USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 26
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Samuel C. Ingraham .- Among the representatives of the farming industry in Kent county who have been born here and have passed their entire lives within its borders, one who has made more than ordinary success through his own efforts, who has been a believer in modern progress and development and who has proved himself a good and public-spirited citizen, is Samuel C. Ingraham, whose farm and home are located in section 3, Solon township. Mr. Ingraham was born on a farm in Spencer township, Kent county, Michigan, Sept. 13, 1860, son of Aaron Ingraham. Aaron Ingraham was a native of New York and followed farming in the Empire State un- til emigrating to Michigan, some time during the '50s. Here he se- cured a tract of wild land and began his farming ventures, clearing his property and putting it gradually under cultivation, and he re- moved the timber. His progress in this direction was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war, and when the country was threatened with secession Aaron Ingraham offered his services to his country and was accepted. The rigors of army life, however, did what the hardships of pioneer farming had failed to do; they broke down his health and while he was in the army, about one and one-half years, he was incapacitated a great deal of the time and did not engage in any important battles, and was eventually honorably discharged be- cause of disability. When he had recovered he returned to Spencer township and resumed his farming activities, but about the year 1870 removed to Maple Valley township and there continued his agricul- tural operations until his death. He was a man of progressive and industrious spirit and had the respect and confidence of his neigh- bors throughout the community. Mr. Ingraham married Miss Mar- guerite Clough, of New York, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Clough. Mr. Clough was a cooper by trade and conducted a business for many years at Greenville, N. Y., where his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham became the parents of eleven children, of whom six grew to man and womanhood: David G. resides at Grand Rap- ids and is engaged in factory work; the others are Susanna, Marcus, Charles E., who died Dec. 12, 1917 ; Samuel C. and, Asenath. Samuel C. Ingraham was educated in the Coral school in Maple Valley town- ship and there grew up on the home farm, receiving his training for the vocation which he had decided to follow in life-that of farming. When he reached his majority he did not leave the parental roof, but remained with his father and continued to so do until he was twenty- six years old, at which time he was married and established a home of his own. Securing land in section 3, Solon township, he settled down to the serious business of developing a farm, and so well has he succeeded in his efforts that today he is accounted one of the sub- stantial men of his section of the county. He has good buildings, commodious and architecturally pleasing ; his stock is well fed, sleek and contented, and his equipment is of recent manufacture, and the general atmosphere of the property speaks of prosperity, evidencing Mr. Ingraham's general and business ability. In 1886 Mr. Ingra- ham was married to Miss Allie Mclaughlin, of New York, where she was born and reared. For some years prior to her marriage Mrs. Ingraham taught school in Canada, in Livingston and Montcalm counties, Michigan, and in Kent county, becoming well and favor- ably known as an educator. They have no children. Mr. Ingraham
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is unreservedly a Republican, but takes only a voter's interest in poli- tics and has neither held nor sought position of a public character. With Mrs. Ingraham, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Jacob F. Ipe .- Among the representatives of the agricultural in- dustry who have been witnesses of and participants in the develop- ment of Solon township from a territory covered with a heavy tim- ber growth into a fertile agricultural community, one who is well known is Jacob F. Ipe, who is now carrying on operations on the old homestead place. It has been Mr. Ipe's fortune to have made a suc- cess of his labors in the vocation of farming, but his entire career has not been devoted thereto, as he has had experience also in other fields. However, the work of the husbandman has appealed most strongly to him, and in it he has found contentment and prosperity. Jacob F. Ipe is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, born April 8, 1854, son of Solomon and Matilda (Barger) Ipe, natives of the same lo- cality, the father having been born at Youngstown in 1828. Solomon Ipe was a man of energy and industry who found the limits of his own city too confining, and who struck out for himself in the newly opened country of Michigan, coming in the latter '50s to Kent county and settling in Solon township. This community at that time was covered with a heavy growth of timber and Mr. Ipe devoted himself to the lumber business, in which he found substantial profit, and when the timber interests began to grow slack turned his attention to farm- ing, in which he also made a success. He is still well remembered by many of the older residents. He and his wife were the parents of six children-two of whom died in infancy; Jacob F., of this notice, who is the oldest living; Sarah, deceased; Simon, of whom detailed men- tion is made on another page of this work, and Bina. Jacob F. Ipe received his education in the district schools of Solon township, fol- lowing which he secured his introduction into business methods in the milling line. He continued to devote his energies thereto until 1907, when he became a hotel proprietor at Iron River, Mich. Mr. Ipe was a genial host and a successful boniface until 1916, when he disposed of his interests in a hotel way and took up farming on a part of the old homestead. His Solon township farm of eighty acres is a fertile and well-improved property which is yielding him good profits under his well-directed management. As a citizen he has shown him- self appreciative of the needs of his community and has not been backward in supporting good movements. He has never aspired to public office and does not allow himself to be governed by party lines in casting his ballot, preferring to use his own judgment as to the worth of candidates and policies. Therefore he may be termed an independent voter. Mr. Ipe married Marcia Moses, and of this union there was born a daughter, Ethel, wife of Charles Oberg, a member of the city fire department of Iron River. Mr. and Mrs. Oberg have one son, Kenneth, at home.
Simon Ipe .- The list of residents of Solon township whose mem- ories extend back to the days when this part of Kent county was still in its primeval state, when heavy forests covered what are now fer- tile farms and thriving towns and cities, when there were few roads save those of the Indian trails, and when there were no railroads at all, includes Simon Ipe, who now lives in the Cedar Springs com- munity. Mr. Ipe was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his
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parents here, in 1867, having been born at Youngstown, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1858. While he has not been a continuous resident here since that time, his business endeavors having carried him to other points in this and adjoining states, he has seen and participated in much of the work that has brought about such great changes during the past half a century. Mr. Ipe's parents were Solomon and Matilda (Barger) Ipe, also natives of Youngstown, where the father was born in 1828. On coming to Kent county the father engaged in the lumber busi- ness, but later turned his attention to farming, and in both fields worked out a successful career, being aided by natural industry and inherent business ability. There were six children in the family- two who died in infancy; Jacob F., of Solon township, an agricul- turist, of whom mention will be found elsewhere in this work; Sarah, Simon, of this notice, and Bina. Simon Ipe secured his early educa- tion in Youngstown, and when he came to Kent county attended the primitive school then conducted in his locality in Solon township. His boyhood home was located in the midst of a heavy growth of timber, and much of his youth was passed in assisting his father and other early settlers in clearing off the trees and making the ground ready for cultivation. When the G. R. & I. railroad came through, he helped to provide wood for fuel in running the donkey engine which was used in the work of construction, and he witnessed the gradual growth of Cedar Springs from a little settlement of a few log houses into a hamlet, then into an appreciable community and finally into a thriving and prosperous village. Mr. Ipe has traveled much and has been a keen observer of things going on about him. During his ac- tive years he was engaged in the milling business, and his varied and important interests took him to many places outside of the state. Much of his time at present is given over to retrospect, as he had the misfortune to meet with an accident which prevents him from doing active work and confines him to his home. However, his mind is still alert and he is possessed of the happy faculty of retaining his cheer- fulness, which, combined with a natural ability for narrative and a wonderful memory, makes him an interesting companion and an in- structive conversationalist. He has not been a seeker for public posi- tion, but has shared with other public-spirited men the responsibilities attending useful citizenship. Politically, Mr. Ipe supports Repub- lican principles and candidates.
Isaac T. Jacobs .- Among the practical representatives of modern farming methods in Kent county, one who has resided here for a long period is Isaac T. Jacobs, owner of a handsome and productive tract of land lying in Nelson township. In the working out of his career Mr. Jacobs has been an exponent of the fact that practicality and modernity form, when associated, the most reliable and satisfactory combination for the achieving of results, and the success which he has himself attained seems to be evidence that his system is a worthy one. Like a number of other farmers of Kent county, Mr. Jacobs claims the Empire State as the place of his nativity, having been born on a farm in Westchester county, in the southeastern corner of New York. His father, Thorn S. Jacobs, was also born in that state, where the family had lived for many years, and there his entire ca- reer was passed in the pursuits of farming and stock-raising. He was a man of moderate means, but of industry and perseverance, and had
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a reputation for sterling citizenship, integrity in his business deal- ings and probity in his private life. He lived to reach an advanced age, sixty-six years, as did also Mrs. Jacobs, who bore the maiden name of Ann Eliza Gillett, and was a daughter of Harry Gillett, who was also a lifelong farmer in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs were the parents of three children-Henry, Frances Ophelia, and Isaac T. Isaac T. Jacobs was brought up as a farmer's son and as a youth his mind was trained to thoughts of industry, and his experiences were calculated to instill in him a spirit of self-reliance and an apprecia- tion of the value of honorable labor. In the meantime his education was acquired in the public schools, after leaving which he gave his attention unreservedly to farming, which has been practically his only vocation throughout life. When still a young man he decided that the West held out better opportunities for a young man of ambition and industry, and he accordingly came to Michigan, locating at Kala- mazoo in 1870, and it was not until 1906 that he purchased the farm of eighty acres which he now owns and operates, and which is located in Nelson township, three miles from the village of Sand Lake. While Mr. Jacobs has never given up the old, worthy and time-tried methods where they still prove practical, he has not been backward in adopt- ing innovations, and new methods are always sure of a fair investi- gation at his hands. He has surrounded himself with modern ma- chinery of a labor-saving character and has been careful in his selec- tion of equipment, while his set of buildings are attractively and sub- stantially built and conveniently placed. The farm is characterized by neatness and everything is in good repair, reflecting the thrifty nature of the owner. Mr. Jacobs has been primarily an agriculturist and has not been interested in other ventures, but has wisely invested his capital in real estate. He has not cared for public life, and, while a supporter of good movements, has never aspired to public office. Politically a stanch Republican, he gives his support to his party's candidates and has worked in behalf of friends at election times, of whom he has many in the community. Mr. Jacobs was married in 1873 to Etta Taylor, of New York state. She died Sept. 2, 1915, aged sixty-nine years. They had four children: William, a farmer in Nelson township; Hattie married Joseph Hudson and lives near Morley ; Walter C., mentioned on a succeeding page, and Fannie mar- ried Marion Miller and lives at Ensley, Mich.
Walter C. Jacobs .- The agricultural element is very strong all through Kent county and for the greater part is made up of men of comprehensive knowledge of farming principles and appreciation of modern methods. Many of this class are to be found in the northern part of the county and one of them is Walter C. Jacobs, whose farm is located in Nelson township. He has been a resident of this com- munity for a number of years and is adjudged one of the substantial men of his township. Mr. Jacobs was born in Westchester county, New York, son of Isaac T. Jacobs, who is given extended mention on a preceding page. . Walter C. Jacobs received his educational training in the schools of Westchester county and accompanied his father to Kent county as a youth. When he was ready to enter upon his own career he adopted the family vocation of farming as his work, and to this industry he has ever since given his undivided at- tention. He is thoroughly versed in all departments of agriculture.
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As a business man he has also proven capable, always securing a good price for his produce, but is not one to take an unfair advan- tage, and as a result his business standing is high. Like his father, he is a Republican in politics but not a seeker for public preferment, and also like the elder man he is a supporter of public-spirited move- ments launched in his community-civic, educational and charitable. Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage May 2, 1912, with Rose A., daugh- ter of Peter Molonzo, a native of Canada. Mr. Molonzo married Rosina Hiller, of New York state. He went to Detroit at the age of ten years and later to Pontiac, Mich., where he grew to manhood. He is now living in Tuscola county, Michigan, engaged in farming. His wife died in 1906. They had seven children-Frank E., Edith R., James H., Nancy, Rose A., May V., and Myrtle L.
Charles E. Jakeway .- The stock and grain interests of Kent county had a successful and always honorable representative in the late Charles E. Jakeway, whose accidental death, at Lowell, a few years ago, caused universal sorrow in the community. For years he had been a well-known figure in business circles of this city and at Moseley Station and his well-won and self-acquired success had caused him to be admired and respected by his associates, while his good citizenship had made him a decidedly useful and valued citi- zen. He was a New Yorker by nativity, born May 14, 1860, son of James and Catherine (Wessels) Jakeway. His parents came from the Empire State in 1863 and settled in Kent county, where they took up land, and during the remainder of their lives followed agricultural pursuits, in which they finally attained a competence. There were thirteen children in the family, and as Charles E. was the third in or- der of birth and the family finances were in modest circumstances, he was early expected to contribute his share to the income. His edu- cation was not, therefore, of a very elaborate character, being con- fined to attendance in the district schools until he was thirteen years old, at which tender age he began doing a man's share in the fields with his father and brothers. The lack of early advantages did not seem to handicap him in later life, perhaps because he added to his boyhood schooling by close observation and much reading during his later years, and the hard training which he secured in his youth on the home farm no doubt gave him the self-reliance and initiative which assisted him in his later dealings with competitors in the business world. He was ambitious and industrious as a young man and worked energetically toward the end that he became a proprietor of property of his own, and this aim was accomplished when he secured, through purchase, 100 acres of Kent county land. This he farmed with much success until 1897, when he turned his attention to the live stock and grain business, a field in which he rose rapidly to prosperi- ty. His activities were centered at Moseley, but his operations ex- tended over a wide territory and he became known as one of the steadily progressing men in his line of endeavor, but his career was suddenly cut short by his tragic death while on a business trip to Lowell, when he, with Charles E. Francisco, was struck by a train at the Grand Trunk railway crossing, both men being instantly killed. Aside from his business, Mr. Jakeway had few interests except his home. However, he did not neglect the duties of citizenship, helping all progressive movements and serving for a time as highway commis-
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sioner. His views on public questions made him a Democrat. Mr. Jakeway was married Aug. 7, 1884, to Ella, daughter of Charles E. and Cora C (Barto) Francisco, of New York state, pioneers of Kent county, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Jakeway survives her husband and resides at Lowell, where she is widely known as a lady of many accomplishments. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jakeway : Blanche, born July 9, 1888, married Clyde J. Francisco and has two children-George Henry and Charles Lee; and Gladys married John Kropf and she and her husband are living with Mrs. Jakeway.
C. Kent Jakeway .- In the agricultural community of Grattan township there are to be found a number of men who have taken up farming after years spent in other lines of endeavor. In this class, one who is well known is C. Kent Jakeway, formerly an educator, sub- sequently a business man, and now an energetic, progressive and suc- cessful farmer and one of the active citizens of his community in pub- lic affairs. Mr. Jakeway has resided in this locality all of his life. He was born on a farm in Grattan township, Kent county, Michigan, Jan. 25, 1879, son of John H. and Mary A. (Malone) Jakeway. His father, a native of New York state, was taken to Ohio by his parents when a child, and about the year 1855 came with them to Kent coun- ty. Here he grew to manhood and when the Civil war came on en- listed in the Union army, but at that time was not of age and his fa- ther secured his release and took him back home. When he embarked in farming on his own account it was on a forty-acre tract of green land, secured from the government, and to this he added in later years, purchasing some 120 acres and bringing his entire property to a high state of cultivation. He was a Democrat in politics and took much interest in public affairs, although he never desired office on his own account. Mr. Jakeway and his wife were the parents of five children: Lee, a resident of Grattan township; C. Kent, of this no- tice; Laura, wife of John Corrigan, of Grattan township; John, Jr., and Lillian, wife of James Downs. C. Kent Jakeway received his ed- ucation in the district schools of his native locality and the graded schools of Grattan, and, while he had been reared as a farmer, chose the educator's profession when he embarked upon his independent career. For some twenty years he continued as an instructor of the young, becoming one of the best-known and most popular educators of this part of the county, and during eight years of this time was principal of the Grattan High School. He also interested himself in other matters, finding time to assist in the building of the railroad from Lowell to Belding, and for a time was also proprietor of a meat market at Lakeview. Eventually he turned his attention to farming, which now forms his chief interest and source of income. He is the owner of a splendidly cultivated and productive farm in Grattan township, consisting of 100 acres, on which he carries on general op- erations, having scored a decided success through his industry and modern methods of agriculture. In 1912 he further improved his property by the erection of a handsome barn, and 1915 was the year which saw the building of his present home, a comfortable and com- modious one. Mr. Jakeway is also president of the Moseley Cream- ery Association and is well known in business circles as a man of integrity and fidelity to his engagements. He is active in politics,
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being known as one of the influential Democrats of this section, has been supervisor of his township for the past seven years, and is a member of the county board of school examiners. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Jakeway was married in October, 1903, to Miss Olive Roach, and three children have been born of their union-Gerald, Vivian and Lillian.
Claude N. Jaqua .- One of the important concerns of Grand Rap- ids, engaged in the business of printing and engraving, is the Cargill Company. In the personnel and directorship of this enterprise are to be found some of the prominent men of the Furniture City, whose long connection with the trade has made their names widely known. In this class is Claude N. Jaqua, who has been connected with the Cargill Company for nearly seventeen years, during which time he has risen from the position of bookkeeper to that of secretary and treasurer. Mr. Jaqua was born July 11, 1877, on a farm in Montcalm county, Michigan, son of Emery D. and Freelove (Pierson) Jaqua. On the maternal side he is descended from one of the oldest families of that county, where his grandfather, Orson A. Pierson, settled as a pioneer at such an early date that he had to cut his way through the woods in order to get north from Grand Rapids. Mr. Pierson subse- quently became one of the substantial and influential men of his com- munity, and the town of Pierson was named in his honor. Emery D. Jaqua has followed farming all of his life in Montcalm county and is accounted one of the reliable and dependable agriculturists of his community and a substantial, public-spirited citizen. He and his wife had four children-Claude N., Ernest L., Chester A. and Emery D., Jr. Claude N. Jaqua was reared on his father's farm in Montcalm county and was given a good education in the public schools at Pier- son and at Howard City. When he started upon his career it was as a school teacher in the rural districts, but after three years of educa- tional work he determined upon a change of course, having decided upon a mercantile career. With this end in view he attended Mc- Lachlan's Business College, at Grand Rapids, for one year, and in 1898 entered the State Bank of Michigan, with which institution he was identified for six months. His next connection was with the Klingman Furniture Company, where he remained two years, and Sept. 23, 1901, entered the service of the Cargill Company. Mr. Jaqua's first position with this concern was as bookkeeper, but his duties were discharged in such a faithful and competent manner that he soon won promotion and successively passed through all the vari- ous department offices until he was made secretary and treasurer of the company, which position he now holds. As he has advanced, he has thoroughly assimilated all the details of the business, from both the mechanical and executive ends, and is today justly adjudged one of the well-informed men of the business. Mr. Jaqua was married Aug. 29, 1900, to Miss Gertrude E. Petrie, of Montcalm county, and of this union there have been born a daughter and a son-Marguerite L. and Russell C. The family attends the Congregational church. Mr. Jaqua is fraternally identified with Malta Lodge No. 465, F. & A. M., and both he and Mrs. Jaqua are members of Peninsular Chap- ter, Order of the Eastern Star. As a voter Mr. Jaqua is a Republican, but business duties have engrossed his time to the exclusion of other matters, and he has never been active in public affairs except as a public-spirited citizen.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
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