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 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Mr. Crosby was married in 1873 to Ida M. Lang, daughter of Daniel Lang, Greenville, Michigan, long since deceased. Their only child is a daughter, Hazel Belle, now a student in the Battle Creek high school and a very accomplished and attractive young woman. Their home is one of Emmett township's most popular gathering places.
JOHN H. MANBY. Noteworthy among the many enterprising men who are prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits in the rich and fertile country in and around Calhoun county is John H. Manby, who uses excellent methods and good judgment in the prosecution of his calling, and is meeting with satisfactory success. He was born in New York state, December 12, 1857, and is of English ancestry on both sides of the house, his paternal grandfather, Robert Manby, and his maternal grandfather, William Keely, having been life-long residents of England.
His father, Job Manby, was born and educated in England. De- sirous as a young man to try the hazard of new fortunes, he immigrated to America, locating in the Empire state about 1850. In 1864, lured still farther westward, he came with his little family to Michigan, and having purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bedford town- ship, Calhoun county, he was there engaged in general farming a num- ber of years. He subsequently removed to Battle Creek, and there spent his last days, passing away in 1893. He was a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Baptist church. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Keeley, was born and bred in England, where her parents spent their entire lives.
A lad of seven years when the family came to Michigan, John H. Manby acquired his early education principally in the district schools, attending school one term, only, in Battle Creek. Becoming familiar as a boy with the various branches of agriculture he assisted his father in the care of the home farm for several seasons, after which he worked as a farm hand for several years, receiving wages by the month. In 1898 Mr. Manby bought the parental homestead in Bedford township, and as a general farmer is meeting with good results. In addition to this he is quite successful as a stock raiser and dealer, finding it a profitable and pleasant industry.
A stanch supporter of the principles promulgated by the Demo-
909
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
cratic party, Mr. Manby takes a genuine interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of his community, never shirking his responsi- bilities as a man and a citizen. In 1904 he was his party's candidate for the office of township supervisor, and having been elected served ably and acceptably for four years. In 1911 he was again his party's nominee for the same position, and notwithstanding that the township is a Republican stronghold he was elected by a handsome majority, the votes cast in his favor showing his popularity in the town. Mr. Manby married, in 1889, Miss Susie Errington of Penfield township, who died the following year.
In 1892 Mr. Manby married Nellie Foster, a daughter of Richard H. and Alitia (Piper) Foster. Her father, a native of Canada, migrated to Michigan in 1864, settling at Battle Creek, where he was engaged in blacksmithing until his death, in 1873, but a few years after his marriage with Miss Piper, who was born and reared in New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Manby are the parents of two children, namely : Charles J., who was graduated from the Battle Creek high school, assists his father on the home farm; and Harold, now attending the Battle Creek Business College. Mr. Manby and his wife are members of the Congregational church.
WILLIAM C. MILLS. Prominently and profitably engaged in farm- ing, and one of the most enterprising and progressive men in the busi- ness in Marengo township, this county; well educated and still very studious, and having in addition to his scholastic attainments a large fund of practical general information, and thereby a leader of thought in his locality; earnestly interested in the public affairs of his town- ship and county, moral, mental, material, political and social, and an active factor in directing them, William C. Mills has exemplified in the fifty-five years of his life many of the best and most admirable and useful traits of character and attributes of citizenship, and is esteemed in accordance with his genuine worth and sterling American manhood.
Mr. Mills was born in Flowerfield township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, on October 1, 1857. His parents, Rev. Levi and Esther (Blair) Mills, were natives of Washington county, Maryland, where the former was born in 1811 and the latter in 1812. The mother died in 1884 and the father in 1888. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, six of whom grew to maturity. Five of these are living: Anne C., who is the wife of W. Lewis and resides in Battle Creek; Esther, who married Dealton Durham and has her home in Barry county; Levi, who is a resident of South Dakota; Jennie, who became the wife of L. T. Clark and now lives at Marengo, and William C., who was the last born of the eleven. James B., who also grew to manhood, died at Hastings, Barry county, and was probate judge of that county at the time of his death.
The parents moved from Maryland to Ohio at an early period in the history of that state, and a few years later came to Michigan. They were located in Monroe county for a time, then, after a residence of some years in St. Joseph county, came to Calhoun county about 1858. They took up their residence in Penfield township near Battle Creek. The father was a Methodist Protestant clergyman, and the rule of itineracy of that church, which still prevails, especially in the rural districts, made him considerable of a wanderer, and a circuit rider in many places. Both parents died at Rice Creek in Lee township, where the father owned a small farm, and both were well alvanced in years at the time of their demise.
910
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
William C. Mills obtained his early education in the district schools. He also passed two years in a high school in Three Rivers, St. Joseph county. On the foundation thus laid he has built a superstructure of wide general intelligence through extensive reading and studious ob- servation, and is considered one of the best informed men in his town- ship. He moved to the farm he now occupies in 1900. It is a large one and he has about 240 acres of it under cultivation, doing general farming with enterprise and judgment, and also raising live stock on a considerable scale.
Mr. Mills was married on February 22, 1887, to Miss Carrie Wilder, a daughter of Nathan F. Wilder, who is now living in Marengo town- ship. Of their union three children have been born. The oldest, Harry, is living in Detroit and is in the employ. of the Oldsmobile Works as a member of its office force, and Ralph and Edith are still members of the parental family circle. The father is a Republican in politics and attends the Methodist Protestant church for religious services. He has served on the school board a number of years and is now township clerk, an office to which he was elected in 1912. Through- out the county he is well known and in all parts of it is held in the highest esteem on account of his genuine worth as a man and his pro- gressiveness, high tone and usefulness as a citizen. In Marengo town- ship he is easily among the leading men from every point of view.
RAY COURTRIGHT. Since he was twenty-one years old, Ray Court- right has been independently engaged in farming; at first, operating another man's land on shares, and since 1904 running his own farm, which his father deeded to him at that time. Mr. Courtright was born on the farm he now owns and occupies in November 18, 1873, and is the son of Leonard Courtright and his wife, Mary Anne (Lamb) Court- right. The father was born in the township of Butler, Wayne county, New York, on August 1, 1827, while the mother was a native of Cayuga county, New York, born there in 1831. In 1844 Leonard Courtright came to Michigan with his parents, who located in Clarence township, near the farm on which the subject now lives. Here he married his wife, who came to Michigan with her parents as a young girl, they also settling in Clarence township. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Courtright, as follows: May married Louis North, and is now deceased ; H. June is a resident of Dallas, Texas; Eva is dead; Cass Juan is en- gaged in the monument business in Springport; J. L. is a resident of Albion ; Ray, of this review. Leonard Courtright bought this farm from the government. He cleared the land, and built upon it a log house, which he furnished complete with furniture made from the logs he cut on the place. He started life with nothing but his strength, his courage and determination, and the splendid character that came by endowment to him from his sturdy ancestors. By the application of those qualities, he has risen from comparative penury to the position of a well-to-do man. His first farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres he added to from time to time until it represented an acreage of three hundred or more acres at one time, which he operated up to its limit. In later years he built upon this place one of the finest brick houses in the township, with fine large barns and stables suited to his needs. He was ever a hard-working man, and though small of stature, never weighing more than one hundred and forty pounds, he was capable of performing more actual labor, with greater powers of endurance than many a man by far his physical superior in weight and size. He was a Democrat, but not more than ordinarily active in the political
4
911
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
affairs of the community. He died on January 19, 1909, while his wife preceded him on August 14, 1894.
The boyhood of Ray Courtright was one of unusual freedom for a farm lad, and it was not until he was twenty-one that he settled down to actual responsibility. In that year he began to operate his present farm on shares, and after a year thus engaged he took another farm of 120 acres in the northern part of the township, which he continued to work for two seasons. In 1900 he returned home and his father deeded him his present farm, consisting of seventy-five acres in the finest part of the township. He does a general farming business and raises some stock, as well.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Courtright married Rena Augusta Starks, the daughter of D. C. and Emma (Williams) Starks. Her fam- ily is one of the oldest in the state, her grandparents having come to Michigan in the early territorial days. The family was founded in Michigan by Samuel C. Stark, who was born in Whitehill, Washington county, New York, on January 16, 1818, dying in Michigan in 1892. He settled in Michigan in 1844, locating in Branch county, and a year later moving to Calhoun county. He first bought property in Albion, which he later traded for eighty acres of land in Clarence township, that place now being owned by A. J. Cortright. The last years of his life were spent on a small farm in the southern part of the township. His son, D. C. Starks, attended the district schools of Clarence town- ship, and in 1872 was employed as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Later he became interested in the saw mill business in Brookfield, in which he continued for fourteen years. His parents then were in their old age and needed his care, and he accordingly went home and looked after them until their death. During the last 18 years he has lived in Springfield, engaged principally in the elevator business. He was married in 1874 to Emma Jane Williams, the daugh- ter of Vine and Phylinda Williams, and they became the parents of three children :- George Riley, of Springport; Rena Augusta, who mar- ried Ray Courtright, and Eva Maude, the wife of J. E. Hoag, a book- binder of Springport. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child,-Eva May, in school at present.
ANDY J. CORTRIGHT is another representative of the fine old family of that name, which has been identified with the agricultural history of Calhoun county for the past seventy years, and as such is worthy of a place in the historical and biographical work devoted to that county. He was born in Clarence township on January 20, 1862, and is the son of Emerson and Miranda (Barber) Cortright, both natives of New York, the father being born there on September 1, 1823, and the mother on April 15, 1833. Emerson Cortright came to Michigan with his parents, Simeon and Margaret (Haines) Cortright, in 1844, and they bought a farm in Clarence township on which they passed the remainder of their lives.
In 1848 Emerson Cortright bought a farm in Clarence township consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres, to which in later years he added an eighty-acre tract, so that when he died he was the owner of two hundred and five acres of land. His death occurred in 1909, his wife having passed away in the previous year. Of their eight children, Andy J. was the fifth born, and but four of that number are now living. Fred and William are residents of Clarence township, as well as the subject.
Andy J. Cortright secured a limited education in the district schools of his day, and worked for his father on the home farm until he was Vol. II-20
912
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
twenty-one. In 1883 he married Elizabeth Taylor, a daughter of John C. Taylor of New York, who came to Michigan in 1872 and passed the remainder of his days in the farming industry, in which he was par- ticularly successful. He died in 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Cortright have three children ;- Maude M. married Gaylord Wagner and lives in Battle Creek; Emerson lives with his parents, as does also Ross, the youngest son.
The present farm home of the Cortrights was purchased in 1899,- an eighty acre tract which in point of improvements and up-to-date methods of operation, is not to be excelled in the township. Mr. Cort- right is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and a Democrat in politics, but not an active participant in such matters, although he has held several responsible positions in township and school offices, also in the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Association.
ANDREW WOODEN was reared in Emmett township under pioneer influence. He has always been engaged in agriculture, doing much hard work in improving the homestead which he now owns and occu- pies. The place is situated in section fifteen and was purchased by his father, Daniel Wooden, from the patentee, in the early days of the county.
Born in Ontario county, New York, April 10, 1835, Andrew Wooden is the son of Daniel and Frances (Palmer) Wooden. The father was born in New York state in about 1804, and was the son of John Wooden, a native of the state of New York. John Wooden owned four hun- dred acres of land near Geneva, New York, and was one of the most prosperous farmers in that region. In 1836 Daniel, his son, came to Michigan, there buying the land which is now owned by his son, the subject of this review. The rough pioneer life and its many attend- ant hardships broke down the health of the young home-seeker, and after four years he returned to New York, where he died at the early age of thirty-eight years. Daniel Wooden was a man of unusual char- acter and mentality, and was an admirable citizen and an adherent of Democrtic principles. His wife was born in New York state in 1809. They were the parents of four children, but one of which number now survives,-Andrew, of this sketch. The others were: Alma, the wife of George Beckett, who died in 1862; Caroline, who died in 1879 and Harriett, the wife of J. B. Lee, who died in 1867.
Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Wooden returned to Calhoun county in 1843, accompanied by her children. She of neces- sity endured many hardships in the new country, but lived to see the forests cleared away, the Michigan Central Railroad built, and the fields to blossom with abundant grain. In 1896 she died at the age of eighty-six years and ten days old, her daughters all having preceded her.
Andrew Wooden was married in 1863 to Nancie Kane, a native of Calhoun county. Her parents, George and Nancy (Stiles) Kane, were also among the early settlers, coming from New York state in 1833. To Andrew and Nancie (Kane) Wooden were born four children : Frances, the wife of A. D. Johnson; Lillian, who married R. H. Kernan; Rena, the wife of Guy Wells, and Mark. The son still lives with his father in the old homestead.
Mr. Wooden built his neat and attractive home in the year 1863. Two barns also have been reared on the place, one in 1862 and the other in 1872, as well as other out buildings, all in keeping with the character of the main structures. His farm of one hundred and forty acres is located five miles east, a few miles distant from Battle Creek and is known as one of the best improved places in the county.
913
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
The family circle remained unbroken until December 28, 1911, when Mrs. Wooden, at the age of seventy years, was called to join those who had passed before her.
CHARLES E. SAWYER. He whose name initiates this review is one of the able and well known civil engineers residing in Calhoun county and has been identified with much important work in connection with rail- road construction, as well as topographical surveys, meandering of rivers, etc. He owns and resides upon an attractive farmstead of eighty- eight acres in Marshall township, and gives his attention to the same in connection with more or less work of a professional order. He has maintained his home in this county since 1896.
Mr. Sawyer claims the old Hoosier state as the place of his nativity, his birth occurring on a farm in Noble county, Indiana, on the 6th of July, 1860. He is a son of John and Catherine (Strater) Sawyer, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Germany, whence her parents immigrated to America and established their home in Noble county, Indiana, when she was a child. John Sawyer was reared to adult age in his native state and as a young man he numbered himself among the pioneers of Ohio, whence he later removed to Noble county, Indiana, there becoming a substantial farmer and a citizen who commanded unqualified confidence and esteem. He continued to reside there until his death, which occurred in 1908, and his venerable widow still lives on the old homestead farm in that county, near Kendall- ville.
Charles E. Sawyer gained his earlier educational discipline in the public schools of Kendallville, the judicial center of his native county, where he also attended a select school. Thereafter he continued his studies in what was then known as the Rockhill College, in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Soon after attaining his legal majority Mr. Saw- yer became identified with practical civil-engineering work, in the line of street and sewer grading, and later he was engaged in important engineering and construction work on the Michigan Central, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis, the Chicago & Northwestern, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic, the Pittsburg, Bessemer & Lake Erie railways besides which in later years, he was concerned in the survey work on the electric interurban line between Jackson and Detroit. Since that time he has been identified with pro- fessional work in surveying rivers and creeks in Michigan,-especially in the matter of hydraulic topography and the installing of sewer sys- tems, now with the interurban between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. He has been called upon for services of local order in the work of his profession and is one of the representative civil engineers of this section of the state. He has made excellent improvements upon his farm, which is devoted to diversified agriculture and stock-growing and he finds much satisfaction in supervising the varied activities of the attrac- tive homestead.
Mr. Sawyer is distinctively progressive and public-spirited in his civic attitude and is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Repub- lican party. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the Association of Amer- ican Railway Engineers.
In the year 1897 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sawyer to Miss Lizzie Laberteaux, daughter of the late Tunis Laberteaux, who was one of the early settlers of Marshall township and who was a citizen of no little prominence, and influence. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have three chil-
914
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
dren,-Leora, who is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of the city of Marshall; Charles E., Jr., who is associated in the work and management of the home farm; and Marguerite, who still remains in the parental home, and is attending the Marshall public schools.
RICHARD R. HICKS. Wide-awake, enterprising and progressive, Rich- ard R. Hicks is a splendid representative of the up-to-date business man and his connection with one of Battle Creek's most important in- dustrial enterprises,-the American Steam Pump Company-has worked in no indefinite fashion towards the success of that concern. He has been associated with the same for seventeen years, and since 1908 has held the offices of secretary and assistant treasurer. He is, in fact, an able exponent of the progressive spirit and strong initiative ability which have caused Battle Creek to forge so rapidly forward as an industrial and commercial center.
Mr. Hicks is a native son of this city, his birth having occurred within its pleasant boundaries on May 13, 1871. He is the son of Charles H. and Frances (Moore) Hicks. The father was born in Perry, Wyoming county, New York, December 13, 1844, and died in Los An- geles, California, whence he had gone in quest of health, on May 8, 1881. He was connected with the business of Nichols & Shepard in this city for many years, and in honor of one who possessed the respect and affection of all with whom he came in contact the great factory was closed on the day of his funeral in this city, all that was mortal of him having been brought back from California for interment. Pre- vious to the business connection mentioned, Mr. Hicks, the elder, was with the American Express Company. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted at the age of seventeen years in Company C, of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry and having served as corporal. His military service covered more than three years of the period of the great conflict between the states. He was educated in the east and also in the schools of Battle Creek and was a graduate of the schools of this city. He was one of the charter members of the Athelstan Club.
Charles H. Hicks was the son of Ellery and Maribah (Wilcox) Hicks, and in the fall of 1851, his parents accompanied by their six children made the long and difficult overland journey from their old home to Michigan, proceeding by stage from Perry to Buffalo and thence by lake to Detroit, from which city they made the remainder of the trip to Battle Creek by rail. In New York, Ellery Hicks had been an iron manufacturer, but in the Wolverine state he turned his attention to other pursuits. In 1852 he purchased an interest in what is known today as the Titus & Hicks Flour Mill and operated the same until his demise which occurred in 1860. The mill is at present the property of S. J. Titus and William E. Hicks, the latter a son of Ellery Hicks and a brother of Charles H.
Charles H. Hicks was married June 24, 1868, Miss Frances E. Moore, of Battle Creek, daughter of William and Rebecca (Hamlet) Moore, becoming his wife. The Moores were early settlers here, hav- ing migrated to Battle Creek in 1854 from New Hampshire. William Moore was a Battle Creek shoe merchant and passed away, March 30, 1904, the demise of his wife having occurred many years before on September 16, 1860. He was a prominent Mason and this body held the last ceremonial rites and consigned his body to the grave. He was the father of two children, Mrs. Charles H. Hicks being the eldest and J. E. Moore, the younger. Mrs. Charles H. Hicks, mother of the imme- diate subject of this review, makes her home with her sons here and
John C. Reynolds, MD
4.
915
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
was born in Nashville, New Hampshire. There are two sons, the sub- ject being the elder. The other, Louis E., is also a citizen of Battle Creek. .
As mentioned in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Hicks has been con- nected with the American Steam Pump Company of Battle Creek for the past seventeen years and since 1908 the duties of secretary and as- sistant treasurer have been vested in him. Previous to that he was cashier. During the world's fair in Chicago he resided in that city and was for a time in Detroit, but in 1895 came to Battle Creek and when the concern with which he is identified came into existence he started in with it at the beginning. Like his honored father, he is identified with the ancient and august Masonic order, having membership in Battle Creek Lodge, No. 12. He is also connected with the Elks and the Athel- stan Club.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.