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 13
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RILLIE F. HOFFMASTER. Of the two sons of the late Peter Hoff- master, the first to enter business was Rillie F., who is now treasurer
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of the P. Hoffmaster Sons Co. Limited, the splendid mercantile estab- lishment whose founding and growth have been sketched above.
Rillie F. Hoffmaster was born at Kalamazoo, August 31, 1862, and has lived in Battle Creek since 1872, in which year his father began business here. Most of his education was obtained in the city schools, and later he attended the Ellsworth Business College. As it was his father's policy that both sons should earn their advancement on their own merit, Rillie F., began as a clerk in 1880 and worked with the other employees until he had acquired all the details of merchandis- ing. On the death of his father he and his brother became executors of the estate for the other heirs. February 1, 1903, the mercantile business was incorporated under the name of P. Hoffmaster Sons Company Limited, which was capitalized at seventy-five thousand dol- lars. William M. Hoffmaster was chosen chairman, R. F. became treasurer, and Helen M. Hoffmaster secretary. At the present time the officers are the same except that F. O. Nickerson is secretary. As the oldest dry-goods store in Battle Creek, it is also one of the largest in this section of the state in extent and volume of its trade. It occu- pies three store rooms and the basement of the Opera House block, on the same site where the elder Hoffmaster began business forty years ago.
Besides his association with this establishment for over thirty years, Mr. Hoffmaster has also been active in other lines, especially real es- tate. In 1899 he built the two-story brick at 85-87 West Main known as the Hoffmaster block, and in 1903 he erected what is called the new Hoffmaster block, a three-story business and office structure, at 79-81- 83 West Main street, being still owner of both these buildings. For some years he has been a director in the Merchants Savings Bank, and in the Advance Pump & Compressor Company. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, is a member of the Athelstan Club, and a charter member of the Elks lodge. His residence is at 219 Main street East.
Mr. R. F. Hoffmaster was married January 6, 1892, to Miss Helene Schoonmaker, of Savannah, New York. Her parents, Depuy and Bianca (Stiles) Schoonmaker, both belonged to old Dutch families of New York state. She was born and educated at Savannah, and also attended school in Syracuse. She is one of the active and liberal sup- porters of the Presbyterian church in Battle Creek. Four children were born of their marriage. Peter, who was named for his grand- father. died in 1896 at the age of three years. The other children are Louise, Florence and Helen, all born in Battle Creek.
THOMAS J. SHIPP. One of the most consistent and important func- tions of this publication is to accord specific recognition to those families whose names have been closely and worthily concerned with civic and material development and upbuilding of Calhoun county, and thus there is distinctive satisfaction in presenting within this volume a brief re- view of the career of Thomas J. Shipp, who is a native of the county and a member of a family that was here founded in the early pioneer days. He has long been numbered among the substantial agriculturists and stock-growers of Eckford township, which has been his home from his boyhood days, and there he is now the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is a man who has accounted well as one of the world's productive workers and he has gained independence and generous prosperity through his well directed endeavors, the while he has so ordered his course as to merit and receive the unqualified con- fidence and esteem of the community in which he has lived from his youth to the present time.
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In the city of Marshall, the judicial center of Calhoun county, Thomas J. Shipp was born on the 17th of April, 1845, and it may well be understood that the present attractive city was at that time a mere village, though it was an important trading center and one of the lead- ing towns of southern Michigan. Mr. Shipp is a son of Joseph Shipp, who was born in the town of Chipping-Sodbury, Gloucestershire, Eng- land, on the 28th of May, 1816, and whose father, William Shipp, was there engaged in the milling and baking business. Joseph Shipp was reared and educated in his native land and in 1832, when about sixteen years of age, he severed the home ties and came to America. For a period of about ten months after his arrival in the United States he found employment in Chautauqua county, New York, and in 1833 he went to Toronto, Canada, where he remained until the early part of the following year, when he came to the territory of Michigan and estab- lished his home at Marshall, the capital of Calhoun county. There he engaged in buying and selling of live stock and he became one of the . prominent business men and influential citizens of the pioneer com- munity with which he thus identified himself about three years prior to the admission of Michigan to the Union. He had gained experience in the bakery business in the establishment of his father and for a period of about one year he was associated with Edward Bostwick in the conducting of a bakery in the little village of Marshall. In 1841 he returned to his old home in England, for a visit, and on the 13th of March, 1842, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Saunders, the sixth in order of birth of the children of Thomas and Ann (Smith) Saunders, both of whom were natives of England, where the father was superintendent of a large landed estate, until 1832, when he came to America. Thomas Saunders found employment in the woolen mills at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, during his first summer in the United States and he then went to Chautauqua county, New York, where he entered into negotiations for the purchase of land, but he was drowned on the 4th of December, 1832, while crossing Silver lake, that county, in a canoe. He was twice married and the maiden name of his second wife was Christiana Shipp. Within a short period after the tragic death of her husband Mrs. Saunders returned to her old home in England remaining a short time; she passed the residue of her life in Lansing, Michigan, where she died aged ninety-six years.
Immediately after their marriage Joseph Shipp and his bride set forth for America, and the voyage was made on a sailing vessel of the type common to that day. They arrived in the port of New York city in June of that year, thence proceeded by boat to Albany, by canal to Buffalo and then onward to Detroit, Michigan, by a vessel plying the Great Lakes. From Detroit they proceeded with team and wagon to Jackson and thence by stage to Marshall, where Mr. Shipp had pre- viously established his home. Joseph Shipp secured three hundred and twenty acres of land, in Eckford township, and finally removed from Marshall to his farm, a very appreciable part of which he re- claimed from the forest wilds. He was one of the sterling pioneers of Calhoun county, was a man of ability and inflexible integrity, and he wielded no little influence in connection with public affairs in the pioneer community: He attained to the venerable age of seventy-one years and died on the old homestead farm, secure in the high esteem of all who knew him. His wife is now at Homer, Michigan, with her daughter Harriet.
Thomas J. Shipp gained his early education in the village schools of Marshall and did not attend school after the removal of the family to the farm, save for a period of two months, his age at the time of re-
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moval having been sixteen years. He assisted materially in the reclama- tion and other arduous work of the pioneer farmstead and in 1880 his father divided the property and gave him one hundred and sixty acres of the same, though he assumed in the connection an appreciable in- debtedness. About ninety acres of the land had been cleared and made available for cultivation, and after erecting a modest house on the place established his home therein, in June of the year mentioned. He has developed one of the fine farms of Eckford township, has made the best of improvement of a permanent order, including the remodeling and enlargement of his house and the erection of a large basement barn, and he has for many years been known as one of the substantial and progressive agriculturists and stock-growers of the county. He has represented his township as a member of the county board of super- visors and was chairman of that body for some time, his effort having ever been to further those public enterprises and measures which tend to conserve the best interests of the county and its people. He cast his first presidential vote for General Ulysses S. Grant, in 1866, and has continuously remained a staunch and intelligent advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. Both he and his wife early became members of the Methodist church, and their ideal com- panionship continued for nearly thirty years, the gracious ties being severed when the devoted wife and mother was summoned to eternal rest, on the 22d of April, 1901, her memory being revered by all who came within the sphere of her gentle influence.
On the 22d of November, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Shipp to Miss Frances S. Skinner, who was born in England and who was four years of age at the time of her parents' immigration to Amer- ica. She was a daughter of John Skinner, and the family passed the first year in the state of New York, after which removal was made to Calhoun county, Michigan, where Mr. Skinner became a substantial farmer. Mrs. Shipp was reared and educated in this county and was fifty two years of age at the time of her death. Of the three children the eldest is Frank J., who is now general manager of the Dayton Last Block Works, at Gaylord, Michigan; the second is Dr. W. Sam Shipp, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Battle Creek and who is individually mentioned on other pages of this work; and the youngest is Mary E., who is the wife of P. S. Davidson, of Marshall. Frank J. was graduated in Albion College as a member of the class of 1896, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and Mrs. David- son completed her education in Kalamazoo College.
W. SAMUEL SHIPP, M. D. This representative physician and sur- geon of Battle Creek is a scion in the third generation of a family whose name has been prominently linked with the industrial and civic de- velopment of Calhoun county, where his grandfather, Joseph Shipp, established a home in the early pioneer days. The Doctor is a son of Thomas J. Shipp, who is one of the substantial farmers and sterling citizens of Eckford township, this county, and a sketch of whose career appears on other pages of this work, so that further details concerning the family history are not demanded in the review here presented.
Dr. William Samuel Shipp was born on the old homestead farm, in Eckford township, Calhoun county, Michigan, on the 22d of Jan- uary, 1876, and after availing himself of the advantages of the district schools he entered the high schools in the city of Marshall, where he con- tinued his studies for some time. He thereafter finished preparatory work and two years in Albion College. Within this period he served as a clerk in the office of the secretary of state, at Lansing, his appointment
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to this position having been made by Hon. Washington Gardiner, who was at the time incumbent of the office of secretary of state of Michigan. Dr. Shipp held this crelical position during a part of the years 1895 and 1896, when not pursuing his studies in college, and from June, 1898, until September of the following year he remained on the home farm. He then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, in which he completed the prescribed curriculum and was graduated in June, 1903, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After his graduation he passed one year as interne in the university hospital and through the wide and varied clinical experience there gained he the more thoroughly fortified himself for independent professional work. In October, 1904, Dr. Shipp opened an office in the city of Battle Creek, and here he has since devoted himself zealously and effectively to the work of his pro- fession, in which his success has been on a parity with his recognized ability and his signal devotion to his chosen calling. He is essentially one of the representative physicians and surgeons of the younger genera- tion in his native county and through his character and services he has added materially to the prestige of a name long honored in Calhoun county. In politics he pays allegiance to the Republican party and he is loyal and progressive in his civic attitude. He holds membership in the Calhoun County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His office headquarters are in the Arcade building, 49-51 West Main street, and he resides at 254 Calhoun street. He and his wife are popular figures in the social life of their home city, and here he is identified with Battle Creek Lodge, No. 12, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, as is he also with the lodge of Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, and that of the Knights of Pythias. He is identified with the Athelstan Club and the Country Club.
At Tecumseh, Lenawee county, Michigan, on the 28th of June, 1905, Dr. Shipp was united in marriage to Miss Florence D. Temple, who was there born and reared and who is a daughter of John S. and Helen (Ide) Temple. Mr. Temple was engaged in the lumber business at Tecumseh for a number of years and he is now devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits and dairy farming, with a valuable landed estate of three hundred acres, located in the vicinity of Tecumseh. Mrs. Shipp was graduated in the Tecumseh high school, as a member of the class of 1901, and thereafter attended the literary or academic department of the University of Michigan for three years. Dr. and Mrs. Shipp have a fine little son, Robert Temple, who was born on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1908.
GEORGE B. FISHER. Beginning the battle of life for himself with no armament for the conflict but his brawny arm, his skillful hand, his ready brain and his determined spirit, George B. Fisher, one of the leading farmers and livestock men of Fredonia township, Calhoun county, has brought himself, by his tireless industry, business capacity and good management to a condition of substantial worldly comfort in a financial way, and one of high standing and general esteem as a man and citizen wherever he is known.
Mr. Fisher was born in Pennsylvania on March 13, 1865, and reared to the age of eleven years in that great hive of industry and universal productiveness. He is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Bane) Fisher, also natives of Pennsylvania, the former born on March 12, 1824, and the latter on February 6, 1829. In 1876 the family moved to this state and located on a three acre tract of land in Eaton county, where the father lived ten years. The closing years of their life were passed
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at the home of his son George, where he died in February, 1907. The mother died in May, 1901.
They were the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom are liv- ing. Of the whole number George was the eleventh in the order of birth. His brother William was a valiant Union soldier during the Civil war, going through the momentous and sanguinary conflict from beginning to end, and seeing a great deal of active and perilous serv- ice. The father was a Democrat in his political faith and allegiance and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in religious affiliation. He attained the advanced age of eighty-three years, and died as he had lived, held in high regard by all who knew him well enough to understand and appreciate his genuine worth.
George B. Fisher attended the district schools in Eaton and Cal- houn counties and completed in them the education he had begun in his native state, where he also attended only a country school. At an early age he was obliged by the circumstances of the family to seek employment for his own support, and he found it as a hand hired by the month on farms. This method of making progress he continued. until his marriage, then took charge of a farm on his own account. In 1892 he bought sixty acres of land, which was the nucleus of his present fine farm of 382 acres, which his enterprise and skill as a farmer has brought to its present advanced stage of cultivation and productive- ness, and on which he has made all the improvements, erecting the com- modious, imposing and convenient dwelling he occupies and all the out- buildings, fences and other works of construction on the place.
On this large acreage Mr. Fisher carries on a thriving general farm- ing industry according to the most modern and approved methods of tillage, conducting his work with such vigor and good judgment that he makes every day of it tell to his advantage. Here he also has an extensive business in raising and handling live stock, principally sheep of good grades, of which he feeds great numbers every winter. In ad- dition he buys and sells live stock extensively, and so great is his care in every department and detail of his stock business that his output has a high rank in the markets and his reputation as a breeder and stock man is widespread and very good.
Mr. Fisher was married on March 21, 1888, to Miss Alice Skinner, a daughter of John Skinner who was born in England and became a resident of Eckford township in his young manhood. He passed the remainder of his days in that township, after locating in it, all his years being devoted to general farming and raising live stock, in both of which he was very successful. At the time of his death he owned a fine farm of 140 acres and other valuable property of various kinds.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have two children, their daughter Vera, who is in school, and their daughter Bessie, who is at home. Both attend the district schools. Their mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father is a Republican in political relations, active in pub- lic affairs and a man of influence in his township. He has served as township treasurer, also director of the school district for the past four- teen years, not being desirous of public office and therefore not seeking any. But he has always been loyal to his party and supports its princi- ples and candidates in all the elections, township, county, state and national, trying always, however, to aid in securing the nomination of the best men on local tickets. He is essentially a self-made man in the com- mendable sense of the term, and his training in the hard but thorough school of experience has made him wise to the needs of his locality and energetic and intelligent in helping to provide them. He is regarded on all sides as a representative and very worthy and useful citizen.
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EDWIN COLBY LEWIS. Of the younger members of the bar of Cal- houn county, probably none have attained higher rank and a better class of practice than Edwin Colby Lewis, who has been a resident of Battle Creek since 1909. He came to this city to join Mr. Arthur B. Williams in his large commercial and corporate law business. Since the retire- ment of the latter from the firm to become general counsel for the Pos- tum Cereal Company, Ltd., Mr. Lewis has succeeded to the general clientage of the old partnership, which includes a number of the strong- est financial and manufacturing institutions of the city ..
Edwin Colby Lewis was born in Bryan, Texas, March 29, 1880. His parents were Edwin C. and Katherine (Devine) Lewis, the former of whom died about 1885 and the latter in June, 1904. The father, who was a native of Northfield, Vermont, was an artist by profession, and when the war broke out he enlisted from his home town in a Vermont regiment. He was a lieutenant of his company and later won the rank of captain. After the enlistment of colored troops began, he served as acting colonel of a colored regiment. At the close of his military ex- perience, he lived for some years in the south, but when his son, Ed- win C., was four years old, brought his family back to Waitsfield, Ver- mont, soon afterward. His wife, who was a southern woman, and whose father and two brothers were killed in the service of the Confederate army, was born at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. She survived her husband nearly twenty years and died at Detroit. There were three children, the other two being: Robert E., of St. Johnsbury, Ver- mont; and Miss Katherine M., now living in New York City.
After his preparatory schooling at St. Johnsbury Academy, where he was graduated in 1897, Edwin C. Lewis entered Yale College and received his B. A. degree from that institution in 1901. For a year he was engaged as teacher of mathematics at St. Johnsbury Academy, and then taught for five years in the Detroit University school, a preparatory school familiarly called the D. U. S. During the last three years there he pursued his studies in the Detroit College of Law during the school year and at the University of Chicago Law School during the summer. His degree in law was obtained on graduation from the Detroit Col- lege, and he was admitted to the bar in 1907. Resigning his place in the preparatory school he began practice in the office of the late Har- low P. Davock of Detroit, but after a few weeks he became associated with the firm of Clark, Jones & Bryant of the same city. In February, 1909, he came to Battle Creek as already stated. The firm of Williams & Lewis, whose offices were over the old National Bank, where Mr. Lewis is still located, continued until April, 1911, at which date the senior partner took up his present duties.
Mr. Lewis in politics is a Republican. He is a member and a di- rector of the Athelstan Club, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of the Country Club and its secretary, and also holds mem- berships in the University and Boat Club at Detroit. He is a member of Douglas Chapter of the law fraternity Phi Delta Phi at the Uni- versity of Chicago and of the Phi Beta Kappa at Yale. His church preference is with the Congregational, but he is not a member. Mr. Lewis was married October 19, 1912, to Miss Grace Thompson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Thompson, of Detroit, Michigan.
FRED C. GALE. A native of Calhoun county, Michigan, Fred Clay- ton Gale has here resided during practically the entire period of his life time thus far. He is engaged in farming, in connection with his father-in-law, on the beautiful Hall estate, located in section 11, Le-
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Roy township. This farm comprises two hundred and twenty-four acres, is in a high state of cultivation and is recognized as one of the most productive farms in the county.
Fred Clayton Gale was born in Battle Creek township, Calhoun county, . Michigan, December 26, 1887, and is a son of Richard and Florence Amelia (Swart) Gale. The father was born in the city of Melbourne, Australia, November 19, 1850, and he accompanied his parents, Richard and Ann (Emery) Gale, to America in 1854, at which time he was an infant of but four years of age. The Gale family first located in New York, whence they came to Michigan about the year 1870. Location was made in LeRoy township, Calhoun county, where the parents lived until their respective deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gale became the parents of twelve children, of whom Richard, Jr., was the sixth in order of birth. The young Richard was reared to maturity in New York and a few years after his advent in Michigan, in fact, on January 21, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Florence Amelia Swart, a daughter of Walter J. and Mary (Pennypacker) Swart, both of whom are now deceased. Four children were born of this union, as follows : Ida is now Mrs. A. A. Cameron, of Battle Creek ; Olive G., also of Battle Creek; Mary Ann is the wife of Ray Fanning, of Emmett, Michigan; and Fred C., the immediate subject of this re- view. Mrs. Gale was called by death on June 10, 1908. After his mar- riage Richard Gale, Jr., located on the Swart farm in LeRoy township and he continued to work that estate for several years, at the expiration of which he removed to Comstock, in the vicinity of which place he was engaged in farming operations for two years following. He settled . on the DuBois farm in Battle Creek township and remained there for eight years, after which he went to Emmett township, and in 1908 he removed to Battle Creek, where he has since been engaged in buying live stock and wool. Mr. Gale is a good citizen, broad-minded and lib- eral in his attitude toward the civic advancement of his community.
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