USA > Michigan > Barry County > History of Barry county, [Michigan] > Part 11
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Perhaps it was as a Christian that Mr. Nevins was especially well known. For years he was a faithful and consistent follower of the Master and was one of the leading members of the Presby- terian church.
John Morse Nevins was known for his kindly traits of char- acter and as a man who filled his niche of life for the betterment of his fellow man, a man of earnest and strong conviction, and one who would say No in no uncertain manner when a doubtful proposition was put before him, faithfully performing all the duties of the several official positions he held, standing firm for the right as he saw it, and may it be truthfully said his friends were legion, his enemies none.
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A. J. BOWNE
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OLNEY-BOWNE
A family which came early to this county and settled in Rut- land is the Olney family-the name being also spelled Olner by some of the family, although the former spelling is the correct one -- and it is a representative of this family, William Olney, whose biography we wish to present here.
Those who know William Olney, and his name is well known throughout the county, know him as a man of sterling integrity and honesty, a good citizen and a man of action. He is the son of Joseph Olney and Mary Kelley Olney. The father was born in Warwickshire, England, February 3, 1820, and at the age of 24 came to the United States. For six years he lived at Rochester, N. Y., and there on October 20, 1850, he married Mary Kelley.
In the same year the newly married couple came to Rutland and settled on the farm on which they lived until death claimed them, the father dying in 1903 and the mother five years later, both having lived to see the original homestead of 85 acres grow to a farm of 400 acres.
Like his father, William Olney is a farmer, and although for the past thirty years he has been actively engaged in stock buying, he still owns two farms, both in Irving township. As a stock buyer Mr. Olney is known and admired for his honorable methods and the square treatment which he always extends to those with whom he comes into contact.
Mr. Olney, like his father, is a staunch Democrat and is strongly interested in the welfare of his party and country. He is a member of the K. of P. and has belonged to this order for the last quarter of a century.
December 14, 1892, he married Kittie, daughter of the late A. J. Bowne, who was born in Prairieville, December 12, 1853. Her family was one of the oldest in the southwestern part of the county and her father was for many years a man of exceeding prominence in Hastings and Barry county, also in the state at large. He was recognized as having a genius for banking and business affairs and was pre-eminently successful in those lines.
Andrew Jackson Bowne was born in Cortland County, New York, January 19, 1829, and died in Grand Rapids, June 7, 1896.
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He was the son of John and Sarah Bowne, Americans by birth and of English descent. They came to Prairieville in 1837, where John Bowne became a man of prominence, representing his district in the State Senate.
Young Andrew Bowne received his education in the district schools of New York and Michigan, and later, in 1849 to 1851, was a student in the branch academy of the University of Michigan at Kalamazoo. From 1851 to 1853 he studied law in the office of Marsh Giddings of Kalamazoo.
Giving up his law studies in 1853, he went to California, traveled through that state, engaging in various ventures, and returned to Michigan to visit his parents in Prairieville. Here he opened up a general store in 1858, dealing largely in real estate.
In 1868 he moved to Hastings and opened a private banking business with F. N. Galloway, this private bank becoming in 1870 the Hastings National Bank, with Mr. Bowne as its first president.
Mr. Bowne extended his banking interests into many other fields and while yet a resident of Hastings he became president of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids. This with other interests led to his removal to Grand Rapids in 1883.
Mr. Bowne was a life long Democrat and in 1870 was Demo- cratic candidate for state treasurer. In 1876 he was delegate to the National convention at St. Louis, which nominated Tilden and Hendricks. In order to further the cause of the party in Barry County he also founded the Barry County Democrat, later the Hastings Herald, now merged into the Journal-Herald.
Mr. Bowne on February 15, 1853, a few months before he left for California, married Miss Jennie Kenfield, and by this union were born three children, Kittie (Mrs. Olney), Charles and Wil- liam, all residents of Hastings. In 1873 Mr. Bowne married Miss Sarah Gardner and to them were born two children, Burdette and Beatrice, both of whom are still living. One child, Nina, died at the age of ten.
Hon. Andrew J. Bowne was one of the most influential citi- zens Barry County has produced. He made himself felt strongly in the community and was a power in finance. He remained president of the Hastings National Bank until his death, at which time he was also president of four other National Banks.
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WM. OLNEY
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MR. AND MRS. E. PENNOCK
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EBENEZER PENNOCK
Ebenezer Pennock, or as he is more commonly called, Eben Pennock, was born in the town of Rushford, Alleghany County. New York, January 4, 1824. His parents were of English an- cestry and came to New York from near Montpelier, Vermont. Mr. Pennock was the fourth child in a family of eleven. He had five own brothers, two own sisters, two half-brothers and one half-sister.
Mr. Pennock's boyhood days were spent in much the same manner as those of most sons of the pioneers of Western New York. His parents were very poor and his opportunities for get- ting an education were very limited. The public schools of his time were supported on the rate bill plan and his parents were too poor to pay their share of the bill. Mr. Pennock says that even when he did go to school he often took his dinner basket and went apart from the rest of the pupils to eat his dinner, being ashamed of his meager lunch. At the early age of 12 he was bound out by his parents to work during the summer season at $1 per month.
On the 14th of October, 1843, he was happily married to Miss Elvira Farwell, of Rushford. As showing that neither Mr. Pen- nock nor his bride were very far along the road to wealth and prosperity, it is related that Mrs. Pennock's bridal costume was of calico and that Mr. Pennock had to borrow $1 to get his license and pay the magistrate.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pennock resolved to join the general movement which was at that time being made toward settling the newly admitted state of Michigan, and after saving up money for the enterprise, on July 14, 1844, they started overland for Michigan. Their outfit consisted of two decrepit old horses, a democrat wagon, $10.50 in cash, and the few goods, provisions and cooking utensils necessary to the journey. The entire trip consumed fifteen days.
Their final destination was the home of Mr. Pennock's brother in what is now Richland, Kalamazoo County. Here they found a hearty welcome and almost immediately began to plan to set up housekeeping for themselves. They first lived in a rented house containing one room, for which they paid an annual rental of $8. Both worked out to secure money and goods to furnish the house
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and to get the necessaries of life. During their first winter in Michigan Mr. Pennock cut four-foot wood at 31 cents per cord and later in the same winter he cut eight cords of four-foot wood at 25 cents a cord to buy himself a new axe.
After looking over the country a bit Mr. Pennock pre-empted 40 acres of land on Section 17 in Barry Township, and to this place they removed in December, 1845, and began the work of carving out their fortunes in real earnest. There was no house upon the land they had purchased and so they found shelter in the house of a neighbor until they could build upon their own land.
While this record as it now reads would lead one to suppose that not many misfortunes came to Mr. and Mrs. Pennock during these early days, yet such was not the case. Sickness and accidents befell them frequently but could not quench their ambition and determination to succeed.
Wild animals gave Mr. and Mrs. Pennock much trouble in their efforts to get together the necessary equipment of live stock. Wolves and bears were especially troublesome. During the sum- mer of 1846 Mr. Pennock worked out most of the time, receiving as pay for his summer's work a cow, ten sheep and a pair of steer calves. These were kept during the winter without accident, but one day in the following spring, Mr. Pennock upon return from exchanging work with a neighbor, found the sheep missing. The next morning he found that nine of the sheep had been killed by the wolves. An inventory of his losses would make the farmer of today absolutely disheartened.
In 1847 Mr. Pennock put out 17 acres of wheat on his new farm and upon the prospects for a crop he borrowed $50, with which he made the overland trip to Kalamazoo and paid for his land at the government land office there at the rate of $1.25 per acre.
Mr. Pennock remained on this piece of land for a few years until he had cleared it up, and then he purchased the first 80 acres of the farm near Hickory Corners now owned by his nephew, Alvah Pennock.
Here Mr. and Mrs. Pennock lived for 33 years, and here they fought out the stern battle of life, earning that substantial com- petence which is enabling them to pass their last days amid the
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E, PENNOCK'S RESIDENCE
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W. W. POTTER
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comforts that old age so much appreciates, and which enables them to contribute to the support of the church and its affiliated organizations.
The first place owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pennock in the vicin- ity of Hastings, was the house just north of their present home. Here they lived for three years, but Mr. Pennock became very much dissatisfied owing to the complete change in his mode of life. He had always been accustomed to hard work and could not accommodate himself to the change. So he disposed of this property and purchased the farm in South Hastings, now occu- pied by W. L. Pennock. Here they lived but one year when they purchased the place upon which they now live and imme- diately removed to it. There they have lived for the past 36 years.
No children of their own have come to Mr. and Mrs. Pen- nock, but they have given a home to other children who tenderly venerate and respect the dear old foster mother and father who so kindly took them in and cared for them in days gone by. Mrs. Maria Tolles, deceased; Mrs. Etta Barnaby, of Hastings; Mrs. Ella Rolfe, of Michigan City; W. L. Pennock, of South Hastings, also Mrs. Iva Bedford, of Seattle, Wash., make up the list of those who have been reared under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Pennock.
To write the religious history of Mr. and Mrs. Pennock would require a careful review of practically their whole lives. In 1850 they became members of the Wesleyan Methodist church of Barry Township, and have ever since been identified with this denomi- nation except for a space of three years when they were members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hastings City. The church of their choice has always had their most hearty support and their most loyal service. Even at their present advanced age each re- turning Sabbath morning sees them at their place of worship four miles distant. As had been truly said of them, "They have ever been true defenders of the gospel of Christ and liberal supporters of His church."
WILLIAM W. POTTER
William W. Potter was born August 1st, 1869, in Maple Grove township, Barry County, Michigan. He attended district
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school in that township and graduated from the Nashville High School in 1891. He taught district school in Assyria township and was three years superintendent of schools at Harrison, Mich- igan. He was admitted to the bar in 1894 and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1895, and in August of that year opened an office in Hastings. In the fall of 1895 he entered partnership with J. Edmund Barrell, and in August, 1896, became associated with P. T. Colgrove. He has been a member of the board of education, chairman of the Repub- lican county committee, city attorney of Hastings, prosecuting attorney of Barry County, and a member of the State senate. He was married in 1894 and has six children.
LEE H. PRYOR
Among the younger professional men of the county, whose early prominence bespeaks a long and useful career, must be placed Lee H. Pryor of Hastings.
Mr. Pryor is the son of Leander B. and Cordelia A. Pryor, both natives of New York State, but who have lived in Michigan since 1858. Leander Pryor was of Quaker stock, his father having been excommunicated for marrying outside the church.
Mr. Pryor located on a farm in Yankee Springs. He was one of those who went to the front in the perilous days of 1861-65. On March 13, 1864, he married Cordelia A. Snow, and on March 16 of that same year he re-enlisted.
The subject of this sketch was born August 22, 1881, at Yankee Springs. His young boyhood was spent on the farm. In 1897 the family removed to Middleville, where Lee entered the High School and graduated in 1898. He took a post-graduate course in school, intending to enter college in 1899, but was pre- vented by sickness from carrying his plans into effect.
In 1899 Mr. Pryor came to Hastings and entered a law office and pursued his legal studies for two years. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he remained one year, and on October 23, 1902, he took the state bar examina- tion and passed. He then took a position in the office of Secre- tary of State, F. M. Warner, at Lansing, remaining at this work fourteen months.
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LEE PRYOR
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SAMUEL C. RITCHIE
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On the first of December, 1903, he formed a law partnership in Hastings and began the practice of his profession.
In 1904 he was nominated by the Republican party for prose- cuting attorney and was elected. At the time he assumed the duties of his office he was only 23 years old, probably the youngest prosecuting attorney in the state. He was re-elected in 1896.
In 1907 he married Miss Winifred Harper, daughter of John S. Harper of Hastings. They have two children. He was presi- dent of the Barry County Bar Association in 1906 and 1907. He is a member of the Masonic order, being at the time this is written (1912) High Priest of Hastings Chapter No. 68, R. A. M. He is also an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Grange. In religious faith he is a Unitarian.
Mr. Pryor possesses marked forensic talent and is in frequent demand as a public speaker. He is at present engaged in the pursuit of his profession.
Mr. Pryor, whose own remarkable career illustrates the truth of his words, thinks that the most essential condition of success is first, thorough preparation and study, and then steady applica- tion and honest work in putting into practice the principle and theories acquired.
SAMUEL C. AND HARRY S. RITCHIE
The names here grouped together are those of father and son, and besides the fact that they are both men of sterling character and unquestioned integrity they are also distinguished as having been the only father and son who have both been honored by being elected to the office of Sheriff of Barry County. In this office both father and son served two terms each.
The father, Samuel C. Ritchie, was born at Messenger's Hol- low, Livingston County, New York, July 20, 1841. His father was William Ritchie, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 15, 1815, and his mother was Margaret Caruthers, also a native of Londonderry, her natal day having been December 16, 1820.
In the summer of 1840 the young couple emigrated to Amer- ica, landing in New York City in July and at once locating in the southern part of Livingston County. The first work done in this country by William Ritchie was on the Genesee Valley Canal,
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he being a stone mason. It was here in Livingston County that Samuel Ritchie was born, as noted above, in 1841.
In 1862, when young Samuel was 21, the Ritchies moved to Michigan, locating in Yankee Springs Township. In Ireland William Ritchie had done farming and now in Michigan he again turned his attention to agriculture, buying and clearing a farm of 92 acres of wild land and turning it into a productive property.
Young Ritchie received a good common-school education, al- though at the early age of ten years he began working for wages, receiving eighteen cents a day. He continued to labor by day and month until he was twenty-seven years old when, six years after he had come to Michigan, he bought the farm in Yankee Springs which was his home for the greater part of his mature years.
Samuel Ritchie was married February 17, 1870, to Miss Anna Doyle, daughter of Darby and Ann Doran Doyle, that couple having come from County Wexford, Ireland, to the United States in 1832. They first settled in Rochester, N. Y., and then seven years later they came to Yankee Springs Township, where the future Mrs. Ritchie was born.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie four children were born-George M., Harry S., Lizzie A. and Maggie J. Three of the four are living, Lizzie A. having passed beyond. Maggie J. Ritchie is now Mrs. Bert Mckibbin and lives in Orangeville, Mich. George Ritchie lives a short distance south of Hastings and of Harry S. more will be told later.
Samuel C. Ritchie has been repeatedly honored by his fellow citizens with public office and he has always been found faithful to his trust. He has repeatedly been Highway Commissioner and Supervisor in his township. He has also been a census enumera- tor and for many years from the very foundation of the school district, he was a school officer.
In 1896 he was elected Sheriff of Barry County and two years later he was accorded a re-election. No man could have been more faithful in executing the duties of this office, and his record was most enviable.
Four years ago Mr. Ritchie sold his farm in Yankee Springs and removed to Hastings, where for the most part he has since resided.
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H. S. RITCHIE
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MR. AND MRS. J. P. ROBERTS From a daguerreotype
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Mr. Ritchie is a Mason and is honored as a man whose life is ordered on the square.
Harry S. Ritchie, son of Samuel and Anna Ritchie, and like his father also Sheriff of Barry County for two terms, was born in Yankee Springs Township. His early years were spent on the farm there until January, 1897, when he came to Hastings and for four years was under-sheriff for his father.
In November, 1901, Harry Ritchie married Lena M. Sylves- ter, of Hastings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Sylvester. Mrs. Ritchie died December 29, 1909, leaving besides her husband three children, Mary Josephine, Harry Francis, and Robert S., to mourn her loss. The children are all living.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Ritchie was living in Yankee Springs Township and there in 1904 he was elected to the office of Supervisor. During the next four years Mr. Ritchie was Deputy Sheriff for Sheriff Furness and then in 1903 he was him- self elected Sheriff. In 1910 he was accorded another term, which is not expired.
Mr. Ritchie has made a good Sheriff. He has found that the office requires a lot of energy, perseverance and courage and he has never been found lacking in any of these qualities. In the pursuit of his duties Mr. Ritchie has been in some particularly trying positions but he has never flinched and has never failed yet to do his duty. Several times his escape from death has been almost miraculous, but be that as it may he has always executed his trust.
Mr. Ritchie thinks that success in political life comes from devotion to the duties of the office to which one has been called and he has always measured up to this test.
Mr. Ritchie is a member of the Knights of Pythias and fully believes in the fraternal idea.
MR. AND MRS. J. P. ROBERTS
Coming to Hastings in the '40's, Mr. and Mrs. James P. Roberts were of that coterie of early settlers who took their part in laying the foundation for the present prosperous and beautiful city it has come to be. Mr. Roberts was born June 23, 1825, in Buck's County, Pennsylvania, of Welsh-Quaker parentage and
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naturally inherited from these his quiet, unostentatious, peace- loving nature and upright moral qualities. He came first to Hast- ings in 1844 to visit his brother, Dr. J. B. Roberts, one of its pioneer physicians. He returned in 1849 to open the first drug store in Barry County, and followed this occupation for many years, and was associated with Daniel Striker and later with W. H. Goodyear. He had considerable dealings with the Indians and was much revered by them. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic order. He was a life long Presby- terian, serving as elder in the Hastings church for over fifty years. In the chase he found his greatest diversion and was one of the best known hunters in the county and a famous shot. His love of nature, of birds and animals was one of his strongest characteristics. "A man who read a great deal, thought much and talked little," he never had an enemy. What he did, like many another good man, will not be found in the annals of the state or country's best known, but rather in those unwritten volumes which human hearts love to treasure up.
He was married on July 6, 1854, to Anna M. Robinson, who was born in Vassalboro, Maine, October 7, 1834, and came to Hastings with her parents, Judge and Mrs. David G. Robinson, in 1848. She was a student at Albion College in the early '50's and taught in the old Hastings schoolhouse before her marriage. She joined the Presbyterian church by letter in 1852.
In the home, the church and the community where Mrs. Rob- erts lived and lovingly ministered for over fifty years, "her light still shines on and on." As a friend wrote lovingly at her death, "There is no death for such as she! The fragrance of her blessed life on earth will live on in the lives of those whom it cheered and comforted."
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts' married life lacked but a few months of fifty years, she dying February 26, 1904, he December 17, 1907. Four children were born to their union: Mary, who died in early childhood; Mrs. Anna D. Mason, Mrs. William A. Chides- ter, and Mrs. William R. Cook.
JULIUS RUSSELL
A long time resident and a highly respected citizen was lost to Barry County by the death of Julius Russell February 11, 1901, and this article is written as a memorial to him.
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JULIUS RUSSELL
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Julius Russell was born at Byron, near Rockford, Ill., March 18, 1836. In 1855 his father, Dr. Jeremiah Russell, came from Byron to Hastings and went into partnership with his brother-in- law, John W. Stebbins, in the dry goods business. Julius, then a young man of twenty, came soon afterwards, entering his father's store and devoting himself to the mercantile business, which he followed constantly till 1899, when failing health com- pelled him to retire from active life.
After a time the young man became a partner of his father, and later Mr. John M. Nevins was associated with him in busi- ness. From 1870, however, Mr. Russell conducted the business alone.
In 1862 Mr. Russell married Miss Charlotte Lawhead Bar- low. One child came to bless this union, Harry, who was born in 1866 and died in 1886, just as he was entering upon a prom- ising manhood. Mrs. Russell is still living.
Such is the brief chronicle of an honorable citizen, whose quiet, unostentatious and vet useful life gained the respect and won the friendship of the whole community. His business career was marked by honorable dealing and his excellent habits of life stamped him as a good man, a kind neighbor and an exemplary citizen.
Mrs. Charlotte Russell, who survives her husband, is one of the well known ladies of Hastings. While her husband was in business Mrs. Russell was his able assistant and showed much ability as a business woman. She resides at the Russell home in Hastings, at the corner of Jefferson and Center streets, and has a host of friends in the community.
PHILO A. AND HENRY S. SHELDON
For many years in Barry County the Sheldon family has been prominently known. Three generations of this family have lived in the county and in each generation the family has been recognized as being interested in public affairs and as consisting of men of practical and progressive tendencies.
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