USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 44
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Mr. Cook was aggressive and enterprising in business ; yet he conducted all of his industries on such a plane of integrity and straightforward- ness that he always held the high respect of his competitors. He was zealous, active and force- ful in politics ; yet so broad, fair and candid in party contests that he never lost the regard of an opponent, or suffered severe criticism, even in the most heated campaigns. His life was both a service and a benefaction to the state ; his death was a universal loss to the interests of humanity and a deep personal bereavement to all who knew him well. His name will long linger in the lov- ing memory of this section, a watchword to the faithful, an incitement to generous endeavor, a rich inheritance to his offspring.
CHAUNCEY F. Cook, a son of Hon. John P. Cook, and his successor in the presidency of the bank, was born at Hillsdale on March 9, 1857. He was reared in his native town and received his elementary education in its public schools. After leaving them he attended Hillsdale College until 1876, then entered Ann Arbor University, matriculating in the literary department, from which he was graduated in 1879. Thereafter for a year he read law in the office of L. M. Keating, Esq., at Muskegon, during this time giving per- sonal attention to many of his father's business interests. In 1880 he entered the law department
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of the State University at Ann Arbor, and, in 1881, was graduated therefrom and was admitted tc practice in the county which contains the uni- versity. Soon after he entered the office of Hon. Frank Hurd, at Toledo, Ohio, where he remained one year, being admitted to the Supreme Court practice in 1883. The state of his father's health then called him back to Hillsdale, and here he has since remained. He took part in the organization of the bank in July. 1884, as has been stated, and since that time, he has given its affairs his close and continuous attention. He has also conducted a flourishing farming industry in the county on a high scale of progress and enterprise.
But extensive and exacting as Mr. Cook's bus- iness interests are, they have not wholly absorbed his time or energies. He has taken a leading part in all matters promotive of the welfare of the community, giving to the principles and candi- ciates of the Democratic party, to which he holds allegiance, an earnest and serviceable support. In 1884 he was elected mayor of the city, and was reelected in 1885. being the youngest mayor the
city ever had. His first term was made memor- able by the installation of the city water-works, and the second by the introduction of the excel- lent system of sewerage, for which Hillsdale is noted. He also served twelve years on the school board, while for many years he has been a mem- ber of the county and state central committees of his party. In 1891 he was appointed a trustee of the State Insane Asylum, and, from that time, has been continuously reappointed at the end of each term. In 1888 he was an alternate to the national Democratic convention at St. Louis that nominated Grover Cleveland for the presidency a second time, and, in 1892, he was a delegate to the one at Chicago that nominated him the third time. In 1891 Mr. Cook married with Miss Louise Stock, a native of Indiana. They have two children. Chauncey F., Jr., and Florentine M. Cook. Mr. Cook is a member of the Masonic or- der, belonging to the lodge, chapter and comman- dery in the York Rite and to the several branches of the Scottish Rite. He has served acceptably as the eminent commander of the Knights Tem- plar body to which he belongs, and held other in-
portant offices in the fraternity. In all the rela- tions of life he has sustained the family name untarnished, and has won the universal respect and esteem of the people, not only in this part of the state, but wherever else men have the pleas- ure of an acquaintance with him.
MARVIN E. HALL.
Having served the city during three terms as mayor, in a manner which won high commenda- tion for his public spirit and progressiveness, and being now the leading clothier of the place. Mar- vin E. Hall is one of the leading public and busi- ness men of Hillsdale, universally recognized as a potential factor in the mercantile and public life of the community. He is a native of Calhoun county, this state, born in September, 1853. his parents being Horace and Lucetta (Faurot) Hall. the former a native of Washington county, New York, and the latter of Erie county, the same state. For many years the father was a lumberman in his native state, but in 1840, he came to Michigan and settled at Tekonsha, where he operated a sawmill for some years. He then moved to Burlington, and, in 1877. came to Hills- dale county, where he has since continuously re- sided. His family by his first marriage con- sisted of five children, two of whon: are living. one, a daughter, being a resident of Jackson.
The death of Marvin Hall's mother when he was but four years old induced an uncle to take him as a member of his family, and he attained the age of fourteen years at the home of this uncle in DeKalb county. Indiana, and there re- ceived as good an education as was possible with- in the time allowed. He then removed to St. Louis, Michigan, began his independent career as a farm hand, and, while thus working, contin- ued his studies and prepared himself for teach- ing. in which he engaged as soon as he was of suitable age. When he reached the age of twen- ty-five, he determined to travel and see something of the world, accordingly he passed two years in that agreeable and profitable pursuit. He then located at Boston, Mass., and engaged in the wholesale furniture trade for a time. Then re-
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moved to Springfield in the same state, and opened a wholesale establishment for the produc- tion and sale of photographer's supplies, being the first man to manufacture commercial dry- plates. He also established a branch house at Montreal, Canada, and, after a residence of a few years at Springfield, made his home at this Ca- nadian metropolis.
In 1883 he came to Hillsdale and engaged for a few years in the nursery industry, then turned his attention to the manufacture of military and secret society uniforms, an enterprise which he continued until 1893. At that time he entered largely into an extensive clothing business, and he has since then given this his undivided and capable attention, with the result of securing a steadily expanding patronage and an ever in- creasing reputation. He is recognized as the leading clothier not only in Hillsdale city, but throughout a large extent of surrounding coun- try, and his trade methods and operations are con- sidered the most systematic and advanced known to his department of the commercial worid.
In the winter of 1899 and 1900 he organized the Hillsdale Business Men's Association, and, for two years he was its efficient president. To the work of that association may be directly traced the present rapid growth and expansion of the manufacturing industries of the city, in a number of which Mr. Hall holds stock. being also the vice-president of one of them.
In 1880 Mr. Hall was married to Miss Lena Haas, who died on February 6, 1903. She was a native of New York City, leaving no children of her own, but an adopted daughter, Marie. Mr. Hall has been a lifelong Republican in political creed, and, while averse to public life in every form, has for the good of the community, served three terms as mayor of the city, being, also for a number of years, the secretary and chairman of the county committee of his party organization. He is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fra- ternity in all its branches, and is a member of the grand commandery of the Templar department. He is also a Knight of Pythias and one of the Sons of Veterans, having served the last named order as national commander-in-chief, being en-
titled to membership by reason of his father's gallant service in Church's Battery of Michigan Volunteers, which was a part of the Army of Tennessee, in one of whose battles the father was seriously wounded, and, on account of his wound, was retired from the service. In January, 1887, Mr. Hall was appointed a member of the staff of Governor Luce with the rank of colonel.
DR. HERBERT HARRIS.
Among the physicians of Hillsdale county, one of the oldest, best-known and highly esteemed in professional and social circles is Dr. Herbert Harris, of Hillsdale. For a full generation of human life he has lived and practiced his pro- fession among this people, in that long service endearing himself to them as few men can. He has been zealous and capable, obliging and at- tentive, courteous and considerate to an unusual degree, and has the reward of his devotion and fidelity in the good will and cordial regard of the whole body. He is a Canadian by nativity, born in County Oxford, Ontario, on December 26, 1839. His parents, Ira and Magdalena (Groat) Harris, were natives of New York, who in 1835 removed to Canada, where they passed the re- mainder of their days as prosperous farmers, dying at length in their adopted land, in the full enjoyment of an universal esteem among the people by whom they were known. Their family consisted of nine children, four of whom are liv- ing, only the Doctor and one daughter being now residents of this county.
Doctor Harris remained in his native land until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving his scholastic training in its public schools and diligently working on his father's farm. In 1861 he came to Wheeler, in Porter county, Indiana, there purchasing a farm and managing its indus- tries for several years, during which he studied medicine under the competent instruction of Dr. Thomas Hankinson. In 1863 he entered the medical department of the North Western Uni- versity, from that institution being graduated in 1866. He then began the practice of his profes- sion at Hebron in his home county, Indiana, and
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continued it there for four years. His health failed at this juncture and he returned to Canada, where he remained for three years at the end of which time, in 1873, he came to Hillsdale. Here he has since resided, except for a year or two, and followed with diligence and energy a general medical and surgical practice, which has grown to be both large and representative., embracing many of the best people in the county among its patrons. In his native country in 1860, he was married to Miss Eliza Quartermoss, a native of that country, but of Vermont ancestry. They have had four children, Herbert S., Clarence W. and Sterling W., who are living, and Reuben H. deceased. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, but has never accepted public office of any kind. being devoted to his profession, finding in it abundant opportunity for the employment of his faculties and for the gratification of his desires, as well as for substantial service to his fellow men.
DR. JAY J. HEATOR.
Dr. Jay J. Heator, of Litchfield, has been a resident of Hillsdale county since 1894, and an active physician and surgeon, ministering to the relief and benefit of the people here since 1890. The place of his birth is Portage county, Ohio, where he was born on May 11, 1858, and his par- ents are Julius and Cecilia (Work) Heator, high- ly respected residents of Branch county, in this state, whither they came from their native heath in Ohio in 1857. They settled in Ovid township on a tract of unimproved land, which they have cleared and brought to an advanced state of cul- tivation and fertility, improved with good build- ings and equipped with all necessary appurte- nances for farming, until it is now one of the best and most complete establishments of its kind in that part of the state. Their offspring numbers two sons and one daughter, the Doctor's brother . being now in charge of the homestead, whose op- erations he is conducting with the enterprise, skill and success that characterized his father's man- , agement. The paternal grandfather. Joseph Heator, was a native of Germany who came to the United States sometime in the forties to plant
upon the soil of this country the qualities of thrift, frugality, enterprise and persistent appli- cation for which the family had long been dis- tinguished in the old country. When came the Civil War he enlisted in an Ohio regiment and was killed in one of the bloody battles along the North Anna River in Virginia, laying on the altar of his adopted land a life which had been as use- ful in the development of its interests in peace as it was faithful and serviceable in defense of his convictions in war.
Doctor Heator grew to man's estate and re- ceived his scholastic training in Branch county, this state, and became so proficient in scholar- ship, and was so resourceful and manly in charac- ter, that before he was eighteen he held a first- grade certificate as a teacher, for one year there- after teaching in the public schools during the school months. At the end of that period he be- gan the reading of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. P. Wheeler, of East Gilead, in Branch county. In 1886 he went to California, where he remained two years and a half, studying his pro- fession under the tutelage of Dr. G. A. Rene, of that state. He then entered the Eclectic Medical College at Indianapolis, Ind., and was graduated from that institution in 1890, at once began ac- tive practice, locating at Butler, Branch county, this state, where he remained three years. At the end of that period he took a special post-grad- ttate course of instruction at Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago, which lasted a year, and at its close returned to Michigan and passed a year in prac- tice at Litchfield, in this county. Removing then to Mosherville, in Scipio township, he was in prac- tice in that section for two years, when he re- turned to Litchfield, his residence since.
Doctor Heater is a man of active and contin- uous energy in his business, both in its outside work and in the study of its text-books and liter- ature, availing himself also of every means for broadening and deepening his knowledge in con- nection with it. His memberships in the county and state medical societies and the American Medical Association draw his close and careful attention to these organizations, and make him zealous in securing the benefits of their meetings
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and proceedings, to which he contributes what- ever he deems of value in his own experience and observation. His practice is large and includes many of the best people in the township. He was married in Branch county in July, 1892, with Miss Pearl Drinkwater, a native of ยท Cleveland, Ohio. They have one child, their son, Don A. Of the fraternal orders, numerous and valued among men, he has membership in but two, that of the Freemasons, in whose progress and wel- fare he takes an active interest, and in the meet- ings of his lodge he is an appreciated participant, and in the Knights of Pythias, of which order he is an esteemed member. Although engrossed in the claims of a large and steadily expanding prac- tice, and conscientious in his devotion to its de- mands, the Doctor has time for intelligent and helpful service in the general affairs of the com- munity, being one of the effective workers for its advancement and improvement. Both he and his wife are esteemed members of the best social cir- cles, while he is one of the well-known and rep- resentative citizens and professional men of the township, well established in the good will and approval of the people, influential in all phases of its public life.
CARL HIRSCH.
Carl Hirsch, the proprietor of the Hillsdale Floral Park and the landscape gardener for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, is a native of Chemnitz, Saxony, born on November I, 1864. His parents are Carl and Anna (Melser) Hirsch, of the same nativity as himself. The family came to the United States in 1900, and the father is now associated with his son in the employ of the railroad company, aiding in beautifying the grounds at its stations and keep- ing them in order, through an art that is at once productive and decorative. Mr. Hirsch was reared and educated in his native land, there also learned the art of landscape gardening, which has been a source of much pleasure to those who have witnessed his work and its prod- ucts. He worked at his trade in Leipsic, Nuremberg, Metz and other European cities, and,
when he came to the United States, in 1888, he soon secured employment with the Garfield Park Rose Co. of Chicago, with which he remained five months, at the end of that time moving to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and being there em- ployed by S. W. Allerton for a short time.
In the spring of 1894 he came to Hillsdale to assist in caring for the houses and grounds be- longing to the railroad company, and, in 1896, he was given entire charge of the company's in- terests in this respect. Prior to this, however, in 1895, Mr. Hirsch purchased his home, where, during the same winter, he began the erection of his own greenhouses in which he now has 25,000 square feet of ground under glass, in the whole plant an area of 33,000 square feet. The establishment cost him over $16,000, being one of the most complete and prosperous in southern Michigan. Here he raises nearly everything in greenhouse products of a floral and decorative character for which there is a demand, finding a ready sale for all that he raises in Hillsdale and other cities. He also owns twelve acres of land, the former location of the Buchanan Screen Door Factory, on which he has started an or- chard, and, although nothing from this is yet ready for market, it is well under way and very promising.
Mr. Hirsch has prospered in his business and has used its fruits to secure holdings of interest and value in other lines, and he is a stockholder in the shoe factory in Hillsdale. He married in his native town on July 4, 1889, a Miss Emma Lorenz, like himself, a native of Saxony. Owing to his duties as landscape gardener for the Lake Shore Railroad, the active management of the Hillsdale greenhouse is very satisfactorily and successfully carried on by Mrs. Hirsch. They have one child, their daughter Pearl. In politics Mr. Hirsch is a Republican, but not an active partisan. He belongs to the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the Foresters, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias. In his art he is accomplished and resourceful ; in his business upright and progressive ; in social life courteous and entertaining ; in public spirit he is broad and active; and, in his citizenship gener-
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ally, he is elevated and commendable. One of the best-known men in the town, he is also one of the most highly and generally respected, and it is but just to say that he fully deserves the high opinion in which he is held.
HON. DANIEL L. PRATT.
Hon. Daniel L. Pratt, the venerable ex-circuit judge of Hillsdale county, whose passing front earth on November 7, 1902, was not only an event of sorrow to the whole county, but one of the milestones of the contemporaneous history of this part of the state, was one of the few remaining links which had previously connected the teeming present of the county with its carly history of primitive conditions, undeveloped resources, sparse population and struggles with every hos- tile element that stood in the way of progress and civilization. He saw almost the beginning of the county and city of Hillsdale as political entities, was not only a witness of every phase of their subsequent growth and improvement, but a po- tential factor in producing those beneficent re- sults. Since he took up his residence in the in- iant county many men have grown from child- hood, and, after distinguished careers of public usefulness, have been laid in their graves, re- ceiving every testimonial of popular esteem and affection. Almost three-score years have passed from the date of his advent in the state, and they have been years erowded with events of startling magnitude and importance, with all of which Judge Pratt was in close touch, whether they were eivie or scientific, social or political in character, being ever a leader of thought, a molder of publie opinion, an impressive influence on the general mind and action of the community.
Judge Pratt was born at Plainfield, Hamp- shire county, Massachusetts, on June 24, 1820, the son of William and Lavina (Coulson) Pratt, both natives of that state. The father was a prosperous farmer and lumberman, who carried on an extensive business in his native state until 1830, when he moved to Ohio, there passing the remainder of his days, as did also his wife. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom
only four are living. His grandfather, Franklin Pratt, was a native of Massachusetts, a soldier in the Revolution from Lexington to Yorktown, and, after the war, an industrious and well-to-do farmer, dying at a good old age in his native state. The Judge was ten years old when the family removed to Ohio, and had seen but little attendance at school. Ilis carly education was gained for the most part in the public schools of his new home, his scholastie training being finished at an excellent academy at Granville, in Licking county, Ohio, where he spent two profitable years. After finishing his course at that institution he taught in the adjoining county of Fairfield for two years, and, during that time. was also a student of law. He was admitted to practice at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1844, the next year came to Hillsdale, making the trip as far as Toledo with a horse and buggy, intending to go on to Goshen, Indiana, where he had previously been looking up a suitable place in which to locate, but, being favorably impressed with the outlook at Hillsdale, then the western terminus of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, having a surrounding country full of promise, he decided to settle here, there being, as an additional inducement to his decision, but two attorneys in the county.
The young attorney entered into a partnership with H. S. Mead, as Mead & Pratt, this associa- tion continuing until Mr. Mead's death some years later. The future judge rose rapidly in his practice, and, being an active Whig in politics, the party then in active control of the county af- fairs, in 1856 he was elected prosecuting attor- ney for the county and was reelected in 1860. At the spring election in 1867 he was chosen a delegate to the state constitutional convention, which met at Lansing, and, in that body, served ably on the judiciary committee and others of importance. In the spring of 1869 he was elected circuit judge of the First Judicial Circuit, which embraced the counties of Hillsdale, Lena- wee and Monroe, and, in 1875, he was elected to a second term without opposition, the Democrats making no nomination against him. At the end of this term, on account of his failing health, he
Daniel L. Pratt
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declined further service on the bench. He how- ever, resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued until he retired to the rest of country life on his fine farm three-quarters of a mile west of the courthouse, this being a tract of 103 acres, which he cleared and improved, and which is now one of the most attractive and valuable rural homes in the county. For twelve years he was a trustee of the Michigan asylum for the insane, being appointed by Governor Blair in 1861, and reappointed by Governor Crapo.
Speaking of Judge Pratt as a lawyer, the His- tory of Hillsdale County says, under the title of "The Bar": "He achieved his objects by devoted industry, by the exercise of sound judgment, by the most unwavering adherence to whatever he attempted to do." Of him in his judicial char- acter another authority says: "As a judge he was distinguished for his true impartiality and his love of justice, often bending the technical rules that right and true justice might prevail." He was at all times highly public spirited and actively aided by his time, money and influence in the promotion of all enterprises for the improvement and prosperity of this section.
For over twenty-four years he was a trustee of Hillsdale College, for which he worked with assiduous attention to its every interest and with a sincere regard for its welfare. To the cause of advanced agriculture he was also most devoted, having inspired by his wisdom and breadth of view many valuable improvements in this domain of productive industry. As the president of the county agricultural society, during the years of 1863 and 1864, he inaugurated a number of radi- cal changes in the management of the corpora- tion which have proven of great service in its practical workings and aided in transforming it from a struggling to a highly prosperous in- stitution. In politics he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he be- came an ardent, active and permanent supporter of its principles and candidates. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, but has aided in the erection of every church edifiice in the com- munity. Judge Pratt married in 1844, at Lan- caster, Ohio, with Miss Jane Newkirk, a native
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