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 8
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Battle Creek high school and is now connected with the Y. M. C. A. of Jackson, Michigan. Grace M. died at the age of twenty years. Earl is in Battle Creek and Charles, Earnest and Carrie died in childhood. All were born in this county. The Ackley's were one of the first, if not the first family to locate in Convis township, and in those far-away pioneer days their first home was a log house in the woods. Like their de- scendants they were staunch and worthy people and they laid the paths of civilization straight and clean. The subject's grandmother, Sarepta Reed, was a missionary among the Indians in Oakland county, Michigan, and the redmen still believed in that day that they were lord of the forest.
Rollin D. Ackley was educated in the Bellevue high school, leaving the farm at the age of sixteen years to acquire his education. Previous to that time under the excellent tutelage of his father he had secured an insight into the many departments of the great basic industry. In March, 1889, he came to Battle Creek and started to work for the com- pany with which he is today associated. At the beginning of his con- nection with the concern it was known as the Battle Creek Machinery Company, and the late Dorr Burnham, who is represented in detail on other pages of this work, was at the head of the same. He is one of those who have been longest connected with the company and at first proving faithful and efficient in small things was continually given more and more to do until he occupies his present important post. He acted as foreman from 1902 to 1911 and since January, 1911, has been superin- tendent. He is also one of the stock-holders of the company. When he started in the factory, three sizes of pumps were being made, namely : B. C. and D. After he began to have something to say the first "BB" pump, which is the fourth size was made. When he first entered the shops, there were somewhere in the world seven hundred and fifty pumps made by the concern and on January 18, 1912, there were 108,243 pumps, in different climes and localities. The output is of highest character and amply advertises itself.
Mr. Ackley is one of the most valued and useful of the members of the First Baptist church of Battle Creek. He is particularly well- known in Sunday school work and two years ago organized a men's Bible class, there being two members in the class at the start. He now has a class of seventy-five men, one of the largest men's Bible classes in all the state outside of Detroit and Grand Rapids. It is called the Baraca Bible Class and its leader is held in the greatest affection. He is a forceful and logical reasoner as well as an interesting one, capable of meeting the arguments of mature minds and he is doing a great work in this.
Mr. Ackley was happily married in 1892, Miss Flora A. Callender of Battle Creek, becoming his wife. This lady passed away in August, 1896, leaving motherless two children, namely : Allen Arthur, a gradu- ate of the Battle Creek high school, class of 1912; and Ella Allene. Both are at home and both were born at Battle Creek. The subject was again married on November 3, 1898, in Centerville, St. Joseph county, Michigan, the lady to become his wife being Miss Laura E. Knittle, daughter of Charles and Susan Knittle. Her father died when she was only two years of age, but her mother survives and makes her home at Marcellus, Michigan. Mrs. Ackley was born and reared in the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio. The subject and his wife have three children, Ralph Emerson, Gladys Irene, and Charles Rollin. Two are deceased, Rollin Lester and Flora Emma, who died when three months of age. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ackley is one of the hospitable ones of the city and is located at 30 North Wabash avenue.
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THOMAS H. BUTCHER. It is a pleasure to enter record in this work concerning young men who have through their own efforts attained success in life and worked their own way to positions of business su- premacy. Successful men must be live men in this age, bristling with activity, charged with energy, steadied by perseverance, and directed by principles of honesty and integrity. Thomas H. Butcher, of Battle Creek, who, in the development of the "Butcher Shop," and the "Walk Over Boot Shop," has made his name a familiar household word in the city, holds high rank as one his community's able business men. His career has been marked by consecutive endeavor and consecutive advancement, and he is recognized as a man of broad business capacity and executive force. Mr. Butcher was born in Battle Creek, February 28, 1871, and is a son of Judge John and Jane (Simpson) Butcher.
Judge John Butcher died in this city January 11, 1872, in the fifty-third year of his age. He was not one of the oldest residents at the time of his death, but had lived in the city a sufficient length of time to acquire an extensive acquaintance and to establish an excellent reputation. He was a native of England, having been born in the vicinity of London, and after crossing the Atlantic several times, set- tled in New York, where he was for a long time connected with the Evening Post, and by his superior business and social qualities greatly endeared himself, not only to his associates in that office, but in general to those in the newspaper circles of the metropolis. He removed to Battle Creek in 1869, having previously visited this section and made certain important investments here, from his confidence in the future development of this place and the region in the vicinity. In the spring of 1871 he was elected justice of the peace of Battle Creek, and most judiciously and satisfactorily discharged the duties pertaining to his office until interrupted by the illness which led to his death. He was extremely courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with his fellow men, and possessed great amiability of character. His views were lib- eral, and those needing aid or council were always recipients of his kindness and generosity. As he was a useful citizen in public, so were his virtues conspicuous in his private life, and in his death the city, his family and his friends sustained a severe loss. Judge Butcher was married in New York City to Miss Jane S. Butcher, who was born in the north of Ireland, and she survived him until January 25, 1899. They had two children: Jennie, who married Frank P Hickman, of Battle Creek; and Thomas H.
Thomas H. Butcher attended the public schools of his native city, and early in life displayed business ability and acumen of a high order. When twenty years of age he engaged in business with H. L. Kneeland, the firm of Butcher & Kneeland dealing in hats and furnishing goods in a little store at No. 20, East Main street. After doing business there for about ten years, they were forced to seek larger quarters to accom- modate the rapidly-growing business, and went to No. 30 Main street, west, where Mr. Kneeland continued with Mr. Butcher until 1906. Since that time the firm has been known as the T. H. Butcher Company, the firm being incorporated in January, 1906, when Mr. Butcher ad- mitted to partnership two of his clerks, who had been with him thir- teen and sixteen years, respectively. Subsequently, when he opened the new shoe business, he admitted two more clerks, the new establish- ment, at No. 48 Main street, west, opening its doors to the buying public in 1911, when the firm was re-incorporated, although it still bears the same name. Associated with Mr. Butcher are C. L. Roberts, L. E. Mil- lard, F. P. Hickman and David Black, the last-named gentleman having full charge of the boot store. These establishments have been developed
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into the leading stores of their kind in the city, and have a large and rep- resentative patronage. Not the least of Mr. Butcher's abilities is his skill as an advertising man. Possessing a wealth of unique ideas and the ability to express them clearly and forcibly, he has devoted a large part of his time to keeping the name of his stores in the public eye; and this knack of happy expression has also been used to good advantage in- displaying the goods in his establishments in a pleasing and convenient manner. Alive to modern methods, alert to take advantage of every in- novation, enterprising and energetic in all things and at all times, he is justly rated one of Battle Creek's most progressive business men. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, is a charter member of the Elks, and a director of the Athelstan Club. His home, at No. 41 Orchard avenue, is one in which refined courtesy is ever in evidence.
EARLE W. RANDALL. The name Randall has long been associated with the milling interests of Tekonsha, Michigan, and the history of the Tekonsha Mills is interwoven with that of southern Michigan. Quoting from a recent article on this subject :
"The early settlers were obliged to haul their wheat to Ypsilanti, a distance of eighty miles, over corduroy roads with ox teams, to the nearest flouring mill. "Going to mill" was an undertaking of no little importance and hazard, as it meant a week's absence from home and exposure to danger from wild beasts and lawless men. In the develop- ment of civilization, necessity seems to be the 'mother of invention.' The pioneers of the 'thirties realized the force of this truth, and among their first enterprises was the construction of water powers, saw mills and grist mills. The water power, upon which the Tekonsha Mills are situated, was developed in 1835 and 1836. The work was contributed, largely, by the early settlers.
"In 1850 Dr. Campbell Waldo, a native of Cayuga county, New York, built the main portion of the present grist mill, a three-story structure 36 x 50 feet in size, with basement. The mill was equipped with the old process machinery-three run of stone-two for flour and one for feed. During a period of forty years following its erection the mill enjoyed a liberal patronage and took rank among the leading establishments of the place. Such changes were made from time to time in the earlier system as the necessities of the case and the progress of the times demanded; but the old stone process was not discarded until 1889, when the mill was purchased by Arah H. and Arthur G. Randall, composing the firm of Randall Bros., predecessors of the present man- agement.
"Randall Bros. made a general overhauling of the property, improv- ing the water power, installing new wheels, and supplanting the stones by Nordyke & Marmon Roller Process. In 1893 the mill was enlarged by the erection of a feed department and the ownership changed hands, Randall Bros. giving place to A. H. Randall & Son. The reel bolting system was supplanted by the sifter system in 1899. During the year 1902, the mill was again enlarged by the addition of a buckwheat de- partment.
"The present mill complete comprises, in its various departments, a flouring mill 36 x 50 feet in size, three stories high, with basement; feed mill, 20 x 48 feet in size, two stories high, with basement; buck- wheat mill 20 x 20 feet in size, two stories high, with basement; engine room one story high and 14 x 28 feet in size; office, one story high, 11 x 14 feet in size; and a sack room, 10 x 11 feet in size; elevator; flour storage. Power is furnished by a 35-inch Victor Wheel, under eight foot head on flour run ; a 44-inch special Leffel Wheel on feed and buckwheat,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
supplemented by a 45-horsepower boiler with 35-horsepower engine. Steam is used only in case of emergency during excessive drouth. The mill is lighted by its own dynamos. *
* * The amount of grain ground consists of 80,000 to 100,000 bushels of wheat; 60,000 to 80,000 bushels of feed; 10,000 to 20,000 bushels of buckwheat-mostly custom work."
Earle W. Randall, the present manager of these mills, was born in Tekonsha, Michigan, November 23, 1876, son of Arah Howard Randall and Ada A. (Tucker) Randall.
Arah H. Randall, also a native of Calhoun county, was born April 9, 1848, third child in the family of Harvey and Rhoda (Howard) Ran- dall, pioneers of southern Michigan. Further mention of the Randall family will be found on another page of this work. Arah H. Randall was a graduate of Hillsdale College, with the class of 1873; was married that same year, June 24th, at Tekonsha, and for a time was principal of the schools at this place, being the first to hold that position after the erection of the brick schoolhouse. Not long after his marriage he engaged in merchandising with his brother, J. W. Randall, and later engaged in farming in Branch and Calhoun counties, following which he again spent some time in teaching school. In 1883, he purchased the Calhoun Mills at Homer, which he conducted until 1889. That year he sold out and joined his brother, Arthur G., in the purchase of the Tekonsha Mills, which they ran under the name of Randall Bros., and with which he was identified until the time of his death. About six o'clock in the morning, June 29, 1900, he went to the mill to start the ma- chinery. An hour later when his son Earle entered the mill the ma- chinery was not in operation. A search for the father resulted in find- ing him drowned in the flume, with a broken clavicle. His sudden death was the occasion of profound sorrow throughout the community. No man in the town had a larger circle of acquaintances, and few, if any, had more friends, than did Arah H. Randall. He was an enter- prising citizen, a progressive business man, and a devoted husband and father. Politically, he was a stanch Republican and took an active interest in party affairs. He served as Township Clerk for several years, and for many years he filled the office of Supervisor, at Tekonsha, Al- bion and Homer. At the time of his death he was a member of the School Board of Tekonsha. About 1889 he was the Republican nominee for a seat in the State Legislature, and came within a few votes of being elected in a district strongly Democratic. He belonged to the Masonic Order at Homer, and was also a member of the A. O. U. W. In his family were five children, as follows: Ray A .; Daisy, who died in in- fancy ; Earle W .; Edna M., and Eleanor, who died at the age of eigh- teen months. Ray A., born June 5, 1874, graduated from Ypsilanti State Normal College in 1897 and from the University of Michigan in 1900. In addition to his degree of B. S. from the University he was hon- ored with the degree of M. Pd. from the Normal College. He served as principal of schools at Goshen, Indiana, and superintendent of schools at Plymouth, Indiana, from 1900 until 1911. In the spring of 1911 he resigned his position as superintendent at Plymouth, Indiana, to become a member of the firm of the Union City Milling Company, Union City, Michigan, R. A. and E. W. Randall, proprietors. He was married in 1897 to Miss Edith Waite, Dexter, Michigan, and they have one daugh- ter, Eleanor. Mr. Randall's sister, Edna M., is a graduate of the Te- konsha school and is now the wife of Joseph E. Eldridge of Tekonsha.
Earle W. Randall is a graduate of the Homer schools and of the Commercial College of Ypsilanti. He first began work in his father's mill when he was fifteen, and after returning from college he again en-
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tered the mill. In 1897 his father gave him an eighth interest in the business and soon afterward he purchased a similar interest which had been given to his brother. At his father's death he inherited a larger interest, and the management of the mill devolved upon him. The busi- ness is carried on under the name of the A. H. Randall Mill Company. Both by education and experience young Randall was fitted for the re- sponsibilities that were thrust upon him, as miller and manager, at the untimely death of his father, and he is carrying on the business successfully.
April 18, 1900, Mr. Randall was married to Miss Kittie M. Batt, a native of Tekonsha, and a granddaughter of Samuel Batt, who at one time, in the sixties, was owner of the Tekonsha Mills. Mr. Randall's maternal grandfather, Thomas W. Tucker, was also owner of the mill at one time, and so the property is in possession of the descendants of two of the early proprietors. Mrs. Randall is a daughter of L. M. and Phoebe ( Allan) Batt. Of this union there is one child, Tom R. Randall, born in Tekonsha, May 13, 1901.
Mr. Randall was made a Mason in 1898, and maintains membership in Washington Lodge, No. 7, F. and A. M .; Mrs. Randall is a member of the O. E. S., and in their organizations each has filled official position. Mr. Randall also has membership in Coldwater Lodge, B. P. O. E. Po- litically, he is a Republican. In 1899 he was elected a member of the Village council, and in 1901 he was re-elected. This office he resigned in 1902. He and his wife are included among the popular young people of the village.
COLONEL EUGENE L. MARKEY. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this brief review well merits the designation of a "man who has done things," nor is the verb to be restricted to the past tense, for Mr. Markey is now at the very zenith of his activity and accomplishment. Identified with one of Michigan's most famous and extensive manufac- turing concerns, The Duplex Printing Press Company, whose product is celebrated the world over, he occupies with the same a position second in importance only to that of the president and in the telling capacity of general sales manager he has made a remarkable imprint upon the enterprise, whose continual progress and high standing is largely cred- ited to the experience, executive ability, tireless energy, engineering skill and genius in the broad combination and concentration of ap- plicable forces possessed by him.
Colonel Markey is one of the commonwealth's native sons, his life record having begun in Pinckney, Livingston county, Michigan, March 9, 1866. He is of Irish descent and in him are apparent some of those excellent characteristics which are acknowledged as the birthright of the son of Erin. His parents were James and Catherine (Morgan) Mar- key, the former of whom was born in County Louth, Ireland, March 25, 1833. At the age of six years he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Markey, making the voyage on a sailing-vessel and after many days landing at Castle Garden, New York. The little family soon advanced to the northwest then opening up for settlement and lo- cated in Bunker Hill township, Ingham county, Michigan, where the fa- ther bought a large tract of land on which he and his children lived and farmed for many years, hewing out the trees from the forest primeval and building a log cabin in which they lived. Those first years were filled with the hardships encountered by the representative pioneer, but they were brave and determined and they met and conquered tasks at which Hercules might have dislocated his arm. The subject's father taught school during six years of his youth and later, on removing to
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Pinckney, Michigan, engaged in mercantile business. He married Catherine Morgan of Unadilla township, Livingston county, on the ninth day of June, 1856, and on June 9, 1906, they celebrated their golden wedding, after a half century of ideal companionship. This event oc- curred at Port Huron, whence they had removed in 1897, at which time the subject's father was appointed supreme collector for the Knights of Maccabees of the World, and in that city he and his worthy wife made their home until his summons to the Undiscovered Country on Novem- ber 9, 1911. For the last three years of his life he had lived retired after a life of signal usefulness and industry. This honored pioneer was survived by a widow, one daughter and seven sons. Mrs. Markey was the daughter of Peter Morgan and wife, also emigrants from Ireland, who settled in Unadilla township, Livingston county at a very early day. James Markey was one of the first six justices of the peace ap- pointed in Michigan, Gov. Kingsley Bingham making the appoint- ments. He was one of Port Huron's most prominent citizens and pos- sessed numerous friends, the boundaries of Michigan by no means lim- iting them. The mother resides at the present time in Port Huron.
The children of the family of which Colonel Markey is a member are as follows : Hon. D. P. Markey, of Detroit, is supreme commander of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World, J. B. Markey is vice- president and general manager of the Illinois Refrigerator Company of Morrison, Illinois ; Mrs. Floyd Reason, of Pinckney, Michigan, is now deceased; B. N. Markey, of Detroit, is connected with an automobile establishment, as one of the lads-in-waiting; the Colonel is next in order of nativity ; Gus L. is chief clerk in the offices of the Knights of the Tented Maccabees in Detroit; Mrs. Albert Doe resides in Port Huron; and Louis K. is a traveling representative of the Winkley Company, manufacturers of brass goods, of Detroit. The four eldest were born in Bunker Hill township in the old log house and the others in Pinckney, Michigan, and all were educated in the Pinckney schools. Five out of the eight taught school, having received a preparatory course at Howell, Michigan, this being the scene of a country normal school which existed at that time.
Colonel Markey possessed what sometimes seems like the most power- ful "Open Sesame" to success,-birth on a farm. Two years he en- gaged in farming, and then assisted his father in the agricultural im- plement business, this employment consuming some six years, and his headquarters being at Pinckney. In the meantime he taught school winters, as his father needed his assistance only during the summertime. Subsequent to that he was in St. Louis, Missouri, for six years as the southwestern agent of the Union School Furniture Company of Battle Creek. This great industry burned in 1891 with a loss of a quarter million dollars and throwing hundreds of men out of work. The execu- tive officer of the Union School Furniture Company, Mr. I. L. Stone, is today the president of the Duplex Printing Press Company. The two industries have largely the same owners. Mr. Markey's identifica- tion with the younger concern dates from October, 1892, and shortly after he had charge of the exhibit of the Duplex product at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893. Since 1906, he has been general sales manager, this position being the live wire of the whole business and second to the president's in activity.
On May 1, 1911, Colonel Markey opened the eastern office of the Du- plex Company in the World's Building, New York City, where he re- mained six months and met with great success, doing $160,000 worth of business in four months. It is needless to add that his worth is recog- nized by the company.
£
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The Colonel has marked social proclivities and also finds time in some way for other interests besides that of his office. He is a director of the Athelstan Club of this city and is active in politics, being chair- man of the Democratic city committee of Battle Creek. He is essen- tially public-spirited and is a member of the Board of Public Works here. He was nominated by the Democrats of the Ninth District for senator, but declined the nomination. Later he was sent as delegate from the 3d congressional district to the national Democratic conven- tion at Baltimore. He is one of the seven Michigan citizens who belong to the New York Athletic club. He is of genial and pleasing personality and is in great demand on all public occasions.
Colonel Markey was happily married on January 16, 1895, in Jack- son, Michigan, his chosen lady being Alice A. White, daughter of James and Mary (Walsh) White, the former born in England, and the latter in Ireland. Mrs. Markey was born in Jackson county, Michigan, and educated at Notre Dame academy in South Bend, Indiana. Colonel and Mrs. Markey have one son, Eugene W., who is now a sophomore student in the Battle Creek High school. He was born in this city, December 10, 1895. The family are communicants of St. Philips Catholic church. They reside in a beautiful home at 54 Chestnut street, at the corner of Calhoun street, one of the finest residence districts.
DON F. HALL. The name of Don F. Hall is one that is emblematical of what may be accomplished by unrelaxing industry and unswerving integrity. A native son of Michigan, he was born at Quincy, Branch county, on September 1, 1851. His education was somewhat limited, that which he obtained having been acquired in the public schools of Coldwater, Michigan, for at the age of thirteen he left home and began at that time of life the active duties which are usually taken up by men at a much later age. He at once began to learn the blacksmith trade and after he had mastered it he located at Bedford, Michigan, where he followed his trade thirty-seven years. A conscientious workman and one strictly honest in his dealings, his sturdy industry, perseverance and close application brought him prosperity and what was still better, the high regard of all who formed his acquaintance. In 1910 he removed to Urbandale, where he bought ten acres, built a large two-story house, which he fitted out with modern furnishings, and also built a good shop. Already more business has come to him than he can do. Mr. Hall is emphatically self-made, each dollar that he has acquired being one that has represented his own toil, his own endeavor. He is well known in Calhoun county, where he is uniformly recognized as a man whose honor and self-respect are at all times his first consideration. In his political views he is a Republican.
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