History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 83

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 83

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In 1878 he entered the employ of the Upton-Brown Threshing Ma- chine Works, at Battle Creek, and remained in the employ of that con- cern for a period of two years, at the expiration of which, he purchased the old homestead in Emmett township from the heirs, his father hav- ing died in March, 1879. The ensuing three years were passed in farm- ing on the home estate and then Mr. Blanck disposed of it and re- moved to Battle Creek, where he entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company as a bridge and depot builder. Later, he took charge of the building of the Wakelee Block, as superintendent, and later began contracting and building on his own account. He has erected many of the substantial structures in Battle Creek, having been contractor for the Rupert & Vesey Block and superintendent of the building of the Stone Block. He also had charge of the building of a number of the manufacturing plants and storage buildings in Battle Creek. He built a number of residences on his own account and later disposed of them and has also erected some of the fine homes of the more prominent families here.

In addition to the contracting business, Mr. Blanck has long been interested in various local business enterprises of broad scope and importance. He helped organize the Citizens Electric Company, and served that concern in the capacities of president and vice-president. He is still a stockholder in the company, is a member of its board of directors and is chairman of the executive committee. He has money invested in the Advance Pump & Compressor Company; in the City Bank of Battle Creek, in the Michigan Carton Company and in the Battle Creek Brewing Company. He is the owner of a number of residence and business lots and has always manifested a deep and sin- cere interest in all matters tending to promote progress and improve- ment in Battle Creek and Calhoun county. He also makes a specialty of estimating fire losses, as an expert, both for owners and for insur- ance companies.

In 1905 Mr. Blanck retired from active participation in business affairs, on account of poor health, and now contents himself with a general supervision of his extensive interests. Just after his retire- ment he took a trip to California. spending six months on the coast and traveling around in various sections of the country. He was made a

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Mason in Bedford Lodge, No. 207, Free and Accepted Masons, in 1874, but later became a charter member of A. T. Metcalf Lodge, No. 419, at Battle Creek. He is likewise affiliated with the Chapter, Council and Commandery of the Masonic order and is a valued member of Saladin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids. He is connected with the Athelstan Club in this city and has ever been a booster for Battle Creek, insisting that there is no place on the map like it. In politics he is a Repub- lican and cast his first vote for Grant in 1868. He has taken an active interest in local politics but has never been an aspirant for public office.

Mr. Blanck has been twice married, his first union having been to Lucretia Doy, who was born in Hull, England, a daughter of Dr. John and Jane (Dunn) Doy. This ceremony was performed in 1870 and Mrs. Blanck was called to eternal rest in 1900, at the age of sixty years. Two children were born to this union,-John Elmer and Cath- erine. Both died while young. March 18, 1908, Mr. Blanck was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Fishler, who was born at Wellsburg, New York, but who was a resident of Elmira, New York, at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Blanck reside at No. 70 North avenue, this city.

Mr. Blanck is a man of unusual enterprise and initiative and he, himself won the splendid success which has come to him in the business world. He gives freely to all worthy movements for the betterment of mankind. His life history is certainly worthy of commendation and of emulation, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crown his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Battle Creek, where he has so long resided and where he commands the unqualified confidence and esteem of all with whom he has had dealings.

J. BYRON SPERRY. Among the veritable captains of industry in Calhoun county is numbered this representative citizen and alert and progressive business man of Battle Creek, and here his interests are not only varied but also of broad scope and importance. He has been a power in the promotion of enterprises that have had emphatic influ- ence in furthering the industrial progress and material and civic pros- perity of the metropolis of Calhoun county, and his high standing as a citizen as well as his large achievement as a man of affairs specially entitle him to recognition in this history of the county. He is president of the J. B. Sperry Company, one of the most important contracting and building concerns of the county; is secretary of the Battle Creek Building & Loan Association; and is one of the principal stockholders and chief executive of the Level Park Lumber Company, besides which he and his son are owners and managers of the business conducted by the Crystal Sand & Gravel Company, which is incorporated under the laws of the state. These represent not all of the activities of Mr. Sperry, and he has done and is doing much to further the advance- ment and upbuilding of his home city and county, where his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances.

J. Byron Sperry was born at Panton, Addison county, Vermont, on the 29th of June, 1854, and is a son of Rev. Charles W. and Rachel Ann (Gardner) Sperry, both of whom were likewise born in the old Green Mountain state, the respective families having been founded in New England in the early colonial days. The father of Mr. Sperry was a leading member of the clergy of the Seventh Day Adventist church, and both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives Vol. II-36

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in the state of New York. He, whose name initiates this sketch was reared in the home of his maternal grandfather, Henry Gardner, and in 1864, when nine years of age, he accompanied his grandparents on their removal to Battle Creek, Mr. Gardner having previously been a successful farmer in the state of New York and having come to Bat- tle Creek as one of the early representatives of the colony of the mem- bers of the Adventist church, of which he and his wife were most zeal- ous adherents. J. Byron Sperry was but seven years of age at the time of his father's death, and his devoted mother was summoned to the life eternal about two years later, he having been the only child. He was reared with tender solicitude and care by his grandparents, who continued to reside in Battle Creek until their death and the names of whom he holds in reverent memory. He was reared and educated in the city that is now his home and was one of the first pupils in the Adventist select school which was here established by Professor Bell and which later, developed into Battle Creek College, one of the lead- ing institutions of the Adventist church for many years. As a youth Mr. Sperry entered the employ of the Review & Herald Publishing Company, in the offices of which he became a skilled workman in the various departments of the printing business. He remained with the company for a period of thirteen years, within which he served as foreman of the press room and also as foreman of the composing room for some time. He was one of the valued and popular employes of this staunch old concern, which was maintained under the auspices of the Adventist church, the interests of which were so long centralized in Battle Creek.

Since 1888, Mr. Sperry has been actively identified with real estate operations, in connection with which, he began an individual business on a modest scale, and he has been for many years one of the leading representatives of this important line of enterprise in this part of the state. In 1903, he found it expedient to handle his extensive interests in this line by the organization of the Michigan Real Estate Company, Limited, of which he has since been the executive head. He is also president of the Level Park Lumber Company and the J. B. Sperry Company, builders and contractors; and is secretary of the Battle Creek Building & Loan Association, which was organized in April, 1908, and which is exercising most benignant functions in assisting those of moderate financial resources to obtain homes of their own. Mr. Sperry is also president of the Crystal Sand & Gravel Company, incorporated, in which his associate is his second son, Charles G. This company have fifty acres of the finest sand and gravel banks in the state, the products being of all commercial grades and the splendid banks being situated at Level Park, Calhoun county, with a practically inexhaustible supply. The gravel excavation has been carried to a depth of seventy-two feet and the integrity of the deposit at that depth remains unimpaired, while experts have pronounced both the sand and gravel to be unexcelled in the entire state, the property having been given a concervative valuation of sixty thousand dollars. Mr. Sperry is also the owner of the Meadow Lawn Park addition to the city of Battle Creek, the same containing twenty-three acres, and the property is being improved according to the best modern standards. Mr. Sperry is associated with William H. Hamilton, of Battle Creek, in the owner- ship of Level Park, which is a tract of one hundred acres and which is eligibly located about three miles of Battle Creek. He has erected eighty-seven residences in Battle Creek and has given special atten- tion to the building of houses for working men, to whom he sells the properties on the installment plan. He conducts a well ordered real

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estate business and as a contractor and builder has been one of the most prominent and influential exponents of this line of enterprise in the city and county which have been his home from his boyhood days and in which he has found ample opportunity for worthy and produc- tive effort. In connection with other interests, he is local representa- tive of five leading insurance companies, and controls a substantial business as underwriter for the same. Mr. Sperry has admirably de- veloped his powers as a man of large capacity for affairs of breadth and importance and is a progressive, liberal and loyal citizen who commands impregnable vantage ground in popular confidence and es- teem. In politics, he gives his allegiance to the Republican party and he was formerly an active and effective worker in the ranks. He has never been a seeker of public office but served three years as city as- sessor of Battle Creek. He and his family are zealous and valued mem- bers of the Tabernacle church, Seventh Day Adventist, and he has ever held closely to the religious faith in which he was reared. He is liberal in support of the various departments of church work and is a member of the board of trustees of the Tabernacle church. In a social way he is affiliated with the local organization of the Independ- ent Order of Foresters.

On the 18th of June, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sperry to Miss Nellie Nelson, of Battle Creek, where she was reared and educated; she was born in the state of Maine and was a child at the time of the family removal to Battle Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Sperry have three children, all of whom were born and reared in Battle Creek. Deo R., the elder son, completed his education in the old Battle Creek College, and has been a resident of California since 1903. He now has charge of stock in the plant of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, at Mountain View, that state. In the year 1900 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Linda Lawrence, of Battle Creek. Charles G., the second son, resides at Level Park and has charge of the extensive business in which he is there associated with his father, as the other interested principal in the Crystal Sand & Gravel Company, Inc. He likewise was afforded the advantages of Battle Creek College, and in December, 1909, he was united in marriage to Miss Mae Bather, of Detroit. Beu- lah H., the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sperry, was a student in Battle Creek College until the time of its removal to Berrien Springs, and was graduated in the local high school as a member of the class of 1908. In September, 1910, was solemnized her marriage to Howard G. Bayley, who has been a resident of Battle Creek since he was twelve years of age. He was born at Metamora, Lapeer county, Michigan, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Burns) Bayley. His father was a representative business man of Metamora, where he was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock at the time of his death, in 1896, and his widow now resides in Battle Creek.

HENRY J. SCHWARK. One of the most progressive and best known men of Newton township, Calhoun county, is Henry J. Schwark, a successful agriculturist and one keenly awake to all that makes for advancement, not only in his particular vocation but along all lines of industry. He is one of the leading promoters of the interurban rail- road that is to be built connecting the cities of Battle Creek and Cold- water, and in various other ways he has demonstrated that he belongs to that class of American farmers who are both advanced agriculturists and alert business men.

Mr. Schwark was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, on August 19, 1862 and was a lad of but eleven years when his parents, Henry and

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Mary (Mau) Schwark, emigrated from Germany and settled in Em- mett township, Calhoun county, Michigan. Until 1875 Henry Schwark worked by the year there; then he bought a farm in Newton, township, where he continues to reside, an aged and highly respected citizen. Both parents were born in Germany, the father's birth having occurred in 1829 and that of the mother in 1831, and both were devout members of the Lutheran church; the latter has passed to the life beyond.

Henry J. Schwark has spent the most of his life amid the scenes of his later youth, for he was reared in Newton township and pursued his education in the common schools there. When beginning life for himself he took up the vocation with which he had become familiar, that of farming, and has followed it continuously since. His capital with which to begin consisted of an industrious nature, a good fund of energy, and that tenacity of purpose which has been his strength in overcoming difficulties. He has grappled with fortune and won, for he is now the owner of 213 acres of good land and is well estab- lished as one of the prosperous men of his township.

In 1882, Mr. Schwark was united in marriage to Miss Llewella M. Love, a daughter of Almond D. Love, a native of Calhoun county, who for a time taught school and also farmed and later, became a merchant at Burlington, Michigan. Mrs. Schwark died in 1903. She was an active member of the Baptist church. The marriage of Mr. Schwark and his wife gave issue to five children, namely: Cora, who died when seventeen years of age; Jesse A., who is now associated with his father in the management of the home farm; Llewella, at home; and Mertie L. and Guyle, both of whom are attending school.

In politics, Mr. Schwark is a staunch Democrat, takes an active and leading part in the local affairs of his party, and attends all of the different conventions. That he is recognized by his fellow citizens as a man who believes in improvement is evidenced by the fact that he has served twelve years altogether as supervisor of Newton town- ship, and he has also served as town clerk six years. He was once his party's candidate for sheriff, but was defeated, owing to the predomi- nence of Republican voters within the county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. As stated at the beginning of the sketch, Mr. Schwark is one of the chief promoters of the inter- urban railroad that is to connect Battle Creek and Coldwater and is widely recognized as a citizen who is contributing to the prestige of Calhoun county and is pushing its progress.

CHARLES H. GILLIS. As executive head of the representative firm of C. H. Gillis & Sons, general contractors and builders, Mr. Gillis is an able and successful exponent of a line of enterprise that has most important bearing upon the civic and material development and prog- ress of any community, and is recognized as one of the leading repre- sentatives of the same in the city of Battle Creek. The mill and office of the firm are situated at 53 South McCamly street, and the facilities controlled are of the best order in all departments, a specialty being made of fine cabinet work and stair building.

Charles H. Gillis was born at Vermontville, Eaton county, Michi- gan, on the 12th of April, 1855, and is a son of Edwin and Eliza- . beth H. (Mead) Gillis, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter in Meadville, Pennsylvania, she having been a representative of the family in whose honor the town was named and one which was specially prominent in the activities of the Civil war. Edward Gillis was reared and educated in his native state and there learned the tinner's trade. He came to Michigan more than half a cen- tury ago, and he was comparatively a young man at the time of his

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death, which occurred in Battle Creek, in August, 1869. His wife sur- vived him by nearly a quarter of a century and passed the closing years of her life in Battle Creek, where she died in 1893, at the age of 53 years. Her remains were interred in Oak Hill cemetery, and beside them rest the mortal relics of her husband, the same having been re- moved from their original resting place, in the cemetery at Marshall, and reinterred beside those of the wife of his youth. Edwin and Elizabeth H. Gillis became the parents of five sons, one of whom died in infancy, and of the four surviving the subject of this review is the eldest; William H., who was born in Battle Creek, is now a resident of Garrett, Indiana; Edwin, who was born at Galesburg, Michigan, is a resident of Kalamazoo, this state; and Harry B., who was likewise born at Galesburg, now maintains his home at South Bend, Indiana.

Charles H. Gillis was a child at the time of the family removal to Galesburg, Kalamazoo county, where he gained his early education in the public schools. He was but fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death and as the family was left in straitened circumstances he began to depend upon his own resources when a mere boy. Thus it is that he contended with adverse circumstances, learned the value of practical industry and self-reliance, and became animated with that ambition which has enabled him to gain definite and worthy success through his own well directed endeavors. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, and he followed the same for virtually a quarter of a century, during the major part of which period he did independent work as a builder. He has passed the major part of his life in Battle Creek. He was married at Vicksburg and thereafter resided for two years at Galesburg. He then returned to Battle Creek, which has con- tinued to be his home since 1880. In 1907 he purchased his present mill property and since 1900 he has been engaged in general contracting and building, in which his sons became associated with him as partners. He has been the contractor in the erection of many excellent houses and other building in Battle Creek, including the fine edifice of the First Methodist Episcopal church and a substantial business block on State street. He now gives employment to a larger number of men than does any other contractor in the city, and a very considerable number of his employes are engaged in handling the work at the mill, which is equipped for the turning out of the highest grade of cabinet work and interior finishing, the plant being operated as a custom mill. A specialty is made of the installing of store fronts and other remodeling and also of the manufacturing of window screens, which has become an import- ant part of the business.

In politics Mr. Gillis is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, but he is essentially a business man and has had neither time nor inclination for the activities of practical politics, though his sense of civic duty caused him to make favorable response when he was tendered the nomination for representative of the second ward in the city board of aldermen, as a member of which body he is now serving his fourth year, his term expiring in April, 1912.

At Vicksburg, Kalamazoo county, on the 21st of August, 1878, Mr. Gillis was united in marriage to Miss Dora L. Russell, who was reared and educated at Galesburg, that county, and who is a daughter of L. W. and Susan M. (Sharpstein) Russell. Her father was a wagon maker by vocation and was a valiant soldier in a Michigan regiment in the Civil war; he passed the closing years of his life at Mancelona, Antrim county, and his widow now resides at Galesburg. Mr. and Mrs. Gillis have two sons. Floyd R. was born in Battle Creek, on

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the 20th of September, 1885, and was here reared and educated. He has been actively associated with his father in business, as a member of the firm of C. H. Gillis & Sons, since 1911, and is one of the alert and popular young business men of his native city. On the 2d of July, 1906, he wedded Miss Laura Gillett, of Battle Creek, and they have two children, Charles Henry and Martha Dora. Carl H., the younger son, was born in Battle Creek, and like his brother is a member of the firm of C. H. Gillis & Sons, though he now resides in the city of Chicago, where he holds a responsible position with the National Biscuit Com- pany. After availing himself of the advantages of the public schools he completed a course in the Michigan Business & Normal College, in Battle Creek, in which he was graduated. The attractive modern home of the subject of this review is located at 180 Upton avenue, and his elder son resides at 479 West Van Buren street.

ELBERT COREY. A remarkable percentage of the citizens of Calhoun county have sprung from families that were first established on the soil of the old Empire State, but responded during the early part of the last century to the invitation of the virgin and fertile soil of Southern Michigan to found new homes. Though there were to be endured the hardships incident to life in a new and undeveloped country, those of staying qualities found there the promised advantages of greater op- portunities and better home. Among the names connected with the early settlement of Calhoun county appears those of the Corey and Bar- ker families, both of which Elbert Corey represents as a descendant.

He was born in Athens township, Calhoun county, Michigan, July 27, 1859, one of eight children that came to his parents, William and Mary (Barker) Corey. The father was born in New York in 1820 and the mother's nativity occurred in the same state in 1823. Both accom- panied their respective parents to Calhoun county, Michigan, when but children, were reared in Athens township, and received their education in the district schools of their vicinity. William Corey took up farm- ing and followed it with success until his death on the old homestead in 1909. He was a Republican in his political views. When his father set- tled in Athens township the tract upon which he located was wild and unimproved and had to be cleared, thus William grew up familiar with the life of the pioneer farmer in Michigan. Both father and son pros- pered and became large owners of land. The maternal grandfather of our subject took up his land from the government and resided on it the remainder of his life. His brother, Martin Barker, served with distinc- tion in the War of 1812.

The educational advantages of Elbert Corey were limited to those of the district schools. When he assumed independent relations in life he did so as an employe on his father's farm and by working out by the month for others, continuing thus until his marriage March 18, 1885, when he became established where he now resides, the property being that which his wife inherited from her father. Mrs. Corey was formerly Miss Lola Hurd, a daughter of Luther Hurd, who was another of the very early settlers in Calhoun county and one of the most pros- perous farmers of Newton township. At the time Mr. and Mrs. Corey began life together their farm was not cleared. It is now all under cul- tivation, its well-tilled acres forming an appropriate settling for a beautiful country home, with other numerous buildings appurtenant to a well-equipped farm, all of which Mr. Corey has placed there. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Corey have two children, Mor- ris and Emma, both of whom are at home with their parents.

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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 83

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