USA > Michigan > Branch County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan > Part 78
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In 1896 Judge Reynolds married Miss Florence M. Hilliar, and they have two children : Adeltha A. and Frances I. He is a Master Mason and a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is now serv- ing as trustee. He also has been very active in the work of the Sunday- school, the Epworth League and the Young Men's Christian Association. being a member of the board of directors and vice-president of the last named for a number of years. Like his father, his is a well rounded character and
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in his life proportionate attention has been given to his profession and his obligations to his fellow men, his home locality and his country. The name of Reynolds has long figured prominently in Branch county and has ever been an honored one.
JOHN P. FOX.
John P. Fox, living on section one, Sherwood township, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, then a part of Columbia county, on the 23rd of May, 1843. His paternal grandfather, John Fox, was also a native of the keystone state, where he spent his entire life. He was descended from German and English ancestry and the family was established in Pennsyl- vania at a very early day, the first representatives of the name settling near the Delaware river. The deed to their land was signed by William Penn and the farm which was thus secured is yet in possession of the Fox fam- ily. It lies in Bucks county and through successive generations the family has been represented there. Daniel M. Fox, father of John P. Fox, was born in Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1854, locating in Calhoun county. He was a teacher in early life and later engaged in farming, con- tinuing in active agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy-fifth year. He resided continuously upon his farm in Calhoun county upon which he first located. He married Eliza Lichten- walner, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Peter Lichtenwalner, also a native of that state, his ancestors having settled in Pennsylvania in 1733. Mrs. Fox was sixty-eight years of age at the time of her demise. She had become the mother of nine chil- dren, four sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and three daugh- ters reached adult age.
John P. Fox, the sixth child and third son, was a youth of ten years at the time of his parents' removal to Michigan and he was reared in Fre- donia township, Calhoun county, acquiring his education in the district schools. Throughout the period of his boyhood he assisted in the operation of the home farm and thus gained practical experience which proved of value to him when he began farming on his own account. He was mar -. ried in 1868 to Miss Catherine F. Green, a daughter of Dr. Jacob S. Green, who came to Michigan in 1866 and engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in this portion of the state. Mrs. Fox was born in Tompkins county, New York, May 3, 1843, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fox re- mained on the old homestead farm in Calhoun county until 1882, when they settled in Sherwood township and have since resided here. They became the parents of three children: Charles, who is engaged in the clothing busi- ness at Athens, Michigan; Liza, the wife of Claud H. Whitney, of Denver, Colorado; and Lena, the wife of Clifford Darling of Girard township, Branch county. The wife and mother died January 1, 1896, and in October, 1897, Mr. Fox wedded Mrs. Mary A. Burton, the widow of Otis Burton and a daughter of Lance Simmons.
Mr. Fox is a representative agriculturist, owning and operating two hundred and fifty-six acres of well improved land on section one, Sherwood
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township. He is also a director and a vice-president of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank at Union City and one of the directors of the Union City Cream- ery Company. In his business affairs he is enterprising, managing his inter- ests on strictly business principles and whatever he undertakes to do he does thoroughly and well. He is strong in all the essentials that combine to make a valuable and trustworthy business man. In politics he has always been a Republican but would never accept office. He belongs to the Methi- odist Episcopal church at Union City and is now chairman of its board of trustees. also one of its stewards and very active in the different depart- ments of the church work. His identification therewith has continued for thirty-five years and for about twenty years he has been a member of the Ancient Order of. United Workmen.
WILLIAM ADAMS COOMBS.
William A. Coombs was born in South Thompson. Maine, August 21, 1840, being the eldest of five children and only son of Archibald and Har- riett (Kalloch) Coombs. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Laporte county. Indiana, where his youth was passed, and after mastering the branches taught in the public schools he continued his studies in the Valparaiso Normal School and afterward was engaged in teaching school for a time. Mr. Coombs entered mercantile life in connection with a gen- eral store at Rolling Prairie, Indiana, where he remained until November, 1868, when he came to Coldwater and was here engaged in merchandising, for a short time. Later he became a dealer in fruit trees and was engaged in selling nursery stock for several years. About 1877 he purchased the Crippen flouring mill, which he conducted until his death, and he also bought and operated other mills. He likewise purchased the plant of the Coldwa- ter Gas Company, developed the business and retained a controlling inter- est in the same. He was instrumental in establishing the Tappen shoe fac- tory, of which he became one of the stockholders, and thus his identification with varied business interests made him a valued factor in the industrial and commercial development of the city.
In March, 1866, Mr. Coombs was united in marriage to Miss Clara Adams Webster, a daughter of Harrison Webster, a native of New York, who settled in Branch county, Michigan, in 1867, and here followed the occupation of farming. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary E. Dick- son, and was also a native of New York. Mrs. Coombs was born in Ripley, New York, and there her marriage was celebrated. She became the mother of five children : Mrs. Edith Zwisler, now deceased; Anna M., the wife of Fred W. Moore of the Coombs Milling Company of Coldwater; Susie S., the wife of Elmer J. Allen; Elizabeth, the wife of H. R. Saunders of the Coldwater National Bank; and William Adams, secretary of the Coldwater Gas Company.
William A. Coombs gave his political support to the Republican party, and was always interested in its success. He died in Coldwater June 19, 1898.
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A. MUNSON ETHERIDGE.
A. Munson Etheridge, a member of the firm of Etheridge & Norton, dealers in agricultural implements in Quincy, was born in Coldwater Febru- ary 27, 1844. His father, Samuel Etheridge, was a native of Adams, Mas- sachusetts, and came to Michigan in 1836, locating in Coldwater. He was a millwright by trade and built the first flouring mill in Branch county. It became known as the old Crippen Mill. Mr. Etheridge was a man of considerable prominence and influence in the county in an early day. He came of New England ancestry and had been liberally educated. His polit- ical allegiance was given to the Democracy and he was a strong party man, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the suc- cess of the principles in which he believed. About 1850 he took part in a debate that was held in Quincy and which was a memorable event in its early history. He then prophesied that a railroad would be built through Quincy on the very ground on which the schoolhouse stood. He said that the day would come when the continent would be crossed by steel rails from ocean to ocean. Although the prophecy has long since been fulfilled he showed remarkable foresight in his prediction. He belonged to the old school of gentlemen, punctiliously polite, considerate of others and defer- ential in manner. When the senatorial district extended to Detroit he acted as its representative in 1839-40 in the state legislature, which then held its meetings at Detroit. He was a personal friend of Governor Steven T. Mason and he and his family were often guests at the governor's home. Mr. Eth- eridge also held some local offices, including that of justice of the peace, in which he served for a number of years. In 1845 he removed to Quincy and engaged in farming just west of the town, where he owned a tract of land that was eventually divided by the Lake Shore Railroad. In early life he held membership in the Baptist church but at the time of his death was a communicant of the Episcopalian church. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason. He died in 1864 at the ripe old age of seventy-six years, and though several decades have since come and gone he is yet remembered by many of the older settlers as one of the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state. He married Cynthia Maria Ingham, who was born in the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county, New York, in 1806, and died in 1886. She represented one of the old New England families of German lineage and by this marriage there were three children: Charles I., a farmer living in Quincy township; Kirk B., who is a farmer and also con- ducts a feed mill at Quincy ; and A. Munson. Samuel Etheridge was twice married, his two wives being sisters and by the first union he had six chil- dren, but only one is now living, Mrs. Cynthia Brewer, the wife of Lorenzo D. Brewer, who is living in Coldwater in the house which she has occu- pied for sixty-seven years. She has reached the age of eighty-seven years and by reason of a broken hip is now an invalid.
A Munson Etheridge was a student in the public schools of Quincy and Coldwater in his boyhood days. He was reared upon his father's farm and has followed agricultural pursuits for thirty-five years, owning eighty acres
Sram Wilson M. 2
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of land in Quincy township. He is also engaged in the implement business in Quincy at the present time. handles buggies and wagons, and also deals quite largely in real estate. his business interests being capably conducted. so that he has a gratifying yearly income. He began dealing in implements in Coldwater in 1860 in connection with Mr. Bert and his brother, Theodore C. Etheridge. with whom he was identified in business relations for eight years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on his farm near Quincy, but in 1895 again entered mercantile life, and in 1897 formed a partnership in the implement business with A. L. Bowen, which continued until the fall of 1902, when he purchased his partner's interest and shortly afterward admitted H. P. Norton to a partnership under the present firm style of Etheridge & Norton.
In 1870 Mr. Etheridge was married to Miss Clara J. Newberry. a daughter of Peter M. and Hannah ( Seaberry) Newberry. She was born in Quincy township on the farm now owned by Mr. Etheridge, her natal year being 1845. Her father had come to Michigan in 1836, settling first in Jonesville, where he remained for a year. He then came to Quincy town- ship, where the family home was maintained through a long period. He had but two daughters. Mrs. Etheridge's sister becoming the wife of his brother, Kirk Etheridge.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born the following named : Alice C., at home: Warren S., who is his father's assistant in business : Mabel L., who is attending the conservatory of music of the state normal : Theodore Cleveland. at home: Willie, who died at the age of nine years : and Arthur, who died at the age of four years. both dying of diphtheria in 1884. The parents are consistent and prominent members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Etheridge has been a deacon in the church for thirty-five years. He cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has since given an unfaltering support to the Republican party. Mrs. Etheridge crossed the continent soon after the building of the first railroad in company with her father, and later Miss Alice Etheridge made the same trip to Cali- fornia with her grandfather Newberry. The family is a prominent one in the locality, occupying an enviable position in the social circles in which they move and Mr. Etheridge has contributed in substantial measure to the business development of the city.
WILLIAM WILSON, M. D.
Dr. William Wilson, whose life has been devoted to the welfare of his fellowmen as a practitioner of medicine and minister of the gospel, was born in the city of Dumfries, Scotland, June 20, 1848. When he was twelve years of age his mother with her two sons, William and James, came to the United States, settling at Albany, New York, where Mrs. Wilson spent her remaining days, her death there occurring in 1902, when she was about seventy-four years of age. It was in that state that Dr. Wilson was reared. early entering business life there as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade. His school privileges were very limited, but he was fond of books and de- voted his evening hours to reading and study, thus gaining a fair education
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to which observation, experience and investigation have added as the years have gone by. When twenty-two years of age he professed his faith in Christ and joined the Plymouth Brethren, after which he devoted much of his time for ten years to preaching the gospel. In the meantime he also followed carpentering and other occupations in order to gain a livelihood, but throughout the years that have since come and gone he never ceased to continue his labors in the ministry and his influence has ever been a potent factor on the side of right, justice and truth. In 1881 he took up the study of medicine under the direction of the late George L. Whitford, M. D., at Coldwater, having removed to this city in 1878. Later he became a student in Bennett Medical College of Chicago, from which he was gradu- ated in 1884. He then located in East Saginaw, Michigan, where he re- mained for a year, after which he returned to Coldwater, where he has since followed the profession of medical practice and has also engaged in teach- ing. He has been successful in his ministrations for the physical needs of mankind and he has kept in touch with the progress of his profession through membership in the Branch County Medical Society and the Tri-State Medical Society.
Dr. Wilson was married in 1879 to Miss Julia A. Whitford, a daughter of Dr. George L. Whitford, and they have two sons-Harry G. and James G., both traveling salesmen. The life work of Dr. Wilson has been ac- tuated by a broad, humanitarian spirit and deep interest in his fellowmen that prompts his best efforts for the amelioration of all the conditions which work hardships to others. Added to his efforts for the alleviation of suffering and diseases he brings the consolation of the gospel faith and in his life shows forth the true spirit of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister.
HON. WILLIAM B. BUSHNELL.
William B. Bushnell, a furniture dealer of Bronson, Michigan, was born on his father's farm in Noble township, six miles south of Bronson, Febru- ary 21, 1849, son of Ephraim B. Bushnell. The latter, a native of Ohio, moved to Michigan in 1836, accompanied by his father, Samuel Bushnell, who was born in Vermont and who at an early day had come as far west as Ohio. Samuel Bushnell spent the rest of his life in Michigan, and died at the home of his son in Branch county.
Like other farmer boys, William B. Bushnell worked on a farm in sum- mer and during the winter months attended the country school near his home. Also for a short time he was a student at Orland Academy in Indi- ana. At the age of twenty, ambitious to see something of the world, he went west, visiting Iowa, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana and California, where he spent some time engaged in mining and various other occupations. Re- turning to Michigan in 1876, he settled down to farming in Branch county and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits here until January, 1902, when he became associated with E. M. Turner in a general furniture and undertaking business in Bronson. He still owns a farm of ninety acres, located two and a half miles west of Bronson.
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Mr. Bushnell married, in 1880, Miss Maria Taggart, daughter of David Taggart, of Branch county, and they have four children, namely : Leland D., a graduate of Lansing Agricultural College with the class of June. 1905; Clyde E., a student in that college; Elwood D., a graduate of the Bronson high school in 1904, is now teaching school; and Clesson, at home.
Mr. Bushnell has always been a staunch Republican. For three years he served Bronson township as supervisor, being the only Republican elected to that office during a period of thirty years. In 1891 he was elected a representative to the Michigan general assembly for a term of two years, and filled the position with credit to himself and his constituents. He is a member of Mystic lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Bronson.
L. M. BOWERS.
From an early period in the development of Branch county L. M. Bowers has resided within its borders, and has been an interested witness of its development and of changes that have been wrought as agricultural and commercial progress have elevated the county to a par with the older dis- tricts of the east. He lives on section fourteen, Batavia township, where he has a good farm of eighty-eight acres, upon which he took up his abode thir- ty-two years ago. his birth occurring in Penfield. Monroe county, New York, on the 5th of December, 1840. His father. John Bowers, was a native of Essex county, New Jersey, born in the town of Roxbury, on the 8th of July, 1816, and is now living in his ninetieth year, making his home with his son, L. M. Bowers of this review. He is still a hale and hearty old man, re- spected and honored by young and old, rich and poor. He came to Branch county in 1853. locating in Batavia township and has been a life-long farmer. He was a son of John Bowers, a native of Vermont-a fact which indicates that the family was established in the new world at an early day, while this country still belonged to Great Britain. John Bowers was united in mar- riage to Miss Esther Ann Moore, whose birth occurred in Monroe county, New York, and who passed away when about sixty-five years of age. In their family were two children, but the daughter died in childhood.
L. M. Bowers, the only son, was a youth of twelve years when he came with his parents to Michigan, and his education, which was begun in the east. was continued in the district schools of Branch county and in the city of Coldwater. He remained at home through the period of his youth and for one year was engaged in the jewelry business in Coldwater, but thirty- two years ago located on his present farm. For a year and a half he con- ducted a general store at Klinger's Lake and established the postoffice there, acting as postmaster during the period of his residence there. He also es- tablished the first rural route that went out. of Coldwater.
On the 13th of February. 1863, Mr. Bowers was united in marriage to Miss Lovina Grove, a daughter of Archibald and Jane ( Pitcher) Grove, who came to Branch county in 1833. On the occasion of the mother's death the following notice appeared in a local paper :
" Mrs. Jane Grove, or better known as Grandma Grove, whose serious illness has from time to time been mentioned in our items, departed this
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life last Monday evening. Mrs. Grove has always lived a peaceful quiet home life. Being left a widow in early life with a large family of little children, she worked hard to keep her family together, and although sorely tried with the hardships of an early pioneer life she still pressed nobly on and lived to see her children all grown up to manhood and womanhood with beautiful homes of their own. As she had always lived a quiet life she wished her burial to be. Her own daughters cared for her in her last sick- ness and in death her sons laid her body away to rest. Elder Lowry, of Coldwater, talked in his quiet and expressive way from a text of her own selection and Miss Elizabeth Grove, who is a relative of the family, sang in her sweet voice two solos. It can be truly said with Mr. Lowry that she had lived a long life and fought a good fight."
Mrs. Bowers was born in Batavia township May 15, 1843. and was one of a family of ten children, being the fifth in order of birth. Her girlhood was spent in Batavia township and the public schools of the neighborhood afforded her her educational privileges. In fact she has lived in this town- ship throughout her entire life and has a very wide acquaintance. By her marriage she has become the mother of one daughter, Mary E., now the wife of Mortimer Olds, a resident of Batavia township.
Mr. Bowers is the owner of a farm of ninety acres and has always car- ried on general agricultural pursuits. His well tilled fields indicate his careful supervision of his place, which is thoroughly equipped with modern improvements and presents an attractive appearance. He has been identified with the Democratic and Greenback parties and favors the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one. He has served as township clerk of Batavia township for about two years. He is a member of the Grange, and at one time was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For fifty-three years a resident of Branch county, he has been an interested witness of almost its entire development, and has been particularly helpful along the line of agricultural progress, co-operating largely in the Grange movement. He was master of the local Grange for about ten years, and has been a member of the county, state and national Grange, recognized as one of its prominent representatives. He has also been president and di- rector of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Branch county. An investigation into his life record will disclose no startling chapters, but will show that in the faithful performance of the duties of this work-a-day world he has won a fair measure of prosperity and at the same time has lived so as to gain the respect and trust of those with whom he has been associated.
J. MOREHOUSE BLACKMAN, M. D.
Dr. J. Morehouse Blackman, among the young practitioners of medi- cine and surgery in Branch county, with a well equipped office in Quincy, where he has gained a creditable and gratifying patronage, was born at White Pigeon, Michigan. in 1873, and when but three years of age was brought to Quincy by his parents, in 1876. He is a son of Edson Blackman. represented on another page of this work. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Quincy, and subsequently became a student in Hills-
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dale College, which he attended in the years 1895-6. He then began pre- paration for his profession by reading medicine under the direction of his father, and in 1896 was enrolled as a student in the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, where he remained for a year. His views concerning prac- tical principles then changed to some extent and he became a student in the Grand Rapids Medical College, in 1897. and was graduated therefrom in the following year. The succeeding year was spent in practice in Quincy. after which he pursued a year's course in the Detroit Homeopathic College. being a graduate of that institution of the class of 1900. He has thoroughly investigated all sides of medical practice and in his work he makes wise choice of what he believes will prove the most helpful in checking the rav- ages of disease and restoring health. In 1900 he returned to Quincy, where he has since remained, having an office with his father. He has been suc- cessful from the start and now has a business which many an older prac- titioner might well envy.
In 1901 Dr. Blackman was married to Miss Carrie Lusk, a daughter of Alfred and Emily Lusk. She was born in Coldwater, in 1877, and is an only child. The family comes of German lineage. Dr. Blackman is a men- ber of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also has membership relations with the Odd Fellows. Maccabees and Mystic Workers, and is medical examiner for these organizations and for the Equitable Life Insurance Company.
ROBERT WATSON.
Robert Watson, one of the early settlers of Coldwater, was born in Lin- colnshire. England, December 12. 1840, and with his parents came to Amer- ica in 1850, the family home being established in Pontiac. He afterward went to Flint, Michigan, and in 1860 arrived in Coldwater. He was then a young man of twenty years, possessing energy, determination and lauda- ble ambition. He here established a meat market and for forty-two years has continued in the same line of business in this city, being one of its most reliable and representative business men. He is always straightforward and honorable in every business transaction and had a large patronage, many of his customers having been with him for years. This business he sold in 1903.
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