fatller.
Four years after this young Watson worked in
a lumber-mill, and in 1878 purchased forty acres
adjoining his present property. Since that time
he has added to the original tract seventy-two


acres, making one hundred and twelve acres, and
lie has one hundred acres under cultivation. I-Ie has
a fine residence, commodious and substantial outbuildings, barns, etc., and his place shows the care
and energy of its thrifty owner. In connection
with carrying on his extensive farming interests,
Mr. Watson is also engaged in stock-raising, breeding a high grade of Durham cattle and Norman and
Suffolk horses, the latter a new  breed of horses
brought over from England. Everything about
his fine place shlows that lie is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of the county,
and as a citizen and neighlbor no man is more
highly esteemed.
On the 23d of October, 1878, he was married
to Miss Lilla M. Comstock, a native of Grand Haven, and daughter of William  and Emily (IIildreth) Comstock, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Vermont. She was tlhe youngest of
four children, as follows: Carrie, now Mrs. Ienry
Jones, of Grand Rapids; Alice, of this county; and
Wallace, also of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock reside at Allendale, this county, where they
have a pleasant home. Three children have been
the fruits of our subject's union: Ralph, Fred
and Artlur. At present Mr. Watson is an active
nember of the townslip Grange. He has never
filled any political position, although lie has lield
a number of minor offices in his township, for all
his time is devoted to the management of his extensive farm and stock industry. In politics, he
affiliates with the Democratic party.
/. ENRY VINCENT, an extensive and thor)  ougllly practical horticulturist and manufacturer of wine, residing upon a highly
) productive farm near Grand Haven, Ottawa
County, is a native of the Netherlands, and was
born in Wyk-bei-Duurstede on the 17tl of January, 1850. The father, John Vincent, was born in
Germany, but spent most of his life in the Netherlands and never came to America. He was a fine




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


435


musician and( a man of learning and accomplishments. (ur subject was tile second of the eleven
clhildren wlo clustered in the home, of   liom
nine yet survive. The living are in the order of
tlheir birth: Anton, Henry, Mary, Louise, Jennette, Peter, Cato, Pauline and Tonia. At the
age of eighteen years, IIenry, an ambitious and enterprising youth, emigrated to America, and at once
located in Zeeland, Mich. Our subject, liberally
educated in the scliools of the Fatherland, and
self-reliant, was well fitted to make his way in life.
After remaining about six months in Zeeland, Mr.
Vincent removed to Holland, Micl., and resided
there four and a-lalf years, following his trade of
printer. At the expiration of this time, animated
by a strong desire to revisit his native land, lie
returned, in 1873, to the Netherlands.
Our subject passed tile next two years and a-half
in travel, finally spending a twelvemontlh in London, England, and from   that city departing for
Grand Rapiids, Mich., where lie resided the succeeding  five years, devoting his attention to
printing. From Grand Rapids, Mr:. Vincent removed to his present home in Ottawa County,
Mlich., lhaving inherited from  the estate of ])r.
John IMastenbroek the farm on which lie now resides. Upon tlle seventy acres are raised all kinds
of small fruits, as well as apples, peacles, pears
and grapes. T'le wine made by Mr. Vincent is a
fine product and llas an extended sale, its excellent flavor and its purity making it especially desirable for medical as well as table uses. In 1880,
1Ienry Vincent an(d Miss Jennette Mastenbroek
were united in marriage. The acconmplished wife
of our subject, born in Michigan in 1860, was tlle
daughlter of Dr. John Mastenbroek, a native of
tlhe Netherlands but a long-tinme resident of Muskegon, Mich. Mrs. Vincent is tile eldest of the
three daughters who brightene(d the home of her
parents.
Six children blessed the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Vincent, but three only now survive: John,
Willie and Mary. Mrs. Vincent is a valued member of the Congregational Church at Grand
Iaven, and, a lacdy of high character and fine attainments, occupies a losition of useful influence,
and socially commands the sincere esteem of a


Ilarge circle of friends. Ever since his permanent
residence in his present locality, our subject lias
been prominently associated witli the advancement of the best interests of hlls neighborlhood
arnd  vicinity.  Politically an Independent, lie
votes, irrespective of larty, for the best man, and
at tile last Presidential election cast his vote for
Cleveland. lie is now and las been for two years
Scilool Director, and, an ardent friend to edtucational l)rogress, llas materially assisted in the upward growth} of educational facilities. Elected
Justice of thle Peace, Mr. Vincent did not qualify
for the oflice, and llas, in fact, no aspirations for
public position or political honors, but, a true
American citizen, takes a deep interest in botl local
and national affairs, and is ever ready to do his
full share in all matters of public welfare.
IRK lMIEDEMA, an energetic general agriculturist and a brave veteran of tile late
(f>   Civil War, is a native of tile Netherlands,
and was born in Vriesland in the year
1823. Ilis parents, Jolln and Jane (Wiersma)
Miedema, born, reared and educated in tile Netlierlands, after their marriage kept an hotel in a village of tleir native land, in whlich employment
tlhe father continued until his death, at thirtyeight yetars of age. Tlie father was a son of
Henry and Jante (Koopman) Miedema. The paternal grandfather, beginning life as a poor man,
through superior business ability and keen intelligence won his upward way to prosperity and
wealth. IIe was a manufacturer of different varieties of extracts, and lived in a flourishing village,
owning a farm of sixty acres adjacent to tlle
place. At his death he left to his family a fortune of $40,000. The father received a good education and began life for himself at the age of
twenty-two, when he married. At his death lie
left to the care of his widow three children: Henry,
deceased; Dirk, our subject; and Baarnd, yet living
in the Netherlands. John Miedema was a devout




436


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


member of the Reformed Churcl and a sincere
Christian man. Our subject was about twelve years
of age at tile time of the demise of his father, and
dutifully worked for his mother in the hotel until
lie reached manhood.
Having arrived at his majority, Mr. Miedema
hired out eight years to farmers, his mother meantime having married Dirk Terpstra. While working out by the month our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Catherine Riemasma, daughter
of Gerrit and Anna Riemasma. The one child
of the union born in the Old Country is Jane,
married to Rinke De Vries. After emigrating to
America in 1852, six children were born, four of
whom died young. The two surviving are: Anna,
wife of Jacob l)agger; and Magie, wife of John
Ter Beck. Our subject received some money from
his grandfather's estate and witli his bequest paid
for the passage of himself and family across tlle
sea to the land of promise, America. When Mr.
Miedema, withl his wife and child, reached Kalanmazoo his capital consisted of $6 in money, supplemnented by a large stock of hope and self-reliance. Very soon receiving employment, he worked
by tile day for one year, and then came to Holland, Ottawa County, where lie has since continued to reside. Through hard work and prudent
effort our subject was in a comparatively brief
time enabled to purchase thirty acres of ground
where lie now lives, and to wliose extent lie has
thriftily added until he possesses seventy valuable
acres, once heavily timbered but brought by Mr.
Miedema up to a highly profitable state of cultivation and improved with excellent buildings.
In 1861 our subject enlisted in Company D,
Second Michigan Cavalry,and was in the Army of
the Cumberland. Engaging in many decisive battles of the long campaign, Mr. Miedema fought
with courage at Shiloh, Perryville, Boonville, Corinth, Franklin, Murfreesboro and Brandwood.
During the latter battle our subject was severely
wounded in tlie head, on tile left side, by a minieball. Falling from his horse his foot caught in
the stirrup and lie was dragged some twenty rods.
After remaining at the camp hospital about two
months, he went to the hospital in Nashville
a few days and was later taken to the convales

cent camp, where le received his discharge in July,
1863. Mr. Miedenma is an honored member of A.
C. Van Raalte Post No. 262, G. A. R. Ile is in
religious affiliation a member of the Seceder
Church of Holland. Interested in all matters of mutual welfare and ever ready to assist in the public
work of his home locality, our subject is highly respected and possesses the regard of many friends.
AMES HI. WHIEELER. To the memory of
l our loved dead we erect costly statues and
lofty monuments; we chisel beautiful epiI taplis upon their marble tombs; we sing
in verse of their virtues, or in stately prose narrate their valorous deeds. But far more enduring
than chiseled monument or gently-flowing rhyme,
is tlhe memory of a lofty, noble life, spent in doing good to others. Such was the life of James
H. VWheeler, who, dying, left to his children the
heritage of an untarnished name and a spotless
life. Now "after life's fitful fever, lie sleeps well."
Though he reached the age of more than threescore and ten years, yet in his demise tliose who
survive him are reminded that
"The battle of our life is brief;
The alarm, the struggle, the relief,Then sleep we side by side."
Born in New York State, July 27, 1820, our subject was the son of Moses and Lucy Wheeler, both
of whom died when James was small. lIe had the
advantages of the schools of his section of New
York, and worked for a time on a farm belonging
to Mr. Little, the gentleman with whom he lived
after the death of his parents. At the age of
twenty-two, he removed from New York to Michiigan and taught three terms of school in the city
of Jackson. Then, returning to New York, lie
sojourned in that State for a year, after which he
came to Ottawa County, Mich. Purchasing property here, lie at once commeniced the work of clearing the land and cultivating the soil. As the years




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRPAPIIICAL RECORD4


437


passed by, lie gained a large measure of success,
and was recognized as one of the most progressive
agriculturists of Tallinadge Townshilp.  At tile
time of his death, Matrch 12, 1891, he liad more
than one hundred and sixty acres of choice land
under cultivation.
The lady who became thle wife of Mr. Wheeler
in October, 1845, and who still survives to mourn
hlis loss, bore tile maiden name of Elizabeth L.
McKee. IHer parents, James and Lucinda (D)ecker)
McKee, were natives of New York State, who removed to Michigan wlien Elizabetl was a girl of
eight, and settled in Jackson, where Mr. McKee is
still living (1893) at the advanced age of ninety
years. Mrs. McKee died a few   years ago, aged
eirglty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were the parents of three children, two of whom are living.
Mortimer L. married Mliss Maggie Con, and resides
in Michigan; Aurella L. became tlie wife of James
Cary and lives witlh lher mother.
While Mr. Whleeler never became prominent in
politics, lhe was firm in his allegiance to tile Republican party, the principles of which lie supported
from the time of its organization until tlle date of
hiis death. I)uring tile late war his sympathies
were on tile side of tile Union, and lie enlisted in
the army in 1863, serving valiantly until the close
of tlle conflict, when lie was hlonorably discharged.
Hie was Justice of tlle Peace for a number of years,
and also occupied otlier positions of prominence.
l OIIN ILAUBACII, a progressive citizen of
Ravenna and tile owner of valuable propecty in Muskegon County, was born in
(/J    Ohio in October, 1851, and is of Pennsylvan ia-German descent. Iis paternal grandfatler,
(George L. Labubaclh, was a resident of tile Keystone
State. lie died in 1882, at tlhe age of ninety-seven,
in Belmont, MIich. The father of our subject,
Benjamin IL., was born in lennsylvania in 1825
and remained with ils parents until lie was nineteen, when lie came West as far as Ohio. Prior to


leaving the Keystone State, lie liad ga.ined a practical education in the common schools, and after
locating in Olio lie taught three terms of sclhool
during winter seasons, spending his summers on
his father's farm.
At the age of twenty-one, Benjamin L. Laubacli married Miss Mary, daughter of Jolln and
Sarah Sherlick. This estimable lady (lied wlen
her son, our subject, was only nine days old, and
the father afterward married Miss Elizabeth Colman, their unionl taking place in 1852. Subsequently lie removed to Michigan and settled in
Wright Township, Ottawa County, where he colnmenced thle larduous task of clearing and cultivating a farm. Seven years after coming to Michigan lie was bereaved by the death of his wife,and
two years after her demise lie was united in marriage witl MIiss Harriet Brown, wlio died three
years afterward. In 1870 lie narried Mrs. Mary
Gee, who is still living. Tlie fatler makes his
home in Piainfield Township, Kent County, Micll.,
where lie located two years ago upon sellinlg his
valuable farm of four hundred acres. He is now
(1893) sixty-seven years old and as active as many
men twenty years his junior. A stanchl Republican in politics, lie served for eleven year  s as Supervisor in Ottawa County, and also represented
llis district in tile Legislature for two terms.
Of Benjamin L. Latbacll's first marriage two
children were born, tile elder being George, who
was giaduated from Albion College, at Albion,
Mici., and is now teachilig mIusic in Coopersville
and the surrounding country. The younger son,
tlhe subject of tllis sketch, obtained his education
in tile public scliools of Ottawa County, where he
resided until lie was twenty-live. From there lie
removed to Ravenna, Muskegon County, and, purchasing land, engaged in farming   until 1892,
when lie rented his property and removed to tile
village of Ravenna. In his social relations lie is
identified witli Berlin Lodge No. 248, A..  A.
I.; Ravenna Lodge, No. 355, I0. O. O.F.; Raveniia
Grange, and Rebekah Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., his wife
beiing also a member of thle last-named organization.
June  29, 1873, Mr. Laubach married    Ella,
daughter of George and Eliza (Streeter) Hodges,




438


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.


and they became the parents of one dauglter,
May, who married George Patterson and resides
in Conklin, Micll. In December, 1888, Mrs. Ella
Laubach departed this life, and in August, 1890,
our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary
(Akerman) Hunter. One daughter, Eva Ella, has
blessed this union. Mrs. Laub'ach is identified
witl the Presbyterian Church and is a lady whose
position in social circles is one of prominence.
Politically, Mr. Laubach las always been a Republican. For several years lie served as Justice of
the Peace, for two terms has officiated as Towns hip
Treasurer and is the present Supervisor of Ravenna
Township.
OHN C. ROBART. Ohio has given to Michigan many estimable citizens, but she has
contributed none more universally respected
and esteemed tihan tile pioneer whose name
heads this sketch. It is always a pleasure to deal
with the history of one who is a member of one
of tliose grand old families who have for generations been distinguished for patriotism, the genuine spirit of Christianity and the strong characteristics that liave made them  men of mark. John
C. Robart is a product of ()Ohio, born in Portage
County December 29, 1836, and the tenth of
twelve children born to the union of James and
Annie (Croy) Robart, of English and Danishl extraction, respectively.
James Robart was born in New Jersey, where his
ancestors settled in 164 9. They were among the oldest Englisll families in that State, and all the members of this family sided witl the Colonists, and
fought bravely for independence. James Robart
moved to Ohio witlh his mother and stepfatlier when
a boy, and settled in the Western Reserve, which
has contributed so mucl of population and intelligence to other States. There he finished his
growth, married and resided until after the birth
of our subject, when he and his family moved to
Tuscarawas County, but only resided there for a


few years. From there they moved to what is
now Fulton Counity, Ohio, and in 1844 came to
Michigan, which was tlen a wilderness. At that
time the city of Coldwater boasted of three
stores and a hotel. Mr. Robart purchased a small
amount of land from the Government, and while
clearing up this farm was accidentally killed by
a falling tree, in 1848. In 1858 his widow married Allen Ilebner, and died in 1860.
Tile children born to the above-mentioned couple were as follows: Phoebe (deceased), who was the
wife of C. Harrison; Amelia (deceased), who was
the wife of Peter Gee; Hiram (deceased); Minerva
(deceased), who was the wife of Nathan Jones; Annie, wife of Leander Whitten; Sybil, wife of Andrew S. Hopkins; James; Rachel, wife of Levi Waldron; Mahala, wife of Martin Crego; John C.; Catherine, wife of Derrick Sutfin; and Frank, who died
in the army. The original of this sketch, John C.
Robart, was educated in the common sclools of
Michigan, and remained with his mother and sisters until 1859, wlen he decided to locate in Iowa.
For eight years he was a resident of that State,
engaged in farming and freighting across tle
plains, and during that time lie had many exciting
adventures with tie Indians, principally Sioux and
Cheyennes. It was nothing very uncommon for
him to find men scalped and with stakes driven
through their bodies.
In 1861 Mr. Robart left the trail and engaged
in tilling the soil in Monroe County, Iowa, continuing tile same until 1864, wllen he moved to
Lucas County. There he remained until 1866,
when he went on the railroad which is now the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy as foreman for J.
E. Longford & Co., following this until May, 1868,
when lie went to Kansas City, Mo. While in the
latter place he engaged in grading and contracting, which ihe continued until 1870, and then went
to Vernon County, Mo., where lie farmed for one
year. In 1872 he went to Crawford County, Kan.,
and was engaged in coal-mining at that place for
three years.  From  there lie came to Ottawa
County, Mich., resumed his old occupation of
farming, and in 1876 settled on his present property. That section was a perfect wilderness-no
roads, no schools, no improvements of any kind



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


439


and here Mr. Robart settled on eighty acres. IIe
now has fifty-five acres under cultivation, and in
connection with tilling the soil is engaged in raising a fine grade of horses.
Miss Susie Tlrall, who became his wife on the
1st of February, 1863, was a native of Delaware
County, Ohio, and the daughter of George and
Annie (Baker) Thrall, of Russell, Iowa. Three
children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Robart:
Charles C., deceased; Mary E., wife of Arthur
D)linkwater, of IIolland, Mich.; and Carl J. In
1880 Mr. Robart was elected Highway Commissioner, and was also Census Enumerator, School
Inspector in 1883, and Justice of the Peace in
1882. The last-named office ie has held for ten
years. Inl 1891 and 1892 lie was re-elected Iighway Commissioner, and for sixteen years has been
School Director in his district. In his political
princi)les, lie is an ardent Republican, and takes
a deep interest in the success of his party, and
served for six years on the Republican County
Committee.
P. HORTON, Supervisor of Laketon
Township, and one of the most extensive
farmers of Muskegon County, was born
in Montgomery County, N. Y.. February
28, 1833. His father, who was of English descent,
was born in Connecticut and died when our subject was only five days old. His mother bore the
maiden name of Clara Van Dusen and was a native
of New York, being the daughter of Conrad Van
Dusen, who traced his lineage to I-olland. The
youngest of three children, our subject was reared
by his grandfather Van Dusen, and at the age of
fourteen began to be self-supporting. One year
later he commenced to work at the trade of a carpenter.
At the age of seventeen, in 1850, our subject
went to California via the Isthmus of Panamai,
and after landing in San Francisco he proceeded


to the mnin ing regions, where lie engaged in mining
for one year. IHe remained in the Golden State
for ten years, meantime engaging principally in
the draying business, but during the last three
years of his sojourn in the State( lie was a pilot on
a steamboat on the Sacramento River. In 1860 lie
returned to New York and spent a short time in
Palmyra, whence in the spring of 1861 lie came to
Michigan and located in Burr Oak, St. Joseph
County. For two years he worked at his trade in
that city.
Coming to Muskegon County in June, 1863,
Mr. IIorton homesteaded the land where lie now
resides. Thle place was then wholly unimproved,
and he carried on lumbering for many years. lie
erected a small log house for his family, and in
that primitive home they resided for twenty-one
years. In 1884 lie built the handsome two-story
house now adorning the place at a cost of more
tlan $4,000. IIe is tlhe owner of two hundred and
fifty acres in the home farm and also eighty acres
on section 1, Laketon Township, sixty acres of
which have been placed under excellent cultivation.
May 9, 1861, occurred the marriage of Mr. IIorton to Miss IIanna Van Dusen, who was born in
Wayne County, N. Y., in 1836. HIer father, Hiram
Van )usen, and her mother, whose maiden name
was Mariall Crandall, were both natives of the empire State. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Horton lhas
been blessed by the birth of four children, namely:
Elma J., wife of Frank Wixson, of Laketon Township; Charles A., liram 0. and Clarissa F., who reside with their parents. With one exception these
children were born on the homestead now occupied by the family.
In politics a Republican, Mr. I-orton has alwa)ys
given his support to the principles of his chosen
party. In 1869 he was chosen Supervisor of Laketon Township, and has held that position more
than half the time since the organization of tile
township, being the present incumbent of the office.
Ile has also served as Highway Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Treasurer, and in other
local positions of trust. For many years he was
extensively engaged in the lumber business, spending the most of his time in the woods and hand



440


POlTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ling hundreds of thousands of dollars belonging
to Chicago parties. Ile is one of the most successful and best-informed lumbermen of the county,
but while his interests are large and his business
associations extensive, lie has ever been honorable
and upright in his transactions, and is justly
proud of the fact that he has never wronged a
maln.
ILLIAM WIHIPPLE, J1. Too much praise
cannot be bestowed upon the brave defenders of the Old Flag, who endured the
hardships incident to long and fatiguing marches,
dreary days in camp and perilous hours near the
foe. Mr. Whipple is one of the men to whose
bravery, undaunted courage and energy we owe
the preservation of out nation, the "land of the
free."  He is as progressive in civil life as lie was
brave during his military career, and both as soldier and farmer llas discharged the duties devolving up)on him with a cleerful and unwavering
fidelity.
A native of New York, our subject was born in
Ontario County September 19, 1839. Ilis father,
Stephen H. Whipple, was born in Erie, Pa., and at
the age of eleven years removed from  there to
New York, locating in Ontario County, where lie
resided until lie was forty.  I-e then came to
Michigan and settled in Ottawa County, near Iludsonville, where he still resides. He married Miss
Mary Ann Smith, whose parents removed from
New Jersey to Michigan, (lying in this State. Our
subject, tlle eldest of six children, received his
education in the district schools of the Lmpire
State, and worked on a farm until lie was twentyone.
Accompanying his parents to Michigan at the
age of sixteen, our subject assisted in clearing and
improving his father's farm. Upon attaining his
majority he commenced to work as a laborer in
the employ of others. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company I), Twenty-first
Michigan Infantry, and was mustered into the


service on the 3d of Septenber following. With
his regiment he participated in a number of desperate encounters witli tlhe rebels, including tlie
battles of Perryville, Ky., and Stone River, Tenn.
At tile battle last named he was severely wounded,
and was confined in a hospital for fourteen montls,
at tlhe expiration of which time he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. On the 16th
of August, 1864, lie was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and was serving in that capacity at the
time of his dischlarge, June 30, 1866.
Upon returning home, Lieut. Whipple resumed
farming operations upon tlle farm where lie has
since resided, and where he engages in raising the
various cereals to which this country is especially
adapted. Prior to entering the army he was married, February 2, 1862, to Miss Maria P., daughter
of Albert C. and Sarah (Pasco) White, natives of
Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Whlipple are the parents of one son, Fred G., who ]ias been a student
in tile Western Michigan College and tile Columbian College at G(rand Rapids. Socially, our subject is a member of Grand Rapids Lodge No. 34,
F. & A. M., and lHudsonville Lodge, 1. 0. 0. F.,
in which lie has held all the chairs. Politically,
lie las always been a Republican, and places an
abiding fait in that party.  Ie lias served in a
number of local offices, including tile positions of
Township Clerk and Drain Commissioner.
ACKSON J. BAKER, who owns and operates a good farm of sixty acres on section
29, Dalton Township, and is recognized as
one of the leading agriculturists of Muskegon County, is a native of the Pine Tree State.
He was born in Hancock County, July 10, 1845,
and is a son of William and Hannah (Van Horn)
Baker. Little is known concerning the early history of the family, save that it was founded in
New England at an early day. William Baker
was born in Maine, and reared to manlood upon
his father's farm, his parents spending their entire




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


441


lives in that State. At the age of twenty-two lie
left home to make his own way in the world.
Wishing to try his fortune in the West, he emigrated to Ohio, and secured a small tract of land
from tile Government. During his residence in
tlhe Buckeye State lie was married, and ten children were born of the union, namely: Sanford,
Sarah, Samuel, William, Jackson, Emery and
Amanda. Selling his farm in Ohio, Mr. Baker
emigrated to Michigan thirty-five years ago and
located in Clinton County. There lie purchased
three hundred acres of unimproved land, and to
its development and cultivation devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his life. Mrs.
Baker died when our subject was quite young, and
he was afterwards again married, having two clildren by the second union, Charles and John. In
politics, William Baker was a Democrat, and for
twelve years lie acceptably and creditably filled
the office of Justice of the Peace. Pleasant and
genial in manner, he was well liked by every one
and had no enemies. IIe held membership with
the Baptist Church, as did the mother of our
subject.
No event of special importance occurred during
the childhood and youth of the gentleman whose
name heads this record. On attaining his majority, he began life for himself upon a forty-acre
farm left him by his father. About 1871, he sold
that property and came to Muskegon County,
Mich., locating upon the farm where he now resides. He purchased sixty acres, a wild and heavily timbered tract, but his labors have transformed
it into fields of rich fertility. For fourteen years
he has been successfully engaged in the lumber
business.
While in Clinton County, Mich., Mr. Baker was
united in marriage with Miss Sylvia J. Stokes, and
by their union has been born a family of four children. Frank, the eldest, married Anna Burton, and
resides at No. 1218 Noble Avenue, Chicago. He
completed the High School course at Whitehall and
for several years has been on tile stage, being now
connected witl the theatrical profession. William,
who was engaged in teaching, is now attending
college in Big Rapids, Mich. Maude is a student
in the High School of Muskegon; and Winnefred


completes tile family. Tle Baker houselold is the
abode of hospitality, and its doors are ever open
for the reception of the many friends who delight
there to gather.
Socially, Mr. Ba.ker is connected with the Knighlts
of Honor of Whitehall. IIe las been called upon
to serve in various local oliices, was Townslhip)
Commissioner for years, Treasurer for two years,
and Supervisor for two years. The duties of
these positions lie has discharged with a promptness and fidelity that have won him the commendation of all concerned. A progressive and publicspirited citizen, tile best interests of the community ever find in him a friend.
);JELLS PARISH, a young and energetic
agriculturist and prosperous mill-owner
of Allendale Township, Ottawa County,
Mich., is a native of the State, and was born in
Polkton Township August 1, 1854. HIe is the son
of Enos and Valeria (Wait) Parish, prominent
citizens and pioneer settlers of the Wolverine
State, and was educated among the scenes of his
childhood in Polkton Township, and, trained to
habits of self-reliant industry, attained to manhood well fitted to make his own way in life.
Thoroughly grounded in agricultural duties, lie
began life for himself as a farmer, and although
he remained witl his fatler until twenty-five
years old lie received upon his twenty-first birthday forty acres of land, to which lie added sixty
acres, all at first entirely wild land, but since
brought lup to a high state of cultivation and improved with attractive and substantial buildings.
When twenty-six years old, Mr. Parish was
united in marriage with Miss Hattie Stevens, a
native of New Yolk and daughter of Ransom and
Maria (Smead) Stevens, who, emigrating from the
Empire State to the farther West, located in Michigan shortly after the final close of hostilities of
the late Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were
the parents of seven children, six of whom sur



442


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.


vived to adult age. Emily became the wife of J.
D. Pierson, of Sparta, Kent County, Mich.; Edward was killed while logging in Bass Rivet,
Mich.; Eliza is the wife of HIery Pierson, of
this township; Milo makes his home in Allendale Township; Iattie is the wife of our subject;
and HIarrison lives in the township.
When Mr. and Mrs. Parish were first married
they gave their undivided efforts to the improvement of their homestead, whose fertile soil, soon
yielding them  an abundant harvest, amply remunerated the patient toilers for all tlhe care and
labor expended in seed-time and harvest. The
llandsome two-story residence, the excellent barns,
and the general air of thrift and prosperity plainly
reveal tie success of tile owners of the valuable
farm. Mr. Parish also owns ten acres in Allendale Centre, where the family now  reside, and
where lie is engaged in the sawmill business, also
profitably running a feedmill.  In 1889 our subject entere( into milling, first conlducting a feedmill arnd then sawing short stuff. In April, 1892,
in company with Frank A. Parker, of Allendale
Townshlip, Mr. Parish built his present sawmill,
which has a capacity of twelve thousand feet daily.
The product of tile mill is mostly disposed of in
Grand Rapids, although the firm enjoys the custom
of a large county trade. Since attaining his majority, our subject has placed in lands and milling
machinery from $5.000 to *,6,000, which he has
accumulated by business ability and enterprise,
being ably aided and encouraged by his intelligent
life companion, wlo has proven herself a helpmate
indeed.
During the passing years eight children have,
with their intelligence brightened the home of
our subject and his estimable wife. Essie R. is the
eldest-born; then follow in order of birth Artie
L., Nellie M., Ada B. (deceased), Emily J., Charles
R., Avis E. and Newton W. Mrs. Parish occupies a high social position, and is a valued member of the Ladies' Aid Society of AllendaleTrownship. Our subject is a stockholder, a Director and
the first President of tlle Allendale Creamery
Company, established in the spring of 1893, and
takes an active interest in the promotion of all
vital interests of the township and county. Politi

cally a I)emocrat, and well posted in local and national issues, Mr. Parish is too absorbed in his
business to devote much time to politics, and has
never sought public office, but is nevertheless ever
ready to do his full share in all matters of public
welfare, and is numbered among tle leading citizens and substantial men of Ottawa County.
fe itl          w*hohe o
I il: ILLIAMI ANDERSON. Among those of
foreign birth who have sought homes in
\'^^  tile United, States and attained honorable
positions in social and business circles may be
mentioned the name of Mr. Anderson, a prominent farmer of Muskegon County, residing on
I section 23, Laketon Township. IHe inherits to a
large degree the qualities of energy, probity and
industry that have characterized the Swedes from
time immemorial, and that make them such a desirable class of settlers. Without the assistance
of influential friends and without money, lie has
worked his way onward and upward, gaining exI tensive possessions, and thlat which is betterthe good-will of his associates.
The parents of our subject were Samuel and
Sopllia (Amolia) Anderson, Inatives of Sweden,
where they passed their entire lives engaged in
agricultural pursuits. They were thle parents of
six children, and the third of tlese was William,
who was born in Sweden August 17, 1835. Ite
was reared in the land of his birth, receiving a
limited education in the common schools, and
early in life learning the trade of a gardener, at
which lie was employed for a number of years.
In 1865, accompanied by his family, lie emigrated to the United States, and, proceeding direct
to Micheigan, located in the city of Muskegon. At
first he worked by tie day at any employment
lie could secure, and for five years was witlh the
firn of Ryerson, Iill & Co., millers.
Iurchasing a farm in Laketon Township, Mr.
Anderson entered upon the active career of a
farmer, and has since continued to reside upon




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I


RESIDE[NCE OF WILLIAM ANDERSONJWROTH.MUSKEGON-, MICH.


RESIDENCE OF


RESIDENCE  OF JOH N  R.T W ISS,  S EC $. 12&8c13. CAS NOVI A  TFP. M U SKEGO N  CO.) M  CH.




I




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


445


the place he first located upon. IIe is the owner
of fifty acres, upon which he has placed all tlhe
improvements of a first-class farm. His life proves
what industry and perseverance may accomplish,
for when lie emigrated to tills country lie lhad
only $200 with which to start in business, but
through tireless energy lie has gained success.
For nine years he conducted a boarding-house at
his present residence, a substantial and conveniently arranged dw-elling of twenty-two rooms.
The lady who in October, 186(), became the
wife of Mr. Anderson bore tile maiden name of
Soplhia Walberry and was born in Sweden. They
werethe parents of ei:glt children,,ut only three
are now living: Josephine, wife of John Henry,
of Washington; Henry, a resident of Moline, 111.;
and Jennie, tile wife of Thomas Donehean, of
Saginaw, Mich. A little granddaughter, Maude,
makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, and
is tenderly cared for by them. In his political
affiliations our subject is a stanch adherent of
Republican principles, and supports tile candidates
of that party witl his influence and ballot.
O1lIN R. TWISS, one of the most extensive fruit-growers of Casenovia Township,
and a well-known citizen of Muskegon
County, was born in tile township of Norwich, Huron County, Ohio, on the 7th of September, 1849, being the son of William II. and Electa
(Bennett) Twiss. Iis paternal grandfatler, Abiel
Twiss, emigrated to America from Germany in
company witl two brotlers, and settled in Connecticut. Later he located in Monroe County,
N. Y., and tlience, in 1828, lie removed to IHuron
County, Oiio, where lie entered and illproved
two hundred acres. About 1860 lie removed to
Stark County, Il1., where his death occurred at tlhe
age of eighty-two. Iis wife survived him for a
number of years, passing away at the age of ninetyth ree.
The father of our subject was one of five chil22


dren, tile otlers being: George, Jonathan and
Abiel, wlo all died in Illinois; and Iarriet, who
resides in Monroeville, Ohlio. Grandfatler Twiss
was a Republican in politics, and was a soldier
in the XWar of 1812. 1Iis wife, whose maiden
name was Mary Witter, was of English descent,
and was born in New York in June, 1825. William I. Twiss was a cllild of three years when taken
by his parents to ()llio. In 1851 lie removed to Muskegon County,   icli., makinlg tlhe journey witli an
ox-team and a wagon. Reachingt tils county, lie entere(d eighty acres on section 25, Casenovia Township, and gave his attention to its improvement.
I-e also owned forty acres in Kent County.
Iuring the Civil War William II. Twiss enlisted
as a member of the Union army, but was rejected
upon examination on account of disability. Politically, lie was a Republican for years, but subsequently adopted Iemocratic principles. In his
religious convictions lie was a member of the
Metllodist lEpiscopal Church. IIe was an honorable, upright man, who made his religion a part
of llis practical everyday life, and at his (leatth,
February 15, 1890, lie was widely mourned as an
energetic citizen, kind-hearted neiglhbor and helpful friend. Of his marriage five children were
born: John R., Mary B. (MIrs. Iiechty), George
W., Smitli and Worth W. The mother of these
clildren was born in Ollio, whither ler father,
Isaac Bennett, had removed from New York, tihe
State of his nativity.  lIe and his wife, whose
maiden name was Hannah Cassady, reared a family of five sons and five daughters.
After having ga:ined a common-school education, our subject at tlhe age of twenty located on
section 12, Casenovia Township, wiere lie llas since
resided. IIis original purchase consisted of forty
acres, and lie is now  the owner of two hundred and forty acres, wlich lie has cleared. lIe
has erected a ntumber of neat farm   buildings,
and llas planted fifty-seven acres in an orchard
containing various kinds of fruit trees, including
seven thousand peach trees. Farming has been
his life vocation, although for seventeen years lie
also engaged in lumbering. He takes an active
interest in local political affairs, and is a stanch
adherent of Democratic principles.




446


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


June 11, 1871, Mr. Twiss married Miss Martha
Probasco, who was born in Newaygo County,
Mich. Her parents, George and Sarah (Surrarrer)
Probasco, emigrated from New York to Calhoun
County, Mich., and later came to Kent County,
and entered land upon the present site of Casenovia. There Mr. Probasco died in 1856, leaving
his widow with two children, Martha and Jacob.
Subsequently she married her brother-in-law, John
Probasco, and they became the parents of one
daughter. Her third husband was L. B. Murray,
to wlom she bore two sons. Slie was the daughter of Ransom Surrarrer, a native of New York,
whose father had emigrated  to America from
France. George Probasco was tile son of Peter,
who emigrated from New York to Ohio, and removed thence to Calhoun County, Mich., where
he died. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children: Royal C., Mabel B. and
Octavia G.,L. ST     G, +a leading busnes man an
L. STRENG, a leading business man and
prominent merchant of Montague, was
born in the Province of Utrecht, Iolland,
July 11, 1834. He is the son of John Abraham
and Maria (Schoeman) Streng, both natives of
Holland and descendants of a long line of sturdy
ancestry. John Abraham Streng was a hussar in
the Belgian War, and a painter by trade, and followed that vocation in his native country until
1847, when he emigrated with his family to America. They settled on a farm in Saugatuck, Allegan County, Mich., where the father died a year
later.
John A. and Maria Streng were the larents of
five children, three sons and two daughters. Louis
H., the eldest-born, is a painter residing in Grand
Rapids. Gertrude married Charles A. Pfaff, a
prominent politician, who was Marshal for years,
and served as Supervisor of the city.  He has
also efficiently served as Sheriff of Ottawa County. Mr. Pfaff died in 1888, leaving a widow


and six children to mourn his loss. Our subject
was the third in order of birth. John A. enlisted in the Civil War and served four years,
I articipating in many hard-fought battles. IIe
was under the command of McClellan and was in
the Army of the Tennessee. He has since been
chiefly connected with sawmills. Geziena married
Frank Fragy, a sailor, who now has employment
in the lightlouse at Grand Iaven.
(ur subject, wlio was fourteen years of age at
the time of his father's death, assisted in tile work
of the farm until 1856, when the family removed
to Holland, Mich., where his mother died, having
survived her husband eight years. At Holland C.
L. received employment in tlle store of Henry D.
Post, and later clerked for his brother-in-law,
Char les Pfaff. Whlen the latter became Sheriff
Mr. Streng, formerly a clerk, bought him out, and
from 1860 to 1867 conducted the business with
success. In 1864, shipping a boat-load of goods
from Chicago, the boat was lost and its cargo went
to the bottom, seriously crippling our subject,
who had with self-reliant efforts worked his way
upward. In 1867 the burning of the store conpleted his financial ruin and lie was obliged to begin over again.
Mr. Streng now went to Grand IHaven and engaged as liead clerk for ttle firm of Squires & Osgood. The failure of this firm at the expiration
of six months obliged him to seek other employment, and in a brief time lie had secured the position of book-keeper for Ferry, )owling & Co., at
Montague. From 1868 until 1883 lie continued
in the same round of duty, and when the E. P.
Ferry Lumber Company was incorporated lie was
elected Secretary and remained wvith them one
year, after which lie resigned, in tile spring of 1884.
Ile then took the census of Montague, after which
he went alone to Grand Rapids, where he was employed in the private office of I. M. Weston, and
was for a time book-keeper in the Fourth National
Bank of Grand Rapids. It was not long, however,
before Mr. Streng once more resumed his position
as book-keeper with the E. P. Ferry Lumber Company. In the spring of 1885 he engaged in thle
dry-goods business in Montague, and from small
beginnings has with enterprise built up a large




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


447


and rapidly increasing trade. lie also lias a store
at Holland, Mich., which is managed by his son,
Ienry P. Streng.
Upon June 13, 1861, C. L. Streng and Miss
-Ielena M. Sakkers were united in marriage. Mrs.
Strenlg was of Holland descent, and the daugllter
of Petel and,ollanna (Voorlage) Sakkers, the
former a cabinet-maker, then of Grand Rapids.
The estimable wife of our subject died in 1876, in
Minneapolis, Minn., leaving to tlle care of ler
husband three children.,John C., thle eldest, is a
graduate of tile State University and was chief
draughtsman in the Industrial Works of Bay City,
where lie remained from 1884 to 1893, and is now
employed as draughtsman at South Milwaukee.
He married Miss Chula Armstrong, of Bay City.
Minnie Streng, who was for six yearss a clerk in
her father's store, married Benjamin R. Hoffman,
now in the Auditor's ollice of the Chicago & West
Michigan Railroad at Grand Rapids. 'They are
the parents of one clild, EIrnest Strenag Hoffman.
Henry Peter Streng is a graduate of the Grand
Rapids Commercial College and is a parttner in
tile store wliich lie manages at Iolland. For two
years lie lel(d witli efficiency a position in tile
Grand Rapids National Bank, and for four years
was book-keeper of tlie Widdicomb & Musselinan
wholesale grocery establisllhment.
Our subject married again in 1877, his second
choice being Miss Mary llartinig daughlter of a
former leading artist of (rand Rapids. T'lhree
children have been born unto tills union, Charles
L.. Henrietta and Frederick S., all of wioni are
enjoying the best educational advantages of tleir
home vicinity. Politically, our subject alls been a
lifelong l)emocrat, and lias held numerous offices
of trust. For seventeen years Township Clerk, lie
has discharged tile duties devolving upon him to
the great satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. Uniting with the church in 1866, our subject, for
twenty years a faithful Elder of the Presbyterian
Church and an active religious worker, lhas also
done much to advance the cause of temperance.
Literally a self-made man, lie may with satisfaction review a life of energetic industry, animated
by a courage and determination which have enabled him to overcome obstacles and win financial


success and an abundant competence. An upright
man and liberal-spirited citizen, lie is universally
respected and enjoys the high regard of many
frien ds.


/_        +    — +  &
-  - - -- -+-.
I/  +EEE+ —


_


].
"^~


_


LFREI) ROBINSON, an honored pioneer
settler of Ottawa County, Mici., and a
k man of sterling integrity of character,
universally esteemed, passed to his rest
mourned by a host of old-time friends, in whose
hearts his memlory will long be green. Our subject, a native of Otsego County, N. Y., was born
in tile year 1826, was educated in the common
schools of the near vicinity of his birthlplace, and
attained manhood amid the familiar scenes of his
clhildhood. In 1842, self-reliantly seeking his fortuine in tile VWest, Mr. Robinson, in company with
a large plarty of more tlan two-score people, journeyed fromn the Empire State to Micligain and
located  in the woods in Robinson Township.
Clearing tile land, lie developed a fine farm  of
two hundred acres, and at one time owned immense tracts of land. To'etlher with llis associates lie hlad landed at Grand IIaven, and nearly
all of tile party settled permanently within the
boundaries of Ottawa County.
Our subject was united in marriage in Kent
County, Miich., to Miss Julia Ann, daughter of
Jolln King, a long-time citizen of Kent County.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson passed their entire wedded
lives in Ottawa County and there reared a family
of six children. Louisa is tlie widow of MorLtimer Lowing; Charles L. was tile second in order
of birth; Aifred makes his home in Robinson
Township; Sarah is tile wife of Edgar Freeman,of
Grand Rapids; Emnima is tlie wife of William Foster, of Robinson Village; and Edgar is a resident
of Grand Rapids.
Charles L. Robinsoii, the eldest son and second child of our subject, is a native of Ottawa
County, and was educated in the excellent public
schools of his home locality. At eighteen years




448


PORTRAIT AND l IOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of age, beginning life for himself, he engaged in
lumbering, a pursuit which he followed more or
less until 1873, when lie entered into the business
of a millwright, and since for several years has in
different parts of the Wolverine State engaged in
milling. In 1877 Charles L. Robinson and Miss
Annie Griswold were united in marriage. Unto
this union were born three children, two of wlom
are living, Mortimer and Watson B. The estimable wife did not many years survive her marriage,
and some time after her death this son of our
subject again wedded, marrying Miss Addie L.
Carter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Carter,
who still reside in Ottawa County. Unto this last
union were born three children, Melbourne, Margueriete and Mabel.
In the month of December, 1892, Charles L. Robinson located in Agnew and successfully engaged
in merchandising. He owns a part of the old
homestead and has been financially prospered.
He possesses the full confidence of his fellowtownsmen, by whom he has been a number of
times elected to responsible positions of local trust.
In the spring of 1893 he was elected Supervisor of
Grand Haven Township, and is now transacting
with efficiency the various duties of the office. -He
has also during the present year received tile appointment of Postmaster of Agnew, and has long
been known as a stanch Democrat, tried and true,
and for about eleven years served as Town Clerk
in Robinson. Fraternally a member of the Maccabees of Grand Haven, our subject has many
friends among the order, and as a citizen and
friend enjoys the high regard of a wide acquaintance.
GEEORGE FULLER, a successful farmer of
Tallmadge Township, and one of the energetic and public-spirited citizens of Ottawa
County, was born in the State of New York, August 20, 1820. He is the eighth of a family of
thirteen children born to Daniel and Annie (Ames)
Fuller, natives of New York, who died respect

ively about 1867 and 1863. His primary education was acquired in the common schools of Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and at the age of twelve years
lie accompanied his parents to Michigan, settling
with them in the woods of Wayne County. They
came to Michigan at a date so early in the history
of this State that 1)etroit, now the principal city
of this powerful commonwealth, contained only
three buildings. The surrounding country was all
a wilderness, overgrown with tangled shrubbery
and lofty forest trees.
This was in 1832. Sixty years and more have
come and gone since this little family sought a
home in Michigan. Thle parents are deceased and
the children scattered in various parts of the
country; but the State of which they were pioneers has continued to grow, and is now one of
the most prominent in the galaxy of commonwealths of this great Union. Our subject spent
ten years in Detroit, after which lie removed to
Macomb County and sojourned there for about
three years. I-e came to Grand Rapids in February, 1843. At that season of tlie year the country was covered witll snow and it was impossible
to secure employment of any kind. IIe had five
shillings in money and also had the pronlise from
his brother, who lived near Grand Rapids, that he
would give him work to do in the spring; meanwhile lie was given the privilege of remaining
with the brother and settling for his board after:
ward.
In the spring of 1843 Mr. Fuller began the
chopping of timber, and succeeded in clearing one
hundred acres in eighteen months. I-e lascleared
a farm in Kent County, one in Newaygo County,
and one in Ottawa County, upon which he resides.
He has devoted his attention to farming and lumbering. In 1862 he enlisted as a member of the
Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, in which he served
until he was disabled, when lie was discharged.
During the period of his active service lie participated in a number of skirmishes, in all of which
he bore his part with the gallantry and courage of
a true patriot.
Miss Emily, daughter of Jesse Smith, of Kent
County, Mich., became the wife of our subject in
1845. Six children were born of tile union. Re



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


449


becca married John Betts and lives in Ottawa
County; Susanna is the wife of Robert Andrews,
and makes her home in Newaygo County; Euphema is the wife of the Rev. Robert Linn. of Indiana; George E. married Miss Ida Squires, and resides in Kansas; L. P. married Miss Mabel Applegarth and also lives in Kansas; and Louana is the
wife of Andrew Vogel, and makes her home with
our subject.
In politics Mr. Fuller is an advocate of the
People's party. In 1880 lie was nominated by
tlen Democrats for Representative of Newaygo
County, but declined the nomination and during
the same year he cast his ballot with the Greenback larty. HIe was the first Treasurer ever elected
in Ashland Township, Newaygo County, and also
filled tlie position of Supervisor for several terms.
Socially, lie is a member of Champlin Post No. 29,
G. A. R.,at Grand Rapids, Tallmadge Grange, and
Berlin Lodge No. 248, F. & A. M. While not a
member of any church, lie believes in the immortality of the soul.
LONZO B. SUMNER. Prominent among
the farmers of White River Township,
Muskegon County, may be mentioned the
name of Mr. Sumner, an efficient and progressive agriculturist, whose home is located on
section 11. IIe is the son of Putnam AV. and Calista (Merrick) Sumner, the former of whom was
born in Vermont in 1801, and the latter in New
York in 1813. They were married in the Empire
State, and for a time resided near Malone, where
the father followed the occupation of a farmer,
and was also engaged at his trade of a blacksmith.
Coming to Michligan in 1854, Putnam W. Sumner settled on a farm in Macomb County, where
he resided for twelve years. Thence lie came to
Muskegon County and settled on section 11, White
River Township, purclhasing here a tract of timberland, wholly destitute of improvements and occupying a lonely situation, remote from any neigh

bors. Here he continued to till the soil until his
death, which occurred in April, 1892; his wife had
passed away in 1880. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and uprigllt and noble in character, winning by the kindness and goodness of their lives the high regard
of all with whom they came in contact. A Republican in politics, he served as Supervisor of
White River Township, Justice of the Peace and
Schlool Director.
In the Sumner family there were eight children,
six of whom grew to maturity and three are now
living. William P. is a resident of Detroit, Micli.;
Julia is the wife of Thomas B. Ilubbard, of White
River Township, and the mother of three children;
and our subject is the next in order of birth.
George W. died, leaving a wife and five children,
four of whom are now living; Laura, deceased,
was the wife of Arclie Green and the mother of
two children; and Julius, the youngest, is also
dead. During the war the family sympathized
with the Union cause, and William P. served as a
member of tile Twenty-seventh MIichigan Infantry,
being breveted Major.
Born in Malone, N. Y., April 21, 1851, the subject of this sketch was a child of three years when
lie was brought to Michigan, and lie received a
common-school education here. His time, however, was principally devoted to farm  work, and
early in life he gained a thorough knowledge of
agriculture. At the age of twenty-one he went
to Detroit, wlere he engaged as a clerk in his
brother's store. After a short sojourn in Detroit
lie proceeded to the mining regions of Lake Superior in company with his brother George, and there
engaged as a copper-miner in the employ of Mr.
Farewell. LHe was also employed for one and onehalf years in the Calumet & Heckla mines, and
was afterward Superintendent of the Alloway
Mine Railroad until the winter of 1873.
Returning to Muskegon County, Mr. Sumner
has since resided on section 11, where lie owns
ninety acres of land, forty-five of which are under
cultivation. He is largely interested in fruit, having planted apple, pear, peach and cherry trees
in large numbers. Here he engages in general
farming and stock-raising with flattering success.




450


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


lie was married in 1876 to Miss Ada Selleck,
whose father, Hubbard Selleck, migrated from
New York to Michigan, settling first in Flint and removing thence to Schooleraft, Kalamazoo County.
Mrs. Ada Sumner died June 30, 1889, aged thirtyeight years. Their union lhad resulted il the birth
of three children: Nellie L., Fred A. and Ada G.
The second marriage of MIr. Sumner occurred Mav
28, 1891,and united him witll Miss Ella MI. Youngs,
a native of Michigan and a daughter of tile late
William Youngs, a soldier in the Civil War. They
are the parents of one cllild, Eloise.
In religious connections, Mr. Sumner is a Trustee in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is Librarian and Treasurer of the Sunday-school, in
whichl he has also been a teacler. In politics lhe
is a lRepublican, with Prohibition sympathies. He
is at present Moderator of School District No. 4,
and lhas frequently been a delegate to conventions. From 1886 until 1889 lie was Supervisor
of Wlhite River Townslip; he also served as Township Treasurer for two terms, and as Highway
Commissioner for one term.
J l AMES HUNTLEY. Each succeeding year
witnesses many narked improvements in
thle city of Holland, particularly in tile way
of fine business blocks, residences, etc., and
in all tlese structures are blended strength, durability and beauty.  Among tllose wlho have
acquired a wide reputation as contractors and
builders, there is probably no one more popular
and prominent tlan James IIuntley, whose reputation is not merely local, but extends over a
wide scope of country. This gentlemen is well
qualified for executing all work appertaining to
h     i    is business, isplays remarkably good judgment,
and is in every way well qualified to render satisfaction to all placing orders or slecial commissions in his hands. He understands thoroughly
every dietail of his business, is prompt, energetic


and active, and thoroughly deserves the success
tlhat has crowned his efforts. H-e is President of
the Ottawa Furniture Company at Holland, and is
one of the most stirring, wide-awake business men
of the place.
Mr. Ituntley is a native of England, born in
Kent, October 10, 1845, and the son of George
luintley, who was also a native of Kent. The
father, wlho was a contractor and builder in his native town, was a man of more than ordinary prominence. Our subject was educated in England and
after leaving the schoolroom  he began learning
the trade of carpenter and joiner, which lie followed for eleven years. In the year 1868 lie was
married in England to Miss Julia Thlorpe, a native of Kent, and a daughter of James Thorpe,
who was also a builder and contractor. In the
year 1870 Mr. lHuntley and family crossed the
ocean to America and came direct to Michigan,
locating in Iolland, where lie opened a carpenter shop. Every year lie kept rebuilding, and
is now one of thle foremost men in his business
in the city. Many of tle fine residences that
have been erected by him are a source of pleasure
to the owners and of pride to -Iolland, a town already rich in the possession of tasty and commodious dwellings.
Mr. Huntley is President of the electric light
plant in Holland, the same having been organized about eigllteen montls ago, and lie was one
of tile organizers of the Ottawa Furniture Company in 1890. This company employs about one
hundred and ten men and the factory is located on
River Street. Tilis vast enterprise does an annual
business of $165,000. It has a capital stock of
$40,000, and has aided materially the progress and
development of tlhe city.  Mr. Huntley is a stockholder in the First State Bank. Like many of the
best citizens of the county, lie started out to fight
life's battles for himself with limited means, but
by industry and good management has become
one of tle substantial men of the city. All the
most prominent buildings, botll for private use
and for business, have been erected by Mr. Huntley
and are a credit to his skill and ability as a contractor and builder. In his political views lie is a
Dlemocrat and has ever advocated the principles




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


451


of that party. HI-e has been a member of the School
Board for some time, and has ever been publicspirited and enterprising, contributing liberally of
his means to advance all worthy enterprises. Socially, he is a member of tile Elks and has held tlle
office of Senior Warden in the Ancient Free &
Accel)ted Masons. To his marriage were born the
following children: George, Mary, Nellie, Harry,
Cecil and Adeline.
ZRA    -. SMAEAI). T'le Empire State has
furnished to Michigan, and especially to OtF -^  tawa County, many representative citizens,
and among them miglht be mentioned Ezra lI.
Smead, who has resided here for nmany years. In
everything connected witli the growth and prosperity of the county, lie has ever taken an active
interest, and as a tiller of the soil he stands in the
foremost ranks. His life of industry and usefulness, and his record for integrity and true-hearted
faithfulness in all the relations of life, have given
him a hold upon the community which all might
well desire to share.
Mr. Smead's parents, Charles and Patty (Rose)
Smead, were natives respectively of Canada and
Vermont, and the Smead family was among tle
first in the Blue Mountain State. Tlie Rose family settled in Vermont at a later date and came
originally from  Ireland. Charles Sinead was a
farmer by occupation, and moved from New York
(whither his parents had removed at an early date)
and settled on the farm where our subject now
resides in 1866. This farm was covered with a
heavy growth of timber, and it required a great
amount of work to get it in condition for farming.
For years lie was engaged in tilling on this farm,
and here died in 1885, at tile age of eighty-six
years. His wife still survives, and is now in her
ninetieth year, having been born in 1804. Mr.
Smead was born in 1799. While residing in New
York, both lie and his wife were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was Class

leader in the same. After coming to the Wolverine State, they attached themselves to the Wesleyan Meothodist Church, and passed the remainder of
their days identified with that church.  They
were the parents of ten children, eight of whomn
lived to years of maturity. Mariaih is the wife of
Ransom Stevens; Avis, deceased, was the wife of
Robert Avery, of Rhode Island; Alfie is the widow
of Lemuel B. Johnson, and resides in Idalo;
Charles, who is deceased, left a family in Grand
Rapids; Hannah is the wife of Darwin Merritt, of
St. Lawrence County, N. Y.- Harriet, deceased,
was the wife of Robert Cantrell; E. H. is our subject; Elijah R. resides in this township; and Riley
and one unnamed died in infancy.
Ezra HI. Smead, the subject of this sketch, was
principally educated in St. Lawrence County, N.
Y., and came to Michigan witl his father. Previous to locating in this State, he was engaged in
farming, and this has continued to be his chosen occupation. When the family first settled in Michigan, Mr. Smead paid $500 in cash for the farm on
which our subject now lives, and had sufficient left
to enable him to pass through the first year. The
country was wild and unsettled, there were no
public roads, Indians abounded, and the woods
were full of game. Mr. Smead has done considerable hard work in his day, but now has his farm in
a line state of cultivation. Nearly all tile improvements made on it llave been done by himself or under his immediate supervision. The first five years
after coming to the State were spent on a rented
farm, and during this time our subject and his father cleared a portion of the farm and erected a
frame residence and a good barn. Mr. Smead has
a good orchard of three acres, and in a small way
is engaged in bee culture.
In 1869 Mr. Smead was elected Township Clerk
and re-elected to the same position for six years.
He has also served as School Inspector, and was
elected a number of times as Justice of the Peace,
but would not serve. On the 1st of January, 1867,
he was married to Miss Fannie E. Woodburry, a native of New York, and the dauglter of Nathan
and Lucy (Maxfield) Woodburry, both of whom
died when Mrs. Smead was quite small. Mr. and
Mrs. Woodburry were the parents of three chil



452


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,


dren: Fannie E., John Joseph and Susan. To Mr.
and Mrs, Smead were born two clildren: Elmer
E., born November 8, 1867, and one who died in
infancy. They have an adopted daughter, Alice
S. (Wilks) Smead. Mr. and Mrs. Smead and the
children are members of tlhe Wesleyan Metllodist
Church. Mr. Sincad is Trustee of the building and
property and Steward of the church. Mrs. Smead
is Treasurer and Steward of the church, and President of the Woman's Christian     Temperance
Union at Allendale, as well as Vice-President of
the Ladies' Aid Society, of wlicli she was tile
founder and first President. Both Mr. and AMrs.
Smead take a deep interest in Sunday-school work,
the latter having been a teacher since the organization of tlle church. Tile son, Elmer E., served
as Secretary of the Sunday-schlool, and takes quite
an active interest in the sclhool.
\ OIN  W. A. TURNER. Ionored among
tle citizens of Ottawa County stands the
name of Mr. Turner, who owns and occupies one of Tallmadge Townslip's most attractive and highly cultivated farms. Since locating here lie las planted fruit and shade trees,
divided the fields by a fine system of fencing,
erected substantial buildings adapted to their varied purposes, and introduced modern conveniences of a desirable nature. [-e no longer, as in
years past, actively tills the soil, but, notwltlstanding advancing years, he still superintends the
managemrent of his estate.
The father of our subject, Ezra Turner, a native
of Massachusetts, gained the title of Captain from
his services as commanding officer of a company
during the War of 1812. lie married Miss Anna,
daughter of Nathan Beman, wlio during thle conflict with the British piloted the famous Ethan
Allen into  Ft. Ticonderoga. Our subject, tile
eleventh in older of age among his father's family,
was born in Schuyler Falls, Clinton County, N. Y.,
August 27, 1819. I)uring his childhood he at

tended the schools of his native town, where lie
gained a practical education, fitting him for the
stern realities of life. Iis time, however, was devoted principally to agriculture, and lie early in
life gained a thorough knowledge of farming pursuits while aiding his father on the home farm.
At the age of seventeen, our subject commenced
to earn his own support, and for a short time
worked as a farm laborer, but later learned the
trade of a wrought-iron maker, at which lie found
employment for a period of eleven years. tIe
tlen l)urchased a farm in his native county, but
after tilling the soil there for a few years le bougllt
a tract of land in Lawrence County, N. Y., where
he made his home for fourteen years, meanwhile
bringing thle place to a high state of cultivation
and embellishing it with substantial buildings.
Upon disposing of his interests in New York, lie
came to Miclhigan and for a few months visited
witlh relatives at Grand Rapids.
Later, purchasing the farm where he now lives,
Mr. Turner conmenced the arduous task of improving and cultivating the place, which is now
one among the many handsome estates in Tallmadge Township. In 1840 he cast his ballot for
Gen. William II. Halrison, and had the intense
gratification of voting for the grandson of tliat
illustrious warrior and President many years afterward. Since the organization of the Republican
party lie las upheld its principles and been an
earnest advocate of every measure originated under its auspices. IIe has served as Supervisor of
Tallmnadge Township for two terms and has also
occupied other responsible positions.
The marriage of Mr. Turnel occurred on the
11thl of July, 1842, and united him with Miss
Percis, daughter of Gardner and Elizabeth (Ricketson) Davis, residents of Peru, Clinton County,
N. Y. To this marriage have been born three
children, two of whom are living. George I).
married Lillian Mar vin, and resides at Grand
IHaven, this State. John G. chose as his wife
Miss Sarah Chapel and lives with his venerable
parents on the home farm. July 11, 1892, Mr.
Turner and his good wife celebrated their golden
wedding, and upon that happy occasion their
friends assembled at their home, bestowing upon




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


453


them congratulations anid gifts of value. It is the
wish of tleir lIosts of friends that they may survive for many years in the enjoyment of health
and happiness.
5/r  _0I()IIOAS TMUIRPIIY, Chief of Police of Mus-,/i(/  kegon, was born in Ontario County, N. Y.,
tz    September 7, 1844. Ile is the son of Clarles
and Jane (Wright) Mulrphy, natives respectively
of Ireland and England, wlho emigrated to tle
United States soon after their marriage and located
in Rocllster, N. Y., remaining in tlat city until
their deatl. Thomas of tllis sketch passed his
early school days in Canandaigua, wlhere ie lgained
a )practical education. Upon leaving school, he
was for a time employed on tlhe railroad, remaining thus engaged until the outbreak of the Civil
War.
In 1861 Mr. Murphy, though a youth of only
seventeen, enlisted as a member of the Ninetynintll New York Infantry, and served for two
years, being honorably discharged at tlhe expiration of his term of enlistment. I-e tthen re-enlisted
as a member of the Fourth New York Ieavy Artillery, and was assigned witl his regimlent to the
Army of the Potomac, in wilich lie served with
valor until the close of the war. In recognition
of meritorious conduct lie was promoted from
the ranks to tlle position of First Lieutenant, and
subsequently became Captain of his company.
Among the battles in which lie participated may
be mentioned tile engagements of Fa'ir Oaks and
Spottsylvania Court H-ouse, together witl a large
number of minor skirmishes. In September, 1865,
lie was honorably discllarged, and returned to
Rochester, N. Y., bearing witl him tlie record of a
brave soldier and gallant officer.
After his return to Rochester, Mr. MIurplhy was
for four years engaged as a clerk in a hotel. In
1871 lie came to Michigan, locating ill Muskegon,
and accepted tle position of conductor on the
Chicago & West Michigan Railroad. lie continued


in the employ of tile railroad for sixteen years,
holding various positions, and finally receiving a
merited pr)omotion to the position of General
Roadmnaster, in which capacity lie served until, on
account of failing health, lhe was obliged to resign.
Upon retiring from railroad service lie was appointed Clief of I'olice, in whlich lie las proved
himself an efficient officer.
In his fraternal connections, Mr. Murphy is
identified witl thle Knigllts Templar and tile
Maccabees, also tile Modern Woodmen of Anerlica
and Phil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R. Politically, lie is an earnest and enthusiastic champion
of tle I)emocratic party, of wlich lie is a firmn and
war m  supp)orter, advocating its principles witll
unwavering loyalty and fidelity. Kind and considerate in his intercourse witl his associates, and
ever thoughtful and helpful in his business dealings, lie enjoys the regard of the citizens of the
community.
) ville, Ottawa County, Mich., and well known
asa man of practical business ability, las
been prominently connected with various leading
interests of his present locality. lie is a stockholder
in the Coopersville Creamery, and when thle building was erected in 1893 was elected Treasurer. IIe
is also largely interested in the elevator business
of tile village. Our subject is a native of Michigan,
and was born in St. Joseph County, his parents being among the earliest settlers in that part of the
State. His father, David Oakes, was a native of
tlie Empire State, but wllen only a little lad journeye(t with his father and mother from New York
to the Westward, the paternal grandparents then
making tleir home in Ohio.   )avid Oakes and
his wife emigrated to the Wolverine State in 1852,
and, locating in the dense woods of St. Joseph
lCounty, the father entered with energetic industry
into the clearing, cultivation and improvement
of a farm. A man of ability, he had received




454


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


a thoroughly l)ractical education in the schools
of Ohio and had taught in his early manhood.
I-Ie was guided by upright principles and was a
courageous and truly patriotic American citizen.
When the Civil War broke out, David Oakes,
raising a company of volunteers, was conlmissioned Captain and enlisted under Gov. Blair.
The father served with gallantry  under Gen.
Rosecrans, but shortly after tlhe battle of Murfreesboro died from  the exposure and fatigue
incidental to the campaign. A year later our subject lost his mother, so that at the early age of
eleven years lie was left without a home and had
to make his own way in the world after that..Tie surviving children of the parents' family
were Dustin C., our subject, and Jessie F., now Mrs.
I-. R. Curtis, of Lyons. Mr. Oakes passed the
days of childhood and attained to manhood in St.
Joseph County. Ambitious and self-reliant, lie
worked out by the month to acquire the means to
educate liimself in tlle Agricultural College, from
which institution lie graduated with lhonor in 1874.
Immediately following the completion of his studies, Mr. Oakes taught school for one year, and
acilieved success as an instructor.
In 1876 Dustin C. Oakes and Miss Nora, daughter of Rufus Kelly, of Lyons, were married. For
the succeeding five years our subject prosperously
engaged in the tilling of the soil. -He served as
Deputy County Clerk for one year, then soon after
entered into banking, to which latter business he
has devoted himself mainly since 1883, when he
settled in Shelby, Oceana County, his permanent
home for a llalf-score of years. Upon January 1,
1891, Mr. Oakes removed to Coopersville, and
bought his present business of D. O. Watson & Co.
and continuing in the same has prosperously
extended the original interests, and in his present
relations witli the public enjoys the entire confidence of the community by whom lie is surrounded.
Although comparatively a new-comer in the village, our subject is now recognized as an important
factor in the promotion and development of local
enterprise.
Two children, a daughlter and son, have with
their bright presence cheered the pleasant home.
Mr. and Mrs. Oakes occupy a prominent social po

sition and are foremost in tlie good works of their
locality. Fraternally, our subject is connected
witll tile Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
has received tile ligliest degree in that ancient and
honored order. Widely known and highly esteemed
for his business and social attainments, Mr. Oakes
is universally respected and possesses the best
wishes of a host of friends.
RTHUR L. STURGIS. The agricultural
interests of Muskegon County have a
L  worthy and honorable representative in
the gentleman above named, who for a
number of years has been successfully engaged in
farming and stock-raising on section 30, Eggleston
Townslip. As an agriculturist lie has made of his
chosen occupation a science, to the study of which
lie ihas given his close attention, gaining in return
a thoroughl knowledge of every department of
farm work. In the rotation of crops and fertilization of the soil, lie exercises excellent judgment,
and thus every acre of the land is made to produce the very best results.
Born in Romeo, Mich., June 9, 1854, our subject
is the son of Judson T. and Fannie (Harris) Sturgis, natives of the State of New York.  Iis father
was a harness-maker by occupation, and during
the opening year of the Civil War enlisted in the
Union army and for four years fought valiantly
in the defense of our country's cause. Ilis children are justly proud of his brave and loyal service, and in the annals of our nation his name is
recorded as one of the heroes of thle long and
bloody conflict.  At the close of the war, when
peace once more reigned throughout this country,
lie returned to the old home in Muskegon County,
Mich.
Upon locating in Muskegon County in the fall of
1865, Judson T. Sturgis embarked in farming pursuits, and was thus engaged for seven years, after
which lie engaged in the harness business for




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


455


about twelve years, or until his death in 1890. Our
subject, before the demise of his father, succeeded
to tile management of tile harness business, which
lie conducted until 1889. Ile then disposed of his
interests in lMuskegon, and removing to Eggleston
Townslipi settled upon the farm he now occupies.
lere lie owns one hiundred and twenty acres of
well-improved land, upon which lie has already
placed a nunber of valuable improvements, includingr a substantial set of buildings. (utside of
farl'ing affairs lie lhas other large and valuable interests, and lhas recently received tlhe contract for
graveling five miles of county road at.$5,000.
A very important event in the life of Mr. Sturgis was Ills marriage, wliicll occurred on the 23d
of September, 1881, and united him with Miss
Alice, daughter of Joselph and Mary Bates, natives
of New York and Canada, reslectively. Mrs. Sturgis was born in Trenton, Micl., and was there
reared to womanhood. She is a lady possessing
many noble qualities, wliiclh endear ler to a large
circle of acquaintances. Her interests centre in
her home, and she lhas been not only an efficient
helpmate, but also a devoted motlier to her tlree
children, Judson J., Alvin A. and Mildred.
~ ----   ------ -qq$**$..I* *_'_~^q.*4.~4.*- -;j  IJlCE 11. JACKS()N, General Manager of
the lumbering of the West Michigan Ium(   i )  ber Company, was born in.Johnson Townslhip, Trumbull County, (hio, on the 5th
of April, 1844. Tie family of wlicli he is an
llonored representative has an establislhed reputation for patriotism, energy and loyalty, and our
subject, by his honorable and successful life, lias
added lustre to tlie name lie bears. Iis l)aternal
grandfatller, Johln WV. Jackson, enlisted in tlie
War of 1812 as a Drum Major, and subsequently
was promoted to tlhe rank of Captain. After tlie
close of tile conflict, lie resumed farming operations in New York, and also engaged in merchandising. From New York lie removed to ()hio,
where his death occurred.


An active Democrat in politics, (Grandfather
Jackson served in a number of township offices,
representing lhis fellow-citizens acceptably in whatever position lie was called to occupy. In tile
Methlodist Episcopal Churcl lie possessed ogreat influence, and his counsels were always judicious and
acceptable. lie was twice married, and by his first
union b)ecame thle father of two chlildren, Ilermian
and Eliza A. Of his second marriage three cliilldren were born. Herman 1). Jackson, father of
our subject, was born in New York, and accompanied his parents to Ohio, wlheie lie learned tlle
trade of a saddler. IIe followed that occupation,
and also engaged in vairious other business enterpriscs, until lhis death in 1857, at the age of fortyeight. Ile had been twice married, his first tinion
resulting in tlhe birl't of one son, James.  Ie land
his second wife, whose maidenl name was Lydia
Chase, were tlhe parents of three children, MIary
A., Bruce II. and HIector R.
Tlhe Ipaterial gratndfatller of our subject was
l)avid Chase, a contractor and carpenter, whlo resides in New York. Blruce II. was tle recipielnt
of colmmon-scllool advantages in tlhe Buckeye
State. and grew to a sturdy manhood well qualified to till a position of usefulness in the business
world. In 1861, as a member of Company B,
Elighty-fourtlh Ohlio Infantry, lie served in West
Viriinia. At the expiration of his term   of enlistment, he again went to tlhe front, his name being enrolled as a member of Company F, Sixth
Olio Cavalry. IIe participated in the engagements at Gettyslburg, Custer, Spottsylvania, Bardon Cross Roads (or Muddy Branch), Danville, tlie
battle of the Wilderness, Wilson's raid, Ft. Steplhens, and othler engcagements of minor importance.
WVlile at Salisbury in a riot lie was injured while
attempting to escape.
On the 5th of August, 1865, Mr. Jackson was
honorably dischlarged at Camp Chase, and, returning to his home, soon afterward entered the oil
regions. In 1866 he went to Newaygo, Micll.,
where for one year he was engaged as a stage
driver. In the summer of 1867 lie was in tile employ of Stookey, Hutch &- Varney, lumbermen,
and later lie engaged in the lumber business for
himself. For fourteen years lie has been Superin



456


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tendent and General'  Manager for the Western
Michigan Lumber Company, and meantime has resided in various places. For six years lie has
made his home in Casenovia, of which he is a
prominent citizen.  His landed possessions include eighty acres in Casenovia Township, ahalf-interest in five hundred and twenty acrcs in
Moorland Township, Musekegon County, some
valuable real estate in Casenovia and two hundred
acres in Newaygo County.
Socially, Mr. Jackson affiliates with the Masonic
fraternity, being a member of the Chapter. Politically a Republican, his first Presidential ballot
was cast for Gen. Grant, and lie llas ever since upheld the principles of tliat party. October 5, 1867,
lie married Miss Emogyene, daugllter of Iavid and
Lucy (Blodgett) Bell, and they became the parents
of three children: Maud V., wlo died at the age of
eleven years; Mamie B. and Ward G. The children have been the recipients of excellent educational advantages, and the son was graduated
from the Valley City Commercial College in 1891.
AVID E. CALIFF. There are few more respected farmers of Muskegon County than
Xour subject, whose home is on section 13,
Fruitland Township. Hie is one of the early settlers of this State, to which lie emigrated in 1858
and a year later located in the pine woods on his
present farm. Here lie entered one hulndred and
sixty acres from the Government, and lias made all
the improvements upon the place himself. It was
formerly heavily timbered, but the owner has cut
down and sold most of the lumber on the place. It
is now a well-developed farm, fertile and rich.
The parents of our subject were Jonathan and
Polly (Chamberlain) Califf. The father of the
former, Stephen Califf, was born in one of the New
England States and followed agricultural pursuits.
He had learned the cooper's trade and engaged in
that business during the winters. About the year


1814, lie emigrated Westward to Pennsylvania, settling in Bradford County and becoming the owner
of a good farm, upon which lie remained until his
death in 1840, at the age of seventy-five years. His
ballot was ever cast in favor of the Democratic
party, and, religiously, he was a member of the Baptist Church. Jonathan Califf was born and reared in
Vermont and there received as good an education
as could be received at that early day. Of his
father he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed more or less during his life. He was also a
good general farmer in Pennsylvania, to whicl
State he removed with his parents when about
twenty years of age. He was one of a family of
twelve children. In Bradford County was celebrated his marriage with Miss Chamberlain, and six
children came to bless their union. Of these our
subject is the second in order of birth and the
others are as follows: Linas A., deceased; 0. W.;
Lucy, deceased; Irena A., wife of Jonathan King;
and Samuel. The mother of these children was a
devoted member of the Baptist Church, and was
called from the shores of time in 1836. Jonathan
Califf married for his second wife Miss Cynthia
Orton. He was Captain of a company during
the muster days. In early life, he affiliated with
the Democratic party, but afterward became a supporter of the Whig party. His death occurred in
the Keystone State.
IThe birth of David E. Califf occurred in Bradford County, Pa., in 1825. IIe received a fair education in the schlools of the neighborhood and was
early inured to farm life. He remained with his
parents until reaching his twenty-first year, when
he purchased a piece of wild land on which he lived
for several years, during which time he greatly
improved the property. Believing that he could
better his prospects by removing to a newer State,
he came to Michigan in 1858, since which time he
has been a prominent factor in her development
and prosperity. As stated at the beginning of this
sketch, it has been nearly thirty-five years since his
settlement on his present farm, and during this
period he has always been actively interested in the
welfare of this region. Recognizing his ability,
his neighbors have frequently called upon him to
hold responsible local positions, and among others




PORTRAIT AND BIOGI


he has been Township Treasurer. In politics, lie
supports the Republican nominees and principles.
In religious belief, lie is a Methodist and has for
many years been a worker in the church.
Before leaving Pennsylvania, the marriage of
David E. Califf and Miss HIarriett Knickerbocker
was celebrated. IIer parents were Alvin and Lucinda (Kelly) Knickerbocker, both of whom were
natives of the Empire State. Of the nine children,
who graced the union of our subject and his wife,
two died in chilhood, while tile record of those surviving is as follows: Charles E. wedded Emma
Evens; Frank took for his wife Miss Mary Poison;
Adelbert married Ida Gage; Emma is the wife of Albert Jinkins; and Ernest R. married Nellie McMillon. Ella, now deceased, was the wife of B. Scolds;
and James, deceased, married Elizabetll Sack. The
devoted wife and mother of these children departed
this life in 1890. Two of the sons, Charles and
Frank, served with credit in the War of the Rebellion. The former was in the infantry service, while
the latter belonged to the department of artillery.
Though they took part in a number of engagements
they were fortunate in escaping without injury.
Mr. Califf and his family are deservedly honored
and respected in this county.
\      — RANK M. SPRAGUE, a lumber dealer of
Grand Haven, well deserves representa/1\  tion in this volume, for he is a leading
business man of the city and has been prominent
in all public affairs that tend to promote the growth
and upbuilding of the community. His life record is as follows: A native of the Empire State,
he was born in Jefferson County on the 2d of
April, 1838. He comes of an old family of New
York, but the Spragues were originally from
Wales and settled in New England during Colonial days. The grandfather of our subject, Horatio
Sprague, spent his entire life in the Empire State.
The father, Lonson G. Sprague, was there born, and
having arrived at mature years he wedded Mary


RAPHICAL RECORD.                          457
Warner.   -Ier death occurred in 1863, and lie departed this life in Jefferson County in 1875, at an
advanced age.
The gentleman whose name heads this record is
the eldest in a family of ten children. HIe was
reared to habits of industry and usefulness, an(d
as the result became a self-reliant and enterprising
man. Iis own education being completed, lie engaged in educating otlers, being a school teacher
for some time. tIe liad come to the West
when only fifteen years of age, and while still a
youth shipped before tlhe mast on the vessel, "M.
L. Collins," which sailed from  Toledo, Oliio. le
was on the Great Lakes for sixteen years, and by
meritorious conduct won promotion and advanced
step by step until he became captain of a vessel.
During the winter season, when it was impossible
to sail on the Lakes, lie would go to New York
and sail on the Atlantic, until the arrival of another spring would make navigation on the Lakes
again possible, when lie would return. IIe continued sailing on the inland seas until 1872.
In 1860, Mr. Sprague was united in marriage
with Miss Martha J. Wilder, of Oswego County,
N. Y., who after eighteen years of married life
died leaving two children, daughters, Frances M.
and Berdella. In 1881, Mr. Sprague was again
married, his second union being with Miss 5Marietta Iutson, of Grand Haven.    They have a
pleasant home at the corner of Third and Columbia Streets, and its hospitable doors are ever ol)en
for the reception of their many friends.
When Mr. Sprague left the Lakes he began shipcarpentering and later engaged in the millwrlight
business. In 1874, he began handling and inspecting lumber. IHe is a splendid judge of both
hard and soft woods and can therefore buy lumber to good advantage. IIe is now conducting
a thriving lumber trade on his own account, which
yields him an excellent income. His success is largely due to his enterprise and industry and able management, as well as to his knowledge of the qualities of lumber. In politics, Mr. Sprague is independent. Socially, he is connected with Highland
Tent No. 203, K. O. T. M., and is a member of Ottawa Lodge No. 46, I. O..F. He is a pleasant,
genial gentleman, whose cordial and gentlemanly




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


manner has made him very popular and won him
a host of friends, not only in this community, but
wherever business or social interests have taken
him.
farmers and old settlers of Ottawa County,
Miclh., Mr. Parrish is well worthy of mention, for he has resided in this section nearly all
his life, and has ever had its interests at heart. A
product of the Empire State, born July 26, 1827,
he is the youngest child living of seven born to
Eli and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Parrish, natives of
Maryland. This worthy couplle were married in
their native State, but subsequently moved to
New York, where they remained until 1836, and
tlien came to Michigan, settling in Wayne County.
There they were among tile very first settlers, and
Mr. Parrish followed farming there until 1850,
when he came to Polkton Township, Ottawa County, and was again among the pioneers. IIis wife
had passed away in Wayne County in 1844, but
Mr. Parrish's death occurred in Ottawa County,
after a long and useful career. The seven children born to them were as follows: Atridge, deceased, who was the wife of John Stevison; Orin,
deceased, who was a soldier in the Rebellion, and
died at Nashville in 1864; Edna, widow of Anson
Hinman; Joel, deceased, who served in the war with
Mexico in 1846, and died in the Lone Star State;
Amos, deceased, who was in the Rebellion; Elsie,
wife of John Dolittle; and Enos, our subject.
The last-named grew to manhood in the newly
settled sections of Michigan, and as a consequence
received only a limited education. Whllen twenty
years of age he was filled with a patriotic desire to
aid the Old Flag, and he joined Company K, Third
Regiment United States I)ragoons (cavalry), and
fought in the war with Mexico in 1846, participating in all the principal engagements down to the
capture of the city of Mexico, in which he took
part. He was with Gen. Kearny when lie made the
charge on the city gates, and was one of the first


to approach the gates. Here tile United States
dragoons were repulsed and Gen. Kearny got his
arm broken. After the capture of the city Mr.
Parrisl was only in a few skirmislles with guerrillas.  In the spring of 18-18 he left Mexico
for home. via New Orleans and St. Louis, and
was disclharged at Jefferson Barracks, at tlhe lastnamed city. Reaching home in August, lie worked
by the month in Wayne and other counties of
Michigan, but finally settled in Polkton Townsllip, Ottawa County, where he had located his
land warrant, received for services during tile
Mexican War.
lie liad opened up and improved his farm in a
great many ways at thle breaking out of the
Rebellion, and in tle nmonth of December, 1863,
lie joined Colnl)any E, of the First Micligan Light
Artillery, wlicl was attached to the Army of the
(Cumberlalnd, but palticipated only in the battle
of Nashville, and a few skirmishes.    I-e was
neither wounded nor captured dluring the M:exican and the Civil Wars, although lie was under fire
in tills country and Mexico fifty or more times.
On the 31st of July, 1865, lie was discharged at,Jackson, Micll. After coming home lie continued
to reside in Polkton TownshipI until 1868, wlhen
lie moved onto his present farm, consisting of
two hundred and forty acres. It was unimproved,
and to clear it of tlhe heavy timber with which it
was covered lie engaged in lumbering. lie now
owns only one hundred acres, but he lhas sixty
acres of this under a fine state of cultivation. lle
llas served as Ilighway Commissioner for six years,
and hlas leld other positions in thle township.
Mr. Parrishl was first married in 1852, to Miss
Valeria Wait, a native of Michigan, and daughter
of Joseph and Mary A. (Weeden) Wait, both
originally from  the Empire State. To Mr. and
Mrs. Parrish were born two clildren: D. WV., wlho
lives in Allendale; and Fredore in this county. Mrs.
larrishl died in 1856. Two years later Mr. Parrisll
was married to Miss H-arriett Mazuzan, a native of
Vermont, and a daughter of Erastus and Amy
(Mead) Mazuzan, of Frenclh and English extraction respectively.  Five children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Mazuzan and named in tile order of
their births as follows: Celia, John (deceased),




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


459


Harriett, and Jullia and Juliette, deceased. Mrs.
Parrish was about seven years of age when her
mother died, and her fatter afterwards married
Miss Betsey A. Bailey, who bore him three children, Mary, Paulus and William. After his marriage Mr. Mazuzan located in the State of New
York, and there passed the remainder of his days.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pairrish were born five children,
as follows: Artema, deceased; John A., who resides
in this county; Hattie, wife of Martin II. Brown,
wlo resides at Battle Creek, Mich.; Valeria M.,
deceased; and Orin L., who resides in tils county.
Mr. Parrish commenced life poor, and is an example of what can be accomplished by ambitious
and intelligent young men, whose only fortune at
first consists of good health, energy, integrity and
oneness of purpose. He has always been one of
tlhe prominent men of the county, and one of the
highly respected pioneers. He experienced all the
trials and hardships of pioneer life, as when lie settled here the nearest store was at Lamont, and.
only carried a few dollars' worth of goods, and
the nearest mill, a water mill, was at Berlin. Mr.
Parrisl is a member of William Thurkettle Post,
G.A. 1., at Allendale Centre, of which he is Quartermaster.  Politically, he is a member of the
Farmers' party, or Populist. Mrs. Parrish is a
member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and
two of the children, Mrs. Brown and John, are
members of the same.
I   ILLIAM CROCKETT, a highly respected
citizen and representative general agriculturist and stock-raiser, pleasantly located
on section 11, lolton Township, Muskegon County, has for twenty-five years been intimately associated with the upward growth and rapid advancement of the vital interests and improvenments of his neighborhood and immediate vicinity.
Our subject, a native of Canada and born in the
Province of Nova Scotia in 1845, was the son of


George and Mary (Hatch) Crockett. The father,
who was born in the same part of Canada as
his son William, was a farmer by occupation and
remained witli his parents until their death. The
father and mother surviving and hale and hearty
have passed tlleir lives among the familiar scenes
of early days, and are still residing upon the old
farm once owned by the grandfather. The parents,
both members of the Presbyterian Church, have
ever been earnest workers in belhalf of the extension of religious influence and usefulness, and in
the community where they have spent so many
peaceful and industiious years they are universally
respected and esteemed.
Four children, two daughters and two sons,
brightened the old Canadian homestead. William
was tle eldest-born; Mary is deceased; Charles
makes his home in Lowell, MIass. Jane married Millow 1Mansfield, of Oceana County, Mich. Our subject received his education in the district schools
of Canada, and, trained to habits of manly selfreliance, at the age of fifteen years began life for
himself. Leaving home, lie worked for a few years
upon a neighboring farm, and later received at
better remuneration  employment in a stonequarry, engaging in tlhe labor of that occupation
for three years. At the expiration of this lengtl
of time Mr. Crockett set out in earnest to seek his
fortune, and journeying to tlhe Gulf of St. Lawrence
embarked as a sailor upon a long and extended
voyage to Liverpool, Cuba and New York City,
from which latter place he returned home satisfied
with his one salt-water experience. Not lon1g
after Mr. Crockett, determined to win his upwal-l
way, finally decided to remove to the States and
emigrated to Michigan, which since 1860 has been
his permanent home.
Locating in Muskegon County, our subject has
continuously resided since then in the near vicinity of his present home. At first accepting any
work which his hands could find to do, Mr. Crockett
labored in the lumber camps, handled lumber on
the docks, worked on a farm and boated on tlle
river. Toiling witli unceasing industry, our subject with frugal management at last accumulated
a small capital, and in 1876 bought eighty acres
of wild land. Seventy acres since brought under




460


PORTRAIT AN) BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


a high state of cultivation annually yield an abundant harvest, and engaging in mixed farming Mr.
Crockett has achieved success. Our subject was
married in Muskegon County in 1889 to Miss Ida
Gallup, daughter of John and Susan (Earl) Gallup,
pioneer residents of Ingham County, Mich., in
which locality both Mrs. Crockett and her mother
were born, reared and educated. Mr. Gallup is a
native of New York State, but long a citizen of tle
West, has taken an active part in its advancement.
The union of our subject and lis accomplished
wife has been blessed by the birth of one son,
Earl. Mr. Crockett is politically a Republican, but
has never been an office-seeker, although deeply
interested in both local and national issues. Financially prospered, lie is ever ready to aid in matters of public welfare, and is numbered among the
substantial citizens of HIolton Township.
R  OBERT 11013I NSON was born in IHemlpsey,
Scotland, May 7, 1830, and is the son of
HIienry and Mary (Woodrow) Robinson,
/) natives of Scotland, the former of Inverness, and the latter of Dumfries. The fatller was
a blacksmith by occupation, having learned his
trade in Glasgow. lie remained in the employ
of one firm at Liverpool for many years, or until
his death, in 1837. The deatli of the mother occurred about fourteen months later.
Of the six clildren in tlie parental family, our
subject is among the youngest and is tlhe only surviving member of the family. Being deprived of
his parents early in life, lie had few educational
advantages, and when ten years of age entered the
employ of Tom Newgent, with whlom lie remained
about six months. lie would not consent to be
bound out as an apprentice according to the
wishes of his employer, but engaged to work tor
James Gardner, a baker, witli whom lie remained
for about nine months, then worked for a Mr.
Graham as a sorter of cotton. At this lie was employed for about three months, then worked for


Samuel Gardner, a brother of his former employer,
a ship-store dealer, continuing in this employment
until eiglhteen years age, when lie set sail from the
shores of his native country for America. Landing
in New York, his intention was to learn tle shipcarpenter's trade and lie commenced work imnmediately for Stack &   Patterson, ship-builders of
Brooklyn. IIe soon became dissatisfied witl tlis
work, and having some money saved from     his
previous earnings lie concluded to try his fortune
farther West, and accordingly came to Oakland
County, Mich., afterward going to Saginaw County,
when lie engaged witli James Frazier, a lumberman,
and remained witl hlim about two years, or until
1852, when ihe came to Muskegon and worked as
a sawver with Isaac and Elias Merrill. Continuing
four years in their employ, in 1856 lie came to Casenovia Townslip and took charge of Whitney
Bros.' Mill. In the mean time lie had been looking
over the country in Moorland Township witl a
view to making this his permanent home, and in
1858 l)urchased from the State of Michigan one
hundred and twenty acres of the farm he now occupies, to which he added eiglty acres a few years
later.
Mr. Robinson became a citizen of the United
States in 1856, and was married in 1857 to Miss
Anna K.   Ioffman, daughter of Felix and Laura
Ioffnman, tlie former a native of France and tlle
latter of Germany. They emigrated to America
and settled in Ohio, and afterward removed by
team to Michigan and settled in Kent County. Mrs.
Robinson's uncle, Ienry HIoffman, was one of the
first settlers of Kent County. Our subject and
wife have five children, all living: Francis Henry,
born November 11, 1858; Adelaide, October 6,
1860; Ellen, September 8, 1865; Elizabeth, August 8, 1871, and Katharine, March 11, 1876.
Mr. Robinson has been Township Clerk for
seven years, School Inspector a number of terms,
Supervisor twelve years, and was a member of tile
I-louse of Representatives of tills State, and was
on the Board of Review for two years. lie lhas
always voted the Republican ticket. In religious
belief he is a Universalist. Mr. Robinson offered
his services to his country at the commencement of the Civil War, but was not accepted by




Missing~~
Page~~'




0 rm
IF"0
0






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORI).


463


reason of disability.  Iie is now in his sixtyfourth year, and after many years of useful labor
he contemplates retiring from  the farm and the
more active duties of life.
r- =-"-L~-'-     ~.1~ l[ L.~{.  _=.. -__
MIOMAS SOMERSETI, a veteran of tile Civil
War, and a prominent fruit and      grain
farmer of     Crockery  Township, Ottawa
County, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, August 16, 1841. IHe is the son of Charles Somerset, a
native of England, who in early life emigrated to
America, seeking in this land the fortune lie
believed it impossible to secure in the country of
his blirth. In New York lie met and married Miss
Catherine Kelly, a native of Ireland, and of
Scotch-I rish descent.
From New York Alr. Somerset, Sr., removed to
Ohio, and afterward went to Wisconsin, sojourning for a time in Milwaukee.  In 1848 lie came to
Grand Haven, becoming one of tle first settlers of
this place. Throughout his entire active life lie
followed the calling of a farmer, in which lie met
with success. IIis death occurred in Spring Lake
Township, at tlle age of sixty-seven years; his
wife passed away in the same townshil) when
sixty-six years old. Their son, Tllomas, accompanied them from Olio to Wisconsin, and thence
to Michigan, remaining with tlhem until lie was
twenty-six.
()On the 13th of May, 1861, the subject of this
sketch enlisted in the defense of tile (ld Flag,
becoming a member of Company I. T'hird Micliigan Infantry, and   serving  until,Jine, 1864.
Among tlhe engagements in wliichl lie i)artici)pated witlI his regiment were tlhe first battle
of Bull Run, Chiancellorsville, Fredericksburg,
(;ettysburgl, and lie also toolk plart ill a nulntmer
of,thers.  After the battle of Williamsburg lie
was sent to tle hospital at Yokt(own, whlere lie
rena'illedl fo'r oline week, g(oil,, fl'roml tlerei to
P'ortsnllmoitli, vliere lie so(jo(tl) ned ttl'r tlwo 1months.
Ie rejoi ned his colllpany iin time to )larticipate in
23


the second battle of Bull IRun. On     the  day
following the battle of Cold Iarbor lie was discharged  at I)etroit, and  returned  to  (ttawa
County, where lie resumed fuaming operations.
'l'le marriage of Mr. Somerset occurred ()ctober
24, 1867, and united him withl Miss Catherine C.
Miles, who was born in tile State of New York,
and died February 3, 1893, leaving four children,
wlho, witl her husband, mourln her loss. They are,
Louise Elizabeth, Alice Mabel, Ada Corintllia and
Georgia Eleanor. Two children,.Johnnie T. and
Ettie May, are deceased. In religious matters,
Mrs. Somerset was in her girllhood a member of
the Congregational Churlch, but for fourteen
years l)rior to her demise slie was identified witl
the Aletlodist Episcopal (llureli. Tlle fatlher and
mother of our subject were members of tlhe Episcopal and Catholic Churches res)ectively;  lie is
liberal in hlis religious views, and genlero'us ill his
contributions to tlhe various chulrch and benevolent
enterl)rises.
Tle farm owned( and cultivated by Mr. Somerset consists of three hundred and tweitvy acres and
is located seven miles southeast of (Grand IIaveil,
on tlhe banks of Grand River. Since the time of
purchasinng tlhe l)roperty, il 1864, AMr. Somerset
has effected a number of valuttable improvements
upon tile place, and tlhus materially enhanced its
estimated worth. Ili his social afliliations, lie is t
member of tlhe I ndepen dent ()Order of Odd Fellows,
being identified withl Spring Lake Lodge; lie las
also taken the first degree in Masonry. HIis first
Presidential ballot was cast for Gein. McClellan,
and lie lias since given his support to the l)emocracy.
A     'AR TIN VAN DOORN1    a I)rosperoLS (1s// /   eral agriculturist and  horticulturist of
I/   IO ()ttawa County, Mich., also actively l)lr'I      ticipates in thle management of local publie affairs and has as a nember of tlhe Board of
Review and likewise:as Townsllip Treasurer given
efficient service to tile home community, by whloml




464


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


he is respected and higlly esteemed. Mr. Van
Doorne was born in Grand Island, N. Y., and remained in lls birtllplace until three years of age.
With his parents our subject then journeyed to
the farther West and located in Grand Haven,
where the family only made their temporary home,
at the expiration of six months removing to a
farm about four miles south of tile city. Mr. Van
l)oorne, reared upon tile old homestead, passed his
life as does the average farmer boy, always busy
assisting in tile daily routine of farming labor and
attending when he could be spared the nearest
district school. After attaining to manhood, lie
left the farm, and for eight years continuously engaged in the sawmill business and also devoted a
portion of his time to his trade of carpenter, in
this latter occupation finding ready and profitable
employment.
Our subject finally returned to tile old homestead, of which he is now the owner. In addition
to the sixty original acres Mr. Van Doorne owns
an undivided half in the eighty acres which join
the sixty on the northwest corner. A tlloroughly
practical farmer, he has made a financial success
of the tilling of the soil, and aside from  tile pursuit of general agriculture gives much attention
of fruit-growing and raises large quantities of
celery. Mr. Van I)oorne also handles agricultural
implements, and with energetic enterprise has won
llis upward way to a position of influence and usefulness. In 1873 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ballgoyen, a native of
tile Netherlands, who lassed the early years of her
life in the west of Europe, where she received her
primaly education and remained until thirteen
years of age. lier parents, also born, reared and
educated in tile Netherlands, finally emigrated
with their family to America and located in CGrand
laven. Tlie pleasant home of our subject and his
excellent wife hlas been blessed by the birtl of
four children, one son and three datughters: Maria,
Minnie, Martin, Jr., and Jeannette.
Maria, the eldest, regularly attended the schools
of the neighborhood, and, completing the studies
of the grammar course at tile age of fifteen, tlen
entered Iope College in    Iolland, Micl., a(nd
took a two-years course, finally completing her


education with a two-years Normal course in tile
same institution, and is now a successful teacher.
The son and the other daughters are enjoying the
available opportunities of instruction near their
home, and, intelligently devoting themselves to
study, have a bright future before them. Politically, Mr. Van I)oorne is an adherent of thle
Democratic party, and for the two years in which
as Township Treasurer he disbursed the public
funds, and as a valued member of the Board of
Review, materially aided in the advancement of
needed improvements and encouraged and stimulated the growth of enterprise. Our subject is not
a member of any secret society, but is connected
by membership with the Reformed Church at
Grand Haven and is liberal in the support and extension of religious influence and accounted by all
who know him a man of high principle and an efficient and public-spirited citizen.
t OLIN ROOKS, an enterprising general agriculturist and leading citizen, pleasantly
located upon section 36, Holland Town   ~/ ship, Ottawa County, Micl., is a native of
the Netherlands, and was born in Wenterswick in
1837. His parents, Gerrit and Catherine (Elesselink) Rooks, also born in tile Netherlands, were of
a thrifty and industrious ancestry, highly respected among the people where their uneventful
and upright lives were passed. The father was
born not far from Wenterswick, in the year 1802,
the year of his wife's birth being 1809. A farmer
by occupation, he tilled tile fertile soil of his early
home and also worked as a woodsawyer. His
parents were poor, and when only a boy lie began
the work of life, receiving but a limited education
in the common schools of his birthplace. lie was
not the possessor of landed property, but in the Old
Country rented land. The sons and daughters of
the father, ten in number, were all born in tile
Netlerlands. By a first marriage tile father liad
two children, H[enry and Hannah, both deceased.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


465


After the death of the first wife, marrying the
mother of our subject, the father gathered about
him the large family who later accompanied him
to the United States.
Of the eight sons and daughters of the second
marriage, the eldest died young, and  Albert,
Lydia and John are also deceased; tile others are
Minnie, Gertrude, John and Gerrlit. In 1855, with
all the family except the dauglter Lydia, tlhe father
and mother emigrated to America, and after leaving the seaboard had just money enough to get to
Michigan, where they at once located upon a
forty-acre farm, purchased by the father. Tiien an
old man, he cleared off tlie dense woods of the
homestead, ably assisted by his sturdy sons, wlio
lent a willing hand in the improvement of the
home to which they had looked forward for so
long. The father, a pious man and devout member of the Reformed Church, survived his journey
to the United States only about eight years.
John Rooks had hired out in tile Old Country,
and soon after arriving in Micligan began for himself by working on farms and in mills; and, carefully hoarding up every dollar while engaged in
laboring for others, lie was finally enabled to purchase the forty-eight acres where lie now lives.
This, mostly wild land, he cleared, cultivated and
improved, and, prospering through self-reliant industry, added other acres, now owning one hundred
and twenty-eight acres, upon which stand excellent and commodious barns and a comfortable and
attractive residence.
When twenty-eight years of age our subject was
united  in marriage witll Miss Clara Mulder,
daughter of William and Etlie (Skipper) Mulder.
Mrs. Rooks, a most estimable lady, was born in the
Netherlands in 1844, and was only three years
of age wlen with her parents slie emDigrated to
America and made her home in IIolland. Eleven
sons and daughters have blessed the union of Mr.
and Mrs. Rooks. Four died n1 infancy. The
surviving are: William, (Gerrit, Albert, Peter,
HIeriinnl,,Leonard:andl.0Jolli, tile last two now
attending lHope College. Albeit is a file student
and( gra(luated witIh honotr (from IIlope College.;errit graduated ill boolk-kleepingl, fromil tle business
college at Grand Ilapids. Williaml is attending a


veterinary sclool in Canada. Our subject and his
worthy wife are valued membels of the Seceder
Church, and have slown themselves friends to
educational advancement by giving to their clildren every possible opportunity to improve themselves and thus prepare to occupy witl hlonor any
work, public or private, to whic they may be
called.  Politically a Republican, Mr. Rooks is
interested in both local and national issues and intelligently posted in all matters tending to tlhe
promotion of welfare, and( does hls full (duty as a
true and liberal-spirited citizen.
IJIUGST M. COS(R1OVE,0 tile efficient Sn1 -1perintendent of tile Granld Iaven water
IjI    works, was born in Ashland, Ashland
County, Ohio, FIebruary 15, 1855. Ie is a
son of Stephien C. and lI Innah (1Iiler) Cosgrove, the
former of whom was a native of New Jersey and
the latter of New York. Stephen C. Cosgrove was
a broom-maker by trade, but (uring tlhe latter part
of his life successfully followed tile occupation
of farming. O()  the 1 7th of February, 1877, lie
died in Clr:wford County, Ohio, wllen in the seventy-first year of hIis age. lls widow survived
hlim until September, 1891, wllen slhe passed away
in Crawford County, Ollio. The laternal grandfather was William Cosgrove.
August M. Cosgrove sl)ent his early life on tihe
home farm in Oliio, where lie received such instruction as tlhe locality afforded, entering scllool
at the age of six years. A knowledge of books,
hiowever, is not always an education, and in the
scliool of experience one nmay acquire a much
more plractical knowledge tlian lie can in the
colleges and seminaries, however good tlie latter
nmay be; and thus it was witli Mr. Cosgrove, for
all hiis practical acquiremtents have been gained
since lie started out to fight tlie battle of life for
hlimself. IIe sectlred eml)loyient in the steamengine works at ilucyrus, Oliio, but in 1878 left




466


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


that place to remove to Adrian, Mich. While
employed in the Adrian water works, he acquired a
knowledge of tle details of tile business which
eminently fitted him for the successful discharge
of the duties of his present position. After residing in Adrian for eight years, lie went to Richmond, and was in tlhe employ of a prominent firm
there for about one year.
In the fall of 1885, our subject came to Grand
llaven, and was appointed Superintendent of the
Grand Iaven water works, which position he is
very accel)tably filling at the present time. As a
citizen, he is prompt and liberal in responding to
the demands of the public, when the common
good is brought into question, and he is at all
times willing to bear his proportion of the burdens of expenditure and labor needed in attaining the highest material success. He is now in
the prime of life, with vigorous constitution, good
habits and lofty lrinciples.
November 28, 1878, Mr. Cosgrove was united
in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Smith, of Jasper.
Mich., daughter of Frank J. Smith, and to their
union two clildren have been given, a son and a
daugllter. Mr. and Mrs. Cosgrove are popular in
the social circles of Grand HIaven, and although
they have not resided in the place any great length
of time, they have made many friends, whom it
is their pleasure to welcome to their comfortable
an(d hospitable home on Franklin Street. Socially,
Mr. Cosgrove is a member of the order of the Maccabecs.
~-,~      + 1+^++6~s+++P
T    J. AIABRY, master painter and decorator
of the Chiicago & West Michigan Raill~ __  road sllops, at Muskegon, Mich., has been a
continuous resident of his present locality for
abotut eleven years, and during this length of time
has given faithful service to the corporation by
which lie is now employed. (ur subject is a native of Canada, and was born in tle 1)ominion
February 2, 1853. Thle parents, J. W. and Margaret
(Smith) Aubry, many years after tleir marriage re

moved to the United States and, locating in Worcester, Mass., lived there a few months and then returned to their home in Canada. They were known
in New England as industrious and energetic people, of upright character and sterling integrity.
Mr. Aubry passed the days of early childhood and
youth in his birthplace, and not only received his
education in the common schools of Canada, but
up to sixteen years of age was there reared to
habits of self-reliance. In 1871 he went to St.
Johnsbury, Vt,. and was first employed in the
painting department of the Fairbanks Scale Company. In 1877, he entered the employ of the
P. & O. Railroad Company, of Vermont, at St.
Johnsbury.
After a time, determining to try his fortunes in
a newer field of action, our subject in 1882 journeyed to the West, and, locating permanently in
Michigan, made his llome in Muskegon, where lie accepted his present responsible position. Mr. Aubry
has full charge and entire control of the Paint Department of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad
equipment and attends to repainting and revarnishing the rolling stock. He superintends the
work of a number of men skilled in the use of the
brush, all expert mechanics. Our subject aside from
his regular business has a profession, being a musician of superior ability and culture. IIe is the first
violinist in the Opera House Orchestra and leads
the same. The orchestra, organized and controlled
by Mr. Aubry, plays at the most elegant balls of
the city, also in the operas, and is well and favorably known throughout western Michigan.
In 1880 E. J. Aubry and Miss Hattie M. Magoon, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and daughter of I. P.
Magoon, a citizen of the Green Mountain State,
were married. The union of our subject and his
estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of
one son and one daughter: Mary Gertrude and
Herbert M. ). The pleasant family residence is
located at No. 57 Peck Street, Muskegon. The son
and dauglter enjoy excellent educational advantages and as they attain to mature age will be enabled to wortlily fit themselves to adorn any 1)osition of trust to which they may be called.
Mr. Aubry is politically a Relpublican and a firm
suppl)orter of the party. lie las never been anxi



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


467


ous to hold public office, but is intelligently interested in local and national government and is
a friend to progress and reform. He is fraternally
associated with Lowell Moore Lodge No. 182, A. F.
& A. M., and is likewise a member of the Chapter
and Commandery.   He is a member of the Master
Car and Locomotive Painters' Association of the
United States and Canada and, thoroughly at home
in the details of his business, has prosperously won
his upward way, and commands tie high respect of
a wide acquaintance.  Iis musical abilities have
also long been a source of income and in return
afford others much  pleasure.  Combining the
two occupations, our subject leads a busy life, but,
true to every duty of the hour, has made each
profession a success.
p '  USSELL B. MASON, a leading citizen and
p    practical general farmner residing upon
section 23, Holton Township, Muskegon
County, Mich., is a native of the State,
and was born in Calhoun County in 1840. Our
subject is the son of Isaac and Esther (Allen)
Mason, early pioneers of the Wolverine State.
The paternal grandfather was Brooks Mason, and
the paternal grandmother in maidenhood was Miss
Editley. The great-grandfather, also Brooks Mason, was the son of Sampson Mason, an Englishman by birth and the first of the family to settle
in America. Sampson Mason had been an officer
under Oliver Cromwell before. in 163 0, he became
one of the founders of the settlement of Rehoboth
in Massachusetts. His wife, May Butterworth,
bore her husband thirteen children. The greatgrandfather, Brooks Mason, was a native of Rhode
Island, but later removed to Massachusetts, and
in  1770 made his permanent home in Ontario
County, N. Y. He was the father of eleven children. The grandfather farmed in Ontario County, in which part of the Empire State he settled in
1801. HIis wife, the daughter of William Clark,


became the mother of seven children, four sons and
three daughters. Thle grandfather and his eldest
son actively participated in the War of 1812. A
life-long farmer, the grandfather lived and died
in the State of New York.
The father, born in Massachusetts November 23,
1798, removed to New York when very young,
and, living upon his father's Ontario County farm,
enjoyed only the most limited opportunities for
an education. Having attained to manhood, lie
began life for himself and married in the Empire
State Miss Caroline Iodges. Unto this union was
born one son, James B., killed at Clinch Mountain
during the late Civil War. The first wife not
long surviving, the father a second time married,
then wedding Miss Lucy Baker, who became the
mother of two sons, Henry and Edwin, who died
while serving in the Mexican War. For a third
time entering matrimonial bonds, Isaac Mason
married, while a citizen of New York, the mother
of our subject, and with his wife soon after emigrated to Calhoun County, Mich., and settling in
1837 in this part of the West made his permanent
home within the borders of the State. The parents first settled upon eighty acres of land, and
lived thereon a few years, then removing to Kalamazoo, where tile mother died, leaving to her husband tle care of seven children. Caroline, tile eldest, now  deceased, married Abel Hoag; Mary
is deceased; Jane became tle second wife of
Abel Hoag; Lee A. was the fourth child; George,
a soldier in the Civil War, was killed at Marion,
Va.; R. B. is our subject; and HIarriet married Otis
Signer. Again the father married, his fourth wife
being Miss Charlotte Tlhiers. Isaac Mason was a
devout member of the Baptist Church, and politically was an ardent Abolitionist. After a long
life of usefulness lie passed away, mourned by
many friends in Kalamazoo County, in the year
1886.
Our subject received his education in tile district schools and studied in Battle Creek. At the
age of seventeen, beginning life for himself, lie
worked on a farm for others until he enlisted,
August 8, 1861, then joining Company I, Seventh
Michigan Infantry. Serving under Gen. McClellan lie participated in the battles of Balls Bluff, Fair




468


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL tECOR).


Oaks and Glendale, where during tile seven days'
fight lie was wounded in the right sloulder, wlicll
hurt compelled him to go to Washington, where
lie received his discharge upon November 19, 1862.
After liis return to Michigan, Mr. Mason was
elected Treasurer of the township of Comstock,
and for many years gave valuable service in that
official capacity. In 1867 Mr. Mason accepted a
position as night watchman of the State Prison,
remaining in Jackson until 1871. For about seventeen succeeding years our subject was engaged
on the C.. M. Railroad at White Cloud and
Holton, and during this time bought liis present
farm of one hundred and five acres, then mostly
unimproved, but now   containing sixty highly
cultivated acres.  While in Jackson, Mr. Mason was united in marriage with Miss Emma
Welch, daughter of George and Leah (Badams)
Welch. Mrs. Mason was born in Jackson County,
Mich., but her parents were both natives of England. Politically a strong Republican, our subject has held the office of Township Clerk, and, appointed by Harrison, for over four years efficiently
handled the mails at IIolton. As a friend and
neighbor and in his public work Mr. Mason has
won the respect and esteem  of a host of friends,
and has long been intimately associated with the
progressive interests of his home locality.
ORACE A. COOLEY, a representative gen-,  eral agriculturist, successful stock-raiser
and Dmrainage Commissioner of Allendale
) Township, Ottawa County, is a native of
Ohio, but has been a resident of the Wolverine
State since 1845, and is intimately associated with
its upward growth and progressive history. Born
in Knox County, Ohio, August 2, 1829, lie was
the son of Horatio and Mehetabel (Crowell) Cooley,
native New Englanders, but early settlers in the
farther West. Tlhe father, born in Connecticut,
and the mother in Vermont, migrated to Ohio
while young, and were married in the Buckeye


State. The father was by occupation a mechanic,
and remained in Ohio until liis death. His widow
removed to Michigan in 1847, and survived him
for some years.
The parents were blessed by the birth of nine
children, seven of wlom lived to adult age. Horatio, the eldest-born, is deceased; Tryphena is the
widow  of R. S. Randall; Arminta is deceased;
Horace A. is our subject; Havillat is deceased;
Henry C. is a resident of Ottawa County; and Harriet, wlo is deceased, was the wife of George Starks.
Mrs. Melietabel Cooley again married, and by her
second husband, Benjamin Bellows, became the
mother of two children: Sarah, the wife of Sidney
Starks; and Thomas E., residing in Sparta, Mich.
Our subject was reared on the Ohio homestead,
and attending the district schools of the neighborhood was likewise trained in tile agricultural
duties (devolvinig upon the farmer boy. He was
sixteen years of age wlen, upon October 28, 1845,
he arrived at hlis new home in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, Mich., and, remaining in that
locality for thirty-two years, was during twentyeight years of that period employed by various
milling concerns as engineer. For fourteen consecutive years lie remainied with one firm, his
faithful disclarge of tile work intrusted to his
care winning for himn the aplpreciation of those interested in the business. When he became a resident of Tallmadge Townsllip the population of
the surrounding country was sparse, and most of
the business of that part of tile State was transacted at Grand Rapids, then the headquarters for
merchandise and all the necessaries of life. The
milling interests were tile mainstay of Tallmadge
Township, and the establishment of numerous
sawmills soon caused an inlux of people, and gave
our subject, with many others, regular and remunerative employment.
In 1861 were united in marriage Horace A.
Cooley and Miss Lavilla A. Hall, a native of
Michigan and tile daughter of Orrin and Matilda
(Reynolds) fall, pioneer settlers of the Wolverine
State. Some years subsequent to his marriage,
our subject purchased a farm in Allendale Township, which lie sold in 1877, and later also disposed of property lie owned in tile village of LaLI —`- I- ~- l~ — J  -— ~~ ---   "  '~~  `" 0




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


469


mont. He afterward bought his present farm,
consisting of forty highly cultivated acres, improved with an attractive residence and substantial barns. The pleasant home of our subject and
his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of
seven children: George H.; Carr F., of Duluth;
1-. Grant, Frank C., Cora S., II. B. and T. W. F.
Mr. Cooley is one of the most popular men of tle
county of Ottawa, and has several times been
elected Drainage Commissioner, and is now holding the office. For two years lie was Justice of
the Peace, and in that position gave universal
satisfaction to his fellow-townsmen, among whom
he has a host of friends and well-wishers.
-   REDERICK HINMAN, for the past nineteen years the efficient Marshal of Whitehall, for ten years Deputy Sheriff of Muskegon County, Oil Inspector for a time, and now
Superintendent of the water works of tile village,
has long been identified with the growth and upward progress of his home locality in the State of
Michigan. Mr. Hinman is by nativity a New
Englander, and was born April 4, 1846, in the
State of Connecticut, close to the Berkshire Iills,
and not far from  the Massachusetts line. Our
subject was one of twin children, who were the
fifth addition to the fanily of Hiram and Rebecca
(Benson) Hinman. By a previous marriage the
father had two children, John and Walter, who
both went to Maryland and became prominent
citizens of the South. John, now surviving at
seventy-three years of age, is a wealthy bachelor,
having made a fortune in the mercantile business.
Walter likewise achieved a comfortable competence handling merchandise and is in the milling
business on Chesapeake Bay, where lie now resides.
Of the own brothers and sisters of Mr. Hinman,
Herman lives in Whitehall and is now sixty-five
years of age. Mary Ann married Charles McElroy,
formerly in the furniture business in Whitehall.
She and her husband removed to Maryland, where


she died in 1882. Leonard, the next in order of
birth, passed away at twenty-three years of age,
dying in 1856. Catherine died in 1866, in Troy,
N. Y., where her husband, Edwin Baxter, was a
leading merchant and lumberman. The twin sister of our subject, Fannie, married Charles Scott,
a wagon-maker of New York State, near the Connecticut line, where they now reside. The various children of the parents' family all enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and all taught
school in their youthful days, being ambitious, energetic and enterprising.
The family is descended from old Revolutionary stock and hold in their veins the best blood of
New England. The father, born in Salisbury,
Conn., in February, 1796, was the only surviving
son of Benjamin Iiinman, a b)rave soldier of the
War for Independence, and likewise a native of
Connecticut, but a descendant of English ancestry.
The mother, Rebecca Benson, born in Connecticut
in 1807, was the daughter of a Revolutionary
soldier and a woman of exceptional ability and
strong character. The father died in 1873, the
mother surviving only a twelvemontll, passing
away in 1874. Frederick Hinman, having received
a superior education, was likewise blessed with an
excellent memory, which he retains remarkably,
being able to quote with exactness pages from
Sliakespere and otlier favorite authors.
At fifteen years of age our subject entered tile
iron works at Fall Village, Conn., where lie remained for some years, and tlen located in Troy,
N. Y., the latter place being his home when tle
Civil War broke out. Returning to Connecticut,
he enlisted in the old Second Connecticut Regiment, and, immediately forwarded to the front,
participated in the first battle of Bull Run. He
served out his period of enlistment and returned
to his Eastern home. In 1865 our subject came
to Michigan and was employed on a Government
tug boat as an engineer, making tile improvements
at the mouth of White Lake. Mr. Hinman assisted
in the construction of the harbor and continued
in the service until 1874, when he resigned to become Marshal and engineer in the fire department of Whitehall, in which former capacity lihe
has for nearly a score of years been a terror to the




470


0ORTRAIT AND BO)GRAPIICAL RECORD.


rougher element of the village and the evil-doers
generally. As 1)eputy Sheriff, Oil Insl)ector and
Superintendent of the water works, lie has proven
his thorough adaptability to the demands of public work.
In the year 1868 Mr, HIinman was married to
Miss Mary Storms, who cane from her native land,
Germany, to this country with her parents when
only eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ilinman
have been blessed by the birth of five children:
Herman, who died in the year 1869, in infancy;
Cora. born in 1871, a glraduate of the Hiigh Sclool
and married in 1890 to )Dr. James G. Jackson, of
Muskegon; Frederick, born in 1874, also a graduate of the Higlh Sc.llool, and a promising young
man; Fannie, aged thirteen, a briglit scholar, now in
school; and Albert, tle youngest, a lad eight years
old. Financially prosl)ered and a lifelong Republican, giving most valuable public service and
ever a liberal-spirited citizen, our subject is also
fraternally associated witl the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is likewise a member of the
Knigllts of Honor.
(    hIIOWIMAS LARSON, a well-known resident
(l(   of Whitehall, Mluskegon County, was for./j J many years engaged in business in this
place, and at tlhe present time owns fully fifteen
acres of land in the village. His life has been
quite an eventful one, and since his tenth year lie
has made llis own living. IIe was born in northwestern Norway, March 18, 1818. His parents
were Lars and Malinda (Larson) Iarson. The
former was reared on a farm and owned a valuable
piece of property, comprising eighty acres. He
was prosperous in business and was highly regarded in all circles. He and his wife were devoted
members of the Lutheran Church. They reared a
family of five sons: Lars, Lars, Archa, Thomas,
and Daniel, who was drowned when about twentyfive years old. Lars is tlhe only one of the family


beside our subject who has left his native land,
alid his home is now near Ottawa, Ill. The parents of these children have long since been called
to thle better land.
Thomas Larson was only ten years old when lie
left home and went to work on neighboring farms,
receiving his board and clothes and $5 in money
per year for the succeeding five years. Tiring of
this occupation, at length lie embarked on sailing
expeditions to the many beautiful fiords of his
native land, and finally, when eighteen years of
age, regularly embarked as a sailor on the higll
seas. For twenty years he followed this life, going
to all parts of the world and meeting with many
strange adventures.  le was once shipwrecked
near his old home and on ainother occasion was
waslied overboard by a great wave, whicli, returning, left him in another part of tile ship. At last
Mr. larson came to tile United States and made
Ills headquarters in Cllicago, from whichl place lie
sailed on the Lakes for five years.
After carefully deliberating, Mr. Larson concluded to settle down at Whitehall and invest tlle
money, which was the result of his many years of
toil. lIe became the owner of three houses, and
afterward bolught one hundred and sixty acres of
land, a portion of whicli is located witllin tile corporate limits of the village. For some years lie
ran a saloon, and later embarked in the grocery
business. His business ventures have been marked
by sagacity and ability, and lie now las a coinpetency which places him among the substantial
citizens of the community.
After taking up his residence in Whitehall, Mfr.
Larson married Miss Gertie Johnson, who was
born in Norway and witl lier p)arents, James and
Bertlia (Nelson) Johnson, came to tile United
States in July, 1863, and at once settled in this
city. The parents of Mrs. Larson resided until
their deatll in WXlitellall. Seven children have been
born to our worthy subject and his wife: Bertlha
who became thle wife of Hans Bjornstad; James
I.; I-Hannal M., wife of Cllarles Kassner; John S.;
Thomas J.; Minnie B., a graduate of the High
School; and Anetta L. The parents are members
of the Lutlieran Chlurch, in the faith of which all
of tile children llave been confirmed. Mr. Larson




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


471


has served as a Trustee of tile church and with
his family is numbered among tile active workers.
His varied experiences in all parts of tile world
have made him a man of wide information and he
is a most interesting conversationalist. 'ro him
is largely due tile prosperity of Wlhitellall, for lie
has been one of the most active promoters of its
welfare.
-;   DWARD    E. BARTHOLOMEW.         Prominent among the enterprises at Ravenlna is
till e hardware store of which tile subject of
tllis sketch is tlie genial proprietor. It contains a
large and well-assorted stock of hardware, tinware, stoves, farmers' tools and agricultural impllements, and as the quality of the stock is unexcelled and prices reasonable, tie establishment is
one of tlhe most plopular in the city. In the conduct of his business enterprises Mr. Bartholomew
uses tact, discretion, sound common-sense and wise
judgment, and tile result is that lie has gained
success.
In reviewing the history of our subject, we
find that he is tlhe son of Arza and Isabel (Hunter)
Bartholomew, the former of wlom was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., on the 1st of August, 1805.
lie had only such advantages as were afforded by
the public schools of that day, and in his youtli
his attention was devoted principally to working
at the trade of a carpenter and millwright. Upon
coming to Michigan in 1845 lie stayed about one
year in Calhoun County, and then lie settled in
Ottawa County and there worked at his trade for a
time, but afterward purchased farming property
and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his
death, wlich occurred in 1868.
The family of Arza and Isabel Bartholomew
consisted of eleven children, of wllom our subject
was the eighltl in order of birth. Ile was born in
Ottawa County, Mlich., January 24, 1851, and obtained llis education in tile common schools of his
native county. HIs time was devoted principally


to tile work of farming, and lie remained witli his
father until tlie age of twenty-four years, when lie
commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter, serving an apprelticeship of five years.  Later he
entered the store of Perham & Adsit, of Nunica,
Micll., as clerk, and continued with that firm for a
period of four years. IIe then went to Muskegon
and worked for one year at his trade, next coming
to Ravenna, in 1882.
After locating at this place, Mr. Bartholomew
was for four years in the employ of Conklin Bros.,
after whic he embarked in the gristmill business
with W. IL. Smitl. After continuing thus engaged for three and one-half years, he purchased
a hardware store and embarked in that business.
IIe l1as since conducted a large and profitable business, not only withi tile people of Ravenna, but
also with tile farmers of the surrounding country.
Socially, lie is a member of Ravenna Lodge No.
|355, I. (. (. 'F., and has attained tlhe Scarlet
degree, and passed all tie chairs of the lodge.
Ile is affiliated witli the Knights of the Maccabees at Ravenna, and is Commander of the post
here.
On Christmas Iay, 1874, Mr. Bartholomew was
united in m:lrriage witli Miss Hattie, daughter of
Robert and Eveline (1-ancock) Woolsie, and one
son has been born of tils union, Windsor, a manly
youth, wllo is receiving every literary and social
advantage. In his politics Mr. Bartholomew is a
Rel)ublican, and has always voted for the candidates of thiat party. lie llas lleld tile office of
Township clerk for live years and is still serving
in tllat position.
ORACE B. AT'WOOD.         A glance at the
lives of the representative men wllose
names appear in tiis volume will reveal
many sketches of honored and influential
citizens who have resided many years in this county, but among them none are more worthy or deserving of mention than Mr. Atwood, wlo is a




472


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


true type of a successful Michigan farnner. IHe is
a product of the Buckeye State, born September
30, 1840, and the son of Morris and Phoeba A.
(Archer) Atwood, natives of New York. The
Atwood family came originally from England and
settled in the United States a short time after the
Revolutionary War.   The Archers came from
Germany.
Morris Atwood was a blacksmith by trade, and
after reaching mature years moved to Ohio.
Later he returned to his native State, and there
died in 1872, at the age of sixty-five. His wife
died in the Empire State in 1891. They were the
parents of the following children: Horace, our
subject; Elizabeth, the wife of J. W. Pearson;
David, deceased, who left a family in New York;
Ann; Frances, Mrs. Broth, of New York; Corella,
the wife of a Mr. Reynolds, of New York; Rose,
the wife of Lou Darbey; and John D., of New
York.
Horace Atwood received only a limited education in the common schools of Ohio and New
York, and at the youthful age of fourteen started
out to fight his own way in life. He left the
parental roof and sailed on the bark "Columbus,"
of Fair Haven, Mass., as a sailor. Ile went to some
of the islands off Brazil, and after being before
the mast for one year, and touching at Java,
and other places, landed in Australia, where he
remained for some time in the Swan River Colony.
While there lie engaged in whaling for two seasons,
and received for his services $7.50 per month.
After leaving that place lie went to Hobart Town,
Tasmania, and remained there in all about two
years.  While there lie visited the Philippine
Islands and made five trips to the Island of Mauritius, where lie was engaged in the sugar trade.
From  there he went to Valparaiso, Chili, and
was engaged in the employ of Chilian merchants
at the copper ports. While in Chili he walked
from Valparaiso to Tucumana, a distance of over
two hundred miles, without any company. His
only experience during that time was when his
coat and cap of blue cloth were stolen by a peon,
who kindly left his own in their place.
For about eighteen months Mr. Atwood remained in Chili, and then went to Callao, Peru,


where lie also engaged in different work for six
months. After this, for six or seven months, lie
worked the nitre beds, and then went to Liverpool,
England, where he hired to go on a merchant vessel
and took two trips to southern Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea, making about forty ports. Later
he sailed to Calcutta, India, the island of Colombo,
Seon and to Marseilles, France, also to various other ports, and then returned to Liverpool.
From there lie sailed to Sidney, Australia, and
later from London to Liverpool, carrying a cargo
of tea. Afterward he sailed to Quebec, Canada, but
returned to Liverpool, thence going to the East Indies, and back to Liverpool, where lie shipped for
the west coast of Africa on the Senegambia River,
and touched many points in that country. Returning to Liverpool, lie shipped for New York, but
the vessel sprang a leak and sank twelve hundred
miles west of Cape Clear, about four p. ar. The
crew  was picked up about nine A. M. next day
by a steamer and carried back to Liverpool, where
our subject remained for one month. lie shipped
again for New York, and arrived in that city in
May, 1865, after having been absent from home
eleven years.  During that time lie had heard
from  home but once, and his relatives liad heard
from him but once.
After returning home, lie was engaged in tilling
the soil on a farm in the Empire State, but shortly
afterward returned to Ohio and worked for the
Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad for
two years. In 1866 he came to Michigan and
was engaged in lumbering and other occupations
from that date until 1874, when lie moved on his
present farm of eighty acres. He now has thirty
acres under cultivation, and is one of the prosperous and substantial agriculturists of his section.
He has served as -Iiglway and Drain Commissioner from 1878, except about five years, and also
has served as School D)irector for three years,
holding that position at the present time. In tile
year 1873 lie was married, in September, to Miss
Helen Orton, a native of New York and daughter
of Arcelus and Mariah (Cressett) Orton. Six
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Orton, those
living being: I-elen; Clara, the wife of Angus
McDonald; Alice, the wife of Alexander Mc



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


473


Donald; Lena, the wife of Ellis W. Lang; and Kate,
wife of Frank Taylor. Mr. Orton died September
11, 1860, and in September, 1863, Mrs. Orton
married William  Lowing. They now reside in
Georgetown Township. Mr. and Mrs. Lowing
have one living child, Edgar.  Mr. and Mrs. Atwood have been the parents of six children: Morris; Vesta and Ruby, deceased; Lena, Allie and
Frank. Politically, Mr. Atwood is a Democrat,
and socially lie is a Mason, a member of Crescent
Lodge No. 322. In 1865 he shipped from  Liverpool on the "Great Eastern" with troops for
Quebec, Canada.
ASPER    LAHITIS.  During the forty-six
years that have passed over the head of the
gentleman whose name stands at the head
of this sketch since his locating in the
United States, he has witnessed many changes in
the country, and lhas not been merely a "looker on
in Venice," but a citizen who has through his enterprise, his integrity and his perseverance, contributed his full share to the development of the
section in which he resides, which is one of the
most magnificent in the State. He was born in
Hanover, Germany, September 14, 1828, a son of
Berrend and Geesje (Beld) Lahuis, who were also
born in Hanover in 1792 and 1793, respectively.
The youthful days of Berrend Lah uis were spent
on a farm which belonged to his father, but he
also learned the trade of a carpenter, and these two
occupations he continued to follow throughout
life, becoming the owner of a small tract of land.
He and his wife reared a family of four children:
Iermanes, who still resides in the Old Country;
Aaltje, deceased; Triute, a resident of Allegan
County, Mich.; and Kasper, the subject of this
sketch. Berrend Lahuis was a man of deep religious nature, and was an Elder in the Reformed
Church at the time of his death, which occurred in
1863. IIis widow survived him until 1879.
Kasper Lahuis received better educational ad

vantages than the average boy of his day, and being an intelligent youth lie made rapid progress
in his studies. When not employed in pursuing
the paths of learning, he learned tile carpenter's
trade of his father, at which occupation lie labored
in his native land until his removal to the United
States in 1847. He came alone to Ottawa County,
Mich., and took up his residence at New Groningen, and here lie was united in marriage with
Miss Fennigje Kamps, a daughter of John and
Ililligje Kamps, all of whomn were born in the
Netherlands. After following his trade for some
time. lie purchased a forty-acre tract of land,
which was totally unimproved, and to this small
purchase lie has added until lie now is the owner of a fine farm comprising two hundred and
ten acres, nearly all of which was in a wild state at
the time of his purchase. With the aid of his
sons hie- las cleared and improved this land, and
in his long and arduous labors lie found a true
helpmate in his kind, energetic and hard-working
wife.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lahuis ten children were born, who are in order of birth as follows: Geesje, Mrs. Joseph Baareman; John, a
resident of tlils county; Berrend, who resides on
a farm; Albert, who resides in Zeeland; Hannah,
the wife of I-enry Reif, of Chicago, Ill.; Gerrit;
Fannie, the wife of John De Pree, of Zeeland;
Kasper, Jr., and two who died young unnamed.
Kasper, Jr., the youngest son, attended Hope
College, and after teaching school for four years
began the study of medicine in the University
of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where ie has been
for one year; John, Berrend, Hannah and Albert
also received their educations at Iope College,
the latter finishing his education in the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and upon graduating received a State certificate to teach.
Mr. Lahuis deserves great credit for the way in
which lie has surmounted the difficulties wllich
have strewn his pathway, and also for having
given his children good educational opportunities. He has ever been a wide-awake man of affairs, industrious, pushing, enterprising and lawabiding, and tile liberal means which he is now
enjoying have been acquire(d by his own good




474


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


management. HTe and his wife are members of the
Reformed Church of Zeeland, in which he has held
office for the past twenty-five years. He has been
Highway and Drainage Commissioner of his township, and politically lie is a stanch Prohibitionist.
AMUEL R. SANFORD, one of the honored
pioneers of Muskegon County, and a prominent and progressive business man of the
city of Muskegon, was born in Wayne
County, N.Y., August 11, 1822, and is a son of
Isaac R. Sanford, a native of Connecticut. His
paternal grandfather, Abel Sanford, was born in
Wallingford, Conn., and was of English descent.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name
of Patience Atwater, and was also born in the
Nutmeg State.
The early boyhood of our subject was spent in
attendance at the district schools during the winter season and in farm work during the summer
months. Later he prosecuted his studies in the
Geneva Lyceum and Lyma Metlodist Episcopal
Seminary. Previous to this, he was engaged in
clerking in a dry-goods store in Palmyra, N. Y.,
and afterward in a wholesale and retail drug and
grocery house at Geneva, N. Y., remaining thus
occupied until 1844, when he migrated to Michigan. Locating in Grand Rapids, lie opened the
first drug store in that place. He secured a good
trade and successfully carried on business until
the fall of 1848, when he disposed of the store.
His next enterprise was the building of a double
steam sawmill sixteen miles up the river from
Muskegon, and in 1856 he came to this city, where
he has since made his home.
For a time Mr. Sanford engaged exclusively in
the manufacture and shipping of lumber, and afterward gave his attention to the lumber business
in one or another of its branches. For some time
lie has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of shingles. In his undertakings he has met


with success, and acquired a handsome competence. I-e dealt largely in real estate and has
been connected with many leading enterprises of
the community, having been one of the organizers of the Muskegon National Bank and a Director
in the first two railroad companies entering the
city, also aiding in the inception of other important concerns.
On the 1st of October, 1844, Mr. Sanford was
united in marriage with Miss Susan S. Ituggins, a
native of Wayne County, N. Y., and a daughter
of Zadok Huggins. She died July 18, 1855, leaving two children: I. Ransom, now a resident of
Muskegon; and Anna M., wife of IHarvey Chatten,
an arclitect of Quincy, Ill. The second marriage
of Mr. Sanford took place July 7, 1858, his wife
being Miss Ambrosia Peck, of Gorham, Ontario
County, N.. Y. Her father, Samuel B. Peck, was
for many years a merchant of Gorham, but removed to Muskegon in 1859. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanford, Arthur I-I. and
Nellie S.
In the fall of 1846 Mr. Sanford was elected
Clerk of Kent County on the Democratic ticket,
and filled tlat position until the fall of 1848, that
being the time of his removal from tlhe city. In
1858 he was elected Sheriff of Ottawa County,
which at that time comprised the counties of Muskegon and Ottawa, but during his term of service
the present division was made, and he removed to
Grand Haven temporarily in order to complete
his term. In the performance of the duties of
this office lie always traveled on foot, unless
having a prisoner in charge, and under no circumstances ever carried a weapon of defense.
As a "walkist" lie was for many years unrivaled.
In public office lie las always been found true to
the trust reposed in him, and has discharged his
duties with promptness and fidelity. In business
life lie has always been honorable and straightforward, and has therefore gained universal confidence. In his social and home life, he is an affable and pleasant gentleman, generous and kindhearted, and his many excellencies of character
have gained for him   a wide circle of warm
friends.
Although reared in accordance with the tenets




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


475


of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he never accepted its creed, nor affiliated as a member with
any religious denomination, but has been liberal
in his benefactions to all the churches of the city
of his home. In 1885, however, the spiritual philosophy, with its liberality of thought and its accompanying phenomena, so strongly presented itself to his hitherto unsatisfied mind, that he espoused tlat cause and is to-day its firm believer
and stanch advocate. His life has been worthily
spent, and his character is a noble one. The history of this community would be incomplete without his sketch, and we gladly present this record
of his life work to our readers.
*-,, VREDEVELD, a prominent general agriculturist and fruit-grower, located upon section 36, Iolland Township, (ttawa County,
Mich., takes a leading place in local matters of
progress, and for about twelve years has been an
ellqcient member of the School Board. Born in tile
province of Vraut, in the Netherlands, in 1836, our
subject was the son of Albert and Anna (Hastings)
Vredeveld, both natives of the Netherlands, and
honest, upright and industrious people, born of a
sturdy and thrifty race. The father, a native of the
same locality as our subject, was born in 1795, and,
in youtlh possessing but limited opportunities of
education, early began tlhe round of agricultural
duty, devoting tlie work of his life to farming; and
altllougli a man of but little capital, le owned
at small tract of feitile land in the Netherlands.
lie dutifully remained with his parents until his
Inarriage, when, having faithfully assisted his fatimer and mother, lie and his good wife began
life for tliemselves. At this period of his career
the father was a young man twenty-five years of
age, full of courage and determination to win his.way in the world. Thle union of thle parents was
blessed bly the birth of seven children, all born in
the Old (Counltry. (1 xrae married,ioll h  enzalrau;
ltlucts was tle secondi in order of birth; IHenry is


deceased; Gertrude married Roluf Myrinck; and
Bartlet, our subject and Albert (deceased) completed the list of sons and daughters who gathered
in the old home.
In 1847, the father and mother and their seven
children, with some of their houselold goods, set
sail for the United States, and crossing the sea arrived safely at their destination. A brief time after
they were located in Buffalo, where they remained
for a twelvemonth. Tile family, who were fiftytwo days on their way from Europe to America,
have yet a vivid remembrance of the long voyage
upon tle sailing-vessel, which, experiencing no
storm, yet took almost two months for the passage. When the father landed with his wife and
children in this hospitable land, he had but $4 in
money, and he earned his living by working on a
canal, doing teaming p)rincipally. At the close
of tile first year the family removed farther West,
settling in Allegan County, Mich., where the father
entered eighty acres of land in the northwestern
l)art of tlie county, and with diligence and patient
toil cultivated the soil, improved the acres witli
substantial buildings and made that homestead his
permanent abiding-place until his death, in Decemher, 1870. He lhad buried his wife, the mother of
our subject, about six months after arriving in the
United States. The father was a sincere Christian
man, a devout member and for many years a valued Elder of the Reformed Church.
Our subject, remaining with his father until
twenty-one years of age, obtained his primary
education in tile Netherlands, and afterward attended the public schools of Buffalo and Michigan. I-e was, however, only about eleven years of
age when lie began working by the month at farm
work, and in 1862 was employed by tile Government of the United States in making roads in
Missouri through which the army would afterward pass. Continuing in this employment about
eight months, our subject then obtained other
work.
At the age of thirty Mr. Vredeveld was united
in marriage with Miss lenrietta Huskin. Unto
Iour subject and hls estimable wife llave been
born four children: Anna; HIenry; Jennie, wife of
Rix Wigmntn; and Ella. Before lmarriage our sub



476


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ject had purchased fifty acres of good land, which
he has since brought up to a high state of cultivation, upon eight acres raising a fine quality of
fruits and berries. The land when bought was
heavily timbered and much hard work was required to bring tlhe acres up to their present productiveness. Mr. Vredeveld is, like his father, in
religious connection a menber of the Reformed
Church, and politically affiliates with the Republicans. H-e has ably transacted the duties of Pathmaster, and has done excellent public service upon the School Board, and enjoys the hearty best
wishes and kind regard of many friends.
O-IN  C. LEWIS, a financier of acknowledged ability, and the President of the First
National Bank of Traverse City, Mich., also
one of tile largest dealers in lumber and
pine land in the Wolverine State, is one of
the old-time mill-owners of Whitehall, Muskegon
County. He was born on the Ottawa River, in
Canada, February 26, 1837, and was the second
child of John and Maria Lewis, long-time residents
of the Dominion. The father, born in Louisiana
in 1809, was a son of a soldier in the War of 1812,
and when only a lad went to Canada. Literally
making his way through the wilderness, he was
obliged to carry his provisions on his back from
the nearest trading-post, a distance of eigliteen
miles. lie died in that locality in 1846, at the
early age of thirty-seven.
The mother, a native of Ireland, emigrated to
Canada when about fifteen years of age, and survived her husband for one year, passing away in
1848, wlen John was only ten years old. The family was then scattered and he was cared for by an
uncle, Cornelius C., with whom lie remained until
seventeen years of age. lie sl)ent tle intervening
time mostly in a round of agricultural toil, his
opportunities for an education being very limited
and( confine(d mainly to brief scllooling in tile
winter months.


Immediately after leaving the home of his uncle,
Mr. Lewis passed a year working on a construction train on the Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1855
he came to the United States, determined to try
his fortunes in a republic. For five succeeding
years, without capital or influence, he struggled
slowly upward. For three years he was employed
by J. H. Williams, one of the largest lumbermen
in the State of New York. Mr. Lewis assisted in
operating a mill, and during the time mastered the
details of the business. In 1858 he journeyed to
Minnesota, and with the little money he had carefully saved opened a snall store at Lakeland, on
the St. Croix. As this was immediately after the
panic of 1857, there was literally no money in the
country, and the venture was unsuccessful. Having thus lost a good part of the small capital
amassed with sacrifice and hard work, Mr. Lewis,
with unfailing courage, began again. He next
turned his attention to the South, and went first
to New Orleans, and thence to Memphis, Tenn., and
operated a mill in that locality in the winter of
1859. In the summer of 1860 lie operated a circular saw for that great lumberman, Chauncey
Lamb, at Clinton, Iowa.
In the winter of 1860 Mr. Lewis again located
in Mempllis, Tenn., and later operated a small sawmill across the river in Arkansas, fifteen miles
from  Memphis.   He remained there until the
breaking out of the Civil War and tlie fall of
Ft. Sumter, when lie, in common with many
others, left all lie possessed with but one aim in
view-to reach at once the more congenial Nortll.
Mr. Lewis next journeyed to Clinton, Iowa, and
in December, 1861, came to Muskegon, soon afterward settling in wlat is now Whitehall. He had
saved $1,300 in money, aside from his investments,
and this amount lie at once put into a farm, which
its discouraged owner offered at any price, so tllat
lie could get out of tlhe country.
Once more beginning at the foot of tle ladder,
Mr. Lewis received employment as a day laborer
in the lumber c'amps, and in 1862 and 1863 he ran
a circular saw for the late A. J. Covell, and in 1864
for WV. M. Weston. Later lie b)ouglt tlie mill from
Mr. Weston an(d tllen mad(le some money. In 1865
lie sold out to Lyman Covell, and about tlme salme




PORTRAIT AND BIOG RAPIIICAL RECORD.


477


time sold his farm for $525. IHe then built tile
mill owned by M.   &. & C. B. Covell, in company
with other parties. Later A. J. Covell became his
partner, and at last Fortune smiled on our subject
and he rapidly made money. iHe operated this
mill until 1875, when his failing health obliged
him to sell out. Locating in Waukesha, Wis., he
remained there for three years.
A man of superior business ability and thoroughly informed regarding values, Mr. Lewis during this time purchased large tracts of pine lands
in Wisconsin and Mlichigan, and also owning an
extensive piece of land in Mississippi has been a
heavy dealer in pine lands and lumber. lie is
likewise one of the prominent capitalists and
money-loaners in his alrt of the State, and for
seventeen years was connected witli the bank of
Whitehall as Director and Vice-President. In 1885
he established the First National Bank of Traverse
City and has remained its President continuously.
lIe also loaned large sums of money to private
parties in Traverse, as well as in Whitehall and
other places, and is now one of the wealtliiest men
in this part of Michigan, his course from the early
'60s having been ul)ward and onward. Self-reliantly and witl true courage he has won his
way to a position of lionor and influence, his
financial ability and integrity of character receiving recognition from all wlio knew him.
In July, 1865, were united in marriage Joln C.
Lewis and MIiss Augusta Covell, a sistel of A. J.,
Lyman, Mi. 1. and C. E. Covell, tle wealthy lumberlnen  of Whitehall.  Three daughters have
blessed the home of Mr. Lewis and his accomplished
wife. Lizzie M.,a chlarming young lady, is a skilled
musician, being a superior vocalist and instrumentalist. She spent three years under Prof. Iahn,
of tle l)etroit Conservatory of Music, from which
institution she was graduated. She then perfected
herself in her vocal studies ilunder the instruction
of the renowned teacher, Mrs. I)exter. Slhe is now
tlhe wife of William  MacArthur, poplrietor of a
large flourinug-mill at Cheboygal, Mich. Nettie E.,
now a student at Oberlin College, is pursuing her
literary studlies witl great success; Florence M.
lhas inot yet entered Illponl tile higher branclles of
e(ldtca:t,ion.


Mr. Lewis has supplemented the limited instruction he received in childhood by close observation and a wide range of reading, and is one of
the best-informed men on practical subjects in
Muskegon County. A shrewd and far-seeing man,
the adversities of early life trained him to realize
and embrace with clear judgment the later opportunities which were the stepping-stones to his ultimate success.  Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are valued
members of the Congregational Church and are
active aids in religious work and enterprise. The
beautiful home, one of the finest in the locality,
is the scene of many pleasant social reunions,
and although his extensive business interests frequently require the absence of Mr. Lewis, lie hastens Ills return to one of the most attractive spots
on earth to him.
Politically a lifelong Republican, lie has served
his fellow-townsmen with efficiency as Supervisor,
and has also as a member of tlhe School Board for
the past twelve years materially advanced the
cause of education. Fraternally, lie is connected
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
is a valued member of the home lodge. Practically a self-made man, lie has in his enviable career
gained both friend s and money, and enjoys tlhe sincere confidence of a wide circle of old-time friends
and neighbors.
ETER PETERSON, who for many years was
numbered among the leading farmers and
enterprising citizens of I)alton Township,
MAuskegon 'ounty, was born in the southern
part of Sweden February 16, 1835, and was the
eldest in a family of three children. Olie became
a resident of Minnesota, and one sister never left
her native land. The father of this family was a
miller by trade and became quite well-to-do, but
by mismanagement lost tile greater plart of his
prolerty in later life.
()Our subject spent tile days of his I)oyhllo(od nllder the parental roof, remainingi ' at liome until




478


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


nineteen years of age, when he bade good-bye to
home and friends and sailed alone for the New
World. I-e had heard much of its privileges and
opportunities and resolved to try his fortune in
the land of promise. On reaching New York, he
at once came to Muskegon County, Mich., where
lie arrived with very limited means, and in order
to provide for his support he began working in
the lumber woods witli Mr. Knudson, of Montague. IHe remained with that gentleman for
about a year, living very economically and carefully, and at length with his liard-earned savings
was enabled to purchase a small tract of timberland on White Lake, and he then began lumbering
on Ihis own property. I-e came to the farm which
is now the home of his widow in 1865, purchasing
quite a large tract, nearly three hundred acres.
It was a perfect wilderness, being covered with a
dense growth of timber, and in order to reach the
place Mr. Peterson had to cut the roads thlrough,
as there were none opened at the time.
The labors of our subject were interrupted in
1862, when, prompted by patriotic impulses, he
went to the aid of his adopted country, enlisting
as a member of Company F, Fiftll Michigan Cavalry. -He continued in the service for fourteen
months, when, on account of physical disability, lhe
was honorably discharged. Hle then returned to
hils home and family. Ie ihad been married in
Muskegon County in 1857, the lady of his choice
being Miss Mary Michelson, daugllter of lars alnd
Mary (Lawson) Micllelson. The lady was born
in the northern part of Sweden, and wllen a maiden
of nineteen summners crossed the briny deep to
America, joining l  ler parents, wlo had emigratedl
to thle New World a number of years previous.
Five children graced their union, but three died
in early life and only two are now living: Jolln,
a resident of Minnesota; and William, wlho operates tlhe home farm for his motlier. She is a member of the Metlodist Episcopal Chlurlch, and a most
estimable lady, who has many friends tllroughout
this community.
In his social relations, Mr. Peterson was connected with tlle Odd Fellows' society of tMuskegon,
and was also a lnieber of tile lGrand Army post
at that place. In politics, lie was a stanch Rle

publican, and always supported the men and measures of that party. HIe held a number of local offices, the duties of which were promptly and faithfully performed. IIe passed away in July, 1890,
and in his death the family lost a loving husband
and father, his neighbors a faithful friend and the
community one of its best citizens. IIe lived a
quiet, unassuming life, but true worth and excellencies of character gained for him high regard.
OlIN A. WILTERDINK, a practical general agriculturist and well-known citizen,
is pleasantly located upon section 34, IIoll I land Township, Ottawa County, and lias
for many years been intimately identified with the
progressive interests of his liome locality. Mr.
Wilterdink was born in the Netlerlands in 1839
and was thle son of John A. and Minnie (Wilterdink) Wilterdink, thle parents being very distant
relatives. The father, born in  1802, and  the
inother in 1808, were natives of tile near vicinity
of the birthplace of our subject. The paternal
grandparents were in poor circumstances, and tlle
father began when a boy to make his own way in
tlhe world. IIe learned througlh a long apprenticeshilp tle trade of a wagon-maker, and after hlis
marriage cultivated a rented farm and also worked
at his trade. In 1846, tile father with his family
embarked for the United States uplon a sailingvessel, tlle"Willian Tell," which ran on a rock and
was wrecked. All were picked up and saved by
other vessels. The Wilterdinks, wlio had expected
to make tlhe port of Baltimore, were landed after
ninety days in Florida. They tlen proceeded
directly to St. Iouis and lived there a few months,
but in May, 1847, arrived at the old Indian village west of where Holland now stands. Thlley
lived witll tlhe Indians tihree weeks before they
got their cabin built.
'I'lie father entered forty acres of (overnment
land on sectionl 34, Holland 'Tl'ownshiilp, all tilmcil',
which lie cleared, clltlvtitiii tile soil witli tlhe




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.


479)


lielp of his sons. Ilis good wife passed away in
1857, and since then, living witl his eldest son,
tlhe father, now very feeble, has reached ninetyone years of age. Seven children gathered in
the old home, but four died before reaching nine
years of age. The three surviving are: Gertrude,
the wife of Richard Takken: Joln W., and,John
A., our subject. Mr. Wilterdink, beginning life
for himself, enlisted in August, 1862. in Complany
I, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, and, engaged
witl the Army of the Cumbelland, fought at
Tibbs' Bend, Ky., where two hundred Union men
defeated Morgan witl hlis three thousand strong.
Our subject likewise actively particil)ated in tile
following   engagements:   Knoxville, Kingston,
Mossy Creek, Rocky Face, Resaca, l)allas (Ga.),
Altoona, Culp's Farm, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw
Mountain, Nickajack    Creek, Stony Creek, I)ecatur, Atlanta, Jonesboroughl, Duck River and
Nashville.  Aside from tllese decisive battles, Mr.
Wilterdink took an active part in numerous hot
skirmishes, and was wounded at Resaca by a shell
striking him on tile left side near the heart. IIe
was also sunstruck at Altoona, Ga., but never
went to the hospital, being merely carried from
tlie field in an ambulance. Ile was never captured
nor absent for any cause from his regiment. Receiving hlis disc:hrge in North Carolina, lie was
mustered out of thle service.une 15, 1865, in
Jackson, MIicll.
Soon after his return tnohis ho1me, our slbject
plurchased tile forty 'acres where lie now resides,
and owns at present seventy acres, fifty of which
are under Iligh cultivation, tile homestead containing excellent and commodious buildings.   In
1868, were united in marriage Joihn A. Wilterdilk
and Miss lemmiie Visschler, dauhllter of Evert
and MAartha Visscher, natives of the Netherllands,
where likewise Mrs. Wilterdinlk was born, emigratilg to tlie United States witlh her parents
when only four years of nge. Our subject and
lis estimable wife were Ilesce(d I)b thle birth of
five clildren': Annie 1M.; MaIrtlia M., whlo died
whenl twelve Nce:I.1ri of age;  Mil nie', Albert E.
Ilnd(1 Eddie. Mr.:i(d 1 AIIs. Wiit,'r(lilllk arc: v'altued
Imleii)bers of the Refo(rml(ed ('11111cl  t Illollnd,
of wlhich our sullbject 11as 1,eeil all El(der for
24


twenty-four years. Politically a IRepublican, and(
ever' taking a deep interest in matters of mutual
welfare, lie lhas been an efficient Sclool l)irector
for fifteen years, and lias in various ways materially aided in educational advancement. Among
his war reminiscences Mr. Wilterdink recalls tlat,
in 1863, lie marched barefoot in November and
I)ecember. lie hlas as a valuable trophy of his
first battle a revolver, whlich lie took from a rebel
officer. Tlose (lays of strife, now in tlhe distant
past, were rich in deeds of heroism; to-day, witlh
peace brooding over tlie land, our subject is as in
those days a devoted American citizen, true and
loyal.  Altlough not relating directly to tlle
history of Mr. Wilterdink, a terrible catastrophe
which overtook his relatives mnay be of interest to
many. IIis uncle, IHiram Wilterdink, and llis nmternal grandmotler and   two of her sons, tile
wife of one and six children p)erislled on boarda a
burning boat on Lake MIichigan, on tleir way to
their home in tlhe United States.
I       IIIER ) ALLEN, tlie leadinig dlruggst and
I an enterprisilg citizen of Mlontague, Mus1.I    ~ kegon (County, for three years held under
'1     PiPrlesidellt Ilarrison the official position of
Collector of the p)ort of lMontague, but now devotes
his entire time to tile demands of a large and rapidly increasing business. (ur subject was born in
tlhe city of Cork, Ireland, May 1, 1849, and was
tlhe ninth in tile fainilv of sixteen children who
blessed tile home of Blenjamin and Patience (-liumphreys) Allen. Tlle father was born not far from
Belfast, but tlic lpaternal grandfather was a genuine Scotch IIighllande', a descendant of one of
tile most illustrious faLmilies of "bonnie Scotia."
Thle gandfather' early in life removed fiorn his
native land tf) Ireland, and changed the spelling
of his name from  Allan to Allen, which was a
mistake, an(d las I)l'evelited tile heirs to a large
lproperty bequeatlhed to tile Allanis fronl ieceiving
tlieir sharee, as it lits been dificult to prove to the




480


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIlCAL RECORD.


satisfaction of the court in chancery that the
Willian Allen of Ireland and the William Allan
of Scotland were one and the same person. Benjamin Allen   was a man of liberal education,
and, possessing superior business attainments, became a large papler manufacturer, ranking as the
most extensive in his line of trade in the Emerald
Isle. He owned and operated three large millsone at Dripsly, one at Tower Mills and the other
at Girth. In these three mills lie employed more
tlan eight hundred hands, and in tile business made
a fortune, but in 1860, when the free-trade law
went into effect, allowing tlhe untaxed importation
of foreign paper, it made a bankrupt of him,
closed his mills and rendered liim temporarily inSanle.
The father after his reverses recovered his reason but never his fortune, and while he had sufficient to keep him in his last days, lie died in
1883, at tile age of sixty-seven, a comparatively
poor man. HIe had been a life-long believer in the
Quaker faith, and, a sincere Christian of high principle, was a noted temperance worker, and many a
time stood upon a platform side by side with
that distinguished orator and temperance lectu rer, Father Mathew, tile great Irish temperance
advocate. The father was a man of generous
heart and liberal hand, and during his days of
prosperity tie poor of the country found in him
a faithful friend. While Ireland was suffering
witli the dread famine, Benjamin Allen would
take his carriage and drive through tile parisil and,
gathering togetiher the most destitute, would renove them to the tenements on his large estate
and there care for them  tenderly. He had one
brother and three sisters. The brother, William,
early in life went to Australia, where for the past
thirty-five years lie has been a member of Parliament. Joseph also made his home in Australia,
and became a prominent mining engineer. John
settled in tile Plhilippine Islands, and was one of
tihe most extensive planters in the islands. lIe
married a Spanisil lady of great culture and
beauty, and a piece of her wedding dress, made of
tile fine fibre of tile pineapple, a Imost costly fabric, is
now in tle possession of a datuglter of our sullject.
Jolin, his wife and children all died al Manila


with the yellow fever. The sister (aunt of our
subject) married Mr. Green, one of the largest
merchants of Newry, County of Down, where she
died about 1878.
Patience Humphreys, the mother of Alfred Allen. was tile daughter of Prof. John Dobbs Humphreys, born July 20, 1764, an Englishman by decent, but whether born in England or Ireland we
do not positively know. He was a man of learning, and force of character and possessed great physical endurance.  Ile occupied with honor positions of distinction, and was President of the
Royal Cuvierian Society, and Professor in Queen's
College at Cork, and Librarian of the Royal Cork
Institute. For half a century he successfully conducted a private college, and, an author of much
note in his day, published several volumes of
his own poetry, which for their elegant diction
and style of coinposition attracted much favorable
criticismn and insured him a wide circle of readers.
The Professor was never sick a day in his life until
attacked by his mortal illness. lie expired July
18, 1864, witliin two days of his one hundredth
birthday. Ile left to posterity the largest and
finest conchological collection in the United Kingdom. and which, purchased after his death by
all English admirer, was presented to the Royal
Cork Institute, with whicl lie had so long been
con nected.
The mother of Alfred Allen passed away at
the age of forty-eight years, and of her large family of sixteen children, several died in infancy.
William Allen was a successful hardware merchant
of Ireland, and died at the age of twenty-four;
Mary married William Kemp, of London, England, where Mr. Kemp is the manager of a large
insurance  company.  Johln lumphreys Alien
is a wealthy druggist of New York City, and
the proprietor of Allen's Brain Food. Charlotte
Elizabeth Allen married D)aniel McAdams, of
the firm  of McAdams & Cartwrighlt, elevator
manufacturers, of New York City. Charles Herbert Allen represents a large English mlerchantile house in Australia and the East Indies. Ann
Maria Allen is tile wife of a prosperous hardware
mercllant in london, England.    Josephline is
single and lives in I)ublin, Ireland.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


481


Our subject was educated in the Quaker schools
of his native land, but after tlle failure of his father, when lie was about fourteen years of age,
went into the wholesale and retail drug house of
John Hatton, in Cork, to thoroughly learn the business. lie remained with Mr. Hatton five years,
and at the expiration of that time, on account of
failing health, abandoned the business and went
to Spain, there opening tile first Bible house at
Madrid after the granting of liberty of worship)
in tliat country. Our subject was in tlie employ
of Prof. William Ireland Knapp, then a Baptist
missionary, and now Professor of Languages in
the University of Chicago. Mr. Allen remained
in Spain until 1871, when lie returned to London
and was there united in marriage witl MAiss Caroline Tisdall, an English lady, whom lie had met at
Madrid when she was governess in tlhe family of
tlhe Count of Vilches. Our subject and his accomplished wife were wedded at St. George's, IIanover Square, London, August 31, 1871, and at
once embarked for America. Reaching tlie United
States in safety, Mr. and Mrs. Allen made but
a brief stay in New York, then journeyed to the
West, where our subject received employment in
a drug store in Olivet, Miich. Later Mr. Allen
settled in Portland, MIici., where for seven years
he was engaged in a drug store of W. W. Bogue,
a part of tlle time being in charge of a branch
store at Sunfield. Our subject next located in
Muskegon and for seven years was in the drug
store of C. L. Brundage, and in 1885 made his
home in MI ontague. For seven years and a-half
he dispensed drugs for I,. G. Ripley and then engaged in tlhe drug biusiness on his own account.
A thorough plharmacettist, entirely at home in
every branch of his trade, Mr. Allen has met with
well-deserved success, and is recognized as a man
of superior ability and training. Politically, our
subject is a strong Republican, and fraternalIr afliliates witlh the Free & Accepted Masons.
M1rs. Allenl is a valllcd mieliber of tile Episcopal
(Cliurch and a ready aid in all good work. Ten
chilldren briglitened tile IIhom(lc, but three little ones died ill iifialci.v. Thle e(ldtest sont, Williaml
Hi., is colnlle(ctdl wiithl thle wholes:le (11rug house of
Morrisoln & l 'ltlllillir, of Chlliago. Ie is a grad

uate of the Ferris Business College of Big Rapids,
and is a young man of high attainments. A
daughter, Allena, is a milliner of Montague. Patience is a successful teacher. Florence, George,
Charles and Daniel are iiow being educated. The
family occupy a high social position, and enjoy
the esteem of a wide circle of sincere friends., LBERT KRONEMYER, General Manager
and Secretary of the IIudsonville Butter
t and Clleese Factory, is one of the prominent
business men of this prosperous village,
and is also well known throughout Ottawa County. Ile is a son of Bernard and Ellen (Steen)
Kronemyer, natives of the Netherlands, who emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Holland,
Ottawa County, Michi. Witlin two months after
the date of their arrival here, the father, mother
and four brothers died, leaving only one brother
and sister, Albert and Alida. The latter became
the wife of Jacob Venderboegh, and is now deceased. Tlie parents were prominent members of
the I)utch Reformed Clurch and were upright,
generous and honorable.
Born in tile Netherlands February 10, 1839, our
subject was a lad of eight years when lie accompanied his parents to America, and very soon
afterward lie was orphaned by their deatl. I-Ie
was tlen given by the church authorities to R.
Schilliman, now a resident of North Holland,
Mich., who at that time was extensively engaged
in shipping lumber, shingles, etc., by boat to the
principal markets. With this gentleman the orphan
boy renilained until he was nineteen, his educational
advantages meantime being exceedingly limited.
At that atge lie ran away and, coming to Georgetown Township, worked in the employ of L. & L.
Jenison for three summer seasons, attending the
district schlool lturing the winter.
In Augiust, 1862, Mr. Ironemnyer enlisted as a
member of Company G, Twenty-first Michigan




482


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


Infantry, and from the ranks was promoted to
tlhe position of Corporal, later to I)uty-Sergeant
and finally to Orderly-Sergeant. With his company lie marched to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to
Louisville, Ky., and from there into the enemy's
strongholds. lie p)articipated in the followingnamed battles: Perryville, October 8, 1862; Lavergne, Tenn., Iecember 27; Stewarts, December
29; Stone River, December 29-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863; Tullahoma, Tenn., June 24; Elk
River, July 1; Chickamauga, September 19-21;
Chattanooga, October 6; Brown's Ferry, October
27; Mission Ridge, November 26; Savannah, Ga.,
December 11, 18 and 21-24, 1864; Averysboro,
N. C., March 16, 1865; and Bentonville, N. C.,
March 19.
At Bentonville, N. C., Mr. Kronemyer was
struck by a musket ball, which knocked him senseless. Left on the field, he was taken prisoner by
the Confederates and for two weeks was confined
in Libby Prison. Upon being released he was
sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and from there went
to Detroit, where lie was mustered out with his
regiment, June 8, 1865, after a service of two
years and ten months. I)uring the entire period
of his service, lie was never in a lhospital or absent
from any roll-call, or any battle in which his regiment participated.  After his dischare lie returned to Iludsonville, and later engaged in rafting logs to Grand River, continuing in that way
for one summer. During the winter of 1865-66
lie worked in the lumber woods at Georgetown.
Prior to the war he purchased a small farm on
section 20, Georgetown Township, for which ie
comp)leted payment after tle close of the war.
Tile marriage of Mr. Kronemyer occurred in
1867, and united him with Miss Mary Van Strate,
a native of thle Netherlands, who died in 1885,
after an illness of twelve years. Four children
were born of tile union, two of whom are now
living, Alida J. and Agatlla S. In 1887 Mr.
Kronemyer was again married, choosing as his
wife Miss Salina Smedley, who was born in England, and who has proved a most efficient helpmate to her husband. To his children Mr. Kronemyer lhas given excellent educational advantages,
and liis daughters are young ladies of culture


and refinement. His eldest son died after attaining his majority.
The original purchase of land made by Mr.
Kronemyer consisted of seventy-four acres, wholly
unimproved, upon which he remained until 1891.
After a short sojourn in Grand Rapids, he went
to another farm and from there came to Iudsonville in 1893. Ie owns considerable valuable
real estate, including three houses in Grand Rapids and a residence in LIudsonville. In politics a
Republican, he has been prominent in local political affairs, and has served as Township Clerk a
number of terms, also as Township Treasurer for a
long period, and as Supervisor for three years. His
life las by no means been an easy one, but lie has
possessed an abundance of energy, perseverance
and the American characteristic of "stick-to-itiveness," and as a result of his unwearied efforts
has gained a large measure of success.
i_ '<y____ ____  L_"~^  __  __. _
I ON   BUSBY, M. D., tlhe lpopular young
physician and skillful surgeon of Whitellall,
Muskegon County, Michi., devotes himself
\     untiringly to the demands of his profession,
and already possessing an excellent practice has a
brighter future yet before him, his courage, will
and enterprise being unfailing factors in lielping
him upward on the thorny pathl, whose difficulties
all professional young men are called upon to surmount before they can attain to the heights of
assured success. The practice of )Dr. Busby takes
him through a round embracing the immediate
neighborhood, as well as the town of Whitehall.
Thoroughly at home in tlhe details of general practice, he excells in surgery, and is thus well adapted
to the requirements of an extended professional
career. Our subject is a native of Ontario and was
born in Cumberland June 14, 1868. Iis parents,
William and Sarah (Mclaulghlin) Bushy, are longtime and highlly respected residents of tile Queen's
dominions. Tlie fathler is a:enuine Scotclman,
having been born in the city of (lasgow in 1833.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


483 -

The paternal grandfather, John Busby, in whose
honor Dr. Busby was named, was also a native of
Glasgow and the descendant of a long line of
sturdy Scots.
Grandfather Busby was a molder by trade and
an honest, resolute man. He emigrated to America about 1836, and, settling upon a farm in Cumberland, Ontario, devoted himself to the pursuit of
general agriculture. William Busby was the eldest of four sons and was about three years old
when his parents made their home in Canada. IHe
received an education in the common schools of
his home neighborhood, and when seventeen years
of age went into the pineries and for fully twentyfive years was connected with one of tile largest
lumber companies of Canada. The mother of our
subject was the daughter of Patrick McLauglllin,
the brother of William, and of Hugh McLaughlin,
wlio has been for thirty years the foreman of a
large lumber company at Alpena, Mich. Robert
is a prominent farmer near Alpena, and John and
James are also engaged in the profitable tilling of
the soil in Cumberland, Ontario. When our subject
was seven years of age, his father and mother,
with their family, removed to Montreal, Canada,
and in that city Dr. Busby spent the days of boyhood and received his education in tie ordinary
branches of study, graduating from the Montreal
High School with honor.
Our subject for the four succeeding years attended tile Montreal Collegiate School, finally entering McGill College, where lie completed a fouryear course and graduated from tile medical department in 1891. His opportunities for an education far above the ordinary were well improved,
and to-day but few pliysicians of his age are as
thoroughly versed in tile ills tlat flesh is heir
to as is our subject. Immediately following the
termination of his medical studies, Dr. Busby came
to Ilis present location and began the practice of
his chosen profession in Whitehall. Here lie has
been very successful, gaining an extended reputation as a skillful surgeon. Fraternally, tile Ioctor
is associated with the Ancient Free & Accepted
Masons, and is also a valued member of the Maccabees. Our subject has two brotlers, Patrick,
older than himself, and interested il a large lurn

ber company at Alpena, and William, younger,
and still with his parents in Montreal. During
the comparatively brief period of Dr. Busby's residence in Whitehall lie lhas made many friends
and enjoys the confidence and reslect of the entire
community.. ILES T. WOOI)BURY. Tlie farming class
of America, and especially of tile northern
~~7i tier of States, is noted for the degree of
intelligence that is possessed by its representatives. Mr. Woodbury belongs to one of the most
progressive of families, and as a tiller of the soil,
as well as in other respects, lie has endeavored to
keep out of tlhe old grooves and has always favored
the adoption of new and improved methods in conducting his operations. lie was born in Perryville,
N. Y., November 18, 1818, and up to 1840 resided
in that State, when he became a resident of Michigan. As lie was an engineer of considerable ability, lie soon found employment witli William Laslie,
of Muskegon, and built and took charge of the Laslie Mill, willll is now  owned tand operaated by
Messrs. Marsh & Foss. In 1853 lie removed from
Muskegon to Grand Haven and formed a partnership witll C. B. Albee in an extensive tanning
establishment, and for nine years thelreafter Ihad
supervision of tile mechanical department of the
tanne ry.
In 1861 Mr. Woodbury removed with his family to Allendale Township, Ottawa County, Mich.,
and settled on a farm he had purchased, but lived
to enjoy his lhone only a few years, his death
occurring on the 10th of August, 1866, at the age
of forty-eight years and nine months. In every
business transaction in which lie engaged he maintained the confidence and trust which are usually
tlie result of sterling principles and strict integrity.
In his way he was quite a philanthropist and was
an earnest friend and safe counselor of thle deserving poor or tile fatherless. His earnest support and symlathy were always enlisted in all




484


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


enterprises that tended to conduce to tile best interests of the community in which he lived, and
although quiet and unassuming in his deportment
toward his fellow-men, he possessed decided views
on all subjects, and his unmistakable position on
the side of justice and right was a correct indication of his mind and morals. It was truthfully
said of him that "he always saw two sides to every
question, and self never stood in the way." He
was a devoted member of the Christian Church,
to which he donated liberally of his means, as far
as he could afford.
He was married to Mrs. Matilda (Gardner) Fox
November 14, 1860, a daughter of a worthy English gentleman, and to their union two sons were
given: Jesse G. T., and Warren H., of Detroit,
Mich. Mr. Woodbury served as Supervisor of his
township for several years, and llad lie lived would
have undoubtedly become a very wealthy farmer,
for he possessed all the characteristics necessary
for a successful agricultural life. lie came to the
State a poor man, and at the time of his death his
farm, which was heavily covered with timber, had
begun to take on the appearance of a well-tilled
place under his capable management. Timber was
fast being removed from  it and a considerable
portion had been put under cultivation.  The
house in which his widow and his son Jesse now
reside was at that time almost the same as it now
is, and it is still one of the best and most substantial houses in the township. Politically, Mr.
Woodbury was a Republican, and socially was a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The ancestors of Mr. Woodbury originally came
from England, and his parents, Luther and Catherine (Harbach) Woodbury, were both born at
Sutton, Mass., in which place they long resided.
They reared a family of ten children: Bemus;
Parmelia; George B., of Muskegon County, Mich.;
Giles T., the subject of this sketch; Catherine M.;
Candace Sophia; Luther Dwight; William; Francis J.; and W. H.
Jesse G. T., the elder son of our subject, was born
in Grand Haven, Mich., in 1861, but ever since his
first year has been a resident of the farm  where
he now makes his home. His education was acquired in the district scllools in Allendale Town

ship, and as soon as able lie went with his halfbrother, Frank J. Fox, on to the farm  and continued to till the soil until his younger brother
was of age. I-e tlen purchased tile latter's interest in tile old home farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred acres
were well improved. On this farm is a fine apple
orchard and lie used to raise peaches extensively,
but his trees were killed a few years ago by the
hard winter. In the fall of 1892 Jesse Woodbury
erected a planing-mill and heading factory in company witl I)ennis Bennett at Allendale Center,
and since then lie has devoted his time to milling,
his farm being rented. He was married December
23, 1887, to Miss Alice M. Walbrink, a native of
this county an(d a d(aughter of Hlenry 1). and Keziah (Robinson) Walbrink, wlo were the parents
of six children:  Mary A., Alice M., Eva, Alidia,
Jacob A., Emma A. (deceased) and Minnie K., wife
of Eugene Velzy. The mother of tllese children
is deceased,and alfter her deatll Mr. Walbrink married Mrs. Nellie I). Knowlton, and by her became
thlefather of two children, both of whom arc dead.
Mr. Walbrink died in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury have two clildren, Genevieve and Eva W.
Mrs. Woodbury is a nember of the Congregational
Church and lie is a member of the Ancient Free
& Accepted Masons. Politically, lie is a Repubiican, and in 1893 was elected Township Treasurer.
IOHN IH. CHAPM'AN, the efficient Supervisor of Whitellall,  and a prominent insurance and real-estate man of tie village, is a
native of Martin, Allegan County, Mich.,
and was born I)ecember 19, 1847. Our subject is
the only son of Josepl H. and Annie (Casson)
Chapman. Tlie father, born in Schenectady County, N. Y., was the son of John Chapman, who was
born in Connecticut in about 1790. The paternal
grandfather emigrated with his parents to New
York at a very early age, and there attained to
manhood. The paternal great-grandfather, a manl




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of unusual ability and sterling integrity, acquired
a large property and became an extensive landowner.  Ile required each of his twelve sons to
fit himself for the battle of life by learning a
trade, and John, the grandfather of our subject,
became an expert blacksmith, and until his death
made tlat trade the occupation of his life. Ile
died in 1843, universally respected by all who
knew  him. The great-grandfather was a contractor, and during the War for Independence
furnished provisions and clotliing for Washington's army. Tle sons of the grandfather also
early fitted themselves to earn a livelihood. The
eldest, Ezra, was placed in a store to learn the mercantile business. Continuing in this employment,
he accumulated a fortune, but later lost heavily by
reverses. He died in Allcgan County, Mich., to
which locality he had removed in 1843.
Ezra Chapman had two sons, Jacob and George.
The former served bravely as a soldier in the
Thirteenth Michigan Infantry during the late
Civil War, and, constantly exposed to tlme privations incidental to a military campaign, died during his term of enlistment. George survived until
1868. The daughter, Rebecca, married George
Nelson, also a soldier of the late war. lMr. Nelson, although shot through the body during a fierce
fight, survived, and is to-day a prominent agriculturist and mill-owner of Allegan County. William, the second son of John Cllapman, in compliance witll the wish of his father, entered into railroading as a conductor on one of tile first trains
which ran out of Albany, NY. Y.  e remained in
this business until his death, at twenty-six years of
age. Joseph I-I., the father of our subject, learned
the jeweler's trade in tile little town where lie was
born. lie then settled in the city of New  York,
but in 1843 decided to try his fortune in the West.
Prospecting for a future permanent location, lie
traveled through Ohio, Michigan and Iowa, and
finally settled upon the Wolverine State for a future home. I-e obtained possession of a tract of
land in Martin Township, Allegan County, and
about the same time opened a jewelry shop. The
farmers had but little use, however, for his wares or
services in that line, and lie concluded to try blacksmithing for a time, although thle only knowledge


lie had of the trade had been gained by watching
his father at the anvil.
Joseph Chapman was later a leading merchant of
Otsego, Allegan County, and was extensively interested in large bodies of land. In 1843 lie
became the owner of landed estates near Easton,
Md., and also for some time engaged in mercantile
business in that locality. During tlhe early days
of tle State, tlhe father, a strong Democrat, took
a leading part in tlhe local politics of Allegan
County, where lie served with ability as Sheriff one
termn. Ie was also Supervisor, and was numbered
among tile substantial men and )ulblic-spirited citizens. The fatlier and mother were married in
Michigan, but Mrs. Annie (Casson) Chapman was a
native of Canada, and a daughoter of Joln Casson,
an Englishman by birth. While in his native land,
the maternal grandfather was employed in Slleffield as a maker of knives and scissors. Mr. Casson,
arriving in America, settled in Canada, but later
removed to the United States, and located on a
farm in Martin Townslip, Allegan County, Mich.
The mother was one of a family of six children,
four sons and two daughters. One brother died
young, anothler was killed by liglltning; John
and Edward are living, the former being a successful farmer at l'lainville, Mich., and tile latter, at
one time a leading contractor of Michigan, is now
an extensive farmer in Oregon.
Although tlie only son of his parents, our subject lad four sisters, all of whom are now deceased, one passing away in infancy. Sarah R.
became the wife of David Carll, lroprietor of a
sawmill. Mrs. Carl, dying at the age of twentyeight, left two children. Annie V. and Mary I.
Chapman (lied aged twenty and twenty-two, respectively. Mr. Chapman, wlo attained to manhood in his native town, spent tIle days of boylood mostly in study, although lie also assisted in
his father's store at leisure times. IIe was graduated from tile Otsego (Micli.) Ilighl School while
under twenty years of age, and soon afterward located in Kansas City, where he received employment as baggageman on a railroad.    Later he
tauglit school one term, near Lawrence, and completed the balance of the year as a book-keeper
and maniager of a store in Kansas City. Ite then




486


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


returned to Michigan, and for a time devoted himself to the grocery business. Our subject finally
obtained a tract of pine land. For a time lie
taught school near Big Rapids, but some time
later removed to Allegan County, and afterward,
in the spring of 1872, came to Whitehall, and
for three years lie was employed here as bookkeeper. At the expiration of this time, Mr. Cliapman once more soughlt his native county, and
there engaged  in tlie mercantile and mineral
spring business. Afterward he operated a large
farm at Ilesperia, and also taught sclool for six
months, but in April, 1880, made Whlitehall his
permanent home.
For six years our subject continued in tl)e service
of a large insurance agency, and then established
himself in the same business, also handling real estate and giving a portion of his time to the steamship agency. A popular man, of excellent executive ability, Mr. Cliapman was appointed Postmaster of Whitehall under Cleveland's first administrationand served with fidelity until April, 1892. In
the same spring lie was placed in no lination by
his party as Supervisor, but tile strengtl of the Republican party seemed to forbid his election. So
great, however, was the popuIlarlty of our subject,
that lie easily won tile race and, re-elected to the
responsible position in the spring of 1893, lhas materially aided in the advancement of the best interests of his home locality.
In 1874, were united in marriage John I-I. Clhapman and Miss Frances A. Baker, daughlter of
Thomas R. Baker, a native of England.      The
mother of Mrs. Chapman was born in Wales. Tile
estimable wife of our subject is a favorite with a
large circle of friends, and is ever a ready aid in
social and benevolent matters of lier vicinity.
Three children have blessed with their bright presence the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman. Florence M., the eldest, is a young lady of eighteen;
Lizzie M. is sixteen years of age; and Lee M. is a
promising boy of twelve. These young people,
intelligent and ambitious, are enjoying the excellent educational facilities of Whitehall, and have
before them tile prospect of a prosperous future.
Our subject is fraternally a prominent member of
the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and, likewise


connected with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, has passed one chair of the same order
and worthily filled various offices in the Calnp.
He is also an honorary member of tile Maccabees.
While not connected by membership with any
church, our subject contributes liberally to the
support of religious organizations. Politically, a
life-long  )emocrat, and a descendant of Jacksonian ancestry, Mr. Clapman is an ardent advocate of the "Party of the People," and, aside from
considerations of creed or political preference, fully
commands the hliigh regard of the entire community of Whitehall.
I, AMUEIJ MOUNTFORI) is not only one of
thle representative citizens of the county,
lbut as a business nman is shrewd, l)ractical
and far-seeing, well qualified to discharge
the necessary dluties of life and well adapted to
the active life lie las led. IIe is at present Justice
of tile Peace of Olive Townsllip and is a merchant
and tile Postmaster at West (live, MIici. Mr.
3Mountford caiie originally from England, born in
Bur.:lemn, Staffordshire, August 23, 1837, and is tile
youngest of six children born to the union of
George I;. and Elizabeth (Roy) Alountford, natives
also of tliat country. Tlhe father was a turner in
a pottery in England, and there resided until 1847,
wlien he decided to come to America. Iie settled
in La Grange, Walworth County, Wis., and there
i purchased eiglty acres of Government land, following agricultural pursuits until his death, which
occurred about 1854. Ils wife had passed away
in 1849, leaving six children: Thomas, who resides
in Minnesota; Estller, widow of George Austin, of
White Water, Wis; George I., who died leaving
a family of children; Edna, widow of Benjamin
0. Bradway, of Milwaukee, Wis.; Aaron, who
died in Iowa; anid Samuel, our subject.
Samuel Mountford received his early educational training in England and Wisconsin, and




PORTRAiT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


487


finished in tile Iligh School of Palnmyra, that State.
The 1arental roof shelteled him until twenty years
of age, when lie started out to make his fortune.
For some time lie was engaged in tilling tlle soil in
Wisconsin, but in tle year 1861 his patriotism was
aroused, and in September of that year lie joined
tle Fifth Wisconsin Battery of Light Artillery,
under Capt. 0 F..Pinney, and was attacled to t;le
Army of the Cumnberland. lie participated in Island  No. 10, siege of Corinth, l'erryville and
Stone River, besides numerous skirmishes. lie
served from the time of enlistment until October
15, 1864, when he was disclharged at Madison,
Wis., his term  of enlistment being up. HIe was
neither wounded nor captured, though hle had
many close calls. On one occasion the Confederates
clarged and captured a gun at Stone River, and
wliile fighting for it a Confederate soldier struck
Mr. Mountford over the top of the head witlh his
gun. This laid the scalp open, and as a consequence a large scar ornaments the top of Mr.
Mountford's head.
After being discharged our subject went to tlie
village of Johnstown, where his wife hlad plurclhased
a lorne during his absence, and there lie again en'galged in farming, which occupation lie followed
for many years. In 1868 lie came to Micligan,
located in Georgetown Township, Ottawa County,
and there resided until 1877, when lie moved to
Olive Township, tile same county. In this townshiI) lie purchased a farm of eighty acres, hlas forty
acres under cultivation, and lhas an elegant residence. All his outbuildings, barns, etc., are kept
in good repair and lie has a most attractive home.
IIe has a good orchard of nearly all kinds of fruit,
but having been appointed Postmaster at West
Olive, lie moved to that town on tlie 21st of l)ecember, 1891. IIe still holds that position and
also tlat of Justice of the Peace, to wlhicll lie was
elected in 1887 and again in 1891.
Mr. Mountford llas been twice married, first on
the 6th of April, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Westbury,
a native of Rochester, N. Y., and the daughter of
Edwar d n   Ann Westbury, natives of England.
Tiis union resulted in tlle birth of live children,
two of wliom died in infancy. Hiram E. resides at
No. 504 West Thilrteenth Street, Chicago; Byr'on


A., at No. 912 Taylor Street, Chicago; and Warren R. lives in Millbank, N. I). Mrs. Mountford
died on the 15th of September, 1872, in full communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which she had long been a member. On the 22d
of Marcl, 1877, Mr. Mountford married Mrs.
Eliza Brooks, widow of Charles C. Brooks, and
daugllter of Lutlher and Ilannah L. Brown, who
were among tile first settlers of this portion of the
county. By her first husband Mrs. Mountford became thle mother of three children: George, of this
township; Agnes, wife of Frank Willey, of Chicago, Ill.; and Iucinda, wife of G. H. Flieman, of
this township. Mr. Mountford is a member of
tlhe Grange, and also a member of William Tlirkettle Post No. 388, (G. A. R.
i [/REI) P. CLARK, who resides in Twin Lake,
is one of the honored veterans of tle late!/ l  war who for several years wore the blue
and aided in defense of the Old Flag which now
floats so proudly over tlie United Nation.  IIe
was born in Allegany County, N. Y., January 13,
1843, and is a son of Amazi and Sophronia (Bennett) Clark. His grandfather, Thesial Clark, was
born in New England and was of Irish descent.
Ile was a millwrilglt and general mechanic and followed tlat business through life. Iis wife died in
New York, after which he went to make his home
with his son in Janesville, Wis., where his death
occurred.  Their children were Amazi, Hiram,
IIorace, Smith and two wlo died in early childhood.
Tlie father of our subject, born in New York in
October, 1815, was educated in the district schools
an(l learned the trade of a millwright. IIe remained
with his parents until twenty-one years of age and
soon afterwards lie married Sophronia Bennett,
daughter of Andrew Bennett, one of the Revolutionary heroes. Their children were Oramel, Fred J.,
Andrew B., George, and Eliza, wife of.John Terry.
After his marriage, Mr. Clark purchased a farm in
New York, lupon which lie resided until 1857, when




488


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


he removed to Cayuga County, N. Y., and followed
his trade until 1865. He then went to Oil County,
Pa., where he spent three years, after which he returned to the State of his nativity, where he is now
living retired. His wife died in Olean, Cattaraugus
County, N. Y., in 1884, and he afterward married
Miss Fuller. Mr. Clark is a member of the Protestant Baptist Church, and in politics is a Democrat.
The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until entering the army at the age of nineteen.
He enlisted in Company E, Fifth New York Cavalry, in 1861, and was in the Eastern Army under
Gen. Banks, participating in the battles of Winchester, Spottsylvania Court House, Orange Court
House, second battle of Bull Run, Marvian Hill
and Gettysburg. He was wounded with a sabre at
Orange Court House and was captured between
Hagerstown and Williamston. At Belle Isle, where
he was first taken, he remained for eight months,
and was then sent to Andersonville, where he remained for six months and fifteen days. There he
had charge of a squad at the stockade and proved
of great assistance to the prison sufferers by dividing his rations with them. Sometimes the troops
were almost starved and so ravenous did they become that on one occasion they killed a dog for
food. Mr. Clark had charge of five lundred smallpox patlents in the prison hospital for three months,
but never suffered from the disease. With three
comrades he made his escape from the stockade, but
they were recaptured by blood hounds. At length
he succeeded in escaping by getting in the Union
ranks at the time Sherman exchanged prisoners.
Broken down by the hardship of war and the illtreatment of prison life, when mustered outat Cedar Creek in October, 1864, he was a physical
wreck.
On his return from the army, Mr. Clark was employed in a sawmill on the Alleghany River, in
New York, and has continued the milling business
during the greater part of his life, but since 1890
has practically lived retired. In 1868, he left his
native State, and, coming to Michigan, made a
permanent location in Muskegon County. Since
1868, he has lived in Twin Lake. Having homesteaded eighty acres of land, for the past three


years he has devoted his energies entirely to its
cultivation and improvement, and the farm now
yields him a good income.
In the Empire State, Mr. Clark and Miss Hattie,
daughter of Rollin and Susan (Everet) Pratt, were
united in marriage. Seven children were born of
their union, but three died in childhood. Those
living are Frank, who married Emma McQueen;
Charles, who married Myra McCrai; Fred A., who
wedded Effie Buzzell; and Hattie M. The parents
held membership with tle Methodist Episcopal
Church. Socially, our subject is connected with
the Masonic fraternity of Olean, N. Y.,and with
Dick Whitehead Post No. 342, G. A. R., of Twin
Lake.  In politics, he is a supporter of the
principles of Republicanism and is now serving as
Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for
six years. During the quarter of a century which
he has spent in Muskegon County, lie has formed
a wide acquaintance, and his honorable, upright
career has gained him the good-will and confidence
of all.
OHN STEGEMAN, an enterprising general
agriculturist and well-known citizen, and
for the past three years an active member
(t    of the School Board of Holland Township,
Ottawa County, Mich., is a native of the Wolverine State and was born on the same farm where lie
now resides April 24, 1859. His parents, Mannes
and Cornelia (Vanl Delaare) Stegeman, were both
natives of Europe. The paternal grandfather,
James Stegeman, lived in the province of Overyssel,
in the Netherlands. He owned and cultivated a
farm and reared a large family of sons and daughters, of whom tile father of John Stegeman was
the only one who ever came to the United States.
The father remained with his parents until about
thirty years of age. He received a good commonschool education and learned the carpenter's trade,
serving an apprenticeship of three years. He ambitiously emigrated to the United States in 1847,
and reaching port in safety journeyed at once to




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


489


Holland, Micl., having only money enough to get
here. Working at his trade in HIolland, and for
two years employed at Old Landing, on Black
River, Mannes Stegeman accumulated a little
money, which lie wisely invested in forty acres of
land in the southwestern part of Holland Township. Later, selling his first purchase, lie bought
where our subject now lives.
The father married about two years after making his residence in Michigan Miss Alice Ensing,
wlio died six months after her wedding. Some
time later were united Mannes Stegeman and
Cornelia Van Delaare, the daughter of Peter A.
and Mary Van Delaare. Unto the union of the parents were born seven children, all of whom are living: Jane, who married Benjamin Kockkock; Peter;
James; Rev. Abraham, an eloquent preacher of the
Reformed Church of North Holland; John; Egbertdina, wife of Gerrit Looman; and Rev. William,
of Grand View, S. I)ak. William is a graduate of
Hope College, and Abraham and William   both
graduated from  New Brunswick (N. J.) College.
The father l)urchased eighty-five acres of land,
all in the woods, and lived to see it improved
andl put under fine cultivation. He was a devout
member of the Reformed Church of Holland, and,
politically, was a Democrat. For ten years an efficient member of the School Board, Mannes Stegeman identified himself with the vital interests of
his American home. Born in 1819, lie survived
until May 9, 1889, and at three-score years and
ten passed peacefully away, mourned as a public
loss. The mother, born in 1826, yet survives and
enjoys fairly good health.
The education of our subject was received in
the common schools of his immediate neighborhood, and lie has made his life-time home upon
the old farm, cultivating the fertile acres bought
by his father so many years ago. Mr. Stegeman
married, in 1885, Iannah Kamps, daughter of
Geert and Jacobje (Neymier) Kamps. The estimable wife of our subject was likewise born in Holland Township, Ottawa County, her parents emigrating from  the Netherlands to Holland, Micl.,
a few years later than the father of Mr. Stegeman. Four sons have brightened tile pleasant
homle: Manley, Geblhard, Herman James and Paul.


Mr. and Mrs. Stegeman are foremost in good
work, and our subject is a valued member of the
Reformed Church at Zeeland. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Stegeman takes a deep interest in both
local and national issues, and, young and enterprising, occupies a leading place in the home
councils of the party, and, widely known, commands the high regard of the community amid
which his busy years of usefulness are passed.
'OlIN A. MILLER, the extensive wholesale
and retail lealer in hardware and farming
iml)lements, desirably located at No. 25
%East Western Avenue, Muskegon, has for
seventeen years profitably conducted his present
business, one of the best in its line of trade in the
county. Born in tie city of Chicago September
27, 1845, Mr. Miller made his home in Muskegon
in 1867, and, an energetic and resolute young man,
entered with enterprise into the advancing interests
of the Wolverine State, where, continuing a constant resident, he has for twenty-seven years been
intimately associated witl its upward growth.
The father of our subject, Alexander Miller,was
a native of Scotland and son of Nathaniel Miller,
who was born, reared and educated in the land
of the Scots, where he passed his entire life,
there marrying and rearing to usefulness a family of sturdy, upright descendants. Alexander
Miller, intelligently discerning tile broader opportunities available in the United States, emigrated
to this country and was numbered among the
early settlers of Chicago, where lie successfully
engaged in business, married and reared a family.
The mother, Anna (Gray) Miller, born in Ireland,
of a family highly respected in the Emerald Isle,
emigrated to America in youth and attained to
mature age in the city of Chicago, of whose rapid
development she was an observant witness.
J. A. Miller gained his education in the excellent public schools of his birthpllace, and later




490


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


enjoyed the benefit of a thorough course (commercial) in the Chicago ligh School. Having
completed his studies, he learned the trade of a tinner, and for three years served an apprenticeship
with Thomas George & Co., of Chicago. For a
time after acquiring his trade Mr. Miller worked
as a journeyman in the same locality, but finally,
in 1866, removed from the familiar scenes of his
youth and made Michigan his permanent home.
Here for ten years in Muskegon he worked industriously at his trade, but in 1876 embarked in the
hardware business upon his own account. Being
thoroughly practical and entirely at home in the
details of the trade, the venture of our subject was
from the first an assured success, and in the handling of farming implements and merchandise lie
has achieved especially gratifying results.
The large and handsome store of which John A.
Miller is proprietor is 44x125 feet and three stories
in height and, built by ou' subject for the demands of his business, is light, airy and finely arranged. Financially prospered, Mr. Miller owns
other valuable property in the residence part of
Muskegon and is accounted one of the substantial
men of the city. In 1863 lie enlisted in Company
G, Fourth Board of Trade Regiment, Chicago,
commanded by Col. McChesney, and with the
Army of the Cumberland participated in many of
the decisive battles of the long campaign, after a
courageous service of two years being mustered
out at Chicago in 1865.
Upon the 30th of October, 1867, John A. Miller
and Miss Isabella Galbraith were united in marriage. Mrs. Miller is a native of Scotland and a
daughter of James Galbraith the descendant of a
long line of noted Scotch ancestry. Of the four
children who have blessed the union of our subject and his estimable wife two are now surviving:
John A.,Jr.,a promising student in the Muskegon
High School, and Donald, a bright young lad, an
attendant of the grammar school. Mr. and Mrs.
Miller are valued members of the Episcopal Church
and active aids in the religious and benevolent
work of their denomination. Their pleasant home,
No. 25 Miller Avenue, Muskegon, is the frequent
scene of social re-unions, the family enjoying a
wide circle of old-time acquaintances and fully


possessing tile sincere regard and confidence of
many friends.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Old Settlers' Association of Chicago and is fraternally connected
with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, being
a member of Lowell Moore Lodge No. 182, also
affiliating with Muskegon Chapter No. 47, R. A. M.
Our subject is likewise a member of Muskegon
Council No. 54, R. & S. M. and is a member of
Commandery No. 22, K. T. I-Ie is a member of
Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R., and is a popular
member of the Caledonian Society. Possessed of
executive business ability and enterprise, Mr.
Miller aided in the organization of the Muskegon
Savings Bank, was its efficient Vice-President
three years and is now a Director. Politically a
stanch Republican, lie has ever been intimately
associated with matters of public welfare, and
from  1884 to 1886 as President of the Council
of Muskegon materially aided in the promotion
of local enterprise and improvements.
(1 OIN J. NABER, a representative general
|agriculturist and enterprising citizen of sec
tion 35, Holland Township, Ottawa County,
- -! Mich., is a native of the Wolverine State,
and was born on the same farm where lie now resides in thle year 1855. Our subject is a son of
Johanas and Anna (Devries) Naber, well-known
and long-time residents of Holland. The paternal
grandparents were John and Cora (Vandersclleer)
Naber. The grandfatller worked by tile day as a
farmer, and lived and died in the Netherlands.
The father, born in tile Old Country May 17, 1813,
owned a small farm, but was obliged to work by
the day for others to eke out a living for his family. Entering the service of the Government as a
soldier, he was thus registered: "Reddish face, round
forehead, eyes brown, nose natural, hair black, no
marks on body."  Entering the Eighteenth Regiment he received his discharge September 15,
1839. lie married in the Netherlands, and unto




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


491


him and his estimable wife were born in tile Old
Country two children, one of whom died in the
Netherlands and thle other passed away while crossing the ocean. HIe emigrated to the United States
in 1848, locating at once in Holland Township,
Ottawa County, where lie immediately purchased
the farm  upon whichl our subject now  resides,
forty-five acres of Government land, from wlich
not even one tree had been cut.
The father slept for thirty days in a bush shanty
while looking for land and building a little oneroom house from trees felled on his own acres. To
tlhe original purcIlase lie added forty acres more,
all now cleared, cultivated highly, and improved
witl excellent buildings. Of the five children
born unto the parents, our subject is now the only
one surviving. Tlhe father was a member of the
clurch, a devout Cllristian man, and dying in October, 1892, preceded his wife but a few montlisto
the better land, the mother passing away July 17,
1893. Politically a Republican, the fatherl was a.
liberal-spirited citizen of broad views and earnest
purpose. Five years ago the parents left tle farm
and moved to Holland, June 29, 1888. Two years
later they removed to Zeeland, where tley remained
until their death.
Our subject received ils education in tile common scliools of his home district and remained
with Ills parents until lie had attained manhood.
lie was married at the age of twenty-one, upon his
birthday, to Miss Alice, daughter of Jolanas and
Gertie (Boss) IHellcntlal. Tlie excellent wife of
our subject was born in Fillmore Township, Ottawa
County, in 1854. Her parents, natives of the
Netherlands, emigrated to tile United States in
1848. Five intelligent children have brigttened tile
p)leasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Naber. One little
one, Cora, died November 9, 1888, at the age of
two years andii four mIontlls. The surviving datughters and son are in the order of their birth: Anna,
Jolhanas, Gertie and Cora.
Mr. Naber remained with his fatler, aiding in the
nanagelent and work of the farm until 1888,
when lie entered into full possession of the homestead, contaiinir eighty-live acres, all improved.
Mr. and lMrs. Naher aIre valued members of the
leformed C'liurcllh, are active in religious work,


and are ever ready to do their part in the benevolent enterprises of their home locality. Politically a Republican, our subject is interested in local
advancement, and is numbered among the leading
men and substantial citizens of Holland Township.
W iILLIAM W. OWEN is one of the enterprising and progressive business men of
^  Muskegon, who gives his support and aid
to all worthy local enterprises, and does all in his
power to advance the best interests of the community. -He is now engaged in thle real-estate and
insurance business, and his labors bring him in a
good return. His home is sitllated at No. 167
South Terrace Street, where lie and his estimable
wife keel) open house, their home being the abode
of hospitality.
The life record of our subject is as follows: He
was born in Sussex County, N. J., on the 15tl of
August, 1840, and is a son of Alpheus and Frances
(llinchman) (wen, both of whom were natives of
New York.   rlle father died in New.Jersey, when
his son William was a lad of only five summers.
IOur subject spent the days of his boyhood in the
county of his nativity, and there began his education in tile common schools. At thle age of fifteen lie came to Michigan with his mother, locaI ting in Oakland County, where his education was
completed. IIe there began his business career as
a clerk, and in September, 1860, lie came to Muskegon, where lie engaged in clerking for two years.
On the expiration of that period he formed a partnership with S. B. Peck, his former employer, and
continued in general merchandising, which business they carried on for some time.
In 1863, Mr. Owen was united in marriage with
Miss Armina E. Boyce, a native of Upper Canada,
and unto them were born three children, but all
are now deceased. The year after his marriage,
Mr. Owen received the appointment of Postmaster
of AMuskegon, and was tile first I'ostmaster of IMuskegon wllose appointment was confirmneld by tile




492


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Senate. On the expiration of his first term he was
re-appointed, and held the office for five years altogether, when he resigned. It was also Mr. Owen
who drew the first postoffice order in this place.
After handing in his resignation he opened a stationery and book store and carried on business in
that line for several years, but at length sold out,
in May, 1886, and began his present business,
which he has conducted successfully since. He is
recognized as one of the leading real-estate and
insurance agents of Muskegon. Mr. Owen built
the first brick and stone building in this city, and
in other ways has been prominently identified
with its upbuilding and advancement.
In political views our subject is a Republican,
and for three years served as Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors. IHe is now Chairman of
the Building Committee which has in charge the
erection of the new court house, which is now in
process of construction. Socially, he is a member
of Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M.; Muskegon Chapter No. 47, R. A. M., and Muskegon
Commandery No. 22, K. T. He also belongs to
Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. 0. O. F. He has
passed all the chairs in the Grand Encampment
and the Grand Lodge of Michigan, has been Grand
latriarch of the same and is Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. Mr. Owen is
also Secretary of the Local Board of the Capital
Investment Building and Loan Association, and
throughout tie community is widely and favorably known.
' —._ fx-...." _,
ENRY J. I)E VRIES. This prominent and
energetic young agriculturist of Holland
Townshil) was born in 1865, one mile and
a-lialf from section 22, where lie now resides.
lHe is a son of John and Everdina (Rysdorp)
l)e ries, and tile grandson of Bernard and Alice
I)e Vries, botlh parents and graindlparenits natives
of the Netherlands. Bernard DeVries followed


the occupation of a farmer, and was the owner of
considerable land in his native country. Ile was
married there, and before emigrating to the United
States two of his children were born, John and
Jerry.
In 1847, the family crossed the ocean, hoping
to achieve success in the New World. They had
just enough money to carry them    across the
Atlantic, and as it took them six weeks to make
the voyage they landed in New York with very
little means. The fertile soil of the West tempted
them to turn their faces in that direction, and
they found their way to H-olland, Mich., where
they bought forty acres of land, one and a-half
miles east of our subject's residence. One child,
Bernard, was born after reaching this country.
This worthy and much esteemed old couple are
still living, and both have reached the advanced
age of eighty-eiglt years, having married at the
age of twenty-five. Mr. De Vries is a consistent
member of the First Reformed Church of Zeeland,
and he and his wife have ever been classed among
the best and worthiest citizens of the community.
John De Vries, the father of our subject, first
saw the light of day in 1836. He received his education principally in the common schools of the
Netherlands. ITntil twenty years of age lie remained under the parental roof, and then married
Miss Everdina Rysdorp, who came with lhe parents
from the Netherlands to this country at an early
date. After marriage, Mr. De Vries bought sixty
acres of land in this township, near his father's
farm, and as the property was wild and uncultivated, he began at once to improve and make
a home. To the original tract lie added from
time to tine, until lie became the owner of one
hundred and ninety-five acres in Ottawa County.
In addition to this lie acquired eighty acres in
Muskingum County, and this he owns at present.
Renting hIis land, Mr. )e Vries embarked in the
milling business on the farm now owned by our
subject, and was engaged in this enterprise for
twenty-five years, reaping substantial results in
the mean time. Later lie engaged in milling in
Antrim  County, an(l finally bought tile entire
mill and stock. Tis mill anl two hulnlred thousand feet of lumber were destroyed by fire ill.1lne,




PORTRAIT ANI) BlIOGR(lAII!CAL RECORD.


493


1893, and as there was no insurance all was lost.
Mr. l)e Vries and his worthy wife make their home
in Grand Rapids Mich. The five children born to
them were in the order of their birth: Benjamin
a dentist residing in Holland; Minnie, widow of
J. Moerdyk; Henry J., our subject; Albert J., residing in Grand Rapids; and Katie, the wife of Albert C. Keppel, of Holland.
The oiriinal of this notice was educated in the
district schools of his native county, and in Hope
College, Holland. Hie was early trained to the
arduous duties of the farm, and it was but natural
that when starting out for himself lie should
choose agriculture for his calling in life. IIe was
married in 1888 to Miss Iena, daughter of Wesley
and Elizabeth Nibbelink, and two children have
been given tliem, John W. and Elizabeth IH. Socially, our subject is a member of the Third Reformed Church of Hlolland. In politics, lie affiliates witl the Republican party. I-Ie commenced
farming operations as a renter, and now has control
of one hundred and fifteen acres of his father's
land. lie is enterprising and progressive and will
undoubtedly gain success in life., —  =_~___og -    ~ ~,.2~.. ~2.: —~ _. ~  lv~ ~.
1 IIBErIRTUJS VANDER IIAAR, a p1rosperous
general farmer, hliglly respected citizen,
and tle 'Township Clerk of Holland, Ottawa County, was elected in 1879 Justice
of the Peace, and for twelve consecutive years ably
discharged the duties of the office and gave general
satisfaction to the entire community among whom
lie so wisely administered the law. Mr. Vander
lHaar, a native of the State and county, was born
on the same farm which he now so industriously
cultivates in the year 1850.  Iis parents, wellknown residents of the township, were Walter and
lenrietta (Deweord) Vander 1aar. The father was
a son of John and Malry ((;roothuis) Vander lIaar.
T'le l)aternal grandlfathler owned land(, ul)on which
lie conlucte(l successfully a daity business. IIe
reared to usefulness a family of eight children,


five of whom emigrated to the United States.
Hein resides in Holland; Grace is the wife of
John Visscher; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife
of A. Venema; and Jane H. married Mr. Vandeberg,
of Holland. Walter, the father of our subject,
remained with his parents unil he had attained
to mature years. lIe received a good commonschool education, and as lie grew  older determined to make his home in America.
In 1846, in company with a brother and two
sisters, all single, Walter Vander Hlaar sailed for tie
United States. Possessed of but little means, the
party embarked on a sailing-vessel and were seventy days crossing tile ocean to New Orleans, where
they finally landed safe and sound. In a short
time Walter made his way to St. Louis, where lie
spent one winter, working by the day. He then
journeyed to Michigan, and, locating in H-olland,
bought eighty acres of land of Dr. Van Raalte.
Afterward selling that farm, the fatller purchased
the one hundred an, forty acres of valuable land
where our subject now makes his home. The land,
then partially cleared, is now one of the finest
farms in tils section of the country, and presents
an appearance of thrift and prosperity. In 1848
Walter Vander IHaar was united in marriage witl
Henrietta, the daughter of Albert and Jennie
I)eweord, natives of the Netherlands, who came to
the United States with their family in 1847. The
mother had been well educated in her native land,
and, a woman of ability and fine character, was
well fitted to assume the cares of a family.
Six children blessed the home of the parents.
The eldest, Albertus, is our subject; Mary married
G. Smeeng; the others are John, Jennie, Christina
(married to A. J. Bolks) and William. The father
and his wife were active members of the Reformed
Church of Holland, and were ever ready to lend a
helping hand in religious or benevolent work. Politically a Republican, he took a deep interest in
Governmental affairs, and, identifying himself
with all tile vital interests of his American home,
was deeply mourned as a true citizen wen lihe
passed to his rest in 1874. The mother, yet surviving and lhale and hearty, makes her home with
our subject, who took clarge of tile farm after the
death of nis father. Mr. Vander HIaar has added




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHI'CAL RECORD


twenty acres to tie original homestead, has planted
out a large space in celery, raises grain and other
products, and rents a portion of the land. I-e received a good education in the district schools,
and as a private citizen and in the conduct of
public offices entrusted to his care has proven
himself a man of high principle and executive
ability.;)' EI V. 11 E Ni R Y  E. DOSKIERt is pastor of
the tle'hird Reformed Church, of IIolland,
Mih\\  Mii., and was born in the Netherlands,
near tle city of Utrecht, February 5, 1855,
a son of Rev. Nicholas 11. Dosker, a minister of
the Christian Reformed Church of that country.
In 1873 he came to America as pastor of the Second Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, which
position lie held for ten years thereafter, when lie
became pastor of the First Reformed Church at
Kalamazoo. While discharging his duties there
he was called from his labors, his death occurring
in 1887. His wife was Wilhelmina l)e Ronde, a
descendant of an old anld prominent Huiguenot
family, and their union resulted in the birtll of
nine children, of whom the subject of this sketcli
was the tlird in order of birth, only three of tile
others now living. Rev. Nicliolas -I. l)osker was a
very prominent church worker and lie co-operated
in strengthening a large number of churclles of
his denomination throughout tile State of Michligan which liad run' down in membership, lis career in thlis work being one of uninterrupted success. His widow survives Ilinm and is living at
Grand Rapids.
Rev. Henry E. I)osker received his early education in the gymnasium at Zwolle, Iolland, from
which well-known institution of learning lie graduated in 1873. Immediately after finisling Iis
education lie came to America, and resided for a
time at (G1ralnd RItapids, MIieli., after which lie contin led to pulrstue tlhe pathis of learnlilg at; lHope
College, and from this institution lie was also


graduated, in 1876. When lie came to this country he could not speak a word of English, but lie
was quick and intelligent, and was soon able to
make himself understood in that most difficult of
languages. After finishing his literary studies in
Hope College, lie began the study of theology
in tlat institution, and later in the Reformed
Seminary, at New Brunswick, N. J.    In April,
1879, lie graduated from McCormick Seminary, a
Presbyterian institution, after which lie traveled
in Europe for about six months. Upon his return
he located at Ebenezer, Mich., as I)astor of the Reformed Church, which position lie filled from 1879
until February, 1882, when lie was called to the
First Reformed Church at Grand IIaven, of which
lie remained )astor until August, 1886. lie then
became Professor of HIstorical Theology at tlhe
Western Seminary of the Reformed Church of
America, at [Iolland, Micll. In 1888 lie made a
second tour through Eulrope, traveling thoroughly
over the Netherlands and Germany, but gladly
returned to his adopted country in 1889,and soon
after accepted the position of pastor of the church
with whicli he is at plresent connected. Iis labors
in thle vineyard of his Master have been earnest,
conscientious and energetic, and lie lhas succeeded
in increasing the membersllip of his congrlegation
until it now has about two hundred and sixty
members. The clurch is a handsome, convenient
and well-constructed building, an ornament to
the city, and is furnished withl tlie finest pil)e organ
I i the county.
IRev. Mr. D)osker was first married September 19,
1879, to Miss Frances L., a daughter of IIenry
l)oorninck. Slie was born in Grand Rapids, and
(lied oi tIle 31st of May, 1880, and on tile 21st of
February, 1882, Rev. Mr. I)osker took for his second
wife Miss Miinie, a daugtlter of I). I)oorninck,
and a cousin of his first wife. Slie was born in
Milw-aukee, Wis., and lhas borne her husband three
children: Emelia 0., Nicliolas II. and Richard J.
1Rev. Mr. Dosker is a man of refined tastes, very
highrly cultivated, and is quite a gifted writer. IIe
lias contributed to papers, magazines, etc. Iis
cliicif literal ry wo)rk is a hiogrnl)llty of l)r. A. (. Van
RaalIte, tile fotinder of tile )Dutcll settlement in
Michigatni. O()ur sul)ject is thle clerk of tile Conui



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


495


cil of Hope College, in the welfare of which he is
deeply interested. lie las ministered to tle spiritual wants of his fellow-men for the past fourteen years, and his career has been ever honorable
and upright.   During tllis time his name has
been inseparably linked with the religious history
of Michigan, whose annals bear testimony to the
integrity of his character and the brilliancy of his
mental powers. He is a man of strong will, clear
conceptions, generous impulses, and scrupulously
mindful of the rights of others. Iis life has been
singularly pure, and all his acts are strongly characteristic of good, sound sense. His sermons are
terse in style, finr in diction, logical in thought,
and yet free from all ostentatious (isplay, being
filled witl Biblical citations, historic references
and earnest, religious pathos. He is a diligent
student and a ripe sclolar, and the world is decidedly better for his liaving lived in it..e     l   ~qi'd~~ —++t}++...
iv30 +30~3~~0++++ X.  -  s
ILLIA3I PECK, an enterprising business
mian and leading hairdware merchant of
Montague, Muskegon County, Micli., is
also an efficient Supervisor of the township, and has
held witli faithful disclharge of duty various important official positions of trust, and has long been
closely indentitied with the progressive interests of
lhis home locality.  Mr. Peck, a native of Oxford,
Ontario, was born on tile 20tlh of March, 1843,
and was the youngest of the two sons of Lynus
and Sarah (EhIlle) Peck. Tlie father, born in Pennsylvania in 18(5, was tile eldest of tile three sons
of.osel)ll Peek, born in Connlecticut in 1754.
'llle great-grandiifather, Abram  P'eck, was the
son of Josephl l'eck, an Englishmain by nativity,
but wlo early ill thle seventeenth centurly emi(grrted to tliis countilry and settled ill New England, in comllllan.' witil two brl oll lrs, one of wiom
was a l)eachler. 'l'le pliter'l great-g'andfatler
was a brave sold,!ier inl tile Wair of the leevollution,
a:nd it is said tl:at hlis goo(l wift1,:also carryingl  a
gun, fought witl platriotism by 1is side. The
25


grandfather, while yet young, emigrated from
Connecticut to Pennsylvania and became a prosperous farmer of the Quaker State. He was a
man of fine musical ability, and gained considerable notoriety during the War of 1812, in which
he served as a fifer. On one occasion he came in
close contact with a Tory, from whose hands he
wrenched a musket, which he proceeded to use
witli good effect, playing his fife when it was necessary to inspire the soldiers, and also loading and
firing the gun. For this gallant conduct lie was
given the name of the "fighting fifer."  He lived
to witness nearly a century of the rapid progress
and development of the United States, surviving
until ninety-seven years of age, when he passed
away near Rochester, N. Y. The father of our
subject was separated in childhood from the other
members of his family, and but Very little is known
concerning his two brothers.
In 1831 Lynus Peck located in Grand Rapids,
but sooni returned to Canada, and remained there
until the '50s, when he brought his family to
lMichigan and settled in Van Burcn County, where
lie resided for many years. Finally removing to
Newaygo County, he passed away in that locality
in 1871. I-e was a man of more than ordinary
ability and of strong character, and, although
often urged to accept a nomination to an office,
positively refused to do so. Sara Elile, the mother
of Mr. Peck, was thle daughter of Sturnburg Ehle,
who was of Holland descent. Born in Otsego,
N. Y., Mrs. Sarah (Ehle) Peck, yet surviving, lives
alone upon the old homestead in Newaygo County, and although arrived at almost eighty years of
age is well preserved and vigorous. Of tile children who clustered about tie fireside of the parents, Abram is now a prominent lumberman and
an extensive farmer in Iewis County, Wash.,
Mahala married Joseph De Haven, a successful
lumberman and farmer of Newaygo County; and
Rosettainarried Royal lRuinnerfield, a prosperous
general agriculturist of Michigan.
Our subject was a boy of seventeen when, with
witl hiis parents, lie found a permanent home in
Michigan.  Wliat scliooling lie enjoyed lie received before lie was thirteen years of age, as lie
then began to earn his daily bread by picking up




496


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


cobblestones at $4 per montlh. The first four
years after the arrival of Mr. Peck in Michigan lie
worked out on a farm at very low wages, and in
1863, when but twenty years old, journeyed to
Kansas, where lie received employment from the
United States Government at Ft. Leavenworth
as a scout on the Western frontier, in Kansas,
Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico. He experienced many adventures and hair-breadth escapes
from scenes of peril. In 1865 Mr. Peck returned
to Michigan, and soon after married Miss Jennie
Beattie, born in Canada, but of Scotch ancestry.
For two years our subject was engaged in tilling
the soil in Van Buren County, and later was employed for two years in the lumber camps of
northern Michigan. He was afterward for one
year in business in Dorr, Allegan County. Iaving
picked up telegraphy in his spare moments, our
subject secured work as operator at Grand Junction, but after a time accepted a position as a
conductor on the New Buffalo Railroad to Muskegon. At the end of a twelvemonth Mr. Peck
became the proprietor and manager of the Railroad Eating House at Grand Junction, and for
two years there provided for the wants of the
traveling public. For thirteen continuous years
he was connected with the lumber manufacturing
business in various places, the latter part of the
time being located near Montague.
In 1885 our subject established his present general hardware and farming-implement business,
and now conducts one of the largest stores and
handles one of the most extensive stocks in this
part of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Peck are the parents of three children. William  M., married and
the father of one child, is interested with our subject in business; Edna B. and Eddie L. are at
home. Politically, Mr. Peck, the descendant of an
old Democratic family, is true to the precepts and
principles of Thomas Jefferson, and wherever he
has made his home has taken an active part in
the local councils of the "Party of tle People."
In the face of Republican opposition lie was elected
to the responsible position of Supervisor, was
Treasurer of the l)emocratic County Convention
for two years, Justice of the Peace five years,
Township Treasurer two years, and is a valued


member of tle Democratic County Central Committtee. In the fall of 1892 our subject was a
candidate in the convention for the nomination
of Sheriff, but through a compromise withdrew.
Fraternally, Mr. Peck is a prominent member
of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights
of Pythias, Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees.
He has passed the chairs in the Royal Arcanum,
and was delegate to the Grand Lodge twice, and
likewise delegate to the Great Tent of the Maccabees. In his business, social and fraternal relations Mr. Peck commands universal esteem, and
enjoys the sincere friendship of a host of acquaintances.
I   OKUS KANTERS, editor. The man who
edits the Weekly Journal must be thoroughly posted, wide-awake, and must understand
the wants of his patrons to be successful,
and that Rokus Kanters possesses these essential
requirements cannot be doubted, for his paper, the
De Hope, has a large circulation, and as it is published in the Dutch language, has an extensive
patronage among tle people of Ottawa County.
Mr. Kanters was born at Goedereede, an island in
the North Sea, between Brouwershiaven and the
new waterway to Rotterdam, Holland, January
5, 1826. His grandfather, father and three brothers followed the profession of hydraulic engineering, after the method especially adopted and practiced in the kingdom  of Holland for the construction of harbors, break-waters, dikes, cribs,
levees, etc., and their services were often required
in the construction of coast defenses and harbor
works by the Dutch Government.
From the time Rokus Kanters was thirteen years
of age until lie was sixteen years old he assisted
his father in numerous surveys along the coast,
and was thoroughly instructed in all the details
of coast and harbor works (dullng the summer
months.   Iis winters were spent in attending




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


497


school, but after his sixteenth year his entire time
was devoted to harbor and coast construction, and
when eighteen years old he was sufficiently well
versed to superintend the construction of several minor works. When twenty years old lie
was placed in charge of some important shore
construction on the island of Tien Gemeeten, and
it was successfully carried on according to plans
furnished by tile Government engineers. In 1849
his parents, who by frugality and industry had
become well-to-do, caught the Western fever, and
accordingly sailed for America, but at that time
Rokus Kanters was not inclined to leave his native country, and decided to remain and succeed
to Ills father's former position, and in the fall of
1848 lie received his first contract, a work tlat
involved thirty thousand guilders and was of a
very important nature. Until 1862 lie pursued
this work along the coast of southern Iolland
and Zeeland, his work being always admirably
done and showing an excellent knowledge of engineering. In 1862 lie complied with the entreaties
of his parents and came to America, but up to tile
present time has not entirely given up his old
profession, but, on the contrary, has constructed
several important works for the United States
Government at Black Lake, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.;
on the Brazos River at Velasco, Tex.; Buffalo,
N. Y.; the Jeleigh Valley Railroad; Prospect P'ark;
Coney Island, N. Y., and elsewhere. Not only
have he and his sons made tills branch of engineering their study and business for years, but it
may be truly said tliat there is no firm in the
United States withl a more thoroughly practical
knowledge of their business than that of RI. Kanters & Sons.
I)uring his residence in IIolland, Micl., Mr.
Kanters has become very favorably known as a
useful, patliotic and God-fearing man. IIe las
been an Alderman of the city for two terms, and
also Matyor for one term. Ile is an active member of tlhe leformed Churchl and las always taken
a deepl interest in Ipromoting its interests and
growtlh. lie las alwa:vs ma:lifested a glreat interes.t ill tle  '('uccess of IHople (College, of Ilolland,
Miicli., alln tlle (:tIsc( of edulcatilon 1 s always
'foli(nd in lim n a stancl S ppl)orter.  le is blessed


with a highly accomplished family, consisting of
his wife, five sons (all men of culture and practical intelligence) and two daughters. He has
ever been a shrewd and far-seeing man of business, keenly alive to his own interests, but never
at the expense of others or of his own ideas of
right and justice. He has numerous friends in
his native land, and the circle of his friendshiphere is wide and constantly on the increase.
'6 ^-   -' '*** ~^^-y7^ — LC    A'a
OL. T. S. WATSON, the popular and genial
_   proprietor of thle Watson Ilouse, Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., has furnished superior accommodations to transient guests
and the local public in his present locality since
1878. A man of excellent business ability, he has
gained a host of friends and is a thoroughly courteous landlord, attentive and entirely at home in
every detail of his daily cares. I-He was born in
Watertown, N. Y., May 23, 1845, and was the only
son of S.. J.. and Sylvia (Slate) Watson. His
father, born in lublin in 1814, emigrated from Ireland to America when quite young, settling in
Watertown, N.Y. lIe h1ad a sister who, when last
heard from, was a music teacher in Montreal,
Canada.
The father was twice married, his first wife being tile mother of our subject. Sylvia Slate was
born on Grand Stone Island, in the St. Lawrence
River, her people having located on the island,
whicl still remains among the possessions of the
Slate family. The mother died when Col. Watson was but a little lad of five years, and the father by a second marriage had one son and one
daughter. Tllis son, S. hI. Watson, was for several years Register of Deeds for Muskegon County,
and now holds an office in the Pension I)epartment at Washington. Mary Ellen, the half-sister,
died at twenty-one years of age.
Tlhe father of our subject, 'a teacher in his early
life and later an architect of Washington, in 1854
removed to Michigan, and, landing at the mouth




498


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of White River, put a filing on the first piece of
land recorded in Muskegon County. As a contractor, he built the first sawmill at Ludington for
George Ford, and was one of the prominent and
enterprising pioneers of Muskegon County. Occupying various official positions of trust with
efficiency, lie served as Justice of the Peace, was
Supervisor, Sheriff before Muskegon County was
organized, and Postmaster under Buchanan. He
died in 1885, leaving a valuable estate. His last
wife yet survives him and resides in Montague.
After the death of his mother our subject lived
with his grandmother for four years, when, his
father marrying again, he returned to him.
The Colonel was eleven years of age when he
accompanied his parents to Michigan, and while
growing up literally worked in the wilderness,
receiving but a common-school education. He
was sixteen years of age when the war broke out,
but promptly at the demand of the Government
for three hundred thousand more, he enlisted, June
15, 1861, in Company E, Second Michigan Cavalry, Phil Sheridan's old regiment. [Ie served in
the Western Division of the army for a little more
than a year, and August 27, 1862, was transferred
to Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and the
September following was sent to Washington. He
was then detached from his command and detailed
to the headquarters of Gen. Kearny as Corps Dispatch Courier, a most important position of trust
for a boy in his teens. Later, Col. Watson was
appointed on the staff of Gen. Custer as Dispatch
Courier, and afterward was Corps Dispatch Courier for Gen. Kilpatrick, and finally became Dispatch Courier for the Army of the Potomac under
Gen. King.
On October 10, 1863, when Lee and Longstreet
advanced on the Union army a second time, at
Brandy Station, Mr. Watson was taken prisoner and
thrown into Libby. From Libby he was transferred to Thunder Castle, and thence to Belle Isle,
where lie endured most terrible privations and
sufferings luring the early part of the cold winter
of 1864. He was finally sent to Andersonville,
where lie endured tortures for eleven months. The
advance of the Union army obliged the Confederates to change tie quarters of their prisoners,


and with many others our subject was forwarded
to Kahoba, Ala., Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S. C.,
Sullivan's Island, and thence to Florence, S. C.
They were finally lodged in Salisbury, N. C., from
which place they were at last liberated by tile raid
of Stoneman, who set free at least seventeen hundred wretched prisoners. When freed after eighteen months of cruel imprisonment, our subject
was literally reduced to a skeleton. Sent on to
headquarters, he was accorded a furlough and remained at home until July 12, 1865, when he was
discharged by telegraphic order from Washington,
having served faithfully over four years.
Col. Watson embarked in the steamboat business on White Lake soon after, and continued in
the same until 1868, when he went to Watertown,
N. Y., and joined a party organized to go to the
Black Hills. He was not long absent, however,
from Watertown, but soon returning thither was
united in marriage with Mrs. Eva Phelps, a widow,
and the daughter of Dr. William J. Lone, an old
army surgeon.  Mrs. Watson had two brothers
and four sisters. The brothers are deceased. Belle
married L. B. Sterling, son of Judge Sterling,
now connected with the paper-mills of Watertown;
Clara married Charles Gill, who is connected with
the wagon-works at Watertown; Iottie married
Thomas Brun, an attorney at Watertown.
Immediately succeeding his marriage, Col. Watson with his wife located in Brockville, where lie
was in the contracting business, under the firm
name of Watson & Comstock. For a number of
years he was in the lumber and timber business,
traveling through Canada, and later was engaged
in the oil business between the United States and
Canada, tip to 1878. At this latter date the Colonel returned to Whitehall, and has since continuously devoted himself to the hotel business with
prosperous results. During his busy career he has
energetically made and unfortunately lost several
fortunes. Five children blessed the home, three
now living. Ella is the wife of J. W. Ocobock,
Jr., teller of the Whitehall Savings Bank; William J. and Wordwell B. are connected with their
father in the hotel business. September 21, 1892,
tile estimable wife and mother passed to her rest,
mourned by a large circle of sincere friends.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


499


Politically, Col. Watson is a Republican, and is
a prominent Grand Army man. From his position in tile post at Whitehall, our subject received his title, by which he is known far and
wide. He is a valued member of the Kniglts of
Honor and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a Master Mason. A man of broad and
generous soul, he commands the confidence and esteem of all his fellow-townsmen and a large contingent of the traveling public.
J   Ot-IN M. CORNELIUS, a successful general
agriculturist and fruit-grower of Ottawa
County, Mich., recently re-elected, is now
serving his seventh year as Justice of the
Peace, and for many years, as School Inspectors
has given valuable aid in the advancement of educational interests. The father of our subject,
William Cornelius, a native of Dutchess County,
N. Y., and born in about 1805, was, on the paternal side, a descendant of English ancestors, his
maternal forefathers being sturdy and industrious
Germans. One hundred and fifty-two years ago,
upon Long Island, the branch of tile Cornelius
family to which our subject belongs made their
home. The father remained in the county of his
birth until, at the age of twenty-one, he was
united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Wood,
with whom he then removed to Wayne County, of
the Empire State, and for six years made his residence in that locality. HIe then settled in Monroe
County, in the town of Rush, twelve miles south
of Rochester, and for three years sojourned there.
At the expiration of that time he emigrated to
Michigan and settled temporarily in Oakland
County in 1851. At the close of a twelvemonth he
removed to Adrian, Lenawee County, where he
died at a comparatively early age. He was a farmer, and spent the latter years of his life in tilling
the soil, but up to twenty-five years of age prosperously conducted the shoe business. His family consisted of four daughters and one son, all of whom,


surviving, are, with the exception of our subject,
residing upon farms in Lenawee County, Mich.
John M. Cornelius was born in Dutcless County,
N. Y., and remained there until about two years
of age. He later accompanied his parents to the
West, locating in Michigan shortly after attaining his majority. Ile was primarily educated in
the district schools of western New York, and
completed his studies in the seminary at Luna,
N. Y., afterward, at the age of nineteen years, engaging in the profession of teaching. After teaching for seven terms and giving satisfaction as an
instructor, he later held a position in Adrian College for one year as Professor of Science and
Mathematics.
Mr. Cornelius entered the estate of matrimony
in Oakland County, Mich., there being united in
marriage with Miss Anna P. Russell, a teacher of
Detroit and daughter of well-known residents of
Long Island. Our subject, married at the age of
twenty-five, then engaged in the manufacture of
shoes in Adrian, Mich., and remained in the latter
city fourteen years. Abandoning the shoe business on account of failing health, Mr. Cornelius, in
1887, located on his present homestead, and entered into agricultural pursuits, prosperously cultivating a fine variety of fruit. Originally owning three hundred and forty-six acres, he has since
disposed of one hundred and five acres, and on the
two hundred and forty-one remaining profitably
raises a large variety of products, and furnishes
for shipment some of the finest peaches and apples grown in the State. The four sons and two
daughters of the household are Charles S., William R., Anna Maria, Mary Bertha, Louis Alexis
and Harold Comfort. Bertha is a successful teacher
in Grand Rapids. Anna Maria is married. Charles
is a skillful mechanic of Grand Rapids. William
is a railroad man and now resides in Chicago.
Louis is in the wholesale business in Chicago.
Harold has for the past two years been in Chicago,
engaged in steam and gas fitting.
Mr. Cornelius is the present Secretary of the
School Board, and, an ardent friend to extended
education, has materially aided in the advancement of the scholarship and methods of instruction in the district schools of his home county.




500


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Our subject and his worthy wife and their family,
except the youngest sons, are all professors of religion, and are valued members of the Congregational Church and take a leading part in the
social and benevolent enterprises of that denomination. Politically a Republican from the organization of the party, Mr. Cornelius is (leeply interested in both local and national issues, and
occupies a high place in the home councils of the
party, where his executive ability and clear judginent are appreciated and fully recognized.
ANDREW FLEMING, the efficient bookkeeper of Smith, Nims, IIoyt & Erwin, the
widely-known and prosperous law firm of
\\ Muskegon, Mich., has been for a quarter
of a century a leading resident of the city, and
for the two terms of 1889 and 1891 gave able
service to the corporation as Alderman of the
Fifth Ward. Our subject, a native of the city of
Chicago, Ill., was born January 29, 1859, and is
the son of William Fleming, born and reared in
old Ireland, and the descendant of industrious
and upright ancestors, whose useful influence insured them a high position in their native land.
The father enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and, a young man of enterprise and ambition,
emigrated to America and settled in New York
City, where he profitably engaged in business as a
contractor and builder. Ile later journeyed to
the West and located in Chicago, which metropolis he made his home for twenty continuous years.
At the expiration of this length of time, in 1868,
he removed to Muskegon, and here prosperously
engaged in contracting and building until the
time of his death, in 1874.
During his years of residence in the latter city, Mr.
Fleming, Sr., made a large acquaintance and many
friends, by wlhom his death was sincerely mourned
as a public loss. He was, politically, a Democrat,
and a firm believer in the principles and platform


of the party. In early manhood William   was
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Alexander,
and his estimable widow, yet surviving,continues
her residence in Muskegon. Our subject, spending the days of his boyhood in his birthplace, attended the Chicago schools, and, accompanying his
father to Muskegon when fourteen years of age,
afterward was graduated with honor from the
Muskegon High School, in the Class of '76. Immediately upon tile completion of his studies, Mr.
Fleming received employment from Frank H. IIolbrook, with whom  he remained for three years.
Our subject then accepted a position in tlle office
of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, where
he was engaged for some time. Ile later became
book-keeper of tile Hackley National Bank of Muskegon, and continued with that financial institution for a twelvemonth.
In 1881, entering upon tile duties of his l)resent
position witl one of the most prominent law firms
of the Wolverine State-tle partners widely known
for their professional ability and success as pleaders at tile Bar-Mr. Fleming received full charge
of all the books of the firm, and is in reality the
business manager. Politically a pronounced Republican and an ardent advocate of tile "Party of
Reforml," lie has ever since attaining his majority
entered with enthusiasm into all tlhe vital issues
of tile day, and has been among tIhe young Republicans of his home locality a leader. Possessed
of executive ability and a fluent slpeaker, his presence in the politic:al gatherings has animated the
local party to renewed exertions and success. As
the candidate of tile Republican party for Aldermnan in 1889 and 1891, lie lroved a favorite, and in the conduct of public work won tle
renewed esteem of his constituents, in whose service lie ever labored diligently. Wlhile a City Father, Mr. Fleming aided in the promotion of progressive interests and urged onward the march
of improvement whicli is giving Muskegon a
prominent place among the first cities of the Wolverine State. Our subject with his accomplished
mother resides in tile llandsome family residence,
No. 152 Terrace Street, and in business and social
relations enjoys tile confidence of a host of sincere
friends.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


501


y    EONARD STICKNEY, by trade a carpenter
|  and builder, and a successful general agriculturist and fruit-grower of Ottawa County, Mich., is one of the brave veterans of the late
Civil War, and, an early resident and highly respected citizen of the Wolverine State, is widely
known and highly esteemed by a large circle of
old-time acquaintance. His father, David S. Stickney, a native of Vermont, attained to mature age
in the Green Mountain State, and received a good
education in the excellent schools of his birthplace. Arriving at manhood, he married, and
later, with his wife, made his home in Canada,
where he took up about five hundred acres of
land, which he diligently cultivated, and made
thereon substantial improvement. The following
children gathered in the Canadian home: David,
Jonathan, Parker and John.  Later the father
married Hannah Purse, by whom he had three
children, Leonora, Elizabeth and Mary Ann. All
of the brothers:nd sisters are now deceased with.
the exception of our subject, the father of the
family having also passed to his rest in 1841, after a long life of busy and enterprising industry.
Our subject was born in Potten, Canada, and
remained in the home of his childhood until he
was nineteen years of age, well improving the
advantages for instruction offered in the public
schools of the Dominion. Beginning life for himself when less than twenty years of age, lie journeyed to Wisconsin and made the Badger State
his home for the succeeding thirty-three years,
his principal occupation during this time being
carpentering and building. On April 22, 1867,
were united in marriage Leonard Stickney and
Miss Charlotte Cook, a native of New York State,
who, removing to the West, had settled in Wisconsin with hler father and mother before the war.
Our subject and his faithful helpmate have been
blessed with the presence of three children, one,
Willie, being deceased; Annie is the youngestborn and the only daughter; and Willard is the
surviving son.
In 1861 Mr. Stickney entered the army and
served under Gen. Buell, and actively participated
in the battles of Murfreesboro, Nashville and many
other hotly-contested fights of the campaign. Re

turning home at the close of 1862, he remained for
about six months, and then enlisted under Sheridan, and took part in all the engagements of the
command, and shared the perils of the raid through
the Shenandoah Valley. At the close of the war
again returning to Wisconsin, Mr. Stickney continued his residence there until 1880, when he located permanently in Ottawa County, Mich., and
purchased a valuable farm adjoining the city of
Grand Haven. Upon the finely cultivated eightyeight acres of this homestead our subject raises
general farm produce and fruit, being especially
successful as a horticulturist.
Mr. and Mrs. Stickney are both valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are
efficient aids in all religious work. Financially
prospered, our subject, aside from his homestead,
owns valuable property in the city of Grand
Haven, and is numbered among the substantial
farmers of Ottawa County. Politically, he is a
Democrat, and an ardent advocate of the principles and platform of the "Party of the People.'
Although never a politician or office-seeker, Mr.
Stickney is intelligently interested in all the vital
questions of the day, and thoroughly posted in
local and national issues. Closely identified with
the growth of enterprise in his own locality, he
lends a helping hand in matters of public welfare,
and is universally esteemed by all who know him.
UDOLPH MUELLER, the well-known and
enterprising dealer in jewelry, clocks and
diamonds at No. 39 West Western Avenue,
Muskegon, Mich., is one of the leading business men of the city, where for more than a quarter
of a century, continuously residing and building
up a fine trade, he has been intimately associated
with the best interests and rapidly increasing
growth of this part of the State. Mr. Mueller is a
native of Switzerland and was born in the canton
of Aargau May 8, 1842. He was the son of Daniel Mueller, also a native of Europe, wlo, reared




~02


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


=


and educated in his birthplace, there attained to
manhood, and, marrying, settled down amid the
scenes of his youth. In 1854, when our subject
was a lad of twelve years, the father emigrated to
America and located in the State of Wisconsin,
making his home in Milwaukee. The mother,
Elizabeth (Huncicker) Mucller, passed her entire
life in her native land and (lied in Switzerland,
mourned by ler family and many friends.
Our subject remained in his native land, received his education in tie public sclools in tile
canton of Aargau, and, well trained in the simple
liabits of thrifty economy and industry, at the age
of eighteen embarked for the United States and
at the close of a pleasant voyage landing in New
York, proceeded thence to Milwaukee. Having
previously acquired a thorough knowledge of tile
jeweler's trade in Switzerland, he secured employment without difficulty, and for two succeeding
years worked at his trade. lIe then journeyed to
Chicago, and in the Western metropolis received
a position in which he continued for the two ensuing years. In 1866 he located permanently in
Muskegon and opened his store, from the first enjoying an excellent trade and carrying a full and
complete line of standard goods and diamonds, in
the handling and selecting of which precious stones
he is an acknowledged expert. Aside from jewelry,
making a specialty of fine clocks and repairing,
our subject has been able to meet the increasing
demands of his business, now one of the best and
longest established in its line of any house in the
county.
In about a twelvemontl after his arrival in his
present home, Rudolph Mueller and Miss Fredericka Lehman, of Grand Rapids, Mich., were united
in marriage. The home of our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of seven
children. They are in tile order of their birth:
Ely; Rosa; Rudolph, Jr.; William, Flora, Paul and
Varena, bright and intelligent brothers and sisters,
who will have ample opportunity given them for
an extended education. Mr. and Mrs. Mueller
reside in a beautiful home, of modern construction,
which, surrounded by a well-kept garden, is one of
the most attractive residences in Muskegon and is
located on Delaware Street. Mrs. Mueller is a


valued member of the Congregational Church, and
is a ready aid in good work and benevolent enterprise.
Politically a Democrat, our subject intelligently
does his duty as a true American citizen, being
well posted in both local and national affairs.
Fraternally affiliating with tle Ancient Free &
Accepted Masons, lie is a member of Lovell Moore
Lodge No. 182, and is connected witl Muskegon
Chapter No. 47, R. A. M., also withl Muskegon
Commandery No. 22, K. T., and, enjoying tile sincere esteem of all his fellow-citizens, has witlin tlle
Masonic order many warm friends.
and surgeon, who resides in a beautiful home
delightfully situated on Muskegon Avenue,
in the city of Muskegon, commands a large and
rapidly extending field of practice,second to none
in his locality. lie was born in Oneida County,
N. Y., August 9, 1836. His father, the Rev. R. C.
Williams, wlo was a gifted minister of tile Gospel,
was born in Wales and emigrated witlh his parents
to the United States in early youth, and with them
made his home in Philadelphia, Pa.
The paternal grandfatlher, a sturdy Welshman,
was a man of sterling integrity and fine business
attain nents.  Tle motler, Elizabetli Cuthrie,
daughter of Simeon Guthrie, was the descendant
of an old family, wlose devotion to the cause of
truth and religion long subjected them to bitter
persecution, tlhe Gutlhries being of Iluguenot ancestry. l)r. Williams passed the days of boyhood in
his native State and county, receiving his preparatory education in the schools of his birtllplace and
enjoying the advantages of instruction in an excellent academy in Oneida County. At eighteen
years of age lie entered lamilton College, from
which well-known institution of learning he graduated with honor three years later.
Our subject, at twenty-one years of age, l)egan
studying medicine with D)r. J. II. Bergen, of Vi



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


503


enna, N. Y., and took a course of lectures in the
medical department of the New York University,
receiving his diploma as an M. 1). upon his graduation, in 1858. Immediately succeeding the completion of his studies, Dr. Williams for eight months
practiced his profession in Beverly, N. Y. In the
fall of 1858, attracted by the prospects of the
West, he journeyed to.Jackson, Mich., where,
opening an office, he continued in the daily duties
of his responsible profession until the breaking
out of the war, in 1862 enlisting as surgeon in
tile navy.
In 1863, our subject enlisted in Company I,
Twenty-seventh Michigan Cavalry of the Buell
Corps, and, assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, became Commanding Surgeon of the Corps,
and served on Buell's staff. In December, 1864, he
was mustered out of the service and returned to
Jackson, Mici., where he engaged in practice until
1866, when lie made Muskegon his permanent
home. Here entering upon an extended range of
duty as a general practitioner as well as a skillful
surgeon, the Doctor has been especially successful,
and, financially prospered, owns valuable real estate
aside from his handsome home, modern in design
and finely finished. Our subject, who long ago
invested in a highly-cultivated farm near Mona
Iake, about five miles from Muskegon, has improved tile beautifully located acres with a lovely
summer home.
In 1858, 0. C. Williams and Miss Helen W. Kinney, of Syracuse, N. Y., and the daughter of Julian Kinney, a well-known resident of the Empire
State, were united in marriage. One son, John
G., a citizen of Muskegon, blessed the union. The
estimable wife passed away in 1889, and Dr. Williams, in January, 1891, married Miss Emma II.
Tibbetts, a native of Plymouth, Mich., and an intelligent lady. Fraternally associated with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, our subject is Junior
Treasurer of Lowell Lodge No. 182, and is also
connected with the Chapter of the Royal Arch
Masons; he is likewise a member of the Council of
Royal Select Masons and is a member of the Cornmandery of Knights Templar. For seven years Dr.
Williams was a Prelate of the Council, and has received the liighlest rank attainable in this country,
0n


being a Thirty-second Degree Mason. Our subject is identified with the Clinton County Consistory, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and possesses tie
confidence of a host of friends among the order.
Keeping up with the scientific research of the
day, Dr. Williams is a leading member of the Muskegon Medical Society, is prominently connected
with the State Medical Association, and affiliates
with the National Medical Association. Our subject occupied the responsible position of City
Physician four years, and for the same length of
time ably discharged the multiform duties of
County Physician. Although having already attained an enviable reputation in his profession,
Dr. Williams allows himself but little time for rest
or recreation, devoting himself with excellent results to the ills which flesh is heir to.
' "-.
9      OSES ROBINSON, an honored pioneer settler and prominent general agriculturist
of Allendale Township, Ottawa County,
Mich., has for the past forty-seven years
been a continuous resident of the State, and, a man
of broad intelligence, has during this time ably
assisted in the promotion of the various enterprises and vital interests of his locality. Born in
the State of New York, in the village of Glynville, August 12, 1836, he was only a lad of nine
years when he accompanied his parents to the then
far West of Michigan.
The father and mother, John and Ann (McGregor) Robinson, settled in Georgetown Township, locating on a farm. Not long after the family were attacked with chills and fever, and suffered
terribly with the ague, then incidental to certain
parts of the State. At the time of their settlement upon the homestead, there were no roads
from Georgetown leading to the home farm, and
the country roundabout was yet in its primitive
state. Dr. Platt, of Grand Rapids, advised the removal of the family to Paris Township, Kent




504


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


County, where the father settled with his wife
and children. He purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of land, a small portion of which he
reclaimed from its unimproved condition, and then
made an exchange with his son, trading farms and
making his home upon one hundred and sixty
acres, situated one mile east of Bowne Station.
The father, effecting a second trade with his son,
removed to a valuable farm in this township, close
to Allendale Centre. where he prosperously operated a farm of one hundred acres and erected a
handsome and commodious residence, in which he
continued to reside until his death, October 11,
1870. By his various settlements and removals,
he probably aided in the clearing of more land than
any other man of his times in the county, and was
likewise foremost in the good works of the early
days, taking an active interest in church and educational advancement. His good wife was also
active in church work, and tile two were among
the influential citizens of the pioneer times. They
did not come empty-handed into the State, tlie
father being accounted a man of substance in New
York and selling prior to his departure for the
West a farm of two hundred and fifty acres for
$75 per acre. Aside from the old Michigan homestead, the father owned several farms at the time
of his demise, among his other landed property
being the fine one hundred and sixty acre farm
upon which our subject now resides. This latter
farm contained the first cabin ever erected in the
township, and was purchased fronm Deacon Hensdale, who settled here about 1840.
Unto the mother, who survived until 1880, were
born eight children. James, John, Thomas and
Horace are deceased; Moses is our subject; Ann,
who was the wife of J. Stoddard, is deceased;
Eve was the wife of Robert Scott; and Bathsheba,
Mrs. William A. Balcom, is deceased. Our subject
was mainly educated in Paris Township, but the
schools of those days being very crude in their
forms of instruction, Mr. Robinson has since supplemented the studies of youth by reading and
close observation. He began life for himself at
the age of twenty, when he married, but, remaining with his father the seven succeeding years, he
and his excellent wife received for their services


the one hundred and sixty acres of land upon
which they now make their home. When Mr. and
Mrs. Robinson took possession of this property it
was covered with a dense growth of timber. One
hundred acres, now under a high state of cultivation, annually yield an abundant harvest,
and the homestead is improved with attractive
and commodious buildings. Our subject purchased one hundred and sixty additional acres,
which ie has since given to his sons, and, financially prospered, he erected upon the home place a
handsome two-story residence, containing ten or
twelve rooms, all pleasantly arranged. The barns
and outhouses in size and finish are second to none
in the locality and present a scene of thrift and
prosperity.
October 25, 1856, were united  in marriage
Moses Robinson and Miss Mary J. Balcom, a native
of Jackson County, Mich., and daughter of Johnson and Oriza (Avery) Balcom, early settlers of
Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Balcom, widely known
and highly esteemed, were the parents of six children. Marinda, deceased, was the wife of J. Scott;
Sarah is the wife of H. Simons; Delia Ann, deceased,
was the wife of William Allen; Mary J. (Mrs. Robilnson), Justus and William A. complete the list.
At the time that Johnson Balcom located upon
his farm in Allendale, in 1848, the surrounding
country was a wilderness and settlers were few.
Hle devoted his attention to clearing and cultivating his land, and made his home there until the
time of his death, in 1887. During the early days
of the settlement of his community, he was widely
known as a prominent Sunday-school worker, and
not infrequently walked a distance of fourteen
miles in order to hold a Sunday-school, and also
for the purpose of exhorting, as ministers of the
Gospel were at that time scarce.
Our subject and his estimable wife, occupying a
high position  of useful influence, have been
blessed by tile birth of eleven sons and daughters,
as follows: William A., a resident of the State;
James; Simon; Amos; Lillie, who is married;
John M.; Elizabeth, the wife of Herbert Bretherton, of Grand Rapids; Rebecca, Vina, Abram and
Hiram. These brothers and sisters, widely known,
command the esteem and confidence of many




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


505


friends and have enjoyed excellent opportunities
for educational advancement. Our subject is fra'ternally associated with Coopersville Lodge No.
122, A. F. & A. M., and is likewise a member of
the Grange. Politically a strong Republican, Mr.
Robinson takes a deep interest in both local and
National Government and is a sincere friend and
neighbor, a business man of undoubted ability, and
a true and loyal citizen.
ARED D. WETMORE, M. D. In the brief
and imperfect outline we are able to give
in this sketch of the history of one of the
most prominent men of Holland, we can do
little more than merely glance at the principal
events with which he has been connected and
identified as an eminent physician and surgeon
and progressive citizen. The life and character of
Dr. Wetmore, who has risen from all humble position by his own unaided efforts to a place of honor
and distinction among men, proves a useful lesson
to the youth of this county, and adds another
striking illustration of the power of determined
purpose and perseverance.
The homeopathic system of practice has an ardent advocate and supporter in Dr. Wetmore, who
is a practitioner of this school of medicine. As a
specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and
throat, he has attained distinction throughout the
State, and his extensive practice demands his constant attention. His office in Holland is equipped
with a complete assortment of surgical instruments,
and he keeps abreast with every advance made in
the profession which his life and talents adorn.
Born in South Creek, Bradford County, Pa.,
April 8, 1858, our subject is the son of George
Wetmore, an attorney-at-law  in the Keystone
State. tie was reared in De Kalb, Ill., until the
age of fourteen years, and then removed to Sand
Lake, Kent County, Mich., where he engaged in
milling for about five years. Ulnder the preceptorshil of l)r. Wills, of Sand Lake, he commenced


the study of medicine, remaining with that gentleman for about four years, after which he took a
course of lectures in the medical department of
the State University, at Ann Arbor. Ile opened
an office for the practice of his profession at Kalkaskia, in northern Michigan, and after remaining there for one year returned to college and
took another course of lectures, graduating in the
spring of 1880.
After graduating the young Doctor located at
Rockford, Kent County, Mich., and remained in
that city for one and a-half years. From there he
went to Chicago, and took a course in the new
school of medicine at Hlahnemann College, graduating in 1882. Upon the completion of his studies, he located in Malta, D)eKalb County, Ill.,
where lie conducted an extensive practice until
the spring of 1882. Removing from thereto Storm
Lake, Iowa, he bought the practice of a physician
in that place, and continued there with great success for two years. lie then returned to Michigan, and opened an office in Grand Rapids, remaining there until his removal to Holland, in
October, 1886. At the time of locating here, he
was the only homeopathic physician in the county,
and he has built up an extensive practice in this
and adjoining counties.
In 1877 the Doctor was united in marriage with
Miss (Qanthia Willett, daughter of Dr. George Willett, a practicing physician of Sand Lake, this State.
They are the parents of two daughters: Regina,
and Georgia, who is attending Vincent's Academy, at Cincinnati. Dr. Wetmore has a natural
talent for music and painting, and has no less
than seventy-five large paintings, his own work,
which prove his ability as an artist. At the age
of sixteen lie was leader of a string and cornet
band.
Thrown upon his own resources at the age of
eleven, our subject is justly entitled to be called
a self-made man.   The money with which he
paid his way through college was earned by hard
work in the mill and on the farm. His practice
extends over a territory eighteen miles south, ten
miles north and six and one-half west. In his religious views he is very liberal. Politically, he is
a Democrat, and has been an active worker in the




506


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ranks of the party. He has served as United
States Examining Surgeon for the Northwestern
portion of Iowa, and is now officiating in that
capacity in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. By his industry and good management he
has acquired considerable valuable property, some
of which is in Holland, and some in Duluth. A
pleasant and affable gentleman, his friends are as
numerous as his acquaintances, and lie enjoys the
confidence of all with whom business or social relations bring him in contact.
AX    LANGE, Deputy County Treasurer
of Muskegon, and the owner of consider1    able property in this section of Michigan,
inherits the thrift and enterprise of a long
line of German ancestors. Himself a native of
the Fatherland, he was born in Bromberg November 15, 1850, being a son of Louis and Paulina
(Braune) Lange. His boyhood years were uneventfully passed in his father's home, and lie was
early trained to habits of industry and usefulness.
Ie acquired in the common schools near his home
a practical education, fitting him for a business
career.
In 1870 the family emigrated to the United
States, and after landing in New York proceeded
to Michigan and located in Muskegon, where the
father still lives. The mother remained here until her death, in 1892. They were the parents of
seven children, five sons and two daughters, of
whom Max is the eldest. He early became familiar with farming pursuits, to which he gave his
attention for some time. Afterward he was employedl in the city of Muskegon, receiving a salary of $2 per day, and later worked as a laborer
for one season in Berrien County. He entered
into partnership with M. Kachbrig in the grocery
business, and afterward was engaged in that trade
with other patties in this State, also conducting
the business alone for two years.
Returning to Muskegon in 1880, Mr. Lange


embarked in tie insurance business, which he has
continued until the present time. He also carries
on large and extensive real-estate transactions, and
has sold valuable lots in the city. To his efforts
the advancement of Muskegon along the lines
of material, as well as moral, improvement and
growth may be justly attributed, together with
the labors of many public-spirited and progressive
citizens. He takes a deep interest in every measure having for its object the welfare of the people,
and contributes his quota toward the progress of
the city.
The marriage of Mr. Lange occurred in 1881,
and united him with Miss Emma E. B. Kittredge,
of Ludington, Mich. They are the parents of
two children. On the 1st of January, 1893, Mr.
Lange entered upon the duties of the Deputy
Treasurership, to which he had been appointed,
and in which lie is now rendering acceptable service. In his social connections he is identified
with Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M.
Keen and discriminating in judgment, a man of
resource and ability, he has gained the esteem
and confidence of all with whom   lie has been
brought in contact.
OBERT G. LAMOREAUX.         One of the
Rr~\OBERT G. LAMIOREFAUI. One of the
i most important and successful enterprises
of Fruitport is that which was inaugurated
by Mr. Lamoreaux in October, 1888, and
has been prosperously conducted by him since
that time. In his mercantile establishment he carries a complete assortment of dry goods, modern
in style and unexceptional in quality. The reliability of his business transactions, the superiority of his stock, and the reasonable prices at which
the goods are offered for sale, have secured for
him the confidence of his customers, and lie has a
large trade, aggregating over $10,000 annually.
The value of his stock is estimated at $4,000.
Born in Van Buren County, Mich., November
26, 1868, our subject is tile son of Robert and




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


507


Maria (Cooper) Lamoreaux, both of whom were
born in New York. After their marriage, which
took place in that State, they emigrated to Michigan, and settled in Kalamazoo, where they resided
for a short time. Returning thence to New York,
they made a short sojourn in their former home,
hut shortly  afterward removed to Van Buren
County, Mich., where they remained for a number
of years. Somewhat later they came to Fruitport,
where the wife and mother passed away. In May,
1891, the father removed to Alabama, where he is
now working at his trade as a foundryman. The
paternal gr:ndfather of our subject, William Lamoreaux, was of French descent, as the family name
indicates.
In the parental family there are four children,
the others besides our subject being Daniel, a bookkeeper with the Grand Rapids Brass Company;
Minnie L; and Mary, who married Byron BIeerman,
an engineer on the Goodrich Line, running between
Muskegon and Chicago. Robert G., of this sketch,.
was reared in Van Buren County, Mich., receiving
his primary education in the schools near his father's home. After coming to Fruitport, lie plrosecuted his studies for a time in the schools of tlis
village, and gained a practical education, which
admirably qualified him for business life.
After working in tile employ of his father for a
few years, Mr. Lamoreaux embarked in the business in which lie now  engages. An energetic
business man, possessing sound judgment and common-sense, lie has always made a success in his
mercantile enterprise, and occupies a prominent
position among the business men of the county.
In addition to the management of his establishment, lie devotes considerable attention to pullic
affairs, and is one of the most prominent young
Republicans in the vicinity of Fruitport.  For
some time lie held the oflice of Town Clerk, and is
now President of the village. In the last-named
position lie displays the same wise judgment characteristic of Ills business enterprises, and his efficient services have been of great assistance in developing the resources of the place.
A very important event in thle life of Mr. lamoreaux was his marriage, whlich occurred at Spring
Lake, November 13, 1890, his bride being Miss


Maude Barnes, of Muskegon County. Mrs. Lamoreaux is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth
Barnes, who now reside in Fruitport. She is a
lady of education, possessing a genial courtesy of
manner and generosity of disposition, and is
highly respected in the community. In his social
connection, Mr. Lamoreaux affiliates with the
Knights of the Maccabees, being prominently identified with the lodge at Fruitport.
W1      ILLIAM  EI)WARD MOORE, a leading
and representative citizen of Muskegon
County, and the present representative of
Eggleston Township upon the County Board of
Supervisors, was born in Neyland, Luzerne County,
Pa., on Christmas Day of 1859. His parents, William  and Esther (Jolhnson) Moore, were natives
respectively of the States of Pennsylvania and
New York, and some years after their marriage
came to Michigan, in 1864. For a time they sojourned in Oakland County, and thence removed
to Sliiawassee County, locating in Vernon Township, where the senior Mr. Moore was engaged at
the trade of a wagon-maker for about eleven
years.
From Shiawassee County Mr. Moore came to
Muskegon County, and located in 1885 upon a
farm in Eggleston Township. This place was destined to be the last home of both himself and his
good wife. There in 1886, she closed her eves
upon the scenes of time, to open them again on
the shores of eternity. He survived her demise
for a few months, and then, on the 27th of August, 1887, passed to his final reward. During his
existence, covering a period of three-score years
and six, he accomplished much on behalf of
his fellow-men and was instrumental in promoting the progress of the various communities where
lie resided. Hlis interests, however, centered in
llis home, and his domestic life was one of lhappliness and mutual helpfulness.




508


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


The second among three children, William Edward Moore was quite small when he was brought
by his parents to Michigan, and here he grew to
man's estate. At the age of twelve he commenced
to learn the trade of a carpenter, and, having a
natural inclination for this business, he soon became very proficient in his work and in a short
time started in business for himself. Success rewarded his industrious efforts, and from carpentering he gradually enlarged his business until he
became a contractor and jobber, in which line he
was also efficient and capable. In 1885 he purchased the farm  in Eggleston Township upon
which lie has since made his home.
A  very important event in the life of Mr.
Moore was his marriage, which occurred on the
18th of November, 1881, and united him   with
Miss Mary A., daughter of James and Eleanor
(Best) Barry, natives respectively of Ireland and
the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are
the parents of five children, four of whom  are
now living, Beulah, Charles, Clyde and Edward.
In his political belief, Mr. Moore is a Republican
and takes an active interest in political affairs,
both local and national. For two years he has
filled the position of Township Clerk, and he is
now serving his fourth year as Supervisor. He is
also one of the committee on the construction of
gravel road between Muskegon and Grand Rapids.
His course in life has been such as to win for him
the warm friendship of his associates, and he justly
merits the high regard in which he is held.
' AMES 1). El)WARI), an energetic and prosperous business man, for some length cf
time County and Townslip Grain Commissioner, has for about seventeen years been
intimately associated with tihe growth and progress of Grand lHaven Township, Ottawa County,
MIcil. Ils father, George Edward, was a native
of Scotlall(t, and remained lduring his entire life
witlini tlhe boundaries of his native country.


Our subject was born in sturdy Scotland in 1856,
and spent the days of boyhood and early youth in
his birthplace, but at twenty years of age, eager,
hopeful and ambitious, he set sail for America.
Arriving in 1876, he at once journeyed to Michigan, and, settling in the village of Agnew, then
Johnville, located in the southern part of Grand
IHaven Township, has since made that part of the
State his permanent home.
Mr. Edward received a good common-school
education in the public schools of Scotland, and,
early trained to habits of thrifty industry, llad
as a capital upon which to begin life, a stranger
in a strange land, only his natural ability and
earnest self-reliance. Fron sixteen years of age
he had been self-supporting, then leaving school.
Soon emigrating to Ottawa County, he received
employment in a sawmill, and manufactured fruit
crates and baskets in the village of Agnew.
Mr. Edward was the youngest of a family of eight
children, four sons and four daughters, who were
in the order of their birth as follows: George, Jennie, 'ibbie, John, Joseph, Alexander, MIary and
James D. Josepll, Alexander and Edward came
to this country previous to their brother James D).,
and Tibbie, Mrs. Boyd, emigrated from her native
land to this country in the year 1892, with her
husband and children. John and Mary yet reside
in Scotland. Jennie is deceased. George makes
his home in Australia.
In 1880, in Van Buren County, Micli., were
united in marriage James I). Edward and Miss
Cynthia Munger. Their pleasant home has been
brightened by the birth of four bright and promising children, one son and three daughters: Tibbie, George, Rheba and Nicola. The brothers and
sisters will all enjoy the benefit of an extended
education, and, receiving from their energetic ancestors the bequest of integrity of character, industrious thrift and firm purpose to succeed in
life, cannot fail to make their upward way and become worthy of any positions of trust to wllich
they may be called.
Immediately after his arrival in Grand  haven
Township, Mr. Edward, althlough young in years,
at once idlentifie(l himself witli all matters of public welfare, and, enjoying tile respect and confi



PORTRAIT AN 1) B31GGRAP IICAL RECORD.


509


dence of all with whom he becomes acquainted,
has received various local offices, whose duties lie
has ever discharged with prompt and faithful efficiency. As Township and County Grain Commissioner he gave especially acceptable service to his
fellow-townsmen. Politically a Republican, our
subject takes an active part in tile local councils of
the party, by whom lie has been elected numerous
times to office. The parents of our subject were
members of the old Scotchl Free Church, and
trained their sons and daughters to an observance of religious duties. Mr. Edward, however, is
not connected with any denomination, although
his preference is for the Unitarian Church, to
which his excellent wife belongs. A kind friend
and neighbor, an excellent citizen, loyal and true,
our subject, together with his family, possesses the
best wishes of a host of friends.
w    ERRIT ROOKS, a successful general farmer,
now occupying with ability the office of
HlIighway Commissioner of Holland Township, Ottawa County, Mich., is pleasantly located
upon section 36, where he llas long lprosperously
cultivated a fine homestead, annually yielding an
abundant harvest. Our subject, a native of the
kingdom of the Nethlerlands and born in the year
1812, was thle son of Gerrit H. and Catherine
(liesling) Rooks. The parents were likewise both
natives of the Netherlands, in wlicl country tile
father was born in 1802, and the motller in 1809.
The paternal and maternal ancestors, hard-working, intelligent and upright leople, by their earnest
and plersistent toil thriftily gained for tlemselves
and their descendants the necessities of life, but
very few of them in their native land ever acquired a competence. The fatler was by occupation a farmer, and was a wood-sawyer by trade,
sawmills in iis primitive  neighborhood  being
almost unknlown. Being a Ian of limited means,
lie owned no real-estate, )but ren ted land. Inl 1856,
the faltler emigrated witli his wife and six cllil

dren to the United States and for forty-two days
the family, on board a sailing vessel, were tossing
upon the broad Atlantic.
Two of the children had previously crossed the
ocean and settled in Michigan, in which locality
the parents contemplated making their future
home, but their money having given out they were
obliged to remain a few months in New York,
where the father was enabled by hard work to
replenish his empty pocket-book, and the family
proceeded at once upon their way to thle farther
West. The eight sons and daughters of the parents were in order of their birth: Albert, Gerrit
and Lyda, all deceased; Minnie, Gertrude, John,
Gerrit, and one who died young. Tile father had
married previously to his marriage to the mother
of our subject, and by the first wife became the
father of two children, John Henry and Hannah
The father was a devout member of the old Dutcll
Reformed Church and was respected by all who
knew him. When he came to Holland lie made
his home with his eldest son, Albert. He died
regretted by many friends, his wife surviving hiln
only one year. Our subject received his education mainly in the Old Country and enjoyed one
year's schooling in the United States.
Mr. Rooks, beginning life for himself, worked
out by the month on various farms, and with
thrifty prudence gaining a small capital married
wlhen about twenty-two years of age Miss Minnie
Naber, and unto him and his estimable wife have
been born seven sons and daughters, who are in
the order of their birth: Peter, Henry, John,
Anna, Katie, Albert and Minnie. Of these children
three have completed their studies in the excellent
schools of Holland, and Anna is now teaching successfully. Two of the sons are in the far West,
one living in North Dakota, the other residing in
South D)akota. Immediately succeeding his marriage, Mr. Rooks purchased eighty heavily timbered acres where he now lives, and was obliged
to go in debt for the same. To-day, cleared, highly
cultivated and improved witl a good residence,
barns and slieds, the homestead is one of the best
in tiis locality. ()Our subject owns ninety acres,
all under l)rofitalble cultivation 'and presenting  a
scene of thrift and plenty. Mr. Rooks is a valued




510


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


member of the Ebenezer Reformed Church and for
fifteen years held an Eldership.  Politically a
Republican, Mr. Rooks has ably discharged the
duties of various school offices and made a most
efficient Highway Commissioner, giving great satisfaction to all his fellow-townsmen.
ODIERICK J. MAC1)ONALD, who is serving
as United States Commissioner at Muskec
gon, is a Canadian by birth. He was born
in Prescott, Ontario, Canada, on the 4th
of October, 1852, and is a son of Archibald and
H-arriet (Jackson) Macdonald. The father was a
farmer by occupation and also a manufacturer.
In 1874 he came with his family to Michigan, locating in Muskegon, where his death occurred in
1877. His wife, who survives him, has since married B. A. Cross, and now resides in South Haven, Mich.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest of a
family of nine children. He was reared to manhood in the place of his nativity, and there acquired his education. After leaving school he
began reading law with Thomas Deacon, of Quebec, Canada. He came with his parents to Michigan in 1874, and in March, 1875, was admitted
to the Bar in Muskegon. Here he at once entered upon the practice of his chosen profession,
to which he has devoted the greater part of his
time and attention since, practicing in all the
courts, local, State and federal. His abilities,
natural and acquired, have placed him in the
front rank among his professional brethren.  HIe
is an able advocate, a logical tlinker, a clear reasoner, and, thoroughly understanding the evidence, is quick to grasp a point, and has therefore
won success.
On the 13th of September, 1877, Mr. Macdonald was united in marriage with Miss Mary Chainmberlain, of West Michigan, formerly of Ontario.
Canada. She died August 24, 1889, leaving one


child, since deceased. Mr. Macdonald was again
married, July 13, 1892, his second union being
with Lottie E. Worrall, of Muskegon. They reside at No. 24 Sanford Street, and are prominent
and representative people of the community, having a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
In politics Mr. Macdonald affiliates with the
Republican party, and supports its men and measures. In 1883 he was appointed Deputy United
States Commissioner under James Wethey for the
Western District of Michigan, and afterward was
appointed United States Commissioner at Muskegon, which office he is creditably and acceptably
filling. In 1876 he was elected Justice of the
Peace, and held that office for a period of four
years. He was a prominent candidate before the
Republican Convention for the position of Circuit Judge, but was defeated by a small majority.
In whatever office he has been called upon to fill
he has always discharged his duty with promptness and fidelity, never betraying the trust reposed
in him. In the community where he has now
made his home for an extended period he is widely
known, and his upright career has gained him the
respect of all with whom  business or social relations have brought him in contact.
l     ENRY JEKEL. For many years, or since
boyhood, Mr. Jekel has given the occupation of farming his principal time and
attention, and that a lifetime spent in pursuing one calling will result in substantial success,
especially if energy and perseverance are applied,
is particularly true in his case. Mr..ekel is a
self-made man in all that thie words imply, and
has known the demands of poverty, but his honesty, energy and "'stick-to-it-iveness" have brought
their rewards, which lie and his family are now
enjoying. His birthl occurred in the Netherlands
in 1825, to tile union of.John and Liban Jekel,
natives also of that country.
The father of our subject followed the l)ursuit




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIICAL RECORD.


511


of farming, and for some time was a day laborer.
He was not very successful in that occupation,
and, led by the promises of the Western lands of
this country, he determined to brave Neptune's
tender mercies and seek a home in the United
States. Receiving some assistance from  friends,
lie made the voyage witl his wife and two children in the year 1847, and came direct to Ottawa
County, Mich., where lie bought forty acres of
land on section 14, Holland Township. While on
his way to this county lie stopped at Indian Village, where his wife and children were sick for
many months. His land was covered with heavy
timber, and lie lost no time in going to work to
clear and improve it. At a time when the fruits
of his labor began to show, or a few years after
moving there, he passed away at the age of fiftysix. His wife followed him to the grave a few
years later.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were
passed in his native country, and lie there received a good common-school education. When
but ten years of age he hired out to earn money
for the support of the family, and he saw very
few idle days from that time on. In 1846, during the month of October, he took passage for
America, reaching the United States on Christmas
Day, after being on the ocean sixty-five days. The
vessel encountered many storms, and several times
it was thought tlat she would go to tile bottom.
Young Jekel reached tile United States with little
money and $4() in debt, a kind friend loaning
him tlhat amount previous to starting. Hle first
located near Albany and went to work on a farm,
remaining there nearly a year. In October, 1847,
le came to Michigan and located in Ottawa County, where lie worked out for several years.
By industry and economy Mr. Jekel accumnulated sufficient means to buy a farln, and in 1849
lie was married to Miss Jane Ilarrms. IIe is now
tile owner of eighty acres of fine land and is one
of tlhe industrious, ntelrprisig illen of tile township. IIis land was wild when lie first settled on
it, but energyl ani( lperseverancIe a'ccoml)liseie d wonders in hiis case. Mr..Jlckel is a llemllller of tile
lHeformled (Cull'chl nd(l t:akes a (deep inteiest in its
progress, as lie (does ill all otler enterprises of
26


moment. His marriage resulted in the birth of
two children, John and Jennie. The latter married John Barkel, and several children were born
to them. Mrs. Barkel died, and one of her children, Jennie, has been taken by our subject to rear.
In his political views our subject is a Democrat.
He and his brother John are the only ones living
of five children born to his parents. These children were in the order of their births as follows: Ella, deceased; Helnry and Albert (twins),
the latter dying at the age of eighteen; Joln and
William.
L. WESTON, M. D., one of Ottawa County's most talented young professional men,
and a member of a family that las given
to Michigan some of its most skillful physicians and surgeons, has been engaged for a year
or more in the practice of the medical profession
at Jenison, being the only physician at this place.
His practice is not limited to the residents of the
village, but extends throughout the surrounding
country, where he has the confidence of his patienits and the esteem of tile public in general.
The paternal grandfather of the Doctor was
Harry Weston, a native of New York, and a very
early settler in Michigan. The maternal grandfather,.Jolin Shafer, who enlisted during the War
of 1812, participated in many of the most important battles of that conflict with the British,
and was taken prisoner at Detroit, under Gen.
Hull. (ur subject's father, Dr. A. H. Weston,
was born in Clinton County, Mich., and upon attaining manlood's years studied medicine under
an uncle, )aniel T. Weston, of Dansville, Mich.
Later lie entered tile I)etroit College of Medicine,
from which lie was graduated in the Class of '74.
At the opening of the Civil War, Dr. Weston
enlisted as a member of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and from the lranks was promoted to the position of Hospital Steward.  For three years and
two months lie was in active service in the Union




512


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


army, and although at the front in numerous engagements, lie escaped without being wounded,
with the exception of a slight injury received
from a piece of shell. He married Miss Martha M.
Shafer, and their union was blessed by the birth of
two children, our subject and Fay A. The latter
married Miss Eva Iensmore, who resides at Stanton Junction, Mich.
After his marriage, which occurred in Michigan, the father of our subject settled in Ingham
County and remained there for two years, removing   thence to Kent County in the year
1868. He has since made his home in the village of Grandville, of which he is the most
prominent physician.   He is also prominently
identified with the social and political affairs of
the county, and is an active member of the Masonic order and Custer Post, G. A. R., of Grand
Rapids, having for three years filled the position
of Master of the former order. In politics he is
independent, casting his ballot for the best principles and the best man, irrespective of party ties.
He has served as Township Clerk and in other
official capacities.
The subject of this sketch was born in Dansville,
Ingham County, Mich., on tile 28th of December,
1866. IHe received his education in the common and
High schools of Grandville, and having resolved to
follow the profession in which his father had gained
distinction, he began the study of medicine under
tile preceptorship of his father. Later lie took a
course of lectures in the Detroit College of Medicine, graduating in 1889. HIe at once commenced
the active practice of his profession, and for three
years was associated with his father in partnership. In April, 1892, hle came to Jenison, and is
now closely identified with the rapidly developing
interests of this place.
In lhis social relations the Doctor affiliates with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership with Kent Lodge No. 332, at
Grandville, of which he is Past Grand. Both lie
and his father are members of the Grand River
Valley Medical Society, of which the former has
been Treasurer, and tile latter Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and President. It is wortlly
of note that our subject, his father and two uncles,


Dr. Daniel T. Weston, of Dansville, and Dr.
Marion J. Shafer, of Grand Rapids, are all graduates of the Ietroit Medical College of Medicine.
Dr. Shafer was also a soldier in the late war, and a
member of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry.
SCAR     SANDERS. Prominent among tlle
()l capable and efficient agriculturists of Ottawa County     stands the name of Mr.
Sanders, who follows farming pursuits ul)on section 25, Robinson Township. IHe is tile son of
Joseph and Mary (Sampson) Sanders, natives of
the Empire State, both of whom died there, the
father on the 12th of March, 1861,and the mother
twenty years previous to his demise. Alike as
an energetic and industrious farmer, and in military service as a'soldier during the War of 1812,
Mr. Sanders, Sr., was a man who won the respect
of his associates, and his death, at an advanced
age, removed from our country one of its most
valiant defenders in time of war, and most publicspirited citizens in time of peace.
Tlie youngest of a family of six children,
Oscar Sanders was born in Brown County, N. Y.,
on the 19th of December, 1829. In the Empire
State he received the advantages of a commonschool education, and there, also, le gained mucll
of the knowledge of agriculture which lie has
since put to practical use. At the age of fifteen
lie went to Gratiot County, Mich., and there resided for a period of seven years. Later he made
his home in Lamont, Ottawa County, for three
years, and afterward settled on tle place where he
has since resided.
At the time of purchasing this lproperty, May 5,
1870, the land was densely wooded, and few improvements had been made. In the years that
have since come and gone, substantial buildings
have been erected, forty acres hlave been cleared
and placed under higll cultivation, fences have
been built, thle soil lias been fertilized, and modern




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


513


farming machinery introduced.   Mr. Sanders has
met with his share of misfortunes, not the least of
which was the destruction of his residence with
all its contents, the result of fire. Iowever, another dwelling, equally substantial, las replaced
the old house.
In Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1862, occurred
tlhe marriage of Mr. Sanders and     Miss Harriet Foster, a native of New   York. They are
the parents of five children.  In their religious
connections, Mr. Sanders and his accomplished
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, to the support of which they are generous contributors.  Socially, lie affiliates with the
Sons of Temperance.   Politically, lie is prominent
in tile councils of his chosen party in this section.
His first Presidential ballot was cast for Gen.
Scott in 1852.   lIe is a man whose entire course
in life has been in every respect honorable, upriglht and conscientious, and lie is justly entitled
to the respect of his associates and the love of his
friends.
i' LOYS BI1Z, a prominent citizen of Ottawa
L  County, Micll., now prlosperously handling
ireal estate, insurance and merchandise in
Spring Lake, is a successful business man,
and llas for twenty-seven years been identified
with the various leading enterprises of his lpresent
locality. \Mr. Bilz is a native of Germany. llis
parents, Joseph and Margaret (Ilaberkorn) Bilz,
were both born in Bavaria, and were reared(, ediucated and attained to adult age in tlie hlonme of
their youtl. Thleir family of three sons and seven
daugllters received all tle advantages t dey could
give lthen, botll in tlme common scllools and higher
ed(ucational institutions, a'ld grew ul) energetic,
industrious and almbitious. W\ien tie tehree eldest arrived at mnature years lhey d(cided to try
tlleir fortulnesi ill tile l:anld of promiise Ieyo(nd tile
sea(, and to(gethler cmligrat, d to Amleritca. T'le relports they sent Iback to tleir old hlome and par

ents were so encouraging that in the year 1849
the fatlher, mother and seven remaining children
embarked for the United States. Safely reaching
Quebec, they soon located in Buffalo, N. Y., where
the parents reared and educated the younger members of the family. Iere tile mother died in the
fall of 1866, and the father in the spring of 1867,
and the eldest son, Christopher J. Bilz, a prominent business man of the city of Buffalo, soon followed them to the grave. Tlie next son, Frank,
well known in Detroit and throughout Michligan,
died in the city of lonia, Mich., August 20, 1889.
One daughter is deceased, one resides in Philadelphia, Pa., and five with their families still live in
the city of Buffalo.
Our subject was born July 2, 1841, attended a
private sclool in Buffalo, and St. Vincent's College in Westmoreland County, Pa., and at tile age
of thirteen learned the trade of a tinner in New
Hamburg, Ontario, and thus fitted himself for a
future of self-reliant effort. In the year 1853
he settled in Michigan, at first making his hlome
in I)etroit, where he entered into business, finding ready employment at his trade. After a time
lie removed to New Baltimore, Macomb County,
and in the year 1864 was united in marriage to
Miss Mary A. Thompson, daughter of Rev. O. C.
Thompson, of Detroit, Micli. In 1866, our subject
came to Spring lake and engaged in the hardware
and furniture business, rapidly extending the territory of llis trade, one of tile best in this section
of tile country. Soon aftelr, becoming interested in
the real estate of his locality, Mr. Bilz achieved
gratifying results in handling large amounts of
land, and, possessed of unusual executive ability,
has rapidly made his upward way. In 1871,a disastrous fire destroyed most of his property, but
witlI tireless energy, hope and determination he
set himself resolutely to regaining lost ground.
Among thle enterprises in wlose promotion Mr.
Bilz lhas taken an active part was the founding and
conducting of thle Spring Lake Republicans, a bright,
newsy paper, and for a number of years he was the
proprietor of the Forest City Press, at Forest City,
S. l)ak.
In 1861 tile nanie of Aloys Bilz was enrolled in
thie only regiment of lancers organized in the




514


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


State, but, the regiment being disbanded, our subject saw none but recruiting service. Mr. and Mrs.
Bilz have been blessed by the birth of seven children: Fannie G., Margaret J., Bessie E., Manlie E.,
Alice A., William A., and one son deceased.  Mrs.
Bilz and all her children are members of the Presbyterian Church and are active in the good work
and benevolent enterprises of that denomination.
Mr. Bilz is a staunch Republican, and has held
with efficiency for many years the responsible position of Supervisor. He was elected Register of
Deeds of his county, and, occupying the office for
one term, gave great satisfaction to all with whom
lie transacted the business of his department.
Our subject was for four years the popular President of Spring Lake, and as a member of the Board
of Education gave excellent service in behalf of
educational advancement. As an insurance agent
Mr. Bilz represented the following well-known
companies: the Pllhenix, of Hartford; the Continental, of New York; and the Fireman's Fund of
San Francisco; and with his other business he
also combined tile local agency of the American
Express Company. lIe has for twenty-six years
been a Trustee of the Presbvterian Churcll, and,
leading a useful and busy life, yet finds time to
engage with a liberal spirit in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the general public.
V    F   [ EESLEY F. WOOD), the subject of this sketch,
a citizen of Muskegon, Mich., stands prominently among those leading citizens to
whom   tle city owes its advancement, morally, intellectually and financially. Coming to this part
of the State when Muskegon was a mere hamlet,
a small village of few inhabitants, isolated from the
rest of the world, without roads, streets, schools or
churches, he llas lived and labored to see the early
crudities of the pioneer grow into the large and
well-developed city of to-day, possessing all the
facilities, appliances and advantages of a great
manufacturing and commercial metropolis. llis
career is an examp)le of the success that comes to


those who strive, and not as tle result of chance,
but of long-continued, persistent and well-directed
effort. le was born June 18, 1823, in Essex County, in the State of New York, the son of Jonas B.
Wood and Hannah (Reed) Wood, the father a native of Massachusetts, the mother of New York.
Both )parents were of English descent. Mrs. Wood
was the daughter of Abraham Reed, who was also
a native of the Empire State.
The subject of this sketch, who was the youngest
of nine children, received the rudiments of an education in the district school of his native place,
but later secured a good academic education. At
an early age he removed to the city of New York,
where he remained in mercantile pursuits until
1849, when, on account of poor health, he removed
to Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y. There
lie remained until 1857, when he turned his face
westward and came to MIichigan, locating in Muskegon, where he had some interests, and where he devoted himself chiefly to the real-estate business, city
and surbuban. Upright, honorable and reliable,
he has always stood as one of Muskegon's representative business men and has won a fair share
of both favor and fortune.
In 1852 our subject was married to Sarah G.
Scott, of New York City, daughter of William
Scott, of Scottish parentage. Three children were
born to them  in Hopkinton, N. Y., only one of
whom, Frank, survives, who inherits his father's
excellent qualities, and wlio has for a good many
years been a banker in Muskegon.
In politics our subject is a stanch Republican,
thoroughly believing in the principles of sound
finance and of protection to home industries, and
voting with his party as often as it has been true
to its principles. Wide-awake aind public-spirited,
lie has been a standard-bearer, and has contributed
liberally to the support of all worthy movements,
both public and private. In religious matters, he
takes a deep interest, and has been a member and
office-bearer in tile Congregational Church from
the time of its organization, in 1859. Well may
the growth and enlargement of that church from its
original charter membership of thirteen to its
present membershil) of three hlund(lred afforld himl
the chiefest satisfaction of his life,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


515


Mr. Wood's highest title is that of "good citizen." Modest, manly, unassuming and retiring,
shunning both the glare and pomp of public station,
seeking neither place nor preferment, he has lived
and labored, content to see others preferred to
places of honor and trust, dutiful, diligent and
faithful, seeking only the satisfaction and the
fruits which fall to the lot of him who leads and
fills a quiet and useful life.
AMUEL A. SODERBERG, the efficient and
popular Treasurer of Muskegon County,
who now makes his home in the city of
Muskegon, is a native of Switzerland. He
was born in that far-off land December 11, 1858,
and is a son of Johannus and Johanna (Anderson)
Soderberg. They were farming people and never
left the land of their nativity. Our subject was
the eldest of their family. Hle attended school
until fourteen years of age, spending two years
in a  Iigh School, and then learning the shoemaker's trade, which lie followed until twenty
years of age. At that time he received an appointment as foreman of the extensive gas works
in Stockholm, having charge of from fifty to sixty
men. This position lie filled for four years.
It was in the fall of 1880 that Mr. Soderberg
came to America, crossing the Atlantic to New
York City, going thence to Chicago, and arriving
in Muskegon on the 4th of August, 1880. Here
he began clerking for Mr. Waldon, a shoe merchant, with whom he remained for two years. In
1882, he became an employe in a box factory, and
to that work devoted his energies for six years,
after which lie began business in his own interest,
manufacturing boots and shoes. He carried on
this enterprise until 1889, when the establishment
was destroyed by fire, causing a heavy loss to the
owner. Mr. Soderberg then   resumed clerking
until the following year, when he formed a partnership with Andrew Donnalson, under the firm
name of Soderberg & Donnalson, dealers in boots


and shoes at No. 366 Lake Street. They carry a
fine line of goods, and are now enjoying an extensive trade as the result of their fair and
honorable dealing, their courteous treatment and
their desire to please their patrons.
In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Soderberg and Miss Anna Figenfelt, of Muskegon,
a native of Switzerland. Five children have been
born of this union, four sons and a daughter.
The family resides at No. 32 Main Avenue. The
fellow-citizens of our subject have recognized his
worth and ability and have frequently called upon
him to serve in positions of public trust. He was
elected Supervisor of the Eighth Ward and served
one year, was appointed Deputy Sheriff under
William Hancock, and filled that office until the
death of his superior. In 1892, he was elected
County Treasurer of Muskegon County, on the
Republican ticket, for a term of two years, and is
now acceptably and creditably filling that office.
The Republican party finds in him a stanch supporter. Socially, he is connected with the Maccabees. lDuring his residence in this community,
Mr. Soderberg has lived so that lie has won the
confidence and high regard of all with whom lie
has been brought in contact and gained a wide
circle of warm friends.
ERBERT TIIUSTELL, M. D., a leading
medical r.:ctitioner and skillful surgeon
of Muntague, Muskegon County, Mich., is
(  a native of Rockwood, Ontario, and was
born January 8, 1863. His parents, Francis and
Amelia (Higinson) Thustell, were long-time residents of Canada, widely known and highly respected.  The father, an Englishman, was born
near London in 1830. He came to America with
his father, Benjamin Thustell, when only five
years of age.  The paternal grandfather of our
subject was a prosperous Canadian farmer, and
lleld official positions of trust in the Queen's




516


1ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJICAL RECORD.


dominions. The Thustells, originally emigrating
from  the Netherlands to England, attained to
prominence in their adopted land, and when
Benjamin Thustell made his home in tile Dominion
of Canada the English government also received
his efficient service. From  his fifth year reared
and educated in Canada, Francis Thustell there
attained to manhood and married the mother of
our subject, the daughter of an Irish father and
an English mother. The only brother of Francis
Thustell, the uncle of our subject, died when quite
young and left two sons, one of whom, William,
is now a resident of Cliicago. The other, in his
journeyings about, has been lost sight of.
In the parental family were five sons and two
daughters. Our subject, Herbert, was the next to
the youngest of the living brothers and sisters;
Laura married W. D. Cook, a prominent hotel
man of Memphis, Tenn.; Edward B. is tlhe popular
proprietor of the National Hotel at Frankfort,
Mich.; Alfred is a resident of Maguld, Mich., and
is in the installment business; Walter is a successful merchant of Traverse City, Mich.; Henry is a
professor in the University of Nevada; and Helen
H. died at the age of seven years.
Our subject was three years of age when Iis
parents emigrated to Michigan and located in
Grand Traverse, the days of his chilhood being
mainly passed upon his father' farm, where he was
trained to habits of industry. He attended thle
public schools and also enjoyed tlie advantage of
a year's instruction in the H-igh School of Traverse
City, afterward entering the Michigan Agricultural College, in which lie spent two years. Then,
returning to Traverse City, he completed his High
School course and graduated with honor.   In
1889 Dr. Thustell matriculated in the medical department of the State University, at Ann Arbor,
and in June, 1892, received his diploma.
Immediately after the close of his medical
course, our subject located permanently in Montague, where he has met with encouraging success, building up, in a comparatively short time,
an extended and lucrative practice. Dr. Thustell,
faithfully going his rounds alike in pleasant or
inclement weather, commands the high esteem and
confidence of the community by whom lie is sur

rounded, and is considered by the general p)ublic
one of tile most able physicians and expert surgeons of his locality. Young in years, our subject has attained to an enviable position in the
professional world, and, keeping abreast of the
times by study and scientific research, las a
bright future before him, and is rapidly winning
his upward way to assured prosperity.
F   ENTON    THI'RSTON, a leading general
|   agriculturist and able Supervisor of Chester
Township, Ottawa County, Mich., was born
March 20, 1841, in Sullivan County, N. Y.,
and was the son of Daniel Thurston, who located
in Grand Raplids, Miicl., in 1856. Tile mother, in
maidenhood Miss Madison, passed away in tile
Empire State when our subject was only a little
boy. The father, a ship-carpenter, worked at his
trade in Grand Rapids and also erected numerous
buildings; lie was also a millwright, and in 1858
or 1860 built a large flouring mill in Lisbon. Removing to Lisbon, lie handled merchandise for a
time, but in 1864 went to Missouri and settled in
Princeton. After the war lie removed to the eastern part of tile latter State and died there in about
1881. lie was twice married, and by the mother
of our subject llad five children. Frank resides in
Pennsylvania; John is a resident of South Dakota;
Hannah is tlhe wife of Jacob Mann; Benton is our
subject; and Alfred makes his home in Colorado.
Benton Thlurston was mainly educated in tile
common schools of Ottawa County and was only
a young lad when lie began the battle of life for
himself. Desirous of attending school, he worked
for small wages while l-e was pursuing his studies,
and was employed variously in clearing land and
in the lumber districts. In August, 1862, answering
the call of the Government, lie enlisted in Company
H, Fourth Miclligan Cavalry, and was assigned to
the Army of thle Cumberland, being first under
the command of Gen. Buell and later under R. 1H.
G. Minty, of I)etroit. Actively participating in




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


517


the battle of Perryville, and following in pursuit
of Morgan through Kentucky, Mr. Thurston took
an active part in the engagements of Lebanon,
Stone River and various skirmishes, after which
he returned to Louisville, later engaging in the Atlanta campaign. The brigade to which the regiment
of our subject belonged opened fire at Chickamaugua. Finally camping near Louisville, after
being mounted almost night and day, Mr. Thurston barely missed being present at the fight of
Nashville, and with his regiment went into winter
quarters at Grand Springs. In the spring of 1865
the regiment took part in the celebrated Wilson
Raid through Tennessee and Georgia, and also
fought the last battle at Columbia, Ga. Our subject was captured near Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River, but was immediately paroled and was
mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., in
July, 1865. Enlisting as a private, lie was promoted to be a Corporal, and was mustered out as
a Sergeant after two years and eleven months of
active service, arriving safely at home July 14,
1865.
Having saved a considerable portion of the
money received while in the army, Mr. Thurston
invested it in the eighty acres of land upon which
lie now resides and which lie purchased some time
before the close of the war. The acres were all
heavily timbered, and during his absence twenty
acres were cleared. Upon his return home lie cleared
ten acres, and in 1865 and 1866 was logging in the
Wlite River country.  IIe worked in different
places and was engaged in various occupations
until 1871, when lie was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabehll Rosenberg, a native of Michigan,
and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary A. (Suchart) Rosenberg, early settlers of Ottawa County
and of German parentage. Of the nine children
of Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg two died young.
David resides in Grand Rapids; Elizabetll is Mrs.
Thurston; Hannah, deceased, was the wife of J. P.
Burman; Henry, George, Mary and Emma complete the list. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg reside in
Ottawa County.
Our subject and his estimable wife have been
blessed with the presence of four intelligent children: Viola, Vinnie, Earl and Iazel. Viola, an


accomplished young lady, is a graduate of the
Lisbon School, the High School of Grand Rapids,
and the Training School of Grand Rapids. She
taught successfully in 1892 in the city school, and
will have the same position in 1893. Vinnie excels in music and will undoubtedly make that her
profession. At the time of his marriage, Mr.
Thurston had cleared and cultivated forty acres
and built a small house. He has sixty acres under
high cultivation now, and has also a peach and
apple orchard and handles with profit a high grade
of cattle, horses and sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston take a high social position in the best circles
of the county and enjoy the confidence and regard
of many old-time friends.
Fraternally, our subject is connected with Lisbon
Lodge No. 229, A. F. & A. M., and is Treasurer of
tlhe same, which responsible position lie has held
with fidelity many years. Politically an Independent, Mr. Thurston has occupied with marked
ability various important positions of trust, and in
1887 was elected Treasurer of the township; he was
re-elected in 1888, and only beaten by three votes
in 1889. In 1890 elected Supervisor, he has been
re-elected each succeeding year and has discharged
the duties involved to the great satisfaction of his
fellow-townsmen. Widely known throughout Ottawa County, our subject is exceedingly popular
and counts his friends by the score.
KI\ AJ. C. E. STORRS, proprietor of Storrs'
Vineyard and a prominent citizen of North
M Iuskegon, was born in West Marnett
Township, Essex County, N. Y., on the
3d of September, 1833. He is an honored representative of a patriotic family that has furnished
many valiant soldiers to our country in time of
need. His father, Elijah Storrs, a native of Middletown, Conn., served with courage and efficiency
during the War of 1812, and from the rank of
First Lieutenant was promoted to be Captain as a
reward for meritorious conduct. In 1834 lie re



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


moved as far West as Summit County, Ohio, where
he located on a farm in Northfield Township.
Thence, in 1864, he came to Michigan and settled
in Grand Haven, where lie died at tlie age of
eighty-five.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph
Storrs, was a native of Connecticut and served in
the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War.
I-e was of Welsh descent. The mother of our subject was Julia, daughter of Mr. IIolcomb, who
served with the famous Green Mountain boys
during the War of the Revolution. She was born
and reared in Vermont, and after a happy wedded
life of fifty-nine years passed to her linal rest, at
the age of four-score and two years. The Holcomb family originated in England.
Elijah Storrs and his good wife were the parents of ten children, seven of whom attained to
mature years, viz.: Clark N., a resident of North
Muskegon; Wales F., deceased; Harriet W., the
wife of C. H. Dunbar, of Brecksvllle, Ohio; Carlton L., of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Eliza A., the
widow of Charles Reynolds, and a resident of
Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Maria L., tie wife of James
H. Coates, of Brecksville, Ohio; and C. E., the
subject of this biographical notice. The lastnamed is the youngest surviving member of the
family. At the time his parents removed to Summit County, Ohio, he was about six months old,
and his boyhood years were passed upon his father's farm.
September 24, 1854, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Maria Van Noate, a native of
Independence, Ohio, and immediately after their
marriage the young couple came to Michigan
and settled in Grand Rapids, where they spent
the winter of 1854-55. Removing from that city
to Clinton County, Ohio, they resided there until
1858, when they returned to Michigan and located in Blendon Township, Ottawa County. For
two years Mr. Storrs was engaged in the mill and
lumber business in Ottawa County, and in the
spring of 1861 he purchased a one-half interest in
a sawmill there.
Shortly after the commencement of the Civil
War, Mr. Storrs enlisted in Company B, Sixth
Michigan Cavalry, and in 1862 went to the front


in the capacity of Department Second Lieutenant.
In Ma:rch, 1863, lie was promoted to be Second Lieutenant, and on the 17th of July, 1863, was commissioned Captain. He continued in that rank
until he was promoted to be Major, on the 6th of
June, 1865, and was serving in that position at
the time of his discharge. Iie participated actively
in many engagements and at Nubias Cross Roads,
July 24, 1863, was wounded in the left shoulder
by a minie-ball. IIe was honorably discharged
at Leavenworth, Kan., October 10, 1865, and
upon being mustered out of the service returned
to his home in Ottawa County.
Resuming his lumbering and milling business,
which lie had temporarily discontinued, Maj. Storrs
was thus engaged until 1876,when he disposed of his
interests in Ottawa County andi removed to Eaton
Township, Mason County, this State. There for
a number of years lie made his home on a farm.
In 1882 lie came to Nortll Muskegon in the capacity of book-keeper for the C. N. S'torrs Lumber
Company, a position whicli he filled acceptably.
In 1886 he purchased the Princeton Fruit Farm,
the name of which he changed to Storrs' Vineyard. Thllis fine farm is devoted to the raising of
fruits, a business in wlich the Major is particularly
well informed. Twenty acres are planted in a vineyard, while fifty acres are devoted to small fruits.
From  the vineyard are gatllered an average of
forty-five tons of grapes each season, and the
grapes for flavor and quality are unsurpassed, if
equaled, in the State.
The Major and his wife have a family of three
children: Alice J., wife of Leroy A. Franklin, of
Grand Rapids; Frank, wlio aids in the cultivation
of the fruit farm; and Maggie, wife of Elliott D.
Prescott, a resident of Ravenna, Mich. Maj.
Storrs cast his first ballot in Ohlio in 1854, and
has been a Republican ever since the inception of
that party. In 1875 lie represented Blendon Township on the Board of Supervisors of Ottawa County, and lie also served as Township Clerk and
Highway Commissioner while residing there. In
Eaton Township, Mason County, he served as
Supervisor during the years 1877-79-80-81, and
was a member of the Board of School Examiners
of Mason County. THe served as Supervisor of




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


519


the township of Laketon, Muskegon County, in
1882 and 1887, and for one year filled the position of Assessor of North Muskegon. He also
served as Alderman of North Muskegon for one
year. Socially, he is identified with Amos E.
Slide Post No. 280, G. A. R., at North Muskegon,
and has frequently served as Commander of the
post. In addition to local duties, he has been Inspector of the Department of Michigan of the
Grand Army of tile Republic, and is Food and
l)airy Commissioner of the State.
C    APT. SIMON BRENNAN, whose gallant
services as a member of the Union army
during the Civil War won for him the title
by whicl lie is familiarly known, and who is now
a prominent citizen of Georgetown Township,
Ottawa County, was born in Nova Scotia, April
22, 1840, and is the son of Simon and Elizabeth
(Innes) Brennan, likewise natives of Nova Scotia.
There were eight children in the parental family,
five of whom are now living, two of the brothers
having been killed while serving in the Civil War.
The fifth of the family in order of birth is Simon, of this sketch. At the age of ten years lie
accompanied his parents to Massacliusettsand settled with them in Boston, where he was a student
in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years
lie began to earn his own living, and for one year
followed fishing during the summer and attended
school in the winter months. I)uring 1857 he
went to sea, and remained upon the ocean for a
year, in the mean time visiting many of the prominent ports of Souti America.  Afterward he
coasted along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean for
one summer, and spent the following winter in
school. I-e then returned to his home in Boston,
where he worked on a farm during the summer
months and prosecuted his studies in the winter.
In February of 1859, our subject came to Michigan and settled in Georgetown Township, Ottawa
ign  a    d    o       n   li,Otw


County, where lie engaged in the sawmill business
for one year, and later spent twelve months in a
shipyard. In April, 1861, when our country was
calling upon all its patriotic sons to offer their
lives in its service, the name of Simon Brennan
was enrolled as a volunteer in Coml)any I, Third
Michigan Infantry. Although at that time only
twenty-one years of age, lie was elected First Sergeant of iiis company, in which capacity he marched
to the front. Ile was mustered into the State
service at Grand Rapids, May 10, 1861, and one
month later was mustered into the United States
service. On the 15th of June his regiment left
Michigan and marched to the headquarters of the
main army, at Washington, 1). C.
Witl his regiment lie participated in the battle
of Bull Run, where they supported the battery, but
were under fire. Hie was also present at the siege
of Yorktown, and the battles of Williamsburgll
and Fair Oaks, where the regiment lost heavily
and where lie was severely wounded in the left
arm. For some time after being injured, he was
incapacitated for active service, and therefore did
not engage in the seven days' fighting around
Richmond. Upon recovering, lie took part in
Gen. Pope's campaign, until, on the 28th of August, 1862, lie was again wounded, this time in
the right shoulder. This injury disabled him until after the battle of Fredericksburg.
Later the Captain took part in all the active
engagements of the Army of the Potomac prior
to the battle of the Wilderness; at that engagement lie was taken prisoner by the Confederates,
and for a time was kept at Macon, Ga., whence,
with six hundred other prisoners, lie was taken to
Charleston, S. C., and retained in that city for six
weeks under fire of our own guns. Subsequently
he was removed to Columbia, S. C., where he remained until the spring of the following year
He was then paroled, and remained on parole
until the close of the war, being mustered out
June 10, 1865. He was promoted successively
through the various ranks from Sergeant to Captain, and was discharged with the latter title.
Returning to Michigan a physical wreck, his
constitution impaired by exposure and tile hardships of marches and camp life, as well as by tile




520


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


* 7 r Or


privations endured while in prison, the Captain
was unable for some time to perform any manual
labor. Believing that the climate of Colorado
would prove beneficial, he went thither, and for
two years engaged in lumbering in that State.
Upon his father's death, in 1868, he returned to
Michigan, and has since conducted farming operations in Ottawa County. He is a general grain
agriculturist and markets his products at Grand
Rapids.
On the 28th of March, 1872, the Captain was
united in marriage with Miss Ruth E., daughter of
William Haire, one of the pioneer settlers of Michigan. One child, Lillian, has blessed this union.
A stanch Republican in politics, Capt. Brennan has
filled the positions of Supervisor of Georgetown
Township, Clerk, Highway Commissioner, and at
one time was nominated for the position of Sheriff, but was defeated at the polls. Socially, he is
identified with 0. P. Morton Post, G. A. R., at
Manton.
RANCIS HALL, an energetic and prosper.
ous general agriculturist and a practical
horticulturist, successfully cultivating a fine
variety of fruit upon his homestead, pleasantly located upon a fertile section of land in Ottawa
County, Mich., is a leading citizen of his locality, and, an ardent advocate of temperance, is respected for his sterling integrity and high principles. Mr. Hall is the descendant of sturdy English ancestors, his father, William Hall, having been
born in Utten Ambo, Yorkshire, England, twelve
miles from the city of York. Emigrating to
the United States in 1831, the father landed in
New York, but tarried only a brief time in that
metropolis, journeying thence to Detroit, from that
time his permanent home until his death. His
life-time occupation was the pursuit of agriculture,
and by unceasing industry lie thriftily acquired a
comfortable competence. Seven children clustered
about the family hearth of the parents, and were


in the order of birth: Thomas, Hannah, Ann, Mary,
Willie, Francis and John, all natives of England,
and with the exception of Thomas all accompanied
the father and mother to America. William, Mary
and Francis are now the sole survivors of the
brothers and sisters.
Our subject was born in 1822, and was a little
lad eight years of age when he went to Detroit, in
which city he continued to reside until 1869, at
which date he came to his present locality. He
received an excellent education in the public
schools of Detroit, and, from the age of eighteen
entirely self-supporting, began in 1840 the manufacture of tubs and pails. Ile continued in this
line of trade for fourteen years, and for ten years
was employed by E. B. Ward to assist in the construction of twelve large glasshouses used for the
propagation and culture of grapes. In 1869, Mr.
Hall, purchasing his homestead of one hundred
acres, then all heavy timberland, entered with energy upon the clearing and improvement of his
farm, and has now brought under profitable cultivation fifty acres, a portion of which is devoted
to fruit, principally berries of all kinds. In 1855,
Francis Hall and Miss Mary E. McDonald were
united in marriage and for thirty-eight years have
enjoyed a pleasant companionship, with fidelity
sharing each other's joys and sorrows.
Financially prospered, our subject takes a high
place among his friends and neighbors and is considered authority in fruit-culture, being especially
successful in handling berries, shipping to outside
markets some of the finest produced in the Wolverine State. The union of our subject and his
estimable wife has not been blessed by children, but
Mr. and Mrs. Hall from their abundance are liberal givers and, kindly by nature, add to the happiness of others. They are valued members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and are foremost in
the extension of religious influence and the good
work of their locality. As a strong temperance
advocate, our subject is deeply interested in lifting up his fallen brethren, and in all matters tending to the elevation of humanity may ever be
found upon the side of tluth and justice. Fraternally, our subject has since January, 1845, been
connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


521


lows, and has many sincere friends within that ancient order. Politically a Republican, Mr. Hall
takes an active interest in Iccal and national issues
and is well versed in the vital interests and public
affairs of the day, and, widely known, fully commands the esteem of the entire community among
wlom his useful years are passed.
--—.     i_-6 --- E03  *    -.,t —rHARLES ALFORD. Few        citizens of Ottawa County have resided here for a longer
period than has the subject of this brief
sketch, who has lived upon his present farm in
Tallmadge Township since the fall of 1845. During the half-century of his residence here, he has
witnessed many wonderful changes, and has himself been a prominent factor in facilitating the
progress of his community. His services on behalf of his fellow-citizens are appreciated by the
people of the township, and he occupies a high
place in their regard.
Born in Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., May 4,
1817, our subject is the son of Roswell and Elizabeth (Carl) Alf6rd, natives of New York State,
the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Carl.
Charles is the eldest child in his father's family,
and was only five years old when he was bereaved
by his mother's death. Afterward his father married again, and he remained with his father and
step-mother until lie reached the age of twentyone. In the mean time lie attended the common
schools of lyons, where he laid the foundation of
the broad fund of information lie afterward gained
by practical education in the school of experience.
At the age of twenty-one, Charles Alford commenced to work as a farm laborer in the employ
of others, and continued thus engaged for one
year. I-e then, at the age of twenty-two, established domestic ties, and afterward began farming
on shares, continuing in that way until the fall of
1844. 'Then leaving the county of his birth, he
came to Michigan and settled in Ottawa County,
whlee lie l)llurchased a tract of land in Tallmadge


Township in the spring of 1845. IIe still resides
upon his original purchase and engages extensively in raising grain and fruit, in botl of which
lie has met with success.
On Christmas Day, 1839, Mr. Alford was united
in marriage with Miss Melly, daughter of Joel
Burchi, a resident of Lyons, N. Y., and unto them
there have been born eight children, only two of
whom are now living. Ann married C. P. Reed
and resides at Ravenna, Mich.; and Hannah, the
wife of William Millard, lives in Ottawa County.
The wife and mother departed this life in 1867,
leaving to her family and friends the memory of
a pure and holy life, devoted with unselfishness
and love to the welfare of her husb)and and children.
Since attaining his majority, Mr. Alford has upheld witli entllusiam and fidelity tlhe principles of
the Republican party, his first Presidential vote
having been cast for Gen. William IIenry Harrison.
Personally, his services in public offices are highly
appreciated and he las served as Supervisor of
Tallmadge Township for four years, and has also
been Treasurer for a number of terms. It is to
such citizens as hie that Tallmadge Township owes
the prominent position it occupies as one of the
first townships in tile county.
(   ENRY D. BAKER, dealer in books and
If) stationery in Muskegon, was born in Holland, March 24, 1832, and is a son of Mar)tin and Sarah (Van Overnk) Baker. They
were farming people. and always resided in tihe
Fatherland. Our subject is the seventh in order
of birth in a family of twelve children, four sons
and eight daughters, of whom four grew to mature
years. His educational privileges were indeed
meagre, but his training in labor was not so
limited. He learned the trade of milling, which
he followed until coming to America. Ile sailed
from Liverpool, and after tlirty-six days the vessel




522


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. After
his arrival he spent some time in Chicago, and
from there went to Grand Haven, and later to
Grand Rapids, where lie engaged in business for
some time.
In 1861, after the breaking out of the late war,
Mr. Baker entered the service of his adopted country as a member of Company K, First Michigan
Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics. IHe was
then engaged in the grocery business, and at the
mustering office he was given ten days to dispose
of his stock and make arrangements to go to the
front. The regiment was assigned to the Army
of the Potomac, and was under the command of
Col. William P. Innis, of Grand Rapids. Mr.
Baker participated in the battles of Stone River
and Prairieville, and at the former was wounded
in the foot by a rebel bullet. This necessitated his
remaining in the Iiospital for several months and
he was then sent to Detroit, receiving his discharge
on account of disability in November, 1863.
Returning to Grand Haven, Mr. Baker made
arrangements to remove to Muskegon and on the
4th of.January, 1864, arrived in this city. He immediately opened a book and stationery store,
which he has carried on continuously since with
good success. He also has a brancl store in Webster, Mich. The store is complete in all its appointments, is furnished with a large and excellent stock of goods, and the proprietor is enjoying
an extensive and lucrative trade, which crowns his
well-directed efforts witll success.
In 1854 Mr. Baker wedded Miss Harriet G.
Lewis, of Grand Rapids, daughter of William
Lewis, and a native of Holland. Two children
grace their union: Lizzie, now the wife of Dr.
Kerry, of Muskegon; and Gertrude, at home.
They have a fine residence, tastefully and beautifully furnished, and supplied with all the comforts
that go to make life worth the living.
In politics, Mr. Baker has been a stalwart Republican since the organization of the party. lie
is a Knight-Templar Mason, and has been Treasurer of Muskegon Commandery for twenty years.
He also is an honored and esteemed member of
Phil Kearney Post No. 7, G. A. R. He is also interested in other business concerns, owning con

siderable real-estate, including some of the best
property in the city. He is President of the Building and Loan Association of Muskegon, one of
the solid financial institutions of the place, and is
also a member of the Building and Home Association. The prosperity of Muskegon and its upbuilding and development are due is no small degree to our subject, who has been prominent in
public affairs, especially in the advancement of
those interests and enterprises calculated to promote the general welfare. He well deserves representation in the history of his adopted county.
X,*/ILLIAM F. NUFER, a leading citizen and
President of the Nufer Cedar Company,
of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., is
numbered among the substantial business men of
the State, and, widely known, is highly esteemed.
He is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and was born
September 14, 1847. His parents, Charles and
Julia (Iiner) Nufer, were both natives of Fredericktown, Md. The paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and the family were among
the patriots who fought nobly for God and liberty. Mr. Nufer, our subject, had one brother
and sister, but, the mother dying when they were
very young, they were then separated. Martha
J., the sister, married Martin Halbrook, a farmer
now living near Warsaw, Ind. The brother, Leonard, reared and finely educated by a wealthy widow
in Ohio, after completing his studies was intrusted
with tle care of tle property, which his benefactress intended to bequeath to him. With a promising future before him, lie was called away at
the early age of twenty-eight years.
Our subject, only five years old at the time of
his mother's death, was bound out to a farmer,
H. W. Bail, a resident of Madison County, near
London, Ohio. Until nineteen years of age Mr.
Nufer remained with this hard taskmaster, working from four o'clock in the morning until late at
niglit. For ten years lie continued this severe




PORTRAIT AND BI()GRAPHICAL RECORD.


523


round of labor without intermission, but in 1866
left the farm where he had spent so many years
of servitude. Journeying to the farther West,
our subject located in Muskegon, Mich., and there
secured employment in piling lumber in one of
the large mills or on the docks. Continuing in this
occupation a little less than a year, Mr. Nufer in
1867 came to Whitelhall, and here obtained a
situation scaling logs and checking lumber on the
docks, and on the very spot where his extensive
shingle factory now stands. I-e knew absolutely
nothling about the business in whichl he then engaged, but with a determination which has characterized his entire life lie soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the various details required
in the discharge of his daily duties, and became
an expert upon the docks of a lumbering town.
At the expiration of eleven years Mr. Nufer
formed a l)artnershil) witl Mr. Covell and entering into business under tie firm name of Covell,
Nufer & Co., began the manufacture of shingles. This partnership continued for three years,
during wliicll time our subject started another
shingle factory on the site of his present mill,
tlhe firm  being Nufer & Carlton. In 1884 this
mill was totally destroyed by fire, but, immediately rebuilt, tile partnerslipl continuetl until 1887.
At this latter date the Nufer Cedar Company was
incorporated, with William F. Nufer as President;
Fred W. Nufer, his son, Vice-president; and William Nufer. another son. Secretary and Treasurer.
The Nufer Cedar Company is the most extensive
cedar-shingle manufactory in the United States
east of the Rocky Mountains. It has a capacity
of seventy millions, and its market extends all
over the country.
The estimable wife of our subject was in her
nmaidentlood Miss Ellen McGrade, a native of New
York City, but, early removing to the West with
her parents, attained to womanhood in Illinois,
and later came to Michigan. [Ier parents are now
deceased and but very little is known regarding
tlleir early family history. Of the six children
born unto Mr. and Mrs. Nufer, four survive. One
d ied at eighlteen months, and tile otlier passed
away at tile age of cighlt years. William Il., Secretary and Treasurer of the Nufer Cedar Comn

pany, is the eldest-born; Fred W., Vice-President
of tile company, was the next in order of birth;
Nellie M. is tile only daughter. Julius is the
youngest of the family. The sons and daughters
were educated in the High School of Whitehall,
and all occupy positions of useful influence.
Politically, Mr. Nufer is a Republican and llas
filled with efficiency nearly all the town offices, especially as a member of the Village Council and
as President, being most faithful in duty and materially advancing the vital interests of his home
locality.  Fraternally, Mr. Nufer is associated
with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is
a Knight Templar. Prospered financially, lie possesses, aside from llis business interests, a large body
of farming land. Beginning life under adverse
circumstances, Mr. Nutfer has solely through selfreliant effort won his way upward to wealth and
lionor, and commands the respect and thorough
confidence of tile general public. Known as a
man of sterling integrity of character and fine
business qualifications, he is ranked among the
substantial citizens of Muskegon County, and is
accounted a man of liberal spirit, ever ready to
assist in all matters of mutual welfare.
<a   -— 01 C=__ <._T -------— ^
UBERT PELGRIM. This prominent citiC,i zen was born in Troy, N. Y., January 9,
1852, to the union of HIendrick and Tryntje
(Van Woudenberg) Pelgrim, natives of
Holland. The parents were married in their native country, and about 1847 braved Neptune's
tender mercies and came to America. The father
was a weaver and followed his trade at Troy,
N. Y., until about 1854, when he came to Zeeland,
Ottawa County, Mich. Settling on wild land, lie
began making implrovements and soon had a fine
place. On tills farm lie remained until about
1881, after wliicli he lived a retired life until his
(eatlli, whlicli occurred about 1887. Nine cllildren
were born to thlis much-esteenmed coul)le, seven of
wlom are still living. Mr. Pelgrimn's fatlier was




524


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in the War of the Netherlands. He and wife were
members of the Reformed Church, and both took
a deep interest in religious matters. She died in
1863. Mr. Pelgrim was a Republican in politics.
The original of this notice was about two years
of age when he came with his parents to Zeeland,
Ottawa County, Mich., and in addition to a fair
education received in the common schools he attended Hope College, at Holland, Mich., from 1866
to 1869. After leaving college he clerked in a
store at Vriesland, and was also in a store at Grand
Rapids, clerking in all about three and a-half
years. After that he engaged in teaching in Missaukee County, this State, and followed this profession with gratifying success for six years.
During that time he was engaged in other occupations as well, and after leaving the schoolroom
he came to Olive Township, Ottawa County, and
located on section 21, where he bought railroad
land. This was not much improved, but he began
working on it and remained there until 1883,
when lie moved to Cadillac, where he made his
home for nine or ten months. Iie then returned
to section 21, and tilled the soil on his farm until
1886, when he sold out and moved to the place
where he now lives.
His first wife was Miss Jane Copier, a native of
Holland, by whom he had five children, only two
of whom are living, Ienry A. and Adrain H., both
at home. Mrs. Pelgrim died in 1883, and in January, 1888, Mr. Pelgrim  was married to Miss
Dirkje VerHoef, wlo was the daughter of Bert
VerHoef, a native of Holland. Two children
were born to the last union,John and Bert, both interesting little children.  Mr. Pelgrim is the
owner of forty acres, and lie has it well improved
and in a high state of cultivation. He grows
corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, etc., but raises very
little stock, devoting all his time to his farm. In
his political preference he is a Republican, and he
is now serving his first term as Supervisor of the
township. discharging the duties incumbent upon
that position in a very able manner. He served
as Townslip Clerk for two years, and llas settled
the petty difficulties of the township as Justice of
tile Peace for the past eight years. Mr. Pelgrim
is also interested in educational matters, and is


Director of his school district. He is a member of
Ithe Reformed Church in his religious views. Last
year tie was Secretary of the Township Republican
Central Committee. I-e is public-spirited and enterprising, and is an enthusiastic supporter of all
public enterprises.
~ ---- -   +- +.3 — + +++ ---
ALVOR ANDERSON is one of the many
I ))j substantial farmers of Fruitland Township
who claim Norway as their native land.
() His residence is on section 24, where he
has a valuable farm, comprising eighty acres. lie
was born in the western part of Norway in 1841,
being a son of Oleson and Anna (Halveson) Anderson. The family trace their descent through
many generations as inhabitants of that land, and
have always been noted for their honorable and
trustworthy characteristics. Oleson Anderson was
the son of a copper-smith. He had the advantages of a good education and made his home under the parental rooftree until attaining his majority, when he came into possession of his father's
farm, which comprised about eighty acres of good
land. Mr. Anderson was a skilled general mechanic, which trade he followed in connection with
his farming duties. To himself and wife was
born a family of seven children. Three of the
number, Mary A., Carel and Olie, are still residents of Norway. Lewis and Andrew are both
sailors, having their homes in this country.  Ialvor, of whom  we write, is the second in order of
birth, and Caroline resides in Wisconsin. Tle parents of these children are still living, though well
along in years, and are members of the Lutheran
Church, in the faith of which our subject was
reared.
In his native country our subject was given a
good education. When lie arrived at man's estate he decided to remove to the lTnited States,
and after lie had landed here lie proceeded direct
to Michigian, locating on Ihis present farm. At the
end of the year lie enlisted in the defense of the




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


land which lie intended should be henceforth his
home. When the time of his service had expired,
he returned to his farm, but seeing that without
means lie could do little for its improvement, he
went into the sawmills, working for various parties for nearly ten years. During this time lie
carefully laid by as much money as he could, and
in 1871 returned to his farm, since which time he
has given his entire attention to its cultivation.
This place, which was entirely wild land when it
came into his possession, has been transformed under his careful hand, until it bears little trace of
its former condition.  I-e is justly  numbered
among the enterprising farmers of this township,
where lie is highly esteemed.
October 29, 1870, Mr. Anderson was united in
marriage with Miss Caroline H-alverson, by whom
lie has had six children. Two died in childhood,
and those living are Albert L., Emma, Ida and
Etta. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were both from
childhood attendants of the Lutheran Chlurch.
Politically, the former is affiliated with the Republican party. In 1862 lie became a member of
Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, under Gen.
Kilpatrick and (Gen. Sheridan. IIe took part in
the battle of tlhe Wilderness and was also in the
equally famous battles of Gettysburg and Winchester. Though lie saw mucl active service and
was ever to be found in tlie front ranks, he was
never wounded or taken prisoner. When the
storm clouds of war had rolled away lie received
an honorable discharge, on the 1st of July, 1865,
in l)ctroit.
5II(O)AS, J. (UINN, M. D)., a physician of
excel)tionally fine attainments and professional ability, and a skillful surgeon of extended experience, residing at No. 66 South Terrace Street, IMuskegon, Miell., lias for a quarter of a
century bleeni identified witli tie vital interests of
Ills present home, during this lengthl of time en

joying an extensive and lucrative practice. Dr.
Quinn also successfully conducts a drug-store,
carrying a complete line of drugs and sundries
common to a first-class pharmacy. He is a native
of Ireland and was born in 1843. His father and
mother, Thomas and Mary (Duggan) Quinn, were
likewise born in the Emerald Isle, and were the
descendants of a long line of intelligent and lhonored ancestors, who through many generations won
their upward way to positions of usefulness, commanding the high respect of all with whom they
associated.
Dr. Quinn from his earliest boyhood enjoyed
excellent educational advantages, and having received the most thorough training and passed a
high examination in his preparatory studies entered the University of Iublin. Matriculating
in the medical department of this institution of
learning, our subject completed witli honor a
course of instruction. For many years it had been
the settled purpose of Dr. Quinn to try his fortunes as a physician in the world beyond the sea,
and in 1864 lie bade adieu to the scenes of childhood, and, emigrating to America, landed safely
in Canada, and for a twelvemonth practiced in
Toronto. lie was as yet only a very young man,
having a short time before attained his majority,
but lie was animated by hope and courage, and
witll resolution entered into tile many trying experiences incidental to the career of the young
phlysician. After some length of time he determined to become a citizen of the United States,
and thus avail himself of the many advantages
offered by a republican government.
In July, 1868, journeying to Michigan, Dr.
(Quinn located in Muskegon, where he opened an
office and las since prosperously engaged in the
demands of an extensive, and increasing round of
practice. In 1865, he received the degree of M. I).
in Toronto, Canada, and, a man of professional
enterprise, keeps himself fully abreast of the times
and is well posted on all the appliances and remedies of modern science. Before comning to tle
United States I)r. (.uinn had a varied experience in
surgery, for ten months occupying the responsible
position of Assistant Surgeon in tile English n'avy.
In 1875, Thomas J. (Quinn, M. I).,and Miss Mary




526


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Hitchcock were united in marriage. The accomplished wife of our subject is a native of the Empire State, and, born in Kingston, is a daughter of
Oliver Hitchcock, a highly respected citizen of
New York. The pleasant home of Dr. and Mrs.
Quinn has been blessed by the birth of three intelligent children, two sons and one daughter.
Thomas E. was the eldest-born; Clarence was the
second in order of birth; Mary E. is the youngest.
Our subject and his excellent wife occupy positions of useful influence, and enjoy the esteem
of a large acquaintance.  Known in all good
works of their immediate neighborhood, they also
take an active part in the benevolent enterprises
of the city, and in all matters of public welfare
our subject lends a helping hand.
R IRS. IANNAH C. BARNARD.           In the
twilight of her honored and useful existence, surrounded by all the comforts of
life and blessed by the thoughtful ministrations of a host of warm personal friends, this
venerable lady is living in her pleasant home at
IIudsonville. As a pioneer of this State and for
many years a resident within its boundaries, she
has witnessed its rapid development and aided, as
far as possible, in its material, moral and religious
progress. An earnest Christian woman, of more
than ordinary ability and attainments, her power
has been felt and her character honored, not only
in the churches where her lot has been cast, but
by the community at large. A noble life, full of
sweetness and quiet trust; a name untarnished by
selfishness or wrong-doing; an example of Christian living worthy of emulation, such is the rich
heritage that she can bequeath to her children and
friends.
The father of our subject, Jonathan Scott, was
a native of lRllpert, Vt., and was born September
9, 1778. I e was a Captain in tle War of 1812 and
a l)emocrat il politics.  Ilis first wife, Iannah
(Wood) Scott, a native of Middletown, Vt., was


born March 3, 1784, and died November 3, 1815,
after having become the mother of five children.
His second wife was Mrs. Rachel (Wheeler) Cook,
who was born in Chesterfield, N. II., on the 3d of
November, 1782, being the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. By her first marriage she had one
child, while her union with Mr. Scott resulted in
the birth of three children, all of whom  are deceased with the exception of Hannah Calista, our
subject. The mother survived until the 16th of
February, 1855, and the father passed away February 6, 1861. In religious convictions she was a
Baptist. while he advocated the doctrines of the
Universalists. They were pioneers of Michigan,
having removed here in 1844 from Jefferson
County, N. Y.
Born in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, N. Y.,
March 1, 1822, the subject of this sketch was
reared to womanhood in her native county, where
she gained a good education. She followed the
profession of a teacher both in the Empire State
and after locating in Michigan. In 1846 she became the wife of Darwin E. Fisher, a native of
Vermont and for some years a resident of Canada,
where he gained a good French and English education. He died February 24, 1853, leaving a
widow but no children. In 1854 our subject became the wife of William  R. Barnard, who was
born in Buffalo, N. Y., August 16, 1813. He received his education at Rochester, N. Y., and
thence came to Michigan in an early day. After
his marriage to our subject, lie conducted the
Eagle Hotel in Grand Rapids, which her former
husband had purchased in 1850. After superintending the management of that place for one
year, he built the Barnard House and ran it as a
first-class hotel until 1862.
As a member of the Baptist Church, Mrs. Barnard has for years taken an active part in religious enterprises. She is also prominently identiified with the HIudsonville Social Union, and contributes of her time and means to the various benevolent projects of the community. Of her sons
and daughters we note the following:   Maria
Batlhsheba married and became the mothle of five
chillren, four of whom are now living. Asa Averill
Scott, who was born in Ellisburg, N. Y., August




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


527


16, 1819, martied Miss Irene Rawles, and they became the parents of six children, foul of whom
survive; lie died in December of 1853. Annetta
Calista, the wife of Myron Creager, is the mother
of two children and resides in Grand Rapids.
George W. married Miss Mary Britton (now deceased) and their union resulted in the birth of
one child, Lora, who is married and lives in Seattle, Wasl.; by his second marriage, George W. has
three children. Harley, a resi lent of Middleville,
Mich., is married and has two children; and
Henry, who is married and has one child, makes
his home in Seattle, Wash.
M   ARC J. REISEGER, the successful archil  tect and civil engineer, prosperously cond ucting an extensive business in Muskegon, Alich., is a native of the Netherlands,
llaving been born on the 31st of October, 1861.
His father, Wesley M. Reiseger, a native of Iolland
and a descendant of a long line of ancestry born
in the Netherlands, passed away in his native land
in 1871. Thle mother, Cornelia (Feldman) Reiseger, born, educated and married in Ilolland, together witll the father bequeathed to tile children
habits of industrious thrift and sterling integrity
of character.
Mr. Reiseger received his primary education in
tlhe home scllools of his birthplace, and afterward
enjoyed tle advantage of four years' training in
tlhe Polytechnic Colleges, located at Gron un. Having completed with l onor a thorough course of
drawing, civil engineering and architecture, lie
graduated from that well-known institution in
1882. lie was immediately employed by the Government as Insl)ector of GovernI ent Works, various buildings and railroads. Ill 1887, Mr. Reiseger deternlinte(d to try tle broader ol))ortunities
for advancemenit offteredl ly tlhe ' ited States, and
bidding farewell to tlie t'amili:ar sceneis:1nd friends
of lis youlit, enigrralted to Almerica,:ii(lding in
tile city of New York. Fronl the EIlmpire State lie
27


soon found his way to Michigan, remaining a few
weeks in Grand Rapids. lie then went toChleboygan and engaged with a contractor, with the object of gaining a practical knowledge of American
building and to learn the language. In December, 1887, ie returned to Grand Rapids, where lie
became acquainted witlh 1. J. Knapp, who presented to him arguments in favor of his location
in Muskegon, where our subject in 1888 settled
permanently for a few months, being in the office
of Mr. Knapp, but later engaging in business for
himself.
In 1888, Mr. Reiseger designed the North Muskegon scloolhouse, and the style of architecture
and general excellence of finish, combining a
handsome exterior with interior convenience,
brought him a large and constantly increasing
custom. Ie made drawings for a bridge to be
erected across Lake Muskegon from the foot of
Terrace Street to the French Mill, in North Muskegon, but the admirable design involved too
great an outlay of money, and our subject is now
drawing another bridge, starting from Bayou
Street across Lake Muskegon to Bertlhaud Dock,
in North Muskegon, making direct connection
witli thie gravel roads. Tile plan lias been submitted, approved and accepted, and the bridge will
soon be built by tile company. The entire length
of the drawbridge is to be five thousand feet,
and, constructed of iron, it will cost about *30,000. Mr. Reiseger designed the palatial residence
of James (Gow, and also furnished the plans for
nmany otlier magnificent homes, among the latter
being those of Mrs. Fleming, Rudlolf Mueller and S.
and B. Smith. Our subject has likewise done some
fine outside work, especially in Hastings, Mich.
I-e designed the Muskegon Water Works Building, the Good Templars' Building at Lake Harbor, and the Chase Bros.' Piano Works.
In 1889, in (Greenville, Mich., were united in
marriage Marc J. Reiseger and Miss L. G. Van
I)einse, of Greenville. Our subject and his accomplished wife, residing in a beautiful home at
the corner of Terrace and HIartford Streets, Muskegon, llave been blessed by the birth of a bright
little son, named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Wesley M.  Politically a strong Repub



528


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


lican and an ardent advocate of the party, Mr.
Relseger is also fraternally connected with Lowell Moore Lodge No. 182, A. F. & A. M., and
is likewise a member of the Independent Order of
Foresters. Financially prospered, young in years,
ambitious, energetic and enterprising, and withal
possessed of professional ability of a high order,
our subject has undoubtedly an enviable future
before him.
x.- --  — =./q...'
RANKLIN B. WOODMAN. Those to whom
has been granted the privilege of residing
in Ottawa County for the past forty or
fifty years have witnessed an interrupted series of
improvements. Where once rose the smoke of
the camp fire now ascends the busy hum of industry from a thriving city. Where once the hunter
roamed in search of game the farmer now tills the
soil. Chaos has been reduced to system, and poverty has been replaced by prosperity. As one of
the number whose efforts have contributed to secure these results, we present the name of F. B.
Woodman, a resident farmer of Tallmadge Township.
The parents of our subject were Borden and
Elizabeth (Brown) Woodman, the latter being the
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Brown. He was
the sixth of a family of eleven children, and was
born in Madson, Madison County, N. Y., October 11,
1825. At the age of six years he was orphaned by
the death of his mother and was then taken into the
home of his maternal grandfather, Joseph Brown,
by whom lie was reared to manhood. In his youth
he attended the common schools of the neighborhood, but as they were of a very inferior order his
education was rather meagre.
At the age of nineteen years our subject commenced to work as a day laborer, and was thus engaged until the fall of 1849, when, desirous of
bettering his financial condition, lie came to Miclligan. Here lie settled in the woods of Tallmnadge


Township, and purchasing property began to clear
the land and cultivate the soil of his present
farm. He is now the owner of about one hundred
acres, all of which are under excellent cultivation,
devoted principally to the raising of cereals. In
the rotation of crops and fertilization of the soil
lie exercises good judgment, as a consequence of
which his land is fertile and lie is enabled each
year to gather large harvests of golden grain.
The lady who in 1845 became the wife of our
subject was Miss Emily J., daughter of William
Hammond, a resident of Herkimer County, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodman are the parents of five
children, but only two are now living. They are
Hannah S., who is the wife of Samuel Roach and
resides in Ottawa County; and Charles Franklin,
who married Miss Ann Elizabetl Ritchmiller, and
makes his home with his father, assisting in the
cultivation of tile farm. In his political belief
Mr. Woodman is a stanch Republican, and since
casting his first ballot has always upheld the principles for which the party stands. I-e has officiated as Constable, and has also occupied other
positions, where lie has rendered efficient and satisfactory service on behalf of his fellow-citizens.
OEKE BOS. A glance at the lives of the
representative men wliose names applea in
this volume will reveal many sketches of
honorable and influential citizens, who
llave resided many years in this country, but
among them none is more worthy or deserving
of mention than Mr. Bos, who is a true type of
the successful and progressive Michigan farmer.
I-le was born in Iolland Township, near where lie
now lives, in 1853, his parents being Tunines and
Creje Bos, and his grandparents Doeke and Greje
Bos. The paternal grandfather, Doeke Bos, died
in his native land of Hlolland, when his son Tunnes was about three years of age. [le was the
owner of a small boat, and while sailing this craft
was drowned. Thus 'unnes and his brother Peter




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


529


were left at a tender age to fight life's battles for themselves, and as soon as old enough,
Tunnes began learning the trade of a tailor,
which lie followed for some time with success;
but this occupation was not at all agreeable to
his tastes and he gave it up as soon as lie could
con-veniently do so. At the age of eighteen years
lie entered the German army, in whicli he remained
six years, a portion of thle time as a commissioned
officer, altholugh he was never in any war. About
1848, when in his twenty-eighthl year, being a
young man of considerable enterprise and energy,
he decided to make a home for himself and family
in America, his brotlier Peter, who died at the age
of fifty-seven years, having preceded him about
one year.
Upon the arrival of Tunnes Bos in the United
States, lie possessed but little means, and after
spending one year as a laboring man in the State
of New York lie came West as far as Michigan and
finally found himself in Ottawa County. Inherent in him was considerable pluck, h-owever, and
lie bravely endeavored to do faithfully and well
all honorable work tllat came in his way, and although the struggle with adversity was at times
bitter, it only made him the more determined to
succeed, and lie kept perseveringly on his way.
Soon after his marriage, which occurred when lie
was quite young, lie went to Grand Rapids, Mich.,
and they together obtained work with the various farmers of the vicinity and by honest industry and frugality their little capital, wlicli
amounted to only $15, was greatly increased, and
they were soon enabled to purchase ten acres in
the vicinity of the city. Th'ere they lived and industriously toiled for three years, then came to
IHolland Townslhip, Ottawa County, and entered
eighty acres of (overnment land, wliich by perseverance tley greatly improved and eventually
sold for tlhe snug sum  of. 1,500(.  Withl this
money   Ir. Bos l)urchlased one hundred and ten
acres on section 15, wlhere lie now lives, and tlle
iml)rovements wliicll lie lias p!ut on the place have
rendered it very v:luab)le. Ile anld his wife are
miembhers of tie eforied (lhriil of Nortil I ol1and(1, in wIliicll lie 1has beean al El(der fli lr nutil er of
years. To Mr. los a(d his wife a family of six


children has been born: I)oeke, the subject of
this sketch; Peter, deceased; Effie, the widow of
Abel Nienhuise; Gabrand, and two children who
died in infancy.
Ioeke Bos, the immediate subject of this sketch,
grew up in the locality in which he now lives, and
upon first starting out in life for himself rented
land of his father for one year. HIe then inherited forty acres of land from his uncle's estate for
the care lie bestowed upon the latter until his
death. To this land lie has added from time to
time until lie is now the owner of one hundred
and twenty acres, all of which is carefully tilled
and presents a thrifty and prosperous appearance.
He made his home with his father until his marriage, which occurred when lie was twenty-three
years of age, to Martha Nienhuise, by whom lie
has a family of six children: Tunnes, Hattie,
Peter and Martin (twins), Gabrand and Greje. Mr.
and Mrs. Bos are worthy church members, and,
politically, he is a I)Dnoclat, although his father
and brother llave always beeen Republicans.
Y[ ELLYS S. XWALKLEY, M. I). The noble
l)rofession of medicine affords to the studenlt in tlat science a never-ending source
for investigation and experiments. New   remedies are constantly being discovered, steady progress is being made in surgery, and new diseases
are presenting themselves under varying forms
of civilization. Wlatever may be said of the
discoveries in other fields of knowledge, and certainly they are astonishing, it can truthfully be
said of this science that not one can equal it in
tlhe great strides it is making towards a comprehlensive grasp of the whole subject of man in relation to health and disease-the prevention and
cure of ills that tieslh is heir to. In the noble
alimy of workers in this great field, Dr. Wyllys
S. Walkley takes a p)rominent place. Ie is a
native of Ilillsdale County, Micll., born near the
village of lIillsdale January 17, 1846, to the union




530


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of Oliver and Parthenia (Smith) Walkley, both
natives of the Nutmeg State. The father, who has
followed agricultural pursuits all his life, is still
living and is in his eighty-fifth year. Our subject's
maternal grandfather, Joel Smith, was of Scotch
descent, his father having been a native of Scotland.
The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood
and youth in Hillsdale and Muskegon Counties,
and remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age. In 1864 he enlisted in Company
C, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, under Col.
O. L. Spaulding, and was assigned to the Twentythird Army Corps of Ohio. IHe took part in a
number of engagements, the most prominent being
Lost Mountain, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Peach Tree
Creek and all the engagements around Atlanta,
Jonesboro, Columbia (Tenn.), Nashville and Franklin, besides numerous skirmishes. He was acting
Superintendent of the Freedman's Bureau, the
Eastern District, in North Carolina for months.
In 1865 he was transferred to the Twenty-eighth
Infantry, commanded by Col. Wheeler, and was
discharged on the 10th of June, 1866. After
leaving the army he came to Michigan, and shortly
afterward commenced the study of medicine with
Dr. Sinzs, of Newaygo, but in the mean time
taught school. Later he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, and was graduated from that well-known
institution in 1876. He subsequently began practicing in Hudsonville, Ottawa County, Mich., and
there remained until 1879, when he located in
Spring Lake, and in 1885 at Grand Iaven, where
he has carried on a general practice since.
The Doctor has met with good success in his
chosen calling and gives abundant evidence of the
ability which qualities him for a high place in the
medical profession. He was appointed  Marine
Surgeon, and has held that position since February, 1887. On the 16th of February, 1864, he was
married to Miss Ida Skinner, of Casenovia Township, Muskegon County, Micl., and the daughter
of L. F. Skinner. 'The fruits of this union were
three children: Emile, wife of Peter.. Danhoff, a
prominent attorney of Grand HIaven; Adaline,
wife of Bert Iatch, of this county; and Charlotte,


wife of A. E. Ewing, a prominent attorney, residing in Grand Rapids. In politics Dr. Walkley is
a Republican, and he las shown his appreciation
of secret organizations by becoming a member of
Lake Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., at Spring Lake. He is
also a member of Weatherwax Post, G. A. R. Mrs.
Walkley died in the year 1873, and subsequently
the Doctor took for his second wife Miss Olive
McDonald, of Grand Rapids, and the daughter of
Hughl McDonald. Mrs. Walklcy is a native of
Vermont, but in 1858 came to Grand Rupids,
where she was a teacher in the schools for several
years. She is an accomplished and cultured lady.
J,.. The noble profesY YRUS J. DOVE, M. D. The noble profesl(;  -sion of medicine affords to the student in
that science a never-ending source of in.
vestigation and experiment. New remedies are
constantly being discovered, steady progress is
being made ill surgery, and new diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. Whatever may be said of the discoveries
in other fields of knowledge, and certainly they
are astonishing, it can truthfully be said of this
science that not one can equal it in the great
strides it is making towards a comlprehensive grasp
of the whole subject of man in relation to healtll
and disease, the prevention and the cure of ills
that flesh is heir to.
In the noble army of workers in this great field
stands the name of Cyrus J. I)ove, who is a native
of Connecticut, born in Stamford, Fairfield County, December 16, 1853. His plarents, Daniel and
Ruth (Beers) Iove, were natives also of the Nutmeg State, and the father was a man of means.
Our subject attended the common schools of
Ridgefield County, and later entered the Iligh
School, where he received a good practical education. Following that lie read medicine in Michigan with )1r. Monroe, of lMoroe, tllat State, and
then went to Ft. Wayne, Ind., where lie read un



PORTRAIT ANb BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


531


L             _  _


der Dr. IHousman. Entering the Ft. Wayne Medical College, lie graduated from that institution in the year 1879, with the degree of M. D.,
and soon afterwards began practicing at Bardstown, Ohio, remaining there a short time. From
there he went to Jamestown, Ottawa County,
Mich., practiced there two years and then came to
Muskegon. This was in 1881,and he has practiced
here ever since. He is a plysician who has applied himself conscientiously to his profession, and
the distinction lie enjoys is richly deserved.
Dr. Dove was married in Michigan in 1871 to
Miss Mary IHighfield, a native of Danbury, Conn.
She died in 1871, leaving one son, William B., and
Dr. Dove married his present wife, formerly Miss
Rose Belile, in 1888, their nuptials being celebrated
in Muskegon. Her father, David Belile, was a native
of Canada. Our subject is a member of the Grand
Redmen Society, and in politics is a Republican.
In 1892, he took a special course of lectures in
Chicago, and entered Rush Medical College the
following year. He is a man interested in all enterprises for the building up and improvement of
Muskegon, and gives his supl)ort to all. Whereever he has made his home, the Doctor is highly
esteemed and has held a number of l)rominent positions. IIe has practiced in this city a number of
years now and is recognized by the plrofession as
a man of brightest promise., _.~ ~n~ __V -.'^. V11~  B? Jv
5     7 ITFUS W. SKEELS, a successful agricul-!p^    turist and tlie owner of one of the finest
farms of Muskegon County, has for many
years resided on section 3, H-olton Township. His magnificent homestead of four hundred
acres is one of the many valuable pieces of real
estate which lie has acquired during an exceptionally prosperous business career. In view, therefore, of his close connection with tlhe best interests
of the county, a sketch of his life will possess
more than ordinary interest for his fellow-citizens.
Referring to tile paternal ancestry of our sub

ject, we find that his great-grandfather, Jonathan
Skeels, was a native of New York and a Captain
in the Revolutionary War, where he served with
bravery under Gen. Putnam   and Ethan Allen.
Grandfatler Rufus Skeels, also a native of New
York, fought in the War of 1812,and was a farmer
by occupation. A man of great ability, he served
for many years as Treasurer of his county in New
York, and occupied otlher prominent local offices.
His death resulted from apoplexy, and occurred
in 1815. He and his good wife reared five children: Theron, Nelson, Fannie, Eveline and Flora.
The father of our subject, Theron Skeels, was born
in New York, and after his father's death was apprenticed for six years to learn the trade of a blacksmith. However, he became dissatisfied with his
work and on account of disagreements with his employer packed up his clothes and during the night
time quietly stole away from the house. In 1826
he married Samantha, daughter of Hiram King,
of Massachusetts, and seven children were born of
the union, viz.: Almeda, who married Frank Eddy;
Amos S., who married Mandy Bateman; Theron,
who married Gusta Saulsberry; Ruth, wife of
Lewis Cannon; Rufus W., of this sketch, who
married Louisa Ball; Frederick and Harvey.
tIaving emigrated to Ohio in 1833, Mr. Skeels,
Sr., entered land from the Government, and in
1836 located upon a farm in Cuyaloga County,
where lie remained until his demise, in 1887. In
connection with agricultural pursuits, he conducted a blacksmith shop. In religious belief he
was a Universalist. Politically, he was in early
days a Free-Soiler, and afterward sustained the
principles of the Republican party. He was often
solicited to accept various local offices, and was
esteemed as a man of high character and superior
ability. I-is wife was a devout member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. She died in 1884,
mourned by all who knew her.
Born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, August 9,
1836, the subject of this sketch was educated in
the district schools and in Twinsburgh Seminary,
working for his board while attending school.
When fourteen years of age he started out in the
world for himself, and two years later joined an
exploring party, which traveled through tle Te'



532


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD


-


ritories of Iowa and Minnesota. t-Ie-accompanied
Jack Hungerford in a search for mill sites and timtier-land in the interests of an Eastern land and
lumber company. During the winter of 1852-53
lie remained in Minnesota, and spent hlis time in
hunting and trapping. With his companions, lie
was at one time attacked by a band of Indians
and was obliged to flee for his life, losing all the
valuable furs and skins he had collected. At the
time of the attack the hunters were gathered about
the camp fire, and, being taken completely by surlprise, were forced to fight at fearful odds. Two
of the company were seriously wounded, yet all
fought with desperate courage and reached in
safety the nearest settlement of whites. About
thirty Indians fell in the conflict.
In 1854 Mr. Skeels located in Muskegon County, and later built a mill in Oceana County, just
across the county line. He still resided in IIolton
Township, where he has since remained. I-e purchased from the Government three hundred and
twenty acres of hardwood timber-land, under
the "Graduation Act" paying for the property at
seventy-five cents per acre. For seven years in
his little log cabin he kept "bachelor's hall," devoting his time principally to hunting. To the
east his nearest neighbor lived where the village
of Fremont now stands, and to the southwest he
had no neighbor nearer than Muskegon, twentytwo miles away. Such were his surroundings in
former years. He has met with prosperity in his
farming undertakings. As settlers have flocked
to the county, improvements have been introduced, and the value of the land has increased
proportionately. Commensurate with the progress
of the county has been the prosperity of Mr.
Skeels, who now owns, in addition to his homestead, four hundred acres in Oceana County and
one thousand acres of hardwood timber in the
Northern Peninsula of Michigan.
By his first marriage Mr. Skeels has two sons:
Charles F., who married Geneveive Hannah, and
Rufus T. These promising young men are graduates of the Business College at Flint, Genesee
County, and Rufus has been admitted to the Bar
of the State of Michigan, being the youngest lawyer in the State. In 1861 our subject entered


the service of the Government, enlisting for three
months. Later lie enlisted at Grand Rapids for
a period of three years, becoming a member of
Company H, Third Michigan Infantry, and serving with gallantry until the close of the war. Lie
actively participated in forty-three battles and
numerous skirmishes while connected with the
Army of the Potomac. For thirty days lie was
constantly under fire, and was present during the
entire period of the battle of the Wilderness. He
was seven times wounded, and each time was sent to
the hospital at Washington. Entering the service
as a private, lie was mustered out as First Lieutenant, althoughl at tlle time a Captain's commission had been granted himn, and lie received tle
pay of a Captain, being in command of a company during much of the time. After having
served with fidelity for three years and two months,
lie was honorably discharged, in June, 1864.
An expert shot, Mr. Skeels is a noted sportsman, and owns probably one of the finest hunting equipments of any hunter in Michigan. tHe
sent to England a few years ago and had made
to order a double-barreled shot-gun, carrying thirty-five buck-sllhot from thirteen to fifteen rods,
all witliin a three-foot circle. This magnificent
gun has brouglht down some of tile finest specimlens of game ever baggeld by any hunter, and is
among tile most valued possessions of the owner.
Fraternally, Mr. Skeels is associated with I)ahlgren
Post No. 149, G. A. R., at hiolton, and greatly enjoys the reunions with old comrades, among whom
lie lias a llost of friends.
C   IANCY L. WHITNEY, Secretary of the Muskegon Pioneer and Historical Society, President of the Muskegon Horticultural Society,
and a prominent florist and seedsman of Muskegon,
was born at Allen's Hill, Ontario County, N. Y.,
July 25, 1836. Ile is a son of Chlancy W. Whitney,
a native of tile Empire State, born at Allen's lill




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


533


in 1812, and was a hotel-keeper and farmer by occupation. The Whitneys for several generations
were residents of Connecticut, going there from
Southold, L. I., but the family originated in Herefordshire, England, near the line of Wales, early
in the twelfth century. The first of the name
came to America in 1649.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name
of Phebe Ann Leach, and was born in Bloomfield,
Ontario County, N. Y. in 1813. She was l daughter
of Payne K. Leach, and was a descendant of Welsh
ancestors, who in early days resided near New London, Conn. She was married in Ontario County,
N. Y., and in 1849 removed with her husband to
Michigan, locating near Utica, Macomb County,
and residing there until her death, which occurred
on Christmas Day, 1887. The husband and father
passed from earth in 1867. In his political affiliations he was a Republican, and had been one of the
organizers of the party. Hle served as the first Assessor of Internal Revenue for his district, under
the administration of President Lincoln. In his
religious connections he was a consistent member
of the Episcopal Church.
In the parental family there were five sons and
four daughters, of whom seven are still living,
and Chancy L. is tie eldest of the number.
After acquiring a good education he commenced
to teach, at the age of sixteen, and continued thus
engaged for a period of twenty-five years. For
four years lie filled the position of Suplerintendent of the Public Schools of l)owagiac, serving
with credit to himself and to tile general satisfaction of the people. Leaving a professorship in
the State Normal School, lie came to Muskegon
in 1868, and for two years filled the position of
Superintendent of Schools of this city.
Abandoning the profession of a teacher, Mr.
Whitney turned his attention to horticulture, and
has since engaged extensively as a florist, in which
he is a recognized authority, both throughout the
States and in Canada. For five years he filled the
position of editor of the Michigan Teacher, being
one of the founders of that journal, and his literary labors have been highly successful. In 1887
lie assisted in organizing, and was chosen Secretary of, the Muskegon Pioneer and Historical So

ciety, and is still serving in that capacity, as well
as in the position of President of the Muskegon
Horticultural Society.
On the 25th of July, 1836, Mr. Whitney was
united in marriage with Miss Addeline S. Goucher,
of Marshall, Mich., and they are the parents of
three children, namely: Chancy G., Assistant Auditor of the Saginaw, Tuscola & Huron Railway, residing in Saginaw, Mich.; Frank C., a clerk in the
postoffice at Muskegon; and Clarence AV., who is attending the Muskegon High School, and resides with
his parents. In his political opinions, Mr. Whitney is a stanch Democrat, and has served two terms
as Chairman of the Democratic County Committee.
Iie has also filled a number of other positions of
honor and responsibility, being at present a Trustee of the Northern Asylum for the Insane, at
Traverse City, in all of which lie has displayed
excellent judgment and sound common-sense.
Among his fellow-citizens he is highly esteemed
as a man of noble principles, unflinching integrity
and generosity of heart, and these qualities have
won for him the confidence of the people with
whom lie associates.
(   0I OM OLSON, who is a practical and progressivc agriculturist, and one of the popular
W     citizens of Ilolton' Township, Muskegon
County, resides on section 36. A native of Norway, he was born in 1844, and is a son of Christian and Bertha M. Olson. His father was born
in 1811, and during the greater part of his life
followed the occupation of farming. He rented
land, which he operated, and when lie had accumulated enough money he brought his family, consisting of wife and five children, to the United
States, the year 1854 witnessing their emigration.
They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, and
after thirteen weeks spent upon the briny deep,
reached the shores of the New World. During
the voyage they encountered some very stormy
weather.




534


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Christian Olson first located in Milwaukee,
where he engaged in the fishing trade or followed
any other pursuit that would bring him an honest
livelihood. In the fall of 1855, he came to what
is now  Muskegon County, Micli., locating in
Fruitland Township, where he purchased Government land and engaged in lumbering for about
six years. IHe then let the land go back to the
State for taxes, as it was worth little after the
timber had been cleared away.  For a time Mr.
Olson was quite successful in his business ventures,
but he lost a cargo of goods on a vessel, and this
reduced his possessions greatly. In September,
1859, lie purchased eighty acres of Government
land where our subject now resides, and the following year located thereon with his family and
began the development of the home. Its boundaries lie extended until one hundred and sixty
acres yielded to him  a good income. Ile was
called to his final rest in 1883. In religious belief lie was a Lutheran, and his political views
were those of the Republican party.
Tom Olson, whose name heads this record, was
only ten years of age when he left the land of his
nativity and came to the New World. He remained in school at Milwaukee for two years after
his parents came to Michigan, and paid his own
expenses while acquiring his education. lie then
rejoined his parents, with whom he remained until lie had attained his majority, when he started
out for himself. He purchased forty acres of
State land for $50, and began the development of
the farm, upon which he now resides. To this he
has added one hundred and twenty acres of land,
secured from  the Government, and the entire
amount las been improved and cultivated until
it is now one of the rich and fertile farms of thle
neighborhood.
In 1865, Mr. Olson married Miss Sarah Ryerson,
and by their union were born two children, Ole,
and Ida, now the wife of Lewis Peclia. The
mother of this family died, and Mr. Olson was
again married, his second union being with Sarah
Nelson, daughter of John and Sarah (Sherman)
Nelson. Her parents were natives of New York
and hiad a family of eight children, of whom she
is the youngest. She was born in Clay Banks


Township, Oceana County, Mich., in 1857, and by
her marriage has became the mother of nine children, of whom   eight are still living, namely:
Christian, Adma, Louella, Trouls, Holly, Caroline
M., Nelson and Ivan S.
Mr. and Mrs. Olson are both members of the
Lutheran Church. In politics, lie is a supporter
of thle Republican party, and has been honored
with the offices of Highway Commissioner and
School Treasurer, filling the former three years,
and the latter nine years. Hle is a public-spirited
and progressive citizen, who manifests a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and its advancement.
0 II N   I). VANI)ER   WERP. Biography
should be written for the sake of its lessons-tlhat men everywhere may place themselves in contact with facts and affairs, and
build thenselves up to and into a life of excellence, not in any sl)lhere, but in their own rightful place, where they may keep and augment their
individuality. 1To record such a life is our purpose
in the following history of John I). Vander Werp,
dealer in furniture, carpets and crockery at Muskegon. As in everything else, so in furniture
it always pays to get the best, and an establishment which has gained an excellent reputation
for just methods is the one conducted by our subject. Only reliable goods are handled, and the
trade of the house extends far and wide. He keeps
a well-selected and extensive assortment of the
finest grades of goods of the latest styles, and lie
has a wide-spread and enviable patronage.
Mr. Vander Werp was born in Iolland July
9, 1848, to the marriage of the Rev. D. J. Vander Werp, pastor of the Reformed Church, and
Alberta (Boerema) Vander Werp, both natives of
the Old Country, where the mother passed her
entire life. Three children were born to tlis esteemed couple, and of these our subject is the
eldest. lie spent his youth and schooldays in




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


535


his native country, and remained under the parental roof until 1864, when lie moved with his
parents to tie New World, his father having accepted a call to become pastor of a congregation in
Graafschap, near Iolland, Mich. They reached
New York City a few days later, but went direct
from there to their destination, near Iolland, Mich.,
where many IIollanders settled in 1847. Here
John I). attended the common schools and acquired a fair knowledge of the English language.
After leaving school our subject began to work
on farms for different parties, and followed this
for some time. While near Holland, Mich., he
met and married Miss Jacoba Van Zanten, their
union being solemnized in the year 1869. After
his marriage Mr. Vander Werp taught district
scllool for one season, and then moved onto
eighty acres of land, all except two acres covered
witl trees, which he had cleared and sowed to wheat
the previous fall. This land he worked for four
years. In 1873 he lost his wife, sold his farm and
removed to Muskegon, Mich., and began driving an
express wagon for his cousin, Fred Vander Werp,
continuing this for one year. Following this he
bought an interest in a hardware store on Pine
Street, and continued in this business for two and
a-half years. In 1877 he formed a partnership
with Joseph E. Montgomery, under the firm title
of Montgomery & Vander Werp, in the furniture
and undertaking business in the Muskegon National Block, later the IHackley National Bank
Block.
In 1882 Montgomery & Vander Werp bought
the furniture stock of Jacob Hetz, taking into partnership William S. IIofstra, and continued business
in that store for three years, in the mean time buying the interest of Mr. Hofstra. In 1885 was built
his present business house, Nos. 28 and 30 Western Avenue, and in 1887 he bought the interest of
J. E. Montgomery, which left him the sole owner.
He has a fine line of furniture, carpets, crockery,
lamps and glassware, using the entire building
for his business, except a twenty-two feet store on
the first floor. The size of his store is 55x100 feet,
and it is two stories in height with a basement.
Genial and courteous, and of exceedingly pleasing
address, straightforward in his dealings and of ex

emplary habits, he has the confidence and respect
of all who know him, and has built up a thriving
business. He is now Treasurer of the Muskegon
Building and Ioan Association, and is also Treasurer of the Muskegon branch of the Security Saving
and Loan Association of Minneapolis, Minn. A
member of the First Holland Christian Reformed
Church, on Terrace Street, he has been Deacon of
the same for some time. For six years he was Coroner of Muskegon County, Supervisor of the city of
Muskegon six terms, and one year was Chairman of
the County Board of Supervisors. In politics he
supports Republican principles. In 1875 lie married his second wife, Miss Anna Warnick, of Muskegon, Mich., and daughter of Egbert Warnick.
Two children Iiave been born to this union, Birdie
and Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Vander Werp have a
neat residence in a good neighborhood, No. 276
South Terrace Street.
'    1fi 1 ' S   Ml  B
- ENRY E. PLANT, the owner of a fertile
i  tract of land in Crockery Township, Ot7 tawa County, was born in Oswego County,
)N. 'Y., October 11, 1841, and is a son of
Henry B. and Charlotte M. (Trotier) Plant. Iis
father was born in Salmon River, N. Y., in 1820,
and emigrated from that State to Michigan in
1854, via Chicago, settling upon a farm in Crockery Township, Ottawa County. Upon the eightyacre track of wild land he there purchased, he
conducted agricultural operations for a number of
years, and succeeded in clearing the larger part of
the property. Later he added to his landed possessions by the purchase of forty acres, where his
widow now resides. A farmer from boyhood, he
continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred May 23, 1891, at the
age of seventy-one years.
The maternal grandparents of our subject,
Lewis and Charlotte (Rolland) Trotier, were natives of France, the father of Charlotte having
been a nobleman in that country. The mother of




536


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


our subject was born in Canada, September 27,
1819, and still makes her home in Crockery Township, being now (1893) seventy-four years of age.
Notwithstanding her advanced years, she is strong
and hearty, and personally superintends the management of her farm. She is a member of the
Baptist Church, to which her husband also belonged.  Their pioneer home in years gone by
was brightened by the presence of five sons and
one daughter, of whom we note the following:
Henry E., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest;
Lewis D. resides in Crockery Township; Charles
enlisted in Company I, Second Michigan Cavalry,
and just before the expiration of his term of
enlistment returned to his home, where lie soon
afterward died, July 10, 1864; Albert resides in
Grand Rapids, this State; Walter makes his home
in Muskegon,Mich.; and Elizabeth, who resided in
Michigan for thirty-four years, passed away on
the 17th of April, 1893.
In Oswego County, N. Y., the subject of this
sketch was reared to manhood, receiving a somewhat limited education in the common schools.
In 1854, he accompanied his parents to Michigan,
where he has since resided. At the opening of
the Civil War, he enlisted, on the 5th of December, 1861, as a member of Company F, Fourteenth
Michigan Infantry, and served with bravery until
the close of the conflict receiving his discharge
on the 28th of July, 1865. He participated with
his regiment in a number of important engagements, including the battle of lHamberg's Landing,
the siege of Corinth, Pittsburg Landing and Iuka,
proceeding from the last-named city to Nashville,
where for two months the regiment was cut off
from all communication with friends.
In the city of Nashville, from the fall of 1862
until the spring of 1863 the subject of this sketch
was employed on garrison duty. From Nashville lie went to Franklin, Tenn., where he also
did garrison duty. Thence he went to Columbia, Tenn., and remained in that place until
January of 1864, when, his term of service having expired, he re-enlisted, securing a thirty-days
furlough and availing himself of this opportunity
to make a visit to his home. On reporting for
duty at Nashville, he was assigned to the First


Brigade, Second D)ivision, Fourteenth Army Corps,
and with his company took part in the Atlanta
campaign. After the fall of Atlanta they went
to Savannah, consuming twenty-six days en route,
and taking their Christmas dinner in the city lastnamed.   Leaving that place in January, they
crossed Sister's Ferry, marching to Columbia, S.
C., and from there to Bentonville, and thence to
Raleigh. In the skirmish at that place, our subjectserved as color-bearer and fortunately escaped
uninjured, although one man out of five, upon an
average, was killed or wounded.
From Raleigh the regiment marched to Richmond, Va., where a few days were spent. Then
they proceeded to Washington, D. C., where they
took part in the Grand Review. Later our subject
was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he remained
until the 18th of July, 1865.   He was then
mustered out of service, and upon going to 1)etroit received his final discharge and his pay for
the period of service. Though lie took an active
part in many desperate encounters with the rebels, lie was wounded only upon one occasion, after
the siege of Corinth, in 1862, when he remained
in the hospital for a time.
Shortly after returning to his home, Mr. Plant
was united in marriage, October 25, 1865, with
Miss Jennie S. Clark, who was born in Seneca
County, N. Y., the daughter of Robert and Catherine (Van Riper) Clark. The union has resulted in
the birth of seven children, of whom the following survive: Emma Myrtle, who resides in Chicago; Carrie M., Lewis C., Pearl M., Bessie C. and
Ernest L. Jessie, a twin of Bessie C., died in infancy. E. Myrtle is book-keeper for R. J. Boersma,
of the Roseland Enterprise Company, Chicago. Carrie M. is a head milliner in Saginaw, Mich. Lewis
E. was a teacher but is now a student at Ann Arbor,
Mich. Pearl M. is a teacher in the public schools of
Chicago. The two younger are in school. While
in Georgia Mr. Plant cast his first Presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time he
has steadfastly adhered to the principles enunciated
by the Republican party. He has served as Highway Commissioner of Crockery Township, and has
officiated in other local capacities. Socially, lie is
identified with Bartholomew Post No. 136, G. A.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


537


R., at Nunica, having served as Post Commander
for two years and Adjutant for six years. Mrs.
Plant is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps
No. 158, of which she is at present Guard.
The farm owned and occupied by Mr. Plant is
located on section 21, Crockery Township, nine
miles southeast of Grand Haven and two miles
southwest of the village of Nunica. It contains
forty acres of well-improved land, containing all
the conveniences of a model country home. At
the time he purchased it, in January, 1864, it was
in its primeval condition, but he has cleared the
land, erected the buildings, and transformed it
into one of the finest farms of the township.
This he has done through diligent effort and untiring energy.
(AMES O'HIARA, of Muskegon, was born in
the city of Le Roy, Genesee County, N. Y.,
on the 26th of July, 1860. Iis father, John
i    O'Hara, is a native of County Sligo, Ireland,
and came to this country during the Irish famine,
in 1846. Iis mother, Catherine O'HIara, nee McKenna, is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland.
The subject of this sketch was the third of nine
children, eight of whom are now living. In 1862
the family removed to Wisconsin, where the father
taught school for several years, at Sheboygan,
HIolland, Waubeek, Boltonville, Newburgh and
Manitowoc. In 1872 he became a civil engineer
and surveyor, and has ever since held the office of
County Surveyor of Manitowoc County, having
also officiated as Surveyor of Manitowoc City for
a number of terms.
In 1872 Mr. O'Hara became a sailor on the Great
Lakes, and followed that calling during the summer
seasons fo fourteen years. Attending school in tile
winter time, lie was graduated in the spring of 1877,
and taught district schools in Wisconsin for several
winters. In 1880 he entered the law office of Estabrook & Walker, at Manitowoc, Wis., where lie
conducted his legal studies for three winters.


These gentlemen were leading lawyers of Wisconsin, the former being afterwards Attorney-General
of that State for two terms, and the latter United
States District Attorney under Cleveland.
In 1883, Mr. O'Hara entered the office of Iton.
N. A. Hamilt6n, at St. Joseph, Mich., where he remained during that and the succeeding winter.
Lie was admitted to the Bar at Berrien Springs in
1885, and spent the winter of that year at Chicago, Ill., in the office of C. E. Kremer, the leading
admiralty lawyer in the West. Coming to Muskegon on July 3, 1886, he entered the office of
DeLong & Fellows, and subsequently, on the dissolution of that firm, remained with Mr. DeLong
until the following year. In the fall of 1887, he
formed a partnership with Mr. DeLong, under the
firm name of Del,ong & O'Itara, and this connection continued until August 3, 1893, since which
time lie lias been practicing alone. At Muskegon,
May 22, 1881), lie married Miss Florence Palmer,
and their union has been blessed by the birth of
one child, Chester Palmer, who was born February
21, 1890.
Mr. O'Hara has had a large and extensive practice in the Circuit, Supreme and Federal Courts
and is well known throughout the Western District of Michigan. The Bar of Muskegon County,
in ability, has for years been noted as second to
none in the State, and James O'IHara stands well
to the front with the foremost men of the fraternity. In politics, he is a Iemocrat, and takes a
leading place in the councils of his party. Socially,
he is identified with the Odd Fellows and Maccabees, and is highly regarded in these organizations.
ILLIAM      WACHTER, the owner of a valuable and finely-improved farm, located
three miles southeast of Spring Lake, and
a progressive citizen of Crockery Township, Ottawa County, is one of Germany's sons. His
birth occurre(l in Hanover, September 19, 1851,




538                POR1TRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL REtCOR).


and there he resided until about thirteen years of
age, meanwhile receiving an excellent practical
education in the German language. In 1864, he
accompanied his parents, John and Dora (Ronne)
Wachter, from  the Fatherland to the United
States, and with them settled in 'the village of
Spring Lake, Mich., where he resided about four
years.
For a number of years Mr. Wachter was employed on the railroad, and as he received good
wages he was enabled to support his parents in
comfort until their death. His father, who had
been a blacksmith in the Old Country, lived retired from active labors until his death in Spring
Lake, about 1868. Afterward his widow married
again, becoming the wife of Thomas Bell. She
continued to reside in Spring Lake until her death
in 1892. She was the mother of three children,
William being the youngest. The others are: Eliza
the wife of Henry Sims; and William, who died at
the age of twelve years.
Reared in Germany until thirteen years of age,
our subject can speak and write German fluently;
he is also familiar with the Dutch and English
languages, speaking and writing in both with
ease. After coming to the United States, lie
learned the trade of a blacksmith in the railroad
shops at Spring Lake, but never actively engaged
in the occupation. The first purchase of land by
Mr. Wachter consisted of an eighty-acre tract six
miles north of Nunica, which he sold about 1880.
In December, 1882, he discontinued farming and
located on the farm where he now resides. He is
the owner of eighty acres, of which sixty were
cleared at the time of the purchase, and the remaining acres have been cleared by the present
owner.
September 24, 1874, Mr. Wachter was united in
marriage with Miss Clara Feitler, the daughter of
John and Margaret (Ehrhardt) Feitler, and a native of Germany. She accompanied her parents
from Bavaria to America and settled with them
at Port Washington, Wis., removing thence to
Spring Lake. Afterward her parents purchased
forty acres of land, and upon that place they still
reside. Mr. and Mrs. Wachter are the parents of
four living children, and have been called upon


to mourn the loss of five by death. Those deceased were: Lewis, Johnnie, Eliza, Clara and
Willie.  The surviving children  are: Maggie,
Anna, Augusta and George. The first Presidential
ballot of Mr. Wachter was cast for Gen. U. S.
Grant, and he has since then maintained his allegiance to the principles for which that famous soldier fought. He is a man of prominence in his
community, and has served as School )irector for
two terms, besides filling a number of minor offices.
OHN J. IOWDEN. Integrity, intelligence
and system are characteristics which will
advance the interests of any man, and will
tend to the prosperity to which all aspire.
Such are some of the traits of the gentlenlan,John
J. Hlowden, who is the popular and able Treasurer
and Secretary of the Muskegon Gas Light Company, Muskegon, Mich. The present work was
established in 1871 as a stock company, with L.
G. Moses as President and James Clements Secretary. The business had been carried on for some
time when our subject became deeply interested as
a stockholder, and he is now one of the leading
business men of the city of Muskegon. In this
brief summary of points in Mr. Ilowden's career,
it should be said as an excuse for an omission, that
a biography of more pretension could best convey
tlhe lessons of his life of industry and intelligent
skill. Like the company he represents, tie career
of Mr. Iowden is of value as showing that honesty, capacity and energy receive their reward at
last and in good measure.
Mr. Howden was born in Ontario, Canada, in
1846, and is a son of James and Ellen (Stephenson) Howden. The father followed agricultural
pursuits all his life, and, being industrious and
enterprising, became one of the substantial citizens of his neighborhood. He was a man possessed
of more than the average amount of intelligence
and wisdom, and his career was one marked by




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


539


uprightness and honesty. John J. Howden was
tlhe carver of his own destiny and made it an honorable one. From the time he reached that period
of life when his physical strength was sufficient to
enable him to guide the plow, he began to contribute to the earning of his own bread. Ie received his scholastic training in the schools of
Whitby, and remained under the parental roof
until twenty-one years of age.
In 1871, lie came to the United States and for a
time stopped at Port Huron, Mich. The same
year lie came to Muskegon and was employed by
the Muskegon Gas Light Company, and for the
past sixteen years has been its Secretary and Superintendent. I-le is now one of the principal
stockholders of the company, and is highly esteemed in leading financial and social circles. I-le
is also largely interested in plumbing, gas and
steam fitting, doing a large business in the latter.
Mr. Howden chose his life companion in the
person of Miss Maria Walkel, of Whitby, Canada,
datughter of Robert Walker, and their nuptials
were solemnized in the year 1871. In politics,
our subject is independent in local matters, voting for the best man, and in his social relations lie
is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity.
Ile has a neat and pleasant residence at No. 214
Webster Avenue, and is surrounded by all the
comforts of life. His parents were natives of
Ireland and emigrated to Canada in 1831. Tlle
Ilowden family is noted for longevity, some members of the same attaining the age of one hundred years.
*7tRIACY WOOD()()AR), an influential and suc[  cessful agriculturist of Muskegon County,
\-/ and the owner of a valuable farm in Moorland Township, was born in the State of New
York September 12, 1836. Ile is the son of
Joslua and Sophliai (Farnaml) Woodard, natives of
New York. Tie' formner, wllo was a farmer )by occupationl, remove(l in an early day to ()Oakland


County, Mich., where he remained twelve years
engaged in tilling the soil. At the expiration of
that time he disposed of his farming interests in
Oakland County, and removed to Kent County,
this State, where he resided until his death, in
1853. He was a man of substantial and noble
qualities, industrious, energetic and enterprising,
and his children owe much to his counsel and
assistance, as well as to the training received from
their mother.
The subject of this sketch was one of nine children, eight of whom are now living. His childhood years were passed in a comparatively uneventful manner upon his father's farm, and lie
gained such educational advantages as were afforded by the country schools. At the age of seventeen he commenced in business for himself, and
for a time worked on a farm during the summer
seasons and int the timber during the winter.  In
1864 he settled upon the farm he now occupies,
where he has eighty acres of fertile land, upon
which have been placed the improvements of a
first-class estate.
Tlhe marriage of Mr. Woodard occurred in 1860
and united him with Miss Celestia, daughter of
Peter and Theda (Norton) Pickett, natives of
Connecticut and New York, respectively. Of this
union five children were born, four of whom are
now  living, Ernest, Harry, Alwin and Grace.
Carrie is deceased. In politics Mr. Woodard is a
member of the People's party and is deeply concerned in all matters of public interest. He has
been elected by his fellow-citizens to various positions of trust, having represented Barton Township
upon the Newaygo County Board of Supervisors
for one term, also served as Commissioner of Moorland Township for three years and Treasurer for
three years, being the present incumbent of the
office last named. A prominent member of the
Grange, he served as Master for one term  and
Chaplain for a number of years, and upon several
occasions has acted as delegate to the State Grange.
He also was Master of Pomona Grange for two
years.
Althouglh having the appearance of hlealtlh, Mr.
Woodard has been a physical sufferer for man y
years and is unable to perform anly manual labor.




540


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Iowever, he superintends tlhe management of his
farm and attends carefully to every detail of the
work. I-e is one of the influential and highly
esteemed citizens of Muskegon County, and his
life, though unmarked by any stirring events or
thrilling episodes, has been been full of usefulness
and crowned witll honor. Those who have enjoyed the privilege of intimate association with
hlim have found his wide experience and ripe wisdom of invaluable assistance, and his circle of
friends is limited only by the number of his acquaintances.
C     LARENCE W. SESSIONS, senior member
of the firm of Sessions & Bassett, attorneys
and counselors-at-law in Muskegon, was
born in Ionia County, Mich., February 8, 1859.
Ile is a son of William Sessions, a native of New
York State, who in 1837 removed to Michigan,
locating in the township of North Plains, Ionia
County. There for many years lie engaged as a
tiller of the soil, meeting with considerable success
in his chosen vocation. In 1870 lie retired from
farming pursuits, and, removing to the city of
lonia, has since made his home at that place.  Iis
father, Nathaniel, was a native of Connecticut,
and the family was for many generations prominent in the history of New England.
The mother of our subject was Julia, daughter
of John and Eliza Jennings. Her two sons were
named Clarence W. and John F., the latter being
a farmer. The former, who forms the subject of
this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in
lonia County, where amid rural surroundings lie
grew to a robust and sturdy manhood. For a
time lie conducted his studies in the district
schools, and later attended the High School at
Ionia, from whiclh le was graduated in 1877.
Afterward lie became a student in the University
of Micligan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated
from the literary department of tlat institution
in the Class of '81.


Having resolved upon choosing for his life occupation tile legal profession, Mr. Sessions commenced to study law under the able tuition and
preceptorship of Mitchell & Bell, attorneys at
lonia, in whose office lie conducted his studies until he was admitted to practice at the Bar in 1883.
Opening an office at Ionia, he soon gained an extensive and lucrative practice, remaining in that
place for two years. In 1885 he came to Muskegon and opened an office in the Masonic Block,
later removing to the Merchants' National Bank
Block, where he now occupies a pleasant suite of
rooms. His present partnership with Frank II.
Bassett was formed in 1890, and the members of
the firm have an established reputation for ability
and erudition.
The marriage of Mr. Sessions, which took place
in 1882, united him with Miss Mary S., daughter
of Rev. Charles H. Foote, a Presbyterian minister
of lonia, Mich. Two children have blessed this
union. The family residence is located at No.
250 Webster Avenue, and is comfortably and
tastily furnished. The political belief of Mr. Sessions has led him into affiliation with the Republican party, of which he is one of the most influential members in this section of the State. Ile
has served as a member of the State Republican
Committee and the County Committee, in both of
which organizations lie has rendered efficient service on behalf of his party. For tlree years or
more he has been a Director in the Merclhants'
National Bank of Muskegon.
ERMAN     LANGKOWEL, the cnterprising
and well-known dealer in wood and coal of
Muskegon, Miich., born in Western Prussia,
Germany, March 2, 1854, has from his
early youth been associated with tlie rapid growth
and upward progress of his present locality, and,
greatly prospered, has amassed a comfortable coml)etence, and, aside from conducting his coal all(1
wood yard at the foot of Terrace Street, also owins




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


541


and successfully manages a sales and livery stable on Lake Street.  The paternal grandfather,
Chlarles Langkowel, Jr., emigrated to America and
landed safely in New York in 1869. The father,
a baker by trade, after his arrival in the United
States devoted himself to the pursuit of agriculture. Locating in Muskegon County, Mich., he
made his home there for many years and passed
peacefully away within the boundaries of the
county in 1882. The mother, Alesia Steincke,
died in her native land, Germany. She was a descendant of a line of German ancestors who by
their sterling traits of character won their upward
way to useful infuence.
Herman   Langkowel, our subject, remained in
Prussia  during his boyhood and attended the
common schools of his birthplace, some seven
years after the death of his mother crossing the
broad Atlantic to a new home beyond the sea. At
sixteen years of age, accompanying his father to
America, he landed in New York City and directly
proceeded tlence to Michigan, locating in Grand
Iaven, wlere for twelve years lie ran an hotel and
the succeeding  winter studied  in the district
school. In 1861 lie removed to Muskegon, and
liere lie was employed in the sawmill of John
Torrent and Esaw Torrent for a time. In 1877, in
)partnershilp with Mr. Petrie, lie embarked in tlle
coal business, but later Mr. Petrie sold out and Mr.
Langkowel, then assuming full chlarge of tile business, has profitably continued in thle same up to the
present time. Buying to excellent advantage by
tlhe vessel and car-load, he controls one of the larmgest trades in wood and coal on tile Lake.
Mr. Langkowel has been engaged for the past
fifteen years in buying and shipping draft and
coachl horses, purchasing largely in Illinois. Financially prospered, lie owns two hundred acres of
valuable farming land, some of the best in Muskegon County. Ilis sales and livery stable has
proven an excellent investment and is patronized
by a large and rapidly increasing custom. Although his time is mainly occupied with business
cares, Mr. Langkowel takes ani active interest in
public issues, botll local an(1 National, and, politicilly, lafliiates withl tile )emocratic party.
Fraternally a valued member of the Indepen

dent Order of Odd Fellows, our subject is likewise
identified with the Maccabees and is also connected with the German Workingmen's Association, enjoying the friendship of a wide acquaintance among these orders. Upon December 15,
1877, were united in marriage Herman Langkowel
and Miss Bertha Steubenrauch, a native of Louisville, Ky., but later a resident, for some time previous to her marriage, of Muskegon. Our subject
and his estimable wife have been blessed by the
birth of two children, a son and daughter, Otto
and Emma. The comfortable and attractive family residence is pleasantly located at No. 314 Lake
Street, Muskegon.
ON. J. W. MOON, M. C., capitalist and
b      ON.J. J..MOON, M. C., capitalist andt
lumberman of Muskegon, was born in the
township of Van Buren, Wayne County,
M/ ich., January 18, 1836, to which place
his parents had removed two years previous from
Ontario County, N. Y. His father, Steward C.
Moon, was born in 1798, in New York State, and
is of English descent on his father's side, and Irisl
on his mother's. He died in October, 1891, aged
ninety-two years. His wife was Mary A. Snyder,
of Jersey-Dutch ancestors anand a native of New
Jersey. She was born in 1804, and lived to be
seventy-six years of age, passing away at their
home in Jackson County, Mich., in 1880.
Until eighteen years of age, our subject took
part in the routine work on his father's farm, attending the district school during the winter seasons. In 1852, the fanily removed from Wayne
to Jackson County, and in December, 1854, leaving thle shelter of the paternal roof,he commenced
the battle of life in earnest. He went to the lumber camps on tile Flat River, near the town of
Greenville, Montcalm County, where, in the following spring, he secured work in a sawmill, and
within nine months was foumln occupying tile position known in those days as "head sawyer," from




542


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


his taking charge of the lumber-yards, attending
to the selling of lumber, and scaling logs as they
were drawn into the mill.
In the spring of 1856 he removed to Muskegon,
and found employment as head sawyer in the mill
of Beidler Brothers, then one of the leading lumbering firms on Muskegon Lake, with whom he remained in this capacity until the fall of 1860.
The year 1861 he spent on his farm in Ionia
County, purchased with the savings from his
wages, and in the spring of 1862. returning to
Muskegon, lie engaged as head sawyer with Roberts, Calkins & I-ull, with whom he continued two
seasons, scaling logs in the woods during the winter months. In the years 1864 to 1867, he held
the position of foreman of the mill during the running season, and had charge of a lumber camp
during the winters. The season of 1867 he ran a
mill by the thousand, and in March, 1868, in company with Alexander V. Mann, organized the firm
of A. V. Mann & Co., which continues, and up to
1890 they were among the most extensive lumber
operators on Muskegon Lake. The firm purchased
the mill built the year previously by Shupe, -Iaines
& Weymouth, situated on Muskegon Lake, in the
then village of Lakeside, since become a part of
the city of Muskegon. The mill then had a capacity of about twelve million feet of lumber per
year, which has since been materially increased.
The output for the season of 1888 was about
twenty million feet, the firm employing in this
work upwards of seventy-five men. They are
largely interested in timber-lands in Arkansas, in
which they own about a billion and a quartel of
standing pine, and also own a one-third interest in
a billion or more of standing pine in British Columbia.
Mr. Moon is President and a principal stockholder of the Alaska Refrigerator Company, of Muskegon, Mich. Ile is also President of the Muskegon
Savings Bank. of wlich lie was one of the organizers in 1887, and which has a capital of $50,000,
having conducted a successful business from its
inception. Hie is a stockholder in the Lumberman's National Bank, of Muskegon, and is President of the Michigan Fire Ladder & Truck Coinpany, of Grand Rapids, organized in the spring of


1888. He has large real-estate interests in the city
of Red Cloud, Webster County, Neb.. near which
lie owns and operates an extensive stock farm, and
in addition to these interests, he is a stockholder in
the Farmers' & Merchants' National Bank of Red
Cloud.
In politics, Mr. Moon is a close adherent and an
active supporter of the principles of the Relublican party. The township and village of Lakeside, which were built up mainly by the employes
of A. V. Mann & Co., have elected him to various
offices, among them  being Township Treasurer,
Supervisor and President of the village, etc. IIe
was elected to the State Senate of 1885-86 from
the Twenty-first Senatorial District, composed of
Ottawa and Muskegon Counties, and re-elected at
the close of his first term. During the second
term as Senator, lie was Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Appropriation and Finance. Mr.
Moon is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Muskegon, and in this connection
his name is well known throughout the State as
one of the most active workers, both in time and
means, in the interests of that denomination.
Mr. Moon was first married in February, 1860,
to Sarah M. Miller, of Jackson County, Mich.,
who,lied in October, 1861. In November of 1863
lie married for his second wife Miss Cynthia A.
Hough, of lonia County, Mich. She died May 8,
1866.  He was united in marriage January 23,
1867, with Miss Alice M. Noble (his present wife),
a native of New York State, but her father dying
during her childhood she emigrated to Michigan
with her mother and brothers in 1857. To them
have been born six children, as follows: Paul S.,
who was born March 1, 1868; Grace N., March 18,
1869; Dora A., March 28, 1874; Roy E., March
15, 1875; Jolln W., Jr., February 22, 1882; and
Alice M., April 7, 1884.
A Muskegon gentleman contributes tile following: "The writer lias hlad tile pleasure of an acquaintance with the subject of this sketch for
more than twenty years. At its commencement,
Mr. Moon was a young man, actively engaged in
ol)eratillg a sawmill here, under contract with tile
owners, by wliiclt arralngcmenCt lie saved a few
thousand dollars. Tllis sum, togetiler witli lis




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


543


characteristic energy and high integrity, formed
tlie foundation of his present fortune and noble
business reputation. I-e is large in stature, in
benevolence, in public spirit and in heart. lHe is
of even temper, genial disposition and warm sympathies. I doubt If a person in real need and
trouble ever applied to him without receiving a
kind word and substantial aid. Many a young
man now engaged in business lias reason to be
thankful for Mr. Moon's kind and valuable counsel, often coupled with material assistance. His
character is of the highest, and his habits unexceptional. His religious convictions are pronounced.
and pervade his every-day life. Ile lhas been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Churchl since
lie was twenty-one years of age, and is one of thle
most prominent and liberal members within the
State, though his reputation as a generous and
cheerful giver to the church, its institutions and
benevolence is by no means confined to our own
commonwealth. By nature modest and retiring, yet
his high character and integrity and broad and intelligent ideas llave forced him into many positions
of trust and responsibility in the business and po-I
litical world, the duties of all of which llave been
promprntly and faithfully performed. Altogether,
it may be said of him that lie is a broad-minided,
)pullic-spirited, benevolent Christian gentleman,
wlose daily motto would seem to be 'Good-will
to all men' "..,.   *  -  9. -   -.         i
E    MERY J. BEAN, MI. 1)., a successful plysician and( sulrgeon, enjoying a large practice in Muskegon, Mich., and making a
specialty of chronic diseases, in wliose treatment
lie has achieved some marvelous cures rand almost
invariably relieved suffering, ie ides at No. 24
Clay Avenue,:lid is widely klnown not only in
the city, but thllrol'lohout thle surlrotinditg country
and county of ()ttawa. ()Or siliject is a native
of the rock-h)ouilnd( c'ast of M.Iiie aid( was born
within tile limits of ()xford County on the 13th
28


of June, 1850. His father, George W. Bean, who
was likewise a native of Maine, was the son of
Timotly Bean, the paternal grandfather having
also been born in Maine. The remote ancestors
were of English birth, but in the year 1700 a
paternal forefather of the Beans, forsaking the associations of Ilis early life, crossed the Atlantic,
and, landing upon the shores of New England,
founded a family earnest in purpose, steadfast in
faitll and law-abiding in principle, and ensured to
Maine a line of descendants all of whom occupied positions of useful influence, and some of
whom lave risen to distinction in the professional
and literary world.
The mother of our subject was Mary Estes, also
born in Maine and a daughter of Isaac Estes, a
native of Maine, the Estes family having been associated with the growth and progress of the
good old State from a very early day in its history, but the remote ancestors were English and
descendants of a long line of loyal British subjects. Dr. Bean passed the days of his boyhood
in Oxford County, and prepared for college in
Kent Hill, taking a classical course and graduating witli honor in 1872. Immediately succeeding
the completion of his studies in Kent lill, our
subject entered upon tlhe profession of a teacher,
and for four years taught successfully in the near
vicinity of his home. In 1873 Dr. Bean decided
to try tile broader fields of the West, and emigrated to Michigan. lie at first located in Ludington, there engaging profitably in merchandising, and for five years gave his undivided time
to the details of the business with excellent financial results. Our subject, however, had a preference for a professional career, and gave up business
and once again resumed study.
Dr. Bean found a preceptor in 1)Dr. A. D. Kibbie, a prominent physician of Ludington, with
whom lie read medicine, and later took a course
of lectures in thle State University of Ann Arbor.
Our subject afterward took a second course in
the Medical College at Memphis, Tenn., and was
graduated in 1886, immediately afterward engaging in general plractice and surgery in Grand
Rapids. I)r. Bean soon renmoved from Michigan
to Tennessee, and prosperously practiced in that




544


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


State and Alabama until 1892, when he took a
post-graduate course in Rush Medical College, of
Chicago, and thence came direct to Muskegon,
where he gives much of his attention to chronic
troubles and aggravated forms of disease. The
success of Dr. Bean in many extreme cases has
brought him patients from far-off Iowa, Illinois
and St. Louis, Mo., as well as distant parts of
Michigan.
In 1871 Dr. Emery J. Bean and Miss Edwina
McAlister were united in marriage. Mrs. Bean is
a native of Maine and a daughter of Ephraim
McAlister, well known in New England. One
son, Reo F., a student at Rush Medical College,
blessed the union of our subject:nd his estimable
wife. Following in the footsteps of his father,
the son is now preparing himself for the unselfish
and exacting life of a physician. Our subject,
while not a politician nor especially active in
public matters, is deeply interested in Governmental issues, and is intelligently posted on all
the questions of the hour.: \ENJAMIN LILLIE, a highly esteemed pioneer citizen and prominent general agriculturist of Ottawa County, Mich., came
LX   with his brother Timothy to this State in
1843, and, locating three miles north of where Lamont now stands, they were the first white settlers
of Wright Township. The brothers made their
own road from Lamont, then only a landing place,
known as Steele's Landing, to their farms, which
at first were heavily timbered claims of a quarter-section each, covered with a dense growth of
beech and maple. The brother later died on his
homestead, leaving a large family.
Our subject was born in St. Lawrence County, N.
Y., wliere he received an cducation, and attained
to manhood. I-He was married there to Miss Philena
Dickenson, and soon after, determining to try his
fortune in the West, left her in the old home wlile
he came to Michigan to prospect and secure some


place to which he might bring his young wife.
In the fall of 1843 Mrs. Lillie joined her husband
in Ottawa County, and the two, reunited, entered
with ambition into founding a new home amid
the pioneer scenes and yet almost wilderness of
this part of the State. Year after year Mr. Lillie
devoted himself to the lpursuit of agriculture,
and, as the woods yielded to his axe and the cultivated soil responded to a bounteous harvest,
financial prosperity crowned the industry and
thrift of husband and wife.
Ten children with their bright presence blessed
the home of these early settlers of Michigan.
After many years the faithful companion, who
had shared the early struggles of our subject,
passed away, mourned by all who knew her. Mr.
Lillie after some time wedded again, and, once
more bereaved by the death of a wife, a third
time entered into matrimonial bonds and became
the father of a numerous progeny. Until 1889
Mr. Lillie continued to make his residence in Ottawa County, but at that date removed to New
Iberia, La., where he is now engaged in the cultivation of sugar-cane.
Roswell Lillie, the second son of Benjamin
and Philena (Dickenson) Lillie, a very successful attorney-at-law and a prominent citizen of
Coopersville, was born in Wright Township and
grew up to a self-reliant and enterprising manhood in Ottawa County. Ilaving first enjoyed
the benefit of a good common-school education,
Mr. Lillie afterward graduated with honor from
the State Agricultural College, and later read law
in' Lansing, Mich. While pursuing his legal studies
he taught school, and through his own efforts ias
steadily won his upward way to assured success.
In 1873 lie opened a law office in Coopersville,
and has since continued his residence in the locality.
In 1873 were united in marriage Roswell Lillie
and Miss Mary Bennett, of Ann Arbor, in which
latter place Mr. Lillie attended law lectures at the
University, after being admitted to the Bar in Lansing in the year 1872. Settling in Coopersville
in the spring of 1873, lie associated hlimself in
the mercantile business witli E J. J. cNaughtion.
Afterward lie sold out and spent four years in




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


545


Mississippi, wliere he handled merchandise, hut
in January, 1893, lie sold out there and returned
again to his early home.
Mr. Lillie is a stanch Democrat and held the office
of Postmaster under the first administration of
Cleveland, resigning in 1889 to go into other business. lie hlas held with ability nearly every office
within tle gift of the people of Polkton Township, and in tile spring of 1893 was elected to the
office of Supervisor. For nine consecutive years
his father held tlhe responsible position of Supervisor of Wright Towlnship, and as a public officer
commanded the confidence of all who knew him.
Roswell Lillie has two children, a son and a daughter, Ella and Ial. The p)arents are valued members of tile Methodist Episcopal Church, and are
active in good work. Fraternally, Mr. Lillie is
connected with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and, prominently identified with the
growing interests of the home of his youth, is a
popular man, possessed of a wide acquaintance
and a host of friends.
ANS ASLAKSON, one of the representative and progressive farmers of Holton
To'wnslip, Mluskegon County, residing on
section 36, claims Norway as the land of
his nativity, his birth having occurred twelve
miles west of Clllristiana in 1833. I-He is a son of
Aslak and Karen (IHanson) Torbarnson. Tle fatier was a molder in an iron foundrly, and followed
that business from childlood. IIe began learning
tlhe trade at thie age of ten vears, and until his
death carried on ol)erations along tlat line. Both
lie and( his wife were members of tlhe Lutheran
Cllurchl.
()Our sulject is one of a fanmily of six children
and tile only one wlio ever came to tlie United
St:, ts. I   (l i ae( iired a (goo( lit.erari edtlc:tionl in
thle commnlon scolo()ls of Norw:ay, wliicli lie attelnded
uIntil sixteen years of tage, anii later lie was a stuIIIII L  LI~~V~   CII~U U   n             I~


dent in a school of mathematics, where he prepared himself for the life of a sailor. In his early
youth lie was trained to habits of industry and
usefulness and was early inured to hard labor.
At the age of eleven he began working at the
molder's trade with his father, and was thus employed for seven years, wlen, at tile age of eiglteen, lie shipped before the mast. I-e was on a
voyage for two years, during which time the vessel stopped at tle port of Newcastle (England), at
Italy, Dublin (Ireland), and New York, tllen went
to the West Indies, returning thence to Liverpool,
England, and on llome. Mr. Aslakson then attended a navigation school for about two months,
after wliich lie again sailed. IHe remained upon
tlhe high seas until 1853, which year witnessed
his emigration to the New World.
On coming to America our subject made his
way to Milwaukee, Wis., and at once began sailing
on the Lakes. Ile was thus employed until 1878.
He sailed as mate for about ten years and was
tlien promoted, being made captain of the vessel
"Pauline," of Chicago, which lie commanded for
seven years. Hte afterward was captain of other
ships. I-e was once wrecked by a storm and driven
onto the rocks at Pilot Island, near Green Bay,
while captain of the vessel "H-enry Norton."
D)uring his residence in Milwaukee, Mr. Aslakson was married, in 1859, the lady of his choice
being Miss Ellen M1. (lson, dauglhter of Christian
and Bertha M. Olson. Their union was blessed
by a family of ten children, as follows: Caroline
M., wife of John MIaakestad; Louisa A.; Alexander; Ellen S.; Nora; Christina, wife of John Anderson; Christian, Anna, Norman and Benjamin.
'The mother of this family was called to her final
rest in 1882, and her loss was deeply mourned by
her family and many friends. In 1869, Mr. Aslakson l)urchased eighty acres of land in Muskegon County, Mich., and removed his family
hiitlher. I)uiing the winter season while his services were not r:equired on the Lakes, lie cleared
his land and began the development of a farm, to
tlhe cultivation and improvement of which he has
devoted hiis entire time and attention since ieaving
tlhe Lakes.  le lhas now a good home and farm.
Possessing the thrifty and industrious habits of




546


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


his people, he has acquired a comfortable competence and now ranks among the substantial citizens of the community. Hle exercises his right of
franchise in support of the Republican party, and
is a member of the Lutheran Church.
()N. JAMES GOW. Of the various enterf   prises that have made Muskegon one of the
prominent cities of the county, the lumber
trade has always held an important place,
employing large capital in its conduct and giving
to cognate industries a decided impetus by the
energy and ability displayed in its development.
In every department the enterprise characteristic
of its leading exponents has been abundantly
shown, and the flourishing character of their establishments amply demonstrates the vigorous
grasp with which they have seized and held the
trade in this gigantic national industry. Among
the most active, enterprising men engaged in the
lumber business is Hon. James Gow, ex-Mayor of
Muskegon, Mich.
This representative citizen is a native of Canada, born March 17, 1846, to the union of John
and Mary (Patterson) Gow, both natives of Canada, where they made their homes all their lives.
Mrs. Gow's father was John Patterson. Our subject passed his boyhood in his native country and
spent his early days in attending the common
schools of his neighborhood. He continued in
school and on his father's farm until sixteen years
of age, when he was employed in a sawmill. There
he remained until twenty years of age, and received $9 per month for his services and his
board. In 1866 he came to the United States and
located in Muskegon, Mich., where he entered the
employ of Mr. Turnbull in a sawmill. Afterward he
was in different mills until he had acquired a
thorough knowledge of the sawmill and lumber
business.
In the year 1881 our subject branched out in
business on his own account in partnership with


Mr. Mayers, and the firmn name became Gow, Mayers
& Co. They engaged in the manufacture of lumnber and continued in business together for years.
Finally they took in a partner, and have been engaged since in the manufacture of pine and hemlock lumber. The mills are on North Muskegon
Lake and Mr. Gow is deeply interested in pine
lands. He has the very best machinery in his
nills and employs a large force of men. In 1874
he was married to Miss Julia S. Burch, a native of London, England, and the daughter of
Samuel Burch, also a native of England. Mrs.
Gow came to the United States when but a child,
and settled in Muskegon, Mich., in her girlhood.
Two children have blessed this union, Ena M. and
Eva 11H.
Mr. Gow is an ardent supporter of Republican
principles and takes a deep interest in politics. Ile
served one term as Assessor, and in 1892 lie was
elected Mayor of Muskegon, holding that position
one term and discharging the duties of the same
in a very satisfactory manner. He is a prominent
Mason, a Knight Templar and a member of the
Mystic Shrine. lie is also a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic. In 1891 lie erected his fine
residence on Peck Street, one of the most pleasant
homes in the city.
+l+~*~~++++!~*I -- K
\f,ARLEY C. BEMENT, an honored pioneer
settler and representative general agricul/A7/ turist of Allendale Township, Ottawa Coun(~|) ty, Mich., is a native of Steuben County,
N. Y., and was born January 3, 1835. H-e was the
seventh child of a family of ten children born
unto the union of Harley and Eliza (Briggs)
Bement, natives of New   York. The father, a
farmer, left the Empire State for Michigan in 1836,
and, arriving safe and sound at his destination, located in Macomb County, being one of the first
settlers within its limits. Michiigan was yet a Territory, and the nearest neighbor was four miles
away. fIe purchased land of the Government and




PORTRAIT AND IITOGRAPtHCAL RECORD.


547


as rapidly as possible transformed his acres into a
productive farm. At first the family were obliged
to go to Mt. Clemens for their flour, and the father frequently carried it on his back the long distance of fifteen miles. The Indians, who were numerous,were usually harmless, although given to dishonesty, and upon one occasion during the absence
of the family stole everything the house held, even
carrying away the clothing of the mother and
children. The father followed the Indians two
days and recovered their table-knives, all ground
to fine points, and his wife's silk dress, which had
been cut short in the skirt to be worn by the Indians. The daughters' dresses were served in like
manner, and everything which had been carried
away was more or less injured.
Being a great hunter, the father was enabled to
furnish meat for the table fresh from the woods,
which abounded in game. In 1839 or 1840, the
family removed to Inghanm County, then one of
the new counties of the State, the Bements being
also pioneers of this locality. Here the husband,
wife and children lived much the same as before
for a time. The father assisted in building the
first sawmill erected in I-ardy, Livingston County,
and which was on the county line of Livingston
and Inglhan Counties. I-Ie placed the largest log
in that mill ever used in the construction of any
building in the State, the said log being sixteen
feet in length and six feet through at tile top or
small end. Remaining there until 1853, the father then made his home with his family in Georgetown, where le engaged in farming and lumbering. IIe followed these various pursuits until tile
breaking out of the War, in 1860, then, fired with
patriotic enthusiasm, enlisted in tile service of the
Government. Born in about 1794, and his first
wife in 1800, he was only a lad of eighteen when
he joined the Sixth New   York Infantry, and
fought with courage in the War of 1812. Hle engaged with valor in the battle of Plattsburgh and
took an active part in other fights, in one of which
he was slightly wounded. Ie served throughout
the period of the war and was honorably discharged at the close. Now, when again the country had need of him, althougl no longer young,
lie promptly responded, entering Company 1),


Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and enlisting as Veteran Surgeon of the company. He was attached
to the Third Corps of the Army of tile Potomac,
but only engaged in one battle, which was fought
in Virginia.
The father was one of the most robust men in
tile county when he entered the service, but when
discharged from the hospital in Washington, I).C.,
having served one year, his constitution was so
slattered by exposures and privations that he was
a physical wreck, and upon his return home was
not able to do a day's work. Although then in
his seventieth year lie survived the scenes of the
war until March 3, 1882. For eight years prior
to the war he ably administered the law as Justice
of the Peace, and in this office gave universal satisfaction to the general public. He was twice married. The first wife lost her life by the burning
of their house in the township of Groton, she being alone at the time. This was in June, 1856.
The father and mother were both devout members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the ten
children who brightened tle old home, all lived to
maturity. Harriet married L. Brown, and resides in
Olive Township; Levi is deceased; Naomi, deceased, was the wife of J. J. Christian; Lavina is
the wife of Pat Roe, of Grand Rapids; Silas, who
lives in Isabella County, Mich., served with courage nearly two years in the late war, and was
wounded in the figlit at Seven Pines or Fair Oaks;
Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Moses Buxson;
Harley C. is our subject; Clemons died in the
army at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1863; and Priscilla
and Silas are deceased. Tile father, a second time
marrying, was then wedded to Mrs. Annie (Wood)
Parker, who still survives and now, in her eightyfifth year, makes her home with our subject.
Harley C. Bement was educated in the common
schools and mainly reared upon a farm, although
he had engaged in lumbering as well prior to the
war. Upon June 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Third Michigan Infantry, and was in the
Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. At the time
of enlistment he was made a non-commissioned
officer and received promotion as sergeant. He
actively engaged in the decisive engagements of
Bull Run, Yorktown, Williarnsburgh, Fair Oaks,




548


PORTRA1T AND BlOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.


Seven Days' Fight, and around Richmond, and also
participated in the second battle of Bull Run, in
which encounter he was three times wounded,
first through his left hand. Before lie could get
off the field lie was shot in the fleshy part of the
right thigh, the third wound being given by a grape
shot, which struck him in the back, tearing his
cartridge box into pieces. From the effects of this
latter shot our subject has never entirely recovered. Mr. Bementwas tlen sent to Bellevue (N. Y.)
Hospital, from which place lie was discharged in November, 1862, and returned at once to his home
and family in Michigan. Since then lie has devoted himself to farming and threshing, and for
seven years farmed for Edward Cole, of Ottawa
County, hauling logs and lumber from the woods
to the sawmill.
In 1875, our subject went to Utah for the purpose of mining, first stopping at Salt Lake City.
HIe remained in Utah one summer, but not finding
his mining venture a success returned home and
engaged in farming in the township of Groton,
from where he later removed to his present farm
of eighty acres in 1882. At the time Mr. Bemnent
purchased his Allendale Township homestead, the
land was entirely unimproved, but the farm now
contains fifty highly cultivated acres. In February, 1892, the residence and contents were entirely destroyed, and since then our subject has
erected a handsome two-story frame building at a
cost of $1,100.
In 1857, were united in marriage Harley C. Bement and Miss Marinda Parkel, a native of Ohio,
and daughter of E. W. and Annie (Wood) Parker,
who came to this State in 1855. Mrs. Parker later
became the wife and widow of the father of our
subject. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were the parents of
seven children: Andrew, who resides in Ingham
County; Amanda, deceased, who was the wife of J.
Corlis; Herrick, deceased; George, a citizen of Butler County, Mo.; Marinda, the wife of our subject;
Ezekiel, who lives in Denison, Tex.; and Benjamin,
who died in 1893, at Tucson, Ariz. Our subject
and his estimable wife have been blessed by the
birth of ten children. Lemuel was the eldest-born;
Medora is the widow of Seth Barager, of Grand
Rapids; Clemons, Pearl, Benjamin C., Annie, Al

bert, Charles and Maude complete the list of intelligent sons and daughters who gathered about
the family fireside.
Mr. and Mrs. Bement are both valued members
of the First Christian Church of Georgetown.
Fraternally, our subject is a member of William
Thuskittle Post No. 388, G. A. R.. of which Mr.
Bement was Commander two years and is now
Senior-Vice. In 1883, Clemons Bement was thrown
from a horse. and, his head being injured, was an
invalid five years, and two years of the time was
upon his back in bed and could not be turned nor
moved. Science restored him in a great measure
to health, but excellent care and a large outlay of
money were needed to save his life and give him
lermanent relief. Thle family of our subject,
widely known and highly esteemed, occupy posiions of useful influence and command the confidence of Ilany sincere friends.
i OHN T. D)AYTON, M. D., widely known
as a successful physician and skilled surgeon of Berlin, Ottawa County, Mich., is
the son of Abner Dayton, a native of Vermont, and a man of fine character and professional ability. Born in 1800, the father enjoyed
excellent educational advantages, and was a graduate of medicine, receiving his diploma in Castleton, Rutland County, Vt., in 1830. Later lie became a leading physician of the Empire State,
first locating in Rensselaer County, but afterward
removing to Cayuga County and settling in Westbury, where lie rapidly acquired an excellent practice, and for eight years devoted himself entirely
to professional duties. From Cayuga County, the
father journeyed to Allegany County, and for
about eight years made his home in Wellsville.
At the expiration of that time, Ir. Abner l)ayton
emigrated to Michigan, and remained for a short
time in tile village of Saline. lie then settled in
Sandstone, Jackson County, and resided in that




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


549


locality about ten years. His last home was in
Mosherville, where ie remained until his death, in
1864.  Ile passed away mourned as a friend,
neighbor and physician, and left behind him the
memory of a well-spent life.
l)r. John T. Dayton was born in Columbia
County, N. Y., in 1831, but he early removed
with his parents to Cayuga County, and from
there to Allegany County, in which place he received his primary education and attained to manhood. I-e pursued the study of his profession in
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and then
returned to Allegany County, where he for a
time was profitably engaged in lumbering. Removing from Allegany County to Jackson County, Mich., the Doctor remained in that locality
but a brief period, when he removed to IIanover, Hillsdale County, and there remained for the
succeeding twelve months. Our subject finally
made a permanent home in Berlin, where through
storm or sunshine, until his health forbade, he
went the wearying rounds incidental to the life of
the family physician. He thus formed a wide acquaintance and made many friends. Ile is perhaps as well known in northern Ottawa as any
man in the county.
In 1852, Dr. John T. Dayton and Miss Martha
M. Rolfe, of Alleg.any County, N. Y., were married. Mrs. Dayton was born in the Empire State,
and her parents were widely known and highly
respected by the friends and neighbors of their
lifetime.  Four children, all surviving, blessed
tile pleasant home. Charles F., married, resides in
Grand Rapids; Clinton L. is a successful attorneyat-law of Leelanaw County, Mich.; Lois C. is the
wife of A. U. Dickerson, of Reno, Mich.; and Delia
Dayton Sackett resides in Greenfield, Tenn.
Our subject bought sixty acres of his present
farm soon after locating in Berlin, and now owns
one hundred and eight acres, mostly wild land
when purchased by tile I)octor, but now, with the.
exception of six acres, entirely under a high state
of cultivation. Conducting with highly profitable results general farming, Dr. I)ayton also cultivates a variety of berries, for which he finds a
ready market. Altliougl yet in the active practice of his profession, our subject at times is un

able to undergo the fatigues of the long rides to
distant patients. Iis good wife is a valued member of the Methodist Church, and both are ever
ready to lend a helping hand in behalf of religious work and enterprise. Fraternally, the Doctor
las been long connected with the Ancient Free &
Accepted Masons, and has many sincere friends
among the order. Politically a Republican, he is
an ardent advocate of the party, and, interested in
local and National government, yet has no desire
to hold office. He and his family enjoy the respect and best wishes of all who know them and
worthily occupy positions of useful influence.
c,  -  ii
OOST KOOIMAN, who is now living a retired life in Grand Haven, is one of the
worthy and esteemed citizens that Holland
has furnished to Ottawa County. He was
born in the Netherlands on the 17th of January,
1834, and is a son of Albert and Elizabeth (Van
Der Meigen)Kooiman. His parents were also natives of Holland. Leaving their native land they
emigrated to America and took up their residence
in Michigan, where their last days were passed.
Our subject spent the days of his childhood and
youth in the Old Country midst play and work,
no event of special importance occurring during
his early years. IHe was a young man of twentyone when lie decided to leave his home and seek
a fortune in the New World, of whose advantages
and privileges lie had heard such excellent accounts. Bidding good-bye to the friends of his
youth and to the land of his birth, he in 1855
shipped as second cook on a vessel which landed
him in New York City.   le went from there to
Buffalo, N. Y., and thence to Grand Haven, Mich.,
where he located.
Mr. Kooiman here began working on the docks
as a laborer, and was thus employed for several
years. During that time he lived in an economical
and frugal manner, and invested his savings in
real estate. From time to time lie has made judi



550


PORTRAIT AND BiOGRAPHICAL RECOib.


cious investments in such property, and as the
land has risen in value as the population has increased, Mr. Kooiman now owns extensive landed
interests.
On the 21st of August, 1860, our subject was
united in marriage with Miss Antoine Dunker, a
native of Holland. By their union has been born
a family of six children, who are as follows: Otto,
a farmer of Ottawa County; John; Elizabeth;
Annie, wife of Joln Juisteman, of Grand Haven;
Peter, who is now twenty-three years of age; and
Laura, who completes the family. Mrs. Kooiman
is a member of the First Reformed Church. In his
political affiliations, Mr. Kooimanl is a Democrat,
but the honors or emoluments of public office have
no attraction for him.
The wisdom and foresight of our subject in
business matters have been shown by the success
whicll has attended his ventures. He believed
that it would be a profitable investment to put his
money in real estate, and the years have borne
out this opinion. As the county has become more
thickly populated and the work of progress and
civilization has been carried forward, our subject
has reaped a harvest from his possessions, for the
land has greatly increased in value. He still owns
some fine lots and residence property, wlich yields
to him a good income. He may truly be called a
self-made man, for his success is due entirely to
his own efforts.
NNA VANDEN BOSCH. In mentioning
those of foreign birth who have become
closely associated with the farming interests of Ottawa County, Mich., we should
not fail to present an outline of the career of Mr.
Vanden Bosch, for lie is one who has fully borne
out the reputation of that class of industrious, energetic and far-seeing men of Holland nativity
who have become prominent in their different
callings in this county. In everything connected
with the growth and prosperity of the county he


has taken an active interest, and as a tiller of the
soil he stands in the foremost ranks. Born in the
province of Overyssel, in the Netherlands, in 1830,
he is the son of Tam and Jrieje (Bunt) Vanden
Bosch, and the grandson of Jacob and Anna (Bunt)
Vanden Bosch, all natives of Holland. The grandfather followed the occupation of a farmer and
owned the land on which lie lived. His son, the
father of our subject, was also a tiller of the soil
in his native country, and was at one time the
owner of eighty acres.
Tamn Vanden Bosch crossed tile ocean in 1848,
and with limited means made his way to Ottawa
County, Mich., settling in Grand Haven. Later
he was one of the first white settlers to locate near
the present city of Zeelind, and there he entered
eiglty acres of land, on which lie passed the remainder of his days. His wife died in 1868, and
lie breathed his last on the farm where he head
spent the best years of his life, in 1877, when seventy-seven years of age. The community found in
this worthy pioneer a faitlful and unswerving
friend, ever alert to serve its best interest and
generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advancement.   -lis
children, nine in number, were as follows: Koene,
residing in (Gand Haven; Melvin, residing in
Zeeland; Peter, a resident of Holland; Jacob, residing in Zeeland; Anna, our subject; Anna (daughter), residing  in  Grand Rapids; Tallijen, wlho
makes her home in Zeeland; Jrieje, in Zeeland;
and John, in Minnesota.
The original of this notice was seventeen years
of age when he came with his parents to America,
and assisted his father in clearing and improving
a farm. When twenty years of age he was married to Miss Jane Myer, and immediately afterward
bought land. To their union were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living
are Tam and Maggie, both residing in Grand
Haven. After residing for some time on the farm
he had first purchased, lie sold out and purchased eighty acres where he now lives, all wild
and uncultivated. This farm he has since cleared
and improved, and all tile buildings have been
erected by himself.
In 1891 Mrs. Vanden Boscli died, and lie sub



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


551


sequently married Miss Jane Gebben, who bore him
one child, John. It is but just to say that our
subject occupies a conspicuous and honorable place
among the worthy residents of Ottawa.County,
for he has always been honest, industrious and
enterprising. He is well known in agricultural
circles, and is recognized as a careful, energetic
farmer, who by his advanced ideas and perseverance has done much to improve the farming interests of his section. In politics, he was formerly
a Republican, but now advocates the principles of
the Democratic party. For about five years he
served as Road Overseer, at Noordeloos. He is a
member of the Seceder Church.
XHARLES II. CLARK. As an example of
the usefulness and prominence to which
mnen of character and determination may
attain, it is but necessary to chronicle the life of
Charles II. Clark, the efficient and capable Register
of Deeds of Ottawa County, Mich. He is a man
of superior mental endowments, strengthened and
enriched by the highest culture. He impresses one
at once as a man of unusual strength, depth and
grasp of mind, and is possessed of a large share of
those traits of character that go to make up a popular citizen. Iie is a native of the Pine Tree State,
born in Augusta February 8, 1835, and the son of
Charles and Louisa (Dearborn) Clark, both natives
of Maine. The latter was the daughter of Asa
Dearborn, who was born in the old Bay State.
The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and followed that business for many years
in the State of Maine. To his marriage were born
eight children, four sons and four daughters,
Charles Ii. being the eldest.
The latter passed his school days in Augusta,
Me., and when eighteen years of age decided to
make his way toward the setting sun. Hle reached
Michigan and settled in Ottawa Township, Ottawa
County, where he engaged in the lumber business,
and continued in this for some time, in fact get

ting his start in this business. In 1855 he was
married to Miss Abbie I. Wall, a native of Maine,
who died in 1872, leaving seven children, four of
whom are living: Charles F., a prominent farmer
of this county; Hattie H., the wife of James Bignell, of this State; Harriet, wife of Benjamin Barton, who resides in North Dakota; and Walter H., a
lumberman and farmer, wlo makes his home in
this county. All the children were well educated
and taught school for some time.
Mr. Clark selected his second wife in the person
of Augusta B. Wall, sister of his first wife, and
their union was solemnized in 1877. She was a
most excellent woman, and died in 1887, leaving
no children. In his political views, Mr. Clark isa
strong advocate of Republican principles, and for
twenty years held the office of Supervisor. In the
fall of 1892 he was elected Register of Deeds on
the Republican ticket, and assumed the duties of
the office on the 1st of January, 1893. He has
proved himself eminently worthy of the confidence
reposed in him by all classes, and as ani honorable, upright citizen his reputation is not merely
local, but extends over a wide stretch of country.
Genial and courteous, straightforward in his dealings, prompt in the discharge of his duties,and of
exemplary habits, he has the respect and esteem of
all who know him. Socially, he is a member of
Grand Haven Lodge No. 139, A. F. & A. M.
SAAC R. FRANKS. Our country owes a debt
of gratitude it can never repay to the valiant
defenders of the Old Flag, who, through storm
and sunshine, marched bravely forward, enduring
the summer's heat and the winter's cold, the hardships of camp life and the perils of active engagements with the foe. These veterans of the war,
who sacrificed every comfort and periled their
lives in the Union cause, have been widely scattered as the years have passed by; some have
fought their last battle and have now entered




552


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


upon the enjoyment of the final victory; others
still survive, maimed and scarred it may be, but
still taking their part as public-spirited citizens in
the issues of the day. Among the survivors of
the war who experienced all the horrors of the
Rebellion may be mentioned the name of Isaac R.
Franks.
Now a successful agriculturist of Moorland
Township, Muskegon County, our subject was born
in Hardy County, Va., on the 9th of February,
1826. IHe is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Harris)
Franks, natives of Upper Virginia. His father,
who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Ohio
in 1829 and sojourned in Ashland County until
1836. He then removed to DeKalb County, Ind.,
and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1873. Of twelve children, our subject was
among the youngest. He was taken by his parents to Ohio at the age of three years, and spent
his childhood in Ashland County. He grew to
manhood in DeKalb County, Ind., meantime receiving ordinary educational advantages.
May 25, 1851, Mr. Franks was united in marriage with Miss Alzina C., daughter of Lewis and
Mary (Kise) Merryfield, and after his marriage he
followed farming pursuits in DeKalb and Lagrange
Counties, Ind., until the outbreak of the Civil
War. In 1862 he enlisted in the service of his country, his name being enrolled as a member of Company G, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, First Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Gen.
Thomas commanding. H-e is the survivor of many
long marches and a number of hard-fought battles.
tIe accompanied Gen. Sherman on his memorable
march to the sea as far as Atlanta, and after the
fall of that city he was sent to Jeffersonville on
account of disability. From that place he was
ordered to Nashville, and there received his discharge January 7, 1865. He now receives a pension of $8 per month.
During 1867 Mr. Franks made settlement in
Moorland, Muskegon County, where he has since
resided. In civic life, as in the army, he is courageous, upright and persevering, and his name is
a synonym  for truth and honor. Although a
great physical sufferer, the result of hardship and
privation during his army service, he has always


been very industrious and has labored diligently
to secure his present home. He and his wife have
been the parents of five children, four of whom
are living: James L., John R., Sarah E. and Albert
G. Mary A. is deceased. Socially, Mr. Franks is
prominent in the Order of Maccabees and the
Grand Army of the Republic. In politics a Republican, he has served as Justice of the Peace for
several terms and has occupied other positions of
trust.
JUIGUST  SACK, who devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits on section
19, Dalton Township, Muskegon County,
is a native of Germany. I-e was born in
Prussia in 1819, and comes of an old family
of that land. His grandfather served for thirty
years in the German army against the Pope. The
father, grandfather and great-grandfather of our
subject all bore the name of August, and it in
turn descended to him and was given to one of
his children. August Sack, the father of our subject, after arriving at man's estate married Louisa
Lose, and they became the parents of the following children: August, Ernest, Frederick, Fcrnit,
William and Wilhelmina.
August Sack, Sr., was a sailor by occupation and
followed that business throughout the greater part
of his life. I-e became the owner of a vessel and
was also its captain and sailed on the Baltic and
North Seas. Until about 1853, he remained on the
deep, but at that time lie had a vessel loaded with
rye and in a storm lost his cargo. Soon afterward
he sold the ship and purchased a farm in the
Fatherland, upon which he and his wife spent
their remaining days. He was a member of the
Lutheran Church and was a man of sterling
worth.
Under the parental roof the early childhood
days of our subject were quietly passed, but with
a love of the sea, inherited from his father, he
too shipped as a sailor at the age of fifteen and
was upon the rolling main until thirty-five years
I~CIV  U~JVII VIIV ~VI1~C,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


553


of age. The year 1853 witnessed his emigration
to the New World. lie landed in New York, and
by way of the Lakes and the Erie Canal came to
Michigan. In 1854, we find him in Muskegon
County, where lie has since made his home, covering a period of almost forty years.
Ere leaving New York, however, Mr. Sack was
married, the lady of his choice being Miss Sophia
Slorfe, who has been a faithful companion and
helpmate to him in the years which have since
come and gone. Eight children have been born
of their union, but two of the number died in
childhood and August died at the age of thirtythree years. Elizabeth is now the wife of Andrew
Miller. William is the next younger. Iena is the
wife of William Hanson, and Caroline and Frederick complete the number. Mr. Sack and his family are all members of the Lutheran Church. In
politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party,
but has never been an aspirant for offiee. I-le is
numbered among Muskegon County's early settlers and has therefore been an eye-witness of
much of its growth and progress. He has also
aided in its development, and the best interests of
the community find in him a friend.
p  ILLIAM   M. ANGEL, City Recorder of
\A^/4  Grand Hlaven, was born in Mooers, ClinV  ton County, N. Y., December 16, 1825.
lie traces his ancestry to Thomas Angel, wlio emigrated from England to America in 1625, being
the first representative of the family in this country. Grandfather Asa Angel was born in Rhode
Island, and the father of our subject opened his
eyes to the light in Champlain, N. Y., in 1800.
The mother of our subject was Mary Keyes, a native of Vermont.
The third in a family which consisted of four
sons and two daughters, William M. Angel spent
his childhood years in Clinton County. At the
age of ten he accompanied his father to Portage
County, Olio, and there spent eight years, mean

time attending the common schools and completing his education in an academy, where he prosecuted his studies for two terms. In the fall of
1842 he removed to Ottawa County, Mich., and
located in Tallmadge Township, where he followed
farming pursuits for a few years. While residing
there, he was attacked with sciatic rheumatism,
which resulted in a dislocation of the hip.
In the fall of 1848 Mr. Angel was elected
Register of Deeds for Muskegon County and has
served in all six years. At the expiration of
his period of public service, lie resumed farming
operations in Tallmadge Township, and continued
thus engaged for two years. However, on account of his lameness, he found it necessary to
select a less active vocation than that of agriculture, and accordingly entered Bryant & Stratton's
Business College, where he spent the winter of
1856-57. UTpon finishing his commercial studies,
lie accepted a position as book-keeper in a country
store at Eastmanville, and remained there for five
years. Later lie came to Grand Haven and secured
a position as book-keeper for a merchant and
vessel-owner, with whom he remained for eighteen
months. We next find him in the drug business,
under the firm name of Angel & North, in which
lie continued for four and one-half years, when lie
disposed of his interest in the store.
For a time thereafter Mr. Angel conducted an
extensive dry-goods business, the firm title being
Angel & Beaudry. In December, 1869, the store
was burned to the ground, and as there was no insurance it proved a total loss to the proprietors.
They were enabled, however, to pay seventy cents
on every dollar of their indebtedness. In the
spring of 1870 Mr. Angel was elected Recorder
and Police Justice, holding these positions for two
years. I-e then formed a law partnership with L.
B. Soule, of Ionia, Mich., which continued for
eighteen months. Afterward he was in partnership at different times with various prominent
lawyers. In 1887 he was elected to the office of
City Recorder, and was re-elected in 1889, 1892
and 1893.
The marriage of Mr. Angel occurred in 1853,
and united him  with Miss Ann M. Everts, of
Grand Rapids, Mich., the daughter of Schadrick




554


POrTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Everts, of that place. Mrs. Angel was born in
Niagara County, N. Y. By her marriage she became
the mother of eight children, seven sons and one
daughter, four of whom died in infancy. Charles
H. died January 9, 1893, when in his twentyfourth year. The surviving members of the family are: Anna, wife of D. W. Andrus, of Detroit;
George E., of Detroit; and Harry A., residing in
Chicago.
9 - ace,_+  +   \A LE C. OLSON, who is engaged in farming on
section 35, Holton Township, Muskegon
^W' County, now owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, of which
one hundred acres are under a high state of cultivation. In addition to the well-tilled fields there
are many other good improvements, and the neat
appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision of a thrifty and painstaking owner, such
as our subject is known to be.
Mr. Olson was born on his father's farm in
Norway in 1842. His parents were Christian and
Bertha M. (Taufson) Olson. The former received
quite a limited education, and throughout his life
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He was
married in his native land and by the union were
born six children, of whom one died in early life.
Those who came to the United States are: Caroline,
wife of Swen Swenson; Ellen M., deceased, wife of
Hans Aslakson; Ole, Tom and Christian. In 1854
the parents left their native land and, accompanied by their family, came to America, locating in
Milwaukee, Wis. After a year Mr. Olson removed
to Muskegon County, settling first in Fruitland
Township, but after a short time lie removed to the
neighborhood in which our subject now resides.
During his early residence in this State he worked
at lumbering. He bought land of the Government
until he had secured several hundred acres, but
when the timber was cut off the land was worthless
and he let it go back to the State for taxes. lie


finally entered eighty acres near where Ole now resides, it being a wild tract covered with hardwood
timber, and lie had to cut the road for about three
miles to his farm. He died in 1883, at the age of
seventy-two years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, as is also his wife, who still survives him. He was born in March, 1808.
The subject of this sketch remained with his
parents until they came to Michigan. He was
then fourteen years of age. Wishing to improve
his education, he remained in Milwaukee working
at whatever he could find to do in order to secure
a livelihood and make it possible for him to attend school for two more years. On the expiration of that period he joined his parents, and remained with them until twenty years of age. The
following winter was spent in the lumber woods
on the Muskegon River.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. Olson entered the
service of his adopted country, enlisting as a member of Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. lie
was never off duty a day until his company was
mustered out at the close of the war. He participated in over fifty engagements, among the most
importantof which were the battles of Gettysburg,
Falling Water, Ashby Gap, Summerville Ford, Robinson Ford, Brandy Station, Buckland Mills, Kilpatrick's Raid, the battle of the Wilderness, Yellow
Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Haws' Shop, Cold Harbor,
Travillion, Shephlerdstown, Smithfield, Winchester,
Cedar Creek, Madison Court House, Five Forks and
Appomattox Court House. During all this time
Mr. Olson was never wounded nor taken prisoner,
but was always found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the Old Flag, which now floats so
proudly over the united nation, and the cause
which it represented. lie was honorably discharged
at Leaven worth, Kan., June 29, 1865, and was mustered out in Detroit.
Mr. Olson then returned to his home and began
sailing on the Lakes during the summer months,
while in the winter he worked in the forests. In
the mean time he was married, in 1867, to Miss
Anna Hanson, daughter of John and Louisa
(Smith) Hanson. Six children came to bless their
union,and the family circle yet remains unbroken.
Mary, the eldest, is the wife of Hlans Paulson.




PORTRAIT ANI BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


555


The others are Louisa, Charles J., Andrew, Anna
0. and Elizabeth. Mrs. Olson died February 8,
1880.
On leaving the Lakes Mr. Olson turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and entered one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now lives.
IIe located upon his farm in 1872 and at once began
its development, for it was then in its primitive
condition. HIe has since extended its boundaries
by the additional purchase of forty acres and has
made of the place one of the best farms in the
neighborhood. Mr. Olson has led a busy and useful life and his business affairs occupy much of his
attention, yet he has found time to serve his feltow-townsmen in a number of official positions.
For six years he served as Justice of the Peace,
was Highway Commissioner and Township Treasurer, and with the exception of three years has
been Supervisor since 1882. lIe discharged his
public duties with promptness and fidelity and has
therefore won high commendation. In politics he
is a stanch Republican, and socially is a member of
Dahlgren Post No. 149, G. A. R., of Ilolton. Mr.
Olson also belongs to the Lutheran Church.
d l  W. BUSWELI,. There is in the development of every successful life a principle
L< J  which is a lesson to the man taking that life
as an example; for let one be industriously
ambitious and honorable in lis ambitions, and he
will rise, whether laving tile prestige of fortune
and family, or the obscurity of poverty. We are
led to these reflections in looking over the career
of Mr. Buswell, who has attained his present enviab)le condition by indomitable energy and pluck.
lie was formerly one of tile prominent lumbermen
of Grand Haven, Mici., but is now retired from
the active duties of life and has a most desirable
home on Franklin Street.
IMr. Buswell clains New York as his native
State, having been borl il Essex County, August
8, 1830, to Jacob and Almina (Everest) Buswell,


the father a native of Massachusetts and the
mother of New York. The father was a carpenter
and joiner by occupation and followed that trade
in the Empire State all his life. Our subject was
the eldest son of his mother's second marriage,
and moved with her to the Buckeye State when but
a boy. There his mother spent her last days,
and in the year 1865 our subject removed to
Miclligan, settled in Ottawa County, and for a
period now closely approaching thirty years has
been intimately identified with the interests of
Ottawa County, his settlement in Grand Haven
dating from about 1865. IIe engaged in the lumbering business with C. E. Wyman, under the firm
title of Wyman, Buswell & Co., manufacturers of
pine lumber, and continued in this business for a
number of years. Up to 1884 he was engaged in
tie manufacture of lumber, but at that date the
mill was burned and Mr. Buswell retired from the
business. lie is a substantial citizen, and by his
superior intelligence and rare business ability and
efficiency has been identified with the interests of
Grand Haven and interested in its welfare. His
business qualifications are of the highest order
and he is recognized as one of the leading men of
the city.
Our subject has been a Director in the National
Bank for several years, is President of the Grand
Haven Booming Company, a stockholder and Director in Dake's Engine Manufacturing Company,
of Grand Haven, and President of the Grand
Haven Match Company. Formerly a Wlig in
politics, lie now affiliates with the Republican
party, and is active in his support of its principles. lie selected his wife in the person of Miss
Hannah Trotter, a native of Summit County,
Ohio, and two children were born to them, Forrest E. and Florence E. The mother of these
children died in 1878, and in 1886 Mr. Buswell
was wedded to Miss Ellen J. Cavanaugh, of Grand
Haven. One child, H. W., is the result of this
union. Progressive in his ideas and liberal in his
support of all worthy movements, lie is one of
Ottawa County's most esteemed citizens. Most of
Ills property has been accumulated by his own exertions, and lhe deserves much credit for his energy and industry.




556


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ORDEN       G. BARNABY, agent for the
Chicago & West Michigan Railroad at
Hudsonville, is numbered among the progressive and popular young   business men to
whose influence (ttawa County is largely indebted
for its present prosperity.  He is the son of
Samuel G. and Olive M. (Chamberlain) Barnaby,
natives of New York, who were married in that
State. Subsequently they removed to Pennsylvania and conducted agricultural pursuits in
Potter County. The year 1862 witnessed their
arrival in Michigan, and for three years they
sojourned in Kalamazoo County. Thence they
came to Ottawa County, where the father now
makes his home on section 32, Georgetown Township. His wife departed this life in 1865. She
was a devoted member of tlie Baptist Church,
with which lie is now identified, having in former
years been a Sunday-school Superintendent.
Our subject is the only member left of his father's
family, witl the exception of his brother, Glenn
A., who married Miss Carrie, daughter of John N.
Waite (of whom see sketclh presented on another
page of this volume). Glenn Barnaby is a resident of Minneapolis, Minn.   The senior Mr.
Barnaby is a man of broad intelligence and
liberal views, and is one of the most prominent
and influential citizens of Ottawa County, having
for years been closely connected with its growth
and progress.
Born in Potter County, Pa., October 10, 1858,
the subject of this sketch received his education
principally in the neighboring school. l-e has
gained his best education, however, in the school
of experience, by self-culture and close observation. At the age of fourteen he began to be selfsupporting, and for a time was employed in a
grocery store, where he gave his services in exchange for his board and clothes. tIe continued
thus engaged until 1879, his salary being meantime increased as he acquired a thorough understanding of the business. Afterward lie accepted
tlhe position of night operator at Watervliet,
where lie remained for three years, and in the
interval gained a complete knowledge of that line
of railroad work.
In 1884 Mr. Barnaby located at Iludsonville,


accepting his present position as agent for the
Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company, and
has since served in that capacity. He was married,
in 1886, to Miss Lizzie A., daughter of Nelson R.
and Lucy F. (Spencer) Bonfoey, and a native of
Watervliet, Mich., having been born in that city
February 28, 1867. Her grandparents came to
Michigan in an early (lay and settled in Berrien
County, being numbered among the pioneers of
the vicinity of Watervliet. Nelson R. Bonfocy
was born in Richfield, N. Y., February 18, 1827,
and married Miss Lucy F. Spencer, who was born
in Atwater, Ohio, on the 9th of October, 1843.
The maternal grandparents of our subject were
Elias T. and Eliza (Smith) Spencer, the former a
native of Middlefield, Mass., born on the 11th of
August, 1815. Mr. Bonfoey and his estimable
wife had a family of three children, two of whom
are now living; they themselves are now living in
Watervliet.
The marriage of Mr. Barnaby has been blessed
by the birth of two children, Olive Lucy, who
was born September 16, 1887, and Zora Izetta,
whose birth occurred May 17, 1890. Mrs. Barnaby
is a lady of prominence in Hudsonville, and is
one of the active members of the Ladies' Union.
Socially, our subject is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled the
various chairs in the home lodge, being at present
District Deputy Grand Master. While not active
in politics, he is a stancl Democrat and upholds
the principles of that party with his ballot.
H IAARLES PETERSON, a farmer residing on
section 20, I)alton Township, is one of the
wortlhy citizens that Sweden has furnished
to Muskegon County. lie possesses the stability,
perseverance and enterprise of his countrymen,
characteristics which make them among the best
of the adopted sons of America. le was born in
the northern part of Sweden in 1840, andl his parents, Peter and Hannah (Anderson) Anderson,




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


557


were also natives of the same locality, the father's
birth occurring in 1790, while the mother was
born in 1806. Peter Anderson was a farmer and
operated rented land. Himself and wife were
members of the Lutheran Church. Both died in
1880, within a few hours of each other, and were
laid to rest in the same grave.
Our subject is one of five children, the other
members of the family being John A., who died in
Sweden; Anna, who died in this country; Augustus, who is living in Sweden; Caroline, wife of
Charles Norris, of Muskegon County; and Charles,
of this sketch. The latter spent his boyhood and
youth in the land of his birth, where he was early inured to arduous labor. Since the tender age of eight
years he has made his own way in the world. At
that time he began to earn his own living by
working on a farm. He received only ten cents
per day, and out of that small amount had to
board and clothe himself. At the age of twelve
lie began to work for his board and clothes, and
for tlhree years his wages were thus rewarded. He
tlhen for the succeeding three years of his life received $15 per year, and afterwards his wages were
increased to $25 per year. While receiving that
munificent salary, he was foreman of a large farm,
superintending some fifty men.
Wishing to better his financial condition, Mr.
Peterson sailed for tile New World in 1865. Ile
had been married in Sweden to Miss Matilda,Jolnson, and with his wife crossed the broad Atlantic, coming at once to Muskegon County.  lie
malde a settlement in Laketon Township, where he
began cutting cordwood, and for three years was
emplloyed at various labors, whereby lie might
secure an honest livelihood and thus provide for
himself and family. At length lie was able to
llurclase thirty-five acres of wild land and begin
farming in his own interest. With characteristic
energy lie began its improvement, and as acre
after acre was placed under the plow, the fertile
fields began to yield him a good income. The
boundaries of llis farm were also extended, until it
now cornl)rises one hundred and eighty-tive acres
of valuable land, seventy-five of whllich are under
cultivation.
Into IMr. and Mrs. l'eterson lave been born


eight children: Ellen, now the wife of Adolph
Bard; Ida, who graduated from  the Muskegon
schools, then engaged in teaching, and is now the
wife of Charles Johnson; Elmer; Hannah; Abel,
who died in childhood; Mamie, David and Nancy.
The parents hold membership with the Lutheran
Church. Mr. Peterson takes a warm interest in
everything tending to promote morality and advance the general welfare. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and lie votes witl
the Prohibition party. IIe may truly be called a
self-made man, and thle praise which that term
conveys is justly deserved, for through his own
unaided efforts lie has worked his way upward to
success.
N ~   IIILLIAM JEREMIAH BROTT. The business interests of Muskegon County are
VV    wortllily represented by the gentleman
with whose name we introduce this sketch, and
who is prominently identified with tlme history of
tlie village of Moorland. An efficient, capable
and energetic young business man, he has worked
his way to a foremost place in the commercial
circles of the county, and is now numbered among
tlhe successful millers and lumbermen of this section of tlhe State. While his abilities have been
mainly devoted to his individual enterprises, lie
has also contributed largely to the development
of the resources of Moorland, and has aided in
no small degree in securing its present prosperity.
Born in Polkton Township, Ottawa County,
Mich., on the 13th of June, 1855, our subject is
the son of Anthony and Celestia (Schoville) Brott,
natives of New York. His father, who was a mechanic by occupation, was a man possessing sterling qualities of mind and heart, and occupied a
high place in the regard of his fellow-citizens.
Fired with the spirit of patriotic devotion, at tile
opening of tile Civil War he gave not onlyl his
synl)athy to the cause of tile Union, but his services as well. Enlisting in tile Union army, lie




558


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


served bravely and nobly, participating in a number of decisive engagements and finally giving his
life to his country's cause. He was captured by
the enemy and placed in Andersonville Prison,
where he died from starvation in 1864.
Of nine children, the subject of this sketch was
the sixth in order of birth. He passed his childhood years uneventfully, and was a lad of seventeen when his father's death occurred, thus throwing him entirely upon his own resources. Bravely
and courageously he commenced the battle of life,
and, undaunted by obstacles and hardships, persevered until success crowned his exertions. When
ready to establish a home of his own, he was married, at the age of twenty, to Miss Martha F.,
daughter of John L. and Elizabeth (Bowers)
Thompson, natives of Pennsylvania.
Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Brott located on
a farm in Ravenna Township, Muskegon County,
where he continued to till the soil until 1891. He
then removed to Moorland Station, in Moorland
Township, where, in company with his cousin,
Charles A. Brott, he has since engaged extensively
in the lumber and milling business. His peculiar
talents especially adapt him for a successful business career, and lie has already attained a large
degree of success in his closen occupation. Socially, he is identified with the Knights of the
Maccabees. In politics, he is in hearty sympathy
with the principles of the People's party, and gives
his influence to the success of that organization.
He and his wife have only one child, Alice Edith,
a popular and talented young lady, who is receiving an excellent education in tile Moorland
schools.
L@.     — _._ _9L- -__      3)
/ERRY    D)EVRIES, a prosperous general
agriculturist, of Ottawa County, conducts
a finely cultivated farm on section 36, Holland Townslip, and is likewise a skillful
veterinary surgeon and authority on the diseases
of tile horse. A native of tile Netheilands, lhe
was born in 1843. lie is the son of Bernard and


Alice (Mulder) DeVries, and the descendant of
a long line of highly respected and sturdy forefathers, who through persistent effort won their
way upward to positions of influence. The paternal grandparents, John  and Helen DeVries,
were in humble circumstances, the former supporting the family by daily labor upon a farm. IHe
reared a family of two children, Bernard, the
father of Jerry, and Ann, who passed her entire
life in her native land. The father, who was born
in 1805, in the near vicinity of the birthlplace of
our subject, received a fair education in the free
schools of the Netherlands and remained with his
parents, assisting his father, until he had attained
to manhood.
At the age of twenty-five years, Bernard )e
Vries was married in the Netherlands to Miss Alice, the daughter of Jerry and Gertie Mulder. He
had a small piece of land, comprising about thirty
acres, and upon this farm lie and his excellent
wife settled and toiled industriously. Eiglt children blessed the home, all born in the Netherlands, but five of them died in early infancy and
childhood. The three living sons are John, Jerry
and Paul. In 1847 the father witli his family emigrated to the United States and journeyed to
Michigan, settling in Ottawa County. IIe lad exhausted his savings on the journey, and at once
after his arrival went to work in the woods making staves and logs. He soon purchased forty
acres of timber-land near thle present home of our
subject, on section 25, Holland Townsllip. Tills
land he cleared, cultivated and improved with the
help of his sons. He and his wife are living near
the city of Holland. They are valued members of
the Dutch Reformed Church, and possess the high
regard of a wide circle of friends.  Politically, he
is a Republican and, a man of broad intelligence,
is deeply interested in the vital questions of the
day and is a close olserver of local and National
government.
The youthful days of our subject were )assed
in the parental llome. At the age of twenty-three
he married Alice, daughiter of Bernard and D)ena
Snitzler. 'Tle pleasant home of our subject and
his estimable wife was briolhtened b.y thie birtll
of tell children, four of whom are now deceased.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


559


Alice was married to Garrit Ratering, and died
October 14, 1889, leaving a daughter, Fannie
Harriet. The survivors are Gertie, Bertha, Jennie, Julia, Berney and I)ena. After tle marriage
of Mr. and Mrs. DeVries tley continued for three
years to reside with the father of our subject, who
at the expiration of that time gave them forty
acres of land, wlicll Mr. Ie Vries sold and soon
afterward emigrated to Kansas. A few months in
the far West satisfied him that Michigan suited
him best, and returning to the Wolverine State he
purchased fifty-one acres where he now resides.
lie gives the most of his time and attention to
veterinary work, making a close study of that profession. In botlh political and religious affiliations, like his father, our subject is a stancl Republican and a valued member of the Reformed
Church of Zeeland. IIe commands the high regard of a large acquaintance in Ottawa County.
ILLIAIM YOUNG. Among tile business
establisllments of Ravenna, prominlent
VwY    mention should be made of the grocery
store owned and managed by the subject of tlis
notice. Here may be found a clloice and complete
assortment of staple and fancy groceries, glassware, chinaware, and tlle various kinds of fruits
and vegetables in tlleir season. Through good
management and energy the genial prolprietor las
worked his way to a prominent position among
tlhe successful business men of the place, and the
uniform reliability of his transactions has gained
for him tlle confidence of his customeis.
Thle p)arents of our subject, Coker and Sarah
(Bultcher) Young, were born in England, whence
they emigrated to America, and, proceeding to
Alichigan, settled in tlhe city of,Jackson. Mr.
You)ng, Si., is a shoema:ker by tra(lde.and followed
tliat occlupation for a: lin Ium)  o)  f ye: rs. Alolut
1866 lie removed from. Jacksoll to 121 venan, whlere
lie ellbarked in bttsilless as a,ollemnlker. As tIle
years passed by a(nd tllee, lace grew flron an un29


important hamlet to a thriving village, his business increased, and as he was industrious and
persevering, he became well-to-do. In 1881 he
retired fron the trade at which he had so long
labored, and, purclasing a farm in Ravenna Township, embarked in agricultural pursuits, at which
lie is still engaged.
Four children were born to Coker and Sarah
Young, one of whom is deceased. Tile surviving
members of the family are: William, tile eldest;
Mary, the wife of Henry E. Scott, a resident of the
State of Washington; and George C., who makes his
home in Ravenna Township. William was born in
Jackson, Mici., January 7, 1855, receiving his education in tlhe schools of Muskegon County. He
aided his father in farming, and upon starting out
in active life for himself, embarked in agricultural
l)ursuits, which he followed until lie was thirtyfour years of age. IIe then removed to Ravenna
and entered into the grocery business which lie
still conducts. He carries a large stock and has a
liberal share of tile patronage of the community.
On Christmas Day, 1877, Mr. Young was united
in marriage with Miss Nellie E., daughter of
Ephraim I). and Phoebe (Holister) Husted. They
are tlhe parents of one clhild, Eva E. Mrs.
Young is a member of the Metlodist Episcopal
Church, to the support of which our subject contributes liberally, tliougll not identified with any
religious organization. Socially, lie is a member
of Ravenna Lodge No. 355, I. O. O. F., and has
served as Secretary of tlhe lodge. In politics lie is
a pronounced Republican and has always cast his
ballot for the principles upheld by that party.,S WEN SWENSON, wlio resides on section
35, Holton Township, is one of the highly
respected farmers of Muskegon County,
and is a valued citizen of the community,
for lie is always found in tlhe front ranks of every
enterprise that is calculated to promote tIle general welfare or advance the public good.




560


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Our subject is a native of Norway, born in 1824.
His father, Swen Swenson, died when our subject
was a lad of only four years. He was a farmer by
occupation. The gentleman whose name heads
this record is the second in order of birth in a
family of three children. At the age of eleven
years le began to earn his own livelihood, and
since that time has been dependent entirely upon
his own exertions, so that whatever success he has
achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. lIe
began working as a farm hand for his board and
clothes, and when about fifteen years of age he received in addition a few dollars each year. He
followed farming in his native land until about
thirty years of age, when, with the desire of bettering his financial condition, he resolved to emigrate to America. Bidding good-bye to home and
friends, lie left his native land, and in June, 1855,
crossed the briny deep. He first went to Buffalo,
N. Y., and in July, 1855, took up his residence in
Milwaukee, Wis.
During his residence in Milwaukee, in 1855, Mr.
Swenson was united in marriage witl Miss Caroline Olson, daughter of Christian and Bertha M.
Olson, who were early settlers of tis county.
Twelve children have been born of their union.
Mary, deceased, was the wife of Ole Hanson; Hans
is also deceased; and several died in childhood.
Those still living are Sebert, Christian, William
0., Sirena, Carl N., Nettie and Delia B.
Mr. Swenson continued his residence in Milwaukee until 1878, and engaged in sailing on the
Lakes and working in the shipyards for many
years. In this way lie acquired some capital with
which to begin business for himself.
On coming to Muskegon County, lie purchased
the farm belonging to his father-in-law, and now
owns one hundred and sixty acres of arable and
valuable land. When it came into his possession,
it was but slightly improved, but he has built
fences upon it, thus dividing it into fields of convenient size, and has erected all the necessary
buildings, which therefore stand as monuments to
his thrift and enterprise. lie has cleared the place
of its tinber, and where once were tall trees or
brush, waving fields of grain may now be seen.
Tills farm is one of tlhe desirable places of tile


neighborhood.   Mr. Swenson has been a great
worker throughout his life, and the industry and
enterprise which are numbered among his chief
characteristics have been the important factors in
his success. I-le may truly be called a self-made
man. In religious belief he is a Lutheran, and in
politics lie is a supporter of Republican men and
measu res.
7  NTON BASSIE, an enterprising farmer of
(  Laketon Township, Muskegon County,
was born in Prussia, Germany, January
22, 1821. HIe is the eldest of five sons
born to Anton and Mary (Randall) Bassie, natives
of Prussia, who spent their entire lives in tile land
of their birth. In the excellent (erman schools
the subject of this sketch acquired a fair education, and under thle careful supervision of his parents he was trained to habits of usefulness and industry. lie passed the early yeais of his life in
the Fatherland, wlence in 1855 he emigrated to
America, and after landing in this country proceeded directly to Wisconsin.
At Milwaukee Mr. Bassie worked at anything he
could find to do. On tile 22d of September, 1857,
he came to Muskegon, and for two and one-half
years worked in the sawmill of George Ruddiman.
During the winter of 1859 he was employed on
the Mississippi River levee in Mississippi. Returning to Muskegon, lie entered thle employ of Ryerson & Hill,and was engaged in tleir sawmill for a
period of thirty-two years, during tlhe last twelve
of which lie was second engineer, and prior to
that time was foremian. lie is justly proud of the
fact that, witl one exception, lie was in the employ of Ryerson & Hill for a longer period than
any of tlieir employes. He had the confidence of
the firm to an unusual extent, and labored untiringly for thleir welfare.
After so many years of close confillelnellt to his
work, Mr. Bassie felt tllh need of a cllange, and




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


561


accordingly in 1880 lie purchased his present farm,
upon which he located in 1881. He superintends
tlhe management of the sixty acres comprising the
farm, and finds a delightful home for his declining years in this quiet rural abode. l)uring his
long residence in Muskegon County, he llas been
an interested witness of many changes and imp)rovements, and has himself been an important
factor in developing the best interests of this section of thle State. At tlie time of his arrival in
Muskegon, this now prosperous city was a tiny
hamllet, containing about twelve houses, while the
surrounding country, instead of being dotted with
fine farms, was heavily timbered with pine and
other woods. lie lhad no money at the time he
sougllt a home in this country, but his courage
was dauntless and his energy untiring, and the result is tlat lie has attained to a position of prominence in the county.
May 9, 1867, Mr. Bassie was united in marriage
with Mrs. Mary (Nichols) Barrs, the widow   of
Jolln Barrs. Mrs. Bassie was born in Holstein,
Germany, and there became the wife of Mr. Barrs,
to wllom sle bore three children: Daniel, a resident of Muskegon; John, and Henry (deceased).
Mr. and Mrs. Bassic became the parents of three
child'en, namely: Lena, who is tile wife of John
Tedamnann, and resides witli our subject; Anna
(deceased), and Joseph, who is at home. Although
not active in local political affairs, Mr. Bassie
nevertheless takes an intelligent interest in matters of importance to the general welfare of tile
people, and casts his ballot for the support of
l)emocratic lpinciples....._.  &. —. "x:i _~&V ---.&
IRAII E. PA RKI(E. 'T tlleir noble, puslilln, I llrvdworkilg Ib)siness men is due the
( great l)prosl)erity, wealth anlld (advancement
of tile nolrtihern tier of States in commerciial importance. To their zeal, energy and inte grity will their fIt'lllle (re:atnls!(he ind(lebted, as it
ha.ts b)eetl ill tle p)astl, a ll(d aong tle niiames promli

nent in the promotion of solid trade in Muskegon
none will stand higher, or occupy the position more
justly tlan does tile subject of this sketch. I-e is
now retired from the active duties of life, satisfied
that he has contributed his share toward the prosperity and progress of Muskegon County. He was
born in Warren County, N. Y., April 18, 1821,
and is tile son of James Parker and the grandson
of.James Parker, Sr., who was of English descent.
James Parker, Jr., father of our subject, was a
native Vermonter and a miller by occupation.
Wlen a young man he went to the State of New
York, and tilere met and married Miss Susan Ellis, a native of the Empire State, born in Washington County, and the daughter of Ezekiel Ellis,
a Revolutionary soldier, who suffered untold hardships while in winter quarters at Valley Forge.
The latter was of Irish descent. To Mr. and Mrs.
Parker were born eight children, four of each sex,
and in New York State their last days were spent.
Hiram E. Parker, tile eldest of these children, was
eight years of age when lhe moved with his parents
to Essex County, N. Y., and he attended the common scllools of his district. Until sixteen years of
age he assisted his father in the mill, and from
that time up to tile age of twenty-one he was engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Upon attaining llis majority lie left home and
went to Glens Falls, Warren County, N. Y., where
lie obtained employment in a sawmill. There he
remained for a number of years, and while there
married Miss Matilda,ackson, a native of Glens
Falls, and tile daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Jackson. Following his marriage young Parker
moved to a farm and tilled the soil up to 1866,
whenl he removed to Muskegon County, and settled in Muskegon. lie entered the employ of the
firm of Mason & Da)vis, and continued with them
for seven years, after which he became Superintendent of thle firm of Mann & Moon, manufacturers of lumber. -Ie continued with this firm
Il) to 1890(, when lie retired from tile mill business,
and for the past two years has been janitor of
tlhe Lakeside school buildings.
In politics, Mr. Plarker is a Republican. He has
served as Town Collector, was a member of tile
School Board for tlhree years in tile village of




562


PORTRAIT AND BIOG(RAP'ICAL RECORD


Lakeside and has held other positions. He is a
member of Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. 0. 0. F.,
and Davis Encampment No. 47. For many years
he has held membership in the Metllodist Church,
and has been Trustee of the same for some time.
Mrs. Parker, who was also a worthy member of
that church, died in 1859, leaving one son, Byron
J. Mr. Parker's second marriage was with Miss
Mary C., daughter of David and Flora Hevland.
Mrs. Parker died leaving one daughter, Lelia C.,
who is now at home. [le married his present
wife, formerly Miss Lydia Decker, a native of St.
Joseplh County, Mich., in 1873, and they have a
pleasant home in the city.
/    UST BEGEMAN. It matters little what
fll c  vocation a man selects as his life occula(tion so long as it is an honorable one. If
ie is an honest, upright man, courteous in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and possessed of the
average amount of energy and perseverance, he is
bound to make his occupation a financial success.
Because the subject of this sketch is possessed of
all the above requirements is the chief reason he
has succeeded; because he is above the average in
point of business qualifications is the reason that
he to-day stands among the prominent men of the
county. He is at present the most efficient Supervisor of Blendon Township and discharges the duties of that position in a very satisfactory manner.
tIe was born in the city of Berlin, Germany, May
8, 1862, and is the only child of Conrad and Minnie
(Coleman) Begeman, natives of Germany,
The father came to America in 1862, while the
war cloud hung darkly over the Nation, and settled in the village of Allegan, Allegan County,
Mich., where lie was engaged in brick-making until his death, in 1873. He was twice married, and
was the father of three children by his first union:
Fred, Sophia and Minnie, all now married and living in Germany. The lnother of our subject
had also been twice married, first to a Mr. Cole

man, by whom she llad four children: Augusta,
who married Joseph Sickinger, and resides in New
York City; Ernest, who resides in Germany; William, who died in Allegan in 1892, and whose family now resides in that town; and Minnie, who resides in New York City. The parents of these
children were upright, enterprising citizens and
won many friends wherever they made their
home.
The subject of this sketch was but one year of
age when his mother died, and before he hlad
reached his twelfth year he was left fatherless.
He really commenced life for himself at the early
age of seven years and worked first at one thing
then another, attending the country school as opportunity offered. Until eighteen years of age lie
worked on a farm and tlen learned the trade of
marble-cutter, which lie followed for six years. In
1884 he moved to his present location, Bauer, and
established a general store, which he conducted
until 1893, when lie sold his stock of dry goods
and groceries to M. W. Otto. lie was first elected
Townslip Treasurer in 1888, re-elected in 1889,
and in 1890 was made Supervisor, to which position he has been re-elected each succeeding year.
In the year 1886 Miss Maggie Bauer, a native
of Trier, Germany, born January 2, 1864, became
his wife. Slie is the daughter of Nicholas and
Barbara (Tibald) Bauer, also natives of the Old
Country. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer came to America
about 1869 or 1870 and settled first in Grand
Rapids. Being a wagon-maker by trade, lie established a wagon-manufacturing sllop there and was
engaged in a successful business for some time.
He then sold his city property and moved to
Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Mich.
The postoffice of Bauer, establislhed on the line
between Blendon Township and Georgetown Township, was named in his lhonor. lie resided tliere
and made wagons for many years. On the 1st of
July, 1891, he sold his interest in this place and
now resides on a small farm in Georgetown Township. He and his wife are tile parents of three
children, as follows: Maggie, the wife of our subject; John and Kate. To Mr. and Mrs. Begeman
have been born two children: Bernic IB., born
October 6, 1888; and Albert W., born September




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


563


29, 1890. Mr. Begeman was formerly a member
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but does
not affiliate'with the lodge at present. He was a
member of Home Lodge No. 290, I. OC.O. F., of
the town of Allegan. Politically, he has always
been a strong Democrat.
+ E+-::    v+
SAAC J. QIICK.     Among. the worthy residents of Ottawa County, Micli., it is but
just to say that Mr. Quick occupies a conspicuous and honorable place, for lie has always been
honest, industrious and enterprising, and as a result has met with more than ordinary success. He
is now engaged in merchandising in Allendale, is
the efficient Postmaster of that place, and the credit
of a considerable share of the enterprise which
helps to make Allendale a thriving business point
is due to this gentleman. lie was born in Canada
July 11, 1850, and is the eldest of four children
born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Welch) Quick, natives of England. The l)arents went to Canada
in 1831, and moved from that country to this in
1851. While residing in Canada Mr. Quick was
engaged in farming, and when first coming to the
United States lie located in Detroit, Mich., where
lie remained for one year.
From there lie moved to Kalamazoo and was
engaged in teaming in that city, running the second dray ever put to work in that place. Kalamazoo, Mich., was at that time a small village of
not more tian one thousand inhabitants, and at
the time of the election of President Buchanan
the city had but five or six brick stores. In that
city Mr. Quick passed his last days, his death occurring in 1861. Although lie came to America
a very poor man, with a wife and one child, he
accumulated considerable property by his industry
alnd good management, and passed his last days in
peace and plenty. The three children following
our subject are as follows: Hattie, wife of John
Wolbrink, of Allendale Township; Jennie, wife of


George Goble, of Grand Rapids; and Eliza, wife
of Joseph Copernall, of Kalamazoo. The mother
of these children died in 1875. She was a member of the Church of England.
Isaac J. Quick received a common education in
the schools of Kalamazoo, but did not attend after
reaching his eleventh year. After the death of
the father, the responsibility of taking care of
himself fell upon his shoulders, and his mother
found a pleasant and comfortable home with him
until her death. He saw that his sisters were educated, and even at that early age showed excellent judgment and business acumen. When eleven
years of age he commenced working in a butcher
slop, but only continued there for one year, when
lie was taken with white swelling in his leg, and,
being lame, could not do butcher's work. HIe then
learned the barber's trade, and for seven years
worked at this. Finding that he had to be on his
feet too much while following this trade, he began
learning book-keeping. At the age of nineteen
years he had his leg amputated above the knee,
and as soon afterward as he was able he was employed by the Kalamazoo Brewing Company as
book-keeper, a position he filled for five years
with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his
employers.
On the 6th of December, 1875, he came 'to Allendale, and at once engaged in merchandising
in a small way, his capital being only $15 in ready
cash. HIe continued to do business here, and a
few years later received some money from the estate, by which he was enabled to enlarge his business. His cash sales for 1892 were $13,000. Since
coming to Allendale he has made enough money
to erect a handsome residence, also a good store
building, etc. In 1893, in company with a nuinber of, men, he erected the largest creamery in
the county, of which Mr. Quick is the Secretary.
The capital stock is $5,000. In 1876 he was appointed Postmaster, and this position he still fills.
In the same year he was elected Township Clerk,
and has been re-elected every year since with the
exception of one. He has been Notary Public for
sixteen years, and was one of the promoters of the
gravel road from this place to Grand Rapids, of
whicli he is one of the stockholders.




564


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Mr. Quick was first married Novenber 23, 1876,
to Miss Mary Slater, a native of New York. She
died in 1878, leaving no children. In 1881 Mr.
Quick was married to Miss Lucinda Pixley, a native of Allendale, and  a daughter of Ebenezer and Ann (White) Pixley, natives of America and England, respectively.  Mr. and Mrs.
Quick are the parents of two children, Ebenezer and Irving. Botll Mr. and Mrs. (Quick hold
membership in the Congregational Church, of
which the former is Trustee, and both are active workers in the same. Mr. Quick is a member
of Coopersville Lodge No. 376, I. 0. O. F., and Sir
Knight in Allendale Tent No. 818. Politically,
he is a leading Republican.
IILLIAM II. KRUPP. Among tile enter\  prising farmers of Fruitland Township,
Muskegon County, is this worthy man,
who lives on section 1. His birth occurred in
Detroit, Mich., in 1862. He is the son of James
W. and Mary (Dyest) Krupp. The former was a
son of William Krupp, and was a native of Dusseldorf, Germany, and was for many years a
soldier in the German army. He took part in
the War of 1812, fighting against Napoleon's
troops.
James W. Krupp was one of six children, 1832
being the year of his birth. He was brought up
in his native village,remaining by the old hearthstone until attaining his majority. He received superior advantages as to education, and was master
of three languages, speaking English, French and
German with equal fluency. He early learned
the gardener's trade, and crossed the Atlantic and
afterwards settled in Detroit, where he followed
gardening for many years. In 1863 lie removed
to Shiawassee County, becoming the owner of
eighty acres of property in Venice Township. On
this farm he resided until 1881, and the following year was killed in a runaway accident. He
was married in letroit to tlhe daughter of John


I)yest, who was also born in tlhe Fatherland. Six
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Krupp: Lizzie,
Sarah, William, Anna, Fred and Mamie. Thle father was a member of tlie Catholic Church in
Germany, but left tile faitl after his removal to
this country. lie was a member of tlhe Grange
and, politically, was a )ernocrat.
The education of William Krupp was obtained
in the common schools, and he made his home
with his parents until lie was married, at the age
of twenty-seven years, to Miss Minnie, daughter
of Burdette AMcMiclhael. Tley llave one daughtel, Nellie by name. After tile death of our subject's father, lie took charge of the farm, colnprising one hundred and twenty-four acres, and has
since ably managed tlhe estate. Mr. Krupp is a
distant relative of the noted German foundryman
who manufactured the fine guns in the Krupp Pavilion, at tile World's Fair, in Cliicago. The immnense castings and cannon to be seen there are
among the wonders of the wonderful exposition.
In politics Mr. Krupp is a worker in the ranks of
the )emocracy. IHe is possessed of those qualities
of push and perseverance which claim recognition
and praise from all. In his business relations lie
is strictly honorable, and his word is considered
as good as his bond.
r_      1i{*+|*+~ + SE++++e '
HOMAS MILLER1, deceased, a business man
of unutsual executive ability and enterprise,
' for nearly a score of years closely identified with the progressive interests of Muskegon,
Micl., entered into rest in tlie spring of 1885,
mourned by friends and fellow-citizens as a public loss. Mr. Miller was born in Pentshire, Scotland, in 1840, and was a descendant of a long
line of upright and industrious Scottish ancestors.
His fattier, Thomas Miller, born, reared and married near the Highlands of his native land, spent
his entire life of usefulness amid tile familial
scenes of his youtl. His mother,, Jennie (Malcolm) Miller, was likewise a dweller within old
Scotia.




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAP'IICAL RECORD.


565


Our subject passed tlhe lays of boyhood in his
birthplace, attending the common school of his
liome neighborhood, and as lie self-reliantly attained to manhood, prepared himself for the battle of life by learning the trade of a millwright.
Having reached his majority, he resolved to try
his fortunes in the land of liberty beyond the Atlantic, and, embarking from the nearest seaport,
emigrated to America, landing in Quebec. He
did not tarry long there, but proceeded directly to
the city of Buffalo, N. Y., where lie received almost immediate employment at his trade, and
worked for three years in that place. At tile
expiration of that time, in 1866, he journeyed to
Muskegon, and was here employed for two years
by Alexander Rodgers. In 1868 lie established
the Miller & Co. Iron Works, with Hollock &
Everett, but later owned the entire interest of
the prosperous plant, Hollock & Everett having
sold out. George Galbraith, brother of Mrs. Miller, then bought a third interest, and under tile
firm name of Miller & Co. an immense and profitable business, extending over a large area, was
most prosperously conducted until the deatli of
tlhe senior partner, our subject, in 1885.
January 23, 1863, were united in marriage in
the city of Buffalo, N. Y., Thomas Miller and Miss
Anna Galbraitl, the latter a native of Scotland
and daughter of James II. and Annie (McDlonald)
Galbraith, born, educated and married in old
Scotia. The father, a prominent manufacturer
and a man of fine attainments, emigrated to America in 1850, and witl his family located permanently in Canada, where tlhe estimable widow of
our subject was educated. Of the clildren who
blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, four are
now surviving. Birdie is the wife of Robert L.
Root, of Muskegon; Jennie M. is the wife of Frank
L. Orcutt, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Biegh is a promising student in the -igll School of Muskegon; and
Toat is also pursuing advanced studies in the
Muskegon High School.
Fraternally, our subject was a valued member
of Muskegon Lodge No. 92, I. 0. 0. F., and as
a man and citizen, public-spirited and enterprising,
possessed the high regard of all who knew him,
and to his children bequeatlled the memnory of a


successful business career, distinguished by earnest
purpose, manly self-reliance and sterling integrity
of character. Mrs. Miller, occupying a position
of useful influence, and an active worker in social
and benevolent enterprises, enjoys the confidence
and esteem of many friends. Sustained in the
hour of her affliction by the sympathy of a wide
acquaintance, she arose to the needs of the occasion and has proven herself a woman of rare ability and intelligence. The handsome family residence of Mrs. Miller is located on the corner of
First Street and Miller Avenue, Muskegon.,,YBE NIENItIrS, the senior member of the
/  well-known firm of Nienhuis Bros., the
Y  individual members of which are Wybe
and Abel J. Nienhuis, is one of the prominent
business men of the town of New Holland, Ottawa
County, Micl., and one of the most successful
merchants. lie is a native of this county, and the
son of John and Magdalene (Dykema) Nienhuis,
both natives of tle Netherlands. Johln Nienhuis
came to America in 1856, and came immediately
to Michigan, settling in Ottawa County when the
country was still a wilderness. He brought his
family with him, and they suffered all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. There
were no public roads at that time, and Mr. Nienhuis would take his grist to mill on his back. Of
course his farm was unimproved, almost a wilderness, and he went actively to work to clear and
make a home. This was Ihard work, but lie persevered and was beginning to see his way through,
when his death occurred. This was in 1862. Mrs.
Nienlhuis afterward married Henry Van Arendonk.
another of thle early settlers, and she is still living,
being one of the oldest pioneers of the county.
By her first husband she became the mother of
four children: Eildert, of this county; Jane, wife
of Johanus Hassevoort; Wybe and Abel J. Her
second union resulted in the birth of three dauigi



~


566


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAtL fECOfI).


ters: Cornelia, the wife of John Posthumus, of
Grand Rapids; Henrietta; and Gertie, the wife of
Henry Troost.
Wybe Nienhuis secured a fair education in the
common schools of the county, and when twentytwo years of age began working on a farm for
wages. Later he began farming on his own and
on rented land, but when twenty-three years of
age had an opportunity to clerk in a store, and
this continued until he was twenty-nine years of
age. He then embarked in his present business,
general merchandising, and justly merits the large
measure of success achieved by his good judgment
and excellent acumen. This was in 1886, and lie
commenced with a small cash capital, but his average sales amount to from $12,000 to *15,000 annually at the present time. lie and his brother
are wide-awake and thoroughgoing, and keep on
hand a choice selection of goods. They employ
one clerk, who thoroughly understands his business and is ever attentive and pleasant to the
numerous patrons. Besides this store, the brothers are the owners of forty acres of land, which
they have under a fine state of cultivation. The
store building is 24x60 feet, two stories high, with
a dwelling overhead, and Mr. Nienhuis also owns
a fine two-story residence, one of the handsomest
in the county.
He was married in 1880 to Miss Bertha C. Smith,
a native of this countr, and a daughter of Conrad
and Grietje (Sterken) Smith. She was the eldest of
three children, the others being Lena and Conrad,
the former the wife of Garrett Stigenga. To Mr.
and Mrs. Nienhuis were born five children: John,
Conrad, Lena, Henry and George. Mr. Nienhuis
is one of the promising young men of the county,
and in every walk of life has conducted himself
in an honorable and upright manner. For four
years he filled the office of Township Clerk, and
in the spring of 1893 he was elected Township
Trustee. He is alive to matters of public importance, and deeply interested in the success of the
Democratic party, with which he has ever been
identified.
Abel J. Nienhuis, junior member of the firm,
and a young man of more than ordinary business
ability, was educated in the common schools of


Ottawa County, and when twenty-six years of age
engaged in the present business. The brothers are
equally interested in the business, and display excellent judgment in its management. In the year
1887, he was married to Miss Jennie W. Rooks, a
native of this county, and the daughter of Albert
and Joannah Rooks, natives of Holland. Mr. and
Mrs. Rooks came to America at an early day, and
here reared their seven children: Garrett; William; Anna, wife of Bert Knooihuizen; Jennie W.,
Jolin, Cornelius and Lena, at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Rooks were members of the North
Holland  )utchl Reformed Clhurch.  Mr. Rooks
died in 1873, and Mrs. Rooks afterward married
Rheinder Bultema, by whom she had one child,
Herman. Two children were born to Abel J. Nienhuis and wife, Maggie and Albert. Mr. and Mrs.
Nienhuis hold membership in the North Hlolland
l)utch Reformed Church, and lie served as School
Insl)ector in 1883, being re-elected to that office in
1893. Politically, lie is a strong advocate of the
platform of the l)emocratic party.
D. KING, M. I)., the popular homeol)athic
physician and surgeon, residing at No. 122
Soutlh Terrace Street, Muskegon, Micl., enjoys a large field of practice and is widely
|known tlroughout tile city, where since his locaition in thie year 1884 he has met with most encoul aging success. Our subject is a native of
Oswego County, N. Y., and was born June 22,
1850. His father, Lorenzo Dow King, was born
in Rhode Island and was the son of David King,
a man of high character and personal courage, the
paternal grandfather lhaving been one of the brave
soldiers of the War of 1812. Tlhe remote ancestors
of the Kings were of English birth, but the family
early settling in the United States have here long
occupied positions of useful influence. The mother, Jane (Palmeter) King, was of New England
birth and, a native of Vermont, was the daughter of Bliss Palmeter, also born in tile Green




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.           567


Mountain State. The Palmeters, who were of
Scotch-Irish extraction, settled in America before
tlie French War and are numbered among the
most loyal citizens of our country. I)r. King
spent the days of boyhood in Oswego County,
N. Y., and prepared for college in the public
schools.
At seventeen years of age, setting out to seek
Iiis fortune in the West, our subject came alone to
Manistee, Mic. IIaving determined to adopt the
medical profession, he later read with Dr. W. W.
Wilson, of Alpena, Mich., and in 1880 entered
t-ahnemann College, of Chicago, and after a complete course of lectures graduated from that wellknown institution in 1883. In July, 1884, our
subject opened an office in Muskegon and engaged
in the general practice of medicine and surgery
witli excellent immediate success, and las continued in the active duties of his profession uninterruptedly ever since. In the fall of 1886 were
united in marriage B. D. King, M. D., and Miss
Elizabeth S. Baker, of Muskegon, our subject and
Ihis estimable wife receiving the congratulations
of many friends. The Doctor is politically a stalwart Republican and was in 1888 appointed City
Physician, for a twelvemonth ably discharging the
duties involved in the office. A man of enterprise, our subject is identified with the rapid progress of his home locality, and is ever ready with
word and deed to aid in the promotion of all matters of public welfare. Financially prospered, he
is directly interested in the Muskegon Valley Loan
Association, of which lie is a Director.
Fraternally identified with the Ancient Free &
Accepted Masons, Dr. King has a host of friends
among the order and is a member of Commandery
No. 22, of Muskegon. Ile also belongs toDe Witt
Clinton Consistory of the Valley of Grand Rapids
and likewise affiliates with Saiadin Temple, of the
Mystic Sliine, of Grand Rapids, and is a thirtysecond degree Mason. He is a member of the
Knights of the Maccabees and is Medical Director
of the Local Council of the National Union, the
headquarters being located in Ohio. Our subject
is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and popular among the fraternity. IIe is a
member of the Cllamber of Commerce of Mus

kegon, and, a citizen of fine business attainments,
avails himself of all the facilities of the day for
keeping fully abreast of the times socially and professionally and is welcomed to the homes of many
of the leading people of the city where he has for
eight years past steadily won his upward way.
ILLIA M BENJAMINSE. When tile books
arle balanced, when all accounts are finally
V    a adjusted, figuratively speaking, there will
be a larger credit balance opposite the name of
the gentleman wlo is the subject of this sketchl
tlan is usually placed to the credit of the average
of mankind. lHe is a native of the Netherlands,
born Marcli 4, 1831, and is possessed of all those
qualities of industry and energy so characteristic
of those of that nativity. Hle is now residing in
Holland. Micil., and the good moral tone of the
town is due in a great measure to the influence of
Mr. Benjaminse, who is the publisher of De Hollander. The editorials in tils paper command an
ever-widening area of circulation, while they carry with them  that weight and authority which a
clear, calm and intelligent judgment must always
secure.
When a boy, in 1844, our subject was brought
by his parents to America, and for four and a-half
years was a resident of the city of New York.
From there the parents removed to Grand Rapids.
In that city William Benjaminse grew to mature
years, received his education, and later began
learning the printer's trade in the office of the
Grand Rapids Enquirer. For four years he was
an apprentice in that office, and  afterward a
journeyman.   About the year 1860, he came
to Holland, Mich., and worked at the printer's
trade until the year 1868, when he assumed the
editorship of De Hollander, now the oldest Dutch
paper in the United States. He has improved
it in every way, and it is now one of the brightest, newsiest papers in this part of the State.
De Hollander is published in the interest of the




568


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


general public, and its excellent moral tone has
had a most refining influence on all who are fortunate enough to obtain a copy.
Mr. Benjaminse has been engaged in the newspaper business in Holland for thirty-three years,
and is thoroughly familiar with its every detail.
In the year 1855, he was married to Miss Johanna
Van de Luyster, daughter of J. Van de Luystcr,
who, with the Rev. Mr. Vander Meulen, was the
colonizer of Zeeland in 1847. Eleven children
were born to the union of our subject and his wife,
of whom five are still living. Politically, Mr. Benjaminse is a Iemocrat, and the paper, De JIollander,
is devoted to the interests of that party. He is
public-spirited and enterprising, and has served
on the Board of Education. A member of the
Holland Christian Reformed Church, Mr. Benjaminse takes much interest in religious affairs.
IITFRED    PURCHASE     is a merchant of
South Blendon and the efficient servant of
IUncle Sam in the post-office of that place.
He is well known throughout Ottawa County, and as a successful, enterprising business man
has few equals. Like many of the representative
citizens of the county, he was born in this State,
his birth occurring in Hillsdale County September
28, 1852, and like many of them he is deeply interested in the progress and development of his
native State. He is third in order of birth in a
family born to the union of James and Elizabeth
(Hunkford) Purchase, natives of the Empire State.
James Purchase came to Michigan in the old
Territorial days, and it, is a source of inspiration
to brave doing and endurance to learn the history
of those who through hardships and privations
won a place for themselves in this northern tier of
States. He was married in Michigan to Miss
Hunkford, who came here as early as himself, and
they settled in Hillsdale County, which was then
nothing but a wilderness. Adrian, sixteen miles
off, was the nearest trading-post, and there were


no roads, only Indian trails. Indians were numerous and the woods abounded with game. The
Purchase family entered land from the Government and engaged in farming as soon as the land
was in proper condition. When James Purchase
first came to the Territory of Michigan with his
parents hle was but a lad, and his opportunities for
getting an education were poor indeed. Being
naturally of a studious turn of mind, lie improved
every moment of spare time and eventually became one of the best-informed farmers of the
county. Previous to coming to Michigan,and just
after leaving New York State, the grandfather of
Mr. Purchase resided for a short time in the Buckeye State. Farming was his principal occupation
in life, but for twenty-five years he ran a threshing machine in the county, the first "groundhog"
thresher.
In 1872 Mr. Purchase sold his farm and moved
to Ottawa County, settling in Georgetown Township, where lie tilled the soil until 1890. I-e then
rented his farm for two years and removed to
Grand Rapids. Later lie sold the farm and is now
living a retired life. lie is now in his seventyeighth year, and hls wife in her sixty-eighth year.
Both have been exemplary and worthy members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church for years.
Seven children were born to their union: Jane,
now  Mrs. George Gettings, of Stanton, Mich.;
Frank, a resident of Hillsdale County; Alfred, our
subject; Sarah, now Mrs. Duncan Van Allen, of
this county; Joel, of this county; James L., of
Grand Rapids; and Willard, also of Grand Rapids.
The parents of these children are only two of the
many who have spent the greater portion of their
lives in developing the country that their children
and grandchildren might enjoy the advantages
which they themselves were denied. In truth, we
of to-day are the"heirs of all the ages" and profit
by the labor and self-denial of the hard-working
classes of the past.
Alfred Purchase received a limited education in
the district schools of his neighborhood and when
twenty years of age branched out to fight his own
way in life. In the county where his father had
firstsettled he rented land for twelve years. Aside
from this he was also engaged in railroad con



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


569


struction and various other occupations, and on
two separate occasions lost his entire earnings. In
1885 le opened his present mercantile business
with a capital of $275 and now carries a stock of
goods valued at $3,000. His business increased
rapidly from sales amounting to $1,000 in 1885 to
$10,000 in 1892. Iis stock consists of general
merchandise, and he is dealing slightly in agricultural implements.
In June, 1873, Mr. Purchase married Miss Alma
Lick, a native of Canada and a daughter of Adam
and Sarah (Fox) Lick, natives respectively of
Canada and England. Mr. Lick came to Miclligan
in 1869, settled  in Olive Township, Ottawa
County, and in connection with farming was engaged in the butcher's trade. At present he resides at Ottawa Station and is engaged in 2nerchandising and farming. He has been twice married
but had no children by his first union. Ten children were born to his second union, seven of
whom are living and named as follows: Alma;
Adelaide, wife of Ferd Pixley, of Olive Township; David, of South Dakota; Mary; Daniel, of
South (maha; Fred, of Grand Haven; and Ray,
of Olive Township. Mrs. Lick was also twice married, and by her first husband, a Mr. Darrell, she
had one son, Alfred, who is deceased, Mr. Lick
is now Postmaster at Ottawa Station. To Mr. and
Mrs. Purchase have been born two children, Edith
L.and Etta. Our subject has been one of the successful business men of the county since commencing his mercantile life and is esteemed by all.
lie is giving his daughters good educational advantages.
j, AJ. CHARLES E. STORRS, proprietor of
Storrs' Vineyard, and a prominent citizen
of North Muskegon, was born in West
Moriah Township, Essex County, N. Y.,
on tle 3d of September, 1833. lie is an honored
representative of a patriotic family tlat has


furnished many valiant soldiers to our country in
time of need. lis father, Elijah Storrs, a native
of Middletown, Conn., served with courage and
efficiency during the War of 1812, and from the
rank of Ensign was promoted to Captain as a reward for meritorious cond(uct at the battle of
Plattsburg. In 1834 lie removed as far West as
Summit County, Ohio, where lie located on a farm
in Northfield Township. Thence, in 1864, lie
came to Michigan and settled in Grand Haven,
whlere lie died at the age of eighty-four.
'The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joselph
Storrs, was a native of Connecticut and served in
the Colonial army during the Rlevolutionary War.
Ile was of Welsh descent. 'rie mother of our
subject was Julia Holcomb, and her fatlier served
with tie famous Green Mountain boys during
the War of the Revolution. Sile was born and
Ieared in Vermont, and after a happy wedded life
of fifty-nine years passed to hler final rest at the
age of four-score and two years. The Holcomb
family originated in England.
Elijah Storrs and his good wife were the parents
of ten children, seven of whom attained mature
years, namely: Clark N., a resident of North
AMuskegon; Wales F., deceased; Iarriet W., the
wife of C. II. D)unbar, of Brecksville, Ohio; Carlton L., of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Eliza A., the
widow of Charles Reynolds, and a resident of
Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Maria L., the wife of James
H. Coates, of Brecksville, Ohio; and Charles E.,
the subject of this biographical notice. The lastnamed is the youngest surviving member of the
family. At the time his parents removed to Summit County, Ohio, lie was about six months old,
and his boyhood years were passed upon his
father's farm.
September 24, 1854, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Maria Van Noate, a native of
Independence, Ohio, and immediately after their
marriage the young couple came to Michigan and
settled in Grand Rapids, where they spent the
winter of 1854-55. Removing from  that city to
Clinton County, Iowa, they resided there until
1858, when they returned to Michigan and located in Blendon Township, Ottawa County. For
two y ears Mr. Storrs was engaged in the mill




570


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and lumber business in Ottawa County, and in
the spring of 1861 he purchased a one-half interest in a sawmill there.
Shortly after the opening of the Civil War,
Mr. Storrs enlisted in Company B, Sixth Michigan
Cavalry, and in 1862 went to the front in the
capacity of Supernumerary Second Lieutenant. On
the 16th of March, 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and on the 17th of July, 1863,
was commissioned Captain. He continued in that
rank until lie was promoted to be Major, on the 6th
of February, 1865, and was serving in that position at the time of his discharge. He participated
actively in many engagements, and at Newby's
Cross Roads, July 24, 1863, was wounded in the
left shoulder by a minie-ball. He was honorably
discharged at Leavenworth, Kan., October 10, 1865,
and on being mustered out of the service returned
to his home in Ottawa County.
Resuming his lumber and milling business, which
le had temporarily discontinued, Maj. Storrs was
thus engaged until 1876, when he disposed of his
interests in Ottawa County and removed to Eden
Township, Mason County, this State. There for
a number of years he made his home on a farm.
In 1882 he came to North Muskegon in the capacity of book-keeper for the C. N. Storrs Lumber
Company, a position which lie filled acceptably.
In 1886 he, with Frank Storrs, purchased the
Peninsula Fruit Farm, the name of which they
changed to Storrs' Vineyard. This fine farm is
devoted to the raising of fruits, a business in
which the Major is particularly well informed.
Twenty acres are planted in a vineyard, while
three acres are devoted to garden, the balance,
twenty-seven acres, being woodland. From thirty to forty-five tons of grapes each season are
raised, and the grapes, for flavor and quality, are
unsurpassed, if equalled, in the State.
The Major and his wife have a family of three
children: Alice J., wife of Leroy A. Franklin, of
Grand Rapids; Frank, who aids in the cultivation
of the fruit farm; and Maggie, the wife of Elliott
D. Prescott, a resident of Ravenna, Mich. Maj.
Storrs cast his first ballot in Ohio in 1854, and has
been a Republican ever since the inception of that
party. In 1875 lie represented Blendon Township


on the Board of Supervisors of Ottawa County,
and he also served as Township Clerk and Iighway Commissioner while residing there. In Eden
Township, Mason County, he served as Supervisor
during the years 1877, '79, '80 and 1881, and was
a member of the Board of School Examiners of
Mason County. Hie served as Supervisor of the
township of Laketon, Muskegon County, in 1882
and 1887, and for one year filled the position of
Assessor of North Muskegon. Hie also served as
Alderman of North Muskegon for one year. Socially, he is identified with Amos E. Steele Post
No. 280, G. A. R., at North Muskegon, and lhas
frequently served as Commander of the post. In
addition to local duties he has been Inspector of
the Department of Michigan, G. A. R., and is Food
and Dairy Commissioner of tile State.
ILLIAM 1. BATCIIELI)ER, one of Muskegon County's most successful farmers,
/  and the owner and occupant of a finelyimproved farm on section 14, White River Township, is one of the heroic defenders of the Old
Flag, to whose courage we owe the liberty of
which our country boasts. He is the son of John
I). and Bessie (Brockway) Batchelder, natives of
Vermont, who came to Michigan nearly sixty
years ago, and settled in Yorkville at a period so
early in the history of that now thriving place,
that even the most prophetic eye could scarcely
have discerned its present prosperity.
Some time after settling in Yorkville, the stepmother of our subject was killed by a tornado,
the mother of our subject dying when lie was
seven months old. His father afterward married
again, and to that union four children were born.
From Yorkville he went to Galesburg, where the
last four children were born, and from Galesburg he
moved to Nebraska, where lie died in 1875. Born
at Yorkville, Mich., October 22, 1839, the subject
of this sketch was seven months old when lie was
orphaned by his mother's death. Ile was then




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


571


taken in a lumber wagon to Malone, N. Y., where
his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Clapman, tenderly cared for him in his infancy and childhood.
They reared him as their own child, and lhe supposed they were his parents until he was seventeen years of age, when lie learned that they were
uncle and aunt.
At the age of seventeen years our subject went to
make his home with anothler uncle, A. W. Brockway, a banker of Cleveland, Olio. Prior to leaving
the Empire State lie liad received a good academic
education, and after locating in Cleveland he was a
student in the  Iigh School of that city. Later,
lie carried on his studies at Albion College, which
his uncle, W. II. Brockway, built. At the age of
almost twenty years he was chosen for the position of foreman on the Lansing & Grand Traverse
Railroad, but after working in tlat capacity for a
short time, he resigned and proceeded to Saginaw,
where lie worked in a mill until the commencemen t of the Civil War.
November 16, 1861, tile name of William I).
Batchelder was enrolled as a member of Company
1), Twelfth Michigan Infantry, and as a lrivate in
tlie ranks lie participated in the battles of Shiloh,
Corinth, luka, Tallahatchlie, and all the engagemients of Gens. Prentiss and John A. Iogan's divisions, up to and including Middleburgh. After
a year's active service lie was appointed on detached service in the Fifth Ohio Ileavy Artillery,
stationed at I)uvall's Bluff and Little Rock, Ark.
Later, lie was transferred to the Second Missouri
Light Artillery, and with his regiment saw some
active fighting at White River. lie was especially
fortunate, for lie was neither wounded nor imprisonedl during the entire period of his service, covering three years and three months. lIe was discharged January 7, 1865, at Duvall's Bluff, Ark.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the
army, Mr. Batclielder returned to Michigan and
sojourned for a short time in Albion. In 1865 lie
came to Muskegon County and lurchased the farm
where lie has since resided.  It was then wholly
unimproved, and tlme modern conveniences now
noticeable tlere arc tle work of the present owner.
lIe lihs erecte(1 a subtstantial set of farm  buildings
and lias pllaced eighty-five of the ninety acres un

der excellent cultivation. Socially, he is identified with Ferry Post No. 3, G. A. R., and is
prominent in this organization.
In 1865, Mr. Batchelder was united in marriage
with Miss Louisa Walters, a native of Michigan,
who formerly resided near Galesburg. After their
marriage, the young couple settled on section 14,
White River Township, remaining here during the
winter seasons and working in Muskegon during
the summers. Through economy and industry
they have succeeded in gaining a place among the
successful and well-to-do people of the community,
and are esteemed wherever known. Tley are the
parents of two daughters, Cora and Etta, to whom
they have given good educational advantages,
and who amply repay every effort made on their
behalf. Mr. Batchelder appreciates the value of a
good education, and while a member of the School
Board has rendered effective service in the interests of the schools. In politics a Republican, he
has been active in the ranks of his chosen party
for a number of years. Twice he has been nominated for Supervisor, and upon one occasion
lacked only one vote of being elected, while at the
other election lie lhad a minority of two. Ile has
served as Townshipi) Treasurer and in other local
oflices of trust.
I 1)E 1)E GRAAF. The subject of this sketch,
well klown to a host of acquaintances in this
1  section, is not only a baker of established reputation but an ideal farmer, for not only is every
branch of his farming operations carefully looked
after, but his example of industry, push and
great enterprise has made a lasting impression on
the industrial affairs of his section and has been
emulated by many who otherwise would have, like
Dickens' Wilkins Micawber" waited for something
to turn lup."  Like the majority of people of his
neighborhood, lie is a native of the Netherlands. as
were also his parents, John and Alice (Kofman)
I)eGraaf. The father was a tailor by trade and




572


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


followed the same in his native country for many
years. He reared the following children: Henry;
Klaas, deceased; Adriaan; Alice, who died young;
Ide, our subject; Alice, deceased; and Jennie. The
father held membership in the Reformed Church
and was a worthy and exemplary citizen.
Until eighteen years of age our subject remained
under the home roof and later learned the baker's
trade. He married in the Old Country Miss Gertie
I)e Beer, a native of Holland, and the daughter of
Daniel and Zwaantji (Van Derlaan) De Beer, also
natives of that country. Mrs. De Graaf was a
widow when our subject married her, and was the
mother of one child, Christina, by the first union.
By her marriage to our subject she became the
mother of three children: Alice, wife of Pike Beukema; Adriaan, who married Tony Nukamp; and
John, who became the hIusband of Mary Van Lente.
In 1868, Mr. l)e G(raaf and family took passage for
America and on reaching the coast of the United
States made their way to Michigan, and located in
Holland, where numbers of their countrymen had
located. He was entirely without means, but he
found employment in a planing-mill and was engaged as engineer in the same for over six years.
After the tire in that city, Mr. De Graaf began
working at his trade in his own hiouse, baking by
the kitchen stove, and continued this for six
months, when he came to Zeeland. In that town
lie operated a bakery for some time and then bought
fifteen acres where he now lives, adding to the original tract from time to time until lie is now the
owner of sixty acres of excellent land. He built
a bakery, and although his trade was mostly confined to his own countrymen, otlers began to relish his fine "Holland rusks," of which he made a
specialty, and lie soon had his hands full. Now
the business has so increased that lie ships to nearly
every State in tile Union, and five thousand rusks
are turned out every day.
After reaching this country, tlie following children were born to our subject and wife: I)ina, wife
of Rev. Thomas L. I)eLange; Jennie, wife of Sake
Boonstra; l)aniel, deceased; and Ida. Socially, Mr.
D)eGraaf is: melmber of the Reformed Church of
Zeeland, andi for twelve years was an Elder in tile
same. IHis son Adriaan was interested with him ill


the business. He is married and the father of four
children,as follows: Ide (a Dutch name for bay);
Henrietta, Richard and Gertie. Adriaan possesses
all the excellent business qualities of his father and
is wide-awake and thorough going.
ORNELIUS BOS, who is extensively engaged in growing celery in Grand Haven,
Ottawa County, claims Holland as the land
of his nativity, his birth having occurred in tile
province of Jerome, February 3, 1841. His father,
John Bos, died in Holland, and tile mother, who
bore the maiden name of Knelska Deint IHanns,
also spent her entire life in that country.
No event of special importance occurred during
the childhood and youth of our subject, which
were quietly passed in his native land midst play
and work. His school privileges were such as were
furnished free by thle Government. He remained
in Holland until twenty-four years of age, when,
having heard excellent reports of America and
the advantages and privileges it affords, lie resolved to try his fortune in tile New World.
Crossing the briny deep, he landed in New York
City, but did not tarry long in the East, coming
at once to Ottawa County, Mich., where he began
working in a sawmill on the Grand River. Two
years later, in 1867, lie came to Grand Haven and
opened a meat-market, which he carried on for
twenty years. Hie met with success in tlat undertaking. It was not long before he had built up a
good trade, wliicl constantly increased until lie
received a most liberal patronage, and in consequence reaped a good income. At length lie sold
out, desiring to give hls attention to other pursuits.
In 1885 MII. Bos began raising ceiery, and has
since continued in that industry. Having bouglt
a tract of twenty-two acres of land, lie l)lanted
thirteen acres of this witli a good grade of celery.
lle raises tile "white pllume" variety, which is of a




PORTRAIT ANI BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


573


very superior quality, and does an extensive celery
business, making large shipments to Chicago by
boat. lie washes and markets from   seven hundred to one thousand dozen stalks per day., and
has a large trade in thle home as well as the foreign
market. I-e now gives his entire time and attention to this business, which is to him a profitable
and paying one. He has made large investments
in real estate and owns a number of residences
and other town property.
On the 12th of November, 1873, Mr. Bos was
united in marriage with Miss Malria Van Doorne,
of Grand Haven Township, and their union has
been blessed with six children, as follows: Cornelia,
Maria, Jennie, Martha, Henrietta and Mortimer.
The family circle yet remains unbroken and all
are yet under the parental roof. The parents are
members of the Christian Reformed Church. Their
home is the abode og hospitality, and in the community where they live they have many friends.
Mr. Bos is a Republican in politics, and was honored witl an election to the office of Alderman of
tile Third Ward, which position he filled two years.
lie is a man of excellent business ability, and his
success in life is due to his able management, perseverance and enterprise. His example in this
(irection is one well worthy of emulation.
BRAIIAIAM MASTENBROOK, an enterprisi ing and lifelong general agriculturist residing upon a finely cultivated farm in
Ottawa County, Mich., is a citizen of superior ability and is highly esteemed  by tle
community among whom his days of usefulness
are passed. IIis father, Paul Mastenbrook, was a
native of tile Netherlands and, reared, educated
and married in llis birtlhplace, there attained to
mature age before, witll hils wife and children, lie
emigrated to America, arriving in tile United
States in tile year 1853. lie did not tary long in
tlIe East, but jSournlleve to ()ttawa Coutllt, Micil.,
makilig Iis hlome in Eastmanville. Born in 1798,


he was fifty-five years of age when le located in
the Wolverine State, and survived his change of
residence but two years, passing away in 1855.
A farmer by occupation, the father was a man of
earnest purpose and excellent judgment and was
a Justice of the Peace in the village of Onddorp.
Our subject was the fourth in a family of seven
sons and daughters, who were in the order of their
birth: Jaenette, deceased; Jane, deceased; John;
Abraham; Clara; Cornelius; and Paul; the five last
named all at the present time surviving.
Abraham Mastenbrook after arriving in America
remained.in New Jersey for six months and then
settled in Michigan, in Ottawa County, upon a farm
in Eastmanville. For about fourteen years he has
been a resident of his present homestead, eight
miles southeast of Grand Haven. IIe operates
ninety acres of valuble land, which when settled
u)pon was in its wild state, fifty acres now having
yielded to high cultivation. Mr. Mastenbrook
is thoroughly at home in tile details of agricultural
life, having spent his youth upon his father's farm.
IIe is also an experienced horticulturist, his acres
bountifully producing wheat, rye, corn, potatoes,
apples, pears, p)lums, grapes, strawberries  and
raspberries. Born in the Netherlands, our subject
received a good education in the schools of his
native land, and when he came to this country was
well fitted to successfully make his way in the
world. In 1861, Abraham Mastenbrook and Miss
Nellie Van der Made were united in marriage.
Mrs. Mastenbrook emigrated with her parents from
Europe in 1848. They first settled in Kingston,
N. Y., but after living in that State three or
four years removed to Michigan and located in
Grand Haven.
Ten children blessed the home of our subject and his estimable wife, but six are now deceased. The four surviving are Paul; Minard;
Leonard and Nettie. Three of the children are
with the parents, but Minard, married to Miss
Julia McCracken, is in a home of his own. A man
of temperate habits, frugal and industrious, Mr.
Mastenbrook   has  been  financially  prospeied.
Fully appreciating the advantages of a Republican
govelrnmenlt, our0 sutl)ject lias ever been a patriotic
citizen of his adopted country and is a veteran of




574


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


the late war, and under Sherman's command participated in the famous march to the sea. Mr.
Mastenbrook was engaged in the battles of Atlanta,
Chattanooga, Columbia, S. C., and Savannah, and
took an active part in the various fights and skirmishes of the long campaign. At the close of the
war returning to Ottawa County, he again resumed
the peaceful avocation of a tiller of the soil. A member of the Grand Army of the Republic, our subject is fraternally associated with Champlain Post,
No. 29, at Grand Rapids, and much enjoys the reunions of the order. Mr. and Mrs. Mastenbrook
are both worthy members of the Congregational
Church at Eastmanville and are ever ready to aid
in the support of church   work, also giving
liberally to benevolent enterprises of their home
locality. Politically a Democrat, our subject is
now most acceptably discharging the duties of
Highway Commissioner and, taking a deep interest
in both local and national issues, is intelligenty
posted on all the vital questions of the day. I-e
and his family occupy positions of useful influence
and are universally esteemed.
L __ —  _ --- q.4.~  4.q.jg^.W,
Fr   ++++      ++++++:           v
T    MOLLIN II. PELTON. Ottawa County has
I[A A no homestead more pleasantly situated than
A,   that owned and occupied by the subject of
this sketch, who is one of Tallmadge Township's most enterprising farmers and fruit-growers.
At the present time he cultivates about three hundred acres of land, fifty of which are planted to
fruit trees, and the balance devoted to the raising of
cereals. In cultivating tile soil, Mr. Pelton displays the possession of excellent judgment and
good business qualities, and to these characteristics
is due no small measure of his success.
In referring to thle parental history of our subject, we find that lie is tile son of Rollin and Abigail (Pelton) Pelton, natives respectively of Ver

mont and Canada. The former was educated in
the Green Mountain State, where lie was for some
time a student in an academy. Upon attaining
maturity lie migrated to Canada, and engaged in
business as a lumber dealer until 1848, when he removed to the States and, locating in Michigan, settled in the vicinity of Grand Rapids. Later lie
removed to Ottawa County, and upon the home lie
there established he conducted farming operations
until his demise, which occurred in 1868. IHe
was a man of upright character, firm in his convictions and courageous in the defense of his opinions.
IHe and his wife were the parents of five children,
of whom the subject of this notice is the youngest.
Born in Canada in 1844, Rollin II. Pelton was
a child of four years when brought by his parents
to the States, and he grew to manhood amid the
scenes of Kent and Ottawa Counties, Mich., where
lie availed himself to the utmost of such educational advantages as the common schools afforded.
As he was observant and thoughtful, he supplemented his schooling by self-culture, and in that
way became the possessor of broad information
upon all subjects of general interest. He was still
quite young when he came to Ottawa County, and
here he also prosecuted his studies in the public
schools. From boyhood he has been familiar with
agricultural pursuits, and upon choosing an occupation in life, selected that to which he had been
reared.
Remaining an inmate of the parental home until the death of his father, ouLrsubject then assumed
charge of the home farm, and has ever since conducted agricultural operations upon an extensive
scale. Success has crowned his labors, and he is
now recognized as one of the substantial farmers
of the county. HIe has also met with considerable
success in the raising of small fruits, for which he
finds ready sale at the neighboring markets. In
his political belief, he adheres with fidelity to the
platform and principles of the Democratic party,
of which lie is one of the leaders in this section.
Ile has held the office of Supervisor for a number
of years, representing Tallmnadge Townslilp upon
tlle Board of Ottawa County.




I.-::IFT_7=7
4
I.;r       -: IFFS          - a        I
ill                          la.=   ----                 =-                -       I
TIIII;. i
BIO Nestle p IG is.


A
Adamns, Jon.       23
Adams, John Q........ 39
Aiken, G.W..........281
Albers, John..........225
Alford, Charles.........521
Allen, Alfred..........479
Anderson, Halvor.......524
Anderson, William.......442
An-el, W. M..........553
Angel],D. M.'........204
Anys. John............31
Arthur, Chester A.......99
Aslakson, Hans........545
Atwood, H. B.........471
Aubry, E. J..........466
Averill, WA. S..........78
B
Baar,Jacob..........288
Baker, 11. D..........521
Baker,J. J...........440
Balbirnie, James........266
B.aikemia, J. E.........303
Barnaby, W. G........556e
lBarnard, Mrs. H. C. -....26
Bartholomiew, E. E.    4.....71
Bassie, Anton.........561)
Batchelder, WV. 1).......571)
Banknechit. Jacob......317
Bean, E. J., M1. D.......  i:;
Beernian, L. 0.........171
Begeiian, Gust..........62
Blehrens, Edwar-d.....  11
Bell, D. G........... 21'
lBeient, H. C....i......l
IBenjaminitse, Williami.....567
Bennink, Geierhard.... '.215
IBi-nel I. T. H...... 2...
1ilz, Aloys...........51.3


Bither, J. J...........185
Blanchard, 0. 1)........20.5
Bloecker, Henry........27:1
Bolt, H. J...........111)
Bolt, T.J. G.......197
Bos, Cornelius.........572
Bos, Doeke...........528
Boyce, S. H..........311
Boyer, Enos.      313
Brennan, Capt. Simon....519
Briggs, C. E..........430
Brittin, A.- B..........265
Broner, Samuel.341......m
Brott, C. A...........291
Brott, W. J...........  )55
Brown, C. P.,M. D.......422
Brown, Hobby.........214
Brown, S. E..........122
Brundage. Hoii. C. L...... 18
Buchanan, Jaines...... 75
Busby, John, MX. D.......482
Buswell, H. W..........
C
Califf, D. E...........456
Callan, T. B..........266
Campbell, F. H........328
Campbell. John........305.Carpenter, Honi. William.....19:1
Canr, 0. B...........167
Carr, WV. T...........261
Cavansugh-l, James......296)
Clha-ddock, IDr. Gilbert.....368
Champion, D. M........427
Chapmian,.J.H.       8
(base, C. A..........274
Cheesiiiaii,.J. I)........128
Chittenidei, WV. 13.1......:42
Church, 11. B.1........75
Clark, C. H-1...........51
Clark, F4. P.......... 18S7
Clark,.J. II...........2197
Cleveland1(, S. ("IA rVN.... 1013
Cobb,(4.N...........137
COnleY, \V. B...4133
Counc1(~l, P. J..........2137


Cook, C.J...........414
Cooley, HA.46
Cornelius, J. M.........499
Cosgrove, A. M........465
Covell, M4. B..........314
Cowles, T. P..........155
Crocker, WV. H. H.......420
Crockett, William.......459
Crosby, E. G..........276
Cutler, Hon. Dwight......142
D
Daggett, Solon.........2-48
Darling, D. M.1....... 38
Davies, Joshua........153
IDavis,J. T............351
Dayton, J. T., MX. D......S18
De Graaf, Adriaan.......571
De Graaf, Ide.........571
De Haas, John.........413
De Kruif, Henry, Jr......416
Delaney, John.........246
Delano, H. L..........386
De Long, Hon. Nelson.....141
De Roo,. J.30
De Vries, B. J.........394
De Vries, H.J.........49~2
De Vries, Jerry.S.......58
Dewitt P. A.........*345
Diekema, G. J.........36
Diekema, Wiepke....    343
Dosker, Rev. H. E.......494
Dove,C. J., M.1)........O3
1)ow, A. I............397
Dowd, Palick15
Duttenhofeir, E. M.......18:1
EV
Eckboff, John.........221
Edward,J.1)..........508


Edward, Josephi —.....386
Einlaw, A.J3.........1:33
Estes, S. D...........2:33
Evans, Seth..........283
Eyke. Leonard.........252
F
Fahling, Philip........206
Fallon, J. P.........292IF
Farr, William.........275
Fay, William.........173
Fenner, John......... 35
Ferry, Hon. T. W.      134
Fillmore, Millard...     67
Fleming, R.A.........500
Fox, F.J............396
Franks, I. R..........551
Fulkerson, Burnett......246
Fuller, George.........448
G
Gamble, C. S..........245
Garfield, James A.......9.5
Gates, D. J..........363
Gee,J. J.............162
GilIL. W...........378
Gillhespy, John........167
Godfrey, B. B., M. D......400
Goodenow, Isaiah.......196
Gordon,0. E..........238
Gordon, 0. P..........373
Grant, Ulysses S........87
Gtinn,C. L...........277
H4
Hac kley, Hon.- C. H.    324
Hall, Francis.........520
Hall, John.....:.....348
Harrison, Benjamin......107






576


INDEX.


Harrison, William Henry.... 51
Hayes, H. H.................254
Hayes, Rutherford B........ 91
Hayward, Edwin............335
Hayward, Montgomery.....395
Heyboer, Peter..............364
Heyboer, Philip..............364
Hills, C. H....................255
Hinman, Frederick..........469
Hitchcock, G. T.............145
Hoffman, George............256
Holt, Hon. H. H..............117
Hopkins, A. G., M. ID........236
Horton, A. P.................439
Horton, I. C..................387
Howden, J. J................. 538
Hoyt, Hon. C. K.............315
Hubert, Gustav..............184
Hudson, H. E...............347
Hummer, G. P...............271
Humphrey, E. J.............261
Hunter, Hiram.............267
Huntley, Alfred..............273
Huntley, James..............450
Huntoon, I. F................332
Hutchinson, James..........201
Jackson, Andrew............ 43
Jackson, B. H................455
Jasper, Anthony.............376
Jelterson, Thoilas........... 27
Jekel, Henry.................510
Jenison, Luman..............371
Johnson, Andrew.......... 83
Johnson, J. E................217
Johnston, G. N..............227
Johnston, Thomas........... 306
Jones, Frank................409
Jones, G. W.................258
Jones, John..................357
Joy, Asa.....................410
Kamhout, Marinus..........355
Kanters, Rokus..............496
Kelley, M. C..................212
Kelly, W. D................. 136
Kelly, W. D...2...............56
Kemme, Claus................351
Kenney, R. N...............298
Keppel, Govert..............138
King, B. D., M..............566
King, C. L.................122
Kleyn, J. R................ 272
Kolb. William...............06
Kollen, Prof. G. J............16
Kooiman, Joost..............549
Koon, C. E., M. D.....      17.....8
Kremers, Henry, M. D........331


Kronemyer, Albert.......... 481
Krupp, W. H.................564
Lahuis, Kasper...............473
Lamoreaux, R. G............506
Lange, Hermann............286
Lange, Max..................506
Langkowel, Herman........540
Larson, Thomas.............470
Latham, G. A................241
Laubach, John..............437
Lawton, Perley..............405
Lee, Capt. Seth..............257
Le Fevre, G. L., M. D........421
Leslie, Hon. C. H............429
Lewis, J. C...................476
Lillie, Benjamin.............544
Lillie, C. C....................203
Lillie, Roswell...............544
Lillie, W. 1...................282
Lincoln, Abraham........... 79
Losby, P. W..................413
Lugers, Luke................337
Lyman, Lucius..............391
M
Macdonald, R. J.............. 510
Madison, James............. 31
Maffett, Samuel..............171
Malcolm, James.............242
Mangold, Frank..............383
Martin, W. T.................158
Mason, G. H.................123
Mason, R. B..................467
Mastenbrook, Abraham......573
Masterson, John.............432
McBride, J. F................213
McComb, William............147
McKillip, W. M..............172
McKinstry, Hon. W. H...... 146
McLaughlin, David..........302
McMillan, George............ 177
McNett) J. B., M. D..........191
Mears Albert................194
Mees, Capt. William.........152
Meinhardi, J. D., M. D.......346
Merrill, Hon E. W...........22:
Miedema, Dirk...............435
Miller, Thomas...............56
M iller, G. M..................192
Miller, Henry................202
Miller, J. A...................489
Milne, David.................153
Misner, P. P..................254
Monroe, James.............. 35
Moon, HIon. J. W............541
Moore, W. E..................507
Moriarty, Prof. D. J......... 135


Morrison, W. B., M. D........372
Mosher, L. D.................353
Mountford, Samuel..........486
Mueller, Rudolph............501
Murphy, Thomas........... 453
N
Naber, J. J...................490
Naber, J. P..................318
Nelson, Nels..................363
Nelson, N. P..................218
Nienhuis, Wybe.............565
Nims, F. A...................262
Norrington, Hon. J. W......222
Northouse, A. C..............361
Nufer, W. F..................522
Nyland, A. J................. 312
Oakes, D. C..................453
Oatman, Truman........... 308
O'Connor, H. A..............417
Odion, W. F...............216
O'Hara, James..............537
Olson, O. C...................554
Olson, Tom...................533
Outhwaite, G. F..............201
Owen, W. W.................491
Parish, Wells................441
Parker, H. E.................561
Parrish, Enos................458
Parsons, J. H..................30
Patterson, Adam............ 231
Peck, William...............495
Pelgrim, Hubert.............523
Pelton, Ephraim.............224
Pelton, R. H..................574
Perham, Hon. J. B...........418
Perley, M. V.................195
Peterson, Charles............556
Peterson, Peter.............. 477
Pierce, Franklin.............71
Pillen, Lorenzo..............168
Pintler, Curtis...............207
Pitkin, C. G.................403
Plant, H. E..................535
Poest, B. J..................398
Polk, James K................ 59
Porter, Hon. G. F............251
Potter, W. H.................28
Proctor, C. H................127
Purchase, Alfred............ 568


Q
Quick, I. J..................563
Quinn, T. J., M. D............525
R
Reiseger, N. J............... 527
Rice, Hon. G. C..............187
Robart, J. C..................438
Robinson, Alfred............447
Robinson. Charles...........447
Robinson, Moses............503
Robinson, Robert............460
Robson, R. G................ 399
Rooks, Gerrit................509
Rooks, John..................464
Ross, C. F................... 175
Rote, E. G................    284
Row, W. A..................148
Ryerson, Martin............. 334
Sack, August...............552
Sack, Frederick.............552
Sanders, Oscar.............512
Sanford, G. D................311
Sanford, S. R...............474
Savidge, Hunter.............131
Scott, Frank................291
Sessions, C. W...............510
Shanks, Adaml...............424
Sheffield, Prof. J. H..........16
Sherburne, 0. M..............385
Skeels, R. W.................531
Smead, E. H.................451
Smith, E. J...............156
Smith, H. B..................215
Smith, T. D., M. D............ 115
Snowdin, William............358
Soderberg, S. A..............515
Somerset, Thomas..........   463
Sorenson, Lars...............374
Sprague, F. M............... 457
Squier, F. W.................228
Stamp, F. P., M. D...........382
Staples, Hon. H. E...........120
Stearns, Ezra................176
Stegeman, John..............488
Stein, Hubert................4101
Steketee, Bastian............ 287
Stevens, S. H.................317
Stevenson, W. H.............144
Stickney, Leonard..........501
Stickney, W. E..............125
Stiles, E. W..................322
Stiles, Justus................322
Stinson, T. C.................181




INDEX.


577..


Stone, Enos................ 295
Storrs, Maj. C. E.............569
Streng, C. L..................446
Strong, J. E..................182
Sturgis, A. L.................454
Sumner, A. B................449
Swenson, Swen..............559
T
Taylor, Zachary............    3
Ten Have, John..............393
Thatcher, Edwin............384
Thomas, Caesar, M. D........292
Thompson, Hans.............402
Thompson, J. A.............344
Thompson, Milton........... 186
Thurston, Benton............516
Thustell, Herbert, M. D......515
Tillotson, G. J................ 181
Turner, J. W. A............   452
Twiss, J. R..................445
Tyler, E. E...................161
Tyler, John.................. 55


U
Upton. Hon. Daniel, Sr......143
V
Van Buren, Martin......... 47
Vanden Beldt, Gerrit........428
Vanden Berg, A. G..........366
Vanden Bosch, Anna........550
Vander Bosch Marenus.....287
Vander Haar, Albertus...... 93
Vander Werp, J. D..........534
Van Doorne, Cornelius.......298
Van Doorne, Martin......... 463
Van Dyk, Otto...............423
Van Hees, A. G.............321
Van Raalte, Rev. A. C.......243
Vanzalingen, H. B. W.......285
Vaupell, John................305
Veneklasen, Roelof..........381
Vincent, Henry..............434


Vredeveld, G.................475
Vyn, Derk...................333
W
Waalkes, Hon. Martin.......293
Wachter, William...........537
Waite, J. N..................411
Walker, R. G................242
Walkley, W. S., M. D.......529
Wallis, George...............354
Walsh, Martin...............367
Warber, Frederick..........388
Washington, George........ 19
Waters, D. R................. 352
Watson, D. 0................151
Watson, Edward.............434
Watson, Col. T. S............497
Watson, T. W................404
Weatherwax, H. D..........253
Weersing, Jacob.............362
Weston, M. L., M. D.........511
Westrate, Cornelius..........323
Wetmore, J. D.,'M. D....... 505
Wheeler, J. H...............436
Whipple, William, Jr........440
Whitney, C. L................532


Whitney, Luther...........126
Widoe, T. B..................377
Wilkinson, J. E..............419
Williams, J. H...............233
Williams, O. C., M. D........502
Wilson, D. A................. 132
Wilterdink, J. A.............478
Wintermute, P. H...........165
Wiselogel, W. F.............188
Wolff, H. A...................268
Wood, W. F..................514
Woodard, Tracy.............539
Woodbury, G. B..............124
Woodbury, G. T..............483
Woodbury, Jesse............483
Woodman, F. B.............528
Woods, Capt. H. J.......119
Woodward, J. B., M. D......397
Worden, E. A............... 133
Wylie, Judge E. H...........232
Wyman, C. E................161
Y
Yates, O. E., M. D............327
Young, Willianl..............559


0


Adams, John.............. 22
Adams, John Q.............. 38
Anys, John...............310
Arthur, Chester A.......... 98
Behrens, Edward............210
Buchanan, James............ 74
Champion, D. M.............426
Cleveland, S. Grover........102
Davis, J. T...................50
De Long, Hon. Nelson........140
Eckhoff, John................220
Fillm1orc, Millard......... 66


Garfield, James A............ 91
Grant, U. S...................
Harrison, Benjamin..........106
Harrison, W. H.............. 50
Hayes, R. B..................!9
Holt, Hon. H. H..............116
Hummer, G. P............... 27(
Jackson, Andrew............ 42
Jefferson, Thomas........... 26
Jenison, Luman..............   370
Johnson, Andrew............ 82


Kemer.ers, Henry, M. D.......330
Lincoln, Abraham.......... 78
Lyman, Lucius............. 390
Madison, James............. 30
Maffett, Samuel..............170
McNett, J. B., M. D..........1'0
Monroe, James..............34
Outhwaite, G. F.............200
Patterson, Adam............230
Pierce, Franklin............. 70
Polk, J. K................... 58
Porter, Hon. G. F............250


Sanford, G. D................310
Savidge, Hunter............ 130
Scott, Frank.................290
Taylor, Zachary........... 62
Tillotson, G. J................180
Tyler, John.......... 54
Van Buren, Martin......... 46
Van Hees, A. G...............320
Veneklasen, Roelof..........380
Washington, George......... 18
Wyman, C. E................160


VI ES.
0-o


Aiken, G(. W.................279  i (Gordon, Mrs. E. E...........239
Andersoln, William...........44:1 Jones, Frank..................107
Averill, XV. S................ 279!  Jones, G. W..................259
Carr, W. T..................25   i  Joy, Asa.....................407


Kenney, R. N.............. 299  Snowdin, William...........359
Kolb, William.............407      Twiss, John R................44:1
Latham, G. A........... 239  Van Doorne, Cornelius.......'299
Northouse, A. C.............359




6


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