USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Biographical memoirs of Gratiot County, Michigan : compendium of biography of celebrated Americans > Part 5
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ately interested himself in the canvass, hav- ing the gratification of assisting to make the nomination of that gentleman unanimous, at the convention subsequently held at Traverse City.
In April, 1905, the Republicans of Gratiot county again united upon Judge Searl as the candidate for the Circuit Bench, his opponent being Judge Stone, the incum- bent of the previous six years. The result was a complete victory for the former, who was elected by a majority of 550, nearly twenty per cent of which was given by the voters of Clinton county.
Judge Searl has had little opportunity or inclination to devote tointerestsoutsideof his profession, although he is a Knight Templar and has a membership in the I. O. O. F., K. of P., Maccabees and Modern Woodmen. In his religious belief he is a Methodist, and his domestic relations are those calculated to round out the life of a Christian, honor- able man. On September 30, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie A. Smith, daughter of William W. Smith, of Mason, Michigan. Their children are Ethel Maud, Hazel Belle and Willie Chauncey.
G EORGE P. STONE. This sketch of George P. Stone is written by him- self at the request of the publishers hereof. He resides at Ithaca, Michigan, and is a law- yer of modest attainments. He was born at Wheatland, Monroe county, New York, August 18, 1848. His father was Levi Stone, son of Elias Stone, Jr., of Colerain, Franklin county, Massachussets. His mother was Phila Preston, daughter of Capt. Salmon Preston, of Oneida county, New York.
Levi Stone moved to Bowne, Kent county, Michigan, in 1855, and the sub-
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ject of this sketch had the benefit of a pioneer life. He honestly thinks he had the best father and mother that ever lived, and he knows he could not be half as good as they were if he tried, and he learned long since that it was a mistake to try a hopeless case if the trial can be avoided. He was never educated anywhere. He attended the district schools and afterward taught them ; has seen and no- ticed a few things, and remembered some of them. He read a few law books while teaching, afterward sat in a law office at Lo- well and studied some, and was admitted to the Bar in 1873 by Judge Lovell, who was too kind to refuse anything requested of him. He opened an office in Carson City, Michigan, in 1873, and in 1874 was married to Isabella Colton, daughter of Dr. T. B. Colton, of Carson City, Michigan. He was nominated in 1884 on the Republican ticket in Montcalm county for Judge of Probate, but on account of a singular spasm of the voters to lay aside politics, and vote for the best man, he was defeated. In 1885 he moved to Ithaca, Michigan, and followed his profes- sion at this place until 1899, when by reason of his nomination for Circuit Judge on the Democratic ticket, and the inability of the Republicans to agree on a candidate, he was elected. In 1905 he was again nominated for Circuit Judge on the Democratic ticket, but by reason that on this occasion the Republi- cans did agree on a candidate he was defeat- ed. As a Circuit Judge his rulings and de- cisions were invariably pronounced fair, im- partial and singularly wise by those liti- gants in whose favor he ruled and decided. He lives on a small farm on the outskirts of town, and has a whole host of the best friends on earth.
TON. WILLIAM S. TURCK, the vice- H president of the First State Bank of Alma, Michigan, formerly conducted by the firm of W. S. Turck & Co., is one of the foremost citizens not only of that place but of the State. He is a pioneer of Gratiot county, has a record for splendid service and bravery in the Civil War, and has won gen- eral recognition for his ability in the field of industry and finance. He has also the honor of being a Mason of the longest continuous standing in the county, joining the order in 1861.
William S. Turck was born in Port Hope, Canada, August 7, 1839, the son of Zacha- riah and Rebecca (Decker) Turck. His fath- er, a tanner and currier, was a native of the State of New York, as was his mother, who was born in Schoharie county. The boy's education was only elementary, but at the age of sixteen he was apprenticed as a tanner to his brother Henry, who operated an es- tablishment in Clark township, Durham county, Canada. After four years of that employment he removed to Shelby, Orleans county, New York, where he remained until 1860, when he obtained employment as fore- man of the gristmill at Indian Mills, Isabella county, Michigan, which was owned by the United States government. In the fall of 1861 he rented a saw and grist mill stand- ing upon the present site of Alma, the in- cipient settlement then consisting of three log houses in the midst of a dense forest. He thus continued until the fall of 1862, when his patriotic spirit forced him from the chan- nels of industry into the military field.
Mr. Turck was mustered into the Union service as second lieutenant of Company D, Twenty-sixth Regiment, Michigan Volun- teer Infantry, Capt. Lafayette Church, and
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was fortunate in being thus attached to one of the most famous bodies of skirmishers in the Federal armies. It went into rendezvous at Jackson, and in December was assigned to provost duty at Alexandria, Virginia, and in the spring following was ordered to Suffolk, then threatened by General Longstreet. The regiment was highly commended for its dis- cipline, intelligence and soldier-like work dis- played at New York City during the progress of the draft riots in 1863, and for the bal- ance of the war it was attached to the Army of the Potomac, First Brigade (General Miles), First Division, Second Army Corps. The regiment was mustered out June 4, 1865. In following Captain Turck's private for- tunes the records show that he was promoted to the first lieutenancy April 15, 1863, and to the captaincy of Company D August 12, 1864. He participated in twenty-eight en- gagements, and at the battle of Spottsylvania was wounded in the head by a minie ball, which necessitated a retirement from duty for ten days. Upon the occasion of Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House Cap- tain Turck was in charge of the brigade skir- mishers.
Captain Turck returned to Alma and en- gaged in lumbering during the winter of 1865-66. From 1866 to 1872 he held the position of county treasurer, but his army experience had so impaired his health that he found it necessary to buy a farm and en; gage in outdoor occupations. He passed the succeeding eight years in its improvement, then returning to Alma, where, in associa- tion with A. W. Wright and others, he founded the banking house of W. S. Turck & Co. He was one of the stockholders and held the positions of cashier and manager. In 1883 the bank was reorganized, and upon
the formation of the establishment of Steel, Turck & Co., at Ithaca, he became a stock- holder therein. In 1901 the bank at Alma was merged into the institution known as the First State Bank of Alma, of which, as stated Mr. Turck is vice-president. In 1881 Mr. Turck built a flouring-mill at Alma, the busi- ness being conducted under the name of the Alma Milling Company. He sold his inter- est in the enterprise in 1885.
William S. Turck has always been a Re- publican, his career as a State leader and a member of the House of Representatives of the Legislature commencing with his nomi- nation to that position in the fall of 1876. He was chosen by a handsome majority and his service on the committees on Local Tax- ation and Drainage, as well as in the general chamber, was of so high a standard that he was re-elected in 1878, again running in ad- vance of his ticket. At that session he was appointed chairman of the Railroad commit- tee and member of the board of managers of the State school at Coldwater. For four years he has also served as a member of the board of management of the Michigan Sol- diers Home.
Brief reference has been made to Mr. Turck's Masonic career. It may be added that since 1861 he has taken twelve degrees, acted as high priest of Chapter No. 70, of Ithaca, and finally reached the office of grand high priest of the grand chapter of Michigan.
On September 15, 1864, Mr. Turck was married to Miss Louisa R. Ely, a native of New York State, born July 18, 1845, the daughter of Gen. Ralph and Mary E. Ely. General Ely was acknowledged to be the founder of Alma, was immortalized for his bravery in connection with the famous Eighth Michigan Regiment during the Civil
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War, and afterward became prominent in the public service of the State. To Mr. and Mrs. Turck have been born four children : Ralph, born June 26, 1865, who died in 1866; Ruby, born June 28, 1869, who died in 1872; Lena, M., born September 9, 1872, who died De- cember 16, 1905 ; and Raymond C., born Oc- tober 12, 1874. The last named married Miss Bertha Bouton, of Chicago, Illinois, and is a resident of Alma, where he is the physician and surgeon, manager and medical director of the Alma Springs Sanitarium. Dr. and Mrs. Turck have two children, name- ly : Mary P. and Louisa E.
M ICHAEL POLLASKY, a native of Hungary-as were his parents, Michael and Rebecca (Blitz) Pollasky-has been for many years a prominent commis- sion merchant of Alma, Michigan, as well as foremost in works of charity. He is also the owner of the finest block in the city, built of brick handsomely trimmed with stone and concrete, and comprising four large stores with offices above. When he became a resident of Alma, over forty years ago, his first business venture was made in a small frame house, and although he has since passed through many reverses and has suffered the loss of the good wife who sus- tained him so stanchly, he has reached a position of comparative ease and prosperity, still active and elastic despite his experiences and his years.
Mr. Pollasky was born November 16, 1833, and like other young men of spirit joined the Hungarian "volunteers," so- called Howayds, in the struggle for inde- pendence and self-government. After the failure of the rebellion, in which he bravely. participated as second lieutenant, he deter-
mined to emigrate to America. He was ac- companied by his wife and children ( Rosa and Max), his parents and his sister Hannah. On landing, the party made a stay of eight months at Newark, New Jersey, after which they passed on to Detroit, Mich- igan, where the mother died long afterward, December 25, 1879. When Mr. Pollasky assumed these heavy responsibilities he was but twenty-three years of age. His first per- manent location was in Wayne county, Mich- igan, where he became a farmer and, to a considerable extent, a dairyman. After be- ing engaged in these lines for two and one- half years he removed to Detroit and manu- factured shoes for a year and a half. The venture did not prove remunerative, and he next engaged in mercantile pursuits in the Lake Superior country, continuing thus for two years.
In the fall of 1863 Mr. Pollasky became a resident of Alma. His first business en- terprise in the village was a failure from a strictly practical standpoint, but he paid his liabilities in full, and issued from the ordeal with a name which was the synonym for strict honesty and manly dealing. From the latter point of view his business failure was a splendid success. He again faced the world with a cheerful and determined spirit, upheld by a faithful and helpful 'wife whose confidence in her husband never weakened. To another mercantile venture he added lumbering, conducting his joint interests with satisfactory re- sults until 1873. But the great shrink- age of values, caused by financial legisla- tion, so affected his business that, in con- junction with the necessary drafts of a large family, he was obliged to add the manufac- ture of tubs and pails to his other activities.
M Pollasky
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Afterward, for four successive times, hisstock and establishment suffered heavy losses by fire, and he was forced to sell his interests. His son purchased the store and fixtures, Mr. Pollasky removing his business to St. Joseph, Michigan. Circumstances were again unfavorable, and in 1877 he returned to Alma and established a produce and com- mission business which finally, after these many trials and adversities, eventuated in a continuous and substantial prosperity. For the past sixteen years he has been exten- sively engaged in the buying and selling of wool and hides.
Mr. Pollasky is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being secretary and past master of Alma Lodge, No. 244, A. F. & A. M., high priest of Alma Chapter, No. 123, R. A. M., and worthy patron of Alma Chapter, No. 43, O. E. S .; he is also a member of Fitz James Lodge, No. 95, K. of P., of which he is past chancellor. Politically he is a Republican of the stanchest kind, and has held various local offices, including the village presidency for three terms.
On March 15, 1852, Mr. Pollasky was married, in Hungary, to Miss Celia Wix, like her husband a native of that country. Mrs. Pollasky was born April 12, 1832, daughter of Emanuel and Sarah Wix, also Hungarians by birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pollasky were born the following children : Moses, who died in infancy ; Rosa, who lived to be but thirteen years of age; Max E., of Buffalo, New York, who married Miss Cecilia Links and is the father of four children, Gladys, Vera, Lois and Norman ; Frank E., one of the leading merchants of Alma, who married Miss Cora Robinson (deceased) and is the father of one daugh- ter, Bernice; Marcus, mentioned below ;
and Anna, living at home. The widely lamented death of Mrs. Pollasky occurred July 12, 1901, and the loss was most keenly felt by the poor of the community, who for years had looked upon her as their most sympathizing and helpful friend. Her thoughtful and constant acts of charity have been continued by her estimable daughter, Anna, who now presides over the household.
MARCUS POLLASKY, the son mentioned above, was born September 6, 1861, at De- troit, Michigan. In 1863 he was brought by his parents to Alma, and there attended the district schools until he was ten years of age, when he was sent to Detroit to at- tend the English and German schools of that city for three years. He returned to Alma, and worked as his father's assistant for a time, and in 1876 entered the high school at Ann Arbor, where he remained for two years. He attended the University for one year, and then settled in Detroit to accept a position as traveling salesman for J. H. Burnham & Co., with whom he continued two and one-half years. He then returned to the University, entering the law depart- ment, from which after a two years' course he was graduated in 1883 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. At the end of his first year he was admitted to the Bar of Michi- gan, at Ithaca ; during his vacation he was accorded the same privilege by the Supreme court of the State, and was afterward ad- mitted to practice in the United States court at Detroit. Politically Mr. Pollasky is a Republican, and in April, 1883, was elected village attorney of Alma.
On January 16, 1884, Marcus Pollasky was married, at Adrian, Michigan, to Miss Nellie A. Waldby, the only daughter of Ebenezer I. and Emmeline (Backus) Wald-
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by, her father being one of the pioneer bankers of Michigan. Mr. Pollasky is very popular in Alma, and is highly esteemed for. many of those characteristics which his hon- ored father possesses.
G EORGE W. PETTEY, M. D. A sol- dier of the Civil War, health officer of the city for a dozen years, prominent in professional, fraternal and social circles, pro- ficient, popular and honorable-there are few citizens of Gratiot county who hold a larger or more secure place in its confidence and high regard than Dr. George W. Pettey, physician and surgeon of St. Louis, Michi- gan. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan- uary 6, 1844, son of Ephraim and Alvira (Sawtell) Pettey, of Jefferson county, New York, and New Hampshire, respectively.
In early life Ephraim Pettey was a Cleve- land grocer, but longing for a more health- ful out-of-door life he purchased forty acres of land in Bethany township, Gratiot county, Michigan, and in May, 1869, removed thith- er with his family for the purpose of engag- ing in truck gardening. He was the pioneer in that line of agriculture in Gratiot county, and pushed his venture to such happy results that, in 1885, he retired from active labors and located at St. Louis. There he and his wife passed many years in comfort and quiet, his death occurring May I, 1901, at the age of eighty-two, and hers at the same age, on December 15, 1899. Mr. Pettey was origi- nally a Democrat ; in later years he was a firm advocate of Prohibition. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Five children were born to their union : Martha J., wife of Dr. A. J. Rosen- berry, of Chicago, Illinois; George W .; Harriet E., who died aged fifteen years;
Madison E., who died aged twenty-seven; and Maria G., deceased, who was married to Henry E. Hayes.
Michael and Elizabeth (Avery) Pettey, the paternal grandparents of Dr. George W. Pettey, were born respectively in Vermont and New York. The grandfather was a job- ber and contractor. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The paternal great- grandfather, who was a son of the Green Mountain State, was in his younger years a sailor, and later was a farmer in Jefferson county, New York; he passed his last days in Ashtabula county, Ohio.
William Hobart, Dr. Pettey's great- grandfather on his mother's side, was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War, serving un- der Washington.
Dr. George W. Pettey was born and reared in Cleveland, Ohio, and received his education in its public schools. For three years he engaged in farming in Lorain coun- ty, Ohio, prior to his return to Cleveland for the purpose of studying medicine. He was matriculated in the medical department of the Western Reserve University in 1867, but in 1869 accompanied his parents to Beth- any township, Gratiot county, Michigan, re- turning to the institution named, however, and completing his professional education. In 1873 he graduated with the time-honored degree and located for practice in Bethany. township, near St. Louis. He remained there for three years, removing thence to Fremont, Ohio, where for the ensuing decade he en- gaged in most creditable professional work. His close attention and strenuous labor having affected his health, he then settled on his farm in Bethany township continuing to employ himself in agricultural pursuits for four years, when he sold the property and re-
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moved to St. Louis to resume the practice of medicine.
Dr. Pettey's marriage to Miss Emma L. Quidort occurred in Fremont, Ohio, in Jan- uary, 1878. She is a native of Williams coun- ty, Ohio, and her father, Peter Quidort, was born in France, whence he came to America in early life. He was for a number of years a piano maker in New York City. Later he migrated to Williams county, Ohio, engag- ing there in farming pursuits, and in 1870 located as a farmer in Gratiot county. Chil- dren as follows were born to Dr. and Mrs. Pettey : William M., who died aged four- teen years; Jennie B., now Mrs. R. Boyd Cawthorpe, of Grand Rapids; and Blanche M., now Mrs. Hallett Curtis, of Pine River, Michigan.
The Doctor is a member of the F. & A. M .- St. Louis Lodge, No. 188, and St. Louis Chapter, No. 87, R. A. M. He is identified with the G. A. R., having enlisted in May, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days' service around Washing- ton, D. C. Professionally he has served for twelve years as health officer of St. Louis, and in April, 1905, was appointed a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons of the Alma Pension Board.
E EDGAR A. BAGLEY, M. D., the well known physician and surgeon of Al- ma, Michigan, has achieved prominence be- cause the results of his practice have conclu- sively proved that he has mastered his pro- fession in all its details. He comes of yeo- man stock-of common-sense ancestors who were accustomed not only to manage their own affairs well but to participate in the con- duct of the public business of their commu-
nities. The Doctor has therefore inherited popular and social qualities which enable him to associate easily with his fellows and draw them to him, in addition to having proved his professional worth by the results of his medical and surgical work.
The paternal grandfather of Edgar A. Bagley was David Bagley, a farmer of New York State. His father was Saxton S. Bag- ley, also of the Empire State, who accom- panied his parents to Hillsdale county, Mich- igan, and there met a family named Center, whose daughter Minerva he later married. Both families were pioneers of that section of Michigan. The husband was a mechanic, and after his marriage removed to Pulaski township, Jackson county, where their son, Edgar A., was born on May 23, 1848. Not finding his trade a sufficient means of live- lihood in such a new country, then slowly de- veloping, Mr. Bagley returned to Hillsdale county, bought land and engaged in farming where he continued his residence, becoming a man of public affairs. For many years he was almost continuously in the township service, among other offices holding those of supervisor and township clerk and treasurer. His death occurred at Horton, Jackson coun- ty, Michigan, in March, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years ; his wife died in 1879, aged fifty-three. Mr. Bagley was always identified with the Anti-Slavery party, and never voted anything else; in later years he was a Republican. Mrs. Bagley was identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they were both earnest, honest, useful members of the pioneer communities in which their lots were cast.
Dr. Edgar A. Bagley was the only child born to Saxton S. and Minerva (Center) Bagley. The boy remained on the farm with
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his parents until he was eighteen years of age, acquiring in the meantime a thorough education-measured by the advantages of the time and place. At the age named he commenced to hire his already valuable ser- vices to neighboring farmers in the busy seasons and to teach in the district schools during the winter. For six years he was a teacher in Hillsdale county and for one year in Jackson county, later studying medicine both privately and at the Homeopathic Col- lege of Detroit, Michigan. In 1874 he grad- uated from that institution, and has prac- ticed at Mosherville, Michigan, for a period of seven years, at Horton, Michigan, for five years, and at Alma since 1886. His rep- utation is high and firmly established, his clientage being among the best and most substantial citizens, while his standing with the profession is evinced by the fact that for the past year he has held the secretaryship of the Gratiot County Medical Society. He is also an active and prominent member of the State and American Medical Associa- tions. With the exception of three years, since 1890 the Doctor has been identified with the Pension Examining Board of Sur- geons, and both as a physician and surgeon he stands in the fore ranks of the modern progressive school. He is a Republican in politics, although too keenly professional to be a politician. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has advanced in the fraternity of A. F. & A. M. to participation in the coun- cil (tenth degree).
In October, 1875, Dr. Bagley was mar- ried in North Adams, Hillsdale county, Michigan, to Miss Lella E. Russ, born in New York State on April 27, 1851, the daughter of Lucius E. and Kate (Burrows) Russ. The parents were also natives of the
Empire State, being considered as among the pioneers of Michigan. Dr. and Mrs. Bagley have two children: Lucius S., assistant cashier of the Alma State Savings Bank; and Gretta M., living at home.
H JON. CHARLES W. GIDDINGS. Among the members of the legal pro- fession that have practiced before the Bar of Gratiot county there has been none to excel in thoroughness and efficiency the Hon. Charles W. Giddings, ex-State Sena- tor and ex-member of the State board of par- dons. Mr. Giddings was born February 9, 1847, in Sherman, Fairfield county, Con- necticut, in the same house where occurred the birth of his father, Jonathan C. Gid- dings, on October 5, 1822. His mother, Mary E. (Conn) Giddings, was born in the town of New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 31, 1822.
In the fall of 1848 Jonathan C. Gid- dings removed with his family to Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming for a time, and later in mercantile pursuits, to which latter he had been trained in his boyhood days. Throughout a con- siderable period of the Civil war he served faithfully and unostentatiously as a private and sergeant in the Union army. The fam- ily came to St. Louis, Michigan, in 1866, and Mr. Giddings purchased a sixty-acre tract of land within the present limits of the city, which was subsequently platted and re- corded as "Giddings' Addition." Jonathan C. Giddings was elected supervisor the year following his removal thither, being chosen to the office for seven successive years. He also served as chairman of the board of supervisors; was a member of the village council for two terms, and for eight years
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