Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 5

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

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

the wilderness that in hunting for a suitable site for a house he became lost and had some difficulty in regaining his family. He at first erected a large log cabin, which was subsequently replaced by a larger and more commodious frame dwelling. He labored indefatigably and cleared the land and so was finally enabled to put forty acres under cultivation. He was by trade a mill sawyer and erected a mill one mile from his home on Intermediate lake, it being run by water power. This mill was built in 1879 and Mr. Wilson operated it about ten years and then built a steam sawmill two and one-half miles east of his home, though also on In- termediate lake and on what was known as the Ox Bow. He operated this mill until his death, which occurred in 1891, at the age of fifty-three years. He had been in failing health for some five or six years and in the hope of regaining it he took a trip to Utah, but the effort was without avail and he died while in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of five children, of whom four are living, namely: Emmanuel, who lives where his father's first mill stood; Katie, who is a teacher in Oregon, was for sixteen years engaged in that occupation in Antrim county ; Minnie, who is the widow of Frank Cutler, is living at Dayton, Ohio; her daughter Agatha makes her home with Mrs. Cross and is attending school; the de- ceased child died at the age of six years. After Mr. Wilson's death, Mrs. Cross, with the assistance of her son Emmanuel, carried on the farming until her marriage with Mr. Cross and during the last three years of this period she operated it alone, owing to the fact that her son Emmanuel had married and moved elsewhere. Since her union with Mr. Cross in 1902, they have removed to

the village of Central Lake, where they re- side in a pleasant and commodious home, which is the center of attraction for a large circle of friends. She retains the old farm and also has several acres planted in orch- ards. Mr. Wilson was all his years an active Democrat in politics and was an influential man in local affairs. He was a Master Ma- son, belonging to the lodge at Torch Lake, and stood high in the estimation of the mem- bers of the time-honored order.

When Mr. and Mrs. Wilson first settled in this community they were without money and it was necessary for Mr. Wilson to work out by the day some time, his occupation re- quiring his absence for a week at a time at a distance of fifteen miles. Mrs. Wilson was thus compelled to remain alone with her three helpless children and during the long dreary winter nights bears would come around the house and oftentimes the family dog would become engaged in fights with them. During the second winter the dog treed a bear, which finally descended and attacked the dog. This occurred about one- half mile from the house and Mr. Wilson had no other weapon but a jack knife; how- ever, he grabbed the bear by the ear and cut the animal's throat, causing its death. It was a large specimen of its kind and was so strong in its death struggles that it tore up roots as large as a man's arm. As stated above, it frequently happened that Mr. Wil- son was absent from home from Sunday night until Saturday night and during six months of one winter season Mrs. Wilson did not see the face of a human being besides her children and her husband. She had many thrilling experiences during these days but was a woman of courage and fearless- ness and bore her part in rearing the family

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

to manhood and womanhood. It is stated that for twelve years she was the only re- course of the women of her locality during confinement, there being no physician closer than Charlevoix, twelve miles distant. This was emphasized strongly by the fact that frequently snow was so deep as to make a trip impossible so that Mrs. Wilson's ef- ficiency as a midwife was valuable indeed. She had had no former experience, but had read extensively and possessed a large share of good common sense, which may be ap- preciated from the statement that she was the sole attendant at twenty-two births, and of this number she lost neither child nor mother. In her own two confinements Mrs. Wilson was attended only by her husband. At one time during her husband's absence, their little daughter six years old fell and cut her throat on an ax which Mrs. Wilson kept for protection, the cut being so deep as to expose the chords in the child's throat. Being alone, Mrs. Wilson bandaged the wound as best she could and by careful nurs- ing saved the child's life. Following the birth of one of her children Mrs. Wilson was seized with a severe attack of fever, during which she was delirious for several days. Her husband was absent and her eldest child, ten years old, was her nurse and such was the excellent care rendered by the child that she recovered from the fever without serious effects.

As before stated, Mrs. Wilson was mar- ried to George W. Cross in August, 1902. Mr. Cross was born in Leeds county, On- tario, on the 23d of July, 1835, and was reared to manhood under the parental roof. He was reared to farming life and spent the first thirty-five years of his life in his native country. In 1870 he came direct to Antrim

county, settling in Central Lake township, three miles northwest of Eastport, at the head of Torch lake. He had bought a re- linquishment and took it as a homestead. About five acres of the land was cleared and on it was a small frame house. The balance of the land was all covered with dense timber and much hard labor was required to bring the place up to a satisfactory condition. Mr. Cross lived on this place for twenty-five years, during which time he had succeeded in putting seventy acres under the plow and making a number of good buildings.

It was fifteen years after moving on this place before he was able to realize anything for his lumber and often then he only realized enough from it to pay for the labor of cut- ting and often during the last years returns from it were very moderate. Though he still owns this place he does not operate it personally, but rents it. Mr. Cross has been twice married, the first time in Canada to Miss Orpha Clow, who is a sister of Mur- ray and Wallace Clow, of Central Lake. To them were born six children, of whom five were reared in Antrim county. Their names are Alden E., who is a resident of Charle- voix and is superintendent of the seed house of D. M. Ferry : Hattie is the wife of Ray Wilkinson, of Central Lake township; Per- melia is the wife of Willis Wilkinson, also of Central Lake; Lydia is the wife of Wil- liam Hopkins, of Toledo, Ohio; Azella is the wife of Charles Obney, of Dayton, Ohio. James, Mrs. Cross' oldest child, married Phoebe Ellis, of Central Lake, and is now living on Mrs. Cross's old homestead in Banks township. He has one-half of the old homestead and, with other additions made by him, now owns one hundred and sixty acres.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

Mr. Cross was formerly a Republican, who became later convinced that the Demo- cratic policy was most conducive to the pub- lic welfare, so transferred his affiliations to the latter party, with which party he is now aligned.

CALVIN CUTTLER.

Among the enterprising citizens of An- trim county who owe their success and ad- vancement in life to their own industry and well directed efforts, is Calvin Cuttler, of Forest Home township. He is a native of the dominion of Canada, where he was born in 1843 and is the son of Calvin Cuttler, a na- tive of the same place, who was born in 1814. The subject devoted all the years of his youth to obtaining a fair knowledge of the common school branches and upon attaining his majority was fairly well qualified to take up the battle of life on his own account. He followed the pursuits of farming in his na- tive land until 1880, when, feeling that in "the states" were to be found better oppor- tunities for a man of energy and thrift, he came to Antrim county and settled upon his present farmstead. Everything in this lo- cality was then in its primitive condition and it was necessary to carry the most com- mon household supplies a long distance. Mr. Cuttler states that he has paid as high as one and one-half dollars a pound for tea and twenty dollars per barrel for flour. Not- withstanding the unfavorable condition of things at that time he was not dismayed, but persevered in his efforts, and the subse- quent years have proved the wisdom of his course. He added to his original tract from time to time as his financial condition per-

mitted and is today the owner of one hun- dred and sixty-four acres of land, of which sixty-five are under cultivation. Mr. Cut- tler's wife is also interested in the farmstead in a financial way and receives her due share of its products. She retains control of the orchards, comprising sixteen acres of splen- clid fruit trees, and has also given special attention to the raising of potatoes, her average annual sales amounting to over two hundred bushels. In connection with farm- ing, Mr. Cuttler has given considerable at- tention to lumbering operations, in which he has achieved a distinct success. Much hard labor has been necessitated in order to de- velop the farm to its present high state of efficiency, but Mr. Cuttler and his wife are now reaping the fruits of their years of hard and consecutive toil and now their farm compares favorably with any in the town- ship.

In 1870 Mr. Cuttler was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret McCarthy, the daughter of Daniel and Johanna ( Barrow) McCarthy. Mrs. Cuttler's father was a na- tive of London, England, born in 1824, while her mother was born in 1847 at Dublin, Ireland. Johanna McCarthy was married at the age of fifteen and became the mother of seventeen children. To Mr. and Mrs. Cuttler have been born the following children : Charles, John, Catherine, Calvin, Daniel, Benjamin, Frank, Libbie, Margaret (deceased). James (deceased), Floyd (de- ceased), and two others who died in infancy. The son John enlisted for service during the Spanish-American war in the Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry and with that cominand served in the Philippine islands. He is now a captain on a boat on Torch Lake. The subject of this sketch is a man

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

of mature judgment, has led a clean and honorable life and retains the warm regard of his acquaintances. He is up-to-date in his methods and does not believe in following in the old roads when more modern methods will complete the work quicker and easier. In the social circles of the township he and his family hold a high position and their individual qualities have won for them the esteem of the entire community.

DAVID REESE.

The history of the loyal sons and repre- sentative citizens of Antrim county would not be complete should the name that heads this review be omitted. When the fierce fire of rebellion was raging throughout the Southland, threatening to destroy the Union, he responded with patriotic fervor to the call for volunteers and in some of the bloodiest battles for which that great war was noted proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well. During a useful life in the region where he lives he has labored dili- gently to promote the interests of the peo- ple, working earnestly and with little regard for his personal advancement or ease. He has been devoted to the public welfare and in all of his relations his highest ambition has been to benefit the community and ad- vance its standard of citizenship.

David Reese is a native of Herkimer county, New York, where he was born on the 15th of March, 1853, and is the son of Fred and Margie (Walroth) Reese, the for- mer a native of Germany and a farmer by occupation. The subject is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his ele- mentary education, but his acquisition of

knowledge did not cease with the close of his school days, as he has by habits of close reading and observation become a well in- formed man on general topics. Upon com- pleting the common school course, he ap- prenticed himself to the cooper's trade and for a number of years was employed in that occupation. In 1861 when the tocsin of war was sounded throughout the land Mr. Reese evinced his patriotism by enlisting in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served his country for three years and one month. His command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, being under the command of Gen- eral Wool, and participated in all the cam- paigns and battles in which that army was engaged. He received an honorable dis- charge from the army at the close of the war and returned to his native state. In 1867 he came to Michigan and located in Osceola county, but several years afterward removed to Kentucky, where he remained two years. In 1885 Mr. Reese came to An- trim county, Michigan, and purchased forty acres of land in Forest Home township, which comprise his present homestead. He has made all the improvements upon this tract, consisting of a neat and commodious residence, a substantial barn and the neces- sary outbuildings for the housing of his stock and farm products. He has thirty acres of land under the plow and raises all the crops common to this section of the state. His farm is highly cultivated and contains many improvements that reflect credit upon the proprietor and bespeak for him a familiarity with every detail of his calling. He has followed agriculture with commend- able zeal and energy and his well directed efforts have yielded him rich returns.

In politics Mr. Reese casts his ballot and

NCELONA. MICHIGAN. T afinal 3 '24

HUGH M. COLDREN

DIES AT BELLAIRE Bearch 29, 1924 Returns Friday from Detroit and an Hour Later Is

Stricken. 1924

From Bellaire Correspondence:

The people of Bellaire were shocked last Saturday morning to learn that at 2:30 A. M. the Grim Reaper had called in their midst and taken from among them a highly respected citi- zen, Hugh M. Coldren.

Mr. Coldren had just returned Fri- day, from a trip to the southern part of the state, where he attended the Federal Farm Loan Convention at Grand Rapids and afterwards visited his daughter in Detroit. Within an hour after arriving at home he was taken ill and complained of a pain in his head. He went to bed and soon became unconscious and remained in this condition until the time of his death.

Hugh M. Coldren was born at To- peka, Indiana, April 18, 1864. The family consisted of ten children, three of whom survive him. They are: Dr. Cassius Coldren of Milford, Iowa; Ora M. Coldren with Cleveland Cliff Iron Compnay, Negaunee, Michigan; and Mrs. Fletcher Fought of Topeka, Indiana.

Mr. Coldren was a student at the University of Michigan in 1886 and a graduate of Hillsdale College in 1888. He was married to Kittie Mills in 1889. To this union were born three children, one of which died in infancy, Alice, Mrs. Archie Myers, of Detroit, and Harold Coldren who still lives at home.

Mr. Coldren was superintendent of schools at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 1889-92; and county school commis- sioner at Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, 1892-6. He was superintendent of the schools at Mancelona from 1896 to 1900 and afterward county school commissioner of Antrim county until 1912. He bought the furniture busi- ness of J. W. Mathewson at Bellaire in 1900, which business he had con- ducted to the time of his death.

Mr. Coldren always took an active part in religious and social work and was always ready to help in the time of need. His clean manly life, his straight forward integrity and

his kindly attitude towards his fellow men won him the respect and love of all with whom he came in contact.

The funeral was conducted from the home Wednesday afternoon.

OBITUARY

HUGH M. COLDREN

Hugh M. Coldren was born near the city of LaGrange, LaGrange Co., Indiana, April 18, 1864, and died at his home in ' Bellaire, Michigan, March 29, 1924 aged 59 years 11 months and 11 days.

Mr. Coldren's parents died while he was quite young. He remained at the old home until 17 years old when he en- tered Hillsdale College from which insti- tution he graduated in the spring of 1888. The next fall he began to superintend the schools of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, where he taught for five years. In 1893 he was chosen superintendent of schools of Poke Co .. Wisconsin, which office he held for two years, and for nearly two years he was superintendent of a school in Minn. In 1896 he became the super- intendent of the Mancelona high school where he taught until 1900, when he came to Bellaire and bought the furniture and hardware business which he contin- ued until his death. 'In the spring of 1901 he was elected to office of County Commissioner of schools of Antrim Co., which he held for ten years.

On August 8, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Kitty Mills. To this union were born three children, one who died in infancy and the other two still living, Mrs. Alice Meyers of Detroit and Harold of Bellaire.

Mr. Coldren leaves to mourn his depar- ture a wife, two children, two grand- children, one sister and two brothers.

Mr. Coldren was a member of the Ma- sonic lodge. In early life he was convert- ed in the old school house on his father's farın and joined the Baptist church. Since he has been in Bellaire he has been an active worker in the Methodist Epis- copal church.

Funeral services were held in the M. E. church Wednesday at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. D. A. Rood, assisted by Rev. Slee, presiding elder and Rev. Gibbs conduct- ing the services. His remains were placed temporarily in the vault at Lake- view cemetery and as soon as weather conditions permit will be laid away in the cemetery at Mancelona.

antrim County Record april 3, 1924 1 68

say them again-five times out ten they may be taken for grante Even so, there are endless varlation on these two themes in the sprin modes. One example of the box cos and straight skirt is shown here. Is evident that it was intended for taller person than the young woma wearing it, for skirts In street clothe are from ten to tweive inches from th

Charles R. Nash, assistant commis aloner of internal revenue, who told the · special senate investigating com- mittee that in three years 796 em- ployees of the bureau of internal rev- nue had been dismissed from the ervice on charges of graft and col- ision.

U. S. GOVERNMENT MARKET REPORT

Washington .- For the week ending Marcil 26 .- FRUITS AND VEGETA- BLES-Northern sacked round white potatoes, $1.20@1.45 per 100 lbs. in Chi- bago, $1.00@1.15 at shipping points. Northwestern extra fancy winesap ap- ples, $2.00@2.50 per box leading mar- kets. Texas new stock cabbage, $50.00 @70.00 in leading markets, $25.00@28.00 2. o. b. Yellow onions, $2.00@2.50 sacked per 100 lbs. In consuming cen- ters. Florida celery, $3.50@4.25 per 10- inch crate of 4-8 dozen stalks. mostly $3.00 f. o. b. Sanford, Fla. Texas spin- ach, $1.25@1.50 in consuming centers, 90@95c f. o. b.

LIVE STOCK-Hogs, $7.65 for the op and $7.30@7.60 for the bulk. Me- lium and good beef steers, $8.10 @11.75; butcher cows and heifers, $4.00@10.50; eeder steers, $5.25@8.50; light and me- lium weight veal calves, $8.00@11.75. Tat lambs, $14.50@16.75; feeding lambs, 14.00@15.75; yearlings, $12.00@15.00; at ewes, $7.25@11.50.

GRAIN-No. 1 dark northern spring wheat, $1.14 % @1.30% Minneapolis; No. " hard winter, $1.10 Chicago, $1.06 St. Louis; No. 2 red winter wheat, $1.16 St. Louis; No. 2 yellow corn, 73@731/2c Min- heapclis; No. 3 yellow corn, 7612 @79c Chicago, 73c St. Louis; No. 3 white oats, 7 1/2 0 481/2c Chicago, 491/4 @491/20 St. Louis, 4414c Minneapolis.

DAIRY PRODUCTS-Butter, 92 score, 61c Chicago. Cheese at Wisconsin rimary markets: Single daisies, 21c; ouble daisies, 20%c; longhorns, 2014 c; quare prints, 211/2C.

HAY-No. 1 timothy, $25.00 Cincin- ati. $26.00 Chicago, $18.50 Minneapolis, 26.60 St. Louis; No. 2 timothy, $22.50 Chicago, $17.00 Minneapolis; No. 1. al- alfa, $28.00 Chicago, $22.00 Minneap- lis; No. 1 prairie, $20.00 Chicago, $16.00 Minneapolis, $19.50 St. Louis.

Shipping Quiz May Cost Big Sum, O'Connor Says

Washington .- Expenditure of a large mount of public funds may be nec- ssary to compile data requested of

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

influence with the Republican party, but ex- hibits no ambition for office holding. His old army associations are kept alive through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Lethania Tuttle and to them have been born four children, namely: Flora, who is the wife of Ed Wolcott; Kittie, Jessie and Myrtle, who still remain under the parental roof. Mr. Reese and family mingle with the best society of the township and have won a great number of true and warm hearted friends.

WARREN P. WILCOX.

Warren P. Wilcox, of Bellaire, Antrim county, Michigan, was born in Genesee county, New York, February 5, 1833. His father, Noyes W., was also a native of the Empire state, the family having originally come from Rhode Island. The subject's grandfather, Josiah E., was a Revolution- ary soldier and took a prominent part in the struggle for independence. He was located at Buffalo during the war of 1812 and the son, Noyes, remembers having witnessed the burning of that city. The subject's father died in Ingham county, Michigan, where he had settled in 1854.

years to the interest of this property and in 1874 came to Crawford county, locating seven miles from Roscommon, svhere he took up a homestead. Some two or three years later he engaged in preaching under the auspices of the Methodist Protestant church as a local preacher. He was often compelled to hold a number of services each Sunday and organized a good many so- cieties. He was practically alone through- out the field he covered in this work and devoted several years to these efforts, re- ceiving no income except that received from his farm. During this time he organized four societies and served them as pastor for four years, when he was made district chair- man, having supervision over several other preachers, visiting a number of places need- ing assistance, namely, Crawford, Roscom- mon, Otsego and Kalkaska counties. Two years later he quit the farm and took the pastorate at the charge at Berryville, having two classes to serve during the following two years. About this time he severed his relations with the Methodist Protestant church and affiliated with the Congrega- tional church, becoming the first pastor of the church at Bellaire in the fall of 1883. About the time Mr. Wilcox came here there also arrived a young Methodist preacher by the name of R. M. Middleton and they to- gether ministered to the religiously inclined people of the locality, organizing both Con- gregational and Sunday school classes. Mr. Wilcox organized a Congregational church at Central Lake and erected a church with- out seats, costing one thousand dollars. At

W. P. Wilcox attended the public schools during his youth and in 1854 came to Michigan, accompanying his father's fam- ily. He bought land in Ingham county, of which he improved one hundred and sixty . the same time he built a church at Bellaire, acres, retaining possession of this land for the two being dedicated in January, 1885. The two societies had a membership of about forty persons, but they had the respect and twenty years, it still being owned by mem- bers of the family. He devoted these twenty

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

tling in the latter state when the country was new and experiencing all the vicissitudes and hardships incident to pioneer life. The father of H. M. Coldren was reared in Ohio and when a young man moved to LaGrange county, Indiana, of which he was one of the early pioneers. The old farm which he cleared and reduced from the wilderness is still in possession of the family, being owned and cultivated by a brother of the subject who occupies the original homestead, a build- ing in a good state of preservation consider- ing the number of years it has weathered the storms of time.

Of the seven living children of the sub- ject's parents, one, as above stated, rèsides in Indiana; one in Negaum, Michigan; an- other, who is a successful physician and sur- geon, practices his profession in Iowa; a fourth brother is a prominent editor and in- fluential politician of Kansas ; the fifth being a distinguished minister of the Baptist church and since 1878 a missionary to India where he spent two periods of ten years each, and who is now preparing to return to that distant land for another absence of the same length of time after spending a few years with relatives and friends in the United States. H. M. Coldren, at the age of ten years, lost his mother and when fourteen years old he was deprived by the ruthless hand of death of a father's care and guid- ance, thus early being thrown upon his own resources, which fact had much to do in fostering habits of industry and self reliance and indicating his future course of action. He spent his childhood and youth on the family homestead where he early learned to appreciate the dignity of honest toil, and during the three years following his father's death he devoted himself to farm labor with

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 5

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