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 85
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cemeteries, is fitted with pneumatic tools and all modern machinery and appliances. In addition, Mr. Thom acts as agent for the Stewart Iron Works Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, manufacturers of iron reser- voir vases. His skill in lettering caused him to be chosen to do all the lettering on the new large Battle Creek Mausoleum, at Oak Hill ceme- tery, one of the largest pieces of work of this kind that has been done here.
In fraternal matters Mr. Thom is connected with St. Andrews So- ciety, the Woodmen of the World and a Scotch society of Barre, Ver- mont, the Clan Gordon Society. He and his family are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family home is located at No. 11 Pauline avenue, and Mr. Thom and his wife have many friends in their neighborhood, as he has in business and fraternal cir- cles of Battle Creek.
On August 27, 1907, Mr. Thom was married at Barre, Vermont, to Miss Ellen McMinn, of Barre, she being a native of Bessbrook, Ire- land, and accompanied her parents, John and Elizabeth McMinn, to the United States when she was a very small child. She was educated in the schools of Barre, Vermont, where she resided until after her marriage, and where her father was engaged in stone cutting for a number of years. Mrs. Thom's parents now make their home with their daughter and son-in-law, in Battle Creek, and Mr. McMinn still follows his trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Thom there have been born two children : Eleanor Jessie, who was born in Barre, Vermont; and Rus- sell Winston, born in Battle Creek.
HOWARD W. MILLER. A man of scholarly attainments and pro- nounced ability, Howard W. Miller is one of the best known men of his township, distinguished not only for the great good he has accom- plised as a preacher in the church of the Seventh Day Adventists, but for the success he has achieved as a farmer and stock raiser. A son of Hickman Miller, he was born, July 29, 1848, in Carroll county, Ohio.
His paternal grandfather, Charles Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, served in the War of 1812 as a brave and gallant soldier. He subse- quently migrated to Ohio, where he took up large tracts of Govern- ment land, and later bought other tracts, acquiring title to six hundred or more acres in that state, where he spent his last days, dying at the venerable age of eighty-two years. He was a Whig in politics, and well known not only in Carroll county, but in all of the near-by coun- ties, having beee prominent in public affairs, and for forty years serv- ing as justice of the peace. Mr. Miller's maternal grandfather, Steph- en West, a native of Pennsylvania, became an early settler, and a suc- cessful farmer, of Carroll county, Ohio, but later moved to Michigan, and died in Branch county.
Hickman Miler was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, but when quite young moved to Carroll county, Ohio, where he resided a number of years after his marriage to Elizabeth West; a native of that county. In March, 1862, he came with his family to Calhoun county, Michigan, bought land in Tekonsha township, and was there success- fully employed as a farmer until his death. He was a staunch sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party, but not an office seeker.
About fourteen years of age when he came with the family to Cal- houn county, Howard W. Miller attended the country schools for a time, subsequently receiving his collegiate education in Albion. En- tering then upon a professional career, he taught school, both in Cal- houn and Branch counties, several years, and for three years was asso-
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ciated with the college at Battle Creek, having charge of the dormitory, and of the Bible class. He likewise preached in the Adventist church, and still continues as a preacher, although at the present time he has no regular charge.
Mr. Miller owns two hundred acres of land in Newton township, and in its care and cultivation takes much pleasure, at the same time finding the rural occupation of a farmer quite remunerative. He not only tills the soil, but raises considerable stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses. True to the political faith in which he was reared, he is a staunch Republican, and has filled some of the township of- fices.
Mr. Miller married, September 27, 1873, Savina R. Jones. Her father, Alvy N. Jones, crossed the plains to California in 1851, and for a time after his arrival in the gold fields was prosperous, but it is supposed that he died ere he had been there long, as he was never heard from after the first few communications. He was born in Penn- sylvania in 1813, and his wife, was born in the same state, in 1810. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children, namely: Clayton C., living on the home farm; and Clyde H. Clayton C. Miller was graduated from the Ypsilanti Normal School, and subsequently taught school twelve years, being successful as an educator. Clyde H. Miller, graduated from the Battle Creek high school, later studied law, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are trustworthy members of the Seventh Day Adventist church.
FRED J. FUNK. A man of superior business ability and judgment, Fred J. Funk, of Newton township, has through his own efforts, at- tained a position of eminence among the foremost agriculturists of Cal- houn county, his finely improved estate, with its commodious and sub- stantial buildings, giving ample evidence to the passer-by of his skill and good taste as a practical farmer and rural householder. He was born, December 24, 1865, in Germany, a son of John H. and Dorothea (Paap) Funk.
Born and brought up in Germany, John H. Funk there spent his brief life, dying in 1879, ere reaching manhood's prime. He was a shepherd by occupation, and in humble circumstances, leaving his family with exceedingly limited means. In 1883 his widow brought her family to Calhoun county, Michigan, and here her death occurred three years later, in 1886, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Lampky. Fred J. Funk during those years had been her chief support.
For a short time after coming to Calhoun county, Fred J. Funk worked for Mr. Alonzo Root, in Newton township, attending school during the time, and working for his board. He entered the employ of John Hyde, a farmer and there became accustomed to the ways of the country, and learned the language, receiving thirteen dollars a month wages. In 1885, Mr. Funk married Lucy I. Root, a daughter of his second employer, Alonzo Root, who at that time deeded to him and his wife his eighty acre farm, Mr. Funk assuming all debts and incumbrances. In the management of the property Mr. Funk made good, paying off debts in a comparatively short time, and has added more land, his farm now containing one hundred and sixty-three acres of rich and fertile land, from which he reaps excellent harvests each season.
Mr. Alonzo Root was born and bred in Connecticut. Migrating to Michigan in 1837, he settled on a farm in Newton township, Calhoun county. becoming owner of eighty acres of land. While successful as an agriculturist, he accumulated but little property, being liberal. and
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free-hearted, donating generously to charitable institutions, and giving to his neighbors. Mr. Root was one of the best known and most popu- lar men in the county, being held in high esteem by young and old. He was a staunch Republican in politics, and filled the various town- ship offices most acceptably to all concerned. He was of Scotch and English ancestry, and belonged to a family of prominence, Elihu Root, Secretary of State, being a cousin of his. He died April 13, 1901. The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Root was Mary Phelps. She was a daughter of Rev. Asa Phelps, a noted pioneer Methodist Episcopal preacher, who came to Calhoun county at an early period of its settle- ment, and founded the first church of that denomination in Battle Creek. He died with a Bible in his hands.
Mr. and Mrs. Funk are the parents of six children, namely: Wil- liam R., a farmer; Barthold F .. at home; Mary Ethel, wife of Nelson Eddy; and Donald, Alonzo, and Ruby D., attending school.
Mr. Funk is a steadfast Republican in politics, and for twelve years served as treasurer of the township school funds. He is very active in the establishment of beneficial enterprises, and was largely responsible for having the township roads graveled, donating one and one-half miles of gravel for that purpose. He belongs to the local Grange, and · is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
DANIEL REASONER. Among the many prosperous and prominent agricultural men who have done so much for the development and up- building of the community in which they have located in Calhoun county, Daniel Reasoner of Le Roy, is eminently deserving of some mention, brief though it may of necessity be, and a history of Calhoun county could not do justice to the district without including his name, as well as the names of others of his township.
Born in the Empire state, on August 2, 1832, Daniel Reasoner is the son of James and Peggy (Jenkins) Reasoner. The father was a native of New York, born there in 1802, and he moved to Michigan in 1854, settling first in Calhoun county. Later he bought a farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres near Augusta, also in Calhoun county. The land was new and unbroken at the time, and much strenuous labor was re- quired to reduce it to a state of fertility, but Mr. Reasoner was entirely equal to the task. He moved later to Battle Creek and then to Climax, where he died in 1878. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the later years of his life, Mr. Reasoner was a Republican. They reared a family of eight children, who lived to reach years of usefulness and are filling places of responsibility in their various niches in life . The mother died in 1842.
Daniel Reasoner was educated in the common schools of New York and also attended the high school of Lima, New York. He has spent the greater part of his life on the farm and the splendid success he has won in his agricultural labors is the direct result of the close application he has ever given to matters pertaining to that line of industry. In 1864 he bought a farm of two hundred acres, and there he built the home which has sheltered the family during the years that have passed, and with the recurring seasons he managed to make of his wilderness farm one of the finest places in the county. Modern, well equipped, well kept and abundantly productive, the homestead of Daniel Reasoner is one of which he may well be proud. He is a thorough farmer, and his qualities of citizenship are not less worthy than his traits as a successful farmer. He is regarded as one of the valuable men of the county, and his influence is felt beyond the immediate sphere of his activity.
In October, 1859, Mr. Reasoner married Hannah Mills, a daughter
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of Amon Mills, who was one of the earliest settlers of Calhoun county, where he owned and improved a fine farm, on which he lived until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Reasoner became the parents of seven children. They are: Mabel, the wife of Samuel Marshall, who lives near Hast- ings, Michigan. Lewell is in Detroit. Carl is with his father on the farm. Jessie married Dr. Zelinsky, of Battle Creek. There are deceased three children, Olin, Luna and De Witt C.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Reasoner is a Prohibitionist in his political belief.
LEROY R. BLISS. Among the younger of Calhoun county's native sons who have become patrons of husbandry is Leroy R. Bliss, of Sheri- dan township, who owns one of the valuable farm properties of that community and whose efforts have been in the direction of general farm- ing and the raising of small fruits, especially berries. Mr. Bliss was born in Sheridan township, Calhoun county, Michigan, May 24, 1875, a son of William and Nancy (Strickland) Bliss. William Bliss was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1842 and died in Calhoun county, Michigan in 1901. He came to Michigan about 1870 and located at Al- bion, where he met and married Nancy Strickland. The first three years there he ran a milk wagon; then he bought the farm of 100 acres in Sheridan township which forms a part of the estate of his son Leroy and on which he thereafter resided until his death. He made a specialty of raising berries. Starting in life with nothing in the way of capital, by means of perseverance, industry and like virtues he accumulated a gratifying competence and died well-to-do. He was a member of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics was a Democrat. When the storm of Civil war burst over the country in 1861 he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth New York regiment of infantry, which was mustered into the service May 21, 1861, at Elmira, for a three months' term. It left the state on June 19 for Washington. When the advance of the army commenced in March, 1862, it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division, Department of the Rappahannock for a month, and it then became a part of the 2d brigade, 2d division, 3d corps, Army of Virginia. Under special orders from the war department the regi- ment was remustered on August 21, 1861, for the remainder of two years' service. The regiment was present at Cedar Mountain and par- ticipated in the campaign in Virginia under General Pope, and lost heavily in the second battle of Bull Run. Here Mr. Bliss was wounded. but on his recovery rejoined his regiment, which had then been assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and with it participated in the engagements at South Mountain and Antietam, being wounded for the second time at the latter battle. It met its heaviest loss at Fredericksburg. The regi- ment performed advance picket duty during the Chancellorsville move- ment during the spring of 1863, and on May 28, 1863, was mustered out at Utica, New York. Mrs. Bliss, who is still living and resides with her son, was born near Eaton Rapids, Michigan, in 1847, a daughter of John Strickland who became an early settler in Albion. He was a stone mason by trade and helped to erect the college building at Albion. Wil- liam Bliss was a son of Charles Bliss, a native and a life long resident of New York state.
Leroy R. Bliss was reared on the homestead in Sheridan township which he now owns. Educated first in the local district schools, he later graduated from the Albion high school and then took a course in the business department of the Albion College. After his father's death he bought out the other heirs in the estate, added to it. and now owns one of the valuable farms of this section, comprising 151 acres. He follows Vol. II-37
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general farming and like his father gives special attention to the raising of berries. He also feeds considerable stock.
Mr. Bliss was married in 1905 to Edith McLean, daughter of Arthur McLean, now of Chicago. To their union have been born two children, Willard and Josephine. Mr. Bliss is a Mason and affiliates with the Blue Lodge No. 14, and Chapter No. 32 at Albion, and also holds his council membership in that city. In politics he is a Democrat.
JESSE A. HURD. An able and worthy representative of the enterpris- ing and progressive agriculturists of Calhoun county, Jesse A. Hurd is a practical and skilful farmer, and an eminently trustworthy and valued member of his community. He was born, May 17, 1877, in Newton town- ship, Calhoun county, which was likewise the birthplace of his parents, Frank and Delia (Eyre) Hurd.
His grandfather, Luther Hurd, who married Emma Van Fleet, was born in Vermont, being descended from a family of prominence. Coming west in early life, he settled in Calhoun county, taking up government land in Newton township. He was a keen-sighted, energetic man, and as a farmer was very prosperous, ere his death, which occurred in 1897, becoming owner of hundreds of acres of valuable land.
Born in 1855, in Newton township, Frank Hurd succeeded to the oc- cupation of his ancestors, and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Newton township, until 1905, when he retired from active labor, and is now enjoying a life of ease and comfort. Delia Eyre, whom he married, was a daughter of John Eyre, who came from Eng- land to America as a young man settling in Calhoun county where he became highly successful as a tiller of the soil, at his death leaving to ·his heirs a fine estate.
Educated in the district schools, Jesse A. Hurd was trained to agri- cultural pursuits on his father's farm, and finding farming congenial to his tastes has continued in that occupation all of his life. In 1900 he bought the farm on which he is now living, and in its improvement has since devoted his time and energies. He has built a new house, and erected the necessary outbuildings, everything about the premises being suggestive of the thrift and good management of the proprietor of the handsome property.
Mr. Hurd is a Republican in politics, supporting the principles of his party by voice and vote. In 1901 he was elected township clerk, and served for five consecutive years. He was subsequently again elected to the same position, and is now filling the office most acceptably. Fra- ternally he is a member of Burlington Lodge, No. 333, Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
Mr. Hurd married, in 1902, Angie Spooner, a daughter of John Spooner, a prosperous farmer of Newton township. Mr. Spooner served four years in the Civil war, and though he took part in numerous en- gagements was neither wounded nor captured. He is a man of sterling integrity, and a very worthy and devout member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
HOSEA B. G. CARTER is one of the oldest citizens of Clarence town- ship, Calhoun county in points of both residence and age and is a son of one of Eaton county's pioneer settlers. In 1844, when but a little child he came to Michigan with his parents and there is probably no one more familiar with the development of this section of the state dur- ing the intervening interim of sixty or more years than is Mr. Carter, there being few remaining that know by experience of the order of life that obtained here in that early day.
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Timothy Carter and Charlotte Wilson, the former born in 1804 and the latter in 1809, were wedded in their native state of Massachusetts and became early settlers in Ohio, in Knox county of which state Hosea B. G. Carter, the sixth of their eleven children, was born on November 3, 1839. Along in 1844 the parents removed to Michigan and settled in Eaton county, which was then almost an unbroken wilderness, in fact so dense and large was the forest in which they located that the father had to mark a trail to reach and leave his home. He bought 160 acres, cleared it, and resided on it until a short time before his death, which occurred near Eaton Rapids. He was a wagon maker by trade and for years followed that occupation in connection with general farming, being quite successful in both lines . First a Whig and later a Republican in politics, he was a very enthusiastic adherent of the latter party and gave it staunch allegiance during the remainder of his years. He was a son of John Carter, who was born, reared and lived his life out in Massa- chusetts . Besides our subject there is but one other of the family now living, that being Silas N. Carter, a farmer resident of Eaton county.
Hosea B. G. Carter was reared on the Eaton county farm and re- ceived his education in the district schools of its vicinity. Responsible farm life began for him at the early age of ten and the whole of his career has since been spent as an agriculturist. His first purchase of land was an eighty acre tract, to which he has added until he now holds 160 acres. His efforts have been in the direction of general farming and he also gives much attention to the raising of stock, especially of Shropshire sheep and Short Horn cattle. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of Springport lodge of Free and Ac- cepted Masons.
In 1870 Mr. Carter was joined in marriage to Narcinna J. Starks, daughter of Thomas Starks, who was a well known citizen of Clarence township. Mr. Starks in an early day came to this county from New York, of which state he was a native, and settled on a homestead in Clarence township where he followed the cooper's trade in connection with farming. Mr .. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of six children, but four of whom are now living. In order of birth they are as follows: D. Carter, deceased; Reba, who married Charles Devenport and resides in Clarence township; Bert, who remains at the parental home; Benja- min, deceased ; Rhea, now Mrs. Frederick Leightner, of Jackson county ; and Adrain, also at home.
WILLIAM H. LEONARD, retired farmer and capitalist of Clarence, Calhoun county, Michigan, has been a resident of the state since 1863 or 1864, in which year he came to Grand Haven from New York state, and then to Albion. He was born at Rochester, on November 5, 1840, and is the son of Asa and Mary (Latimer) Leonard, the father being born in Rochester, in 1821 and the mother in Batavia, New York, in 1824. Daniel Latimer, the father of Mrs. Leonard, was the first post- master in San Francisco, and he, together with John Kenion, estab- lished the town of Batavia, being its first settlers. When gold was first discovered in California, Mr. Latimer went to that state, and in later years made his home in San Francisco, where he died. Asa and Mary (Latimer) Leonard were married in New York in 1842. and they be- came the parents of ten children, of which number William H. of this review was the third born. Four of the ten are now living. As men- tioned previously, the family came to Michigan in the 80's, locating first in Detroit. Mr. Leonard was engaged in the jewelry business in Spenceport, New York, and later conducted a boot and shoe store in Fairport. that state, and also operated as a grain buyer. After locat-
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ing in Detroit he made his home with his daughter, Alma, the wife of Thomas Nadill, and here he lived until his death in 1907. His widow survived him until 1910. He was a Republican and a member of the Freewill Baptist church.
The early education of William H. Leonard was of a meagre order. He attended school in Brockport, New York, for a time, and his mother taught him at home, the knowledge thus imparted representing the greater part of his book-learning. He was twenty-three years old when he came to Michigan and he made his first location at Grand Haven where he worked for an uncle as a lumber inspector. Two years later he came to Albion and went into the bakery business, remaining thus occupied for about three years, then returning to Rochester, New York, where he took up farming, the work in which he had been occupied in his early days before coming to Michigan. There he operated one of his father's large farms for a few years and in 1870 returned to Albion, Michigan, where he was engaged in conducting an estate for Dr. Stephen Monroe. He eventually purchased a portion of the estate, his purchase amounting to 429 acres in Clarence township, located on Duck Lake. He there began the operating of a saw mill, and cleared away all the timber for miles in his vicinity. The timber stripped from the lands, he sold all but two hundred and fifty acres, which is now one of the finest farms in that locality. To him belongs the credit for building the greater part of the village of Duck Lake, and he operates in the village two stores. He controls boating privileges on the lakes.
Mr. Leonard was postmaster of Duck Lake for fifteen years, and served three terms as treasurer of Clarence township. He is a Repub- lican and has always taken an active interest in the politics of the county.
In 1860, Mr. Leonard was married to Miss Betty M. Monroe, tne daughter of Leonard Monroe, of Parma, Monroe county, New York. One daughter has been born to them; Amalla, who married Arthur Starks of Clarence, the business manager for Mr. Leonard.
DR. GEORGE CLINTON HAFFORD has with the passing years become well and favorably known in and about Albion as a physician of ex- ceptional ability, and the liberal patronage accorded to him is a speak- ing testimony as to the trust reposed in him in his professional capac- ity. His experience has been a varied one thus far, and his identifica- tion with this city has continued since May, 1897, when he succeeded to the practice of Dr. Thomason.
Born in Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson county, New York, on July 10, 1862, George Clinton Hafford, M. D., is the son of Jacob T. and Lydia (Matteson) Hafford. The family is one of English lineage, the first of the name in America coming from that "Right little, tight little Island" on the good ship "Planter" in 1635, although at a more re- mote period in the history of the house of Hafford it was known as De Heyford and the ancestors were residents of Wales. Thus the family became established in Massachusetts in the early part of the seven- teenth century, and representatives of the name have taken their full share in the responsibilities of the nation from those days of colonial dependence down through the many changes that have been wrought in those same little dependent colonies to their present status as one of the great world powers. Jacob T. Hafford was the son of Jacob Hafford, also a native of the Empire state. During the time of the gold excitement in California, Jacob Hafford, the father of the sub- ject. visited the Pacific Coast, but never entered deeply into the life of the mining speculator of that period. He married Miss Lydia Mat-
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