USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 64
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Judge Mercer and his wife were the parents of seven children, all born in Somerset township, this county. One died when seven days old, the others are living. David G., born on February 21, 1846, married Miss Frances Campbell and is the father of two children; Samuel A., born on November 23, 1848, married Miss Estella Bilby and is the father of four children ; Elizabeth, born on March 23, 1849, became the wife of William Robbins, of Wheatland township; William W., born on March 10, 1853, married Miss Betsey Voorlies and is the father of one son ; John G. was born on December 20, 1854; Sarah, wife of William Bilby, of Somerset township, was born on December 3, 1858, and became the mother of two sons and a daughter, now dead.
Judge Mercer was prominent in the public life of the township and county all the time of his . residence here. On the organization of the town- ship he was chosen assessor and served two years. He was subsequently justice of the peace for fif- teen years and township inspector two years. In 1842 he was elected supervisor on the first board formed under the state law, serving the township for ten different terms in this capacity and until 1869, with short intervals of intermis- sion. In January, 1844, he was elected to be an associate judge of the Circuit Court, and in November, 1850, he was chosen county judge, filling this office until it was abolished by law in 1852. After 1869 his son, David G. Mercer, was
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supervisor for a number of years, and another son, William W., is now the incumbent of this same important office. The Judge gave his al- legiance to the Democratic party and was stanch and unyielding in support of his party faith. He was generous in aid of church organizations, al- though, during the great part of his life, he was not a member of any. On October 6, 1901, his serviceable life ended amid the almost univer- sal regret and lamentation of the people among whom he had so long lived and labored, by whom lie was always highly respected.
WILLIAM W. MERCER, son of the late Judge William Mereer, is a resident of Somerset town- ship, and lives on an excellent farm highly culti- vated and well provided with good buildings and the necessary appurtenances for successful farm- ing. He was born in this township on March 10, 1853, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. assisting in the labor of cultivating it and, when he could do so, attending the district schools in the neighborhood. He began life for himself as as a farmer and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. On January 17, 1877, he was married to Miss Betsey Voorhes, also a na -. tive of Somerset township, born on May 20, 1859, and a daughter of John W. Voorhes, who became a resident of Michigan when he was a lad of four- teen and assisted his father in clearing up the homestead. In 1855 he married Miss Mary Eross, who was born in Adams township, this county, and they became the parents of seven children, two of whom died young and the rest are living. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have one child, their son, Leon A. Merecer, who was born on Feb- ruary 19, 1879. Mr. Mercer is a Democrat in political allegiance and has taken an active in- terest in the success of his party, giving its prin- ciples and nominees faithful and helpful sup- port. He has himself been called to official sta- tions of moment and importance in the township, and has discharged the duties thus devolving upon him in a manner at once creditable to himself and beneficial to the community. He was an ener- getic, progressive and broad-minded member of the school board for a number of years, and in 1882 was first elected supervisor, serving then
for three years in succession. In 1898 he was again elected to this office and has since been continuously reelected. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and also of the Patrons of Husbandry.
HENRY E. HAYNES.
Henry E. Haynes, one of the enterprising, energetie and progressive farmers of Camden township, is to the manor born and was reared and educated among the people who have had the benefit of his services in various local capae- ities and of his inspiring example of industry and thrift. His life began in Camden township, on September 30, 1856, and he is the son of Jud- son B. and Juliette (Sutton) Haynes. His fa- ther was a native of Greene county, N. Y. When a young man Judson Haynes emigrated to Huron county, Ohio, where he married his wife, a native of that county. A short time later he came to Hillsdale county and bought eighty acres of land on which he settled his family in 1856, it being located in Camden township. Since that time he has resided in this township except during a residence of one year in Kansas, and he has been actively engaged in buying and selling real es- tate, in the course of .l:is operations living on a number of different farms.
He has been one of the most enterprising and public spirited of the township's citizens, giving his time and energies actively to the development and improvement of the section and filling with credit and acceptability all the local offices from time to time. At the present writing (1903) he is highway commissioner of the township and the benefit of his services is manifest and is ae- knowledged by all classes of the people. In poli- tics he has from its formation belonged to the Republican party, and has done much by his wis- dom in counsel and his zeal in campaign work to build up and strengthen the party in the coun- ty and bring repeated success to its cause. Use- ful in every public function and through the breadth and energy of his patriotism, inspiring by his example of enterprise and resourcefulness, and an esteemed model for all in his private life,
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he is justly held in the highest respect through- out the county, regarded as one of its most pro- gressive and representative citizens. His wife died in November, 1868. They were the parents of four children, one of whom was burned to death when only three years old during the clear- ing of the farm on which they lived in the early days of their residence in Michigan. Mr. Haynes has since married a second wife. She was Miss Mary Alward and they have had five children.
Henry E. Haynes is the oldest child of the first marriage. He was reared in Camden town- ship and there received a common school educa- tion. After leaving school, and reaching man's estate, he passed three years in Ohio, working on a farm by the month, and one year in Kansas, in the same occupation and under the same con- ditions. Returning to Michigan he bought in 1880 a portion of the farm on which he now lives, the original purchase containing seventy- seven acres, to which he has added forty by a subsequent purchase. All this he has well im- proved with excellent buildings and brought to an advanced state of cultivation, and here he conducts a vigorous and flourishing farming in- dustry, which is carried on according to the most approved methods, with every care to secure the best results. Mr. Haynes has also taken an ac- tive and helpful interest in the development of the township, the elevation of its people and the promotion of every judicious undertaking to sub- serve their comfort and convenience. He assist- ed in organizing the Camden Rural Telephone Co. in 1903, being one of the leading spirits in the enterprise, taking a large block of the stock and serving as the first president. He is also a stock- holder in the Baker Economy Furnace Co. of Camden, where the factory is located, this being one of the leading industrial enterprises in this portion of the state.
On December 10, 1882, Mr. Haynes married . York, on July 1, 1841, at a time when that por- with Miss Nettie Salmon, a native of Amboy township in Hillsdale county, a daughter of Charles and Annie (Thompson) Salmon, natives of England, who were born, reared and married in that country and came to the United States in 1849, locating in New York. The father worked
at blacksmithing a number of years for the Lake Shore Railroad, and later bought a farm in Am- boy township, where both he and his wife ended their days. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have four children, Benjamin A., Mabel O., Florence A. and Charles H., all living at home.
Mr. Haynes is a Republican in politics, zeal- · ous and energetic in the service of his party. He served as justice of the peace for four years and at the end of that time declined a reelection, preferring the honorable post of private citizen- ship. For twenty-five years he has been an earn- est and active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge of the or- der at Camden, of which he is at present noble grand. He also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, his son, Benjamin, being the present record keeper of the tent of which they are both members. ' In all the relations of life Mr. Haynes has lived acceptably among the people of his community, winning early and holding firmly the high respect and appreciative good will of his fellow citizens, and ever maintaining his position among them as one of their progressive men.
H. B. LEFLEUR.
Standing high in the esteem of all ranks of the citizens of Hillsdale county, whom he has served faithfully as county treasurer, as a valued member of the school board for many years, as deputy collector of internal revenue, and in sev- eral other official positions of trust and impor- tance, and with his empty trousers leg as an elo- quent though silent tribute to his bravery in the Civil War, H. B. LeFleur, of Hillsdale, can find unusual pleasure and satisfaction in his present comforts through the recollection of the hard- ships and dangers by which he came to them. He was born at Ellicottville, in Western New
tion of the great Empire state was almost as un- settled and as undeveloped as are now some of the newest parts of the farther West. His parents were Ambrose and Sarah. (Welch) LeFleur, the former being a native of France. Both died while he was but a child, and he was reared and received
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a common school education in Erie county of his native state.
In 1860 he came to Hillsdale as a student to college, and in the following spring, in obedience to the first call for volunteers to defend the Union he enlisted as a member of Co. H, Fourtli Michigan Infantry. His regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac, and he saw active and arduous service in that great Aghting depart- ment of the Union forces, for the greater part of four years participating in all its battles, and be- ing most of the time in the very thick of the fight. In the deluge of death at Gettysburg he was shot through the body, and for many weeks thereafter hovered between life and death in an army hospital. Recovering at length, however, he rejoined his regiment just before the terrible battle of the Wilderness, and in the fifth day's fight of that sanguinary contest he lost his right leg at Laurel Hill. He was mustered out of the service with the rank of sergeant to which he had risen by mèritorious conduct, and returned to this county to pass the residue of his life as a quiet farmer in Litchfield township.
He engaged in farming in that portion of the · county until 1879 when he was elected county treasurer for a term of four years, at the end of which he was appointed as deputy collector of internal revenue. This office he held until 1893. when he resigned to take the position of cashier of the Savings Bank, of which he was one of the founders. He is still performing the duties of this position, and, by his attention to them and his excellent business capacity, he has raised the institution to a high rank in its class and greatly increased its business and its popularity.
He owns his farm in Litchfield, but does not give its management his personal attention. He has been a lifelong Republican in politics, and has rendered his party good and faithful service. Without reference to party considerations he was. twice elected mayor, was for many years on the school board, and filled several other local offices. as has been stated. On February 22, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Had- ley, a native of Oswego county, New York. They have four children, two sons and two
daughters. Mr. LeFleur is an enthusiastic Free- mason, belonging to lodge, chapter and comman- dery, and is an active and zealous member of the Grand Army of the Republic. No citizen of the county stands higher or is more esteemed.
ISAAC H. KELLOGG.
Isaac II. Kellogg, one of the oldest citizens of kcading township in continuous residence, Wil- liani C. Berry being the only man in the township who has lived within its limits longer, was born in Onondaga county, New York, on September 13, 1834, the son of Jefferson and Maria (Hoff- man) Kellogg, both of the same nativity as him- self. They were the parents of two sons. in their native state, Orlando H. and Isaac H., and, after the birth of the second, they concluded that the new territory of Michigan offered better oppor- tunities for their success in life and brighter hopes for their children than did the Empire state, and in 1836 they moved to Reading township, in this county, making the journey by lake to Monroe and from there to their destination by team. They found a home for a time with Judge John Mickle, the first settler in the township, and as- sistede him in clearing a heavily timbered piece of land whose century crowned growth of forest was first in the township to fall before the ax.
In the fall of that year Mr. Kellogg located on a tract of his own, which he had previously pur- chased from Judge Mickle in the fall of 1835. and by persistent application he succeeded in clearing it and making of its virgin soil an ex- cellent farm, which he increased to 120 acres, although he cleared with his own hands 200 acres. He retired from active work in 1863 with a competence, and thereafter made his home with his youngest daughter, Mrs. John Watson, until his death on March 3, 1891. He was for many years an active member of the Baptist church but late in life became a Methodist. In politics he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, after that being connected with that organization in a leading and service- able way, and he was at the same time a pro- nounced Prohibitionist. With the public life of
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the township he was actively connected, filling from time to time some of its most important of- fices. His wife died at Litchfield, on April 30, 1885, aged seventy-two years. For forty years she was a devoted member of the Baptist church, and in her life she exemplified its highest rules of conduct and faith. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, all of whom reached maturity and married, and all are now living ex- cept the oldest and third sons.
The second son, Isaac H. Kellogg, grew to manhood on the old homestead, which he helped to clear and make productive, and on which he lived until after the death of his wife on June 12, 1895, since which time he has made his home with his only child, Clarence J. Kellogg. Isaac received a good education and after leaving school engaged in teaching for a number of years. He was married in Reading township on March 23, 1862, to Miss Phoebe Herendeen, a native of Palmyra, N. Y., the first child and only daughter of Welcome and Elizabeth (Burchard) Heren- deen, who were born and reared in Ontario coun- ty, of that state, Mr. Herendeen being the first white child born in that county. After a resi- dence of some years there subsequent to their marriage they moved to Wayne county, and, in 1845, brought their family to this county, locat- ing in Reading township, where they remained until death, the father dying after he reached the age of sixty years and the mother when she had attained seventy-eight. He was a Quaker in re- ligious faith and his wife a Methodist. Their daughter, Mrs. Kellogg, was well educated at a seminary in Albion, and for a number of years was a successful teacher. She was a member of the M. E. church at Reading, while her husband is a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Both have been prominent and active in all their good works.
Mr. Kellogg was prominent in public local affairs during his years of activity, filling with credit a number of township offices, among them township treasurer for a number of terms and justice of the peace for a period of twenty-five years. He is a Republican in politics and an earnest and zealous advocate of legal prohibi-
tion. He and his wife became the parents of one child. Clarence J. Kellogg, who owns a fine farm of 140 acres in Reading township, which he suc- cessfully manages, as he does also the paternal homestead which his farm adjoins. He was educated at Hillsdale College, and in his career he has displayed superior business capacity and worldly wisdom and breadth of view of a high order. 'Like his father he is a Republican and a Prohibitionist. Succeeding to a family name.that has been honored in two generations in this coun- ty, he has well sustained its reputation for all that is best in elevated citizenship. His wife was Miss Lidia Murray, and they have two children, their sons, Murray I. and Orson Tyler !!!-
ANDREW L. KINNEY: 9
Andrew L. Kinney, one of the leading attor- neys at the Hillsdale county bar, realizing forci- bly that the Law is a jealous mistress and will seldom brook a divided sovereignty, has devoted himself exclusively to the practice of his profes- sion since he was admitted as an attorney, and is reaping in good measure the reward of his devo- . tion, having a large and lucrative practice which includes in its clientele many of the best and most representative citizens of the county, hav- ing a well established reputation as a skillful and resourceful lawyer, widely and accurately learned in cases and firmly grounded in the principles of the law.
Mr. Kinney was born in Oneida county, New York, on June 6, 1865. His parents are Harvey and Charlotte (Lambie) Kinney, also natives of that state. . The father is a cooper and in the earlier years of his manhood worked at that trade, but for many years he has been engaged in farming, beginning this occupation in his na- tive state and continuing it in Branch county, Mich., after coming hither in 1877, where he lived until 1890. He then moved to Arkansas, where he and his wife now reside, and where he is still carrying on a successful and prosperous industry in this line. The family consists of two sons and three daughters.
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HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Andrew L. Kinney accompanied his parents to Michigan when he was twelve years of age and from that time he has been continuously a resident of the state, except during the period of his absence in college at Valparaiso, Ind., where he completed the scholastic education he had be- . gun in the public schools of New York and con- tinued in those of Michigan. After leaving col- lege he taught school four years in Branch coun- ty. and in 1886 began to study law in the office of Hon. W. H. Lockerby, of Quincy, Mich. He was admitted to the bar in 1888, after two years of industrious reading in this office, and at once formed a partnership with his preceptor and en- tered upon the practice of his profession. The partnership with Mr. Lockerby continued ten years, and in 1892 they established a branch of- fice at Reading, of which Mr. Kinney took charge, removing to that town and managing the business of the firm there until the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1899. He has continued to reside there since that time, and has been busily occupied with his practice, being associated therein for one year with Eugene Saunders and the rest of the time being alone.
In political faith Mr. Kinney is a Republican, but he has never been an active partisan and has no desire for public office. In 1891 he was united in marriage with Miss Clare Wolcott, a native of this state and of Hillsdale county, born at North Adams, the daughter of Martin and Jen- nie (Conley) Wolcott, natives of New York and Michigan respectively, who were early residents of Michigan. Both among his professional breth- ren and the people generally Mr. Kinney is high- ly respected as an able lawyer and an upright and straightforward citizen.
DR. JAMES B. MCCARTY.
Learning in early life the enduring lessons of adversity and self-reliance, and through the manly qualities with which he was endowed and and which he developed and trained by practice, making his way in the world from an early age, Dr. James B. McCarty came to this state with the enthusiasm of youth, the vigor of maturity. the knowledge of men gained by personal con-
tact with them in competition, and the firmness and flexibility of fiber engendered by depen- dence on his own exertions. He was one of the first physicians and surgeons in Hillsdale, and one of the most highly respected and esteemed. It was in the state of New York that his useful life began on September 23, 1816, and his father was of Scotch descent. The father died when his son, James B., was an infant, and the mother a year or two later was remarried to a Mr. Lord. At the. age of twelve Doctor McCarty began working for his own livelihood, and from that time he has been entirely the architect and builder of his own fortune.
He diligently worked his way through good academies, and, when he had secured his preparatory education in this way, he became a student of medicine at the Geneva (N. Y.) Med- ical College, and was graduated from that dis- tinguished institution in 1841. He at once be- gan the practice of his profession at Ontario, N. Y., and remained there until 1848. He then came to Hillsdale and was in active practice here until he died in 1854, gaining in his short resi- dence a large circle of admiring friends and an extensive and lucrative practice. . On March 17, 1841, he was united in marriage with Miss Emily Sheldon, a native of Wayne county, N. Y., a daughter of Norman and Roxy (Stow) Sheldon, prosperous farmers of that state, who died there at good old ages. The Doctor and Mrs. McCarty were the parents of four children, of whom three died in infancy. One daughter is living, Mrs. Julia A. Pond, of Hillsdale.
In political faith Doctor McCarty was a Dem- ocrat, but he never sought or accepted public office. He was greatly and usefully interested in everything that involved the welfare and prog- ress of the county, being prominent in the move- ment to found Hillsdale. College, and continuing to be one of its most loyal supporters after it was founded as long as he lived. He was also po- tential in behalf of other movements and under- takings for the advancement and improvement of his town and county, and was highly commend- ed for the breadth of view, the excellent judg- . ment and the general wisdom he ever displayed in reference to public affairs of every character.
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HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
JUDGE JOHN MICKLE.
The first white settler in Reading township, and who was for fifty-seven years one of its most esteemed and useful citizens, the late Hon. John Mickle exhibited in his long and useful career in Hillsdale county the best traits of the hardy and determined pioneer and the progressive and public spirited citizen. He located on the farm, which was his home for more than half a cen- tury, on October 5, 1835, and here he died on December 15, 1892, at the age of more than eighty-eight years, having been born on Septem- ber 2, 1804. The place of his birth was Hanni- bal in Oswego county, N. Y., his native county being at that time as much of a wilderness as almost any portion of the West is now, and he was one of the nine children of John and Cath- erine Mickle, industrious farmers and frontiers- men of that locality. On his father's farm he grew to manhood and acquired the habits of stur- dy industry and thrift which characterized him through life and also the spirit of manly self-re- liance and independence which was his mainstay in many a crisis.
On becoming his own master young Mickle started out to make his own way in the world, possessed of no capital for the struggle except nine cents in money and an abundance of health, strength, energy, honesty and pluck. He was ready to perform any kind of manual labor, and began by cutting wood and doing other jobs at a small wage, carefully saving his earnings and making judicious use of his opportunities. For ten years he patiently toiled on, eight of them in his native state, then came to Hillsdale county and began to buy tracts of land to keep them out of the hands of speculators, afterward selling them at reasonable prices to actual set- tlers who desired to locate here with their fami- lies. In this way he gave an impetus to the devel- opment of the section and in a short time had around him a colony of substantial and honest citizens, who were imbued with his own spirit and combined their efforts with his to make their chosen home in the wilderness prosperous both in worldly wealth and beneficent activity, bright
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