USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 67
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READING ROBE AND TANNING CO.
Nature is prodigal in her gifts to man in all parts of our country, although differing widely in various sections in the form of her benefac- tions, and it is the crowning glory of American enterprise that whatever she has bestowed for the benefit of man it has found means to utilize and develop. When the settlement of southern Michigan was begun it was found to be a region almost boundless in possibilities for agricultural wealth, and to realize this was the first ambition
of its pioneers. In the course of a little time, however, after its forests were in a measure cleared away, and its rough face had been ca- ressed by the persuasive hand of systematic culti- vation in some comeliness of appearance and some bounty of productiveness, the generosity of the material spread out for manufacturing pur- poses began to attract attention and employ the brain and brawn of the people, so that now the state is not only one of the finest farming sections of the country, but also a busy hive of industrial enterprise, producing for the use and comfort of mankind many forms of serviceable commodities, and conducting a wonderful commercial business incident thereto. Among these utilities none is, perhaps, in the measure of its power and capacity, more important or fertile in good results than the tanning industry. And of the establishments de- voted to this work the Reading Robe & Tanning Co. is in the front rank. This company was or- ganized in 1892, and is the successor of a small business of its kind begun a year before by Rus- sell Wilbur and Morris I. Meigs, who, seeing the opportunity to carry it on with greater fruitful- ness and to a much more considerable extent by an increase of capital and more thoroughly organ- ized effort, succeeded in forming the company and having it incorporated. Accordingly a stock com- pany was formed with a paid up capital of $12 .- 000, and J. W. Chapman as president, H. F. Doty as vice-president, and Morris I. Meigs as secre- tary and treasurer. This company has conducted an active and profitable business in buying hides and tanning and manufacturing them into robes, coats, rugs and similar products, which are sold all over the country. The factory is of consider- able extent and in ordinary times gives employ- ment to an average of 100 hands, a capacity some- what decreased at this time, owing to the high price of hides. The business is carried on with vigor and enterprise, and is one of the best man- aged and most profitable in this part of the land. In the flight of time since the company was first organized there have been some necessary changes in its directorate and official staff. The officers in 1903 are J. W. Chapman, president ; Arthur A. Berry, secretary and manager, and
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Morris 1. Meigs, treasurer. These gentlemen, county, Michigan, daughter of William and Fran- with Mrs. Agnes C. Meigs and Mrs. Alice G. Chapman, form the board of directors, each giv- ing the affairs of the company close personal at- tention and assisting in their judicious manage- incnt.
Morris I. Meigs was born in Reading town- ship, Hillsdale county, on January 19. 1852, and is the son of Lucien and Amanda D. (Thomas) Meigs, of whom more extended notice is given elsewhere in this work. They were pioneers of the county and reared their children here, edu- cating them mainly at the district schools. Their son Morris attended thesc schools and passed one year at Hillsdale College. He remained at home, working on his father's farm, until he reached the age of twenty-one. Hc then accepted employ- ment as a clerk and salesman in a drygoods store at Reading, where he worked two years. During the next three years hc was engaged in farming on his own account, at the end of that time again became a clerk in the store. In 1880 he started a drug store at Camden, which he con- ducted successfully until the fall of 1891, when he sold it and started the enterprise in which he is now engaged. Since then he has given his whole attention, in a business way, to this en- terprise, and it is largely through his efforts and capacity that the business has reached its grati- fying proportions and sound financial condition.
In politics Mr. Meigs is an carnest Republic- an, and to the success of his party, county, state and national, he is a valued aid at all times. He served Camden township as its treasurer for one year, and since becoming a resident of Reading, he has been a member of the village board for six years. He is not, however, ambitious for po- litical honors, but prefers the useful post of priv- ate citizenship to anv official position. In the Ma- sonic fraternity, with which he has long been connected, he holds membership in the blue lodge and Roval Arch chapter at Reading and the com- mandery of Knights Templar at Hillsdale. He is also a member of the Reading lodges of Odd Fellows and Knights of the Maccabees. On April 23, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes C. Martin, a native of Washtenaw
ces M. (Sears) Martin, both deceased, the father dying several years ago in Washtenaw county, and the mother in 1893, at the home of her daugh- ter in Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Meigs have three children, Ethel S., wife of G. B. Tuthill, a dentist living at Wauseon, Ohio, and Alice F. and Lucien S., living at home.
LANSON PENOYAR.
Lanson Penoyar, of Camden township, Hills- dale county, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of this part of the state, is native in the section and to its manner born, his life having begun in Camden township on July 6, 1853. He is the son of Reuben and Eliza ( Malcom) Penoy- ar, New Yorkers by birth and parentage, who came to Michigan in childhood with their parents and were reared, cducated and married in Jack- son county. In 1848 they immigrated into Hills- dale county and settled in Camden township, and six years later, when their son Lanson was onc year old, moved from there to Scipio township, where the father died and the mother is still main- taining her home. Lanson Penoyar was reared to manhood in Scipio township and received his education at its public schools. When twenty-one years old he began working for himself on farms in the neighborhood of his home, hiring out by the month and then taking land to farm on shares.
When he had accumulated some money in this way, he bought fifty acres of good farming land in Williams county, Ohio, just across the state line, and for four years he engaged actively in its cultivation. He then sold it, and, returning to Hillsdale county, purchased eighty acres in Cam- den township, which he continued to farm and im- prove until he moved to the paternal homestead of his wife's people, on which he now lives. Hc was married on December 31, 1875, to Miss Mary A. Pound, a native of Wayne county, New York, and a daughter of Addison and Chloe (Gurnee) Pound of that county, who came to Hillsdale county in 1856, where they made their perma- nent home. Mr. and Mrs. Penoyar have these four children, Addison, Eliza, Roscoe and Louesa.
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Eliza is the wife of Eugene Rowe, a barber now of Waterloo, Indiana. They have two children, Jessie Louese and Emma May. Mr. Penoyar is a Republican in politics, but takes no active part in party contests, finding enough to occupy his time and energies in his farming operations and the other interests which he has in charge, and in aiding to promote the general interests of the community without reference to politics.
WILLIAM ROGERS.
Called from the scenes and industries of earth on June 26, 1903, at the age of sixty-five years, the late William Rogers, of Reading, senior mem- . family with him, Mrs. Rogers being at the time
ber of the firm of William Rogers & Sons, pub- lishers of the Reading Hustler, went to his final rest leaving a long record of usefulness behind him as a priceless legacy to his offspring and an inspiring memory to the county in which nearly forty years of his productive life was passed. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on December 8, 1838, and was the son of Dr. George and Elizabeth (Van Meter) 'Rogers, who were for many years residents of that portion of Ohio, and moved late in life to Indiana, where the father died at an advanced age. The mother afterward. went to Missouri and there passed away some years after the death of her husband. Their son William was born to a destiny of toil and priva- tion which began early in his boyhood, as the cir- cumstances of the family obliged him to begin earning his own living while he was yet quite young, and from the start he was an earnest, dili- gent and hard-working boy. It followed as a matter of course that his opportunity for getting an education at the schools was meager and his attendance was fragmentary and irregular. But he valued as an inestimable treasure the few hand- fuls of learning he was able to scoop from the sparkling stream of knowledge as it bubbled across his path of industry, using his few facili- ties for getting them to good purpose, and adding to their value and power by private study and reading when he could.
He was endowed by nature with an acute and discriminating observation, and his experience
gave him self-reliance, resourcefulness and knowl- edge 'of men; so that he came to man's estate well prepared for any fate that might be in store and armed for any duty he might have to perform. Realizing that a good trade was an estate out of which he could not be swindled and that would place him almost beyond the reach of adverse fortune, he apprenticed himself to a cabinetmaker, and after learning the trade worked at it in Fort Wayne and Angola, Ind. In 1859 he was mar- ried to Miss Dema Braman, the daughter of Stephen Braman, a pioneer of Hillsdale county, whotsettled here in 1844, coming from his native state of New York as a pioneer, and bringing his six years old. Her mother died when she was quite young. The wedding ceremony was per- formed by a Hillsdale county justice of the peace, just inside the county line, and out of doors in the snow. The wedding festivities took place at the home of the bride's sister, just over the line in Branch county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rogers took up their residence in Angola, Indiana, where they remained until early in the sixties, when they moved to Hillsdale county and located in Camden township.
On September 15, 1861, Mr. Rogers enlisted in Co. K. Eleventh Michigan Infantry, and, after serving until July, 1862, he was discharged on account of disabilities incurred in the line of duty. Recovering his health he again enlisted, on Au- gust 15, 1864, this time as a member of the Twen- ty-eighth Michigan Infantry, and as the second lieutenant of his company. On June 8, 1865, he resigned, leaving the service with an honorable discharge, and returned to his Michigan home in Camden township. Here he worked at his trade until the fall of 1868, then moved to Reading and followed the furniture business for a number of years, serving also as the village and township clerk and as member of the soldiers relief com- mittee for Hillsdale county. His services in all these positions were valuable and were highly ap- preciated, and they were of unusual importance on the committee, for it was under his supervision that Maple Wood cemetery was surveyed and the lot was graded for the monument in memory of
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the old soldiers, which was afterward erected and dedicated with imposing ceremonies. He was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Grand Army of the Republic, being commander of the local post at the time of his death on June 26, 1903. His wid- ow is still living and makes her home at Read- ing. They were the parents of two sons and one daughter, the daughter dying in childhood. The sons are Fred A. and Lester M. Rogers. Mr. Rogers was at the head of the firm of William Rogers & Sons, publishers of the Reading Hust- ler, from the inception of the enterprise until his death, the other members of the firm being his two sons.
Fred A. Rogers, the present editor of the Hustler, was born on May 2, 1864, in Cass county, Michigan, and was reared and educated in Hills- dale county. He attended the public schools of the county which furnished his only means of scholastic training. In the fall of 1883 he en- tered the office of the Reading Telephone to learn his trade as a printer, and passed through all the gradations of the business, learning all branches of it by practical experience, continuing his con- nection with that paper for a long time and serv- ing its interests in various capacities, and for five years as foreman. In the autumn of 1891, in con- nection with his father and brother, he founded the Reading Hustler, the first issue coming out on November 11 of that year. . He is still actively engaged in conducting the paper, and at the same time enters with interest and active support into every enterprise for the general advancment of the community in which he lives, and takes a serv- iceable part in its public life. He has served both as a member of the common council and as the village clerk, rendering efficient service in both positions and displaying enterprise and public spirit that were highly commendable. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and at this writing is the grand conductor of the order for the state. He also belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity. On January 1, 1886, he was married to Miss Abbie Sherman, a native of Bristol, Vt., daughter of O. A. and Martha (Downey) Sher- man, also Vermonters by birth, and still residents
of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have three children, Glenn S., Vetta and Ernest.
The enterprise with which the Rogers family, father and sons, has been prominently identified is the Reading Hustler ; and, as it is the expression of their individuality, and and index of the public and social life of the community in whch they have lived and labored, as well as their principal engine of usefulness in directing public sentiment and the agencies of the time for good, a short ac- count of its career is of interest and appropriate to mention in these pages. The Hustler came into being without ostentation or formal announce- ment, and in a field supposed by many already sufficiently supplied with its sort of inspiration. But the plan on which it was to be conducted gave its founders promise of good returns and an appreciative following that events have fully justified. The first issue came out on November II, 1891, with established rates for advertising, which have been steadily adhered to without de- viation, an earnest devotion to home enterprises of all kinds, which has been steadily maintained and intensified, a determination to give. all the news all the time, a strictly non-partisan attitude politically, which has been held without variation .or shadow of change, a spirit of liberal consider- ation for subscribers and patrons of every form, dealing with them on a strictly business basis and without fear or favor, and with an indomitable en- ergy behind it for business and work toward the loftiest ideals, which is properly indicated in its name.
It was a five-column quarto at first, having seven subscribers ; in four months' time it became a six-column quarto, with 1,000 subscribers. Two years and three months after the paper was estab- lished, and its frail barque was launched on the uncertain sea of local journalism, a committee of six representative business men counted its sub- scription list and certified to finding on it the names of 1,723 actual subscribers. Since that time this list has steadily grown, the advertising patronage has had a healthy increase, and the in- fluence of the paper in all the lines of life and use- fulness in the community has widened and deep- ened in a corresponding ratio, there being now no
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more highly esteemed, widely circulated within its scope, generally read, reliable index of public thought and inspiration, or a more potential stim- ulus to wholesome progress and development in southern Michigan. And there is every indica- tion that it will have expanding usefulness and augmenting power in the future.
PETER B. SEELEY.
Coming to Michigan in 1842, when he was but two years old, and being from that age reared to manhood on its soil and among its peo- ple, educated in its district schools and partak- ing in all respects of the spirit and sharing the aspirations of its citizens, Peter B. Seeley is a truly representative man of his section, and in his career of peaceful and productive industry he properly typifies the genius and the power of its energies and its resources. He was born in Ash- tabula county, Ohio, on March 23, 1840, and is the son and only surviving child of Curtis and Lorinda (Hills) Seeley. They were natives of Yates county, N. Y., where they were reared, educated and married, and where they settled down in life with the prospect of spending their days there as their forefathers had done for two or three generations before them. But in 1836, not many years after their marriage, they looked with favor on the farther West as a land of prom- ise for their enterprise, and moved to Ohio, set- tling on a farm in Ashtabula county, where they remained until 1842. They then took another flight westward, coming to Hillsdale county, in this state, and located on a farm of eighty acres, which they bought in Woodbridge township. It was new and entirely unimproved timber land and the conditions of life in the neighborhood seemed less favorable than in some parts of the county, so, two years later, they traded this farm for another one of equal size in the southern part of Camden township, which they improved and cultivated, living on it until death called them from their diligent earthly labors, the father dy- ing in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight, and the mother in 1901, aged eighty-six. Their offspring
numbered nine, all now deceased except their son, Peter.
He was sent to the district schools near his home when he was old enough and as regularly thereafter as the circumstances allowed, but, as his father was an invalid for many years prior to his death, the opportunities for attending school afforded to his sons were limited, and their education was the same. Peter remained at home and assisted on the farm until the beginning of the Civil War. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Co. K, Eleventh Michigan Infantry. He was on field and camp duty and in numerous engagements in his pre- liminary training, in due time getting to the heart of the great contest at the battle of Stone River where he received three wounds. One was from a minie ball which made an ugly cut along the right side of his head and took away a piece of his skull, as a result of which he was left on the field' as dead. Another wound was a shot through the right arm; the third was received from a piece of a shell from one of the guns of his own command, which wounded him serious- ly in the hip. While suffering from this triple disaster he was taken prisoner and conducted to Mobile, Ala., from whence he was soon after- ward transferred to Thunder Castle at Rich- mond, opposite Libby Prison. Forty days of anguish were passed in this confinment, during which his wounds received little attention. He was then paroled and taken to a hospital at An- napolis, Md., where he was as properly treated as the facilities permitted. On his recovery he rejoined his regiment and served to the end of his term of enlistment and three months longer ; but owing to a mistake in the records only received pay and credit for three years service.
After returning from the war he bought a farm of eighty acres in company with his fa- ther and engaged in farming. His.regiment was in very active service during the last years of his term of enlistment, being at the battle of Chicka- mauga and in all the engagements of the terrible campaigns following that to the siege of Atlan- ta. The ordeal through which he passed was awful. The strain of march and battle was con-
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tinuous, with danger ever present and with death always nigh. But when he settled down to sys- tematic labor on the farm he was face to face with another contest, one with Nature, which was also full of exactions and trying in the ex- treme. For the land which he had purchased was an unbroken forest of giant timber, against which the first weapon required was the ax, whose lusty strokes had to prepare the way for the plow. But as he had not quailed before the op- posing force of an opposing army, so Mr. Seeley entered the new contest with spirit, courage and confidence. By perseverance and systematic in- dustry he made his way to comfort and pros-
perity over the obstacles of the wilderness, as he had to victory through the ranks of the enemy in battle. He cleared his land, furnished it with good buildings, and in course of time had an 'excellent farm, whitening with the harvests and beautiful with the adornments of cultivated life. This he still owns but it is occupied and culti- vated by one of his sons.
On New Year's day, 1866, he married with Miss Jane Seely, a native of Hillsdale county, born in Camden township, and the daughter of Harvey and Margaret (Cough) Seely, who were born, reared and married in New York, and came to this county about the year 1844, settling on a farm west of Camden Center, being among the pioneers of that section. The father died in April, 1898, aged seventy-nine, in Camden town- ship, where his widow still lives, having accom- plished seventy-six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley have four children: Susie, the wife of John Robinett, of Huntington, Ind .; Arthur, a resident of Harbor Springs, Mich. ; Frank, living on the homestead ; and Elsie, who is still residing with her parents.
In political allegiance Mr. Seeley is a pro- nounced Republican with strong convictions as a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are charter mem- bers of the United Brethren church of Camden township, and are active in all its works of be- nevolence. Mr. Seeley is as much interested in the welfare of his country in peace as he was in war, and he has contributed the force of his in- spiring example and the benefit of his active ef-
forts in behalf of the advancement and improve- ment of the section in which he lives. He is held in high esteem as a useful citizen, and has a host of cordial and admiring friends. Two of his brothers were like himself gallant soldiers for the Union in the Civil War. James enlisted at the same time and in the same company with Peter, and after eighteen months service died in a hospital at Louisville. Gilbert enlisted in the fall of 1862 in Co. D, Twenty-seventh Michi- gan, and died in a hospital at Spottsylvania Courthouse, ten days after being wounded at the battle of the Wilderness.
JAMES LEONARDSON.
The late James Leonardson, of Jefferson town- ship, who was a resident of this part of the county for nearly sixty years, being long a prominent and forceful factor in its growth, development and government. departed this existence on Janu- ary 30. 1903, at the advanced age of about eigh- ty-six years, and was laid to rest amid scenes that were hallowed by his labors, with every testimon- ial of popular esteem and good will. The story of his life, if told in full, would be one of great interest, which would present to the thoughtful observer every element of dramatic action. The scope of this article and of this work allows only a mere narration of salient events, but, even in that brief form, the recital has incitement and the stimulus of a good and potential example. He was born on April 12, 1817, in Montgomery coun- ty, New York, the son of William and Polly (Flint) Leonardson, of the same nativity as him- self, descended from old Holland stock, planted in American soil during the Colonial period of our history. When James was six years old his mother died and six or seven years later his father also passed away, leaving his family of seven chil- dren wholly orphaned. Six of these grew to ma- turity and were married, one son later sealed nis devotion to his country's welfare with his life on one of the bloody fields of the Mexican War, and the others have died in peace at their respective homes.
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James Leonards on
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Left an orphan at the early age of twelve or thirteen years and being the oldest member of the family, James was obliged to begin at once the battle of life for himself and also for aid in the support of the others. He wrought with his hands at many crafts, making a good record in each as a diligent and skillful workman. In 1836 he resolved to tempt the smiles of fortune in what was then a western city, and made his way to To- ledo. A few years later he returned to his eastern home, where, on June 22, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Hilts. In September of the same year they came together to Michigan and purchased eighty acres of unbroken forest land in Jefferson township of this county, on which they settled, which they began to convert by their mutual industry into a home and reduce to systematic fruitfulness. The land yielded readily to their persuasive labor, soon beginning to repay them in good measure for their outlay of time and energy. They added to their domain from time to time, improving what they got, until they owned one of the best and most highly culti- vated farms in the township. Their golden wed- ding was celebrated in 1893 with something of pomp and splendor, with the cordial congratula- tions of their offspring and friends, on the farm on which they had passed practically the whole of their married life ; here, on November 2, 1894, the devoted wife and mother surrendered her trust and was laid away to rest. Of the three children who came to sanctify their domestic shrine, the only daughter died in infancy, and one son, War- ren D. Leonardson, died at the age of fifty-five years, leaving as the only survivor of their house- hold, their son, Sanford, who has more extended mention on another page of this work.
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