USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 3
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that he received his third reader when he was nine years old and read it from cover to cover the first night he had it in the house, and he still has this same book in his possession.
He was sixteen years old when he located in lonia county; and after attending the country schools during winters, he took a further course in the Ionia high school, after which he began teaching school, in which pro- fession he was thus engaged for several years ; meanwhile he had made up his mind that he would study law and during the school vacations he applied himself to the study of the law in the office of Morse, Wilson & Trowbridge, of which Judge Allen B. Morse was the senior member. Mr. Miller was admitted to the bar on September 6, 1886, since which time he has been almost continually engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at lonia, Michigan, and has taken high rank at the bar.
In addition to looking after his extensive practice, Mr. Miller has given much time to the public service. For several years he was assistant prosc- cuting attorney of the county ; has served the city as alderman, city treasurer and mayor and is now serving his third consecutive term as city attorney. Ile was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the Ionia district in the lower house in the Michigan Legislature during the forty-fifth session of that body-1909-10, and declined a re-nomination. For years Mr. Miller has given his most thoughtful attention to the political affairs of the city, county and state. For many years he has been a member of the lonia county Republican committee, serving as secretary of that organiatizon four years, and has repeatedly been chairman of the city committee of the same party. Diligent in business. Mr. Miller has prospered, as he deserves to prosper, and he is now the owner of a fine home, several houses, farms, and a large tract of timber land. For three years he was engaged in lumbering in the Upper Peninsula and at one time was the owner of about two thousand acres of land, a part of which he subsequently lumbered off or sold.
On February 23, 1887, Frank C. Miller was united in marriage to Sarah J. Reid. daughter of John and Deborah ( Rathbun) Reid. Her father was a native of Scotland and mother of New York, both of whom spent their last days at the home of their daughter in Fonia, Mrs. Miller being now the sole survivor of that family. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have no children. They are members of the Church of Christ ( Disciples) of which Mr. Miller is a deacon and they take great interest in the various societies connected with the church activities. Mr. Miller is a prominent Mason. high priest of the Ionia chapter. member of the council and commandery of that order. and
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is also a member of the local lodge of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, Modern Woodmen, and the Knights and Ladies of Security, with the national board of which latter organization he was connected for eight years as national trustee, and takes an active interest in the affairs of these various organ- izations. His has, indeed, been a busy life.
HERBERT B. WEBBER.
Herbert B. Webber, president of the National Bank of lonia, who has been connected with the banking interests of that city practically since boy- hood, beginning under the direction of his father, the Hon. A. J. Webber, one of the pioneer bankers of this part of the state, and who also was largely identified with many important enterprises in and about lonia, is a native of the great Empire state, having been born in Elmira, New York, October 31, 1862, son of Andrew Jackson and Mary C. (Abbey ) Webber, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York state, for many years prominent residents of lonia, and the latter of whom died at the age of eighty years.
Andrew J. Webber was the sixth in order of birth of the nine chil- dren born to his parents, Andrew Jackson Webber and wife, prominent residents of Elmira, New York, the others being Lorenzo, Azro, George W., Samuel W., Oscar, Sophia, Lucinda and Jennie. He was well reared amid excellent surroundings, receiving a good education and a competent busi- ness training. In 1857, attracted by the possibilities then presented in the lumber woods of this section of Michigan, he came to this state, locating at Lyons, in this county, and for some years was successfully engaged in linn- bering, his principal operations being confined to the Manistee country in Mecosta county. In the meantime he had married, but did not move his family to Ionia until 1870, by which time he had become one of the most prominent and influential men in this part of the state. In addition to his extensive lumber interests he also was identified with important manufac. turing enterprises hereabout, owned a considerable stretch of farm land and was one of the early bankers of lonia. Mr. Webber was a Republican and took an active part in local political affairs, several times being elected mayor of lonia, and also represented this district in the Legislature several terms, during which service he became one of the best-known factors of his party in the state. In his later years the Hon. Andrew J. Webber prac-
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tically retired from his numerous business connections in this county and moved to Detroit, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife was born in New York state, daughter of Jonathan Abbey and wife, both natives of that same state, the latter of whom died when comparatively a young woman, leaving six children, Sarah, Carrie, Mary C., Antoinette and Charles F. In his declining years Jonathan Abbey came to Michigan and located at Ionia, where he spent the rest of his life. To the Hon. Andrew J. and Mary C. (Abbey) Webber four children were born, namely: Herbert B., the subject of this sketch ; George H., also of lonia ; Charles H., of Port- land, Oregon, and Marie A., who married Edward A. Fiske and lives at San Juan Bautista, California.
Herbert B. Webber was eight years old when his parents located in Ionia and he has been a resident of that city ever since. He received his elementary education in the public schools of that city, supplementing the same by a course at the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, after which he entered the service of the Second National Bank of Ionia, as col- lection clerk, and has been continuously connected with the banking interests of that city ever since. In 1881 Herbert B. Webber assisted his father in the organization of a private bank at lonia, under the firm name of A. J. Webber & Son, which bank was engaged in business for five years, at the end of which time it was discontinued, Herbert B. Webber then being elected cashier of the Second National Bank of lonia, of which his father and George W. Webber were the principal owners. He continued that con- nection until the expiration of the bank's charter, after which George W. and Andrew.J. Webber organized a private bank as a successor to the Second National Bank, under the name of Webber Brothers, Bankers, which insti- tution was continued until 1890, in which year Herbert B. Webber organ- ized the National Bank of lonia, capital stock, fifty thousand dollars, and was elected president of the new financial institution, a position he has ever since occupied, the other officers of the bank being W. H. Mathsin and Herbert E. Powell, vice-presidents, and J. II. Smith, cashier.
In addition to his extensive banking interests, Mr. Webber is also actively identified with numerous important enterprises in and about lonia and is regarded as one of the most influential men of affairs in this section of the state. For twenty-five years he has acted as treasurer of the Mich- igan state hospital at Ionia; is president of the lonia Gaslight and Coke Company; secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Hayes-tonia Company : a director of the Belding-Hall Company, of Belding, this county,
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manufacturers of refrigerators, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the country, and also owns a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres three and one-half miles east of Ionia, in the operation of which he takes much interest. Mr. Webber is a Republican and for years has taken a good citizen's interest in the political affairs of the county, long having been regarded as one of the leaders of the party in this section, but has never been as aspirant for public office.
On March 2, 1885, Herbert B. Webber was united in marriage to Mary Ella Vander Heyden, who was born at Detroit, this state, December 17, 1866. daughter of William H. and Emily E. ( Wood) Vander Heyden, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York state, who were the parents of four children, William H., Mary Ella, Dora E. and Fred H. William H. Vander Heyden died in 1912, at the age of seventy- two years, and his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Webber take an earnest interest in the various social activities of their home town and have many friends in Ionia and throughout the county generally. Mr. Webber is a Mason, a member of lonia Lodge No. 36, of that order, at Ionia: a member of the chapter and the commandery of the same order and is an active member of Saladin Temple, AAncient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids. He also is a member of the Ionia lodges of the Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Knights of the Maccabees and in the affairs of all these several organizations takes a warm interest.
GEORGE W. POTTER.
George W. Potter, secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company, of Saranac, this county, a well- to-do landowner in that neighborhood and one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men in the community, is a native son of lonia county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Keene township, this county, July 12, 1863, son of Charles M. and Celia A. ( Taylor ) Potter, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Connecticut, who became pioneer residents of this county, where their last days were spent.
Charles M. Potter was born in New York state, but was reared in Hartford, Connecticut, in which city he married Celia A. Taylor, who was born there. A year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Potter came to Mich- igan and settled in lonia county. Charles M. Potter bought a farm in
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Keene township and became one of the most substantial and influential residents of that community, living there the rest of his life, his death occur- ring in 1907. To him and his wife eight children were born, five of whom are still living, those besides George W. being as follow: William 11., a grocer at Grand Rapids, this state; Edwin M., who now owns and lives on the old home farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Keene township: Emma Genia, wife of Homer Cutter, of Grand Rapids, and Mrs. Stella Kinney, a widow, of Chicago.
George W. Potter was reared on the paternal farm in Keene township, this county, receiving his elementary education in the public school in the neighborhood, supplementing the same by a course in the business college at Ionia, after which he entered seriously upon the work of farming and became the owner of an excellent farm of eighty-eight acres. In 1907 he left the farm and engaged in the hardware business at Saranac, continuing thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he sold his hardware store and engaged in the drug business. Three years later he returned to the farm and for two years took active management of his place. On September 28, 1914. he became connected with the co-operative creamery at Saranac in his present capacity as secretary-treasurer and general man- ager and has ever since been thus engaged, during which time he has done much to advance the general interests of that progressive and flourishing concern. Mr. Potter was one of the original stockholders of the creamery company and is one of the directors of the same. He also is a stockholder in the Saranac State Bank and for years has given his best attention to all measures designed to advance the interests of his home community. Mr. Potter is a Democrat and has twice served as treasurer of Boston township. He also served one term as highway commissioner of that township and in other ways has demonstrated his interest in public affairs. The co-operative creamery at Saranac is one of the best established and most thriving con- cerns of the kind in this part of the state and does a large annual business, being very popular with the many dairy farmers in that section. The pres- ident of the company is Martin K. Jepson: vice-president. George Hill, of Orleans township, and secretary-treasurer and general manager. George W. Potter.
On June 6, 1888, George W. Potter was united in marriage to Esther Ellison, who was born in Easton township, this county, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Belle, who died aged one year : Courtland M., born on August 22, 1890, a graduate of the Saranac high
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school and the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsilanti, who is now engaged as a teacher in the state school at Owatonna, Minnesota; Aylmer, October 8, 1892, a graduate of the Saranac high school, who is married and now operating the home farm in Boston township. and Charles H., Septem- ber 22, 1900, a student in the Saranac high school. The Potters long have taken an active interest in the general social affairs of their home commu- nity and are regarded as among the leaders in the general life of the vicinity. Mr. Potter is the present master of Boston Lodge No. 146, Free and Accepted Masons, serving his second term as such: and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Potter also is a member of Saranac Lodge No. 168, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the local "tent" of the Knights of the Maccabees, and in the affairs of all of these organizations takes a warm interest.
ADAM FENDER.
Adam Fender, a well-known and progressive farmer of Sebawa town- ship, this county, supervisor of that township and chairman of the county board of supervisors, owner of a fine farm situated on rural route No. 3. out of Lake Odessa, and for years actively identified with the affairs of that neighborhood, is a native of Ohio, but has lived here ever since he was twenty years old, having located here at the close of his service in the Union army during the Civil War. He was born in Putnam county, Ohio, October 9. 1845. son of Jacob and Rebecca ( Kirkendall ) Fender, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio, who in 1865 came to Michigan and settled in Barry county, where their last days were spent.
Jacob Fender was trained to the trade of a blacksmith in his native land. At the conclusion of his three years of military service, at the age of twenty-three years, he came to the United States and presently made his way into Ohio, where he married Rebecca Kirkendall, who was born in Columbiana county, that state. They made their home in Putnam county, same state, where they resided until 1865, in which year they came to Mich- igan with their family and settled on a farm in section 13, Woodland town- ship, Barry county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Jacob Fender's death occurring in April, 1871. Hle and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six are now living and the eldest of whom is
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the subject of this sketch, the others being as follow: Daniel, of Lake Odessa, this county ; Elias D., who continues to live in Putnam county, Ohio ; Peter, of Sunfield, in the neighboring county of Eaton: Van, also a resi- dent of Eaton county, and Louis P., a resident of Costa county, this state.
AAdamı Fender was reared on a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, and on February 24, 1865, enlisted for service in the Union army, during the con- tinnance of the Civil War, in Company K. One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which command he was mustered out on June 29, following, the war then being at an end. That year his parents moved to Michigan and he accompanied them, he then being twenty years of age. Ile assisted his father in the development of the home farm in Barry county and remained at home until after his father's death. In the spring of 1873. he then being twenty-seven years of age. Adam Fender came over into Ionia county and bought the farm on which he now lives. He erected on that place a log cabin and the next year married, and he and his wife set up housekeeping in the cabin and established their home there. Mr. Fender is an excellent farmer and his affairs presently began to prosper. it being not very long until he was able to erect a new and very much more comfortable and commodious home on his place. Mr. Fender has not only done well in his farming operations, but he has become interested in various other enterprises in and about his home neighborhood and is one of the stockholders of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lake Odessa. He also has taken an active part in local political affairs for years and has been elected supervisor of Sebawa township for nineteen consecutive terms, now serving his second term as chairman of the county board of supervisors. For twelve years also Mr. Fender served as justice of the peace in and for Sebawa township and in other ways has done his part in local governmental affairs.
On June 9. 1874, Adam Fender was united in marriage to Louisa Switzer, who was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, and who came to Mich- igan with her parents in the fall of 1866, and to this union eight children have been born, four of whom are living. as follow: Warren P., Dora M., wife of Harry B. Everest: N. E., of Odessa township, and Ray. born on February 10, and is unmarried and lives at home. Mr. Fender is a member of Samuel Gurnell Post No. 283. Grand Army of the Republic, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He also is a member of West Sebawa Lodge No. 282. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand of that organization.
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HON. WALTER YEOMANS.
The Hon. Walter Yeomans, former state senator from this district, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of this county and a former banker, who has been successfully engaged in the real-estate and loan busi- ness in fonia since 1893, one of the best-known and most progressive busi- ness men in this part of the state, is a native son of lonia county, having been born on a pioneer farm within a mile of where he now lives in lonia. February 13, 1848, son of the Hon. Sanford A. and Abigail ( Thompson ) Yeomans, early settlers of this county, the former of whom came here with his parents, Erastus Yeomans and wife, when sixteen years old, from New York state, a member of the Dexter colony which settled in the center of the county in 1833, and thus became the nucleus around which presently gathered the settlement which gradually grew into the now flourishing city of lonia. Erastus Yeomans was the first postmaster of the village and one of the first associate judges of the county, for many years taking a prom- inent part in the affairs incident to the development of this now well-estab- lished and thriving commonwealth. His son, Sanford A., became equally prominent in his day and was useful in many ways in giving proper forma- tion to the growing community. He was an extensive landowner, served the district for two terms in the lower house of the state Legislature and was a member of the convention called to revise the Constitution of the state of Michigan.
In a biographical sketch presented elsewhere in this volume, relating to Erastus 7. Yeomans, veteran druggist at lonia, elder brother of the subject of this sketch, there is set out in full a history of this interesting family in this county, to which the attention of the reader is called. Judge Erastus Yeomans was a fifer in the company of Captain Morgan, in Major Shoe- maker's Battalion, New York Militia, during the War of 1812. and nearly twenty years after locating in this county received from the government a patent assigning to him a tract of land in Easton township, this county, as a reward for such service. That patent, which was signed by Millard Fill- more, President of the United States, date of November 10, 1851. is now in the possession of Judge Yeomans' grandson. Walter Yeomans, the sub- ject of this sketch.
Walter Yeomans was reared on the home farm in the outskirts of the growing village of lonia, attending the district school and the lonia high school. He married when he was twenty years of age and his father gave him a quarter of a section of unimproved land in Ronald township, this
HON. WALTER YEOMANS.
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county, where he established his home and proceeded to clear and develop the farm. It was not long until Mr. Yeomans began to be recognized as one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of his neighborhood and he prospered from the very beginning of his farming venture. He also from the very start gave his close attention to the civic affairs of the com- munity and during his long residence in Ronald township held various town- ship offices, having been supervisor, highway commissioner, member of the township board and justice of the peace. He was also deeply interested in the wider political affairs of the county and the state and was elected to represent this district in the upper house of the Michigan General Assembly, his service in the Senate proving so satisfactory to his constituents that he was re-elected and thus served two terms, rendering valuable service in behalf of the public. In 1893 Senator Yeomans retired from the farm, turning the same over to the direction of his ellest son, and moved to lonia. where he ever since has been engaged in the loan and real-estate business. In addition to his extensive farming interests and political connection, Sena- tor Yeomans also took an interest in various other forms of enterprise and for some time was a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Tonia. of which his father was president at one time.
On July 2. 1868, Walter Yeomans was united in marriage to Jane Herrick, who was born near the town of LaGrange, in Lorain county, Ohio. December 22, 1847. daughter of Harlow and Laura Ann ( Briggs) Herrick, the former a native of New York state, born near Watertown, and the latter of Massachusetts, early settlers in Ohio, who came to Michi- gan in 1865, settling in lonia county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Harlow Herrick, who became one of this county's best-known citizens, died on May 31. 1891, then being nearly ninety years of age. His widow lived to the great age of ninety-three years, her death occurring on February 10, 1898. They were the parents of ten children, Helen, Rollin, Harriet, Daniel. Oscar, Ann. Byron. Henry, Eliza and Jane. Harlow iler- rick was the son of Amasa and Polly ( Robinson) Herrick, natives of New York state, who were the parents of ten children. Timothy, Electa. Elias, Fannie, Philo. Laura, Amanda, Harlow, Dwight and Axie. His wife, Laura Ann Briggs, was the daughter of Ezra and Polly ( Jones) Briggs, natives of Massachusetts, the former of whom was a sea captain, as his father before him had been, parents of eleven children, Sallie, Malinda, Fannie. Polly, Abigail, Laura Ann, Ardelia. Andrus, Isaiah, Allen, and one who died in infancy.
(42)
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To Walter and Jane ( Herrick ) Yeomans have been born four children. Byron A., Eugene W .. LeRoy C. and Pearl A. Byron A. Yeomans was graduated from the lonia high school and for several terms was engaged as a school teacher. Since 1893 he has been manager of the home farm in Ronald township, though he lives in town, his home lying adjacent to his father's home at 910 West Main street in lonia, the old Thomas Cornell mansion, erected in 1855, but since largely remodeled by Senator Yeomans. Byron A. Yeomans married. December 10, 1890, Fannie MeCarty, to which union three children have been born. Alfreda V., Walter J. and Roy Gene. Eugene W. Yeomans, who is now located at Boise, Idaho, where he is extensively engaged in the live-stock and real-estate business, married Alice B. Branstetter on July 11, 1005, and has three children, Walter Eugene. Mary Charlotte and Clay H. LeRoy C. Yeomans married Cecile Lenoir, a young French woman, on February 21, 1899, and is now living at Newark. New Jersey, where he is engaged as a traveling theatrical manager. Pearl .1. Yeomans married Lucius Babcock. of El Reno, Oklahoma, and has five chil- dren, Sanford Walter. Lucy Ann, Mary Jane, Lucins and Herrick.
ELLIS W. DORIN.
Ellis W. Dorin, justice of the peace, a well-known farmer and stock- man of Sebawa township, this county, proprietor of "Brookside Farmi," con- sisting of one hundred and three acres situated in section 24, four and one- half miles northeast of Sunfield, on rural route No. 2, out of that city, is a native son of lonia county and has lived here all his life. lle was born on a farm in Lyons township. November 5, 1871, son of James and Elizabeth (Johnson ) Dorin, the former a native of Canada and the latter of the state of Illinois, both of whom came to Michigan with their respective parents in the days of their childhood, the two families settling on adjoining farms in Lyons township, this county.
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