USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 46
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Roswell Britton, Representative from Kent County in 1835-6, was born in the State of Vermont, June 16, 1789, and died June 2, 1850. He came to Michigan in 1824, settled in Kent County in 1834, and here he built a saw-mill and operated it for a number of years, when he engaged in farming. Politically he was a Democrat.
John Almy was a native of Rhode Island, and was educated as a civil engineer. He was for years a resident of Geneseo, N. Y., where he married Eliza Pierce. He came to Detroit in 1834, having been appointed city engineer, and remained there several years and laid out the system of sewers and street grades for that city. In 1835 he laid out the village of Kent, now Grand Rapids, for Lucius Lyon and N. O. Sargeant. Mr. Lyon sold out his interest to Charles H. Car- roll, of Groveland, N. Y., and Mr. Almy was placed in charge. He built the first stone dwelling in Grand Rapids. In 1837 he was elected Representative to the Legislature, and he was also judge of
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the county court, city engineer, engineer of the Kalamazoo and other river improvements, and chief clerk in the office of the surveyor- general. He was a man of much learning, of fine physical form and a courteous, genial gentleman. He was an Episcopalian. He died in 1863.
John Ball was born at Hebron, N. Y., Nov. 12, 1794. He had a common school and academical education, obtained by his own exer- tions. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1820. He studied law two years at Lansingburg, N. Y., and then went to Darien, Ga., where he taught school five years. He then returned to Lansingburg, N. Y., completed his law studies and was admitted to the bar in 1824. He continued in practice several years and then abandoned it to take charge of an oilcloth factory for his sister, and placed it in a flourish- ing condition. In 1832 he traveled across the continent, went to Fort Vancouver, and taught the first school ever opened in Oregon. He returned via the Sandwich Islands and Cape Horn in 1833-4. In 1837 he settled at Grand Rapids and represented Eastern capitalists in locating lands. He also opened a law office and had as partners at various times, George Martin, at one time Chief Justice of Michi- gan, and Solomon L. Withey, later United States District Judge. From 1852 until the death of Mr. Ball, Feb. 5, 1884, he was the sen-
ior member of the firm of Ball & McKee. In 1838, as a Democrat, he was a Representative in the Legislature from a district then compris- ing Clinton, Ionia, Kent and Ottawa Counties. In 1842 he was ap- pointed by Governor Barry to select 300,000 of the 500,000 acres of land granted to Michigan by Congress for internal improvements. These were mainly selected about Grand Rapids, and were mostly taken up with internal improvement warrants, and as these warrants could be bought for about forty cents on the dollar, it resulted in a speedy settlement of the Grand River Valley. Mr. Ball was largely identified with Grand Rapids interests. He was interested in schools, geology, lyceums and all local enterprises. In politics he was a con- servative Democrat.
Charles I. Walker, Representative from Kent County in 1841, was born in Butternuts, N. Y., April 25, 1814, his parents moving there from New England. He received a common and select school education. At sixteen he was a teacher, and then a clerk. At twenty- one he was a merchant at Cooperstown, N. Y., but sold out in 1836, and removed to Grand Rapids as agent for Eastern capitalists in the buying of Michigan lands. The panic of 1837 closed out land specu- lations, and he took an interest and became editor of the Grand River Times. He commenced the study of law, went to Vermont to com- plete his studies, and was admitted to the Vermont bar at Brattleboro in 1842. He practiced in that State until 1851, and then settled at De- troit. He was circuit judge for about a year, but resigned, and was professor in the law school at Ann Arbor from 1859 to 1874. He was for several years president of the Board of State Charities. He al- ways took an active interest in the early history of the Northwest, and wrote able papers on that subject. He also served as president of the State Pioneer Society. He was an able lawyer, and politically was a Democrat. He was a member of the second convention of assent in 1836 and held several honorable local positions.
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Henry C. Smith was born at Scituate, R. I., Jan. 9, 1804. He worked on a farm until of age and enjoyed fair opportunities for an education. He was a mason by trade and worked at it until 1836, when he came to Michigan. He was engaged both in merchandising and lumbering, and finally became a farmer in Plainfield, Kent Coun- ty. He held various town and county offices and was a Representa- tive in 1849 and 1853.
Philo Beers was born in Ithaca, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1801. He settled as a farmer in the township of Courtland, Kent County, in 1840. Po- litically he was a Democrat. He was supervisor of Courtland for twelve years, was postmaster eight years, and was Representative from Kent County in 1850, and from Grand Traverse County in 1859. He was Deputy United States Marshal under Buchanan for four years and keeper of the Traverse lighthouse four years. He died at Charle- voix, April 3, 1872. He was a Mason for fifty years.
Thomas B. Church was born in Dighton, Bristol County, Massa- chusetts, in September, 1821. His grandfather, Thomas Church, was a colonel in the War of the Revolution, and he was a direct descend- ant of Benjamin Church, who commanded in the Indian war which resulted in the death of King Philip. As a boy he was a sailor for several years, then entered Washington, now Trinity College, and graduated. He went south and engaged some years in teaching ; spent one year in Cambridge Law School, then finished his studies at Mar- shall and commenced practice in Grand Rapids in 1843, and there he continued to reside the remainder of his life. He was prosecuting attorney of Kent County two years; member of the constitutional convention of 1850; in 1851 and 1855 Representative in the Legisla- ture; and in 1852 mayor of Grand Rapids. He was three times the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Grand Rapids district. He married Mary E. Stuart, and his only son, Frederick S. Church, be- came a distinguished New York artist.
Volney W. Caukin, Representative from Kent County in 1857, was born in the State of New York, June 25, 1819. By occupation he was a farmer and land surveyor, and in politics was a Democrat until 1848, then a Free Soiler until 1854, after which he was a Republican. He held nearly all the township offices and those of county surveyor and deputy United States surveyor. He came to Macomb County in 1831, and from 1844 to 1884 was a resident of Kent County. In the last named year he became a resident of Jordan, Antrim County, where he spent the remainder of his life.
George W. Allen, member of the House for the sessions of 1859 and 1865 from Grand Rapids, was born in Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, Sept. 17, 1813. When three years of age he was taken by his mother (his father being dead) to the Connecticut Western Re- serve, Ohio, where she settled in the town of Painesville. Mr. Allen remained in Painesville until 1853, when he, with his family, removed to Grand Rapids, where he spent the remainder of his life. The ses- sion of 1859 was noted for the passage of three important acts, viz., the act abolishing the grand jury system, the swamp land road act, and the act to encourage and develop the salt industry, by offering a bounty of ten cents per bushel on all salt manufactured in the State. Mr. Allen was chairman of the House select committee on salt. In I-23
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1866 he was appointed United States pension agent for Western Michigan. He held several important positions connected with city affairs. Politically he was a Whig as long as the Whig party ex- isted, and thereafter was a Republican of a pronounced type. He lived as a retired merchant the later years of his life.
James Dockeray was born in Westmoreland County, England, May 1, 1815, came to this country in 1838, and settled at Albion, N. Y., where he worked at day labor and studied and practiced survey- ing. In 1846 he removed to Cannon township, Kent County, and set- tled on a farm. He was supervisor sixteen years and held other of- fices. He was a Representative in 1863-4. In 1874 he removed to Rockford and became the proprietor of the Exchange Bank in that place. He served one term as county surveyor. In politics he was a Democrat until 1856, after which he became a Republican.
John Porter was born in Tompkins County, New York, in 1819. He came to Michigan in 1838, settled in Montcalm County in 1845, and on the organization of that county was elected county treasurer, holding the position four years. By occupation he was a farmer and in politics a Republican. He was a Representative from Kent County in 1863-4, having removed there in 1855. He died at Wyoming, Kent County.
George H. White, Representative from Kent County in 1863-4, was born at Dresden, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1822. He received a common school education and was a clerk in Indiana until 1842, when he re- moved to Grand Rapids. He was a clerk there two years, and in 1844 was elected register of deeds. He conducted a store at Rockford five years, then returned to Grand Rapids and was a supervisor and served as mayor in 1861-2. He was a lumberman from 1863 to 1865, and then engaged in the manufacture of plaster. With Amos Rathbun he built many stores, and was a director of the G. R. & I. Railroad, and of the Continental Improvement Company. He was a Whig until 1854 and after that a Democrat.
Augustus D. Griswold, Representative from Kent County in 1863-4-5, was born in Oneida County, New York, Oct. 11, 1823. By profession he was a lawyer and in politics a Republican .. He came from Rome, N. Y., to Michigan in 1856. He was United States dis- trict attorney for Western Michigan from 1865 to 1869, except six months, when he was removed by Johnson and reappointed by him. He was speaker pro tem. in 1865, and chairman of the judiciary com- mittee. He later engaged in the practice of law at Ovid, Mich.
Edward Jewell, Representative from Kent County in 1865-7, was born in Greene County, New York, Dec. 13, 1818. By occupa- tion he was a farmer and in politics a Republican. He came to Michi- gan in 1855 and was four terms supervisor of Solon township, Kent County. He later removed to Petaluma, Cal.
Solomon O. Kingsbury, Representative from Kent County in 1867, was born in Connecticut, May 2, 1812, his father's family soon afterward removing to Painesville, Ohio, where he received a com- mon school education. In early life he was a clerk. He became a resi- dent of Grand Rapids at an early day and was a merchant. He was elected county treasurer in 1848 and 1850, serving four years, and then resumed mercantile business. In 1858 he opened a real estate
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and insurance office and continued in that business during life. In 1867 he was appointed postmaster at Grand Rapids and held that po- sition two years. He died May 16, 1886.
Thomas J. Slayton, Representative from Kent County in 1867- 9-70, was born in Middlesex, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1837. In 1847 he removed with his parents to Grattan township, Kent County. He graduated at Hillsdale College in 1862, and at the University law school in 1864. He was for a short time at Vicksburg, Miss., in the Freed- men's bureau service, but commenced law practice at Lowell in the fall of 1864. He retired to a farm in Grattan township in 1874 and died there on July 15, 1875. In politics he was a Republican.
George G. Briggs was born in Wayne County, Michigan, Jan. 25, 1838. When young he became clerk in a store at Battle Creek, where he remained three years, and afterward for a time attended Olivet College. In 1862 he enlisted in the Seventh Michigan cavalry and served with his regiment in the Army of the Potomac during the war, the regiment forming part of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade under General Custer, and taking part in sixty-three battles. He was pro- moted from grade to grade and became colonel of the regiment in 1864. At the close of the war his regiment was sent west and re- mained in Utah until late in 1865. Mr. Briggs then became a mer- chant and manufacturer at Grand Rapids. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and in 1869-70 was Repre- sentative in the Legislature from Grand Rapids.
Asa P. Ferry, Representative from Kent County in 1871-72, was born in Spafford, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1824. He was brought up a farmer and was educated in common and select schools. He settled in Court- land township, Kent County, and farmed from 1849 to 1865, then moved to Cannon township, where he remained until 1879, and from that time was engaged in milling at Rockford. He was three years supervisor of Courtland and five years of Cannon. In politics he was a Republican.
Nicholas R. Hill, Representative from Kent County in 1871-2, was born in Monroe County, New York. He lived in Ohio several years, but removed to Nelson, Kent County, in 1856, and platted and named the village of Cedar Springs. He held the office of supervisor several terms and was for many years a justice of the peace.
Samuel M. Garfield was born in Pembroke, N. Y., June 23, 1816. He received a common school education and in 1841 settled in Mil- waukee County, Wisconsin. In 1858 he removed to Michigan and settled on a farm, a part of which is now included in the southern part of the City of Grand Rapids, where his son, the Hon. C. W. Gar- field, later also a member of the legislature, now resides. He was su- pervisor and held other local offices. In 1871-2-3-4-5 he was Rep- resentative in the Legislature from Kent County. By occupation he was a farmer and in politics a Republican.
Ebenezer S. Eggleston, Representative from Kent County in 1873-4, was born in Batavia, N. Y., May 12, 1825. He received a com- mon school education and in 1837 settled in Litchfield. Hillsdale County. In 1851 he removed to Grand Rapids and in 1861 was ap- pointed consul to Cadiz, Spain, and remained there four years. He studied law with Lieutenant-Governor Gordon and was admitted to
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the bar in 1852. He continued to practice law at Grand Rapids until his death.
Edward L. Briggs, Representative from Kent County in 1873-4-5, was born in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, July 30, 1830. In 1834 his parents removed to Michigan and he was educated in a common school. In 1850 he removed to Grand Rapids, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. He was tim- ber agent for the State land office from 1859 to 1865. Mr. Briggs' occupation was that of a farmer.
Erwin C. Watkins, Representative from Kent County in 1873-4-5, was born in the village of Covington, Genesee County, New York, Jan. 15, 1839. In 1844 the family emigrated to Michigan and settled in Grattan township, Kent County, where the future legislator re- ceived a common school education. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and subsequently removed to Rockford. In 1861 he enlisted in a company of cavalry, and when the company was incorporated in the first New York regiment of cavalry he was commissioned lieuten- ant, and subsequently received a commission as captain. In 1863 he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the Department of West Virginia, and subsequently was assigned to the staff of Gen. W. H. Seward, where he served until the war ended. After the war he be- came a lumber merchant and also held several local positions. He served as warden of the house of correction at Ionia and was an Indi- an agent in the West for some years.
James W. Ransom, Representative from Kent County in 1875, was born at Liberty, N. Y., May 20, 1829. He was educated at the Wilson Collegiate Institute, New York, and adopted the profession of the law. He removed to Michigan in 1853, taking up his residence in Grand Rapids, of which place he later served as city attorney.
Simeon L. Baldwin, Representative from Kent County in 1877, was born in Canterbury, Conn., April 4, 1821. He was educated in the common schools and in 1840 removed to Norwich, and for sev- eral terms attended the academy at that place, removing to Grand Rapids, in August, 1844. He served as alderman of Grand Rapids for eight years. His occupation was brick making and in politics he was a Republican.
Welcome W. Johnson, Representative from Kent County in 1877, was born at Williamstown, Mass., Oct. 26, 1817. His parents re- moved to Oneida County, New York, in 1819 and he came to Michi- gan in 1835. He received a common school education. He served several years as town treasurer in Dundee, Monroe County. In 1849 he united with the Methodist conference as a preacher and remained thus connected until his death. He resided near Grand Rapids and operated a farm. In politics he was a Republican.
Clarence W. Prindle, Representative from Kent County in 1877- 81-2, was born in Rutland, Mich., Dec. 20, 1849, and was two years a student at Albion College. He studied medicine and graduated at Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1871. He continued in prac- tice at Grand Rapids until his death, Sept. 18, 1900, and was also for a time a member of the drug firm of Prindle Brothers. In politics he was a Republican.
William H. Powers, Representative from Kent County in 1879
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was born in Troy, N. Y., April 7, 1841. He received a common school education at Grand Rapids, Mich., to which place he removed in 1847. He became a member of the firm of Powers & Walker, manufacturers of undertakers' goods, and also of the firm of William T. Powers & Son, manufacturers of lumber, lath and shingles. He held the office of city clerk, alderman, and was for a time a member of the board of police and fire commissioners of Grand Rapids. In politics he was a National. He died Feb. 25, 1895.
Nathaniel A. Earle, Representative from Kent County in 1881-2, was born in Allegan County, Michigan. He was educated in the com- mon and high schools, and from 1870 to 1874 was teacher and princi- pal of the Paw Paw schools. He studied law at Grand Rapids and was admitted to the bar. He then engaged in the practice of that pro- fession, in which he continued at Grand Rapids until his death, July 18, 1891. He served as alderman, and was long one of the law firm of Stone & Earle, and later of Taggart, Stone & Earle.
Heman Palmerlee, Representative from Kent County in 1881-2, was born in Washington County, New York, Dec. 3, 1820, and came to Michigan in 1832, settling in Bruce, Macomb County. During six years of his early manhood he lived in Rochester, Oakland County, and was engaged in mercantile business. He then, in 1850, removed to Walker, Kent County, where he followed farming for about twen- ty-two years. During the remainder of his active career he was em- ployed as an accountant and collection agent. His education, beyond that of the common schools of the new State, was obtained in the Romeo Academy. Politically he was a Republican. He died Aug. 28, 1892.
Niram A. Fletcher, Representative from Kent County in 1883, was born at Oakland, Ontario, Feb. 13, 1850. He was educated at a common school and became a teacher. He came to Michigan in 1870, studied law and engaged in very successful practice at Grand Rapids, as a member of the firm of Fletcher & Wanty. Politically he was a Democrat. He died Aug. 15, 1899.
Jarvis C. Train, Representative from Kent County in 1883, was born in Tunbridge, Vt., July 8, 1834. He came with his parents to Boston, Mich., in 1840. He lived in Whiteside County, Illinois, ten years as a farmer, and then settled at Lowell, Kent County, where he engaged in buying and selling farm products. He served in the Leg- islature as a Fusionist.
Madison J. Ulrich, one of the Representatives from Kent County in 1885, was born in Park, Mich., Dec. 5, 1835. He was reared upon a farm, and for a time followed the occupation of a farmer, but finally engaged as a tea and coffee merchant in Grand Rapids, where he completed his active career. He served as school inspector, col- lector, school trustee and supervisor, and was elected to the Legisla- ture on the Fusion ticket.
Leonard H. Hunt, Representative from Kent County in 1887, was born in Manchester, Mich., Aug. 13, 1840. He removed with his parents to Lowell, Kent County, in 1855, and there he continued to reside the remainder of his life. He received a common school edu- cation and was a drug clerk until he entered the army as second lieu- tenant of the Twenty-sixth Michigan infantry. He was wounded and
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promoted to be captain. After the close of the Civil War he entered the drug business at Lowell and continued therein the remainder of his active career. He served as supervisor and held other local offices. In politics he was a Republican.
John Killean, Representative from Kent County in 1887-89, was born at Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1831, and took up his residence in Michigan in 1864. Formerly his occupation was varied, but in the later years of his life he was engaged in the grocery business. He served as alderman of Grand Rapids twice, president of the common council three times, and for a time was a member of the police and fire commission. He was elected Representative on the Fusion ticket.
Frank H. Gill was born in Middlebury, Summit County, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1845. His father was of Irish origin, although his ancestors came to America with William Penn. His mother was of English birth. Frank H. Gill received but a limited education, and that under most adverse circumstances. He began the real battle of life at the age of fourteen years when he began his apprenticeship, during which time he read incessantly, but in no particular direction, greatly to his regret in later years. On April 21, 1861, he enlisted under James B. Steadman and took part in the battle of Phillippi, the first engage- ment of the Civil War. He afterward enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Ohio infantry. After hostilities had ceased he was made master of transportation for the coast division at Orangeburg, S. C. In 1878 he went to California and took part in the agitation for adoption of the new constitution, and at last came to Michigan and settled in Grand Rapids. He was elected to the House of 1889-90 on the Fusion ticket.
George E. Judd was born in Massachusetts, March 23, 1838. In the Civil War he served in the Third Michigan infantry as captain. His occupation was farming. Mr. Judd was elected to the House of 1889-90 on the Republican ticket.
Norton Fitch was born in Orleans County, New York, Nov. 17, 1833. In 1848 he came with his parents to Michigan and settled on a farm in Sparta, Kent County. He acquired his education at the rural district school. In 1855 he purchased a piece of wood land of 120 acres in Alpine township, and began clearing it. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company C, First Berdan's United States Sharpshooters. He participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac until he lost an arm at the second battle of Bull Run. He declined a commission and returned to his farm. About 1885 he moved to Sparta village, where he made his home the re- mainder of his life, although continuing farming. In politics he was a Republican. While in Alpine he was township clerk and super- visor, each six years, and he was president or director of the Ottawa and West Kent Agricultural Society during most of the time from its organization until his death. He was a member of the House of 1891-2 and was also elected to that of 1893-4.
Charles William McGill was born in Troy, Rensselaer County, New York, July 14, 1865, and is a lineal descendant from some of the most noted families of Scotland. In the spring of 1867 his parents came to Michigan and located on a farm in St. Joseph County. In 1885 Mr. McGill graduated in the White Pigeon union school and
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immediately took up the study of law under private tutorage. He came to Grand Rapids in the fall of 1886 and was admitted to prac- tice, Sept. 18, 1888. In politics he is a Republican and he was elected circuit court commissioner in 1892, being re-elected in 1894. His term expired Jan. 1, 1897, and he was elected to the Legislature of 1897-8. Upon the expiration of his term, in 1899, he removed to Lansing, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law.
Edgar J. Adams was born in Branch County, Michigan, Aug. 6, 1866. When he was six years of age his parents moved to Monroe County, locating on a farm. Six years later his father sold out and moved to Elwell, Gratiot County, where he started a small country store, later moving to Rushville, Isabella County. Mr. Adams' early education was acquired in the district schools of Monroe County. At the age of seventeen he taught school one term, at the close of which he entered the employ of Hopkins & Lyon at Mt. Pleasant, as fire insurance and abstract clerk, where he continued four years, and then engaged in the same business for himself. In 1888 he chose law for his profession, but being prevented by circumstances from enter- ing an office or college, he pursued the course alone, and in 1894 passed his examination before Judge Grove of the Kent County bar. Thereafter he devoted his entire time to his profession. In politics he was a Republican. He held the office of justice of the peace, was elected to the Legislature of 1897 and re-elected to that of 1899, be- ing chosen speaker of the House in 1899 on its organization.
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