USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Biographical memoirs of Gratiot County, Michigan : compendium of biography of celebrated Americans > Part 28
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Mr. Smith was married in Oakland county, Michigan, March 15, 1882, to Miss Katie R. Foote, a native of Milford, Oak- land county, that State, and to this union one son, Clair, has been born. Mrs. Smith was a daughter of William H. and Emme- line (Hastings) Foote, residents of Oak- land county. Since reaching his majority Mr. Smith has been prominently identified with county and township affairs, and has held a number of township offices, being treasurer of Emerson township for three years, school director for, many years, and
supervisor of the township for three terms, a position which he still holds, and to which he has just been re-elected for a fourth term. For a number of years Mr. Smith was a Republican, but later joined the Democratic party, and since that time has been a firm supporter of its principles. He is very pub- lic-spirited and has the interests of Gratiot county and Emerson township at heart. Per- sonally he is a cordial, genial gentleman, who enjoys the confidence of his fellow townsmen. He and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Smith is an elder. Fraternally he affiliates with Emerson Lodge, No. 375, In- dependent Order, of Odd Fellows ; Peterman Tent, No. 290, Knights of the Modern Maccabees ; and Union Camp, No. I, Wood- men of the World, of Niles, Michigan.
FRANK W. CLARK, of Sumner town- ship, Gratiot county, was born in that township August 29, 1870, son of the late William D. and Lydia E. (Dunham) Clark.
The parents of Mr. Clark were among the early settlers of Gratiot county, and they passed their first winter in Sumner township at the home of the late George Gee. William D. Clark died in Sumner township, March 26, 1899, while his wife passed away in Alma, February 13, 1903. They were the parents of five children, of whom Frank W. was the youngest, the others being: Emma M. and Albert K., both deceased, the latter in Nebraska; Harry, of Sumner township, Gratiot county ; and Eva M., deceased.
Frank W. Clark was reared on his father's farm in Sumner township, and re- ceived his education in the common schools. His life has been spent in agricultural pur- suits, in which he has met with signal suc-
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cess, now owning one hundred and twenty acres of good land in Sumner township, which includes the old homestead. He has about eighty-five acres in a thorough state of cultivation, and is regarded as one of the prominent and enterprising farmers of his section. For some time Mr. Clark was em- ployed as carrier on Rural Free Delivery Route No. I, from Alma. He was con- nected for about eight years with the Alma Creamery.
Mr. Clark was married in Ithaca, Mich- igan, July 20, 1894, to Miss Jessie M. God- frey, born in Arcada township, daughter of the late Benjamin and Amanda (Nevins) Godfrey, and to this union have been born : Emma M., De Wayne B., Anna L. and Erma M. Mr. Clark was elected school director in July, 1904, and re-elected in 1905; he had previously been appointed to fill a vacancy in that capacity.
FRANCIS J. SMITH, M. D., a promi- nent young medical practitioner of Sickels, Michigan, who has been the efficient health officer of Hamilton township since 1902, was born on his father's farm in North Star township, Michigan, June 26, 1877, the sixth child of a family of seven children, born to George and Atlanta (Shaw) Smith, residents and old settlers of North Star township.
Dr. Smith was reared to manhood on the farm, and received his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools of his county. In 1894 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. B. N. Gardner, formerly of North Star township, with whom he remained three years, and then entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1901. He immediately began
the practice of his profession at Sickels, where he has since remained. He has gained the confidence of the community, having shown his skill in a number of cases, and his practice is steadily increasing. Since 1902 he has very efficiently filled the position of health officer of Hamilton township, and by his membership in the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Gratiot County Medical So- ciety, keeps himself up-to-date and to the standard of the times. Fraternally Dr. Smith belongs to Edgewood Lodge, No. 257, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Dr. Smith was married in Sickels, De- cember 2, 1903, to Miss Mabel Welch, daughter of Madison A. and Carrie I. (Wat- erhouse) Welch. Mrs. Smith's father died November 5, 1900.
FRANK R. MONFORT, a rising young attorney of Ithaca, Michigan, was born December 25, 1876, in Utica, Macomb county, Michigan, but has been a resident of Ithaca nearly all his life. He is a son of Dr. Isaac N. Monfort, one of the leading physicians of Gratiot county, who was born in Disco, Macomb county, Michigan. The father began the practice of his profession when he was thirty years of age, and has en- joyed a large patronage and much promi- nence since his location in Gratiot county in 1880. His family consisted of three chil- dren.
Frank R. Monfort attended the common schools of his locality, and later entered the Ithaca high school, from which he was grad- uated in 1896, in the fall of the same year entering the literary department of the Uni- versity of Michigan. After a year in this
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department Mr. Monfort took the law course at the same institution, from which he graduated in the year, 1900. He com- menced the practice of his profession imme- diately at Ithaca, and in the fall of 1900 was elected Circuit court commissioner, a posi- tion he filled very efficiently. In 1901 he removed to Lake City, Missaukee county, where he practiced for one and one-half years. While a resident of that place he was a candidate for, prosecuting attorney, and although his opponent had held the office six terms Mr. Monfort was defeated by only thirty-seven votes. In 1902 he re- turned to Ithaca and entered into partner- ship with Kelly S. Searl, under the firm name of Searl & Monfort.
Mr. Monfort was united in marriage July 15, 1903, with Miss Anna E. Barber, daughter of A. S. Barber, the well known merchant of Ithaca. Mr. Monfort affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Ma- sonic fraternity, in both of which he is a valued comrade. Mr. Monfort is very well- known and very popular in Ithaca.
JOHN D. SULLIVAN, a prominent, practical and well-to-do farmer of Pine River township, Gratiot county, Michi- gan, is the owner and operator of "Elm- wood" farm, a magnificent three-hundred- and-twenty-acre tract. He was born in Pine River township, November 28, 1869, son of the late Daniel R. Sullivan.
Daniel R. Sullivan was a son of Corne- lius and Margaret (Murphy) Sullivan, na- tives of Ireland. He was the eldest of the family, and was born in Newport, Rhode Island, June 8, 1830. Coming with his par- ents to Michigan when six years old he re- ceived a common school education, and at
the age of eighteen years went to New Or- leans, Louisiana, where he spent thirteen years in steamboating. In August, 1854, he located one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Pine River township, Gratiot county, Michigan, and in the fall of 1861 he returned from the South and located on this tract. His first house, of frame, was super- seded by one of brick in 1877, which he moved into December 24th of that year. In December, 1862, in Arcada township, Mr. Sullivan married Miss Jeannette, daughter of Emery and Maria (Lewis) Adams. She was born in Liberty township. Jackson county, Michigan, December 28, 1842, and to her and her husband were born four chil- dren : William C., mentioned elsewhere; John D., our, subject; Pearl, who died in in- fancy ; and Maggie M., deceased, who was the wife of Dr. McClinton of Alma, Michi- gan. Mr. Sullivan was prominent in town- ship affairs and held many of the local offi- ces. He was identified with the Democratic party. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masonic Order, in which he was very popular. Mrs. Sullivan is a consistent mem- ber, of the Episcopal Church.
Of the family of four children, John D. Sullivan was the second member, and was nine years old when his parents removed to Arcada township. Here he grew to man- hood, being educated in the high school at Alma, Michigan, and the commercial de- partment of the Alma College. Although most of his life has been spent in agricult- ural pursuits, Mr. Sullivan was employed by the Gratiot County Savings Bank for some time. He was married in Arcada township, January 1, 1894, to Miss Nellie J. Snyder, born in North Huron, Wayne county, New York, December 31, 1871, the
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daughter, of John W. and Sarah J. (Derby) Snyder, and to this union the following chil- dren were born: D. Ross, J. Donald and Muriel J., the latter of whom died when five years old, February 5, 1891.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan settled in Arcada township, where they spent two years, and then settled on the place upon which they now reside, which is known as "Elmwood" farm. Mr. Sullivan owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, and of this about two hundred acres are under the plow. Mr. Sullivan has served in the capacity of township treasurer of Pine River township for two terms, being identi- fied with the Democratic party. In frater- nal circles he is very popular, and is a valued member of Forest Hill Tent, No. 526, Knights of the Modern Maccabees. Al- though his own interests are large Mr. Sul- livan is always ready to give his time and attention to the service of his township, hav- ing its best interests at heart. He is well known and highly respected throughout the community.
JOHN CLINTON WATSON, the effi-
cient young register of deeds of Gratiot county, Michigan, has held that office since January, 1905, having been elected the pre- vious November by a large majority. Mr. Watson's birth occurred January 28, 1878, in Pine River township, Gratiot county, Michigan, and he is a son of William O. and Ella (Chapin) Watson, and a grandson of John T. and Harriet (Wilcox) Watson, na- tives of Genesee county, New York, the latter born in Batavia.
William O. Watson was born at Brigh- ton, Livingston county, Michigan, Decem- ber 15. 1848. He was educated in the dis-
trict schools, and came to Ithaca in 1870, where he clerked in different stores. On December 31, 1874, at Ithaca, he was mar- ried to Ella F., daughter of DeWitt C. and Edna F. (Utley) Chapin, natives of New York. Mrs. William O. Watson was born in Allegan, Michigan, in April, 1851, and removed to DeWitt, Clinton county, Michi- gan, three years later. At the age of thir- teen years she came with her parents to Alma, this county, and here attended the public schools, afterward pursuing a course of study at the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. She commenced teaching at the age of fifteen, and continued for a number of years. Her father became register of deeds in 1871, and died while in office, the duties of the office devolving on Mrs. Wat- son, who had been his deputy. Therefore it is seen that both our subject's mother and grandfather were incumbents of the office which he now holds. Mr. and Mrs. William O. Watson located on a farm in Pine River township, and four years later removed to Arcada township. In 1884 they removed to Breckenridge, where they now reside.
John C. Watson received his education in the district school in Arcada township, the public school at Breckenridge and four years at the preparatory and collegiate de- partments at Alma College. Mr. Watson then entered the University of Michigan, from which institution he was graduated in 1898, with the degree of Ph. B. He then returned to Ann Arbor, taking one year in the Law Department, also receiving one year of instruction in the Law Department of the Columbian (now George Washing- ton) University, at Washington, D. C.
In March, 1901, Mr. Watson was ap- pointed private secretary to Congressman
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A. B. Darragh of the Eleventh Michigan District, which position he resigned to as- sume the office of register of deeds. Mr. Watson has shown himself a most efficient, thorough and systematic worker. He has taken a prominent part in several Gratiot county campaigns, and is known as a pleas- ing and convincing campaign speaker. He is a plain, friendly, earnest, honest, every- day Republican, and his thorough training in systematic office work, promptness in dis- charge of duty, genial manners and rare power of accurate judgment especially fit him to command the confidence and good- will of all who have business with the reg- ister's office.
While in Washington Mr. Watson met Miss Doris Van Doren, who was then pri- vate secretary to Congressman H. C. Smith of the Second Michigan District, and they were married August 17, 1902. Mrs. Wat- son is the daughter of Charles S. and Eliza- beth (Northrop) Van Doren, of Adrian, where her father still resides, her mother being deceased. Mrs. Watson is now dep- uty in the register's office. Politically John C. Watson is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, being a member of Breckenridge Lodge, No. 406, F. & A. M .; St. Louis Chapter, No. 188, R. A. M .; and St. Louis Council, No. 68, R. & S. M. He is also a member of Peterman Tent, No. 290, K. O. T. M. M .; Ithaca Camp, No. 4713, M. W. of A .; and of Ithaca District Court, No. 610, C. of H.
W ILBERT B. CLARK, M. D., an able young practitioner of medicine and surgery, until recently located in the town of St. Louis, Michigan, and now in Saginaw, that State, was born November
26, 1868, in Newport, Monroe county, Michigan, son of Watson J. and Adella (McDonald) Clark, of whose family of five children he was the eldest.
The early years of Doctor Clark's life were spent in Newport, where he attended the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he attended the Union school at Flat Rock, Michigan, and afterward the Detroit Business University, from which he was graduated with honors. He then took up the study of medicine, and, after preparing himself, entered the Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery, at Detroit, from which he graduated with the class of 1894. The last year of his term in college, the Doc- tor was the able and efficient ambulance sur- geon of Detroit.
Doctor Clark began the practice of his profession at Wheeler, Gratiot county, where he remained two years, in 1896 locating in St. Louis, where he was engaged in the enjoyment of an ever increasing practice until his removal to Saginaw, where he has in a comparatively short time gained the confidence and good will of the citizens. The Doctor is at home in every line of his pro- fession, is a close student, a careful practi- tioner and a steady-handed surgeon. He is a member of the State Medical Society, the Gratiot County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His skill has been recognized in that he was appoint- ed United States pension examiner, an of- fice he filled for some years. Fraternally the Doctor is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
Dr. Wilbert B. Clark was married at Flint, Michigan, May 16, 1894. to Miss Lizzie Pettingill, daughter of L. N. and
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Alma ( Ashley) Pettingill. Mrs. Clark is a native of Flint, Michigan. She and her husband have had these children : Kenneth W., Leland and Esther, the latter of whom died January 20, 1902, aged two years. Po- litically Dr. Clark is a Republican, but has never sought office.
E RNEST MUSCOTT, former town- ship treasurer of Emerson township, was born on his father's farm in that town- ship, April 22, 1877, son of Theodore W. and Martha B. (Curtis) Muscott. His father was born July 25, 1843, in Huron county, Ohio, while his wife was a native of Wyoming county, New York, born Septem- ber 10, 1845. He was a soldier in the Civil war, serving three years with Company A, Twentieth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, being wounded in the right thigh at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia. Soon after the war he located in Gratiot county, and after his marriage settled in Section 12, Emerson township, where he has since been a resident. He owns eighty acres of improved land, and is well known and highly respected in the locality. To him and his wife were born these children : Bert T., a farmer of Wheeler township, who married Jennie Richardson and has two children, Wesley and Sylvia; Minnie, who died aged ten years ; William M., who mar- ried Kittie M. Gutherie, and has one daugh- ter, Bernice; Fred, engaged in the railroad business ; and Ernest, who lives at home.
Ernest Muscott was reared on his fath- er's farm and received his education in the common schools of his district. He was married in Emerson township to Miss Tem- perance L. Davis, who was born in Lafay- ette township, and died in Emerson town-
ship May 29, 1902. Mr. Muscott was mar- ried a second time, January 24, 1905, in Gratiot county, to Miss Florence G. Strong, born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1882, the daughter of John and Martha (Somerville) Strong, natives of the State named. There Mr. Strong died. Mrs. Mus- cott was the second in the family of six children. Mrs. Strong now resides in Em- erson township.
Mr. Muscott was elected township treas- urer of Emerson township in the spring of 1903, and re-elected in the following spring. Prior to 1903 he had served as township clerk for two terms and was appointed State census enumerator in 1904. He has always been identified with the interests of the Re- publican party in this section and has sev- eral times been chosen as delegate to the county conventions. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Breck- enridge Lodge, No. 406, and St. Louis Chapter, No. 87, as well as the Eastern Star, and he is also identified with Peterman Tent, No. 290, Knights of the Modern Maccabees. Since he was eighteen years old he has managed the homestead of eighty acres, and under his capable management the farm has been very productive.
A RTHUR H. STONE, one of the pro- gressive young business men of Breckenridge, Wheeler township, Gratiot county, senior member, of the implement firm of Stone Brothers, and township clerk of Wheeler township, was born September II, 1867, in Lebanon township, Clinton county, Michigan, son of Warren H. and Susan (Murnin) Stone. The mother of our subject died March 27, 1892, in Wheel- er township, at the age of fifty-eight years.
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Arthur H. was second in the family of four children born to his parents.
Mr. Stone was reared on his father's farm in Clinton county, and at the age of twelve years was brought by his parents to Gratiot county, settling in Wheeler township, where he grew to manhood. He made his home on the farm until May I, 1900, when he located in Breckenridge, and engaged in the implement business, form- ing a partnership with George P. Young and H. M. Boneman, under the firm name of Young, Boneman & Stone. On August 20, 1900, Mr. A. C. Wyant bought the in- terest of Messrs. Young and Boneman and the firm became known as Stone & Wyant, which firm was continued until March, 1901, when Arlan W. Stone purchased Mr. Wyant's interest in the business, since which time the firm has traded under the name of Stone Brothers. The business has grown annually, reaching large proportions, and it requires the whole attention of both brothers, who are men of practical meth- ods, able to handle a large amount of business.
Mr. Stone was married in Wheeler township, April 7, 1891, to Miss Thora A. Fowler, a native of Amboy, Hillsdale county, Michigan, daughter of Elihu and Lydia Ann (Ferrier) Fowler, and to this union one child has been born: Emma A. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are active members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Stone was elected township clerk of Wheeler town- ship in April, 1904, 1905, and again in 1906. For four years he had held the office of justice of the peace, and for one term was highway commissioner. He is a thorough business man, honest and upright in all his dealings, public-spirited and of much ex-
ecutive ability. He supports all good move- ments in the community. Mr. Stone is the owner of one hundred acres of good land in Wheeler township, which he has im- proved.
W TILLIAM H. HETZMAN was born January 1, 1872, on the farm upon which he now resides, in Emerson town- ship, Gratiot county, and which comprises eighty acres of good land. He is one of the prosperous and enterprising young farmers of that section.
Louis Hetzman, the father of William H., was born in Belfort, France, March 8, 1827. He married Martha Hands, who was born June 8, 1833, in Bambury, Eng- land, and they came to Gratiot county in 1865 from Concord, Michigan, settling on Section 13, Emerson township, where Mr. Hetzman purchased forty acres of State land, which he cleared and cultivated. Here he resided until his death, February 23. 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hetzman had these children : Mary E., the wife of Marion F. Curtiss; Alice E., the wife of Oramel Maxson; Frank M .; Amos V .; John L .; William H .; and Emma, who died in in- fancy.
William H. Hetzman was reared on the old home farm, and received his education in the common schools of his district. He was brought up to agricultural life, and has always followed farming. He was mar- ried August 31, 1898, to Miss Eva C. Mc- Clure, who was born in Logan county. Ohio, July 18, 1868, daughter of Alonzo C. and Sarah J. (Leggitt) McClure, the former of whom was born in Michigan and reared in Canada, while the latter was a native of Logan county, Ohio, where she
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died aged twenty-seven years. She and her husband had five children, of which family Mrs. Hetzman was the third member. To Mr. and Mrs. Hetzman have been born chil- dren as follows: Martha, Marion C., Ruth A. and William Lowell.
Mr. Hetzman has taken a great deal of interest in township affairs, and is inclined to be independent in politics, preferring to vote for the man instead of the party. He is a strong temperance man. He and his estimable wife are valued members of the First Presbyterian Church of Emerson, of which they are regular attendants. The Hetzmans are well known and highly re- spected in the community.
J
JOHN HOSENKAMP, an enterprising
and well-to-do resident of Bethany township, Gratiot county, Michigan, is en- gaged in general farming on his eighty-acre farm in that township. He was born in Ot- tawa county, Ohio, September 6, 1869, eld- est of the eight children born to Fred and Minnie (Kuller) Hosenkamp, natives of Germany.
John Hosenkamp was reared on his father's farm in Ottawa county, Ohio, re- ceiving his education in the common schools of his township, and at the Toledo (Ohio) Business College. He remained on his father's farm until September, 1893, when he located in Gratiot county, Michigan, and settled on the farm in Bethany township which he now occupies, known as Butternut Grove. It consists of eighty acres, of which Mr. Hosenkamp has cultivated about thirty- seven acres. His farm compares favorably with others of the section, and is well sup- plied with good buildings, erected by himself.
Mr. Hosenkamp was married in Ottawa county, Ohio, in April, 1892, to Miss Anna Beyer, who was born in that county, and in the same house in which the birth of our subject occurred, August 7, 1869, daughter of August and Christina Beyer. To Mr. and Mrs. Hosenkamp have come three chil- dren : Cora, born October 26, 1893 ; George, February 22, 1895; and Clarence, July 27, 1898. Mr. Hosenkamp is generally consid- ered one of the best farmers in the neigh- borhood and the appearance of his fine farm upholds the statement. He is a man of in- tegrity, and enjoys the esteem of his fellow- citizens.
JOSEPH H. TAYLOR has been a resi-
dent of Wheeler township since 1879. He was born in Wells county, Indiana, Jan- uary I, 1867, one of the younger members of a family of thirteen children. His father was the late Joseph Taylor, while his mother was Flora (Bragg) Taylor, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia.
The parents of our subject moved from Wells county, Indiana, to Maple Rapids, Clinton county, Michigan, in 1878, and there followed farming for one year, at the end of which time they located in Gratiot county, settling on Section 12, Wheeler township, where Mr. Taylor died March II, 1900, aged seventy-two years. His widow survived until October, 1902, when she, too, passed away.
Joseph H. Taylor was about twelve years old when brought to Gratiot county . by his parents. He received a common school education, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He owns the old homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, about one hundred acres of which are im-
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