USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 48
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While living in Medina county, Ohio, on the 18th of December, 1846,
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being then twenty-three years of age, Edward Averill married Miss Mary Branch, also from New York, and who was just twenty-five days oldler than her husband. For four years after their marriage this young couple lived on her father's farm, but in the meantime Mr. Averill had purchased new land, on which they then located, and there remained for eleven years, clear- ing the land and erecting the buildings. In the fall of 1854 he came to Michigan and purchased a part of his present farm, and in April of the following year the family came from Ohio and took up their abode in a lit- tle log cabin which had been built on the land. Mr. Averill had brought with him to this state a team, but on reaching Grand Rapids sold his horses and purchased oxen, thus continuing on his way to Allegan county. His original tract of eighty acres, for which he paid eight hundred dollars, was covered with a dense growth of timber, consisting of beech, maple, etc .. but as there was no market for lumber at that time he was obliged to burn the timber as fast as it was cut from the land. Mr. Averill had done well in a financial way in Ohio, and after coming to this state he was able to hire some of the clearing and other work done. Wheat at first was the main dependence, but he early became a sheep raiser, which finally proved one of the most im- portant departments of the farm work. As the years passed by he was en- abled to add to his original purchase of land until he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres in section three, Dorr township, thus making two hundred and forty acres in the home place, while he also owned the same amount in Byron township. Kent county, Michigan. He had paid over seventy-five hundred dollars for his land, thus being obliged to go in debt, but he met every obligation as they came due and at the same time improved his land until his estate was valued at thirty thousand dollars, this being an advance of four dollars for each one dollar he had invested. For many years he operated this entire tract, also dealing in sheep, cattle, hogs, etc., and in 1862 he erected the dwelling which now stands opposite the new one pwned and occupied by his daughter.
Wishing to retire from the arduous life which he had led for so many years Mr. Averill moved to the village of Dorr, where he erected a neat and substantial residence, but not content with this inactivity he returned to the farm after one year and erected his present handsome dwelling. In the meantime he had begun to dispose of his land to his children, choosing to give to each according to his own judgment. Mrs. Averill died on the 8th of June, 1894, after a happy married life of nearly fifty years. In their family were six children, namely: David B., who resides near Manton, in Wex- ford county, Michigan ; Mary Loretta, the wife of Lewis W. Yerington, and she owns the farm opposite the old Averill homestead; Lucius L., further notice of whom will be found in this sketch: Electa, who died in infancy; Rosamund, the wife of S. S. Terrill, of Antrim county, Michigan, and Ur- sula, widow of Eugene Carroll, who was a groceryman in Grand Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. Averill also had two adopted sons, Charles H., who died at the age of twenty-one years, he having been a member of the family since two years of age, and Chester C., who became a member of the household when only two days old. He is now married and has eighty acres of land in Byron township, Kent county, given him by Mr. Averill. Mr. Averill also has twenty-one grandchildren, including three who have been adopted, and also four great-grandchildren. In his political affiliations Mr. Averill was first
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an anti-slavery man and an abolitionist, and after the Republican party was formed he naturally became a supporter of its principles, but during Grant's administration he joined the Greenback party and later became identified with the Prohibitionists. In 1863 he was drafted for service in the Civil war, but paid three hundred dollars for a substitute, and in 1864 he enlisted in the Michigan Engineer Corps. He was with Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea, but on account of injuries which he received during his service he was sent to the hospital and finally discharged. Before his mar- riage he had worshiped in the Methodist church, but his wife was a Congre- gationalist, and he assisted in the organization of the church of that denomi- nation in this township, but this was afterward removed to Moline. two miles distant, and since his wife's death he has returned to the Methodist church. Mr. Averill has always loved a good yoke of cattle and always kept them upon his farm until he gave up an active business life. As a business man he has ever been upright, reliable and honorable, and in all places and un- der all circumstances he is loyal to truth, honor and right.
Lucius L. Averill, a worthy son of this honored pioneer couple, was born in Medina county, Ohio, September 8, 1850, and from his early boyhood days he has been identified with agricultural pursuits. For five years after his marriage he operated a farm in Byron township. Kent county, Michigan, removing thence to Winona county, Minnesota, where he remained for seven years, three years having been spent in the city of Winona and the remainder of the time in the county. Returning thence to Grand Rapids, he worked at the carpenter's trade there for eight years, when, in 1900, he re- turned to the old homestead in Dorr township, which he now owns and is en- gaged in general farming.
Mr. Averill was married November 25, 1874. to Miss Alida V. Lilly, of Kent county, Michigan, and they have three adopted children. Ralph Bur- doin, Leavitt D. C., and Helen B.
LAUREN C. GILBERT .- When Lauren C. Gilbert passed away one more name was added to the list of honored dead whose earthly records closed with the words, "well done." He was born in Chester. Geauga county, Ohio. March 17, 1830, and his life's labors were ended in death on the 25th of Sep- tember, 1892. The Gilbert family was founded in this country by three brothers who came from England and settled in Tolland, Connecticut. where Joel Gilbert, the father of Lauren C., was born. He was there married to Cresilda Crocker, and in 1817, with his second wife, whom he had married at Geneva, New York, he started for Chester, Ohio, making the journey via Lake Erie from Buffalo, but ere reaching their destination they encountered a terrible storm which drove them back to near Buffalo, although they had neared the mouth of Grand river, and thus detained they did not reach Ches- ter until the Toth of December of that year. Joel Gilbert died in that city at the age of sixty-two years. He was married a third time in Ohio, and of his eight children, six came to Michigan, namely : Norton, who settled in Byron township, Kent county: Bradley and Lauren, who located on adjoining farms, but the former died in Moline and the latter now resides on his farm ; Warren, who returned to Ohio two years later ; Sarah, who became the wife of Nathan Snow and died in Dorr township, Allegan county, and Sabrina,
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who married Rev. Thomas Clark, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who was later superannuated and both died in Dorr, leaving four children.
Lauren C. Gilbert was an excellent example of those who secure their own start in life, for when only nine years of age he began to make his own way in the world, and from that time until he reached his twentieth year he was employed by one man, on the expiration of that period returning to his father. In 1853, in company with his two sisters he came to Allegan county, Michigan, having been preceded by his brother Norton, who came here in 1851, and in 1853 they were joined by the brother, Bradley. Lauren C. Gilbert began his business career in this county with only eighty acres of land, a small part of which had been cleared, and in the midst of the wilder- ness he erected his little log cabin, his nearest neighbor at that time being a mile or more distant, while their roads were but mere cowpaths. As time passed, however, the land was cleared and developed, improvements were added to the farm, the little cabin home was replaced by a more commodious one of more modern construction in 1870, and all the accessories and con- veniences were added. In company with his brother Bradley, Mr. Gilbert at one time owned about thirty cows and they engaged in making cheese, but their stock interests were later increased to about .twenty-six cows and they were extensively engaged in the manufacture of that commodity. During his absence in the army at the time of the Civil war his wife looked after the stock, made the cheese and butter and carried them to Grand Rapids to market, a distance of fifteen miles. She then had two little sons, the eldest being but seven years of age and the youngest four. In August, 1861, Mr. Gilbert entered the army as a member of the First Michigan Cavalry, under General Custer, and he received his discharge on the 10th of March, 1866, his military career covering a period of four years and eight months. His health was so undermined during his army experience that he never fully re- gained his former health and vigor, and his life was therefore shortened many years.
In Chester, Ohio, on the 3d of March, 1852, Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Judith Wisner, a native of that city and a daughter of Rev. Samuel Wisner, a missionary to the Choctaw and Cherokee Indians in Arkansas. After his wife's death he returned to Massachusetts and was married to Amanda Frissell, the mother of Judith. He afterward made his home in Chester. Ohio. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, namely : Wallace B., a farmer of Sanilac county, Michigan ; Samuel Jasper, who fol- lows the same occupation in Mentor, Ohio; Lauren Dwight, Oliver L. and Frederick C., each owning a part of the old homestead, and Nellie S., who died in childhood. At the time of his death Mr. Gilbert owned four hun- dred and sixty acres of land, and for seven years thereafter his widow re- mained on the old homestead, after which she removed to the village of Mo- line and there resides in a neat little cottage home in company with her grandson, although she still retains her interest in the farm. Mr. Gilbert was a Republican in his political affiliations, and for a few years served as town- ship clerk, and was also highway and drain commissioner. He was an active worker in the Grange, and since his death Mrs. Gilbert has maintained an active interest in its work, taking pride in its growth and development.
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MILES BRADLEY GILBERT, deceased, for many years a leading farmer of Allegan county, was born on the 7th of June. 1827. In 1855 he came to Michigan and took up his abode in Dorr township. Allegan county, purchas- ing land adjoining his brother Lauren on the north and where E. N. Bates. his son-in-law, now lives. He acquired one hundred and eighty-five acres in the home place and one hundred and twenty acres one-half a mile south, the latter now owned by his son Arthur, and he thus became one of the largest and most prominent farmers in his township. The land was wild and unim- proved when he took up his abode thereon, but he worked carly and late and as the years passed by he succeeded in placing his land under a fine state of cultivation, erected modern and commodious buildings and at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable homestead. He and his brother Lauren brought with them a herd of cows from Ohio, and from that time until the opening of the Civil war they were extensively engaged in making cheese. But when his country needed his services Mr. Gilbert put aside all personal considerations and offered his services to the Union cause, serving for one year in the Engineers' and Mechanics' Department. He participated in the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea and also took part in other celebrated battles of the war. At one time he was confined in the hospital, having nearly lost his life. His wife's labors were ended in death at the age of seventy-six years. He was proprietor of a store. at Moline, but his time was principally devoted to his farm and dairy busi- ness. His extensive business interests placed him among the leaders in in- dustrial circles, and his was truly a successful life.
On the 2d of April. 1849. Mr. Gilbert married Martha Tane Bates, who was born June 0. 1826, and died on the 19th of January. 1803. She was a niece of Abner Bates, who was well known in this county. After the death of his first wife Mr. Gilbert married Sarah Bird, a widow residing near his home, and she still makes her home in Moline. Unto Mr. and Mrs.Gilbert were born the following children : Almon, who died in childhood : Flora Isa- dor, now Mrs. E. N. Bates : Arthur C., Elmer L., who died at the age of forty-four years : Almon, a farmer in Byron, Kent county. Michigan. There was a pair of twins. Albert, who died at six months old. and Alton at six years old. They also had two adopted children, Martha Cornelia, who lived with them from infancy until her death at the age of seven years, and Della. who also came to them during her infancy, and she served as Mr. Gilbert's housekeeper for a time after his wife's death. She is now the wife of Erie Jones. of Wayland, Michigan. Their home seemed always onen to the friendless and the needv. No children were born of the second marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were charter members and liberal supporters of the Congregational church.
Arthur C. Gilbert was born October 26. 1852, at Chester. Geauga county. Ohio. He remained with his father until his twentieth year. after which he onerated the home farm in company with E. N. Bates until his marriage. Two years later he located on one hundred and twenty acres of his father's land, taking up his abode in a little log cabin which had been built upon the place, but three years later this gave place to a more commodious dwelling. and he has added forty acres to the original tract. He has placed one hun- dred and twenty acres of his land under cultivation, and there he continued
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to reside until 1906, when he came to Moline, although he still has his inter- est in the farm, the principal feature of which is his dairy.
At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Gilbert married Miss Emma Ander- son, who was born in Sweden, but came to the United States at the age of ten years, and when eighteen years of age she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Gilbert. They have three children : Roy Ernest, a graduate of Olivet College, and now principal of the high school at Dowagiac, Michigan ; Glen Arthur, a student in the agricultural college, and Inez Martha, a student in the agricultural college in Lansing, Michigan.
ENGLEBRECHT BARTZ .- No better illustration of the characteristic en- ergy and enterprise of the typical German-American citizen can be found than that afforded by the career of this well-known farmer of Dorr town- ship. Englebrecht Bartz, more generally known as Robert Bartz, was born in Prussia, Germany, August 6, 1837, but when only four years of age he was brought to America by his father Bernhardt Bartz, the family first estab)- lishing their home in Lorain county, Ohio. In 1853 they came to Allegan county, Michigan, where the father secured a farm on section six, Dorr town- ship, the same on which their son now makes his home. There the parents spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing away in his seventy- ninth year, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Greve, survived until about her eighty-second year. Their son Englebrecht re- mained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age, when he started out in the world for himself on an eighty-acre farm which had been given him by his father, located one-half mile northeast of Dorr. His cash capital at that time consisted of sixteen dollars. In the fall of the same year he was married to Mary Harrish, also from Prussia, but who was only three years of age when brought to America, and she was twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage. The young couple took up their abode on this wild and unimproved farm, Mr. Bartz having had to make a clearing in the dense woods in order to erect their little log cabin. During the first year he carried on the farm work with a yoke of steers, but after that oxen were used for ten years in clearing the land. He now has sixty acres of his farm under an excellent state of cultivation, while the little log cabin has long since given place to a modern frame dwelling, and he also has a fine bank barn forty by fifty feet in which to shelter his stock.
Mr. Bartz is one of four brothers, namely: Jacob, who died in 1906, at the age of eighty-two, was an honored veteran of the Civil war and for sev- eral years a resident of Chicago, Illinois; John, who died at the age of sev- enty-seven years, having sold his farm in Allegan county for six thousand dollars; Joseph, who resides on a farm on the northwestern part of Dorr township, and Englebrecht, whose name introduces this review. All have improved eighty acres or more land, which was given them by their father. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Englebrecht Bartz, namely : John, who operates the home farm, and is unmarried : Martin, a farmer at North Dorr; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Anton Beebe, and died at the age of thirty-three years; Margaret, wife of William Henches, and re- sides on her father's farm : Englebrecht, employed at Hilliard's saloon, and Emma, wife of Steve Bullman, of North Dorr. Mr. Bartz is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and is a charter member of the North Dorr Catholic
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church, of which he is one of the principal supporters. He is one of the sub- stantial and well-to-do German citizens of Allegan county, being widely known and highly respected. His residence is located a half mile west of North Dorr, on the line between Kent. and Allegan counties, in a beautiful rolling and fertile country, constituting the finest land in Dorr township.
OLIVER L. GILBERT .- During the pioneer epoch in the history of Alle- gan county the Gilbert home was founded within its borders, and on the old homestead farm which they founded in Dorr township Oliver L. was born on the 3d of February, 1867, there spending the days of his boyhood and youth and early assisting in its improvement and development. During the first year after his marriage he continued to work for his father. after which he rented the one hundred and fifty acres which now form his present farm. At his father's death he received as his inheritance the one seventy-acre tract, purchasing the remainder of the other heirs. On the home seventy he has done some clearing, but more extensive clearing and improving on the other, it having been only partly cleared when he made the purchase. and he has made many other extensive improvements upon both. AA county drain passed through the entire place, into which he has tile drains, and in addi- tion to his general farming pursuits he is also engaged quite extensively in raising stock, making Durhans his choice. One of the principal features of his farm is the dairy, keeping from ten to twelve cows, which he feeds from a silo. He is also a breeder of the Chester White hogs and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens.
On the 26th of February. 1889. Mr. Gilbert was married to Amy Nel- son, a daughter of John and Laura Nelson, of Hopkins, Allegan county, Michigan, where Mrs. Gilbert was born on the 3d of October. 1870. Her father was from Canada, while her mother was from New York, and in the latter state they were married. In 1870 they came to Michigan, moving on a farm in Hopkins township, where Mrs. Gilbert was born and lived until her marriage. Her father died at the age of forty-five years, the mother continu- ing to live on the farm for quite a number of years, but finally selling it and moving to the village of Wayland, where she afterwards kept a home, but spent a great deal of her time with her children. She died at the home of Mrs. Gilbert May 26, 1905, aged seventy years. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, Delcia, a little maiden of nine years. Mr. Gilbert gives his political support to the Republican party, but is not an active worker in its ranks, preferring to give his time and attention to his farming interests. He is a member of the old Congregational church at Moline, while his wife is a member of the Disciple church at Wayland, where she belonged when she was married. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of the Maccabees at Wayland as are also his wife's. The family have a pleasant home in Dorr township, and are surrounded by many of the comforts of life.
FRED GILBERT .- Many years have passed since the family to which Fred Gilbert belongs became identified with Allegan county, and its various mem- bers have won for the name an enviable distinction by their high moral worth. This reputation is in no way diminished in this generation, and our subject, who is accounted among the leading agriculturists of Dorr town- ship, displays in a marked degree the admirable characteristics which the name suggests.
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Fred Gilbert was born in the house in which he now lives December 12, 1870, a son of Lauren and Judith ( Wisner) Gilbert. Three brothers, Norton, Bradley and Lauren Gilbert came to Michigan from Chester, Geauga county, Ohio, the two brothers, Bradley and Lauren, settling side by side in Allegan county, while Norton took up his abode in Kent county. In the family of Lauren and Judith Gilbert were five sons and one daughter, but the latter, Nellie, died when only two years of age, and the sons are: Wallace, Jasper, Dwight, Oliver and Fred. When Lauren Gilbert took up his abode in Alle- gan county he secured eighty acres of land, but as the years passed by his in- dustry and indefatigable efforts enabled him to add to his original purchase until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and twenty acres in the home farm, besides another tract of seventy-three acres, all of which was secured in the early days when land was cheap. In company with his brother Bradley he built and operated a cheese factory on his land, selling his cheese for six cents a pound, but even at that low price he made money, and was thus enabled to buy more land. During the Civil war he enlisted at the first call for volunteers, his military career covering a period of four years and eight months, and after the close of the struggle he went among the Indians in Utah as a member of the First Michigan Cavalry, under General Custer. He died on the farm on which he had lived and labored for so many years on the 25th of September. 1892, passing away in the faith of the Congrega- tional church, of which both he and his wife were consistent members, wor- shiping in the little old church which stood on a corner of his farm, he hav- ing donated the land for that purpose. He was also active in the public life of his community, having served as a supervisor, treasurer and as a drain and highway commissioner.
Fred Gilbert, whose name introduces this review, obtained his education at the Ferris Institute in Big Rapids. At his father's death he received as his inheritance the home place of eighty acres, and in addition he also op- erates another farm of one hundred and eighty acres. He usually keeps about fifteen cows upon his place, selling his cream to the creamery at Mo- line. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Moline.
On the 6th of December, 1896, Mr. Gilbert married Miss Ethlyn Tur- ner, a daughter of George Turner, an old and honored veteran of the Civil war and now living at the Soldiers' Home, while his wife resides with her daughter Mrs. Gilbert. Two children have been born to brighten and bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, Oneita and Dorris. In manner Mr. Gil- bert is courteous and genial, and among the people with whom he is con- nected he is popular.
DWIGHT L. GILBERT .- During his entire life with the exception of nine years Dwight L. Gilbert has been numbered among the citizens of Dorr township, Allegan county. His birth occurred in the parental home near by his present residence April 16, 1862. A sketch of his father, Lauren Gilbert. will be found elsewhere in this volume. Dwight L. spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, there remaining until his twenty-second year, when he went to Sanilac county, Michigan, and in company with his brother Wallace purchased a farm of two hundred acres of wild land. the timber thereon having mainly been killed by a fire three
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