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 96
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Mr. French has been twice married. He married first in July, 1889, Agnes M. Mohardt, a daughter of Christian Mohardt, an early settler of Calhoun county. She died October 15, 1904, leaving two daughters, namely : Edith, a successful teacher in Burlington; and Kath- erine, attending school in Burlington. Mr. French married second, No- vember 8, 1905, Mabel Leonard, a daughter of Charles Leonard, of Bur- lington. Politically Mr. French is identified with the Democratic party, but is quite independent in his views, and votes according to the dictates of his conscience without regard to party affiliations. Fraternally he is a member of Burlington Lodge, No. 333, Order of Masons; and of the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he is a policy holder.
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WILLIAM WAFFLE. Among the enterprising and self-reliant men who are ably conducting the farming interests of Calhoun county is William Waffle, of Burlington, a prosperous agriculturist, especially noteworthy for his good citizenship and many excellent traits of character. A son of the late David W. Waffle, he was born, October 7, 1871, in Medina county, Ohio, where the first three years of his life were passed.
David W. Waffle, a son of John Waffle, was born in Ohio, March 6, 1833, and lived there until March, 1874, when he migrated with his fam- ily to Michigan, locating first in Washtenaw county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, and for four years was engaged in tilling the soil at the same time working at his trade of a carpenter. In 1878 he came to Calhoun county, and afterwards devoted his attention entirely to farming, continuing his residence here until October 11, 1910, when he was accidentally killed by a train, near Union City, his death being a shock to the community. He was an active member of the Republican party, and served many years as justice of the peace. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. David W. Waffle married Hannah Sheffield, who was born in Sharon, Ohio, December 12, 1836, and died in Calhoun county, Michigan, May 3, 1902. Four chil- dren were born of their union, as follows: Charles, of Three Rivers, Michigan, is connected with the Sheffield Car Works; Ella, died June 10, 1898; William, the special subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Leila Kister.
About seven years of age when his parents removed to Athens town- ship, Calhoun county, William Waffle was there educated in the district schools, later becoming familiar with the different branches of agricul- ture while working with his father. When he married, he lived for awhile in Union City, from there moving to Sherwood township, in Branch county, and later spending two years in Athens. Returning to Branch county, Mr. Waffle purchased eighty acres of land, and was there for a time engaged in tilling the soil. He afterwards bought his father's homestead, on which he lived and labored for four years, when he sold out. He then purchased his present estate of one hundred acres, widely known as "Fairview Farm," and, with the exception of two years, when he rented his land and lived in North Dakota, has since devoted his energies to its improvement, having now one of the best improved and most desirable farms in the vicinity. He carries on general farm- ing and stockraising, specializing in Percheron horses. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and has served as justice of the peace. Re- ligiously he is a member of the United Brethren church, but attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
On April 3, 1896, Mr. Waffle was united in marriage with Alta M. McCrary, the oldest of the three children of LeRoy and Alice (Moyer) McCrary, both natives of Michigan, her father's birth having occurred in Tekonsha township, Calhoun county, October 12, 1847. Her grand- father, Alexander McCrary was one of the early settlers of Calhoun county, and his marriage with Ella Dean was the first celebrated in Tekonsha township by white people. LeRoy McCrary died in Union City, as did also Mrs. McCrary. Mr. and Mrs. Waffle have a fine family of six children, namely : Alice, Ernest, Roy, Glenda, Gladys and Bruce.
ERVIN A. WARSOP. A wide-awake, industrious young man, possess- ing energy and good judgment Ervin A. Warsop, living near Athens, is a splendid representative of the thriving agriculturists of Calhoun county, his farm comparing favorably in its appointments with any in the vicinity. A son of Harry Warsop, he was born, December 29, 1881, in Athens township, of English ancestry. His paternal grandparents,
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Joseph and Ann (Grey) Warsop, emigrated from England to the United States, settling in Michigan. After spending a short time in Detroit, they moved to Marshall, where the grandfather was for many years employed as a machinist in the Michigan Central Railroad shops.
Born in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1852, Harry Warsop was but two years old when he was brought by his parents to Michigan. He received his education in Marshall, and began life for himself on a farm in Athens township, Calhoun county. Disposing of his interests in that locality in 1895, he bought land in Athens township, and was there suc- cessfully engaged in general farming until his death, in 1900. He was a Republican in politics, and, with his wife, belonged to the Congre- gational church. He married, in Burlington township, Jane Remch, a daughter of George W. Remch, who came from Ohio to Michigan, and has since lived in Burlington township, where he is now numbered among the veteran farmers, being eighty-two years of age. Of the children born of their union, three are living, as follows : Daniel, of Athens, a rural mail carrier ; Ervin A., the special subject of this brief sketch; and Loren B., living on the home farm.
Acquiring his rudimentary education in the public school of District No. 1, Athens township, Ervin A. Warsop completed his early studies at the Union City high school, where he was graduated with the class of 1900. He taught school the ensuing four years, but abandoned the desk in favor of farming. He bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Athens and Burlington townships, and in its manage- ment has met with unquestioned success, the land being under excellent tillage, and the improvements of a practical and substantial nature. He raises abundant crops each season, and makes a specialty of breeding Duroc hogs, a branch of industry which he finds profitable. In his politi- cal affiliations, Mr. Warsop is a Republican, and takes an active part in local affairs. He was for three years overseer of highways, and had the supervision of the construction of the first gravel road in Athens town. ship, and at the present time is serving his second year as supervisor. They have four children, Edna, Joseph, Raymond and Reuben.
BURRITT HAMILTON was born in Sturgis, St. Joseph county, Michi- gan, October 4, 1869. His father, Robert C. Hamilton was the owner of several large farms in Michigan and Indiana, and here the son was endoctrinated in the gospel of hard work. Equipped with sound health and a high school education, he entered the University of Michigan in 1889 and graduated from the law department of that institution in 1891. During his student days, he took an active part in the literary activities of his college class, and served as secretary of the Jeffer- sonian Society. He was admitted to the bar in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court May 29, 1891, and opened an office for the practice of law at Sturgis, Michigan, in November of the same year.
In June, 1894, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Miss Rena L. Tompkins. Four years later he moved with his family to Battle Creek where he has since remained. His home is in the country and commands a view of unsurpassed beauty upon the picturesque Kalamazoo river.
Mr. Hamilton enjoys a large general practice and is widely em- ployed in corporation matters. He is the author of several well known text books, among which are works on commercial and corporation law. In 1911 he was chairman of the executive committee of the Michigan State Bar Association, and in 1912 he was elected to a second term as president of the Calhoun County Bar Association.
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ANDREW J. FISHELL. An esteemed and thriving agriculturist of East Le Roy, A. J. Fishell is intimately associated with the advance- ment of the agricultural interests of this section of Calhoun county, owning and occupying a farm which he is constantly improving. He is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred February 18, 1862, in Eaton county, where his father, the late John Fishell, settled many years ago. His grandfather Fishell, a native of Germany, came to America when a young man, and subsequently moved with his family to Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his years.
John Fishell was born in Rochester, New York, in November, 1827, and was brought up in Michigan, near Lansing, where his parents lo- cated when he was a boy. When ready to establish a home of his own, he bought land in Eaton county, and on the homestead which he cleared and improved, was engaged in general farming until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and a devout and conscientious Chris- tian, having been a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church, to which his widow, who still lives on the home farm in Eaton county, belongs. He married Jeannette Anderson, who was born, in October, 1835, in New York state, a daughter of David and Abigail (Wood) Anderson, the former of whom was born in Ireland, of Scotch parent- age, and came to this country in early life.
The youngest of a family of five sons, A. J. Fishell was educated in the district schools, and while young acquired such a thorough knowledge of the different branches of agriculture that his early ex- periences have been of practical benefit to him in his labors. Leaving the home farm at the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Fishell engaged in the printing business at Battle Creek, and for many years had charge of the stock department of the Review and Herald, displaying marked ability in that capacity. Returning to the soil in 1904, Mr. Fishell bought his present farm of one hundred acres in Athens town- ship, and in its improvement has since been busy, among its more re- cent improvements having been the erection of a commodious and conveniently arranged residence. He carries on general farming, pay- ing much attention to the raising of stock, having among other animals a fine flock of Black Top Delaney sheep. He is held in high esteem throughout his community, and, true to the religious and political faith in which he was reared is an Adventist and a Republican.
Mr. Fishell married, in 1887, Ida M. Jones, one of the eight chil- dren of Hiram and Philena (Barrett) Jones, early settlers of Eaton county, and respected members of its farming community. Her father died in February, 1907, and her widowed mother still resides in Holly, Michigan. She belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist church, of which Mr. Jones was likewise a member. Mr. and Mrs. Fishell have five chil- dren, namely: Irma B., who married Roy L. Foster and they live in Wisconsin ; Hubert S., in Montana; Leslie B., a pupil in the Union City high school; Carroll M., a school boy; and Deal M., an infant.
MERRITT O. SHEPARD. As president of the Citizens Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Calhoun county, Michigan, for the past twenty years, Merritt O. Shepard has won a wide acquaintance and an enviable standing in business circles of Calhoun county and in the city of Al- bion, which has represented his home since 1899. Previous to that year he had been identified with the agricultural industry from the year 1869, and in that, as in his present business, he was a successful and prosperous man.
Merritt O. Shepard was born in Genesee county, New York, on July 6, 1848, and is the son of Ira and Ruby (Chaddock) Shepard,
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both natives of that state. The father was a farmer by occupation and was a native of Otsego county, New York. In January, 1869, the family removed from their native state to Michigan, settling on a farm just northeast of the city of Albion. He operated that place for six years, then moved into the city and made his home in Albion, living a retired life, until his death in 1890. His widow survived him until 1904.
The early education of Mr. Shepard was received in the district schools of his native state and in the high school at Pikes Seminary, Wyoming county, New York. It was in April of 1869 that he came to Calhoun county, and within that year he married, after which he set- tled on a farm in the town of Sheridan, in Calhoun county, and en- gaged in diversified farming. He was an industrious young man, and had received valuable training in agriculture as a youth at home, so that the thirty years he spent in this place rewarded him abundantly in material things. At the end of ten years he purchased his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Albion, engaging in farming and stock raising. He later added ten acres of desirable land to his place, and for years was busily occupied in the raising of cattle, hogs, sheep and grain, in which he was agreeably successful.
In 1899 he removed from the farm to the city of Albion, to assume charge of the business of the Citizens' Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, and he has since made his home here. It was while living on the farm that he first became interested in the insurance company, and soon after its organization he was elected president, a position which he has held continuously for twenty years. The Citizens' Mutual Fire Insurance Company is undeniably one of the solid institutions of the county and is regarded as being reliable in every respect. Mr. Shep- ard has proven himself an able and efficient head of the company, and is one of the principal adjusters of the losses of the concern. Mr. Shepard is now doing a large and lucrative real estate business, under the firm name of Wright & Shepard.
As previously mentioned, Mr. Shepard was married in 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Van Slyke, a daughter of William Van Slyke, one of the old and honored residents of the county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shepard, as follows: Jessie M., who is deceased; Wirt V., a graduate of the Albion high school and now employed by the Gale Manufacturing Company ; Carrie L. is the wife of George L. Scho- field and resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Morrell D., also of Kansas City; Ruby C., who graduated in June 1912 from the State Normal School at Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mr. Shepard is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order, as a member of Murat Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M .; of Albion Chapter No. 32 R. A. M., and of Marshall Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar. He was also treasurer of the Board of Regents for three years. For two years he was assessor of the city of Albion, and was a director of the Albion State Bank for fourteen years.
GERMAIN SERVIS. Prominent among the Calhoun county citizens who are carrying on mixed farming with unquestioned ability and suc- cess is Germain Servis, of Athens township, whose finely improved es- tate ranks among the best and most valuable in his neighborhood. A son of James Servis, he was born, August 2, 1849, in Yates county, New York, where his childhood years were passed.
James Servis was born in New York state in 1821, and died on his homestead, in Athens township, Calhoun county, Michigan, in 1902, at the venerable age of eighty-one years. In 1857, taking advantage
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of the cheaper lands in the West, he came to Michigan, and selected Athens township as the most desirable place in which to locate. Buying a tract of wild land, he erected a log house in the wilderness, and with true pioneer courage began the work of hewing a farm, a labor which proved successful in his case. He became active and interested in pub- lic affairs, supporting the principles of the Democratic party. His wife, whose maiden name was Sallie Barker, was born in New York, May 9, 1822, and died in Athens township, June 9, 1910, at the age of eighty-eight years, and one month. Her father, Enoch Barker, a native of the Empire state, spent his last years in Michigan. Of the children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. James Servis, four are living, as follows: Orin, a farmer in Saint Joseph county, Michigan ; Germain, the subject of this sketch; William, residing in Kansas; and Alice, wife of E. U. Hunt, a civil engineer in Battle Creek. One of their sons, Wilbur Servis, served in the Civil war, and was killed in its last big battle.
Educated in the district schools of Athens township, Germain Ser- vis worked with his father until he was seventeen years old, after which he worked out by by the month for a few years, gaining valuable knowledge of experimental farming, and of the practical labor required in agricultural pursuits. He subsequently rented land on shares until 1899, when he invested his savings in land, buying one hundred acres in Athens township. With characteristic diligence and perseverance he began its improvement, and has met with signal success, having now a new house and substantial outbuildings, with his land under a good state of cultivation, and highly productive. Mr. Servis has wisely invested his accumulations in other land, his farm now containing one hundred and eighty acres of choice land, and being one of the best in the locality.
Mr. Servis married, January 1, 1874, Ella Bruce, who was born, June 8, 1855, in Athens, Michigan, just after the arrival in this state of her parents, George and Amanda (Gordon) Bruce, who came here from New York, their native state. Mr. Bruce, who was a life-long farmer, was born March 15, 1813, and died in Michigan, January 26, 1892, and Mrs. Bruce, who was born in New York, March 30, 1822, died in Michigan, March 12, 1905. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Servis are the parents of two children, namely: Ralph, who owns eighty acres of land, and is now working his father's farm on shares; and Merta, wife of George E. Adams, of Battle Creek. In his political relations Mr. Servis is an ardent supporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party.
CHARLES C. DE Bow, the owner of a well managed and highly pro- ductive farm in Athens township, has been a resident of Calhoun county for upwards of half a century, and occupies a place of prominence among the more intelligent and respected citizens of his community. A native of New York state, he was born, November 16, 1853, in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, a son of Henry De Bow.
Born in the Empire state in 1810, Henry De Bow was for many years a railroad man, being connected with the earlier railways of that state. A man of much enterprise, he foresaw the possible re- sources of the West, and made his way to Michigan, locating with his family in Athens township, Calhoun county on May 10, 1856. Pur- chasing eighty acres of land, he cleared and improved a homestead, on which he lived until his death, in 1883. A man of honest worth, he was held in high regard by his fellow townsmen. He was a straight-
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forward Republican in politics, and a trustworthy member of the Bap- tist church, to which his wife also belonged. He was of French descent, his father and a brother having emigrated to the United States from France. The father served in the War of 1812 as an army officer, and some of his descendants served in the Union Army during the Civil war, while descendants of his brother were prominent during the same war in the Confederate service, being officers in the president's cabinet. Henry De Bow married Jane Brundage, whose father, a native of New York, was drowned while following his occupation of a deep-sea fisher- man. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are de- ceased, one son, Garrett De Bow, having died while serving as a sol- dier in the Civil War.
Being reared to agricultural pursuits, Charles C. De Bow naturally adopted farming as his life work, beginning his career by working his brother's farm on shares. A man of push and energy, diligent in his labors, he made a success of the work in which he engaged, and in 1888 bought forty acres of the land included in his present fine estate of one hundred and twenty acres. Previous, however, to buying land, Mr. De Bow was for seven years engaged in business as a general merchant at Pine Creek, where he had an extensive patronage. His farm is un- der a good state of tillage, and, with its comfortable and convenient farm buildings, gives evidence of the thrift and prosperity of the owner.
Mr. De Bow married, January 15, 1882, Mary E. Tunison, a most estimable woman, and a congenial companion. Her father, Hampton Tunison, a veteran of the Civil war, located in Calhoun county in the seventies, and was here successfully engaged in tilling the soil dur- ing the remainder of his active life, residing in the county until his death, in 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. De Bow have two children, namely: Floyd, living near Athens; and Guy, working on the home farm. Mr. De Bow is decidedly inde- pendent in politics, voting according to the dictates of his conscience for the men he deems best fitted for the positions, regardless of party prejudice, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
EDWARD P. KEEP, president of the First State Bank of Tekonsha, Michigan, and an extensive dealer in lumber here and elsewhere, has been identified with Tekonsha for nearly four decades.
Mr. Keep is a native of the Empire State. He was born at Homer, New York, May 27, 1848, son of Timothy and Silvia (Backus) Keep. Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers were natives of Massa- chusetts. The former, Seth Keep, moved to New York when a young man, and spent the rest of his life and died there; the latter, Joshua Backus, who was a farmer, also passed the greater part of his life and died in New York state. Mr. Keep's great-grandfather, Simeon Keep, fought for independence in the Revolutionary war. Timothy Keep was born in 1801 and died in 1877, and his wife, born in 1805, died in 1874. They were the parents of six children, Edward P. being the fifth born and one of the three now living. Timothy Keep was a farmer, he owned 130 acres of land, and he carried on farming operations for many years. Politically, he was a Republican; religiously, a Congregationalist.
On his father's farm Edward P. Keep grew to manhood. His edu- cation, begun in the district schools, was continued at Courtland Academy, where he was a student for several terms. Then for eight years he spent his winters teaching school. He worked by the month on a farm for three years and was in the saw mill business in New York three years. On coming to Michigan in 1875, he settled at Tekonsha
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and at once established himself in the lumber business, in which he has been engaged more or less extensively ever since. He furnished most of the lumber for the town of Tekonsha, and for years his lumber has found a market in nearly every part of Calhoun county and also in adjoining counties. Mr. Keep is also interested in banking, being pres- ident of the First State Bank of Tekonsha. This bank has a capital stock of $30,000; surplus and undivided profits, $6,000, and average deposits $125,000.
With public and political affairs, Mr. Keep has for years been closely identified, harmonizing with the Republican party and receiv- ing honor in the way of official preferment. In 1899, he was the choice of his Republican constituents for representative in the State Legis- lature, and as such served with credit to both himself and them. While in the legislature he was a member of the Elections, State Prison, Public Lands and State Public Schools committees.
In 1878, Mr. Keep was married to Miss Eva M. Allen, daughter of Erastus and Sina (Feagles) Allen; and they are the parents of one child, Luta B., wife of Don Martinson. Mr. Martinson is engaged in the lumber business with Mr. Keep. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were natives of New York. They came to Michigan some time in the 40's and set- tled in Tekonsha township, where Mr. Allen was for many years en- gaged in farming. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church.
For a number of years Mr. Keep has been identified with the Ma- sonic Order. He maintains membership in Washington Lodge No. 7, F. & A. M., and is Past Master of the Lodge.
HARVEY N. RANDALL, a representative business man of Tekonsha, Michigan, is a native of Calhoun county, this state, having been born in Tekonsha township, September 7, 1859, son of Harvey and Rhoda M. (Howard) Randall.
The history of the Randall family dates back to the time when John Randall accompanied William the Conqueror to England. "The name of John Randall appears in the noted Doomsday-book as one of the favored followers of the Conqueror, who received his share of the Saxon territory upon its division. While the name Randall often appeared in the official court records of England, the family cannot be said to have attained to any very high stations under kingly rule. There was an occasional Randall coat-of-arms, which the generations past considered evidence of prominence, but all such insignia has faded from sight and the descendants of John Randall are mostly found in the United States today.
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