USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 68
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with many modern improvements, including the best machinery for plowing, pianting and harvesting. In his work he is practical and me- thodical and his labors have been so carefully directed that a gratifying measure of prosperity has attended him. His farm comprises two hun- dred acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and it is appropriately named Brookside farm.
In 1872 Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Olive M. Hull, a daughter of Isaac and Maria Hull. They have become the parents of one daughter and one son, but the former, Minnie, died when only three years of age. The son. T. Mckinnon Walker, an accomplished pianist, is at home.
Mr. Walker has taken an active interest in public affairs and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his fitness for positions of public trust, have called him to a number of offices. He has served as township clerk, occupying that position while in Vandalia and for three terms has been township treasurer in Calvin township. The cause of educa- tion finds in him a stalwart friend and all matters for the general good receive his endorsement and co-operation. He has been justice of the peace for about sixteen years, rendering decisions which are strictly fair and impartial and he always votes with the Republican party. Fra- ternally he is connected with Albert Anderson Post, No. 258, G. A. R., at Cassopolis, and has filled some of the offices in that order. Through- out his entire life he has manifested the same spirit of loyalty which prompted his enlistment for service in the Civil war.
WILLIAM H. COULTER.
William H. Coulter, a grain dealer of Cassopolis, was born in Howard township. this county, on the Ioth of October, 1842. He is a son of James Coulter and a grandson of John Coulter, the latter a native of Ireland, who served as a soldier in the Irish rebellion. He came to America in 1798, becoming the founder of the family in the new world, establishing his residence in Cincinnati, where he was married. At a later date he removed to Clinton county. Ohio, and in 1834 he came to Cass county, Michigan, locating over seven hundred acres of land in Howard township. The journey was made with an ox team and John Coulter cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of this part of the state. Few improvements had been made as yet, the greater part of the land being still in its primitive condition, while the forests were uncut, the streams unbridged and the sod unturned upon the prairies.
James Coulter, father of our subject, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on coming to Cass county in 1835 located in Howard township. He was then a young man and he bore his full share in the work of early improvement and progress here. After two years he returned to his native state and was then married, after which he brought his bride back to Howard township, where he spent his remaining days, there
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developing and improving a good farm. He was an active supporter of the Republican party and held various local offices. His early politi- cal allegiance, however, was given to the Democracy, and he voted for Franklin Pierce, but in 1856 he cast his ballot for John C. Fremont, the first presidential candidate of the new Republican party. In the Methodist Episcopal church he was a very earnest and active worker and in Howard township he erected a house of worship, which is still standing. He died in his sixty-sixth year, and his loss was deeply re- gretted by many friends, for all with whom he had come in contact knew him to be a man of sterling integrity, of steadfast purpose and of unquestioned honor. He married Miss .Ann Wilson, a native of Clin- ton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Amos Wilson, also of the same county. Her father was a Baptist minister and was of Welsh descent. Mrs. Coulter lived to be eighty-three years of age. In the family were seven children, all of whom were born in Howard township, Cass county, and of this number two sons and two daughters are yet living, namely : Margaret, the wife of Ephraim White, who is living upon the old Coul- ter homestead in Howard township: John, a prominent politician and farmer, who resides in the same township: William H., of this review ; and Sarah A., the wife of James Douglas, of Marion, Indiana.
Mr. Coulter is the sixth child and youngest son in the family. No. event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth. He was reared upon the old family homestead in Howard township and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the stock. He resided upon the farm until 1892. when he was elected sheriff of Cass county and the same year took up his abode in Cassopolis. Following the expiration of his term of service he made a trip to California. where he remained from January until April, enjoying the mild climate and the beauties of that sunny land. He thien returned to his farm in Howard township, where he again lived for two years, when he once more took up his abode in Cassopolis. Here he turned his attention to the grain trade in company with James Johnson, which partnership continued for a year, since which time Mr. Coulter has had different partners. He is now associated with Jolin Atkison under the firm style of Coulter & Atkison, grain ship- pers. He has done quite a large business and has thereby provided an excellent market for local producers. He deals in grain, produce and coal and has a large patronage, so that he makes extensive sales an- nually. He also owns a farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in Jefferson township, which is valuable and productive land and returns to him a good income.
Mr. Coulter was united in marriage on the 4th of January. 1866, to Miss Abigail Vary, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Rogers) Vary, who was born in Oneida county. New York, near Rome and came to Cass county in 1860 when she was twelve years of age. She died in 1893 during her husband's incumbency in the office of sheriff, and on the
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3rd of January, 1895. Mr. Coulter was again married, his second union being with Addie Smith, a daughter of D. B. and Charlotte Smith. They have no children of their own, but have adopted a daughter, Maria W. Mr. Coulter has ever manifested the interest of a public spirited citizen in all matters relating to the general welfare, and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He desires general advancement and improvement along lines of permanent good, and in his views relating to the public welfare he is practical as well as progressive. He holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee and in the work of which he takes an active and helpful part.
DAVID CLARENCE THICKSTUN.
David Clarence Thickstun, a well known dealer in limber and coal itt Cassopolis, was born in Cassewago, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of May, 1850. His father. David Thickstun, was a native of the same locality and was a farmer by occupation. His death oc- curred at the place of his nativity when he was about sixty years of age. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Nancy Erwin, was also a native of Crawford county, where she died when fifty-seven years of age. In their family were six children, who reached adult age.
David C. Thickstun, the youngest, was reared under the parental roof, remaining at home until twenty-three years of age, when, think- ing that he might have better business opportunities in the middle west, he made his way to Lapeer, Michigan, where he secured a position as bookkeeper in the employ of J. L. Beringer & Company, dealers in lum- ber. He continued with that house until his removal to Cassopolis to take charge of a branch lumber yard here. After two years he was admitted to a partnership in the business in Cassopolis by Mr. Beringer, this relationship being maintained for about two years, when he pur- chased his partner's interest. being alone in business until 1905. when he admitted his son-in-law. Frank E. Arnold, to a partnership under the firm style of Thickstun & Arnold. Mr. Thickstun has now been engaged in the lumber business in Cassopolis for twenty-seven years and is one of the best known and most prominent business men of the town, hav- ing a liberal patronage, which is accorded him in recognition of his straightforward and honorable dealing, his reasonable prices and his earnest efforts to please his customers.
Mr. Thickstun married Miss Hattie May Rogers, a daughter of Stilman M. Rogers, who was born in Mexico, New York. Her mother hore the maiden name of Sarah Runkle and was a native of Paterson. New Jersey. Mr. Rogers departed this life at the age of fifty-seven vears and his wife when fifty-eight years of age. They were the par- ents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Thick- stun is the youngest. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two
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daughters: Elnora, the wife of Frank E. Arnold, who is engaged in business with her father; and Irma, the wife of Vernon Tourje, who is abstract clerk in the Grand Trunk freight office at Durand, Michigan.
In his political affiliation Mr. Thickstun is a Democrat, while fra- ternally he is a prominent Mason. He has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and commandery, is also a member of the Mystic Shrine and belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and also to an organization of lumbermen, the Hoo Hoos. He has been a represen- tative of the lumber trade in Michigan for over thirty years and is thor- oughly informed concerning the business in all its departments. He has from the beginning of his residence in Cassopolis enjoyed a con- stantly increasing trade and his excellent business qualifications and en- terprise combined with strong purpose and unfaltering diligence have constituted the source of his prosperity. He found in the middle west the business opportunities he sought, and by the improvement of his advantages made steady progress until he is now classed with the sub- stantial and prosperous residents of Cass county.
JONATHAN H. RENCH.
Jonathan H. Rench, formerly identified with agricultural interests and now a well known resident of Cassopolis, was born in Clark county, Ohio, January 10, 1842. His father, Daniel Rench, was a native of the Buckeye state and came to Cass county in 1856. Two years after- ward he removed to Calhoun county, Michigan, where his remaining days were passed. He was a farmer and miller, devoting his entire life to the milling business, while in Ohio and in Michigan he gave his atten- tion to the tilling of the soil. His father was of a Pennsylvania Dutch family. Daniel Rench reached the advanced age of seventy-seven years ere he was called to his final rest in Calhoun county. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Williams, was a native of Ohio and died in Calhoun county, Michigan, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. In their family were twelve children, of whom two passed away in childhood. while ten reached mature years and seven are now living.
Jonathan H. Rench is the ninth child in his father's family and was sixteen years of age when he came to Cass county. Here he began working by the month as a farm hand and he has since been dependent upon his own resources, so that he may well be termed a self-made man, who as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well. It was about the time of his arrival in Cass county that he cast his first presidential vote supporting the Democratic nominee for presi- clent and he has never failed to vote at a presidential election since that time.
In 1863 Mr. Rench was united in marriage to Miss Percilla J. Thorp, a daughter of Laben and Lydia (Reams) Thorp, who came to Cass county at an early epoch in its development. Mrs. Rench was
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born in Jefferson township, Cass county, on the 4th of January, 1846, and has spent her entire life here. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rench located on a farm in Jefferson township, their home being a log house in which they lived in pioneer style. He continued farming there for about ten years, when he removed to Cassopolis and for a time was in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany. Later, however, he turned his attention to the butchering busi- ness, which he followed for eleven years, at the end of which time he invested his capital in fifty-five acres of land about a mile and a quarter south of Cassopolis. There he carried on farming, but at a more recent date he sold the property and now lives just outside the corporation limits of Cassopolis. His life has been active, his years characterized by enterprise and diligence and he is now in possession of a comfortable competence which has come to him through his own labors.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rench have been born four children: Capitola, now the wife of H. D. Badgley, of Cassopolis: Grant, who is living in Battle Creek, Michigan: Verna, the wife of S. S. Albright, of Sacra- mento, California : and Delpha, who is at home. Mr. Rench has been a lifelong Democrat, and for fourteen years he has filled the office of supervisor of roads. He belongs to the Knights of Maccabees fratern- ity, and has a wide acquaintance in Cass county, where for forty-nine years he has made his home, taking an active and helpful interest in its public affairs. He has rejoiced in what has been accomplished as the conditions of pioneer life have been done away with through the efforts of the enterprising citizens in behalf of general improvement and ad- vancement. He has never sought to figure prominently in official cir- cles, but has been content to perform his daily duty and found in lahor the reward which has made him one of the substantial citizens of his community, now enabling him to live a retired life.
ZADOK JARVIS.
Few residents of Cass county have resided longer within its bor- dlers than has Zadok Jarvis, who for almost seventy-three years has been a citizen here, watching with interest its growth and development as great changes have occurred. He has been a witness of its various transition stages as the evidences of pioneer life were replaced by the indications of a more advanced civilization and as the county has taken on all of the improvements of our modern day prosperity and progress. His mind goes back to the time when Cassopolis was but a small village and other cities of the county had not yet sprung into existence or were buit mere hamlets. He remembers where there were great stretches of forest where now are seen fields of waving grain, for much of the land at that time was still in possession of the government and only here and there was a little cabin to indicate that the work of clearing and development had been begun. There was much hard labor to be done
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in those early days, for the improved farm machinery of the present time was unknown and much of the work had to be done by hand. Few of the household comforts now so common were then enjoyed, but there was a spirit of hospitality abroad in pioneer districts that made those early liones notable. As a representative pioneer settler Mr. Jar- vis certainly deserves mention in this volume.
He was born four miles south of Richmond in Wayne county, In- diana, on the 15th of December, 1827, a son of Zadok and Lucy (Owens) Jarvis, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, born in Rowan county. After living for some time in Indiana the father came with his family to Cass county in 1833, locating first in LaGrange town- ship. He was a lifelong farmer, always following that occupation in order to provide for those dependent upon him for support. In many ways he was identified with the improvement and upbuilding of the county and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been builded the present superstructure of progress and prosperity. He voted with the Democracy, was fearless in support of his honest convictions and was regarded as a man whom to know was to respect and honor. His death occurred in his sixty-eighth year, while his widow reached the very advanced age of ninety-seven years, being perhaps the oldest citizen of Cass county at the time of her demise. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom reached mature years, married and reared families of their own with the exception of one sister, who was married but had no children.
Mr. Jarvis of this review was the sixth child and youngest son, and was a little lad of six summers when he came with his parents to Cass county, Michigan. He can remember many incidents of those early days-incidents which became important factors in the history of the county. His education was obtained in the pioneer schools and he re- ceived ample training at farm labor, taking his place in the fields as soon as old enough to handle the plow. He remained with his father until the latter's death and in fact he is the only surviving member of the family. In 1851 he was married to Miss Rebecca Simpson, whose birth occurred in Cass county, her parents being Elias and Rachel Simpson, who were pioneer settlers of this part of the state.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Jarvis located upon the farm upon which he now resides, and it has been his home almost continuously since, save that he spent about three years in Dowagiac. The farm was covered with timber or stumps at the time it came into his possession and he entered upon the difficult task of preparing the fields for the plow. He has cleared most of the farm himself and for fifty-four years has lived in LaGrange township, working earnestly and persistently year after year and gaining through his unfaltering purpose and capable man- agement the reward of all well-directed lahor. He now owns one hun-
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dred and twenty acres of good land and in 1905 he gave to his son Jolin eighty acres of land.
Unto Mr. Jarvis by his first marriage were born five children, namely : Henry, Helen, Francis, Almanson and Almira, the last two being twins. Having lost his first wife Mr. Jarvis was again married, his second union being with Margaret Cudderback. They became the parents of four children: Zed, John and two who are now deceased.
Mr. Jarvis voted with the Republican party until 1872, when he became a Democrat. He has served as a member of the township board, was at one time a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Dowagiac. An honorable and straight- forward life characterized by recognition of the rights of others in busi- ness has made Mr. Jarvis one of the esteemed and prominent old settlers of LaGrange township. He can remember the days when the pioneers had to go long distances to market or mill and often over roads that in certain seasons of the year were almost impassable. There were no railroads and all communication with the outside world was made by private conveyance or by stage. The most far sighted would not have dreamed that there would one day be a rural mail route and that there would he telephonic connections between the towns and the farm homes. As we look back and think of the conditions that existed in those early days the change seems marvelous, and yet it has resulted from the care- ful, laborious effort of the settlers who have been men of enterprising spirit and have kept pace with the uniform progress and improvement here. Mr. Jarvis has made continual advancement in his business ca- reer, keeping in touch with ideas of modern farming and as the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings.
WILLIAM H. C. HALE.
William H. C. Hale, county commissioner of schools and a resi- dent of Cassopolis, was born in Wells county, Indiana, on the 6th of July, 1853. In the paternal line he comes of Scotch and English ances- try. His grandfather, Henry Hale, was a native of Maryland, born in 1787, whence he removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, there devoting his time and energies to farming until his later years, when he put aside active business cares. He died in the ninety-fourth year of his age. Stephen Ilale, father of our subject, was born in Jefferson county. Ohio, was reared to the occupation of farming and made that pursuit his life work. Removing westward. he became one of the early residents of Wells county Indiana, where he settled about 1840, and in January. 1864, he removed to Cass county, Michigan, taking up his abode in Cal- vin township, where he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-six years of age. Realizing the value of education, he was deeply interested in the cause of public instruction, and for some years served as a school di- rector. In politics he was a lifelong Republican. He wedded Miss
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Nancy Reed, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Arthur Reed, who was born in Ireland. Mrs. Hale passed away at the age of sixty- five years. By her marriage she had become the mother of eleven chil- dren, seven daughters and four sons, of which number seven reached adult age.
Professor William H. C. Hale of this review was the third son and tenth child. He was reared in his native county until ten years of age, when he came with his parents to Cass county, and after acquiring his preliminary education in the district schools he entered the State Nor- mal College at Ypsilanti, Michigan, completing the common school course in 1878. He then engaged in teaching school for several years in Cass county, after which he returned to Ypsilanti in 1889 and com- pleted the regular normal course by graduation in 1891, having finished the assigned work in the literary and scientific departments. He re- ceived a teacher's life certificate for the state of Michigan and for three years he was principal of the Quinnesec school, after which he returned and taught in Cass county for about four years. He was then elected county commissioner of schools in 1901 and was re-elected in 1903, so that he is still holding the office. He has made a close and earnest study of the needs and possibilities of the schools and his efforts in this direc- tion have been attended with gratifying success, for under his guidance the standard of the schools has been raised and good work has been done.
Other political offices and honors have been conferred upon Pro- fessor Hale, who for four years served as justice of the peace in Cal- vin township. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial and he proved a capable officer. He was also school inspector in the same township for six years and in 1900 he took the United States census in Calvin township. In 1884 he was the Republican candidate for coun- ty clerk, but that year witnessed a Democratic landslide and he failed of election. He is now and for some years has been a member of the Republican county central committee and does all in his power to pro- mote the growth and insure the success of his party. His entire life has been devoted to educational work and official duties, and over the record of his public and private career there falls no shadow of wrong, for his labors have been characterized by an unquestioned fidelity to duty. Earnest effort, close application and the exercise of his native talents won hin prestige as an educator, while his personal characteris- tics have made him a popular citizen.
ALLEN M. KINGSBURY.
Allen M. Kingsbury, resides on section 29, LaGrange township, where he owns and controls valuable farming interests and in addition to carrying on agricultural pursuits he is also acting as vice-president of the First National Bank of Cassopolis. He represents one of the
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oldest and most prominent pioneer families of Cass county. The stu- dent of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of this county without learning of the elose, valuable and honorable con- nection of the Kingsburys with the events which have molded the pol- icy and shaped the development of this part of the state. His father was Asa Kingsbury, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Michigan when much of this district was wild and unimproved. In his family were thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of whom Allen M. Kingsbury is the third child and second son. He was born upon the old homestead farm in LaGrange township' and was there reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the schools of Oak Grove, Cass- opolis and Jackson townships. When not busy with his text-books he aided in the work of field and meadow and continued to assist his father in the operation of the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, following the pursuit to which he had been reared. He became an energetie agriculturist of LaGrange township and as the years have gone by has carefully conducted his farming interests. After his marriage he located upon the old home- stead for a year and then removed to the farm upon which he now resides and which has since been his place of residence. It comprises two hundred acres of rich and arable land, which responds readily to the care and cultivation that is bestowed upon it. He is both practical and progressive in his methods. is methodical and systematie in his work and keeps in touch with the most advanced ideas of modern farming. He is also numbered among the stockholders of the First National Bank of Cassopolis and is now serving as its vice-president.
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