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 107
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Marcus M. Calkins acquired his early education in the schools of Geauga county. Ohio. his education extending through the curriculum of the school. He then became associated with his father in the lumber business. remaining with him until he attained his majority, and in that time gaining a most valuable insight into the various corners of the lumber business, and becoming sufficiently familiar with it to wish to continue in the same business. He went to Big Rapids, Michigan, upon
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severing his connection with his father, and there became a member of the Fitch Phelps Lumber Company. Some little time thereafter he en- tered the business on his own responsibility and began shipping lumber and logs. This business he carried on for a matter of fifteen years, and his operations covered a large number of states. In 1898 he located in Albion, where he has since continued to reside, and where he has large wholesale lumber interests which require his attention.
In 1869 Mr. Calkins married Miss Cornelia Decker of Branch county. She is the daughter of Lawrence Decker, an old resident who came to Branch county in 1837. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Calkins : Ethel J., now a widow, and Kate L., who lives in Port Arthur, Texas. Mr. Calkins and his family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. The family home is maintained on East Porter street, and is one of the fine modern residences of the city.
WILLIAM S. POTTER, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Battle Creek, Michigan, has perhaps the widest acquaintance and can num- ber more people as his friends than can any other man in the city of Battle Creek or in Calhoun county. He has been pastor of the Battle Creek church for twenty-three years, and since he is a man of broad views and is in sympathy with any religious movement in so far as it is beneficial to the people, he has gained many and warm friends and his personal popularity has had a great deal to do with his success as a minister.
William S. Potter was born at State Bridge, Oneida county, New York, on the 30th of December, 1850. He received his first education in the district school from which he entered the Verona high school and then Whitestown Academy. Having completed the course at the latter place he then entered Hamilton College, and upon determining to enter the ministry, matriculated at Auburn Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated.
The Reverend Mr. Potter was ordained to the ministry of the Pres- byterian church and has had three pastorates since that time. His ordi- nation took place at Auburn, New York, in May, 1878, and from 1878 until 1884 he was located at Petoskey, Michigan. In 1884 he was trans- ferred to Ionia, Michigan, and here he remained until 1888 when he came to Battle Creek.
He was very active during his residence in Petoskey in the endeavor to build up a good school system and was a member of the school board as well as the incumbent of the office which is now known as the office of county commissioner of schools. A short time before his settling in Battle Creek Rev. Potter made an extensive tour of Europe, and in 1907 he took a Mediterranean trip, visiting the Holy Land, Egypt and other places in Africa, Turkey, Greece, the south of France, Malta, and the many other places in that part of the world where history has been made.
When he came to take charge of the Battle Creek church, he found it with a membership of one hundred and seventy-five. How faithfully he worked and how successful were his labors may be seen by the fact that when he resigned in August 18, 1911, to take a much needed rest he left a church membership roll of seven hundred members. During this time a new church building was erected and was dedicated in Feb- ruary, 1896.
In addition to the work of his pastorate, Mr. Potter has always taken an active part in the affairs of the community. How busy his pastoral life has been may be imagined from the bare fact that he has officiated at sixteen hundred weddings and about eighteen hundred funerals dur-
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ing his residence in Battle Creek. He was the father of the Young Men's Christian Association, having taken measures soon after his ar- rival to secure this institution for the city, and for a number of years he was its president.
The broad mindedness which Mr. Potter has always displayed, and the friendship which he has for the churches and the work of other denominations has won him the highest regard of the whole city, and now that he is no longer in active work, his presence is greatly missed. Mr. Potter does not consider himself as having permanently retired but may after a while take another pastorate.
WILLIAM J. MCFADDEN. As long as our republic endures will the American nation owe a debt of gratitude and honor to the brave "boys in blue" who went forth in defense of the integrity of the nation at the climacteric period of the Civil war. One of the gallant and loyal soldiers contributed to this conflict by Calhoun county is William J. McFadden, who has here maintained his home for nearly sixty years and who is now living retired in the city of Marshall, secure in the high regard of all who know him and numbered among the sterling pioneer citizens of the county. He was for many years actively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and developed one of the valuable farms of the county. He came to America as a mere boy and dependent upon his own resources in making his way in the world. He faced the problem with the same self-reliance, vigor and earnestness that characterized his service as a soldier of the republic, and with the passing of years he achieved define and worthy success as a member of the world's noble army of productive workers. Now venerable in years and surrounded by friends who are tried and true, he finds the gracious evening of his life pleasing in envir- onment and associations, and his status in the community is such as to entitle him to special recognition in this publication.
Mr. McFadden was born in county Antrim, Ireland, on the 10th of April, 1836, and is a son of Arthur and Sarah Jane McFadden, both of whom passed their entire lives in the fair old Emerald Isle.
William J. McFadden is indebted to the schools of his native land' for his early educational discipline, and at the age of sixteen years he severed the ties that bound him to home and native land and courage- ously set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He landed in the port of the national metropolis and remained in the state of New York about three years, at the expiration of which he came to Michigan and made Calhoun county his destination. He secured employment on the farm of a Mr. Aldrich, and with the passing of the years he so ordered his efforts and conserved his resources that he was enabled to purchase and develop an excellent farm, of one hundred and fourteen acres. To this he added until he became the owner of an estate of two hundred and eleven acres, and this he still retains in his possession. He was long numbered among the enterprising farmers and stock-growers of the county and through his own ability and labors he achieved independence and definite prosperity. In 1895 he laid aside the cares and responsi- bilities that had so long engrossed his attention, and removed from his old homestead to a pleasant residence in the city of Marshall, where he has since lived retired, and where he and his devoted wife are enjoying the just recompense of former endeavors.
In the meanwhile Mr. McFadden had responded to the call of higher duty, when the integrity of the nation was menaced by armed rebellion. He subordinated all personal interests to go forth in defense of the Union, and well did he serve the country of his adoption-a valiant and loyal soldier who took part in many sanguinary conflicts on the battle
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fields of the south. In August, 1861, Mr. McFadden enlisted as a private in Company I, Twentieth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the city of Washington and which was forthwith assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He took part in virtually all of the en- gagements in which his regiment was involved, including a number of the most important battles marking the progress of the great internecine conflict, and he continued in active service until he received his honorable discharge. The ranks of those who thus fought for the nation's integrity are fast becoming depleted by the one invincible foe of mankind, but Mr. McFadden continues to take a deep interest in his old comrades, as is shown by his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, in his home city. The year 1867 bore record of the marriage of Mr. McFadden to Miss Josephine Brown. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
JESSE HUGGETT. The ascent from poverty and obscurity to a com- fortable worldly condition and consequence among men is a steep and rugged one, beset with many obstacles and bestrewn with difficulties until a commanding height is attained, when Fate seems to withdraw her grudge and assist the resolute climber who has thus far challenged her to combat and contested with her courageously and successfully. But it is one that millions in this country have made and many millions have tried to make and failed in the attempt.
Jesse Huggett, one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Penfield township in this county has succeeded in making this ascent, and it is altogether to his credit that his success is due to nothing but his own pluck, endurance and persistency. He is a native of England, born on March 8, 1832, and a son of Thomas and Mary (Wickem) Hug- gett, also natives of England, the former born in 1803 and the latter in 1821. They were married in that country and came to the United States in 1836, locating near Rochester, New York.
Although they seemed to be rather far West then, as they were for that day, there was a growing allurement for them in the promise of the wilds beyond them in the wake of the setting sun, and in 1854 they came to Michigan and Calhoun county, finding a new home in Convis township. Here they passed the remainder of their days, the mother dying in 1864 and the father in 1878. The father was a blacksmith and wrought at his trade in his native land and during many years in this country. Finally he bought a farm in this county, on which he was liv- ing at the time of his death.
Twelve children were born of their union, Jesse being the fifth in the order of birth, and eight besides him being now alive. The father was a Democrat in political faith and activity, and both parents belonged to the Episcopal church, of which they were devout and consistent adherents. He was successful in his efforts for advancement, and by industry at his forge and on his farm accumulated a comfortable estate for his time and surroundings, exercising good judgment in the manage- ment of his affairs. Jesse Huggett obtained his education in the district schools, and began life for himself as a farmer after it was completed as far as his opportunities allowed him to go. He also operated a thresh- ing outfit for a few years in connection with his farming operations. He started, however, as a farm hand, working by the month for three years and saving his earnings with a view to the start on a farm of his own, as indicated above. He also worked on a canal in New York for one year, the great Erie canal, that mighty intenal waterway that has done so much for the development and improvement of the interior of New York state.
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Mr. Huggett bought his first farm in 1856, the one on which he now lives. It comprises eighty-five acres, and when he bought it was without improvements of any kind. He erected all the buildings and fences and made all the other improvements on this farm, and by his energy, thrift and good management it has been transformed into a very productive and valuable one. Here he has conducted general farming operations with enterprise and skill for over half a century, and to such good pur- pose that he has been enabled, through what he has won from its fruitful soil, to buy another farm of sixty-five acres in a different location, and this also is under his direct control in its cultivation and everything that pertains to it.
Mr. Huggett was married in 1856 to Miss Fannie Calender, a daugh- ter of Dewey S. Calender, an early settler in Michigan and Calhoun county, having as part of the land on which he located the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Huggett. He afterward moved to Wiseon- sin, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Huggett have had six children, five of whom are living : William, who is a resident of Convis township; Mary Frances, who married Frank Avery, and with him has her home in Battle Creek; George, who died a number of years ago; Maud, who is the wife of Eric Southerland, her second husband, whom she married after the death of Daniel Greinman, her first, and now is a resident of North Dakota; Henry, who lives on a farm in Convis township, and Millie, who is the wife of Abraham Walkinshaw.
Mrs. Huggett is a member of the Baptist church, which her husband also attends. He is a Republican in politics, and has served on the school board and as road commissioner. He has always been practically and serviceably interested in the welfare of his township and county and done all he could to promote it. The people around him and through- out the county esteem him highly and look upon him as one of their most useful, upright, enterprising and estimable citizens.
JAMES LANE. Michigan was especially fortunate in having been first settled by men of resolution, stability and true personal worth and integ- rity. Noteworthy among the earlier pioneers of Calhoun county was James Lane, who not only cleared and improved a good farm in Convis, but became widely known as a prosperous and popular tavern keeper. A native of England, he was born, in 1807, at Great Cumberton, Worcester- shire, his parents being then in humble circumstances.
When a small lad of twelve years, James Lane began hustling for himself, a situation having been secured for him with Rev. Dr. Haggitt, of Pershore, Worcestershire, with whom he remained for quite awhile, being employed in different capacities, the last five years of the time serving as butler. In 1833 Mr. Lane took unto himself a wife, marrying Sarah Finch, of Forrest Row, county Sussex, England, and located in London, where he embarked in business as a milk dealer. His health becoming impaired, and his prospects for, very materially adding to his finances being not very encouraging, Mr. Lane determined to try the hazard of fortunes in the New World, and sailed with his wife to New York. Pushing his way onward from the Atlantic coast to Michigan, he arrived in Marshall, Calhoun county, November 5, 1835. Looking about for a favorable place in which to invest his cash capital of sixty- two pounds, he bought seventy-four and three-fourths acres of land in section twenty-seven, Convis, and there began the pioneer task of clear- ing and improving a farm. Very soon after locating there, Mr. Lone opened a tavern, and as "mine host" acquired an enviable reputation among the traveling public, and formed the acquaintance of many prominent men, who subsequently became his warm friends. As a
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farmer and inn keeper he met with satisfactory success, accumulating a fair share of this world's goods ere his death, which occurred August 4, 1880.
Mr. and Mrs. Lane became the parents of five children, all of whom grew to years of maturity, as follows: Thomas, born in London, Eng- land, October 30, 1834, married, December 27, 1856, Marie L. Alton; Charles James, born June 27, 1837, on the home farm in Convis mar- ried, in June, 1869, Cornelia Cook, and is now living in Marshall, retired from his long and successful career as a physician and surgeon; Caro- line, born August 31, 1840, became the wife of Henry Potter, of Convis, their marriage having been celebrated December 9, 1859; Edward F., born November 24, 1842, married, in May, 1871, Milly Baldwin; and William A., born March 31, 1845, married, August 23, 1870, Jennie Hill.
CHARLES J. LANE M. D. For many years actively engaged in one of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies, Charles J. Lane, M. D., a retired physician and surgeon of Marshall, gained not only marked prestige in his profession, but has ever been recognized as a progressive and public-spirited citi- zen, and as one who orders his life upon the highest principles of honor and integrity. A son of James Lane, of whom a brief record appears elsewhere in this volume, he was born, June 27, 1837, in Convis, Cal- houn county, Michigan, of English ancestry.
Acquiring his early education in log school houses, and at Olivet Institute, he entered the medical department of the University of Michi- gan in 1860. The following year, in September, 1861, he entered the army as hospital steward in Captain Howland's Battle Creek Engineer Corps, and served until January 8, 1862, when he was honorably dis- charged, and embarked in private practice. Going to Philadelphia in 1863, Dr. Lane continued his studies in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, at the same time attending clinics at the Pennsylvania and Blockley hospitals. In the early part of May, 1864, armed with letters of introduction from prominent surgeons and gov- ernment officials to the secretary of war, he went to Washington, and was there appointed a medical officer in the regular army, with the rank of first lieutenant. The doctor was then ordered to report for duty at the Columbia College Hospital, and on the twenty-third day of that same month was transferred to the department of the east, under com- mand of General John A. Dix, with headquarters in New York City. He was at once assigned to duty on board the United States Hospital trans- port "Western Metropolis," where he served as chief medical officer for eight months. Being then transferred to the United States hospital transport "Northern Light," he there served in the same capacity for five months.
The "Western Metropolis" and "Northern Light" were among the largest and best-equipped transports in use during the Civil war, the former having been chartered by the government for $800.00 per day, and the latter for $850.00 per day. These transports always carried from five to eight medical officers, and to Dr. Lane fell the honor and distinction of being the only one of the surgeons and physicians who served continuously on those two magnificent steamers during the entire time that they were in commission as hospital transports. On Septem- ber 16, 1865. the doctor was sent by the war department to Port Royal, South Carolina, where he was placed in charge of the officer's ward at the United States General Hospital, at that point. Resigning his posi-
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tion on February 28, 1866, the doctor returned to Michigan, and was actively engaged in the practice of his profession until his retirement, in 1905. During the administrations of Presidents Harrison and Cleve- land, he served as United States Pension Examining Surgeon.
Dr. Lane married, in June, 1869, Cornelia Cook, and they have a pleasant home at 524 West Mansion street, Marshall. The doctor is now filling two public offices, being justice of the peace and county coroner.
WILLIAM J. PORR is superintendent of the sewer department of the city of Albion, and has for years been engaged as a practical plumber and contractor in the city. He was born in Cochecton, New York state, on May 9, 1857, and is the son of William J. and Katherine (Prush) Porr, early settlers of Cochecton, Sullivan county, New York. The father was a shoemaker by trade and a builder of some importance, being connected largely with the public works. He also was interested in farming to some extent. He died young, being but forty-two years old, while the mother passed away in her fortieth year.
Their son, the subject of this review, was educated in the district school and later attended the Home Academy at Wayne, Penn- sylvania. He then entered the employ of the Lorain & Wheeling Rail- way, remaining with them three years. He came to Michigan in 1872, soon becoming connected with the Windmill Manufacturing Com- pany, after which he was employed by the Gale Springtooth, Harrow, Seeder Company, as a traveling salesman, covering the states of Michi- gan, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. He was later employed by the Union Windmill Manufacturing Company, his sales covering the states of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Later he engaged in the plumbing business in which business he continued until 1906, when he sold out his plumbing business and decided to retire from business. He has from time to time been employed by the city of Albion to superintend the more im- portant of its great public works. It was under his supervision that the waterworks system of the city was laid out and constructed. Later, after the disasterous flood of 1908, when most of the bridges of Albion were swept away, Mr. Porr was the inspector under whom the new steel and concrete bridges were constructed. Practically the most im- portant of the public works of the city that he has undertaken and pushed through to successful completion is what is known as the Black Ditch Sewer, a great artery, not only draining the vast swamp in the southwestern part of the city, but furnishing the most comprehensive sewer system in the city. This project considered by many engineers impracticable and expensive to almost a prohibitory degree was completed by Mr. Porr in less than one year at a cost of less than $10,000.00, or a sum less than one-third of the engineers estimated cost. A number of other difficult and expensive sewer systems have been constructed by him with the same degree of celerity and economy so marked in the Black Ditch Sewer.
Mr. Porr, by his industry and business capacity, has accumulated a comfortable fortune. He is the owner of several business blocks in the city of Albion and a fine farm just a short distance from the city. In 1898 he was elected as one of the aldermen of the city, and later became a member of the board of public works, an office which he has held for a number of years.
In 1880 Mr. Porr was married to Miss Kate Rahrmann, of Albion, a daughter of Anton Rarhmann. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Porr,-May, who is the wife of Raymond H. Bishop, of Los Angeles, California.
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EDWARD B. ZIMMER. Among those who have made their own way in the world from early youth, who have surmounted all obstacles in their path and attained success in their chosen callings, Edward B. Zimmer takes prominent place. Although his success so far is not of gigantic or sensational character, it shows integrity of purpose and true manhood, and he is known as an able and enterprising business man of Battle Creek, where he acts in the capacity of secretary of the Battle Creek Gas Company, one of the city's most important industries. Mr. Zimmer was born at Spring Lake, Ottawa county, Michigan, August 16, 1877, and is a son of Nathan and Katherine (Spinner) Zimmer. The former, who spent his life in the vocation of sawyer, passed away some six or seven years ago, while the latter still survives and makes her home in Grand Rapids. There were four daughters and two sons in the family, Edward B. being the third in order of birth and the only one residing in Battle Creek:
Edward B. Zimmer secured his educational training in the public schools of Spring Lake, and in 1897 came to Battle Creek and entered the Krug Business College, where he secured a thorough training in business matters. His connection with the Battle Creek Gas Company began in 1900, at which time he entered the employ of this concern as collector and bookkeeper, but after two or three months gave up collecting in order to give his full attention to the books of the com- pany. In 1907 he had so gained the confidence and esteem of his em- ployers, that he was elected secretary of the company, a position he has held to the present time. An alert, progressive business man, he has done much to advance the interests of his company and to improve its service, and his work has been appreciated alike by the members of the company and by the public at large. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge in Battle Creek, and was reared in the faith of the Catholic church.
On June 18, 1902, Mr. Zimmer was married in Battle Creek to Miss Ruth Agness Stewart, who was born in Calhoun county, and is a graduate of Olivet College. The family home is situated at No. 27 Cliff street.
MRS. MAY LEVERANCE is the widow of Lovell B. Leverance, a man well known for years in Jackson and Calhoun counties, and now deceased. Mrs. Leverance prior to her marriage was May G. Jacobs, the daughter of D. L. Jacobs, for many years a resident of Jackson county, who later moved into Albion, there purchasing a number of brick blocks and coming to own large real estate holdings. The mother of Mrs. Lever- ance was Lucy A. (Beebe) Jacobs, a native of Vermont, while the father was a native of New York state. They were pioneer settlers of Michigan and both are now deceased.
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