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 16
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Two very attractive farms in this vicinity are owned by Mr. Whee- lock. One of these, called Pine Lodge, is located between the Flowing Wells and the Grand Trunk shops, and is his present home, his mail service coming over the R. F. D. route No. 5. Originally this was an estate of two hundred and sixty acres, containing the site of the Flowing Wells, and the portion that has been sold will in a few years be included within the city limits. He has also platted a considerable portion of the Pine Lodge farm, which now comprises sixty acres. The other farm, of fifty-four acres, is "The Oaks," situated between Greenfield and Brown- lee Park, and is one of the most attractive portions of the landscape about Battle Creek.
Since 1908 Mr. Wheelock has been engaged in business as roofing contractor. He had the contracts for roofing the Sanitarium and a num- ber of other buildings in the city, and has built up his business entirely on his record for first-class, satisfactory work. Originality has been one of the largest factors in the success. Utilizing new ideas of his own
GREENHOUSE OF LEVANT COLE
Durant Cole.
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conception, he has never got into a rut, and every enterprise he un- dertakes has something characteristic about it. He is the originator of all the advertising by which he has brought his business service to the attention of the public.
The roofing business being rather dull in winter seasons, he has undertaken to supply not only his own employes but any other labor- ing men in the city with work during these months. For that purpose he established, on December 9, 1911, a free employment agency to furnish nish employment of some kind to any who applied for work, the object being to keep mechanics and laborers in the city until such a time as their service would be required in the regular activities of the shops. The agency has been maintained without any cost to those who get work through it, and has proved a boon to many a workman during the past winter. About the first of April, 1912, six hundred and fifty applicants were listed at the agency, and during the previous three months work had been found for 1,200 persons. Such an undertaking is for the best social welfare, and it is services of this kind rendered by individuals which constitute the highest form of good citizenship.
Mr. Wheelock was one of the organizers of the Maple Street M. E. church, of which he is still one of the active members. In July, 1876, he was married to Miss Christine Hutchinson MacCulloch, and they have had a happy married life of more than thirty-five years' duration. Mrs. Wheelock was born at Kingston, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Christine MacCulloch, both of whom were natives of Scotland and of pure Scotch stock. She was educated in the Bloomsburg Normal School in Pennsylvania. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock, Raymond Patterson Wheelock, October 20th, 1879, whose native town was Sayre, Pennsylvania. His education was in the Battle Creek high school, of which he is a graduate. He prepared for college in the private school at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and later graduated as a mining engineer from the University of California at Berkeley. He is now di- rector and superintendent of the Enterprise Mines at Kingman, Ari- zona, and is one of the very successful men of his profession. In October, 1905, Raymond P. Wheelock married Gertrude, the daughter of Major Wm. E. Mensch of Kingman, Arizona. Major Wm. E. Mensch has for years been a mine operator.
Raymond has contributed several articles for the prominent mining journals and is the patentee of valuable improvements used in the pro- duction of ore.
LEVANT COLE was born in Batavia, New York, on September 30, 1852, and he is the son of Walter and Sophronia (Blanchard) Cole. The paternal ancestors of the Cole family came from Scotland several generations back and established an American branch in the eastern states. The grandfather of Levant Cole removed from Vermont to Western New York in the beginning of the 19th century, and he became one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. He purchased a tract of wild land at Batavia, forming a part of what was known as the "Hol- land Purchase," and he became an extensive land holder and farmer, being especially active in the early improvements and developing of that section of the country. When the nation became engaged in hos- tilities with England, he joined the American army and served through- out the war. His son, Walter Cole, the father of the subject of this review, was born in Batavia, and after reaching years of young man- hood was married to Sophronia Blanchard as mentioned above. She was a descendant of the Trall family, well known in western New
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York, Dr. Trall becoming prominent in connection with the conduct of a sanitarium and the water-cure establishment. After his marriage Walter Cole engaged in farming and devoted himself especially to the raising of high grade stock. After a number of years he sold his stock and all equipments to one "Lucky" Baldwin, of Southern California, and at a later date the Cole family removed to Southern California where Walter Cole became a prominent ranchman. While a resident of Batavia, he was long recognized as a leading figure in Republican pol- ities in his section of the state, and he exerted a widespread influence in behalf of the principles of the party to which he gave his support. He was altogether one of the most prominent and popular men in Genesee county, and his removal to California was a distinct loss to the city and county in which he had been born and reared, and where he had reared his family.
In the common schools of Batavia, Levant Cole received his early edu- cation, and at the age of sixteen he was graduated from the high school of that place. He thereafter took a course in Eastman's busi- ness college at Poughkeepsie, New York, and then became connected with the florist's business as an employe of the firm of Storrs & Harrison of Painesville, Ohio, a small beginning which was later to develop into his life work. His next position was with James Vick of Rochester, New York, then and for many years after one of the most noted florists and nurserymen in the country. Here he had charge of the propogat- ing department, a most responsible position, which he held successfully until 1882, when he severed his connection with the company and re- moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was employed in a similar line of business. His health failed him in the Missouri climate, and Mr. Cole came to Battle Creek in 1888, here forming a partnership with John W. McCrea, with the firm name of McCrea & Cole. Mr. Cole had charge of the building of the first greenhouse at 87 Wendell street, a small plant at first, but enlarged to meet the growing demands of the business. On April 10, 1900, Mr. Cole purchased his partner's interest and he has since conducted the business alone, and he now has the largest greenhouse in Battle Creek, and one of the largest in the state. It is splendidly equipped for the handling of his representative and ever increasing business, and his long connection with this line of enterprise has given Mr. Cole a thorough knowledge and understand- ing of the best methods in all the practical details of the business. He sells to local trade, both wholesale and retail, and ships to surrounding towns within a radius of one hundred miles. He makes a specialty of roses and other cut flowers, and in the nursery line he handles shrub- bery as the principal item of his stock. To roses, cut flowers and plants he gives the best part of his time and attention, and he is wonderfully successful in the nurture of them. His specials in the rose family are the White Killarney, the Chatney and the Richmond. His nursery is located in the Davidson addition, and he owns practically an entire block. He also owns an eighty acre farm in Pennfield township, where he has a fine summer home, at which the family frequently spend their summers. . It is known as Deep Lake Farm, that being the name of the Lake on which it is situated.
In 1883 Mr. Cole married Miss Ada Merry of Geneva, New York. They have three children, Walter B., Fannie R. and Howard B. They were the parents of four children, but the eldest, Mrs. Margery Agnew, died in 1905.
The family attend the Maple street Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Cole is an earnest member.
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JOHN H. STEPHENS. The real history of the Civil war is written most deeply on the hearts of those who participated in that mighty con- flict. The sacrifices of the volunteers did not cease when peace was declared for none of them came out of the war as they entered it. If a few were fortunate enough to escape bullet, shell and imprisonment, there still lingered seeds of disease, shattered nerves and other ail- ments, which will cling to many as long as life lasts. For this and many other reasons the survivors of the Civil war are regarded with such veneration and given the honored respect of the nation they helped to save. In this connection extended mention should be made of John H. Stephens, a Civil war veteran, who has suffered greatly during his life from disease contracted while a prisoner in the horriible Southern prison camps. He is now engaged in the real estate, insurance and pension business, and acts in the capacity of county agent of the State Board of Charities and Corrections. Mr. Stephens was born June 29, 1845, in the town of Gates, Monroe county, New York, and is a son of John and Lucy M. (Baldwin) Stephens. John Stephens was a farmer by occupation, and in the spring of 1859 came to Barry county, Michi- gan, where he accumulated a farm of 110 acres in Assyria township. There he spent the remainder of his life, as did also his wife. They were the parents of six sons and one daughter, two of these children dying in infancy, and two still survive: John H. and Charles M., both of Battle Creek.
John H. Stephens received his education in the district schools of Barry county, Michigan, and was reared to the vocation of an agricul- turist, which he was following at the outbreak of the Civil war. He was one of the first to enlist for service in the Union ranks, becoming a member of Company A, First Michigan Sharpshooters, under Capt. L. C. Rhiner. On June 17th, 1864, after having seen considerable ser- vice, he was taken prisoner at Petersburg and incarcerated at Ander- sonville for five months. He was subsequently sent to Savannah for one month, and then was at Millen for a month, and when the war was closed was honorably discharged, June 28, 1865, from the hospital at Baltimore, Md. With his health utterly shattered, he returned to Barry county and resumed farming, in which he was engaged until 1886, when he was compelled to give up this vocation, finding that he lacked the bodily strength and health to continue. During the next eight years he was in the auditor general's office, but since April, 1901, he has been engaged in the real estate, fire insurance and pension business, and in March, 1912, was appointed by Gov. Osborn as county agent for the State Board of Charities and Corrections. In political matters Mr. Stephens is a Republican. He is a member of Lansing Lodge No. 33, F. & A. M., and is serving his second term as commander of Farragut Post, G. A. R., No. 32, and belongs also to the Order of the Eastern Star. .
Mr. Stephens married Miss Jennie E. Mercer, of Rock Elm, Pierre county, Wisconsin, September 1, 1881, she having been born at Hart- ford, Wisconsin, and educated there. One son has been born to this union, Charles M., born in Battle Creek, February 2, 1890, graduated from the high school and spent one year in the Michigan Agricultural College, and now at home taking a course in vocal and instrumental music, under Prof. Carl Goff. The home of the family is situated at No. 242 Calhoun street, and Mr. Stephens maintains offices at No. 14 West Main street. During the time when this country was in the throes of vicious warfare he proved himself a valiant and patriotic defender of its flag, and in times of peace has shown himself to be just and capable, faith- ful and public-spirited. During his residence in Battle Creek he has
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drawn around him a wide circle of friends, who recognize and appreciate his many admirable qualities of character.
CHARLES M. STEPHENS. The senior member of the Stephens & Haughey Real Estate and Loan Company at Battle Creek has been en- gaged in a career of varied and interesting activities beginning when he was a boy in years.
Though only fourteen years old when the Civil war broke out be- tween the states, his ardor and patriotism could not long be restrained. On the 28th of December, 1862, he enlisted as a musician in Company A of the First Michigan Sharpshooters, and saw an eventful service of two years and ten months. He was one of the intrepid drummer boys of the Union army, and it was a service fully as hazardous and requiring as much courage as that which involved the carrying of a musket. On June 29, 1864, he was advanced by promotion to aide-de-camp on Gen- eral Wilcox's staff. At the siege of Petersburg he was wounded, and spent three months in hospital at City Point, Virginia. For about three months he filled the post of call drummer on the old hospital boat Co- lumbia. After that he returned to his regular command at Petersburg, and . was with the first regiment that entered that city. For several months after the final surrender of the southern armies he continued in the service, and was not mustered out until October 18, 1865, the muster out being held at the Delano House in Washington. Among the sur- vivors of the great rebellion few have more spirited reminiscences of its scenes than Mr. Stephens, and he is also among the youngest of the old Grand Army men.
Charles M. Stephens was born in the town of Gates, Monroe county, New York, August 18, 1847, so that he was a little more than eighteen years of age when he returned from the south as a seasoned veteran of many campaigns. His father, John Stephens, a native of England, came alone to this country at the age of sixteen, having lost his father a number of years before and his mother following him to America. He settled in Monroe county, New York, where he afterwards married Miss Lucy M. Baldwin. As a farmer he was successful and acquired a good property in that county. Later he bought a farm and settled in Orleans county, New York. Unfortunately he sold this property and invested the proceeds in the Erie Canal & Boat Association, the ven- ture which practically bankrupted him. After this disaster he came to Michigan in 1859, the following year settling in Assyria township, Barry county, where he bought a hundred and sixty-five acres of raw land with what he had saved from the wreck of his fortune. Beginning at the bot- tom, before his death he had again reached the position of a prosperous citizen. He was a very progressive and energetic character, and to this he owed the success of his life. He died on his homestead in Assyria township, in 1881, and his wife passed away in 1883. Two of their children are now living, Charles M. and John H., the latter being also a prominent citizen of Battle Creek.
Mr. Stephens whose early years were spent in the different localities where his parents resided received part of his schooling in his native Monroe county and also attended the district schools of Assyria town- ship. His school days were interrupted by his enlistment in the army, and when he returned in 1865 he entered the old Battle Creek high school, where his educational equipment was finished. He began his business career at Kalamazoo, where for two years he was clerk in the Kalamazoo House. Then for a year he had charge of a restaurant in Rochester, New York, with twelve men under him, this restaurant being run in connection with the Pert Hotel of that city. From there he re-
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turned to Michigan and for several years was in the employ of the Haines & Hutchins Company in Jackson. He was there during the political campaign for Grant's second term, and he furnished the mar- tial music on the many occasions of that campaign.
Mr. Stephens took up his permanent residence in Battle Creek in 1885. For a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile and agricultural implement business, the firm being Stephens & Manchester. The wound received during the war compelled him to retire from business for two years. In 1894 he established the real estate business with which his name has since been identified, and he is the oldest real estate dealer in the city. His first partner was J. Bryan Sperry, under the name of Stephens & Sperry, which continued until the latter went on the road as representative for the Adventists. Henry Pettengill then joined him for three years until his death, after which H. J. Iden was part of the firm of Stephens & Iden until 1909, when Mr. Iden's death occurred. Mr. A. M. Smith was his partner up to December, 1911, at which date the firm was constituted in its present form by the admission of James R. Haughey as the junior member. Their business comprises a general real estate and rental, collection and loans, and they are local agents for lands in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Dakota and in Alberta, Canada. Their Florida lands are in De Soto county, known as the Arcadia Groves. The firm represent several fire insurance companies, and also do a bonding business through a Detroit firm. The offices of the firm have been at 24 East Main street since 1905.
With his many friends of the war Mr. Stephens keeps his associa- tions through membership in the Farragut Post No. 32, G. A. R. He is also a member of the "Just Enough Club" and of the Loyal Order of Moose. He and his brother John are both Republicans, although their father was a Democrat. He is a member of the Spiritualist church of Battle Creek. One of the local organizations to which he devotes much attention is the Battle Creek Drum and Trumpet Corps, which he founded, and of which he is secretary and treasurer, and W. H. Eldred president. This Corps, which furnishes very stirring martial music, consists in instrumentation of twelve snare drums, two bass drums and four to eight bugles and trumpets. Mr. Stephens is owner of a con- siderable amount of city real estate and farm property in different parts of the state, and also has a Missouri farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres. His residence is at 234 Calhoun street.
Mr. Stephens was married April 15, 1874, to Miss Phebe A. Cole, daughter of William W. Cole, one of the pioneer residents of Assyria township, Barry county. Mrs. Stephens was born at Holly, Oakland county, this state, and received her education in the district schools of Assyria township and in the Battle Creek high school. Three chil- dren were born to their union. William M. is a resident of Battle Creek. Don H. at the time of the Spanish-American war enlisted as a private in Company D of the Thirty-second Michigan Volunteers, and a few days after his return from the campaign his death occurred as a result of the tropical hardships. Vera H., the only daughter, is the wife of Harry C. McCamly, timekeeper for the Postum Cereal Company, Ltd., and a member of one of the oldest Calhoun county families. Both the sons were born in Bellevue township, Eaton county, and the daughter is a native of Le Roy township, this county.
PATRICK HAYES. A venerable and highly esteemed citizen of Marshall, Calhoun county, Patrick Hayes was for many years an active factor in advancing the mercantile prosperity of the city, by his excellent character and straightforward business course fully establishing himself
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in the confidence of his fellow-associates, and having achieved success as a merchant is now living retired from business cares. A native of Ire- land, he was born in County Cork, and there received his early educa- tion, for a time attending a select school.
Immigrating to America when quite young, Mr. Hayes was variously employed for a few years in different parts of Michigan. Locating in Marshall, Calhoun county, in 1863, he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for two years. Desirous then of changing his occupation, he entered the dry goods establishment of Mr. William Martin, who is still living, and clerked for him a year. Entering then the employ of J. Cronin, Jr., he was for twenty-one years associated with one of the largest dry goods stores of Marshall as general manager, filling the position with credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Cronin. The ensuing four years Mr. Hayes was in the employ of Mr. E. J. Murphy, a well-known dry goods merchant, and was afterwards successfully engaged in the dry goods business on his own account, build- ing up a large and remunerative patronage. Having accumulated a competency, and becoming somewhat advanced in years, Mr. Hayes disposed of his stock of goods, and is now enjoying a well-earned leis- ure.
During the Civil war, Mr. Hayes was a member of the Squirrel Hunt- ers and went with them into Kentucky in pursuit of General Kirby Smith and after the scare was over returned to his home in Ohio. Politically Mr. Hayes is a Democrat, and interested in public matters. For four years he served as alderman from the Fourth Ward of Marshall, and from 1907 until 1911, served as justice of the peace.
Mr. Hayes married Miss Isabelle McCary, who was born in Canada, a daughter of William McCary, a native of Ireland. Eleven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, five sons and six daughters. The daughters are all married, with the exception of two. The sons are as follows: Daniel J., of Galesburg, Michigan; Edward D., of Detroit ; Thomas W., of Indianapolis; and Lewis J., with Marshall Field & Company, in Chicago, and one son died in childhood.
WILLIAM H. FARRINGTON. Enthusiastic appreciation in no small de- gree is accorded the man whose name stands as the title of this article. The efficiency and completeness in all details of the police department of this municipality have not been achieved by accident. Intelligence, conscientiousness and the power to execute what he plans are character- istics of Battle Creek's Chief of Police, William H. Farrington, an ac- count of whose family history and personal career will be of particular interest.
His parents were Jesse and Lydia (Lewis) Farrington, who were living in Pennville, Jay county, Indiana, when this son was born. On the old homestead he spent his boyhood and most of the schooldays al- lotted to him. He was ten years of age when, in 1865, the family removed to Harmonia, Michigan. After their subsequent removal to Battle Creek, young William Farrington at the age of eighteen accepted a position as painter for Nichols and Shepard, with whom he remained for ten years. In 1884 he went to see for himself the charms and possi- bilities of that much-talked-of west region. After spending about a year in Washington-then a territory-in Oregon and in California, he even- tually decided that after all there was no state that pleased him so much as Michigan. He returned to this state, where he began farming, which vocation he continued successfully for about five years, meanwhile buy- ing and selling several pieces of property. In 1889 he once more made Battle Creek his home, taking charge of the painting depot for the Hal-
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laday and Lewis Company, contractors, and continuing this engage- ment for two years.
During the years in which his employment has been reviewed, Mr. Farrington had in various ways evinced interest in municipal affairs. While he was an employee of Nichols and Shepard he had become a mem- ber of the Volunteer Fire Department and after a year or two joined the Union Hose Team, allowed $25 a year by the city. From 1876 to 1884 he was connected with it and during that time had the rather thrilling experience of acting as pipeman for the famous Potter House fire.
In the spring of 1892 he left the employ of Halladay to accept the appointment as a member of the police force, which office he received at the hands of (Mayor) Joseph L. Cox, and thereafter acted as patrol- man for five years. In 1897 he reverted to his vocation of painting, this time as an employe for Lewis and Sons. In April of 1898 when a change was made in the city administration, Mr. Farrington received from Miles Curtis the appointment to his present position as chief of police, which office he has ever since held and the duties of which he has discharged with such credit to himself and his subordinates.
During his incumbency he has made every effort possible to divorce the police department from politics, believing that incumbency in such office should depend upon the qualifications of the individual man in question in each case and not upon his party allegiance. Never during his administration as Chief has Mr. Farrington based a man's appoint- ment upon support of any particular party, and Battle Creek today can boast of a police department which is widely acknowledged to be one of the most efficient in the state. Nor can any city in Michigan show a more complete and convenient service than this. It contains, for example, twenty-one more boxes for policemen's reports than any other city of three hundred thousand. A feature of these boxes that is both unique here and exceptionally convenient is the presence in each box of keys, making it possible for citizens as well as officers to call up the department from these points in case of need. This is not done in any other city of the United States. In all lines of his supervision, Chief of Police Farrington has tried always to lead, never to follow, other sys- tems. His one purpose has been to accomplish the best protection pos- sible, for the welfare of the citizens of Battle Creek. In January of 1912 a large auto patrol was added to the police equipment and resi- dents know that any other feature that may facilitate this department will be promptly supplied by the fertile mind and able hand of Chief Farrington. It is interesting to add that Mrs. Farrington, who was formerly Miss Minnie B. Camp of Marshall and the daughter of George and Catherine (Moore) Camp, is the capable and kindly matron at the police headquarters of Battle Creek.
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