USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 44
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.Ambrose G. Smith lived on the farm until 1801 when his parents died, after which he moved to the town of lonia where he spent nearly two years, then bought a farm on State Road. one mile north of Ionia, and lived there until 1910 when he sold out and bought his present farm On April 11. 1906, he married Mrs. Elizabeth ( Brown ) Saxton, widow of James Saxton. deceased. Ambrose G. Smith was treasurer of Ronald township two terms. He is an elder in the Christian church. Of his children, Herbert L. is the eldest : Bertha L. is the wife of R. A. Grover, of lonia: Mabel lives in Cali- fornia: Carrie lives in Oregon, and Lucetta, who was graduated from a medical school. is a practicing physician in Oregon.
Herbert L. Smith attended the public schools of lonia for six years, and was within six months of graduation when his paternal grandparents died. He had been staying with them during his 'school days. Upon their deaths Ambrose G. Smith was compelled to move to lonia in order to look after their property. this made it necessary for Herbert 1 .. Smith to return to the farm, which he operated three or four years, then worked with his father on another farm a year, after which he returned to the okl home place. where he has since remained. He is now operating two hundred acres, and in connection with general farming specializes in fruit growing and dairy- ing. He has twelve head of registered Holstein cattle, and about twenty acres in fruit trees. lle has a good income from all departments of his farming business and has been very successful all along the line.
Herbert 1. Smith has always been a Republican. He was highway commissioner for some time, and in April, 1912, was elected supervisor of Ronald township, and has hekl this office ever since.
On December 25, 1804. Herbert L. Smith married M. Lucetta Leach,
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who was born at Shiloh, Orleans township, this county, and is a daughter of Theodore and Mary Jane ( Brown ) Leach. The father was a native of Ohio, and a son of Jonas and Lucetta ( Latham ) Leach. He came to Mich- igan with his parents during the late sixties and they settled near Shiloh, lonia county, where the parents spent the rest of their lives. Mary Jane Brown was born near Fenwick, Michigan, and is a daughter of Nathaniel and Emma ( Milton ) Brown, who came from England about 1854, settling near Fenwick, Montcalm county, Michigan. Mr. Brown came first, and, owing to a misunderstanding, he returned to England for his family, being on the ocean at the same time his wife was coming to America. When these parents settled on their farm near Fenwick the country was still a wilderness, the haunts of Indians and wild beasts, and they underwent the usual hard- ships of pioneer life. Theodore Leach and wife live near Shiloh on the farm where his father first settled. Jonas Leach, father of Theodore, was a lumberman and cut off all the good timber in this locality. Theodore Leach has devoted his life exclusively to farming. He and his wife are the parents of five children: M. Lucetta, Marvin F., Milton K. ( deceased ). Theodore L. and Adah M. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons and two daughters, namely: Ambrose Gorham, Milton D., Evangelia Mabel and Mary Lucetta. Evangelia is the wife of Charles Brown and lives in Ionia.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith belong to the Gleaners, and he is a member of the Maccabees.
JOSEPH T. ANGELL.
Joseph T. AAngell, now living in honorable retirement at his cozy home in Belding, Michigan, after spending nearly a quarter of a century in the meat business and as a stock buyer, was born in Columbia county, New York, twenty miles from the city of Albany, April 25. 1846. He is a son of Augustus and Anna Eliza (Smith ) Angell. The father was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the eldest of the family of Ephraim Angell, of English Quaker stock, and a descendant of Governor Winthrop, of Massa- chusetts. Soon after the birth of Augustus Angell the family removed to Columbia county, New York, where Ephraim Angell spent the balance of his life. The mother of the subject was born in Dutchess county. New York, and there grew to womanhood and received her education. She married Mr. Angell in that county and there they established their home and spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Angell engaging in farming and stock buying.
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He was a prominent man in his community and a prosperous farmer. These parents were Quakers on both sides of the house, and therefore the subject of this sketch is a birthright Quaker.
J. T. Angell grew up on the home farm and received his education from a private tutor, employed by his father, later attending the neighborhood schools, then studied at the Hudson River Institute, where he spent two or three terms, working on the farm during the vacation periods. Later he took a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. When twenty years of age he went to Dupage county, Hlinois, with a cousin where they engaged in farming for one year, then went to Missouri and worked for a fruit tree firm for two years, then returned to Hlinois, Mr. Angell remaining at Lisle, Dupage county, about a year and a half, engaged in mercantile pursuits, then sold his store and moved to Odell, Hlinois, buy- ing out a general store which he operated seven years, with a partner. From there he came to Belding, Michigan, in 1878. His health failing about this time he decided to discontinue mercantile pursuits and, in order to be in the open air, he began buying stock until 1880 when he opened a meat market which he conducted with much success until 1900 when he sold out and engaged in buying and shipping live stock to the Eastern mar- kets until 1909. since which time he has been living retired from active life.
Joseph T. Angell was married on November 26, 1872. to Mary A. Parker, a daughter of Benjamin A. and Eliza An ( Edmonston) Parker. The father was born at North Adams, Massachusetts, but when a small boy his parents took him to Ontario county, New York, where he grew up and married. Mrs. Angell received her education in the public schools and in Maston Academy, and it was while a student there that Mr. Angell met her. To their union four children have been born, namely: Benjamin Parker lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and is a traveling salesman for the Rich- ardson Silk Company: \. Leroy died when nineteen years old: Renna M. was graduated from the Belding high school. the three-year course at Ypsi- lanti Normal, and Columbia University, New York City, and is now teach- ing art in all branches in the State Normal School at La Crosse, Wisconsin : Walter Herbert is assistant cashier in the Bekdling Savings Bank.
Politically. Mr. Angell is a Republican. He was a member of the council when Belding was made a city, and for nineteen years was supervisor of the second ward. He was highway commissioner two years before the city was incorporated and he built several bridges now standing. He is a mem- ber of the Maccabees at Belding. He build the splendid modern home af 221 Broas street, and also has other city property and real estate.
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HON. ALLEN BENTON MORSE.
Hlon. Allen Benton Morse, formerly judge of the supreme court of the state of Michigan, for many years a leading member of the bar at lonia, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former state senator from this district. one-time United States consul at Glasgow, Scotland, and former mayor of lonia, to whom the people of that city very properly may apply the loving ap- pellation of "the grand old man of lonia," is a native son of this county, born on a pioneer farm in Otisco township, January 7. 1839. the third white child, and the first male white child born in the county, son of Judge John L. and Susan Ann (Cowles ) Morse, natives of New York state, and pioneers and long prominent residents of this county, and both of whom died in lowa.
John L. Morse was born at Cortlandville, New York, May 13. 1815. son of Minor and Sally ( May) Morse, both of English descent, the former a native of Guilford, Connecticut, and the latter of Monson, Massachusetts, who were the parents of four children, John L., Perry, Charles and Sarah. John L. Morse was reared as a farmer boy in New York, his elementary schooling being followed by a course of two years at an academy. In 1822 his parents moved from Courtland county to Niagara county, New York, where the mother died in 1828, the eldest son being then thirteen years of age, after which the father and the children returned to Courtland county. where they remained three or four years, when they came to Michigan, set- tling in Oakland county. At the time of his coming to this state, John L. Morse was seventeen years of age, and for some years after coming here he supported himself by teaching school during the winter months and farming during the summers. On November 3, 1834, he married Susan Ann Cowles. a daughter of Alvin and Roxanna (Potter ) Cowles, of Irish and English lineage, respectively, pioneers of Michigan, and the parents of two children. both daughters. Susan Ann having a sister. Cadelia, who married Rufus R. Cook. In March, 1838, John L. Morse and his wife came to lonia county, settling in Otisco township, thus being among the earliest settlers of that part of the county. John 1 .. Morse was a man of vigorous personality and took a leading part in the work of organizing the township. being elected first super- visor of the township. He was a man of great energy and prospered in his farming operations, at the same time continuing his activities in behalf of the general public, and in 18.45 was elected a member of the Michigan state Legis- lature, representing the district then comprising the counties of Ionia. Kent and Ottawa, in which representative office he rendered a valuable service not only to his district, but to the state at large, becoming a figure of state-wide
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HON. ALLEN B. MORSE.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ABY. DA, LENCA AKR
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importance. In 1849 he joined the gold-seekers who went to California, and was away from home for more than three years. In 1856 he was elected judge of the probate court of lonia county, and was re-elected to that office in 1860, serving in all eight years. In 1866 Judge Morse decided to move on farther west. and emigrated to lowa, settling in Wright county, that state, where he purchased a partially improved farm in the Belmond neighborhood, and there established his home. His forceful personality made him a public figure there, even as he had been here, and in 1868 he was elected county judge of Wright county. At the close of that term of public service he was elected county auditor. a position he held until January 1, 1876. In the meantime, 1875, he was elected a member of the sixteenth General Assembly of the state of Iowa and represented the district comprised in the counties of Wright, Hamilton and Humboldt during the sessions of the Legislature in 1876-77. In 1869 Judge Morse was admitted to the practice of the law in the courts of Iowa, and he spent the rest of his life in practice at Belmond. Judge and Mrs. John L. Morse were the parents of ten children, namely : Allen Benton, the subject of this review: Cadelia, widow of Orsene Daniels, of Durango. Colorado: Joseph D., deceased, who was a member of the Michigan State Legislature in 1890-94; Martha, wife of G. L. Cutler, of Clarion, Iowa ; Perry L., deceased : Rhoda, wife of Shaler Hubbard, of Durango. Colorado; Rufus C., of Belmond. Towa ; Willard J., also a resident of Belmond, Jowa: Addie. who became the wife of John Whiting, and died in lowa, and one who died in infancy.
Allen B. Morse was reared on the pioneer farm in Otisco township, this county, receiving his elementary education in the crude local school of that period, and later took a course at the State Agricultural College at Lansing. During the more than three years that his father was absent in California. in addition to carrying on the farm work, he taught school and in other useful ways earned money to add to the family treasury, a heavy task for a lad so young. Ile early became attracted to the law as a profession and was en- gaged as a law student when the Civil War broke out. On July 10, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, Michigan Voltin- teer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and for meritorious service presently was commissioned first lieutenant of the Twenty-first Michigan, later became adjutant of that regiment, and served as adjutant on the staff of Colonel Frank T. Sherman, commanding a brigade in Sherman's division. During the battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863, he lost his left arm, and on September 16. 1864, received his honorable discharge.
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At the close of his military service, Mr. Morse returned to lonia and resumed the study of law in the office of W. B. Wells, a prominent attorney of that day, and was admitted to the bar on February 28. 1865, by Judge Lewis S. Lovell, after which he formed a partnership with Mr. Wells, which continued until 1880, in which year the firm became Morse, Wilson & Trow- bridge, and so continued until Judge Morse assumed his seat on the bench of the supreme court of the state of Michigan, to which high office he had been chosen during the election just previous. Judge Morse served as justice of of the supreme court of Michigan from October, 1885, to 1892, resigning in the latter year to accept the nomination of the Democratic party as their can- didate for governor. Shortly after his defeat in the memorable campaign, Judge Morse was appointed by President Cleveland to the position of United States consul at Glasgow, Scotland, in which honorable position he rendered distinguished service for four years, at the end of which time he returned to Ionia and resumed his law practice, and was thus busily and successfully en- gaged until his retirement. In addition to the public services above referred to, Judge Morse has served the public as state senator from this district, as mayor of lonia, and as prosecuting attorney for fonia county, in all of which service he was faithful to every obligation as a citizen and as an officer, during all those years acquiring a reputation for probity and for efficiency of service second to none in central Michigan, and in the "evening" of his life is held in the very highest regard, enjoying the fullest confidence and esteem of all hereabout.
In 1874 Allen B. Morse was married to Frances Marion Van Allen, who was born in New York state, her parents also having been natives of that state, of whose children two are still living. Herman Van Allen and Mrs. L. B. Townsend, both of fonia. Judge Morse and his first wife were the parents of the following children: Marion, who married Elvert M. Davis, a promi- nent attorney of Grand Rapids, Michigan : Van Allen, of fonia, who married Marguerite Jasper and has two children, Allen Henry and Dan Jasper : Lucy C., who married Gilbert Lee Yates, of lonia, and has two sons. Gilbert Benton and Lee Van Allen, and Dan R., who died at the age of twenty years. The mother of these children died in 1884, and on December 12, 1888, Judge Morse was married to Anna Babcock, who was born on a pioneer farm four miles from Jonia, in this county, October 11, 1855. the daughter of Lucius and Matilda ( May ) Babcock, natives of New York state, and early settlers of this county, for many years prominent in all good works hereabout. the latter of whom died in 1893, at the age of eighty years, and the former in 1895, at the age of eighty-five.
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HON. J. CLYDE WATT.
J. Clyde Watt was born in the village of Saranac, this county, on Octo- ber 4, 1875, and is a son of Samuel A. and Alice (Cotton) Watt, the former of whom was a native of Ohio, and the latter of Boston township, this county. Alice Cotton was the daughter of Gilbert A. and Lucy M. Cotton. who were pioneers in Boston township and both of whom held the office of postmaster of the village of Saranac in an early day. Alice Cotton was one of the first white children born in the township and frequently had Indian children for her playmates. She was active in the work of the church and is well remembered in this community. She died in the year 1906. Samuel A. Watt has been engaged in the mercantile trade at Saranac for the past forty years.
Samuel A. and Alice ( Cotton) Watt were the parents of three children, as follow: Dr. C. L., who is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Grand Rapids, Michigan ; J. Clyde, the subject of this sketch, and Stella M., wife of Norman J. Ogilvie, of Saranac.
J. Clyde Watt graduated from the public schools of Saranac, took a course in a business college in Grand Rapids, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in the class of 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After the completion of his work at the Uni- versity he entered a law office in lonia and remained there until March, 1897, at which time he located at Saranac and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession since that time. Mr. Watt has been an earnest worker in the Republican party, having served as president and secretary of the Gridley Republican Club and as secretary of the Republican county committee. He served as village and township clerk; was circuit court commissioner for lonia county for four years, and was elected to the Legis- lature in 1905 and re-elected to the session of 1907. In the year 1913 he was appointed by Governor Ferris as the Republican member of the com- mission to revise and consolidate all the laws of the state relating to civil practice and procedure in the several courts. The work of the commission was approved by the Legislature of 1915 and the act, which was the largest ever passed by the Legislature, is known as the "Judicature Act."
On March 1. 1905. J. Clyde Watt was married to Pearl Flint, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Flint, of Perry, Michigan. Miss Flint was edu- cated in the public schools of the state and took a special course in music at Olivet College. To this union has been welcomed one child, Flint Clyde,
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who was born on September 15, 1915. Mrs. Watt has taken an active part in musical and social affairs in Saranac and has been closely identified with literary work. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
In 1894. through the accidental discharge of a shot gun. Mr. Watt had the misfortune of losing his right arm and it was soon after this that he decided to prepare for the law profession. He is prominent in fraternal affairs, being a member of Boston Lodge No. 146, Free and Accepted Masons; lonia Lodge No. 548, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Valley Chapter No. 276, Order of the Eastern Star, and is state consul of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Watt made an excellent record in the Legislature and is regarded as one of the staple men of the county and one who has the best interests of the community at heart.
BYRON F. BROWN.
As assistant superintendent of the Richardson Silk Company at Beld- ing, Michigan, Byron F. Brown has proven himself to be a man of ability and enterprise. He was born in this city, January 14, 1875, and he has been content to spend his life in his native community. He is a son of Solomon S. and Harriet (Tallman) Brown. The father was born near Brantford, Canada, in 1829, and the mother was a native of Rensselaer county, New York. Solomon S. Brown grew to manhood in his native locality where he received a common-school education. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a contractor and builder up to his death. He came to Michigan and Ionia county in 1850 and in 1855 he married Harriet Tallman, a daughter of James Tallman. who had located here with his family in 1844, settling one mile north of Bekling, carving out a home from the wilderness. They had come from Detroit with an ox-team over the trail of the pioneers. He took up land from the government and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. After their marriage Solomon S. Brown and wife settled on a farm north of lonia, at Woods Corners, and Mr. Brown continued farming and car- pentering here until he removed to Belding, being one of the first settlers of this town, which at that time bad seven houses and a saw-mill. He built the first hotel here, and he was one of the earliest postmasters of the place. At that time the mail was brought by stage. Mr. Brown took a very active interest in the upbuilding of Belling. llis death occurred in 1881. His
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widow survived nineteen years, passing away in 1900 at an advanced age. To these parents three children were born, namely: James H. lives in Charlotte, Michigan, where he is engaged in the real-estate business; Carroll S .. of Charlotte, Michigan, vice-president of the First National Bank, of Charlotte, and Byron F. James H. and Carroll S. formerly constituted the firm of Brown Brothers Clothing Company, of Charlotte, Michigan.
The subject of this review received a common and high school educa- tion in Belding, graduating from the high school, after which he entered the office of Knott-Rutan & Company, flour millers of Belding, with which firm he spent one year, then came to the Richardson Silk Company, starting in the stock department. Being alert, trustworthy and wide-awake, his rise was rapid, and he soon mastered the various details of the business. He has been with the company twenty-four years, his long retentino being evi- dence of his faithful and excellent work, and he is now occupying the responsible position of assistant superintendent.
Byron F. Brown was married on October 17, 1900, to Jeanette Reed, a daughter of Clarke P. and Jane Reed, of Owosso. Michigan, from which city the Reed family later removed to Belding. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. namely: B. Phillip, Dorothy Louise and James Carroll.
Politically. Mr. Brown is a Republican. He was for many years a member of the local board of education. He is president of the library board of Belding. He belongs to the Belding Board of Commerce, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, of which he is a trustee.
SYLVESTER DAVID CHICKERING.
One of the progressive agriculturists of lonia county is Sylvester David Chickering, of Orleans township, who takes a delight in his vocation, and, being at the same time a keen observer and a hard worker, has succeeded. He was born on April 12, 1845, about seven miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a son of George and Clarissa Elvira ( Fales ) Chickering. The father was born in the state of New York in 1818, and was a son of George, Sr .. and Juliet ( Tracy ) Chickering. George Chickering. Jr., was a small boy when his parents moved to Ohio and he grew up near Cleveland and there married Clarissa E. Fales, who was born in Oswego county, New York,
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March 23, 1827, and was a daughter of David and Rachael ( Wheeler ) Fales.
Sylvester D. Chickering was six months old when his parents brought him to lonia county, Michigan, in the fall of 1845. Indians were still numerous in this locality. The father worked out in the lumber woods and in saw-mills. He was handy with tools and made a saw which was a great improvement over the old style of saws. Finally he bought forty acres in Orleans township when Sylvester was seven years old, and four years later he moved to Cook's Corners where he bought an acre and built a house and there followed the cooper's trade. He had many years previously made whisky barrels for a distillery in lonia. He was sometimes compelled to take a barrel of whisky in pay for his labors, and sell the contents to his neighbors. From Cook's Corners he moved to another forty acres in Orleans township, but lost it by a flaw in the title, after living there a year or two, then moved to the place now owned by the subject of this sketch, which he had bought some time previously. He moved to the place about 1862 and here spent the rest of his life. He was a great hunter. for wild game was plentiful when he came here, often killing two or more deer a day. He was a Republican, and he held some minor township offices. His death occurred on March 27. 1892. His wife died on June 2, 1883. They were the parents of six children, namely : Sally Ann died when three years old ; Sylvester D., Roswell G., Daniel Z., Emory B., and Rachael Elvira, who married a Mr. Post.
The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until his marriage. April 28, 1875, to Anna M. Wooldridge, who was born in Hull. England. in May, 1849, a daughter of Samuel Wooldridge and wife. a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. She was four years old when her parents brought her to America. She attended high school here, being one of the graduating class of five in 1871. She engaged in teaching for about ten years in different parts of lonia county. After his marriage Mr. Chickering moved to a farm in the southwestern corner of Orleans town- ship, where he has since resided. His place consists of one hundred and ten acres, which he has kept well improved. He built his present handsome residence in the summer of 1914.
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