USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
HERBERT ERNEST POWELL.
Herbert Ernest, youngest son of Joseph P. and Ruth Powell, was born on the farm he now owns in Ronald township, lonia county, April 27. 1866. After attending district school and one year at Poucher's Business College he entered the Ionia high school and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1886. He taught school one winter and then took charge of the old homestead, which he worked on shares until his father's death, in 1904. During this time he improved the place by building three barns, a tenant house and other improvements.
In 1888 Mr. Powell built the new house across the road and after the house was finished and furnished, on November 26. 1888, he brought there as a bride, Miss May, a classmate in the lonia high school, and daughter of O. Waterbury, of lonia. They have three children, namely : Ralph Water- bury, born on October 4, 1889: Alice, August 7, 1893; Stanley Maurice, July 7, 1898. Ralph, after graduating from lonia high school, took civil
376
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
engineering at Michigan Agricultural College, then taught a year at Cor- nell University, New York ; then two years at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and is under contract to go next year as professor in the new "Yale in China." He has the record of passing the grades, on his mark- ings without examination. He was married to Maud Nason, of Grand Rapids, September 10, 1914. Alice, after graduating at Ionia, is taking a course in domestic science at Lansing. Stanley is a senior in lonia high school and a member of the debating team of 1916. The entire family are members of the Baptist church.
Besides general farming, H. E. Powell was for several years a partner of John Rowe in the Nickle Plate flouring-mill, and later president of the Ionia Hardware Company and at present is vice-president and director of the First National Bank of Jonia. He is a member of the Ronald Grange and has several times been master. He has made a specialty of breeding Shropshire sheep and has been awarded a long list of premiums at state and district fairs. Ile is now a director of the American Shropshire Associa- tion and president of the Michigan Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association. At one time he was a director of the Michigan State Fair but resigned as a protest against having the gates open on Sunday and having intoxicants for sale on the grounds. He is now vice-president and a director of the West Michigan State Fair.
In politics H. E. Powell is a Republican and has represented his dis- trict in the state Legislature two terms, 1901-2 and 1903-4, and was one of the leaders in the fight for the primary election. He was state senator from the eighteenth district two terms, 1913-14 and 1915-16. During the first term in the Senate he served on five committees, namely: Agricultural interests, school for the deaf. state prison at Marquette, banks and corpora- tions, finance and appropriations. During the second term he was chair- man of the committee on agricultural college and the committee on supplies and expenditures: and a member of the committee on state affairs, finance and appropriations; election, college of miners, constitutional amendment. In 1907-08 he was a member of the Constitutional convention and a mem- ber of the committee that drafted a rule under which the convention did its work.
The above is a meager outline of a busy life of public service, faith- fully performed. It tells a little of one whom the people have delighted to honor, a man honest and faithful and courageous, quick to think and not slow to act. He was not a shirker and politicians knew on which side of
377
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the fence he stood and that he could head them off if they started to go cross-lots. This some learned to their sorrow in parliamentary tactics in legislative halls. In early manhood he walked the plate of an uncovered barn frame without a tremor; and later with the same steadiness of nerve trod the path of duty in the high places of public office and did not lose his head. Neither performance was for show; but to do what needed to be done. Both were alike characteristic and a part of the work in hand.
GLENN H. SCOVILLE, D. V. S.
Dr. Glenn H. Scoville, of Clarksville, this county, one of the best- known veterinary surgeons in this section of the state, is a native son of lonia county, having been born on a farm in Campbell township, just north of the village of Clarksville, September 29, 1881, son of Leroy .A. and Martha J. ( Hogle ) Scoville, both natives of Ohio, the former of whom is still living at Clarksville and the latter of whom died in 1912. In a biographical sketch relating to Leroy A. Scoville, presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out in detail further particulars of this family in lonia county and the reader is respectfully referred to those pages for additional information in this connection.
Glenn H. Scoville received his early education in the Clarksville graded schools and in the academy at that place. His father was largely engaged in the cattle business and from his early youth Glenn H. Scoville took a deep interest in that phase of the business of the farm, even at fifteen years of age traveling about over the country hereabout buying, selling and trading live stock. lle followed the live-stock business until 1904, in which year he entered the Grand Rapids Veterinary College, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1906. that being the first class in veterinary surgery recognized by the state. Upon receiving his degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery, Doctor Scoville went to Minnesota and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Villard, in Pope county, that state, where he was engaged in practice until the fall of 1909. when he returned to Michi- gan and opened an office at Clarksville, where he ever since has been very successfully engaged as a veterinary practitioner, his practice extending widely throughout this county and in the neighboring counties of Berry and Kent. Doctor Scoville makes a specialty of veterinary dentistry and surgery and his services in those lines are in wide demand. Upon locating at Clarks-
378
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ville he opened a veterinary hospital in the chief business block of the town. but owing to the increased demands made upon the same was compelled to enlarge his hospital and moved the same to the Howard property, just north of the business quarter, where he has an admirably equipped hospital for the treatment of live stock. The doctor also erected a handsome residence in that quarter of the town and is quite pleasantly situated.
On September 6, 1905. during his residence in Villard, Minnesota, Dr. Glenn H. Scoville was united in marriage to Ethel M. Smith, who was born near Kenyon, in Dodge county, Minnesota, daughter of George H. and Mabel E. ( Foster ) Smith, natives, respectively, of Illinois and Minnesota. the former of whom is a large ranch owner in Minnesota. Doctor Scoville has never been particularly active in political affairs, though he has held the office of deputy sheriff of lonia county. Ile is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Clarksville and both he and Mrs. Sco- ville are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
GEORGE W. WOOLDRIDGE.
George W. Wooldridge, justice of the peace in and for Orleans town- ship, a well-to-do farmer of that township, is a native of Ohio, but has lived in this county ever since he was five or six years old and is therefore properly regarded as one of the pioneers of this section, a witness of the wonderful development of this region within the past generation. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 13, 1853, son of Sammel Wool- dridge and wife, who became pioneers of lonia county in the latter fifties. In a biographical sketch relating to Samuel Wooldridge, presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out in detail a further history of this interesting family and the attention of the reader is invited to that sketch for addi- tional information in this connection.
George W. Wooldridge was but a child when his parents located in lonia county and he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he made his home, helping in the development of the place, until his marriage in 1881, after which he bought a farm of forty acres in section 32, Orleans township, where he established his home. Only about half of the place was cleared when he took possession and there was but a poor shack of a house on it and no barn. He improved the farm, cleared the remaining portion of woodland and made his home there until about 1800, when he
379
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
bought an adjoining "forty" from his father-in-law, Oren H. York, and then made his home on the York farm until 1912, when he bought his present home place in section 30, of the same township, where he and his son-in-law, Charles Doty, own and operate a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, which is well improved and profitably cultivated, and where the family is very comfortably situated. Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge are well circumstanced and their home is one of quiet comfort. In the fall of 1915 they made a tour of the West, visiting Washington, Oregon, California and other states on the farther side of the Rockies. Mr. Wooldridge for years has taken an active interest in local civic affairs, having served the public as township treasurer and in other capacities and is now justice of the peace in and for Orleans township.
It was in the year 1881 that George W. Wookfridge was united in mar- riage to Alice York, who was born in the town of lonia, this county, daugh- ter of Oren H. and Frances L. (Calkins) York, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Canada. Oren H. York was born in Yates county, New York. November 5, 1832, and was about fifteen years old when he came with his parents to Michigan, the family settling on a farm in Easton township, near the then village of lonia. in 1847. On Jan- uary 1, 1854. Oren H. York was united in marriage to Frances L. Calkins, who was born in Canada, daughter of George and Louisa Calkins, who came to this county from New York state in 1852, becoming influential pioneers of the Ionia neighborhood. One of their sons is C. K. Calkins, a well- known attorney at lonia. Oren H. York was one of the active residents of Ionia in its village days, but later moved to a farm in Easton township and most of his life has been spent as a farmer. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company 1, Twenty-first Regiment. Michigan Volunteer Infantry. for service during the Civil War, and went to the front. He participated in the battle of Perryville. but after about three months of service was dis- charged on a physician's certificate of disability. He ever has taken an active part in local civic affairs and has served as justice of the peace in Orleans township and as highway commissioner. His first wife died on the old home farm in Orleans township on January 17, 1892, and in 1894 he married. secondly, Sarah Woodworth, of AAdrian, this state, and made his home in that city until 19to, when he returned to Ionia county and has since been living comfortably retired in the town of Orleans. To Oren H. and Frances L. (Calkins) York three children were born. Mrs. Wookfridge having two brothers. William T. York, of Medford, Oregon, and John M. York, of Orleans. this county.
380
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge have one daughter, Carrie E., born on June 12, 1885, who was married in January, 1907, to Charles H. Doty, who was born in Berlin township, this county, March 10. 1878, son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth ( Bailey ) Doty, further information regarding which family is set out in a biographical sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume, of E. M. Wooldridge, who married a sister of Charles H. Doty. Mr. and Mrs. Doty have three children. George H .. Alice E. and Earl Willis.
MAJOR T. LAMONTE.
Major T. LaMonte, one of the best-known and most progressive mer- chants of Clarksville, this county, head of the firm of LaMonte & Company. dealers in clothing and men's furnishing goods, is a native of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. Ile was born at Charlotte, in Eaton county, August 5, 1875, son of Archibald G. and Margeara ( Huff ) LaMonte. natives of Orleans county, New York, the former of French descent and the latter of German stock. Archibald G. LaMonte came to Michigan abont the year 1870, settling in Eaton county, where he bought a farm and there he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch is the youngest.
Upon completing the course in the Charlotte high school Major T. LaMonte secured a position in a hardware store in that town and was thus engaged for four years, at the end of which time he went to Gaylord, where he clerked in a general store for a year, after which he went to Pontiac, where he lived for about two years. In September, 1899. he went to Clarks- ville, where his sister, Mrs. Estella Nash, was living, and there he cast about for a location for a store. He had been contemplating the establishment of a hardware store in Clarksville, but the conditions seemed more favorable to the establishment of a clothing and men's furnishing store and he con- sequently opened the first store of its kind in the town of Clarksville and has done very well. His brother-in-law, Ernest Nash, is associated with him in business, under the firm name of LaMonte & Company, and the firm is doing an extensive business. Starting with a stock valued at about two thousand dollars, the firm has gradually increased stock, with the growing demands of the trade, until now the well-appointed store represents an invest- ment of several times that amount.
On May 20, 1901, Major T. LaMonte was united in marriage to Ora
381
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Stuart, who was born in Odessa township, this county, daughter of George and Sarah ( Clark ) Stuart, well-known residents of that township. George Stuart was born in Scotland and came across the Atlantic with his parents when a child, the family settling in St. Thomas, Canada, later coming to Michigan and settling in this county, being thus among the earliest residents of the southern part of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. LaMonte two children have been born, Estella, born on April 4, 1904, and Ida, June 11, 1912. Mr. LaMonte is a Republican and has held the office of township treasurer for four years. He is a Mason and a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
M. P. LENHARD.
M. P. Lenhard, well-known and progressive merchant at Clarksville, this county, proprietor of a large general store at that place, former town clerk and for years actively interested in the public life of that prosperous community, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state most all his life. He was born in Kent county, this state, May 4, 1877, son of John and Christina (Livingston ) Lenhard, natives, respectively, of Canada and Pennsylvania, the former of German descent and the latter of Quaker stock, who afterward became well-known residents of lonia county, but are now living in Kent county.
John Lenhard in his earlier life followed the calling of a millwright and it was this that brought him into Michigan. For some years he was engaged installing mills throughout the timber country hereabout and in 1881 came over into lonia county, where he built a mill and was for years actively engaged in milling, but later took up farming and is now living on a fine farm he owns in Kent county. He also is the owner of a hne farm in the Clarksville neighborhood in this county, which latter farm is operated by his only other son, Harley L. Lenhard.
M. P. Lenhard was about four years old when his parents moved to this county and he grew up here. Upon completing the course in the Clarks- ville Academy he entered the general store of Leonard Shrock at Clarksville and after a little more than a year of service there went to Grand Rapids, where he entered a wholesale boot and shoe house. About six months later he was sent "on the road" by that concern and for three years was a travel-
382
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ing salesman in that employ, covering central and southern Michigan. lle then transferred his services to a wholesale grocery and coffee house in Grand Rapids and about six months later was engaged as city salesman by a big concern at Chicago. After living in Chicago a year he came home on a visit and was persuaded by his parents to remain at home and take charge of the farm. Ile consented to this arrangement and remained on the farm until October, 1914, when he bought the general merchandise establishment of Naber Brothers at Clarksville and has ever since been successfully engaged in the mercantile business, carrying the largest stock in Clarksville and doing a large business. Mr. Lenhard is a Republican and for the past four years has been serving as township clerk. He is an ardent advocate of local good government and ever works to that end.
On February 28, 1907, M. P. Lenhard was united in marriage to Glenna C. Huggins, who was born at Carson City. in the neighboring county of Montcalm, February 7, 1884, daughter of Jefferson and Melvina (Meyers) Huggins, natives, respectively, of New York and Ohio, early settlers in Montcalm county. Jefferson Huggins was a millwright and died before his daughter Glenna was two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Lenhard take an earnest part in the various social and cultural activities of their home town and are interested in all local good works. Mr. Lenhard is a member of the lonia lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
REUBEN H. WHITE.
Reuben H. White, well-known building contractor and stone and brick mason, of Clarksville, this county, is a native son of lonia county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Campbell town- ship on February 4, 1858, son of Amasa S. and Pruella ( Lyon ) White. pioneer residents of this county, the former of whom was a native of New York state and the latter of Ohio. The Whites are of Welsh origin. Amasa S. White's grandfather having come to this country in colonial days, not long before the War of the Revolution. His son, Stephen White. was a soldier in the War of 1812, for which service he received a land warrant from the government. Stephen White was born and reared in Wayne county. New York, and there he married and reared his family. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, three sons and seven daughters. Amasa S ..
383
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Sanford, William, Edna, Roxie, Hannah. Fannie, Relief, Anna and Mar- guerite. the latter of whom died in girlhood. When Sanford White was grown to manhood his father sent him to Michigan with the government's land warrant for the purpose of entering a claim on the same and he located a tract in Campbell township. this county. About 1850 Stephen White and his wife and their other sons and one daughter, Edna, came to Michigan and established their home on the homestead which Sanford White had entered. the other daughters having married and remained in New York. Of these children all lived to ripe old ages, save Amasa, who died at the age of fifty-seven years.
Amasa S. White was well grown when he came to Michigan with his parents and he took an active part in the work of developing the homestead farm. About 1855 or 1856 he married Prudella Lyon, daughter of Henry and Sarah ( Fisk ) Lyon, both of whom were born in 1803, and who had come to Michigan from New York, settling in this county about the time the Whites arrived here. Amasa S. White later came into possession of eighty acres of his father's homestead farm in section 2, Campbell town- ship, and there he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the eldest, the others being Mrs. Roxie Stockford, Mrs. Mary Kimball, deceased. and Mrs. Martha Hess.
Reuben 11. White was reared on the homestead farm and received his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood. He early took up the work of brick and stone masonry and plastering and became a very com- petent workman in that line. presently engaging in general contracting along that line, from the very start making a success of his business. After his father's death he bought the home farm and there established his home. supervising the work of the farm while carrying on his building operations. and there he remained until 1904, in which year he retired from the farm. bought a good residence property in Clarksville and moved to town, where he ever since has made his home. Mr. White has been a very successful mason and has erected all the brick business houses in Clarksville except one, besides which he has built twelve brick residences throughout the county. He also has built business houses at Saranac, Lake Odessa, Freeport and other places and is widely known as a contractor hereabout. Mr. White is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He is a stockholder in the Co-operative Creamery Company of Clarksville, which concern he
381
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
helped to organize, and in other ways has done his part in promoting the general interests of his home community.
On December 29, 1880, Reuben H. White was united in marriage to Ida Champlain, who was born on a farm in Keene township, this county, February 10, 1860, daughter of John Norman and Sarah ( Demaree ) Cham- plain, prominent residents of that part of the county, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Ray E., born on January 15, 1882, who married Mamie Gunderson and has one child, Vernice; Cora Alice, November 14, 1883, who married Seymour Haven and has one child, a son, Richard S., and Neva Blanche, February 19, 1887, who married Lewis Cool and has two children, Glennie L. and Idla M. The Whites take a proper part in the various social activities of their home neighborhood and have done much toward promoting the common welfare thereabout. Mr. White is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest, and both he and his wife are members of the Danghters of Rebekah.
EMERY TOWNSEND.
Emery Townsend, one of lonia county's best-known farmers and stock- men, proprietor of "The Evergreens," a fine farm of four hundred and seventy acres in Jonia township, admirably situated on rural route No. 7. out of lonia, is a native son of lonia county and has lived here all his life. He was born in a log cabin on a pioneer farm in section 32, lonia township, November 19, 1863, son of Steward and Eliza ( Tuttle) Town- send, well-known and prominent figures among the earliest settlers of that part of the county, further and detailed reference to whose part in the development of the neighborhood in which they established their home is made in a biographical sketch relating to their youngest son. Ed S. Town- send, brother of the subject of this sketch, set out elsewhere in this volume, to which the attention of the reader is respectfully directed in this connection.
Emery Townsend was reared on the old home farm in the southern part of lonia township, remaining at home until he was grown. For seven years he was in partnership with his brother Ed. managing the farm of three hundred and thirty-seven acres, while his brother handled the live- stock end of the enterprise. When thirty years of age Mr. Townsend mar-
RESIDENCE OF EMERY TOWNSEND.
385
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ried Lucy Mattison Greene, daughter of Daniel J. and Lucy ( Mattison) Greene, who were owners of "The Evergreens," one of the best farins in this county, and after his marriage sold his farm and assumed the manage- ment of "The Evergreens," Mr. and Mrs. Greene having retired and were living in Ionia. In 1905 Mr. Townsend bought the old Hubbell farm of eighty acres in section 1, Ionia township, just across the road from "The Evergreens," and later bought forty acres north of his present farm and in the fall of 1909 bought seventy acres just south of the old Greene home, locally known as the Cyrus N. Stone farm. on which were two houses, a barn and a tool house. On the Hubbell place there also was a residence and a full set of farm buildings. Early in 1910 Mr. Townsend further added to his holdings by the purchase of the two hundred acres comprising "The Evergreens," the old Greene farm, on which he had made his home ever since his marriage, and is now the proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and seventy acres surrounding his beautiful home in section 2, Ionia town- ship. On the okl Greene homestead there are three tenant houses, three sets of barns, with tool houses and outbuildings to match and three huge silos, twenty feet in diameter. From 1894 to 1908 Mr. Townsend and his father-in-law were partners in the management of "The Evergreens." It was during this period that many improvements were made, including the remodeling of the barns. Both Mr. Greene and Mr. Townsend possessed ability in a marked degree and this was made manifest in the extension of facilities and general improvement during their partnership. The house is piped for hot and cold water, operated by a compressed-air system and is lighted with gas, gas also being used for cooking, the gas being made in a private plant.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.