History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 87

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 87

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Mr. Graves was educated in the country schools, and early became acquainted with hard work incidental to farm life. His father was an invalid from the time the son was nine years old, and much fell to the young shoulders that might otherwise have been spared him for years to

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come. However, he learned early the details of successful farming, and in 1907 Mr. Graves bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He owns forty acres of the old homestead. He carries on a general farming industry, and is known for one of the prosperous men of the community.

In 1896 Mr. Graves married Mrs. Mary (Luce) Bonnie, a daughter of Albert Luce, who was a prominent farmer and minister and a brother of ex-Governor Cyrus Luce. Mr. Luce was one of the successful and prominent men of Calhoun county, in which he was well known and highly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are the parents of one son, Harry, still attending school.

The family are members of the Congregational church of Le Roy, and Mr. and Mrs. Graves are members of the Grange. She is a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Maccabees. Mr. Graves is a Republican and displays an active and intelligent interest in the activities of the party, but is not politically ambitious, being content rather to operate his farm to the best of his ability and live quietly and contentedly on his home place.

FRANK G. STERLING. A prominent, enterprising and progressive agriculturist of Calhoun county, Frank G. Sterling has a fine home and farm in Penfield township, his estate in regard to its appointments and improvements comparing favorably with any in that locality, giving evi- dence to the passer-by of the wise management and thrift of the pro- prietor. He is one of the strong men of the community and enjoys the respect of every one with whom he is acquainted.

A son of the late George S. Sterling, he was born on the 27th of April, 1857, in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Sterling family originated in Scotland, and some of them went from Scotland into England and thence to America. Lord Sterling, who was the father of George S. Sterling, was descended from these early settlers from England. He was born, lived and died in New York state, and here his son George was born on the 15th of April, 1815. He was one of a family of twelve, and grew up in the state of his birth, where he received a fair education as educa. tion went in those days. He came to Michigan and located on a farm near Three Rivers, making the journey by the Erie canal and by wagon from Detroit. The canal had only recently been opened and was still a nine days' wonder, and the busy teeming life of this great thoroughfare opened the eyes of the young traveler to a new world. He went back to Lima, New York, after about five years spent in Michigan, and bought a farm near the town. It was while living here that his first wife died. Her maiden name was Martha Backus, and she was a native of West Bloomfield, New Jersey. There were three girls by this marriage. Mrs. Julia Roberts, married the late Rev. W. S. Roberts. She was born in . Three Rivers, Michigan, and is now living in Stamford, Connecticut. Mrs. Anna L. Scott, the wife of the late Sidney Scott of Battle Creek. Mrs. L. Arthur Beadle died in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1907.

Mr. Sterling came to Battle Creek in the spring of 1855 and went into partnership with D. B. Burnham, carrying on an extensive hardware business, under the name of Burnham and Sterling. Their place of business was located where the American Steam Pump Company is now. He also was engaged in the manufacture of plows and other agricultural implements. In July, 1856, he was married again to Miss Emily A. Carter of Battle Creek. She was a native of East Bloomfield, New York, and she and Mr. Sterling became the parents of six children, of whom five are living. Frank G. the oldest is a resident of Penfield town- ship. George C. was killed in Battle Creek during the summer of 1911,

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in a Michigan Central Railway accident. Mrs. John Powell and Agiles Sterling both live in Marshall, Michigan. Mrs. W. A. Wood lives in Decatur, Michigan, and Fred S. Sterling resides in Battle Creek. The firm of Burnham and Sterling continued for about ten years, and Mr. Sterling became known as one of the active and successful men of Battle Creek. Upon retiring from the mercantile business he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Penfield township and here he lived until 1880, when he sold this farm and bought another of the same area near Marshall, Michigan. Here he lived for a number of years, till he finally decided to retire from active life, and moved to Marshall, living here until his death on the 28th of December, 1893. His wife died on the 5th of July, 1904. Mr. Sterling's death was a great loss to the com- munity, but fortunately he left sons and daughters who were faithful to the high ideals of their parents, and who have brought honor to the name of Sterling.

Of these, Frank G. is the oldest son. Educated in Battle Creek, he worked for his father until he was twenty years old, when he spent a season in Kansas. Not pleased with his prospects in that state, he re- turned to Michigan, and re-entered his father's employ, traveling on the road as salesman for a short time. Turning towards the soil, he then invested his money in land, buying a farm east of Battle Creek, and there being successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Sterling bought two hundred acres of rich and fertile land in Pennfield township, and in its improvement has found both pleasure and profit, his estate being one of the most attractive in this section of the county. He is a sound Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for official honors.

Mr. Sterling married, on the 30th of May, 1883, Lottie A. Beadle, a daughter of Joseph G. Beadle, who came from New York to Michigan about 1852, and lived for many years in Kalamazoo county, although he is now a resident of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling are the parents of nine children, namely: Arthur G., a draftsman, who resides in De- troit; Kate E., a teacher in the rural schools of Calhoun county ; George R. is employed in a store in Battle Creek; Marjorie; Clara L .; Everett E .; Sidney ; Harold R .; and Theodore R. Five of these children are still attending school.

RAY C. STONE, M. D. Dr. Stone has been established in the prac- tice of his profession in Battle Creek since 1906 and is known as one of the able, ambitious and successful physicians and surgeons of Calhoun county, as well as a liberal and progressive citizen. He is an enthusiast in his exacting profession and keeps in close touch with the advances made in both medicine and surgery. The estimate placed upon him by his confreres in the profession is measureably indicated by the fact that he is at the present time (1912) secretary of the Calhoun County Medi- cal Society and Secretary of the surgical section of the Michigan State Medical Society .

Dr. Ray Clinton Stone was born in the city of Ionia, Michigan, the judicial center of the county of the same name, and the date of his nativity was September 9, 1879. He is a son of Charles W. and Mary (Merritt) Stone, the former of whom was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, and the latter at Ionia, Michigan. June 26, 1849, and a member of one of the old and honored pioneer families of that section of the state. She passed the closing period of her gentle and gracious life in Battle Creek, where she died on May 21, 1911. Charles W. Stone was engaged in the dry goods business at Ionia for more than thirty years and was a citizen who wielded much influence in the civic and business affairs

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of the city, where he served as alderman and as a member of the board of public works. He still maintains his home in Battle Creek and is a traveling representative in the middle west for the Kalamazoo Corset Company. Of the two sons and two daughters, three are living; the elder son, Glenn, having died at the age of 40. Ethel is the wife of L. R. Gault of Detroit, and Eleanor is the wife of Charles A. LeFever of La Porte, Indiana.

Dr. Stone gained his early education in the public schools of his native state and city, and after the removal of the family from Ionia to Battle Creek he attended the high school from which he retired about three months prior to the time of his class graduation. In 1901 he was matriculated in the Detroit College of Medicine, in which he completed the prescribed curriculum and was graduated as a member of the class of 1904. After receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he served as house physician for one year in the children's free hospital department of Harper Hospital, one of the fine institutions of Detroit, and for the ensuing year he was physician and surgeon for the Dolores Mines Com- pany, in Mexico. In November, 1906, he opened an office in Battle Creek, where he has since continued in active general practice and where he has built up a substantial and representative professional business. He holds membership in the Calhoun County Medical Society, of which he is secretary, as previously noted, and in addition to being actively identified with the Michigan State Medical Society, of whose surgical section he is secretary, he is also a member of the American Medical Association. In his home city he is a member of the Athelstan and Country Clubs, and both he and his wife attend the Independent Con- gregational church. His offices are located at No. 308 Ward building and his home is at No. 25 Adams street.

On the 4th of October, 1911, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Stone to Miss Jane Pryor, who was born and reared at Houghton, Michigan, and who is a daughter of James and Mary J. (Gale) Pryor, well known residents of that thriving little city of the copper district of the state. Mrs. Stone completed her education in the private school of Miss Knox, at Briarcliff, New York, and she is a most popular fac- tor in the social activities of her home city.

At the present writing, Dr. and Mrs. Stone are absent on a European tour, and will return to their home about January 1, 1913.

DALE M. DOBBINS. The Dobbins Hardware Company, at 36 East Main street, is one of the largest and most progressive establishments of the kind in Calhoun county. It was founded in 1907, and succeeded the old hardware house of Pittman & Coates. The business is incor- porated, and the officers are: Dale M. Dobbins, president and treasurer ; S. F. Dobbins, of Marshall, vice president; and George P. Barth, secre- tary.

Dale M. Dobbins represents a family that has long been prominent in the business affairs and citizenship of Calhoun county. He was born at Marshall on June 9, 1885, and is the son of Samuel Fremont and Maria (Mitchell) Dobbins. His mother died in 1908. Samuel F. Dob- bins, the father, is proprietor of the Marshall Furnace Company, one of the principal manufacturing industries at Marshall, and is also on the directorate of the First National Bank of Marshall. Dale M. is the oldest of the three sons in the family, his brothers being Charles W. and Samuel F., Jr., both at home in Marshall.

Though Mr. Dobbins has been successfully identified with business since he was twenty-two years old, he had previously prepared himself

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for a professional career. After his graduation from the Marshall high school in 1902, he entered Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio, and later the law department of the University of Michigan, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1907. However, he has never practiced, since in the same year as his graduation he established the present hardware business, and has devoted all his time and energies to the development of a large mercantile concern. The business was incorporated under the present title in March, 1908. Mr. Dobbins is also a stockholder in the Marshall Furnace Company.

His politics is Republican, and both in business and social circles he is one of the influential young men of this city. He is a member of the Athelstan Club, the Country Club and the Elks Lodge of Battle Creek, and is also affiliated with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias at Marshall, being a member of the St. Albans Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Knight Templar Commandery No. 17, and the K. P. Lodge No. 179. Mr. Dobbins has erected an attractive residence at the corner of Garri- son and Henry streets.

On June 15, 1912, Mr. Dobbins was united in marriage to Holly E., daughter of the late Edward L. and Helen (Bailey) Murphy of Mar- shall, Michigan. Mrs. Dobbins received her education in the schools of Marshall and finished at Battle Creek, graduating in music from the Battle Creek Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Dobbins' father was a prominent drygoods man of Marshall.

JAMES A. ENGLE. Calhoun county, Michigan, includes among its representative farmers and highly respected citizens, James A. Engle, R. F. D. No. 4, Tekonsha. Mr. Engle is a native of this township and was born January 25, 1859, son of James T. and Ellen J. (Watson) Engle.

James T. Engle was born in New York in 1823, son of John and Julia (Frayer) Engle, natives of New York. The grandparents were past middle life when they came west to Michigan, and here they spent the rest of their days and died in Tekonsha township. It was in 1845 that James T. Engle came to Michigan. He settled on an eighty-acre farm in Tekonsha township, which he cleared and improved and on which he spent the rest of his life. In 1876 he replaced his original farm house with one more commodious and attractive, and his last years were spent in comfort. His death occurred in 1882. His wife also is deceased. She was born in New York in 1831, daughter of George Watson, a veteran of the war of 1812, who lived in Michigan for a number of years, and died near Albion, at the age of eighty-eight years. James T. Engle and wife were the parents of five children, of whom James A. was the fourth born and is one of the four now living, namely : Charles, of Burlington, Michigan ; Frank W., of Tekonsha township; Fred G. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and James A.

James A. Engle was reared on his father's farm. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, and has alternated that with farming. He is now the owner of 130 acres of land, which he devotes to general farming, and on which he has made numerous improvements, including his own beautiful home, his house representing his own plans and handicraft.

Mr. Engle was married in 1885 and he and his wife are the parents of two children, Clayton L. and James T., the former employed in a grocery store at Albion, the latter in school. Mrs. Engle, formerly Miss Lena A. Phelps, is a daughter of John A. and Adelia (Blashfield) Phelps, both natives of Michigan. Her grandparents came to Michigan at an

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early day and settled in Clarendon township, Calhoun county, where they lived and died, both dying during the Civil war period.

Politically, Mr. Engle is a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Engle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM H. PALMITER. Numbered among the thrifty and success- ful agriculturists of Calhoun county is William H. Palmiter, who is likewise a fine representative of the self-made men of his community, having through his own efforts acquired a fair share of this world's goods, at the same time winning by his upright dealings the respect and good will of his fellow-associates. He was born, February 2, 1858, in Convis township, Calhoun county, Michigan, a son of Alonzo Palmiter. His paternal grandfather, Enos Palmiter, was born and reared in Ken- tucky. Becoming licensed as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, he was engaged in his pastoral labors in different places in New York, Ohio, and Michigan, spending his last days in the latter state, his death occurring about 1880, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years.

Born in New York state, Alonzo Palmiter spent a part of his early life in Ohio. Coming from there to Calhoun county, Michigan, he purchased land in Convis township, where for many years he success- fully carried on general farming. Retiring from active pursuits, he spent the later days of his long life with a daughter at Battle Creek, Michigan, passing away in October, 1905. He married Fannie Cooley, who died in January, 1905, but a few months before he did. Her father, Almon Cooley, came to Michigan when a young man, and having pur- chased a tract of wild land near Jackson improved a good farm, and there resided until his death.

One of a family of seven children, W. H. Palmiter acquired his early education in the district schools, and under his father's instructions became familiar with the different branches of agriculture. Choosing for his life work the independent occupation of his immediate ancestors, he began his active career by working as a farm hand for six years. Dili- gent, faithful and thrifty, he accumulated some money, which he wisely invested in forty acres of land in Calhoun county. Success attended him, and as his means increased Mr. Palmiter bought more land, now owning in addition to his first purchase the one hundred and sixty acres included in his home farm, which is advantageously located in the vicinity of Battle Creek. Mr. Palmiter is quite prominent in local affairs, especially in the Republican ranks, and is now serving as a mem- ber of the Board of Review. For fifteen years he was a member of the local board of school directors.

On March 25, 1884, Mr. Palmiter was united in marriage with Ada. L. Palmerton, who is of French lineage, the immigrant ancestor from which she is descended having been one Sylvanus Palmerton, who came from France to America in colonial days, and with the English fought in the French and Indian wars. Her father, John B. Palmerton, was born in New York state in 1824. With his parents he came to Michigan

in 1835, settling first in Albion, from there moving, in 1838, to Penn-

field township. He subsequently engaged in farming on his own ac- count, and in his operations met with much success, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation, his estate being one of the most desirable in the township. He lived to a good old age, passing away in July, 1908, having lived on the subject's farm for 70 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmiter are the parents of four children, namely : Clarence A., employed in the Rumley shops at Battle Creek; Floyd J., working for his father; Edith M .: and William L .. living at home with his parents. The children attend the Union Methodist Episcopal church.

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MYRON L. BRIGGS. The history of a nation is nothing more than a history of the individuals comprising it, and as they are characterized by loftier or lower ideals, actuated by the spirit of ambition or indif- ference, so it is with a state, county or town. Success along any line of endeavor would never be properly appreciated if it came with a single effort and unaccompanied by some hardships, for it is the knocks and bruises in life that make success taste so sweet. The failures accentuate the successes, thus making recollections of the former as dear as those of the latter for having been stepning-stones to achievement. The career of Myron L. Briggs, who has had every difficulty to contend with, having lost both of his legs in an accident, but accentuates the fact that success is bound to come to those who join brains with ambition and are willing to work. Mr. Briggs is the owner of a fine farm in Pennfield township and the same was accumulated by his own unaided endeavors.

Myron L. Briggs was born in Gratiot county, Michigan, December 12, 1867, and he is a son of Horace and Helen (Miles) Briggs, both of whom were born and reared in the state of New York. Horace Briggs went to Ohio and thence he came to Michigan, locating on a farm in the vicinity of Jackson, in 1843. He was the owner of a half section of land and farmed the same until his demise, in 1903, at the age of eighty years. He was a money-maker and a successful business man. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living in 1912 and of whom Myron L. was the fifth in order of birth. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this review, came to Michigan from New York and settled on a farm on the ground where the state capital of Michigan now stands.

To the district schools of his native place Mr. Briggs is indebted for his educational training. He has always been a farmer, with the excep- tion of two years when he was conductor and motorman on the street car line at Grand Rapids. It was during that time that he had both legs cut off in an accident. Mr. Briggs started in life with a capital of one dollar and inasmuch as he is now the owner of a fine farm of ninety acres of more arable land in Battle Creek township, his success is the more grat- ifying to contemplate. His land is well improved and he has a beautiful new home on it. He devotes his attention to general farming and, al- though so severely crippled, he works all the time, driving his mowers and turning his hand to almost any of the farm work. In politics Mr. Briggs gives a stanch allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor in all matters affecting the welfare of the nation but in local politics he maintains an independent attitude, voting for the best man. He has served as school director in his town- ship. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of the Macca- bees and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of broad mind and liberal views and, having had troubles of his own, he is deeply and sincerely sympathetic with all who find life a difficult prob- lem.

January 21, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Briggs to Miss Mary McArdil, a daughter of John McArdil, who was born in Ire- land, whence he came to America at the age of sixteen years. He was a peddler for some time after coming to this country but eventually settled on a farm in Calhoun county, Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his days. Mr. McArdil was well known throughout his section of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have no children.

RAY E. HART. Among the residents of Calhoun county who are es- pecially worthy of notice as having been active in the improvement and prosperity of the county and have built up admirable reputations in good citizenship should be numbered Ray E. Hart, now serving upon his third Vol. II-38

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term as county clerk. Not only has Mr. Hart proved a fine public of- ficial, with an eye single to the good of his constituents, but he also has been identified with the industrial life of the section. He has in addi- tion to the interests above noted a fine stock farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Indiana, which he has carried on most successfully.

By the circumstance of birth Mr. Hart belongs to the Hawkeye state, his eyes having first opened to the light of day in Marion county, Iowa, November 24, 1875. He is the son of Russell A. and Buena Vista (Morrison) Hart, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Illinois. The former engaged in farming in the Green Mountain state until about the age of twenty-six years and then entered the ministry of the Seventh Day Adventist church, in which he continued until 1884, when he was sent to Battle Creek as superintendent of The Review & Herald Publishing Association. In 1888 and 1889 he was sent to Norway by the General Conference of his church and for twelve months had charge of the publishing house at Copenhagen. He succeeded in putting that institution which was nearly bankrupt on its feet and then returned to America. He then engaged in the manufacturing of printers' supplies at Battle Creek and has ever since remained in this field, being now in that business, and also in contracting and building, his offices being located at 42 Lincoln street. There were three children in the family, Ray E. being the second in order of nativity. The two daughters, Min- nie O. and Lelah May are neither at home. The former is teaching school in an Adventist Academy at Akron, Ohio, and the latter, an artist of ability, has a china studio in Denver, Colorado. The three children are natives of Marion county, Iowa. Their histories have been further coincident in that all received their educations in the Battle Creek public schools and subsequently in the Seventh Day Adventist college here.

Ray E. Hart is one of Calhoun's leading young Republicans and his influence is of weight in party councils. His first office was under Gov- ernor Bliss. the chief executive appointing this dependable young man as state factory inspector, and so well and conscientiously did he fulfill the duties appertaining that he was re-appointed by Governor Warner. He resigned the afore-mentioned office upon his election to the office of county clerk of Calhoun county, his first election to the clerkship being in November, 1906, and his assumption of the office on January 1, 1907. He has had the most eloquent of comments made as to the opinion of the people in his services in his second re-election.

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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 87

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