USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 43
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Mr. Kyle was married September 3, 1865, to Miss Malissa Brown, a daughter of Joshua and Sarah .A. ( Low) Brown, and a native of Elk- hart county, Indiana. Mr. Kyle has resided in Cass county for fifty- six years and is one of its representative citizens. His political allegiance has long been earnestly given to the Republican party, and he is now serving as a member of the board of reviews. Fraternally he is con- nected with Carter post. No. 96, G. A. R., of Union, in which he has filled some of the offices, and he also belongs to the Grange, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Freewill Baptist church, in which he takes a helpful part, serving as one of its deacons. and doing all in his power to promote the various church activities and extend its influence. Hle is widely known in his part of the county by reason of his interest and co-operation in public affairs and also on ac- count of his business connections. He has been found reliable at all times in his business career, faithfully executing his work in accordance with the terms of his contracts, and his energy, perseverance. laudable ambition and resolute purpose have been the strong and salient features of his life record.
LESLIE C. WELLS.
Leslie C. Wells, residing on section 20, Pokagon township, was born in Wayne township, Cass county, on the 8th of November. 1855. Ilis paternal grandfather. Woden Wells, was a native of Connecticut, whence he removed to New York, and at an early day he came to Mich- igan, taking up his abode in Kalamazoo county. He was of Welsh lineage. His son, Homer Wells, the father of our subject, was born in the Empire state and when a youth of ten years accompanied his parents on their removal to Kalamazoo county, where he remained until 1849, when he came to Cass county, taking up his abode in Wayne township, where he engaged in general farming. He was for many years a representative and leading agriculturist of this part of the state and his death occurred in 1904, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-three years. In politics he was a stanch and earnest Repub- lican, interested in the work of the party and doing all in his power for its growth and success. He held a number of local offices, to which he was called by his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and abil-
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ity and whe found in him a capable official. In his early manhood he wedded Miss Laura A. Reed, a native of Ohio and a daughter of A. H. and Maria ( Jennings) Reed, who went originally from Vermont to Ohio and thence came to Michigan, settling in Wayne township. Cass county. Mrs. Wells was at that time a young girl and she died when but twenty years of age.
Leslie C. Wells, the only child, remained with his father, who afterward married again, his second union being with Fannie Bever- stock. In the public schools Mr. Wells acquired his education and dur- ing the summer months aided in the farm work until seventeen years of age, when he left home, starting out upon an independent business career. Ile entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany in connection with the construction gang and in the following year he began teaching school, which profession he followed for twenty years during the winter months. He attended the Vicksburg high school during that time and he continually broadened his knowledge by reading, observation and investigation. As an educator he was capable and efficient, imparting readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired and maintaining good discipline, without which successful work is never done in the school room. During the summer months he worked at farm labor and he also spent some years in California, Wash- ington and Oregon. He likewise went to the south, passing one year in Alabama.
In 1881 Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Shookman, a daughter of Otho and Elizabeth (Wright) Shookman. She was born in Wayne township and for about fifteen years engaged in teaching school, being also one of the successful teachers of this part of the state. At the time of his marriage Mr. Wells located in La- Grange township, settling upon a part of the old homestead farm, upon which he lived for three years, when he took up his abode upon a rented farm in Silver Creek township, there living for two years. On the expiration of that period, with the money which he had managed to save from his earnings he purchased forty acres of land in LaGrange township and cultivated that place for three years. His present farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres in Pokagon township, where lie has resided for the past eight years. His farm is the visible evi- cence of his well-directed thrift and energy, for when he started out on his own account he had no capital. He has worked per- sistently and the years have brought him success, owing to his diligence and capable management. Goethe has said, "Merit and success go linked together." and the truth of this assertion is veri- fied again and again in the lives of such men as Mr. Wells, whose prosperity is attributable entirely to his own labors. In politics he is a stanch Republican, interested in the growth and success of his party. He was toreman of the first grand jury that had been convened in the
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county in forty-six years, acting in that capacity in 1905. He is : member of the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to the Modern Wood- men Camp.
WILLIAM H. GARWOOD.
The arduous task of developing and cultivating new land is one familiar to William H. Garwood, a representative farmer of Pokagon township, who in the successful management of his business interests has displayed excellent business ability, keen discernment and unfalter- ing diligence. He was born in the township where he vet resides November 3. 1846. His father, Jesse Garwood, was one of the old set- tlers of the county and was a native of Warren county, Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 15th of August, 1806. There he was reared and educated, and on leaving the Buckeye state he removed to Terre Coupe Prairie, Indiana, in 1827. He worked at the Indian mission for two summers and in 1829 he came to Pokagon township. Cass county, Michi- igan, settling on his present farm. He had located this land in 1832. It was all raw and unimproved, but he cleared sixty acres. He had two hundred and forty acres in the original tract and the arduous task of de- veloping a new farm fell to him and was successfully carried on. His marriage on the 6th of December. 1844, to Miss Rachel Prather was celebrated in this county. The lady was a native of Madison county, Indiana, born September 24, 1808, and William H. Garwood was the only child born of this marriage. The father voted with the Republican party and was the champion of many progressive measures, especially those which contributed to substantial progress and improvement. He died September 1I, 1889, while his wife passed away in 1885.
In his youth William H. Garwood worked upon the old farm homestead and cleared the entire place save the sixty acres which his father brought under cultivation. At his father's death he took posses- sion of the entire farm and has since been one of the representative agriculturists of the community, giving undivided attention to the fur- ther improvement of his property. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance and the fields annually return to him golden harvests.
On the 21st of November, 1866, Mr. Garwood was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucinda F. Demmons, a native of Michigan, born on the 23d of November, 1844, and a daughter of Alanson Demmons, who was a farmer by occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Garwood have been born nine children, of whom six are deceased. Those living are : Aman- son WV., on his father's estate: Dwight, in Kansas City, Missouri ; and Blanch, wife of Charles Phillips, of Pokagon. All were born upon the old homestead farm.
Mr. Garwood is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also be- longs to the Woodmen camp at Pokagon. In politics a Democrat, he takes an active part in the local work of the party, served as supervisor
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for two years and was also township treasurer for two years. His ef- forts in behalf of public progress have been effective and beneficial and his support can always be counted upon to further any movement for the general good. He has spent his entire life in Pokagon township and as a native son and pioneer settler of Cass county well deserves repre- sentation in this volume, while his genuine worth entitles him to the confidence and good will which are uniformly given him by his fellow townsmen.
C. DELIVAN McCOY.
One does not have to carry his investigations far into the history of Cass county without learning that the McCoy family became iden- tifiedi with pioneer progress at an early day. Upon the old farm home- stead C. Delivan McCoy was born on the 13th of November, 1852. He is a son of Richard McCoy, who is represented on another page of this work. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the labors of the fields as he assisted in the work of plow- ing, planting and harvesting. To the public school system of the neigh- horhood he is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed.
In November, 1875. he was married to Miss Estella Hartzel, a na- tive of Pokagon, born July 28. 1859. She was reared in Pokagon township, and is a daughter of Simon Hartzel, one of the early settlers of Cass county, who, coming to this section of the state, gave his atten- tion to farming interests and aided in the work of public progress and improvement. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have become the parents of eight children, two sons and six daughters: Lena, now the wife of Henry Silvers: Ida and Charles, at home: Ella. the wife of William Stewart, of Dowagiac. Michigan: Hattie, the wife of Harry Walworth: Minnie and Cecil, at home ; and Clyde, deceased.
When the time came that Mr. McCoy should make choice of a life work he determined to follow the pursuit to which he had heen reared, and he has therefore always remained upon the old homestead, where he has one hundred acres of land. the greater part of which is under cultivation. This place was cleared and improved by the Me- Coy family and the subject of this review is carrying on the farm work in keeping with the generil spirit of advancement that has been char- acteristic of the MeCoys since the family home was first established in this county.
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.
Alexander Robertsin, following the occupation of farming on sec- tim 27. l'okagon township, is a native of the Empire state, his birth Irving occurred in Argyle, Washington county, New York, on the 3d of March. 1826. His father, Archibald Robertson, was likewise a na- tive of Washington county, born in Cambridge in 1784, and in that state he was reared, becoming a farmer by occupation. Ile was mar- lied in Washington county to Miss Amy Robertson, who was born in
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New York in 1787, and remained a resident of that state until her death, which occurred in 1852. . Unto Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Rob- ertson were born nine children, five sons and four daughters: William, Peter C., Martha, Mary, Archibakl, John, Joanna and Elizabeth, all deceased ; and Alexander, who is the youngest and only surviving mem- ber of the family. All were born and reared in Washington county, New York. The mother died in Onondaga county, that state. In Feb- ruary, 1854, the father emigrated westward to Cass county, Michigan, settling in Pokagon township on the farm which is now the home of his son Alexander. Here he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred June 28. 1867. His early political alle- giance was given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new Republican party.
Alexander Robertson obtained his education in the public schools of New York and worked upon the home farm there until twenty-seven years of age, when he came with his family to Michigan. He had been married in the Empire state on the 13th of March, 1850, to Miss Mary E. Briggs, a native of Wayne county, New York, born June 20, 1827. She was reared in New York and was a daughter of William and Rox- anna (Ely) Briggs, who were farming people. After his marriage Mr. Robertson remained for four years in New York and was a teacher in that state for a long period, becoming actively connected with the profession when seventeen years of age. After his arrival in Michigan he taught school for two years at Summerville and was also a teacher in LaGrange township for two terms, while in the winter of 1874-5 he taught the village school at Pokagon. He was thus closely associated with the intellectual development of the community and ever upheld a high standard of education and public instruction. His fitness for lead- ership being recognized by his fellow citizens he was elected to the state legislature in 1872 upon the Republican ticket and served as a mem- ber of the house for two years. He has been a life-long Republic'in, taking an active and helpful interest in the local work of the party and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He has been a member of the school board since living in the county and the cause of public instruction has indeed found in him a warm and able champion. He was township supervisor for eight years during the war and subsequent to that time. At his father's death he took pos- session of the old homestead of eighty acres, to which he has since added a similar tract, so that he now owns and operates a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which annually returns to him an excel- lent income.
By his first marriage Mr. Robertson had eight children, a son and seven daughters, namely : Eudora, deceased : Ella Evangeline: Ida E. : Harriet and Ann, both deceased: Amy L .: Martha, who has passed away: and Frank A. Two of the children were born in New York and the others upon the old homestead farm in Pokagon town-
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ship after the removal of the family to this county. The wife and mother died March 22, 1874, and several years later, on the 24th of April, 1883. Mr. Robertson was married to Mrs. Uzziel Putnam, the widow of Uzziel Putnam. the first white child born in Cass county, his natal day being in August, 1826. Mrs. Robertson is a native of Gales- burg, Illinois. Both our subject and his wife are esteemed by a large circle of friends and he is numbered among the pioneer settlers of the county, having cast in his lot with its early residents. From that time to the present he has been a champion of progressive public measures and has rejoiced in what has been accomplished in the county as the changes have been wrought that have transformed it from a pioneer region into one of rich fertility, bearing all the evidences of an ad- vanced civilization.
JOSEPH LYBROOK.
Joseph Lybrook is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty-five aeres on section 22, LaGrange township, and in addi- tion to this property he also has forty acres on section 32 of the same township and is one of the stockholders in the creamery. His business interests are characterized by close application and unfaltering diligence, which constitute the basis of all desirable success. He seems to have realized fully that "there is no excellence without labor" and has ex- emplified this adage in his life work. It was upon the farm where he now resides that he first opened his eyes to the light of day, his birth occurring on the 22nd of November, 1845. The name "Lybrook" as now spelled was in the original German text spelled "Leibroch." The grandfather, Henry Leibroch, was born in Virginia, April 2, 1755, and died August 22, 1839. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and many times saw General Washington. Mr. Lybrook has in his possession an old passport, dated February 27, 1787, given Henry Leibroch, which is written in a beautiful copper plate handwriting. He also has four of the parchment deeds bearing the following dates of execution : two on November 10, 1830. February 8, 1831 and April 1. 1831, and these deeds are all signed by President Andrew Jackson and are valuable as relies.
John Lybrook, father of Joseph, was a native of Giles county, Vir- ginia. born October 25, 1798, and in 1811 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Preble county, Ohio. In 1823 he came to Mich- igan, making the journey in order to assist Squire Thompson in his re- moval to this state. When he made the start he intended going only fifty or sixty miles, but he continued with him on the journey until Cass county was reached. On the last day of December of the same year he started back on foot to Ohio accompanied by a young man of the name of Eaton. They first camped near where Mishawaka now stands, and from that point Mr. Lybrook continued on his way to Fort Wayne. where he procured assistance for the return trip. His partner had his
Joseph Lybrook
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foot frozen about that time and Mr. Lybrook endured many hardships and much exposure in his endeavor to reach his home, but eventually the journey was completed. However, he had become interested in the western country and its possibilities for development, and in 1824 he came once more to Michigan, bringing with him some cattle. In the spring of 1825 he planted eleven acres of corn in what was known as the Second Field below Niles. He afterward returned to Ohio with a yoke of oxen hitched to the back wheels of a lumber wagon. In the following spring, however, he returned to Michigan, bringing with hiim a barrel of wheat, which was the first wheat sown in southwestern Michigan. In the spring of 1828 he removed to the farm where Joseph Lybrook now resides, and there continued to make his home until his death. It was wild and unimproved land when it came into his posses- sion and he turned the first furrows upon the place and planted the first crops. In course of time he had transformed this into a valuable property, which he continued to cultivate with success for many years. He gave his support to the Democracy during the greater part of his life, save that lie voted for William Henry Harrison. He passed away May 25, 1881, and the county thus lost one of its most prominent and honored pioneer settlers-a citizen who from the earliest epoch in the history of this section of the state had been identified with its improve- ment. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Hurd and was a native of England, whence she came to America at the age of seven years. She was born in 1821, became a resident of Michigan in 1836 and died January 25, 1903. at the very advanced age of eighty-two years. In the family of this worthy couple were two sons and a daughter, but Henry died in Oklahoma and AArminda is also deceased, leaving Joseph as the only surviving member of the family.
Joseph Lybrook was the second child and has spent his entire life upon the farm where he now lives, covering a period of more than six- ty years. When a boy he took his place in the fields, and as his age and strength permitted he assisted more and more largely in the work of the home farm and has since been identified with the growth and de- velopment of the county. He has in his home place one hundred and eighty-five acres of land, and also forty acres on section 32. LaGrange township. Ilis home farm is under a high state of cultivation and the fields are improved with modern machinery, while the work is carried on along the most progressive lines. He is also owner of stock in the creamery. His political support has been given to the Democracy. . A worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, he has carried for- ward the work which was hegun by his father and the name of Lybrook has thus long been closely associated with the substantial improvement and development of Cass county.
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CLIFFORD L. TAYLOR.
Clifford L. Taylor, a farmer and breeder of registered Poland China hogs, being proprietor ot the Round Oak herd, makes his home on section 34, Pokagon township. Hle is a native son of the middle west and in his life has exemplified the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the rapid and substantial improvement of the upper Mississippi valley. His birth occurred in Grant county. Wis- consin, on the 17th of April, 1852. His father, James W. Taylor, also a farmer by occupation, was a native of New York state, born in 1828. and about 1846 he became a resident of Wisconsin, settling on a farm there. In 1800 he left that state and with his family removed to Water- loo, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming and also in operating a threshing machine. After three years he left Iowa and took his family to Indiana, settling thirteen miles south of the city of South Bend. There he contracted with the well known Studebaker firm and cleared a farm of thirty acres of land. On leaving Indiana he took up his abode at Niles, Michigan, where he was again engaged in farming, and in 1871 he located in Pokagon township. Cass county, where he rented the old Garrett Stancel farm of one hundred and five acres. Eventually. however, he removed to Nebraska, where he has remained to the pres- ent time. In his political views he is an earnest Republican. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom Clifford L. is the eldest. Three of the number are now deceased.
Clifford L. Taylor accompanied his parents on their various re- movals until they went to Nebraska. Continuing a resident of Cass county he rented his present farm from the estate of Jacob White, hay- ing charge of one hundred acres of land. He remained upon this place for thirteen years, carrying on general farming, and in 1889 he removed to Dowagiac, where he became connected with the Colby Milling Com- pany, hauling flour and feed. He remained for two years, after which he returned to the farm on section 34. Pokagon township. In 1898 he legan raising registered hogs and has nude a success of this venture. having to-day some of the finest animals that can be found in the coun- try.
On the 15th of October, 1874. Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Addie A. White, a native of Indiana, born August 15, 1856, and a daughter of Jacob and Julia A. White, who were farming people of Steuben county, Indian. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania, horn in 1838. Following the removal of the family to Cass county they remained upon the farm where Mr. Taylor now resides until the death of Mr. White in 1889. Mrs. White is still living upon this place. In the family of this worthy couple were three children, a son and two daughters, namely: Mrs. Taylor: Chandler, who died in infancy; and Libbie May, who was born in 1871 and is living in Pokagon township, the wife of Jonathan L. Dillman. Mrs. Taylor was nine years of age
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when she accompanied her parents on their removal to Cass county, and here she was reared and educated. She has become the mother of two children. but the daughter, Bessie May, born January 30, 1886, died on the 22d of February, 1888. The son, Carl J., was born in this county May 2. 1803.
Mr. Taylor has been a lifelong Republican, giving unfaltering ad- vocacy to its men and measures. He belongs to Round Oak camp. No. 1107, M. W. A., at Dowagiac, and is a member of Crystal Springs, No. 325. I. O. O. F., at Pokagon. His business interests are capably con- ducted and he is numbered among the substantial agriculturists and breeders of Poland China hogs in this part of the state.
WILLIAM H. MCCOY.
William H. McCoy, who follows farming in Pokagon township. was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, in that district then known as Montgomery county, on the 22d of April, 1831. His father, Richard McCoy. was one of the old pioneer settlers of this state, and he, too, was a farmer by occupation. His birth occurred in Virginia, and when he had reached manhood he was married to Miss Maria Sifford, a na- tive of the Old Dominion. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy came to Cass county when the work of progress and improvement had scarcely been begun in this portion of the state, and they shared with others in the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life and aided in reclaiming this district for the use of civilization. In their family were six sons and six (laughters, of whom William H. is the eldest son and third child. Four of the children are now deceased, two having died in infancy. All were reared and educated in Cass county, and those who still survive are farining people. The elder members of the household were students in the old-time log schoolhouses. The father first located with Henry Sifford at Summerville, where he spent a few months, and in the fol- lowing spring he removed to a farm of about eighty acres on section 27. Pokagon township. This, was all raw and wild land, not a furrow hav- ing been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but he at once began to clear and cultivate the fields and with the help of his sons brought the farm to a high state of cultivation. As his financial resources increased he also added to his original holdings, being the owner of a valuable farm property of three hundred and twenty acres in Pokagon township at the time of his death, upon which he resided until 1852, when he started on the return trip to Virginia, but while en route was taken ill and died within fifty miles of his destination. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, earnest and active in support of the party.
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