USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 66
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
He became thoroughly familiar with the trade in principle and detail and for three years he·engaged in business for himself in the metropolis, on the expiration of which period he sold his interest to other members of the firm. The business is still conducted under the style of Hall, Wedge & Carter. In 1901 Mr. Wedge had purchased his present farm in connection with his father and brother and removing from the city to Allegan, he actively began farm work. After two years he purchased the interest of the other members of the firm in this property and now owns and conducts the farm alone on section 8, Cheshire township. The entire place is under cultivation with the exception of a ten-acre sugar bush, and there are good buildings and many modern equipments. In connection with gen- eral farming he carries on the dairy business and is also engaged in raising hogs and sheep. In all departments of his work he displays keen discrimina- tion and has secured a goodly measure of success that shows he is a man of considerable adaptability, for leaving mercantile life he took up farm- work, with which he was at that time largely unfamiliar, and soon through experience, observation and study, learned the best methods of caring for the fields and the stock.
Mr. Wedge was married in Chicago, January 25, 1896, to Miss Eliza- beth Freund, a native of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Mr. and Mlrs. Peter Freund. Her parents were natives of Germany and came to the United States in early life. They were married in this country and unto them were born fourteen children-seven sons and seven daughters. All are now living, most of them being residents of Fond du Lac. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wedge have been born four children-Wilmont Emerson, Howard Stanley, Elmer Clayton and Harvey Alvin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wedge hold membership in the United Brethren church at Chicora, and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party, but he is not actively interested in politics to the extent of seeking office. as he prefers to concen- trate his energies upon his business interests, in which he is meeting with signal success.
TROWBRIDGE TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM HEMMETT, who for a quarter of a century was identified with the farming interests of Allegan county, was a native of England, in which country he was reared and educated. There he provided for his own support by working in the factories, and shortly after his marriage, believing that he might have better business opportunities in the new world, he came to America with his wife and one child. He remained in the Empire state until 1855, spending the greater part of the time in Niagara county, and then came to Michigan, settling on a farm of eighty acres on section twenty-one, Trowbridge township, Allegan county, where he spent his remaining days, his time and energies being given to the work of the farm in its various branches. When he purchased the farm it was covered with the native growth of timber. He cleared away the trees and placed the fields under the plow, his cultivation transforming the soil into a very productive tract of land.
Mr. Hemmett was married in England to Miss Mary Riordon, a native of Ireland, who died here in 1872, at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were eight children-Sarah, who was born in England and is now
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deceased ; John, who was born in New York and enlisted in February, 1864, as a member of the First Michigan Light Artillery, his death occurring August 22, 1864, in the hospital at Atlanta, Georgia; William, a resident of Nebraska; Esther Helen, who died at the age of three years ; Mary H. ; Thomas, who died when but nine months old : Thomas G., now living in Nebraska, and Margaret, who became the wife of James Kent and died in 1879. The death of the father occurred on the farm in 1880, when he was about sixty-five years of age. He was a self-made man who came to the new world practically empty-handed, but he worked diligently and per- sistently and his labors resulted in the acquirement of a good farm property which has remained in possession of the family to the present year. In 1906 his daughter Mary disposed of it.
WILLIAM D. RUSSELL, engaged in general farming on section twenty- nine, Trowbridge township, is a native of the Empire state, his birth hav- ing occurred in Covington township, Livingston county, July 28, 1842. He was only five years of age when brought to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, by his parents. Lester and Adaline B. ( Hotchkiss) Russell. The father was born in New York in 1814, and spent his entire life in that state and in Michigan. During the greater part of his business career he was a mill- wright but also conducted a farm and spent his last days in Otsego town- ship, Allegan county, where he passed away in his eighty-fifth year. He was regarded as one of the best millwrights in this part of the country and possessed considerable inventive genius which resulted in the manufacture of useful devices along the lines of his work. He held membership in the Adventist church and was a gentleman of upright purpose and high prin- ciples. His wife died prior to the removal of the family from New York to Michigan, leaving two children, William D. and Leroy. the latter now de- ceased. The father was five times married, his first wife being a sister of the mother of our subject. By another marriage he had a son and daughter. He lost all his wives by death.
At the time of the removal of the family from New York to Michigan a settlement was made in Cooper township, Kalamazoo county. The jour- ney was by way of the lakes and thence across the country to their destina- tion. The voyage was such a rough one that it left an indelible impression upon the mind of William D. Russell, who, however, at that time was only five years of age. After living for two or three years in Kalamazoo county the family came to Allegan county, settling in Otsego township. After a number of years the father built a mill on Pine creek on the Kalamazoo river and in his youth William D. Russell assisted his father in the work of the farm and of the mill, remaining with him until twenty-one years of age. He then purchased a tract of land at Otsego, where he engaged in farming for a number of years. Later his father purchased a mill and tract of land in Monterey township, and Mr. Russell of this review was with him for a few years. He then came to Allegan township and after spending four years on a farm within its borders removed to Trowbridge township on the Ist of April, 1880. He has since resided upon his present farm, com- prising forty-seven and a half acres of land on section 29. The greater part of it was covered with timber when it came into his posses- sion and there were no buildings. Today it is a well improved property
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all under cultivation and his dwelling is the best in the township. He has given his time and attention to his farm work and his labors find visible evi- dence in his splendidly improved property. On the 15th of July, 1906, he lost his home by fire but has since purchased a fine residence adjoining.
In 1866 Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Emma G. Randall, who was born near Ada, in Kent county, Michigan, August 25, 1848, and died in Kalamazoo, meeting her death in an accident on the 4th of January, 1904. She was a daughter of Ursula Randall, and by her marriage had one son, Clifford A., who is now living in Otsego township. He wedded Delia Odell, a native of Trowbridge township, and they have three children, Har- old, Mildred and Hollis. On the 15th of August, 1906, Mr. Russell was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. Cummins, a daughter of Joseph White.
In his political views Mr. Russell is a stalwart Republican but without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist church at Allegan and is serving as one of its deacons. Closely associated with in- dustrial and agricultural interests in this county for many years he has lived a life of activity and his prosperity is the measure of his ability, making him one of the representative and leading farmers of Allegan county.
FRED B. McCARN is living on section 18, Trowbridge township, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits. His father, Myron H. McCarn, was born at Lansing, Tompkins county, New York, August 25. 1827, and was a son of Henry and Sarah (Williams) McCarn, who were natives of western New York. The father had seventeen children. There were two children born of his first marriage and fifteen children born of the second marriage.
Myron H. McCarn was only five years of age when his parents re- moved from the Empire state to Potter county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1850. He was at that time twenty-three years of age. He had in the meantime been engaged in the lumber and milling business as an em- ploye but in 1850 he determined to seek his fortune in the gold fields of California and went to the Pacific coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama, spending four years in the Golden State. He engaged in prospecting for a time and afterward operated a sawmill, having been employed as a sawyer in the east. He now has in his possession a ring made of gold which he dug from the mines in California and which he had made in New York city. In 1854 he returned to Potter county, Pennsylvania, and after about a year came to Michigan. He then spent a year and a half in traveling in this state. in Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas, and in the last named state worked in a mill. Subsequent to that time he returned to his old home in Potter county, Pennsylvania.
In 1859 Mr. McCarn was married and removed to Knox county, Illi- nois, settling in the vicinity of Galesburg, where he devoted three years to farming. In February, 1863, he arrived in Allegan county, Michigan, and located at Otsego. Here he was identified with industrial interests as a car- penter and mill man, spending about nine years in that way. In March, 1872, he came to Trowbridge township and settled on his present farm, where he has since resided, covering a period of thirty-four years. He now has one hundred and twenty-one acres of land on section 18. This was
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covered with timber when he made the purchase but the greater part of it is now under a high state of cultivation and has good buildings upon it. The entire work of development and improvement has been done by Mr. Mc- Carn and his sons. For the past eight years, however, he has not been active in the work, which has been left to his sons, owing to his ill health.
In politics Mr. McCarn has always worked along lines of reform, first with the Republican party, afterward with the Democratic party and sub- sequently with the Populist party. He is one of the best read men in the community and is thoroughly informed concerning the political questions and issues of the day. He is also a man of broad general information and is entirely self-educated. He spent his days at work and his nights at read- ing and thus he has acquired a broad fund of knowledge. His fellow towns- men, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. He has served for several terms as justice of the peace, has also been drain commissioner, was assessor and for four years acted as county drain commissioner. His fraternal relations were with the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows until he became too old to attend the meetings and take an active part in those societies.
In 1859 Mr. McCarn was united in marriage to Miss Ann Ingraham, who was born in Albany county, New York, November 21, 1834. and who died May 13, 1906. She was a daughter of William and Sarah (Hyler) . Ingraham, also natives of the Empire state. Removing to the middle west they settled first in Illinois and afterward came to Allegan county, Michi- gan where they spent their last days.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Myron McCarn have been born seven children, of . whom William H. is represented elsewhere in this volume. Charles. the second of the family, was born in Knox county, Illinois, September 25. . 1862, and is now living on the old homestead. Fred B .. who was born in the village of Otsego, Michigan, August 12, 1866, now owns a good farm . adjoining the old home property. The place formerly comprised eighty acres but he has sold thirty acres and now retains possession of fifty acres. and it is to him that we are indebted for the history of his honored father, who is one of the prominent pioneer residents of this portion of the state. Forest E., the fourth member of the family, died in infancy. Archie C., born in Otsego, April 21, 1870, is married and resides in Iowa. He also owns a farm of forty acres in Trowbridge township. He and his brother Fred B. are now partners in a mercantile business in Tama, Iowa, which is conducted under the firm style of McCarn Brothers. Adelbert and Herbert are twins, and were born in Trowbridge township, October 9, 1872. The. former is living in his native township, while the latter is a resident farmer of Cheshire township and both are married.
WILLIAM H. McCARN, who resides on section 7, Trowbridge town- ship, where he is engaged in general farming, was born in northern Illinois. on the 29th of September. 1860, and when about two years of age was brought to Otsego, Allegan county, Michigan, by his parents. Myron E. and Anna (Ingraham) McCarn, the former a native of Tompkins county .. New York, and the latter of Albany county, that state. They were reared and married in the east, after which they removed to Illinois and. as stated, came to Allegan county in 1862. Here the father turned his attention to
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
farming and now resides on section eighteen, Trowbridge township. In the family were six sons, namely: William H., of this review ; Charles and Fred B., who are assisting their father on the home farm; Archie, of Tama, Iowa; Adelbert, of Trowbridge township, and Herbert, who is living in Cheshire township, Allegan county. The last two are twins.
William H. McCarn spent his early boyhood days in Otsego township and when twelve years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Trowbridge township, where he has since resided. He remained upon the old homestead farm until his marriage, when he came to his present farm, which comprises one hundred and forty-eight acres of land on sections 7 and 8. This constitutes an excellent farm property, many of the in- provements having been placed here by the present owner. He has erected one of the best dwellings in the township and the other buildings upon the place are in keeping with his residence. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and is also a director in the Allegan Creamery and Cold Storage Company.
On the 22d of March, 1883. Mr. McCarn was married to Miss Lucy Colburn, who was born in Trowbridge township, January 17, 1860, and has always resided within its borders. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Wright) Colburn, of Trowbridge, natives of New Hampshire. Both were pioneer settlers here and died in Allegan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCarn have been born four children, Lillie, Floyd, Nora and Myron.
In his political views Mr. McCar is a Republican and has held some minor offices but prefers to give his undivided attention to his business af- fairs. He has always followed the occupation of farming and in this work has found ample opportunity for the exercise of his native talents. As the years have passed he has prospered and his labors have resulted in the ac- quirement of a comfortable competence, making him one of the substantial residents of the community.
HARMON W. CALKINS .- A resident of Allegan county since 1855, Har- mon W. Calkins, in the period of his manhood, has been identified with in- dustrial and agricultural interests and is now living upon a good farm on section 21, Trowbridge township, where he is successfully engaged in raising and dealing in Shorthorn cattle, in which connection he is widely known, being one of the leading cattle dealers in this part of the state. A native son of Michigan, he was born in Richmond, Kalamazoo county, Jan- uary 5, 1846, and was a lad of eleven years when he came to Allegan county with his parents, Chauncy W. and Cornelia E. (Eldred) Calkins, natives of New York and Vermont respectively. They were married in Kalamazoo county, Michigan. The father was a merchant and wool buyer and spent the greater part of his life at Richmond and Allegan. For eighteen years he was superintendent of the Allegan county poor farm and proved a most cap- able official. When he came to this county there were no roads in this part of the state and he made the journey on horseback through the forest from his old home in Kalamazoo county to Saugatuck. He was a man of irreproach- able integrity and honor, who lived a consistent Christian life and had many friends. He served as deacon in the Baptist church of Allegan, in the work of which he took an active part. His political support was given the Democ- racy until Cleveland was the nominee of the party. He was ever a man of
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
firm convictions and never faltered in a course which he believed to be right. He died in Allegan in 1895, at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1885, when about seventy-five years of age, dying at the home of her daughter while visiting in Ohio. Her remains, however, were brought back to Allegan for interment. In the family of this worthy couple were three children : Almeron E., a miller of Allegan ; Harmon, and Aristena R., the wife of A. L. Spitzer, president of a bank in Medina, Ohio.
Harmon W. Calkins, coming to Allegan at the age of eleven years, spent twenty-five years in that city, where in his youth he attended the public schools and later worked more or less in his father's store. In early man- hood he learned the machinist's trade and after spending three years in the employ of others, he established the Gage foundry in 1865. It was first conducted under the firm name of Fowler, McQueeny & Calkins, afterward McQueeny & Calkins, and later of Calkins & Company, at which time the partners were our subject and his brother. After about eight years spent in the above associations Mr. Calkins of this review sold out and purchased a farm of eighty acres and later added to it sixty-five acres. Later he sold that property and bought one hundred and twenty acres, which he also dis- posed of at a later date. He is now the owner of eighty acres of choice land on section 21, Trowbridge township, and he gives his time ex- clusively to raising and dealing in Shorthorn cattle, always having a number of head of fine stock upon his place. He has exhibited his stock at various county and state fairs for the last forty years, principally in Michigan and Ohio and annually wins from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty dollars in premiums.
On October 29, 1868, Mr. Calkins was married to Miss Cynthia Maria Stone, who was born in Dunham, Canada, January 19, 1848, and came to Michigan with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Calkins now have eight children: Lottie, the wife of William J. Delano, of Hastings, this state ; Lena, the wife of Dr. S. B. Stedgeman, of Vermontville, Michigan ; Chauncy, at home ; Hugh, who is pastor of the Disciples' church at Owen Sound, Ontario; Elsie, the wife of Martin Blair, of Watson, Michi- gan ; Abbie, the wife of Willard Brest, of Trowbridge township; Avis, in the abstract office at Allegan, and Lidia, at home. Mr. Calkins has given his children excellent educational privileges and four of them have pursued courses of study in the State University at Ann Arbor, while the family rec- ord is one of which the parents have every reason to be proud.
In his political views Mr. Calkins is a Democrat and has a citizen's in- terest in the questions and issues which divide the two great parties, but has held only school offices. The cause of education indeed finds in him a warm friend-one who is ready to do anything in his power for the betterment of schools. He is a member of the Disciples' or Christian church in Trow- bridge township and assisted in building their brick house of worship. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. Men who know him recognize his high principles, unswerving integrity and fidelity to duty. He has resided in the county for more than half a century and his labors have been a helpful element in general growth and development.
WILLIAM A. RABER has for seven years resided upon his present farm on section 9. Trowbridge township, having here two hundred and three
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acres of land, in addition to which he has forty acres of section 4, of the same township. The extent of his holdings and the importance of his agri- cultural interests indicate his life of activity and well directed effort.
A native of Summit county, Ohio, William A. Raber was born near Akron, October 24, 1862, a son of Louis B. and Katharine (Sarah) Raber, who were natives of Stark county, Ohio, and were of German descent. The father died at Plainwell, Michigan, at the age of fifty-eight years, while the mother died at the home of her son Andrew C., when sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of five children, namely : Mrs. Martha Dreis- bach, of Summit county, Ohio ; Mrs. Rose Belle Zellars, who died about four years ago; Mrs. Katharine Blakeley, of Plainwell, this state; William Al- bert, and Andrew Curtis Raber, who is living in Allegan township.
When only about five years of age William A. Raber was taken by his parents to Portage county, Ohio, where he remained until he reached the age of twelve years. He then accompanied the family on their removal to Plainwell, Michigan, and resided in that locality until eighteen years of age. The succeeding decade was passed at Martin, this state, where for five years he engaged in farming and for a similar period conducted a repair shop, having learned and followed the blacksmithing and wagon-making trades in earlier life. For seven years he has resided upon his present farm, having two hundred and forty-three acres of rich land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and upon which he has made many good improvements, including the erection of first class buildings, while his farm work is carried forward along most progressive lines.
On the 14th of September, 1882, Mr. Raber was married to Miss Hattie Delano, a native of Martin, Michigan, born November 22, 1860, and a daughter of Luther and Maryette ( Anderson) Delano. The former, a native of Macedon, Wayne county, New York. was born September 9, 1816. His father was Israel Delano and his mother's maiden name was Martha Rogers. She was a daughter of General William Rogers of Revolutionary fame. Both parents were of Yankee origin, and both were members of the Baptist church. Their son was named after Rev. Luther Rice, the first great Bur- mah missionary, and the latter, Mrs. Maryette Anderson Delano, was born in Mayfield, New York, in 1830, came with her parents to Plainwell, Mich- igan, when four years old. Her childhood playmates were Indians. Her father, Judge John Anderson, was the first white man to build a house in what is now the village of Plainwell. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Raber were born three children : Hazel M., the wife of J. Bentley, of this township; Zella W., who died in March. 1904, at the age of fourteen years, and Roger Z., at home.
Mr. Raber exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but is without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, and is a typical citizens of the mid- dle west, who by the utilization of his opportunities has advanced from a humble financial position to one of affluence, winning thereby the admira- tion and respect of his fellow townsmen.
RANSOM M. BRODOCK, whose home farm is pleasantly located on section 22. Trowbridge township, not far from Allegan, was born in Hud- son, Lenawee county, Michigan, October 18, 1847. His father, Harry B.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Brodock, was a native of Penfield, New York, born in 1812, and he died January 24, 1896, upon the farm which is now the home of our subject. At an early day in the development of Michigan he became a resident of Adrian, where he worked at shoemaking for a number of years. He afterward re- moved to Hudson, this state, where he established a shoe business and still later he entered one hundred acres of land in Hillsdale county, Michigan, near Hudson, which he improved, continuing its cultivation and develop- ment until his removal to Allegan county. In 1864 he enlisted from Hud- son as a member of Company F. of the Fourth Michigan Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and being thus unfitted for further field duty was hon- orably discharged about a year later. He was familiar with all of the ex- periences of pioneer life in Michigan, and in the early days would go to Adrian on horseback for supplies for his shoemaking business. He was also a great hunter and found ample opportunity to indulge his love of the sport because deer and other kinds of wild game abounded in the forests. His political allegiance was first given to the whig party and upon its dis- solution he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He took an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, political and otherwise, and during the greater part of his life held local offices in Hillsdale county. Soon after the war while mowing with a team he fell from the seat of the mower and had his right hand cut off by the knives of the mower. He lost his first wife after about a year of married life and sub- sequently married Julia A. Smith in Adrian. She was a native of New York and had accompanied her parents on their removal to Michigan, her brother being at that time proprietor of the largest shoe house in Adrian. Mrs. Brodock died in Hudson when about fifty-six years of age. In the family were four children: Henry M., who is now living in Douglas. Michigan, where he follows carpentering : Julia A., the wife of Marvin Gillet, of Douglas ; Ransom M .. and Jennie F., the wife of Charles Pratt. of Detroit.
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