History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 93

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 93

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Mr. Hicks was born in Calhoun county, Michigan April 29, 1839 to William and Nabby (Younglove) Hicks. His father was a native of Nova Scotia but when five years old came to the United States with his parents, who first settled in New York but removed from thence to Michigan in September, 1836. They settled on a farm, consisting of the west half of the southeast quarter of section 17, Pennfield township, Calhoun county, being among the first to come to that locality. Battle Creek had not then become of much importance as a trading point. Here he acquired extensive land holdings and became one of the most prominent farmers of the county. He died in 1878. He had served in the War of 1812, and in politics was a Republican. Nabby (Younglove) Hicks survived her husband until 1883. Of the nine children born to these parents, George C. is the only one now living (1912). William Hicks, the grandfather of our subject, was of English stock, who fought throughout the Revolution in the English army against his wishes, and after its close removed to Nova Scotia and from thence to New York, where the remainder of his life was spent as a farmer. John Young- love, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Hicks, was born in Vermont but spent the most of his life in New York and died there. He was a patriot under General Washington during the Revolution and served in the Continental army seven years.

George C. Hicks received his education in the district schools of the early day, attended the public schools of Battle Creek one term, and was also a student at Olivet College a short time. He began work on his father's farm and continued to be thus employed until twenty- two years of age, when he enlisted for three years, on August 22, 1861 in Company H, Second Missouri Cavalry. He was discharged for dis- ability. and subsequently re-enlisted. This regiment was known as "Mer- rill's Horse," the name being conferred by Mrs. General Fremont, and was in arduous and brilliant service for years. Mr. Hicks remained with his regiment three years, during which he participated in a num- ber of the most serious engagements, and was finally mustered out at Chattanooga, Tennessee in June, 1865. Returning to Michigan, he again took up farm life, working on the shares with his father. In 1883 he bought his present homestead and now has 160 acres of fine land. Mr.

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Hicks is extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of fine Guernsey cattle and also in stock of all kinds.

His marriage to Mary M., daughter of William Sabin, took place on November 22, 1865. Mr. Sabin was an early settler in Calhoun county, Michigan, but went to California in 1849 and became a miner and prospector, later going from thence to Peru, South America where he died. A son and a daughter have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hicks. Truman Victor Hicks, the eldest of the two children, attended high school and is also a graduate of a business college. In him his father has an able and enthusiastic assistant in the work of the farm, for he is fully imbued with the progressive spirit of the advanced agricul- turist of the day and achieves results by scientific methods and not by chance. He is one of the best known young farmers of Calhoun county. The daughter Jennie Alice married Guy C. Adams and now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Adams is a graduate of the Battle Creek high school and taught four years in the graded schools of that city prior to her marriage. Mr. Adams is southern manager for the Advance Threshing Machine Company, with headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee, and has been remarkably successful in that business position.

Mr. Hicks is a Republican in political views, and fraternally is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Royal Arch Masons.

EDMOND C. WEST. The demand for wholesome food supplies is constantly increasing, and recent national and state pure food laws have resulted in the placing upon the market of a class of goods of a vastly better quality than has ever before been given to the public. For these and other equally cogent reasons, the business of catering to this demand and giving out only first-class goods, is proving one of the most profitable and satisfactory in the various lines of commercial endeavor, and Cal- houn county has its own quota of responsible grocers. Among those who rank among the leaders in this class is Edmond C. West, senior member of the firm of E. C. West & Son, of 270 East Main street, Battle Creek, whose well-appointed establishment is the reflection of all that is latest and best in all staple, fancy and green groceries, tastefully displayed with due regard to sanitation. Combined with his excellent stock, is a fair method of dealing, as well as good service, and consequently his volume of business shows a healthy and rapid increase from year to year.

Edmond C. West was born in Milan, Ohio, February 20, 1853, and is a son of James Jesse and Mary (Rogers) West, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio, their marriage taking place at Milan. The father was a mason by trade, following that vocation during the greater part of his life, although in his latter years he also devoted some attention to farming in Bellwood, Nebraska, where his death oc- curred. His wife passed away in Quincy, Michigan, neither she nor her husband ever having lived in Battle Creek. There were eight chil- dren in their family, four sons and four daughters, of whom six lived to maturity, and two sons served in the Civil war, both enlisting from Coldwater, Michigan. Henry was killed in the battle of Resaca, being a member of the Nineteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry ; while James A., served in Loomis' Battery, and came safely through the war. Four children are now living, namely: Mrs. Harriet Fay, a resi- dent of Quincy, Michigan ; Mrs. Anna Rustine, also a resident of Quincy ; James A., residing in Bellwood, Nebraska; and Edmond C.

Edmond C. West was seven years of age when his parents took their children to the town of Quincy, Branch county, and there he secured a

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public school education. Following in the footsteps of his father, he learned the trade of mason, at which he worked for about fifteen years, in Quincy, Coldwater and Battle Creek, in which latter city he plastered the new hospital building that was subsequently burned. From Quincy he went to Constantine, Michigan, where he was engaged in the grocery business for three years, and then came to Battle Creek and embarked in a market business. However, after one year, he purchased a grocery stock, and in June, 1889, opened a grocery at No. 269 East Main street, which has since been moved away, the land belonging to the Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1905 he erected the block at Nos. 270, 272 and 274 East Main street, and at this time has his grocery located in No. 270, his residence being over the store. In addition to owning a large grocery establishment, with a complete line of all that is best to be found in this business, Mr. West owns various residence properties in Battle Creek, and is looked upon as one of his city's substantial business citizens. Politically, he is a Republican, but he has preferred to devote his time and attention to his business, and hence has not entered the political arena.

On December 8, 1874, Mr. West was married at Quincy, Michigan, to Miss Mary A. Hedge, daughter of Samuel K. Hedge, who is deceased, and they have one son, Julius H., born in Quincy, Michigan, December 29, 1876. He was educated in the schools of Quincy and Constantine, and subsequently took a course in the Michigan Business and Normal Col- lege, and since 1900 has been in partnership with his father, under the firm name of E. C. West & Son. He is a business man of much more than ordinary business ability, and through his efforts and enterprise the business has profited greatly. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks, and resides at No. 27. Newark avenue. Julius H. West was married in June, 1904, to Miss Minnie Cooley, of Battle Creek, who came to this city from Scotts, Michigan, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Cooley, when she was quite small. Mr. and Mrs. West have one daughter: Dorothy M., born June 16, 1909.

JAMES W. HARRINGTON. The agricultural interests of Fredonia township, Calhoun county, Michigan, have for half a century had worthy representation in James W. Harrington. Mr. Harrington's identity with this locality dates back further than this, to 1856, when he came to Michigan, a poor young man, from New York. Here he worked farms on shares, and afterward as salesman with headquarters at Albion. In this latter occupation he was associated with a business man he had known and worked with in New York.

Mr. Harrington was born in Savanah, Wayne county, New York, July 4, 1833, son of Nehemiah and Jane (Patterson) Harrington. The Harringtons are of English descent, and Nehemiah Harrington was a native of Massachusetts. The greater part of his life, however, was spent in New York state, where he was engaged in a lumbering business, furnishing spars and masts for ships. He died in 1900. Politically, he was a Democrat, prominent and influential in local affairs. His wife, Jane (Patterson) Harrington, died at the birth of their son, James W.

At the outbreak of Civil war, James W. Harrington tendered his ser- vice to the Union cause and joined Company M, as First Corporal, Sec- ond Michigan Cavalry, with which he went to the front and entered the fray, being under command of General Phil. Sheridan. He was in the army three years. Among the engagements in which he participated were those of Corinth, Shiloh and New Madrid. At the expiration of his term of service, he returned to Michigan, bought a bakery in Mar- shall which he conducted for ten years. He then bought a farm in Fre-

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donia township, Calhoun county, and here he has since lived and pros- pered. He has 240 acres of choice land, improved with good buildings, residence, barn, etc., all of which he erected; and here he carries on gen- eral farming.

Mr. Harrington was married in 1856 to Miss Matilda Bülars, and with the passing years sons and daughters to the number of twelve came to bless their home. The two eldest, Mrs. Jane Reil and Henry W. are resi- dents of Marshall, Michigan. The next two, James G. and Franklin E., are on the home farm; Robert R. is a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan; Lavina V. is the wife of Dr. MacMillan of Denver, Colorado; Susan R. is the wife of Charles Schultz, conductor on the Grand Trunk; Ulysses Grant lives in Marshall; Mansfield E. is a traveling salesman for a whole- sale drug house; Arabella E. is the wife of Elmer Bennett of Ohio; Queenie the eleventh child died in infancy, and Gertrude M. the youngest, is at home. Mrs. Harrington's father was an officer of the Royal House of Germany. She is a member of the German Reform church.

While Mr. Harrington has never been a participant in political affairs, he casts his franchise with the Republicans and keeps himself well posted on the doings of the day.

HOMER J. PAUL. A resident of Battle Creek for more than half a century, during which time he has contributed to the city's growth and development in various ways, Homer J. Paul is well known to the busi- ness men of this section, and is also honored and esteemed as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in what is now Wyoming county, New York, January 29, 1830, and is a son of Lemuel J. and Sarah (Sykes) Paul, natives of Vermont, the former descended from Scotch ancestry, while the latter was of German descent. They were married in Ver- mont, but spent the greater part of their lives in Wyoming county, New York, where both died. Lemuel J. Paul was a farmer by vocation and became prominent in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace of his community for more than twenty years. He and his wife had three daughters and four sons, of whom only two sons survive: Homer J., and Cyrus L., the latter residing at Arcade, Wyoming county, New York.

The early education of Homer J. Paul was somewhat limited being confined to the rather circumscribed course of the district schools of Wyoming county. He came to Michigan from Genesee county, New York, where he had lived for about six years, in 1853, and during the following year settled in Battle Creek. As a young man he had learned the trade of carpenter, but during early life spent a great deal of time as a manager in a woodworking machinery manufactory. During the last year of the Civil war he enlisted as a private in Company F, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, and after a service covering about fifteen months re- ceived his honorable discharge at Salt Lake City, from whence he came home on foot, driving four yoke of oxen, after spending a year on the plains. Mr. Paul has led an active and industrious life, and has accumu- lated a comfortable competency. He has interested himself to some extent in building operations, and has erected about ten modern homes in Battle Creek, including his own handsome and comfortable residence at No. 192 North avenue. In political matters Mr. Paul is independent, voting for the man he deems best fitted for the office, irrespective of party ties.

On December 16, 1853, Mr. Paul was married in Valparaiso, In- diana, to Miss Sarah E. Norton, who was born April 27, 1834, at Mount Pleasant, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Elijah E. and Sally (White) Norton, both her parents tracing their ancestry back to the

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Mayflower, and both having ancestors in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Paul was educated in her native place, where she resided until she was sixteen years of age, the family then removing to Genesee county, New York, where she met and married Mr. Paul. After a short residence in New York, Mr. and Mrs. Norton moved to Indiana for a short time, and in 1854 came to Battle Creek, Michigan, where Mr. Norton engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement. Both he and his wife passed away in this city.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, December 16, 1903. They have two sons: Clarence J., of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and H. Maurice, of Battle Creek. Clarence J. Paul received his education in the public and high schools and then turned his atten- tion to law, studying in the office of Brown & Thomas, and being admitted to the bar a few days after he had passed his twenty-first year. He prac- ticed in North Dakota for twelve years, but for the past sixteen years has carried on a law business in Minneapolis, and has met with well deserved success. He married Miss Alice Latta, a sister of Col. Frank Latta, of Battle Creek, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this volume, December 28, 1880, and they have two daughters: Florence and Leila. H. Maurice Paul also received a public and high school education and a law training, but is now successfully engaged in the manufacture of the Battle Creek Heat Controller, which has been installed in numer- ous residences and office buildings in this and other cities and is a decided innovation in the heating line. On August 1, 1906, he was married to Miss Bessie Doy, of Battle Creek, and they have one son, Homer D. Homer J. Paul and wife also had a daughter, Florence, who died in 1872, when fourteen years of age.

WILLARD H. WARNER is a retired grain merchant of Albion, Michigan, of which place he has been a resident since his boyhood, having come to Michigan with his parents from New York state in 1855. He has seen a considerable experience in farm life and in the grain business, the lat- ter occupation occupying his attention and energies for twenty years. Advancing age and a multiplicity of outside interests has caused him to withdraw from his connection with the grain trade, and he is now living a retired life.

Mr. Warner comes from a good old New England family, and was born in the town of Phelps, New York, in July, 1834. He is the son of William and Clara (Tower) Warner, both natives of New York. The mother was born near Syracuse, where she met and married her hus- band. In 1855 the Warner family moved from New York state to Michigan, locating in Albion, or more correctly speaking, in a section which is now included in the town site of that city. He there bought eighty acres of land and continued to devote himself to farming. He carried on diversified agriculture, and was successful and prosperous in his operations. He was known among his fellow townspeople as one of the intelligent, enterprising citizens of the town, and was ever held in high repute wherever his name was known. He died in 1873, his widow surviving him until 1886. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters. One son is deceased, Mary and Helen, the latter married G. M. Anderson, and she with Willard H., of this review, survive.

Willard H. Warner acquired his early education in the common schools of New York, and later attended a select school in his native town. After coming to Michigan he attended the public schools of Albion, then entering Albion College, where he pursued a course of study. He then devoted some little time to the home farm and was later em-

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ployed by James M. Jamieson, who was engaged in the grain business, and with whom he remained for a number of years, and in that connec- tion he became thoroughly conversant with every detail of the industry. In later years he engaged in the business on his own responsibility, and so thorough was his working knowledge of the business that from the first he enjoyed a pleasing success in his private venture. He bought and shipped large quantities of wheat and other grains, principally wheat, however, of which commodity he handled millions of bushels during his identification with the line. He continued to be thus occupied up to 1890, when he sold his interests to Frank K. Nowlin, who con- tinued where Mr. Warner left off. Advancing age, and the press of other matters, as intimated in a previous paragraph, compelled his with- drawal from a business which was at its height of prosperity, but Mr. Warner has been amply occupied in attending to his interests of a more private nature. He was at that time the owner of two valuable farms, but he has since disposed of one of them.

Mr. Warner has been twice married. His first marriage took place in 1862, and the wife, whose name was Mary E. Wade, became the mother of one child, is deceased, as is also the child. In June, 1898, he married his second wife, who was Miss Flora Foster, the daughter of Ira and Lydia (Hicks) Foster, formerly of New York, and for many years a resident of Calhoun county. Mrs. Warner was but three years old when brought to this section of the country by her parents. The Warners have a very comfortable and happy home, over which she presides.

Mr. Warner is a stanch Progressive. He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for president. He is very much in sympathy with the prin- ciples advocated by Colonel Roosevelt. He has given public service to his county in the capacity of deputy sheriff under Dr. D. R. Snyder, David Smiley and David Walkinshaw, and proved himself a capable and efficient officer. His long residence and extended business record has given him a wide acquaintance in Albion and the surrounding coun- try, and he is a man much respected for his splendid qualities of char- acter, and as such is held in high repute in his community.

WILLIAM R. CARY. Among the native sons of Calhoun county, Mich- igan, who have achieved success as agriculturists mention may worthily be given to William R. Cary, who has succeeded in spite of adverse circumstances during the earlier years of his life, and by his own toil, his honest endeavor, and right living has established for himself the reputation of a worthy and highly respected citizen.

Mr. Cary was born in Marshall township of this county, March 10, 1845, Levi Cary, his father, who was a native of New York, came to Michigan as early as 1832 and took up a farm from the government, cleared it, and resided on it for a number of years. Later he became a resident of Pontiac, Michigan, and died there. He was the son of Archi- bald Cary, also a native of New York, who spent his entire life in that state as a farmer. The mother of our subject was Miss Irene Wilcox be- fore her marriage, a native of Massachusetts and the daughter of parents that remained residents of the old Bay State until their deaths. She died in 1865 and was a member of the Christian church. While her children were still young the father left his family and then followed years of struggle on the part of the mother to provide for and rear her children. William R. Cary took up life's responsibilities at the age of thirteen and thereafter until his brothers had arrived at an age to assist him he labored for the support of his mother and her family. In 1864, a youth of nineteen years, he became a member of Company D, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, with which he remained at the front but a short time,

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however, as he was sick and in the hospital during the most of his service. He returned to Michigan after the war and worked by the month until 1875, when he purchased forty acres of land in Allegan county of this state. Previous to this, however, he had removed to Cal- houn county and had bought a tract of forty acres, a large portion of which he set out in fruit trees. This developed an orchard that was the source of large profits in subsequent years.

In 1874 he was united in marriage to Clara Fisher, a daughter of Christopher and Maria (Kane) Fisher. Mr. Fisher came to Michigan from his native state of New York in 1833 and settled first in Jackson county, but in 1837 transferred his abode to Calhoun county, where he became the owner of 86 acres of land and as years passed became well provided for financially. He died in 1896 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cary, who had cared for him in his declining years and are now the owners of his old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Cary have four children liv- ing, namely : Jessie, who married Harry Miller, a farmer in Fredonia township, Calhoun county ; Earnest, an employe in the American Steam Pump Factory at Battle Creek; Richard, who also is employed at Battle Creek; and Elmer E., associated with his father in the work of the home farm. Mrs. Cary is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In political affairs Mr. Cary gives his allegiance to the Republican party. His farm holdings now comprise 143 acres and all of his atten- tion is given to his agricultural interests. His education was obtained in the district schools as far as books were concerned, but the more valuable part he acquired in the school of hard knocks and experience. In his struggle for success he had only those resources within himself upon which to rely and what he has accomplished therefore represents his own energy and ability. He has earned and enjoys a high standing among the best citizenship of his community.

BENJAMIN W. PHILLIPS. Michigan received many accessions from the State of New York during the early and middle period of its settle- ment, its fertile soil having an alluring attraction to homeseekers and well repaying those of staying qualities and not afraid of hardships. In 1869 there became residents of Newton township, Calhoun county, Michigan, the family of Walter and Mary (Teague) Phillips, whose son is the subject of this review. The parents were natives of England, were married there, and five of their children were born before the family came to America. They located first in New York and there Benjamin W. Phillips was born on August 2, 1855. When the storm of Civil war broke over the country, Walter Phillips espoused the cause of the Union and entered the service as a member of a New York regi- ment, with which he participated in the battle of Gettysburg and in other of the hard fought engagements of that conflict. A son Thomas, now deceased, who entered the army at the age of eighteen, served until the close of hostilities and for a period was a prisoner in the infamous Libby prison. After receiving his honorable discharge the father returned to his family in Ontario county, New York, where he resumed farming and continued to reside until 1869, when he came to Calhoun county, Michi- gan, and bought a farm of 80 acres in Newton township. This con- tinued the family abode until he retired from farming and took up his residence in the city of Battle Creek. He was a successful man in his business relations and had well provided for his old age. In politics he was a Republican. His wife was a consistent member of the Pres- byterian church. Of the children born to Walter and Mary (Teague) Phillips, six are living and are as follows: Eliza, who married Arthur Bishop and resides in New York; Sarah, the wife of John McCombs, of

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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 93

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