USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Biographical memoirs of Gratiot County, Michigan : compendium of biography of celebrated Americans > Part 22
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prietor of a fruit ranch at Wichita, Kansas.
When Millard F. Franks was eight years old his parents left Medina county, Ohio, and located in Lorain county, that State, where he reached manhood. He re- ceived a common school education in Ober- lin and near that city, and was reared to his life work of farming. He was married in Lorain county, Ohio, November 24, 1875, to Miss Flora P. Pelton, a native of Ober- lin, Ohio, and a daughter of Alvin and Car- oline Pelton. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Franks lived in Lorain county until ISSo, in February of that year com- ing to Gratiot county. For about fifteen years they resided in St. Louis, where Mr. Franks was employed at various occupations, and in April, 1895, settled on the farm in Bethany, which he had purchased when first locating in Mich- igan. He erected a convenient set of build- ings on his fine farm, and nearly all of the one hundred and seventy acres are under cultivation.
To Mr. Franks and his first wife these children were born: Fred F., who died in 1903; Louis A., who married Mary E. Claig ; and Ellena C. Mrs. Flora P. Franks died May 12, 1891, in St. Louis, in her thirty-fourth year. Mr. Franks' second marriage was to Miss Mary B. Strong, and took place in St. Louis December 14, 1892. She is a native of Miami county, Ohio, and a daughter of James F. and Anna (Shunk) Strong, the latter of whom died in Covington, Kentucky. To this union were born: Harry Mckinley and Joseph- ine E.
Mr. Franks was street commissioner of St. Louis for two terms, and was a Repub- lican in politics. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his esti- mable widow. He affiliated with the An- cient Order of Gleaners and the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. When a young man Mr. Franks was greatly interested in bee culture and traveled extensively in the inter- est of science. In his travels he visited Ire- land, Scotland, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Isle of Wight, and Canada, and nearly every State in the Union. His late home is one of the finest and most highly cultivated farms in Gratiot county, and besides being a first-class farmer he was a man of enterprise and public spirit and had many warm friends. Death came to him after a painful illness of several months duration. His funeral was con- ducted by Rev. Wolfe, and the remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery.
G EORGE KESLING, a well known resident of Hamilton township, Gratiot county, Michigan, engaged in oper- ating his eighty-four acre farm on Section 18, was born in Columbia, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1852, son of George and Margreete Niner Kes- ling, natives of Germany, who came West from Pennsylvania to Seneca county, Ohio, where they both died.
George Kesling was the third child in a family of seven children, and came with his parents to Seneca county, Ohio, where he lived until coming to Gratiot county, Michigan. He was married (first) in Seneca county, Ohio, December 25, 1873, to Miss Lucinda Hampshire, a native of Seneca county, daughter of Adam and Mar- garet Hampshire. In March, 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Kesling came to Gratiot county, Michigan, where he purchased eighty-four
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acres of land on Section 18, Hamilton town- ship. The farm was covered with timber and bush, which Mr. Kesling proceeded to clear, sixty acres of his land now being under the plow, highly improved and sup- plied with good buildings. Mr. Kesling also owns 102 acres of land in Elba township, most of which is wild land.
Mr. Kesling and his first wife had three children : Irving F., Leota E., and Sylvia M., the last named being now deceased. The second marriage of George Kesling was to Mary Rachel Odell, April 10, 1898, and to this union two children were born : Clarence W. and Winona D. Mrs. Kesling was born February 22, 1879, in Elba town- ship, Gratiot county, Michigan, the daugh- tera of Wilbur and Sarah (Shellenbarger) Odell. Mr. Kesling is one of the good, practical farmers of Hamilton township, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
F RANK G. PALMER, a prominent citi- zen of North Star township, Gratiot county, who is identified with all agricul- tural and educational movements, was born on the farm which he now occupies, August I, 1856, son of the late William W. and Lydia M. (Savage) Palmer, natives of New York.
His parents removed from Lenawee county to Gratiot county in 1854, and set- tled on Section 28, North Star township. There Mr. Palmer bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he erected substantial buildings, and where he con- tinued to reside until his death, March 24, 1903, at the age of eighty years. His widow, born May 10, 1823, resides with her son, Frank G., and is remarkably active for one
of her years. Mr. and Mrs. William Pal- mer were the parents of these children : Ida, the wife of Edwin E. Palmer, of Mecosta county, Michigan; Rufus M., a farmer of North Star township; Frank G .; Roscoe C., a carpenter of North Star township; and Vere D., an electrical engineer of Detroit, Michigan.
Frank G. Palmer was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the common schools of his district. For some time during the winter seasons he was a school teacher in Gratiot county, and be- came well and favorably known as an edu- cator. Most of his time, however, has been spent in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been fairly successful. Mr. Palmer was married in May, 1879, to Miss Luella Hu- son, a native of Ohio, who died April II, 1887, in North Star township, leaving these children : Victor H., Velma and Faye C. Mr. Palmer's second marriage occurred September 25, 1889, to Miss Eva Cheney, of Ohio, by whom he has had the following children : Ethel and Vincent W. Mr Palmer has held the offices of school inspec- tor and treasurer of North Star township. He is an ardent Democrat, and has proved to be a popular and highly efficient public official. He has always taken an active part in educational matters, and has held offices in School District No. 8, for many years. Fraternally he is a member of Liberty Grange No. 391, and has been master of it for several terms, holding that office at pres- ent. In 1905 he was elected a member of the executive committee of the Michigan State Grange, and he has been secretary of the Grange Fire Insurance Company of Gratiot county since its organization in March, 1902. He is also a member of the
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Ancient Order of Gleaners. Mr. Palmer is the owner of a well-situated, highly culti- vated eighty acre farm, upon which he has erected a fine residence and substantial buildings. He is one of the representative men of North Star township.
TAY A. GRIFFITH, one of the leading J citizens of Emerson township, Gratiot county, Michigan, who has been promi- nently identified with the agricultural devel- opment of this section for many years, is a son of Daniel and Nancy M. (Burgess) Griffith, pioneers of Gratiot county.
Daniel Griffith was born January 9, 1820, in Montgomery county, New York, and his wife in Cattaraugus county, New York, November 4, 1831. They were mar- ried in Oakland county, Michigan, where they resided for a time and then settled in Wayne county for several years. They then removed to Gratiot county and settled in Pine River township for two years, after which they removed to the site of St. Louis, Michigan, where they lived four years, Mr. Griffith being employed in a sawmill. In 1862 they settled on Section 8, Emerson township, on wild land, where he cleared a one-hundred-and-twenty-acre farm and here they resided until 1890, when they again located in St. Louis. Since that time they have lived a retired life.
Jay A. Griffith was the third child in a family of twelve children, and was born in Wayne county, Michigan, January 3, 1854, being but nine months old when his parents located in Gratiot county. Here he has lived ever since. He was reared in Emer- son township, working in the woods in the winters and at clearing and improving land in the summer months. He was married
October 16, 1882, to Miss Maggie A. Hud- nutt, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She was born May 22, 1862, in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Judson and Elizabeth (Secord) Hudnutt. Judson Hudnutt met his death in Hillsdale county, Michigan, by being thrown from a buggy, and his wife died in Isabella county, Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are the parents of two children : Raymond A., born in Emer- son township, November 18, 1884, was a graduate of the St. Louis high school; he died April 4, 1905. Alva L. was born Janu- ary 25, 1886, in Emerson township. Mr. Griffith has held the office of school inspector for two terms, and has taken a great deal of interest in all township and county affairs. Politically he is a Republican. He affiliates with Bethany Grange, No. 370, and is a member of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.
Mr. Griffith has been a farmer all of his- life. His interests have been centered in the cultivation of his land, and his careful man- agement has made his eighty-acre farm produce fine crops. His property is valuable and he enjoys all the comforts and advan- tages possible to the prosperous and pro- gressive farmer. .
C HARLES WOODS, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the old- est citizens in Newark township in length of residence, was born in Hamburg, Livingston county, Michigan, whence his parents moved to Gratiot county only a few months later.
William Woods, the father, was born and reared in England, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Ellen Smith. Their marriage took place in Ringstead, County of Norfolk, April 16, 1851, and as England
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at that time seemed to offer the young couple fewer opportunities for advancement than the New World, they set sail the day after their marriage for the United States. Mak- ing their way westward to Michigan, they settled on a farm in Hamburg and this was their home until August, 1854, when Mr. Woods decided to remove to Gratiot county, which henceforth was their abiding place. In November, 1864, Mr. Woods entered the army and only a few months later, Jan- uary 4, 1865, was killed at Chattanooga, Tennessee, while on guard duty. At the time of his death he was but forty years of age. He left a family of five children, two sons and three daughters: Mary J., who died aged twenty; Charles; Ellen L., Mrs. John Arnold, of Bethany township; Ralph, a farmer of Newark township; and Viola J., who died at the age of thirty-seven. The widow afterward married Luke Woods, a brother of her first husband, and lived out the full measure of her years, passing away in Newark township March 8, 1895, in the sixty-ninth year of her age.
Charles Woods was only six months old when the family moved to Gratiot county, and by far the greater portion of his life has been spent in his present home, for he now owns the farm which his father took up from the government on his arrival in Michigan. There the boy was reared, in- ured to a farming life from his earliest years, and it is but a natural sequence that he has continued in that line permanently. His farm consists of 136 acres of land which has nearly all been brought under a complete state of cultivation and greatly improved. Mr. Woods has erected a number of good buildings, gives practically his whole atten- tion to the farm, and has an attractive and
valuable place. It is located in Section 19, Newark township, and is given over to gen- eral farming and stock raising combined.
At Ithaca, Michigan, March 16, 1880, Mr. Woods was united in the bonds of mat- rimony to Miss Ellen J. Kagy, who was born in Green Springs, Seneca county, Ohio, January 6, 1855, daughter of An- drew and Hannah (Jones) Kagy. The lat- ter was born in New York, while the father was a native of Pennsylvania, but died in Union Mills, Iowa. Mrs. Woods was one of a family of eleven children, as follows : Mary E., Ellen J., Franklin P., Emeline M., Fannie C., Robert, Lucinda F., Frances A., Delmon F., Caroline and Roscoe. Her early life was spent in Ohio and Iowa. To her and Mr. Woods three children have been born: William Andrew, Flora and Belle.
While Mr. Woods' activities have been largely absorbed. in the management of his own property, he has always found time to do the full duty of a good citizen and as- sume his share of public affairs. He is a man of intelligence and good judgment and his opinion bears weight in the com- munity. A Republican is politics, he has been for a number of years an overseer of highways and was a member of the board of review for one term, while his continued interest in educational questions has resulted in his holding the offices of township school moderator and school assessor. Mr. Woods is an upright, honorable man, and com- mands the sincere good-will of his as- sociates.
W ILLIAM A. TOMLIN, whose beau- tiful home in Sumner township is situated on Section 28, is one of Gratiot county's successful farmers, and has ad-
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vanced to prominence by perseverance, thrift and good management. He was born August 17, 1847, in Bedfordshire, England, on his father's farm, son of Joseph and Eliza (Gilbert) Tomlin, both of whom died in their native place. The other members of the family were as follows: Gilbert, who died in England; Alice, who married John Mitchell, and died in her native land; Mary, who died young ; and Charles, who resided at Marquette, Michigan, where he died Jan- uary 27, 1906.
William A. Tomlin was the youngest in the family. He came from England to America in 1865, located in New Jersey for a year, and then settled in Ohio, where he worked for four years on a farm in Geauga county. While in that county he was mar- ried, December 25, 1868, to Miss Louisa Clark, who died August 20, 1902, in Sum- ner township, aged fifty-four. She was the daughter of John and Sophia (Storey) Clark, of Gravely, Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, the former of whom was a farmer, who emigrated to Ohio, where he died. Mrs. Tomlin, at her death, left four children : Ackley E., now a farmer of Summer town- ship, Gratiot county, who is married to Win- nie E. Older, and has had three children, Howard A., Pearl M. and Marian W., of whom the last named died March 21, 1906; George W., who married Myrtle Johnson, who died April 25, 1904, leaving a daugh- ter, Myrtle R., who with her father resides with our subject; Jesse J., married to Mae Garton, and residing at Sumner; and Ray W. Soon after his marriage Mr. Tomlin came to Gratiot county, and, settling in Sumner township, bought eighty acres of land, which was covered with heavy brush. Mr. Tomlin now owns one hundred and
twenty acres of land, seventy-five of which are under cultivation. He has erected con- venient and commodious buildings on his farm, and around his fine residence he has placed many fruit and shade trees, making one of the finest and most comfortable homes in the county.
When Mr. Tomlin landed in this country he was the possessor of eighteen pence, part of which sum he still keeps as a souvenir of by-gone days and a reminder of his modest beginnings in what to him has cer- tainly proved a land of opportunities and realizations.
NEWTON BURNS. A history of Gratiot county would be incomplete without extended mention of Newton Burns, who has been identified with the educational and agricultural development of Bethany township for a number of years. He was born in Pekin, Niagara county, New York, July 18, 1853, the fifth in the family of eight children born to Samuel and Abigail (Hubbard) Burns. The father of Newton Burns, a farmer by occupation, died in Niagara county, New York, February 10, 1889, aged about eighty years. The mother, who was born December 26, 1819, resided in Pekin, New York, until her death, De- cember 21, 1905. Like her husband she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their children, Dennis H. died at the age of thirty-eight years ; Martin is a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; Sophia, de- ceased, was the wife of H. H. Wilcox; Lucia is the widow of W. O. Kellam and resides at the old home at Pekin, New. York; Newton is the next in the family ; Irving is a physician, located in Illinois ; Rev. Herman was pastor of the Grand River
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Avenue Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan; Filmer is a graduate of Columbia College, New York City, and is now engaged as a civil, mining and electrical engineer at Niag- ara Falls, New York.
Newton Burns was reared on his father's farm in New York and received his education in the common schools. For a number of years he engaged in teaching, be- coming well and favorably known as an educator. He remained in his native county until the fall of 1887, spending a portion of his time in farming and in the year named coming to Gratiot county, Michigan, and settling on the farm upon which he now re- sides, in Bethany township. He is the owner of eighty acres, most of which is improved, and has engaged very successfully in general farming. Since coming to Gratiot county. Mr. Burns has spent two years in Wheeler village, where he taught in the public schools; for four years he was also a teacher in Bethany township.
On April 22, 1874, in Niagara county, New York, Mr. Burns was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary P.Maxon, born in Niag- ara county, New York, daughter of Stephen B. and Sarah (Ray) Maxon. Mrs. Burns was born October 5, 1851. These children have been born to Mr. Burns and his estima- ble wife: M. Estelle, wife of George W. Moore, and the mother of two sons, Harold D. and Arlan W .; Wilber N., an attorney at Niles, Michigan, who married Grace Bartrum; R. Myra; and Edna M., who died in Bethany township, aged about six years.
Mr. Burns has held the office of county drainage commissioner for two years- January, 1900, to January, 1902 ; is one of the school inspectors, has been township clerk of Bethany township, and was a candi-
date for the Legislature on the Populist ticket from Gratiot county in 1894. In the spring of 1905 he was elected justice of the peace. He takes a great interest in all town- ship affairs and supports all good move- ments. He and Mrs. Burns are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an official and was superintendent of and a teacher in the Sunday-school, having filled the last named position for more than thirty years. Fraternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Modern Maccabees, the Ancient Order of Gleaners and the Bethany Grange, being master of the last named and having twice served as representative from Gratiot county to the State Grange. Mr. Burns is highly respected by his neighbors for his good citizenship and for the efforts he has put forth in assisting to build up and improve the community.
H JERBERT L. BROWN, one of the most prominent citizens of Gratiot county, is probably best known as the effi- cient postmaster of North Star, having al- ready achieved a national reputation among the officials of his class in the government service. He was born in Fulton county, Ohio, September 15, 1862, son of William J. and Nancy (Sears) Brown, both of whom died in Blissfield, Lenawee county, Michigan-the father, September 14, 1872, aged fifty-nine, and the mother, August 17, 1883, at the age of fifty-eight years. Wil- liam J. Brown was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and a highly respected, unassum- ing man. To him and his good wife were born seven children, of whom Herbert L. was the fourth. The others were: Me- lissa, deceased wife of the late George B.
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2
Brown
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Smith, both dying in March, 1905, within two hours of each other; George J., a me- chanic in the State of Washington; Fran- ces, residing in Los Angeles, California ; Elenora, who married E. H. Ellsworth, a farmer of Bellingham, Washington; and Charles (deceased) and Chauncey, twins, the latter a machinist of Norfolk, Virginia.
Herbert L. Brown was two years old when his parents located in Blissfield, and there he was educated both in the common schools and through the training to a life of industry. At the age of ten years he commenced work in a mill, at which he con- tinued for twenty-nine years. In 1883 he located in Gratiot county, where he was em- ployed in heading mills until the spring of 1901. He then followed carpentering for about one year, at the end of which time he engaged in the furniture business in North Star. Since November, 1903, he has served as postmaster of North Star. In April, 1902, he was elected township clerk, which office he still fills satisfactorily, and he has consistently contributed to the success of the Republican party. In June, 1904, he was elected president of the Gratiot County League of fourth-class postmasters; in July, 1904, president of the State League of fourth-class postmasters; and at St. Louis, Missouri, October 12, 1904, was greatly honored by the national convention of fourth-class postmasters by being elected treasurer of that organization.
Herbert L. Brown was married in Ithaca, Michigan, December 25, 1883, to Miss Frances M. Brady, a native of Gratiot county, daughter of Hiram and Louisa (Wood) Brady, and a direct descendant of the Pilgrim Father Wood of the "May- flower." Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had
these children: Clyde E., Elsie L., Ned and Bessie, of whom the last named died when fifteen months old. Mr. Brown is a member of Ithaca Tent, No. 128, K. O. T. M. M. Mr. Brown bears an excellent reputa- tion in the community in which he resides, and can be truthfully called one of North Star's representative men.
TESSE PARLING, one of the prominent and substantial farmers of North Star township, Gratiot county, Michigan, who has made his own way in the world, was born October 17, 1853, in Rochester, New York, son of James and Harriet (Goward) Parling, natives of England who located in Rochester, New York. His paternal grand- . father, also James Parling, never left Eng- land, while his maternal grandfather, like- wise an Englishman by birth, emigrated to America and located at Rochester. After residing there for twelve years he migrated to Shiawassee county, Michigan, of which he became a permanent resident. As stated, the parents of Mr. Parling also located at Rochester. They afterward removed to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where they lived several years, and later became resi- dents of Shiawassee county, where they passed the balance of their lives. The father, James Parling, was accidentally killed, June 21, 1866, at a barn-raising, passing away in the prime of life at the age of thirty-eight years. His wife, the mother of Jesse, died on March 17, 1894, aged sixty-four years. Their children were : Lucy, who died in infancy ; Jesse ; Affie, de- ceased wife of Eugene Scott; Ida B., who married Otis S. Mead, a farmer of Shia- wassee county, Michigan; and Ellen, who died young.
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY.
Jesse Parling was but thirteen years old when his father died, and, being the eldest of the family, he took charge of the farm, and paid up for the homestead, upon which he resided until March 30, 1895. Mr. Parl- ing was married October 3, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Young, born July 8, 1851, in Shia- wassee county, Michigan, daughter of Thomas R. and Nancy M. (Hart) Young, natives of New York, who died in Shia- wassee county, Michigan. They were the parents of seven children, and Mrs. Parling was the sixth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Parling these children were born: James R. married Bertha Alliton, and resides at Akron, Ohio; Nancy H. died December 14, 1890, in Shiawassee county, Michigan, aged fifteen years; Edith M. died November 12, 1895, in North Star town- ship, aged eighteen years; Thomas E., a Washington township farmer, married Car- rie Stockwell, and they have one son, Murl .C .; John C., a farmer of North Star town- ship, married Mertie Bovie, and has two ·children, Vernie Iven and Arthur L .; and Jesse W., living on the family homestead, married Hattie E. Rivett, and has one son, ·Clayton W.
When Mr. Parling located in Gratiot «county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in North Star township, upon which he started farming and there he has since resided. Mr. Parling has been very successful in his agricultural ventures, and has also been prominent in township and county affairs, having held the office of high- way commissioner for a year, and has been school assessor of District No. 2, for some time, being chiefly identified with the Re- publican party. He is a popular member of Heath Lodge, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and of Mahar Tent, No. 640, Knights of the Modern Maccabees. Mr. Parling is a self made man, and the excel- lence of the work he has turned out bears evidence of his efficiency. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout North Star township.
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