Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 74

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 74

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

stock breeders of the Middle West. Mr. Kirby was born at Crescent, Saratoga county, N. Y., on November 25, 1857, and is the son of William G. and Rhoda (Swetland) Kirby, a sketch of whom is to be seen elsewhere in this work. He was nine months old when his parents moved from their New York home to Kalamazoo county in 1858, and the whole of his subsequent life has been passed in the county. He received a good common and high school education, and remained with his parents until he reached his thirty-sec- ond year, assisting in the management of the home farm after leaving school. In 1876 Mr. Kirby was united in marriage to Miss Alice Wightman, daughter of Dr. George R. and Mary (Crandall) Wightman, and to them have been born the following children: William G. will fin- ish a course in science in June, 1906, at the Uni- versity of Michigan ; Dr. George W. graduated from the Rush Medical College and is now en- gaged in the practice of his profession at Mill- ersburg, Ind .; Harold E., who graduated from the University of Michigan and the Michigan State Normal School, is superintendent of man- ual training at the Kearney Military Academy, Kearney, Neb .; Miss Nina is still at home with her parents. In 1890 he began raising stock there, having at the head of his stables the cele- brated horse "Harry Noble," which he reared from a colt, and which made a record in 1890 of 2:1712. Afterward he owned "Apollo Wilkes," 2 :1914, "Emma Balch," 2:201/4, and "Albatross," 2:16. He has trained and given records to one hundred and fourteen horses from 2:1034 to 2:30, twenty of them in the 2:20 list, one of them, "Glenwood," making a mark of 2:1034. The farm comprises eighty acres and is devoted wholly to breeding horses. It is equipped with excellent buildings and other conveniences for the business, and contains one of the finest half- mile tracks in this part of the state. In addition to the attention given to his own output, Mr. Kir- by's talents are called into requisition as a trainer of horses from all over the country, his renown as a trainer being national in its scope. He is a man of great industry in this labor of love, usually driving in his work sixty to seventy miles a day.

540

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

For a number of years he was also engaged in shipping sheep extensively to Eastern markets, handling an average of several thousand a year, but of late he has devoted himself exclusively to raising and training horses, and he has the dis- tinction of having trained more good horses of the first class than any other man in the state. He has a grand stand of ample proportions at his track, and the annual races and meeting there are events of unusual interest in this section, ex- citing the widest and most enthusiastic attention and bringing together thousands of the people who are devoted to the sport and the improve- ment of the live stock of the county, Mr. Kirby is a self-made man essentially, and having found early in life his true field of enterprise, he has cul- tivated it with the ardor of a devotee and the sys- tematic industry of an excellent business man, winning wide reputation for his skill and profit- able returns from his business acumen and ex- cellent management. He is genial and cordial in manner and disposition and enjoys an extensive and enduring popularity.

JONAS SCRAMLIN.

Jonas Scramlin, one of the esteemed pioneers of Climax township, this county, whose useful life ended in February, 1896, was a native of near Otsego, N. Y., born on July 6. 1823. He was the son of Henry and Nancy ( Hess) Scramlin, who were of Holland ancestry and probably born in Holland. They were farmers and came from their New York home to Kalamazoo county in 1836, bringing their family. The father died of consumption the next fall, and the widow and her three children remained on the land the fa- ther had purchased just east of Climax. This land Mr. Scramlin and his brothers began early in life to clear, and at the same time aided in sup- porting the family. Soon afterward the mother married again and returned to New York, where she died, but her remains were buried in this county. Jonas Scramlin grew to manhood on the farm and passed the greater part of his life on it. He assisted in breaking up much of the land surrounding it, improved his patrimony to

good advantage, and lived to see the county well developed and highly progressive. He was mar- ried in 1847 to Miss Olive Hunt, a native of Ver- mont. Her early life was passed in the state of New York, where her father died when she was but a child. At the age of nine she came to Mich- igan, and here she lived with an older sister, Mrs. Alfred Eldred, until her marriage. Of her nine children seven are living, Wilbur, Wal- ter, Melvin, Frank, Nancy E., Flora and Lilly A. Their father was a Republican, but never sought or filled office. He was a successful farm- er and prosperous money lender. His widow is living at her pleasant home in Climax.

LEWIS H. ODELL.

Mr. Odell, who has the distinction of being the most extensive landholder of Wakeshma township, this county, owning more than a sec- tion of its best land, is a native of Michigan, born in Cass county on September 3. 1848. His parents, Josiah and Elizabeth (White) Odell. were natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer and came to this state at a very early day. Soon afterward he enlisted for the Black Hawk war, and his regiment got as far as Chicago, where it was disbanded, the war having been ended. La- ter he moved to Iowa and operated a saw mill near Cedar Rapids, a business he followed also in Michigan, being a sawyer by trade. In 1861 he returned to Ohio and enlisted in the Sixty-second Ohio Infantry for the Civil war, and in 1864 he died from exposure in the service. He was a Republican in politics and attended the Presby- terian church, of which his wife was an earnest and zealous member. She died in 1856. They had two children, their son Lewis H. and their daughter Sarah E., the latter dying in infancy. The Odells are of Scotch origin and members of the family settled early in this country. The great-grandfather of Lewis was a soldier on the American side in the Revolution, and his son was a major in the United States army in the war of 1812. He was born in Kentucky but moved to Michigan while it was yet a territory, and was one of the leading spirits in having it ad-

54I

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

mitted to the Union as a state. He was a farmer and saw mill owner, operating on an extensive scale, and accumulated a large fortune. Lewis H. Odell was reared to manhood near Cedar Rapids, Linn county, Iowa, and educated at the public schools. His boyhood and youth were passed in the home of his uncle, John White, with whom he remained until he reached the age of twenty-five years, when he began farming on his own account, following the industry in Iowa until 1903. He then disposed of his farm of over four hundred acres in that state and came to this county, purchasing the George W. Clepfell farm of seven hundred and twenty acres in Wakeshma township, which made him the largest landowner in the township. This farm he has since im- proved in every way, building good fences, put- ting up a fine modern dwelling, and making his place one of the most complete and desirable country homes in the county. Mr. Odell was first married in Iowa in 1886 to Mrs. Helen Din- niny, a native of Indiana; and again in this county in 1904 to Mrs. Polly J. DeKalb. born Polly Reed, a daughter of Harry Reed, a pioneer of Calhoun county, Mich., locating there when a boy with his father. The family were among the most respected people in that county. While living in Iowa Mr. Odell took an active and prominent part in politics, serving in a number of local offices ; and he was a leading member of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Vernon, Linn county. In Michigan he has been serviceably connected in every commendable way with the improvement and development of his township and county, and enjoys a marked degree of es- teem on all sides for his progressive spirit and upright manhood.

MELVIN SCRAMLIN.

This well known farmer of Charleston town- ship, and esteemed ex-supervisor of the township, is a native of Kalamazoo county, born on a farm in Climax township on April 5, 1863. His par- ents, Jonas and Olive (Hunt) Scramlin, were natives of the state of New York, the father being born near Otsego, that state, in 1823. He was a

son of Henry Scramlin, a well-to-do farmer who died in New York, but his remains were buried in this county. Through researches made recent- ly, it is learned that Henry and Nancy (Hess) Scramlin came from Holland in company with two old bachelor brothers of Henry and the Roosevelts, and settled in the Mohawk valley, New York state. At that time the family name was spelled Schrambling, but later generations have shortened it to its present form. Jonas Scramlin remained in New York state until he reached the age of thirteen, then with his mother and the rest of the children, came to Michigan in a train embracing a number of other families, making the entire trip with teams, camping out at night and following the trails in a laborious and wearying journey to their destination. On their arrival they located on government land just east of the village of Climax and did most of their own clearing and broke up large areas of ground for other people. Mr. Scramlin im- proved his farm, building the improvements him- self, and resided on it until within a few years of his death, when he moved to Climax, where he died in February, 1896. In 1847 he was married to Miss Olive Hunt, a native of Vermont, and daughter of David and Nancy (Brown) Hunt. They became the parents of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are living but two. Those living are Nancy E., wife of G. Lynn, of Climax ; Lilly, wife of B. Roof, of Galesburg; Wilbur F., of Climax : Flora, wife of Herbert Pierce, of Cli- max: David W., of Battle Creek; Melvin, and Frank, who lives on the old homestead. The mother is living at Climax. The father was a Whig and later a Republican, but he never filled or sought public office. He was widely known throughout the county and highly respected. His son Melvin was reared in this county and edu- cated in the public schools. For five years he was engaged in merchandising in partnership with L. T. Clark, the firm name being Clark & Scramlin, and the seat of the enterprise at Climax. . Since the end of that period he has followed farming in Charleston township, and is also interested in timber lands in Louisiana. He was married in Erie county, N. Y., in 1884 to Miss Louise Spar-

542

BIOGRA

ling. They have one child, their daughter L., who is living at home. The mother March, 1887, and in 1889 the father Miss Luella A. Darling, of Ashtabula Ohio. They have two sons, Henry W. a D. Mrs. Scramlin's parents are Oliver a beth Darling, and are living in Ashtabul Ohio, where her marriage with Mr. occurred. In politics Mr. Scramlin is a Republican. He served five years as s of Charleston township and two as cler max. He has also filled all other tow fices, and made an excellent record in e ternally he is connected with the Maso and the Order of Odd Fellows.

GEORGE ROOF.

This gentleman, who occupies a p place in the business life of Kalamazoo president of the Exchange Bank of Cli is one of the leading and most repre farmers and live stock men of the cou native of Kalamazoo county, born in C township on August 1, 1864. He is a so ert and Martha (Hallock) Roof, the native of Sussex county, N. J., and 1 of the state of New York. The father manhood in his native county, and f years assisted his parents in the manag their large farming interests, remaining until he was twenty-six years old. He good education in the public schools he was a regular and studious attenda ever he had opportunity to go. In 1848 to Kalamazoo county as a pioneer, and years thereafter worked by the month f Moore, of Charleston township, Mr. M owning the land which afterward bel Mr. Roof. From 1852 to 1855 he did a business in buying and shipping grain ar making his headquarters a part of the Kankakee, Ill .. although maintaining in Michigan. In 1855 he bought s acres of unimproved land in Charlest ship and located on the place that sa renting a house to live in while develo

543

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

He belongs to the Masonic order with member- ship in the lodge at Climax. He owns nine hun- dred acres of excellent land, all of which is well improved and in a high state of cultivation. In all his undertakings he has been eminently suc- cessful, and ranks everywhere among the leading and most influential citizens of the county he has done so much to develop and improve.

ALBERT SMITH.

This progressive and public-spirited citizen, who is the present capable and faithful super- visor of Portage township, this county, was born in the township on July 24, 1841, and throughout nearly the whole of his life so far has been fa- miliar with its needs and the desires and enter- prise of its people. Knowing well what is wanted in the discharge of his official duties, and being earnestly desirous of promoting the best inter- ests of his section, he is performing them with a skill and industry that wins him general com- mendation as a wise and positive official and a worthy man. His parents, William and Sarah A. (Brown) Smith, were born the former in Ohio and the latter in Virginia. The father was a farmer and about the year 1831 came to this county with his parents, William and Alice (Yates) Smith, who settled at Schoolcraft, where they lived many years, moving finally to Portage township, where they died. Albert Smith's father grew to manhood near School- craft, and when a young man moved into Por- tage township and purchased several tracts of land at different times, at one period owning five hundred acres. He died on one of his farms in 1859. his wife following him to the other world in 1903. They had three sons and three daughters, of whom one died in 1852, while the others are all living. Albert passed his boyhood and youth on the paternal homestead, receiving his education in the district schools in the neigh- borhood, and began life as a farmer. This occu- pation he has followed through life, most of the time in this county. In 1883 he moved to South Dakota, where he resided eleven years, then re- turned to Portage township in this county and

for four years engaged in general merchandising there, also serving as postmaster during this time. All his life he has been a Republican in politics and has been called to several offices of importance by the people. He has served as township treasurer and was for a number of years a member of the county board in South Dakota. During the last seven years he has been the supervisor of Portage township. Fraternally he is a Freemason of the Royal Arch degree. In 1862 he was married in this county to Miss Louisa A. Rockwell, a native of New York state. They had one child, their daughter Eva I., wife of George Wilcox, of South Dakota. Her moth- er died in 1879, and in 1880 Mr. Smith was joined in a second marriage with Miss Sarah A. McEldowney. They have had two children, M. Wilbur and Myra Z., both of whom died in South Dakota. The parents are members of the Baptist church. While Mr. Smith is modest and unassuming he is one of the best known and most esteemed citizens of his township and is also widely known and highly esteemed in other parts of the county. And it may be truthfully said that no man is more deserving of the cordial regard in which he is held.

S. D. JOY.

S. D. Joy, the well known photographer and a public-spirited citizen of Vicksburg, was born in this state in 1869, and is a son of Hubbard and Harmona Joy, who were of French and German extraction respectively. The subject was reared on the parental farmstead and se- cured his elementary education in the common schools, supplementing this by attendance at Hiram College. Upon the completion of his studies he entered upon an apprenticeship with an apiarist, but shortly afterwards his employer sold out and and Mr. Joy then engaged to work in a furniture factory. A short time afterwards he commenced the study of photography at Lake Odessa, Michigan, and a year later bought out his preceptor and continued the business on his own account for five years. He was then located at Wayland for six years and in 1899 removed to

544

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

Vicksburg. His reputation as a thoroughly com- petent and artistic photographer was speedily established and from the beginning he has en- joyed a large and lucrative business. His studio, which is connected with his residence, is thor- oughly equipped with up-to-date appliances and every effort is exerted to give entire satisfaction to all customers who enter the studio. In April, 1893, Mr. Joy married Miss E. Viola Holes, a daughter of J. B. and Mary H. Holes, natives of Michigan, the former of Irish extraction and the latter of Scotch and German. To this union has been born one daughter, Alice Viola, whose birth occurred in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Joy are members of the Congregational church and are highly esteemed in the community.

ROMINE H. BUCKHOUT.

Romine H. Buckhout is the name of one of Kalamazoo's most loyal and respected citizens. Having resided in the city of Kalamazoo since the year 1869, he has made many life-long friends and endeared himself, by his uprightness and tender sympathy, to all who know him.

Romine H. Buckhout was born on a farm in Oshtemo township, Kalamazoo county, on May 12, 1844. His parents were Henry and Eliza- beth (Kellogg) Buckhout, both natives of New York state. These good people came all the way from New York state in wagons in the latter part of the year 1843. Arriving in Michigan, they settled on the farm where their son was born, and also two other children, Oscar, a resi- dent of Kalamazoo, and Susan, who is Mrs. Doughty, of Grand Rapids. When the boy Ro- mine was ten years old he made the trip to Cas- tile, New York, alone. Here he visited his grandfather and attended school, remaining un- til he was seventeen years of age. At that time he returned to his home, where he remained until 1869, when he and his brother Oscar came to the village of Kalamazoo and started in the grocery business on the corner of Main and Portage streets, having the store now occupied by Sam Folz. While in this business they began to ship considerable celery, and later became wholesale

shippers, being the first to ship celery in Kala- mazoo. The first bunch of celery that was ever sold outside of this city was shipped by them. In 1874 Romine H. Buckhout was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma Gregson Longbottom, a resident of Kalamazoo, whose parents. Dr. and Mrs. George Longbottom, came to Kalamazoo from Liverpool, England, in 1849. In December, 1884, a daughter, Blanche Elizabeth, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Buckhout, and she is their only child. In 1883 Mr. Buckhout served as trustee of Kalamazoo village, and in 1885 was a meni- ber of the city council during the mayorship of the Hon. Peyton Ranney.

For a few years Mr. Buckhout was again in the grocery business, and now is a stockholder in the Michigan Butter Company, of which he is sec- retary and treasurer. He has always been a de- voted member of the Episcopal church, having served for over fifteen years on St. Luke's ves- try, of which he is now a member. Mr. Buck- hout has never mingled much in politics, usually, however, casting his vote with the Democratic party, but being always guided by his conscience. At present he and his family, consisting of his wife and daughter, reside at their home in Stu- art avenue. Mr. Buckhout is a man who holds an enviable place in the hearts of his friends, and who is greatly esteemed for his loyalty, gen- erosity and uprightness. He is a great lover of his home, and devoted to his family.

GEORGE W. BACON.

The late George W. Bacon, who was an hon- ored pioneer of Portage township. this county, was born in the state of New York on January 8, 1829, the son of Alvin and Julia (Stratton) Brown, also natives of that state. The parents were farmers and came to Michigan in 1836. The father took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Portage township which he cleared and cultivated, and on which he made his home for the rest of his life. The first home of the family here was a little log cabin which in a short time gave place to a commodious and tasteful modern frame dwelling. The parents

545

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

died on this farm at advanced ages. They had five sons and three daughters, but only the daugh- ters are now living. Their son George remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four, receiving his education in the primitive schools of the period, kept in uncanny log shacks and ill provided with the comforts and appliances which schools are desired to have, and do have in a more advanced stage of development. He learned the benefits and acquired the habit of useful industry on the paternal homestead, and was well prepared thereby to conduct the opera- tions of his own farm when he moved to it di- rectly after his marriage in 1853. In this im- portant event in his life he was united with Miss Angeline Russell, a daughter of Rodney and Sallie (Woodruff) Russell, natives of the state of New York, where the mother died and the father married a second time. He brought his family to this county in 1846 and located in Portage township, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon had three children, one of whom died in infancy and the other two, Henry E. and Clara A., wife of R. S. Johnston, are living in this county. Mr. Bacon was active in local affairs and filled a number of township offices, serving always with credit to himself and benefit to the community. He departed this life on October I, 1900, well liked by all who knew him and held in high respect throughout the county because of his sterling worth and genial manner, broad public-spirit and zealous activity in behalf of the progress and general welfare of his township. His widow survives him and has her home on the farm which he cleared and improved, and on which they lived together forty-seven years.

DAVID J. PIERSON.

The late David J. Pierson, who died in this county in January, 1887, at the age of eighty- three, and after a residence here of fifty-six years, was one of the widely known and much admired pioneers of the county and a potent fac- tor in its early settlement and subsequent devel- opment. He was born at Litchfield, Mass., on May 4, 1804, the son of Amos and Mary (John-

son) Pierson, natives of that state and of Eng- lish ancestry. The father was a successful farmer and a man of patriotic spirit. In the war of 1812 he saw much active service as an aide-de-camp to one of the leading American generals. The mother was a daughter of Colonel Johnson, of Litchfield, who was also a soldier in that war. In later life they moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they died at advanced ages. Their son David grew to manhood in Massachu- setts and New York and was educated in the common schools. After leaving school he fol- lowed peddling in New York state until 1830, when he moved to Ohio. In the following spring he came to Michigan, traveling with teams by way of Toledo and the Black Swamp to St. Joseph county, where he ran a tavern for two years. He then moved to Kalamazoo, which at that time was a frontier village called Bron- son, and entered government land in Kalamazoo township. To the development and improve- ment of this land he devoted his whole time un- til 1866, when he moved to a farm west of the city on which he died on January 17, 1887. He was twice married, uniting in 1832 with Miss Eleanor Burghardt, a native of Pennsylvania. They had ten children, of whom three of the daughters are living in this county. His wife died in Kalamazoo in 1854 and the next year he married a second wife, Mrs. Mary L. Cowderly, the widow of Lynas Cowderly, her maiden name having been Sutliff. She is a native of Ohio who became a resident of Michigan many years ago. Of this union three children were born, Minnie A., wife of William Hollister, May Lou- ise, who died in infancy, and Frances B., wife of Horace Brownell, of New Orleans. Mr. Pierson was an earnest church worker of the Methodist sect. He helped to found the first church of that denomination in Kalamazoo, and served it as dea- con for a period of five years. From its founda- tion he contributed liberally to its needs and was always foremost in its good works. Passing away at an advanced age after a life of more than half a century in this community, he left the record of well spent years in the service of his fellowmen, of great usefulness to the county of

546

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

his residence and of stimulating and helpful power to everybody around him, and his remains were laid to rest with many demonstrations of popular esteem and regard.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 74

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