USA > Michigan > Branch County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
452
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
his beautiful home in Coldwater he erected a suitable building and thereon established the Lewis Art Gallery, wherein were placed his many fine speci- mens of the works of old masters as well as of the modern artists and sculp- tors. Subsequent to his death by his bequest this collection became the prop- erty of the state and now enriches the art collection of the Michigan Univer- sity, while the building which he erected is now the home of the Young Men's Christian Association of Coldwater. His private library was given to the Coldwater Public Library. He was a man of beneficent spirit and benevo- lent purpose, and while he was successful in his business and prominent as a representative of commercial and financial interests here he never allowed ac- cumulation of wealth to in any manner affect his relations with those less fortunate. He stood in his old age just where he did in his younger years- as the champion of all that is right, true and just in man's relation with his fellowmen, recognizing not wealth, which is the most desirable position man can attain.
Mrs. Sarah E. Conant, a sister of Mr. Lewis, was born at Clarendon, Orleans county, New York. December 31, 1825, and was a little child when her father died. In her girlhood days she came with her widowed mother and the other children of the family to Coldwater, and here the mother passed away at the age of sixty-two years. For her first husband she mar- ried Nelson D. Skeels, and later became the wife of Dr. J. H. Beech, of whom mention is made above. Her third marriage was to F. H. Conant. She now resides in Coldwater and is held in the highest esteem by a wide acquaintance. She has long been a member of the Presbyterian church, of which she is a generous and liberal supporter. Her life has been that of a consistent Christian woman and her influence is widely felt in church and social circles. Interested in all that promotes the intellectual, social, aesthetic and moral nature of man, she has exerted her influence in behalf of progress along these lines and her efforts have not been without good results. At four score years she is one of the well preserved women of her time.
TRUMAN C. MACK.
Truman C. Mack, who has been a continuous resident of this section since 1854, was born in Florence, Erie county, Ohio, July 23, 1839. His father was Joel Mack, while his mother was Marcia, the adopted daugh- ter of Thomas Ward. Joel Mack and his family went from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1835, locating in Erie county, where they were among the very earliest settlers. Joel and Marcia Mack were the parents of five children. as follows: Cordelia, a daughter, died in infancy. Joseph died at the age of seven years. Thomas W. Mack is a resident of the village of Girard. Joel Mack is a farmer of Girard township. Truman C. Mack is the subject of this sketch. The husband and father, Joel Mack, died in Erie county, Ohio, at the age of thirty-three years, and after a residence of twenty years in Ohio the wife and mother, Marcia Mack, came to Michigan with her children. She located in Branch county, and having previously married
Mrs Sarah & Courant
453
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
Comfort Johnson. in Ohio, they made their home here. Her death occurred in Girard in 1883, when she was seventy-three years of age.
Our subject. Mr. Truman C. Mack, was a lad of but fifteen years of age when he accompanied his mother and brothers from Ohio to Michigan. He had grown up on the farm in Ohio and he followed this vocation after coming to Michigan, and before he was twenty-one years old he had pur- chased forty-five acres of land in Girard township, to which he later added another forty-five acres. He was married, February 2, 1862, to Miss Mary J. Swan, who has proven a true helpmeet throughout the many years of their wedded life. Mrs. Mack was born in Erie county, Ohio, June 25. 1843, her parents being Constant Merrick Swan and Rachel Johnson Swan. two of Branch county's oldest and most respected pioneers, who still live upon their fine farm in the township of Union. Mr. C. M. Swan was born in Lebanon, Madison county, New York, November 8, 1821, while Mrs. Swan is a native of Elyria, Loraine county, Ohio, where she was born November 9. 1826. They were married in Berlin, Erie county. Ohio, May 29, 1842. and came to Michigan in 1850, locating in Union township on the farm where they have ever since lived. Although he has always owned and operated farms, having cleared up several during his busy life, Mr. Swan has given comparatively little of his attention to agricultural pursuits. he having always been engaged in other enterprises as well. When Mr. and Mrs. Swan came from Ohio to Michigan in 1850 they brought with them a maple sapling which they planted in their front door-yard, and here the tree still stands, a sapling no longer, but a beautiful maple tree with a base measuring over six feet in circumference. This alone is an apt illustration of the growth and development of this section of country during their fifty- five years' residence here. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Swan were the parents of two daughters. Mrs. T. C. Mack, the wife of our subject, and Lois Swan Walsworth, who died in 1867. Twice during the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Swan have they been participants in family reunions where were five generations of the family, the last occasion of this sort being in June. 1905. the five generations being as follows: Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Swan; their daughter, Mrs. T. C. Mack, wife of our subject: a granddaughter, Mrs. Ella Waite, of Bronson. Michigan: a great-grandson, Mr. Roy Waite. cf Chicago; and a great-great-grandson, Mr. Waite's baby son. Arthur Waite. Mr. and Mrs. Swan have led useful and active lives and they are highly esteemed in this vicinity.
Mr. and Mrs. Truman C. Mack are the parents of seven children, all of whom are now married and with homes and families of their own. They are as follows: Ella Mack, born January 1. 1863, was married Octo- ber 12, 1879, to LaSalle Waite. They live in Bronson and have three cliil- dren : Roy, Rachel and Ruel. Nettie Mack, born May 12, 1866, was mar- ried September 12, 1885, to Frank Vosburgh. Their home is in Union township and they have two children: Platt and Ruby. J. C. Mack, born June 6, 1868, was married June 18, 1888, to Mary Reynolds. They live in Union township and have six children : Bernie, Truman. Claude, Nina, Irene and Lloyd. Lois Mack, born May 20, 1873. was married April 27.
454
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
1892, to Archie Cherdavoine. They live near the old homestead and have two children: Lester and Marcia. Maude Mack, born December 11, 1877, was married October 12, 1892, to Jay Cornell, and their home is in New Mexico. Jesse C. Mack, born July 8, 1880, was married January 17, 1900, to Mabel Reynolds. They live in the township of Girard and have two chil- dren, Pauline and Marcia. Herbert Mack, born February 5, 1872, was mar- ried in 1902 to Sarah Cherdavoine and they live in Battle Creek.
Mr. Mack. although never an offiece seeker, has been director in his school district for several years. His present farm is a fine one, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land, equipped with good buildings and all of the needful machinery and other accessories for successful opera- tion. Here Mr. and Mrs. Mack have spent many years of their lives and here they have won the regard and high esteem of their friends and neigh- bors. They have reared and educated their large family of children and have seen them grow to successful manhood and womanhood and now with fami- lies of their own. The parents have witnessed and assisted in the develop- ment of this section from a comparatively new country to its present pros- perous condition, and they have surely performed their whole duty as resi- dents of this prosperous state and county.
FREDERICK HILDEBRAND.
Frederick Hildebrand was born in Germany, in 1839, and was a son of Ernest and Mary Hildebrand, also natives of that country, who in their later years came to America and lived with their children. Their family numbered five sons and four daughters, namely: William and John, both now deceased; Charles, who resides in Reading township, Hillsdale county, Michigan; Louie, a resident of Algansee township; Frederick; Mrs. William Kraus; Mrs. Gottschalk; Mrs .. Rohloff, now deceased; and Mrs. Joseph Schultz, a widow, living in Algansee. Their son Frederick spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the country of his nativity, and in 1861, when about twenty-two years of age, crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He did not tarry in the east, but made his way at once to Michigan, settling in Algansee. He then spent two years working as a farm hand by the month for Philander Walbridge and George Briggs, remaining in the employ of each for a year. He afterward secured work on the W. J. Barnes farm in Quincy township, where he lived for a number of years, and during that period, through his industry and economy, he managed to save a sum suf- ficient to enable him to purchase the Robbins farm on section fifteen, Algan- see township, comprising one hundred and twenty acres. Removing to his property he at once began to cultivate the soil and in due course of time harvested rich crops, and as the years brought further prosperity he ex- tended the boundaries of his farm by the additional purchase of one hundred acres.
Frederick Hildebrand was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Hager- man, who was born in Germany in 1844, and died in 1901, at the age of fifty-seven years. She was a daughter of Ernest and Mary Hagerman, and her mother passed away in the old country, after which the father came to
455
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
the United States, where his death occurred in 1876. In his family were three sons and four daughters: William, deceased: Fred, who is living in Quincy township; Charles, deceased ; Mrs. Remus, a widow, residing in De- troit; Mrs. Rosenow, deceased: Mrs. Sprunk, who has also passed away : and Mrs. Hildebrand. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hildebrand were born three children, of whom one died in infancy. The daughter Winnie is the wife of John T. Goodman, a retired farmer, living in Coldwater. The son, Louie F., resides upon the old home farm. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Hildebrand is a stalwart Republican in his political views, having given his support to the party since attaining his majority. He has held minor offices, but has never been ambitious in the sense of office-seeking. Both he and his wife attend church and are worthy people, enjoying in full measure the confidence and good will of those with whom they have come in contact.
Their son. Louie F. Hildebrand, was born on the place where he now resides, in 1870, spent his youth upon a farm and acquired his education in the public schools of the township and in the German school at Coldwater. He always devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until August, 1905. when he bought property in Coldwater. He was married in 1900 to Miss Mamie Kennedy, who was born in Algansee, in 1876. Her father, Michael Kennedy, was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States at an early day. settling first in Ohio, whence he afterward came to this county, his home being now in Algansee township. At the present writing he is living retired in Coldwater. He wedded Mary Robinson and they had six children, but the first two died in early life. The others are: Lulu, the wife of Lou Wilson, a resident farmer of Algansee: Mrs. Hildebrand; Emma, a saleslady of the B. Branch Mercantile Establishment of Coldwater; and Maggie, at home. In his political views Louie Hildebrand is a Republican and he has a wide acquaintance in the county where he has always lived and where his social qualities, his business worth and progressive citizenship have made him a popular resident.
JULIUS M. BATES.
The attractiveness of Branch county as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that many of her native sons have retained their homes within its borders from birth to the present time, enjoying its privileges and oppor- tunities and adding to its advancement by co-operation in public life and activity in business affairs. Of this class of citizens Julius M. Bates is a representative, being one of the native sons of the county, born on section eighteen, Ovid township, where he still resides. His natal day was Sep- tember 29, 1854, and he is a son of Joshua M. Bates, who is mentioned else- where in this volume. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for our subject in his youth, his attention being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the home farm. He mastered the common branches of English learning and also became proficient in the labors of field and meadow as he aided in the raising of grain and stock. The occupation to which he was
456
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
reared he has made his life work, and he still lives upon the old farm home- stead where in former years he assisted his father in clearing the fields and preparing the land for the plow. Here he has eighty acres, presenting an excellent appearance, for the fields are well tilled and the buildings and fences are kept in good repair.
Mr. Bates has been married twice. In January, 1873, he wedded Miss Mary E. Burns, a daughter of Harvey Burns, a farmer of Kalamazoo, Michi- gari. Mrs. Bates was reared in Ovid township, Branch county, and by her marriage became the mother of a son and daughter, Harvey and Ethel, the latter now the wife of Seth Tompsett. For his second wife Mr. Bates chose Miss Zerniah Cole, a daughter of Reuben Cole, a well-known farmer of Ovid township. She was born in that township in 1867, spent her girlhood days there and was indebted to the public school system for the educational privileges she enjoyed. In 1890 she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Bates and they are well known and worthy people of the community, having a large circle of warm friends who esteem them highly because of their ex- cellent traits of heart and mind. In March, 1896, they adopted a son, Les- lie H. Bates. Mr. Bates votes with the Republican party, keeps in touch with the questions and issues of the day and has twice served as township treasurer. His fraternal relations are with the Masons of Coldwater.
CHARLES PHILIP CONKLIN.
Charles Philip Conklin, assistant postmaster of Coldwater, was born in Huron county, Ohio, near Norwalk, June 6, 1852, his parents being George and. Mary E. (Norton) Conklin, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The Conklins are of Holland lineage and the pro- genitor of the family in America was John Conklin, who came from the little Dutch kingdom to the new world and settled in Westchester county, New York. He had two daughters and one son, and one of the daughters became the wife of Hercules Lent, while the other married Isaac Van Wert, one of the three captors of Major Andre, the British spy of the Revolutionary war. The son, John Conklin, married Hannah Storms, also a native of Hol- land, and a daughter of Gorham Storms of the same country. Her mother, however. was a French Huguenot and her maiden name was Sporama. Unto John Conklin and his wife were born ten children, including Matthew Conk- lin, whose birth occurred in New York in March, 1746. He was married to Sarah Valentine and they had seven children.
Among this number was Philip Conklin, the grandfather of Charles Philip Conklin of this review. He was born November 15, 1784, and died June 27, 1877. He was married twice, first to Abigail Spofford and second to Susan Amanda Jones. Of the first marriage there were seven children and of the second there were ten. George Conklin, son of the first marriage, was born July 11, 1819, and departed this life March 6, 1891. He was the father of our subject and was married to Mary E. Norton, whose birth occurred August 25, 1824.
The paternal great-grandmother of Charles Philip Conklin was a great-
Chax P. Conklin
457
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
granddaughter of Adam Mott, one of the nine partners who settled Dutchess county, New York, and whose real father was Adam Wallace. He was only three years old when his father, the Rev. Adam Wallace, was burned at the stake in Scotland because he was a Protestant, an account of this being given in the book of martyrs, the event occurring in the reign of Queen Mary about the year 1550. After his martyrdom his widow took her son to Eng- land, where she married a Mr. Mott, and thus the lad became known by his stepfather's name. He eventually married and had two sons, Richard and Joseph. The latter marred and his children were Joseph, Jane and Martha. The last named became the wife of James Valentine. One of the children of this marriage was Sarah Valentine, the great-grandmother of Mrs. Conklin.
For some years George and Mary E. Conklin resided in Ohio, making their home there until 1870. In October of that year, however, they became residents of Coldwater, accompanied by their son and only child, Charles Philip Conklin, then nineteen years of age. The father was a farmer by occupation and throughout his entire life engaged in the tilling of the soil in order to provide for his family. His political support was given to the Republican party and he was a faithful and consistent member of the Pres- byterian church, in which he held the office of elder. His wife, also a loyal Christian, belonging to the Presbyterian church, survives him and makes her home with her son at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
Charles Philip Conklin was reared upon the home farm and acquired a high school education in Norwalk, Ohio, and in Coldwater, Michigan. In May, 1873, he entered the Coldwater postoffice in the capacity of a clerk. and from one position to another was promoted until in 1882 he became assistant postmaster, a position which he has occupied continuously since. covering a period of twenty-three consecutive years. His political views accord with Republican principles and in matters of citizenship he is progress- ive, interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of his com- munity.
On the 9th of November, 1876, Mr. Conklin was married to Miss Kate Amanda Shaw, who was born at Fulton, New York, January 26, 1856. They had two children, but the younger, Leslie, who was born July 4, 1882, died February 25, 1884. Their surviving son, Ralph Norton, was born June 17. 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin and their son are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is now serving as a trustee, and he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Having lived in this city since the age of nineteen years he has a wide acquaintance here and. the sterling traits of his character are such as have gained for him warm friendship and kindly re- gard.
E. M. JARDON.
E. M. Jardon, one of the prominent farmers of Batavia township, living on section twenty-two, is a native of Huron county, Ohio, born on the 7th of March, 1837. His father, Edward Jardon, was born in Orange county. New York, and in early manhood removed to Ohio, where he was married to Miss Catharine Lofflan, who was a native of Pennsylvania. They began
ยท
458
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
their domestic life in Tuscarawas county, subsequently removing to Huron county, and in 1839 became residents of Ashland county, Ohio, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and his wife when sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of three children, two daughters and a son.
E. M. Jardon was reared in Ashland county from the age of two years, and when twenty-seven years of age he was married in 1865 to Miss Eliza M. Frey, a daughter of John M. and Lena C. (Lenninger) Frey, who were born in Germany and were married there. Mrs. Jardon was also a native of the fatherland, born May 20, 1840, and was twelve years of age when she came to America with her parents, who located first in Plymouth, Huron county, Ohio, on the boundary line of Richland county.
In the year 1865 Mr. Jardon of this review removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where he remained for one year and then went to Steuben county, Indiana. where he resided for fourteen years, his time being devoted to general farming there. He afterward lived in Crawford county, Ohio, where he spent one year, and in 1881 he came to Branch county, Michigan, settling upon his present farm. Here he has sixty acres of land, which is devoted to the raising of crops best adapted to soil and climate. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and he is an enterprising agriculturist, keeping in touch with modern progress in regard to the work of the farm.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jardon have been born five children: Minnie, now the wife of Harry Bater, of Union township, Branch county; Lena, the wife of Clayton Roberts, of Montpelier, Williams county, Ohio; Cora, the wife of John M. Gray, of Batavia township; and Edna and Ethel, twins. Both received diplomas in the public schools, and they are members of the Ancient Order of Gleaners at Batavia Center. The former is at home, and the latter is engaged in teaching school in Batavia township.
Mr. Jardon has been a life-long Democrat, always supporting the party where national issues are involved, but voting independently at local elections. He has been a resident of Branch county for about twenty-four years and is interested in public affairs, giving active co-operation to many movements for the general welfare. In his farm work he has prospered and is now the possessor of a good property.
STANLEY W. BOYNTON.
Stanley W. Boynton, well-known and successful stock farmer of Quincy township, was born in Wayne county, New York, September 24, 1848. Of ancestry that has been traced to England, his grandfather, George, was a native of Vermont, and his father, Benjamin F. Boynton, was born in Wayne county, New York, and died in this county in 1880, aged fifty-eight years. The father came to Michigan in 1863, and locating on section twenty in Quincy township, where Stanley W. now lives, was there engaged in farm- ing until his death. The old homestead consists of one hundred and eighty acres, and by father and son has been kept up to date and one of the most productive and valuable estates in the township. The father adhered to the
459
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
Free Will Baptist faith, and was always a Republican. The wife of Ben- jamin F. Boynton was Maria Drake, who was born in New Jersey and died in 1885 at the age of sixty-three. She was also a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Of their nine children all died in infancy but two. Stanley WV. and Ella, the latter having married three times and being a resident of Oakland, California.
Reared on the old farm in Quincy township and attending the school which stood on an adjoining farm, Mr. Boynton has pursued his successful life career in the surroundings that have been familiar to him from youth up, and through his character for industry and business integrity a well deserved prosperity has rewarded his efforts. He has a beautiful farm residence on the homestead. He feeds a large quantity of live stock, and this is the prin- cipal branch of his business.
Mr. Boynton married. first, in 1870, Gertrude Cummings. She was born in Orleans county, New York, a daughter of Alexander and Louisa (Craigan) Cummings, her parents moving to Michigan when she was a child and locating in Calhoun county, where her father was a farmer. She died in 1887, at the age of thirty-five. Mr. Boynton married for his second wife. in 1892, Hermione Ellsworth, who was born in New York state August 28. 1872. a daughter of Mortimer and Louise Sisson Ellsworth. Her parents came to Michigan and settled first at Adrian, and the father is still living : the mother died at Lincoln, Nebraska, January 26. 1885. Mrs. Boynton is the second of five children, her brothers and sisters being: William. a sta- tionary engineer at Three Rivers, Michigan: Mary, the wife of Guy Hur- ley, in the Wolverine Cement Works at Quincy; Norman, an engineer at Three Rivers; and Pearl. wife of John Goodrich. a dairyman at Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton's only child. C. Bernice, was born in 1895 and died in 1902. Mrs. Boynton is a member of the Baptist church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic order. Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 166. He and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. No. 12. and she is past worthy matron. A Republican in politics, he has held township offices and stands high in his community.
E. F. GAMBLE. M. D.
Dr. E. F. Gamble, engaged in the practice of medicine in Coldwater, is a native of Tecumseh, Michigan, born on the 12th of May. 1866. His parents were F. W. and Maria (Gray) Gamble, the former a native of Enniskillen, Ireland, while the latter was born in Tecumseh. Michigan.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.