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 89
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Isaac C. Willis was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1864. He helped to bring the first locomotive ever run into Battle Creek. He also put up the first telegraph wire ever put into Detroit. In 1887 he purchased a farm in Pennfield township, this county, and so successful was he in his various financial ventures that he left a finely improved farm of four hundred and fifty acres at the time of his demise February 17, 1911. For a number of years he ran saw mills; he was independent in politics and he and his wife were members of the Quaker church. He married Margaret Traut in 1858 and to this union were born five children, all of whom are living, in 1912, namely,-Lydia, Maggie, Henry, Thomas and Edward F. Mrs. Willis survives her honored husband and makes her home with the subject of this sketch.
Edward F. Willis was reared to adult age on the old homestead farm and received his rudimentary educational training in the district schools of Calhoun county. In 1896 he went to British Columbia, where he remained six years, during which time he was engaged in the produce business. He was fairly successful in that line of enterprise and re- turned to Michigan in 1902, at which time he settled on the old home- stead, where he has since maintained his home. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and in dairy work, having a large herd of fine cattle. He is a successful farmer and is the owner of a finely improved estate of 119 acres. While he has never had aught of ambition for the honors or emoluments of public office of any description he is a stalwart Re- publican in all matters affecting the welfare of the nation. In local matters he maintains an independent attitude, giving his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment.
November 9, 1904, Mr. Willis was united in marriage to Miss Flor- ence Campbell, a daughter of William Campbell, a prominent farmer in Barry county, Michigan. William Campbell was a son of George Campbell, who served in the Civil war and who died of Yellow fever.
1208
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Mr. and Mrs. Willis have two children, namely,-Marie L., is attend- ing school in Pennfield township; and Harold E., remains at home. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are factors in connection with the social affairs of their home community.
HON. DELOS FALL, M. A., Sc. D., educator, lecturer and author, and now superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan, stands to- day as one of the most distinguished champions of the public-school system in America; and certain advance movements which he has in- augurated are regarded by many of the most progressive steps that have been taken along the line of public education in a quarter of a century. His professional connection, aside from his official service, is that of Professor of Chemistry in Albion College. As a writer and lecturer he has attained distinction in the literary and scientific world and he has been the promoter of legislation which has had a far reach- ing and beneficial effect upon the schools of Michigan.
His ancestry is one of long connection with America and her in- terests on both the paternal and maternal sides. His paternal great- grandfather came to America as a British soldier in the Revolutionary war, and after the close of hostilities, remained to make his home in the New World. His son, Daniel Fall, the grandfather of the subject, was born in Connecticut, March 1, 1780, and became a pioneer settler of Monroe county, New York. He married Hannah Treat, and in their frontier home Benjamin F. Fall, the father of Professor Fall, was born on March 12, 1810. He removed to Michigan, settling in Washtenaw county, near Ann Arbor, about 1836. Mr. Fall was a blacksmith and worked at his trade for many years. Later he took up his abode at Ann Arbor, where his death occurred in 1869, when he was fifty-nine years of age. He was leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of his locality and took a prominent part in its work, filling its various official positions and co-operating in all the branches of the church work. His home in the early days was always open for the re- ception of the pioneer ministers. He was also prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, its tenets concerning the brotherhood of man appealing to him most forcibly.
The mother of Professor Fall was born near Mendon, New York, January 12, 1813, a daughter of Henry and Dorothy (Sackett) Bas- sett. Her father was a son of Henry and Mary (Percy) Bassett, the latter a daughter of Sylvanus and Abagail (Durein) Percy, and a granddaughter of Lord Percy of England, who was a member of one of the most distinguished and forceful families, according to history, in England. Henry Bassett, grandfather of Professor Fall, bore a Chris- tian name which was also borne by his father and grandfather. The family was established in New England during an early epoch in the colonization of the new world, and the first Henry Bassett, the grand- father, and Dorothy Sackett, were married in 1797, their daughter Ann M., becoming the wife of Benjamin F. Fall. Her death occurred in Albion, Michigan, in 1899, when she was in her eighty-seventh year of life. She had three children who reached mature years. The eldest son, Charles S. Fall, was a soldier of the Civil war and received from Congress a gold medal in recognition of bravery displayed in action at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. He is now living in Los An- geles, California. Delos and DeWitt C. Fall are twins, and the latter is now a resident of Jackson, Michigan.
Professor Fall pursued his education in what is known as the "lower town" school at Ann Arbor, also attended a country school and sub- sequently continued his studies in the Ann Arbor high school. In 1870
1209
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
he matriculated in the University of Michigan and after studying there for a year engaged in teaching for one year in the high school of Ann Arbor, thus continuing a work which he had begun in connection with the district schools of the locality. Returning to the University he was graduated with the class of 1875, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon him.
Following his graduation Professor Fall went to Flint, Michigan, as principal of the high school there and remained thus engaged for three and a half years. He was then called to Albion College, in the fall of 1878, as Professor of Natural Sciences and filled that chair until 1888, when he was elected Professor of Chemistry in the same institution, and has since hield that chair. The growth of this department under his guidance was so great that in 1893 the McMillan Chemical labor- atory was built. It is one of the finest and most modern buildings for the purpose to be found in the state and is devoted entirely to chem- ical uses. It was erected by Senator James McMillan at a cost of forty thousand dollars, including the equipment. The laboratory has become well and favorably known throughout the country, and aside from analytical and compound work, is doing a large amount of work in Portland cement, marls, clays, peat, and also in the examination of flours and other food products. Here is carried on a large amount of water analysis, sanitary and quantitative. Professor Fall has thus not only become widely known as a leading educator, but also in analytical chemistry, in which he is regarded as an authority. He does a large amount of work in this line, not only in Michigan, but also in many other states throughout the Union. In recognition of his special work the degree of M. A. was conferred upon him in 1882 by the University and in 1898 he was honored by Albion College with the degree of Doc- tor of Science for twenty years of capable service. He is now the senior professor of the college.
Professor Fall's labors have been of the utmost practical benefit in the educational field. Education is the basis of industrial success. Without the hand disciplined to execute, and the mind trained to plan and direct, the industrial organization of the modern commonwealth could not exist. The state recognizes this, not only in its watchful care and endowment of its public schools but in the higher institutions of learning that have been established for both mental and manual culture. It is this consideration that has always entitled the founder of a great school or a disinguished educator to special honor, and in this connection Professor Fall well merits the position of prominence which he holds in the public regard and the honors which have been conferred upon him in the state and country. He has been very active and prominent in association work and was at one time president of the State Teachers' Association. For many years he has been a member of the National Educational Association, of which he is now vice-president In 1886 he was elected a Fellow of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science, the most important organiza- tion for the benefit of science in America. He is well known as a writer, has been a frequent contributor to educational journals and is the author of "Qualitative Chemical Analysis," which has been well received.
For twelve years Professor Fall was a member of the Michigan State Board of Health with which he was prominently identified as an active worker. He was largely instrumental in placing on the statute books the law relative to the teaching of methods concerning the spread and prevention of contagious disease in the public schools. It was also dur-
1210
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
ing this period that he was a member and active worker of the Amer- ican Public Health Association and the National Conference of the Boards of Health. About the same time he wrote and lectured to a considerable extent on sanitary science, and some of his writings have been copied into the sanitary journals of the old world. His labors in this direction have been effective in promoting health conditions in Michigan.
Along other lines Professor Fall has put forth earnest effort for community interests and the welfare of his city. He has been a member of the common councils of Albion and was a member of the Board of Health of Albion for twelve years. He has ever stood for improvement in educational lines and during his connection with the school board marked advance was made as the result of his efforts. In 1899 he was nominated State Superintendent of Public Instruction for Michigan,- an election that was extremely complimentary, for he received the greatest number of votes ever given a candidate for that office in Michi- gan, his majority being almost one hundred thousand. He entered upon the duties of the office on the first day of the twentieth century and was reelected in 1901, also by a very large majority. During his incumbency marked advancement has been made in connection with the work of the office, especially along the line of rural schools. The laws were perfected whereby the centralizing and consolidation of rural schools was made possible, thereby increasing their efficiency. At the suggestion of Professor Fall there was also a law passed by the Michi- gan Legislature for the establishment in each county of a County Nor- mal Training Class, in which the teachers of rural districts are given professionals instructions, and as a result of this they return to their schools prepared to do more effective, practical and valuable work than before. This is considered by many to be one of the most far-reaching ยท and beneficial results brought about during the last quarter century for the improvement of the rural schools. A large part of the duties of the State Superintendent are in connection with the state board of edu- cation, of which he is an ex-officio member and secretary. During his administration as superintendent of public instruction there have been notable additions made to the buildings and equipments of the three normal schools of Michigan, and the fourth school of this character has been established, known as the Western State Normal School, lo- cated at Kalamazoo. Judged by what he has accomplished in the line of educational advancement, Professor Fall well merits the honored position which he occupies in the public regard.
At Flint, Michigan, July 24, 1877, Professor Fall married Miss Ida Andrews, and five children have been born to them: Frank Andrews, Allen Percy, Mark, Florence and Donald Mac. Professor Fall is a member of Murat lodge, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served on its board of trustees, has been superintendent of the Sunday-school at different times and has taken a very active and helpful part in the work of the church. He was a lay delegate to the General Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, held at Los Angeles, California, in 1904. Pro- fessor Fall has ever borne himself with a dignity and honor which has gained to him the respect and esteem of all. His life work forms an important chapter in the history of educational progress in the state and he has wielded a wide influence along other lines of. advancement, particularly of moral growth and legislative accomplishment. His strong mentality, invincible courage and determined individuality have rendered him a natural leader of men and a director of public opinion.
1211
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
JOHN H. VAN ARMAN. Among the sterling citizens of Calhoun county who went forth in defense of the nation's integrity at the time of the Civil war is he to whom this sketch is dedicated. Mr. Van Arman has been a resident of Calhoun county since his childhood days, is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this favored section of the Wolverine state, and after long years of close and success- ful devotion to the great basic industry of agriculture he is now liv- ing virtually retired, in an attractive home in the city of Marshall, the judicial center of the county. He is held in high esteem in the com- munity and this fact shows that he has fully measured up to the effective guage of popular confidence and approbation.
Mr. Van Arman was born at Canada, on the 25th of July, 1838, and is a son of Luke and Sarah (Chisholm) Van Arman, the former of whom was born at Quebec, Canada, and the latter near Edinburg, Scotland. In 1844, when the subject of this review was a lad of about six years, the family came to Calhoun county, Michigan, and the father secured a tract of sixty acres of land in Lee township. Later he pur- chased additional land in the same township, and he finally became the owner of a valuable estate of two hundred acres. He reclaimed much of his land from the virgin forest, was a man of energy and indefati- gable, and with the passing of the years he achieved definite prosperity. Both he and his wife continued to reside on the old homestead until their death, and the names of both merit enduring place on the roster of the honored pioneers of the county. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Luke Van Arman gave his allegiance to the Democratic party.
John H. Van Arman was reared to manhood under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the pioneer farm, and thus early gained fel- lowship with strenuous toil and endeavor, the while he availed him- self of the advantages of the common schools of the locality and period. Mr. Van Arman continued to be associated in the work and manage- ment of the home farm until he had attained to his legal majority, and he then entered the employ of the firm of Buck & Hoyt, who were en- gaged in manufacture of grain cradles in the city of Battle Creek.
When the dark cloud of civil war cast its pall over the national horizon Mr. Van Arman, who was then a young man of twenty-three years, was among the first to tender his services in defense of the Union. In 1861, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, he enlisted as a private in Company E., Sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after this he was taken with typhoid fever and was ill almost a year. In 1865 he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Michigan Infantry, being mustered in March 15th. He joined the regiment May 23, 1865, but took part in no battles, doing guard duty at the State House, Nashville, for General Thomas. Mr. Van Arman has ever retained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and signified the same by his membership in C. Colegrove Post, No. 166, Grand Army of the Republic, in the city of Marshall.
After the close of the war Mr. Van Arman turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and he became the owner of a valuable farm property in Marengo township. His estate comprised 71 acres and upon the same he made the best of improvements, the while he was energetic and ambitious in carrying forward his various operations as an agriculturist and stock-grower, with the result that he eventually became one of the substantial and representative farmers of the county. In 1898 he removed from his farm to the city of Marshall, where he is living in the serene enjoyment of the rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. He has been liberal and public-spirited in his civic attitude and has contributed in generous measure to the development
,
1212
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
and upbuilding of the county that has been his home for many years and in which his circle of friends is limited only by that of his ac- quaintances. Mr. Van Arman accords allegiance to the Democrat party and has been a staunch supporter of its cause, though he has had no desire for public office. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
On the 2d of May, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Van Arman to Miss Laura A. Tabor, who was born at Erie county, New York, on the 15th of April, 1845, and who has proved a devoted com- panion and helpmeet. They have two children,-Frederick Bismark, who remains on the old homestead farm, and Earl Chisholm, who is in Fredonia township, Calhoun county, and resides upon a farm of his own.
WILLIAM MORGAN. Education and financial assistance are very im- portant factors in achieving success in the business world of today, where every faculty must be brought into play, but they are not the main elements. Persistency and determination figure much more prom- inently and a man possessed of these qualities is bound to win a fair amount of success. William Morgan, whose name forms the caption for this review, is strictly a self-made man and he has climbed to a high place on the ladder of achievement. He is a prominent and influential citizen of Bedford township, Calhoun county, Michigan, where he has re- sided thirty-eight years, and where he is the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and seventy acres, all of which is well improved.
A native of England, William Morgan was born November 5, 1826, and he is a son of William and Mary (Crook) Morgan, both of whom were born in County Kent, England, whence they immigrated to the United States in 1829, locating in New York. The father entered a tract of government land in Chautauqua county, New York, and there literally hewed himself a farm out of the virgin wilderness. Subse- quently he disposed of his farm and removed to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming and where he achieved a fair success. His father was likewise named William Morgan and he came to the United States from England, residing in New York until his death. The maternal grandfather Crook of the subject of this sketch was leader in the English navy band.
To the public schools of Chautauqua county, New York, William Morgan III, of this notice, is indebted for his somewhat limited educa- tional training. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Erie, Penn- sylvania, where he was in the milk business for the ensuing twenty-one years, at the expiration of which he came to Michigan, settling in Bed- ford township, Calhoun county. Here Mr. Morgan purchased a fine farm with his savings and with the passage of years he has gradually added to his original estate until he is the owner of a farm of three hundred and seventy acres, in 1912. He is engaged in diversified agriculture and in addition thereto devotes considerable attention to dairy work, having a herd of thirty-four cows. He likewise raises stock and cattle and has a beautiful country home. Inasmuch as his splendid success in life is entirely the outcome of his own well directed endeavors, Mr. Morgan's achievements are the more gratifying to contemplate. In his political convictions he is an uncompromising supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and in a fraternal way he is an honorary member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1862 Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Gordon, a daughter of James Gordon, a native of New York. Mrs. Morgan was called to the life eternal in 1897. She was a woman of most gracious
.
1213
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
personality and was beloved by all who came within the sphere of her influence. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan became the parents of two children,- Jessie, who married George H. York, a traveling man and they have one child, Mrs. Helen York and Benjamin G., who married Jennie Moore of Battle Creek and resides on the farm with his father, and they have three sons, William E., Ross H. and Paul M.
JOHN T. SMITH, who is most successfully engaged in the great basic industry of agriculture in Pennfield township, Calhoun county, Michigan, is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres located four and one-half miles distant from Bellevue. In addition to general farming he is a horticulturist and devotes considerable attention to the raising of bees, having as many as from one hundred to one hundred and twenty swarms all the time. His farm is in a fine state of cultivation and is improved with beautiful, substantial buildings.
A native of the fine old Buckeye state of the Union, John T. Smith was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 24, 1852. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (James) Smith, both of whom were born in England, the former in 1819 and the latter in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were reared and educated in England and there their marriage was solemnized No- vember 14, 1844. In the following year they immigrated to the United States, settling first in Huron county, Ohio, where they remained until 1855, and then coming to Calhoun county, Michigan. In 1858 Mr. Smith entered a tract of government land and literally hewed himself a farm out of the wilderness. He devoted the major portion of his active career to farming and was summoned to the life eternal, August 2, 1889. His wife also has passed away. They were the parents of four children, all of whom grew to adult years and two of whom are living, in 1912, namely : Edward J., who is a resident of Battle Creek, and John T., the immediate subject of this review. Both the maternal and paternal ancestors of the subject of this review were natives of England and none of them ever came to America.
John T. Smith was a child of but three years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Michigan and he was educated in the district schools of Pennfield township, Calhoun county. He worked on the home farm as a youth and eventually purchased that estate from his father. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of most arable land, on which he is engaged in diversified agriculture and the raising of peaches and bees. He keeps from one hundred to one hundred and twenty swarms of bees on hand all the time and has marketed as much as two tons of honey in one season. He is a prosperous and progressive citizen and is one of the most prominent and influential farmers in this county. In politics he is a Lincoln Republican and he served for six years as justice of the peace of Pennfield township. Mr. Smith is a valued and appreciative member of Bellevue Grange and though not formally connected with any religious organization he attends and gives his support to the Methodist Episcopal church at Battle Creek, of which his wife is a member. He is an interested collector of ancient curios and Indian antiques and old coin, and has a very large and valuable collection.
Mr. Smith has been twice married. In 1876 he wed Miss Clara O. Burleigh, a daughter of Orren W. Burleigh, who was a farmer and an early settler in Calhoun county. She died December 18, 1909, and is survived by two children,-Ermina E. is the wife of R. E. Murray, who is a traveling salesman for a Hardware concern at Danville, Illinois ; and Huber J. is engaged in farming on his father's farm. May 16, 1911, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mrs. Cordelia M. Archer, widow
1214
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
of the late W. J. Archer and daughter of Cassius Gibbs, who was a Civil war soldier and who died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, January 11, 1865; he was buried in the National cemetery at Nashville. W. J. Archer was a railroad man and was killed in a wreck at Battle Creek in 1907. Mrs. Smith is the mother of four children by her first marriage, Pearl, who was graduated in the medical department of the University of Michigan, and who is the wife of Frederick B. Kershner, president of the Christian University at Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Kershner is a writer of note. He was born in Maryland; was graduated in Princeton University and for years was a missionary in the Philippine Islands. The children of Mrs. Archer were Pearl Maude, Claude and George T., both raiload men, George being a conductor on Grank Trunk.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.