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 22
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The early life of Chauncey Avery was spent in the state of New York, mainly in the town of Guilford. He received a fair amount of education, but his heart was set on becoming a farmer, and as soon as he had an opportunity he took up this occupation, although he was little more than a boy. He soon added a dairy business to his farm, and rapidly became known as one of the successful young men of the county. He followed the combined business of farming and dairying Vol. II-10
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until 1871 when he determined to try his fortune in the west, and migrated to Michigan, locating in Calhoun county. The farm which he selected was situated in Burlington township, and here he lived for three years. That he was successful was proven by the fact that when he returned to New York state, he was able to buy a farm. He lived here for over fifteen years, but the charm of the Michigan country drew him back, and in 1891, we find him again in Calhoun county, searching for a place to locate. He finally found a farm that suited him in Athens township. This farm of one hundred acres was located three miles to the north of Athens, and here he lived for three years. He then moved to a farm in Newton township, later removing to his present home, on the Coates farm. Mr. Avery is not in very good health, and is not able to do as much of the active work on the farm as he would like, but his is the head that plans and the hand that directs. For this reason, not knowing when he may have to give up farming al- together, he has not bought his present place.
In 1870, Mr. Avery was married to Lena A. Wood, the daughter of Dewain and Lucinda (Reynolds) Wood, of Smyrna, Chenango county, New York. In politics, Mr. Avery is a Democrat, and is an ardent sup- porter of the party. He is not a member of any religious denomination but attends church regularly, as his health permits.
Mr. and Mrs. Avery are the parents of nine children, all of whom are alive. Jessie is now Mrs. Button, of Le Roy township; Fidelia is Mrs. Worth, of Athens township; Harry is a contractor and lives in Toronto, Canada; Clarence lives nearby in Battle Creek, where he owns the largest livery in Battle Creek; Mae, also resides in Battle Creek, as the wife of Mr. Davis; Maude is Mrs. Hayes, of Athens township; Bertha married Mr. Lehman and lives in LeRoy township; Emery is also a resident of LeRoy and Grace is the wife of P. C. Farman of Le- Roy township.
WILLIAM H. HAMMOND, postmaster of Burlington and proprietor of a grocery and feed store in this town, is one of the best known men in the county. He has been identified with the business interests of this section of the country for a number of years, and is a native born resident of the state, his birth taking place in Branch county on July 19, 1871. He is the son of John and Sarah (Schrambeling) Hammond. The father was born in New York state on October 17, 1838, and was himself the son of Amos Hammond, who died when John Hammond was a small boy, the death of his mother occurring when he was an infant. He came to Lenawee county, Michigan, with his father, when a mere child, and after the death of his father made his home with his uncle, Thomas Lewin, who was the owner and proprietor of a saw mill. He worked about the mill until his marriage, after which he engaged in farming in Lenawee county for about two years, then went to Branch county where he became similarly engaged, and he followed farming for the remainder of his life. He acquired a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land and was known for one of the prosperous men of his community. He and his wife became the parents of five children : Frank, the eldest, died in 1900. Laverne lives in Sherwood, township, Branch county. George is a resident of Elgin, Illinois. Wil- liam H. of Burlington, and Julia, who died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. Hammond died in 1885, and his widow survived him until 1908.
As a boy, William Hammond attended the district schools of Branch county, also the schools of Colon, St. Joseph county, and was graduated from the Colon high school in 1889. He took up the butcher trade and
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followed that business until 1908, with the exception of an interval of three years which he spent on a farm near Marshall in Calhoun county. In 1903 he came to Burlington and here operated a meat market for some time, and in 1906 he moved to a farm in the vicinity of Marshall, where he remained for three years, after which he moved to Charlotte, Eaton county, where he engaged in the butcher business and continued in that enterprise for five years. He once more moved to Burlington and opened a grocery and meat shop, in which business he continued until 1907. In that year he was appointed postmaster of Burlington, and he is still the incumbent of that office which is of the fourth class variety, and which Mr. Hammond has handled in a manner wholly satisfactory to all concerned. After his appointment to that office, Mr. Hammond gave up his butcher business, and now conducts a grocery and feed store in conjunction with the postoffice, a business in which he is especially successful and prosperous. Mr. Hammond is a Repub- lican in his political belief and is active in the interests of the party in his locality. He has been able to give some time to the administra- tion of township affairs, and in 1906 was treasurer of Burlington town- ship. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
On June 22, 1906, Mr. Hammond was united in marriage with Dora Gleason, daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Page) Gleason, who were the parents of four children; Mary, the eldest, is the wife of James Spoor : Newman is a resident of Los Angeles, California; Lizzie, is the wife of Holden Sprague, and Dora married W. H. Hammond of Burling- ton.
RUSSELL W. RAPP. Since reaching years of manhood Russell W. Rapp has shared his time between the butcher business and the farming industry, but of late years he has given up the former business and has devoted himself exclusively to farming interests, and is regarded in Newton township as one of the foremost men connected with the agricultural line in this section of the county. His father and his grandfather were both identified with Newton township as farmers. and both ended their lives on the farm which the subject now owns and operates. Russell W. Rapp was born in Fredonia township on No- vember 4 1880, and is the son of Fred Rapp, born in Germany in 1852. Fred Rapp came to America with his parents when he was eight years of age. He was the son of Fred Rapp, Sr., and his wife, and the family settled at Marshall, Calhoun county, where the father followed farming in that township. In 1896 the founder of the family in Amer- ica died on the Newton township farm, whereon he had passed many years in pursuit of his farming interests. His son, Fred Rapp Jr., the father of Russell W., grew to manhood on the home farm in New- ton township which his father acquired shortly after locating in Cal- houn county. This was a tract of one hundred and fifty acres, and it is adjoined by a farm of one hundred and twenty five acres owned by the subject, who also is the owner of the old homestead. Fred Rapp married Lennie Francisco, the daughter of Sylvester and Hannah J. (Easterley) Francisco, also of Newton township, and old and highly respected citizens. Of their son, Henry E., the brother of Mrs. Fred Rapp, a life sketch is to be found elsewhere in the pages of this histor- ical work. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rapp, Jr. ; Lena, now Mrs. Winfield Pullman; Will, in the laundry business in Battle Creek; Russell, of this review; Louise, the wife of Nile Toland of Battle Creek, and Ruth. who remains with her mother, in Marshall. The greater part of Fred Rapp's life was spent on the home farm in Newton, although he passed ten years in Fredonia, after which he re-
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turned to the farm and remained for the rest of his life. He died in August, 1903, and his widow still survives him. Mr. Rapp was a Demo- crat, and during his lifetime held a number of township offices of some importance. He was an exemplary citizen and ever exerted a worthy influence in his home and in the community.
Russell Rapp was educated in the district schools of his township and in the high school at Marshall. His education completed he returned to the farm and thereafter carried on the work of the place until 1900, when he went to Marshall and entered the cold storage business as an employee. He continued thus for one year, then returned to Newton township and purchased a farm of sixty acres. After three years he sold his place and once more located in Marshall, entering the butcher business. This enterprise held his attention until 1908, when he moved to Homer and opened a similar establishment there, and in a year's time. gave up the business and returned to the home farm, which his mother still owns, and which he continues to operate.
On October 19, 1899, Mr. Rapp was united in marriage with Miss Ada Stine, daughter of Louis Stine, a business man of Ann Arbor. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rapp,-Esther Louise, Gladys Ruth, Roscoe Fred, Winfield Wayne, Norma, Donald, and Doug- lass, twins, and Louis. The family are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Rapp is a Democrat.
HENRY E. FRANCISCO is one of the well known farming men of Newton township, where he has lived all his life thus far. In fact, he lives on the farm on which he was born March 15, 1864, and which has been in the family for three generations. Henry Francisco's father, Sylvester Francisco, who was born in Bristol county, New York state, in 1824, came to Michigan as a boy with his father and mother, Thomas and Lydia Francisco. They located on the farm now held by their grandson, Henry E., and there they ended their days. Sylvester bought out the interest of the other heirs in the old home- stead, and settled down to the quiet life which his father before him had led, and he passed his remaining days in the old home. He mar- ried Hannah J. Easterly on April 14, 1851, and they became the par- ents of eight children: Lennie, now Mrs. Fred Rapp; Bertie, the wife of P. Hughes; Jennie, who married Albert Underwood, is now deceased ; John, a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan; Will J., deceased; Nelson C., a resident of Newton township ; Henry E., of this review, and Louise, now Mrs. Hallern. Sylvester Francisco was a Republican in his poli- tical faith, and was ever an exemplary citizen and a man of influence in his community. His death, which occurred on December 29, 1873, was a decided loss to the township in which he had spent practically all his life, and was keenly felt by all who knew him. Mrs. Francisco, who was born on November 2, 1826, is still living at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and makes her home with her son, Henry E., of this sketch.
The boyhood life of Mr. Francisco was as uneventful as that of most of the youth of our country. He spent a deal of his time at work upon the farm, and attended the district schools in the winter seasons, which practically constituted the extent of his education, from the stand-point of booklearning. However, he has acquired a broad and useful knowl- edge of life which he could not cull from books, and he is a studious and practical farmer, all of which removes him from the condition of an uneducated man. Mr. Francisco has carried on the work of the farm since his father's death in 1873, and is now the owner of the home stead. The farm, while not large, is ample for his needs, comprising
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a tract of one hundred and sixteen acres, and in its excellent state of cul. tivation, is as productive as a much larger tract might be in a less cultivated state. It is sufficiently large to require all his time and atten- tion, and affords ample scope for his energies.
Mr. Francisco, like his father, is a Republican, but has no politi- cal ambitions, another point of similarity to his honored parent. He has been justice of the peace for a number of years, but is not in office at the present time. He is a member of the Congregational church, with his . family, and is associated fraternally with the Maccabee lodge.
On February 15, 1888, Mr. Francisco was married to Miss Nina Carnes, daughter of William G. and Martha A. (Francisco) Carnes of Newton township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Francisco,-Buell, Blaine, Mattie B. and William B.
The family is one of great sociability and strong personal attach- ments, and the yearly re-union of the house of Francisco is an event that is looked forward to by all who are privileged to share in the happy gathering.
PAUL PUFF. Among the prosperous agricultural men of Newton township, none is more worthy of mention in this historical and bio- graphical work than is Paul Puff, a resident of this township since 1873, which year marked his arrival on American shores as a youth- ful emigrant from the German Fatherland. He has been the author of large and worthy accomplishments in the development work of this sec- tion of the country, both industrially and in a commercial way, and much of the constant and ever moving progress of the township is directly traceable to the vigor and enterprise of Paul Puff.
Born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on June 25, 1853, Mr. Puff is the . son of John and Martha Josephine Puff, both natives of Wurtemberg. The father went to the Italian wars and never returned. The mother still lives in the old home in Germany. The son, Paul, was educated in the common schools of his native land, and when he was twenty years old came to America, arriving in Newton township in 1873, and locating on a piece of land two miles from his present home. This was a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres and for two years he worked on it in partnership with another man. The association proved an unfortunate one for Mr. Puff, for he lost everything he put into the deal, in both time and money, and was obliged to begin once more where he started on his arrival in America. He secured another farm of one hundred and sixty acres, part of it wild and uncultivated, and he lived for twenty-five years on that spot. In the years of his resi- dence here he estimates that he has himself cleared one hundred acres of land in this township. He later purchased the farm on which he now lives, which consists of one hundred and forty acres, in addition to which he owns another one hundred and sixty acre tract of valuable farm land. In the years of his residence here Mr. Puff has owned five fine farms in the township, three of which number he still retains.
Mr. Puff is unquestionably one of the most enterprising and pro- gressive men of this locality, and his influence and vigor has been felt in business circles for many years. He was one of the chief promoters of the electric road now contemplated, and he operates one of the finest summer resorts known to this section of the country on the banks of the Lee Lake, one of the finest lakes in southern Michigan, and particularly suited to such a purpose on account of its fine gravel shore and suitable surroundings.
In 1876 Mr. Puff married Eliza Hughes, a daughter of John and Catherine Hughes of Newton township. They have one child, Jessie
-
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J. Puff, now living in Newton township. Mrs. Puff died in 1880, and in 1894 Mr. Puff married Bertha Rolfe, a German girl who came to Amer- ica in 1893. They have four children,-Harlan Louis, Alice Cather- ine, Genevieve Louise and Lawrence Emery.
The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Puff is a Democrat in his political convictions, and has held various school offices in the township. He is an automobilist.
JAMES C. VAN TUYLE. An enterprising and influential citizen of Le- Roy township, Calhoun county, Michigan, is James C. Van Tuyle, who was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits in this section of the state but who now devotes his attention to the conduct of his well stocked store at Sonoma. He is interested in all that tends to further the general welfare of his home community and has served LeRoy township in the capacity of highway commissioner and treasurer.
A native son of Michigan, James C. Van Tuyle was born in Battle Creek township, Calhoun county, February 2, 1868, and he is a son of James W. Van Tuyle, whose birth occurred at Barrie, New York, Jan- uary 12, 1842. At the age of two years the father came with his par- ents, James and Rhoda (Gould) Van Tuyle, to Michigan. James Van Tuyle was born at Greenville, New York, November 2, 1805, and his wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda Gould, was born in the same place March 8, 1809. They were married at Parma, New York, March 10, 1830. Seven children were born to them and of the number James W. was the fifth in order of birth. James Van Tuyle died at LeRoy, ' Michigan, September 24, 1865, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in Louisiana, August 30, 1892. On coming to Michi- gan, the Van Tuyle family located in Battle Creek township, Calhoun county, and here James W. grew to manhood. After com- pleting his education in the district schools he turned his attention to farming and was engaged in that line of enterprise in Battle Creek township until 1900 when removal was made to Louisiana, where the family continued to reside until Mrs. Van Tuyle's death. Mr. Van Tuyle in now living in Sonoma with his son. He married, December 27, 1862, Catherine Minor, a daughter of William Minor, of Battle Creek township. To this union were born seven children, of whom the sub- ject of this notice was the second in order of birth.
James C. Van Tuyle was educated in the district schools of his native place and at the age of thirteen years he started to work out on various farms by the month. After his marriage, in 1890, he fol- lowed farming and gardening until 1909 when he purchased a general store in the village of Sonoma. His store is well stocked with high-class groceries and merchandise and an extensive and lucrative trade is con- trolled in LeRoy township and the country normally tributary thereto. He is an unusually capable and shrewd business man and inasmuch as his admirable success in life is the direct result of his own efforts it is the more gratifying to contemplate. He is noted for his fair and honor- able dealings and is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come in contact. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and for three years he was incumbent of the office of highway commissioner. He was elected township treasurer and he held that of- fice for a period of two years. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the time-honored Masonic order.
October 3, 1890, Mr. Van Tuyle married Melvinnie Wright, eldest of the three children born to Cornelius and Anna (Lemcoll) Wright, the
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former of whom is a prominent farmer in Kalamazoo county, Michi- gan. Mr. and Mrs. Van Tuyle have an adopted daughter, Edith.
DELOS HUTCHINS, who is living virtually retired at Sonoma, Calhoun county, Michigan, is a fine old veteran of the Civil war. He was born in New York but has been a resident of Michigan during the greater part of his active career. He was engaged in farm- ing operations in LeRoy township for many years but he is now spend- ing the evening of his life in retirement, enjoying to the full the fruits of former toil and endeavor. As a citizen he has ever been loyal and public spirited and he gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare.
In Seneca county, New York, October 8, 1840, occurred the birth of Delos Hutchins, a son of James Hutchins, who was born in New York in 1814. The father was a mill wright by trade and during much of his life time he conducted a saw mill in Seneca county, New York. James Hutchins married, Mrs. Lorenzie (Hutchins) Weeds, a cousin. This union was prolific of three children, as follows,-Delos, the immediate subject of this review; Harriet, the wife of John Joslyn, of Rochester, New York; and Cicero, deceased. Mrs. Hutchins passed to the life eternal in 1850, at the age of thirty-eight years, and he passed away in 1892, aged seventy-eight years. He was a Republican in his political convictions and in religious matters attended and gave his support to the Baptist church, of which his wife was a devout member.
Delos Hutchins passed his boyhood and youth in the Empire state of the Union and he was educated in the public schools of South Butler, New York. At the age of eighteen years he came to Michigan, arriving in Battle Creek September 26, 1858, at which time he enrolled as a stu- dent in Olivet College. He completed a two-years' collegiate course and at the outbreak of the Civil war immediately offered his services as a volunteer, enlisting as a private in Company A, Sixth Michigan In- fantry. His company participated in the siege of Port Hudson, the battle of Baton Rouge and in a number of engagements along the banks of the Mississippi river. When war was declared Delos Hutchins re- ceived a letter from his father telling him that unless he went to war to uphold the rights of the Union, he, the father, would feel bound to do so. Delos, realizing the advanced age of his father, immediately en- listed and he acquitted himself with all of honor and distinction in the capacity of soldier. After the close of hostilities and when peace had again been established throughout the country, Mr. Hutchins re- turned to Battle Creek. After his marriage, in 1868, he and his wife went to live with her parents on the old Shepherd farm in LeRoy township. Soon thereafter Mr. Shepherd's health failed and Mr. Hutchins assumed the responsibility of running the estate himself. Subsequent to his wife's death, in 1901, he sold the farm and came to Sonoma to live. He was unusually successful as a farmer and stock- raiser and as such acquired a competency.
Mr. Hutchins has been twice married. March 7, 1866, he wed Phoebe A. Shepherd, a daughter of M. E. and Margaret (Spencer) Shepherd, both of whom are now deceased. The old Shepherd farm included the plot of ground on which the Methodist Episcopal church now stands and that land was donated to the church by Mr. Shepherd. Mrs. Delos Hutchins died in September, 1901. There were no children born to the union. In 1908 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hutchins to Mrs. Jennie Mulhallon, of Sonoma. She had two children by her first hus- band, Maud, wife of Harry Minty of Battle Creek, and Claude E. deceased.
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In his political convictions Mr. Hutchins is an uncompromising Re- publican and he has ever been deeply interested in community affairs although he has steadily refused to run for public office of any descrip- tion. He is a devout Methodist in his religious faith and for many years was a member of the board of stewards and a trustee in the church. Fraternally, he owns to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. His life history is well worthy of emulation and of commendation for he was strictly honorable and straightforward in his business dealings and his life has ever been exemplary in all respects.
THOMAS W. SPRAGUE. Americans are beginning to realize the moral as well as the historical significance of genealogical foundations. A na- tion which relies upon the record of its homes for its national character, cannot afford to ignore the value of genealogical investigation as one of the truest sources of patriotism. The love of home inspires the love of country. There is a wholesome influence in genealogical research which cannot be over-estimated. Moreover, there is a deep human interest to it. The Sprague family is one of ancient English lineage, the original progenitor of the name in America having come hither in 1628. His name was William Sprague and his descendants in this country have ever figured prominently as citizens of worth and intrinsic patriotism. The great-grandfather of the subject of this review, gained distinction as a soldier in the war of the Revolution and he received a grant of six hundred acres of land for his services in the Colonial army.
Thomas Wesley Sprague, of this notice, was born on the farm on which he now resides in Section 11, LeRoy township, Calhoun county, Michigan, January 12, 1855, and he is a son of Thomas Sprague, whose birth occurred in the town of Hannibal, Oswego county, New York, March 11, 1812. The father was reared to maturity in New York and there obtained a common school education. He was a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Carr) Sprague, who came to Michigan, with their four sons, about 1835. The sons settled on a government grant, a por- tion of which is now owned by the subject of this review, and Thomas Sprague immediately set about preparing a home for the recep- tion of his bride, formerly Mary Mills, whom he married at Hannibal, New York, December 27, 1835. The Mills family came to Michigan shortly after the Spragues had settled here and they located on land in the western part of Calhoun county. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sprague became the parents of six children, of whom three are living, in 1912. July 15, 1851, Mrs. Sprague was summoned to the life eternal and subse- quently Mr. Sprague married Lucy A. Millen, a native of Wyoming county, New York, where her birth occurred August 24, 1821. Three children were born to this union and of the number Thomas Wesley was the second in order of birth.
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