USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 34
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often copy his squibs and oddities in their columns. His "Single Top Trail" column is rapidly making him famous. "Single top" refers to a small one- tent circus that makes the smallest towns of the country. He was at one time advance agent for such a show. In his earlier career he was known as "the boy orator" and did a great deal of public speaking. llis paper has a large circulation, is all that could be desired from a mechanical standpoint and is a valuable advertising medium. He is a booster for his community.
Politically, Mr. Keister is a Republican, and has long been active in the party. He is village clerk and has also been justice of the peace for four years.
JOHN ASHLEY, JR.
llaving spent several decades of hard work as a mason, John Ashley, Jr., now living in retirement in Lyons, Jonia county, feels that he is justly entitled to an old age of quiet. and none will gainsay him. lle was born on March 3, 1842, at Greenbush, across the Hudson river from Albany, New York. He is a son of John and Ann (Gollins) Ashley, both natives of Lincolnshire. England, where they were reared and married. When their eldest son was eighteen months old they immigrated to America, five months before John. Jr., was born. The father was an overseer in his native land, and he continued farming after locating in the new world. He removed from Greenlish, New York, to Albany. and later to Utica, then to Syracuse, and in 1851 came West with his family to Racine, Wisconsin. but a year later returned to Syracuse. In 1855 he moved to Byron. Shia- wassee county, Michigan, and in the spring of 1856 came to Lyons, lonia county, buying property in the village. Hle engaged in farming near here and also followed masonry for some time at intervals. He was a great reader and was a well-informed man, was an excellent mathematician and a man of much natural ability. In England he was foreman over workmen on a farm of fourteen hundred acres, owned by Esquire Birch. He was born in April, 1799. and died in October, 1888. in his ninetieth year. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1882. Their family consisted of four sons, namely : James, who died at Ft. Scott, Kansas: John. Jr .. the subject of this review, who has spent most of his life at Lyons since the year 1855: William's whereabouts have been unknown for many years: George died in Nebraska some time ago.
On August 6, 1862. John Ashley, Jr., enlisted in Company D, Twenty-
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first Regiment. Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was promoted for meritorious conduct from private to first sergeant. He was in the Army of the Cumberland and was with Sherman on his march to the sea and was in all the fighting which continued on up through the Carolinas. He went on with the troops to Washington and was in the Grand Review at the close of the war, commanding a body of troops there. After the war he returned to Lyons, Michigan, and in 1867 was married to Mary L. Johnson, a daughter of Washington and Emeline Johnson, natives of New York, who lived in Illinois for a time previous to coming to Lyons, Michigan, which was about the year 1858. Mr. Johnson bought eighty acres three miles south of Lyons, where Mrs. Johnson died, but his death occurred in Lyons. Mrs. Ashley's death occurred in May, 1873. leaving three little children : Herbert J., the eldest ; Arthur J., who died when nine years old ; and Mary L., wife of Jesse Berry, lives at Six Lakes and they have two children, Lyle and Marjory. Herbert J. Ashley, who lives in Lyons, married Alice Steinhauer, and they have three daughters. Ethelyn, who is now attending the State Normal at Ypsilanti; Beatrice is in school at Lyons: Mildred is also in the local public schools.
After the war John Ashley, Jr., followed the mason's trade, in which he became highly skilled. He built some of the finest houses in Lyons, including residences and business blocks as well as public buildings, includ- ing the stone point building in which the bank is located. He continued to follow his trade until his retirement, often taking contracts for the erection of buildings. In 1876 he went to Union county, Dakota territory, locating near the Black Hills. He was some time in making the trip, having to go by steamer from Yankton, which consumed seven days to Ft. Pierce. then two hundred and twenty miles overland. He was with a party of ninety- one people, which was conveyed by thirty-seven rigs. They were compelled to make a detour to avoid the Indians who were still hostile, this being about the time that Custer's army was massacred. Mr. Ashley went to visit a brother and while in that country married Martha McMillan, who was a native of lowa. lle returned with his wife to Lyons soon thereafter. About 1890 he took up land in the Upper Peninsula and was a contractor at Trout Creek. The buildings he erected there would make a good-sized town. After remaining there two years he returned to Lyons and has lived here continuously ever since. He was very successful as a contractor and has a comfortable competency for his declining years. His second wife died January IT, 1908, leaving two children, Myrtie M., wife of Chester Randall, a rural mail carrier living at Lyons, and they have one son, Floyd. Leon
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MI .. the second child. lives at Sioux City, lowa, where he has been connected with the First National Bank for about fourteen years. He married Mabel Isham, of Lyons, and they have two children. Annie and Dorothy.
Mr. Ashley belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his son Herbert were the first two bricklayers who worked on the Common- wealth dam. Ile did the masonry on the Methodist church in 1881; the beautiful sandstone house of Dr. Kelley in 1882; the Webber home, now the residence of Mr. Ruel. in 1879: the Webber block in 1902, and others of the best in Lyons.
FRED BENTON.
Fred Benton, a well-known farmer of Otisco township, this county, is a native of lonia county, having been born on the farm on which he still makes his home in section 25, Otisco township, on June 2, 1870, son of Daniel and Ellen ( Hanks ) Benton.
Daniel Benton, who is a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Madi- son county, New York, February 16, 1840, son of Malington Benton and wife, natives of New York state, of old "Yankee" stock, and was ten years old when his parents moved to Michigan and settled in this county. Maling- ton Benton entered eighty acres of "Congress" land in Otisco township and there established his home, both he and his wife spending the rest of their lives there. They were the parents of five sons, all of whom enlisted for service in the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War. Daniel Benton enlisted on April 27. 1861, in Company D. Third Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. At the second battle of Bull Rin, August 20, 1862, he was severely wounded and was later honorably discharged on account of disability incurred by reason of his wound. Later in the war he tried to re-enlist, but was rejected, the effects of his wound being of such a character as practically to incapacitate him from service. Upon returning from the front, Mr. Benton remained at the old home for a year and then established a home on the farm where he now lives. To him and his wife were born two sons, Ernest, who is also an Otisco town- ship farmer, and Fred, the subject of this sketch. Daniel Benton is a men- ber of the Belding post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of which patriotic organization he takes a warm interest.
Fred Benton was reared on the home farm, where he still makes his home, and received his education in the district school in the neighborhood
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of his home. On November 20, 1805. he was united in marriage to Minnie Donner, who was born in Ohio, daughter of William and Christina ( Geiger ) Donner, both natives of Germany, who were married in Ohio and in 1879 came to Michigan, settling on a farm in Otisco township, this county, where they established their permanent home. For a year after their marriage Fred Benton and wife made their home on a rented farm, but later settled on the old Benton place and ever since have lived there. To them four children have been born. as follow: Eva. who took a business course at Ferris Institute, and is now engaged in office work at Belding: Christina. at Grand Rapids, and Lulu and Arthur. Fred Benton is a Republican and has served as highway overseer for his district. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
DAYTON DOUGLASS.
Dayton Douglass, well-known blacksmith and wagon-maker and dealer in wagons, buggies and general harness supplies, at Muir, this county, is one of the numerous residents of this county who claim nativity in the great Empire state. lle was born in Otsego county, New York, on April 29. 1850, son of William and Eliza ( Monk ) Douglass, and grew up on a farm there. In 1870, when twenty years old, he married and he and his bride straightway made their way to the woods of Michigan, from which region excellent reports then were being received back East. They came to lonia county and located at Muir, which then was at the height of its prosperity, during the days of greatest activity in the lumber industry hereabout.
For two years after settling at Muir, Mr. Douglass worked in the lumber mills, incidentally learning the blacksmith trade, and in 1873 started a blacksmith shop of his own, buying out one of the five smithies that then were doing a good business at Muir, and has been engaged in that business ever since, his shop long having been the only blacksmith shop in the town. When he settled there, Muir had a population of at least one thousand and five lumber mills were running day and night. Though Mr. Douglass's shop, of the five that then were in business, now alone remains, it is a busy place and the proprietor is also busily engaged in other kindred lines. He early took up wagon-making, in connection with the work of his smithy. and still builds and repairs wagons, at the same time carrying on quite an extensive business in the sale of wagons, buggies and general harness sup-
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plies. For ten years Mr. Douglass conducted a livery barn at Muir, but about 1909 gave up that business, though he still owns the barns, the busi- ness being carried on by another. He also owns a valuable farm about five miles north of Muir and gives much attention to the management of the same. Mr. Douglass is an enthusiastic sportsman and in earlier days here- about, when there were still bears and deer in Ionia and neighboring coun- ties, he was a great hunter. He still retains his interest in the sport and several mounted deer heads in his shop serve as souvenirs of hunting trips to the north in more recent years.
In 1870 Dayton Douglass was united in marriage to Rosetta Sherman, who was born in Otsego county, New York, daughter of Alanson Sherman and wife, and to that union two children were born, Claude, who married Hattie Ackley and died at the age of twenty-one years, leaving a daughter, Bernice, and Howard, who died at the age of six months. The mother of these children died in 1881, and in 1882 Mr. Douglass married, secondly. Harriet Amelia Sherman, sister of his deceased wife, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are members of the Disciples church and Mr. Douglass is a Knight Templar Masons and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
NEWELL HOTCHKISS.
llaving spent his long life close to Nature, Newell Hotchkiss, a farmer near Lowell, Michigan, has come down to old age healthy and happy and can look back over his career with satisfaction. He was born in Oswego county, New York, March 23, 1836, and is a son of Gilbert and Mariah ( Houghton ) Hotchkiss, also natives of that county and state, where they grew up and were married. In pioneer days they removed to Ohio, locat- ing in Lorain county in 1837, where they made their home for a period of thirteen years, coming on to Michigan in 1849. locating at Woodland, Barry county. After living there about three years they returned to Ohio, and there the death of the mother occurred. The father died in Barry county, Michigan. He devoted his life to general farming and owned a good farm in the last named county and state. His family consisted of six children, two of whom survive. Newell, the subject of this sketch, and Edwin, retired, fives in Council Grove, Kansas.
Newell Hotchkiss was reared on the home farm where he worked
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when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. When eighteen years old he gave his father one hundred dollars for his time, after which he worked out at farm labor and also learned the carpenter's trade in Barry county, Michigan. On July 17, 1859, he married Betsey Houghton, who was born in Steuben county, New York, November 3, 1836, and when ten years old her parents brought her to Woodland, Barry county, Michigan, and there she received a common-school education. . At the time of his marriage, Mr. Hotchkiss purchased forty acres of land, on which he located and farmed there until the second year of the Civil War, when he enlisted. on August o. 1862, in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Michi- gan Volunteer Infantry. He was soon sent South and fought in the Army of the Cumberland and later was with Sherman on his march to the sea, serving gallantly until the end of the war, taking part in many engagements. He was honorably discharged and returned home in June, 1865. The fol- lowing autumn he soll his farm and came to Boston township, fonia county. purchasing eighty acres on which he has since resided and on which he has made many improvements.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss namely : Cora is the wife of Joseph Talent and they live in Boston township; Alma is the wife of Walter Blakesley: Edwin married Cassie Woods and they live on the home farm. Arvilla died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Hotchkiss is a Democrat. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Lowell, Michigan.
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.
Alexander Robertson, well-known banker and elevator man at Orleans, this county, and one of the most progressive and enterprising business men in that township, is a native son of lonia county, having been born in the village of Pewamo. July 19, 1876, son of James and Eutencia C. ( Hender- son ) Robertson, the former a native of Canada and the latter of this county, for many years prominent residents of the eastern part of lonia county.
Alexander Robertson was reared at Pewamo and at the age of four- teen became a clerk in the private bank there, remaining with that institu- tion for twelve years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to the State Savings Bank of lonia and presently was made assistant cashier of the same and installed as manager of the branch bank of that institution
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at Ionia, which position he held until August of 1914. In the summer of 1915 he purchased the elevator business at Orleans, Michigan, and in Octo- ber of the same year opened a bank at the same place; he has a partner in the elevator business, Robert C. Wardup, but is sole owner and manager of the bank, giving his personal attention to all details. Mr. Robertson is a Republican.
On December 9, 1896. Alexander Robertson was united in marriage to Mand Wyman, who was born in Clinton county, this state, and to this union two daughters have been born, Janet, deceased, and Margaret, born in April, 1000. now a student in the lonia high school. The Robertsons make. their home at Ionia. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson attend the Presbyter- ian church there. Mr. Robertson is a member of Ionia Lodge No. 36. Free and Accepted Masons, at fonia, and of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at the same place.
RECTOR II. VAN VLECK.
Rector HI. Van Vleck, a well-known and progressive farmer of Ronald township, for many years one of the most substantial residents of the Palo nieghborhood, was born on a pioneer farm within sight of his present home just north of the village of Palo. February 8, 1854. and has lived in that vicinity all his life. His grandfather, Matthew Van Vleck, was the founder of what for many years was known as the Van Vleck settlement in Ron- ald township, and the Van Vleck influence in that community has been a power for good since pioneer days.
Matthew Van Vleck was born in Ulster county, New York, May 18. 1794, second in order of birth of the eight children born to his parents, John and Sarah Van Vleck, natives of that state, the former of whom was a farmer and tanner. At the age of twenty-two he married Deborah North. who was born in that same county and state, January 15, 1797, and a few years later he and his wife moved to Deltware county, New York, where they remained until 1838, in which year they came to Michigan, which had just been admitted to statehood, and located in fonia county, settling on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. one-half of section 2. in, Ronald township, where they established their home, theirs being the third family to settle in that township. The family came by way of Detroit, three ox- teams being used to haul the household goods and other belongings through
PETER AND MARIE A. VAN VLECK AND SON, RECTOR H.
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the woods to this section. Much of the way was through unbroken forest and Matthew Van Vleck and his sons were compelled to cut a road as they proceeded. the toilsome journey from Detroit requiring fourteen days. The road cut through the woods from Ionia to his new home by Matthew Van Vleck was the first definite road northeast from lonia and was long the highway to what presently came to be known as the Van Vleck settlement, in the vicinity of the present thriving village of Palo.
Matthew Van Vleck and his wife were the parents of five children, Jolın, Catherine, Sarah. Peter and Albert, and all the youngsters took an active and able part in the development of the homestead in the wilderness. in due time establishing homes of their own thereabout. Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck were devout Baptists and it was their wont, until they were able to secure the organization of a church of their faith in the vicinity of their home, to arise at two o'clock of a Sabbath morning and drive by ox-team to Ionia in time for meeting there. Upon the organization of a Baptist church in the Van Vleck settlement, Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck were among the charter members of the same and their eldest son, John, who in the meantime had developed strong powers as a Baptist minister, was one of the chief contributors to the church as well as its first pastor, while their son- in-law. George D. Tasker, was the carpenter in charge of the erection of the church. Matthew Van Vleck was one of the early supervisors of Ron- ald township and held at various times other local offices, his strong per- sonal influence ever being exerted in behalf of the cause of good govern- ment in the formative period of that now well-established and prosperous farming community. He retired from the active labors of the farm in 1854, when sixty years of age, but continued to make his home in the set- tlement so dear to his heart and lived to the great age of eighty-six years, his death occurring on April 24, 1880. His eldest son, the Rev. John Van V'leck, died in that same year. George D). Tasker, the carpenter mentioned above, married Catherine, the eldest daughter of Matthew Van Vleck and wife, their marriage being the first solemnized in Ronald township, and Peter Van Vleck shot a fine, big wild turkey to grace the wedding dinner:
Peter Van Vleck, father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born near Middleton, Delaware county, New York, October 22, 1824. and was in his fourteenth year when the family came to this county, and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Ronald township. When he was twenty-one he bought the farm where his son, Rector, now lives, and began to develop the same. Four years later he married and established
(23a)
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his home on his farm and there spent the rest of his life. becoming one of the most influential and substantial residents of that community. He died on January 13, 1901, and his widow survived until January 3, 1913. she being eighty-one years of age at the time of her death. Marie A. Redding- ton was born near Amherst, Ohio, April 22, 1832, and came to Michigan when twelve years old with her parents, Nathaniel and Caroline ( Salmon ) Reddington, natives of Massachusetts, who came to this county from Lor- ain county, Ohio. Nathaniel Reddington died at his home in this county on January 20, 1854, and his widow survived until September 12. 1888. she being eighty-two years of age at the time of her death. Peter and Marie ( Reddington ) Van Vleck were earnest members of the Baptist church and long were looked upon as among the leaders in good works in their community. They were the parents of three children, Mary, who died in infancy; Rector H .. the subject of this sketch, and Cassius, born on Sep- tember 5. 1860, a well-known farmer, living northwest of Palo.
Rector H. Van Vleck was born on February 8, 1854. and grew to manhood on the paternal farm. He supplemented his schooling in the local schools by a course in the Michigan State Agricultural College. In 1876 he married and shortly afterward went to farming for himself on a portion of his father's farm and built a house on the north side of the farm, where he made his home until after the death of his parents, when he moved into the old farm house and there has resided ever since. He has remodeled the old house and made many improvements, having installed a steam-heating plant and a gas plant for lighting and in other ways adjusted the place to modern requirements and ways of living. The house is beauti- fully situated in a wide lawn, with a fine cedar hedge bordering the high- way and is a very attractive and comfortable place. Mr. Van Vleck has given his thoughtful attention to public affairs and for six years served as supervisor of Ronald township. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and taken carnest part in all movements looking to the promotion of the common interest in their home neighborhood.
On January 30, 1876. Rector H. Van Vleck was united in marriage to Betsy Swarthout, who was born at Wayne, Steuben county, New York, daughter of Charles and Lavina ( Wortman) Swarthout, both of whom were born at Barrington, Yates county. New York, and who came to Michigan in April, 1865, and located at Palo, this county. Charles Swart- hout bought a farm at the west edge of the village, his line being the main street of the town and when the place later was platted, the town took in a portion of his farm. He not only was a farmer but was an excellent car-
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penter, and for a time was engaged in building threshing machines. He also conducted a hotel at Palo for some time and was otherwise active in the affairs of the village. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of four children, Louisa, Sarah, William and Betsy. The two first named are dead and William Swarthont makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleek.
To Rector H. and Betsy ( Swarthout ) Van Vleck three children have been born: Earl. born in 1877, who is at home with his parents; Laverne C., born in April, 1879. married Alice Longwell and died on January 6, 1914. leaving one child, a son, Reetor, and Leo R., born in 1881. who married Mildred Evans and is farming on his father's farm. He and his wife have two children. Marie K. and Charles D.
EDWARD N. PARKER.
That the very best methods of modern farming have not been over- looked by Edward N. Parker, proprietor of "Fairview Fruit and Grain Farm" in Keene township, Ionia county, is evident to the observer, for everything seems to be in shipshape. He was born in Newark, Wayne county, New York, February 28, 1853, and is a son of Dr. E. B. and Sarah N. (Tyler) Parker, both born near Lake Champlain. Their parents were from the New England states. His father was a general merchant. Uriah Parker, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a blacksmith. He was a fine tenor singer, and led the choir in the Presbyterian church, of which he was a member. He moved to Michigan in early pioneer days. locating near Detroit, but after a short time went back to New York state, where he spent the rest of his life, in Wayne county. E. B. Parker was a physician. After attending the public schools he took a medical course, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He practiced his pro- fession in Monroe county, New York, for a number of years, or until his health failed, when he retired and lived quietly in Newark until his death. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church. His family con- sisted of six children, three of whom are deceased: the two survivors besides Edward N. are Addie M., who is the wife of A. Duston, and Ferdi- nand J., of Rockford, Michigan.
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