USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 61
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Mr. Layton was happily married to Miss Gertrude Mabel Goucher, the wedding ceremony being performed October 26, 1898, and they occupy a home on the farm, whereon two dwellings have been erected, the second being occupied by his mother and sister. Mrs. Layton is a daughter of George and Martha (Fassett) Goucher, who are mentioned on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Layton have become the parents of a little daughter and son. Garnet Clara and George Russell. The parents are popular young people in this locality, and the hospitality of their pleas- ant home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
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JACOB W. GORTON, owning and operating a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 13. Watson township, claims this property as the place of his birth, which occurred October 5, 1863. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was Rev. Thomas Gorton, who was a Baptist minister, and in 1836 he entered the entire tract of land lying on section 13. Watson township, and became a very large landowner, giving to each of his thirteen children a tract of eighty acres. His son, William H. Gorton, the grandfather of our subject, was born in New York, Novem- ber 15. 1801, and was married in the east to Miss Electa Hitchcock, who was born in the Empire state. February 14, 1799. and they became the parents of Gorum W. Gorton, the father of Jacob W. Gorton, whose name introduces this record. Gorum W. Gorton was born in Monroe county, New York, August 29, 1829, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children. He assisted his father in his farming pursuits until he was twenty years of age, when, in 1849, having a desire to see the new western country, he came to Michigan, and at once settled in Watson township, Allegan county, where, as above stated, his grandfather had entered a large tract of land. He remained in this state for one year, after which he returned to his home in New York, where he worked for his father during the succeeding year, and he was married in that state
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to Miss Mary A. Mellows, who was born in Monroe county, New York, June 30, 1830, and was the third in a family of eight children born unto Thomas and Jane (Davis) Mellows, natives of England. When Gorum W. Gorton made his first trip to this state he had hired a clearing made on twenty acres of land, whereon was erected a log house, and in 1852 he brought his bride to this place, and at once undertook the work of develop- ing and cultivating his land, and here they endured all the experiences and hardships of the western frontier. Here they reared a family of three children and spent their remaining days, the father passing away on the 2Ist of March, 1882, while the mother survived until June 4, 1902. Their children are as follows: Electa J., who was born December 15, 1851, and is now the wife of Maurice Kent, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan ; Rosell James, who was born May 12, 1857, and resides in Hopkins town- ship, this county ; and Jacob W., whose name introduces this sketch.
Jacob W. Gorton was reared in much the usual manner of farm lads, assisting his father in the work of the fields, the various tasks being assigned to him as his strength permitted, and when not busy on the farm he pursued his studies in the district schools during the winter months, and thus acquired the education which enabled him to enter upon the responsible duties of life when starting out in life on his own account. He was trained to habits of industry and economy, and through the careful supervision of his farming interests he has today a valuable property of one hundred and sixty acres lying on section 13, Watson township, which he inherited from his father's estate, it having been entered at an early day by his great-grandfather and has thus been in possession of the family through four generations.
Mr. Gorton was happily married, November 29, 1892, to Miss Hattie Kimmel, who was born in Hopkins township, this county, a daughter of Conrad Kimmel. Her death occurred December 11, 1901, when she was twenty-nine years of age, and at her death she left three children, May Bell, Nona Marie and Merle K. Mrs. Gorton had many friends in this part of Allegan county who deeply felt her loss when she was called from this life.
In his political views Mr. Gorton is a Republican, believing firmly in the principles as set forth by that party. He is now serving as a member of the board of review, and is actively and deeply interested in many movements which are of benefit to his community. He is one of the pros- perous and progressive agriculturists of Watson township and from his farm derives an excellent income, for he follows the most progressive methods in carrying on his work, so that the best results are sure to follow.
ALFRED TAYLOR .- A fine farm lying on section 27, Watson township, shows the capable management and progressive methods of Alfred Taylor, who located thereon in 1863, when the tract was wild and unimproved and who through the four decades which have since come and gone has con- verted the property into productive fields which now return him a good annual income, sufficient to supply himself and family with all the com- forts of life.
Mr. Taylor was born in Oswego, St. Lawrence county, New York, December 6, 1838, a son of Wilson and Sarah Ann (Palmer) Taylor. The
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father's birth occurred in the northeastern portion of the Empire state in 1803, while the mother was born in Chenango county, that state, in 1813, their ancestors having become early settlers of New England. In 1856 the father removed with his family to Michigan, the journey being made by lake and the St. Lawrence river to Chicago, from which city they traveled by the Michigan Central Railroad to Kalamazoo, and they then continued their journey to Watson township, where the father purchased a tract of wild land on section 27. He built a log house, in which the fam- ily took up their abode, and at once began clearing and cultivating the fields and soon had one of the good farms of the locality. He engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days, and passed away in Allegan county at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away here at the age of eighty-five years. He was a quiet, unassuming man, devoted to the interests of his family, to whom he left a good farm of eighty acres when he was called fron: this life.
Alfred Taylor, the fourth in order of birth in a family of four sons and four daughters, was a youth of eighteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from the east to Allegan county, Michigan. He acquired his education in the district schools previous to the removal of the family to this state, and subsequent to the settlement of the family on the new farm in Watson township, he assisted his father in clearing and developing the land, and thus gained practical experience which fitted him to later engage in the same pursuits on his own account. He shared with the family in all of the hardships and privations which were here to be met and endured, and remained with his father until 1863, when he purchased his present farm property, comprising fifty-five acres, lying on section 26, Watson township, and which has since continued to be his home. This was all wild and unimproved when it came into his possession, but he resolutely set to work to develop the farm by clearing it of the trees, plow- ing the land, planting the seed, and in due time the fields returned golden harvests as a result of the work which he had put upon them. All this work was accomplished through his own industry, for he hired help for only one week. He has made all of the improvements which are here to be seen, including a good residence and many outbuildings which are essential for the comfort and care of stock and grain. He possesses con- siderable mechanical ingenuity, and planned and built all of his buildings and his dwelling, and he likewise manufactures his wagons and many devices which are used to facilitate his farm work. In addition to his farming interests he also. operated a threshing machine for twenty-five seasons, and during the winter seasons for four or five years conducted a sawmill. Thus he has become very widely known not only in his home locality, but throughout the entire county where his business operations have taken him.
In 1864 Mr. Taylor was happily married to Miss Mary Jane Austin, who was born in Watson township, in 1843. She was a daughter of Floyd and Sarah (Nichols) Austin, both natives of New York, who came to Allegan county at an early period in the development of this state, being numbered among its pioneer settlers. Mr. Austin was actively connected with much of the development of this portion of the state and cleared the land surrounding the courthouse in Allegan. In 1889 Mr. Taylor was
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called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death occurred on the 6th of January of that year. She had proved to him a faithful companion and helpmate, ever devoted to the welfare of her family and to the care of her household affairs, and her death was the occasion of deep sorrow to her many friends, to whom she had endeared herself by the possession of many sterling traits of character. The children of this marriage are: Lenny, the wife of Fred H. Daily, who resides in San Francisco ; Dora, the wife of William Lacrone, of Kalamazoo; and Frank A., who is with his father and operates the home farm. He is married and has two children.
Mr. Taylor was formerly an advocate of the Greenback party but for a long period has supported the candidates of the Democratic party. He has never been active in public affairs, but manifests a loyal spirit in every movement calculated to benefit the community. He is identified with the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 266 at Watson, and is also a member of the Wat- son Grange. Having resided in Allegan county for more than four decades, Mr. Taylor is widely and favorably known, for in all his business transactions he has ever been reliable and straightforward, so that he has gained the high esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
GEORGE B. MYERS, who was formerly actively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Allegan county but is now living practically retired on his farm on section 27, Watson township, is a native of New York, his birth having occurred near Lyons, in Wayne county, on the 27th of February, 1841. His paternal grandfather, Christopher Myers, was also a native of the Empire state, where he was engaged in farming pursuits throughout his entire life. He was married to Miss Annie Winchett, who was born in Connecticut, and who at her death was ninety-one years of age. She was a little maiden of seven summers at the time of the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, and could remember many of the experiences of the family during that period, and the grandson. George B., has listened to many interesting stories concerning the Revolution, as related to him by his grandmother. The father. Caleb Myers, was born in New York, Sep- tember 28, 1811, and was there reared and educated. He learned and fol- lowed the carpenter's trade both in his native state and in Michigan. He wedded Lois Burnett, whose birth occurred in Massachusetts, June 23, 1810, a daughter of Andrew J. and Lucy Burnett. The father removed with his family from New York to Otsego, Allegan county, Michigan. The family took passage on a canal boat from Lyons to Buffalo, where they traveled by Lake Erie, their vessel encountering a severe storm which lasted for three days, and which finally was driven to the Canadian shore. Landing in Detroit they traveled by rail to Jackson, Michigan, and thence by wagon to Otsego, their destination, the time of their arrival being in November. 1844. Mr. Myers purchased a tract of eighty acres from Charles Drew, which was situated in Otsego township. Here he built a log house in which the family took up their abode and there made their home for several years but on account of not having a clear title to the place, the farm was lost. Mr. Myers then purchased a tract of eighty acres in Gun Plains township, to which he removed with his family, and thereon engaged in farming, in addition to which he followed the car-
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
penter's trade to some extent. Here the parents reared their family of seven children and spent their remaining days, the father's death occurring in 1872, while the mother had preceded him to the home beyond on the 12th of May, 1857. Their children are as follows: Andrew Jackson, who died at the age of seventy-two years, having served in the Army of the Cumber- land during the Civil war: Lucy, who died at the age of twelve years ; Mrs. Annie Monroe, a resident of Otsego township. Allegan county : Per- cis, who passed away at the age of nine years : George B., of this review ; Daniel, who died at the age of three years: and Mrs. Sarah Wilson, like- wise a resident of Otsego township.
Although but a little lad of three years when brought to this state by his parents. George B. Myers can remember many incidents connected with the voyage. and can well remember that during the trip on the water his sister came near losing her life by falling from the boat. He was reared and educated in Allegan county and assisted his father in the work of the farm until he had reached the age of sixteen years, when his mother died. He then left home, and, starting out to make his own way in the world. obtained employment as a farm hand by the month, which he fol- lowed until April 18. 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company I. Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Dwight May and Colonel I. B. Richardson. The company was first sent to Detroit, from which place they went into service under General Scott, as Colonel Richardson had been under him in Mexico. They went into quarters at Camp Scott near the end of Chain Bridge across the Potomac river, and on the 15th of July of that year started on their march to Cen- terville, Virginia. He participated in many memorable and important battles, participating in the engagement at Blackburn's Ford, the three days' battle of Bull Run and was in the peninsula campaign. taking part in every fight under Mcclellan. He was in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain. Maryland, Chantilly, Hagerstown, and followed Lee back to Warrington Junction. He was also in the battles of Fredericks- burg. Vicksburg. Morgan's raid through Kentucky, Lebanon. Jackson. Mississippi, from which place he went back into Kentucky and crossed the Cumberland Mountains to Knoxville. Tennessee, where he assisted in build- ing Fort Saunders. He also participated in the important battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and many others, after which he returned to his home on July 21. 1864. On the 6th of March, 1865. he re-enlisted for service in the army by joining the Tenth Cavalry but was not in any engagements and was mustered out on the 25th of July of that year. and he was among the first three to enlist from Allegan county.
After his return from the war Mr. Myers bought a farm of sixty acres situated on section 23. Watson township, on which he erected a small house. He further improved the place by the erection of outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and he also set out a good peach orchard. He later disposed of this tract and bought another farm, which was known as the Austin property. This has been his home for the past eighteen years. the place comprising one hundred and twenty acres situated on section 27. Watson township. He has added many improvements. has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, and altogether the farm is one of the valuable tracts of this section of the county. There are two residences
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
upon the farm and also two good barns beside many other buildings essen- tial to a farm property. For many years lie was actively engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits but is now leaving the more arduous labor of carrying on the work to his son, Mr. Myers merely giving supervision to his business interests, although he still retains his residence on the farm. In former years he worked hard and diligently to acquire a competence and a valuable property and today his property is the visible evidence of what he has accomplished, and he is now able to rest from further labor and to enjoy the comforts of life.
On the 14th of November, 1865, occurred the marriage of George B. Myers and Miss Hulda W. Stone, who was born in Watson township, Alle- gan county, March 25, 1847, and acquired her education in school district No. 2. She is a daughter of Jesse and Hannah ( Billings) Stone, the former a native of New York. The mother accompanied her parents, John and Hulda (Wolcott) Billings, on their removal to Allegan county from the east, when she was eleven years of age, her birth having occurred in Spring- field, Massachusetts. Mr. Billings purchased in Allegan county three hun- dred and sixty acres of land, this lying near the village of Trowbridge, which at the time he settled there contained but one store and a sawmill.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, namely : Edith A., who became the wife of John Lukins, and died at the age of . thirty-four years, leaving one son; Inez H., the wife of Martin Minor, of Watson township; Edwin L., of Osceola county, Michigan; Earl C., who operates the home farm and resides in a tenant house thereon; Charles B., also of Watson township, and Jessie A., at home. Mr. Myers cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and was a stanch advocate of Re- publican principles until 1896, in which year he became a Bryan Democrat, and has given his support to the latter party since that time. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, but has done his full duty as a private citizen, aiding in many movements and measures for the benefit of the locality. He is a member of the Church of God, and fraternally is identified with C. J. Bassett Post, G. A. R., No. 56, at Allegan, and he like- wise holds membership relations with the Grange, in all of which he is a loyal and faithful member. He is ever ready to give assistance to the poor and needy and is known for his many excellent traits of heart and mind. He and his family are highly esteemed in the community in which they live, and they have a host of warm friends. Mr. Myers, loyal to the best inter- ests of his country during the dark days of the Civil War, is equally loyal to the interests of his locality, where he has given much valuable aid in the improvement and development of Allegan county, where he has made his home for more than six decades.
RANDALL W. BROOKS is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres situ- ated on section 27, Watson township, Allegan county. His birth occurred in the northern part of New York, September 8, 1818, and he has therefore reached the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. His parents, Justin and Lucretia (Yerington) Brooks, were natives of New York and Connec- ticut, respectively, and in 1820 they took up their abode in the western part of New York, their home being thirty miles northeast of Buffalo, in Genesee county, and there the family continued to reside for several years, subse-
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quent to which time the father removed with his family to Michigan, the journey being made by lake and canal to Detroit, whence they continued their journey westward. They settled on a farm four miles east of Ann Arbor, the year of their arrival in this state being in September, 1832. Here the father provided for himself and family by carrying on general agricul- tural pursuits for many years and his death occurred in Granville, this state. in 1840. when he had reached the age of fifty-eight years, while his wife survived for a long period, her death occurring when she was seventy years of age. In their family were the following named: Phoebe : Eveline : Ruth ; Joel, who passed away in Albion, Michigan; Nancy: Randall W., whose name heads this sketch: Sophia; William, whose death occurred in Gran- ville, this state: Amos, who died in Stanton about two years ago: and Hannah, who died when thirteen years of age. All were married and reared families with the exception of the youngest daughter. Hannah. but Randall W. is the only surviving member at the present time.
Randall W. Brooks accompanied his parents on their various removals and was reared and educated in his native state to the age of fourteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the west, the family home, as before stated, being established on a farm near Ann Arbor. He assisted his father in carrying on the work of the home place during his boyhood and youth, and the first money which he ever earned was in taking an Indian canoe, which was loaded with goods from Lyons to Grand Rapids on the Grand river, being accompanied by another party. Each received one dollar as compensation for their service. In 1835 he went to Grand Rapids to attend the first town meeting ever held in that place. He later went to Granville, Michigan, where he was employed at splitting rails for a short time and later for two months was employed by a Mr. Burton at farm labor. Subsequent to that time he was employed in a sawmill until 1838, when he came to Allegan county, where he was employed for a short time in a sawmill belonging to Alexander Eely. Saving his earnings he was at length enabled to make purchase of land and start out upon an inde- pendent business career, and accordingly, in November. 1838, he bought eighty acres, situated on section 27. Watson township, for which he paid two hundred and fifty dollars. This was in its natural state, not a stick of wood having been cut on the place. He at once undertook the arduous task of clearing the property of the trees, after which he broke and plowed the land, planted his seed and in due course of time gathered good crops as the reward of his labor. He also erected a good residence, which is still standing, built outbuildings and otherwise improved the place, so that today it ranks among the valuable and productive farms of Allegan county. In addition to this property Mr. Brooks also purchased and improved forty acres of land, also located on section 27. Watson township, which he has given to his son.
On the 10th of May. 1844. Mr. Brooks chose as a companion and help- mate for life's journey Miss Mary Jane Kenyon, who was born in New York in 1824. She came to this county in company with her uncle. Noah Briggs, who settled near Monterey Center, where she was married. She became the mother of three children: Althea Navis. deceased ; Marion Pierce, a resident of Monterey township, Allegan county ; and Julia, who died in childhood. The mother of these children passed away, and for his
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second wife Mr. Brooks wedded Mrs. Mary Jane Brewer, a native of Ver- mont, and she is also deceased. By this marriage there was a son and daughter, but the elder. Ellen A., is now deceased, while Justin J. is the only survivor. He is now operating the home farm for his father, and has spent his entire life in Allegan county with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, where he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government.
Mr. Brooks was twenty-one years of age when he came to Allegan county and here he proudly cast his first presidential vote, supporting the Democratic candidate, and has since supported that party. For two years he served as township treasurer, and he is a charter member of Watson Grange, but aside from that he is not identified with any fraternal organiza- tion. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and through his careful management and close application he accumulated a good prop- erty. from which he derives an income that is now sufficient in his old age to supply him with all the comforts of life. He is one of the venerable and highly respected citizens of this locality, for he has ever been known as a reliable man in all his business dealings and has therefore won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.
CHARLES I. ANDERSON, owning a good farm of eighty acres situated on section 31, Watson township, is one of the worthy and highly esteemed citizens that the fatherland has furnished to this state. As the name indi- cates, he was born in Yonkonings Len, Sweden, his natal day being Decem- ber II, 1840, a son of Andrew and Mary ( Anderson) Anderson, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland, and in whose family were but two chil- dren, the sister of our subject being Christine, the wife of Nelson Johnson. a resident of Watson township.
Charles I. Anderson was afforded only limited educational advantages in his native country, spending altogether only six months of the year for three years in the school room. He, however, did not learn to write until he was twenty years of age. and then by his own efforts. He was then con- firmed and had to start out in life to provide for his own support, for his parents were in very limited financial circumstances. At the early age of twelve years he began work on a farm in his native land and continued at that occupation until he was seventeen years of age, when he secured employment on the construction of a railroad, being employed in railroad work for the succeeding eleven years, during which time he carefully husbanded his earnings, which he invested in a small tract of land, which was in a wild state. He improved and cultivated this and by living economi- cally and working hard and energetically he was enabled to lay by a sum. and he finally disposed of his farm to good advantage.
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