USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 10
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Abiel Townsend was but a child when his parents moved from Massa- chusetts over into New York state and he was reared in the latter state. While still a young man, in 1836, he came to Michigan and for a time worked in Cass county, later going into Genesee county, where he met and married Delia Walkley, whose parents had settled in that county about 1832 and had a fine farm three miles north of Flint. After marriage Abiel Town- send bought a farm in Grand Blane township Genesee county, and remained there until the fall of 1855. when he sokl out and came over into Tonia county. Ilere he bought a tract of nearly two hundred acres in section 30 of lonia township, ninety acres in the river bottom and about one hundred acres on the high land, all of which was in timber but about seventeen
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acres, and there he established his permanent home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Townsend died in 1877 and Mr. Townsend died ten years later. in 1887, he then being eighty-three years of agc. They were the parents of five children, namely: Maria, deceased. who was the wife of Albert E. Jackson: Sherman M .. the subject of this sketch: John E., now living in South Dakota; Mary 1 ... who died at the age of seventeen, and William P., who died at the age of three years.
Sherman M. Townsend was about ten years old when his parents moved to lonia county and he walked all the way from Genesee county, nearly ninety miles, in company with a young man, driving four cows and a merino ram through the wintry woods. He grew up on the new farm, helping to clear the land and assisting his father generally in the work of developing the place. He married in 1877 and his mother dying in that same year he and his wife established his present home. Since then Sherman M. Townsend has greatly improved the farm and has now one of the model places in that section of the county. In 1803 he built a fine residence of yellow sand brick, finished in quartered oak and hot water heated, which occupies well-kept and beautifully shaded grounds, one of the most attractive places in that neighborhood. Adjoining his place is that of his son Fred, who was married in four and has a farm of one hundred acres also in sec- tion 30, the old homestead of his grandfather. Mr. Townsend is a Repub- lican and takes an interested part in local politics and has held minor town- ship offices.
On May 30. 1877. Sherman M. Townsend was united in marriage to Ellen J. McNeil, who was born in Grand Blanc. Genesee county, this state. on a farm adjoining that of Abiel Townsend during the latter's residence in that county and who was thus the chiklish playmate of her future hus- band. Mrs. Townsend's parents, David and Jane A. ( Davison ) McNeil, were both Eastern folk, the former born in Charlotte, Vermont, and the latter at Avon. New York. David McNeil came to Michigan in 1839 and bought a farm in Genesee county. In 1844 he married Jane A. Davison. who had come to this state with her parents. Norman Davison and wife, in 1832. the family settling in Atlas township. Genesee county, then a part of Lapeer county. being among the very earliest pioneers of that section of the state. Norman Davison erected a mill there. around which sprang up a village known as Davisonville, now Atlas. Another village in an adjoin- ing township also bore his name. For years Norman Davison was county judge of Lapeer county and he was a member of Michigan's first constitu- tional convention.
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To Sherman M. and Ella J. ( McNeil) Townsend three children have been born, George W., who died at the age of six years; Neil S., mechanical engineer in the Gray motor works at Detroit, and John Fred, born on Octo- ber 3. 1881, who, in 1911, married Laura Blanche llemans, daughter of Sylvanus Hemans, the well-known druggist of lonia, and now has a fine farm of one hundred acres adjoining that of his father. The Townsends are earnest members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in all neighborhood good works. Sherman M. Townsend is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the council, royal and select masters of that order. lle also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
THOMAS RUSSELL ALLEN, M. D.
The late Dr. Thomas Russell Allen was one of the best-known and most highly respected physicians of this county, where he had been a resident since 1870, continuously engaged in the practice of his noble profession, until the time of his death, which occurred December 4, 1915. He was a native of the great Empire state, having been born at Bombay Corners, in Franklin county. New York, September 13, 1843, son of John and Lucinda ( Russell ) Allen, the former of whom also was a native of New York and the latter of the state of Vermont.
John Allen's father was born in New York City, but after his marriage he and his wife went to Canada, where they both spent the remainder of their lives, both living to ripe old ages. John Allen had two brothers, Hugh and Stephen, and a sister, Sarah. He was reared on the paternal farm, lying just on the line between New York and Canada, and in that neighborhood mar- ried Lucinda Russell, daughter of Thomas Russell and wife, both natives of Vermont and the parents of four children, of whom Lucinda was the eldest, she having had three brothers, Charles, Harry and George. After his mar- riage John Allen moved to the immediate neighborhood of London, Canada, where he spent the rest of his life, becoming a well-to-do farmer and stock raiser. Ile died at the age of eighty-four years, the result of a stroke of apoplexy, and his widow, who survived him some years, died in Huron county. this state, at the age of eighty-three, her death having been hastened by a fall which resulted in a broken hip, from the shock of which injury she did not recover. John Allen and his wife were devout members of the Methodist
THOMAS RUSSELL ALLEN, M. D.
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church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, as follow : Delaney, who married Nelson Tibbitts and is now living at the age of eighty-two, at St. Marys, Ontario: Azuban, deceased, who was the wife of Josiah Donaldson ; Meroah, deceased, who was the wife of Aaron Steele: Huldah, deceased, who was the wife of Ephraim Bullard: Thomas R .. the subject of this memorial sketch; George, deceased: Eliza Jane, wife of Mitchell Dibb, now living at Bad Ax, in Huron county, this state, and Lucetta, deceased, who was the wife of Lewis Cooper.
Thomas R. Allen was reared on the farm, growing up in Canada and in Vermont until he was nineteen years old, since which time he was a resident of Michigan. His elementary education was received in the local school in the neighborhood of his home, after which course he entered the high school at London, Ontario, from which he was graduated. He then studied medi- cine in the office of a physician at Branford, Ontario, for a year, at the end of which time he entered the Homeopathic Western Medical College at Cleve- land, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1866. He then studied for a time in New York City. Thus equipped for practice, Doctor Allen opened an office in Detroit, but shortly thereafter was taken ill and compelled to cease his activities for a year or more. Upon recovering his wonted health he came to this county, locating at lonia, where he successfully engaged in the practice of his profession until his passing away. During his long resi- dence here, Doctor Allen necessarily acquired a most extensive acquaintance throughout the county and witnessed the development of this favored region from what may be regarded even as pioneer days, in which wonderful develop- ment he had been a no inconsiderable factor, even taking his part, earnestly and effectively, in the promotion of all proper measures designed to advance the common welfare.
Doctor Allen had been twice married. By his first wife, who was Lizzie Finch, of Vienna, Canada, daughter of Thomas Finch, he had one child, a daughter, who married Lewis Tower and died at the age of twenty years, leaving no children. In March, 1888. Doctor Allen married Mrs. Henrietta E. Wilson, widow of an officer in the British navy, which union had been without issue. Mrs. Allen was born in Devonshire, England, but most of her life before coming to this country, after the death of her first husband, was spent in Glasgow. Scotland. Doctor and Mrs. Allen for many years were among the leaders in Jonia's community life and held in high esteem in that city and throughout the county generally. The Doctor was an "independent" in politics, believing in putting the best men in public office, regardless of
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whatever party affiliations they might chance to be affecting at the time of their candidacy for such office. He was a member of lonia Lodge No. 36. Free and Accepted Masons, and of Ionia Lodge No. 548, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the affairs of both of which orders he took a warm interest. In his relations with his fellow men he sought to follow the gentle injunction of the Golden Rule and was consequently a large influence for good in the community of which he so long was a valued and useful member.
LEWIS S. SEELEY.
Lewis S. Seeley, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Otisco township, this county, owner of a fine place of two hundred and thirty-one acres in sections 25, 26 35 and 36 in that township, his pleasant home being located in section 25, on rural route No. 1, out of Belding, is a native son of Michigan, having been born on a farm in Grattan township. in the neighboring county of Kent, on May 8, 1863. son of Rinaldo C. and Catherine M. (Waggoner ) Seeley, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio, who spent their last days in Otisco township, this county.
Rinaldo Seeley was but a boy when his parents moved from Vermont to the state of New York, where they remained until 1844, in which year the family came to Michigan and located in this county. Grandfather Seeley entered a claim to a tract of land in Otisco township, but the family remained there a short time only, presently moving over into the neighboring county of Kent, and it was there that Rinaldo C. Seeley grew up and was married. He bought a farm in Grattan township, and made his residence thereon until about 1865. when he returned to lonia county and bought an eighty- acre tract, a part of the present farm of his son. the subject of this sketch, to which he later added an adjoining tract of twenty acres, and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Rinaldo C. Seeley died in 1898 and his widow survived him until 1904. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, namely: Caroline, wife of Zach Choate, of Easton township. this county; Frank, who died at the age of eleven years: Nellie, who makes her home with her brother, Lewis S., the immediate subject of this biograph- ical sketch; Samuel J., who lives in the neighboring county of Montcalm: Otis B., who lives on the old home place, and Charles J., a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College, now living at Kalamazoo, this state, who is superintendent of greenhouse at the asyhim.
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Lewis S. Seeley was about two years old when his parents moved from Kent county to this county and all his active life has been spent in Otisco township. Ile has prospered in his farming operations and now owns a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-one acres, one of the best cultivated places in that part of the county. On November 16. 1904, Mr. Seeley was united in marriage to Mrs. Blanche ( Joslin) Davis, widow of Thomas Davis and daughter of Charles W. and Adelaide (Campbell ) Joslin, the former of whom was born in Smyrna, this county, and the latter in Macomb county, this state, who were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Seeley is the eldest and all of whom are still living, the others being as fol- low: Cora, wife of Frank Davis, of Otisco township; George, of Eaton Rapids, this state: Frank of Smyrna, this county: Marian, wife of George Wiseman, of Otisco township: James, also of Otisco township: Elva, wife of Edward Tower, of Belding. this county, and Joyce, wife of John Ashley, of Coral, Montcalm county, this state. To Mr. and Mrs Seeley three chil- dren have been born, Marjorie N., who died at the age of four years: R. C .. born on September 10, 1912, and an infant son. Lewis Seeley is a mem- ber of the Gleaners, as is his brother. Otis, the latter having been vice-chief of that order. Both are Republicans and Lewis has been a member of the board of reviews since 1903 and a member of the school board since 1895.
HARRY HI. GEMUEND.
Harry H. Gemuend, an attorney-at-law at lonia. this county, was born in that city on April 15. 1892. His early education was received in the Sts. Peter and Paul Academy, the lonia high school and in the Ferris In- stitute. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University and of the Detroit College of Law and since receiving his degree from the latter institution has been practicing law in lonia. His religion is Catholic and his politics Republican. He is a member of the following orders: Knights of Colum- bus. Holy Name Society, Young Mens Order, of Detroit; Ionia Lodge No. 548, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity.
Mr. Gemuend is the son of Leonard P. and Kathryn ( Jacobs ) Gemuend. He has one sister. Gertrude, wife of W. Fred Longe, of onia. His father, who is a cigar manufacturer, served in Company 1. Thirty-fourth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish-American War and held the rank of sergeant.
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Mr. Gemuend's paternal grandfather was Leonard F. Gemuend, whose wife was Gertrude ( Sears) Gemuend, both natives of Germany, who were among the first pioneers of Ionia. He was a cabinet-maker, served in the Civil War and died at the age of ninety-three; his wife died at the age of sixty-nine. They had three sons, Matthew, Leonard and Albert.
Mr. Gemuend's maternal grandfather was Michael Jacobs, whose wife was Lena ( Hoffman ) Jacobs. He was a native of Germany and a farmer by vocation. They had three children, Kathryn ( Jacobs) Gemuend, George Jacobs and Mary ( Jacobs) Bair.
HENRY H. DAY.
Henry Day, well-known citizen of Portland, Ionia county, Michigan, and for the past thirty years a sexton of the Portland cemetery, is a native of Erie county, New York, born on September II, 1850.
Henry Day is a son of DeMarquis and Julia (York) Day, the former also born in Erie county and was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry on his paternal side, born in Parma, New York, while his mother came from Holland with her parents. In 1855, when Henry H. Day was a small lad, DeMarquis Day brought his family to Michigan and located in Liv- ingston county. There he spent the balance of his life, doing general work, and died in 1878. His widow followed him into the Great Beyond four years later. DeMarquis Day and wife were the parents of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity and but four of these now living. The eldest of the family is Henry H., the subject of this sketch. Rowena. deceased, was the wife of John Lonsberry; Miranda ( deceased). was the wife of David Reggetts: Frank is in Howell, this state: Seward, deceased ; Alfred also in Howell and Loren in Petoskey.
Henry H. Day remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, receiving such education as the common schools of that time afforded in this section and until he was twenty-two years of age he worked out among the farmers of Livingston county. AAt the age mentioned, he came to Ionia county, where he worked on a farm until 1886. At that time he secured the position of assistant to the sexton of the Portland ceme- tery and two years later was himself made sexton. a position which he has since retained. Politically, Henry Day gives support to the Republican party and holds fraternal affiliations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, through Portland Lodge, No. 199.
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On June 18, 1879, Henry Day was united in marriage with Mary J. Perse, a daughter of Freeman Perse, who was born in Livingston county of parents who came to this section from the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Day had two children born to them. Adelbert Henry died when but two years of age and Frank W. is in Portland, associated with his father.
REV. MARTIN L. HOWE.
The Rev. Martin 1. Howe, well-known pastor of the Baptist church at Smyrna. this county, an honored veteran of the Civil War and proprietor of "Maple Ridge Farm," a well-kept and profitably cultivated place of ninety-five acres in Otisco township, four miles southeast of Belding, on rural route No. 4. out of that city, is a native son of Ionia county, having been born on the place where he now makes his home, March 19, 1848, son of William R. and Adelia ( Briggs) Howe, both natives of New York state, who became pioneers of this county, where their last days were spent.
William R. Howe was born in Genesee county, New York, on Decem- ber 6, 1822, and in the latter thirties came to this state and after a bit of prospecting entered a homestead claim to a forty-acre tract in Otisco town- ship. this county. He then returned to New York and married Adelia Briggs, immediately thereafter returning to this county with his bride. The latter then entered a claim to a "forty" adjoining the claim of her husband and there the two established their home in the wilderness. becoming well- known and well-to-do pioneers of that community. An adjoining tract of fifteen acres later was added to the home farm and at the time of his death on May 30, 1887, William R. Howe was the owner of a well-cultivated farm of ninety-five acres, now owned and occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch, and the only present survivor of the six children born to William R. Howe and wife.
Martin 1. Howe was reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War, though then little more than a boy, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Michigan Artillery and served to the close of the war, during which service the only wound of consequence he received was a severe wound to his right knee. At the close of the war Mr. Howe returned home and resumed his place on the farm, where he remained until 1866, in which year he went to Texas,
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where his wife had a small farm of ninety-five acres and there he made his home for thirty-two years. Mr. Howe married, November 11, 1884, Mrs. L. G. Reynolds, a widow, who was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and who had removed to Texas, before her first marriage, with her parents. By her first marriage Mrs. Howe was the mother of two children, Lelah and Guy. and her granddaughter, Mattie B. Anderson, now makes her home with her. From the days of his youth Mr. Howe has taken a strong interest in the church and during his residence in Texas was ordained to the ministry of the Baptist church and for years was a preacher there, in addition to oper- ating his farm.
In 1901 the Rev. Martin L. Howe returned to the old homestead place in this county, which he later named "Maple Ridge Farm," and there he has made his home ever since, he and his family being very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. Mr. Martin continues active in the ministry and for some years past has been the pastor of the Baptist church at Smyrna. In his political belief Mr. Howe is a Socialist and is an ardent advocate of the principles of that party. He and his wife are active and influential members of Belding Grange No. 1851, at Belding, and of the East Otisco Farmers Club and take an earnest part in the various social activities of the community.
LUTHER E. HALL.
Out among his orchard trees, his fields of grain and his herd of various kinds of live stock in where Luther E. Hall of Orleans township, Ionia county, finds the highest degree of contentment. He was born on a farm concerning the one on which he now lives, January 27, 1846, and is a son of Joshua S. and Sarah ( Haight ) Hall, whose life records are given at length on another page of this history.
When Luther E. Hall was about eight years old the family moved from lonia township to Orleans township, locating in section 36, where he lives now and here he grew to manhood. After attending the public schools he took a commercial course at Schwenesburg & Robbins Commercial Col- lege, Grand Rapids. He continued to farm two years on the home place after he became of age, then went to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he leased a farm which he worked for six years, then returned to lonia county and bought the old home place, or only eighty acres at first. Not one of the buildings now to be seen on the place was standing when he bought the
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farm. He has made extensive improvements in many ways during his resi- dence here of over forty-one years. Later he bought thirty acres in the northeastern corner of Easton township, which land adjoins his original farm; also owns forty-one acres in Ionia township. In 1888 he erected the substantial brick residence in which he still lives, adding an attractive stone and concrete porch in 1912. It is built of broken field stones, called ramble work. Beautiful grounds surround the home. Ile has a modern barn with basement. In addition to general farming he raises a good grade of Perch- eron horses, also grows apples on an extensive scale, having set eighty-five acres to apples exclusively, twenty-five being Baldwins and the balance Northern Spies. This part of his farm is known as "Maple Avenue Orch- ard." He has made a special study of horticultural themes and is an authority on apple growing, and no small portion of his annual income is derived from this source. He is a member of the State Horticultural Society, and he has done much to encourage better orcharding in this sec- tion of the state. Owing to the fine quality of his apples he finds a ready market for them while on the trees. He is a member of the executive board of the State Horticultural Society, also chairman of the finance committee, in fact, is one of the prime factors in the society, which is doing a most commendable work. He has the most approved equipment for the proper care of his orchard and looks well to spraying, pruning, etc. Everything about his place denotes good management and good taste, and each depart- ment of his business shows system.
Luther E. Hall was married in Otisco township, Ionia county, in December, 1869, to Eva Rickey, who died eighteen months later. without issue. On August 25, 1872, Mr. Hall married in Iroquois county, Illinois, Maria Allen, who was a native of Vermilion county, Indiana, and a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth ( Aikman ) Allen, both natives of Vermilion county, Indiana, where they grew up, attended school, were married and estab- lished their home and where they continued to reside until their daughter Maria was about fourteen years old, when they moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm. To our sub- ject's second marriage four children were born, namely: Alma, who was the wife of F. D. Flannigan of Orleans township, lonia county, died in 1908. leaving a daughter, Mildred, four years old; Louis A., who lives in Orleans township, married Ida B. Beach; Frank E., who lives on the home farm with his parents, married Emma Wurster of fonia, a daughter of Jacob and Henrietta ( Newman) Wurster: Eleanor A. is the wife of H. L. Morse and they live in Battle Creek, Michigan.
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Politically, Mr. Hall is a Republican and has been more or less active in party affairs since reaching his majority. He was supervisor of Orleans township two terms, also highway commissioner and a member of the board of review. He has been active in Farmers Institute work, and has traveled extensively, from coast to coast and from the Lakes to New Orleans. He is a member of the Maccabees. He is a lover of nature and the beautiful: His place is surrounded by many forest trees and shrubbery of his own planting. In 1876 he planted a row of maples along the road in front of his home and they are now fine trees, standing on the west side of the road known as Maple Avenue, for about one hundred rods.
ABRAHAM DEKWAK.
No work relating to the history of lonia county and purporting to set out the biographies of persons who have taken a prominent and useful part in the community life of this county, would be complete without fitting mention of the late "Uncle" Abraham DeKwak, who, in his day, and for many years, was one of the best-known residents of lonia.
Abraham DeKwak was born on the island of Tholen, St. Anna Land, province of Zeeland, Holland, in 1829, and when he was twenty-four years of age emigrated to America, coming presently to Michigan, and was at Kalamazoo, Holland and Grand Rapids before finally settling at lonia, in which latter city he spent the remainder of his life. Ile resided in Grand Rapids when it was but a straggling village with two brick stores, one on Monroe street and the other on Canal street. He lived there nine years, eight of which he spent in the brewing business.
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