USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 26
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Mr. Wellington was married in the state of Indiana, in 1869, to Mary Jane Marshall, a native of that state and a daughter of James and Eliza- beth Marshall. He has six children; viz., Olin and Orin, twins, both of whom are married, the former residing in Kalamazoo, the latter on his father's farm in Casco township : Maud, wife of Albert Parker, of Lawrence township, Van Buren county ; Charles, a resident of South Haven, and two boys, Wesley and Pearl, who reside with him in Pullman.
GRANT C. HARRISON, at present deputy sheriff under Allen L. Whit- beck, was born in Pokagon, Cass county, Michigan, August 12, 1866. When he was fifteen years of age he moved with his parents to Casco township, where they remained until 1894, when they moved to Lee township and set- tled on the farm where he now resides. The farm consists of seventy-nine acres in section seven and was purchased in 1891. The land was wild when he purchased it, but is now under cultivation, with the exception of about twelve acres. Scott Creek runs through the property.
He has been a Republican ever since he was old enough to vote. He is the present township treasurer, having served from 1901 to 1903, when he was elected township clerk, which office he held for a year. In 1905 he was re-elected treasurer, and is the present incumbent. He is active in party politics and attends most of the local conventions as delegate.
He is a member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F., the Eastern Star and the Rebeccas, at Pullman. He is in addition a member of the Protective Legion.
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He is a son of Isaac and Eliza C. (Shattuck) Harrison, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. His father was born August 27, 1832, and came to Cass county in 1857. He died at Pullman in June, 1904. He en- listed from Cass county, September 27, 1861, in Company A, Twelfth Mich- igan Volunteer Infantry, and served over five years. Beside other battles he took part in the engagement at Shiloh. He was with his regiment for the entire five years, except for a short illness and a furlough home. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but since coming to this township he devoted himself to farming. In poli- tics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public and the Masonic Order. His mother, born January 1, 1840, and who still survives, lives with him on the farm. Of three children Mr. Harrison is the eldest, viz., Grant C., Rose A., wife of E. W. Leisure, of Casco town- ship, and Edith M., wife of Hershal Adkins, of Casco township.
Mr. Harrison was married August 12, 1903, to Elizabeth Taylor, a na- tive of Kalamazoo county, where she was born October 18, 1867. She is a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Thackwry) Taylor, both natives of England. They now reside in Kalamazoo. Mr. Harrison has one child, a daughter named Mable E,
WILLIAM T. GILPIN, a native of Ohio, was born in Washington county of tlrat state June 18, 1835, and resided there on a farm until eighteen years of age. He then moved with his parents to Marion, Grant county, Indiana, where he resided for about eight years. From thence he moved to Arling- ton, Van Buren county, Michigan, remaining there for a period of two years, thence moving to Geneva township, that county.
In the troublesome years of the sixties, when our country was in the throes of our great Civil war, and the call went out for men to defend the flag, he enlisted (1861) in Company K, Thirteenth Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, under Captain H. C. Hall, which regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He took part in the battles of Shiloh ( Pittsburg Land- ing), Perryville, Kentucky, Stone River. Chickamauga and several minor engagements. He was wounded at Chickamauga, receiving a gunshot wound in the right leg, which incapacitated him and he fell into the hands of the Confederates and was sent to their field hospital as a prisoner of war. Later he was paroled and sent into the Union lines, and was discharged at De- troit at the expiration of his term of service.
Subsequent to this he made South Haven his home for about one year. then settled on a farm in Casco township, Allegan county. In 1874 he went to the northern part of Michigan, and after thirteen years returned and made his home in Lee township where he has since resided. He is now re- tired from active work, and is spending his declining years at Pullman.
He has been a faithful and life-long Republican, and cast his first vote for Freemont. He is a member of the G. A. R., Lacota Post. He was the eldest of ten children. His father, Caleb C., and his mother, Evelyn (Davis), were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. His brother, Elias E., enlisted in the Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Bentonville, North Carolina, after two and one-half years of faithful service.
Mr. Gilpin was married in Detroit, in 1865, to Caroline Randal, who was
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born in that city in 1845, and who died in Pullman, February 9, 1903. She was a daughter of James and Harriet Randal. Twelve children were born to them, viz., Hattie E., wife of Sanford Teachout, of Lee township ; Eli E., a resident of the state of Arkansas; Ida J., wife of Horatio L. Teachout ; James U., the present postmaster at Pullman, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume; Caroline Louisa, wife of Earnest Hilderbrandt; Nellie M., wife of Edward Wood; John, who died at the age of fourteen years ; Charles, of Clyde township; Lena Mae; William H .; and two died in childhood.
CALVIN BRITTON, a son of the Badger state, was born near Milwaukee, September 28, 1856. He moved with his parents to the vicinity of Misha- waka, Indiana, then to Cass county, Michigan, near Edwardsburg, where he was raised. They then moved to Three Oaks, Michigan, where he re- mained for about ten years. The next four years was spent in Missouri ranching and farming. Being possessed of a desire to see more of our country, he next went to Nebraska, where he spent a year at Omaha, work- ing at the carpenter's trade. His next move was to Chicago, where he worked for five years as a carpenter and engineer. He came to Michigan eight years ago, and rented a farm in Lee township for a term of three years, at the expiration of which time he bought a part of the farm which he now owns, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in sections seven- teen and eighteen. The farm originally contained two hundred acres, of which his son now farms forty acres.
The Republican party has honored him by election to the office of justice of the peace, in which office he served one term. He was also elected a director of the local schoolboard, serving six years. At the present time he is serving as constable. He attends the Christian church and is also a contributor to other Christian charities outside of that denomination. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Pullman, and the Maccabees at Leisure.
He is a son of Leonard and Mary Ann (Gates) Britton. They were born, respectively, in New York, of English parents ; and near Kingston, Canada, of English and Scottish ancestry. His father is now deceased, but his mother is living, her residence being Three Oaks, Michigan. Mr. Britton has one brother and two sisters. He was married on August 6, 1881, to Anna Startzel, a native of Germany, born near Ligdnitz on No- vember 25, 1865, and who came to America at the age of twelve years, direct to Three Oaks, Michigan. She is a daughter of John and Anna Startzel.
Four children have been born of this union, Elmer C., Florence M., wife of Arthur O. Scott, of Casco township; James A., who resides with his father, and Mary Ann.
ELI SNELL, at present a resident of Pullman, was born in the township of Hamilton, Warren county, Ohio, on June 5, 1856. When about eleven years of age his parents moved to Lawton, Van Buren county, Michigan, from which place he went to Pine Grove. He has been a resident of Alle- gan county for about thirty years, most of the time in Lee township. He began life as a tiller of the soil, then learned the trade of blacksmithing,
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which he has followed in connection with farming ever since. He owns forty acres of land in section six, Lee township. It was taken up as a timber claim, and with the energy characteristic of the early settler he set about clearing it for cultivation. There he remained tilling the thirty-two acres which he had cleared, until about three years ago, when he came to Pullman. Here he built a neat and attractive home and blacksmith shop.
In the matter of politics Mr. Snell is a Republican. He is a son of Ransom and Mary Ann (Henry) Snell, both natives of Ohio and now deceased, he at the age of seventy-nine, she at the age of seventy-one. There were twelve children born to them, of whom the subject of this sketch, is the sixth in order of birth. He was married, in 1881, to Alice Kirkpat- rick, of Cheshire township, who was born January 2, 1865. She is a daughter of Henry and Emma ( Morris) Kirkpatrick, both natives of Pennsylvania, who were married in that state and came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Cheshire township, where they lived for forty-five years. They are both deceased, he having died at the age of seven-nine and she at the age of eighty-two. Mr. Snell has one child, Mary, wife of Trumen Fuller, who has one child, Mont Vernie.
CHARLES GOTHAM was born in Berrien county, Michigan, November 3, 1858. His parents moved to Laporte county, Indiana, where he lived until grown. He went next to Three Oaks, Michigan, where he conducted a farm for five years. Hc moved to Lee township, December 7, 1887, and settled on the farm where he now resides. Here he has remained continu- ously with the exception of two years when he worked at Michigan City, Indiana.
He started in a very modest way. His farm was covered with stumps and undergrowth, and the amount of capital at his disposal was limited. The conditions were such as might well discourage him, but with com- mendable energy he sct to work to clear his land and put it into condition where it would yield him some profit. He erected a little shanty to live in, and bought a team. After he had worked for a time, his finances being low, he went to Michigan City, Indiana, and worked there for two years at day's work in order to procure the funds necessary to complete the work on his farm. The farm is now all under cultivation, the buildings are all neat and substantial, and the place presents a far different appearance from that of the undergrowth-choked wilderness that it appeared when he first took hold of the enterprise. In 1901 Mr. Gotham purchased eighty acres more in section eight and now conducts the one hundred and sixty acres as a combined farm.
In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., of Pull- man, his wife being a member of the Daughters of Rebekahs. He is a son of John and Mary ( Bottsliff) Gotham, both natives of Germany. he being born in Mecklenberg and she in Prussia, from whence she came to the United States and settled at New Buffalo, Michigan. Mr. Gotham is the oldest of six children : Charles, Eliza Shofe, deceased ; Albert, of Michigan City ; Emma Noble, also of Michigan City; Fred, a resident of South Da- kota ; Frank, residing in North Dakota.
Mr. Gotham was married January 20, 1879, to Mary Martins, a native of Germany, who came with her parents, Henry and Sophia Martins, to La-
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porte county. They have seven children: Louis, of Fennville; George, of Casco; Annie, Fred, who lives at home; Rose, wife of Orvil Cooney, of Benton Harbor ; Emma, deceased in infancy, and Albert, who still resides at home.
SELDEN E. PHILLIPS first saw the light of day September 29, 1864, in Hope township, Barry county, Michigan, where he resided until fourteen years of age. When but two weeks of age he was deprived of a mother's care, and was taken to live with his paternal grandparents. Eight years sub- sequent to this his grandfather died. At the age of fourteen years he came with his grandmother and his uncle, Anson Phillips, to Lee township, Alle- gan county, and settled on the farm where he still resides. This farm was taken up by his uncle under the Homestead Law, and consists of eighty acres, lying in sections seven and eight, the public highway dividing the farm into two equal parts. There is a large modern house and barn on either side of the highway. The entire farm is under cultivation, and shows the evidences of Mr. Phillip's thrift and perseverance, he having cleared all but two acres of it himself. For over thirty years he has resided on this farm, and for over twenty years he has been actual owner of it, having pur- chased it from his Uncle Anson.
In 1901 Mr. Phillips started a hardware business at Grand Junction, in . co-partnership with Mallay Brothers, Mr. Phillips owning a half interest in the firm, which was conducted under the name of Phillips & Mallay Brothers. Three years ago Frank Mallay, one of the firm, was drowned in Scott Lake, his remaining brother conducting their share of the business, the business name being changed to Phillips & Mallay. Mr. Phillips is also a partner, with Roy Carman, in the tubular well business, their field being western Michigan, extending principally along the lake shore from St. Joseph to Holland. The business is under the name of Phillips & Carman. Both the hardware and well business have proved to be extensive and profitable. Most of his time is devoted to these two lines of work, the farm work being done by hired help.
He is a staunch and life-long Republican. The confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the offices of public trust which he has held. He was for four years treasurer of Lee township, one year clerk, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the clerk, and treasurer of the school district for twelve years, and for two years deputy sheriff under Whitbeck and four years under Bensley.
During his term as deputy sheriff he had one very exciting experience while on a business trip to Chicago. He arrived in that city on the early morning boat from South Haven with his little nephew, Walter Lawver. While walking up South Water street he was approached by a man who attempted to entice him down to the docks with the information that there had been a terrible explosion on board the steamer which had just arrived from South Haven. He was, however, not to be deceived by such informa- tion, having just quitted the boat himself, and he informed the man that he was not interested in explosions. At this time two more men appeared upon the scene and things began to grow more than ordinarily interesting. For- tunately he carried a revolver and wore the star which was the badge of his official position. When he observed that the men had seriously made up
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their minds to rob him, he drew his revolver and covered them. A crowd had already begun to gather and a police officer having come up. he handed the three men over to the city's guardian of the peace, and they were imme- diately accorded a ride in the patrol-wagon to police headquarters. He sub- sequently testified against these men and they were sent to the penitentiary for their attempted hold-up.
Mr. Phillips is a son of Milo and Susan ( Mahoney) Phillips, both na- tives of Medina, Ohio. There were two children, Ella, wife of Henry Thompson, of Allegan, and Selden E., the subject of this sketch. The lat- ter was married in 1899 to Frances Durfee, born January 22, 1873, in Illi- nois, and who was a daughter of John and Anna ( Hogan) Durfee, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. They have no children.
He is a member of the National Protective Legion, and in a business way, in addition to the lines of work mentioned above, represents the Alle -- gan and Ottawa Counties Mutual Fire Insurance Company, for whom he has written an extensive fire insurance business. His hardware business also includes the heavier grade of agricultural implements and he also deals in coal and grain.
His business dealings have been lucrative and have brought him the respect and good will of his associates and customers. He has also filled the public offices in which he has served in a skillful and highly creditable manner.
EMERY W. DOKEY, associated for a number of years with the lumber- ing interests of southern Michigan, was born in Mason township. Cass county, Michigan, July 2, 1860. In 1872 he came with his parents to Casco township, and resided there and in Bloomingdale township until 1875. In that year he came to Lee township, where he has remained ever since. He was in partnership with his father in the lumber business, under the firm name of D. J. Dokey & Son, until 1895, at which time he assumed charge of the entire business. The output of their mill was from two to four cars per day, which prices averaged about ten dollars per thousand feet on board cars. As lumber became scarce in his locality he opened a planing mill. which he operated successfully.
In 1895 he opened a grocery store, which he ran for three years, during which time he was postmaster at Lee under Cleveland's administration. He owns one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-one, all improved and in fine condition. One Hundred and fourteen acres was left to him, a part of the old homestead, which he disposed of about three years ago. In this same year he opened a grocery store in Wheaton, Illinois, which is still being run, with his son-in-law. V. L. Van Plen in charge. Mr. Dokey owns a fine farm on the north side of the river and known as "Riverside Farm." Polit- ically he is a Republican : has served as a member of the board of review for the term of two years and has also been school moderator. He has always been interested in the work of the church in his community, and is an active member of the Christian church of Lee, of which he is also a well known class leader. He is also a member of the National Protective Legion.
His father. David J. Dokey, was born in the Province of Quebec. Can- ada, July 13, 1832. From that point he with his parents came to the United States and settled at Greece, Monroe county, New York, where he remained
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
until twenty years of age. Then he came to White Pigeon, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber business until 1895, as has been before stated. He is also a staunch, life-long Republican, and has held the offices of highway commissioner and justice of the peace. He was instrumental in having the postoffice established at Lee, and was its first postmaster. He has voted for every nominee for president on the Republican ticket from Fremont to Roosevelt. In 1862 he enlisted in the United States Sharpshooters, and served his country for two years and nine months, when he was discharged for disability. He had five brothers in the army with him, one of whom died and another was wounded while in the service. All six of the brothers lived in Michigan but two of them enlisted from Elkhart, Indiana.
Alice M. Cooley, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Oakland county, Michigan, April 20, 1838, and died in Lee township in 1886. She was a daughter of Horace Cooley, a native of Vermont and a pioneer from that state to Michigan in 1833, settling in Oakland county. Eight children were born to her: Emery W., George M., of South Haven; Ella M. Shiffer, deceased in 1906, and five children who died in infancy.
In 1884 Mr. Dokey was married to Emma L. Shaffer, a daughter of Louis and Mary Shaffer, of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where she was born January 18, 1869. They have had three children: Alpha Grace, Daisy, deceased at eleven years, and Ethel W.
HORACE G. BINGHAM, who has devoted his entire life to agricultural interest's, was born in Monroe county, New York, about sixteen iniles from Rochester, on May 24, 1824. When he was but a small boy his parents re- moved to Allegany county, New York, where he remained until he had reached his majority. In 1855 he went to Vernon Springs, Howard county, Iowa, and in 1864 returned to the old homestead in Allegany county, New York, from whence he came to Van Buren county, Michigan. In 1870 he moved to the farm on which he now resides. Michigan was at that time quite heavily wooden, and he took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he with the help of his sons cleared and put under the plow. He built a number of substantial buildings on the place and improved it generally. But a few years ago, feeling the weight of advancing years and desiring to relieve himself of the responsibilities of active farm management, he divided the farm equally between his children. He still keeps his resi- dence on the farm, however, living with his son Charles. He also owned two hundred acres in the old home in New York, the land he had helped to clear when a boy.
He was originally identified with the Whig party and later as that party passed out of existence became a Republican. He lacked but a few months of being old enough to vote for Henry Clay, but in default of the right to vote he spent his enthusiasm in electioneering for that candidate. He voted for Fremont and all Republican presidents since. He has held the office of constable, school officer and other offices of public service.
His paternal grandfather, Thomas, fought in the war of 1812, and was in Buffalo at the time that village was burned by the British. His father Joseph was a native of New York state, where he spent his life as a tiller of the soil. His mother, Romina Badger, was a native of New York and died in that state. Mr. Bingham was the second of nine children, namely : Aus-
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tin, who died at an early age; Horace, the subject of this sketch; Captain LaFayette, who organized a company in southern New York and served throughout the Civil war, now deceased ; Mathew Beardsley, also deceased ; Cynthia Ballard, deceased ; Louisa; Phidelia Ballard ; Lorinda Palmer, of Reed City, Michigan, and Carey, who died in the army. Of a family of nine he and his three sisters are the only surviving members. His wife, to whom he was married in 1851, was Sarah Jane Bennett, born November 6, 1827, at Saratoga, New York, and daughter of Robert and Caroline (Gay) Ben- nett. Her father was born in the Black River country and her mother at Saratoga, New York. Her father died when she was but eight years of age.
Mr. Bingham is the father of five children, viz. : Ella Avery, who is housekeeper for her brother William: William F., a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume; Julian, of Berrien county ; Charles, who owns eighty acres, the home farm, and Mary, wife of Alexander Otto, of Casco township.
ALTON S. DEMING was born in Columbia township, Van Buren county, Michigan, March 31, 1864. When he was about two years of age his par- ents moved to Lee township, Allegan county, and settled on a farm in sec- tion thirty-two. Here he resided until his marriage, when he purchased forty acres of his father and started farming for himself. He built new buildings on the place and set himself to systematically improving it. When twenty years of age he shipped on the Great Lakes as seaman and followed the life for twenty years, working up from ordinary seaman to the position of chief engineer, and now holds license as chief. At the age of forty he left the lakes and has spent the time since in working his farm.
He has been a life-long Republican, casting his first vote for Blaine. He is at present supervisor of Lee township. He was elected in 1903, and twice re-elected, thus holding three consecutive terms. He was elected treasurer of the township, and served in that capacity for two years. He is now school director, having been in that office three years. He is a respected member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lacota. He belongs to lodge of Odd Fellows at Lacota, the Rebekahs at Pullman, and the Marine Engineers' Society of Saugatuck.
He is a son of Emerson and Martha (Burgett) Deming of Massachu- setts and Ohio, respectively. He was the second born of seven children, viz. : Mary, wife of John Burnhart, of Shelby: Alton S., of whom we are now writing ; Almer, who resides with his parents : Dora Burnhart, deceased : Nellie, wife of Charles Smith, of Lee township : Myrtle, wife of John Flora. of Lee township, and Eva, still at home.
He was united in marriage September 4. 1889, to Clara M. Tisdale, a native of Indiana, who was born in that state, March 25. 1869, and who is a daughter of William and Matilda (Mortenson) Tisdale, natives of Con- necticut and Norway, respectively.
Our subject has one child, Frank A., who was born December 2, 1891.
WILLIAM F. BINGHAM, a fruit grower of Lee township, was born in Vernon Springs township, Howard county, Iowa, April 23. 1859. When about six years of age he moved with his parents to New York state, two years following to Van Buren county, Michigan, and in 1870 to the farm in
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