USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 25
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Wellington C. Page was twice married. To the first union four chil- dren were born, of whom two grew to maturity, George W. and Mina, both now deceased, the latter of whom was the wife of George A. Thayer, of Carson City, in the neighboring county of Montcalm. Upon the death of his first wife, Wellington C. Page married, secondly, Amarilla O. Heath, daughter of Daniel Heath and wife, natives of Ohio and early settlers in Ionia county, prominent residents of Ronald township, where both died at advanced ages. Daniel Heath and wife were the parents of five children, Nathan T., William, Mary, Amarilla O. and Frank. To this second umion two children were born, as noted above.
Rufus L. Page was reared in Fonia, the city of his birth, receiving his elementary education in the public schools of that city, which he supple- mented by a course in Detroit University, from which institution he was graduated in 1884. Following his graduation from the university, Mr. Page was admitted to partnership with his father in the latter's extensive enterprises and at the death of the elder Page became his successor in busi- ness, all of which, save the coal and building-material business, he gradually closed out, and since 1907 has devoted his attention exclusively to the latter line, in which he has been very successful.
On June 1, 1905, Rufus 1. Page was united in marriage to Gertrude A. Pennell, who was born at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, daughter of .1. D. Pennell and Sallie T. (Long ) Pennell natives of Pennsylvania, both of whom are now deceased, and to this union two children have been born, as follow : Sallie Louise, who died in infancy, and Rufus, born in 1906.
Mr. Page is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful attention to local governmental affairs, but has never been included in the office- seeking class. He is a member of the Ionia lodges of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and of the Royal Arcanum, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
By a former marriage, Mr. Page became the father of two children, as follow: Marian, a graduate of National Park Seminary at Washington. D. C., who took post-graduate work in Paris and Vienna, and married
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Charles A. Ross, of the United States army, now stationed at Ft. William, Seward. Alaska, and has two children. daughters, Marian Frances and Margery, and Wellington C., who died at the age of sixteen years.
FRED G. LAUSTER.
Fred G. Lauster, junior member of the Cutler-Lauster Drug Company, of Ionia, and one of the best-known and most enterprising business men of that city, is a native son of Ionia, having been born there on August 2, 1875. son of George F. and Wilhelmina ( Fiebling) Lauster, to whom were born two children, Fred G., the subject of this sketch, and Edward Lauster, of Flint, this state.
George F. Lauster, who is still in business in Ionia, a well-known shoe dlealer, is one of the oldest business men in that city. He is the son of Gottlieb and Barbara Lauster, natives of Germany, the former of whom was a clerk in the court house in his native town in the Fatherland, who came to America shortly after their marriage, presently locating in lonia, where they spent the remainder of their lives, both living to good old ages. They were the parents of five children, George F., Fred G., William ( deceased). Mrs. Sophia Mergenthaler and Charles. George F. Lauster learned the shoemaking trade when a youth and was a competent craftsman. He later engaged in the shoe business at lonia and has ever since been thus engaged. His wife's parents, the Fiebings, also natives of Germany, were early settlers in lonia county, where Grandfather Fiebing was employed by the Pere Marquette railroad. He met with a railway accident by which he suffered the loss of one of his legs, the shock proving fatal. At his death he left a widow and two children, Wilhelmina and Rudolph. Grand- mother Fiebing lived to an old age, she having been eighty-four years of age at the time of her death.
Fred G. Lauster was reared in Jonia, the city of his birth, and has lived there all his life. He was diligent in his studies in the public schools and early began his mercantile career. At the age of eighteen he was engaged as a clerk in the drug store of W. R. Cutler in lonia and from the first gave his studious attention to the task of mustering the details of the difficult business. Presently he passed his pharmaceutical examination and was admitted to register by the state board of pharmacy. In 1905 Mr. Lauster bought an interest in the store with which he had been so long con-
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nected, the firm name becoming Cutler & Lauster, and thus continued until 1915, in which year a company was formed and incorporated, with a capi- tal stock of eight thousand five hundred dollars, under the name of the Cutler-Lauster Drug Company, which has since been operating the store, Mr. Lauster being the practical manager of the same.
On October 31, 1900, Fred G. Lauster was united in marriage to Bessie Beck, who was born near Charlotte, in Eaton county, this state. daughter of John and Sarah ( Edson) Beck, both now deceased, who were the parents of six children, Sarah, John, Jacob, Fred. Walter and Bessie, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter. Grace Wilhelmina. Mr. and Mrs. Lauster are members of the Presbyterian church and take an active interest in the various movements designed to better local conditions. being held in high regard by their many friends hereabout. Mr. Lauster is a Republican. He is a charter member of the Elks lodge at Ionia and a member of the Masonic lodge at the same place, taking a warm interest in the affairs of both bodies.
CHARLIE C. RICE.
Charlie C. Rice, for the past two years engaged in the real-estate. insurance and loan business in Portland. lonia county, Michigan, is a native of that place, born on April 1, 1860, at a time when the now thriving town was nothing but a small village and trading post.
Charlie C. Rice is a son of N. B. and Mary E. (Newman) Rice, and the former was born in Orleans, Ontario county, New York, in 1828, a son of Caleb Rice. N. B. Rice received such education as the schools of his section at that time afforded and was early trained in the work of the farm home. When N. B. Rice was about nineteen years of age, his father. Caleb, journeyed to this section of the country and near Roxana, in Eaton county, this state, he took up a section of land, which was at that time nothing but a wilderness. After being here about a year, Caleb Rice returned to his home in New York state for his family. N. B. Rice being twenty years of age when the family finally settled here. He. himself, took up a claim for one hundred and sixty acres and lived thereon for a couple of years, or until such time as he entered Ypsilanti University, being a member of the first class graduated from that institution. He then engaged in teaching school throughout this section during the winter season, devoting his energies to improving his farm in the summer and it was when he came
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to Portland to take up educational work that he met and married Mary E. Newman in 1854-1855. They remained in Portland until 1860, when they took up their residence on the farm where they stayed for forty-five years, at which time they had sixty acres under cultivation. In the spring of 1865 they returned to Portland, but he continued in the farming interests until 1875, when he bought an interest in the flour-mill, known thereafter as the Newman & Rice mill, and for the next eighteen years gave it his undivided attention. He helped to build the new mill and then disposed of his inter- est to Fred Knox, who still operates the business. The flour-mill was N. B. Rice's last business venture, for he retired from the active affairs of life with the sale of the mill and lived until May 1, 1913, dying in Portland.
Mary E. (Newman ) Rice was the daughter of James E. Newman and Rebecca Hixson, his wife, and was born on November 7 or 9. 1837, the first white child born in the village of Portland and the second white child in the township. James Newman (born in 1812) came to this section of the state in 1834 in company with his father. Elisha Newman, and another son. Almeron. The three pre-empted land from the government in sec- tions 27. 28. 33 and 34. of Portland township, at the junction of the Look- ing Glass and Grand rivers and where the town of Portland now lays. There was, of course. no trace of a town at that time, and being among the first white settlers, the Newmans helped to plat the town. James E. New- man, together with a brother of his wife, Abraham Hixson, and a man by the name of l'eter Kent, built the first dam in this section and started the first mill. This mill he continued to operate until his death, in 1878, buying out the interests of Hixson and Kent shortly after the enterprise was started.
Charlie C. Rice is the second child in a family of three, the eldest being Effie ( wife of Asa Newman), who died in 1880, and the youngest of the family is Hiram Elwin. Charlie C. grew to manhood in Portland, receiving the best education the schools at that time afforded and then went to work on the family homestead. It was while thus employed that he was married to Jennie C. Jenkins on November 27, 1879. She was the daughter of Sylvester and Mary ( Densmore ) Jenkins, the Densmores having come to this section about the same time as the Newmans. Charlie C. Rice con- tinued to make his home on the farm, working part of the time in the mill and in 1901 and 1902 was township supervisor until 1903. at which time he moved into Portland and was elected to the office of county drain com- missioner for 1904-1905. He conscientiously discharged the duties of that office and entered the retail grocery business in 1906. He gave that enter-
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prise his attention for the following eight years, and in 1914 disposed of that business and entered the field of real estate, insurance and loans.
Mr. Rice is a popular man, well liked by a host of friends. His relig- ious membership is with the Universalist church of Portland and his fra- ternal affiliation in the Free and Accepted Masons, through Portland Lodge No. 31. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Portland Lodge No. 199, and the Royal Arcanum of Portland. Politically. he gives stanch support to the Republican party and has filled various local offices. Ile was elected supervisor of Portland township in 1901, holding that office for three consecutive terms, and resigned to take the place of county drain commissioner in 1904. For the past eight years he has been village assessor of Portland, discharging the duties of the various offices in a manner highly satisfactory. There are two children in the Charlie C. Rice family, Oscar S., employed in Portland, and Floyd C., a printer, living in Lansing, this state. Mrs. Rice belongs to the Eastern Star and also the Rebekahs. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Universalist church (there is no church of this denomination in Portland), but subject and wife attend church out of town occasionally. Mrs. Mary E. Rice, mother of Charlie C. Rice, is still living and makes her home with her son. She is now seventy-nine years of age.
JUDGE MONTGOMERY WEBSTER.
Montgomery Webster, judge of the probate court of lonia county, who was appointed to that responsible position in December, 1904, succeeded his father, the late Judge William O. Webster. He is a native son of lonia, having been born in that city. September 13, 1876, son of William O. and Susan ( Montgomery ) Webster, for years prominent residents of lonia, the latter of whom is still living there.
The late William O. Webster was born in Cayuga county, New York. eldest of the five children born to his parents, William and Flora (Long) Webster, well-to-do farming people of that section, the other children of the family having been Goodwin, Hanson, Hezekiah, Flora E. and F. Emerson. Ile was given excellent educational advantages and was graduated from Hamilton College in 1865. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and upon the completion of the course located at lonia, where he engaged in the practice of his profession
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during the remainder of his life. He married Susan Montgomery, who was born at Chautauqua, New York, daughter of the Rev. Alexander and Laura A. ( Bliss) Montgomery, both natives of that state, who later moved to Chicago and thence to Beloit, Wisconsin, Mr. Montgomery dying at the age of fifty and his widow later at the age of sixty-three. The Rev. Alex- ander Montgomery was a minister of the Presbyterian church and he and his wife were the parents of five children, Susan, Ethan T., Emma, Alex- ander and William S.
William O. Webster, from the very beginning of his practice in lonia, took a prominent position at the bar and was a successful attorney. He was one of the elders of the Presbyterian church at Ionia and both he and his wife took an earnest interest in good works hereabout. About four years before his death, in 1904, he was elected to the office of judge of the lonia county probate court and was serving in that position at the time of his death, at the age of sixty-two years. Judge William O. Webster and wife were the parents of four children, namely: William, who died when about fifteen years of age; Montgomery, the subject of this sketch; Anna P., of Ionia, and Ruth B., a teacher in Detroit.
Montgomery Webster was reared and educated in Ionia and was grad- uated from the high school in 1805. Entering the University of Michigan, he was graduated from the literary department of that institution in 1904. He then took a year in the law department of the university and in Decem- ber, of that year. following the death of his father, was appointed by Gov- ernor Bliss judge of probate for lonia county and has since served in that capacity, having been re-elected at the polls. Previous to his appointment he had acquired a thorough working knowledge of the details of the probate court, while register of probate under his father.
On August 9, 1913. Montgomery Webster was united in marriage to Jessie Lee, who was born in Keene township, this county, daughter of A. Judson and Marian ( Thompson ) Lee, natives of this state; the former died in February, 1913. and the latter is still living. A. Judson Lee was the son of fliram Lee and wife, natives of Cayuga county, New York, carly settlers of Jonia county and for years prominent residents of Keene town- ship. Mrs. Webster is the second in order of birth of three daughters, her sisters being Mrs. Maud Sparks and Hazel Lee. Judge and Mrs. Webster have one son, Montgomery Lee. They are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Judge Webster is an elder. He is also a member of the local lodges of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Elks, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
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CHARLES H. BRADLEY.
Charles H. Bradley, well-known undertaker and dealer in furniture. at lonia, who has been in that business since 1891, is a native of the British dominion across the border to the north, having been born at Brampton, the seat of Peel county, Ontario, about twenty miles west of Toronto, Can- ada, April 1, 1863, son of George and Margaret ( Smith) Bradley, both natives of the city of Scarborough, in Yorkshire, England, who came to this side some time after their marriage and settled in Canada, later moving to Chicago and thence to Detroit, where their last days were spent.
George Bradley was the son of Jack Bradley and wife, natives of England, who spent all their lives in that country. His wife was the son of an English sea captain and both her father and mother also spent all their lives in England. George Bradley grew to manhood in Scarborough, on the east coast of England, and was trained to the trade of house and sign painter, which he followed all his life. Ile married in his native town and several of his children were born there. He and his family emigrated to Canada and located at Brampton, where they lived until 1866, in which year they came to the United States and located at Chicago, where Mr. Bradley was for some time engaged at his trade. While living there the Bradleys made a trip back to England, returning to Chicago by way of Canada, and some time later moved to Detroit, this state, where both Mr. and Mrs. Bradley spent their last days, her death occurring in 1885, she then being sixty-eight years of age, and his in 1887. he then being seventy years of age. In England the Bradleys were adherents of the established church, but upon coming to this country united with the Methodists and their children were reared in the latter faith. There were ten of these chil- dren, namely : Mary Ann, wife of William Coleman, of Owen Sound. Ontario; George, who died in August. 1914; William B., of Los Angeles. California; Emily, deceased, who was the wife of A. G. Husband; Mrs. Sarah Hopkins, a widow of Grosse Isle. this state; Frances 11., deceased. who was the wife of James W. Ailes, of Detroit, this state; Charles II., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and three who died in youth.
Charles H. Bradley was about five years old when his parents moved from Brampton to Chicago and he received his education in the schools of the latter city. He lived with his parents until grown and learned the painter's trade under the competent direction of his father and his brothers.
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George and William, becoming a skilled artisan in that line. He later was engaged for a time in the patent-medicine house of his brother-in-law. Charles Emmert, at Chicago, and when nineteen years old became a commer- cial traveler, in the service of another brother-in-law, James W. Ailes, of the firm of C. D. Widman & Company, Detroit, and was thus engaged for eleven years. In the meantime Mr. Bradley had married an lonia county girl and in 1891 moved here, locating at lonia, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in partnership with O. J. Bretz, which association was maintained for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Bradley bought his partner's interest in the concern and has since con- clucted the business alone, long having been regarded as one of the leading business men of the town. He carries a fine stock of goods and has built up an extensive trade in the furniture line. In the undertaking department of his business, Mr. Bradley carries a complete and up-to-date equipment and is considered one of the best funeral directors in this part of the state. On July 3, 1888. Charles H. Bradley was united in marriage to Mary 1. Brown, who was born in Keene township, this county, in 1870, daughter of Matthew and Melinda ( Babcock ) Brown, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter near Pontiac, this state, both now dead. to whom two children were born, Mrs. Bradley having a brother, Glenn L. Brown. Matthew Brown had been previously married and to his first union five childiren had been born, Albert, of Saranac, this county; Harvey, of Keene township: Jerome, of Maxwood. this state: Jennie, of Elsie, this state, and Joseph, of Keene township.
To Charles 11. and Mary L. ( Brown) Bradley five children have been bern, Matthew G., Harold S .. Ethel 1., Russell A. and Glenn A. Matthew (. Bradley, who is actively employed in his father's furniture establishment. married Almira Higgins, and has three children. Marian A., Leora Brown and Floy Eloise. Harold S. Bradley, the second son, is in the employ of the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company, of lonia. and the other children are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are carnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in all movements having to do with the advancement of the community's general welfare, being held in high regard throughout the county. Mr. Bradley is a thirty-second degree Mason and takes nich interest in Masonic affairs. He is a mem- ber of Ionia Lodge No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons; Jonia Chapter No. 1.1. Royal Arch Masons: Tonia Council, Royal and Select Masters; lonia Commandery No. HI, Knights Templar, of which he has been the captain-
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general since 1903; DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, at Grand Rapids, and Saladin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids. He is a charter member of lonia Lodge No. 548, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is also a member of lonia Lodge No. 175, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. In his political affiliations, Mr. Bradley is a Republican and ever has given his thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
CHARLES GATES.
Charles Gates, superintendent of the lonia county infirmary, was formerly a farmer in section 5, of Berlin township, where he still owns a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which farm he first saw the light of day on February 2, 1880. He is a son of David and Charlotte (-An- drews) Gates, the former of whom was also born on the farm in Berlin township, a son of Harry P'. Gates, who came to this section at an early date from the state of New York. After marriage, Harry P'. Gates came westward, locating for a time in Indiana and later coming to this county, where he purchased the farm in section 5, of Berlin township. There he lived the remainder of his days, being of great assistance in the early organization of this county. He was also a devoted churchman, a member of the Baptist church at Saranac and a deacon in that society for a number of years. Ile was considered fairly well-to-do in his day and was one of the leading spirits of this section at that time. David. son of Harry P. and father of Charles Gates, purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead and remained there until 1910, when he disposed of it to Claude Branson and took up his residence at Saranac.
Charlotte Andrews was born in Rhode Island and came with her par- ents to Van Buren county, this state, where she grew to womanhood. She is the mother of three children, the eldest being Bertha. wife of Ellis Dur- kee, a farmer of Berlin township; Charles, the second child. is the immediate subject of this sketch, and the youngest is Lottie, wife of James Lyons, of Detroit.
Charles Gates received his education in the district schools near his home. remaining with his parents until the time of his marriage, on April 2, 1902, to Vennie Adgate, a daughter of Chester and Nora Adgate. The
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present county infirmary is the old Adgate homestead. sold by the heirs to the county in 1906. After marriage, Charles Gates and wife settled on their own farm of ninety acres adjoining his father on the north, to which they later added forty acres, remaining thereon until March of 1914.
Charles Gates and wife are the parents of three children: Hazel, the eldest, died when but three years of age; Alfred and Glenn are both attend- ing the district schools at present. Mr. Gates is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows through local lodge No. 168, at Saranac, and politically, he gives support to the Democratic party, being one of the most active members of that party in local affairs.
GEORGE W. MOULTON.
George W. Moulton county clerk of Ionia county, former postmaster of Belding, in which latter city he was for years engaged in the real-estate business, is a native son of Michigan, having been born in the town of Plymouth, in Wayne county, this state, July 12, 1866, son of Enoch S. and Electa ( Sperry ) Moulton, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Pennsylvania, who later became well-known residents of Bekdling, in this county.
Enoch S. Moulton was one of a considerable family of children born to Daniel Moulton and wife, the latter of whom was a Gilman, both natives of New Hampshire, who spent all their lives in that state, both living to ripe old ages. He was reared in his native state and became an expert car- penter and joiner. He married Electa Sperry, whose parents both died in middle age in their home in Pennsylvania, and in 1858 came to Michigan, locating at Plymouth, in Wayne county. where he followed his trade and where he was living when the Civil War broke out. Responding to the call to arms, Enoch S. Moulton enlisted for service and was made a sergeant of Company D, First Regiment, Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, with which he served for three years.
At the conclusion of his military experience, Enoch S. Moulton returned home and about 1871 moved to Belding, this county, to take charge, as superintendent, of a sash, door and blind factory, and there he spent the rest of his life, the last twenty years of his life being clouded by ill health, his death occurring on March 11, 1902, he then being seventy years of age. His widow is still living at Bekling, in her eightieth year.
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