USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 14
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JOHN A. DEGARMIO.
John A. DeGarmo, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of lonia county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres in the northwest part of Lyons township, is a native son of Michigan, born on a farm at the edge of the town of Highland, in Oakland county, this state. November 12, 1868, son of Archibald Denniston and Emily Cornelia ( Olmsted ) DeGarmo, both natives of Michigan, the former having been born at Ypsilanti, in Washtena county, and the latter in North Plains town- ship, this county, both of whom are still living on the home farm at the edge of Highland, above mentioned, where Mr. DeGarmo makes a specialty of the breeding of registered Shorthorn cattle.
Archibald D. DeGarmo was born on July 12. 1845, son and only child of Henry E. and Martha Virginia (Denniston) DeGarmo, the former of whom was born near the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, August 29, 1809, son of John D. and Sarah (Culver) DeGarmo, and the latter in Orange county, same state, January 29, 1812, daughter of Archibald Den- niston and wife, the latter of whom was a Craft, and both of whom were born at Monticello, New York. Henry E. DeGarmo came to lonia county from Ypsilanti in May, 1858, and settled at Lyons, where he engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of DeGarmo, Webber & Company, in the old town hall building, still standing on the south side of Main street, his partner having been the late George W. Webber and the "company." Dorin M.+ Fox .. In May, 1861, hemoved to Oakland county and settled on a farm on the outskirts of Highland, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring on March 1. 1873, and hers on August 24, 1893. Henry DeGarmo for many years was prominently iden- tified with the cattle industry in this state. He brought high-grade Short- horns into Michigan in 1840 and registered Shorthorns into the state in 1851, 1856 and 1859 and did much toward promoting the breeding of pure- bred stock, establishing a fine business in that line which his son, .A. D. DeGarmo, has maintained and developed. The latter brought registered Shorthorns to Michigan in 1891, 1897 and 1901 and has been closely iden- tified with the breeding of this stock all the active years of his life. A. D. DeGarmo has lived at his present domicile since April, 1867, and has done well in the cattle business. fle is a Republican, with inclinations toward Socialism. The only public office to which he ever was elected was that of township clerk, on the Republican ticket, in 1872. Tiring of the office. he
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turned the same over to a Democratic neighbor, which act served effectually to "cut off his political head." For several years, beginning in 1873, he was secretary of the local Grange and took a prominent part in the affairs of that organization. His paternal grandparents were members of the Hicksite branch of the Quaker church and his maternal grandparents were members of the Episcopal church, but his parents were materialists and he and his wife are of that latter persuasion.
It was on October 4, 1865, at North Plains, this county, that Archi- bald D. DeGarmo was united in marriage to Emily Cornelia Olmsted, who was born in that place, March 6, 1843, daughter of Jay and Austrus (Case ) Olmsted, prominent residents of that section of lonia county, the former of whom, born on May 21, 1807, died on April 21, 1864, and the latter, born on February 15, 1815, died in September, 1876. Jay Olmsted and wife were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. DeGarmo was the second in order of birth, the others being Jay, Jr .. Mary Adelaide and Louis Ney. T. A. D. DeGarmo and wife eight children have been born, as follow : Henry Jay, born on October 8, 1866, who married Effie Lockwood and has a son, Raymond, and a daughter, Cornelia, the former of whom married Mila Munger and has a son, John .A., the subject of this sketch ; Anna Mary, born on January 8. 1871, unmarried: Sarah, December 11, 1873, who married George H. McGillivray and has a son and a daughter ; Dale, September 22, 1877, who married H. P. Eddy and has a son, Gerald ; Elias Samuel, October 30. 1880, who married Helen Weaver and has two children, June and Nelson J .: Clara, April 29, 1883, who married D. H. Crawford and has a daughter, Wilma, and Irene, May 21, 1885, who mar- ried Henry Heptner.
John .A. DeGarmo was reared on the paternal farm in the near vicinity of Highland, this state, receiving his education in the schools of that place, and remained at home until after his marriage in the spring of 1892, when he and his wife came to lonia county and established their home on the fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres in the northwest part of Lyons town- ship, where they have lived ever since and where they are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. In the spring of 1911 Mr. DeGarmo was elected supervisor of Lyons township, but his private business affairs at that time required his undivided attention and he gave up the office. His farm is well improved and profitably cultivated and he has long been looked upon as one of the most progressive farmers of that section of the county.
On March 9. 1892, John A. DeGarmo was united in marriage to Ella J. Taylor, who was born at Highland, Michigan, daughter of James and
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Eliza (Beaumont ) Taylor, both natives of Oakland county, the former born at Milford and the latter at Highland, daughter of Francis and Marie Beau- mont, the former born in Lincolnshire, England, and the latter in the state of New York. James Taylor is an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served for three years as a member of Company E. Third Michigan Cavalry, during which service he received a severe wound in one of his legs, which made him a permanent cripple. Upon the conclusion of his military service he returned to his home county and has followed farming there ever since. Mr. DeGarmo is a Mason and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Order of Gleaners. Mr. DeGarmo is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.
FRANK TAFT.
Frank Taft, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen of lonia county, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and seventy-four acres in the southern part of lonia township. was born on the farm on which he still resides, January 2, 1856. son of John W. and Eliza ( Clark ) Taft, early residents of that part of the county and prominent and influential pioneers.
John W. Taft was born near the city of Rochester, New York, April 5. 1812, and was left an orphan when a child. He was reared by an uncle until he was fifteen years of age, after which he started out to make his own way. He became a driver on the tow-path of the Erie canal and after awhile drifted into Canada, where he married Eliza Clark, who was born in Monroe county, New York, a granddaughter of Cephas Clark, a hero of the War of 1812. About two years after his marriage. John W. Clark came into Michigan alone, on a prospecting tour. That was in 1836, Michigan then still being under a territorial form of government, and the country hereabout was practically unsettled. there being but one store in lonia at that time. Mr. Taft bought an eighty-acre tract. the nucleus of the farm now occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch, paying for the same by splitting rails. He presently returned to Canada for his wife and babies and with his family then drove through to his new home in this county, the journey back by wagon requiring six weeks of wearisome travel. He estab- lished his home on his "eighty." and while developing the same continued to work for others, his wife also helping by doing sewing for the pioneer
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FRANK TAFT AND FAMILY.
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neighbors. For some time John W. Taft did his own farm work in the early mornings and late in the evenings, devoting his labors of the day to wage-earning occupations for neighbors, but he presently began to see his way clear and it was not long until he was on the highway to fortune and when the unaccountable tragedy which withdrew him from the scenes of worklly activity occurred he was the owner of a fine farm of about four hundred acres and was a man of means and influence in the community.
It was on November 31, 1865, that John W. Taft mysteriously and utterly disappeared. He had an important engagement to meet at Rochester, New York, and on the morning of the day above mentioned rode to lonia on horseback. expecting to board the train there. He put his horse up at a feed barn and was never seen or heard of again in this community. Though the mystery of his strange disappearance never has been cleared, it became the belief in the community that Mr. Taft was murdered for the consider- able sum of money he was known to be taking Fast with him, and that his body was so effectually concealed by his murderers as to escape the notice of searching parties, which left no stone uncovered in the general efforts that were made to unravel the strange mystery. Mr. Taft's widow kept the family together and continued her residence on the farm until her death on April 5. 1886. To John W. and Eliza (Clark) Taft eight chil- dren were born. as follow: Mary Ann. deceased; Clark, who died when five years old: George L ... of lonia: J. Riley, of Orange township, this county: Sophia C., of lonia, widow of James R. Whiting: Arminda and Philanda, twins, the former of whom, widow of Doctor Gates, lives at Eastport. this state, and the latter of whom, now deceased, was the wife of Henry H. Crowell, of Muir, this county, and Frank, the subject of this sketch.
Frank Taft was about ten years old when bereft of his father so unac- countably. He grew up on the home farin and from boyhood was an able assistant to his widowed mother. Upon finishing his schooling in the lonia high school he was given practical charge of the farm and has followed farming there ever since. For some years he gave attention to the raising of fine stock and his pure-bred Shropshire sheep, Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses ever found a ready market, but of late years he has given more attention to the buying and feeding of cattle for the market and has been quite successful: though he still keeps thoroughbred sires and raises some fine stock. Mr. Taft has a fine home, with broad stone porches. standing amid fine grounds, the house being steam heated and equipped with a modern lighting plant. his barns and other farm buildings being in keep-
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ing with the same. From the days of his youth Mr. Taft has given his earnest attention to local educational matters and has rendered excellent public service as a member of the school board. Ile is a Republican and has served the public in various minor official capacities, including that of supervisor, in which office he served for seven years, 1889-06: while he has been called on frequently to serve as a delegate to county and district con- ventions.
On December 25, 1880, Frank Taft was united in marriage to Mary J. Adgate, who was born in Fonia township, this county, September 9. 1861, daughter of William and Sarah ( Tuttle ) Adgate, a record of which family is set out elsewhere in this volume, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Luetta, who married George Crowell, an lonia town- ship farmer, and has two children, Ray and Clyde: lessie E., who married Clyde Stout, an Orange township farmer, and has two sons. Frank and Sterrey; Myrtle M., who died when twenty years old, February 18, 1908. one week after her graduation from the lonia high school; Leolyn at home: Reva June, who married Harry Callow, of Tonia, and has one child, a daughter, June Maxine, and Marian, who is now a student at Ferris Insti- tute, Big Rapids, where she is specializing in kindergarten work. Mr. and Mrs. Taft also reared, from the time they were six years old until they were eighteen, the twin brothers, Arthur and Mark Rice, born on January 28, 1893. who are now living at Detroit, where both are connected with the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. Mr. and Mrs. Taft are members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith, the fan- ily ever having been mindful of its community duty in the matter of local good works.
THOMAS S. BARBER.
Thomas S. Barber, a prosperous retired farmer of this county, who for years has been actively and profitably engaged in the general produce busi- ness at Saranac, a member of the Saranac Produce Company, and other- wise actively interested in the business affairs of that thriving little city, is a native of lonia county, having been born on a farm in Boston township, four miles south of Saranac, September 2. 1856, son and only child of George and Jane ( Olmstead ) Barber, well-known residents of that com- munity, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Canada.
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When a boy George Barber came to this state with his parents from Pennsylvania, the family settling in Monroe county, later coming to fonia county and settling in Boston township among the very first families of that part of the county. There George Barber grew to manhood, carly taking an active part in pioneer affairs. Ile became a lumberman and his mills prospered, that industry, in connection with his farming, bringing him con- siderable fortune, so that he early became recognized as one of lonia county's most substantial citizens. He had also learned the blacksmith trade and upon retiring from the farm and moving to Saranac was for some time engaged in the blacksmith business there. His wife, who before her mar- riage was Jane Olmstead, had come to Michigan with her parents from Canada when she was six years old. The family settled in Ionia county and here she grew to womanhood, early becoming a teacher in the public schools and was thus engaged at the time of her marriage to George Barber. After their marriage Mr .. and Mrs. Barber established their home on a farin in Boston township and remained there until they retired from the farm and moved to Saranac in 1871.
Thomas S. Barber was about fifteen years old when his parents moved from the farm to Saranac and his schooling was continued in the schools of that village. He presently became engaged as a clerk in a general store at Saranac and was thus employed for ten years, at the end of which time he engaged with his father and another partner in the milling business, under the firm name of Barber & Son & McFeree, and for five years was thus engaged until the business was sold. Mr. Barber then took charge of his farm of three hundred acres, and later became office man for Fitzgibbons & King, staves and heading, and for two or three years was purchasing agent for that firm until the depletion of the supply of material hereabout. During his farming operations, Mr. Barber gave considerable attention to the general produce business and in 1908 was one of the organizers of the Saranac Produce Company, with which he has been actively identified ever since. during which time he has come to be known as one of the most pro- gressive produce men in this section of the state. Mr. Barber is a Demo- crat and gives thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
Mr. Barber's first wife, who before her marriage was Hattie Goodrich. died on July 12. 1906. without issue, and on December 29, 1906, he married, secondly, Blanche E. M. Bonner, one of the best-known school teachers in this part of the state and who is now one of the directors of the Saranac board of education and secretary of that body, the first woman ever elected
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to that position in that city. Mrs. Barber is now serving her second term as secretary of the board and has done much to advance the general inter- ests of the schools since her connection therewith. She was born in Grand Rapids, this state, August 18, 1880, and was reared at Newaygo, being graduated from the high school at that place. She then took a course at the Michigan State Normal and at Ferris Institute, in preparation for a career as a teacher, specializing in English and history, and later taught in the high schools at Newaygo. Grand Rapids and Holland. Mr. Barber is a member of the Saranac lodge of the Masonic fraternity and both he and Mrs. Barber are members of the local lodge of the Order of the Eastern Star, in the affairs of which they take a warm interest.
ROBERT N. TASKER.
Robert N. Tasker, a well-known farmer of Ronald township, this county, proprietor of a fine farm situated at the north edge of the pleasant village of Palo, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the house in which he still lives and which is the first frame house built in that township, October 4, 1844, son of George D. and Cath- erine ( Van Vleck ) Tasker, for many years prominent residents of that com- mumity.
George D. Tasker was a native of Scotland, born near the city of Edin- burgh, who, when about eighteen years old, left home and worked his way across the Atlantic on a sailing vessel. He located in Canada and there learned the trade of carpenter and millwright. He presently came across the border into Michigan and down into Fonia county, locating in what then was known as the Van Vleck settlement in Ronald township, now the Palo neighborhood, where not long afterward he was married to Catherine Van- Vleck, daughter of Matthew VanVleck, head of the Van Vleck family, which was the third family to settle in Ronald township and which became one of the most substantial and influential families in that part of the county. further mention of which family is made elsewhere in this volume. The marriage of George D. Tasker and Catherine Van Vleck was the first wedding in Ronald township and was made the occasion of much merrymaking on the part of the few scattered settlers thereabout. It was a true pioneer wedding and the dining table was graced by a huge wild turkey, shot for the occasion by the bride's brother, Peter Van \'leck.
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George D. Tasker was a skilled carpenter and he soon found plenty of work as the settlement began to fill up. The house he built for him- self and bride was the first frame house built in Ronald township, and the substantial character of that structure is attested by the fact that it still is doing excellent service as a residence for the buildler's son, the subject of this sketch, who has made his home there all his life. George D. Tasker and his wife were charter members of the Baptist church at Palo and he was the master carpenter who superintended the work of construction of the church. His wife's brother, the Rev. John Van Vleck, was the first pastor of that early congregation.
Robert N. Tasker grew to manhood on the home farm at the edge of Palo and has been a life-long farmer. For eighteen years he also operated a threshing outfit and is one of the best-known men in the north- ern part of the county. He well remembers pioneer conditions in his boy- hood days, recalling the fact that at that time there was a small lake just south of Palo, which was a favorite fishing place for the Indians. That lake long since has been drained and is now excellent farm land. Mr. Tas- ker also recalls the vast flocks of wild pigeons that used to fly over that part of the country in such numbers that the sky would be darkened during their flight. Big game was still quite plentiful hereabout then and Mr. Tasker recalls that he shot a bear on Prairie creek, northeast of Palo as late as the latter sixties.
On July 4, 1869. Robert N. Tasker was united in marriage to Hen- riette Howorth, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. D. B. Munger. She died early in 1891. and in November, 1892. Mr. Tasker married. sec- ondly. Mary Munger, who was born near Rochester. New York, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Boardman and Sarah (Annin ) Munger, the father of the bride also performing this second ceremony.
The Rev. D. B. Munger was a native of New York, born in South Byron, that state, March 30, 1830, son of Daniel and Fannie ( Bodurtha) Munger, the former of whom, a soldier of the War of 1812, serving in a Boston regiment. was born in South Brimfield (now Holland ). Massachu- setts. August 30, 1795, son of Deacon Samuel Munger, who was born in that same place on April 15. 17448, and died in Byron, New York, in 1835. Deacon Samuel Munger, a soklier in the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary War. was the son of Elnathan and Deborah ( Thompson) Mun- ger. of Connecticut. Elnathan Munger and two others of his sons also were soldiers of the Revolution and participated in the battle of Bunker Fill. On November 12, 1853. at Leroy. New York. the Rev. D. B. Mit-
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ger was united in marriage to Sarah M. Annin, who was born at that place on January 2, 1835. In December, 1868, Mr. Munger and his family came to Michigan and for five years Mr. Munger served as pastor of the Baptist church at Palo. Ile then served a year at St. Johns, later at Grass Lake, in Jackson county, and then three years in Illinois, after which he was transferred to the pulpit at Manchester, in Washtenaw county, this state, returning in 1886 to Palo. Ile died at the home of his son in Green- ville, in the neighboring county of Montcalm, February 26, 1905, he then being at the age of seventy-five years and eleven months. lle had been twice married. His first wife, the mother of Mrs. Tasker. died in 1868. in Palo, and on May 15, 1870, Mr. Munger married, secondly, Mrs. Amanda A. (Sparks ) Smith, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. John Van \leck. brother of Mr. Tasker's mother.
To Robert N. and Mary ( Munger ) Tasker one child has been born. a son, George Munger Tasker, Born on August 13, 1893, who is an able assistant to his father on the home farm. He received his education in the Palo high school and on September 10, 1914. was united in marriage to Blanche Buffum, who was born in the state of New York. daughter of the Rev. Ira and Nellie Buffum, the former of whom is pastor of the Baptist church at Palo.
CHARLES FREDERICK KIRBY.
Charles Frederick Kirby, a well-known and progressive farmer and stockman of lonia township, this county. proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres on rural route No. 7. out of Ionia, besides a valuable farm in North Plains township, is a native of England, having been born at Banbury, September 27. 1860, son of Charles and Ann W. (Hughes) Kirby, who came to America in 1860, proceeding directly to Michigan and settling at Palo, this county, where Charles Kirby engaged in the shoe business for a number of years, after which he bought a farm two and one-half miles northwest of Palo, in the south part of Montcalm county, where he spent the rest of his life. Charles Kirby was a musician of much ability and for many years was a teacher of music, giving particu- lar attention to the violin. He also was called on as an instructor of brass bands and was widely known throughout this part of the state in that con- nection. He and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church and took an active part in good works. Since the death of her husband.
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Mrs. Kirby, now eighty-five years of age, has made her home with her other son, Morris Kirby, at Carson City, in Montcalm county, this state. Charles Kirby and wife were the parents of four children, namely: Maria, who died at the age of three years: Morris, of Carson City; Ellen, who married Orlando Smith and also lives at Carson City, and Charles F., the subject of this biographical sketch.
Charles F. Kirby was about nine years old when he came to America with his parents and he grew up at Palo. When seventeen years old he went to work in Swain's harness shop at Palo, with a view to learning the trade, but after working at that form of occupation for about three years gave it up and returned to farm work. In 1882 he married Dora Burdick, who was born on a farm in section 1, Ionia township. this county, the place now owned by Mr. Kirby, daughter of Levi and Polly ( Stone ) Bur- dick, early settlers of that part of the county. For ten years after his mar- riage, Mr. Kirby managed the Burdick farm. Mr. Burdick died on Jan- nary 15, 1888, and his widow died four years later. March 5, 1892, after which Mr. Kirby bought the interests of the other heirs to the home place and has since been the proprietor of the same. In addition to his hoklings in section 1. of Ionia township. Mr. Kirby is the owner of a tract in North Plains township and has done well as a farmer and stock raiser. He has greatly improved and added to the farm buildlings on the home place and lie and his family are very comfortably situated. For years Mr. Kirby has given his close attention to local political affairs and has held various township offices. He and his wife are members of the Union church in North Plains township and for the past fifteen years he has been superin- tendent of the Sunday school there. Mr. and Mrs. Kirby have one daugh- ter. Polly, named for her grandmother. Polly Kirby married Frank Soper and has a daughter, Helen.
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