USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 43
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SAMUEL L. CAMPBELL.
Danby township. Ionia county, has many good farmers who devote a great deal of attention to raising live stock of all kinds, common to this latitude. Among this number is Samuel L. Campbell, who was born in Allegany county, New York, July 18, 1855, and is a son of Daniel and Lucy (Dana ) Campbell. The father was born in Castile, Wyoming county, New York. of Scotch parents, who immigrated to America from Scotland when young and established their future home in the Empire state, and there on a farm in Wyoming county Daniel Campbell grew to manhood and attended the district schools. When twenty years old he went to the vil- lage of Castile. in his native county, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, remaining there three or four years, then went to Allegany county and established a blacksmith shop of his own and there met and married Lucy Dana, who was born in Genesee village, that county, and was of Yankee stock. Daniel Campbell continued to follow his trade there for nearly forty years, living all the while in the same house where he moved when he first came, and there his death occurred on January 16, 1902, at an advanced age, having survived his first wife thirty years, her death hav- ing occurred on November 15, 1872. His second wife, who still survives, was Jennie Marshall before her marriage. To the first marriage three chi !- dren were born, namely: Samuel L., the subject of this sketch: Frank lives in Buffalo. New York: Dora is the wife of Emmett Hadley, of Hornell, New York.
Samuel L. Campbell received a common-school education. When six- teen years old he left home and went to live with his grandparents. When twenty-one years old he came with an uncle to Ionia county, Michigan.
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Here he worked seven or eight years on a farm, or until his marriage, which took place on December 24, 1884, to Lillian Tirrill, a daughter of Martin and Rebecca ( Buck) Tirrill. Her father was a son of John and Polly Tirrill, who came to Michigan from New Hampshire in 1838, among the earliest pioneer settler. Rebecca Buck was born in Lorain county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Hart and Mary Buck, who were of English stock, in fact, were born, reared and married in England. They came to the United States and settled at Avon, Lorain county, Ohio, where they lived until 1864 when they went to live near their daughter who had married Martin Tirrill, October 14, 1863, and had located in Ionia county, Michigan. Martin Tirrill and wife came direct to Portland township where they lived a few years, then located in the village of Portland, and there Mr. Tirrill lied on May 2, 1907. He was the father of four children, namely : Alberta died when eighteen years old; Lillian, wife of the subject of this sketch: John died when a year and one-half old: Mary is the wife of Ed Mckay, of Keene township. Ionia county.
Upon his marriage Samuel L. Campbell settled in Portland where he worked in a saw- and feed-mill for about eleven years, then purchased a farm of eighty acres in section 5, Danby township, and here he is making a good living as a general farmer and stock raiser.
One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, Lester M., who was graduated from the Portland schools, after which he taught two years in Danby township, two years in Sebewa township, and is now in government service at Lake Odessa, Ionia county ; he married Zelma Tyler, and they have one child, Stewart M. Campbell.
Politically, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, but is not very active in public affairs.
RICHARD ROY LOWREY.
Richard Roy Lowrey, of Boston township, lonia county is a twentieth century farmer in all that the term implies, as the stranger readily notes when he visits his place. He was born in Berlin township, .fonia county. April 28, 1876, and is a son of Ebenezer and Carrie ( Thomas) Lowrey. The father was born near Youngstown, Ohio, and was a son of Norton Lowrey, who removed with his family to Berlin township. lonia county, Michigan, when his son, Ebenezer, was young, and here he entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government and developed a farm on which he spent the rest of his life. He was twice married and had three
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sons by his first wife, Archie, John and Ebenezer. All three were soldiers in the Civil War. Archie, who was a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, was killed at the battle of Stone's River, but the other two served until the close of the war. Ebenezer having been a member of the Sixteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. The latter was promoted to corporal of his company. After his discharge from the army he returned to Ionia county, Michigan, and bought eighty acres in Berlin township, which land had belonged to his brother, Archie. He has lived on this place ever since. He and his sons cleared and improved it and he has added to it until he now has an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres. He has devoted his life to general farming. He is the father of the following children: Willard lives in British Columbia; Carl lives in Berlin township, Ionia county; R. Roy is the subject of this sketch; Harvey is at present county school commissioner; Edward N. is the present sheriff of Jonia county; Earl, who was graduated from the lonia Normal School, lives at home ; Hazel, who is a graduate from the lonia Normal School and the Mt. Pleasant Normal School, lives at home.
R. Roy Lowrey grew up on the home farm and received his early edu- cation in the district schools, remaining on the home farm until he was twenty-six years old, working for his father, then worked a part of the place until 1908 as a renter, then bought ninety-five acres in section 25. Boston township, three miles south of Saranac, and here he has since resided.
On December 4, 1901. R. Roy Lowrey was married to Harriet B. Locher, a daughter of Joseph A. and Mary ( Marsh) Locher, the former of whom was born in Germany from which country he was brought to the United States by his parents when six years of age, the family locating in Ohio, and there he grew to manhood. When the Civil War came on Mr. I.ocher enlisted in the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and became bugler of his regiment. After the war he came to Jonia county, Michigan, and bought eighty acres of land in Berlin township. He returned to Ohio, married and lived there awhile, then in 1866 came to Michigan to live. developing the land he had previously purchased, and remaining there until 1905 when he sold out and located in Saranac.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lowrey four children have been born, namely : Mabel Blanch, born on July 3. 1903: Jay Karl, May 7. 1906: Hazel Harriet, February 18. 1908: Evelyn Virginia, July 1, 1910.
Politically, Mr. Lowrey is a Republican. He has been a director of his school district since July, 1915 Fraternally, he belongs to Camp No. 4513, Modern Woodmen of America, at Saranac.
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O. F. WEBSTER.
One of the enterprising and successful publishers of central Michigan, who is doing a good work in encouraging general improvements is O. F. Webster, publisher of the Degree of Honor Review at Belding, Ionia county. He was born in Syracuse, New York, March 25, 1855, and is the son of Oscar F. and Caroline M. ( Williamson) Webster. The father was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1836, of old Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry and Yankee stock. The birth of the mother occurred in Syracuse, New York, in 1837. These parents grew to maturity in their native community where they were married, and the father worked as a machinist and engineer in Syracuse for some time, and there his death occurred in 1868, and the mother remained there with her children until 1874 when the family moved to Detroit, Michigan.
O. F. Webster received his education in the public schools and when a boy learned telegraphy at which he worked for some time in New York. Pennsylvania and the West. He remained only a short time with the family in Detroit. He worked in a number of places in that section of the country, the West and the South until 1878 when he located at Greenville, Michigan. as operator for the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad Company. Dur- ing his employment with the railroad and until September 1, 1904, he was agent for the American Express Company, in all about twenty years. This business was afterward taken over by the United States Express Company. On April 19, 1879, he married Luella Kingsley, a daughter of J. W. and Esther Kingsley. He remained in Greenville until January 7. 1880, when he came to Belding as station agent, which position he held until July 23. 1899, then started out on his own account, in the feed business, two years later engaging in the livery business, retaining his feed business also until 1903, when he sold out, but retained his livery stable until 1014, having been engaged in the same continuously for twenty-one years. After the death of his wife, July 12, 1912, he came into the printing establishment in Belding, which plant had been operated by her, and this he has continued to the present time, the business, known as the O. F. & L. K. Webster Com- pany or the Herald Publishing Company, was started by them in 1893. In connection with his monthly newspaper, which he has greatly improved and the circulation of which is constantly increasing. he operates a job printing office, turning out high-grade work promptly. He has been a stockholder in the Belding Savings Bank, which he helped organize, and for a number
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of years was a director in the same. He helped organize the Spencer Light & Power Company, and he has been vice-president of the same since its organization. He was treasurer of the Belling Building & Loan Associa- tion for twenty years. He was one of the originators of the plan which brought the Belding brothers to this place, in fact, he has been regarded as one of the leading men of affairs and public-spirited citizens of Belding for over two decades.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Webster, namely : Luella O., born on April 15, 1880. would have graduated from the high school the following June after her death in November. 1900; Edwin Q., who was graduated from the Belding high school and the Ferris Institute, is inter- ested with his father in his publishing business and is a city mail carrier.
Politically. Mr. Webster is a Republican. For six years he was deputy sheriff of Ionia county. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. also of the Degree of Honor, and publishes the organ of that lodge, the Degree of Honor Reviewe.
WILLIAM A. CROEL.
An honored veteran of the great Civil War and one of the diligent farmers of Ionia township. Ionia county, is William A. Croel, who was born on April 14, 1841, in Monroe county, New York. He is a son of Silas and Ruth ( Saxton) Croel, both natives of New York, the father of Monroe county. the mother of Greene county. In 1849 Silas Croel and family moved to Genesee county, Michigan, where they bought a farm and resided until 1865. then sold out and moved to Ionia county, buying a farm in section 26. lonia township, on which the father and mother spent the rest of their lives. Politically, he was first a Whig, later a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. and very faithful in their attendance. His death occurred in March, 1890, and that of his wife two years previously, in July, 1888. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, namely: William, Henry, Emeline, Henrietta (who died in infancy ). Charles, Mary and George. The last named died when five years old, and Charles lived on a farm in Tonia town- ship until his death some years ago. The other children are all living at this writing.
William A. Croel grew upon the home farm and received a common-
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school education. On November 7. 1862, he enlisted, in Genesee county. in Company G, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and was in the Army of the Potomac and in the various engagements in the Shenandoah valley, remaining in the service until June 22, 1865, when he was discharged at the government hospital at Leavenworth, Kansas. He saw much hard service and proved to be a faithful and gallant soldier. He was in the battles of Gettysburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Cold Harbor, Antietam and many others of lesser note. During the Gettysburg campaign he was in thirteen fights in so many days, the cavalry being almost constantly engaged for two weeks. He was wounded at Gettysburg by a piece of shell, which slightly shattered his shin bone. After the war he returned home in July. 1865, and has lived in lonia county ever since, or for more than a half century con- tinuously, and has engaged in farming all the while. He cleared the land where he lives. developing it into a good farm, and in 1884 built a large. comfortable dwelling house which is still in good condition. His place consists of one hundred acres. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held various township offices.
William A. Croel was married on October 28, 1875, to Emeline Way, who was born in Portland, Ionia county, and is a daughter of Alanson and Magdalene ( Miller ) Way. The father was born in Dutchess county, New York, January 25, 1803, and there he grew up and was married to Magda- lene Miller, who was born in Alsace, France. Her mother died when she was thirteen years old, and her father sent her to America, and later he also came. She landed in New York City, where she remained awhile, then went into the interior of New York state, and after her marriage she and Mr. Way went to Sandusky, Ohio, and about 1845 came on to Portland, Michigan. Mr. Way was a cabinet-maker, which he followed until his health failed in later life. Fle was an active member of the Baptist church. His death occurred on May 22, 1871, his widow surviving until February 26, 1889. To these parents nine children were born, namely: Eunice, John, Priscilla, who died when two years ofl; Mehitabel, Daniel, Arvilla, Emeline, Orville and Helen.
To Mr. and Mrs. Croel five children have been born, namely: Claude V., a farmer of Ionia township, married May Sommers and they have three children, Florence, Anna and Charles; William S., who lives on the farm west of that of his father, married Alice Chickering and they have three children, Alice, Willie and Russell: Magdalena is the wife of Walter Her- rick, of Carson City, Montcalm county, and they have two children, Emeline and Mildred: Winifred, who was graduated from Lyons high school and
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Mt. Pleasant Normal, is teaching in high school and lives at home: Lawrence A., who was graduated from the Lyons high school, is living at home and assisting with the farm work. The mother of these children received a good education and taught school two years in her girlhood days, making her own way in the world from the age of thirteen until her marriage. She has remained a student all her life and has been of great assistance to her children and grandchildren, all having attended the school where she was a pupil when a child. Mr. Croel is a member of the Masonie order at Lyons, and also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
WILLIAM J. CLARKE.
The well-known monument dealer, William J. Clarke, who has engaged in the same line of business continuously for the past thirty-three years at Belding, lonia county, was born in Exeter, Ontario, Canada, April 22, 1858. He is a son of Mark and Emily ( Shaddock ) Clarke. The father was born in Somersetshire. England, January 23, 1833. and died on September 13. 1913. He lived in his native land until he was twenty years of age and there learned the shoemaker's trade, then immigrated alone to London, Ontario, and worked at his trade there a number of years. His wife was born in Devonshire, England, from which country she came to London. Ontario, when a young girl. Her father was a mason by trade. The parents of the subject of this sketch met and married in London, Canada. After living there awhile they went to Exeter, Ontario, where he continued his trade, also teaming, and they spent the rest of their lives there, the mother dying in March. 1882. They were the parents of nine children, namely : William J., the subject of this review: Mary, widow of William Fish, lives in Saskatchewan. Canada: El is deceased: Edward lives in Hillsboro, Texas; Minnie is the wife of D. A. Donaldson, a railroad con- ductor : Ida is deceased: Edith is deceased: John lives in the province of Saskatchewan: Fred died when one year old.
William J. Clarke received his education in the public schools of Exeter. Ontario, and there learned the trade of marble cutter, then came to Mich- igan, locating at Grand Rapids, where he worked at his trade about two years, then went to Muskegon, this state, where he formed a partnership with Frank Hays, returning to Grand Rapids a year later where he remained until the spring of 1882 when he came to Belding, and worked three years
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for J. W. Sprague & Company, then bought a half interest in the E. W. Jersey Monument Works, nine months later he purchased Mr. Jersey's interest and has continued the business ever since, with the exception of two years, 1911-13. He is a very highly skilled workman and has enjoyed a good business all along.
William J. Clarke was married on December 24, 1881. to Anna J. Mar- shall, daughter of Isaiah and Mary Marshall, and to this union three chil- dren have been born, namely: Maude is the wife of Charles W. Ortt and they live in Grand Rapids: Myrtle is the wife of Guy Alexander, of Grand Rapids : Frank W. is engaged in the monument business at St. Joseph, Mich- igan.
Politically, Mr. Clarke is a Democrat, and he has been alderman from his ward for two years. He is a member of Silk City Lodge No. 447. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand. He has also represented his lodge at state encampments. He is also a member of the encampment. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters at Belding.
THOMAS F. MARTIN.
It is a pleasure, whether one is a farmer or not, to look over a place like that of Thomas F. Martin, of Ronald township, lonia county, where everything indicates thrift, good taste and a strict adherence to system. Mr. Martin was born on July 15, 1865. in County Monaghan, Ireland, and is a son of Robert and Eleanor (Dinning ) Martin. He was six years old when his parents immigrated to Michigan, locating in lonia county, the father buying a farm in Ronald township on which he lived until about 1880, when he bought a farm half a mile west of Literary Hall. Ronald township, on which he lived until tooz when he moved to Palo, where his death occurred on April 14, 1904. His widow survives, making her home with her son, William, who lives just east of Palo. Robert Martin's farm here consisted of forty acres, all in standing timber but about three acres. the remainder being stump land and bush. There was a small. cheap dwell- ing but no barn. He cleared the land of the bush, girdled the trees and sowed wheat and the next year cut off the timber, and finally had a good farm and comfortable home as a result of his industry and perseverance. Ilis family consisted of nine children, all living but one. James, who died when four years old. The living are Robert. Mrs. Eliza Dinning. Thomas
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F., John J., Irwin, James K., William A. and Mrs. Phoebe Carpenter, the last two being twins.
Thomas F. Martin was six years old when his parents brought him to America, the voyage on a sailing vessel requiring about six weeks. He has made two return trips to his old home in Ireland, the first in 1897, when he took his wife and two children, spending five months visiting his wife's parents and others. His second trip was in the summer of 1907, when he was accompanied by J. C. Beatty, but he returned alone.
At the age of twelve years Thomas F. Martin went to live with his uncle. Thomas Martin, who first came to lonia county in 1848, entering a farm from the government-the place where Thomas F. Martin now lives. The uncle sold his farm to W. H. Mattison and bought another in the same neighborhood, where Thomas I. Martin, son of Thomas F., now lives. Thomas F. Martin remained with his uncle until the latter's death. in 1887. He had no children and treated Thomas F. as his own son and gave him every advantage. The uncle was a pioneer settler here and in the early days plowed with from five to nine yoke of oxen for John B. Welch, on land which is now Main street, lonia, and where the high school stands, breaking up new ground. Upon his death he gave his home farm to Thomas F. Martin, the place consisting of eighty-three acres.
Thomas F. Martin was married on September 13, 1887, to Margaret Jane Martin, a third cousin. She was born in the same vicinity where he first saw the light of day and they played as neighbor children. She was nineteen years old when she came to America, direct to the home of her uncle, Thomas Martin, who was her father's brother and who had married a sister of Thomas F. Martin's father. Her parents were John and Rachael ( Lemon ) Martin. Two years after coming here her uncle died and she continued to make her home with his widow until the latter's death ten years later. It was in September, following the death of Thomas Martin, that the young people were married. After the death of Mrs. Thomas Martin, Thomas F. Martin bought the one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm on which he now lives, which Thomas Martin had entered from the government. He has lived here for the past six years. He has also owned other farms, aggregating a total of five hundred and three acres. Ile and his wife had three children: Margrett Elizabeth, the eldest, died when two months old: Thomas L .. Born on April 22, 1890, married Lila May Pew and he owns the farm where Thomas F. Martin was reared (one hundred and eight acres ) and has one child, Maurice Cleveland Martin: Robert J. Martin, the third child, was born on October 14, 1893, and lives with his parents, Mr.
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Martin and both his sons belong to the Masonic order, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church of Palo, Michigan.
Mrs. Martin's sister. Rachael, came to America about two years after Mr. and Mrs. Martin were married, and she lived with them about nine years. In the fall of 1897 she married W. C. Whitcroft. and they reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thomas F. Martin saw the steamship "Lusitania" start on her maiden voyage. This was at the time of his second trip abroad. This is the vessel that was sunk by a German submarine in 1915.
HERBERT L. SMITH.
Farm life has been both pleasant and profitable to Herbert L. Smith, of Ronald township, Ionia county, and he has never had a desire to change his lot for that of the city man with his numerous cares that the rural dweller knows not of. Mr. Smith was born in the above named township and county. February 17. 1870. on the farm where he now lives. He is a son of Ambrose G. and Evangeline ( Dixon) Smith. The father was born in Cayuga county, New York, June 21, 1844, and is a son of Daniel G. and Lucetta ( Sperry ) Smith, both natives of Cayuga county. Soon after their marriage they removed to Michigan and lived in Clinton county about eight years, then located in Ronald township, lonia county, on the farm in sec- tion 19 on which the subject of this sketch now lives. The death of Daniel G. Smith occurred on March 15, 1891, his wife having preceded him to the grave only by nine days, her death occurring March 6, 1891. Ambrose G. Smith was the eldest of their five children. He was but one year old when the family came to Michigan, and when eight years old he went back to New York, where he spent four years in school, then rejoined his parents in Michigan on the farm. He and Evangeline Dixon were married in 1860. She was born in the city of Detroit in 1848, and was left an orphan at an early age. Her death occurred on July 7, 1897. She was the mother of five children, who will be mentioned in a later paragraph in the course of this sketch.
The history of the Dixon family may be accurately traced back to Charles Dixon, who was born in 1730 at Kirleavington, England, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He immigrated to Sackville, New Brunswick, and settled in Nova Scotia in 1772. Evangeline Dixon was born in Ohio,
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and is a daughter of John E. and Thirza (Dille) Dixon. John E. Dixon was a son of Edward and Mary ( Smith) Dixon. John E. was born in 1811. Edward was the second son of Charles and Susannah (Coates ) Dixon. This Charles Dixon was the immigrant ancestor, having come from England. He was a member of the first parliament of New Brunswick, in 1786, also was a member of the second parliament. He was collector of customs for some time, and was a man of influence in public affairs. He was a fervent Methodist. It was in 1833 that John E. Dixon moved to Ohio. He was a carpenter and builder. He and Thirza Dille were married at Euclid, Ohio. For some time they lived at Marine City, then moved to Detroit where he engaged in ship building until 1860. In 1864 he was sent to Alabama to work on some gunboats for the government. His daughter, Evangeline, married A. G. Smith.
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