USA > Michigan > Barry County > History of Barry county, [Michigan] > Part 13
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THOMAS SULLIVAN
Foremost among the legal lights of the Barry County bar stands Thomas Sullivan of Hastings. Mr. Sullivan was born in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County, Ontario, August 7th, 1856. His parents were of Irish extraction, Jeremiah Sullivan and Eileen Mahoney, who left their native county, Cork, and settled in Can-
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THOS. SULLIVAN
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DR. B. C. SWIFT
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ada in 1834. From Canada they came to Michigan in 1867 and settled in the Township of Campbell, Ionia County.
Thomas was next to the youngest of eleven children, six boys and five girls. He attended rural school, worked on the farm and afterwards found employment for two years in a factory at Free- port. Shortly after this he was elected Justice of the Peace of Irving Township and held the office four terms. He was also Township Clerk three times.
During these years of official duties at Freeport he was de- voting every moment not employed in other duties in the study of law. How well he laid the foundations for his professional life is evidenced by his successful career as an Attorney-at-law. He was admitted to the bar November 15, 1890, and began practice at Freeport. In 1896 he was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of Prosecuting Attorney and was elected. He moved to the county seat and has constantly practiced his profes- sion in that city to the present time. He has been City Attorney three terms and holds that position at the present time.
His political convictions have always been with the Demo- cratic party, in whose councils, both locally and in state politics, he has been useful and influential. In 1908 he was a delegate to the National Convention at Denver. At the present time (October, 1912) he is the candidate for Prosecuting Attorney.
Fraternally Mr. Sullivan is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow.
In 1877, Mr. Sullivan married Emily V. Kent. They have two children, Myrtle, now Mrs. Fred Stebbins, and Eileen.
Mr. Sullivan, familiarly and affectionately known all over Barry County as "Tom" Sullivan, has by assiduous devotion to his profession, strict honesty and square treatment, built up a lucra- tive business, to which he devotes his most faithful attention, while his many fine qualities of heart and mind have won for him a host of friends in whose association he finds that enjoyment which comes from the consciousness of work well done.
BIRGE C. SWIFT
Birge C. Swift is the son of John and Jennie E. Swift, both former residents of Lansing, Michigan.
He was born in Lansing, August 24, 1877. In 1881 the
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family moved to Harbor Springs, and here Mr. Swift graduated from the local High School in 1894. He attended the Petoskey Normal School in 1895-1896 and was a special student at Alma College, 1897-1899. He graduated from Detroit College of Medicine in 1903, being valedictorian of his class, and moved to Middleville in the same year.
In 1905 he married Marion Grace McIntosh of Grand Rapids and one child, Birge Carlton, Jr., has been born of this union. Dr. Swift is a descendant of Colonial forefathers.
He is a member and Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and Odd Fellows and K. O. T. M. He also belongs to the Kappa (Detroit) Chapter of the Phi Beta Pi fraternity.
Dr. Swift is pre-eminently a progressive citizen and a man of whom Middleville may well be proud.
W. L. THORPE
A young man who has achieved much and who has at the same time gained a wide circle of friends is W. L. Thorpe, more commonly known as Roy Thorpe.
W. L. Thorpe is the son of James L. and Lucinda Thorpe. The mother was born in Michigan, but Mr. Thorpe, senior, was born in Canada, coming to Michigan and locating in St. Claire County in 1866. It was here that W. L. Thorpe was born in 1873.
The family lived in St. Claire County until 1881, when they moved to Barry County, Prairieville Township. Young Thorpe lived at home with his parents until he was fourteen years old and then at that early age he began to teach school. Later he decided to supplement his education, which had been received principally in country schools, by taking a course in the High School at Richland, where he graduated at the age of sixteen. He then worked as a clerk and salesman in stores at Richland and Kala- mazoo.
On October 2, 1895, Mr. Thorpe married Miss Ada Johnson of Milo. To Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe has been born one son, Russell, now a student in the Hastings High School.
After his marriage Mr. Thorpe farmed and shipped stock at Milo until January 1, 1909, when he came to Hastings as County Clerk. In this office Mr. Thorpe has served two terms and his conduct of the office has given universal satisfaction.
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WM L. THORPE
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GEO. TOMLINSON
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More than that, during the four years he has been in Hastings he has made a great number of friends, all of whom will regret the fact that he is not to continue in his office another term.
Before his election to the office of County Clerk, Mr. Thorpe had been entrusted for four years with the office of Supervisor of Prairieville Township, and it was to a great extent due to the excellent record he made in this office that he was later accorded the election to the County Clerkship.
Mr. Thorpe believes in fraternity and brotherhood and is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masons. He also believes that success in business or politics is not so much reckoned in dollars as in being able to say that in all deals a man stuck by his word, misrepresented nothing, and was honorable all the time. He believes that the friends a man makes from among those who deal with him are of greater value than money.
Mr. Thorpe is still a young man and so it is probable that he will advance much farther than he has ever yet done, but it is safe to predict that however far he advances and wherever he may be, he will always have a host of friends who will believe in him and whose confidence he will entirely possess.
GEORGE S. TOMLINSON
This sketch is written as a tribute to the memory of George S. Tomlinson, one of the sterling citizens of Hastings, who on September 3, 1902, completed on earth a life full of the honor which comes from upright living and honest dealing with one's fellow men.
Born near Watertown, Connecticut, September 15, 1842, at the age of fourteen he came to Marshall, Michigan, and there lived until 1866. In April of that year he was married to Miss Jennie Selleck and in the following month moved to Hastings, where he was foreman of the Prentiss & Dickey, sash, door and blind factory. After remaining in their employ for some time Mr. Tomlinson helped to build and establish the plant of Bentley, Rider & Co., for whom he worked as a foreman until he became a member of the firm.
In 1896 he sold his interest in the firm of Bentley, Tomlinson & Rider and until he died was engaged in the retail lumber busi-
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ness. This business he built up from small beginnings to large and profitable proportions. After his death it was conducted for some time by his daughter, Mrs. Mae Young, who with his widow survived him and are both present residents of this city.
As a business man Mr. Tomlinson was strictly square and honorable. His reputation for integrity was never questioned and until failing health prevented, he was tirelessly active in building up and extending his interests.
He was a progressive and public spirited citizen and took a great interest in all civic affairs. He was alderman for several terms and for many years served as City Treasurer. For twenty- one years he was a member of the Board of Education, holding the record in Hastings for length of service on the board. He retired in 1898. For many years during his service on the school board he was president of that body, but whether serving as president or merely as a member, he always had a great influence in its deliberations. Much of the excellence of our splendid system of schools can be honestly credited to George S. Tomlinson. In politics he was a staunch Democrat.
Mr. Tomlinson was a worthy Knight of Pythias and devoted much time to the upbuilding of the Hastings lodge. While physically able he was ever a faithful attendant at its sessions.
He was a loving husband and father, a genial neighbor and a true friend.
DR. WILLIAM UP JOHN
Dr. William Upjohn was born in Shaftsbury, England, March 4, 1807. His father, whose name he bore, was a man of great ability and widely known throughout the west of England. He was a devoted Christian and was the author of several religious works. In 1795 he married Mary Standard, of Tisbury, and reared a family of twelve children, three boys and nine girls, William being the eldest son. Mr. Upjohn was a wealthy English gentleman and his children all received liberal educations.
It is most fitting here to speak of William's brother Uriah. In fact, it is impossible to write a sketch of the life of William Upjohn without touching upon the life of this brother, with whom he was always most closely associated. Together they came, in 1828, to explore the wonders of the new world. They
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DR. WM. UPJOHN
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both graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and together, in 1835, they both came to Michigan where they found vast fields of usefulness. They had no thought of remaining permanently in the then Territory of Michigan, but Uriah met pretty Maria Mills and after that he could not leave. They were married and lived long and useful lives. Their work and influence in Kalamazoo County, where Dr. Uriah had located, can never be forgotten. Not only was the doctor's med- ical skill widely sought, but he was a deep thinker and a sound adviser on all subjects. He would almost bear a part in the history of Barry County, for many a long ride did he take to Hastings from his home in Richland, and many a life was saved in Barry County by his wonderful medical skill. When Dr. Wil- liam Upjohn was in the Civil war it was to his brother, Uriah that the people of Hastings turned. No decisive step was ever taken by one brother without the counsel of the other, and this wonderful brotherly friendship and love is a thing to ever cherish and remember.
Both the brothers settled first in Richland, where William spent the first four years farming. But the work of caring for the sick was more than one physician could do and so he joined Uriah in the practice of medicine.
Dr. William Upjohn's first trip to Hastings was made by the marked trees to visit Mr. Leach, after whom Leach Lake was named. He left his patient with but a few hours to live and on his way home stopped in Hastings to care for the sick. In a little store building which stood where the white brick barn now stands, at the southeast corner of Creek and State streets, he met Henry A. Goodyear and Alvin Bailey. These gentlemen prevailed upon him to settle in Hastings, inasmuch as there was no physician in the place. This was in 1841. In 1842 he married Affa Cannett, who died in the first year of her married life. In 1847 he married Lydia Amelia, sister of his first wife, who was the mother of his three daughters. Dr. and Mrs. Upjohn spent a long life together, Mrs. Upjohn surviving her husband three years.
Dr. Upjohn's first home in Hastings was on the southwest corner of Creek and Apple streets. He later built the house which is now just east of the C., K. & S. railway where it inter-
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sects the Michigan Central. This place was laid out in garden beds bordered by English box and planted to shrubs and flowers. State street now passes through what was once the doctor's beau- tiful garden. He afterwards located on Broadway, where he made his home until his death. He owned some valuable pieces of property in Hastings.
Dr. William Upjohn was so prominently identified with the history of this county that his name can never pass from its pages. He was one of the best and grandest citizens Barry County ever had. He was loved and honored by all, not only for his medical skill, but for his work in public and among the poor.
In 1852 he was elected register of deeds and the same year he was elected a member of the first Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. At his death the University authorities paid him a very high tribute.
In 1862 Governor Blair tendered him the position of surgeon of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, which he accepted. From the position of regimental surgeon he was promoted to Surgeon- in-Chief of the First Brigade, First Division of Cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac. The doctor was with Kilpatrick in his raid on Richmond and accompanied General Sherman in his raid up James River. He served throughout the war and at its close went with General Custer to what were then the vast unexplored plains of the West, to put down the Indian trouble. He made as fine a war record as could be desired. The doctor was a great horseback rider and he took into the army with him the horse he had ridden in his practice. This faithful animal carried his master to the Black Hills and back and died in the stable from which he was taken when the doctor entered the service.
It was in 1865 when Dr. Upjohn once more returned to Hastings and resumed his practice, for several years in the '70's having associated with him his nephew, Dr. William E. Upjohn, now of Kalamazoo. He passed many useful years beloved and honored by his fellow citizens and died August 2, 1887, mourned by all.
CHRISTOPHER H. VAN ARMAN
This sketch is dedicated to the memory of Christopher H. Van Arman, who was taken away by an untimely death January
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C. H. VAN ARMAN
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12, 1890, at the age of 38, just as he was in the very prime of life and had before him the brightest and most promising of futures.
Born in Falkland, Brant County, Ontario, September 11, 1851, he came, six years later, with his family, to the township of Rutland, his father, George Van Arman, buying what is now the Gardner farm in that township. Later the father bought a farm about a mile west of the Gardner farm and there lived until his death. The family was a large one, consisting of five brothers and five sisters. Of these only five are now living: Joseph Van Arman, of Detroit; Mary, now Mrs. M. W. Hicks, of Hastings; Sarah, Mrs. Thos. Kelley, of Hope; Ruth, Mrs. Orley Peake, of Kansas City, and Harriet, Mrs. Mark Childs, of Fowlerville. The mother was Elizabeth Harrison Van Arman.
Young Christopher Van Arman attended district school in Rutland until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the employ of John M. Nevins of the Hastings Banner, with whom he worked at the printer's trade, boarding with the family. Later he taught district school and then was principal of schools at Nash- ville and Middleville. While teaching he studied law. He pur- sued his legal studies in the offices of James Sweezey and of L. E. & C. M. Knappen, and in 1881 was admitted to the bar. In 1882 he graduated from the law department of the University of Michi- gan, and in the following year became a partner in the firm of Knappen & Van Arman. In 1888 William J. Stuart of Grand Rapids allied himself with Mr. Knappen and Mr. Van Arman and the firm of Stuart, Knappen & Van Arman was thus formed. Mr. Knappen removed to Grand Rapids and the firm maintained offices in both that city and Hastings, with Mr. Van Arman in charge of the Hastings office.
In 1888 Mr. Van Arman was elected prosecuting attorney of Barry County on the Republican ticket by a majority of over 700 and this office he held at the time of his death.
He was a member of all the Masonic bodies in Hastings and was closely identified with the K. of P. He was a devoted and earnest churchman and was an active member of Emmanuel parish.
Mr. Van Arman was a striking example of what a young man can do unaided except by his own efforts. A deep and careful student, he made great progress in his chosen profession
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and at the time of his death had reached a position of great promise. He was of a deeply sincere and honorable nature and pre-eminently merited that highest of all titles, that of Christian gentleman.
His widow, Mrs. Clara Longmaid Van Arman, is now living at Salt Lake City.
LUKE WATERS
One of the eminently successful business men of Hastings and a man who has been repeatedly placed by his fellow citizens in offices of trust and honor, is Luke Waters.
Mr. Waters was born near Canandaigua, New York, in On- tario County, May 4th, 1853. His parents were Patrick and Mary Hoonan Waters and with them he came to Michigan in 1855, arriving in the Wolverine State in October of that year and settling in the Township of Irving on Section 29. Here for ten years the family lived the life of pioneers, undergoing experiences which a younger generation can know little of. Often times in order to eke out the family income the father went to work for his neighbors. For such work he received the sum of fifty cents a day, payment being made in produce.
In 1865 the family came to the vicinity of Hastings, locating on what is now the Wellman farm north of the city. Here the land had to be cleared and the ground prepared for cultivation by any but easy processes. It was hard work but it was honest and honorable. Of course money was not over plentiful and luxuries were scarce, but still there was always enough for com- fort and poverty was unknown.
In the midst of these circumstances, which were well calcu- lated to bring out the true American qualities of endurance and perseverance, young Waters grew to manhood. Then in 1876, at the age of 22, he left the farm and entered the employment of Barlow & Goodyear in their grain elevator, and it is this business of which Mr. Waters is now today the sole owner.
In 1880 Mr. Waters formed a partnership with F. H. Barlow and bought out Nathan Barlow, who had become the entire owner of the elevator business through the dissolution of the firm of Barlow & Goodyear. The new partnership continued until March, 1912, when on the death of Mr. Barlow, Mr. Waters assumed full ownership.
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LUKE WATERS
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During the many years which Mr. Waters has been in busi- ness he has always enjoyed a well earned reputation for absolute integrity and square dealing. He has always given careful atten- tion to all the details of his business and his success has been of his own making.
October 16, 1878, Mr. Waters married Adella Wickham, daughter of John Wickham of Hastings. From this marriage were born three children, James P., Sophia H. and Mary M., all of whom are still living. After a long illness Mrs. Waters died January 9, 1909.
Mr. Waters has always been a man who has been interested in the affairs of his community and he has held numerous offices in the city government. For twenty years he served on the Council as Alderman and for two terms, in 1897 and 1898, he was Mayor of the city. He is also Director in the City Bank, President of the Board of Trade, Director of the Manufacturers' Club and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Besides having always been in the grain and elevator busi- ness Mr. Waters has always been interested in farming. He is a practical farmer and thoroughly understands the tilling of the soil.
In February, 1910, Mr. Waters married Miss Ruth Handy of Hastings, who has always fully entered into his ideas of com- munity and civic betterment.
Mr. Waters' ideas on attaining success are interesting and well worth while. Industry, choosing a congenial occupation and then pushing that occupation without vacillation are, he believes, the essential elements of success.
Luke Waters has always been a square, straightforward citi- zen. He has attained success by his own efforts and by his own zeal. He has been public spirited and has the respect and good wishes of his fellow citizens.
JOHN WEISSERT
John Weissert, one of the first German residents of Hastings, was born in Freudenstadt, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on October 11, 1828. Left fatherless while very young, John went to work to help support himself, his mother and a young half- brother. When 14 years old, he apprenticed himself to a tinsmith
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for a term of three years. In those days it was the custom in Germany for every graduate apprentice to start out and gain worldly knowledge by working his way from town to town. This was called the "handwerksbusch." As soon as he had learned his trade, John left his native town in the heart of the Black Forest and worked his way through Wurtemberg and Northern Switzer- land. He battled with the world until he was 21 years old. Then he enlisted in the German army, for he came from a military family whose members had served under Napoleon in Eastern Europe, his uncle, General von Reichstadt, having won distinction in service in Austria. He gained a good knowledge of drilling and also became a sharpshooter. While stationed at the barracks in Stuttgart, the capital of the kingdom, he met and married Fred- ericka Handel, of the family of Handel the musician, who resided in the ancient town of Leonberg, romantic- ally located in the hills a few miles west of the city. It was here that their son, Charles G. Weissert, was born on March 26, 1852. Times were turbulent, and the young soldier decided to try his fortunes in the United States. He arrived in New York City late in 1853, and worked at his trade until he had saved enough money to bring his family to this country. After working a year in Philadelphia, he took his family to Herkimer, N. Y. Later they joined the tide of westward emigration and arrived in Hastings in 1855. He worked at his trade until 1859, when he moved to Ohio, but he returned to Hastings six months later. The second son, John Weissert, was born on August 13, 1860.
When the war spirit preceding the rebellion broke out, some of the residents organized themselves into the "Barry County Zouaves," and John Weissert drilled them in the upper story of the old court house and on the lawn. Giving his commands in broken English that often caused amusing mistakes, which he en- joyed as much as any of his men, he drilled the volunteers after the German methods. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Company C, First Regiment of Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. A few weeks afterward he was slightly wounded in the battle of Perry- ville, Ky., a bullet striking him in the hand as he raised his mus- ket. His true soldierly traits, strict adherence to discipline and faithful performance of duty won the regard of the officers, while his unchanging cheerfulness in the face of extreme hardship made
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JOHN WEISSERT
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him a great favorite with his comrades. When Governor Blair visited the camps at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Col. Innes of the First Engineers placed John on sentinel duty one night and had him challenge the party until the password was given, in order to show the governor what a faithful soldier he had. John was a com- panionable man and was in demand at officers' social gatherings. He was made a corporal, and afterward refused further promo- tion. In 1864 he returned to Hastings and enlisted a number of recruits. He was mustered out of service with his regiment in Washington, D. C., on January 18, 1865. Returning home, he worked at his trade until he established a hardware business of his own in 1870. He taught his trade to his two sons. In 1877, he and his older son, Charles, went into partnership.
After a brief illness of inflammatory rheumatism which re- sulted from his service in the army, John Weissert died on Sep- tember 27, 1883. His son, John, then entered the business now conducted by Weissert Brothers.
John Weissert was known throughout the county as "Honest John." He was noted for his kindness, his courtesy, his clean character, his devotion to his friends, his hospitality in his home, his absolute squareness in business dealings, and his spirit of lib- erality which amounted almost to a fault. He was unceasingly industrious, and thought nothing of walking a dozen or a score of miles to do work. When new arrivals in the county appeared in his store without a cent with which to pay for what they wanted to purchase, John unhesitatingly "trusted" them, for he believed everyone as honest as himself. "Take it along, I know you will pay," he said. Unreliable persons seeing that honesty was un- questioned, seldom failed to pay their debts. Many who after- wards prospered, had him to thank for assistance.
John Weissert was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he believed in that grand principle, "Do right, and fear naught." He became widely acquainted. He served with marked ability on the Board of Education. His popularity was proved by the great attendance at his funeral, which was the largest ever held in Barry County, people coming miles to pay their last respects. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, a charter member of the Hastings Arbeiter Verein and of Fitz- gerald Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His widow died on March 6, 1901.
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