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 95
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
-
.
1248
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
the last named being deceased. All the brothers are engaged in agri- culture with the exception of L. P.
As a youth on the home farm, L. P. Sebastian attended the dis- trict school conducted in what was known as the little Davis school house. The winter months he was privileged to spend in study if he would, but the summer seasons were passed in work upon the farm, as was the custom of the day. He left the farm while yet in his teens, determined to learn the monument business, and secured employment with Ira D. Reed, with whom he remained for three years, and it was in this connection that he learned the business in all its minutiae. In 1891 he felt himself sufficiently conversant with the various details of the business as to permit of venturing out on his own responsibility, and thus was formed the early partnership between himself and Mr. Barry. As stated above, the firm continued as organized for five years, and in 1896 Mr. Sebastian took over his partner's interest, reorgan- izing the firm, and conducting the business alone until in recent years when he took his son into partnership with him, the firm being known since then as L. P. Sebastian & Son.
Both Mr. Sebastian and his son are skilled mechanics, and under- stand the monument business in its every detail. Their plant is one of the most complete to be found in the country and is equipped in the most modern and thorough fashion with the latest mechanism for the production of perfect work. The plant is located near the Michigan & Lake Shore Southern railroad tracks, which affords them the best of shipping facilities. They not only have a large local trade, but their business extends out into many of the adjoining counties, where they have placed many handsome and costly monuments. The granite used in their business is procured from the best known quarries in the United States, while their finest marble is imported from Europe.
In 1878 Mr. Sebastian married Miss Sarah Ellen Keck, of Calhoun county, a daughter of Michael Keck, a native of Germany and an early settler of Calhoun county. One son, Edward H., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian. His birth occurred March 22, 1880. On March 22, 1904 he was married to Chloe E., a daughter of Lloyd and Eulalia Conklin of Manchester, Michigan and they have a son, Glenn and a daughter, Stella E.
Mr. Sebastian is a member of the Monumental Dealers' Association of Michigan, and he and his wife are members of the First Baptist church of Albion, of which he has been a deacon for a number of years. The family home is maintained at 1005 North Eaton street.
OTIS A. LEONARD, secretary of the Homestead Loan and Building Association, since 1893, secretary of the National Spring & Wire Com- pany since 1904, and further identified with the fire insurance business in Albion, is one of the enterprising and progressive men of his com- munity. He is a native son of Michigan, born in Linden, Genesee county, Michigan, June 17, 1868, and is the son of Allen and Lovina (Hyatt) Leonard. The father was a native of New York state and one of the early settlers of Michigan, the mother also being a New Yorker by birth.
Allen Leonard was one of the prosperous farmers in Genesee county, and was the owner of a well tilled farm, graced by a fine dwell- ing, with adequate barns, sheds and out buildings of every variety nec- essary to the conduct of a modern farm. He continued to be engaged in diversified farming until his death in 1880. His wife yet survives him and makes her home in Albion.
Otis A. Leonard acquired his early education in the public and
1249
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
high school in Genesee county. He then entered Albion College, where he pursued his studies until his graduation in 1891, after which he located in Albion and engaged in the insurance business. He gave close and careful attention to his new enterprise and succeeded in building up a good business as a result of his energy and his fine busi- ness ability. He is now recognized as the leading insurance man of the city. In addition to his efforts in that direction, Mr. Leonard, has with the passing years become identified with some of the leading industries in Albion as stockholder and director, and, as mentioned in the opening paragraph, is secretary of two of the more important con- cerns. Among other equally important concerns, he is a director of the Albion State Bank, one of the most reliable banking institutions of the city.
In October, 1893, Mr. Leonard married Miss Elizabeth I. Fiske of Albion, the daughter of Rev. L. R. Fiske, who was president of Albion College for twenty years. Rev. Fiske had not only a local but a national reputation, and he served as pastor of the M. E. church for a num- ber of years. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard.
Mr. Leonard is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, as a member of Murat Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., also Albion Chapter No. 23, R. A. M. He is also a member of Albion Lodge, No. 57 of the Knights of Pythias. The family residence is located at No. 110 North Ingham street.
FREDERICK KATZ has lived his life thus far in Fredonia township, where he was born on September 13, 1856. He is the son of Peter and Mary (Frink) Katz, both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, born there in 1832 and 1830, respectively, and the grandson of Peter Katz, Sr., who came to America in 1848, bringing his family with him. Mr. Katz, Sr., came on to Michigan immediately, his son Peter, the father of Fred- erick of this review, remaining in Buffalo for a period of two years. The father located a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Fredonia township, living on it for several years, after which he sold out and bought land in Newton township, where one of his descendants, Charles Katz, Sr., now lives. The old gentleman remained there until his death in 1905. In 1850 Peter Katz, Jr., came to Michigan. He took up his residence with his father and became the owner of forty acres in Fredonia township, which he later sold and moved into New- ton township, there becoming the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. He continued to reside in Newton until his death in 1905. He was a very successful man, always prominent and popular.in the com- munity he called home, and took a leading part in civic affairs. He was a Democrat in his political faith, and a member of the Lutheran church, being one of the organizers of that church in Marshall.
Frederick Katz received his early education in the schools of Newton township, his educational advantages being somewhat meagre, as con- fined to the district schools of the day, and he was early initiated into the mysteries of farm life by his father. He continued to be associated with his father in the work of the home place until one year after his mar- riage, which occurred in 1880, when Catherine Keifer became his wife. She is the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Keifer, prominent farming people of Fredonia, and early settlers of Washtenaw county. Both her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Katz are the parents of four children, as follows: Lottie, the wife of Edward Lee of Fredonia ; Myrtie, the wife of Frank Katz, also of Fredonia; Edith, who lives at home, and Elizabeth, who married Clifford Johnson. They have four
1250
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
grandchildren, Blanche and Thelma Lee, Blaine Katz and Donald F. Johnson.
After his marriage, when Mr. Katz severed his connections with the home place, he rented a farm in Fredonia, which he held for four years, after which he lived for seven years in Newton, and then returning to Fredonia worked the Rowley farm for fifteen years, until he came to his present place. After the death of Mrs. Katz in 1897, Mr. Katz did not care to purchase a farm outright, and has since continued to rent, a plan which makes it possible for him to retire from active farm life whenever he feels so inclined without being incumbered by property affairs.
Mr. Katz is a Democrat, and has always been a leader in the political affairs of his township. He has held numerous offices, in all of which he has acquitted himself in a manner becoming a citizen of high integrity, such as he has ever been regarded. He served as township treasurer for two years ; as clerk for five years ; as highway commissioner for one year, and as supervisor four years. He has also been chosen as a delegate to various county conventions of the party, and is known throughout the county as one of its strong and steadfast Democrats. As to his churchly relations, he holds membership in the German Lutheran church, the church of his fathers, and fraternally he is identified by his membership in the Maccabees and the Modern Brotherhood of America.
REV. JOSEPH S. MARX is pastor of St. John's Catholic church, at Albion, Michigan, where he has been located since 1901. He is a native of the Buckeye state, born in the city of Cincinnati, on December 31, 1875, the son of Andrew and Caroline Marx. The father was a pioneer of Cincinnati, and during his life there was variously engaged in busi- ness venture. He died in 1911, his widow still survives. The father held some minor offices in Cincinnati of a public character and was a stanch Democrat and a man of strong convictions. In 1881 with his parents Father Marx moved to Detroit.
As a boy at home, Father Marx received his early education in the parochial schools of Detroit and for a time attended a select school at Detroit, Michigan. From that city he was sent to Assumption College, in Canada, where he pursued his studies for some time, graduating in 1894. He then entered St. Mary's University at Baltimore, Maryland, in which institution he pursued, his theological studies for a period of five years. He was graduated from St. Mary's in 1899, and in the same year was ordained by the Right Reverend John S. Foley, of Detroit, Michigan. Soon after his ordination the young priest became assistant to St. Mary's church under Father Riley at Adrian, Michigan, where he continued until 1901, when he came to Albion as pastor of St. John's Catholic church, where he is still occupied. In addition to his clerical duties in connection with his Albion pastorate, Father Marx supplies the Catholic church at Charlotte and Eaton Rapids, Michigan, his time being about equally divided between the two churches. In each parish he has a rapidly growing congregation, and his labors among his people have been rewarded by the increase in numbers and in churchly zeal among the members. Father Marx is a brilliant speaker and a scholarly gentle- man-wide-minded and tolerant, and held in the highest respect and esteem in the communities in which his labors have made him a familiar figure.
EDWARD C. MACK. A retired agriculturist of Calhoun county, Edward C. Mack has accomplished a satisfactory work in his chosen occupation, and, feeling that he has performed his full share of hard
1251
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
work is now enjoying to the utmost the well-merited reward of his long- continued and unremitting toil. He was born August 22, 1846, in Cal- houn county, a son of William and Chloe (Cox) Mack, natives of New York state.
William Mack came from New York state to Michigan in early life, settling on a tract of heavily timbered land, coming at a time when the country was in its pristine wildness, with here and there an opening in which stood the pioneer's cabin. Lured westward in his search for gold, he went on a prospecting trip to Colorado, returned to Michigan, and then back to Colorado and there died.
Early thrown upon his own resources, Edward C. Mack worked at any honest employment that he could find as a boy and youth, laboring chiefly as a farm hand until 1864. In that year he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and was first sent with his command to Cedar Creek, later taking part in the Shenandoah valley campaign. Re- ceiving his honorable discharge from the army in 1865, Mr. Mack con- tinued his former occupation, being engaged in farming until his retire- ment from active business. He is a Republican in politics, and for forty years has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held all of the chairs of his lodge.
Mr. Mack married, in 1866, Sarah Talmage, a daughter of Alva Tal- mage, of Calhoun county. She passed to the life beyond in 1899, leaving three children, namely: Minnie, wife of William McCracken, of Bur- lington township; Alva, living on a farm in Burlington township; and Chloe, wife of William Burrows, of Battle Creek. A brief sketch of the son, Alva P. Mack, may be found following this.
ALVA P. MACK. One of the foremost agriculturists of Burlington township, Alva P. Mack is carrying on general farming, including stock raising and dairying, with gratifying results, year by year adding to his wealth, and growing into the esteem and respect of his neighbors. A son of Edward C. and Sarah (Talmage) Mack, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this work, he was born in Newton township, Calhoun county, Michigan, January 14, 1868. His grand- parents, William and Chloe (Cox) Mack, were pioneers of Michigan, coming from New York when this section of the country was in its primi- tive wildness, the dense forests being habited by the dusky savage, while wild beasts of all kinds roamed at will.
Alva P. Mack spent a part of his earlier life in Clinton county, where his parents lived for a time, attending the district schools as a boy and youth. He began life for himself on a farm, working by the year until after attaining his majority. In 1890, imbued with the restless spirit characteristic of the true American, he went westward to Ontario, Ore- gon, where he secured a fine position in a general mercantile establish- ment, one of the largest concerns of the kind in the Pacific states, and was there employed for six years. Accumulating considerable money during that time, Mr. Mack purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, paying twenty-five dollars an acre for it, and embarked in farming. Making good use of his early training, he improved his property, and at the end of seven years disposed of it for one hundred dollars an acre, making a handsome profit on his former investment. Coming then to Burlington township, he bought the old Morehead farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and in its management is meeting with eminent suc- cess, the general appearance of his property manifesting to the most casual observer the thrift and care of the owner, showing conclusively that he has a thorough understanding of his business. Mr. Mack raises much stock, not entirely thoroughbreds, and pays considerable attention to dairying, a branch of the business that he likes.
1252
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Mr. Mack married Lulu Wellington Knight, daughter of Elbridge and Lois (Kenfield) Wellington, of Clinton county. Her father, who was a painter by trade, was also a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Mack are the parents of five children, namely : Lloyd A., of Three Rivers, Michigan; Merle Edward, attending Union City high school, being a member of the class of 1912; Ella, also with Union City high school; Gary G .; and Lois. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mack are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Mack is a Republican, and fra- ternally he is a member of Union Lodge, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs.
THOMAS ZELINSKY, M. D. As one of the most important small cities of the state of Michigan, Battle Creek has extended municipal services and facilities, and its government is a matter of interest to every citizen. To the office of mayor, Dr. Thomas Zelinsky, who was elected in the spring of 1911, has brought the broad experience of the capable physi- cian and the energy and public spirit of a young citizen who represents the modern practical ideas of government.
Dr. Zelinsky was born at Madison, Wisconsin, January 16, 1876, but most of his youth was spent in Battle Creek, where he attended the pub- lic schools. In 1901 he was graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree of M. D., and in the same year located for practice at Battle Creek. Much of his work has been in surgery, in which skill and experience have given him a generous success, and he has enjoyed a high rank in the medical fraternity of southern Michigan. Politically a Re- publican, he served as health officer during Mayor Green's administra- tion, and in 1911 was elected for two years to the office of mayor.
In the line of his profession he is an active member of the Calhoun County and the State Medical societies; affiliates with the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias; and is a member of the Athelstan Club of Battle Creek. His office is in the Post building, and his resi- dence at 7 Bennett street.
Dr. Zelinsky married Miss Jessie Reasoner. She was born at East Leroy, a daughter of Daniel Reasoner. Her education was obtained in Battle Creek and at the Ypsilanti Normal, after which she was engaged in teaching at Hillsdale until her marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Zelinsky have one child, Frances M., born at Battle Creek, December 29, 1910.
EDWARD L. PARMETER, M. D. Dr. Parmeter, who is well established in his profession as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Al- bion, Michigan, was born in Concord, Jackson county, this state, on November 9, 1851. He is the son of James R. and Caroline (Worth) Parmeter, natives of Vermont and New Jersey, respectively. They were settlers of Jackson county among the pioneers of 1831, that year mark- ing their removal from New York to Michigan. They located on a Jack- son county farm, and came to be classed among the most prosperous . farmers of their section. Mr. Parmeter was born in 1802, and died in 1872, his death resulting from an accident. The wife and mother was born in 1806 and passed away in her fifty-ninth year. She was a daugh- ter of William Worth, who had the distinction of being one of the first settlers of Jackson county, and a member of the first jury in the county. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Jesse Parmeter. a native of Vermont, who in later life settled in Jackson county, which repre- sented his final home.
As a youth. Edward L. Parmeter acquired the fundamentals of an education in the public schools of his community, and later went to
1253
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Albion College. He left his studies there to engage in teaching, and passed one year thus occupied. He then began to read medicine with Dr. W. N. Keeler of Concord, Michigan, and after a time entered Ben- nett Medical College at Chicago, Illinois, from which school he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1876. Immediately thereafter Dr. Parmeter located at Concord, Jackson county, where he inaugurated the active practice of his profession, and one year later he came to Albion where he opened an office and engaged in general practice. He is now recognized as being among the oldest physicians of the city in point of practice, and with the passing years has built up a wide and lucrative practice.
In 1883 Dr. Parmeter married Miss Sarah E. Graves of Denver Col- orado, a daughter of Col. P. Graves, who was a soldier in the Civil war and served as Colonel of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry during the Civil war. Dr. and Mrs. Parmeter have one son, Rolland L., who is a graduate of Rush Medical College of Chicago, and is now engaged in the active practice of his profession in Detroit where he is already well established.
Dr. Parmeter is a member of the Calhoun Medical Society, the State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and in a purely fraternal way, has membership in the Masonic order, affiliating with Albion Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M. and Albion Chapter No. 32, R. A. M., as well as Albion Lodge No. 57, Knights of Pythias. He is also a stockholder of the Malleable Iron Co., president of the Union Steel Screen Company, and a member of the City Park Board.
EDWIN M. MOUNTEER. As proprietor of the Albion bakery, Edwin M. Mounteer has attained a pleasing success in the city which has rep- resented his home and the center of his business activities since Septem- ber 15, 1899. From a modest beginning in his present business he had gradually increased his capacity until today he bakes from two to four thousand loaves daily, and in addition to his large local trade, makes daily shipments to neighboring towns in the county.
Mr. Mounteer is the son of William and Louise (Tamblin) Mounteer, both natives of Canada. Edwin M. was born in Dresden, Canada, October 2, 1872. The father was a business man and came to Calhoun county, Michigan, September 15, 1899, and with Edwin M. engaged in the bakery business where he thus continued about one year. He then retired from business, Edwin purchasing his interest.
As a boy in Concord and Charlotte, Michigan, Edward M. Mounteer received his education in the public and high school, and after leaving off his studies was employed by Richard Baxter of Charlotte, in the bakery business, and later on by the Hill bakery, Grand Rapids, with whom he remained for a number of years, about five in all. He then embarked in the grocery business under the firm name of Gaskill & Co., an association which endured for five years further, and he then came to Albion and became associated with his father in the bakery business. In time he came to be the sole proprietor of the business, and under his wise and careful manipulation it has assumed its present wide propor- tions. In his bakery Mr. Monteer has installed the latest and most improved machinery known to the bakery business, and he employs on an average of ten experienced bakers. The business is well established, and ranks among the leading industries of the city. In addition to his interest in this business, he is identified with other industries in the . city.
Mr. Mounteer married Miss Mary Marple, a native of Ohio, where she was reared and educated. One son has been born to them, Carl E., who is attending the high school of Albion, and during his vacations assisted
1254
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
his father in the business. The family home is maintained on Irwin avenue, where they have a fine residence, with a beautiful lawn orna- mented with native oaks, elms and rock maples. The place is easily one of the fine ones of the city.
Mr. Mounteer is a member of Albion Lodge No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is popular in business and social circles of the city which represents his home. He is a clever and affable gentle- man, eminently deserving of the position he occupies in this community.
THOMAS FRENCH. Living on his pleasant homestead in Burlington township, Thomas French is numbered among the successful and well- to-do agriculturists of Calhoun county, where he has spent a busy life, actively engaged in the cultivation of the soil. A son of Martin French, he was born in this township, February 27, 1869, of pioneer ancestry, his grandfather, Thomas French, the first, having come to Michigan in territorial days, settling in the dense woods, and hewing from the forest the farm on which he spent his remaining days. His ancestors were eastern people of some prominence, his great grandfather, Hiram French, having been a life-long farmer in New York state.
Martin French was born, in 1838, in New York state, and as a child of four years came with his parents to Michigan. He grew to manhood in the log cabin which his father reared in the primeval woods, and gleaned his early education in the pioneer schools. Industrious and thrifty, he was quite successful during his earlier years as an agricul- turist, becoming owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres in Burlington township. He subsequently met with reverses, ere his death, which occurred in 1896, losing considerable of his property. He was prominent in the Democratic ranks, and as township supervisor, and as township treasurer. Fraternally he belonged to Burlington Lodge, No. 333, Free and Accepted Masons, and served as its master. He married Belle Cole, who was born in New York state in 1840, and came to Calhoun county, Michigan, with her father when a young girl, he, David Cole, having located at an early day in Burlington township, where he cleared and improved a homestead.
Having acquired his education in the district schools, Thomas French became a tiller of the soil from choice, and after his father became involved he bravely assumed the management of the home farm, and in the course of a few years cleared it of debt. He now owns one hundred acres of fine land in Burlington township, his homestead being now one of the most attractive in the vicinity, and well supplied with convenient buildings and all the appliances for carrying on his work after the most approved modern methods. Mr. French is a breeder of Holstein cattle ; keeps Black Top Delany sheep and Poland China hogs; and raises Buff Rock poultry, while his daughter makes a specialty of breeding Buff Leghorns.
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.