History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 79

Author: Gardner, Washington, 1845-1928
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 838

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 79

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MYRON LA MONT. Men of integrity and courage who have a capa- city for business and are willing to strike hard blows seldom fail of the merited reward of their labors. Though there is no fixed formula for success, so there are no obstacles which undaunted resolution and industry cannot surmount. Myron La Mont, an agriculturist of Sheri- dan township, started in life with but his own resources to assist him in making his way, and today his comfortable farmstead of 100 acres, with a pleasant country residence thereon, is the evidence of his accom- plishment.

Calhoun county may claim him as a native son, for he was born in Sheridan township November 29, 1861, a son of David and Caroline (Coykendall) La Mont. Both parents were natives of New York, the father born in 1813 and the mother in 1822. David La Mont came to Michigan in 1845 and bought a farm of eighty acres, on which he afterward resided until his death in 1899. He also started in life with no assistance in the way of money and at his death had accumu- lated a comfortable competence and was accounted a successful man. His parents were natives and life long residents of New York. In poli- tics he was a Republican. There are eight children of David and Caro- line La Mont living, namely: Jane, who married A. J. Babcock and resides near Battle Creek, Michigan; Frances, who is the widow of Frank Elliott and resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Orrin, a resi- dent of Albion, Michigan; John and Jenette, twins and both residents of Albion, the latter of whom is now Mrs. William Sabastine; Myron and Myra, twins, the latter of whom married Michael Nolan and re- sides in Sheridan township; and Emma, who became the wife of John Wiseogle and resides in Albion, Michigan.

Reared on the Sheridan township and educated in the district schools of its vicinity, Myron La Mont began independent activity as a farmer and has since been identified with the industry of agricul- ture. He bought his present homestead in Sheridan township in 1910, has 100 acres of good land and has a nice country residence.

In 1889 Mr. La Mont wedded Miss Rosie Linebaugh, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Dailey) Linebaugh. Mr. Linebaugh, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1842, came to Calhoun county, Michigan from Ohio in 1872 and was a farmer. He died in November, 1910, and had been preceded in death a little more than a year by his wife, who passed to rest in April, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. La Mont have been born eight children, as follows: Ethel, now Mrs. Albert Root, of Al- bion, Michigan; Gladys, at home; Florence, deceased; and Bessie, Myr- tle, Olive, Marion and Theo, all at the parental home. A Republican in politics, Mr. La Mont served as treasurer of Sheridan township one term, and fraternally he is united with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica.

CHARLES D. BREWER. Noteworthy among the many highly respected and valued citizens of Calhoun county is Charles D. Brewer, a retired dry goods merchant of Marshall, who is descended from an honored

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pioneer family of that city, and is a worthy representative of one of its earlier settlers. A son of the late Chauncey M. Brewer he was born in the city of Marshall, October 2, 1850. His grandfather, Peter Brewer, a life-long resident of New York state, where his death occurred in 1823, married Emma Marble, a native of Massachusetts. Their son, Chauncey M. Brewer, was born October 11, 1814, in Oneonta county, New York, where he was reared to man's estate. In 1835 he followed the trail of the emigrant westward to Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his life. He married Emily L. Butler, and of his life and work and more detailed account will be found elsewhere in this his- tory.

Charles D. Brewer acquired his rudimentary education in Marshall, after his graduation from the high school further advancing his studies at Olivet College in Eaton county. Then entering his father's store, he continued there as a clerk for three years, becoming thoroughly familiar with the details of the business. In 1875 Mr. Brewer, with his brother, Edgar G. Brewer, assumed possession of the business of Chauncey M. Brewer, their father, and under the firm name of Brewer Brothers built up an extensive and prosperous trade. After a full quarter cen- tury of financial prosperity, Mr. Brewer in 1900 sold out his interest in the concern to his partner, who is still conducting the business along the same lines of conservatism which brought the firm so large a meas- ure of prosperity in former years. Since his retirement from mer- cantile pursuits, Mr. Brewer has devoted all his time and energies to his several farms, which aggregate about one thousand acres. He rents his farms on shares, and thus has time to devote to other personal affairs, his many interests keeping him well occupied.

On October 18, 1878, Mr. Brewer married Miss Anna M. De Wolfe, who was born in New York state, and as a child came to Michigan with her parents. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brewer, namely : Chauncey M., as plant manager in the employ of the H. M. Byllesby Co., Electrical Engineers of Chicago; Catherine, a graduate of the Marshall high school, and the wife of Murry Irwin, of Jackson Michigan; and Margery with her parents.

Politically, Mr. Brewer supports the principles of the Democratic party, and though never aspiring to office himself, takes an active in- terest in the election of his friends to positions of public trust. He is. a member of the Saint Albans lodge No. 20, F. & A. M., and of Lafayette Chapter, R. A. M.

WILFORD B. LAWRENCE. Naturally a man's success in life is gen- erally measured by his prestige in business, political or social circles, and when he figures prominently in all, then he has accomplished much. In this class stands Wilford B. Lawrence, a successful agriculturist of Clarendon township, a welcome guest in the best homes in his section, and a power in Republican politics in his township, which he is at present representing as clerk. Mr. Lawrence is a native son of Claren- don township, and has the added prestige of being a self-made man. He was born March 9, 1870, on the farm adjoining the one on which he is now carrying on operations, and is a son of Riley H. and Maggie A. (Dutcher) Lawrence.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Lawrence, William H. Lawrence, was a native of New York, and only came to Michigan as a visitor, but on one of these visits he died. Among his children were several sons who served as soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war. Riley H. Lawrence was born in Sullivan county, New York, in 1844, and his wife in the same section, February 6, 1846. They became the parents

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of five children: Charles V., who is engaged in farming in Clarendon township; Wilford and Milford, twins the latter of Homer township; Minnie R., who died in April, 1911; and Peter G., a clerk in the Michi- gan Central Railroad office at Elyria, Ohio. After their marriage in New York, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence came to Michigan, in 1869, and after spending one year in Springport came to Clarendon township, where Mr. Lawrence purchased forty acres of land. To this he added from time to time, and also sold parts thereof, and at the present time is the owner of eighty-seven acres. During the past ten years he has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of a life of industry and activity. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and at various times has held township office, always so conducting his affairs as to win the fullest confidence and esteem of the people of his community.

Wilford B. Lawrence was educated in the district schools and was reared to the vocation of an agriculturist, his leisure, time being spent in the work of the home property. He continued to remain on the home property until his marriage, in 1894, at which time he purchased the farm adjoining his present land, at that time a tract of sixty-five acres. After residing thereon for six years he disposed of that prop- erty and purchased the 145-acre farm on which he is now carrying on operations. As one of the men of his community who have been the architects of their own fortunes, he well merits the esteem and respect in which he is universally held, and is everywhere conceded to be an able and efficient agriculturist. Mr. Lawrence's land shows the pres- ence of good management, comparing favorably with any of its size in this section of the county, but during his operations he has found time to act in public capacities. A stanch supporter of Republican principles, he has demonstrated his ability in the office of township clerk, to which he was elected in 1909, and has also been a member of the school board for the past nine years. In 1900 and 1901 he won township treasurer and was census enumerator in 1900,

On November 28, 1894, Mr. Lawrence was married to Miss Nellie Church, daughter of Albert D. and Minnie A. (Dibble) Church, re- tired farming people of Clarendon township, and four children have been born to this union: Herbert C., Vara M., Elsie E. and Wilford A., all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM BOYD, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Sheridan township, first touched American soil as an Irish lad of eleven years when his parents emigrated from the Emerald Isle in 1851 and followed the path of the western stars. After two years' sojourn in New York the family came to Lenawee county, Michigan, and from thence Mr. Boyd came to Calhoun county, where he has now resided nearly forty-five years, a citizen of unquestioned standing.

Born in County Antrim, Ireland May 30, 1839, he is the fourth of five children that came to Samuel Boyd and Jane (Kyle) Boyd, both natives of Erin's soil. In 1851 Samuel Boyd came with his family to America and first located in New York, but in 1853, after two years there, he came to Lenawee county, Michigan. Here William Boyd re- ceived a common school education and then started out in life for him- self. He purchased land in Lenawee county, but in 1868 he disposed of his holdings there and came to Calhoun county, locating on his present farm in Sheridan township which has since been his home. His parents came with him to Calhoun county and here died. He has 200 acres, a large portion of which he cleared from the stump, and on it he has placed splendid improvements in the way of a fine brick coun-

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try residence, fine barns and such other buildings as are appurtenant to a well equipped farm property. Dairying is his principal line of agri- cultural industry, and his farm is now largely managed by his son John L. Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of heroes: those who win victories for their country and fame for themselves as soldiers and those who remain at home battling each day with trials and adverse circumstances, without plaudit for their victory and ofttimes without the knowledge of those nearest them. When the Civil war broke out David Boyd donned the Blue, while William his brother, at his solicita- tion, remained at home to care for their parents. David Boyd, was a student in the University of Michigan when hostilities began, and went from there to the front as a member of the Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. He afterward became captain of a company in a colored regiment and saw the most of his service in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee. He returned to the university after the war and grad- uated.

On December 2, 1864, William Boyd was united in marriage to Mar- garet T. Boyd, who, although also a native of Ireland and bearing the same surname, was not a relative of Mr. Boyd. Her parents never came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd were the parents of seven children, as follows: Samuel K., now living in Greeley, Colorado; A. T. Boyd, a resident of Albion, Michigan; Vander H. Boyd, who resides in Homer, Michigan ; John L., who has the management of the home place; Maude E., now Mrs. John R. Boyd, of Albion; William E., engaged in the wood and coal business at Marshall, Michigan; and Lee, a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College. Mrs. Boyd died July 6, 1907, a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.

Although his first vote was cast for Lincoln, Mr. Boyd is now a Democrat, his change in political parties having been made at the time of the free silver movement. He served several years as township super- visor and has also served as treasurer, clerk and highway commissioner of Sheridan township. In 1901 and 1902 he represented his district in the State Legislature. His religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Presbyterian church and he has so lived that his name will go down in history supported with all the attributes of a well spent life and an honorable career.

EDSON D. BOOTH. The growth and development of Calhoun county has been rapid and sure, and its present general prosperity, especially in agricultural circles, is due to the efforts of progressive citizens who have been steadfast and earnest in their efforts in behalf of their sec- tion's interests. One who has made his home in this section for a num- ber of years and holds prestige among the farmers of Clarendon town- ship is Edson D. Booth, who is cultivating a tract of 107 1-2 acres, and also owns sixty acres in Eckford township. Mr. Booth was born in the northwestern part of Caldwell county, Missouri, March 25, 1872, and is a son of Allen N. and Sarah (Butler) Booth, natives of Ontario county, New York, where the father was born in 1844 and the mother two years later. They were married in New York in 1865 and in 1867, with one child, moved to Caldwell county, Missouri, where they re- sided on a farm until 1882. In that year the family, there being now seven children, came to Michigan, settling on a farm in Eckford town- ship, Calhoun county, where Mr. Booth purchased eighty acres of land and engaged in farming until the last years of his life. He eventually retired to Homer, and there passed away April 9, 1903, and his widow still resides at that place. Mr. Booth was a Democrat in political mat- ters, and a member of Humanity Lodge No. 29, of the Masonic order.

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Edson D. Booth received his education in the country schools of Eckford township, and as a youth was brought up to agricultural pur- . suits, assisting his father on the home farm until he reached his major- ity. At the age of twenty-one years he started out to make his own way in the world, purchasing a tract of sixty acres which adjoined the farm of his father, and there carried on operations until he was thirty years of age. In 1902 he was married to Miss Bertha Rogers, daugh- ter of Albert and Martha Rogers, leading farming people of Clarendon township, and two children have been born to this union: Norman and Martha. After his marraige Mr. Booth rented a farm from his father-in-law for one year, and then returned to his old home for three years, at which time he purchased the homestead of Mr. Rogers, where the latter had been born and spent his whole life. Here Mr. Booth has made numerous improvements, erecting new buildings throughout, in- cluding two large barns and silos, as well as a tenant house, and has rebuilt the residence and put new fencing around the entire property. His land is well stocked with cattle, sheep and hogs of the finer grades, nearly all of the land is under cultivation, and in general appearance the tract is one of the finest in the township. Mr. Booth still owns the sixty-acre tract in Eckford township, this being occupied by a tenant.

In his political views Mr. Booth is a Democrat, but he takes only a good citizen's interest in public matters. Both he and Mrs. Booth are consistent members of the Baptist church, and fraternally he is con- nected with Humanity Lodge No. 29, F. & A. M., at Homer, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Like his father he has always been iden- tified with the best interests of the county, and the people of his town- ship have every reason to be glad that such progressive and enterpris- ing men as those belonging to this family have been numbered among its residents.

ARTHUR J. WHITE. To some men is given the foresight that un- derstands the drift of the times and is able to prognosticate future events, and happily they are also sometimes blessed with the initiative ability to carry out the plans which their keen vision inspires. Such a man is Arthur J. White. He it was who saw the immense advantages that would accrue from the establishment of street railway systems in several of the prosperous cities of Michigan, and he set to work to prove this to the people, who were somewhat dubious by building these rail- ways. He was the first to build lines in Muskegon, Jackson and Battle Creek. He was also the first man to put electric lights in at Battle Creek. Why did he have a broader vision than most of the men of this time? Very likely because he had traveled very widely, in our own country, in Europe and elsewhere, and he had fully realized that prog- ress was being made in other places, and that it was time to take some radical steps at home did Michigan wish to "keep up with the proces- sion." He realized from the growth of other parts of the country, that if this section of the state wished to grow she must take bold steps, she must be able to offer inducements to homeseekers who might pass her by and go further west. He is now retired, and lives on his farm near Battle Creek, and everyone feels that he has well earned his hours of rest.

Prattsville, Green county, New York, was the birthplace of Arthur J. White. The son of James B. and Julia L. (Vandenburg) White, he was born on the 8th of April, 1846. His father was born in Ire- land, and came to this country when he was a child. As a youth he learned the tanner's trade, and he became prosperous enough to go

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into business for himself. He came in time to own a large tannery at Prattsville, New York. He retired some years before his death, which occurred in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Doctor Alexander T. White, who was a surgeon in the Army of Great Britain for thirty years. In politics James B. White was a Democrat. He married Julia L. Van- · denburg. She was a daughter of John I. Vandenburg, and was born at Lexington, Green county, New York. Her father was a native of Holland, and had come to this country as a young man. He was a farmer and lived out his life in New York state.

Arthur J. White received his education in a seminary at Franklin, New York. Obliged to earn his own living rather early in life, he took the first position that offered, which chanced to be that of baggage master on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway. He was later made conductor, and spent altogether six years with this road. For some time he had wished above every thing else that he might have an opportunity of seeing more of the country, and presently he found an opportunity to gratify this wish in a rather unusual way. He joined the circus of P. T. Barnum, as ticket seller, and treasurer. He worked for the great showman for three years visiting every place of any size in Europe, and seeing much of it in the most interesting way, afoot. He was extremely successful in this line of work and re- ceived the only medal given for ticket selling at the World's Fair in Chicago, thus becoming the champion ticket seller of the world. After his years of wandering life he was ready to settle down for a time, and went to Minneapolis as private secretary to the president of the Minne- apolis and St. Louis Railway. He remained in Minneapolis for some time, but the thirst for excitement and the need of change were too strong for him, so he determined to go to Central America. He had enough thrilling experiences in this almost unknown country, at that time, to form a plot for a dime novel. His purpose was to hunt for gold, but before he reached his destination, he was shipwrecked, and then began his search for civilization. He walked from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, without encountering a white person. The natives were kind to him on the whole, but the journey was full of hardships, and of dangers which he scarcely realized. It was with the happiness of the drowning man that he came to the seacoast and to the town where the American consul resided. This official was very kind to him, and he will ever be remembered by Mr. White. Never before had he appre- ciated the glory of the Stars and Stripes, or been so thankful that he was an American citizen.

Upon returning to America, he went back to Minneapolis and worked in that city for ten years. He was quite successful, and in addition to his financial prosperity, he gained a good knowledge of the ways of the business world, and of the thoughts and methods of business men. Therefore when he came to Jackson, Michigan, he was prepared to venture bigger things than he had ever dared before. It was 1880 that he completed his first venture, the building of the first street railway in the city. He then went to Muskegon, where he duplicated this feat, in connection with Mr. H. H. Brown. He later built the first railway in Battle Creek, of which he was the sole owner, for three years. As has been mentioned he put the first electric lights into the city, and has since been ever ready to advocate any progressive moves such as these. Fourteen years ago Mr. White went to the Klondike region, on a prospecting trip, but he only remained a short time.

Mr. White is now retired, and lives alone on his beautiful farm, about a mile from Battle Creek. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, and the buildings upon it have been built with an eye not

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only to utility, but to artisticness and beauty. His home itself is mod- ern, with all the luxuries that the word implies, and is named Maple- hurst. In connection with the farm he runs a dairy and breeds blooded cattle. He does not concern himself with any business affairs now, finding that the farm occupies all the leisure time that he has. He started in life with little or nothing. He now looks back at the long road over which he has traveled and wonders how he ever was enabled to accomplish what he did. The answer lies in his own strong will, and in his faith in his own good judgment and in the future of the coun- try. He has never desired a prominent place in the political world, and contents himself with casting his vote at the polls.

Mr. White married Anna M. Williams, a daughter of James Williams, who owned the Williams House in Battle Creek. Mr. Wil- liams came to Michigan from Rome, New York, reaching here with fifty dollars in his pocket. He settled at Abscota, Michigan, where he cleared land for a farm. He later came to Battle Creek, where he built the Williams House, and where he lived until he died. He was very successful in his business, and was able to give his daughter many advantages. She was well educated and was not only a woman of un- usual intellect but also was a gifted artist. She was known all over the country, and her death on the 1st of March, 1909, was a great loss not only to her family and immediate friends but to the country at large.

FRANK M. RATHBUN. A life marked by large and worthy achieve- ment and exalted integrity of purpose was that of the late Frank M. Rathbun, who was long numbered among the prominent and influential business men of Battle Creek and whose services in behalf of the city and its people entitle him to enduring honor. He ever held to the things that were good and true and his high ideals found exemplifica- tion in all of the relations of his active and useful life. He served as mayor of Battle Creek and held other positions of public trust, and few have there been who have taken a deeper or more helpful interest in the social and material advancement of the thriving metropolis of Calhoun county. Secure in the unqualified confidence and esteem of the entire community, Mr. Rathbun continued as one of the essentially representative citizens of Battle Creek until his death, which was the direct result of a pitiable accident, the details of which have been noted in the following statements: "On December 29, 1893, Mr. Rathburn left his home, in good health, and entered the store of Ranger & Far- ley. He made his way toward the office, beside which was the unguarded opening of the freight elevator. In the darkness he did not realize his danger, and he stepped into the opening, through which he fell into the basement of the building. Besides sustaining a broken leg he re- ceived internal injuries, and, while conscious but a few hours there- after, he survived two days. He passed away at eleven o'clock on the night of December 31, 1893, just as the old year was passing out."

Frank M. Rathbun was born in Laurens township, Otsego county, New York, on the 20th of November, 1844, and was a scion of a family that was early founded in the old Empire state, the original represen- tatives of the name having settled in New England in the colonial era of our national history. His parents continued to reside on their home- stead farm, in Otsego county, until the close of their lives, and there the subject of this memoir was reared under the sturdy discipline which was a concomitant of agricultural industry in the locality and period. He was afforded the advantages of the common schools and upon at- taining to his legal majority he went to the city of Poughkeepsie, New York, where he completed a full course in the old and celebrated East-

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History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 79

Author: Gardner, Washington, 1845-1928 Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 838

Author: Gardner, Washington, 1845-1928
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 838