USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. II > Part 3
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William C. Anderson .- Practically the entire life of William C. Anderson has been passed in the community in which is located his present farm, for while he was not born in Kent county he was still an infant when brought to Bowne township, and here his training, both educational and agricultural, was received. Through steadfast and industrious effort he has won his way to a fair and honorable success in material affairs, to a recognized standing among the farmers of his locality, and to a place in the confidence and respect of those
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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
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among whom his life has been passed. Mr. Anderson was born on a farm in Allegan county, Michigan, Dec. 24, 1860, a son of Joseph and Ann (Christy) Anderson. His father, a native of Ireland, was a youth of nineteen years when he decided to try for his fortune in the United States, and on his arrival settled in New York state, where he spent several years. He next came to the West, locating on a farm in Allegan county, Michigan, where he carried on operations with a fair measure of success for four years, and at the end of that period changed his place of residence to Kent county, where he took up land in Bowne township. This sixty-four-acre tract was still in its virgin form, and before he could settle down to farming Mr. Anderson was compelled to clear a plot of ground on which to build his primi- tive log home. As the years passed his industry rewarded him with prosperity and the crude log cabin gave way to a more pretentious residence, while all around substantial barns and outbuildings arose, and the size of the farm was extended by the purchase of tracts of thirty-six acres and forty acres. Mr. Anderson continued to be engaged in general farming throughout the period of his active career, and when he entered the evening of life was able to retire upon a well-earned competence. He was a democrat in politics and active in the ranks of his organization, but was held in such high esteem that he had friends and admirers in all parties. Reared in the belief of the Catholic church, he was true to his faith until his death. He and his wife were the parents of four children, as follows: Mary, who is deceased; James, a resident of Grand Rapids; Jane, who is the wife of Michael Sheehan, of Grand Rapids; and William C. Like the greater number of farmers' sons of his day and locality, William C. Anderson spent much of his boyhood and youth in hard work, but managed to gain a good education in the district schools while at the same time securing a training calculated to fit him well for his later battles with life. He remained with his father even after his ma- jority had been reached, continuing as an employe of the elder man until he had accumulated sufficient funds to encourage him to enter upon a venture of his own, this taking shape in the form of an eighty- acre purchase in Bowne township. To this he later added eighty acres, also in Section 29, and this has been the scene of his success as a general farmer and breeder of high-grade livestock. His land is very fertile and productive, having responded readily to skilled and scientific treatment, and his buildings are commodious as to size, com- plete as to equipment and attractive as to appearance, while the other improvements on the farm are of a modern character that give the estate a decided air of prosperity. Mr. Anderson has other interests, owning 160 acres of land south of Freeport, Mich., and being a director in the Durkee-Lynch Biscuit Company of Grand Rapids. He is a democrat politically and has served as highway commissioner, and is a faithful member of the Catholic church, to which Mrs. Ander- son also belongs. Before their marriage, Oct. 3, 1887, she was Miss Josephine F. Burns, daughter of Farrell and Rose (Colligan) Burns, of Barry county, where the latter now resides, the father being de- ceased. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson : Joseph B. and Leon T., who are engaged in farming in Bowne town- ship; Farrell W., who died Feb. 24, 1917, leaving a son, Farrell C .; and James T., William C. Jr., Burns, Velma and Howard, who live
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with their parents. In addition to Farrell C. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two other grandchildren: Lawrence and Gerald An- derson, sons of their son, Joseph B.
William J. Anderson .- The old State of New York has contrib- uted to Kent county some of its best citizens, and in this class is found William J. Anderson, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Nelson township. He was born in New York, Jan. 28, 1855, his fa- ther being Joseph Anderson, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born June 22, 1817, and his grandfather, James Anderson, who followed the business of linen weaving in Scotland all of his life. Joseph An- derson was foreman in a foundry in his native city until 1850, in which year he emigrated to the United States, settling in the State of New York, where he took up farming as a vocation, an occupation which he followed with success during the remainder of his life. Mr. Anderson married Elizabeth Arbuckle, who no doubt could trace her ancestry back to the same common ancestor as that of the noted Ar- buckles, the great coffee men, as they were also of Scotch birth. Sev- en children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson: Isaac, formerly a farmer and now deceased; Thomas, who is engaged in farming in Michigan; John, deceased; Margery, wife of John W. Gibbons, a farmer of Rockford; Mary, who died in infancy; Joseph, deceased ; and William J. William J. Anderson received his education in the district schools of New York and Michigan, and in the latter state was reared as a farmer. When he came to man's estate he engaged in farming on his own account, and at this time is the owner of a handsome property located in Nelson township, upon which he has made many valuable and attractive modern improvements. Mr. An- derson is a general farmer, but specializes to some extent in dairying, and one of the features of his property is a splendid dairy, including all the latest improvements for cleanliness and sanitation. He has built up a good business in this direction, and as he is a capable and thoroughly trained farmer, is making his property pay well for the care and labor expended upon it. He believes in the use of modern farming machinery and his equipment includes much of this labor- saving material; while his buildings are commodious, each equipped for the use for which it is intended. Mr. Anderson married Mary J. Addis, daughter of John and Mary Addis, of Oakfield, Mr. Addis be- ing an agriculturist as well as proprietor of a grist mill. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of seven children: Elma, who is the wife of Ray E. Birch; Beryl, who is the wife of John Casttine and has one child, Eloise; Joseph, who is working on his father's farm in Nelson township; Elizabeth, a graduate of the Cedar Springs high school, as well as a college graduate, and now engaged in teach- ing school at Rockford; Joy, who is the wife of George Fanyer, of Nelson township; and two who are deceased. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and takes quite an interest in fraternal work. He is a Republican in politics, but is not an office seeker. As a citizen he stands high among the men who contribute to the upbuilding and development of the community, and his support is always given to movements of merit which his judgment tells him will add to the general welfare.
James H. Andrews .- In the history of the men of the past and present who have figured prominently in Kent county in general af-
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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
fairs, the name of James H. Andrews should be given a prominent place. He is a veteran of the great Civil war, in which he fought as a soldier of the Union for three years; was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Vergennes township; and is now living in retirement, enjoying not only the rewards of a well-directed life, but the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, won through an active and honorable career. Mr. Andrews was born in Niagara county, New York, July 13, 1841, a son of Alva H. and Ma- ria (Andrews) Andrews. His father was born and reared in Massa- chusetts, and as a young man went to New York, where his marriage occurred and where he resided for several years. In 1843 he brought his family to the West, settling in Kent county at a time when there were but three white families in the little settlement of Vergennes township, when Indians were still here in large numbers, and where wild game formed a large part of the family larder. Amid these primitive surroundings, the sturdy pioneer and his worthy and cour- ageous wife settled in a little log cabin home on 120 acres of govern- ment land. No improvements had been made on this property-it was just as Nature and the Indians had left it; but after a few years evi- dences of the elder Andrews' industry and energetic work began to show themselves, and ere long a productive farm was producing regular crops, while the implements and improvements of civilization appeared with each ensuing year. As his resources became better, Mr. Andrews added to his land, finally becoming the owner of 310 acres, all under cultivation. He was a skilled and capable general farmer, finding a good market for his products and handling his business affairs with intelligence and judgment, and thus it was that he remained as a successful farmer, while there were many, less cap- able and persistent, who admitted defeat and returned to the more civilized communities of the East. Alva H. Andrews was a stanch Republican, and while never a politician or office seeker, was an ack- nowledged influence in his community. He rounded out a long and useful life, won and held the esteem of his neighbors and those with whom he came into contact in business, and was in every way a de- pendable and substantial citizen. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Helene Purdy, of Kent county ; James H., of this notice; John A., of Grattan township, Kent county ; Mary, of Hastings, Mich .; Francis, who is deceased; Charles, a resi- dent of Ionia county, Mich .; Alva M., who resides at Lowell; and Hettie, of Grattan township. James H. Andrews was educated in the public schools of Vergennes township, primitive log houses where only the rudiments of learning were taught. He grew up in a neigh- borhood largely undeveloped and early learned to be self-reliant and to put a proper value upon labor and money. When the Civil war came on, he left the homestead, where he had worked as his father's assistant, and, answering the call of his country, enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fifth Michigan infantry, under Colonel Moore, continuing to serve with that organization for three years. He participated in numerous heavy engagements and had a brilliant record as a soldier, and had the great distinction of being chosen as one of the pall- bearers of President Lincoln and one of the guard of honor at the martyred president's funeral. In this connection it may be here noted that Mr. Andrews has been the subject of several newspaper articles
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BIOGRAPHICAL
appearing in the large papers, in which he has given his reminiscences of the time when the whole country was plunged in grief. When he returned to the life of the civilian, he returned to his father's farm for a time and continued to work for the elder man until he was able to buy his first tract of land, a property consisting of eighty acres. To this he subsequently added twenty acres, and here, in Vergennes township, Section 3, carried on general farming for many years. He also met with success in stock raising, and eventually, when he had accumulated a competency, retired from active labors, although he continues to make his home on the farm on which he labored for so many years. Mr. Andrews' life has been an active and useful one and while he has been adding to his own fortunes he has not neglect- ed to give his community the kind of support that is demanded of good citizenship. He has served efficiently in the capacity of school director of Vergennes township and has co-operated with other public-spirited men in advancing beneficial movements. Mr. An- drews votes the Republican ticket. He has never lost interest in the soldiers of the Union with whom he fought, side by side, and is a popular comrade of Lowell Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Andrews was united in marriage, May 27, 1871, with Miss Flora R. Davis, of Grattan township, Kent county, and they have a daughter, Eva, who is the wife of William Engle, who is farming the Andrews place.
Alvin Apsey is one of the industrious and reliable farmers of Caledonia township, classed with the present rising generation of ag- riculturists, who are acknowledged to be as broad and scientific in their methods and as fruitful in valuable results to the community as the workers in any other branch of modern industry. In the field of agriculture it has often happened that the fathers have secured the broad and fertile tracts of land which the sons have brought to their full capacity of productiveness. The rough, preliminary labors of the pioneers are as necessary as the developing work of the later generations ; all combine for the general advancement of the wonder- ful agricultural interests of the county. While Mr. Apsey is not now operating the farm secured here by his father, much of his young manhood was spent on that property and there he secured the train- ing that has made him entitled to enumeration among the progressive tillers of the soil in his locality. Alvin Apsey was born in Cascade township, Kent county, Michigan, Aug. 30, 1872, son of John and Su- san (Corman) Apsey. His father, a native of England, immigrated to the United States when a youth of sixteen years, and grew to manhood in the vicinity of Lansing, Mich., where he eventually ac- quired a farm of 160 acres. This he later sold and came to Kent county, where he bought eighty acres of unimproved land in Lowell township and after placing it under a high state of cultivation dis- posed of it to advantage and took up his residence in Cascade town- ship on another eighty-acre farm. There this industrious and highly respected early settler rounded out a long and useful career and died with a record of satisfying success behind him. For thirty-five years he resided in one community, and during this long period his fellow- citizens learned to recognize and appreciate his many sterling quali- ties of character and to admire his good citizenship. The eighth in order of birth of his parents' eleven children, Alvin Apsey received a
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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
district school education, following which he attended the Grand Rapids Business College for two years. Reared to the vocation of agriculturist, for fourteen years he was a renter of land from his father, but finally decided to engage in operations on his own ac- count, and began his experience by buying thirty acres of timbered land, which he partly cleared and then sold. In 1911 he came to Cale- donia township, buying 160 acres of land, which he has put under cultivation, now owning one of the really valuable properties in the township. Practically all the improvements on this farm, which is situated in Section 17, are due to his initiative and ability to get along, and his farm embodies the advanced and practical utilities of the progressive and up-to-date agriculturist who believes in elevating his mental as well as financial surroundings. Mr. Apsey is a Demo- crat, but politics have played no part in his career, nor has he been a seeker of public preferment at the hands of his fellows. He believes in movements which advance the community's interests and is always willing to give his support to such enterprises. His fraternal con- nection is with the Masons. Mr. Apsey is unmarried and makes his home with his mother.
Mrs. E. C. Apsey .- Holding the unique distinction of being the only woman in Kent county to own a newspaper, Mrs. E. C. Apsey of Caledonia, has become widely known in journalistic circles of this part of Michigan as a capable publisher, a brilliant writer and a stanch supporter of educational and other movements and particu- larly of those matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of her sex. Mrs. Apsey was born at Caledonia, Kent county, Michigan, Feb. 7, 1873, daughter of John W. and Phiana (Andrews) Stone, formerly of Pennsylvania, the family being of Swiss descent. John W. Stone was a sawyer by trade, but as a young man contracted the gold fever at the time of the discovery of the precious metal and left his home to make the journey across the plains to California. After several years' work in prospecting and mining, he made his way back to the East and for a time resided at LaGrange, Ind., where he was variously employed, principally as a sawyer and farmer. In 1872 he brought his family to Kent county, Michigan, and secured eighty acres of land, upon which he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has made numerous improvements on his farm and is now accounted one of the substantial and well-to-do men of his lo- cality, and a sterling citizen who is greatly interested in various pro- gressive movements and principally in the cause of education. He is a Republican, holds membership in no fraternal lodges, and belongs to the United Brethren church, of which Mrs. Stone, who died in 1908, was also a member. Mr. Stone was instrumental in erecting the United Brethren church edifice at Caledonia, has supported it generously, and has numerous other good works to his credit. He and Mrs. Stone were the parents of the following children: Ira A., a resident of San Juan Bautista, Cal .; Birdia M., who is the wife of R. H. Bennett, an attorney of Iola, Kans .; Oscar O., of Plainwell, Mich., who is associated with the Michigan Concrete Road Associa- tion ; William J., an engineer on the G. R. & I. railroad ; Mrs. Apsey ; Blanche M., who is single and engaged in merchandising at Winnet- ka, Ill .; and Louis L., who is connected with the Hunt Engineering Company. Mrs. Apsey was given good educational advantages as a
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BIOGRAPHICAL
girl and young woman, attending the graded and high schools at Caledonia and subsequently taking two years of training at Ann Ar- bor. Subsequently she became an educator for several years, teach- ing shorthand and typewriting in the Mclachlan Business College at Grand Rapids. From girlhood she had possessed a taste and liking for journalism, and in December, 1905, embarked upon her career as a newspaper woman when she bought the Caledonia News, of which she has since been publisher and editor. When she took charge of this publication it printed a five-column page, which has since been advanced to a seven-column sheet. In various other ways the news- paper has grown and advanced under her able and judicious manage- ment of its affairs, and due appreciation of her work is found in the fact that the circulation has doubled during the time of her owner- ship, now having upwards of 1,000 subscribers on the circulation list. Mrs. Apsey conducts the News as an organ independent of par- ty affiliation, and in its publication and editorship endeavors to give her readers an accurate, concise and strictly reliable presentation of the news. The paper is well edited and of attractive appearance and make-up, and has been generously supported by the advertising pub- lic. As an active worker for woman's suffrage, Mrs. Apsey has de- voted a good deal of space in her columns to this subject and has done much to influence public opinion to a favorable view of the rights of her sex for participation in national affairs. She has earned a prominent place in her profession, and has been particularly active in the State Publishers & Printers' Association, of which she is one of the vice-presidents; and in the West Michigan Press Association, of which she has been secretary since its organization. She is a mem- ber and secretary of the Thornapple Valley Pioneer Association, and has long been an active worker in the Congregational church. On June 19, 1895, occurred her marriage to Edwin C. Apsey, a son of Samuel and Mary (Hake) Apsey, of London, England. The parents of Mr. Apsey came to the United States in 1871 and settled perma- nently at Caledonia, where the elder Apsey followed the stone ma- son's trade and where both he and his wife died. To Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Apsey two children have been born: Cecil Louise, born Sept. 8, 1901, a graduate in the 1918 class of the Grand Rapids High School; and Blanche Ethel, born Nov. 6, 1903, and also a student at that school. Mr. Apsey is well known at Grand Rapids, where for eighteen years he has been employed in the purchasing department of the general offices of the G. R. & I. railroad. He is a Mason, and has been active in the work of the Congregational church and in the Sunday school work of Kent county.
John A. Arehart .- The manager of one of the leading manufac- turing concerns outside of the larger cities, John A. Arehart is an ex- ample of that spirit of enterprise which has so distinguished Kent county during recent years. Here have been founded, fostered and expanded some notable enterprises, which have carried the commu- nity's reputation far beyond the limits of the state, often arousing surprise, envy and emulation, and often commanding admiration. Behind these enterprises stand the able men who have consistently carried out the policies which have resulted in such commercial pros- perity. Belonging to this class of capable and energetic business men, John A. Arehart needs no introduction to the people of Lowell,
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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
where he has been a resident since 1905 and secretary and manager of the Lowell Specialty Company since 1912. John A. Arehart was born May 11, 1883, at Otsego, Allegan county, Michigan, son of Ber- nard and Augusta (Paulus) Arehart, both of whom are deceased. When he was ten years of age he was taken by his parents to Martin, Mich., where he completed his common school education, and this was followed by a course at the Grand Rapids Business College. His first practical experience in business was gained at Cecil Bay, Mich., where for one year he was employed as bookkeeper for the Emmett Lumber Company, and in 1905 he came to Lowell to accept a like position with the Lowell Specialty Company, with which concern he has since been identified. The Lowell Specialty Company was organ- ized in the year 1900, by D. G. Look and W. A. Watts, prominent Lowell business men and financiers, for the manufacture of all kinds of sprayers. Since that time it has enjoyed a steady growth, which has been more noticeable since 1912, when Mr. Arehart was placed in the office of secretary and manager. The other officers of the con- cern are J. S. Bergin, president ; D. G. Look, first vice-president and treasurer ; and J. B. Nicholson, second vice-president. The company is now capitalized at $75,000, and employs forty-five men, its product being known all over the United States, its market not being con- fined to any particular locality. When Mr. Arehart was placed in his present position, the company was operating with one building, with about 3,000 square feet of floor space. Since that time, in the order named, there have been erected three new buildings, a two-story brick structure, 33x103 feet, a two-story cement plant, 28x80 feet, and a two-story tile factory, 46x50 feet, with numerous smaller out-build- ings and additions. These buildings are modern in every particular and the main structures are equipped with the Globe Sprinkling Sys- tem, for fire protection. The volume of business now being done by this plant may be judged from the fact that it is at this time six months behind in its orders, being unable to fill these until new build- ings are erected, making a place for the necessary machinery and the hiring of added employes. Much of the success of this business must be accredited to the ability, resource, judgment and business courage of Mr. Arehart, who is accounted one of the ablest young men con- nected with the manufacturing industry at Lowell, and whose asso- ciates in the business world evidenced this faith in 1916 when they elected him president of the Lowell Board of Trade. He has always maintained an independent stand on political questions, and after two years of service on the town council was re-elected, in 1917, for an- other term. Fraternally, he is identified with the Knights of Colum- bus, at Grand Rapids ; and Three Island Lodge No. 809, Loyal Order of Moose, at Lowell, and is popular in both orders. With Mrs. Are- hart and their children, he attends services at Saint Mary's Catholic church, Lowell, of which they are members. Mr. Arehart was mar- ried Nov. 24, 1909, to Frances Izena, daughter of John S. and Mary (McGee) Bergin, natives of Michigan. Mrs. Bergin died in 1908, while Mr. Bergin, who is president of the Lowell Specialty Company, is a resident of Grand Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. Arehart are the parents of three children: George A., born Nov. 16, 1910; Mary F., born Feb. 27, 1912, and William B., born March 1, 1917.
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