Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 70

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

tained his home and business headquarters. Here he established himself as a pension attorney, while later he established in the connection a fire insurance agency. In con- nection with pension matters he became very widely known throughout all of northern Michigan, being in close touch with the old veterans in this part of the state and having accomplished much in securing to them their just dues and recognition in the matter of pensions. He still continues to handle more or less business in this line, but since 1902 has given his attention more particularly to the real estate business, in which line his enterprise has already attained to great mag- nitude and importance, especially in the handling of timber lands. Upon his books are represented large blocks of valuable tim- ber land in Michigan, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama and elsewhere, and of these fine properties, offer- ing the most desirable investments, full and detailed description is given in the special literature compiled by Mr. Greacen and sup- plied from his office to all who may be in- terested. He has thousands of acres of fine timber land under his control and is ac- quainted with the leading lumbermen in the various sections of the Union, so that his brokerage facilities are unexcelled, while he also does a general real estate business, handling both farm and town property, im- proved and unimproved. He is one of the representative business men of Kalkaska and one of its most loyal and public spirited cit- izens, while he commands the unqualified esteem of the people of the county in which he has maintained his home for so long a term of years.

In the matter of political allegiance Mr. Greacen has ever been stanchly arrayed as an advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, in whose ranks he has been an active worker, serving as delegate to county, district and congressional con- ventions and doing all in his power to for- ward the interests of the "grand old party." He served four years as clerk of Excelsior township, and from 1883 until 1890 was in- cumbent of the office of township supervisor, in which connection he proved a valuable factor in promoting and protecting local in- terests. In 1884 Mr. Greacen was elected judge of probate of the county, in which of- fice he held forth for four years, then was re- elected four years later, serving eight years, and for seven years he served the county as superintendent of the poor. For several years he also acted as county agent of the state board of corrections and charities, and for a time he was also a state correspondent of the government department of agricul- ture. He is identified with several fraternal orders, notably the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past noble grand of the Kalkaska lodge and its representative in the grand lodge on one or more occasions, while he is also a member of the encampment of the order. He served for several years as district deputy in this jurisdiction and within this period effected the organization of four prosperous lodges. He is also affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. of which he was chancellor four years, while he also has represented the same in the grand lodge of the state. His abiding interest in his old comrades in arms is further indicated by his affiliation with Colonel Baker Post. No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kal- kaska, of which he has served as comman-

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der, ever taking a deep interest in its wel- fare.

On the 3d of May, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Greacen to Miss Marga- ret Morrison, of Commerce, Oakland county, this state, where she was born on the 8th of September, 1848, and of the children of this union we incorporate a brief record in conclusion of this sketch. Clara E. is a member of the bar of the District of Colum- bia and for the past decade has been one of the legal advisers to the secretary of the United States treasury. While incumbent of a clerkship in the treasury department in the city of Washington, she completed a course in the law department of Columbian Univer- sity, in that city, and was duly graduated and admitted to the bar, in the meanwhile having continued to discharge her clerical duties, while she had acted as a legal adviser in the treasury department during the time of prosecuting her technical studies. She was then formally appointed to her present position by Lyman B. Gage, then secretary of the treasury, and so great value has been placed on her services that she has ever since been retained in the office, being the first woman ever appointed to such a position, while she has attained a high reputation for exact and comprehensive knowledge of the science of jurisprudence and for special fa- cility in practically applying such knowl- edge. She was reared in Kalkaska, in whose schools she received her early educational discipline, and prior to going to the national capital she was court stenographer for the Muskegon circuit. She is the only repre- sentative of Kalkaska county in government departmental work in Washington. James S., the only son of our subject, died at the untimely age of twenty-three years, having

been a young man of fine character and of great promise, so that his early demise was the more deplorable. Zora V. is an able as- sistant in her father's office and has familiar- ized herself with all details of his business, so that she proves a valuable and efficient coadjutor. Susie, the youngest of the chil- dren, is a student in the local high school, being a member of the class of 1906. The family is prominent in the social life of the community, and the attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality. Mrs. Greacen is a member of the Baptist church, while Mr. Greacen is a member of the Christian Sci- entist demonination.

EDGAR B. BABCOCK, M. D.

In the person of Dr. Babcock the medi- cal fraternity has a most able and success- ful representative in the city and county of Kalkaska, where he is held in high regard as a citizen and as a skilled physician and surgeon. He has identified himself in a helpful way with local interests, and is at the present time incumbent of the office of postmaster of Kalkaska, having served in this position since 1899.

The Doctor is a native of the old Wol- verine state and has here passed practically his entire life thus far, never faltering in his allegiance to the fine old commonwealth in which he was ushered into the world. He was born in the village of Lamont, Ottawa county, Michigan, on the 16th of November, 1857, and is a son of Edgar and Lavina (Phillips) Babcock, both of whom are de- ceased. The father of our subject was a native of the state of Vermont, and he con-

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tinued his residence in New England until 1850, when he came to Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his life, his mar- riage having been here solemnized. He be- came a prominent and well known lumber- man of Ottawa county and was a man who was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

Dr. Babcock secured his early educa- tional discipline in the public schools of his native county, having completed a course in the high school at Lamont. At the age of fifteen years he began to assist his father in the handling of the details of his lumber- ing business, finding employment in the mill and the lumber woods and continuing to be actively identified with the enterprise for a period of seven years, in the meanwhile con- tinuing his studies in a private way. At the expiration of the interval noted he was matriculated in the Detroit College of Medi- cine, in the metropolis of the state, where he completed the prescribed technical course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1884 and securing his coveted degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the active work of his chosen profession by locating in Kalkaska, where he remained about one year, at the expiration of which he removed to Williamsburg, Grand Traverse county, where he continued in practice four years. He then, in 1889, returned to Kalkaska, where he has ever since retained his resi- dence and professional headquarters, having built up a large and representative practice and being known as one of the leading mem- bers of his profession here. He keeps in close touch with the advances made in the sciences of medicine and surgery, is inde- pendent and original in his professional la- bors, yet duly conservative and ever mind-

ful of the unwritten code. He has an excel- lent library of the best standard literature pertaining to his profession, and also avails himself of the leading periodical publica- tions of a technical order, while he is af- filiated with the Michigan State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Wexford Medical Society. During the administration of President Harrison, the Doctor was a member of the board of pension examining surgeons for Kalkaska county. In a political way he accords an uncompromising allegiance to the Republi- can party, in whose cause he has been an active and effective worker. He has served as chairman of the Republican central com- mittee of his county, and in 1896 was a dele- gate to the national convention of the party, in St. Louis, where President Mckinley was nominated for the presidency for the first term. He is an active worker in the various campaigns and is known as one of the wheelhorses of the party in this section of the state. In March, 1899, he received his commission as postmaster of Kalkaska, having been appointed by the late lamented President McKinley, and upon the expira- tion of his first term he was appointed as his own successor, so that he remains in tenure of the office at the time of this writ- ing. Within his regime the business of the office has been increased by fully fifty per cent., and from the same one free rural-de- livery route is maintained. The Doctor has equipped the office with modern conven- iences and accessories, the same being lo- cated in the Kalkaska County Bank build- ing, and he spares no pains to make the lo- cal service the best possible. He is an ap- preciative member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has passed the grades of the

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chivalric body, being identified with the commandery of Knights Templar in Trav- erse City, while he served for some time as master of Kalkaska Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He is also affiliated with the local lodge of Knights of Pythias.

On the 13th of June, 1883, in Kalkaska, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Bab- cock to Miss Mary B. Darby, who was born in the state of New York, whence she came to Kalkaska with her stepfather. Dr. and Mrs. Babcock have no children. They are prominent in social life of their home town, and a gracious hospitality is ever in evidence in their attractive residence.

AMBROSE E. PALMER.

Prominently identified with the indus- trial, business and civic affairs of Kalkaska county is the subject of this sketch, who is president of the Kalkaska County Bank, at Kalkaska, and who resides on his beautiful farmstead three miles east of the city.

Mr. Palmer is a native of the old Empire state and a representative of a family whose name has been identified with the annals of American history ever since the early colon- ial days. He was born in the village of Pleasantville, Westchester county, New York, on the 5th of August, 1849, and is a son of Stephen and Sarah (Hobby) Pal- mer, both of whom were likewise native of that state, where the Palmer family was founded as early as 1643, in which year three brothers of the name came to the new world from the north of England and set- tled in what is now the state of Connecti- cut. The parents of our subject passed their

entire lives in the state of their birth, and the father devoted his attention principally to farming during his active business ca- reer.

Ambrose E. Palmer remained at the par- ental home and assisted in the work of the farm during his youth, and he secured his early educational discipline in the public schools, while later he continued his studies in the seminary at Urbana, Massachusetts, where he also became a member of the Mas- sachusetts Home Guards. At the age of twenty years Mr. Palmer initiated his inde- pendent career, coming west and remaining for a short time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whence he came to Michigan in May, 1869, taking up his residence at Torch Lake, An- trim county, where he secured a responsi- ble position in the superintending of milling and lumbering operations and also gained his title to being a pioneer of this section of the state. He was thus engaged for a period of six years, scaling logs during the winter season and in the summer giving his atten- tion to other details of the great lumbering industry in the capacity of general foreman. At the expiration of the interval mentioned he removed to Elk Rapids. He was at this time serving as a member of the county board of supervisors, and said board enlisted his services still farther in connection with the systematizing of the county records and the adjusting and straightening out of com- plicated accounts of a public nature. At this time he evolved a new system of keep- ing the books of the county clerk and county treasurer, simplifying the work and insur- ing the accuracy of the records, convenience of reference, etc., the manifest superiority of his plans leading to their adoption, while it is pleasing to note the fact that his system

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is still in use in the county and, through the medium of the office of the auditor general of the state, has also been adopted in many counties of the commonwealth. His term as supervisor expired before he had con- pleted this special work, and when his ser- vices in the connection were no longer de- manded Mr. Palmer came to Kalkaska, tak- ing up his residence here in April, 1876. The board of supervisors of Kalkaska county at once employed him in a similar capacity to that in which he had served in Antrim county, and he devoted the following few months to the introduction of his effec- tive system in this county. In the mean- while he opened a dry-goods store in the town. having been early impressed with the desirability of Kalkaska as a place of resi- dence and promising business field. He has ever since been identified with this line of enterprise, and is now senior member of the oldest mercantile firm in the city, that of Palmer & Hobbes Company, and in the large and well appointed establishment of the firm are handled not only dry goods but also clothing, men's furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc., the stock in each department being select and comprehensive, while the patronage of the concern is of a representa- tive order, ramifying throughout the wide radius of country normally tributary to the county seat. Mr. Palmer was actively iden- tified with the carrying forward of this en- terprise until 1886, when he retired from personal executive connection with the firm, though he still retains his interest in the business. In the earlier years of his resi- dence here Mr. Palmer also became identi- fied to a considerable extent with lumbering operations, to which he devoted more or less attention for about four years. In 1886 he

initiated the development of the present fine farm, by purchasing six hundred acres of land in Kalkaska township, the same being covered with the original growth of valuable hardwood timber. He employed a large number of men in the cutting of the timber, which he placed on the market, and in the meanwhile gave careful attention to prop- erly preparing the denuded land for cultiva- tion. In 1887 he took up his residence on his farm, which is most eligibly located three miles east of Kalkaska, being as fine agri- cultural land as can be found in the state. The land is gently rolling in character and its rich loam is of exceptional integrity and the place is well watered by running streams of clear and pure water. About two hun- dred acres are under cultivation and the re- turns secured are such as to justify the owner's faith in and appreciation of the great basic art of agriculture. He has for the past several years given special attention to dairying, and this department of his farm- ing enterprise is one in which he takes much pride and from which he secures distinctive profits in operation. He keeps an average of thirty milch cows, and the greater por- tion of the fine butter manufactured is sold to private customers. On his farm Mr. Pal- mer has a fine orchard of eighteen acres, de- voted principally to apples, peaches and plums, and he is now preparing to utilize an additional twenty-five acres for orchard purposes, the trees having already been set on a considerable portion of the tract. Mr. Palmer has not allowed himself to follow in the beaten paths in his farming enterprise, but has availed himself of scientific methods and the best facilities, while he has done much experimenting in connection with the cultivation of fruits, grasses, cereals, sugar

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beets, etc., co-operating with the govern- ment experiment station at the Michigan Agricultural College, near Lansing, and thus being able to gain much valuable assistance and to aid in a reciprocal way by reporting results. He has the greatest of admiration for the independent life of the farm and is an enthusiast as an agriculturist. Since 1894 Mr. Palmer has acted as lecturer for farmers' institutes, conducted under state auspices, and he has thus appeared before many representative gatherings of farmers in the most diverse sections of Michigan. The Palmer farm is a model in every re- spect, and is one of the show places of this county, having the best of improvements, including a fine modern residence and other substantial buildings. He is one of the most prominent and valued members of the Grange in this section, having been identi- fied with the organization since 1887 and having been an active worker in the same. He is identified with the county Grange and also the subordinate organization in his township. For twelve years he was a mem- ber of the executive committee of the state Grange, and he has been specially active in the furthering of the work of this excellent organization, which has been of signal help to the farmers of the state.

In politics Mr. Palmer gives an unwav- ering allegiance to the Republican party, and he has been an active factor in the party ranks in his county. He served two years as supervisor of Kalkaska township, this county, and was previously a member of the board of supervisors of Antrim county, as has been previously noted. In 1900 Mr. Palmer was the candidate on the Republi- can ticket for member of the upper house of the state legislature as representative of the twenty-seventh senatorial district, com-

prising Charlevoix, Antrim, Benzie, Lela- nau, Grand Traverse, Wexford and Kal- kaska counties, and he made a vigorous can- vass and was elected by a gratifying major- ity. He proved a valuable member of the deliberative body of the legislature and was active on the floor and in the committee- room, making a record which reflected credit to himself. his constituency and the body of which he was a member. He was assigned to a number of important committees, nota- bly the following: Ways and means, agri- cultural college, and good roads. He took special interest in effecting proper legisla- tion in connection with the highway laws of the state, and his ideas are largely repre- sented in the remodeled laws of the last gen- eral assembly. He made a vigorous effort in behalf of the agricultural college and was the father of the bill providing for the one- mill tax for the securing of a permanent fund for this institution, said bill being duly enacted, and he also did effective work in securing the enabling acts providing for the consolidation of public schools under certain conditions, for the insuring of more syste- matic and practical educational work. In a fraternal way Senator Palmer has attained the chivalric degrees in the Masonic order, being a member of the commandery of Knights Templar in his home city, but hav- ing been more especially prominent in the ancient craft body of the fraternity. He served several years as worshipful master of Kalkaska Lodge, No. 332, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and has also represented the same in the grand lodge of the state.

On the 25th of January, 1875, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Palmer to Miss Harriet Knight, of Atwood, Antrim county, and they have four children, Wilbur, Jessie, Everett and Eva.

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JOHN P. LEIPHART.

The record of Mr. Leiphart is that of a man who, by his own unaided efforts, has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of influence and comparative af- fluence. His life has been of unceasing in- dustry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has fol- lowed have won for him the unbounded con- fidence of his fellow citizens in Kalkaska county. Mr. Leiphart was born on a farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1846. His parents were Adam and Louisa (Davis) Leiphart, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, and who also died in Crawford county of that state. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born. Mr. Leiphart was reared on his father's farm and secured his educa- tional training in the common schools of his neighborhod. He lived in his native county until December, 1874, when he went to Mid- land county, Michigan, and for two years was employed there in a shingle mill. He then went to Newaygo, this state, and for two years worked at carpentering. He then returned to Midland and following the car- penter's trade there and at Lake City, Michi- gan, until January, 1892, when he came to Kalkaska county and settled on the farm on which he now lives and which he had pur- chased some time prior to that time. This place now comprises one hundred and twenty acres, of which Mr. Leiphart has put sixty acres under the plow and on which he car- ries on a diversified system of agriculture. The place is under a high state of cultivation and equipped with the best of permanent im- provements, including a commodious and comfortable residence.

Mr. Leiphart was married, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Margaret Barnes, by whom he had one child, George A. Mrs. Leiphart died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently he married his present wife, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Dodge, of Crawford county. They have become the parents of three children, namely: Margaret, who is the wife of Charles L. Morse; Hattie L. remains at her home; Elida B. is the wife of Bert Ham- mond.

In March, 1865, when the national gov- ernment was engaged in the terrible strug- gle for existence, Mr. Leiphart offered his services and his life, if need be, and en- listed in its defense, serving until the close of the war. He keeps alive his old army as- sociations through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Colonel Baker Post. He is also a member of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has given his support to all good objects and enterprises for the general welfare and while he has never had ambition for political preferment of any kind, he gives a warm support to every movement having a ten- dency to enhance the best interests of the community.

DANIEL C. LYNN.

While success cannot be achieved with- out unflagging industry, the futility of effort is often noticeable in the business world and results from the fact that it is not combined with sound business judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and

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unremitting, never acquires a competence, but when his labor is well directed, prosper- ity always follows. Mr. Lynn's work has been supplemented by careful manage- ment and today he is among those who have triumphed over adverse conditions and won success. Daniel C. Lynn is a native of St. Clair township, St. Clair county, Michigan, where he was born on November 24, 1859. His parents were Alfred and Hannah J. (Cummings) Lynn, the father having been a soldier in the great Civil war. His death, from typhoid fever, occurred at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1865, while his widow died at East Tawas, Michigan, in 1869. They were the parents of two children, the subject and an older sister.

Daniel C. Lynn was reared in St. Clair county and there obtained a fair education in the common schools. From the years of his young manhood until his twenty-fifth year he was employed chiefly at farm labor, and in those early days, characterized by the most strenuous labor, he learned those les- sons of industry and economy which had so important a bearing on his later successes. At the age of about twenty-five years Mr. Lynn went to Mount Pleasant, Isabella county, this state, where for four years he was employed as janitor of the Union school and then for eight years was employed in a grist mill there. He then purchased a farm in Deerfield township, Isabella county, and for the following five years was engaged in farming and lumbering there, the following two years being spent on a farm in Nottawa township, that county. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Lynn came to Antrim county and rented a farm for one year, but in the spring of the following year he came to Rapid City and engaged in the livery business, achiev-

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 70

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