USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 30
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Mr. Parish married in April, 1864, Miss Ab- desirable farms in the county, it comprising 320 bie M. Southworth, a sister of Thaddeus M. Southworth, a sketch of whom appears on an- other page of this volume. They have had three children, of whom but one is living, Harry R. Parish, now a resident of Camden, New Jersey, a draughtsman for the New York Shipbuilding Co. Mr. Parish is a Silver Republican in politi- cal faith, but is so well-established in the confi- dence and regard of the people of the township, that, without reference to party politics, he has at different times been chosen to fill various lo- cal offices in the township, having served as su- pervisor, two terms as township clerk, two as justice of the peace and several as school director, having rendered efficient and appreciated service in each position.
CHARLES P. OSIUS.
The late Charles P. Osius, who died at his comfortable and well-appointed home in Fayette township, on October 12, 1893, was one of the
substantial farmers of the county, being num- bered for over thirty years among its thrifty and productive yeomanry. He was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1832, the active son of William Frederick and Mary (Buss) Osius, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in their early years of maturity, and were married on March 20, 1826, at Erie. They located in Erie county, there followed farm- ing successfully until 1832, when they moved to Michigan and settled in Washtenaw county. Their son, Charles, was but an infant when they came to this state, and he remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, being reared on the parental farm and educated in the neigh- borhood schools. At the age of twenty-seven he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth C., a daughter of Jacob and Christina (Noe) Kes- selring, who were also of German birth and par- entage. After their marriage, in 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Osius took up their residence in Fayette township, this county, upon land which became their permanent home, which they improved and converted from a wilderness into one of the most acres. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: William, Mary E., the wife of G. F. Collins, of Edmore, this state ; Gertrude.C., the wife of Montie Morey, of Chi- cago, Illinois.
William C. Osius was born on the home farm in Fayette township, on December 1, 1864, being reared and educated in this county, attending the public schools and completing his training for the business of life by a course in the commer- cia1 department of Hillsdale College. On leav- ing school he went at once to farming and has ma le that his sole occupation since, giving it his best attention, bringing to bear on its work all the light he could get from close observation and intelligent experiment, coupled with thoughtful reading of the literature of the business, and the results have been commensurate with his ef- forts. His farm is one of the best in the county and his farming is of the highest standard of ex- cellence. He was married on February 22, 1893, to Miss Lilly Schmitt, a native of Hillsdale coun-
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ty, and a daughter of Frank Schmitt, of whom specific mention is made elsewhere in this vol- ume. In politics, Mr. Osius is a consistent Dem- ocrat, but not an active partisan, having no de- side for public office of any kind. He is looked upon as one of the county's substantial and pro- gressive farmers, who has the respect of every- body who knows him and who illustrates in his daily walk the best elements of American life.
JOHN W. PEIRCE.
. For more than three-score years a resident of Allen township, in this county, during almost all of that time being one of its forceful and influ- ential factors in every form of its development and progress, John W. Peirce is justly entitled to the high esteem in which he was generally held in life by the people of the county, and to the high respect and regard in which his memory rests among them. He was a native of Penfield, Monroe county, New York, born on November 14, 1815, where he passed his childhood and youth, acquiring a limited education at the dis- trict schools, also becoming familiar with the farm work of the period. When he was yet in the youthful days of life his parents removed to Chautauqua county in the same state, and he there made his home with them until 1836. He then engaged with a farmer of the neighborhood to drive a team for him to Yorkville, Illinois, in what is now Kendall county of that great state. The team consisted of two yokes of oxen, the load they drew being 1,800 pounds of butter sent for sale in that then wild western country. He was six weeks in making the trip, and on the way passed through the village of Allen in this coun- ty. In 1839 he came back this way, determined to locate in Allen township, and that part of the county was his home during the rest of his life. His father was Solon Peirce, a native of Deer- field, Oneida county, New York, and his mother, whose maiden name was Susanna Walker, was a native of New England. She died on August 28, 1820, at the early age of twenty-two years, leaving two sons, of whom John W. was the first born. The father later married with Betsey
Davis, and by her had one son and seven daugh- ters. He was a professional teacher, following this business in New York and Pennsylvania, and again in New York until the spring of 1836, when he came to Michigan and settled in Allen town- ship. Here he took up a quarter of section 31, and labored at improving it, bringing it into culti- vation, enjoying thereafter its rich returns until his death, on January 21, 1851. At that time he also owned eighty acres of land in Branch county.
John W. Peirce, after locating in this county, worked for a number of years as a farmhand, and in 1843 purchased a part of section 16: In 1859 he married with Miss Hansie L. Lake, at her home in Allen township, the marriage occur- ring on January 19. They began life together in a modest dwelling on his farm, where they lived until 1872, when they moved to Allen and resided here until death ended his labors on March 12, 1901. They were the parents of five children : Erastus L., who is at Topeka, Kansas, where he has been in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad for fifteen years; Solon, who died in Allen township when four years old; Arthur, who is living near the old homestead; Laura, wife of E. A. Clickner, also a resident of Al- len township; Erna, who is still at the paternal home. Mrs. Peirce was born at Chester, Warren county, New York, on July 12, 1827, the daughter of Erastus and Erna Lake. She is a lady of many estimable qualities, an active and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband during his life. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliated with Lodge No. 152 at Allen, which he joined in 1869. At his death he was possessed of considerable town property and 140 acres of farming land in the township. He was a loyal Republican, po- litically, but, with the exception of filling a va- cancy as supervisor, he steadfastly refused to ac- cept public office.
ERASTUS LAKE, who died at his home in Al- len township on January 29, 1887. was the fa- ther of Mrs. Peirce, and one of the honored pio- neers of the county. He was born at Milford, Otsego county, New York, on October 28. 1794.
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HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In 1800 his parents moved with their family to part of others ; his memory is revered as tha of a progressive citizen, who gave his best year and his best efforts to building up and elevating the county and state in which he lived and to the improvement of its people in every mora and material interest. Rutland county, Vermont, and, two years later, to Chester, New York,, where he resided during twenty-eight years of his life. There also he married Miss Erna Mead, on December 30, 1823, she having been born in that town on April 30, 1801. In 1830 he moved with his family to Erie county, New York, and, in the fall of 1837, DORR PHILLIPS. came to Michigan, where he spent the rest of his days. He was the fourth of the eleven children This pioneer business man of Osseo, who is now actively engaged in the drug trade, as he has been for more than thirty-seven years, ex- cepting three years when he was in the grocery business, is a native of Webster, Monroe county, New York, where he was born on October 9, 1839. His parents . were John and Permilla (Wood) Phillips, also natives of New York. The father was engaged in merchandising at Webster until 1860 when he retired from busi- ness. In 1835 he came to this state after the death of his first wife, and after becoming a resident of Michigan, he contracted a second marriage, being united this time with Mrs. E. M. Clark, of Adams township. He died at Hud- son, Michigan, in August, 1890, aged eighty- eight, and she passed away on January 20, 1901. He was the father of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Two of the sons saw active and exacting service in the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War, but escaped without serious harm or capture. born to his parents. Ten of the number reached years of maturity and the last survivor was his brother, Alonzo, who resided at Garrettsville, Ohio, and there recently died at the venerable age of ninety-four years. When the War of 1812 be- gan, Mr. Lake was a youth of less than nineteen years of age, but, with the martial spirit of his father, who was six years a Continental soldier of the Revolution, he went to the front in de- fence of his country, participated in the glorious battle of Plattsburg, and remained in the service until the triumph of the American cause and the restoration of peace after the battle of New Or- leans. For his services in this war, and the dis- abilities he incurred therein, he received a pen- sion from the U. S. government during the last decade of his life. Mr. Lake was early recog- nized in this county as a man of force and char- acter, and was elected supervisor of his township four times in succession. He also served as an assessor, as a justice of the peace, as a highway commissioner and in several other local offices. His first vote was cast for James Monroe for president, and, throughout his long life, he ever remained true to the principles he then espoused. His faithful and devoted wife died at their Al- len township home on March 5, 1870, after near- ly half a century of happy wedded life. They were the parents of four children : Laura A., who became the wife of L. D. Halstead, of Cold- water, in this state, and there died on September 24, 1857; Hansie L., widow of John W. Pierce, already alluded to; William F., now a prosperous farmer of Oceana county; Charles W., now a progressive farmer of this township. Mr. Lake's useful career among this people was a stimulus and an incitement to generous endeavor on the service near Alexandria, Virginia, and he then
Dorr Phillips grew to manhood in his native state and was educated in its public schools. Thereafter he followed teaching for several years until the Civil War broke out, when, on August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, and his battery was attached to the Second Army corps and became a part of the Army of the Potomac. From that time to the end of the war this battery was in the most active service and participated in all the battles fought by that great organization. After General Grant took command of this army Mr. Philips's regiment was made a part of the infant- ry forces, but its duties in the field were by no means lessened. It was duly mustered out of the
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held the position of hospital steward. He re- turned to his New York home, but, in the fall of the same year, 1865, came to Michigan and set- tled at Osseo. Here he started the mercantile en- terprise in which he is still engaged, having been continuously occupied in its operations from that time except three years, during which time he was engaged in buying and selling stock at Hillsdale. On June 11, 1871, in this county, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage with Miss Mary McDonough, a native of Ireland. They have had seven children, all sons but one, and four of them are living, Stanley D., Eber B., John W. and A. Ray. Mr. Phillips is a Republican in politics, but not an active partisan or an office- seeker. But, although averse to holding official position of any kind, he has served the township as treasurer, and in this position he rendered good service. He belongs to the Masonic order, holding membership in the lodge at Osseo. He is highly respected as a business man and a rep- resentative citizen and has the good will of all classes of the people.
GEORGE W. RUMSEY.
During his lifetime one of the representative citizens and leading farmers of Jefferson town- ship, Hillsdale county, George W. Rumsey was a native of Yates county, New York, where he was born on March 16, 1830. His parents, Thomas and Sophia (Dancingberg) Rumsey, were married in the state of New York, where they resided for many years. The father was a native of that state, the mother, born in Germany, coming with her parents to America when she was four years of age. In 1834 the parents of Mr. Rumsey removed their residence to Lorain county, Ohio, where they remained until 1846, when the family came to Hillsdale county, Mich- igan, and settled on a tract of wild land in what was then Florida township. The subject of this sketch assisted in clearing the paternal home- stead and in building a home for the family, as- sisting in their support up to the age of thirty years. During this time he availed himself of such limited opportunities for acquiring an edu-
cation as were at hand by attending the district schools in the vicinity of his home. In 1860, de- siring to branch out for himself, he purchased about seventy-five acres of the old homestead, then owned by his brothers, and subsequently added to it about forty acres more lying in sec- tion 12, Jefferson township. This property he improved and continued to make his residence up to the time of his death, which occurred on Octo- ber 30. 1892. The first home on this place was a log cabin, this in time was succeeded by a framed building, in which he lived until 1890, when it was destroyed by fire. He then erected the fine dwelling of modern style and architect- ure in which he maintained his home until his death, and in which the family now reside. It is one of the finest places in that section.
On November 2, 1855, Mr. Rumsey was joined in wedlock with Miss Laura L. Knight, a daughter of Arnold and Harrie (Harkness) Knight, who were pioneer citizens of Jefferson township. Coming hither in 1853, they settled half a mile north of Pittsford. They continued to reside in Jefferson township up to their deaths. One adopted son, William G. Rumsey, comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Rumsey. Politically, he was identified with the Republican party, an earnest advocate of the principles of that political organization, although never a seek- er after office. He was a great reader, and was well known as a man of wide information, espe- cially in that relating to public affairs. Frater- nally, he was affiliated with the Masonic order, be- ing chapter Mason, and took an active interest in social and fraternal work. He was a member of the Free Baptist church of Osseo, ever taking a leading part in building up the moral well-be- ing of the people. In his death the county lost one of its most valued citizens. During all of the years of his useful life he was a generous supporter of schools and churches, contributing largely of both his time and means in the promo- tion of every movement calculated to be of bene- fit to the public or to uplift the cause of human- ity. By all classes of his fellow citizens he was held in high esteem, honored for his many ad- mirable traits of character.
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CHARLES ROSE.
Having made his advent into this state more than half a century ago, then becoming a per- manent resident of Hillsdale county, Charles Rose is one of the oldest settlers in this section, one of the few remaining men of that fast fading band of heroes, who redeemed the county from the wilderness and made it glorious with the products of peace and civilization. He is a na- tive of Monroe county, New York, born on Feb- ruary 8, 1826, the son of Thomas and Sophia (Smith) Rose, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Massachusetts. The father was both a blacksmith and a farmer and died in Mon- roe county, New York, on January 20, 1839, having been born on January 6, 1792. His wife was born on January 4, 1788, and died in Au- gust, 1877. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, who attained maturity and of seven who are still living. Three of their sons and two of their daughters reside in Hillsdale county. The grand- father was Thomas Rose, a farmer and native of Vermont, where he died at an old age.
Charles Rose grew to manhood in New York state, was educated in the district schools near his home, and learned the trade of making grain- cradles, at that time a very important industry, and worked at his craft in his native state for a period of thirteen years. In 1852 he came to Michigan and purchased 160 acres of wild land in this county, which he at once set to work to clear as a farm. He erected a small framed house, and, for a number of years, this was the family home. Subsequent improvements, in the way of building, and continuous and careful cul- tivation, in the way of tilling, have made his farm a model, one of the attractive rural homes of the township. He was married in New York state on November 15, 1848, to Miss Sarah J. Wil- liams, a daughter of Solomon and Jane (West- on) Williams, the former a native of Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, of Welch descent, and the latter, a native of Hebron, Washington county, New York, her father having been born in Edinburg, Scotland. They came to this coun- ty in 1855 and settled at Jonesville, where the
father purchased a farm. Some years later they removed to Joliet, Illinois, and there they died, the father in 1881, at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother in 1899, at the age of ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have had five chil- dren, of whom four are living: Frank, of Man- ton, Wexford county, this state; Herman C., liv- ing near the paternal home; Ella M., widow of Job Hagerman; Nettie, wife of Ziba Walton, of Jefferson township. Mr. Rose is a Republican in political faith, but never takes any active inter- ert in the political campaigns. He is one of the oldest and most highly respected settlers in the township, and one of its most representative citi- zens, having a long lease of useful life to his credit among its people.
M. D. LAFAYETTE POST.
Among the well-known, old-time citizens of Hillsdale county is M. D. Lafayette Post, the subject of this sketch. A native of the village of Castile, in Wyoming county, New York, he was born on September 10, 1837, the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Sevea) Post, the former a native of the state of Vermont, and the latter of New Hampshire. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and greiv to man's estate in the state of his nativity. Subsequently, he removed his residence to the state of New York, where he remained up to the year 1844. He then disposed of his prop- erty and with his family, started overland for the then frontier country of Iowa, where he remained but a short time, passing the winter of 1844 and 1845 in Illinois. In the spring of 1845 he re- moved to the town of North Adams, in Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he purchased a tract of wild land consisting of near 240 acres, and began to clear it of its timber in order that it might be cultivated for farm purposes. Attacked by sudden illness he died in 1849. The mother and her four sons continued the work of clear- ing, in time completed it and paid for the land, a portion of which is still owned by the immed- iate subject of this sketch. The mother survived until October 25, 1878, when she, too, passed away. Of the family of nine sons and two daugh-
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ters, all are now deceased but three, Eliza Ann, now Mrs. Lathrop; Aaron W., and M. D. La- fayette. The paternal grandfather, Aaron Post, was also a native of Vermont. He was a member of the famous Silver Greys, and served gallantly during the War of the American Revolution, as well as during the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, whose name was Nathaniel Sevea, was a native of New Hampshire, and he also served as a member of the American army during the wars of both the Revolution and of 1812. During a part of the War of the Revolution he was a member of the body guard of General Washington. The parents of the subject of this sketch were active members of the Christian church, and the family were instrumental in founding the first Christian church of Hillsdale county, which was erected on land belonging to their farm. This was the second building of that denomination erected in the state of Michigan.
Mr. M. D. L. Post was brought up in Hillsdale county, and received his early educational training in the public schools of the vicinity of his boy- hood home. He later attended the college at Hillsdale, where he pursued a thorough course of study. He was a member of the first class of the first term at that institution and was the first student to speak from the rostrum. Upon the completion of his education he returned to the family homestead and entered upon the busi- ness of farming, in which he has since been occu- pied. He has met with success in his business. In 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Grace E. Short, a native of Oakland county. whose parents were well known and highly re- spected residents of that locality. Of this union have been born two children, Bessie, now Mrs. William Shepherd, and Julia May, deceased. Po- litically, Mr. Post is identified with the Demo- cratic party and has taken an active interest in the work of that political organization. although he has never been a seeker of office, and has never permitted the use of his name for any public po- sition. He is an active worker of the church, be- ing for thirty-seven years the popular and efficient superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is now both a trustee and a deacon in the church and
is always foremost in all matters calculated to pro- mote the religious and social life of the comniu- nity. The family of Mr. Post are widely known throughout the county for their work of benevo- lence and charity, being highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
MARTIN L. RAWSON.
Although the state of Michigan was, within the memory of men yet living, a wild and track- less expanse of forest and plain, the advancing army of industrial conquest in this country lias moved so rapidly, and commanded such prompt and ready obedience to its dominion, that many men and women, now well up in years, have been born and wholly nurtured on the soil of this great state, and have seen its transformation from a wilderness and waste to a mighty commonwealth, fragrant and fruitful with the products of peace- ful and systematic industry, blessed with every el- ement of commercial, industrial, educational and social greatness. Among this number is Martin L. Rawson, a prominent and successful fariner of Jefferson township, this county; who is a na- tive of Lenawee county, born on November 8, 1859. the son of Henry H. and Mary J. (Cor- nelius ) Rawson, of whom more specific mention will be found in a sketch of Mr. Rawson's broth- er. Alonzo, appearing on another page.
Martin L. Rawson was reared and educated in1 Lenawee county and remained there until 1887, when he took up his residence in Hillsdale coun- ty, where he has since made his home. He has been industrious and thrifty, contributing his la- bor and the inspiration of a good example to the active and productive forces of the county, win- ning by his useful and unostentatious life the re- spect and confidence of the people. He married on November 8, 1881. the twenty-second anni- versary of his birth, Miss Sadie Hadley, a native of Hillsdale county, and a daughter of Zela and Amy L. (Ambler) Hadley, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Rawson have two children, Neta and Hadley H. Rawson. Mr. Rawson filled a number of lo- cal offices while living in Lenawee county and has
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HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
had a forceful voice in local public affairs in this county, although he has never been in any sense an active partisan or an office seeker. He has, however, been deeply and intelligently interested in the progress and improvement of the commu- nity, and has given to the advancement of its best activities a close and a careful attention. He and his wife are valued members of the Free Baptist church at Osseo, always to be found in the front rank of its zealous workers in every good cause. They are well known throughout the township and enjoy in a marked degree the esteem and good will of the people.
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