A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 60

Author: Collin, Henry P
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing
Number of Pages: 1198

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When the country no longer needed his aid, Mr. Eaton returned to Coldwater and resumed work at his trade. In 1867 he began business on his own account and continued in active blacksmithing until 1897. when he sold out and retired to private life. He is now enjoying a well earned rest, hav- ing in the years of his former toil acquired a competence that now enables him to live retired.

In 1862 Mr. Eaton was married to Miss Harriett Burroughs, who died in 1897. and he has since married Mrs. Margaret Nelson, the widow of George Nelson, who was also a soldier of the Civil war. Mr. Eaton is a charter member of the first Grand Army post that was organized in the state of Michigan, has been continuously connected therewith and served as commander for two years. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than twenty years and also belongs to other orders. He has never voted any ticket save that of the Republican party. He was chief engineer of the fire department for two years and assisted in organ- izing the Light Guards, of which he was lieutenant for six years. He has ever been fearless in conduct and faultless in honor, and in the public wel- fare of the county he has been deeply interested. He is a native son of Michigan, and in his life he has displayed the strong and sturdy traits of character of a pioneer ancestry and the alert. enterprising spirit of the pres- ent age.

WILLIAM F. YOUNG.

William F. Young, well known in Branch county, where he has been a progressive farmer and citizen for many years, was born in Wayne county, New York, in 1835, and has been a resident of Michigan since 1847. He

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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

spent the remainder of his youth and early manhood near Adrian and in Jackson county, and in 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil war. He was a member of the First Michigan Engineers, being second sergeant all through his three years' service. He was the first man to enlist in the company at Jackson. One permanent result of his performance of duty to his country is the loss of his hearing. He returned home in 1864, and on January 3, 1865, was married to Angeline C. Burch. She was born at Grass Lake, Jackson. county, Michigan, in 1843, and died in Reading, Michigan, in 1887, having been the mother of four children, namely: Arthur B .; Nona A., deceased ; William H .. and Florence A., William and Florence being residents of Chi- cago.

Mr. Young married for his present wife, in 1902, Susan (Farleman) Donnau. She was born at Tecumseh, Michigan, in 1843, a daughter of John and Lydia Farleman, he of German and she of Canadian French line- age. By her previous marriage to Peter Donnau, who was born in Ohio and who died in 1897, she had three children: Katie, the wife of Henry Wilcox, a coal dealer at Illiopolis, Illinois; Susie L., the wife of Henry Rentchler, farmer of Illiopolis; and Henry, a farmer in Logan county, Illinois.

Mr. Young was in the brick manufacturing business at Grass Lake sev- eral years, and in the same business at Hillsdale. At the latter place he owned one hundred acres of land, and has the distinction of having manufac- tured more brick at that place than any other person. He came to Quincy township, this county, from Reading, in 1887, and has since been success- fully engaged in farming on section sixteen, where he owns forty acres.

Mr. Young is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Quincy. In politics a staunch Republican, which party he has supported since the days of Lincoln and the Civil war, he has always taken a public-spirited interest in local and state affairs, and while a resident of Hillsdale was town treas- urer.

CALVIN BEERS.

Honesty and stability of character are the culminating attributes of a man's life. These are the cardinal points of the gentleman's career whose name heads this review. The beautiful country home of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Beers is known as "Sunny Lawns," and their pretty home is the scene of many pleasant gatherings. He is an agriculturist of a high order, as well as a poultry fancier, his henneries containing some of the prize fowls to be found in the county of Branch.

Mr. Beers is one of Michigan's native sons, his birth having occurred in Hillsdale county, on the 5th of September, 1847. His father, Harrison Beers, was a native of New York and a son of Fitch Beers, a native of Con- necticut. Having arrived at years of maturity Harrison Beers was married to Miss Fanny Boyce, a native of New York, whence they came to Michigan in 1845, locating in Allen township, Hillsdale county. They settled upon a tract of wild land in the midst of the forest and there the father cleared up and improved a farm, remaining thereon until his death, which occurred in his eighty-sixth year. Unto him and his wife were born four sons and

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Mrs. Calin Beers.

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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

two daughters, and the father's death was the first in the family. The chil- dren are all yet living, namely : Edna, the wife of Edwin Nixon, of Grand Ledge. Michigan; Calvin, of this review: Adella, the wife of James Howell. a resident of California; Angus, of Hillsdale, Michigan; Fred, who is mar- ried and is a farmer of Matteson township; and Henry, who is also married and is living upon the old family homestead in Hillsdale county.

Calvin Beers spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in the common and select schools there. He was early trained to habits of industry, economy and integrity and he remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he engaged in business for himself. He learned the trade of painting and decorating when a young man and followed that pursuit for twelve years in Hillsdale county. In March. 1877, he came to Branch county, locating on a farm, where for sixteen years he carried on general agricultural pursuits. He then bought his present farm, known as the Hammond place, comprising eighty acres of land. on which he carries on the work of general farming, bringing the fields up to a high state of cultivation, so that he annually harvests good crops. With a nature that could never content itself with mediocrity he has steadily made advancement in his business life and has a well improved farm property. To some extent he has given his attention to dairy farming and has also followed his trade.

On the 24th of February. 1869, Mr. Beers was united in marriage to Miss Emogene Westgate, a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Brigham) Westgate. Her father was born in New York and came to Branch county at an early day, locating in Allen township. Hillsdale county, where he followed farming. There his death occurred when about seventy-eight years of age. His wife, who was also a native of the Empire state, died in Hillsdale county. Michigan, aged seventy-eight years. Mrs. Beers is the second of five chil- dren, three daughters and two sons, all of whom grew to manhood or woman- hood. and is a native of Branch county, Michigan, born April 26, 1846. She was here reared and educated as a teacher, and by her marriage has become the mother of one son and two daughters: Ray D., a yard conductor on the Vandalia Railroad at South Bend: Beulah, the wife of Claude Palmer, a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad, living in Jackson, Michigan, and they have a little daughter, Dorothy; and Edna, the wife of Yedo Evart, a railroad man of South Bend on the Vandalia Railroad, and they also have one little daughter, Eilene.

In his political views Mr. Beers has been a life-long Republican, taking an active interest in the work of the party, and for twelve years he was clerk of Mattison township. He has been a resident of Branch county for twenty-eight years and in local progress and national advancement feels a deep pride, manifesting at all times a public spirited citizenship.

Mrs. Beers is one of the estimable ladies of the township, and has re- ceived more than an ordinary education, having been one of the successful teachers of Hillsdale and Branch counties a number of years. She is an able assistant to her husband in the establishment of a model home and surround- ings.

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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

They have in their home some very antique relics of "Ye olden days." such as a mahogany stand and mirror which are over a century old. Also, two queerly wrought pitchers brought from England about 1796. They are family heirlooms. Mr. Beers takes decided ground on the subject of tem- perance and is also an enthusiast in the organization known as " The Amer- ican Society of Equity," which is designed to aid the farmer.

WILLIAM MARQUART.

William Marquart, who since 1873 has been a resident of Algansee township, was born in Germany, and is now seventy years of age. The years of his youth and early manhood were spent in the land of his nativity, and when he made his way to the new world he located in Reading, Michigan, but spent three months only in that place. He then located permanently in Algansee township and for four years worked by the day at farm labor. On the expiration of that period, having, through his industry and careful management, saved a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase land, he be- came the owner of fifty acres on section nine, where he is now living a retired life. While in his native country he had served as a member of the German army. Here he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until he had acquired a comfortable competence that is sufficient to supply him with the necessities and comforts of life. His political allegiance has been given to the Republican party since he became a naturalized American citizen, and in everything relating to the welfare of his community he is progressive and interested. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which he has long been a faithful member.

William Marquart was united in marriage to Christina Hacker, also a native of Germany. She died November 18, 1905, and her remains are in- terred in the Fisher cemetery. a beautiful stone marking her last resting place. They became the parents of five children: Rickey, who married Newton Bover, a Methodist minister, who is now operating her father's farm; Fred; William, who is a fariner of Quincy township; John, deceased ; and Minnie, who died in infancy.

Fred Marquart, the eldest son, was reared with his father in Germany, and came with his parents to the United States in the fall of 1873. He at- tended school in his native country and also became a district school student in Algansee township, and throughout his entire life has been identified with agricultural interests. He was trained to habits of industry and economy and soon came to realize the value of untiring effort and persistency of pur- pose as forceful and resultant factors in winning success. He is now living on section ten, Algansee township, where he has one hundred and forty acres of land, and on section fifteen of the same township has a tract of forty acres of his wife's. His home is one of the finest and most convenient country residences in Branch county, is tastefully furnished and gives every evi- dence of the refined and cultured taste of the inmates. In connection with the tilling of the soil Mr. Marquart is extensively engaged in the raising of graded stock, making a specialty of Durham cattle and Delaine sheep.

In 1880 Mr. Marquart was married to Miss Amelia Roloff, whose birth

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occurred in Germany, in 1862. Her father, Fred Roloff, was also a native of that country, and on coming to the United States in 1864 took up liis abode in Algansee. He was a practical farmer, who prospered in his under- takings. He married Caroline Hildebrand. also a native of the same country. and a sister of Frederick Hildebrand, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Marquart have two children : Eugenia, the wife of Jay Meyers, a resident farmer, living on his father's land: and Edward, who at the age of eighteen years is a strong and stalwart boy of six feet. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and are interested in its work and contribute continuously to its support. Mr. Marquart is an inflexible adherent of the Republican party, standing firm in support of his convic- tions and keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his opinions by intelligent argument. Both he and his wife are well known in this locality and have many warm friends.

CLARK C. SEARS.

Among the men of New England birth and ancestry whose active years have been mainly spent in this beautiful and prosperous county of Branch. and to whose ability and integrity as men of action and influence the county owes its best elements of growth and progress, is to be mentioned among the first Mr. Clark C. Sears, now and for many years a prominent citizen of Quincy. Having been born in 1827 (October 23), he is now well within the shadow of his eightieth year, and a long career of useful activity has char- acterized this extended age.

Mr. Sears' birthplace is Ridgebury, Connecticut, and his first American ancestors, dating back to the colonial period, settled at Cape Cod, so that the family for generations has been identified with New England life and affairs. One of his forefathers was a captain in the continental army during the Rev- olution. His father, James Sears, also of Connecticut birth, was a well-to- do farmer and stock-raiser, took an active part in the Presbyterian church, being an elder, and in politics followed the fortune of the Whigs and later the Republicans. He died in New York state. His wife was Deborah Cros- by, a native of Connecticut. and also of New England stock, and a member of the Presbyterian church. They were parents of five children, of whom Clark C. is the only one now living. The others are: George Beldon, who was superintendent of the Newark, New Jersey, public schools twenty-five years ; Gould B., likewise a school teacher, and a farmer in Ontario county, New York; Maria, who married Francis Northrup, a shoemaker of Newark, New Jersey. now deceased : Eliza A., whose husband. John Wright, a farmer, was in the Civil war and is now living in West Bay City, Michigan.

Clark C. Sears was reared on a farm and attended school in Orleans, Ontario county, New York. Farming has been the industry to which he has devoted the best energies of his life and by which he has gained his material success. He came to Michigan in 1860, and after living awhile in the village of Quincy he bought a farm on section nine of the township of the same name. He farmed this place four years, and then bought the place of one hundred and thirty-eight acres on section eight where he still makes

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his home, taking life easily and gracefully in his declining years. Besides his farming interests he is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Quincy.

On April 10, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Sears passed the fiftieth or golden anniversary of their wedded lives-one of those rare occasions, so rich in memories and associations, that they are never to be passed over without mention. Just fifty years before that date Mr. Sears had married Miss Har- riet E. Warner, who was born in Ontario county, New York, September 13, 1831. Her father, John Warner, a native of Massachusetts and of an Eng- lish family that settled in New England at an early day and later furnished patriotic assistance to the colonies in the Revolution, moved to New York with his parents when he was a boy, he being one of a large family of chil- dren. He was a shoe merchant at one time, but followed farming for the most part. He married Susan Post, a native of Long Island and of English lineage. Mrs. Sears was the youngest child and is the only one living, the other children being, Jesse, Edwin, Ulysses, Orson, Maria, George, John, Susan. Jesse and Susan came to Michigan and died in this state, while the sons George and John died in California. John Warner was a Universalist in religious faith, while his wife was a Presbyterian.

Mr. and Mrs. Sears were parents to five children, namely: Sumner, a practicing physician in Quincy; Minnie, who married Milo D. Campbell, of Coldwater; Nellie, the widow of Sereno Mansell, who was a plumber in Coldwater; George, on the home farm; and Mabel. deceased. Mr. Sears is an elder in the Presbyterian church at Quincy. He is a member of the Grange, and in politics a Republican. His public service shows a record of thirty years as justice of the peace, and he has also been supervisor of Quincy township.

WARREN HENRY.

Warren Henry, a retired farmer of Sherwood, was born in Sterling township, Windom county, Connecticut, July 6, 1819, and has therefore passed the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey. His father, James Henry, was born in the same house in which his son's birth occurred. The grand- father, James Henry, Sr., was a native of Scotland, and when a young man came to America, being married after his arrival in this country. He died in 1809. James Henry, Jr., removed from New England to Portage county, Ohio, in 1831, locating on a farm in Highland township. All around were the green woods-nature's handiwork, for man had not begun his work of transformation at that time. He built a log cabin in the midst of the forest and began the improvement of the farm, continuing its cultivation up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years of age. His wife. who bore the maiden name of Henrietta Jordan, was about sixty-nine years of age when called to her final rest. Mr. Henry had served as a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and his commission is now in possession of Warren Henry. In the father's family were seventeen chil- dren, of whom thirteen reached manhood and womanhood.

Warren Henry. the youngest son and the sixteenth member, is also

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the only surviving member of that large family. His' eldest brother lived to be ninety-six years of age and nearly all of the others reached advanced vears.

When but twelve years of age Warren Henry accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Portage county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his youth, pursuing his education in the log schoolhouses and assisting in the arduous task of developing a new farm. He remained with his par- ents until they were called from this life. He was married the first time in 1840. Miss Harriet Eggleston becoming his wife, and in 1851 he re- moved to Branchi county, Michigan. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were born of this marriage: Norman, who died at Chattanooga. Tennessee, in 1865, while serving his country as a Union soldier ; Adelia, the wife of William Bailey, of Union City, Michigan: Otis, of Louisiana ; and Hettie, who died when about three years of age. The mother died in Ohio in 1849. and it was two years later that Mr. Henry came with his family to this county, settling in Sherwood. In 1868 he married Hattie Hall, and they became the parents of one son. Walter G., who is now em- ployed in the mail department of the Chicago post office. Mrs. Hattie Henry passed away in 1877, and in 1879 Mr. Henry married Mary Ellen Gerls. of Greenville. Mount Calm county, Michigan. They had two sons, Hubert, of Sherwood, and Harry G., who died when only a year old.

When Mr. Henry arrived in Sherwood in 1851 it was a new town, and the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun in the surrounding districts. He purchased a farm a mile and a half north of the village. there residing for about eight years, when he bought another farm, on which he lived for a short time. In 1866 he purchased what is called the Studley farm, making it his home until 1880. when he built his present residence in Sherwood, since living in the village. He is, how- ever, one of the largest land owners of the township, having now about three hundred acres within its borders. and this valuable property returns to him a good income. His political allegiance has always been given the Democracy, and for sixteen years he served as justice of the peace, dis- charging his duties with equity and impartiality. He was also school di- rector for several years and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend. His residence in the county covers fifty-four years and he has been very successful in his business career, making all that he now pos- sesses through his earnest and unremitting labor and close attention to his business. He has erected seven frame houses, five of which were built in Sherwood township, and he has had the misfortune to have four houses destroyed by fire. He is familiar with the pioneer history of Ohio as well as of Michigan. The first house in which he lived in the latter state had no board floor. His wife made all of the clothes for the family, spinning and weaving and producing the manufactured articles from the raw wool. The family diet was mostly bread and milk, but they all enjoyed good health. In order to purchase for his wife the first calico dress which she ever owned Mr. Henry rode a distance of forty miles on horseback. When the family removed from Connecticut to Ohio there was but one railroad in the United

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States, and this line is well remembered by Mr. Henry, who had arrived thereon, the cars being drawn by horses, for as yet steam power had not been utilized as a means of transportation. He has been a witness of much of the country's growth and development, has seen the introduction of the telegraph and the telephone and the transformation of farming methods through the introduction of improved and modern machinery. He has now. passed the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey and his career is one in which unimpeachable honor and straightforward dealing command the re- spect of all. In his life he has embodied the belief that he does best who does most to help his fellow men. He is a self-made and self-educated man of the present twentieth century.

JOHN KNECHT.

John Knecht, interested in general agricultural pursuits, his home being on section eight, Algansee township, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1853. His father, Charles Knecht. was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German lineage. In early life he learned and followed the cooper's trade, while subsequently he became a farmer and devoted his energies to that pursuit for a number of years. In the spring of 1865 he came to Michi - gan, settling in Coldwater, after which he was employed on a railroad for a time, but later bought and operated a farm in Algansee township. He held membership in the Lutheran church in early manhood and in later life became identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part. He died in Bethel in 1884, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Stair, was born in Pennsylvania, April 24, 1810, and died in this county March 23, 1886. She; too, was of German lineage, and her parents died in the Key- stone state. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knecht had a family of eleven children : Harriet, who is the widow of Michael Zellers and makes her home in Cold- water; Stephen, of Kansas: Charles, who is living in Butler, Michigan ; Julia Ann, the deceased wife of David Erb; Sarah, the deceased wife of Jared Shennefeild ; Maria, who married William Zellers, and after his death became the wife of Frank Tompkins, of Ovid township; Rachel, the wife of Joshua Leaf, of Coldwater; Rebecca, who died at the age of four years ; Mary, the widow of William Osman, and a resident of Coldwater ; Samuel, who is living in Algansee ; and John.

In taking up the personal history of John Knecht we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in his adopted town- ship and county. He spent his early youth upon the home farm in Ohio, and with his parents came to Michigan. His education was acquired in the country schools, and he has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, now making his home on section eight, Algansee township, where he owns one hundred and forty-nine acres of land, constituting a val- uable and well improved farm, on which he has raised high grade cattle and sheep. His business interests are carefully conducted and result in bringing bim merited and gratifying success. On the 20th of July, 1873, Mr. Knecht was married to Miss Sarah Ann Dixon, who was born in Illinois in 1857,

C. Dr. Newell

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and is a daughter of Thomas and Angeline Dixon. The father was a native of England, and when nine years of age came to the United States. His last days were spent in Branch county, Michigan, where both he and his wife passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht have no children of their own, but are rearing an adopted daughter, Lura Marium, now fifteen years of age. who has been with them since sixteen months old. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht are members of the Free Methodist church, in which they take an active interest, and he has served as class-leader, steward and trustee, while for the past twenty years he has been chorister in the Sunday School. In his political views he is a Prohibitionist, for that party embodies his ideas con- cerning the temperance question.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 60

Author: Collin, Henry P Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Number of Pages: 1198

Author: Collin, Henry P
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing
Number of Pages: 1198