USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
Mr. Walsh married in 1880 Miss Minerva Gil- chrest, a native of Tarrytown, New York, a daughter of Harvey and Emeline J. (Twitchings) Gilchrest, a sister of Mrs. Bert E. Ford, of whom farther mention is made elsewhere in this work. Her parents came with their family to this county in 1866. Since then they have been among its re- spected and productive citizens. Mr. and Mrs.
333
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Walsh have four children, Grace B., Willimena, John H. and Josephine, all living at the parental home. In political faith Mr. Walsh is an ardent and loyal Democrat, not active in political conten- tions, however, and he has never sought or con- sented to take office. Heand his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, active in all its branches of benevolent work. They are well and widely known in the township and have hosts of friends here, and in other parts of the county.
JOHN H. WARD.
The late John H. Ward, of this county, whose death on his farm in Moscow township, in 1887, was generally lamented and closed a life of quiet and peaceful activity, which; both in its products and example, was of great service to the commu- nity in which he lived for nearly a quarter of a century, had learned wisdom and self-reliance in several lines of active industry before coming to Michigan. He was a native of Ontario county, New York, born on March 20, 1822, descended from vigerous old New England stock, which drew in love of liberty and independence with the air they breathed in the Green Mountain region of Vermont, where his parents, Chauncey and Mary (Brown) Ward, were born and reared, as their forefathers had been for several genera- tions. The father, an inn-keeper and farmer, resided in his native state for a number of years, then moved his family to New York, where he carried on the same vocations, and, where, at ripe old ages, he and his devoted wife passed away and were laid to rest. The mother of John H. Ward was his first wife, and their family con- sisted of three sons and four daughters, all of whom have paid the last debt of nature, their son, John, having been the last survivor.
John H. Ward was reared and educated in his native county, and, while yet quite a young man, journeyed to LaGrange county, Indiana, and there he engaged for a short time in teaching, after which he returned to his New York home. In 1865 he came to Michigan, and, after spending a year in Calhoun county, purchased a portion of the farm in Moscow township on which his widow now resides, adding to this tract by subsequent
purchases, until he finally owned 150 acres, all of which he brought to an active state of product- iveness and advanced improvement. His only oc- cupation after he quit teaching was farming, and to this he devoted all of the energies and aspira- tions of his life and in it he achieved a gratifying success and prosperity. He never allowed the se- ductions of political office or the blandishments of social life to win him from his chosen voca- tion, yet he was never wanting in earnest and in- telligent interest in the welfare of the community around him, and never withholding his support from any worthy enterprise which promised to promote it; performing with fidelity and with cheerfulness the serviceable duties of citizenship and leaving to others the cares as well as the hon- ors of public station.
He was married in December, 1847, to a Miss Sarah A. Scott, a daughter of David R. and Ra- chel (Cheney) Scott, the former a native of Mas- 'sachusetts and the latter of New York. The greater part of their lives was passed in New York state, the father dying in 1880, the mother passing away at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Ward, in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Ward were the parents of four children, all now living in this state. They are John Scott, a resident of Pe- toskey in Emmet county ; Emma A., the wife of Frederick S. Blackmar, of Moscow township, (see sketch elsewhere) ; Clinton F., of Hillsdale ; Eva R., living with her mother on the homestead farm. Since the death of the father, Mrs. Ward has given the management of the farm her own personal and careful attention, has kept vigor- ously in action upon it the spirit of enterprise in- augurated by him and pushed its cultivation and improvement forward with the same skill, energy and success that he exhibited in conducting it. It is one of the desirable country-homes of this part of the county, excellent in quality, modern and convenient in buildings.
REV. JOHN T. WARD.
Rev. John T. Ward, the professor of syste- matic theology and homilectics at Hillsdale Col- lege, presents to the pen of the biographer an in- teresting theme from every point of view.
334
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Whether considered as a student in an academic course or a devout searcher for truth in the broad field of theology, as an active evangelizer or a Christian editor, as a college professor or a man and citizen, his life is full of interest, well worthy of regard, both as a study in human na- ture and as an example of high endeavor. He is the son of the late Deacon Charles P. and El- mina (Tefft) Ward, and was born at Norway, New York, on January 20, 1847, and was con- verted to a firm faith in the Christian religion on the eleventh anniversary of his birth. His pre- liminary education was secured in the public schools of his native town, and, after due prepa- ration, he entered Whitestown Seminary, being graduated from that institution in 1867. He was not satisfied, however, with his scholastic attain- ments, therefore took a course at Hillsdale Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1870. He then determined to enter the ministry of the Free Bap- tist church, and, after a thorough course of train- ing in his profession at Andover Theological Seminary, he was there graduated in 1873.
After this graduation he settled at Lexington, Michigan, being ordained to the ministry on De- cember 14, 1873 From that time he has been most active in his sacred calling and has wrought great good through its medium. His pastorates were at Ashland, N. H., Georgiaville, R. I., Park Street, Providence, R. I., and Jackson, Michigan. All of these charges prospered under his minis- trations, many more than 100 converts being bap- tised by him, and about 200 members added to the church. For nine years Rev. Mr. Ward was a member of the foreign mission board and also a member of the general conference board ; while for a number of years, he was a trustee of Hills- dale College. He closed his Jackson pastorate on October 31, 1889, to become the editor and publisher of the Free Baptist, the denominational organ for the West, published at Minneapolis. His management of this periodical began on No- vember 1, 1889, and ended on August 1, 1898. On the first of September following, he became professor of Systematic Theology ond Homilec- tics at Hillsdale College, and still fills this im- portant chair in the institution. In 1889 he pub-
lished the Free Baptist Cyclopaedia, regarded throughout the church as a most valuable theo- logical and historical compendium. In June, 1893, Hillsdale College honored itself in confer- ing on him the degree of D. D. Doctor Ward married, in 1876, with Mrs. Mary (Tewksbury) Cowell, of New Hampshire, who has been a faithful and an efficient helper in his pastoral work. She has been very active in temperance work and in the state work of the Woman's Mis- sionary Society. Their daughter, Mary, gradu- ated from the University of Minnesota in 1897, and received the master's degree in 1898. After teaching in Hillsdale College, and serving as state secretary of the Young Women's Christian Asso- ciation, in Minnesota, she went to reside in Kyo- to, Japan, having married with Mr. G. Sidney Phelps, general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, appointed to that work. On his mother's side Professor Ward is descended from the French Huguenots, on his father's from Sir Edward Ward, of England, who came to Connecticut and established the American family there in carly Colonial times. The Professor's work in the college is of a high order of ex- cellence and is generally commended.
DR. HENRY M. WARREN.
The oldest practicing physician of Jonesville. Michigan, and a man who for many years has held a prominent place in the professional and business life of Hillsdale county, is the subject of this sketch, Dr. Henry M. Warren. He is a na- tive of Columbia county, Pa., where he was born on April 19, 1840. His parents were Joseph and Ann (Spear) Warren, the former a native of the state of Maine, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His father was an editor by profession, who, at different times during his life, was the owner and editor of the Auburn Advertiser, of Auburn, N. Y., the Detroit Advertiser, which later became the Detroit Tribune, of Detroit, Mich., and of vari- ous other periodicals. He removed his residence to the city of Detroit in 1852, and was one of the active founders of the Republican party of Mich- igan. His father, whose name was also Joseph
335
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Warren, was a native of the state of Maine, and was related to Gen. Joseph Warren, the comman- der of the patriot forces at Bunker Hill, where he gave his life to the cause of freedom. The father of the subject of this sketch afterwards removed to Washington, D. C., where he secured an important position in the Department of the Interior, in which he remained up to the time of his death in 1884. Of his family of five sons and two daughters, all are now deceased, except Dr. H. M. Warren and two brothers. Two other brothers died during the Civil War, one being killed at the battle of the Wilderness, the other service in the army. The mother passed away in. Jonesville, Michigan, in 1900. Her father was R. C. Spear, formerly a prominent citizen of Col- umbia, Pa.
Dr. Henry M. Warren grew to manhood in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and received his early education in the public schools of Columbia and of Detroit. In the latter city he attended the Gregory Commercial College and afterwards en- gaged in business at Irwin, Pa., where he was given a position as an outside superintendent of one of the coal mines at that place and continued in that employment until 1859. In the latter year he entered the Hahnemann Medical College of the city of Chicago, remained for one term, and, in 1861, entered the Western Medical College, of Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was duly gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1862. The same year he removed to Jonesville, Mich .; where he established himself in the practice of his profes- sion, succeeding to the practice of Dr. E. M. Hale. He has been located in Jonesville ever since that time, being very successful in his professional and business pursuits. He is a member of the Mich- gan State Homeopathy Society, and is recognized as one of the leading physicians of that school in his section of the state. In 1865 Doctor War- ren was united in marriage with Miss Georgia Harris, a native of the state of New York, and an adopted daughter of the late Ransom Gardner. Two children have been born to them, namely, Lillian E., now Mrs. Fred H. Lewis, of Califor- nia, and Henry B., now engaged in business as a
commercial traveler, with headquarters at the city of Louisville, Ky. Doctor and Mrs. Warren have an adopted son, Don H. Warren.
Politically the Doctor has long been identified with the Republican party, one of the leaders of that organization in the community where he re- sides. During his residence in Jonesville he has held various positions of trust and honor in the gift of his fellow men. For a period of six years he was superintendent of schools, and for two years president of the village council, being also the efficient health officer. In every position he has been a high-minded and capable official dying from wounds received during his term of - who has always served the community with ability
and fidelity. In addition to his other business in- vestments the Doctor is one of the stockholders of the Omega cement plant, which is one of the most successful business enterprises of the county. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and for many years has taken an active and leading part in the affairs of that denomination. For twenty-two years he has been the popular super- intendent of the Sunday-school, and much of his time has been given up to religious and charitable work. He is very widely known, being highly respected throughout both the county and state.
JOHN M. WARREN.
One of the most substantial and highly re- spected citizens of Hillsdale is John M. Warren, who has served as supervisor of Hillsdale town- ship for five years. He is a native of Genesee county, New York, where he was born on. Octo- ber 30, 1845. His parents were John M. and Sally L. (Ingalsbe) Warren, both natives of New York state. His father followed the occupation of a millwright, and, as early as 1832, he came first to Michigan, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land from the government, walking a long distance from what is now the township of Hillsdale to Monroe, Mich., for the purpose of making the entry, covering the entire distance of sixty miles in one day. During that early time he assisted in erecting the first mills constructed at Jonesville and Hillsdale. He followed his chosen profession of millwright during most of the active
336
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
years of his life, giving, however, considerable attention to farming. He was a prominent citizen of the community where he maintained his resi- dence, for three terms held the office of justice of the peace, discharging the duties of that position with ability and fidelity. At the time of the Civil War he passed some time in the government serv- ice at Nashville, Tenn. The paternal grandfather of John M. Warren was named Peter O. Warren, and he was also a native of the state of New York. where he followed the occupations of farming and building. During his later years he removed to Michigan, where he passed away from life's la- bors in 1866. The mother of the Mr. Warren, of this review, died in 1884, the father in 1894. They reared a family of five children, and were among the pioneers of Michigan.
John M. Warren grew to man's estate in Hills- dale county, receiving his early educational train- ing in the public schools of the county. At the age of sixteen years, he was forced by circum- stances to leave school, and he then engaged in farming, which has largely occupied his attention since that time. He is now the, owner of a portion of the old family homestead, which has been his residence for so many years. On May 16, 1875, Mr. Warren was united in marriage with Miss Emily White, of Cambria township, the daughter of Orlando and Lydia (Allen) White, highly es- teemed citizens of that community. The father still resides in Cambria township. Mr. and Mrs. Warren have had five children, Lewis E .; Brooks A., now attending college at Hillsdale ; Owen V., at the paternal home ; Gertrude S. and James G. Warren. Politically, Mr. Warren has been identi- fied all his life with the Republican party, one of its stanchest and most loyal leaders in his section of the state. He has held every office in the gift of the people of his township, and, for a period of more than five years, he has been its supervisor. In every position to which his high sense of pub- lic duty has called him, he has displayed signal ability and true fidelity in the discharge of every trust, and has been in every sense a high-minded public official. He is an active member of the Baptist church, and takes a leading part in all After coming to Hillsdale county, Mr. Wash- matters calculated to promote the social and relig. burn purchased the coal business of Mr. Andrews,
ious life and growth of the community in which he resides. No citizen is held in higher esteem by all classes of his fellow citizens, being honored both in private and in public life.
EDWIN M. WASHBURN.
Edwin M. Washburn, treasurer of the Hills- dale Window Screen Co., was born at Lenox, Mass., on March 11, 1836. His parents were Miles and Emily (Hatch) Washburn, the former born and reared in Massachusetts and the latter in Connecticut. The father, a farmer, passed his life in his native state, highly respected in his neighborhood and often chosen to fill some impor- tant local office. The grandfather, Jacob Wash- burn, was a native of Salisbury, Conn., a black- smith by trade and one of the leaders in local af- fairs in his community. The maternal grandfa- ther was an officer in the American army during the War of 1812 and rendered valuable service in that contest. The Washburn family of New England stands in the very highest station of the carly Colonial families. From the very earliest days it has been prominent in civil, military, pro- fessional and business life.
Edwin M. Washburn was one of the two sons born to his parents, being the only represen- tative of the family who ever lived in Michigan. For many years his brother was a faithful mis- sionary in India and he is now living a retired life in Connecticut. Mr. Washburn was educated in the schools of his native state, finishing at an advanced academy at Lenox. His first occupa- tion after leaving school was milling, in which he was engaged for a number of years. He then turned his attention to the importation and breed- ing of Holstein cattle, being successful in the ven- ture, continuing the business in Massachusetts until 1887, when he came to Hillsdale and pur- chased the home which he has ever since occu- pied. He lost his right hand in a mill early in his life, which accident induced him to seek other employment, and, as has been stated, he was en- gaged for some years in the cattle industry.
337
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
having George F. Washburn associated with him ยท in the enterprise. They carried on the business with steady success and prosperity until 1897 and then Edwin F. Washburn retired, and since that time, he has not been actively engaged in any kind of business with one exception. When the Hillsdale Window-Screen Company was orga- nized he was chosen to be its president, and that position he has filled continuously from the or- ganization of the company. The duties of this place fill up the measure of his desire for active employment, yet leave him sufficient leisure for the enjoyments of life, in which he finds both re- creation and the rest he has so honestly earned. He married, in Wisconsin, in 1859, with Miss Angeline Judd, a native of Massachusetts. They have six children, four sons and two daughters. In politics Mr. Washburn has been a lifelong Re- publican, loyal to his party and deeply interested in its success, but never desiring any of its honors or emoluments for himself. His beauiful home in the city of Hillsdale is a center of a refined and generous hospitality, being one of the social institutions of the city and highly appreciated by all who have the pleasure of experiencing and sharing, in its comforts and attractions. Mr. Washburn and his wife, are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the county and state.
ARCHIBALD WEIR.
The useful life of Archibald Weir, which end- ed in this county in 1883, after a long career of faithful devotion to duty and of productive indus- try, began in Scotland, where he was reared and educated, and where he learned his trade as a stone-mason. He was engaged in mining in his native country until 1842, when he emigrated, coming to the United States to join his older brothers, Thomas and Andrew, then located at Hillsdale, but now all deceased. Two sisters, now also dead, remained in Scotland. At once, on his arrival here, Mr. Weir formed a partnership with his brother Andrew, and here together for a number of years, they conducted a tannery as the Weir Brothers. Archibald then went into the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Railroad, working in the baggage department, and, when he quit that corporation, he formed a partnership with John Lamberts and George Tompkins for the purpose of carrying on a meat business.
After some years of active industry in this enterprise Mr. Weir retired from mercantile life and again began working at his trade as a mason, following this occupation until his death in 1883. He married in Scotland with Miss Margaret B. Lee, a native of Glasgow, and they became the parents of six children, five of whom are living : Marian B., wife of A. Carrette, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Robert, living at Battle Creek, Mich .; Mag- gie, wife of M. J. Fanning, of Boston, Mass .; Ar- chibald B., a mail deliverer and a resident of Al- len, in this county ; Katie, also living in Boston. Mr. Weir was an ardent Democrat in politics, but never sought or accepted official station of any kind. He belonged to the Odd Fellows frater- nity and to the Presbyterian church. His widow survived him eight years, dying in 1891.
ARCHIBALD B. WEIR, son of Archibald Weir, was born at Hillsdale, this county, on June 5, 1860. In his native town he grew to manhood and was carefully educated, beginning his course in the public schools and finishing at the Hillsdale high school and the commercial department of the college. Soon after leaving school he began farming and has since steadily pursued that call- ing. He was married, in 1886, to Miss Jennie S. Whitney, a sister of Dr. J. C. Whitney, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. Their union was blessed with one son, A. J. Whit- ney Weir. His mother died in 1891, and Mr. Weir, in 1893, married with Miss Ida M. Wat- kins, a daughter of Charles Watkins, whose his- tory is given elsewhere in this work.
In politics Mr. Weir is a Republican and has been one from his young manhood; in the cam-' paigns of his party he has taken an active and serviceable part, but has never sought office for himself. Since the establishment of the U. S. rural free delivery in this county, Mr. Weir has been a popular, carrier. He belongs to the frater- nal society of the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, giving
338
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
to the work of his tent in the order a careful and helpful attention. Throughout the length and breadth of Allen township he is well and favor- ably known, by all who know him he is respected as an upright and useful citizen, devoted to the best interests of his community, thoughtful and of material assistance in promoting its welfare in every commendable way and possessing a gener- ous breadth of view and spirit of public good.
GEORGE W. WESTFALL.
George W. Westfall, of Adams township. Michigan, is one of the progressive and represent- ative farmers of this highly favored section of the state, who has made good his right to stand, as he does, high in the esteem of his fellow citizens of the county, by his uprightness and integrity in all the relations of life, his enterprise and pro- gressiveness in his own business and in the affairs of the county, and the example of steady, intelli- gent and productive industry he has ever given to this people. He was born in Wayne county, New York, on April 15. 1842, the son of David and Laura (Daniels) Westfall, who were also natives of that state, descended from families long resident within its borders. His father, a farmer, followed that vocation through life, both he and his wife dying on their native heath after long careers of appreciated usefulness. Two sons and one daughter blessed their union, of these chil- dren their son, George, is the only one living in Michigan. He was reared and educated in his native state and began life for himself as a farm- er there. He was successfully engaged in this oc- cupation in that state, except during the time oc- cupied by his service in the Union army in the Civil War, until 1876 when he came to Michigan and purchased and settled on the farm which is how his home. He also traveled for a few years in the employ of the Austin Road Machine Co.
In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Co. I, Seventeenth New York In- fantry, for a term of two years. The regiment was assigned for service to the Army of the Poto- mac and it was engaged in all the campaigns of that great fighting organization. At the end of
his term, Mr. Westfall veteranized, reenlisting in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, with which he was assigned to duty under General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. At the front in all the engagements of the campaigns in that historic region, Mr. Westfall there saw all of the hard- ship, suffered all of the privation and confronted all of the danger of the service. At the close of the war he returned to his New York home and resumed his farming operations, having, by great good fortune, escaped without being wounded or captured by the enemy and all serious disability in the service. In 1864, in New York state, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Phil- lips, a native of the state. They have three chit- dren, sons, William D., Henry K. and Roy A.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.