USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 45
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Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chickering. Berthold AAdelbert, born on September 14, 1876, lives near the homestead : he married Mabel Noddins and has two children, Maurice and Orville S. Clarence
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Charles, born on December 24. 1878, married Myrtle Cosby, and they have four children. Laurence, Isabel, Inez and Clarence. This family lives in Otisco township on a farm. Alice, born in 1881, is the wife of William Croel. Jr .. of Ionia township, and they have three children, Alice, William and Russell. Lucia, born in 1883. is the wife of James Lind. They live in Belding and have four children, Lucile. Harold, Helen and Marjorie. Ernest, born in 1886, who is farming on the home place, married Daisy Doty, a daughter of Charles Doty, and they have three children. Herbert, Sylvester and AAlfred.
WILLIAM E. LEACH.
William E. Leach, one of the successful farmers of Jonia county, was born on April 24. 1850, in Canada. the son of George and Margaret (O'Brien ) Leach. His mother died when he was but four days old. after which his Grandmother Leach cared for him until he was ten years of age. At that time he began to work for himself. He was employed by farmers in the neighborhod and at the age of twenty-three he had saved two hundred dollars.
William E. Leach married Mary G. Drake, to whom was born the fol- lowing children: F. F., Vern E. and E. C. F. E. is an engineer on the Pere Marquette railroad: E. C. is a motorman on the street cars of Grand Rapids, and Verne E. is a drayman in Belding.
After the death of his wife, Mary G., on June 6. 1910, Mr. Leach mar- ried Mrs. Etta ( Young ) Reed, who had one son, Bert Reed, who is a rail- road man in Duluth. Mrs. Leach was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on March 24. 1859. She came with her parents to Mecosta county at the age of two years and there she grew to womanhood and attended the dis- trict schools. On April 23, 1877. she was married to Bruce Reed, who died in 1889. On July 22. 1914. she became the wife of William E. Leach.
Mr. Leach is a member of the Grange and the Farmers Club and takes much interest in the work of both organizations. Mrs. Leach is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leach are well known and prominent in the county.
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IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
GILBERT W. WILSON.
Gilbert W. Wilson, well-known insurance agent and enterprising man of affairs at Ionia. this county, is a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families in Ionia county, his parents having been potent factors in the development of the best interests of this community almost from the days of the beginning of the social order hereabout. He was born at Jonia, son of Henry J. and Helen M. ( Moseman ) Wilson, both natives of New York state, the former of whom was born in the town of Wvon, in Livingston county, and the latter in the town of Niles, in Cayuga county. They were married after coming to Michigan in the days of their youth and their active years were spent in Ionia, where their influence for good was felt in many ways.
Henry J. Wilson was born on January 20. 1829. son of Michael and Statira (Jones ) Wilson, the former a native of County Armagh, Ireland. and the latter of the state of Massachusetts. Michael Wilson and wife were the parents of seven children: Joseph J., Gilbert. Alfred, Wealthy Ann. Catherine, Henry J. and William. Henry J. Wilson came to Michigan as a young man and located at Ionia, where he presently became one of the most forceful figures in 'the commercial life of the city, being for years engaged in the elevator and banking business and. as a partner with W. C. Page, in the marketing of wool and hides, long being regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of Jonia.
Not long after locating in Jonia, Henry J. Wilson was united in mar- riage to Helen M. Moseman, who was born in Niles, Cayuga county. New York, August 10, 1832. daughter of Charles M. and Harriet V. ( Mills) Moseman, both natives of New York state, the former born on July 20. 1806, and the latter July 2, 1808. They came to Michigan with their family in 1844 and located at lonia, where they spent the rest of their days, Mr. Moseman dying on January 20. 1853. His widow survived him for twenty- five years, her death occurring on August 2, 1878. Charles M. Moseman was engaged in the mercantile business in fonia, his store being located at the corner of Third and Main streets, where the Lampkin clothing store is now situated, and his home was located on West Main street. He and his wife were the parents of two daughters, Helen M., mother of the subject of this biographical sketch, and Eliza A., who married James Kennedy and died at lonia on September IT. 1915, at the age of eighty-one years, she having then been a resident of lonia continuously for seventy-one years.
MR. AND MRS, HENRY L. WILSON.
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IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Helen M. Moseman was twelve years of age when she came to Mich- igan with her parents and the rest of her life was spent in lonia, she having been a resident of that city for sixty-nine years at the time of her death on . December 13, 1913. She was married to Henry J. Wilson on April 5, 1854. and about a year after their marriage they settled in the home which they occupied the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Wilson having been an occupant of that home for nearly sixty years at the time of her death. Mrs. Wilson was a woman of much energy and force of character. She and her sister. Mrs. Kennedy, in 1880, built what is still known as the Moseman block on West Main street. They also completed the erection of the four store buildings located on West Main street on the grounds of the old home, where their father died. and in other ways took an active interest in the business affairs and general upbuilding of the town. She was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, as was her husband, and was a liberal contributor to the support of that church, and made a liberal contribution toward the erection of the new church, her children at the same time donating the north window in that edifice as a memorial to their father, who for years had been an elder and trustee in the church.
Mrs. Wilson ever was an ardent promoter of all measures designed to advance the social and moral welfare of the community and for fifteen years was the president of the local branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Of the children born to Henry J. and Helen M. ( Moseman ) Wilson five are still living, as follow : Alice W. Hutchins, wife of Lee M. Hutchins. of Grand Rapids, this state; Charles M., of Grand Rapids: William K., of that same city: Hugh. E., also of Grand Rapids, and Gilbert W .. of lonia.
BRENTON F. ILALL.
Brinton F. Hall. president of the Belding-Hall Company and thus head of the great manufacturing concern which is generally regarded as the main inchustrial asset of the town of Bekling, this county, is a native of Massa- chusetts. having been born in Ashfield. that state, December 15, 1865. Son of Joshua and Electa ( Edson) Hall, both natives of that same state, and is a direct lineal descendant of John Hall, the second, who came from War- wickshire, England, in the year 1630. ten years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock, and settled at Charlestown, Massa- chusetts.
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The early life of Brinton F. Hall was spent on a farm and upon com- pleting the course in the district school at Bellingville. Ashfiekl. he took a course in Sanderson Academy and in the winter of 1883 he taught school at Baptist Corners, Ashfield, Massachusetts. In January. 1885, he came to Michigan and became connected with the refrigerator company of which the present Belding-Hall Company is the direct successor, and has ever since been actively identified with the affairs of that great concern. At that time the refrigerator company was carrying on its operations in the large red frame building in which the Belling Basket Company now has its canvas basket department. From a business of small proportions, using the meth- ods of that day. Mr. Hall has witnessed and been a very vital factor in the changes which have taken place in manufacturing methods since then and which have resulted in the splendid factories known as "\" and "B," which the company is using at the present time and which give the Bekling-Hall Company high rank as one of the very largest refrigerator manufacturing concerns in the world.
During the first six years of his connection with the refrigerator com- pany at Belding, Mr. Hall acted as the company's New England repre- sentative, with his headquarters in Boston, but in 1891 he returned to Beld- ing to take up his permanent residence and has made his home in that city ever since. Upon the reorganization of the company in 1907 and the crea- tion of the present Bekling-Hall Company, Mr. Hall, the company's largest stockholder, was elected president of the same and has served in that execu- tive position ever since, long having been regarded as one of the most ener- getic and enterprising business men in Michigan. Mr. Hall's business ven- tures are not confined wholly to the great concern of which he is the head. but he is connected with several other local enterprises of an important char- acter and is president of the Peoples Savings Bank of Belding and a director of the National Bank of lonia, at lonia, this county, Mr. Hall has always been accounted one of the city's chief "boosters" and is ever found in the forefront of any movement designed to advance the material welfare of the community. Ile is the owner of one of the finest ranches in this state, situated three and one-half miles east of Bekling, and takes much pride in the fine quality of the apples produced in the great orchard on that ranch. Mr. Hall is an ardent Republican and for years as chairman of the Repub- lican city committee, his activities in that connection having given him a state-wide acquaintance among politicians. In 1896 he was president of the Young Men's Republican Club of Bekling and in that capacity rendered a notable service in behalf of his party during the memorable campaign of
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that year. In 1900 he was elected delegate from the fifth district to the national convention of the Republican party, held that year in Philadelphia and which nominated William Mckinley the second time for President. For six years Mr. Hall served as a member of the board of education of Beld- ing and for two years was president of the board.
On October 19, 1802, Brinton F. Hall was united in marriage to Florence E. Wilson, daughter of David E. Wilson and wife, and they occupy the residence at the corner of Pearl and Washington streets, considered to be one of the finest in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Hall take a proper part in the city's social and cultural activities and are regarded as among the leaders in local philanthropic movements. Mr. Hall is an ardent sportsman, fond of fishing and hunting, particularly of the latter. and makes a trip every year to the wilds of the AAlgoma district in Ontario, in quest of moose. He has brought down quite a number of these huge creatures and the heads of four of these trophies of his prowess as a Nimrod have been mounted and have been put up in his office, splendid specimens and visible proof of his fine marksmanship.
CHARLES L. WILSON.
Charles L. Wilson, veteran lawyer at Saranac, this county, former judge of probate for Ionia county and former prosecuting attorney, who has been continuously engaged in the practice of law in this county since his gradna- tion from the law department of Michigan University in 1867, is a native of the great Empire state, but has lived in Michigan since he was an infant in arms and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development that has marked this region within the past generation. He was born at Warsaw, New York, February 2. 1843, son of Samuel and Sebrina E. (Shaw) Wilson, both natives of New York state, who later became pioneers of Ionia county, where their last days were spent.
Samuel Wilson was born at Verona, New York, April 4. 1802, ellest of the six children born to Daniel and Sarah Wilson, the others having been Ammon. Thomas, Maria, Rhoda and Sarah. At Covington, New York, in 1838, Samuel Wilson was united in marriage to Mrs. Sebrina E. Jenks. widow of Christopher Jenks and daughter and only child of Samuel and Sybil Shaw, who were born in Vermont, of Scottish and English parentage, respectively, and who emigrated to New York about the year 1800, settling at Brutus, where their daughter. Sebrina, was born on June 10, 1810.
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Christopher Jenks left at his death two sons, Loren S., born on February 16, 1833, and Judson J., October 5, 1834, both now deceased. At an early date Loren and Judson Jenks left this county and went to California, return- ing after several years for a visit at the home of their boyhood in Saranac. During the period of that visit Loren S. Jenks married Eliza Cotton, of Saranac, and later returned to California, where four children were born to him and his wife, namely: Lola, Vernon, Ida and Frank, all of whom are living save Vernon.
It was in 1844 that Sammel Wilson and his family came to Michigan, settling near Pontiac, whence, in 1846, they came to lonia county and settled in Boston township, where Samnel Wilson bought the residence and other real estate holdings of Cyprian S. Hooker in that locality, he being one of the first settlers of that part of the county. Mr. Wilson converted the dwelling place into a tavern, which he and his wife conducted, at the same time engaged in farming until they erected a new hotel, now known as the Commercial House, at Saranac, which they and their sons conducted until 1867, in which year Mr. Wilson bought the residence of Tunis Cronkhite, largely improved the same and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on April 4, 1874. His widow survived many years, residing with her son, the subject of this sketch, until her decease on December 6, 1902. she then being in her ninety-first year and having retained her mental and physical strength until her last illness. She was a member of the Episcopal church and in her life work was ambitious and painstaking. During the long period of her hotel-keeping she was regarded as a most excellent land- lady. She superintended the dinner at the first Fourth of July celebration held in Saranac, a free dinner spread on a long, roughly constructed, but well-provided table set in front of the old tavern. Hon. Los E. Jones, of lonia, was the orator of the day. A large "liberty pole" was raised and the occasion was regarded as the most successful celebration in the early history of the village.
To Sammel and Sebrina E. (Shaw ) Wilson were born three children. the subject of this sketch having a brother, George B., born on September 10, 1840, and a sister, Sarah M., July 24, 1848. George B. Wilson was born at Warsaw, New York, and was but four years old when his parents came to this state. He was reared at Saranac and was connected with the early history of that village until his enlistment in the Twenty-first Regi- ment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, being later transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade, with which he served till the end of the war. Following the completion of his military service
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George B. Wilson married Nancy M. Follett, daughter of John and Jane Follett, early settlers of this county, and resided in lonia and Kent counties until the death of his mother in 1900. when he bought the old home in Saranac, where he is now living, retired. On November 9, 1909, Mrs. Nancy Follett Wilson died, leaving one son, Ferman G. Wilson, of Keene township, this county, and on June 15. 1910, George B. Wilson married, secondly, Mrs. Ella Mckean, who was born on January 20, 1852.
Sarah M. Wilson, only daughter of Samuel and Sebrina Wilson, was born at Saranac and grew to womanhood in that village. On September 2, 1866, she married F. Henry Spencer, a Saranac druggist, who had served as a hospital steward during the Civil War, and to that union were born two children, Belle, born on April 12, 1869, and Charles F., February 10, 1873. On November 12, 1890, Belle Spencer was united in marriage to Elmer E. Power, who was born on March 14, 1863, now living near St. Maries, Idaho, to which union three children have been born, Harry H., Paul, who died in 1892, and Wilson H. Charles F. Spencer is married and resides in Chicago. F. Henry Spencer, for many years one of Saranac's best-known merchants, died on August 16, 1889, and his widow is now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Power, in Idaho.
Charles L. Wilson was but little more than one year old when his par- ents came to Michigan and he grew up at Saranac. his boyhood being spent as chore boy about the tavern and in attendance at the district school. At the age of fourteen he obtained employment, under Captain Simmons, on the "Nawbeck" and later, under Captain Parks, on the "Porter." steamers plying on Grand river prior to the advent of the railroad between Detroit and Grand Haven. On October 5, 1858, he became engaged as a clerk for Frazell & Stevens, dealers in merchandise and farm products, and for two years was thus engaged while not attending school. Then during the sum- mers he attended the State Normal and the Ypsilanti union schools and during the winters clerked for 11. Rich & Company at Jonia until 1864. when he engaged with his former employer, D. F. Frazell, in conducting the latter's sutler establishment in the Veteran Reserve Corps at Indian- apolis, and upon the completion of that form of service began teaching school in Keene township. During the meantime Mr. Wilson was devoting his leisure hours to a close study of Blackstone and Kent's "Commentaries," and he presently entered the law department of Michigan University, from which he was graduated in 1867.
Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Mr. Wilson opened an office at Saranac, his home town, and later continued in practice
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at lonia, the county seat, but for years has been located at Saranac, where, in addition to his law practice, he has been actively engaged in the real-estate business. Judge Wilson is a Democrat and has been honored by election to various public offices, having served his home township as clerk and as justice of the peace and the county as prosecuting attorney and judge of probate. During his professional career. Judge Wilson has been associated, as a partner, with the law firms of Wilson & Strickland, Vosper & Wilson and Morse, Wilson & Trowbridge, the latter firm continuing until the elec- tion of Judge Morse as justice of the Michigan supreme court. Judge Wilson is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, for several years master of Boston lodge, and is a member of the chapter and the commandery at Tonia. His law practice in recent years has chiefly been confined to office work and probate practice. He has long given earnest attention to th general business affairs of his home community and is one of the directors of the Saranac State Bank.
OTIS D. TYLER.
Another general farmer of Ionia county who is making a specialty of raising some fine grade of live stock is Otis D. Tyler, of Orange township. and he is making a success of each department. He was born in the home in which he now lives, September 28, 1862, and is a son of Isaac E. and Eliza G. ( Hitchcock ) Tyler. The father was born in Livingston county, New York, January 15, 1817, and removed with his parents to Oakland county, Michigan, in 1836, with an ox-team, Isaac E. being at the time nineteen years oldl. The following year, Dean M. Tyler, father of Isaac E .. removed with his family to Orange township, lonia county, entering two hundred acres from the government, which land is now in possession of the subject of this sketch. In coming here they had to blaze their trail through the wilderness, and to cut their road part of the way. This farm was all in timber, but it was soon cleared up and in growing crops. Their first dwelling was a log hut. Here Isaac E. Tyler remained with his father a number of years, assisting in the development of the place. finally buying the farm from the rest of the heirs. On January 5. 1840, he married Eliza- beth Brown, who was born in England. from which country she came to America when young, first settling in New York, and while there first met Isaac E. Tyler. Her death occurred in 1854. She was the mother of five
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children, namely : Amelia, who was the first white child born in Orange township, lonia county, is the widow of Capt. John E. Smith, who was a prominent physician in Portland in his day: Emerson died when eighteen months old: Sarah lives with the subject of this sketch; Louise is the wife of James Page, of Dexter, Michigan: Melvina is the wife of Donald MeCalum, of Guide Rock, Nebraska.
Isaac E. Tyler's second wife was a sister to his first wife, Mrs. Sarah ( Brown ) Field, who died on July 20. 1858. Isaac E. Tyler's third wife was Eliza G. Hitchcock, who was born in Cataragus county, New York. She came to Michigan to visit relatives and while here met Mr. Tyler, who later went to her home in New York state and they were married there on January 1, 1860, and at once took up their residence on the farm in lonia county, where they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on December 15, 1001, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, her death hay- ing occurred on October 2. 1807. To this third union four children were born namely: Adeline C., deceased, was the wife of John Rossman, of Otisco township. Ionia county ; Otis D. is the subject of this sketch ; William 1. lives at Niles, Michigan ; Mary E., who was graduated from the Portland high school, taught two months on the second year in that school, and her death occurred on July 12, 1887.
Isaac E. Tyler was a devoted member of the Baptist church, he and his father and the immediate family were charter members of the Portland Baptist church which was organized in 1840, and he was a deacon in the same for over fifty years, taking a very active interest in the church. Politically, he was a Republican, but was never very active in public affairs.
Otis D. Tyler was educated in the district schools and went as far as the tenth grade in the Portland high school. He spent his boyhood on the home farm, buying forty acres of the same when he reached young man- hood and lived on the land two or three years, and upon the death of his parents purchased the rest of the place, comprising two hundred acres and this he still owns, having kept it in excellent cultivation and well improved. It includes all the land which his grandfather entered from the government during President Tyler's administration.
Otis D. Tyler was married on December 10, 1890, to Alta M. Tinney, daughter of Henry and Jerusha ( Bingham) Tinney, natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were married. removing from there to Clinton county. Michigan, where their daughter. Alta, grew up and was educated. Mr. Tinney bought a farm in Eagle township soon after his marriage and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on Febru-
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ary 2, 1800, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1884, when Alta was seventeen years old.
To Otis D. Tyler and wife three children were born: Veryl L., who graduated on June 1, 1913. from the Portland high school, then attended the Michigan Agricultural College for two years, is now at home. Zelma A. married Lester Campbell on June 11. 1914, and they live on their own farm in Danby township, this county. He is a graduate of the Portland high school and taught school four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell one child has been born, Stewart M. Dean H. Tyler, the third child, is attend- ing Portland high school. where he is making an excellent record.
Mr. Tyler and his son Veryl 1. are both members of Portland Lodge No. 31. Free and Accepted Masons. The elder Tyler is a trustee of the Baptist church in Portland to which all the family belongs, and he has long been active in church work. Politically, he is a Republican. He was at one time treasurer of Orange township, and he was also treasurer and director of his school district for a number of years.
LORENZO WEBBER.
Lorenzo Webber, cashier of the Webber State Savings Bank, of Port- land, Michigan, an institution founded by his father in 1870, was born near Watkins ( Blossburg ) Schuyler county, New York, on July 22, 1869. He is a son of John A. and Mary E. ( Mason) Webber, the former being born in the village of Monterey, Orange township. Schuyler county, New York, the son of Lorenzo and Jane A. ( Welch) Webber, who moved to New York from Vermont in 1828. John A. Webber was born and reared on a farm, but his father. Lorenzo, who was a well-to-do man for that day. drifted into other enterprises and passed his latter years in Elmira. The Webbers are one of the older families of this county, tracing their ancestry back in unbroken line to 1704, when their forbears came from England to this country and established the American branch of the family.
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