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 43
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Mrs. Walker also reared twin niece and nephew of the latter, Law- rence and Florence Betts, whom they took under their care at the age of six years. Lawrence is still with Mr. Walker, but Florence is now Mrs. Charles Graham and lives at Albion, Michigan.
SAMUEL J. TITUS. An industry whose wheels have been turning and whose machinery has been making useful products for more than half a century is always an interesting institution in the life of a community. This interest is enhanced in the case of a mill which through all these years has been making a commodity for the daily vital sustenance of the people. To provide food for the people is an occupation possessing all the fine qualities of service and dignity that can be ascribed to the most aristocratic of pursuits and professions. And this has been the successful work, through two generations, of the mill out on West Madison street in Battle Creek. For sixty years the waters of the stream have been turning its machinery, and its product has furnished the bread for many of the oldest as well as the youngest citizens of this vicinity.
The Star Mills of Titus & Hicks are of course the modern institution -a fine roller-process flouring mill, with a daily capacity of two hundred barrels. Though water power has always been used, the crude water wheels and mechanism of the pioneer times have long since been re- placed by the machinery of modern invention. Yet as an institution, the mill has had a continuous history, and for practically sixty years has been operated by the same families.
The first directory of Battle Creek, for the year 1869, states that the Titus & Hicks mill was the first grist mill in the town. It was established about the year 1852. Chester Buckley and Ellery Hicks owned it together for a time, until 1853, when Richard F. Hicks bought the Buckley interests, thus creating the firm of Titus & Hicks under which name the mill has ever since been operated. At the time of the directory above mentioned, the business was known as the People's Mill.
Richard F. Titus was born at New Rochelle, New York, October 20, 1800. His parents were Samuel and Sarah (Pearsall) Titus, the former a substantial miller at New Rochelle during the early years of the nineteenth century. In that mill Richard F. worked while a boy and obtained a fundamental knowledge of the business. While he was a boy the sea exercised a powerful fascination for the youth residing near the Atlantic, and he was one of the many who sailed before the mast. At the age of eighteen he had advanced to be captain of a sail- ing vessel, and for many years was engaged in the West Indies and South American trade.
In 1843, having left the sea, he came to Michigan and settled at Battle Creek, where he spent the remainder of his life. The following year, 1844, he was married at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Frances Wall- ing, who was born in Vermont, and they then returned to Battle Creek and began married life at the homestead where their son Samuel J. still resides. They were both Quakers by training and faith, and at Battle Creek they were among a number of like religion who were early settlers here. For some time Richard F. Titus engaged in the merchandising business with Jonathan Hart, and then was a partner of Henry Cantine in the lard and oil business. This was in the years before the introduction of petroleum, and a considerable industry for some years was the manufacture of what was called "lard oil" for illuminating purposes. While he was engaged in the merchandise business, his store was in the building at the corner of Main and Mon- Vol. II-19
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roe streets that is still standing as one of the landmarks of the old business district.
Then in 1853 he bought the interest in the grist mill which brought him into business association with Ellery Hicks, as already mentioned. At the death of Mr. Hicks soon afterward, he was succeeded by his son William, who has ever since represented the second name in the firm of Titus & Hicks. Richard F. Titus died in June or July, 1868. His wife survived him many years, passing away in March, 1894. Of their two sons, the younger, Richard, died when three years old.
Samuel J. Titus, son of the pioneer miller and his successor in business, was born here in Battle Creek, January 16, 1846, and obtained his education in the public schools and business college of this city. A year before his father's death he entered the mill, and since 1868 has been a member of the Titus & Hicks firm. In 1874 the old mill was torn down to make room for the mill that has been in use to the present day. At the same time the capacity was increased from twenty-five barrels of flour a day to one hundred and twenty-five. However, the old burr-system of grinding was still retained, up to 1885, when the roller process machinery displaced all the old style equipment, and at the same time the capacity was enlarged to two hundred barrels a day.
Mr. Titus has been identified with much of business and civic life of his city for many years. He has been a director of the Old National Bank since 1894, and is treasurer and a director in the Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Lansing and a director of the Commercial Insurance Company of the same city. In 1909-10 he served as president of the Athelstan Club, and is also a member of the Elks. He and his family reside at 115 Maple street. November 21, 1871, Mr. Titus was married at East Aurora, New York, to Miss Kate F. Hills. Her father was Henry Hill of East Aurora. She was born at Buffalo, New York, where she also received her early education. Mr. and Mrs. Titus are the parents of three children: Mrs. William Skinner of Battle Creek ; Francis Moulton of Rockford, Illinois; and Richard H., of Battle Creek-all of them natives of this city, where they attended the local schools.
CHARLES MERRITT. One of the men to whom Battle Creek, Michigan owes a debt of gratitude, though were he alive he would say that he should be grateful to Battle Creek for the prosperity she gave him, is Charles Merritt, who has been dead for a number of years but whose memory is still bright in the hearts of many. His family were pioneer settlers in Battle Creek, and his connection with the life of the city was a close one. In handling the large pieces of real estate which were under his care, he showed a keen business sense, but in all his deal- ings in real estate, a business which bears a reputation for offering greater opportunities to the dishonest than any other save, perhaps, horse-trading, he never swerved from the straight path of honor. He would sooner have lost his fortune at one fell swoop than to have cheated another out of a cent. Had Mr. Merritt not been a man of wealth and prominence in the city, his influence would still have been a powerful one, on account of the strength of his character and the power of his mind, which easily separated the false from the true, and read men like an open book.
Charles Merritt was born in Saratoga county, New York, on the 14th of October, 1820. His father was Joseph Merritt, who was also born at the old home in the same house where his son was born. The date of his birth was the 19th of June, 1782 and here on the farm he
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Chas Merritt
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was reared and married and his nine children were born. He carried on farming on an extensive scale, but he determined to go to the west, in spite of the success which he was meeting. This was partly on ac- count of his sons in order that he might have more land to leave to them, and partly in hopes that his health, which had not been very good would improve in the bracing air of the western prairies. He came to Battle Creek in 1835, his family came in 1836, with the exception of his son, William, who had preceeded the others and acting as agent, for his father had purchased a section of land. This section was located within the present limits of Battle Creek, lying between north and East avenues. The first home of the family was built on the present site of the Merritt homestead on Maple street. At one time a part of the old house was moved to another part of the farm and in 1900 it was torn down to make room for more modern buildings. Joseph Merritt practically lived in retirement after coming to Michigan, though he continued to interest himself more or less in the work of the farm until his death. He took an active interest in all of the questions of the day, especially in those relating to slavery. His home became a meeting place for prominent anti-slavery workers, and frequently such men as William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Parker Pillsbury and Henry C. Wright were entertained at his home, where Lucy Stone and So- journer Truth were frequent visitors. While Mr. Merritt never took the platform in defense of the abolition of slavery, he nevertheless ex- erted a strong though quiet influence in that direction. Through many generations the Merritt family had been members of the Society of Friends, and as is well known the Friends always championed strongly the abolition of slavery. Joseph Merritt with his brothers Abram and Isaac and his brother-in-law, Jonathan Hart, founded and supported a Friends' meeting house on the site now occupied by St. Philip's Roman Catholic church. The Merritt family became a strong moral force in the community and Joseph Merritt exerted a powerful influence for good which was felt long after he had passed away. His death occurred on the 24th of October 1863.
Joseph Merritt was married on the 18th of August, 1813, to Miss Phoebe Hart, a native of the state of Connecticut, where she grew up. Mrs. Merritt was born on December 17, 1791, and died on November 2, 1870. Eight children were born to this couple, namely: Jane, who became the wife of Thomas Chandler, of Adrian, Michigan; William, who for many years was a resident of Battle Creek, and died in 1902; Jonathan H., who died here in 1837; Daniel, who died in 1839; Charles, of this review; Richard B., who was long a resident of this city but is now dead; George, who is now living, San Diego, California; Phoebe H., the deceased wife of Frank Stickney, and Joseph J., who died in California.
Charles Merritt was a youth of fifteen, when the family removed to Michigan. He had received good educational advantages in the east and here he attended a Friends private school, conducted by John Mott. He later went to the home of his uncle George Barrett, at Spring Val- ley, Ohio, and here he began to learn the woolen manufacturing busi- ness. He became thoroughly acquainted with this business, and after a time engaged in the business on his own account, in connection with his brother George, under the firm name of Merritt Brothers. The enter- prise was a success but feeling that his duty was in Battle Creek with his father, Charles Merritt returned to the city to take care of his parents who were now well along in years. He assumed the manage- ment of the estate, not however giving up his interest in the woolen mills. This plant was after a time moved to Indianapolis, Indiana,
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and it was not until 1865, that Charles Merritt relinquished his in- terest in the business. He assisted in the government survey of north- ern Michigan, and in the Mineral Region. He in 1848 staked the spot on which the now famous Calumet mines are located.
Joseph Merritt had made extensive purchases of land, including a tract at Homer, on which was a mill, and also property at Bellevue, in addition to large investments in reality in this locality. His property here was known as Oak Openings. Charles Merritt took charge of all this, relieving his father of the responsibility and care connected with its management, and developed into a fine real estate man. He became one of the pioneer fruit growers in this part of the state, and went into fruit growing extensively. He made a speciality of the cultivation of strawberries and peaches, having large beds and extensive orchards. He also made a great success with the Lawton blackberries, and he speedily became known as an authority on fruit culture, his opinions being eagerly sought by fruit growers all over the state. He wrote many valuable articles for the leading horticultural journals and one of his articles on "Strawberry Culture," appeared only a short time before his death in the New York Agriculturist. Mr. Merritt continued in that line of business until the expansion of the city brought his land into the city market and old orchards and gardens were subdivided and platted, and were placed upon the market as Merritt's First, Second, Third and Fourth additions to Battle Creek. Turning from fruit grow- ing he now gave practically the whole of his time to managing his real estate. Orchard avenue, a beautiful street, now lined with fine residences, passes through the spot where the old orchard was. During the finan- cial panic of 1872, Mr Merritt suffered heavy losses, but he succeeded in winning back a large portion of his fortune.
On the 9th of June, 1857, Charles Merritt was married to Miss Eli- zabeth Margaret Chandler, daughter of William G. and Sarah (Taylor) Chandler. Mrs. Merritt was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was educated at Kennett Square, Chester county, and was living in Philadelphia when her marriage occurred. Her father spent his boyhood and youth in Philadelphia, and after attaining his majority married Miss Taylor, who lived in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt became the parents of four children, as follows : Mrs. Minnie C. Fay, who resides with her mother in this city; Charles Wendell, of Denver, Colorado; Maud Elizabeth, wife of Professor Joseph H. Drake, of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, and William Guest, of Oak Park, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago. All of these children were born here in the old home. While the Merritts were living in their first home in Battle Creek, then on the farm, Colonel Stuart, expecting that Verona would be the town site, built the house now occupied by Mrs. Charles Merritt. After the town was deserted, this part of this house was purchased by Charles Mer- ritt, and with the oxen used for breaking prairie it was removed during the winter season to its present site and there remodeled.
On the 7th of April, 1893, Mr. Merritt died, and since that time Mrs. Merritt has supervised the property interests of the estate, show- ing marked ability in coping with the business world. She conducts the sale of the lots with splendid success and her husband could not have left his estate in better hands.
Mr. Merritt was always deeply interested in the welfare of the city of Battle Creek, and was active in any movement that tended to better conditions therein. He was a staunch Republican but always refused to accept, office, though no man in his knowledge of the issues of the day was better fitted to cope with public affairs than was Mr. Mer-
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ritt. His leisure time was given entirely to his family and friends, and how truly he was appreciated by the latter is shown in the following letter written by a prominent man, to Mrs. Merritt shortly after her husband's death. "While the loss is a severe one to you and the children and a sad one for his friends, there are many comforting things con- nected with his passing away. First, we feel the separation is one for a brief period; then we feel it is well with him. He had a broad, kindly nature, a loving and generous disposition. He was gentle and in addi- tion to this he was thoughtful and he not only thought good things but what it better did them. Your children will be better for having had such a father, you for having had such a husband, others for such friendship. He was so entirely frank and honest that one only needed to meet him to realize he knew a good man."
HOWARD V. ALLEN is one of the representative citizens of his town, and a farmer of considerable ability. He shares with his father an enviable reputation in that respect, and with him is engaged in the operating of one of the fine farms of Calhoun county. Born on August 18, 1880, on the farm on which he now lives, Mr. Allen is the son of Daniel C. and Matilda Caroline (Peek) Allen.
Daniel C. Allen is the son of Norman A. and Anne Eliza (Brown) Allen, both natives of New York state, who came to Michigan in 1848. The Allen family first located in Washtenaw county, but remained there a very short time, moving into Calhoun county, and securing an eighty acre tract which is a part of the farm now owned and occupied by his son and grandson. Here Norman Allen and his wife lived and died, rearing their family in the quiet, simple manner dictated by their sim- ilar natures. Mr. Norman was a prominent man in Calhoun county in his time, and was a leader in the Democratic party. His wife was a devout member of the Baptist church, and he was ever a regular attend- ant with her, although not a member. They reared a family of seven children, of which number Daniel C. was the fourth born. When the parents passed away, Daniel bought out the other heirs to the old home, and there he continued to live, and still makes it his home and the center of his life's activities. He has increased the farm to one hundred and seventy acres, and with his son conducts a general farming enter- prise. They have been very successful, and their combined efforts have made the old homestead one of the attractive spots in the community. Mr. Allen has always taken an active part in the political and civic life of the town and county, and like his father, has been prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party for years. He was supervisor of his township for several terms, justice of the peace for years and com- missioner of highways on more than one occasion. On the whole, he takes rank as one of the leading citizens of the township and stands high in the esteem and confidence of the community. In 1875 Daniel Allen married Matilda Caroline Peek, who was born in Toronto, On- tario, on October 9, 1856, and came to Michigan in 1866 with her parents, Egbert and Mary (Enos) Peek, natives of Pennsylvania and Canada. The father died in 1869 at the early age of forty-three, while the mother still lives. They became the parents of three sons ;- Egbert L., now a teacher in the Central high school of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Howard, of this review; and Norman W., also at home.
Like his brothers, Howard Allen was given a liberal education. After finishing the schools at Clarence, he took a complete course in business training at Ypsilanti, followed by a special course in engineer- ing at the Michigan State Agricultural College in Lansing. His tastes and inclinations led him to continue with the farm rather than to
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follow any other line of activity, and he has thus remained with his father, assisting him in the operating of the fine farm which represents the birthplace of himself and his father.
He promises to lead a life of activity in county politics, and as a Progressive Republican, was elected supervisor of his township in a strong Democratic community, making the run with a large majority. He is highly regarded among his fellow townspeople, and is known for one of the most eligible bachelors in the township.
CHARLES R. W. SOUTHWICK, M. D. A well-known member of the medical profession of Calhoun county, whose chosen field of practice is the thriving village of Partello, is Dr. Charles R. W. Southwick, a physician whose skill and ability have gained for him the universal confidence and regard of the people of his community. Dr. Southwick was born near the city of Cleveland, Ohio, April 20, 1875, a son of Charles H. and Harriet Anne (Roth) Southwick, the former born in Ohio, in 1853, and the latter in New York, in 1855, of English parentage.
Dr. Southwick traces his ancestors in America back to the year 1630, when Laurence and Cassandra Southwick, Quakers, came to this coun- try. His paternal grandparents were Lucien and Luciena (Stannard) Southwick, and on the maternal side his grandparents were Richard and Grace (Buckingham) Roth. Charles H. Southwick, the Doctor's father, who is now living a retired life at Mount Pleasant, Michigan, was en- gaged in carpenter work and engineering during his early years, but in 1889 came to Michigan and located on a farm near Mount Pleasant. Here he accumulated 100 acres of valuable land, but disposed of it in 1903, at which time he moved to Maryland, and was there engaged in farming until 1910. Since that year he has lived a quiet life in Mount Pleasant. He is a Democrat in his political views. Mr. and Mrs. South- wick have had four children, as follows: Dr. Charles R. W .; Ellis Eugene, who died September 10, 1911, at Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of thirty-five years; Grace Alice, aged twenty-seven years, who married William Sprague, of Mount Pleasant; and George Washington, of Cleveland, Ohio, who is engaged in carpenter work.
Charles R. W. Southwick received his early education in the country schools of Ohio and Michigan, supplementing this with attendance at the Mount Pleasant high school, where he was graduated in the class of 1901. At that time he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, remaining two years, in 1905 being graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He im- mediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Weid- man, in Isabella county, Michigan, but four and one-half years later came to the village of Partello, which has since been his field of prac- tice. The Doctor has built up a large and lucrative professional busi- ness, and his remarkable success in a number of complicated cases has given him a widespread reputation, both among his patients and his professional confreres. He is an active and valued member of the Calhoun County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and also holds membership in the Blue Lodge of Masons at Olivet, and the Odd Fellows at Weidman. His political convictions are those of the Republican party, but he has not been an office seeker, his professional duties having demanded his attention and satisfied his ambitions.
On August 17, 1904, Dr. Southwick was united in marriage with Miss Edith M. Whipple, daughter of Mrs. Martha M. Whipple, and to this union there have been born three children, as follows: Lyla
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Genevieve, who is deceased; and Helen Irene and Wayne Alden, who are at home.
GEORGE RUNDLE. Although he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, George Rundle is well known to the citizens of Lee township, where he is operating a well-cultivated tract of forty-three acres of valuable land. The successful manner in which he has conducted his own affairs has made him the choice for one of the supervisors of his township, where the citizens have faith in his ability to conduct public interests as well. Mr. Rundle is a native-born citizen of Lee township, Calhoun county, Michigan, his birth having occurred January 15, 1878, the oldest of the seven sons comprising the family of Ellet and Ellen (Diedrich) Rundle.
Peter Rundle, the grandfather of George Rundle, was the progenitor of this family in America, coming to this country from England at an early day and settling in Calhoun county, Michigan, on a farm in Newton township. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Rundle was a na- tive of the Fatherland and his wife of France, she bearing the maiden name of Mary Campbell, and on coming to the United States they settled on a farm in Marengo township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Ellet Rundle was born in Newton township and was there reared and educated, but in his later years removed to Lee town- ship, where he continued to follow farming during the remainder of his life. He was a Democrat in his political views, but not a politician, and never sought public preferment. He interested himself in fraternal matters as a member of the Odd Fellows.
Like other farmers' sons of his vicinity, George Rundle divided his boyhood between the district schools, which he attended during the winter months, and the home farm, where he spent his summers, assist- ing his father and being taught the principles of successful tilling of the soil. Subsequently, however, he decided upon a business career, and engaged in the implement business in Marshall, conducting an estab- lishment at that place until 1912, when he again returned to farming, and now has a property of forty-three acres. This he is developing into one of the best properties of its size in this part of the country, erecting substantial buildings, grading, leveling and tiling, and making numer- ous improvements which have greatly increased the farm's value. Pro- gressive and enterprising in all things, Mr. Rundle is in favor of the use of modern machinery and methods, and has found that they greatly facilitate his own work.
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