USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 42
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After eight or ten years John Goodell began to buy and sell land and thus he added to his income. He also induced many settlers to locate in this locality, a number of whom came from Ohio. He had written to many of his old friends in that state and induced them to come to Allegan county, after which he would assist them to secure farms and homes here. He also handled land for lumbermen and he purchased different tracts all about his original purchase of forty acres until he had one hundred and eighty acres of land, which he still owns. He bought it in its wild state and improved it himself, and he paid as high as twenty-five dollars per acre for uncultivated land. He continued the work of clearing and cultivating until nearly all of his farm is now well tilled. He realized nothing from the timber, not recognizing its value at that time. In the log cabin which he first built he continued to reside until 1857, when he built what was then the best house in Monterey township. It is still well preserved and is vet a first-class residence. He has four barns upon the place for shelter of hay and grain and he gave considerable attention to the raising of good stock and was a breeder of high grade horses. He carried off several premiums on his horses when placed on exhibit at different fairs. He has bred and trained many fine horses both for the road and the farm and for many years he handled live stock, including cattle, sheep and hogs. He has had over two hundred head of cattle come to his farm in one day. He made a busi- ness of bunching stock for many years and he also bought cows for dairy purposes in Ohio for twenty years. Through a long period he was regarded as the principal stock buyer in Allegan county and his operations in that line of business were extensive. In addition to his old homestead he has also bought other improved farms, including the old Briggs farm. He would purchase land and then improve and sell to good advantage, and he also gave a farm to his daughter. In 1884 he left the old home place and removed to Hopkins, although he continued to supervise his farming in- terests, five and a half miles distant, hiring help to do the actual work of the fields. However. for the past four years he has rented his farm but still keeps stock, having now about thirty head of cattle, horses and hogs. Since taking up his abode in Hopkins he has built a fine residence on Main street, which he occupies, and here he also owns a brick store building, oc- cupied by his son-in-law, Frank Watkins. In the past six years he has erected several houses which he rents, and he also sells many of his houses. For three years he was a partner of L. C. Walter in the lumber business, and together they built a number of houses in the village. However, for the past two years Mr. Goodell has practically lived retired, having accu-
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mulated a comfortable competence that now enables him to enjoy the com- forts and many of the luxuries of life.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born two sons and two daugh- ters, but only one survives, Ella, the wife of Frank Watkins, who lives near her father's home in Hopkins. Her father gave her an eighty-acre farm located in Monterey township and also built for her a fine home in the vil- lage. The two sons of the family died in infancy, while the daughter. Thucey Etna, died at the age of nine years. Besides rearing their own family Mr. and Mrs. Goodell also took into their home Eliza Ferguson, the little daughter of Mr. Goodell's niece. She became a member of their household at the age of two years and remained with them until her mar- riage to Frank Dettenthaler. of Grand Rapids. Michigan. Martin Reed. a nephew, also became a member of the household when twelve years of age. and remained with them until he reached manhood, when he spent three years in the service of his country, and then returned to their home, where he remained until his marriage. He also gave a home to Fred Miller from the age of eleven years, and Henry Quist from the age of thirteen years. until their marriage.
Mr. Goodell has always given stalwart support to the Republican party. He served as commissioner of Monterey township for four years and also as township treasurer for four years, being the first Republican to hold the office in Monterey township as it has always been known as a Democratic stronghold. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows until the Monterey lodge was abandoned. Mr. Goodell. coming to Allegan county a poor man, when the country was still wild and uncultivated, has labored diligently and persistently in the work of development along agricul- tural and industrial lines, no man in the county having done more for its up- building and progress, and today he is numbered among the well-to-do and influential residents of this section of the state, where he has a wide and favorable acquaintance and enjoys the good will and respect of a host of friends.
DR. JAMES D. CAMPBELL. engaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Hopkins, was born in Elgin county. in the Province of Ontario, Canada. August 27, 1865. His parents were likewise natives of Ontario. where the father is still living, having for many years been engaged in man- ufacturing there. The doctor has a sister who is now the wife of Fred Edgerton. of Allegan county.
The boyhood days of Dr. Campbell were spent in his parents' home and his early educational privileges were afforded by the public schools and in a collegiate institute. Wishing to enter professional life and determining upon the practice of medicine and surgery, he came to Michigan and pur- sued a course of study in the medical department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor. He completed his course in Long Island Col- lege Hospital at Brooklyn, New York, with the class of 1890. after which he was made ambulance surgeon to the Eastern District Hospital in Brook- lyn, acting in that capacity for several months, during which time he greatly broadened his knowledge by practical experience. In 1891 he came to Hop- kins and opened an office. He had a brother, W. S. Campbell who was then a merchant in the county, and it was through his influence that Dr.
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Campbell located here. He has now resided here for fifteen years and has enjoyed an excellent practice, having a large and well merited patronage. He is a member of various medical societies and thus keeps in touch with the onward march of the profession. Anything which tends to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life is of interest to him and his practice occupies nearly his entire time. He is especially fond of fast road horses and is breeding a fine class of roadsters and he owns and occupies a pleasant home in Hopkins and he has built several good houses which he has sold, thus adding to the material development and improve- ment of the town.
Dr. Campbell was married in Delaware county, Ohio, to Miss Carrie L. Lewis, of that county, where she was reared. She was liberally educated in music, and prior to her marriage she was a prominent teacher of music in Des Moines, Iowa. She is now acting as church organist and her services in both vocal and instrumental music are frequently in demand. She has constantly been engaged in church and choir work and also in training choral singers in various churches. At one time she was a member of the finest choir in Grand Rapids and her superior talent and ability makes her a valued addition to musical circles wherever she goes. Dr. Campbell is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, the Masons, the Woodmen and the National Protective Legion and is now president of the local organ- ization of the last named. Fle is also chairman of the local Republican com- He mittee and has been a delegate to the county and state conventions. takes an active interest in politics as every true American citizen should do, and is a stalwart champion of the principles which he supports. He is not so abnormally developed in any one direction as to become a genius but la- bors along lines that are of benefit to the community both as a citizen and in a private way but at no time has his outside interest ever caused him to neglect the duties of his profession, which he discharges with a sense of conscientious obligation.
GILBERT M. STONE, a veteran of the Civil war, engaged in farming in Hopkins township, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, March 4. 1829-the date on which Andrew Jackson was first inaugurated president of the United States. His father was a mechanic and the family lived in a little village, but Gilbert M. Stone had no school privileges until he was more than nine year of age. He then went to the home of his brother-in-law in Cleveland, and in thirteen months had two weeks' schooling, so he returned home and worked with his father at the carpenter's trade. When fifteen years of age he went as a sailor on the lakes, being on vessels engaged in the lumber trade. He sailed before the mast for six seasons and on his last trip bought a scow, but on the first trip on this he drove ashore and the vessel was lost, although the crew were saved. He afterward worked with his father for two years and became a very skillful workman at the car- penter's trade.
When about twenty-one years of age Mr. Stone was married to Miss Adeline Lucas, then a young lady of eighteen years, who died two years later. In the meantime his wife's parents and her two brothers and Mr. and Mrs. Stone came to Michigan, settling in Calhoun county about eleven miles south of Battle Creek. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812
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and received a land warrant in recognition of the aid which he had rendered the country. He and his wife afterward, however, returned to Ohio and about that time Mr. and Mrs. Stone removed to Galesburg, Michigan. Her death, however, occurred in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Stone was employed as a pile driver on railroad bridges in Ohio, but afterward again came to Michigan. An old friend, Albert Cheney, who had come with him upon his first trip to this state, had also returned to Ohio, and in February, 1853. Mr. Stone and Mr. Cheney once more came to Michigan, settling this time in Allegan county, where Stevens D. Stone had lived for seven or eight years. The three men took the job of chopping trees into windrows ready for burning for the George Jewett Company and thus cleared about fifty acres of land and also worked in the Dumont mill for Mr. Jewett. Mr. Stone is therefore familiar with the experiences of the lumber camps of the carly days, when many hardships and privations were to be endured in connection with clearing the land.
On the IIth of May, 1856, he was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mabelia Miller, a daughter of Ira R. Miller, of Monterey township, whom he wedded in Allegan, For a year after his second mar- riage he continued to work in a lumber mill and then spent a year on a farm in Van Buren county. He afterward worked by the day clearing land in 1862, and in the meantime also operated a sawmill in Monterey township. His was a life of intense activity and he was thus closely associated with the labor that has resulted in bringing about the present state of development and progress in the county. He was thus employed until his enlistment for service in the Civil war on the 2d of August, 1862, at which time he be- came a member of Company L, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, under Captain Pritchard, now of Allegan. He served for a year and a half under Generals Thomas and Rosecrans and participated in the battles of Murfreesboro and Chattanooga. He then went to Atlanta and after the capitulation of that city returned under command of General Thomas to head off Hood at Nash- ville. They followed Hood on the raid to the Tennessee river and after- ward went under command of General Wilson to western Tennessee and into Alabama and Georgia. being stationed in the latter state at the time of General Lee's surrender. A detachment of the Fourth Michigan was sent from Macon and captured Jefferson Davis. After a year and a half's connection with the army Mr. Stone was detailed for service in the quarter- master's department as forage master for the regiment, in which connection he frequently made raids into the surrounding country in order to gain supplies for the army. He was taken prisoner while in the hospital at Luverne by General Joe Wheeler. but was soon afterward paroled, and on the Ist of July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge. He met the usual experiences and hardships meted out to a soldier and knows military life in all its details.
When at the front Mr. Stone saved his money and upon his return pur . chased his present place. He afterward worked a farm on shares and in 1876 he came to his present farm. He had also engaged in lumbering to some extent, taking small contracts, and he worked for three seasons in the lumber woods. All of his land was burned over in 1871, at the same time the Chicago fire occurred. There was a small board house upon the place but he had not moved into it. The fire killed all the timber. Mr.
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Stone was an expert with the ax, and few men have done much more in the work of clearing in this county than he, for on one occasion within twenty- five and a half days he winrowed, chopped and prepared for firing twenty acres of timber of heavy beech and maple, for which he was paid six dol- lars per acre. Even after locating on the farm he continued to work for others from time to time and thus gained the ready money that enabled him to carry on the work of development on his own place. He has forty acres in the home tract, which is pleasantly situated about three miles north of Hopkins and he also owns forty acres a mile distant. In 1887 his residence was destroyed and the following year he erected his present brick dwelling. In 1905 he suffered the loss of his barn by fire, at which time it contained five head of horses, six head of cattle, wagons and considerable hay. He has since built a new barn on the same wall and he has carried forward the work of improvement and progress until he now has a well developed place.
Unto Mr. Stone by his first marriage was born a daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Uriah Hoffmaster and died at the age of thirty years. The children of the second marriage are: Horton, who died when more than thirty years of age; Carrie, the wife of Dan McBride ; Earl, a farmer of Hopkins township; Walter, who is operating the home place; Ruby, the wife of William Leggett, of Hopkins township, and Harry, who was a mem- ber of the regular army and was wounded at Wounded Knee in battle when Sitting Bull was captured. He died at Pine Tree Agency a few days after the battle, for blood poisoning followed the wound, necessitating amputation. His strength, however, was not sufficient for him to rally after the opera- tion. He was then but twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Stone was a member of Harlow Briggs Post No. 80, G. A. R., and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party but has no desire for office. Hunting and fishing have always been to him a delightful source of rest and recreation and he found the greatest enjoyment in hunting when the country was full of game. He killed wild ducks off the ridge of his granary with a ten-foot pole, the country being so full of game at that time. He has intimate personal knowledge of the history of this section of the state from pioneer times down to the present time and has been a co-operant factor in many movements which have resulted beneficially in promoting the material de- velopment and progress of this part of the state.
JACOB F. SLAGEL .- The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth, and it is this that conquers adversity, overcomes obstacles and wins success. Such a spirit has been the dominating influence in the life of Jacob F. Slagel, an enterprising merchant of the village of Hopkins, where he is dealing in lumber, coal, building materials, doors, sash and interior finish- ings. He has a good trade in these various lines and his efforts are a factor in the commercial development and business prosperity of the village. A na- tive of Marion county, Ohio, he was born on the 14th of April, 1855, his parents being Tobias and Mary (Akom) Slagel, who, in 1863, came to Alle- gan county, settling two miles west of Salem Center upon a new farm in Salem township. The father improved about eighty acres of land and his place comprised one hundred and twenty acres. He thereon built a brick house and two barns, transforming his property into one of the best farms
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of Salem township. For many years he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits but about a year ago he sold his farm and is now living with his children, his wife having died shortly before the sale of the farm. Unto them were born four children: Jacob, Elizabeth, now the wife of Bert Purdy, of Allegany county, New York; Carolina, the wife of Charles Miller, who resides upon the old Slagel homestead, and Frederick, who is engaged in farming near Dorr.
Jacob F. Slagel was reared on the old home place until twenty-two years of age and assisted in the various duties connected with the further de- velopment and improvement of the farm. He had also learned the car- penter's trade, and after working for some time in the employ of others began contracting on his own account. At a later date he again spent two years upon his farm but with this exception has continued as a contractor and builder, erecting a number of buildings in Allegan and throughout the northern part of the county. He made his home in Salem until about four years ago, when he removed to Hopkins and he owns a farm in Salem town- ship. He employed from two to six men in his building operations and many substantial structures stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- prise. Coming to Hopkins, he opened a coal and lumber yard in 1903, suc- ceeding Mr. Streeter after his death. He has about four thousand dollars invested in the stock and does an annual business amounting to about ten thousand dollars. He has extended the scope of his activities by dealing also in building materials, doors, sash and interior finishings, as well as in coal and wood and he has a good trade. Prior to becoming owner of the busi- ness he had built the lumber sheds for Mr. Streeter, who died, however, just as the business was being started. Mr. Slagel has met with success from the beginning and his patronage has steadily increased until it has now reached very gratifying proportions. He has also erected a nice residence in Hopkins.
In Salem, at the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Slagel was united in marriage to Miss Mary Punches, a daughter of George Punches, of Salem. She, too, is a native of Ohio, and was brought to Michigan in her girlhood days. They now have a family of two children : Tillie May, who was for- merly a teacher and is now the wife of Pearl Gibson, who is in the lumber yard, and Laura Etta, the wife of Fritz Christman, of Allegan.
Mr. Slagel gives his political allegiance to the Democracy. He has served as highway commissioner in Salem and has filled various offices in the Odd Fellows' lodge, which he has also represented in the Grand Lodge. He has likewise served as district deputy and for twenty years has been closely associated with this organization. He is also a Mason and is now tyler of the lodge in Hopkins. His business interests have brought him a wide acquaintance through the northern part of the county and the quali- ties he has displayed in all his relations with his fellowmen, whether of a public or private nature, have won for him uniform confidence and esteem. while his business enterprise and intelligently directed efforts have brought him a gratifying measure of success.
WILLIAM H. DENDEL, well know in business circles in Hopkins, is con- ducting a general mercantile establishment and also deals in hardware, im- plements, wagons and carriages, his stock being arranged on the plan of a
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department store. He occupies a building sixty-four by eighty feet, two stories in height with basement and also a warehouse fifty by sixty feet. The store building is his own property and he is recognized as one of the lead- ing and enterprising merchants of the village, conducting a constantly in- creasing business.
Mr. Dendel was reared in Monterey township four miles west of Hop- kins, and at the age of twenty-two years left the farm, thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial. He had secured a liberal educa- tion, having for two years been a student at Berea, Ohio, and for one year in a business college at Indianapolis, Indiana, after completing his prelimi- nary education as afforded by the common schools in his home locality. After starting out in life for himself he was for two years engaged in the fruit commission business at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he was also deputy county treasurer at Great Bend, Benton county, Kansas, where his brother- in-law was county treasurer. He then turned his attention to merchandising in Hopkins. In 1885, in company with J. T. Visner, he purchased the store of John Bragington and united that stock with his own, occupying one room twenty-four by fifty feet with five thousand dollars invested in the busi- ness. After a year, however, Mr. Visner sold out to Peter Dendel, the father of William H. Dendel, who continued in business until 1894, when his death terminated the partnership. The interest went to his daughter, the wife of Fred Bechtold, who for two years was connected with the store, when he sold out to W. H. Dendel, who has since conducted the business alone. The trade is steadily increasing along substantial lines and the sales of 1905 amounted to over thirty-eight thousand dollars. He carries a fine assortment of goods in all lines usually found in a general department store. For ten years he occupied a one story building, after which he erected a two story brick building, so that he has one of the most substantial and best ar- ranged stores of the county. He employs three male and two lady clerks and attends personally to his own business, considering no detail too unim- portant to claim his personal supervision. This is undoubtedly one of the strong features of his success as he is thoroughly conversant with the trade in every department. There is a harmony throughout the whole establish- ment and his enterprise and diligence constitute strong features in his success.
In 1886 Mr. Dendel was united in marriage to Lena Loew, who resided near Burney's Corners and who died three years after their marriage, leav- ing two children, the younger of whom died about a week after the mother's death. The other. Mamie, is now clerking in her father's store. At his sec- ond marriage Mr. Dendel chose Miss Emma Loew, a sister of his first wife, and to them has been born a son, Lloyd, who, at the age of thirteen years, is a student in the Allegan high school. He was the youngest pupil to grad- uate from the Hopkins school and delivered the valedictorian address.
In his political views Mr. Dendel has always been a stalwart Republican and frequently attends the conventions of the party. He is secretary of the local lodge of the National Protective Legion, in which capacity he has served for thirteen years. This has a membership of four hundred and is the largest membership in the United States when the size of the town is taken into consideration. A life-long resident of the county Mr. Dendel has a wide acquaintance and is most favorably known as a representative and en-
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terprising business man, whose labors have been of direct benefit in the improvement and progress of the village of Hopkins.
DR. ALMOND H. WICKS who, practicing along scientific lines, has gained recognition as one of the foremost members of the medical fraternity in Allegan county, has been located in Hopkins township for eighteen years. He was born in Cooper township, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on the 12th of January, 1861. His father, John H. Wicks, was one of the successful and prominent early teachers of the county and followed his profession in Cooper Center and at Plainwell. Later he located on a farm in Watson township, Allegan county, and continued teaching in connection with general agricul- tural pursuits until he was nearly sixty years of age. He did much to further educational progress in the community and to advance the public school sys- tem to a high standard. He is now living retired at Martin. this county, and is one of its respected and valued residents. A native of New York, he was educated in a seminary of that state and followed teaching prior to his re- moval to Michigan.
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