USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 37
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HON. CHARLES AUSTIN
was born in London, England, April 19, 1834. He received his education in one of the schools of the British and Foreign School Society, an admirable institution for the general dissemination of knowledge in England and the British provinces. He emigrated to America in February, 1852, and had but thirteen English shil- lings in his pocket on landing in New York. Finding no work in the metropolis, he proceeded to Albany and procured a place at shoemaking, with which trade he had previously become slightly acquainted. He resided in the State of New York until the spring of 1854, when he removed to Concord, Jackson county, Michigan. There he became acquainted with, and, on the 1st of January, 1855, married, Miss Lucy D. Taylor. From Concord he removed to Homer, in this county, in the fall of the same year ; and in 1857 to Bedford, in the same county. He was | engaged in the boot and shoe business at Bedford until 1863, when he purchased a general store there, and continued in it until 1872, when he removed to Battle Creek in April of that year, and entered the dry-goods business, in which he is now a prominent and substantial representative, being a member of the well-known firm of Austin & Hoffmaster.
While in Bedford he was a member of the Congregational church and super- intendent of the Sunday-school. He was also elected justice of the peace one term. In 1875 he was elected alderman of the first ward of the city of Battle Creek, and in 1876 was elected mayor by a large majority, and in 1877 he was re-elected to the same office by an increased majority. He has always been a Republican since the organization of that party in Michigan, and has been a can- didate of that party in all the offices to which he has been elected. That he has filled them well is shown by his present popularity.
In 1869 and 1870 he made a trip to England, France, Australia, and New Zealand, which occupied some fourteen months. Mr. Austin is a member of the Congregational and Presbyterian church of Battle Creek, is superintendent of its Sunday-school, and president of a musical society called the " Choral Union." He is also High Priest of Battle Creek chapter, No. 19, of R. A. M., all of which positions he fills with honor and credit. Personally he is a gentleman of high morality, sterling integrity, and splendid reputation. In manner he is courteous, in disposition kind, and, whether in his public or private life, always gentlemanly in his deportment ; hence he enjoys an extensive friendship, and is highly esteemed for his general good qualities of heart and head.
ELIAS C. MANCHESTER
was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, of Quaker parentage, June 29, 1813. He was brought up on a farm, and received his education at the common schools of his native town, attending them during the winter, and devoting the summer months to assisting on the farm. At the age of eighteen he taught a district school for two terms. When twenty-one years of age he married Miss Amy Ann Howland, a native of Scipio and three years his junior. She is still living, having raised a family of ten children, of whom nine-seven sons and two
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
daughters-survive, having all reached maturity. Five of the sons served their country during the rebellion, distinguishing themselves by courage and patriotism. The names of these are Caleb, Stephen, Perry H., Charles E., and Elias H., all of whom were honorably discharged.
Mr. Manchester removed to Michigan in 1836, and settled on a farm now located in Battle Creek, but then a wilderness. He arrived in March of the above year, and, after canvassing the county for a suitable place to locate, his decision rested on Battle Creek, and he returned to New York State and got his wife and baby and made his permanent settlement in September of the same year, on a farm situated on the northwest quarter of section 1, town 2 south, of range 8 west. In politics he was a Whig, and was elected justice of the peace by that party, and has subsequently served the township and city as supervisor for several years ; was always an anti-slavery man. He joined the Free-Soil movement, and on the organization of the Republican party acted with it until 1869, when he assisted in the organization of the Prohibition party, and from that time until 1876 he acted with it, and finally affiliated with the Greenback party and sup- ported Cooper for the presidency. From 1857 to 1863 he was interested in the mercantile business in Battle Creek, under the firm-titles of Averill & Manchester and Averill, Briggs & Co. In the winter of 1863 this co-partnership was dis- solved by mutual agreement, and the liabilities of the concern honorably adjusted. He has always advocated universal education, has been a true friend to the tem- perance cause, and for three years presided over the grand lodge of Good Tem- plars. He exercises the right of free thought on all subjects, and is ever ready to investigate all questions, and accepts as truth all that commends itself to his reason and judgment, rejecting nothing without a rigid examination.
For the past quarter of a century he has been identified with the Spiritualistic movement, and for three years held the position of president of the State associa- tion of that body.
ASAHEL BEACH, M.D.
Asahel, son of Thomas and Mary Beach, old and respected pioneers of Wash- ington county, New York, was born at Cambridge, the same county and State, on the 25th of December, 1799. His father was a farmer, and the doctor's youth was spent among the natural beauties of the country. He first attended the com- mon schools of his native town, and latterly, the academy at the same place, where he completed his literary education. He entered upon the study of medi- cine, in 1821, in the office of Thomas Beach, Jr., M.D., who was a prominent physician of Ontario county, New York. He continued his studies with him and Dr. A. G. Smith, who was quite an eminent surgeon of western New York, for some time, and then went to Vermont and matriculated at Castleton medical college, where he attended two courses of lectures, and graduated with an honor- able diploma, December 24, 1824. Was a student for some years with Dr. An- derson, professor of anatomy and operative surgery, of Albany, New York. He then went to Victor, New York, where he practiced his profession for about ten years with marked success. In 1834, he removed to Michigan, and located in what was then old Milton township, now town 2 south, of range 7 west, and within the limits of the city of Battle Creek. He was one of the earliest medical practitioners in the county, and although coming here with the intention of de- voting his time to farming (locating between five and six hundred acres for that purpose), he was induced to act as physician to the early settlers, particularly in the sickly season of 1838. About 1843, he retired from active practice, having in the spring of that year removed to the town of Battle Creek.
On the 24th of October, 1826, he married Miss Martha N. Cady, daughter of General Cady, who was born on the same month and date in the year 1809, at Mendon, Monroe county, New York. They had four children, of whom three survive. Martha A. was born November 20, 1831, died November 1, 1834, while en route for Michigan ; Mary Adelpha, born January 25, 1834, and now the wife of Frank N. Bennett, of Battle Creek ; C. Cady, born November 24, 1836 ; for some years engaged in the banking business with Mr. A. C. Hamblin ; Thomas S., born May 8, 1847, and now resides at Topeka, Illinois.
In politics, as in religion, Mr. Beach has ever been progressive. He started out a Whig, and remained with them until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a Republican, and has since acted with them. In religion he is now a Spiritualist. He was first a Presbyterian, afterwards saw something of an advanced nature of thought in the Universalist doctrine, and affiliated with them. After careful study and investigation of modern Spiritualism he embraced that, as being nearer his views philosophically and theologically. In character he is a person of unblemished reputation; a good, upright, and honest man, and an ener- getic and capable citizen.
HARVEY J. DU BOIS.
Harvey J., son of Peter and Sally Du Bois, old and respectable citizens of Sara- toga county, New York, and subsequently pioneers of Battle Creek township, this county, was born in Saratoga county, New York, January 5, 1825. He passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, and there acquired those habits of industry and prudential care that have tended largely to his present prosperity. In May, 1836, the family left their eastern home and came and settled in the wilderness that then constituted that portion of Battle Creek township where they located. They made the journey from New York in a covered wagon, and came by the route through Canada by way of Buffalo, occupying about four weeks in the toil- some emigration. They stopped on the way to visit some friends, which tended somewhat to relieve the monotony of constant travel. In the early part of June they arrived at their destination, and purchased forty acres, part of the farm of two hundred acres now owned by the subject of this sketch. It was what is designated " oak openings," and they went to work with a will to clear it for cul- tivation. The family, on arrival, consisted of Peter Du Bois and Sally his wife, and three children,-Harvey J., James G., and Esther Mary.
On the 7th of April, 1853, Harvey J. Du Bois and Cynthia J. Stickney, daughter of Euselius Stickney, of Allegany county, New York, were married. She was born in Kendall, Orleans county, New York, March 5, 1826. On her' way west she embarked at Buffalo, on August 18, 1852, on board the ill-fated steamer " Atlantic," which, at two A.M., on August 19, 1852, collided with the " Ogdensburg," and went down with more than two hundred souls. After the collision Mrs. Du Bois was taken from the wreck and placed on board the " Og- densburg," and reached Detroit safely after a very narrow escape. They had three children, namely, Charlotte E., who was born May 25, 1854; died October 26, 1869 ; Louette L., born May 7, 1859 ; Clayton H., born April 27, 1864.
On the 25th of February, 1869, Mr. Du Bois sustained the loss of his mother, and on August 30, 1875, his father was called hence. They were both honored members of the Presbyterian church at Battle Creek, and were highly respected by the community in which they had resided so long.
In politics Mr. Du Bois is Republican ; he and his father before him were strong Abolitionists. He never desired or accepted political preferment of any kind, rather choosing to devote his time to his own business. He never formally joined any religious denomination, but his life has been such that no sectarian influences could have made it more becoming or more truly Christian. His long residence in Battle Creek township, with his energy and faithful work in its de- velopment, has made him one of the most respected of its citizens. He is a man whose general worth commands the honor and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.
ISAAC PERRY HART
is the third of a family of eleven children, of whom but himself and two sisters- one the wife of A. D. Power, of Wayne county, Michigan, and the other the wife of Levi Stewart, of Battle Creek township-survive. His father, William A. Hart, was born February 17, 1792, and his mother, Lydia Perry, May 18, 1794. They were respectable citizens of Washington county, New York, where the sub- ject of our sketch was born December 25, 1819. His father being a farmer, in moderate circumstances, he was early taught habits of industry and economy. He received the rudiments of his education at the public schools of his native place, and completed his studies at Cambridge academy.
In 1842 he removed to Michigan, and purchased the northeast quarter of sec- tion 18, in Battle Creek township, where he made a permanent settlement. By hard work and practical providence he has added to his original purchase, until he now possesses three hundred acres of fertile and well-cultivated land, on which are good substantial buildings. His residence, an illustration of which can be seen elsewhere in this work, is a model of home comfort, and a fair criterion of his taste and love for domestic enjoyment.
On the 2d of May, 1866, he married Calista Dailey, a lady of fine intelligence and excellent housekeeping qualifications. Four children-two sons and two daughters-have been born to them, all of whom survive.
In politics, Mr. Hart is Republican, and has been frequently elected to the office of justice of the peace in his township. In religious sentiment he is affiliated to the society of Friends, to which his family for generations belonged. He is a sound, practical farmer, an excellent husband and father, and a worthy and re- spected citizen.
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
PHOTO.BY CRISPELL.
CE, D, Beach
Oneda Beach
RESIDENCE OF E. D. BEACH, BATTLE CREEK, CALHOUN Co., MICH.
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
101
Harriet Beach
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
JOHN BEACH, M.D.
This gentleman was born at Cambridge, Washington county, New York, Jan- uary 3, 1797. He afterwards moved to Ontario county, where he entered the office of his brother Thomas, who was a prominent physician in that county. After completing his medical studies, and practicing his profession in various places in western New York, he emigrated to Michigan in 1836, and settled on the farm in Battle Creek township now occupied by his widow and their son, E. Darwin, and his family.
On the 18th of May, 1823, Dr. Beach married Miss Harriet Van Tuyl, who was born on the 25th of March, 1800. At the time they started to Michigan they had four children-two sons and two daughters. The doctor took the boys and came through in a covered wagon, by way of Buffalo and Canada, to Detroit, while Mrs. Beach came through by Canada to Buffalo, and from there to Detroit on the steamer " Ohio," and joined the rest of the family at Detroit. She recalls the incidents of that voyage very vividly, for she avers that in all her experience she never felt more miserable. She was sea-sick from the time she left Buffalo until she landed in Detroit, and we leave it to those who have been similarly afflicted to realize her position. She had one little girl and an infant child to take care of, while she herself needed care worse than any of them. She ate nothing during the entire five days, but, if we know anything about sea-sickness, her appetite after landing was keen, to say the least. Nothing is better for the general health than a good spell of sea-sickness, although the indescribable symp- toms of the disease are anything but enviable. But she survived it, and came through from Detroit to Marshall by stage, and from thence to the place of her brother-in-law, Dr. Asahel Beach, in Emmett township, where he then resided, about three miles from Battle Creek, without adventure.
They got settled in their new home in the woods in the fall of 1836. The doctor immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, and proved him- self to be one of the best physicians. There was no medicine to be purchased hereabouts in those days, so that after the supply he brought in was exhausted he had resource to the products of the forest, and practiced on the Thompsonian system. In the sickly season of 1838 he worked hard, and in fact overtaxed his strength to such a degree that about a year afterwards he was taken sick himself, which terminated his life August 25, 1840. He had gone east to endeavor to recuperate his shattered health, and died in New York city. He was a man of fine intellectual ability, of literary culture, of a highly social disposition,
and a well-read physician. We quote the subjoined paragraph from A. D. P. Van Buren, who knew him well, and appreciated his worth fully :
" Dr. Beach had read many books, was an interesting conversationalist, and I, although he came as a physician, always hailed with delight his visits to our house. The lack of society here in the woods made life lonely, and when he came he would talk about schools, education, books, and other subjects in which my parents and myself were interested. It was necessary sometimes for him to prolong the visit to his patient; he then, turning the chair down on the floor and placing a pillow on its back, would lie down and interest us for hours with conver- sation and varied narrations from his rich store of knowledge. And I remember the good advice, in regard to securing a thorough education, that I, then a boy, received from our kind-hearted physician and genial friend."
Dr. and Mrs. Beach had a family of five children, of whom four survive. We annex the family record, as follows :
Jerome B., born May 4, 1824, died June 2, 1825; Morgan Gilbert, born April 30, 1826; Cordelia C., born August 24, 1828; Erasmus Darwin, born March 8, 1831; Mary Ann, born March 31, 1836.
E. DARWIN BEACH
has always resided on the old homestead. He has acquired an enviable reputa- tion as a good, practical farmer and stock-raiser, and it is safe to say that his ex- tensive farm of three hundred acres is as well cultivated and produces as much per acre as any place in Calhoun County. A peculiar trait of his character is his known kind treatment of and justice towards his hired help, and we venture the assertion that no farmer in the county is ever better supplied, either with regard to numbers, qualifications, or general usefulness.
On the 18th of June, 1862, Mr. Beach married Miss Ovieda Strong, and they have two very interesting and promising sons, namely, Harry Dayton, born June 12, 1864, and Carl Franz, born March 20, 1866.
An illustration of the Beach farm and buildings is given herewith, together with portraits of the venerable Mrs. Dr. John Beach and Darwin and his wife. They are inserted by Mr. Darwin Beach as a token of affection, and will stand as a fitting monument to his father's and mother's memory, and a pleasant memento to his own family long after the parent stock has ceased to exist.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
JERVIS H. WATTLES, M.D.
This gentleman was born in Troy, Oakland county, Michigan, September 7, 1840. He is the eldest of a family of four children, the son of Harper Wattles, Esq., a prominent and respected pioneer of Oakland county. The family is of Scotch origin ; the ancestral name in Scotland, and for a time used by the first emigrants to this country, was McWattles, the prefix being dropped as the family became Americanized. His father was largely identified with the early interests of eastern Michigan, having been occupied for a considerable time in civil engi- neering and surveying. His parentage is characterized by high morality and . integrity, and stands prominent among representative families of Delaware and Broome counties, New York. The leading types evinced in each were a special fondness and adaptability to practical, scientific, inventive, and constructive inge- nuity. The doctor, being largely and naturally endowed with abilities of the above kind, early manifested a special interest in studies and works of like character. In particular might be mentioned those of mechanical ingenuity, invention, scien- tific pursuit, cause and effect, and the demonstration of natural qualities which from any source whatever produce practical results, rather than contributing to the support of fine-spun theories. These, together with liberty of thought and freedom of action, furnish very essential qualifications for the successful practice of the profession he has espoused. One of the determining reasons for choosing the profession of medicine was the result of long-continued illness in his father's family, where much interest and anxiety were had in the long care of invalid parents. These things, though painful to his filial love, were greatly beneficial in point of practical experience. He was thus early inured to the position of at- tendant to the sick, which is certainly a very necessary qualification in the family physician. Prior to the commencement of the study of medicine, under the direction of a preceptor, and before the age of eighteen, anatomy, physiology, symptomatology, and homoeopathic materia medica had been studied ; and at the age of nineteen, after his preparatory education, he commenced the study of den- tistry under the tutelage of Dr. T. A. White, of Detroit, later of Battle Creek, and with whom he occupied an office at the latter place for three years. After one year he was obliged to abandon study, on account of severe illness from typhoid fever. A long and terrible sickness in his father's family ensued, and from the same disease his mother and next youngest brother died. This served, after re- covery, as a new incentive to the resumption of medical studies, which were then renewed under the instruction of Dr. Day, of Detroit. During the first year's pupilage in medicine he had again to abandon his studies on account of defective eyesight, close application to books resulting in blindness that continued for several months. Thus having twice suffered from a most painful affliction of the eyes, and having been a long time under treatment by eminent oculists in the east and elsewhere, he determined to post himself especially in the department of ocular surgery, and now gives particular attention to all diseases of the eye. Having himself been a sufferer, his experience could not fail to have taught him many things connected with this branch of the profession not generally known to prac- titioners.
The principal part of three years was spent in study and observation under homoeopathic influences, when a change was made, and he entered the office of Dr. J. C. K. Crooks, of Birmingham, Oakland county, Michigan, a highly in- telligent and most worthy member of the regular profession, formerly of Rich- mond, Virginia. Here, in connection with study, and under the counsel of Dr. C., he engaged in general practice, this, however, prior to a course of lectures,- the first being obtained at the University of Michigan in the classes of 1864-65. Then returning to Birmingham he resumed study and practice until the fall of 1865, when a second course was attended at the Cleveland Medical College, Ohio. Here he distinguished himself by attaining a proficiency in all branches, and a well-earned reputation for diligence and faithful study. In addition to the pre- scribed course a thorough acquaintance was had in the manual of operative surgery, under the teaching of Professor Milton J. Woodworth, and he was one of the class which was the first in any school to receive separate diplomas for quali- fications in special surgery. His proficient attainments in anatomy obtained a recognition, and for a portion of the term he acted as demonstrator in that de- partment. In 1866 he graduated from this institution with high honors. He returned to Birmingham and began a responsible practice of medicine and sur- gery. During a two years' sojourn at that place he obtained an enviable reputa- tion for skill and responsibility, as is continually demonstrated by the frequent solicitations for counsel from his former patrons at that place.
In May, 1868, Dr. Wattles came to Battle Creek, and certainly no practitioner has been more successful. He now enjoys a large and remunerative practice, which his diligence and generally extensive knowledge of his profession bid fair to increase.
In him are found the qualities of a true physician. Kind and sympathizing to those who are suffering, faithful in all professional duties, rapid and sure in
diagnosis, prompt in emergencies, and honest in opinion, he cannot fail to hold the conspicuous position he has acquired.
The successful results of frequent and delicate operations in general and ophthal- mic surgery give evidence of skill and ability in these departments.
Resections of important joints for necrosis ; ligations of jugular veins, carotid, humeral, femoral, and popliteal arteries for aneurism and in wounds; operations in strangulated hernia ; lithotomy, trephining, cataract, strabismus, etc., are not unworthy of a notice.
His attainments have given him more than local notoriety, for he has been frequently offered positions of honor in medical institutions of the State.
ยท Truly, we cannot do less than award him a place among the pre-eminent phy- sicians and surgeons of his day.
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PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
A. L. CLARK.
Among the representative self-made men of Calhoun County, none are more deserving of a place in its history than the subject of our sketch. He was born February 3, 1813, and, like most of our successful business men, his early life was one of close application, self-reliance, and self-denial. He worked at the shoemaker's bench for some years, but on accumulating a small capital he made some judicious investments in real estate and otherwise, until at the time of his death, January 15, 1874, he left one of the largest private fortunes in the county, his estate inventorying three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The good for- tune which attended Mr. Clark in all his transactions cannot be considered acci- dental. It was a necessary consequence of untiring industry, good management of his interests, and, above all, a firm, uncompromising spirit of personal honor and integrity.
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