USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 36
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EVERETT WOODWARD.
Coming to Michigan and Hillsdale county in 1854, when he was but nine years old, and pass- ing the whole of his subsequent life within the borders of the county, Everett Woodward, one of the leading farmers of Jefferson township, has been closely identified with the progress and de-
velopment of this region and a material factor in bringing about the beneficent results which time and systematic labor have wrought in this portion of the state. He is a native of Hancock county, Ohio, born on August 29, 1845, the son of Daniel and Abigail ( Barker) Woodward, natives of New Hampshire and members of fam- ilies resident in New England from carly Colonial times. His father, a farmer, removed to Ohio in 1834, and to Michigan in 1854, settling in Hillsdale county, where he rented a farm for two years and then bought eighty acres of land, which is now the farm on which his son, Ever- ett, resides. Here he located his family and here they harmoniously engaged in clearing the land and in reducing it to cultivation and productive- ness, the father faithfully and industriously con- tinuing his efforts in this direction until his death in 1888, having survived his wife but one year. Their family consisted of four children, all of whom are now dead but Everett. The father was a man of local prominence, one of the lead- ers of public opinion in his day. For sixteen years he was highway commissioner for the township and the postmaster at Jefferson for the same length of time. A zealous member of the Congregational church Mr. Woodward was active in all good works for the benefit of the community or for the advantage and comfort of its people. The grandfather, Samuel Woodward, also a na- tive of New Hampshire, came to Michigan in 1856, dying here in 1858.
From the age of nine years Everett Wood- ward has been a resident of Hillsdale county, living all the while in Jefferson township and on the farm which is now his home. He was edu- cated in the schools of the neighborhood and he has passed his entire life busily occupied with the elevating and peaceful pursuits of agriculture, finding ready response to his persuasive labor in the fertile soil of this favored region and seeing its fruits in profuse abundance around him. His life has been in perfect accord with the genius of the place and section, also with the general trend of thought and action among its people. And, as he has been helpful and energetic in the develop- ment and establishment of their best aspirations.
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he is well esteemed by all classes of the citizens as one of their representative men and leaders. For nearly thirty years, ever since 1876, he has · served them as a justice of the peace, and, in the discharge of his official duties, he has been of great value as a conservator of law and order and an arbiter of local disputes and misunderstand- ings. Although a Republican in politics, he sel- dom mingles actively in the inevitable contests between and within the parties, giving his public attention and activity to the general good of the community rather than to the advantage of any person, faction or party.
DR. WILLIAM H. ATTERBURY.
Although comparatively young in his prac- tice as a physician and surgeon, Dr. William H. Atterbury, of Litchfield, has given abundant evi- dence of his knowledge and skill in his profes- sion, and of his high professional spirit, having already become well established in public confi- dence and regard as a consequence. He is a native of St. Joseph county in this state, born at Three Rivers, on March 21, 1870. His parents are Frederick A. and Julia E. (Davis) Atterbury, natives of New York, the former born in Brook- lyn and the latter at Rochester. The father is a carriage-trimmer by occupation, and worked at his trade in his native state for awhile after learn- ing it, but came to Michigan when he was yet a young man, settled first at Three Rivers and some time later at Kalamazoo, where he and his wife are now living.
Doctor Atterbury was reared and educated with unusual care. He began his education in the public schools and finished the scholastic part of it at the high school in Kalamazoo. In 1890, he started to read medicine at Three Rivers under the direction of Dr. W. E. Clark, of that city, in the autumn of the same year entering the medical department of the State University at Ann Arbor. He was graduated therefrom in the class of 1895, at once came to Litchfield, began the practice of his profession, and here he has since been busily occupied in professional duties. He has a general practice, which is steadily ex-
panding in volume, now including many of the best people in the township and surrounding country. He belongs to the county and state medical societies and manifests great interest in their proceedings, to which he adds interest by his contributions of value drawn from his pro- fessional observations and experience. In his practice he is studious and observant, reading thoughtfully and following carefully and with excellent judgment the best thought in the lit- erature of the profession, applying to his cases with superior intelligence his own judicious and discriminating conclusions.
The Doctor married in February, 1902, with Miss Jennie Calahan, a native of Albion, Michi- gan, who presides over their pleasant home with a grace that adds enjoyment to its generous hos- pitality and refinement to its social atmosphere. He is a member of several of the benevolent fra- ternities so valued among men, being an Elk, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Knight of the Maccabees and a Forester. In politics he is not an active partisan, but is true and constant to the principles of the Democratic party. In reference to matters involving. the welfare of the commu- liity, he is progressive, broad in view, diligent ·and helpful in action. For every attribute and quality of a first-rate citizen, for professional fidelity and capacity of a high order, for agree- able and entertaining social gifts, the Doctor is well-known and highly esteemed. He is also a member of the board of pension examiners, hav- ing held the appointment for two years.
GEORGE W. BAKER.
George W. Baker, the son of esteemed pio- neers of this state and county, was born near the village of Jonesville on April 10, 1844. His parents were Samuel S. and Rachel (Putman) Baker, both born in 1803, the former in Trumbull county, Ohio, and the latter in St. Lawrence county, New York. The father was a farmer, who worked at his acquired trade of carpentry at intervals throughout his life. The family came to Michigan in 1840, located for a time in Lena- wee county, then moved to Scipio township, and
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settled near Jonesville. While the county seat was at Jonesville, Mr. Baker, the elder, served four years as turnkey at the jail. He was always deeply interested in local public affairs, and, while modestly avoiding office for himself for the most part, he gave close attention to the selection of others for official positions, exacting for his approval a high standard of character and capac- ity. His death occurred on June 5, 1886, that of his widow in October, 1888. They were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom but two are living, their son, George, and their daughter, Mrs. Clementine Harding, of Quincy, in this state.
George W. Baker grew to manhood in his native township and received his education in its public schools. He began life for himself as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting on June 26, 1862, at the age of eighteen, as a member of Co. G, Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. This regi- ment formed a part of the western army and was engaged in all of the battles of that portion of the Federal forces, doing some of the hardest and most disastrous fighting of the war. He served until victory crowned the Union arms, then returned to his Michigan home and at once began to learn the trade of carriagemaking, which he soon mastered, and thereafter worked at it in Jonesville for a period of twenty years.
In politics Mr. Baker has never wavered in his support of the principles of the Democratic party, although not desiring or willing to accept public office for himself, he has always given the candidates of his party earnest and loyal aid, helping to select them by active participation in the primary elections, the fountain head of politi- cal power in this country. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Grand Army of the Republic, a regular and inter- ested attendant at the meetings of both organi- zations. In his business he has prospered by diligence, capacity and thrift ; in public esteem he stands well and is firmly established; in so- cial life he is companionable and entertaining ; in public spirit, enterprise and progressiveness he ranks among the best men in the community. There is scarcely an undertaking, in which the
advancement of the community or the comfort and welfare of its people have been involved, to which he has not given active, forceful and time- ly assistance.
HORACE R. BAKER.
This enterprising and progressive farmer of Moscow township came to Hillsdale county with his parents in 1837 when he was but six years old, the farm on which he now lives having been his home continuously from that time. Largely the product of his industry and intelligent culti- vation, it represents in a considerable measure the labors of his past life. He was born in Cay- uga county, New York, on September 16, 1831, the son of William Y. and Elizabeth (Redway) Baker, cach, like himself, native in New York. The father was a hardware merchant, engaged in business at different times at Cleveland and Detroit. In 1837 he brought his family to this county and purchased 160 acres of unbroken timber land, the tract on which his son, Horace, now lives. He did not reside on this land long, however, being engaged in business elsewhere, but both he and his wife died here. He was a man of prominence in his native state, there sery- ing for years as a colonel of militia and in other positions of trust and importance. The family consisted of two sons and one daughter, the daughter and one son are now living. The living son, Horace R. Baker, attained maturity on the Hillsdale county homestead and was educated in the schools of the vicinity and at Jonesville. At an early age he took charge of the farm and conducted the work of clearing it and bringing it into fruitfulness. This has furnished the oc- cupation of his life, and has returned with in- terest the whole of his investment of labor and care in its cultivation and improvement. For some years he has been actively engaged in the breeding of high-grade coach and trotting horses, and has a wide reputation for the excellence of his products in these lines.
Mr. Baker was married in this county in 1858 to Miss Ann Eliza Fowle, a cousin of Har- mon Fowle, a sketch of whom will be found else-
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where in this work, who was a daughter of Charles Fowle. They have one child, their daughter, Jennie, now the widow of J. C. Mal- lory, of Hillsdale county. Since the formation of the Republican party Mr. Baker has given it his unwavering allegiance in politics. He is not, however, an active partisan, and has not been an office-seeker, although he has served as town- ship treasurer, performing the duties of the office with efficiency and zeal. His grandfather was a Joshua Baker, a Scotchman by nativity, who came to this country in his young manhood and became a soldier in the Colonial army in the clos- ing years of the Revolution, also doing military service in the War of 1812. He married Miss Elizabeth Dickinson, a daughter of William Dick- inson, his companion in arms in both wars. Since the family was first planted on American soil its members have been patriotic, devoted to the best interests of the country, adding to its wealth and importance in peace, gallantly defending its dignity and its rights in war. In almost every line of productive energy they have been diligent and progressive, in all the attributes of good citi- zenship they have ever been richly endowed, con- spicuous in their several stations for manliness of character and uprightness of life. He who stands as their representative in this county at the present time is in every way worthy of their companionship, being so considered by the people among whom his unassuming and serviceable life has been passed.
PROF. KINGSBURY BACHELDER.
Prof. Kingsbury Bachelder, of the chair of the Greek language and literature at Hillsdale Col- lege, is a native of Prospect, in the state of Maine, born on October 27, 1841. His parents were Elijah and Hannah (Piper) Bachelder, also natives of Maine. The father, a shipbuilder and farmer, after a long life of usefulness died in his native state, as did his wife. They were the parents of four children, all now living but one. The paternal grandfather of the Professor was Elijah Bachelder, a prosperous miller, who passed the whole of his life in Maine, there
took a prominent and active part in public local affairs and was a leading man.
Professor Bachelder began his education in the public schools near his home, continued it at the Hampden ( Maine) academy and the Denmer Institute at Newbury, Mass., a school founded by Governor Denmer, finishing at Bowdoin Col- lege, at Brunswick, Maine, where he was grad- uated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1871. He was then employed for a year in teaching at the Auburn, Maine, high school, aft- er which he spent a year in study. During the next eight years he was principal of Maine Cen- tral Institute at Pittsfield, during the two suc- ceeding years he was a student at the divinity school of Bates College at Lewiston, Maine. In 1883 he came to Hillsdale, here first occupying the chair of Latin and literature at the college, filling the position with great credit to himself and benefit to the college for a period of five years, at the end of this time being transferred to the Greek professorship in which he is still ser- ving. As a teacher he ranks high in capacity of every kind, especially in that rare one of quicken- ing and stimulating the faculties of his pupils and helping them to a larger and broader intellectual power.
Professor Bachelder is full and ripe in schol- arship, elevated and broad in character, symmet- rical in development and culture, skillful in im- parting knowledge, having long since passed the rank of schoolmaster and reached that of teacher. He was married in Dover, Maine, on June 27, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Wade, like himself a na- tive of that state. They have no children. The Professor, while deeply and intelligently interest- ed in the welfare of his country, his state and his county, and holding decided convictions as to how to secure it, has never taken part in party ty politics. In his early life he was made a Free- mason and joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the peaceful pursuits of his elevat- ing and tranquilizing profession, in the pleasures of domestic life and the enjoyments of an agree- able and cultivated social circle, and in the com- fortable consciousness of possessing the esteem and good will of his fellow men, of which he has
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many evidences, his days pass smoothly and pleasantly, and he is approaching the calm and fruitful autumnal evening of his life, with a rec- ord of usefulness and upright living behind him that is both stimulating in its example and worthy of a general imitation.
WILLIAM B. NORTHROP.
One of the leading banking and business men of Hillsdale county, whose untimely death at the early age of fifty-four, which occurred at Hills- (lale, Michigan, on January 30, 1902, when his intellectual powers were at their full maturity and vigor, was universally lamented, was William B. Northrop, the popular and efficient cashier of the Waldron Bank of Reading, a native of Or- Icans county, New York, where he was born in 1848. His parents were Hiram O. and Laura A. ( Balcom) Northrop, also natives of New York, who came to Michigan about 1868 and settled at Reading. The father, a prosperous farmer in his native state, continued in that vocation in his new home, dying at Reading in 1872, universally respected. His widow survived until 1890, when she too passed away from earth, secure in the es- teem of all who had the benefit of her acquaint- ance. Of their four sons and two daughters only the daughters and one son are living.
William B. Northrop remained at his New York home until the family moved to Michigan, when he, too, became a resident of this state, finishing at Hillsdale College the education begun in his native state. After leaving college he found employment as clerk for George G. Cone, of Reading : after some time profitably spent in his employ, he entered the service of the Fort Wayne Railroad as its station agent at Reading, a berth he filled acceptably during the ensuing ten years.
At the end of that time he associated himself with C. W. Waldron in the banking business, be- ing cashier of the bank at Reading which bears the name of that progressive and enterprising gentleman. He occupied this position for eigh- teen years. In the meantime the bank was reor- ganized as a state bank, and, under the new man- agement, Mr. Northrop was again chosen cashier
and continued to act in that capacity until failing health obliged him to resign in January, 1900. He then took up his residence at Hillsdale and remained there until he died. After the death of his parents he owned and operated the old fam- ily homestead near Reading, and was connected in an influential and substantial way with other industrial and commercial enterprises.
On September 21, 1882, at. East Kendall, N. Y., he married with Miss Augusta J. Randall, a native of Monroe county, New York, and a daughter of Jackson and Julia (King) Randall. Mrs. Northrop's parents were also natives of New York and passed their lives in that state. Three children have come from Mr. Northrop's felicitous marriage, two of whom died in early life, and one daughter, Frances L., in still living. Mr. Northrop was a Republican in politics, but not an active partisan and by no means was he an office-seeker. He was one of the best-known and most highly respected citizens of the county, possessing the full confidence of the business world and the cordial regard of all his friends.
WILLIS BAKER.
Like many of the older residents of southern Michigan, Willis Baker, of Somerset township, is a native of New York state. He was born in Wayne county on September 22, 1836, the sor of John F. and Polly (Lamb) Baker, also New Yorkers by nativity and well-to-do farmers in that state. When their son, Willis, who was the fifth of their ten children, was two weeks old. they left their New York home, and, by a toil- some and difficult journey of four weeks with ox teams, came to Michigan, suffering weariness and privations on the way. They settled in Hillsdale county on eighty acres of government land, on which they built the first residence for civilized man erected in what is now Somerset township. At that time Adrian, the nearest mar - ket, was a hamlet of a few rude cabins, Indians were abundant in the forest, wild beasts were numerous and daring. Provisions for the com- mon necessaries of life were often scant and hard to get. Wild game was, however, plentiful, and
HAB Nowthink
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the manly spirit which had brought the family into the wilderness sustained them in their tri- als. Their progress in clearing the land and re- ducing it to productiveness was slow, but their gains were steady, their industry unflagging.
Other settlers soon took up land around them, and, in time, the whole region was transformed into one of fruitfulness and beauty. Five chil- dren were added to their household after their arrival in this state, and, as each grew old enough to work, a new hand was added to the force of the farm and helped in making its work effective. J. F. Baker was born at Angelica, Alle- gany county, New York, on September II, 1807, the son of William and Katie (Featherby) Ba- ker, the father a native of the same state and the mother of New England. His father was twice married and the parent of eighteen children, of whom only John reached years of maturity.
John passed his youth and early manhood at the New York homestead. On January 7, 1826, he was united in marriage with Miss Polly Lamb, born in 1808, a daughter of Isaac and Sally (Stanley) Lamb, all natives of New York, where her parents died and were laid to rest with many demonstrations of popular regret.
After his marriage Mr. Baker settled on a tract of land in Wayne county, New York, where the family lived until 1836, when they came to Michigan. During the first year after their ar- rival in this state they cleared four acres of their land, and near the close of the next year their log cabin, their only shelter from the inclement weather, was burned. Within two weeks after the disaster, however, another house was built on another part of the farm, the household goods being drawn to it on a sled by a yoke of oxen. Prosperity thereafter followed their labor, and in time their estate had grown to 200 acres, much of it being under good cultivation. The father took an active interest in the educational and moral advancement of his community. He es- tablished the first school in the township and took up the subscription to pay for the tuition. In politics he was an uncompromising Democrat and also an earnest advocate of temperance. Aft- er a life of great industry and signal service to
his fellows, his death occurred on May 18, 1888, and that of his wife in May, 1893. Of their ten children four are living. Two are residents of Hillsdale county, one of Eaton county and one of California.
Willis Baker is one of the leading farmers of the county, owning and operating one of its finest farms. It is located on sections 21, 28 and 29 of Somerset township and comprises 280 acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land, with forty acres of excellent timber land in one tract in addition. An elegant residence and sev- eral commodious and substantial barns add to its attractiveness and value, its well-bred stock be- ing one of its impressive features. He remained with his parents on the home farm until he passed his thirtieth year, receiving his education at the district schools in the vicinity. On Febru- ary 21, 1867, he married with Miss Emeline Rickerd, a native of this county, born in Wheat- land township, on January 7, 1851, the daughter of A. B. and Dersy A. (Sales) Rickerd, natives of New York, and prominent citizens of that township. They have four children, Alice A., wife of W. B. Clancey, who owns and occupies a farm on section 29 of Somerset township ; Frances E., wife of Dr. H. H. Frazer, of Mos- cow; Forest W., in the employ of the L. S. & M. S. Railroad at Hillsdale ; Tena E., living with her parents. In politics Mr. Baker is a pro- nounced Republican. He has served three terms as township treasurer, four years as highway commissioner, two years as drain commissioner, eight years on the board of review and nine years on the school board. In every phase of the pro- ductive life of the community he has been a po- tent factor for good.
EPHRAIM BARKMAN.
Ephraim Barkman, a retired merchant of Jonesville, in this county, whose name has long been conspicuous in commercial circles in con- nection with all that is upright and honorable in business, is one of the best known and most rep- resentative citizens of the county. He is a scion of a family long distinguished in Wales, being
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a lineal descendant of the somewhat noted Sir James Barkman, of that country. His American progenitor emigrated to the United States in Colonial times and settled in the state of New York, where Mr. Barkman was born on Janu- ary 4, 1822. From the time the family took root in American soil it has figured creditably in the history of its adopted land. It bore its part in the privation and suffering of the Revolutionary struggle, in which its members stood around the great hero of that epoch with fidelity, loyalty and serviceable zeal. They have been found, also, at every subsequent period of our history, bearing themselves gallantly in war, showing also industry and high character in the produc- tive pursuits of peace. They have rendered good service in official life, and, as good citizens, they have exemplified in every walk the best traits of American citizenship. The representative of the family who is the subject of this review, has held up the family name with dignity and credit, and, by his admirable qualities of head and heart, his progressiveness and public spirit, his agreeable exhibition of the amenities and social graces of life, he has firmly established himself in the re- spect and esteem of the community and the coun- ty in which the most of his useful life has been passed.
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