USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 100
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in farming the rest of his life. He was, politically, a Democrat, and, religiously, he and his wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith they reared their family. Of their nine children, eight are living, James W. being the fifth in order of birth.
At the time the Langrell family moved to Maryland in 1856, James W. was a babe in arms. He grew up on a farm, early becoming famil- iar with all kinds of farm work as carried on in the east. At the age of twenty-three years he came west to Michigan, and here he has since re- sided.
December 21, 1882, Mr. Langrell married Miss Ella L. Aldrich, daughter of Charles and Louisa (Failing) Aldrich. Charles Aldrich, a New Yorker, had moved to Michigan at an early day and taken claim to a section of government land, which he developed into a fine farm on which he spent the rest of his life and died. He was a successful and influential man; cast his franchise with the Republican party, and wor- shiped with the Presbyterian church, of which he was a worthy member. Mr. and Mrs. Langrell have three children: Ivan W., Anna L. and Mar- garet A., all at home. The family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political loyalty Mr. Langrell gives to the same party his father supported-the Democratic party.
W. R. SKELLENGER, M. T. As a specialist in the broad field of the- rapy, Dr. Skellenger, Mechano-Therapist, has built up a large private practice in Battle Creek and to many has brought the means of better health and capacity for the daily responsibilities of life. The essence of his work as a specialist is stated in the brief line, "Permanent health through perfect circulation," and the science of mechano-therapy is based on the well known principles that the functions of the human body and life itself depend for efficiency on the proper circulation of the. stream of blood through all parts. Instead of restoring circulation by haphazard exercise or other means commonly employed, mechano- therapy applies artificial exercise by graduated and scientific manipula- tion of all portions of the body.
Dr. Skellenger was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, Michi- gan, June 2, 1872, was reared on the home farm there, attending the district schools, and was graduated from the Belding high school with the class of 1890. For his first regular occupation he chose the trade of barber, and was one of the popular men of the trade in Battle Creek for thirteen years, and still owns a financial interest in a shop in this city. From this his interest turned to a broader sphere of usefulness, and he took up his studies with the American College of Mechano-The- rapy at Chicago, where he was graduated with the degree of M. T., on December 9, 1908. Since beginning his practice he has gained, through his individual skill and studious and careful application of the princi- ples of his specialty, a foremost position among the practitioners in his line, and has a large patronage. He has treated people from all over the world, and there are hundreds who might testify to the benefits re- ceived from his practice. His offices are now in the Arcade build- ing.
During many years of residence in Battle Creek, Dr. Skellenger has won a host of friends, and is one of the popular men of his city. In politics he inclines to the principles of Socialism. His party placed his name without his solicitation on the city ticket for alderman of the first ward, and he made a very strong campaign, though defeated by the older party candidates. He is past grand of the Odd Fellows lodge of Battle Creek and is a member of Calhoun Tent No. 54, K. O. T. M. M.
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Dr. Skellenger's home is at 33 Tompkins street. He was married at Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 17, 1891, to Miss Laura Musser, and they are the parents of four children, namely : Kenneth A., who was born at Kalamazoo; Lewis E., born in Ionia county; W. Brian and Martha, born in Battle Creek, and they are all attending the Battle Creek schools.
FRANK A. WARREN, M. D., the efficient physician, whose professional services are so often in requisition in Tekonsha and its vicinity, is the descendant of a family of New England stock. His father was Lyman Warren of Vermont and his mother (who was Lyman Warren's sec- ond wife) was Betsy Brown Warren, the daughter of George Brown of New York. Frank A. Warren was the only child of this family. His birth occurred on May 10, 1845, in Jackson county, Michigan. His general education was secured in the public schools of Albion and later in those of Dewitt public school in Clinton county.
After completing this preparatory development, Frank Warren spent some time in a variety of temporary and experimental employments and then entered Cleveland Medical College. The latter part of his course, however, he pursued in the Detroit Homeopathic Medical College, from which he received his physician's diploma in 1875.
Dr. Warren was united in marriage to Miss Maria A. Dake, in 1872. The first Mrs. Warren was born in New York and died in Tekonsha in 1895. The children born of this union were five, four of whom have grown to maturity and into their own vocations. Grace E. is Mrs. J. A. Harsh of Idaho; Hattie A. is a teacher in the public schools of Buffalo, New York; Ada died at the age of four; Jennie B. is an attorney at Hoquiam, Washington; Mrs. Charles Smith, whose husband, Howard D., is a bank cashier at Deary, Idaho.
In July of 1897 Dr. Warren was married to Miss Edith A. Batts, a daughter of William S. Batts of Petoskey, formerly a farmer but now deceased. To this latter union one daughter has been born, who was named Hazel.
Dr. Warren is noted for his serious attention to the arduous duties of his profession, to which he gives his entire time and energies. He has never allowed either social or political affairs to interfere with his busi- ness of healing the sick and of saving life. He keeps abreast of the times in the science of which he is such a worthy exponent, being a wide reader on medical subjects and a member of the State Medical Society. July 2nd, 1912, Dr. Warren removed from Tekonsha to Smyrna, Ionia county, Michigan, where he has charge of a large sanitarium and he with his wife Edith A. Warren, are proprietors and manufacturers of a goitre and catarrh remedy with which they are having remarkable suc- cess.
CARL A. COLBURN, M. D. The medical profession of Calhoun county is represented by some of the most skilled and learned men of this call- ing to be found in the state. They have devoted themselves, their time, energy and lives to the preservation of public health, and the alleviation of human ills. Theirs is no easy task, nor is it always remunerated as befits their high standing and undoubted great work, and yet they cheer- fully accept the disadvantages, make the countless sacrifices asked of them, content to feel secure in well doing. Their training is exception- ally rigid, and embraces not only an ordinary college course, but months in a hospital as well, so that when they begin their practice they are really better fitted for their work than the old-time physician was after a lifetime of endeavor. One of the representative physicians of Cal-
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houn county, whose sympathy as well as knowledge has made him be- loved among his patients, is Carl A. Colburn, M. D., whose field of practice is the city of Homer. Dr. Colburn was born in Washington county, Vermont, February 28, 1840, and is a son of Alanson and Monicy (Dodge) Colburn.
William Colburn, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Colburn, was a native of New Hampshire, where he spent his entire life. He reared a family of nine children, each of whom lived to be more than eighty years of age. Alanson Colburn was born in Lyme, New Hampshire, February 22, 1809, and in 1820 removed to Vermont, where he spent his life until 1867. At that time he removed to Cambria, Michigan, and subsequently went to the town of Butler, where his death occurred in 1890, he having been a carpenter in early life and subsequently turn- ing his attention to farming and becoming the owner of seventy-five acres of land. In politics he was a Republican. He and his wife, who was born in Washington county, Vermont, October 16, 1813, were mem- bers of the Hard Shell Baptist church and the parents of two children : Arthur T., born in 1836, and now deceased; and Carl A. The maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Dodge, spent his whole life in his native Ver- mont.
Carl A. Colburn received his early education in the schools of Ver- mont, and there attended the academy at Morrisville. During five years he studied medicine, but during the Civil war turned his atten- tion to photography, and he sent many a picture of wives and sweet- hearts and others to soldiers of Vermont, in the army to help cheer them up. At close of war he entered the office of Dr. A. M. Ruggles, of East Hardwick, Vermont, and in 1866 began practice there, but in 1867 came to Michigan. At that time the field of medicine was not so prolific as at present, and Dr. Colburn found it necessary to engage in various other occupations, for some years being a jack-of-all-trades, working at painting, wall paper hanging and farming, and in fact turn- ing his hand to whatever honorable work presented itself. During all this time, however, his practice had been steadily growing, and in 1878 and 1879 he went to the Cleveland Homeopathic College. On his grad- uation therefrom, he located in Butler, Michigan, and there continued in practice until 1891, at that time coming to Homer. He has since built up a large and lucrative practice here, and is recognized as one of Calhoun's capable and thoroughly trained physicians and surgeons. He keeps abreast of all the changes in his profession, and is a valued mem- ber of the Michigan Homeopathic Medical Society, is a Republican in his political views, and with his wife is a consistent attendant of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. Colburn was married in 1866, to Myra O. Johnson, and to this union there have been born three children : Nellie, who married Clarence A. McDonals, a farmer of Butler, who has served as clerk, treasurer and supervisor of Branch county ; Mabel, who married John Fair, of Homer, engaged in the undertaking business; and Clyde, who is deceased, mar- ried Lucina A. Hopkins.
WILL E. HALLADAY is a native born resident of Battle Creek, and as such is one of the best known citizens in the city. He is the son of W. Thompson Halladay and Ann Rebecca (Sweeney) Halladay. The father, who was a native of New York state, came to Michigan with his parents. James and Mary Ann (Fiero) Halladay, and James Halladay owned and operated a brick yard in Bedford township for years. His son. W. Thompson, there grew to years of maturity, and eventually married Ann Sweeney, and for a time thereafter he was employed in the brick-
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yard by his father. Subsequently he became the proprietor of the Battle Creek House, and he later owned and conducted a hotel near the former site of the Michigan Central depot. In later years he took possession of the Crane House, afterwards known as the Commercial House, which he conducted prosperously until the Civil war period. Hotel business became dull at that time, and he lost heavily, and was eventually com- pelled to withdraw from the business. He took a position in the store of J. E. Halladay, his brother, and later was employed by another brother, A. S. Halladay. He then began in business for himself again and conducted a grocery store on Main street, a business in which he continued until failing health compelled him to retire from active com- mercial life. Mr. Halladay was a prominent and popular man in Battle Creek, and he was a musician of more than ordinary ability. For many years he was a member of the Halladay Orchestra, in that period a noted organization in southern Michigan. Mr. Halladay played both the violin and the double bass viol. He died on May, 26, 1902, and his wife preceded him, passing away on June 13, 1899. Both are buried in Oak Hill cemetery. They were the parents of eleven children,-eight boys and three girls, of which number four boys and one girl are yet living. They are : Mott S., of Van Horn, Texas; Mrs. C. R. Dye of Battle Creek ; Will E., of this review; Claude B. of Laporte, Indiana; and Harold F. of this city.
Will E. Halladay was born on December 4, 1863, and he is the seventh child of his parents. He received his education in this city, after which he spent two years in various parts of Texas, and returning home went to work for the Michigan Central Railroad. He was employed for six years as a cashier with the company, after which he entered the service of the Advance Thresher Company, now the M. Rumley Company. He first became identified with the business in 1890, and he has remained continuously with them during the years that have passed, twenty-two in number, holding the position of traffic manager of the company. Mr. Halladay was a stockholder in the old Advance Thresher Company, and is a stockholder in the newer firm, the M. Rumley Company. He is also a stockholder in the Union Steam Plow Company of this city.
Mr. Halladay is a Republican with regard to his political beliefs, but is not particularly active in such matters. He is a member of Battle Creek Lodge No. 12 A. F. & A. M. and of the Chapter of the R. A. M. He is a member of the Athelstan Club, and is the owner of a summer cottage at Goguac Lake where the family frequently spend the summer months.
Mr. Halladay married Miss Nellie E. Metcalf, the daughter of David H. and Lydia (Muffley) Metcalf, an old and highly respected family of Battle Creek. Mr. Metcalf makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Halla- day, and Mrs. Metcalf passed away in 1910. Mrs. Halladay was born, reared and educated here, and is one of the best known and most popular matrons in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Halladay are the parents of one son,- Ivor R., born here on July 31, 1889. He was graduated from the Battle Creek high school in the class of 1907, and is now in his fifth year in the law department at the University of Michigan. Mrs. Halladay has been secretary of the Women's League of Battle Creek for almost two years, an office which may not be held for longer than a two year period; hence her term of service in that capacity is nearing an end.
COLONEL JOHN WATSON. Years of honorable and efficient service for a great corporation and varied activity in civic and social life have constituted a very complete and praiseworthy career for Colonel John Watson, one of Battle Creek's best known citizens. He is one of the
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oldest native sons of southern Michigan, and practically all his life of more than threescore years and ten has been spent in this state.
Colonel Watson is a native of the famous old pioneer town of White Pigeon in St. Joseph county, where he was born on the 10th of October, 1836. His parents, William and Mary Watson, who were born and married in England and thence came to America, settled in southern Michigan about the time the country was opened to actual settlement and purchase of the lands by white people. At the town of White Pigeon which was the seat of the land office and a very important place in early days, the father built and kept the White Pigeon Hotel, a hos- telry where hundreds of settlers and pioneer emigrants were entertained in addition to many of the prominent professional and public men of the day. Nine children were born to William and Mary Watson, and seven of them grew up, and two sons and two daughters are still living.
At White Pigeon John Watson spent his youth, getting his education in the local schools and learning the hotel business from his father. When the Lake Shore Railroad was constructed from White Pigeon to Grand Rapids he was engaged in the work, and was one of the first con- ductors on that line. It was not long after this that he entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railway as dining car superintendent. When on May 1, 1908, Colonel Watson retired and his name placed on the pension rolls he was dean of the dining car superintendents, a work and a service which he had worked in almost from its crude beginnings on American railways. He had been a dining car superintendent for the Grand Trunk for thirty-seven years, and a circular sent out by the officials of that railway commended and honored his long and efficient career in that capacity. At the convention of the dining car superin- tendents at the Palmer House in Chicago in 1901, he was the guest of honor and was the chairman who called the meeting to order.
Colonel Watson is a thirty-second degree Mason, and is past com- mander of the Battle Creek Commandery No. 33 and a member of the Saladin Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Rapids. He also affiliates with the Elks Lodge, and was formerly a popular member of the Athel- stan and Country Clubs, but is no longer active in those organizations. Colonel Watson for nearly seventy years has known conditions and people in southern Michigan, and through half of his lifetime he was one of the familiar figures along the route of the Grand Trunk. His knowledge easily extends back to the pioneer era, for his father was one of the settlers who took up government land about White Pigeon, be- coming owner of six hundred and forty acres there in the early days.
On July 29, 1855, Colonel Watson was married to Miss Sarah A. Miller, of Centerville, Michigan. Their married life extended through thirty-five years, until her death at Battle Creek on August 6, 1890. There are four children : Addie, who married Frank E. Smith, and died at Minneapolis in 1909; S. E. Watson, a resident of New York; Mrs. Hulda MacDonald, of Grand Rapids; and W. W. Watson, of Portland, Oregon. Colonel Watson married, at Milwaukee, on Christmas eve of 1892, Jessie F. Crosman. Her father was Galen T. Johnson, whose death occurred in Battle Creek, May 1, 1911. Colonel Watson and wife reside at 150 Chestnut street. His home for many years was at White Pigeon, where his children were all born and educated.
WILLIAM H. SNYDER. As a representative of the great basic indus- try of agriculture and as one who has met with more than ordinary suc- cess in the prosecution of his independent calling, William H. Snyder is pleasantly located on the productive farm of one hundred and ninety acres, eligibly situated in Athens township, Calhoun county, Michigan,
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where he is most profitably engaged in general agricultural operations and stock-raising.
William H. Snyder was born at LaGrange, Indiana, December 8, 1869, and he is a son of Reuben A. and Christina A. (Mallow) Snyder, the former of whom passed to the life eternal January 1, 1908, and the latter of whom is now a resident of the village of Athens. On other pages of this work, in a sketch dedicated to John J. Snyder, brother of the subject of this review, appears a summary of the life of R. A. Snyder so that further mention concerning the family history at this point is not deemed necessary.
The first in order of birth in a family of three children, William H. Snyder was a child of but four years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Michigan, in 1873. The family located on a farm in Athens township, Calhoun county and in due time the father became the owner of a fine estate of one hundred and ninety acres, all of which he cleared and cultivated himself. This beautiful farm is now conducted by Mr. Snyder, of this notice. He received his rudimentary educational train- ing in the public schools of Athens and as a youth assisted his father in the work and management of the home farm. In about 1894 he began to work in a cooperage factory at Athens and he remained in the em- ploy of that concern for three years, at the end of which he returned to the old homestead, which he has since managed and operated. In addition to diversified agriculture he raises considerable live stock and he has gained precedence as one of the foremost farmers in Calhoun county, where he is looked upon as a man of mark in all the relations of life. He is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party in his political convictions and while he does not participate actively in local politics he gives freely of his aid and influence in sup- port of all measures and enterprises forwarded for progress and improve- ment.
May 15, 1895, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Snyder to Miss Myrtle Holcomb, whose birth occurred at Burr Oak, St. Joseph county, Michigan, February 4, 1875, and who is a daughter of Milo and Frances Celia (Hutchins) Holcomb. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb are both living, their home being in Athens township, and Mrs. Snyder's grandfather Hutchins, who has reached the age of ninety-three years, maintains his home in the village of Athens. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have two children, -Vernor O. and Letha F., both in school at Athens.
NELSON A. SHEDD, R. F. D. No. 3, Tekonsha, Michigan, has been identified with the agricultural interests of this locality all his life. His parents, Ranodyne and Phoebe (Robinson) Shedd, natives of New York, came west to Michigan in 1835 and settled in Tekonsha township, Calhoun county, and it is a matter of record that George Shedd, a brother of Nelson A., was the first white child born in this township. Ranodyne Shedd helped to build the mill race at Marshall and also the one at Tekonsha. When this work was completed, he turned his atten- tion to buying and clearing land. He prospered in his undertakings and acquired a large estate, at the time of his death being the owner of 680 acres. He had made the emigration tour from New York to Mich- igan by wagon, and he experienced every phase of pioneer life as it was found here, and here he and his good wife reared their family to occupy useful and respected places in life. Of their eleven children only two are now living.
Ranodyne Shedd was a son of Samuel Shedd, who lived and died in Vermont, and who belonged to the family of Shedds in this country fathered by Daniel Shedd who came to America in the sixteenth cen-
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tury. It was in 1812 that Ranodyne Shedd was born, and he died in Michigan in 1887. He was, politically, a Republican, and at various times he was elected to local office and served efficiently ; indeed, he filled all the township offices. His wife was a member of the Baptist church. Her death occurred in 1876.
May 22, 1858, in Tekonsha township, Nelson A. Shedd was born, youngest of his father's family. He was educated in the district schools and early in life was made familiar with all kinds of farm work. Today he is the owner of 264 acres of land, and in addition to carrying on general farming he is engaged in the ice business, packing ice in winter and in summer delivering it to city customers.
On reaching his majority, in 1879, Mr. Shedd took to himself a wife in the person of Miss Delina C. Abel, daughter of Moses M. and Emma (Bradley) Abel, natives of New York, who came to Michigan at an early day and settled on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Shedd have five chil- dren : Clyde, George, Glenn, Leon and Dora, all at home except George who is with the Albion Malleable Iron Works, Albion, Michigan. Clyde and Leon are interested with their father in farming.
While he has never sought official preferment, and is wholly out of politics, Mr. Shedd has always been a loyal supporter of the Republican party. Mrs. Shedd is a member of the Baptist church.
HENRY F. GILBERT has long been a resident of Albion, and is a na- tive son of Calhoun county, born at Tekonsha on May 11, 1845. He is the son of Burton and Laura (Mix) Gilbert, who were natives of New York and Vermont, and the father was engaged in farming in Calhoun county for many years. When the Civil war broke out Henry F. Gilbert was but sixteen years of age, but like many another loyal son of Mich- igan, his youth was not sufficient to restrain him from offering his serv- ices in behalf of the Union, and he accordingly enlisted from Tekonsha, Calhoun county, on September 16, 1861, in Company E, of the First Michigan Third Brigade, in the First Division of the Fifth Army Corps, and he began active service at Gaines Mills, followed by engagements at Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Shepardstown Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wil- derness, Spottsylvania, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Weldon R. R., Hatcher's Run, Siege of Petersburg, Five Forks, High Bridge, Appomatox, with several minor skirmishes. Mr. Gilbert was discharged on February 28, 1864, at Beverly Ford, only to re-enlist as a veteran in the same com- mand, after which he was given a furlough of thirty days. In April, 1862, he was detailed as guide for the Brigade and served two months. On August 30th, he was slightly wounded at Bull Run and in September, 1862, received a slight scalp wound at Shepardstown Ford. In Decem- ber, 1863, he was attacked with lung fever, or pneumonia, and was in regimental hospital camp at Fredericksburg for three weeks. He was honorably discharged July 9, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana, after having served throughout the war and participated in some of its most noted engagements. Mr. Gilbert's half-brother. John C. Failing, also served in the Civil war and was shot through the lungs at Chan- cellorsville. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Gilbert, served in the War of 1812.
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