A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 76

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

USA > Michigan > Branch County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan > Part 76

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).

Dr. Edson 'Blackman acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Morenci and Allen, Michigan, and for four terms was a student in Hillsdale College. He thus acquired a broad literary knowledge to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning. and he entered the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1865. completing the course there in April, 1866. He located for practice at White Pigeon, Michigan, where he remained until 1876, and in the latter year he came to Quincy, where he has remained in active practice to the present time.

In 1866 Dr. Blackman was married to Malinda A. Morehouse, who was born in Saratoga, New York, in 1845, and is a daughter of James and Mary A. Morehouse, the former a farmer by occupation. The mother is of French and English lineage. Dr. and Mrs. Blackman have become the parents of three sons and two daughters: Gertrude M., the wife of Fred E. Powers, a clothing merchant of Quincy: Jesse E., deceased; J. Morehouse, a physician, practicing with his father: Cora M., the wife of George E. Burdick, superin- tendent of the Branch County Infirmary ; and Arthur W., who is a salesman in Quincy.

Dr. Blackman is fraternally connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. In his political views he is a Democrat and served as township supervisor both in White

604

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

Pigeon and Quincy. For twenty-one years he has been a member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion, and for six years he has been superintendent of the poor of Branch county. He belongs to both the State and National Eclectic Medical Associations, and in his practice has gained a proficiency that makes his services of much value to his fellowmen.

THERON GROVE.

Theron Grove, who is interested in general farming on section twelve, Batavia township, was born in this township on the 6th of April, 1852. His father, Archibald Grove, was a native of New York, and came to Branch. county at an early day, casting his lot with its pioneer settlers. He married Miss Jane Pitcher and died September 1, 1852, when Theron was but six months old. The mother, however, survived for many years and reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years. She passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Sheneman, November 16, 1903, at the age of eighty-nine years, eleven months and nineteen days. She was one of the oldest pioneer ladies of Batavia township, where she made her home for a period of sixty-six years. At her death a local paper said: "Mrs. Jane Grove, one of the oldest pioneer ladies of Batavia township, her home for a period of sixty-six years, departed this life at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Sheneman, November 16, 1903, aged eighty-nine years, eleven months and nineteen days. Immediate cause of death was a cancerous afflic- tion of face and neck.

" Miss Jane Pitcher was born in Hartford, Connecticut, December 27, 1813, and was the last of ten children directly descended from a notably ancient family of American independence fame, and was reared and educated in the pioneer schools of bygone days. She resided with her parents until the age of nineteen, when she was united in marriage to Archibald Grove, with whom she commenced housekeeping; at Palmyra, New York, which was their home for five years, and where their two eldest sons, Jerome and Elisha, were born.

" In 1837 the worthy couple, with their small children, came to Michigan, and while Branch county was naught but a wilderness, journeyed from De- troit to Batavia by way of an ox-team over a dense forest road, marked only by blazed trees, through which one must ever look upward to catch a glimpse of sunlight, finally locating on the farm now known as the Frank Barnhart property, where, with five or six neighboring families, they shared the joys, sorrows and vicissitudes of early pioneer life in Batavia.

" A family of ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grove. The for- mer died in 1852. Thus, at the age of thirty-five years Mrs. Grove was a widow, with nine small children to rear and care for, the youngest of which was only six months old. All the hardships, privations and struggles of a brave pioneer woman were hers. Yet she clung closely to the religion of her youth, a stanch Presbyterian.

" Years sped swiftly by, the township became more thickly settled. Her

Sunny Sides Farm, Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Theron Grove.

605

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

boys and girls grew to vigorous helpful man and womanhood, while the mother's burdens grew lighter.

" The two oldest sons, Jerome and Elisha, in their young manhood mi- grated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where by industry and good business abilities they acquired comfortable and even luxurious competence, while each reared a family of four children. Jerome joined his father in the 'beyond ' a goodly number of years ago. Elisha was unable, on account of his own ill health, to visit her during her last illness or to be present at the burial service. " There are but few pioneers of Mrs. Grove's age remaining in Branch county. During the years of her enforced invalid retirement, Mrs. Grove was ever fond of a social chat with neighboring friends, and while in remi- niscent mood would relate thrilling experiences, some sad, some comical, of pioneer life.

" Aside from her son Elisha of Minnesota she is survived by six chil- dren : A. R. Grove, of Coldwater, Jay and Theron. Mesdames L. M. Bowers, J. A. Murphey and Mrs. Margaret Sheneman, all of Batavia ; fifteen grand- children and ten great-grandchildren. Of the latter there are two in Batavia, Luceil Murphey and Gerald Grove.

" With characteristic forethought of a long life of planning for the future Mrs. Grove also arranged details for her departure unto the unknown realm of death. The interment occurred in the Batavia cemetery beside her husband, who preceded her in death by fifty years."

Dr. Grove of this review remained at home with his mother through the period of his boyhood and youth and was educated in the district schools of Ba- tavia township. He worked at farm labor, early becoming familiar with the duties and tasks connected with the tilling of the soil and the care of stock. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Ida Wilcox, to whom he was married on the 29th of November, 1876. her parents being Monroe and Martha M. (Phillips) Wilcox, who came from Otsego county, New York, and settled in Batavia. Branch county, Michigan, in pioneer days. Mrs. Wilcox passed away in the fifty-sixth year of her age. She had been a sufferer for more than a year, but her trouble baffled the best medical skill. Notwithstanding all this she continued brave, cheerful and unrepining to the last. Her life was a continual benefaction and she was truly the light of her home. When such a one passes away we are forcefully reminded of the truth of the following lines :

" The good die first But those whose hearts are dry as summer dust Burn to the socket."

She left a husband, three married daughters and a son to mourn her loss and revere her memory. Mrs. Grove was born in Otsego county, June II, 1851, and came with her parents to Michigan.

At the time of their marriage the young couple located on a farm in Batavia township and about 1882 removed to the farm whereon they now reside, where Mr. Grove has made all of the improvements, remodeled the house until he now has an attractive and modern frame residence. Within

606

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

the boundaries of his place are comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land and his attention is devoted to general farming and stock raising. He is practical in his methods, progressive in his work and successful in what he accomplishes. In the Grove home are some very valuable heirlooms of 'ye olden times " handed down from progenitors of the Wilcox family. Qne is a large sideboard made of mahogany and cherry, which is over a century old. It was manufactured in Morris, New York, and brought to Michigan by Mrs. Grove's father. There is also an old desk with numerous drawers and pigeonholes dating back to 1793, together with an old wooden chest which is about a century and a half old. There is likewise a folding leaf table which belonged to Mrs. Grove's great-great-grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. These relics are in an excellent state of preservation and are valuable because of their antiquity.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grove was born a daughter, Hazel, who died April 20, 1905, when fourteen years of age, her loss being a great blow to her parents. The following is copied from one of the local papers: " The Lord garnered a fair Easter blossom last Thursday morning when He entered the home and took their only child Hazel, to bloom for Him in paradise. No- vember 19, 1890, Hazel first saw the light of day, in the same home where last Sunday her many sorrowing friends came to take a last farewell of her who had lived a happy, joyous life among them. During the last week of January she suffered a severe attack of la grippe, which later developed into diabetes, and all the efforts of kind physicians and loving friends were unavail- ing to check the disease. As the snow which fades away before a bright March sun, so her life seemed to fade away.

" Reverend Lowry, an old friend, the one who had always officiated on similar occasions for the family, spoke very feelingly of Hazel's life and of the beautiful letters which she had written to her schoolmates while on her sick bed at Ann Arbor. A world of sympathy and solace were manifested in the beautiful hymns sung by Miss Elizabeth Grove and little Verald Kleindinst. Her schoolmates, wearing a badge of mourning and accompanied by their teacher, Miss Florence Cooley, attended the funeral in a body and at the close of the services formed two lines on the wide porch between which the bearers passed with the casket.

" The storm door of the school house was decorated with a wreath of immortelles under a wreath of wild flowers, the school flag being draped above these, and as the procession made a brief halt the school bell was tolled fourteen times for the years of her earthly life. One girl friend, Miss Ina Brooks, carried a basket of bouquets of Hazel's loved wild flowers, which she distributed to the honorary bearers, the Misses Pearl Canrite, Florence Fry, Anna Lewis, Priscilla Haynes, Vesta Martin, Bertha Tyler, who placed them on the casket of their loved friend as it was borne between them to the waiting hearse, and also at the grave.

" The bearers, Masters John Vogt, Wilfred Good, John Gamby, Harold Johnson, Morley Sloman, Philip Swaffield, were also provided with the wild flower bouquets which they also placed on the casket at the grave. The many beautiful flowers and floral designs told in a measure of the heartfelt sym-

607

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

pathy which goes out from the whole community to the father and mother and aged grandfather in their sad bereavement."

Sunnyside, the attractive country home of Mr. and Mrs. Grove, is one of the most hospitable places in Batavia township. There is in this township a literary club known as the Centennial Bay View Club which has had a con- tinuous existence through the last ten years. It has a membership of about forty of the leading ladies of the township and Mrs. Grove was one of the charter members. Mr. Grove has been a lifelong resident of Batavia town- ship and is well known. in the county. He votes with the Democracy but has never been active in politics as an office seeker, as he has preferred to give undivided attention to his business affairs. His labors have been attended with a fair measure of success and the business policy and principles he has followed have commended him to the confidence and trust of those with whom he has been associated.

ROY THOMPSON.

Roy Thompson, a farmer and highly respected citizen of Matteson town- ship. was born March 28. 1874. on the place where he yet resides, his parents being Charles M. and Mary J. (Shedd) Thompson. The father was a native of New York and became a pioneer resident of Branch county, taking up his abode within its borders when fourteen years of age. He afterward attended school for one winter and was also a student in Peoria, Illinois. When the work of improvement and progress was still in its primitive condition here he purchased the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Roy, becoming owner of eighty acres of land, which at that time was unimproved. With characteristic energy, however, he began to till the fields and in due course of time was gathering good harvests where before was seen raw land. He was married in this county to Miss Mary J. Shedd. a daughter of Joseph and Louisa (Havens) Shedd, and a native of New York, born December 9. 1846. She was reared and educated in the Empire state, and in 1866, when a young lady of twenty years, came to Michigan with her parents, settling first in Washtenaw county and then coming to Branch county. In their family were two children. The mother died in 1848. and the father afterward married again, his second union being with Polly Turner. By that marriage there were four children. Mrs. Thompson was married one year after she came to Michigan. Mr. Thompson was living at that time upon the farm which is now his home, and he brought his bride to this place. His entire life has been de- voted to agricultural pursuits, and he has won the financial reward which always comes in return for indefatigable effort, careful management and diligence.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born five children, three sons and two daughters. of whom Roy is the third child and second son. All were born and reared on the old family homestead. The father was a Republican in his political views, active and influential in party ranks in this county, his labors proving effective in promoting party successes. He acted as supervisor of the township and was also township clerk. He served in the Civil war as a faithful and loyal defender of the Union cause. and was thus entitled to

60S

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He enjoyed pleasant asso- ciations with his old army comrades through his membership in the post, and he was held in high esteem by his brethren of that order. He passed away in 1902, and the community thus lost one of its valued and representative citi- zens, a man whom to know was to respect and honor.

Roy Thompson was reared to farm life, was educated in the public schools and has always carried on general agricultural pursuits. He is a young man, of strong purpose, of excellent principles and upright life, and in the county where he has always lived has a very wide and favorable acquaintance.

HIRAM YOUNG.

Among the citizens of Coldwater whose active labors in former years now enable them to live retired, Hiram Young is numbered. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, October 18, 1831, a son of Isaac and Mary Young. the former a native of the Empire state, and there died, while the lat- ter was also born in New York. They became the parents of ten children, of whom three died in early life, and seven are yet living, Hiram being the sec- ond member of this family.

In the county of his nativity Hiram Young spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and in the common schools was educated. He learned the coop- er's trade under the direction of his father and remained a resident of the Empire state until his removal to Wisconsin, at which time he established his home in Washington county. There he was engaged in farming, and for five years lived in that locality. He then sold his farm in the Badger state and returned to Onondaga county, New York, where he purchased a tract of land, and in connection with its cultivation worked at his trade. At length he disposed of his property in the east and in 1880 came to Coldwater. Here he is engaged in real estate operations, and in addition to handling property for others he has bought and sold three houses.

Mr. Young was married March 18, 1856, to Miss Nancy C. Weller, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Young) Weller. She was born in Onondaga county, New York, April 8, 1835, and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons and two daughters: Earl, a resident of Seattle, Washington ; Augusta, the wife of B. F. Rolph; Ida A., the wife of E. H. Williams, a cigar manufacturer ; and Robert S., who is also living in Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Young is a Republican, and while never an aspirant for office, he keeps well informed on the political questions and issues of the day and is always ready to support his position by intelligent argument. He was at one time superintendent of schools in Wisconsin and has always been dceply in- terested in the cause of education. The list of the leading citizens of Cold- water contains his name, for his record has ever been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and in this way he has won public regard and warm friendships. Widely known, his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to his many friends, and it is therefore with pleasure that we pre- sent this record of his career to our readers.

609

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

WILLARD WHITNEY.

Willard Whitney, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Girard township, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, New York, July 2. 1840. His father was Ezra Whitney, a native of Ontario county, New York, where he resided until his removal to Michigan. He married Miss Julia Pelton. also a native of the Empire state. and in 1849 they made their way to the middle west, locating in Jackson county, Michigan, where Mr. Whitney passed away the following year. His widow removed to Kalamazoo county, where her death occurred in 1852. They were the parents of ten children, of whom four died in childhood. The living are: Mrs. Martha Scutt, who resides in northern Michigan; Mrs. Julia F. Morey, who resides in Mecosta county, Michigan; Mrs. Leonard Whitney, a resident of Barry county, Michigan: Mrs. Nancy Hogeland, who is living in Grand Traverse county, this state; and Willard. One son, John Whitney, died a number of years ago in Iowa at the age of thirty-two years.

In taking up the personal history of Willard Whitney we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Branch county and who has for many years been a resident of this state. He was a youth of nine summers when his parents removed to Michigan, and was left an orphan when a lad of twelve years. At the time of the Civil war he re- sponded to the country's call for aid, enlisting on the 14th of September, 1861, as a member of Company E. First Michigan Infantry. On the expiration of his first term of service he veteranized in the same company and regiment. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, " the flower of the Federal army," and he was under such generals as Rosecrans, George B. McClellan and Mead. He participated in many of the heaviest engagements of the war, including the battles of Gaines Hill, Malvern Hill, Antietam, the great battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Fred- ericksburg, Campaign of Petersburg, and he was present at the scene and sur- render of General Lee to General Grant at Appomattox. April 9, 1865. He was in line at the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia. He was never in hospital, nor never was taken prisoner. He was first discharged Feb- ruary 17, 1864, and was finally mustered out on the 17th of July, 1865. for the war had ended and his aid was no longer needed. He was a faithful soldier and has ever been a good citizen, as loyal to his country and its inter- ests in days of peace as in days of war.

In Burlington, Michigan, on the 2nd of February, 1870, Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss Helen Lee, a native of Madison county, New York. Her father was Uri Lee, who was born in Chenango, New York, January 4. 1808. He married Miss Paulina Mason, whose birth occurred in Dutchess county, New York, March 24, 1814. On coming to Michigan they located near White Pigeon and afterward removed to Burlington. Still later they became residents of Athens, Calhoun county, where the remainder of their lives was passed, Mr. Lee being called to his final rest April 17, 1875, while his wife died March 24, 1883. They were the parents of six children, namely : Harry M., who was born March 8, 1836, and died February 2, 1859;

610

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

Samuel B., who was born February 7, 1839, and died November 5, 1858; Joel, who was born February 20, 1840, and is residing in Athens, this state; Charles N., who was born September 20, 1843, and died in Athens, May 6, 1877; Mrs. Amy Brown, who was born June 3, 1852, and lives in Athens; and Mrs. Whitney, the wife of our subject.

In the year of his marriage Willard Whitney brought his bride to a farm of eighty acres on section five. Girard township, and here they have since lived. The farm is a valuable one, improved with good buildings, and its well-tilled fields yield excellent harvests. In all of his work Mr. Whitney is practical and enterprising, keeping in touch with the modern ideas of agricultural develop- ment and using the latest improved machinery in connection with the care of his fields. In all that he does he is eminently practical. In early life he was a successful school teacher, and is a man of broad mind and comprehensive knowledge, having been a wide and intelligent reader throughout his entire life.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have been born five children. Claude H .. born May 17, 1871, is a graduate of the high school of Union City, Michigan, of the class of 1890, and has been engaged in various enterprises. He was married November 5, 1896, to Miss Eliza Fox of Union City and they have one daughter. Their present home is in Denver, Colorado. Lee D. Whit- ney, who was born May 5. 1873, was married September 22, 1897, to Luella Gillett, and resides in Burlington, Michigan. Ella M., who was born May 30, 1877, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and of the Albion Business College at Albion, Michigan, and is now a suc- cessful school teacher. John L., the youngest of the family, was born Sep- tember 20, 1880, and is yet with his parents.

In his political views Mr. Whitney has always been an earnest Repub- lican, but has never been an office-seeker, nor does he desire political prefer- ment as a reward for party fealty. He and his wife are among the most highly esteemed residents of this locality. He has given to his children good educa- tional privileges, and several of them have successfully followed teaching. In manner Mr. Whitney is modest and of quiet demeanor, yet he entertains de- cided opinions as to right and wrong and is unswerving in his advocacy of any cause which he espouses.

THOMAS ALFRED HILTON.

Thomas Alfred Hilton, one of the most prominent representatives of commercial circles in Coldwater and a leader in public thought and opinion here, wielding a wide and beneficial influence in behalf of many interests which touched the general welfare, was born in Birmingham, England, April 12, 1855, and represents an old family of that country. He pursued his early education in the public schools there and remained a resident of his native land until sixteen years of age, when in 1871, soon after the death of his father, he sailed for America, having heard favorable reports concerning the advantages offered to young men in the new world. Possessing laudable ambition, he desired to try his fortune here and has continuously made his home in Cold- water with the exception of a brief period of a year spent as station agent

611

HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY

at Fremont, Indiana. Realizing the value of education he pursued special courses of study in this country that he might be better qualified for the onerous and arduous duties of an active business career. Early in life he became a clerk in a grocery store in Coldwater and later for five years acted as sales- man, bookkeeper and assistant manager for L. D. Halsted, the pioneer clothier of this city. Wishing to engage in business on his own account, he carefully hoarded his earnings and when industry and frugality had brought him suf- ficient capital he purchased a one-third interest in the grocery and supply con- cern constituting the firm of Milnes Brothers and Hilton, with which he con- tinued during the life of the partnership agreement. and then for five and a half years was engaged in a similar business for himself on Monroe street.

'THOMAS ALFRED HILTON.

At length an illness forced him to retire from the grocery business, but after his recovery he purchased a stock of clothing and in the conduct of his store has won gratifying success. He is known in Coldwater as "the best clothier," and a constantly growing patronage has brought him a richly merited measure of prosperity. In his business life he has made a record which any man might be proud to possess, for it indicates the force of his character, his adaptability and his keen sagacity. He has molded his course along the line of such old and time tried maxims as "Honesty is the best policy " and " There is no excellence without labor." He has ever been just and considerate of his employes and few men are more uniformly respected by the general public than Thomas A. Hilton.

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.

A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 76

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