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 9
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He is a son of John C. Hall and Wealthy A. Williams Hall, the former of whom was born in Dutchess county, New York, and the lat- ter in Pennsylvania. In 1886 these parents became residents of Cold- water, Michigan, where the father engaged in the livery business and was a well known business man there for a number of years. He was a Republican in politics and served as sheriff of Branch county several terms. Andrew Hall, the grandfather of Don F., removed from New York state to Coldwater, Michigan, where he followed his trade of wagon maker many years and where he died. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Emer Williams, a native of Pennsylvania who re- moved from his native state to Branch county, Michigan, and pur- chased a farm near Butler, on which he resided until his death.
In 1869, Mr. Hall wedded Nancy Jane, a daughter of Efevius Jones, who was born in New York but later in life became a pioneer in Ne- braska and died there. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have no children.
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CHARLES B. FURNER. Owning and occupying a beautiful home near Battle Creek, Charles B. Furner is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Calhoun county, which he has served in dif- ferent official capacities, his trustworthiness, discretion, and force of character especially fitting him for positions of responsibility. A son of Stephen Furner, he was born in Phelps, New York, October 9, 1848, of English lineage.
His paternal grandfather, Rev. Stephen Furner, was born, reared and married in England. Emigrating from there to New York, he became somewhat noted as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and continued a laborer in the Master's vineyard until his death.
Stephen Furner, a native of England, came with his parents to the United States when young, and thereafter was a resident of New York state, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. He was active in public affairs, and a stanch adherent of the Republican party. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Sherburn, and she spent her en- tire life in the Empire state.
Soon after leaving school Charles B. Furner offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company C, Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry. With his comrades he took part in various campaigns and engagements, including the Battle of the Wilderness, the skirmish at Laurel Hill, and the engagement at Spotsylvania, where on May 12, 1864, he was so severely wounded that he was forced to remain in the hospital for treatment until the following September. Rejoining the army, Mr. Furner was assigned to the One Hundred and Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he was associated until the close of the conflict, and the second Hatchus fight, meeting the enemy at Five Forks, and being present at the surrender of Lee in Appomattox.
In 1874 Mr. Furner came with his family to Calhoun county, Michi- gan, and until 1892 followed his trade of a barber in Battle Creek. A man of much intelligence, public-spirited and progressive, he became prominent in city and county affairs, serving as a member of the city council two years, and as deputy sheriff four years. In 1903 Mr. Furner was elected sheriff of Calhoun county, and for four years rendered effi- cient and appreciative service to his fellow citizens.
Mr. Furner married, in May, 1871, Elnora Southerland, a daughter of Sherman Southerland, who came from New York, his native state, to Calhoun county, Michigan, bought land, and on the farm which he improved spent his remaining days, passing away March 2, 1898. Three. children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Furner, namely : Frank A., truant officer for Calhoun county, has two children, Catherine E. and Margaret, deceased; Carrie, who died at the age of fourteen months ; and Mattie E., wife of George W. Hard, bookkeeper and general utility man in the Central National Bank of Battle Creek, who have one daughter Elnora A., aged six years.
Politically Mr. Furner is identified with the Republican ranks, and fraternally he is a member of Grand Army Lodge No. 131, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to Farragut Post No. 32, Grand Army of the Republic. His family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he is lending material assistance to the building of the new church edifice now being erected at Urbandale, this being the third structure of the kind which he has helped build.
WARD S. WEEKS. An industrious and prosperous carpenter of Cal- houn county, and an esteemed resident of Level Park, is largely identi- fied with the upbuilding of Battle Creek, where he does a large amount of work of importance. A son of the late William R. Weeks, he was
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born on a farm in Athens township, Calhoun county, Michigan, August 24, 1872. His paternal grandfather, Shiverick Weeks, a native of New York state, was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last years in Indiana.
William R. Weeks was born and reared in New York state, his birth occurring in Steuben county, in August, 1834. From 1838 until his death, in July, 1910, he was a resident of Michigan, during his na- tive career having been a successful tiller of the soil. He supported the principles of the Republican party at the polls as a usual thing, but he was a warm advocate of Prohibition, and the first man in the county to vote that ticket. He married Louisa M. Brimmer, a daughter of John W. Brimmer, who was born in Pennsylvania, came to Michigan when young, settling first on land in Calhoun county, but later remov- ing to Manistee county, where his death occurred.
Educated in the district school of Athens township, Ward S. Weeks had a practical drilling in agriculture while young, and was there en- gaged in farming for several years, at the same time developing his mechanical talents by working some at the carpenter's trade. Moving to Battle Creek in 1908, Mr. Weeks was for awhile employed in teaming. but in 1910 built a nice home in Level Park, where he and his family now reside. He now devotes his time to carpentry, and as a builder has built up a large and profitable business, much of his work being in Battle Creek. Inheriting the political views of his father, Mr. Weeks is a sound Republican, with a decided leaning toward prohibition.
Mr. Weeks married, in 1898, Mattie Smith, who was left an orphan in childhood, and was adopted by H. S. Smith, by whom she was brought up as tenderly as if she had been his own daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have two children, namely : Iris Louise, born in 1908; and Doris May, born in 1911.
CHARLES J. SHUMAKER, who has for a number of years past been conducting a mercantile business, for the past three years at Level Park, has been a resident of Michigan all his life. He was born in Barry county. August 22, 1874, and is the son of Charles J. and Crisanna (Tungate) Shumaker. The father, a native of Wood county, was born in 1846, while the mother, was born in New York state. Charles J. Shumaker, Sr., is a retired farmer and lives in Urbandale. He has 'been especially successful in his business, and is now passing the declin- ing years of his life in a quiet retirement. He is a veteran of the Civil war, and was a member of Company D, Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, and was three years in the service. He escaped without injury, but for a wound in the arm, received at the battle of Spottsylvania. Mr. Shu- maker is a Republican, and has always supported the principles and doctrines of the party. The maternal grandfather of Charles S. Shu- maker, Jr., was Benjamin Tungate, born in England, coming to Michi- gan in early life and settling on a farm, on which he passed his life.
As a boy, Charles Shumaker attended school at Johnstown, and when he had finished with the schools of that place went to Grand Rapids and took a thorough business course. He then worked on a farm for 'some little time, after which he entered upon the grocery business at Banfield, where he continued for eight years, with much success, and in 1909 he came to Level Park where he opened a general store, and in which he has done a nice business. He is the owner of his store property as well as his house, and the business he is here conducting is a most profitable and pleasing one.
Mr. Shumaker is a Republican in his political allegiance, but does not go in for politics to any extent. He is busily absorbed in the direct-
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ing of his own affairs, and beyond the duties required of any good citi- zen, he does not venture. He is known to be one of the solid and repre- sentative men of his community, possessing a stability of character and a reputation for fair dealing that is second to none in this vicinity. He has a brother and sister living, the brother, Chauncey, in Florida, and the sister, Daisy Edmunds, living in Banfield, where she operates a store.
In 1900 Mr. Shumaker married Miss Ida Bolyen, daughter of Dana Bolyen of New York state. The family came to Michigan when Mrs. Shumaker was a mere child, and settled on a farm in Barry county ; later they moved to Bedford, where Mr. Bolyen died in 1910. A daugh- ter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker, December 29, 1903, named Freda Marie.
WILLIAM H. MASON. Keen-sighted, energetic and progressive, Wil- liam H. Mason occupies a place of prominence and influence among the leading citizens of Battle Creek, and is actively identified with several of its more important industrial enterprises. Coming from sub- stantial New England stock, he was born, November 8, 1842, at Battle Creek, where his parents were early settlers, coming here when the now thriving city was a mere hamlet.
His father, Alfred Mason, was born and reared in Vermont, where he learned the trade of a carriage and wagon maker. As a young man he listened to the call of the West, migrating from New England to Michigan, locating first in Kalamazoo county, where he wooed and won a bride. In 1834 he established himself as a wagon maker in Verona, Michigan, and in 1840 transferred his residence and business to Battle Creek, Calhoun county. Upon the organization of the manu- facturing firm of Nichols & Shepard he sold out to them as did other wagon-shop owners of this part of the county. He continued a resi- dent of Battle Creek, however, until his death, November, 1880. He married, in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Charlotte Goodrich, who was born in Connecticut, of German ancestors, while his were English. She died in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1845, leaving four children, as follows: Mrs. M. M. Hodskin, of Saginaw, Michigan, widow of Cap- tain Hodskin; Margaret M. widow of Hiram Tobey, of Battle Creek ; William H., the special subject of this brief biographical review; and Charles, deceased. The daughters were born in Verona, Michigan, but both sons were natives of Battle Creek, and the oldest daughter was graduated from the Battle Creek High School.
Leaving school at the outbreak of the Civil war, William H. Mason enlisted, April 21, 1861, for a period of three months, in Company C, Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Ere his term of en- listment had expired, on May 10, 1861, he re-enlisted for three years in the same company, in which he served bravely as a private until mustered out, in May, 1864. The following four years he was variously employed, and in 1868 embarked in business on his own account as senior member of the newly organized firm of Mason & Rathburn, lumber manufacturers and dealers, with plant at the corner of Mc- Camley and West Main streets. The firm, by the admission of a partner, became Mason, Rathburn & Company, and remained as such until January, 1899, when the business was sold to the firm of Rath- burn & Kraft.
In 1881 Mr. Mason became identified with the Advance Thresher Company of Battle Creek, of which he was first a director, and later for three years serving as its president, and of which, since the presi- dency of Mr. Ammi W. Wright, he has been a director. Mr. Mason
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is also officially connected with various other enterprises of note, being a director of the American Steam Pump Company, of Battle Creek; of the Citizens Electric Company, and president of the Michigan Car- ton Company, of Battle Creek; a director of the Oconee Timber Com- pany, of South Carolina; and president of the Alma Oil Company, of San Francisco, California.
Politically Mr. Mason is a prominent member of the Republican party, and has represented both the second and the third wards in the Battle Creek City Council. He has served as a member of the local Board of Education, and under the administration of President Harrison was postmaster of the city. He is now an active and inter- ested member of the Commission which is revising a new charter for Battle Creek. Mr. Mason is a member of the Country Club, and of the Athelstan Club, of which he was president for a year. He like- wise belongs to Farragut Post, No. 32, Grand Army of the Republic.
On October 26, 1870, in Montgomery county, New York, Mr. Ma- son was united in marriage with Tryphena J. Kneeland, who was born and educated in that county, being a daughter of the late Ozias H. Kneeland, who, after the death of his wife, came to Michigan, and spent his last years at the home of his son, E. O. Kneeland, in Battle Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have one child, Cora Belle, who attended the Battle Creek High School, and afterwards attended Alma College, and a young ladies' school in London, Canada. She is now the wife of Harry H. Flint, of Chicago, Illinois. And they have one child. Barbara Mason Flint. In 1912 Mr. Mason was unanimously elected president of the Chamber of Commerce.
EUGENE A. BOWEN. A well-to-do agriculturist of Calhoun county, living quite near Battle Creek, E. A. Bowen is a fine representative of the self-made men of Michigan, his present prosperity being entirely due to his persevering industry, keen foresight, and wise management. He was born, May 26, 1843, in Erie county, New York, a son of John . Bowen, and is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side, the immigrant ancestor of the Bowen family having come from Scotland to this coun- try. His grandfather, Jonathan Bowen, a life-long farmer of New York, married Vashti Wheeler.
John Bowen spent his entire life in the Empire state, his birth oc- curring in 1822, and his death in 1888. He was of great enterprise, progressive for his time, being engaged not only in general farming, but being especially successful as an orchardist and fruit grower. He mar- ried Susan Lapham, whose father, Gideon Lapham, was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, and as a young man moved to Western New York, where he improved a good farm, on which he resided the remainder of his life.
Completing his early education in the academy at East Aurora, New York, E. A. Bowen became familiar with agricultural pursuits while working with his father, having remained beneath the parental roof-tree until attaining his majority. Coming to Michigan in 1865, he worked by the month for two years, and then began farming on shares. Accumulating some money while thus employed, he purchased the farm which he now occupies in 1870, erected a substantial house and outbuildings, and as a general farmer has been very fortunate in his operations, his farm of eighty acres being well tilled, and highly pro- ductive. Mr. Bowen raises some stock, and makes to some extent a specialty of dairying, an industry which he finds both pleasant and profitable. He is a Republican in politics, and has served on the town board, and for years has been a justice of the peace.
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In 1868 Mr. Bowen was united in marriage with Eliza Stringham, who was born and educated in Calhoun county. Her father, the late Elijah Stringham, came from New York state to Calhoun county in 1838, locating just north of Urbanville. The journey through the path- less woods from Detroit was made with an ox team, and the tract of land which he took up from the government was covered with a heavy growth of timber. He labored with untiring zeal in his efforts to clear the land, and on the farm which he redeemed from the forest he spent his remaining days, dying in 1901, at the age of seventy-five years, his' birth having occurred in 1826. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, namely: Susan, living with her parents; Carrie, wife of George Jones, a farmer in LeRoy township; May; Kate; Ethel; and Lynne, who runs the home farm.
DR. WILLIAM E. DOCKRY. In presenting to the readers of this volume the biography of Dr. William E. Dockry we are perpetuating the life record of one of the Boys of the Blue who in 1861, a youth of eighteen years, promptly responded to the Union's call for defense and continued a brave and loyal soldier in service until the end of the war. Forty of the fifty years that have passed since then have been spent by Dr. Dockry as a medical practitioner in Michigan, being now located at Urbandale, Calhoun county.
Born in Canada, June 6, 1842, he went with his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1849, and there spent his youth on a farm. In 1861, when the cloud of civil war hung threateningly over our land, he was a student in an academy preparing for college but there was no hesitancy as to where his duty lay. Enlisting on April 22, 1861, at Akron, Ohio, in Company G, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three months' service, he left the state with his regiment in June. Arriving at Park- ersburg, West Virginia on June 23, this regiment was made a part of Gen. Rosecrans' brigade and on June 25 moved by rail to Clarksburg, where it became a part of Gen. Mcclellan's "Provisional Army of West Virginia." On the 29th it left Clarksburg with the advance and made its first real march, reaching Buckhannon on July 2, and Roaring Creek, July 7, encamping in front of the fortified Confederate position at Rich Mountain. It distinguished itself in the fight at Rich Mountain by the cool and handsome manner in which it held its post against a flank attack. In August, 1861, Dr. Dockry returned to his Ohio home and in September following reenlisted in the service, this time in Com- pany I, Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With his regiment, which formed a part of the Army of the Potomac, he fought at the bat- tle of Winchester in 1862 and soon afterward was taken sick, his illness requiring him to remain in the hospital until 1863. As soon as able to do so he returned to the service and with his regiment participated in the battle of Lookout Mountain and in all the engagements of Sher- man's army in the Atlanta campaign, following him to the sea and up through the Carolinas to Goldsboro. Dr. Dockry was the first man of his regiment to enter Savannah, Georgia. He was mustered out on July 22, 1865. Returning to Ohio, he resumed his interrupted studies and completed a medical course at Western Reserve college, Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated February 18, 1867. He began the practice of his profession in Trumbull county, Ohio, but seven months later removed to Ashtabula county of that state and from thence to Perry, Lake county, Ohio, where he followed his profession until 1873. From there he came to Pentwater, Michigan, where he engaged in medical practice until 1885, when he removed to Big Rapids, Michi- gan, and was engaged in professional service there twenty years. In
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1905 he assumed business interests in St. Louis, Missouri, but continued to keep in close touch with his profession, and on October 20, 1911, took up his residence in Urbandale, Calhoun county, Michigan, where he once more resumed the practice of medicine. In each of his locations he built up a large practice and at Urbandale where he has but recently located he has already secured a very satisfactory clientele. He owns a comfort- able home there.
Dr. Dockry comes from Colonial ancestry on his mother's side and by paternal descent is of English lineage. Daniel Dockry, his father, was born in the North of Ireland, the son of an Englishman who had removed to the Emerald Isle but shortly returned to his native England and spent the remainder of his life there. Daniel Dockry came to Canada and there was married to Mary Landon. Her father Solomon Landon was a native of Canada but was the son of a Connecticut Tory whose loyalty to the mother country caused him to be driven from his colonial home into Canada. The parents of Dr. Dockry came to the United States in 1849 and settled in Trumbull county, Ohio, where the father followed farming until his death in 1897. He was a shoemaker by trade but did not follow that occupation after his removal to Ohio. Politically he was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Mary Landon Dockry died in 1852.
On March 24, 1867, Dr. Dockry wedded Orlyntha Amelia, a daughter of Richard Partridge. Mr. Partridge, who died in 1888, was a native of Ohio and was by occupation a carpenter and mechanic. He also served in the Civil war. Dr. and Mrs. Dockry have three children: Alta, who married Rev. Charles H. Palmatier, now a retired Methodist minister re- siding on a farm in Barry county, Michigan; Ella, who became the wife of William H. Verity and resides in St. Louis, Missouri; and William E. Milo, a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mrs. Dockry is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Dockry has been affiliated with the Masonic order since 1865. He is a member of Big Rapids lodge No. 171, Free and Accepted Masons, of Big Rapids chapter No. 52, Royal Arch Masons, and of the Knights Templar at Battle Creek. He served as master of his local blue lodge many years and has also served as high priest of his chapter. The days of 1861-65 are commemorated by his membership in Farragut Post G. A. R. at Battle Creek, Michigan. In politics he is an ardent Republican.
Though Dr. Dockry has been a resident of this county but a short period he is of that type of citizen that any community gladly welcomes and values, and it is with pleasure that the publishers of this volume pre- serve in this form a brief life record of a brave veteran of the Civil war and a citizen that has given Michigan the best years of a long and use- ful life.
ORIN J. WRIGHT. The old philosopher's statement that we are sure to get the better of fortune if we do but grapple with her is as true today as when it was first uttered nearly 2000 years ago and has been verified in the life story of every successful man from that time to the present. Among the young men of Calhoun county, Michigan, who with undaunted courage have entered boldly upon the conquest for success in life is Orin J. Wright, now well established in a general mercantile business at Urbandale. Indomitable energy and strength of character have been the foundation of his accomplishment.
A son of Amos and Josephine (Crawford) Wright, he was born June 28, 1882, in the state of Nebraska, whither his parents had removed from Michigan, their journey thence having been made overland in a wagon. The father was a native of Canada, while the mother was born in New
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York, a daughter of John Crawford who removed from his native state of New York to Oceana county, Michigan, and there became a very suc- cessful farmer. After fifteen years' residence in Nebraska the family returned to Michigan, where Amos Wright took up farming in Barry county. His death while his son Orin was still of tender years made the latter early dependent upon his own resources. The schooling of our subject was concluded in the fifth grade of the Battle Creek public schools, further study being precluded at that time by the necessity of his beginning life's struggle for himself and for the care of his mother. At first he worked as a farm hand; then later he took employment as a common laborer in Battle Creek. Following that, he worked six years in a wholesale grocery there and then served the same firm four years as a traveling salesman. In 1911 he entered into business independently when he purchased the general store of W. H. Bradley at Urbandale. He had gained a valuable training in the school of experience and was therefore well qualified to take charge of this business and make it a profitable venture. This he has done, for though he has been proprietor of the store but a short time he controls a splendid country trade and one that is growing. Mr. Wright is a young man and what he has already accomplished without other capital than his own energy and ability presages for him a still more successful future.
On June 26, 1907, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Glenneda, daughter of Adam Wolf, the latter of whom is an extensive and very successful farmer and one of the remaining early settlers of Barry county, Michigan. Mr. Wright is a Republican in political faith and fraternally is affiliated with Battle Creek Lodge No. 419 Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both are young people of pleasant ways and stand high in the estimation of all admitted to their acquaintance.
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