USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 14
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brackett have been born three children-Lloyd Clayton and Ezra Carelton, both born in Monterey, and Lela, who was born in Allegan and died aged eleven months. The family are prominent in the
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community and Mr. Brackett is one whose life history is indeed commend- able and exemplary. Reared amid pioneer conditions and early familiar with many of the hardships incident to life on the frontier, he has made good use of his opportunities as the years have gone by, and is today a prominent representative of agricultural interests. For many years he has participated in business life of the county and has so directed his affairs as to merit the confidence and esteem of the entire community, while no word of censure has ever been uttered against his actions.
THOMAS M. COOK .- Among the native sons of Allegan who have found in its business conditions opportunity for successful enterprise and industry, is numbered Thomas M. Cook, who is now engaged in dealing in coal. He was born January 27, 1864, a son of Martin Cook, whose birth occurred in the Netherlands. He came to America from Holland when ten years of age, crossing the Atlantic in 1846 with his parents. The grandfather of our subject was Harm Cook, who was born in 1799, and died in Holland, Michigan, in 1847. He married Jane Dunnewind, a native of Holland, born in 1800. Her death occurred in Holland, Michigan, in 1860. When Mr. and Mrs. Harm Cook came to the new world they brought with them their seven children, and they traveled with a party of about one hundred colonists, who were under the leadership of a minister, Dr. Van Realte. They were dissatisfied in the old country with business and other conditions, and the minister came to America to select a location and then brought the colony to the new world, all settling in Ottawa county, Michigan, where they named the town of Holland in honor of their native country. That portion of the state was then an unbroken wilderness, but now there is a flourishing city at the headwaters of Macatawa bay, with open navigation to Lake Michigan. Harm Cook moved into the second shanty on his arrival in the fall of 1846 which was built, and later erected a log cabin and began to clear a farm, but on account of overwork was taken ill and died in 1847. The members of the family are: Herminia, deceased ; John, deceased, who was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in Company I, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, on the 21st of August, 1862, and was serving as a teamster when discharged on account of disability September 16, 1863 ; Henry, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Albert, who lives in Allegan ; Martin, father of our subject, and two who died in childhood.
Martin Cook was a youth of ten years when the family arrived in the new world. Soon after his father's death he removed to Allegan county, Michigan, where he followed a diversified life until he was elected township treasurer, which position he held for twelve years. He was likewise county treasurer for two years, and held the position of turnkey in the state prison for two years, and for five years was a railway mail clerk. In 1892 he took up his abode in Ionia, Michigan, where he still resides, now filling the position of turnkey of the prison. He wedded Mary C. Krise, who was born in old Holland. In their family were ten children. nine of whom survive, namely: Thomas M., Mrs. H. D. Lewis, Henry J., Mrs. L. H. Pritchard, Fred, who is living in Ionia with his father; Harm, Susan, Jennie and Martin, all of whom are residents of Ionia.
Thomas M. Cook was reared in Allegan county and is indebted to the public school system of his native village for the educational privileges he
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enjoyed. Since putting aside his text books he has been identified with business interests in Allegan, and in 1885 established a coal and wood yard, which he has conducted with excellent success. In 1890 he became the distributing agent for the Standard Oil Company, and he is recognized as one of the leading business men of his village and county, carefully conduct- ing his interests and winning a liberal patronage by reason of honorable methods and straightforward dealing.
On the 7th of May. 1884, Mr. Cook was married in Ionia, Michigan. to Agnes K. Harwood, who was born in Berlin, Jonia county, this state. They now have two living children: Grover C., who was born in lonia, and Edmond M., born in Allegan. They both received schooling in Allegan, and also attended the school at Big Rapids, Michigan. At the present time Edward M. is taking a law course at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Mr. Cook is recognized as one of the most prominent representatives of Democracy in Allegan county, and has served as a member of the Demo- cratic state central committee. He has likewise been a member of the village board and was president of the village in 1905 and in 1906. During those years Allegan has witnessed a healthy boom, having secured several new factories and many improvements. His labors in behalf of the party have been far-reaching and beneficial, his work being of a most effective character. He was president of the Allegan County Agricultural Society in 1906, in which year a very successful fair was given and a debt of several hundred dollars against the society was paid. He belongs to various fraternal organizations, holding membership relations with the Knights of Pythias. Elks. Maccabees, the National Protective Legion and the Foresters. He has held all the offices in the first named and has been representative to the Grand Lodge. He is also president of the Allegan Boat & Park Company, who have a fine new excursion boat running to Cook park above the city, which was named in his honor. He is also vice- president of the Board of Trade, which institution is an active body organized to promote the welfare of Allegan and is doing much good in that direction. Mr. Cook is very widely known and public opinion is altogether favorable regarding his business record and his private life. while even his political opponents recognize the honesty of his convictions and his fidelity to a course which he believes to be right.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLIN, one of the early settlers of Allegan county. con- nected with its agricultural development and for many years a respected citizen but now numbered among the honored dead, was born in Wayne county, New York. December 2, 1823. His parents were Jeremiah and Margaret (Moore) Chamberlin, natives of New York. The father was engaged in farming in Wayne county in his carlier years, and in 1832 journeyed to Ohio, establishing his home in Columbia township, Lorain county, upon a tract of land of eighty acres which at the time of his purchase was covered with a dense growth of timber. There in the midst of the forest he erected a log cabin and began to hew out a farm but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death there occurring in 1838. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and he served as township trustee. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church
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and were people of genuine personal worth, who enjoyed and received the respect and good will of all with whom they came in contact. Mrs. Cham- berlin died in Monterey township, this county, in 1888, at the very advanced age of eighty-two years, having spent her last days in the home of her son, William A. Chamberlin. In the family were six children, but only one now survives, John, who is a resident of Ohio.
Joseph Chamberlin was educated in a log schoolhouse in Lorain county, Ohio, having been but eight years of age at the time of the parents' removal from the Empire state. He was reared to the occupation of farming and when sixteen years of age became a sailor by going upon the lakes, where he remained for five seasons, and during that time he won promotion until he became captain and was owner of a vessel, sailing from Cleveland to Buffalo and to Canadian points. After leaving the lakes he turned his attention to farming in Lorain county, settling on eighty acres of land, while later he operated a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. There he continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until his removal to Michigan. He settled in Monterey township, Allegan county, among its early residents, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he began clearing and cultivating. For a considerable period he was actively and successfully engaged in general farming, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation. In 1877, however, he removed to Allegan, where he resided until his death.
Mr. Chamberlin was twice married. He first wedded Harriett Weton, and they had one son, Clifton. For his second wife he chose Martha A. Brooks, and unto them was born a daughter, May, who became the wife of Thomas Armstrong, and after his death became the wife of Milton Griffith. Mrs. Chamberlin had a brother, Alphonso, who enlisted in the Civil war from New York state and now lives in Emmet county, Michigan, where he took up a soldier's claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land.
The death of Mr. Chamberlin occurred on the 18th of January, 1902. He had held the office of school director and had affiliated with the Demo- cratic party but was not an active politician in the sense of office seeking. He preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business interests and whatever success he achieved was due entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life empty-handed and by persistency of purpose and unfalter- ing energy constantly worked his way upward, becoming in the course of years a prosperous and prominent agriculturist of Allegan county, and one who commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men under all circumstances.
THEODORE S. UPDYKE is accorded a position of prominence in business circles in Allegan by reason of his enterprise and industry, and while he has devoted the greater part of his attention to real estate and the insurance business, he is yet a valued factor in other fields of business endeavor, and various industries have felt the stimulus of his co-operation and benefited by his sound judgment. A native son of the village, he was born in December, 1858, and is the only child of Renssalaer S. and Ermina (Stone) Updyke. The father removed from the Empire state to Michigan after learning the miller's trade in the east. He had followed that pursuit on the Hudson river, and subsequent to his removal to Michigan he settled in
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Allegan, where he again engaged in the milling business until 1870. He then took up his abode in Iowa, where he purchased a farm, making it his home throughout his remaining days. There he died in 1878, when about fifty-eight years of age, his birth having occurred in 1820. He was three times married, his first union being with Mary Herald, a native of New York. Unto them were born two children, who are yet living: William H., a resident of Sioux City, Iowa, and Mary H., who lives in Connecticut. For his second wife Mr. Updyke chose Ermina Stone, who was born in Canada and died in Allegan in 1868. She had come to Michigan with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Stone, who were early residents of this village. The only child of this marriage is Theodore S. Updyke. The father was a third time married and is survived by one child of that union, Fred Updyke.
In the public schools of Allegan Theodore S. Updyke mastered the common branches of English learning, and on the removal of the family to Iowa he continued his education in the schools of that state. When he had attained the age of twenty years he returned to his native village and accepted a clerkship in the postoffice under his uncle, George R. Stone, who was postmaster at that time. After a year, however, he went to the southwest, visiting New Mexico and Arizona. He made his headquarters, however, at Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was engaged in the railway postal service for two years, after which he resigned his position and went to Kansas. There he conducted a hardware business and subsequently became cashier in the Medicine Valley Bank, in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, devoting three years to that work, after which he removed to Lake City and subsequently to Ashland, Kansas, where he engaged in the hardware and lumber business. In 1889 he returned to Michigan and became chief clerk for the Lake Shore Railroad, with headquarters at Grand Rapids, where he remained until 1905. In the latter year he came to Allegan, where he engaged in the real estate and general insurance business. Here he has secured a fine clientage, writing large amounts of insurance annually and negotiating many important realty transfers. He has thoroughly inforined himself concerning land values in this village and throughout the county and is thus enabled to make good purchases and sales for his clients, and thereby realize a very desirable commission for himself. A man of business ability, he has not confined his energies to one line of undertaking, however, but has reached out into other fields, thus broadening his activity and accomplishing greater results. Various industries of Allegan have been stimulated through his co-operation and sound business judgment. He is now a director in the Bane-Mosher Company, and also in the Allegan Foundry & Machine Company, while of the Michigan Engine Company at Allegan he is secretary and treasurer.
In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Theodore S. Updyke and Miss Ella Williams, the wedding ceremony being performed in Allegan. The lady is a daughter of the late Hon. William B. Williams, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of her brother, Frank H. Williams, who is judge of the probate court of Allegan county. Mr. and Mrs. Updyke now have one child, a son, George W., who was born in this village and passed through successive grades in the public schools of Allegan until he had completed the high school course, after which he
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entered Howe's Military School in Indiana, where he was graduated in 1906. He is now completing his education in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In politics Mr. Updyke is a stalwart Republican, and while in Ashland, Kansas, which is the county seat of Clark county, he served as mayor of the city for one term. In Masonry he has attained high rank, having taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite, and he has held various offices in different Masonic bodies. He is an exemplary representa- tive of the craft and is thoroughly familiar with its tenets and teachings. Well directed effort in business life, laudable ambition and keen discernment have been salient features in his success, making him one of the representa- tive and prominent residents of Allegan.
GORDON L. HICKS, who is engaged in the conduct of an agricultural implement business and also handles hardware, buggies and wagons, is classed with those whose enterprise and labor have promoted the commercial activity and consequent prosperity of Allegan. His birth occurred in Kala- mazoo county, Michigan, January 15, 1851, his parents being Henry B. and Hulda (Everett) Hicks, both of whom were natives of Vermont. The father came from the Green Mountain state to Michigan in 1836, and was one of the early settlers of Allegan, being employed in the first mill ever built there. Subsequently he removed to Richland township, Kalamazoo county, and there rented a farm, which he operated until his success justified his purchase of a farm at Spring Brook, in the same township. The place was then a wilderness, but he cleared and cultivated it and followed farming there until his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was eighty-five years of age. He was an honored pioneer of the county, for he worked persist- ently and earnestly to secure its development and aid in its reclamation from the wilderness through transforming it into good farming property. His wife passed away about a year prior to his demise. In their family were nine children, who reached adult age, while six are now living: Gilbert. who, enlisting from Iowa, served for three years and six months in the Civil war, and now lives in Emmet county, Michigan; Mrs. Mary Swears ; Calvin C., who lives on the old homestead in Spring Brook, Kalamazoo county, Michigan ; Martha, who resides in Detroit, this state; Fannie, the widow of Dr. French, and Gordon L.
In the schools of his native county Gordon L. Hicks acquired his early education and afterward attended Albion College and Parson's Business College at Kalamazoo. Subsequently he carried on farming in Kalamazoo county for two years, and in 1875 removed to Trowbridge township, this county, where he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until 1892. In that year he removed from the farm to the village of Allegan and began dealing in agricultural implements and kindred goods. He prospered in this venture and afterward added a line of buggies, wagons, thresh- ing machines and hardware, and he now has a well appointed store and is enjoying an excellent trade. In 1892 he was elected secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Allegan and Ottawa counties, which office he still fills in connection with his other business interests.
Mr. Hicks withholds his support from no movement or measure which he deems of public benefit and his allegiance is unswervingly given to the Republican party. For the past twelve years he has acted as justice of the
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peace and his decisions have been strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case. Fraternally he is a Mason and a Maccabee, belonging to the former organization for twelve years and to the latter for sixteen years, and at all times he is loyal to the beneficent spirit of both.
In 1873, in Vickeryville, Bushnell township, Montcalm county, Michi- gan, Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Fannie Kirven, and they now have two sons and a daughter. Henry G., born in Trowbridge township, this county, is now engaged in the harness business in Allegan. Floyd H., also a native of the same township, is a veterinary surgeon, practicing in Allegan, and he married Anna Williamson, of Gun Lake, the wedding being celebrated in Wayland township. Bessie M., the youngest, was born in Trowbridge township, and is a student in Ypsilanti Normal College. The family is widely and favorably known in this locality, the members of the household occupying an enviable social position.
AUSTIN J. COLBURN .- Among the enterprising, energetic and successful business men of Allegan is numbered Austin J. Colburn, who belongs to that class of representative Americans who, while promoting individual success also contribute to general progress and advancement. His birth occurred in Trowbridge township, Allegan county, February 18, 1860. His father, John H. Colburn, a native of Hollis, New Hampshire, came to Michigan with his parents at the age of six years and died in 1900, aged sixty years. The grandfather was John G. Colburn, who, on his removal to the middle west, settled on a farm in Trowbridge township, Allegan county, after spending one year in the village of Allegan. He began clearing and improving a farm, being one of the pioneer residents of the township, where he continued to carry on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was about eighty-two years of age.
John H. Colburn was reared amid pioneer scenes and environments in Allegan county and early became familiar with farm labor, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits on his own account after he had attained his majority. He married Miss Rachel Austin, who was born at Painted Post, New York, and still survives him. She is a daughter of Isaac G. Austin, one of the pioneers of Michigan, who settled in Trowbridge town- ship as early as 1846. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John H. Colburn were born five children, of whom four are now living: Mrs. Mary Van Kuren, Austin J .. Mrs. Ella Wood and Glenn G., who lives upon the old homestead in Trowbridge township, which is still owned by the family.
Austin J. Colburn acquired his education in the district schools of his native township and followed farming to the age of twenty-one years upon his father's land. He then purchased _a farm in Allegan township, where he carried on the work of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops for fifteen years, but thinking that he would find commercial pursuits more congenial, he removed to the village of Allegan in 1900 and accepted a clerkship with the Grange Co-operative Store, being with them about five years. In 1904 the Allegan Hardware Supply Company was incorporated. with John Winchell, of Cheshire township, as president; Harry M. Luts, of Allegan township, vice-president and treasurer; Austin J. Colburn, secretary, and I. A. Brown, manager. Mr. Colburn has since been identified with the
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hardware business, and his labors have been an important factor in the development of what is now one of the leading commercial interests of the town.
In 1885 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Colburn and Miss Hattie Wood, of Allegan, who died in 1903, leaving one son, Harlan A., who was born in Allegan township in 1891. In 1905 Mr. Colburn wedded Miss Lucy Miner, of Allegan. He and his family attend the Baptist church, and he belongs to Home Lodge No. 290, I. O. O. F., of Allegan, of which he is a vice-grand at the present writing, in 1906. In politics he is a prominent Republican in the local ranks, has served as a member of the village council and at the present writing is a trustee of the village board. He has shown in business life that he is quick of apprehension and readily comprehends intri- cate business conditions. He is genial in manner, is popular with those who know him, and is much esteemed by his many friends.
GEORGE E. JEWETT, deceased, who was recognized as one of the fore- most factors of Allegan county, was born in Lincoln county, Maine, on the 20th of December, 1828, and passed away in Allegan township March 22, 1892. His parents were Nathaniel and Alice (Erskine) Jewett, also natives of Lincoln county. The father there engaged in agricultural pursuits and in milling, and spent his entire life in the Pine Tree state, where he reared his family of five children, George E. being the second in order of birth. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was one of the prominent and influential men of his county. The grandfather, James Jewett, wedded Lydia Hilton, and their family also numbered five children.
George E. Jewett remained in his father's home in Maine until sixteen years of age, when he began earning his own living in connection with the lumber trade in the state of his nativity. He was thus engaged until his removal to Michigan in 1848. Following his arrival here he assisted in erecting a sawmill on the Kalamazoo river in Allegan county and was afterward employed in the mill until 1853, when he purchased what is now known as the old Jewett homestead. He first bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, which was covered with a dense growth of timber. In eight months' time he had cleared ninety acres of this and on that tract he erected a comfortable and attractive residence. For a long period he carried on general farming, raising grain, fruit and stock, and year after year brought him good financial returns, for he was practical in his methods and his energies were so directed that they brought the best possible returns.
In 1855 was celebrated the marriage of George E. Jewett and Miss Constance A. Bingham, of Allegan county, a daughter of Elijah and Caroline B. (Buck) Bingham, who were natives of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively. Her father was engaged in merchandising in the east, and in 1836 came to the west, settling in Allegan, where he served as the first register of deeds and county clerk of Allegan county. He also held the office of notary public under the administration of three different governors of Michigan and was a prominent and efficient man of his time. He was a scholar of broad general information and his ability well fitted him for the position of leadership that was accorded him. Later in life he went to Buffalo, New York, where he died very suddenly, while his wife passed
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away in Allegan in August, 1837. They were the parents of eight children, and Mrs. Jewett is the only one now living. She was a teacher prior to her marriage and is a lady of innate culture and refinement. Her eldest sister was the first adult white woman that died in Allegan township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jewett were born four children, all natives of Allegan. Karl B. married Grace E. Tomlinson, and has three children, Harry E., Helen W. and Max B. Alice E. became the wife of Frank N. Gardiner, and died March 14, 1905, leaving one son, George Jewett. She was an artist of unusual ability, possessing natural talent and displaying much skill in her portrait, landscape and animal paintings. She acquired her education in art in Boston, Massachusetts. Van Gilbert married Antoinette Sullivan, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they have three children- Mary Constance, Ruth Victoria and a son yet unnamed. George Hartley married Jessie L. Reed, and was formerly a traveling salesman, but now manages his mother's extensive farm.
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