USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 42
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Alexander Taylor was reared upon a farm and attended school at Elgin. Scotland, his native place. The labor of the fields claimed his attention in his later youth and early manhood, and in 1866, hoping to enjoy better business privileges in the new world, he crossed the Atlan- tic to the United States and located in Will county, Illinois, where he began contracting for timber. In 1875 he came to Michigan. settling in Marcellus, and here entered into partnership with A. S. Hunt in the sawmill business, under the firm style of Hunt & Taylor. This was continued for a year, at the end of which time he purchased his partner's interest and admitted Alexander Doig to a partnership. That association was also maintained for a year. The firm of Hunt & Tay- lor lost heavily through a fire before Mr. Taylor formed his partnership with Mr. Doig, whom he later bought out. continuing the business alone for about fifteen years. During his partnership with Mr. Doig, how- ever. a boiler exploded, killing three men and injuring Mr. Taylor. He purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres at Marcellus. consti- tuting one of the best properties of the county, and for a number of
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years his attention has been given to its supervision without other busi- ness interests, save that he is executor of the large estate of J. F. Goff. . In 1876 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Beck. a daughter of Levi and Catherine Beck and a native of Indiana. Her father was a tailor by trade and was the owner of considerable land in Marcellus township. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have become the parents of four children: Belle, who married Arthur Pyne, a professor of mu- sic in Geneva. New York: Grace, a school teacher in Minneapolis: Flor- enice, the wife of Earl B. Sill, a farmer and stock buyer of Marcellus; and Catherine, who is attending school in Marcellus.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. and Mr. Taylor belongs to the Masonic fraternity, while his political sup- port is given to the Republican party. He was appointed by the state land commissioner as appraiser of state lands, and for two terms he has served as president of the village of Marcellus. During his incumbency in that office the waterworks were built and modern reforms and im- provements were inaugurated For sixteen years he served on the city council and during that time was instrumental in establishing the village electric light plant. He has likewise been a member and director of the village school board for two terms and has been chairman of the Republican township committee, being recognized as one of the leaders of his party in this portion of the county. Coming to America when a young man, with laudable ambition to attain success, he has improved his opportunities and so directed his labors as to win a place among the enterprising citizens of the community and is now in possession of a com- fortable competence that has been acquired entirely through his well directed efforts.
J. V. BLOOD, M. D.
Dr. J. V. Blood, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Jones, is one of Michigan's native sons, his birth having oc- curred in Kent county on the 13th of February, 1879. Although a young man, he has met with enviable success equal to that of many a practi- tioner of twice his years. His father. J. M. Blood, was also a native of Kent county, Michigan, and was a son of James Blood, who was born in New York and became one of the early settlers of this state, taking up his abode in Kent county when it was a pioneer district. He was of English descent, his father having been born in England. He saw Grand Rapids grow from its infancy to its present state of development, and in the county where he lived took an active and helpful part in the work of public progress and improvement. Reared in Kent county, J. M. Blood became a prominent fruit farmer of Oceana county. Mich- igan, and carried on business successfully there for many years. He wedded Miss Sarah Angell, a native of Ohio, and they became the par- ents of two children, the daughter being Lena Rose. now the wife of Roy Morgan, of Shelby. Oceana county, Michigan.
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Dr. Blood. who was the elder of the two children, was but a young child when taken by his parents to Oceana county, where he was reared from the age of four years. He began his education in the district schools and afterward attended the high school of. Hart, from which he was graduated in the class of 1808. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he prepared for the profession as a student in Hering Homeopathic Medical College, in which he com- pleted the regular course and was graduated. He has now been prac- ticing for about four years. He located in Jones in 1905 and has built up a good practice here, having demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the many intricate and complex problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health.
Dr. Blood was married, in 1905. to Miss Marie Von Bokopf, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Von Bokopf. She was born and reared in Chicago, acquiring her education in the schools there. The young couple have gained many warm friends during their residence in Jones and the hospitality of their own pleasant home is greatly en- joyed by those who know them. Dr. Blood belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees and to the Modern Woodmen camp and is medical ex- aminer of the latter. He was assistant surgeon to Dr. R. II. Von Kotsch for Swift & Company and for Libby, McNeill & Libby, of Chicago. Dr. Von Kotsch is now a resident of Cassopolis. Dr. Blood is a mem- ber of the International Homeopathic Medical Association and also of the State Medical Society. He has a fine practice over the county and is making gratifying progress in his profession, where he has already won a wide reputation and gained the respect and confidence of his pro- fessional brethren as well.
DUANE WITHERELL.
Duane Witherell. whose residence in the county dates back to a period of early progress and improvement, was born on section 35, Poka- gon township. April 22, 1847. The traveler of today, looking over the splendidly improved farms and noting the varied business interests of the county, can scarcely realize the great change that has been wrought within a half century, and yet it is within the memory of Mr. Wither- ell and other native sons of the county when much of the land was un- cultivated and there was on every hand evidences of pioneer life. His father, Gilman Witherell, was a native of New Hampshire and in 1833 arrived in Cass county, locating in Pokagon township about 1835. He was a cooper by trade and followed that business in the early days, manufacturing barrels, which he would then haul to the Chicago mar- ket on wagons. He afterward turned his attention to farming and con- tinued in the work of tilling the soil up to the time when his life's labors were ended in death. He passed away when about sixty-eight
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years of age. while his wife died in 1868. She bore the maiden name of Mary A. Simpson and was born in New Hampshire in 1812. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, two of whom died in early youth, while Henry lost his life while defending his country in the Civil war, as a member of Company I. Fourth Michigan cavalry. George died in California, leaving Duane Witherell the only surviving member of the family.
The youngest of the five children, Duane Witherell was reared upon the old homestead and, like the others, acquired a common school education, while in the work of the farm he was carefully trained, so that he was well qualified to take charge of a farm of his own when he started out upon an independent business career. He has always lived in this county, and the days of his youth were unmarked by any event of special importance until he was seventeen years of age, when he re- sponded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in 1865 as a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer infantry. He continued with the army until the close of hostilities and then returned to his home in Pokagon township, continuing farm work there upon the old family homestead up to the time of his marriage. On June 24. 1873. he wed- ded Miss Dora Stansell, a daughter of William and Margaret Stansell. Mrs. Witherell was born in the state of New York AAugust 10. 1852, and was brought to Cass county when about five years of age. At the time of their marriage the young couple located on a farmi about a mile and a half cast of Pokagon, remaining there until 1901, when they re- moved to their present home in Pokagon township. He has been a life- long farmer and in his work displays a practical understanding of the business in all of its departments, combined with unremitting industry and energy that never flags. The farm comprises three hundred and fifty acres of rich and valuable land in Pokagon township, and in addi- tion to this property Mr. Witherell also owns one hundred and fifty acres in Tennessee. He is now practically retired from the active work of the farm, which he has given over to the charge of others, while he is now enjoying a well earned rest.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Witherell has been blessed with two children. Morris G. and Clarence D. The family is well known in the county and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in the regard of friends and neighbors. Mr. Witherell belongs to the Masonic lodge at Pokagon and Mrs. Witherell is a member of the East- ern Star of Dowagiac, Michigan, and he has been a life-long Republi- can. He has met with a fair measure of success in the business world and though he has never sought to figure prominently in public life his career is that of a citizen of worth who by the faithful performance of each day's duties contributes to the sum total of prosperity and progress.
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JAMES MCALLISTER.
James Mc Allister, one of the old settlers of Pokagon township living on section 29, was born upon this farm March 12, 1848. and comes of Scotch lineage. His father, John M. Mc Allister, was a native of Scotland, born in 1814, and in that country he was married to Miss Marian Forsyth, who was also a native of the land of hills and heather. They remained in that country until 1844, when, believing that he might enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, Mr. Mc- Allister came to the United States and journeyed at once into the inte- rion of the county, settling upon the farm whereon his son James now tesides. Hle secured here a wild and unimproved tract of land. but in the course of time he had developed it into good fields and he re- sided thereon until about 1870, when he went to Texas. He purchased land with the intention of locating there, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred in 1875, when he was in his sixty-first year. His widow long survived him and lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years, spending her last days upon the old homestead farm in Pokagon township. In the family were seven children, of whom the eldest two were born in Scotland, while the others were all born in Cass county.
James Mc Allister, the fifth child of his father's family, spent his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead and acquired a good Eng- lish education in the district schools. His training at farm labor was not meager and he has always given his attention to general agricult- ural purstats. He now has ninety-two acres of land on section 29. Pokagon township, and two hundred and forty acres on section 20 of the same township, so that his realty possessions are quite extensive. The land in this part of the state is rich and valuable and responds read- ily to cultivation, so that his fields are now quite productive. He votes with the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring rather to give his attention to his business affairs.
JAMES H. LEACH.
James H. Leach is proprietor of an attractive summer hotel known as Shore Acres, which stands in the midst of a valuable farm of eighty acres devoted to the cultivation of fruit and garden products. In his capacity of landlord he has become widely known and popular with many patrons and is meeting with gratifying success in his business affairs. Numbered among Penn township's native sons, he was born on the 25th of November, 1847, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state. His parents were Joshua and Matilda (Smith ) Leach. His father was born in Vermont in 1812 and on leaving New England removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Cass county, Michigan, in 1833, casting in his lot
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among the early settlers who were reclaiming the wild land and replac- ing the evidences of frontier life by the conditions which indicate im- provement and progress. He settled in Penn township, where he purchased land, upon which he turned the first furrows. In course of time he had broken the fields, had planted seed and with autumn came good crops. He cleared up a great amount of land in the county and his efforts were beneficial in the reclamation of what was once a wild and unimproved district. He died in his seventy-ninth vear. His wife, who was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Eleazer Smith, of St. Joseph county, Indiana, was sixty-five years of age at the time of her demise. In their family were eight children, of whom four are now living. James H. being the fifth child.
In taking up the personal history of James H. Leach, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known. In retrospect one can see him a farm hoy, trudging daily to school dur- ing the continuance of the sessions and afterward supplementing his early educational privileges by a course in the high school at Cassopolis. He worked in the fields upon the home farm through the summer months and after completing his education continued to assist in the farm work for some time. He afterward engaged in the grocery bus- iness in partnership with C. E. Voorhis for five years and on the expi- ration of that period sold out to his partner and went to Florida, where he laid out an orange grove of four hundred orange trees and also planted two hundred lemon trees, his place being in Hillsboro county. while his postoffice was Limona. For four years his attention was de- voted to the development of his fruit ranch in the south, and he then returned northward, locating in South Bend. Indiana, where he engaged in the operation of a planing mill and the conduct of a lumber yard, be- ing actively connected with the business for about thirteen years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Penn township, locating at his present residence on the north shore of Diamond Lake. The place is known as the J. C. Moon farm and the house is called Shore Acres. Ile has a tract of land of eighty acres and he also owns other land in the old homestead farm. He conducts the summer hotel in connection with his general farming interests and the raising of fruit, having a fine orchard, while from his fields he annually harvests good crops of grain.
On the 4th of April, 1883. Mr. Leach was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Punches, a daughter of Moses and Jane Punches. Mr. Leach votes with the Democracy and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. The family name has long figured in this county, being indelibly inscribed upon the pages of pioneer history as well as of later day progress and improvement. Mr. Leach has been watchful of bus- iness opportunities pointing to success, and has wrought along modern lines of progress. He possesses a genial manner, courteous disposition and deference for the opinion of others, which have rendered him a pop- ular citizen.
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CHARLES C. RICKERT.
Charles C. Rickert deserves mention among the old settlers of Cass county, for during sixty years he has lived within its borders. This covers the entire period of his life, his birth having occurred upon the old family homestead where he now resides on the 31st of January, 1846. The farm is situated on section 7, Calvin township, and is well improved property, which in its excellent appearance indicates the un- tiring labor and well-directed efforts of the Rickerts. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Abram and Magdalene Rickert, who on emigrating westward from Pennsylvania to Michigan settled in St. Joseph county. Their son, Leonard Rickert, father of our subject, was born in the Keystone state and accompanied his parents when they souglit a home in the middle west. About 18440 he came to Cass coun- ty, settling on the farm where his son Charles C. now resides. It was a wild and unimproved tract, but he at once began the work of trans- forming the raw prairie into productive fields. Plowing and planting were carried on and the summer sun ripened the grain and good har- vests were gathered in the autumn. He continued the work of cultivat- ing and improving his property until his death. He married Miss Margaret Ann Crawford, a native of Ohio, who came with her parents to Michigan in her girlhood days. By this marriage were born six chil- dren, one of whom died in early childhood, while five reached mature years. The father departed this life when about forty-two years of age and the mother died when fifty-six years of age.
Charles C. Rickert, the second child and eldest son in the family. was reared on the farm where he yet makes his home. . At the usual age he began his education as a student in the district schools of Calvin township, and he enjoyed the pleasures of the play-ground when not occupied with his books or the farm work. He developed a self- reliance and force of character which have been strong elements in his career. On the 25th of May, 1877, he was married to Miss Susanna Shaw, a daughter of Nathan and Marion Shaw and a native of Ohio. in which state her girlhood days were passed. At the time of his mar- riage Mr. Rickert located upon the old homestead where he has since lived, giving his attention to general farming and stock raising. He here owns one hundred and two and a half acres of good land. most of which is under cultivation and in addition he has fifty acres of tim- her land in the same township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rickert were born a daughter and son: El- len, who is now engaged in teaching in Porter township; and Charles Herman, at home, assisting in the work of the farm.
Susanna, the daughter of Nathan and Mariam Shaw. was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 25th, 1845. In 1856 she came with her parents to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph county, afterwards mov- ing to Cass county, where she resided up to the time of her death. May
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CHARLES C. RICKERT AND FAMILY.
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25th, 1897. On May 24th, 1877, she was united in marriage to Charles Rickert, who with two children, Ellen S. and C. Herman, survive her She was ever a faithful and consistent Christian, always striving to do the will of her Master and ever thoughtful for the welfare of others. She was a thorough worker in whatever she was engaged and her loss is greatly felt by all who knew her.
For almost twenty years did Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Rickert travel life's pathway together, sharing alike the joys and sorrows of life. She was an amiable wife and a loving mother. She had always stood by the side of her husband. ever ready to aid him in advice and counsel in the building up of their comfortable home. She was a de- vout member of the Friends' Church, known as Birch Lake Friends' Church, in Calvin township. Iler remains are interred in the Reams and Norton cemetery, where a beautiful stone marks her last resting place. There is a vacant chair in the home circle, and a link in the mystic chain, which cannot be again filled.
Mr. Rickert has continuously resided in Calvin township with the exception of nine months spent in Cassopolis, where he removed in order to give his children better educational privileges. His study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give his advocacy to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Friends church and his life exemplifies the teachings of that sect, which has always promulgated a spirit of kindliness, consideration, charity and righteousness. He has been identified with the upbuilding of the coun- ty through six decades, bearing his full share in the work of public progress and improvement, and is justly accounted one of the rep- resentative citizens of Cass county.
J. M. LAKE.
J. M. Lake, living on section 7, Penn township, where he owns and controls ninety-seven acres of good land, his home being known as "Stone Abitment Farm," was born in Chenango county, New York, March 23. 1842. His father, Richard Lake, was a native of the Empire state, as was the paternal grandfather of our subject. Joseph Lake, who, however, spent his last years in Michigan. He lived for some time in Cass county, where his death occurred in Niles, this state. It was in the year 1844 that Richard Lake took up his abode in Cass county, locating on section 18. Penn township. As this fact indicates, he was a farmer by occupation, his life being given to that pursuit, wherein he provided a comfortable living for his family. He married Miss Hannah Crandall, a daughter of Tanner Crandall, who was born in New York. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lake were seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Harrison H. : James M. : Charles N. : Mary, wife of Byron Sprague : Sarah J., wife of Clayton H. Sigerfoos: Rosetta, wife of B. Frank Slipper: and Emma, wife of Henry Ferrel. The father
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died in the eighty-second year of his age, while the mother lived to be about sixty years.
J. M. Lake was but two years old when brought by his parents to Michigan and upon the home farm in Penn township he was reared. At the usual age he entered the public schools and when not busy with his text books his time was given to farm labor. After leaving school per- manently he gave undivided attention to farm work on the old home- stead up to the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1873. the lady of his choice being Aliss Anna Tripp, a daughter of Chester Tripp. She was born in Barry county, Michigan, and died in 1802. leaving a little daughter, who died in 1894. Mr. Lake has a farm of ninety- seven acres, which he has improved with modern equipments and which he now rents. It is largely devoted to the production of fruit and he has five hundred trees of peaches and apples upon the place. His trees produce quite abundantly almost every season and the fruit shipped from his place yields a good financial income. Mr. Lake has been 1 resident of Cass county for sixty-four years, with the exception of one vear. which he spent in Pennsylvania, and is therefore well informed concerning the history of the county and the progress it has made from pioneer conditions to its present advanced state of cultivation and im- provement. Fle has been a life-long Democrat, interested in the growth and success of his party, and has served as school director. He for- merly belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JOSEPH C. KYLE.
Joseph C. Kyle, a veteran of the Civil war, who has been equally loyal to his country in the performance of duties that devolve upon him in connection with civic offices to which he has been called. has for many years made his home in Union, where he has long been en- gaged in painting and plastering. His birth occurred in Kosciusko county, Indiana, October 7, 1845, and is a son of Andrew and Frances S. (Jones ) Kyle, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They became the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom reached adult age. Joseph C. and Mary Cor- nelia are twins and the latter is now the wife of Henry Borne, of Ban- gor, Michigan. A brother, Alonzo R. Kyle, is living in Ellsworth, Kansas, while the other daughter, Flora .A., is the wife of Charles Nye, a resident farmer of Pokagon township. On leaving the east Andrew Kyle, the father, became one of the carly settlers of Elkhart county, Indiana, and in 1849 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He afterward returned to his native state. however, and his last days were there passed. His wife lived to be sev- enty-two years of age.
Joseph C. Kyle of this review has been a resident of Cass county from the age of three years, arriving here in 1848. He was reared in
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Porter township and was only eighteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a private of Company C. Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of hostilities and after the war returned to Union, where he engaged in painting ard plastering. He learned the trades and followed the bus- iness for thirty years. Because of his excellent workmanship many important contracts have been awarded him and his services have been in constant demand, so that he has won a good living and secured a comfortable home.
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