USA > Michigan > Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens > Part 12
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In politics Mr. Austin is a staunch Re- publican and has many times been honored by the electors of his party to offices of re- sponsibility and trust, having served as su- pervisor of his township for eight years, clerk of the township for three years, justice of the peace for four years and a member of the school board for the long term of fifteen years. Mr. Austin's wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1869 Mr. Austin was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Emily Craw- ford, daughter of Jonas and Mary A. Craw- ford. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, namely: Belle, born in 1874, who married S. B. Taylor and they now reside at Elk Rapids; Fred, born in 1887, who still remains under the parental roof.
Holding prestige among the successful farmers of Forest Home township, Antrim county, Michigan, Theodore N. Chapin is entitled to more than passing notice in this volume. He is a native of Kent county, Michigan, born on the 10th of December, 1862, and is the son of Theodore N. and Sarah (Underhill) Chapin. The father was of Welsh descent, inheriting all the sturdy traits of that race, and was by profession a teacher, later following the pursuits of agri- culture. Reared to agricultural pursuits. the subject of this sketch early became familiar with the details of farm labor and in the public schools, which he attended as opportunities afforded during his minority,
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he has received an education which has en- abled him to transact successfully the duties of an active and progressive life. He came to Antrim county in 1881, settling at once at Bellaire, where he made his home for eleven years, engaged principally in general work, though for two years of that time he ran a dray in Bellaire. He was fairly suc- cessful in his business enterprises and sub- sequently purchased two hundred acres of land, which comprises his present homestead, of which he has one hundred and five acres under a high state of cultivation. He raises all the crops common to farms in this lo- cality, making a specialty of good hay, of which he raises from thirty to forty tons annually. His principal business is that of a dairy farm, keeping on an average of twenty cows, the product being sold by him to private families in Bellaire. Mr. Chapin also gives some special attention to the rais- ing of corn, in which he has been very suc- cessful, and raises some splendid fruit, hav- ing a large orchard of apple, cherry, plum and peach trees. He has resided on his pres- ent place since 1892 and has acquired an ex- cellent reputation as a successful farmer.
In politics Mr. Chapin is independent, voting for the man he thinks best fitted for the place, and he has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to the office of justice of the peace, which office he is at present filling. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Bellaire, also the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange.
In 1884 Mr. Chapin was united in mar- riage to Miss Vesta Hutchinson, daughter of Henry Hutchinson, and to this union have been born four children, namely : Eu- gene W., Minnie, Verna and Louis, of whom
Verna is deceased. Mr. Chapin's place con- tains many valuable improvements, includ- ing good barns and outbuildings and a neat and commodious dwelling, complete in its every appointment and furnished with many modern conveniences.
WILLIAM DERENZY.
This work would be incomplete as touch- ing Antrim county were there failure to make mention of this well known pioneer and valued and influential citizen of Kearney .township, where he settled thirty years ago, in the midst of the virgin forest, which was so dense that, as he has stated, about the only perspective was that gained by "looking straight up." His life has been identified with the development and upbuilding of this section for the past three decades, and his name merits a place of honor in this com- pilation.
Mr. Derenzy is a native of the Emerald Isle and comes of stanch old Irish stock. He was born in county Wexford, Ireland, on the 28th of March, 1850, and is a son of Cain and Elizabeth (Ralph) Derenzy, who emigrated thence to the new world when he was about ten years of age, taking up their residence in the province of Ontario, Canada, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been there en- gaged in farming. The subject received a good common-school education, and con- tinued to assist his father in his farming operations until the death of the latter, when he initiated his independent career. In 1870 he came to Michigan and located in Oakland county, where he continued to be identified
WILLIAM DERENZY AND FAMILY.
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with agricultural pursuits for the ensuing four years, at the expiration of which, in 1874, he came to Antrim county and settled on a tract of wild land in Kearney town- ship, this property being still owned and oc- cupied by him and now constituting one of the productive and finely improved farms of this progressive section of the Wolverine state.
He erected on his land a little cabin of the most rude construction and this was utilized as the family home until he com- pleted the erection of a more commodious and substantial log house, which he later en- larged. In the early days he was compelled to go to Elk Rapids for supplies, the town being about thirty-five miles distant, making a portion of the trip by boat and the re- mainder on foot. He has been successful in his efforts and has demonstrated his energy and good management in the de- velopment of one of the most valuable farm properties in this county. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, all in Kearney township, and of this homestead one hundred and sixty acres are under culti- vation, being given over to diversified agri- culture and horticulture, while he also has an excellent orchard in which he raises good crops of apples, pears, plums and other fruits. Mr. Derenzy also gives no little at- tention to the raising of live stock, and on his place may be found fine types of cattle and swine. He has won prosperity by strenuous application and is well deserving of the success which is his, while he is held in high regard in the community in which he has so long made his home. In politics he formerly supported the 'Democratic party, but he now gives his allegiance to the Re- publican party, whose principles he espoused
a number of years ago. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees.
In 1867 Mr. Derenzy was united in mar- riage to Miss Malinda Ward, who was born in Ontario, Canada, being a daughter of Samuel and Ann (Holden) Ward, both of whom were born in England, whence they came to Canada, where the latter died. The father there continued to be engaged in farming for a number of years and then came to Michigan, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Derenzy have been born seven children, namely : Elizabeth, who is the wife of Henry Sisson, a successful farmer of this county; Thomas, who is associated with his father in the management and work of the old homestead farm; Albert, who married Miss Mabel Smith and who is now residing in the village of Mancelona; William, who likewise remains at the parental home, as does also Alfred, and Samuel J. and Moses, both of whom died in early childhood.
HERBERT A. THOMAS.
Success has been worthily attained by H. A. Thomas, who is today accounted one of the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Forest Home township, Antrim county, Michigan. To his energy, enter- prise, careful management and keen dis- cernment his present station in life is at- tributed. He started upon his career as an independent factor at the bottom of the lad- der and is now the owner of a very desir- able farm property and occupies a conspicu- ous place in the front rank of Antrim county's most successful agriculturists.
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Mr. Thomas is a native of the state of his residence, having been born in Tuscola county, Michigan, on the 12th day of April, 1870. Though comparatively young in years, he has achieved a success which would be creditable to a large majority of the older and much more experienced. He is the son of William R. and Caroline ( Russell) Thomas. W. R. Thomas was born in New York state in 1841 and in that state spent most of his life, as his death occurred on the 5th of February, 1901. He was a gal- lant defender of the stars and stripes dur- ing the war of the Rebellion, having en- listed at Lawrence, New York, in 1864, in Company D, Thirty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, which regiment became part of the Third Army Corps. He served with his command before Fort Sedgwick, at second Hatchers Run, and third Hatchers Run, Petersburg, Five Forks, South Side Railroad, Taylor's Run, High Bridge and Farmersville, in the Army of the Potomac, and received an honorable discharge. He was for two terms commander of Major Weber Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He was elected township treas- urer of Forest Home township in 1866, re- elected in 1887, 1889, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1898 and 1899. He held the offices of post- master, school inspector, highway commis- sioner and justice of the peace. He came to Forest Home township, Antrim county, Michigan, in 1881 and here bought eighty acres of land, on which he followed the pur- suits of farming. He was the father of fourteen children, of whom two are dead, and in politics was a staunch Republican.
The subject of this sketch was given the opportunities of attendance at the public
schools and, possessing a thirst for knowl- edge, eagerly took up the work of the same. He was early inured to the hard labor in- cident to a farming life and upon attaining his majority decided to continue this vo- cation for his life work. He is the possessor of forty acres of land in Forest Home town- ship, Antrim county, of which thirty-five are under a splendid state of cultivation and yielding rich returns to their owner. On this tract of land the subject has made all the improvements and by his own exertions gained for himself an enviable reputation as a successful agriculturist. He carries on general farming, not confining his attention to any special line, as in his judgment the former is the more profitable plan. In many respects he is a model farmer and aims to be practical and progressive in all that he does ; is always in sympathy with enterprises having for their object the common good, and his influence is invariably exerted on the right side of every moral issue. Like all men of positive character and independence of mind, he is outspoken in defense of what he considers right, and his convictions are such that his neighbors and fellow citizens know well his position on all questions of a political, moral and religious nature. His private life has been exemplary and his amiable traits of character and many virtues have made him widely popular throughout the county. In politics he is a staunch Re- publican and has served his township as com- missioner for four years and also as mem- ber of the school board. His fraternal af- filiations are with the Free and Accepted Masons at Bellaire; he also holds member- ship with the Grange at Forest Home.
On the 14th of May, 1892, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Marion
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Bedell, daughter of George and Elmira of a fair common-school education, but his (Janes) Bedell, who were natives of New York state. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born the following children : Wealtha, Leo, Mira, Birkley and William.
WILSON S. EGGLESTON.
In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of a character which not only can endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. The gen- tleman to whom the biographer now calls the reader's attention was not favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influ- ential friends, but in spite of this, by per- severance, industry and a wise economy, he has attained a comfortable station in life.
W. S. Eggleston is a native of Broome county, New York, where he was born in 1869 and is the son of Lorenzo and Esther (Sackett) Eggleston. The subject's father was a native also of Broome county, New York, and was a mason by trade, remain- ing in his native state until 1878, when he came to Antrim county, settling in the woods of Forest Home township, where he bought forty acres of land and began the task of clearing a farm. He was the father of three children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. The other children were Letta, the wife of Arthur Russell, who is working a band sawmill at Bellaire; and John, who remains at home engaged on his father's farm.
W. S. Eggleston was given the benefit
acquisition of knowledge did not cease with his school days, as he has all his life been a persistent reader, embracing a wide variety of topics, and has thus become a well in- formed and intelligent gentleman. He has pursued the occupation of farming and lum- bering all his life and is today the owner of one hundred acres of as good land as can be found in Antrim county, fifty of which are under the plow and which were cleared entirely by Mr. Eggleston's own efforts. In addition to this property, he is the possessor of several town lots in Bellaire and one good residence. On his farm he raises all the crops common to this section of Michigan and has achieved a marked and definite suc- cess in his calling, a success which may be credited entirely to his own efforts, directed and controlled by wise judgment and keen discrimination. He gives some attention to live stock, raising grade cattle and Chester White hogs and has also an orchard of six acres, in which he raises some choice varieties of fruit. During the winter of 1903-4 Mr. Eggleston cleared the timber from section 23, this township, taking from it one and one-half million feet of timber, and has run a lumber camp for two years. He is energetic in all of his undertakings and his efforts have been rewarded with a due measure of success.
In politics Mr. Eggleston is a firm Re- publican and exerts much influence for the success of his party and has filled the posi- tion of overseer of district No. 5 of his town- ship for many years, but aside from this he will not accept further political favors. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its auxiliary branch, the Daughters of Rebekah, and is
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also a member of the Knights of Maccabees at Bellaire and the Grange at Clam Lake, this state.
On the IIth of August, 1903, Mr. Eg- gleston was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Josie Hill, daughter of Ruben and Eliza (Downs) Hill. To this union has been born one child, Ruben L.
Earnest labor, unabating perseverance and management and a laudable ambition,- these are the elements which have brought Mr. Eggleston to prosperity. His career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of his acquaintances, for he has ever conducted all transactions accord- ing to the strictest principles of honor and integrity. Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Bellaire.
DELOS J. BEDELL.
It is an axiom demonstrated by human experience that industry is the keynote of prosperity. Success comes not to the man who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler whose work is characterized by sleepless vigilance and cheerful celerity, and it was by such means that Delos J. Bedell has forged to the front and won an honored place among the substantial citizens of Antrim county. He is widely and favorably known as a man of high character, and for a num- ber of years his influence in the community has been marked and salutary.
Delos J. Bedell is a native of the Empire state, having been born there on the 21st of November, 1859. He is the son of George and Elmira (Janes) Bedell, the father born
in Greene county, New York, in 1825, and the mother in Herkimer county, New York, in 1831. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, namely : Hannah, Ella J., John, Delos J., George W., Edgar E., Ada A., Jerry G., Sarah E. and Marion. George Bedell brought his family to Antrim county, Michi- gan, in 1879 and at once entered upon the task of clearing for cultivation a homestead. The subject's mother died on the Ioth of February, 1901, but his father is still living and commands an active interest in all pass- ing events, retaining to a marked degree his physical and mental vigor. The original homestead comprised eighty acres, to which the subject of this sketch added eighty acres more, and of this tract of land sixty are under the plow.
Mr. Bedell, of this sketch, received a fair elementary education and all the years of his activity have been devoted to farm- ing pursuits. He assisted his father in the reclamation and improvement of the home farm and has devoted his sole energies to the place. In addition to tilling the soil, Mr. Bedell gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, including shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Duroc Jersey hogs. He believes that diversified farming is most practical and he makes a practice of feeding the products of the farm to the live stock. Mr. Bedell has been remarkably for- tunate in his every undertaking and occupies a place in the first rank of Antrim county's farmers. He is methodical on every side and the satisfactory results he has attained proves him of sound judgment, keen dis- cernment and the faculty of taking advant- age of circumstances.
In politics the subject is a Democrat and a man of deep political convictions. He has
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filled the position of road overseer of his township, filling the position with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
In 1899 Mr. Bedell was united in mar- riage to Miss Mariah Gibbard, daughter of Charles and Anna ( Petrie) Gibbard, and to them have been born three children, Howard C., Doris E. and George A.
WILLIAM H. HILL.
Conspicuous among the enterprising farmers of Forest Home township, Antrim county, is William H. Hill, who for a num- ber of years has been a leading citizen of his township, active in public affairs and to a considerable extent a molder of opinion in the community where he lives. His parents were Reuben and Eliza J. (Downs) Hill. the father a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1826, while the mother was born in Virginia. Their respective deaths oc- curred in 1884 and 1903. Reuben Hill was a farmer during the greater portion of his life and always resided in his native state. He was the father of nine children, of whom four are still living. A Republican in politics, he occupied a foremost place in his community and was elected to several public offices, including those of justice of the peace, county commissioner and member of the school board.
William H. Hill, to a brief review of whose life we now turn, was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, August 11, 1866. He was reared on a farm and by close applica- tion and honest labor early developed habits of industry and frugality, which assured
his success in after life. In early life he at- tended such schools as were common in his locality and obtained a fair knowledge of the branches taught in the public schools. At the age of fifteen he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade, in which vocation he acquired a fair degree of efficiency and followed that occupation for four years. He then went to Indiana, subsequently came to Michigan and located after about eight years upon his present farmstead in Forest Home township, Antrim county. This place consists of fifty-eight acres of land, all under the plow and in a high state of cultivation. When the subject obtained possession of this property it was in its primitive state of wild- ness, necessitating much hard labor to put it in shape for cultivation, but by indefati- gable industry Mr. Hill was enabled to bring it to a standard of excellence that compares favorably with that of other farms in this township. In addition to his farming land Mr. Hill owns two pieces of residence prop- erty in the town of Bellaire. He has made many valuable improvements upon the place, such as a residence, commodious barns and such other outbuildings as are necessary in the management of his farm; he has taken high rank, as his methods are in harmony with the advanced ideas of the new century.
In politics Mr. Hill is an earnest Re- publican and takes an active interest in ad- vancing the interests of his party. While not a seeker for public office, his fellow citizens have induced him to serve in the capacity of path-master and a member of the school board, in which he served the public faithfully. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Lodge No. 98, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Tent No. 347, Knights of the Maccabees, at Bellaire.
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In 1890 Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Virgie M. Vandemark, daughter of George and Jane (Sackett) Vandemark, and their union has been blessed by the follow- ing children : Abbie, Lillian, Hattie, George and Ivan.
Mr. Hill is regarded as a typical farmer and his thorough system of tillage and the order of his improvements and the well cared for condition of everything on his place in- dicates good management and keen foresight on the part of the proprietor. A spirit of genuine hospitality pervades the place and all who seek entertainment therein are re- ceived with gracious courtesy that sweetens the welcome.
FREDERICK. W. BECHTOLD.
Conspicuously identified with important industrial concerns of Antrim county, Michigan, is the subject of this review, who is the senior member of the firm of Richardi & Bechtold and secretary of the Bellaire Woodenware Company, being known and honored as one of the leading business men and representative citizens of this section of the state. The firm of Richardi & Bechtold was formed in ISSI by Robert Richardi and the subject of this review, though sub- sequently Mr. Richardi retired and was suc- ceeded by his son, Henry Richardi. In the year first mentioned Robert Richardi came to Bellaire from Louisiana, Missouri, while in the same year came Mr. Bechtold from Belleville, Illinois. They were led to come to Michigan by reason of the greater avail- able supply of proper timber to be found here. He and his partner looked over the
various fields in northern Michigan and finally decided to locate in Bellaire, where, in addition to an excellent supply of the needed material, was found a stream ade- quate to provide the power necessary for the operation of the proposed factory. Upon coming to Bellaire they invested about twelve thousand dollars in the building and equipping of a plant for the manufacture of chopping trays. They continued to put out this one line of products for the first two years, employing about fifteen operatives and so marked was the success attending the venture that in the third year they found it expedient to augment the scope of the en- terprise by the enlarging of the plant. At that time all shipping was necessarily done from Mancelona, thirteen miles distant, as Bellaire had no railroad facilities. The busi- ness continued to grow and improvements were made in the plant from time to time, in- cluding the installing of special machinery for the manufacture of new articles, the pat- terns for both the machines and the products being in the majority of cases worked out by the members of the firm, both practical men. With the passing of the years the variety of articles manufactured had in- creased until fully one hundred different wooden-ware specialties were produced, while the investment reached an aggregate of about twenty-five thousand dollars. On the 6th of July, 1897, the entire plant was destroyed by fire, entailing almost a total loss, practically only the water power re- maining intact, while the insurance indem- nity was small. In August, 1898, a new company was organized and incorporated for the carrying on of the business, a new plant being erected forthwith. Robert Richardi disposed of his interests to his son
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Henry, a member of the present firm of Richardi & Bechtold, which continued the ownership and control of the sales depart- ment of the enterprise as reorganized. The concern was incorporated under its present title of the Bellaire Woodenware Company, and the same was capitalized for twelve thousand dollars, the executive corps being as follows : Henry Richardi, president; Fred D. Flyje, vice-president; Frederick W. Bechtold, secretary, and Fletcher E. Tur- rell, treasurer. William G. Phelps soon af- terward succeeded Mr. Flyje as vice-presi- dent and superintendent, and the personnel of the corps has since continued unchanged. In the larger and newly equipped factory the company resumed the manufacture of the various specialties which had been previous- ly produced, and also began the manufacture of clothes pins. The capital was eventually increased to twenty-five thousand dollars, at which figure it remains at the present time, while in the factory employment is afforded to about seventy workmen, the pay-roll demanding about two thousand five hundred dollars a month. Hardwood tim- ber is utilized almost entirely and the same is purchased of local owners, so that the importance of the concern is all the greater as touching the general prosperity of this locality. The average annual business is now about sixty thousand dollars.
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