USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Biographical memoirs of Gratiot County, Michigan : compendium of biography of celebrated Americans > Part 10
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agingly, as his ability has become recog- nized, while his pleasing personal charac- teristics have won him many friends.
Dr. Crane was married in Lansing, Mich- igan, June 17, 1903, to Miss Addie M. Bay- ley, a native of Ontario, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Glew) Bayley. They have one child, Helen L., born December 29, 1904. Dr. Crane is a member of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Gra- tiot County Medical Society, and also affili- ates with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the K. O. T. M. M. and the M. W. A. He has been the health officer of North Star township for several years, and was nomi- nated coroner of Gratiot county on the Dem- ocratic ticket in the summer of 1904.
W ILLIAM A. BRADLEY for the past eight years postmaster at River- dale, Seville township, was born in Liberty, Sullivan county, New York, August 27, 1845, son of William and Harriet J. (Fisk) Bradley, natives respectively of Connecticut and Vermont. The parents both died in Brooklyn, New York. There were four sons and four daughters in the family.
William A. Bradley was the youngest son and fourth child. He was reared on the farm in Sullivan county and passed the first thirteen years of his life there, after which he moved with his parents to Brooklyn and lived there for some years. At the age of twenty-two he returned to Sullivan county and engaged in farming there till October, 1870, when he went to Michigan, and spent a year in Grand Rapids looking after his father's affairs. From there he went to Gra- tiot county, and located on 320 acres of wild land in Section 30, Seville township, where he was occupied in lumbering and farming.
He remained there thus employed till 1897, and then moved to Riverdale and engaged in the manufacture of shingles. He carries on quite an extensive business, and has mills in both Riverdale and in Isabella county. His appointment as postmaster of River- dale was one of the causes of his change of residence, and he has ever since been dis- charging the duties of that office. Mr. Brad- ley is a supporter of the Republican party. He has also served as road commissioner in Seville township, and is regarded as a re- liable and trustworthy official, of much ability.
Mr. Bradley was married in Lenawee county, December 29, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Whitney, a native of that county, and a daughter of Chauncey B. and Mary ( Bir- mingham) Whitney. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, Will- ington, Chandler and Forrest. Mr. Brad- ley is a member of the order of the Macca- bees. Both he and his wife are active in church work.
When hardly more than a boy, Mr. Bradley enlisted for service in the Rebellion and continued in the army for about six months. He enlisted in September, 1861, in Company F, Fifty-sixth New York Vol- unteer Infantry, and was with his regiment on detached duty with the Eastern army at Washington most of the time. They partic- ipated in two engagements which nearly annihilated the regiment and the remnant were finally discharged in New York, with due honors. Mr. Bradley is connected now with Ely Post, Grand Army of Republic.
K ENNETH MITCHELL. Ability and energy are at a premium in any line of effort, and Kenneth Mitchell, a well
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known agriculturist of Bethany township, Gratiot county, has given abundant evidence of possessing those admirable qualities, and, having made judicious use of every advan- tage or opportunity, has established him- self as one of the substantial farmers of the region.
The parents of Kenneth Mitchell, John and Ann Mitchell, were both born in Scot- land, the father February 22, 1822, and the mother July 14, 1832. They emigrated from their native land to Canada in 1854, being married in the Dominion, but after about two years' trial of life under the new conditions which faced them there they mi- grated to the United States. They settled in Michigan, in Gratiot county, where Mr. Mitchell bought land in Lafayette township in Sections 6 and 7, and where the aged couple still make their home. The farm at present comprises 215 acres, of which 175 acres have been brought under a high state of cultivation. Of the five children in the family, all but the eldest were born after the parents left Canada. They are as follows : Kenneth; John, born in 1860, who has charge of his father's farm; Anna, Mrs. Jotham Allen ; James, a professor of history in Alma College; and Margaret, wife of Rev. Abram J. Van Page, a Presbyterian minister of Chicago.
Kenneth Mitchell was born in Ontario, Canada, August 28, 1857, and consequently had not completed his first year when his father and mother removed from Canada to Michigan. He grew to manhood in Lafay- ette township, and, as he had become ac- customed to farm life, naturally gravitated toward that as his permanent occupation. His removal to Bethany township did not occur until after his marriage, in 1898, since
which time he has resided there on a farm. He is now the owner of 160 acres, and of this tract 120 have already been brought under cultivation. Mr. Mitchell has pros- pered because of his tireless energy, his wise foresight and prudence, and his progressive spirit and methods. His property bears a number of good buildings and the entire place is kept in fine condition.
The marriage of Kenneth Mitchell was solemnized September 15, 1898, when he was united to Miss Edith Foster, of Emer- son township, whose birthplace was in Shia- wassee county, Michigan. Her parents were James and Azelia Foster. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell one child has been born-John Foster. A type of the public- spirited citizen who is alive to every interest of his section and ready to further every movement for its improvement, Mr. Mit- chell has naturally taken some part in local affairs, although the only offices which he has held have been in connection with school matters. Some years ago he was initiated into the Masonic fraternity and has remained a stanch member of it. Mr. Mitchell and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church. They are popular among their neighbors and are well known and highly esteemed residents of Bethany township.
JAMES K. WRIGHT is one of the most popular and successful lawyers of Gra- tiot county, where he has spent nearly his entire life. He was frequently called upon to fill positions of trust at an earlier day, being for several years a valued official of the United States Land Office at Grayling, Michigan, but has substantially devoted his later years to the practice of his profession. Mr. Wright was born in Parma, Jackson
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county, Michigan, March 3, 1844, son of Deodatus and Serena (Fox) Wright.
Deodatus Wright was born April 27, 1812, in Williamston, Massachusetts, and when a boy accompanied his parents to Wayne county, New York, there developing to manhood on his father's farm. In 1837 the family migrated to Michigan, leaving the State of New York in the pioneer prairie schooner-in this case drawn by horses. Af- ter the long and tedious journey they settled on 160 acres of heavily timbered land in- cluded in the present village of Parma. Detroit, one hundred miles away, was the nearest wheat market, and oftentimes, when ready for sale, the grain brought but sixty cents per bushel. Deodatus Wright became prominently identified with the affairs of his township, was justice of the peace for thirty years, and was elected supervisor twelve times. His marriage to Serena Fox occur- red October 26, 1836, in Huron, Wayne county, New York, and to their union were born ten children.
James K. Wright reached adolescence upon his father's farm, upon which he worked in the summer months, while attend- ing school in the winter terms. At the age of seventeen years he located in Pine River township, of which his uncle, Frederick Wright, was then a resident, and taught a term of school in the "Wright" district. The next summer he passed on his father's farm, and in the winter he again taught school in Pine River township, returning in the sum- mer to the family homestead. The follow- ing winter he went to Albion College, where he studied six terms. He employed three years in this manner, and as the family were in modest circumstances the youth was obliged to be his own cook and otherwise
practice the strictest economy in order to complete his course there. Mr. Wright was admitted to the bar at Jackson, and in 1865 was in the law office of Thomas G. Pray, of Albion. He was admitted to practice in the State courts September 26, 1867, and opened his office at St. Louis December 2d of the same year. Since that time he has continued the prosecution of a large and prosperous practice, which has been inter- rupted only by his assumption of the public duties incident to the various offices to which he has been called.
Mr. Wright is politically a Democrat, but he is popular with men of all parties, as is evidenced by the results at his various elec- tions. In 1869 he was elected supervisor of Pine River township, and in the fall of 1870 was chosen prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner on the Democratic ticket. He was reelected prosecuting attorney in 1874, 1876 and 1882, the official term being two years, and discharged the duties of that position to the entire satisfaction of the peo- ple. As public prosecutor and private at- torney Mr. Wright continued at St. Louis in the prominent practice of his profession until April 14, 1888, when he was appointed reg- ister of the United States Land Office at Grayling, Michigan. He held that position until October, 1890, and in October, 1893, was honored with the receivership of the office, discharging its duties until April, 1897, when he returned to St. Louis to re- sume his private practice. Since that date his fellow citizens have chosen him city attorney for two terms. Consequently, Mr. Wright has been honored with his full share of city, township, county and national offices.
Besides devoting his abilities to the dis- charge of a flourishing general practice, Mr.
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Wright is the proprietor and superintendent of a farm of 160 acres, located about one mile from the city, to the management of which he gives the greater portion of the summer seasons. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Blue Lodge of Masons, the Royal Arcanum (of which he was a charter member) and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Wright was married February 20, 1870, at Parma, Jackson county, Michigan, to Miss Lorinda Housman, born February 21, 1842, daughter of Henry Housman. Mr. and Mrs. Wright came to St. Louis shortly after their marriage, and there continued to live until the time of Mrs. Wright's death, May 10, 1883. On November 12, 1884, Mr. Wright married Miss Carrie E. Reed, of Chicago, and one daughter, Florence S., has been born to them.
JOHN M. EVERDEN, the subject of this sketch, resides in the village of Ithaca, Michigan, where he has lived con- tinuously since 1884. He was born in the township of Wheatfield, Ingham county, this State, on October 5, 1854. His parents were married in the State of New York, and two years later came to Michigan, and lo- cated in Ingham county. In the spring of 1855, they removed to Emerson township, Gratiot county, where Oscar A. Everden, the father of John M., had located one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, upon which the family continued to reside till 1859, when they moved to St. Louis, Gratiot county, where the father entered the employ of Clark & Hillyer, who were then oper- ating a sawmill at that point. The family remained at St. Louis till the year 1867, when they returned to the farm in Emerson township. This farm was subsequently sold,
and another purchased in the same township upon which the subject of our sketch resided with his parents until the time of his mar- riage.
Oscar A. Everden, the father of John M. Everden, died at St. Louis, Gratiot county, March 26, 1903, at the age of eighty-three years. At the time of his death he was liv- ing with his son, Oscar M. Everden, the edi- tor and proprietor of the Republican Leader. Oscar A. Everden was the second supervisor of Emerson township, and, as such, assisted largely in distributing provisions which were sent in from the older portions of the State to assist those who were in want during the period known as "the donation times."
John M. Everden began teaching school at the age of twenty and taught during the winters until he was thirty years of age. He was married to Jennie E. Van Buskirk, at Saginaw, Michigan, on April 19, 1883. She was a daughter of Ira and D. . A. Van Buskirk, natives of New York, and was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 20, 1862. In 1884 they moved to Ithaca, where they continued to reside until the death of his wife, which occurred October 29, 1891. Mr. Everden has one sister, Mrs. Cassie Smith, now a resident of Salem, Ore- gon, and had one brother, Oscar M., who died in May, 1904, at St. Louis, where he had been engaged for several years in the news- paper business. His mother, Harriet J. Everden, now seventy-eight years old, re- sides in her own home in Ithaca, near the home of her son. She is in full possession of all her faculties, and gives but little evi- dence of the privations of pioneer life in Gratiot county through which she has passed. On November 12, 1895, Mr. Everden was married (second) to Frances G. Husted, of
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY.
Buffalo, New York. She was born in the city of Buffalo in 1869, and is a daughter of Frank and Angie Husted, of that city, and is a cousin to Mr. Everden's first wife. She is a graduate of the Buffalo high school, the State Normal School of Buffalo, and at the time of her marriage was a teacher in the public schools of Lockport, New York. Mr. Everden has one child, a daughter, Jennie Edith, seven years of age.
Politically Mr. Everden is a stanch Re- publican, and has held several offices, having been elected supervisor of Emerson town- ship for the years 1877-78-79, and also for the year 1883. He has also held the office of justice of the township of Ithaca eight years, and supervisor one year. In 1892 he was elected Judge of the Probate Court of Gratiot county and held the office four years.
Mr. Everden is a member of several fra- ternal organizations, and especially the Ma- sonic order, he having been Worshipful Master of Ithaca Lodge, No. 123, Free and Accepted Masons, for eight years; Thrice Illustrious Master of the Coun- cil one year; High Priest of Ithaca Chapter, No. 40, for three years; and Eminent Commander of Ithaca Com- mandery, No. 40, for three years.
Mr. Everden began the study of law while he was teaching school, and in the year 1887 was admitted to the Bar of Gratiot county, since which time he has been in the active practice of the law, and has a large and lucrative practice.
A LBA E. SEXTON, highway commis- sioner of Bethany township, was born on a farm in Huron county, Ohio, October 29, 1853, son of Hiram and Adeline (Root) Sexton, natives of the State named. The
parents came to Gratiot county, Michigan, in the winter of 1872, and settled in Wheeler township, where the village of Breckenridge now stands. There Mrs. Sexton died, Au- gust 3, 1879, when upward of forty years of age, while Mr. Sexton still survives, a resident of that place, seventy-three years of age. He was born in 1832. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Sexton, be- sides Alba E., the eldest, were as follows : Frank, a stock buyer of Breckenridge; Alice, married to Philip McCallum, of London, Ontario; Elver, living at Breckenridge; Cora, wife of Jack McFarlane, of Glencoe, Ontario; and Cassie, Mrs. Arthur Stetzler, also a resident of Breckenridge.
Of the paternal grandparents, Platt Sex- ton was a native of Vermont and removed to Ohio, where he died; Adelia (Webb) Sexton, his wife, passed her last years in Breckenridge, Michigan.
Alba E. Sexton spent the early years of his life on his father's farm in Huron county, Ohio, and came to Gratiot county when nineteen years old. For several years he assisted his father in his sawmill in Breck- enridge, working in the woods during the winter months, and then removed to Lake View, Montcalm county, Michigan, and en- gaged in the livery business, in which he continued for about six months. He then located in Wheeler township, Gratiot county, four years later removing to St. Louis, where he also resided one year. Mr. Sex- ton next settled on a farm on Section 22, Bethany township, which he still owns, and for several years he conducted farming dur- ing the summers, while working in the mill and in the woods in the winters.
In 1895 he purchased the farm which he now owns, a well improved, 100-acre
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tract on Section 26. Mr. Sexton's land is nearly all under the plow, and its appearance is greatly improved by one of the finest sets of buildings in the township.
Mr. Sexton was married in St. Louis, Michigan, December 3, 1875, to Miss Hattie Wheeler, born in August, 1855, in Chau- tauqua county, New York, daughter of Aaron and Lucy (Landon) Wheeler, old set- tlers of Gratiot county, who located in Beth- ' any township. Mr. Wheeler died July 26, 1896, at the age of seventy-five years, and he left seven children, of whom Mrs. Sexton was the fourth child. To Mr. and Mrs. Sex- ton have been born: Seth C., Maude M., Blanche L. and Jessie.
Alba E. Sexton has been school director for three years and also highway commis- sioner, holding the latter office at the pres- ent time. He takes much interest in the affairs of his township and upholds the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. He and his wife and children are members of the First M. E. Church. Mr. Sexton is a man of practical ideas and has found that they have brought him success. As a business man and as a citizen he is held in the highest es- teem in his home community.
JOSEPH F. SARTOR, SR., one of the highly esteemed residents of Alma, Michigan, is a survivor of the Civil war. He was born July 17, 1838, in Wurtemberg, Germany, son of Joseph Sartor, and came to America with his mother and step-father. They first settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where Joseph F. reached mature years.
In July, 1862, at Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served about ten months. Mr. Sartor had learned the miller's trade, and after receiving his discharge from the army took up that occu- pation, following it in Canada and later in Elgin, Illinois, where he operated a mill for ten years. In 1877 he settled in Alma, Michigan, and engaged in the same business until his retirement, in 1893.
Mr. Sartor was married in Elgin, Illi- nois, October 16, 1866, to Selma Hartel, also a native of Germany, and they had the following named children: Emma, Chris- tine, Selma, Joseph F., Jr., Bertha, Mary, and Henry. The two last named died in infancy.
Mr. Sartor is a charter member of Alma Lodge, No. 238, I. O. O. F., and is a past grand, having passed all the chairs.
JOSEPH F. SARTOR, JR., a progres- sive young business man of Alma, Michigan, is the junior member of the firm of Brown & Sartor, publishers of the Alma Journal. Mr. Sartor was born July 17, 1870, in Elgin, Illinois, son of Joseph F. and Selma (Hartel) Sartor.
In 1877 Mr. Sartor came to Alma with his parents, and there he has since resided. He received his education in the common schools and the Alma high school, and learned the printer's trade of Charles F. Brown, under the supervision of Caris Brown, his present partner. He was em- ployed in the office of the Alma Record for eleven years, in June, 1904, forming the partnership with Caris Brown by which he became one of the publishers of the well- known Alma Journal.
Mr. Sartor was married in Alma, Decem- ber 31, 1894, to Miss Leva Dean, who was
Joseph Jo Sauter, Jr.
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born in Alma September 13, 1875, a daugh- ter of James and Mary (Merchant) Dean, both of whom are deceased. To this union have been born the following named chil- dren : Caris W., Charles B. and Stanley L. Fraternally Mr. Sartor is connected with the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor of Fitz- James Lodge, No. 95, K. P. For six years he was foreman of Hose Company No. 2, Alma fire department, being an active volun- teer fireman, and is still in the city service.
H ENRY BODFISH, ex-supervisor of Bethany township, is a highly es- teemed and representative citizen of Gratiot county, Michigan. He was born on a farm in Onondaga county, New York, April 18, 1843, son of Oliver and Sarah (Walker) Bodfish, both of whom died in Onondaga county, New York, leaving two children, namely : Mary Ann and Henry, who was the youngest. Mary Ann Bodfish became the wife of David Southard, of Madison county, New York.
Henry Bodfish was reared on his father's farm and lived at home until twenty years of age, when he enlisted, in December, 1863, in Company A, Tenth New York Cavalry, serving until the close of the war. He then returned to his home, where he remained about one year, and in April, 1867, located in Midland county, Michigan. He worked at sawmilling until 1878, and then located in Gratiot county, settling on the farm which he now occupies. This land he had pre- viously purchased and it was in a wild state when our subject settled down to cultivate it. Not only has he cleared and improved this eighty-acre tract, but he also owns 160 acres of land in Gladwin county.
Mr. Bodfish was married, in St. Louis, Michigan, September 8, 1874, to Miss Em- ma Gould, born in Canada, a daughter of Seth Gould, also a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Bodfish are the parents of seven surviving children : John; George; Sarah, the wife of John Husted; Mattie, the wife of Charles Watson, a merchant of Brecken- ridge: Frank; Lida, and Burr. Two chil- dren, Lura and Emma, died in infancy. Mr. Bodfish was supervisor of Bethany town- ship for three years, and takes a great in- terest in township affairs, voting with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JAMES EDGAR, the owner of a finely cultivated farm of 128 acres in Emer- son township, is one of the good farmers and substantial citizens of Gratiot county. He was born November 14, 1857, in County Elgin, Ontario, son of Stewart and Mar- garet (Dunn) Edgar, natives of Scotland, who came from County Elgin, Ontario, to Gratiot county, Michigan, in the fall of 1865, and settled on Section 2, Emerson township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Edgar dying when about seventy-six years old, and his wife passing away when about seventy years old. They had seven children: Ellen, Jane, Stewart, James, William, Mary and John.
James Edgar came to Gratiot county with his parents, since which time he has been a resident of Emerson township. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of a fine farm of 128 acres, 100 acres of which he has under cultivation. He has erected good, substantial buildings, and a well-situated, comfortable home, and he is classed with the leading farmers of his
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section. He was married in St. Louis, Mich- igan, November 14, 1881, to Miss Susan White, born in England, daughter of the late Robert and Anna White, of Wheeler town- ship. To this marriage have been born these children : William T., Archie, Walter, Anna, Ada and Richard. Mr. Edgar is a Republican in politics. He is one of the honest, upright and much esteemed citizens of his township, and withal a good farmer.
FRANK WELLING, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Wheeler town- ship, Gratiot county, has a fine farm of eighty acres on Section 14. He was born in Oregon township, Lapeer county, Michigan, May 19, 1854, son of John and Leapha (Hunt) Welling, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. John Welling died in Genesee county, Michigan, and his wife in Lapeer county, same State. Our subject was the third member of their family of five children, his brothers and sis- ters being as follows: Eugene, a farmer of Bethany township; Mary, wife of E. B. Clark, a resident of Oklahoma; Marcellus, who died at the age of five ; and Zulema, who married A. O. Bacon, and lives in Lapeer county, Michigan.
Frank Welling was reared in Lapeer county on his father's farm, upon which he lived until sixteen years of age, in 1876 tak- ing up 160 acres of government land in Wheeler township, Gratiot county, on Sec- tion 14. He was married March 8, 1877, to Miss Kittie Eager, daughter of James and Hulda (Kemp) Eager, who were among the earliest settlers of Gratiot county. He died in Gratiot county at the age of sixty-one years, while his wife passed away in Isa- bella county in the thirty-third year of her
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