USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 26
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Enoch S. Moulton was a man of considerable prominence in his commun- ity during the active years of his life and had served the public in the capacity of township clerk and as a justice of the peace. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. These children, five in number, are as follow : Eugene D., Emma. widow of Edward Lamb, residing in Belding; Elmer E., also of Belding; George W., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Clara S .. a stenographer at Belding.
George W. Moulton was six years of age when his parents moved to Bekling and he grew to manhood in that city. Following his graduation from the high school in 1885 he went to Lansing, where he was engaged as a clerk in a clothing store for a year, at the end of which time he returned home and soon afterward engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in which he became quite successful, soon becoming one of the best-known men in the county, his activities in his business taking him to all parts of this and adjoining counties. Mr. Moulton is a Republican and he early began to take an interest in politics, giving his earnest attention to civic affairs. Ile was supervisor from Belding in 1893-94: was city clerk of Belding from 1898 to 1903. a part of which time he also served as jus- tice of the peace; from 1904 to 1908 he was connected with the state land office at Lansing, and in 1910 he received his commission as postmaster at Belding, serving in that capacity until 1914. in November of which latter vear he was elected county clerk, shortly thereafter moving to lonia. the county seat, and on January 1. 1915. entered upon the duties of that import- ant office and is now serving the public very satisfactorily in that capacity. Mr. Moulton still retains his business interests in Belding and is besides the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in Otisco town- ship, which he rents out to advantage, and is accounted quite a substantial citizen.
On March 13, 1892, George W. Moulton was united in marriage to Jennie French, who was born on a farm near Morley, in the neighboring county of Mecosta, February 10, 1860. daughter of Henry and Charlotte ( Crowfoot ) French, both natives of this state, still living in Mecosta county. to whom eleven children have been born, of whom seven are still living. Warren, Albert, Charles, Ira. Elsie, Sarah and Jennie, the deceased being Anna, Dora, Alta and a son who died in infancy.
To George W. and Jennie ( French ) Moulton three children have been born: Howard R., a student in Ferris Institute: Bruce S., a graduate of the Belding high school, now acting as deputy county clerk, in the office
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of his father, and Gilman, a student in the lonia schools. The Moultons have many friends throughout the county and are held in high esteem by all. Mr. Moulton is a member of the Masonic and the Pythian lodges at Belding and of the lodge of the Elks at lonia and takes a warm interest in the affairs of those popular orders.
GEORGE PRAY WINCHELL, M. D.
Dr. George Pray Winchell, former mayor of lonia and a well-known and successful physician of that city, is a native son of Ionia county, hav- ing been born on a farm in Ronald township, November 1, 1873, son of Monroe B. and Caroline ( Moffett ) Winchell, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Ohio, who came to this section of Michigan in the days of their youth and became prominent and influential residents of Ionia county.
Monroe B. Winchell was the sixth in order of birth of the seven chil- dren born to Lorenzo and Mary ( Castle ) Winchell, the others having been Theodore, Lemuel, Addison, Mary L., Phoebe and Mary. Lorenzo Win- chell was born at Egremont. Massachusetts, and his wife was born in the village of Canaan, Columbia county, New York. At an early day in the settlement of this section of Michigan they emigrated with their family from New York state and settled in lonia county, where they established their home in Ronald township and there they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Winchell died at the age of sixty-five and her husband survived her many years, he being eighty-six years of age at the time of his death.
It was about the year 1870 that Monroe Winchell moved over from Kent county into lonia county and in 1880 Monroe Winchell bought a forty-acre fruit farm a mile and one-half northeast of lonia and there established his home. He married Caroline Moffett, of Kent county, dangh- ter of James and Mary Moffett, who had driven through from Ohio to that county, with their family, by ox-team, and become permanent residents of Kent county. James Moffett had been the owner of a large woolen- mill and an extensive farm in Ohio, but through the financial misfortunes of his business partner had lost pretty much everything he possessed and decided to come to the new country hereabout and start over again. Both he and his wife spent their last days in Kent county, he being seventy-nine years of age at the time of his death and she sixty-five. They were the
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parents of twelve children, of whom nine grew to maturity : Excine, Helen, Clarissa, Abigail, Emma, Caroline, Lottie, Robert and Albert.
Monroe B. Winchell became a well-to-do farmer and fruit raiser and remained on the farm adjacent to lonia until about the year 1902, when he and his wife retired from the farm and moved into the city of lonia, where Mrs. Winchell died in 1903. at the age of fifty-seven years. He is still liv- ing there, a highly respected citizen of Ionia. Mr. Winchell is a member of the Methodist church, as was his wife, and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, all of whom are still living, namely: Walter L., of lonia; Mildred Belle, unmarried, who also lives at lonia; Dr. George P., the subject of this biographical sketch; Laura M., wife of J. E. Dodds, of Detroit. this state: Dr. Clarence G., a dentist, of lonia, and Mary, wife of Edward Conroy, of Ionia township, this county.
George P. Winchell was reared on the home farm near Ionia and was graduated from the lonia high school in 1896. after which he taught school for four years, at the end of which time, in 1900, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan from which he was graduated in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his chosen profession, Doctor Winchell established an office in fonia and has ever since been engaged in practice in that city, being one of the best-known Homeopathic physicians in this part of the state. Doctor Winchell is a close student and keeps fully abreast of the constant advance in the practice of medicine, taking an active interest in the delib- erations of the lonia County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, of which organization he is a member. He occupies a high position in the estimation of his profess- ional colleagues hereabout and an equally high position in the esteem of the general public. Doctor Winchell is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful attention to the political affairs of the county. He was honored by the people of fonia by his election to the office of mayor of that city and served a term as chief executive of the city very creditably. During his incumbency the city hall, armory, new fire barn and State street sewer were constructed.
On November 17. 1897, George P. Winchell was united in marriage . to Cora Hall, who was born in lonia, daughter of Arthur N. and Matilda ( Martin) Hall, the former of whom was born in this county and the latter in Canada, and both of whom are still living. Arthur N. Hall is one of the six children born to Joshua Hall and wife, the latter of whom was a Haight, who were among the earliest settlers of this county, the other chil-
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dren of that family having been Henry. Luther, Frank. John and Ada. Three of the children born to Arthur N. Hall and wife are still living, Roy. Herbert C. and Ralph. Mrs. Cora Winchell died on March 19. 1899. at the age of twenty-six years, leaving a daughter. Dorothy.
On June 28, 1904. George P. Winchell was married. secondly, to Martha L. Norton, who was born at Hudson, this state, daughter of Henry W. and Lovisa ( Holmes ) Norton. Henry W. Norton, who is still living. is a native of New York state, being the eldest of the two children born to his parents, Henry Norton and wife, natives of that same state. His wife died in lonia in 1908, at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of seven children : Henry P., Mary, Lucy, Charles, Helen. Martha and Arthur. Mrs. Norton was one of a family of fourteen chil- dren born to her parents, among those who grew to maturity being Hiram, Alfred, Lucy. Durinda. Amanda and Sarah.
To Dr. George P. and Martha L. ( Norton ) Winchell four children have been born, Katherine, Pauline, Jessie and Norton Moffett. Doctor and Mrs. Winchell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the doctor being one of the trustees of that church, and take a warm interest in the general social and cultural affairs of the community, being held in high regard by their many friends in Tonia and throughout the county.
CORAL A. STILLWELL.
Coral A. Stillwell, a well-known merchant of lonia, this county, doing business in the general second-hand house furnishings line. at the same time maintaining a well-equipped cabinet shop, making a specialty of expert repairs to furniture. is a native son of Michigan, having been born at Galesburg. this state, February 6, 1877, son of Charles and Mary ( Palmer ) Stillwell. both natives of this state, as were their respective parents before them.
Charles Stillwell was reared on a farm two miles from Galesburg and became a carpenter by trade. Ilis father and mother both lived to ripe okl ages, the former having been ninety-nine years of age at the time of his death. They were the parents of four children, George, Charles, Susan and Irvin. Mrs. Stillwell's father was a blacksmith and both he and his wife lived to old age, the latter being past ninety at the time of her death. Grand- father Palmer was a veteran of the Civil War and during the latter years of his life his physical condition was much affected by the results of his army
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service. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Mary, Calista, Ella, Issie, Milo and Merrett. Charles Stillwell and wife are both still living.
Coral A. Stillwell was reared at Galesburg and at Hamilton, this state. receiving his education in the public schools, and at the age of fifteen started out for himself and has made his own way in the world ever since. His first work was as clerk in a store and he then followed various pursuits. until he took up cabinet-making, in which he became quite proficient and which he has followed ever since. He worked in various factories, also becoming an expert upholsterer, and has had a wide experience in furniture making. He presently engaged in business for himself and after being located temporarily in Sheridan, Sparta, Belding, Greenville and Bowen City, settled in Ionia in 1912 and has since then been located in that city. doing an extensive business in the second-hand house furnishings line and general furniture repair.
In 1800 Coral .A. Stillwell was united in marriage to Della Jones, also a native of Michigan, daughter of Horace and Louisa Jones, of Sheridan, this state, the former of whom is a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Still- well has two brothers and two sisters, Fred, Arthur, Jennie and Nettie. To Coral A. and Della (Jones) Stillwell five children have been born, Milton. Dorothy, Charles, Harold and Laverne. Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell are mem- bers of the Methodist church. They have made many friends during the time they have been located in Ionia and are held in high regard by all. Mr. Stillwell is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in the political affairs of the county and state.
ANTHONY M. KORN.
One of the farmers of Keene township, lonia county, who believes in adopting modern methods of tilling the soil is Anthony M. Kohn, who was born on the farm where he now lives, in section 16. November 17, 1860. He is a son of Anton and Johanna ( Schmidt ) Kohn. The father was born in Trieves, Prussia, in 1820, and the mother was a native of Luxemburg, Germany. For two years he was one of the body guard for Emperor William. When young they came to the United States and were married in Albany, New York, later taking up their residence in Erie county, that state, where they bought a farm, which they sold in a few years and came
ANTHONY M. KOHN AND FAMILY.
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ANTON AND JOHANNA KOHN.
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by boat to Detroit in 1848, on first steamer to cross Lake Erie, and from there drove a one-horse wagon to Cook's Corners, Otisco township, Ionia county, Michigan, where he worked as a laborer for some time, then bought a farm there, but owing to the fever and ague prevailing there, sold out and bought a farm one-half mile north of the Catholic church, and he resided there until the spring of 1858, when he located in Keen township on a farm which is now owned by Anthony M. It consisted of forty acres, and he went in debt for most of it, assuming a mortgage of eighty dollars, which was considered by his neighbors as about the worth of the place. He was a man of thrift, and he made a success, and later added to his holdings until he had a farm of one hundred acres, and also bought eighty in another part of Otisco township. He was a member of the Catholic church and was a liberal supporter of the same. Politically, he was a Republican. His death occurred in February, 1908, his wife having died in February, 1907. She was born January 10, 1832. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on April 22, 1901, their marriage having taken place on April 21, 1851. They became parents of six children, three of whom survive, namely: John F., who is farming in Otisco township; Lydia, who is the wife of John M. Laux, and they live in Keen township. and Anthony M., the subject of this sketch. Subject's father was a man of six feet and weighed two hundred pounds. He was a vigorous, power- ful man in his prime.
Anthony M. was reared on the home farm and he was educated in the district schools of Keene township. He has always lived on the homestead and took care of his parents in their old age. He has kept the place under good improvements and a high state of cultivation. He owns two hun- dred and forty acres, all in Keene township, and he carries on general farming and raises good live stock of all kinds.
Mr. Kohn was married on September 13, 1898, to Minnie Gork, of Comstock Park, Michigan. She was born in Germany. Two sons have been born to this union, namely: York, whose birth occurred on December 21. 1899. is engaged in farming with his father, and Paul, who was born on December 16. 1902, is attending school.
Politically, Mr. Kohn is a Republican. He has served as highway commissioner, also as treasurer and supervisor of his township, holding the office of supervisor four years. He has also been school director. lle is one of the influential and honored men of Keene township, where he has spent his life and has always enjoyed a good reputation.
(18a)
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AMOS M. WELCH.
Amos M. Welch, head of the firm of A. M. Welch & Sons, of the Michigan Land Company, of lonia, this county, one of the most extensive landowners in this section of the state and for years recognized as one of the most active and influential men of affairs hereabout is a native son of lonia county having been born on a homestead farm in lonia township, January 17, 1857. son of Col. John B. and Sarah Ann ( Morgan ) Welch, natives of New York state and early settlers of this county, for many years leaders in the pioneer life of this section.
Col. John B. Welch was the son of Vine and Ruth ( Squires ) Welch. both natives of New York state, the former a blacksmith, who became pioneers of lonia county, having settled here in a very early day in the set- tlement of this region, and here they spent their last days, both living to ripe old ages, long active in the pioneer life of the community. Vine Welch and wife were the parents of seven children, Levi, Simon, Eliza, Ezekiel. Polly, John B. and Vine. John B. Welch was reared in New York state and became a butcher by trade. There he married Marcia Keziah Wilson, who died, leaving two children, Eliza and Ruth. Ile then came West, seek- ing a new home and was attracted by the possibilities presented in this section of Michigan. He walked all the way from Detroit carrying a gun on his shoulder, and settled in Ionia township. this county, where he bought eighty acres of land. which he proceeded to clear. Shortly after his arrival here he married. secondly, Mrs. Sarah Ann Roberts, widow of Amos Rob- erts, and the mother of three children, James B., Statira and George R. Mrs. Roberts was born in the state of New York, daughter of Captain Sellen and Lucena ( Palmer) Morgan, both natives of that same state, who spent all their lives there. Captain Morgan, who was the son of a Revolu- tionary soldier, was a captain of the company of state militia at Hion, New York, and was a prosperous shipper and grain buyer, who owned a fleet of canal boats plying on the waters of the old Erie canal. He died on January 30, 1837, at the age of fifty-three years. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, Seklen E., Abel G., Samuel, Sarah Ann. George P .. David, Anson, James, Alzena and Walter G. When Mrs. Roberts came to Ionia county she rode in a rude wagon from Grand Rapids to Ada, and thence by canoe, the same paddled by two Indians, up the Grand river to a point one mile west of lonia, landing at a log cabin which stood until 1913 on the site now owned by the state reformatory.
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After his second marriage John B. Welch established his home on his pioneer tract in Ionia township and there reared his family, he and his wife quickly taking a lead in the pioneer life of the community. Upon the break- ing out of the Civil War he raised the Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned colonel of that regiment. At the conclusion of his military experience, Colonel Welch resumed his activities in an agricultural way and speedily prospered. As he prospered, he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of seven hundred acres of land and was accounted one of the most substantial farmers in the county. In their declining years he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Ionia, where Colonel Welch died in 1895, at the age of eighty years. His widow survived him nine years, she being eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. Both were earnest members of the Christian church and firmly believed in the gospel as taught by the primitive or first disciples of Christ. Four children were born to Colonel Welch's second marriage, namely: Marcia. who married John H. Hamilton, a prominent resident of lonia: Mary, wife of K. R. Smith, also of lonia; John D., of Portland, Oregon, and Amos M., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch.
Amos M1. Welch was reared on the homestead farm in Ionia town- ship, receiving his elementary education in the district school in that neigh- borhood, after which he entered the high school at lonia. After completing the course there he continued making his home on the farm and there resided until he had reached manhood's estate, for a time acting as manager of the same. In 1879, then being twenty-two years of age, he went to Kansas, arriving in that state on December i of that year, and there made his home for five years, residing in Elk county. On May 1. 1884, he returned to Ionia county and upon his father's retirement from the farm about that time he bought the old home place, which he still owns, and there he lived until 1910, in which year he turned the place, now comprising a well-culti- vated tract of four hundred and forty-five acres, over to his son, John B., and moved to Ionia, where he has made his home ever since. Upon locat- ing in lonia, Mr. Welch organized the Michigan Land Company, operated under the direction of the firm of A. M. Welch & Sons, and has done a large business in realty. besides taking part in other enterprises. Besides the home farm he is the owner of other land in this county and five thou- sand acres in losco and Ogemaw counties and is one of the directors of the State Savings Bank of lonia.
In Kansas City, Missouri. Amos M. Welch was united in marriage to
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Emma Tremayne, daughter of Dr. Henry and Jane (Johnson) Tremayne, natives of Canada, the former of whom for many years was a prominent physician at Tremayne's Corners, having walked to that place at the time of his location there, his practice covering the period when doctors were wont to visit their patients on horseback, dispensing their medicines from saddlebags. Doctor Tremayne died in 1906 and his widow is still living. They were the parents of but two children, Emma and Henry.
To Amos M. and Emma ( Tremayne) Welch four children have been born, sons all, as follow : John B., a farmer of Ronald township, who mar- ried Leah Rogers and has one child, a son, Amos; Henry T., in charge of the old homestead, who married Blanche Reynolds and has two children, Douglas R. and Emma J .: Amos Palmer, living at home. a graduate of Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, who is now shipping clerk for the Ypsilanti Reed Company, and George Douglas, who died at the age of eighteen monthis. Mrs. Welch is a member of the Episcopal church. Both she and her hus- band are warmly concerned in all movements having to do with the advance- ment of the common good hereabout and are held in high regard by their many friends throughout the county. Mr. Welch is a Democrat and takes an active interest in local politics, but has never been included in the office- seeking class. He is a member of the local lodges of the Elks, the Wood- men and of the Knights of the Maccabees.
EDWIN FOREST BECKWITH, M. D.
Dr. Edwin Forrest Beckwith, who for more than a quarter of a century has been one of the leading medical practitioners in this part of the state and who has been located at Tonia, this county, since the year 1887, is a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of Marietta, that state, May 18, 1857, son of Dr. Ephraim Craig and Frances Knight ( Forrest) Beck- with. both natives of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Columbus, the capital of that state.
Ephraim Craig Beckwith was born at Norwalk, in the Western Reserve. Ohio. Ilis father and mother, the latter of whom was a Herrick, were Eastern people and both lived to ripe old ages, the former dying at the age of seventy and the latter at the great age of ninety-four. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, all of whom became
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connected with the medical profession, those besides the son above mentioned being David H., a prominent physician: Ezra, who was a prosperous drug- gist : Seth, who also became a physician, and Marian, who married Dr. T. P. Wilson, who for years was professor of materia medica in the Uni- versity of Michigan. Though reared on a farm, Ephraim C. Beckwith's youth was surrounded by home influences which directed his thoughts toward study and he early decided to become a physician. Following his gradua- tion from Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York, he located for the practice of his profession at Marietta, Ohio, where he was thus quite suc- cessfully engaged for two or three years, during which time he married Frances Knight Forrest, only child and daughter of the Rev. Josiah and Lydia ( Kunkel ) Forrest, the former a minister of the Methodist church, born in Maryland, whose last days were spent in Zanesville, Ohio.
About the year 1864 Dr. Ephraim C. Beckwith moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where he was engaged in practice for several years, at the end of which time he sold his practice and went to Cincinnati as medical superin- tendent of the Cincinnati sanitarium. About two years later he moved to Columbus, same state, where he re-engaged in the regular practice and was there located the rest of his life, his death occurring when he was fifty-four years of age. His widow survived him a number of years. Dr. E. C. Beck- with was a physician of wide renown throughout Ohio, having long been regarded as one of the leaders of his profession in that state. He and his wife were earnest members of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of three children, sons all, the subject of this biographical sketch having two brothers, Whitney Craig, now deceased, and Charles Potwin Beckwith, an analytical chemist in the laboratories of the Parke-Davis Com- pany at Detroit.
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