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 66
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Politically, Mr. Clark is a Democrat, as also was his father; and he has rendered local public service in the capacity of Highway Commis- sioner, which office he filled two years. By his own efforts and good management he has acquired the fine property he owns, and his stand- ing in the community as a man of sterling worth is unquestioned.
STEPHEN M. HAYES. Having been the architect of his own fortune and built himself up from nothing to a man of substance and worldly
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comfort, and from the obscurity of country boyhood to good standing, large acquaintance and general esteem in his township and county, Stephen M. Hayes of Fredonia township, this county, has demon- strated the genuineness of his make-up, the quality of his citizenship and the sterling character of his manhood, and has also furnished for the admiration of the people around him a worthy example of elevated and useful American manhood.
Mr. Hayes is a native of Canada, where he was born on January 4, 1857. His parents, now both deceased. were James and Lucy (Landon) Hayes, the former born in Ireland in 1811 and the latter in Canada in 1821. The father came to North America in 1823, when he was but twelve years of age, and, with his parents, took up his residence in Canada, where he grew to manhood and completed his education. He then moved to Sanilac county, Michigan, where he bought a farm which he cultivated for a number of years. In 1887 he became a resident of Calhoun county, and here purchased a farm of 100 acres on which he passed the remainder of his life, dying on this farm on November 11, 1900. He was of a migratory nature and changed the locality of his residence frequently. Besides this he had a large family to provide for, and so in the long run he did not accumulate much property. The mother died in 1897. They were the parents of ten children, only three of whom are now living: William, deceased; Margaret, Abigail, deceased ; George, deceased; Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, James, Hiram, who is a resident of Battle Creek, this county; and Stephen M., who was the last born of the family.
In political affairs the father trained with the Democratic party, and, while he never sought or desired a political office of any kind, he was true and loyal to his party, and always rendered it all the service he was able to at the elections. His wife belonged to the United Breth- ren church, but he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopalians, and in fraternal relations he was allied with the Order of Orangemen.
Stephen M. Hayes obtained all the education he had opportunity to get in the district schools. He began life for himself on a farm, and he has passed all his subsequent years in farming. In 1901, after farming other men's land on shares for a number of years, he bought eighty acres of his own, and on this he is still living. He has made all the improvements there are on the farm in the way of buildings and fences, and he has also made all the advancement the place has shown in the way of productiveness and attractiveness in appearance. In cultivating his land he does general farming, and he does it with industry, skill and good management, making every acre yield abundantly and the whole operation of the farm profitable.
On the 29th of October, 1889, Mr. Hayes was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Metzger, a native of the state of New York. Two chil- dren have been born of the union: Nellie I., who has completed the course of instruction in the district schools and is now living at home with her parents; and Manuel E., has finished a business college in Battle Creek, and is now at Flint, Michigan, with the Buick Auto Co. Mrs. Hayes is a member of the Congregational church, which Mr. Hayes also attends. He is allied with the Knights of the Maccabees in fraternal life, and in politics he is a Democrat. His farm is a fine one, and yields him a comfortable living. By all his neighbors and hosts · of other friends he is well esteemed, as he is wherever else he is known.
THEODORE W. SWIFT. Holding prestige as the dominant director of affairs one of the largest grain shipping firms in the state of Michigan. that of McLane, Swift & Company, Theodore W. Swift is recognized as
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one of the leading business men of Battle Creek, where for years he has been identified with enterprises of an extensive nature. A man of energy and versatile business talents, during his long and successful career he has extended his operations to diversified fields of commercial and industrial endeavor, his energies being confined to undertakings of a strictly legitimate nature, and his transactions being carried on in such a manner as to win the entire confidence and esteem of his busi- ness confreres and the public at large. Mr. Swift was born at Birming- ham, Lorain county, Ohio, June 10, 1865, and is a son of Elisha E. and Margaret G. (Wells) Swift.
The progenitors of the Swift family in this country emigrated from England during colonial days, and Theodore W. Swift is a nephew of Col. Frederick Swift, ex-postmaster of Detroit and an early settler there. He is descended from the Rev. Elliot Swift, of Pennsylvania, and the brothers of his grandfather were all Presbyterian ministers. Grand- father Swift, however, was a farmer, and at an early day left his native State of Massachusetts and went to Buffalo, New York, from which city he traveled on foot to the state of Ohio. There, in clearing his land, he cut down acres and acres of black walnut trees, and not realiz- ing of what value such timber would be in the years to come, burned it up. Elisha E. Swift was born in Massachusetts, and as a young man went to Indiana, where he was married to Margaret G. Wells. When Theodore W. Swift was four years of age they removed to Grass Lake, Michigan, where Mr. Swift purchased 220 acres, and the rest of his active career was spent in agricultural pursuits. During his latter years he retired from active operations and came to Battle Creek, where his death occurred November 25, 1908, his wife having passed away in this city January 9, 1904, and both were taken back to Grass Lake for burial. They had a family of seven daughters and one son, who are now scattered from New York to California, and Theodore was the fifth in order of birth.
Theodore W. Swift remained on the homestead farm until he. was twenty-one years of age, securing his early education in the public schools of Grass Lake, and subsequently attending the Michigan Agri- cultural College, at Lansing. He then spent two years on the farm, but eventually removed to Union Mills, Indiana, where he became a. clerk in the general store of G. L. McLane & Company, and two years later bought an interest therein, as well as the grain business, but bought Mr. Lane's interest some three years later, the business then becoming T. W. Swift & Company. He later disposed of the general store and established an elevator at Union Mills and several others at different points on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and eventually, in 1908, came to Battle Creek and built a large local and transfer elevator. which burned one year later. This was replaced by a similar mill, but it was also destroyed by fire, July 1, 1911, and Mr. Swift now operates through an elevator at Port Huron, Michigan. The firm of McLane, Swift & Company was incorporated in 1908, but Mr. McLane is not now connected with the firm, Mr. Swift being president thereof and principal stockholder. The offices of this firm are located in the Minty Block, and it not only does a large business in grain shipping in the state, but also has an extensive cash grain trade throughout the east and central west. Mr. Swift was one of the organizers of the Hygienic Food Company, and acted as its president until Mr. Butler became its . executive, although he still holds stock therein, as well as in the Old National Bank of Battle Creek. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternallv he belongs to A. T. Metcalf Lodge. F. & A. M., as well as to the Athelstan and Country Clubs. With Mrs. Swift he attends the
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Presbyterian church, being one of its liberal supporters. He owns con- siderable property in Battle Creek, including his handsome modern home at No. 53 Garrison avenue.
On February 28, 1895, Mr. Swift was married to Miss Mary L. Miller, who was born and reared in La Porte county, Indiana, and they have three children : Leland Miller, aged sixteen years, who was born in Indiana; and Gertrude and Josephine, born in Battle Creek, all of whom are pupils in the public schools.
Mr. Swift has traveled throughout this section of the country and the practical knowledge of men and things thus gained, combined with his eminent executive ability, has enabled him to avail himself of every circumstance that has presented itself to him and enlist each into his service for the benefit and advancement of his various business in- terests. It indeed goes without saying that his high business and social standing is due wholly to his own personal efforts, and he is entitled to the oft much-abused but honorable title of a "self-made man."
WARREN J. CLARK. Standing well as a farmer and held in high esteem as a man and citizen because of his intelligent and helpful in- terest in public affairs and all matters in which the progress and im- provement of his township and county are involved, Warren J. Clark of Marshall township, this county, may well be taken as a represen- tative man of the locality in which he lives. He has made his own way in the world from youth, and all the success he has attained in every way is the result of his own capacity, industry and enterprise. And this is characteristic of the great bulk of the American people, and es- pecially of our most sturdy and sterling citizenship.
Mr. Clark was born in Marshall township, Calhoun county, Michigan, on June 4, 1885. He is a son of William J. and Martha (Tadman) Clark, in a sketch of whom to be found in this volume the family his- tory is given at some length. He obtained his academic education in the district schools and afterward attended a business college in Battle Creek for a special course of training in its lines of instruction. He passed two years of his life after leaving school in Marshall employed on furnace work, but he is now living on a farm which he rents of Wil- liam Phelps. It comprises 120 acres and shows in all its phases the presence of a master hand in its cultivation. Mr. Clark has farmed it for three years, and under his management it has been made very productive and attractive, his operations being conducted according to the latest developments in the science of agriculture and rendered as fruitful as possible through the skill and intelligence he applies to them.
On April 22, 1912, Mr. Clark, was united in marriage with Miss Pamelia Schnaitman, a daughter of John T. Schnaitman, who was born in Germany, became an early settler in Calhoun county and now lives in Marshall. He has been successful in all his undertakings in this country and is now a man of considerable worldly wealth. He also stands well in public estimation as an excellent man and an enterpris- ing, progressive and public-spirited citizen, keenly alive to the interests of Calhoun county and always ready to do all he can to promote them.
In his political fealty Mr. Clark is an earnest and devoted member of the Democratic party. He was elected clerk of Fredonia township in the spring of 1912, and is making a good record in the office. Having looked out for himself from an early age, he has acquired a service- able knowledge of the feelings, wishes and needs of others, and this makes him useful as a public official where the interests of others and the general public are in his care; and having been forced in his own
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case to work hard and live frugally, he has acquired the habit of mak- ing every dollar go as far as possible in use, and this habit he applies judiciously to the affairs of the townships greatly to his own credit and the benefit of all the people. He is well known throughout Cal- houn county and everywhere within its boundaries he is highly es- teemed.
HARRY B. HUGGETT. Although descended from ancestry of some distinction on both sides of his house, and with traditions and examples of inspiration in the history of his family, Harry B. Huggett, one of the leading farmers of Convis township, Calhoun county, banks noth- ing on his forebears, but has made his way forward in the world wholly by his own enterprise, ability, industry and good management. And his progress has been so steady, secure and wisely ordered, and based on such manifest merit that he enjoys in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of the whole locality in which he lives.
Mr. Huggett is a native of Calhoun county, born near Battle Creek on January 10, 1864. His parents were Albert J. and Sarah (Atmore) Huggett, the former a native of Rush, Monroe county, New York, born in 1837, and the latter of England, born in 1840. The father came to Michigan with his parents in 1867. He bought a farm in Pennfield township and located on it at once. On this farm he lived and labored to good advantage until a short time before his death, when he sold it and moved to Battle Creek, where he died in November, 1908. He was a self-made man and successful in all his undertakings. The mother died in 1911.
They were the parents of three sons, of whom Harry was the first born. His brother John lives in Marshall township and their brother Elmer in Pennfield township, both in this county. The father was a Republican in politics and served on the board of review for a number of years. He and the mother were members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and faithful in attention to the duties in daily life which it enjoins upon all its adherents.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Huggett of this sketch were Al- bert and Elizabeth (Taylor) Huggett. The former came to this country and Michigan sometime in the sixties and bought a small farm in Penn- field township, Calhoun county, on which he passed the rest of his life. He was a blacksmith, but only worked at the trade incidentally after becoming a resident of this state. He and his father were both born in England and belonged to distinguished families in that country, one of the traditions of the family being that the Huggetts manufactured the first cannon made in England, and produced other manufactured products of their industry of great value to the country in peace as well as in war.
The maternal grandparents were Matthew and Marie (Pond) At- more, also natives of England and early settlers in Calhoun county. The first work Matthew Atmore did in this state was on the Michigan Central Railroad, which he helped to build. He afterward bought a farm, and by his skillful management of it became a man of consider- able wealth for his day. He was also very prominent in the public affairs of the county, being a man of influence and a leader in the coun- cils of the Republican party in this section. He died about the year 1882, and was at the time of his death one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in the county.
Harry B. Huggett obtained his education in the district school near . his father's farm and the Battle Creek high school. He afterward attended a business college two terms, and then turned his attention to
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farming, which has been his life work ever since. In the course of a few years he bought the old family homestead of his father, and on this he has since lived and expended his efforts. The farm comprises 270 acres, is improved with an imposing and convenient dwelling house and other necessary buildings of first-rate quality and construction, and has been brought to an advanced state of development and productive- ness.
Mr. Huggett was married in 1888, to Miss Laura Gorsline, a daugh- ter of S. G. Gorsline, who was born and reared in the state of New York and came to Michigan in the seventies. After his arrival in this state and Calhoun county he took up his residence on a farm, and on this he passed the rest of his life, dying well advanced in years and standing high in the regard of the people of the whole township as a farmer, a man of integrity and sterling worth and a citizen of con- tinued usefulness. €
Mr. and Mrs. Huggett have two children. Their daughter Eliza- beth T., completed her education at the high school in Battle Creek, of which she is a graduate, and is now living at home with her parents. Their son Albert J., also attended the Battle Creek high school. He is now assisting his father in the management and cultivation of the farm, which is general and comprehensive in its character, based on a judicious rotation of crops including everything suited to this region, and governed with broad intelligence and practical skill in all its opera- tions. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the father's political allegiance is given loyally to the Republican party. Every member of the family enjoys in full measure the con- fidence, regard and good will of all the people of the township, and these manifestations of approval are freely bestowed because they are based on genuine merit that has been amply shown.
JOHN R. BENTLEY. He to whom this memoir is dedicated was a native son of Calhoun county and a member of one of its sterling pioneer families. By his services he honored the county of his birth and the name which he bore. He became one of the influential citizens of Marshall. He was for many years cashier of the National City Bank of Marshall, and he also was a stockholder of this substantial institu- tion, besides which he was the owner of a valuable farm and other realty in Marshall township and city. He achieved worthy success in tem- poral affairs, contributed his quota to the civic and material advance- ment of his home city and county, and was summoned to the life eternal, on the 16th of January, 1899. It is altogether consistent that in this history of Calhoun county be entered a brief tribute to the memory of this citizen.
John Ryant Bentley was born on the old parental farmstead, in Convis township, this county, and the date of his nativity was Sep- tember 23, 1842. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Louisa (Ryant) Bentley, the former of whom was born in England, on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1811, and the latter of whom was born in Connecticut, on the 14th of January, 1821, a daughter of Daniel Ryant, who was of English lineage. Joseph Bentley was a boy at the time of the family immigration to America and he was reared and educated in the east. For some time after his marriage he was engaged in farming in the state of New York, and in 1837 he came to Michigan, which was ad- mitted to the statehood in that year. He established the family home on a pioneer farm in Convis township, Calhoun county, and through intelligent and well ordered endeavors he became one of the substantial agriculturists and stock-growers of the county. He was a man who ever Vol. II-29
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held the regard of all who knew him and the names of both him and his wife merit place on the roll of the pioneers of this county. He passed away on the 17th of October, 1888, his wife having been called to eternal rest on the 8th of May, 1884. Of their five children none is now living.
John R. Bentley was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and early began to assist in its work, the while he duly availed himself of the advantages of the locality. Later he continued his stud- ies for a time in Olivet College and thereafter he was for two years a student in Albion College, so that he acquired an excellent academic education. After leaving college he taught one term of school, but he did not find it expedient to continue the pedagogic profession. Under these conditions he returned to the home farm, in the work and manage- ment of which he was associated for several years thereafter. He never lost his interest in or severed his allegiance to the great basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing, and until the close of his life he found much satisfaction in giving personal supervision to his fine farm of one hundred acres, situated one mile north of the city of Marshall, on Marshall avenue. He made excellent improvements on this place and it is one of the model farms of the county.
In 1872 Mr. Bentley assumed the position of teller in the National City Bank of Marshall, and on the 3d of December, 1878, he was elected cashier of the institution, in which he continued a stockholder until the time of his death, his incumbency of the office of cashier having con- tinued for nineteen years. In politics he gave unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Republican party, and served on various occasions as delegate to Republican state and congressional conventions. His loss was deplored in the business circles of the county which had ever been his home.
On the 3d of April, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bent- ley to Miss Leora Bigelow, daughter of the late Stephen R. and Rocelia (Day) Bigelow, of Oneida county, New York, where Mrs. Bentley was born and reared. The only child of this union is Miss Ruth Bigelow Bentley, who was graduated in the Marshall high school and then took a course in the Ossinning boarding school at Ossinning on the Hudson.
MRS. F. C. STUART. The late Mrs. F. C. Stuart was an example of the many wide-minded, zealous Christian women of Calhoun county, who was never at a loss for good work to do and who entered into the work about her with unfailing courage and strength. Though oft beset by the difficulties ever attendant upon the efforts of those who give of their best to those less fortunate, she lived to witness most gratifying results from a deal of her zeal in the various causes to which she lent her aid.
Orpha M. Parker Stuart was born in 1835 at Mt. Morris, New York, the daughter of Mrs. E. B. Parker. Her father with his family, came to Michigan in 1855, settling in Flint, where he was extensively en- gaged in the lumber business, of which he was the prosperous owner and manager. The Parkers were a family of English descent, and Ephraim Parker, the grandfather of Mrs. Stuart, was an honorable sol- dier in the war of 1812. His record was an enviable one, to which his descendants have turned with pardonable pride.
Mrs. Stuart was a sincere and earnest teacher for some years prior to her marriage with Mr. F. C. Stuart, an event which occurred in Detroit, in the year 1859. Mr. Stuart was a jeweler of Marshall, Michi- gan, and he brought his bride to that place which represented their home throughout the years of their wedded life. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stuart. Frank P., the eldest, died at birth; Alice
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E., was born November 4, 1861; F. A., born in 1863; Ernest, born in 1865; Lizzie, in 1868; Walter M., in 1873; Eden B., in 1876. Of this goodly family but three are yet living.
It is not too much to say that no woman in Calhoun county was more widely known for her good works in the various causes which might be expected to elicit the support of such worthy women as Mrs. Stuart. She was prominent in the W. C. T. U., and was a member of that organization until her death. She gave years of strenuous labor to the cause, working hand in hand with the organization and carry- ing the principles of the society into her home as well. She was for many years a member of the I. O. G. T., and was on numerous occa- sions sent as a delegate to its conventions during the years of her mem- bership. She took the highest degree in the Daughters of Rebekah, that degree being known as the Decoration of Chivalry and was ever an enthusiastic member of the order. Her work as a Good Templar dated back to 1851, and she was an active member of the society for more than a half century, a distinction which has fallen to but few of its. members. In the Woman's Movement of the Crusaders in 1874, she was a conscientious and able worker, and did much for the cause.
Mrs. Stuart was a Congregationalist and a member of that church, and in all the years in which she was associated thus she gave of her best and of that most freely. She entered the work of the church and its various auxiliary bodies with that whole-souled sincerity and zeal which was one of the dominant characteristics of her beautiful nature, and her good deeds will live after her. Her many years of active and helpful life in Marshall endeared her to a large circle of people who have never ceased to mourn her departure, or to remember her with loving thought and word because of the altogether beautiful life she lived for years within their midst.
Mrs. Stuart passed away at her home in Marshall, Michigan, on March 21, 1907, and was buried in Marshall March 24.
HON. NELSON ELDRED. From 1866 for a period of nearly forty years, one of Battle Creek's most conspicuous and influential men in business and civic affairs was the late Nelson Eldred. For those who were familiar with the life of the city during the last third of the nineteenth century, his career as a citizen would need no memorial. To only a small number of men in any locality is it given to wield the power and influence which he possessed and which he also exercised with rare judgment and justice. In the history of the dominant per- sonalities of southern Michigan during the last century, the omission of his name and career could not be justified on any grounds.
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