USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich. > Part 26
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ing at Detroit penniless. From there he walked the whole distance to the home of his uncle, Abram I. Shaver, on Prairie Ronde. He re- mained with his uncle and worked in his employ four years, and for a number thereafter worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1840 he was united in marriage with Miss Sabra Anton, of Mendon, St. Joseph county, who was born near Utica, N. Y., on February 25, 1820. Her parents were natives of Oneida county, N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1837. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Alexander settled on a place which he had previously purchased and which was their home during the rest of their lives. His first purchase of land, however, was made in 1834. Six children were born in the family, only one of whom is living, Luce T., whose life began on the home farm on March 17, 1856. Mr. Alexander was emphatically 2 self-made man. His whole life was ordered on the belief that there is no royal road to success, but that wealth and position are the results of individual effort. He occupied an enviable po- sition in his community and filled many offices of trust to the satisfaction of the people. He was a Republican in politics, a man of high character and persevering in whatever he undertook. in public and private life, and always industrious. He passed away in April. 1901.
JOHN VANDEWALKER.
Nothing in the history of the American peo- ple is more remarkable, or more indicative of their real character, than the lofty courage, stern endurance, unflagging industry and readiness for every requirement, shown by the pioneers, or early settlers, in all parts of our land. No toil deterred, no danger daunted, no hardship dis- mayed them. With unyielding will they pressed their way over every obstacle, often challenging fate herself into the lists, and meeting her on al- most equal terms. To this fast fading race be- longs the interesting subject of this memoir, who is one of the few pioneers of Kalamazoo county left yet among the living. He came to this state when almost the whole of it was new and uncul-
tivated and promptly took his place in the army of occupation and conquest that was to redeem it from the wilderness and make it fragrant with the flowers and fruitful with the products of cul- tivated life-that was to evoke its stores of hid- den wealth, transform its wild growths into comely and valuable commodities and send into the channels of trade its bounteous resources for the sustenance and comfort of man. Mr. Vande- walker was born at Preble, Courtland county, N. Y., on October IT, 1823, and is the son of Wil- liam and Betsey (Bouck) Vandewalker, then- selves natives of New York, where the father was a well-to-do farmer, and from whence he came to this state in 1838. Here he lived until his death. At the time of his arrival in the territory wild game was everywhere plentiful and he found profitable and congenial occupation as a hunter and trapper for many years. He had a family of six sons and three daughters, all now deceased except his son John. The grandfather, Martin Vandewalker, was a soldier in the Revolution and one of Washington's guards. He saw much ac- tive service in the war, but lived long after it to witness and enjoy the prosperous beginning of the history of the country he had fought to free, and died at a good old age in the state of New York. The maternal grandfather Bouck was also a Revolutionary soldier, and was three times taken prisoner by the British, but made his es- cape each time. John Vandewalker reached man's estate in New York, and received a limited edu- cation in its public schools. His mother died when he was a child, and at an early age he was obliged to support himself. In 1842 he came to Michigan, traveling by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Detroit, from there to Jackson by rail, whence he came to Kal- amazoo by stage, arriving in that city on October 4. 1842. He found employment with his brother on his farm, and two years later he bought a tract of land for himself in Richmond township. of which twenty acres were cleared. He cleared the rest. and since then he has bought and cleared two other farms. During the last twenty years he has lived quietly in Kalamazoo retired from active pursuits, and enjoying the fruits of his
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long and faithful industry. He has been mar- ried three times, the first marriage occurring in 1849, when he was united with Miss Sallie Dailey, a native of New York, daughter of Gar- rett Dailey, who was a pioneer in this county. They had two children, their son Eugene, who died at the age of twenty, and their daughter Alta C., who is now the wife of H. H. Everhardt. Their mother died in 1879, and the father mar- ried, in 1885, Miss Angie M. Case, who died in 1891. On November 15, 1898, he consummated his third marriage, being united on this occasion with Mrs. Sarah Spaulding, widow of B. W. Spaulding. Her maiden name was Hamilton, and she is the daughter of Uriah and Mary (Jenkins) Hamilton, natives of New York. She has one son by her former marriage. Mr. Vandewalker is a Democrat in political affiliation, but he has never sought or held public office or taken an ac- tive interest in politics. He is a stockholder in the Kalamazoo National Bank. Now past four score years of age, he is passing the evening of life in that serene and quiet harbor wherein the storms break not or are felt, but in the gentle undulations of the unrippled and mirroring wa- ters, a cheerful, a hale, a contented old age, re- spected by all who know him for his sterling worth and the valuable service he has rendered in developing the resources and building up the wealth, power and moral greatness of the state of his adoption. Mrs. Vandewalker's parents come to this county in 1834 from New York state and settled in Ypsilanti township, where they cleared up a farm and died there. Mrs. Vande- walker and one brother, Monroe M., are still living.
HENRY MONTAGUE.
For a period of nearly seventy years this honored pioneer has been a resident of Michigan and for about sixty-seven has lived in this county. His advent here was almost contemporary with the dawn of civilization in this section, and he has been able to witness the growth of a great commonwealth from its infancy to its present stature and power, and to aid materially in the process, being one of the few remaining links
of human life which connect the wilderness of the past with the advanced state of progress and development of the present, combining in his own person and memory the dawning hopes of an early age for the far future and the accomplished results and status of a triumphant and glorious present. Mr. Montague was born at Hadley, Mass., on July 30, 1813, and belongs to an old colonial family which settled there in 1659, he representing the fifth generation born in the house in which his life began. His parents were Stephen and Grace G. (White) Montague. The father was a farmer who passed the whole of his life in his native state and on the family home- stead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 with the rank of sergeant, but his company was not called into active field service owing to the short- ness of war. The son, Henry Montague, re- mained at home until he reached the age of twenty-two, receiving a limited education in the town schools and acquiring on the farm of his fa- ther the habits of industry and thrift which have distinguished him through life. In 1835 he came to Michigan, then the far western frontier of this country, and located in Washtenaw county where he lived two years. At the end of that period he moved to Kalamazoo county, purchasing a tract of wild land on Grand Prairie which he cultivated and improved and on which he lived until 1859. During his residence in Washtenaw county he was engaged in the manufacture of brooms, but did not continue this industry long after settling on his farm, its exactions requiring all of his time and energies. Being elected trustee and on the building committee for the erection of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, he put up the two principal buildings of the institution, serving on the committee until 1859, when he was made steward, a position he filled until October, 1884. He then resigned and retired from active pur- suits, and he has since lived in the quiet enjoy- ment of his estate, his friendships and his pride in the state and county he helped to build. In October, 1836, he was married at Webster, Mich., to Miss Abigail Kingsley, a native of Brighton, Mass. They had a family of twelve children, all of whom are now deceased but four : Calvin
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S., a resident of Washington, D. C., who served throughout the Civil war, being in the army nearly five years and coming out as a lieutenant colonel: Mary J., wife of William A. Dion, of Kalamazoo : Helen C., living at home, and Henry E., a prominent business man of Chicago. Their mother died on April 3. 1898. . Mr. Montague belonged at the dawn of his manhood to the Lib- erty party and cast his first vote in 1844 for the candidates of that party, in whose behalf he also stumped the county. He aided in organizing the Republican party in 1854, at Jackson, this state, and since then has been a faithful adherent of that organization. As its candidate he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1854. serving that winter and in 1855. In 1837 he joined the Congregational church, and in 1838 he and his wife organized the first Sunday school on Grand Prairie, holding the services in their little log house. The school is still in progress. but has found a more commodious and ambitious home ; yet it is doubtful if its spirit of enterprise and devotion has increased in proportion as its prosperity has advanced, or could surpass that which pervaded it in its infancy. Mr. Montague also founded the first county society, which is still in vigorous life. It was started in 1855, and he was chairman of its executive committee five years. He is now past ninety-one years old, hav- ing lived much longer than most men do, and his life has been crowded with useful labor to his kind. Full of years, he is also venerable with honor and affectionate regard among his fellow men and has to his credit the record of a well spent life. As early as 1833 Mr. Montague be- came an advocate of the cause of abolition and after coming to Michigan was an active worker in the interests of that cause, making numerous speeches throughout this and adjoining counties, his home being a station on the "underground railway" which then existed. He can relate many exciting tales of the escape and pursuit of slaves making their escape to Canada and free- dom, having as many as five in his home at one time. In 1852 he was elected delegate to the national convention of the Liberal party held at Pittsburg, Pa.
CHARLES A. PECK.
Although he entered the world of finance and commercial and industrial effort in a humble ca- pacity, it may be said of Charles A. Peck that he was "born to the purple" in these lines. His father was a banker and was also connected with a number of manufacturing enterprises in Kala- mazoo city and county ; and his older brother, Horace B. Peck, was then engaged in the same pursuits in a leading way. The interesting story of both careers is written elsewhere in this vol- inInc. Charles A. Peck, the third son of Hon. Horace M. Peck and his wife, Emilia (Barnes) Peck, was born at Richland, Kalamazoo county, on December 23. 1852. He was educated at the public schools, Prairie Academy at Richland and the Kalamazoo high school. After leaving school he entered the City Bank of Kalamazoo as mes- senger boy, and from that humble position he rose gradually on merit to the post of cashier and later to that of vice-president of the City National Bank, the successor of the old City Bank in which he started the career which has so gratified his friends and been of such signal service to the business circles of the city and county. Ile is also a stockholder in the Kalamazoo Savings Bank and the Michigan National Bank: and not confining his attention and energies wholly to banking institutions, is treasurer of the Bardeen Paper Company, with interests in other paper mills : treasurer of the Globe Casket Company : stockholder in the Kalamazoo Gas Company, and stockholder and president of the Star Brass Works and the Puritan Corset Company. In ad- dition to these various interests, to cach of which he gives his personal attention and in each of which is felt the force of his quickening mind and firm hand, he owns considerable real estate in the city and county, besides lands in Red river valley in North Dakota. It will be seen that he has enough in the way of business to engage all his time and faculties, yet such is his business ca- pacity and so great is his facility for the dispatch of important matters, as well as small details, that he finds opportunity to give stimulus and inspira - tion to the social life of the community and aid
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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in directing its political affairs as an ardent Re- publican. On the 22d day of January, 1879, Mr. Peck united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Hall, a daughter of Judge Cyrus L. Hall, formerly a judge at Hudson, Wis., but now in the govern- ment service at Washington, D. C. They have one child, their daughter Dorothy. In the fra- ternal activities of the city Mr. Peck takes an ac- tive interest as a member of the order of Elks.
HON. HORACE M. PECK.
The late Hon. Horace M. Peck, of Kalamazoo, whose death, on the 28th of April, 1894, although it came to him in the fullness of years and after a long career of unusual merit and usefulness, was felt to be a general loss to the community in which he had so long lived and labored for the promotion of every commendable enterprise, was one of the honored pioneers of the county, and was connected, from an early time in its history, with every phase of its industrial, commercial, intellectual and moral growth. He was born at Watertown, Conn., in 1814, the son of Benjamin M. and Salina (Atwood) Peck, both natives of that state also. His father was a farmer on a well improved farm of his own about one-half a mile from the town .. Here he resided and man- aged the interests of the farm, but he was largely engaged in making investments in stocks and bonds for himself and others. He was an active worker in the Presbyterian church and was well and widely known as Deacon Peck. He stood high in his community and was influential in its public life. He and his wife died in their native state at good old ages. Their son Horace grew to manhood near his birthplace and was educated in its schools. His first independent venture in life was as a commercial traveler representing the Seth Thomas Clock Company, in whose in- terest he traveled a number of years through the southern states. In 1838 he came to Michigan, and while passing through Richland in Kalama- zoo county he learned of a desirable tract of two hundred acres of prairie land which was about to be sold under execution, and being pleased with it he became its purchaser. It was still in the possession of his heirs until sold in March, 1905. He at once became a speculator in western
lands, renting this tract to a tenant and purchas- ing large tracts of wild domain in Wisconsin and Iowa. These he later exchanged for im- proved property in this county and became in the course of a few years its most extensive owner of farms. His interests in lands were very con- siderable, but his energy did not stop with caring for them. Desiring to aid the farmers of the county to increase and improve their live stock, he bought large numbers of sheep which he placed with them on shares, and so the farmers were able to get in a short time good flocks of their own without tying up any capital for the purpose. Mr. Peck continued to reside at Rich- mond until 1868, when he removed to Kalamazoo and became associated with Col. F. W. Curtenius, Charles A. Hull and C. S. Dayton in the banking business, they together founding the Kalamazoo Savings Bank, of which he became vice-president, although it was not an incorporated institution but only a partnership business. This bank later was reorganized into the City Bank and still later into the City National Bank, and Mr. Peck re- mained vice-president through all changes until a few years before his death. His broad and ac- tive mind could not, however, rest with one enter -. prise as its only care. He was connected in a leading way with a number of industrial and commercial enterprises in addition to this, and gave them all close and serviceable attention. .All public interests of the county and city, all political activities of the state and country, all elements of growth and progress for the people secured his intelligent and helpful consideration, and he was long recognized as one of the leading citizens of the county in which he lived. On July 4, 1837, he was married to Miss Emilia Barnes, the daughter of Tillotson Barnes, one of the most esteemed pioneers of this county, who came here at a very early day and built the first grist mill in Michigan, it being located at York- ville, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Peck had six children, five of whom are living : Mrs. Susan C. Campbell, of Ann Arbor ; Horace B., late of Kala- mazoo (see sketch) ; Mrs. Frances P. Burrows, wife of United States Senator Burrows, of Kala- mazoo; Herbert N., of Minneapolis ; and Charles A., of Kalamazoo (see sketch).
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HORACE B. PECK .- This, the eldest son of Hon. Horace M. Peck, of the aforegoing sketch, was born at Yorkville, this county, on July 20, 1841, and received his education at the district schools near his home. At the age of sixteen he entered the banking house of T. P. Sheldon, of Kalamazoo, with whom he remained until June. 1868. Then, in company with August S. But- ler, he organized the banking firm of Butler & Peck, of Allegan, which later became the Allegan City Bank, of which Mr. Peck and his father owned the greater part of the stock. Mr. Peck continued in control of this bank until 1884, since which time he gave his entire attention to his large interests in other lines of business, he be- ing president of several lumber companies in northern Michigan and Wisconsin and a director of the Berwick Lumber Company, of New Or- leans. La., which does an immense business in cypress lumber in the south. Politically Mr. Peck was a Democrat and served as a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1884 which nominated Mr. Cleveland for the presidency the first time. He also served as mayor of Allegan while he was living in that city. He was married in 1870 to Miss Helen E. Parkhurst, a native of Vermont. To them were born two children, their daughters, Mrs. F. E. Wadsworth, of Detroit, and Mrs. A. B. Connable, of Kalamazoo. Fraternally Mr. Peck belonged to the Knights of Honor, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. In all the rela- tions of life he lived acceptably to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. In business circles he stood at the top, in political councils he had commanding influence, in social life he was warmly welcomed into the best companies, and in fraternal bodies to which he belonged he was always enthusiastically received. There can be no higher tribute to a man's worth as a citizen than to be generally esteemed, and this is the tribute manifest in the case of Mr. Peck. He died June 14, 1903.
EMANUEL C. HENIKA.
Coming to Michigan at the dawn of his young manhood in 1850, and from that time until near his death, in December, 1903, mingling with the
stirring activities of the state and the useful in- dustries of its people, the late Emanuel C. Henika, of Ross township, this county, had good oppor- tunities for useful citizenship here and he im- proved them to good advantage for himself and greatly to the benefit of the section in which he lived, becoming one of the best known, most progressive and prosperous farmers in his town- ship and one of its leading citizens. He was born near the city of Canandaigua, New York, on February 14, 1830. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Stahl) Henika, were also natives of the state of New York, and prospered there as farmers for many years. In 1850 they moved to Michigan and located at Battle Creek. The trip from their old to their new home was made with teams, and the incidents of the long and tedious journey, all of them interesting and some romantic or thrilling, were deeply impressed on the mind of their children, two sons and two daughters. After living a year at Battle Creek, they bought a farm near that town, and on it a few years later the mother died. The father in time married again and once more became a resident of Battle Creek, where he died. All the children are also now dead but one son, Henry Henika, who lives at Grand Rapids. Emanuel grew to manhood in his native state, receiving his education in its com- mon schools, and working on the parental farm until it was sold and the family came west. He accompanied them to this state and remained with his parents five years after their arrival here. But soon after he came he bought a partially improved farm in Ross township, this county, and when he left his parents he purchased a home in the village of Augusta and worked his farm from there. He gave himself wholly to its develop- ment and improvement, and in the course of a few years he had it raised to a high degree of productiveness and well provided with good buildings and other farm necessities. In 1851 he united in marriage with Miss Susan Lavar, a daughter of John W. and Maria (Graham) La- var, natives of Tompkins county, N. Y., who came to Michigan in 1834 and entered land in Ross township, this county, which they improved, and for many years worked vigorously. Both
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died in Augusta, highly respected and deeply mourned. Mr. and Mrs. Henika had two children, one of whom died in infancy. Their daughter, Frances Nina, is now the wife of Claude Doyle, an esteemed citizen of Augusta. Mrs. Henika is still living at the old home and has the active management of the farm. She is a lady of busi- ness capacity and great enterprise, and the in- terests under her control do not fail of their full measure of usefulness and profit in her hands. The farm is now known as the Henika fruit farm, and is devoted to the culture of fruits of all kinds.
JAMES R. COMINGS.
Except the human mind itself there is noth- ing on this earth more interesting than its works. If we consider the department of mechanical skill alone we are amazed at the wonderful achieve- ments of this proteus. Its power to plan and con- summate, to confront and conquer difficulties, to devise means to ends and operate them, to lay every substance and condition under tribute to its wants and make all subservient to its will, its overmastering supremacy in all forms of indus- trial potency and every phase of human need or desire, are manifestations of sublime and immeas- urable power and resourcefulness. The conquest of man over nature is an inspiring theme from any point of view that we may take. What is any city but an aggregation of incongruous materials which have obeyed his will? The granite was reluctant, but his hands were stronger, and it came. Iron was deep in the ground, and well combined with stone; but it could not hide from his fires. Wood, lime, stuffs, fruits, gums and other materials were dispersed over the earth and sea, in vain. Here they are, within reach of every man's day labor,-what he wants of them. And the work of the pioneers of civilization-the forest conquerors, before whose lusty strokes and sharp blades, the century-crowned wood-mon- archs, rank after rank, have come crashing to the earth-what triumph of armies and navies can surpass this in majesty, in greatness of conquest, or in true glory ? To this fast-fading army of ax- men belonged the interesting subject of this
sketch, now the oldest living settler in Comstock township, and one of its most revered citizens. He with others of his class strode boldly into the wilderness with their lives in their hands, chal- lenging to combat all its dangers, daring all its difficulties, and willingly embracing in a death struggle all its toil and hardships. Mr. Comings was born in Washington county, Vt., on September 20, 1817, and is the son of Sherman and Betsey (Smart) Comings, the former a na- tive of New Hampshire and the latter of Vermont. The father, with his wife and seven children, came to Kalamazoo county in 1830, arriving on December 3, and in seven days built a log house for shelter on the land he selected as his future home. In this rude structure a buffalo robe formed the door, and straw was stuffed between logs to keep out the cold of the most severe win- ter in the history of the state. The dimensions were eighteen by twenty feet, and in this cramped space the whole family of twelve persons passed the winter. The following summer a crop of wheat was raised and sold at ten shillings a bushel, and gradually the land was brought under cultivation and a better dwelling and other build- ings were provided. James R. was in his four- teenth year when the removal took place, and he took his part in the work of clearing the place and supporting the family, remaining at home until his marriage in January, 1840, with Miss Lucy J. Kingsley, a native of New York. He still has in his possession the tin grater with which the family used to make meal of the corn for Johnny-cakes, almost the only food they had for a whole season. Flowerfield, some fifteen miles distant, was the nearest point for milling and blacksmithing, and Detroit, between eighty and ninety miles away, the nearest postoffice and depot for groceries and other supplies. The pres- ent condition of the farm, with its two hundred and twenty acres of highly cultivated land and its beautiful large brick residence and other first- class buildings, fences and other improvements, making it one of the most attractive homesteads in the county, suggests nothing of the dreariness and suffering of its first occupancy, or the un- remitting toil expended upon it. By his first mar-
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