USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Biographical memoirs of Gratiot County, Michigan : compendium of biography of celebrated Americans > Part 29
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proved, and since taking charge of the farm Mr. Taylor has made a number of improve- ments, mentionable among them being the erection of a fine set of new buildings. He is one of the substantial farmers of the township.
A DELBERT U. GILES, whose fine farm of sixty acres is located in Beth- any township, Gratiot county, Michigan, is one of the successful farmers and well known citizens of his locality. He was born April 12, 1868, in Elk county, Pennsyl- vania, son of Joshua Allen and Mary (Fox) Giles, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Giles died in Elk county, Pennsylvania, when thirty-five years of age, having been the mother of seven children, of which family our subject was the fifth member.
Adelbert U. Giles came to Gratiot county with his father when he was nine years old, and settled in Bethany township. Here they have both resided since. Our subject received a common school educa- tion, and has followed agricultural pursuits all of his life. He is the owner of sixty acres of land in Bethany township, and of this fifty acres are improved and supplied with good buildings. He is a well informed citizen, and takes an active part in the sup- port of movements for the benefit of the community.
Mr. Giles was married March 18, 1891, to Miss Lena R. Perkins, daughter of Wal- lace and Alice (Aldrich) Perkins, of Beth- any township. Mrs. Giles was born in New York, February 14, 1872, and to her and her husband have been born: Guy Allen and Mary Alice. Mr. Giles has been identi- fied with the Republican party in all county and township affairs. He and his estimable
wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of Gleaners.
L URLEY J. GRANT, engaged in agri- cultural operations on his forty-acre farm in Seville township, is one of Gratiot county's good, up-to-date farmers. His birth occurred on a farm in Wood county, Ohio, May 2, 1871, and is a son of Samuel and Susan (Burkhead) Grant. The parents of Mr. Grant came to Gratiot county early in the eighties and settled in Pine River township, afterward removing to Seville township, then to Arcada township, from whence they returned to Seville township. They now reside in Sumner township.
Lurley J. Grant came with his parents to Gratiot county, and made his home with them until his marriage, June 21, 1892, to Miss Bertha Ludwick, a native of Ionia county, Michigan, and a daughter of George and Carrie (Greenhoe) Ludwick. Mr. and Mrs. Grant have two children-Otto and Hazel. When he was married Mr. Grant settled in Arcada township, where he re- mained for two years, later removing to Se- ville township. Here he also lived two years, at the end of which time he returned to Arcada township, residing there until the fall of 1900, when he purchased forty acres of good land on Section 26, Seville township, where he has since remained. He has erected good, substantial buildings on his farm, which is cultivated to the best degree.
A LEXANDER McDONALD was born on the farm upon which he now re- sides, in Emerson township, Gratiot county, March 20, 1872, son of Alexander and
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Ellen (Edgar) McDonald. His parents were natives of Scotland, and were among the early settlers of Emerson township, lo- cating on Section 12. Here Alexander Mc- Donald, the father, died in his fiftieth year, and his widow married Robert J. McClure, now residing in the State of Washington. Our subject had one sister, Margaret, who became the wife of Alexander McKinzie and died in Chicago, Illinois.
Alexander McDonald, our subject, was reared upon the farm, and has always fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, one hundred and ten of which he has improved, and upon which he has erected a fine set of good buildings. He is a well known and representative farmer of his neighborhood. Mr. McDonald was married in Emerson township, September 1I, 1895, to Miss Ethel L. Case, who was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in what is now Schoolcraft county, September 17, 1875, daughter of Newton L. and Mary (Black- well) Case, and the third member in their family of ten children. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald the following children have been born : Ralph A., Anna O., Gertrude L., Margaret E., Mary B., and one who died in infancy unnamed. Mrs. McDonald is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Emerson, and the family is well known and highly respected in the township, where Mr. McDonald interests himself in all mat- ters beneficial to his section of the State.
W MORTIMER DRAKE, M. D., one of the younger medical prac- titioners of Gratiot county. now located in Breckenridge, Michigan, was born in the
county of Lincoln, Ontario, September I, 1875.
Dr. Drake passed the early years of his life in his native country, at the age of twelve years coming to Michigan with his parents, and settling in Grand Rapids. For two years he attended Albion College, and then prepared himself to begin the study of medicine, entering the Detroit College of Medicine, which he attended for four years, graduating with the class of 1902. He at once began the practice of his pro- fession in Delray, Michigan, where he re- mained but a short time, in August, 1902, locating in Breckenridge, where he has since been in practice. Dr. Drake has the confidence of the people of Breckenridge, and his practice is as large as he can handle. His suite of offices are second to none in Gratiot county. He keeps up to date by his membership in the various medical so- cieties, among which may be mentioned the Gratiot County Medical Society, the Mich- igan State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Practitioners' Study Club of Detroit. He also is con- nected with the Foresters and Court of Honor.
Dr. Drake was married in Detroit, Mich- igan, March 25, 1902, to Miss Rhoda M. Waggoner, daughter of Lemuel and Mary Jane Waggoner, of Breckenridge, and one child has been born to this union.
C HARLES E. SLINGLUFF, one of the good, practical farmers of Gra- tiot county, is engaged in operating a well- cultivated farm of eighty acres, in Sumner township. Mr. Slingluff was born Decem- ber 3, 1854. in Crawford county, Pennsyl-
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vania, son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Bell) Slingluff, the former of whom died in Crawford county.
Of a family of ten children-five sons and five daughters-our subject was the second. He was reared on his father's farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the district schools of his na- tive township. He remained at home until March, 1878, when he came to Michigan, and, locating in Gratiot county, worked at farming by the month, continuing in this occupation for one year. On March 13, 1879, he was married to Miss Bina Medler, a native of Canada, daughter of the late John and Mary R. Medler, and to this union one child has been born-Marlie.
After marriage Mr. Slingluff settled on the farm of eighty acres which he still oc- cupies. He has been prominent in town- ship affairs, was school director and justice of the peace for four years, and is to be rated among Gratiot county's substantial men.
C' HARLES EDWIN HORN. The
successful modern photographer, to meet the cultivated tastes of the day, must be artistic as well as mechanically skilled. In line with the requirements of the times both Charles E. Horn and his wife, who is associated with him, have established a prof- itable photographic gallery in St. Louis, Michigan, locating at that point July 24, 1905.
Charles E. Horn was born in Barry county, Michigan, October 25, 1868, the son of Moses and Phoebe (Wortman) Horn, natives of Ohio. His father was a farmer, both parents still living in Barry
county. To their union were born : Ida, de- ceased, Mrs. Morris Stanton; Charles E .; Alice, wife of William P. Kelly, of Barry county, Michigan; and Ernest, living on the old homestead in that county.
Until he was twenty years of age Charles E. passed his life upon his father's farm and in acquiring a fair education. His tastes, however, were not in harmony with his surroundings, simple and healthful though they were. He therefore removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and for six years was employed there in a photographic studio. During that period he mastered thoroughly all the details of the art and business, so that he was prepared to es- tablish a business for himself. This he did in Belding, Michigan, after a short time re- moving to South Bend, Indiana, and thence, after some fifteen months, to St. Louis, Michigan. As stated, he has there made a decided success of his work, being a master of all its details and sociable and popular as a man. In politics he is inde- pendent.
On October 6, 1899, Mr. Horn was united in marriage, in Cedar Creek, Mich- igan, to Miss Grace M. Chandler, daughter of Martin D. and Jane A. (Hall) Chandler, both natives of Ohio. Her father is a farm- er of Barry county, Michigan, Mrs. Chand- ler dying there on July 3, 1904. Four chil- dren were born to their union.
E "DWIN F. GEE, a prominent young farmer of Sumner township, Gratiot county, Michigan, is actively engaged in cultivating his two-hundred-and-twenty- acre farm. He was born March 4, 1878, on the farm which he now owns, son of
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George E. and Rachel A. (Kress) Gee, na- tives, respectively, of New York State and Michigan.
George E. Gee was born in Lyons town- ship, Wayne county, New York, and at the age of six years was left to fight life's bat- tles without the guiding hand of a father. For three years he was with a Mr. Gard- ner, of his native county, attending school in the winter months and working on the farm during the summers. From this time until he was eighteen years old he worked by the month for two substantial farmers of his neighborhood, and then went home and worked the homestead for three years. In the summer of 1854 he went to Cleve- land to join his brother, Isaac, and in the fall of that year located in Gratiot county, locating four hundred acres on the corners
of Sections 10, II, 14 and 15. There he continued to live until his death. He mar- ried, "April 25, 1858, Miss Rachel A. Kress, daughter of James and Mary (Hultz) Kress, natives of New York, and four chil- dren were born to this union: Jay; Lulah, deceased; Eulah; and Edwin F.
Edwin F. Gee received a common school education, and at the age of sixteen years took charge of the farm, which consists of two hundred and twenty acres, one hundred and ninety of which are improved. Mr. Gee has been very successful in his agricul- tural ventures, and has acquired a handsome competency. While most of his attention is given to his farm, he is never too busy to serve his township, and is an earnest ad- vocate of any measure which promises to be of good to the community.
PART II.
JAS LONGSTREET
JEJOHNSTON
JOSEPH HOOKER
SALMON PCHASE
WADE HAMPTON
JOHN A. LOGAN
JOHN C.FREMONT
R.A.ALGER.
SIMON B. BUCKNER
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY . . OF . .
CELEBRATED AMERICANS
G EORGE WASHINGTON, the first president of the Unit- ed States, called the "Father enmann of his Country" was one of the most celebrated characters in history. He was born Feb- ruary 22, 1732, in Washing- ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, and March 6, 1730, he married Mary Ball. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest.
Little is known of the early years of Washington, beyond the fact that the house in which he was born was burned during his early childhood, and that his father there- upon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford county, on the north bank of the Rappahan- nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest childhood George developed a noble charac- ter. His education was somewhat defective being confined to the elementary branches taught him by his mother and at a neighbor- ing school. On leaving school he resided some time at Mount Vernon with his half
brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guar- dian. George's inclinations were for a sea- faring career, and a midshipman's warrant was procured for him; but through the oppo- sition of his mother the project was aban- doned, and at the age of sixteen he was appointed surveyor to the immense estates of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years were passed by Washington in a rough front- ier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 1751, when the Virginia militia were put under training with a view to active service against France, Washington, though only nineteen years of age, was appointed adjutant with the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence Washington died, leaving his large property to an infant daughter. In his will George was named one of the executors and as an eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to that estate. In 1753, George was commis- sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia militia and performed important work at the outbreak of the French and Indian war, was rapidly promoted and at the close of that war we find him commander-in-chief of
Copyright 1897, by Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
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all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation of Indian hostilities on the frontier having followed the expulsion of the French from the Ohio, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which he had been elected a member.
January 17, 1759, Washington married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young and beautiful widow of great wealth, and devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- rupted only by the annual attendance in winter upon the colonial legislature at Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun- try to enter upon that other arena in which his fame was to become world-wide. The war for independence called Washington into service again, and he was made com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and was the most gallant and conspicuous figure in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng- land acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them jointly, as separate sovereignties. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his officers in most affection- ate and patriotic terms, and went to An- napolis, Maryland, where the congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon.
It was in 1789 that Washington was called to the chief magistracy of the na- tion. The inauguration took place April 30, in the presence of an immense multi- tude which had assembled to witness the new and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de- tails of his civil administration Washington proved himself fully equal to the requirements of his position. In 1792, at the second presi-
dential election, Washington was desirous to retire; but he yielded to the general wish of the country, and was again chosen presi- dent. At the third election, in 1796, he was again most urgently entreated to con- sent to remain in the executive chair. This he positively refused, and after March 4, 1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon for peace, quiet, and repose.
Of the call again made on this illustrious chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver- non and take command of all the United States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen- eral, when war was threatened with France in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex- cept to note the fact as an unmistakable testimonial of the high regard in which he was still held by his countrymen of all shades of political opinion. He patriotic- ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop to all action under it. He again retired to Mount Vernon, where he died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were depos- ited in a family vault on the banks of the Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still lie entombed.
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent American statesman and scientist, was born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren- ticed to his brother James to learn the print- er's trade to prevent his running away and going to sea, and also because of the numer- ous family his parents had to support (there being seventeen children, Benjamin being the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and soon developed a taste for writing, and pre- pared a number of articles and had them published in the paper without his brother's knowledge, and when the authorship be- came known it resulted in difficulty for the
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young apprentice, although his articles had been received with favor by the public. James was afterwards thrown into prison for political reasons, and young Benjamin con- ducted the paper alone during the time. In 1823, however, he determined to endure his bonds no longer, and ran away, going to Philadelphia, where he arrived with only three pence as his store of wealth. With these he purchased three rolls, and ate them as he walked along the streets. He soon found employment as a journeyman printer. Two years later he was sent to England by the governor of Pennsylvania, and was promised the public printing, but did not get it. On his return to Philadelphia he estab- lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and soon found himself a person of great popu- larity in the province, his ability as a writer, philosopher, and politician having reached the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li- brary in 1842, and two years later the American Philosophical Society and the University of Pennsylvania. He was made Fellow of the Royal Society in London in 1775. His world-famous investigations in electricity and lightning began in 1746. He became postmaster-general of the colonies in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial postal system. He advocated the rights of the colonies at all times, and procured the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was elected to the Continental congress of 1775, and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, being one of the commit- tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep- resented the new nation in the courts of Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple dignity and homely wisdom won him the admiration of the court and the favor of the people. He was governor of Pennsylvania four years; was also a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution of the United States.
His writings upon political topics, anti- slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him as one of the greatest statesmen of his time, while his "Autobiography " and "Poor Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in the literary field. In early life he was an avowed skeptic in religious matters, but later in life his utterances on this subject were less extreme, though he never ex- pressed approval of any sect or creed. He died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790.
DA ANIEL WEBSTER .- Of world wide reputation for statesmanship, diplo- macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more prominent figure in the history of our coun- try in the interval between 1815 and 1861, than Daniel Webster. He was born at Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, and was the second son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster. He enjoyed but limited educational advan- tages in childhood, but spent a few months in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He completed his preparation for college in the family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen, and entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1797. He supported himself most of the time during these years by teaching school and graduated in 1801, having the credit of being the foremost scholar of his class. He entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1802 he con- tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine, where he was principal of the academy and copyist in the office of the register of deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore, at Boston, he completed his studies in 1804-5, and was admitted to the bar in the latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports- mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes-
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sion. He became known as a federalist but did not court political honors; but, at- tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos- ing the war with England, he was elected to congress in IS12. During the special session of May, 1813. he was appointed on the committee on foreign affairs and made his maiden speech June 10, 1813. Through- out this session (as afterwards) he showed his mastery of the great economic questions of the day. He was re-elected in 1814. In IS16 he removed to Boston and for seven years devoted himself to his profession, earning by his arguments in the celebrated " Dartmouth College Case" rank among the most distinguished jurists of the country. In 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member of the state convention of Massachusetts, to revise the constitution. The same year he delivered the famous discourse on the " Pil- grim fathers," which laid the foundation for his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi- nation for United States senator, in 1822 he was elected to the lower house of congress and was re-elected in 1824 and IS26, but in IS27 was transferred to the senate. He retained his seat in the latter chamber until IS41. During this time his voice was ever lifted in defence of the national life and honor and although politically opposed to him he gave his support to the administra- tion of President Jackson in the latter's con- test with nullification. Through all these rears he was ever found upon the side of right and justice and his speeches upon all the great questions of the day have be- come household words in almost every family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed secretary of state by President Harrison and was continued in the same office by President Tyler. While an incumbent of this office he showed consummate ability as a diplomat in the negotiation of the " Ash-
burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which settled many points of dispute between the United States and England. In May, 1843. he resigned his post and resumed his pro- fession, and in December, I845, took his place again in the senate. He contributed in an unofficial way to the solution of the Oregon question with Great Britain in I847. He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv- ing the nomination for the presidency. He became secretary of state under President Fillmore in 1850 and in dealing with all the complicated questions of the day showed a wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy. Being hurt in an accident he retired to his home at Marshfield, where he died Octo- ber 24, 1852. .
H ORACE GREELEY. - As journalist, author, statesman and political leader, there is none more widely known than the man whose name heads this article. He was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb- ruary 3, ISII, and was reared upon a farm. At an early age he evinced a remarkable intelligence and love of learning, and at the age of ten had read every book he could borrow for miles around. About IS21 the family removed to Westhaven, Vermont, and for some years young Greeley assisted in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered the office of a weekly newspaper at East Poultney, Vermont, where he remained about four years. On the discontinuance of this paper he followed his father's family to Erie county, Pennsylvania, whither they had moved, and for a time worked at the printer's trade in that neigh- borhood. In IS31 Horace went to New York City, and for a time found employ- ment as journeyman printer. January, I833, in partnership with Francis Story, he published the Morning Post, the first penny
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paper ever printed. This proved a failure and was discontinued after three weeks. The business of job printing was carried on, however, until the death of Mr. Story in July following. In company with Jonas Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley commenced the publication of the New Yorker, a weekly paper of a high character. For financial reasons, at the same time, Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and, in 1838, took editorial charge of the Jeffer- sonian, a Whig paper published at Albany. In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet, he devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a campaign paper in the interests of the Whig party. In the fall of 1841 the latter paper was consolidated with the New Yorker, un- der the name of the Tribune, the first num- ber of which was issued April 10, 1841. At the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained until the day of his death.
In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to the national house of representatives to fill a vacancy, and was a member of that body until March 4, 1849. In 1851 he went to Europe and served as a juror at the World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon- don. In 1855, he made a second visit to the old world. In 1859 he crossed the plains and received a public reception at San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a member of the Republican national con- vention, at Chicago in 1860, and assisted in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President. The same year he was a presi- dential elector for the state of New York, and a delegate to the Loyalist convention at Philadelphia.
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