Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 59

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823-
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 598

USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich. > Part 59

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JOHN M. SHOUDY.

John M. Shoudy, one of the genuine old- timers of Kalamazoo township, this county, who has long passed the limit of human life as fixed by the sacred writer, like many more of the early settlers of southern Michigan, is a native of New York state, born in Albany county on March 8, 1817. His parents, Michael and Mary (Bark- ley) Shoudy, were also born there, and there they passed their lives. The father was a farmer

through life, a large landholder in his native county, a blacksmith and wagonmaker also, and a man of influence and high respectability. The grandfather, John Shoudy, was also a blacksmith and passed his life in Albany county, N. Y., on the farm near the city of Albany which his father, a native of Germany who came to this country with his parents seventeen years before the Revo- lution, took up at that time and on which all the family including the generation to which the sub- ject of this review belongs were reared. The farm comprised more than two hundred acres, and grew in value with the progress of the im- portant and prolific section in which it was located. Mr. Shoudy's grandfather saw service in the Revolution and aided in establishing the new government after it was over. John M. Shoudy, after leaving school, began life as a farmer in his native county and on the old family homestead. Some years later he removed to Onondaga county, in the same state, locating there in 1844, and purchasing a farm near Syra- cuse. He afterward acquired a large extent of real estate in that county and remained there until 1871, when he came to Michigan and took up his residence in this county, purchasing the old Smith farm of two hundred acres south of Kalamazoo, on which he has lived ever since. He was mar- ried on October 25, 1837, to Miss Maria Crary, a native of the same county as himself, born at the village of Knox in 1815. They had a family of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity and are now living : Mary and Elizabeth, twins, born in 1840, residents of Kalamazoo; Eveline, born in 1844, living at home; George, born in 1848, a prosperous farmer in Kalamazoo town- ship; Alice, born in 1851, now Mrs. Hawley, of New York state; and Hattie, born in 1857, and living at home. While always an ardent working Democrat in politics, Mr. Shoudy has never sought or desired public office. He and his wife have given liberally to the several churches in their neighborhood and have on all occasions taken an active part in their works of benevolence. Both are widely known throughout the county and are everywhere held in the highest esteem. Their lives in the community which is honored

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by their citizenship have flowed on in calm, full currents of active goodness and usefulness, ex- hibiting undoubting reliance .in the providence of God and unfailing faith in their fellow men, and now, when the shadows of age are closing around them, they may find their evening sky illumined with the radiance of their past services to their kind and the promise of lingering long in human recollection in the form of good examples which have never misled or failed to stimulate to greater exertion their fellow men and women.

REUBEN BARNEA.

The late Reuben Barnea, who died on the farm now occupied by his son Theodore, in sec- tion 5. Kalamazoo township, was a pioneer of this county, coming hither in June, 1844, and passing the remainder of his life on the farm which he then located. He was born in Ontario, N. Y., September 9, 1811, the son of Nicholas Barnca, a native of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer and the mother died when her son Reuben was a child. The father served in the war of 1812, and throughout his life enjoyed the respect and consideration of all who knew him. The son grew to manhood in his native state of New York, and after receiving a limited education in the common schools learned the trade of a car- penter, at which he worked in the east until 1844, when he came to Michigan, traveling by rail to Jackson and from there with teams to the farm of Benjamin Drake, Grand Prairie, where he stayed for a short time, then moving to James Forbes' house, and thence to the farm, January, 1846, the same house still being in use as a resi- dence. This he acquired by purchase and began to clear his land and make a home. During the half century of industry which he devoted to the improvement of the property he brought it to a good state of development and value, then handed it over, at his death on April 8, 1900, to his heirs to complete the work he had carried forward so successfully. He was married in New York state on December 9, 1830, to Miss Harriet Rich- ardson, and they had four sons and four daugh- ters, three of whom are living, all in Michigan.

The mother died November 12, 1872. Both were Baptists in church affiliation. Their youngest son, Theodore Barnea, who now lives on the homestead, was born there in 1848. He received a common-school education and all his life has been a farmer. He continued the improvement of the home farm and also cleared one in Wexford county of this state on which he lived eight years. He was married at Battle Creek, Mich., on Jan- uary 19, 1876, to Miss Carrie E. Lawrence, a native of New York. They have one child, their son Reuben M., who is living at home. In political allegiance Mr. Barnea is a Republican, but he has not at any time been an active partisan and has had no ambition for the honors or emolu- ments of public office. In fraternal life he is a Modern Woodman of America. As a quiet but progressive farmer lie is well known throughout the county and everywhere is esteemed as an excellent and useful citizen, upright in his deal- ings with his fellow men and following with constancy and carnestness a lofty ideal of citizen- ship. The condition of his farm, its advanced development and skillful cultivation, is a high tribute to his industry and ability, and the place he holds in public esteem gives proof that he has endeavored to live up to his ideal of manhood in all the relations of life.

THE KALAMAZOO RAILWAY SUPPLY COMPANY.

The railway interests in this country have grown to such enormous proportions and embrace in the sweep of their operations so wide and so various a combination of business, that it has become necessary for almost every branch of the industry to have its special sources of supplies in order that the work may be carried on with proper system. To meet one feature of this necessity the Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company was organized and is carried on with an increasing volume of trade and profit. The nucleus of the present company was formed in 1884 with a cap- ital stock of forty-five thousand dollars and under the name of the Kalamazoo Railroad, Velocipede & Car Company, the founders being George W.

C. B. HAYS.

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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Miller and Horace G. Haines. They conducted the business of that company until 1896, when Mr. Miller sold his interest in it to H. C. Reed, and a reorganization was had with Mr. Reed as president and Mr. Haines as secretary and general manager. The business was then carried on in the old factory on Pilcher street until 1903, when the present modern brick plant was erected, in addition to the improved machinery then installed. The factory is on the line of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, and is located admirably for its purposes. After. Mr. Reed's death in 1903, the company was again reorganized with F. H. Milham as president, H. H. Everhard as ,vice- president, Charles B. Hays as secretary and man- ager and H. P. Kauffer as treasurer. The com- pany manufactures hand and push cars, motor inspection cars, railroad velocipedes, jacks, tanks and fixtures, stand pipes, the Root scraper and similar products needed in railroad work. It also does a general jobbing business. Its products are sold all over the United States, in Europe, South America, Mexico and Africa, also in Canada. Mr. Hays, the secretary and general manager, is a na- tive of Kalamazoo, born in 1862, and was reared and educated in the city, attending the common schools, graduated at the high school and finish- ing with two years at the Baptist College and the Agricultural College. He has been one of the leading promoters of the industries located in the city, conspicuously forcible in organizing, financ- ing and building up many of the most useful and valued enterprises here. He organized the Bryant Paper Company, and was its secretary one year. He also secured the capital for the Superior and. the King Paper Companies, financed the C. B. Ford Planing Mill Company, placed the bonds for the Michigan Buggy Company, reorganized the Railway Supply Company and built its works, and has handled several of the most important and valuable additions to the city's extension, among them the Balch & Hays, the Balch & Thompson, the Scheid & Hays, and the Charles B. Hays additions. It was through him also that the South Side Improvement Company's addition was laid out, and the Hays Park plat, owned by that company, and Prospect park on the west

side. Fraternally he is a member of the order of Elks. He was married in 1889 to Miss Luella M. Phillips, a daughter of the late Colonel Delos Phillips, of this city. They have two daugh- ters and one son. Mr. and Mrs. Hays have always been allied with the Presbyterian church.

THE KALAMAZOO INTERIOR FINISH COMPANY.

This enterprising and progressive institution, the only one of its kind devoted to work of the character of its output in southern Michigan, is a stock company organized in December, 1895, with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars. The first officers were W. H. Shannon, president, W. F. Bixby, vice-president, and Louis Larsen, secretary, treasurer and general manager. In two years after the organization of the company the capital stock was doubled to meet the rapid in- crease of the business, and from time to time the officers have been changed. Those serving at present (1904) are Judge J. W. Adams, presi- dent, H. G. Dykehouse, of Grand Rapids, vice- president, W. C. Hoyt, secretary and treasurer, and Louis Larsen, manager. The company em- ploys fifty persons in making a line of first-class interior finishings and hardwood work, and also in conducting an extensive general lumbering business. Its products are sold generally in the Central and Eastern states. The business was started on Water street in a small factory now owned by the Paper Box Company, and by the end of the first year it had outgrown its modest home and the company then leased the old wash- board factory on the line of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Three years later this prop- erty was purchased by the company and it has since been extensively enlarged and improved in equipment until it is now a model plant in every respect and one of the best and most complete in the city. This company enjoys in a marked de- gree the confidence and admiration of the commu- 'nity, its directorate comprising some of the best known and most successful business men of the city, and its management being strictly energetic, vigorous and worthy of all regard. Mr. Larsen,

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the general manager, is a native of La Crosse, Wis., where he was reared and educated. He began business in the line in which he is now engaged in his native state in company with his father and remained there until 1895, then came to Michigan and located at Lansing. For some months he traveled in the interest of the Lansing Lumber Company, and in 1896 moved to Kala- mazoo and helped to organize the Interior Finish Company, with which he has since been connected continuously. It has been largely through his management of the affairs of the company that its business has expanded and its reputation has grown so great, as he is a thorough business man, quick in apprehension, energetic in action and wise in methods.

HENRY E. HOYT.

The late Henry E. Hoyt, who died in Kala- mazoo on February 9, 1900, at the good old age of seventy-two, came to the city in his boyhood and passed the greater part of his subsequent life among its people, connected actively and promi- nently with its business interests, its public af- fairs, its growth and development and its social life. He was born at Potsdam, N. Y., in Oc- tober, 1828, and was the son of the Rev. O. P. and Mary (Clark) Hoyt, who were born in Ver- mont. The father was the first Presbyterian cler- gyman stationed in Kalamazoo, where he died in 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. He passed his life in the Christian ministry and was much esteemed for his consistent piety, theological learning and pulpit eloquence. The son grew to manhood in Kalamazoo and received his educa- tion in its schools. He began his business career as a merchant in partnership with his brother,

The Hon. John M. Edwards was born at Northampton, Mass., June 22, 1820, of English ancestry, and from a distinguished family. His father was a farmer, and removed to Batavia, William C. Hoyt, at Hastings, this state, where . N. Y., when John M. was eight years old. he remained until 1856, then returned to Kala- mazoo and opened a clothing store which he con- ducted for a number of years. Afterward he en- gaged in the manufacture of staves and headings in Van Buren county for some time. He was always deeply interested in educational matters and served as secretary of the school board for a 'long time. Prior to this he was on the board

of supervisors. In political faith he was a firm and unyielding Democrat, being the leader of his party in the county during many years, although never seeking or accepting public office for him- self, his party allegiance being a matter of strong conviction with him and not at all dependent on political preferment. In the advocacy of all com- mendable undertakings for the welfare of the city or the advantage of its people he was in- sistent, influential and diligent, exhibiting breadth of view, good judgment and a high order of pub- lic spirit. He was married in Barry county, in 1850, to Miss Mary M. Lewis, whose father was a pioneer in that county and one of its best known and most valued citizens, being particularly prominent and active in the early history of the county. Mr. Hoyt lived to see the city of his choice grow from a straggling village, in which some Indians lived, to a great industrial and commercial center, bright with the light, fra- grant with the blossoms and rich in the fruits of the most advanced civilization and progress, the country around it, which he knew as a wilder- ness teeming with the products of skillful hus- bandry and beautiful with the happy homes of a great, progressive and resourceful population. He died on February 9, 1900, after having lived in this and nearby counties more than sixty years. He and his wife were the parents of three sons, of whom all are living, and are worthy fol- lowers of his excellent example.

HON. JOHN M. EDWARDS.

He received his elementary education there. where he remained until he was sixteen, when he commenced an academic course of study. He finished his studies in 1841, and entered the law office of Taggertt & Chandler, at Batavia. He was admitted to the bar in 1847. The following vear he removed to Kalamazoo, where he es- tablished a law practice, and won a reputation as

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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN. .

an able lawyer. His specialty in court was in conducting cases in equity. Although he held decided political views, he was not a politician, and never sought public office, but never shirked public duty when placed upon him. In 1850 he was appointed by President Fillmore receiver of public moneys at Kalamazoo. He served for a number of years as president of the board of edu- cation. Mr. Edwards married, on May 28, 1850, Miss Emma S. Knettles, of South Lansing, N. Y., daughter of Joseph Knettles, a native of Ger- many. They had two sons, William Dwight and Albert K. Edwards, both connected with the Edwards & Chamberlin Hardware Company of Kalamazoo. Mr. Edwards died on June 24, 1897, and is survived by his widow and two sons. Mr. Edwards was one of the most able lawyers of the state of Michigan, and was possessed of an un- usually clear and logical mind.

JOHN J. SALES.

This respected and valued citizen of Kala- mazoo, who has done. much to improve and beautify the city, and add to the comfort and convenience of its people, is a native of Lon- don, England, where he was born on February 9, 1841. His parents, John and Priscilla (Sut- ter) Sales, were also natives of that great city, and there the father passed his life and died. The mother died there in 1905, at the age of ninety- four. The father was a mason and plasterer, working especially in cement, and followed his craft in his native city from the time of begin- ning his apprenticeship. There were two sons and five daughters in the family, John J. being the only one of them living in the United States. After receiving a common-school education he learned his trade as a plasterer under the instruc- tion of his father, with whom he remained until he was nineteen years old, and later serving seven years' apprenticeship under a special craftsman in the trade. He worked as a journeyman in London until 1871, when he came to the United States and located at Kalamazoo. Here he found employment at the asylum for about five months, and was then offered ten dollars a day during the

week and twenty for Sunday to work on the Pal- mer House in Chicago, and was employed there at that compensation some six months. Then re- turning to Kalamazoo, he began making artificial · stone and laying cement sidewalks, being the first mechanic to do these things in the city. He has done a large amount of this work here and has been employed on many of the most important buildings besides, as well as on various other jobs requiring skill and special knowledge. For a number of years he owned and operated a farm near Twin Lakes in addition to his labor as a skilled mechanic. Before leaving England he was married to Miss Louesa Flavell, who died in 1872, leaving four children, James A., Thomas J., William A. and Louisa, all of whom are liv- ing in Kalamazoo. In 1903 Mr. Sales was mar- ried to Mrs. Lucy Palmer, a native of Battle Creek, Mich., and the daughter of W. T. Palmer, a pioneer of that city. He was an English soldier and part of the force detailed to guard Napoleon at St. Helena, passing three years in this service. He became a resident of Battle Creek in 1851 and died there about the year 1888. Mr. Sales has never taken an active part in political con- tests but he supports the Democratic party in national affairs. He has devoted his time and energies to his business and has made a very gratifying success of it. Desiring a change of scene and incident recently, he passed the winter of 1903-4 in California. He has lived in his present home twenty-five years, and is well known and highly respected throughout the city and the surrounding country.

AUGUSTUS J. RILEY.

Mr. Riley, who is one of the leading farmers of Climax township, this county, is a native of St. Joseph county, Mich., and was born on August 15, 1854. His parents were Samuel and Lucy A. (Dunham) Riley, natives of New York state. They were farmers and, coming to this state in an early day, located in St. Joseph county, where they were married January 8, 1846. The father died in this county on May 28, 1865. Two sons and a daughter were born in the family, all

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of whom are dead but the subject of this brief notice. The mother was twice married, first in New York state, in 1834, to Jason Clark, who came to St. Joseph county, Mich., and entered land near Mendon, that year, which he resided on until his death. September 8, 1844. They had six children, all dead but one daughter, Orphie, of Fulton. In 1873 the family moved to Wakeshma township. Kalamazoo county, where the mother died in 1889. Her son AAugustus J. grew to the age of twenty in St. Joseph county, attending school at Mendon and assisting his mother to sup- port the household. He accompanied her to this county and aided in clearing up the farm on which they located, and on which he lived until 1808. He then moved to Climax township, and since that time he has been a resident of that scc- tion of the county. In 1878 he was married, in this county, to Miss Sarah Stillwell, a native of the township in which they now reside. Iler father. Elias Stillwell, was one of the first voters in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have four children. Adelbert. Alena, wife of W. J. Smith. of Calhoun county, and Phebe A. and Kate, wno are living at home. Mr. Riley is, independent in politics and has never had a desire to enter actively into political contests or hold public office. Fraternally he belongs to the order of Odd Fel- lows, and his church affiliation is with the Metho- dists. Now among the oldest settlers of the county, he can view with pleasure it's great and gratifying development to which he has essentially contributed.

DR. NELSON C. BROWN.

province of Ontario, Canada, where he bought a tract of three hundred and fifty acres of timber land, which he partially cleared and improved. and on which he and his wife passed the re- mainder of their lives, his ending in the '50s and hers in 1885. They had seven sons and six daugh- ters, two of the latter being adopted by them. Of the whole family of children, three sons and two (laughters are living. The parents were of English and Irish ancestry. The Doctor grew to manhood in Canada and began his education in the schools of that country. He entered Harvard University in 1860 and passed three years in that institution. He was then engaged for a number of years in the lumber trade in Michigan and Minnesota, operating a shingle and lumber mill. Some time before this he had begun reading medicine, and in 1873 he entered the medical de- partment of the University of Illinois at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1878. The same year he came to this county to live, and bought the farm on which he still resides. It was in the midst of a wilderness when he located on it, and from that condition he has brought it to its present state of development and improvement. Meanwhile he practiced his profession whenever his services were needed, and in this beneficent work he secured a large body of patrons. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Effie L. Winters, a native of Calhoun county, this state. They have nine children: Morna M., wife of Frank Radford; Dewey N .: Mabel L., wife of IV. A. Carr, of Battle Creek ; Clark B., Harvey D., Ward R., Mattie E., Verna N. and Frank W. While always taking an active and serviceable

For more than forty years this leading pro- , interest in the affairs of his township and county. fessional and business man and farmer of Wa- the Doctor has never been energetic in political contests and never sought or desired a political office. He and his wife are zealous members of the Congregational church, and he is an earnest worker in its Sunday school interests. Having passed his meridian of life in usefulness and fruit- ful service to his kind and his section of the coun- try, he is now calmly approaching its evening shades in the full enjoyment of the esteem and good will of his fellow men, and amid the pleasant surroundings he has done so much to create. keshma township. this county, has been connected with the industrial and commercial life of Mich- igan, and since 1878 has been a resident of the county, living on the farm which he now owns and occupies. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y., on May 15, 1843, and is the son of Wil- liam and Eleanor (Clark) Brown, who were born and reared in New York city, the former an ex- tensive stock-raiser and dealer. In 1852 he moved to what is now the county of Perth, in the

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JOHN W. HOWARD.

This esteemed citizen and successful farmer, who is now living retired after a long life of in- dustry and usefulness, was one of the first-born sons of the soil in this county, coming into the world in Climax township, where he now lives, on January 2, 1840, the place of his birth being one mile south of the village of Climax. He has a full right to be called a pioneer, as he was born and reared amid the wild and arduous conditions of frontier life, and witnessed well-nigh the be- ginning of civilization in his locality. His parents, Henry H. and Subrena C. (Cassar) Howard, were natives of the state of New York, the for- mer born in Orleans and the latter in Cayuga county. The father was a farmer, coming to this state when he was but sixteen years of age, mak- ing the journey by way of the Erie canal to Buf- falo and from there to Detroit by steamer. From Detroit he traveled by team to Climax Prairie. For some years after his arrival in the new region he worked by the month for other persons, then, in 1856, bought a farm which he cleared up and lived on until his death, in March, 1897. The mother passed away in 1847. They had two sons and one daughter, of whom John W. and his sister are living. Sometime after the death of his first wife the father married again, his second wife being Miss Catherine Spicer. They had six children, all living, as is also their mother. The father was an active Democrat, devoted to the welfare of his party, but never allowed the use of his name as a candidate for office. He was also a leader in the Methodist Episcopal church. Their son John obtained his education in the first school- house occupied in the township. He started in life for himself at the age of sixteen and worked by the month some years. He then rented a farm, which he worked until 1882, when he bought the one he now owns, which is one of the best in the township. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary Wolcott, a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Camp- bell) Wolcott, the former born in the state of New York and the latter in county Down, Ire- land. Mrs. Howard's father and grandfather were among the first settlers of Climax township,

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Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 59

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823- Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 598

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823-
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 598