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 77
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Mrs. Smith was educated in the schools near her father's home, and though her girlhood home was one of more than ordinary comforts and environment of prosperity, she witnessed many of the pioneer condi- tions inseparable from the life on the frontier. Since her marriage she has been a resident of Battle Creek, and here her recollections go back to the city in its village days. She was the mother of four children, of whom Ellis R. was the first son. Daisy L., died when she was twenty-three years, six months and nineteen days. Mabelle E. resides with her mother. Lynn, who is also at home, is an actor of the old school and until failing health recently compelled him to leave the profession he was for years active in the work and traveled through- out the country.
Ellis R. Smith no doubt received from these ancestors many of the qualities and faculties which have distinguished his own career. As a boy he attended the Battle Creek public schools, and he and his two sisters graduated from the high school. His first regular employment was with H. J. Johnson, the news and stationery dealer. He was em- ployed in the postoffice while J. S. Upton and William H. Fonda were respectively postmaster and assistant postmaster, that being under a Democratic administration. He then attended the Bryant & Stratton Business College which was then located in Battle Creek, and grad- uated from that school. After L. B. Dibble had constructed the old Peninsular Railway, now the Grand Trunk, Mr. Smith had an offer to sell books, etc., on that railroad, and at the same time was given an op- portunity to become bookkeeper in a bank at Burlingame, Kansas. On the advice of an uncle he leased the news business for two trains on the railroad. To increase his own capital for that enterprise he bor- rowed fifty dollars from this uncle, Mr. J. Phetteplace, his mother's brother, who then lived in Augusta, Michigan, and afterwards died in Denver, where he had gone for his health. During his career as a "news butch" on the road, Thomas Edison, the inventor, was a news- boy running between Port Huron and Lansing. After he had been on
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the road about a year he one day, while passing from coach to coach, fell astraddle of the coupling. This narrow escape caused him to quit that end of the business, and he then started a news depot in opposi- tion to his old employer, H. J. Johnson, and continued in the business for more than twenty-five years.
Out of this first enterprise have developed almost in regular sequence most of his other undertakings. He established and is still proprietor of the E. R. Smith Advertising Service, a bill posting and distribution business which he has made an important factor in the advertising facili- ties of this city. Some twenty years ago he built in this city the Eclipse roller skating rink, a place of amusement that will be recalled by all residents of that time. For fifteen years he managed the Hamblin Opera House, which had the best productions that came to the city during that period, and many pleasant associations and memories linger about the history of that old play house. Since March 13, 1903, he has been the manager of the fine Post Theater, which is one of the largest and best play houses in the state, and is claimed to rank among the first dozen in capacity and equipment in the United States. Its seat- ing capacity is fourteen hundred, and its stage has facilities for any class of theatrical production. At the opening of the theatre, on the date mentioned, Nat Goodwin and Maxine Elliott in "When we were 21" gave the premier performance. This theatre is owned by a stock company and was given its name because of Mr. C. W. Post's large financial support to the enterprise.
Mr. Smith is also a stockholder in the Union Steam Pump Com- pany, the Battle Creek Brewing Company, the Post Theatre Company, the Central National Bank and the City Bank of Battle Creek. In politics he has always been a Republican, and at the first election after he became of age he and his father went to the polls together, one of them voting the Democratic ticket and the other the Republican. Mr. Smith is a charter member of the Elks lodge in this city, and is also one of the oldest members of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Athelstan Club. While not a member of any church himself, his fam- ily belong to the St. Thomas Episcopal and he is liberal in its sup- port.
Mr. Smith resides at No. 1 Green street, corner of East Main. He was married on September 30, 1879, to Miss Ella Andrus, daughter of the late George Andrus, of Goguac prairie. Her mother was Diana (Sweet) Andrus. Mrs. Smith is a native of this county, and is a grad- uate of the Battle Creek high school. One daughter, Beatrice F., was born of their marriage, and she is the wife of Mr. W. P. Slayton, now engaged in the mining business at Morgan City, Utah. Mr. Slayton is a member of the family whose name for many years has been well known through the Slayton Lyceum Bureau, now the Ridpath-Slayton Bu- reau, which has furnished the highest class attractions to chautauquas, churches, lecture associations, etc. Mr. Slayton was himself until about three years ago the active manager of the Slayton Bureau, and is still identified with the business. Mr. and Mrs. Slayton are the par- ents of one son, Ellis Philip Slayton, who was born in Battle Creek, February 19, 1906.
JAMES P. HUGHES. As postmaster at Marshall, James P. Hughes is rendering the city and its people appreciated service, being an ef- ficient, accommodating, and eminently popular public official. A native of Calhoun county, he was born, July 24, 1877, on a farm near Marengo, where his parents, Paschal and Anna B. (Francisco) Hughes, were then living, although they are now residents of Marshall. His father,
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a native of Missouri, was born and reared in Lafayette, a village lying near Lexington, which was the scene of a hard-fought battle during the stirring times of the Civil war.
But seven years old when his parents settled in the vicinity of Marshall, James P. Hughes acquired his early education in its public schools, serving under Stephen F. Snyder, as a clerk in the Marshall postoffice for two years. For political reasons, he was then relieved of his position. Subsequently he took a position as manager for Andrew Crystal, serving him about seven years. Mr. Hughes embarked in the clothing business with Mr. H. M. Holmes, for five years, carrying on a large and successful trade as senior member of the firm of Hughes and Holmes. On October 27, 1910, Mr. Hughes was appointed by President Taft postmaster at Marshall, for a term of four years, and has since performed the duties devolving upon him in this capacity with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the patrons of the office.
Politically Mr. Hughes is prominent in Republican ranks, and has served as chairman of the Calhoun County Republican Committee, and secretary of the Lincoln Republican County Committee, and for four years represented the Second ward as an alderman. Fraternally he is a member of Saint Albans Lodge, No. 20, Free and Accepted Masons, Peninsular Lodge No. 5, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mar- shall Lodge, No. 179, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor ; and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America; and to the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Maccabees.
Mr. Hughes married, May 1, 1900, Mary D. Stone, of Marshall, a daughter of W. D. Stone, ex-sheriff of Calhoun county, and one of its well known and much respected citizens.
JOHN CARLOS BARBER. Michigan owes no little of her greatness to those hardy pioneers who drove the Indians before them as they pene- trated the fertile valleys, hewed down the forests and broke the primal sod for the first harvests. Men and women were giants in those days, for it took stout hearts, alert minds and willing hands to conquer the wilderness. In the later, easier years those who survive have not lost the qualities of courage, determination and infinite patience in the face of discouragement and these have been transmitted to their children, who, big, brave and brainy have trod the pathway to success in every field of effort. One of Battle Creek's most notable pioneers is John Carlos Barber, who as a lad five years of age, came with his father across the country from far away Vermont to Michigan, making a journey whose difficulties today would be inconceivable. That was in 1839, ever since which time he has resided in Michigan, and since 1861 in Battle Creek. He has been actively identified in this half century with the many-sided life of the place and is now interested in several important corporations, among them the Commonwealth Light & Power Company.
Mr. Barber is a native of Benson, Rutland county, Vermont, his birth having occurred there on March 14, 1834. His parents were Edward and Abigail (Griswold) Barber. When he was a child but three years of age he had the misfortune to lose his mother by death. There were five children in the family and of this number he was the youngest. The father married again, his second wife being Laura Root. In 1839, the family set forth for the newer, richer northwest, their destination being Vermontville, Eaton county, Michigan, whence a number of their Green Mountain state neighbors had preceded them. The father had visited Michigan in 1836 and had purchased a large tract of land covered with dense timber. The journey from White-
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hall to Buffalo, New York, was made by canal and then by steamer on the lake to Detroit, and then from Detroit to Eaton county by wagon. They reached the new home after many days and in the ensuing years the father with the aid of his sons cleared and developed it and this old homestead was the scene of the rearing of the subject, of his child- hood and youth. He received his education in the district schools afforded in that day and gave his youthful strength to the manifold duties of the farm. When twenty-two years of age, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and served a regular apprenticeship receiving ten dollars a month for his services. Later he came to the conclusion that this was not his life work, and he accordingly sold his tools and gave up building operations.
In the meantime Mr. Barber had married, the young woman to become his wife being Sarah S. Welch and the wedding being celebrated at Clinton, Michigan, December 29, 1858. She was born in Orleans county, New York, the daughter of David and Olive (Whitmarsh) Welch, who had migrated to Michigan in 1851, and located in Char- lotte, Eaton county, when Mrs. Barber was fourteen years old. After his marriage Mr. Barber engaged in the livery business in Charlotte and remained there until June 15, 1861, when he removed his stock to Battle Creek, then a town of 3,500 inhabitants. He located on what is now the corner of State and Monroe streets and continued there in business until he was elected sheriff of Calhoun county. After re- tiring from that office he again conducted a livery barn, but only for a comparatively short period, for he became connected with the Union School Furniture Company as a stock-holder and director, and con- tinued thus identified until the factory was destroyed by fire in 1892. This was a great disaster to the subject, for he had invested the sub- stantial fortune made in his earlier years and he lost absolutely every- thing he had. In this hour of misfortune, which might have proved the undoing of a less resolute man, his strong character became apparent and conquering his discouragement he set to work to retrieve his lost fortune. That he succeeded is shown by the fact that later on he be- came financially interested in a number of important corporations. For about nine years he was collector with the Nichols & Shepard Com- pany and did important work in the services of that large concern. He is now a stockholder in the Commonwealth Light & Power Company, in fact was one of the first stockholders. He is also identified in the same capacity with the Power Company, Ltd., of Battle Creek. He also has held for eight years the office of sheriff of Calhoun county, having been elected four times to the same, but not in succession. No one could have proved more faithful and efficient as the strong arm of the law. In politics he is a tried and true Republican, his first presidential vote having been cast for John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. Barber became familiar with the duties of the office of sheriff in youth, having served as deputy in Charlotte, Eaton county, under B. W. Warren, for a period of four years just previous to coming to Battle Creek. After coming here he was again deputy for two terms under Sheriffs Buck and Richfield, and all in all, no one knows more as to the preservation of law and order than this gentleman. He was first elected to the main office in 1876, and took office the following vear, and being subsequently re-elected, this time served two terms. After an interval of two terms, he was again elected in the fall of 1884 and again in 1886.
. Mr. Barber is a prominent Mason, belonging to Battle Creek Lodge, No. 12. F. & A. M., Chapter and Commandery. While residing at Marshall during his office of sheriff he joined the ancient order and
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was subsequently transferred to Battle Creek. He was also at one time a member of the Athelstan Club, but withdrew. Since the fall of 1904 he has been president of the Oak Hill Cemetery Company of this city. In addition to the business interests above noted he was vice-president of the Battle Creek Electric Company.
To the union of the subject and his estimable wife was born one daughter, Nellie B., now the wife of Arthur W. Davis of this city. She is a native of Charlotte, Michigan, and a graduate of the Battle Creek high school. She and her husband have three children-Louise, Helen and Edward C., and all reside in their parents' home, at 26 Fremont street, over which Mrs. Davis presides in adequate fashion. The death of Mrs. Barber, occurred in 1904 (May 26). Previous to that, Mr. and Mrs. Barber traveled quite extensively. The subject and his fam- ily have ever enjoyed highest esteem in the communities in which their interests have been centered.
WESLEY W. MCCLINTIC. Worthy of especial note among the ener- getic and progressive men who have contributed so largely toward the development and advancement of the agricultural prosperity of Cal- houn county is Wesley W. McClintic, a prominent farmer of Homer township. A native of Ohio, he was born, October 17, 1846, in Wood county, of Pennsylvania ancestry.
Thomas McClintic, his father, was born, January 12, 1812, in Penn- sylvania, and when quite young removed to Ohio, where he worked at farming for several years. In 1854 he came with his family to Mich- igan, and having purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Eaton county resided there twelve years. Locating in Albion town- ship, Calhoun county, he worked on a farm for a time, and then pur- chased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Jackson county, and continued his agricultural operations for twelve years. Selling that property, he bought a smaller farm in the same county, and was there a resident until his death, November 9, 1885. He was a politician to some extent, being first a Whig, and later a Republican. As a young man he belonged to the United Brethren church, but after coming to Mich- igan he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. While living in Ohio, he married Margaret Needham, who was born in Penn- sylvania, May 4, and died in Michigan in 1895. Twelve children were born to them, Wesley W. being the sixth child in the succession of birth.
As a boy and youth Wesley W. McClintic attended school in Eaton, Calhoun and Jackson counties, and early became familiar with the various branches of agriculture. Beginning life for himself poor in pocket, but rich in energy and ambition, he worked by the day or month as a farm hand, and also acquired some knowledge of the stone mason's trade. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-eighth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and with his command took part in several engagements, including the siege of Nashville, and the Battle of Wise Forks. Being honorably discharged at the end of his term of enlistment, Mr. McClintic returned home, and afterwards spent a year in Missouri. Not liking that part of the country, he returned to Michigan, and in 1822 first became a landholder, purchasing sixty acres of land in Calhoun county. Selling out at the end of eight years, Mr. McClintic bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres in Homer township, and for several years was active and success- ful in its management. Having accumulated a competency, he turned the management of his estate over to his son, and lived retired from business in the village of Homer until the death of his son's wife, when
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both he and his wife returned to the old home farm to keep house for his son.
Mr. McClintic married, in 1872, Sarah C. Fisher, a daughter of Matthias and Ann Maria (Mench) Fisher, residents of Jackson county, where Mr. Fisher is a prominent farmer. Mr. and Mrs. McClintic are the parents of two children, namely : Albert L., now on the home farm; and Mrs. Mabel Bacon, of Lansing, Michigan. Albert L. McClintic married Florence Riggs, who died in 1911, leaving one daughter, Elva. Politically Mr. Clintic is a Republican, and socially he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
FRED S. CORTRIGHT. Far-sighted, persevering, and possessing pro- nounced business acumen, Fred S. Cortright, of Homer, president of the Homer State Bank, has contributed in no small measure to the agricultural and industrial interests of Calhoun county as well as to its financial prosperity. A son of C. C. Cortright, he was born, Feb- ruary 7, 1861, in Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he received his early education.
His ancestors came from Belgium to America and settled in New York state where the city of New York now is. The old Flemish town of Kortryk is situated in the southeast part of West Flanders on the east bank of the River Lys. It is a manufacturing town of 27,000. This was the home of the earliest ancestors of the Kortryk (or Cort- right) family, the first of the name coming to New York in 1663.
Born in New York state in 1827, C. C. Cortright remained at home until after attaining his majority. Following the march of civilization westward in the early fifties, he located in Hillsdale county, and for nearly ten years was engaged in the manufacture of lumber, operating a sawmill. Removing from there to Branch county, he opened a flour mill at Podunk, near Coldwater, where he remained three years. Re- turning then to Hillsdale county, he assumed possession of the two hundred and twenty-acre farm which he purchased several years prior to that time, and was there engaged in farming for several years. In 1886 he erected a mill in Homer, and was here engaged in business until his death, in 1904, owning and supervising the business that has since been in operation under the firm name of the Cortright Milling Com- pany. He was a man of integrity and worth, belonging to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows for many years, and though not a poli- tician always voted the Democratic ticket. He married, September 28, 1856, Cornelia Webber, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 19, 1839, and died in Homer, Michigan, June 17, 1911. The five children born of their union are all residing in Homer, as follows : Mrs. Jennie Rising; Will H .; Fred S .; Mrs. Lucy Crane; and David W.
Obtaining his first knowledge of the three "R's" in the rural schools of his native district, Fred S. Cortright completed his early studies in Hillsdale, attending first the graded schools, and later a com- mercial college. He was subsequently engaged in agricultural pur- suits on his father's farm until 1886, when he came to Homer to assist in the management of the mill established by his father. He retained his connection with the milling industry until 1907, during the last five years of the time buying stock, his health not permitting him to work in the mill. Turning his attention then to agriculture, Mr. Cortright purchased one hundred and nineteen acres of land at Grand Ledge, Eaton county, and took up his residence in the village. Disposing of that property, he bought, in Homer township, two hundred and forty acres of the Gibbs estate, and lived upon it six months, when he sold at an advantage. While on the farm, Mr. Cortright raised and fed hogs,
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and had a fine dairy of thoroughbred Jersey cattle. He also paid a good deal of attention to the breeding of poultry, an industry in which he had been interested from childhood, always keeping standard breeds of poultry as well as of cattle and hogs. After selling his farm, Mr. Cortright organized the Homer State Bank, of Homer, it being capital- ized at $20,000.00, with a surplus of $4,000.00, and average deposits of $50,000.00, opening the institution on February 7, 1911.
Mr. Cortright married, December 18, 1884, Jennie L. Holmes, a daughter of D. C. Holmes, of Mosherville, Michigan, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Bessie L., born January 31, 1886, at Hillsdale, is a graduate of the Homer High School, and living at home; and Le Grande H., born July 14, 1887, who is in business at Grand Ledge. Politically, Mr. Cortright is an Independent Democrat, and fraternally is a member of Humanity Lodge, No. 29, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and of Homer Lodge, No. 88, Knights of Pythias.
CLELLAN A. FINLEY. Perseverance, energy, industry and resolute purpose are shown in the life of Clellan A. Finley, who is one of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of Calhoun county, and whose excellent property of 168 acres is situated in Homer township. These traits of character are the price of success in these modern days of farming, when the hard, unremitting toil of former years has given way to scientific use of modern machinery and a knowledge of the proper treatment of the soil. Calhoun county has many skilled farm- ers, who treat their vocation more as a profession than as a mere occu- pation, and take a justifiable pride in their accomplishments, and among these Mr. Finley holds a prominent position. Like many of the successful agriculturists of Michigan, he is a native of the Empire state, having been born in Walworth, Wayne county, New York, Febru- ary 29, 1864, and is a son of Theron J. and Martha (Mason) Finley. Theron Finley was born February 25, 1840, in Wayne county, New York, and was there married, his wife being also a native of that county. They had a family of seven children, of whom Clellan A. is the third in order of birth. Mr. Finley was engaged in agricultural pursuits in New York, and rose to a position of prominence, becoming supervisor of his township. Subsequently he took his family to Calhoun county, Michigan, and in 1898 located in Albion, where he now lives a retired life, enjoying the well-earned fruits of a long life of industry.
Clellan A. Finley secured his education in the district schools of New York, and was reared to the vocation of an agriculturist, which he has followed throughout his life. He began his career in New York, but in 1886 came to Albion township, Calhoun county, and for seven years worked a farm on shares. Being industrious and enterprising, he carefully invested his savings, and in 1899 purchased his present property, to which he has added from time to time, now being the owner of 168 acres. He has been one of the progressive agriculturists of his section, and has also done considerable in the line of breeding fine cattle. He is considered one of the best judges of stock in his part of the country, and his judgment is often sought on questions con- nected with agricultural interests.
In 1890 Mr. Finley was married to Miss Edith Phillips, daughter of Joseph Phillips, also of Walworth, Wayne county, New York, where her parents still make their home, and three children have been born to this union : Lucian, Frank, and one that died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Finley is a Democrat, but his farming interests have satisfied his ambitions, and he has not sought to enter the public arena
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as a candidate for office, although he takes a keen interest in anything that affects his community, and is a supporter of movements calculated to benefit its interests. He has found time to engage in fraternal work, and is a popular member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. His postoffice address is Homer.
SAMUEL S. TEETERS. Ever since its incorporation, Calhoun county has been noted for its phenomenal development, due not only to the fertility of its land, but to the enterprise and public spirit of its citizens as well. Especially has this growth and development been apparent in the last few years, during which it has advanced in great strides and taken its place in the front rank of Michigan counties. One who has done his share in bringing about this state of affairs is Samuel S. Teeters, of Clarendon township, the owner of a tract of 368 acres of land, acknowledged to be one of the finest farms in Calhoun county. Mr. Teeters was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, August 18, 1861, son of Washington and Ethalinda (Cupp) Teeters.
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