Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 37

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

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of sheep. Mr. Dunson has done all of the clearing on the place, has personally made all the improvements and altogether has made a remarkable advance since he took hold of the property.

To revert to an early period in Mr. Dun- son's life, it may be stated that when the opening of the great rebellion took place he enlisted in Company E. Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his first term he re-enlisted, this time in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The commands to which he belonged were assigned at dif- ferent times to the armies of the Cumber- land, Potomac and the Tennessee and among the many prominent battles in which he par- ticipated may be mentioned the battles of Shiloh, Stone River and Corinth and six- teen others equally as important. He was loyal in the discharge of his military duties and in September, 1864, received an honor- able discharge. His old military associations are kept alive by membership in Post No. 206, Grand Army of the Republic, at Bel- laire.

In politics, Mr. Dunson is a staunch Re- publican and takes a deep interest in the public affairs of his county. Mr. Dunson was married in 1865 to Susan Paxon, daugh- ter of William and Margaret (Richardson) Paxon, farming people and residents of Vir- ginia. They have become the parents of four children, as follows : One child died in infancy; William C., who operates a farm near the place, married Miss Alvia Schrum; Henry L., who runs a store and is post- master at Green River, this county, mar- ried Miss Flora Mendenhall; Edna E. is the wife of John K. Hepburn, who operates a farm near the home place and is living

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with the subject. In all the relations of life dangered, he loyally offered his services to Mr. Dunson is a faithful performer of his duties and few men in his locality retain a higher degree of public confidence and es- teem. Mrs. Dunson is a member of the church of Disciples, or Christian, services of this church being held in this neighborhood.

R. J. MARTIN.

In a civilized community no calling is so certain of yielding a compensatory re- turn as that which is culled from a kindly soil, albeit the husbandman at times is sorely taxed in coaxing from mother earth all that he desires or even expects ; yet she is a kind mother and seldom chastens with disappoint- ment the child whose diligence and frugality she deems it but just should be rewarded.

Among those of the farming element in Antrim county whose labors have been re- warded with proportionate fruits is he whose name appears above. Mr. Martin is a native of Canada, having been born in New Bruns- wick on September 30, 1835. He is the son of Robert and Milo F. (Gray) Martin. Robert Martin was a native of the Emerald Isle and was a shoemaker by vocation. He came to America when quite young and lived in New Brunswick until about fifty years of age, when he came to Michigan. He was a Whig in politics and was the father of fourteen children, four of whom are still liv- ing

R. J. Martin attended the common schools and began life fairly well equipped mentally and took up the struggle on his own responsibility. When the tocsin of war was sounding and the country's flag was en-

his adopted country and enlisted in Com- pany I, Second Regiment Michigan Volun- teer Cavalry, under the command of Captain Goodale, his period of service being from September, 1861, until his discharge in the field, in 1863. His command was assigned to the Army of the West and he participated in many of the battles and skirmishes dur- ing his enlistment, being near Corinth dur- ing the evacuation of that place. When Mr. Martin came to Antrim county very little settlement had been made in this section of the county. He first cleared away a small place on which to make a cabin and then started in on the task of clearing a place for cultivation. How well he succeeded is evidenced by the highly cultivated state in which his land appears. He possesses eighty acres of land, sixty-five of which is under the plow. Mr. Martin carries on general farm- ing and has acquired enviable success in this line of work. He exercises a discriminating judgment in the rotation of crops and other details of agriculture and few men in his sec- tion today are obtaining a greater propor- tionate return than he for the amount of labor expended.

Notwithstanding his advanced age, he is still well preserved and still engaged in cultivating the soil. His life has been one of hard work and yet it has not been without its bright scenes. In addition to his labors he has found time to read extensively and keeps himself closely informed on happen- ings of county, state and nation. He is a Republican politically and takes a keen in- terest in the success of his party. His fellow citizens have honored him by election to public office and he served one year as justice of the peace and the remarkably long period

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of twenty-two years on the board of edu- cation. Fraternally, Mr. Martin is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, be- longing to the post at Bellaire.

In 1869 Mr. Martin was united in mar- riage to Miss Julia Wait, who was born in Barry county, Michigan, in 1850, the daughter of Watson and Caroline (Nicho- las), who were farming people for many years. They were the parents of four chil- dren, namely : Adelbert E., who is a specu- lator and farmer residing in Oregon; Ches- ter J., at home cultivating the home farm ; Carrie, who became the wife of Forest Batchelder, and Grace, who is at home.

Mr. Martin is a man of unusual judg- ment, has led a straightforward and honor- able life and in public affairs and private sta- tion has served his fellow citizens always with the highest credit and stands today high in citizenship and general worth as a neigh- borly man. He is a Congregationalist and his wife is a Methodist.

WILLIAM L. FRINK.

This sterling citizen and honored pioneer of Milton township, Antrim county, met his death on the 23d of December, 1903, as the result of a pitiable accident, having received injuries while engaged in the operation of a sawing machine and having died soon afterward. He was one of the most pro- gressive and public spirited men of the county, the owner of one of the best farms in Milton township, was influential in local affairs, and his character was unblemished by shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, so that to him was accorded the fullest measure

of popular confidence and esteem, and the community lost one of its valued citizens when he was thus called from the scene of his endeavors in the very prime of a noble and useful manhood.

Mr. Frink was a native of the Wolverine state and here passed the major portion of his life. He was born on a farm near the village of Lexington, Sanilac county, on the 22d of January, 1849, and was a son of Wil- liam and Hepzibah (Hubbell) Frink. The father is now deceased and the mother is now living in Grand Traverse county, this state. They were pioneers of Sanilac county, where they resided for a number of years, after which they removed to Iowa, of which state they were resident at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. The father of the subject tendered his services in de- fense of the Union, enlisting in an Iowa regi- ment of volunteers and proceeding to the front with his command. He sacrificed his life on his country's altar, dying in the field from a gun shot wound at Vicksburg, Mis- sissippi.

William L. Frink, the subject of this me- moir, was reared to maturity in Michigan, and was accorded the advantages of the com- mon schools, where he laid the foundation for that broad fund of knowledge which he later acquired through his association with the active affairs of life. He was a man of distinct individuality, firm convictions and inflexible integrity. and his good judgment and well directed energy and ambition en- abled him to attain a competency and to make himself a valuable factor in the com- munity in which he made his home. Mr. Frink was one of those whose faith in the future of northern Michigan led him to be- come one of the pioneers of Antrim county.

WILLIAM L. FRINK AND FAMILY.

FRINK FARM VIEW.

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He came here in 1877 and purchased a tract of wild and heavily timbered land in Milton township, the same being a portion of the present fine homestead farm upon which his widow and children reside. Through his own efforts and sound application the land was reclaimed to cultivation, and he accumu- lated more land in the township, developing one of the finest farms in the county. The landed estate comprises two hundred and forty acres, and nearly all is available for cultivation, being devoted to diversified agri- culture and horticulture, while on the place is found a good orchard and other improve- ments of a similar nature. Mr. Frink gave no little attention to the raising of live stock, and this branch of the farming enterprise is still successfully continued. He made all the improvements on the place, including the erection of the present commodious and at- tractive modern residence and a barn which is conceded to be the best in the county. Mr. Frink always showed a loyal interest in pub- lic affairs of a local nature and aided in the furtherance of all legitimate enterprises for the general good, and while he never sought. the honors or emoluments of political office he was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and was well fortified in his opinion as to matters of public polity. He was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, as is also his widow, and in all the relations of life he demanded the approval of conscience in the guiding of his course, so that his nature became one of symmetry and his character that of a strong and upright manhood. He won much of success in temporal affairs and he well de- served this, for he employed worthy means to accomplish legitimate and commendable ends. He was held in the highest regard in

his community and his untimely death came as a shock to his wide circle of friends, who felt a deep sense of personal loss and be- reavement, while to his cherished wife and children, to whom his devotion had been un- reserved, the loss is one whose only com- pensation is the memory of the noble and gracious personality of the loved husband and father.

In the year 1869 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Frink to Miss Lydia Hall, who was born and reared in Canada, being a daughter of Jesse and Sabra (Hubbell) Hall, both of whom were born in the province of Ontario, Canada, whence they came to Michigan when Mrs. Frink was about twenty-seven years of age. The father and mother now reside with Mrs. Frink, the former having attained the patriarchal age of eighty-six years (1904). In conclusion of this sketch we enter the following brief record concerning the children of the hon- ored subject : Jesse I. married Miss Lura Flannigan and after her death wedded Miss Frances Gee, and he is a successful farmer of this county; Zella A. is the wife of Wil- liam Gee, a prosperous farmer of Grand Traverse county ; Lulu is deceased, and Robert L .. Lillie M. and Myrtle B. still re- main at the old homestead with their wid- owed mother, the management of the farm being in the hands of the sons. Mr. Frink was supervisor for three years and at the time of his death was vice-president of the Grand Traverse Dairymen's Association. He was also vice-president of the Old Settlers' Association and was president of the Farm- ers' Institute of Antrim county. The first Sunday school in this section was held in his residence and he was a Sunday school super- intendent for a number of years. He was

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always on the official board and a trustee of the church. He was fond of music and was noted as a vocalist, being a leader of the church choir.

JOHN WILCOX.

All credit is due to a man who wins success in spite of obstacles and by persist- ency and energy gains a competence and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of Mr. Wilcox is that of such a man, for he came to Antrim county in the pioneer days and here worked out his way to definite independence and prosperity, his cash capi- tal at the time of coming to the county hav- ing been represented in less than five dol- lars. He adapted himself to the condition which he found here and has labored so con- secutively and effectively that he is now one of the substantial agriculturists of Custer township, where he is held in high regard by all who know him, having here maintained his home since 1879.

Mr. Wilcox is a native of the old Buck- eye state, having been born in Lorain county, Ohio, on the 8th of May, 1842, and being a son of George and Catherine (Swank) Wil- cox, the former of whom was born in Con- necticut, of stanch old colonial ancestry, while the latter was born in New Jersey. Isaac Wilcox, grandfather of the subject, was born in Connecticut, whence he removed to New York state in an early day. He later took up his residence in Ohio, while he passed the closing years of his life in Mon- roe county, Michigan, where he died in the year 1870. George Wilcox was a cooper by trade, being a specially skillful workman,

and for many years he had a cooper shop on his farm and found ready demand for the products of his labors in the line. While a resident of Lorain county, Ohio, he was a captain in the state militia, and during the Civil war he was an ardent supporter of the Union cause, though too old for active serv- ice in the army. He became the owner of a good farm in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he died in 1870, his wife having passed away in 1894. He identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and ever afterward remained a stalwart supporter of its principles, while he was called upon to serve in various offices of local trust. George and Catherine Wilcox became the parents of six children, namely : George B., Isaac, John, Emily, Sarah and Elizabeth. Isaac is likewise a successful farmer of Antrim county and of him in- dividual mention is made on other pages of this work.

John Wilcox, whose name initiates this sketch, passed his boyhood days in Ohio, where he secured his early educational train- ing in the district schools, while later he con- tinued to attend school in Michigan, whither his parents removed when he was about twelve years of age. The greater portion of his life thus far has been devoted to agri- cultural pursuits, and he is to be considered in this connection as one of the worthy pio- neers of Antrim county, having here taken up his residence in 1879, and having de- veloped a farm from the wild land, the greater portion having been heavily tim- bered. His homestead comprises forty acres, and all is available for cultivation, while the buildings on the place are of substantial order and all other permanent improvements in harmony therewith. A fine orchard of

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three acres gives good yields of apples, cher- ries, peaches, plums and other varieties of fruit, and in connection with other crops our subject makes a specialty of raising potatoes, to which he devotes several acres of land each year. He has been careful in his meth- ods and has so conserved his resources as to gain marked prosperity, having one of the attractive and valuable farms of this locality. There is a significance in this statement when we revert to the fact that when he arrived in the county his cash capital was summed upon in the notable aggregate of three dollars and seventy-five cents. Mr. Wilcox is public-spirited and progressive and has ever stood ready to contribute his quota in support of all enterprises and measures for the furtherance of the general welfare of the community. While he has never sought or desired office he is stanchly aligned as a supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, with which he has been identified from the time of at- taining to his legal majority, and he has served as a member of the school board of his district, taking much interest in the pro- motion of the educational advantages of the locality.

In the year 1862 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wilcox to Miss Eliza A. Burchard, who was born in the state of New York, whence she came as a child to Michi- gan, being a daughter of Norman and Eliza Burchard, who located in Kalamazoo county, this state, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been a far- mer by vocation. Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox we enter the follow- ing brief record, in conclusion of this sketch : Burt A., who married Miss Hattie Hollen- beck, is a successful farmer of Custer town-

ship; Cora is the wife of Jason Norton, of this township; Frederick E. is engaged in clerking in a store at Central Lake, this county, and Ernest remains at the parental home.

WILLIAM HAYWARD.

He to whom this sketch is dedicated is one of the sterling pioneers and prominent and influential farmers of Evangeline town- ship, Charlevoix county, where he has main- tained his home for more than thirty years. His homestead, to which he filed claim in May, 1872, is the south half of the north- east quarter of section twenty-four and is most eligibly located three miles northeast of the thriving town of Boyne City, which is Mr. Hayward's postoffice address. The land is gently rolling in contour and its consistency is the fine sandy loam which makes this section notably attractive for general agricultural purposes, the land having been originally covered with maple and elm timber. Mr. Hayward came to this county from Rives Junction, Jackson county, Michigan.

Mr. Hayward is a native son of the old Wolverine state, having been born in Lena- wee county, Michigan, on the 12th of April, 1849, and being a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of that section of our commonwealth. His father, Johnson Hayward, was born in Vermont, of stanch New England ancestry of Puritan line, and while he was a boy his parents removed from the old Green Mountain state to Mich- igan and settled in Lenawee county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Johnson Hayward devoted his active busi-

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ness career to agricultural pursuits and was summoned to his reward in the very prime of life, having died in Lansing, the present capital of Michigan, when but forty years of age, the subject of this sketch having been a small boy at the time of his father's demise. The mother was a native of Can- ada, of German descent, and died in Eaton Rapids about 1892.

The subject of this sketch passed his youth in his native county, in whose com- mon schools he secured his early educa- tional training, while he continued to assist in the work of the home farm until he had attained the age of eighteen years. He then served an apprenticeship at the trade of brick and stone mason, becoming an ex- pert workman, and he has devoted more or less attention to his trade since attaining his legal majority. In 1870 he was married, and two years later he came with his wife to the wilds of Charlevoix county, whose de- velopment as an agricultural section had scarcely passed the inception point. He had saved a little money, secured through work- ing at his trade, and upon coming to this county he erected for a domicile a small log cabin, covered with bark for a roof, while two years later he erected a larger and sub- stantial log house, which has since continued to be the family home. Upon coming to the county Mr. Hayward took up a homestead, as noted in the opening paragraph of this sketch, and through his energetic and well directed efforts he has reclaimed eighty acres of land to cultivation, while to his orig- inal claim he has added by the purchase of a continuous tract of fifty acres, so that he now has a fine farm of nearly two hundred acres, upon which he has made good im- provements, devoting the place to diversi-

fied agriculture and having met with mer- ited success. He keeps an average herd of twelve milch cows and devotes special at- tention to the manufacturing of butter, for which he finds a ready demand during the summer-resort season, Mrs. Hayward hav- ing attained a high reputation locally for her ability in turning out the finest quality of butter, while she utilizes in the connec- tion the modern separators and other acces- sories for facilitating the work and insuring absolute sanitation and cleanliness. Mr. Hayward is known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen and commands un- qualified esteem in the community in which he has so long made his home. In politics he supports the cause of the Republican party, so far as national and state issues are in- volved, but in principle and in sympathy he is a Prohibitionist. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Maccabees and Patrons of Hus- bandry, while in religion he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

In the year 1870, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. Hayward was united in mar- riage to Miss Rosette Mann, of Jackson county, this state, and she lived only a few years after their removal to Charlevoix county, where her death occurred in 1876. She was survived by two children, Bertha, who is now the wife of Frank Prescott, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan ; and William, who died at the age of one year. In 1877 Mr. Hayward was united in marriage to his present wife, whose maiden name was Hel- enda Goodson and who was born in Cam- den, Indiana. Of three children of this union we record that Allen died at the age of six years and Hattie at the age of three, and that Sarah Belle remains at the par-

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ental home, being at the time of this writ- ing a student in the high school at Bay Springs.

DAVID RAINEY.

Among the sons of the Emerald Isle, who have emigrated to the land of stars and stripes and here found opportunities such as were lacking in the old country, and who have had the shrewdness and insight neces- sary to take advantage of such openings, is he whose name appears above. David Rainey, who resides in a comfortable home in Jordan township, Antrim county, Michi- gan, was born in Antrim county, Ireland, in 1840. He received such education as was possible in the schools of his native land and upon attaining manhood enlisted in the Brit- ish navy. After a service of a short time he came to the United States and enlisted in the American navy in June, 1863, serving until the close of the war of the Rebellion. In 1865 he commenced sailing on the great lakes and followed this vocation until 1874. In the meantime he had homesteaded a farm in Jordan township, Antrim county, Michi- gan, and in 1871 he erected there a rude log shanty, which in subsequent years has been superseded by the present comfortable and commodious residence. Mr. Rainey was one of the first settlers in this part of Antrim county and has been a witness of the won- derful development and progress which has characterized this section of the state. He is the owner of eighty-two acres of fine, arable land, of which he has cleared and im- proved about thirty acres, having it under a fine state of cultivation and producing satis-

factory returns from the soil as a reward for the thoughtful care and attention which he gives to it. He is painstaking and dis- criminating in his operations, giving due at- tention to every department of the enter- prise, and is regarded as one of the progres- sive farmers of his township. He is diversi- fied in his labor and besides the ordinary la- bor of tilling the soil he gives some special attention to the raising of chickens and the production of honey, having a large number of bees. He also keeps other live stock and has a small but very productive orchard, so that, generally considered, his is one of the best little farms in the county.

For seven years after locating upon this place Mr. Rainey "batched" it, but in 1868 he wedded Miss Jane Orman, by whom he had four children, David A., Isabella I., Alonzo W. and Nellie. Mrs. Jane Rainey died and in 1895 Mr. Rainey married Miss Anna Cameron, his present helpmate. In matters political Mr. Rainey renders a stanch allegiance to the Republican party and has served his fellow citizens in the ca- pacity of constable, performing the duties of the position in an eminently satisfactory manner. All that he has has been acquired by dint of his own exertion and now he is enjoying the regard and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

C. L. BAILEY.

It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requir- ing definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of

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calm, consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide and inspiration to young men whose for- tunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representa- tive professional men of Mancelona, Mich- igan, and he is gladly given personal men- tion in this volume.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 37

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