Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 36

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 966

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indebted to the common schools for his ele- mentary education and was, early in the pioneer days, inured to the hard work in- cident to the life of a farmer, being thus taught the lessons of industry and persever- ance, which have been of much benefit to him in later days. When the southern states rebelled against the national government, Mr. Dewey responded to the President's call for volunteers and joined Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, and remained in active service until his discharge, in July, 1865. He came to Antrim county in 1874 and at once engaged in farming and lumbering, which pursuits he has since followed; also engaged in the buying and shipping of produce, principally potatoes and fruit, which he has found to be a very profitable business. He is today the owner of one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, one hundred of which is under culti- vation and on which he carries on a general farming business. The place was almost without improvement when he took posses- sion of it, but under his vigorous efforts it has been brought to a high state of cultiva- tion, as is evidenced by the well-tilled fields and commodious and convenient buildings on the place. During his first years on this farm his home was a little log cabin, but it was soon after replaced by a more preten- tious dwelling and today the family domicile is one of the comfortable and tasty homes of the township.

In 1858 Mr. Dewey was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha Drew, daughter of Hiram and Martha (McNeal) Drew. na- tives of Canada and agricultural folk. To the subject's union have been born nine chil- dren. Politically, Mr. Dewey is a Repub- lican, having cast his first presidential vote

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for John C. Fremont and having since taken an active interest in campaigns of his party. He has been honored by election to several offices of responsibility and trust, such as supervisor and township justice of the peace, holding the latter office at the present time. In all of life's relations Mr. Dewey has per- formed well his part and through long years of residence in Antrim county no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil has been con- nected with his name and he is eminently worthy of representation in this book.

C. J. SPRAGUE.

The subject of this sketch, one of the thrifty and enterprising farmers of Forest Home township, Antrim county, Michigan, is well entitled to representation in this volume because of the consistent career which has been his since establishing his home in this locality. He is a native of New York state, having been born in Jefferson county, September 18, 1847. His parents were Charles and Margaret (Sheeley) Sprague. Charles Sprague was also a na- tive of Jefferson county. New York state, in which, during the war of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a member of Company F. Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, being at that time over forty years of age. He did not live long after his enlistment, as he was stricken with heart disease and died in camp in 1862. He was in early life a Whig in politics, but upon the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks and took an active part in subsequent campaigns. He was the father of six children, namely : Marcellus, a mason by trade, now living in Jefferson county, New York: Adelaide (de-

ceased) ; Lillian is the wife of John Parker, a farmer in Jefferson county, New York ; Orville (deceased), and three others who died in infancy.

C. J. Sprague acquired his early educa- tion in the primitive schools of his day and locality, the sessions of which were held mainly in rude log cabins, with meager ac- commodations ; but this education he has liberally supplemented by subsequent read- ing and close observation and he is today one of the well informed men of Antrim county. At the early age of sixteen years Mr. Sprague enlisted in the services of his country, joining Company F, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, with which he served throughout the remainder of the conflict, re- ceiving his honorable discharge in June, 1865. His regiment was assigned to the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac. and was in Sheridan's command in Shenan- doah valley, taking part in the battle of Win- chester and many other skirmishes and bat- tles.

Mr. Sprague has forty acres of land, all of which have been brought up to a high state of cultivation and nearly all of which he has himself acquired. He came to this land in 1877, at which time his home was in the midst of the virgin forest and he has witnessed the subsequent developments in this region. In the early days he remembers having seen many bears. deers, and other wild game and underwent many thrilling and desperate experiences before the incom- ing flood of sturdy frontiersmen dissipated the wilderness of the region. He has erected substantial and commodious build- ings upon the place. including house, barn and other necessary buildings and has today one of the choice farms of the township.

Mr. Sprague was married, in 1877, to

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Miss Ann Parker, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Parker, the former of whom was a native of Yorkshire, England. After com- ing to the United States, he made his home at Torch Lake, Michigan, but is now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are the par- ents of eight children, namely : Ella, the wife of Thomas Dinger, a farmer; Louis married Maude Patrick, and is a lumberman ; Burt is at home; Charles is deceased; Earnie, Bessie and Floyd are at home; Earl is de- ceased. The children are all well educated and highly respected in the community in which they live. Politically, Mr. Sprague is a staunch Republican, but has no ambition for the honor or emoluments of office, choos- ing to devote his entire time and attention to the improvement of his place. Mr. Sprague has given much thought to his farming operations and the wise discrimin- ation and judgment exercised by him is today evidenced by the advanced condition in the department of his farming. His rela- tions with his fellow men have been in all respects honorable and straightforward and few men are held in higher esteem than he.

DANIEL B. OVIATT.

Daniel B. Oviatt was born in the town- ship of Scio, Allegany county, New York, March 5. 1847. At the age of four years his parents moved into the woods onto one hundred acres of wild land, situated in the township of Alma, five and a half miles southwest of the village of Wellsville, then a new and thriving town near the headwaters of the Genesee river. Here he grew to manhood, attending the district school win-

ters and working on the new farm summers, assisting his father, as he was the only son, in clearing and general work. At the age of seventeen years he was inspired, through the influence of his teachers, with a desire for an education and his father gave him his time until he should become twenty-one years of age. He then went to live with Prof. A. H. Lewis and wife, retired high- school teachers, where he studied, working for his board and clothes for two years. His educational work was interfered with through an acquaintance with Miss Frances C. Dean, a teacher of their district school. to whom he was married on the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1867. After four years of business experience for himself young Oviatt again went to work for Prof. Lewis, where he re- mained for six years, spending consider- able time in study. In the spring of 1878 he attended Battle Creek College, in Michi- gan, later engaging in religious tent work with the Seventh Day Adventists. The year following he with his wife and two small children returned to Wellsville, New York, where he was licensed to preach and soon be- came a prominent minister of the Seventh Day Adventists, being elected president of their Pennsylvania Conference and Tract Society, which positions he held with credit to himself for several years.

After holding three public debates with able ministers of other denominations on the Sabbath question, he became convinced that he was in the wrong and, though brought up and educated in that faith, resigned his official responsibilities and renounced the doctrines of the church.

In August, 1887, he again moved to Michigan and to the city of Hastings, where he took up the pastorate of the Baptist

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church of that place, which position he held for four years. While there his children, a son and daughter, graduated from the high school.

Mr. Oviatt then accepted a call from the First Baptist church in Laramie, Wyoming, remaining with that church four years or until his children both graduated from the Wyoming State University. He then visited the Pacific coast, where he engaged in mis- sionary work for six months in the employ of the Baptist Home Missionary Society. In the spring of 1895 he returned to Michigan, and to Alden, Antrim county, where he now resides. As favorable opportunity did not present itself, Mr. Oviatt did not continue in religious work, but engaged in publishing the Alden Wave, which he purchased and still owns. Since locating in Alden he has been active in politics, taking a prominent part and wielding quite an influence in town- ship and county matters. In the spring of 1897 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he now holds. The following spring he was elected supervisor of his town- ship and is now serving his sixth successive term. He has served as chairman and on all the prominent committees of the board of supervisors and at present is a member of the building committee of the new court house now in process of erection. In the autumn of 1892 he was elected state repre- sentative from the Antrim district and hon- ored with a re-election the present year, 1904.

Mr. Oviatt, in addition to his publishing work, carries on a general real estate busi- ness, owns a fine forty-acre fruit farm one and one-fourth miles east of the village of Alden, a nice cottage home and considerable real estate in town. Though now nearly

fifty-eight years of age, with white hair and beard, he retains physical and mental vigor of manhood and bids fair to be eminently useful and influential for years to come. His children both live in Wyoming and are mar- ried. The son, who is a representative in the state legislature from Albany county, lives in Laramie, while the daughter lives in Cheyenne.

A. J. DOLE.

Among the enterprising and progres- sive citizens of Antrim county none stand higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He has been in various lines of business activity in this county and the years of his residence have but served to strengthen the feeling of ad- miration on the part of his fellow citizens. Mr. Dole is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Mahoning county in 1852, the son of Samuel and Mary (Calli- han) Dole, both parents natives of Ohio, the father born in 1819. The subject's pa- ternal grandfather, Richard Dole, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, but later moved to Ohio. Samuel Dole remained in Ohio until 1861, in which year he came to Michigan and took up the vocation of carpentering, which he followed in Eaton county until 1866, then moving to Barry county. He remained in the latter locality about twenty years and then came to Antrim county and remained with the subject of this sketch until his death, in 1902. The subject's mother died in 1866, while residing in Eaton county. They were the parents of nine children : Martha (deceased). A. J .. Mary E. (de-

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ceased), George, William H. (deceased), Harriett J., Rhoda E. (deceased), Emmer B., Eva K. (deceased). The subject of this sketch is indebted to the common schools for his education, but this has been liberally sup- plemented by keen observation of man and events and today few men are better in- formed as to general knowledge. He came to Antrim county in 1884 and settled at Bellaire, which at that time was in its in- fancy and was practically without improve- ments, tree stumps being seen on the main streets. He purchased land here and at one time owned two hundred and forty acres, which he has since sold. He is now and has been for twenty years engaged in the livery business, having been the owner of the first stable opened here .. He keeps a well equip- ped establishment, has a number of fine horses and splendid vehicles and has been ac- corded a generous patronage. While en- gaged in the livery business, and before the railroad came to Bellaire he owned and con- trolled a stage line on which he had four stages from Bellaire to Mancelona each day, transporting the mails, and he also for three years ran a livery stable at Mancelona. Sub- sequently he engaged in the sale of farming implements of all kinds, also wind mills, saw mills, threshing machines, etc., carrying on this business for fourteen years and attain- ing marked success.

Mr. Dole has acquired a comfortable competency since coming to this county and now possesses, besides his livery business, other property, all of which has been ac- quired since coming here and is solely due to his own efforts, so that he is justly deserv- ing the appellation "self-made."

Politically, the subject is a Republican and has been chosen to a number of offices

of responsibility. He was for two years deputy sheriff and two years under-sheriff under L. C. Handy and was also under- sheriff under S. M. Chaffey and acted as sheriff for nineteen months on account of the latter's death. He has been superintend- ent of the poor for eight years, which office he still holds, and also has held various town- ship offices. In all the positions to which he has been called he has performed his duties to the utmost satisfaction of his con- stituents and has acquired the enviable record of a public-spirited citizen, doing all in his power to advance the interests of his fellowmen. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of Appolo Lodge, No. 195, of the latter order, at Elk Rapids.

Mr. Dole was married in 1882 to Miss Mary M. Duncan, the daughter of George and Betsey (Tobias) Duncan, of Barry county, Michigan. Mr. Duncan was one of the first settlers of that county and died in 1892. Mrs. Dole's mother is still living and makes her home with her children. To the subject and his wife have been born five children, namely : Elsie (deceased), Bert A., Edna M., J. G. (deceased) and Lloyd. Mr. and Mrs. Dole have a pleasant home, which is the center of a large social circle, and in all avenues of life's activity they have per- formed their part.

WILLIAM J. DEWEY.

Agriculture has been an honored voca- tion from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane im- pulses, as well as those of energy and thrift.

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have been patrons of husbandry. It has al- ways been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country and many of our nation's greatest men are indebted to its early influence for the distinction which they attained. The subject of this sketch, William J. Dewey, who follows the pursuit of agriculture, is a native of Michigan, having been born in Ing- ham county April 21, 1862, and is the son of S. M. and Martha (Drew) Dewey, per- sonal mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. It, however, may be consist- ently stated here that S. M. and Martha (Drew) Dewey were pioneers of Michigan and were the parents of the following chil- dren : Charles, W. J., Edgar, James, Ida, Warren, Clarence and Walter.

W. J. Dewey received his elementary education in the public schools of his home township and has all his life followed farm- ing, in which he has attained marked suc- cess. He has resided on his present farm in Forest Home township for twenty years and has wrought a marked change in the condi- tions of his property since acquiring it. He is the possessor of two hundred acres, of which one hundred and forty are under the plow, and on this farm is one of the finest orchards in this section of the county, con- taining over two thousand trees, mostly ap- ple and peach. He also gives some attention to dairy farming, keeping from twenty to forty head of fine cattle constantly on hand. He has erected upon his place an elegant home and the premises are equipped with many modern conveniences and improve- ments not ordinarily found in a country home.

In politics Mr. Dewey is a stanch Re- publican and served as supervisor of his

township for three years and for many years as justice of the peace, the duties of both of- fices being performed with marked ability. Fraternally, Mr. Dewey belongs to the Ma- sonic lodge at Bellaire and takes a deep in- terest in the welfare of the order.

In 1888 Mr. Dewey was united in mar- riage to Miss Minnie McEwan, daughter of John McEwan, and to them have been born four children, namely : George, Clyde, Lil- lian and Leon, all of whom are being given liberal educations. The qualities which have made Mr. Dewey one of the prominent and successful men of Antrim county have also brought him to the esteem of his fellow citi- zens. He has been president of the Antrim County Agricultural Society for the past four years, and has been and is an active member of the Grange at this place, having served as its secretary.

JOHN J. MONTGOMERY.

The present solid prosperity enjoyed in Antrim county may be attributed largely to the early settlers. In the days of her set- tlement, when a wilderness was the only wel- come tendered a stranger who settled here, little to encourage and much to discourage came to his lot, but these sturdy men who came to their new home with a determin- ation to succeed and worked persistently and honestly, became later the prosperous and honored citizens of this locality. Among this class of citizens is the gentleman whose name appears above. He was born in 1853 at New York and is the son of John and Eliza (Overacker) Montgomery. The father was born in Saratoga county, New

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York, in 1812 and the mother in Hudson county, that state, in 1815. The former was a farmer and lived his life in New York state, dying at the age of forty-five years. He is the father of ten children, of whom five are still living, their names in order of birth being as follows: Daniel R., G. W., Sarah (deceased), Thomas T. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Joseph P. (deceased). Josephine, Charlotte (deceased), J. J. and Emma L.

John M. was all his life a staunch Democrat and was a successful and influ- ential citizen. The subject came to Michi- gan in 1871 and at once entered upon the task of reclaiming a home from the virgin wilderness. How hard the task was only those who have gone through the same ex- perience can realize, but how successful were their efforts can be appreciated by the casual observer who passes the beautiful home and family seat now owned by the sub- ject. He possesses eighty acres of land, of which about forty-five are under cultivation and are yielding abundant returns. Pota- toes, hay and corn comprise the most of his crops, but Mr. Montgomery also raises all the products usual to farms in this locality. When Mr. Montgomery first came to this section wild game was abundant and ac- commodations were scarce, it being neces- sary for him to go as far as Elk Rapids for mail.

In October, 1878, John J. Montgomery was united in marriage to Miss Nellie S. Swift, the daughter of Robinson and Lora (Hunt) Swift, natives of New York state. but who later moved to Illinois and still later to Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Mont- gomery have been born ten children, namely : Clarence, who is engaged in lum-

bering in Benzie county, this state; Emma, who resides at Bellaire; Stanley R., at home ; Florence, deceased; Johnny; Gladie; Ford, deceased ; Clara, Leo, Lola.

In politics Mr. Montgomery is an ardent supporter of the grand old Republican party and has been elected to the office of high- way commissioner and performed his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. A firm believer in the principles of his party and an earnest worker for its interests, he has never been ambitious as far as public office is concerned, being attentive to the in- terests of his husbandry. He contributes freely of his means to the party and also to religious and charitable institutions and is highly esteemed in the community where he has passed so many useful years. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons 1 at Bellaire, Lodge No. 398, and a member of Grange No. 784.

JOHN BUSH.

Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since the primal existence of labor and has been the pivotal industry that has controlled for the most part all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of Antrim county whose labors have profited alike themselves and the community in which they live is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. John Bush was born in Lapeer county, Michigan, in 1840, and he is a son of George and Elizabeth Bush. The father is a native of Canada, but spent nearly his entire life in Michigan. He ·

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followed the pursuit of farming until his death, in 1877, and was not only very well- to-do but was a highly esteemed and in- fluential citizen, taking an active interest in public affairs and doing much to advance the interests of the Republican party. He was the father of eight children, of whom five are still living. In 1874 John Bush came to Antrim county and settled on sec- tion 14, of the northeast quarter of Kearney township. The land at that time was wild and unimproved, but Mr. Bush manfully started on the task of clearing the land be- fore him. His first habitation was a small log cabin, which in later years was super- seded by a very substantial and commodious dwelling and now. after many years of hard labor, he has the satisfaction of viewing a well cultivated and highly productive farm, the result of his own efforts. He is now the possessor of seven hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred of which is under cultivation. In the early days settlements were scant in this part of Michigan and Mr. Bush had to go as far as Mancelona for sup- plies.

In politics Mr. Bash is affiliated with the Republican party and though he has not aspired to positions of honor and trust at the hands of his co-workers, he has taken an active interest in the trend of public wel- fare and is at all times ready and willing to render his utmost assistance to the interests of his party. His religious tendencies are in harmony with the creed of the Congre- gational church, to which body his wife also belongs, and socially he is a member of Post No. 206. Grand Army of the Republic, at Bellaire, this latter affiliation being particu- larly consistent in view of the fact that dur- ing the dark days of our country's peril in

the sixties Mr. Bush was associated in the defense of the old flag, being a member of Company C, Tenth Michigan Volunteer In- fantry. This regiment was a part of the Army of the Cumberland. The subject served three years and nine months, receiv- ing his honorable discharge in 1865. Among some of the more notable battles in which he took part were the siege of Corinth, Stone River, Missionary Ridge and others and he also took part in Sherman's famous march to the sea and subsequently in the Grand Re- view at Washington. Mr. Bush also belong's to the Maccabees and the Grange.

In 1874 Mr. Bush was united in mar- riage to Miss Catherine Seyp, whose parents were natives of Germany, and they have three children : Leonard, Erastus and Glenn. all of whom are now attending the common schools. In view of the consistent life record lived by the subject since coming to this county it is particularly consistent that this short record of his career be incorporated in a book of this nature.

E. A. DUNSON.

Antrim county is characterized by her full share of the honored and faithful ele- ment who have done so much for the de- velopment and upbuilding of Michigan and the establishment of the institutions of civi- lization in this fertile and well favored sec- tion. In this work are comprised many bio- graphical sketches of this class of citizens and it is not in the least too early to record in print the principal items in the lives of these honest people, giving honor to whom honor is due. Among these sturdy pioneers

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E. A. Dunson is properly installed. He is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Hardin county, Ohio, January 23, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Buelah (Patrick) Dunson, the former born in Virginia in 1802 and the latter in New Jersey in 1804. Thomas Dunson followed the pursuits of farming and shoemaking and after his removal to Ohio remained there until his death. He was the father of eleven children. In early life he affiliated with the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican party he became a worker in that party and remained so until his death. He was a successful and well-to-do farmer and passed way in 1886. E. A. Dunson re- ceived his education in the common schools of the Buckeye state and came to Cass county, Michigan, in 1867, remaining there until 1873, when he came to Antrim county and entered one hundred and twenty acres of government land and began his labors in the forest, being one of the first settlers in this. county. His land at that time was entirely covered with timber and accommodations were very poor indeed. Mr. Dunson had to walk many miles for the common necessities of the household and underwent many pri- vations during the early years of his resi- dence here. Wild game was plentiful and many deers and other wild game have fallen prowess to his skill. Mr. Dunson is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-eight and one-half acres of land, of which eighty acres are under cultivation and on which he carries on general farming. Among his field products he gives special attention to pota- toes, peas, corn and hay and is also deeply interested in live stock. He raises annually a large number of shorthorn and Durham cattle, Poland China hogs, and a fine grade

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 36

Author: Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 966

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 966