Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 73

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

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In 1852 Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Annis Hyatt, the daughter of Valen- tine and Rachael Hyatt, and they became the parents of four children, Eva, Elza E., Dora and Frank.

ROBERT PATTERSON.

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his in- dividual character and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The great- est results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary quali- ties of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for ac- quiring experience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and self im- provement. One of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Hayes town- ship, Otsego county, Michigan, is he whose name appears above. Mr. Patterson was

born in Northumberland county, England, on the 16th of July, 1842, and is the son of William and Phyllis (Nesbitt) Patterson. The father followed coal mining all his life and never left his native land. Robert Pat- terson was reared to middle life in his native country and in his early youth secured what education was possible in the local schools. Upon attaining the proper age he followed the paternal footsteps and entered the coal mines, following this vocation until 1880, when he came 'to the United States. His first location was in Jackson county, this state, where for ten years he followed coal mining, but believing he could do better along other lines, he came to Otsego county and purchased forty-six acres of land, for which he paid six dollars an acre. ' He has occupied his present place since 1892 and now has forty-four acres under cultivation. When it is remembered that farming has not been a life pursuit with Mr. Patterson, his present success at agriculture appears all the more remarkable, evidencing, as it does, the possession of qualities above the average. He has given careful and thoughtful con- sideration to every department of his enter- prise and has not devoted his sole attention to any special line of effort, but raises diversified crops and also gives some atten- tion to improving the breeds on hand, hav- ing recently started a herd of Galloway cat- tle. He is a careful business man, conducts all his enterprises according to the most ap- proved methods and everything on his place. from the neat, comfortable dwelling and at- tractive surroundings to the excellent con- dition of his other buildings, fences and cultivated fields, bear unmistakable evidence of well-planned and thoroughly systematized effort.

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In 1863 Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Moore, whose death occurred in 1902. To them were born two children, William, and Thomas, who married Miss Blanche Norton. In matters political Mr. Patterson supports the Repub- lican ticket and takes a deep interest in public affairs, though he has not been induced to hold public office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his own affairs.

WILLETT C. ARNOLD.

This old and highly esteemed citizen of Hayes township, Charlevoix county, is a na- tive of Monroe county, New York, where his birth occurred on August 5, 1832, being the son of James and Prudence (Day) Arn- old, who were also born and reared in that state. When a mere child the subject was taken to Lenarks county, Ontario, where his father followed farming and it was there that he spent his early life as a farmer's boy, attending at intervals such schools as the country afforded. The death of his father in 1849 threw the burden of the family's support upon the shoulders of Willett, he being the oldest son at home and for a num- ber of years therafter he looked carefully after his mother's comfort, losing sight of self in his efforts to advance her interests and the interests of the younger children. On account of his mother's failing health he sold the home in Ontario and moved to Oakland county, Michigan, where he purchased tract of land which in due time by his well-directed labors was con- verted into a good farm. On this place he continued to live until his mother's second marriage, ten years later, land, of which seventy-five acres are in cul-

when, at the age of twenty-seven, he started out to achieve his own fortune, being with- out a dollar of his own at the time, all of his earnings up to that period having gone to the support of the family.

For some time after quitting the farm Mr. Willett worked in a fanning mill and at the expiration of two years he returned home and during the ensuing three or four years cultivated the place upon his own re- sponsibility. Later he traded the farm for a tract of land nine miles north of Carunna, Shiawassee county, but after clearing eight or ten acres of the latter sold out and went to Wayne county, where in due time he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Harris, immediately following which he located on the farm that had formerly belonged to his wife's parents. It was not long until he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs and for a period of eight years he made it his home, meeting with good success as a tiller of the soil in the meanwhile. Disposing of his interests in Wayne county, at the expira- tion of the time noted, Mr. Arnold changed his abode to the county of Eaton where he bought a partly improved farm which he subsequently developed and on which he lived until his removal to his present place in Charlevoix county in the year 1878. Mr. Arnold made a judicious selection when he invested in his present farm on Susan lake, four miles east of the city of Charlevoix, the land being not only fertile and well- adapted to all of the agricultural products raised in Michigan, but also beautiful for situation, occupying as it does one of the most favorable and romantic spots in this section of the state. The place consists of one hundred and three acres of first-class

MR. AND MRS. W. C. ARNOLD.

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tivation and otherwise well-improved, his buildings of all kinds being up-to-date while all other accessories bespeak the presence of a man familiar with advanced agriculture and a leader in the calling to which his life has been devoted.

When Mr. Arnold took possession of his place, the only improvement worthy of note was a few acres which the Indians had cleared and a log cabin which had been used for a number of years by different families of these people. Into this humble dwelling the subject moved his family and, with the improvements which he subsequently made, it proved a fairly comfortable shelter until replaced by the present handsome and com- modious modern residence about seven years ago, standing on a beautiful elevation a short distance from the lake. The structure com- mands an extensive view of both water and land and in many respects it has been pro- nounced the most attractive and desirable of many beautiful rural homes for which Hayes township is especially noted.

Of recent years Mr. Arnold had done lit- tle manual labor, contenting himself with the management of his farm and other business interests while living a life of honorable re- tirement. By judicious management he has placed himself in independent circumstances, and with an abundance of this world's goods to render the remainder of his days com- fortable and free from care, he is passing gently down life's decline, at peace with the world and with his God, in consequence of which the future contains nothing to which he need look forward with fear. Mr. Arn- old has ever been a kind neighbor and an en- terprising citizen and as such he enjoys the esteem and confidence of the large circle of friends by whom he is surrounded and with

whom it is his delight to mingle. To the best of his ability he has contributed to the material welfare of his township and county and all worthy enterprises for the good of the people have found in him an earnest ad- vocate and liberal donor. His has, indeed, been an active and useful life and having ever tried to realize in himself his highest ideals of manhood, it is little wonder that in his old age he is so widely known and so highly regarded.

Mr. Arnold's first marriage, to which reference is made in a preceding paragraph, was blessed with five children, namely : Charles ; Elmer ; Luella, now Mrs. Chauncey Howe; Mary Jane (deceased), wife of John Conn, and James. The mother of these children died in Eaton county, this state, and later Mr. Arnold contracted a matri- monial alliance with Daisy Ann Glading, of the same county, who presented him with three offspring; Willett, Jay (deceased) and Daisy, the mother dying at the birth of the child last named. Mr. Arnold married his present wife, Miss Emma House, of New York, in Charlevoix county, the union re- sulting in the birth of children as follows: Albert, Prudie, George and Dora May.

WILLIAM HALBEDEL.

Notwithstanding the fact that the re- public of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of emigrants to the United States during the years that have elapsed since in- dependence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of liberty, of which they had had a strong ex-

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ample in their own land, were not slow to recognize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all who located in this country. Here they have become among the most intelligent, patriotic, in- dustrious and upright of our great and won- derful cosmopolitan population. The sub- ject of this sketch is himself a native of Switzerland, where he was born on Febru- ary 4, 1845, the son of John and Eve Hal- bedel. In the schools of his native land Mr. Halbedel secured the first rudiments of an education, his studies being interrupted, however, by his removal to a foreign land, as at that age he came to the United States, locating first in Wyandot county, Ohio, where for eight years he was engaged in farm labor. He then heard of the wonder- ful possibilities open to a man of energy and ambition in northern Michigan and, coming to Antrim county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land. He built thereon a frame house and at once entered actively upon the task of clearing the land and making it fit for cultivation, a task the magnitude of which is little understood by one who has not passed through the ex- perience. The first residence was destroyed by fire about twelve years after its erection, and was superseded by the present substan- tial and comfortable residence. Many other first-class improvements have been made from time to time, until now the place ranks among the best in the township. Eighty acres of the place are in cultivation and all the crops common to this section are raised in abundance, due largely to the discrimin- ating judgment exercised by the owner. Mr. Halbedel also gives some attention to the raising of good live stock, having some ex- cellent Duroc Jersey hogs and high-grade cattle.

The subject was united in marriage with Miss Betty Lane, the daughter of James and Agnes A. (Kerr) Lane, farming people, and to them have been born five children, Ed- ward, George, Frank, Ann and Lizzie. In matters political Mr. Halbedel supports the Democratic ticket and takes deep interest in all movements having for their object the advancement of the community along moral, educational or material lines.

LEMUEL PAXSON.

Among the representative farmers of Antrim county, Michigan, is the subject of this review, who is the owner of a fine landed estate in Star township and who is carrying on, the various departments of his enterprise with that discretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success. In such men as Mr. Paxson there is particular satisfaction as offering in their life histories justification for the compilation of works of this character-not that their lives have been such as to gain them wide reputation or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all and have been useful in their respective sphere of action.

Lemuel Paxson is a native of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Lagrange county, Indiana, on the 21st of July, 1855. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth Paxson. The father was a native of Eng- land and upon his emigration to America lo- cated first in Indiana, where he successfully conducted a farm. The subject of this sketch received a good practical education in

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the common schools of his native county and was reared under the salutary influences of country life, learning, under the able tutor- ship of his father, the secrets of successful agriculture. In 1883 he came to Antrim county, Michigan, and purchased eighty acres of land, comprising his present farm- stead. The land was at that time in a wild state and a vast amount of labor was entailed in the clearing of the place in order that the ground might be cultivated. All this labor was performed by Mr. Paxson and now he has the satisfaction of feeling that his labors have not been without their reward, for he is the owner of one of the most productive farms, in proportion to its size, in the town- ship. He follows a diversified system of planting, raising oats, potatoes, rye, cow peas, corn, etc., and has never failed to find a good market for his products. The place is adorned with a neat residence, good build- ings for general farm purposes and well-kept fences, all of which go to show that the owner is a man possessing good judgment, taste and indomitable energy.

In 1872 Mr. Paxson was married to Miss Melissa Archer, the daughter of Robert and Lavina (Notestine) Archer. Mr. Archer in an early day established a stage between Mongo and Lima, Lagrange county, Indi- ana, and is still engaged in that occupation, though now over eighty years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Paxson have been born two chil- dren, namely : Mattie, who is at home, and Frank, who, at the age of twenty-two years, was killed by a rolling log. In matters politi- cal, the subject is a stanch Democrat and has served his community in the capacity of pathmaster and school officer, performing the duties of these positions in an eminently satisfactory manner. As the architect of his

own fortune he has builded wisely and well and the success that crowns his efforts is well merited. He is broad-minded, liberal, progressive and public-spirited, and is well known and highly respected in the com- munity which has been his home for so many years.

J. W. ARGO.

The subject of this sketch, who has been a resident of Antrim county, Michigan, for twenty-two years, has won a well-deserved reputation as one of the distinctively pro- gressive husbandmen of his locality and has also gained the reputation of a man of high character and sterling principles. He is a native of the little state of Delaware, where, in Kent county, he was born on the 29th of May, 1827. He is the son of John W. and Mary (Walton) Argo, who both passed their lives and died in Delaware, where the father had followed the vocation of a miller. The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and in the common schools of that locality he secured a good elementary education. He was from his mature years variously employed and on coming to Michi- gan he secured land in Antrim county, on which he now resides and which he brought up to a high state of cultivation. He is the owner of seventy acres, of which he has cleared and put under the plow about sixty acres, which return to him abundant har- vests of the various crops common to this section of the country. He carries on gen- eral farming and has also some good live stock on the place and some splendid fruit trees, the general appearance of the place

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indicating the owner to be a man of sound judgment and discrimination in the conduct of his operations.

In January, 1883, Mr. Argo was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Webb, who has proven to him a helpmate in the full sense of the term, having done much by active co-operation and wise counsel to en- courage and assist him in his efforts to cre- ate and maintain a comfortable and con- genial home, in which efforts they have been eminently successful. The subject's first home here was in a cabin, but as prosperity has attended him he has made many substan- tial improvements, having now a comfort- able and convenient house, a substantial barn and all the necessary outbuildings, while his fences are well kept and all the implements on the place are of the best types, such as none but an up-to-date farmer uses. In politics Mr. Argo was originally a Democrat, but he now supports the Republican party and takes a deep and potential interest in public affairs, though not in any sense a seeker after the honors or emoluments of public office. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, while fra- ternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. His membership in the latter body is consistent from the fact that in the dark and troublous days of the Civil war he valiantly served in the defense of his coun- try's honor and integrity. On the 24th of July, 1862, he enlisted in Company M, Fourth Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land and with which command he partici- pated in a number of hotly contested engage- ments, including the battle of Chattanooga, the siege of Atlanta, the battle of Stone

River and a number of other important bat- tles, being also on the celebrated Wilson raid. The country owes a debt of gratitude it can never repay to those brave sons of the North who went out to the front of the battle and offered their lives, if need be, on the altar of their country's freedom. The subject is one of the strong, stalwart men of his community and enjoys to an eminent degree the respect and esteem of all who know him.

WILLIAM GATCHELL.

It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and won the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well-known farmer whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be dif- ficult to find within the limits of the town- ship where he has his home. William Gatchell is a native of the old Empire state, having first seen the light of day in Ontario county on the 4th of May, 1855. His par- ents were John W. and Julia C. (Bagerly) Gatchell, the father a native of Massachu- setts and the mother of New York. The father was a farmer by vocation and bore a high reputation in his community. The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and received his elementary education in the common schools, supple- menting this, however, by subsequent read- ing and habits of close observation, so that he is now considered a man 'of wide in- formation. About the time he attained his majority he came west to Antrim county, Michigan, and bought a farm in what was

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at that time a dense wilderness, a condition which characterized all this part of Michigan at that time. At the time he came to this township but one and a half acres of land had been cleared in the entire township and so dense was the timber growth that he found it necessary to "blaze" his way in order that he might not go astray on return- ing from his new home. He was not very well equipped with worldly goods, having but two and a half dollars in his pockets when he arrived here, but he did possess an abundant stock of ambition, energy and good practical common sense, elements which have been the vital essentials of success al- ways in any undertaking. By dint of the most tireless efforts and the practice of rigid economy he was at length able to feel that he had gained at least a reasonable de- gree of prosperity. His farm comprises eighty acres of land, of which sixty-five acres are in cultivation. Many substantial improvements have been made on the place from time to time, among which are a good house and a large, commodious barn. The fences are kept in good repair and proper attention is paid to the rotation of crops, so that Mr. Gatchell has been enabled to see annually gratifying returns from the labor bestowed. He has so directed his efforts that he is now considered one of the solid and representative citizens of his township and commanding unqualified respect and es- teem. His public-spirited attitude has gained him recognition in connection with the governmental affairs of the county and he served one term as commissioner of An- trim county and also on the school board of his township. His political proclivities are indicated in the unwavering allegiance which he has ever given to the Republican

party. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees. In all the re- lations of life Mr. Gatchell has proven true to every trust and today no citizen of his community is held in higher esteem than he.

LAWRENCE A. SMITH.

It is interesting to note from the begin- ning the growth and development of a com- munity, to note the lines along which prog- ress has been made and to take cognizance of those whose industry and leadership in the work of advancement have rendered pos- sible the present prosperity of the locality under consideration. Lawrence A. Smith, of this review, is one of the strong, sturdy spirits who has contributed largely to the material welfare of the township in which he resides, being a farmer and stock raiser, and, as a citizen, public spirited and progressive in all the terms imply. For a number of years he has been actively identified with the agricultural interests of the county and as an important factor in promoting its prog- ress along social, intellectual and moral lines his name well deserves a place in the record of its representative citizens.

Lawrence A. Smith is a native of the old Empire state, having been born at Syra- cuse, New York, on December 16, 1857. His parents were R. E. and Helen (Lamb) Smith, the former of whom spent the major portion of his life in New York, coming to Easton county, Michigan, at the age of fifty- eight years and dying in 1905, at the age of eighty-three years. He was the father of eight children, five of whom are living. The subject of this sketch received a good com-

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mon-school education in his youth and was reared to life on a farm, early learning those valuable lessons of industry, perseverance and honesty, which have been the keynotes to his subsequent success. Upon attaining mature years, Mr. Smith took up farming as his life vocation and followed that in his native state until coming to Michigan, in November, 1890, when he came to Antrim county and settled on a place of forty acres which he purchased in Star township. He subsequently sold this place and bought an eighty-acre tract located five miles east of Alba, which comprises his present home. He has put nearly the entire tract under the plow and has made many improvements in the way of buildings, etc., and his financial success has been commensurate with the in- dustry and energy displayed in the under- taking. His improvements are excellent and as a farmer he is familiar with all the meth- ods and details of modern agricultural science, easily ranking with the successful tillers of the soil in his county.

On the Ist of February, 1889, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Emma Ainslie, the daughter of Hiram and Mary (Lamb) Ainslie, of New York state, who came to Michigan and located in Clinton county be- fore the state was organized. Mr. Ainslie was a well-to-do farmer, was the father of six children, and his death occurred in 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children, all of whom are dead. Their names were Z. L., Kirk and an infant.

In political matters Mr. Smith has al- ways aligned himself with the Republican party and has taken a live interest in public affairs of his locality. From 1901 to 1903 he served as overseer of the county poor farm at Bellaire and has also served as a

member of the township board of commis- sioners. In each of these responsible posi- tions he exercised the same business judg- ment and attention to details that he would in his own affairs, his services as a public official being entirely satisfactory to his fel- low citizens. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 981 at Bellaire. His religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church and he is liberal in his sup- port of all religious and moral movements. Personally Mr. Smith is highly respected, the esteem in which he is held showing him the possessor of those admirable qualities that win the confidence of a community. Primarily interested in his own affairs, he does not neglect the duties which every good citizen owes the public, consequently his life has been along the broader way leading to the greatest good to the greatest number.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 73

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