A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 99

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

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Mr. and Mrs. Loring became the parents of six children: Nettie, born August 28, 1867, died in infancy. John A., born January 16, 1861, died October 19, 1880, at the age of nineteen years. Sanford, who was born

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January 7. 1867, and is a machinist residing in Coldwater, was married August 15, 1888, to Flora Rogers, by whom he has one son and three daughters. Hattie, born November 26, 1864, was married August 24. 1885, to Edwin Walker, who is engaged in blacksmithing at Hodunk, Michigan, and they have three sons and two daughters. Lettie, born January 7. 1872, is the wife of J. Shedd, who holds a position in one of the large beet sugar factories at Bay City, Michigan, where they are living with their son and daughter. Marian, born December 7, 1877, is the wife of William Ostrom, their home being in Branch county, Michigan.

In his political views Mr. Loring was a stalwart Republican, who also kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, although he never sought or desired office. He was interested in all that goes to uplift and benefit mankind and the cause of education found in him a warm and helpful friend, who as a school officer upon several different occasions did effective and valuable service for the system of public instruction in his home locality. He passed away December 25. 1893. and thus closed a use- ful, honorable and upright life. He was just and fair in all his dealings and was respected by his neighbors and fellow-townsmen, while in his home he was greatly beloved, for his devotion to his family was largely ideal. Mrs. Mary Loring still survives her husband and resides upon the old home- stead, and although at the time of his death she had but little experience in business life she took up the work that confronted her with strong and reso- lute courage and not only carefully reared and educated her children. but also conducts the affairs of her farm, where she spends the greater part of her time, paying, however, frequent visits to her children, all of whom are established in comfortable homes. She belongs to the Free Will Baptist church, and her many good qualities of heart and mind have endeared her to a large circle of friends.

ROBERT CHERDAVOINE.

Robert Cherdavoine, who at one time was actively engaged in farm- ing, but is now practically living retired on his farm in Girard township, was born in Tompkins county. New York. December 20, 1827. He is descended from French ancestry, his paternal grandfather having come from France, while his father, John Cherdavoine, was born in New Jersey. He was one of a family of four sons, and when a young man removed from New Jersey to the state of New York, where he was married to Miss Mary Longcoy, a native of the Empire state. They became the parents of two children, Robert and Abram, but the latter was killed in New York in 1854 when twenty-six years of age. The mother died in 1829, and the father afterward married Elizabeth Whalen. by whom he had three children: Enoch, now a resident of Union township, Branch county; Walter, who served as a soldier in the Civil war and died soon afterward; and Mrs. Mary Bickhorn, who died in New York in 1893. The death of the father occurred at the home of his son Robert in Girard township in 1888 when he had reached the advanced age of ninety-three years.

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Robert Cherdavoine was a little lad of six years when his father re- moved from Tompkins to Chemung county, New York, and there he re- mained until coming to Michigan. He was married in Chemung county to Miss Maria Brooks, a native of that locality, born October 15, 1833. Her father was Jesse Brooks, while her mother bore the maiden name of Marinda Fox. Both were natives of the Empire state and were among the pioneer settlers of Branch county, Michigan, coming to Coldwater when their daugh- ter Maria was less than two years of age, arriving here in 1835. Further mention is made of the Brooks family on another page of this work. For ten years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cherdavoine remained in New York, and then came to Michigan, settling in Branch county. This was in the year 1864, and Mr. Cherdavoine purchased fifty acres of land in Cold- water township, where he carried on general farming for seventeen years. In 1881 he removed to Girard township and purchased one hundred and sixteen acres of land on sections seventeen and eighteen, which he still owns. He has an excellent farm here, improved with good buildings, and everything about the place is attractive in its appearance, showing the careful super- vision of the owner. Mr. Cherdavoine, however, now leaves the active opera- tion of the farm to his son Archie, with whom he lives.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cherdavoine were born five children: Archie, who resides upon the old homestead and who married Lois Mack, by whom he has two children; Mrs. Sarah Mack, who resides in Battle Creek, Michigan; a daughter, who died in infancy; Johnnie, who died at the age of three years ; and Matthew, who died in 1890 at the age of twenty years. In 1895 Mr. Cherdavoine was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 14th day of July of that year. She was for a long period a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a true Christian woman, whose many excellencies of character endeared her to those with whom she came in con- tact, so that her loss was deeply felt by many friends as well as her im- mediate family.

Mr. Cherdavoine has been a life-long Republican and has ever kept well- informed on the questions and issues of the day. For forty years he has served as a school officer and the cause of education has ever found in him a warm and stalwart friend. His interest in public affairs is deep and sincere and has resulted in active and helpful effort for the general good.

HENRY OLNEY.

Prominent among the early settlers of the township of Girard were the Olneys, their descendants still being among the prosperous and esteemed residents of this locality. The first of our subject's ancestors to locate here was Darius Olney, his grandfather, a native of Saratoga county, New York, where he was born in 1795. He lived in his native county until 1835, when he came to Calhoun county, Michigan, where he lived for two years, then coming to Branch county and Girard, which was to be the home of himself and his descendants for so many years. In New York state he married Abagail Maxwell, and they were the parents of eight children, four of whom

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grew to manhood and womanhood. One of these was William Olney, father of our subject, who was born in Monroe county, New York, April 7, 1820. He was only fifteen years of age when he came with his parents to Mich- igan, and he remained on the home farm until after he attained his ma- jority. Then for a period of ten years he labored for others, saving his earnings. He was married, in 1853. to Miss Hannah Carter, daughter of Vernon and Anna Carter, both natives of the state of Connecticut, who were also among the early pioneers of this part of Michigan. Five sons and two daughters were born to William Olney and Anna Carter Olney, as follows: Edgar Olney is a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan. Abbie Olney Potter lives in Girard. Henry Olney is our subject. Bart Olney lives in Tekonsha. Byron Olney is a resident of Battle Creek. Will Olney lives in Girard township. Rose Olney Howard lives in the township of Tekonsha. All of the children are married and have homes and families of their own. Hannah Carter Olney, after a life filled with her faithful duties as a loving wife and mother, died at hier home in Girard, March 7. 1864. In 1868 Mr. Olney was married to Mary J. Brayton, who is still living and a resident of Girard. Mr. Olney died February 4, 1904. Before his death he became the owner of several hundred acres of fine farming land and he was for many years a man of influence and importance in this part of Branch county. He lived to a good old age and always possessed the high regard and esteem of a very large circle of friends.

Our subject, Henry Olney, was born in Girard, August 29, 1857, and he has passed his entire life in this township. He grew to manhood upon the home farm and early decided to follow agriculture as a life vocation. In this he has been eminently successful. He early became imbued with the idea that every man ought to have a home of his own and accordingly eighteen years ago he purchased a portion of his present farm on section eight, Girard township, not far from the old Olney homestead, and here he now owns one hundred and five acres of land, with excellent buildings and equipment. He was married. October 22, 1890, to Miss Lena May Bush, a native of Fredonia, Calhoun county, where she was born February 2, 1868. Her father was George Bush and her mother was Lucy Upham, both natives of the Empire state, the latter being. of the same branch of the Upham family which gave a governor to the state of Wisconsin in later years. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have been residents of Calhoun county for many years, where they are well and favorably known, and where they still live in Fredonia. They are the parents of four daughters and two sons, one of the latter dying in infancy. The remaining children, all of whom are living, are as follows: Elmer Bush is a resident of Grand Rapids. Carrie Bush Simonson lives in Concord, Michigan. Myrtie Bush Holmes lives in Mar- shall, Michigan. Ina Bush Burland lives in Peoria, Illinois. Lena May Olney is the wife of our subject.

Our subject, Mr. Henry Olney, is a young man who commands the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and he has served his school dis- trict as an officer. He is known as one of the thrifty and successful young farmers of the prosperous township of Girard, and he has already become

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possessed of considerable property. He is a worthy descendant of the sterl- ing ancestors who have done so much in the development and growth of this section of the state, and he is justly proud of the honored name he bears.

GEORGE J. STRAY.

George J. Stray, whose honorable and upright life contains many les- sons that are worthy of emulation, was born in Java, Wyoming county, New York, on the 16th of August, 1837. His father, George W. Stray, was born in the Empire state on the 19th of October, 1810, and was united in mar- riage in Wyoming county on the 21st of February, 1833, to Miss Chloe Allen, who was born in Vermont, March 18, 1808. The Strays were origi- nally from France. The Allen family removed from the Green Mountain state to Wyoming county, New York, at an early period in its development, and as before stated the parents of our subject were there married. In the spring of 1843 the father came to Michigan, and after spending a few months in Girard he sent for his family to join him and they arrived in Branch county the same year. The country was almost wholly new and undeveloped and George W. Stray cleared the farm on section ten, Girard township, on which his son, George J. Stray, now resides. He was persist- ent and energetic in his work and continued as one of the enterprising and valued agriculturists of Girard township up to the time of his death, which occurred July 31, 1883. His widow survived him for several years and passed away on the 21st of October, 1891. In their family were six chil- dren, namely: James Erastus, who died in 1848 at the age of fourteen years; Albert, who died in 1850, at the age of ten years; Chloe M., who is living in Girard; George J., of this review; Mrs. Phoebe Fairbanks, who is living in Litchfield, Michigan; and Lucius, who resides in Girard. The family have always been ardent and earnest Methodists, taking a very active and helpful part in religious work, and George W. Stray was for many years known throughout the community as Class Leader Stray because of the position which he held in his church. He was one of its liberal sup- porters and his efforts in its behalf were far-reaching and effective.

George J. Stray was reared to the occupation of farming and in the public schools acquired his education. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married October 28, 1879, to Emaroy L. Coburn, who was born in Troy, Ohio, July 6, 1850. She lived in Ohio until eight years of age, after- ward spent one year in Illinois and then came to Michigan. Her father was Arson H. Coburn, who was born in Homer, New York, February 26, 1816, and was married in Plymouth, Connecticut, on the 23d of May, 1838. to Miss Adeline Warner, whose birth occurred at Plymouth on the 22d of February, 1819. They became early residents of Ohio and Mr. Coburn died at Richland, Michigan, on the 3d of September, 1888, while his wife passed away in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on the 3Ist of October, 1853. In their family were eight children, of whom two sisters died in infancy, one having been born June 4, 1840, and the other October 28, 1841. The other members of the family were: William H. Coburn, a brother, who was born

Www. Sydney 8. Gratter

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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 789

February 12, 1843, and died at the age of twenty years; Mrs. Sarah Jane Kelley, who is living in Clinton, Wisconsin : Albert W., a resident of Scotts, Michigan; an infant son, who died in infancy: and Mrs. Adeline Hincher, who was born October 10, 1853. and lives in Decatur, Michigan. Mrs. Stray was only three years old at the time of her mother's death, and was adopted by Rev. F. Gage, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, with whom she lived until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Stray began their domestic life on the old home farm on section ten, Girard township, and have here since resided. They have had three children, but the first born died in infancy; Mary, who was born April 21, 1882, died February 12. 1900, at the age of eighteen years ; and Phoebe A., who was born Septem- ber 22, 1887, and is at home.

Mr. Stray is the owner of a farm of sixty acres and his time and atten- tion are given to its further development and improvement. He is also an apiarist, as he has made the study of the bee one of his pursuits, and he has been most successful. At the present time, 1905, he has about ninety stands of bees, and about 1881 he marketed nine hundred dollars' worth of honey. The Italian bee is the one that he cultivates, and he has paid as high as twenty dollars for two queen bees, while in 1903 he had another queen for which he paid eight dollars. He has had as high as thirteen swarms of bees at one time. There is not another man in Branch county who has been as successful as an apiarist as Mr. Stray. He has served as district school officer and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He is more- over deeply interested in the cause of religion and the family are members of the Methodist church, in which he has long served as steward and class leader. The Strays have always been a God-fearing people. always loyal to the interests of right, truth and justice and they have ever commanded the high regard of all.

SYDNEY E. YEATTER.

Upon the shoulders of the young men and women falls the robe of re- sponsibility in the affairs of the nation in an agricultural, mercantile and pro- fessional sense. Mr. Yeatter of this review is one of the young and represent- ative agriculturists of the township of Matteson. and was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, January 27. 1867. He is the eldest of three children. all yet living, a son and two daughters, who were born unto Solomon and Martha (Benedict ) Yeatter. Effie, the eldest, is the wife of Albion Russell, who re- sides in Colon, Michigan, and is an agriculturist. They have two children, Ernest and Ethel. Mrs. Russell was educated in Colon schools, was at one time a successful teacher and is a member of the Reform church. Ethel Yeatter is the wife of H. Schaffmaster, a resident of Colon, Michigan, who is also interested in agricultural pursuits. They have one son, Delmont. Solo- mon Yeatter, the father. was born in Pennsylvania, April 13, 1839, and is yet living, his home being in Colon township. He, too, is an agriculturist. He came to Michigan in 1854. when the state was in its pristine virginity. He received a good, practical education and was a teacher for a number of years. When he was twenty-one years of age he had little or no capital, and

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to-day he is one of the substantial farmers of St. Joseph county. He wedded Miss Martha Benedict on the 22d of February, 1866. She was a native of Ohio and at her death the following obituary headed the sketch of the beau- tiful life she lived :

" Martha A. Benedict was born in Morrow county, Ohio, February 23, 1842, died May 14, 1903, aged sixty years, two months and twenty-one days. She came with her parents when but a young child to Michigan, where she spent her life. She was united in marriage to Solomon Yeatter, February 22, 1866. This union was blessed with three children, all of whom are living. Their wedded life was a happy one, to which her last dying words bear testi- mony. Her last words spoken to her husband were: 'Solomon, I am going to die. When we lived together we had a happy life, but the last three years it was nothing but sorrow and grief for both of us, but now comes the crown of joy and everlasting life in dear Jesus.' Oh! what a legacy for those left behind. How beautiful are these words, words that will never die. She leaves to mourn her departure a devoted husband, three children, five grand- children, two brothers and two sisters besides many dear friends. She was a life-long member of the Christian church, early giving her heart to God, being in every way a most earnest member of the St. Paul Reformed church of South Colon. She was not simply a member by name, for her Christianity meant far more than that. Her Christian life and spirit were manifested each day in the Savior whom she loved. No better example could be given other than her beautiful life and character as it was acted out day by day. Her amiable disposition and her wise and good counsels will never die. For the past three years she has been greatly missed, not only in her home, but from the church and community. How many times she was wished back home. God, in His wise providence, saw otherwise and finally called her home. She is now waiting to greet you, one and all, on the other shore. May we so live, so emulate her life and character in Jesus, that by and by we may all meet to part no more. The funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. H. S. Nicholson, who spoke words of comfort to a very large concourse of people from the 126 Ps., 5: ' They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.' Her body was laid to rest in the cemetery by the St. Paul Reformed church to await the glorious resurrection. Peace to her ashes:

" I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be A pleasant road ; I do not ask that Thou would take from me Aught of its load. I do not ask that flowers should always spring Beneath my feet ; I know too well the poison and the sting Of things too sweet.

" For one thing only, Lord, I plead ; Lead me aright ;

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Though strength should falter and heart bleed, Through peace to light.

I do not ask, O Lord, that Thou shouldst shed Full radiance here :

Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread Without a fear.

" I do not seek my cross to understand, My way to see.

Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand And follow Thee.

Joy is like restless days, but peace Divine Like quiet night.

Lead me, O Lord, till perfect day shall shine Through peace to light."

Solomon Yeatter was formerly a member of the Greenback party, but is now a Republican. He has never cared for office holding, preferring to devote his life to his individual business interests. He belongs to the Dutch Reform church, of which his wife was also an adherent. He has lived a most honorable life and has stood four-square to the world. His life has been such that his children have been taught thereby lessons of honesty and integrity. His wife was one of those kind and affectionate mothers whose admonitions will ever be remembered by her loving children.

Sydney E. Yeatter was reared and educated in St. Joseph county, Mich- igan. He acquired a good common-school education and also attended the Colon high school, after which he became a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. He won a teacher's certificate and taught for one term in St. Joseph county.

Mr. Yeatter wedded Miss Katie J. Dean, December 24, 1889, and three children, two sons and a daughter, have been born unto them, while two are yet living. Ralph E., the elder, is in the third grade in school. Celia K. is the sunbeam of the home circle. Mrs. Yeatter was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, December 16, 1871, a daughter of Joseph and Hattie (Livermore) Dean. There were four children in the Dean family, three sons and a daughter. and all are yet living: Harry, who was educated in the Colon schools and is an agriculturist residing in Colon township; Mrs. Yeat- ter, who is the second in order of birth: Clyde, who is a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College of the class of 1901, and is now residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is engaged in business as a civil engineer ; and Olney J., who was educated in the Michigan Agricultural College, com- pleting the course as an alumnus of 1903, his home being now in Chicago, where he is also a civil engineer.

Joseph Dean, father of this family, was a native of Pennsylvania, born August 23, 1840, and his death occurred June 10, 1897. He followed the occupation of farming, was a soldier of the Civil war, participated actively in many battles, and afterward received an honorable discharge. He was

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but a boy when his parents came to St. Joseph county, and almost his entire life was spent in Michigan. In politics he was a stalwart Republican and was a member of Henry M. Liddle Post, G. A. R., at Colon, Michigan. He and his wife were members of the Evangelical church. Mrs. Dean is a native of Michigan and is residing in St. Joseph county at the age of sixty years.

Mrs. Yeatter was reared in St. Joseph county and was educated in the Colon public schools. After obtaining her teacher's certificate she taught one year and she has also received instruction in music. She is a lady of true grace and cordial greeting and her interest centers in her home and family.

It was in the spring of 1889 that Mr. Yeatter purchased sixty acres of good land in Matteson township, and has since added sixty acres more. He and his wife located on this land in February, 1890, and his attention has since been given to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He has made a specialty of Shropshire sheep and Berkshire swine, and his breeding stock is all registered. He built a large barn, thirty-two by seventy-six feet, in 1903, and in 1906 expects to build a large sheep barn, thirty by forty-eight feet. He is also a stockholder in the Colon Creamery, an enterprise which pays well on the investment.

Mr. Yeatter is a Republican, casting his first presidential ballot for Ben- jamin Harrison. He is a friend of the public schools and was school inspector for four years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Colon, and they have always contributed their share toward all worthy benefactions. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yeatter are young people, belong- ing to excellent families, who stand high in the estimation of all, and we are pleased to present this full record of their lives to the readers of this volume. Their beautiful home is known as The Pines.

MR. AND MRS. SETH KING.

Widely known throughout this county, as well as through a goodly portion of southern Michigan, are Mr. and Mrs. Seth King, the latter being more generally known as Mrs. Emily D. King. For many years they have been residents of the township of Butler, where they still retain a fine farm, although during the past year they have lived upon another place on section twelve, Girard township, in order that they might be near their children.

Mr. Seth King was born in Monroe county, New York, April 6, 1832, his father being Henry King, a native of Wheatland, Monroe county, New York, where he was born February 14, 1804. The King family was one of importance in the Empire state, its members being prominent in posses- sion of position and considerable property. The paternal grandfather of our subject at one time owned thousands of acres of land upon which the city of Rochester was afterward built. Henry King's first wife was a Miss Skinner, by whom he had one child, Mary King Cooper, who died while a resident of Calhoun county, Michigan, in 1898. Mrs. King died in New York state and Mr. King was again married, his second choice being Cynthia Rose, a native of Cayuga county, New York, to whom he was united in Monroe county. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Sarah

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of Branch County, Michigan, Part 99

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