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 72
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"Here it is written: Toil shall have it wage; And honor, honor; and the humblest man Stand level with the highest in the land."
After the death of Mr. Kolb, Mr. Connor opened up a wholesale commission business in the office of Senator William A. Smith, whom he subsequently persuaded to assist in forming a company, of which Mr. Connor was made president, and William A. Smith vice-president, the organization being known as the William Connor Company. At the end of two and one-half years Mr. Connor disposed of his interest in the concern, and retired from the active management of the com- pany.
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Mr. Connor's home is modern in all of its appointments, richly fur- nished throughout, and the grounds, which are extensive, are most beautifully laid out, and ornamented with rare shrubs and plants, while the garden, in which Mrs. Connor takes great pleasure, is most artistically arranged, and is bright with flowers of every hue and shade, being in truth a place of beauty and charm.
JOHN WHALEN. With the death of John Whalen, there passed from among us one of the most highly respected citizens of Battle Creek, and one of the oldest residents of the city. For sixty years he was closely identified with the commercial and industrial life of Bat- tle Creek and his loss was not only a personal one, but also left a gap to be filled in the business world. Of a genial and generous disposi- tion he made friends wherever he was, and his undoubted ability and capacity for hard work made him a valuable man in the world of busi- ness. His ability to handle men, gained through sympathy and under- standing of human nature, made him invaluable to the great company to which he gave so many years of service, and his place was very hard to fill.
John Whalen was a native of Ireland and was the third son of John and Mary Whalen. The date of John Whalen's birth was 1823, and his childhood was spent in his native land. After coming to this coun- try he first found employment in the state of New York. Work was hard and conditions at first hand lost the rosy glow that had hung over them when the land of America had been talked of in the little home across the seas, but he was young and courageous and quick to take advantage of every opening that offered. He therefore remained in New York state but a short time, having an opportunity to come west and engage in the nursery business. This was his first occupa- tion on coming to Battle Creek, Michigan, but he later entered the employ of the Nichols & Shepard Company. They were located at the time on what is now West State street, and were then by no means the important concern they have since become. Mr. Whalen started with them in a modest position, but his ability soon showed itself and he was advanced steadily throughout the forty years of his connection with them. He retired from business in 1906 and only lived a short time after this.
Coincident with Mr. Whalen's daily pursuits of a personally utili- tarian nature and his family life which was always a subject of deep interest and importance in his eyes, a reasonable degree of enthusiasm was felt by him for such political affairs as appealed to his sense of responsibility as a member of the Democratic party.
His marriage occurred in 1847, when Miss Anna Dunn, of Battle Creek, became his wife. She was the daughter of Timothy Dunn, who moved to Battle Creek from Barry county, Michigan. He had been a farmer in this section for many years and was one of the early settlers of the section. He lived in Battle Creek for a number of years previous to his death. Eleven children were born to Mr. Whalen and his wife, of whom eight are still living. Of these, John resides in Bat- tle Creek, where he holds a clerkship; William is a machinist, living in New Mexico; James W. is also a machinist and makes his home in Kansas City, Missouri; Anna lives in Detroit, Michigan; Thomas F. is a well known grocer of Battle Creek; Edward C. is the proprietor of a billiard parlor in Battle Creek; Frederick A., who is also a resi- dent of this city, being in the grocery business, and George R., who is also a grocer, lives in New Mexico. All of these children were born and educated in Battle Creek.
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The death of Mr. Whalen in 1907 left a sense of loss in his large circle of friends as well as in the family whom his death so closely touched. The attitude of all who had known John Whalen demon- strated in marked degree how much the contact of his personality had meant to them. On the day when the last rites were said over his body, St. Phillip's Church, with which he had been so closely and worthily identified was crowded with men and women who followed this depart- ing sign of his recent life among them with the silent tribute of love and respect. The departments of the Nichols & Shepard shops in which Mr. Whalen had worked were closed for the day; their employes formed in line and escorted the remains from the home to the church. Requiem high mass was said by the late Reverend R. J. Sadlier, a funeral address also being given by the priest; and beautiful choral selections were given by the choir, in addition to which the expressive "We Shall Meet Him Face to Face" was sung by Miss Josephine Bro- kaw. Profuse and beautiful were the floral reminders of affection and high regard, among them being an exquisite pillow from the Nichols and Shepard employes and a spray of roses from the employes of the Whalen grocery store. Then the remains were laid to rest in Mount Olivet cemetery. The sons of Mr. Whalen-John, James, William, Fred, Thomas, Edward and George Whalen-bore to its last home the form so lately tenanted by a genial and beloved spirit. They had per- formed this same task for their mother who passed from mortal life, on March 26, 1906. She is still vividly remembered as a highly re- spected and well known resident of this city.
In addition to those who called him father, the surviving relatives of Mr. Whalen are grandchildren, the children of Thomas F., James and Fred A.
THOMAS F. WHALEN, one of Battle Creek's successful and highly esteemed citizens and business men, has been a resident of this city from the day of his birth and is a fine example of the self-made man who attains an enviable position by means of his own unaided ability. He is one of the most enterprising merchants it has ever been the good fortune of Battle Creek to claim as her citizen, and in addition to his keen business ability he is one of the kind of business men who believe that the best method of doing business is to give values for values. He has therefore won the trust and friendship of everyone with whom he has come in contact, and this is the reason he has triumphed over com- petitors who started on their careers under far more favorable cir- cumstances than Mr. Whalen.
Thomas F. Whalen was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on the 13th of July, 1870. His parents, John and Anna (Dunn) Whalen, were Battle Creek pioneers. The mother was a daughter of the early settler, Timothy Dunn, who had begun his life in Michigan in the Barry county section, under very primitive conditions, and had later made his home in Battle Creek, where his daughter and John Whalen were married. A further account of John Whalen is given elsewhere in these pages. Thomas F. Whalen is one of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom eight are now living. He was the fourth in line and with his brothers and sisters received his education in the Battle Creek schools. When he was thirteen years of age he began his vocational activities by acting as a clerk in the store of John Van Valkenburg. In the course of the following years the store passed from one owner to another many times, but young Whalen remained at his post, believing that one way to success was by sticking to a thing. The last proprietor, during Mr. Whalen's connection with the business,
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was the Honorable Charles Austin, who is now vice-president of the Old National Bank. In 1901 Mr. Whalen went into business on his own account, joining forces with a Mr. Taylor, and established a store at 32 West Main street, where he is now located. The firm was known as Whalen and Taylor, and the good will that Mr. Whalen had won for himself during his clerkship now brought him many customers. After a short time Mr. Whalen bought Mr. Taylor's share in the busi- ness and for a number of years conducted it alone. As it grew rapidly and its prospects were exceptionally promising, the owner incorporated his interests, at which time Frederick A. Whalen, a brother of Thomas Whalen was taken into partnership. The concern is now known as the T. F. Whalen Grocery Company, with Thomas Whalen as president and treasurer and Frederick Whalen as secretary. This grocery em- porium is one of the model stores of its kind in the city. Its location is the most central and the amount of retail business it handles is the largest in Battle Creek.
Thomas F. Whalen is a man of broad interests and one whose many superior qualities have made him a welcome member of Battle Creek's social organizations. The fraternal orders of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Foresters claim his membership and he is also connected with the local Athelstan and Country Clubs.
The attractive home of Mr. Whalen at No. 23 Penn street is the center of a most congenial and social life. Mrs. Whalen, who was Min- nie M. Bishop before her marriage is a daughter of Giles D. and Ade- laide (Van Kirk) Bishop, the former of whom was a wealthy stock buyer of Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs. Whalen was born in Washing- ton county, Ohio, but spent most of her life in Charlotte, Michigan. She was married to Mr. Whalen on July 26, 1900, and they are the parents of two children, Frances A. and Richard T., both of whom were born in Battle Creek. The Whalen family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and are valued workers in this church.
BENJAMIN K. BENTLEY. The owner of a fine landed estate in Marshall township, Mr. Bentley is exemplifying the most progressive spirit in connection with the agricultural and live stock industries in his native county, and is in all departments of his farm enterprise utilizing the best methods. He gives special attention to dairying and in this field is one of the leading exponents of what is a most important industry in this state. He is a man of distinctive business acumen, public- spirited and endowed with those attributes of character which ever beget the esteem of his fellowmen. His standing in the community is unassailable and his prominence in connection with the great basic industry with which he is successfully identified is measurably indicated by the fact that he is at the present time president of the Calhoun County Agricultural Society. Further interest attaches to the record of his career by reason of his connection with one of the honored families of the pioneer days of Calhoun county, with the history of which the name he bears has been identified during the entire period since Michigan was admitted as one of the sovereign states of the Union.
Benjamin Knight Bentley was born in Marshall township, this county, on the 26th day of, October, 1868, and is a son of George C. and Sarah (Knight) Bentley, the former of whom was born in England February 24, 1809. George C. Bentley was a lad of nine years at the time of the family immigration to America and he was reared to man- hood in the state of New York, where his parents continued to reside until their death. There he received such advantages as were afforded
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in the common schools of the period and there he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He became a skilled artisan and for a number of years continued to devote more or less attention to the work of his trade. In 1837, when twenty-six years of age, he came to Michigan, that being the year in which Michigan was admitted to statehood. He numbered himself among the pioneers of Calhoun county and became associated with another man in the purchase of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Convis township. He later sold his interest in this property to his partner and removed to Marshall township, where he secured land in Section 16. Much of this he reclaimed from its original forest state and eventually improved a large and valuable landed estate, the same comprising four hundred and forty acres. He was one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of the county and a man who stood well in the regard of his neighbors. He con- tributed much to the civic and material development of Calhoun county and his name merits enduring place on the roster of its honored pioneers.
Benjamin K. Bentley found his boyhood and youth compassed by the conditions and influences of the home farm, which is now his place of abode, and he was afforded the advantages of the public schools of the city of Marshall. After completing the curriculum of the high school he entered the Michigan Agricultural College, at Lansing, in which admir- able institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890, re- ceiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Science. His thorough training in this college has well equipped him for the industrial enter- prise of which he is now so prominent a representative in his native county, for he brings to bear the best of scientific attainments in agri- cultural matters and a practical experience of wide scope. After his graduation Mr. Bentley went to the city of Denver, Colorado, where he assumed a clerical position in the Denver National Bank, of which his maternal uncle, Frank Knight, was an official. He retained this position for some time and then resigned and returned to his native county, where he took charge of the old homestead farm, upon which he has since continued to live and which he has made one of the model places of the state. He has given especial attention to the raising of hay and high-grade live stock, and the county can claim none who has been more progressive and far sighted along the line of agricultural and stock growing industries. The large dwelling house erected by his father was destroyed by fire, as was also the barn, in which were stored many of the farm implements and fully one hundred tons of hay. He promptly erected a new and commodious residence of modern style in architecture and facilities, and the new barn which he built at the same time is one of the best in the county. In connection therewith is also maintained a fine silo, with a capacity of four hundred tons. Mr. Bentley is one of the leading dairy farmers of the county, with a fine herd of thirty-five milch cows, all of which are high grade and many of them are of Hol- stein breed and duly registered. The dairy barn is equipped with cement floors and alleys and all other modern facilities for insuring per- fect sanitation and proper care of the fine stock, the products of the Bent- ley dairy being unexcelled in quality and cleanliness. Mr. Bentley served two years as secretary of the Calhoun County Agricultural Society and is now president of the organization. He has done much to further the success of the society and to make its annual fairs worthy of the agricultural and live stock industries of the county. He has shown deep interest in raising the standard of live stock raised in the county, and has done much to foster this important phase of the industry.
Both he and his wife hold membership in Trinity Lutheran church in the city of Marshall. He is identified with the Marshall lodge of
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the Knights of Pythias, and in the capital city of the state is affiliated with Lansing Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M. His beautiful home is a center of hospitality in Marshall and is a favorite rendezvous for a wide circle of friends.
In 1893, Mr. Bentley was united in marriage with Miss Bessie R. Stephenson, daughter of the late John H. Stephenson, who was a repre- sentative citizen of Lansing. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley have two children, Benjamin H. and Mary E. Knight Bentley, both of whom are under the paternal roof.
EDWARD Cox, M. D. In the list of eminent professional men whose activities have served, in days gone past, to reflect reknown upon the city of Battle Creek, no name stands forth more clearly or has greater right to be commemorated in the biographical history of Calhoun county, than that of the late Dr. Edward Cox, for forty-four years a practic- ing physician, and throughout his life a man recognized as a leader in professional, 'business and social circles. Dr. Cox was born January 6, 1816, at Cambridge, Washington county, New York, the same county which gave birth to Jonathan Hart, another distinguished pioneer of this city. His parents were Silas and Abigail Cox, both of whom spent their last days in Battle Creek and enjoyed the respect of all who knew them.
In 1819, when Edward Cox was three years of age, his parents re- moved to Onondaga county, New York, where, after suitable literary preparation, he studied medicine in the offices of Dr. Benjamin Trum- bull, of Borodino, and Dr. C. Campbell, of South Butler, New York. He afterwards pursued his studies at Geneva Medical College, at which institution he took his medical degree in January, 1839, and entered upon his profession with a high promise, which was fully realized in his sub- sequent career. He commenced practice in Wayne county, New York, where he remained but six months, and in September, 1839, came to Battle Creek, which was then a village of a few hundred inhabitants, and permanently established himself as the second regular medical prac- titioner of the place, Dr. William M. Campbell, with whom he asso- ciated himself in professional practice, being the first. The town was just emerging from a rivalry with Verona as the business center of this section. Its first grist mill had been in operation but a little more than two years, only three years had elapsed since its first frame building had been erected, and the advantages here for a professional career consisted largely in promise. Here, however, Dr. Cox cast his lot, and soon, with his associate, Dr. Campbell, built up an extensive practice for those days. With characteristic energy and public spirit he iden- tified himself with measures for the growth and improvement of this place, and came to be regarded as one of the foremost citizens of Battle Creek. For many years he continued in practice with Dr. Campbell, and at one time Dr. S. S. French was associated with them. Dr. Cox welcomed and availed himself of all the recent discoveries and improve- ments in medicine and surgery while stoutly maintaining his allegiance to the regular school in which he was educated. For many years and to the close of his life he was one of the leading members of the Cal- houn County Medical Society, and was a member of the State Medical Society from the formation, serving on its most important committees and in 1878 being made president thereof. At the time of his death he was one of the State councillors of the Detroit Medical College, a posi- tion to which he had been appointed by the trustees. He was also a member of the American Medical Association, having represented his
.
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State in that body, as also in the International Medical Congress in Philadelphia in 1876. He was a writer on medical topics and prepared many papers to be read before medical societies and for papers and periodicals, which attracted wide attention. It was a special aim of his to maintain a high standard for his profession. One of his contri- butions was extensively copied and elicited the strongest commendation from leading medical journals and physicians of this country and Eu- rope. Among the latest of his efforts with the pen was the preparation of a series of obituary articles written at the request of the county med- ical society. These embraced biographical sketches of several of the pioneer physicians of the county. A few days prior to his death he expressed the desire that the words "Practicing Physician for Forty- four years" should be inscribed upon his coffin.
In politics Dr. Cox was a party leader and was most actively iden- tified with the politics of the city and State. About 1844 he became conspicuous as one of the Young Democracy who began to assert them- selves and to assume prominence and succeeding to the place of the older members of the party, Sands McCamley, Moses Hall, John Cham- pion, Michael Spencer, Col. John Stewart, William M. Campbell and others who had previously controlled party affairs. In lieu of these arose, not in direct antagonism, but seeking to make their influence more positively felt, Dr. Cox, Benjamin F. Graves, Thomas H. Thomas, Abner E. Campbell, Joseph Barton, the Stillsons, Alonzo Noble and T. W. Hall. Among these, Dr. Cox soon took marked prominence, and displayed that he possessed the qualities for leadership. He was at one time a member of the State Central Committee, and in 1872 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore. He was offered nomina- tion on the State ticket, but declined. In 1853 he was president of the village of Battle Creek, and was one of the city's first aldermen, a position he held for six years. During 1873 and 1874 he served as mayor of the city, and was also at one time a member of the school board and member for many years of the cemetery board, of which he was president at the time of his death.
In the Masonic fraternity he was master of his lodge at Battle Creek, belonged to the Knights Templar, was high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter and grand master of the Council of Royal and Select Masons. For many years he was vestryman of St. Thomas Episcopal Church here.
Dr. Cox was twice married, his first wife being Esther Ann Stark- weather, to whom he was married September 2, 1840, and was the first adult person buried in Oakhill Cemetery. On May 1, 1845, he mar- ried Miss Sarah Adams, of Penfield, Michigan. Three children were born to Dr. Cox, one by his first wife, a daughter who died at the age of eight years, and two by his second wife, these children dying in in- fancy. Dr. Cox had three sisters : Mrs. Dr. S. S. French, Mrs. T. C. Gardner and Mrs. H. M. Joy.
EDGAR L. LAMPHIER, born in Bloomfield, New York in October, 1848, is one of the leading agricultural men of Marshall township, of which he has been a resident for the past forty years. He is the son of Marx H. and Susan (Lianes) Lamphier, both natives of New York state, where they passed their younger years, coming to Michigan in 1851. For a short time they made their home in Jackson county, this state, where the father engaged in farming and dealing in salt. He died in 1849, and his wife about 1895, so that their son, Edgar L., has but little knowl- edge of his father.
As a boy in his father's home, Edgar Lamphier received a start in
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the district schools of his community, and he passed his boyhood days on various farms in Jackson county until he was twenty-one years old, which marked the time of his advent into Calhoun county. He located on the old Waits farm, as it was then known, comprised of one hundred and sixty acres, and he has lived thereon for the past thirty years, en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has improved his farm in every way possible to the progressive and wide-awake farmer, and the place lacks nothing in the way of machinery and implements. In 1911 Mr. Lamphier acquired the farm adjoining his, thus adding an additional hundred acres to his already fine place, and it is one of the most fruitful farms in the township. Mr. Lamphier has made a careful study of the business from a scientific viewpoint, and by familiarizing himself with the wants of the soil and guiding his operations accordingly, he is able to keep his land in a fine state of richness, which yield him an abundant return for every item in time and money expended thereon. Hay and grain comprise a considerable portion of his crops, and he devotes a considerable attention to stock-raising as well. The dwelling on the Lamphier farm is a substantial brick affair, while the barns and other buildings are in an admirable state of repair, speaking well of the thrift and prosperity of their owner.
In 1872 Mr. Lamphier married Miss Susan Vaughn, one time of Arkansaw and a native of Georgia, the daughter of Jarrett Vaughn. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lamphier: William V., an engineer in the railroad service; George W., a farmer in Fredonia town- ship ; Albert E. on the home farm; Roy M .; Albert B .; Eva G., the wife of Arthur Brownell of Albion; Martha is the wife of Albert Langridge; Ross E. is at home, and Esther M. and Grace are also at home, attend- ants of the Marshall high school. They have two grandchildren, Helen, aged seven years and Albert, in his fourth year.
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