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 38
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Mr. Miller married, June 3, 1902, Miss Pearl Cowles, of Burling- ton, Michigan, a daughter of William and Nancy (French) Cowles, and into their home two children have made their advent, Ernest Lyle and Frank Duane. Fraternally Mr. Miller belongs to St. Albans Lodge No. 20, Free and Accepted Order of Masons; to Marshall Lodge, Knights of Pythias; to Eudora Chapter No. 385 Order of Eastern Star and to Marshall Temple No. 96 Order of Pythian Sisters.
WILLIAM F. GRAFF. A native-born citizen of Marshall, Michigan, and the representative of an early pioneer family of this part of Cal- houn county, William F. Graff is well known both as a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and as a clerk in the Marshall Post Office. He was born November 24, 1883, a son of the late John Graff. His paternal grandfather, John G. Graff, was born and reared in Wur- temburg, Germany. Immigrating in early manhood to America, he made his way directly to Michigan, settling in Calhoun county, and for many years being an honored and respected resident of Marshall. He rounded out a life of upwards of four score years, passing to the life beyond, April 23, 1912.
John Graff was born, bred and educated in the city of Marshall, where he spent his brief life, passing away in 1887, while yet in the prime of manhood. He married Hannah Burkhardt, who was born in Washtenaw county, and is a resident of this city.
Acquiring a practical education when young, William F. Graff was graduated from the Marshall High School with the class of 1902, and immediately after began life on his own account as a clerk in the Post Office, a position which he has held ever since, his record of service in that capacity bespeaking his ability and trustworthiness.
Fraternally Mr. Graff is identified with St. Albans Lodge, No. 20, Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and is a member of Marshall Lodge, No. 179, Knights of Pythias, in which he has filled all of the offices, including that of chancellor, which is the highest in the lodge. Mr. Graff is widely known as a progressive citizen, and has the friend- ship and esteem of his acquaintance. He is still unmarried.
DR. CHARLES E. STEWART. With a staff of the well known excellence of that of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, it is by no means an easy matter to gain a place upon it and still harder to hold such a position once it is obtained. Occupying a place of prominence among this group of well known men, is Doctor Charles E. Stewart, who is vice president of the Battle Creek Sanitarium Board. He has been in active practice in Battle Creek, practically all of the time since his graduation, and has
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proved, many times, his value to the institution with which he is con- nected. He is a skilled physician, an indefatigable worker, and a man of forceful personality.
The 21st of March, 1869, was the date of Doctor Charles E. Stew- art's birth, the town in which he was born being London, Canada. His father was John Paton Stewart, who was a native of Scotland. John Stewart came to this country with his parents when he was eight years old. They settled near London, Canada, and there the father learned the carriage making and blacksmithing trade. He was married in London to Margaret Grieve, who was a native of London, Canada. After living in this section for several years, they moved to Minnesota, near Moorhead, where John Stewart became a farmer. This removal took place in April, 1883, and there they lived until they moved to Tennessee, where they remained for a short time. In 1899 the family came to Battle Creek, and after only a few weeks of residence here, the father died. The mother is still living in this city. There were ten in this family, seven boys and three girls, and eight of these are now living. Of these Doctor Stewart is the eldest. William G. and John E. are both living in Minnesota ; Mrs. Arthur Brown is a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts; Robert P. lives in Oregon; Fred M. is out in the state of Washington; Chester A. is in Porto Rico, and Ruth E. is living in Battle Creek.
The early education of Doctor Stewart was obtained in the public schools of London, Canada, and in the schools of Moorhead, Minnesota, where he graduated from the high school, in the class of 1889. The following year he came to Battle Creek, and took a course in nursing at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, from which he was graduated in 1891. He was inspired by this work to go into medicine and consequently entered the University of Michigan Medical School during the same year. He was graduated from this institution with the degree of M. D. in 1895, and began his practice in Battle Creek, where he has since continued.
Doctor Stewart was married to Elizabeth Reith, daughter of John and Jean (Moir) Reith, on the 28th of June, 1898. The marriage took place in Chicago, Mrs. Stewart being a native of Canada, where her parents were farmers near London, and now residents of British Columbia. She was educated in Canada and is a graduate nurse of The Battle Creek Sanitarium. Doctor Stewart met his wife at the Sanitarium, where she was later, matron of the nurses' department. They have four children, all of whom were born in Battle Creek. These children are Edwin R., Elizabeth M., Jean F. and Eleanor R., the last named being a Christmas gift, for she was born on the 25th of Decem- ber, 1911.
FRANK W. CLAPP, eldest of the lawyers now in actual practice in the county of Calhoun, was born in Bedford, Ohio, on November 25, 1844, and came, with his parents to Battle Creek, Michigan, in May, 1845, where he has since lived.
He attended the public schools of Battle Creek until June, 1865, and in September of that year entered Olivet College, graduating there- from on June 18, 1868, with the degree of B. S., later receiving the degree of M. S.
In the fall of 1868 Mr. Clapp entered the law department of Michi- gan University and received the degree of B. L. on March 30, 1870. After spending some time in the law offices of Joy and Sherman in Bat- tle Creek he opened a law office in his home town in October, 1871, and has continued in the practice of the law since that time. On June 23, 1875, he was married to Josephine Woolnough, daughter of Hon. Walter W. Woolnough, the family relationship remaining unbroken.
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Politically, Mr. Clapp has always been a member of the Republican party and has been city attorney of Battle Creek several different terms, prosecuting attorney of the county of Calhoun from and including the years 1875-1879, member of the state legislature during the years 1891 and 1892, state senator, representing the counties of Calhoun and Kalamazoo, from and including the years 1893-1896.
His political activities, as far as office holding is concerned, were finished as mayor of the city of Battle Creek, serving one term from April, 1904, to April, 1905.
WALTER F. HALE. By thirty or more years of successful activity as an agriculturist Walter F. Hale has earned a place on the roster of Calhoun county's representative citizens and deserves mention among those who have been valued factors in the upbuilding of Clarence town- ship. Himself a native son of Michigan, he is a scion of two of this state's pioneer settlers and has other ancestral inheritance of more than usual interest. The Hales were a prominent colonial family of the old Massachusetts commonwealth and Walter F. Hale has the distinction of being the grandson of Nathaniel Wallace, an aide to General Washington during the Revolution.
Born in Cass county, Michigan, October 16, 1844, Walter F. Hale is a son of Jerome H. and Lucy (Wallace) Hale, pioneers, of Michigan, who were residents of the state many years. The father was born in Massachusetts in 1824 and when a boy came to Michigan with his parents in 1836, the family spending their first winter in Detroit but later re- moving to Niles. After he had taken up independent responsibilities he became a merchant at Wauconda, Illinois, where he remained a number of years, or until 1857, when, failing in business he returned to Michi- gan, which state thereafter remained his home. After his return here he followed carpentering until his death and was fairly successful. In politics he was a Republican and took an active and leading part in the local affairs of his party. While a resident .of Wauconda, Illinois, he served as postmaster six years and was a candidate for treasurer but was defeated on account of his strong dislike of slavery. He was a son of Dr. Benjamin F. Hale who, as previously mentioned, came to Michi- gan in 1836. He was a physician of skill and spent the remainder of his life in this state as an active practitioner at Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, passing away in 1869. Lucy (Wallace) Hale, the mother of our sub- ject, was born in New York in 1826 and was the daughter of Nathaniel Wallace, the Revolutionary patriot referred to above who served seven years in the struggle for national independence and was an aide to Gen- eral Washington. He was a native of New York and was a wealthy silk merchant. Mrs. Hale drew a pension for his war service. She was a regular attendant of the Presbyterian church.
Walter F. Hale is one of two sons that came to his parents, the other being Wallace Hale, now deceased. He received good educational ad- vantages, his preliminary studies in the common schools of Wauconda. Illinois, having been supplemented by a period of study in the academy at Wauconda and by two years' work in the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He began business activity as a photographer. and fol- lowed that line of endeavor three years. At the end of that period he took up farming, on the shares until his marriage in 1874, and after that independently on his present homestead of fifty-six acres in Cla- rence township, where his attention has since been given to general farming and to peach raising, having a fine large orchard of this fruit on his place. In political views and affiliations he is a Republican and Vol. II-17
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in an official way has served as constable, township clerk, highway com- missioner and as township supervisor in 1902 and 1903. Mrs. Hale was Miss Jennie Bell prior to her marriage, a daughter of Oliver S. Bell and Reliance M. (Dixon) Bell, who were highly respected pioneer resi- dents of Clarence township. Mr. Bell was born in New York in 1816 and came to Calhoun county, Michigan, in 1836, locating on an eighty acre farm in Clarence township which afterward remained his resi- dence until his death in 1874. His wife, who also was a native of New York, was born in 1823 and died in 1904, at the advanced age of eighty- one years. Andrew Bell, the grandfather of Mrs. Hale, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The education of Mrs. Hale included a term at Albion College. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hale, namely : Frederick, who married Eva Graham and who manages the home place; Nellie, who married Charles Sabin and Maude, the wife of Edward Van Sickle, who resides in Clarence township, and who was a soldier in the Spanish-American war. They also have six interesting grandchildren : Orvil O. Hale; Walter C. and Aaron O., the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sabin; and Frederick, Ethel and Edwin, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Van Sickle.
CHARLES W. RYAN, M. D. It is entirely within the province of true history to commemorate and perpetuate the lives and character, the achievements and honor of the illustrious sons of the state. High on the roll of those whose efforts have made the history of medicine in Michi- gan a work of fame appears the name of Dr. Charles W. Ryan, specialist in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, who for the past nine years has been numbered among the medical practitioners of Battle Creek, Michigan. He is a representative of a fine old southern family and was born in the city of Charleston, West Virginia, February 16, 1872. He is a son of Rev. Edward Winson and Susan B. (Cherrington) Ryan, the former of whom was born and reared in Kentucky and the latter of whom was a native of Virginia. Rev. and Mrs. Ryan were married at Catlettsburg, Kentucky. He was a captain in the Confederate army during the war of the Rebellion and as a young man became ordained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He began preaching at the age of twenty years and is an extremely well educated man and an orator. In 1886 he was transferred from the West Virginia con- ference to the Detroit, Michigan, conference and at the time of his retirement he was preaching at the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit, the second largest church of that denomination in the state of Michigan. He is now seventy-two years old and resides at Detroit, where he is well known and beloved by all with whom he has come in contact. His wife died at Detroit in 1886. Rev. and Mrs. Ryan were the parents of three boys and four girls, four of whom are living at the present time, in 1912, namely,-Edward B. is with the Western Method- ist Book Concern at Cincinnati, Ohio; Mamie D. Copeland resides in Detroit, Michigan; Dr. Charles W. is the immediate subject of this re- view; and Genevieve C. is the wife of Dr. Milton T. Watson, of De- troit.
Dr. Charles W. Ryan was a child of fourteen years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Detroit. He received his preliminary edu- cational training in the public schools of West Virginia and subse- quently attended school in Detroit and in Bay City, Michigan, being graduated in the high school of the latter place in 1887. He entered the University of Michigan in 1892 and was graduated in the medical department of that institution as a member of the class of 1896. For three terms thereafter he was assistant professor at his alma mater in
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Chast. Ryan MA ,
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diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and in diseases of children. He entered upon the active practice of his profession at Jackson, Michigan, in 1898, but remained there only a short time because of the impaired condition of his health. He came to Battle Creek in 1903 and since then has here enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat.
At the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, in 1898, Dr. Ryan enlisted as a volunteer in a Michigan company, serving as a private in Company H, Thirty-first Michigan Regiment, until the close of hostilities. He is a Progressive Republican in politics and in a frat- ernal way is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of broad human sympathy and being gifted with unusual ability along the line of his chosen profession he is able to do a great deal of good for mankind. As a citizen he is loyal and public spirited and he commands the unalloyed confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.
October 21, 1908, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Ryan to Miss Margaret Boulden Jan Delle, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Jan Delle, of Battle Creek. The Jan Delles are old settlers in Calhoun county and Mrs. Ryan's father is engaged in the buying and shipping of cat- tle and stock. Mrs. Ryan was born in Marshall township, Calhoun county, Michigan, and she was graduated in the Marshall high school. Through self study she has become one of the best educated women in this sec- tion of the state, is well versed on the leading topics of the day, and is a stanch advocate of Socialism. The Ryan residence is at No. 64 Broad Street. Dr. and Mrs. Ryan have no children.
NORRIS JOSEPH FRINK was born in Marshall, Michigan, March 9, 1842, being the second child of Joseph Colton and Caroline Amelia (Norris) Frink. His father was one of the pioneers of Marshall, and one of its more highly respected citizens.
Mr. Frink's boyhood and youth were spent in his native place. At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he was but a slight and slender youth, yet full of patriotism, and while yet in his minority he enlisted in the service of his country. In September, 1862, he entered service as second lieutenant of Company A, Twenty-fifth Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry, and at once left for the front. He was stationed in various places in Kentucky, including Louisville, Munfordsville, Bow- ling Green and Lebanon, crossing the mountains into East Tennessee, in the meantime making a fine record as a brave and dashing soldier, and being promoted, October 10, 1862, to the rank of first lieutenant. Tiring of provost and guard duty, he resigned from the army October 29, 1863.
In July, 1864, Mr. Frink was commissioned by Governor Blair cap- tain, and recruiting officer, for the Twenty-ninth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. The Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth regiments being con- solidated, Captain Frink was commissioned major, and his regiment, which was assigned to the Twenty-third Army Corps, participated in the battles about Nashville from December 12, 1864, until December 16, 1864, "where it fully established a reputation as a gallant regiment, and at once reached the high standard of Michigan troops."
From March 8 until March 10, 1865, the regiment took part in the fighting at Wise's Forks, and it was Major Frink's gallantry at that time that secured for him the appointment, dated March 13, 1865, for brevet lieutenant colonel of the United States Volunteers "for gallant and meritorious services." He also served with honor and distinction as inspector general on the staff of Major General Ruger. Being hon-
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orably discharged from the army, June 5, 1866, he at once returned to Marshall, and assumed the position of cashier in his father's bank.
On March 29, 1870, Mr. Frink married Isabella Wilbur Gorham, a daughter of Charles T. Gorman. Soon after that event, he became asso- ciated with the First National Bank of Marshall as assistant cashier, and was afterwards made cashier, a position that he was holding at the time of his death. During all the business years of his life, he took an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and for many years served faithfully and efficiently on the municipal school board, being almost unanimously re-elected at the expiration of his many terms of office.
Politically Mr. Frink was a Republican, and for many years was one of the party leaders, having repeatedly been a delegate to county, congressional district, and state conventions. Although strongly averse to running for office, he was persuaded, in the spring of 1888, to accept the nomination for mayor of Marshall, and was elected by a large major- ity in a Democratic stronghold, just twenty-four years to a day after his father was elected to the same high position. While filling the mayor's chair, Mr. Frink did much to advance the interests of the city, and was promoter of the present system of water works.
Mr. Frink was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity, hav- ing passed every degree, and occupied many chairs, in the various lodges of Marshall. He was a Past Eminent Commander of Marshall Com- mandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, and had many times been a repre- sentative to the state bodies. He was initiated February 1, 1872, in Marshall Lodge, No. 294, Free and Accepted Order of Masons; was exalted to Lafayette Chapter, No. 4, April 10, 1872; and received the Order of Knighthood in Marshall Commandery, No. 17, Knights Tem- plar, May 2, 1882. He was also a member of De Witt Clinton Consis- tory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of Grand Rapids, at the time of his admission to that body having been the only thirty- second degree Mason in Marshall. He was also a Mason after the Third Veil in the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan. Mr. Frink was likewise a member, and past commander, of C. Colegrove Post, Grand Army of the Republic; and a Companion of the First Class of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
. Mr. Frink died April 29, 1890, from the effects of a surgical opera- tion, and was buried in the family lot in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Marshall. His death was deeply mourned by the whole community, rich and poor alike feeling the personal loss of a true friend. In honor of his memory the schools were closed, and all business in town suspended, the day of his funeral.
Mrs. Frink, his widow, still survives, and with their only child, Amelia Norris, (Mrs. James Redfield) lives on the old homestead, in Marshall.
WAYNE D. MARSH. The mercantile enterprise of Battle Creek has one of its best representatives in Wayne D. Marsh, the dealer in wall paper, paints, oils, glass and window shades, at 13 Jefferson avenue North. Mr. Marsh is an experienced and successful merchant, and be- longs to one of the old families of Calhoun county.
He was born at West LeRoy, this county, February 10, 1861. The pioneer of the family in this vicinity was his grandfather, Samuel Marsh, who during the '50s moved from Erie county, New York, to Michigan, and secured land in this county, probably as one of the origi- nal homesteaders. He and his wife passed away some thirty years ago. About three years after his settlement in this county, his son Hiram S. with his wife Harriet N. (Warren) Marsh came on from Clarence, Erie
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county, New York, where they both had been born and married, and located at West LeRoy. These were the parents of Mr. W. D. Marsh of this sketch. In 1865, the father moved into Battle Creek, and estab- lished the firm of Marsh & Mills and later Marsh & Moulton, meat dealers, their shops being where Minty's cigar store now is. Later, for about four years before his death, he was in the bottling business (soda water and other soft drinks). His death occurred September 30, 1888, and his wife died in 1882. He was affiliated with the Odd Fellows lodge in Battle Creek. There were just two children, Wayne D. being the older. His brother James W. has been associated with him in business for the past five years.
Wayne D. Marsh, after getting a fair schooling, began his business experience by keeping books for his father while the latter was in the meat business. In the fall of 1880 he became an employe of Horace Howell, whose establishment was at 13 North Jefferson and handled about the same lines as Mr. Marsh does now, being in fact the predeces- sor of the present store. By attention to business and a thorough capac- ity for trade Mr. Marsh by 1890 was able to acquire, with Mr. Eli Link as partner, the business of his former employer. Up to five years ago the business was run under the firm name of Marsh & Link, since which date Mr. Marsh has been the proprietor. However, Mr. Link still is joint owner with Mr. Marsh in the store building. This is an exten- sive business, and is not confined to selling the stock on the shelves. It is a business office for both the supplies and work of painting, decorat- ing, wall papering, etc., and about twenty-five men are kept busy all the year around.
Mr. Marsh is a charter member of the Athelstan Club, the most in- fluential civic and social organization in Battle Creek, and he was also formerly a director in the body. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is a vestryman in the St. Thomas' Episcopal church and for ten years was its treasurer. His residence is at 38 West street. December 19, 1894, he married at Monroe, Wisconsin, Miss Lelia C. Studley, who died in March, 1907. On November 19, 1909, at Buffalo, New York, Miss Jessie Ferguson be- came his wife.
JAMES W. MARSH, brother of Wayne D. Marsh, and associated with him in the business already described, was born at West LeRoy, this county, May 28, 1862, the son of Hiram S. and Harriet M. (Warren) Marsh. The family moving to Battle Creek when he was three years old, he was reared in this city and was graduated from the city schools with the class of 1880.
The greater part of his business career was spent in Buffalo, New York. Leaving his home town in the fall of 1882, for fifteen years he was general bookkeeper for the American Exchange Bank of Buffalo, and when that bank went out of business, he held the same position with the Fidelity Trust Company for ten years. Mr. Marsh returned to Battle Creek in 1906, and since that date has been with his brother in business.
Mr. Marsh is a vestryman of St. Thomas' Episcopal church and a short time ago resigned the office of treasurer. Fraternally he is affi- liated with the Knights of Pythias, having joined the order in Buffalo and later transferred to Battle Creek; also with the Elks lodge, and is a member of the Athelstan Club.
He was married December 24, 1895, to Miss Eva Elizabeth Sco- bell, who was born and reared in Kingston, Ontario. They are the parents of one daughter, Emily Josephine, born at Buffalo, August 18,
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1901, and now attending the Battle Creek schools. Mr. Marsh and fam- ily reside at 38 West street. Mr. Marsh is a member of Battle Creek Lodge, No. 131, B. P. O. E. and also a Mason, belonging to Battle Creek lodge, No. 12.
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