A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 67

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 808

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Ransom M. Brodock spent the first twenty-eight years of his life in Lenawee and in Hillsdale counties, living with his parents upon a farm or in the city. When sixteen years of age he began learning the mason's trade, which he has followed to a greater or less extent since that time. In 1879 he came to his present place of residence on section 22, Trowbridge township, in company with his father, his mother having previously passed away. He has since lived upon this farm, comprising one hundred acres of land on section 22. It was partially cleared when they took possession of the property but was in bad shape, owing to its neglect by former occupants. Mr. Brodock has remodeled some of the buildings and has erected others and he now has a well improved property, devoted to the raising of grain and stock. He has also followed the mason's trade to some extent and has lived a most active, energetic life, earning a good living through his well directed efforts and also accumulating a comfortable com- petence for a rainy day.

In 1879, soon after locating upon his present farm, Mr. Brodock was married to Miss Sarah M. Maynard, who was born in Cass county, Michi- gan, in 1850. and died upon the old home property here June 9, 1904. She was a daughter of Truman and Lucy Maynard, who were natives of New York.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

Mr. Brodock exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and has always taken an active interest in politics. He belongs to the Odd Fellows' lodge at Allegan, with which he has been identified for the past nineteen years. Starting out upon his business career at the age of sixteen years he has worked persistently and energetically as the years have gone by and his diligence and indefatigable energy have been strong elements in his success.

JAMES MORTON REYNOLDS, a representative of the farming interests of Trowbridge township, living on section 19, was born in Moscow, New York, October 20, 1852, and during his infancy was brought to Alle- gan county by his parents. William and Eliza ( McMan) Reynolds, who settled on the lake shore. The father was a native of New York, and died when his son James was only seven years of age, he being at that time about thirty years of age. The mother afterward removed with her family to Monterey township and later gave her hand in marriage to G. B. Wil- cox. She survived to the age of sixty-seven years, and died upon the farm which is now the home of our subject. By her first marriage she had five children: Eliza Jane, now the wife of Charles Streator, of Lake county, Michigan ; William H., who is living in Battle Creek township; James M., of this review ; Charles Edgar, of Allegan, and Albert Nelson, a resident of Allegan.

James Morton Reynolds has practically spent his entire life in this county. He was reared in his mother's home, and at the age of fourteen years began working for others by the day or month. He was principally employed at farm labor and as opportunity offered he attended the district schools during the winter seasons, thus acquiring the education that fitted him for the transaction of business. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Judd, a native of Heath township, this county, who died in 1882, at the age of twenty years. She left one son, Glenn B., who is a car inspector for the Pere Marquette Railroad Company.

After losing his first wife Mr. Reynolds removed to his present farm, which was then owned and occupied by his mother, and here he has since resided. The place comprises forty acres of good land on section 19, Trowbridge township, and has been greatly improved by the present owner. He has recently erected a fine barn and has set out a peach orchard of seven hundred trees, making fruit the special feature of his farming. His entire time is devoted to the improvement of this place and it gives every evidence of his care and supervision.

In 1901 Mr. Reynolds was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Richendy Elizabeth (Everett) Ross Bush, who was born in Suffolk, England, March 15, 1854, and when six months old was taken by her parents to Auburn, New York. She was married in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Theodore Ross, by whom she had five children. She afterward married Sylvanus Bush, of Bloomingdale, Michigan, by whom she had one child. She is a daughter of John H. and Richendy (Jackson) Everett, both natives of Suffolk, England. The mother died in Auburn, New York, at the age of thirty-five years, while the father's death occurred in Chicago in 1903, at the very remarkable old age of one hundred and four years. He was

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

married twice and had sixteen children by his first wife and one by the second wife, Mrs. Reynolds being a twin.

Mr. Reynolds takes a public-spirited interest in community affairs and gives his political support at the polls to the Republican party, but has never sought or desired office for himself, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success.

JAMES ALMOND, who since 1877 has made his home on section eight, Trowbridge township, and has placed the greater part of the improvements upon the farm, was born in Yorkshire, England, February 21, 1832. His parents were Samuel and Sarah (Ellis) Almond, who were likewise natives of Yorkshire, and there spent their entire lives, as had their parents before them. The mother belonged to an old family connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, but married outside of the church. The father and brothers of our subject were engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth in England. The family numbered eight children, but James Almond is the only one who ever came to the United States. Owing to business losses in the woolen manufactory caused by the falling off of trade owing to the Civil war in the United States, James Almond left his native country and crossed the Atlantic to America. He made his way to Michigan, and in 1877 purchased a farm of one hundred and ten acres on section 8, Trowbridge township. He still retains fifty acres of this and has sold sixty acres to his son, who afterward disposed of the property and removed to Calhoun county. Mr. Almond has made the greater part of the improve- ments upon the property and it is now an excellent farm, equipped with many modern conveniences and accessories. His entire time and attention has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and in this work he has met with a gratifying measure of success.

Mr. Almond was married in 1856 to Miss Anna Bosfield, who was born in the vicinity of her husband's birthplace in Yorkshire, England. They were the parents of five sons and three daughters when they came to the new world. They traveled life's journey together for almost a half century and were separated by the death of the wife on the 22d of August, 1905, when she was seventy-six years of age. Their children were as follows : George, who is now proprietor of a jewelry store in Winnipeg, Canada ; Fannie, the wife of Joseph Walker, of Trowbridge township: John, living in San Francisco, California; Sarah, the wife of Frank Sprague, who is connected with the postoffice in San Francisco; Fred, also living in that city ; Martha, who died at the age of fifteen years; Samuel, a resident farmer of Calhoun county, Michigan, and Stead, who is a milkman of Bat- tle Creek, Michigan.

Mr. Almond gives his political allegiance to the Democracy and has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. For the past twenty years he has served as justice of the peace and his decisions have been strictly fair and impartial, as is indicated by his long continuance in office, which is also proof of the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He holds membership in the Baptist church at Alle- gan and for twenty years has served therein as deacon. His life is honora- ble and upright, his actions manly and sincere, and he deserves and receives the good will and confidence of all who know him.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

STEPHEN ODELL is the owner of valuable farming interests in Alle- gan county and is one of the prominent and influential citizens who has been active in public life and has wielded a wide and beneficial influence in affairs relating to the county's progress and upbuilding. His life record began at Seneca Falls, in Seneca county, New York, April 30, 1835, his parents being Benajah W. and Caroline E. (Smith) Odell, natives of New York. The mother died in Ohio when her son Stephen was about thirteen years of age, and the father's death occurred in Allegan county when he was in his sixty-seventh year. By his first marriage he had seven children, and there were also seven of the second marriage.

Stephen Odell was the second in order of birth. He had one brother, Charles ()dell, who served in the Civil war, being a member of the Mechan- ics' and Engineers' Corps. When only about two years of age Stephen Odell accompanied his parents on their removal to Huron county, Ohio, the family home being established near Norwalk, where he remained until four- teen years of age, when the family home was established in Trowbridge township, Allegan county, Michigan. They settled upon a tract of wooded land near the center of the township in 1849, and our subject has since resided in this township with the exception of a period of about four and a half years spent in the Civil war. In his younger days he worked in the woods felling trees, and also in the harvest fields swinging the cradle and raking and binding the grain, all of which work was done by hand. At the time of hostilities between the north and the south he espoused the Union cause and demonstrated his loyalty by enlisting on the 9th of October, 1861, as a member of Company A, Third Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel Kel- logg, and later under Colonel Misner. He participated in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Pittsburg Landing, the Mississippi campaign to Island No. 10 and other engagements. He aided in destroying the rolling stock of the railroad between Jackson and Corinth, a distance of five hundred miles, and for two months he was absent from his regiment on account of illness. On the expiration of his first term of service he veteranized in the same company and regiment and was stationed at San Antonio, Texas, after about nine months after the close of the war, after which he was mustered out at Jackson, Michigan, in March, 1866. He returned to his home with a most creditable military record, having ever faithfully discharged the duties that devolved upon him whether in the active field of duty or on guard duty.

When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Odell returned to Allegan county and resumed farming in Trowbridge township. At one time he spent five years in the village of Allegan in order to educate his children in the town schools, and while there residing conducted a feed business. For twenty-three years, however, he has resided on his present farm on section 20, Trowbridge township. The place comprises eighty acres on this section and also five acres on section 29, on which his dwelling stands. He had one hundred and sixty acres in this farm until he- sold a part of it to his 'son. He has owned a number of different farms in the township, buying and selling at different times and generally meeting with good profit in these ventures.

In 1864 Mr. Odell was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Fair- child, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, June 6, 1842, and who died

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

in this county November 4. 1904. She came to Michigan with her widowed mother. She was a daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Fairchild, but her father passed away in the Buckeye state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Odell have been born nine children: Mayton V., of Trowbridge township: 'Caroline E., the wife of John H. Wurtz, of Pennsylvania: Arthur, who is also living in Trowbridge township: Adelia, the wife of Clifford Russell, of the same township; Flora, at home : Ella Tyler, who died at the age of thirty-two vears : John, of Trowbridge township; Nina V., the wife of Theodore Rueault, of New Mexico, and Ernest E., at home.

In his political views Mr. Odell has been a life-long Republican since casting his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont. He has voted for each candidate at the head of the ticket since that time and has served in various local offices. For three or four terms he was highway commis- sioner, was township treasurer for one term, and for several years has been school director. In his fraternal relations he is connected with C. J. Bas- sett Post. G. A. R., of Allegan, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades, delighting in the reminiscences of field and camp life. He is looked upon as one of the respected and substantial citizens of Trowbridge township, and has a good farm and home as the result of his enterprise and untiring labor in former years. He has now passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten and is respected by all who know him.

JAMES JACKSON RUSSELL is numbered among those men of sterling worth whose activity and perseverance constitute the basis of their success, and upon these qualities he has builded his prosperity, becoming one of the substantial farmers of Trowbridge township, his home being on section 29. He was born in Potter. Yates county. New York, May 9, 1841. a son of John and Ruth Ann (Andrews) Russell. The father was born in the North of Ireland and was educated for the law. After coming to America he practiced for some time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife was born in Rhode Island, and both died before they were forty years of age. In 1844 they removed from Potter, New York, to Italy. Steuben county, that state, and afterward to Naples, New York. While living in the last mentioned place the death of the father occurred, and when nine years of age James J. Russell, of this review. came to Michigan, landing at New Baltimore in 1852. He crossed Lake Erie on a vessel known as the Buckeye State. He made the journey alone in 1852, and later was joined by his widowed mother and her family, who arrived in the fall of the same year. She died in the village of New Baltimore the following year. In the family were five children, of whom James J .. of this review, is the eldest. The others are: Ruth Ann, a resident of Saybrook, Connecticut : George M., who is engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Detroit : Spencer, who is interested in a water cure at Mount Clemens, and Henry E., who was a soldier of the Civil war. He enlisted from this state as a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, and at the time of the assassination of Lincoln stood guard over the corpse of the martyred President. On the Ist of May. 1873. Spencer B. Russell, a brother of Henry E. Russell, pur- chased the Mount Clemens Press, and Henry E. first became associated with his brother in the publication of the paper, the association being main-

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

tained until 1888. In September, 1895, Henry Russell established the Mount Clemens Advertiser, but afterward sold out. In 1889 he and W. J. Morris made the first experiment on a daily paper in Mount Clemens by beginning the issue of what was then called the Remny Leader and is now the Daily Leader. Mr. Russell retired from the business at a later date. In 1903 with several others he took up the Advertiser and issued a daily publication for some time. He was not only a practical printer, but was an editor and writer of superior ability. He was born in Yates county, New York, January 18, 1849, and died April 12, 1906.

James Jackson Russell, whose name introduces this record, has been dependent upon his own resources from the early age of nine years. Com- ing alone to Michigan, as before stated, he worked in Macomb county upon a farm at four dollars per month and for two winters attended school in that county. In 1859 he came to Allegan county by boat, landing at the mouth of the Kalamazoo river. He spent the winter in that locality and went to work at a wage of thirteen dollars per month in the Dutcher lumber mill. He was employed there at different periods until he became head sawyer at a wage of four dollars per day. He sailed on the lakes in the summer and worked in the mills in the winter months, thus alternating for three or four years. He was married in 1863 and for two years afterward continued to work in the mill. In 1864 he came to Trowbridge township and purchased one hundred and fifty-seven acres of land, upon which he lived for a year. He then returned to the lumber woods in order to obtain ready money that might be used in carrying on his farmwork. He came to his present farm in 1873 and has resided here continuously since, having sixty-five acres of land which is pleasantly located on Lake Emerson and the Paw Paw road. About twenty acres were cleared when it came into his possession. He cleared the remainder, erected the buildings thereon and has transformed it into a rich and productive farm. The land was originally covered with fine black walnut and white wood timber. Emerson Lake is a fine summer resort, and in addition to cultivating his fields Mr. Russell conducts a boat livery and has a fine grove and picnic grounds upon his place. He also entertains summer boarders and this branch of his business is proving to him a gratifying source of income.

On the Ist of August, 1863. Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Juliette Kent, who was born in South Hero, Vermont, August 8, 1842, and came to Watson, Michigan, when seven years of age, while two years later she removed to Allegan county in company with her parents, James W. and Ann S. (Allen) Kent. Her father was a native of Plattsburg, New York, born February 16, 1814. He followed the blacksmith's trade from the age of nineteen years until his demise, which occurred January 26, 1885. His wife was born at Grand Isle, Vermont, March 13, 1810, and died in this county, October 25, 1869. She was a descendant of one of seven brothers of Scotch birth, who came to the United States in colonial days and was a relative of Colonel Ethan Allen, the distinguished leader of the Green Mountain boys in the Revolutionary war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kent were born seven children: Sylva, now deceased; Eunice; William, who died at the age of two years; Mrs. Russell; James W., of Allegan ; Mrs. Amanda Gates, of Monterey, and David, of Trowbridge township. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Russell has been blessed with four children:

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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

Annie, who died at the age of one year : Eveline, who died when four years of age : Frank E., who is living in Almond, Michigan, and Myrtle M., the wife of Arthur Newton, of Trowbridge township.

In his political affiliation Mr. Russell is a Republican and has served as drain commissioner for two years. His wife is a member of the Chris- tian church and he assisted in building the house of worship and contributes to the support of the church. Starting out in life empty-handed when but a lad of nine years, he has made steady progress toward the goal of pros- perity and owes his success entirely to his own labors and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. The years brought him earnest, arduous labor, but he persevered in his undertakings, proved his ability and worth to all by whom he was employed and gradually made advancement until he was enabled to purchase and improve a farm of his own. He now has a good property in Trowbridge township and is comfortably situated in life.

SAMUEL GAGEN STOCKDALE, who for fifteen years has owned and op- erated the farm on which he now resides on section 9, Trowbridge township, has, during this period, converted it from a tract of wild land into fields of rich fertility and productiveness. He is a native son of Eng- land and came to Allegan county when eight years of age. He was born in Norfolk, England, November 6, 1863. a son of Charles Stockdale, who was also born there. He came to Michigan with his family about 1871 and · purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Otsego township, together with a house and twelve acres of land near the Otsego school. He followed farming throughout his entire life. In his native country he had operated three hundred acres of rented land for a number of years and he brought with him to America about seventeen thousand dollars, which he had made from his farming interests in the old world. He lived only about three years after coming to this country and died at the age of forty- five. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Gagen, and was a na- tive of Norfolk, England, died at that place when her son Samuel was but six years of age. In the family were eight children : Elizabeth and Joseph, both deceased : Mrs. Lottie Welch, of Trowbridge township: Mrs. Rachel Hover, of the same township: Mrs. Mary Wade, of Grand Rapids: Sam- uel, Mrs. Rebecca Dwam, of Minnesota, and Charles, of this township.

Samuel G. Stockdale, reared in England to the age of eight years, then accompanied his father to the new world and at his father's death came to Trowbridge township to live with William Hemmitt. After a few years he began working by the month as a farm hand and later went to Nebraska. where he spent six years on a cattle ranch, returning to Allegan county in [886. He then went to live on the old home place in Otsego township and fifteen years ago came to his present farm on section 9. Trowbridge township. It was mostly covered with stumps when he took it and today it is a well improved farm with good buildings and well tilled fields-visi- ble proof of his life of activity and energy.

Mr. Stockdale was married March 31, 1888, to Jennie Fisher, who was born in Jackson county, Michigan, January 21, 1866. a daughter of David and Olive (Van Nest) Fisher, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Hillsdale county. Michigan. Mr. Fisher died at Grand Rapids,

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Michigan, and his wife at Kalamazoo. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale have been born five children: Flossie Olive, Mary, Joseph, Rachel and David, all yet at home. The parents are highly esteemed in the community where they reside and their friends are many. Mr. Stockdale votes with the Re- publican party and is a public-spirited citizen, interested in the general wel- fare to the extent of giving helpful aid to many measures which have for their basic element the good of the community at large.

CLYDE TOWNSHIP.

E. P. JAMES, a well known and respected citizen of Fennville, is living a quiet and retired life in that place, after a career of usefulness and indus- try, the last twenty-eight years having been spent as a resident of Clyde township.

Mr. James' birth occurred in 1832, in Ohio, where he lived seven years, and the family then moved to Indiana, where he was reared and where he received his education. There he lived up to the time of his removal to Michigan, which happened in 1878. Preceding this date he was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Pratt, a native of Indiana, who was born there in January, 1840. Out of a family of nine children they have but six re- maining : Mary E., born in May, 1863: Lulu, born in 1866; Dolly B., March, 1871 ; Bell, January, 1874: John, October, 1877, and Jesse, born in July, 1881.

Our subject is a son of James R. and Livina ( Ward) James, who were . the parents of twelve children, three of whom are now living, namely. John. Benjamin and E. P.

During the dark days of the Civil war our subject moved by a spirit of patriotism and loyalty to the flag of the Union, became a volunteer soldier in the Army of the North, enlisting February 16, 1864. as a private in Com- pany H. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and during his period of service participating in the following battles: Resaca, Altoona Pass, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, Burnt Hickory, Franklin, Nash- ville, and some minor engagements. He was overcome by the heat while in the army but was fortunate in returning to his home unwounded and without having at any time been taken prisoner.

Mr. James had five brothers in the service of the north: Benjamin F., captain of Company H. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; Reuben, first lieutenant in Company G. of the same regiment ; Zebedee, an orderly in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana : John, an orderly sergeant of Company H, same regiment, and Joseph, a musician. He had also two brothers-in-law and three nephews in the Federal army. His father, James R., was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his grandfather. Zebedee, fought in the War of the Revolution. Such a war record is as re- markable as it is rare, and Mr. James may well be proud of his association with a family that has contributed so many men to their country's defense. to say nothing of his own military record, which ended with his honorable discharge in 1865.

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A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan, Part 67

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 808

Author: Thomas, Henry Franklin, 1843-1912
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 808