USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 41
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Albert E. Weter was reared on the old homestead farm west of Belding. receiving his elementary education in the district school in that neighborhood, which he supplemented by a course in Albion College at Albion, this state, from which he graduated, after which he began clerking in a store at Grand Rapids and later at Grand Ledge, during which period of service he acquired an excellent business training. Thus equipped for a mercantile carcer he cast about for a location and was impressed by the opportunities which seemed to await all who were boll enough to put in their lot with the settlers in a new town, and in 1871 opened a general store at Belding. this county, thus being one of the nine founders of that now thriving city. Mr. Weter's venture succeeded from the very start and he became a very successful merchant. Albert E. Weter married Sarah J. Slawson and to that union two children were born, a son and a daughter, the subject of this sketch having a sister,
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Maude, a graduate of the Belding high school, who married A. L. Pond, gen- eral manager of the Milwaukee branch of the General Electric Company.
Guy D. Weter quit school when he was fifteen years old and began clerk- ing in a hardware store at Belding, being thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to the 11. J. Leonard dry-goods store, where he was engaged as a clerk for two years, after which, on Octo- ber 1, 1890, he was employed as office manager of the Belding-Hall Company at Belding. On January 1, 1908, he was elected secretary of the company. having in the meantime become an important stockholder in that concern, and has since then served in the latter capacity.
Guy D. Weter married Laura Scovill, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and has one son, Elwood, a graduate of the Belding high school, who is now employed in the offices of the Richardson Silk Company at Chicago. Mr Weter is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local politics. He is one of the leading stockholders in the Weter-Wise Company of Belling, and is secretary of that concern. He has been a Mason since 1894 and has been secretary of Belding Lodge No. 355. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, with which he became connected in 1891, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both orders.
EBENEZER N. LOWREY.
Ebenezer N. Lowrey, well-known citizen of Berlin township, Ionia county, Michigan, and proprietor of "Lowtanlee Farm" of two hundred and forty acres, in sections 27 and 28, of that township, was born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, on January 7, 1842, being a son of Norton and Jane ( McMullen ) Lowrey. She was a native of Ohio, her people moving in later years to Trumbull county, where she and Norton Lowrey were mar- ried. He was born in Ohio. 1
Norton Lowrey was a prosperous farmer in Ohio, but desiring to go into the west, he moved to Wells county, Indiana, near the town of Ossian where the family lived for two years. They then disposed of that farm and came to lonia county, Michigan, arriving here in the year 1858. In this county Norton Lowrey and his wife passed their remaining days. There were originally six children in the family, four of them still surviving. John, who lives in Lake Odessa, served for a short time in the Civil War; Ebenezer N. : Sirona is the widow of James Mustgove; Jennie is the wife
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of Nate Hubbell, of Saranac; Archibald died at the front during the Civil War, and another child died in infancy. Norton Lowrey became one of the leading citizens of lonia county, for, being a man of liberal education and broad views, he contributed in no small degree to the general develop- ment of his section. Politically, he was a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party.
Ebenezer N. Lowrey was sixteen years of age when his parents came to lonia county. He had attended school in his native county of Trumbull, Ohio, later at Ossian, Indiana, and for a short time in the lonia county schools. He was engaged in farming at the outbreak of the Civil War and promptly enlisted as a private in Company B. Sixteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, serving throughout the conflict. His regi- ment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and he saw much active service. He was wounded at Cold Harbor and during the battle of Gettys- burg was struck seven times and hit thirteen times in all, still carrying in his body the bullet he received at Cold Harbor. However, none of his injuries were extremely severe and he was able to serve until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge on July 8, 1865. He was a veteran. was first discharged on December 23, 1863, and was mustered out as a corporal.
After peace was declared, Ebenezer N. Lowrey returned to Ionia county, where during the war he had purchased eighty acres of land, and gave him- self to clearing this land and improving it. He has since made this place his home, bringing here his bride, Carrie G. Thomas, with whom he was united in marriage on July 3. 1867. Carrie G. Thomas was born in Canada on January 18, 1850. and was brought to this state by her parents when a child. Her parents. John and Mary ( Hawley) Thomas, were born in Can- ada, and settled in Keene township. After living here a few years, they returned to Canada, where John Thomas died. When a young woman, Carrie Thomas returned to this state and was shortly afterward married. Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer N. Lowrey are the parents of nine children, namely : Fra. died when one month old; Willard, who is located in British Columbia, is a civil engineer; John C., a farmer of Berlin township; Richard R., a graduate of Michigan Agricultural College and a farmer of Boston town- ship: Cecil C., deceased ; Harvey H., a graduate of the Saranac high school and also of the State Normal, from which latter institution he has a teacher's life certificate, lives in Saranac and is at present commissioner of the Ionia county schools: Ed N .. educated in the Saranac schools and the present
(27a)
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sheriff of Ionia county ; Earl E., educated in the schools of Saranac and now residing at home : Hazel J., the youngest of the family, is a graduate of the Saranac high school, the Ionia County Normal and the State Normal at Mount Pleasant.
Mr. Lowrey is a stockholder in the Saranac Co-operative Creamery Company and, politically, gives his support to the Republican party. He has served as a member of the school board, being always especially inter- ested in the cause of education. He is a member of Hiat P'. Clark Post No. 153, Grand Army of the Republic, and Mrs. Lowrey is president of the Woman's Relief Corps. She is also president of the Campfire Association and serves in the same capacity to the Ladies' Aid Society of Berlin Center. She holds her religious membership with the Methodist Episcopal church and while Mr. Lowrey is not a member, yet he is interested in the work of that society and contributes of his means towards its support. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lowrey are active in the various affairs of their home community, upright and intelligent people, who always exert a virile influence for the best good of all. Mr. Lowrey built a beautiful brick home in 1892. When he first located he put up a log cabin and all of the children were born in this cabin.
EUGENE E. HUDSON.
Eugene E. Hudson, a well-known and well-to-do grocer of Bekdling, this county is a native son of Michigan, having been born in the town of Hudsonville, in Ottawa county, this state, that town having been named in honor of his father, Ilomer E. Hudson. a pioneer of that section of the state. who had come to Michigan from Cleveland, Ohio, and had homesteaded a quarter of a section of land where Hudsonville is now situated ; and when the railroad was built through his farm had given to the railroad company five acres, on which the company established a station and laid out a town, which was named Hudsonville, in honor of the donor of the site. Homer E. Hud- son was a man of much energy and enterprise and became a prosperous far- mer. He was active in local politics and influential in the work of the Grange during the height of that organization's power in this state, having been for some time master of his local grange. He was one of the leading members of the lodge of the Odd Fellows in his neighborhood and he and his wife were active and influential in the Disciples church work. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this
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sketch having a brother. F . H. Hudson, a well-known grocer and baker, of Belding, and a sister. Belle M., who married Doctor Pompe and now lives at Vancouver. Washington.
Eugene E. Hudson was born on June 7, 1867, and was reared on the paternal farm, receiving his education in the Hudsonville schools, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he went to Grand Rapids and was for some time employed there as a collector on the old horse- line street cars. In 1801 he moved to Belding, where his brother was engaged in business and was employed in the latters store for two years, at the end of which time. in 1893, he engaged in business for himself. opening a small grocery store across the river on Bridge street, and from the very beginning of his business venture has prospered. gradually enlarging his store until he now has a very well-stocked and quite up-to-date establishment.
On December 25. 1888, Eugene E. Hudson was united in marriage to Kate Pierce, who was born in Olive, in Ottawa county, this state, and to this union two children have been born, Lester, in July, 1897, and Helen. Sep- tember 28, 1901. Mr. Hudson is a member of Belding Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. He is a Republican and for years has taken an active interest in local politics, having been a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Belding for fourteen consecutive years.
POST BROTHERS.
The well-known, enterprising and energetic firm of Post Brothers, owners of a great stock farm situated midway between Belding and Orleans. in this county, operators of an extensive string of elevators and leaders in the produce business, owners of the Belding Implement Company and stock- holders in the Peoples Savings Bank at Belding, and who are regarded as among the most progressive and "hustling" citizens of Jonia county, are native sons of this county, both having been born in Orleans township, sons of Henry and Ida ( Hale) Post. early settlers in that township and earnest and honorable pioneer citizens of this county, the memory of whose useful lives in the community in which they so long resided long will be cherished thereabout. Henry Post was a good farmer and a substantial and influential citizen and he and his wife did well their parts in the earlier days of the neighborhood in which they lived.
Bert Post. senior member of the progressive firm of Post Brothers,
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was born in 1877 and Lee Post, junior member of the firm, was born in 1884. Both were reared on the home farm and in the district school in that neighborhood received an excellent common-school education. Their energetic natures early began to be manifested in their works and they have pushed steadily forward in the advancement of their varied and exten- sive interests until now they are the owners of a fine stock farm of three hundred acres in Orleans township, where they maintain their permanent home, besides which they are extensively engaged in the grain business. being the owners of a thriving string of elevators, the chief of which is the Post Brothers elevator at Hammond, Indiana, and the elevator operated under the same owners at Detroit, this state. Post Brothers also are actively and prominently identified with various other enterprises in and about Beld- ing. They have been very successful in the operation of their various enterprises and occupy a high position in financial and commercial circles throughout this part of the state.
Lee Post, the younger member of the firm, is married, his wife, who was Ruth Wilson, of Greenville, in the neighboring county of Montcalmn, being an accomplished and gracious young woman,' who, with her husband, takes a proper part in the various social and cultural activities of the com- munity. Lee Post is a member of the Belding lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. Both of the Post brothers are Democrats and take an earnest interest in the general political affairs of the county and state, but neither has ever been included in the office-holding class, both having been too busily occu- pied in directing the extensive affairs of the firm to give much personal attention to civic affairs.
JAMES H. RUEL.
James H. Ruel, well-known banker at Lyons, this county, for years prominently identified with the financial and civic interests of this region and one of the best-known and most influential men in lonia county, is a native son of Michigan, born at Ann Arbor, this state, June 22, 1862. son of George W. and Helen (Bigger) Ruel, both natives of Scotland, who were married in Canada and came to Michigan in 1855.
George W. Ruel was born on a farm near the city of Edinburgh, June 16, 1827, and was trained to the trade of a tailor in that city. When twenty years old he crossed the Atlantic and settled at Galt, Ontario, where
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he remained six years, during three years of which he filled an important government position. There he married Helen Bigger, who also was born in Scotland, and to that union six children were born. In 1855 George W. Ruel came to Michigan and established a clothing store at Ann Arbor, where he remained in business for fourteen years, after which he moved to Chelsea, where he conducted a clothing store for about four years, at the end of which time he moved to Fowlerville, where he remained in business for thirteen years. He then went to South Dakota, established a merchant- tailoring establishment at Aberdeen, in that state, and at the same time entered a claim to three hundred and twenty acres of government land. Mr. Ruel was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted at the first call to arms, and during his service received a wound in the left leg that troubled him the rest of his life. He was an active member of the Methodist church and for years was an office bearer in that church. His death occurred on .August 25. 1885.
James H. Ruel was but a lad when his parents moved from Ann Arbor to Chelsea and later to Fowlerville, and his schooling was completed in the high school in the latter town .. He also took a course in a business college. For a time he was employed in a newspaper office at Fowlerville and later, for about a year, in a general store at that place, after which he entered the employ of the Pere Marquette railroad as a telegraph operator and pre- sently was employed at Brighton, being sent thence to Plymouth and to other stations along the line. as a general relief agent. In 1882 the com- pany sent him to Lyons, this county, and he continued as station agent at that place for about five years, at the end of which time. in 1887, he entered the banking business and has ever since been thus engaged, during which time he has become one of the best-known bankers and one of the most prominent figures in the financial life of this section of the state. Mr. Ruel's first venture in the banking business was at Pewamo, this county, where he bought a half interest in the banking establishment of Samuel \\'. Webber, which connection continued until Mr. Webber's death, in 1902. In the meantime Webber & Ruel had established a bank at Mt. Pleasant ( now the Isabelle County State Bank ) and a bank at Rochester, the firm at the latter place including Frank H. Hale, under the firm name of Web- ber. Hale & Company. When Samuel W. Webber died, in 1902, he was succeeded in business by his son, Samuel W. Webber, Jr., and the business continued as before until the latter's death in 1013. Previous to that time Mr. Webber had owned the bank at Muir and Mr. Ruel bought an interest in that institution. and in 1913. following Mr. Webber's death, he and
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Victor F. Upton bought the Webber bank at Lyons; he and Mr. Lobdell bought the Webber interests at Muir and he and Mr. Amsden bought the Webber interests at Pewamo. Mr. Ruel still retains his connection with the banks at Lyons, Pewamo and Muir,, as above noted, but is no longer con- nected with the banks at Mt. Pleasant and Rochester.
In 1914 Mr. Ruel, Mr. Amsden and E. C. Cunningham and the latter's son, Ira Cunningham, established a bank at Hubbardston, bought the build- ing and fixtures formerly owned by O. C. Townsend & Company, bankers there, and that bank since has been conducted as the Bank of Hubbardston, owned by Cummings, Ruel & Amsden, bankers. About 1907 Mr. Ruel, F. L. Keeler and W. B. Shumway established a bank at Waldron, but after operating the same for about four years sold it. Mr. Ruel is a Democrat and ever since locating in this county has taken an active interest in civic affairs. For a number of years he was president of the village of Pewamo and was also village treasurer for some time. He also has served as treas- urer of Lyons township and for twenty years was a member of the local school board, while in other ways he has exerted his influence in behalf of the common welfare hereabout, and has long been looked upon as one of the most substantial and influential residents of Ionia county.
It was in 1885. about three years after locating at Lyons, that James H. Ruel was united in marriage at that place to Alice J. Amsden, who was born near Lockport, Illinois, about ten miles from the city of Joliet, daugh- ter of Capt. Albert and Sarah Catherine (Joslin) Amsden, the former of whom for many years was one of the most prominent residents of Lyons, where he spent his last days. Capt. Albert Amsden was an honored veteran of the Civil War and headed a company in an Illinois regiment during that struggle. Ile was born in New England and, bereft of his parents by death in his youth, he was reared by kinsfolk. When a young man he came to Michigan and secured work in the woolen mills at Ypsilanti. where he became thoroughly familiar with the details of the woolen-mill industry. There he married Sarah Catherine Joslin, who was born near the village of Mendon, fourteen miles from the city of Rochester, in Monroe county. New York, daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Eadie) Joslin. and who was making her home at Ypsilanti with her sister, Jane, who had married Roswell Strong and had become a resident of that city. Some time after his marriage, Captain Amsden moved to Joliet. Illinois, where he engaged in the hotel business, but later moved to a farm in that vicinity and was living on the farm when the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in
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Company D. One Hundredth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front as captain of that company. During this service he was badly injured when the train which was conveying a carload of soldiers to a hos- pital under his direction was wrecked and he was presently discharged, on a physician's certificate of disability. He later endeavored to re-enlist, but could not successfully pass the physical examination. Upon the completion of his military service Captain Amsden took charge of the work of fencing the railway right-of-way from Chicago to Joliet and survey and fix the boundar- ies of the same. About 1872 he sold his farm in Illinois and went to Wauk- esha, Wisconsin, where he built a large woolen-mill, which he operated for two years, at the end of which time he sold it and came to Ionia county. locating at Lyons, where his brother was operating a woolen-mill in partner- ship with Mr. Waterman. The Captain bought the Waterman interest and he and his brother continued operating the mill until it was destroyed by fire. Captain Amsden and his son, Oscar A. Amsden, then established another mill at Lyons and the Captain was thus engaged until his death in the fall of 1882.
Captain Amsden was married twice. His first wife died shortly after the close of the Civil War and in June, 1868, he married her sister. Mrs. Jane Strong, whose husband had died in 1861. after which she and her only son, Frank A. Strong, made their home with the Amsdens. Upon the death of Mrs. Amsden, Mrs. Strong remained in the household, taking care of the three small children left by her sister and in the summer of 1868 married Captain Amsden. Mrs. Amsden is still living at Lyons in the ninety-second year of her age. She has a wonderfully retentive memory and is a veritable mine of information regarding early days in this part of Michigan. Captain Amsden for many years was president of the village of Lyons and also served for years as a justice of the peace. He was prominent in local Masonic circles and ever was an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance hereabout.
Mrs. Ruel was given excellent educational advantages in her youth and became an accomplished musician and a talented elocutionist, to which arts she continued her devotion after her marriage, and she and Mr. Rnel long have been regarded as among the leaders in the social and cultural activities of the community. They have an adopted daughter. Elizabeth June. Mr. Ruel is a Mason and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and was a member of the Knights of Maccabees until the local "tent" of that order was disbanded.
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WARREN SHEPARD.
Warren Shepard, a well-known resident of Belding, this county, an honored veteran of the Civil War, who has been a resident of that city since 1892, is a native of the Empire state, having been born in Greig township, Lewis county, New York, in June, 1840, son of Nathaniel and Leah ( Ostran- der ) Shepard, both natives of Schoharie county, that same state, well-to-do farming people who spent all their lives in New York state, and who were the parents of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, four of whom are still living. Of these nine sons, five gave their services to the country as sol- diers in the Union army during the Civil War. Warren, Elias, Norton, Sey- mour and Jeremiah, the latter of whom laid down his life for his country. he having been killed during the seven-days battle before Richmond.
Warren Shepard was reared on a farm and received but a limited edu- cation. In September, 1862, at West Camden, in Oneida county, New York, he enlisted in the Ninety-third Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War and was with that command until the close of the war, among the numerous battles in which he participated having been the battle of Antietam. In 1866 Mr. Shepard left his native state and came West, locating in Minnesota, where in 1870 he married Melissa Burns, who was born in Clinton county, Michigan, January 30, 1854, daughter of Will- iam Burns, a veteran of the Civil War, who had settled in Minnesota after the war, but who later returned to Michigan, and spent his last days at Six Lakes, in the neighboring county of Montcalm. After their marriage Warren Shepard and his wife moved about quite a bit, making their home variously in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and Michigan. In 1892 they located at Belding, in this county, and have made their home there ever since. To them six children have been born, five of whom are living. Clarence Melvin. Will- iam, Blanche, Maud and Bessie. Both Clarence M. Shepard and William Shepard are ministers of the gospel, attached to the local conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. the later being stationed at Bowens Falls, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard are members of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Mr. Shepard is a Republican.
Mr. Shepard has been a great bunter in his day and has a record of hay- ing brought down much big game: Ilis recollection carries back to the days of his youth when he successfully repulsed the attacks of a panther, in defense of the younger children of the family, and from the days of his boyhood he was accustomed to ranging the wild woods of his native state in quest of big
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game. In Minnesota he found much opportunity for the exercise of his prowess in this direction and he ranged the forest wilds there, bagging much big game, ever maintaining the most amicable and friendly relations with the Indians, who not infrequently were his companions on the hunt. In Penn- sylvania. Wisconsin and Michigan, he also has hunted much and perhaps no man in this section of the state has a higher record for big game than he. At one time Mr. Shepard had a farm at Six Lakes, Michigan.
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