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 92
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The Battle Creek Journal bitterly opposed Mr. Bailey at the election and continued that policy through his two year administration. Mr. Bailey replied to their attacks in his message to. the council and forced the Journal to print his replies which were bitter attacks on them, un- der its contract to print the council proceedings. As a result of Mr. Bailey's attacks on the Journal, that paper, at one time, had libel suits against him aggregating $100,000, all of which they later gladly dis- missed because the mayor stated he intended to prove the truth of the statements.
The Bailey administration was a series of struggles, and scarcely a week passed without a clash of some kind, but the mayor always seemed to rout his adversaries. He dared not leave the city for fear a council meeting would be held without him, and was for this reason compelled to refuse invitations to banquets outside the city, and to refuse the in- vitation of the Wayne county Democrats to share the programme with ex-Gov. Folk and other notables at the big banquet held in Detroit at that time.
During the two years of the Bailey administration an overdraft and overdrawn accounts amounting to $65,000 inherited from the pre- vious administration were fully paid. The wages of all men and teams
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were raised. More sidewalks were built, more pavement put in, more sewers were built, more water pipe laid than in any previous two years in the city's history. The tax rate was not increased and at the end of the two years there was in the city treasury $87,000 cash, a larger sum than the combined total amount left by outgoing mayors during the pre- vious twenty years. This was truly a remarkable showing.
The citizens of Battle Creek knew that John William Bailey was mayor, and there is no doubt but that he could again secure the office should he so desire. His reputation has spread far beyond the confines of Battle Creek and undoubtedly would have been the choice of the Michigan Democracy for the governorship of Michigan in 1912 had he consented to the use of his name, but for business reasons Mr. Bailey steadfastly declines to become a candidate for that high office.
For years, Mr. Bailey resided in the family home on College street with his sisters. Should he so choose, he could have a more pretentious dwelling, but it has been his pleasure to live in the same quiet, unosten- tatious manner that characterized the lives of his revered parents. His offices at Suite No. 309 Ward Building, are the finest in the city.
Mr. Bailey is prominent in club life, having been third president of the Athelstan Club, an office he held five years, and during his admin- istration, the Athelstan and Nepenthe Clubs were consolidated into one organization, larger and stronger. He is also a member of the Country Club and the County and State Bar Associations, and is president of the University of Michigan Alumni Association of Calhoun county.
On July 14, 1910, Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Lillian May Cobb, daughter of M. W. Cobb and Eva May Cobb, a most estimable and popular young lady whose entire life had been spent in Battle Creek.
June 6, 1912, an eight pound boy was born to bless the union and to make the proud parents supremely happy. John William, Jr., is a strong, healthy boy and has his career already planned for him by his parents who hope he will follow the law, the profession of his father.
From every angle, John W. Bailey is an interesting figure, and his future career will be watched with intense interest by both his friends and his enemies.
GEORGE H. YORK. The active business career of Mr. York has been virtually one of constant and successful application in the position of a traveling commercial salesman, and after representing the great Chi- cago house of Marshall Field & Company in this capacity for nearly a decade he assumed a similar position with the extensive wholesale house of Bernstein & Myers, of New York city, which he now repre- sents in a territory comprising Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and a part of Minnesota, as a salesman of women's and children's cloaks and suits. Mr. York is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Bat- tle Creek, which has ben his home during the major part of his life, and he is a scion of honored pioneer families of Michigan, both his paternal and maternal grandparents having established their residence in Barry county, this state, in an early day and both having immigrated from Cayuga county, New York.
George Henry York was born in Johnstown township, Barry county, Michigan, on the 8th of October, 1860, and is a son of Stephen V. R. and Helen (Van Dweezer) York, both of whom were born in Cayuga county, New York, whence they accompanied their respective parents to Barry county, Michigan, when children, both having been reared and educated in that county, where their marriage was solemnized, and where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits, when he re-
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moved to the little village of Bedford Station, Calhoun county. There he was engaged in the hardware and agricultural-implement business until about ten years prior to his death, the closing period of his long and useful life having been passed in Battle Creek, where he died. His cherished and devoted wife died on the old homestead in Barry county, both having been consistent members of the Methodist church. Of the three children the eldest is Jennie, who is the wife of George N. Cham- pion, of Hartington, Nebraska, where he is now serving as clerk of Cedar county ; George H. York, of this review, was the second in or- der of birth; and William Ellsworth, the youngest, was a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, at the time of his death, which occurred when he was about thirty-four years of age.
George H. York was a lad of about two years at the time of the family removal to Calhoun county and here he gained his early educa- tion in the public schools, including the city schools of Battle Creek. He was employed for a time in clerical work in Battle Creek and in 1885, when about twenty-five years of age, he became a traveling sales- man for Marshall Field & Company, of Chicago, in the handling of women's cloaks and suits. He retained this position for eight years, during four of which he maintained his residence in Chicago, and his assigned territory during the greater part of the time included the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and a part of Minnesota. At the expiration of the period noted he assumed his present position with the New York house of Bernstein & Myers, for which he has built up a large trade in his territory. He is one of the best known and most pop- ular of the very appreciable contingent of commercial travelers main- taining residence in Battle Creek, and the family is one of prominence in the social activities of the city, the beautiful home, at 207 North avenue, being a center of most gracious hospitality.
In politics Mr. York pays staunch allegiance to the Republican party ; he and his wife are members of the Independent Congregational church in their home city ; and here he is a charter member of the lodge of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, besides which he holds mem- bership in the Athelstan Club and the United Commercial Travelers.
On the 22nd of March, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. York to Miss Jessie E. Morgan, daughter of William Morgan, an honored citizen of Calhoun county and one of whom specific mention is made on other pages of this volume. Mrs. York was born in Erie county, Penn- sylvania. and was a child at the time of the family removal to Calhoun county, Michigan, where she was reared and educated. She is a most popular factor in the social affairs of Battle Creek and is here actively identified with the Woman's League. Mr. and Mrs. York have one daughter, Helen M., who was born in Chicago, but reared in Battle Creek, where she availed herself of the advantages of the public schools, after which she continued her studies in St. Mary's College, at South Bend, Indiana. She was one of the most popular figures in the social activities of her home city up to the time of her marriage, and is a young woman of most charming personality. On the 23d of April, 1912, she was united in marriage to Whitney Payne, who holds a re- sponsible executive position with the Curtis Publishing Company, in the city of Chicago, where they now maintain their home. The wed- ding and incidental observations were among the most important social events of the season in Battle Creek, the marriage ceremony having been performed in the Independent Congregational church and thereafter a reception was tendered at the home of the bride's parents, fully two hundred guests having been present on the occasion. From an account of the wedding appearing in a local paper are taken the following state-
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ments : "The bride has a charming personality which has made her many friends, and a musician of talent, having devoted considerable time to vocal study in one of the leading conservatories of Chicago. She has spent nearly all her life thus far in Battle Creek and is one of the most charming members of the younger society circle. Mr. Payne is connected with the Curtis Publishing Company in Chicago and has a host of friends. His father, Will Payne, is editor-in-chief of the Chi- cago Saturday Evening Post."
GEORGE M. HOWARD owns and occupies one of the best improved farms in Tekonsha township, Calhoun county, Michigan. He put not only purchase money into this place, but also he invested his energies -laid his plans and worked them out. He first bought seventy acres, making a small payment to secure title, and being accorded credit for the balance. By careful management and continued effort he paid for this land and acquired more. To-day he is the owner of one hundred . acres of choice land, on which are substantial buildings, including one of the best country homes in Calhoun county, and all these buildings and improvements have been placed here by him.
Mr. Howard is a son of George Howard, of whom personal mention will be found on another page of this work. He was born on his father's farm, in the township in which he now lives, October 21, 1852, and re- ceived his education in a district school-Windfall school district No. 7. Under his father's training, he at an early age became familiar with every phase of farm work, and he remained on the home place, engaged in farming, until he was twenty-seven years of age.
About the time he reached his majority, in 1873, George M. Howard was united in marriage with Miss Emily Hamblin, daughter of Charles and Cynthia (Smith) Hamblin, of Eckford township, Calhoun county. The Hamblins were New York people who came to Michigan in 1859 and settled on a farm in Eckford township. Here Mr. Hamblin was prospered in his undertakings, and at his death left an estate worth in the neighborhood of $20,000. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have one child, Lydia, who was educated at Albion and has made a special study of music.
Mr. Howard has always affiliated with the Republican party, but aside from doing his duty at the polls has taken little interest in politics. On one occasion he was nominated for local office, but refused to accept the nomination. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
JAMES W. MURPHY. Thirty years ago James W. Murphy, then a young man, began business life in Battle Creek, Michigan, with $5 as his capital in money but with more valuable assets in the way of energy, an industrious disposition, a natural business acumen and a tenacity of purpose that has made him the final master of every adverse situation. Today he is one of the principals of the Amberg-Murphy Drug Com- pany Limited, which is one of the largest business establishments of the city of Battle Creek, occupying its own building of four stories, with a large warehouse on Madison street.
Mr. Murphy was born in Dansville, New York, on May 24, 1857, and when ten years old accompanied his parents to Michigan. In the coun- try schools of Barry county and at the village school at Prairieville, Michigan, he obtained his education, at the conclusion of which he began to clerk in a drug store at Prairieville and continued to do so for three or four years. It was then that he came to Battle Creek, where he again took up duties as a clerk in a drug store. Two years later, or in 1884, he purchased an interest in the drug store of Isaac Amberg and
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in the interim since then the partners together have built up the splen- did establishment and trade which they now control. Mr. Murphy gives his whole attention to this business and is master of its every detail. He stands to the fore among the keenest business men of this city.
He is the son of James M. and Mary P. (Haas) Murphy, both of whom were born in New York State, were married there and came to Michigan in 1867. James M. Murphy, who died in 1875, was a black- smith by trade and followed that occupation all of his life. He was a son of Patrick Murphy, who was born in the north of Ireland but emi- grated to America, and settled in Syracuse, New York, where he resided until his death. Mary P. Haas, the mother, was a daughter of W. M. Haas, a native and a life long resident of New York. She was a member of the Episcopal church.
In 1884 James W. Murphy wedded Miss Jessie Figg, who at the time of her marriage was a teacher in the graded schools of Battle Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have one son Jesse W. Murphy, who is now associated with his father in the drug business. Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Adventist church. The fraternal associations of Mr. Murphy are with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery at Battle Creek and of the consistory at De- troit, Michigan. He is a Democrat, as was also his father, but he takes only a voting interest in political affairs, his only entrance to the poli- tical arena having been when he once was a candidate for the office of city treasurer but was defeated on account of the large Republican majority at Battle Creek.
The thirty years that Mr. Murphy has been a resident of this city have been fruitful of a personal success, the earnest and close atten- tion which he has given to his business during these years having not only builded up his own interests but at the same time having con- tributed to the growth and prestige of Battle Creek as a business cen- ter, and has therefore earned the high standing he enjoys both as a business man and as a citizen.
JOHN J. FLYNN. Ideas backed with indefatigable energy,-the de- sire and power to accomplish big things-these qualities make of success not an accident but logical result. The man of initiative is he who com- bines with a capacity for hard work an indomitable will. Such a man recognizes no such thing as failure and his final success is on a parity with his well directed efforts. John J. Flynn, who is now farming on the old Henning estate in Emmett township, Calhoun county, Michigan, has recently purchased a farm of three hundred and eighty acres in Marengo township, to which he will move in the spring of this year, 1912. He is a hard worker and through thrift and energy has won the admirable success which he enjoys as a prosperous and progressive farmer.
November 30, 1861, in Livingston county, New York, occurred the birth of John James Flynn, who was brought to Michigan by his par- ents in 1868. He is a son of Peter and Ann (Gibbons) Flynn, both of whom were born in Ireland, the former in county Kings, and the latter in county Mayo. The father came to America at the age of sixteen years and settled in New York, where was solemnized his marriage, in 1861. He moved, with his family, to Michigan in 1868, and located in the township of Fredonia, Calhoun county, where he was identified with farming operations until 1896, since which time he has lived retired. He and his wife now reside at Marshall, Michigan. They became the parents of six children, as follows,-John J. is the immediate subject of this review ; Martin E. is engaged in the farming business at Emmett ; Vol. II -- 40
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Frances is farming; Charles is deceased; Mary Ann is the wife of G. R. Conley, of Marshall township; and Peter, Jr., is a resident of Marshall.
John James Flynn was six years of age at the time of his arrival in Michigan and here he has since resided. His early educational train- ing was obtained in the district schools of Calhoun county and sub- sequently he was a student for one term in Assumption College, in the province of Ontario, Canada. As a young man he learned the car- penter's trade and he was engaged in that line of work for a period of twelve years, residing during that time in Oregon, California, Wash- ington and Chicago, being in the latter place during the World's Colum- bian Exposition. In 1895 he returned to Michigan and settled on the old Henning estate in Emmett township, Calhoun county. Here he is engaged in general farming and the raising of high-grade stock and he has been wonderfully successful as a farmer. In the spring of 1912 he contemplates moving to his fine estate of three hundred and eighty acres in Marengo township, having but recently purchased this large and well cultivated farm. In politics he is a Democrat and in their religious faith he and his family are communicants of the Catholic church.
February 1, 1893, Mr. Flynn was united in marriage to Miss Anna Margaret Tynan, a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Mathews) Tynan, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in New York, of Irish parents. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are the parents of one son, Leo John born November 25, 1895, now a student in Assumption College, at Sandwich, Canada.
ALFRED C. BEHLING, well known as one of the most prominent and prosperous farmers and feeders of Albion township, has been engaged in his present business since 1909, and it is in this enterprise that he has achieved his greatest success in business life. General farming and stock raising and feeding occupy his fullest attention and his operations are conducted on a generous scale.
A native son of Germany, Mr. Behling was born in Schifelbein, on April 12, 1871, and he is the son af Daniel and Augusta (Oldenburg) Behling, and the father was a sheep shepherd in his native land until he came to the United States in 1882. He settled on Hannah street, in Albion, there making his home for some eight years, after which he dis- posed of his city property, and bought an eighty acre farm in Albion township. He began farming operations there and was so occupied until his death, October 9, 1909. His widow still survives him and makes her home on Center street, this city.
Alfred C. Behling received his initial education in the fatherland, and after coming to Albion attended the public and high school, and thereafter for three years attended the night school department of the Three Rivers Business College located at Three Rivers, Michigan. When he was seventeen years of age he set about learning the trade of harness maker under the direction of the firm of Rausau & Alsdroff, with whom he remained for a term of three years, and for twelve years thereafter followed his trade as a journeyman harness maker. He spent seven years in business in Concord, and then purchased his present farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres. This farm was owned then by Lafayette Sillamen and was known as the Sillamen place. It had been in the possession of its owner for forty years or more, and he had erected thereon a substantial dwelling, three good barns and other build- ings. Here Mr. Behling set himself at work as a general farmer, and how well he applied himself to his labors is evidenced by his splendid position today among the producers of the county. He is one of the
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principal feeders of lambs in the township, and makes that a leading part in his enterprise. He buys these young lambs in spring by the carload, feeds them on grass until the cold fall weather comes on, when they are shut up in yards and sheds and fattened for the eastern markets. The products of the farm in the grain line is never sold; but is fed upon the place.
June 14, 1899, Mr. Behling married Miss Emma Ponto, the daugh- ter of Gotlib Ponto, an old resident of Calhoun county. Three children have been born to them,-Ethel, Harold and Rachel. The family resi- dence is located on an elevated plane commanding a splendid view of the surroundings and is one of the fine places of the community. The lawn is ornamented with native oaks and they have named the place "Oaklawn.'
Mr. Behling is a staunch Republican, but has never been an office seeker, and has kept out of politics all his life. Although he began his career in a modest way, he has by continued energy and close applica- tion to duty, become the possessor of a valuable property and a thriv- ing business. He is a man of ideas, and is well read on topics of the day, while he enjoys the esteem and friendship of a large circle of friends in and about his home community.
CHARLES P. COLLIER. An enterprising and prominent agriculturist of Pennfield township is Charles P. Collier, the present clerk of that township and formerly its treasurer, who also is a native to the soil of Calhoun county and is a scion of one of its earliest pioneer families. Stephen Collier, the grandfather of Charles P., removed from his na- tive state of New York to Connecticut and from thence to Michigan in 1835, settling on a farm in Calhoun county, which, together with the whole state of Michigan, was at that time practically an unbroken wilder- ness. He was a wagon maker by trade and made some of the wheel- barrows that were used to haul out dirt when digging the mill race at Battle Creek. Later he took up his residence in the adjoining county of Barry but was always recognized as one of the pioneers of Calhoun county. Earl Collier, the father of our subject, was an infant but nine months old when his parents came to Michigan in 1835 and he therefore grew up familiar with all that was incident to pioneer life in this state. A portion of his life was spent in Barry county, but along in the '50s he returned to Calhoun county, where he became a successful farmer and where he spent the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in 1904. He was married to Lamyra Read, a daughter of Alonzo Read, the latter of whom was born in Vermont but early removed to New York, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer.
Charles P. Collier was born to Earl and Lamyra (Read) Collier in Calhoun county, Michigan on the 2d of April, 1862. Educated first in the country schools, he later attended the public schools of Battle Creek three and a half years. He began independent activity as an employe in a factory at Battle Creek and continued to be engaged in that manner five years. Since that time his whole attention has been given to farm- ing. He became an independent owner of property in 1896 when he bought a farm of sixty acres five miles northeast of Battle Creek. Here he'still resides and is successfully engaged in the general lines of agri- cultural industry and in stock-raising. He is a Republican in politics, is now clerk of Pennfield township. and has also served as township treasurer. Mr. Collier had but those resources within himself as his capital with which to begin life and he is therefore a self-made man, one who has grasped opportunity and has turned it into possession. Such men form the bone and sinew of any community and it is to such men
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that Calhoun county owes its increasing prosperity and importance as a great farming community, as well as a commercial center.
On May 28, 1891, Mr. Collier wedded Miss Minnie Poorman, whose father, Chauncey Poorman moved from his native state of New York to Calhoun county, Michigan in the '50s and still resides on a farm in Pennfield township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Collier: Ralph, Frederick and Florence (twins), and Bertha, all of whom are attending school.
GEORGE C. HICKS. But few citizens of Calhoun county, Michigan, if any, share the distinction of George C. Hicks as a native born son of this county who has remained a continuous resident of it seventy-three years, or nearly three-quarters of a century. The true mission of bio- graphy is to seize upon such points of character and career as may be presented for imitation, emulation and encouragement for the young and to preserve for future generations the record of those whose lives have been of usefulness to their community, contributing to its upbuild- ing and preservation. The career of George C. Hicks is a practical ex- emplar of a useful life. He bears further distinction as a veteran of the Civil war, as a son of a soldier of the War of 1812, and as a grandson of a patriot of the Revolution.
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