USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 48
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DEWITT C. KIES.
Dewitt C. Kies, a prosperous farmer of Mos- cow township, has been connected with the growth and development of this part of the county during the whole of his past life. He was the first white boy born in the township, was reared on his father's farm within its limits, received his education in its public schools, im- bibed the spirit of patriotism and learned the duties of citizenship by a participation in its government and political institutions, and he has been an industrious and capable tiller of its fer- tile and productive soil since his boyhood. He was born on July 25, 1834, the son of Alonzo and Sally (Taylor) Kies, natives of Cayuga county, New York, who came to Michigan with the parents of the father, Stephen and Betsey (Potter) Kies, in 1833, and located on govern- ment land on section No. 19, of what is now Moscow township in this county, the letters of patent to it being signed by President Andrew Jackson. The father, a cabinet-maker and good farmer, found his trade of great service to him- self and his neighbors in their new home in the wilderness. He erected a small log house and began the arduous task of clearing his land and getting it under cultivation.
The journey to this county led through un- broken timber without roads and across the dreaded Black Swamp so full of danger. They were inured to hardship, however, and bravely pushed forward over every obstacle to their destination. There was manly and determined spirit in the strain and every generation of the family has been distinguished for it throughout the course of authentic history. It is Scotch in its origin, and, it is related that the American progenitor, on his way to this country, was ship- wrecked, but with great courage and endurance swam five miles to shore with his wife on his back. Alonzo Kies and his wife lived to clear their land and make it one of the best farms in the county, supplanting the crude and primitive buildings in which they first lived with a com- modious and comfortable residence, good barns and other necessary outbuildings. The father
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became an influential citizen, helping to organize the township, giving it the name it bears in con. pliment to a similar division of his native county which was the home of his childhood and early manhood. He filled with great credit the offices of director. assessor, collector and constable and was also a prominent member of the Masonic order, being one of the first on the roster of Fay- ette Lodge No. 5, and he also rendered good service as an officer in the state militia.
For sixty-six years Mr. Kies lived in this township, dying in December, 1899, aged eighty- nine years. His wife passed away in 1883, at the age of seventy-seven. Their family consisted of two children, one son who died in infancy, and Dewitt Clinton, the subject of this review, who was named after the distinguished governor of New York. He grew to manhood on the farm and assisted in its exacting labors ; through- out his life he has followed no other occupation except that of farming. He was married in Jackson county, on March 25, 1858, to Miss Frances Stookey, a Pennsylvanian by nativity and daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Groover) Stookey, early settlers in Jackson county, this state. Two children have blessed their union, only one of whom is living, their son, Fred A., a resident of Jackson. Mr. Kies is a Freemason, but he has never taken any active interest in polities or accepted public office. He is widely known as one of the best farmers and most estimable citizens of the county.
STEPHEN KNAPP.
Stephen Knapp, one of the earliest and most esteemed of Michigan's pioneers, saw much of frontier life in two states and had his full meas- ure of its burdens, privations and dangers in each one. He was born on August 18, 1786, at Haverstraw. Rockland county, New York, the son of Jared and Jane (Rundall) Knapp, na- tives of Horseneck, Connecticut, who settled in New York state during the Revolutionary War. On the land which they took up then practically in the wilderness, although it is now almost in the shadow of the great Empire city, they lived
long and prospered, in the fullness of time died and were buried. Their son Stephen was reared in his native place and at its primitive schools received a limited education. As soon as he was old enough he was apprenticed to a wheelwright and learned the trade of wagon-maker. He re- ceived for his work during the first year a shilling a day, during the second year two shil- lings a day. He worked at the trade for two years in New York city, then purchased a farm of sixty acres in Ontario county, a wild and un- settled region far to the west.
Atter a residence of some years in that see- tion he purchased 300 acres of wild land in Mon- roe county, on which he settled. He sold out his interests in New York in 1834, and came to Michigan, moving his family all the way in a wagon, shipping his household goods by water by the way of Detroit and Adrian. The family remained at Adrian until a log house was erected in Wheatland township, in this county, and the furniture was hauled to it from Dertoit, at that time a smail trading-post. The country was new and unbroken, the roads primitive and soft, in many places almost impassable. Teams were frequently mired, and other difficulties were en- countered. Every day, frequently every hour, was troublesome in one way or another. They persevered, however, with resolute courage and stern endurance, and, at length, after a long and trying trip, landed the goods at the house on their homestead. After taking possession of their house they were often interrupted at their labor of clearing the ground and getting the farm in order for cultivation, and, after that, in culti- vating it, by wolves and other wild beasts that would come to their very door and threaten their lives. Many times the experiences were amusing, but generally much more tragical than comical.
It required six years of arduous labor to clear sixty acres of the land and get it into pro- ductiveness. During that time the conve- niences of life were remote and most difficult of access. There was no flouring mill nearer than Adrian, and the trip to and from this mill, cover- ing a distance of more than forty miles, occupied several days each way, sometimes as many as
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eleven. But Mr. Knapp and his family were persevering and determined persons. They kept at their work of development and improvement, and, in the course of time, developed a com- fortable home out of their unpromising condi- tions and furnished it forth with good buildings. Their framed barn was the first one of the kind erected in the county, and the rest of their build- ings were, in character and compass, far in ad- vance of those on other farms. Mr. Knapp lived on this farm until his death in 1866. His ex- perience here was not the first of frontier life for him, for he had already encountered many of the conditions in western New York, and, when the War of 1812 was in progress, he was drafted into the military service and obliged to leave his work and family for the seat of war. But he was not called into action, and, at the close of the war, returned to his Ontario county home and con- tinued his farm work.
Mr. Knapp's first marriage was to Miss Jane Williams, a sister of Hon. Zeb Williams, of New York. They had seven children, one of whom, Mr. Percy Knapp, is now living at Hudson. His wife died in New York state and he then remar- ried with Miss Clarissa Davis, who died in child- birth, the child dying soon afterward. His third marriage was to Mrs. Mary (Townsend) Knapp, the widow of his brother, Charles Knapp. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, all residents of this state except one, Mrs. Mary E. Fuller, the wife of Levi P. Fuller, of Goshen, Indiana. The others are Stephen F. Knapp and Mrs. Harriet L. Wallbridge, the wife of F. Wallbridge, of Branch county ; Charles H. Knapp, of Vestaburg ; and Mrs. Melinda A. Hop- kins, the wife of Prof. H. Hopkins, of Hillsdale, a sketch of whom is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. Knapp was a Whig in politics, but never sought or accepted office.
Perry Knapp, the only living offspring of Stephen Knapp by his first marriage, was born in Monroe county, New York, in 1822, on August 12. At the age of twelve he came with the family to this state, in this county he was reared and educated, attending the primitive schools of his day taught in the little and poorly furnished log schoolhouses, which, however, have
been a source of vital strength and support to American institutions. In 1840, when he was eighteen years old, he started out in life for him- self, his first work being at a brick yard in Adrian. He remained in that city two years. during the most of the time working at carpentry with his brother, and this vocation he later fol- lowed for twenty-five years in southern Michigan with the exception of a short time spent at Toledo, Ohio, in 1846. On his return from that city he settled on a farm in Wheatland township, and later purchased his father's old homestead which he still owns. He was married in 1848 to Miss Sarah C. Church, a daughter of Lorenzo Church, of Church's Corners, in this county, who died in 1899, leaving two of her four children living, Fred C. Knapp, of Ashland, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Jessie F., the wife of Elmer D. Sabin.
Mr. Knapp is a Republican in politics and has served the county in local offices of impor- tance from time to time. He was one of the founders of the Grange located near his home, and has filled all. the offices in the organization. One episode in his history must not he over- looked. In 1853 he went to California overland, leaving Church's Corners on March 9, and being 115 days on the way. He was in a party made up from this and Lenawee counties, and, while they got through without serious mishap of any kind, they had several narrow escapes from hos- tile Indians. Their route took them along the Platte River as far as possible, and, while they suffered many privations, on the whole they much enjoyed the trip. After his arrival in Cali- fornia he spent some months in mining, but was engaged during the most of his residence of two years and a half in working at his trade. as a carpenter. He returned to Michigan by the isthmus route, and, since then he has been glad to maintain his home in this state, where he has hosts of friends and is cordially esteemed.
EDMUND LAWRENCE.
One of the leading farmers and live stock growers of Fayette township, Hillsdale county, Michigan, is Edmund Lawrence, the subject of this brief review. Coming to Hillsdale county
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during early life, he has by reason of his industry, business ability and thrift and by careful atten- tion to all the details of his business, built up a fine property and is now one of the substantial property owners and large taxpayers of the county. A native of the state of New York, born in old Columbia county, on November 20, 1827, he is the son of John and Mary (Lasher) Law- rence, both natives of the Empire state. The family was a large one, comprising eleven chil- dren, seven sons and four daughters, Edmund being the seventh child. During his childhood his parents removed their residence from the county of Columbia to Wayne county, in the same state, where they continued to reside dur- ing the remainder of their lives. Here young Edmund grew to man's estate, received his early educational training, and was graduated from the academy in Wayne county, having pursued a throrough course of study at that somewhat noted school. Upon the completion of his educa- tion he continued to reside with his parents in New York state until 1869, then determined to build for himself a new home in the country farther west, and removed with his family to the state of Michigan, and settled in the county of Hillsdale in the month of April of that year.
Here he purchased the fine farm which he still owns in Fayette township, embracing some 120 acres of land, and which has since been his home. In his business operations he has met with uniform success, and, in addition to his regular farming pursuits, he has engaged some- what extensively in the buying, raising and sell- ing of live stock, and has made a specialty of the finer grades of Cotswold sheep. Prosperity and success have attended all his efforts, and onw, in the evening if his life, he is enjoying the ease and comfort earned by his long life of activity and usefulness. Mr. Lawrence has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Catherine San- ford, to whom he was united during early life in Wayne county, New York. They had three children, Wellington A., John F. and Edward S.
The eldest child died at the age of eighteen months, and the second at the age of twenty years. The third son, Edward, is married, and
now managing the home farm. Mrs. Catherine Lawrence died in Wayne county, New York, on January 16, 1856. Subsequently Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage at Wayne county to Miss Mary E. Wells, also a native of the Empire state. They had no children and Mrs. Lawrence de- parted this life in Fayette township, on February 2, 1881. On February 22, 1882, Mr. Lawrence married Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Liv- ingston county, New York, where she was born on December 23, 1850. She was the daughter of Lucian and Mary (White) Jones, natives of the same state. Her father died in Livingston county on March 31, 1857, her mother in Barry county, Michigan, on November 3, 1875. In the family there were six children, four sons and two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence being the eldest daughter and the fourth child.
The family are active and leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Lawrence has filled the positions of class-leader, steward and trustee for many years. In all works of religion and charity in the community where he resides he has taken a foremost part, and the family are among the most highly esteemed in that section of the county. Politically, Mr. Lawrence is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and, for many years he has been one of the trusted leaders of that party in Hillsdale county. He has held the offices of justice of the peace and highway commissioner, the latter for six terms, and has ever discharged the duties of every public position to which he has been called with ability and fidelity. In political, as well as in church and business affairs, Mr. Lawrence is one of the prominent men of Hillsdale county, whose counsel is often sought by younger men of the community in matters of importance. His high character, conservative judgment and keen business sagacity, especially qualify him to ad- vise those less experienced than himself.
CHANDLER C. LINDSEY.
In the three score years of his earthly exis- tence Chandler C. Lindsey, of Litchfield town- ship, at present serving his second term as a
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member of the county board of supervisors, has seen life in many of its interesting phases and death in many of its horrors. He was born on December 15, 1843, at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, New York, the son of Robert and Har- riet (Briggs) Lindsey, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father, a farmer, passed his life in his native state, the mother, who survived him some years, dying in Michigan. The paternal grandfather, Stephen Lindsey, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was afterward a farmer in New York, where he died at an advanced age.
Chandler C. Lindsey, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native state, and, in tlte autumn of 1861, he came to Michigan and located near Hadley's Corners, but did not remain long, for he returned to New York, and, in 1864, enlisted in Battery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, in which he saw active service for eighteen months as a part of the Sixth Army Corps, in the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the campaigns of that army to the close of the war, his regiment being particularly prominent in the bloody bat- tles of The Wilderness, Cold Harbor, the North Anna River, and the siege of Petersburg. After his discharge he returned to his New York home, and there, on September 20, 1865, was married with Miss Frances M. Pratt, a native of that state. In 1867 they came to Michigan to per- manently reside. Since that time they have made their home in Litchfield township, this county, on the farm where they now live. For awhile, after his second arrival in this state, Mr. Lindsey worked at his trade as a carpenter, and while so occupied, prepared his newly purchased farm for a residence for his family. Since settling on this farm he has steadily devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement with a skill and in- dustry that have brought a very gratifying measure of success and prosperity.
Before going into the army Mr. Lindsey was employed by the U. S. government in a collateral line, holding position in this service in 1862 and 1863. At that time, and for some years after the war, he was a Republican in politics, but he is
now an ardent Democrat, and he has shown the sincerity of his faith by a loyal and devoted service in the interest of his party. While living in Branch county he was elected, and rendered satisfactory service, as the treasurer of Butler township, and he is now (1903) serving his second term as the supervisor of Litchfield town- ship, in Hillsdale county. He is an active mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and has filled with credit several offices in the post of that organization to which he belongs. His family consists of two sons and three daughters : Ernest C .; Arthur D .; Edith E., wife of E. L. Rainy ; Grace I., wife of H. H. Dolph; Bertha, living at the family home. In business Mr. Lindsey has been prosperous and progressive ; in office capable and conscientious ; in social life genial and hospitable ; in public spirit broad and enterprising. All the duties of citizenship have been well and faithfully performed by him, throughout the county he is esteemed as one of the leading and representative men of this part of the state.
HON. HENRY McCOWEN.
The life of this good man, strong character, public spirited citizen and elevating moral force, was an inspiration and a benefaction wherever its influence was felt. He was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, on February 7,. 1820, and was there reared and educated. In early manhood he removed to Elmira, N. Y., in which city he engaged in business, and, on May II, 1842, married with Miss Sarah Ann Weir. Three years later they came to Michigan, then a new and struggling state in the far West, and re- sided first at Marshall, then at Tecumseh. In 1851 he moved to Hillsdale county, purchased the farm in Moscow township, on which he lived to the last year of his life, and on which he died, on November 7, 1887, of typho-malarial fever. During his residence of thirty-six years and nine months in Moscow, he was one of its most influential and prominent of its citizens, being deeply interested in its moral and mental growth, and the development and prosperity of
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all its mercantile and industrial agencies. He gave his timc, energy and substance freely to build schools, churches and public improve- ments, and was ever at the front in behalf of any undertaking for the general advancement of the community, whether in its fiscal or ethical de- partments of progress.
He was an ardent Republican in politics, but no . party interest or personal consideration swerved him from the line of strietest regard for the publie weal, especially in local matters, and, as a man of broad mind and progressive views, he was chosen to many offices of importance in the township. In 1868 he was elected to the State Legislature, and in the ensuing session his course was distinguished for the same elevated plane of thought, breadth of view and straight- forwardness in action, that characterized his con- duct elsewhere in all the relations of life. He had great strength of will, clearness of perception and promptness of decision. With him to resolve was to act and leave all doubt behind, and, once embarked in a pursuit, he knew neither halt· or hesitation at any behest. Yet his will was domi- nated by an excellent judgment, so that his firm- ness and diligence were almost never on the wrong side. Through these qualifications he was able to accomplish great things, making every stroke count and losing no time, working so steadfastly in the right direction that he had but little to regret. His wife died on July 4, 1886, being the mother of eight children, of whom are living, two sons and three daughters, all are residents of Hillsdale county, except one son, who lives at Hudson, and one daughter in Indiana.
On February 10, 1887, Mr. McCowen was married to his second wife, Mrs. Sarah A. Timms, the widow of the late Dr. Daniel Timms, of Moscow. After this marriage he purchased a home at Hillsdale where he hoped to pass many years in the pleasant companionship of his numerous friends and in the enjoyments of social life. But he was already fatally stricken, and, as a beautiful autumn was deepening into winter, he was released from earthly cares, and laid away to his final rest. Mr. MeCowen's oldest son,
William H. McCowen, was a volunteer soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, a mem- ber of the Twenty-seventh Michigan Sharp- shooters. lle saw arduous, continuous and highly perilous service, dying of wounds received before Petersburg in the latter part of 1864.
Arthur L. MeCowen, the youngest son of his father, who now resides on the Moscow homestead, was born in this county on January 29. 1855. Hle was reared in Moscow township and educated in its publie sehools, finishing with a year's instruction at the State Agricultural Col- lege. Since leaving school he has been actively engaged in farming without interruption, his skillful and systematie industry making his farm to be one of the best and most productive in the , township. He was married on December 25, 1890, to Miss Jeannette Ford, a native of Jackson county, Mich. Her parents are Ransom T. and Celestia (Little) Ford, the former a native of Jackson county and the latter of Hillsdale county of this state. Mr. McCowen has never taken any active interest in party polities ; but he has not withheld his due share of the impulse and the substantial aid necessary to promote public improvements, keep in motion enterprises of value in developing the resources of the county, or to sustain and advance the general weal of his community.
DANIEL MCNABB.
Daniel MeNabb, an honored pioneer of Mos- cow township, in Hillsdale county, was born at Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, on August 18, 1814, the son of Peter and Margaret (Camp- bell) McNabb, natives of Scotland, born near Edinburg, who came to the United States in 1803 on the same vessel, and settled in the county above named where they were married in 1808. The family consisted of two sons and one daugh- ter, all now deceased. The father, a prosperous farmer, some years after his marriage moved his family to Livingston county, N. Y., where they all lived unitl 1842, when they came to Michigan and located on a farm in Moscow township, on which the father died in 1862, aged
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ninety-three years. His widow. survived him by his good example, unifying the efforts of nine years, dying in 1871, aged ninety-one.
Their son Daniel grew to man's estate in New York, there receiving a limited education in the primitive schools of his day. In 1835 he came to Hillsdale county, entered a tract of eighty acres of government land in Moscow township, and during the next year he moved to this tract and began clearing it and getting it under cultivation. He added to it by subsequent purchases until he owned 210 acres, all new, wild and heavily timbered land when he bought it, which, under his sturdy strokes, was cleared and in an advanced state of cultivation, making it one of the model farms of the township when death called him from his useful and productive labors, on February 15, 1893. His wife followed him to the better world on April 9, of the same year. She was, prior to her mariage, a Miss Joanna Rowley and she was united with him in marriage on November 29, 1838. Her parents were Daniel and Lois Rowley, emigrants in 1836 from Erie county, New York, to Moscow town- ship, where they entered a tract of government land, on which they settled, lived, labored in its development and improvement, and, finally, after bringing it into fruitfulness and beauty, they died in advanced age, secure in the esteem and good will of the whole neighborhood.
In politics Mr. McNabb was a Whig until the birth of the Republican party. He then joined that organization and gave its principles and candidates a zealous and helpful support until his death, although never desiring or seeking its honors or advantages for himself. He was a justice 'of the peace in the township for a num- ber of years at the earnest solicitation of his neighbors and friends, and, in this position he was of a very greatly appreciated service to the community as the conservator of law and order and the arbiter of neighborhood disputes and misunderstandings. He was a progressive and energetic citizen and gave a great impulse to the development and improvement of the town- ship through many serviceable channels. He dignified and adorned agriculture by his master- ful and elevating pursuit of it, stimulating others
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