USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 27
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Harry D. Jewell .- One of the men worthy of enrollment upon the pages of the history of the legal profession of Kent county is Hon. Harry D. Jewell. Not only is he an attorney of ability and capa- bility, but a man whose standards are of the highest character. He began practice at Grand Rapids in January, 1902, and as the years have passed his honors have increased and his legal knowledge has received its due recognition among those of his own profession and the laymen whom he has served. Harry D. Jewell, ex-judge of the Probate Court, was born at Wheaton, Ill., March 5, 1869, and is a son of Oliver P. and Hannah (Dimick) Jewell, the former a native of Hector, N. Y., and the latter of Seneca county, in the same state. Oliver P. Jewell came to Kent county, Michigan, in 1856, with his father, Ebenezer Jewell, who settled on a farm in Solon township and there rounded out his life in agricultural pursuits. In his native state Oliver P. Jewell had been a newspaper man, being the owner of the Penn Yan Gazette, and in 1861 went back to the East and dis- posed of this sheet, then returning to Kent county, in time to take charge of the Home Relief work during the Civil war. Later he was in the offices of the Daily Eagle, but continued to own and to live on the farm in Solon township until several years prior to his death, which occurred in March, 1898. While a resident of New York City he was one of the organizers of the Typographical Union, known as the "Big Six," the first organization of that trade in the City of New York, and was on the committee of three that induced Horace Gree- ley to accept the presidency of that organization. Throughout his life he was a Republican, and his religious faith was that of the Pres- byterian church. There were two children in the family: Marshall H., now deceased, who started the first Dakota daily, the Bismarck Tribune, and Harry D. After completing his early education in the common schools of Cedar Springs, Mich., Harry D. Jewell spent three years on the home farm and during this time read law in the offices of D. C. Lyle. In the Fall of 1889 he entered the University of Michigan, and so well versed in the law did he prove that he was not only admitted to the bar in the Spring of 1890, while still a stu- dent, but pursued a course in the literary department and completed the legal course by 1891, with which class he was graduated with his degrees and served as an assistant in the law school and as assistant law librarian for two years. He received his degree of Master of Laws from the University of Michigan in 1892, and at once entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. His first partnership was with Judge Reuben Hatch, of Grand Rapids, an association which continued for one year, when he was made register of probate. After four years in that office he was elected judge of the Probate Court, and was re-elected three times, finally resigning in the third year of his last term after a distinguished and eminently valuable service of fifteen years upon the bench. His record as a jurist is one of the best which appear upon the pages of Kent county's jurisprudential his- tory, and by bench, bar and public alike he was held in the highest confidence, as a fair and impartial, as well as a learned and conscien- tious judge. He returned to active practice in January, 1912, and on Dec. 1, 1915, he formed a partnership with Laurence W. Smith, a son of Judge Smith, of Ionia, Mich., and the firm of Jewell & Smith is now considered one of the most formidable in the city. Judge II-13
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Jewell engages in general, probate and corporation practice. During his exceptionally busy career he has found time to identify himself with movements which have contributed materially to the public and civic welfare and to the establishment of institutions for progress and advancement. He was a member of the commission which framed the new city charter for Grand Rapids; was on a committee with Judge Wolcott which aided in the establishment of the Michigan Ju- venile Court system, and he established the Juvenile Court in Kent county ; was a member of the committee to unify the Probate Court rules of practice, and in 1902 and 1903 was president of the Associa- tion of Probate Judges. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He is a Knights Templar Mason and Shriner, belongs to the Elks, the Woodmen, the Maccabees, the Peninsular club and the Association of Commerce, and has interested himself in the Big Brother move- ment. With his family, he belongs to the Park Congregational church. Judge Jewell was married Aug. 8, 1894, to Miss Euphemia S. Smith, who was born in Minnesota, daughter of Rev. J. Malcom and Eu- phemia (Eadie) Smith. During the greater part of his life Reverend Smith was a minister of the Presbyterian church, but in his later years, on coming to Grand Rapids, became a special writer for the Grand Rapids News, and continued so engaged during the rest of his life. Both he and Mrs. Smith are deceased. Judge and Mrs. Jewell are the parents of three children : Roger A., of Portage Point, Mich .; Ruth M., wife of Malcolm H. Sherwood, of this city, and Robert Har- ry, seven years old.
C. Evan Johnson .- To win success in business life at Grand Rapids requires more than ordinary ability which has been trained along the lines of commercial achievement and industrial knowledge. In a city of this size there is so much competition, events follow one another so closely, and circumstances play so important a part in the shaping of events, that he who would succeed must not only be thor- oughly versed in matters as they apply to his own particular line of effort, but must also keep constantly in touch with other activities. Among those capable of grasping affairs with a competent hand, one who has won a substantial place for himself in standing and reputa- tion is C. Evan Johnson, secretary and treasurer of the Proudfit Looseleaf Company. Mr. Johnson was born on a farm in Shiawassee county, Michigan, Nov. 25, 1868, son of Hiram and Frances (Cronk- hite) Johnson. His father, who came of an old and honored Michi- gan family, and who was born near Corunna, this state, was brought up to agricultural pursuits and followed the vocation of a farmer un- til receiving an appointment to a position in the United States Weath- er Bureau, at Washington, D. C. He continued to make his home at the national capital until his death, in 1915. Mrs. Johnson was born in the State of New York, and died in Venice, Shiawassee county, in 1881. There were five children in the family: Lillian, wife of Clark Potter, of Kalamazoo, Mich .; Miss Edith M., of Grand Rapids; C. Evan, of this notice; Fayette, of Washington, D. C., and Ray, de- ceased. C. Evan Johnson was given splendid educational advantages in his youth, fitting him for any position which he might be able to occupy in the world. After attending the public schools in the neigh- borhood of his father's farm in Shiawassee county, he was sent to Alma College, following which he went to the Central Michigan Col-
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lege and completed his intellectual and business training by a course at Cleary's Business College, at Ypsilanti, Mich. After his gradua- tion in that institution, in 1891, Mr. Johnson went to Detroit, where he secured employment with the firm of Daniel J. Campau. He re- mained there for something like four years, but in 1895 came to Grand Rapids, where he entered the employ of the Waddell Manu- facturing Company. For the next nine years he was bookkeeper for this concern and then went on the road as a traveling salesman, a po- sition which he retained for four years. At this time an opportunity presented itself and Mr. Johnson accepted it and went to Knoxville, Tenn., where he embarked in wood-working as a manufacturer, but this proved neither congenial nor satisfactory and in the same year, 1908, he returned to Grand Rapids and identified himself with the Proudfit Looseleaf Company, in the dual capacity of secretary and treasurer. Mr. Johnson has always held to high ideals in his business operations, and his devotion to his duties has been characterized as something rather unusual. He belongs to the Association of Com- merce and has aided his city in its advancement by working in the ranks of the Greater Grand Rapids Association. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Knights Templar and a Shriner, as well as a member of the Knights of Pythias, and his political be- liefs make him a Democrat.
F. M. Johnson .- In a prominent position on the roster of jour- nalists of Kent county is found the name of F. M. Johnson, editor of the Lowell Ledger. Mr. Johnson has been connected with news- paper work throughout his career, and has been located at Lowell, connected with his present publication, since June, 1893. He came here a young man with much experience and almost immediately es- tablished a position for himself in his new community, where during a quarter of a century he has been an important factor in assisting to build up Lowell and its institutions. Mr. Johnson was born at Almont, Lapeer county, Michigan, Dec. 8, 1860, son of James S. and Mary (Parmlee) Johnson. The parents were born in Vermont and they came, in 1846, to Almont, Mich. The father was a young man when he heard the news that was flashed around the world in regard to the discovery of gold in California. Determined that he would make his fortune in that land of promise, and not being able to com- mand sufficient funds with which to make the trip by the southern route, in 1849, with several other adventurous spirits, he set off from his home and made the long and hazardous journey across the great plains, finally arriving at his destination. There, like many others, he found that the glittering reports had been greatly exaggerated, and after a short stay, with only a moderate measure of success, he re- turned by way of Mexico to his home in Lapeer county, Michigan, where he had originally come with his bride three years before he had contracted the "gold fever." At Almont he engaged in farming and lumbering and continued to be actively identified with those vo- cations until his death. F. M. Johnson attended the graded schools of Almont, then spent one year in the high school at Flint, and re- turned to Almont, where he completed his education in the Almont High School and graduated with the class of 1880. Right at the out- set of his career he identified himself with newspaper work, and his entire career has been devoted to journalistic labor. His first expe-
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rience was secured as an employe of the Almont Herald, with which he was identified for three years, and in 1884 he went to Mayville, Mich., where for six years he was editor of the Monitor, a newspaper which is still in existence. For five months after leaving that publi- cation he worked as a printer in the office of the Tribune, at Bis- marck, N. D., and subsequently was for one and one-half years con- nected with the Michigan Artisan, at Grand Rapids. He also trav- eled to some extent in Michigan, looking for a suitable location and working in various newspaper offices, and finally, in June, 1893, came to Lowell, where he established the Ledger. He has piloted this pub- lication safely through a number of storms and has eventually brought it safely into the harbor of prosperity and public confidence. In presenting to the people of Lowell and the surrounding country a clean, well-edited and well-printed sheet, with reliable news matter and timely editorials, Mr. Johnson has always kept his columns open to the support of movements for the benefit of the city and its people. The paper is independent in its political policy, standing fearlessly for its conception of what is right and attacking courageously those things it adjudges wrong, irrespective of party lines. Mr. Johnson is personally independent in his views on public questions and prefers to figure out matters himself than to allow leaders to do his thinking for him. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Lowell Lodge No. 90, F. & A. M. Mr. Johnson was married Feb. 2, 1882, to Miss Myrtie C., daughter of Anthony C. and Lavina (Wood) Dickerson, pioneer resi- dents of Almont, Mich., who are now deceased. Mrs. Johnson at- tended the Almont High School and was a member of her husband's graduating class. They are the parents of four children: Ola M., who is now Mrs. English, of Grand Rapids ; James A. and Rob Roy, of Pontiac, and Ruth E., who resides with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and their daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry A. Johnson .- It may be cited as proof of the stable char- acter of the people of Kent county that many of the finest farms here are owned by direct descendants of the original settlers, and that the land has never been out of the family since it was secured half a century or more ago by the pioneer of the family. The Johnson farm, in Bowne township, is a case in point, for its owner is Henry A. John- son, who secured it by purchase from the heirs of his parents, who located here at the close of the Civil war. Mr. Johnson, in addition to being a prominent agriculturist, is connected in various ways with important business interests and has also taken no small part in the public affairs of the community, having repeatedly served in offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. He was born on the farm which he now occupies, March 3, 1877, son of James C. and Eleanor L. (Nash) Johnson. His father, a native of Cherry Valley, Pa., re- ceived ordinary educational advantages and in his youth followed farming. When the Civil war came on he served a short enlistment as a member of a Pennsylvania regiment, and then, coming to Michi- gan, enlisted in Company F, Sixth Michigan cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war. With his honorable discharge and a splendid record as a faithful and hard-fighting soldier of the Union, he returned to the duties of peace and to the vocation of an agricul- turist, buying eighty acres of land in Bowne township, the greater
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part of which was uncleared. He completed the clearing of this tract and cultivated it, and in later years added forty acres to his original purchase, and passed the rest of his life in developing a productive and handsome country estate. Here both he and his wife died. Mr. Johnson was one of the well-known men of his community, who stood high in the estimation and confidence of his fellow-citizens, whom he represented in school offices and as supervisor of Bowne township for nine years. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and Mrs. Johnson were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bowne Center, of which he was a trustee. His fraternal connection was with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of five children: Gladys, who married W. H. Pardee, of Traverse City, Mich .; Lydia, wife of John W. Porritt, of Bowne township; Jennie, wife of O. B. Pardee, of this township; Katherine, who married W. Cosgriff, also of Bowne town- ship; and Henry A. Henry A. Johnson attended the district schools of Bowne township and spent two years at the Valparaiso (Ind.) Normal School, and for the two years which followed devoted his talents to school-teaching in his native township. Following his. father's demise, he returned to the home farm, which he managed for his mother until she died, and at that time bought the 120-acre home farm from the other heirs and has since, by good management, added forty acres more to the estate. As a general farmer he has been more than ordinarily successful, as he has also in the breeding of live-stock, particularly hogs, his registered animals having gained his farm some reputation as a breeder through this section. Mr. Johnson is also well known in business circles as a man of good judgment and ability and is a director in the Alto Co-operative Elevator Company and secretary of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company. With his family, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church and has liberally supported its movements. A Republican in political tendency, he has served in school offices and as supervisor of the township, has been township clerk seven years, and township treasurer two years, and for the past four years has been supervisor, and in each capacity has given his best abilities and energies to the furtherance of things which have promised to advance the community interest. His only fraternal connection is with the Modern Woodmen of America lodge. Mr. Johnson was married, Nov. 28, 1902, to Edna A., daughter of Moses and Celinda (Bergy) Weitz, natives of Canada, Mr. Weitz now being a resident of Bowne township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have five chil- dren, all at home, born as follows: Lucile, Dec. 10, 1903; James Lawrence, April 27, 1905; Alice, May 14, 1911 ; Morris, Jan. 27, 1914; and Helen Virginia, July 26, 1917.
John B. Johnson .- Of the native-born citizens of Grand Rapids who, after many years of business activity have now passed away, one who won success and a place in the confidence and esteem of those with whom he associated was the late John B. Johnson, for a long time a member of the firm of Hensen & Johnson. He was essentially a product of the city and of its busy life, for he was not only born here, but received his education and his business training in the city's institutions, and passed the entire period of his career within its borders, with the exception of an inconsiderable time at Kalamazoo. Mr. Johnson won success through his own efforts, and while so doing
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proved himself a good and public-spirited citizen, so that his loss was a community one. He was born May 26, 1856, son of Adrian and Hendrika (Katz) Johnson, both of whom were born in the Nether- lands and on first coming to the United States when young people located at Grand Rapids, and were there married. The elder Johnson was the pioneer plasterer of the city, a man of good judgment and industry, who later developed into a well-to-do contractor in plaster- ing and continued to be so engaged until his death. Mrs. Johnson survives him as a resident of Grand Rapids and is a devout member of the Reformed church, of which her husband was also a member. After attending the public schools of Grand Rapids, John B. Johnson worked for a time at plastering with his father, with whom he learned the trade. For a brief period he resided at Kalamazoo, and upon his return to Grand Rapids accepted a position on the city police force and continued to be an officer of the city government for thir- teen and one-half years, when he resigned, having recognized a good business opportunity. Thus was formed the firm of Hensen & John- son, an association which continued for many years. For some time previous to his death, which occurred April 10, 1910, he was in busi- ness on his own account. He is still remembered as a man of the strictest business integrity, who gave his associates a fair deal in all transactions and who looked for only legitimate opportunities, of which, however, he was capable of taking advantage at all times. He belonged to the Printers' Association, was a charter member of the Knickerbocker club, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and for about fifteen years was a trustee of the Wealthy Avenue Baptist church. Mr. Johnson was married, Nov. 27, 1880, to Gertdina, daugh- ter of Luburtus and Hendrika (Brummeler) Kumperman, of Grand Rapids, and of this union were born three children: Hendrika W., who resides with her mother ; Lulu, wife of Orange Sackett, of Grand Rapids, and Adrian C., also of this city. Mrs. Johnson, who survives her husband and resides at 343 Eastern avenue, S. E., was born in the city of Amsterdam, Holland, and was fourteen years of age when she came with her parents to Grand Rapids, here completing in the public schools her education that she had commenced in her native land. The family came here in 1872, and Mr. Kumperman, who was a cabinetmaker by trade, was employed in the furniture factories until his death, July 4, 1881. Mrs. Kumperman passed away in 1904. They were faithful members of the Reformed church and highly respected and esteemed people of their community.
Paul Johnson .- Of the agriculturists of Kent county who have brought to bear upon their work a sound realization of its dignity and an appreciation of its possibilities, one who has been more than ordi- narily successful on this account is Paul Johnson, whose farm in Solon township gives indisputable proof of the presence of able manage- ment. and wise direction. From boyhood Mr. Johnson was trained carefully in the various branches of the calling in which he expected to spend his life, and this early instruction has proved of inestimable value to him in later years and has given him an advantage that he has not been slow to make the most of. Like many others of Kent county's farmers, Mr. Johnson is a native of New York State, where he was born, May 12, 1855. His father was James Johnson, one of the foremost farmers of Genesee county, a man of practicality and sound
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common-sense, an industrious worker, and a wise and thoughtful par- ent. He it was who impressed upon his sons the importance and responsibilities of the position held by the farming class in the coun- try, and he it was who carefully trained them in the thousand and one things that it is necessary to know in order to gain success as a tiller of the soil. Paul Johnson was educated in the public schools of Gene- see county and grew up to strong and sturdy manhood. With youth- ful ambition, he decided to carve out his own fortune and, feeling that the limits of his home county and state were too confining, he struck out for the West and in due course of time reached his destina- tion in Kent county. Here, in a new country, and amid strange con- ditions, he was able to put to the test the value of his instruction, and while circumstances were different in Michigan than they had been in New York, he was able to prove the soundness of his theories and the worth of his training. From the time of his arrival his career has been marked by an ever-increasing success, and today he is ac- counted one of the substantial agriculturists of Solon township, his farm being on section 12, just across the line from Algoma township. He continues to be a student of his vocation, familiarizing himself with its every phase, and to this fact may be accredited much of his success. The constant advancements being made in agricultural science find in him a supporter who keeps fully abreast of the times. In the affairs of his community, Mr. Johnson is no less progressive, and while he has had no desire for public office he is fully informed as to civic and national affairs and able to place an accurate estimate upon the worth of movements and the actions of men. In 1881 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Price, a native of Michigan and a member of an old and honorable family here. They have no children. Politically Mr. Johnson supports the Democratic party and its candidates. He is a man of genial manner and has attracted to himself many warm friends.
Robert Johnson .- Of the many fine farms to be found in Bowne township, it is doubtful if there are any which can boast of better improvements than those which enhance the value and add to the appearance of the property belonging to Robert Johnson, located on section 21. Mr. Johnson has been in the main an agriculturist all his life, but his experiences have been many in a long, active and success- ful career, and have included participation in the Civil war, worthy public service as an official, the conduct of several hotels and the cultivation of large tracts of farming land. Mr. Johnson was born in Chautauqua county, New York, Dec. 15, 1844, son of Stephen and Catherine (McConnell) Johnson, the latter a native of Ireland and the former of Vermont. The Johnson family originated in England and was founded in America during the Colonial era of this country's history, and the great-grandfather of Robert Johnson fought as a patriot soldier during the Revolutionary war, while his grandfather, a carpenter by trade, was an American soldier during the War of 1812. Stephen Johnson was given excellent educational opportunities in his youth, and, deciding upon a professional career, studied first for the Presbyterian ministry and later for the law, but finally adopted teach- ing as his vocation. In this connection he became widely known in several states, presiding over classes for forty-five terms of school, and also being a teacher of vocal music. In addition to this he was a
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